February 7, 2004 Eastern

[JenGang]

My girls got their package today. Thank you so much. The thought it was pretty neat that they have Mickey soap and they're both planning on using it when they take baths tonight. LOL

 

[disneygal58]

Jen,
You're welcome and I'm glad that they enjoyed the surprize from Mickey and Minnie. I used to do all kinds of countdown gifts when my girls were younger. At ages 18 and 20, the inexpensive trinkets are more difficult (or require more creativity) to come by.
If I get a chance I am going to check out the new Ron Jon Caribe Resort next to the Port this week. Is anyone interested in staying there prior to the cruise? I want to see if they offer massage therapy/spa services. If, so I will drop off a resume and be able to meet Dis-ers all year!
Happy 25 Days!
Dawn

 

[kcashner]

Is it time to pack yet? I'm getting really eager!
Kathryn

 

[lotsofboys]

Funny you should ask that Kathryn, I just uncovered my over the door shoe hanger and decided it was time to start my "piles"!

We are having a heat wave here this week 77, expected today, I hope we get a heat wave for our week on the Magic.

 

[berly1657]

I have had a large "shopping bag" set aside, since we made our reservations and have been adding things to it as I purchase them for the cruise. The bag is getting very heavy and full - this week I added film - and wouldn't you know it that the disposable camera's I bought the week before went on sale this week...Oh well.

Did anyone get an upgrade? We didn't. We thought that maybe since Cat. 10 looks full that we would be lucky. But what are the chances with adjoining rooms? Maybe our luck will turn when we check in?

We are getting a lot of snow today!

We will be sitting on our plane waiting for take off 3 weeks from now!

 

[JenGang]

We finally got our docs today! No upgrade here either but I think I'll live. LOL So, for High Tea, are many dh's going to be joining us? I know for sure that I want to go so add me to the list and if other dh's are going, my dh will go too. Our cabin # is 7565. Jennifer and Joseph Gangelhoff

 

[kcashner]

The "available categories" on our cruise have changed 3 times today...that either means that the cruise is filling up all of a sudden or that they are shuffling and issuing upgrades. Maybe I'll keep hoping.

However, upgrade or not, it will be a wonderful (or should I say "Magical) cruise....

 

[disneygal58]

I, too am grateful just to be on the ship. Only one out of the previous five sailings have we ever "lived" anywhere but Deck 2. We have a category 10 this time and have typically found ourselves mostly in 9s or 11s. I would just love to experience a higher deck or angels willing a verandah.
So, I will keep my fingers crossed, but be happy with what I have no matter.
Dawn

 

[kcashner]

They are definitely reshuffling cabins on our cruise....every time I check, different categories are available....I packed my "cruise only" stuff today!

 

[schrei]

I just found this post, thanks to the nice folks who forwarded this link.

We'll be sailing with you. This is our 3rd, 7 day Eastern.

We have 2 children 13 year old DS & 8 year old DD. Anyone
that has a teen that would like to make a friend before we cruise my son is interested. The past cruises he has had a blast and now can go to the Teen club and is so excited!

We have booked the excursion to swim with dolphins on St. Maarten and reserved a Jeep with budget on St. Thomas.

you can email our family at

schrei@coastalnow.net

Hope to hear from anyone to



Carla

 

[ronandot]

Thanks to sbatty for steering us to this thread. Our first cruise as a family is only a few weeks away. We just recently got a wild hair, threw caution to the wind, and booked what will likely be our vacation of a lifetime. I can't imagine the emotions of having to wait more than a few months much less a year! We just booked 1/12 and have not received doc's. We went with the Cat 10 GTY deck 7. I was under the impression that only the cat would be guaranteed, but TA said it would be on deck 7 (not many cat 10's there). We will see. We are hoping for an upgrade. Has anyone been upgraded on this sailing? The only other cat's available were 5 and 4. We felt the difference would be better spent somewhere else. We are traveling with DS9 and DD5. Both can't wait and are the most well behaved kids around....at least for a few more weeks!

 

[ronandot]

Sorry to post again, but after reading all 12 pages of this board at lunch, I decided to check availability. When we booked last week, only cats 10 and 11 (GTY) and cat 5 were available. Today, it appears that Cat 9 has gone to GTY. Can any of you who are cruise savvy help here? Should we keep what we have or is a Cat 9 GTY worth the xtra money? I would guess that we would have spent a little extra for the window had it been availble but I don't want to hose things up by wanting to change less than a week after booking. Any advice?

 

[schrei]

We had sailed Cat ( 2 X) we liked the BIG pix window. When we booked last week we were told that they couln't assign a room and we would get the room # when we got the tix. Is that what GTY is? Anyhow. to us it was worth an upgrade as I didn't want 2 lousy small porthole windows. I want to be able to see day light that's why we don't go with an inside room too. As well as deck 2 rooms tend to be noisier as they are under the restuarants and such. Hope it helps!

 

[ronandot]

This is our first cruise, but that is my understanding of what GTY is. My travel agent says we have a Cat 10 GTY on deck 7. We will see. All Cat 9's appear to be on lower decks. I am sure we will have more concrete opinions after this cruise. Thanks.

 

[disneygal58]

Welcome Everybody!
We're only three weeks away.
It is my understanding that upgrades can be given at any point - even at check in. Inside cabins are nice if like being able to have total darkness at any time ( it may help the kids to sleep in later - if that's your preference). Outside cabins, of course offer a view of the world going by. The cabins are identical in size (category 10s and 9s) but have a different layout. Personally I'd sleep in a chair on Deck 4, just to sail...

Happy Planning,
Dawn

 

[Shanno66]

Hi Y'all!!!

I have gone back and forth on "should I post, or shouldn't I?"

Well, should I won!

My name is Shannon and I too will be on the Magic on Feb 7th!

We are going with a group of 37! We have 18 adults and and 19 kids . My husband and I are bringing our DD 5 and DS 2 (and 8 months). There are 8 other families in our group.

Schrei: One of our families has a 13 DS. I will ask if he is interested in emailing you, and give him your email.

This is my 3rd trip to the E Caribbean, but my 1st Disney Cruise. The 1st time was 13 yearst ago, and just last year DH and I went on a "10 year anniversary Cruise"

We are all very excited and will show up at the port early (I scheduled the private transfers and made sure we would get there EARLY!!) So, if you see a crazy bunch getting off four vans at once---it is our crazy group !

Greetings from Utah (very cold right now!)

Shanno

 

[Annie12345]

Hello everyone, and welcome Shanno, ronandot, and shrei -I hope I haven't missed anyone... We are on the 10 day countdown before we leave for sunny florida and getting really excited... We're looking forward to meeting everyone onboard...
Annie

 

[disneygal58]

Welcome Shanno!
It sounds like you have a fun group with you!
Just three weeks to the all you can eat shrimp at the lunch buffet and those great almond pear tarts....

Dawn

 

[Annie12345]

Hi everyone - My DH just purchased the romance package at sea for us ... I'm so excited... I don't know what this will do to my ability to make ressies for brunch and high tea since this is included in our package... When I call on Monday, I'm going to see if I can make the group ressies at the same time, otherwise I won't be able to make the group ressies since we can only book for one day... I hope this makes sense... I'll keep you posted...

mmouse37 - I'm glad to finally get the chance to meet you since I have looked at your website often (especially your great dining rotation list!!!)

HADD!!!

Annie

 

[lotsofboys]

Hi everyone!

Is the plan still to meet at 3:30 outside of Studio Sea (I think I've read all the posts since then but you never know)?

My boys are fascinated by the fact that we all have been communicating and don't really know each other yet and are really looking forward to the meet, hopefully to make a friend or two while there!

Does anyone know where to check the water temperature at Castaway Cay? I'm debating about bringing the kids wetsuits, don't laugh at me, we are in San Diego and need them even in the middle of the summer because our ocean temp is rarely above 70 and that is down right cold for us (Apologies to all of you in freezing temperatures right now, I don't mean to be unsympathetic!) Just trying to judge how much extra I'm going to need this time versus when we went mid summer and the water was 95 degrees and I even went in it.

Looking forward to meeting all of you and I agree with Annie, especially mmouse37, I know you answered many questions for me on our first cruise in 2002 and I too have enjoyed your pictures.