Memorial Week Cruise May 24-29, 2009

[g-ma]

We are staying at a resort after the cruise, value, but resort none the less. . It appears because we are adding the extra days and using tickets we already will have that the dp is a no go.

Is anyone else staying on or splitting their park days?

Well anyway, doing the whoo hoo on the ADR. We have been able so far to get all that we wanted. Must wait until Friday to res. the final days of our stay.

Does anyone have experience with coral reef? Thinking of that for dinner in Epcot. The kids will be going to Tappan Edo which I read is very nice.

Good luck to all of you as you begin to bring the magic to life. We are getting closer!!!

 

[twokats]

We did lunch at Coral Reef on our last trip. We all enjoyed it. One wall is a glass aquarium and it is so neat to watch the different fish swimming around. We were seated almost mid way into the restaurant so we got a good look at the aquarium. It was also good service as I remember.

 

[CUL8R]

OK...let's try this again...the system keeps booting me out!

Hi gang!

I'm new to the boards and new to cruising...this will be our first cruise. We don't have a room number yet. We haven't received the booklet either (now that I've said that it'll probably be in the mail tomorrow). I'm interested the the FE thing...but have NEVER done anything like it before. Here's my answers to the questions:

Name or what you go by . . . Tina

State I reside in . . . Arizona

Traveling with . . . My 2 sons

Land and sea or sea only . . . Sea, but we'll be staying in a hotel close by (Titusville or something like that) the night before and staying at the POP at WDW the night after. We're just going to hang out in DTD that day. I can't see paying for 1 day park tickets.

Have you cruised before . . . Never. This is not only our first Disney cruise, but it's our very first cruise...ever!

What will you celebrate . . . My older son's graduation from High School and my younger son's promotion to High School (I'm praying).

Dressing up for pirate night . . . I probably will, older son might, younger son is just too cool for that kind of stuff.

Favorite character . . . Goofy, Mickey, Tiggrrrrrrrr (can't decide)

Favorite Disney memory . . . MNSSHP before my youngest was too cool to dress up, he dressed up like Davy Jones...he got some GREAT interaction from Jack Sparrow on the POTC float in the parade...how I wish I had a camera to capture it all!

3 must do's . . . Relax, don't be nervous, come a little bit further out of the shell

Time of dinner seating . . . The first one.

Just for laughs . . .

Sweet tea or Pepsi - Diet Dr. Pepper

Sun or shade . . . Shade, but understand, I live in AZ and I burn...I don't tan.

Morning or night person . . . night, it's hard getting motivated in the morning

Last book read . . . Passporters Disney Cruise (still reading it...and my Bible)

Taking a book on the cruise . . . I'm thinking about it.

3 best tips you've heard or read . . . 1. You can bring your own snorkel gear to Castaway Cay. 2. Towels are provided at Castaway Cay

I read on the DCL website in the FAQ that you can't bring a personal cooler unless you need one for medications...

 

[twokats]

OK...let's try this again...the system keeps booting me out!

Hi gang!

I'm new to the boards and new to cruising...this will be our first cruise. We don't have a room number yet. We haven't received the booklet either (now that I've said that it'll probably be in the mail tomorrow). I'm interested the the FE thing...but have NEVER done anything like it before.

Last book read . . . Passporters Disney Cruise (still reading it...and my Bible)

I read on the DCL website in the FAQ that you can't bring a personal cooler unless you need one for medications...

CUL8R: Welcome!!
Don't you just love the Passporter book. I am reading the same one. It does have a lot of info.
As you can tell from reading the board, a lot of us are first timers and have not ever done the FE, but I know we will all enjoy it.

I talked to a lady at my church tonight who will help me make mine. All I have to do is get a picture and figure out my design and she will make it for me. Can't wait!!

On the cruise line thread, there are sever discussions about the cooler. It has to be a soft sided cooler and small enough to go through the carryon scanner (or whatever they call it). I will try to find one of the ones I read and get dimensions tomorrow. I think the ones for meds can be the hard type coolers (?????)

I bought my DH a Mickey softsided cooler that collapses from Disneyshopping.com. It arrived today and is really cute.

 

[CUL8R]

Cool(er)! Then I'll be my small soft cooler...now I have to decide if I'll bring the Mickey one or the Tink one...maybe I'll bring both!

Did you buy the one on rollers? Mine are just the small lunch sized coolers.

I'm hoping to learn a lot here so that I'm good and ready for our cruise when it comes time to go.

On the FE's...do we bring one gift to put in each of the other FE's or do we put something in them each day?

 

[CUL8R]

g-ma (Marlene) from Ohio; traveling w/DH, adult children (KellyLou), spouses, and kids land&sea; 1st cruise; celebrating son's b-day/alone time/family; main dining; Deck 7 & 2, Room?

Kelly Lou (Kelly) from Ohio; traveling w/DH, DS 8, DS 7, and DD 3 (and parents (g-ma), siblings, in laws, and neices and nephews- 17 total); Land&Sea&Land; 1st cruise; celebrating family; main dining; Deck? Room?

twokats (Kathy/Kat) from Texas; traveling w/DH; land&sea&land; 1st cruise; celebrating 25th anniversary; late dining; deck 6, Room 6080

hillfam (Monique) from Georgia; traveling w/DH, DS7, DS2; Sea?&Land?; 4th cruise; celebrating DH's return/4th honeymoon; main dining; deck 6, room 6110

lilouisianagal (Claire) from Louisiana; traveling w/DH; Sea; 1st cruise;
celebrating Honeymoon; main dining; deck 2, room 2078

and cuL8r (Tina) from AZ; traveling with DS 18 and DS 14, Sea with1 DTD day, 1st cruise, celebrating DS 18 HS graduation and DS 14 promotion to HS, main dining, don't have a room assignment yet (we'll probably get put in the engine room...hee! hee!).

 

[twokats]

Cool(er)! Then I'll be my small soft cooler...now I have to decide if I'll bring the Mickey one or the Tink one...maybe I'll bring both!

Did you buy the one on rollers? Mine are just the small lunch sized coolers.

I'm hoping to learn a lot here so that I'm good and ready for our cruise when it comes time to go.

On the FE's...do we bring one gift to put in each of the other FE's or do we put something in them each day?

I bought him the Mickey one. Yes it has rollers and a handle that will extend, not as much as I would like, but it will work.

I get on whenever I have a chance for the same reason. I have been on the DIS now for almost 3 years. It is amazing some of the things I have learned - like the safari's that we are booked for at AKL, and everything else. The magnets, the FE's it is totally awesome how many people love Disney!!

We are still discussing how we will do the FE's, so give your opinion on how you would like and hopefully we will all make a decision soon, so that individual plans can be made.

It is getting closer and closer and I just hope I get it all done in time!!

 

[g-ma]

Tina

Where in Ariz. are you from? My sister lives in Phoenix. A brother in Glendale , and another brother in Wickenburg. Been there many times.

I guess we'll all have some experience. This cruise will be a first for many of us.

I vote ( just my opinion) to make a plan/list and have something delivered to the FE each night, however make it rotate so that each person (group/cabin)only has to deliver one time. What are the other opinions on this??? Maybe we'll end up with enough people on here to have 2-3 deliver each night.

We do need to get busy on deciding this so we can all get out to the stores.

Welcome aboard-------Marlene

 

[CUL8R]

I'm in Avondale...a Phoenix suburb, southwest valley. Was born in Ohio too...at a hospital in Warrensville Heights...grew up in Garfield Heights (both suburbs of Cleveland) but have been in AZ since I was 8yo...except for the brief time that I was married...but that was a time of domestic violence so I like to remember it only for the fact that 2 of my kids (DD 21 and DS18) came from that brief but horrendous time in my life.

I like your idea, g-ma, regarding the rotation for the FE. I'd feel better about that, because even though I do LOVE the idea, I can see how it could turn out to be another expense that has the potential of becoming quite large...and we're really scrimping and saving to be able to just go! But I've seen several ideas that seem like they wouldn't be very expensive...and if it turns out to be a small group, I could do a couple of those. So, whatever y'all decide...but I think it is time to make a decision...it's 83 days away! Woo! Hoo!

 

[Kelly Lou]

Hi Tina

I love seeing new people join us!

We're staying at Pop and doing downtown Disney the day after the cruise too! You'll be sick of running into our group by then! LOL!

And, I have a question about the coolers for anyone who can answer.. I read in someone's trip report that they brought a regular cooler, hard, on wheels on the ship with no problems. I thought it was only at the theme parks that I needed a certain sized soft sided cooler. Anyone?

 

[Kelly Lou]

FE's- I bought my fabric weeks ago, at 10pm, I HAD to run to the store that minute and do it, then I was too tired to make it when I got home, now it's still sitting in my diningrm! LOL - Guess I'm gonna have to figure out this sewing machine and get it made.

Here's my thoughts!

As for our FE hand outs I vote that we each do one passout during the trip. We can make a schedule depending on how many are interested in participating, this way we don't all pass em out on the same night. I think we should all pass an item to each person in each family that is participating. I think it could be whatever you want it to be- Disney themed or something representing your home town. Let me know who is interested in participating. If everyone is new to this then I think we can just run with the idea and do our own thing. Let me know what everyone thinks and I'll put together a schedule for us. Also, let me know if your gift idea is a specific theme that would work best on a certain day or if you have a prefrence for a certain night(like a pirate themed gift might want to be passed out on pirate night , or a beach theme may want to be passed out the night before castaway cay).

Any suggestions on the FE thing!?!

 

[g-ma]

O.k. just re-read what I said...(lilouisianagal has it in quotes a few posts up.), for 'what will you celebrate' I must of said, alone time. Who goes on a cruise with 17 people for alone time? What I meant was...alone time with my husband! Omg, if you only knew my life. DD moved back in with 2 kids ( babysitter of the year here) and although I'd love some alone time I hope to get some quality time with hubby. Ya know, spa treatment, ooh aahh, that sorta thing.

Tina, my sister lives near pleasant valley mall sort of, near scottsdale. We live about 50 mins from cleveland. Staying at pop c. after also.

I agree we gotta get the FE up and moving. Time will start to fly by now as we get closer and spring weather breaks.

Can you share what some of the types of things people leave are. Do you know what they suggest for adults? Do we choose an amount per person? Never did this before and agree it could get costly. Just guessing, I figure dollar store items, etc. Also, on one thread I read a family delivered each night and said it took about an hr. a night to do this, so that is why I opt to make a list and do only one night. I don't want to miss anything

Common ya'll I want to hear from you. Let's take a vote!

---M

 

[CUL8R]

I've read that people give magnets, candy, dollar store trinkets, pens...I read one person gave everyone a ziploc bag with little things they thought first time cruisers could use but don't think to bring (highlighter, paper clips...I don't remember the rest, but I am a first time cruiser). Pez dispensers, small tubes of Disney themed toothpaste, stickers, I saw where someone made a Disney cookbook...I assume they printed up Disney recipes and made them into a book for everyone, date books/pocket calendar, canadian syrup and beaver droppings (I'm guessing the giver was from Canada), note pads, CD's (looks like home made...don't know if it's music or pics), antenna balls, lanyard (from Alaska), key chain, buttons, book marks, small stuffed animals, pencil toppers, it looks like someone made each family a book to put their pictures in...it says ______family cruise, pins, coins (don't look like american coins...don't know if they're foreign or souvenier coins from somewhere), Disney themed nametags, coupons for free ice cream cone, and some people gave bags/small boxes with stuff that I couldn't see, and I saw something that look like it was either a picture frame from Wisconsin or a touring book...you know with all the nice pictures in it to get you to want to go there.

G-Ma...do you mean Paradise Valley Mall? My DD21 lives down in that direction.

Kelly Lou, put me on the list...I don't have anything specific planned to give yet, so just find out if anybody else wants a specific night and then use me to fill in the blanks...but pls let me know which night is mine.

I'm happy to meet y'all and looking forward to being able to say "hi" in person. I tend to be shy, so if it seems like I'm ignoring anybody, it's not personal...it's fear. Should we all wear buttons or something so that we know who we all are?

 

[hillfam]

Hey, Everybody! Sign us up for it too! Sounds like fun, but please let the optimal word be......affordable!

 

[g-ma]

Tina, ( yes, sorry, meant Paradise Valley)

Thanks for the great idea's for the FE. I have a better understanding now.

We suggested earlier in the thread a meet and greet once we board. Some groups will use a lime green ribbon to identify them. From what I read, most groups meet the first day so they can give a friendly wave as they pass by. And many make arrangements to meet again for drinks/coffee at a later point. I think all of that is up to us.

Personally, I love the idea. My sister has cruised many times on other ships and they never did any of this. No door magnets either. Just seems like good clean fun to me. Almost like a family camp. Well, Disney does say, 'welcome home'! It'll be nice to see familiar faces in the crowd.

And Tina, no need to be shy with us. It's your time to shine!!!

Kelly Lou--put me on the list for first or last night. Can't do sons b-day night, sorry.

 

[twokats]

We suggested earlier in the thread a meet and greet once we board. Some groups will use a lime green ribbon to identify them. From what I read, most groups meet the first day so they can give a friendly wave as they pass by. And many make arrangements to meet again for drinks/coffee at a later point. I think all of that is up to us.

Kelly Lou--put me on the list for first or last night. Can't do sons b-day night, sorry.

As I said before. . . I don't do green. . . bad color for me
But I think we need to do something really unique and noticable. . . have to think on that one!!

I think you can put me down for Monday night, which would be Memorial Day. I can't do Tuesday since that is my anniversary!!

 

[Kelly Lou]

Hi Everyone,
I'm getting excited! It's coming soon now!
I've been keeping track of those who want to participate in FE (so far: me, g-ma, hillfam, twokats, and cuL8r) and their preferences if any.
So far we have enough participants to pass out each night, and we're working on a second for each night!
Question: are we passing a gift to each room or to each person in the room? I vote to each person- let me know what everyone else thinks, either way is fine. Also, we have ages of the children in the families, how does everyone feel about giving the kids names for the gift bags??? If anyone is concerned for privacy issues you can pm me that info.
I am creating a word doc with our roster (all the disers, not just those who will participate in FE) and our FE schedule, once it's complete I can post it for everyone. I'll also make copies and bring to our meeting. What does everyone say about Kathy's suggestion for our meeting? Does anyone have a place or time suggestion for us to meet? I suggest that we do it on the first day- what time?
Let me know your opinions!

 

[CUL8R]

Hi!

Am I a Dis-er now?

Hey, I got a little excited when I did the math for the number of days 'til the cruise...from today, it's 85 days away...I must have been too excited and didn't see the numbers straight when I did the math!

Anyhoo...I'm all for meeting up on the first day...however, we will be suffering from a 3 hour time zone difference. We usually wake up between 7 and 8 a.m. on the weekends...but that'll already be 10-11 a.m. in FL. Soooo, we'd prefer a time after boarding, but before the party they have when the ship sets sail. Beyond that, we're flexible.

I've read the rooms open up around 1 or 1:30. Do y'all want to get settled in your rooms first?

Where do y'all find the smiley's you put in your posts? I'm new to these boards and there's several things I can't do until after I have a certain number of posts. Is smiley's one of those things? Like after I've posted 10 times I'll get the smiley option?

 

[lilouisianagal]

ChurchLady: Ohh have you ever been parasailing before? Hopefully we will see you on that expedition!

KellyLou: the CC trail sounds fun! Running in little circles isnt my favorite thing so that will be nice. Your trip sounds so lovely. I want to be there now!
And count us in for the FE's. We don't know yet when we will be on the ship, but meeting up the first day sounds good!

G-Ma: My parents and I went to Coral Reef quite a few years ago. Can't say we were terribly impressed. It's slightly creepy to be watching fish and eating fish at the same time. You can see the tanks just as well from in The Sea. We had a horribly long wait (w/ ADRs), they brought out the wrong food, and then what they did bring our was cold and not very good. Maybe it was just an off day? And it was quite a few years back.

TwoKats: You can get a little "paint chip" Mickey's head from Home Depot (free color sample in the shape of Mickey's head) in lime green. For marathon meets we all have alert shirts in lime green! Hard to miss spotting your Disboards team members that way!!!

Tina: Welcome! The smiles are available if you click the "Post Reply" button at the top or bottom left of the thread or if you click "Go advanced". It gives you a basic set or you can click "More" in the bottom left to open a new window with lots of smilies, including Disney smilies!

Anyone know if there's a map of Castaway Cay anywhere?

Or when the ship arrives at CC?

 

[lilouisianagal]

jenelabri (Jennifer) from ?; traveling w/DH, ds 9, dd 5 and both sets of grandparents; sea only?; 1st cruise; celebrating?; ? dining?; Deck? Room?

churchlady (Leigh) from Georgia; traveling w/DH, DD12, DD14, DD16; land&sea&land; 3rd cruise; celebrating?; late dining; deck 6, rooms 6524 & 6526

candlemakerw/twins (name?) from Massachusetts; traveling w/DH, DD5, DD5; land&sea; 4th cruise; celebrating?; ?dining?; deck 6, room?

g-ma (Marlene) from Ohio; traveling w/DH, adult children (KellyLou), spouses, and kids; land&sea; 1st cruise; celebrating son's b-day/alone time/family; main dining; Deck 7 & 2, Room 7035

Kelly Lou (Kelly) from Ohio; traveling w/DH, DS 8, DS 7, and DD 3 (and parents (g-ma), siblings, in laws, and neices and nephews- 17 total); Land&Sea&Land; 1st cruise; celebrating family; main dining; Deck 7 Room 7039

twokats (Kathy/Kat) from Texas; traveling w/DH; land&sea&land; 1st cruise; celebrating 25th anniversary; late dining; deck 6, Room 6080

hillfam (Monique) from Georgia; traveling w/DH, DS7, DS2; Sea?&Land?; 4th cruise; celebrating DH's return/4th honeymoon; main dining; deck 6, room 6110

lilouisianagal (Claire) from Louisiana; traveling w/DH; Sea only; 1st cruise; celebrating Honeymoon; main dining; deck 2, room 2078

CUL8R (Tina) from Arizona; traveling w/DS, DS; [little]land&sea; 1st cruise; celebrating sons' graduations; main dining; deck? room?