February 12, 2011 - 7 night Eastern

[ilovedevin]

I completed the birthday girl's present's today I am so happy I got them done...if the parent's want to see what I did I can up load the pic's tomorrow. They are for both capital mom/noel and paulette's children.

 

[robinpgma]

I completed the birthday girl's present's today I am so happy I got them done...if the parent's want to see what I did I can up load the pic's tomorrow. They are for both capital mom/noel and paulette's children.

I want to see......I can't wait to start doing me FE....Got some other stuff today too.....Wooo Hooo... Paying the cruise in total soon.....priceless....

I'm going to do the cruise dance soon...

 

[pajl]

I completed the birthday girl's present's today I am so happy I got them done...if the parent's want to see what I did I can up load the pic's tomorrow. They are for both capital mom/noel and paulette's children.

Oh my goodness? You made something for my dd?
How incredibly sweet?
Wow...
I think I have also decided to particpate in the FE exchange!!
I just have to remind myself NOT to leave it til last minute...

Is anyone planning on sending the items to the ship before hand?

ok..NOW I am getting excited...

 

[pajl]

If any of you ladies...would like to become Facebook frends?
It would be nice to "cyber" meet before Feb?

The only prob is..if a few of us decide yes..I know for instance in my case..my dd does NOT know about the cruise YEt..as it is her Christmas pressie...

So we would have to keep it on the downlow...
Just a thought...

 

[ilovedevin]

I am sending my FE gift's down a week before we leave, I have them almost finished and as I complete them I place them into the box. I love the new flat rate boxes at the Postal Service. Yes I made both the birthday girls's a present I will post a pic tomorrow I wouldn't want their birthday's to be overseen with all the excitement of the cruise and with the FE gifting so I made something special just for them. Which remind's me I know capital mom/noels DD bithday date but need to know your DD so that I can have her gift in place the morning of her birthday.

 

[ilovedevin]

It's a door magnet

 

[robinpgma]

JULIE....Those magnets are so cute.....

AND You are WAY to organized for me....I have some of the supplies but not all for my FE (one is a handmade one) ....just found some stuff yesterday to add to the pile.....My brain is still working .... we'll see what I come up with...I have to think of my daughters Birthday first.....which is in Dec. Party...favors...and most of all CAKE...I made her cake last year and she wants one that is similar....Its on facebook.

I would love to Facebook before if you'd like....I am on facebook....I'll PM you....

doin' the woo hoo dance.
Robin

 

[TiredOfCold]

Yay!!
We are now paid in full and ALL flights have been booked!

I would love to cyber-meet on facebook as well... please PM me!

 

[robinpgma]

Fantastic to be Paid in full...

we are still looking into flights...still don't know what to do for pre-cruise either.... totally unprepared for this one....

Missed some good flights... We will probably book one ways because we are doing multiple city flights.... DH's sister lives in Sarasota, FL...we are staying a couple of days with them after the cruise. So into Orlando and out of Tampa most likely. Less expensive that way.... we'll see have to get on that....

YEAHHHHH another for the FE....I don't know whether to make my own or buy a fish extender .... I have to look around..... to see what I can do.... If I make my own it will NOT look like gradysmommy..... mine will be MUCH less..... but it will be fun making it...

doin' the happy dance....

 

[capitalmom]

Julie - thank you! The magnets look awesome - I'm sure Amy will love it... Rearranging the fridge magnets is one of her favourite hobbies these days. I really need to get going on the FE stuff - I have (perhaps deluded) ideas about making part of them, and hoping to find the time soon - maybe over the Christmas holidays... So far, I'm just collecting supplies. My mom made our FE, and brought it with her when she came to visit last week, so now I'm really motivated!

Robin - it would be totally funny if they sat us together - apparently they do try to match families with similar-aged kids. If you do get stuck with us, I'll apologize for Amy's table manners in advance - we're hoping she'll grow out of the food-flinging stage before the cruise

And I would love to facebook with you all - I'll PM you with a link to my profile (my last name is rather common so it's hard to find me). I'm even more addicted to that site than I am to this one!! If I don't respond right away it's because Noel and I are heading to Florida on Wednesday morning to meet up with our friends for our pre-cruise cruise which leaves from Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday. So I'll be signing off for a couple of days - will catch up when we get back...

 

[pajl]

I am sending my FE gift's down a week before we leave, I have them almost finished and as I complete them I place them into the box. I love the new flat rate boxes at the Postal Service. Yes I made both the birthday girls's a present I will post a pic tomorrow I wouldn't want their birthday's to be overseen with all the excitement of the cruise and with the FE gifting so I made something special just for them. Which remind's me I know capital mom/noels DD bithday date but need to know your DD so that I can have her gift in place the morning of her birthday.

Hi Julie....
dd's birthday is Feb 16th..She will be 11...Wow can hardly believe it...

Thanks so much...so thoughtful!

 

[pajl]

TA just emailed me to confirm we are booked on early dining!!
That makes me happy!!!

I joined the FE exchange too....and will be ordering my thingy from that lady on Ebay..

so today...I am a wee bit excited....finally!

looking forward to connecting with a few of you on Fb before the cruise...
How cool is that?

Another question..
A couple of things I have been reading and am confused by them..
1) what is significant with the 75 day mark?
2) Am I dreaming big to think I can get a reservation in Palo for Valentines Day??
3) How do you know what excursions to book...Is there a place that suggests some , that have had good reports?
Do you pay for these things now before we even board?

Thanks again !!

 

[TiredOfCold]

Another question..
A couple of things I have been reading and am confused by them..
1) what is significant with the 75 day mark?
2) Am I dreaming big to think I can get a reservation in Palo for Valentines Day??
3) How do you know what excursions to book...Is there a place that suggests some , that have had good reports?
Do you pay for these things now before we even board?

Thanks again !!

OK - I'll take a stab at a few of these... although my answers are only coming from reading the boards and the Disney website, not from experience!

1. If you have never cruised Disney before you are not allowed to make reservations for spa, Palo or excursions until you are paid in full and at the soonest 75 days before your actual cruise start date. People who have cruised Disney once are Silver Castaway Club members and can book this stuff 90 days out, 5-9 prior Disney cruises are Gold members 110 days out(?), 10+ prior Disney cruises are Platinum 120 days out(?).
From what I have read Palo and spa fill up fast, so obviously frequent customers get the best chance of getting reservations for preferred dates/times.

2. Total guess here - but I was thinking the same thing and I am thinking it's not going to happen (won't stop me from trying though!)... see point #1 above.
I have read that they keep a few spots open at each seating that can only be booked ON THE BOAT - so if it is full when you try online, that may be an option. I imagine the line forms quickly upon boarding!

3. The excursions are discussed on the main forums - lots of experienced cruisers out there. If you use the search box and type in the name of the excursion(s) that appeal to you, you will probably find some feedback... if not, just post a new topic and ask any questions. As for paying, I think you can book before or on the ship (if there is still availability for the excursion you are interested in) so I would think you can pay before if you book prior (and I did read somewhere about cancellation policy of 3 days prior to sailing) or on your onboard account if booked while on the ship.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong....

 

[ilovedevin]

Funny birthday girl's birthdays are on the 16th....we are taking the www.bernardstours.com in St. Martin with nothing in St.Thomas except for some shopping gotta get my rum LOL. Snorkling at Castaway Cay.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

I can't believe our 75 day mark is coming up in just a few weeks!! So much research to do before then. I've been looking at third party touring companies for the islands. I've looked at so many now that I'm all confused on which tour is on what island. I need to add everything to my master spreadsheet and compare.

I really want to do the beach on St. Maarten and St. Thomas but want to see a lil' bit of the islands too. I definitely want to shop in St. Thomas but not sure how to do that with my 3 boys in tow. Since we don't have as much time in St. Thomas I don't want to over book the day and rush through the day.

I have read that pirate night is on the day we are in St Maarten so I want to be sure to have enough time to get the boys all dressed up.

Speaking of pirate night, are y'all planning on dressing up? I have costumes for my boys and coming up with ideas for me and John. My in-laws bought costumes for themselves but I'm not really sold on the cheesy adult pirate costumes. I want to look cute. lol

Target has a ton of Disney stuff in their $1 aisle right now. Still deciding what to do for the FE gifts. I've been accumulating "stuff" but not sure how I want to go about putting it all together.

 

[robinpgma]

You guys are WAY MORE ORGANIZED than me....I know what the "Big" FE gift will be but the "other" stuff I don't know yet...I haven't decided whether to buy or make the FE hanger yet....I better get moving....I have to book flights yet too....YIKES I really must get going....

The flights I am looking at are one ways into Orlando and out of Tampa (going to visit family after cruise)...it's less expensive to do one ways than multi-city....I have to get a move on....(see I am trying to psych myself up to do this )

I haven't thought of pirate stuff yet either.....

Have a good night....

 

[mrbudyhed]

Wow, a lot of activity on this cruise meet thread. You guys are just enabling my joy and excitement! Anyway, I went on the Disney site to check what time we had on St. Martin and no listings came up for the Feb 12th cruise. I hope that doesn't mean our cruise is full. Oh well, if it is, the more the merrier, right? Does anyone know what the time frame for St. Martin is? Julie/Ilovedevin--we are gonna do BernardTours too. Guess I'll see you on the bus!

 

[Jess Warren]

Wow- you guys have gotten bunches done!! I ordered my FE from Gradysmommy (I think that is her name on e-bay) and got it about 3 1/2 weeks later... (this past Saturday) and dd's name was spelled wrong- but I immediately sent her a message and she sent one back to say she was so sorry and send it back to her and she would fix it. Very nice...
I still have to make our reservations for CIS for the night prior. I just want to be close to the ship.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

Wow, a lot of activity on this cruise meet thread. You guys are just enabling my joy and excitement! Anyway, I went on the Disney site to check what time we had on St. Martin and no listings came up for the Feb 12th cruise. I hope that doesn't mean our cruise is full. Oh well, if it is, the more the merrier, right? Does anyone know what the time frame for St. Martin is? Julie/Ilovedevin--we are gonna do BernardTours too. Guess I'll see you on the bus!

I forget the exact time but I believe we have 11 hours there. I want to say 7:30 am - 6:30 pm but not 100% sure. I've looked at Bernard Tours. How cool would it be for all of us to be on the same bus?!

 

[seasideliz]

I still have to make our reservations for CIS for the night prior. I just want to be close to the ship.

What / where is CIS, I have to book us as well. Not sure if we should stay in Orlando or near the ship??

We are also going to do Bernard's Tour, so sounds like there will be a bunch of us

Does anyone know how long we have in St. Thomas?