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

[disneynewbee]

We're probably not going to do door signs or the FE. I would love to but we are flying and we are taking AirTran and with 4 kids I'll be lucky to fit what we need for 2 wks so a lot of the extras have to stay home. We have to fit costumes for them for the Halloween pty at DW and pirate costumes for the little ones, etc, etc. I wonder how many extra bags i'll be paying for.

 

[tjbaggott]

I'm counting on using the laundry room on board, so we can pack less. Instead of doing AK on our last day in the park, we've decided to sleep in somewhat that morning, then head to the port for 10:00 am. We'll spend the whole day in AK the day our cruise sadly comes to and end. Anyone else planning on doing this?
Another thing we are doing is wearing the same costumes in DW as we will be wearing on board the ship (PIRATES)! I hated the prices of the costumes in the stores and online, so DD and I went to the fabric store, purchased some Pirate patterns and fabric, and are going to make our own! (hope it turns out well!)

 

[disneynewbee]

I'm hoping to get all my laundry from the park days done before we get on the boat, we'll see how that goes. We've always driven so we never had to worry about how much we packed before. My dh tends to be the biggest over packer and it drives me crazy, especially since adult clothes weigh so much more. He wants to pack an outfit for every possible scenerio. We are headed straight to the airport after the cruise since my oldest dd is already going to miss so much time from school I'm hoping to get her to class on Friday. We will be in the parks 10-25th to 11-1st.

 

[MrsJD]

Birdrav and I were just discussing packing last night. I will be flying in and would like to keep it to just carry on luggage...not sure if I can manage that though. My attire will consist of bathing suits and sundresses for the whole cruise as I just want to be comfortable. But I do have a bridesmaid and flower girl dress to consider too. I am also bringing minimal make-up/toiletries as I am not too fussy. DD4 will be easy to pack...two bathing suits, two shorts, two shirts, two dresses. I think that will be plenty. If a sweashirt becomes necessary I will buy one onboard.

We are still in the planning stages of the day after the cruise (thur.). We def want to hit the parks and had discussed an adult only trip to Epcot, but I'm not sure I am comfortable with being away from DD all day in Orlando....I mean seriously, do you pay attention to the news down there? It's nuts. My budget prefers going to Downtown Disney but Epcot is my happy place. NOt sure I could handle being so close without going there!

There is just so much to think about when planning and Disney vacation...then you throw a wedding into the mix and it is endless!

 

[Birdrav]

We are leaving (driving from WV) at 3:00 am to get to Orlando airport by 5:00 pm. Which is when my sisters flight arrives.

This is where the luggage situation gets sticky. Me, DF, and DD have luggage and so does my sister and her DD. We are staying at Cocoa beach on saturday night, so we could go to the hotel and drop off our luggage, then go pick them up. But that would be about and hour and half driving time that is out of the way. Not including the time it takes to find the hotel, check in, put our luggage in the room and get back on the road.

 

[tjbaggott]

This is where the luggage situation gets sticky. Me, DF, and DD have luggage and so does my sister and her DD. We are staying at Cocoa beach on saturday night, so we could go to the hotel and drop off our luggage, then go pick them up. But that would be about and hour and half driving time that is out of the way. Not including the time it takes to find the hotel, check in, put our luggage in the room and get back on the road.

Sounds like you will need a van at least. Is that what you'll be driving? If room is still a problem, "ROOF RACKS"! That could even be useful for just from the Airport to your hotel.
Fun planning!

 

[MrsJD]

Sounds like you will need a van at least. Is that what you'll be driving? If room is still a problem, "ROOF RACKS"! That could even be useful for just from the Airport to your hotel.
Fun planning!

Birdrav will be driving down to FL on saturday, going straight to the airport to get me. IN A SEDAN! we will make it work. if all else fails she can have others from our party bring down some of her luggage. My goal in life is two carry on luggages and one small bag/purse!!! should be interesting to see if I can manage that.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i'm so excited!

 

[MrsJD]

Well it's official....my cruise is paid off. Not on purpose but it still feels good. The Disney Cruise website has done this to both me and birdrav now. You go to make a payment, don't even complete the process and it goes to a screen saying they are having website probs....so you think you're payment didn't go through. BUT IT DID! I was just going to make a $200 payment but it paid it in full. Now that the biggest payment is behind me I can start thinking about all the other things...rooms for before and after, plane tickets, and the little extras for DD!!!

What is the one thing you know you will not leave this cruise without? Mine is a CC beach towel.

 

[tjbaggott]

1. SAND! If it's allowed. I'd LOVE to bring home a little jar with some sand in it from Castaway Cay!
2. PICTURES! Pictures of everything! I regretted not taking more pictures our last trip!
3. Visiting Palo. I think I'll make ressies for a breakfast though instead of a dinner.
4. A Disney Cruise Scrapbook from the onboard Gift shop!

 

[tjbaggott]

MRS. JD, hey congratulations on having it paid in full! Even if not planned, it IS a GOOD feeling isn't it!

 

[Birdrav]

1. SAND! If it's allowed. I'd LOVE to bring home a little jar with some sand in it from Castaway Cay!


SAND is not allowed. My mom collected some from CC last time. We went to the Q and A with the captain on the day at sea, and they said it was a no no.

Looking back, if my mom had just stashed it deep down in her suitcase they probably would have never caught it. But we didn't risk it.

 

[Birdrav]

Im not coming back from this trip without a Husband !!!

 

[tjbaggott]

Im not coming back from this trip without a Husband !!!

 

[disneynewbee]

Congrats on paying off your trip That must feel great. I'm waiting to pay everything off till I find out if my moms boyfriend is going to cancel or not. He's not enthused about the cruise because it's Disney and I guess he lost touch with his inner child. He was going to go but now he's kind of wavering. I'm hoping he backs out since I really don't want someone there who doesn't want to be. We have two cabins booked because we have 4 kids but if he backs out my mom will stay in a cabin with my oldest two and it will save me a little over $500 which will make me a happy girl. Right now I'm paying adult rate for my 6yo since she is the 2nd person in the room. We already booked airfare for my 6 and my mom so if he does go he'll be flying alone. Anyway for the one thing I'm not coming home without, it's hard to list one. I want to get scrapbook stuff, a few pins, a mug. I actually wrote a list of things to remember to get after reading a thread someone started about their favorite DCL souvenir.

 

[tjbaggott]

What time is everyone planning on arriving at the port?
During our last cruise, having come on DME straight from the parks, we arrived around 1 or 1:30 and although we were checked right in, and boarded right away, we did miss the sites and characters in the actual terminal. So figure that this time we sleep in Sunday morning instead of using our last park day ticket, so we are well rested, then head to the terminal for 10:00 am. I think it would be fun to hang out in the terminal for a while, take photos, let the kids enjoy the kid stuff ect....
What are your plans?

 

[Birdrav]

My daughter is a figure skater, (she's been skating for 7 1/2years) and next month our rink is holding a test session. This is how they determine what level of skater you are.
Anyhow, I just booked a flight for a judge to come here to WV and she is from Ottowa too.

Just thought that was an interesting tid bit.

 

[Birdrav]

What time is everyone planning on arriving at the port?
During our last cruise, having come on DME straight from the parks, we arrived around 1 or 1:30 and although we were checked right in, and boarded right away, we did miss the sites and characters in the actual terminal. So figure that this time we sleep in Sunday morning instead of using our last park day ticket, so we are well rested, then head to the terminal for 10:00 am. I think it would be fun to hang out in the terminal for a while, take photos, let the kids enjoy the kid stuff ect....
What are your plans?

Right now, we are planning on staying at La Quinta on saturday night, and heading to the ship ASAP.
We did the same as you for our last cruise. We arrive at about 1:00. We didnt know we missed the early morning excitement.
The characters were still there, and we had almost no wait time to get checked in.

However, this time around... As bride and groom. We will need to arrive early to go over legal documents for the wedding before the ship set sail.

 

[tjbaggott]

My daughter is a figure skater, (she's been skating for 7 1/2years) and next month our rink is holding a test session. This is how they determine what level of skater you are.
Anyhow, I just booked a flight for a judge to come here to WV and she is from Ottowa too.

Just thought that was an interesting tid bit.

Ottawa Ontario? Thats pretty neat! We are driving down too! 4 kids, DH, myself and all our luggage! Disney World First then off to Port Canaveral 4 days later. I'm anxious about the drive, both looking forward to it, and NOT. It's a total of almost 24 hours driving time, not including construction or other traffic delays. Need to find a Hotel in NC and another one just outside of Disney for the drive down, and I MUST not forget to book some for the trip back home too!
Birdrav, you are driving a distance too right?

 

[Birdrav]

Ottawa Ontario? Thats pretty neat! We are driving down too! 4 kids, DH, myself and all our luggage! Disney World First then off to Port Canaveral 4 days later. I'm anxious about the drive, both looking forward to it, and NOT. It's a total of almost 24 hours driving time, not including construction or other traffic delays. Need to find a Hotel in NC and another one just outside of Disney for the drive down, and I MUST not forget to book some for the trip back home too!
Birdrav, you are driving a distance too right?

Yes, our drive time to the gates of WDW is 13 hours.
We've done is several times. It's not so bad

We are leaving in the middle of the night on friday to save on hotel for that night.

 

[disneynewbee]

What time is everyone planning on arriving at the port?
During our last cruise, having come on DME straight from the parks, we arrived around 1 or 1:30 and although we were checked right in, and boarded right away, we did miss the sites and characters in the actual terminal. So figure that this time we sleep in Sunday morning instead of using our last park day ticket, so we are well rested, then head to the terminal for 10:00 am. I think it would be fun to hang out in the terminal for a while, take photos, let the kids enjoy the kid stuff ect....
What are your plans?

We plan to get there at 10am. We are not early risers so we'll roll out of bed eat something and head out to the port. Just gotta decide the best way to get there since Disney transfers would be too much.