Sailing the Ocean Blue...October 6, 2012 Eastern Fantasy

[TaTa4Now1968]

First you knew/know she is a child, she may have not stated it the best way, but you are an adult. Sorry your feelings were hurt, but, she meant it as a suggestion because, I guess those of us who have done this before have kind of been confused from the start because of the confusion of group/individual gifts. We booked a cruise to relax and have some fun, so I guess we will just see who wants to exchange with everyone and just go from there.

Then maybe she should have ran it by you first to see how it sounded and that it did not come off the way it did. Sorry if I hurt her feelings. The list you are on is the one that I am adding new people too all, so this list will grow by the August Deadline.

 

[DaisysFamily]

Then maybe she should have ran it by you first to see how it sounded and that it did not come off the way it did. Sorry if I hurt her feelings. The list you are on is the one that I am adding new people too all, so this list will grow by the August Deadline.

While I appreciate the parenting advice, I think we need to agree to disagree. Please do not take suggestions as personal attacks, they are not meant that way! This is really putting a damper on the fun, it would be great if we could just move on.

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

While I appreciate the parenting advice, I think we need to agree to disagree. Please do not take suggestions as personal attacks, they are not meant that way! This is really putting a damper on the fun, it would be great if we could just move on.

Agreed

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Beth,
Once again, you are doing a GREAT job. I appreciate you volunteering to do this. I have pmd you I don't know how many times to ask questions and make comments and suggestions.
While I may not be 100% happy with everything, I'm certainly not going to complain because I didn't step up to the plate to offer to be in charge of the FE. It was ME who asked to keep the teenagers together. I did not mean for the teenagers to only be together and no one else involved in that group. I asked that they just be in the same group because they were getting to be friends and I knew my dd would love to exchange with her friends. I enjoy exchanging with everyone. I've already started on little one's gifts and adult gifts and feel that it is a lot of fun to do all of them. And there are not just teenagers in our group, we have several ages. I'm not going to tell anyone on how they should do their FE but maybe if some people feel this way then they should give to who they want. I can't afford to give to everyone especially since the group is growing but if you are exchanging with me I would like to know so that I can also exchange (if you are not in my group). That's me. I always feel bad at Christmas if someone gives me a gift and I don't have one for them
I do have one comment for everyone: Please don't take this offensively.
Please do not attack anyone on this thread. If you have certain ideas, feelings, etc. please pm that person. It is not the rest of ours business what goes on between you and that person and I don't like seeing the negativity. Let's just all get along and have a wonderful cruise

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Beth,
Once again, you are doing a GREAT job. I appreciate you volunteering to do this. I have pmd you I don't know how many times to ask questions and make comments and suggestions.
While I may not be 100% happy with everything, I'm certainly not going to complain because I didn't step up to the plate to offer to be in charge of the FE. It was ME who asked to keep the teenagers together. I did not mean for the teenagers to only be together and no one else involved in that group. I asked that they just be in the same group because they were getting to be friends and I knew my dd would love to exchange with her friends. I enjoy exchanging with everyone. I've already started on little one's gifts and adult gifts and feel that it is a lot of fun to do all of them. And there are not just teenagers in our group, we have several ages. I'm not going to tell anyone on how they should do their FE but maybe if some people feel this way then they should give to who they want. I can't afford to give to everyone especially since the group is growing but if you are exchanging with me I would like to know so that I can also exchange (if you are not in my group). That's me. I always feel bad at Christmas if someone gives me a gift and I don't have one for them
I do have one comment for everyone: Please don't take this offensively.
Please do not attack anyone on this thread. If you have certain ideas, feelings, etc. please pm that person. It is not the rest of ours business what goes on between you and that person and I don't like seeing the negativity. Let's just all get along and have a wonderful cruise

Thank you Melanie and I agree with everything you said. I know that you and others may not agree 100%, but you worked with me, as well as others, and I have listened to you and your suggestions. I am not perfect, but I am trying to do the best I can. I appreciate your comments and will be respectful of others and the PM suggestion is one of your best

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Hi again!

I'm so used to being part of a large Dis group---I've delivered FE gifts to over 120 cabins at a time---really really great exercise----and since my gift is time-sensative---I deliver them into the wee hours of the first night.

Will I have the option of giving FE gifts to all of the cabins participating if I so choose? Please I certainly wouldn't expect to receive that many in return from this group as I see that we are being broken up into groups---I've never been broken up into a group before but I certainly understand. I've had as few as 12 cabins participating on a 3 night---the over 120 was on a Panama Canal cruise---we also made hundreds of nametags for that cruise---it was fun to run into people from our gruop by just noticing the nametag on the lanyard.

Other things I've done with a group besides the meet and greet and the FE: we had a special cruise logo made to use on magnets, tees and other items; wristbands made; lanyards made; secret Mickey gift exchange (like secret Santa); Champagne Girls; group photo on CC; early morning coffee meets/late-night close-the-clubs down meets. Just a really good time with new friends!

I'm game to try to organize something if you all want to participate. I've never been on a 7 night cruise---I found that I was always busy on the 15 night PC cruise----so maybe just trying to relax and just enjoy what Disney has to offer will be fine;-)

Isn't this the same concept as the FE exchange?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Allen,
I noticed on one of your threads that you said that you had a boarding time for 11:00. How did you get that? Last time we cruised with disney, they didn't give us a boarding time. We just went whenever we got ready to get to the port.

 

[TNShellBelle]

We will be cruising with about 50 to 60 local friends and there is always something happening with this bunch. However, I like the idea of other "get together" options. Not sure we can make them all, but we would try to make a couple at least!! Great ideas!

Allen aka BigRed1

Hi Allen, is everyone traveling with you from the Lebanon area? We live in Franklin (previously Nashville) and on all of our Disney Cruises we have only sailed with one other person from Nashville. Very cool!

 

[TNShellBelle]

Allen,
I noticed on one of your threads that you said that you had a boarding time for 11:00. How did you get that? Last time we cruised with disney, they didn't give us a boarding time. We just went whenever we got ready to get to the port.

I may be able to answer that for you. When we sailed last year, we had to choose a boarding in time when we did our online check in. In previous years, we were never given the option to choose a boarding in time. It is something that Disney has changed in the last couple of years. However, this year we are cruising concierge and were not given the option of choosing a time so I assume we can board whenever we get there.

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Allen,
I noticed on one of your threads that you said that you had a boarding time for 11:00. How did you get that? Last time we cruised with disney, they didn't give us a boarding time. We just went whenever we got ready to get to the port.

The boarding procedure has changed last year, so when you do your online check in, it gives you a time, if you do DCL transfers, you have preference over private transportation (if you get DCL transfers from MCO and are originally given a 12:30 boarding time you can get on the ship earlier than your boarding time) and do not have to pay the porters, just have to tip the bus drivers, from the threads I have read. Since I have never done this, it is only speculation, I would suggest either putting a post on the main cruise line thread or doing a search regarding either DCL transfers or private companies to see any recent experiences.

 

[TnRobin]

Hi Michelle (and it looks like alot of others too ), just wanted to chime in and say hi from Franklin too. Glad to see so many Middle Tenn cruisers on the same ship

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

I may be able to answer that for you. When we sailed last year, we had to choose a boarding in time when we did our online check in. In previous years, we were never given the option to choose a boarding in time. It is something that Disney has changed in the last couple of years. However, this year we are cruising concierge and were not given the option of choosing a time so I assume we can board whenever we get there.

Lucky you I would love to do concierge. but until I win the lotto or convince my DH to buy more DVC points, that will not happen anytime soon, but one day I have read trip reports from concierge rooms and it sounds so great

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Hi Michelle (and it looks like alot of others too ), just wanted to chime in and say hi from Franklin too. Glad to see so many Middle Tenn cruisers on the same ship

Hi Robin, are you cruising with us? Just wanted to make sure, since I see that your next cruise is over year away from your ticker or just stopping by to say hi. Please let me know so I can give a proper welcome to our cruise

 

[cardidog]

Hi!

I believe that DCL started requiring us to choose a port arrival time (if we are not taking DCL transport) because the Port started enforcing the opening time of the Port itself/and or/DCL needed better control of sooooo many more guests arriving at the port for the bigger ships. I think arriving early is a good idea if one wants to try to upgrade their cabin/ride the Aquaduck/maximize time on the ship---especially for the shorter cruises. The most fun I have had at the terminal was waiting between my 4 night/3 night back-to-back cruises last December---I had never noticed the inlaid map on the floor and all of the sea creatures!

Susan

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Hi!

I believe that DCL started requiring us to choose a port arrival time (if we are not taking DCL transport) because the Port started enforcing the opening time of the Port itself/and or/DCL needed better control of sooooo many more guests arriving at the port for the bigger ships. I think arriving early is a good idea if one wants to try to upgrade their cabin/ride the Aquaduck/maximize time on the ship---especially for the shorter cruises. The most fun I have had at the terminal was waiting between my 4 night/3 night back-to-back cruises last December---I had never noticed the inlaid map on the floor and all of the sea creatures!

Susan

Since this is my first cruise, I would love to stop and smell the roses and enjoy what the terminal has to offer

 

[cardidog]

Hi!

The secret Mickey is a gift or a bunch of little gifts tailored to an individual given in secret but your identity is revealed later---this works best around the December holidays. Questions are asked---like favorite character, hobby, candy, sports team etc... and people are assigned by one person organizing the secret Mickey exchange. Not exactly like a FE gift. Usually the FE gift has a label from the giver and is pretty much chosen based on the interests of the giver. One FE I was involved in had a theme---we had to bring something from our state/city/region/counrty---that was really neat! Another time we did a postcard and recipe exchange. It really is the little touches that make these Disney cruises so much fun and memorable!

By the way, I just want to thank our FE Goddess for all of her hard work! It isn't easy trying to organize such a thing and to try to make everyone happy.

Sigh.

Susan

 

[BigRed1]

Allen,
I noticed on one of your threads that you said that you had a boarding time for 11:00. How did you get that? Last time we cruised with disney, they didn't give us a boarding time. We just went whenever we got ready to get to the port.

If I said boarding time, I mis-spoke. It is actually the port arrival time. When you complete your online check in, you are presented choice of port arrival times. The earliest you can get is 11:00am. As I understand it, boarding times are now assigned based on your port arrival time. Our last cruise, we had an arrival time of 11:30. Didn't get to the port until 1pm. Went in, 5 minutes to check in, got boarding number 2. They were already calling boarding number 12, so we walked right on the ship. We were in the terminal less than 15 minutes. The port officially opens at 11am now. There are reports of people getting in as early as 10:30, but there are also reports of folks being turned away @ 10:45 and told to come back in 15 minutes. This is an effort to keep everyone from arriving at the port 2 hours before boarding and keeping the terminal packed. We have experienced it once already, and I must say, it works wonderfully!! The earlier you complete your online check in, the earlier port arrival time you get.

Hi Allen, is everyone traveling with you from the Lebanon area? We live in Franklin (previously Nashville) and on all of our Disney Cruises we have only sailed with one other person from Nashville. Very cool!

Yep, we are mostly all from the Lebanon area, some from the Mt. Juliet area. Last year, we had around 80 people or so, and we were all on the same dining rotation. If you have seen or heard about the new show in Animator's Pallet, you know that Crush from Nemo interacts with people in real time. He "interacted" with our table and someone told him we were from Nashville. He asked how many other people from Nashville were there, and about 25% of the restaurant cheered. Hi eyes got BIG and he asked "Did you leave anyone there?" We all yelled NO!! Anyway, we are thinking of making a Cool Springs run possibly Friday and eating @ Chuy's. Tried the one @ Opry Mills last week and we really liked it. Love the Downtown Franklin area. We live about 5 or 6 blocks from the Lebanon square. Downtown Lebanon has the potential to be a lot like Downtown Franklin if we could get our local community "leaders" (and use that term loosely) off their rear ends. Oops...I broke my own rule...no politics on the Dis Boards!! Anyway, maybe Tennessee will have the largest delegation on the ship this cruise, never know!! Look forward to meeting you and your family!

 

[TnRobin]

Nope, just doing my job and reading post and saw this one. Just wanted to say hi.

 

[BigRed1]

Hi Michelle (and it looks like alot of others too ), just wanted to chime in and say hi from Franklin too. Glad to see so many Middle Tenn cruisers on the same ship

Hi TnRobin! I've seen you around the boards and wondered where you were from. Greetings from Lebanon & Wilson County!!

Hi Robin, are you cruising with us? Just wanted to make sure, since I see that your next cruise is over year away from your ticker or just stopping by to say hi. Please let me know so I can give a proper welcome to our cruise

I think she was just dropping in to say Hi to her neighbors. She's a moderator so I'm sure she reads a lot of the threads.
ETA, she beat me to the draw!!
AETA, I am calling TnRobin a she, but I have a male friend named Robin and I truly don't know...

 

[BigRed1]

Hi!

I believe that DCL started requiring us to choose a port arrival time (if we are not taking DCL transport) because the Port started enforcing the opening time of the Port itself/and or/DCL needed better control of sooooo many more guests arriving at the port for the bigger ships. I think arriving early is a good idea if one wants to try to upgrade their cabin/ride the Aquaduck/maximize time on the ship---especially for the shorter cruises. The most fun I have had at the terminal was waiting between my 4 night/3 night back-to-back cruises last December---I had never noticed the inlaid map on the floor and all of the sea creatures!

Susan

Since this is my first cruise, I would love to stop and smell the roses and enjoy what the terminal has to offer

Did that last October. There is a lot of neat stuff to see in the terminal when there's not 2500 people crammed in there!