It's our Pop Fantasy with an Old Key West Villa

[jedijill]

Hi fellow cruiser the countdown is coming along nicely 258 days to go The kids are all very exicited about our up and coming cruise which will be a first for both our DD's. Just now we are thinking through our FE gifts and how we are going to make our FE, we cannot seem to locate a supplier here in the UK

I bought my FE from Gradysmommy on Ebay. I don't know if she ships overseas but I would be willing to help out if you needed. I still haven't even thought about what to use as gifts...I better get on that!

Jill in CO

 

[gallmcduck]

I bought my FE from Gradysmommy on Ebay. I don't know if she ships overseas but I would be willing to help out if you needed. I still haven't even thought about what to use as gifts...I better get on that!

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill, I will take a look on ebay and check out the overseas part, I hadn't thought about checking another ebay site outwith UK

 

[gallmcduck]

We have progress on our flights Coming up what did we decide on Oh and there is a slight change in the itinerary

Finally we booked flights no more The slight change is that we are leaving a day earlier on Wednesday 3rd October The change looks like

3rd October flying to tampa (we are having an extra beach day )
3rd - 4th October we are staying in Clearwater beach driving up to the POP late afternoon on 4th. An extra section to our vacation

On the planning front our itinerary is
Saturday set sail
Sunday at Sea
Monday at Sea
Tuesday St Maarten
Wednesday St Thomas
Thursday at Sea
Friday Castaway Cay
Saturday disembarkation

On our at sea days our thoughts are palos, remy's, exploring the ship, kids taking sometime out in the Oceaneer club lab, taking part in some onboard activities (wine tasting, bingo, shows, catching a movie). There is so much we have still focus on and find out more about, that's all part of the preparations This is just a starter on where we think we would like to spend our time.

Up next purchases so far ......

 

[gallmcduck]

There is lots of lovely outfits coming into the stores just now in preparation for the holiday season. So far the children have came out in front of mum and dad, they have a few things purchased..........

First up some outfits for DS

Castaway Cay outfits for DD1 and DD2

It may be the last year that DD1 doesn't protest about being dressed like her younger sister

Last purchase for now, tops for girls which I need to get bottoms to match up with

 

[ScotsMinnie]

So glad your flights are sorted and will an extra day - bonus! We have done day trips to Clearwater and loved it. DH always says he fancies staying there for a few days.

Love the outfits. My DD1 will not wear anything even remotely similar to her wee sister so those days are gone for me They did look very cute in matching outfits though! Really love the flowery dress you showed us.

I have started to go through the girls summer wardrobe to see what still fits them from last summers holiday to Majorca and some things are fine but we need to get a lot of bits and bobs too.

Sailing itinerary looks great. Its not long till the ship is launched is it? So exciting!

 

[Happydog]

Gosh you are going to have such a great time on the ship! YOU will just love the disney cruise, I really am so excited for you. I have a few other DIS friends who are going on the Fantasy this spring as well, and I am just so anxious to hear all about it and see it first hand for myself... We head back to the Dream in two weeks, but I remember last year we were on the ship about a month after it had the inaugural sailing, so it was still so new (meaning not a lot of people had experienced the ship yet). So I imagine that will be the same feeling for those sailing in the spring. So you have the Eastern itinerary? We just LOVED St. Marteen. You will too!

Cute outfits! LOVE the red and blue nautical tops, tooo cute! Very appropriate!

 

[Happydog]

oh! ONE other thing, about the FE -- can you get ETSY? Etsy orders there are a few crafters on Etsy who make FEs... Not sure if they will ship outside the US, but worth asking, and I would be willing to help you, too... just like Jedi Jill
:

 

[gallmcduck]

oh! ONE other thing, about the FE -- can you get ETSY? Etsy orders there are a few crafters on Etsy who make FEs... Not sure if they will ship outside the US, but worth asking, and I would be willing to help you, too... just like Jedi Jill
:

I have been neglecting my ptr too much catching up to do, my mission today is to update my ptr so I am just about to load an update on Thanks for Etsy info, I have still not been able to track crafter down still work in progress - I may have to take my kind DISers up on their very appreciated offers

We have the Eastern itineray so it is 3 sea days and visits to St Maarten, St Thomas and Castaway Cay - we are hoping to visits beaches on the stopovers and have been looking into cabanas on CC.

 

[gallmcduck]

Back at last with an update..................... There has been so much Disney Fantasy news happening the last few weeks which has taken me away from our PTR First we watched the beautiful ship coming out the dock in true Disney style fireworks and waving mickey hands Then there was the sea trails and departing Germany. This week it was the arrival in New York and her Christening All very exicting to watch and read all about from fellow DISers - would have been even more thrilling to have been in NY to see her arrival and watch the ceremony live

Back to our plans for the first day at sea - Following the embarkation day the next day is an at sea day. Not much planning we can do just now until we get a navigator to source out the activities for the day. We hope to secure a Palo brunch on this first sea day whilst the kids take part in some onboard activities in oceaneers lab As we will still be on UK time a first visit to the aquaduck and aqualab will be first on the very early agenda that will be weather permitting – once a early morning walk and coffee trip has finished.

The kids wardrobes have been expanding I got some matching minne t-shirts for DD1 and DD2 and DS has some news trousers and shirts for the formal evening on board - I will get some pics up.

 

[gallmcduck]

We are skipping some sea days temporarily to move ahead to our OKW week, our ADR date is 5th April so here are our plans so far:

Saturday 13th October - Dinner @ Olivia's
Monday 15th October - Dinner @ Yachtsman Steakhouse
Wednesday 17th October - Dinner @ Si Fi Diner
Friday 19th October - Breakfast @ CRT, Dinner @ Liberty Tree Tavern

There may have to be some juggling as the dates for mickey not so scary seem to be unconfirmed at the moment . As we are only in orlando for 7 days there is so much to fit in. Cali Grill was a definate choice for us to return to but just couldn't fit it in . DM, DF and DMIL are going to Cali but DH and I have opted this year for a change in Yachtsman Steakhouse oh I hope we are not disappointed.

Perhaps looking at our itinerary this week will help see where our ADRs have emerged from:

Saturday 13th October - Arrival at OKW - Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom
Sunday 14th October - Blizzard Beach - Trip to shops - pool time
Monday 15th October -EPCOT
Tuesday 16th October - Mickeys Not So Scary if this is one of the announced dates
Wednesday 17th October - Hollywood Studios
Thursday 18th October - Pool time - Trip to Shops - Downtown Disney
Friday 19th October - Magic Kingdom

We will also be visiting MK during our first couple of days before boarding the Fantasy

Fantasy news - the preview cruise has provided lots of interesting coverage for us to view. There does seem to be some changes made in the adults area Today is the maiden voyage how fantastic will that cruise be bon voyage to all the passengers boarding

Back with some more excursion news and pictures................

 

[gallmcduck]

As promised I have got purchase pics to share. These are all for the cruise section of our trip, for the children maybe it is time to check out purchases for myself and DH

 

[gallmcduck]

Whilst I was uploading the pictures I came across some memories from previous trips

As we are waiting for the mickey not so scary dates to be released - this picture brought back memories from a trip back in 2008, face painting was

DS has made a request to stop by the beach club for one of these

 

[gallmcduck]

Update to come promise

 

[gallmcduck]

So what’s been happening - ADR’s are booked DM and DF are crossing the atlantic as I type navigators have been posted and we celebrated DD1 6th birthday

There has been slight amendments made to our ADRs but the most funny thing was I missed the day and woke up at a very early hour on the Saturday morning after ADR date with a complete bang and frantically got online then waited for the 7:00am window for making that call to dining reservations

The story goes like this, I had alarms set on my i-phone had the calendar all marked up with mickey ears for the day, got all set with my notepad, pen and list got through and guess what I was 10 days too early then I didn’t set my alarms again with all the other life things that go on the 16th went and the 21st came with a panic as I had visions of not managing to secure the ADRs all the planning discussions, all the amendments and the final decisions would be meaningless

No panic though as I got everything we wished for except be our guest which is still not confirmed as being open - that will be a change once we know if things will be finished for our trip

Confirmed ADRS
13TH – Chefs De France
15th – California Grill
16th – Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique @ MK
17th – Si Fi Diner
18th – Yachtsman Steakhouse
19th – Cinderella Royal Table & Liberty Tree Tavern

 

[gallmcduck]

DM and DF are in flight on the way to WDW as I type which has got us feeling all holidayish today. They are having a 14 day vacation. Oh how that would be a great feeling just now but with only 151 days it isn't so bad

Today's planning is all about navigators and working out what time is best for dis meet once on board and letting the kids decide on on-board activities.

Great way to spend a saturday well in between the

 

[gallmcduck]

After a very lengthy time I am longer neglecting my ptr There has been a lot happening on the WDW/DCL planning - lets have a go at sharing what has been booked, changed and added

First up we have got our Fish Extender all sorted (the actually extender not quite the gifts). I located a supplier on ETAY who shipped to the UK Thanks Happydog and Jedijill

The check in opened for the cruise section of our trip. After a very early rise one sunday morning we logged on with all our paperwork in hand just in case there was any reference numbers, passports numbers required and waited and waited and waited Eventually some 2 hours later check in opened We got everything booked - palos brunch, remys dinner, spa treatments, bbb pirate league for pirates night and the port arrival time no problem We did not secure a cabana on castaway cay Only 7 more cruises to go until we have gold lanyards maybe then a cabana might be in our sight

I only realised that we had not sorted out DD2 passport the week before cruise check in opened - children have to have a new passports every 5 years - all sorted now though after a rush about .

It was sale weekend this week so the last of the holiday shopping was done. It was a very very very early rise to reach the sales but worth the ache of leaving home in the dark and coming back just as the house was wakening up.

Even although it is still the height of summer in the UK I say that laughing as we have not had sunshine for about 6 weeks and constant rain rain rain so the word summer is a bit of a joke ...................... the seasons are changing in the shops to autumn/winter.

DD2 turned 3 and is now officially eligible for BBB - DD1 and DD2 are having a princess makeover the night we go to MNSSHP and DS, DD1 and DD2 are having a pirate makeover on board DCL on pirate's night

We are busy deciding what FE gifts we will make, take and bake..............

 

[gallmcduck]

Well I didn't quite manage to keep up! With only seven more sleeps until we board a jet to fly across the Atlantic things are getting very exciting in our household

 

[jedijill]

Well I didn't quite manage to keep up! With only seven more sleeps until we board a jet to fly across the Atlantic things are getting very exciting in our household

 

[Queen Tink]

stowaway

 

[gallmcduck]

It's so exciting that our trip is so close. Hope to meet you and your lovely family on board!

Jill in CO

It defiantly is Jill in single digits now, c u on board : )