Sept. 30, 2006 -- Eastern Magic

[TahoeMom]

Hi everyone!
I am just joining in. My family (myself, DH, DD11, and DS7) will be sailing on 9/30/06 and we cannot wait! It will be not only our first Disney Cruise, but our first cruise of any kind!

I just got the Passporter this week and love it! That is how I found out about this site.

I saw many of you talking about the PLA rotation - can you give me info on how to make this request?

9 weeks and counting!

Kathie

 

[dizneykids]

Welcome both to the DIS and to our cruise! Y'all are going to have a great time.

To make the PLA request (and it is only that, a request; no guarantees), you need to contact either DCL directly or your TA, if you booked through one. The PLA rotation is either 5:45 or 8:15, depending on whether you are 1st or 2nd seating.

Don't hesitate to ask questions as they come to you...there's a lot of combined experience on this cruise.

 

[findmewdw]

I have been lurking for a couple of weeks on this thread. This will be our first cruise ever, too! We love Disney World and are hoping we'll love the cruise as much. We have a DD 11 and DS 8. Anybody have children these ages?

I've been trying to cram my brain with as much information from this board as possible before our school starts. I am a teacher and won't have time to sit by the computer then. We start next week. I envy the poster who said their school didn't start back until Sept

 

[dizneykids]

Absolutely, you can join! The more the merrier.

Now that you've had a chance to lurk and get some questions answered, do you have anything you still need answers for? We've been a few times, both with our kids and without.

Beth

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i am home..Disney was great but hot!!! Can't wait for the cruise!

 

[NeedingVacation]

Hi everyone!
I am just joining in. My family (myself, DH, DD11, and DS7) will be sailing on 9/30/06 and we cannot wait! It will be not only our first Disney Cruise, but our first cruise of any kind!

I just got the Passporter this week and love it! That is how I found out about this site.

I saw many of you talking about the PLA rotation - can you give me info on how to make this request?

9 weeks and counting!

Kathie

I just found the Passporter online. Is the full 300 page book worth it, or are you referring to just the tips guide?

 

[CNB1124]

Welcome to our newcomers!

Tahoe Mom and findmewdw - it looks like your kids would match up nicely as they are basically the same ages.

Needing Vacation - I bought the Passporter and found it worthwhile. Plus, reading will help pass the time until time to go!

Beachball - as far as pirate night goes, I think some people bring things to dress up that evening. I also think that they give bandana's during supper that night to everyone.

 

[kb1esx]

Hi all new people!!

Your gonna have a great time getting to know everyone over the next 60 days.

NeedingVacation: If this is your 1st Disney Cruise I would highly recomend the Passporter. I would think just the book would work unless you want to splurge on the Deluxe version. The pockets in the deluxe version are great for organizing receipts and jotting down memorable events during the vacation.

Night all,

David

 

[TahoeMom]

Thanks for the info - I called this morning and they said no guarantees but at least our preference is noted now. We have the late dinner seating so I guess that will be 8:15 - do the different restaurants have different start times?

I have been doing a lot of research so I think we are pretty set - we are just trying to decide whether or not to keep the excursions we booked through DCL or try to see the islands on our own.
We also have to finalize our Florida plans - we arrive the night before sailing so will probably just spend the night near the port, but since we don't leave until Sunday morning we are trying to decide what to do the rest of Saturday - try to visit the Kennedy Space Center? Try to visit one of the parks for a QUICK visit? Can't decide!

One question I do have: what is the dress code in the dining rooms for breakfast and lunch (when they are served - I know that all of them don't serve all meals all days)? All the books talk about dinner dress, but not the other meals. My husband HATES to wear pants - we live in major snow country and he wears shorts to work just about every day of the year - the only exceptions are snow blowing days! Anyway, he is already complaining about having to put on pants for dinner - and of course, he really only owns one or two pairs that aren't jeans. We are just a very casual community here at Lake Tahoe - everyone wears very casual clothing all the time! If breakfast and lunch in the restaurants require pants, we may be doing the Topsider's/snack bar thing for those meals!

Thanks for any input you can give me!

Kathie

 

[TahoeMom]

I am so glad to see another DD11! I think there is one other person on this board with a DD11 - I know my DD really wants to make some friends right away so she has someone to do something with!

Now I just need to find another DS7 - I have seen a lot of DS8s, but since they will most likely go to the Lab that doesn't help me too much. I would love it if he could go to the Lab - he turns 8 in January so he will be pretty close in October and I know he would like the Lab, especially since his sister will be there. My DS is pretty shy and is very uncertain about going to the Club - not that we need him to go very often, but I think he would have fun if he went once or twice!

Kathie

 

[TahoeMom]

I love to research our trips - partly because I am VERY detail oriented, and partly because it helps to build the excitement! That said, I love the Passporter. I have the Birnbaum guide too and really liked it but had a lot of questions still unanswered. The Passporter answered a lot of those questions and some that I did not even know I had! I got it on Thursday and had it read and highlighted by the end of Friday - lots of fun to read!

Kathie

 

[DISNEYMOMTO1]

So is the rest of the country as hot as here? We have been having RECORD high heat wave. High today was 100, don't know if it got there, but sure felt like it. Tomorrow up to 102. It wouldn't be so bad but it is so humid that you can hardly breathe when you step outside. UGH!!!!!!!!! Hurry up FALL! One more day and we can say we leave NEXT MONTH!

Betsy, welcome back. Hope you had a great time!

to the newcomers. I have one DD7 (turning 8 onboard) and she will be in the lab. I am fairly new myself. These guys are great and very helpful!

I got a GREAT POTC T-shirt for DD with Will Turner (her fave) on the front at Kohl's with these very cute shorts with tropical flowers on the back pockets. Guess what she's wearing for Pirate night, LOL? I wanted a Jack Sparrow one but they were only in kids sizes I just hope I can get my pic taken with him on the ship. Johnny Depp is my fave and that would be the next best thing!!!!

Good night all!

 

[topcroozerkt]

im going on the Eastern Carr Disney on september 30!

 

[topcroozerkt]

is there any 13 or 14 year old girls going on the sep 30 eastern cruise?? im 13 and going on that cruise and i need a friend to hang out with at the teen place!!! its no fun being alone!!!

 

[findmewdw]

I am so glad to see another DD11! I think there is one other person on this board with a DD11 - I know my DD really wants to make some friends right away so she has someone to do something with!

I'm glad to see there will be another girl my daughter's age too She is a bit shy and is uncertain about the club.

 

[findmewdw]

Thanks for the welcome! I think we are all set except for excursions. We're just too undecisive. We haven't booked anything. Will we be out of luck getting reservations since we are delaying our decision? My DH wants to take a taxi to Orient Beach at St. Martin. I'm a bit fearful about going on our own. . . . Decisions, decisions! Thanks for all the information that you share!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Morning!

I haven't backread..but wanted to post some pictures of my trip

http://homepage.mac.com/momme30/PhotoAlbum50.html

 

[CNB1124]

If you are coming in the day before we sail, where are you staying? This is the only part of our cruise that I have not taken care of yet. We were just going to stay near the airport, but I found out today that our flight has changed and now we will arrive into Orlando around 5 PM. So, I want to drive on over to the port.

Anyone else staying near the port the night before?

 

[dizneykids]

findmewdw....doing excursions on your own are not that frightening. the locals are quite ready and prepared for it. we've done things on our own on many of our cruises as our youngest ds never seems to be old enough for disney's excursions. there have been a couple times where we even contacted disney's provider (the golden eagle catamaran in st. maarten jumps to mind) and were able to book directly because they didn't mind the younger age so long as we waived them of responsibility.

that said, youngest ds and i plan on going to orient beach (most likely) in st. maarten. we'll just grab a taxi and arrange for it to pick us up at a particular time. again, this is common for the taxi drivers.

 

[DisneyMom&Fan]

If you are coming in the day before we sail, where are you staying? This is the only part of our cruise that I have not taken care of yet. We were just going to stay near the airport, but I found out today that our flight has changed and now we will arrive into Orlando around 5 PM. So, I want to drive on over to the port.

Anyone else staying near the port the night before?

We are staying at the Residence Inn the night before. I know a couple of families are staying at Ron Jon's, which was my first choice, but I got vetoed!

We are also undecided about excursions. DH doesn't really want to "plan" anything, just go with the flow. But, I'm trying to lean him towards taking a taxi to Orient Beach. Seems like SOOOO many people have done that on their own that it should be a piece of cake.

I've been compulsively checking for Palo brunch reservations everyday since July 17th and nothing has come open. So, I'm gonna stop looking everyday (I might need some sort of other distraction ) and just wait and get ressies once we board.

Hello to all the newcomers! I wonder just how big our group is now??? Hopefully it isn't going to sell out. I'm still hoping for an upgrade.

DS heard somewhere that they have foosball on board, or is it at Castaway Cay? I think he is FINALLY getting excited. There is nothing worse than having your family not being the "excited" type. They drive me nuts! But, I guess what comes around goes around!

Betsy - are you back already? Was it just a quick trip? I haven't had time to look at your pics, but will do tonight. I hope you got your Disney fix!

Angela