September 29, 2012 - Ropin' Some Magic in the Western Caribbean

[Texas lady]

I am in Katy, too. I live at Mason and Franz.

We are REALLY neighbors! Do you live in those new apartments?
I live off Franz near 99..

 

[Texas lady]

Hi! Yes, we really like being so close to Galveston for crusing. Now that Disney is in town we hope to have more opportunity to cruise with the family.

I've been reading through all the information on the different threads. Did you also participate in FE on your first cruise? I thought I might have seen other posts from you regarding an earlier cruise.

No I didnt do FE on my first cruise, the first cruise was last minute and was tacked on to a WDW stay. Did the 3 night Bahama cruise on the Dream ( last Sept), fell in love with crusin'.. my goal is the home run: to cruise on all four Disney ships!!

 

[jenandjuice]

Anyone else from the DFW area?

We are also homeschoolers. We are going with some other homeschool friends, and I was wondering if there were any other homeschoolers that would be on board since it is in the middle of the school year. Gotta love homeschool field trips!!

I'm in dfw

Lewisville to be exact.

Welcome to all the new shipmates!!!! I just caught up with all the posts...we've been one active bunch!

Thanks for the size Julie737.

And super thanks for the info poluwaifam, I was wondering all that. I was also hoping they'd premier frankenweenie on the cruise (tim burton film).

I'm sooo excited to sign up for all the fun stuff tonight, but it means staying up well past my bedtime

Can't wait to see you all on the ship!

 

[faithfullyeeyore]

Hi ya'll! The Magic is home away from home for me as I have spent a total of 33 nights on board! All with the great Dis Board family! My very first DCL was on the Magic and I have been spoiled ever since. I’m so excited to be coming “home” for this cruise! Literally, because I am actually from Houston and now live in Jacksonville, FL!

The Promenade is normally where we meet (Diversions will have something going on) and the normal time is about 5:30, right after the sail away. That way there is no rush for the life boat drill. It gives us plenty of time to sit back and enjoy each other’s company before moving on to shows and dinner! The Promenade will have live music, usually one of their house groups along with the bar being open! I must say, their chocolate martini...YUM!!! The Prom is an easy gathering place as it is midship and right off the main path as well as being kid friendly. The other option is to meet at sail away at a predetermined place, say midship, deck 11, etc. Normally, someone will bring a banner/poster board so we can figure out who we are, but since Piper made the great iron on for our shirts, we may not need that!

Disney goes above and beyond when they know they have a large Dis group on board. If we let them know in advance, we can arrange to have our group photo taken at any special occasion, like Pirate Night or anything else we plan. It’s a great souvenir to have!

I will be loading the info on the bracelets later tonight! Sorry for the delay!

 

[soccermom1422]

Anyone else from the DFW area?

We are also homeschoolers. We are going with some other homeschool friends, and I was wondering if there were any other homeschoolers that would be on board since it is in the middle of the school year. Gotta love homeschool field trips!!

Yes, this will be the best homeschool fieldtrip ever! We are even doing a unit on explorers of the Americas and pirates before the cruise.

I noticed many young kids and lots of 8 and 9 year olds. Will anyone be traveling with tweens or teens?

My family is:
Amy (me)
Corey (husband)
Nick - 13
Zack - 11
Michael - 9
Luke - 2

I'm getting ready to make reservations for activities and excursions tomorrow!

 

[Milio99]

Just booked Palo brunch for day 3 and Palo dinner for day 5!! Yay! It's not letting me check in online though? Grrrrrr, I was hoping for an early check-in so we could get the party started right away.

We have an 11 yr old son too! Not too many Tweens in the group, though.

 

[WoodlandsMom]

Just booked Palo brunch for day 3 and Palo dinner for day 5!! Yay! It's not letting me check in online though? Grrrrrr, I was hoping for an early check-in so we could get the party started right away.

We have an 11 yr old son too! Not too many Tweens in the group, though.

We aren't able to check in either. It is so frustrating!!!

We booked all our excursions and Palo for Thursday night!!

 

[WoodlandsMom]

Concerning FE, will we be told who to give to? I am doing some online shopping and see something perfect for certain ages, but Im not sure if I will be getting a list of certain people...?

 

[Texas lady]

Concerning FE, will we be told who to give to? I am doing some online shopping and see something perfect for certain ages, but Im not sure if I will be getting a list of certain people...?

Woodlands Mom,

Look at post 335, the link for the FE's at the moment their are 3 groups, you and yours are in the 3rd group.

 

[SeeJennyCruise]

Palo reservations for our DS's and DIL's moved to night 5 because I checked here and saw ya'll were booking for night 5. Then I realized why. I had booked the couples for night 3, but that might be our first night in Anamators. I'm so glad I checked here instead of going to sleep. I kept brunch for DH, me, and youngest son on Day 3, but we're having a date night for our older sons and DIL's on Day 5 which we take our grandsons out on the town (or ship )

I couldn't figure out why I could not check in, and I again, I checked here and saw I wasn't alone so I stopped trying. I'll try to be patient until later in the day, today.

Nite!

 

[SucalT]

Palo reservations for our DS's and DIL's moved to night 5 because I checked here and saw ya'll were booking for night 5. Then I realized why. I had booked the couples for night 3, but that might be our first night in Anamators. I'm so glad I checked here instead of going to sleep. I kept brunch for DH, me, and youngest son on Day 3, but we're having a date night for our older sons and DIL's on Day 5 which we take our grandsons out on the town (or ship )

I couldn't figure out why I could not check in, and I again, I checked here and saw I wasn't alone so I stopped trying. I'll try to be patient until later in the day, today.

Nite!

You can usually begin check-in after 3:00 am central time.

 

[WoodlandsMom]

You can usually begin check-in after 3:00 am central time.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[WoodlandsMom]

Woodlands Mom,

Look at post 335, the link for the FE's at the moment their are 3 groups, you and yours are in the 3rd group.

Ok, my husband and I discussed the possibility of this being the case, but I wanted to double check! Thank you.

 

[disneynoodle]

I see a few people have been excursions. Which ones did you choose?

Unlike the before we sailed on The Dream, I haven't found what a typical itinerary would look like for this cruise. Which morning would be the Character Breakfast? Which night is Pirate Night? Any info y'all have found or know from experiencing a 7-night Disney cruise before?

Also, we fee like we should be sure to bring our expectations way down from what we experienced on The Dream. The Magic is quite old in comparison, so we're not sure how run-down things will be. We've been trying to tell our daughter that the kids club might not be as big/cool/fun as the Dream was. She already cannot believe their won't be any talking artwork detective games on board The Magic! Anyone doing the same? You think this train of thought is justified, right?

On the bright side, we are looking forward to not as many people on this ship. The Dream was packed everywhere! I've heard maneuvering The Magic is also much easier because it's just a more manageable size. Anyone bee on The Fantasy yet?

 

[Piper]

I see a few people have been excursions. Which ones did you choose?

Unlike the before we sailed on The Dream, I haven't found what a typical itinerary would look like for this cruise. Which morning would be the Character Breakfast? Which night is Pirate Night? Any info y'all have found or know from experiencing a 7-night Disney cruise before?

Also, we fee like we should be sure to bring our expectations way down from what we experienced on The Dream. The Magic is quite old in comparison, so we're not sure how run-down things will be. We've been trying to tell our daughter that the kids club might not be as big/cool/fun as the Dream was. She already cannot believe their won't be any talking artwork detective games on board The Magic! Anyone doing the same? You think this train of thought is justified, right?

On the bright side, we are looking forward to not as many people on this ship. The Dream was packed everywhere! I've heard maneuvering The Magic is also much easier because it's just a more manageable size. Anyone bee on The Fantasy yet?

We are planning on staying on the ship and not doing excursions. Unfortunately, ECVs or powerchairs aren't allowed on excursions. The few that allow manual WCs require you to fold them and walk on the bus. Although I can walk a few feet, I have difficulty with stairs so that is a problem for me. Since I have been more or less immobile, I have gained a lot of weight (some of the drugs have not helped either!) I don't want my sister to have to push me in a WC and I don't have the upper body strength to do it myself.

We do have day passes to the spa for 2 of the days and will probably deliver FE gifts on the third. I also run out of steam pretty easily, so I will probably rest after lunch each day.

 

[Piper]

We are REALLY neighbors! Do you live in those new apartments?
I live off Franz near 99..

I do! And I love my apartment! It is 2 bedrooms which let me have a sewing room. I made curtains, shower curtains, quilts, pillows, etc. to decorate it. I also belong to the Disboutiquer group and have participated in some of their Big Gives (where we make clothes for Dis families going on Wish Trips to WDW, DL, and DCL cruises.)

 

[Piper]

Hi ya'll! The Magic is home away from home for me as I have spent a total of 33 nights on board! All with the great Dis Board family! My very first DCL was on the Magic and I have been spoiled ever since. I’m so excited to be coming “home” for this cruise! Literally, because I am actually from Houston and now live in Jacksonville, FL!

The Promenade is normally where we meet (Diversions will have something going on) and the normal time is about 5:30, right after the sail away. That way there is no rush for the life boat drill. It gives us plenty of time to sit back and enjoy each other’s company before moving on to shows and dinner! The Promenade will have live music, usually one of their house groups along with the bar being open! I must say, their chocolate martini...YUM!!! The Prom is an easy gathering place as it is midship and right off the main path as well as being kid friendly. The other option is to meet at sail away at a predetermined place, say midship, deck 11, etc. Normally, someone will bring a banner/poster board so we can figure out who we are, but since Piper made the great iron on for our shirts, we may not need that!

surfweb:

Wouldn't 5:30 interfere with those who have early dining? It is my understanding that it is at 5:45. Gathering midship before the sailaway is a good option, too. People, please jump in with your opinions!

 

[Texas lady]

I do! And I love my apartment! It is 2 bedrooms which let me have a sewing room. I made curtains, shower curtains, quilts, pillows, etc. to decorate it. I also belong to the Disboutiquer group and have participated in some of their Big Gives (where we make clothes for Dis families going on Wish Trips to WDW, DL, and DCL cruises.)

Awesome! If I had an extra room, I would make it my reading room!

 

[Texas lady]

Wouldn't 5:30 interfere with those who have early dining? It is my understanding that it is at 5:45. Gathering midship before the sailaway is a good option, too. People, please jump in with your opinions!

Yes it would, As I do have early seating... I think before the sailaway party is good, I plan on attending the sailaway party, I didnt do it on our first cruise, I was so sleepy from the seasickness pills I took, everything that first day is still foggy ( I learned later, one should start taking them a day before) Live and learn!!

 

[Piper]

Yes it would, As I do have early seating... I think before the sailaway party is good, I plan on attending the sailaway party, I didnt do it on our first cruise, I was so sleepy from the seasickness pills I took, everything that first day is still foggy ( I learned later, one should start taking them a day before) Live and learn!!

We have early dining, too. One of my challenges is diabetes (brought on by cortisone for too many years) so I need to space my meals fairly evenly and try to keep to more or less to my regular schedule!