Pre-Trip Change of Plans..Several Times

Hi!! So I'm sure you all have seen me posting a million questions.. (Thanks for all of the answers!).

My son is out of town this week, so I'm taking the opportunity to create this thread and put all of my madness in one place :)

He does not know about any of it yet (I booked back in March), and I'm also going to try and create an awesome scavenger hunt for the cruise reveal when he returns next weekend.

This is my sweet, crazy, adventurous Kiddo.

For several months now he's been asking to "go back to Disney World", and "Mommy, can we go on a Disney Cruise? I want to go on the big yellow slide!"

He loves all things Christmas.
He also obviously loves Disney.
So what better than to combine the two?
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Now for the Stress Zone-

Here's a little background,
In September 2015 we did a 16 night WDW/SoFla combo. I know some of you love extended time in WDW..but for me-10 days was too much (admittedly I mad a ton of mistakes with my planning)!!
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This year I decided to "do Disney with less stress"-- a Disney Cruise!!
Sounds easy, right?


After choosing the ship (Fantasy), itinerary (Western Caribbean), and travel week (11/26-12/3) I thought I was all set.

That's not how I roll though. I'm an over doer. At pretty much everything. So..I decide,
"Well, we've never been to Disney during Christmastime, and we're going to be flying into MCO anyway.. So I'll just book a quick 3 nights at WDW!"

After going back and forth between Poly and the Contemporary for weeks.. I finally decided to do the Contemporary this trip.

But Wait!! It wasn't that easy! The 3 nights that I had just priced the day before, were no longer available! Wait, what?!?! I don't understand! So I call, and I sit on hold, and then I'm told that there is a "Length of Stay Requirement on a Theme Park View Room that week." I'm utterly confused because it was available when I checked last night!
I call a travel agent. She contacts Disney for me..same response. So, I booked a Lake View for 3 nights. The more I thought about it, the more it drove me crazy. So what do I do? I call my TA and tell her to add a night so I can get my darn Theme Park View.
Now we're at 4 nights post cruise.

Bravo Disney. You got me.

Fast Forward a few months and I think "Well, we have to stay somewhere before the cruise, might as well stay at WDW." Then I stress over that.

Here's what I ended up with-

11/24-11/26 AKL Club Level (no parks)
11/26-12/3 DCL Fantasy
12/3-12/7 Contemporary TPV (parks and MVMCP)

The Contemporary will be a complete
SURPRISE for kiddo!
On the last morning of our cruise he will receive a package from Santa, in it will contain our magic bands, and a "ticket" to the MVMCP. Once we arrive at the contemporary Santa will have also left us a few surprises in our room. (I'm ordering the Christmas In Room Experience from Disney Floral and Gifts ahead of time).

Ok so, this is the start of my madness.. Any tips on a scavenger hunt cruise reveal, things to do that time of year, etc are much appreciated!
 
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21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
11/24 Arrival Night. Thanksgiving (will be arriving late night)

Plans- Check in to AKL. Sleep. Hopefully I don't have to carry a 6 year old to our room! Had that issue last time, age 5, and I lasted about the length of the dock.
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21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Friday 11/25

Explore AKL. I'm very excited about the activities the resort has to offer!

Dining- No ADRs for us. The main reason for club level was so we can try some of the food from Boma and Jiko without having a full meal. We'll be in the lounge for breakfast. Eat lunch at Mara- looking forward to the falafel! Back in the lounge for apps..and then room service for dinner later.
 
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21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Saturday 11/26

Meet DCL transport in the lobby.

Off to our first ever Disney Cruise!!!!!

Excursions that I'm planning on booking-

Cozumel--
Either a Jeep Eco Tour OR Swimming with the Dolphins. UNDECIDED.

Grand Cayman-
Non DCL charter for Stingray City/Reef Snorkel/Starfish Point

Falmouth -
Dunn's River Falls and Bobsled Jamaica.

Kiddo will be doing a Pirate Makeover at BBB for Pirate Night.

I have no clue what I'm doing for costumes yet. I think it may be easier to just purchase his from the BBB.

Castaway Cay-
Beach Day and bicycles.
No excursions.
Probably a few adult beverages :) I'm going to need them to help me forget the freezing water!
 
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21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Wow! Sounds great...your son is so cute! Can't wait to hear more! What exactly is the Christmas in room experience?
Thanks! He's on vacation with the grandparents and apparently isn't missing me too much right now :( lol. So I'm obsessing over the scavenger hunt and trip planning.
I wish I could see better pics of what is included with this, but haven't been able to find any by googling.
We do Elf on the Shelf every year, I kinda go all out with it, and still debating if I'm going to ship it down ahead of time to either the cruise, or to the contemporary, and somehow tie him in to all of this.

I had considered during the room decorations on the cruise instead (much lower price point!), but I have an intense aversion to clutter, and am afraid it will be too much for a small stateroom. Plus, the post cruise WDW portion is an early Christmas present, so this makes more sense. I do wish a mini tree was included though!

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Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Thanks! He's on vacation with the grandparents and apparently isn't missing me too much right now :( lol. So I'm obsessing over the scavenger hunt and trip planning.
I wish I could see better pics of what is included with this, but haven't been able to find any by googling.
We do Elf on the Shelf every year, I kinda go all out with it, and still debating if I'm going to ship it down ahead of time to either the cruise, or to the contemporary, and somehow tie him in to all of this.

I had considered during the room decorations on the cruise instead (much lower price point!), but I have an intense aversion to clutter, and am afraid it will be too much for a small stateroom. Plus, the post cruise WDW portion is an early Christmas present, so this makes more sense. I do wish a mini tree was included though!

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Cute! I'm sure your son will love it! I wish Elf on a Shelf was around when my daughter was little ..it looks so cute! I'm going to pack a lil tree from 5 Below when we go for Christmas of 2017
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Cute! I'm sure your son will love it! I wish Elf on a Shelf was around when my daughter was little ..it looks so cute! I'm going to pack a lil tree from 5 Below when we go for Christmas of 2017
Awesome! I really want to bring a strand of battery operated lights for our veranda door on the cruise, I have friends who have done this, but everything I've read said it is not allowed.
What is 5 Below?
 

Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Awesome! I really want to bring a strand of battery operated lights for our veranda door on the cruise, I have friends who have done this, but everything I've read said it is not allowed.
What is 5 Below?
*gasp*
No 5 Below's around you?? Yikes lol! They have everything there...books...t-shirts...toys...sports equip...candy...school supplies...dvd's..wii games..you name it! All for, you guessed it...under $5 :)
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
To Do List for Cruise-
(The following photos were taken from a Google search, not my own pics)

Order door magnets.
I'm leaning to go for a Christmas theme, but I'm tempted by the Star Wars!!!
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We are also participating in the FE! Because ya know, why not add more planning for me.. ;)
I know kiddo will love it!! Here's the downside- I can't even sew a button, not joking. So all of my "wonderful ideas" for magnets and our
Fish Extender will have to be purchased from Etsy- hoping that I can find exactly what I'm looking for! Here's 2 ideas, not what I have in my head, but semi close. What I really want is Christmas themed Star Wars OR Nightmare Before Christmas.
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21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hit a planning brick.

Trying to rearrange our schedule based on the new high level crowd calendars.

Nothing is available at any restaurants that I am attempting to move around.

I hate Disney Planning.
 

hanwill

Well-Known Member
There is a really cute black mickey pirate shirt available at pirates of the carribean. shopping area.. Our son wore that with a bandana (they put one in your room the day of the pirate night) and my son had a fake telescope... He thought he was really a pirate. It was cute. Just an fyi- when the boat is parked in a port, all the shops onboard are closed... oh and Castaway Cay was our favorite day! Have fun- you will love it!
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
There is a really cute black mickey pirate shirt available at pirates of the carribean. shopping area.. Our son wore that with a bandana (they put one in your room the day of the pirate night) and my son had a fake telescope... He thought he was really a pirate. It was cute. Just an fyi- when the boat is parked in a port, all the shops onboard are closed... oh and Castaway Cay was our favorite day! Have fun- you will love it!
Thank you for this info!!!

I am excited. Finally doing the cruise reveal on Saturday. I can't wait to see my son's face!!
 

SSH

Well-Known Member
The Contemporary will be a complete SURPRISE for kiddo!
On the last morning of our cruise he will receive a package from Santa, in it will contain our magic bands, and a "ticket" to the MVMCP. Once we arrive at the contemporary Santa will have also left us a few surprises in our room. (I'm ordering the Christmas In Room Experience from Disney Floral and Gifts ahead of time). Ok so, this is the start of my madness.. Any tips on a scavenger hunt cruise reveal, things to do that time of year, etc are much appreciated!

That is one lucky kid.:) Cruise and 2 different deluxe stays...what a great trip! Reading along.
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That is one lucky kid.:) Cruise and 2 different deluxe stays...what a great trip! Reading along.
Thanks! I'm worried that our years of "Santa" are winding down, trying to pack in as much Christmas time fun in as possible while we're still in this stage.
Are u moving your dates, or just your park days around?
Park days and dining times. Trying to figure out if I can cut back on some dining, with short park days and high crowds I don't want to spend half of it eating.
I spent Monday night debating between doing Universal for 12/3-12/5 (very low crowd predictions), and then WDW 12/5-12/7, just for MVMCP and HS. Picked my resort but it didn't work out, Disney will not let my travel agent modify our dates. They still have that stupid length of stay requirement, and I'm not willing to switch from the Contemporary to another Disney resort.
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ok so I took a break from Obsessing over my Disney vacay.. And booked a cruise for ALASKA!!! Not on DCL, but I still think kiddo will love it!! He's been begging to go, so I figured I'd get it out of the way and then go back to sun and sand :).

I'm trying to focus on Disney and shelf this until after Christmas.. It will be a future surprise for him too, after we get through this current one first.
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Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Ok so I took a break from Obsessing over my Disney vacay.. And booked a cruise for ALASKA!!! Not on DCL, but I still think kiddo will love it!! He's been begging to go, so I figured I'd get it out of the way and then go back to sun and sand :).

I'm trying to focus on Disney and shelf this until after Christmas.. It will be a future surprise for him too, after we get through this current one first.
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YAY!!! How exciting! I have always wanted to go to Alaska...I hear it's beautiful, I'm sure you guys will have an amazing time!
 

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