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

[bambilin]

Wow that would be great if the ship has started ecorating. We got a great Christmas Card pic on RCCL the week after Thanksgiving in 2006. We will make sure to bring appropriate outfits for the kids just in case.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party doesn't start till Thanksgiving weekend I am petty sure. We have made it a few times. We are going to stay one night pre-cruise at Caribbean Beach Resort. I got a postcard for 40% off for the stay and the Disney bus will pick us up there to take us to the ship!

 

[MommyTo5]

We chose our dinner times when we booked last year. We booked the main seating, but I'm wondering if we might miss out on excursion days

We had Early Seating (now referred to as Main Seating) on our last cruise and missed dinner twice due to being in port... if we had actually made our other two ports, I probably would have missed dinner more than we did!
Even though we'll have a 3-yr-old this cruise, I chose Late Seating to see if it works out any better. I figure we can always feed her early if we need to.

 

[MommyTo5]

I am reading through these boards a little at a time. There is certainly a load of information here. I have a couple of questions for my fellow Nov.15 08 cruisers.

What is your opinion on taking beach towels?

No towels for us - we simply won't have room in the suitcases!

What is your opinion on taking your own snorkelling equipment? There is some decent/fun stuff at Costco/Sams right now. I thought maybe for valentines...or easter...HEY there aren't many holidays between now and DEPARTURE.OOoooooh I'm excited. what am I going to be like in OCT!?!?! Thanks goodness I've had the sense not to tell the kids!

If you'll have the room, go for it! I thought about waiting and checking the Summer Clearance sales... again, we'll have the issue whether or not we'll have the room, but if I can get a really great bargain, I may pick up a few things.

What is your opinion on taking those beach shoes? We're going to the park at Cozumel - rocky corally or sandy?...not flipflops (I am of the "thong" vintage), but those ones that are good on rocks and coral.

Thanks!

Yes - definitely bring the beach/swim shoes! I think you'll definitely be thankful you did.

 

[MommyTo5]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party doesn't start till Thanksgiving weekend I am petty sure.

2007 MVMCP dates were:
November 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30

December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21

Last year, there were no Saturday dates... I'm bummed!

I was hoping for a November 22 MVMCP this year since we'll be flying home on Sunday.

 

[LauraLap]

Well, since I am extremely new to this Disney cruising thing I'm hoping you all could help me out some. We have done Royal Caribbean twice, but I'm thinking this is going to be a completely different experience!

We're thinking of flying in on the 13th and staying at a disney resort for one or two nights, and doing Magic Kindom on the 14th. What is the best way to get a good deal to do all this? PLUS transportation to the port. Any tips? I'm not even sure we can afford all that! Maybe it's wishful thinking........

 

[bambilin]

Well, we booked Caribbean Beach Resort for $111.67 for one night on 11/14 and we could have gotten All Star for $67 for the night. We did not do tickets since it will only be one day, we will wait.

The Disney Bus picks you up at the airport, you do not even need to wait for your luggage at the airport, they deliver it for you.

If you purchase transfers from DCL, they will pick you up at many of the resorts and then of course back to the airport. They don't pick up from the value resorts but do from moderate, that's why we went with Caribeean Beach so we wouldn't have to schlep around on the shuttle.

My email address home is bambilin@aol.com if you wanted to touch base!

 

[bambilin]

I am with you on the late seating for sure and hey thanks for the info on the dates for MVMC Party. I had no idea they start it before Thanksgiving. We are staying at WDW on 11/14 maybe we will get lucky!!! Hope you do also.

 

[LauraLap]

Well, we booked Caribbean Beach Resort for $111.67 for one night on 11/14 and we could have gotten All Star for $67 for the night. We did not do tickets since it will only be one day, we will wait.

The Disney Bus picks you up at the airport, you do not even need to wait for your luggage at the airport, they deliver it for you.

If you purchase transfers from DCL, they will pick you up at many of the resorts and then of course back to the airport. They don't pick up from the value resorts but do from moderate, that's why we went with Caribeean Beach so we wouldn't have to schlep around on the shuttle.

My email address home is bambilin@aol.com if you wanted to touch base!

Wow, how did you get those rates? I haven't seen them anywhere

Also, how do you get from resort to port on the 15th? I'm thinking maybe we'll just rent a car.

 

[LauraLap]

LOL....hmmmm......seems I'm a thread killer! LOL

 

[bambilin]

I got a postcard, probably because we have a Disney Visa card, and it gave me a special offer code. As I understand from my TA, I am allowed to book 3 rooms with that code. I am not sure if the rooms would all have to be the same details, you know like since we booked 1 night at Caribbean Beach, the other two rooms would have to be the same?

Anyway, the folks travelling with us already have points they are using for their room, so if you wanted to book the room for 1 nite at Caribbean Beach, I coudl give you my TA's info and he could book you as well.

We paid for "ground transfers" when we booked the cruise. Since Disney already picks you up for free at the airport and brings you to the hotel, our first "transfer" will be from Caribbean Beach to the pier. If you already paid for transfers, you would be able to do the same.

I gave you my home email so feel free to PM me if you wanted to discuss further. My MOm is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow, so don't think I am ignoring you if it takes a little while to get back to you!!

 

[izma]

...9 months!

 

[Disneyday]

Izma- Yes I would love to do fish extenders and I think Dana mentioned in an earlier post that she would like to.

Anyone else interested? I think it would be fun for the kids.

Heres the thread on how to make them
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607
Sue

 

[dmja716]

Hello Everyone!!
Yeah, it is less than 9 months today

I will definitely be up for doing fish extenders. I am going to try and make it myself Ive seen here on the boards where some people just made a satchel looking fish extender if that might be easier for some of us. But I am definitely bringing a zip tie to lock it up.

I think the kids will love the fish extender exchange. I have been trying to think of some New Jersey related goodies for the kids.

I made a spreadsheet of all our names and info, if anyone wants it let me know and I can send it to you. It will be good for doing the fish extender goodie delivering on board.

Hope everyone has a good weekend,
Dana

 

[izma]

I shall extend my fish!

I'll be wanting a copy of that spreadsheet when the date gets closer!

 

[Disneyday]

Wow you are so organised Dana! I would like a copy of the spread sheet later on if that would be ok. I could get some London souveniers or perhaps something from Sherwood Forest as we live about 30mins from there

I am with you on the zip tie after reading about things getting pinched. I can't believe people would do that
Sue

 

[dmja716]

I will be happy to share it with everyone.

I have a read a few stories here on the board about people's room # changing at the port, etc. I guess we will figure it all out when we board. Maybe we could arrange a DIS meet the first or second day, get everyone's room numbers squared away and introduce ourselves to each other.

I have been checking airfare everyday from Newark to Orlando and prices just arent going down to where I would like. I am still waiting on Jet Blue to release their rates. Has anyone else booked their flights yet??

 

[izma]

Perhaps someone familiar with the ship (I'm a newbie) could suggest a meeting spot for sometime after we board. We could figure things out then.

Of all the places in the world, a Disney cruise shouldn't be somewhere you'd have to worry about your extender getting pinched!!! Shame.

 

[izma]

Hey Mommy to 5...or 6... (9months until the cruise!?!) Just teasing.

I see you are looking for a hanging toiletries bag. I think the Mary Kay is too small for your gang. I might suggest the Mary Kay for your Mommy things and a Medium LLBean for the shared items for the rest.

Just a thought!

 

[LauraLap]

Hey everyone! I've been perusing the DIS boards, and getting soooo excited. I mean, this 9 months is going to go so S-L-O-W-L-Y! Yikes. I'm really hoping that Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is on that Friday night before the cruise, that would be awesome.

As for Fish Extenders, I'm not too familiar with them just yet, I'll have to go digging through posts to figure it out......but sounds like fun to me. I'm sure the kids will love it. Maybe I can fit some little Canada Geese in there or something, LOL.

Lin....thanks for the offer, you're so sweet! For now I don't know if we're coming 1 or 2 nights ahead, and what's going on, so for now I'm not going to book anything. Then again, that's probably not too smart, huh?

 

[MommyTo5]

I shall extend my fish!

I'll be wanting a copy of that spreadsheet when the date gets closer!

Me too! Sounds fun!