NYC to Canada July 8, 2012: Its Magic, Eh?

[taximom00]

Well, we have grown!

I am adding another family to the list as well as creating a deadline for posting your intent on participating. This will help us with shopping, budgeting and creating! I myself have gone overboard with the just in case items.....and now have over bought...terribly!

May 8th will be the last day to post your intent to participate. That allows for 2 months before our departure to plan accordingly.

(1) Tinkified. Cabin 2571
Werner (49), Michelle (42), Eric (17), Emily (11) and Erin (11)

(2)Princess81499. Cabin 5522
Patty, Mike, Emilly(11) and Taryn (8)

(3)taximom00. Cabin 7546
Grandma, mom, dd (13)

(4)trudyt632. Cabin 5008
DW, DH, dd (15), ds (10)

(5)Caldis2007. Cabin 5509
Calais, DH, ds(7)

(6)Psm729. Cabin 2062
Penny (56), Frieida (78), Thomas (16)

(7)Laurie12820. Cabin 6015
Jerry (28), Laurie (28), dd (2)

(8)Jmpm. Cabin 7548
Jamie (37), Peggy (37), Ceyenna (11), Jadynn (8)

Hi,

Just looking at the list and figured I should leave our names
Taximom00
Grandma is Virginia
Mom is Maura
DD (13) is Zoe

Thanks for organizing! I've got gift ideas going...now just to get an actual FE!!

 

[jmpm]

So I'm a little confused . . . I looked at excursions and it looks like some of them begin before we arrive. . . Like, Peggy's Cove begins at 8:15, but when I neither of the ports say we arrive that early in the morning. Maybe I should just call DCL? I'm probably seeing or reading something incorrectly!

 

[Laurie12820]

DD's passport arrived yesterday after only 1.5 weeks!
So I, of course, immediately filled in our Online Check In. We are all set and ready to go!

 

[taximom00]

DD's passport arrived yesterday after only 1.5 weeks!
So I, of course, immediately filled in our Online Check In. We are all set and ready to go!

Great to hear....though interesting as I did online check in and left my mother's blank....didn't have her number. It went through no problem and said I'm checked in.

Maybe I should go double check?!!

 

[cathicool]

Hi

We'd like to join the FE! Hope I am not too late! My kids will be crushed!
We are from Long Island, NY....
Cathi
DH, Jeff
DD12, Alassia
DS10 , Zachary
DD7.5, Victoria
Grandparents

cabins:#5022, #5024


Zachary has PDD and has been a big challenge lately, so I haven't been too atentive to the disboards. Sorry guys! We did do the 4/5 disney Dream and it was so much fun. DH and I are also going on the 6/15 2nighter (NO KIDS!) with another couple. It will be a much needed rest from the daily grind.

 

[jmpm]

Great to hear....though interesting as I did online check in and left my mother's blank....didn't have her number. It went through no problem and said I'm checked in.

Maybe I should go double check?!!

I completed check in without my passport in front of me and then went back and edited that information with no problem. You have until 2 days before the trip to edit online, if I recall correctly. I'll probably check it daily until then. I'm feeling a teeny bit obsessed! Gotta love the anticipation!!

 

[jmpm]

Hi

We'd like to join the FE! Hope I am not too late! My kids will be crushed!

Well, you missed the deadline, but I'm against crushing kids!! So, if I get a vote, I say the more the merrier!

 

[taximom00]

Hi

We'd like to join the FE! Hope I am not too late! My kids will be crushed!
We are from Long Island, NY....
Cathi
DH, Jeff
DD12, Alassia
DS10 , Zachary
DD7.5, Victoria
Grandparents

cabins:#5022, #5024


Zachary has PDD and has been a big challenge lately, so I haven't been too atentive to the disboards. Sorry guys! We did do the 4/5 disney Dream and it was so much fun. DH and I are also going on the 6/15 2nighter (NO KIDS!) with another couple. It will be a much needed rest from the daily grind.

I'm not in charge of the 'official' list, but I will add you to my list of who to prepare for

The list of cabins is a few posts back so you can see who to plan for. It's not a big list (well, I don't think....however this is our first Disney cruise so I don't know what to expect!)

Enjoy your 2 nighter....sounds like you are big cruisers....Dream in April?! So jealous!!

I'm a teacher (Kindergarten) and have had many children in my class over the years with PDD. You deserve the weekend break....it can be hard (and this time of year even more so!)

Where on LI do you live? I grew up in Bay Shore. I live in Boston now. My mom taught Special Ed with BOCES for years before she retired. She is cruising with us (along with my daughter who will turn 13 the week before the cruise)

Maura

 

[cathicool]

Thanks! You guys are all so nice!

The FE list is pretty short for this cruise. We have been on cruises where there are 30 or 40 cabins on the list! You need a whole suitcase just for the FE stuff you want to hand out and for all the trinkets you receive! But it is just so much fun to participate...some people really have some amazing FE gifts.

We live in Babylon and are avid cruisers. My son is always a challenge this time of year (super allergy kid), but this year has been the most difficult by far. He's such a high functioning kid (with and in spite of PDD), but if things change or don't go his way or if they are not concrete/realistic, it is so hard to redirect him. Zach goes to BOCES! WE have often thought about moving nito Bay Shore for the schools. Our house is up for sale, we are thinking of Half Hollow schools, so Zach can remain in the same BOCES school he is in now. This would not be the case if we moved to Bay Shore.

I have a daughter who just turned 12 in April. She likes the Edge and knows her way around the Magic...i'm sure she'd be happy to have a "buddy" to hang around with. Maybe they can email each other now so they get to "know" each other before they meet! PM me if anyone thinks their daughter would be interested!

 

[cathicool]

We are thinking of renting a car in Halifax. Have a ressie thru Alamo for a minivan for under $70 with all taxes. It seems like most things we are interested in seeing are actually close to the port- like up to a mile away, with the exception of Peggy's Cove, the lighthouses and the Titanic Cemetary. I definitely want to hit the Maritime Museum, Citadel, Alex Keith's Brewery, Cows, Beavertails, maybe the candy store.

We are a group of 7, so to do the DCL excursion is like $350! And now we can stop for lunch! and perhaps go over to Fisherman's Cove!

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm open to opinions......TIA!

 

[taximom00]

Thanks! You guys are all so nice!

The FE list is pretty short for this cruise. We have been on cruises where there are 30 or 40 cabins on the list! You need a whole suitcase just for the FE stuff you want to hand out and for all the trinkets you receive! But it is just so much fun to participate...some people really have some amazing FE gifts.

We live in Babylon and are avid cruisers. My son is always a challenge this time of year (super allergy kid), but this year has been the most difficult by far. He's such a high functioning kid (with and in spite of PDD), but if things change or don't go his way or if they are not concrete/realistic, it is so hard to redirect him. Zach goes to BOCES! WE have often thought about moving nito Bay Shore for the schools. Our house is up for sale, we are thinking of Half Hollow schools, so Zach can remain in the same BOCES school he is in now. This would not be the case if we moved to Bay Shore.

I have a daughter who just turned 12 in April. She likes the Edge and knows her way around the Magic...i'm sure she'd be happy to have a "buddy" to hang around with. Maybe they can email each other now so they get to "know" each other before they meet! PM me if anyone thinks their daughter would be interested!

I just PMd you and know my daughter will like to meet other girls....I read that they should definitely go to the first night thing in the Edge so I'm planning on having her do that...she is a little bit of a quiet kid...not shy, just not the center of attention. Until she gets to know you anyway! But she is fun and will love the night activities at the very least. I also read they sometimes do scavenger hunts etc....she will like that stuff too.

She doesn't know we are going yet! Waiting to surprise her until after school ends! So will pass on emailing until then!

I agree the FE seems reasonable (not that I have anything to compare to!!) but reading 30-40 cabins definitely seems overwhelming!!

Maura

 

[taximom00]

We are thinking of renting a car in Halifax. Have a ressie thru Alamo for a minivan for under $70 with all taxes. It seems like most things we are interested in seeing are actually close to the port- like up to a mile away, with the exception of Peggy's Cove, the lighthouses and the Titanic Cemetary. I definitely want to hit the Maritime Museum, Citadel, Alex Keith's Brewery, Cows, Beavertails, maybe the candy store.

We are a group of 7, so to do the DCL excursion is like $350! And now we can stop for lunch! and perhaps go over to Fisherman's Cove!

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm open to opinions......TIA!

Our Halifax plan is to go to the Maritime Museum to see the Titanic exhibit, Cows, Beavertails and the candy store (Freak Lunchbox, right?!)...just see what the city has to offer.

Still debating on the pink bus excursion but don't really think it's worth the money....

Figured we will find a nice place on the waterfront for lunch etc....

I ordered both the Nova Scotia travel books and the ones for Saint John (link a page or two back)

Great resources and makes me realize you can't do either city in a few hours so instead we will just relax and enjoy.

Being from Boston (and NY) I feel like a lot of the excursions are New England Coast ish....and we've done that stuff a lot (lobster boats,lighthouses etc)

For those of you who have not been on a lobster boat, it's definitely fun if you have younger kids...I took my daughter a few times when she was about 4-7 and it's cool to see the trap come up, touch the lobster etc. Definitely recommend it!

Anyway, leaning toward the train ride in Saint John....while I'd really like to go to Hopewell Rocks, I don't want to spend 3 hours on a bus roundtrip!

That's all for now!
Maura

 

[DL_DCA_fans]

There were quite of posts regarding the New York City Pass but does anyone know about the New York Pass?

We were in New York 9 years ago and saw the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty (could not go inside the base or the statue). The base and statue of the Statue of Liberty will be off limits again this summer. So, the New York City Pass would not be something we would want.

We were looking at the NBC Studios Tour, MOMA, movie tour, Top of the Rock, Hard Rock Cafes in Times Square and Yankee Stadium, World Trade Center Memorial, Intrepid and whatever else we can squeeze in.

Thanks

 

[taximom00]

There were quite of posts regarding the New York City Pass but does anyone know about the New York Pass?

We were in New York 9 years ago and saw the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty (could not go inside the base or the statue). The base and statue of the Statue of Liberty will be off limits again this summer. So, the New York City Pass would not be something we would want.

We were looking at the NBC Studios Tour, MOMA, movie tour, Top of the Rock, Hard Rock Cafes in Times Square and Yankee Stadium, World Trade Center Memorial, Intrepid and whatever else we can squeeze in.

Thanks

I don't know the specific differences btwn the passes but would say your best bet would be to check what each include and pick according to your needs.

You don't say how long you will be in NYC and is it before or after the cruise. I only ask that because the Intrepid is essentially right next to the pier that DCL is at (just about). So conceivably you could do this after you get off the ship.

While I grew up in NYC, I'm now in Boston and while I know the tour of Fenway Park is absolutely worth it, I would confirm if you can even tour Yankee Stadium and whether others think it's worth the trip. Because it's definitely off the beaten path!! Sort of think 'you can't get there from here' (not easily anyway)

Be sure to reserve your World Trade Memorial tickets ahead of time. You can't just show up. They are relatively easy to get online (though I'm sure the summer is busier)

Hard Rock is the same no matter where you go so if you've already gone, you might skip this restaurant.

However, depending on the ages of your kids, (teen/tween) they might like Ellen's Stardust Diner. VERY LOUD but the waiters are all actors...they sing (standing on tables!) the whole time you are there and it's a great place if you like Broadway.

Word of warning....the wait is interminable but my insider tip is if you have a large party (10+) call ahead and ask for Bob. He is the manager and a great guy! I recently went with my daughter and friends and parents and called him ahead of time and they had a table ready for us so we bypassed the 45 minute line.

That being said, worth the wait if you want something fun (loud) and different!

Hope this helps!

 

[sabrecmc]

So I'm a little confused . . . I looked at excursions and it looks like some of them begin before we arrive. . . Like, Peggy's Cove begins at 8:15, but when I neither of the ports say we arrive that early in the morning. Maybe I should just call DCL? I'm probably seeing or reading something incorrectly!

That time is when you will meet your group. You generally meet in the theater or some other location on the ship and then they take you down to the bus as a group. They can have you meet up before the actual port arrival time, to get the ball rolling so to speak b/c it takes a bit of time to get everyone there, organized, with their KttW cards, passports, etc.

 

[jmpm]

That time is when you will meet your group. You generally meet in the theater or some other location on the ship and then they take you down to the bus as a group. They can have you meet up before the actual port arrival time, to get the ball rolling so to speak b/c it takes a bit of time to get everyone there, organized, with their KttW cards, passports, etc.

Got it! Thanks!

 

[Tinkified]

I am the official keeper of the list....I am fine with adding you to our list.
I can not speak for the rest of the group, but i am sure it is not too big of an issue...I don't want to offend, anger or leave anyone out of the fun...so....

The more the merrier I say....I am going to update the list tonight when I am on my laptop. The iPad is too finicky or should I say....my fingers are not as trustworthy as I would like them to be.

 

[Tinkified]

I have an eleven year old daughter who would probably enjoy emailing or FaceTime-ing your daughter prior to the trip. I will pm you information for contacting us.

 

[Tinkified]

We will be updating the fish extender gift exchange tonight. We have a family interested in joining....since we are just beyond the last date to join day, I am hoping that no one has any serious objections to them being added. It is all about the Magic and the Pixie Dust for all of us participating. If anyone has any real concerns regarding this, please PM me. I just hated saying NO. I hope you all understand....I think most of us are either still shopping and planning or we have over planned and over bought...so I am hoping the group is okay with this decision. Michelle

 

[cathicool]

Thank you to Tinkified and to all on this board who have been kind to us! So sorry about the late-ask for the FE, I hope it is not too inconvienient to include us! If it is, I totally understand!

Tinkified, my daughter would love to chat with your daughter prior to the cruise.....please PM me and we can set it up!