March 20, 2010*** Mickey's Magic Matey's Cruise the Western!***

[MrsPMC00]

What is a FE (fish extender) gift exchange? I will try my best to answer that. I am also new to cruising, so if I am wrong someone feel free to correct me. There is a fish outside of every stateroom door. People create an extender to hang from the fish with pockets in it. Then people in the FE gift exchange group (that signed up) put a little present in every group member's FE (you will be given a list of room #'s and number/ages of people in each room). People put a gift in each FE for the whole stateroom or for each individual in the stateroom?? (That is up to you) There are several threads on here with FE gift ideas and how to make a FE itself. If you ever get a second to look through the old post on this thread, there are pics of people's actual fish extender too. The old post might also give you a better idea of what to do than I just did too! Hope I helped?? I signed up because my kids will love getting little presents throughout the cruise! If you want to join, let us know.

That sounds GREAT! My kids would love it! how do I sign up? I will do some reading of the older posts for ideas!! Thanks so much for the help!

 

[disney-akj]

Considered yourself signed up There are a few of us keeping track! Your group is, you (34) DH (38) DD(6) DD(3). Is that correct? You just need to let us know your stateroom # sometime in the next few months. You can send it in a PM if you feel more comfortable doing that as well (to myself or Angela, wegs3000) Also, will you be eating early or late??

 

[wegs3000]

I just had to go read on the DIS board about the PIN numbers and kids sail free - congrats to anyone who was lucky enough to score that! I am not ever that person so I'm just happy with what we got.

If we get lots more FE participants for our cruise we will break into groups to keep it manageable. Getting the treats will be fun but DD and I are having a ball now creating our FE so that has been a great way to while away the time until we go.

I moved from Chicago to Portland in 1992 and my dad grew up in Indiana so we have quite the midwest contingency on our cruise!

 

[wegs3000]

Fellow cruisers: I just reread every post on our thread (ok - my posts are too long and I apologize!) to make sure I have an accurate head count for FE. I've got an Excel spreadsheet going that I will email to all participants a month before we go. I'm picking one month out as a cut off date so that we all have enough time to make/get our FE stuff. OK??? Michelle is also keeping track and keeping a Word file - this is our attempt to keep it accurate.

We have 9 groups so far with 11 rooms. Anyone else want to join?

I am missing room numbers for disneymom92 (two rooms). I completely understand not wanting to broadcast to the world so if you wouldn't mind PMing me I will get it on the spreadsheet and share with Michelle.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Angela

 

[disney-akj]

My in-laws decided that we should fly instead of drive, which is a lot better and I am happy about. They went ahead and booked through disney. I have heard mixed reviews about this, but expense is the main complaint I have heard. Anyone else know of any more complaints? My main concern is that with Disney, they typically fly you in that day, which makes me nervous. I am also afraid that we will arrive at port later than planned and miss good times on the ship. With me being a planning machine, changes make me crazy : ) Tell me your thoughts about all of this!

 

[addieandreece]

My in-laws decided that we should fly instead of drive, which is a lot better and I am happy about. They went ahead and booked through disney. I have heard mixed reviews about this, but expense is the main complaint I have heard. Anyone else know of any more complaints? My main concern is that with Disney, they typically fly you in that day, which makes me nervous. I am also afraid that we will arrive at port later than planned and miss good times on the ship. With me being a planning machine, changes make me crazy : ) Tell me your thoughts about all of this!

Flying always gets my vote! We have been to Disney World/Disney Cruise many times and this will be our first time driving down. We have the extra time this time and there are no cheap flights to be found for us. So, anyway, I'm excited for you that you are flying!!

I do understand your concern, though, with flying in the day of. . .do they already have the flight scheduled and know when your times are? When my husband and I did our 10th anniversary cruise we did it all through Disney and our flight down was the morning of (earliest I could get it. . .I think we got into MCO 10:30ish) and everything turned out just fine! We were on the ship in plenty of time to enjoy everything! That being said, we now always plan to come in the night before just because it makes ME feel better , especially since it seems that airlines are changing flights times more and more! I would just make sure that you get the earliest flight down that way if flight schedules are shifted a little bit they have you covered. Or, is there anyway that it can be scheduled the day before if it's through Disney. . .I don't know, I've never tried! And maybe this is all null and void if the flight is already booked and I'm just babbling! If that is the case, go with my story that we did it once and it turned out perfect .

Dawn

 

[Clari]

disney-akj

Since you book the flight through Disney they try to get you with time but anything can happen. The flight could be delayed or it could have problems, Disney won't know that. But you could fly in the day before and the hotel is included. When I booked, there was no price difference between arriving day of and arriving the night before.

 

[disney-akj]

That is my fear flying in the day of is having flight delays, etc. So Clari, Disney allowed you to arrive the day before with no price difference? That is great! Is that something I would tell my TA?

 

[Clari]

I booked everything through Disney so....but since there is still 5 months to go I would call Disney for Q&A. Then tell your TA.

 

[dytx]

That is my fear flying in the day of is having flight delays, etc. So Clari, Disney allowed you to arrive the day before with no price difference? That is great! Is that something I would tell my TA?

Oct 08 when we cruised we set everything with DCL and we flew out of DFW Sat morning. we were worried about same day flight but all worked out. we arrived at MCO just after noon (12:45). we went straight to DCL station in the airport and was put on a DCL bus. we arrived at approx 2m and had plenty of time to get processed, go to our room, get something to eat and then to our lifeboat drill and then to the sail away party. just remember DCL will do whatever it takes to get you there and it will all fall into place

dee and don

 

[disney-akj]

5 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Vegaslover]

Hello all! My name is Lydia. I'll also be on this cruise with my DD Elsa (4) and my DH Dan. This will be my second DCL cruise. Can't wait!!!!

Would love to do FE exchange. We had so much fun doing it on our last cruise.

Lydia

 

[wegs3000]

Lydia, welcome! I read a post on the DIS board this week from someone who started a cruise thread and offered to lead the FE on her cruise and not one person joined her thread. I was so bummed for her that I wanted to send her FE stuff at home. I am so glad we have an active group and everyone on this thread is so nice. My DD and I are having a blast putting our stuff together and scheming our cruise stuff.

Anyway, please PM me and Michelle (disney-akj) as we are keeping track of the FE list to distribute before we go. I need your stateroom number and dining time.

I have my cruise waiting defined by holiday chunks: get through Halloween, then Thanksgiving, etc. and by St. Patty's Day we are there!

 

[pixie08]

Unfortunately we will not be on this cruise..we had to cancel but we did get to replace it with a med cruise in May. Have an awesome time guy!

 

[Vegaslover]

Just wondering if anyone will have a 5 year old girl with them on this trip. My DD loves the Oceaneer's club and is not afraid to go by herself, but it's always nice to have a buddy.

Lydia

 

[disney-akj]

I believe Patti (MrsPMC00) has a 4 year old daughter. My daughters are a little older. One will just be shy of 8 and the other is 9, so I plan on them both being in the lab together (they should let my 7 year old move up). This is our first cruise, so I figured that they would like being together better

 

[Vegaslover]

I didn't realize the age group if from 3 to 7, Elsa wll be closer to 6 by the time the cruise rolls around. She will have fun with any girls between 4 and 7!
Can't wait. I think i'm driving my DH crazy with all the cruise talk!

 

[scrappindentist]

My family will be sailing on this cruise...myself-Kary(42), Kevin (42),
Shawn (14), Zach (11) and Hope (9)...our first cruise with Disney! I am a Disney freak so we have been to DL and DW several times but never on a cruise. We are all really excited!

 

[dytx]

My family will be sailing on this cruise...myself-Kary(42), Kevin (42),
Shawn (14), Zach (11) and Hope (9)...our first cruise with Disney! I am a Disney freak so we have been to DL and DW several times but never on a cruise. We are all really excited!

hello kary,kevin and family and welcome to our group. we too are a disney freak family. we are looking forward to meeting everyone.

dee and don

 

[wegs3000]

Kary-
Welcome and I'm glad you are joining us. If you are interested in doing the fish extender with us (no pressure - it's totally up to you) then please PM me with your room number and your dining time (main or late). Michelle and I are keeping track and will send out a distribution list four weeks before we cruise.

I need to get through Halloween so I can go back to my cruise obsessing!
Angela