~~~ May 16, 2009 ~~~ Western Magic ~~~

[lillygator]

morning guys....sorry to go so overboard with pics. I was so flippin excited last night! DH really didn't have a choice of saying yes or yes. so it was YES!I think we are going to try and hit WDW a few days before hand. We have had ap's for a long time but this was the first year we really didn't use them since we took the big vacation in May.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

Yes, we are going on this cruise. We have had to reschedule 3 times (I think) in the past.

I figured you would get us all updated! Let's just hope that this will be the one that won't need to be rescheduled!

sorry to go so overboard with pics. I was so flippin excited last night!

No need to apologize for your excitement about DCL! We're all right there with ya! I know there are quite a few families on our cruise who haven't cruised DCL before, so I'm sure the pictures are great for them to see! Maybe I should post some more of mine sometime, too.

 

[lillygator]

a wet and rainy day here in Sarasota....makes me wish I was on CC!

We are in late dining wait listed for early. We also don't know our cabin assignment yet.

Is anyone ordering gift baskets from Shirley?

 

[lucyddr]

Wow, you leave for one day and 2 new pages appear! Welcome Lillygator and Sarasotamom! I have to say that I'm a Bulldog fan (UGA), but Florida deserves to be where they are this year!

If things go well and we are able to make this cruise, I was considering ordering a basket from Shirley (especially if she can send wines)!

Seeing all the photos just reminds me that i HAVE to pull my old ones up from 2005. Our other cruises in 2006 and 2007 were with Carnival
(thanks to no 7 day Dis cruises leaving on Sundays), so those pics probably aren't quite as "cool."

Welcome again!

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

we are huge Gator fans

I have to say that I'm a Bulldog fan (UGA), but Florida deserves to be where they are this year!

Being from Nebraska and how there's "nothing else to do here" except be a Huskers fan, I really think the world of college football should watch out! Coach Bo Pelini has given the entire state the confidence & determination to dominate again like we did in the 90's. Hopefully in the next couple years we'll be back in the BCS bowl games.

GO BIG RED!

 

[sarasotamom]

So there really is no one else booked on this cruise?

How about a fun little "get-to-know-you" quiz to try and bring some others out of the woodwork.

1. How many times have you been on DCL? Where to and when?
3 day 7/02 7 day western 12/02, 7 day western 7/03, 7 day western 12/03, 7 day western (2 stops CC and Costa Maya) 7/06, 4 night New Years Eve 12/06.

2. What are you looking forward to on this cruise?
Relaxing at Serenity Bay and the jeep excursion in Cozumel.

3. What are your kids (if any) looking forward to on this cruise?
My youngest is the only one going and he is 20. He wants to be 21

4. If you've cruised before, what is your favorite food on DCL? If you haven't cruised before, what are you excited to try (if you've looked over the menus already--like I did before our first one!)?
My DH and DS love the caesar salad and cream of onion soup. I love the paninis and anything at Palo.

5. What would your "dream" DCL vacation be?

a 14 day Southern Caribbean going to Aruba on one of the new ships.

Me Crystal 51
DH Don 55
DS Brandon 20

Category 6
Late Dining

 

[lillygator]

has anyone linked dining or planning excursions together? or is everyone keeping to themselves? have to admit, aside from my first cruise with DCL we've gone with DIS friends and been linked for all sorts of things.

 

[Tink113]

Hey everybody, it's official, we are now booked on this cruise. With the great rates they are offering, we switched from the cruise we had booked for the week before (Eastern) & saved about $1700!!!

I'm Sooooo excited! We booked the whole family on this cruise for the first time ever!!!!

Here goes:
1) Me
2) My new hubby
3) My Mom
4) My dad
5) My younger Bro (22)
6) MY younger bro's GF
7) My Big Bro
8) My Sister-in-law
9) Nephew #1 (8)
10) Nephew #2 (6)

I have been on 2 (7 day) Disney cruises before. One was my Honeymoon!

We have 4 staterooms booked, but 3 are GTY so I'm not going to know some room numbers for a while. We would love to participate in the Fish Extender!!!!

 

[shasess]

Hey everybody, it's official, we are now booked on this cruise. With the great rates they are offering, we switched from the cruise we had booked for the week before (Eastern) & saved about $1700!!!

I'm Sooooo excited! We booked the whole family on this cruise for the first time ever!!!!

Here goes:
1) Me
2) My new hubby
3) My Mom
4) My dad
5) My younger Bro (22)
6) MY younger bro's GF
7) My Big Bro
8) My Sister-in-law
9) Nephew #1 (8)
10) Nephew #2 (6)

I have been on 2 (7 day) Disney cruises before. One was my Honeymoon!

We have 4 staterooms booked, but 3 are GTY so I'm not going to know some room numbers for a while. We would love to participate in the Fish Extender!!!!

Yay!!! Congrats!

 

[lillygator]

welcome!! Maybe with the great rates we will get lots of newcomers to this thread!! So far looks like an pretty light cruise!

 

[lillygator]

has anyone thought about excursions yet? I started looking last night. We have not done a western but we have been to these ports before.

 

[suezyq50]

Has anyone gotten a price reduction yet? I keep checking to see if they drop.

 

[lucyddr]

At the steal I booked for, I'm definitely not going to get a drop! (I may get a terrible room, but I couldn't refuse such a great deal.) Welcome. I saw your countdown clock on the "other" cruise website.

 

[lillygator]

I'll be checking for FL resident rates in a couple months.

 

[Disgirl83]

There's been so much going on here the past few days, wow!!!

Has anyone thought about excursions yet? I started looking last night. We have not done a western but we have been to these ports before.!

I need to start looking. I don't have any idea what to go do. Do you have any recommendations?

has anyone linked dining or planning excursions together? or is everyone keeping to themselves? have to admit, aside from my first cruise with DCL we've gone with DIS friends and been linked for all sorts of things.

I hadn't really even given it a thought. The first and only time I've been on a Disney cruise was in 2001 for 4 nights for my high school graduation with my parents. I'm probably repeating myself but this time it's just me and my DH. I'm usually a little more shy in person than I am on these boards so something like that might be a fun idea.

 

[lillygator]

actually - mot much on the recommendations.....Key West....when our 6 year old was 9 months we went down there for a week......it really is a party place, which is all fine, not sure what to do.....we've done the trolley ride, butterfly con, southernmost point, all the bars and shops.....and REALLY


there are no nice beaches at all in Key West....they are just not the true beaches of fl. If we had time I would go to the dry tortugas but it is a pretty full day....

disgirl83 - don't be shy - really it is such fun to hook up with people you have been talking with. I must admit, this is the closest we've booked to a cruise and not have had friends with us as well.

 

[lucyddr]

I'm totally fine with linking reservations as I really like meeting new people. My husband is a little more "reserved," but is always good about just "going with the flow." We are booked for the 2nd dinner seating. While I'd probably prefer the 1st, I understand that folks with children need that time more than us. So, I don't plan to try to change it.

Our previous 2 cruises have been booked solely for the ports, but this time we've been to all of them. I think we are probably going to spend most of our time on the ship on this cruise, which I'm really looking forward to. We'll get off for a little while, but nothing structured except for Cozumel. (We're doing the non-Disney dune buggies, which I wouldn't recommed for those with young children.)

 

[Disgirl83]

I'm totally fine with linking reservations as I really like meeting new people. My husband is a little more "reserved," but is always good about just "going with the flow." We are booked for the 2nd dinner seating. While I'd probably prefer the 1st, I understand that folks with children need that time more than us. So, I don't plan to try to change it.

We're also on the 2nd dining seating. We would also probably prefer the first and were put on a wait list, but if we don't get it before the cruise it's not a big deal. The second seating may even be better for us after all. I'm the more reserved one, but my husband could talk to a log. He's definately the outgoing one between us!

I've been looking at some of Disney's excursions and some sound interesting. For those non disney trips who did you all reserve with?

 

[lillygator]

we're on late dining, hoping to change to early. - at the 6pm slot. I have been researching all the ports, last time to Cozumel we rented jeeps with DIS friends, think we had 16 or so jeeps and drove all over the island, went to Coconuts had a great lunch overlooking the water. Not sure what we are doing this time.
Castaway Cay we'll probably just hang at the beach. Key West - since we stayed a week there was DD was 9 months old, we've kind of done everything so we may go snorkeling. Grand Cayman, would like to spend the day at Rum Point Beach but not for a $75 cab ride! May rent a car there.

 

[lillygator]

morning!

my mom and sister may join us ---- waiting to hear!