Oct 30 and Nov 3, 2011 - B2B Dream- Viva La Nanahead

[lvstitch]

Hey, All! Just checking in. I've been following the Dream with interest, but haven't had a chance to get on this board for a while. Welcome to the new families.

I will be cruising with my two DDs (will be 5 and turning 8 at cruise time), DH, his sister and her DH, and 3 DDs (1, 5, & 7), my MIL and her sister, along with the sister's DH, DD, and DGS (9).

I starting to think about the FE. Does anyone have a count of how many are participating? I am panicking a little that it will be either very time consuming and/or expensive to be a part of. Any words of wisdom?

Also for you veterans (this is our first cruise), do you stay near the port or the airport if you fly in the night before the cruise? And what time do you plan to check in for minimum waiting and maximum boat time?

Thanks for the help.

Sarah

FEs can be time consuming but is so worth it. Your kids will love coming back to their rooms to see what is waiting for them. As far as expense, it's up to you. You could do something simple like getting something from Oriental Trading or even have the kids create something, you could even hand out candy since it's a Halloween cruise.

As a group we are very organized and will have a deck plan with all FE rooms maked on it so it's nice and easy to do. We usually get up one morning and just start from the bottom of the ship and work our way to the top. Because there is usually so many of us we don't assign a specific day like some of the boards do. Just make sure to have plenty of room to bring back all you FE stuff.

Our haul from last cruise:

 

[Princess Olivia]

Hello! The kids went back to school today after the 15 inches of snow dropped the night before gave them yesterday off. We've had so many snow days here. The snow banks at the end of my driveway are over my head!! I'll admit I made a few prayers for school snow days so that Olivia's principal would change her 8th grade semi formal to another date (which he said he'd do if we had 3 snow days). Olivia is in a show the night of the scheduled dance and she can't miss it. I guess someone heard my request and I'll get my wish to see her all dolled up for her big dance!!

I asked a friend of mine about the FE. She'll be on the 8/16 5 day sailing and they have 76 families signed up. They've decided to split them up into groups of 25. Because there are only 25 she made super cute bags for everyone! This is her 3rd cruise doing the FE. She just told me this last night so it was fresh in my mind. I have never done it so however you all do it is going to be great with us! Can't wait. Olivia has already begun researching ideas!!

Jen

 

[Princess Olivia]

Thanks everyone for your well-wishes. I had a very nice day in spite of it being in the dead of winter. Weather here in St. Louis was in the 30's (not bad at all considering what we've been through this month LOL).

Had dinner with my hubby, daughter/boyfriend and their two sons. We ended up at Red Lobster, though that wasn't our intended place to go for the evening. But since it was my birthday (I kidded my DH by telling him that it's become a national holiday..hehe) and that I had a yearning for fish, he made the decision to splurge a litte and knew where to take me for the festive event. So I had my favorite ...lobster, crab legs, and shrimp. Yum!!! When I mentioned fish, I had forgotten about Red Lobster. I figured I'd have some salmon or talapia at wherever we ended up. Love his choice better, though.


Our talk of course revolved around the cruise and discussion on Atlantis in Nausau. One would think we're going on the trip next week instead of in 9 months. But we are all very upbeat and excited over ALL the newbies that's coming aboard with us. We want them to have the best experience and so we are trying to cover all the angles (money, excursions, etc) and to plan for the trip...or at least have something in place...if only if it's on the planning stages at this point.

I have an awesome family. All my children called and/or texted and showed me how much they loved me. I am truly blessed.

Seafood is always my first choice, especially lobster!

What are your plans at the Atlantis? Craig and I used to go there each March when the big kids were small. We loved it! In 2006 I hit a jackpot on a slot machine in the casino. It was a wonderful suprise that I'll never forget!! When I'm having a blue day I always go back to that vacation in my mind and it makes me happy again

 

[ajaysmom825]

Hello all!

Thought I would check in and say hi! Welcome to all the new families joining us on this high seas adventure! My family is just bursting at the seams with excitement. We talk as though this cruise is happening next month and not nine months from now . But I like to plan and have things in place before I go anywhere that way there is plenty of time to make changes (if necessary) and be prepared (my boyfriend is an Eagle Scout!! )

Rumors are flying around the STL that we are about to get hit with more snow next week, which makes DS very excited at the thought of another snow day. Me? I'm ready to break up with winter! I am so over this cold weather!

I would like to say thanks for posting the pics of the FE gifts that were received. It helps to have a "visual" of what kinds of gifts were given. I'm very excited to participate in this exchange and have already come up with my idea. Now to just get started...

Wishing everyone a wonderful Friday/Weekend!

Angela

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Good morning all!

Looking into the best way to do Atlantis for our family of 5. Is the Comfort Suites the way to go? Should I wait until a specific price comes up. Right now it is almost $300. I am not sure if it is worth it or not...anyone have experiences with it?


One more thing, how does one make a fish extender? I am pretty crafty, so I am assuming I would "make" it....
Jennifer

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Jennifer here are 3 sites with ideas for extenders. The last one has measurements for making one. You can decorate anyway you want.
Hope this helps you.
Kathy


http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

this has instructions for a no sew extender although you could sew it.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30302583&postcount=609

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Jennifer here are 3 sites with ideas for extenders. The last one has measurements for making one. You can decorate anyway you want.
Hope this helps you.
Kathy


http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

this has instructions for a no sew extender although you could sew it.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30302583&postcount=609

Very cool! Thanks so much! My DH is going to make sooo much fun of me!
He thought I was nuts when I made mickey ears for our door last time

 

[ajaysmom825]

Good morning all!

Looking into the best way to do Atlantis for our family of 5. Is the Comfort Suites the way to go? Should I wait until a specific price comes up. Right now it is almost $300. I am not sure if it is worth it or not...anyone have experiences with it?


One more thing, how does one make a fish extender? I am pretty crafty, so I am assuming I would "make" it....
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

My family is looking at going to Atlantis as well and we are currently looking at the cheapest way for our family of 5 (one is an infant). I've called Atlantis directly and am looking at the Comfort Suites to do a comparison. As of right now, the cost for the Comfort Suites is comparable to the cost of the day pass quoted by Atlantis, so currently we are asking ourselves why make an extra stop...

Our family is interested in doing the water park, so our inquiry for cost has included only questions in regards to the Aquaventure. What we found out from Atlantis is that they willl not sell a ticket in advance; a day pass must be purchased at the "gate". However, if we are interested in doing an animal encounter (sting rays/sea lions/dolphins), this can be purchased and reserved in advance and does not include a day pass.

I hope this information is somewhat helpful.... I am still researching and will be happy to share any other information I find out.

Angela

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Hi Jennifer,

My family is looking at going to Atlantis as well and we are currently looking at the cheapest way for our family of 5 (one is an infant). I've called Atlantis directly and am looking at the Comfort Suites to do a comparison. As of right now, the cost for the Comfort Suites is comparable to the cost of the day pass quoted by Atlantis, so currently we are asking ourselves why make an extra stop...

Our family is interested in doing the water park, so our inquiry for cost has included only questions in regards to the Aquaventure. What we found out from Atlantis is that they willl not sell a ticket in advance; a day pass must be purchased at the "gate". However, if we are interested in doing an animal encounter (sting rays/sea lions/dolphins), this can be purchased and reserved in advance and does not include a day pass.

I hope this information is somewhat helpful.... I am still researching and will be happy to share any other information I find out.

Angela

Thanks! So in theory, you can just head over to Atlantis and but a ticket into the waterpark when you arrive? I am guessing that will depend on whether it is sold out for the day or not? That actually sounds good....if it is sold out then it wasn't meant to be this trip....

 

[Princess Sleepy]

I was reading one thread where they talked about doing different gifts for different age groups and genders for the FEs. Is that typical? Do we have a list somewhere that breaks that all down?

 

[Princess Sleepy]

I wish I could have kept my mouth shut about it, but I couldn't. Our kids are beyond excited though! I kept it quiet for MIL, but we told her at Christmas so that she could get her passport and get her vacation from work (and then she decided to retire so we didn't HAVE to tell her this early) and so I could have someone else to finally talk to since I've driven DH nuts already. I've only been talking about this and planning this for 3 years, I don't know why it's driven him nuts.

Our kids don't know. When we first talked about it they were very excited, then we decided we couldn't swing it, so we told them we weren't going. When we finally decided to do it, we just didn't tell them. We are planning to tell them the at the airport the morning we head out.

The plan goes like this:
We tell them we are going on a parents' only weekend to [somewhere boring] and they will be spending the weekend with my parents. They spend Friday night there so DH and I can pack and get the dog to the kennel, etc. Saturday morning DH and I take a cab to the airport and get all checked in, then my parents bring them to the airport because we "forgot something." When they arrive and the girls demand to know what we forgot, we hand them their mouse ears and tell them we forgot to give them their ears. When they are confused, we hand them boarding passes to Orlando. When that starts to sink in, we then tell them we are going on the cruise and then to the parks. I can't wait to see the expressions on their faces!

I hope we can keep it a secret that long.

Sarah

 

[gomagic]

Just thought I would take a moment from work to check in. Hope everyone has a great weekend. For those of you in the snow and cold, stay safe and stay warm!

Tricia

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I was reading one thread where they talked about doing different gifts for different age groups and genders for the FEs. Is that typical? Do we have a list somewhere that breaks that all down?

I think that Mutt (is that the right name??) will PM it to everyone who is participating when we get closer.

 

[lvstitch]

Our ship:
http://travelwithrick.com/

 

[myelton01]

Very nice Christine!!!

Sarah, good luck keeping it! I couldn't keep it that long this time, but I'm hoping I can keep the fact that we are flying down there a secret.


Hope everyone has a great day today and a wonderful weekend! I'm off to do my usual this weekend, go to the Robert Burns Supper, and watch the band play and have fun with friends and eat some haggis. ( in case anyone wants to know... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis It's a historical food and for those that don't know, my family and I are big into historical reenacting...) I have to be there early today to help set up since I'm on the board for the band, but that means I get my own private concert today while they practice! The kids will be staying with my parents today since this event really isn't something they would like just yet, but DH is coming after work so we will have a very nice dinner this evening.


9 months from today we will be chillin on a beach in Cocoa Beach and getting ready to board the ship the next day! I can't wait!!!


Morgan

 

[BealsRwe]

Happy belated Birthday wishes Terry!

Stephanie

(and family, DH-Peter, DD-Kayla-age 7 at sailing)

 

[BealsRwe]

I was reading one thread where they talked about doing different gifts for different age groups and genders for the FEs. Is that typical? Do we have a list somewhere that breaks that all down?

This will be my 13th DCL cruise, 11th for DH, and 8th for DD. We have done FE on our past 2 cruises...wish we had gotten into this on earlier trips! The best thing about it is it's fun,. and you get the chance to see some areas on the ship you probably wouldn't get to see unless you sought them out. I am always on the lookout for things I can throw in an FE gift (Disney card games for 50% off after Christmas, sales at Michael's). We do 1 gift per person, but have received fun family gifts from others.

On our 1st FE this past August, we gave printed can coozies for the adults, and filled them with an alcohol mini, and 2 laminated drink recipes from DCL. Since we went to Key West, we gave everyone a mini Margarittaville tequilla. For the kids, we printed onto mini totel bags, and filled them with girl/boy specific things such as a Princess card game, candy, and other little things. (See pictures below)

For our trip on the Magic in Nov/Dec, we got to the FE late, but we still participated. We gave out Christmas steel drum music CD's (I made a compilation from some Christmas steel drum cd's). We have out Christmas candy, kids Disney card games, mini cosmetic mirrors to the teens, rubber ducks to the littlest cruisers. We only had about 3 weeks to get stuff ready as we booked very late (My Dad passed away in early November and I needed to get away, since my mom had passed away in June-both in their 60's).

We have received some really fun stuff...personalized tote bags, alcohol minis (great to thrown into a free soda or coffee on deck), candy from the UK and Canada, speciality prepackaged food items from people's hometowns/states, stateroom door magnets, a photo mousepad, a handmade Christmas ornament. DD has received games, coloring books, puzzles, bath toys (yep she is 6 now, 7 on our next cruise, and she still loves toys for the tub-especially her Barbie ones). We still use our can coozies that we did for everyone for our cruise this past summer...memories

We decided to book this cruise while onboard the Magic since we wanted an inside room for the LCD porthole (something new!). We have never cruised for Halloween, and we are so excited to enjoy some of the Halloween entertainment. We have taken a cruise each Dec for the past 3 years, and love how DCL does Christmas!

My BIL owns a printshop, and I am actually in the process of taking it over from him. In the past he has made our family cruise shirts, pirate night shirts, pillowcase for DD for character autographs, can coozies, etc. Guess I will make my own now, and have a lot of fun with the FE this trip! There are some great DISigners on DISboards (Jordak, Millipie, and TJBaggott) that have designed and personalized some great designs for me that I have used on t-shirts, stateroom magnets, FE gifts. I better start figuring out which designs I want and get them requested soon. We have never booked a cruise this far out, and I am beyond excited!

Stephanie

 

[TDWZ]

Hello!
We will be sailing on this cruise as well
I'm surprised at what a long thread this is already!
I would like to join in on the FE exchange, we went on our first Disney cruise last April and had an awesome time. The FE exchange added that extra special little touch.
There are 4 of us, Me, DH, DS 13 and DD 10, RM 10658
We can't wait to board the Dream!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hello!
We will be sailing on this cruise as well
I'm surprised at what a long thread this is already!
I would like to join in on the FE exchange, we went on our first Disney cruise last April and had an awesome time. The FE exchange added that extra special little touch.
There are 4 of us, Me, DH, DS 13 and DD 10, RM 10658
We can't wait to board the Dream!

WELCOME !!!!

Glad to have another family along. Can you please give us your first name. I could call you Me but we have alot of those it seems. So many forget to tell us their names. Of course some people may of heard of the Bananaheads and prefer not to give their names. We can be a bit crazy sometimes.

I am Kathy, DH is Greg.

Please PM woogal (Shell) (Mutts wife) and she will add you ot the cruisemates list she is putting together for everyone.
Be sure and tell her you want to do the FE and she will note that on the list.
Most of the info people give her are the following:
photo
city and state your from
posting name
e-mail address
First names of your family and ages of kids
dinign time
cabin number (or gty room)
How many cruises you have done
any special occassions your celebrating on board.

When she is done she will e-mail the list to everyone who is on the list.
It will also include other information like the FE exchange, group meet place and time, ladies only meet.

One lady is organizing a scrapbooking meet for those interested. She will post information soon,so keep an eye out for that too.


Mutt is a graphic artist and he always desings a bananahead t-shirt for each of our cruises. (many of us have cruised together before). He does a great job. Then he sends it to a place where anyone who is interested can purchase our group shirt to wear to the meet. It makes for a great group photo. He doesnt make money on this, only the on line company does. Its usually just a few bucks. So watch for than info when the cruise gets closer too.
We are a busy group!!

Kathy

 

[Jaime]

Hi Everyone

It has been a while. Been really busy with work and escaped the cold for a week to visit my dad in Arizona which was nice!

Looks like we might have to cancel the B2B and just do this just cruise which is a little disappointing.

We will be going to Atlantis and plan to get a room at the Comfort Suites as the dates get closer. It is still a little early. I notice lately with clients that they seem to be offering specials a few months in advance.

On our last cruise we made one gift per stateroom but also had gifts for the kids