November 15, 2008 7 night Western 11/15/08 11-15-08

[MommyTo5]

Hello!! I just told my two children we will be going on a Disney cruise sailing November 15, 2008!! This will be our second cruise on the Magic! I am too excited and so are they!!! Our last one was March 2004. The experience was so wonderful we just had to do it again!! When I booked in '04, my husband was so not into it. As soon as we boarded the ship, he turned into a whole different person. He has been eagerly awaiting a return trip!! I can't wait to meet you all!
Donyale

Welcome aboard, Donyale!

How old are your kids? Boys or girls?

We haven't cruised since January '05. My kids are really looking forward to cruising again too... and my husband, he was the same way yours was --- but he actually LOVED cruising! This particular trip is in celebration of his 40th birthday which is the day we'll be boarding - November 15th!

 

[MommyTo5]

What deck will everyone be located?

We are on Deck 5 (Forward).

 

[dmja716]

We have booked a Cat 12 GTY so we will have to wait and see.

Im hoping for the upgrade fairy

 

[Donyale]

My son will be 15 and my daughter 12 when we actually cruise. Probably a bit older than your children MommyTo5.
My husband is so happy about this trip. He would like to cruise a couple times a year but time (and money) won't allow that just yet!! We are not celebrating anything in particular for this cruise but hey I can make up something!! LOL
We will be on deck 7 this time. We were on deck 5 last time and we absoluetly loved it. Very close to the kids area but still quiet. My daughter requested to be higher up on the ship this time so money would only allow us to go to deck 7, ha ha ha!
I have not "officially" booked a room yet. I have one on hold while I am price shopping but will definately book in the next two weeks. I went through All Seasons travel last time. Who did everyone else use, or whom do you suggest? (I really liked All Seasons and I got a very, very, very low price out of them the last time, my little secret, lol but that was in 2004 and I am a huge bargain shopper). Please give me all the suggestions you have!!
Can't wait to see you all!!
Donyale

 

[crash2000]

deck 7, not sure of room number...

 

[dmja716]

We booked through Dreams Unlimited. The price was the same as DCL website but we got $75 shipboard credit from them so we booked through them.

So far all interaction has been through email and responses have been prompt. The only thing I have been thinking about is, shouldn't we have received some sort of confirmation in the mail??? Can someone help me on that? Thanks

We have a DCL confirmation number also so I can do all the stuff online too when that date comes.

 

[crazykunis]

With the holidays over, the stomache flu hitting the family...I so am ready to get away!!

I wanted to answer the question on Deck #...we are on Deck 8 middle of the ship...My family thinks I am nuts planning another huge expensive vacation...but it will so be worth it..plus I am going to use as my excuse to not buy them more junk at walmart...

I can't wait to get to know everyone!!

 

[crazykunis]

Maybe we can get your 15 year old son and mine to start chatting prior to the cruise...does he happen to have xbox live...My son just rec'd it for xmas...crazy what kids can do to communicate these days. Also is your 12 year old daughter into Webkinz....my 11 year old son is....it's funny but the boys are so into the computer game of it...

 

[Donyale]

DMJA716-I've only been on a Disney cruise one other time but if I remember correctly I didn't receive confirmation and such in the mail until after final payment was made. I just printed off confirmations from disney's website or travel agent's site until they arrived in the mail.
CRAZYKUNIS-Sorry but we do not have xbox-only playstation and gamecube and my daughter isn't into webkins However I wish our boys would chat before cruising. Maybe we can set something up sometime. My son plays soccer and is into skateboarding. Maybe they will have that or something else in common.
CRASH2000-a fellow deck 7!! Sweet!!! Maybe we will run into each other. Who knows, we may even be neighbors!!

 

[odhrty]

I haven't read through your whole thread yet. But I switched our Double dip Thanksgiving trip to the 11/15 today due to the $3000 savings. I almost went with RCL due to the cost but my DH really likes the family feel of the Disneyline. We had our first cruise 11/01/01 for three nights and we're really excited to try a 7 night. We will do Universal Studios for 4 nights before the cruise. My kids told me not to tell them a year in advance like I did last time but they know I'm on the computer planning. They loved emailing other kids just before they went. DS will be almost 12 and DD will be 10. My son likes most sports, the Wii, webkinz, and trading disney pins(his fav is the chipmunks). My DD likes crafts, webkinz, Wii, volleyball and theater. I could hardly keep them out the kids club last year. DH will be 42 and enjoyed cruising even though he was sea sick until we purchased the wristbands. It didn't help that we cruised right behind tropical storm Noel. (the boat was rocking and I wasn't the only one eating alone half the dining room emptied out) I'll be 41 this cruise and work as a dental hygienist, take care of my kids, and love planning our yearly vacation. We are on deck seven mid to aft. I booked my flights today from Spokane WA so we are committed. I can't wait to read this whole thread and get to know everyone.

 

[crazykunis]

Donyale-Oh yes...Skateboarding definately...My oldest just loved the basketball court on the ship!! He is very shy until you get to know him!! We will definately get them chatting...

ODhrty-Welcome!!! Sounds like your son and daughter are like my 2 boys. They don't understand why I plan everything so far in advance and talk about it so early...LOL!! And pin trading...OH MY...both boys loved that in disney and on the ship. My youngest is not shy so my oldest who will be 11 followed his lead to get pins. They are into hidden mickey pins!!

I will have to get my boys webkins name and they can add them to their friends list. I am just starting to understand this whole webkinz thing. We were the same way thinking of going on Royal but we just are to afraid to go on anything but disney they were so family oriented and I always felt my kids were safe. This will be our first 7 day cruise with the family so I am excited. Although everyone thinks I am nuts for saving for such a large vacation....but you only live once..right?? LOL

 

[MommyTo5]

Welcome aboard, odhrty!


Woohoo! We are up to 11 DISers!!! I just updated post #40 with the everyone's info!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1389702&page=3
*If I've posted anything incorrectly, or anyone wants any missing info added, please post here (or PM me) and I'll get that fixed!


You know I'm leaving for WDW in 20 days and I haven't planned (or packed) a thing yet! I'm so addicted to these darn cruise boards! LOL

 

[dmja716]

Thank you Angie!

Happy New Year everyone

-Dana

 

[Disneyday]

Happy New Year everyone!

Oh no is everyone on deck 7?
I just changed our res from deck 7 forward to deck 2 mid because I was so worried about seasickness. It must be better up there because my TA tried to talk me out of it.
Oh well, all the exercise climbing stairs will work some of the food off!

 

[Disneyday]

Just giving us a bump.
Anyone else out there joining us?

 

[izma]

We have been booked for some time now but I'm just starting to research...

I will be traveling with DH (41), DS (11) and DD (10). This will be my third cruise, but my first DISNEY cruise. The rest are cruise rookies.

The children do not know yet, they only know that we are going on a holiday next fall. I give them one letter each month and they have to figure out where they are going. DISNEY CRUISE. Of course I have scrambled the letters. They have SSC and have already guessed DISNEYCRUISE...clever little people...but I have not flinched and I don't think they believe it's possible.

We will follow the cruise with a week at WDW. We won't be sharing that with them until the boat's back in port.

I am interested in any tips you veteran Disney Cruisers have. I have about a million questions!

Oh.....and I am SO EXCITED!!!!

 

[dmja716]

Welcome to the list Izma.

I am a Disney Cruise newbie also.

Less than 10 months to go everyone

Just wanted to share that we have decided on excursions for Grand Cayman, we have booked the Rays, Reef and Rumpoint tour with Native Way Watersports and my DH has booked the Royal Dolphin swim in Cozumel, we will just spend the day at Chankanaab park and maybe do a little shopping there if time allows.
As far as Key West, I want to do the Trolley Tour and the Aquarium. I think we are just going to decide when we dock that day what we are up for. We have been to Key West before and we are excited to go back.

Anyone else give any thought to excursions yet??

I hope everyone is surviving winter. It hasn't been to bad here in New Jersey.

 

[izma]

I need some advice from you veterans on shore excursions.

Should I book through the cruise or on my own?

My kids are excellent swimmers and love to snorkel.

Any suggestions for Key West?

Do we get breakfast on board on the last day...even snacks of some kind in the morning?

How long is the bus ride from port to park?

...told you I had a lot of questions!!!

 

[Disneyday]

Hi izma, welcome aboard!
Sorry can't answer your questions being a newbie myself.
I think we are doing Excaret excursion at Cozumel and the stingrays at GC.

dmja716 did you book the excursions yourself? I can't decide whether to do that or go with Disney.

Would you get a refund if the ship didn't dock for some reason

 

[dmja716]

Here is the rundown on the excursions we booked.

Cozumel.
I booked DH for the Royal Dolphin Swim directly through dolphindiscovery dot com. DS and I will just watch, then we are going to hang out for the rest of the day at Chankaanaab park. I heard its pretty nice. I originally wanted to do Paradise Beach but DH really wanted to do the dolphin thing and I dont want to be going all over the place in one day. After Chankanaab we will probably shop for a little and call it a day. I had to pay in advance for this tour and they WILL refund if the ship doesnt dock that day.

Cayman
I booked the tour through nativewaywatersports dot com directly. Disney's similar tour doesnt let children under a certain age go on their excursion. This tour allows any age to go. Even if we arent comfortable with DS going in the water at least he will be on the boat with us. Im sure it will work out fine. I only had to give my credit card info via email to this company to hold our spot, but we dont pay till the day of the tour and they WILL NOT charge you if your ship cant dock that day.
The fact that both tours dont charge you in case of not being able to dock, gave me peace of mind to go ahead and book.

I got alot of info on the cruise critic boards also. they have boards for each port you stop at. Very informative.

Ask away if you have anymore questions.