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

[wendy151950]

Oh, and I forgot to say please add us to the list. Wendy and Sarah - we're coming from Ohio (Akron-Canton area).

 

[DiszyGram]

Hi Cozit and welcome to the group. I'm in Glen Burnie, 15 minutes from BWI. We are also flying out Friday evening. That way my 8 year old grandson can still go to school on Friday. Schools are making it harder and harder for children to take off days for vacation trips.

We were fortunate to even get flights when we wanted them, since we didn't book this cruise very early. Had to use one airline going and another coming back.

 

[pop5]

We are really getting close now!! I am so looking foward to this cruise. It will be so much fun to see you guys in person. On our last cruise, we had some from our thread post pictures of themselves and also describe what they will be wearing. Those were the first people I meet and it was so easy because I had seen their picture.Have a great week everyone.

 

[limati]

I know what you mean. I can remember getting excited when it was 199 days out. I am getting very excited! I just hope I pack appropriately. I try to remember everything, but inevitably someone ends up with no socks or only two shirts. I need to have a better plan.

My kids are also starting to get geared up too. My dd has e-mailed with a few of the girls that will be onboard. She loves to hear from them.

I started the new year with a promise to myself that I would eat healthier and so far so good. I follow the weight watcher's plan and I do feel a bit more energetic. I want to lose weight before vacation. The cookies and Christmas festivities were great, but now is the time to buckle down. We'll see!

Have a great week everyone.

Lisa

 

[KerrGirl]

I just came across a tip that I think would be very helpful in minimizing clutter in the stateroom. You get one of those plastic shoe organizers and hang it over the inside of the bathroom door. This way you can keep everyone's shoes off the floor (which in our case would be about 15 pair of shoes!). You can also use the pockets to store bathroom essentials since there isn't a lot of counter space. Just thought I'd pass this on. Several people have used this method and says it works great. Counting down...

 

[cozit]

One thing that my kids had fun with their last cruise (and I'll admit I had fun as well) was "playing" DIStag. They were 6 and 8 during the cruise. And we had so many rooms/DIS-folks playing that there were two Mickey-shaped magnets in play the whole time... and I still think I only saw each once on my door... might have been twice for one of them.

To make it "more interesting", the only clues that we gave each other were the level we were staying on, connected with our name that we'd add to the magnet as it moved around (to help us all be included). Everyone who played had to decorate their door with something that would clue the other players into who was there (otherwise, without room numbers, there'd be no way to find people to include them When the DIStag magnet showed up at your door, you were to write your name on it and then take it to another player's door and leave it for them to find, and pass on. The room to have it when they woke up the last morning was the room that got to keep it. I believe we made sure that the couple that got married on CC that trip just "happened" to have them both at that point

Oh, and if you don't want to mark the room with a name, even a login name, you could always include a note that you'll have a "whatever" on your door... though make sure it's not something someone not playing has - or they'll get very confused some day on the trip

The fun isn't getting it in the end, it's looking for and finding the surprise... and for kids who like to explore, it's also exploring the ship while looking for other door decorations (and yes, I was smart enough to note where the other rooms were on our travels, to make some of the deliveries faster

BTW, decorating your door is a good thing. There may not be *that* many doors on the ship, but with them all being along similar, long corridors, decorations, even simple ones, really help you not pass your room on the way to it

 

[lizg123]

I have a Disney credit card and have earned a lot of Disney Rewards. I have used this card in the Parks but my question is: Can we use the rewards on the ship? Can we use them to pay for shore excursions? Is there a limit to how the card can be onboard? I am trying to get my finances together and hope that this small amount will be available. Thanks to everyone on this board. I have learned so much to prepare for our first cruise. I can't wait! 2 months, 6 days!
Liz G

 

[carolmp]

Liz,

I think we just need to take the Rewards card to Guest Services and have it applied to our account. Then we will have a credit on our account to charge against. So it would pay for any onboard purchases and shore excursions as well. I'm guessing we would also have to put down a credit card, so that when the Rewards dollars run out, they will charge against the credit card. I also have the card and am planning on using my credit for shipboard expenses.

Did you charge your final payment and get the 6 months interest free financing? If so, be careful if you are making any returns to stores. While any payments you make on your card go against your regular purchases and not the "free financing" part, any returns you make go against the "free financing" part. I've had to do a lot of returns with Christmas presents. Those credits go towards the free financing part. Just make sure that you pay all of the "monthly charges" in full if you want to avoid a finance charge.

 

[carolmp]

Liz,

My family would be up for DISTag. It sounds like fun. Do many non_DISers decorate their doors?

Carol

 

[cozit]

Liz,

I think we just need to take the Rewards card to Guest Services and have it applied to our account. Then we will have a credit on our account to charge against. So it would pay for any onboard purchases and shore excursions as well. I'm guessing we would also have to put down a credit card, so that when the Rewards dollars run out, they will charge against the credit card. I also have the card and am planning on using my credit for shipboard expenses.

That's exactly what to do. *g* That's what I did last trip. *Before* you go on the trip, have the Rewards transfered to the Rewards Card. It then acts like any "normal" credit card as far as Disney is concerned (but don't try to use it elsewhere I had them debit the Rewards card first, then I paid the balance still on my shipboard account afterwards.

-Liz / Cozit

 

[cozit]

Liz,

My family would be up for DISTag. It sounds like fun. Do many non_DISers decorate their doors?

Carol

I know there were more decorated doors than there were *known* DISers on board our trip a few years ago. I know the Passporter folks usually do too (though there are no posts for others going the same time we are over there).

Even if others do, being unique will help identify the door... and I don't think any of us had any issues with pranksters rearranging things (ok, so my BIL got silly one day... but that was a known person My kids both want to have a decorated door - though I know it will be fairly plain - just a way to help them figure it out. Don't know what it will be yet. I put DD9 in charge of that project, and she hasn't started yet. If nothing else, I'll download a Disney coloring page, print it on magnetic paper and color it in somewhat.

Somewhere inside the room, we're going to have a family board - and it may just be a magnetic white board on the inside of the door - for leaving messages where we can be found. I want to give DS an "out" if he needs to get away from the Kids' Club for a while... but also would like to be able to find him if necessary

-Liz / Cozit

 

[Txesquire]

New member and first time post here!

We just booked the 15 March 2008 Disney Magic 7 night cruise and the boys (4) and (6) can't wait.

Thanks for all of the great pre-trip information.

 

[wrightz05]

New member and first time post here!

We just booked the 15 March 2008 Disney Magic 7 night cruise and the boys (4) and (6) can't wait.

Thanks for all of the great pre-trip information.

Always good to welcome a fellow Texan onboard

 

[Txesquire]

Thank you for the kind welcome. In addition to the other firsts I mentioned, this will be our first cruise. We've heard great things about DCL from friends.

I am still working on our travel plans to Port Canaveral, transportation and a hotel the night before the cruise.

 

[cozit]

Quick heads up!

According to the Passporter newsletter, Palo's dinner/brunch price is going up. As of yesterday on the Wonder, as of Saturday on the Magic. Only up $5 though.

Back to being busy
-Liz / Cozit

 

[thejudge]

hi from houston! we're another first time dcl family. we booked back in november, but are just now sitting down to plan the details. a little late! we are travelling with me, dh, and ds11, plus our neighbors dw, dh, ds15 and dd11.

we were out of town over the holidays, so we missed all of the early registrations, and are just now trying to figure out what excursions we want to do! we tried to get palo dinner ressies last weekend when we got home, but they were already full. my neighbor even called disney, and she confirmed that they were all booked. BUT, lo and behold, all of a sudden yesterday they showed openings on several nights! so we got in.

we also had been waitlisted for early dinner, and just found out this week that we were moved. guess things cleared out when the payment deadline passed!

what else... we will be flying in from houston friday night, but don't have tickets yet. forgot that it was a holiday in addition to spring break - we've been watching airfares for 2 months, and they aren't going down. wonder why! but the planes still seem to have lots of room, so we're holding out for awhile. not sure where we're staying friday night yet - one more thing to figure out!

as far as excursions, we're thinking maybe nothing in st. maarten, not sure in st. thomas, and nothing at cc. hope to get that sorted out this weekend!

thank you all for all of the tips and info, and hope to see you on the ship!
sandra

 

[pop5]

We have early dinner and I was just wondering what most of you guys have??????

 

[cozit]

We have early dinner and I was just wondering what most of you guys have??????

We're doing early dinner. We weren't so sure about it the first trip, but my BIL had a young child who usually had a bedtime somewhere near 6pm. It worked well, as we decided we preferred to do the show after dinner, rather than the other way around... so we're going for it again. If I remember right, we've got the 6pm seating... though I haven't the foggiest what dining room is first. I've got my fingers crossed that it's Lumiere's on Formal night... and/or Parrot Cay for Pirate (really just the first because I don't like dressing up - a hangover from a few years in private school when I was little... having to keep the uniform neat so that at least the jumper didn't need washed very often, and changing as soon as possible after getting home... and that was a *comfortable* outfit

-Liz/ Cozit

 

[cozit]

we were out of town over the holidays, so we missed all of the early registrations, and are just now trying to figure out what excursions we want to do! we tried to get palo dinner ressies last weekend when we got home, but they were already full. my neighbor even called disney, and she confirmed that they were all booked. BUT, lo and behold, all of a sudden yesterday they showed openings on several nights! so we got in.

I've heard many times in the past that not only do people change their minds (actually we cancelled one of our two High Tea ressies already - apparently I'll be going alone), but also Disney doesn't release all of the Palo seats at the same time, even saving a few for folks to get once on board if they didn't get a chance before. Not that there are enough for all - which is why they have to limit folks to one type of visit to Palos each, but it gives all a better chance.

 

[nlm]

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