May 4, 2013 Fantasy 7 Night Eastern Caribbean

[Husurdady]

Hi everyone!!!! Yay! Just booked my cruise!! 2nd time cruiser and I am soooo excited!!!

Welcome to the cruise.

 

[paraflier]

Yea!!! Hat trick cruise for us. The big number 3!!

Can't wait to check out the new ship!!

 

[CoryB2679]

Wow, seems like we're one of the few first time Disney Cruisers (done Carnival a couple times, but is there really any comparison?)... almost feels like we should book another cruise before this one just so that we can get on the Fantasy as part of the veteran crowd.

 

[Husurdady]

Wow, seems like we're one of the few first time Disney Cruisers (done Carnival a couple times, but is there really any comparison?)... almost feels like we should book another cruise before this one just so that we can get on the Fantasy as part of the veteran crowd.

I know what you guys can do......Come and go with us, just 42 more days from today we are going out on the MAGIC to KEY WEST for 5 days, then going out on the DREAM for 3 days.

 

[CoryB2679]

I know what you guys can do......Come and go with us, just 42 more days from today we are going out on the MAGIC to KEY WEST for 5 days, then going out on the DREAM for 3 days.

Awesome... now if only I wouldn't have to mortgage my house to do so.

 

[5cangleys]

We just got off The Dream (our first cruise) and booked this one while on board. What a blast!
We are so excited to get back on. I can still taste the Bahama Mamas.
Trying to convince family to meet us.
Can't wait!!!

 

[Ginger Renae]

We just got off The Dream (our first cruise) and booked this one while on board. What a blast!
We are so excited to get back on. I can still taste the Bahama Mamas.
Trying to convince family to meet us.
Can't wait!!!

Welcome Jennifer and family!! We also booked this cruise after going on a Dream trip for the first time! I see you have a 4 year old daughter - my daughter will be 6 at the time we sail again so maybe they will be friends!

 

[Ready to go]

Hi all, we just booked last night-I can't wait. We were on the Wonder in October of 2011 and just loved it. We had our 15 year old son with us then and he had a great time (we hardly ever saw him). I'm feeling a little guilty we are not taking him this trip because my husband and I are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. I felt a little funny about going without our children, but when we considered a different line, I became nervous, knowing how happy we were on the Wonder cruise. So here it is, two forty somethings, young at heart, going on a belated honeymoon cruise. We are planning to fly in the day before, and want to stay on grounds so we can go to Downtown Disney without having to rent a car-anyone have any suggestions on how to get a discounted one night rate? Also if we stay on the grounds, and we get the Disney transfers, will it take us from the hotel to the Port?

PS: My husband thinks I am a nut planning so far ahead of time, so I am happy to see other "nuts" as excited as me!!!

 

[luvslikepi]

I finally convinced my husband that we need a vacation. We just have to wait 399 days for the cruise. This will be my first Disney Cruise and hubby's first cruise all together. I wanted to bring our baby - who will be 10 months - but hubs disagreed so it will just be grown up time. I can't wait.

I booked stateroom 5190, even though it's bumpy, I heard that the balcony view from the back is brilliant.

 

[CoryB2679]

I finally convinced my husband that we need a vacation. We just have to wait 399 days for the cruise. This will be my first Disney Cruise and hubby's first cruise all together. I wanted to bring our baby - who will be 10 months - but hubs disagreed so it will just be grown up time. I can't wait.

I booked stateroom 5190, even though it's bumpy, I heard that the balcony view from the back is brilliant.

Welcome aboard! Congratulations on your soon to be bundle of joy!
I'd probably agree with your husband to go without the baby (as long as there's someone you can trust to watch him/her for a week). We've got 2 kids, and 18 months is about as early as they'll get any enjoyment from Disney. DW & I took our girls to Disneyworld when they were each 18 months, and the first one kind of had fun, the second one loved it (although she was scared of the characters).

 

[luvslikepi]

Welcome aboard! Congratulations on your soon to be bundle of joy!
I'd probably agree with your husband to go without the baby (as long as there's someone you can trust to watch him/her for a week).

Thank you! Gramma has already said she'll watch the baby for a week. They're so excited to finally have a grandbaby I don't think she could have said no.

 

[jennifer_f]

just watching the ship set out on her first trip has me super excited and doing yet more research for our cruise! Can't wait to see DD (she'll be 4.5) all excited with the princesses. It is my third cruise, DH's second, and our first as a family. First on Disney and I can't wait. Thinking of adding a few days at MK before setting sail.....

Looking forward to all the trip reports as they come back!!!

 

[luvslikepi]

What are some of the things you'd like to do or see on your Fantasy Cruise in May 2013?

I've cruised before, on Carnival, and I'm sure that after I cruise with Disney I will never go back to another cruise line. Are you already planning your days/nights (at least as much as you can with what info we have thus far?)

I know I want to take the hubs to eat at Palo - we are major foodies and I think he'd enjoy the options. He's never been cruising before so I'd like for him to experience everything he would like...he knows he wants a massage and lots of sunshine.

Have any of you been to St. Maarten before? The Loterie Farm Hike seems fun. My husband wants to wing it but I'm a planner...at least for shore days. I've been to Saint Thomas and enjoyed my tour of the island but I'm not a big jewelry shopper. I enjoy the smaller vendors with island-made specialty items you can't find other places and cruise-shops. Hubs is already pleased that I promised I wouldn't make him enter any gift shops with me - though I'm sure as soon as he realizes you can get duty free Captain Morgan on the ship he'll change his mind.

I know I'm rambling a bit but I'm incredibly excited. I just can't believe it's still a year and a month away...wish it would get here faster. In my anticipation I just made up an adventure blog: http://disneyfantasydreams.wordpress.com

 

[Ginger Renae]

We will definitely be having dinner and hopefully brunch at Palo on this trip. I considered Remy but we really aren't foodies so I don't think I would get as much out of it. I think we will have $300 on OBC and I want to be sure to have enough to get myself a new D&B purse without DH having too much of a fit.

I haven't really started to look too much into shore excursions yet. I definitely want to do one beach day at with St. Maarten or St. Thomas, but haven't researched what one would be best for us.

 

[Ready to go]

Well, we just purchased insurance through insuremytrip.com. It was reasonable and even though I am hoping we won't need it, at least we'll have it should an emergency arise. Has anyone use this before? Also, we are flying in the night before and are thinking about staying at Pop Century? Has anyone stayed there and is there anything special we should know?

 

[Ginger Renae]

We have never purchased insurance for our vacations. Hopefully we won't regret that decision!

We will also be flying in at least one day before. I am *hoping* to do 2-3 days at WDW before the cruise, but not sure if that will work out. DD will be starting kindergarten this fall and we will already be taking her out for 6 days for just the cruise. I am not sure if taking her out for 2 weeks is in her best interest. Also, I have go go back to work to pay for these trips so I need to make sure I can get the time off as well.

We will most likely be staying at the Hyatt (or is it a HIlton) in the airport and taking the DCL bus to the port if we don't do any days at WDW. Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't it be kind of out of the way to fly in, take the ME all the way to Pop for one night, and then have to take the bus to the port in the morning?

 

[luvslikepi]

We have never purchased insurance for our vacations. Hopefully we won't regret that decision!
We will most likely be staying at the Hyatt (or is it a HIlton) in the airport and taking the DCL bus to the port if we don't do any days at WDW. /QUOTE]

Unfortunately with a husband in the military we always have to purchase insurance because we NEVER know what might come up these days.

We'll be staying at the Hyatt the night before too. Pretty decent rates. Just have to wait a few more months to book it online.

 

[CoryB2679]

Well, we just purchased insurance through insuremytrip.com. It was reasonable and even though I am hoping we won't need it, at least we'll have it should an emergency arise. Has anyone use this before? Also, we are flying in the night before and are thinking about staying at Pop Century? Has anyone stayed there and is there anything special we should know?

We stayed at the All-Stars Movie Resort before. It's not bad, but the hotel is about equal to a Motel 6 with brighter colors. And it tends to be pretty crowded.
If you're not planning to go to the park, you might want to consider flying into Daytona.

 

[CoryB2679]

So, first live video I've seen of the Aquaduck... it might just be the videio, but it looks REALLY slow.
http://youtu.be/o4Fx_RAb5AE

 

[jennifer_f]

we purchased trip insurance from travel guard.....we 're military too so we totally understand! I also want to do 3-4 days at WDW before the cruise. Right after the cruise we are moving away from being in (reasonable) driving distance of WDW and I want one last trip before we move!
I am showing DD lots of pictures of the "big boat" to get her as excited as I am! Can't wait to get her all princessed up at BBB
I haven't really looked into shore excursions yet. Only a quick peak but I didn't see too much to take DD (she'll be 4.5) on. As I get some time, I'll be doing more research....planning Disney vacations is more work than a degree!