Jan. 22- 29 , 2011 Western Caribean Cruise on the Disney Magic!!!

[Lokkabear]

Very excited to day for our cruise vacation.

Our last REAL family vacation was........thinking......ummm....2.5 years ago by the time our cruise rolls around. We have done some things but a real get away with my kids will be very nice.

Lets see we can argue about coming in too late....
sleeping half the day away....
not wanting to come to dinner........
not wanting to wear sunscreen or sunglasses...
oh yeah.........the good things............

I can go topsiders and cove cafe early morning, before any oen else is wake and get a glimpse of peace then i can take my kiddos breakfast in bed, THAT I DIDNT HAVE TO MAKE!!!!!

Then we can do a wonderful excursion or rest on our balconey.
play some games take some great pictures. Deliver FE GIFTS!!!

Yeah i am really excited TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am excited for you too! And for me! And for all of us!

My last family vacation was to my husbands cousins wedding in BC 8 yrs ago... And before that was when I went to Germany(first and last time I left Canada)... I was 4! I am SO looking forward to this trip!

Feel free to bring ME breakfast in bed too! I promise not to be too much trouble.

We booked everything from cruise to hotel and flights through DCL with my wonderful Abraham so we are staying in the Hyatt Airport Hotel. We arrive the day before we sail and head back home the day we get back to Orlando. I had to book the cruise around my work and since I am the only one in the office that can do payroll, I need to be back home for the 1st.

 

[Cheechow]

Hi all we just booked this week and are pretty excited. My wife and I are traveling with our 1 and 5 year old and grandma. First cruise for them and second for the wife and I.

Kind of worried about the second seating for dinner with the 1 year old. He is in bed by 7 usually. we are not to worried about the 5 year old being up late for the week, but the little guy is a concern. Any suggestions.

Kris

Hi Kris
What time zone r u in? We are an hour behind FL so found when we sailed in January with an 18month old we stuck to our time zone so he could go to bed an hour later. I haven't sailed with DCL yet but as Lynne mentioned go straight to the maitre'd on day of embarkation and ask if there is any chance of getting into the early dining.

 

[Cheechow]

So after reading your replies and a few other threads on here i think arriving for about 12:30 might make the most sense for us with smaller children. Hopefully the early birds will all be on by then and we should be there before the resort and airport shuttles. With any luck that is

any thoughts?

 

[dizzi]

That's awesome! Someone said we have an hour...



I used all of your suggestions, but did modify a couple. They were great, thanks!!



Me too!!!



We will be staying at the CI&S and plan to be there around 3:00ish. Of course, there is that word, plan! But last time we left home around 8:30 and got there around 5:00. I want to leave around 6:30 this time so Bert will have time for a nap and the kids & I can explore. We want to eat dinner at FishLips again since we loved it so much last time.

Wish we could stay for WDW after (or before!)! But we'll be doing the next vacay there in Dec 2011 or Jan 2012...

What is FISHLIPS? do tell!!!!
i dont think we will be going to WDW....just hanging out

are you taking a shuttle on your own car to the port?

 

[FabFivePA]

We're driving down, takes 16 hours. so we'll probably stay about 3 hours away from port on Friday night and then finish the drive in the morning. Hoping to get to port for 10:00 because I've been toying in my mind the idea of attempting an upgrade if I can save up the money.
If it looks like a snow storm is on the way, then we're gonna take the kids of school Friday and leave Thursday instead.

I got the free tics to Kennedy space Center, we're gonna do that when we disembark on Saturday and then head back. Hope we all don't feel too funny, people may think we're all crazy if we're at the space center swaying back and forth as we're standing still. LOL

I will be trying to change dining as well, though the thought of the kids getting "picked up" part way through dinner each night is appealing. I am worried about it being even later when we're in Cozumel because of the time change.. that would just be SO late for them. If we end up with second, then definitely will be taking midday naps.

 

[Lokkabear]

We're driving down, takes 16 hours. so we'll probably stay about 3 hours away from port on Friday night and then finish the drive in the morning. Hoping to get to port for 10:00 because I've been toying in my mind the idea of attempting an upgrade if I can save up the money.
If it looks like a snow storm is on the way, then we're gonna take the kids of school Friday and leave Thursday instead.

I got the free tics to Kennedy space Center, we're gonna do that when we disembark on Saturday and then head back. Hope we all don't feel too funny, people may think we're all crazy if we're at the space center swaying back and forth as we're standing still. LOL

I will be trying to change dining as well, though the thought of the kids getting "picked up" part way through dinner each night is appealing. I am worried about it being even later when we're in Cozumel because of the time change.. that would just be SO late for them. If we end up with second, then definitely will be taking midday naps.

16 HRS!!! I don't think it would be the kids being the problem for 16 hrs! It would be ME! I hate being confined for long periods of time. our 7-8 hr flight is goign to be bad enough but at least there i can read a book or play a game with the kids or hubby. It a car I get so sleepy, then I get restless...lol. I know, I am worse than the kids but I don't have a DS!

 

[FabFivePA]

We are all very well car trained. LOL I drove cross country a lot when I was a kid.
This will be my kids 5th round trip to Florida in a car, and our family is mostly all 10 hours away, so we make that drive a few times a year.
Some leapster time, some dvd time, some nap time, stop at McD's and playtime, and it's all good. I do all the driving usually, or I too would get restless. My Dh and I have a deal, I handle getting us there, he handles the kids... it's a win win. LOL

Figure gas and food is still 75% cheaper than flying a family of five down there and easier to pack our stuff. I keep looking for deals, but it would have to be QUITE a deal to make it worth flying for us.

 

[Lokkabear]

We drive alot too but only about 3 hrs each way, but it is every weekend.

 

[FabFivePA]

wow, every weekend, that's alot! I wouldn't want to drive for vacation either! LOL Plus with an 8 hr flight I imagine it's a 3-day drive to FL. LOL

 

[kaj1436]

Hello Everyone!
My name is Kristen and I am taking my first Disney cruise with my family: DD Jonathan, DD(5) Jordan and DD(3) Addison. We are from Ontario, Canada. We are all very excited and looking forward to meeting alot of nice people.
This is my first post on Disboards. I am a Cruise Critic girl and have just recently discovered this board. A great deal of information to take in. I'm still catching up on this roll call.
Although I'm still trying to figure out this FE thing(not sure exactly what kinds of things to buy for it) plus we don't even have one(FE) yet, I think my girls would definitely enjoy this activity along with the other things like meets and scavenger hunts.
I will continue to read the rest of the posts on this board and will most likely have some questions for the DCL veterans!
Happy to share the excitement with all of you! Less than 4 months to go!

 

[Lokkabear]

Hello Everyone!
My name is Kristen and I am taking my first Disney cruise with my family: DD Jonathan, DD(5) Jordan and DD(3) Addison. We are from Ontario, Canada. We are all very excited and looking forward to meeting alot of nice people.
This is my first post on Disboards. I am a Cruise Critic girl and have just recently discovered this board. A great deal of information to take in. I'm still catching up on this roll call.
Although I'm still trying to figure out this FE thing(not sure exactly what kinds of things to buy for it) plus we don't even have one(FE) yet, I think my girls would definitely enjoy this activity along with the other things like meets and scavenger hunts.
I will continue to read the rest of the posts on this board and will most likely have some questions for the DCL veterans!
Happy to share the excitement with all of you! Less than 4 months to go!

Welcome aboard to yet ANOTHER Canadian! YAY! I think I may meet more fellow Canadians on this cruise than anything else...lol.

 

[FabFivePA]

Hey Kristen!

My DD's as 8, 7 and 4 .. so sure they'll see a lot of your kids as well!

Welcome!!

 

[kaj1436]

I need to correct myself....that is DH Jonathan not DD! lol


Also, I think I read that there is a 5km run on CC...that is something I will definitely do! I have recently taken up running and now am totally addicted! For those of you who say they are not fit enough to do it should see me...I am not small by any means(but working on it!..have lost around 70lbs so far!) I have completed several 5km and 10km runs in the past 6 months. A run on CC will be both beautiful and something to be proud of accomplishing. I encourage anyone who is remotely interested to just try..it will feel great!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Kristen and I am taking my first Disney cruise with my family: DD Jonathan, DD(5) Jordan and DD(3) Addison. We are from Ontario, Canada. We are all very excited and looking forward to meeting alot of nice people.
This is my first post on Disboards. I am a Cruise Critic girl and have just recently discovered this board. A great deal of information to take in. I'm still catching up on this roll call.
Although I'm still trying to figure out this FE thing(not sure exactly what kinds of things to buy for it) plus we don't even have one(FE) yet, I think my girls would definitely enjoy this activity along with the other things like meets and scavenger hunts.
I will continue to read the rest of the posts on this board and will most likely have some questions for the DCL veterans!
Happy to share the excitement with all of you! Less than 4 months to go!

 

[kaj1436]

Tell me about the scavenger hunt and the magnet exchange i see that on the FE LIST!

THANKS


Looking up the couch to 5k in 8 weeks.

But i can do 3 miles but dont know if i can do it in an hour.

Of course you can!! It can be walked in an hour...so even a combination of walking and jogging will be plenty of time...think positive!! What an accomplishment it will be and you will feel great!!

 

[dizzi]

HI!!!!

 

[dizzi]

The FE........You can realy give any thing that is easily packed and can fit into an FE.

Candy, gum, magnets, toys crayons, liquor, pens, pins, pencils, you name it you can give it!

As far as an FE.....
You can look around on the boards or ebay people make and seel them or you canuse other things like a mickey bag or a purse or a sand bucket or just anything you can think of that holds stuff

 

[kaj1436]

Anyone can do it. Google "couch to 5k". It is an 8 week program. I've gotten to week 6 last year but wasn't consistent. I would love to finish it and do it at CC. Tinkerkell - if you can jog 3 miles at a time, you can easily do this. It's only 3.1 miles. The 5k I "ran" two years ago was 5 months post partum and I ran only half of it. We can do this! It is a good goal and we will look smokin' in bikinis by January!

Oh and I believe it is at 8:30am. We finish by 9:30, late breakfast and shower and we will be back on the beach by 11am.

I agree..it sounds like a great plan! The more the merrier!!

 

[kaj1436]

Ok, today after I finish moving my son I am going to see if I have time to start this program and maybe some miracle will happen and I will be able to join you guys but I WILL need someone to kick my in the butt and keep me motivated because honestly, I am just SO BUSY! I have NEVER ran in my life though and not sure someone my size can even do it but I am sure going to try! Thanks for the info!

You can do it!! I never thought I could do it either. I was very overweight and I just started out walking and eventually I got stronger and faster. I can now run a 5 and even 10km run. I have lost about 70lbs so far. Believe me, I still have a long way to go but it's a start. You just have to believe in yourself! Good luck and keep strong!

 

[kaj1436]

I have definitely been agonizing about clothes already. LOL
Think I am going to play it by ear on the weather since just not sure how it's going to be. AH!

We are contemplating skipping formal night. It honestly doesn't matter to me if we get a pic dressed up. DH is military, so he does not own even one tie or dress shirt, never mind a jacket. LOL And he's not going to want to pack his dress blues. Luckily we haven't gone to a wedding in a while that he hasn't had to rent a tux for. LOL Anyway, I can't see spending money on an outfit for him that he will likely never wear again or a formal dress for me and the girls. So I think semi will be our dress up night and we may skip the dining room on Formal night and lay low. Plus less to pack for this family of 5 and have to store in our one room as well!

I do plan on hitting up after Halloween sales for a bunch of princess dresses though. We have some left from our WDW trips, but they've been pretty well "loved", so hoping I can find some good deals so the girls can be princesses at dinners.

I am really getting into finalizing our excursions this week. I thought we would do all DCL ones, but now it looks like NONE will be through DCL. LOL
Think we're gonna do Nachi Cocom in Coz, and stingray city in GC, and just a trolley or butterflies, or something simple on our own in Key West. We'll probably rent snorkeling gear just for me and DH at CC.

The clothing store Justice has some cute pink pirate shirts and bandanas.. think i'm gonna pick those up for them.

Have you been to Nachi Cocom before? I was thinking of booking that as well for our family. Wasn't sure how kid friendly it was. If you were going then I may seriously consider since since your girls and mine are around the same age.

 

[dizzi]

what is nachi cocom??

I think we about have our excursions finalized too!!!!