June 6, 2009--Anybody going?

[Krisanm67]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to start planning my shopping for the cruise and I was wondering about ideas for FE items. Do I bring stuff for everyone's FE or am I assigned a group of people? Also, the state items, that is just for the kids right? I guess I can say what I'm thinking about here since most kids probably aren't reading - or don't let them read this one so it will be a surprise. I was thinking that since we are comming from Arizona I would bring arrowheads. How does that sound? Or, should it be more or something like pricklypear candy, not sure....maybe I'm thinking too much about this? Any advice is greatly appreciated. TIA

The second part of my questions/wondering is about excursions. Those of you that have done cruises and Disney cruises before do you think it is ok to do an excursion that is not through Disney cruise? I found one that takes you on a short boat ride to a small island to swim with turtles. I also found one that lets you rent Rhinos for 1/2 a day to ride around a beach and trails. If you are doing excursions what do you reccomend? Thanks again!!

Kristine, Matt, Kellie and Ryan

 

[ppiew]

how do I/we participate in the fish extender thing? I have two granddaughters ages 7 and12. please help. sounds like fun!

 

[Suz D]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to start planning my shopping for the cruise and I was wondering about ideas for FE items. Do I bring stuff for everyone's FE or am I assigned a group of people? Also, the state items, that is just for the kids right? I guess I can say what I'm thinking about here since most kids probably aren't reading - or don't let them read this one so it will be a surprise. I was thinking that since we are comming from Arizona I would bring arrowheads. How does that sound? Or, should it be more or something like pricklypear candy, not sure....maybe I'm thinking too much about this? Any advice is greatly appreciated. TIA

The second part of my questions/wondering is about excursions. Those of you that have done cruises and Disney cruises before do you think it is ok to do an excursion that is not through Disney cruise? I found one that takes you on a short boat ride to a small island to swim with turtles. I also found one that lets you rent Rhinos for 1/2 a day to ride around a beach and trails. If you are doing excursions what do you reccomend? Thanks again!!

Kristine, Matt, Kellie and Ryan

Hi!

Welcome and we're so glad you're joining us on the cruise. I'm not going to comment on the overthinking part because I tend to think things through until I'm dizzy, but I will say that I think that although arrowheads would be cool I wonder if they'll be heavy for you to transport. I'd do the candy as it would probably be lighter.

When we went on the Western C. cruise we rented a car and toured ourselves around Cozumel and didn't have any problems. The only things I've heard about booking your own excursions is that is there are any problems you have Disney to intervene. I've also heard that if there is a delay in getting back to the ship if you are on a Disney arranged excursion they know you're running behind as everyone else is too. I think lots of people do their own thing because it's cheaper and you have more freedom with your time.

See you soon!

Suz

 

[gottaluvEeyore]

We booked this cruise back in August. Travelling with me are my husband Jim and two daughters Kati and Addie. This will be our second time on the Disney Cruise. Btw, I booked my Palo, Spa and excursions today

Teresa

 

[AStamm]

We're all paid and ready to go, too. I booked Alone Time at the spa and two excursions--St. Maarten Island & Butterfly Tour and Atlantis Submarine Adventure.

 

[Grandma Debby]

Krisanm67 - on the fish extender game you can do one thing for a cabin or individuals it is up to you - I'm doing a cruise survival bag for each cabin (one per cabin) - When we do the final list on April 1st you can decide if you want to do a gift for each cabin or a gift for each person as we will list both on Post #1

My granddaughters are each bringing gifts for the kids because they each want a gift (don't have to share that way) so you can do arrowheads and prickly pear candy

Excursions on your own are great just watch the time so you are back on board the ship before it leaves port - we are doing on own thing on St. Maarten but Disney excursions on the other 2 stops

It is not to late to jump on board the fish extender game and the kid's gift exchange

 

[ppiew]

arrowheads are great! my family are bringing pieces of mined copper for their FE gifts (different cruise) as we are from Michigan's Copper Country

 

[disneydka]

I hope it's not too much extra work but can we get a breaakdown on the kids as to boys and girls? Had something in mind for each. Also, April 1st is the deadline for participation right? Gosh, that reminds me I haven't booked a hotel yet! 2 &1/2 months away yikes, too late to start my diet?

 

[disneydka]

Hey all, I paid off my cruise the other day, was using my Disney visa to get the obc and reward dollars and because I work in banking was having visions of Chase cutting off credit limits due to credit crisis so I went ahead and paid off early. I have also booked our hotel room for the night before. We are driving down from South Carolin Friday morning and DD and I want to go to downtown disney Friday afternoon and then tour some of the WDW resorts we didn't have a chance to see in 2007. I can't believe it's only 2 1/2 months away!
Now to try to decide on what to book wee hours of Monday. Anyone have any excursion plans already?

 

[Suz D]

For those of you who are wanting to say at WDW the night before the cruise there are some good discounts on hotel rooms.

Use code UGP or RYD.
Value resort, Standard view, $68 plus tax (Sun-Thur nights)
Value resort, Standard view, $78 plus tax (Fri-Sat nights)
Moderate resort, Standard view, $104 plus tax (Sun-Thur nights)
Animal Kingdom Lodge, Standard view, $179 plus tax - some nights $229

You must book by 4/18/09.

We're staying at WDW until Friday and then moving to a hotel near the airport.

 

[mousecraszy]

We are in for the Fish Extender game and child gift exchange. The only other cabin that will participate from our group is the Hill family (twinsindisney).

I made our reservations at the 90 day mark and got everything on my list.

We are going to WDW after the cruise to enjoy the 4/3 offer.

Only 78 days to go...not that I'm counting!!!

 

[disneydka]

Well, I waited up til midnight to see if I could book brunch at Palo but there were no reservations available for brunch. Their appeared to be plenty for dinner but we've been saying all along that dinner is family time. Guess I'll try my luck when we board. Next time I'll get those extra 15 days as a repeat cruiser!

 

[AbsyBabsy]

I recommend going to book your Palo the minute you get on board. If you ask a crew member, they will tell you where and when they will be handling reservations - usually it is around 2pm in the Rockin' Bar D on deck 3. Don't wait until the time they tell you, it will already be packed. Go with someone and have them wait in the line while you go up and ask if you are in the right line - usually there are two lines. What time are you planning on arriving?

 

[AbsyBabsy]

Hey Taffigirl - my daughter will be 9 on the cruise - it would be great if they can start PM's and make some friends.

 

[Grandma Debby]

Only 8 more days to sign on for the fish extender game and kid's trade game -April 1st is the deadline and then I will ask Marilyn to copy info to post #1 so we can find it easy.

Dawn-
I'm counting 15 girls and 7 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

PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong

Shore excursions -
St. Maarten - my son-in-law and 2 older granddaughters are going fishing
(private excursion as Sydney is only 5)
older daughter is scuba diving (private excursion as Disney
cancelled their tour)
younger daughter, 1 year old granddaughter and myself are
hiring Joyce Prince to take us on a tour of the island, do a
little shopping and then go to a beach where we will meet
up with the rest up of the gang - there might be room in
Joyce's tour if someone is interested
St. Thomas - son in law playing golf
older daughter scuba diving
younger daughter, myself and 3 granddaughters are doing Coral
World by land & sea
CC - fishing, stingrays & parasailing

If you have any questions or corrections please let me know by April 1st and that is not an April Fool's Day joke

 

[AbsyBabsy]

Krisanm67 - on the fish extender game you can do one thing for a cabin or individuals it is up to you - I'm doing a cruise survival bag for each cabin (one per cabin) - When we do the final list on April 1st you can decide if you want to do a gift for each cabin or a gift for each person as we will list both on Post #1

My granddaughters are each bringing gifts for the kids because they each want a gift (don't have to share that way) so you can do arrowheads and prickly pear candy

Excursions on your own are great just watch the time so you are back on board the ship before it leaves port - we are doing on own thing on St. Maarten but Disney excursions on the other 2 stops

It is not to late to jump on board the fish extender game and the kid's gift exchange

Grandma Debby - Hi looks like you know what you're doing on this "board?" anyway- what is the gift exchange and what is the fish extender game? I have been trying to follow the posts but keeping getting lost!

 

[Principessa]

Well I made my reservations last night - the online method is so much more fun than calling in for ADR's. I got the Palo dinner I wanted and the excursions. I decided to just go witht the Disney offers for excursions because if I had to think about one more option (private vendor tours) my head was going to explode. This is my first cruise so I'm allowed to take the easy way out!

Now if Grandma Debby has the patience....I see my son on the kids' exchange, but I really am not sure what I'm supposed to be doing or bringing to hang on fish extenders. Something typical from my hometown area? I hope you are willing to update us with the plan after April 1...I'm in for that right? I'm also wondering when were we going to meet on day one...I might have scheduled a manicure for the meeting time. There weren't too many spa time choices left!!

 

[disneydka]

I recommend going to book your Palo the minute you get on board. If you ask a crew member, they will tell you where and when they will be handling reservations - usually it is around 2pm in the Rockin' Bar D on deck 3. Don't wait until the time they tell you, it will already be packed. Go with someone and have them wait in the line while you go up and ask if you are in the right line - usually there are two lines. What time are you planning on arriving?

I am going to book the earliest shuttle from the hotel which should be 10:00 or 10:30 so hopefully I'll have some luck, if not...no biggie!

What excursions have people planned already, my head is spinning as well trying to finalize plans. At first we were not planning much in excursions to save money but my husband also does not want to "wander around aimlessly" so I am looking only at excursions that can include all of us so that is age 7 and up.

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, everyone!

We just booked this cruise for our family of 5 - Yeah! We had originally booked the 7 Night Eastern to Tortola on 8/15, but since our oldest is starting High School and our middle child is starting Middle School, we decided that it was best if they didn't miss their orientations. Plus, we saved a little bit using the FL Resident Rate that just came available and won't have to worry as much about hurricane season!

This is our family's third cruise together, my and DH's fourth together, and my fifth (took my mom last year), but it is our FIRST 7 night cruise and we are very excited to enjoy the different menus and activities that we haven't had before. We've also done the fish extender exchange each time we've cruised, so we'd love to join in! The kids' exchange sounds fun, too and I think our kids would like to do that also.

Here's our information for both exchanges (We are in connecting 10's and the fish extender will be hanging in between the two rooms.)

The Devine Family (from Valrico, FL): DH David (42), degrapevine Rose (39), DS14 Eric, DS11 Patrick, and DD8 Gina - Staterooms #1067 and #1069 (Deck 1)

We're also up for whatever meets are organized and I'm sure our kids would also love to email some friends before the cruise. I'll try to PM some of you with kids the same ages as ours. I just went online and we've already missed the booking openings for Palo Brunch, but we'll try to get one once we board. We did dinner last time and it wasn't really DH's style, so we'll skip that this time and spend our dinners with the kids.

Less than 75 days to go, so the next 2-1/2 months can't go by too quickly for us!
Rose

 

[bengals01]

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.