Nov.1 2009 on the Wonder! it's never too early to chat!the

[MinnieMouses1969]

Our school banned the cupcakes because they are on some movement in PA to make the kids healthier. We can bring in healthy treats for their birthdays (fruit and such) but no candy bags or anything. We are no longer even allowed to do candy, pizza, or cookie fundraisers. I get they have good intentions but really it's a parents job to police what their kids eat. And the holidays are not allowed to be celebrated because of political correctness. When we lived in MD they had a Halloween party and everyone got to wear their costumes and have a parade but the kids were not allowed to be dressed in scary costumes. Those kids who didn't want to participate for personal reasons were taken to the library where they could hang out in a bean bag and read. I would just like them to bring the fun back into the schools so that the kids enjoy school as much as we did as kids. Unfortunately with the downhill in the home value around here we couldn't move if we wanted to. So many of my daughters friends (highschoolers) are now started to do cyber school, even a few of my younger dds friends parents are starting them on it. They go to public school but it's not free for us we pay large school taxes to cover it. There are so many things wrong with the school system here. I'll probably get a letter threatening to fine me because of the time they are going to miss for this trip but honestly I don't care our family needs this trip this year.

I agree with you. Spending time with your family is the most important thing. We took our DD(12) out of school twice last school year. Once to do a one on one 8 day Disney trip with her(she missed 6 days of school) and once to do a family Disney trip to celebrate the 3 kids B-Days(the kids missed 5 days of school). After both trips it only took the kids a total of 4 hours to complete all the school work they missed. The two trips will have memories that will last a life time though. My son will be 18 in Jan and ever since we returned from our family trip has been talking about going back to Disney to celebrate his birthday again. What my son and my two girls don't know and won't know until the morning we are leaving is that I already made the reservations for the birthday celabration trip this coming up Jan. They will miss 6 days of school to take the trip. I believe family time is just as important because our kids are only young once. Once they get older they won't want to spend as much time with us. One more thing to mention. My kids grades were not effected at all by not being in school those days. I am sorry if this upsets any teachers that are reading this. I do feel school is important but so is family time and you need to take it when you get the chance.

 

[MinnieMouses1969]

Hi Jillian,
Welcome and Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. This is going to be our first cruise also(I went on a cruise with my mom 19 years ago so I don't really count that since it was so long ago). I made reservations to do the dolphin swim excursion. I think it really all depends on what you and your soon to be husband like to do. I have heard that some of the excursions book very quickly so if there is one you are really interested in you might want to book it as soon as you are able to. I hope you have a wonderful wedding day.

 

[disneynewbee]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Jillian and I'll be joining you all on the November 1st cruise!

This will be my first cruise, and I'll be celebrating my honeymoon! I'm getting married on Halloween, then getting up bright and early for the flight to Florida...

My fiance and I are very excited to cruise... neither of us have done this before and are a bit anxious, but know everything will be great!

Does anyone have any recommendations for excursions in the Bahama's? I'm not sure if we should plan something or just wonder around and enjoy the day!

Thanks!

Welcome Jillian and congrats on your upcoming wedding. This will be my families first cruise too. We are looking at doing the dolphin encounter and/or swim. I would like to do the sea lion encounter but my younger kids are too young so we'll save that one for next time.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Welcome Jillian and congrats on your upcoming wedding. This will be my families first cruise too. We are looking at doing the dolphin encounter and/or swim. I would like to do the sea lion encounter but my younger kids are too young so we'll save that one for next time.

Hi Everyone!

My name is Jillian and I'll be joining you all on the November 1st cruise!

This will be my first cruise, and I'll be celebrating my honeymoon! I'm getting married on Halloween, then getting up bright and early for the flight to Florida...

My fiance and I are very excited to cruise... neither of us have done this before and are a bit anxious, but know everything will be great!

Does anyone have any recommendations for excursions in the Bahama's? I'm not sure if we should plan something or just wonder around and enjoy the day!

Thanks!

Hi Jillian!!!

Congrats, on your upcoming wedding!!

This is our 2nd Disney cruise, we were on the Magic in November.
We booked the Atlantis for the day on our own.

Kim

 

[Jilly8384]

I've tried to talk my fiance into just "winging it" when we get there, but he said he would rather book something. He doesn't know how "safe" it will be to just wonder around.

...and where do you guys get all the cute countdowns... I want one!

 

[tjbaggott]

I've tried to talk my fiance into just "winging it" when we get there, but he said he would rather book something. He doesn't know how "safe" it will be to just wonder around.

...and where do you guys get all the cute countdowns... I want one!

The web address is in the countdown
It's www.magicalkingdoms.com

As for just walking around, I think it's as safe as it is back home here. We plan on taking a walk over to the straw market, look around, then take a cab over to Atlantis just to take a walk through the grounds, mainly to see the Aquariam. Not doing any excursions this time, However on our first trip, I did the Snorkeling excursion with my two boys and my DH took DD on the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter, lots of fun.

 

[Jilly8384]

For those of you who have Disney cruised before...

Do you remember what times the shows start at night? Right now, we're scheduled for the 2nd dinner seating and I want to make sure we won't be missing all the good stuff!

Also, do you remember the prices of the drinks? Some of the stuff I see says they are pretty reasonable $6-7 for a glass of wine, but I was just curious!

 

[MinnieMouses1969]

For those of you who have Disney cruised before...

Do you remember what times the shows start at night? Right now, we're scheduled for the 2nd dinner seating and I want to make sure we won't be missing all the good stuff!

Also, do you remember the prices of the drinks? Some of the stuff I see says they are pretty reasonable $6-7 for a glass of wine, but I was just curious!

I haven't been on a Disney Cruise before but I have read some of the cruise TR's and from what I read is sounds like there is an early show that the 2nd dining group can go to and a show that would take place after that for the 1st dining group of people. I guess you just wear what you are going to wear to dinner and go straight from the show to dinner. That is my understanding anyway. My husdand & I are also going to be at the second dinner seating.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Hi,

We had the early seating and saw the show after we ate dinner. I believe that the late seating sees the show before dinner. The shows are great.

 

[tjbaggott]

According to an old Navigator I have, the early show starts at 6:15pm.

 

[tjbaggott]

Less than a WEEK now to opening of Reservation Window!! Can we do our on line check in at 90 days out too? If not, when can we do that?

 

[MJ28]

I wish I was a week away from booking stuff. Have to wait until the middle of August. It's our 1st cruise with Disney.

 

[MJ28]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Jillian and I'll be joining you all on the November 1st cruise!

This will be my first cruise, and I'll be celebrating my honeymoon! I'm getting married on Halloween, then getting up bright and early for the flight to Florida...

My fiance and I are very excited to cruise... neither of us have done this before and are a bit anxious, but know everything will be great!

Does anyone have any recommendations for excursions in the Bahama's? I'm not sure if we should plan something or just wonder around and enjoy the day!

Thanks!

Welcome Jillian! We are also going to celebrating our honeymoon on the cruise. We're getting married the week before on the 24th. Congratulations!

 

[MinnieMouses1969]

Less than a WEEK now to opening of Reservation Window!! Can we do our on line check in at 90 days out too? If not, when can we do that?

I was able to book at 105 days out because I had purchased the Romantic Escape package which puts you at the concierge level without booking one of the suites. I believe Castaway Club members (returning DCL cruisers) book at 90 days out and then everyone else books their reservations at 75 days out. I could be wrong about this but if you go on-line and pull up your reservation and go into My Cruise Plans you should be able to find out when you can book your reservations there.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Wow, I can't believe we're almost at the 90 day window!!!!! Do you know what the actual date is that we can start booking?
I remember last November trying to get on at midnight and for some reason the reservation system didn't let us book until the early morning. Does anyone know if that still holds true?

I want to try for a Palo dinner and brunch. We really loved the dinner last time and weren't able to get a brunch ressie.

 

[MinnieMouses1969]

Wow, I can't believe we're almost at the 90 day window!!!!! Do you know what the actual date is that we can start booking?
I remember last November trying to get on at midnight and for some reason the reservation system didn't let us book until the early morning. Does anyone know if that still holds true?

I want to try for a Palo dinner and brunch. We really loved the dinner last time and weren't able to get a brunch ressie.

I went on at midnight FL time and was able to book then.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Does anyone have any suggestions for dinner when we go to the MNSSHP. We will have the meal plan and would like to use a sitdown meal credit. I'm wondering how the Crystal Palace and Liberty Tavern are?

 

[tjbaggott]

The package I got in the mail from DCL says all my DCL reservations can be arranged beginning on August 3rd!!!! Thats the 90 day out window.

As for where in MK to go for dinner same night as MNSSHP, we are making reservations at Liberty Tree Tavern. Mainly because it's a buffet, plus I've heard good things about it. I have my TA making my WDW ADR's for me because there is no toll free number for making ADR's. But I worry she won't get on it first thing the morning that window opens, which for us is July 31st.

 

[eyes4mickey]

You can book your dining ressies online at www.disneyworld.com click on book it and then dining reservations. It's pretty new, I read something about it and now that you mentioned it, I remembered.
I will look into Liberty Tavern, for some reason I thought it was family style platters brought to the table, I didn't realize that it's a buffet. That would work out great for us as far as getting in and out quickly. Our booking date for Disneyworld dinner is 8/1.

 

[WeNeedKetchup]

Is Liberty Tree Tavern a buffet? We ate there a few years ago (when it was still a character meal) and the food was served family style. We liked the food. Crystal Palace is a character buffet with Winnie the Pooh & friends. The food is your typical Disney buffet food. The characters go on parades with the kids a couple of times during the meal. We plan on eating at The Plaza during MNSSHP - I've never eaten there before but I've heard good things about it. It's not a great value if you use the dining plan because the food is on the less expensive side (for a Disney table service restaurant).