February 1st, 2013 ~ 8 MAGICal days we can't wait for!!

[Gina]

Gina yes please add my last post to roll call...
Question do you think this cruise will be crowed and are there lines to get into shows or resturants, lounges, pools, etc

Added!

As far as crowds, that's why we like going in February... There will always be kids, even then, but *nothing* like summer or holidays. I don't ever remember any big lines, except for the scheduled character meets, and even those moved pretty quickly. The pools get crazy crowded on sea days, as on any cruise line, but just like with WDW you just zig when people zag. Go early in the morning, go during first dinner seating, stay onboard during a port day or get back to the ship early and the pools will always be less crowded.

For shows, just like anywhere, get there a bit early and you'll be fine. Dinner has never been a problem. Topsiders can get crowded on sea days and during lunch, but nothing crazy.

It's a GREAT time to cruise... The weather is usually just right -- plenty warm to swim and such but not too hot -- and nothing ever feels really overcrowded. Plus, the Magic is laid out really well. It's big but not crazy big like some of the newer ships floating around out there, and while you never feel elbow-to-elbow anywhere (except maybe the pool deck for the parties, but we go a deck above!) it's still small enough that you keep running into new friends and that's pretty cool.

Please, ask all the questions you like! We all love DCL here, and we love to talk about it.

Are y'all going to be a part of the FE gift exchange?

 

[Awaken]

I'm still thinking about the FE... I had to google it to find out what it was .

What would you say a first timer must do or experince on a Disney Crusie?

Is everything first come first serve and if you don't sign up quickly ... are you just out of luck?

So many questions and so much time ....

 

[alaskanabbott]

I'm still thinking about the FE... I had to google it to find out what it was .

If you have kids I would say the FE is a MUST. You can buy a FE on Ebay or Etsy for about $30-40 dollars. I made mine and I'm not very crafty. I spent about $10. If you google FE images you will find a ton of ideas for very cheap and creative FE's. As for your FE gift, search here for FE's and you will get a bunch of ideas. My kids loved coming back to the room at night and finding their little treasures....even DH and I got excited, and my dad who is 67 had so much fun he has been planning for months.

What would you say a first timer must do or experince on a Disney Crusie?
Do the nightly shows, we LOVED LOVED LOVED them! Dreams, Golden Mickeys, Toy Story...they were all wonderfull. We did Palo brunch, it was ok, hoping Palo dinner is better

Is everything first come first serve and if you don't sign up quickly ... are you just out of luck?
Hmm, not sure I understand the "everything" you mean. The Tea With ALice you have to sign up for as soon as you board the ship. We were 1st boarding, got on the ship about 11:30am and went straight to guest services and the tickets were all gone Otherwise I can't think of anything you need to sign up for. OH! Palo brunch or dinner, do it as soon as you are paid in full...those fill up and then you are SOL. Also some excursions fill fast, but even Palo and excursions can sometimes be secured when you board.

So many questions and so much time ....

Ask away!

 

[Awaken]

Yes i was asking about the excursions, tea, palo, etc. I thought you could sign up on line for most activities and avoid the rush when you get on board.

Count us in for the FE... Do you put gifts in the FE everynight for those who are partipating?

Can you explain the pillow signing .... Do we bring our own pillow or purchase the Disney one with the sharpies?

 

[alaskanabbott]

Yes i was asking about the excursions, tea, palo, etc. I thought you could sign up on line for most activities and avoid the rush when you get on board.
first time cruisers can sign up at the 75day mark, online for Palo brunch or dinner. Tea has been canceld . You can also register your kids into the clubs, book excursions, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you can book spa appts too.

Count us in for the FE... Do you put gifts in the FE everynight for those who are partipating?
You will hang your FE on the little fish by your door (hence the name "Fish Extender". We will get a copy of everyone who is participating in the FE, and get assigned a day when we drop off our goodies to the other cabins. So you will only deliver your FE gifts once, but to everyone's FE's. Make sense? If there are 16 cabins participating, we could do a morning and night delivery. On our last cruise we kept it informal and just gave out the list, and let people deliver whenever they wanted to. Sometimes we would come back and have so much stuff the steward had brought it inside.
Can you explain the pillow signing .... Do we bring our own pillow or purchase the Disney one with the sharpies?

You supply the pillow case and sharpies, it can be whatever you want! I have heard it's better with LOTS of colors.
Have not done this yet, but we will next time

 

[princessmommyx3]

Our first Disney crusie... We picked the Magic, because we live Austin and we have an odd break in the school year during that time, so a great time to take our 8 year old son on his first cruise.
Pam

Pam, what part of Austin do you live in? We are in Leander ISD and have the February break as well. My girls will still have to miss 3 days of school but I figure that is not as bad as 6!

 

[Awaken]

We are in Steiner Ranch... We were new to the school district last year and we found that a lot of people take vacations during this time and the teachers seem to accommodate this by less homework since the class sizes shrinks. So we said we'ed go for it this year while he is in elementary.... Actually it was more me wanted to go for it.

 

[princessmommyx3]

We are in Steiner Ranch... We were new to the school district last year and we found that a lot of people take vacations during this time and the teachers seem to accommodate this by less homework since the class sizes shrinks. So we said we'ed go for it this year while he is in elementary.... Actually it was more me wanted to go for it.

I know, there were 2 kids in my daughter's class last year that went on a cruise during the february break so that is where I got the idea! I bet there will be plenty doing the same thing this year. My oldest 2 are only in 2nd & kinder so I am not worried about missing 3 days of school. BTW, we live in Round Rock but are in LISD.

 

[MedicGoofy]

So, now that our cruises are being changed.....what is everyone thinking?

I have changed my date to the January 18th date. Im flexible with work so I know I won't have a problem with my vacation time.

Wondering if anyone else might end up on that cruise with me

Jenn

 

[JohnsPrincess]

Have ya'll seen that our cruise has been changed??? 4 nights with only one stop - Cozumel. Not happy. The dates and price were perfect for this one. I'd like to just get my deposit back but I'm not sure I'll be able to. We booked with Dreams Unlimited.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I am sooooooo upset!!! This cruise was the perfect dates, length and itinerary for my family. Trying to decide whether to switch to the 6 night Feb 23 (Grand Cayman, Cozumel) or the 8 night Feb 15 (Key West, Castaway Cay, Port Canaveral). I prefer the extra nights on the 8 night but I prefer the ports on the 6 night.

Any opinions on what I should do???

 

[Gina]

WELL... what a day!!! I don't think any of us saw these changes coming. I don't say this to belittle anyone's unhappiness over the changes at all, because I can see why some people would be less than thrilled with the changes, but my son and I are some exponent of excited over this.

I had my TA switch us to the 2/15 sailing. That is the one I had originally wanted anyway -- closer to my son's birthday, and he wouldn't have to miss a big band competition, but it was $500 more. The prices had dropped some so now it's only $400 more, and then we get the $250 OBC on top of that. AND WE GET TO GO TO BOTH CASTAWAY CAY AND WDW!!! I called my son to tell him, and he couldn't believe it... He's as excited as I am.

I hate that our little group here has to be broken up, though. I was really looking forward to meeting all of you! If anyone else is switching to the sailing on the 15th, let me know!

 

[princessmommyx3]

WELL... what a day!!! I don't think any of us saw these changes coming. I don't say this to belittle anyone's unhappiness over the changes at all, because I can see why some people would be less than thrilled with the changes, but my son and I are some exponent of excited over this.

I had my TA switch us to the 2/15 sailing. That is the one I had originally wanted anyway -- closer to my son's birthday, and he wouldn't have to miss a big band competition, but it was $500 more. The prices had dropped some so now it's only $400 more, and then we get the $250 OBC on top of that. AND WE GET TO GO TO BOTH CASTAWAY CAY AND WDW!!! I called my son to tell him, and he couldn't believe it... He's as excited as I am.

I hate that our little group here has to be broken up, though. I was really looking forward to meeting all of you! If anyone else is switching to the sailing on the 15th, let me know!

Gina, maybe I should follow your lead and try to be excited about the Feb 15 8 night intinerary.......of course CC would be fabulous, but Key West doesn't hold much appeal to us (daughters will be 3,6, & 8 at sailing) - might just stay on ship - and we were just at WDW less than a year ago so I was hoping to show my girls some neat stuff they have never seen before at the western caribbean ports. However, 2 extra nights would be great (we will be in 1 bedroom suite) so maybe I should just make the best of it? Also considering switching to the 6 night Feb 23 to Grand Cayman & Cozumel, which would save us some $$$.....I am so confused as to what to do!!!

 

[onescrappymom]

So, now that our cruises are being changed.....what is everyone thinking?

I have changed my date to the January 18th date. Im flexible with work so I know I won't have a problem with my vacation time.

Wondering if anyone else might end up on that cruise with me

Jenn

We are changing to 1/18 too. The other dates were just too much of a price increase and I don't want to give up my veranda! Besides, it's a great itinerary for the kids so overall we are excited! Good luck to everyone to find something that works for you.

 

[sissy_ib]

I'm now less sad about us changing to the November cruise with the military discount. CC is just a beach to us and as much as we love WDW, we are DVC members and the cruise is a break from WDW for us. If we cant do the Nov 3 cruise we are going on a different cruise line or a land based vacation somewhere NOT Disney! We really want to go somewhere new...

 

[Gina]

Gina, maybe I should follow your lead and try to be excited about the Feb 15 8 night intinerary.......of course CC would be fabulous, but Key West doesn't hold much appeal to us (daughters will be 3,6, & 8 at sailing) - might just stay on ship - and we were just at WDW less than a year ago so I was hoping to show my girls some neat stuff they have never seen before at the western caribbean ports. However, 2 extra nights would be great (we will be in 1 bedroom suite) so maybe I should just make the best of it? Also considering switching to the 6 night Feb 23 to Grand Cayman & Cozumel, which would save us some $$$.....I am so confused as to what to do!!!

Oh, Key West has zero appeal to me as well... We got off the ship there once for a bit, and that was enough. But I adore sea days - there can't be enough of 'em to me!

Everyone is so different, though, and I totally get how important the ports are to a whole lot of folks. For me, the ship and being at sea are what matters. Throw in a day at paradise and a day at our favorite place in the world, and that's pretty perfect.

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[CODisney]

OMG I am so upset about the changes. I dont want to make my trip shorter, I want to go to Mexico, but I also dont want to spend up to 2 1/2 -3 hours on a chartered bus on vacation to go to a park that I have been to many times. We booked a Cruise to do something different. I mean dont get me wrong... I would love to go to castaway cay but its not what I was already looking forward to. Everything was so perfect about our trip....until now.

THIS IS SOOOOO CONFUSING!

 

[CODisney]

Yeah, I know, I was just curious as to what town, is all. No big.

No thats fine... People dont ever know our town bc its small but we are from Bay City. Right off Matagorda Bay.

 

[Gina]

No thats fine... People dont ever know our town bc its small but we are from Bay City. Right off Matagorda Bay.

I actually spent almost every weekend in Sargent where we had a family house, and even lived there as an adult for a while. Used to do my grocery shopping in Bay City when I didn't feel like going all the way to Lake Jackson.

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[CODisney]

I actually spent almost every weekend in Sargent where we had a family house, and even lived there as an adult for a while. Used to do my grocery shopping in Bay City when I didn't feel like going all the way to Lake Jackson.

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LOL What are the odds! We like to go to Sargent to go eat alot. It really is a small world.

Do 'ya'll' know which dates your chaning to??