February 18, 2012 Western Caribbean

[pmbunny]

Hi pmbunny/Robin!
We haven't heard from you in a while--in fact since before the FE stuff was finalized I have sent you a couple of private messages as well. If you are still planning on the cruise and participating in the Fish Extender exchange can you post here ASAP?

Thanks!

I'm here!! I'm here!!! Sorry, things got hectic with the holidays, then right after, I drove my MIL to Florida to her winter residence, and spent a couple of weeks. We are still planning the cruise, and I was glad when I saw the list for the Fish Extenders that we were on it (because I couldn't remember if I'd expressed interest). We're in rooms 1032 and 1034.

DS (18) is Brandon
DS (17) is Luke
DS (14) is Benjamin
DS (13) is Jacob

Can't respond to any of the private messages, because my post count isn't high enough, but I saw the invite to the facebook page, so I'll be there soon too!

 

[pmbunny]

Now that most of the holidays are over, it's back to cruise planning. I noticed a post on the DIS about DCL strictly enforcing the age limits for the clubs. My DD turns 18 a few days before we sail. I hope there will be enough for her to do and at least a couple of kids she can hang out with. I know that they have a "college aged" meet but I've read that this group is usually not very large. Does anyone have kids sailing in this age group?

Hi Nicsmom... I noticed your post, because our oldest turned 18 in October. He's still a senior in school, and is highly bummed (but hoping they'll let him in anyways) that he won't be able to do the teen group. Perhaps our two, and any others can hang out together, enjoying their new adult status, lol.

 

[pmbunny]

I know I'm blowing up the forum right now, lol.. trying to increase my posts so I can send private messages and respond to the ones I've received....

Anyways, i just sent my request to be added to the facebook page. Wish I'd done that ages ago, because I'm on there more than anywhere else.

 

[msnoble]

Hurray! Welcome back Robin! So glad to hear you are still with us--I will go add you to the Facebook group right now

 

[mgroshans]

Getting ever so closer! Our boys were excited to see there names on the luggage tags we got yesterday.

 

[Nicsmom]

I've heard that they are very strict about the ages and teen clubs. I've read that they have a college meet the first night. So, my DD (Nicole) will go to that to meet some kids her age. She's on facebook and I noticed your son is there too. Maybe they can connect before the trip.

 

[pmbunny]

I know that we've warned him he may not get in... but he's still hoping. The last time we went, the youngest wanted to be in the next age group up, was a year off, and they let him switch.

I keep telling the oldest that he should be happy, he can do his thing and not have his brothers around, but he really loved that teen area.

 

[Nicsmom]

I know that we've warned him he may not get in... but he's still hoping. The last time we went, the youngest wanted to be in the next age group up, was a year off, and they let him switch.

I keep telling the oldest that he should be happy, he can do his thing and not have his brothers around, but he really loved that teen area.

I know my DD was looking forward to it too. She will turn 18 a week before we set sail. Last time we went she was 12 and she loved the kids clubs. She is looking forward to being treated like an adult. Having coffee in he Cove, joining us at Palo but she wanted to check out the teen club. Oh well, let's hope that there are a lot of nice young adults for them to hang out with.

 

[msnoble]

We set sail in 3 weeks!

 

[msnoble]

Hi Everyone!
For those of you not in the Facebook group, just wanted to give updated info on our onboard meet and greet

We are planning to meet on the 'Secret Deck' out on 7 Aft at 2:30 on Embarkation Day (Saturday). Some folks belong to DVC, so they will be heading off to the DVC meeting at 3 PM, but I will hang around on 7 Aft until 3:30 or so.

We also thought it would be fun to have a group photo taken while onboard. We are planning to meet in the Atrium (outside Lumiere's) on Formal Night at 7:30 for a group photo.

Hope to see you there!

 

[msnoble]

Just another plug for any late-comers--I know this thread looks pretty quiet, but we have a very active closed group over on Facebook. So if you were wondering where all the posts were, they are over there! Feel free to PM me or post here if you would like the link for the Facebook group.

We head down to FL 2 weeks from today!

 

[mgroshans]

2 weeks from now, we'll be checking into VWL!! 15 days until the cruise sets sail

 

[kcords]

Hi everyone! I'm going to be going on this cruise with my extended family - mother, husband and 2 kids, and brother and his family. I was just looking at the Fish Extender stuff and would love to be able to participate. Is it too late? I'm not sure if you have to sign up or if I hang one on my door if we'll be able to participate. I was going to make the extenders this weekend. I hope it's not too late. Might hang it anyway.

Thanks! Kim

 

[msnoble]

Hi everyone! I'm going to be going on this cruise with my extended family - mother, husband and 2 kids, and brother and his family. I was just looking at the Fish Extender stuff and would love to be able to participate. Is it too late? I'm not sure if you have to sign up or if I hang one on my door if we'll be able to participate. I was going to make the extenders this weekend. I hope it's not too late. Might hang it anyway.

Thanks! Kim

Hi Kim, and Welcome! With less than a week to go, I am afraid it is too late to formally join the Fish Extender exchange. Many of us have finished our gifts already and shipped them ahead to the port. Just hanging an extender on the door wouldn't be sufficient, as we are exchanging gifts within a list--your cabins wouldn't be on the list.

So sorry

But I hope you will join us at the meet-up on deck 7 aft on Saturday at 2:30. We are also doing a meet thread group photo on Formal Night at 7:30 in the Atrium (outside of Lumiere's).

 

[Pixi Stix]

Welcome Kim! I can't believe we set sail in six days! Hope to see you at the Dis meet Saturday.

Dena

 

[mgroshans]

Welcome aboard, Kim! 5 days!!!!!!

 

[loewymartin]

What a fabulous week on board the Disney Magic! It was fantastic to meet everyone from the FE lists as well as some new friends.

A huge thank you to Maureen for organizing the FEs, the meet and greet and the picture on formal night. My girls loved coming back to the room to check their FE goodies and really enjoyed knowing some names for kids to meet before we even boarded. I know Wolfcat's youngest and my youngest were buddies for a lot of last week! My oldest (who is 9) was caught between the two groups since many of the kids in the group were in the Edge group. But, we all had a great time.

I think the best advice was:
-bring a hanging shoe bag for the bathroom door
-clips: for the curtain between the kids/adult beds and for attaching suits to the veranda chairs
-get involved with the FE group!
-drop off items to be signed (we did pillowcases) at Guest Services ASAP. I didn't show/tell the girls I had them, I just dropped them off and they arrived in our stateroom Friday evening while the girls were in the Club/Lab. I laid them out and it was a wonderful surprise for the end of the trip. The girls even brought them to dinner to have our waitress and assistant waiter sign them.

Wonderful vacation! We are now trying to figure out when we should go again and where we should cruise next time!

Funny thing: I posted to my FB page as we were boarding the plane and my old neighbor saw my post - her family was on the same cruise with another neighbor from that development!! What a small world

 

[msnoble]

Aww thanks Michelle!

It really was a great cruise, with perfect weather. Getting to know a bunch of folks through this thread and the Facebook group really added a great dimension to our cruise experience as well! I think all of your points about best advice are spot-on

I want to give a big shout-out to everyone who participated in the FE exchange, and in our meet-ups onboard--what a terrific group of people to cruise with!! Thanks everyone

 

[clten]

Hi guys! Not sure if anyone is checking back on this thread. But I'm trying to keep track of all the scheduled stops on Castaway Cay this year. I haven't been able to find out for sure if your cruise made it's scheduled call. (Sounds like you did and I know msnoble you started a trip report but haven't gotten to the Castaway Cay part yet!). If someone could post or PM me that would be great. If you could remember generally how the weather was, that would be a bonus. Thanks!