July 21, 2014 7 Night Alaska

[karriemouse]

Hi, everyone, I just went ahead and started a facebook group for our cruise. I made it a closed group to protect our privacy (I know I don't like to advertise when I'm going to be out of town). If you would like to join, send me your email address and I will send you an invite. My email address is hurst10@bellsouth.net. Thanks! Disney Wonder to Alaska

Thank you for doing this Terri, and I agree with making it private. I've just joined! And have added Sophie as well!

 

[terrich]

Maxharl, I started a facebook page for our group. Just email me at hurst10@bellsouth.net and I will send you an invite. (it's a closed group)

 

[karriemouse]

Hi All, I think I've replied to all emails and messages and we now have eight families on the Fish Extender list.

Should we fix a cut-off date for joining? How about three weeks beforehand - 1st July? This will give time for us to finish making gifts and for those (like us!) who leave home 2 weeks before the cruise!

 

[terrich]

I want to say that when we did it last April, they closed the FE group at least a month ahead of time. That gave everyone plenty of time to get their gifts together. I happen to be a procrastinator (and I chair our PTA's big fundraiser which happens to be 2 weeks before Spring Break every year) so I didn't start my crafting until the week before we left. However, I did order all my supplies ahead of time and it was nice to know that I was ordering enough for all the different gifts. I do recall that quite a few people in our group were finished with all their gifts a month or so early.

I would prefer to close it a bit sooner -- maybe a month. We are leaving more than a week before the ship sails and I am thinking about shipping my items so we don't have to lug them across country on the plane. With a full summer, it would be nice to be able to actually get them finished before the day before we leave.

 

[sqektoy]

I think 30 days is a good cutoff for FE. If we have any late additions, we can let them know it's past the cutoff, they can still participate but may not be able to receive from those already finished?? (That's what we did previously)
Also, is there a way we could get the current list sent out as a google doc or something? This way those of us "overachievers" who have more time now than we will later could get started on our projects??? Thoughts??

 

[karriemouse]

I'm more than happy to plan an earlier cut-off, how about 21st June?

(The reason I suggested later was on the last 2 FE's I did we had a few people who did not make the cut-off, one of whom was not happy about it... but hopefully that won't happen!!)

Several people have asked about setting a maximum number in the exchange and then starting a 2nd group if necessary - we currently have 9 families signed up. What do people think about that? And if so - how many?

I'll get an FE So Far document created tomorrow and email it out to everyone as a PDF.

 

[terrich]

Ours last year had 10 families, total of 43 people. It was a good sized group, but with the extra 2 nights on this trip, it wouldn't be terrible to have a few more. I've heard of some groups with as many as 50 families, and I think that's crazy.

 

[Apsychmommy]

I prefer setting a max just because we are flying with two young kids and might take the train as well so luggage space is somewhat of a premium. I'm cruising at the end of this month and we set the max at 15 and then a second group was started after.

Hard to believe my first cruise on DCL is just a few weeks away which makes the long wait to July not so hard

 

[love280mickey]

Hi Karen,

I'll send you an email to include me on the facebook page. So make that a total of 9 families, we are a party of 3!

I also prefer an earlier cutoff and a limit of families. Last cruise we had about 13 and that was fine. I think anything over 15 families gets to be too much.

jmo.

Laurie, Dave, and Diana (14)

 

[karriemouse]

Hi Karen, I'll send you an email to include me on the facebook page. So make that a total of 9 families, we are a party of 3! I also prefer an earlier cutoff and a limit of families. Last cruise we had about 13 and that was fine. I think anything over 15 families gets to be too much. jmo. Laurie, Dave, and Diana (14)

Hi Laurie, You've already sent me an email and you are part of the 9 !! We were also emailing about Eleanor and Diana getting in touch before the cruise? If you need Eleanor's email again just let me know.

Sorry everyone, the last few days have been crazy at work, and I was setting up a performance for this afternoon. (I co-lead a Puppet Troop, but the young people need more organising than the puppets do!!) Will plan to get the FE list updated and out tomorrow.

 

[karriemouse]

Fish Extender list sent out!

I've just emailed the latest list out to everyone - is it doesn't arrive or you can't open it please let me know. We now have 12 families, so it would be good to make a decision soon on how many we shall have in each group.

 

[karriemouse]

Cut off details for the FE list.

The overall consensus seems to be that 15 families is a good number - so shall I propose that we consider The Donald Group complete at 15 families and then start The Goofy Group?!

Also that the final date for joining the FE is 21st June?

Please let me know if this is OK.

And one more question - the groups who have two families in the FE, do you want to be in the same group or different ones?

 

[rockandreel]

Hello to all. I am getting so excited. We made the last payment this week and are watching the clock for March 22 to start booking excursions. Can't wait

 

[aquamindy]

I'm in for the FE. It's me DW 36, DH 37, and DD 6.

Hi everyone, just been updating the FE spreadsheet! So far we have seven families: love280mickey terrich Apsychmommy terrich's brother's family Maxharl karriemouse One other whose Dis name I don't know - I will check on that If you would like to join the FE please send me your details here or to karen@bracegirdle.uk.net. Similarly if I have missed anyone off, please let me know. Several people have asked about a Facebook group, is this something we want to do? It's only 5 months now!

 

[aquamindy]

Hi, everyone, I just went ahead and started a facebook group for our cruise. I made it a closed group to protect our privacy, but since people can see that it exists (they just can't see posts or pictures unless they are in the group), I did not put our sail dates in the name. (I know I don't like to advertise when I'm going to be out of town). If you would like to join, send me your email address and I will send you an invite. My email address is hurst10@bellsouth.net. Thanks! Disney Wonder to Alaska

Email sent!

 

[aquamindy]

Just got final payment reminder. Need to start choosing activities! Did AK on princess about 10 years ago. Can't wait to do DCL with kid.

 

[karriemouse]

Updated Fish Extender Donald Group list emailed out to everyone on it. Please let me know if there are any mistakes!

If you would like to join the FE - please email me at karen@bracegirdle.uk.net with your Disboards name, real names, ages of children, any allergies you have, your Castaway Club level (for my personal use as I have an idea for gifts!) and most importantly your cabin number. Come and join the fun!!

 

[allbets]

Is there a Facebook group for people going on July 21 to Alaska on disney wonder? We'd like to join if there is...we have several families and my parents going. Thanks!

 

[allbets]

A little about myself: We've been on the dream in 2011, we "booked" this cruise then so we've been planning it for 3 years!!! We picked this year because my son will be 8 and can go on the big fishing trips. Also my daughter will be five and will be able to do a lot of the excursions. We have two friends and their families going too and my parents and one of their moms too! We're all staying on the last deck, we have room 1076 and 1074. To say we're excited is an understatement!! My daughter wants to start packing now. I don't think she remembers the Bahamas cruise when she was two but she is excited! So we're staying at the Granville island hotel for two nights before and the pan pacific right at the port on Monday that we return. Flights were better and got us home at a more decent time on Tuesday than Monday. For excursions we're probably doing the white pass railway with the kids activity in Skagway, the fishing and dinner excursion for my dad, husband and son in Ketchikan ...the gals are just exploring Ketchikan on our own and the whale watching/science in Juneau. Looking forward to booking that, spa and palo on April 22! Will have to stay up til midnight my time

 

[allbets]

Can someone explain the FE to me? I requested to be added to the Facebook group but I think I wanted to just join a Facebook group for this disney Alaska cruise. Thank you!