February 03 2007 Eastern

mom2grace · Sep 20, 2006

Hi Everyone,

We're the O'Reillys, and we just booked TODAY!! :cool1:

This will be our 3rd DCL cruise, but we haven't sailed with them since 2002.

Grace is 5 and Conner is 3, any young kids out there? Bryan and I (Susan) are in our 30's.

We are flying in on Friday night, and staying somewhere at the port, don't know where yet!

This is a surprise for our kids for Christmas, they both have cruised before, and we took Grace to WDW in May for her 5th birthday. Conner stayed at home with his grandparents, he isn't tall enough for the roller coasters :guilty:

and it gives me an excuse to take him to WDW for his 5th birthday!

Anyone else surprising their kids? How are you going to do it?

See you real soon!

vic32 · Sep 21, 2006

hi mom2grace, we are surprising our kids. They have never been on DCL, none of us have. It's really hard to keep it a secret. We go to WDW every year, but not this year. Our kids are Jacob 8, and Sarah 4. We just told them that this year we are taking a break and saving money for New York next year! We fly in on friday and are staying at the Raddison. We have friends flying in and meeting us!
I would love to meet someothers on this site that are going and schedule a meet on the boat. Then we could get to know each other and the kids also!
Good luck with the secret! :banana:

tjeagle · Sep 21, 2006

I LOVE that you guys are surprising your kids! I wish I would have thought about that before I blurted it all out to everyone!!

We are staying at the Radisson as well. Maybe anyone staying there can meet up on Friday night! I love the idea of getting together before we set sail (whether it be Friday night or at the port!)

vic32 · Sep 21, 2006

We should try to meet. Our friends meeting us have 2 girls, 11&12. So I am sure they would like to meet people their age. We land at 6:30 and I even booked a limo! It was only a little more and they worry about all the driving and pick us up after! We hopefully have no worries!

smarttm · Sep 21, 2006

vic32-who did you book the limo thru? We are now struggling with what to do, how to get there and when to come in. About how much was the Radisson charging ?
Thanks for the input.
Tracey

tjeagle · Sep 21, 2006

Tracey
When I booked the Radisson it was $139, that is without any discount. The AAA and Govt. rates weren't available at that time. I have to call when it gets closer.

Has everyone out there gotten their passports yet?? I went last week to the post office and plan on taking DH and the kids in a week or so.

smarttm · Sep 22, 2006

We got our passports a few months ago. I was surprised, it did not take too long. Bit of info thoug,make sure you get your passport photos at either walmart or CVS or some other discount place, because if you get them taken at the post office they are way more expensive.

Also, southwest opened its reservations thru 3/07. We booked last night. We also booked a rental car for transport. We are coming in on friday and I think we are going to stay in Orlando at the Nickalodeon suites.

See you all soon

vic32 · Sep 22, 2006

Hi Tracey I booked through Florida Tours. I think there is a link n the dis website. There is 8 toatl- 4 adults and 4 kids. Plus they meet us at the airport and we get a 30 min. stop on the way to hotel if needed. If I recall its
around 200.00. We are covering transportation and our friends booked the Raddison. I figure if we are surprising the kids lets throw in a limo!

WeLoveDVC · Sep 22, 2006

We surprised our kids with our first cruise in January 2005. We told them we were going to Orlando for a week and were just going to hangout and visit a family we know. We flew in Friday night and stayed near the airport. When they woke up on Saturday morning we gave them the DCL luggage tags to put on their bags, it was a complete surprise. The Limo (Fl Tours, they have always been great) took us to the dock. Within three or four hours the kids went from knowing nothing to being on the boat and eating lunch. Their heads were spinning for the first couple of days.

We took the 7-day Western that time, this will be our second cruise. This time the kids know everything and will be helping with picking activities. DVCPRINCESS princess:

who posted earlier looking for a friend is my older daughter.

We love all things Disney ! :wizard:

DVCprincess · Sep 23, 2006

Hey!

This is my second cruise! The last one I was on it was a 7 day Westren cruise, January 2005! We didn't even get to go to Grand Cayman or Castaway Key! :sad:

BOO HOO! Well we are hoping this year we will get to go to all of the islands (even Castaway Key)!

I am still looking for someone for me! I am 15 and i am still looking for a Cruise Buddy(boy or girl)! My sister is also 8! If anyone knows someone who I can hang out with, send me a private message, an E-Mail, or an Instant Message! princess:

Have a magical day!

:bounce:

tjeagle · Sep 27, 2006

I just realize, we are coming close to the 4 mo. mark.....It seemed like forever ago when I booked......4 months and counting! :cool1:

vic32 · Sep 28, 2006

I am toying with hte idea of telling them at Christmas. They could open a cruise ship or something. The tree will be a little light this year! But then they could help make door signs and my 3rd grader can work ahead. But on the other hand I really wanted to see their faces when they realize where we are
going! What to do!?!? :crazy:

mom2grace · Sep 28, 2006

vic32 said:
I am toying with hte idea of telling them at Christmas. They could open a cruise ship or something. The tree will be a little light this year! But then they could help make door signs and my 3rd grader can work ahead. But on the other hand I really wanted to see their faces when they realize where we are
going! What to do!?!?

My kids are only 3 & 5, but veteran cruisers. We expect DD 5 to be over the moon, DS 3 probably will be excited to see Mickey.

I am going to buy the kids the new Disney crocs, make countdown calendars, I bought some Disney stuff at the $1 place at Target, etc. as things for them to open on Christmas morning. I will also make them tshirts, check out the dis-signs boards for ideas. I will probably order the cruise planning video as well. Open the calendar 2nd to last, and the video last (and the shirts in there somewhere).

Of course, we will have to buy them 1 gift that they want from Santa!

Also, we are keeping this a secret from our family as well, and I can't wait for them to find out. I don't know what their reactions will be.........they probably won't believe that I kept my mouth shut that long!

smarttm · Sep 29, 2006

Vic32- Hang in there. Don't give up the secret!!! I know you can do it!!! :cheer2:

I wish I had not told my son pirate:

(6). I would love to see his face when we pulled up to the cruise ship. Anybody with ideas for count down or exciting things to keep the kids interested, please share.

I also have found some really great deals at the disney store lately and have bought them up. :woohoo:

I'm so excited :Pinkbounc

for this trip.

We are leaving for WDW next friday and my son is doing a countdown paper chain which is fun to watch it get shorter and shorter with each passing day.

Have a Disney Day!

smarttm · Sep 29, 2006

Mom2grace- Have you found the new disney crocs? I call crocs directly and they said they had no info on when they would come out and to subscribe to the email list (which I did). If you get any info, please share.
Thanks,

mom2grace · Sep 29, 2006

smarttm said:
Mom2grace- Have you found the new disney crocs? I call crocs directly and they said they had no info on when they would come out and to subscribe to the email list (which I did). If you get any info, please share.
Thanks,

I have not, but I am sure they will be out for Christmas!!

tjeagle · Sep 30, 2006

vic32 said:
I am toying with hte idea of telling them at Christmas. They could open a cruise ship or something. The tree will be a little light this year! But then they could help make door signs and my 3rd grader can work ahead. But on the other hand I really wanted to see their faces when they realize where we are
going! What to do!?!?

I'm with Tracey! If you make it that far....wouldn't it be awesome to see their surprised faces as you come over the bridge and see the ship! Maybe a few hint gifts at Christmas...
(of course this advice is coming from the women who told the kids before she was off the phone with the TA!...) No matter what you do....you can't go wrong!

I have just loved reading the reports from families that surprised the kids!!
I wish I would have thought to try that...don't know if I would have made it....but would have liked to try! :rolleyes: