NYE Western Cruise 2008 - New Thread

[nskjerven]

welcome and see below

HELP!
1st Time Disney Cruiser: Questions

Entire Family ( 3 Generations - 5 Rooms ) are all booked on this cruise - ALL but for 1 family this is their 1st cruise. Lots of questions???????

We have children from 2-14. Two of the cousins will be 7 and 8 on the cruise- which means - according to Disney they will be in separate areas. Can we get the 8 year old in to the Oceaners club for 3-7 year olds?> Can we just make the 8 year old 7? on our reservation. Passport date won't match?


the 8 year old can be moved down to the 7 year old group, maybe even 7 year old can go up. Talk with them upon boarding be nice and persistant. No need to change ages, and they do have to match your docs.


Also, along for the cruise will be a 2 year old.. Wondering when and how to make babysitting arrangements?

I think you can reach those at your ressie date, which is either 75 or 90 days for CC Members.

I need to hear from the VETS! as how to make this cruise magical!!!!

INFO:
1 - 77 year old
8 - 40-51 year old
7 kids 2,4,5,7,8,14,19

Also, How much time to allow to get from de-embarkation back to the airport in Orlando to catch a flight back to Minneapolis?

We are planning to arrive in Orlando on Christmas day and staying a couple of nights at Embassy Suites. Do we simply go back to baggage claim to catch the shuttle to the ship???

you can do this, but it might be nicer to have a car with that many people, worth checking into. But the bus is fun to try once. You do pay for it, so might want to see what each costs and then decide

Some in our party are fearfull of getting sea sick? Any thoughts? suggestions?

ginger is the natural cure. I've been told to start eating it before you cruise. We brought cookies, didn't need them my family was all fine. DD did get off balance in the club, she needs to be able to see the horizon, check with kids thru out the trip to make sure they are ok.

Since we didn't book right away we were put on the waiting list for early dinning. With the small children the late dinning isn't a option. What are the chances we'll move up to the early dinning?

keep calling and asking. also like tigg said on board you can adjust, just be nice but firm in your requests.

HELP! I need AN Y and ALL suggestions to make this "magical" for our familyP.

P.S. We're from IOWA. Lets go HAWKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sounds like a wonderful family vacation

 

[Aisling]

I will behave

Yeah, that was a little gift a mod gave me by surprise.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

HELP!

P.S. We're from IOWA. Lets go HAWKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

where in Iowa? i'm from the Fort Dodge / Boone / Ames area (originally) now in Calif - leaving for Iowa in about 4 wks for a short family vist....looks like everyone is getting you some great answers to your questions...but you'll have an awesome trip!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Sorry sweetie....I just came

That's nice that Ryan, Jesse and Cory will have each other on the cruise. It's also nice since Brittany is too old for the stack that she'll have Chad, Louise and Adrian to hang out with~

I'm wondering what the ages are for the stack, is Molly gonna be old enough yet?

Stack age starts at 13 or 14...yeah i think Britt will have much more fun with Chad Louise & Adrian....it's great we have such a great mixture of ages - so no one is really 'left out'

 

[Aisling]

HELP!


We have children from 2-14. Two of the cousins will be 7 and 8 on the cruise- which means - according to Disney they will be in separate areas. Can we get the 8 year old in to the Oceaners club for 3-7 year olds?> Can we just make the 8 year old 7? on our reservation. Passport date won't match?

Don't change the 8 year old's age. Your situation is very common. When you sign the kids up the clubs, ask them to move the 8 yo down to the younger group to be with his/her cousin. I believe this can be done at the terminal if you get there before boarding time. DCL is very agreeable about doing this if there's room in the club.

Also, along for the cruise will be a 2 year old.. Wondering when and how to make babysitting arrangements?

This is done on board at for Flounder's Nursery, and there's a fee involved, unlike the other kids clubs.


I need to hear from the VETS! as how to make this cruise magical!!!!

Don't worry at all, it WILL be magical!! Read the boards, and also join us on this thread. We all help each other with ideas and questions. I see you have a 19 year old. Well, he/she will have instant company if he/she wants because we have kids on this thread in that college age group. My son was 20 on our last cruise, and he met a group of great kids to socialize with. The same for my other son who was 13 last time. We always had dinner together, and went to the shows as a family, but then they were free to meet up with their new buddies

INFO:
1 - 77 year old
8 - 40-51 year old
7 kids 2,4,5,7,8,14,19

Also, How much time to allow to get from de-embarkation back to the airport in Orlando to catch a flight back to Minneapolis?

Well, you're off the ship around 9 am. DCL recommends NOT having your flight out earlier than noon. My family is flying out of MCO at 2.

We are planning to arrive in Orlando on Christmas day and staying a couple of nights at Embassy Suites. Do we simply go back to baggage claim to catch the shuttle to the ship???

Did you book the DCL bus? It's not the same as the free Magical Express bus. There's a $70 RT fee (or close to that amount) per person. Since you're not going straight to the port from the airport when you arrive, or not staying at the MCO Hyatt, I believe you haave to go to the Hyatt inside the terminal to catch the bus if you've booked it. That's the only place the bus leaves from if you don't go straight from the plane to the port.

Some in our party are fearfull of getting sea sick? Any thoughts? suggestions?

I was fearful, too. I just took a non-drowsy dramamine the first day, before boarding, and was perfectly fine. I didnt need it any time at all during the cruise, nor did any of my family. If someone does feel seasick, the onboard medical will give you free anti-seasickness meds. But to be honest, it's rare that I've heard anyone say they got seasick, and I've reads tons of trip reports. The ship is really smooth sailing.

Since we didn't book right away we were put on the waiting list for early dinning. With the small children the late dinning isn't a option. What are the chances we'll move up to the early dinning?

That's a tough one to have happen, since you din't book early, and the ship is sold out already. There are usually many people waitlisted for early, and yours being a large group, well, we'll all keep our fingers crossed for you!!

HELP! I need AN Y and ALL suggestions to make this "magical" for our familyP.

I'll be cruising with my DH, who is a first-time cruiser, my 16 yo son, my 15 yo nephew, my 23 year old son, and his 24 yo girlfriend.

We cruised Christmas of 05 without DH, but when he realized all the tremendous fun he missed, he's coming with us this time.

I see you have an older family member, too. Great! It'll be the cruise of wonderful memories for all!

Welcome to our world! We're a bunch of excited obsessive planners, and thankfully we have this board to share our excitement with our fellow cruisers!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

just giving us a bump....

 

[nskjerven]

I will behave

Yeah, that was a little gift a mod gave me by surprise.

did you get in trouble again, link please

 

[tiggerwannabe]

did you get in trouble again, link please

 

[Aisling]

Thanks, Brenda. I was just about to do that.

This may seem like an odd question, Brenda, but how are the rice prices where you are? I'm assuming you use rice, since Dale is Japanese. I cook rice everyday, as Mel needs his rice, and we all eat it daily. I've been hearing there's a rationing of rice by you if bought at the wholesalers like Costco. I may be buying into the hysteria, but I feel like buying a few 25 lb bags in case the price goes crazily up. Does dry rice go bad??

 

[tiggerwannabe]

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Thanks, Brenda. I was just about to do that.

This may seem like an odd question, Brenda, but how are the rice prices where you are? I'm assuming you use rice, since Dale is Japanese. I cook rice everyday, as Mel needs his rice, and we all eat it daily. I've been hearing there's a rationing of rice by you if bought at the wholesalers like Costco. I may be buying into the hysteria, but I feel like buying a few 25 lb bags in case the price goes crazily up. Does dry rice go bad??

We buy ours from the AMish at the Farmer's Market by the pound...John likes to make rice too, just not every day

 

[Aisling]

Tig, I'm sure you know what happened. How do I explain it to Nan?

Nan, I may have to call you to tell you, it's THAT bad! But I WILL BEHAVE.



GREAT pic, by by the way. Can you photoshop me into that pic? I feel left out!


EDITED to add: I just saw the group photo you posted! Bless you, you left out my tummy and my a **! Gee, that was a fun day! I love Jack, man I got so excited like a fool that day when we saw him!

Sheesh I sure need a tan!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Thanks, Brenda. I was just about to do that.

This may seem like an odd question, Brenda, but how are the rice prices where you are? I'm assuming you use rice, since Dale is Japanese. I cook rice everyday, as Mel needs his rice, and we all eat it daily. I've been hearing there's a rationing of rice by you if bought at the wholesalers like Costco. I may be buying into the hysteria, but I feel like buying a few 25 lb bags in case the price goes crazily up. Does dry rice go bad??

we only buy & use Koda Farms for Kokuho Rose (the absolute best)& i think the last price i paid was 9.99 for 25 lbs bag; will check that to see if it has gone up....- YEP we have rice EVERY day as well this bag is resealable & i have a large plastic bin w/snap lock lid that i keep it in....so it's never gone bad....

i love this photo of all of us...BUT so happy to see that chest long gone!!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

...
EDITED to add: I just saw the group photo you posted! Bless you, you left out my tummy and my a **! Gee, that was a fun day! I love Jack, man I got so excited like a fool that day when we saw him!

YOU are the cutest HAM I have ever seen

Here's another a$$ edit for ya....

your arm turned out kinda fun tho, I'll have to try that one again later

 

[tiggerwannabe]

...

i love this photo of all of us...BUT so happy to see that chest long gone!!!!

I bet....

alls I have to do is keep up with exercising and mine will go away naturally ...and yes, I'm still exercising...sometimes I trade off actual exercise for yardwork tho, moving bricks and shoveling and digging probably works me harder anyway.

Are you back to 100% already?

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I bet....

alls I have to do is keep up with exercising and mine will go away naturally ...and yes, I'm still exercising...sometimes I trade off actual exercise for yardwork tho, moving bricks and shoveling and digging probably works me harder anyway.

Are you back to 100% already?

not yet....working 4-6 hrs a day...then going home for a nap; trying not to take the percoset thru the day (really makes me sick)....
go back to dr. tomorrow for suture & tape removal....& hopefully she'll let me start walking again soon...i know i can't lift anything (so no x-training or weights for awhile)...but need to keep walking - don't want to fall too far behind....

 

[Aisling]

Why does my arm look so skinny in that precruise photo??

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Why does my arm look so skinny in that precruise photo??

that's a photo edit trick...works great to remove a few lbs! used it many times!!!

 

[Aisling]

that's a photo edit trick...works great to remove a few lbs! used it many times!!!

Well Tig is photoshopping the wrong area!!!!!! My arms are fine!

Oh wait, she did re do my other area! A little more, please.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Well Tig is photoshopping the wrong area!!!!!! My arms are fine!

Oh wait, she did re do my other area!

i just went back & checked out that photo again....isn't it amazing how YOUNG Jesse looked there!!!! Our 1st cruise was '05 as well & Ryan was JUST as young looking....what happened to our babies? they are all grown up (OR SO THEY THINK!!!)