Magic: November 1, 2013 5 night Western

[MrsMork]

Hello, We are also cruising on Nove 1st (Magic) out of Miami. This is also our third cruise and first time participating in the FE. Can you tell me what is your room # and I will make sure to have my little one drop by. I am not really sure how to officially sign up for the FE so I figure I will just leave random gifts. Happy cruising

Please do send me your info in a PM so that you will also receive random gifts!!
The cut off date is Oct 1 to give us a little time to get the gifts together.

For FE:
Anyone wanting to participate please get the following information to me via PM.

Number of adults, (indicate M/F) number and age of children and indicate B/G
cabin number
any allergies

you win! Sort of lol we are driving to Delaware, flying to Tampa, driving to Miami.... Lol then back again

 

[MrsMork]

So it looks like you are traveling the furthest so far...anyone further?

What about closest? I know there are some from Tampa area. I'm from south Sarasota area - about 3-1/2 hour drive from Miami.

Our grandson is coming from Portland, OR. That is further west than us, but we are further north, so not sure which is further.

 

[MrsMork]

Our grandson is coming from Portland, OR. That is further west than us, but we are further north, so not sure which is further.

I did a mapquest.....grandson wins by 400 miles! 3266 for him 2834 for us. (but add another 200 miles to the airport from here for us)

 

[ncharlier]

We are driving from Patrick AFB, (Cocoa Beach area). Map quest says it will be just over 3 hour drive. We usually leave from Port Canaveral, (20 minute drive), but we couldn't pass up the Military rate.

 

[TwinMomTN]

So I'm a first time Disney cruiser and this will be my family's (hubby and twin 5yr old boys) first time on a ship too! We happened to book the cruise last minute since we couldn't pass up the wonderful military discount!

We happened to find this board because I mentioned cruising to a friend and she said "You need an FE!" So anyway, we have an FE and no other idea about hidden gems and need to knows. Besides trolling this board, is there anything else I should read, know, discover before our departure in just a little over 30 days?

 

[JennLK]

So I'm a first time Disney cruiser and this will be my family's (hubby and twin 5yr old boys) first time on a ship too! We happened to book the cruise last minute since we couldn't pass up the wonderful military discount!

We happened to find this board because I mentioned cruising to a friend and she said "You need an FE!" So anyway, we have an FE and no other idea about hidden gems and need to knows. Besides trolling this board, is there anything else I should read, know, discover before our departure in just a little over 30 days?

There is so much - LOL!!! You will learn and become addicted I am sure. But FE is important and fun.

Looks like I will be surrounded by wonderful military on this cruise

 

[TwinMomTN]

Hello, we (self, husband, 12yo DD, 7yo DD, 5yo DD/DS twins) will be on this cruise with you all. We booked today, got an awesome military rate on two adjoining verandah staterooms! Blessed to be able to use the military discount, as a family of 6 we could't afford it every year otherwise. Soooo excited.

Me too! First time Disney cruiser, 5 yr old twins, military discount! Whoo hoo! Can't wait to meet everybody!

 

[TwinMomTN]

So I saw in the earlier chain that there was an FE list. But when I tried to send a PM, it said "prohibited until I post 10 times".
Guess I'll be typing a bit until we can join the fun?

 

[TwinMomTN]

Another military family! Whoo Hoo!

 

[JennLK]

Another military family! Whoo Hoo!

Few more posts! what are your pre-cruise plans

 

[TempusFugit]

Welcome aboard everyone!

 

[TwinMomTN]

Few more posts! what are your pre-cruise plans

Because all of this was last minute, I was racing around to get the DH and children's passports and booking a flight. Happily, I had frequent flyer miles so that didn't cost anything but the expedited passports-SHEESH. Almost 500 for three!
We'll fly in the morning of the day of. Nerve wracking but since we're not in the middle of peak travel or bad weather months- I figured we were safe.
I did the Disney transfer because it's our first time. Any thought on better options next time or was that the right choice?

 

[TwinMomTN]

Is anyone swimming with dolphins at either port? We did stingray city and snorkeling in grand cayman, and horseback riding at mr. sanchos in cozumel last year. We are thinking of going to dolphin cove in grand cayman this cruise with our 3 kids, 12, 10 and 6. Has anyone been there before?

I'm batting around the idea of the Dolphin/Turtle thing in GC but not sure if my really short (3.5 ft twins) will be thrilled about being in 3 ft of water. Maybe I swim and they observe? I know they'd be fine with the turtles.

 

[JennLK]

Because all of this was last minute, I was racing around to get the DH and children's passports and booking a flight. Happily, I had frequent flyer miles so that didn't cost anything but the expedited passports-SHEESH. Almost 500 for three!
We'll fly in the morning of the day of. Nerve wracking but since we're not in the middle of peak travel or bad weather months- I figured we were safe.
I did the Disney transfer because it's our first time. Any thought on better options next time or was that the right choice?

Disney Transfer may be good since you're flying in same day. I have never sailed from Miami so ...

Our friends are also flying in morning of

 

[disneyholic1977]

We are driving from Patrick AFB, (Cocoa Beach area). Map quest says it will be just over 3 hour drive. We usually leave from Port Canaveral, (20 minute drive), but we couldn't pass up the Military rate.

We usually leave from Port Canaveral too, but couldn't pass up the fantastic Florida resident rate - not as good as the MTO rate but still great!!!

 

[ncharlier]

We are also new to the FE. We are doing our gifts randomly as well. We are in room 7500. What room are you in? I plan on walking one floor a day and leave random gifts. We made Halloween magnets last year and did the same thing. It is a great way to check out all the wonderfully decorated doors and have a little fun while doing it. I didn't know about the FE till recently, and had to bribe my mom to make me a custom one to match our door. LOL

 

[ncharlier]

I started training for a 5K on Castaway Cay back in August before we booked our cruise. Does anyone know if they have an organized run on this trip to replace the run on Castaway Cay? I am not a runner, but I set the 5K as my goal and was a little disappointed that we are not stopping at Castaway Cay. I need an excuse to keep running. I am at 43 miles since starting on August 5th, (in Florida heat). Anyone know where I can start looking for information??

 

[TwinMomTN]

So I'm trolling and trying to learn everything and on the DIS Cruise line page, they have an excerpt of a 4/13 letter stating:

"As you may be aware, it is important to us to keep our facilities looking their best for all our guests. As part of our commitment to this area of focus, we ask that you do not affix anything to your stateroom door utilizing tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives. We have found that these adhesives damage the finish on our stateroom doors; therefore we ask that you limit door decoration to those of the magnetic variety.

Concurrently, we ask that guests not use over-the-door hanging organizers as they have been found to scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim."

So does that mean no FEs? It seems odd that a fabric holder could do damage...

 

[VowRenewal13]

So I'm trolling and trying to learn everything and on the DIS Cruise line page, they have an excerpt of a 4/13 letter stating:

"As you may be aware, it is important to us to keep our facilities looking their best for all our guests. As part of our commitment to this area of focus, we ask that you do not affix anything to your stateroom door utilizing tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives. We have found that these adhesives damage the finish on our stateroom doors; therefore we ask that you limit door decoration to those of the magnetic variety.

Concurrently, we ask that guests not use over-the-door hanging organizers as they have been found to scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim."

So does that mean no FEs? It seems odd that a fabric holder could do damage...

Your FE does not hang over your door. In the hall beside your door is a fish or a starfish that you hang your FE on. You can attach magnets to your door.

We will be flying in the morning of the cruise. Using Disney transportation to the port. We usually cruise out of Port Canaveral and rent a limo if there are more than 5 people in our group going to the port. It is cheaper than Disney.

 

[TempusFugit]

Bingo!
FE = fish extender. The fish is the usual receptacle for mail in the ship. The FE hangs from there.

Lots of fun to participate with the group.