By the way, how did you manage to book this cruise without a 10 yr old girl? LOL
Welcome Tweet!
Papertraveller - are you on FB? I'd love to hear your take on the parks after Christmas, we were there from the 26th - Jan 1st. We avoided a lot of the big crowds I think because of my rigorous planning but there were some tough spots! Epcot on NYE was cool, but why they handed out noise makers to 80k people at 7:00 pm I'll never figure out.
Can I get some advice on ehem Adult beverage carry on? This is very new to me and sounds so strange...on past cruises I've stashed a couple of bottles in suitcases so to just carry it right on through at check in seems crazy! I'd like to bring a bottle of wine or two and some rum, vodka...gotta have options. So I'll go with everyone on these boards that say you can bring it right through with you...but what if you are coming straight from the airplane and if I fly with it it has to be in my checked luggage. And if I the transfers to port are like Magical Express than they pick up the luggage for you? So basically once I board in Raleigh I don't see my luggage again until outside my stateroom in the afternoon/evening? I am correct here? So if I wrap 4 bottles safely in my checked baggage will
DCL confiscate them before my bags get on the ship? Any suggestions or ideas? Do I pick up my bags in MCO, take what I need out and then bring them myself to the port buses?
Are we set on the 3:00 Pm meet in the lounge? I'd like to join the FE but I need some help...I have NO idea what types of things people leave...can you all help with types of things people have left in the past?
Hi there,
I am not on FB. Re the crowds at Christmas, I couldn't believe it. We've only gone before in August and October, but this was crazy. We stayed offsite at Marriott's Grande Vista, then at the JW. Had a car, and used our AP for free parking, which is a nice perk. I warned DD that she was looking at one-ride days in many cases, since we wouldn't line up for anything that had more than a 30-minute wait.
But we decided it was an opportunity to see things we hadn't seen before, and explore some of the Innoventions activities at Epcot, as well as do Kim Possible. DD loved it all.
Fortunately we also had ADRs, but I really felt sorry for anyone who was sporting the "First Trip to Disney" buttons, because I don't think it would have been a great experience coping with that volume of people everywhere you turned.
Now, on to booze! Disney allows you to bring it onboard, but requires it to be in your carryon. You can pack it in your bag for air travel, and then collect your bags at the terminal. Take the bottles out and place them in your carryon, and then just roll over to the Magical Express check-in (there's a separate spot for the cruise line) and they'll put them on the bus for you.
Last year we brought wine, beer and some soft drinks and water. Had it all in a small-ish hard-sided carryon, and the security guy just laughed when he saw it go through the scanner at the port.
And as for FE ideas, the selection really runs the gamut. Everything from chocolate bars to Disney trinkets to crayons, balloons and pirate-themed goodies. Snacks are nice, since they're handy for the shows. Last year we even received a lovely hand towel monogrammed with the cruise date.
That's great! My boys are 7 & 9. Magic Quest is in the adult bar around 10/10:30. It was the most fun I had on the whole cruise last year!
Oh....my name is Jen too!
I love the idea of having a group for Magic Quest. We went last year, and had a ball. We were in a group, sort of, and had some major laughs. Unfortunately we didn't see those people again for the cruise. Having been once, it helps to know what to do. In one group beside us, one lady was already stripping out of her bra before that part of the scavenger hunt was announced! So Jen if your husband is ready and willing to do the running, I say bring it on!!!
Hey gang, I will be updating the first page with our new folks and making changes to the colors for those that are joining the fun FE!
If you don't mind, please send me your first name (and if you wish, the first name of other in your party) and I will update the first page with real names.
If you don't want your first name showing, I understand - feel free to PM it to me so I can add it to the list we hand out at our 3pm Promenade lounge meet.
Don't forget we have a private FB page also - I will be happy to add you - just send me a FB friend request at
http://www.facebook.com/hamandayoung
I can't wait to meet everyone.
Hi Amanda,
We are Cathryn (me), DH Gary and DD Emilia. We are now booked on the Fury Catamaran snorkel and beach party excursion in Cozumel.
I started my FE gifts on the weekend, but the range of ages for kids in this group is giving me a challenge. Think I'm going to have to head to Michaels on the weekend in search of inspiration.
Have a great week everyone!
Will the girls also be in the Oceaneer's Lab? 
to everyone who just joined us on vacation.
So I usually wear 2 bras to keep the girls contained. 
Of course they didn't know I had 2, so they were ready for the girls to go WILD! 
hehehe Though that job may fall to me.
