November 13, 2011 Mexico on the Wonder

[Adie's Mama]

We didn't do the FE's last time... I'm just not creative enough, and I was frazzled enough trying to figure packing for a 4 year old and 10 month old. I'll think about it for this one since I'm not longer going with a super small baby... he'll be 22 months for this cruise, oh my!

 

[stampinshauna]

Think about it. We'll wait a few months before getting it all set up. You really don't have to be creative. On one of our past cruises some people just hung a little bag or gift sack as their FE, and the gifts can be anything. Anyway, keep it in the back of your mind because I think your older boy would really get a kick out of it.

This will be an interesting trip for us to pack for, since it will be my first with 2 kiddos (DD4 and DSalmost1). We cruised when DD was barely 1 and I remember that it was quite a chore to pack for. I don't want to overpack, but need to make sure that I have what we need.

 

[Adie's Mama]

I will definitely think about it! I'll be less frenzied this year (especially with the addition of 2 grandparents on board) so I will really try. It looks fun! We appear to have a smallish group which will be easier too.

You will be in the same boat (har har, get it? boat?) as we were last year with a 4 year old and almost 1 year old. If you have any questions about what you might need I'm more than happy to help!

I am SO excited!!!

 

[lucky1]

Welcome Liz! So glad you are joining us. Good to see more movement on this list, since it has been quiet for while.

Laura here, DH and DD9 will be traveling with MIL. We will be in a SPH Room on Deck 5.

Just yesterday, DD9 said she had a great idea for FE gifts. It was a pretty good Disney idea, so she will be working on that. Hopefully as more people join, we have a little bit further to walk on the FE hunt, vs just our Next door Neighbors.
(Shauna's family and mine will be neighbors on the ship, by accident).

Laura

 

[stampinshauna]

We all have parents along on this cruise, kind of funny. I hope they all have a good time. My mom has been with us once before, back when DD was just 1.

I'd love any ideas or tips you have learned from sailing with a 4 year old and almost 1 year old. We've done the 1 year old and 2 year old thing, but that was just with one kid, and I'm sure I've forgotten some of it.

 

[stampinshauna]

We bought our plane tickets yesterday, so no turning back now. We also picked up some stuff for FE gifts. Hopefully we'll get a few more people onboard for the FE swap, but if not we'll have fun anyway!

 

[lucky1]

Shauna, What airport are you flight into/outof? Also do you have DCL transportation? Wondering how early you are flying out on Sunday (assuming you are?) Trying to figure out my MIL's flight out. There are some good deals in and out of Long Beach Airport.

 

[stampinshauna]

Flying in and out of Long Beach. It is $100+ cheaper than LAX. We generally prefer Long Beach because it is so quick to get in and out of since it is so small, and we like JetBlue. We were kind of hoping that LAX would get cheaper since DCL offers transfers, but the price just wasn't budging.

We fly in a couple days early and will just take a cab to DL. Then we did the DCL transfers to the port. Once we get off the ship, we'll take a cab back to the airport. Our choices were 11:30 or 2:30 for flights out, and I figured that 11:30 was pushing it, so we have a 2:30 flight. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time at the airport. We wanted to just rent a car at the port and take an evening flight, but the one way rentals were SO expensive. I read that you can generally start getting off the ship around 9:30, but by the time you get your bags and such it may be a while later. I didn't want to have to rush it with 2 kids in tow. I'm wishing they had a 1:00 flight, but oh well.

 

[lucky1]

My Travel agent said Disney recommends no flights earlier than 12:30pm for departure. Checking flights over the next couple of weeks for MIL. We will be driving into LA area on 11/11 and probably just spend a day at Disneyland. We would pick up MIL from the airport and then depending on if LBG is cheaper or go with LAX.


Right now looks like we can get her a flight into LGB and then a flight at 3:30 out of LAX, so we could have Cruise transportation take her back and then we can wave goodbye at the ship.

 

[lucky1]

We decided on our excursions for the trip... now just waiting.

PV: Beach Resort
Cabo 1: Dolphin Swim
Cabo 2: Shopping


Thinking about Palo's Brunch on Tuesday and Palo's dinner on Friday.

 

[stampinshauna]

I still need to take a good look at excursions. Right now I'm listening to DISradio (DH turned it on while we were cleaning the kitchen) and right now they are playing songs from DCL. Wishing I was there right now.

 

[Adie's Mama]

I haven't even thought about excursions! More fun stuff to plan!

 

[stampinshauna]

Summer has officially hit here. It has been a cooler than average Spring, but this week we've gotten into the 90s for the first time this year.

Our cruise is less than 5 months away. I'm looking forward to it, but don't want to wish it here too quickly because I want to enjoy the warm weather (although I prefer 70s and 80s) and I don't want my kids to grow up too fast. I'm thinking I need to plan a trip for January or February so that I don't get off the cruise and get all depressed that it is winter.

 

[lucky1]

We have been in Summer for full force now for a while. Yesterday was 108 and expecting to be 111 next week. Lets just say I am ready for Summer to be over.

After the cruise our next trip might be to Disneyland in February and then Alaska cruise in July 2012. I think it might be time for a western national parks tour, outside of Arizona.

 

[stampinshauna]

Alaska on DCL--how fun! Have you been to Alaska before? We did a repo cruise back in 2006 that went into Sitka (near Skagway) and Ketchikan, along with Victoria BC and some CA stops. The ports were beautiful. I just wish we could have gotten up farther to see the glaciers. We know that we'd love to go back sometime. We did a float plane excursion through a private company that took us over the Misty Fjords in Ketchikan, and that was a lot of fun.

One of these years we'll have to get back and do it proper--on DCL. That cruise was the only one we've done on another cruise line and I decided I was a Disney Cruise snob because I kept comparing everything and I really missed the DCL food, service, and atmosphere.

 

[lucky1]

Never been to Alaska before. DH use to work there in the Summers when he was younger. Looking forward to it. We will be doing the 2012 cruises which will be out of Seattle and I heard that the itinerary is not as good as the 2011 cruises. But since MIL has never been and this might be her only opportunity, we will do it and Seattle is so much easier for us to get to than Vancouver.

Have never done any other cruise line and I can tell you that DH is already a DCL snob as when someone mentions we do another cruise, he offers his opinions on why DCL is better (even though he has never been on another cruiseline). Oh well at least we are supporting our Disney Stock.

 

[lucky1]

Just saw this discount on the Disney site.. Maybe we will get more cruisers joining us..

Olé! Southern California residents save 25% off prevailing rates as quoted on disneycruise.com on most Mexican Riviera sailings on the Disney Wonder from October 23 to December 18, 2011. See Important Details below.

 

[stampinshauna]

Happy July!

I hope that a few more people join our thread, but if not we'll at least know a few people on the ship. It's funny how different the meet threads can be. One of our last cruises had at least 30 different families on it. I've found that the Wonder threads have been smaller, but those are typically shorter cruises. I think being on the West Coast might have something to do with it.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July. We aren't doing much, just trying to stay cool and have some fun with the kids. I'm really looking forward to our September Disneyland trip, then we can focus on the cruise after that. I just found out that a good friend will be in DL just before our cruise, which is when we will also be there, so that will be fun. I ought to get looking at excursions.

You'll love Alaska, it is so pretty. I loved how as we pulled into port there were pine trees all the way down to the ocean, it was beautiful, and so different from the typical cruise ports. The shopping around the port was the typical stuff you see in the Caribbean (Diamonds International and such), but then there were a few real local Alaskan shops--I especially remember Tongass Traders in Ketchikan, they were great). If you have any interest in doing a float plane there, check out Carlin Air.

 

[stampinshauna]

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! We had a nice overcast day with some sprinkles and short showers to help cool things off a bit.

I took DD to get a few new sundresses (have to take advantage of summer clearance) so that she'll have some to wear on our cruise. She's had some cute Disney dresses that she's worn in the past, but she's outgrowing them. It is kind of fun to be buying clothes knowing that they are for our upcoming trip.

 

[lucky1]

Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! We had a nice overcast day with some sprinkles and short showers to help cool things off a bit.

I took DD to get a few new sundresses (have to take advantage of summer clearance) so that she'll have some to wear on our cruise. She's had some cute Disney dresses that she's worn in the past, but she's outgrowing them. It is kind of fun to be buying clothes knowing that they are for our upcoming trip.

How can you not buy cute (on sale) dresses for you DD? My DD9 has been collecting things for the cruise. She already has her "formal" wear, her evening dresses. Macy had some great sales recently. I could not pass them up. Hopefully shill we not sprout up prior to the cruise or I am trouble.