June 29, 2008--Wonder 4 nt. Double Dip!!!!

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

Anybody out there? Anybody new want to get onboard? We're under the 100 day mark!

 

[bubba's mom]

Sorry....instant email notifications were down....

Monday & Wednesday are CC days w/ Tuesday (Nassau day) being Pirate night.... I don't think anything is different on the CC days...except if you rent a float, snorkel or bike, you get 75% off the 2nd day rental....

Are you dressing up for pirate night?? We are....dressing to the nines!

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

The kids are dressing up again...not sure if DH will this time. When we went in Feb. the two of us just wore the bandanas they gave us- I know not very fun

Who's in your family/who are you traveling with? For us, it'll be me, DH, DD (almost 7 then), and DD3.5. Have you guys cruised before? Obviously, the double dip since you know the details....done any others?

 

[bubba's mom]

The kids are dressing up again...not sure if DH will this time. When we went in Feb. the two of us just wore the bandanas they gave us- I know not very fun

Who's in your family/who are you traveling with? For us, it'll be me, DH, DD (almost 7 then), and DD3.5. Have you guys cruised before? Obviously, the double dip since you know the details....done any others?

Hey

My DH & I cruised 4 nites on RCL 5 yrs. ago. Long story short, it was our 10th annv. and DS was 4 at the time (left him w/ in-laws who live in FL while we went on cruise), and had such a good time, decided to celebrate (early) our 15th annv. w/ another cruise. Did some quik math in my head, figured Bubba (my DS's nickname) would be 9.5 by summer. What other cruiseline could keep him so occupied? We've done the FL parks, thought..."why not DCL?" DH balked at the price (still does), but the 3 of us are going and my Mom has an adjoining cabin (yes, she can't figure out she's a third wheel ) So...yep, this is our first Disney cruise (& cuz of the price, prolly the last).....

I originally thot DH was not interested in Pirate night until we were at Halloween Adventure shopping for costume for DS this past year. I mentioned the amount of 'pirate stuff' galore (because of POC movie) with the cruise and said too bad we weren't participating. (Plan was to "Palo" it on pirate nite)...Well, DH didn't remember saying he wasn't interested in pirate night, and long story short (and about $150 later), the 3 of us have got pirate costumes, jewlery, accessories, etc....

We're looking forward to it....'cept DH...he'd be a little more "into" it if 1)Ma wasn't goin and 2)it wasn't so expensive.....

That's my story....and I'm stickin' to it

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

We have those "extra wheels" too!
Two to be exact and they called my Dmom and Ddad!! We go to WDW several times a year and DH demands that at least half of the trips have to be JUST US (us and the kids)! When we went in Feb. parents went too and the connecting rooms were a little much. Good luck with that! I haven't even told mine that we are going again because of the trouble it's going to cause, but I also think I might be a little afraid that they'll go ahead and book it too to join us and then DH would have my head!

You guys will love DCL! I wouldn't say it'll be your last quite yet. DH was never a disney person and now I have him convinced that DCL is the best vacation ever- he tells everyone that! He balks at the price too, but he is sooo happy when I actually book one.

You guys will have to get a picture in your costumes with Jack Sparrow onboard!

 

[bubba's mom]

We have those "extra wheels" too!
Two to be exact and they called my Dmom and Ddad!! We go to WDW several times a year and DH demands that at least half of the trips have to be JUST US (us and the kids)! When we went in Feb. parents went too and the connecting rooms were a little much. Good luck with that! I haven't even told mine that we are going again because of the trouble it's going to cause, but I also think I might be a little afraid that they'll go ahead and book it too to join us and then DH would have my head!

You guys will love DCL! I wouldn't say it'll be your last quite yet. DH was never a disney person and now I have him convinced that DCL is the best vacation ever- he tells everyone that! He balks at the price too, but he is sooo happy when I actually book one.

You guys will have to get a picture in your costumes with Jack Sparrow onboard!

Oh...my story gets even better....IF ya can believe that....

We will be staying onsite at Universal for 2 nites prior to the cruise. Spending the night at CI&S the night before. After the cruise, we'll be at my FIL's for a week...then, off to Universal for 3 nights again before coming home....and all w/ Ma So, if we aren't in the same house or room/area, we have adjoining cabins

Ya know...I read on the boards that everyone says it won't be our last Disney cruise, but DH is not really a Disney fan (we are more "Universal" fans) and he keeps telling me for less money (than we're putting out for this cruise), we could have 3 more nights AND a verandah on a different line...So the only way I see us taking another Disney cruise, is if Bubba really wants one, or it's off season and DH can justify the cost...... Oh well....we'll see....

And I absolutely plan on a picture w/ Jack....and maybe get an autograph

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

Aaahhhhh! You said the "U" word!?!?!? Is that allowed on these boards???? (Just teasing) I can see that though if your son is a little older and you guys like the thrill attractions. There are definately people that like one or the other- we just happen to be the loyal Disney ones (and my bank statements and their income statements will prove that! ).

I've heard RCCL is super nice too. When I've heard people talk about the different lines, it's that, DCL, and Holland that they say are the best- just depending on what you're looking for. Don't know if I could ever try another one though. Our friends do all the new RCCL ships as they come out and LOVE all of the things onboard- they're just opposite of us....not sure if they can ever try DCL.

Do you think your DS will get into the clubs onboard or are you guys going to do more family stuff? My girls LOVE the clubs and I'll be lucky if my DD6 comes out at all! Actually, they don't know that we are going again...we're doing VB before and then when we leave from there "to go to WDW," we'll just happen to end up at the port! (Then we're doing WDW after). They'll be very excited. Part of it is that we want to surprise them because they love DCL and part of it is I don't want them talking about it ahead of time with my parents (again, that fear that they might get a "great" idea and join us )

Can't wait!

 

[bubba's mom]

Aaahhhhh! You said the "U" word!?!?!? Is that allowed on these boards???? (Just teasing) I can see that though if your son is a little older and you guys like the thrill attractions. There are definately people that like one or the other- we just happen to be the loyal Disney ones (and my bank statements and their income statements will prove that! ).

yep...you can say the "u" word on these boards....we have a little house just west of here My son has always enjoyed coasters (him & DH had front seat on RnR and he LOVED it!)....he gets it from DH & I. Altho, there are only 4 coasters at UO (& 1 indoors at that), (unfortunately) that is what usually 'labels' Universal a 'thrill park'. People don't realize about the Kid Zone area, shows, a "Buzz" type ride, the Jimmy Neutron simulator ride (which, I admit, I love and can do over and over ) Suess Landing (which I love also...)..etc...it goes on and on.

The one thing that has my husband hooked is the staying onsite for unlimited FOTL access. He absolutely hates standing in line (at attractions, waiting on transportation....) so, to keep him a happy camper, he prefers the conveniences of UO (the unlimited express and walking between the parks & hotel).... I like both parks, have been to both.... but when we go on vacation, we just prefer Universal is all....no biggie Some people really get defensive and argumentative about choosing one park over the other....i just don't get that?

I've heard RCCL is super nice too. When I've heard people talk about the different lines, it's that, DCL, and Holland that they say are the best- just depending on what you're looking for. Don't know if I could ever try another one though. Our friends do all the new RCCL ships as they come out and LOVE all of the things onboard- they're just opposite of us....not sure if they can ever try DCL.

My in-laws used to cruise a lot....the one line they gave several chances to (& failed) was Holland. My MIL tried a few times, but was disappointed each time She said, "You shouldn't be on a cruise vacation and WANT it to be over!" I always hear most talk about RCL and Carnival... Close friends of ours cruise Carninval every February (her kids are 8 and 4 and she is quite impressed w/ kids program...and the kids enjoy it too!) Said friend even uses a Carnival credit card Guess she's hooked! They were supposed to join us on our Disney cruise, but they didn't want to shell out the money... (& believe me, they are NOT hurting for money!) Oh well....we visit them at their beachfront condo a lot in the summer in Wildwood, NJ

Don't try another cruiseline until you are sure IF you can....being in doubt about it is the best way to guarantee yourselves a "not so great time"

Do you think your DS will get into the clubs onboard or are you guys going to do more family stuff? My girls LOVE the clubs and I'll be lucky if my DD6 comes out at all! Actually, they don't know that we are going again...we're doing VB before and then when we leave from there "to go to WDW," we'll just happen to end up at the port! (Then we're doing WDW after). They'll be very excited. Part of it is that we want to surprise them because they love DCL and part of it is I don't want them talking about it ahead of time with my parents (again, that fear that they might get a "great" idea and join us )

Can't wait!

I plan on stickin' Bubba in the kids club. One of the reasons we chose DCL! On CC days, we plan to stingray snorkel and snorkel on our own (we own our own gear). I'd like to drop him w/ Ma for an hour while DH & I check out Serenity real quick. We are a "do together" type of family....we want our son to experience this WITH us...not dump him in the kid club...unless he really WANTS to be there

Your trip sounds very exciting and your kids will love it!! You'll be the "best" I don't blame you for not telling them...kids that age will definately spill the beans to the folks Besides, they'd be bouncing off the walls with excitement...best to maybe not do that?

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

Very interesting perceptions of the different cruise lines! I guess it's a good thing there are several out there so everyone can find what they're looking for! I agree that we won't try another unless we're sure, I'd hate to spend the money on a cruise and set myself up to not like it- and I'm totally like that!

The stingray snorkel sounds cool! I wonder if that's the same one my DD and DH did? They really liked it! Not me, I won't even put my feet in the tip of the water for fear that a "large" guppy might bite my toe off!! So no stingrays for me! When we went to Serenity (several times ago before DDs), my DH pushed me around on a tube and we saw stingrays there too, they just swim right up! Plus, we (aka, he) held starfish and saw some other cool fish. It was very neat.

With the double dip this time, that's the one thing I told DH, I'd like to do this time- get over to SB. When we only hit CC once, I want to spend the day at the family beach with the kids, but since we'll be there twice, I figure we can do the family beach 1 1/2 days and then the other half of the second day, have the kids do the whale digs or scavenger hunts in the CC club so we can go over to SB for 1-2 hours! How nice it'll be!!

 

[bubba's mom]

Very interesting perceptions of the different cruise lines! I guess it's a good thing there are several out there so everyone can find what they're looking for! I agree that we won't try another unless we're sure, I'd hate to spend the money on a cruise and set myself up to not like it- and I'm totally like that!

The stingray snorkel sounds cool! I wonder if that's the same one my DD and DH did? They really liked it! Not me, I won't even put my feet in the tip of the water for fear that a "large" guppy might bite my toe off!! So no stingrays for me! When we went to Serenity (several times ago before DDs), my DH pushed me around on a tube and we saw stingrays there too, they just swim right up! Plus, we (aka, he) held starfish and saw some other cool fish. It was very neat.

With the double dip this time, that's the one thing I told DH, I'd like to do this time- get over to SB. When we only hit CC once, I want to spend the day at the family beach with the kids, but since we'll be there twice, I figure we can do the family beach 1 1/2 days and then the other half of the second day, have the kids do the whale digs or scavenger hunts in the CC club so we can go over to SB for 1-2 hours! How nice it'll be!!

My DH & I did a stingray snorkel when we sailed w/ RCL...matter of fact, I think it's the Blackbeard's Catamaran Beach Break & Stingray snorkel thing out of Nassau We had a great time...we really enjoyed it. The rays would swim in and out of our ankles (kind of like a cat would rub around your ankles).... I want DS to experience it...after that, it's all family snorkeling and me takin a nap on my float! So, we're sticking with the CC stingray snorkel....may as well, we're gonna be there anyway...AND, if Bubba doesn't like it, he's not "stuck" for something else to do...like he'd be if we did go to another place via boat/catamaran.

Sounds like you have the perfect plan for your family....plenty of 'together' time, and just enough 'couple' time (I just want to go to SB to 'see' it and take some pix )

Let's just hope we have great weather (which, we should in June/July!) so our plans work out

 

[keenercam]

Hi, everyone! It is so wonderful to see that someone started this thread! I had no illusions of us having the ship to ourselves, so I was looking forward to hearing about other DISers being on board, as well.

There are 9 of us sailing:

Me (Cam); DH; DD19 and DSalmost15;
DMIL is in an adjoining cabin, with our DS and DD staying with her, we hope.

Our friends are also sailing with us with their DS11 and DDalmost14.

We will be in WDW as of 6/26 (planning our Disney Vow Renewal for January) and will do the parks Friday and Saturday.

We got our Palo brunch reservation this morning (we are Castaway Club members, so we were able to make our ressies 90 days out).

We have been on 4 Disney Cruises before:
Eastern Caribbean in 2002
Western (without our kids) in 2003
Western with the kids in 2004
4 day Wonder last summer with DD only (DS was away at camp)

We've never done the double-dip yet. A second day at Castaway Cay sounds so fabulous!

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

Hi Cam,
Welcome Aboard! It will be lots of fun- the more the merrier....!

Sounds like you'll have your hands full with lots of extras yourself!

You'll have to let me know more about your vow renewal...I am trying to convince DH to do it next year for our anniversary. We have the Tortula Cruise booked to celebrate it, but I'd love to add a ceremony! He keeps saying there's no way he'll pay for our girls to ever get married at WDW, so I am trying to get some sort of ceremony any way I can!

We're doing VB before and OKW after (not sure if I put that in previous posts). Cant' wait!

 

[bubba's mom]

Hey Cam...welcome

9 people huh?? You are a brave gal

Can't believe it's all but April already...my how time goes quickly

 

[DVC4US]

Hey All! Count us in!

There are a total of 6 of us booked on this cruise.

Me - LeiLani
Best Friend - Toni (Madeline's Mom)
DD - Alyssa(12)
DD's best friend - Madeline(12)

DD - Brittany(18)
DD's boyfriend - David(19)

We had started out planning this as a girls trip, but DD(Britt) is attached at the hip to her boyfriend so he is joining us. So if you see a table of 5 women/girls and one handsome young man you know that's us.

We have done several DCL cruises in the past, but this is the first 4 day in a long time. DD(Alyssa) really wanted to do a cruise and we had a trip already planned to WDW so DH said to go ahead and add a 4 day if we wanted too. We will be in Hawaii before the cruise so he has to go back to work while the girls play. We will be at the Boardwalk Villas after the cruise until July 9th.

Previous cruises:
11 day Med Cruise June 2007
10 day Christmas Cruise December 2004
3 - 7 day Western Cruises
1 - 4 day Cruise March 2000
1 - 3 day Cruise Aug 1999

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone before we cruise.

 

[bubba's mom]

Welcome aboard matey!

Your DD BF is a brave man to travel w/ all those women! Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned

 

[keenercam]

Hi, everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome!
Okay, I must confess -- if I am not here very often, it is because I am having nightmares about bugs. While I LOVE the "It's Spring" smiley guy, I am totally freaked out by the bug in bubba's mom's siggy. I am the worst bugphobe you'll ever meet.

As for my vow renewal, rather than bore anyone here, I'll point you to the fabulous DIS Disney Weddings and Honeymoons forum, where my planning journal is. I have to keep reminding myself that even though I am obsessed with the planning of it, not everyone else is. So, my planning journal is here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1659796

I am really starting to get excited about this cruise. We booked it while we were on the four-day Wonder last summer with our daughter. My mother-in-law has always wanted to go on a cruise and we figured this is a nice way for her to "sample" one without being on a ship too long in case she doesn't love it. We were able to book 3 cabins because there were three of us sailing, so we booked connecting cabins with me and DH in one and DMIL and DD19 and DSalmost15 in the other. Right next door to us will be our dear friends, a family of four. We haven't made any plans for on the ship or excursions yet, except for Palo brunch for me, DH, DMIL, and DD.

So, what is everyone planning to do in Nassau? When we went last year, I was kind of glad we hadn't signed up for an excursion because after about 1/2 hour of walking around downtown in light drizzle, we got caught in a torrential downpour. If we'd been on a beach somewhere or snorkeling we'd have been disappointed.

It also rained on our day in Castaway Cay, though DH and I had already re-boarded the ship. DD got caught on the island and the lightening and thunder were bad enough that they moved everyone under the pavillions, plied them with lunch leftovers & soda and ran games and music for them. She had an absolute blast!

Can't wait to hear more about everyone's plans!

 

[bubba's mom]

Hi, everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome!
Okay, I must confess -- if I am not here very often, it is because I am having nightmares about bugs. While I LOVE the "It's Spring" smiley guy, I am totally freaked out by the bug in bubba's mom's siggy. I am the worst bugphobe you'll ever meet.

sorry 'bout that.... (presents ya know)

As for my vow renewal, rather than bore anyone here, I'll point you to the fabulous DIS Disney Weddings and Honeymoons forum, where my planning journal is. I have to keep reminding myself that even though I am obsessed with the planning of it, not everyone else is. So, my planning journal is here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1659796

thanks for the link....will haveta check it out when i have some time to sit and read

I am really starting to get excited about this cruise.

So, what is everyone planning to do in Nassau? When we went last year, I was kind of glad we hadn't signed up for an excursion because after about 1/2 hour of walking around downtown in light drizzle, we got caught in a torrential downpour. If we'd been on a beach somewhere or snorkeling we'd have been disappointed.

It also rained on our day in Castaway Cay, though DH and I had already re-boarded the ship. DD got caught on the island and the lightening and thunder were bad enough that they moved everyone under the pavillions, plied them with lunch leftovers & soda and ran games and music for them. She had an absolute blast!

Okay...now you're freaking me out What time of the year did you sail last time??? I hope you aren't bringing all that rain with you THIS time..... (this is probably a once and done cruise for us...don't want it to rain at all )

 

[keenercam]

We sailed July 22 - 26 last summer. Believe me -- we are definitely keeping fingers and toes crossed for NO RAIN!!!

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

We sailed July 22 - 26 last summer. Believe me -- we are definitely keeping fingers and toes crossed for NO RAIN!!!

Oh com'n...I think you just jinxed us! (Just kidding )

At least, we have two days at CC, just in case! We've been pretty lucky so far- In all of the cruises that we've ever done, we've only had it rain at CC on one of those times. It was our first time (and the 2nd official voyage for the Wonder) and it was raining because there was a HURRICANE! We went to Key West instead. BUT they gave us 50% off our next cruise because of it! That was back in the day...don't think they do that anymore. From what I've heard, now they just offer some free drinks

We're not getting off at Nassau. We've seen it and now just prefer to stay onboard and enjoy the less crowded ship.

BTW- Glad to see more are joining the cruise. Welcome aboard DVC4US!

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

Starting to look ahead.....

Is anyone interested in doing a "swap"- either for goodies or magnets or both? We did both on my last and it was a blast! We loved coming back to the room to find a little goody bag in our fish extender or a new magnet on the door.

We can do it lots of different ways....We did it as a "you decide" activity. If you decide to be involved, you know that others may not spend as much or may spend more. You do what is good for you. The only real "commitment" is that you will do something. I think for the magnets some people bought nice disney ones, others made custom ones from art online here, and some brought magnets from their home state. For the bags, I did little treasure chests on pirate night, others did little goody bags with candy, mardi gras trinkets, and others made customized gifts. Or another way to do it is that we can set a pre-determined limit and stick with that. Whatever works for everyone is good for me!

There's some other threads out there now about fish extender gifts and magnet ideas....check 'em out and let me know if anyone wants to be involved!