March 22-29, 2008 - Here Before You Know It!

[JerseyBelle]

We are game for a meet too. We would also participate in the fish extender but hope that someone who has done it before would organize it OR at least direct the rest of us in how we can help organize it.

A suggestion about where and when. If we decide to meet at the Sail Away Party (logical choice), then we can post a picture of the deck where the party happens and identify where to meet. With the picture, the newbies and almost newbies (like us) will know exactly where. There are so many pictures on this board, I am sure we can find a picture that works for explaining a location.

A suggestion about the identifying item such as armbands. Everyone could pick up those Disney Paint Chips they have at Home Depot (get disboard green), punch a whole and tie it with string/yarn in a visual way. I am not sure which of these is correct.

 

[dlf246]

Hi All,
Just found this site and am excited to find other Easter cruisers! We've done a four day, but this will be our first seven day. I can't tell you how excited I am for some sunny weather. Cleve. is downright dreary these days. We're flying in on Friday-staying at the airport hotel. We are traveling with two boys 10 and 14. Has anyone ever done the dolphin encounter?
Sunshine ahead....

Welcome Post4!

We did the Dolphin Discovery Royal Swim with DW, DS (then 10, now 16) and it was fantastic. This time, DD7 and meself plan to do it. Because of a scuba that AM, we had to schedule for 3:30 so will be tight return.... ugh.

Post4, you probably know that you cannot schedule the royal swim via DCL, just the lighter dolphin encounter. If you decide to do the former, you have to book direct from Dolphin Discovery. There are lots of posts on the excursions, so I will only tell you that if someone is in your party is not doing it, be sure they bring camera/camcorder. Also, the pictures and DVD they do is incredible... and incredibly expensivo... Hope this helps.

 

[stellamb]

Hi

I am excited about going on the Easter cruise this is our frist time on a dcl. We our coming in on friday and staying in the airport hotel. I was wondering if anybody knowes if they will have Easter baskets for sale on the dcl weebsite .i have a nine year old son

 

[MN Dis Fans]

stellamb: Welcome to the Disboards!
Great question on Easter Baskets. Have you checked the dcl website out? Alternatively, I would contact Shirley @ The Perfect Gift. theperfectgiftcc@aol.com We plan on getting gift baskets for our 2x DS's and have heard nothing but rave reviews about her / and her service! I'm told she'll work with you / give you ideas for gift baskets, and she can deliver directly to your stateroom. She also has a website showing various sample baskets, which might help steer you in the right direction of what you might want to get.

Post4 Welcome aboard as well!
We're getting closer everyday. My 2x DS's 10 & 12 are anxiously awaiting cruise time.

Fish Extenders: It looks like a few of us are interested in doing this. We've never done this before, so are by no means an expert when it comes to it. Has anyone cruising with us done one, and willing to give ideas? I guess we all need to decide who wants to do it, and what cabin we're all booked in. From what little I've read about it, we all buy little presents / trinkets / tattoos / mini-candy (or things like this), and go around and leave these in each others extenders. At least I think this is how it's supposed to work?

Cruise Meet: We're up for meeting up with fellow Dis'ers. I agree with JerseyBelle and dlf246 about coming up with something to identify each other. Do either of you want to make a "Management" Decision?

Just call me "Mr. Slopey Shoulders"

Where are you gimpeaux?

How many days to go? Toooooo Many!

 

[stellamb]

Hi
thankyou for all the great infromation. please let me know when everybody is going to meet.
please let me know how they do the fish extenders. and how many gift to by and what we think it will be fun. I found my fish extender on ebay yesterday if anyone is looking for one we opur really excited about the cruise my son made me make him a count down calendar yesterday . stella

 

[csmccall]

Hi!

We are looking forward to our Easter cruise. This is our 6th on DCL (4 with the kids, 2 without & just as much fun!) My oldest is 16 and she really wants to meet some friends to hang out with this time. We also have a 14 yo daughter and 12 and 9 yo boys.

Also, does anyone know about Easter services? It would be great to have a sunrise service.

 

[whamma]

My fish extender arrived today (ordered off eBay) it is it really cool! If anybody is looking for one, I highly recommend the gal who made mine. She's from NC and if you search "fish extender" on eBay one of her listings will likely come up. From what I can tell, she always has a fish extender listed and when that sells she lists another one. They are really nice.

Someone else who's cruised Easter before might know better but I guess I'd be surprised if there was any type of Easter service on the cruise. I believe that Disney tends to avoid religious "services". Maybe you can find a church in Key West.

I made an "informal" count of the # of people who have posted to this thread & have indicated they are still cruising with us. I counted 20! Yeah! A few are MIA though so who knows for sure.

It sounds like everyone is on deck 6--hope someone will visit us down on deck 2! Esp. since we want to show off our fantastic fish extender. HA!

 

[momdislover]

This is our first Disney cruise..... well first cruise at all. We are going over spring break march 22 2008 is our sail date. Does anyone have any advice on what is a not to miss? We have a 9 year old son (almost 10) who is upset about a lot shore excurisions being for the 10 and up crowd.

 

[momdislover]

I need info on easter services. I know a DW they have easter services and easter activities for the kids, does anyone know if the cruise ship does the same?

 

[momdislover]

sunrise service sounds good, especially if followed by a wonderful disney breakfast

 

[work4diz]

Hi! What was decided on for the Meet on board? It sounds great! How is the Stack for the teens? Or the Oceaneer Lab? Mine are not quite sure about it...Thanks! Can't wait for warmer weather!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Cruise Meet: We're up for meeting up with fellow Dis'ers. I agree with JerseyBelle and dlf246 about coming up with something to identify each other. Do either of you want to make a "Management" Decision?


Here is my "management decision" if it is ok with everyone else. Not very management. Everyone pick up the Home Depot Disney paint chips in Disboard green and attach it to themselves somehow. (See my earlier post. I am not really sure which green is correct.) Home Depot is a national chain right?

We can meet at 3:00 pm. I searched the dis for information and found the photo below posted by WDWLVR back in 2006.

This was the caption under the photo: "We always do deck 10 at 3pm. Mid-ship right above the Goofy pool on the side by the port (not to be confused by the port side)" By 3pm everyone is usually aboard and has had lunch and been to their rooms. It gives us a good 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to chat before the drill. Deck 10 is usually quiet at that time.

 

[momdislover]

Hello all, we are new to this. We are really excited about our cruise.....actually we can't wait. We would really like to meet up with some new friends especially any one with kids our son's age. He is an only child (9yo), and is hoping to make friends with some kids his age so that he has someone to pal around with on the cruise....besides his boring old mom and dad.

 

[JerseyBelle]

From reading the posts I gather that several families want to participate in the Fish Extenders but there doesn't seem to be anyone with experience organizing it. I have read several posts throughout the board about these activities but never participated. I am willing to organize it; however I am leaning towards keeping it simple. Here is how I define simple:

1. I don't think it should be an every day activity. No one wants to run around to 20+ staterooms dropping off small gifts for 7 days. I think one round is enough and can be on whatever day works best for the family.
2. Each family participating should bring one trinket/gift for each child participating. No one wants to add a whole lot of more items to their already over packed luggage.
3. No kids? You can still participate.
4. Instead of trying to assign categories to each family (so that your child doesn't get 20 princess notepads), why don't we just try to purchase a variety of items. If you wish, send a message on this cruise meet when you have purchased items and provide a general description of your purchase so that purchasers after you will know.

If you have anything to add, I would like to hear from you. Anyone wishing to participate, send me a private message (PM) (I don't think room numbers should be just listed on the disboard). I will compile the information and forward the complete list to all participants around two week prior to the cruise with a final list one week prior to sailing if there are any late joiners.

Include the following in your PM:

a. Age and gender of the children who will participate (it is not necessary to give names if you would rather not). Just use dd and ds (Disney Daughter/Disney Son) and their age. (ie dd10)

b. Your deck and room number. If you are a GTY and don't have your number yet, just list GTY and provide your deck and number as soon as possible.

c. If there is anything that participants should know about your child (ie no candy, afraid of a particular disney character etc), include this information but there is no guarantee that all will note your request.

 

[dlf246]

Here is my "management decision" if it is ok with everyone else. Not very management. Everyone pick up the Home Depot Disney paint chips in Disboard green and attach it to themselves somehow. (See my earlier post. I am not really sure which green is correct.) Home Deposit is a national chain right?

JerseyBelle: Thank you for taking the helm on these things. I love the paint chip idea. I do think the color is lime green, so the lighter green. My family will pass on the fish extender this time.

I have sent email via Disboard to Gimpeaux a few days ago to see if we can rouse up the originator of the thread... Hope he and family are ok.

 

[momdislover]

what is a fish extender?

 

[work4diz]

JerseyBelle, Thanks for organizing this. The Meet at 3 sounds like a plan! We're counting down the days

 

[whamma]

Yes, many thanks to JerseyBelle for coordinating. So many of us are "newbies" we didn't really know what to do!

Meet at 3 pm- deck 10 midship-above the Goofy pool--side by the port. I think the DisBoard Green Home Depot chips will work--or for those of you who don't have Home Depot nearby--maybe you could find a similar colored paper at a craft store and make a Mickey shape out of it--or just display that color on you in some way. I think it will work.

dlf246:I too was worrying about Gimpeaux. From what I can see, he has not posted anywhere on the DisBoards for a very long time. Please let us know if you hear anything back.

MomDisLover: A fish extender is a place to share little trinkets with other DisBoard members. If you look at the regular cruise line forum, you can probably find a thread about it. (I'm not good at adding the link. Maybe someone else can.) You might also look at threads about door decorations because sometimes you can see the fish extenders next to the pic of a door. Next to every cabin door is a metal fish and you hang it from that--hence a "fish extender".

 

[whamma]

Me again. I just noticed that the very first page of this thread has a door pic with a fish extender. You can check it out momdislover.

 

[JerseyBelle]

what is a fish extender?

momdislover,

There are many posts throughout the board about fish extenders. Here is one with photos.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1650316&referrerid=&highlight=fish+extenders+


Outside the staterooms is a metal fish for leaving messages for people if you stop by and they are out. I don't know how it got started but a group in a cruise meet started hanging an extended place to put stuff into from the fish, hence a "fish extender". In cruise meets someone organizes a fish extender event for their cruise. These events are not always the same but basically all the participants bring little gifts/trinkets for the children of the participants and place them into the fish extender throughout the cruise. Depending on how elaborate the event planned becomes and how many participants, that is how many gifts/trinkets you need to bring. These are things you buy in the dollar boxes at places like Target, Dollar stores etc. I am sure some people are crafty and do something more original. It would be up to you.

Hope this helps. Hope you join us.

A lot of people have purchased the fish extenders on Ebay but making one doesn't look that complicated.