October 21st 2006 !!!!

[tinkerfun]

Hi Team Williams
It's never too early to start packing! So what have people put aside already to take?
I picked up 2 cheap floaties for Castaway Cay and a mesh laundry basket/bag and a few pirate items.
How about you???
Julie

 

[DisneyZell]

Hi everyone. I have started picking things up for the cruise as well, but I'm having a hard time hiding them! The cruise is a surprise for our sons, so it is very hard not to get so excited about it in front of them. I have put aside the inflatable POC sword that McDonalds was giving with the happy meals a few weeks back...I don't know how well the sword fights will go over, but oh well. Mostly I have been getting small beach toys and pirate gear. Our big excitement is that we just bought tickets for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for Oct. 20. We are flying in that day and will spend that night having a blast! We are just about at the 75 day mark...are all the 1st timers going to get their Palo resies tomorrow? Good Luck!

 

[Smooch]

Hi Everyone! I'm so glad I found your forum and I've really enjoyed reading your posts. DH and I cruised last October for 3 days and had a blast, we're hooked! This year we are cruising with our family dd8 and ds2 as well as my bro, SIL, and their dd13.

For the first-timers, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Passporter's field guid to the Disney Cruise Line as it really helped us make the most of our last cruise.

Anyone who has been to Paradise Beach in Cozumel - Is it toddler friendly?

 

[J&ADisneyMom]

Hi Smooch-hoping to hear good things about Paradise Beach and toddlers since I'm taking my 3 year old!!

Susan, we have a change. Our friends are no longer going to be joining us, but somehow I missed adding my sister. Their info is

J&ADisneyMom-DSis, Bil, DS 5 and DS 3

Also, my 3 year old is a girl.

How did everyone do with your ressies yesterday? I booked mine a while ago and did OK, but I got up early yesterday to book my mothers ressies. I got her a 6 pm at Palo on Tues but nothing for brunch. Fortunately I have brunch booked for 4 on Sunday am. Once we get onboard, I'll see if we can add two more people to our brunch reservation. My poor sis could only get a 9pm dinner on Monday at Palo.

Has anyone done the bike rentals at CC with small children. With DD, we'll need a bike seat, but I'm not sure what to do about DS. Do they have any tandem bikes? He is 5 and just learning to ride without training wheels. So far, NOT so good.

This week I'll be working on my door signs, pillowcases, invites (for our vow renewal ceremony) and t-shirts to wear to MNSSHP. Anyone else going on the 19th?

I have purchased a bunch of stuff and put it away. I'm doing sandpails for the kids with water cameras, movie candy, pj's for my nephews and DD, and bathing suit for DS. Also, it will include their pillowcases to be signed, glowsticks, pins and chapstick. I bought a couple cheap corkscrews yesterday for my mom. I'll be picking up some wine to bring onboard for her and my dad. My sister is driving so I'll send her my package and then have her drive it to the port.

Shell

 

[teamwilliams]

Hi there,

I did fairly well with our reservations yesterday. I set the alarm for 2 a.m. our time - midnight CA time - to get on right away. (My DH thinks I'm going a little overboard with all of this planning stuff! I think he just knows that he can relax and I'll have everything under control! I plan on doing plenty of relaxing myself, but don't want to miss out on any of the fun.)

Was able to book Palo dinner for Tues. at 8:30, brunch for my parents on Sun. at 11:00. I reserved 2 bikes for CC, along with a couple of floats for me and DH.

I have heard really good things about Paradise Beach, but also some concern that there will be four cruise ships docked in Cozumel the day we are there. Not sure if that means it will be horribly crowded or not.

I agree that the Passporter's guide has been awesome in helping with the planning. I also ordered the ebook, Disney's Cruise Clues, that has tons more tips, etc. It can get overwhelming with all of the info. that's out there!

Our flight home on 10/28 isn't until 6:45 p.m., does anyone know of anyplace reasonably close to the airport - maybe via bus - where we could go? Don't want to already thinking about leaving for home already, but also want to avoid hanging out in the airport for most of the day!

So is the pillowcase thing for real? I have read mixed messages about having this done. Has anyone heard from a recent cruiser that was successful with this?

Kathy

 

[suz72]

Welcome to those who have joined us...I will need to update our list!

I stayed up until 12 midnight on Sunday to book Palos and spa.

DH and I are doing Palo on Sun 10/22 (Key West night) @ 7pm
also, I signed us up for Exotic Rasul on 10/25 in a.m.

I'm really getting excited.

I will add our new friends onto the list!

 

[suz72]

DisneyZell : Deanna, Drew, ds8, ds4
Neighbors a la Zell: DH, DW, ds9, dd6

Jpoo: Jennifer, DH, ds9, ds5

Suz72: Susan, Jon, dd3, dd6

Cheryl N WI: Cheryl, DH, dd12

Nrslady: Tracy, DH, ds12

J & A Disney Mom: Shell, Tom, ds5, ds3
J & A Disney Mom: Mom and Dad
J & A Disney Mom: Sis, BIL, DS5, DS3

Tinkerfun: Julie, DH, dd11, ds9

Duane: Duane, Claudine, dd10

DVCKatie, Katie, DH, dd21

kecall: Karen, DH, dd9, dd13

abitjaded: Carla, Brad ds10, ds13

sunshinegirl: Tricia, DH, DD5, & DD3

msr709: & DSIS & DBIL

gottaluv & DH, DD, MIL

Belle17: Belle17, Mom, Dad, Br14 &Br16

surf'un: & DH, ds13, ds7, ds5, dd11

hank56: & ds12, ds13

teamwilliams: Kathy, DH Mark, DD8, DD5
teamwilliams: Sis, BIL, kids (5,3,1)
teamwilliams: parents & FIL

smooch: & DH, dd8, ds2
smooch: Bro, SIL, dd13

Did I get that right...let me know if you want me to update.

 

[DisneyZell]

Thanks for the updated list, Susan. It is so nice to see so many of us on the cruise. It sure is getting close!

 

[nrsldy]

Welcome to all the new cruise buddies.

Thanks Susan for the update
I am getting sooooo excited. All of our plans are booked. Now just watching the clock tick away.

 

[abitjaded]

You gain some, you lose some. We have had to cancel, so check if you need Palo, lunch, brunch or tea or the Fury Catamaran or Cozumel Snorkel.

Have fun , all, and blow a bit of pixie and angel dust my way.

Carla

 

[Jpoo]

Carla- you had to cancel your cruise? so sorry! Hope you are all well.

 

[suz72]

Carla-

Sorry you had to cancel. Hope you get to cruise soon! Thanks for the heads up on the ressie info, maybe someone on this thread can book now.



Hello everyone else! Are we getting excited??

Just a quick recap...DH and the girls and I are going to WDW for a week before the cruise. I know some others are also going...at least for MNSSHP.

We have planned to do Palo's dinner on Key West night and the exotic rasul on Cozumel morning. We are booking through Nativeway for Grand Cayman...the Rays, Reef, and Rum Point excursion.(I read great stuff about this excursion on cruisecritic.com).

Other than that we plan to (probably) rent an electric car for touring Key West... don't know if we are getting off the ship in Cozumel ...heard we are the fourth ship that day to dock (maybe just for shopping).

We've never cruised before so just being on the ship will be exciting for us!!

We are really excited...how about you? Just over 2 months until we fly to Orlando.

Let's hear what you are excited about!

 

[nrsldy]

We are going to MNSSHP on Oct 20th. Went last year and had a blast.
We are going to Palo the 23rd for brunch and the 26th for dinner.I booked the Romance package, so we will see if it was worth the extra money. DS is looking forward to Cpt. Marvins to swim with the rays.
Has it been decided when and where to meet?
Let the Party Get Started

 

[DisneyZell]

Tracy, it looks like we could be seeing a lot of you...MNSSHP on the 20th and brunch on the 23rd! Question for you about MNSSHP...did the adults dress up for this or just the kids? I'm having my two boys wear pirate outfits for this as well as the cruise, but didn't know if dh and I should dress up as well. We've never been, but just couldn't pass this up when I looked into it.

I am finally finishing my disney cruise album from 2004 b/c I told myself I couldn't go on another disney cruise without finishing the first one. Luckily I'm just about done, so I'll be able to go! See everyone soon!

 

[suz72]

Yea Deanna and Tracy!

Who else wants to post what you are excited about?

Let's get excited!!!

 

[surf'un]

We also were up at midnight for the ressies. Hard to believe all of Palo was gone in 20 min. We have dinner on Sun. and tea on Mon., also the stingray reef and fury catamaran sail. It will be great to see others will be on these excursions too. We've never been on a cruise before, so we started a countdown chain with the little kids where we cut a paper ring each day.

We'll also be in the Hyatt the night before the cruise, and taking land transport to the terminal.

With much excitement, Surf'un, dhJim, ds13, ds7, ds5, dd11, and dGM

 

[Belle17]

Hm... What to get excited about for our first cruise...

1) My brothers and I missing 3 1/2 days of school! ...well, my brothers are looking forward to that. I actually love going to school, and this is my last year of high school.
2) Palo. Not for me (drat!!), but for my parents, because they very rarely get to treat themselves to a nice night out at all, let alone a high-class restaurant. Being the "cruise trip manager," I made sure they got a reservation. It was a close call - when I went to reserve, there were only two dinners left! So on the last night of the cruise, my parents will be indulging while my brothers and I are off with the other teenagers, probably dancing the night away.
3) The shows. No words of mine can express my excitement for the evening shows. Next year I hope to be working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts or Musical Theatre, so I'm certainly excited for this!
4) Pirates IN the Caribbean. I was fascinated with the world of pirates even before the blockbuster hits, and I can't wait to don my costume - constructed entirely from goods I got at our local Goodwill thrift store!
5) Total peace of mind. Something my chaotic family (myself included) desperately need. One week completely free of band, mathletes, cross-country, piano lessons, showchoir, musical theatre, overtime work, and wondering whether or not all five of us will be at the dinner table at the same time. ...but with showchoir district evaluations the second week of November, I'd better prove to our chorus teacher I know the music and routine by heart before missing an entire week of practice!

We won't be doing any excursions at any ports of call or any "extras" (i.e. spa visits) on the ship, with the exception of Palo for my parents. But you can bet we're all anxiously awaiting October 21!

 

[Jpoo]

I have actually had dreams about this cruise. Good dreams and nightmares. Last night I actually dreamed that we were upgraded free at port at the last minute to a suite! I also have had a nightmare that we got to Florida from Michigan and I discovered that I forgot MY and DH birth certificates!!!! Talk about panic!! I was glad to wake up from that one! It's silly, I know, but we are really looking forward to this trip, and I have spent a lot of time researching and planning it.( on the DIS of course!) we didn't book until 120 days out, but I contemplated for a very long time!
I am excited about spending some relaxing time with DH, hopefully a nice quiet romantic meal or two , and also having plenty of fun family time with our sons . Most of all I am looking forward to not having to cook or clean for a whole week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Being waited on and taken care of is a wonderful treat. We all deserve some pampering!

 

[suz72]

Oh Jennifer! Yikes! I've had that type of panic too, except...when I'm awake!

Forgetting something as important as passports or birth certificates would surely be something to stress about. You should go pack them right now.

Family time...I'm really looking forward to having fun family time with my 2 DDs! That sounds great.

For those who are trying to get into the cruising mood, reading the trip reports is really fun. Some of them are soooooo good! Lots of folks also post photos.

Getting excited

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

I have fallen behind on this thread again. It has been a very busy summer for us and it is hard to believe it is almost over and DD starts school in 2 weeks.

We are getting very excited Two months from now we will be going to MNSSHP on Fri. night and then 2 months from tomorrow we get on the Magic!!!!!!!! From briefly skimming through the last few posts it looks like there will be a few of cruisers at MNSSHP that nigh! We went a few years ago and it was great. We are really looking forward to going again. Deanna DH and I are going to dress up a little, we are going with a pirate theme and we have Goofy pirate ears and pirate eye patches and I have a white blouse that DD says looks like a pirate shirt and DH has a shirt that looks "piratey" from an old costume, I'm just not sure what to do about pants for that night. I don't want to bring a lot of extra stuff because I don't want to overpack like we usually do. Maybe we'll just look like pirates from the waist up lol.

Getting very excited