February 25th Magic Cruise Board

[mommymedic]

Thanks for the info! Booking on Thursday and very excited to plan. Count us in for the FE please. Me, DH, DS 10 and DD 3.

Cheers!

 

[Beth D]

Welcome!

Papamoose -that's quite a crowd! Hopefully you've got some big cabins!

 

[mommymedic]

Finally booked, now for flights. Going to fly out of Buffalo a few days early and enjoy the no snow zone. Very excited as this is our first cruise. Thanks for all the tips-will be using them all!

Jen

 

[Scillycruisers]

It's getting closer Thought it was time to say hi again.

Welcome to the new cruisers online - it's getting quite a group now.

Have been making a few more arrangements. Have now booked our flights from London to Orlando ready for our pre-cruise stay at Saratoga Springs. We are flying on a British Airways flight but have booked through American Airlines via an agent as it was cheaper than booking direct - how that works I don't know but it saved a couple of hundred pounds!!

Have also renewed our son's passport so he can fly with us!!

He was meant to be going to school for the very first time today in a brand new school that was opening for the first time today. However, it isn't quite ready so all the kids have got until Monday off now so his first day at school has been delayed! He seems to be looking forward to it and looks really grown up (& cute) in his school uniform.

My next job is to organize his 5th birthday party for 2 weeks time - he wants a Star Wars one.

Also please count us in for the FE (that's 3 of us - mum, dad @ son 5) I will persuade dad that its a good idea!

 

[Beth D]

Wow, a Star Wars party! We definitely have to get the boys to meet up on the ship! DS just spent all weekend watching the marathon on Spike TV. I think he watched episode 2,3,4, most of 5, and part of 6. He only missed one (this time).

We did Star Wars as well for his 6th B-day. My cousin made a Yoda cake for him!

The full box set on Blue Ray gets released next week in the US!

 

[emmysdidi]

Sorry we have been absent! My goodness, with School, Dance, Softball, Acrobats, Choir, NEBRASKA FOOTBALL, we have been busy!

I will have the spreadsheet ready to go this weekend. We are getting close!



OK, so what are people starting to buy? We are picking up things for outfits and FE! Has anyone booked rooms at the Port? Are you going in early!

Looking forward to meeting you all!


emmysdidi and cyndirella

 

[Scillycruisers]

Yes Beth D, our son is a big Star Wars fan - that includes Star Wars, the Clone Wars and Lego Star Wars. In fact it started with the Lego about a year ago when he started playing the Wii game, now it includes anything with Jedi's and Siths (or "Sniffs" as he calls them!!) and red and green forces. His Dad has just ordered the Blu Ray set (I think it is out next week over here as well). He claims its for our boy's birthday, but I am sure he will spend plenty of time watching it himself. I am sure Kenny would love to meet up with anyone prepared to play Jedi battles with him.

I'm going to talk nicely to my mum about a Star Wars cake tomorrow, otherwise I might just go for cup cakes with Star Wars toppers.

Have been to see the new school today and it looks fabulous. Hopefully Monday really will be the first day of term at last, though they are starting with 2 weeks of mornings only for the first timers before they go full time. Then maybe I will get a bit more time to start thinking about holiday shopping and FE stuff.

 

[goiu]

Do we have an FE list yet? Would love to buy stuff, but not sure who to buy for.

 

[leahmichl]

Realized I'd never get around to sewing, so ordered a FE off Etsy, and it came in today's mail. Love it, so excited! It's somehow smaller than I expected, can't imagine stuffing everything in there! Have picked up a few small things here and there... Mostly shopping I would have done anyways, but now I can blame on the cruise Some fun Toy Story pajamas, Mickey Crocs for both kids. We've started a "cruise box" to store it all - half so the kids will leave it alone, half so I don't lose it before February Looking forward to the FE exchange and planning that... Any idea what date we'll use as a cutoff?

 

[Beth D]

Scilly - love the Sniffs! DS likes to have the dark force characters "chuckle" (choke) the bad guys on the Wii. And yes, we have them too - the original for the Wii and Clone Wars. Clone is so much tougher though!

I've started getting random things too. We all have new aqua shoes thanks to the Lands End at Sears summer clearance. I've got a dress or three for dinners, and we are all wearing matching tie dye shirts for port arrival!

I've not booked our hotel yet. Probably CI & Suites. I've heard it gets the best reviews. We arrive on Friday AM around 9 (yes, our flight from OH leaves at 6 am! ) If it's warm enough we will probably just hit Cocoa Beach.

The only thing i'm worried about is our rental car. Since we arrive so early, we just did a 24 hour booking on it, and have to return it Saturday to Budget before 9. I plan on DH doing this, cabbing back to the hotel, and then taking the hotel shuttle to the port? Can any returning cruisers let me know if this would work or if there's flaws in my plans now, so i can re-think it?

Leah-who on etsy did you order your FE from? I've gotta start looking. October slows down work wise for me, so probably next month for that kind of shopping.

 

[tjdismom]

So I have been registered for months but only just got to posting now as the planning for our second cruise has become an obsession! We will be sailing away on the Feb 25 cruise of the Magic with all you lovely folk, we being my DH, DS6, DS3 and me, tj. I have been reading trip reports for months and it just occurred to me that it would make the experience so much better if we could get to know other people that were cruising with us, especially the kids!

My DH and I have been Disney fanatics since we first stayed on property for our Honeymoon. Most of our friends (those that we haven't gotten hooked yet) think it's all for/about the kids but the obsession started way before them ..... our DVC was purchased 2 years before our first was born! Last year was our first DCL cruise and we did 3-night on the Dream to test out the waters so to speak. DS6 loved it (DS3 enjoyed it as well but was indifferent to the nursery) and DH and I felt we were just getting into it and then it was over! So when the carrot of a discount was waved in front of DH for booking another cruise he lept at it......and here we are today!

We will be at Boardwalk villas for 4 days before the cruise (wanted to make sure we didn't miss the cruise as a result of flight issues, Canadian flight conditions can be hairy that time of year ) and 2 days at Wilderness Lodge Villas after.

I read back and saw that there were a couple other little boys my DS6's age and they were Star Wars fans as well! He will be super psyched to know there will be other Star Wars kids his age at the clubs.....and it makes me feel better too!

I don't know much about the ins and outs of the FE exchange but it sounds like something my kids would love, so I am in if there is still availability!

Can't wait for this cruise and the opportunity to meet more Disney fans/fanatics!

 

[shillee]

TJ,

A big Canadian welcome! We are in Ottawa - haven't yet booked our flights or a place to stay before/after the cruise. We LOVE the BW! Had part of our wedding reception there in fact

I have been looking at DVC recently - again - but am so undecided on its value. Our kids are young now (DD's will be 2 and 4 when we cruise) and we have been staying off-site with them as the youngest is such a light sleeper that she wakes and screams easily. It is getting better in that area (thank goodness) but for the cruise we booked connecting inside cabins and gave up the family verandah so the sleeping arrangements would be better.

 

[mommymedic]

We, as well, are going down 4 days early as we are flying out of Buffalo (but live north of Toronto) and am concerned about the weather! Figured I give myself a buffer! Staying in the Orlando area for the time before the cruise and have a day after so we figured we stay at the beach. Beth, what was the name of the hotel you are at? Looking for some recommendations for hotels at the coast there.

 

[Beth D]

Beth, what was the name of the hotel you are at? Looking for some recommendations for hotels at the coast there.

I am looking at the Country Inn & Suites. It's gotten the best ratings on hotels.com and the DIS boards. It's closer to the port, not right on the beach (only 10 minutes drive).

Just a warning - if you stay right on the beach it is a very "spring break" like area. Lots of college kids and late night parties.

Welcome TJDismoms! We definitely need to get the boys to all meet before hitting the kids club!

 

[emmysdidi]

OK! I have the FE list put together. I have the following people down to participate!
tjdismom
Kohana
Zachsmom4
develizweb
BethD
Mommymedic
Scillycruiser
goia
leahmichl
Polyluvr
Papamoose
emmysdidi

Please let me know if I missed anyone.

We will probably to a cut off two months before the cruise. Will that work for everyone?

Thank you for all of your participation!

emmysdidi!

 

[goiu]

Just wanted to make sure it's actually me. I'm goiu. Thanks!

OK! I have the FE list put together. I have the following people down to participate!
tjdismom
Kohana
Zachsmom4
develizweb
BethD
Mommymedic
Scillycruiser
goia
leahmichl
Polyluvr
Papamoose
emmysdidi

Please let me know if I missed anyone.

We will probably to a cut off two months before the cruise. Will that work for everyone?

Thank you for all of your participation!

emmysdidi!

 

[goiu]

Well, guys we leave on Friday for the cruise. Kids are soo excited! I'll rebook while we are onboard for this cruise. We've already booked our tickets for February and our hotel the night before. So, just need to do this and we are done with planning travel. Looking forward to starting all the FE's for this cruise. Let me know if anyone has any specific questions since we are doing the Eastern. Hopefully, we'll be able to make all our ports. I'll be really disappointed if we don't get to do Castaway Cay with this new storm coming in.

Lisa

 

[mommymedic]

Thanks for all the hard work emmysdidi! Looks like 12 families are joining the fun! Not sure what to pick up as this is my first FE but definately something with a Canadian flare!
Will book a hotel soon-Thanks for the tip about the beach Beth! May stay off the beach and just visit during the day!

 

[emmysdidi]

Yes, sorry, wrong initials!

 

[emmysdidi]

For those of you who are going to participate in the FE, could you please PM me your email address so I can send you an attachment?


I think the cut off date for any new participants will be December 23rd. That is about two months ahead of the cruise. Will that work for everyone?

Thank you for your participation!

Now on another note...do you think there will be a Kids Sail Free sale on our cruise? It doesn't seem like we have a ton of people on here??? Quality group, if I do say so myself, but not Quantity...Your thoughts?

Have a great day!
emmysdidi