May 23, 2009 (5/23/09) E. Caribbean w/Tortola

[itdjbw]

Well, I'm not an expert cruiser like some of you, but .... we didn't use the over-the-door hanger on our 1 & only cruise. I'm trying to decide if we'll need it this trip since we're in a SPH room & don't think we'll have the steamer trunk.

Heather, I remember looking at Walmart too & thinking they were too expensive. I'll have to check Dollar Tree too.
Ang

What is a SPH room??

 

[goofygal1975]

Help...the last time we cruised we were not able to book anything online. This time we bought the REAS and can book Feb 7th.

Now, I heard we can book at midnight. Does that mean 12:01 am on Feb 7th?
Since I am in Central Time zone does that mean I could actualy go on at 11:01 pm on Feb 6th??? Please explain as I do not do will with numbers...LOL

 

[itdjbw]

You still should do okay without one, Angie. It gets worse when the kids are teens and then you have 4 deodorants, perfumes, etc....because heaven FORBID if they should share a deodorant or toothpaste tube!!

That is so like us - we all use different toothpaste so never share that or deodorant
Love the split bathroom cause the kids can keep there stuff in there's.

 

[itdjbw]

Yeah, if we can find one at Dollar Tree we'll get one, if not we'll do without. I do have a set my mom got me for my wedding, that I have used a few times. It has one big tote bag, that holds 3-4 little bags that hold, make- up in one, jewelry in another, unmentionables in another...etc. I LOVE them. I keep the make up one hung up all the time at hotels/resorts. So idealy we could use one of the others that I don't use.

It was an exciting game last night! Not any of "my team" but I was hoping the Cardinals would win! They played a great game!!

My dh really got into cruise mode last night! He pulled out the booklet that came in the mail a couple weeks ago. Then I had printed out navigators from a Eastern TR from mid Jan. We both looked over them and even ds looked at them today. Dh was finding things to do and getting pretty excited about it. We decided what days to try to get Palo Brunch and our Spa reservations.

DS will be 3 weeks shy of his 14th bday, and he has decided he wants to go in the 14-17 age group. Not sure of my thoughts on that so far, but he is excited about it.

When is his b'day? Do they let you move up if your b'day is within a certain time? In 2007 Adam was 9 and his friend on the ship was 14 - they still chat on email and got on amazingly well.
My kids are getting a bit excited, I bought an underwater digital camera for them yesterday and we are taking our snorkle stuff with.

 

[JMTStone]

Yes, its true. I bleed black and gold. My Mom told me bedtime stories of Jack Lambert and I wanted to be Lynn Swann when I grew up. I wasn't in Tampa but I was at home with my terrible towel. Every Christmas card has us wearing our Steeler jerseys. Last year it was Steeler jerseys in front of the castle. We left HS when it closed to walk to the Boardwalk to see the Steel Curtain work on Monday Night Footbal in November. Got some good-natured ribbing during the day from a few Patriots fans, but I met quite a few good people that night wearing the same jersey as I was as well. Its a Steeler Nation.

I love Larry Fitzgerald (sp?). He's a Pitt boy! He seems like such a nice guy when he's interviewed. I KNOW he will get his chance. It was a good game.

Now, back to the Cruise! I finally got my documentation. TWICE! One had the 2/7 date for arrangements. The other had a March date. I think we got two because we changed from regular to concierge. Its nice to have two copies! They finally posted May hours as well on the Website for our 4 days at WDW before the cruise. I pre-ordered the passporter book online. It should be here the day before I can make arrangements. I'll have to SPEED READ for the excursions. Its a HAPPY problem.

OK I'm rambling. Exhausted. Good night.

 

[winotracy]

Help...the last time we cruised we were not able to book anything online. This time we bought the REAS and can book Feb 7th.

Now, I heard we can book at midnight. Does that mean 12:01 am on Feb 7th?
Since I am in Central Time zone does that mean I could actualy go on at 11:01 pm on Feb 6th??? Please explain as I do not do will with numbers...LOL

Yes, it is at 12:01 am eastern time on February 7. Central time zone would be 11:01 pm on February 6.

What is a SPH room??

It is a category 10 room that has a window in the room. The window is obstructed so it is not sold as on ocean view room. Stands for Secret Porthole.

 

[goofygal1975]

Yes, it is at 12:01 am eastern time on February 7. Central time zone would be 11:01 pm on February 6.

.

Thank you!!

Yes, Dh read in the booklet we got that if your childs bday is one month away from crusie date they can move up to the next group. I remeber doing that on our fist cruise.

How many other kids here are going for the 14-17 year old group?

 

[itdjbw]

Thank you!!

Yes, Dh read in the booklet we got that if your childs bday is one month away from crusie date they can move up to the next group. I remeber doing that on our fist cruise.

How many other kids here are going for the 14-17 year old group?

Tarryn will be in that group, the cruise is a month before she turns 15.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Oue 14 year old ds willbe in that group.

 

[wmjivey]

After following alot posts about "activities" in the stack, we are glad they separated the 13yos back down. We will have one in each, but if Toby was just close to fourteen we would prefer him to go down not up.

The Man

 

[itdjbw]

After following alot posts about "activities" in the stack, we are glad they separated the 13yos back down. We will have one in each, but if Toby was just close to fourteen we would prefer him to go down not up.

The Man

Hmmm, guess I need to research these 'activities'

 

[justmestace]

My daughter never cared for the Stack. She would go the first day or so, meet a few other girls she liked....along with the ones she'd already met through us or the DIS...and they'd go off on their own.

My son, though, loves the things they do in the Stack, like the scavenger hunts, movies, trivia games. etc. He's not the type to hang with the kids who are "troublemakers"....the ones you hear about tossing chairs overboard and such. Thank goodness! In looking at the difference between my two kids, I'd almost say (and I hope everyone will pardon me if it seems rude or whatever) that it seems like the more "nerdy" types like the Stack, but the kids who are...or like to think they are...."cool" ....don't hang out there.
Just my take on it.

In other words, I just called my son a nerd. Ssshhh....don't tell him!!

 

[wmjivey]

Let me preface this in neither of my sons have ever been in the Stack, nor have I personally know anyone who has seen problems. That being said, when we booked our cruise last year, both our boys were eligable to go to the Stack, so we started looking for forum threads about activities, we started hear about some problems, and when DCL decided to change the age it brought my attention that Disney never does anything without good reason, and since my youngest has not been to the other club, he is will not disappointed in not going to the Teen hangoout. I am also a Scout leader and even in that environment the Tweener's have problems with the older Scouts, mainly they try to hard to fit in and things happen. My older son has many similar characteristics of Stacey's son so he should do fine . I just want my sons to have not only fun which both would do if they were both in the Stack, but to have the most I can give them. So I believe in DCL's decsion and willnot try to get my younger in.

The Man

 

[justmestace]

We hit that next new landmark....for Sharon and I anyway....
One month, one week, one day!! It's just our appetizer to hold us over til the cruise!

 

[justmestace]

Let me preface this in neither of my sons have ever been in the Stack, nor have I personally know anyone who has seen problems. That being said, when we booked our cruise last year, both our boys were eligable to go to the Stack, so we started looking for forum threads about activities, we started hear about some problems, and when DCL decided to change the age it brought my attention that Disney never does anything without good reason, and since my youngest has not been to the other club, he is will not disappointed in not going to the Teen hangoout. I am also a Scout leader and even in that environment the Tweener's have problems with the older Scouts, mainly they try to hard to fit in and things happen. My older son has many similar characteristics of Stacey's son so he should do fine . I just want my sons to have not only fun which both would do if they were both in the Stack, but to have the most I can give them. So I believe in DCL's decsion and willnot try to get my younger in.

The Man

Jared (son) went to the Stack with Jordan (daughter) when he wasn't old enough to be there. No one said anything to him at all.
But maybe THAT'S the reason Jordan didn't like going to the Stack...because her underage brother was there!
Actually, she didn't like it even before that, or the times we went again after that. She's just happier in smaller groups.

 

[goofygal1975]

We hit that next new landmark....for Sharon and I anyway....
One month, one week, one day!! It's just our appetizer to hold us over til the cruise!

Woo Hoo!!! Very exciting!! No trips for us before our cruise....


I'm still not sure what group I'll have ds go to. He will onlly be 2 1/2 weeks away from 14. I wanted to see how many kids from our group would be there, hoping there would be a majority...that way they can hang out together. DS is really excited to be in the Stack (or just a "club" in general) since last time he only went to the kids area once. Just not sure how he'll be around the older kids. I guess we'll see once we get there.

 

[justmestace]

Woo Hoo!!! Very exciting!! No trips for us before our cruise....


I'm still not sure what group I'll have ds go to. He will onlly be 2 1/2 weeks away from 14. I wanted to see how many kids from our group would be there, hoping there would be a majority...that way they can hang out together. DS is really excited to be in the Stack (or just a "club" in general) since last time he only went to the kids area once. Just not sure how he'll be around the older kids. I guess we'll see once we get there.

I think the kids kind of naturally divide up by age when they're up there anyway....so I don't think he'll have to worry about actually being with the older kids....know what I mean?

 

[itdjbw]

Jared (son) went to the Stack with Jordan (daughter) when he wasn't old enough to be there. No one said anything to him at all.
But maybe THAT'S the reason Jordan didn't like going to the Stack...because her underage brother was there!
Actually, she didn't like it even before that, or the times we went again after that. She's just happier in smaller groups.

Tarryn sounds a lot like Jordan - she would rather be in a smaller group and away from the trouble makers and especially if her younger brother is part of the larger group
Last cruise there were around 5 girls, all 11 and 12 who hung out, didn't go the club much. They had a great time.

 

[goofygal1975]

I know we talked about this before, but are any of the kids interrested in talking to each other before the cruise????

Since we are getting close to the 3 month mark I think it might be a good time to start it if they want to.

Mom is working on making pirate bandanas for us since we heard they no longer provide them. We have Tampa Bay Buc's matieral (we used to have season tix...Go Bucs) that she is going to use!! The FE still is in pieces, but she has it all laid out waiting to be put together.

 

[DVC Mary]

Hi!

I'm from the June 20th Tortola cruise, but I wanted to stop by & say Hi and see if I can pick your brains for excursions.

We have 2 very active 8 & 12 yr old boys.

Which excursions would you suggest for us?

Thanks for any responses!

P.S.

I can't wait to read your thread when you return to see how your trip went.