Row row row your boat! July 28, 2013 on the Dream!

[DisneyMOM1022]

I know! The last cruise we were booked on was extremely active! This is so strange. I feel like I'm missing something. But I'm ok with keeping the group open as long as everyone wants.

 

[scrapycruiser]

We'll just go with what we have. I hope we at least get the ages of the other kids. . I will make a few extras just in case some sign up late . It's disappointing but it's just one part of a fabulous cruise

 

[IndyMouseFan]

We'll just go with what we have. I hope we at least get the ages of the other kids. . I will make a few extras just in case some sign up late . It's disappointing but it's just one part of a fabulous cruise

Thanks to both you and Disney Mom for trying to get the party going. I appreciate it! My son is looking forward to whatever comes in our FE!!

Still counting down the days. By the way, we're bringing something VERY "Hoosier" for our gift. It's a touch of Indiana for sure!!

Hope y'all have a great day.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Well then, you must be bringing everyone a basketball

Please give me some hints for your son. Since we have such a small group, I'd like to get each child something specific to their ages

 

[IndyMouseFan]

Well then, you must be bringing everyone a basketball

Please give me some hints for your son. Since we have such a small group, I'd like to get each child something specific to their ages

That is hilarious -- I didn't think about a basketball -- although that is very, VERY Hoosier!!

Will is my very artistic one...sings and performs in plays. He loves Disney and keeps a journal. A new pen for writing in his books...or pencils...or anything "mouse" would be wonderful. Actually, he likes anything that is a gift!!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks for the hints. Will sounds a lot like my youngest son, who now is a Disney Dad himself. In fact he, his oldest son and my husband are going on a ABD trip in 2 weeks to the Orient.
Anyway, Kevin loved drama. He met his wife in Drama Club in HS, then they got married after college. They are both orthodontists and LOVE Disney ! They have 3 children.

 

[scrapycruiser]

For those of you who have signed up for the FE exchange, I'd love to have hints for the children. Since we have such a small group, I wanted to individualize my gifts to the kids. So let me know their ages and interest

BTW, where is everyone ? Only 63 more days

Come join the party

 

[DisneyMOM1022]

My Jakey is only two and all boy in every way. He does not stop moving from sun up to sun down. He LOVES Mickey and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Honestly though, he's fascinated with anything from bubbles to socks so don't worry too much about him!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks for the hints . I love boys ! I raised 3 and now have 4 Grandsons
We're going to our Grandson's (Nick) hs graduation next week. Wow, how time flies !
Btw. I see you are also from Texas. We just moved to Houston last fall to be near our son, Kevin and family

 

[DisneyMOM1022]

Welcome to TX!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks ! It's a very friendly state ! But one thing we've found is that everything you eat is very spicy and getting used to the freeways ,wow
But we love it here. Course ask me in Aug how we like the weather and I'd probably say I miss Virginia

 

[DisneyMOM1022]

Oy, the heat. And having a little boy we are outside all. the. time. But you do get used to it eventually! The driving too!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Yea !! Just 64 more days til we cruise !!!
Soooo excited !!

Would love to hear from our FE Participants

Since we have a small group I'd love to have the kids' ages and interest

So I still need Ricky & William ( have their ages), Merritt & Coleman,
Richard, Jane, Sofia & Adriana

 

[IndyMouseFan]

The unofficial start to summer is this weekend, but you wouldn't know it from going outside. Pretty darn chilly here today! Big weekend in Indianapolis -- The Indy 500 is tomorrow and the Pacers play tomorrow night. This is the kind of weekend when I love living in Indiana!!

We fly to Orlando 9 weeks from today -- can't believe it's almost here!! My son is basically finished with school. He goes back this week, but took final tests and turned in papers yesterday -- so no homework this coming week. He's VERY pleased with that!

Still a bit of FE shopping to do. I started a "pile" yesterday in our guest bedroom -- things I want to remember to bring with me. Probably really a little early to start packing.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone -- thanks to any of you who served in the Military or have family who served.

 

[VeloSky]

Hey everyone! After reading through the thread, I didn't realize we were booking at the last minute. Glad we made it under the wire. My girls and I will be sailing with you on the Dream, July 28th.
We signed up for the FE on the Google Spreadsheet. We're pretty much cruise rookies, except an Atlantic crossing on the Leonardo Da Vinci in my college days. I was in 4th Class on a $150 student fare, and I couldn't have imagined more luxury. lol. I was bringing back a motorcycle from my year in Spain as a student, and I remember the fare for it was more than mine!
It's pretty exciting checking out the cruise reports, YouTube videos, photos, etc. My kids cannot stay still, just thinking about it. Cant' wait!!

 

[IndyMouseFan]

Hey everyone! After reading through the thread, I didn't realize we were booking at the last minute. Glad we made it under the wire. My girls and I will be sailing with you on the Dream, July 28th.
We signed up for the FE on the Google Spreadsheet. We're pretty much cruise rookies, except an Atlantic crossing on the Leonardo Da Vinci in my college days. I was in 4th Class on a $150 student fare, and I couldn't have imagined more luxury. lol. I was bringing back a motorcycle from my year in Spain as a student, and I remember the fare for it was more than mine!
It's pretty exciting checking out the cruise reports, YouTube videos, photos, etc. My kids cannot stay still, just thinking about it. Cant' wait!!

Welcome aboard!! We're glad you made it!!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Hey everyone! After reading through the thread, I didn't realize we were booking at the last minute. Glad we made it under the wire. My girls and I will be sailing with you on the Dream, July 28th.
We signed up for the FE on the Google Spreadsheet. We're pretty much cruise rookies, except an Atlantic crossing on the Leonardo Da Vinci in my college days. I was in 4th Class on a $150 student fare, and I couldn't have imagined more luxury. lol. I was bringing back a motorcycle from my year in Spain as a student, and I remember the fare for it was more than mine!
It's pretty exciting checking out the cruise reports, YouTube videos, photos, etc. My kids cannot stay still, just thinking about it. Cant' wait!!

Excited to have you sailing with us ! I was very interested in hearing you sailed on the Da Vinci. Our first cruise was on an Italian ship, the Flavia. Such a small ship but so classic ! And very romantic ! It was our honeymoon
Anyway welcome aboard. You are going to love it and this time you'll be going first class ! You'll be hooked !
I'd love to hear what you're girls are in to. Since we have a small FE group I wanted to individualize my kids gifts
If you have any questions ,just ask. We've been on 12 Disney cruises.

 

[VeloSky]

Thanks for the nice welcome. And how thoughtful thinking about the individual children´s interests.

My 10 year old girl likes road race bicycling, and my 9 year old is a ballerina. They are both so enthusiastic, they would find anything age appropriate to be a delight.

I've been wondering about timing on a few items. We were assigned the late dinner seating, which is close to the girls bedtime, so I requested to be wait-listed for the early sitting. Since then, I've read a few comments suggesting a good way to take advantage of the more popular on-board ship attractions when in port, is to stay on the ship in the morning, and check out the on-shore activities in the the afternoon, when most people are filtering back to the ship.

That, coupled with our West Coast body clocks, has me thinking that maybe the late seating may be best, and in line with the late seating, that I should change the Nassau dolphin encounter that I reserved from morning to afternoon, unless the wind picks up to an unpleasant velocity in the afternoons.

Does the late seating interfere with the shows? Are there two seatings for all the meals, or just dinner?

Another item I've been wondering about from reading posts, is the possibility of taking aboard bottled water, wine and beer, etc. in carry on luggage. Is that true? If it's on the official Disney cruise website, it must be obscure, because I couldn't find a direct reference to the policy. Is there a carry-on size or number limit? Any other related restrictions?

And that $15 beer mug that enables purchasing big beers for a little beer price? How much is the savings? (How many beers to break even?) And what brands of beer are included?

Is the dining room rotation important considering the different theme nights and that one dining venue would be visited twice? Are the rotations assigned randomly? Can they be changed?

Does the staff consider family demographics when assigning dining-mates? I know I would enjoy getting to know most anyone, and would especially prefer a family with girls about the age of my own. A single parent family would be even better, especially a single mother because I enjoy and learn from the mother's perspective on kids. Do the cruise guests have any influence on this?

Finally, it looks like the massages are pretty much booked up already. Is there a pretty good probability they will open up over the next couple of months before the cruise, or once on board?

Can you tell I'm new at this?

What should I be asking? I'm sure I'll come up with more questions later.

Any comments, suggestions, ideas, opinions are welcome! Thanks!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Many people prefer late seating if they're from the west coast. Also that means you'll have the early, 6:15pm, show. Some say the kids fall asleep at the later show. There are only assigned seating for dinner. Breakfast and lunch is your choice. There is Cabanas, a buffet on the pool deck. And there are lots of "fast food " choices all day around the pool. IMO, I don't recommend the pizz unless it has recently improved. Everything else is great!
It's true that the ship is much less crowded in the morning while everyone is in Nassau. So I'd think about rescheduling your dolphin excursion for afternoon. ESP since its your first Disney cruise . That will give you more time to enjoy the ship. Sea Day will be very crowded around the pool !! Being a July cruise, the weather should be nice and warm all day.
Any alcohol, sodas,water,etc that you bring on board must be in your carry ons. It cannot be in your checked bags. Also you will not have access to your stateroom until 1:30, so remember whatever you bring ,you'll have to lug around. The water on the ship is filtered, and IMO tastes fine. There is a free drink station on the pool deck that has water, sodas, tea, coffee and lemonade. We bring large lidded, cups. Theirs are small.
If you're not happy with your table mates let the maitre d know. Disney will try to pair you up with the ages of your girls. You can also call Disney Cruise Line and make a request for table mates. But there are no guarantees.
Not a beer drinker, sorry cant help you there.
You should have no problem booking a massage. Go to the Spa, forward pool deck, once on board and I'm sure you'll get a ressie. There should be lots of openings the morning we're in Nassau if your girls want to check out the kids club.
Most people , like me, don't worry about what dining room they're in for different theme nights. Some like to be in the Royal Palace on "dress up" night. But honestly it's not really a formal night. Less and less people really dress. So it's not a big deal. Then others want to be in Animators Palate for Pirate Night. I've never figured out that one? You'll enjoy each night and I'm certain it won't matter.
Make the most of Castaway Cay! We've been on 30+ cruises,different lines and there's nothing that compares to Disney's island !!
Happy to answer any questions, if I can. These boards are a great resource !

 

[scrapycruiser]

Happy Memorial Day to all !

My boo boo
After taking a closer look at our FE list, I seemed to have gotten some adults mixed up with the kids ...sorry.

Anyway, our FE deadline is close and I just wanted to see if there is anyone out there that wants to be included. Dont want to leave anyone out.

So it looks like I still need ages for Richard and Jane

and Adriana

Would love to have hints for the kids

Also need cabin #'s when you get them. We're also waiting on ours ! Do I dare hope for an upgrade

Hope you're having a fun weekend !!

GINA