Nov,20th, 2011 Mexico

[kathylawless]

May I make a sugestion... Setup a time and place for the day of boarding but also the first sea day. Many people do not have time to meet the day of boarding. There are lots of first time cruisers that would love to meet someone the morning of the first sea day to get help and advice.

I would suggest the Meet and Greet 2:45 ro 3:00 and a second Meeting on Monday about 9:00 am

We'll be there for meeting others! I am also a single parent and a first time cruiser, so I'd love to meet others with experience to help me navigate the cruise! My boys are 12 (Luke) and 10 (Trevor).
-Kathy

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Three weeks from today we will be boarding the Wonder!

 

[collectoraholic]

Three weeks from today we will be boarding the Wonder!

& I have to be ready to go in less than 2 weeks b/c DH and I are on the 11/12/11 sailing on the Magic! So I'm in laundry and packing Hell at the moment b/c I have to have us packed for both cruises when we leave for the Magic sailing. Who's stupid idea was it for us to do a back 2 back/coast 2 coast deal?

Working on getting my FE's all sorted and ready to go right now! At least that's something fun.

 

[collectoraholic]

Lisa, also tell Raven that Emma is excited to see her again. We were talking about that fun group of kids @ dinner last night. The Christmas cruise was such fun last year. We're booked to do the Fantasy New Year's Cruise next year, but shhhhhhhh, the girls don't know it yet.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

First, we had fun at Mickey's Trick or Treat Party on Friday Night.

Next, my DD got all dressed up for homecoming.

Finally, we enjoyed the musical Cats! Some of DL regulars may recognize a familiar face. Could it be a Cat or Peter Pan?

@ collectoraholic: Raven is excited too. Let Emma know that she deactivated her FB. I would love to do a New Year's cruise, but we have something coming up called College Tutition.

Next weekend we will be celebrating my sister's birthday at the Disney's Grand Californian.

Take care and talk to you soon.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Happy Halloween!

 

[Chicogirl]

Happy Halloween!

 

[mug318ca]

May I make a sugestion... Setup a time and place for the day of boarding but also the first sea day. Many people do not have time to meet the day of boarding. There are lots of first time cruisers that would love to meet someone the morning of the first sea day to get help and advice.

I would suggest the Meet and Greet 2:45 ro 3:00 and a second Meeting on Monday about 9:00 am

Let's go with 3:00PM on the day of boarding and 9:00AM on the 1st cruise day at the Promenade Lounge. I don't know if it will be open at these times, but I'm sure we can still meet there since it has no doors and it's in the hallway on Deck 3 (Aft).

On another note, for the FE's... Is anyone putting their DISboard names on the gifts as the giver? Just curious about the etiquette.

Lastly THREE WEEKS AWAY, YAY!!

 

[Chicogirl]

On mine I put To:........From Chicogirl with your room number on it.

Also 3 sounds fine to me to meet. Its also a good time to find out if anyone changed rooms with upgrades. Dose anyone know what time they have the tour of the kids clubs? My daughter is autistic, and I would like to show her around and let her meet the CM's. I will probably hang out with her on her first day.

2 weeks, 6 days left. right around the corner.

 

[mug318ca]

Our first cruise was last summer. Just after we boarded we went to the Oceaneer's Lab to register my grandson. No line, very quiet. I don't know if there is a designated "tour" of the area or not.

 

[kathylawless]

I booked some excursions through the travel agent and can't figure out what one of them is on the Disney cruise site. For Cabo I booked the reef snorkel and party boat for Nov. 25... anyone familiar with that one? I also booked all three of us for Coastal Highlights for Cabo on Nov. 24 but now it will be just me (the kids have other plans with their dad who is flying to Cabo). I'm not sure if they are transferable, but if they are and anyone is interested, I have two spots reserved that won't be used. We are also booked (and are all going on) the canopy zip line tour in PV. I am also dining solo in Palo Nov. 24 at 6:30 if anyone wants to join me...

 

[MikeAndNick]

Let's go with 3:00PM on the day of boarding and 9:00AM on the 1st cruise day at the Promenade Lounge. I don't know if it will be open at these times, but I'm sure we can still meet there since it has no doors and it's in the hallway on Deck 3 (Aft). :

The Promenade is open all day and night. They have different activities during the day and music at night but it is big enough to still meet with people. That is where most of the kids went to do homework and the DIS people meet on our last cruise. I will be there at 3 and 9.

 

[MikeAndNick]

Dose anyone know what time they have the tour of the kids clubs? My daughter is autistic, and I would like to show her around and let her meet the CM's. I will probably hang out with her on her first day.

I would go by the first day and see what kind of accommodations they have for you. This is Disney and they are very accommodating.
Normally, the only time you are going to be able to tour the kids area is the first day. The first day you will be able to tour all of the kids rooms and sign your kids up. After that they seem to frown on adults in the area except to deal with their children. Even the infant area has a one way mirror so you can check on your child but the children cannot see you. During the week there will be a tour of the ship but they just go by the kids area and describe the rooms and how they designed them.

Something I learned on the ship tour. Look at the ceiling height on deck 5. The ceiling hight is lower and the big port holes to sit in are lower to the ground. This is to make the kids not feel so little in their area.

 

[MikeAndNick]

We'll be there for meeting others! I am also a single parent and a first time cruiser, so I'd love to meet others with experience to help me navigate the cruise! My boys are 12 (Luke) and 10 (Trevor).
-Kathy

These meetings are for everyone. Come by and bring your boys, if they will come. If they are like my 14 year old he is so busy doing his own thing he does not have time for me except for dinner.
It looks like we are going with 3:00PM on the day of boarding and 9:00AM on the 1st cruise day at the Promenade Lounge.

One note on your boys. The Disney's Oceaneer Lab is for kids 3 to 10 years old. The Edge is for kids 11 to 13 years old. From what I have heard on past cruises do not push to get the boys together. If that happens that is great but I have seen parents push to get the kids in the same club and it often causes trouble and they do not make as many friends. Often the older one wants to make new friends and they feel cramped by the younger one. Now that is said the 10 year old is a hard one and only you would know how to deal with it. If he is an old 10 year old he may not feel comfortable with the Oceaneer Lab. The problem with moving him up is he is the youngest in the group. What they have told me in the past is start to start my son in the one in his age range and if he is not having fun or is uncomfortable move them to the older kids.

 

[kathylawless]

These meetings are for everyone. Come by and bring your boys, if they will come. If they are like my 14 year old he is so busy doing his own thing he does not have time for me except for dinner.
It looks like we are going with 3:00PM on the day of boarding and 9:00AM on the 1st cruise day at the Promenade Lounge.

One note on your boys. The Disney's Oceaneer Lab is for kids 3 to 10 years old. The Edge is for kids 11 to 13 years old. From what I have heard on past cruises do not push to get the boys together. If that happens that is great but I have seen parents push to get the kids in the same club and it often causes trouble and they do not make as many friends. Often the older one wants to make new friends and they feel cramped by the younger one. Now that is said the 10 year old is a hard one and only you would know how to deal with it. If he is an old 10 year old he may not feel comfortable with the Oceaneer Lab. The problem with moving him up is he is the youngest in the group. What they have told me in the past is start to start my son in the one in his age range and if he is not having fun or is uncomfortable move them to the older kids.

Thanks for the feedback! I've been wondering how I would navigate the boys... they like time away from each other and I'm hoping they both find some buds to hang with! Otherwise my older one may choose to spend some time in the Oceaneer Lab. Unfortunately my younger one just turned 10 so he isn't even close enough to 11 to go into Edge. We'll just play it all by ear!!

 

[alnilibr]

Hi all,

I am counting everyday till November 20th to get on DW over thanksgiving!!!!
My husband and I are traveling with two kids, 10 yrs girl and 7yrs boy. I found this discussion board recently so I could not sign up for FE, I had no idea about it until I read other people's post, but I am so excited to meet all of you and get some tips on teh first day at 3pm. this is our first cruise ever, so please lots of advice. we are driving from San Jose on 19th and stay in nearby hotel and driving back on 27th. How will be the traffic on both days? anyone? Another question is about Oceaneer club and Lab. I have read some review about them on DW and those are disappointing. I expected kids program on DW would be so perfect that every kids would not want to leave club. ( It will be our ultimate goal for this DC ) I do not want to hear my kids saying " kids club is boring" I want some adult only peace! Please! Could anyone with kids tell me about club and lab. thanks.

 

[alnilibr]

Omg, 28 days left. I'm such a Pre planner, I keep trying to make sure I have everything I need already. I can't wait. My hubby keeps laughing at me.

This is my first time cruise ever. I am kind of lost what to bring. Traveling with two kids. 10 and 7, my husband does not care any of traveling stuff so everything is on my shoulder. I know I can bring some alcohol on board, so I will bring some bottle of wine, ( not much a drinker but like to enjoy some romantic time with hubby in our veranda sipping wine and watching over sunset ) and some pirate stuff for pirate night, right? do I need to bring sea sick medicine although none of us have got seasick on short boat trip or do they provide for us. Is there anything should I bring to make this trip more fun?
I am so excited and worried at the same time.

thanks.

 

[kathylawless]

Hi all,

I am counting everyday till November 20th to get on DW over thanksgiving!!!!
My husband and I are traveling with two kids, 10 yrs girl and 7yrs boy. I found this discussion board recently so I could not sign up for FE, I had no idea about it until I read other people's post, but I am so excited to meet all of you and get some tips on teh first day at 3pm. this is our first cruise ever, so please lots of advice. we are driving from San Jose on 19th and stay in nearby hotel and driving back on 27th. How will be the traffic on both days? anyone? Another question is about Oceaneer club and Lab. I have read some review about them on DW and those are disappointing. I expected kids program on DW would be so perfect that every kids would not want to leave club. ( It will be our ultimate goal for this DC ) I do not want to hear my kids saying " kids club is boring" I want some adult only peace! Please! Could anyone with kids tell me about club and lab. thanks.

We are also from your area (Cupertino) and I think your drive down should be fine, but the drive back may be a bit of traffic since it's the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. We are flying and will be hanging out at LAX for about 6 hours (driving would have been faster but its part of the package we got). I have a 10 year old boy and a 12 year old boy, and I'm counting on the Oceaneer Lab being fun for my own peace of mind! My younger one will be there while my older one will be in the Edge for older kids. Looking forward to meeting you!

 

[alnilibr]

Hi Kathy, glad to hear from you, I live in Cupertino as well. We live near Kenedy middle school and my kids go to Lincoln Elementary. My sun will be at the club but I am not sure about my daughter. She is 10 and half now so, she can go to Edge if she gets bored. I will look forward to meet you at the meet. Will you be at the meet on embark day at 3pm?

 

[been2marceline]

I do not want to hear my kids saying " kids club is boring"....

As long as they approach the clubs with an open mind, they should be fine and VERY happy there.

When our daughter was that age, it was difficult to get her out of the clubs.

Even if they don't immediately enjoy it, make sure that they go back a couple of times before you concede to let them not be in them.

99% of all kids love the clubs & lab!