June 10, 2012 Dream 5-Night Double-Dip

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Hi! We are first time Disney Cruisers and are so excited about our trip!
Our family is myself (Cindy), DH (Tom), DD (Kaitlin)14 and DD(Sarah) 8. We have been to WDW 3 times and feel like we know what to do and when to do it there, but planning for the cruise is a whole new thing for us. Hoping to learn alot from people here. 78 days and 18 hours til we set sail! (Love the app Tom put on our phones!)

Welcome Cindy and family!

(What's the app on your phone?)

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Hello everyone,

Had to make a change in our cabin, actually who's attending. My daughter's boyfriend was disappointed he couldn't bring his other girlfriend, so he won't be coming on the trip with us... DARN... So I'm bring my 5 yo Niece with us.

So it will be
Pumba's Dad: me (Ramon), DW (MK), DS(Juan 17), DD(Sara 15) and DN (Niece Sydney 5) (2 cabins)

We are looking forward to this trip and meeting everyone. Take care and see you soon.

I'll bet your niece is thrilled! Has she been on a Disney cruise before?

Sorry about your daughter's boyfriend...his loss! And I hope your daughter is doing ok.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Hey everyone!
Long time lurker, first time poster...but since we are paid off, I think it's safe to say we can be added to the list!

It's me (Cari 35--turning 36 ON THE CRUISE!!!!!) DH (SuperTim on the Disboards, Tim 31), DD 9 (Chloe), DD 6 (Addie) and also....my mother in law (Linda) and sister in law (Montana...age 13...and boy would I like to have a friend for her to pal around with on the trip!)

This is our third cruise, but my mother in law and Tana's first cruise. We are keeping this trip a secret from the kids. We are spending 8 days (our first family trip) at the World, then instead of going home, we are driving to the port.

We are super excited and keeping it from the kids is about to kill us, but I keep hanging on to that moment when they figure out where we are going. We told them we are going to Atlanta to the zoo and to CokeWorld, which we are...but then instead of going home, we are driving through the night to Orlando and hopefully with a little pixie dust the kids will wake up in the parking lot of ASMo.

That's our story!

Welcome danceteacher and family! What a great vacation you have coming up! It's hard to keep a secret, isn't it? We kept the cruise a secret from our kids for over a year, and then told them at Christmas. I was about to burst.

 

[danceteacher]

We got the 11:30 arrival time...but it's ok...we have been at the port at 10 before. We are just excited to get on the Dream and explore! Our previous two cruises were on the Wonder. I think I will miss the Wonder a little. We had a great server who I know I will miss a lot. (Deniz from Turkey )

On the secret: my mother in law was over last night after the kids went to bed, and we were doing the online check in thing and talking about it in the living room...and in comes Chloe. She says to blow her nose. I think she heard Grandma's voice and got up...she didn't let on that she heard what we were talking about, but she is a smart girl. I think our cover might be blown! She didn't say anything about it this morning, but I guess we will see.

 

[Tinker326]

Alright guys, today's the day! Tell us what you were able to get booked for the cruise 75 days out. Remy? Palo? Excursions? Did you get a good arrival time?

We aren't doing Palo or Remy, this is our first cruise ever and I know there will be enough to keep us busy. I did want to get an early Port Arrival time, and we were able to get 11am (which is still available as I'm writing this). The cabanas are all sold out for both CC days (not that we were planning to get one).

We were able to book 90 days out and STILL couldn't get PALO brunch. I was totally bummed- I was so looking forward to it! Oh well! My sister-in-law (ngneer98) and I subbed Palo tea instead.

Didn't book any excursions online.....

And was able to get 11am boarding time!

I can't believe we are getting closer! Very excited!!!

 

[Tinker326]

Hi Christie--I'm thinking about making my boys shirts for Pirate night. I made my kids and their cousins 2 shirts each for our last trip to WDW in 2010. They turned out alright. The iron-ons did start to fade and peel but it was after several washings. They were pretty cheap to make--got designs from the DIS boards DISign board and bought t-shirts on sale at Michael's. I think the iron-ons I used were from Michael's too.

About a year ago I did this for my girls- since I also had bad luck with iron-on designs......

I purchased an iron-on embrodiered Mickey Head of etsy. I think I paid $6. That included their names embroiedered on the Mickey Head (and you can pick fabric/hat if you want.. ect). Then bought a shirt for half off at Michael's ($2.50). Ironed it on..and viola.. awesome shirt.

Best part is it has lasted through THREE trips to Disney (and washes & and all that). Still looks great!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Hi everyone--

Our Fish extender sign-up is closing in less than one week on April 10. Currently there are 11 families signed up. We are an easy-going group--FE gifts can be as easy or complicated as you want!

The sign-up is on this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44257943#post44257943

 

[6mouskateers]

Booked Palo dinner last night and an excursion on CC. Can't stand myself I am so excited!

 

[Pumba's Dad]

For those of you going to the world before the cruise, Star Wars Weekend will be happening at Hollywood Studios. My son and I will probably try to catch young and old BOBA FETT..

But you can catch more info at:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...rs-weekends-2012-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

 

[coastiewifern]

About a year ago I did this for my girls- since I also had bad luck with iron-on designs......

I purchased an iron-on embrodiered Mickey Head of etsy. I think I paid $6. That included their names embroiedered on the Mickey Head (and you can pick fabric/hat if you want.. ect). Then bought a shirt for half off at Michael's ($2.50). Ironed it on..and viola.. awesome shirt.

Best part is it has lasted through THREE trips to Disney (and washes & and all that). Still looks great!

I did one of those with my daughter's initial in it. It only lasted 2 washings. I was a little bummed. I might try an iron on rhinestone but then we wouldn't match the boys....

 

[coastiewifern]

Alright guys, today's the day! Tell us what you were able to get booked for the cruise 75 days out. Remy? Palo? Excursions? Did you get a good arrival time?

We aren't doing Palo or Remy, this is our first cruise ever and I know there will be enough to keep us busy. I did want to get an early Port Arrival time, and we were able to get 11am (which is still available as I'm writing this). The cabanas are all sold out for both CC days (not that we were planning to get one).

We booked Palo brunch 90 days out. I LOVE the brunch. Very excited about that. I spaced online check in and got the 1130 time but that is ok because we have a 2.5 hour drive to the port. No need to get up early. I've been reading on the cruise thread and I think I need to stop. I am getting worried that I'm going to be disappointed. It seems the food isn't as good as on the smaller ships. At least what I've been reading. Plus the crowding. I also just learned there is a lot less entertainment options on the 5 day cruise vs a 7 day. Read reviews of people who did a 7n then a 5 being disappointed. We have only ever done the 7 day trips on the magic. Oh well this is our big summer vacation and it will be as wonderful as we make it. Not planning on any excursions this time.

 

[baddog576]

double post, see below

 

[baddog576]

baddog576: me (Piya), DH, DS 5, DD 2 (3 in July)

I just spent the last hour+ reading all 19 pages of this thread... I'm so excited, we just booked this cruise today. My DH turns 40 on June 9 and we had been trying to figure out what to do. We just did our first DCL cruise on the Magic last month for spring break and had a blast and booked the Fantasy for July 2013 (for my 40th) but that is so far away.

We got a special Verandah pricing so I won't get my stateroom assignment for a while. Will that be a problem for doing the FE? I plan to research that now as I saw them on my last cruise but don't know much about them or what kind of gifts or how much to spend on them. I'm sure that will take another few hours to wade through all the posts!

For those thinking of going to Star Wars weekend, we went last year and had a blast. We are all SW fans and are going again May 18th. Don't miss the SW Hoopla at night. That was a good show!

I plan on running the Castaway 5K on both days. I don't run very fast so it's not too hard although maybe in June it will be too hot. We'll see, I liked the Mickey medal they gave us last month.

Piya

 

[Dallas_Lady]

How's everyone getting to the port? Plane? Train? Automobile? When do you arrive?

We are flying in from Dallas on Friday, staying at the Country Inn and Suites and are going to visit KSC Saturday. DH has been dying to go there for years.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

It took me a minute to figure out what KSC was!

We are flying in on Thursday...2 days at WDW (one of those will be at Star Wars Weekend) and then we are taking a van service to the port on Sunday.

 

[bajadahl]

You guys make sure to take care of our ship for us. The party Sailing the Dream will be taking over on June 15th.


Ok, Ok..... I'm done commandeering your thread for now...... You guys have fun!

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We'll be visiting the world prior to the cruise. DS and I plan on seeing Bobba Fett (young and old) at Star Wars Weekend. We were hoping on Chewy, but we like the bad guys too..

We'll be flying in so we'll use Magical Express to the world and then the Cruise Bus to Port.

 

[baddog576]

We will be arriving by car since we live in South Florida. It's tempting to go to DW that weekend but we'll just have been there the month before and I know it will be a bit crowded. SW Weekend is great!

Since we booked so late and are not Gold or Plat members I couldn't get the family signed up for the Dolphin Encounter. How risky is it to sign up with the operator directly? I was thinking of contacting Atlantis or Blue Lagoon and trying to set this up. Any advice? Also, which one is better as far as actual encounter time with the Dolphin?

Piya

 

[TexasPrincess73]

Hello everyone! I lucked upon this site from researching online all things Disney related and was in awe of all the information available. My eyes are burning from being fixated on my computer reading thread after thread. I'm still navigating my way throughout and figuring out things here and there (like the abbreviations). Silly me, had no clue what all the DD, DH, DW, etc. was all about! Anyway, myself and DD16 will be sailing on our FIRST ever cruise! We are so excited and so ready for a fun, relaxing vacation. I definitely need one.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Welcome to the group, baddog576 and TexasPrincess73!!

It looks like we have 25 families that have checked in on this thread, plus a few more that signed up on the FE thread that I haven't seen on this thread, so by my guestimate we have about 30 DISer families on our cruise! WOOHOO! (please let me know if I have missed anyone in the roll call on page 1).

Our FE signup has officially closed this week. There are 16 families participating.