May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Thank you GoofyNewfie! And thank you for the info on the fish extenders... I was wondering how do you get involved with the fish extenders, do you have to sign up?

And what disboard activities are planned for the adults? And for the children? Will there be meet and greets? I see on the first page they have a bunch of things listed, but I'm not sure what some of them are. The PJ party is self explanatory , but the jewelry making and other stuff I wasn't sure about. What are the door magnets about? And what kind of things do people put on their door? I saw someone talking about giving music cd's, and I was wondering about those. They look like they are made by us? And t-shirts? I see that there might be tshirts available to purchase? I'm sorry if I overloaded you all with questions. I'm just excited to learn what's happening. I feel like a kid in a candy store so I cant imagine what my kids are going to feel like!

Can anyone who's crossed before please give advice on what to expect motion wise on the 6 days at sea? I read something that has me a little worried about rough weather.

I'm sure I will have more questions as I read more on this cruise. I can't wait to go and meet everyone and see everything.... I just need to contain myself so I don't spill the beans to my kids!

 

[kaseyC]

We've officially booked our first transatlantic cruise and this will be the first cruise for everyone except me. I took a short one before on a different cruise line.. So first Disney cruise for all of us.

I don't have a clue what to expect and I think I am attempting to achieve something grandiose and not sure I'm up to it. I'm planning on disembarking at Barcelona and then spend nearly two months marching across Europe. We did 3 weeks in Europe before when the kids were smaller and my daughter has been requesting to go back ever since. I still have NO idea how we're getting home, , and it's all a complete surprise for the kids.

My oldest dd graduates high school this spring and we're headed straight to board this cruise and make our way to Europe. We're also attempting to get my husband retired from the military in the month the cruise is set to sail. Hopefully it doesn't turn into a stressful event!

I would love any advice on what to expect from this cruise from those of you have done this before. I have seen lots of good advice about the ports of call and needing to bring cash. I also see things like fish extenders and magnets and don't think I completely understand these concepts yet.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Cassandra
Ben
Grandma Lou
Carissa 18
Caitlin 15
Chloe 10

Super excited to be going again... went on 1st one 2007 super fun.....have lots of us going fam and friends......twins 11 year olds (time of sailing) We are looking at going to Paris and doing Disneyland...Anyone else???? Looking to find cheapest way there....train Im sure but didnt know if anyone had found something???? Will check in for fish extenders and all activities, best trip ever....

Welcome!!

We also have a FB group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/436992032989082/

Just request to join. We seem to have a bit more activity there.

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Welcome!!

We also have a FB group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/436992032989082/

Just request to join. We seem to have a bit more activity there.

I would love to but I would be so busted!! My daughter is an avid facebooker and would spot that in a heartbeat. Can I lurk?

 

[padalyn]

Thank you GoofyNewfie! And thank you for the info on the fish extenders... I was wondering how do you get involved with the fish extenders, do you have to sign up?

And what disboard activities are planned for the adults? And for the children? Will there be meet and greets? I see on the first page they have a bunch of things listed, but I'm not sure what some of them are. The PJ party is self explanatory , but the jewelry making and other stuff I wasn't sure about. What are the door magnets about? And what kind of things do people put on their door? I saw someone talking about giving music cd's, and I was wondering about those. They look like they are made by us? And t-shirts? I see that there might be tshirts available to purchase? I'm sorry if I overloaded you all with questions. I'm just excited to learn what's happening. I feel like a kid in a candy store so I cant imagine what my kids are going to feel like!

Can anyone who's crossed before please give advice on what to expect motion wise on the 6 days at sea? I read something that has me a little worried about rough weather.

I'm sure I will have more questions as I read more on this cruise. I can't wait to go and meet everyone and see everything.... I just need to contain myself so I don't spill the beans to my kids!

welcome to the exciting part - the planning!!!! I love the planning stage as well.

Ok - to address a few of your questions:
door magnets - they are made by folks for specific cruises, it is the ONLY way DCL will allow you to decorate the door. Just be careful - the Magic's doors have been painted SO many times that the weaker magnets don't stick! Each time our cabin door slammed we had to go find all our mickey's - got to be a running joke about Mickey flying!

Jewelry making is usually done by someone, just a word to everyone - DCL will not allow money to change hands onboard, they began strictly enforcing this on the March Hawaii cruise - Deb who does the "pink champagne girls" and Linda who does Jewelry on the cruises BOTH got phone calls explaining that all money had to be exchanged PRIOR to boarding. The folks who were organizing a poker game were also warned.

CD's - some are very professional looking, some hand written - all are precious. I have gotten some amazing photos on disks, I have been giving music CD's out for a while myself. Some are in *.wav format, some in MP3 or MP4 - depends on the giver.

T-shirts - usually someone will make a graphic and upload it to a commercial site for folks to buy from them. Not sure if that is happening here.

Collared shirts (hawaiian style): the first time I know of someone tackling that was Val of ValBob for the first Hawaii - they came out amazing!! She had material made and shirts done from that. The cost was very reasonable after she got over 100 shirts ordered. (She was gracious enough to share her graphics and I asked a friend to make shirts for our bears with a "mini" pattern!)

Motion sickness - if you are prone I HIGHLY suggest you buy candied ginger and learn to like it! IF you go down the wrist band route - don't use the stretch ones- not enough pressure on the pressure point. Look for pregnancy nausea bands that are velcro closure, you need TWO not one like the sites will advocate. If you don't have a bruise when you take it off - it isn't tight enough. The ship will give you meclizine (antivert) but it is a very powerful antihystamine and will make your drowsy. You shouldn't drink alcohol when taking the meclizine.

There - I think I gave you food for thought -

things to keep in mind - if you are flying back to the USA - remember to bring a travel scale - the airlines in Europe are VERY strict about weight 23kg is 50.5 pounds and they MEAN it!! The fees are very high for overweight. If your scale does the weight in KG use it that way - I have found the switch is off by almost a pound on both of mine.

If you decide to bring alcohol on board - please read the DCL rules - if too many folks break them we will all loose the ability to bring alcohol onboard.

Nighttime activities are all for adults only - they are very strict about this as well.

I will post more later if you have more questions - ask away!!!

 

[NancyIL]

Motion sickness - if you are prone I HIGHLY suggest you buy candied ginger and learn to like it! IF you go down the wrist band route - don't use the stretch ones- not enough pressure on the pressure point. Look for pregnancy nausea bands that are velcro closure, you need TWO not one like the sites will advocate. If you don't have a bruise when you take it off - it isn't tight enough. The ship will give you meclizine (antivert) but it is a very powerful antihystamine and will make your drowsy. You shouldn't drink alcohol when taking the meclizine.

Meclizine is the main ingredient in Bonine and the Less-Drowsy Dramamine. (I buy a bottle of 100 from the Sam's Club Pharmacy for under $4.) It does make some people sleepy, but it doesn't have that effect on me. It's a once-a-day pill, so take it at bedtime if it makes you sleepy.

 

[padalyn]

Meclizine is the main ingredient in Bonine and the Less-Drowsy Dramamine. (I buy a bottle of 100 from the Sam's Club Pharmacy for under $4.) It does make some people sleepy, but it doesn't have that effect on me. It's a once-a-day pill, so take it at bedtime if it makes you sleepy.

everyone is different - benadryl doesn't make me sleep until I get to almost 100mg! If I need it while onboard I go to medical and get it for free.

 

[MandyGirl]

Good morning! We arrived home late last night from a quick trip to WDW to go to Mickey's Halloween party (MNSSHP). Fun! Finally got to walk through the new Art of Animation - such vibrant colors and scenes! Hubby and I go back later this month for a quick trip to Epcot alone for Food & Wine festival - our first trip there without the kiddos (shhhhh!) and then I take my 2 year old and my parents on the Magic out of Galveston in November. Think we are cramming it all in within a month LOL!

Read through the posts really quickly - hope all questions got addressed. Welcome to the new cruisers! If you are interested in the Tremont group rate I mentioned a few pages back, please let me know ASAP. We are right on the verge of having enough to qualify for the group rate ($209 on that Friday night, much less on Wed/Thurs nights)

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!!

 

[MandyGirl]

Oh - for WBTA in 2011 I used the patch my doctor prescribed. Hubby and both kids didn't use anything and were just fine. I'm just the touchy one when it comes to motion sickness

 

[1KKH]

Hello- I am actually a "ghost writer" for my mom who will be traveling alone on the TA. This will be her 5th Disney Cruise, but first without my family. I have put in a request to join the Facebook page. She doesn't do the boards or Facebook, but always loves all my information- so I thought I would help her out. I wish I could join you- but can't pull my kids out of school for that long at this point. Thanks for letting me "tag along." I am actually on my countdown for a New Years Cruise on the Dream!

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Thank you for all your answers about the motion sickness. Has anyone had big waves on one of the transatlantic crossings? And what was that like?

 

[woody73]

Hello- I am actually a "ghost writer" for my mom who will be traveling alone on the TA.

Nice of you to do that for your mom. Glad she finds the info helpful.

Woody

 

[padalyn]

Hello- I am actually a "ghost writer" for my mom who will be traveling alone on the TA. This will be her 5th Disney Cruise, but first without my family. I have put in a request to join the Facebook page. She doesn't do the boards or Facebook, but always loves all my information- so I thought I would help her out. I wish I could join you- but can't pull my kids out of school for that long at this point. Thanks for letting me "tag along." I am actually on my countdown for a New Years Cruise on the Dream!

What a great thing to do! Welcome to your mom...I hope she enjoys the cruise!

Thank you for all your answers about the motion sickness. Has anyone had big wavees on one of the transatlantic crossings? And what was that like?

Oh yea - we were in 30 foot seas for most of the crossing (in late April/early May) in 2007. Here is a photo (I didn't take it, but keep it because no one believes it!) The water is hitting the overhang above the bar at the goofy pool. At one point there were 7 of us in the adult pool. The waves in the pool were such that we were all diving through them to stand up at the other end of the pool - it was AWESOME!!! The crew asked us to leave - we refused, until the First Officer came and asked/told us we had to get out...it was SO much fun...

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Wow... I really hope it's not that bad when we go... though it sounds like you had a lot of fun!

 

[MandyGirl]

Any more takers for the Tremont rate of $209 on Friday, May 17 in Galveston? I have a list going on the facebook page. Have contract in hand so I can sign. Please PM me as quickly as possible. Thanks!

 

[knabebug]

My partner & I will be on this TA. It'll be our 9th DCL cruise and our 3rd DCL TA. We love the sea days.

 

[Tink1987]

Oh yea - we were in 30 foot seas for most of the crossing (in late April/early May) in 2007. Here is a photo (I didn't take it, but keep it because no one believes it!) The water is hitting the overhang above the bar at the goofy pool. At one point there were 7 of us in the adult pool. The waves in the pool were such that we were all diving through them to stand up at the other end of the pool - it was AWESOME!!! The crew asked us to leave - we refused, until the First Officer came and asked/told us we had to get out...it was SO much fun...

Oh no, those photos have really made me think of cancelling.....the cruise we were on in June wasn't as bad as that and we hated it :-( we 'only had' 20ft waves then......

It's not the fact that I was sick, I was lucky to avoid that, but I HATED the motion of the boat going up and down. And we were on a much bigger ship then the Magic.......

 

[MandyGirl]

Oh no, those photos have really made me think of cancelling.....the cruise we were on in June wasn't as bad as that and we hated it :-( we 'only had' 20ft waves then......

It's not the fact that I was sick, I was lucky to avoid that, but I HATED the motion of the boat going up and down. And we were on a much bigger ship then the Magic.......

I'm not sure if it is a difference of May versus September, but we have seas as smooth as ice no our crossing last September.

 

[heatherb819]

Last year EBTA in May the waters were smooth as glass. You couldn't even tell we were moving, in fact I heard several crew member say that they had never seen waters that smooth. I wouldn't worry too much. We will pray for smooth sailings!!

 

[Transatlantic H20]

Thank you for all your answers about the motion sickness. Has anyone had big waves on one of the transatlantic crossings? And what was that like?

We had 33 ft waves for two days on a TA crossing on the QM2 in May of 05.
It really was like in the movies where everything would slide across the tables! I actually felt LESS sick with the big movements than with the smaller swells. But I know that makes me an oddity

 

[padalyn]

We had 33 ft waves for two days on a TA crossing on the QM2 in May of 05.
It really was like in the movies where everything would slide across the tables! I actually felt LESS sick with the big movements than with the smaller swells. But I know that makes me an oddity

I like the big water - find it soothing at night to sleep - like being rocked to sleep. On the Baltic in 2010 we had a bit a rough water (about 12 foot swells) and it was really nice. same deal with the first Alaska in 11...