February 17, 2007

[MoiraRD]

The amount of meetings taking place is really up to each person and their confort level, some people who were active in discussion I never met, other people I ran into constantly. For me it just made the cruise more enjoyable.

I noticed the same thing on my cruise! From the group I was chatting with, there were over 200 people (families included) and we were all talking about meeting. I only met about a quarter of them at the meets, and the ones who were most talkative I didn't meet at all! I did meet some that almost never posted to the thread and seemed to run into them all the time! I agree that knowing those people sure made the cruise more enjoyable!

 

[dgaston]

We had a brief meet after the Sailaway party on the 9th deck on our 2005 cruise. There were only a handful of us who'd been talking on line.

We won't get to MCO until late Friday, so we may stay at a hotel near there. Afterwards, DS had selected Universal, so we'll probably stay at RPH to get FOTL access for Saturday and Sunday when we'll fly home.

I rented one way from Budget that trip and it worked out well.

 

[MoiraRD]

Just bumping up the thread!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

bump...

 

[Triggs2]

Hi,

I just made reservations for 2007. We had cruised this last February with Burma. Missed meeting you onboard though. Met some others though and my daughter met the 2 girls that she corresponded with online before we left. I had thought to hold off til 08 because we have alot of vacations this year.... but can't. Can't wait to go back! We had such GREAT weather this last time and a wonderful time.

Here's looking forward to sailing with the mouse again!

 

[MoiraRD]

Triggs2!!

So glad you are joining us!! I was on the Western the week after yours! What a fabulous trip!! I am just over the border from you - Bellingham, MA!! How old is your DD? I have 2 girls of my own. They will be 13 and 5 when we cruise next year. My DD12 had tons of fun meeting the girls she met through the DIS as well! I can't wait for this cruise!

Just found out today that DH booked a cruise for us through RCCL for July 8, 2006. I can't belive it!! This is definitely the year of major vacations for us, too! I can't wait!!!

 

[burma]

Triggs

I must have met every other family from RI except you ... LOL maybe this year we will do better ..Glad you had a good time and are going again

 

[christinou]

Yeah, our group keeps getting bigger, what fun it will be.
I am glad that we have more girls coming, we seemed to have a heavy slant on boys so far.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

LOL!
I thought there were more girls than boys!

I was thinking...It's pretty sad...I am SO much more excited for our cruise in 2007 than the cruise we are boarding in less than a month! . The DIS is such an awesome place. Getting to know people before we go will be great. I hope my boys (15, 13, 10 when cruising) can connect with other kids before we go. When we cruised last time, we didn't know anyone when we boarded, and by the time we were getting to know people, it was time to leave. This time, we'll all have a jump start!

 

[MoiraRD]

Hi Sue!

I feel the same way about next year's cruise! We are taking a RCCL Western on July 8th and the anticipation just isn't the same!! I am looking forward to the RCCL cruise, but the DCL cruise? I am almost off the walls! I have never been on a RCCL cruise, so I don't know what to really expect , but being on the Magic once is enough to make me never want to do anything but cruise on it!! I joined the RCCL board in the hopes of meeting others on my ship, but noone has responded as of yet! I just love the DIS and meeting people beforehand makes the cruise so much more enjoyable!

If you would like, my dd(she will be 13 when cruising as well!) can email your son so they can have a friend before they cruise. You can PM me if he is interested in chatting with her. Just let me know!

 

[burma]

I know its a bit early but meeting before the drill is not the best time in my opinon everyone is a bit crazy until later in the evening so we may want to consider a later time or even the next day at sea for a meet n greet.

 

[dgaston]

Adding in here -- DH and I are cruising Hawaii on Norwegian's Pride of Hawaii July 24th while DS17 is working in NH at the church camp, and I am not looking forward to some of the differences between Norwegian and Disney. Our first cruise was out of Boston to Bermuda -- hooked us on cruising but Disney's service is so spectacular. I gave DS the choice for the Feb 07 cruise...RCCL or Disney and he picked Disney! It's his HS graduation present. I really thought he'd like the thought of the rock wall, and everything. For one of the meets, how about briefly before dinner to exchange a list of cabins or whatever (after the drill).

 

[Triggs2]

I would rather not meet before the drill either. Our planes were little bit late and we didn't even board until 3. So, we missed the meet on the top deck. Which is too bad, I was looking forward to it.

My two DDs will be 11 and 7. I am looking forward to this more than them.
Right now, we are planning on going to WDW for my cousin's wedding. He is getting married in the pavilion and having his reception at the Grand Floridian. Going to be fun!

 

[christinou]

My DDs will be 9 and 11 soon to be 12, so it seems that the kids certainly should have a lot of fun....
I would love to hear from all of you going on non-Disney ship your impression of the other cruise lines when you are back, I keep wondering if we should try another company, but we have enjoyed disney so much (2007 wil be out 4th cruise) that I am afraid to be disappointed if we change.

We will have second seating, what is everyone else doing?

 

[MoiraRD]

I agree with everyone. Meeting before the drill would be too confusing. We should try to set up a few meets over the first two days(after leaving PC) or so in the event that we can't all make one. Here is a partial schedule/general info sheet that one of the men on my last cruise made for our 02/25/06 cruise:

****************************************
Sat
Check-in & Boarding
Port meet, 11:00 at Model ship
Pack a daybag including swimwear for the kids
Goofy Pool meet, 1:00 deck 9 [changed from Mickey pool]
WELCOME BUFFET on ship, Parrot Cay Rest deck 3 rear, til 2:45pm Sat
Staterooms often aren't available until around 2:00
At 3:30 or so everything shuts down to prepare for the drill
The Drill was at around 4pm [mandatory]
Departure Bubble Blowing 5:00 pm

Sun
DIS Kid meet at Topsiders at 9:00 am
DIS meet 11:00am at Scoops deck 9 [MardiGras beads option]
Dock Key West 12:30pm - 7:45 pm
Town Sopping, Durval St can be adult themed
Mallory Square, Pirate Museum, Tain & Trolley Tours, Sunset

Mon
Day at Sea - DIS Celebrate Mardi Gras
nothing yet set-up, except wearing beads
Monday Night = Formal dining
****************************************

The one in the port wasn't really an organized meet. We all had our Alien Green Mickey pins and if we saw someone we just went up and chatted. Some people met at the ship, but it wasn't really possible since some were in line or hadn't even made it through security at that point. We did have the Goofy Pool meet set up for that Saturday, but I didn't go because it was just too much since this was our first cruise and we really wanted to scope out the ship!! I think the Goofy pool meet was feasible for those people that head straight to the pool after boarding.

Luckily we still have plenty of time to figure out a plan!! Can't wait for this cruise!!!

 

[MoiraRD]

My DDs will be 9 and 11 soon to be 12, so it seems that the kids certainly should have a lot of fun....
I would love to hear from all of you going on non-Disney ship your impression of the other cruise lines when you are back, I keep wondering if we should try another company, but we have enjoyed disney so much (2007 wil be out 4th cruise) that I am afraid to be disappointed if we change.

We will have second seating, what is everyone else doing?

My DD12 LOVED it!! This was our first cruise and she felt like she was in heaven !! She loved the freedom she had and the fact that she could eat what she wanted when she wanted.

We are taking a RCCL cruise in July. I am a bit nervous since I was knocked off my feet by the Disney experience and I have heard that other lines can't compare. My DH made booked the RCCL. I was really voting for the special Western this July, but he is the one that makes the money, so he had final say ! I am going into this with an open mind and no expectations, and I will certainly report back here on our experience. Although I have to say, the price difference is unbelievable! We were comparing costs on the RCCL and DCL for different categories and were just amazed at the difference. We did a Cat. 6 on our last DCL cruise, but we were able to book a Junior Suite on RCCL for about $500 more than the cost of a Category 11 on DCL! Should be interesting!!

We are scheduled for the early seating at dinner. Never tried the late one!

 

[MoiraRD]

Just bumping up the thread again!!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Hi All-

I am home alone today-catching up on e-mails and getting a DIS fix.

We will be doing a RCCL western in about 3 weeks. I am anxious to see how the boys like it. It is much less $$ than Disney. Part of me wants us to like it better, just because of the cost, but honestly, I don't see how that will happen. DH and I went on a short RCCL cruise on an older ship. It was just OK. I begged and pleaded, and so did the kids, to try DCL. DH finally gave in but it was my DH who practically dragged me down to re-book on board, and swore we'd never cruise any other line but DCL...
Well, his parents want to take one more family vacation with us. We will be cruising with DFIL and DMIL on the Jewel of the Seas, RCCL in a few weeks. They want to take us. They don't want to do Disney . Since they will be paying for our cruise part of the trip, we go happily where they want . I'll let you all know how it is. It is one of the newer ships (2004), so I should get a good comparison. I am just happy we cruise from Fort Lauderdale. I could not bear to hear that DCL ship horn unless I was on the ship. I'd lose it.

I agree with the meet time-the first day is way too crazy.

We should definitely get each other's cabin #s though. That way if things get planned on the ship, we can call each other. Where is everyone staying? We are in 6016 and 6018-unless the upgrade fairy blesses us. If people want to list them, I can keep track of it, then when the cruise is close, make a list for everyone. I don't mind making a list of meets, too. I know it's early...just excited to go. And now, I need to go do all the things I said I would accomplish because I am home alone today.

 

[burma]

we will be in 6052 and 6054

2 DD's will be 4 and 5.5 during the cruise

 

[christinou]

Sue, that owuld be great, if you want to keep a list, we will be in 2108, there will be Dh, myself, and 2 DD 9.5 and 11 (soon to be 12) on the cruise.
I am also really excited, and I am NOT showing pictures of the Princess cruise ship that just had a fire to my girls, I made the mistake of watching Titanic with them, and my younger one if very worried now.....even though she already has been on 3 DCL cruises.