Sept 25, 2011 Wonder - Mexican Riviera

[swx72]

Jennifer in MI :

We are getting married onboard on the 27th as far as I know. I'm guessing at 5pm. I haven't gotten the final details yet, but they should be coming soon. Of course, they claim that weather or other things could alter the date, but I'll post as soon as I know! Anyone who wants to come and celebrate with us is more than welcome! It's just the two of us eloping, so any Disney fans... bring your Mickey ears and Magic!

My DD would love it, as would I so yes, as soon as you have all the info, we'll be there with you. Think of us all as your on board family!

 

[Jennifer in MI]

How fun!!!! My DD would LOVE to see a wedding on board I'm sure! If you don't mind crashers, you'll definitely have to let us know as soon as you have the final details. So exciting!!

I agree!!!! I'd love to see as long as you're sure you don't mind! How exciting!!!!!!

 

[AussieFan]

Jennifer in MI :

We are getting married onboard on the 27th as far as I know. I'm guessing at 5pm. I haven't gotten the final details yet, but they should be coming soon. Of course, they claim that weather or other things could alter the date, but I'll post as soon as I know! Anyone who wants to come and celebrate with us is more than welcome! It's just the two of us eloping, so any Disney fans... bring your Mickey ears and Magic!

How exciting to get married on board ship. It should be a very special experience.

 

[mamacrumbcake]

A huge part of me wants to eat at The Office (heard amazing things) and use their lounge chairs at the beach for the rest of the day.

Hi Super*Mum,

The Office is closed in September. We were also considering going, having heard wonderful reports. Just checked the website and in the reservations section, they say they are not open in September. Reservations are available for October 1 but that's a sea day for us.

 

[Super*Mum]

Hi Super*Mum,

The Office is closed in September. We were also considering going, having heard wonderful reports. Just checked the website and in the reservations section, they say they are not open in September. Reservations are available for October 1 but that's a sea day for us.

Thank you for letting me know!. We will plan for something else. Just went on their website and their "Account has been Suspended." I was hoping to contact them and see if, knowing a cruise ship would be in town that day, they may consider opening back up a little early. Oh well. Off to look for another plan. I love vacation planning. Gives me so much to look forward to!

 

[HBmomof2]

My 5 year old has been looking forward to this cruise since over a year ago when we booked. I can't beleive it's finally close. New to this & not even sure if I'm posting right but I thought I'd say hi. I'd love to hear past DCL cruiser tips! We'll be traveling with 5 year old & 23 month old (both girls)

 

[HBmomof2]

I'm new & what is FE? I keep seeing it everywhere. Thanks.

 

[HBmomof2]

Fun........we will have some fellow OC beach bums there........... I have only heard very very nice things about Las Caletas so I am really looking forward to it.

Your kids will LOVE the dolphin swim......Me, my hubby and my girls all went to Disney Cove in FL earlier this year and we loved it.....it is sooooo much fun.

We're from OC too, Huntington! Grew up in SB. I'm new here, this is crazy. So excited.

 

[HBmomof2]

Welcome. Are you looking to participate in the FE too?

Ok, someone must tell me what this "FE" thing is???

 

[LimoFam5]

We're from OC too, Huntington! Grew up in SB. I'm new here, this is crazy. So excited.

WOW you are super close to us then....so exciting!!! My daughters are 6 & 7 so Im sure our girls will cross paths on the cruise at some time. Maybe they will become on board friends.....it happens every cruise....

So if you search the cruise board thread for FE you will find some very helpful info. Long explanation short. Next to your door their will be a little fishy, people make hangable mail box type things to go on the little fishy, they have pockets and if you sign up for the FE you will randomly throughout the cruise get little gifts left for you.
If you sign up for our FE you will be added to a list. You can either buy a gift for everyone on the list or just buy one gift for that stateroom. Some cruises choose to purchase gifts for just the kids and some do for everyone and some do it for the stateroom as a whole.....it is 100% up to you.
I think doing a thread search is the best thing to do. You find photos of the fish extender it self and also photos of the gifts people give and get.......

 

[Super*Mum]

Hi all!!! I've been MIA from this board for a while. Three of my kids are recovering from probable whooping cough (yes, they've been vaccinated!). My life has been all about them lately and I couldn't even think about the cruise!

BUT!!! They're recovering. Still coughing, but recovering. At least it's not scary anymore.

Ack! How awful! Glad to hear they are doing better though! I feel like it has been a bad year for illnesses. At least locally (and in my home) there has been too many nasty bugs. Fingers crossed we get it all out of our system in the next couple months!

 

[swx72]

Ok, someone must tell me what this "FE" thing is???

Hi if you are interested in being on the FE let me know and I will add you to the list. Just to let you know although I am compiling the list I am also a newbie to cruises and Disney cruise and so am learning as I go along. We are closing the list August 27 so that people will have up to 4 weeks to organize their gifts. I just got my FE last week. You have a couple of options: make one yourself; or buy. To purchase you then have a couple of options. I bought mine on etsy.com. There is a link to mine a few pages back on this feed. I think I paid $35 and the lady helped me decide colours, design etc. I like crafts but have a 4 year old and realized that I couldn't make anything for that price plus I have too many other projects on the go. I think there are 2 sellers on etsy, and I think there are also a couple of options on eBay. Now I am trying to think on gifts and keep browsing the Boards and the Internet for ideas. You don't need to make a decision right away. As I said we are closing the list August 27th.

Even my husband is starting to get excited knowing we can book our trips from Tuesday!

 

[swx72]

Amazing!!! The Etsy Addiction continues!

Have you seen the wedding signature pillowcase and Mickey bride earrings?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/7735312...ngs&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Link to pillowcase is on earring link.

 

[swx72]

My 5 year old has been looking forward to this cruise since over a year ago when we booked. I can't beleive it's finally close. New to this & not even sure if I'm posting right but I thought I'd say hi. I'd love to hear past DCL cruiser tips! We'll be traveling with 5 year old & 23 month old (both girls)

Forgot to mention my daughter is 4 so would love to meet your 5 year old. She has no idea about the trip though. My husband and I decided it was safer that way and would save our sanity!

 

[mamacrumbcake]

I'd love to hear past DCL cruiser tips!

Greetings HBmomof2! We're in south county, somewhere near the bottom of Saddleback.

Not being seasoned world travelers ourselves, (and hopelessly disorganized to boot) we found the Disney Passporter Cruise Clues E-book to be very practical on our first cruise. The tips in the book, especially for packing and what to expect on board, made for smoother, easier, more pleasant days. I never would have thought to bring an over-the-door shoe organizer or clothes pins or travel mugs for coffee, but we used them every day...The e-book is less than $5 at the Passporter website.

Happy Planning!

 

[swx72]

My 5 year old has been looking forward to this cruise since over a year ago when we booked. I can't beleive it's finally close. New to this & not even sure if I'm posting right but I thought I'd say hi. I'd love to hear past DCL cruiser tips! We'll be traveling with 5 year old & 23 month old (both girls)

I have also purchased the Passporter book but have the 2010 Disney Cruise book and have preordered the 2011 cruise book that according to the Passporter weekly newsletter went to print this week. The ebook has loads of good tips in it too as I purchased that one first.

 

[swx72]

My 5 year old has been looking forward to this cruise since over a year ago when we booked. I can't beleive it's finally close. New to this & not even sure if I'm posting right but I thought I'd say hi. I'd love to hear past DCL cruiser tips! We'll be traveling with 5 year old & 23 month old (both girls)

Sorry. Another thought. Before I found Disboards I had been searching on the Passporters forum and had PMd someone they gave me the following suggestions:

"- Get little suction cup hangers. Put them on the inside of the door to hang your lanyard with keycard as soon as you walk in the room. Saves lot's of time searching.

- If you are traveling by plane and need more room in your bags for souvenirs on the return trip - pack some old clothes for some of your outfits and throw them out after you wear them.

- If you see something in the shops that you want to buy, get it right away. They don't restock the shop during the cruise and they mights sell out or run out of your size. If you decide you don't wan't it, you can always return it with no problem.

- Get a photo package and buy your pictures each day as you see them or want them. Don't worry about "saving credits" for pictures later in the cruise, because if you run out you can exchange pictures you've purchased for better ones that come along. Definitely try to purchase photos before noon of the last day of your cruise. The lines are crazy on the last day vs. practically no lines on the other days.

- Underdress a swimsuit on the first afternoon. If you arrive early you can hang out at the pool while you're waiting for the rooms to be ready. Outside of your room, there isn't a good place to change. The bathrooms are small.

- If your 4 year old likes disney characters and songs, then he/she will probably enjoy the stage shows Disney Dream and the Golden Mickeys. Unless he/she is a huge toy story fan I'd skip taking a child to Toy Story: The musical.

- Go with your child to the kids club on the first night and the next morning and help him/her make friends. Then they'll be more comfortable about spending time there alone.

- Search your room or ask your steward to find the room service continental breakfast door hanger order form (Sometimes it's hard to find). You can have cereal, donuts, bagels and coffee sent to your room at a certain time. This can be your alarm and also give your kid something to tide them over while you get ready.

- Bring a book or some magazines, there isn't a good selection on board.

- You don't need to bring bottled water or buy any on board. Bring a sports bottle and fill it from your sink or the beverage station. The water from the tap is purified and as good as any bottled water I've tasted. Also in the past the only bottled water they sold is Evion, which I don't particularly care for.

- If you like movie theatre candy, then bring some with you.

- I don't know where you're from but please wear sunscreen even when it is overcast! It's so sad to see people not used to the california get burned lobster red on the first day of the cruise. "

If anyone on this forum agrees/disagrees with these thoughts or has any more of their own please let me know. I had also heard about bringing one of those hanging shoe organisers to use in the bathroom to create some extra storage space; together with an extension cord to provide you with additional electrical outlets; and a nightlight for your kids or the other suggestion was to turn on the light in the bathroom and shut the bathroom door to provide them with light. I'm going to take all these ideas on board and have already started putting things to the side in the guest room that will need packing. I know there is still a ways to go but I can't wait!

 

[LimoFam5]

Sorry. Another thought. Before I found Disboards I had been searching on the Passporters forum and had PMd someone they gave me the following suggestions:

"- Get little suction cup hangers. Put them on the inside of the door to hang your lanyard with keycard as soon as you walk in the room. Saves lot's of time searching.


- Search your room or ask your steward to find the room service continental breakfast door hanger order form (Sometimes it's hard to find). You can have cereal, donuts, bagels and coffee sent to your room at a certain time. This can be your alarm and also give your kid something to tide them over while you get ready.



- I don't know where you're from but please wear sunscreen even when it is overcast! It's so sad to see people not used to the california get burned lobster red on the first day of the cruise. "

As far as bringing extra hooks for hanging I feel like this may just be extra packing.....when you get to your room you will see that there is quite a few different places to hang up your lanyards if needed. Right as you walk in there are two knobs for hanging on the closet doors and another knob for hanging right past the restrooms.

The continental breakfast order forms have always been pretty easy to find for me and are located in the drawer right under the desk in your room. In there you will also find Disney Cruise writing paper, pens and a few postcards, however if you need ANYTHING just as your steward they are ALL so very helpful and will go out of their way to make sure you have anything you need.
A great idea for ordering continental breakfast is do it on days were you have a early morning adventure booked. If is so much easy to get the kids out of bed when breakfast is right there waiting for them, no to mention as an adult I get out of bed much fast when I have a cup of fresh brewed coffee within my reach......

SUNSCREEN in California is a must. I get a tan within minutes of being outside even on overcast days.......

Also for those of your traveling with kids here are a few hints....

The bunks in your room are not set up and ready when you first enter. If your kids still take naps it is a good idea to ask your steward to make sure these are left out at all times during your cruise, this way your dont have to go and find someone every time you want your bunk pulled down or the couch flipped. I much rather have them ready just in case a nap is in order, and with all the activities and excitement a nap can be sooooo nice.

Second hint is travel with a mini pharmacy.....all of the below items are available onboard the ship but at a much higher cost.....
Thermometer
Tylenol
Motrin
Benadryl
Cough Medicine - You dont plan on them being sick but as a parent you know it just happens so have this to try and stop it before it effects the vacation.
Bug Spray
Anti - Itch Cream
Ear Drops for swimmer ear ----- If you dont have a pool at home kids will be in the pool more this vacation then EVER!!! You dont want a little thing like an ear ache slow your little ones fun down.
Bandaids - WATERPROOF are best
Nail Clippers
OH YEAH....SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, and MORE SUNSCREEN.....

Now for the fun items: This will help keep the kids from getting to antsy when you are trying to get ready for dinner, especially the formal nights when prep can be a little longer then normal...
Coloring books / Crayolas
Ipod or Ipad - My life saver during travel for my kids.......


Oh yeah and not like other cruise ships Disney does NOT try and make their money off of alcohol, so for you ADULTS you can feel free to bring on board what you can carry.....WINE, BEER, any other spirits.......

Hope this helps some of you first timers....

 

[AutumnsMom08]

We are excited to be going on our first Disney Cruise!

(me,dh, dd(3)

 

[swx72]

We are excited to be going on our first Disney Cruise!

(me,dh, dd(3)

Welcome. There are a lot of us newbies in the forum. My DD has just turned 4 so I've not doubt, and if we don't have to do our best, they'll meet up. Let us know if you'd like to join in the FE. You have until August 27th to decide so there is absolutely no pressure whatsoever.

Sigrid