October 28 2010 Wonder 3 night cruise meet

[acomasdiaz]

We now have 4 familes signed up for the FE Exchange:

acomasdiaz
docjason2
travelgal2
khomer504

I guess we'll keep sign-ups open until Thursday, September 30th, in case anyone else wants to join in. This will still give everyone a chance to get their gifts together.

Can everyone participating PM me the following info:
Names in party
Ages of kids (if any)
Cabin #
If you're celebrating anything special

I will then put a list together for all of us participating.

Can't wait. FE Exchanges are so much fun!

 

[acomasdiaz]

Another little milestone for us that's making it seem close....our passports finally got mailed today and we should have them next week. Kind of exciting...I haven't had a passport since I was 5 and even then it was a british one.

Maybe next I should pack...just in case I forget in the next 40 days

I'm definitely working on my packing list already. The suitcase is already visible and can't wait to start packing too.

 

[Docjason2]

Does anyone know what staterooms can fit 5 people? I am looking at possibly booking another cruise while on board for 2012 and want to make sure we have enough room. Do you guys think the 2012 itineraries will be out by then?

So I kind of feel bad for my wife on this cruise, I think she was looking forward to having some nice tropical drinks and margaritas on board, we really don't get too much of that around here. We just found out this week that she's going to have to wait another 9 months for those drinks . Going to be expensive booking for 5 now instead of 4!

Oh and shhh... My wife would kill me if she found out I told anyone right now

 

[friends with mickey]

Does anyone know what staterooms can fit 5 people? I am looking at possibly booking another cruise while on board for 2012 and want to make sure we have enough room. Do you guys think the 2012 itineraries will be out by then?

So I kind of feel bad for my wife on this cruise, I think she was looking forward to having some nice tropical drinks and margaritas on board, we really don't get too much of that around here. We just found out this week that she's going to have to wait another 9 months for those drinks . Going to be expensive booking for 5 now instead of 4!

Oh and shhh... My wife would kill me if she found out I told anyone right now

Your secret is safe with us and congrats on the happy news
You can get the Drink of the day or other drinks made without the booze so your wife can celebrate too! It is neat that all of our posters are celebrating something on this cruise besides sailing and making new friends. Waiting is the hardest part.

 

[travelgal2]

Wow-I go out of town for a couple of days...and this board goes to six pages -full of fun and excitement! Congratulations to all -babies , renewals , birthday , a wedding ...WOW! I wonder if we can all switch our rooms to deck 7-that seems to be where the party deck is located. How fun to have so many special events this trip!

We are getting excited-well, we have been...but now we are REALLY excited as it comes down to about five weeks. Whew!

As for the launch after the cruise, check the NASA calendar...you may not have missed it totally...I was under the impression that there is one final one scheduled for next Feb. DH was looking at that one too...and since he wanted to go to the launches-I planned Disney fun around both of them. I bartered with the cruise this time and he agreed to do the Disney Princess Half Marathon with me in February. Like I said, he's a space nut, so he'll do practically anything. LOL

Yes, we are filling our days with things to keep busy, as far as the empty nest thing goes-I decided I could either eat or train-so we are in week 8 or our half-marathon training. The food on the ship is phenomenal-all three restaurants are very good and Palo's is terrific too. My goal is to just not gain while onboard. We really enjoyed the spa area on the ship. The rainforest room is quite nice as are some of the other treatments and the fitness center view will keep you on the treadmill longer than you expect!

 

[acomasdiaz]

Does anyone know what staterooms can fit 5 people? I am looking at possibly booking another cruise while on board for 2012 and want to make sure we have enough room. Do you guys think the 2012 itineraries will be out by then?

So I kind of feel bad for my wife on this cruise, I think she was looking forward to having some nice tropical drinks and margaritas on board, we really don't get too much of that around here. We just found out this week that she's going to have to wait another 9 months for those drinks . Going to be expensive booking for 5 now instead of 4!

Oh and shhh... My wife would kill me if she found out I told anyone right now

CONGRATS! Don't worry we'll keep your little secret.

As for the cabins, I think that you would have to get a cat. 4 to have 5 people in the cabin. My sis tried that but it was just a lot less expensive to get 2 connecting inside cabins instead.

 

[Docjason2]

Another token milestone today...got my sailing documents. really nothing new other than baggage tags that I didn't already have online. Just nice to see that DCL logo on some mail. 5 weeks to go!!! Got some pillowcases and a FE coming in the mail.

Wow didn't realize there were going to be other launches. Wikipedia you failed me! Nov 22, and....sweet on my birthday Feb 26 next year! What a great Bday present huh...the very last shuttle launch ever! I doubt they'll be any tickets available for that one.

I'm a little behind you Tracey, just started working on 5k to begin with. I'd love to be able to do the Castaway Cay 5k maybe on the next cruise, not sure I'd be able to handle it this Oct. Still have a long way to go before I get to where I want, but plenty of time until our next cruise.

 

[Docjason2]

Found this today for the little ones:

http://www.themouseforless.com/disneynews/?p=1580

 

[acomasdiaz]

Found this today for the little ones:

http://www.themouseforless.com/disneynews/?p=1580

Oh my! I am even more excited now. If that's even possible... The kids will definitely be excited. Now, I have to add their costumes to my packing list. Maybe I won't tell them and just surprise them. Ah, I know I won't be able to keep it a secret.

 

[travelgal2]

Thanks for the link to the Halloween news...how fun! I'm guessing the overwhelming majority of costumes (for the little ones) to be pirates and princesses.

As for Castaway Cay's 5K-DH and I just started our program in July and I was determined to try for the 5K when we went in August. DH decided to sleep in, but I got up with about 6 other folks and the CM and did the 5K. The CM needed to be available for the power walk which started about an hour later. It was so hot and humid...that was my problem, so I walked and jogged the course. However, I finished in time and it was great. Neat to be on the island that early and I rewarded myself with the hearty breakfast at BBB later that morning. CM greeted me at the finish with a cup of water and a DCL water bottle. A neat experience for my first 5K! Didn't feel too bad doing NOTHING the rest of the day on Serenity Bay except lounging in the water. I figured I'd start my "running" at CC-it was AT sea level and I was hoping for some Disney pixie dust to get me through...so I figured I had those two things going for me. LOL

 

[Docjason2]

Is there a time limit for the 5k? I wouldn't mind jogging/walking through the whole thing. I just don't run marathons at all and don't want to go out there and look dumb

I don't know if we're going to pack any costumes for the kids. I don't know if we're going to have enough room in the suitcases, stupid airlines charging stupid fees! Plus we won't be heading home until Monday, so the poor kids will miss Halloween this year anyway

 

[friends with mickey]

Is there a time limit for the 5k? I wouldn't mind jogging/walking through the whole thing. I just don't run marathons at all and don't want to go out there and look dumb

I don't know if we're going to pack any costumes for the kids. I don't know if we're going to have enough room in the suitcases, stupid airlines charging stupid fees! Plus we won't be heading home until Monday, so the poor kids will miss Halloween this year anyway

I hope that ther is no time limit. I plan on doing the 5k and it will be my first one. I will be jogging/walking it an hope for a time in under 45 minutes. If you want to walk along with me then let's do it.

 

[Docjason2]

Ok sounds good. I just got back tonight from my 5k and was able to jog/walk in 45 minutes, but half of it is uphill which sucks...so hopefully in the next month I can get it better lol.

Saw some posts about Halloween stuff as well on the ships. I think the kids would kill us if they didn't have costumes to go trick or treating. The cruise isn't so bad on the checkbook, it's all the collateral damage caused by it

 

[travelgal2]

The 45 minute pace should be okay. I think I was close to that when I walked/jogged it a few months ago. The CM just mentioned that he would need to be at the start (our finish, I think) for the powerwalkers at 9:30 (and the 5K started at 8:30, although it took a few minutes to get going as we were waiting on a few other runners and he showed us the course. Its pretty unofficial, so I didn't know my exact time, but I asked a guy the time as I was headed toward the finish and I think I was right around the 45 min mark. The only thing is if you are much longer than that, the CM may not be there to greet you at the finish. I would suggest not forgetting your watch if you really want to know your exact time. Make sure you do whatever stretching you're going to do before you get to the map after leaving the ship-once he said "go" -we went! I was thinking "Oh, no! Where's my warmup?" But, it was fun nonetheless and if you are walking and jogging, chances are you'll like the course. If I can get DH to go with me this time, we'll both plan to be out there, too.

 

[SheStang94]

I can't believe it's only 5 weeks away! Just got our cruise documents and marriage license in the mail yesterday! Started making our magnets for the door this past weekend, DF could not understand the reason why, but I told him wait until he gets on the ship, then he will understand! The 5K seems like a fun way to see the island, do you have to sign up in advance or can you do it on the ship? I probably would be able to do the run, but I think the time for the powerwalk (9:30) is more my vacation style. Is anyone doing any excursions? I was thinking of signing up for one of the boat rides around the island, but don't know if it's worth it..any suggestions?

 

[acomasdiaz]

Ok sounds good. I just got back tonight from my 5k and was able to jog/walk in 45 minutes, but half of it is uphill which sucks...so hopefully in the next month I can get it better lol.

Saw some posts about Halloween stuff as well on the ships. I think the kids would kill us if they didn't have costumes to go trick or treating. The cruise isn't so bad on the checkbook, it's all the collateral damage caused by it

I definitely think the kids will want to go trick or treating. I'm sure like me you're going to have to figure out how to stick two more things into those suitcases.

 

[acomasdiaz]

I can't believe it's only 5 weeks away! Just got our cruise documents and marriage license in the mail yesterday! Started making our magnets for the door this past weekend, DF could not understand the reason why, but I told him wait until he gets on the ship, then he will understand! The 5K seems like a fun way to see the island, do you have to sign up in advance or can you do it on the ship? I probably would be able to do the run, but I think the time for the powerwalk (9:30) is more my vacation style. Is anyone doing any excursions? I was thinking of signing up for one of the boat rides around the island, but don't know if it's worth it..any suggestions?

I think we're going to pass on excursions this cruise. With the ceremony on Friday while in Nassau, I don't want to be too far away from the ship. And then in CC there is so many funs things for the kids to do that I don't think we need to book anything.

I can't wait to finish working on my magnets. Of course, my printer decided to stop working right now just when I wanted to star printing my stuff for the cruise. So, now I have to wait to get a new printer.

Are you joining us in the FE exchange?

 

[SheStang94]

I think we're going to pass on excursions this cruise. With the ceremony on Friday while in Nassau, I don't want to be too far away from the ship. And then in CC there is so many funs things for the kids to do that I don't think we need to book anything.

I can't wait to finish working on my magnets. Of course, my printer decided to stop working right now just when I wanted to star printing my stuff for the cruise. So, now I have to wait to get a new printer.

Are you joining us in the FE exchange?

I'm not sure what a FE exchange is, can you give me a brief background and a couple examples of what people usually give?

 

[SheStang94]

Oops - I meant we were thinking of a boat trip around Castaway Cay. I'm so paranoid, I am tempted not even to get off the ship in Nassau because I don't want anything to interfere with the ceremony and the preparations for it.

 

[acomasdiaz]

I'm not sure what a FE exchange is, can you give me a brief background and a couple examples of what people usually give?

I got this really good explanation from someone else on the boards.

Outside of each cabin, there is a metal fish that the crew use to leave messages, etc for people in their cabins. The FE is a (generally) cloth device with several pockets, that "extends" the fish by hanging off of it, and adding pocket space for folks in an organized "FE Exchange" to leave you small gifts.

As for some examples, I can tell you that last year as a cabin gift we gave out a little baggie with small chocolates and tic tacs. They were each wrapped in personalized wrappers with our cruise date. For the kids, I gave a baggie with disney pencils, candy, disney stickers, glow bracelets, etc. I also gave a couple of gifts related to events happening onboard like a wedding and some birthdays.

We got from other passengers: a tote bag, lip balm, a photo album, personalized candy bar, an envelope with cool pics from around disney, some pens, small bottles of alcohol, shot glasses etc. The kids got: notebooks, stickers, bracelets, candy, toys, etc.

There are several threads on here with ideas for "homemade" gifts as well as gifts "for the not so crafty". It's lots of fun and the things don't have to be over the top. Plus, we don't have many families participating so it shouldn't be too difficult. On my last cruise we had to have gifts for over 20 cabins which was alot. On this one, so far we have 4 families participating.

We'd love to have you join in.