NEW March 3-10, 2012 - Western Caribbean with the Magic!

[aberrydisneygirl]

I saw some on ebay and thought about just buying one, but thought If I could figure out how to make it it would be cheaper. However, now I am realizing that after getting all of the stuff to make it, it might not be cheaper. Oh well. At least I will have fun making one, or maybe 2. Then If i get good at it I can make them for other people. So much to do before the cruise....Fish Extenders, FE gifts, door magnets....

 

[Engteach]

Me, my DH and our DD(4) will be on this cruise too! It's going to be our first cruise ever. We have been to Disney 3 times in the past 4 years and are looking for something a little different. We live in Canada and it will be March break for us. We are all very excited and can't wait for March 3rd. The only concern I have is that my DD doesn't speak much English. We still have time to practive!

 

[jessrose18]

I dont sew .. this was our last fe... i took felt bags from michaels that were $1 and had my mother in law sew them together and then used iron on transfers.. very cheap and easy.. probably will do somehting similar this time but with different pictures

 

[devonsmommy]

I'm here too and EXCITED!
We are going to Cancun in October, so I've been planning and preparing for that trip first.

I think we will do the Fish Extenders. We'll probably just end up buying them on ebay too.

Still up in the air about Palo brunch or dinner, but I DO want to do the Tea if they have it.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

I am excited to make my FE, even though I don't know yet if I will buy a sewing machine and learn how to sew or just have a friend help. The bag idea is a great idea, and probably a lot easier than trying to make one, but oh well, part of the fun.

Welcome Engteach!!! Exciting to have more people join this cruise.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

I really want to do Palo dinner, but am also afraid (if I am even able to get a ressie) that it will be booked on one of the theme nights, or formal night. Don't want to miss anything else just to go to Palo. Ooohh, all this planning is exciting!!

 

[jessrose18]

I would miss any meal in the dining rooms to eat at Palo, one of the best meals ever! just saying.... I really hope we get to eat there for dinner and brunch , and I would consider dinner twice if an option (you can book twice once you get on the ship)! Glad more peeps are joining the thread! Airtran just released the rest of their march dates for anyone who was waiting, airfare prices are crazy! we might have to come down on thursday instead of friday and save 300 bucks in airfare...ow well one more day in florida...

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

Ok, good to know Palo is that good. Flights to florida are crazy. My boss is going on a cruise next week and got round trip flights to Florida for less than $200. That would be nice. I have not seen them for less than $430, but will keep checking.

 

[jessrose18]

yup we usually go for 150-200 roundtrip... this time its sitting at 350-450 depending on day and time.... i have 50,000 miles i was hoping to get two tickets out of that on delta, i dont want to settle for 1! here's hoping the price comes down....

 

[Engteach]

Plane tickets are 800$ each from Canada. We had to buy ours since we are going during March break and prices will probable increase. I was able to buy one using my Airmiles.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

So I want to start buying/making things for the FE gifts, but don't know how many people will end up joining us. How far in advance do you guys that have done this before buy/make your gifts? I'm such a planner that I want to do everything now

 

[jessrose18]

yes, we should have a cutoff date, most cruise meets do as well.... paid in full date is mid december.... so how about january 1st as the cutoff date for joinging fe? thats my guess, any other suggestions are welcome! I am guessing most people would know by then if they are going on cruise or not and if they want to participate gives us time to make and order things.

Was going to do jet ski's to stingray city, but now gonna do jet ski's in key west probably through fury watersports.... 90 minute tour of the island is $110 for double riders, thats a good deal for jet skis. Anyone else looking into excursions?

engteach- ouch on those plane ticket prices! crazy!

found a great deal for one way car rental today on thrifty.... way out to cape great price, way back one way the same as disney transport to airport might wait on that.... $22 with tax for one day rental pick up mco drop off cape canaveral and then they shuttle you to cruise ship port... for anyone who hasnt driven from orlando to cape, it is really easy, less than an hour you stay on a highway.... cape canaveral to mco the day we dock has a high drop off fee for one way coming out to about $70 for a few hours rental...

 

[jessrose18]

forgot to add, for anybody that loves pics... the dcl picture of the day-part 4 thread is awesome, puts you in the cruising mood look for it in the cruise forum

 

[Rob_Misses_Fla]

yes, we should have a cutoff date, most cruise meets do as well.... paid in full date is mid december.... so how about january 1st as the cutoff date for joinging fe? thats my guess, any other suggestions are welcome! I am guessing most people would know by then if they are going on cruise or not and if they want to participate gives us time to make and order things.

On all my previous cruises that we did FE, we went with a cutoff of one month prior to sailing. Although payment is due to DCL in December, you can get late joiners to the DIS. My last cruise we had people new to the thread two weeks prior to sailing. We fit them in, with the understanding they may not receive full participation.

 

[aberrydisneygirl]

Hmmm, I might just start FE stuff, then add more if I have to. But I think a cut off day is a great idea. I like the Jan 1st date, but one month before would work too, but the late joiners just might not get the same thing if the items bought previously are no longer available. But I can improvise no problem.

For excursions.....do you normally book your own or go with the DCL excersions? For Key West I just want to do the train/trolley tour then walk around and enjoy the day. GC I want to do stingray city and like the idea of DCL's island tour with stingray city. That way we get to do SC, Turtle farm and a quick stop at Hell. Cozumel I thought of doing the dolphin discovery but not sure I want to spend that much $$ for only 30 min. with the dolphin. DCL's dune buggy tour sounds fun so that might be an option. And i want to do some shopping in Cozumel and get some fun local things, and mexican vanila if I can find some.

Transportation to/from port canaveral....I have not looked into this yet. We will be going to florida 2 days early and will stay at a hotel near Universal and was going to check to see if any of the hotels offer shuttle to the port. Disney transportation is too expensive!

I checked flights today, down to $392. Hope they get lower.

I have seen some of the "pics of the day" they are fun to look at, as well as the DCL food pics!!

 

[jessrose18]

ok, so february 1st cutoff date for fe?????? I wasnt sure how many people book cruises that close to sail date.... whatever works for everyone else is fine with us...

I feel comfortable booking non dcl excursions, but there is something to be said about ease of going through them.... whatever works for your family! so far we are booking all non this trip, reading excursion reviews for these ports on cruise critic and they seem pretty easy to get around. I know the trolley that you book for keywest through disney isnt the hop on and off one, but they do have one that tours keywest.. i will post the link to a cruisecritic thread that discusses the key west trolleys when i get home (my work computer doesnt copy/paste websites and blocks my photobucket acct etc)

 

[jessrose18]

ok, already changed my grand cayman excursion

Booked rays, reef and rum point with nativewaywatersports.com

5 hours $62 including lunch at rum point. pick up and drop off at port. the beach at rum point looks amazing! i had to fit it in. Great reviews on cruisecritic and on tripadvisor. If anyone else wants to book just go through their website and the boat hold 25 ppl... hopefully we get all disers

here is a pic of rum point from a fellow diser, along with others on flickr wow!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/candisfl30/3516879835/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/candisfl30/3517949597/

 

[Rob_Misses_Fla]

I feel comfortable booking non dcl excursions, but there is something to be said about ease of going through them.... whatever works for your family! so far we are booking all non this trip, reading excursion reviews for these ports on cruise critic and they seem pretty easy to get around. I know the trolley that you book for keywest through disney isnt the hop on and off one, but they do have one that tours keywest.. i will post the link to a cruisecritic thread that discusses the key west trolleys when i get home (my work computer doesnt copy/paste websites and blocks my photobucket acct etc)

The last time we did this route it was on Carnival, and we only booked one excursion.

I agree that you can find excursions at a better price outside DCL, but I offer this reminder, if our itinerary should change, either by ports or port days, it's up to you to make the adjustments. DCL does that automatically when done through them, including not charging you if they can't get you to the excursion. Just friendly advice..

That time of year, we are not really subject to weather causing problems, but itineraries are always subject to change.

 

[M&M mom]

Looks like our cruise is starting to fill up! All the inside rooms are now booked and the price has increased since I booked. I booked Nachi Cocom last night also. There are 11 of us in our group. It looks so beautiful, I am so excited. Trying to decide on an excursion in Cozumel. I would like to go to stingray city but my kids aren't interested in it. The countdown is on, only 176 days to go!

 

[jessrose18]

yeah! i am so happy someone else on our ship booked Nachi Cocom as well! See you there! I did end up booking native way in grand cayman, they dont require a deposit, you pay when you get there and if ship doesnt dock, they dont charge you. Time of rays, reef and rum point is 9am-2:15 pm...pick up and drop off at port, or 7 mile beach.

m&m mom-love your screen name! make sure to sign up on our roll call link in first post!