May 3 Magic cruisers

[rae519]

Hi!
Our cruise is three months away and I'm looking for some DIS cruisers!

I'm Rae (47) and I'll be travelling with my Mom, Lilly (74) and my son Michael (7). My DH Tom will be staying home "guarding the fort"!

Hope to "meet" you now and see you then!

Rae

 

[NejTheLion]

We just can't seem to get a thread going for this cruise!

Well, I'll try and help!

This will be our first cruise and the party includes myself (22) and my parents (49 & 48).

Can't wait for that excursion info to arrive!

Jen

 

[rae519]

Hi Jen!
So glad to get a reply. Hey, maybe we will have the ship to ourselves - okay, with me - one of us can have the "Roy Disney" suite and the other can have the "Walt Disney" suite!

My oldest son is 22! Wish I could have gotten him to go on a cruise with us- I think he would have enjoyed himself.

The Eastern cruise is very nice - although I have not taken any excursions. I've been to St. Marten once and twice to St. Thomas (I love it!). I am thinking of going over to St. John this time on an excursion and although I hate those "gondola" type lifts, I would like to see the view from atop St. Thomas in something other than a postcard!

We have early dining and will be on Deck 5 aft (verandah). Mom and I go to the Rainforest a lot during our cruise, so you might even catch us there!

Is there anything you'd like to know about the Eastern or Disney cruise line? If I can't help - there are sooo many others on this forum who "been there, done that".

Nice to "meet" you!
Rae

 

[northernmouse]

Nice to 'meet' you all, too. We'll be there (self 41, DH 36, and DS 11). It's our first 7 night cruise, and we're really looking forward to the extra time aboard.

We have late dining and will be on deck 6, middle, and already have rental cars booked to explore St. Marten and St. Thomas.

Rae, I think we'll try the Rainforest, too. It sounds heavenly!

NejTheLion -- are you getting closer to entertaining on DCL?!

We're really starting to count the days now!

 

[rae519]

Hi northernmouse - sounds like we will have to coin toss for the two suites now that there are 3 groups of us going!!

I prefer the 7 night after being on both the 3 and 4. Very relaxing and I love to watch the ocean as we sail during the day.

I will start a list for us to have so we can all know who is going and if we decide to meet up or not, where and when. Feel free to include anything or not - up to you and your information comfort level!

Rae

 

[pam251]

this is our first cruise. self (38), dh (39), ds (7.5). I'm glad to see others going. DS is so excited. He wants me to start packing NOW. Can't wait to find out more, from others going9. All infro welcomed. thanks! Pam251

 

[NejTheLion]

I think I could live with a cat. 2 or 3. No need to bicker

We're thinking about trying the new Anguilla Dolphin/Stingray excursion, but I'm waiting to see if someone out there tries it and reports back. We're probably going to head over to St. John as well, but we haven't decided if it will be by boat our on our own.

We're doing late dining and are on deck 7 aft.

The DCL audition is Feb 11. For those of you who didn't read my earlier post, I'm a young actor up in NYC and I figured I'd give that audition a shot. I wasn't planning on leaving NY for an extended period of time right now, but I think I could make an exception for that experience.

Actually, I had asked before (for any of you return cruisers) what kind of character parts there are in the shows. Someone said that the Fairy Godmother was featured in Disney Dreams and sings Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo. Anyone remember if that was a low or high singing part? I have sheet music for that song, and it's in a pretty high key, so I was thinking about transposing it for the audition, but if it's really high in the show, I might not want to do that. I know that in the real Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother has a very low vocal part. And from whatever lines she has, would you consider her part to be more comedic or more tender?

Also, does anyone remember any other female character parts?

I'll let you all know how the audition goes!

Jen

 

[rae519]

pam 251 - Hi and welcome!
Our sons are the same age! Great!!

DCL is wonderful - lots to do for all ages and enough time to do them in during 7 nighters.
Although I want to start packing NOW - I learned a lesson last year when I started packing a few months early - I ended up with 6 pairs of shoes (doubled everything) - what a waste of space! I won't do that again!

I think it's best to make a list and "check it twice" like our jolly St. Nicholas -
that way you won't forget sunscreen, aloe vera, etc, etc.

My Mom does this with her clothes so she gets the most wear from everything and has coordinated outfits. She's the clothes horse in our family!

NejTheLion - Oh, I had forgotten you are having your audition in 9 days! Good luck! I will ask a friend who just came off the Magic to let me know about the characters.

Rae

 

[Mjasp]

Hey you 3, its not to late to switch to the 5/17 sailing. C'mon over

Rae, where in NY are you originally from?


Joanna

 

[rae519]

Joanna - My birthday is 5/19 and DH who can't go wouldn't hear of my being gone - so that's why we chose 5/3.

I was born in Monticello (but not at the old race track), was schooled at St. Joseph's in Forestburg, later at Fallsburgh - lived in Woodbourne. Later moved to Coxsackie, graduated and went to college in Albany. Parent's moved to Plattsburgh. Now widowed, Mom lives near me now in Indiana.

I miss New York more than I ever thought possible - especially the Hudson River Valley and Frederic Church's home (Olana) in Hudson, NY (across from Catskill, NY). I never thought we'd stay on in Indiana but that was 19 years ago and we are still here.
I miss everything about New York!!
Especially the people!

Enjoy the 17th!!!!! I'll be thinking of you!
Rae

 

[PeachyK]

Count us in too!!!

Me, DH, DD (10), DS (celebrating his 7th bday on embarkation)
I am beyond excited. We are on Deck 2 mid ship always hoping for a free upgrade, and the ship doesn't sound that crowded. I'll be happy with just a veranda.

We are early dining, I figured my kids are very social and independent and will want to do all the club activities in the evenings.

I am looking forward to the Spa and excursions.
Right now I am hoping to hear great things about the Dolphin Excursion in Anguilla because that is my DD's dream. Since I have been to St. Thomas before I am planning on doing our own thing, probably beach and then maybe a little shopping.

I am constantly fighting the urge to start packing!

 

[rae519]

HI PeachyK - go glad to know you will be with us. Another May birthday, ehhh? I turn 48 on 5/19 and my DS will be 8 on 5/26.
Taurus rules!

We are early diners also and Mom and I love the spa! Michael would live at the Oceaneer's Club if we let him but I do want some family time!! It's good to raise independent children - my oldest will be 23 this year.

I'm putting together some non-clothing items as I find them from my last trip but after the fiasco with my early packing last year (how many pairs of shoes?!!), I am NOT going to succumb to that this time around! (Yeah, that's what I say now - ask me in March)

Have you ever done the gondola ride to the top of St. Thomas? I am thinking of St. John also.

Dolphin Excursion - haven't heard anything but we probably will get some postings from our more experienced excursioners.

Glad to have you on board!

Rae

 

[pam251]

Rae519, Will you be putting your ds, in the lab or club. My ds is 6 weeks, before his b-day. Don't know if they would let him in the lab or not. Afraid the club, maybe too young for him. My ds is also independent. And can't wait to go to the children's programs. We also have early dinning. And are waiting to hear about the dolphin excursion. Ds and myself are excited about that one. Dh not too sure about it. Wants to know if you wear life vest. He worries alot about that kind of stuff. Later, Pam251

 

[Mjasp]

Rae...Funny you say you still miss NY. We are contemplating moving to Florida. This winter was a tough one. All I think of is warmer weather a bigger house for your money. Concerned about the schools though, as it seems they are county schools and not district schools like in NY. So at anytime they can rezone you. Not like that here in NY. Am checking on the academics now, so we'll see.

Have a great time on your cruise, and let me know, does everyone (even the kids) have to go to immigrations in St.Thomas? Makes no sense to me as you show your birth certificate upon embarkation and you are the same person when you leave St. Thomas. I don't get it, am I missing something here?

Joanna

 

[rae519]

pam251 -
I am going to ask them to put Michael in the older club (8 years) since he will be 23 days short of it. I don't know their level of flexibility in this at all. Also, I agree with our sons that close to their next birthday, the activities with the 5-7's might be too juvenile and they will get bored.

I like early dining much better than late. And that dolphin excursion does sound pretty good.

Immigration is for EVERYONE when we get to St. Thomas. Due to the fact that we are returning to the US from a foreign country. It's a big pain in the rear but the boat will NOT clear unless everyone presents to Customs their documents in person (babies and children also). It's an early call and we meet in the Walt Disney Theater and wait. It moves along but the customs agent does look each document over and verifies that the document does in fact belong to the person presenting it. EVEN if you just want to stay on the ship, you have to show up and present your documents (crew as well as guests).

Michael is our adopted son who is mixed race (we're caucasian) - we always get the "look over" and Michael is asked questions like, "Who are the people with you?", "What is your name?" etc.


Mjasp - I even miss New York taxes. Does that tell you how bad it is for me?! That's not to say it's "so very bad" here, but it's just not the same and I'd take a cabin in the woods to a mansion anyday just to be back in NY. You know, I travelled around the world and there was only one other place that compared to NY in drawing me there - Italy (especially Vittoria Veneto in the Dolomites (preAlps).

Rae

 

[CSX2]

Myself (42), DW, and DD(7) will be on board. We have done the 4 day Wonder cruise twice. This will be our first 7 day and we are really looking forward to the trip. After sailing in CAT 10s twice we are splurging with a CAT 6 on deck six aft.

We are also staying at the Contemporary for two days prior to the sailing and one day after returning. Got great rates via the Shades of Green.

 

[rae519]

CSX2 -
Welcome! So great to have you with us!

It's nice to have a place for active duty and retirees at Disney, and great of them to provide those rates!!

I love the Contemporary - we stayed at the Tower facing the lagoon - it was perfect! ENjoy!

I'll post a list of our cruises within the next day or so!

Rae

 

[CSX2]

rae519,

I am a Navy vet but not retired. I qualify for Shades of Green because I am a DoD civillian employee. This will be our first stay at the CR, we are in the North Wing.

 

[rae519]

Hey, I'm an Air Force DAV (not retired - but DH is retired USAF DAV).
I hope you have as many wonderful memories of your time in the military as I have!

God bless the USA!

Rae

 

[CSX2]

Had great experiences in the Navy and still work for the service to this day. Funny thing, spent 7 years active duty in the Navy and never once stepped foot on a ship. Naval aviation on large patrol aircraft too big to land on carriers. Now I love cruising. Though I suppose the level of personal service on an aircraft carrier is not quite the same as the Wonder and Magic!