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

[nlm]

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?

Nope, I've never seen mickey burgers. But then with our schedules, it's easier for me to make a list and send DH to shop after the kids go to bed. He's only lost the list once in the last year!

My mickey story involves the dollar store. I was out and about today looking for baby shower decorations and stuff for gift bags for my 4 soon to be 5 year old's b-day party, and I came across the famed fish extenders! For those who haven't heard of them, some DIS'ers hang them outside their cabins on the fish and use them to exchange notes and gifts. I know we're not planning on doing anything like that, but I couldn't resist buying one when I found a hot pink one with Mickey Mouse on it! I mean, come on - it was a fish extender with Mickey on it for goodness sake!

So now what do I do with it? Well, I'm sure I'll find some use for it. I'm such a sucker for anything with the mouse on it....

Nancy

 

[nlm]

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?

Mmmm, ice cream! You must be reading my mind! I was just browsing the meet idea thread and they were suggesting organizing a meet at goofy's for ice cream @ 3pm. But, I could do ice cream two days in a row! (or three) Thank goodness I signed up for an exercise boot camp to try to get into some kind of shape before the cruise! (and it's kicking my bottom!)

As far as getting to port - I can't help you with that. All I know is we got there around 10:30 and wound up with #4. Boarding goes really fast and we were on within 10 minutes of them starting the boarding process. Even #15 was probably on within 45 minutes or so.

Nancy

 

[carolmp]

Maybe I should go to the dollar store. I feel like I should be shopping for the cruise, but I don't know for what. At least I wouldn't spend too much!

 

[limati]

Nancy,
That's good to know about boarding. I'll bet Disney has this down to a science. I'm definitely not going to stress over it.

In our local supermarket (Kroger) there was a half page ad for a Disney line of food. I didn't see any Mickey bars, however!

From reading other meet threads it seems that some of them get together before the mandatory drill. This is my first time on DCL and i don't know if there would be time for us to do that. I know some wear a lime green shirt or a lime green lei to help find each other. Whatever's easiest is fine with us.

We are definitely up for ice cream the night before. As a matter of fact, ice cream would be good right now. We are still in a heat wave here in Northern KY. In this area we are 12.5 inches behind in rainfall. I'm so ready for fall weather.

 

[limati]

Carol,
I have a plasic rubbermaid tote that I am going to put things in as I buy them. I have found some cute Mickey temporary tattoos for the girls. I also have found a couple of shirts on clearance as well as a cute dress for my daughter. I like to scrapbook and I have found a few things for that.

You never know what the dollar stores may have. Sometimes they have some cute stuff for a dollar at Target.

 

[nlm]

From reading other meet threads it seems that some of them get together before the mandatory drill. This is my first time on DCL and i don't know if there would be time for us to do that. I know some wear a lime green shirt or a lime green lei to help find each other. Whatever's easiest is fine with us.

Before the drill seems like the best time. Afterwards, there is the lifeboat drill, sail-away party, and then early dinner starts.

Our first cruise, the meet was at 3pm at the goofy family pool. The band was playing and it was so loud we couldn't hear each other. Not everyone showed up because they were busy unpacking, and we were the only ones to bring their kids. We all got lime green mickey paint chips from home depot, and wore them so we could identify each other - but they were very flimsy and looked bad pretty quick.

How does a 3pm meet at Scoops sound good? It's near the mickey (kids only) pool and should be a little quieter than the goofy (family) pool that has the band. I believe there are ping pong tables, if the kids want to do that instead of swimming. Another option for a meet is the Promenade Lounge on deck 3. But it looks like the only activity there for kids is the TV!

 

[limati]

Nancy,

Meeting at Scoops sounds good.

I got some of those paint chip Mickey heads to use for some door magnets.
I also found some dry erase boards that we will be using to keep up with each other.

If anyone still wants to meet up the night before, we're up for it.

 

[nlm]

In case you don't already have one, I saw that you can get the 3rd edition (2005) of the PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line and Its Ports of Call for $1 through the PassPorter website (http://www.passporterstore.com/store/)

FYI - The 5th edition is the latest version, and it was printed in January 2007.

Nancy

 

[pop5]

I think the meet at scoops sounds great! Paige

 

[redmomof4]

I am reading through your thread in my compulsive planning in quest for our next Disney cruise. While on board the Wonder we booked the NYE cruise 2008 into 2009. However I'd actually like to switch to spring break once the rates come out for 2009. Can anyone on this thread give me an idea 1) when your rates came out and 2) if you booked right away about how much was it? I'm open on all input but we currently have connecting cat 10's booked so am really interested in how much anyone paid for a cat 10. I am trying to decide if it will be much less than the NYE cruise when the rates first come out and if so will it be worth my while to switch, if not, i'll keep our NYE rooms (but boy are they pricey) We also learned this year that we will probably not be taking the kids out of school again for vacations.

 

[nlm]

I am reading through your thread in my compulsive planning in quest for our next Disney cruise. While on board the Wonder we booked the NYE cruise 2008 into 2009. However I'd actually like to switch to spring break once the rates come out for 2009. Can anyone on this thread give me an idea 1) when your rates came out and 2) if you booked right away about how much was it? I'm open on all input but we currently have connecting cat 10's booked so am really interested in how much anyone paid for a cat 10. I am trying to decide if it will be much less than the NYE cruise when the rates first come out and if so will it be worth my while to switch, if not, i'll keep our NYE rooms (but boy are they pricey) We also learned this year that we will probably not be taking the kids out of school again for vacations.

Hi redmomof4!

1st half of 2008 came out on November 1, 2006. The rest of 2008 came out the end of January, 2007. Rumor is that 2009 will be released at the end of December - at least that is what people fresh off of cruises are reporting.

Sorry I can't help you with prices - I re-booked on board for the first week of April, and then changed to this cruise in February. I can tell you that this cruise is about $1500 more than my November 2006 cruise!

I understand about not taking the kids out of school - we're in the same "boat"!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[redmomof4]

Hi redmomof4!
Sorry I can't help you with prices - I re-booked on board for the first week of April, and then changed to this cruise in February. I can tell you that this cruise is about $1500 more than my November 2006 cruise!

Thanks for your response. I believe the price tag because my NYE 2008 cruise is about 1500 more than the Thanksgiving 2008 cruise right now. I imagine the spring break cruise will be similar in price. I have one good thing going for me in regards to price in 2009 our spring break will be no where near Easter, so that might help a little. in 2008 it is right by Easter because Easter is so early next year.

Anyone else care to share prices they paid?

 

[Pammy jo]

As long as we're unpacked and settled in, the 3pm at scoops sounds good to me.

 

[carolmp]

Thanks for your response. I believe the price tag because my NYE 2008 cruise is about 1500 more than the Thanksgiving 2008 cruise right now. I imagine the spring break cruise will be similar in price. I have one good thing going for me in regards to price in 2009 our spring break will be no where near Easter, so that might help a little. in 2008 it is right by Easter because Easter is so early next year.

Anyone else care to share prices they paid?

In Dec 2006 I booked a March 8th, 2008 Western cruise CAT 10. In April 2007 I had to change it to the March 15th, 2008 Eastern cruise CAT 10 to get the right Spring Break week (so one week later than the original cruise). The Eastern cruise is costing us $1000 more. I think it was because the Eastern cruise week fell during Easter week, but maybe it was just the cost of booking it later. I suppose you could go out and see the cost difference between the two different cruises now and see how they compare. Also, I don't know how the two different itineraries compare. Is one typically more expensive than the other?

 

[nlm]

I think the meet at scoops sounds great! Paige

Okay - it's a plan! I'll put the scoops meet on post#8.

 

[nlm]

So, while walking DD4 home from preschool, we stopped by a mom and pop convenience store for ice cream. There, by the cash register, sat a dusty bowl full of those rubber bracelets separated by color in zip lock bags. Right on top was a bag of lime green bracelets! Of course, the cruise came up in my mind and so I grabbed four of them. Sweet!

So...how's everyone else doing?

 

[carolmp]

Nancy,

The Scoops meet sounds good. I didn't realize you were posting that information on your post. Thanks for doing that.

We're doing OK here. Same old, same old. This weekend I am going away for a scrapbooking weekend! My Creative Memories consultant puts on two of these a year - one in the Spring and Fall. It's nothing fancy, we actually just go to a YMCA camp, but it's nice to get away and get a chance to work on my albums. The Spring camp is the weekend after we get back from the cruise. I'm going to be working hard to get all of my pictures ready in time to bring them for that weekend!

I am actually scrapbooking some previous WDW trips this weekend. I was disappointed in the CM Disney products. So I'm going shopping tonight to see what else I can find. Does anyone else scrapbook?

Carol

 

[nlm]

The Scoops meet sounds good. I didn't realize you were posting that information on your post. Thanks for doing that.

Hi Carol!

I thought that it might be good to list everything on one post. That way, people can print out a list of proposed meets along with the names of DIS people on our cruise.

Nancy

 

[limati]

Hello All,

I know you're probably not around right now Carol but the scrapping weekend sounds fun. I like scrapbooking, but am a bit behind with mine.

We're still in the midst of a heat wave here. We're close to 90 degrees with little relief in sight.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Lisa

 

[tecdavidt]

Hi all, I have been busy with a daughter in the high school marching band. The trip is less than 6 months away, that means I need to get our ADR's for the WWD or we won't get what we want since there will be 6 of us.

We are in a cat. 3 and the "kids" are in a a deluxe ocean view room on deck 7.They don't have the verandah but ours is three across so I know they will pop in a lot. We use the verandah a lot to get away from the crowds.

The "kids" passports came, it took 6 weeks and that was expidited! They responded that, see, you should not have worried. Hmm, when I had to get our daughter's passport well over a year ago (and got mine renewed) I did not expidite and it took 6 weeks. Yes, we needed to expidite.

The DIS group meeting is at Scoops at 3:00 embarkation day. I will try to be there. We usually are unpacking at that time but we might be done. Maybe I well just go up and meet all of you. My husband really isn't into all of the meet and greet but I since I don't work I enjoy it.

Now embarkation day we always arrive as soon as we can at the port. The concierge guests get to board right after the guests with handicaps and we found out the son and girlfirend can board with us at this time.

I always wear a lime green top and I will have a DCL visor on my head as always. I probably will also be wearing my tropical skirt that is pink flowers and lime green top. Our daughter might get into the DIS by also wearing lime green. Husband just wears a Tommy Bahama shirt and khaki shorts.

This cruise will be here before we know it! Kathy