February 5, 2013 - M&M's Disney Magic 4 Night From Galveston

[Goofysrus]

A couple of questions about this cruise.

Which airport do you fly into for Galveston? Any good hotels or things to do in Galveston? What is the normal temps for this time of year in Galveston?

Thanks for any info!!

If you need any help with the area just ask? Hobby is the closer airport to Galveston. Very easy area to get around because your right by 45 south that takes you the island in about 45 minutes. We'll be joining you on the Feb. cruise. Weather that month can be freezing to 70's on any day! We have cruised Dec. out of Galveston with great weather. Galveston has a lot of history. The water is a brown murk and not appealing but we have Moody gardens 4 pyramids of indoor interests and schlitterbahn indoor water park plus the strand (shopping ect) opera house and the rainforest cafe and ride. Galvez hotel and few others on the sea wall. As mentioned the new pleasure pier. Another idea is to rent a car and stay in Kemah. Great boardwalk fun. We have the space center close by. I suggest not to stay in Houston because of travel time and most tourist attractions are outside of the city anyway. We've sailed out of Galveston many times and traffic really backs up when boarding! If family doesn't drop us off we park across the street from terminal. The drop off area which is quite long is covered so if its raining you won't get wet. Tried to hit the basics! Happy to help with any questions.

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Thanks for explaining the fish extenders I understand it now. My next question is the gifts you get can they be stuff from like the Target dollar spot or are the supposed to be more than that? I'm not sure what the gifts are supposed to be I guess

In regards to the books I got the passporters book that comes out at the end of October and the this book http://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-Dis...1348960065&sr=8-2&keywords=Disney+cruise+line

I figured since I had a gift card I'd get both.

Sorry for all of my questions I'm just so excited about this cruise!

Yes, it can be whatever you want it to be!! That can be the hardest part!! On our last cruise we received some mini rum bottles (the airplane types), homemade luggage tags, pirate stuff, little scrapbooks or journals that people had made or bought, pencils/pens/highlighters, hand sanitizers, postcards, cd's, stuff that represented where people lived, etc. just to give you an idea.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Yes, it can be whatever you want it to be!! That can be the hardest part!! On our last cruise we received some mini rum bottles (the airplane types), homemade luggage tags, pirate stuff, little scrapbooks or journals that people had made or bought, pencils/pens/highlighters, hand sanitizers, postcards, cd's, stuff that represented where people lived, etc. just to give you an idea.

Great thanks! I hope I wasn't coming off as sounding cheap. I was just trying to get an idea of what type of gifts so we can get a budget going and decide if we are going to participate

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Great thanks! I hope I wasn't coming off as sounding cheap. I was just trying to get an idea of what type of gifts so we can get a budget going and decide if we are going to participate

trust me, you didn't come off cheap, i totally understand! last time i started out as only doing this or that, but wound up spending way more and doing a lot more than what was originally planned, so it's important to have a plan and to stick to it. Plus each time will be different.. sometimes groups are large, or small, or split into two, or have hardly any children, etc. so it all just depends! there are several FE Gift Idea threads here on the boards, but personally, I'm a Pinterest addict they have tons of great ideas on there!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Hello fellow Southerners and DISers!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to continue posting here..DH called and mentioned he was approached for a new position at his job. He said if he gets it, to book the Disney Galveston cruise!! I couldn't get off the phone fast enough to call DCL! (Haven't heard back from him yet,, but I didn't want to waste another minute..)

We've been sailing DCL since 2002, and our DD was 7. This cruise, however, will just be DH and me. (DD's a senior this year, and can't miss school.) Anyway, I'm as excited as everyone else here that DCL is sailing from Texas! I think we've all been waiting FOREVER. I cringe to think how much our family has dropped in airfare over the years. I'd be happy to see the Magic or Wonder stay here PERMANENTLY, but since that most likely won't happen (for awhile anyway) we're eating up every opportunity to book when we can get a great deal, and DRIVE!

Hope to post back soon!
Priscilla

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Welcome mickeyhugger!! We hope your DH gets the promotion and that you guys are able to cruise with us!!! You will have to keep us updated!!! Hopefully he will find out soon!

 

[gamax7]

Hi all
My name is Sue and I will be cruising for my first time on this cruise. I will be with my daughter, her daughters aged 5 and 3, my daughter in law and her 3 oldest kids a daughter 12 and two sons aged 9 and 5. This is the first cruise for all of us. We are flying into Galveston the day before and leaving the day after so am interested in info re Galveston area also. Fun to find a group to talk to while planning as we are all sooooo very excited. My daughter has ordered two books on the cruise including the Passporters book.

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Welcome aboard Sue!! I bet your family will have a blast on this trip!!

I've added you guys to our roll call (the link to that can be found on post #1 as well as the link to our facebook group which is private)

Where will you all be flying in from?

 

[gamax7]

Thanks I sent a friend request for FB and looked at the group list..so I added more info to my signature.
We are flying out of Milwaukee. It will be the first time flying for the kids also and this is their Christmas present so they do not know as yet that we are going. Tailor the 12 yr old was told last yr that we were looking into it, she did a lot of research and then was told that we just could not afford it this yr. She was very upset and it bothered me so I kept looking and found the trip from Galveston which was affordable to us. We will do "the great reveal" Christmas Eve my son says we will have to scrap her off the ceiling. I am having a very hard time keeping the secret.
We are in staterooms 6047 and 6049

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Aw that will be so fun to surprise them with this!! So glad you were able to find this cruise!! I bet they will be jumping for joy!!! You guys should video record it for sure Thanks for the signature line update, I updated the roll call list also

I'm so excited for all of your kiddo's!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Welcome mickeyhugger!! We hope your DH gets the promotion and that you guys are able to cruise with us!!! You will have to keep us updated!!! Hopefully he will find out soon!

Thanks for the welcome!

Unfortunately, we're not going to be (99%) able to make it. DH thinks he's going to secure a position he's been wanting, but won't have enough vacation days for this cruise. DD will most likely be going off to college in the fall, and we'll need to use two days to move her. The good news..we're still going out of Galveston on the Wonder, Thanksgiving 2013! I can't let the oppurtunity to drive get past us! I was looking forward to meeting everyone here, but maybe DCL will do so well that (eventually) they'll be semi-permanent here! Then we can possibly regroup.

Hope everyone has a MAGICal cruise!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Hi everyone--

We just booked this cruise tonight! I can't even believe it!

We went on our first Disney cruise just a few months ago on the Dream, for 5 days. We loved it and have planned on booking a 7-nighter on the Fantasy for 2014. (We still hope to do that).

Then I saw the announcement today for the Kids Sail Free for Galveston and we started looking at those cruises, then saw this 4-day cruise and the prices are pretty good! I called DH at work and asked him what he thought of it...and to my surprise he suggested we book it! I'm still in shock!

We live in the Dallas area so we can drive to Galveston. My kids will be 8, 5 and 2. My MIL is also joining us. We have 2 connecting inside cabins on Deck 2.

We'd love to participate in the FE!

Me--Nancy
DH--Brian
MIL--Pat
DS (8)--Nathan
DS (5)--Joshua
DD (2)--Alyssa

My head is spinning. Now we have to figure out what to do in Cozumel!

 

[Out to Sea Lee]

Thanks for the welcome!

Unfortunately, we're not going to be (99%) able to make it. DH thinks he's going to secure a position he's been wanting, but won't have enough vacation days for this cruise. DD will most likely be going off to college in the fall, and we'll need to use two days to move her. The good news..we're still going out of Galveston on the Wonder, Thanksgiving 2013! I can't let the oppurtunity to drive get past us! I was looking forward to meeting everyone here, but maybe DCL will do so well that (eventually) they'll be semi-permanent here! Then we can possibly regroup.

Hope everyone has a MAGICal cruise!

I hate you won't be on the cruise with us, but I'm sure you will have a blast on your cruise next year!! Getting your daughter settled in college is much more important!

 

[Out to Sea Lee]

Hi everyone--

We just booked this cruise tonight! I can't even believe it!

We went on our first Disney cruise just a few months ago on the Dream, for 5 days. We loved it and have planned on booking a 7-nighter on the Fantasy for 2014. (We still hope to do that).

Then I saw the announcement today for the Kids Sail Free for Galveston and we started looking at those cruises, then saw this 4-day cruise and the prices are pretty good! I called DH at work and asked him what he thought of it...and to my surprise he suggested we book it! I'm still in shock!

We live in the Dallas area so we can drive to Galveston. My kids will be 8, 5 and 2. My MIL is also joining us. We have 2 connecting inside cabins on Deck 2.

We'd love to participate in the FE!

Me--Nancy
DH--Brian
MIL--Pat
DS (8)--Nathan
DS (5)--Joshua
DD (2)--Alyssa

My head is spinning. Now we have to figure out what to do in Cozumel!

Welcome!! It's so great to have you guys aboard!! I've added you to the Facebook group. Feel free to add your DH or MIL if they use Facebook. We are also on deck 2. We have never had an inside room, but I'm looking forward to quiet time with my hubby.

We also are not sure what we are going to do in Cozumel. I'm just excited and cannot believe we have less than 4 months!! Last cruise we booked 17 months in advanced so these months are going to fly by!!

 

[Mekamax]

Just found this board from Mrs Potato Head - I made it! We will be joining you - hubby and me. We have sailed a few other lines but have not tried Disney and are really looking forward to it!!! I sent a message to be added to the FB page too. We have sailed a bunch out of Galveston over the last 9 years so if I can help with any Galveston questions please ask. We also live about an hour away from there so go down and spend the night a few times a year. Debbie

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Hi everyone--

We just booked this cruise tonight! I can't even believe it!

We went on our first Disney cruise just a few months ago on the Dream, for 5 days. We loved it and have planned on booking a 7-nighter on the Fantasy for 2014. (We still hope to do that).

Then I saw the announcement today for the Kids Sail Free for Galveston and we started looking at those cruises, then saw this 4-day cruise and the prices are pretty good! I called DH at work and asked him what he thought of it...and to my surprise he suggested we book it! I'm still in shock!

We live in the Dallas area so we can drive to Galveston. My kids will be 8, 5 and 2. My MIL is also joining us. We have 2 connecting inside cabins on Deck 2.

We'd love to participate in the FE!

Me--Nancy
DH--Brian
MIL--Pat
DS (8)--Nathan
DS (5)--Joshua
DD (2)--Alyssa

My head is spinning. Now we have to figure out what to do in Cozumel!

Just found this board from Mrs Potato Head - I made it! We will be joining you - hubby and me. We have sailed a few other lines but have not tried Disney and are really looking forward to it!!! I sent a message to be added to the FB page too. We have sailed a bunch out of Galveston over the last 9 years so if I can help with any Galveston questions please ask. We also live about an hour away from there so go down and spend the night a few times a year. Debbie

Got the roll call list updated

 

[Goofysrus]

Got the roll call list updated

Thanks for getting the roll call and cruise report organized!!!! Time was getting away from me and I can start booking my Palo reservations in a week! I had the wrong date on my calendar

 

[Goofysrus]

Thanks for getting the roll call and cruise report organized!!!! Time was getting away from me and I can start booking my Palo reservations in a week! I had the wrong date on my calendar dde01 so glad I checked my trip planner. Terry and I will be celebrating our anniversary ( 38 years! ) yikes what was I thinking!!!!! Haha Oh and thanks for the info on scavenger hunts I realized that it was you who gave me link to hidden Mickeys! dde0edde0e I've made a scavenger hunt for my Family cruise in Nov and its going to be to funny when the guys see what I have planned for them. Of course it's guys against girls! Wonder who's going to win!!!!!! ddc83ddc83ddc83

Oops! It looks like I volunteered you for a trip report. I meant to say cruise meet

 

[ukintheus]

Hi everyone! We just got back of the Magic this past Saturday and booked this cruise while we were onboard. Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

It will be DH and myself in one cabin and my 84 year old Mum in another. We too are doing an inside stateroom for the first time, but the price is just too good to pass up! This will be our 5th Disney cruise and our 3rd on the Magic. We just LOVE the Magic, and we were nervous that after being on the Dream and the Fantasy that we wouldn't enjoy being on her so much, but we found it to be totally the opposite - she's still our favorite ship!

Being able to sail out of Galveston is like a dream come true. We left home at 9 am and were checking in by 11:10 am, and coming off the ship this past Saturday was a breeze. You can't beat being home by lunchtime with no flights involved!

We used Galveston Park and Cruise for this past week, but saw on their website that they aren't going to accommodate the passengers for the non-Saturday departure days in 2013. Does anyone have a recommendation of another place that is easy to use?

I'll go over to FB and join at some point, still trying to get work under control and fight the post-cruise blues! Nothing like having another cruise booked to beat that though!

 

[MrsPotatoHead425]

Welcome aboard! I've added you to our roll call list

We've all discussed Lighthouse Parking http://www.lighthouseparking.org/ or EZ Cruise Parking http://ezcruiseparking.com/ on our facebook page. Not really sure as to why you should or shouldn't choose one over the other, I think basically it's just a matter of if they have a spot for us

It must be so nice to be home so soon!! That's awesome!