February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[Namsupak]

I think nametags might be a very good idea... because I am horrible with names! It's always nice to have a little reminder

 

[pgsahm2]

Does anyone have Facebook? If so we can add each other as friends if you want. I'm posting pictures of our Christmas surprise on my page. I'm not sure if you can get to this pic but here's a link to us right before the boys opened the big surprise..

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5307370&l=7c792&id=509375130

I forgot to mention that my husband told them to be very quiet and open it carefully because it was alive. He had them convinced by the time they unwrapped it that it was a giant snake. It was really funny the way the kids reacted!

 

[Michellepooh]

I think a cutoff for FE signups is a good idea. I plan to bring a few extras, but I want to try to get all of my shopping done fairly soon (I leave on Feb. 1). It doesn't matter to me if we do individuals or families. I think that could be left up to the "giver". Sometimes it's easier to come up with one big thing than a couple of smaller things.


pgsahm2 - I'm on Facebook, too.


I'm getting more excited everyday!!! Tomorrow I plan to pull out all of the clothes and have everyone try them on to see if there's anything we need to get.

 

[mickchick6]

What do we bring to put on our door to receive all the wonderful FE's? I'm a bit confused still.... sorry.

 

[Billinaz]

TinkerKat your PM quota is full, I cannot respond to your PM. If you delete some then you will have room.


When you get to the top of the escalator, they hand you a numbered card that is your boarding sequence. It starts with #2. Suite, handicapped, and the family of the day go first.

I know exactly where you live.... I can almost still see it in my mind. I was born in Queens, moved to Brentwood when I was really young and then finally to Massapequa when I was about 12. I moved to AZ in 1980.

 

[pgsahm2]

mickchick, the best way to tell you about FEs are for you to read these threads for yourself... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1976200 and http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

You'll find all the information you need in those threads. Good luck!

 

[Mini Sorcerer's Mom]

First time cruiser: Do we get our dining rotation schedule with our cruise documents? We requested the 6pm dining, on days where we have later excursions, such as Key West or Cozumel (and I want to spend more time in Key West or Cozumel) what do you do? Room service (I hate eating in my room?) or quick grab? Any help or suggestions would be great!

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

My baby girl, Charlotte, turns 8 TODAY!! We're off to Disneyland to celebrate

 

[TinkerKat]

I had my monthly meeting with the Upgrade Fairy and she told me that sine we have all been such good planners and Disboarders that each and every one of us will be upgraded!!! I gave her a nice tip

That's some Sweet teaser! But doesn't that message apply only to DVC Disboarders... alas no DVC booking here

 

[Billinaz]

First time cruiser: Do we get our dining rotation schedule with our cruise documents? We requested the 6pm dining, on days where we have later excursions, such as Key West or Cozumel (and I want to spend more time in Key West or Cozumel) what do you do? Room service (I hate eating in my room?) or quick grab? Any help or suggestions would be great!




No, you get it at the port when they print your key to the world card.

You can always grab something from the other places if they are open ... and room service is an option...

 

[deedeedubbs]

That's some Sweet teaser! But doesn't that message apply only to DVC Disboarders... alas no DVC booking here

Hi TinkerKat...alas, we too, do not own DVC but we were upgraded on our Feb '08 4 night cruise...so there's still hope for us, yet! Frankly, I am hoping so hard I think I'm busting a vain. I'm happy with our current cabin and cat but just to say, "I got an upgrade!" makes it all seem even more magical cruisin' with Disney, doesn't it?

Any ideas when we will begin getting our mailing...Bueller...Bueller?

My DD9 has begun enjoying some communcation with two other DD9's and she is so excited! It would be very nice if they can create a bond for onboards.

~ Dee

 

[Billinaz]

The date you get your docs can vary by who you booked thru. We booked our first cruise thru Expedia (big mistake) and the docs arrived while we were on the cruise.

Luckily, DCL sent me a set next day air and they got here the day before we left.

I would expect them the last week of this month though.

 

[princess sparkle p]

That's some Sweet teaser! But doesn't that message apply only to DVC Disboarders... alas no DVC booking here

Hi TinkerKat...alas, we too, do not own DVC but we were upgraded on our Feb '08 4 night cruise...so there's still hope for us, yet! Frankly, I am hoping so hard I think I'm busting a vain. I'm happy with our current cabin and cat but just to say, "I got an upgrade!" makes it all seem even more magical cruisin' with Disney, doesn't it?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! This contact with the Upgrade Fairy was regarding the Valentine Voyagers!

We are DVC, but not cruising on points this time just cold hard cash. Interestingly enough, our first cruise we paid cash and were upgraded (before we were members) our last cruise we sailed on points and no upgrade hmmm

 

[JJCJFL]

Hi!

Checking at the front door every day after work for our docs. I know it is early but it gives me something to look forward to. We have to book GTY so I am very curious as to where we will end up. We booked a verendah but after that, it is anybody's guess.
We will probably end up with late..late dining. We have no kids with us so that is usually the case. Need to order the All Hands on Deck to get us through.
I am good for the meet and greet but don't think the FE thing is for us.

Counting the days!

Jill

 

[deedeedubbs]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! This contact with the Upgrade Fairy was regarding the Valentine Voyagers!

I assumed the Upgrade Fairy liked all of us Valentine Voyagers equally Hey, what's not too like , right?

How many of you take your kids out of school for the cruise? We take them out 1 week a year for either the week before their Feb. school break or after. What can be more educational than visiting a foreign country or different region of our own . So far the teachers have all been very good about it. Some have sent their work with us and we completed it while on vacation, others gave it to us to complete when we got home and all of them allowed and even encouraged my kids to read their vacation journals to their classes when they returned. Luckily, my kids do not miss school much at all due to illness . If we didn't take them out they'd have perfect attendance every so often.

OK -
Who has cruise laundry done?
Packed - any one, yet? I have to admit I'm a partial yes for each question but I'm not done...not by a long shot and I'm sure I'll find something else to wash and pack.

I've been on the PC on and off all day so I'm saying a fond farewell and goodnight!

Goodnight kings and queens of the Valentine Voyagers

~ Dee

 

[mickchick6]

Hi there...
pgsahm2....I have just spent some time reading up on the FE and feel like I am ready enough to give a seminar on it! I have had a great day of reading all the boards and googling etc, can you tell I'm super excited about the trip?

deedeedubbs...This is the 2nd time we've taken our kids out of school, our last cruise was Jan 4, 2007 (Eastern) and when we booked my DS was in 8th grade, we didn't realize that when we booked, he would be missing his review week freshman year for finals!!! That was BAD!. But we learned from that and now have a Junior, 8th grader, 7th grade and 4th grader who are envied by all their classmates.

Chicago is cold right now and I have just washed the first load of Cruise Laundry. I also purchased a bunch of swimwear for my boys from Target.com. Clearance was cheap, cheap, cheap!! Last thing I wanted was to be searching for a new swimsuit in Chicago in February!! Cuz, I'm sure somebody has outgrown theirs from last year!

Back to school tommorrow, that just means we are getting closer to the Carribean!!

It's so nice sharing the excitement with all of you....my family thinks I'm nuts for all the planning. If it was up to them they would wake up, throw their stuff in a duffle bag and show up at the airport!! I guess that's why we all need MOM!

 

[marieeb]

Hello All,

Dee my DD9 emailed a couple of others today and was thrilled to get a response. Would your DD9 Like to corespond with mine as well? I don't have a special email set up for her, she is just using mine. If anyone else is interested in having the kids chat please contact me. I assume PM is personal message. I don't know how to do it but please feel free to contact me. We have 8pm dinner seating as well.

Yes we take our kid out of school and have for several years. My husband works in the tourism industry (at a historic site) here in Canada so summer vacations are out of the question for our family. March break is not much better. I usually try to inject something educational into the trip and this year she will do some sort of presentation for her class.

I'm such a neophyte! What is a boarding card? Is it like a boarding pass on a plane? Are they pre-assigned? I plan that we will get to the port around 10:30. Is that too early? We have yet to receive our documents; it will probably all become clear when they arrive.

Pgsahm2 thank you for the information links about fish extenders, I already had a pretty good idea of what the fish extender looks like but was a little perplexed about the sort of gifts I could come up with. I now have a few ideas.

So - my excitment is building and my daughter's is too since she got a reponse from a disney pen pal. I have all of the paperwork done and have begun putting packing lists together and assembling items for packing. We have yet to book a hotel. We are arriving late on the 4th and plan to spend a day at the Kennedy Space Center. Does anyone have recommendations? I'm thinking of rolling the dice and trying Priceline for the first time; maybe spending at least the first night in Orlando since we don't get in until 7pm. My kid has a number of food allergies and I’m thinking that either somewhere with a kitchen or in downtown Disney may be more relaxing for me. I can prepare the food myself in the first case or Disney is stellar when dealing with food allergies in the second.

Mickchick6 my husband laughs at my planning and obsessing over the trip too but I know that he is glad that I am doing it. I tell him that half the fun is the planning and looking forward to it.

I'm counting the days; we leave a month from today!!!!!!!

 

[TinkerKat]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! This contact with the Upgrade Fairy was regarding the Valentine Voyagers!

Princess Sparkle! This is beyond exciting! Thanks so much for clarifying good news and putting in a good word with the Upgrade Fairy

I too am taking my kids out for a week. The cruise is followed by their winter break week. So we'll do Disney for 4 days before Auto train to VA. and Drive to NY. I NEED every single minute of this 7 day cruise Starting packing today. My daughter has "must wear" costumes.

My older boys are going to reach out to their cruising counterparts this week..
I forget, any 11 year old boys? My youngest boy is excited to meet new people. I know there are a Lot of girls!

 

[Newbies08]

Hi everyone,
I hope its OK to hop on here at this late stage. It was a hectic 2007, but I am finally starting to get excited and make some plans for the trip

Its too late for the Palo reservations for us , but hopefully I can get a few tips from the experienced cruisers here.

We've never done anything Disney (well DH went to DL when he was 10, and me when I was 7), or on a cruise, so we're as green as it gets

We'll be celebrating DH's 40th on board (its officially Feb 17th) as well as connecting with DH's sis and family (hi CdnStitchGirl/Pam ), and hopefully have some fun times with the kids (DS 4.5yrs, and DS 17mos).

Would love to meet up w fellow cruisers, but I'm feeling like we dont have the time for the FE/exchange idea.......hopefully next time.

Kath (cabin 6054)

 

[Billinaz]

Hi!

Checking at the front door every day after work for our docs. I know it is early but it gives me something to look forward to. We have to book GTY so I am very curious as to where we will end up. We booked a verendah but after that, it is anybody's guess.
We will probably end up with late..late dining. We have no kids with us so that is usually the case. Need to order the All Hands on Deck to get us through.
I am good for the meet and greet but don't think the FE thing is for us.

Counting the days!

Jill

Keep checking the website. Your cabin should show up as soon as its assigned... then youll know before the docs get there.