March 6, 2011 Disney Dream 4 night cruise

[beanersmom305]

Thanks for the well wishes. I see you're visiting the parks before the cruise. DD and I will be going to WDW once we get off the ship. It is always such a let down tio get back on dry land that I figure we might as well go and spend the rest of the week there. So lookin' forward to this (our first) cruise... Is your family participating in the FE's??

 

[queenbee99]

Hi! We are booked on this cruise as well, although I really wanted to switch it to the Transatlantic, I just can't commit to it just yetafter that fiasco on the other cruise line! LOL The flights coming home are super expensive. Anyway, if we go then it will be me, dh and my 7 year old dd. I wish our final payment wasn't due till after the maiden voyage. Is anyone anxious about it being a larger boat and being sold out? I need a RELAXING vacation!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Hi! We are booked on this cruise as well, although I really wanted to switch it to the Transatlantic, I just can't commit to it just yetafter that fiasco on the other cruise line! LOL The flights coming home are super expensive. Anyway, if we go then it will be me, dh and my 7 year old dd. I wish our final payment wasn't due till after the maiden voyage. Is anyone anxious about it being a larger boat and being sold out? I need a RELAXING vacation!

Not worried at all. Disney really knows how to handle crowds. I will be excited to read the trip reports from the early DREAM cruisers ! A larger ship doesn't concern me. BUT I would never want to go on the Epic...that's too big !

 

[scrapycruiser]

Good Evening Everyone,
Just thought I would check in and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Where I live, Mobile, Alabama, we are still in shorts and t-shirts. For the cruisers that are wanting to participate in the FE gift exchange, if you would please let me know who you are, I can start a list for everyone else. It would also be really helpful if you are traveling with kids, to let me know their ages and what they are into. It makes it easier to find the perfect gifts (at least for me it does)!
Cindy

We will participate in the FE exchange. Just me (Gina) and dh (Bruce), Cabin # 6688 Thanks for organizing it !

 

[queenbee99]

All I know is we did the 4 day cruise 2 years ago that was sold out and it was on the smaller ship and there was lots of waiting for character lines. We had a great time but I was under the impression that there was a lot less standing in line for things you wanted to do on the boat and it wasn't the case when we went 2 years ago. Now we have a bigger boat and it makes me wonder.

Not worried at all. Disney really knows how to handle crowds. I will be excited to read the trip reports from the early DREAM cruisers ! A larger ship doesn't concern me. BUT I would never want to go on the Epic...that's too big !

 

[scrapycruiser]

All I know is we did the 4 day cruise 2 years ago that was sold out and it was on the smaller ship and there was lots of waiting for character lines. We had a great time but I was under the impression that there was a lot less standing in line for things you wanted to do on the boat and it wasn't the case when we went 2 years ago. Now we have a bigger boat and it makes me wonder.

There is a way to beat the character lines. In the Daily Navigator it tells when and where and which characters will appear. Just plan on being there a feew minutes early. Also, you can call from your cabin to check on the charadters' appearances.

 

[queenbee99]

There is a way to beat the character lines. In the Daily Navigator it tells when and where and which characters will appear. Just plan on being there a feew minutes early. Also, you can call from your cabin to check on the charadters' appearances.

Yeah, we did do that. We still waited. Sometimes Mickey and Minnie were 2 separate lines too, so you would have to wait in one and then go wait in the other. I mean I was led to believe that the characters where everywhere and they were more accessible then at WDW but we waited about as much on the boat as we do in the parks. Plus they do close the lines just like at WDW. It also required some orchestrating to get to do the activities that my dd wanted to do in the kids club, the shows and the dinners. I just wonder if it is going to be more of an issue with lots more people. Our previous cruise was also a sold out one.

 

[josiedebo]

Thanks for stepping up ! The FE is always fun. Other than getting a list of names and cabin #'s, not much else to it.

If I may make a suggestion. 1 gift per cabin

Maybe the cabin's with kids could exchange kids' gifts also.

Maybe we're the only "couple". If that's the case, I'd be happy to give to the kids as well.

If you do a search on the Disboards for organizing the FE you might get more info.

HI! i'm sailing the March 6th cruise with hubby,2 boys(8,3) and my 6 yr old daughter. It's our 1st Disney cruise so you can imagine our excitement, well kids don't know yet it's their Xmas present. I just ordered our FE, but and just learning on how this works. Can you please help a first timer out and explain. Are gifts given out daily to everyone who signs up oris it just the group your with. My mom would also like to be part and more than likely my sister and her family. Would love feedback!

 

[Fatima1922]

HI! i'm sailing the March 6th cruise with hubby,2 boys(8,3) and my 6 yr old daughter. It's our 1st Disney cruise so you can imagine our excitement, well kids don't know yet it's their Xmas present. I just ordered our FE, but and just learning on how this works. Can you please help a first timer out and explain. Are gifts given out daily to everyone who signs up oris it just the group your with. My mom would also like to be part and more than likely my sister and her family. Would love feedback!

I did it the first time last December. It was one gift per child and then one gift for the adults in the room but as a group we can decide to do it anyway we would like. I do have to tell you that it was exciting to come back to a room with a full FE. It was also fun running around with my daughter delivering gifts.

 

[josiedebo]

I did it the first time last December. It was one gift per child and then one gift for the adults in the room but as a group we can decide to do it anyway we would like. I do have to tell you that it was exciting to come back to a room with a full FE. It was also fun running around with my daughter delivering gifts.

I would love to do it! Is it just a one time thing or everday that your on the ship? Also how do I get signed up, as well as knowing what other families will also be participating?

 

[scrapycruiser]

I would love to do it! Is it just a one time thing or everday that your on the ship? Also how do I get signed up, as well as knowing what other families will also be participating?

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2

If I did this right, here is the info for the FE exchange.

We have always given gifts to each cabin participating and each child one time.If you end up with ,say, 20 cabins, there's no way you could do it more than once. Esp with the airlines luggage restrictions.

It is alot of fun, even for couples w/o kids !!

I believe jestergypsy is organizing the FE. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I know everyone is busy now with the holidays, but hopefully ,after New Years we'll get a list of who's participating.

 

[scrapycruiser]

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2

If I did this right, here is the info for the FE exchange.

We have always given gifts to each cabin participating and each child one time.If you end up with ,say, 20 cabins, there's no way you could do it more than once. Esp with the airlines luggage restrictions.

It is alot of fun, even for couples w/o kids !!

I believe jestergypsy is organizing the FE. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I know everyone is busy now with the holidays, but hopefully ,after New Years we'll get a list of who's participating.

This is more info about what the FE is all about

I have organized several FE Exchanges, so here is my best explanation whenever someone asks:

Beside every cabin door is a large silver fish with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE is just a plain old canvas bag on which I've added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. I'd love to have a "real" FE like some of the creative DISers have sewn, but I've never taken the time to attempt to make one.

Then, each "Cruise Meets" thread organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up for their particular cruise by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company, and some are quite elaborate. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

This thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I speak from personal experience that it really is a LOT of fun to participate!
__________________

 

[3Charbys]

Yay me!! I got our Palo reservaitons for the 9th!!!
We also booked for the Atlantis beach day... we are all about spending some time with our toes in the sand!! As a past travel agent too I have always wanted to see this resort... Now I do!!

 

[Fatima1922]

This is more info about what the FE is all about

I have organized several FE Exchanges, so here is my best explanation whenever someone asks:

Beside every cabin door is a large silver fish with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE is just a plain old canvas bag on which I've added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. I'd love to have a "real" FE like some of the creative DISers have sewn, but I've never taken the time to attempt to make one.

Then, each "Cruise Meets" thread organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up for their particular cruise by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company, and some are quite elaborate. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

This thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I speak from personal experience that it really is a LOT of fun to participate!
__________________

This is a great summary. I love it too! I was even more surprised at my DH. He asked if we were going to do it again. I made my FE but I think this time, I am going to order one.

So I just want to get this correct, when you did the FE exchange, you did one gift per cabin AND one gift per child? That is fine with me. I understands people's concerns with flying. Lucky JetBlue allows 1 checked bag for free per person.

 

[scrapycruiser]

This is a great summary. I love it too! I was even more surprised at my DH. He asked if we were going to do it again. I made my FE but I think this time, I am going to order one.

So I just want to get this correct, when you did the FE exchange, you did one gift per cabin AND one gift per child? That is fine with me. I understands people's concerns with flying. Lucky JetBlue allows 1 checked bag for free per person.

Yes, that is how we did it, but there are no rules. Whatever the group wants to do is fine. Another option is to give 1 gift per cabin and something all the kids could share. If we only have 20 cabins, there shouldn't be a problem.

If you do a search for FE gift ideas, there's alot of suggestions.

 

[Fatima1922]

Yay me!! I got our Palo reservaitons for the 9th!!!
We also booked for the Atlantis beach day... we are all about spending some time with our toes in the sand!! As a past travel agent too I have always wanted to see this resort... Now I do!!

Congrats. We booked Palo dinner for the 8th. I am hoping they have similar dinnerand show rotation as 4 day on the Wonder with the same restaurants on the 2nd and 3rd days. I am disappointed that I didn't get brunch. I logged in at 12am this morning and it was booked already.

 

[tjctoy]

I am looking for whoever is setting up the list for FE's on the March 6th and March 10th Cruise so I can add 4 different groups to the list. Please let me know what thread to go to to register.

Thanks

Tom

To many Cruise and Disney visits to list .

 

[3Charbys]

Still hoping that we will get the earlier dining rotation.... The later meal times probably means that we will not see the insides of the dining rooms for a meal!! UGH!
I guess we will see some of the shows at 5pm and them go to the buffet restuaurant(s) whatever they are called on the Dream.
I do hope to change our spots once on board, but being that we are coming on Disney Magical Express from the resorts I am sure all the keen kids will have already been to make the available changes.... fingers crossed.
We are getting closer guys!!

 

[Met]

Hello, everyone. Are you counting the days?! We are.
This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise...and we can't wait to go home to Castaway Cay. Our 6 yo son and 11 1/2 yo daughter still talk non-stop about how much fun they had on the Wonder 2 years ago.....The kids will have a blast and making new friends will be easy aboard the Dream.

So! Don't be shy! Introduce yourselves. Are we planning a sail away deck meetup?

Going to eat at Remy. *shrieks*
BTW, Disney has been great so far. We're vegetarians and we've never had any issues with the menus. Called about Remy and the same thing applies; they will work around dietary needs.

Met AKA Freezing in Illinois

 

[Met]

Sign us up for the fish extenders....

Will get you stateroom numbers soon.
Thanks!