July 10, 2011--DIS PEEPS reunite on the Disney Dream!

[nuttyboys]

Hello everyone! We are all booked for the July 10th cruise. This will be our 6th Disney Cruise. We have not done a Disney Cruise since 2009 so this will be out first with "older"kids. My daughter will be 9 and my son will be almost 6. They are looking to meet some new friends before the cruise on disboards.

Although we are very excited, is anyone else worried about the amount of people on the ship? The Magic and Wonder had 40 % less people and on Days at Sea those pools were PACKED along with lines to see characters.

Look forward to chatting with you all over the next couple of months.

Wow! You must really love Disney cruises. We booked this cruise, the first for our kids, because we felt it would offer the best services to adults AS WELL as children. It also seems like Disney cruises probably attract more families with whom we will have much in common. Since we are a family of five, will they seat us with other families for dinner?

 

[Figment_Fan]

We just booked our flights, so one more step done.

Yes, nuttyboys, I'm a little worried about the increased amount of people on the ship. I note that there is not any increased pool capacity - or did I miss something? But, this is Disney, I'm used to crowds. Besides, I can always turn the deck chair to face the ocean, and poof - no crowds. Add Frosty Adult Beverage as needed.

DW and I were looking at Harry Potter and Universal for a day or two after the cruise. We have never been there. DW kept muttering under her breath about feeling like a traitor. I kept reminding her that we will be at Disney World this April for a week, for the third trip this year. (Last June, last Thanksgiving, and this coming Spring). First time we've ever been so many times in a year. I must admit, it has been wonderful.

Anyway, Universal seems so, alien. But a BIG Harry Potter fan, so I must see what they have done.

This cruise keeps looming closer. I can hardly wait. Is it wrong to look more forward to the cruise than to WDW?? (And, we're staying at the treehouses for the week in Spring!)

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Hi everyone! Glad to see new families on the thread.

A few thoughts: I am very disappointed in the pools. In six cruises, I don't think my kids spent more than an hour TOTAL because of the rowdy kids.... KSC is AMAZING. To do it right you will need an entire day. We had lunch with an astronaut (well, DS + me + 700 of our closest friends) Very interesting.

Lastly: it looks like the Soccer Family will not be joining in on the fun. While we were really looking forward to gettin' crazy in the Royal Suites, 'tis not to be. Sometimes it is just not in the cards.

I will be keeping my subscription to the thread so everyone behave themselves! Looking forward to hearing about all of your plans.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Cheri,

Sorry you won't be joining us. I was looking forward to meeting you. The beginning posts on this thread make for some interesting speculation as to the tenor of this trip.

I guess the rest of us will have to pick up the slack. How about it everyone? We gonna' rock the boat or what?

 

[HappyontheLake]

Just put a stateroom on hold for myself and the three girls (DH and DS are going on a safari to South Africa in July so my response was a second cruise for the girls!). They only have GTY 4As left -- Wow!

Are there any other single parents (or traveling solo parents) in the group?

My girls are 13, 10, 8. We are also on the Dream March 13th so we can check it out, make sure it works correctly. Also in a Cat4 (actually connecting 4s since it is all 6 of us).

 

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

Cheri,

Sorry you won't be joining us. I was looking forward to meeting you. The beginning posts on this thread make for some interesting speculation as to the tenor of this trip.

I guess the rest of us will have to pick up the slack. How about it everyone? We gonna' rock the boat or what?

I'm also sorry to hear Cheri won't be coming along - we will have to do our best to liven up the boat ourselves!

Welcome to all the new people on the cruise. Sounds like we're going to be celebrating lots of birthdays on the trip - including my DD who is turning 16 on July 14.

Several of you have expressed interest in an FE exchange; I'm definitely in and will go back through the posts and start a list. Let me know if you'd like to join!

 

[Figment_Fan]

HappyontheLake, you never know what will happen. My DW and DD were going on this trip solo as I was chaperoning a school trip with my DS to Germany. She scheduled this as she made the convincing case that she and DD should not have to stay home while the boys were running around Europe.

Then . . . the Germany trip was cancelled. I pled my case that it would be sooo unfair that they got to see the new ship while the boys were left at home. Now, we all get to go on the ship, after a few adjustments wonderfully facilitated by Disney cast members.

Look forward to seeing you there.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

I will miss the fun. I do have great faith that I leave the cruise in great hands though. Just remember: wearing jammies to the adult clubs is always appropriate - as is dancing on the bar (you will fall off of the little tables) and happy hours by the pool.

 

[HappyontheLake]

I did it! I paid my deposit for the "Mommy and the girls only 5 night double dip!" DH and DS will be on a safari in South Africa freezing their A$$e$ off (and having a great time) and the girls will be hitting the spa, working on their tans, and having a great time.

Just praying our GTY 4A is not right under the pool (Pixie Dust DCL, please?)

Any other single parents or single by design, like me on the cruise?

 

[camikey]

Hello All,
My DD (turning 5 onthe cruise) will be cruising with ya'll. I am so excited to finally be able to post. This will be our first Disney Cruise.

Carol

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

OK. People! People! Work with me here! Figment, where are you???

Chatter must start. Plan the FE's. Discuss which night will be jammie night in Rockin Bar D (or whatever it is on the Dream). Who will be hosting happy hours? My royal suite will becoming available. Would be perfect for some family to snatch up.

Who is planning the DIS Meet? T-shirts? I set up a web site (it's easy peasy lemon squeezy*) to show pictures of everyone. That way the kids would see "familiar" faces in the terminal.

OK, ready? GO!

(* ok, so maybe you won't miss me afterall)

 

[kreedham]

I love your name! I feel like that as well. We have two boys (12 & 9 during the cruise...July 12). I haven't been on this thread in a while b/c I have been concentrating on our cruise coming up in February. We are planning on spending the week before the cruise at Disney...we just booked our timeshare through Marriott, so we have our accomodations. We haven't been to Universal since they added Harry Potter, so that could be an option as well. I sent an email to our congressman a few days ago asking about free tickets to KSC, but have yet to hear back. Hopefully that will come through so we can go there the day before we sail. Welcome to the cruise!

WE just got back from the maiden voyage of the Dream and it's a fantastic ship.

We'll be on this one next! Our boys are 10 and 12 so hopefully they'll meet! Our 10 year old is quite the friendly one and has no problem friending younger or older. 12 needs a little push but usually finds someone to hang with!

See you all this summer!

 

[policycobb]

Hi Camikey!

I have a 6 yr old DD who is really excited about Pixie Hollow in the Kid's club. She would be happy to know another little girl. This is our second Disney Cruise. You will love it!!

 

[DisneyZell]

WE just got back from the maiden voyage of the Dream and it's a fantastic ship.

We'll be on this one next! Our boys are 10 and 12 so hopefully they'll meet! Our 10 year old is quite the friendly one and has no problem friending younger or older. 12 needs a little push but usually finds someone to hang with!

See you all this summer!

It's nice to find other boys around the same age. My two boys seem to have the same temperment...the 12 year old takes a while to warm up and the younger one is our social one. It is very nice when they both find someone to hang out with. When you were on the Dream, did you feel it was very crowded? I have a feeling our cruise will be packed and we won't be able to spend much time at the pools (we'll be waiting in the long line for the aquaduck!) How was Castaway Cay in terms of crowds?

 

[kreedham]

It's nice to find other boys around the same age. My two boys seem to have the same temperment...the 12 year old takes a while to warm up and the younger one is our social one. It is very nice when they both find someone to hang out with. When you were on the Dream, did you feel it was very crowded? I have a feeling our cruise will be packed and we won't be able to spend much time at the pools (we'll be waiting in the long line for the aquaduck!) How was Castaway Cay in terms of crowds?

Crowds:

Guest Services-seems there was always a line...not sure why

Pools-not bad at all, of course more repeat cruisers with no kids since most were in school.

Rebooking-With all the Gold and Platinum on board this was busier than I've ever seen it. Poor girl worked hard. Always a line when she was open.

Ship-No rooms but 400 under capacity due to fewer kids. Never seemed crowded except for the initial surge to get to dinner, shows, etc.

Retail-Nuts...everybody had to have Maiden Voyage merch. The repeaters tended to stay away and the newer cruisers (not all) were quite selfish buying several t shirts etc instead of just 1 for each person in their party. 3 stores instead of 2 with 1 dedicated to the nicer stuff, jewelry, D & B bags, etc.

Things went well overall so I expect by summer they'll have it down pretty good though I expect the line to Aquaduck to always be long with the extra kids. I expect the pools to be crowded.

My wife wants to get a Cabana at CC but at $500 it's a bit pricey. A few families went in together so $250 is not so bad. Christopher (my 10 year old) somehow met an 11 yr old whose parents had a cabana. We met them and they invited us down. You don't really get much but free sodas, snacks, and water. The best part is it's private to only those renting so you really have your own little beach. Not a big deal this time but in the summer with the kids CC is packed. We figure we'll probably stay on ship on one of the CC days and maybe a cabana on the other. Staying on the ship (probably the first day) will give extra opportunities at the pool, Aquaduck.

I'm not worried about the crowds. I think the MV was unusual as there were tons of repeaters (the theatre was full-1500, for the Castaway Club party while there is usually, from my experience 100-200), and not as many kids.

Trust me, you will love it. Just don't let the little things bother you and especially the other cruisers. On hindsight, my biggest concerns came back to the few cruisers that were just selfish or rude-those hogging the merch, people who try to get on an elevator before you can get off, etc.

It's beautiful and my wife said the food was the best since we started Disney Cruises 6 years ago.

BTW-My 12 year old is Allen and we'll have to get the boys together. Christopher loves the club and the tween club is cool but Allen tends to go where he wants which is usually the pool, though he liked the club.

 

[camikey]

Hi Camikey!

I have a 6 yr old DD who is really excited about Pixie Hollow in the Kid's club. She would be happy to know another little girl. This is our second Disney Cruise. You will love it!!

My DD, Destiny, will be so excited to make a freind. She is very social and has no problem meeting new people. I think she will have more fun than me. Single Mom hoping to find things to do here. She already gave me permission to go on the slide as she will not be tall enough.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

much better!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

much better!

boy Cheri..you are a b@ll buster!

I too am with Cheri..cancelled my cruise and going to plan a different vacation instead...in fact, I leave for AKL tomorrow morning!!

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

yeah, well you of all people should know how much fun you can have on a DIS thread. (oh and pffft going to WDW AGAIN in two months time)

(to everyone else: DisneyDMBNut, her family, my family, RonnieJo66's family and a few other families all "met" on our 10/05 thread. We've been vacationing together ever since)

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

yeah, well you of all people should know how much fun you can have on a DIS thread. (oh and pffft going to WDW AGAIN in two months time)

(to everyone else: DisneyDMBNut, her family, my family, RonnieJo66's family and a few other families all "met" on our 10/05 thread. We've been vacationing together ever since)

just "vacationed" together??? I think you and RonnieJo being my bridesmaids counted for a bit more than just "vacationing"...it was LIFE ALTERING!! lol