SERIOUSLY - has our family the 'Magic" to ourselves on 6th August 2011 Med cruise???

[adam_goodger]

Hello all!

Having read through all 14 pages of the thread I am finally up to date. I will also be on the Magic on 6th August and we are arriving the morning before so that we get a full day in Barcelona before we sail.

On board will be me and my DW, we have cruised with Disney before but not around the Med. We are looking forward to it as we are BIG Disney fans. I run the UKs longest running Disney podcast, news website and also co-host everal radio shows about Disney and Orlando so it will be nice to experience Disney in a different setting.

As much as I would love to join in the FE, I'm not organised enough to get it sorted in 3 and a half weeks so I won't say yes just in case I didn't manage to get everything sorted in time. I don't even have a FE! Are there plans for people to meet up at any point on the sea day? Someone mentioned it way back on the first couple of pages of this thread but nothing has been said since.

 

[redsonja76]

We are going to have to back out of the FE. It's just not in the budget, nor could I get it going in the short amount of time left.

 

[MrsMac]

Hello all!

Having read through all 14 pages of the thread I am finally up to date. I will also be on the Magic on 6th August and we are arriving the morning before so that we get a full day in Barcelona before we sail.

On board will be me and my DW, we have cruised with Disney before but not around the Med. We are looking forward to it as we are BIG Disney fans. I run the UKs longest running Disney podcast, news website and also co-host everal radio shows about Disney and Orlando so it will be nice to experience Disney in a different setting.

As much as I would love to join in the FE, I'm not organised enough to get it sorted in 3 and a half weeks so I won't say yes just in case I didn't manage to get everything sorted in time. I don't even have a FE! Are there plans for people to meet up at any point on the sea day? Someone mentioned it way back on the first couple of pages of this thread but nothing has been said since.

Hi Adam

Fellow Disney fans are very welcome on this thread!!! Tell us more about your Disney Podcast........ can we find it easily on the internet/itunes?? I'd love to check it out.

Sounds like you are as excited as the rest of us about your cruise - I looked back in February, I'm sure there were folk booked long before me, and I've been counting down the weeks. Although, I have to say, when it gets to this time I'd love to be able to press the pause button in a strange sort of way - its soo close its now almost here and there I start to get sad when I realise in 6 weeks it will all be over and I'll miss the ship like crazy - sad or what!!!

As for the FE - don't worry - there's just a small group - 6 staterooms - I've enjoyed planning mine but I've been at it for ages!

We will definitely have to meet up as a group - anyone any suggestions - I've only done this once before and it was at 3pm in the promenade lounge at 3pm the day we boarded and it was a bit hassled. The kids wanted to swim, we had the lifeboat / life jacket roll call thingy - can't remember the proper name for it, then the sail away party so I personally didn't think it was the best time for the meet. That said we probably dine early and late among the group and many people are probably going shore to Villefranche the second day so I am not sure what else to suggest. It will be good for all the kids to meet up - what does anyone else think??????? I'm sure we can agree to something suitable for everyone.

Let me know your ideas one and all..............

MrsMac

 

[MrsMac]

We are going to have to back out of the FE. It's just not in the budget, nor could I get it going in the short amount of time left.

If it isn't going to work for you don't think a thing about it. I had two families in my group last year we left gifts for but they didnt come to the meet or put any surprises in our FE's and I would rather they had said they didn't want to take part as I felt kinda let down that they skipped out without saying anything - I sound like a grouch don't I??? Sorry I don't mean too!

As its just a month to we sail I'm guessing we should close the group so everyone knows names and ages of those taking part.

Here's who we have

FloridaMom3461, DH & DD
Newfoundland Sailor, DH, DS & DS
cannp123165, DM & DB
Kristin773, DH, DD & DD (need names of husband, daughters and stateroom number - can you PM me?)
Medmertz, DH, DS & DS (need names of husband, sons and stateroom number - can you PM me?)
MrsMac, DD, DD & DD

Any last takers before we finalise the group and I send all the info to those taking part?

Thanks a million

Judith

 

[FloridaMom3461]

I was thinking that we can all meet at one of the swimming pools with the kids the day of departure and the kids can swim and play while we all settle in and get to know each other a bit.

The question would be what time?

Randi

 

[FloridaMom3461]

My son(16) and I are (along with mother-in-law) taking our first cruise on the 6th. We are doing several days in London then a couple of days in Barcelona before the cruise. Can you tell me when is a good time to get to the pier on the day of departure? Do they board the ship on a first come first on system? Also my son will be celebrating his 17th birthday while on the ship- any suggestions on what kind of celebrations the cruise line offer?

Welcome! I'm not sure what is the best time to get to the port the day of departure but I do know that you can reserve a check in time before the cruise. Check online I think.

You can order birthday celebration packages before you leave online also and they will have decorations and other things in the cabin for you. Also let the ship know his birthday and they will have a cake at dinner that night.

I'm not sure about our checkin since we have the Disney transfer from our hotel to the port and they havent told us what time that will be.

Randi

 

[medmertz]

Here's who we have

FloridaMom3461, DH & DD
Newfoundland Sailor, DH, DS & DS
cannp123165, DM & DB
Kristin773, DH, DD & DD (need names of husband, daughters and stateroom number - can you PM me?)
Medmertz, DH, DS & DS (need names of husband, sons and stateroom number - can you PM me?)
MrsMac, DD, DD & DD

Any last takers before we finalise the group and I send all the info to those taking part?

Thanks a million

Judith[/QUOTE]

Judith, would you mind telling me how to "PM" you? I'm so new at this, I don't know exactly how to do this. I will try to read up on it. (I'm sure I'll be embarrassed once I find out how easy it is.)

Thanks.

Mertz

 

[medmertz]

Ok, so I figured out how to do it and yes, I am embarrassed that it was so easy. My only problem is that I have not posted 10 messages yet, so I can't send a private message. Or, at least, that's what it tells me. I guess I will have to post a few more times and then send you that info.

Mertz

 

[medmertz]

For those participating in the Fish extender gifts, please post if any one in your group has any allergies that we need to avoid.

I'll be first: Our DD cannot have any artificial flavors, colors, or chemicals. So please no candy or other food items unless they are "all natural" for us.

thanks!
Randi

Our sons have no allergies.

Randi, could you give me some suggestions of candies that are all natural? Unfortunately, it seems to me that most candy has something unnatural in it.

Thanks,
Mertz

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Our sons have no allergies.

Randi, could you give me some suggestions of candies that are all natural? Unfortunately, it seems to me that most candy has something unnatural in it.

Thanks,
Mertz

Thanks for asking Mertz. It is very difficult especially in the USA to find candy without artificials. I ordered ours online typically for Leigha. If you have a "Whole Foods" or "Trader Joes" nearby they have quite a bit of all natural candy to choose from. Some Ghirardelli and some Green and Blacks organic chocolates are all natural. Pure Fun and Yummy Earth are two other brands.

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Well we are down to our final month!

I brought my passport in yesterday to get completed. I pick it up on the 21st so I had plenty of time. It is my youngest 2nd birthday tomorrow so we are getting ready for that. He wanted a "disney boat" cake with soccer balls. The closest I could find was a surfing Mickey with a suntanning Minnie and soccer ball candles! It will be a Mickey clubhouse party..pinata and all.

For my FEers. The only allergy in my household is shellfish (me). But I think I am safe to say that no one is leaving me a lobster or crab!

I think getting together would be great. I am good with any suggestion - poolside sound good with everyone else?

And finally, hello Adam & Science Girl! Welcome!

~Heather~

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Well we are down to our final month!

I brought my passport in yesterday to get completed. I pick it up on the 21st so I had plenty of time. It is my youngest 2nd birthday tomorrow so we are getting ready for that. He wanted a "disney boat" cake with soccer balls. The closest I could find was a surfing Mickey with a suntanning Minnie and soccer ball candles! It will be a Mickey clubhouse party..pinata and all.

For my FEers. The only allergy in my household is shellfish (me). But I think I am safe to say that no one is leaving me a lobster or crab!

I think getting together would be great. I am good with any suggestion - poolside sound good with everyone else?

And finally, hello Adam & Science Girl! Welcome!

~Heather~

Oh Heather I had that Florida Lobster tail packed already for your FE
Happy 2nd Birthday to your son!

 

[MrsMac]

I think getting together would be great. I am good with any suggestion - poolside sound good with everyone else?

~Heather~

Poolside on the Saturday we embark sounds good to me - Can anyone remember the running order of things for that day? I can remember last year the girls were in the pool, plus they were dried and dressed for the Sail Away party and we did the lifeboat drill thing (I am sure if has a formal name sorry) I just cannot remember the timings. I think we were boarded about 1.30pm last year and had lunch in Parrot Cay straight away then hit the pool. Can anyone remember the detail better? Just wondering how we will identify each other!!!! Perhaps if everyone posted a photo of their family on the thread we might recognise each other? Would anyone prefer not to do that?

As for allergies - none in our party!

For those of you doing the FE I have almost all the details I need - just now sure how to share it with you. When I took part in last years I think perhaps the mom arranging it emailed the details of the group directly to me. If you are happy with that will you PM me your email address or if you have any other suggestions, let me know how best to share it.

Off to re-read the thread as I had a couple of other posts to reply to

MrsMac

 

[MrsMac]

Couple of things I want to sort out for us all. One of you had PM'd me to ask were we doing a gift a day for each stateroom or exchanging gifts on a specific day - if you know what I mean.......

I know our group is small but I'm not sure if any of us have the space or resources to plan to bring gifts for each of the staterooms participating every single day. I have thought we would do for everyone in each stateroom once in the cruise. Would it be good to say, for example, we distributed on Sun, Florida Mom did Mon, someone did Tue etc etc etc. That way we get gifts every day and only have to deliver once. Theres a temptation for everyone to want to give them out the first day to free up space but then theres a chance we'd get all our surprises over at once.

Would people generally be happy to deliver gifts on the day they were given so it would be spread out? Did anyone assume we would deliver to every other family every day or are you all happy to exchange with each stateroom just once?

Does any of that make sense at all?

Please please let me know.........I think I might have confused everyone!!!

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Would people generally be happy to deliver gifts on the day they were given so it would be spread out? Did anyone assume we would deliver to every other family every day or are you all happy to exchange with each stateroom just once?

Assigned days sounds great to me. I might have a couple of extras to hand out (i.e. special Birthday day or Pirate add-on) for the kids that I would like to hand on that specific theme day. But this would be in addition to our day. We would foresure fulfill our assigned day. Would this be okay with everyone?

Jude, perhaps when you PM us - the details - could you add a note for anyone who has let you know of a birthday or any other special notes?

I like assigned days because this way everyone, especially the kids, will get something everyday of the cruise. The only bad part is that if someone is handing out something for use during the cruise there is a possibility they won't get to hand it out until the end. Maybe, if this is the case you could PM Jude so she could move you closer to the beginning of the week?

What do my FEer's think?

BTW thanks Jude so much for being the organiser!

~Heather~

 

[Kristin773]

I like assigned days because this way everyone, especially the kids, will get something everyday of the cruise. The only bad part is that if someone is handing out something for use during the cruise there is a possibility they won't get to hand it out until the end. Maybe, if this is the case you could PM Jude so she could move you closer to the beginning of the week?

I ditto Heather's comments. I prefer assigned day. Thanks so much for organizing this Judith. I will PM you my email address.

Thanks,
Kristin

 

[medmertz]

An assigned day sounds good to me too.

A few more posts and I'll PM my info.

Thanks,
Mertz

 

[MrsMac]

I ditto Heather's comments. I prefer assigned day. Thanks so much for organizing this Judith. I will PM you my email address.

Thanks,
Kristin

Great Kirstin thanks. Has anyone a particular preference for a particular day? Send me your email address when you get a chance

Thanks

Judith

 

[MrsMac]

An assigned day sounds good to me too.

A few more posts and I'll PM my info.

Thanks,
Mertz

Mertz

I remember being told just to post a couple of empty messages, or just with a smilie, to get me to my 10 posts so I couple PM!! a couple of posts will do it - that will allow you to PM!!! Thanks for agreeing to an assigned day - have you a particular choice?

Judith

 

[Rob79]

Poolside on the Saturday we embark sounds good to me - Can anyone remember the running order of things for that day? I can remember last year the girls were in the pool, plus they were dried and dressed for the Sail Away party and we did the lifeboat drill thing (I am sure if has a formal name sorry) I just cannot remember the timings. I think we were boarded about 1.30pm last year and had lunch in Parrot Cay straight away then hit the pool. Can anyone remember the detail better? Just wondering how we will identify each other!!!! Perhaps if everyone posted a photo of their family on the thread we might recognise each other? Would anyone prefer not to do that?

As for allergies - none in our party!

For those of you doing the FE I have almost all the details I need - just now sure how to share it with you. When I took part in last years I think perhaps the mom arranging it emailed the details of the group directly to me. If you are happy with that will you PM me your email address or if you have any other suggestions, let me know how best to share it.

Off to re-read the thread as I had a couple of other posts to reply to

MrsMac

Hi Jude and everyone,

I just looked at my Disney Magic Personal Navigator from a couple years ago... It looks like from first boarding to 3:30 was all open houses in the kids areas, registration for various things, pool time and I remember the buffet and also the snack bar (with those fabulous french fries) were both open.

From 3:30 to 4:00 all services close so everyone can prep for the Mandatory Boat Drill (FYI, in old sea terms, it used to be called a "ship's muster" or "mustering") which starts at 4:00pm and lasts maybe 15 minutes. After that the Sail Away Party is on board deck at 4:30pm! It also noted that the kid's programs have Welcome Aboard parties -- the younger kids around 7:30 and the tweens/teens was later. Some things may have been changed by now and this isn't the Caribbean, of course!

So even though we're not doing the FE, could I still come and meet you all?!?
Roberta