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

[3princessMommy]

Hello
1st time poster, have been watching the site for a long time. We are in 12 gty cabin. Our family is Me (Mary),DH(Rob),DS(Zac16),DD(Amanda9). This is our 3 disney Cruise(1st for the Holidays). We will be signing up for FE.

We also have a DD9 on this cruise. If you'd like to get them together via e-mail in advance, send me a PM. There are mostly 11&12 year old girls, but there are a few 8 and 9 year olds too.

 

[jgura]

I just wanted to share a couple thoughts regarding the FE experience we had in case it may be helpful...

For those who chose to upgrade at the port we had another way to address that. We had a DIS meet the first day of the cruise and we updated any changes at that time. We had a small group so it was really done informally, but if the group is large, maybe Guest Services would make copies for everyone. Another idea our group had was to post the most current FE list outside the organizer's cabin door on the first day. Then we would make sure we took our list down to her cabin to update ours. You could just use DIS names so there really isn't any personal info for all the world to see.

There is one more reason that it may be helpful for people to have current FE lists that detail the cabin number and family. Some people chose gifts specifically based on age and gender, so for them it would not have worked to just put the gift in a cabin with an FE, they would need to know specific cabin numbers for each family.

Oh, just wanted to add that if you decide to do 2 FE groups due to size, maybe there could be 2 FE organizers that are assigned certain DISsers...then you can use the same strategy above, but it would be done with 2 groups vs. 1. Not saying you should do 2 groups, but I think it could still work if you did. Last Christmas we had about 20 in our group and it was a good size. It took my DD's and I about 45 minutes to distribute FE gifts, though we wouldn't have minded more either!

One last thing (sorry, don't mean to be butting in, but I learned alot on my last FE exchange and wanted to help w/ideas if you like them)...we made a rule last year that you could distribute your FE gifts whenever it was convenient for you and your family (so as not to interrupt something you really wanted to do onboard or in port), but we did say not to distribute gifts the first night or the last night...first night b/c not everyone will be totally unpacked and have their FE's up and last night b/c everyone will be packing.

Okay, I am done now Again, I hope y'all don't see me as butting in...just trying to help if I can!

We also try to give age/gender specific gifts. We had a FE meet the first night to update all the changes and had a list posted on organizer's door. A cabin Stuart even brought us one of our gifts left at a wrong room. (very nice) We also left the gift giving to any convenient time. We did receive a nice gift the first day, of items that would help you organize your room and on the last day someone gave gifts that the gift store discounted at the end of the cruise. We were very pleased.

 

[Ramzmich]

Our DD will be celabrating her 10th birthday at castaway

 

[DVC4US]

Hello
1st time poster, have been watching the site for a long time. We are in 12 gty cabin. Our family is Me (Mary),DH(Rob),DS(Zac16),DD(Amanda9). This is our 3 disney Cruise(1st for the Holidays). We will be signing up for FE.

Welcome Aboard Mary and welcome to the DisBoards! I know bigAWL will add your information to the roll call as soon as he can. If you haven't already done so make sure you read the first post for all the things we have planned.

Our DD will be celabrating her 10th birthday at castaway

What a way to spend your birthday!

 

[bigAWL]

Welcome Aboard Mary and welcome to the DisBoards! I know bigAWL will add your information to the roll call as soon as he can. If you haven't already done so make sure you read the first post for all the things we have planned.

Done. Welcome aboard!

We also have a DD9 on this cruise. If you'd like to get them together via e-mail in advance, send me a PM. There are mostly 11&12 year old girls, but there are a few 8 and 9 year olds too.

Actually, she can't PM you just yet. Needs a few more posts. Maybe you can PM her your e-mail address.

 

[Disney Rocks]

Welcome Aboard Mary and welcome to the DisBoards! I know bigAWL will add your information to the roll call as soon as he can. If you haven't already done so make sure you read the first post for all the things we have planned.



What a way to spend your birthday!

We have had Mother's Day and Christmas Day at Castaway Cay and both were wonderful.

 

[mndisfam]

We booked our shore excursions today. I def. have to get on board with all the meets, etc.

So excited to be back on the Magic and meet all of you. Kathleen

 

[BBQMommy]

We booked our shore excursions today. I def. have to get on board with all the meets, etc.

So excited to be back on the Magic and meet all of you. Kathleen

---------------------------

Super getting those excursions taken care of and it is always so nice for me, a first time DCL cruiser, to hear of people so excited to come back to the ship again and again

Caryn

 

[discruiser]

Discruiser, where are you from. We live in Spring Branch just north of San Antonio.

Lois

P.S. Increasing my postings so I can PM too!

Hi Lois,

We live in Friendswood (about halfway between Houston and Galveston). And we were at Sea World San Antonio this weekend. It sure was hot!

Kim

 

[3princessMommy]

Hi All!

Just thought I'd give you some information about the ornament exchange since I know that stores will start putting out their Christmas stuff at any moment. We'll get more details as the cruise gets closer, but here's the general idea:

The ornament exchange will take place at the DisMeet on Day 2 (our first full sea day). We have asked DCL for a room at 2pm. As soon as we have confirmation, DVC4US will let you all know where that will be. There is no obligation to participate in the ornament exchange at this event, but we did think it would give folks a chance to get to know one another. The ornaments should not cost more than $20, and if possible, they should reflect where you are from, Disney, or just something that tells us about you. Please wrap them or put them in a bag so there's some mystery and surprise with the exchange.

You don't need to sign up in advance, just bring your wrapped ornament to the DisMeet. Can't wait to see you all there!

Joann

 

[Evans Family]

Hello everyone,
We have decided to go on this cruise! I'm looking for the best offer of OBC. Anybody have any suggestions? Disney is giving $25, All Seas Travel $50, I'm waiting on a quote from Dreams.

I'm booking at Cat 12 Gty.

Thanks!

 

[DVC4US]

Welcome Aboard!

I'm glad you decided to go on the cruise and that you found us.

I can't really help much with the OBC - we booked with All Seasons Travel because we have used them in the past.

Make sure you read the first page of this thread - bigAWL(Aaron) has done a wonderful job of consolidating a lot of information for us.

 

[BBQMommy]

Welcome aboard! Wishing you stack-ability on some OBCs.
So excited to be only almost 100 days out .

Sounds like you got some gret feedback on the main board. We were lucky and caught the last day of an industry wide OBC promotion on expedia dot com. Have not dealt with DU. I need quicker contact and had trouble waiting to get quotes ...

Caryn

 

[Kitster]

We just extended our vacation for the 2nd time.........in 2 days!!!!

Our vacation started on Dec. 3rd with a flight from LAX to MCO, where we would pick up a rental car and head over to our 1 BDRM Savannah view room at Kidani Village (our 1st HOME stay After 8 days of fun in the sun at WDW / Universal , it's off to the Western Caribbean aboard the Magic (1st time on the Magic, 5 previous cruises on the Wonder) for seven wonderful, glorious days, Dec. 11 - 18. On this cruise we will celebrate Corwin17's birthday while on Castaway Cay .. Then it was back to Kidani and WDW for 2 more days, then back home we went....or so we thought

1st vacation extension - On Saturday we booked a B2B cruise, namely THIS cruise, so make that 18 wonderful, glorious days aboard the Magic. and on Dec. 28th, while on Castaway Cay, DH and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary !!! Have I mentioned we really love CC?

See this was really turning into a 'Magic-al' vacation....but wait, it gets better.

After booking the 11 night cruise Saturday, we called the airlines to change our return flight and discovered that we couldn't get a flight back to CA until Dec. 30 using our FF miles. So, Dec. 30th it is, arriving back at LAX around 8pm the day before New Years eve

2nd Vacation Extension
Fast forward to yesterday while having lunch at the Corner Bakery with DH ... What were we THINKING ?!?!?! Flying home 1 day BEFORE New Years at WDW ?? Are we (don't answer that .... we resemble that remark). When we got home, we both jumped on our respective computers and started researching yet another vacation extension .. planes, cars, hotels, etc. After splurging on the 11-night cruise, the hotel was going to have to be a DVC property, the rental car was going to have to be ACAP (as cheap as possible; yeah right, during the highest rate season of the year); still no change fee from American Airlines (thank you GOLD status).

Fast forward to o'dark:30 this morning. Call DVC to find out there is nothing available anywhere on property except for the night of Jan. 1 Guess we go home...but wait What about using Radisson points to book at the Country Inn and Suites? Available for all days (and nights, thankfully ) Call the airlines again to change the flights, again (are we on a 1st name basis with the AA operators ...... not quite) But the good news is:

WE'RE DOING DISNEY FOR NEW YEARS

Our original 18 day vacation has been stretched to 29 days and the best part is, hubby will only be using 3 more vacation days than originally planned, since his company closes the week between Christmas and New Years

 

[BBQMommy]

Go big or go home -- I am curious to see how you'd configure this trip if you pulled out ALL the stops!

EXCELLENT!



Caryn

 

[StJohnfamily]

I just found the thread and am excited to say we are on the Magic for Christmas. There is myself, DH and DD (9). I have to review the shore excursions now and figure out how to decorate our cabin. Any ideas for decorations? I am excited to see some other girls my daughters age. Looking forward to meeting others that are going to be on board.

 

[BBQMommy]

Hello Pam! Glad to see you here

We visited your beautiful city the last week of July this year and had a wonderful time



Caryn

 

[thegales]

For those of you who cruised over Christmas before, do you know if there is any type of church service Christmas Eve?

 

[Kitster]

Go big or go home -- I am curious to see how you'd configure this trip if you pulled out ALL the stops!

EXCELLENT!
Caryn

Hey Caryn, if it weren't for DVC points we're using to stay at Kidani, the free 7 night cruise we got for buying into DVC (plus $500 for Cat 7 upgrade and Disney transfers), frequent flyer miles hubby gets for business travel, Radisson points he gets for business travel and the magic I perform for getting rental cars rates, we never would have been able to afford our original vacation, let alone the extended one

As it is, we are only going to be doing 1 special excursion each (Stephen's flight to Dry Tortugas and my Discover Scuba in Cozumel) for BOTH cruises, nothing else that's going to require $$$$. That means we'll either do a lot of snorkeling from shore or just walk around ports with our cameras. That's what we gave up in order to pay for the 11-night cruise. Also, no spa treatments, auctions, souvenirs, etc. St Thomas will involve a Bailey's Bushwacker, since I promised Stephen we'd make up for our last trip (Snuba ran late and we ran out of time ashore).

IF I pulled out all the stops for a vacation it would involve suites, lots and lots of suites, on the Dream, in Alaska (NSEW and everything in between), Hawaii (Aulani and volcanos), Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sabi Sands South Africa (leopards), Vancouver, Churchill Manitoba (polar bears), New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, Australia, and on the inaugural Fantasy, and by the time we got home our cat would have forgotten our names

As you said, dream large. At least dreams are free

 

[itutorfortravel]

Yes, there is a Christmas Eve service last year. I have the flyer that says it was at 11:15 PM. I didn't realize we were up that late, but we did go so I guess we were!

They also had crew caroling and other festive things!

On Christmas morning, Santa gave all the children a surprise, which was the Toy Story 3 calendar. There were also cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, etc. set up in the Lobby Atrium.