September 30, 2012 Dream vacation

[hamm1207]

Good morning cruisers! Well, goid afternoon east coast cruisers! It's a sunny day here in anchorge (so far at least), and it's making me ready to cruise.

I finished purchasing things for our FE gifts, and i am hoping to start making them today! Maybe that will make the cruise get here quicker..

 

[SonyaShay]

Hello & welcome SonyaShay! I'm sure your daughter will love the cruise!! My daughter's first cruise was a couple weeks after she turned 5 and my son was 7. They both loved the kids clubs & never wanted to leave!! Any interest in the FE exchange?? Additional fun for your daughter & grown-ups too!!

I was thinking about the FE but my husband didn't really show any interest and we are on a tight budget for this trip. I may change my mind as I think about it some more. When will the deadline be for opting in on the FE? What types of items are exchanged and what type of price ranges are we talking?

 

[mamiof2]

When will the deadline be for opting in on the FE? What types of items are exchanged and what type of price ranges are we talking?

i think a few pages back someone said that we should officially cut off a month beforehand, but if we have extra stuff to accommodate latecomers, than by all means, we will. as far as price range, this is my first FE so i cannot speak on experience. However i have read over 170 pages of a thread here on DIS about FE ideas. Peoples gifties range from very inexpensive to expensive. i think most people steer somewhere towards the middle. i think the ones that i have seen that stand out most in my mind are not the expensive ones, but the creative ones! Many are homemade things. I have read that some people gift every day, some people gift once per cabin or once per person. So i guess it can be as cost-effective as you need it to be. I wish i could spill the beans as to what i am doing! (I am VERY impatient with secrets!!) But i will be good and keep quiet about it.

 

[Rather Be At WDW]

Good morning everyone!!!

I really love living in Alaska, but I can't wait for some warm weather! It's been a chillier than usual summer so far, and we even still have snow on the mountains! It would be really nice if someone will either mail us some warmth (70s would be nice) or turn the clocks ahead to September. Thanks!

I will be MORE than happy to mail you some of our 113 degrees! I am a Phoenix native and the longer I live here, the more I hate the heat. So if I could share the "wealth", I would!

September can't get here soon enough.

 

[Rather Be At WDW]

i think a few pages back someone said that we should officially cut off a month beforehand, but if we have extra stuff to accommodate latecomers, than by all means, we will. as far as price range, this is my first FE so i cannot speak on experience. However i have read over 170 pages of a thread here on DIS about FE ideas. Peoples gifties range from very inexpensive to expensive. i think most people steer somewhere towards the middle. i think the ones that i have seen that stand out most in my mind are not the expensive ones, but the creative ones! Many are homemade things. I have read that some people gift every day, some people gift once per cabin or once per person. So i guess it can be as cost-effective as you need it to be. I wish i could spill the beans as to what i am doing! (I am VERY impatient with secrets!!) But i will be good and keep quiet about it.

I'm one who is in favor of a cut-off prior to the cruise. Of course, if I'm able to accommodate late-comers, I will certainly do so. But I would prefer some sort of deadline and then each group could accommodate or not as they are able. I think it's only fair. But then, I'm not the organizer!

 

[mamiof2]

I'm one who is in favor of a cut-off prior to the cruise. Of course, if I'm able to accommodate late-comers, I will certainly do so. But I would prefer some sort of deadline and then each group could accommodate or not as they are able. I think it's only fair. But then, I'm not the organizer!

sounds fine to me I thought Ryan was our organizer originally but he's been away for a few pages. Hamm1207 are u our "acting" organizer?

Im finding it very difficult to find time to work on my FE goodies since the cruise is a surprise to my kids & therefore cannot see anything. and as i'm typing I just remembered that i need an actual FE!! oh boy i gotta get crackin' cuz i am not just hanging a paper bag!

 

[hamm1207]

sounds fine to me I thought Ryan was our organizer originally but he's been away for a few pages. Hamm1207 are u our "acting" organizer?

Im finding it very difficult to find time to work on my FE goodies since the cruise is a surprise to my kids & therefore cannot see anything. and as i'm typing I just remembered that i need an actual FE!! oh boy i gotta get crackin' cuz i am not just hanging a paper bag!

A cutoff then acommadating if you can sounds good to me. As i am not the one in charge of the FE, i cannot officially set a cut off date, but how a bot August 30th, one month prior to the cruise.

You're doing great mamiof2!! Keep up the great work!

Special disboards lanyards are being made for the cruise. Please make sure that i have the first names (correct spelling) and room numbers for all people traveling with you! The room number is in case i dont see you in port or at a disboards meet.

 

[mamiof2]

Special disboards lanyards are being made for the cruise. Please make sure that i have the first names (correct spelling) and room numbers for all people traveling with you! The room number is in case i dont see you in port or at a disboards meet.

Are u using these as your FE gifts? or are u still looking for us to buy them? Kids too or just adults? The part about seeing us in port... How could we possibly know who any of us are?? or do u mean to set up a specific spot there at a specific time?? We got the first check-in slot. how about you?

 

[hamm1207]

Are u using these as your FE gifts? or are u still looking for us to buy them? Kids too or just adults? The part about seeing us in port... How could we possibly know who any of us are?? or do u mean to set up a specific spot there at a specific time?? We got the first check-in slot. how about you?

Since we are only ordering 60 lanyards, i can pay for them. They are for all disboarders and those traveling with them (kids and adults-they will have first names on them). I have separate gifts for the FE.

Closer to the cruise, we can set up a disboards meet (Ex. 15 minutes prior to sailaway party on the deck just above the pool (the one by the giant tv)on the starboard side) or i will let you know how to find me at the port. I'll most likely be wearing my Dream maiden voyage shirt and i'll be wearing my lanyard. Then if you see people wearing a different lanyard (not the castaway or dvc ones) then you can ask them where i am. Having a disboards meet is the easiest way to hand out lanyards, but finding the lanyard person at the port is also handy. It's nice to have room numbers so that i can find people if they don't come to the meet or find me.

 

[mamiof2]

hamm1207, can u explain to me please how to PM you so i can give u my kids & husband's first names privately for the lanyards? My husband would flip if I posted them on here for the whole world to see. Thanks. Did u say a few pages ago that you also have the first check-in slot?

 

[hamm1207]

hamm1207, can u explain to me please how to PM you so i can give u my kids & husband's first names privately for the lanyards? My husband would flip if I posted them on here for the whole world to see. Thanks. Did u say a few pages ago that you also have the first check-in slot?

Sure thing, and I understand completely! Next to Abu on the left side, maybe you have to click on abu, there will be a link to "send hamm1207 a private message". You have to have made at least 10 posts to send a PM.

We are coming from the airport (staying at Hyatt mco the night before), and we're planning on catching the first bus over to the port. I don't remember what check in time we selected, but it was most likely one of the earliest.

 

[mamiof2]

While we are on this cruise, we are planning on booking another cruise for next year. We are fairly certain of when we are going so i decided to check that cruise meet thread. And who did i see there?? TwoWDWfools!! what a coincidence! Will anybody else be booking a cruise for next year? We want to do a Fantasy cruise next year - a whole week!! i cant even imagine!

 

[hamm1207]

While we are on this cruise, we are planning on booking another cruise for next year. We are fairly certain of when we are going so i decided to check that cruise meet thread. And who did i see there?? TwoWDWfools!! what a coincidence! Will anybody else be booking a cruise for next year? We want to do a Fantasy cruise next year - a whole week!! i cant even imagine!

We willmost likely be booking. We do not know what cruise as of yet, but we are hoping to cruise next year! It will depend on a few things, including if we buy a house!

 

[betsy918]

We always take advantage of the on board booking. I may do another b2b on the dream for Presidents week, or I'm considering a Fantasy Christmas cruise for 2013. It may depend on whether the 2014 dates have been announced by then. These will be our 4th and 5th cruises this year. That's definitely not in the budget anymore once the Wonder leaves California and airfare has to be figured in with every cruise. My real dream would be to do one of the European sailings next summer, but that's impossible with the airfares.

 

[mamiof2]

Justacruisin, do u guys have favorite characters? Particularly your son? i'd like to personalize FE gifties a little if i can. thanx!

 

[hamm1207]

I'm watching Undercover Boss about Norwegian Cruise and it's making me want to cruise!!! About 79 days unril we set sail! I really appreciate all the hard work that the cast members put into making our cruises memorable!

 

[WinstonC]

First time cruisers, remember that you'll be able to book Port Adventures, adult dining, spa, etc. in just a few more days! It looks like the Castaway Cay cabanas are sold out at the moment, but cancellations do happen, and I believe that DCL holds back three for potential on-board booking (but correct me if I'm wrong about that).

 

[mamiof2]

How much are those Castaway Cay cabanas anyway? I always thought they were crazy expensive and never really looked into it. Are they worth it? anybody know the price?

 

[Rather Be At WDW]

How much are those Castaway Cay cabanas anyway? I always thought they were crazy expensive and never really looked into it. Are they worth it? anybody know the price?

Yep, crazy expensive! $499 for the family beach and $399 for Serenity Bay. But they're all booked up anyway, so that's one less decision you have to make!

 

[WinstonC]

How much are those Castaway Cay cabanas anyway? I always thought they were crazy expensive and never really looked into it. Are they worth it? anybody know the price?

I was apprehensive at first, but I went ahead and grabbed one on Serenity Bay when our booking window opened. Based on all the rave reviews, I think we'll probably keep it.