February 12, 2011 - 7 night Eastern

[robinpgma]

Hi everyone....just found you here....didn't know about this site....Getting very excited to cruise Disney....first timers here....

ME (40) , DH (40) , & DD (6)

Haven't booked flights yet or room pre-cruise yet. Still doing that...

R

 

[ilovedevin]

Welcome robinpgma

 

[Jax]

Hello and welcome Robinpgma

 

[TiredOfCold]

Welcome Robinpgma...
Not sure if you read my cryptic message on the "other" cruise board to find this site... hahaha. I think if you post a competing site on CC they will delete the post.

I'm very happy that there is yet another 6 year old girl in our group! I really want my DD to have a great time on this cruise and I know she has much more fun when she has a group of friends to hang out with.

Are you going to join the Fish Extender gift exchange?

 

[capitalmom]

Welcome Robinpgma! I'm Danielle, DW of noelk (aka Sensfan11 in the "other place"). And wow, another 6 year old girl - looks like the ship will be overrun with them! Ours is Laura, and is VERY excited about the cruise and meeting new friends...

 

[mrbudyhed]

Yes! Welcome! Also, for cryin out loud, I just want to go already! This wait is taking tooooo long!

 

[ilovedevin]

I know right, this is worse than waiting for Christmas when I was a kid LOL

 

[TiredOfCold]

Fully agreed Ilovedevin and mrbudyhed!!

Although the planning, reading the DIS boards and buying stuff for the FE are all fun and I like having something to look forward to.... I know it's going to be a long stretch of winter before that flight out to Florida!

 

[mrbudyhed]

For some fun and entertainment , let's get some more info on each other. What time are you getting to the port? Are you early risers? Is anyone making their kids do homework on the ship? Are you gonna go to Palo? What exursions do you think you're gonna book, or are you gonna stay on the ship?


I'm hoping to get to the port early, cause that's how I roll. My husband might not be so eager to feel rushed on the first day, but he's used to me, so I think that's how it will go. My kids usually get up early, but as the years go by, I find they do tend to naturally rise a little bit later than they used to. Maybe we'll be able to sleep in past 6:30 am! I don't want to have to have my (then 7) year old do homework on the ship, but I think it will be too much to cram in the day before the cruise and I'm sure she'll just be too mentally fried to try and do it the day before school. Maybe a little bit a day will not be so bad, just kinda geeky. We might try and book Palo, but this being our first cruise, I think there will be enough excitement. We're gonna wing that one. Ummm, I'm thinking about just wandering around the ports a little to get some land movement and then going back on the ship. Taking a taxi to that Maho beach (I think) where the planes take off and land might be super-cool, especially since my hubby is and aerospace engineer. (Geeky again, right?) So, now I want to hear everyone else's plans for a trip that is still 130 some days out!

 

[Jax]

Good idea mrbudyhed.

We will be flying in a couple of days before the cruise and will most likely use Disney transportation to get to the port. The 2 girls I am traveling with won't know about the cruise. Our current plan is to get on the Cruise bus in the morning and see how long it takes them (or we might surprise them in the morning before getting on the bus).

We are traveling during the kids spring break so they are only missing a couple of days of school. Although they won't have homework I think they will be journaling about the trip.

Really hoping to do Palo brunch.

Our current plan for excursions is the Kayak, Hike & Snorkel in St. Thomas and the Mountaintop Downhill Trek in St. Maarten. I am trying to decide if we want to do the Stingrays at CC.

Those were great questions, so fun to talk about the trip

 

[mrbudyhed]

Jax, I hope you are gonna video the girls' reaction when they realize what's going on. Too fun! Is spring break always in February in Canada?

 

[Jess Warren]

Hi Guys,
We are first time cruisers and I have been reading a bunch about the FE's. I am thinking about participating, if people can still sign up. How many people are signed up now and how many typically participate? Do you normally do gifts everyday?
What else do I need to know?

 

[Jax]

Yes I will definitely be video tapping just hoping they have a good reaction

I think Spring Break is usually Feb or Mar, depending on the year.

 

[ilovedevin]

Jess Warren,

Welcome and yes the FE is still available, I will PM you the list I have so far, as for the gift's they can be homemade or bought, you can give one per stateroom or one per person it is all up to you. You can give just once or more, again all up to you. We also are having a DIS-meet at 3:00 at the prominade lounge. It is going to be some much FUN!!! I am pretty sure that everyone on our cruise is going on their first Disney cruise so it should be very interesting.

Julie

 

[noelk]

Hmmm...some interesting discussion topics!

We'll probably get to the port mid-morning, and hope to be among the first group board. We'll be staying the night before at WDW, and expect flying down the day before...but we don't have our flights booked yet . We do, however, have the rental car booked to bring us from Orlando to Port Canaveral.

On board, I'm hoping we won't be up too early, although our two year old will have a say in that...actually, what a lot of it depends on is what dining time we end up with...we ended up with late dining when we switched our reservation several weeks ago to take advantage of a promo...we're hoping we might still clear the waitlist and get back to early dining, but if not, I expect we'll "shift" schedules...where our kids usually go to sleep between 7pm-8pm, I think we'll try to shift them to 9:30pm-11pm bedtimes...and just hope we get the corresponding sleeping in!

Not sure about the homework...our oldest just started first grade, and just got her first homework assignment on Friday, so we'll have to see.

Palo is definately on our agenda...depends in part on when we're able to book Flounders Nursury...since this is our first Disney cruise, we can't make any reservations until the end of next month...we may end up doing the brunch instead.

As for excursions, havn't really thought about it...big attraction for us is Castaway Cay...we loved both the private islands (Half Moon Cay via Carnival and CocoCay via Royal Caribbean) we've been to, and look for those on the itinerary when we book our cruises. For St. Thomas, we're likely going to stay on the ship (we've been there twice, and don't like having to tender with a toddler), and for St. Maartin, will likely go to Orient Beach and/or stoll around Marigot (I think our six year old, who's in French Immersion, will get a kick out of visiting the French caribbean).

 

[noelk]

Oh, and as far a spring break...here in Ontario, "March Break" for elementary and high schools is usually the second week of March (some school boards may opt for the 1st or 3rd week of March).

For the last 2-3 years, the schools have also been closed for "Family Day", which is the 3rd Monday in February (same day as Presidents' Day)...and our daughter's school also has been scheduling a "professional activity day" for the Friday before, which means a four-day weekend for the kids (of course, us 'grown-ups' have to work!

 

[ilovedevin]

Okay so I work night's and am a night owl but am sure that I will not sleep so I hope to get to the port around 10:00. We are planning on booking the Bernard's tour in St. Maarten and just walking around and going up the skyride in St. Thomas and snorkling at Castaway Cay. I know that a lot of people rave about Palo, however I have looked at the menu and there isn't anything that really interest me so we are going to pass. DS is only in pre-school so he won't have any homework, however I plan on having him work on a journal everynight for a keepsake of his feeling's of the day's events. I got the pages from our wonderful creative Dis'ers.

 

[robinpgma]

TiredOfCold & All,

Yes....I saw your post on the "OTHER" board....tried to find you and I did....took me a little while.... but....see....I found it.

didn't know this one existed...

More to come...

Robin....

 

[robinpgma]

Hi ILoveDevin....

Can you PM me the list for FE? With so few posts...I Can't PM you....my detail oriented brain needs to see this before.....I say yes....

Thanks....
Robin
robinpgma.....

 

[robinpgma]

iloveDevin....

The journal is a fantastic idea....I am going to "steal with pride" that idea. That would make an excellent memory box item. I am "seeing" something done in her handwriting for her scrapbook. WOW what a great idea.