OCTOBER 30th & NOVEMBER 3rd Cruises (FE and Meets)

[IleneF]

We had the most awesome time. On the day at sea I contemplated riding the Aquaduck because I knew it'd be my last chance so I finally did...so much fun, not scary at all.

It was so much fun coming back to the room and seeing the new loot that someone left I went to the DVC talk and got one of the free DVC grocery type bags and used that to cart it all home! Thanks to everyone for the creative gifts. We just love that hand painted/stamped cruise frame! We gave out the DREAM magnet and the heart shape photo frame keychain, the tab on the insert is so that you can still open it to insert your own photo! I had a lot of fun delivering them and seeing all the decorated doors along the way My DH did poop out on me though.

Our servers were Philipe/Edith and were very nice. But the best was the Palo dinner...OMG! Josi was an amazing server. We shared ALL the delicious desserts

I think my favorite find was the adult coffee cafe near the adult pool. Nice quiet retreat with yummy treats. Overall I thought it was a much more "adult" ship with many private/quiet nooks for sitting and relaxing alone or with small parties.

We signed up for the Alaska cruise in June Got the onboard discount 10% and the onboard credit from Disney should be $275 as it should be our Gold cruise and the onboard credit from our travel agent will be applied too

I'm also sorry I missed the first night meet/greet but it just got so busy with the FE's and touring the new ship and unpacking and dinner and.....
I did get to meet Mickeygolf at the Budget car rental place while picking up our car after the cruise. That was fun!

Our trip wound up being a rollercoaster of emotions.
1. The pretrip craziness surrounding the storm and making us leave 24hrs early.
2. Upon landing finding out my son ran himself over with my DH's car..don't ask but he's mostly fine and was able to meet up with us at Disney anyway..badly bruised but no broken bones or internal bleeding.
3. At breakfast at BCV my DIL and DS announced a new baby on the way.
4. My 18mo grandson dislocated his arm and EMT scene in BCV lobby at dinnertime...bit of a scene but really really great EMT's.
5. Breakfast call the next day: my mother's BF collapsed at the breakfast table and passed away shortly after

You just can't make this stuff up I'm ready for a few "boring" days, LOL!

 

[IleneF]

Forgot to mention: we were the Park Tickets on halloween night and got picked as one of the 5 in the "group" category. We didn't win but we had a lot of fun

 

[AmandaRG]

We had a great time! Swayed for a day or two afterwards. It was nice meeting those of you we had the chance to!!

The FEs were great! Our girls love checking their pockets. We rebooked two dummys the first night before dinner. Can't wait to see what we do with them!

Home and back to reality, so hope everyone else had safe travels and are able to get back into the groove soon!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Here are all of our FE gifts from this cruise. I made the picture frame (pictured top right) and I'm missing the Dis-er badge. Otherwise this was what I received.

I'm so sorry Happytime. I notice that our FE gift isn't in your pile - I checked Mike's door and made sure I got your new room number. It was a decorated set of envelopes tied together into a memory keeper with a disney pen, sticky notes, printed note paper, highlighter and assorted clips and clamps.

I'm guessing from your picture that you didn't receive it .

I have the feeling that a number of our things went missing too. Our room was very close to the elevator and there was a few times I came back and there was kids (and sometimes adults) looking at our door. I'm wondering if some of our stuff walked off as well since I'd estimate that we got around 25 FE gifts as well (delivered 47).

 

[ppartekim]

I have the feeling that a number of our things went missing too. Our room was very close to the elevator and there was a few times I came back and there was kids (and sometimes adults) looking at our door. I'm wondering if some of our stuff walked off as well since I'd estimate that we got around 25 FE gifts as well (delivered 47).

I wonder if less items would vanish on the longer cruises..

While being longer allowis us to spread out the giving (thereby not overflow the FEs), they are more expensive and typically cruisers are more seasoned and more apt to decorate their door. With more doors decorated, they are less of a standout and less prone to gawking and taking.

 

[happytime]

I'm so sorry Happytime. I notice that our FE gift isn't in your pile - I checked Mike's door and made sure I got your new room number. It was a decorated set of envelopes tied together into a memory keeper with a disney pen, sticky notes, printed note paper, highlighter and assorted clips and clamps.

I'm guessing from your picture that you didn't receive it .

I have the feeling that a number of our things went missing too. Our room was very close to the elevator and there was a few times I came back and there was kids (and sometimes adults) looking at our door. I'm wondering if some of our stuff walked off as well since I'd estimate that we got around 25 FE gifts as well (delivered 47).

Wow!! Sounds like a really awesome gift, but no, I didn't get that and neither did my daughter who also participated (and she was really close to the aft elevators, too!!). Bummer.

Thanks for letting me know.

On the another note...I enjoyed meeting you on the Meet N Greet night, though I didn't get to talk with you very long.

 

[Princess Olivia]

Forgot to mention: we were the Park Tickets on halloween night and got picked as one of the 5 in the "group" category. We didn't win but we had a lot of fun [/QUOTE

I loved your costume!!

I can't believe all of the things that went crazy on your trip! So sorry about your mom's BF. Very exciting about a new baby!! Congrats

 

[MissJen]

Interesting, I didn't see any of our FE gifts on there either.
For the girls we had hair pretties with flowers, glittery skulls/spiders/bate
For the boys we had glow in the dark snakes
And a TON of candy.

We also didn't get a few of those in the picture.

We did have someone pop all of Lily's Make A Wish balloons they put outside our door. We also had one two occasions on a quick trip back to our room we noticed things in the FE, didn't take them in and upon our return they were gone.
Is the usually what happens? Was it worse because it was Halloween? Did people think they were gifts to take?

 

[ppartekim]

Interesting, I didn't see any of our FE gifts on there either.
For the girls we had hair pretties with flowers, glittery skulls/spiders/bate
For the boys we had glow in the dark snakes
And a TON of candy.

We also didn't get a few of those in the picture.

We did have someone pop all of Lily's Make A Wish balloons they put outside our door. We also had one two occasions on a quick trip back to our room we noticed things in the FE, didn't take them in and upon our return they were gone.
Is the usually what happens? Was it worse because it was Halloween? Did people think they were gifts to take?

I for one hope it was a fluke of it being Halloween and we were Tricked.

Now if it continues on future cruises then I may be apprehensive about joining a FE group.

 

[happytime]

Interesting, I didn't see any of our FE gifts on there either.
For the girls we had hair pretties with flowers, glittery skulls/spiders/bate
For the boys we had glow in the dark snakes
And a TON of candy.

We also didn't get a few of those in the picture.

We did have someone pop all of Lily's Make A Wish balloons they put outside our door. We also had one two occasions on a quick trip back to our room we noticed things in the FE, didn't take them in and upon our return they were gone.
Is the usually what happens? Was it worse because it was Halloween? Did people think they were gifts to take?

I definitely remember placing the picture frame in your FE. Plus I made a journal for Lily that I took to Guest Services to be delivered to your room.

When I came by your cabin, I thought I could hear noises from inside (as in children talking) so I even knocked (very lightly) on your door. It was early, though, about 6:30 in the morning and it could've been my imagination. No one responded so I just moved on.

I gave to Austin a skull hand sanitizer, Liam a big box of candy, and Bella I gave either a pen or small puzzle. I tried to give to each age group something that would be appropriate for them.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

Hey All! Just got home last night after 6 nights at WDW. We had such an amazing time on the Dream. We didn't get to rebook because the line was too long, but we are hoping to do a holiday cruise in 2013.

Thanks to all who delivered to our FE. We delivered all 50+ gifts, missing only the family that didn't write a room number on their GTY and the concierge level (sorry IABBF). I didn't see our gift in the picture either. We did CDs for for each cabin, barrettes for the girls and card games for the boys, with bubbles for the teeny-weenys. It's a shame if things were getting stolen. That just takes all the magic out of it. On a happier note, our DDs were so happy to see the full FE almost every time we returned to the cabin.

I didn't make it to the meet and greet either. The first night really didn't agree with me. I was so worried it would be like that for the whole trip and was relieved to hear that it was unusually rough. Some of my favorite things were our servers: Mario and Kate, the Aquaduck, Castaway Cay (and my DDs first look at the ocean), Villains Tonight and Believe, and Funnelvision.
My number 1 favorite thing though, was the bed. It was the most comfortable pillow I have ever had. Every person in our group was lamenting the hard pillows at POR the next day.

Hope to meet up with some of you on future voyages.

Sarah

 

[Auntmeme]

Thank you for all the FE gifts - truly amazing! We love the picture frame, the cd, the handmade soap, the handmade, journals and notepads and so much more. DS loved coming back to the room, our pockets were usually full
We did not make it to some of the rooms, sorry. There were many FEs on doors that were not listed so we did not know why but filled these also. Walking most of the floors was exhausting, we did alot while we did the detective game, which we loved.
Loved the ship, love the improvements to castaway cay, loved the food and entertainment, mini-golf, aquaduck... Hated missing castaway on the second leg of the trip, boy the ship was rockin. Never made it to the meet&greet or any adult activities. Ds is almost 11 but they would not take in the the tween area(very strict policy now). The oceaneers lab was just ok for him.
Loved the halloween contest and the baby diaper dash
The inside room on deck 2 was very nice and convenient. Did not rebook, want to do the fantasy but we'll have to wait and see.
Thanks again - this being our 4th cruise it was the BEST FE group

 

[happytime]

Hey All! Just got home last night after 6 nights at WDW. We had such an amazing time on the Dream. We didn't get to rebook because the line was too long, but we are hoping to do a holiday cruise in 2013.

Thanks to all who delivered to our FE. We delivered all 50+ gifts, missing only the family that didn't write a room number on their GTY and the concierge level (sorry IABBF). I didn't see our gift in the picture either. We did CDs for for each cabin, barrettes for the girls and card games for the boys, with bubbles for the teeny-weenys. It's a shame if things were getting stolen. That just takes all the magic out of it. On a happier note, our DDs were so happy to see the full FE almost every time we returned to the cabin.

I didn't make it to the meet and greet either. The first night really didn't agree with me. I was so worried it would be like that for the whole trip and was relieved to hear that it was unusually rough. Some of my favorite things were our servers: Mario and Kate, the Aquaduck, Castaway Cay (and my DDs first look at the ocean), Villains Tonight and Believe, and Funnelvision.
My number 1 favorite thing though, was the bed. It was the most comfortable pillow I have ever had. Every person in our group was lamenting the hard pillows at POR the next day.

Hope to meet up with some of you on future voyages.

Sarah

No, didn't get any CD's either, but the good thing is my DD did and she'll burn me a copy of hers.

Thank you for all the FE gifts - truly amazing! We love the picture frame, the cd, the handmade soap, the handmade, journals and notepads and so much more. DS loved coming back to the room, our pockets were usually full

We did not make it to some of the rooms, sorry. There were many FEs on doors that were not listed so we did not know why but filled these also. Walking most of the floors was exhausting, we did alot while we did the detective game, which we loved.

Loved the halloween contest and the baby diaper dash

No soap for me either. Wow!!! I really missed out on some nice stuff. I really believe because of our 2 room changes in the very last week before we sailed caused us to miss out on quite a bit of the FEs. Darn this broken ankle. I left messages on our cabin changes by the rooms we had originally been booked. I guess some either didn't see them or they were taken down so that they couldn't be delivered to the right room. Oh well!!

Our experience with the FE was very positive. I thoroughly enjoyed making mine and delivering to all. I DIDN'T deliver to anyone but who was on our list. I did see other FEs, but I figured they had to be with another group.

The Diaper Dash was fun. My little grandson was sooooo tired. He was one of the babies that cried in his spot. My hubby on the other hand tried in vain to get the other baby to follow his cell phone back to the starting point. It was hilarious.

 

[Mickeygolf]

Hey All! Just got home last night after 6 nights at WDW. We had such an amazing time on the Dream. We didn't get to rebook because the line was too long, but we are hoping to do a holiday cruise in 2013.

Thanks to all who delivered to our FE. We delivered all 50+ gifts, missing only the family that didn't write a room number on their GTY and the concierge level (sorry IABBF). I didn't see our gift in the picture either. We did CDs for for each cabin, barrettes for the girls and card games for the boys, with bubbles for the teeny-weenys. It's a shame if things were getting stolen. That just takes all the magic out of it. On a happier note, our DDs were so happy to see the full FE almost every time we returned to the cabin.

I didn't make it to the meet and greet either. The first night really didn't agree with me. I was so worried it would be like that for the whole trip and was relieved to hear that it was unusually rough. Some of my favorite things were our servers: Mario and Kate, the Aquaduck, Castaway Cay (and my DDs first look at the ocean), Villains Tonight and Believe, and Funnelvision.
My number 1 favorite thing though, was the bed. It was the most comfortable pillow I have ever had. Every person in our group was lamenting the hard pillows at POR the next day.

Hope to meet up with some of you on future voyages.

Sarah

We loved the cd, played it the whole way back to WDW and the next two days. Now I get to listen to it at work, helps me keep the memory alive. I also have the picture frame at work, thansk again to all for the wonderful gifts, it really made the trip that much more special.

 

[ppartekim]

Thanks to all who delivered to our FE. We delivered all 50+ gifts, missing only the family that didn't write a room number on their GTY and the concierge level (sorry IABBF). I didn't see our gift in the picture either. We did CDs for for each cabin, barrettes for the girls and card games for the boys, with bubbles for the teeny-weenys. It's a shame if things were getting stolen. That just takes all the magic out of it. On a happier note, our DDs were so happy to see the full FE almost every time we returned to the cabin.

Got the CDs, tho, I will admit I haven't listened to them yet. Problem with being a MacBook Air, iPod/iPhone/iPad household (lack of CD players).

My number 1 favorite thing though, was the bed. It was the most comfortable pillow I have ever had. Every person in our group was lamenting the hard pillows at POR the next day.

To each their own, Holly loved the pillows too. For me, WAY to soft. I used the square red pillow off the couch, now that was a nice firm pillow.

We got to book 2 ressies (for moving later) and reprice our Oct Hawaiian cruise on the last day (course we had a 30 minute wait, but it was during a lull in the activities.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Well we finally got home about four days ago, but I am still recovering: trying to empty suitcases, do laundry, go to PT to help with the pain ....
But it was worth it!!! We had a Wonderful time and hope everyone else did too!!

We loved the cd, played it the whole way back to WDW and the next two days. Now I get to listen to it at work, helps me keep the memory alive. I also have the picture frame at work, thansk again to all for the wonderful gifts, it really made the trip that much more special.

We got the CD but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. and I love love love the picture frame!!!

I'm so sorry Happytime. I notice that our FE gift isn't in your pile - I checked Mike's door and made sure I got your new room number. It was a decorated set of envelopes tied together into a memory keeper with a disney pen, sticky notes, printed note paper, highlighter and assorted clips and clamps.

I'm guessing from your picture that you didn't receive it .

I have the feeling that a number of our things went missing too. Our room was very close to the elevator and there was a few times I came back and there was kids (and sometimes adults) looking at our door. I'm wondering if some of our stuff walked off as well since I'd estimate that we got around 25 FE gifts as well (delivered 47).

OH, I got that set PrincessTrisha! I haven't opened it yet, but it looks awesome!

This was our first experience with the FE exchange and I, too, delivered to everyone on the list (50 cabins, all kids). I didn't deliver to the one cabin that had GTY because they never came on the board and said what stateroom they would be in.

I didn't count how many gifts I received, but I do know it wasn't 50 --no where near that. Like you, Stephanie, we had a 2 cabin change just before the cruise (due to my casted ankle), which could've been a factor. And some people might not have delivered to those "without children" listed on the FE list, though I did have 2 (adult) children on board...I guess that didn't count. Just joking from that last sentence. hehe.

Our next cruise I will definitely participate again in the FE exchange.

I only had one magnet taken, which surprised me, because I had at least 25 on my door. Maybe there was too many for them to read the one they wanted to take. LOL Who knows...and then maybe they had sympathy because it was a handicap room.

I also wanted to add that although I didn't get out as much as I wanted to....gee, I wonder why... I LOVED meeting fellow Dis-sers while I was running <--as if--LOL about the ship's interior mostly.

Happytime,
I LOVED LOVED LOVED the frame!!!! I think it was one of the most original FE gifts I have ever rec'd in the 3 extenders I have participated in!!! I am sorry that you didn't receive more items in the exchange.
And I enjoyed meeting you! Wish I had had more time to spend talking to you, just so much to do on that last "at sea" day!!

Not surprised about the magnets being stolen. I caught a group of teenagers walking past my cabin door and looked in mine and my parents Fish Extenders. Luckly there was nothing in it. I got their attention and told them they better not be looking to steal anything as they are being watched.

Sorry didn't make it to the meet the first night. First night is always rough on me and on top of that we had DS who fell asleep early after a long day of travel so let grandma have the night off. Hope everyone had their DISer tags for the meet. Made sure I delivered them all before the muster drill.

We loved our Diser Tag! and we found a great second use for it!! it fits in that 'thingy' that keeps the lights on just perfectly so you don't have to keep taking your kttw (or whatever they call it on the cruiseship...lol).

We didn't make it to the meet either. We also did not receive many FE gifts and the DIser tag was one. Being on concierge was a bummer for FE. We at least know for the next time.

Yeah, delivering to concierge was a challenge, but I know you got ours!!
And a BIG THANK YOU for our Door Magnets! We LOVED them!!!

Tiles? That must be one of the ones that we never got. I think our last minute upgrade may have caused confusion with FE delivery. We changed our stateroom number on the master list, and even picked up quite a few at our old room. I am sure a few disappeared from our stateroom FE as well...oh well, DD had a great time checking our FE often!!! We delivered to 51 staterooms, and received about 18-21 gifts. This was our 1st cruise where magnets were taken off our door as well. Oh well, it was fun, and we had a great cruise! Thanks everyone!

BealsRwe, A HUGE THANK YOU for all of the door magnets you made for our door!!! thank you so much!! Ashleigh loved them! the ones you personalized for her she has taken to school and is using inside of her high school locker now! I know you got our gift because I made sure that I got your cabin change after all the effort your went to help us out!

Now while I LOVED participating in the FE, I am going to make a statement which MAY very well cause me to get flamed and I am ready (LOL) but I have a problem with the people who only delivered to those with kids. That is WRONG! If that was your plan you should have stated that up front so that people who didn't have kids could decide whether they wanted to leave something for you! The FE wasn't just about KIDS!! I have participated in three of them and never has it ever been just about kids. The kids don't make the items, the kids don't buy the items. I just think it is RUDE and INCONSIDERATE to allow people to leave items in your FE and then you don't leave them a gift because they don't have a child??? If you want to do make your FE about kids fine, BUT you NEED to communicate that UP FRONT so that others can decide whether to exchange with you. Fair is fair. Just like the people who joined after the cut off date knew that they may not get gifts from everyone because some DISer's make their gifts ahead of time and are done. Sorry, I just think that this was terribly inconsiderate to those without children and that they should've stated their intentions upfront. The FE is intended as a FAMILY activity for EVERYONE not just for children. Maybe this should be explained at the beginning so that new cruisers understand how it works so that adults don't get left out again. This didn't happen on either of our other cruises. Maybe these families thought it was more like treat or treating? I don't know, but I feel bad for the DISer's without children who didn't get the FE gifts that they should have. Okay! Rant over! back to your regularly scheduled programming...

BTW....We booked TWO (yes two) more cruises while onboard. One for the same time next year and the other as a dummy date that we can play around with (right now May 2012)

 

[ppartekim]

... If you want to do make your FE about kids fine, BUT you NEED to communicate that UP FRONT so that others can decide whether to exchange with you. ...

While I agree with you (mainly since we don't have kids), I do know a few did post early on that they only planned to give to kids.

Maybe we needed an extra column for (kids only)? Just thinking for the next FE. I did try to state that it was a totally optional activity and I know at least one that wasn't able to deliver FEs this time and I said to stay on a receive from us instead (you know pass the good will on sort of thing). And you're right with that I did stress to those after the cut-off.

Don't know, I don't think the kids only folks were that bad. The worse offenders were the walk-bys that just took stuff off the door and from the FEs. Those are the ones I would like to flame (with a flamthrower).

Karma's a female dog (but not mine shes too cute, but does have a temper).

 

[happytime]

Happytime,
I LOVED LOVED LOVED the frame!!!! I think it was one of the most original FE gifts I have ever rec'd in the 3 extenders I have participated in!!! I am sorry that you didn't receive more items in the exchange.
And I enjoyed meeting you! Wish I had had more time to spend talking to you, just so much to do on that last "at sea" day!!


Now while I LOVED participating in the FE, I am going to make a statement which MAY very well cause me to get flamed and I am ready (LOL) but I have a problem with the people who only delivered to those with kids. That is WRONG! If that was your plan you should have stated that up front so that people who didn't have kids could decide whether they wanted to leave something for you! The FE wasn't just about KIDS!! I have participated in three of them and never has it ever been just about kids. The kids don't make the items, the kids don't buy the items. I just think it is RUDE and INCONSIDERATE to allow people to leave items in your FE and then you don't leave them a gift because they don't have a child??? If you want to do make your FE about kids fine, BUT you NEED to communicate that UP FRONT so that others can decide whether to exchange with you. Fair is fair. Just like the people who joined after the cut off date knew that they may not get gifts from everyone because some DISer's make their gifts ahead of time and are done. Sorry, I just think that this was terribly inconsiderate to those without children and that they should've stated their intentions upfront. The FE is intended as a FAMILY activity for EVERYONE not just for children. Maybe this should be explained at the beginning so that new cruisers understand how it works so that adults don't get left out again. This didn't happen on either of our other cruises. Maybe these families thought it was more like treat or treating? I don't know, but I feel bad for the DISer's without children who didn't get the FE gifts that they should have. Okay! Rant over! back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Thank you for the compliment. I worked hard on the frames all summer. Painting and yes, repainting, lining and re-lining <--this took the longest, adding the top black color in after I had varnished them all, then revarnished them. My family thought I was a little kooku for spending so much time on them. But I wanted it to look nice and felt it was worth doing and doing it right. They still had mistakes in them, even as hard as I tried. LOL


After I broke my ankle, my mom came over to help me as I only had a little over a day to finish the packing, which included some of the final touches on the FE gift wrapping, too. She told me I would be disappointed because I wouldn't receive as many FE gifts back or get as nice of things. THAT wasn't my purpose for doing the FE gift exchange. I believe that one reaps what one sows and I knew I was going to give a nice gift. My biggest worries with the my FE present was that no one would like it, that it would get stolen (I had been reading the Disboards the Dream was having some issues with this), or that you all would receive multiple frames. LOL

I was FAR from disappointed with what I received back. With two room changes at the very last minute, I was very worried I wouldn't receive ANYTHING. My DD Angela was in cabin 8160, which was next to the original room and she DID catch some things by 8162. I'm convinced that either the people who got that room and had things by their door thought it belonged to them or people walked off with them.

As far as FE Exchange in future, I will again do it again. I agree with you Lynn. I spent a ton of time on a gift for the adults to get candy or a pirate eye patch in return (Plus I gave something to every child listed on the exchange, including the late comers and the two Make A Wish kids).

However, I knew that some folks weren't making home-made items, either. My purpose for doing the exchange was for the fun of participating in it. For the most part, I came home happy with the overall exchange and was truly thankful my suitcase was NOT as full. When we boarded the ship, I had one suitcase full for JUST the exchange items. LOL

Now that I know and have done it at least once, I will probably only do ONE gift per cabin and still do something original. With that said, I loved SOOOOO many of the things I did receive --the taffy in the boot, the door hanger, door magnets (so cute), luggage tags, ornaments, DISser's tag, the small photo album, book mark and note cards (thank you Lynn), ornaments, Mickey's refrigerator list, the white boards (Cinderella and Mickey ears), the storage purse thingie, and the Disney Dream photo album.

Thank you all who did MAKE it to our cabin because it did take an extra effort to get there, even it was all on the same floor. I'm very, very thankful.

 

[happytime]

While I agree with you (mainly since we don't have kids), I do know a few did post early on that they only planned to give to kids.

Maybe we needed an extra column for (kids only)? Just thinking for the next FE. I did try to state that it was a totally optional activity and I know at least one that wasn't able to deliver FEs this time and I said to stay on a receive from us instead (you know pass the good will on sort of thing). And you're right with that I did stress to those after the cut-off.

Don't know, I don't think the kids only folks were that bad. The worse offenders were the walk-bys that just took stuff off the door and from the FEs. Those are the ones I would like to flame (with a flamthrower).

Karma's a female dog (but not mine shes too cute, but does have a temper).

Mike and Holly, A HUGE thank you for taking over the FE gift exchange responsibilities. You did an AWESOME job keeping up with all the new additions and thus made our exchange lists very easy to follow. Truly, heartfelt and sincere THANK YOU.

 

[happytime]

Now while I LOVED participating in the FE, I am going to make a statement which MAY very well cause me to get flamed and I am ready (LOL) but I have a problem with the people who only delivered to those with kids. That is WRONG! If that was your plan you should have stated that up front so that people who didn't have kids could decide whether they wanted to leave something for you! The FE wasn't just about KIDS!! I have participated in three of them and never has it ever been just about kids. The kids don't make the items, the kids don't buy the items. I just think it is RUDE and INCONSIDERATE to allow people to leave items in your FE and then you don't leave them a gift because they don't have a child??? If you want to do make your FE about kids fine, BUT you NEED to communicate that UP FRONT so that others can decide whether to exchange with you. Fair is fair. Just like the people who joined after the cut off date knew that they may not get gifts from everyone because some DISer's make their gifts ahead of time and are done. Sorry, I just think that this was terribly inconsiderate to those without children and that they should've stated their intentions upfront. The FE is intended as a FAMILY activity for EVERYONE not just for children. Maybe this should be explained at the beginning so that new cruisers understand how it works so that adults don't get left out again. This didn't happen on either of our other cruises. Maybe these families thought it was more like treat or treating? I don't know, but I feel bad for the DISer's without children who didn't get the FE gifts that they should have. Okay! Rant over! back to your regularly scheduled programming...
:

I agree with you Lynn on the bolded areas. It's not about the kids. Adults are the ones who make sure the FE gifts are completed and delivered. And I also don't believe Christmas is only for children (another subject, another day...hehe)

I digress..Heck, the kids could care less about it. Certainly, none of my three grandsons gave a thought about it at all. Kids want to spend time at the pools, the kid's clubs, and kid stuff things. Plus I don't think many of the kids EVEN spent the time to walk each floor looking for people's FEs. <--I know there were a FEW children who DID..I'm talking about the majority here.

Disney cruises are about family though, With that said, many people with small children won't have the time or energy for making a FE gift for adults. They will think of the candy, small trinkets, and throwaway items especially on a Halloween cruise where they are more concerned about the costumes for Pirate night, Halloween, and some of the princess clothing events if they have girls. They will figure that since the kids can't trick or treat at home, they can receive their "treats" on the ship. I imagine that some of families were surprised at some of the nicer gifts, too. (Or I would hope they were).

Plus the expense of cruising with children is astronomical. I know that my DS and DIL pulled out of the exchange because it wouldn't fit in their allotted budget money.

If the families with children are planning on only gifting to the children, then I agree, they should step up and say so. I do know that some of the families DID say from the forums of their intentions, but certainly not ALL of them did.

I also think there should be a "chidren's only" list OR a separate highlighted color on the overall list for those that plan on ONLY gifting to the children so that one can make that distinction. NOTE: Again, a HUGE thank you to Mike and Holly for us even having A list in the first place.


A side bar here: I know that my daughter lamented over her gift and literally ran out of time before the cruise, but she did deliver hers--I believe they were the tins filled with candy or to a small fraction some received painted tiles.