February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[pgsahm2]

Still no book here. Huh.... I wonder why.

 

[pgsahm2]

Finally got our packet yesterday! Yay!! I hid it away so the kids wouldn't see it and after they went to bed I pulled it out so dh could look at it. I had just handed it to him when the phone rang. It was my MIL. She was calling to say she got her packet too! LOL

After looking through it she had some questions. They've never been on DCL before so this is all new for them. Once we started talking about it I realized again how excited I am!

 

[margolyn]

2-7-09 starts our first disney Cruise and its my son's first disney experience. He will be 9 and he chose to cruise instead of visit themeparks...

So, what should I know? Many of you all have done this before - we've cruised on Norwegian but not Disney and I am a compulsive planner!

Thanks for any insights...

Margo in Cinci

 

[MyLove4Disney]

2-7-09 starts our first disney Cruise and its my son's first disney experience. He will be 9 and he chose to cruise instead of visit themeparks...

So, what should I know? Many of you all have done this before - we've cruised on Norwegian but not Disney and I am a compulsive planner!

Thanks for any insights...

Margo in Cinci

Welcome Margolyn, you found the right place. The Disboards is a wealth of information. There are a lot of threads with information on tips and trip information. Read through some of the trip reports, they are very informative. I can help with some things, but since we are not big on excurision nor do I have any children I'll leave that information to others to help. This will be DD and my 5th DCL, we have taken one other cruise but is was a small carnival ship, no compairson to DCL. But if you have any specific questions ask away and I am sure we will be able to help you. If you have read through this tread you will see that we have a running list of who on the thread is going. I'll add you to the list.

I see it is you and your ds9 will be joining the rest of us and you are from OH. If you care to share where you will be staying the night before and what cabin you are in I will add that to the list as well. I believe there is an email group out there for the kids to get to know each other before we travel.

A lot of dis groups have dis meets on board so that we can all meet each other of those that have been talking on this thread and see each other in person. This groups doesn't have anything planned yet, but it is still a little early.

Again welcome aboard it will be a fantastic trip.

Sue

 

[DisRaders]

Hello everyone,

I just booked us on the 7 February Western cruise. We will be in cabin 7536. It will be the two of us and our 5 year old.

Look forward to seeing you on board!

DisRaders

 

[Paxton's Mom]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. We got our package too (sometime last week) but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. I just got back from a fabulous 10 day vacation to Hawaii with my college girl friends (yes....I know I am VERY lucky!), so I've been pre-occupied with that lately. I realized that I hadn't even logged on for almost two months!

Now I'm ready to focus on the cruise and start figuring out details. I phoned Northwest today because my mom, who is cruising with us but flying seperately (the rest of us are using frequently flyer miles and it was substantially cheaper to have her take a different flight) got a notice that her flight times have changed. She went from a direct flight to leaving two hours earlier and having to connect in Memphis, with less than a half hour between flights. Not cool! I worry about her missing the connection. I called NW and they were nice about it and switched her back to a direct flight for us. Now she will get into Orlando a few hours before us, but I'll tell her to bring a good book or something.

We're staying at the Radisson at the Port, got a great deal on-line. We had to pre-pay but it was only $120 for the four of us and then of course the parking and the shuttle are free. We stayed there last time too and it worked out fine for us. We won't be getting in until late, so it will be good to have some familiarity with where we are going in the dark.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Glad you had fun at the islands with the Girls. I would love to do a Hawaiian trip. We so love our DCL and WDW it is hard to change. But I think when the DVC get completed over there I'll have to try it out.

Have fun planning for this trip.

Hopefully the thread will get move active in the next months to come we are down to 130 days.

I haven't booked my flights cash values is running me 330 per person from CA through united going though Denver. I'm a little worried about that as a few years ago Denver was so snowed in for days and people were stuck there when we went in Feb. That year we flew to LAX and then non stop to MCO and the same way in reverse. We missed all the weather. Our
other choice is through Chicago. Well at least for the lowest priced flights.

 

[margolyn]

Hi!

See, I am so stupid I do not know what DS9 means ;--) Oh well...

We are in 6132 and there are 3 of us.... we are staying in Cocoa at one of the Marriotts the night before...

We actually only plan (as of now) to do one structured excursion too - our other cruise took us to the same places and we got a sense of exactly what "Beach Break" means

We are super excited and one of my questions is about pins - do kids and even adults exchange them?

Also, can we bring a bottle of something adult on board? Is that allowed?

Do people decorate their doors? I've read you can use magnets only?

Those are my "starter" questions.... looking forward to fun in the sun!

Thanks y'all!

Margo

 

[Billinaz]

From LAX to MCO I found this:

$348.00 + $38.50 taxes & fees = $386.50

10:40 am Depart Los Angeles (LAX)
Arrive Orlando (MCO) 6:31 pm Fri 6-Feb
Duration: 4hr 51mn United 272
Nonstop flight

It looks like the return United flights stop once. There is a non stop but its not till 7PM......

But at least you can do a non stop to the port....

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hi!

See, I am so stupid I do not know what DS9 means ;--) Oh well...

We are in 6132 and there are 3 of us.... we are staying in Cocoa at one of the Marriotts the night before...

We actually only plan (as of now) to do one structured excursion too - our other cruise took us to the same places and we got a sense of exactly what "Beach Break" means

We are super excited and one of my questions is about pins - do kids and even adults exchange them?

Also, can we bring a bottle of something adult on board? Is that allowed?

Do people decorate their doors? I've read you can use magnets only?

Those are my "starter" questions.... looking forward to fun in the sun!

Thanks y'all!

Margo

Margo so cute DS9 = Disney Son 9 years old...

Pins we exchange pins both of us are adults.
I go to the local ABC and get plastic bottles of the hard stuff, people to bring cases of water and beer, but you can not bring it packed in ice. Although there are signs up saying you can't but I have 3 out of the 4 DCL's that I have taken. I even bring my magic bullet blender. Not sure this year, but I know we will miss it if I don't.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hello everyone,

I just booked us on the 7 February Western cruise. We will be in cabin 7536. It will be the two of us and our 5 year old.

Look forward to seeing you on board!

DisRaders

Welcome DisRaders, Hope you are getting some great information on this board as well as meeting some of your fellow cruisers. If you have any questions ask away. There are many of us here that have cruised before and we might be able to help you. Looking forward to meeting you also.

 

[DisRaders]

Welcome DisRaders, Hope you are getting some great information on this board as well as meeting some of your fellow cruisers. If you have any questions ask away. There are many of us here that have cruised before and we might be able to help you. Looking forward to meeting you also.

OK, I read the PassPorter Disney Cruise Line Book and got a ton of info out of it. We made most of our plans based on the information in that book and I recommend it to anyone looking at their first Disney Cruise. I was reading through this thread and ran across a note about these things that you hang outside your door for presents. Can somebody give me the history and low down on these pocket things?

Thanks for your help,
Disraders

 

[Michellepooh]

DisRaders - Those are called "fish extenders". Outside each stateroom door there is a metal fish clip for notices, mail, etc. A lot of Disers have made long organizer type pockets to hang from this fish and participate in gift exchanges with their fellow Dis cruisers. We did a fish gift exchange on our cruise in June and it was so much fun to return to our stateroom each day and see what surprises were left for us. I would definitely be interested in doing this again if there is interest.

 

[cdnstitchfan]

DisRaders - Those are called "fish extenders". Outside each stateroom door there is a metal fish clip for notices, mail, etc. A lot of Disers have made long organizer type pockets to hang from this fish and participate in gift exchanges with their fellow Dis cruisers. We did a fish gift exchange on our cruise in June and it was so much fun to return to our stateroom each day and see what surprises were left for us. I would definitely be interested in doing this again if there is interest.

We didn't do this on our first cruise, but would be interested in doing this. sounds like alot of fun.

 

[margolyn]

Hi! This is margo of i hate it when this happens - my DH (as in Disney Husband, right?) will be with us as well.... We are staying at the Courtyard in Cocoa....

You guys totally rock - thanks for compiling the list. I think its cool even if I am a bit of recluse to shout out to folks on the same cruise! I am getting VERY excited!

Going DISNEY SHOPPING at lunch.... YAY!

So, is it appropriate to list like non cruise stuff with my name - like the three trips to DisneyWorld and the 2 trips to Disneyland?

Thanks for helping me to EARN MY EARS!

 

[margolyn]

Originally Posted by Michellepooh
DisRaders - Those are called "fish extenders". Outside each stateroom door there is a metal fish clip for notices, mail, etc. A lot of Disers have made long organizer type pockets to hang from this fish and participate in gift exchanges with their fellow Dis cruisers. We did a fish gift exchange on our cruise in June and it was so much fun to return to our stateroom each day and see what surprises were left for us. I would definitely be interested in doing this again if there is interest.

What kinds of things did people leave? This sounds interesting both from a grown up perspective and 9 year old (my DS) perspective.

Thanks for your insight!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

So, is it appropriate to list like non cruise stuff with my name - like the three trips to DisneyWorld and the 2 trips to Disneyland?

Thanks for helping me to EARN MY EARS!

Sure, because your signature shows in all areas cruise,parks etc. on the Disboards, but there are rules about your signature size, I think there is a sticky that talks about that.


Have fun making your sig...

I put mine included with this one. I like a lot out. I'm from nor cal so I have been to DL way to many times to list... Almost the same for WDW. probably will be shortening my list soon....

 

[Michellepooh]

margolyn - people left a little bit of everything! Some stuff was fancier than others, but it was still fun! Let's see.... small toys, candy, pencils, pirate stuff, anything Disney. Some of the threads on the main cruise board show pictures of what people have received.

Those of you who need cruise clothes might want to check Sears. I was there today and got capris and summer skirts on clearance for $3.99. I just had a baby about a month ago, so not sure what size I'll be for the cruise (hopefully much smaller!) so I picked up stuff in a few sizes so I'll have something that will fit. Lots of cute stuff at great prices.

 

[Billinaz]

I completed my cruise contract today:



*Guest Information
Completed 10/25/2008


*Payment Authorization
Completed 10/25/2008


Flight Information
Completed 10/25/2008




I looked at the Palo openings (Brunch, High Tea, Dinner) but didn't see anything that I'd want on this trip so we are skipping that.

The kids are registered for the clubs.....

Im ready to go!

 

[pgsahm2]

Billinaz, congrats on being COMPLETELY ready! (besides packing of course )

Were there still a lot of openings for Palo? I'm sweating it right now as I HAVE to book it or else dh will be very disappointed. We can book our ressies on Nov 9th. Only 10 days to go!

In case you guys don't know it already... 100 days from now we'll be stepping onto the MAGIC!! Yay!!!!