June 6, 2009--Anybody going?

[Suz D]

we are a group of 28 people. We have 9 rooms. Will be celebrating my grandson's 2nd birthday. This will be his second cruise. He was born at 25 weeks and weighed 2 lbs 5 ounces.

Wow! 28 people and 9 cabins. How fun is that?!?! Our oldest daughter was a preemie too. She was born at 28 weeks and weighed 1 lb. 1/4 oz. Her lightest weight was 13 oz. (She was really small because her growth completely stopped at 21 weeks, hence the early delivery). She's now a healthy, happy, beautiful 13 year old girl (still very tiny 'though). I always love to meet other preemie families. It's such an exciting, miraculous, roller coaster start for a new life!

We're also celebrating birthdays. Our youngest will be 3 on the 10th and I'll be 47 on the 13th. When is your granson's birthday? Is he doing well health wise? How long was he in the hospital? Katie was in for 87 days but she did have some major health issues going on.

Looking forward to meeting you.


Suz D

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

QUOTE=Suz D;30991100]Wow! 28 people and 9 cabins. How fun is that?!?! Our oldest daughter was a preemie too. She was born at 28 weeks and weighed 1 lb. 1/4 oz. Her lightest weight was 13 oz. (She was really small because her growth completely stopped at 21 weeks, hence the early delivery). She's now a healthy, happy, beautiful 13 year old girl (still very tiny 'though). I always love to meet other preemie families. It's such an exciting, miraculous, roller coaster start for a new life!

We're also celebrating birthdays. Our youngest will be 3 on the 10th and I'll be 47 on the 13th. When is your granson's birthday? Is he doing well health wise? How long was he in the hospital? Katie was in for 87 days but she did have some major health issues going on.

Looking forward to meeting you.


Suz D[/QUOTE]

My son was 6 weeks early when he was born, but weighed in at 6 lbs 6 oz - if I had gone full term, the DR. esimated he would have weighed over 10 1/2 lbs-he's 9 1/2 now- 57" and almost 70 lbs.

Well, being a repeat cruiser has its advantages, as I was able to book at the 90 day mark and everything I wanted was available.

We will be doing the Catmaran in St.Marten, winging it in St.Thomas, parasailing and renting bikes at Castaway Key. I booked Palo brunch for our 1st day at sea and Palo dinner for monday night- requested PLAP seating so hopefully this will go without a hitch. I have a massage scheduled for our last day at sea.

We are staying at the FourPoints Sheraton 2 nights before the cruise and plan to do Kennedy Space Center -friday before the cruise. DS is into space and elongs to the Astronaut Club at school. I've printed magnets for our door, getting ready to do t- shirts for embark day and pirate nite and have my FE now just need to work on gifts-have a few ideas but haven't decided yet.

We booked this cruise when we were on our 1st cruise in Nov 07- can't believe it's now only 2mths away


Dottie- AKA Cruizen Mamma

 

[Taffygirl]

Hi All,

I haven't been on the thread lately, so am trying to catch up. I've added degrapevine and bengals01 to our list on page one. Welcome.

Rose, two of your kids match the sex and ages of our grandkids who will be on this cruise along with their parents. Mikey is 11 and Katy is 8. Hopefully, the kids can all email some before the cruise. Very cool.

OK, I just realized that I've only looked at the last page, so will now go back to earlier pages that I may not have yet read and add any others who may be new since I last updated page one.

Debby, once you have the final information for the fish extender game, let me know what you want me to post on page 1. I should be reading this thread much more frequently now and until we sail!

Marilyn

 

[bode]

are there any other single parents on this cruise? this is my dd and mine's (daddy) 4th cruise together. 2 dcl and 2 rccl. dcl is better but finances do not always allow me to take her on the dcl.

 

[RadioNate]

Just book last week when FL resident rates were released!

Got Palo and excursions booked. We'll have a DS 8 and DD 1 on board. Was disappointed that Flounders was pretty booked up already but did get hours for Palo and at least 1 spa treatment.

 

[mousecraszy]

Hey bengals01 we are are a group of 16 people in 6 cabins!!! We are also celebrating my mother's b-day whilst on-board. She'll be 77 yrs young!

We booked Palo brunch for Sunday, Palo dinner for Wednesday. We've a private tour with Bernard's in St. Martin. My spouse is taking in golf in St. Thomas and the rest of us going to either Coki Beach or Sapphire Beach. Parasailing(first time for DD11) and probably bikes in CC. We also have a couples cabana massage for afternoon while at CC.

We are staying just the Friday night before the cruise at the Radisson at the Port. And after the cruise we are heading to WDW for another week of fun. Our school district added on a snow make-up day for Friday, 6/5 making this now the last day of school; I've already told our daughter that she will miss nothing by not being there!! Magic here we come!!

Looking forward to a final list for FE!!

 

[Grandma Debby]

Just wanted to remind everyone on our cruise that Wednesday is the last day to sign up for the fish extender game and the kid's gift exchange.

I will start the fish extender game on Saturday night - I'm doing cruise survival kits and they will include a list of all the staterooms and the numbers of who is playing so you can play at anytime during the week that is convenient for you - if we get two or three gifts on one day that is OK - you might want to include your DIS name and family name and stateroom number on your gift

I think some of the kids want to meet about 3:00 on Saturday afternoon by the Mickey pool - Do they want to do their gift exchange then (gifts would have to be in carry ons) or later on Sunday or Monday? If the little gift was something from your hometown or region that would be great (Sierra got a CD of Hawaiian music from a family from Hawaii on our last cruise and I think the CD is about worn out)

I will have Marilyn post info on POST #1 after the 1st of April and then the group can make decisions on meet and greet times - some suggestions already made
3:00 Saturday by the pool
Sunday breakfast for those who don't have character breakfast
room tour - see the different staterooms

What else? If we schedule 2 or 3 events people can usually make 1 or more

See you all VERY soon
Grandma Debby

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Just a quick note for those that are lucky enough to live in FL- Fl residents rates are being applied to our cruise.So check with DCL or your travel agents if you haven't heard anything yet. I'm getting $1200 back on our SPH cat 10 !!!!! I'm just so excited now- my best friend leaves thursday for her 1st Disney Cruise - 3 day Wonder.she was able to get the kids sail free- If I had recieved this refund a couple months ago - I could've been going with her !!!!


One quick question on the FE exchange/ kid's exchange- I know the FE is either per cabin or per person your choice- but the kid's exchange has me confused- do we buy one gift to exchange or do we buy for all the kids? and its suppose to represent our home town area? please Clarify Granma debbie


See you all in a little over 2 mths!!!!!!

 

[Taffygirl]

1. Please advise if I've missed posting information on anyone on Post # 1 on the first page of this thread, or if anyone has additional information to add.

2. Mousecrazy, I think you will really enjoy your private tour with Bernard. We went with him on a tour in January and thought he did a great job. Our tour was about 6-7 hours and we went all over the island and saw some neat things. He was very accommodating and even had a cooler of water, beer, soda, and a rum drink for us at no additional cost. Hopefully, he still provides this nice extra.

3. What are you all (ladies) wearing on the formal nights? On other cruises, we like to dress up for these nights. DH wears a suit or nice slacks and a sport coat and I wear either a long dress or a cocktail dress. However, when we sailed on the 4-night Disney Wonder in 2007, it didn't seem like people got very dressed up. Can you Disney 7-night veterans provide some insight? I usually don't care what others are wearing, but really don't want to be the only one in a long gown.

Thanks mucho,
Marilyn

 

[AStamm]

are there any other single parents on this cruise? this is my dd and mine's (daddy) 4th cruise together. 2 dcl and 2 rccl. dcl is better but finances do not always allow me to take her on the dcl.

Traveling solo with DS...DH is definitely NOT of a cruise-lover, so I guess this makes me a single parent for 7 days!

 

[mousecraszy]

I had read a lot about Bernard on cruise critic so always glad get another thumbs up.

twinsindisney is actually from my group. Other than my family 'o three (spouse, DD11, and myself), they will be the only oyher family out of our large group that will be participating in the FE game and kid exchange. I hope that is not confusing for you.

Our DD11 is getting braces in a week as well as trying to decide if she wants to do single gender vs. mixed gender for middle school. So this is monopolizing our world right now. I just can't believe she's 11. When did that happen?!?!?!

I'm looking forward to shopping for FE gifts, making door magnets, etc.

What is it...66 days now?!?!?! It is going fast now!!

 

[wwtbamrob]

Hi all,

Add 4 more to the list of DISboards cruisers! DW, DS - 15, DD - 12, and I just booked last night. This will be our third Disney cruise and the first 7-Night. The other two were the 3-Night on the Disney Wonder. It's also been a few years since we went on any, so now I get to relearn everything. I'll be checking the boards frequently to glean as much knowledge as possible from everyone here.

See you in a few weeks!

Rob

 

[Grandma Debby]

April 3rd and here is the FINAL count for the kid's exchange
I'm counting 17 girls and 9 boys for the kid's gift exchange
Kat123 - boy & girl
disneydka - boy & girl
Lia Rensin - boy & 2 girls
Principessa - boy
A Stamm - boy
Suz D - 2 girls
mousecrazy - girl
Grandma Debby - 2 girls (1 year old will not participate in kid's game)
cruizen mamma - boy
Suz D's friend - girl
Krisanm 67 - boy & girl
twins in disney - 2 girls
ppiew - 2 girls
AbsyBabsy - 1 girl
degrapvine - 2 boys & 1 girl

26 kids will be exchanging gifts so you need to bring 25 gifts and your child will end up with 25 different gifts - put names and where you are from on the gifts (such as Sierra from Colorado) and what the gift represents - nice memories for the kids

15 cabins are participating in the Fish Extender game - gifts can be for the cabin or for individuals - please PM me your cabin numbers so I can put a list together and I will include it in the 1st night cruise survival kit that we are putting together for each cabin

Kat123 - 2 adults 11year old boy & 8 year old girl
disneydka - 2 adults 16 year old girl & 7 year old boy
Lia Rensin - 4 adults 2 girls (9 & 3) 4 year old boy
Principessa - 3 adults 13 year old boy
AStamm - 1 adult 10 year old boy
SuzD - 2 adults 2 girls (13 & 3)
mousecraszy - 2 adults 11 year old girl
Grandma Debby - 4 adults 3 girls (11, 5 & 1)
cruizen mama - 2 adults 9 year old son
Suz D's friend - NEED NAME - 1 adult 13 year old girl
Krisanm67 - 2 adults 11 year old girl 10 year old boy
twinsindisney - 2 adults 2 girls (TWINS that are 2)
ppiew - ANY ADULTS? 2 girls (7 & 12)
AbsyBabsy - 3 adults 9 year old girl
degrapevine - 2 adults 2 boys ( 14 & 11) 8 year old girl



Marilyn will copy and paste this info in post #1 so we can all find it easy
If I have made a mistake - I apologize - please let Marilyn know ASAP so we can get it straightened out
I just can't wait until June 6th to meet you all

REMEMBER PM me your cabin numbers

 

[mousecraszy]

Grandma Debby and Marilyn- THANK YOU so much for all of the work you've done to get all the players of the fish extenders game listed. I'm ready to get shopping now!

My DD11 got her braces on today and she has already decided on red, yellow, black and white for her rubberband colors for the cruise...chip off the 'ole block!!

59 days from today...not that I'm counting!!

 

[AbsyBabsy]

I am so excited - we are all cruising in just two months! I found the gifts for the kids gift exchange and still working on fish extender gift ideas.

After looking at the tours available on the islands, we decided to buy books and rent a Jeep. It is just over $100 for the day per island and that includes insurance. I have learned that on St Martin and St. Thomas - it is best to carry cash - many don't take CC's for gas and such. The tourists spots will, but we want to get off the beaten path and I read that gas is usually cash only.

We have our Palo brunch and High Tea reservations but had to book my mother and me at one time and my husband 1/2 hour later - I figure we can straighten it out on the ship.

My daughter has already made one friend HI IZZIE and she is looking forward to making others both before and on the cruise. I am looking forward to the spa, not making the beds, not having to decide where we are going for dinner and not having to think about what we are doing each day. I plan to leave the analytical side of my brain at home. (Is that the left or the right side?)

Thank you Taffygirll and Grandma Debby for putting such work into getting us organized. Someone had the idea to do the kids exchange on the first day - I think it is a good idea - this will give them a chance to get to know each other and meet up with friends right away. I have never met up with a group before - how will we know each other? Does someone carry a sign? Remember I will not be able to think too much on the cruise without half of my brain.

Well gotta go shopping - need some nautical clothing!!!!!

To do list:
mani/pedi
pack
copy passports
arrange for dog/cat care
stop mail or arrange neighbor to pick up
make fish extender

 

[bode]

absy, my izzy has been so excited with the new email friend she made. it will be cool to have a friend to meet up with on the cruise.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Hi Everyone!

Can we join you?

It will be me the DH (Paul), DW (Missy), DS (Chad, will have just turned 14), and DS (Johnny, 11 who will be 2x months shy of 12x)

Good News / Bad News for us:
Good News: I booked yesterday (the children under 17x sail free promotion), so really a last minute decision for us.

Bad News: I am going to have to cancel the b to b's over X-Mas / New Year's this year (and give up our SPH's), because I can't get the time away from work. (In today's economy, I guess I should be extremely grateful to be employed) Anyway, we get to cruise almost 7x months sooner!

I realize that we're late in subscribing, and that you have already closed the FE exchange. Any chance that we could be added?
DW, and DS's love doing this, and we've done this on our last several cruises.

Also, I always try to line up some pen pals for my 2x pirates head of time. Any of your younger one's interested in corresponding with an almost 14, and soon to be 12x D.S.?

PM me if interested. They're both huge Disney nuts, and both love sports.

OMG! I only have less than 2 months to plan!

 

[pointybubble]

Hello everybody! My family just booked our first Disney Cruise last week with the FL Resident offer! We are sooooo excited

Our travel party :
Me, Jennifer, 20 - Pastry Chef (in school)
Brother, 17 - High School Student
Mom, 50 - Accountant
Dad, 50 - Computer Programmer

To make this week even better, I received more exciting news- I got accepted for an internship at Walt Disney World! I'll be working for the Mouse in the fall!

So back to the cruise! Some stuff filled up online because of our last minute booking, but hopefully we will be able to get the Palo's we want (and hopefully Brunch) as soon as we get on the ship. We've booked lots on excursions though! I know it is too late for the fish extender thing, but that's okay. I just wanted to say hi!

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, all!

We are looking forward to the cruise and all the fun gift exchanges, but I was just thinking - For those of us with more than one child, the kids gift exchanges are really going to add up! We have 3 children, so that means 75 gifts to bring/prepare for them. Yikes!

What I'm planning on doing is for each child to have a different type of gift to exchange, so that whoever they exchange with will get 3 different gifts from our family (75 gifts = 25 x 3 different kinds). If we were to make up the same gifts for each of our children to exchange, then every other child would get 3 of the same gifts. Does that make sense?

I'm also wondering how much everyone is planning on spending on the gifts. With 75 to make up (as well as the 15 FE gifts), this could really add up! We may lean more towards a homemade magnet/bookmark, pencil/stickers, and some candy (trying to stay around $.50 per gift). Is that too cheap? I know that my kids are going to get some really cool gifts from the other kids, but I'd feel bad if families with only 1 child spend a whole lot more per gift, although I guess the total received would add up.

I'd like to see what everyone's thoughts are on this - With less than 2 months to go, it's time to get started! Thanks so much in advance.

Rose (degrapevine)

 

[AbsyBabsy]

Hi, all!

We are looking forward to the cruise and all the fun gift exchanges, but I was just thinking - For those of us with more than one child, the kids gift exchanges are really going to add up! We have 3 children, so that means 75 gifts to bring/prepare for them. Yikes!

What I'm planning on doing is for each child to have a different type of gift to exchange, so that whoever they exchange with will get 3 different gifts from our family (75 gifts = 25 x 3 different kinds). If we were to make up the same gifts for each of our children to exchange, then every other child would get 3 of the same gifts. Does that make sense?

I'm also wondering how much everyone is planning on spending on the gifts. With 75 to make up (as well as the 15 FE gifts), this could really add up! We may lean more towards a homemade magnet/bookmark, pencil/stickers, and some candy (trying to stay around $.50 per gift). Is that too cheap? I know that my kids are going to get some really cool gifts from the other kids, but I'd feel bad if families with only 1 child spend a whole lot more per gift, although I guess the total received would add up.

I'd like to see what everyone's thoughts are on this - With less than 2 months to go, it's time to get started! Thanks so much in advance.

Rose (degrapevine)

Hey Rose,

I don't think I would worry too much about the cost of each gift. I am joining in on this one but believe it is more a way of getting the kids to interact and get a chance to meet. I spent $1 on each gift and chose a local item, but I don't think the money is important. I imagine you can choose stickers or pencils or any inexpensive item. I too am struggling with the Fish Extenders game - not sure what to get that will be fun and affordable. All this just keeps reminding me of the cruise and seems to be a way to start cruising in our minds before we even get there!!!

Amanda
Absybabsy