March 15-22, 2008 Eastern - Way-Way Early Check In

[DisDancerina]

Hi everyone - Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I spent two and a half weeks down in Florida w/family and the last week catching up!

Anyway, I'm back now - time to get ready for the cruise! Welcome all the new people - I've updated the cruisers list on page 1 post #8. Please let me know if I made any mistakes or if you'd like changes/additions.

As far as the meets - wrightz05, KerrGirl, julie t, and my group seem to all be staying at the Radisson. Do any of you want to try a Radisson meet? Maybe a poolside meet around 7:30 pm or so? Thoughts?

We've also got the kids terminal meet at 11am. DD10 & DD5 will be easy to find - I'm going to load them with green Mardi Gras bead for easy identification and handing out. Let's plan it for the seating area by the wall next to the port shop (when entering the terminal - it's on the right hand side towards the back)

Let's see...we also have the Scoops meet at 3pm on Saturday. Does anyone think we should make it earlier or somewhere different?


Nancy

This should be fun Time to get some DISigns from Amy (M_I_C_K_E_Y)

Does all the food/drinks come with the price on the cruise? Green Mardi Gras beads I can't wait to buy some and tons of other Green (St. Patrick's Day) accesories!!

My entire gang is so excited about the cruise. It's all we talk about these days.

Nancy---we will be arriving at the Radisson on Friday at 9pm so will not be able to meet up earlier. My husband set up a 10am pickup shuttle time Sat so the 11am kids meet wiil work for us.

I love the idea of decorating the doors-hopefully I can get my act together and do it.

Also, I think my kids would love to be involved in the DIStag-sounds like fun.

So my "To Do List"---make magnetic decorations for the door
purchase green beads
LOSE WEIGHT so I can enjoy the food!

Julie

I'd like to play some good ol' DIStag too! It sounds like fun!

The group is growing - GREAT! The 11:00 meet for the kids sounds great. My kids are getting excited.

The 3:00 meet sounds good too.

I have been working on door magnets. We have 3 cabin doors, so my plan is to have each one with a different theme. I got inexpensive dry erase boards so we can keep up with each other. I think I'm going to have a princess door, a pirate door and a Mickey door.

The tag idea seems like fun also.

We have the late dinner seating. We have not booked any excursions yet. I think we may explore on our own.

Lisa

oooooh! A princess-themed cruise door!! That would be so awesome and exciting!

We've got early seating. Works much better for us since we usually eat early at home.

Good point.

 

[wrightz05]

Hi everyone - Happy New Year!

As far as the meets - wrightz05, KerrGirl, julie t, and my group seem to all be staying at the Radisson. Do any of you want to try a Radisson meet? Maybe a poolside meet around 7:30 pm or so? Thoughts?



Nancy

I would definitely be up for a Radisson meet. That would be a nice wind down from the trip in. Let me know and I will be there!!!!


Ohhh and by the way we have late dining.......AND I am signed up for the 10:00 shuttle too. I will be taking my party over to the terminal and dropping them and ALLLLLLL the luggage off, then it will only be little ol' me on the shuttle, no bags nothing should make for an easy ride over. And all the while my party can get to work on checking us in or whatever!!!

 

[DisDancerina]

I would definitely be up for a Radisson meet. That would be a nice wind down from the trip in. Let me know and I will be there!!!!


Ohhh and by the way we have late dining.......AND I am signed up for the 10:00 shuttle too. I will be taking my party over to the terminal and dropping them and ALLLLLLL the luggage off, then it will only be little ol' me on the shuttle, no bags nothing should make for an easy ride over. And all the while my party can get to work on checking us in or whatever!!!

Great idea! I've gotten a few quotes and I'm about to compare them to see which is cheaper! We're going to stay at the Raddison if we decided to go... It's only $75 and includes transportation to the port! We might get a rental car too, to go to the hotel.

A Raddision meet sounds great!

 

[pop5]

Disdanceria-you are only 13 years old????? My 13 year old doesnt even realize that anything cost money.

 

[DisDancerina]

Disdanceria-you are only 13 years old????? My 13 year old doesnt even realize that anything cost money.

Yup I'm dangerously obvious of the fact.

 

[wrightz05]

Great idea! I've gotten a few quotes and I'm about to compare them to see which is cheaper! We're going to stay at the Raddison if we decided to go... It's only $75 and includes transportation to the port! We might get a rental car too, to go to the hotel.

A Raddision meet sounds great!

Wow you are getting a much better rate than I did!

 

[DisDancerina]

Wow you are getting a much better rate than I did!

I don't get to go. It's too expensive for our family, I mean who plays over 5,00 dollars for a cruise for only 3 people?! If I found a lower rate, we could go, but it's not happening. The upside is that I might get to go to WDW this summer for the first time! Exciting! But, still sad.

 

[lizg123]

I have another newby question. How do you and your older children stay in contact during the day? Do cell phones work on board the ship, or do you have those 2-way radios? Or am I just being an over protective mother? I know we can't get into the teen room so how do we contact our kids?

Another question, I have looked through the messages and can't find the links to the door decoration idea webpages. Can anyone refresh my memory?

Thanks and see y'all soon!!!
Liz "g"

 

[The_Ryno]

I have another newby question. How do you and your older children stay in contact during the day? Do cell phones work on board the ship, or do you have those 2-way radios? Or am I just being an over protective mother? I know we can't get into the teen room so how do we contact our kids?

Another question, I have looked through the messages and can't find the links to the door decoration idea webpages. Can anyone refresh my memory?

Thanks and see y'all soon!!!
Liz "g"

Cell Phones don't typically work on the ship. I have heard 2-way radios are unreliable because of all the metal on the ship and how big it is. Your best bet would be a white board or something like that.

 

[DisDancerina]

Cell Phones don't typically work on the ship. I have heard 2-way radios are unreliable because of all the metal on the ship and how big it is. Your best bet would be a white board or something like that.

I've heard the same thing.

 

[wrightz05]

I know alot of us were talking about parasailing and it not being available, however I just was able to book a 3:30!!! There were other times available! I cannot wait!!

 

[nlm]

I know alot of us were talking about parasailing and it not being available, however I just was able to book a 3:30!!! There were other times available! I cannot wait!!

I saw the discussion on the excursion thread this morning (saw carolmp's post - hi Carol ) and decided to check it out. I wound up booking too - got a 10:30.

 

[carolmp]

I got one too! (Or my husband and daughter did. I'm not doing it!) I got a 2:30 time slot.

Less than 2 months. It's going to come up fast.

 

[nlm]

I got one too! (Or my husband and daughter did. I'm not doing it!) I got a 2:30 time slot.

Less than 2 months. It's going to come up fast.

DH and I are scheduled to do it. Didn't ask DD10 if she wanted to do it.

Is it your DD10 or DD14 that is going to do it with your DH?

 

[carolmp]

DH and I are scheduled to do it. Didn't ask DD10 if she wanted to do it.

Is it your DD10 or DD14 that is going to do it with your DH?

It's DD14. DD10 is as chicken as I am!

 

[happymommy]

I saw the discussion on the excursion thread this morning (saw carolmp's post - hi Carol ) and decided to check it out. I wound up booking too - got a 10:30.

Yippee - my DS (will be 11) and I will also be going at 10:30. Btw, we're from Maryland. DD and DH will be on the banana boat - we didn't want to do this. I actually think this is more relaxing sounding than the banana boat!

 

[cozit]

Cell Phones don't typically work on the ship. I have heard 2-way radios are unreliable because of all the metal on the ship and how big it is. Your best bet would be a white board or something like that.

Actually, Disney announced that the cell phones will work in the cabins - not in the public areas, but yes for cabins. Not cheap though.

The 2-ways are "ok" in some areas more than others according to my SIL. The kids clubs pagers worked well everywhere (ship's set up for that specifically).

(found it... scroll down to the bottom of the page: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-internet.htm)

-Liz (who is *not* planning to use the cell phone on-board... international roaming charges just aren't worth it!)

 

[cozit]

Here's the "fun" part... Please keep fingers crossed for us? I've got three out of the four passports needed for the trip. DH never gave his back to me after his last trip - and now he can't find it. So he's got to see about getting a replacement before we fly out on the 14th.... at least he has his *old* passport and birth certificate on hand (because *those* he gave to me).

eep! I can't wait for the cruise but I've got *so* much that needs done before that!

 

[wrightz05]

I got new ones for everyone except for me. My passport does not expire until June 2008. I have called Disney as well as Dept of Homeland security and they tell me that this is ok. The travel agent sent something that states it must be valid for 6 months after the trip. This is just the travel agent being overly cautious i believe.

My wife wants me to send off for a renewal but I believe I am ok and do not want to chance it not coming back.

Also I spoke to disney today and as of right now passports are NOT a requirement. They said that could change but the govenment has not finalized the deadline as of yet. It was supposed to be Jan 08 but.......

Your thoughts?!?!?

 

[cozit]

I got new ones for everyone except for me. My passport does not expire until June 2008. I have called Disney as well as Dept of Homeland security and they tell me that this is ok. The travel agent sent something that states it must be valid for 6 months after the trip. This is just the travel agent being overly cautious i believe.

My wife wants me to send off for a renewal but I believe I am ok and do not want to chance it not coming back.

Also I spoke to disney today and as of right now passports are NOT a requirement. They said that could change but the govenment has not finalized the deadline as of yet. It was supposed to be Jan 08 but.......

Your thoughts?!?!?

My thoughts... It's the U.S. State Department which is in charge of Passports and Immigration. I'd get it in writing that it's be OK from them, then you're most likely not to have a problem. Homeland Security may cross over and also hae something to do with it, but... It gets very confusing because that department has a hand in so many other departments, even those who it's not "in charge of".

Border Crossings.... it's official (on Homeland Security's website) that the change will take effect at the end of January - passports will be required. That will almost definitely include Carribean cruises if it's including Canada and Mexico border crossings.

Of course your passport would still be valid at that point, so...

My understanding is that for most travel they *really* want the passport good longer than you'll be out because they don't want to deal with the hassle if you end up in another country, not allowed back here, and not wanted by the other country anymore because of visa issues. If someone in the appropriate department(s) is willing to put an "OK" on letterhead, you'd probably be fine... as most government agencies do their very best not to do so unless it's definitely according to policy - after all, it'd be likely they'd get into big trouble if they said OK when it wasn't and someone made a fuss about it.

Then again, I've nothing whatsoever to do with the US government so all that's a combination of opinion and a bit of reading (on their webpage).