March 10, 2012 - Eastern on the Magic

[mtambrino]

Hello fellow cruisers!

This is my first time posting on the DISboards, so please excuse any errors. We are looking forward to our cruise as I see many of you are. As I looked through the posts I see that some people are looking to meet on the cruise. Am I correct in saying that at 3:00 on embarkation day we are meeting? If so where?

 

[3Goofy's]

We're looking at adding a couple of days at a DIS resort after the cruise as our return flight isn't until Monday.

Is anyone else staying around (DIS or non-DIS)? Any suggestions?

Yes, we are staying on Disney property the day before the cruise. We are staying at the Beach Club Resort - the Villas actually. We rented points from a DVC member. I'm VERY excited to try this resort! We'll hang out at Stormalong Bay, check out the Boardwalk and probably go to DTD at some point.

If you are looking for suggestions for Disney property, if we stay deluxe, we love the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom lodge. Both of those would entertain you for the full day and then some! If you stay at WL, you can take a boat to Fort Wilderness and check it out. The moss on the trees is beautiful and it's lovely there.

For moderates, we love Port Orleans French Quarter. It's a happy place, and small, and you can take a boat to DTD which is awesome. We also love the pool and tropical feeling of Caribbean Beach Resort.

The day of debarkation, we'll go to Aquatica and then stay off property for the night before flying home. I'm looking for off-property suggestions too.

How are you thinking of spending the day?

 

[3Goofy's]

We're looking at adding a couple of days at a DIS resort after the cruise as our return flight isn't until Monday.

Is anyone else staying around (DIS or non-DIS)? Any suggestions?

Oh my goodness. I'm so tired, I didn't even see your signature to see that you are well-versed in Disney resorts, and some of my favs. Obviously stayed up too late to ring in the New Year, and unless I'm partying in the Disney Parks, that's no easy feat for me!
Sorry for my duh...

 

[mtambrino]

Can anyone tell me about how far the shopping district is from where the boat docks? I see that water taxis are available at St. Maartin. I am assuming both ports are not within walking distance?

 

[lgierling]

Are there any allergies I should take into consideration when preparing my FE gifts?

 

[DundasDad]

Oh my goodness. I'm so tired, I didn't even see your signature to see that you are well-versed in Disney resorts, and some of my favs. Obviously stayed up too late to ring in the New Year, and unless I'm partying in the Disney Parks, that's no easy feat for me!
Sorry for my duh...

Hee hee ... you made me smile when I read your first post though! Glad to hear we have been doing all of your approved resorts!

On the way down (we are from Ontario) we are flying in Thursday morning. We're debating where to stay (Orlando or Cocoa Beach area) before the cruise.

We may do a resort after the cruise for a couple of days - do DTD, Beaches n Cream, etc (all our favourite non-park DIS stuff) but we aren't totally sold on the idea. One selling point is we could do the Magical Express back to the airport instead of playing around with a rental.

 

[atrust1992]

So excited for this cruise! My boyfriend and I will be tagging along with my parents for this trip. This will be my 4th Disney cruise and my boyfriend's first. He's nervous but I keep reassuring him that it's going to be AWESOME!!! I booked the shipwreck snorkel and catamaran in saint thomas. I did it 2 cruises ago and had a blast. I can't wait!!!

 

[papertraveller]

Hi, I'm new to this Disboard thing and I'm not sure if I'm even posting the right way! We are traveling on the Disney Magic March 10th sailing, and we would love to join the Fish Extender group. It will be me (the mom) and my two DDs age 13 and 8 (she is turning 8, two days before we set sail)! Do we need to do anything else to sign up? Also, what is roll call? Is that a meet-up of some sort? If so, we would like to join that, too! Thanks!

Me again...not sure what FE is and how does the ROLL Call work?

Welcome! I have added you to the two lists on page 2. The FE group is for those of us wanting to take part in the gift exchange; the roll call is simply to keep track of those DISers who are onboard.

Is it finalized that the meet is going to be at 3:00 pm on Embarkation Day? (and yes I'm working on getting my count up so I can PM)

Yes, we have proposed a meet at 3 p.m. in the Promenade Lounge. It is found on Deck 3, just around the corner and down the hall from Lumiere's. (On the way to Parrot Cay.)

Hey Papertraveler -I just sent you a PM with our info. Let me know if you didn't get it. Thanks so much for oganizing the FE!

Thanks, message received. And you're welcome!

Can anyone tell me about how far the shopping district is from where the boat docks? I see that water taxis are available at St. Maartin. I am assuming both ports are not within walking distance?

There is shopping right at the foot of the pier where the ship docks. You can find a bottle of wine, local beer, Diamonds International (just how many outlets do they have, anyway?), t-shirts, flip flops and a few higher end shops. Other shopping is in town, via water taxi.

So excited for this cruise! My boyfriend and I will be tagging along with my parents for this trip. This will be my 4th Disney cruise and my boyfriend's first. He's nervous but I keep reassuring him that it's going to be AWESOME!!! I booked the shipwreck snorkel and catamaran in saint thomas. I did it 2 cruises ago and had a blast. I can't wait!!!

Welcome! We're sure you'll both have a fabulous time. Shall I add you to the roll call, or are you already there under a parent's nom de plume?

 

[papertraveller]

Well as you can see from the above, I'm back online! Happy new year everyone!

We spent Christmas week in Orlando, visiting the parks on six days. We stayed at the Imperial Palm Villas at Marriott World Center, and were really impressed by the unit as well as the grounds. We had a basketball court right in front, so DD couldn't have been happier.

The parks were crazy crowded, but we dodged them fairly successfully I think. Did HS on Dec. 26, and it felt like no one was there until around 2 p.m. MK was madness, but I gather that's pretty much the norm for that time of year. We did Epcot on Dec. 31, but got there early and left as the New Year's Eve crowd was arriving. And on Jan. 1 we hit AK where DD rode Everest seven or eight times. It was a fun way to start the new year!

Now I'm doing loads of laundry and putting all those warm weather clothes aside for cruise packing.

If you haven't sent me your FE information, please do send me a PM. And don't forget to include your email address. My plan is to distribute a draft list mid-month so you can review it and send me your corrections.

 

[kingdomkeeper]

Hi, I will also be on this cruise along with my husband and 2 sons ages 17 and 18. This will be Disney cruise number 6 for us and we are looking forward to some sunshine.
I am hoping that if anyone is travelling with 18 -21 year olds that they will go to the college club meet on the first night so that hopefully some activities will be organised for them.
We have had a great time on past cruises and hope this next one will be as good.

 

[atrust1992]

Hi, I will also be on this cruise along with my husband and 2 sons ages 17 and 18. This will be Disney cruise number 6 for us and we are looking forward to some sunshine.
I am hoping that if anyone is travelling with 18 -21 year olds that they will go to the college club meet on the first night so that hopefully some activities will be organised for them.
We have had a great time on past cruises and hope this next one will be as good.

My boyfriend and I are both college students and will be going to the meets!

 

[finishline413]

Hello!
My DH is mtambrino. We should be on the FE List and the Roll Call soon. We have been busy today making our door magnets and making our packing lists.

 

[finishline413]

Have you made your Character Call request for DCL yet?

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

Have you made your Character Call request for DCL yet?

We actually did ours on X-mas morning.

 

[finishline413]

We actually did ours on X-mas morning.

We are excited about ours! We will receive the call on the way to the Port!

 

[son3disfan]

60 day dance!

Woohoo!

I had the kids try on shorts and swimsuits from the summer and realized nothing fits! Oh boy did they grow!

 

[finishline413]

60 day dance!

Woohoo!

I had the kids try on shorts and swimsuits from the summer and realized nothing fits! Oh boy did they grow!

WOOHOO!

We did the same thing with our suits...they fit...so thankful. I am thinking though for seven nights we are going to need more than one suit!?!? How many will you guys pack?

 

[son3disfan]

WOOHOO!

We did the same thing with our suits...they fit...so thankful. I am thinking though for seven nights we are going to need more than one suit!?!? How many will you guys pack?

To be honest with you, I have trouble getting my boys to wear suits now.
The first few cruises, we bought suits, new dress shoes, a couple of dress shirts , ties , belts , and cotton collared shirts or button up shirts for the non formal nights ......Whew! My husband even ordered a tux one year! ( that was a hoot!) So much clothes. On the last few cruises, I have relaxed ( a lot actually !) and it's has been so much easier.No arguing with them...they wear uniforms to school, so they hate dressing up.
I bring black cotton docker type pants for the boys, a black dress shirt( with a tie) for formal night. They wear the same thing for semi formal night, minus the tie, and a white Tshirt under the dress shirt( casual Friday look).
We are on vacation!
I believe we should follow Disney's guidelines, ( no shorts/ bathing suits) but Disney cruises are really quite relaxed as far as attire goes. Again, do what works for your family, but really, dont worry too much about what to wear.

With the most airlines charging astronomical fees for bags, travel light! And enjoy the family time.....

 

[papertraveller]

On our last cruise, a number of us DISers got together to go to the evening festivities in Rockin Bar D on Sail Away night -- there was a scavenger hunt (very silly but fun, since we won of course!) as well as a Match Your Mate contest.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if these activities are still offered? I know that things have changed a bit from last year. I haven't been able to find much in the way of updated Eastern Navigators online.

And I'm wondering if any of you would like to join us? Our DD will have ditched us for the Edge at that point!

 

[papertraveller]

Oh, and the suit answer is SIX!

One suit of jacket and pants plus one swimsuit for DH; and two swimsuits each for DD and myself!!!