September 22-25, 2011 Disney Dream Cruise

[disney honeymooners]

Thank You!!! You are now also on the state room map it seems like the majority of everyone is on deck 6 or 7 we however are all the way up on deck 10.

 

[alikat99]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone!! We're in 8143 for this cruise. This is our 1st on the Dream, and specifically chose an inside room to try out the virtual stateroom windows. My girls are excited to be able to "see" the characters in their window.

I saw you mention a deadline for the FEs. Do you think we should wait a couple of extra weeks beyond final payment, just in case someone decides to book late? (or finds the DIS late?). Not that I can understand someone who's not on the DIS if they are a Disney fan?!?!!?!?

I've had some GREAT DISmeets and some of my VERY close friends have been ones that I've met online and then met in person on a DCL cruise. I'm hoping to get to know you guys too!!!

I'm a crafty/scrapbook person, so I can't wait to get started on something for the FE gifts (however I'm not sure what I'm doing yet?!?!?).

 

[disney honeymooners]

Thats just the date we used on our last cruise which was the same cruise we only had one person to join after that. People that joined after the cut off just didnt get as much stuff as those of us who were on there before the cut off. (its mainly for the home made gifts since it takes a little longer to do those)

 

[mickeymum13]

So excited for September!! But gotta be honest...getting stressed about the "homemade" part of the fe gifts! Love love love putting together themed loot bags and what not for my boys parties and am somewhat "crafty" but after lookin at some of the pics of previous gifts, I am starting to sweat teehee!! Any suggestions of a basic project that some of us "craft challenged disney fans" could attempt? Lol thanks from one challenged Disneymum! Hope everyone has a great pixie dust filled weekend

 

[alikat99]

So excited for September!! But gotta be honest...getting stressed about the "homemade" part of the fe gifts! Love love love putting together themed loot bags and what not for my boys parties and am somewhat "crafty" but after lookin at some of the pics of previous gifts, I am starting to sweat teehee!! Any suggestions of a basic project that some of us "craft challenged disney fans" could attempt? Lol thanks from one challenged Disneymum! Hope everyone has a great pixie dust filled weekend

Don't stress about it!! All FE gifts do NOT have to be hand made!!!

Heck, the first few years that we did it, we went to a place online and had custom ink pens made up in lime green (DIS colors) with info about our cruise on it and handed those out. Then, another year I did the same thing with the pen, but I put it in gift bags with some candy, pirate items, tattoos & glow sticks.

So, don't stress yourself out about it!! Every gift is special! My girls just get excited to open the door, or arrive back to our cabin to find a little 'treat'.

 

[disney honeymooners]

Oh im sorry fe gifts don't have to be home made sorry if I stressed u. They can be whatever u want everything is appreciated and enjoyed.

 

[1153rsmith]

Oh im sorry fe gifts don't have to be home made sorry if I stressed u. They can be whatever u want everything is appreciated and enjoyed.

On another thread, I saw someone take a popcorn bag like you used to get at the movies (I have seen them in oriental trading catalogs) and put some candy and things in it for the movies. I thought that was neat. We are planning on a mix of homemade and store bought. We are making saurkraut right now.... how do you think that would go?!?

 

[mickeymum13]

Thanks for the reassurance and suggestions everyone...and no worries at all honeymooner, I stressed myself out by overinvestigating the whole fe thing and just saw all the fab things people made! lol You have been nuthin but SUPER helpful and I thank you! My boys (and myself and DH) are so excited for our first cruise and the kids are freaking out about the FE! I will stick to what I am good at and what I enjoy and Im sure everything will be great! And like alikat99 said, I know the kids will just be super excited to recieve a special "treat" (and meet new people)! Thanks again everyone, so happy to be a part of the DIS fam!

 

[1153rsmith]

We can't wait to hopefully meet a bunch of you folks. My children still don't know about the trip. (I have had to take the countdown off my signature because my son has been asking me to show him our countdown to OKW for several days.)

They will be super excited about the FE as well.

Our problem is, my wife and I are trying to get FE things done, cruise shirts, door magnets, and pillowcases all done without them finding out.

I hope we can pull it off. Our plan is to drive down the day before under the assumption we are going to spend a few days near the beach before our checkin at disney (the ship is near the beach, so at least I am not lying to them). We will spend a night near downtown disney and we will tell them there. I'm hoping for a little pixie dust to make it extra special.........That is my plan anyway...but, it is killing me not to tell them.

 

[alikat99]

Good luck with your surprise!! We surprised our girls a few years ago. We had just gone on a Christmas cruise that we had planned for 2 years, so they weren't expecting to go on a cruise so quickly again! We only live about 3 hours from the port, and we got a steal FL resident rate on a Spring Break cruise in late March that we just couldn't pass up.

We told the girls that we were going to go to the beach for Spring Break (we weren't really lying because we would be going to the beach at Castaway Cay). We drove over late Friday night, so they were asleep by the time we got to Cape Canaveral. We spent the night at the Radisson and got up early to "go to the beach". We had some breakfast at MickeyDs and hoped that they couldn't see the ships from there.

After breakfast we asked the girls if they wanted to go see the Magic, as it was not far down the road. Thankfully, they said sure, so we headed that way. Right as we were coming around the corner with the Magic in full view, my littlest one said something about wishing they could go on a cruise again. That's when I broke the news that we were, in fact, sailing on the Magic that week. Squeals, laughter & even some tears from my girls as they got excited about getting back on the Magic so soon after their last cruise.

It was the best surprise!!! Of course, my oldest was NOT happy with me for keeping the secret, but it was classic, and I'm glad that I did it!!

 

[mickeymum13]

1153rsmith, are u staying at OKW after the cruise? Just asking because we are....meeting my extended fam here for a stay until Oct 1st. So this trip will be Sept 18th to 20th at POP with just me and the boys. Hubby arrives 20th for stay at hoe reosrt until 22nd..then off to our FIRST CRUISE wooohoooo! Then to OKW for our first stay there! How old are your kids, maybe play time can continue from ship to resort teehee?

 

[1153rsmith]

1153rsmith, are u staying at OKW after the cruise? Just asking because we are....meeting my extended fam here for a stay until Oct 1st. So this trip will be Sept 18th to 20th at POP with just me and the boys. Hubby arrives 20th for stay at hoe reosrt until 22nd..then off to our FIRST CRUISE wooohoooo! Then to OKW for our first stay there! How old are your kids, maybe play time can continue from ship to resort teehee?

Mickeymum, yes, we are checking into OKW on 9/25 and staying 7 nights. We are not DVC members, so we are exchanging in through RCI. We really like OKW, it is very laid back. I would suggest you ask to get close to the hospitality house and main pool if you can. The main pool has an incredible water slide that is in a sand castle. My children are DS 13 by then, and DD 10. We need to make a point to meet on the ship then we might be able to get together some at the resort or parks. How old are your boys?

What is your home resort? This is way cool. One of the things I like about the Disboards and Disney in general is the chance to get to meet and make friends with folks from all over the world.

 

[mickeymum13]

Hey 1153rsmith! We r staying from the 25th for 6nights! We have heard great things about OKW, especially how laid back it is! Cant wait! Our home resort is Bay Lake and we will be doing two nights there before the cruise woohoo! Our boys are 9 and 8. We say our 9year old is going on 25 so good chance he and your 13 may get along! teehee Both are super sporty and just love to socialize in general with both boys and girls and big and little kids...I run a homedaycare so they are constantly around a diverse group of kids! So excited to meet everyone! My hubby is usually the social butterfly who chats with everyone in lines and sitting on the monorail but the FE has brought out the social person in me teehee! Cant wait to meet to everyone and hopefully all the kids will have a great time together! Greetings from Canada! Have a great day!

 

[mickeymum13]

Thanks for the PM...i can send any yet because I havent posted 10 msgs yet...newbie teeehee. Quick question for everyone. Is it ok to include small snack size treats that are peanut free such as smarties or swedish berries? My boys want to add a treat to go with all the "toys"? Thanks, hope everyone is having a magical day!

 

[disney honeymooners]

im including packs of gummie bears (mini ones) in mine

 

[cloudchaser]

In our last post we asked for some help in planning a visit to WDW for some of our kids and grandkids. Thanks to Crystal for your detailed post. We had a great time but not as much as the kids. My wife, who is expert at making things happen, was able to get reservations at Chef Mickey on the same day. She wandered off while we were watching the show at the Castle and returned with the surprise.

An observation if I may. I spent 23 years in the military and have been working at the Kennedy Space Center for the past 20 years. I thought they had a lot of acronyms. The military and NASA are amateurs compared to this gang at coming up with abbreviations. I think I have most of them figured out but OKW has me stumped? Hoping by the end of the cruise I’ll have a reference list.

Looking forward to the FE and meeting all.

Ken & Noreen

 

[alikat99]

In our last post we asked for some help in planning a visit to WDW for some of our kids and grandkids. Thanks to Crystal for your detailed post. We had a great time but not as much as the kids. My wife, who is expert at making things happen, was able to get reservations at Chef Mickey on the same day. She wandered off while we were watching the show at the Castle and returned with the surprise.

An observation if I may. I spent 23 years in the military and have been working at the Kennedy Space Center for the past 20 years. I thought they had a lot of acronyms. The military and NASA are amateurs compared to this gang at coming up with abbreviations. I think I have most of them figured out but OKW has me stumped? Hoping by the end of the cruise I’ll have a reference list.

Looking forward to the FE and meeting all.

Ken & Noreen

The DIS definitely has a lot of acronyms. Somewhere there's even a reference list, can't remember where though. Anyway, OKW is Old Key West, the original DVC property. Great place to stay, huge rooms!

Hope that helps!

 

[disney honeymooners]

I have wanted to stay there since i was about 11 we were staying at GF and the airport shuttle dropped a couple off there before we were taken to the GF and even the drop off area looked nice and relaxing. My husband and I aren't DVC yet but we probably will join soon since we go so much it makes more sense.

 

[mickeymum13]

All these great comments about OKW are really getting me and my family excited woohooo! I grew up staying at the Poly and always joke with the DVC castmembers that they need to add that to the list of resorts! Aside from the cruise, the highlight of this trip will be our two nights at our "home", BLT in Magic Kingdom view room! DVC ROCKS and we have found it sooo worth it since we try and visit every 10months or so...only regret we didnt do it sooner! Super hot here today in Toronto...makes me think of Disney even more...cmon September! Sending everyone pixie dust! ps getting my Ohana tattoo tonite...2nd (and final) Disney tattoo teehee I promised my hubby!

 

[1153rsmith]

In our last post we asked for some help in planning a visit to WDW for some of our kids and grandkids. Thanks to Crystal for your detailed post. We had a great time but not as much as the kids. My wife, who is expert at making things happen, was able to get reservations at Chef Mickey on the same day. She wandered off while we were watching the show at the Castle and returned with the surprise.

An observation if I may. I spent 23 years in the military and have been working at the Kennedy Space Center for the past 20 years. I thought they had a lot of acronyms. The military and NASA are amateurs compared to this gang at coming up with abbreviations. I think I have most of them figured out but OKW has me stumped? Hoping by the end of the cruise I’ll have a reference list.

Looking forward to the FE and meeting all.

Ken & Noreen

Folks on this board have an acronym for everything. ROFL.