February 12, 2011 - 7 night Eastern

[LARiley]

Hi everyone....we are going to join you in the FE....Julie... I PM'd you with our info....I have a plan.....I am really excited about it....I hope it works....

We are not new cruisers but new to Disney...Mike & I have cruised lots before (I LOVE it - best way to travel in my opinion) but this will be our DDs 2nd cruise. We went on a cruise with her in April 2010 (this year w/ my parents). We had to cancel a Land and Sea vacation in 2008 because she got VERY sick on the plane to WDW in the beginning of the trip....Since then she has alway asked us "When are we going on the Disney Boat"...
I do have to say....I always feel a little gitty when in the planning phase for ALL cruises....since I am the "PLANNER/TOUR GUIDE" for everyone (inc my parents when the come with us)...They just go where they are told....

I have a good excel list of things to pack if anyone wants it....just give me your e-mail or PM me w/ info and I'll get it to you....

Hi,
I'm just getting into Disboards and found the stream for our cruise. We're first time cruisers so a little clueless at this point. We are 7 - 2 connected cabins - me (Lori), my husband Drew, 3 kids - Brennan (boy - 11), Devan (boy - 8) and Sydney (girl - 8), my Mom Mary and Drew's Mom Camille. We would really appreciate a copy of the packing list. What is a PM? I don't have enough posts to include our home email address.
Lori

 

[Jax]

Palj,

The 75 day mark is when you can log in online and do the following:
- Complete the forms to register kids for the kids clubs
- Reserve Shore Excursions (this just confirms your spot in the shore excursion, payment for the excursion isn't required till the end of the cruise)
- Make your Palo dining reserations (you can make 1 reservation for brunch, high tea and dinner)
- Reserve times for any spa treatments
- You are also now able to complete your online check-in documents. If you do this online ahead of time it will save you time when you check in at the port. You just complete the documents, and then you will need to print something and bring that with you to the port

To do all of the above you will need to sign in (create an account if you haven't already done so) on DisneyCruise.com. You enter your reservation number and it pulls up your cruise confirmation.

That is so exciting, almost at the 75 day mark!!! Happy Booking to everyone

 

[Jax]

Hi Lariley,

Welcome to the boards, but more importantly welcome to the cruise

A PM is a private message. When viewing a post, if you click on someone's name it gives you an option to send them a private message.

You are just in time, we set a cutoff date for our FE for the end of this month. ilovedevin has been organizing our FE so she will be able to provide you with the most current info.

Again welcome to the cruise.

 

[ilovedevin]

Midnight tonight baby whoa whoa

 

[blessedmomofboys]

So, can we book at midnight eastern timezone?

I'm starting to get super stressed!! I have St Martin planned out and we decided to do the beach on our own. I can't decide what to do on St. Thomas/St. John. My inlaws have decided to take a tour of St John through DCL and then head over to Coral World on their own. I would love to see St. John and Coral World but I also want to do the skyride and shop a little. I just don't think there is time to do it all. Decisions, Decisions... (and I left all of my books including my Frommer's book on each island in California this past week!)

 

[pajl]

Thanks Jax...as always!
You have been great with all the info!!

The prob is..I have no idea what to book as far as excursions go..
We are just as happy to sit and take in sand and ocean!!
but if there are any MUST SEE's please share!!

The one thing I have heard on the boards is there will be 6 ships in port @ St Thomas..so therefore LOTS and LOTS of people...

I will book the kids club, spa and dining though for sure!

oh yes..So what if when we get on the cruise, we decide to take in an excursion, are the chances great that it will be all booked up?

How exciting!
oh my goodness!

 

[noelk]

So, anyone else waiting for the clock to strike midnight?
Forty-one minutes to go by my watch!

It's been a crazy month of November for us...I feel rather unprepared to book things tonight with so many other things occupying our limited time in recent days, including Christmas preparation!

Anyway, just hoping I get to make a few good reservations tonight, and that the website is fast and doesn't crash.

 

[pajl]

Yep...just getting some good advice from Jax...
and getting ready to book!!

whoo hooo!

 

[Jess Warren]

Woo hoo- Got Palo for the night I wanted for dinner... but not brunch on the day I wanted... Looked like it was only available on Sunday... and that looks like the day we will have the character breakfast... hopefully will be able to get into brunch later in the trip. Couldn't believe how easy it was go get the baby booked into Flounders, really, for any time I wanted. Not sure if I am happy with what I did- booked an hour for each night, for 1 hour after our dinner starts... so I am thinking bring the kids to dinner, feed them, then after an hour take them to the nursery & kids club to finish dinner, have a drink, etc... but not sure about nap time yet and how to handle that. dh says he will just go to the room and sit on the deck while they sleep... ok by me.
now, off to bed after a long holiday week.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

I couldn't believe how much nursery time is available! I'm thinking about reserving for my youngest 2 an hour into dinner since I know they will be done. I just can't decide if I should leave them in there during the show or not. My inlaws are planning on keeping my niece during the show and putting her to bed and have extended the offer to us but part of me feels slightly guilty for doing that. Two 2 year olds and a 1 year old is no easy task.

My inlaws are logged in right now making all of the reservations and booking excursions and since our ressies are linked we can't be logged in at the same time. So, I'm patiently waiting.

 

[ilovedevin]

Jess Warren I'm glad you got Palo for the night you wanted and sorry you were not able to get the brunch. The only two thing's I wanted was parasailing for me DH is too chicken and the Castaway Cay 3 in 1 snorkling, rafting and biking. Plus Devin is checked into the kids club yay him, he is so going to love that.


To those who gave your warm wishes to Devin, Thank You...he came out like a trooper and healed way faster than expected now is the waiting game his doctors appointment is not until Jan 14 to see if he will need surgery again, glasses or if he is all set.

 

[noelk]

I too was surprised how much availability there was in Flounders. Top priority there for us was to book the two-year-old in the night we're in St. Martin...that's also the night of the Pirates party! Our six year old will love it, but there's no way the two year old would last that late.

Only disappointment was we weren't able to get our choice at Palo. With us and our schedule, the only night that really worked was day three, which happens to be February 14th (Valentine's Day)...every single time slot was booked solid the moment I logged on at 12:00am! Oh well, we'll try to get in there when we board!

Overall, worth staying up to have the most availability/options.

 

[robinpgma]

Welcome Lori and all,

Glad to see you here....we are getting very excited.... Ask any questions and we'll try to answer... many of us are new to Disney cruising.... We've been on other cruise lines before....

Remember.... ask away.

Robin

 

[blessedmomofboys]

I got the things booked that I wanted for right now. I got the nursery for 5 nights from 6:30 - 10:00. I figured that way they could go play and we could finish dinner without keeping them entertained and then we can also go to the show. I didn't book it for pirate night. I'm not quite sure what to expect for pirate night though since it doesn't start till 9 something. And that will be after a long day in St Maarten. My sil booked high tea and I'm going to wait to get on board to book our Palo reservations. Not sure when the best time for that is either...I don't want to miss anything!! I also booked the stingray excursion at Castaway Cay. I booked my 5 year old to go too but I'm not sure if he would get scared. I showed him some video of it today and he seemed excited so I guess we will see.

 

[Jess Warren]

I definitely felt it was worth it to stay up late last night... but I was a grouch at work today!

Now my dad and dh want to do the bottom fishing on CC and it is booked. I also didn't get a brunch ressie for Palo on the day I wanted... oh well, hopefully when we board I can get in.
Ilovedevin- Mom and dad aren't going to participate in FE- just the 4 of us. thanks for holding off while waiting for an answer from me. Wow- Parasailing- how exciting!!
Makes me feel like I made the right decision hearing everyone else talk about booking flounders for mid- way through dinner. All of our kids are going to be fast friends! I hope that when we get on board I can add time for Pirate night (I used all of my hours)- blessedmomofboys- I know that my mom would stay in with the baby too- but I want her to enjoy as wel!

OK- so all of my fellow flounders people- I can't figure out what is going to happen since it says that they don't feed the young ones- but I have dd1 booked in Flounders from 8:30-3:30 on St. Martin day... Will they feed her??? Maybe I should take some yogurt, cereal, etc... and she can just snack??

 

[seasideliz]

Finally managed to get paid in full, but for the life of me, the disney website is driving me crazy, i can NEVER get logged into it..... am i the only one???

Now I have to wait till tomorrow to get logged on and see what I can book....

Reading all of your activities is so exciting!!

 

[pajl]

I was happy I satyed up as well...got a few things booked..a brunch @ Palo...
dd signed up for Kids club...Glass bottom boat...thought that would be fun!!

Does anyone know if I can visit the French part of St Maarten, Marigot in a timely manner...like can I leave the ship...then go and shop and get back plenty of time to board the ship again?
I was hoping to really visit there...



74 days!!!

 

[LARiley]

Thanks for the greetings for this rookie cruise planner! I took a top from the board about time zone difference and went in at 11pm CT so was able to start booking some of our stuff. Yeah and thank you!
I have 2 8-year olds (Devan and Sydney) registered with Oceaneers Club and 1 11-year old (Brennan). The 11 year old wants to spend time in Quest/Edge for tweens but I can't find anywhere to preregister that. I got a note back from Disney that preregistration isn't required for this age group/tween club. does anyone else out there have a 11-13 year old? It would be fun to connect ahead of time so he knows someone.
Lori

 

[blessedmomofboys]

OK- so all of my fellow flounders people- I can't figure out what is going to happen since it says that they don't feed the young ones- but I have dd1 booked in Flounders from 8:30-3:30 on St. Martin day... Will they feed her??? Maybe I should take some yogurt, cereal, etc... and she can just snack??

That's a tough call. I would call DCL and find out more information. We had talked about maybe doing an excursion and leaving my younger 2 on the boat but decided against it but the thought of feeding them never crossed my mind. I would definitely check and double check before you are locked into the excursion. I'm excited to meet others that my two youngest will be playing with! I was worried at first that mine were going to be older than anyone in there and get bored. I also worried that I would look like a terrible parent for already booking my 18 hours.

Does anyone know if I can visit the French part of St Maarten, Marigot in a timely manner...like can I leave the ship...then go and shop and get back plenty of time to board the ship again?
I was hoping to really visit there...
74 days!!!

Did you get the times of the excursion? I believe that is our longest day in port but I have heard nightmare stories about traffic in St. Maartin. I read to plan to leave in time to get to the boat an hour before you're supposed to and then you will be safe.

We are planning on seeing St Maartin on our own via taxis and I really want to eat lunch somewhere on the French side. I know it wouldn't be just like being in France but it will be the closest I've been. We are going to do a few hours at the beach and then maybe see the island a little bit. Is the shopping good here? I've read tons of information on shopping in St. Thomas.

 

[TiredOfCold]

I'm just not that smart... thought it was midnight tonight to start registering!

Oh well - I wanted dinner on Valentine's day at Palo and it looks like I would have been SOL anyway judging from Noel's post YESTERDAY...

I did manage to get an 8pm dinner on the 13th and I guess I'll keep looking for a cancellation. I don't really expect that anything will open up but I'll ask when we are on board anyway.

Getting super excited now as vacation isn't that far off and I think my FE from Gradysmommy is sitting at the post office; picking it up tomorrow

Looking forward to officially meeting everyone in... 74 days? (me and my bad math skills)