March 15, 2015 MAGIC Cruise!! :)

[3Goofy's]

Welcome to all the newcomers!

It's nice to see our fellow cruisers reporting in on all the fun they have planned! Sounds like a lot of folks are planning pre- and post-cruise disney fun.

We are arriving on the Saturday and are undecided about what to do for the day. We went to Aquatica a few years ago, and keep talking that we need to go back. But the Wilderness Lodge has a strong hold on me and we might end up relaxing there - if we can still get a room. Mazdac, we have always wanted to stay at the MCO Hyatt. It looks so exciting in that atmosphere before your vacation really gets going. Your family will be stoked by the time you get onboard!

For our excursions, we have booked:
Key West: nothing. Trying to find a private kayaking tour of the mangroves, but timing is difficult.
Grand Cayman: we are doing a private tour for sailing, stingray city, snorkeling, starfish beach and then drop off at 7 mile beach.
Cozumel: Secret River, although we might switch to Xel-Ha park.
Castaway Cay: nothing

I agree with the others that many of the Cozumel excursions are short on time because of the long travel to the mainland, but we really want to see the underground rivers, so we will try. alsnyder, there aren't many who travel to the mainland parks, are there? I hope it goes ok!!

After the cruise, DH needs to fly home, but DS and I are taking a few extra days to go to Universal Studios and staying at Royal Pacific Resort, as well as offsite. Anyone have suggestions for offsite, near Universal Studios?

Papertraveller, your details about WDW have me wanting to go back so badly! We are holding off a disney trip until next fall/winter. Your brother and his family are going to have a blast. And they get their own expert tour guide too with you! Lucky!

We've been having a bad winter so far with lots of snow storms and very cold temps, so the sunshine will be even sweeter!

 

[WylieGrin]

Hi Everyone - I can't believe how close the trip is! I am getting so excited to meet you. Papertraveller has been amazing helping us get sorted and prepared for the trip. Our DD (8) is practically vibrating in anticipation. She received a letter from Princess Anna this past week (Thank you Papertraveller). DD and I have set some time aside for crafting our FE gifts. Can't wait to start putting that together. DH is working on his pirate costume.

 

[Disneywells]

I have sent you an email Madzac. So great to have the girls connect! Everyone in the family is so excited and we have been search and preparing crafts. DD really is excited about the fish ending and getting creative. I am considering joining both groups if we can. Especially since our group is small at this point. This is our first disney cruise though second cruise experience. This cruise is longer then our past one.

 

[Madzac]

Disney wells my DD will be so excited! Did you send the email? If you have I didn't get it. (TLN1@MCHSI.COM) It's a #1 after the TLN which sometimes screws it up

Wyliegrin that's SO cool about Princess Anna sending a letter. Paper traveller is pretty cool!

I'm jealous of all of you heading to wdw too! Or universal! So much fun! We are already starting to plan 2016 and are leaning towards California with half at Disneyland of course!

Two months everyone! I can't believe it! I'm SO excited! !!!

 

[papertraveller]

DH is working on his pirate costume.

Hmmmm. He may say he's working on it. But let's face it, a T-shirt and an eyepatch aren't exactly time-consuming, LOL!!!

 

[alsnyder79]

What is everyone doing for personal belongings on beach days...i.e castaway cay. Are you purchasing kyss bags, vacation vaults etc? We are debating on if we need to buy one.

 

[Bearybear]

We finally decided what to do on the day before the cruise. We're going to tour the Kennedy space center. In all our trips to Florida, it is the one thing we've never done, and out of the 3 options we listed for our son, this was the one he picked. So we have a plan.

We still haven't decided what, if anything, we'll do at Key West. My DH & I were there on our honeymoon cruise, and didn't think much of it as a cruise stop. My DH doesn't swim. My son loves to. Maybe I'll look into snorkeling for the two of us.

 

[Disneywells]

Madzac sent an email again let me know if you get it. DD is wanting to connect with your DD. Just finalizing our excursions! Getting so close to our trip. So excited!

 

[Disneywells]

Bearybear we were thinking of a visit to the Kennedy space centre too prior to the cruise. Just running it past the kids.

 

[Madzac]

Got the email and sent you my DD ' S contact info! Let me know if you don't get it!

 

[lltthatsme]

Hi, I haven't been on in months but wanted to confirm I am still sailing and still in the FE group.

DisneyWells - I also have a 13 year old daughter (and a 12 year old). If you would like we could exchange info so the girls can get to know each other.

 

[Disneywells]

Hi, I haven't been on in months but wanted to confirm I am still sailing and still in the FE group.

DisneyWells - I also have a 13 year old daughter (and a 12 year old). If you would like we could exchange info so the girls can get to know each other.

lltthatsme I would love to have our girls connect too. The more the merrier.

if you are comfortable posting your email we can connect the girls that way. I am too new on the boards and can not post my email until I have posted 10 times.
So excited about the trip!

 

[lltthatsme]

sure

 

[Disneywells]

Sent you an email

 

[papertraveller]

Hi, I haven't been on in months but wanted to confirm I am still sailing and still in the FE group.

Glad to see you are still with us! Please let me know your stateroom number so I can include it on the list on page one.

I have PMed dreamcatchers, but have not heard anything back.

 

[Bearybear]

Where do you find your stateroom number on your reservation?

 

[lltthatsme]

I don't have room yet, still GTY.

 

[papertraveller]

Hi everyone,

I have received PMs from a few people who are concerned that our first FE group may not be full, because there are people who joined us early on but who have not been heard from since. They may have changed their cruise arrangements, or they may not fully share the DIS addiction that some of the rest of us have. One family has made five posts, although they have provided a stateroom number. Another has not provided a number at all, and has not responded to PMs from me or notes here on the thread.

People are also concerned that we have three families on the second list, and they would like to ensure they have the same fun experience as the rest of us.

As a result, I would like to propose that we unite the two groups and establish a FIRM cutoff date. I know that some people have prepared their gifts already and have a fixed number of treasures. Then there are people like me who keep adding and adding to what you will discover is a random collection of goodies! If you are in the former group, perhaps you wouldn't mind adding to your list? And if you would find it too much, that's okay too.

For a final cutoff date, I propose one week from today: January 25. (I grabbed that out of thin air -- debate away.)

Please join in the discussion and let's decide a final final.

And separately, I would also like to propose a group gathering on Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. in the Promenade Lounge on Deck 3. In the past, a few of us have also got together to attend the Match Your Mate show later that night, once the kids have settled into the clubs and told us not to return.

Oh yeah -- EIGHT WEEKS TO GO!

 

[Madzac]

That's sounds perfect to me paper traveller! I would propose everyone needs to check in to confirm they are indeed participating here by the end of the day 1/25. If we don't hear from people I would say it's safe to assume they are not participating...agreed?

So...we are in! Our cabin numbers are correct on the first page of the thread!

And we would be happy to meet up on sail date

 

[lltthatsme]

I am also in (confirming from first group). I am looking forward to a complete list so I can get my stuff together. The 25th is fine with me and it would be great if everyone could confirm. I don't have a room yet - but will post when I do.