June 22, 2013 FANTASY 7 night western cruise *UPDATE FE signup

[disneyfan888]

The link for the FE signup is in the first post in the thread.

Unfortunately, KimSue68, who is the first poster in the thread, has had to cancel the cruise. I'm handling the FE list, so let me know if you have issues with it.

Hi there,

I hope all is well. I had signed up for the FE, but I do not see us on the list, just wanted to make sure we are. It is my husband, sister and I.
Also, will we be doing one gift per cabin or per person? Thanks so much! Cant wait to set sail.

 

[BethA]

how do I add our family to the list of cruisers on the first page?
Also wanted to check that our names were received for the FE.

Anyone with teen boys on the cruise? My son will be 17 in May.

We are excited to finally be going on the Fantasy but sad my parents won't be going with us. We have been cruising on DCL with them at least once a year since 2001 but my mom no longer feels up to it. They did last year on the Magic out of NYC because they did not have to fly.

It looks like there will be shows we have not seen on the Fantasy.

 

[LVaughn]

Hi there,

I hope all is well. I had signed up for the FE, but I do not see us on the list, just wanted to make sure we are. It is my husband, sister and I.
Also, will we be doing one gift per cabin or per person? Thanks so much! Cant wait to set sail.

Yes, you guys are on there. You signed up on 12/21. There isn't any way for anyone else to see who's on the list. All you can see is the signup page. We currently have 20 cabins on the FE list.

The link to the FE list in my signature is just the template for anyone that wants it. It's not supposed to be the list for this cruise. It was passed on to me, so I'm paying it forward, just like the other links in there.

Beth, you can't add your names to the list on the first page anymore unless KimSue68 updates it. She's had to cancel this cruise and hasn't posted in this thread since. You guys are on the FE list. You signed up on 1/21.

My DS will be 17 in July. I'll tell him there's someone his age cruising with us and see if he'd like to make contact beforehand.

We board in 146 days.

 

[BethA]

Thanks.

 

[misndug]

Hi - this is a quiet group! So, maybe it's because we decided a little later than most to book, but I have been obsessed with all the information on the boards (not to mention a bit overwhelmed!). I am having a really really hard time figuring out what excursions we want to do. We are total beach people but the kids also love history and exploring new places. So much to choose from! So far we are thinking of

Costa Maya - Chacchoben Ruins

Cozumel - The Amazing Cozumel Race (non DCL excursion) - we really are huge TAR fans and think this sounds like a fun way to explore, maybe followed by some shopping/port exploration

Grand Cayman - this was the hardest. Thinking of a beach day - Tiki Beach? Rum Point? Seven Mile? Thoughts?

CC - just enjoying the beach, maybe renting floats,etc.

For those that have been there before, thoughts? Anything you did before you would recommend or not recommend? I'm concerned that what we want may not be available when we are able to book since we are first timers. Other than the dolphin swims, any clue what does tend to book quickly?

 

[LVaughn]

It's been quieter since KimSue68 had to cancel. She started this thread.

I'm sure I'll be more vocal in here after the Valentine's Day cruise, which the kids still don't know about.

There's a discussion of excursions on page 11 of this thread. I posted about all our excursions from the 6/23/12 Western and there are some other comments there as well. I can try to help if you have questions about the ones we did, but I can't help too much with the others.

We board in 138 days.

 

[grandpawelch8]

My DGD is asking about the 5K race on Castaway. Since my idea of a great day on Castaway is a Hammock and Konk Kooler I have never looked into this. Can anyone give me information or tell me where to find this so I can help her quest. Can't believe it is finally 232 days till we sail seems like it is taking forever.

Gloria

 

[1princess1prince]

Hi - I've lurked around these boards for a long time, through planning several trips and love all the info here. We finally booked the 6/22 cruise and are so excited! It's our first cruise so we are very excited and I've ben scouring the boards trying pulling together all the tips and tricks I can. I've signed up for the FE and have decided not to tell the kids about it until after boarding so they will be extra surprised. It will be me, dh, dd (11) and ds, who will turn 8 during the cruise. I was curious - my daughter loves penpal writing and wondered if anyone with kids around the ages of mine was interested in doing an address or email exchange to allow the kids to get to know someone that's going to be on board with them ahead of time. With it being our first time, they are excited but a little intimidated too and thought this might be great to have kids to look forward to seeing once they are on board.

Missy

I haven't posted in a while, seems like the beginning of the school year and the holidays just flew by. My signature still said a year to go So excited its less than half that!!

My daughter would love to get in on the pen pal'ing she is 10.5 -( 11 in July) my son may be interested ? He is 9.

Excursions-
Costa Maya - ruins
Grand Cayman - I think we may use Nativeway ... I'm a little scared about a non Disney excursion but I love the looks of thr starfish, stingray, coral garden snorkel combo ...anyone else done a non-Disney excursion?
Conzumel - still not sure....maybe just the beach break?

 

[gailg3horses]

Wondering when will the FE list be shared so we can plan gifts, especially personalized gifts? Please make it soon. Thanks.

 

[misndug]

I haven't posted in a while, seems like the beginning of the school year and the holidays just flew by. My signature still said a year to go So excited its less than half that!!

My daughter would love to get in on the pen pal'ing she is 10.5 -( 11 in July) my son may be interested ? He is 9.

Excursions-
Costa Maya - ruins
Grand Cayman - I think we may use Nativeway ... I'm a little scared about a non Disney excursion but I love the looks of thr starfish, stingray, coral garden snorkel combo ...anyone else done a non-Disney excursion?
Conzumel - still not sure....maybe just the beach break?

I will PM you our information. Our kids aren't too far apart in age (my daughter is 11 and our son will turn 8 on the cruise). She has started several of the pen pal letters, but needs to wrap them up - she's a bit slow Sounds like if they are available, we will be doing the ruins together (does anyone know if these sell out?). I need to check out Nativeway. We want to do Stingray City and there looks to be several DCL ones but no strike me as 'the one' to do.

OK - was just out Nativeway - they look nice. Someone mentioned to me in another post that they did a private charter and it was wonderful. If we could find another family (or two) that might make having a private boat to go on our schedule really nice? Anyone possibly interested?

 

[gloria1016]

I will PM you our information. Our kids aren't too far apart in age (my daughter is 11 and our son will turn 8 on the cruise). She has started several of the pen pal letters, but needs to wrap them up - she's a bit slow Sounds like if they are available, we will be doing the ruins together (does anyone know if these sell out?). I need to check out Nativeway. We want to do Stingray City and there looks to be several DCL ones but no strike me as 'the one' to do.

OK - was just out Nativeway - they look nice. Someone mentioned to me in another post that they did a private charter and it was wonderful. If we could find another family (or two) that might make having a private boat to go on our schedule really nice? Anyone possibly interested?

The kids and I will also be doing the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins that day. Here is what I also have planned:

Grand Cayman: Dolphin Extreme Swim & Turtle Farm. I think my kids will love it!

Cozumel: Xel-Ha Park and River Tubing. The kids and I did this in Dec. 2010. They loved it, but we never finished exploring.

122 days left! We are so excited!

 

[bzkds]

Hi everyone! It's starting to get closer!
So far, what I am planning is

Cozumel: Beach break (Playa Mia)

Costa Maya: Maya Chan Beach .. just booked! I wish we had a longer day there. On their website, it says one of the previous captains used to stay until midnight. I would love to be there for sunset, well any of the beaches for that matter haha.

Grand Cayman: probably the Dolphin Swim/Turtle Farm. Just trying to figure out if Dh or I will do the swim with the teens while the other does "observer" with our 3 year old.

Castaway Cay: last time, we booked the bike/snorkel/tube reservation and the Sting rays. We ended up only using the snorkels and tubes. It was just too hot and we didn't feel like being busy lol. This time, I think we'll wait and see what we feel like that day. I'm hoping to get a cabana, but know that's not very likely.

And a future trip to do the ruins!
Beth

 

[gloria1016]

I've got a quick question in regards to transportation to the port for embarkation. We will be staying at AKV 2 days prior to the cruise. How long does it take to get to the port? Does anyone recommend taking the Disney Cruise bus or hiring a private driver/van? What time should I make the port arrival time when I do on-line check in?

First time cruise and we are so excited!

Thank you!

 

[dpuck1998]

Didn't see our info on the main page, but we have three rooms.

Me, DW, three kids (14, 12, 8) My mom and MIL and FIL.

 

[gailg3horses]

Asking again in case it got missed. Can we have the FE list so we can start planning gifts? Also what is the cutoff date? How many cabins are involved? we really need the list please.

 

[dpuck1998]

Asking again in case it got missed. Can we have the FE list so we can start planning gifts? Also what is the cutoff date? How many cabins are involved? we really need the list please.

Did someone take charge of the FE yet?

 

[LVaughn]

I'm handling the FE signups. The link to sign up is in the first post in the thread. The person who started the thread has cancelled the cruise, so nobody else will be listed there unless that person edits her post. She emailed me when she cancelled the cruise and I haven't heard from her since.

The cutoff date is on the signup form for everyone to see when they sign up. It's 4/8/13, which is 75 days before we sail. I plan to distribute the FE list at that time. Does it make sense to have the list 4 months before we cruise? There will be other signups up until the cutoff date. I'm sure we'll have people joining the thread that want to sign up after the cutoff as well, but we can decide how to handle those when they come up.

If anyone really has to have a copy of the list now, contact me and I'll send a copy to the email address you used to sign up. I'll send one to gailg3horses after I post this, since she's the one asking for the list. Just FYI, I was sailing on the Dream when you posted the first time, which is why I missed the post.

Just realize that the list is incomplete and won't be the "official" list until the cutoff date.

From the form:
Thanks for signing up for the Fish Extender exchange on the Disney Fantasy Western sailing. The cut off date for signing up will be April 8, 2013. That is 75 days before the sailing and should help ensure that people on the list are actually going to be on the sailing (since final payments are due by then), and are interested in taking part. It will also allow time for anyone wishing to personalize any objects to do that. If you have any questions or need to make changes after you complete the form, please feel free to PM me (LVaughn) or e-mail me at <address removed for security>.

 

[dpuck1998]

I'm handling the FE signups. The link to sign up is in the first post in the thread. The person who started the thread has cancelled the cruise, so nobody else will be listed there unless that person edits her post. She emailed me when she cancelled the cruise and I haven't heard from her since.

The cutoff date is on the signup form for everyone to see when they sign up. It's 4/8/13, which is 75 days before we sail. I plan to distribute the FE list at that time. Does it make sense to have the list 4 months before we cruise? There will be other signups up until the cutoff date. I'm sure we'll have people joining the thread that want to sign up after the cutoff as well, but we can decide how to handle those when they come up.

If anyone really has to have a copy of the list now, contact me and I'll send a copy to the email address you used to sign up. I'll send one to gailg3horses after I post this, since she's the one asking for the list. Just FYI, I was sailing on the Dream when you posted the first time, which is why I missed the post.

Just realize that the list is incomplete and won't be the "official" list until the cutoff date.

From the form:
Thanks for signing up for the Fish Extender exchange on the Disney Fantasy Western sailing. The cut off date for signing up will be April 8, 2013. That is 75 days before the sailing and should help ensure that people on the list are actually going to be on the sailing (since final payments are due by then), and are interested in taking part. It will also allow time for anyone wishing to personalize any objects to do that. If you have any questions or need to make changes after you complete the form, please feel free to PM me (LVaughn) or e-mail me at <address removed for security>.

I think 75 is perfect, I was in charge of a large FE group in the past and if anyone wanted to sign up late, they just had to be aware they might be missed by a few people who already had their gifts done and ready. Most people don't mind at all. Thanks for doing this, I know it can be a hassle on vacation.

 

[LVaughn]

I actually got the signup template from someone on the cruise last June with the Pirates group (that big picture in my sig). We had 53 cabins on one FE list, then two more lists were started for the late-comers. I learned a lot about handling large groups from that cruise.

 

[Hickeyfamily]

Is it to late for our family to get involved with the FE? This is our first cruise and we would love the opportunity to become involved.

TY Hickey Family