June 9, 2012 Fantasy

[SILLYANDI]

Like a couple of you, we have cruised in November and December on Disney. It will be nice to really enjoy Castaway Cay when the water isn't so cold. It has been a few years since we've done the stingrays there. That was one reason we were going to do them again. We're afraid that although our DS is 8 and has gone swimming with dolphins and sea lions, he is a little on the small side (46 pounds and 4'2" tall) and may get freaked out by the larger rays of Grand Cayman.

I, too, like the Dis over facebook. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my face book as it is. Hope everyone is well

We have only cruised in Dec on DCL so I'm worried we are going to be too hot going in June, lol.
I can't get my kids to commit to any excursions (except parasailing) so I guess I'll be picking everything we're doing.

 

[eeyoremommy]

We have stayed at both the Radisson and the Country Inn and Suites. I like the latter much better. Now that we live closer, we will be driving over that morning. UCF has a beautiful campus. We were there last April when my son did State Odyssey of the Mind. We had a great time, and I couldn't tell you how many elementary school kids we had there just from our school. It seems like it would be a good university. It also seems a little safer than USF, a least some of the surrounding neighborhoods do.

SJCruiser...you make me feel a little better. I don't know anything about the parasailing. I would think similarly to you though. I don't think I could get my DS to do that. We tried to get him to zipline on the Allure of the Seas, but he refused after he saw how badly I was shaking when I finished. I have a slight fear of heights, but I wanted to show him I could do it.

 

[joius24]

Anybody know where they are staying pre-cruise? We drive down, and have usually stayed at the Radisson, but thinking about CI&S.

We are staying for a few days afterward for my son's UCF orientation, so sending my husband home on a plane. Booked a hotel by the airport and one by UCF, and I'm working on one for a soccer tournament at Disney we are attending Memorial Day weekend. Starting to feel like a travel agent!

We are coming in Friday night and staying at the Country Inn and Suites. I have not stayed at the port one (canaveral) but I have stayed at other ones and really liked them. I like the breakfast thing...I usually go down to the breakfast area in my PJs and bring it all back to the room for breakfast in Bed

 

[MelissaE1]

UCF has a beautiful campus. We were there last April when my son did State Odyssey of the Mind.

My daughter's intermediate school did OM for the first time the last year she went there (5th grade), and she got picked to be part of it. What a cool thing! I got to help some. We didn't have a clue how it worked, wish I could have done it again.

I really like the campus at UCF also. DS is pretty excited about being in a big city, and it gives me an excuse to visit Orlando and shop, um, I mean spend time with him. Lol.

 

[MelissaE1]

Sounds like the Country Inn and Suites is a great place to stay, probably going to do that. Joi, I like your breakfast idea. We do that on the cruise, I like to eat on the verandah. But I inevitably have too much stuff on my tray and get funny looks from people that I pass on the stairs.

I went onto the DCL site today and it says "Only 99 days until your cruise sets sail!"

That's official double digits!!

 

[LoriABil]

I just wanted to say hello! We just booked for June 9th!

It will be myself (Lori), DH, DS(8), DMom, DDad, DBro, DNiece(5)

This is our 2nd Disney cruise, everyone else's 1st (And my brother and niece's first cruise period!)

3 rooms of crazy Texans! I'll have to read through the thread and catch up, but thought I'd say hello!

 

[MelissaE1]

Hi Lori, welcome to the thread!

I think it would be fun to travel with a family group like that. So far it's just been my family of 4, but I'm trying to get my sister to book with my 5 year old niece. I think my mom might enjoy going as well.

Which itinerary have you done before? We've done both eastern and western but like the western a bit better. If I could get the extra sea day of the eastern thrown in it would be perfect!

 

[johnnymac1962]

It's been five years since Magic in Med so we can't wait till Fantasy on June 9th! Dusting off my Disboard skills so may take a while to get back up to speed. Celebrating DD high school graduation with DW.

Any feedback from others on this thread appreciated.

 

[LoriABil]

Hi Lori, welcome to the thread!

I think it would be fun to travel with a family group like that. So far it's just been my family of 4, but I'm trying to get my sister to book with my 5 year old niece. I think my mom might enjoy going as well.

Which itinerary have you done before? We've done both eastern and western but like the western a bit better. If I could get the extra sea day of the eastern thrown in it would be perfect!

We did a 3 night cruise on the Dream...which DH and DS both said was way too short! They have been angling for another cruise ever since! I'm having mixed feelings about a longer cruise - we were planning a trip to WDW and somehow I ended up with a cruise? I'm still a little shell shocked!

But it's a GOOD shell-shocked! I'm getting excited just listening to the family get excited!

What was your favorite part of the Western? Is Costa Maya a newer stop? I noticed there weren't any excursions listed. I think it will be nice not to be running like crazy like our first cruise - I can't believe we are almost at the 90 day mark!

 

[SJCruiser]

Woo hoo! Just paid in full for the cruise. So excited! Can't wait to do all the check-ins and reservations this Sunday night (we are Silver CC).

Paid with our recently upgraded Disney VISA Premier, so looking forward to the 5% reward on this payment. Plus, I just called DCL to see why they hadn't assigned us any OBC related to booking with the Disney VISA, and the CM added $50 OBC to our account. Yea!! Don't want to pass up "free" benefits!

What was your favorite part of the Western? Is Costa Maya a newer stop? I noticed there weren't any excursions listed. I think it will be nice not to be running like crazy like our first cruise - I can't believe we are almost at the 90 day mark!

We have been on 2 westerns before (1 DCL, 1 RCCL). We really like Grand Cayman. Never been to Costa Maya and may not even get off the ship there. We did the Tulum tour on the mainland for our Cozumel stop many years ago, and then missed Cozumel during the H1N1 scare. So I think we're going to try to do something on Cozumel this time, since we've never set foot on the island.

 

[joius24]

It's been five years since Magic in Med so we can't wait till Fantasy on June 9th! Dusting off my Disboard skills so may take a while to get back up to speed. Celebrating DD high school graduation with DW.

Any feedback from others on this thread appreciated.

Welcome back to the Dis Johnnymac and family. I am sure you will be remembering previous feedback as you go along, it is like riding a bike

DS and I are booked for the Med. for 2013 maybe you can give me some feedback ..we did the transatlantic to the med. a couple years ago

I just wanted to say hello! We just booked for June 9th!
It will be myself (Lori), DH, DS(8), DMom, DDad, DBro, DNiece(5)
This is our 2nd Disney cruise, everyone else's 1st (And my brother and niece's first cruise period!)
3 rooms of crazy Texans! I'll have to read through the thread and catch up, but thought I'd say hello!

Welcome Lori and family Looks like you have a good clan going!

Plotted my FE out today
Have a plan, now just have to collect coupons to buy the supplies.

I think I need an intervention, I am addicted to emoticons

 

[MelissaE1]

We did a 3 night cruise on the Dream...which DH and DS both said was way too short! They have been angling for another cruise ever since! I'm having mixed feelings about a longer cruise - we were planning a trip to WDW and somehow I ended up with a cruise? I'm still a little shell shocked!

But it's a GOOD shell-shocked! I'm getting excited just listening to the family get excited!

What was your favorite part of the Western? Is Costa Maya a newer stop? I noticed there weren't any excursions listed. I think it will be nice not to be running like crazy like our first cruise - I can't believe we are almost at the 90 day mark!

I think you'll like the 7 night a lot better. We only did one 3-nighter when we scored an unbelievable promo for $99pp (and this in a verandah). I always say it takes us a few days to "settle in" and we never did. On the 7 nighters you have much more time to enjoy, a little relaxing time, and you get to know your servers better which is always a treat for us. The difference between 2 whole days and 6 whole days onboard really makes a difference.

We love the excursion possibilities on the Western... last time we took the kids to Stingray City because we did it on our honeymoon and it really stuck with us. It's something I think everyone should do at least once in their lives. Really amazing. In Cozumel we did an ATV tour and got to see some cenotes and caves and our guide was awesome, explaining how the Mayans had used certain plants as anesthesia for surgery, how they used the cenotes for sacrifices, etc. It was so interesting and fun. We were filthy at the end of that one!

I think the Fantasy is the first Disney ship to use Costa Maya as a regular stop because she is too big to dock at Key West. Never been, but the pool area right off the ship looks really nice, and if we can squeeze it in we may go see some ruins. We are only there for a short time and we like to book our excursions on our own, so we'll see. We're not really "hang out on the beach" people on vacation since we are lucky to live a stone's throw from a beautiful white "sugar sand" beach.

Hurry up, June!

 

[MelissaE1]

johnnymac1962, we are celebrating my DS' graduation also. A little bummed that they changed the rules on them being allowed into the teen club after we booked, but what can you do? Apparently they have a "college club" or "18-21" group the meets the first evening and plans stuff, do you think your DD will attend? I'm hoping there are some kids for DS to hang with.

SJCruiser, congrats on being paid in full! Love that feeling!

Joi, what's the problem with using lots of emoticons? Who says it's an addiction?

 

[helenb]

We just booked this cruise this morning! Wer are a family of 4 and normally all 4 of us go in one stateroom. But the incredible rates on the guarantee categories convinced us to switch to 2 cabins double occupancy. We might not be close to each other in terms of cabins, but we'll have a fun time!

I'm so excited! It seems like forever since we've been on a Disney Cruise.

I'm seeing everyone preferring Country Inn and Suites. May I ask what's 'wrong' with the Radisson?

Shore excursions are coming up for booking!

 

[2crazegoofies]

I booked this morning in a moment of spontaneity & I hope I dont regret it too much....I know the cruise will be wonderful, just the credit card payment!! EECK!!

Anyway, it is me (Kris), DS (11) & DS (5). Since they will most likely be in the clubs a lot, I would love to meet up with some other people...I thought I saw some other single moms or moms cruising with their kids.

We are from IN and I am also a teacher (as some also mentioned).

This is out 4th Disney Cruise, but our first 7-night!

Im excited and freaked out all at the same time!!

 

[sammydent]

I booked this morning in a moment of spontaneity & I hope I dont regret it too much....I know the cruise will be wonderful, just the credit card payment!! EECK!!

Anyway, it is me (Kris), DS (11) & DS (5). Since they will most likely be in the clubs a lot, I would love to meet up with some other people...I thought I saw some other single moms or moms cruising with their kids.

We are from IN and I am also a teacher (as some also mentioned).

This is out 4th Disney Cruise, but our first 7-night!

Im excited and freaked out all at the same time!!

Hey 2crazegoofies, we are from Fishers and we'll be on the cruise also. Small world, huh? It will be me (Samantha), DH Jason, DD11 and DS 15. Hopefully we can say hi to each other at some point on the cruise!

 

[RogerG]

Right now we are booked at the Residence Inn, but if I get a cheaper rate somewhere else we will switch..

We are at the Residence Inn Canaveral the night before. They keep the car for free, and have a free shuttle.

 

[RogerG]

We are coming from central Illinois. Where is everyone from? DH wants to know how formal is formal night. Pack a tux?

 

[helenb]

Hello, fellow cruisers!

Life has been busy, so it's been a while since I've been on here. So, I just wanted in and remind you that we do have a FE Exchange going on for this cruise. We'd love to have you join us if you're interested. We simply ask that you commit to delivering gifts to other participants some time during the cruise. You can do one item for the whole family, or different items for different age groups/people, it's up to you. The most important thing is that you do deliver your gifts at your convenience, and give something you'd be happy to receive.

Here's who I have down as participating so far...
Sammatt (2 rooms)
dlafarrell
SillyandI (2 rooms)
MariaFan22 (2 rooms)
Pixiedust215
sammydent
Pauley family

If you'd like to join, feel free to send me a PM or email me. lstenfort@yahoo.com

I sent you an email!

 

[joius24]

Welcome helenb and family!

Well...attempted to get High tea again last night .....to no avail !
Still trolling to be added to someone else's Tea ressie.....
Just in case you are not on the Facebook page...I have offered to sing for Tea

Pehaps I should surrender to the Tea gods..... NOT!

I have everything else I want... So I need to stop whining or is that TEA-ing!...
I hope all the silvers got some good stuff!

Off to the Gym.... Happy Day to all!