January 24-28, 2010 -- Wonder

[DisneyWillow]

Now that our cruise is officially paid for, I am even more excited!!! (I didn't know that was possible) I don't think we are going to do the FE's, with this being our first cruise and not knowing what to expect, I don't what to say I'll do something then get sidetracked and not do it.

My oldest daughter (14) would like to correspond with kids that are going that are her age, or close. Her biggest fear is that she won't meet anyone and won't have fun. So if anyone has a child that would be interested, please PM me.

Also if anyone has tips for our first cruise let me know!!! Can't wait for Jan to get here!!

 

[ganandem]

Just to give everyone a little more info on the FE. The way that it was organized on our last cruise worked very well. Each family chose a day that they would deliver their goodies. We only had about 8 rooms to visit. My children loved using the map to find the other cabins. The whole thing took about 30 minutes and it was well worth the excitement that my kids got every time we returned to our cabin and found goodies. I completely understand if some do not want to participate. I was worried myself that it would take too much time and energy. I just wanted to make the families that are joining feel a little more comfortable about the time committment. We thought that it was a great experience.

 

[Cruisin]

Also if anyone has tips for our first cruise let me know!!! Can't wait for Jan to get here!!

As a veteran of soon to be 17 cruises (12 of them Disney Cruises) I have a few tips for you. Things that I found useful at least.

.....I always bring a highlighter so that I can look at the Navigator everyday and see what I might be interested in doing. Then I highlight it. That makes it much easier to just glance at it to see what's happening, when. You might want to consider bringing a couple of different colours if you have several people using the same Navigator.

.....Also, just for your information, extra Navigators are available in a little stand right near Guest Services. You can just walk up and pick up however many you need.


.....Bring seasickness medications/sea bands etc with you. We always bring them but have never needed to use them. I think of them as kind of an insurance policy. Because you know if I didn't bring them, then we'd need them for sure.

.... Make sure that the hangers in the closet won't bang around if/when the ship rocks during the night. Also make sure the closet doors are shut tightly so they don't slide back and forth either.

.....Try to get to the ship as early as you can. Once you are onboard, you are on vacation. We always say, it doesn't really even matter if they move the ship away from the terminal, we are just happy to be onboard

Hmmm. That's all for now. If you want more tips or have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I'm always happy to help.

Just to give everyone a little more info on the FE. The way that it was organized on our last cruise worked very well. Each family chose a day that they would deliver their goodies. We only had about 8 rooms to visit. My children loved using the map to find the other cabins. The whole thing took about 30 minutes and it was well worth the excitement that my kids got every time we returned to our cabin and found goodies. I completely understand if some do not want to participate. I was worried myself that it would take too much time and energy. I just wanted to make the families that are joining feel a little more comfortable about the time committment. We thought that it was a great experience.

This sounds like a good plan to me.

In all our cruises I have never participated in a fish extender exchange before.

Since we are a GTY CAT 12, I will have to let you know our cabin number as soon as we get one assigned.

 

[Cruisin]

Are we going to plan on a little DIS meet while we are onboard the ship.

Most of the ones that I have gone to are very short, just a chance to say hello to the people you've been talking to online.

That way you can match faces to names and hopefully recognize a few of your fellow DISers when you come across them while onboard.

The best time to have these seem to be later (3:00 ish maybe) on the day that we get onboard.

Give it some thought and we can decide if we want to do this or not.

 

[ganandem]

We are GTY Cat12 so we are waiting also.

 

[Cruisin]

We are GTY Cat12 so we are waiting also.

Well here's hoping for some nice upgrades for both of us

The website has only been showing CAT 8's available for quite some time though.

 

[ganandem]

Last Jan. we were GTY Cat12 and upgraded to Cat 9. We were shocked! We were even given two side by side rooms. Upgrade fairy please be nice again!!

 

[Cruisin]

We have only booked GTY CAT 12 twice before and we were upgraded to a 10 last January and a 9 the September before that.

We have had a few other upgrades in the past too.

We usually book the lowest level cabin that we can because we don't care if we have a window or a verandah, we just want to be on the ship

For several years in a row we booked the sideways Cat 11's after we were placed in one once.

The highest cabin level we have stayed in has been an 8.

 

[TravelinGal]

I actually admire y'all who are booking gty 12 - I can't do it. I'm not fond of the inside cabins and I've never had ANY luck with upgrades. (OK - once I got upgraded from standard view at DL GC to theme park view - I can't think of any other upgrade I've ever received.)

Not to mention that DH's first cruise was booked in a Cat 11 (now called OS) on Carnival Destiny. He will never go with a cabin that doesn't have a veranda and he prefers a suite when possible. I have mixed feelings on that. After all, who doesn't want a suite? But getting the better cabins also means it costs more so we don't get to sail as often.
Maybe if it was less expensive for us to get to Florida we might go with less expensive options to go more often. But since it adds about $1000 (give or take) in airfare for our family...

 

[Presentation]

Also if anyone has tips for our first cruise let me know!!! Can't wait for Jan to get here!!

This site does a great job.

I found these links helpful:

DCL FAQ by our own lbgraves
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2068966

Mouse Savers
http://www.mousesavers.com/dcl.html

 

[Cruisin]

TravelinGal ( I am also a Robin )

We prefer to sail in the cheaper cabins and take more cruises.

Airfare for us is not too bad.

We are Canadian but we fly out of Detroit, Michigan (about 1 1/2 hrs to the airport).

You can get some pretty good deals on flight prices from Detroit to Orlando.

 

[ganandem]

We were not even planning another cruise until the kids sail free came out. Our plan was just to visit the world for the week. With booking the Cat12GTY room we were able to sail and visit the world. We only slept(actually crashed!) in our room because there was so much to do on deck. Of course we hope for an upgrade, but we certainly will be fine with whatever. As long as we are on the ship I would sleep in a closet!!

 

[DisneyWillow]

I really like the idea of highliters and knowing I can get multiple copies is even better. Thanks!!!!

 

[Cruisin]

I really like the idea of highliters and knowing I can get multiple copies is even better. Thanks!!!!

You are welcome.

I usually will grab an extra copy so that my husband and I both have one available, since we are usually out wandering the ship without each other

 

[don8life]

Wooooo Hoooo! Just got back from the World! I miss it already. One thing I miss on the cruise, Dole Whip Floats.

Cruisin, I think it is a great idea for a meet by one of the pools at around 3, time you suggested. Gives a chance to put faces to names and also for the kids to maybe meet a friend. Someone mentioned dd 14 nervous about meeting a friend. I have a dd 13. Last cruise I only saw her in passing in the halls. She had a blast. I'll PM you.

16 yr old son is a little nervous doesnt want to hang out with mom and dad. Anyone else have a 16 yr old or about boy going?

Can't wait. I hope there will be more chatter as time gets closer.

 

[alexandmaddie]

Hi all,

I just booked this cruise this morning. It will be myself and DD14. We actually just were on the Magic for the 10/31 Western. While on that cruise we decided to bring our each of our kids on a 15 year old birthday trip. DD turns 15 in June, so here we are!

We are in 6623. We were in 8032 on the 10/31 cruise. It will be interesting to go from a Cat. 3 to a Cat. 11. Oh well, it's just the two of us, we'll be fine!

Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Krista

 

[Cruisin]

Hi all,

I just booked this cruise this morning. It will be myself and DD14. We actually just were on the Magic for the 10/31 Western. While on that cruise we decided to bring our each of our kids on a 15 year old birthday trip. DD turns 15 in June, so here we are!

We are in 6623. We were in 8032 on the 10/31 cruise. It will be interesting to go from a Cat. 3 to a Cat. 11. Oh well, it's just the two of us, we'll be fine!

Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Krista

hello and welcome aboard.

 

[alexandmaddie]

hello and welcome aboard.

Thank you, Robin!

12 DCL cruises!! Wow, I am so jealous!!

Krista

 

[Cruisin]

Only one of those cruises has been a 7 day cruise the rest have all been shorter ones.

We love to cruise as you can tell

One might think that we are addicted to them

Ah, well, I can think of worse addicitons

 

[alexandmaddie]

Only one of those cruises has been a 7 day cruise the rest have all been shorter ones.

We love to cruise as you can tell

One might think that we are addicted to them

Ah, well, I can think of worse addicitons

I think I am slightly addicted to cruising too!!

We've been on 3 7 night cruises and 1 15 night cruise, so we've been on the Magic for a total of 36 nights, kind of neat when you think of it that way!

I have never booked a cruise with just two months to spare. Time will go fast.

Krista