Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - PART II

[Cruisin'Nick]

Sounds like the plans for the FE are really coming together!

Someone had a question earlier about whether we were going to have assigned days to do our deliveries. If possible could we please not have assigned days to do the FE's? I'm just thinking that all of us are going to find things we want to do with our families and if it happened to be that our assigned day was one where we had a lot of things planned, the FE could become a stress point and take some of the fun out of it.

On our cruise last Christmas our group did not have assigned days and we still got gifts over a nice consistently stretched out period of time. The only rule we made for FE's was not to deliver on the first or last night because people would be trying to unpack / pack. Personally, my FE is one of the first things that goes outside my cabin (LOL) so I am fine with getting stuff the first night, but I do agree that the last night might not be the best time to be getting things to pack at the last minute.

Just wanted to add my input on assigned days based on prior experience.

We've only ever done Fe's one other time. And never had a certain day to do them. The people in the group passed out in the down time they had through out the cruise, (what little there was ). So, I don't think we should have certain days to do the FE's.

 

[bigAWL]

No, he's decided that he has to stay well ahead of me, so when I start posting too much he has to pad his count so I don't pass him!

Right, and you are ahead of me again. This has to be fixed.

 

[thegales]

So what is worse? A DW who does not know left from right, or a DW that points the direction to go while I am driving.

Many times as we are approaching an intersection and I ask which way to turn, she will point and say "this way". Not so bad if we are stopped and I can see her. But when driving in traffic, it does not work so well.

 

[3princessMommy]

Right, and you are ahead of me again. This has to be fixed.

Hmmmmmmmmmm......

 

[disneycruising]

Today I ironed 9 outfits for DD to take on the cruise and put each one into its own little plastic bag! The bags keep the clothes from wrinkling in the suitcase and the outfits in bags make dressing each day a snap

She's the easiest to pack for early on. I probably won't start on mine and DH's stuff for at least another couple weeks.

I have started a box like someone earlier mentioned, where I throw stuff that I know we will need, like sunscreen, shoe organizer, binoculars, etc.

I have started remembering things I need to take / do as I am doing other stuff. I need to start writing them down as soon as I think of them because by the time I remember that I need to remember something, I have forgotten!

I use to do that when my kids were much smaller...I miss those day!

Now a days, I make a "packing list" that tells them --what I think they should pack. They always seem have a different idea.

 

[SwimMama]

I am so confused by the split/ no-split scenarios.

I am good either way. So whatever the majority wants will work for me

 

[colkath2005]

Ok so I am going to stop trying to understand the FE.
When its decided what will happen I am more than happy to go along with either decision.

Quick question
Does anyone have a good idea of how to keep the connecting doors open. We had connecting doors on the Baltic cruise and no matter what we tried we couldnt find anything to keep them open
Colette

 

[discruiser]

I fully agree that we should not assign days to distribute our FE gifts. Lord knows that I can't stick to a schedule and I'll just stress myself out if I feel like I must distribute all my gifts on a designated day or time. I do a agree that we shouldn't distribute on the last night. I don't mind the first night, except if some folks upgrade at Port, they will not be in the proper rooms and we won't know that till the DIS meet. So probably best to leave off the first and last day from distribution (IMHO).



So, 32 want to split and 30 don't.

Group 1 = 16 splitters + 30 nonsplitters
Group 2 = 16 splitters + 30 nonsplitters

This means that each group has 46. Everyone receives the same number of gifts they distribute.

OR

32 want to split and 30 don't

Group 1 = 16 splitters + 15 nonsplitters
Group 2 = 16 splitters + 15 nonsplitters

But in this scenario, the nonsplitters will still give gifts to everyone in the other group, meaning that they will receive 16 less gifts than they would in the first scenario despite distributing to everyone. But each group would only have 31 people.

I think I just made this more complicated.... So I agree with cquick, the organizer can decide and we will all just be happy to participate!

I am getting confused, too, with the split list. What if we did something like this...

Group A (the splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group B

Group B (the non-splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group A and B

Using the numbers above, Group A (32 splitters) would distribute 30 gifts to Group B (the non-splitters). They would, in turn, receive 30 gifts from Group B. Group B would distribute 62 gifts and should receive 62 in return (or 61 if you didn't give yourself a gift).

Does this make sense? I thought it did when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure!

Kim

 

[3princessMommy]

Quick question
Does anyone have a good idea of how to keep the connecting doors open. We had connecting doors on the Baltic cruise and no matter what we tried we couldnt find anything to keep them open
Colette

We always use a bungee cord (short one). Works great! The hooks hook onto the railing on the shelf by the door so they don't slip off. Some folks say they can keep them open with doorstops, but we always go with the failsafe bungee.

 

[3princessMommy]

I am getting confused, too, with the split list. What if we did something like this...

Group A (the splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group B

Group B (the non-splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group A and B

Using the numbers above, Group A (32 splitters) would distribute 30 gifts to Group B (the non-splitters). They would, in turn, receive 30 gifts from Group B. Group B would distribute 62 gifts and should receive 62 in return (or 61 if you didn't give yourself a gift).

Does this make sense? I thought it did when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure!

Kim

Makes sense to me!

 

[disneydash]

Our youngest DS is now old enough that we won't need a pack n play this trip which increases our room size without even having to upgrade!!

However, we do want to get a bed rail for the lower bunk that he is going to sleep on. I was trying to find a way to request it on line but was coming up empty. Should I call in to make the request or just wait until we get on board and meet with our stateroom host?

 

[colkath2005]

We always use a bungee cord (short one). Works great! The hooks hook onto the railing on the shelf by the door so they don't slip off. Some folks say they can keep them open with doorstops, but we always go with the failsafe bungee.

Bungee cord added to list. Thanks
Colette

 

[Marcy Mouse]

I am getting confused, too, with the split list. What if we did something like this...

Group A (the splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group B

Group B (the non-splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group A and B

Using the numbers above, Group A (32 splitters) would distribute 30 gifts to Group B (the non-splitters). They would, in turn, receive 30 gifts from Group B. Group B would distribute 62 gifts and should receive 62 in return (or 61 if you didn't give yourself a gift).

Does this make sense? I thought it did when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure!

Kim

That makes sense to me - I guess we should see what the numbers are!

 

[SwimMama]

I am getting confused, too, with the split list. What if we did something like this...

Group A (the splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group B

Group B (the non-splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group A and B

Using the numbers above, Group A (32 splitters) would distribute 30 gifts to Group B (the non-splitters). They would, in turn, receive 30 gifts from Group B. Group B would distribute 62 gifts and should receive 62 in return (or 61 if you didn't give yourself a gift).

Does this make sense? I thought it did when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure!

Kim

Makes sense to me

 

[cquick]

Our youngest DS is now old enough that we won't need a pack n play this trip which increases our room size without even having to upgrade!!

However, we do want to get a bed rail for the lower bunk that he is going to sleep on. I was trying to find a way to request it on line but was coming up empty. Should I call in to make the request or just wait until we get on board and meet with our stateroom host?

just ask your stateroom host when you get onboard. they usually check in with you during unpacking time anyway.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Copied from Liz Arjay

For the split/no-split FE vote: Why don't we divide into 2 groups, but the folks who want no-split just go into both groups? That way they would give to everyone, and receive from everyone. The split groups would be slightly bigger than half - maybe 38 instead of 30, but at least it wouldn't be 60+. Then everyone would get what they want!

Above is a suggestion from Liz Arjay for our FE exchange. Melissa(tinkmischief) is okay with doing the list this way and I think it will make everyone happy. If everyone is okay with this, then we will suspend the voting and do our FE exchange this way.

I think to make it easier for Melissa(tinkmischief) - PM tinkmischief only if you want to be a "small fish"(on the split list).

I agree with this solution. It will also help our fabulous FE coordinator, Melissa, out. Organizing all of us could be a little overwhelming

 

[CrusinLattas]

I have over a week to read through - I'm so behind! I thought you all would find this interesting:

Tune in to ABC’s Good Morning America tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 5, to see the world premiere of an actual rider on the AquaDuck, the industry’s first and only shipboard water coaster. Several brief Disney Dream segments are scheduled to appear during the program, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The reports will include live and taped segments from the ship at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Among the segments is a 90-second piece documenting the making of the Disney Dream, including interviews with leaders from Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering.

.

 

[DVC4US]

I am getting confused, too, with the split list. What if we did something like this...

Group A (the splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group B

Group B (the non-splitters)...they distribute to everyone in Group A and B

Using the numbers above, Group A (32 splitters) would distribute 30 gifts to Group B (the non-splitters). They would, in turn, receive 30 gifts from Group B. Group B would distribute 62 gifts and should receive 62 in return (or 61 if you didn't give yourself a gift).

Does this make sense? I thought it did when I first started writing it, but now I'm not so sure!

Kim

Hopefully this won't make it more confusing but this would only work if you had an even number in the splitters and non splitters. Right now we have 62(est) cabins with only 12 splitters. So if we did it this way the splitters would deliver to more than half the cabins. (Which is fine, but I thought the splitters really wanted to keep the numbers down)

Example #1:

Group A - (splitters) 12 cabins

Group B - (non-splitters) 50 cabins

If Group A delivers to Group B then they would have to have 50 FE gifts and Group B would deliver to both Group A & Group B for a total of 62 FE gifts.

Hopefully Melissa has this already figured out and we are just talking in circles.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

I am hoping the new Tangled will be there (as well as Toy Story 3 )

http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/tangled/#/home/


Caryn

"Tangled"and "Tron" are two movies that I hope are showing onboard.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Today I ironed 9 outfits for DD to take on the cruise and put each one into its own little plastic bag! The bags keep the clothes from wrinkling in the suitcase and the outfits in bags make dressing each day a snap

She's the easiest to pack for early on. I probably won't start on mine and DH's stuff for at least another couple weeks.

I have started a box like someone earlier mentioned, where I throw stuff that I know we will need, like sunscreen, shoe organizer, binoculars, etc.

I have started remembering things I need to take / do as I am doing other stuff. I need to start writing them down as soon as I think of them because by the time I remember that I need to remember something, I have forgotten!

You go girl !
I have only made lists and took all formalwear to dry cleaners. I need to locate suitcases...garage, storage - clueless of location at present moment.