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

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Kathy what are your thoughts about a meet. This will be my first cruise so I have no ideas. I know some groups meet before the dril but it seems to rushed. I would love to get a group photo. It would be neat to wear matching shirts.

Let me know. I am game.

Also Shauna have you had time to get the braceletts info together?

Traci,
here is my experience for meets.
The first day is the best time, after that everyone is off having fun and they will forget about the meet or deicde they would rather do the ships activities and all the spaces are filled with activities so its hard to meet after the first day.

I dont like meeting on outer decks. They are noisy and so its hard to hear and visit which is the whole idea of a meet.

This is what has worked best so far for the cruises i have been on,
we like to meet in the Promenade lounge.

It is a family lounge and is open to the walkway that you will go down upon boarding as they usher you to lunch. From the atruim where you board the ship you turn left and go down along hallway with windows on the right and a restaurant on the left, then the Promenade lounge will be ont he left.

No walls to block it off so you can see it as you walk by. Plenty of tables and chairs there to sit and visit, there is a bar there for anybody who may want to have a drink. There has never been anything set up there the first afternoon so you know it will be available.
Very eay for new cruisers to find. Room for kids to walk around and have their own little meet and still be right there so you can keep an eye on them.

We usually meet 2:30 or 3:00. Most people have boarded by then and had lunch, checked into the kids clubs and dropped off luggage in their room by then and the drill isnt until 4 .
So if you meet around 3, maybe a little before you can easily chat for 45 minutes, then head to your room to get ready for the drill.

There is plenty of room in The Promenade to take a group photo for this small of a group and one of the CM's from the bar will take the photo if we ask, so everyone can be in the photo. we usually do this with a couple of cameras and then post the photos when we get back so everyone can have a copy if they want.

So my thoughts are meet, lets say 2:45 on the first day in the Promenade lounge, then leave by 3:45 so everyone can be ready for the drill.


Now lets hear from others who have cruised DCL before and see what their meets were like? What are your ideas and experiences for what seemed to work best for your meets.


Anybody else have ideas for a meet, please speak up. we want to find something everyone will be happy with. This is for all of us.


Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Traci,
matching shirts, I forgot to comment.

we have done matching shirts many times but we had a graphic artist who designed them and send the draft to a company then we orderd, so it took soem time to do. It does look great in a photo.


However if we can come up with an idea, maybe an icon we can find on line and put words with it we could pull it off.

Once we have that we can e-mai it to everyone and they can print it off onto iron on transfer sheets and everyone buy a white **** or t-shirts and iron it on to it.
It is cheap and we could all match.

The only reason I say white shirts is iron ons work best on white. I have lots of clothes i have done thst to for disney character. You can buy special inon ons for colored shirts too.

we could even put our posting name on the front, our icon on the back so we have dual decotaions or vice versa.

Put icon on the front and out posting name on the back of the shirt.

i did that once and I had lots of people stopping me who are lurkers and didnt post. They introduced themselves. its was fun.

If people are interested I do have a site with icons we can print off that are about the size of a sheet of paper that are disney themed. some have room to put writing on them.
Maybe a name of our group??

There are lots of possibilities that wont cost everyone an arm and a leg and will be easy to do.
iron on transfer paper can be bought at walmart, and staples Michaels etc.. Enough in one package to do a small family. Cheap t-shirts at the dollar store and your all set .


what do the rest of you think??

Time is growing short so voice your opinions soon!!

This is your meet and greet too, who has ideas??

speak up!! There are NO bad ideas, only ones people are to shy to add to the list.


kathy

 

[GoofyTraci]

Kathy--Don't worry about your height, I am 5'10" so you won't be the only one over 5 ft. lol.

DisNae--welcome to the group! Don't stress too much about getting your excursions and Palo. Go online at 75 days out and you should at least be able to snag a dinnner ressie. Then if it isn't the day you want, switch it when you board the ship. You should also be able to get a brunch ressie when you board the ship if you act quickly. I know they save some ressies for you to be able to book onboard. Also, you can keep checking online as some may open up. I had a brunch ressie last year and decided a couple weeks out that I didn't want it so I let it go to someone else. As far as the excursions go, you should be fine getting what you want as well. I booked SCUBA for DH yesterday, and it looked like a couple of excursions were already full, but my guess is that they just aren't available for this cruise as a couple (prob the same ones) were full at 105 days out and I can't imagine them filling up like that.

Traci--I haven't done anything on the bracelets yet as we are still having people add to this cruise. I like to wait until at least the 75 day mark when people have paid in full and are starting to book things. It only takes a couple of weeks to get them and then another week for me to send them out, so I'll be giving out more info in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for staying on top of this though.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Sounds good Shauna. Should have known you were on it! Have a great day!

 

[GoofyTraci]

Traci,
matching shirts, I forgot to comment.

we have done matching shirts many times but we had a graphic artist who designed them and send the draft to a company then we orderd, so it took soem time to do. It does look great in a photo.


However if we can come up with an idea, maybe an icon we can find on line and put words with it we could pull it off.

Once we have that we can e-mai it to everyone and they can print it off onto iron on transfer sheets and everyone buy a white **** or t-shirts and iron it on to it.
It is cheap and we could all match.

The only reason I say white shirts is iron ons work best on white. I have lots of clothes i have done thst to for disney character. You can buy special inon ons for colored shirts too.

we could even put our posting name on the front, our icon on the back so we have dual decotaions or vice versa.

Put icon on the front and out posting name on the back of the shirt.

i did that once and I had lots of people stopping me who are lurkers and didnt post. They introduced themselves. its was fun.

If people are interested I do have a site with icons we can print off that are about the size of a sheet of paper that are disney themed. some have room to put writing on them.
Maybe a name of our group??

There are lots of possibilities that wont cost everyone an arm and a leg and will be easy to do.
iron on transfer paper can be bought at walmart, and staples Michaels etc.. Enough in one package to do a small family. Cheap t-shirts at the dollar store and your all set .


what do the rest of you think??

Time is growing short so voice your opinions soon!!

This is your meet and greet too, who has ideas??

speak up!! There are NO bad ideas, only ones people are to shy to add to the list.


kathy

Kathy,

These are some designs I had made for our group. I did post them a while back but something was wrong with the pixels and I am not sure how to fix them. Also the one with the ship and Mickey is super cute and my fav but she put first cruise on there which is ok for us but not everyone else. Let me know your ideas.

I agian want to mention these are not my designs and I did not make them. Kellybell on the disign thread made the first and last one. And the second one was made by Mel also disign thread.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Traci,

those are really awesome!! I like all of them.


This is a link to a site where there are 8 pages of backgrounds a person can use and add their own lettering to them if you have a paint program
on your computer and most do have a generic one that comes with the computer.

so look at these too and use your imagination to see if theres anything there you might like too. I often use some of these for door signs too. I always do door signs.


http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/rumblytumbly_bucket/Blanks/


Let me know what you think. Everyone have a look and speak up!!! Lets keep this ball rolling


Kathy

 

[glindamood]

Traci,
here is my experience for meets.
The first day is the best time, after that everyone is off having fun and they will forget about the meet or deicde they would rather do the ships activities and all the spaces are filled with activities so its hard to meet after the first day.

I dont like meeting on outer decks. They are noisy and so its hard to hear and visit which is the whole idea of a meet.

This is what has worked best so far for the cruises i have been on,
we like to meet in the Promenade lounge.

It is a family lounge and is open to the walkway that you will go down upon boarding as they usher you to lunch. From the atruim where you board the ship you turn left and go down along hallway with windows on the right and a restaurant on the left, then the Promenade lounge will be ont he left.

No walls to block it off so you can see it as you walk by. Plenty of tables and chairs there to sit and visit, there is a bar there for anybody who may want to have a drink. There has never been anything set up there the first afternoon so you know it will be available.
Very eay for new cruisers to find. Room for kids to walk around and have their own little meet and still be right there so you can keep an eye on them.

We usually meet 2:30 or 3:00. Most people have boarded by then and had lunch, checked into the kids clubs and dropped off luggage in their room by then and the drill isnt until 4 .
So if you meet around 3, maybe a little before you can easily chat for 45 minutes, then head to your room to get ready for the drill.

There is plenty of room in The Promenade to take a group photo for this small of a group and one of the CM's from the bar will take the photo if we ask, so everyone can be in the photo. we usually do this with a couple of cameras and then post the photos when we get back so everyone can have a copy if they want.

So my thoughts are meet, lets say 2:45 on the first day in the Promenade lounge, then leave by 3:45 so everyone can be ready for the drill.


Now lets hear from others who have cruised DCL before and see what their meets were like? What are your ideas and experiences for what seemed to work best for your meets.


Anybody else have ideas for a meet, please speak up. we want to find something everyone will be happy with. This is for all of us.


Kathy

2:45 or 3:00 works great in the Promenade Lounge. We did outside back by the drink station last cruise and while the noise level was OK - we were really in the way. PL is much better. Maybe we should try to do a lunch on Thursday - or any other time just to meet up and compare how the week has gone.

 

[stampinshauna]

On our first cruise in 2004, there was a large group of DISers wearing lime green matching shirts. To be honest, DH and I were a bit afraid of them. We thought they were a bunch of crazy people lol. I didn't learn about the DIS until after that cruise. Now the "crazy" lime green people make sense.

Anyway, with the 2 cruise meets I have been to, I have found that the Promenade lounge does work well. One time we met up on deck and that didn't work quite as well. We didn't do matching shirts, which I was okay with because a lot of people won't use them again. I figure if you won't use it, it isn't worth hassling with. Some teenagers especially may not like the idea. However, if you want to go ahead with the shirts go ahead and have fun with them. Those that want them can get them, and those that don't can just not order them. I think it is a fun idea--just not one that everyone will go for. With the economy as it is, I'm trying to cut out a few of the "extras" that I may have done before the recession. I guess my only hesitation on the shirts is if it will "scare" away some of the DISers that are more discreet and just like to lurk. Kathy--you are the expert on the meets and such, how have the t-shirts been in the past? Are there a lot who don't get them or is it those who get them are the ones who go to the meet and those without tend to keep to themselves?

The wristbands have been fun because they are something that people can always wear and they are a little less obvious. I love seeing people with them on and then finding out what their DIS name is, it makes for an easy way to strike up a conversation. We could do both wristbands and t-shirts or just keep it simple and do one or the other.

About the wristbands, what do you want them to say? I know there is limited text that can be put on them, so we could have it somewhat generic like "Disney Magic 11.7.09" or we could do our group name "Ahoy, St. Croix 11.7.09 DCL" or something like that. What does everyone think?

 

[GoofyTraci]

Shauna,

I totally agree with you on the shirts. Not everyone is going to want to wear them. And that is ok. I myself do not want to wear a lime green shirt. I thought a nice white shirt with a design on it would be ok. Not too much in your face if you know what I mean. The shirts can be done at home for not much money at all. We would wear them the first day only.

But I do love the wristband idea. It seems too cute. I think Ahoy St. Croix with the date would be great. I also like the idea of having the sizes for the adults and smaller ones for the kiddo's.

I am all for what everyone wants to do. Just let me know and we will be there with bells on. I am so excited I can hardly stand myself.

 

[glindamood]

I love the idea of a wristband and would wear that every day of the cruise. I won't do a t-shirt as I won't wear it again most likely. But everyone else can. Now I would probably wear the DIS lime green shirt though as that could be a generic sort of shirt for each cruise. And green is not a bad color for me either.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

It seems we have lots of great ideas out there today.
I think it was Laurie that asked me about how many wore shirts at my past meets. The last 3 7 day cruises we had from 50 to 85 Disers at our meet and I would estimate each time it was 95% of people wore the shirts the entire first day. It was great for spotting each other until we got use to the faces and names. But we all posted fo rover a year together so had lots of time to plan too.

There were a few quiet people who didnt but they still came to the meet and we had a blast.

I like the idea of wrist bands but there is NO way my Dh will wear a wrist band but he will wear a white shirt with a logo on it.

I think everyone has different comfort levels and we want everyone to be happy so here is my suggestion.


We plan our meet the first day in the Promenade Lounge, lets say around 3.

All of those who want wrist bands order them when the time is right and wear them. Plus for those who want to do a shirt we can decide on a logo to use and we can do our own at home with the iron on transfers really cheap. We too are on a tight budget.

it will still make for a great photo, nobody will be embarassed by feeling they have to wear something they are not comfortable with. We dont want that, we want everyone to have fun!!!
But for those who enjoy wearing matching shirts they will still have fun too.

Will that make everyone happy?


I save my shirts and fold them and put into the scrapbook. They are a souvenir and I love them all they remind me of the cruise.


So now for those who want to do a shirt we need to organize and decide on a logo to put on the shirts.


Plus let us know when its time to order the wristbands so we can order those too

How does that sound to everyone?

Keep those great ideas coming!!
Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Ok,
one last thing to think about while I am off line for a few hours.

I know someone is keeping a list for the fish extender exchange.

But has anyone put together an actual cruise mates list of all of us to send out to everyone?

Or are you guys even interested in this.

This is something my last 4 or 5 cruises we have done to help everyone to get aquainted before the cruise and they are fun to look over.
We included a photo when possible, e-mail addresses (opt) city and state you live in, everyones first names and kids ages so the kids can match up for friends. room numbers
we also listed any special occassion being celebrated on the cruise like birthdays and anniversaries etc.. How many cruises you have done and how many disney cruises and your posting name.

Then this was e-mailed out to everyone and when someone new joined the group we added them to the list and resent the list to everyone.

I kept all my lists and put in my albums. It is so much fun to go back and see peoples photos and remember them and the past cruises.

people dont have to list all of that info but it is nice when they do. Some dont want their e-mail added but you must send it to the person putting together the list so they can e-mail it to you and request it NOT to be added to the list.


Is anybody doing this??

If not and your interested let me know and I would be happy to do it for the group.

Got to walk the girls (my dogs), back after dinner tonight to see what other great ideas everyone comes up with.

Kathy

 

[TiggerzFan]

This will be our first ever cruise of any sort!! It will be me, DH, and our 2 DDs, ages 7 1/2 and 3 1/2. ....

Welcome aboard, DisNae - and any one else I may have missed in the past few days. We have DDs the same age, currently 7-1/2 and 3-2/3! Your girls will have a blast! Mine love wearing Princess dresses - and there will be tons of other little girls doing the same. This is probably the last time I'll get the 7 yr old to do that so I'm going for it!

Don't worry about Palo reservations, as others have said. This is our 8th Disney cruise and I have never been turned away. Even if we were on a waiting list onboard, we've always been called quickly to say we're in.

Enjoy the planning frenzy!

 

[TiggerzFan]

Oh my, so much to catch up on here.

Personally I like the wristband idea, though my DH wasn't too excited about it on a previous cruise. Another cruise, we had buttons/pins made (a DISer did them with our names) which worked out well because DISers wore them on their lanyards, which pretty much become a wardrobe staple onboard. They were easy to spot and did generate conversations, etc. Just another thought. It's always difficult to balance the crazy DISers with the DHs that just follow along!

T-shirts are awesome, but as a few have said, some prefer not to do that and others may have family t-shirts in mind.

I vote for offering the wristbands (75 day mark is a great idea!) and the t-shirt logo designs and those that want to use them can.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I think the lounge idea for a meet is great. I am also in for the wristbands, and DIY t-shirts. I am making family shirts for embarkation. DH saw families with those last year and really liked them. I am getting the knack of the whole t-shirt making thing, so I don't have a problem changing into a white tshirt before the meet. We'll be hitting the pool asap so we'd be changing out of our suits for the meet anyway. I'm in for any of the designs Traci showed us. Making our own shirts beats paying DCL prices for souvenir shirts!

Christine

 

[LindaBabe]

I Knew we'd get some energy and posts when Kathy showed up! Dang, lady you ARE an organizer! Too much time on your hands, lol.

I like the meet idea, and promenade lounge works great. Not so thrilled about doing t- shirts again. They make a great group photo, it's true, but i'm not a t-shirt person. Those are REALLY cute logos, though.

Last September, the dis group made lanyards instead of t-shirts and everybody wore them all the time, with the key card in them, and the DisName tag on the other side. However, custom lanyards are expensive, and have to be ordered in a batch.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

I Knew we'd get some energy and posts when Kathy showed up! Dang, lady you ARE an organizer! Too much time on your hands, lol.

I like the meet idea, and promenade lounge works great. Not so thrilled about doing t- shirts again. They make a great group photo, it's true, but i'm not a t-shirt person. Those are REALLY cute logos, though.

Last September, the dis group made lanyards instead of t-shirts and everybody wore them all the time, with the key card in them, and the DisName tag on the other side. However, custom lanyards are expensive, and have to be ordered in a batch.

Howdy Linda,
you know me too well
Dont tell anyone what i am really like or it might scare them away
of course we know I am really an

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Ok, I believe this is a summary of todays discussions.

We are meeting in the Promenade lounge at 2:45 to 3:00 P.M. the first afternoon and will leave around 3:45 so people can be ready for the safety muster. Everyone seems to agree on that so far.

Some havnt posted yet how they feel.

Most are interested in Bracelets which Shauna is going to keep us posted on and take care of for us. Thanyou
Shauna did ask what we wanted written on them, please give her some ideas.
I think Shaunas question got lost in all the frenzy today.
I like St. Croix then the date but will be happy with anything you want. I am easy to please. Now everyone post your opinions of what to have on the bracelets.

We do have a few who want t-shirts as well as bracelets.

For anyone who wants to do their own shirts from the logos Traci posted we need to vote on which one you like the best so we will be the same picture.
Personally I like the first of the logos Traci posted for us, but as I said above I am happy with any of them as long as I am on the ship I am happy

Please post your vote for the logos so we can get started on them.:thumbsup
2


Traci is keeping the FE extender list for everyone, Thanks Traci.

Gail also proposed we meet on thursday for lunch just to visit and see how everyones week is going?
Gail this is your call. everyone who is interested please speak up. I know its hard to know what you'll be doing on thursday at lunch time. some eat early or late due to events on board. some the buffet, some restaurants.

Gail tell us what your thinking and we can pick a place and time. Love to meet for a visit towards the end of the week. Great idea!!


Is anyone interested in the cruise mates list like i mentioned earlier? I can add all this meet information to the list too so we have it all on hand to remember. I can PM everyone to get your information if people would like to have the list. Let me know.

Linda also decided I have too much time on my hands She's right!

time is flying by, soon the cruise will be here

We made alot of great planning decisons today, I thought it was alot of fun.
I cant wait to hear from others to post their ideas too. You guys have some great ideas.

Can't wait to meet all of you!!

kathy

 

[GoofyTraci]

Ok, I believe this is a summary of todays discussions.

We are meeting in the Promenade lounge at 2:45 to 3:00 P.M. the first afternoon and will leave around 3:45 so people can be ready for the safety muster. Everyone seems to agree on that so far.

Some havnt posted yet how they feel.

Most are interested in Bracelets which Shauna is going to keep us posted on and take care of for us. Thanyou
Shauna did ask what we wanted written on them, please give her some ideas.
I think Shaunas question got lost in all the frenzy today.
I like St. Croix then the date but will be happy with anything you want. I am easy to please. Now everyone post your opinions of what to have on the bracelets.

We do have a few who want t-shirts as well as bracelets.

For anyone who wants to do their own shirts from the logos Traci posted we need to vote on which one you like the best so we will be the same picture.
Personally I like the first of the logos Traci posted for us, but as I said above I am happy with any of them as long as I am on the ship I am happy

Please post your vote for the logos so we can get started on them.:thumbsup
2


Traci is keeping the FE extender list for everyone, Thanks Traci.

Gail also proposed we meet on thursday for lunch just to visit and see how everyones week is going?
Gail this is your call. everyone who is interested please speak up. I know its hard to know what you'll be doing on thursday at lunch time. some eat early or late due to events on board. some the buffet, some restaurants.

Gail tell us what your thinking and we can pick a place and time. Love to meet for a visit towards the end of the week. Great idea!!


Is anyone interested in the cruise mates list like i mentioned earlier? I can add all this meet information to the list too so we have it all on hand to remember. I can PM everyone to get your information if people would like to have the list. Let me know.

Linda also decided I have too much time on my hands She's right!

time is flying by, soon the cruise will be here

We made alot of great planning decisons today, I thought it was alot of fun.
I cant wait to hear from others to post their ideas too. You guys have some great ideas.

Can't wait to meet all of you!!

kathy

Yes today was a good day.

 

[The Higgies]

Well, it's been so long since I posted that my account was deactivated! But we are looking forward to meeting everyone on the cruise and watching the Eagles beat the Cowboys on Sunday night!

Higgins
Sean/MaryLou
Meghan (8) and Jennifer (3)

Previous Cruise: September 2004

 

[minniemouse71]

Ok, so I know that it has been forever since I posted, but Dan and I are still going on this cruise. I made my final payment and booked my excursions, and a Palo brunch, so I am really going!! I can't believe that it is less than three months away. We have been super busy around here. What started out as replacing a ceiling in my living room, turned into totally gutting it We still aren't completely finished. Still have some trim left to put in the hallway.
I am so ready for this cruise. I need a vacation.
Anyway, I have been trying to keep up with everything and everyone. Please add Dan and I to the FE. I actually got started on my gifts for it. Is there a list anywhere? I wanted to get a count to date.
As for the meet, I love the idea of meeting in the Promenade lounge. The only other one that I did, we met in the terminal, and then on deck nine during the sail away party, and I agree, it is just way to noisy. I like the idea of making our own t-shirts, but then I am a t-shirt sort of gal. We usually make shirts when we go to Disney and wear matching shirts during the time we are there, so I was already thinking of making one for us to wear when we get on the ship. So making one more would not be a big deal for us. I like the first picture also.
Gail, I really like the idea of getting together for lunch on Thursday, maybe we could all just meet in one of the restaurants at a set time?
Anyway, I will try to post more in the future.
Take care everyone!!
Vickie