Feb.4,2006. Who else is sailing?

[mark_story]

PrincessPam,

For two nights prior to the cruise, we'll be staying at the Raddison at the Port in Port Canaveral. It's one of the more popular choices for people who come in the night before the cruise. I don't have the bookmark here, but I think that it's called the "Radisson at the Port." If you go to the Raddison Web site, you can search for it there.

It sure is fun booking air fare and other incidentals, isn't it? I feel like I'm burning some of this pre-cruise energy and getting one step closer every time I do something cruise-related!

Mark

 

[steveandtonya]

Welcome Princess Pam, You and your family are going to have a wondeful time. We have two 10 yr old girls in our group going, my daughter and her cousin. My daughter went with us in Jan 2004 so she thinks she is a pro at cruising Disney style. Any questions, just ask.

Steve, Tonya, Delaney, Zachary

 

[sbatty]

My family will be joining you as well. It is myself, my DH, my DD (6, B-day on the cruise) and my DS (8-1 month). This is our second cruise. We went in 2004 at the same time of the year. My big question is if my DS should go with the 8-9 year olds or the 6-7 year olds? Any thoughts? - Susan

 

[Boxkite]

My family will be joining you as well. It is myself, my DH, my DD (6, B-day on the cruise) and my DS (8-1 month). This is our second cruise. We went in 2004 at the same time of the year. My big question is if my DS should go with the 8-9 year olds or the 6-7 year olds? Any thoughts? - Susan

Hello Susan,

Do mean your DS will be one month short of being eight years old during the cruise? If so, I would go ahead and try him out with the 8-9 year olds. My son will be in the 8-9 group and will be glad to be friends with your son.

Go for it!

BTW, our DD is six years old and will also be happy to be friends with your DD!

Steven

 

[mark_story]

My family will be joining you as well. It is myself, my DH, my DD (6, B-day on the cruise) and my DS (8-1 month). This is our second cruise. We went in 2004 at the same time of the year. My big question is if my DS should go with the 8-9 year olds or the 6-7 year olds? Any thoughts? - Susan

Hi Susan,

Welcome to our little corner of the DIS boards.

My DS is five and I'm sure will be looking for Oceaneer Lab buddies. Maybe he can play with your six year old son.

Not that I am counting or anything, but

Mark

 

[steveandtonya]

Welcome Susan,
My son will be nine next month and would look forward to having someone to hang out with. As far as the clubs go I think the 8-9 yr old group would be good but if I remember right both groups use each others rooms throughout the week. Look forward to talking to you.
Steve, Tonya, Delaney, Zachary

 

[sbatty]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I am pretty sure my son will love being with the 8-9 year olds. I was a bit more worried that my DD will miss him. If she makes a friend we will be all set.

I must confess I am a bit of a compulsive planner (It is half the fun). I just ordered the latest Passporter and now that I have begun cruising the boards again I'll have to set time limits for myself. I get addicted.

Has anyone put together a chart of shows, dinner theme/dress per night including the likely shift because of the Superbowl? If so, please share.

And Our Cruise List ... If anyone sees errors please send me a PM and I'll try to keep the information correct and publish occasionally.

Boxkite – DH(Steven), DW(Mary),DS(Martin 9), DD(Carly 6)
Cindy72 – DW, DS(10), DD(8)
Dee47 – Dee and Kat
Dmes411459 – DH (Dan), DW, DW Parents
MarcyInFlorida
MarkStory – DH(Mark), DW(Johnna), DChild(5), DChild(2.9), DUncle(71)
MrBill and kydd2000 – DH(Bill), DW(Julia), DS(Zachary 8), DS(Douglas 11)
PrincessPam – DW, DH, DD(10)
Sbatty – DW(Susan 36), DH(Curt 37), DS(Noah 8), DD(Bryce 6)
Skylynx – DW(Denise), DH(John)
Snicklefrytz – Chrissy, DD(10), DS(3)
SpoonfulofSugar – DW, DH, DS(4), DS(1.5)
Steveandtonya – DH(Steve), DW(Tonya), DD (Delaney 10.5), DS (Zachary 9)
Steveandtonya’s Extended Family – SIL& Family(DS 6)
Ufcabear – DW (Debi), DH; 30th anniv
UMPIRESLD – Steve & Lucie (30th anniv), Friends (25th anniv)

 

[mark_story]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I am pretty sure my son will love being with the 8-9 year olds. I was a bit more worried that my DD will miss him. If she makes a friend we will be all set.

I must confess I am a bit of a compulsive planner (It is half the fun). I just ordered the latest Passporter and now that I have begun cruising the boards again I'll have to set time limits for myself. I get addicted.

Has anyone put together a chart of shows, dinner theme/dress per night including the likely shift because of the Superbowl? If so, please share.

And Our Cruise List ... If anyone sees errors please send me a PM and I'll try to keep the information correct and publish occasionally.

Boxkite – DH(Steven), DW(Mary),DS(Martin 9), DD(Carly 6)
Cindy72 – DW, DS(10), DD(8)
Dee47 – Dee and Kat
Dmes411459 – DH (Dan), DW, DW Parents
MarcyInFlorida
MarkStory – DH(Mark), DW(Johnna), DChild(5), DChild(2.9), DUncle(71)
MrBill and kydd2000 – DH(Bill), DW(Julia), DS(Zachary 8), DS(Douglas 11)
PrincessPam – DW, DH, DD(10)
Sbatty – DW(Susan 36), DH(Curt 37), DS(Noah 8), DD(Bryce 6)
Skylynx – DW(Denise), DH(John)
Snicklefrytz – Chrissy, DD(10), DS(3)
SpoonfulofSugar – DW, DH, DS(4), DS(1.5)
Steveandtonya – DH(Steve), DW(Tonya), DD (Delaney 10.5), DS (Zachary 9)
Steveandtonya’s Extended Family – SIL& Family(DS 6)
Ufcabear – DW (Debi), DH; 30th anniv
UMPIRESLD – Steve & Lucie (30th anniv), Friends (25th anniv)

Susan,

What great list! Thanks so much for pulling together all of the information for the cruise list. I knew that we were getting big in our little corner of the DIS boards, but I didn't know we were getting THAT big!

We ordered the Passporter a few months ago as well. There is a lot of good information in it, and having it will b helpful when we can start booking shore excursions and other reservations as the 90-day window approaches.

I too am a compulsive cruise planner. Planning makes the time seem like it's flying by.

Mark

PS -- 126 days and counting!

 

[skylynx]

Hello, Everyone

Welcome to the newcomers...!!!

Mark asked what the Disney Institute is/was...

The Disney Institute (circa 1986) provides 3-4 day business programs in topics like Leadership, Managing for Creativity, Customer Loyalty, etc. It's headquarters used to be where Saratoga Springs is now. My former workplace sent me to five of these wonderful courses that were a mixture of lecture, presentation, and behind-the-scenes tours at the parks that addressed management challenges, employee turnover, and things like how to keep the ladies who fold towels all day (literally, all day) at the laundry building and the folks who stick all the "upscaled" Disney price tags on the merchandise boxes motivated. These were fascinating learning opportunities done with Disney panache and included a room at the former Disney Institute villas and most meals. Unfortunately, the challenge of keeping a variety of classes full all the time proved too much for DI--they just recently started letting people book individualy course enrollment again (for a while you could only attend a one-day presentation off-property, or schedule a company wide training event). If you are interested in this, find us during the cruise and we'll talk your ears off about Disney Institute and how we met and fell in love there!

But, I digress.

When we took our kids (DS then 8 and DD then 11) on the Wonder, we had to drag them out of the clubs. We hardly saw them except when we went to go pick them up at midnight when WE were tired and wanted to go to bed! Occasionally, we'd be sitting up on deck and one or the other of them would come marching along happily with a group of other kids, wave, and continue on by. The only time I was ever paged was when my DD ran out of sunscreen. Even on Castaway Cay, I had to pry them away for photos because they were too into the group treasure hunts to be bothered hanging around with us. Plus, my daughter was thrilled to be separated from her pesky little brother for so many consecutive hours.

It is kind of funny...people we know who have never been on a Disney Cruise asked us 1) Why we would think of going on a Disney Cruise if we weren't toting the kids along and 2) If we took the kids, didn't it dramatically cut into our "adult" time? The answers, of course, are 1) Because we are basically large children ourselves, and 2) Because the kids were so consumed with the clubs, we had plenty of opportunity to dress up in gowns and tuxes and rhinestones and prance around without embarrassing the offspring (or their new found friends with equally mortifying parents). There was time to recreate "Love Boat" moments on deck 11 or at Palo. We even had time to play shuffleboard. And sit out on the verandah in our bathrobes staring at the stars, drinking wine, and feeling very, very lucky, indeed. We got to do this at least the first night before the kids figured out they could call room service and have donuts and chocolate milk delivered to our stateroom for snacks when the clubs shut down.

Oops...gotta go.

Denise

 

[mark_story]

I agree that the best way to start experiencing the magic of a Disney Cruise is to be a plan-aholic. I've already booked our air fare, hotel, rental car, travel insurance and have mapped out our shore excursions and dining arrangements so that I'm ready when the 90-day window hits. I also am finding that the DIS boards feed my growing Disney cruise addiction nicely.

What about you guys? How do you make the time go by? Are you a compulsive planner too?

My name is Mark and I am a Disney cruise plan-aholic.

PS - 122 days to go!

 

[skylynx]

Well, Mark, you are in good company. John and I find nothing cures the blues faster than a trip on the horizon, particularly one we can obsess over in terms of research! We spent many an hour before our first cruise four years ago camped out in Barnes and Noble reading the Passporter and the other cruise/destination tour books. At home, we read the cruise boards, found this one, and also read some of the others which happily convinced us we'd made the right choice in going Disney for our first cruise.

We hit the coupon sales at department stores and started acquiring "cruise clothes." We puzzled over which wine we would bring We even bought those space saver packing bags (which actually worked) so we could cram more stuff into our luggage. So much of the joy of our cruise was in the anticipation. So much so that even if it is nearly two years away, we always try to have another cruise booked before we get off the ship. It is our way of consoling ourselves!

One of our greatest pleasures was figuring out how to do the shore excursions "on our own" to save $$$ and time. We did this in Freeport on our second Wonder cruise...we paid $5 for a taxi to Lucaya and toted our own beach towels and water bottles. About five minutes after we settled in, the "official" shore excursion bus showed up, at the exact same place, and participants were handed towels, water bottles, and a folding chair. For somewhere around $70 a head!

On our last cruise the Magic rerouted to Costa Maya since Grand Cayman was still recouping from hurricane damage. We booked a horseback ride online in advance on the Costa Maya web site where they even had a live chat via instant messaging with a reservation agent! Disney didn't offer much in the way of shore excursions there because the switch to it as a port was kind of last minute. So we were pleased to have figured it out on our own.

We had just as much fun planning our recent trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. It is a great way to stretch the joy of travel!

Any one else have some pre-cruise rituals to share?

 

[steveandtonya]

Bumping up. Another week closer to paradise!



Steve

 

[mark_story]

Well, Mark, you are in good company. John and I find nothing cures the blues faster than a trip on the horizon, particularly one we can obsess over in terms of research! We spent many an hour before our first cruise four years ago camped out in Barnes and Noble reading the Passporter and the other cruise/destination tour books. At home, we read the cruise boards, found this one, and also read some of the others which happily convinced us we'd made the right choice in going Disney for our first cruise.

We hit the coupon sales at department stores and started acquiring "cruise clothes." We puzzled over which wine we would bring We even bought those space saver packing bags (which actually worked) so we could cram more stuff into our luggage. So much of the joy of our cruise was in the anticipation. So much so that even if it is nearly two years away, we always try to have another cruise booked before we get off the ship. It is our way of consoling ourselves!

One of our greatest pleasures was figuring out how to do the shore excursions "on our own" to save $$$ and time. We did this in Freeport on our second Wonder cruise...we paid $5 for a taxi to Lucaya and toted our own beach towels and water bottles. About five minutes after we settled in, the "official" shore excursion bus showed up, at the exact same place, and participants were handed towels, water bottles, and a folding chair. For somewhere around $70 a head!

On our last cruise the Magic rerouted to Costa Maya since Grand Cayman was still recouping from hurricane damage. We booked a horseback ride online in advance on the Costa Maya web site where they even had a live chat via instant messaging with a reservation agent! Disney didn't offer much in the way of shore excursions there because the switch to it as a port was kind of last minute. So we were pleased to have figured it out on our own.

We had just as much fun planning our recent trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. It is a great way to stretch the joy of travel!

Any one else have some pre-cruise rituals to share?

Among the other cruise-obsessive things that we do, we have one fun ritual that we do with our children. Since when we booked the cruise it was 280-something days out, so it was hard for my DS and DD to conceptualize. To help them get a sense of the number of days remaining, I created a Disney Cruise jelly bean jar. We counted the number of days remaining until February 4th and filled the jar with a corresponding number of jelly beans. Every other day, we take out two jelly beans (we tried taking out one per day and the kids fought over it). It's fun for all of us to watch the level go down in the jelly bean jar as we get closer to our sailing date.

That's probably our most fun ritual. Anyone else have any other interesting pre-cruise rituals?

My name is Mark and I am a Disney Cruise addict.

 

[steveandtonya]

Mark or anybody. Do you know if you can make online reservations for Palo and excursions right after midnight on the 90 day out mark from the cruise departure day? What day would that be, I forgot, I think Nov. 6?

Steve

 

[dee47]

Mark or anybody. Do you know if you can make online reservations for Palo and excursions right after midnight on the 90 day out mark from the cruise departure day? What day would that be, I forgot, I think Nov. 6?

Nov. 6 is the day. I called DCL and they confirmed that midnight EST is when you can start reserving. Which means 9PM for me YEAH! I don't have to stay awake extra late!!!!!!!

Sorry, was I gloating???

So make sure you account for time zone differences.

I am, like mark, a Disney Cruise addict. The only problem with that (besides coming up with funds to feed my habit ), is that I already made all the reservations / arrangements I need to / can make...NOW WHAT???

 

[dee47]

So I will ask this again -- is anyone interested in PALO brunch? The private room at Palo can hold 14 people. We did this for the 10-nite in Dec., and a bunch of us DISers who were beyond the initial 14 to sign up made resies for the same time -- they set up a table near the private room so there was a lot of socializing going on...We have over 20 adults on this list...

Also, does anyone want to link 2nd seating resies? Eat with your fellow DISers!

If anyone is interested, I volunteer to coordinate both.

 

[dee47]

HA! T.O.P!!!!!!!

 

[sbatty]

Palo brunch sounds like a good idea. Count me and my DH in. Can you set this up in advance or do you have to wait until you get to the ship?

We have first seating because of the kids. My sister is thinking about joining us on the cruise. She would be travelling single and is debating if she should eat with us (and the kids) or be brave and try to meet new people.

 

[dee47]

Palo brunch sounds like a good idea. Count me and my DH in. Can you set this up in advance or do you have to wait until you get to the ship?

We have first seating because of the kids. My sister is thinking about joining us on the cruise. She would be travelling single and is debating if she should eat with us (and the kids) or be brave and try to meet new people.

We can set it in advance -- I think even before th 90-day mark, if we have a large enough group. We just have to decide on a day (at sea) that's convenient for everyone who wants to join.

And tell your sister that if she wants to try late seating, we'd love to have her join us. Meeting new people is one of the greatest things about a DCL cruise

 

[steveandtonya]

Hey dee, I'll talk to my wife about brunch at palo. Sounds like fun. We will be at late seating with the rest of the family. There will be about 10 of us total.

Steve