Just booked our third cruise... over 500 days until we set sail! What do you do while you wait?

[Mouse~House]

In order to get a really, really good on a river cruise, we booked 2 years in advance. That was a tough wait! We came home and booked a cruise to Alaska 7 wks away. We also have a cruise scheduled a year from now and our travel agent sent us some propaganda for 2019. Nice, but it's not what we're looking for. Otherwise we might have been tempted, but I really don't want that two-year wait again.

I think I could handle a two year wait if I had some short term ones booked. We are going on two other non Disney trips in between but it's just not the same!

 

[cadien]

I obsessively research but I avoid mentioning it very often to our son until we actually have plane tickets because of the risk of needing to cancel. My own disappointment is all I can deal with!

We used to cruise with my in-laws, whose health meant about 50% of planned cruises got canceled at the last minute.

I booked our first Disney cruise a little more than a year out. But there are only two ports, including Castaway Cay. I got tired of twiddling my thumbs with not enough to research and recently solved that by booking a 2019 5-port cruise on Royal. My in-laws have done the more common trick of booking something sooner rather than later, but we can only do one cruise per year at this stage.

 

[Mouse~House]

I obsessively research but I avoid mentioning it very often to our son until we actually have plane tickets because of the risk of needing to cancel. My own disappointment is all I can deal with!

We used to cruise with my in-laws, whose health meant about 50% of planned cruises got canceled at the last minute.

I booked our first Disney cruise a little more than a year out. But there are only two ports, including Castaway Cay. I got tired of twiddling my thumbs with not enough to research and recently solved that by booking a 2019 5-port cruise on Royal. My in-laws have done the more common trick of booking something sooner rather than later, but we can only do one cruise per year at this stage.

It makes a lot of sense to not tell your son since you've had to cancel!

 

[Mouse~House]

I watch a lot of youtube videos. My favorite series is by a small youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQZxyAV45a3Ap3Sw78nofFoaoi7MlPtE5 They truly do a great job of showing everything they did. I discovered them as I turn my cellular data off before the cruise for that month until we drive to the cruise so I can watch youtube about the cruise. I recommend you watch these to pass the many days you have left. Anyways, here is a list of things to do pre-cruise

Look at old navigators:http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/
Youtube videos (I really recommend the link I put up-top. They are on the fantasy as well.
Start making door decorations if you want to
Watch the port webcams:http://disneycruiselineblog.com
Do some research and stay active on the boards
possibly sign up for a fish extender group


I know its hard waiting! I have 354 days left to my next cruise. Have fun, planning can be mixed emotions. Good Luck!!!

Thank you for the link! Last night we watched a few videos including some with horn battles. That was fun to listen to!

 

[Rabb it]

I think they are still sending them out. I just got a new(ish) one in the mail a few months ago.

Of course, it took three requests on the web site before a DVD was actually delivered.

Things we do:

1.) When we have a trip coming up, we pop the DVD in on the weekends and hit "Play All". We know the audio by heart, but it's still nice to listen to on a lazy Sunday morning.

2.) We frequently listen to our DCL playlist. Some folks like cruise-inspired music, but we prefer a playlist that has music actually heard on the ships. It's nice to be walking around on-board and recognize music from our playlist.

3.) We buy travel guides for our ports of call and try to decide if we want to do an excursion or go off on our own.

4.) We listen to the DIS Unplugged podcasts about DCL. The "DCL primer" podcast they did back in late 2010/early 2011 is really good. About 90 minutes long, very detailed and still quite accurate. They also have several other podcasts covering the Dream inaugural sailing, and full reviews of both ships. Toss in the DCL episodes on the "Dreams Unlimited" podcast, and I dare say you have at least 12 hours of content there.

5.) We watch online videos of some of the stage shows we have already seen on the ship. It is interesting how different casts can make the same show feel different.

6.) I indulge my OCD on this board.

But as @mandylovesdisney said, at 500 days out, eventually you are going to have to forget about it for a while. I guarantee the "magic" will be right where you left it.

Oh my gosh I had the same experience, took me two times requesting on the website, and one request over telephone to finally get it! The lady on the phone said the system sometimes has trouble if someone's address has an apartment number...

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

We just booked a Fantasy cruise and are so excited since we have only sailed on the classics before. What kind of things do you do to help pass the time, in particular with your kids? I know we have a lot to research about activities on the ship and excursions. I would like to do something for the kids to keep the magic alive for the next 17 months!

I had about 470 days to wait, so about 60 days later, I booked a short 3-night to pass the time. Not the least expensive way to do it, but it cut the wait time in half.

For DS, videos help and we've gathered our door magnets and are starting to put together costumes (Halloween, Marvel and pirate). 121 days and counting!!

 

[squirk]

Oh my gosh I had the same experience, took me two times requesting on the website, and one request over telephone to finally get it! The lady on the phone said the system sometimes has trouble if someone's address has an apartment number...

I don't think that problem is uncommon. And we have a single-family standalone house - no apartment/unit # - and we have had this DVD problem on a regular basis.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Book another one in between
We booked for Alaska 2018 at 500 days. My BFF and I just booked a 3 night for this September, but that doesn't help the kids.
DS8 has been updating the countdown and now we are looking though pictures from Alaska cruises. We've talked some about excursions. He is also excited about FEs. We don't talk about the cruise everyday, but he is definitely still interested. The younger 2 don't really seem to know what's going on other than they are excited when they see pictures.

 

[Mouse~House]

I had about 470 days to wait, so about 60 days later, I booked a short 3-night to pass the time. Not the least expensive way to do it, but it cut the wait time in half.

For DS, videos help and we've gathered our door magnets and are starting to put together costumes (Halloween, Marvel and pirate). 121 days and counting!!

I wish we could book one in between! 121 days, you're so close!

 

[Mouse~House]

Book another one in between
We booked for Alaska 2018 at 500 days. My BFF and I just booked a 3 night for this September, but that doesn't help the kids.
DS8 has been updating the countdown and now we are looking though pictures from Alaska cruises. We've talked some about excursions. He is also excited about FEs. We don't talk about the cruise everyday, but he is definitely still interested. The younger 2 don't really seem to know what's going on other than they are excited when they see pictures.

I can't wait to see people's posts when they come back from the same cruise we'll be on the following year. Too bad even that is 5 months away LOL!

 

[Angeliki19]

I was able to get the online version of the DVD so thats good enough!

Podcasts, great idea! I haven't listened to the DCL ones yet. Thanks for the suggestions!

Where is the online one posted? I keep trying to find it using our smart TV and I can't find it...

 

[Mouse~House]

Where is the online one posted? I keep trying to find it using our smart TV and I can't find it...

I googled "Disney Vacation Planning DVD" then clicked on the link to the Disney website, selected Free vacation planning videos then selected Disney Cruise Line. The video played right away and they emailed a copy as well. I hope you find it!

 

[Angeliki19]

I googled "Disney Vacation Planning DVD" then clicked on the link to the Disney website, selected Free vacation planning videos then selected Disney Cruise Line. The video played right away and they emailed a copy as well. I hope you find it!

Yeah its weird, I am prety sure the first time I requested one it did that, but then I must have deleted the email and couldn't find it again. Even just now, I filled out the form for another one to be mailed to me, and I didn't get the option to watch now online.

But I did eventually find it, I think. My company recently has blocked YouTube so no video is loading but it looks like this is it: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guide-to-planning/

 

[Mouse~House]

Yeah its weird, I am prety sure the first time I requested one it did that, but then I must have deleted the email and couldn't find it again. Even just now, I filled out the form for another one to be mailed to me, and I didn't get the option to watch now online.

But I did eventually find it, I think. My company recently has blocked YouTube so no video is loading but it looks like this is it: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guide-to-planning/

That does look like that will be the video, I didn't see a screen like that when I found it but there could be more than one way to access it.

 

[Iamaplanner]

Here's how I pass the time:
Read all about excursions and on-board activities
Start planning/buying costumes
Make numerous Excel sheets (packing lists, budgets, to-buy lists)
Make to-do lists

Since you've cruised before, look back at your old pictures. Reminiscing will make you excited for more!

We are going to Aulani next March so in preparation for that I too have been on Pinterest a lot and have been listening to a lot of podcasts. Planning is fun for me!

 

[Mouse~House]

Here's how I pass the time:
Read all about excursions and on-board activities
Start planning/buying costumes
Make numerous Excel sheets (packing lists, budgets, to-buy lists)
Make to-do lists

Since you've cruised before, look back at your old pictures. Reminiscing will make you excited for more!

We are going to Aulani next March so in preparation for that I too have been on Pinterest a lot and have been listening to a lot of podcasts. Planning is fun for me!

We would love to go to Aulani! I wish DCL would go back to Hawaii again, that would be a great cruise! Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Rabb it]

We normally book like a year in advance too, most of the time I try to not look at the countdown clock, as it just makes me sad haha. We try to fill the time with small weekend trips here and there. Maybe go to vegas for a day or two (we live in southern california). Go to Disneyland for a full day, opening to close, makes it feel like a vacation trip day Things like that, but spacing them out.

 

[lizabu]

If you haven't done it yet join your cruise meet thread. The one I joined is doing fish extenders and an ornament exchange and a private mixology class. It's fun when you have lots of other people who are excited too. I'm going to buy some craft supplies for our ornament exchange. We're allowed to give out store bought or hand made ornaments.lots of people hand make fish extender gifts too so that's another way to keep busy.

 

[dclpluto]

Book another cruise about the half way point 500 days is way too long.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

As a family we watch YouTube videos and watch our previous family vacation videos (I make a video for every trip we take) to keep us excited. In addition to all the regular life stuff going on.