MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[hinsok1]

You're just on the other side of us, we're in 5024, one of the secret porthole rooms. And, Diana is right around the corner from me!! Go Deck 5 forward!!!

Cool - I think our group has 5500, 5502, 5504, 5002 and 6654, but the rest have not expressed any interested in the FE or anything else . . . .

It will be weird to be so far up front. I have only sailed in the middle of ships before!! I'm hoping no one get's seasick!!

Won't it be great to be so close to the kids clubs!!!

 

[gardengirlco]

Is anyone interested in any of the tasting events . . . We plan to definately do the beer tasting again and maybe one of the other tastings . . .

We are. We want to do the beer, margarita/tequila and martini tastings.

You're just on the other side of us, we're in 5024, one of the secret porthole rooms. And, Diana is right around the corner from me!! Go Deck 5 forward!!!

Hey Amy, we'll be neighbors. We're in SPH 5020.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I'll be glad to share my spreadsheet -- if folks can either PM or post their cabin numbers, I'll add them to it.

Yes, the meet and greet is at 3 p.m. on Saturday. BearFan (Lisa Marie) is coordinating the ornament exchange and the digital scavenger hunt - she'll post time / places pretty soon.

Fish Extenders are a variety of things - sometimes from places where you're from, sometimes related to the cruise (like pirate stuff), sometimes "survival kit" things, sometimes just random stuff, sometimes Disney stuff... That's what is so cool about it.

I made our fish extender - just need to attach it to the dowel rod and then take a pic of it to share. We're still working on our idea for fish extender gifts, so we don't know if we'll do one delivery or deliveries over multiple days. We will likely do a "one per family" but there will likely be multiple things in what we pass out so that it won't be like giving one Nerd rope to a family with 3 kids or one eye-patch to a family. I'm thinking we'll put our things in a little gift bag and then tag them with the DIS name / cabin number (to make deliveries easier and to make sure we don't leave someone out).

When I listed everyone on our spreadsheet, I included the "friends and family" on separate lines. I know some are wanting to participate (like SailingShamu but they haven't been able to get online and someone else's sister, too), but others I don't think were necessarily wanting to participate. So if you have extended family traveling with you, please post and let us know if they would like to participate in any of the activities (particularly the fish extenders) so we'll be sure to get a pretty accurate count. FWIW, we always plan to bring a few extras and always include ourselves because the boys always want whatever it is we're passing out

I went to the Art of Entertaining series in 2005 to the cooking shows that they did - they were pretty interesting to me. But I didn't do any of the tastings that cost extra. The Art of Entertaining cooking ones gave you a free taste of a wine pairing for whatever they made (like crabcakes). If you get a chance to do the galley tour, do that! You can sign up at Guest Services pretty much any time before it -- we signed up the first day onboard (when we stopped to remove charging privileges from the kids' KTTW cards) and got our tickets then. They take several groups, spacing about 10-minutes apart. What we did was just ask at Guest Services about what things we might want /need to sign up for and they told us about the galley tour and also a tea with wendy or something like that (we didn't do it because the boys were not interested).

The back-stage tours are really interesting, too, particularly the one in the theater -- so if you're looking ahead at navigators when the double-dippers start posting, check to see if they have that as a tour still. It's definitely worth the hour to do it (IMHO).

Well, guess I need to stop posting and catch some zzzz's. We're so looking fwd to being out of town - it's been 68 days since I've been out of town and I'm so ready to go!

 

[alikat99]

Cool - I think our group has 5500, 5502, 5504, 5002 and 6654, but the rest have not expressed any interested in the FE or anything else . . . .

It will be weird to be so far up front. I have only sailed in the middle of ships before!! I'm hoping no one get's seasick!!

Won't it be great to be so close to the kids clubs!!!

We LOVE deck 5!! This will be our 6th DCL cruise, and our 4th being on deck 5 forward!! We LOVE being able to take the kids back from the clubs late at night, and it's a short walk. That is especially helpful when one is out cold on your shoulder, and you have to carry her back to the room!!

We've never really had any problems with the movement. I have really only felt it when going through the FL straits, but you feel that everywhere on the ship, so that's not too big of a deal for me!!

 

[alikat99]

We are. We want to do the beer, margarita/tequila and martini tastings.

We're probably up for some of the tastings!! I did the martini one last time and that was a little "harsh" for me. But, I'm up for some margarita tasting!!!

Hey Amy, we'll be neighbors. We're in SPH 5020.

 

[ShannonR]

Good morning everyone!! Being a night shift nurse for close to 20 years, I am ALWAYS up at night regardless of if I am working that night or not. A problem on vacations, but I manage. This time I am taking off 4 days prior to leaving to try and adjust to night sleeping so I won't be up wandering the halls of the cruise ship in the middle of the night like last cruise.

I can't believe how close we are getting!! We are all really talking now! We are finally paid off on the whole vacation!!!!! The only excursion we will have to make in the parasailing on CC. I will let you know later today about the dolphin encounter, Amy. Our problem is the age difference with our kids (DD15, DS12, and oops!! baby DD4 ) and the fact that I DO NOT get into water of any kind (showering doesn't count, right ). So, the older kids want to actually swim with the dolphins and the encounter is more than enough for the 4 y.o. which means me and DH have to split up. We are actually looking forward to WDW this time, though, because she is now tall enough for all the rides!!! (The last two times she went she wasn't ) Luckily DH, myself, and all three kids are VERY tall and they have been able to get on the big rides at a very young age. DS12 was tall enough at 2!! (and believe me, I put him on them ALL!) It was hard having to go two separate times so that someone could stay with her. Now we can all go together.

I am going shopping today for luggage and cruise clothes!! Kohl's is having a luggage sail this week: 50-60% off all luggage! and I love getting DD15 her clothes there. I am going to try and start packing in October(I was packed two months before our last cruise, too! )

I got a text from a previous fellow DISer who was on our last cruise. They live in Houston and lost everything! with hurricane Ike. My best friend and her husband are going there this weekend for a wedding and are afraid of what they are going to find. I was surprised that the wedding was still on This same best friend's daughter is having her quinceneara(spelling?) in October, as well, and her life has revolved around that for the last six months. I can't believe all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with this celebration. I told her I see this as a 15 y.o. wedding!! She has spent THOUSANDS on this party! I don't fully understand this ritual, but it is important to her and her daughter, so I am trying to be supportive.

Has anyone given any more thought to the family business cards to be passed out at the initial meet and greet? I think they are a great and I am going to have DH make us one to pass out regardless if others decide to participate! I know DD15 kept them all in her purse, and it made it so much easier for her to connect up with the other girls her age for different things. It's a big ship and it helps them to find their way. And what has come of the t-shirts? Any new developments? We are starting to get into a time crunch with ordering, shipping time and everything!

Well. I guess I have rambled on for long enough, but will check in again soon!
Shannon

 

[nzdisneymom]

Good morning!


Shannon - I am so sorry to hear about your friend from Houston. Ike made so much damage; {{{hugs}}} to them. Your mention of the quinceneara reminds me of that episode of the Wizards of Waverly Place where they were having Alex's party. Do any of you watch that show? We watch nearly everything on the Disney Channel.

I'm going to call DCL Reservations when they open this morning to find out what time the online booking opens up this weekend for our cruise. I remember last summer having to be up at 3 a.m. to book our excursions. I had saved everything into our wish-list to make it easier for booking. We don't have anything to book this time as we're doing everything on our own and don't plan to get any Spa or Palo bookings -- although now that I think about it, I may do a Palo booking if DH wants to do it... I've always been too cheap to do it, but since we haven't done it before, maybe we should.

Hinsok, I took off all your extended family from the spreadsheet since they weren't interested in participating. There went half our list (just kidding!). Susan (xsjackson) and XmasCruise04 are the other families with multiple-multiple families sailing.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Ok, I just called DCL and they said that our online booking for 90-days out opens at midnight 9/21/2008 - so that is Midnight saturday night/sunday morning. So you west-coasters don't have to stay up late - just come home early from your party plans

 

[hinsok1]

Has anyone given any more thought to the family business cards to be passed out at the initial meet and greet? I think they are a great and I am going to have DH make us one to pass out regardless if others decide to participate!

We used these on the last cruise and it was great to put your home email on it with a little picture of the family. I made up some with the kids pictures, then with the family. At the end of the cruise when everyone is exchanging email addresses it makes it so easy. Adding the cabin number would be easy.

You can purchase the Avery cards, or just cut your own.

 

[minnie1]

Wow, I can't believe how much talking is going on now. It makes me even more excited for this cruise.

Cindy D.- I would love a copy of the spreadsheet when you are done. Our cabin number is 6571 so you can add it.

FE question-If you do just one gift bag of FE gifts which day of the cruise do you usually hand it out on? We are just using a Stocking for our FE because I have no time to make one.

Beer and Martini tasting??? Is that something you sign up for ahead of time? Remember this is my first Disney cruise so I keep hearing everything from all of you.

Amy and Cindy-Have a good time at WDW.

Good luck to all of you that are booking things this weekend. Since this is our first Disney cruise I have to wait till the 75 day mark. I will be anxious to see what everyone got.

Have a great weekend.

Angie

 

[Diana Lyn]

Your mention of the quinceneara reminds me of that episode of the Wizards of Waverly Place where they were having Alex's party. Do any of you watch that show? We watch nearly everything on the Disney Channel.

I love that episode! I really like that show too. I forget that it's a kids show because it's pretty funny. It reminds me of the good sitcoms from back in the 80s.

We're in cabin 5013, sideways cat 11. We need to have a cat 11 because someone ok me, gets seasick when she sees the ocean whizzing by out the window. I love love love to cruise, but I hate hate hate to see that ocean cruising by.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Cindy D.- I would love a copy of the spreadsheet when you are done. ...

I'll send them out next week. PM me your email address.

FE question-If you do just one gift bag of FE gifts which day of the cruise do you usually hand it out on? We are just using a Stocking for our FE because I have no time to make one.

It depends on what you're passing out. If you're passing out pirate stuff, obviously you'd want to pass it out before the pirate party And survival-kit stuff wouldn't make sense to be late in the week. But really, it's just a matter of whenever you want to pass it out and have some time. Sea Days are sometimes easier because you have a bit more time. Some people deliver early in the a.m. (those early risers who have late sleepers in their traveling party), or late at night (those night-owls who want to roam the ship a bit before zzz'ing). Some folks bring things to the Meet and just pass them out then... And I think a stocking is a GREAT idea for a FE.

 

[Az Pirates]

I think some Dis groups get really detailed with the FE exchanges. I know there are some who have assigned specific themes for gifts, or certain days to pass them out. But like Cindy said, I think most groups keep it a lot more open ended than that.

There's usually a lot of flexibility with the gifts too. We've gotten some things that were one per person, some that were one per stateroom, and others that were one per family. It just depends on what folks are giving.


I have a couple of the Mickey pocket hangers, but I think we might use a stocking this time as well. Seems like a good choice for a Christmas cruise.


We've never done the tastings, but we did do the galley tour. I assume the procedure would be the same. All the information was in the daily navigator but you did have to stop by or call guest services to sign up.

 

[ShannonR]

DH did both the margarita and beer tasting last cruise and loved them both (by the redness in his cheeks when he was done, I would say he REALLY loved them )

I don't know if he will take part again or not. I don't do well with liquor of any kind (i get deathly ill from just ONE drink )so I know I won't. I tried the konk cooler on Castaway Cay last cruise and regretted it the WHOLE day. I was so nauseated and felt like vomiting half way through the drink. I guess I will stick to my ever faithful Diet Coke.

Shannon

 

[nzdisneymom]

Amy - DH and I were talking at lunch about the Dolphin Encounter and we are a definite GO. So we'll be three adults (since Nathan is 12) and one child (since Zachary will be 11). Let us know what we need to do for paying for it, etc. I was a bit afraid he would want to do the ruins or something but since we went to Cancun on our honeymoon (16 1/2 yrs ago), we saw some ruins then, and we know the kids won't be interested, so this vacation's theme will be "fun in the sun."


Here are the DISers that I don't have cabin numbers for. If you want your cabin number included in the spreadsheet, either PM me or post it here and I'll add you. If you're not planning to participate in the Fish Extender exchange, you can still provide your cabin number as I know some folks are likely bringing something for everyone anyway, so we'll need to know where to drop things off

psharrock
SnowWhite2
SnowWhite2 - parents
njmom23grls
Kborn
MrsMunchie
Lynne Y.
stillwater / cataworm
Love Eeyore
xsjackson (5+ cabins?? Susan, share with us which ones may want to participate or not)
AZ Pirates
dee47
BearFan
MOQu
HFC1969
Im_A_Princess
CorinnaK
xmascruise04 (3+ cabins)
bigedwin
RAC
dbxazd
dbxazd's friends
DisneyCamper
MOQu
Lizdisdog
PalatkaCruisers

 

[stillwater]

Looks like we're filling up Deck 5 Forward, cause we're in 5014.

 

[Diana Lyn]

Looks like we're filling up Deck 5 Forward, cause we're in 5014.

Hi Neighbor!

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Hi everyone! Hope everyone had a good week. As for FE i made ours and soon as I canm figure out how to get the camera card to work with the new computer i'll post a picture. I got carried away with how many gifts I bought so we will be doing a little something every day and I have a little gift for the meet and greet. On our last cruise we were on deck five and loved it no motion. This time we are on deck eight right below the drink station.

Amy let me know what I need to do for paying for the Dolphin encounter and anything lese you need for it. It will just be me mom decided to relax on the ship.

Cindy could i also get a copy of your spreadsheet please.

Lissa

 

[hinsok1]

Looks like we're filling up Deck 5 Forward, cause we're in 5014.

LOL - So cool . . .nothing like knowing your neighbors!!!

I have to share a funny with all of you. . . DH and I booked another DCL cruise when we were on our first DCL cruise . . . for one reason or another, we keep moving it back. Most recently it was moved to 12/7/08. We debated about using it when this cruise came up, but coordinating it with the travel agent the rest of the family was using and stuff, just got to complicated. So we decided to try and use it for a family cruise in 2010. Ok so we were coming up on the 90 day mark, so I had the TA move it to 2009, figuring we will move it in Nov after the 2010 dates come out . . . everything is set. Then last night I was logging into My Cruises on DCL, not sure what I was looking for, but wanted to log in. I COULD NOT GET LOGGED IT!!! I tried and tried again. All I could think about was that Disney messed up and moved the wrong reservation . . . I even went as far as to email my TA . . . but it was 11:00 at night so knew I would get no reply until today. After I calmed down a bit and decided not to worry, I tried logging in again, this time being very careful and typing each number individually versus copying and pasting from my email . . . It worked fine!!! Finally figured out I had a space after the last number in my reservation and the system did not like that!!!!!! Was I when I talked to the TA this morning!!!!

I think it is time to take a deep breath and say " Disney take me away!!!"

For those of you heading to WDW hope you had a great weekend . . . those of you dealing with health issues, our prayers are with you. This year I have become a firm believer that God is the director and I don't have much of a say in what happens, My job is to take the cards dealt and play the best hand I can!!! So Robin trust in your judgement and do what you think is best.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Has anyone been able to obtain which days are formal night, which night is Pirate Night, etc.?

I just called and the guy was clueless. He kept telling me that I won't know my rotation until I board. But that was not the question. Everyone has formal night and Pirate night on the SAME night. He insisted that we wouldn't know until we got our Navigator.

I would like to use the info to plan for our Palo Dinner. I would actually like to have dinner at Palo on Pirate Night. We have been at the party several times and don't care if I miss it.

Can anyone help me?