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

[Laurie12820]

I'm a teacher, too. What grade do you teach? I teach Kindergarten. And my mom who is traveling with us taught Early Intervention and then special needs preschool for many years before retiring.

Love having summers off but sometimes it would be nice to take a trip in the random month of, say, October!

I'm a Kindergarten teacher as well!

 

[Tinkified]

Another teacher here....14 years spec Ed kindergarten and first grade and the last 5 as a reading interventionist. And yes! A non-summer vacation would be fabulous!

Taximom, I agree our gift exchange group is completely manageable too! I can't even begin to imagine what the time, cost and planning for 50 cabins would be...and how about space in the luggage for all that stuff...stuff you are giving and then bringing back home!

Regarding FE joining deadline:

Everyone who has agreed to participate either has to shop or shop and create gifts...so if someone were to join 2 weeks prior to the cruise, it would potentially throw someone off. For instance...I got supplies to make for 10 cabins....when I shopped, we were @ 5 cabins...so I bought extra just in case.....I also planned on giving more since the group was small...should the group suddenly explode...I would be in big trouble.

 

[taximom00]

I'm a Kindergarten teacher as well!

I see you are in MA....I live in Brookline (but teach in the burbs!) btw, are you signed up for the FE? I recall someone with a 2 year old daughter (and see your signature line says you have a 2 year old!) but don't recall who it is!

If it's you, is your daughter into princesses? I'd love to give some princess stuff....having an almost 13 year old, I miss the princess days!!

 

[taximom00]

Another teacher here....14 years spec Ed kindergarten and first grade and the last 5 as a reading interventionist. And yes! A non-summer vacation would be fabulous!

Taximom, I agree our gift exchange group is completely manageable too! I can't even begin to imagine what the time, cost and planning for 50 cabins would be...and how about space in the luggage for all that stuff...stuff you are giving and then bringing back home!

Regarding FE joining deadline:

Everyone who has agreed to participate either has to shop or shop and create gifts...so if someone were to join 2 weeks prior to the cruise, it would potentially throw someone off. For instance...I got supplies to make for 10 cabins....when I shopped, we were @ 5 cabins...so I bought extra just in case.....I also planned on giving more since the group was small...should the group suddenly explode...I would be in big trouble.

I'd guess lots of teachers cruise in the summers! Can't afford school vacations!

Re: FE....just let us know the exact date and final list. Thanks for organizing this! You are many steps ahead of me....I don't have an FE yet much less thoughts of what to put in!

 

[jmpm]

I'm a teacher, too. What grade do you teach? I teach Kindergarten. And my mom who is traveling with us taught Early Intervention and then special needs preschool for many years before retiring.

Love having summers off but sometimes it would be nice to take a trip in the random month of, say, October!

WOW! So many teachers! I have taught 3rd grade for 16 years. This will be my first Disney vacation in the summer. Usually, when I go to Disney World, it's President's Day or Thanksgiving. Florida is just too hot in the summer! So, I'm looking forward to a little Disney in temperatures I can handle.

Since I haven't shopped, I am also up for anything with the FE. Just bought fabric last night. Now I have to figure out what to do with it!

 

[Laurie12820]

I see you are in MA....I live in Brookline (but teach in the burbs!) btw, are you signed up for the FE? I recall someone with a 2 year old daughter (and see your signature line says you have a 2 year old!) but don't recall who it is!

If it's you, is your daughter into princesses? I'd love to give some princess stuff....having an almost 13 year old, I miss the princess days!!

Haha, I live in the burbs (Dartmouth) and teach in the city (New Bedford)! We are signed up for the FE! She is loving everything Disney these days, including Princesses!

 

[trudyt623]

Hello everyone. I have not been on the site for awhile now. I am happy that our FE list is growing.....guess I had better start designing. This is my first FE so what ever the group says regarding a deadline is fine with me.

Trudy

 

[psm729]

But my mom (who is 78) really wants to do this with her while she can still travel and enjoy! It's part of the reason we picked Canada instead of the Caribbean....no rush for the beach etc plus activities my mom can enjoy. Plus, no flying so less expense!

Hi! I'm bringing my Mom who is 78 also! We live in Hudson, MA (almost neighbors ) She's original from NY state & lived in the city for a while. My son (16) is also traveling with us. We're trying to find stuff that Grandma will be able to do & enjoy too. Should be fun! Hope to meet you onboard!
~Penny

 

[taximom00]

Hi! I'm bringing my Mom who is 78 also! We live in Hudson, MA (almost neighbors ) She's original from NY state & lived in the city for a while. My son (16) is also traveling with us. We're trying to find stuff that Grandma will be able to do & enjoy too. Should be fun! Hope to meet you onboard!
~Penny

Hi Penny,

Small world because I teach in Stow (used to teach in Bolton) so I am 'next door to you' every day

My very good teacher friend lives in Hudson and my assistant lives in Bolton on 85!

As for activities everyone can enjoy, we are most likely going to do the pink on/off bus in Halifax. My mom loves those tours and one of them has admission to the Maritime Museum, which has the Titanic exhibit. My daughter is 13 and with all the media coverage the past few weeks about the Titanic, even she is suddenly a bit interested. My hook to get her to go.

She will enjoy the 'sweet part' of Halifax....Freak Lunchbox, Beavertails and Cows icecream (I may have that name wrong!)

That's the plan for now (we can't register until 75 days as it's our first Disney cruise)

In Saint John we are considering the train ride. It says it stops at the Reversing Falls.

I had wanted to do Hopewell Rocks but to be honest, I don't want to spend 1 1/2 hours each way on a bus (seems that is the distance for a few other excursions, too)

I think Saint John is where they have the jet boat? I looked at the company online and I think they also have a zip line. Your son might enjoy that. My daugher and I would love both but as the trip is about spending time together, I don't want to choose something my mom can't do!

Fact is, so many of the excursions are 'typical New England' and we've done such similar things (lobsters, maple syrup, lighthouses and blueberries!) so we are trying to find different things.

Really, my mom is all about Disney and the ship and that is most important!!

Have you joined the FE on this list? (Sorry, I clearly don't have the names memorized! Other than remembering there is a 2 year old girl so I'm excited to go back to the princess stage again!!)

My mom is kind of like a kid getting into the FE idea (not that she is creating, just excited to hear what I am doing!!)

As you have a 16 year old son, is it true that basically they are happy with candy?! I have NO IDEA what 16 year old boys like!! Though I connected with a mom via an FE post on a different list and she said her teenage sons made FE gifts out of duct tape! They even made their FE out of duct tape!

Meanwhile, I have no FE yet....

Anyway, nice to meet you, weekday neighbor! I'll wave when I pass the sign for Hudson on 495!

maura

 

[jmpm]

I am having so much fun shopping for the FE! I didn't plan to shop until summer and our complete list, but I can't help myself! And here is the worst part. . . . Although I know where to find the list, I don't take it with me! So, I'm buying stuff I probably don't need! I'm pretty sure in the 77 days we have left, I will most definitely shop too much!

Here's something I'm wondering. . . As I search for FE ideas, I see lots of posts concerning theft. How much of a concern is that? I wasn't going to add our names to our FE, but it's safer if it's personalized and secured with a zip tie thingy, right? Also, how sad that on the happiest cruise on earth, some people still feel the need to snatch a little bit of someone else's happiness. Are there any tips for keeping gifts from disappearing??

Actually, as much as I'm shopping, I might end up with gifts for the whole ship! I have to scale back!

 

[psm729]

Hi Penny,

Small world because I teach in Stow (used to teach in Bolton) so I am 'next door to you' every day That's sooo cool! I'm always amazed how small our world is.

My very good teacher friend lives in Hudson and my assistant lives in Bolton on 85!

As for activities everyone can enjoy, we are most likely going to do the pink on/off bus in Halifax. My mom loves those tours and one of them has admission to the Maritime Museum, which has the Titanic exhibit. My daughter is 13 and with all the media coverage the past few weeks about the Titanic, even she is suddenly a bit interested. My hook to get her to go. It's funny - I'm thinking of the same things. My Mom can't walk for long periods of time, so the bus thing works. The museum is close enough to the boat to walk, & I thought I'd do the bus on my own - Disney wants too much. I also saw a harbor hopper tour (kind of like duck boats) that looked interesting. Thomas is psyched for ice cream, beavertails & Freaks. He's also interested in history & we saw the big Titanic exhibit in Philly one year, so the museum is an interest for him.

She will enjoy the 'sweet part' of Halifax....Freak Lunchbox, Beavertails and Cows icecream (I may have that name wrong!)

That's the plan for now (we can't register until 75 days as it's our first Disney cruise)

In Saint John we are considering the train ride. It says it stops at the Reversing Falls. I'm debating between the train & the trolley. I'm leaving it up to Mom. This is her 1st cruise & she's just excited to be on a disney cruise. She's happy to just see the local areas & look at buildings, flowers, etc. She's always wanted to see this part of Canada & when the cruise came up I jumped at it.

I had wanted to do Hopewell Rocks but to be honest, I don't want to spend 1 1/2 hours each way on a bus (seems that is the distance for a few other excursions, too) Totally agree!!!

I think Saint John is where they have the jet boat? I looked at the company online and I think they also have a zip line. Your son might enjoy that. My daugher and I would love both but as the trip is about spending time together, I don't want to choose something my mom can't do! We did zip lining in Mexico on our 1st cruise & loved it. Considered it this time, but didn't want to leave Mom by herself - just couldn't picture her flying thru the trees. LOL

Fact is, so many of the excursions are 'typical New England' and we've done such similar things (lobsters, maple syrup, lighthouses and blueberries!) so we are trying to find different things.

Really, my mom is all about Disney and the ship and that is most important!! I'm on that page!!!!

Have you joined the FE on this list? (Sorry, I clearly don't have the names memorized! Other than remembering there is a 2 year old girl so I'm excited to go back to the princess stage again!!)

My mom is kind of like a kid getting into the FE idea (not that she is creating, just excited to hear what I am doing!!)

As you have a 16 year old son, is it true that basically they are happy with candy?! I have NO IDEA what 16 year old boys like!! Though I connected with a mom via an FE post on a different list and she said her teenage sons made FE gifts out of duct tape! They even made their FE out of duct tape! Yep, we're doing the FE & boys love any kind of candy LOL. Actually my son is happy with anything - he found it interesting the different things we got last time & just enjoyed looking in the fish extender when we got back to the room. We still have some of them from that cruise. I love the duct tape stuff - it's amazing what can be made with that stuff.

Meanwhile, I have no FE yet....

Anyway, nice to meet you, weekday neighbor! I'll wave when I pass the sign for Hudson on 495!

maura

I'll be waving back at you!!! Looking forward to meeting you & your family! Won't be long now!
~Penny

 

[taximom00]

I'll be waving back at you!!! Looking forward to meeting you & your family! Won't be long now!
~Penny

I just looked at the hop on bus on the DCL site and its 50 something pp....and about the same on the ambassatours website. am I missing something re: cost (as I think the Canadian $ is the same??)

The DCL one includes admission to the Maritime Museum (Titanic).

considered the duck tour but figured I can do that here.....as for Saint John, ditto for the trolley whereas the train is not something we can do here! I can't tell from the description if it stops somewhere so you can get off for the photo op!!

We'll have to figure a place to meet so we can meet (and our mom's!)

Actually, would be nice to meet everyone on this group list

As you've already cruised DCL, I think that means you have registered online already, right?

I can do that tomorrow (at midnight, though I think I will wait until morning!) Unlike the Caribbean, I can't really imagine that the excursions will sell out. And we aren't doing Palo as I would feel guilt leaving my daughter.....so the biggest thing is the boarding time. I am aiming for the earliest I can get.

Will you be driving down to NY that day or the night before?

We will be in NY for about a week prior to the cruise.

Maura

 

[taximom00]

OK, so I know Hunger Games has NOTHING to do with Disney, but for those of you with teens (tweens?) would they a little Hunger Games themed gift?? It's a little thing but I thought of it while contemplating something for the tweens. I'd still do a Disney related something, too

Just give me a yes or no with your name/cabin....it's really a little thing but if your child likes the Hunger Games, they might like it (my daughter thinks it's 'cool') Nothing huge that collects dust...don't worry....and as I said, just a little token thing.

You won't hurt my feelings if you say "What?! Are you crazy?! Not Disney related?!!" No worries!!

 

[taximom00]

I am having so much fun shopping for the FE! I didn't plan to shop until summer and our complete list, but I can't help myself! And here is the worst part. . . . Although I know where to find the list, I don't take it with me! So, I'm buying stuff I probably don't need! I'm pretty sure in the 77 days we have left, I will most definitely shop too much!

Here's something I'm wondering. . . As I search for FE ideas, I see lots of posts concerning theft. How much of a concern is that? I wasn't going to add our names to our FE, but it's safer if it's personalized and secured with a zip tie thingy, right? Also, how sad that on the happiest cruise on earth, some people still feel the need to snatch a little bit of someone else's happiness. Are there any tips for keeping gifts from disappearing??

Actually, as much as I'm shopping, I might end up with gifts for the whole ship! I have to scale back!

I've never done a Disney cruise but I guess I wasn't too worried about theft. I did read to secure the FE with a zip tie but I thought that was to keep it from falling off?! Haven't made our FE yet so not clear on that part of it!

Sounds like you are having fun and that's really what it's all about!

 

[Tinkified]

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)

 

[Tinkified]

Join us for the gift exchange! Last day to commit to participate is may 8th.

It is a lot of fun and it adds a bit of extra pixie dust to your cruise! It is such fun coming back to your cabin to find a gift! And it is equally fun to deliver some magic to others!

Join us!!

 

[sabrecmc]

Well...we have 9/11 Memorial reservations, City Pass vouchers, Lion King and Wicked tickets, American Girl Place reservations...our NYC visit is going to be packed! Sometimes I forget there is a nice, restful cruise in there, thank goodness! Getting really excited now...it feels more real when I have reservations, lol.

 

[Dawgsfan]

Just wondering what people with four year olds are planning as ther excursion? I also have a nine and eleven year old.

 

[Laurie12820]

YAY! Just completed most of the Check-In and got our port arrival time of 11:30! We also booked Palo for Tuesday. Can't wait!

 

[lpizzuro123]

So exciting. We were supposed to go on this cruise but switched to September. You mentioned the Palo reservations. I imagine this is for dinner. Did they also offer Palo brunch reservations and if so what days and how much was it? We did Palo for dinner a few years ago but would love to try their brunch.


Hope everyone has a great time on this cruise.

Linda