Amy and Michelle you are wonderful ladies for putting the FE lists up! 
Wow. I've been gone a little while, life with a new baby is much more hectic than I thought. Hes a handful, but all worth while. I'm so happy to see that there are so many rooms for the FE! THis is going to be so exciting. LeeAnn, welcome to the disboards!!!! Can't wait to cruise with you, it's going to be a blast. You're going to be hooked.
Is there a meet taking place? I'd love to meet everyone I've been chatting with.
It's not long now! Looking forward to seeing everyone! 
Sounds GREAT! A cruise meet sounds like a great idea on Deck 4!
Is anyone doing a meet the night before - if you are staying at the port? Another fun idea!
It's getting so close!!! AAAAHHHH. I am so excited I can't even stand it!
So, I have been working on a vacation budget and trying to think of everything from start (like, lunch on the way to the airport, parking at the airport, coffee in the morning... etc etc) to finish (tips and tolls...etc etc) that we will spend on this trip.
Can anyone think of anything random that I may be forgetting?? I know that no one can know HOW MUCH we may spend, I am guesstimating all that - but is there something I am overlooking? So far I have:
Departure Day
* Lunch going to airport
* Airport Parking
* Rental Car
* Tolls to WDW
* Gas when returning the car
* Dinner @ WDW - 1 night
* 2 Grey Goose Lemoncello Slush's
Sail Day
* Breakfast @ airport
* Tip for shuttle driver
On Board (tips are pre-paid)
* Spa (rainforest room more than likely)
* Excursion
* Cocktails
* Palo (do you tip more than the $20 pp, or no? I have mixed feelings)
* Souvenirs
In Port
* Cozumel - all day excursion, so not muchextra $$ needed
* Grand Cayman - snorkel rentals at Eden Rock, maybe some drinks
* Costa Maya - lunch, maybe massages on the beach, taxi
* Castaway Cay - probably float rentals, and some cocktails
We are then staying at WDW for 4 days after the trip. Our tickets and hotel is paid for, so all we will need to worry about it food and drinks. But, as we all know - that part is the most epensive part usually. So, I am trying to do some research and figure out some places with good value.
Anyone see anything that I am missing??
It's getting so close!!! AAAAHHHH. I am so excited I can't even stand it!
So, I have been working on a vacation budget and trying to think of everything from start (like, lunch on the way to the airport, parking at the airport, coffee in the morning... etc etc) to finish (tips and tolls...etc etc) that we will spend on this trip.
Can anyone think of anything random that I may be forgetting?? I know that no one can know HOW MUCH we may spend, I am guesstimating all that - but is there something I am overlooking? So far I have:
Departure Day
* Lunch going to airport
* Airport Parking
* Rental Car
* Tolls to WDW
* Gas when returning the car
* Dinner @ WDW - 1 night
* 2 Grey Goose Lemoncello Slush's
Sail Day
* Breakfast @ airport We are staying at Hyatt too, where do you plan to have breakfast?
* Tip for shuttle driver
On Board (tips are pre-paid)
* Spa (rainforest room more than likely)
* Excursion
* Cocktails
* Palo (do you tip more than the $20 pp, or no? I have mixed feelings) I would add a little extra in your budget and if the service is expceptional I would tip.
* Souvenirs
In Port
* Cozumel - all day excursion, so not muchextra $$ needed Margarita?????
* Grand Cayman - snorkel rentals at Eden Rock, maybe some drinks
* Costa Maya - lunch, maybe massages on the beach, taxi
* Castaway Cay - probably float rentals, and some cocktails
We are then staying at WDW for 4 days after the trip. Our tickets and hotel is paid for, so all we will need to worry about it food and drinks. But, as we all know - that part is the most epensive part usually. So, I am trying to do some research and figure out some places with good value. Are you staying on site?
Anyone see anything that I am missing??
It's getting so close!!! AAAAHHHH. I am so excited I can't even stand it!
So, I have been working on a vacation budget and trying to think of everything from start (like, lunch on the way to the airport, parking at the airport, coffee in the morning... etc etc) to finish (tips and tolls...etc etc) that we will spend on this trip.
Can anyone think of anything random that I may be forgetting?? I know that no one can know HOW MUCH we may spend, I am guesstimating all that - but is there something I am overlooking? So far I have:
Departure Day
* Lunch going to airport
* Airport Parking
* Rental Car
* Tolls to WDW
* Gas when returning the car
* Dinner @ WDW - 1 night
* 2 Grey Goose Lemoncello Slush's
Sail Day
* Breakfast @ airport
* Tip for shuttle driver
On Board (tips are pre-paid)
* Spa (rainforest room more than likely)
* Excursion
* Cocktails
* Palo (do you tip more than the $20 pp, or no? I have mixed feelings)
* Souvenirs
In Port
* Cozumel - all day excursion, so not muchextra $$ needed
* Grand Cayman - snorkel rentals at Eden Rock, maybe some drinks
* Costa Maya - lunch, maybe massages on the beach, taxi
* Castaway Cay - probably float rentals, and some cocktails
We are then staying at WDW for 4 days after the trip. Our tickets and hotel is paid for, so all we will need to worry about it food and drinks. But, as we all know - that part is the most epensive part usually. So, I am trying to do some research and figure out some places with good value.
Anyone see anything that I am missing??
I Love the idea of a cruise meet on the first day between lunch and sailaway... i will do my darndest to be there, but will admit that my family may steer me in another direction... i am typically the agenda maker and director of our family vacations, but promised them this time i'd take a backseat and let them "drive." So, that being said, i can make no promises, but hope to get there
I am in the same place as you with transfers... we are coming in the morning before the cruise, spending the day at MK and staying at Contemporary... had planned on using car service to get to port... then on another board was talked into renting a car (either at airport on friday or at wdw on saturday) and returning to the port and renting again after the cruise and returning at airport (have 3pm flight on debarkation day)... the renting thing is a little bit cheaper... yet with needing a minivan, it may be a wash financially...
but, for a few bucks, do i really want to be hassled and harried, buckling in a car seat, schlepping our own luggage, etc etc etc just to save a few dollars (okay, maybe as much as a hundred) for our family of five... it just all sounds like WORK! not VACATION! (LOL)
or, do i let disney do all the work... they do it well... they guarantee their transporatation will get me where i need to go... if our rental breaks down, and we miss either boat or plane, we're on our own... if disney is transporting us, they've got our backs... and our luggage
so, after typing all that out, i am thinking disney's transport is the way to go... plus, my kids LOVE magical express for going to wdw, so they will likely like the cruiseline bus as well (it just says "DISNEY" to them! LOL!)...
Good luck with whatever you decide
I am crazy excited too!!!!
Looks like your list is very complete... i agree w/a PP re: tips, including for room service if you order... also, do you plan on buying snacks for the theater, playing bingo or arcade, smoothies, corkage fees if you are bringing your own wine... pirate night accessories?
For your WDW days after the cruise... have you considered the dining plan? or staying concierge (i know it sounds crazy, but the cost increase from a regular room to a concierge room was much less than our family of five would spend on b'fast alone, so it is more than worth it) or in a DVC unit where you can do a little cooking?
I am in the same place as you with transfers... we are coming in the morning before the cruise, spending the day at MK and staying at Contemporary... had planned on using car service to get to port... then on another board was talked into renting a car (either at airport on friday or at wdw on saturday) and returning to the port and renting again after the cruise and returning at airport (have 3pm flight on debarkation day)... the renting thing is a little bit cheaper... yet with needing a minivan, it may be a wash financially...
but, for a few bucks, do i really want to be hassled and harried, buckling in a car seat, schlepping our own luggage, etc etc etc just to save a few dollars (okay, maybe as much as a hundred) for our family of five... it just all sounds like WORK! not VACATION! (LOL)
or, do i let disney do all the work... they do it well... they guarantee their transporatation will get me where i need to go... if our rental breaks down, and we miss either boat or plane, we're on our own... if disney is transporting us, they've got our backs... and our luggage
so, after typing all that out, i am thinking disney's transport is the way to go... plus, my kids LOVE magical express for going to wdw, so they will likely like the cruiseline bus as well (it just says "DISNEY" to them! LOL!)...
Good luck with whatever you decide
I Love the idea of a cruise meet on the first day between lunch and sailaway... i will do my darndest to be there, but will admit that my family may steer me in another direction... i am typically the agenda maker and director of our family vacations, but promised them this time i'd take a backseat and let them "drive." So, that being said, i can make no promises, but hope to get there
Thank you! I will add a little extra money for the potential extras on the ship. I think we will be low maintenance with that stuff though. I looked through our bill from our last cruise and we spend like maybe $80 on merchandise, and the rest in cocktails.
We are staying in a DVC unit for our stay at WDW, so hopefully we will save some money on brekfasts and snacks, but I think we will probably end up having a few CS meals and a few sit down meals. But hopefully we can keep it to a minimum
