January 19, 2013 - FANTASY 7 Night Western Cruise

[PrincessJewel]

Just wanted to sign up and say hi to everyone too! My husband (30) and I (29) will be joining everyone on board. (I think he actually posted on the thread at cruise critic too.)

We took our first Disney cruise on the Magic in 2008 for our honeymoon and had a blast. Now we are checking out the Fantasy to celebrate our 5th anniversary. So excited!

On our last non Disney cruise we met some fun new friends. Hoping on this trip to meet some cool Disney fans onboard to maybe meet up for onboard activities or in the bars in the evenings. Also on our honeymoon at dinner we were sat just the two of us at a table. Does anyone know if this is normal or will we most likely be paired up with others for dinner this time around?

We might possibly be interested in doing a fish extender. It sounds really fun but if the sign up climbs up to a lot of people I think it might be too overwhelming to enjoy my vacation.

Julie & Andrew

 

[Tinkybell14]

I will indeed update the list From what I've heard FE groups tend to pick up more after the final pmt deadline so I think when we get to that point we can set up a separate thread and go from there.

Of course, if anyone thinks we should do one sooner, that's cool too. I'm a DCL newbie so I'm figuring this out as I go along.

Kuiska2009 - Thanks for adding me to the list! I read somewhere that you are an overplanner and I am as well! I took a look at the Jan 5th FE thread and I really liked how they were setting up their list with everyone's names/ages/character faves. My only concern with waiting until after our final payments are due in Nov (I think) is that by that time we are going to be getting into the holiday time when I can't get anything extra done! It would be nice to have a general idea of how many will be participating before the final payment.

Princess Jewel - I've heard of some sailings doing two groups if the groups get too large. Perhaps we could cut it off on a certain date and then if anyone wants to join afterwards they could form a new group (and pull their hair out over the holidays! ) Also...I live in Baltimore! Have you bought your plane tickets yet?

Just my $.02...I will play along with whatever everyone else decides.

-s

 

[PrincessJewel]

Tinkybell14 - I'm def interested in the FE for right now. I have seen other threads where people were delivering to 50 cabins!!! And that started sounding scary! So hopefully if things do get crazy we can split it up and our sailing will stay more under control

Well hello neighbor! We lucked out a few weeks ago when Southwest was running deals and got flights for around $88 each way. How bout you guys?

 

[Kuiska2009]

Yeah I wouldn't want a crazy large group either. Maybe if we get more than 15 we could start to split it? Or is that too high/low? Also, are we doing gifts per person or is it per stateroom? Or would that be an individual choice?

I'm not sure when to do the deadline for the final list...I definitly understand about the holidays being crazy busy (especially since I'm planning a wedding for just after Christmas! >_<) but I'd feel bad if somebody missed out because we cut it off too early...Maybe mid-October and then if someone else wants to join after we can decide on a case by case basis.

 

[Kuiska2009]

Yeah I wouldn't want a crazy large group either. Maybe if we get more than 15 we could start to split it? Or is that too high/low? Also, are we doing gifts per person or is it per stateroom? Or would that be an individual choice?

I'm not sure when to do the deadline for the final list...I definitly understand about the holidays being crazy busy (especially since I'm planning a wedding for just after Christmas! >_<) but I'd feel bad if somebody missed out because we cut it off too early...Maybe mid-October and then if someone else wants to join after we can decide on a case by case basis.

Just realized I double posted, stupid internet wasn't working right :-(

 

[Jeisur]

Jumping in here. We are booked for this cruise. We did the inaugural med cruise a few years ago (with a then 2 y/o and pregnant with DS #2).

Kids are older and ready to sail. This will be cruise #4 for DS 7, Cruise #2 for DS 5 (turns 5 the day before the cruise... HAPPY birthday to the little man) and cruise #5 for DH and myself.

 

[Kuiska2009]

Jumping in here. We are booked for this cruise. Pardon my ignorance but what is a fish extender? Is that the pocket thing that hangs from the fish? We did the inaugural med cruise a few years ago (with a then 2 y/o and pregnant with DS #2).

Kids are older and ready to sail. This will be cruise #4 for DS 7, Cruise #2 for DS 5 (turns 5 the day before the cruise... HAPPY birthday to the little man) and cruise #5 for DH and myself.

Welcome! Yup that is a fish extender. I've never done one personally but (based on what I've read) the Fish Extender exchange is like a secret santa. Everyone who participates will make or buy little gifts for all the other staterooms in the exchange. Then we deliver the presents during the cruise. Fun!

 

[emtmom]

Sadly, we won't be on this sailing after all. We've pushed our cruise out til October 2013 on the Magic. Hope you all have a great time!!

 

[janda]

We will be sailing on this cruise. Our first cruise ever! Me, husband, son, daughter, mother and father. Been doing lots of research.

 

[Jeisur]

I don't mind running the FE list. I have done so before and am doing so for another cruise. I already have the speadsheets set up and I am a major over planner. I would suggest the following:

I need
DIS name
Names of people in cabins
Ages of kids if applicable
Kids favorite Disney movie/ character
Room number when you get it

To be fair there are usually a loT Of late bookings and with the holidays I agree there needs to be a cutoff date to join the list. But I think oct or even November is a bit early. I was thinking December 19. One month out???

If you guys want I can run with this. Will update the list here as needed.

And for those nervous about getting a large group... I understand the nerves. There are a lot I inexpensive ideas that can be found. Our kids handcraft magnets and we usually buy treats for the kids and small things like gum or candy. Anything goes on any budget! A big bag of candy is a few $$ and goes a long way with computer labels. Some people go nuts but some of us do the best we can with a limited budget.

 

[Kuiska2009]

Sounds awesome!

Do you want participants to PM you the info or should we just post in the thread?

 

[Jeisur]

Sounds awesome!

Do you want participants to PM you the info or should we just post in the thread?

Whatever is easiest for the individual. pM keeps less clutter here


I will update here once a week or so as people are added.

 

[Kuiska2009]

Sadly, due to personal reasons my DH and I will no longer be able to go on this cruise. I hope you all have a wonderful time. Say 'Hi' to Captain Mickey for me!

 

[kbceman]

My family will be on this cruise as well. My husband, daughter (11), son (5) and I will be cruising for just the second time. We sailed on the Wonder in 2009 and had lots of fun, but knew nothing about cruising.
Generally, we are a WDW family, but are looking forward to changing it up and cruising next year. The pictures we have seen of the Fantasy look amazing! It's nice to "meet" other people we will be cruising with.
I'm not sure what Fish Extenders are, but maybe I can look them up on the boards here?

 

[Jeisur]

Welcome Aboard. Just google "fish extender" and you'll get the info! It is super fun! If you want to join the list just pM menor MSG me here and I will add you!

 

[PegIra]

We will be on the Fantasy 19-26,2013 and are so excited. This is our 7th Disney Cruise. Have been on the Magic, Wonder and Dream,so are thrilled to hit the Grand Slam. We are traveling with long time friends who have been on 19 cruises, but never Disney, so we are super excited for them to see how Disney does it. We have a fish extender and I have ordered one for them as a surprise,so I hope we can join the exchange.

Can't wait for this cruise !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jeisur]

We will be on the Fantasy 19-26,2013 and are so excited. This is our 7th Disney Cruise. Have been on the Magic, Wonder and Dream,so are thrilled to hit the Grand Slam. We are traveling with long time friends who have been on 19 cruises, but never Disney, so we are super excited for them to see how Disney does it. We have a fish extender and I have ordered one for them as a surprise,so I hope we can join the exchange.

Can't wait for this cruise !!!!!!!!!!

If you would like to participate in the FE I just need:

dis name, cabin number (when you get it), names of travelers, ages of kids, favorite characters (if applicable).

you can PM me or post here. I have a list going for the cruise already

 

[PegIra]

My dis name is PegIra, and I am Peg and my husband is Ira. Last name Lunt. We will be in room 5552. Our friends, Don & Lindy Ehart are in 10162. They don't know anything about the fish extenders, so I am going to supply the FE gifts for both of us. They don't know I got them a FE, so this will be a big surprise for them for their first Disney Cruise. I'm not telling them anything about it until we are onboard. There are no children with us, we are the children. We are both from Delaware.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Hubby and I will be on this cruise. Just us. Our one child is all grown up and married for 4 months and, for some reason, thinks sharing a vacation with her parents isnt the way she wants to spend her vacation time

This is only our second cruise ever. Our first was circa 1994 on The Big Red Boat.

Not planning to do Fish Extenders. Is that so ubiquitous that we'll feel like we're the grouches of the ship, or is it something just some ppl do? Thanks.

 

[Jeisur]

Not planning to do Fish Extenders. Is that so ubiquitous that we'll feel like we're the grouches of the ship, or is it something just some ppl do? Thanks.

Welcome aboard! There is no requirement or guilt trips for the FE. It is fun to get the goodies and surprises. BUt not a requirement. We have done it sometimes and others not.