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

[alleluia5]

I have yet to break the news to my kiddos (DD 7 & DS 4) about the cruise. Any suggestions on how to surprise them?

Same here - not sure if I want to wait and surprise them last minute or do it further out and be part of the planning....

 

[jhill10428]

I just joined the Disboards and they won't let me PM you until I have 10 posts. Is there another way I can contact you to join the FE Group?

 

[WestCoastMama]

Hi all - we are officially booked and paid so excited!!!!

It will be me, hubby and our 3 boys (7, 9, 12). I am totally up for the FE and any other things you all want to plan. Caught up on the thread and hopefully now that more of us are joining we can get it going. Just booked our Palo and Brunch - there are tons of spots left! Also booked our excursions - a little snorkeling, a little touring and the PV resort one based on your recommendations!

Can't wait to get to know you all and plan for our trip!

Good to know about the ressies!

 

[chrisrunty]

Looking back at pics from April is getting me so excited for October! I thought I would share.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5644283848_b5fa9a893f.jpg

El Arco, Land's End, Cabo San Lucas

 

[chrisrunty]

hmm... don't think pics are working... I'll have to figure it out. Sorry. May need to ask DH.

 

[chrisrunty]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5636266436_172e30a8e4_b.jpg

 

[tsb2]

I just joined the Disboards and they won't let me PM you until I have 10 posts. Is there another way I can contact you to join the FE Group?

Hi! No worries about the posts you will have ten shortly. Just send me an email at tbrunin@kumc.edu with your family info/ages and your stateroom number. It appears we have several first timers who are unfamiliar with a fish extender exchange so I will post info on this thread soon describing the process. Glad you are joining and welcome!

Tara

 

[tsb2]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5636266436_172e30a8e4_b.jpg

Beautiful view of the Wonder!!!

Tara

 

[chrisrunty]

That is the puerto vallarta port...

 

[WestCoastMama]

Same here - not sure if I want to wait and surprise them last minute or do it further out and be part of the planning....

Part of me wants to wait so I don't hear "When are we leaving??" everyday and the other part of me wants them to be as excited as me. Decisions!

 

[tsb2]

Okay friends - I have received several PM's regarding participation in the FE exhange, some with questions because they have never participated before. So I thought it a good idea to post a simple explanation for those first timers. Fish extenders are pocketed fabric hangers that "extend" the fish mail box on the outside of each stateroom. Most people purchase theirs custom on Ebay or from Etsy (I did this for about $20 and love it!). More crafty people other than me, can make them easily themselves. It is hung over your fish on the first day and then throughout the cruise participants leave gifts and trinkets in the pockets. Some people are elaborate with a few of their gifts on one day only (ie embroidered items, mini scrapbooks etc.) Others leave alot of inexpensive items on many days (ie dollar store items, oriental trading company). On the last cruise I made marshmallow shooters for the boys, princess totes with many girlie goodies for the young girls, made custom jewelry for the ladies, and gave a homemade barbeque rub to the men since we were from Kansas City it seemed appropriate. Additionally since it was a "Double Dip" cruise to Castaway Cay I gave everyone a gift certificate to Cold Stone Creamery. Some people personalize their gifts for the cruise by obtaining specially designed graphics from the graphics thread on the DIS which our group did with Mickey holding an ice cream cone with two scoops as an example.

As far as the organization is concerned, I will keep a tally of names, ages and staterooms and I will post a preliminary list here in the next day or so and keep adding names of those who want to participate. The one caveat is some people have room guarantees and others will try to obtain upgrades the day of sailing. In the past, usually you have a stateroom number before sailing with a guarantee when you receive documents especially when the ship is this empty. For those who receive upgrades once we board, I hope we can meet briefly before the sail away party and meet, get to know each other, have a quick drink, than update the list of names with any stateroom changes. Those participating should print the "FINAL" list of names and stateroom numbers prior to sailing and bring it onboard so they know where to deposit their gifts. I will post the "FINAL" list on October 14 as previously mentioned so that everyone can pack and not be trying to find last minute gifts days before sailing as has happened to me in rather unorganized FE's in the past.

For those first timers, I have included a link to a rather extensive thread on FE's from someone elses cruise which you might find helpful, but also do a forum search with key words "fish extender" and you will see plenty of helpful threads and tips to get you started.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980639&highlight=fish+extender

There is no rhyme or reason to how the gifts are distributed...its more like a secret santa. Whenever you and your family find the free time to run through the ship delivering gifts to peoples staterooms is how it works. Because my family did bigger more costly gifts we delivered on one day only and were done. Other familys distributed something to each stateroom each day which my kids just loved because it was like a stuffed stocking everyday. Sometimes we would have stuff when we woke up, after we got back from an excursion, or after the evening show. It was in a word...AWESOME....and by far one of my favorite things about cruising with Disney other than Castaway Cay!

I have never had to worry about people taking stuff from the fish extenders yet and have never heard of peoples gifts being lifted but I guess its a possibility. I have had people zip tie their gifts to the FE or the door handle for added protection but don't think it is necessary.

Well thats all I can think of regarding FE 101 for now, but don't hesitate to ask questions as they present. I can' wait... even if we have just a few groups it will be "WONDERful"!

Tara

 

[traveljen1027]

Okay, I am so behind...I have to catch up on all the posts AND figure out the FE!!

Biggest dilemna to date - should our kids eat with us and then go to the kid's club (we have late seating) or should they just go to the kid's club right after the show? Ugh. Can't decide. DD 7 and DS 2 can barely make it through dinner at home. Thinking of just booking 9 to 10:30 now for Asher, and then adding more time if needed, plus nap time during the day so Mommy & Daddy can lay by the pool, but maybe that is nutso.

 

[LuvIt]

Regarding surprising vs telling the kids about the trip.....

For what it's worth, I think part of the fun of any trip or vacation is the anticipation of it - especially when kids are a little older and can really appreciate the anticipation and help with the planning. This will be our first cruise so my son and I have been reading up on cruise ships, the ports we'll visit, etc.

On the other hand, I love a big surprise so I'm conflicted!

If you do decide to tell them in advance, I thought presenting them with a "count down board" of some sort (rip off pages or cross off dates) that shows how many days to the sail date is a cute idea.

 

[traveljen1027]

I love the idea of surprising them at the airport...I read that someone else told their kids they were going to CA on vacation, so the kids didn't realize something was up when they went to the airport, and didn't tell the kids that they were actually going on a DCL trip until they pulled up to the port. Another fun way is to let the Character Call be the announcement - you can schedule it however fun in advance, and pick your character, so it is fun when Mickey or whoever calls your kiddos and tells them how excited they are to have them come on the ship!!

 

[WestCoastMama]

Regarding surprising vs telling the kids about the trip.....

For what it's worth, I think part of the fun of any trip or vacation is the anticipation of it - especially when kids are a little older and can really appreciate the anticipation and help with the planning. This will be our first cruise so my son and I have been reading up on cruise ships, the ports we'll visit, etc.

On the other hand, I love a big surprise so I'm conflicted!

If you do decide to tell them in advance, I thought presenting them with a "count down board" of some sort (rip off pages or cross off dates) that shows how many days to the sail date is a cute idea.

If I do tell them in advance a count down board is brillant!

I love the idea of surprising them at the airport...I read that someone else told their kids they were going to CA on vacation, so the kids didn't realize something was up when they went to the airport, and didn't tell the kids that they were actually going on a DCL trip until they pulled up to the port. Another fun way is to let the Character Call be the announcement - you can schedule it however fun in advance, and pick your character, so it is fun when Mickey or whoever calls your kiddos and tells them how excited they are to have them come on the ship!!

I totally forgot about the Character Call. That would be a fun way for them to find out. I could put the call on speaker and videotape their response.


Tara, thanks for all your work on organizing the FE!

 

[WestCoastMama]

For all you looking to purchase an FE (like me ) here are two sellers I've heard good things about:

On ebay gradysmommy &
On etsy stichesNbows

They both will need plenty of notice.

 

[alleluia5]

Part of me wants to wait so I don't hear "When are we leaving??" everyday and the other part of me wants them to be as excited as me. Decisions!

LOL I know exactly what you mean. Part of me wants to literally wait until the day we are on the way to the ship!

 

[alleluia5]

Great summary of the FE - so excited - seems like we are going to have a great group here!

 

[alleluia5]

For all you looking to purchase an FE (like me ) here are two sellers I've heard good things about:

On ebay gradysmommy &
On etsy stichesNbows

They both will need plenty of notice.

Gradysmommy is awesome - she was actually on a cruise we took a while back and made me the most beautiful bag - very talented!

 

[WestCoastMama]

Great summary of the FE - so excited - seems like we are going to have a great group here!