I think we're ALL celebrating that, Kelly!
@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!
OK, wait--you can't swim, but went on Aquaduck? I'd have heart failure on Aquaduck. @sweetpee_1993 , I do sincerely appreciate the offer to help me snorkel. I will seriously try to prepare for it, I really would like to snorkel to see all the sea life, but a life jacket can't help you with a panic attack, I don't think! LOL
Maybe I'll just dress up for dinner and call it a day!
, I own 3 swimsuits, I'll bring 'em all. And dressy dresses for dinner.
I just bought more Disney clothing from hot Topic...including an Ariel dress..i mean I couldn't pass up 30% everything plus $1 shipping! Woohoo! Another new dress for the Cruise!
That is correct. Well I mean I can do a basic doggy paddle but that's about it. And with the aquaduck you're in a tube the entire time and at the end it spits you out on a water way thats a tad bit wider that the tube so you don't even go into a pool. I've gone on all kinds of water park rides because even if it does spit you out in a pool it's usually not deep.
All I know is, I am SO EXCITED!!! And I know Ashley and my Mom are too. 
That's what I saw on the Aquaduck video I watched on youtube was that you don't even land in a pool at the end. My Mom doesn't do a whole ton of slides but she has been a lot braver the past few trips. She did do Crush N Gusher at TL and also the inner tube rides, lazy river and family raft ride, but as far as slides go where you have to lay down on your back and cross your arms and feet, she's not all about that! She did one this past May and then was like no thanks! lol Hopefully we can get her on the Aquaduck!!
Totally off subject though, we got our KK package and Ashley and I were looking at the different cruises offered and we've decided we're going to tentatively plan for 2015 to take one of the European cruises! We have extended family we're going over to London to see so... why not take a cruise while we're over there?! I've been to Europe before but Ashley hasn't so we figure this would be perfect! Fingers crossed we fall in love with cruising next month!! I will admit, when I first read about this I had zero interest in going on a cruise. I'm a theme park kind of girl. The thought of just laying around on a beach doesn't appeal to me. I've been to the beach ONE time this summer and I live 5 minutes from it! I get bored laying on my towel, reading a book. But once I started reading other people's TRs about crusing I thought "hey this looks kind of fun!!" Even after we booked though, I was still not convinced it was going to be all that exciting. I am glad to say though, my outlook has completely changed. I don't think I have EVER been more excited for a trip in my life. I don't know if it's the fact I'm trying something new or the fact that during this trip I'll be doing something I've anted to do my whole life (swim with dolphins) or the fact that I'm going to be meeting and spending time with so many AWESOME ladies.. I like to think it's a combination of all three!
If you can find some first-timer TRs to read, definitely do. Like, @englanddg has a pretty good TR going that included his first cruise. His first day he mentioned that odd, uncomfortable feeling a bit but as his report goes on not only does it melt away, he falls in love. You can feel it. I hope I'm not scaring our first-timers! I just don't want any of you to possibly get in that moment and feel like there's something very wrong! It's okay! It's something new! You were a first-timer at WDW once, too, but if you were like me you don't remember it. First times are always awkward. (<--that statement can go soooooo awry...I know! 
) If you find yourself in that moment feeling that overwhelming feeling just take a breath and know that it's normal. You know it's normal because we're acknowledging it right now. From that moment forward things will get better. Just....dare I say.... Definitely wanted to do a quick once-over and the Cabanas set-up before we get there so nobody has to have a "What do I do with this???" moment. The walk-up windows by the pool will be a lot more limited in their offerings. Think chicken tenders, burgers, fries, some cold sandwiches, fruit, etc. Hey, those chicken tenders are flippin' good so don't write that option off either!
That's what I saw on the Aquaduck video I watched on youtube was that you don't even land in a pool at the end. My Mom doesn't do a whole ton of slides but she has been a lot braver the past few trips. She did do Crush N Gusher at TL and also the inner tube rides, lazy river and family raft ride, but as far as slides go where you have to lay down on your back and cross your arms and feet, she's not all about that! She did one this past May and then was like no thanks! lol Hopefully we can get her on the Aquaduck!!
Totally off subject though, we got our KK package and Ashley and I were looking at the different cruises offered and we've decided we're going to tentatively plan for 2015 to take one of the European cruises! We have extended family we're going over to London to see so... why not take a cruise while we're over there?! I've been to Europe before but Ashley hasn't so we figure this would be perfect! Fingers crossed we fall in love with cruising next month!! I will admit, when I first read about this I had zero interest in going on a cruise. I'm a theme park kind of girl. The thought of just laying around on a beach doesn't appeal to me. I've been to the beach ONE time this summer and I live 5 minutes from it! I get bored laying on my towel, reading a book. But once I started reading other people's TRs about crusing I thought "hey this looks kind of fun!!" Even after we booked though, I was still not convinced it was going to be all that exciting. I am glad to say though, my outlook has completely changed. I don't think I have EVER been more excited for a trip in my life. I don't know if it's the fact I'm trying something new or the fact that during this trip I'll be doing something I've anted to do my whole life (swim with dolphins) or the fact that I'm going to be meeting and spending time with so many AWESOME ladies.. I like to think it's a combination of all three!
@derelicte19 , I'm so happy you're excited! Cruising really is amazing. It's so different from the parks vacations but not in a bad way at all. It's just as awesome, just sooooo different. Some people find how drastically different it feels to be startling, especially if you're really set in your comfort zone of parks trips. The total difference in pace can throw some people off. Just keep in mind that it's something new that you won't show up and be owning the way you do your WDW trips. I'm hoping it will ultimately help to be there as part of a bigger group with many people having already cruised. That way if you start to get that "What now?" or "I'm lost!" feeling you have someone within arm's reach to give ya a hand.
@PartOfYourWorld mentioned in her TR having her overwhelming moment at Cabanas for lunch on embarkation day. First of all, we'll be onboard before things get super crazy. The restaurants won't be crazy packed when we arrive. I personally prefer the sit-down venue for lunch which is the usual first thing to do onboard. But, for speed so you can get to running around like a crazy person seeing the awesome-sauce of the ship, Cabanas is a great option. One thing people who've never been might not know right away is that Cabanas is a buffet but you don't line up like one. The food is set out in little "pods". Like there's a salad pod, a pasta pod, a bread pod, a meat & cheese pod, a hot dish pod, the peel-n-eat shrimp pod, etc. If you see food at a pod you want, just go to the pod. You don't have to be in a line to go pod to pod. Walk around, see what you want, and get it. Some people find it really chaotic in a bad way. I guess they are more accustomed to more stringent order. Honestly, it is kinda chaotic when Cabanas is super busy. So you wander around, fill your plate(s), then go find a table to plop down. No problem. You'll spot the drink stations all thru the restaurant, too.
On embarkation day there's plenty of food choices, tho. Generally people who board before the staterooms are ready go towards the grub. There will be CMs in the atrium sorta directing people where to go as soon as you board. I've found they often want to "steer" people by telling them "Welcome! Lunch is being served in Cabanas...right this way...." and they walk you to the elevator. Lunch is also being served in Enchanted Garden and at the walk-up windows on the pool decks. Just an FYI. EG will be a mini-version of the buffet at Cabanas with most of the same offerings arranged differently. You'll be greeted at the door, seated by the restaurant staff, then they get your drink order. It's kinda a blend of table-service and buffet as opposed to straight-up buffet. No need to wait around for a check when you're finished. When you finish just leave.
Usually we're in a hurry to eat so we can go play in the kids' clubs during Open House. I'm never growing up. LOL!
Yep. That's why we're doing the private transfer from WDW out to the port. One reason is because as a larger group we're saving a few bucks. But, the biggest reason is how late the transfers run from the resorts. By going with a private transfer we get to arrive when we say it's time. We say: LET US ON NOOOOOW!!!!!
Tracey & I had been on the fence about whether to stick with the private towncar transfer from Kidani to the port on 9/14 for our Fantasy voyage. It's costing us a bit more than if we took Disney's tranfers. We keep questioning ourselves whether or not it's worth it to get to the port early. Is the 2 hours really that big a deal? Would we rather just sleep in? Wouldn't it be easier and more relaxing just to take Disney's transfer? We're probably not going to try for a port upgrade so why hurry ourselves? Ultimately, I think we should pay the extra and stick with the private towncar because I don't want to get to that day and regret not going the earlier route.
Yes, especially on the pool decks, there will be tons of people running around. The energy is so high! Aaaaand, have I mentioned I've never been in a DCL pool? Well, my toe did dip in in 2 occasions but those were empty pools. I wouldn't get up in that chaos at the family pools for anything. Noooooo waaaaaaayyyyy!!!!
@plaz10 , @Kerby626 , @Sans Souci .... 
I'm soooooo sooooorry!!!! Yesterday I contacted a great lady on Etsy and worked out a custom order that I think will work out super good for us. And I paid for it out of my little "nest egg" from selling off a few dolls so no worries. I just feel so bad it won't be the incredible design I had envisioned which really would've been mind-blowing. So, hopefully y'all will find it in your hearts not to pitch me overboard when we get there. I think y'all will like what we're going to have even if it isn't this character-infused art piece. 
I think we may be almost close enough to call and ask for the list of movies. They'll tell you over the phone.
