November 7, 2009 ~~~~ AHOY ST.CROIX ~~~~

[Silly Little Pixie]

I picked up stuff for our FE exchange at the character warehouse!!! Hee hee hee.

Christine

 

[GoofyTraci]

I'm an over planner and would love to start working on some things for the FE but not sure how many familes we will have by then.

I almost blew the surprise last night. My son and I were sitting at the table eating dinner and a WDW commercial came on and he said mom I sure want to go back there and I almost said dont worry we are going soon and on a disney cruise.

 

[glindamood]

I'm an over planner and would love to start working on some things for the FE but not sure how many familes we will have by then.

I almost blew the surprise last night. My son and I were sitting at the table eating dinner and a WDW commercial came on and he said mom I sure want to go back there and I almost said dont worry we are going soon and on a disney cruise.

I could not keep a secret like a cruise to save my soul. But I always have so much fun "watching" someone else do it. I tried for my DH's 50th but it just didn't work out so well.

As far as FE's go - that is a very difficult thing to judge. It has been my experience that we will have folks joining right along and with many more in the fall. But, maybe not. I don't even start thinking about it until about 3 months to cruise time and then I even add to that count. With the economy being what it is, that may make a difference as well. I applaud those that get an early start as while I may start thinking at 3 months, the purchasing can be very last minute.

Take care all and have a great day!

 

[GoofyTraci]

I could not keep a secret like a cruise to save my soul. But I always have so much fun "watching" someone else do it. I tried for my DH's 50th but it just didn't work out so well.

As far as FE's go - that is a very difficult thing to judge. It has been my experience that we will have folks joining right along and with many more in the fall. But, maybe not. I don't even start thinking about it until about 3 months to cruise time and then I even add to that count. With the economy being what it is, that may make a difference as well. I applaud those that get an early start as while I may start thinking at 3 months, the purchasing can be very last minute.

Take care all and have a great day!

Yes I know what you mean.. thanks for the info. I am excited with way too much time to think about this. Have a great day.

 

[LindaBabe]

I'm an over planner and would love to start working on some things for the FE but not sure how many familes we will have by then.

I almost blew the surprise last night. My son and I were sitting at the table eating dinner and a WDW commercial came on and he said mom I sure want to go back there and I almost said dont worry we are going soon and on a disney cruise.

I like to make mine, so I always start early too - last long cruise I made 100 and then had to make 50 more - we ended up with 130 families. I just use the leftovers on the next cruise, because there *will* be a next one, lol.

 

[GoofyTraci]

I like to make mine, so I always start early too - last long cruise I made 100 and then had to make 50 more - we ended up with 130 families. I just use the leftovers on the next cruise, because there *will* be a next one, lol.

wow 130 familes is a lot of stuff to make a bring. But maybe with the economy the ships are not sailing as full so who knows. i will start pretty soon since their might be that many. thanks for the info. Have a great day!

 

[stampinshauna]

One idea for the FEs is to have groups of a certain size. That way you know what to plan on and you don't have to make so many and pack so much stuff back and forth. Say like 25 or so in a group, then when that is full start another group. Just an idea.

 

[glindamood]

One idea for the FEs is to have groups of a certain size. That way you know what to plan on and you don't have to make so many and pack so much stuff back and forth. Say like 25 or so in a group, then when that is full start another group. Just an idea.

That is something that I have not heard of but it is also a great idea. Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[kstategrad]

We want to be a part of the FE exchange too. I haven't been posting much, but we are definitely interested. Let me know what we need to do!!

 

[GoofyTraci]

Yea!!! I went crazy buying FE gifts this weekend. I am super excited. And cant wait to hand out my gifts.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Hello everyone..just wanted to check in and say hi. Things have been pretty quiet here. What is everyone up to. I have still been secretly planning this trip and trying to stay out of the stores.

I have been checking out all of the creative and design boards here for magnets for the doors. Everyone is just so nice and creative.

Anyway just wanted to say hello.

 

[worfiek]

We will be joining you all in November! This is our first Disney cruise and we are planning on surprising our children (DD 8, DS, 4). We usually go to WDW every other year and we decided to change things up with a cruise this time.

We would love to be part of the FE! I think I will have to purchase one from Ebay since I cannot sew at all!

We will be flying into MCO and we are debating between coming in the morning of, or spending the night at a hotel near the port. Does anyone have any experience?

Paula

 

[GoofyTraci]

We will be joining you all in November! This is our first Disney cruise and we are planning on surprising our children (DD 8, DS, 4). We usually go to WDW every other year and we decided to change things up with a cruise this time.

We would love to be part of the FE! I think I will have to purchase one from Ebay since I cannot sew at all!

We will be flying into MCO and we are debating between coming in the morning of, or spending the night at a hotel near the port. Does anyone have any experience?

Paula

Hi Paula

This will be my first cruise as well and I am also surprising my son for his birthday. Our group is doing a FE exchange and are happy for your family to join in. My son and I are flying in the night before and staying at the Hyatt MCO. Lots of cruisers stay here as well as other hotels near the port. You will revieve all kinds of different reviews of this. But just check out the boards and you will learn a lot. Everyone is so friendly here. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

Have a great day!

 

[glindamood]

We will be joining you all in November! This is our first Disney cruise and we are planning on surprising our children (DD 8, DS, 4). We usually go to WDW every other year and we decided to change things up with a cruise this time.

We would love to be part of the FE! I think I will have to purchase one from Ebay since I cannot sew at all!

We will be flying into MCO and we are debating between coming in the morning of, or spending the night at a hotel near the port. Does anyone have any experience?

Paula

Paula and family! Happy to have you joining our group. This is our tenth cruise with DCL and we always fly down one day early. That way we have no weather worries (the worst air delay I ever had was from a thunderstorm and we were delayed about 4 hours or so), mechanical issues, missed connections or anything else. You can get a good night sleep and get up refreshed and ready to go.

We are staying at Saratoga Springs Resort the night before and renting a car so we can stop and pick up some Pepsi, beer, wine and whatever the master packer (that would be me) forgot to pack. I am hoping to be able to see Cirque Friday night but we shall see how that all pans out.

And another surpriser - I could never do that. I am not good at keeping cruise secrets but I will enjoy your "mission" and can't wait to hear how it all plays out.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Welcome!

This is our first 7 day DCL so we're planning on flying in on Friday... enjoying the beach...staying somewhere in Port Canaveral. A no-stress day! Then we'll be able to get to the port bright and early. We enjoyed getting on the ship about 11:30 last time on our Wonder cruise. My kids were the first ones in the pools!

Christine

 

[worfiek]

Thank you for all the welcome wishes!

Christine, Do you rent a car? We have always cruised out of Miami or Tampa (on other cruise lines) and those ports are so much closer to the airports! We are trying to figure out how to pull all of this together without spending a fortune!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Radisson at Port Canaveral?

I keep going back and forth about spending the night before in Orlando since it will mean that we will have to take the kids out of school an extra day. How is everyone else dealing with the guilt of taking the kids out of school? Our kids will miss 4 days since Veteran's Day is a holiday. I'm not concerned about my son since he will still be in preschool, but my daughter will be in 4th grade.

I know that the cruise is months away, but I am a planner! Now, if JetBlue would release their fall flight schedule, I would be very happy!

I also need to get passports for everyone. My to-do list seems to be growing!

Has anyone tried Rasul?

Thanks for all your help!
Paula

 

[glindamood]

Thank you for all the welcome wishes!

Christine, Do you rent a car? We have always cruised out of Miami or Tampa (on other cruise lines) and those ports are so much closer to the airports! We are trying to figure out how to pull all of this together without spending a fortune!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Radisson at Port Canaveral?

I keep going back and forth about spending the night before in Orlando since it will mean that we will have to take the kids out of school an extra day. How is everyone else dealing with the guilt of taking the kids out of school? Our kids will miss 4 days since Veteran's Day is a holiday. I'm not concerned about my son since he will still be in preschool, but my daughter will be in 4th grade.

I know that the cruise is months away, but I am a planner! Now, if JetBlue would release their fall flight schedule, I would be very happy!

I also need to get passports for everyone. My to-do list seems to be growing!

Has anyone tried Rasul?

Thanks for all your help!
Paula

We stayed at the Radisson once and it was very nice. There are other options in PC though that you would want to check out. Shirley has a post on the main cruise page that lists several options. I will go see if I can find it and post the link for you. She is an awesome lady and full of great information.

My kids are all grown and either in the workforce or college but I will say that we have owned DVC since '93 and we always pulled them for our trips, all the way through high school. But, pulling is a very personal thing so I will leave it at that. I don't know where you live but maybe you could pull them half a day, or fly in the evening??? Staying at the Hyatt or one of the hotels close to the port is always an option if you arrive in the evening.

Isn't planning fun?? Almost as much fun as the trip itself.

 

[glindamood]

For anyone looking for info near the port, here is the link to Shirley's post that will answer most any question you have.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520273

 

[GoofyTraci]

Thank you for all the welcome wishes!

Christine, Do you rent a car? We have always cruised out of Miami or Tampa (on other cruise lines) and those ports are so much closer to the airports! We are trying to figure out how to pull all of this together without spending a fortune!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Radisson at Port Canaveral?

I keep going back and forth about spending the night before in Orlando since it will mean that we will have to take the kids out of school an extra day. How is everyone else dealing with the guilt of taking the kids out of school? Our kids will miss 4 days since Veteran's Day is a holiday. I'm not concerned about my son since he will still be in preschool, but my daughter will be in 4th grade.

I know that the cruise is months away, but I am a planner! Now, if JetBlue would release their fall flight schedule, I would be very happy!

I also need to get passports for everyone. My to-do list seems to be growing!

Has anyone tried Ra

Thanks for all your help!
Paula

Hi Paula I am also taking my son out of school for the trip. I am a single mom and it is much cheaper for me to go during that time and it is also my sons birthday so that is another reason I picked that time. It is a personal choice to take or not take the kids out of school. My son will also be in the fourth grade next year. But he does well in school so I am not worried about it.

As I said before we are staying at the hyatt at the airport. I purchased the hyatt stay certificate and got the room for 135 dollars. And we can easily take the shuttle from our hotel to the port. That way I dont have to rent a car or anything. We will be flying in that night so I dont have to have my son miss anymore additional school than the week of the trip.

Have a good evening!

 

[Ness2289]

Regarding the "taking kids out" thing, I chose this week in particular since she is out of school on Wednesday anyway. It's also after the first report cards go out so whatever she does miss, we have to time to cover. I'm a former teacher and the counselor at her school so I believe we'll survive missing four days. We always do extra practice anyway. This will be the first I've ever done it, but so many of my co-workers have done it. I'd rather save money (as a single mother myself) instead of spending far more during spring break or over the summer.