March 31-April 7, 2007 Eastern...3rd try :-)

[cruisecrzy]

Cruisecrzy
Michelle-32
Jessica DD-2
Traveling with 2 adult friends
Verandah
Late Seating-8:15
Kissimmee. FL

Mndisfam
Kathleen. 45 !! SAHM
DH: Mark
DS: Will - turning 11 on cruise
DD: Claire. 7
Deck 2 2004
Late seating
Minnesota

Dpuck1998
Don 33
DW: Tamra 33
DS: Trace 8 and Brady 6
My Mom: Brenda 50 something
Deck 1 1050/1052
Late seating
Michigan

 

[dixieslanding]

Hurray... Booked late (cat 9) and just upgraded to Cat 6 GTY. This is our fourth time (wonder 3 day, wonder 4 day, magic western 7 day --- FYI i thing that itenerary is better, and now the eastern). Hurray!

4 of us. M (yeh, i know... lots of exclamations and such above but I am the DD-- or is that DH? well. let's be specific. I'm the guy, the male, the husband. and i'm bringing the wife and kids. .. surprise). DM or DW???? what do i call my wife? and DD 12 and DS 10. They are very experienced and ready -- but don't know we are cruising yet.

The Magic is WONDERFUL. Same ship as the Wonder but the 7 days is the right time.

With 3 days at sea we will meet w/ the DIS'ers this time (was .. a newbie last time). Anyone planning a get together yet? I'm happy to start.





AND......

ARGHHHH

FYI.. last cruise one of passengers dressed as Capt Jack. EVERYONE thought he was a cast member. VERY cool. So.. dress up for pirate night and expect fun fireworks too.

 

[dixieslanding]

If you are Castaway Club I think they let you on early

 

[cruisecrzy]

Cruisecrzy
Michelle-32
Jessica DD-2
Traveling with 2 adult friends
Verandah
Late Seating-8:15
Kissimmee. FL

Mndisfam
Kathleen. 45 !! SAHM
DH: Mark
DS: Will - turning 11 on cruise
DD: Claire. 7
Deck 2 2004
Late seating
Minnesota

Dpuck1998
Don 33
DW: Tamra 33
DS: Trace 8 and Brady 6
My Mom: Brenda 50 something
Deck 1 1050/1052
Late seating
Michigan

Dixieslanding
Mark
DW: Phyllis
DD: Katie 12
DS: Andrew 10
Cat 6 Verandah
Late Seating
North of Baltimore

 

[cruisecrzy]

Dixieslandings-No they do not let CC members on early. In November it was Family of the Day, Concierge, then they started calling up the numbers (the little card they hand you when you walk through the security at the port.

Everyone-
As for a DISmeet I suggest one for the SailAway Party. We can meet on Deck 10 Portside above the stage. Unless anyone has anyother suggestions.

I have a barret I madeout of Disney fabric and a green paint chip. I will probably be wearing my Green Tinkerbell shirt.

Our door will be easy to spot. I will have ears on it, Mickey heads and lots of door signs. I love making the door signs.

Well must get rest we are spending the day at MK with some family that is in for the weekend.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Okay, I fnally had te chance to sit down and read through all the posts.

I make signs for everyday of the cruise plus ones that will be on our door the entire week. This helps our DD find our door easily and I love playing with Photoshop. So I will start making my signs this week. I also need to decide what I am going to do about a pillowcase. We made embroidered ones for the last two cruises. Well I got a month to get all this work done.

 

[dixieslanding]

Late seating.

Where is everyone? The last cruise I did had a ton of DIS'ers (June 2006 Western). Board seems light.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Dixieslandings- I edited the list so that your seating time is now correct.

Our Cruise last March had a big DIS group that was very active. Our cruise last Thanksgiving hd a decent size DISmeets group, but only 4 that were really active adn even tried to meet.

We had so much fun last March because of all the fellow DISers we were able to run into on board and on the islands.

Is everyone making door signs?

 

[dpuck1998]

Finally wrote the next day of my trip report for anyone intersted. If I don't pick up the pace I'll be writing while on the cruise

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1347179

 

[delaneysmom]

Hi everyone!

I'm more of a reader than a poster, but I'd like to be added to the list!

Me: Chantelle, age 34
DH: Matt, age 34
DD: Delaney, age 5
Traveling with my mom and dad - ages 62, 65

We're cat 11, (LOL!) and mom and dad are cat 9
We're from PA

My first Disney trip as a grownup! Went to WDW at 19, and nothing since then. My first cruise, too. Yay!

 

[cruisecrzy]

Delanys mom I am adding you to the list. If you are comfortable join the chatter. I think it makes the cruise more exciting and helps everyone get to know each other.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Cruisecrzy
Michelle-32
Jessica DD-2
Traveling with 2 adult friends
Verandah
Late Seating-8:15
Kissimmee. FL

Mndisfam
Kathleen. 45 !! SAHM
DH: Mark
DS: Will - turning 11 on cruise
DD: Claire. 7
Deck 2 2004
Late seating
Minnesota

Dpuck1998
Don 33
DW: Tamra 33
DS: Trace 8 and Brady 6
My Mom: Brenda 50 something
Deck 1 1050/1052
Late seating
Michigan

Dixieslanding
Mark
DW: Phyllis
DD: Katie 12
DS: Andrew 10
Cat 6 Verandah
Late[COLOR]
North of Baltimore

Delaneysmom
Chantelle 34
DH: Matt
DD: Delaney 5
Chantelle’s Parents 62 and 65
Cat. 11 and Cat.9
Seating ??
Pennsylvania

 

[delaneysmom]

Ok, so let's chatter.

I know the pillowcase thing. We currently have no outings scheduled - we're on a tight budget (hence our cat 11 rooms, lol) and we tend to be spontaneous so hopefully will enjoy whatever things are available without planning in advance.

I'm hoping dd will be into the kids club and make some friends...she's a mama's girl and likes to spend her time with me. I, however, would love some ME time!

We're all, including my parents, first time cruisers and are very excited!

By the way - we're late seating for dinner. I forgot that part.

So what are the absolute Do not Miss options?

 

[cruisecrzy]

Another thing to think about is getting a photomat frame made for autogrpahing. I got mine at Michael's. Turn it in just like the pillowcase and have the charactrs signed. They come out gorgeous. I will try to take a picture of ours today and post. It would be a great thing for your child's room.

As for the tight budget I know what you mean. We like to cruise twice a year so we do not do any excursions. We also do not like to be tied to a schedule.

Here are some of my suggestions:
On St. Maarten we get the $5 wristband for the water taxi (kids are free) and go to Great Bay beach. It is right there where the water taxi docks. We bring a neat sheet and last time did not even rent a chair or unbrella. Laid out he neat sheet and put our stuff on it then the kids in our group went to play in the water. After a few hours headed back to the ship for lunch and naps. A few of us adults headed back out on the water taxi (the wristband is good all day) and did some shopping.

St. Thomas we have not gone into town the last few times. The Taxi ride will add up at about $7 per person each way. You can walk to the Haversight mall. I suggest the Paradise Tramway. You can walk there from the ship I cannot remember the cost, but I think it is less than $15 per person round trip. If your DD is anything like mine nad the lady still does the bird show up there she will have a great time. You can walk around and there are a few shops. This time we are going to more than likely make a trip to Coki beach because that is what the people in our group want to try and DD loves the beach.

Must trys (IMO):
Tea with Wendy Darling-sometimes it is Alice and the Mad Hatter (you need to sign up for tickets at Guest Services when you arrive) It does not bowl me over but my dd has done it twice and really enjoyed. Plus Wendy takes a picture with each kid. Last trip we had a five yera old in our group who loved getting dressed up. Bring water they serve iced tea and cookies and most kids do not like iced tea.

There are fun activities in the kids club and if DD does not want to stay there I would make sure you bring here to a few and stay with her. They kids decorate their own pillowcase and Pumba and Timone's PJ Party. My DD loved Do-Si-Do with Snow White and the hunting for Tinkerbell.

Pirate Party is great fun. My DD usually falls asleep before the fireworks.

Sailaway Party is fun for the kids

The shows....I am sure your little princess will love Twiced Charmed, Golden Mickey's (arrive early to play on the red carper), and Disney Dreams.

There are cool family things in Studio Sea and a few little character shows at the Goofy Pool.

For mom and Dad if you like to eat then the Dessert Buffet is a must.

That is all I can think of for now.

 

[delaneysmom]

Thanks! Those are great ideas.
I'm going to print this out.

 

[cruisecrzy]

I forgot two things and rememberd them while we were cleaning the kitchen and looked out at the pool.

1. We bring our own sand toys...just a few shovels, racks, and molds. If she wants a bucket we can give her an empty cup. Sand toys are very expensive ooboard.

2. The other thing we do is we bought a cheap little nemo floatie bed and a little inner tube. This will be our thrid cruise that they will make the journey for. We paid like $2.99 each. We blow one up on the beach, play with it, deflate it, clean it in the bath tub and then it is ready for the next port. It is mre her size then the ones you can rent and for $3.00 we can use them at every beach.

Here is a picture of the frame I was talking about. We are getting another one for this cruise and we will put a photo of dd and a character in it.

 

[dixieslanding]

Those were great suggestions. And guilty: ) i've not done it on a tight budget.. but if there were a ship to do that on .. the MAGIC is it!!!

Truly, just walking on board you will fall in love. She is the most wonderful ship on the ocean. And I say 'she' honestly. Ships are alive and this one has a heart of gold.

now... to real life suggestions. I read that your DD is 5 but a bit eager to be w/ you. well.... if you want mommy time.. be careful. cause i think you'll get more than you expect!

The kids clubs are so excellent it is amazing. I work many hours a week, so when we go on vacation I love to be with my kids. But i had to practically drag them out of the clubs when we went on the Wonder years ago. there is not guilt on this ship. trust me.

As you are late seating w/ your age child i suggest you call in and request a change to early (good luck but always worth it). The good thing about early seating (for the first three nights) is you get to experience the WONDER of the ship. I encourage you to focus on naps the first 3 nights so your DD can be with you at dinner (based on her interest in being with you). KEY is to have her with you at Animators. Any other place -- no big deal.. but Animators with your child is a MUST! I've been working over a year to figure out how to put my Animators show on the web... Your daughter (assuming naps) will love it.

Now, I think i saw you had parents with you. WONDERFUL. If you do not have Palo reservations... first thing.. B LINE to the reservation section when you get on board (p.s. i'll be racing you so you better run hard. my DW and I did not do Palos on our first two cruises on the wonder (3 and 4 day).... not a 'big mistake' for those cruises... but on the 7 day WOW.

PALOs is not wonderful... it's not great.. it is ... truly, magically, relaxing and delightful. We live in a major U.S. city and the food we had at Palos makes anything we can get here pale. the service is wonderful.. but the BEST part.. is you are on the ship.. and you know your DD is at the club where she is sooooo happy and excited that there is NO guilt. DO PALOS!!!

Sorry.. for long response...

Ok.. DD is 5.. hmmm... when my kids were that age they went on a pirate expedition with Peter Pan (as part of the club -- loved it).

The shows.. the SHOWS... The ADVANTAGE of late dinner..... so.. you are late seating.. take advantage of it. first.. get DD up on club (no problem there --- she will not want to leave -- i promise you). then.. feed her early (you know her schedule.. but your show time will be around 6 so take that into consideration).... then.. DO THE SHOWS.. THEY ARE SO WONDERFUL... particularly for a DD. DO NOT MISS THESE with your daughter.

Excursions --- two thoughts.....

or three

first two are our first two stops..... thought is.. I've never stayed on ship so i don't know what exciting things they have on board. but i encourage you to disembark with your DD. You won't have to spend lots of money to do the beach (which.. having spent lots of money (no regrets -- for doliphins and others I can say kids still love beach the best)) i can assure you just the 'environment' will be WONDERFUL.

third (i think i'm missing here on steps) --- castaway cay is one of the best things of the cruise for many. My DW and I are not beach people.. so this is low key.. but for most cruisers.. this is the best. AND.. if , like us, your not beach people... rent a bike.. wow.. no WOW.. what fun in the sun.


phew... sorry.. i 'obviously' have lots more opinions... but need to rest...

you will LOVE the cruise.

 

[cruisecrzy]

I wanted to make one comment on all of Dixielandings wonderful info.

We have a 2yo DD and last two crusies we traveled with a 3 and 5yo. We LOVE the late dinner. We make sure we take a nap and we are able to enjoy the early show and we are fine through dinner and then do the last few character sightings.

Last March the parents of the 2 and 5yo switched to the early seating and hated it. They felt so rushed from the end of nap or from and island to get to dinner. Then never felt relaxed. So in November they did the late seating with us and liked it much better.

Just another opinion.

 

[JCNovitch]

Okay, I just booked this cruise for myself (Jessica, 29), my bf (Ian, 35), and my daughter (Halley, 6 but will turn 7 the week after the cruise). We are from PA, and will be driving down (airlines overbooked and expensive on this short of notice). We have a guanteed category 12 inside stateroom (we are on a bit of a budget). This will be my daughters and my first cruise. I would love to know as much as possible, but don't have a great deal of time to read through the entire thread... any advice, info, ideas you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated. I am also hoping to find others who have children in the same age bracket, as I would love for Hal to have friends to play with the the Oceaneer's club. Finally, I will mention that I get seasick... but I really, really want to be able to enjoy myself. Any suggestions for the best remedy, pill, or device to help with this? Thanks in advance!

 

[dixieslanding]

Absolutely agree and sorry if my response was overly opinionated toward early versus late. We too have done both and it's really a function of how you manage your day and your kids. I hope my prior response mostly showed great enthusiasm over the whole adventure and gave you comfort that you will have a WONDERFUL time no matter what.

We are late seating this time and, while I toyed with moving it, I resolved to keep as is. My kids are older now so it's certainly easier to work with. Plus we won't be rushing back from our excursions to catch dinner.

All in the planning though. and you have lots of options. When we took our first cruise and had late seating, one night the kids ate at the pool and went to the club while we ate.