May 9, 2012: 5 Night Bahamas Cruise on Disney Magic

[jenf22]

We leave in three weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My kitties are NOT happy about it at all, but Grandma from Chicago will be visiting a few weeks later so hopefully that will make it up to them.

Woo hoo!!! 3 weeks!!! We don't get our luggage out until the day before we leave because it puts the dog into a state of depression. One of us will take him outside to play and the other will run down to the basement to get the suitcases and stash them in the walk-in closet in our room so he doesn't see them. The things we do for our fur babies!

I am so excited, I have to share - I was able to book an 8:15am ADR for Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom for the day we're going (the 8th). I'm so jazzed about being in the park before it opens (it opens at 9am)! I've been looking multiple times a day for weeks and *BAM* there it was first thing this morning!

Opinion needed - For the Castaway Cay day, we have our stingray excursion booked for 11am. I saw in the cruise docs it says the cabana is from 10-4pm. So our stingrays are in the middle of the cabana time. I checked and there are still openings for the 9am stingray excursion. Should we switch to that so we don't have to sacrifice any of the cabana time? Does it matter? Would we have to hustle to get off the boat at 8:30 to make the 9am? Thanks for any opinions!

 

[aseyrick]

I just want to say that it's TWO weeks and change now!! Woohoo!!

So far we have two planned meets for our cruise. Embarkation Day at 3:00 p.m. in the Promenade Lounge, and on our Day at Sea (Friday) I believe somewhere on the pool deck around 11 a.m. for everyone to meet up before heading off to respective lunches (Palo, Lumiere's, Topsiders, etc.) and then again meeting after lunch in Diversions.

As they would say in the military (was an Army spouse) ... you are so squared away!

We don't get our luggage out until the day before we leave because it puts the dog into a state of depression. One of us will take him outside to play and the other will run down to the basement to get the suitcases and stash them in the walk-in closet in our room so he doesn't see them. The things we do for our fur babies!

I am so excited, I have to share - I was able to book an 8:15am ADR for Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom for the day we're going (the 8th). I'm so jazzed about being in the park before it opens (it opens at 9am)! I've been looking multiple times a day for weeks and *BAM* there it was first thing this morning!

Opinion needed - For the Castaway Cay day, we have our stingray excursion booked for 11am. I saw in the cruise docs it says the cabana is from 10-4pm. So our stingrays are in the middle of the cabana time. I checked and there are still openings for the 9am stingray excursion. Should we switch to that so we don't have to sacrifice any of the cabana time? Does it matter? Would we have to hustle to get off the boat at 8:30 to make the 9am? Thanks for any opinions!

Ha! We do the same with our luggage, except it's b/c of DS. He gets soooo excited when he sees luggages out that he won't sleep or nap, so we kind of have to just keep them out of sight until the day of. Very hard to do when you're trying to plan & pack and not miss anything. And, he's smart enough to know that when I lay out the clothes, the luggage is coming.

Congrats on ADR @ Crystal Palace! We are hoping to do the same thing in October. I'm also hoping to do the same with Tusker House for when we visit AK. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on both. Oh, something to consider is the day we're visiting HS, they're closing early, so we're hoping to make reservations at the 50's Prime Time Cafe 5 minutes before park closing so we can eat in peace and have the park to ourselves.

Re: CC - those cabanas aren't exactly cheap. If I were you, I'd do the hustling so I don't miss out on either. You can always order extra from room service for breakfast so you're not worrying about that too. Sounds like you're going to have fun @ CC either way.

 

[aseyrick]

Does anyone know if our entire cruise will be on Eastern Time? I'm just trying to figure out nap/meal times for our time zone versus the cruise's so we can stay up a little later.

Thanks!

 

[Feisty Fairy]

Does anyone know if our entire cruise will be on Eastern Time? I'm just trying to figure out nap/meal times for our time zone versus the cruise's so we can stay up a little later.

Thanks!

According to what research I did It says that all three places we are visiting observe EST and all observe Daylight Saving time so the whole cruise should be on EST. So once I hit Tallahassee in 19 days I get set all my clocks for EST and kep it that for two weeks.

 

[iloverags2]

Woo hoo!!! 3 weeks!!! We don't get our luggage out until the day before we leave because it puts the dog into a state of depression. One of us will take him outside to play and the other will run down to the basement to get the suitcases and stash them in the walk-in closet in our room so he doesn't see them. The things we do for our fur babies!

I am so excited, I have to share - I was able to book an 8:15am ADR for Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom for the day we're going (the 8th). I'm so jazzed about being in the park before it opens (it opens at 9am)! I've been looking multiple times a day for weeks and *BAM* there it was first thing this morning!

Opinion needed - For the Castaway Cay day, we have our stingray excursion booked for 11am. I saw in the cruise docs it says the cabana is from 10-4pm. So our stingrays are in the middle of the cabana time. I checked and there are still openings for the 9am stingray excursion. Should we switch to that so we don't have to sacrifice any of the cabana time? Does it matter? Would we have to hustle to get off the boat at 8:30 to make the 9am? Thanks for any opinions!

Awesome on scoring CP! We have never been, but one of these days it will happen. And I am in agreement with Annabel. Book the earlier stingray excursion, and enjoy all of your time allotted in the cabana. (Of course if you keep the excursion as is, you don't have to lug your belongings with you to it...you can store them in your cabana. I'm no help!)

We pack the suitcases out of site, but when they come out Klondike (our 15 year old "puppy") goes BONKERS! She knows she is going to either Best Friends at WDW or Grandma's - two places she loves to visit.

I just want to say that it's TWO weeks and change now!! Woohoo!!

As they would say in the military (was an Army spouse) ... you are so squared away!

Where did time go??? It feels like last week we were months away still!

Good thing on those meets - I was certain there was something missing!

Does anyone know if our entire cruise will be on Eastern Time? I'm just trying to figure out nap/meal times for our time zone versus the cruise's so we can stay up a little later.

Thanks!

Yep, all on Eastern time!

According to what research I did It says that all three places we are visiting observe EST and all observe Daylight Saving time so the whole cruise should be on EST. So once I hit Tallahassee in 19 days I get set all my clocks for EST and kep it that for two weeks.

Tally is always that good driving point! It marks something (although not always sure what!).

 

[aseyrick]

Thanks, all! That means 1 extra hour of nightlife! Woohoo! (I know all of you understand my excitement.)

 

[iloverags2]

It's quiet in here today!

Hi Everyone! I'm finished with all the FE purchasing, bagging of the younger ones things, and making all the bag tags. Now, if only I could find the same enthusiasm to pack!

 

[Jaxs27]

I got the kids pirate shirts in the mail today and I love them. So excited!

 

[Britster18]

Hey!
Today's the first cruise of our itinerary.... right???!!!!!

 

[iloverags2]

I got the kids pirate shirts in the mail today and I love them. So excited!

Yea!!! I so want to do something for Pirate Night, but have no time to finish everything else. Adding finding an outifit for that to the mix and I might just lose my mind! Ugh!

Hey!
Today's the first cruise of our itinerary.... right???!!!!!

Yes! And you better believe in five days I will begin my begging/pleading for Navigators to be posted!!!

 

[Lainey321]

OMG I cannot believe we are less than 3 weeks away. Of course work has gone insane. I work on a college campus and finals week is the week of our cruise so I am trying to get EVERYTHING done in the next two weeks.

I am going to go through my younger daughters things and make sure she is squared away this weekend. I still want to buy a couple of things for me, but don't necessarily have to have them.

Dh did get his jury duty deferred to June

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Long time no see, huh? Not like me to be quiet. LOL!

Busy busy. Laundry list of stuff to do ((including finishing the FE stuff & packing my box to ship to the ship)). Not enough time. I'm so stressed! Can I run away? Time is going waaaay too fast!

 

[lzmom_of_twins]

Long time no see, huh? Not like me to be quiet. LOL!

Busy busy. Laundry list of stuff to do ((including finishing the FE stuff & packing my box to ship to the ship)). Not enough time. I'm so stressed! Can I run away? Time is going waaaay too fast!

haha ya the thread has been quiet. I should ship my stuff too. I need all the extra lbs for MY stuff! Need to finish it all 1st. My week has been INSANE. So busy! We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow though!!!! Keeping my eyes on the goal!

 

[PixieMom712]

Yea!!! I so want to do something for Pirate Night, but have no time to finish everything else. Adding finding an outifit for that to the mix and I might just lose my mind! Ugh!



Yes! And you better believe in five days I will begin my begging/pleading for Navigators to be posted!!!

I ordered a t-shirt for myself and really want to get DS a costume, but DH wants to help pick. Hello, we need to get it ordered ASAP!

I can't wait to see Navigators. I hope someone does a trip report too!

OMG I cannot believe we are less than 3 weeks away. Of course work has gone insane. I work on a college campus and finals week is the week of our cruise so I am trying to get EVERYTHING done in the next two weeks.

I am going to go through my younger daughters things and make sure she is squared away this weekend. I still want to buy a couple of things for me, but don't necessarily have to have them.

Dh did get his jury duty deferred to June

Congrats on getting jury duty deferred!

Long time no see, huh? Not like me to be quiet. LOL!

Busy busy. Laundry list of stuff to do ((including finishing the FE stuff & packing my box to ship to the ship)). Not enough time. I'm so stressed! Can I run away? Time is going waaaay too fast!

I agree with everyone who has way too much to do and not enough time to do it in. I have multiple doctor appointments fit in to the next two weeks as well. It's just totally insane. I also really HAVE to finish up FE stuff so I can ship the majority of it. I gotta get on it this weekend. Luckily the last tiny bit of stuff I ordered finally arrived. It arrived LAST Friday but was apparently delivered to the wrong house, since UPS stated it was put in the customer's hands - A man. Very informative, especially since MY house was empty that day. Lucky the company was cool and just resent it, but now I'm behind! *flail*

I also had a few things I was considering, like walking sandals and windbreakers but finding them has proven difficult so I think I'm just skipping it. Also, how key is the over the door shoe holder thing? If I get one it needs to be transparent, like plastic, and I think I need to run to Wal-Mart to find one like that .

 

[wildforgoofy]

It's quiet in here today!

Hi Everyone! I'm finished with all the FE purchasing, bagging of the younger ones things, and making all the bag tags. Now, if only I could find the same enthusiasm to pack!

You can tell it's getting closer to our cruise date because we're all running around like crazy trying to get everything we THINK we need, knowing that 1/2 the stuff will probably never be used or worn.

I too am finding it difficult to pack. I used up all my energy on the FE's and now I'm just flat tired!: I think my brain has officially come to a screaming halt!

 

[jenf22]

Ok, so what do you guys think of this? I got this great picture from Cindy (which a cropped a tiny bit) - thanks Cindy! I was thinking of printing it 16x20 at Costco (it's only $5.99!) and then leaving it at Guest Services for the characters to sign. Do you think there's enough room for signatures? What about the text I added? Is it lame? Thanks for the help!

 

[iloverags2]

Ok, so what do you guys think of this? I got this great picture from Cindy (which a cropped a tiny bit) - thanks Cindy! I was thinking of printing it 16x20 at Costco (it's only $5.99!) and then leaving it at Guest Services for the characters to sign. Do you think there's enough room for signatures? What about the text I added? Is it lame? Thanks for the help!

Love the text at the bottom! Since it doesn't take up autograph space (since it's in an area that's dark), I would leave it. Do you have specific characters you plan on having sign it? The sky and sand patch on the bottom right leave good places for sigs.

So glad you were able to find one in that batch to use!

 

[Feisty Fairy]

Hello, Everyone.

I am done four pounds. Wish six more will go with it.

Just got done doing 50 minutes of Tae Bo now to start work on Fish Extenders will be done by next Friday. Yah!!


Also trip plans changed a little. We are still staying at All Star Music on the 7th and spending the 7th at Magic Kingdom then going to Epcot and Graden Grill for dinner. Next day HS and or AK until about 3pm. Drive to Port Canveral check in at the Residence for my free night Then go to Park and Cruise and take ther shuttle to the ship (I have heard good things about them and they are so much cheaper like $74 cheaper . Like and enjoy my first ever cruise in my 11C Stateroom. Then after are relaxing cruise my husband has convinced me to do something last minute which I normally would not do this last minute. What you might ask? Will the back story is we where going to Star Wars Celebration in August since my husband get extra funds from job then. But he has training that week and we had to cancel the trip. So here goes the surprise We are going back to WDW and camping at the FW. For 6 nights with QSDP standard loop so that we can catch Star Wars Weekend.

PS

First Time Cruising and First Time Camping.

 

[jenf22]

Cindy - I had heard if you want to have stuff signed, you can drop it and a bag of candy at Guest Services and they'll have the characters sign it. I assumed it was all the characters. I'm going to feel pretty weird showing up with my picture and a bribe!

Feisty - So cool! Congrats on the extended stay!

 

[iloverags2]

Cindy - I had heard if you want to have stuff signed, you can drop it and a bag of candy at Guest Services and they'll have the characters sign it. I assumed it was all the characters. I'm going to feel pretty weird showing up with my picture and a bribe!

Feisty - So cool! Congrats on the extended stay!

Yes, you absolutely can leave items to be signed. Some folks ask for specific characters, and others just let them have all sign them. Wasn't sure if you were going to do just specific ones or go for the gusto!