June 1, 2012 - 5 night Bahama Dream Cruise

[rewhitingjr]

Thanks for putting together the FE! You have done a fabulous job! We are so excited and can't wait. I do have one silly question about the onboard meet...How will we know which group is ours?

Great question. Star Wars fans could bring and wave Lightsabers while Star Trek fans could wear Spock Ears and shout Live Long and Prosper (There are no silly questions, just silly answers).

I was actually wondering the same thing. Should we wear lime green ribbons or something?

Good thought on wearing a ribbon. It would be easy to attach to our KTTW lanyards and quick to spot those wearing them (as well as light to pack) .

 

[rewhitingjr]

Where did everybody go? Only 50 more days and we live the Dream! Based on the lack of chatter, you would think we have over a year until we sail.

What is everybody doing before sail date? Our family plans to arrive a day early and spend the night at the Country Inn & Suites in Port Canaveral. We want to wake up and see the ship first thing in the morning.

 

[Jdismom]

We're all busy working on our FE gifts!

Our family is driving down to Orlando on Thursday, spending the night at Buena Vista Suites, and driving down to the port the next morning. We're not boarding until 12-12:30. It sounded like it would be too crazy to try to be in the first groups on the ship, so we're taking our time.

 

[gatorfreud]

I am spending every waking second working on my FE gifts!! I'm afraid maybe I have gone a little overboard.

We are flying in on 5/26 and are going to spend a few days with my in-laws in South Florida. My folks live really close to the port, so we will spend the night before the cruise there. Then the cruise and then we are heading up to the panhandle for a few days in Panama City Beach. My whole family is then going to Destin for a week and we will join them (my husband will fly home then at some point during that week).

The boys and I are then driving (yikes!) to see a friend in North Carolina then on to Pittsburgh to meet my family again to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday! We will finally go back home to San Francisco on June 30. Whew! We pretty much fly on miles so we have one shot a year to squeeze everything in - our own vacation and seeing all the friends and relatives!

School gets so busy at the end of the year for us (and everyone I suppose) so I need to really get it together as we fly out the day after school gets out!!!

Man 50 days doesn't sound like much time.... especially since I will have less than that until I need to leave!

Kim

 

[gatorfreud]

HA!!! Looks like we both took our FE break at the same time to post!!!

We're all busy working on our FE gifts!

Our family is driving down to Orlando on Thursday, spending the night at Buena Vista Suites, and driving down to the port the next morning. We're not boarding until 12-12:30. It sounded like it would be too crazy to try to be in the first groups on the ship, so we're taking our time.

 

[Jdismom]

You're right gatorfreud! That's funny. I really don't chat much as you can tell from my number of posts. I didn't want rewhitingjr to think everyone abandoned him since he's doing so much for our group.

It sounds like you are going to have a great vacation/reunion this summer. That's a pretty long trip.

We plan to spend just a couple of days at Disney after the cruise. I saw the new royal rooms were finished at Port Orleans and wanted to try them out, since we would already be down there. Because we're from New Orleans, my husband has resisted staying at that resort, but I've always heard good things about it and it's a good excuse to give it a try. I also can't wait to see the first phase of the Fantasyland expansion, even though my girls are getting too old to care about Dumbo.

 

[gatorfreud]

I love Riverside.... that resort just makes me happy!

We almost went to WDW after the cruise... I was angling for that - we have Wednesday- Friday to kill before we meet my folks at the beach. I figured we could do two nights and just do a water park or whatever... my TA had some awesome deals! Then drive up to the beach on Friday - it's like 8 hours. Ugh.

But then DH said he would rather get to the beach earlier. He has some work colleagues who have been on Disney Cruises (they do some work with them) and he said they all said MAN the magic ends QUICKLY when you get off. So he figured that day will suck anyway since we will be sad getting off the boat, we might as well really make it suck and just drive then!! So I lost out on my chance to FINALLY stay at Beach Club! Hahaha!!! Either way, I certainly can't complain!

Kim

 

[rewhitingjr]

I am spending every waking second working on my FE gifts!! I'm afraid maybe I have gone a little overboard.

We're all busy working on our FE gifts! I didn't want rewhitingjr to think everyone abandoned him since he's doing so much for our group.

Whew! I dreamed the ship had already sailed (that would have been a nightmare).

Can't wait to see your FE gifts. We have acquired all the parts for our FE gifts and now just need to assemble and package them.

The post Disney cruise blues are the worst. I will be taking our family to WDW immediately following debarking. Lucky for me, I have already scheduled another Disney cruise in August (New York on the Magic).

 

[gatorfreud]

I haven't has that dream yet luckily!!!

I always usually dream that we are going on vacation and then I forgot everything.... like to Europe with no passports or guidebooks. Or to Disney without my trusted spreadsheets! Not like I need them anymore, I could do it in my sleep!!!

We will be missing out on WDW this summer. But we did get a little mini-Disney in at Disneyland in March - I was judging for the Disney Planet Challenge and brought the family with me so they could go to the parks. I was mostly working, but did get some time off for fun!! The boys had a great day as we went in at 7am for Magic Morning (I left at 7:45 then to work!) - and I guess there was some suspicious package in the esplanade and so they didn't let anyone in until around noon! Of course turned out to be nothing -and they had like 5 hours in the park with practically no one!!! They put us up at the newly remodeled Disneyland Hotel and it was gorgeous!!! So at least I got a little fix in on my obsession for this year. Hahaha!!

Kim

 

[Jdismom]

I would love to visit Disneyland some day. I've bought the guide books, done the research, but DH thinks we don't need to go all the way to California for Disney because Disneyworld has so much more. I'd just like to see Walt's original park, and I've heard some attractions are better. My 50th b'day is this summer and my dream plan to celebrate was to spend a few days in Disneyland before going on Disney's Hawaiian cruise. I had to settle instead for this trip on the Dream and a couple of days at Disneyworld. (It's not a bad second choice. I'm not complaining. I really can't wait to experience the Dream.)

 

[late2party]

Hi All! As you can tell by my user name, I have now realized I'm a little late on all of this planning stuff We're so excited to be going on this cruise (myself, my husband, our 9 year old son, and soon to be 6 year old daughter). Just found these boards and the fish extender thing sounds like so much fun. Let me know if there's anyone else out there who was late and would like to start a second group! Looking forward to meeting everyone on the cruise!

 

[Jdismom]

Hi late2party, welcome to the dis boards and our Dream cruise group!

 

[gatorfreud]

Welcome!

Yes Disneyland is really cool. The first time I went, it was really weird - so NOT like WDW in a lot of ways. It took me a day or so to get used to it... it has it's own charm. The best thing is you can walk EVERYWHERE. Fireworks at 9pm, you are IN YOUR BED by 9:35! Not waiting on the stupid bus.

In most of the attractions that duplicate in both parks, the DLR version is better than WDW. And it's so easy to park hop - you can collect some serious FP! It's just a different vibe but over the years since we first went in 2008? I think.... I have really come to love it. But it is definitely a different feel.

I am hoping to talk DH into an Alaskan cruise for next summer. We could drive to Vancouver so no plane tickets!!! Assuming we enjoy this cruise, but I can't imagine why we wouldn't!

Kim

 

[Spiffie]

Sorry that I have been quiet! We closed on a new house 2 weeks ago and are preparing to move. Trouble is no matter how prepared, it isn't enough!

I am so excited and ready for this cruise! Sure wish it was tomorrow - but alas, I'm not THAT ready!

 

[deputygator]

We have been so busy with our FE gifts that we haven't been logging in as frequently. We will be driving down to stay with my in-laws in Vero Beach the night before we set sail. We are headed straight to WDW after disembarking the ship. The will be out first time staying at Coronado Springs. Has anyone stayed there before? We decided to change it up and use our DVC points a little differently this time.

 

[gatorfreud]

Wow Spiffie - was it a far move or in the same area? Hopefully same area - slightly easier I think - but still a gigantic hassle and workload!!! Good luck!!

Deputygator - CSR is really awesome. The Jaguar slide was my kids' favorite of all slides. I really love it there. It is really pretty and good food. The pool/playground area is awesome. We had requested to stay up front in the cabanas, but ended up waaaaaaay in the back in Ranchos 6 or something. At first I thought it sucked, but we were right near the bus stop and it was actually really great! I think they redid all the rooms there a few years ago - I saw one when I visited a friend staying there and it was awesome. I'm sure you will have a blast!

I FINALLY finished my kids' gifts the other night. They are in the suitcase. Whew! I am sending DH and the boys to a birthday party today and I will stay home and keep cranking out the rest. Getting closer... I hope I finish! I had one more thing I reallllllly wanted to make for everyone, but I don't think I will have time - and I think I am bit out of control already. So I will have to save it for something else!

This is going to be so fun! I can't believe it's almost here!

Kim

 

[tiggspring]

Sorry I have been MIA. We have had car repairs three times in last two weeks, two kids out sick from school and DS switched from cubscouts to boyscouts omg is there alot to do! His involvment in activities has quardupled add soccer, dance and vollyball and well I'm the walking dead Really need our cruise

 

[rewhitingjr]

Sorry I have been MIA. We have had car repairs three times in last two weeks, two kids out sick from school and DS switched from cubscouts to boyscouts omg is there alot to do! His involvment in activities has quardupled add soccer, dance and vollyball and well I'm the walking dead Really need our cruise

Wow - you really do need this cruise.

Congratulations on your DS moving over to Boy Scouts. I'm a District Commissioner (volunteer) for the Boy Scouts of America (responsible for over 2,000 scouts) and hope your DS earns his Eagle rank one day. You should be proud parents.

Only six more weeks to go!

 

[tiggspring]

Wow - you really do need this cruise.

Congratulations on your DS moving over to Boy Scouts. I'm a District Commissioner (volunteer) for the Boy Scouts of America (responsible for over 2,000 scouts) and hope your DS earns his Eagle rank one day. You should be proud parents.

Only six more weeks to go!

Thanks! Thats a big job you took on

We are really excited for the oportunities he will have shooting for Eagle scout. He already completed the swimming badge and its only been two months.DH is now our Cubmaster so DS can be a Den chief once he moves up a few ranks. They were going to take over a tiger group but our town was about to lose their Cub charter if somone didnt come forward. Dh has been working 100hrs week for three years while working two jobs and going to graduate school part time out of state. He finishes classes in two week and really cant wait to do scouting with our son.

In November my DD7 has been asked to dance in the Christmas WDW parade so we will get some special time with her soon too! She still has to learn routine and be approved to move on but I doubt that will be a problem. We have told her just being asked is an honor and even if we gets all the way to WDW and she dosen't perform we are proud of her. (Disney has right to refuse a performer if they feel they are not ready)

Not to leave my DD13 out her reading team won 1st place in regonals.

kinda stunning what kids are doing today. When I was 13 I think the most I had accomplished was watching evey episode of the Brady Bunch in reruns

So we know we have some Scouts and Scifi fans, what else are the adults/ kids on our cruise interested in?

 

[tiggspring]

Beside Disney