Who's Cruising the Wonder? 2/1/09 (4day)

[Josiah]

Hi, Kathy,

Welcome aboard! It seems our cruise is full now. We booked for cat 10 and am waiting for the package of papers that I hear is supposed to be coming our way. This is our first Disney cruise.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Welcome to Jorge and Kathy!

I been so busy with work and Matthew's activites, I did get some pm's Jorge and his family joined in on the Fe exchange.

I will read through my pms and the thread and get the final list updated and emailed out to everyone within the next few hours.

Tierre

 

[ToodlesRN]

Did we ever decide on how many FE gifts to give?
A) One to each person in the cabin?
B) One to each cabin?
C) One to each kid in the cabin? Besides the adults only Exchange would be to the adults.

I will go with anyone of those, but A does sound like fun and our group is small?

Let me know!

 

[romino]

About the FE exchange I have been doing some research and I've found that some people give a present for each person in the cabin (including children) and some people give a gift for the whole family, like a goodie bag or something like that. In other exchanges people has given gifts that represents their hometown, I would really like that.

I think that we need to try to be sure everyone in the stateroom gets a present, specially children. About the adults I think it could be one present for each adult or one present for the whole family.

What do you think?

 

[Hanover]

About the FE exchange I have been doing some research and I've found that some people give a present for each person in the cabin (including children) and some people give a gift for the whole family, like a goodie bag or something like that. In other exchanges people has given gifts that represents their hometown, I would really like that.

I think that we need to try to be sure everyone in the stateroom gets a present, specially children. About the adults I think it could be one present for each adult or one present for the whole family.

What do you think?

We made up goody bags (sort of like what a child would give/get at a birthday party) for the kids and have some cruise-dated small stuff for the adults (I don't want to give it away). It's really up to each family with what they'd like to give--single gift or a couple/few small items. I know my kids are thrilled to find anything in the FE when we return to our stateroom.

Sorry in advance for the loooong walk it's going to be to our room!! We had to deliver an FE gift to the same room in December after giving one out at the front of deck 7 and it was like walking the length of 2 football fields to get there!

 

[ToodlesRN]

We made up goody bags (sort of like what a child would give/get at a birthday party) for the kids and have some cruise-dated small stuff for the adults (I don't want to give it away). It's really up to each family with what they'd like to give--single gift or a couple/few small items. I know my kids are thrilled to find anything in the FE when we return to our stateroom.

Sorry in advance for the loooong walk it's going to be to our room!! We had to deliver an FE gift to the same room in December after giving one out at the front of deck 7 and it was like walking the length of 2 football fields to get there!

We did the same thing goodie bags for everyone in the cabin, kids themed bag for the kids and ditto for the adults!

Tierre

 

[vtinkerbell]

We have goodies from our home State that the kids can share as well.

Can't wait to meet everyone.

 

[Josiah]

I have no idea how long it takes to get to our room, but we're on the 2nd deck, so I take it we're away from a lot of stuff. It doesn't seem like we're all that far from an elevator, though. Our room is 2101. is that far?

I don't want to say what we're bringing cuz it's a little different and I may have to make a last-minute adjustment, but I'm in there tryin'!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Got my cruise documents today!! Wouldn't have even known but my SIL got hers delivered UPS and told us to look in our door. There they were!! YAY! I'm glad because we leave in a week and are starting to pack. WHEW!

 

[Josiah]

We got our cruise docs yesterday; one set came to our house, and the other to the grandkids' house. good thing we live in the same town!!

 

[ToodlesRN]

So did we, got them yesterday evening!!! It's getting so real now!

 

[Josiah]

Ok, so now we're asking specific questions and so on. (I openly admit I obsess about this kind of stuff!)

I called DCL today as DH wanted to know which movies will be playing. They include:

• Bolt 3D
• Wall E
• Morning Light (which I never heard of)
• Bedtime Stories
• Hannna Montana concert 3D
• Beverly Hills Chichuaua
• HS3

Also, I'm concerned about how we will be able to stay in touch w/the kids while we're there; don't really wanna buy/bring walkie talkies, and can picture them being left laying around. Cell phones may not work (we have AT & T). Our kids have self sign in/out privileges. I know I get a pager so they can contact me if necessary, but what if I want to contact them? Do I just go up/down to the Lab? What if they change their plans? Do they leave a note on the door or what?

We've decided to use the top envelope of our FE hanger for messages for each other. I can picture our kids making friends w/your kids and deciding to tour the ship or something. I just want to know where they are at all times. Or what if I change my plans? i guess a note on the door will do it.

Anyway, maybe some of you have a better idea? These children are typically well-behaved, but I don't want any nasty surprises, such as 'Man overboard!' Yikes!

While I had the DCL gal (Alia) on the phone this morning, I asked about breakfast on that last day. Yes, we'll get breakfast. We're at the second seating, so we'll be out around 10:00, she estimates. She said there's also a buffet. This means I don't have to squirrel away an orange here or there for the last morning's meal. (sometimes I'm such a dolt!)

If any of you have a Pal Mickey, I asked about that today, too, whether they give updated info in the parks since they don't sell them anymore. Short answer: Sure do. If you have one, bring it for the parks. (Not for the boat, obviously.)

We have a split stay at SOG, so we're going to try to create one suitcase for stuff (Like PM) that we want at the parks, but not on the cruise. Maybe they'll stash it somewhere for us and lighten our load a bit.

I know I'll be able to relax once I get there, but right now I'm a little stressed about the 11 yr old's homework load. We have several major projects due before he leaves. But he's doing a great job of buckling down and getting the research down, and that's the major part, really.

I'm SOOOO looking forward to this trip. I can't wait to meet everyone.

 

[jadedjojo]

Thanks for the movie list! "Bedtime Stories" is something I was looking forward to seeing.

14 days, 16 hours, 54 minutes and 54 seconds. But who's counting.

 

[camarks1234]

are the movies shown in a theatre or just on the big tv by the pool? I'm looking forward to bedtime stories, but I need quiet when I watch a movie. LOL

 

[Josiah]

In the Buena Vista Theater

 

[jadedjojo]

I had an idea for another door magnet. I thought perhaps we could put our username on the blank spot, so we recognize fellow disboard'ers rooms.

(I hope it's okay that I stole the forum's logo LOL).



What do you think?

 

[romino]

Hello everyone¡¡¡
Just two more weeks to go¡¡¡

By the way, I recieved my travel documents last monday trough federal express and I kind of feel that they are incomplete. I recieved...

-A checklist leaflet
-Lugage tags, wich I don´t think we are going to need since we are arriving from Miami by rental car (The flight from mexico to Miami was half the price from the one to Orlando).
-Ticket booklet including:
The first page is torned out, not by me.
The second has the mailing information
The third says for DCL/DME transportation use only
The fourth says Important Messages
The fifth says Important messages continued
The sixth says Ground transfer information
The seventh says Transfer purchase option
From number nineth to twelveth says Onboard check in information that we will not be using since we are not going to fly the day the cruise ends.
The last page is a blank one that says Cruise and Airline contracts but it doesn´t have any infromation.

And thats all.

Did I recieved everything I was supposed to?

And jadedjojo, I agree with your proposition.

Thank you

 

[jadedjojo]

Hello everyone¡¡¡
Just two more weeks to go¡¡¡

By the way, I recieved my travel documents last monday trough federal express and I kind of feel that they are incomplete. I recieved...

-A checklist leaflet
-Lugage tags, wich I don´t think we are going to need since we are arriving from Miami by rental car (The flight from mexico to Miami was half the price from the one to Orlando).
-Ticket booklet including:
The first page is torned out, not by me.
The second has the mailing information
The third says for DCL/DME transportation use only
The fourth says Important Messages
The fifth says Important messages continued
The sixth says Ground transfer information
The seventh says Transfer purchase option
From number nineth to twelveth says Onboard check in information that we will not be using since we are not going to fly the day the cruise ends.
The last page is a blank one that says Cruise and Airline contracts but it doesn´t have any infromation.

And thats all.

Did I recieved everything I was supposed to?

And jadedjojo, I agree with your proposition.

Thank you

The luggage tags are for your luggage for the ship. You put them on everything you are going to check at the terminal. You are allowed a carry-on and personal bag to bring on the ship (it has to fit through an x-ray machine, so normally a backpack or something of that size), and everything else that is large gets those luggage tags put on it and it is taken by porters when you arrive at the terminal. They transport your luggage to your room a few hours after you board the boat.

From your description, it sounds like you got everything! Make sure you fill out all of the stuff in the booklet before you get to the terminal to ensure an early check-in. The pages that were ripped out of your book were ripped out if you checked-in online, or it may have been something you didn't need (my book is missing pages as well). Sounds like everything is a go!

I hope you have a nice drive up from Miami!

 

[ToodlesRN]

The luggage tags are for your luggage for the ship. You put them on everything you are going to check at the terminal. You are allowed a carry-on and personal bag to bring on the ship (it has to fit through an x-ray machine, so normally a backpack or something of that size), and everything else that is large gets those luggage tags put on it and it is taken by porters when you arrive at the terminal. They transport your luggage to your room a few hours after you board the boat.

From your description, it sounds like you got everything! Make sure you fill out all of the stuff in the booklet before you get to the terminal to ensure an early check-in. The pages that were ripped out of your book were ripped out if you checked-in online, or it may have been something you didn't need (my book is missing pages as well). Sounds like everything is a go!

I hope you have a nice drive up from Miami!

We didn't get any luggage tags with our documents Should I cal them since we have to put them on our luggage for the cruise?

Getting closer!!

 

[jadedjojo]

They can provide them at the port as well, they just aren't the pre-printed ones you get with the cruise docs. This is our fifth cruise and we've never not gotten them, but if you are doing a land/sea package or are coming in by plane, perhaps you get them in another fashion. We live close to the port so we just drive... now I'm wondering if those who drive to the port are the ones who get the luggage tags in the mail. I would call just to make sure, it can't hurt! I will check around to see what I can find out for now.

Edit: Just found this information. I don't know if this helps at all (lol), but it mentioned different types of cruise packages so I thought I'd post! It may be helpful in general in regards to when everyone should affix their luggage tags.

HOW DO DISNEY TRANSFERS WORK?

CRUISE ONLY: You’ll receive luggage tags in your cruise packet. When flying on the same day as the departure of your cruise, you’ll affix these tags to your luggage before leaving for the airport. (Since your bags may not arrive at your stateroom until 5:00pm or later, pack a carryon bag with your documents and necessities.) Upon arrival in the Orlando airport, these tags identify your bags and they are brought directly to the ship. You do not need to go to Baggage Claim.

Disney Cruise Line agents will be in the main terminal of the airport and are easily identified. Starting at 9:00am, a “meet and greet” is scheduled. The shuttles are boarded on a first come/first served basis. Departure begins at 10:30am.

LAND/SEA PACKAGE: You’ll affix your tags to your checked bags the same as “cruise only” clients providing that you are arriving on the same day that the package is scheduled to begin. It will not be necessary to go to Baggage Claim as your bags will be brought to your resort. Shuttle service to the resorts begins at 9:00am. (If you’ve added on a pre-stay, you must not attach the tags and you will need to retrieve your luggage. The transfers will be honored by Mears, the official shuttle of Walt Disney World.)

The evening before your cruise, your luggage is picked up from the resort. You’ll receive instructions while there as to how this process works, and what time the shuttle will be departing from your resort.


Just read this about the packet in general:

The Cruise Packet is delivered via UPS. No one needs to sign for it. It can be delivered to whatever address you choose, but it cannot be delivered to a PO box. Please note that if you choose an alternate address other than your home, DCL still needs to have your home address in their records.

The forms in the Cruise Packet include your itinerary, the ship’s policies, gratuity guidelines, luggage tags which are to be affixed to your checked bags when you arrive at the Port unless you’re using Disney transfers (see above), a form which is to be filled out and notarized if you have a minor under age 18 who is traveling without their parent/legal guardian, and the form which is to be filled out with your credit card information while onboard. You’ll also be provided with any Immigration forms that are required for your particular sailing.

I hope this helps!