January 19, 2013 - FANTASY 7 Night Western Cruise

[PegIra]

How many do we have signed up for the FE so far? I would like to start shopping since I am doing it for our friends and ourselves. They have never done a Disney cruise, so all of the neat things like FE and magnets are new to them. I can't wait to surprise them with this all.

Peg

 

[Jeisur]

How many do we have signed up for the FE so far? I would like to start shopping since I am doing it for our friends and ourselves. They have never done a Disney cruise, so all of the neat things like FE and magnets are new to them. I can't wait to surprise them with this all.

Peg

These are the people that have contacted me with names:

Jeisur- cabin 1- self, dh, ds (5), ds (7)
cabin 2- in-laws
cabin 3- mother

Tinkybell14 self, dh, ds (8), dd (10)

beckybowler self, dh, ds (13), dd (10)

dstein12 cabin 1- self, dh, dd (5)
cabin 2- mother, ds (12)

PegIra cabin 1- self, dh
cabin 2- friends (dw, dh)



These are people that have expressed interest but have not confirmed participation: (send in names, ages and cabin #)

shanstef
wdw princess 71
lisa
crusingfamily4
hosburg
cmsnyder77
victoriaJ
dingmomma
jennifer AS
nursemomof2
xulauren
nurse2011
princess jewel
janda
kbceman

 

[Victoria J]

Hello all,
I'm sad to say (heartbroken actually) we had a change in plans and will no longer be on the Fantasy. We will still be going on the Dream so all hope is not lost, but not the same...Hope you all have a wonderful cruise!

 

[PiMCTaylor]

Are oyher silver cc members having a hard time completing online booking this morning? We keep getting an error message. We could book excursions with no problem but can't do online booking. Help!

 

[xuLauren]

Hi there. I also cannot PM, so here is our info for all to see. Anyone out there from Cincinnati?

We are only silver so I just paid and booked everything over the weekend. Got everything we wanted except a cabana at castaway. SO bummed about that b/c we enjoyed one the first year they were available before they got popular. A must with little kids - split it with our friends and was so perfect.

Anyhow, I want to do a FE for both our cabin and the adjoining room as a surprise. My friend Julie lurks but not too deeply (more for tips, not cruise community stuff), so if she catches me I'm sure she'll let me know if I'm busted.

Here's our info:

Room: 7048
Brian, 35
Lauren, 33
Mallory (3 y/o GIRL) - Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel
Emerson (1 y/o GIRL) - Minnie & Daisy

Room 7046
Jeff, 33
Julie, 33
Austin, (3 y/o BOY) - Donald Duck, Mickey, Buzz
Caleb, (1 y/o BOY) - Donald Duck, Mickey, Buzz

 

[sillysarah]

I would like to take place in the fish extender exchange if possible
3 guests my 6 year old daughter myself and my husband
Thanks
Karen

 

[xuLauren]

Are oyher silver cc members having a hard time completing online booking this morning? We keep getting an error message. We could book excursions with no problem but can't do online booking. Help!

I did all of our booking from midnight to 3:45 this morning and had very little trouble with bibbidi bobbidi, excursions or dining. To book stuff for our friends I had to get a little creative because for some reason it would not let me book "just" them, so we have many dining reservations where it's me & Julie and then Jeff & Brian - which we'll have to fix later on, but to get the times that's how I had to do it.

Other than that snafu, I was good. Sorry you had trouble... When you say online booking, but not excursions, what were you referring to? Just curious...

 

[Jeisur]

I would like to take place in the fish extender exchange if possible
3 guests my 6 year old daughter myself and my husband
Thanks
Karen

Sillysarah,

I just need names and ages of those in your party and room number when you get it.

jeisur

 

[Jeisur]

once you get up to 10 posts here you can PM. Start chatting folks!

What excursions are you all booking for the ports?

Anyone doing bibbity bobbity for their kids? We booked the boys (SHHH its a secret) for the jack sparrow makeover. Hoping they like it.

if you would prefer you can email me your info.

laurie.reed@mac (dot) com

 

[sillysarah]

My daughter is 6 I am 43 and my husband is 44 Our cabin is one of the ones with the two port holes on deck 5 but I will look up the number!!
Thanks
K

 

[Tinkybell14]

We are only silver so I just paid and booked everything over the weekend. Got everything we wanted except a cabana at castaway. SO bummed about that b/c we enjoyed one the first year they were available before they got popular. A must with little kids - split it with our friends and was so perfect.

Yep...that was the only thing I wanted and they were all gone! We did the same and shared the cost w/ our friends last year and it was wonderful. A little bummed that we won't have our private oasis this year, but CC is so beautiful and fun that we'll just have to make the best of it.

 

[capshockeygrl]

Created an account just to post here.

My dad and I will be sailing on this cruise. This will be my second. The first was a few years ago on the Magic. I can't wait!!!

 

[Jeisur]

Created an account just to post here.

My dad and I will be sailing on this cruise. This will be my second. The first was a few years ago on the Magic. I can't wait!!!

welcome aboard. if you have any questions please feel free to ask!

 

[capshockeygrl]

Thanks!

Anyone have any recommendations for the shore excursions? We've already booked CC, but I can't decide what else I'd like to do on the other stops.

 

[Jeisur]

Thanks!

Anyone have any recommendations for the shore excursions? We've already booked CC, but I can't decide what else I'd like to do on the other stops.

Id love to offer suggestions but we have never done this cruise before.

 

[xuLauren]

We are doing the bibbidi bobbidi boutique. Right now I was thinking of doing the one with a shirt and tutu - thinking we'll get more mileage out of that and we already have costumes. And we'll do the under the sea thing - my daughter takes swimming lessons for 2 years now, so she'll love to wear her new bathing suit to swimming. And the pirate makeover - empress package I think? The cheaper one... we already have a costume for her.

As far as excursions, we are doing a boat ride on CC. I grew up in Florida - life guarded actually - and I'm SO over all day at the beach, so I think this'll be a nice way to break it up a bit. In GC we're doing a semi submarine ride. In Cozumel we are doing a Mayan Ruin and Party (it's the one with lunch and pinatas for kids). And then in Costa Maya my husband and I are doing the segway thing. No clue if any of it is great. We wanted a mix of stuff we can do with the 1 year old - kind of slim pickins with that in mind.

And let me add: when I am on a cruise I intend to eat my face off. So, we booked Remy Champagne brunch, Remy dinner, Palo dinner and Palo brunch. Does anyone know anything about the seafood brunch or lunch? My friends swear they have one, that is not Palo, and I don't remember it... You'd think I'd remember something food related... *sigh*

And, I wonder how strict they are about height on the aqua duck. I REALLY want to take my 3 year old, but she's not tall enough by several inches...

We've never done the kids program - Mallory was too young the first time. Can they go in and out as they please? Do the characters really come make surprise visits? Do they take the kids out of the room or stay put? Any other tips?

Last - how about these wave phones on board? I am SO excited to have those. Assuming we can communicate with friends and our spouses? I gather the nursery can also call us?

 

[capshockeygrl]

Id love to offer suggestions but we have never done this cruise before.

My only cruise has been the Eastern Caribbean, so I'm excited to try this one now!

My dad has lived halfway across the country from me since I was a teenager, so its nice to get to do fun things like this when we get together!

 

[Jeisur]

We are doing the bibbidi bobbidi boutique. Right now I was thinking of doing the one with a shirt and tutu - thinking we'll get more mileage out of that and we already have costumes. And we'll do the under the sea thing - my daughter takes swimming lessons for 2 years now, so she'll love to wear her new bathing suit to swimming. And the pirate makeover - empress package I think? The cheaper one... we already have a costume for her.

As far as excursions, we are doing a boat ride on CC. I grew up in Florida - life guarded actually - and I'm SO over all day at the beach, so I think this'll be a nice way to break it up a bit. In GC we're doing a semi submarine ride. In Cozumel we are doing a Mayan Ruin and Party (it's the one with lunch and pinatas for kids). And then in Costa Maya my husband and I are doing the segway thing. No clue if any of it is great. We wanted a mix of stuff we can do with the 1 year old - kind of slim pickins with that in mind.

And let me add: when I am on a cruise I intend to eat my face off. So, we booked Remy Champagne brunch, Remy dinner, Palo dinner and Palo brunch. Does anyone know anything about the seafood brunch or lunch? My friends swear they have one, that is not Palo, and I don't remember it... You'd think I'd remember something food related... *sigh*

And, I wonder how strict they are about height on the aqua duck. I REALLY want to take my 3 year old, but she's not tall enough by several inches...

We've never done the kids program - Mallory was too young the first time. Can they go in and out as they please? Do the characters really come make surprise visits? Do they take the kids out of the room or stay put? Any other tips?

Last - how about these wave phones on board? I am SO excited to have those. Assuming we can communicate with friends and our spouses? I gather the nursery can also call us?

I totally understand not wanting to spend the entire day at castaway. We live 5 minutes from the beach so it isnt that much of a big deal to us. We like to hang on the boat for most of the day. I'm not impressed with the BBQ on castaway (apparently I am on the only one??) so we eat on the ship as well.

For excursions we booked: GC- discover native cayman & saltwater forest, CM- chacchoben mayan ruins and in Cozumel the submarine expedition. I wasn't impressed with the travel times to some of the places. These seemed to be the least travel time and most interest to our party.

We also booked remy and pal both lunch and dinners. I have not heard of the seafood buffet. But the lunch buffet at cabanas on the dream had a LOT of seafood? Maybe that is what they were referring too? once upon a time, palo brunch had a bunch of seafood as well??

As for the Aqua Duck... they are VERY strict! Our youngest just BARELY made the height. They had 2 people verify! Once he was wristbanded it wasnt an issue. The yellow slide near the kids pool is super fun for the smaller set.

Kids programs. you can take them in during any open house times. that is the only time parents are allowed in. Otherwise you check them in and you have to sign them out. For kids under 4 (or recently potty trained if older) they recommend no more than 30 minutes at a time without a parent stopping by to give the kid a potty break. my almost 5 year old (will be 5 for the cruise) was so into what was going on (super sloppy science) he forgot to listen to his body and had a small accident. Thank goodness it was about 5 minutes before we picked him up anyway. The kids never leave the club without you knowing. they have RFID chips in their bracelets and if you come to check on them they can tell you exactly where in the club they are. If they pass through between the clubs or what corner they are playing in. Pretty nifty. big brother is watching them! they even feed the kids meals (but check the navigator for times). If you have late dining the staff will even pick them up from dinner!

Yes, the characters do come and go from the kids club. If you check the navigator you can tell them they will be there. On the Dream they had green army men from toy story, mickey, minnie, stitch and a few others. Most of them are interactive. Like "Stitches Adventure Squad" and "Toy Story Boot Camp". It isn't the same as standing in line for the meet and greets.

Character tip: If you want to get some of the more popular without waiting in line... when you are in castaway they do several "gang way" greetings. The lines arent really as long because people are more concerned about being on the island than characters. We got a good 5 minutes with stitch and lilo!

Lastly, wave phones... nifty! two per stateroom. the kind of remind me of the old Nokia phones. YOu can call and txt from them to other wave phones. My only complaint was that i could never get ours to ring! there are guides to learn how to use them in the room. Very nice compared to the old pagers!

any more questions>???

have you started packing yet?? hahahahaha

 

[xuLauren]

Actually I am right there with you about the barbeque on CC. I was pretty underwhelmed with it, but I too felt like the only one. My friends go wild over everything. Sometimes I think it's more psychological - that because we are on vacation and a pricey cruise everything is just simply divine, even though it isn't. Don't get me wrong, it's all good but I don't do cartwheels over average to above average things, especially when it's food. I also fully admit that I am a food snob, so I certainly never complain or otherwise dilute the magic.

More questions:

Am I allowed to order off the adult menu for my kids? My kids have had very diverse foods all their lives and I'm inclined to have them eat more than mac n cheese. For Mallory on our first cruise I ordered off the kids menu, but I guess I never thought about the adult menu. Now that she eats 100% of what we eat I figure it might be good to have the option.

And, on this potty thing in the kids club. Mallory goes to day care and they use the potty without assistance most of the time. If it's #2 I know the staff helps them if needed, but otherwise they're independent. I'm guessing there's no help available for that in the kids club? Also, are the toilets in the kids club the kind that auto flush? And are they small or adult size? Mallory is afraid of the auto flush ones - they always flush before she finishes and it freaks her out.

And I think you are right about the seafood brunch. Our friends really like to eat at the buffets for breakfast and lunch on at sea days (not me!) and I bet that is exactly what happened. They said it was on the second day at sea. I have palo brunch that day.

Very excited for fish extenders... How we doing on the tally for that? And will we meet up on the boat at some point?

 

[Jeisur]

Actually I am right there with you about the barbeque on CC. I was pretty underwhelmed with it, but I too felt like the only one. My friends go wild over everything. Sometimes I think it's more psychological - that because we are on vacation and a pricey cruise everything is just simply divine, even though it isn't. Don't get me wrong, it's all good but I don't do cartwheels over average to above average things, especially when it's food. I also fully admit that I am a food snob, so I certainly never complain or otherwise dilute the magic.

More questions:

Am I allowed to order off the adult menu for my kids? My kids have had very diverse foods all their lives and I'm inclined to have them eat more than mac n cheese. For Mallory on our first cruise I ordered off the kids menu, but I guess I never thought about the adult menu. Now that she eats 100% of what we eat I figure it might be good to have the option.

And, on this potty thing in the kids club. Mallory goes to day care and they use the potty without assistance most of the time. If it's #2 I know the staff helps them if needed, but otherwise they're independent. I'm guessing there's no help available for that in the kids club? Also, are the toilets in the kids club the kind that auto flush? And are they small or adult size? Mallory is afraid of the auto flush ones - they always flush before she finishes and it freaks her out.

And I think you are right about the seafood brunch. Our friends really like to eat at the buffets for breakfast and lunch on at sea days (not me!) and I bet that is exactly what happened. They said it was on the second day at sea. I have palo brunch that day.

Very excited for fish extenders... How we doing on the tally for that? And will we meet up on the boat at some point?

We too consider ourselves food snobs. I guess the BBQ is probably fantastic if you sat on the hot beach all day and were super hungry.

As for kids eating off the adult menu. YES YES YES! They can order whatever they want. Or just parts of the adult entires. Like my son loves the "shrimp cocktail" but not the stuff they put with it. So he just had the shrimp. Our little one isnt a sweet eater but loved chocolate chip cookies... every night they brought him cookies (not a menu item!). The older usually orders off the adult menu and then a kids dish "just in case".

Back to the potty. There is ZERO assistance. They have to be totally independent but that is why they recommend checking on the kids every 30 min just in case. The potties are auto flush and they are the "little sized" ones. My son is very sensitive to the flushing noise but seems fine with the ones in the kids club. Have you ever tried the post it note trick for autoflushes? I carry some in my purse when we are out and about because of the kids fear. You just stick one up over the sensor and remove it when done!

as for FE this is what is confirmed:
11 cabins, 20 adults, 12 kids

unconfirmed(expressed initial interest):
14 cabins, 32 adults, 18 kids

We are heading out camping at Fort Wilderness for Halloween! YEAH! Kids are excited. Annual tradition. Trick-or-Treating at the fort!