Sept 5 2010 "Labor Day Getaway"

[KSDisneyDad]

We are going to be ont e cruise and want to join in on fish extenders. It is myself 28 Christine, my son 4 AJ, My aunt 50ish Su, my mom Barbara 50ish, and my inlaws TP and Tammy. This is a first cruise I work at wdw on the steam trains and so many guests talkabotu this. Already started picking up gifts. And workign on door decorations.

What an awesome job you have!

We are super excited. This will be the first cruise for my family, DH(Jason), DS(Bennnden)14, DS(Kingston)3 and DD(Addison)1. My mother is even joining us this time around. We are super excited. Although we have cruised before, we have recently become DVC members and want to experience DCL.
Cabin Nos 6103 and 6105. Can't wait to see everyone there.

Sherrell

We too recently joined DCL! It was on our last cruise (a 4-night cruise in March). On that cruise, we had 12 people with us. On this cruise, it'll be just the two of us.

Are you taking advantage of the free cruise offer from DCL or just doing another one. We actually decided to take the discounted price vs the free cruise. We are using our DVC points for a pre-cruise stay, but our first family vacation on DVC will be next year. We plan to stay in a 2BR at BLT and are inviting my parents to join us.

Welcome aboard Sherrell! I'll add you to our list.

This is what we have so far:
Mandy and Dan
Scott and Mary - 6072
Danielle and spouse - 6583
Tina and Patrick - Justin, Kelsey and Megan
Ginny and Andy
AnnMarie and DH - DS and DGF
tmorena3 and DH - DS4 and DD6
Todd and Molly - 7010
rlbren and spouse
Lisa and Dave 7067
Ryan and Ellie - Max 5, Robbie 3, and Caroline 1 - 8520
Minnie Mom and DH - DS 2, DD 1, Minnie Mom's mom and dad
Tom and Jen - Ben 3 and Eliana 1
Christine, Su, Barbara - AJ 4 - 7636
TP and Tammy - 7618
Sherrell and Jason - Brennden 14, Kingston 3, and Addison 1, Sherrell's mom - 6103 and 6105
Jim and Diane, Bruce and Christina, Katie and John, Pat, Patti, Cliff - Alexis 1 and Mary 14 - 7039, 7041, 7043

I think that's everyone so far. Please let me know if I've missed anyone, or if I don't have your cabin number, or ages of the kids.

Although we're not participating in the FE exchange this time, we'd like to be part of the roster for the meet. It's Christopher (KSDisneyDad) and June (JunesGoofy). Thanks!

 

[dodle]

Sorry about that I thought you said you were staying low key and not doing it this time. I'll get you added right away.

 

[fiegel037]

Although we're not participating in the FE exchange this time, we'd like to be part of the roster for the meet.

Same here. We definitely want to meet up as it's always nice having others to share the experience and hang out with.

I don't want to wish the summer away, but 3 months is an awfully long time to wait...

 

[s_queenbee2002]

We were not able to take advantage of the free cruise. We are just using our points.

 

[gdulaney]

Ginny and Andy are in stateroom 2060.

Thanks,
Ginny

 

[NvlBrat2]

what does it mean when the room is ds or dg or somethig just letters? And any ideas on how ot make fish extenders and how much to buy. I kinda went crazy in our employhee store.

 

[dodle]

DS is dear son, DG is dear girlfriend. If you look on this page I've posted a list of who all we have so far. Some people have gifts for every person in the cabin, and some do one or two gifts per cabin, and some do one gift per cabin for the adults and one for each child. It's really up to you and what you want to do. Some people buy the things and some make them. I'm making our fish extenders. I used felt squares, folded in half. I'm putting them on another piece of material with a dowell rod so I can hang it. We're putting our names on the felt and decorating them however we want. So far, I've bought things for the kids and we are making things to represent our home states for the adults. Good luck and if you need any more info let me know.

 

[PSC]

And any ideas on how to make fish extenders and how much to buy.

Welcome to the cruise! We bought our Fish Extender on eBay. I believe the cost is based on how many pockets.

http://myworld.ebay.com/gradysmommy/

I hope the link works, but if not, just search eBay for Fish Extenders and look for gradysmommy as the seller.

Ours looks great, and this seller has a 100% customer satisfaction rating. I'm not related to this seller in any way - just a satisfied customer.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

what does it mean when the room is ds or dg or somethig just letters? And any ideas on how ot make fish extenders and how much to buy. I kinda went crazy in our employhee store.

Since this is the DIS, my DW and I prefer to think of DS as Disney Son and so on. This question was asked on the main cruise board a couple of years ago and most people on these boards responded like us - Disney Son, Disney Wife, Etc vs Dear son, Dear Wife, etc. IMO both are "right"-it's just whatever is your preference.

My DW made our FE by looking at pictures of others. She's way more crafty than me! I think there's a large FE thread on theain board with the dimensions if you try it yourself.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Has anyone else been onto the DCL website recently to look at our cruise? The only categories available are Cat 5 and Cat 3. Looks like it'll be a full ship!

We booked our Palo reservations today. Now we're just trying to find a Nassau sailing excursion that suits us. It may have to be a non-Disney excursion.

 

[gdulaney]

Has anyone else been onto the DCL website recently to look at our cruise? The only categories available are Cat 5 and Cat 3. Looks like it'll be a full ship!

We booked our Palo reservations today. Now we're just trying to find a Nassau sailing excursion that suits us. It may have to be a non-Disney excursion.

I thought about surprising my husband with the cigar and rum excursion ... but the price was a bit out of my budget. We may do some walking, then hang at the pool.

Ginny

 

[dodle]

I booked our Palo Brunch reservations and the stingray adventure at Castaway Cay. Other than that I think we're just going to relax. With the wedding and everything we'll need it.

 

[gdulaney]

Dodle -- this is kinda off topic...but where is Picayune, Mississippi?

Thanks
Ginny

 

[dodle]

It is about 45 miles from the coast, right near the the Louisiana state line. We are about 50 minutes from New Orleans. And 45 minutes from where Hurrican Katrina came ashore at Bay St. Louis and Waveland. One of the girls in our party is actually from Louisiana, which is only about 15 minutes away. So one of our FE gifts will have to do with Mardi Gras.
Not long now!!

 

[gdulaney]

Not long at all.... (not that I'm excited or anything)

I was born in Mississippi -- but way further North.

Ginny

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I thought about surprising my husband with the cigar and rum excursion ... but the price was a bit out of my budget. We may do some walking, then hang at the pool.

Ginny

We did the same thing last time (the walking and hanging out on the ship part). We were hoping to spend some time in the water this time.

I checked our cruise prices again tonight (I keep looking for a price decrease). Not only is there no decrease, it's no longer showing up at all as being available for 2 adults, no kids. I would assume that means it's sold out for now unless there are cancellations at the 75 day mark.

 

[Madamx]

We did the same thing last time (the walking and hanging out on the ship part). We were hoping to spend some time in the water this time.

I checked our cruise prices again tonight (I keep looking for a price decrease). Not only is there no decrease, it's no longer showing up at all as being available for 2 adults, no kids. I would assume that means it's sold out for now unless there are cancellations at the 75 day mark.

Keep going back to the website and checking for it, even several times a day until you're able. I found that the availability for "sold out" categories changes frequently. I've been considering a downgrade from Cat 11 to Cat 12, the first time I checked there were none available, a week or 2 later I checked again and there WAS a Cat 12 available. Since I still haven't decided for sure this is something I want to do I didn't actually change my ressies however when I checked again the next day it was unavailable again. Then, out of curiosity, I checked again a couple of hours later it was available again.

So, keep checking back, you just never know what may pop up at any time.

 

[tmtee]

Can't post when DH is around because so far I have been really good about keeping this from him for his surprise. Booked Palo Brunch and Dinner, there were plenty of times available, so I felt fortunate. I need to still order the Fish Extender and check out ideas for gifts as this will be the first time for us doing this. I'm getting really excited and can't wait to meet you all!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Hope everyone's summers going well. Ours sure doesn't seem like summer right now. We spent yesterday in Boulder at our son's football camp scrimmage wearing jeans, turtle necks, sweat shirts and coats. All the while, it was raining. Today was a little warmer (around 59 degrees), but still cloudy and rainy. I think we're supposed to return to the 80's by this Wednesday and it'll stay there through next weekend.

Keep going back to the website and checking for it, even several times a day until you're able. I found that the availability for "sold out" categories changes frequently. I've been considering a downgrade from Cat 11 to Cat 12, the first time I checked there were none available, a week or 2 later I checked again and there WAS a Cat 12 available. Since I still haven't decided for sure this is something I want to do I didn't actually change my ressies however when I checked again the next day it was unavailable again. Then, out of curiosity, I checked again a couple of hours later it was available again.

So, keep checking back, you just never know what may pop up at any time.

I've kept checking and so far, there are no cabins available in any Category at all. Every once and a while, a Cat 4 or 5 will pop up. Now that we've made final payment, it doesn't really matter anyway if the price goes down. I've heard that once you make the final payment, you can't get an adjustment.

I wonder that since there's no availability at all, if there'll be any upgrades later.

Perhaps some people will postpone this cruise for a 7-night Mexican Riveria cruise next Spring with Kids Sail Free.

Can't post when DH is around because so far I have been really good about keeping this from him for his surprise. Booked Palo Brunch and Dinner, there were plenty of times available, so I felt fortunate. I need to still order the Fish Extender and check out ideas for gifts as this will be the first time for us doing this. I'm getting really excited and can't wait to meet you all!

What a great 40th Birthday surprise for your DH. When did you make your Palo dinner reservation for? Ours is on Pirate night (Tuesday).

My DW's 40th wasn't as special as her previous two birthdays. Her 38th was at the Poly at WDW and her 39th was the day we crossed the Panama Canal on our Disney Cruise "Trip of a Lifetime"! I'm not sure we'll ever be able to top that one again.

We too are travelling sans kids for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. This is our first cruise without kids even though we've gone to WDW a few times without the kids.

 

[gdulaney]

Has anybody ever bought the Romantic Encounter package from DCL?

Ginny