Magical New Year's Cruise from Galveston 12/29/2012

[luvbeanamom]

We're so very excited!! This will be our 1st Disney Cruise!! I'll be sailing with my 2 boys, ages 9 and 12 and my mother. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

 

[luvbeanamom]

Sorry for the double post, didn't see the original at first

 

[mgjohnson]

Has anyone organized a FE gift exchange for this group yet? Anyone interested in doing it?

 

[luvbeanamom]

Sounds like fun! Since I've never done a FE before, I'm probably not the person to organize it, but I'd love to participate.

 

[mgjohnson]

OK, what we'll need is a list from each participant of the cabin number, names and ages of those sailing in your cabin; i.e. Mike, 55, Sue, 53, Bailey, 11, etc. Each cabin will make or purchase a small gift or token for all of the other cabins involved in the exchange. For example, if 12 cabins are involved, you will make or purchase 11 gifts. At anytime during the cruise, you (or your kids) walk the ship, putting the gifts into the "fish extender" hangers on each cabin door. It's great fun! This doesn't have to be an expensive gift, just something fun, or perhaps something from your hometown. It's a way for everyone to get to know each other. On our AG cruise, the participants actually made beautiful crafted items and/or spent alot of time and money on the gifts, but you certainly don't have to. Let me know what you think.

 

[luvbeanamom]

Count us in! We'll be in 2500 and we have me, Kim, (47), mom Karen (sixty-something, DS Tyler (12), and DS Alex (9).

 

[mgjohnson]

Anyone else interested in he FE Exchange for the Magic cruise Dec. 29, 2012? So far we're up to 2 cabins. We can manage quite a few more. Just let me know! Thanks!

 

[rsschneck]

Thought maybe I should bump this up since the cruise is getting closer.

Looking for a family that might want to link dining reservations. Hubby and I are early to mid 40's and DD will be 1 month away from 16 when we cruise. We have main dining now but might want to switch to late seating since we don't have any little ones that will be going to be early.

We have purchased our airfare. Booked pre-cruise hotel nights. Booked transfers. Just waiting to pay the final payment and book excursions.

How is everyone else doing with their planning? Do we have fish extender lists yet?

 

[mgjohnson]

There are 2 cabins so far that want to participate in a FE exchange. This will only be my second exchange, so I'm hoping someone will volunteer to organize it. I've heard the cutoff date should be around the date final payment is due. I'm ready to get going on this if we are planning to do it, since I need to get started making gifts!

 

[rsschneck]

There are 2 cabins so far that want to participate in a FE exchange. This will only be my second exchange, so I'm hoping someone will volunteer to organize it. I've heard the cutoff date should be around the date final payment is due. I'm ready to get going on this if we are planning to do it, since I need to get started making gifts!

I've only participated in one (year's ago). Let me ask a friend and see if she has some pointer's about organizing something like this because I have no idea.

 

[SoonerLaw]

I may potentially be interested the aforementioned exchange, but I would need to find out more about it.

Feel free to contact me anytime!

 

[vapsmom]

I just joined this group...kinda lost. We are sailing on the Magic, from Galveston on 12/29. First Disney Cruise, need advice and any tips

 

[tinkerfun]

I am just starting to look at excursions. Would really like to do some kayaking. Saw a clear kayak trip that looked interesting. Also might want to go back to stingray city at grand cayman, really enjoyed the stingrays there, they are so soft. Will be my husband and I and dd17 and ds15. Anyone have anything fun or interesting they have done or heard about to share?

 

[SoonerLaw]

The dolphin excursions looked pretty neat to me. Has anyone done it at Grand Cayman or Cozumel?

 

[mgjohnson]

We would like to do the dolphin swim, and would love to hear from anyone else who has done it. I think there are a couple of excursions available through DCL in Cozumel. I plan to check into it soon. Also, I am considering being the coordinator for the FE exchange. If anyone else wants to coordinate, please feel free! If not, I would do a cut-off date of October 16th, which is when final payment is due. Also, I would like to keep it to about 20 cabins max, if possible. Let me know your thoughts!

 

[rsschneck]

We would like to do the dolphin swim, and would love to hear from anyone else who has done it. I think there are a couple of excursions available through DCL in Cozumel. I plan to check into it soon. Also, I am considering being the coordinator for the FE exchange. If anyone else wants to coordinate, please feel free! If not, I would do a cut-off date of October 16th, which is when final payment is due. Also, I would like to keep it to about 20 cabins max, if possible. Let me know your thoughts!

That would be great if you wanted to organize the FE.
I have never really participated before so it would be
nice if we had someone that knew what they were doing.

 

[sinnika]

I just joined this group...kinda lost. We are sailing on the Magic, from Galveston on 12/29. First Disney Cruise, need advice and any tips

Welcome! Great tips on trip reports. Also, the FAQ section has tons of info.
Since this is a new cruise port for DCL, I'm sure people will be posting lots of feedback after she starts sailing here.

The dolphin excursions looked pretty neat to me. Has anyone done it at Grand Cayman or Cozumel?

We did a western DCL cruise out of Florida in2009 and did the dolphin royal swim at Chakanaab park. We booked on our own and took a taxi there. Kids loved it!
We also snorkeled and did some beach time there. Sorry, I don't remember costs.

I am just starting to look at excursions. Would really like to do some kayaking. Saw a clear kayak trip that looked interesting. Also might want to go back to stingray city at grand cayman, really enjoyed the stingrays there, they are so soft. Will be my husband and I and dd17 and ds15. Anyone have anything fun or interesting they have done or heard about to share?

Hi! We are also sailing with dd 17 and DS 15! We loved stingray city, we did a tour on our own that included 2 snorkeling stops. It was Capt ?,name escapes me but we booked on our own (maybe Capt Harvey?). Wish Castaway Cay wasn't sofar away. We love it there! We also LOVE the Magic! We have sailed her numerous times. We sailed on the Fantasy in June and my kids kept saying how they wished they were on the Magic! Definitely a more personal experience than the larger ships!

 

[mgjohnson]

OK, so I've decided to officially host the FE gift exchange. So far, it includes our family and one other family. If you are interested, pls list your stateroom number, first names, boy or girl, ages, and if you are allergic to anything we might gift to you. After I get a list going, I will put it into a spreadsheet and send it to you. If you prefer, you can message me your information. Apparently I need 10 or more posts on this DISboard before I can list an email address, so we'll have to wait on that. I plan to cut off the list on October 15th so everyone can finish getting their FE gifts ready in plenty of time for the cruise. Thank you. I look forward to meeting you onboard the Magic later this year!

 

[EpicBilynn]

OK, so I've decided to officially host the FE gift exchange. So far, it includes our family and one other family. If you are interested, pls list your stateroom number, first names, boy or girl, ages, and if you are allergic to anything we might gift to you. After I get a list going, I will put it into a spreadsheet and send it to you. If you prefer, you can message me your information. Apparently I need 10 or more posts on this DISboard before I can list an email address, so we'll have to wait on that. I plan to cut off the list on October 15th so everyone can finish getting their FE gifts ready in plenty of time for the cruise. Thank you. I look forward to meeting you onboard the Magic later this year!

Hi! We're interested in doing the FE gift exchange! This will be all of our first cruise EVER, so glad we're doing DCL. We're driving down from Arlington. There are 10 of us total the whole family, so we have 3 staterooms and I know my mom and I can't wait to make the fish extenders and all the fun little gifts. In room 2137: Bailey (my brother, 29), Amber (my sis-in-law, 32), Alaina (niece, 13), and Nora (niece, 3). Room 2135: Bill (my dad, 68), Marsha (my mom, 63), Jacob (nephew, 10), and Storm (nephew, 5). And in room 2017: Gino (boy, 28), and myself, Bilynn (girl, 27, 28 on 1/1/13!) So excited for the cruise! Can't wait!

 

[mgjohnson]

OK, looks like we're up to 5 or 6 cabins now! I will compile a list and publish it asap, so that those of you who wish to can get started on your gifts! Remember, the gifts can be handmade or store bought. It's OK to do something for each person, or something for the whole cabin - you decide. It doesn't have to be alot; maybe something Disney, or something that is reflective of your hometown. This is meant to be fun! Please post any questions. PS: FB has a Fish Extender Disney Cruise Line group that frequently shows ideas for gifts.