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

[limati]

Welcome aboard Stacie and family. This will be my family's first cruise.

6 months from tomorrow

Lisa

 

[carolmp]

Welcome!! It's fun to get more and more people added to our list!

 

[julie t]

Carol,

I think your 10 y/o and 14 y/o will be fine. My kids would have preferrred the security of a beach near by. I have always walked into the water from a beach to snorkel so I found it a little strange at first also. We did not get a chance to snorkel at CC due to chilly weather but hope to this time.

We will be flying in on Friday but not sure when or where we will be staying.

Last time we arrived at port around 1pm. The crowd was very manageable at the time so we are planning on doing it the same way.

Julie

 

[pop5]

Hi everyone!! We have been busy with sports and school but I did want to say hello to all.

 

[carolmp]

Julie,

Thanks for the info about snorkeling. I think I'll stick with that plan for now. It's nice to hear from someone who has already done the Doubloon tour.

Carol

 

[carolmp]

OK, so I'm at my local grocery store this afternoon picking up groceries. As I am wandering aimlessly through the meat department looking for something that looks good, I spy a bright, colorful box. Checking closer I see that it is a box of frozen hamburger patties. But not just any hamburger patties - MICKEY shaped hamburger patties. At first I thought they were ice cream bars. I thought it was strange that they were there, because there were in the middle of the meat department. I've never SEEN ice cream in the middle of the meat department, but they are changing things around there. So maybe it is something new. But no, it was a box of hamburger patties. I couldn't believe it. They had the Mickey head with the ears.

So what is the purpose of these? As soon as I put the bun on, no one will know that they are Mickey shaped hamburger patties. I just laughed and walked away, but now I'm thinking maybe I should go back and pick up a box. We could have them for dinner the night before the cruise. Or after, if we want to extend the magic a little bit longer.... Maybe I should buy a lot of boxes? I think they may be one of those things that don't stick around too long....

Has anyone else seen them?

 

[limati]

That mouse is everywhere! In our local stores I have seen packaged fruit and other food with the Disney brand on it. My sister got a bag of the grapes - they were very good. I haven't seen the burgers. If Mickey on the package can get some more kids to eat their fruits and veggies - GO MICKEY.

Look at my countdown ticker - less than 6 months to go!

You know I still haven't received my passport. The rest of my group has theirs and mine was just a renewal. I'm glad we started the process early.

 

[nlm]

What time are you going to get to port? I'm thinking that getting there a little later may work out better because a lot of people arrive on the early side. Any thoughts?

Lisa,

We're planning on getting there early. The earlier you get there, the lower boarding number you get and the sooner you get called for boarding.

It's important to us to get on board early so the kids can use the mickey pool before it gets too crowded. They really liked the slide at the mickey pool, but we found that it got crazy busy around 2pm. If we can get on early, and the kids wear their bathing suits, they can get an hour or two of swimming in before the crowds arrive.

I thought the pools were really crowded after that. I remember one day at sea at the family pool. The seas were pretty rough, and the rectangular shaped family pool was packed! I mean PACKED! All you saw were heads bobbing around. As the boat rocked, the water in the pool sloshed back and forth - and the people in the pool sloshed back and forth too! A little scary - I could just imagine someone going under and no one would notice. Fortunately, it started drizzling at that point and a lot of people left.

Anyway, that's why I want to get to port early and get on the boat early - so we can enjoy the uncrowded pools. (also so DH can change any reservations that we need to change or make reservations that we were unable to make!)

Nancy

 

[nlm]

Hi there! Add us to the group! DH, DS(11), DD(9), DS(18months), Grandpa, Grandma, and me are all flying in from KC Friday night. This is our first cruise and we can't wait! We are staying at the Hyatt and the taking the Disney transportation to PC on Saturday.

staceys0513!

I added you to the list of cruisers on page 1 (post #8 I think) Please let me know if you want any changes.

Nancy

 

[happymommy]

Hi Everyone!

I want to try to get to port early also. I feel like I'll be less stressed if we are there, get the boarding number, and I have it all done. I don't quite know how it works, but I get the idea I guess. I am hoping that we can grab a cup of coffee or something if we have to wait in port.

I am still thinking of coming down the day before and staying at the Hyatt, but southwest airlines doesn't have fares out for our dates yet.

Is anyone going to WDW afterwards? I was thinking about it, but maybe we'll just go home, it may be too much. We have until Tuesday to get back to school.

Just wanted to say hi!

Amy

 

[Pammy jo]

I came home today and there was my passport. I think that was maybe 5 weeks at the most. However, my boys didn't come yet, and we applied for them all at the same time. You'd think they would want to save on some postage and get them all out together?

We are going to WDW for 1 day after the cruise. I already warned the boys though that if it was too crowded we were only staying until noon. We need to get back but I couldn't pass up at least one day at MK.

 

[staceys0513]

Thank you for adding us! Luckily, we got our passports in about 6 weeks. My husband's was a renewal and his came even quicker. Now that we have our passports, I feel like it's time to go!!

 

[happymommy]

Hi Staceys0153! My DH grew up in KC and we lived there for a year when we first got married! Lucky you travelling with grandparents - smart with a baby! We're planning on the Hyatt also, but debating the Disney busses vs. a private towncar. I am wanting to get up and out early!!!!!

Question: Anyone booked into a suite? I am thinking that heck, if we go for the verandah rooms, we may as well look into a suite. I called and got waitlisted for one (cat 3), although am realistic that it won't come available. Otherwise, we don't plan on spending much time actually in the room.

I am afraid that if we take the Disney transportation, we won't get into port very early.

So, is there a meet at Port Canaveral scheduled? I am still new to this (it's our first cruise ever) and don't know what folks do at "meets"!

 

[limati]

Amy,
A suite would be great! We have an Ireland trip coming up in June, so if there was any chance of going on both trips we needed to economize as much as possible. Even cat. 11's are pricy on this particular sailing.

If the other trip weren't on the table we would have gotten a higher category.
I'm sure it will be all good.

My family and I are up for a get together either in Cocoa Beach or the port.
This is new for us, too. I do think it would be nice to put names with faces.

Lisa

 

[nlm]

I am afraid that if we take the Disney transportation, we won't get into port very early.

So, is there a meet at Port Canaveral scheduled? I am still new to this (it's our first cruise ever) and don't know what folks do at "meets"!

I think there is only a night-before-the-cruise dinner talked about so far. Right now, Carol's family, Lisa's family, and my family might try to get together for dinner on Friday night (all are welcomed!). Other than that, I don't think anyone has started planning anything.

Since it appears that some people are planning to arrive to the terminal later, maybe it might be better to plan a meet on board before the lifeboat drills? Anyone have any ideas?

Nancy

 

[happymommy]

Meeting onboard may be fun - I'd like to try. I can't be sure though, as my DH likes to chill out with just us on vacation (he deals with people all day and it gets exhausting for him), but I on the other hand, love to meet folks as I am at home a lot!

Yes a suite would be nice. DH thinks it's too much extra money, on the slim-to-none chance that one would become available. Just built a new home last year, and we're sinking every last penny into it right now. A few thousand bucks could do a lot with furniture and paint. So we're probably gonna enjoy the inside cabins.

We're doing early dining, so I guess I'll make sure we're ready for dinner before the sail away festivities (nice capris or a skirt for me, nothing fancy that first night anyway). That way, we may have time to meet folks for a beverage before dinner!

Gotta go get the kids from school.

 

[julie t]

I love the idea of meeting on board since I have no idea what time we will be arriving Friday--could be late.

Julie

 

[carolmp]

Regarding a Friday night meet, if dinner doesn't work, maybe ice cream would? There must be an ice cream shop somewhere that we could all meet at. That would help out those that are traveling. Then they can eat dinner whenever and swing by for dessert. It wouldn't take as much time out of everyone's evening either.

Regarding getting to port, I think we are going to try to get there early. Does anyone know what is the worst time to arrive? It seems that if you get there early to get an early boarding number that is good. And if you get there later you just walk on. But what time is the "oh my, I stood in line forever and got boarding #15" time?

 

[limati]

Hello All,

We're pretty much up for anything. We get in fairly early on Friday and will have a rental car. Do you think that around 8:00 for dessert would be okay?
It's been a few years since we've been in that area. If anyone knows of a good place let us know.

The more I think about the more I think we may get to port on the early side. We need to get the rental back by mid morning. It may be neat to watch the goings on at port. Decisions, Decisions!

Lisa

 

[happymommy]

I agree with watching the goings on at port, plus I'll be excited to board!

We have some friends from Arizona that may come also, so we'll switch to late dinner. They won't want to eat dinner at 2pm their time! And we can rest up and do dinner at 8.

We will still probably stay at the Hyatt. Does anyone know how early you can do the transfer from there, or if we want to get to the port early (especially if there is 8 of us) maybe a towncar or a limo if it's that many people!? I thought the Disney busses don't go too early. But the idea of leaving the luggage out for them, and not dealing with it again until we get to the room is super nice.