Mexico Lindo 10/23/2011 MR Cruise!!!

[tsb2]

Hi this is my first time to the website and the first to cruise on disney...we are so exciteed and looking for anyones tips of things not to miss on the ship or what food ..is a MUST HAVE....anyone ever went the week of halloween before? what to expect for the Halloween party and the Pirate party... Thanks so much and i look forward to hearing from you

If you grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and look through this thread on a Saturday morning , you will find most answers to the questions you've asked, but if you want to know something specific, we are all here to help. The one thing you should know is there is NO BETTER CRUISELINE than Disney especially for children and you are going to have a great time. Let there be some surprises if this is your first cruise it will make it that much more WONDERful!! Have a great trip!

Tara

 

[tsb2]

Okay Friends - This is the LAST DAY to sign up for the FE! I have received three more emails for participants and I will post those names first thing tomorrow morning with the official list. I am on call in the OR tonight but should have time to get to it first thing manana!! (Practicing the 'ole spanish) I will also post a breakdown of children's age groups, and adults men vs women and a meeting time and place prior to sailaway. I have met outside on the pool deck before but it tends to be very busy and noisy so I may consider a brief meeting outside one of the adult lounges. I am open to suggestions, but the official time and place will be posted tomorrow. I will make a DIS sign so that people can find the group wherever we decide to meet.

I am truly amazed at the turnout for the FE and I am soooo excited at how fun this will be with so many willing to participate. If you have never done this before, it will be a wonderful memory for your children...of all the things my children have enjoyed about cruising with Disney, this is their favorite.

Good luck working on your gifts and I can't wait meeting all of you.

Tara

 

[1DCL11]

Okay Friends - This is the LAST DAY to sign up for the FE! I have received three more emails for participants and I will post those names first thing tomorrow morning with the official list. I am on call in the OR tonight but should have time to get to it first thing manana!! (Practicing the 'ole spanish) I will also post a breakdown of children's age groups, and adults men vs women and a meeting time and place prior to sailaway. I have met outside on the pool deck before but it tends to be very busy and noisy so I may consider a brief meeting outside one of the adult lounges. I am open to suggestions, but the official time and place will be posted tomorrow. I will make a DIS sign so that people can find the group wherever we decide to meet.

I am truly amazed at the turnout for the FE and I am soooo excited at how fun this will be with so many willing to participate. If you have never done this before, it will be a wonderful memory for your children...of all the things my children have enjoyed about cruising with Disney, this is their favorite.

Good luck working on your gifts and I can't wait meeting all of you.

Tara

YAY... I cant wait to see the final list Im not so good at keeping track of it myself ... I suggest outside one of the lounges for our meeting.. I think it would be better/quieter there CANT WAIT !!!

 

[tsb2]

For those of you wanting an early start prior to midnight close of the FE, you can look at post #411, these are all the families that I have listed participating at this time. If you think you emailed me and I did not get the info or missed putting you on the list, please let me know ASAP and I will correct. Thanks.

Tara

 

[LuvIt]

Just a suggestion on a meet time for the day we board. On some othernthreads I noticed that some groups meet at 3:15 rather than 3:00 because of some open houses and drawings that people want to attend in various parts of the ship which occur at 3:00. never having cruised Disney before I'm not sure how important or pertinent that is but just noticed that meeting at 3:00 conflicted with other stuff.
Isn't there a mandatory safety drill? Would meeting 20 or 30 min before that make sense?
Lastly, do spouses and kiddie have to attend our FE groups meeting?

 

[tsb2]

Just a suggestion on a meet time for the day we board. On some othernthreads I noticed that some groups meet at 3:15 rather than 3:00 because of some open houses and drawings that people want to attend in various parts of the ship which occur at 3:00. never having cruised Disney before I'm not sure how important or pertinent that is but just noticed that meeting at 3:00 conflicted with other stuff.
Isn't there a mandatory safety drill? Would meeting 20 or 30 min before that make sense?
Lastly, do spouses and kiddie have to attend our FE groups meeting?

Thanks Luv It! I appreciate the suggestions; I am not aware of a 3:00 time that was set (possibly you are confusing the FE with the scavenger hunt)?? I agree that a 3:00 time is possibly too early, however I am not aware of any open houses or drawings the first day during those times (I did check posted navigators). Most people use the time following boarding to change dining times in Wavebands, make Palo ressies, check out the kids clubs, hang out with their kids at the Mickey pool, make appts at the Spa (there is a raffle here at 3:15), and wait on their luggage to arrive. The drill is at 4:00 following the "all aboard" call at 3:45 and the ship sets sail at 4:15 which is also the timing of the Adventures Away (aka sailaway) party. The meet I have planned is more a quick informal get together to hand out official lists of room numbers and make any changes to those room numbers based on upgrades members may have acquired while boarding. There are also several participants who won't receive their room number at all until boarding so important for all of us to get that info. I do warn that from boarding until dinner can be a busy time for most guests. It is not necessary for husbands or kiddos to come, just one adult member of your party who can confirm your stateroom number. My tenative plan is to arrange this for 3:30 allowing enough time to get back to your stateroom for the drill at 4pm. An alternative is to meet at 5:00 following sailaway, but most people are busy trying to unpack and get ready for early dining. I am open to either time, trying to make it as convenient as possible for everyone. I look forward to hearing from the majority and I am totally flexible. If people would like to hang around and introduce their kids to each other or get a drink then that would be great as well.

Tara

 

[LuvIt]

Whatever time you select is good with me, but if I would have to choose one, I'd vote for the earlier time of 3:30.

You are right about a time for us not being set....I had just seen posts of 3:00 sharp not being selectednfor other sailings because some FE participants wanting to go to some sort of open houses or drawings....maybe it was in kids clubs or spas or something....I'll see if I can find them again. Of course, being a new dcl cruiser, I might have misread or misinterpreted stuff...I'm not perfect (despite what I tell my husband!)

Hope your night in the OR isn't to crazy, Tara!

 

[Bessiam]

Oct. 1...23 days till we go...so much to do!! The family is excited.

 

[1DCL11]

I look forward to hearing from the majority and I am totally flexible. If people would like to hang around and introduce their kids to each other or get a drink then that would be great as well.

Tara

Maybe we can meet again later to do the intro's and get a drink ! The 330 time wont leave much time for chatting since we have the drill at 4.. and a lot of us have the early dinner...

 

[tsb2]

Okay Friends - Here is the official final list of participants in our fish extender exchange. I am sorry the names and ages are bunched, I couldn't fix it when I posted. I am so grateful for the turnout and I hope everyone has a good time with this activity.

traveljen1027 - Jennifer (34 - 35 on 10/27!), DH - Devin (35), DD -Lily (7), DS -Asher (2) stateroom 2510

Luvit - Cathy (that's me!), DH -Don (his birthday is the day we sail!), DS -Alexander or Alex (age 11) stateroom 6018

alleluia5- Shelly, hubby is Avito, boys are Aaron (12), Micah (9) and Christian (7). We have Staterooms 2044 and 2046. We will only put a FE outside one of the rooms - probably 2046. Thanks!

WestCoastMama - Jennifer (35), DH - Chris (37 turning 38 during the cruise!), DD -Allison (7), DS -Turner (4) and we're traveling with my mom Mary Leu. We have two SR 2594 and 2596 but I figure we'll only have one FE. We will probably hang it on SR 2594.

chrisrunty – Christine, DH - Khan, DS -Carson (3), stateroom 7120 we may try to upgrade to a suite the day of the cruise...

globerunner - Kim (36), DH -Javier (37), DD- Aubrey (3) (celebrating her 3rd on the ship!), Stateroom 2042. Also joining us is my sister - Fanessa (47), her DH-Daryl (49), and her DS Micah (2, almost 3), Stateroom 1056. Additionally, we have encouraged another family to join us who want to participate... here is their info: Jessie, her DH Steve, DD Hannah (2), DS Benjamin (1), Stateroom #5022

jhill10428 - Jason (30), DW - Heather (38), DD -Emily (17), DS -John (15). Stateroom 5504.

tsb2 – Tara (36), DH -Adam (37), DS- Seth (7), DS - Ryan(5). Stateroom 8508.


Pirate Princess 214- Stateroom 2116 DH -Michael (35), DD – Emily (4) & Stateroom 2118 Grandma – Josie (66), DS - Michael Jr. AKA Mikey (2), and myself – Veronika (30)

1DCL 11 - So excited... this is our first FE.. (first Disney Cruise)! Me - Dana (33), DH-Trevor (35), DD-Haylie (9), DS-Dalton (4) State Room # 2500

kristin 7462 -DH - Donovan, Me - Kristin and DS – Jaxon ( 1 ½ ); Stateroom number 5644

khoos - Sandra, Jeremie, kids Renee (9) and Alexander (6) at stateroom 7638

HurleyGirl - Me- Shannon, DH - Keith, DD - Brooklyn (3); stateroom number 6085

ScS1024- Me - Stacey, BFF - DJ, DS - Ethan (8), stateroom number 6094

peterpan47 & Satarma- Me - Christy (41), DM - Mary (aka Peterpan47)- 64, no kiddos! Stateroom number 5639

Bessiam- Me - Bess, DH - Steven, DD - Katie (7). We have stateroom number 6076.

nokaoi5- Me - Jen (28), no husband, no kiddos, cruising solo! Stateroom 2124!

BryBry3- Me - Dawn (39), DH- Danny (35), DD - Brylee (7), Stateroom number 5624

Lolaleigh- Me - Jennifer, DH- Jerry, DS - Dylan (14), DD - Alexis (10), Stateroom number 8576

Crotermund- Me - Cody, DW- Mary, DS - Haiden (9), DD - Chloe (5), Stateroom number 7001

Women – 23
Jennifer Jessie Shannon
Cathy Heather Stacey
Shelly Tara DJ
Jennifer Veronika Christy
Christine Dana Bess
Kim Kristin Jen
Fanessa Sandra Dawn
Jennifer Mary

Seasoned Women – 3
Mary Leu
Josie
Mary

Men – 19
Devin Steve Keith
Don Jason Steven
Avito Adam
Chris Michael
Khan Trevor
Javier Donovan
Daryl Jeremie
Danny Jerry
Cody


Girls – 13 ( one teenager)
Lilly (7) Hannah (2) Haylie (9) Katie (7)
Allison (7) Emily (17) Renee (9) Alexis (10)
Aubrey (3) Emily (4) Brooklyn (3) Brylee (7) Chloe (5)

Boys – 19 (Two teenagers)
Asher (2) Micah (2 ½) Jaxon (1 1/2)
Alex (11) Benjamin (1) Alexander (6)
Aaron (12) John (15) Ethan (8)
Micah (9) Seth (7) Dylan (14)
Christian (7) Ryan (5) Haiden (9)
Turner (4) Mikey (2)
Carson (3) Dalton (4)

Staterooms – 21 + 2 guarantees = 23
8576 8508 7638 7120 7001 6094
6085 6076 6018 5624 5639 5644 5504 5022
2594 2510 2500 2124 2118 2116 2046 2042
1056
_________________________________________________________________

We will have a brief 15-20 minute meeting in the Promenade Lounge at 3:30 to finalize stateroom numbers for those with guarantees and anyone who receives an upgrade upon embarkation. This is very informal but should you like to stay and chat, have a drink (I highly encourage this...it makes the required life vest drill at 4:00 that much more fun!) or introduce your children you can certainly do that, however only one adult member of your party is required to attend to confirm your room number. I hate to be the FE police , but if you or someone from your group is unable to attend, then you will be excluded from the gift exchange as others will need your information to locate you on board. If for some unforeseen reason you just absolutely cannot make it to the meeting (please, please try your hardest), you may call my stateroom under the name Adam or Tara Brunin and leave a message with your information prior to 3:00 and I will pass on to the rest of the group. Additionally, I will call you back late in the evening with everyone else's information.

I encourage everyone to print a transcript of this post and bring on board, but I will have lists printed to handout at the meeting as well. Happy finalizing your gifts and I very much look forward to meeting everyone. Have a WONDERFUL trip!!

Tara

 

[LuvIt]

Woo hoo! thanks for the final master list Tara. This makes the cruise seem official!

See you all in 22 days

 

[tsb2]

Maybe we can meet again later to do the intro's and get a drink ! The 330 time wont leave much time for chatting since we have the drill at 4.. and a lot of us have the early dinner...

I agree totally! I was hoping that we could as adults meet up in Wavebands one night for their adult "scavenger hunt" where they ask people to sit in groups and find random objects of clothing or things from purses etc....it is a whooping good time and not to be missed! This would allow some of us to chat while having the game as an ice breaker. My husband and I, along with another group, won and we received free rainforest passes to the spa for the whole cruise, it was awesome! Just one idea for an alternative gathering.

Tara

 

[1DCL11]

I agree totally! I was hoping that we could as adults meet up in Wavebands one night for their adult "scavenger hunt" where they ask people to sit in groups and find random objects of clothing or things from purses etc....it is a whooping good time and not to be missed! This would allow some of us to chat while having the game as an ice breaker. My husband and I, along with another group, won and we received free rainforest passes to the spa for the whole cruise, it was awesome! Just one idea for an alternative gathering.

Tara

Sounds good to me... should be a lot of fun !!!

 

[ScS1024]

Hi all,

We are all very excited forbthe trip. Finding costumes for the trick or treat and pirate night. Even purchased gifts for the exchange.

Other info about us:
Stacey celebrating 45th birthday on October 24. Also celebrating 7 year survivor from breast cancer. It is national breast cancer month.
DJ (BFF) is excited to do nothing but read a book.
Ethan (8) is excited to miss a week of school. He can't wait to be at the kids club.

Stacey

 

[Bessiam]

3 weeks and we will all meet up. We are ready for a vacation! See all of you soon.

 

[peterpan47]

Sounds good to me... should be a lot of fun !!!

The 3:30 time and Wavebands sounds great to us too. We're looking forward to having a little more non-scheduled cruise activity time on this cruise, as all of our other cruises have been 4-day cruises and there was very little time to just relax

 

[alleluia5]

The 3:30 time and Wavebands sounds great to us too. We're looking forward to having a little more non-scheduled cruise activity time on this cruise, as all of our other cruises have been 4-day cruises and there was very little time to just relax

You will love the 7 day. There is such a big difference from the 4 day - I find that I am really just starting to relax by the 3rd night which is when I have to start thinking about packing up on the 4 day - but on the 7 day it isn't even half over!!!

 

[ScS1024]

Does anyone know if you can still bring a pillowcase or t-shirt to the purser desk to have the characters sign during the cruise?

Thanks,
Stacey

 

[1DCL11]

Does anyone know if you can still bring a pillowcase or t-shirt to the purser desk to have the characters sign during the cruise?

Thanks,
Stacey

From what I have read..yes.. Disney "recommends" one per stateroom.. although Im gonna attempt two... one for each of the kids !

 

[WestCoastMama]

Whew! Back from my whirlwind 3 day Carnival cruise and man am I pumped up more than ever! Let me tell you Carnival is no DCL. I am now caught up with our thread.

Bessiam I have put you and your family down for the Scavenger Hunt. FIY for all cruisers I am continuing to accept participants through the week before the cruise. My primary concern is having enough handouts for everyone. I will hand out the handouts at our first DIS meet before sail away.

I am so excited to meet all of you. It would be great if more people posted pics so we can recognize each other at the terminal.

I was also thinking it would be fun to wear name tags @ our meets with our DIS name on it. I can bring a package of name tags and sharpees.