October 30, 2011 Wonder - A Haunting on the High Seas

[stefanie.cadell]

I love the villians theme! Vince likes the villians too! Maybe that can sway him!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Hello ladies My DH and I will be celebrating our 1st Anniversary on the cruise. This is our first cruise!

I'm Samantha DH is Wes we got married at WDW in August and can't believe we have to wait for October to get our next Disney fix!

Say Yes to the Dress is still one of my favourite shows since getting really into it before the wedding.

I don't know if we will be doing FEs as I'm not really sure what it's all about

DH and I are also doing second seating and I think the first sea day is the day we are going to try Palo for dinner... if I can get a ressie only 75 days out like us newbies have to

I can't wait only 7 months and a bit left. DH and I are spending a 5 days in DL before the cruise.

 

[nenis]

Tinkloversam I'm so happy you found your way here! I was just about to send you a PM inviting you to our "Suuuuper Elite" meet group. WELCOME
Congratz on your anniversary!
Stephanie will be on her honeymoon.
Heres a link with a picture of what a fish extender looks like (FE) just scroll down to the bottom: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1944142
Let us know if you wanna participate in our huge groups FE gift giving (note our "big" FE group consists of 3 couples and my two year old).
Personaly I like our small group. As this is my first group meet, we didnt want to feel overwhelmed with a group of 100.

Val,
Havent heard from you in awhile. You doing ok?

7 MONTHS 1 WEEK 1 DAY TO GO!!!!!

 

[stefanie.cadell]

Welcome!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you've joined our thread! Congrats on your anniversary celebration! I was just parusing your photos & they are beautiful! I LOVE your dress! If you feel like it, I've posted links to what I've got so far for my wedding. This cruise will be our honeymoon as Nenis mentioned.

I do hope you get as excited as we are. It truly is a wonderfully small group. Val, Nenis & I have been the chatty ones getting to know each other as I'm sure you've seen. My fiance Vince is unsure of what to make of this, but I'm sure that he will warm up once we meet in person. Anyway, welcome! I can't wait to hear more about your wedding & get to know you better!

Also, the FE for our group seems like it'll be something to do for fun & not specifically for the "stuff". I plan on making one regardless simply because this is our honeymoon & I want to make it as special & memorable as possible!

 

[valbob89]

Yes! Please post your list here too! That would be great! Last weekend we wrapped up our registries. I made sure to register for a photo frame with a mat to take with us to get signed by the characters!! I canNOT wait to get started on our FE.. I'm just waiting for things to slow down at work..

Stefanie, you can also drop the mat off (I'd put it in a clear bag to keep it clean) at Guest Services and they will have the characters sign the matt. There is usually a time you can get the captain to sign things for you too.

Ive already started on our FE...well, gathering ideas.
Im doing kermit the frog for my pouch, Dennis is doing a Pirates of the Caribbean theme (probably skulls) and our Alexandras will be a dress of minnie mouse with her legs and shoes hanging on the bottom.
I have NO IDEA how we are going to make a FE stay together with a glue gun. Hope it works....

You know, I never liked the idea of families wearing the same "family t-shirt", this year I'm warming up to the idea...what are your thoughts on this?

Nenis, your FE idea sounds really cute. Have you considered fusible interfacing? That might work better then glue and add more stiffness too. You just put it between the cloth and iron.

On a number of cruises we have had a logo for the cruise and most of the DISboard members bought or made shirts with the logo. It was kinda nice to see people on the ship and in the ports with the shirt on. It made for an immediate connection and opening for talking. We also had lanyards made. Here is a picture of me and Bob, on the Panama Canal cruise, at the sail away party. I am wearing my shirt. Around the pictures are mystery pins. They were offering for $2 if you bought $30 of stuff. The second picture is the picture we made of the cruise map they sold and the pins they sold, one each day for each port (that pin sale was a HUGE mess). I have a Mexican Riviera Map for sale, wished I had picked it up then.

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On the Transatlantic cruise one night we had a Mickey Mouse Club night, we wore Mickey Mouse Club shirts with our names on it.

I have only seen a few people dress up in costume on villains night - not us - but I enjoyed seeing it. The shirts are a great idea. One cruise a lot of us wore purple and black that night. Of course the ladies are always more willing to go along with it then the guys. I found if I didn't go into the why, but just asked him to wear a lavender shirt to go along with what I was wearing, he did.

Hello ladies My DH and I will be celebrating our 1st Anniversary on the cruise. This is our first cruise!

I'm Samantha DH is Wes we got married at WDW in August and can't believe we have to wait for October to get our next Disney fix!

Say Yes to the Dress is still one of my favourite shows since getting really into it before the wedding.

I don't know if we will be doing FEs as I'm not really sure what it's all about

DH and I are also doing second seating and I think the first sea day is the day we are going to try Palo for dinner... if I can get a ressie only 75 days out like us newbies have to

I can't wait only 7 months and a bit left. DH and I are spending a 5 days in DL before the cruise.

Samantha, WELCOME, so glad you have joined us. I tried to open your wedding pictures on photobucket (clicked on your pictures in the posting) but it wouldn't let me open the album. Tell us all about it, the pictures looked beautiful.

Val

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Val
I'm not sure why clicking the pics didn't work but you could try searching for samahen on photobucket you should be alble to see them there, also you could click on the link to my planning journal (PJ) in my signature... I have lots of pictures there!

Stephanie
I definately will check out your wedding stuff, if you're interested you can see more about mine in my planning journal, the link is in my siggy

Nenis
I'll see about the FE, right now I am finishing up my university degree (going to uni full time) and working full time, but when I have time to breath starting in May I'll check it out. We'll probably end up doing it

I wasn't sure how into this my DH would be, when she was down in WDW for my wedding my sister did a tweet-up and my DH thought it was very odd. However when I broached the idea to him last night he seemed into the idea

 

[stefanie.cadell]

Thanks!! If anyone needs Disneyland & area info, I'm local & have been an annual passholder for years. I know we're going to probably be staying at the Double Tree in San Pedro on the 29th. Anyone else?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

We're staying at the Sheraton Park Hotel by Disneyland for 6 nights before the cruise... Anyone know a good sedan company to get us from the hotel to the port?

 

[stefanie.cadell]

I'll look into local places & get back to you!

 

[stefanie.cadell]

I've submitted info for quotes. Here are some promising options:

$15 per person per hour for a sedan:

http://www.limos.com/limo-price-guide

Based very near your hotel:

http://www.carserviceexpress.com/p/citysearch/american-vip-transportation-anaheim-california.html

I'll post more info as I get it!

 

[nenis]

Val: Love those pics! You are giving me ideas for our frames!
Tink: Good luck with finals coming up! Congratz with UNI.
Stephanie: I am going to keep your offer in mind. I do have a question for you though. In your opinion, do you think we will have enough time to make it to the port if our flight touches down at 930?...I've heard that traffic is brutal!
somebody suggested we stay at some place called Vagabund (or something like that) have you heard of it?


p.s. did you gals here about the missing CM on the Wonder?
Our prayers go out to her and her loved ones!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I saw that on the main board! That's scary definitely hoping everything turns out well!

 

[stefanie.cadell]

The Vagbond (sp?) is highly suggested by everyone I know. However, I've never stayed there personally. Traffic can be totally bad. One bad accident will ruin everything. If you touch down at 930, you won't be leaving the airport till at least 1015. From LAX to the port, I'd say it's about 25 min without traffic. However, I am a worrier. I would definately plan to land the night before incase of bad weather at any stop, flight delays or cancelations etc.

The news about the missing CM is heartbreaking. The CMs I know currently on the ships are not allowed to release any info. Everyone however is "spreading the yellow" and calling all our "Ohana" together to unite. It may sound cheesy, but it how we do things. I wish you could see what I see when I log onto Facebook. We've all changed our profile pictures to us in our yellow costumes to unite us. And we really do become family (Ohana) when we're on the ships- we are the only ones each other have. When I know more, I'll pass it on to you as well.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Ladies, what do you wear for formal night? I think I want to go really dressy and to save a little money I'm thinking of using www.renttherunway.com and getting a gorgeous dress to wear! Will I be way overdressed? I like getting dressed up and thought this would be a fun way to really splurge for a night!

 

[valbob89]

Anything goes on the cruise. There most likely will be one formal night, one semi-formal and pirates night. Because it is Halloween, there may be a costume night too. Stephanie is certainly more informed then me, having worked on the ship, but on the 7 DCL cruises I've been on I'd say 25% of the people really dress in black tail formal wear, 25% formal, 25% nice sports wear and 25% don't change from their shorts. It is not like on Celebrity or other high end ships were you can feel the dismay and judgement when someone comes into a room not in the right clothes. On DCL, no one cares what anyone else wears. So if Bob doesn't want to wear his tux I don't care and no one else does. I wear what I want. I do change for dinner, sometimes into a dress or nice pants on casual night and dress up on formal night. The last few cruises I haven't brought any "prom" dresses but a long black velvet skirt and pearl top, cocktail dress and dress pants and beaded tops. Other cruises I have brought a lot of long formal dresses. You'll see people in formal wear on casual night. They might have a reservation at Palos or some people just like to dress up. It is a great opportunity to get pictures taken and on formal night the lines are longer. I think if you want to bring a very formal gown it would be great. Look forward to seeing pictures.

I've been working on graphics for a tee-shirt for the cruise. I'll post the designs and get your options on which one I should us. Val

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Val,

Thanks for the thoughts on formalwear. I think we're going to go for the dressy side. I'm trying to convince DH he's always wanted to be James Bond and rent a tux and but I'm thinking I might end up buying a gown, we'll see how well packing it goes in a few months I did manage to take 2 four hour flights with a wedding dress in hand so...

T shirts will be cool, can't wait to see the DISigns you come up with. I'm planning on making some for DH and I to wear on embarkation day that have our celebration on them... trying to get a cheap upgrade to a oceanview at least... though if there are any verandas left, even navigators we'll see what the charge to upgrade to those is.

Anyone else planning on trying to upgade at the port? I'm thinking we'll get there around 10am and hope for the best

 

[valbob89]

Hello ladies My DH and I will be celebrating our 1st Anniversary on the cruise. This is our first cruise!

...

I don't know if we will be doing FEs as I'm not really sure what it's all about

...

I can't wait only 7 months and a bit left. DH and I are spending a 5 days in DL before the cruise.

Hi, Stephanie, this is the Bob half of valbob89. You probably already saw DW Valerie's posting that this is our 7th (or is it 6th) Dis cruise. Best wishes on your first year, and here's a toast to your anniversary .

About the FEs: We'd seen them on our previous cruises and had no idea what was up. It took some persuasion by DW to get me to go along, but I'm really glad we've done the boards and FE activities. It's a great addition, with anticipation, a mission to accomplish, surprise, and a fun way to meet people. First time we took an FE there were 200-200 Dis-ers, and very experienced and unselfish organizers. (We'll have more people joining as we get closer to departure day.) They spent a lot of time arranging FE people into smaller groups, and we didn't feel bad about spending a couple of dollars each for our groupmembers.

Last cruise, someone or somethree wanted EVERY FE member to exchange with every other. I think that's just too much -- making 100+ gifts, hoping nobody else did just what you did, and it's not as exciting to reach in and see the hard work someone put into the gift was duplicated by another person who made the rounds one day earlier. Must have been disappointing for the makers, too. So I think having smallish groups instead of one massive exchange is better. Will there be enough of us to require a vote? Probably.

Anyway, the FE is all about channeling your expectations and efforts into meeting wonderful people you never would have found otherwise. I'm not generally a joiner, but I really enjoyed the benefits of DW's efforts!

We had a post card exchange, and taped them to the wall inside the cabin. Several people made magnets, which went on the door outside so the "civilians" could see them. Some people set up a chocolate exchange, but we didn't join -- feared everything would melt in the planes and buses. 20-30 of us in the San Francisco area had a pre-cruise snack-nic at a city park, so we got to meet kids, parents, retired couples, etc, who are very nice. (For a different cruise, we'd met about 8 others at a tiki bar.)

And it's really nice to have familiar faces aboard, people whom you can exchange daily experiences. And before the cruise, we can channel our anticipation and extra energy into something more rewarding than packing and repacking suitcases three months ahead.

It's all a smaller, tighter, more personal group than a big Disboard gang (which I hope we'll have). And it's hard to find a nicer bunch of people than the boarders to begin with.

 

[valbob89]

Here is one possible design for shirts for our cruise. The design is not mine but one from the DisBoards and I just used photoshop to make changes.

 

[valbob89]

Here is one Bob & I did with a photo of the Wonder and photoshop.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Val those disigns look great!

I think I like sorcerer mikey the best