September 29, 2007 - Magic

[ibela]

Hi,
Sorry but St Maarten's is Dutch and French, St. Thomas is US thus we must do customs the morning we arrive at ST Thomas not ST. Maarten...
Just a helpful tip.
gg

Um, I knew that! Hopefully the time estimate is wrong in my post too. PLEASE say it is!!

 

[Beck's mom]

Hey guys!

Everyone talking about dressing their dd's in princess dresses is making me because my dd thinks she is too old for that!
The best I can do is get her to wear a tiny tiara-shaped rhinestone comb in her hair for the dressy nights. Oh how I miss the days of princess dresses!

 

[ragdoll]

Um, I knew that! Hopefully the time estimate is wrong in my post too. PLEASE say it is!!

Your estimate isn't too far off. I think immigration starts around 7am, possibly earlier. It really isn't all that bad. DCL is pretty efficient. You will be assigned a time to report to the Walt Disney Theater. They have coffee and danishes set up outside. You go in and sit down, then when they call your row you go up front and show your passport to the officials.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Ok.. well 7am doesn't seem too bad. My DH and I will probably be up anyway, enjoying the ocean breeze from the balcony

Also, for those of you who have experienced Pirate Night - we have our Palo reservation for 7 or 7:30pm.. we can still opt to go to the party after dinner right? I've read that the party is at 9:45? or is that just the fireworks? what time does it actually start? Our DD just might change her mind about going that's why we booked Palo a little earlier.

Thanks.

Gr00vyChc

 

[phred84044]

Hey guys!

Everyone talking about dressing their dd's in princess dresses is making me because my dd thinks she is too old for that!
The best I can do is get her to wear a tiny tiara-shaped rhinestone comb in her hair for the dressy nights. Oh how I miss the days of princess dresses!

I'm with you...my DD is almost 8 and she is "over" the princesses. Just 1 1/2 years ago we did her bedroom in princess stuff...bedding, clock, piggy bank, wall decals...the whole 9 yards and now all of a sudden she's "over" it. Go figure!

-Tracy

 

[Deweysgirl]

Yes, you will have time to make the party if you decide to go. It does start at 9:45ish and the fireworks are after.

I'm just getting so excited about the trip! Getting closer and closer and I still have so much to do. I'm going to start getting more serious about putting stuff in "the box" like some of you are already doing. I am not going to pack the kitchen sink like I did last time. I wrote some tips down on my trip report from my last cruise...I'll post them here if any of the first timers or dare I say "The Virgins to Neverland" might find them helpful!

Beck's Mom - I know what you mean, mine are 9 and 12, my 9 year old would still be interested but her older sister teases her about EVERYTHING so it's not going to happen. We just go all out with Pirate night instead, because of course, it's ok to dress up like pirates, because "that's cool". I'm not looking forward to the teenage years!
Enjoy them while they are young, people, it doesn't take long before they are taken over by aliens !!Lol!

 

[JDBlair]

As a DCL virgin I would really like to read your tips because I have been planning to pack, as you say, "the kitchen sink".

I do appreciate DD being young enough to wear the Princess dresses . DS is 13 so I know how it goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. When I was joking with him and told him we were wearing matching shirts to board, he said he wouldn't do it. When I picked up a shirt this weekend, while we were shopping, and asked if he'd wear it for formal night, he said, "Formal night? You said nothing about a formal night!!!" When he was with me to pick out the dresses for DD, he said, "I hope you're not going to make me wear some stupid costume!" It's sad. 5 years ago, this kid was begging to go on the Disney cruise. Now he's acting like he's doing me a favor by going with us! But I love him and deep down, I know he's secretly excited to go. It's just not cool to let "mom" know it!

 

[Tink*s_mama]

Guess what??!! I came home from work tonight and brought in the mail and all four of our passports arrived! This is not a dream. We are really about to go on a cruise in a few short weeks!!!

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Guess what??!! I came home from work tonight and brought in the mail and all four of our passports arrived! This is not a dream. We are really about to go on a cruise in a few short weeks!!!

Yey!!!!!! Congratulations on getting your passports! and YES! we are going in a couple of months!!

Gr00vyChc

 

[ibela]

Well, DD STILL hasn't gotten her passport but I only sent hers about 2 weeks after I sent mine so I expect it any day now . . .

At 17 months she'll wear whatever I dress her in so she's totally wearing a princess dress, assuming I find one I like that doesn't look like she got shrunk in it.

Does anyone know how long the Pirate party lasts? We both wanted to see it and dd is scared of fireworks (plus she goes to bed 8:30ish) so I booked her for Flounders from 9-11 that night so we can enjoy the pirate party (the whole 'you stay in the cabin with her and watch from the verandah' and 'no way, YOU stay with her' conversation didn't go anywhere). Went to Sesame Place this past weekend and she was still undecided about life sized Elmo, hopefully a few more trips will get her excited rather than scared about the costumed characters. . .

We're almost at the weekend!!!

 

[vpalmer]

OMG! Me too!! I keep changing my mind though of what to wear for the formal night.. I've got everyone else figured out, but I keep changing my dress.. maybe I NEED a new one

For those of you with younger DD's how many princess dresses are you bringing? I told my DD she could bring 2.

Happy Monday everyone!

Gr00vyChc

Okay, so my clothing list is an actual list. Last year I brought Eva 4 princess dresses although this year I may just do two, OK so maybe not. But I am also the world's biggest overpacker!

ETA: Except for one night (not a formal night) Eva did not wear her princess dresses to dinner. They were mostly for character pictures.

 

[grumpy-gramps]

As a DCL virgin I would really like to read your tips because I have been planning to pack, as you say, "the kitchen sink".

I do appreciate DD being young enough to wear the Princess dresses . DS is 13 so I know how it goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. When I was joking with him and told him we were wearing matching shirts to board, he said he wouldn't do it. When I picked up a shirt this weekend, while we were shopping, and asked if he'd wear it for formal night, he said, "Formal night? You said nothing about a formal night!!!" When he was with me to pick out the dresses for DD, he said, "I hope you're not going to make me wear some stupid costume!" It's sad. 5 years ago, this kid was begging to go on the Disney cruise. Now he's acting like he's doing me a favor by going with us! But I love him and deep down, I know he's secretly excited to go. It's just not cool to let "mom" know it!

Hi all,
ANOTHER VIRGIN! (I couldn't pass this one up) self admitted no less, we got with and without balls male and female virgins (with kids) and they make polish jokes about me what is this world coming to....(przybojewski is my last name) see grumpy-gramps is alot easier.. As far as your son goes tell him at least you didn't ask him to wear a princess dress (that will make he think about his next answer) for formal night..
gg

 

[pwnort64]

DS is 13 so I know how it goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. When I was joking with him and told him we were wearing matching shirts to board, he said he wouldn't do it.

Well, my DS will be 4 when we sail. He doesn't know it yet, but we will be matching at least 2 times on the ship. Fortunately, he is still young enough to think it is cool. Most mornings, after he gets dressed, he wants to help pick my clothes so we can 'match' in color, if nothing else.

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Speaking of matching outfits... there are some matching outfits at the online disney store on clearance. I'm just afraid to buy them 'coz we might be "matching" with 10 other families onboard

2 more months until we cruise!!!!!! But first, I have to deal with my DD's first day of preschool... my baby is growing up so fast

Gr00vyChc

 

[Deweysgirl]

Here are my tips, etc. from our Disney cruise before...Maybe it will help someone, but it's mostly a good refresher for me.


The Best:

Castaway Cay
Parasailing
Mickey Pool slide (yes, I went down it, you can too!)
Room Service on "in-port" days to avoid the breakfast crowds at Topsider's.
All Desserts were awesome! -except the celebration cake, it tasted a little funky but the presentation was beautiful!
Pirate Party!
Animators Palate Show
Parrot Cay Decor'
Eggs Benedict in Lumiere's
Golden Mickeys and Dreams (sit towards the front if you can)
Kids Farewell Show
Cookies BBQ
Jet Ski Eco-Tour at CC
Character signed photo mats
Watching the sunset in Palo's
Watching the Sunsets, period.
Super nice CM's everywhere!
Towel Animals
Fru-fru drinks

The Worst:
Ressie Scramble (scrambling for ressies on Day 1 that you were unable to secure on-line).
Hercules The Muse-ical. (It's gone now, no worries)
Rasul (Surial) Bath - Don't waste your money, get a massage instead.
Kids jumping at the Goofy pool - be careful of little ones.
Beach closing early on CC (Beware of this-they start shutting down a full hour early before the "all-aboard" time listed).
Packing up to go home.


Useful tips from the boards:

Walkie Talkies-come in very handy to keep track of everyone. (Cell phones don't work onboard)
Do the "Ressie scramble"-if you have your heart set on certain things.
Character signed photo mats, pillowcases,etc. (they turn out beautifully!)
Hi-liters in a different color for each person in your party to hi-lite "things to do" on the daily Navigator.
Order room service breakfast on CC day
Snorkel early to find all of the hidden treasures and sealife at CC before the sand gets stirred up.
Free t-shirts for kids show participation
Extension cord
Illuminated clock for cabin
My own shampoo/conditioner
Secret deck (not so secret anymore )
Stack your pictures behind each other in Shutters so they don't get moved around or worse, thrown out while you are still deciding!

I know a lot of people will differ with these things, but for us, this is what we really enjoyed.

 

[crainbow]

Here are my tips, etc. from our Disney cruise before...Maybe it will help someone, but it's mostly a good refresher for me.




Useful tips from the boards:


Extension cord
Illuminated clock for cabin

I know a lot of people will differ with these things, but for us, this is what we really enjoyed.

Almost all of these are good, EXCEPT the two I left in from your message. These are fire and safety hazards that you should leave at home. Remember, you are floating in a metal ship in a big puddle of water. Too many years on an aircraft carrier taught me the wisdom of following the fire rules.

Chuck

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Thanks for the list DeweysGirl!

How many sockets are there in the cabin? We have electric toothbrushes and my DH's shaver that we usually have plugged in the bathroom. And do they not have a clock in the room?

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Thought you guys might get a chuckle out of this. My friend sent this to me today:

DEAR DIARY. DAY ONE



I am all packed and ready to get on the cruise ship. I've

packed all my pretty dresses and makeup. I'm really excited.

_______________________________________________



DEAR DIARY. DAY TWO



We spent the entire day at sea. It was beautiful and we saw

some whales and dolphins. What a wonderful vacation this has started

to be. I met the Captain today and he seems like a very nice man.

_______________________________________________



DEAR DIARY. DAY THREE



I spent some time in the pool today. I also did some shuffle

boarding and hit some golf balls off the deck. T he Captain invited

me to join him at his table for dinner. I felt honored and we had a

wonderful time. He is a very attractive and attentive gentleman.

_______________________________________________



DEAR DIARY. DAY FOUR



Went to the ship's casino ... did OK ... won about $80. The

Captain invited me to have dinner with him in his state room. We had a

luxurious meal complete with caviar and champagne. He asked me to stay

the night but I declined. I told him there was no way I could be

unfaithful to my husband.

_______________________________________________



DEAR DIARY. DAY FIVE



Went back to the pool today and got a little sunburned. I

decided to go to the piano bar and spend the rest of the day inside

The Captain saw me and bought me a couple of drinks. He really is a

charming gentleman. He again asked me to visit him for the night and

again I declined. He told me that if I didn't come to his cabin for

the night, he would sink the ship. I was appalled.



_______________________________________________



DEAR DIARY. DAY SIX



I saved 1600 lives today... Twice

Hope I don't offend, just thought it was funny!

 

[Deweysgirl]

Hi Chuck, thanks for the tip.

The extension cord is not really to drape across the room but to have extra outlets to plug in your curling iron, flat iron, camcorder, digital cameras, ipod, laptop, clock, etc. We were surprised how many devices that needed charging and there is only 1 outlet in the cabin itself. Just be sure to unplug it after you use it!


Hi Pauline - The clock in the cabin is not illuminated. It is very dark in the cabin at night, it's hard to see unless you get up to turn a light on.

 

[Deweysgirl]

DEAR DIARY. DAY SIX
I saved 1600 lives today... Twice

Hope I don't offend, just thought it was funny!

too funny!!