**It's UNOFFICIAL** The '13 Unofficial WDWMagic Girls Cruise!

[Tiggerish]

Kelly, first of all, the depth of your knowledge about all this stuff is amazing. You rock!

@Tiggerish!

1. The water onboard is great! I'm almost exclusively a water drinker in my daily life & I'm picky about taste. I mostly drink Dasani or Nestlé bottled. Will go thirsty before I wet the inside of my mouth with that nasty Aquafina. The water is purified via an onboard desalinization system so essentially you're drinking condensate. Tracey is familiar with process things and says its really one of the cleanest ways to have your water. It tastes amazing! It is dispensed at the soda station, too. At all sit down meals one of the first things that happens is someone coming to pour your water. Its part of the service. At Cabanas things are a tad different, you go fetch your own beverage from their beverage spots but there's water there, too. And, if you would like, you can buy a bottled water package. Its pricy and its Evian . You can actually go online and order it right now or they'll offer it onboard. On embarkation day they'll be out selling water packages. After that you can order them via room service. Lots of water options!

Excellent news! I seem to have the same taste in water, as I too would go thirsty before drinking Aquafina. Yuck. Don't care for Evian, either.

2. I grew up in Central Florida. We swam like fishies most every day 9-10 months out of the year. We always had multiple swimsuits the way regular folks have outfits. Plus, I'm a girl. I like variety and choice. I have probably 6 or 7 swimsuits. I'll likely bring 3 or 4 just so when I do suit-up I have a choice depending on my mood. Like shoes. Which shoes do I feel like wearing???? Lol! Its crazy, I know. And, just so you know, the private lagoon by the cabanas is super shallow. I don't think it gets over waist deep. Well, maybe if its high tide it would get waist deep. The entire family beach areas including Pelican Plunge, the snorkel lagoon, the stingray lagoon, the watercraft rental area, ALL of it is in a protected lagoon which means no wave action. You will not have to worry about waves shoving you around or currents pulling you out. Its very calm. Just so you know and have that bit of info. Even for a non-swimmer Castaway Cay offers a wonderful opportunity for fun in the water.

As the owner of close to 100 pairs of shoes, I can relate. If I was a swimmer/beachgoer, I would probably have a dozen swimsuits--as evidenced by the fact that I can't swim, never go to the beach, but own 3!!

Good to know about the shallows, I am fairly phobic about deep water as the result of having been pushed into a pool at the age of ten by a little bee-yotch who didn't believe I didn't know how to swim and decided to "prove" I was faking it. For years, I wouldn't even walk past the deep end of a pool. Swimming and snorkeling and stuff looks like so much fun...

3. In the back of the cruise docs book there's some little emergency contact cards you can tear out. Give your husband one! You're never unreachable should there be an emergency at home. There's a number that can be called and contact is made with the ship. There's ALWAYS communication with the ship. They can locate you if they need to. You can buy Internet time for emailing. If your hubby still wants better contact, maybe look into a satellite phone rental before we go. When we briefly lived in Atlanta after Katrina in late 2005/early 2006 I worked for a satellite phone dealer and rental company. Satellite Phones Direct. They have units they rent out to people traveling international or on cruises & such where communications cannot be just optional. Its worth checking into. I will warn you, tho, satellite phones can be a PITA because you must have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky for them to maintain a signal. Clouds are okay. Structures are a no. So, picture yourself standing on a top deck away from tall things to place a call. Obviously you won't be receiving calls whenever either because you'd have to be standing out on deck with the phone catching a signal at the precise moment you get a call. Minutes can cost anywhere from $1 or $2 or more per minute. It can be expensive. I know there was a movement towards prepaid minutes to reduce airtime costs when I left so you might can get the minutes cheaper. You'd have to look and see.

Hope all that helped!

Those cards were what tipped me off to the disconnect. He'll have a way to get me in a true emergency, and he won't die if he can't hear from me for a few days. Not worth trouble/expense of renting satphone.

 

[Tiggerish]

I am bringing 2 bathing suits - I enjoy swimming...not really being in a swim suit lol.

I just bought more tank tops online. I'm going a bit overboard (GET IT?!) with buying new clothes for this cruise. But I can't help it!!! I'M TOO EXCITED TO SAVE MONEY AND WEAR WHAT I HAVE!

Plus...I don't want to wear anything I've previously worn in trip reports. Obviously. Aside from sleepwear and my traditional arrival at WDW EPCOT shirt...I'll need to not repeat. Great. big. stuff.

That sounds like something I'd do...

 

[Tiggerish]

Also you can turn off your email notifications. With AT&T it's free to receive text messages and I believe it's .50 per message you send. And 1.25 a minute per call either received or made. These are at sea only. Prices may differ when on the islands. I copied the message they sent me and I saved it in my pictures in my phone.
I'm really happy that my husband will be able to send me text messages to update me on the kids and I plan on one a day. I can't wait to send the pictures of all of us girls.

Perfect. I have AT&T also. That sounds exactly like their international plan, which is still on my phone from my trip last month/this month (next time, I'll have to make sure I make overseas trips that don't overlap months! It gets expensive!) So I guess I'll just leave it on there. I'll call AT&T to get all the deets.

 

[Tiggerish]

See, I like choice, too. I know I'm sorta "known" for my crazy laundry thing but I assure you it's not because I enjoy laundry. I hate it. But, when I get down to 1 or 2 outfits with limited choices I feel awful. Prob'ly 'cause when I was little I didn't have a ton of clothes and my choices were quite limited then. I want variety, darnit! So, I do laundry like a crazy person. 1 outfit dirty is 1 outfit I can't wear if I want to! Grrrr!!!! !

That's my excuse for packing too much stuff!!

The calling I'd be even more worried about because Tracey's parents did a very short voice call on their cruise on Oasis of the Seas a few years ago. What can they do? Another grandkid was born! That call cost them a few hundred dollars. Eeeek!

Holy carp!!

 

[Tiggerish]

Ok for those of you in Disney on the 7th - what are your plans?

I'm debating between a) going to dinner at 1900 park fare with some of you fine ladies or b) getting a Night of Joy ticket and going to the parks for 4 or 5 hours to enjoy shorter lines for a cheaper price.

There is no Wishes since it's Night of Joy - so there go my plans of watching from Top Of The World Lounge (I'll have to settle for lunch there)

Anyone going to MK for Night of Joy? Or should I just hang at the resort and do dinner at 1900 Park Fare?

Good thing you're arriving early!! Did you get the DME stuff I sent you? I also enclosed printouts of the DVC reservations, since you're getting to BLT first. We should exchange cell phone numbers, too.

Got MORE Mickey mail today!! This one is for the days in the parks afterwards. So excited.

Good info about AT&T - that's my carrier. I was planning on double checking with them anyway, but it's nice to know the Hubs can text me and keep me updated on DD's activities in Japan. And I'll need the clock, too, since every Mickey Mouse watch I own has dead batteries.

@plaz10 I think you should join us for dinner - it is going to be an epic precursor to the fabulousness that will be this cruise!

I agree, Sherry!! @plaz10 should join us for dinner, and it will be epic!


So, now that I've pretty much hogged this whole page, can everyone tell that I was really busy at work today? LOL

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ok for those of you in Disney on the 7th - what are your plans?

I'm debating between a) going to dinner at 1900 park fare with some of you fine ladies or b) getting a Night of Joy ticket and going to the parks for 4 or 5 hours to enjoy shorter lines for a cheaper price.

There is no Wishes since it's Night of Joy - so there go my plans of watching from Top Of The World Lounge (I'll have to settle for lunch there)

Anyone going to MK for Night of Joy? Or should I just hang at the resort and do dinner at 1900 Park Fare?

I'm going to dinner. Prob'ly won't eat too terribly much but I want to see the characters and visit the ladies. Plus, it's at the resort where I'm STAYING. That's just too dang cool!

Really, I have no plans. I don't want to be out and about too terribly late but then I also plan to wander the GF, Poly, and maybe Contemp some. Oh! Can I see your room over there??? I wanna see a BLT room! If that's not too intrusive. @Tiggerish , can I???? Heehee! If it's okay with my roommates for the night maybe y'all could come snoop a GF room, too! Hey! Resort room touring! There's something to do! Ultimately, I need my beauty sleep. Gonna be a fairly early morning and us old folks just don't have the crazy stamina you whipper-snappers do. LOL!

Kelly, first of all, the depth of your knowledge about all this stuff is amazing. You rock!

<<blush>>
Thank you.

Excellent news! I seem to have the same taste in water, as I too would go thirsty before drinking Aquafina. Yuck. Don't care for Evian, either.

Evian is pretty nasty stuff. Not as bad as Aquafina but it's pretty yuck. There's a fridge in every stateroom so if you bring a couple bottles of water with you then refill/rotate out of your fridge you should be good to go.

Good to know about the shallows, I am fairly phobic about deep water as the result of having been pushed into a pool at the age of ten by a little bee-yotch who didn't believe I didn't know how to swim and decided to "prove" I was faking it. For years, I wouldn't even walk past the deep end of a pool. Swimming and snorkeling and stuff looks like so much fun...

First of all, what an awful little girl! Ugh! If it makes you feel any better, when I was 11 or so I rescued a cousin who couldn't swim. We were at a swimming pool with probably 5 or 6 of my cousins. We all swam like fishies...except my youngest cousin at the time, Nick. Nick was just 4. We were all 11 to about 15 years old. Us older kids were supposed to keep an eye on Nick while my aunt was at work. So, we were having a blast lining everyone up on the edge of the deep end and doing these coordinated jumps/dives into the pool as a group. Well, Nick saw us all diving in so guess what he did? Yep, he dove off into 6 feet of water and he couldn't swim. I was the closest one to him. I reached down where he was sinking, scooped him up, and hauled him up onto the side of the pool. He was choking and sputtering...and being the dramatic kid he was...he threw his arms around me in a bear hug and sobbed, "You saved meeeeeeeeee...thank yoooouuuuuu....." Then I couldn't make him shut up. He followed me around all afternoon yammering about me being his hero because I saved his life. So, now that we're adults and parents I take great delight in reminding him that he needs to respect the hero because I saved his LIFE! LOL! I'm not a lifeguard but I wouldn't let you drown and I sure wouldn't let you get in over your head. Promise!

The water out at Serenity Bay (adults beach) is super shallow, too. Like you can walk all the way out to the sandbar out there, it's a long way, and never go more than waist deep. It's a long way out and super shallow. Again, there must be a reef of some sort way out there or maybe it's the way the currents are on that side of the island because there's no real wave action. I notice because I miss the waves. Tracey and I snorkeled at the adult beach last September. I thought of it just now because we literally were moving ourselves thru the water by walking our hands along the bottom. That's how shallow it is. So, if you wanted to snorkel Serenity Bay may be a good option because it's so shallow you could sit on your tush then put your face in.

Also, @Disneyfalcon may be able to help me here, but I think there's life jackets available free of charge on Castaway Cay. If you wanted to snorkel and see all the stuff underwater in the lagoon, Siobhan, I'll go with you and show you. Just wear a life preserver. I'm pretty sure you could do that. They make the snorkelers who swim wear the inflatable snorkel vests. Inflation is optional but we have to wear the vest. I don't see why you couldn't go in a life preserver vest. You'd be plenty buoyant and you could see anything you wanted. Or not. Just so you have options. And you don't feel alone. K?

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

@Tiggerish
Just wanted to let you know, I don't know how to swim either and I was able to walk out to a sand dune on Serenity Bay (granted I made my husband carry me half the way (because it was romantic hehe) but it would have come up to just about my chest area. and like Kelly said, calm as ever. I wasn't worried at all.

I'll only be bringing 2 swimsuits. I only wore them 1) to go on the Aquaduck and 2) at castaway. We went in the hot tub once our whole trip. Other than that I was in tanks or dressed up for dinner.

We'll be down in POR on the 7th watching my good friend Yeehaa Bob over at the River Roost! Anyone and everyone is welcomed!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Ooh, I thought about Night of Joy! It's tempting!
I totally look for new clothes that I haven't worn in previous trip reports! lol

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Also, @Disneyfalcon may be able to help me here, but I think there's life jackets available free of charge on Castaway Cay. If you wanted to snorkel and see all the stuff underwater in the lagoon, Siobhan, I'll go with you and show you. Just wear a life preserver. I'm pretty sure you could do that. They make the snorkelers who swim wear the inflatable snorkel vests. Inflation is optional but we have to wear the vest. I don't see why you couldn't go in a life preserver vest. You'd be plenty buoyant and you could see anything you wanted. Or not. Just so you have options. And you don't feel alone. K?

Yes! Life jackets are free! And required if you're snorkeling.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ooh, I thought about Night of Joy! It's tempting!
I totally look for new clothes that I haven't worn in previous trip reports! lol

I just like the special feeling of a new outfit! LOL!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I just like the special feeling of a new outfit! LOL!

Well I like that too!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Ok for those of you in Disney on the 7th - what are your plans?

I'm debating between a) going to dinner at 1900 park fare with some of you fine ladies or b) getting a Night of Joy ticket and going to the parks for 4 or 5 hours to enjoy shorter lines for a cheaper price.

There is no Wishes since it's Night of Joy - so there go my plans of watching from Top Of The World Lounge (I'll have to settle for lunch there)

Anyone going to MK for Night of Joy? Or should I just hang at the resort and do dinner at 1900 Park Fare?

We're going to hang out at the Poly til our ADR at Epcot at 4:30. If we didn't have AP's we probably would just skip Epcot but we want to get the most of those passes! You should come over and have lunch at Captain Cook's with us!!

And don't feel bad about buying lots of clothes.. in the last 2 weeks I've bought 2 new swimsuits, a pair of capris, a pair of shorts, a new cardigan and 6 dresses... Yes... 6... Possibly 7 if Ashley doesn't like the dress she ordered from Charlotte Russe. And all of them are cruise appropriate!! Woot Woot!! I will definitely be wearing a dress to dinner. I just love dressing up!! Now I need to decide which heels to bring. I'm trying to tell myself I only need my one pair, but the voice inside my head keeps saying "No, bring the nude pair, the black pair AND a pair of strappy sandals!!!" Oye!!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh man. I think I've taken planning/trip purchasing to a whole new level. My *intent* is to enjoy both my cruises (the girls cruise + my anniversary cruise) but not go totally buck-wild with things. After all, I have to be able to fit in my cute clothes I've spent all this money on for a full 2 weeks. Sooooo, I decided one way to be smart on my splurging is to bring breakfast shakes for myself. Or, because I love breakfast sooooo much, I could use them for lunches. Then, I know I've got a few excursions I'll be going on where food will be needed. To avoid eating what I shouldn't I'm going to bring some of the protein snack bars. Tracey needed some more snack bars for work so I had to place an order anyway. Worked out well. Everything is pre-packaged so we should be good to go to bring the stuff with us. I also have a few pre-packaged pouches of sliced almonds. I'll double-check but I think I can bring those with me, too. Those should be good for during shows (vs. my usual chocolate covered caramel corn). I'm saving my splurges for our upcharge dining, drinky-drinks, and the custom cake I'm prob'ly gonna order for our actual anniversary day. <--that's a surprise...gonna bring our little cherub cake topper from our wedding, too!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Oh man. I think I've taken planning/trip purchasing to a whole new level. My *intent* is to enjoy both my cruises (the girls cruise + my anniversary cruise) but not go totally buck-wild with things. After all, I have to be able to fit in my cute clothes I've spent all this money on for a full 2 weeks. Sooooo, I decided one way to be smart on my splurging is to bring breakfast shakes for myself. Or, because I love breakfast sooooo much, I could use them for lunches. Then, I know I've got a few excursions I'll be going on where food will be needed. To avoid eating what I shouldn't I'm going to bring some of the protein snack bars. Tracey needed some more snack bars for work so I had to place an order anyway. Worked out well. Everything is pre-packaged so we should be good to go to bring the stuff with us. I also have a few pre-packaged pouches of sliced almonds. I'll double-check but I think I can bring those with me, too. Those should be good for during shows (vs. my usual chocolate covered caramel corn). I'm saving my splurges for our upcharge dining, drinky-drinks, and the custom cake I'm prob'ly gonna order for our actual anniversary day. <--that's a surprise...gonna bring our little cherub cake topper from our wedding, too!

If I had the willpower to NOT eat all the dlicious oh so bad for you foods on the cruise, I would! lol I just got back into monitoring my meals on MyFitnessPal because I got a little off track with it....... Oops!! But that's awesome Kelly! You can do it! Be strong! Say NO to the chocolate caramel corn!!!

 

[Tiggerish]

We're going to hang out at the Poly til our ADR at Epcot at 4:30. If we didn't have AP's we probably would just skip Epcot but we want to get the most of those passes! You should come over and have lunch at Captain Cook's with us!!

And don't feel bad about buying lots of clothes.. in the last 2 weeks I've bought 2 new swimsuits, a pair of capris, a pair of shorts, a new cardigan and 6 dresses... Yes... 6... Possibly 7 if Ashley doesn't like the dress she ordered from Charlotte Russe. And all of them are cruise appropriate!! Woot Woot!! I will definitely be wearing a dress to dinner. I just love dressing up!! Now I need to decide which heels to bring. I'm trying to tell myself I only need my one pair, but the voice inside my head keeps saying "No, bring the nude pair, the black pair AND a pair of strappy sandals!!!" Oye!!!

Between the shoes and the dressing up, I think we may be related. LOL!

 

[Sans Souci]

I got my Mickey Mail on Monday.

I am actually at WDW right now. Yesterday, I was reading a book on our balcony, when I heard a noise. I looked up to find the person one floor above us, but next door one standing in his skivvies. This wasn't a brief, "I'm retrieving a pair of shorts that are drying out here." This was "Hey, I'm just going to chill and check everything out." Too funny.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I got my Mickey Mail on Monday.

I am actually at WDW right now. Yesterday, I was reading a book on our balcony, when I heard a noise. I looked up to find the person one floor above us, but next door one standing in his skivvies. This wasn't a brief, "I'm retrieving a pair of shorts that are drying out here." This was "Hey, I'm just going to chill and check everything out." Too funny.

Well there's a memorable Disney experience! LOL!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I got my Mickey Mail on Monday.

I am actually at WDW right now. Yesterday, I was reading a book on our balcony, when I heard a noise. I looked up to find the person one floor above us, but next door one standing in his skivvies. This wasn't a brief, "I'm retrieving a pair of shorts that are drying out here." This was "Hey, I'm just going to chill and check everything out." Too funny.

Lol

 

[Kerby626]

Got mine yesterday although gabby spotted it and thinks we are taking a trip poor thing mommy isn't saying a word

I've been shopping and ordering online but seem to be returning most as it doesn't fit right. It sucks living in a small town with little to no shopping

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I'm waiting for school to start and then I'm shopping!
Although I do have three tabs currently open from my some of my favorite stores with stuff already in the shopping cart...