MR January 29 2012- Who's in?

[moomy-san]

Oh ok... just want to make sure I drop everything off at the correct rooms.

I am keeping track at the start of this thread but I will have everyone double check my info before we sail

 

[lyssandre]

Falco, don't wait on the activities! I second what moomy-san said -- pick what you think your family will like, and book now. I waited a night to ask dh what he thought about whale-watching in Cabo, and he was totally enthusiastic . . . unfortunately, now both days are totally full Hoping someone will cancel between now and then, or maybe we can book onboard.

Oh, and *definitely* schedule a meal at Palo. You may not know it, but you both want that! For sure! I'd recommend one of the nights at sea. We're booked for both dinner and brunch. Mmmmm.

Getting even more excited, and it's hard to not talk about it in front of the kids! Don't know how you're containing yourself if your wife doesn't know LOL Dh and I close the door after bedtime and giggle about our planning like children.

 

[lyssandre]

I'm trying to do that but I can't seem to find it. Is it in that locked area that you can get into once you pick cash or credit card for onboard account?

I was able to do it right away, but I kind of did the whole mess at once . . . onboard account, etc.

 

[Mimiminie]

Holy Mahi-Mahi Mail, Mickey!

We are on our first DCL sailing on this cruise and I had no idea what an FE was until yesterday, it sounds like a great idea for the kids. However, the whole cruise is a christmas reveal for the kids AND my wife Tara (DW? Disney Wife? Dear Wife?).

So that Tara can participate in the planning experience as possible, I have done the most minimal planning and booking needed. Creating / getting the FE and picking the right fish extender stuffers is definately something she would like.

With that said, is it too late to confirm for FE participation right after christmas?

It would be our two sons and possibly us:
Josh - 5
Jack - 2 turning 3
Tara & Andy - 30's


PS: What are the must book early items?
- cruise - check
- flights - check
- palo dinner - ???
- shore excursions - not yet
- 2 hotel nights - not yet
- ground transfers - not yet
- other???

Falco -

Totally understand about the BIG reveal .. we too are waiting until X-mas morning to tell the kids but fortunately my DH did tell me prior because everyone on here is right the good times and good excursions will fill up fast and if you think that is important to her .. slip a lil secret note under her pillow from Santa and let her in on the secret .. then she can enjoy in the secret planning as well .. we are revealing the tickets to the kids in a FE .. thought it would be fun to add to the excitement and then the kids can make door decorations during break! I can't wait! so excited .. we also booked a Palo dinner and brunch ! Cheers to everyone having a great time!

 

[inhousemouse]

I am keeping track at the start of this thread but I will have everyone double check my info before we sail

I have no doubt.

 

[inhousemouse]

I booked my excursions today and our port arrival time for 11 - 11:30AM.

 

[lyssandre]

Any of you more experienced types know when my GTY will magically turn to a cabin number? Last time around we booked through a TA and had three consecutive cabins for our party of ten...so we knew a year in advance. This all feels *very* last-minute LOL Not that that's a bad thing. I'm kind of enjoying the spontaneity of it all!

 

[lyssandre]

I am keeping track at the start of this thread but I will have everyone double check my info before we sail

Thanks for getting us organized! Still kind of hoping that once the holiday craziness wears off, you'll decide it's a fine idea to join in anyhow

 

[inhousemouse]

I second Lyssandre!

 

[kidclassic]

Any of you more experienced types know when my GTY will magically turn to a cabin number? Last time around we booked through a TA and had three consecutive cabins for our party of ten...so we knew a year in advance. This all feels *very* last-minute LOL Not that that's a bad thing. I'm kind of enjoying the spontaneity of it all!

Part of our group was GTY but got their room assigned yesterday.

 

[lyssandre]

Thanks!! Gonna go check now....

 

[alaskanabbott]

I booked my excursions today and our port arrival time for 11 - 11:30AM.

WOW, I LOVE that I stayed up till 11pm to make sure I got an early time!!!

 

[lyssandre]

WOW, I LOVE that I stayed up till 11pm to make sure I got an early time!!!

Yeah, but think of how disappointed you might have been if you hadn't and didn't get what you want . . . think of it as insurance And motherly dedication!

Drat. Still GTY. Now I'm gonna have to stalk the DCL page until it changes LOL

 

[inhousemouse]

WOW, I LOVE that I stayed up till 11pm to make sure I got an early time!!!

I know what you mean! I couldn't stand the idea of arriving after 12PM and well I figured that we check out of the hotel by 11AM so there's no reason to wonder the streets with all of bags so we'll just head over to the Port and see what we can see and who we can meet before we get on board.

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Hi all!! Just wanted to join in on the chat here. I just made a last-minute decision to get in on the "Kids Sail Free" offer! This will be our 8th cruise, but FIRST one sailing out of the Port of LA. Port Canaveral is "home away from home", but with this being a sudden decision, I'm freaking out with not much time to plan! Usually I'm planning our DCL cruises almost a year in advance! EEK! We just got off the Dream in September. While onboard, we booked the Sept. 8, 2012, Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy. We still have that one booked at this point, and hope I can afford to keep it along with this one. It will be myself (35), son (16 1/2), daughter (14), and daughter (6). It was just my 6 year old and I on our Dream cruise because my teens said they are "tired" of DCL. How on earth do you get tired of DCL?!?!? But, they made a comment that they would like the MR itinerary, and I was looking at next October, until just yesterday when I had the crazy idea to price out THIS sailing. I offered them this instead of Christmas gifts and instead of our usual trip to the beach in SC in June. They agreed! Luckily, my son will only miss 4 days of school this week, and my daughters will only miss 3.5! We are booked in cabin 6556. Up until our Dream cruise, we'd always had inside staterooms. I booked a verandah room on the Dream, and I will never go back! I spoiled myself. It was awesome waking up to beautiful sunrises and watching sunsets while getting ready in the room for dinner each night. It was peaceful to sit out there after my daughter went to sleep and listen to the waves crash.

Anyways, it's been about 11 years since I've been to California. I am from the midwest, and travel a lot to the East Coast/WDW. Trying to figure out the best way to get to the port. Pretty sure we're gonna try to get a flight to LA on the 27th, so maybe we can do something pre-cruise. I'd like to go to Disney's California Adventure since it didn't exist the last time I was out there. Not sure what the best plan is. Rental car? Shuttle? Any suggestions? This is so foreign to me. I'm SO used to Port Canaveral!

 

[moomy-san]

Hi all!! Just wanted to join in on the chat here. I just made a last-minute decision to get in on the "Kids Sail Free" offer! This will be our 8th cruise, but FIRST one sailing out of the Port of LA. Port Canaveral is "home away from home", but with this being a sudden decision, I'm freaking out with not much time to plan! Usually I'm planning our DCL cruises almost a year in advance! EEK! We just got off the Dream in September. While onboard, we booked the Sept. 8, 2012, Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy. We still have that one booked at this point, and hope I can afford to keep it along with this one. It will be myself (35), son (16 1/2), daughter (14), and daughter (6). It was just my 6 year old and I on our Dream cruise because my teens said they are "tired" of DCL. How on earth do you get tired of DCL?!?!? But, they made a comment that they would like the MR itinerary, and I was looking at next October, until just yesterday when I had the crazy idea to price out THIS sailing. I offered them this instead of Christmas gifts and instead of our usual trip to the beach in SC in June. They agreed! Luckily, my son will only miss 4 days of school this week, and my daughters will only miss 3.5! We are booked in cabin 6556. Up until our Dream cruise, we'd always had inside staterooms. I booked a verandah room on the Dream, and I will never go back! I spoiled myself. It was awesome waking up to beautiful sunrises and watching sunsets while getting ready in the room for dinner each night. It was peaceful to sit out there after my daughter went to sleep and listen to the waves crash.

Anyways, it's been about 11 years since I've been to California. I am from the midwest, and travel a lot to the East Coast/WDW. Trying to figure out the best way to get to the port. Pretty sure we're gonna try to get a flight to LA on the 27th, so maybe we can do something pre-cruise. I'd like to go to Disney's California Adventure since it didn't exist the last time I was out there. Not sure what the best plan is. Rental car? Shuttle? Any suggestions? This is so foreign to me. I'm SO used to Port Canaveral!

Welcome to our little group
If you have read through this thread, you will see that there are only a handful of experienced cruisers on here... since you have been on the Dream recently you should be a great source of answers and info for those with questions!! I totally agree with you about the verandah... it's my favorite place on the whole ship.
I certainly hope you and your kids enjoy the MR itinerary. We loved it last year. We have 2 cruises in the works right now, this MR one and a Royal Caribbean one on the Allure. I am quite apprehensive about doing the RC one... I love doing Disneyland and staying at my home-away-from-home at the Candy Cane Inn, and I think I will miss them.

Are you considering doing Fish Extenders? Did you do them on the Dream?

You asked about transportation. We always use Execucar service. It is a private van service (as opposed to a shared van like SuperShuttle) and costs only marginally more, but gets you there faster. We are staying in San Pedro the night before the cruise so have a free shuttle then but will go to Disneyland after the cruise and we'll use Execucar.
If you need any help with DLR planning, let me know. We go every year!!

 

[disnanny]

I have been away for awhile and the thread sure got lively. We have our house for sale and are hoping to move to Alberta before Christmas, so it has been pretty busy here.

We are still debating FE (picked out something but not for individuals more of a cabin gift) but I see there are quite a few little ones on board and they like to get special things for themselves. We have participated in FE before and they are so much fun.

We broke down and upgraded to a veranda room, from inside stateroom. Planning on doing a whole lot of relaxing on this cruise after our busy busy year.

We have cruised a few times with Disney and the meet and greet have been held in the Promenade Lounge on other cruises.

Cold here today -31 celcius with the wind chill!!!!!!Brrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[moomy-san]

I have been away for awhile and the thread sure got lively. We have our house for sale and are hoping to move to Alberta before Christmas, so it has been pretty busy here.

We are still debating FE (picked out something but not for individuals more of a cabin gift) but I see there are quite a few little ones on board and they like to get special things for themselves. We have participated in FE before and they are so much fun.

We broke down and upgraded to a veranda room, from inside stateroom. Planning on doing a whole lot of relaxing on this cruise after our busy busy year.

We have cruised a few times with Disney and the meet and greet have been held in the Promenade Lounge on other cruises.

Cold here today -31 celcius with the wind chill!!!!!!Brrrrrrrrrrrr

It is -21C with the wind here, but we had the hugest snowfall last night and it keeps snowing. CTV keeps posting pictures of our city with very ominous words and warnings!

Where in Alberta are you hoping to move? (you can pm me if you don't want to broadcast it for the world)

We are now leaning towards doing the FE too, and I like the idea of a cabin gift. (Lyssandre and inhousemouse, did I just hear a cheer?)
Last year we brought home an awful lot of broken dollar store/oriental trading type stuff. That doesn't mean we didn't appreciate the little toys etc... they just didn't make it all the way home

 

[lyssandre]

We are now leaning towards doing the FE too, and I like the idea of a cabin gift. (Lyssandre and inhousemouse, did I just hear a cheer?)

LOL You did!!!

I've already got some fun ideas for FEs Did I mention that I'm ready to go *now*? (Figuratively, not literally!)

And welcome, MikellaCinderella! Oh, to be "tired" of cruising LOL California Adventure is fun. There's good stuff for the teens, too. We're thinking of hanging out there on Saturday because they're doing the ElecTRONica thing at night in the Hollywood Backlot -- costumes, music, light show. My boys are TRON obsessed and I think they'll love it.

 

[alaskanabbott]

Hi all!! Just wanted to join in on the chat here. I just made a last-minute decision to get in on the "Kids Sail Free" offer! This will be our 8th cruise, but FIRST one sailing out of the Port of LA. Port Canaveral is "home away from home", but with this being a sudden decision, I'm freaking out with not much time to plan! Usually I'm planning our DCL cruises almost a year in advance! EEK! We just got off the Dream in September. While onboard, we booked the Sept. 8, 2012, Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy. We still have that one booked at this point, and hope I can afford to keep it along with this one. It will be myself (35), son (16 1/2), daughter (14), and daughter (6). It was just my 6 year old and I on our Dream cruise because my teens said they are "tired" of DCL. How on earth do you get tired of DCL?!?!? But, they made a comment that they would like the MR itinerary, and I was looking at next October, until just yesterday when I had the crazy idea to price out THIS sailing. I offered them this instead of Christmas gifts and instead of our usual trip to the beach in SC in June. They agreed! Luckily, my son will only miss 4 days of school this week, and my daughters will only miss 3.5! We are booked in cabin 6556. Up until our Dream cruise, we'd always had inside staterooms. I booked a verandah room on the Dream, and I will never go back! I spoiled myself. It was awesome waking up to beautiful sunrises and watching sunsets while getting ready in the room for dinner each night. It was peaceful to sit out there after my daughter went to sleep and listen to the waves crash.

Anyways, it's been about 11 years since I've been to California. I am from the midwest, and travel a lot to the East Coast/WDW. Trying to figure out the best way to get to the port. Pretty sure we're gonna try to get a flight to LA on the 27th, so maybe we can do something pre-cruise. I'd like to go to Disney's California Adventure since it didn't exist the last time I was out there. Not sure what the best plan is. Rental car? Shuttle? Any suggestions? This is so foreign to me. I'm SO used to Port Canaveral!

Hi and welcome! This is our first cruise, and since we usually do Disneyland or WDW, all my kids are super excited to try a cruise! I also have a 16 yr old boy (he will be 17 in March) a 14 year old girl (and boy-twins) and a 7 yr old girl! Plus I have an 11yr old boy. Our oldest is 19 and in college, and this will be our 1st family vacation without him I'm having some issues with that. My 16 yr old son is a musician, football player and snowboarder. He is VERY social, but I am a little worried he will think the Teen club too young for him. He's currently doing P90X so he can have a six-pack for the girls My twins are also very social, and pretty easy going, actually they all are! I think the youngest will go into the youth club and we won't see her again until bedtime. We are coming into town on the 27th at noon, and we plan on staying at the Crowne Plaza. There are 8 of us (with my dad) so we are renting a car and doing some California stuff, like Griffith Park Observatory, Santa Monica Pier and renting roller blades to cruise around Venice Beach.
The kids have been to Disneyland 6 times, and we live in Alaska! So we decided to forgo it this time and do some other SoCal things.
Welcome to the group, I think this is going to be a fantastic trip!
Amber