February 14-18, 2010 4 Night Wonder Cruise

[myneverland]

[MY NEVERLAND: Great price on the CIS, I booked there first but they were going to charge me $200 for one night in a kidsuites, they said that was the park & ride room package price (we're driving down). I started looking some more and decided on the Quality Inn & Suites for $100 which includes parking and the Radisson shuttle. 8:30 might be a little late for eating supper but we would probably still be there at that time. ]

I've heard many people pricelineing CIS and then adding the park and ride to it for an extra $20 or $22 by calling the hotel directly. I like that it has free breakfast and kid suites. There an entire thread on this I was reading...

[We are in stateroom 6055...right near the stairs, I hope that does not mean a lot of noise. Has anyone thought about buying an upgrade at the port?]

I am considering an upgrade at port, but I haven't discussed it with the rest of my party.

PS, we are currently in rooms 2079 & 2081

 

[dejnosluvmickey]

Hi everyone, me and the wife are going to get in on this one. Leaving kids at home this time. All SIX of them.

We have done two others with the kids, and have two more booked already, one being Alaska in 2011. Hoping to get to see and do a few thing ya cannot do with the kids with.

We would like to get in on the FE's thou if we could(i dont have stateroom # yet). We're somewhere on deck 2. Its always fun to come back to cabin and find interesting things in the pockets

 

[dejnosluvmickey]

I have seen some photos of people decorated their doors. How popular is this? I think I might do this. If I can figure out how they did it.

NitaO, the doors are metal. We have a 5x12x12 tuperware container full of magnetic pics, painted wood cutouts, and stuff people gave us on past cruises. You can also use double sided tape, they just ask that you dont use industrial strength stuff(dont want to repaint door)

Pretty anything goes. i'll have to find some past picks of our doors.

 

[NitaO]

Laura: I would like to do my FE on Monday if that is ok. I think it was said that some families would do it on different days, that way we all get stuff through out the cruise. How Fun!!! I am thinking about doing just a gift bag per family with extra things for the kids in it, thats right for their ages.

 

[NitaO]

NitaO, the doors are metal. We have a 5x12x12 tuperware container full of magnetic pics, painted wood cutouts, and stuff people gave us on past cruises. You can also use double sided tape, they just ask that you dont use industrial strength stuff(dont want to repaint door)

Pretty anything goes. i'll have to find some past picks of our doors.

thanks for the info, I have seen some of the photos on other threads. But I would love to see some of your photos.

 

[lauraDar]

woo hoo, MYNEVERLAND, we are neighbors! We are in cabins 2075 & 2077!

On one of the other meet threads one person would have a list on their door so if anyone got an upgrade they were to go and update the list, before passing out FE gifts people would check that list to be sure of the cabin #s, and/or we could do a quick meet on Sunday on the BOAT, maybe 30 min or so before lifeboat drill.

As far as a deadline for signups, I thought one month out would be good (Jan 14) to give people time to get gifts together, however, I don't see excluding anyone who might want to do it at the last minute. I think I'm going to buy enough for everyone on the list, and if they don't do it then someone else will just get extra!

DEJNOSLUVMICKEY, welcome and bless your heart! With 6 children I don't blame you for needing a vacation to yourself! Sometimes my 2 are more than I can handle!

 

[jandj524]

Great to see everyone getting excited, I know I am

We got our cabin assignment today - 7086

As far as Nassau, we decided to book a room at Atlantis so the kids can play in the water park (we'll cancel if the weather looks bad)

If possible, can we deliver FE Gifts Sunday or Wednesday? (thanks for organizing, Laura! )

38 Days until we sail

 

[dejnosluvmickey]

woo hoo, MYNEVERLAND, we are neighbors! We are in cabins 2075 & 2077!

On one of the other meet threads one person would have a list on their door so if anyone got an upgrade they were to go and update the list, before passing out FE gifts people would check that list to be sure of the cabin #s, and/or we could do a quick meet on Sunday on the BOAT, maybe 30 min or so before lifeboat drill.

As far as a deadline for signups, I thought one month out would be good (Jan 14) to give people time to get gifts together, however, I don't see excluding anyone who might want to do it at the last minute. I think I'm going to buy enough for everyone on the list, and if they don't do it then someone else will just get extra!

DEJNOSLUVMICKEY, welcome and bless your heart! With 6 children I don't blame you for needing a vacation to yourself! Sometimes my 2 are more than I can handle!

cruising with six kids aint as bad as it sounds, they all go to the clubs and two teens go their own way. Only saw them at dinner and on castaway. We made a pack two years ago, one vacation per year without(thanks grandma and grandpa) and one with kids. Last year we went to Hawaii and renewed our wedding vows. Also got a sneek glimpse at the new DVC resort breaking ground on Ohau. This time its DCL helping on the jailbreak. LOL

FE kids gifts we usually hit up Hobby Lobby, dollar store(suprising has alot of little disney things for kids), Oriental trading(online) and Super Walmart(one by us has a big party supplies area). Then for the adult we try to get something unique to our home area.

The DVC members cruise last year a lot of people did a magnet with a scene from their hometown and thier disboard and real name on it. We did random magnets on doors too on top of the FE gifts last year. Kids helped make up wooden disney figuires we found at hobby lobby. MY DW has a die cut machine and we made up enough disney shapes and stuff for about 5-10 scrapbook pages. Always trying to make or do something different, gunna be tough this time. Only booked yesterday(didnt plan this one out lol)

 

[mjcoleman]

After this week, I could sure use some warm weather. Kids have been out of school all week due to icy road.....how about a 3 week Christmas vacation. Today at 10:30 am we were 3 degrees and -19 degree windchill.

 

[lauraDar]

I hear you there, MJCOLEMAN, here in NW Georgia we've been in the teens and 20s for a week now with brutal windchill. Children went back to school Wed when Christmas break ended, but schools closed early Thurs and stayed closed Fri because of snow and ice on the roads. Not supposed to get above freezing till Monday! I personally am looking forward to coming back to work the 3rd week in Feb with a sunburn to make everyone jealous!

 

[NitaO]

GA is not supposed to be this cold... Brrrrr Come on Feb.14th.

 

[lauraDar]

Been looking at Shirley's thread about Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach info, I'm especially looking at places to eat Sat night (getting really hungry), Grill's looks neat (variety of food and prices) what do you think?

 

[NitaO]

Ok, just switched hotels. Thanks for the tip MYNEVERLAND. I got Country Inn and Suites also for $49.00 and then called and they said we had a kids suite and I added the park and shuttle for $20.00. What a deal!!! Free breakfast is a nice thing too.

Laura, I will take a look at Grill's.

 

[NitaO]

Laura: Just looked at Grill's. It seems ok. Its just that my family is not into seafood, sorry. But if everyone else wants to meet there, its fine. I know we are odd.

 

[lauraDar]

Ok, thanks to Nita and Neverland I got up enough courage to try Priceline. I was also able to get CIS for $49+taxes and $20 park and cruise for 2 rooms! That is where I wanted to stay in the first place! THANKS, GUYS!

 

[myneverland]

Nita & Laura: So cool that we're all staying at the same place on 2/13! I'm glad it worked out for everyone. Since we'll be arriving a little late to the hotel (8:30 ish pm) on 2/13, maybe we'll catch you guys at breakfast on 2/14?

Got some locker organizers today to use as FE's. Got them at a local thrift store for only $1.60! They have several pockets, 1 large, a few small ones and a small pocket/ledge at the bottom. They're even magnetic and would just stick to the doors. But, I think I'll add a ribbon hanger on the tops to actually hang them from the fish, just in case whatever is put in them is too heavy for the magnets. Just don't want it to fall down or anything. So, we're definitely in for the FE's - both of our rooms.

Seeing all the Valentine's stuff in stores reminds of how close we are!

 

[jandj524]

I have decided to just buy a FE off ebay...saves me a lot of stress. I am a perfectionist and if I will stress myself out to make a perfect one. Maybe $30 bucks is worth the anxiety and time savings.

Anyway, I read that a lot of people bring photo mats or pillowcases to leave at guest services to have signed by the characters. Anyone planning on doing that? The photo mats seem like a great idea.

Thanks for the eBay suggestion, I just ordered one (I can't sew, and am not at all creative - much less stressful, just hope it gets here in time)

As far as the pillow cases and photo mats - we have done both. My DS still sleeps on the pillow case that we had made in Dec '06 -- it is really a unique souvenir. We did the photo mats in '08 and they frame a special "Tinkerbell Surprise" picture the kids took on the cruise. We will probably do the photo mats again.

 

[mjcoleman]

I found a really good deal at Oriental Trading on pirate costumes for the boys. It comes with a scarred chest that my boys didn't like, but for 5 bucks, I can remove that part from the costume. You can find it by searching for "pirate child costume". Just remember to also google for Oriental Trading Coupons so you save even more!

 

[dejnosluvmickey]

I found a really good deal at Oriental Trading on pirate costumes for the boys. It comes with a scarred chest that my boys didn't like, but for 5 bucks, I can remove that part from the costume. You can find it by searching for "pirate child costume". Just remember to also google for Oriental Trading Coupons so you save even more!

http://www.costumesupercenter.com/pirate+costumes.html

Twhere we got ours. The ones oriental trading are a "one use only" type

 

[mjcoleman]

Most things with my boys are a "one time use." I figured that for $5....maybe this means I will not even have to pack them and bring them home.