Turkey Day Gang 2009

[ICEMANPAD]

But i bet we get 5000 like a couple years ago....:)

[The LK 4]

Well then.....we'd better start posting more often!!!! :cool1:

[Morgey24]

Good morning,
you all are the quietest meet group I've ever been on! Come on, people, let's rock this!:banana:

My "ship" is moving too slowly on my ticker, but too quickly, too, if you know what I mean. School is back in session and as of this week life will become a blur of PTA, Softball, CCD, Student Council, Band, and practices, lessons, homework and time-juggling!! I know that the next two months will go by in a blur.

And sitting here it just occurred to me that this will be the 2nd year in a row that I miss the day after Thanksgiving sales :sad2:... almost got trampled a couple of years ago in a Wal-mart while trying to get a $299 laptop. Never. Again.

I'm taking DexH on this trip - wish me luck. I'm trying to figure out how to subtly let our servers/steward know that while we share the same last name (for DD's sake or I would have changed it years ago) that we are not Mr. & Mrs. (maybe the twin bed configuration in the room will be a hint!:rotfl2:)

We actually get along fairly well since we've been divorced since DD was 1, and since then he remarried and then lost his 2nd wife to cancer :littleangel: and then he had degenerative hip disease so he was in a walker then wheelchair (under 40!) and then has had both hips replaced (with a good 8" of leg bone, too!) So he's been taken down a notch in his pain-in-the-butt status, if you know what I mean.

So we are both single and co-parenting our lovely DD and we will try to keep the peace for a week. But if you see me walking around with steam coming out of my ears you'll know why... (or, alternately, an officer leading me off to the brig because I pushed him overboard....pirate:... justkidding)

The only upside is because DexH needed a "walk in" shower (vs the very high tubs in standard staterooms) we have a Handicapped Cabin... and my first Verandah!! :cool1: So excited for that (even though I paid the differential. He wouldn't sail in a Cat 11 and there are no HA Cat 9's on the ship and the HA Cat 8's only accomodate 2 guests. I'm hoping DCL keeps this in mind on the new ships.)

And we are trying to keep it a secret for DD. 1) because this (i.e. family harmony, mom and dad getting along, blah blah blah) is something she's always wanted and 2) because he has a history of backing out of things. Better to let her know on November 21st, IMO, when his bags are in the trunk.

Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...
Have an awesome weekend.

[Mickeyhugger]

Very impressive story, Morgey.:) Even though you mentioned you and your DexH get along FAIRLY well, it's still better than most people I know. I'm sure many children also wish that his/her mom and dad got along that well.:)

I used to be 'up and at 'em' at the post-Thanksgiving sales too. I LOVED the deals I got at Toys R Us (when DD was in preschool, then elementary.) We've done two DCL Thanksgiving cruises in recent years though, so I've missed out on the sales. Also, I now work in retail, so I'm on 'the other side' of the register the day after Thanksgiving.:lmao: Fortunately (for me) we don't open early, and we don't have sales. (I know, unusual, huh?)

Priscilla

[lck33]

Love seeing my ticker going down. Yea!! We are so excited in this house. All we have been talking about are the different excursions (Hoping we get to do a couple of them). The wait will be over this coming week as we get to finally book. Yea! :cool1:

We watched the behind the scenes disney cruise show this morning while lying in bed, and my DD says "Mommy - Can we have breakfast in bed on the cruise?" I said yes but even better, we can have Mickey Bars in bed. :banana::lovestruc:banana: She said for breakfast? I said Sure, why not, we are on vacation! She squealed with excitement! :goodvibes

Any ideas on the movies they may show? I read they are coming back out with Toy Story and Toy Story II, or the new princess and the frog, or maybe even the 3-D christmas carol. These were all in the Disney Files magazine, so thinking maybe? :confused3

Oh my, I can't believe I feel like a little kid, giddy with excitement and still have over 2 months to go....:rotfl2:

Elsie

[miksilver]

Ooopps. Sorry I just posted here thinking that this was the 4-day Thanksgiving cruise and then realized it was the one for the Magic. Off to go find the correct one. Have a good cruise.

[Mickeyhugger]

But i bet we get 5000 like a couple years ago....:)

you think big:rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:

Rob

[alwayslisad]

I think we can hit 5000 if we all type one line per post....what do you think?

we are getting excited here - planning meals for the condo and Charlie and Renee are dying to know what they will be eatting on TDAY

can someone list the goodies that are available for Tday Dinner?

[sherreis]

Hi everyone! I'm posting cause DS9 wants to see our ticker and I don't feel like looking for any of my recent posts.

I was in Annapolis for most of the week for work. Going back down in 2 weeks. Looks like I'm going to have to go the day we get home from our cruise. Won't have time to work on pictures and stuff and it means that DH will have to unpack -yeah, right.

I've assigned DH and both DSs to research excursions and that they have till the end of the week. Again -- yeah, right.

Oh well....

[lynnivey]

My mom came over to help me put together our first FE!! I'm so excited to participate in our first exchange. I bought the material a few weeks ago and we worked on designing it today. She took it home to saw it together. Of course my boys kept asking what it was and we told them it was for mail. I still haven't told them we're going and still trying to figure out how to surprise them.

My best friend went with me and my boys last year to the Very Merry Christmas Party on a Thursday night (December 3rd) and it was wonderful because of the low crowds. Do you think the Friday night before the cruise will be that bad? I originally had to work that Friday so we were going to drive down at night and hope the boys would fall asleep so they wouldn't know how far we traveled since they didn't know we are going on the cruise. Now I'm thinking of leaving Friday morning and telling them we're going to Disney World for that Friday night and not mention the cruise. That at least justifies the long car ride. After the party, drive to the hotel I've booked in Cocoa Beach and I'm sure they'll sleep for that. Wake up Saturday morning and they won't know what is going on!!

Oh well, that's all I can think of right now. I've got to figure out what all to get for my FE gifts. Hope everyone has a wonderful evening!!

Lynn:flower3:

[sherreis]

My mom came over to help me put together our first FE!! I'm so excited to participate in our first exchange. I bought the material a few weeks ago and we worked on designing it today. She took it home to saw it together. Of course my boys kept asking what it was and we told them it was for mail. I still haven't told them we're going and still trying to figure out how to surprise them.

My best friend went with me and my boys last year to the Very Merry Christmas Party on a Thursday night (December 3rd) and it was wonderful because of the low crowds. Do you think the Friday night before the cruise will be that bad? I originally had to work that Friday so we were going to drive down at night and hope the boys would fall asleep so they wouldn't know how far we traveled since they didn't know we are going on the cruise. Now I'm thinking of leaving Friday morning and telling them we're going to Disney World for that Friday night and not mention the cruise. That at least justifies the long car ride. After the party, drive to the hotel I've booked in Cocoa Beach and I'm sure they'll sleep for that. Wake up Saturday morning and they won't know what is going on!!

Oh well, that's all I can think of right now. I've got to figure out what all to get for my FE gifts. Hope everyone has a wonderful evening!!

Lynn:flower3:

Lynn - the 2 surpises are priceless. I am so glad we surprised our boys with thier WDW trip last October. I would think that Friday night before the cruise wouldn't be too bad - compared to the weekend we get back from the cruise when Thanksgiving vacationers are still there. We're still thinking about going to the party on Friday night since we're staying at POP the 2 nights before the cruise. DH will stay back at the resort. I also made ADR at Chef Mickey's for that Friday morning - just in case my aunt and uncle would like to come to WDW to visit with us instead of us going to their house.

[lynnivey]

Good morning all!!

Questions for the professionals! We went on our first Mickey Cruise in June and we had a verandah. Since I couldn't shake the "bug", I booked the Turkey Day Cruise and I'm trying to spend the least amount of money as possible! I booked a category 11 (room 7543) which is across the hall from our last room. When I checked last night, it shows some of the sideways category 11's (5501, 5505, 5509, 5513) are available. For anyone that has stayed in those rooms, are they that much better? I liked being on deck 7 for location, but if the layout for space is that much better, I may try to call tomorrow to change (if they are still available).

I'm not planning on booking any excursions but if anyone has any "cheap" ideas, I would appreciate them. I'm thinking of just taking a cab to Megan's Bay and doing beach stuff while in port. If not, I really enjoy staying on the boat when most everyone else is off! It's been 20 years since I've been to St. Thomas and St. Maarten, so I can only imagine how much it has changed.

Have a great day!!
Lynn:flower3:

[alwayslisad]

Ok - looking at another board about St. Maarten

Orient Beach - we are spending two hours there - is that a nude beach? :confused3

Also when we get off the Magic in St. Maarten do we have to take a water taxi to get to the main land? I am looking at a lot of pics of water taxi's

This is our excursion:


GROUP TOUR

$35 per person (cash or Credit Card).



All day tour includes sightseeing, beach and shopping.

9:00am - 11:30am ~ Sightseeing
11:30am - 1:30pm ~ Orient Beach
1:45pm - 3:30pm ~ Shopping in Philipsburg


The tour will consist of the following stops.

Great Bay overlooking Phillipsburg and harbor.
Cayhill overlooking Simpson Bay marina.
Sunset Beach bar ( Maho Beach ) where you can see the planes land right over your head.
Marigot - open market (French Capital).
Hilltop at Orient Bay overlooking the beach.
Swim at Orient Beach for two hours.
Return to Philipsburg.


Note: Shopping at the famous Rima's store will be for 20 minutes.

Note: Each scenic stop will be between 5 to 10 minutes.
Note: The Marigot open market will be a 40 minute stop.

[eeyoremommy]

DGM and DGD (my parents) are now participating with FEs. I posted their stuff.

[Mickeyhugger]

Ok - looking at another board about St. Maarten

Orient Beach - we are spending two hours there - is that a nude beach? :confused3

Also when we get off the Magic in St. Maarten do we have to take a water taxi to get to the main land? I am looking at a lot of pics of water taxi's

This is our excursion:


GROUP TOUR

$35 per person (cash or Credit Card).



All day tour includes sightseeing, beach and shopping.

9:00am - 11:30am ~ Sightseeing
11:30am - 1:30pm ~ Orient Beach
1:45pm - 3:30pm ~ Shopping in Philipsburg


The tour will consist of the following stops.

Great Bay overlooking Phillipsburg and harbor.
Cayhill overlooking Simpson Bay marina.
Sunset Beach bar ( Maho Beach ) where you can see the planes land right over your head.
Marigot - open market (French Capital).
Hilltop at Orient Bay overlooking the beach.
Swim at Orient Beach for two hours.
Return to Philipsburg.


Note: Shopping at the famous Rima's store will be for 20 minutes.

Note: Each scenic stop will be between 5 to 10 minutes.
Note: The Marigot open market will be a 40 minute stop.

Part of it is topless and the other end is clothing optional:scared1::scared1: we have been there a few times when our DD was younger now that she is 15 we will not be going back.

Rob

[trace]

Hi all!

I'm back after being away a week and trying to catch up. The last time I posted was after midnight on the 23rd...we couldn't make any reservations!

We got up at 5am to try again..no luck. BTW, we were leaving for our cottage vacation that morning. After trying again for 2 more hours, I ended up phoning the website at 9am.

As it turns out, the lady told me we couldn't do anything cause we hadn't paid!!! WELL...we'd paid almost a month before!!! :scared1:

She said I had to contact my travel agent. Grrr..it was Sunday!

SO...we left for the boonies (no internet!) and the next day, we called our agent ASAP. Apparently, NO transactions were made at Disney that day. NOthing went through: checks, credit cards etc.

We were relieved it wasn't our fault, and our agent ended up booking our stuff for us. *phew*

We got Palo on Wed at 7pm, our first choice, so that was nice.


Well, that's our looong story. Had to vent.

Love the idea with the kids' board...unfortunately, we're also keeping this trip a secret, at least for a few more weeks. We're sending them on a Scavenger Hunt. I know my oldest will LOVE to go on and chat with others then!!


Have a good night all!

[ICEMANPAD]

We almost stayed in a sideways cat 11 on the Wonder - but we upgraded at the port...that said, they are supposed to be nice and feel slightly larger than a regular cat 11...the only negative I can give you is the location at the front of the ship...if you are prone to seasickness, you are generally better off midship or aft.

Chuck:cool1:

[pillow]

Part of it is topless and the other end is clothing optional:scared1::scared1: we have been there a few times when our DD was younger now that she is 15 we will not be going back.

Rob

From what I understand, ALL Caribbean beaches are clothing optional. We ran into this in Europe on our Med cruise in 2007. For us, it really wasn't a big deal. The kids giggled at first, but then got used to it pretty quickly and then just ignored it.

Jodie

[MommyMinnie]

Hi guys,

Just popping in to say I've updated eeyoremommy.

Sherry, I take your note to mean your parents decided to participate after all? I'm glad, they will have a great time.

The cruise is up to 30 rooms as of today. It's going to be a great one!

[Mickeyhugger]

From what I understand, ALL Caribbean beaches are clothing optional. We ran into this in Europe on our Med cruise in 2007. For us, it really wasn't a big deal. The kids giggled at first, but then got used to it pretty quickly and then just ignored it.

Jodie

Not so sure about all beaches in the Caribbean being clothing optional. We have been to a lot of beaches in the Caribbean and so far orient beach was the only one were we saw topless/ no clothes:thumbsup2 I know that there are other clothing optional beaches out there but I do not think it is the norm.:thumbsup2

Rob

[ratt1345]

Trace, great to hear that you got the ressie you wanted. I would have had my heart pounding so hard, the next county would have heard it!!!!

As for a nude beach, I got my first and only taste of one when I was in Nice, France in '85. What I saw should have had clothes on!!!:scared1:Yes, I said clothes and not bathing suit. It was THAT bad. I don't care to be at another one of those beaches again!!!

Mommyminnie, did I see that right? 30 rooms particpating in FE!?!? that is great.

82 days to go!!!:cool1::banana::woohoo:

Charlie

[Mickeyhugger]

Trace, great to hear that you got the ressie you wanted. I would have had my heart pounding so hard, the next county would have heard it!!!!

As for a nude beach, I got my first and only taste of one when I was in Nice, France in '85. What I saw should have had clothes on!!!:scared1:Yes, I said clothes and not bathing suit. It was THAT bad. I don't care to be at another one of those beaches again!!!

Mommyminnie, did I see that right? 30 rooms particpating in FE!?!? that is great.

82 days to go!!!:cool1::banana::woohoo:

Charlie

Hey Charlie

The ones that I saw at Orient beach need clothes on too:rotfl2::rotfl2:

Rob

[Morgey24]

Good morning all!!

Questions for the professionals! We went on our first Mickey Cruise in June and we had a verandah. Since I couldn't shake the "bug", I booked the Turkey Day Cruise and I'm trying to spend the least amount of money as possible! I booked a category 11 (room 7543) which is across the hall from our last room. When I checked last night, it shows some of the sideways category 11's (5501, 5505, 5509, 5513) are available. For anyone that has stayed in those rooms, are they that much better? I liked being on deck 7 for location, but if the layout for space is that much better, I may try to call tomorrow to change (if they are still available).

Have a great day!!
Lynn:flower3:

Hi Lynn,
the Sideways Cat 11's are supposed to be really nice (my TA loves them) and they are super convenient to the kids clubs but those that you have listed on 5 are all of the way forward. Some people say it matters in terms of feeling the motion of the ocean :woohoo: (oops, not that kind :rolleyes1), but others like me don't care where we are on the ship as long as we are on the ship!
People do report that they feel larger because of the configuration, but it puts the kids closer to the door of the cabin and, personally, I like to be a barrier between the door & my kiddo.

On the other hand, the 7th deck is right near the "not so secret" public verandah so that's a plus, IMO.

It's going to be terrific anyway you go!

PS - we've never been to Orient Beach... there were lots of topless folks when I went to the beaches in Germany a million years ago; those girls, however, were generally lovely and made me feel like a schlump.

[alwayslisad]

Hiya all -- hope all are doing well - just getting more and more excited each day! :cloud9:

DSis and I are now both in GTY12's so our rooms on the FE's are not right - we will get the rooms a month before I am told - :rolleyes1 so I have to be patient I guess

I am not sure if I told you all that my DD can now drive our cars :scared1:
Well two weeks ago - while driving my SUV - she said a car hit her in the parking lot - so I was ok with it - when my baby (SUV) got home I went to look at it - the mark was far toooooo big for a car.... I asked her if she hit anything and she said nope... a few days later she and I were picking up her friend and I noticed a large mark on the HOUSE - so I asked her to get out of the car and look - lo and behold the mark was the HOUSE PAINT not a car...
: sigh :

Yesterday I asked her to run to the bakery for some bread for dinner - I watched her back down our driveway and smack into our landscaping wall - sadly Daddy's Baby (his truck) fared far worse - FARRRRRRRR - it got PINNED :scared1: between the stairs and wall - that boo boo will cost about $300 - $500 out of pocket for us - well her -- guess her spending money for the cruise is a LOOOOOTTT less now...

Sigh....DISNEY TAKE ME AWAY!!

[MommyMinnie]

Hi Lisa,

I updated you to GTY 12's and took the nephews off your group. Just keep sending updates till you board and I should be able to keep the blog updated.

Have ya'll been keeping up with the Castaway Cay upgrades scheduled for next year? I swore to myself April would be my last cruise but I just might be wrong.

[eeyoremommy]

Yes mommyminnie, I've convinced my mom to do it. She is always up for secret pals, secret santa, those types of things. I knew she'd enjoy the FE.

Charlie, I told my dad the same thing that you're telling everyone here about those with clothes off shouldn't have. He said that he didn't care. It was worth the risk to see even one that should have them off. With a DS 5, I don't think DS, DD, and I will trek to the beach. DS is the type to comment on why that large person isn't wearing clothes and what a big splash he/she must make or worse. I still hope those that go enjoy.

[alwayslisad]

Hello all :)

Since I had a day off today - and the afternoon to do nothing - of course I spent my time DIS'ing...
so GTY rooms - for Category 12 have only 13 rooms - I am pretty certain there are more than 13 people registered to this category - so meaning SOME people will get upgrades --

now not sure if this will play into anything - but heck it was fun - also taking into account that some rooms will open up after the Deadline for final payments are made - the rooms could change...

so here is my boredom -- the rooms NOW available at DCL site - for each category -- HEHE -- category 8 and category 10 have "NO AVAILABILITY"

Cat11
6019
6521
6313
6011
6141
6311
6309

Cat9
2562
2078
2080
2580
2082
2088
2050
2550

Cat7
6636
6638
7622
7124
7624
7626
7628

Cat6
6542
5122
5622
5124
5624
5126
5626
5128

Cat5
7068
7112
7114
7614
7116
7118
7064
7052

Cat4
8044
8552
8554
8556
8558
8060
8560
8062


Phew DH is now home so I can be an adult again and should probably stop playing :)

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/cruisefamilyblank.jpg

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/160914princesskaren.jpg

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/160914MASONHSM.jpg

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo319/RustManFan/Disney%20Stuff/Disney%20Cruise%20Line/Magic-4.jpg

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

On the other hand, the 7th deck is right near the "not so secret" public verandah so that's a plus, IMO.


Gasp...you don't mean my "private and extra large verandah" do you? Seriously, our inside (category 11) cabin is just around the corner from that "secret" deck and most times when I was out there it was just me! So, we began to jokingly call it my personal "private and extra large verandah!"

Sigh....the cruise is much too far away!

Kare

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/160914princesskaren.jpg


Yeah but...it's been a frog kind of a day:sad1:! Thanks Wendy, I do love to see all the magnets as it makes the cruise seem not quite as far away.

Karen

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://dc149.4shared.com/img/129122907/9e03109f/fallmh.jpg?sizeM=3

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://dc149.4shared.com/img/129122857/e2b68eed/Thanksgiving09.jpg?sizeM=3

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

http://dc149.4shared.com/img/129122907/9e03109f/fallmh.jpg?sizeM=3

LOVE this one!!!! I wonder if we'd get into licensing issues if we tried a design like this? Guess it would have to go on a white shirt though...and I can never wear a white shirt without getting something on it! (Why is it that red pasta sauce always finds a way of glopping down the front of my shirt...particularly if I have an important meeting that day?)

Hope everyone is well. By the way Wendy, what "version" of Adobe Photoshop do you use? We went looking and there's like 7 different versions out there :scared1:!

Karen

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Just trying to bump the numbers....

We are a couple of days into the new school year. All is well so far.

We are working to get our final arrangements made also.

Looks like the FE group is going to be great.

w

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Karen/Andrew:

We use Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop elements. I will have my laptop on the cruise. We can have a Dis graphics lesson. It would be fun.

w

[ICEMANPAD]

Karen - i seem to recall you cat 11 was kinda nicer than most cat 11's..

Wendy - lisa will love to add more door signs to our collection...we have enough to decorate by theme of each day...LOL

and about the cat 12 gty - cat 12 rooms only hold 3 people, so what a lot of folks do if they have 4 people is book a cat 12 gty b/c they will always get bumped up to a cabin that sleeps 4 people....that said, there are a lot of vacancies as of now... i know b/c we already switched to Florida resident rate and they are offering to cast members i hear (though i cannot say where i heard that)...thus, you stand a decent chance of scoring an 11 or 9...the 10's go fast b/c they cost about the same as an 11, but have more space and the double bath...there are very few 8's to begin with.

Chuck:cool1:

[Ima Princess]

Hooooo boy! I've been away from the boards for a while and y'all have been chatty! :laughing:

I did a quick look at the last few pages and:

Wendy, I **LOVE** the autumn leaf Mickey! (the same one Karen likes)

Karen, thanks for getting the kids board set up. My DD Megan has been chatting with a few of the kids -- Lindsey, Andrew, Taylor... Apparently, there will be a lot of pin trading. :cutie:

We have Palo dinner on Sunday night -- the Golden Mickey night -- and brunch on Thanksgiving. Mmmmmmm....

If anyone is doing the Castaway Parasailing -- what time did you book? DH & DD have the 10:30am slot.

And my most exciting :goodvibes news -- I got the job I interviewed for! :cool1: I will be working at a local elementary school screening kids K - 3rd grade on literacy skills. Those who fall below a certain benchmark get additional assistance from me through the year, and are re-evaluated at the end of the year. I truly feel it's the perfect job for me: I am passionate about reading, I love those younger kids (I work with the same ages at my church) and I will have summers off with my girls! I expect it will be challenging, yet hopefully rewarding. School doesn't start here until the 8th, so I will SAVOR these last few days of summer! :rotfl:

So, due to the new job (income + time off) we will likely be FLYING to MCO instead of driving to the port. I was not looking forward to the looong, Thanksgiving-weekend drive up I-95, so I'm thrilled!

Have a great week!

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Christine, congratulations on the new job! That is wonderful...and reading teachers are very special as they unlock the entire world for a child! Reading has always been one of my biggest pleasures in life and my heart always breaks when I see a child struggle with reading. I've had books take me to imaginary places...far away lands...conversations with "dear friends" that I've never met...and incredible laughs with inept bounty hunters who are always blowing up cars (if you've never read the "numbers" books by Janet Evanovich....pick one up and you'll know what I mean). I couldn't imagine not loving reading!

Wendy, I know Andrew and I both would love a lesson (or 50) on Adobe Photoshop!

Can anyone please make my ticker move faster...I need a cruise NOW!!!!

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Karen - i seem to recall you cat 11 was kinda nicer than most cat 11's..



Sssshhhhhh! Yes, I do love a cabin that you can park 3 to 4 Cooper Mini's in! We've got the same cabin this time too! :banana::love::worship:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Chuck,

I think last time we struggled to get to 2,000 and now you want us to get to 5,000 :faint:!

Well, just doing my part tonight....

Karen

[sherreis]

Karen/Andrew:

We use Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop elements. I will have my laptop on the cruise. We can have a Dis graphics lesson. It would be fun.

w

Count me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sherreis]

Congratulations Christine! A good reading teacher can make all the difference in the world. I know it from personal experience with Joey - his first grade teacher was a reading specialist and taught him how to read when he was so far behind at the time.

[izma]

http://dc149.4shared.com/img/129122907/9e03109f/fallmh.jpg?sizeM=3


OK...just checking in to let you all know that I have not...jumped ship! Just having a busy summer. Things should settle down now that the kids are back in school and we're starting to get into a routine!

I love this graphic...can I copy it?

Les

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Christine: Congratulations !!

It sounds like it will a fun year with the little kids !

Wendy

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

OK...just checking in to let you all know that I have not...jumped ship! Just having a busy summer. Things should settle down now that the kids are back in school and we're starting to get into a routine!

I love this graphic...can I copy it?

Les


COPY AWAY....

Also if anyone needs DISigns personalized or has a favorite character they like. I will see what I can do..

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Just a note... The door magnet fairy will be out during the cruise.... You may have a couple of special magnets show up on your door....

If you would like to put in a request for a birthday, anniversary.... A favorite port... Just let me know.


Beware.... Pirate Night is Tinkerbell 99 Mom's favorite !!

[pillow]

If anyone is doing the Castaway Parasailing -- what time did you book? DH & DD have the 10:30am slot.



Congrats on your new job!

My dd and I have 9:30 parasailing, and my dh and ds have a 3:30 slot - should be fun!! :cool1:

As far as the nudity on the beaches . . . I think I was born about 20 years too late (should have been running around during the 60's instead of the 80's)! I couldn't care less about naked people. As a matter of fact, I think it makes things a bit more . . . interesting! ;)

Jodie

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Jodie,

You are the rebel! :hippie: So glad you have taken over this role from me....

Hmmm...so how old are you?

Karen

[pillow]

Jodie,

You are the rebel! :hippie: So glad you have taken over this role from me....

Hmmm...so how old are you?

Karen

. . . almost 42 . . . (can't you tell?) - mid-life crisis time. 20 more pounds to go, and I'm getting a bellybutton ring and tatoo!! Oh yeah, and then I'm gonna find a nude beach to parade around on!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Jodie

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

. . . almost 42 . . . (can't you tell?) - mid-life crisis time. 20 more pounds to go, and I'm getting a bellybutton ring and tatoo!! Oh yeah, and then I'm gonna find a nude beach to parade around on!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Jodie

Jodie,

Didn't anyone ever teach you etiquette? You must post a warning on posts like this one to save people's screens when they laugh (choke and spray)!

Hmmm...and my mid-life crisis only meant getting 12 inches cut off my hair. ...I think I like your version better (all except the part about the belly button ring...I still remember how my belly button felt when I was pregnant and how it felt from my surgery. I still can't even work up the courage to hardly touch mine...YUCK!)

Karen

[The LK 4]

Christine - congratulations!!!

Wow - 30 rooms for the FE group! I had better find what I've purchased already so I make sure I have enough for each room. :)

Wendy - I love the designs you are creating!

[ratt1345]

Congrats Christine!!!!:cool1::goodvibes:thumbsup2:woohoo:

Charlie

[lynnivey]

I'm 41+ too and I'm about 40 lbs away from the hippy look!! Of course if I don't lose the weight before the cruise, I'm sure I could clear a large portion of the nude beach to make room for my DIS friends:rotfl:! They would run for the hills or throw a bathing suit at me to cover up!!

I would love some help with magnets!! I love the Mickey ears thingy with the fall leaves....would you be able to put writing in that, etc? I was going to check out the cruise magnet thread to try to find some for my boys (7 & 5).

I'm also excited to see so many posts all of a sudden! This is my only place to "talk" cruise since my boys don't know they are going!

Have a great day!
Lynn:flower3:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Lynn,

You are really good at keeping a secret. I think I would have popped by now! I can't imagine how excited your boys will be when they find out.

We thought about "torturing" Andrew on our first cruise by just telling him we were going to Disney world and then saying on Saturday that I thought it would be fun to go and see the ship leave port and dream about a cruise in our future...but alas, I was too weak and had to spill the beans!

Needless to say, he was so excited when we told him that I was sure his jumping up and down would register on the Richter scale!

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Wow...30 cabins! That's terrific!!!!!

Karen

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

I'm 41+ too and I'm about 40 lbs away from the hippy look!! Of course if I don't lose the weight before the cruise, I'm sure I could clear a large portion of the nude beach to make room for my DIS friends:rotfl:! They would run for the hills or throw a bathing suit at me to cover up!!

I would love some help with magnets!! I love the Mickey ears thingy with the fall leaves....would you be able to put writing in that, etc? I was going to check out the cruise magnet thread to try to find some for my boys (7 & 5).

I'm also excited to see so many posts all of a sudden! This is my only place to "talk" cruise since my boys don't know they are going!

Have a great day!
Lynn:flower3:


We could do a surprise letter for the boys and I can also personalize some magnets for them if you need me too. Just let me know names and what they like???

[bigeskimodog]

Congrats on your new job!

My dd and I have 9:30 parasailing, and my dh and ds have a 3:30 slot - should be fun!! :cool1:

As far as the nudity on the beaches . . . I think I was born about 20 years too late (should have been running around during the 60's instead of the 80's)! I couldn't care less about naked people. As a matter of fact, I think it makes things a bit more . . . interesting! ;)

Jodie

Jodie, from my recollection last time at Orient Beach, people were at least 60 years too late for walking around so ... "freely". If you ever seen "There's Something About Mary" or "The Hangover", you know what I mean. ;)

[bigeskimodog]

Thanks for the offer on doing Magnets, Wendy.

I am making my first attempt on Door Signs creation. Being a computer guy the technicals aren't that hard. The creativity proves to be the bigger challenge. Luckily I found most of what I needed from the DisSigns thread.

I use a free program call PhotoScape and it seems to work fine. Downloaded some Disney Fonts to help "Magicize" the pictures. Printed some on Magnet Paper and now just have to Laminate them. I order some self-Adhesive Laminate sheets for that purpose as I don't want to laminate the Magnet side. Hopefully this will turn out OK.

At this rate we have a real chance at #5000 :)

Chun

[eeyoremommy]

Happy Tuesday! Just trying to help on the way to 5000:)

[alwayslisad]

Yesyes Happy Tuesday -- :banana:

[izma]

Ok...so we did this to our kids last year. We gave them one letter each month for 12 months. D I S N E Y C R U I S E . I scrambled them of course. They figured it out, for certain, about a month before the cruise. They were very excited. Funny part was that we did not tell them we were going to WDW before the cruise. We told them they had an orthodontist appointment and picked them up from school at noon. The suitcases were in the back of my Pilot. They were screaming and laughing. When they settled down I told them we were going to WDW. They were beside themselves BUT thought we were going to WDW instead of the cruise. Then I told them we were doing both....they were in complete disbelief!

Even funnier...last morning we were going for breakfast on the ship and they were lamenting that they couldn't believe we had to go home today. When my husband and I looked at each other and giggled, they were stunned.

"we're going back to WDW for a couple of days...to finish up"

They don't believe ANYTHING I say now! :lmao:

Lynn,

You are really good at keeping a secret. I think I would have popped by now! I can't imagine how excited your boys will be when they find out.

We thought about "torturing" Andrew on our first cruise by just telling him we were going to Disney world and then saying on Saturday that I thought it would be fun to go and see the ship leave port and dream about a cruise in our future...but alas, I was too weak and had to spill the beans!

Needless to say, he was so excited when we told him that I was sure his jumping up and down would register on the Richter scale!

Karen

[izma]

COPY AWAY....

Also if anyone needs DISigns personalized or has a favorite character they like. I will see what I can do..

It's lovely! I will have to go back and have a look at all your work!:cheer2:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Thanks for the offer on doing Magnets, Wendy.

I am making my first attempt on Door Signs creation. Being a computer guy the technicals aren't that hard. The creativity proves to be the bigger challenge. Luckily I found most of what I needed from the DisSigns thread.

I use a free program call PhotoScape and it seems to work fine. Downloaded some Disney Fonts to help "Magicize" the pictures. Printed some on Magnet Paper and now just have to Laminate them. I order some self-Adhesive Laminate sheets for that purpose as I don't want to laminate the Magnet side. Hopefully this will turn out OK.

At this rate we have a real chance at #5000 :)

Chun

Chun:

Keep on trucking with the DISigns.... Please post a few !!!!

Thanks

[lynnivey]

We could do a surprise letter for the boys and I can also personalize some magnets for them if you need me too. Just let me know names and what they like???

Thanks Wendy!! I would love to get them a few magnets. We had one made for our cruise in June that had all of our names on it (beach chairs). This time I would like to have their own. Since this is our 2nd cruise and I know what it's all about now, I want to go all out with the magnets and the FE. My little one (Nicholas) loved Goofy. If I knew how to post a picture, I would post a great one of him and Goofy from the boat. My oldest one (Garrett) I guess would pick something from POTC....he's a huge Halo (Xbox game) fan, but that would be hard to find!!

I couldn't wait for the boys to finish their homework so I could get back on tonight to see if our roll was going with postings.....

Lynn:flower3:

[lynnivey]

On our last cruise, my oldest didn't seem to like the kid's club that much. I thought I read somewhere that the CM's may allow you to move your child up but they couldn't go back and forth. Since this is his 2nd cruise (he's 7) and he was pretty board with the kid's club for his age, should I move him up (if they let him) and separate him from my little one (5)? The last time they didn't seem to play together while they were in there and the little one didn't want to go and leave me anyway. If Garrett was already 8 they would be separated anyway, so what would you do? Is there any other 7 year olds going that is going to check into moving their child up? Is it something I need to request a head of time or when we check in? I'm hoping my little one will meet kids his age (hopefully from this board) that he could hang out with and not miss his brother being in there. I'd rather at least one of mine to want to go and have fun and deal with the other if he doesn't, than to deal with both not wanting to go!! Now I'm just rambling......thanks for listening and any opinions or what you would do is appreciated!

Lynn:flower3:

[eeyoremommy]

Lynn,
I think all you have to do is let them know that you want your 7 yo with the 8 yo group. DS turned 5 on our first cruise. We asked ahead of time about letting him do a little of both prior to his birthday. There was no problem. A few things he had to do as a guest because we initially checked him in with the 3-4s, but you shouldn't have that if you start off with the 8+'s. Let him try the older group. He can also move back down if it doesn't work out. I've got a 5 yo for your younger son to meet.
Sherry

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Thanks Wendy!! I would love to get them a few magnets. We had one made for our cruise in June that had all of our names on it (beach chairs). This time I would like to have their own. Since this is our 2nd cruise and I know what it's all about now, I want to go all out with the magnets and the FE. My little one (Nicholas) loved Goofy. If I knew how to post a picture, I would post a great one of him and Goofy from the boat. My oldest one (Garrett) I guess would pick something from POTC....he's a huge Halo (Xbox game) fan, but that would be hard to find!!

I couldn't wait for the boys to finish their homework so I could get back on tonight to see if our roll was going with postings.....

Lynn:flower3:




Lynn:

How about this for Garrett???? Halo Reach is suppose to be cool????

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/Garrett.jpg

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/uploads/160914/Nicholas.jpg

[lynnivey]

Those are both great!!! Thank you! I'll print them off at work tomorrow and work on turning them into magnets. I saw some on the magnet board that was the life preservers with characters standing behind them with names on them. I thought those were cute too.

I guess I'll turn in for the night since my DH is wanting to get on the computer to play Mafia wars on FB....good night!
Lynn

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

So I found out today that I start my new job on October 19 :cool1::cool1:! The only problem is that I'm in Boston from the 9th to the 15th for my old job...so I get a whopping 1 day off. Guess I was wicked in another life! (You know...no rest for the wicked!)

Ah well....my mantra is...only 78 more days 'til we begin the drive to Disney...only 78 more days 'til we begin the drive to Disney!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!! (And yes, I'm worse than Andrew when it comes to being excited!)

Karen

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Karen:

I think I am the most excited person in my house also. We are on a super busy fall schedule with work also!!! I will sooooo READY for the cruise to get here.

We start Fall Football Saturday. Marshall University... The Thundering Herd..... WE ARE MARSHALL ( Did anyone see the movie??)) That will help us pass the time. We are really big fans...

wendy

[bigeskimodog]

On our last cruise, my oldest didn't seem to like the kid's club that much. I thought I read somewhere that the CM's may allow you to move your child up but they couldn't go back and forth. Since this is his 2nd cruise (he's 7) and he was pretty board with the kid's club for his age, should I move him up (if they let him) and separate him from my little one (5)? The last time they didn't seem to play together while they were in there and the little one didn't want to go and leave me anyway. If Garrett was already 8 they would be separated anyway, so what would you do? Is there any other 7 year olds going that is going to check into moving their child up? Is it something I need to request a head of time or when we check in? I'm hoping my little one will meet kids his age (hopefully from this board) that he could hang out with and not miss his brother being in there. I'd rather at least one of mine to want to go and have fun and deal with the other if he doesn't, than to deal with both not wanting to go!! Now I'm just rambling......thanks for listening and any opinions or what you would do is appreciated!

Lynn:flower3:


Lynn,
We are also going to try checking Nathan (7) into the lab instead. Last time he wasn't too impress with the club and pretty much stick with us the whole cruise. I read somewhere that the CMs are flexible and will listen to parent's request. so maybe he and Garrett can hook up.

Looking at the Oceaneer Lab activities, I think it will suit the mature 7 yrs old just fine.

Chun

[bigeskimodog]

First Attempt


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kd7iE6YI/AAAAAAAAAGs/kKN8dOGTfhU/s800/SorcererMickeylifepreserver3.png.jpg

[bigeskimodog]

2nd attempt


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kFhpScQI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ufe3ZQ9S7co/s800/MinnieMickeyLifesaver-cust.jpg

[bigeskimodog]

3rd

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kHZY1jOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/043qfqvbUQk/s800/2009TG-3deckcsg.jpg

[bigeskimodog]

Last for now (contributing to 5000)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kEMc0zeI/AAAAAAAAAGI/SCvCFfLPp9M/s800/2009TG-MagicHappens.jpg

[The LK 4]

Those are great, Chun! I loved the "We are only doing this for the kid" line. :rotfl:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Good morning everyone!

You all may (or may not) know that I write grants for human service agencies. Well, since January (I kid you not) I have been waiting for HUD to announce their 811 and 202 programs. The 811 program provides housing and wrap-around social services for very low income disabled individuals and the 202 program provides housing and supportive services for low and very low income elderly. Well, I'd just about given up hope that they were ever going to announce them this year. In fact, I called my Senators and Congressman yesterday to tell them how frustrated I was that the programs hadn't been announced yet.

So, I wake up this morning with a message on my Blackberry that both programs have been announced (simultaneously, of course) and have deadlines of November 13 and November 16! My first thought is....You've got to be kidding me! That's just days before MY cruise...how in God's green Earth am I ever going to get it all done....how am I going to have time to pack and plan and post on the DisBoards?

I've since calmed down (some) and have resolved to get through it. I may show up on the ship looking like something the cat dragged on board. Steve may be rolling me on with a dolly and please, don't mention the dark circles under my eyes or that my eyeballs have packed their own bags, but I will arrive on the ship....and I will have a blast because my last consulting project (for the year) will be done!

Oh, and by the way, like an idiot, I only agreed to write like 7 of them this year :scared1:! What was I thinking??????:eek: (As an aside, last year I wrote 2 of them...each was about 450 pages long with the narrative, budget, and many....many....many required attachments.)

Actually, I'm thinking I may arrive at port being chased by the men in white jackets who want to take me somewhere nice and restful and just want me to wear a little white jacket with arms that tie in the back in a nice beautiful bow!

OK...enough whining! I've got work to do!

Karen

[sherreis]

Karen -- sorry about the deadline, but, it beats it being December 1st. At least, by cruise time, you'll be done. DH knows what it is like to work under those deadlines. He's a proposal writer. I hope Steve wasn't planning on your helping in doing the driving - you're going to need your rest!!!!

I also know what it is like to not have any down time between jobs. When I left my job at the hospital, I had offered to work on a Sunday for my last shift and of course, got stuck there late with a pregnant pt. in the ICU and didn't get out of work till after 9 PM. I started my new job on Monday morning at 8 AM.

It all works out.

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

First Attempt


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kd7iE6YI/AAAAAAAAAGs/kKN8dOGTfhU/s800/SorcererMickeylifepreserver3.png.jpg

Chun

These are GREAT !!! You may catch the DISigning bug like me.

Looks like we are going to have some pretty nice stateroom doors on the Magic....:banana::banana:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

3rd

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kHZY1jOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/043qfqvbUQk/s800/2009TG-3deckcsg.jpg

We like this one the best !!! In my family most everyone thinks I am the biggest kid.... Actually I think Steve and Larry discussed this on the last cruise... Being married to a Disney nut....

w

[sherreis]

Chun--- if those are your first few attempts, I can only imagine what your pics will look like in the next week or so. Be careful - it's addicting!


What kind of magnet paper do you all recommend????

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Karen:

Keep the faith ! When it is all over you will be sailing on the Disney Magic with your DISboard friends and getting ready for the Christmas Holiday.

Hope it all going smoothly.

Wendy

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Chun--- if those are your first few attempts, I can only imagine what your pics will look like in the next week or so. Be careful - it's addicting!


What kind of magnet paper do you all recommend????


I buy the regular magnetic paper at Staples/Office Max it works just fine. I set my printer on MAX DPI and they print very nicely....

[sherreis]

Thanks Wendy.


OK -- I'm starting to get super excited about this cruise and starting to have trouble focusing at work sometimes as I think about it. Boy, it's going to be a rough 80 days!!!

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Actually I think Steve and Larry discussed this on the last cruise... Being married to a Disney nut....

w

Yeah...they sure did...and then we reminded them of all the advantages! :rotfl:

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I called Steve at work this morning and said "guess what!" When I told him the deadlines he said...well....at least it's before the cruise! Oh boy is he right. I remember it taking 14 hours to upload one grant through grants.gov last year :scared1:! I couldn't imagine trying to do this on the ship!

I also told Andrew this morning and his response (naturally) was, "hey mom, don't worry, I can do all the packing!" I hugged him and thanked him for being so helpful while thinking...ummmm....sure....that'll work....(UH UNH!).

Well...the good news is that I already have the format entered....I have my list of attachments and forms...and now I just have to gather the data and begin the assembly process.

Just sign me the little engine that will!!!! I know I can....I know I can....I know I can....

Oh...and NO WAY am I doing any of the driving to Orlando! I'll be the one passed out in the back (thank you Excedrin PM!).

The bright spot is that I'll be getting a nice big consulting check just before Christmas!!!! I think I see another cruise in my future!!!!!

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

2092.....

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

just trying to get us to 2100.....so 2093

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

...and....2094....

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

OK...this is harder than I thought....the boards are s--l---o----w---- this morning... so 2095....

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Chun...I love your signs.....2096.....

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

2097....is somebody going to sweep in and steal 2100????

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

2098................(panting)...nearly....(panting )....there........

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Can anyone tell that I'm wasting time this morning? I'm waiting for my printer to spew out 200+ pages of an RFP!

2099........

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

.....and finally......2100!

Just doing my part to get us to 5,000!!!!!

[ratt1345]

One step closer to 5000!!!

Charlie

[bigeskimodog]

I use both Staple/Office Max Magnetic Paper and Walmart ones. The Walmart paper are slightly thinner but also cheaper. They all works. I also got the self adhesive one-sided laminate paper from Amazon to protect the finish.

I think I've past the point of no return. Is there a group called DisSigns/Magnet Anonymous?

-C

[Mickeyhugger]

One step closer to 5000!!!

Charlie

At this rate we need 36 post every day to make it to the 5000 mark:lmao:

Rob

[bigeskimodog]

Karen, think of it this way. You will be that much more relax on the cruise, knowing your work's done for 2009!

Let Andrew pack, that's part of the fun. The fun will start when he has to hit up the rest of the Turkey Gang for anything you miss packing :)

[bigeskimodog]

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement on my Magnets. I've been shamelessly borrowing people's orginals and just personalized them. So the credits should go to the creators. I will try to create some real orginals and share with everyone.

Hmmm..
PS: Guess I am crossing over to the dark side!

[MommyMinnie]

Hmmm..
PS: Guess I am crossing over to the dark side!

Don't worry, the dark side has cookies!

I just added the room number as per Mr Mickeyhugger's request.

If anybody else has FE updates just add them to the comments on the blog or PM me.

I'm trying to get the Spring Break party started but so far it's vewy vewy quiet over there.

[The LK 4]

Someone on the DIS e-mailed me the announcement chime from the ship. I texted it to my BIL yesterday. He was cracking up! He said....I was waiting for a special announcement at the end!

We're getting closer to 11/21! :cool1:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

....and the dark side has candy too ::yes::!

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Someone on the DIS e-mailed me the announcement chime from the ship. I texted it to my BIL yesterday. He was cracking up! He said....I was waiting for a special announcement at the end!

We're getting closer to 11/21! :cool1:

Hey Laura, can you send that to me? My email is msklcassidy@hotmail.com. I'd love to play it just before dinner tonight...or maybe play it for his wake up tomorrow morning! Either way Andrew would get a real bang out of that one!!!!

Karen

[alwayslisad]

Oh me too me too me too - I want it too

pumkin2@metrocast.net


oh today my staff was so cute - they know how excited I am about cruising - they went and got me a Sweatshirt that has a EEYORE on it and it is blue with "CHILLIN" on it - way too cool - for those chilly kinda nights on the Magic!!

[izma]

Hey Laura, can you send that to me? My email is msklcassidy@hotmail.com. I'd love to play it just before dinner tonight...or maybe play it for his wake up tomorrow morning! Either way Andrew would get a real bang out of that one!!!!

Karen

Can you email it to me too! leslieahaack@hotmail.com

[izma]

HA! My post number 2111 is also our stateroom!

[The LK 4]

It's on my laptop at home, so I'll send it out tonight! If you want it on your phone, PM me your number and I'll text it to you. Karen's been playing it all afternoon. :rotfl:

It's 5:00! I'm outta here! :cool1:

[eeyoremommy]

I use both Staple/Office Max Magnetic Paper and Walmart ones. The Walmart paper are slightly thinner but also cheaper. They all works. I also got the self adhesive one-sided laminate paper from Amazon to protect the finish.

I think I've past the point of no return. Is there a group called DisSigns/Magnet Anonymous?

-C

If there is, I better sign up. A family member offered to buy or split the cost of software to make DISigns, and I wouldn't do it. I knew I would never get any work done then (at least not my school work for teaching or my school work for my graduate class). My DS would also wonder why his mommy never leaves the computer and has a silly dazed look on her face (worse than normal):goodvibes

[pillow]

3rd

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zUU1gKABEFA/Sp3kHZY1jOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/043qfqvbUQk/s800/2009TG-3deckcsg.jpg

Love this one!!!!!

[ICEMANPAD]

Lynn,
We are also going to try checking Nathan (7) into the lab instead. Last time he wasn't too impress with the club and pretty much stick with us the whole cruise. I read somewhere that the CMs are flexible and will listen to parent's request. so maybe he and Garrett can hook up.

Looking at the Oceaneer Lab activities, I think it will suit the mature 7 yrs old just fine.

Chun


The ages for the lab used to be 8-9 and then 10-12. It is now 8-10 and 11-13. Too many parents of 13 year olds complained that they did not want their children in the stack. The lab may allow your children in the lab at age 7, but keep in mind they will be in a group with 10 year olds.

Lisa

[ICEMANPAD]

Well getting your room number at post 2111 is nice, but try for ours at 6582 (or something close to that)...LOL

Chuck:cool1:

[alwayslisad]

well since I am a GTY - my room # can be any post # - ehehe :cool1:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/CastingAwayGang.jpg

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Wow...looks like we're the chatty ones today! Don't know about you all but I've got "fall fever" really bad! It's kinda like spring fever but different. Incredibly, it's 78 degrees here today with a low in the mid-50s! It's practically unheard of in St. Louis...particularly when it's been this way all week. I mean August/early September is usually 95+ degrees and the only way you go outside is to either jump in the pool or run to your air conditioned car!

Chun, love the sign. I think I need to figure out how to do those!

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

OK...I call post 7631 (that's our room number!). Think we can make it there????

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

We need to get Chun involved in our DISigns class. I bet he would be a good teacher....

I have loads of clip art I could put on a disk or upload to a photobucket site.

w

[eeyoremommy]

I love the casting off DISign!

[sherreis]

Someone on the DIS e-mailed me the announcement chime from the ship. I texted it to my BIL yesterday. He was cracking up! He said....I was waiting for a special announcement at the end!

We're getting closer to 11/21! :cool1:


Please email me too -- sherreisen@gmail.com



Oh me too me too me too - I want it too

pumkin2@metrocast.net


oh today my staff was so cute - they know how excited I am about cruising - they went and got me a Sweatshirt that has a EEYORE on it and it is blue with "CHILLIN" on it - way too cool - for those chilly kinda nights on the Magic!!

How nice of them. Is Eeyore one of your favorites?


We need to get Chun involved in our DISigns class. I bet he would be a good teacher....

I have loads of clip art I could put on a disk or upload to a photobucket site.

w


Wendy -- would love to see it!

[bigeskimodog]

...but keep in mind they will be in a group with 10 year olds.

Lisa

Lisa, that will still be an improvement over hanging with two 40+ years old kids. :)

[bigeskimodog]

We need to get Chun involved in our DISigns class. I bet he would be a good teacher....

I have loads of clip art I could put on a disk or upload to a photobucket site.

w

Wendy, don't know I have enough to teach but definitely can share whatever knowledge. You seems much better at this.

It will be great if you can upload any cliparts on photobucket. I've been searching the web and the freebies are very limited. BTW, any suggestions on where to find Disney/Cartoon cliparts, even if paid?

Oh and the self sticking laminate sheets work sufficiently well. That is, once I figure out how to properly apply it.

-Chun

[bigeskimodog]

Love the Casting Off sign. Is that with PhotoShop?

[bigeskimodog]

BTW, if making food for FE gifts, Nathan has a peanut allergy. Probably not good with any nuts anyway. :(

DM OTOH can eat anything. DH actually will eat anything. :)

-Chun DH

[bigeskimodog]

Will we make #2200 today?

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Chun,

You're not anywhere near the fires are you? Naturally they've been all over the news so Andrew and I used Google Earth to see where Upland is and it looks like it is north and west of Anaheim. We just can't tell if that's close to the fires. I sure hope not!

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Will we make #2200 today?

Hmmm....only 69 more to go...not sure that we're that chatty today...but I'm always willing to chip in and help!

Karen

[ratt1345]

Well, I will do my part for us to get to at least 2200. BTW, my room # is somewhere in the 2100s, like 2154 or 2174. So we will fly right past it!!!

Rob, at the rate at which people are posting now. We just may average 36 per day!!!!:lmao:

I am so ready for this cruise, like everyone else. Time will go by quickly, with work and our wedding next month. Before I know it, it will be 11/21/09!!!

Charlie

[pillow]

Can't remember if anyone posted this yet . . . thought it would help with planning -:goodvibes

Night 2 = formal night
Night 4 = pirate night
Night 6 = semi-formal night

Jodie

[sherreis]

Jodie -- thanks for posting the schedule. I keep forgetting :confused:

Charlie -- when is the wedding??

[izma]

Hey...can anyone tell me what our dining rotation is likely to be? Last cruise there was some sort of way to figure this out based on seating time (early) and age of kids (11,12). Can anyone help?

[ratt1345]

Sherri, the wedding is 4 weeks before the cruise, October 24. Things will be crazy before and after the wedding:scared1::scared1:

Charlie

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Love the Casting Off sign. Is that with PhotoShop?


Photoshop Elements ....


Will check on the Disney/Cartoon graphics....

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

BTW, if making food for FE gifts, Nathan has a peanut allergy. Probably not good with any nuts anyway. :(

DM OTOH can eat anything. DH actually will eat anything. :)

-Chun DH

Chun:

As a rule, our family ( who love being a part of the FE) group, have always stayed away from Food and Candy. We make items (magnets) and other cool things for the kids.

PS: Pirate Night is over favorite.

We will plan a special place for the kids ( Big and Small ) to meet prior to the Pirate Party for a special TREAT !!!

[bigeskimodog]

Chun,

You're not anywhere near the fires are you? Naturally they've been all over the news so Andrew and I used Google Earth to see where Upland is and it looks like it is north and west of Anaheim. We just can't tell if that's close to the fires. I sure hope not!

Karen

Karen,

Thanks for the concern.

We are in-between 2 burning fires but far enough to be out of harm's way. But the air quality do suffer greatly from the smoke and ashes, and So Cal is already notorious for bad air to start with. My son's football practice had been cancelled the last weeks and just resumed yesterday. Thankfully I think the fire is getting under control and we could be back to normal soon.

Chun

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Can't remember if anyone posted this yet . . . thought it would help with planning -:goodvibes

Night 2 = formal night
Night 4 = pirate night
Night 6 = semi-formal night

Jodie


Thanks.... This is always helpful......

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Why don't we all post our favorite Disney Cruise Line Tips.........


I will go....

THE OVER THE DOOR SHOE ORGANIZER !!!

It saved us from the Clutter and junk that piles up !!!!

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Another one....

I am a PASSPORTER FAN..... I think Karen is too....

Buying the Cruise Line Book was GREAT !

[bigeskimodog]

Not DCL specific. But I put DCL/Disney/DVC stickers on my otherwise boring looking black suitcases/luggages. Make it a lot easier to spot at the airport. Plus the kids around baggage area always point to them.

[bigeskimodog]

Another one..

Bring a power strip. Helps with charging mulitple things at once since there are only a couple outlets in the room.

[bigeskimodog]

just 6 more to 2150...

[bigeskimodog]

My wife told me we can get Palo desert from the regular dining room. She said she did but I don't remember. Anyway, YMMV, but never hurt to ask your waiter.

[pillow]

Hey...can anyone tell me what our dining rotation is likely to be? Last cruise there was some sort of way to figure this out based on seating time (early) and age of kids (11,12). Can anyone help?

I called today and asked the same question. I was told that there was no way to know your rotation until you board. I'm not sure how the cruise line decides who eats where first???

Jodie

[alwayslisad]

ok I will add to the favorites list --

hmmmm ---

ok -----

BOOOK A CRUISE on DCL!!!!

[alwayslisad]

all kidding aside- bring chewable dramamine or pepto...used it quite a bit on the last cruise...

[alwayslisad]

#2150 - phew that was a work out -

ok - so I thought pirate night was on tuesday --

hmm - saturday - day 1 sunday day 2 monday day 3 - yep day 4

[bigeskimodog]

Just 50 more to #2200.

Tips - use the shower in the Spa. Don't have to book Spa treatment to go in. More room and shower pressure is better.

[lck33]

Helping to boost the post count with this tip (not mine, since I have never been) Bring bandaid blister pads with you. Since you do alot of walking, you never know when one might appear.

Elsie

[ICEMANPAD]

The over the door shoe holder - but used for toiletries is essential and Passporter is the Disney Bible - another thing we have is a collapsible laundry hamper - easy to pack...works like those old collapsible plastic cups...

As to dining rotation, truth is you can request one a couple weeks out...or join our dinner link...we will ask for a specific rotation closer in...too many chances that Disney will play with dining rotations again to do it this far out.

And speaking of Disney, we are off to see the wiz...er mouse this weekend so we will probably be offline until Monday, though with Iphone and Blackberry, anything is possible...but no laptop this weekend. So after tomorrow morning (maybe), we will be off the air...

But while we are in Disney, we will be seeing the 5J's - ie the Schaeper family from 2004/5 Turkey Day Gang and Cruzcrzy and family from Turkey's the past 3 years...and maybe yet this year...so for all those new to Disboards, you really can makes lots of friends beyond the cruise is you choose to do so..

Chuck:cool1:

[ICEMANPAD]

FYI - dinner link group is on page 120

Ice:cool1:

[Scullysiz]

Is there a special password to join the Turkey Gang? This is our first Disney trip/Cruise ever and we are so excited!:banana: We = Meprincess:, my DH:surfweb:, #1 son pirate: is 8 yrs. old and #2 son :littleangel:is 5 yrs. old. Had seen some postings with people 5-8 yrs kids. Just looking to connect before the cruise. I am so glad there is a posting group here, I tried to start on on Passport's website, but who knew you were all here. Has anyone done the Eastern cruise before (I know a dumb question) --what are the best excursions? What is the Thanksgiving menu like? I was excited to find out the ship will be decorated for Christmas--is that true?

[lynnivey]

I thought I would do my part with the posts!! My favorite tip is to bring ones to tip room service. I love that perk and I found out after my cruise in June that the "cake of the night" on the room service menu is usually a dessert of that night's menu (please correct me if I'm wrong). This is one of the reasons why I'm going again. I'll post the other reasons in separate posts.:flower3:

Lynn

[lynnivey]

Another reason why I'm having to go again after just going in June....I forgot about that dessert pizza thingy they have in Palo for brunch....you'll start to see a food pattern as you read these!!:laughing:

[lynnivey]

I never went into Cove Cafe so I didn't know about the refrigerated cases of goodies they had available!!:yay:

[lynnivey]

I LOVED the Bacon, Tomato and Brie paninis with fresh pineapple from Goofy's Galley....yummmmmmm:flower3:

[lynnivey]

My 7 year old did not know there was a basketball court on deck 10!! :confused3

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Is there a special password to join the Turkey Gang? This is our first Disney trip/Cruise ever and we are so excited!:banana: We = Meprincess:, my DH:surfweb:, #1 son pirate: is 8 yrs. old and #2 son :littleangel:is 5 yrs. old. Had seen some postings with people 5-8 yrs kids. Just looking to connect before the cruise. I am so glad there is a posting group here, I tried to start on on Passport's website, but who knew you were all here. Has anyone done the Eastern cruise before (I know a dumb question) --what are the best excursions? What is the Thanksgiving menu like? I was excited to find out the ship will be decorated for Christmas--is that true?

Scullysiz

Welcome to the Turkey Gang... Several of us have cruised together before. We have so much fun... We keep doing it. We actually come from all over...

I have a DD 10.... We have done the Eastern and we love it. We Regatta is a favorite excursion, but kids (young) cannot attend. We like to Sailing trip on St. John....

Also, Castaway will be decorated...

Again Welcome

Wendy

[eeyoremommy]

Describe the dessert pizza thingy. If it is what I think it might be, I can't wait.....

[lynnivey]

I only went in Rockin Bar D to make Palo reservations...I never went for any of the evening entertainment.....:sad2:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

The over the door shoe holder - but used for toiletries is essential and Passporter is the Disney Bible - another thing we have is a collapsible laundry hamper - easy to pack...works like those old collapsible plastic cups...

As to dining rotation, truth is you can request one a couple weeks out...or join our dinner link...we will ask for a specific rotation closer in...too many chances that Disney will play with dining rotations again to do it this far out.

And speaking of Disney, we are off to see the wiz...er mouse this weekend so we will probably be offline until Monday, though with Iphone and Blackberry, anything is possible...but no laptop this weekend. So after tomorrow morning (maybe), we will be off the air...

But while we are in Disney, we will be seeing the 5J's - ie the Schaeper family from 2004/5 Turkey Day Gang and Cruzcrzy and family from Turkey's the past 3 years...and maybe yet this year...so for all those new to Disboards, you really can makes lots of friends beyond the cruise is you choose to do so..

Chuck:cool1:

Hope you guys have a GREAT Labor Day getaway !!! Staying at Saratoga Springs????

We have met several great family through the Boards and have kept in touch over many years.....

W

[eeyoremommy]

What type of goodies are available in Cove Cafe? I never made it in there either.

My son loved the fresh fruit from Goofy's (I think it was Goofy's).

[eeyoremommy]

Welcome Scullysiz! This is my first turkey day trip and I can't wait. Gobble gobble.:)

[lynnivey]

Is there a special password to join the Turkey Gang? This is our first Disney trip/Cruise ever and we are so excited!:banana: We = Meprincess:, my DH:surfweb:, #1 son pirate: is 8 yrs. old and #2 son :littleangel:is 5 yrs. old. Had seen some postings with people 5-8 yrs kids. Just looking to connect before the cruise. I am so glad there is a posting group here, I tried to start on on Passport's website, but who knew you were all here. Has anyone done the Eastern cruise before (I know a dumb question) --what are the best excursions? What is the Thanksgiving menu like? I was excited to find out the ship will be decorated for Christmas--is that true?

Welcome!! I have 2 boys who are 7 & 5 and I'm going to check to see if I can move my 7 year old up to the Lab since he just did the Club thing in June when we went on our 1st disney cruise. Please jump in with any questions!!

Lynn:flower3:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Another tip...

Highlighter markers... We all have our own color and pick up copy of the Navigator so we can mark the activities we like to do.

[Scullysiz]

Thanks for the Welcome! I think it's great that you all travel and meet up. We will be traveling with friends as well with ajoining cabins- really looking forward to traveling with them.

I am envisioning the Christmas Cards already . . . :santa:

What's up with the magnet's? Do people decorate their doors? On the outside I am assuming?

[lynnivey]

Describe the dessert pizza thingy. If it is what I think it might be, I can't wait.....

Others may have a better description but it's like a fruit/dessert pizza probably similar to what they have at Pizza Hut, but a whole lot better!! I had gorged myself on the sticky buns and they loaded me up with a huge plate to go! I ended up cancelling my dinner reservation for Palo last time and I'm not sure if I'll go this time. I'll be happy with another brunch. I also loved the chicken parmasian and the blue cheese and grape pizza.....I told you I had a food obsession!!:flower3:

[lynnivey]

Another thing for my "to do" list....actually get to lay in a lounge chair at the adult pool....I'm hoping my boys will actually spend more time in the kid's clubs so I can spend more time as an adult!!

[lynnivey]

I didn't get to enjoy the dessert buffet the night of the Pirate Party because I was too full from dinner. I do have limitations!! Is it true there is a midnight buffet in Luminiers one night? I'm not sure if this is true, I just heard about it recently....

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Decorating your cabin door is a Disboard tradition.....

It is a great way to share the Disney Cruise Experience... Our DD was young and it was a great way for her to find our cabin...

Also it just FUN !!!!

[lynnivey]

I'd like to walk around on deck 4...never did that. Sit in one of those loungers on deck 4.....sit in one of the chairs outside of the Cove Cafe.

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Another tip !!

Return address labels.. Print them ahead, they are great to put on your luggage tags.. Also so you can share your address with your disboard friends..

Saves alot of time...

[lynnivey]

I only had one magnet on my door for my last cruise. This one I want LOTS! I want to get the ears to put over our room number and have one for each of us. My boys definitely knew which room was ours because of our lone magnet! This room is right across the hall from our last room, so we should be set. This will also be our first time to participate in the FE program and I'm very excited about that. I don't think I'll be as creative as some, but :flower3:I'll try my best to come up with something decent.

[lynnivey]

OK, I've probably bored everyone with my drug out list, but I was trying to do my part with the posts. This is my last one for the night because I have to get my boys to bed. Thanks for letting me share my excitement of this cruise with all of you. I think many of you posted that you are the one most excited about going; even more so than your kids. That is definitely my case since my kids don't know we're going. My DH doesn't know what to expect since he didn't go last time, so he doesn't understand. I think it has to be the nostalgia of the "disney" stuff that takes me back to my childhood and makes me feel like a kid again.

Good night!
Lynn:flower3:

[Mickeyhugger]

Ok here is a new topic to boost the count.....what food item are you looking forward to at Palo brunch/diner?

Brunch- assortment of sliced meats

diner - the fillet


Rob

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Chocolate Souffle !!

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Pizza at Palo....

[Mickeyhugger]

Pizza at Palo....

:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

[ICEMANPAD]

Is there a special password to join the Turkey Gang? This is our first Disney trip/Cruise ever and we are so excited!:banana: We = Meprincess:, my DH:surfweb:, #1 son pirate: is 8 yrs. old and #2 son :littleangel:is 5 yrs. old. Had seen some postings with people 5-8 yrs kids. Just looking to connect before the cruise. I am so glad there is a posting group here, I tried to start on on Passport's website, but who knew you were all here. Has anyone done the Eastern cruise before (I know a dumb question) --what are the best excursions? What is the Thanksgiving menu like? I was excited to find out the ship will be decorated for Christmas--is that true?


Welcome to the gang!! :thumbsup2 Our DS will be 10 at the time of the cruise. If your 8 year old is interested in the lab activities...he will see our DS!!! :cool1: We have done one other Eastern. Our favorite excursion was the 12 meter regatta in st. maartin. However, our ds stayed on the ship.

The Thanksgiving menu is semi formal night. They offer traditional thanksgiving options and lobster!! :thumbsup2 Yes, the ship will be decorated for the holidays!! Lots of photo ops!!

Lisa

[ICEMANPAD]

Hope you guys have a GREAT Labor Day getaway !!! Staying at Saratoga Springs????

We have met several great family through the Boards and have kept in touch over many years.....

W


Thanks!!! We were actually able to get in at vwl.:cool1: We are looking forward to the getaway!!

We hope everyone enjoys a long weekend off from work/school!!! :woohoo: :yay:

Lisa

[sherreis]

I go out to dinner, come home and watch football and there are 4 more pages than this afternoon! Whoa! Keep up the great work! :thumbsup2


My favorite tip --- never seen it posted though. Sign up for Dis Meet group even when others have known each other for awhile. Believe me – I was leary at first. But, so glad I posted. :goodvibes

Chuck, Lisa, & Mason – have a great weekend at the land of the mouse. Say hi to Mickey for us. ::MickeyMo

Welcome Scullysiz! This is our first ever cruise and we’re all so excited. Glad you found us over here. Welcome to the Disboards! Be careful – it’s quite an addiction.

[sherreis]

Lynn – I know what you mean about the excitement. That was the worst part of surprising our boys last fall with our WDW trip. DH could care less that we’re planning a vacation so I had to post here a lot to share my excitement.

[dustermom02]

Wow!! I missed a few days and I'm 11pgs behind. Time is passing WAY fast for me. I know, there must be something wrong with me, everyone else seems to think its slow.

I hit the big 4-OH on Sunday:scared1: and then went right in to closing the books at work this week. Worked an 18 hour day yesterday. Gotta love the comp time when you have a brand new job and a turkey cruise booked, right??:yay: But I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend now. Oldest DD turns 12 on Tuesday so we have a party weekend planned.

Wendy & Chun the graphics are fantastic. Please sign me up for the class, I'm there!

Christine - I think our family is booked at 10:30 parasailing also. And congrats on your new job.

I vote chocolate souffle too. I think we're at Palos brunch sunday 10:30 & dinner Monday.

The kids have been too busy with school to check out the kids board but maybe this weekend. My son had enough time to ask me why I have snowflakes on my ticker - I thought they were boat steering wheels....

[The LK 4]

My "to do" list for this cruise includes riding bikes on Castaway Cay and seeing Serenity Bay.

I'm also looking forward to seeing my friends' faces as they take their very first cruise. I know they are going to be blown away! :thumbsup2

[The LK 4]

Happy Birthday, Paula! :yay:

[sherreis]

Happy Birthday Paula!

[mickey squared]

We just decided to book this cruise since we're transplanted NYers living in Orlando now and figure MM would make good company for us. We're a family of 6 with 2 boys,14 & 9, and two girls,12 & 7. We've been on 4 disney cruises before but none since we moved here 1 year ago, so we figure it's time.

I will need to read some pages to get with the flow since it seems like it's a tradition for a lot of you. I have participated in the FE before and would like to do so again so I'll read up on that as well.

Also, we're surprising the kids. It's sort of a tradition for us. Get in the car and guess where we're going!!

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Now, my work starts!!

[bigeskimodog]

Welcome Mickey Squared!

I am also a newbie to the Turkey Gang and a late comer like yourself. But the folks here have been wonderful and treated me like family already. :)

Being in the West Coast it's hard to surprise my son. The "Getting on a plane to Orlando" and "we're packing all the Disney cruise stuff but we're not going on the cruise" speech just doesn't work on my 7 yr old.

BTW, there's also a dining list that Chuck is putting together so all the Gang can sit in close proximity. If you are 2nd seating, check it out.

Chun

[ratt1345]

Rob, I say the stollen bread. Did I spell that right? It sounds like I'm stealing bread!!!:lmao:

Talk about being excited for the cruise. I don't think my soon-to-be wife understands how excited I am. After the cruise, she will!!!!:thumbsup2 As soon as we made the reservation back in January, the anticipation started. I'm glad for that reason that I don't have kids. I couldn't keep the secret for this long!!!

Do I have a cruise tip? I guess it would be the same as the one I have for the parks, WDW that is never been to the left coast. I'd say don't make an iron-clad, written-in-stone itinerary, just enjoy yourself. I know there are excursions that run on a schedule. That's not what I'm talking about. You've seen the families running around Disney World and you hear them say that we've gotta go here and we've gotta go there. And you see the rest of the family is just soooo tired. Look at it this way, you can't do everything. There's always another cruise you can book and go back to do the things you didn't get to do the crusie before!!!!:banana::cool1::rotfl:

Charlie

[izma]

Another tip...

Highlighter markers... We all have our own color and pick up copy of the Navigator so we can mark the activities we like to do.

We to this too but I coordinated our markers

DD= pink
DS= blue

SO they highlight the activities on the navigator that they will attend and if they are both at the same one...PURPLE. That way we know where they are.

We also use the different coloured highlighters to write notes...so we always know who wrote them!

[izma]

Others may have a better description but it's like a fruit/dessert pizza probably similar to what they have at Pizza Hut, but a whole lot better!! I had gorged myself on the sticky buns and they loaded me up with a huge plate to go! I ended up cancelling my dinner reservation for Palo last time and I'm not sure if I'll go this time. I'll be happy with another brunch. I also loved the chicken parmasian and the blue cheese and grape pizza.....I told you I had a food obsession!!:flower3:

Where is the blue cheese and grape pizza?!?!!?!

It sounds marvelous!

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Welcome to our new members!!!!

So, in a nutshell, here's what you need to know:

1. We have a FE blog. You can go here to view and enter your family in it: http://112109.blogspot.com/ How we do the FE is up to you! You can go 1 item, one time, items everyday, items for kids, etc... It's strictly up to you.

2. Chuck (aka Icemanpad) is going to link us together for purposes of dining. He did this for us 2 years ago and all of us that had late seating wound up sitting in a group which was a ton of fun.

3. I am coordinating t-shirts for the gang. We got some printed 2 years ago and all wore our shirts on the first day of the cruise. It made it easier to spot those who were on the Disboards with us (and made everyone else wonder who we were!).

3. Chun (Bigeskimodog) and Wendy (Tinkerbellmom99) are both terrific at designing door magnets, signs, etc. They've posted some great ones!

4. If you have kids...there is a kids thread where some of the kids have been yakking about what they want to do on the ship and just getting to know each other a bit. I think it's called Turkey Day Gang 2009 Kids Thread. It was started by my son Andrew (he's 11) under his user name "TheDuckStopsHere".

And finally, though some of us have cruised together before, we welcome all the newbies! We caution you that the Disboards can become addictive and that some of us :rolleyes: are very excited about this cruise...and some of us :rolleyes: are perhaps more excited than our children are....please don't hold that against us!

Karen

[bigeskimodog]

Rob, I say the stollen bread. Did I spell that right? It sounds like I'm stealing bread!!!:lmao:

Talk about being excited for the cruise. I don't think my soon-to-be wife understands how excited I am. After the cruise, she will!!!!:thumbsup2 As soon as we made the reservation back in January, the anticipation started. I'm glad for that reason that I don't have kids. I couldn't keep the secret for this long!!!

Do I have a cruise tip? I guess it would be the same as the one I have for the parks, WDW that is never been to the left coast. I'd say don't make an iron-clad, written-in-stone itinerary, just enjoy yourself. I know there are excursions that run on a schedule. That's not what I'm talking about. You've seen the families running around Disney World and you hear them say that we've gotta go here and we've gotta go there. And you see the rest of the family is just soooo tired. Look at it this way, you can't do everything. There's always another cruise you can book and go back to do the things you didn't get to do the crusie before!!!!:banana::cool1::rotfl:

Charlie

Amen to that!!!

One of my best memory on DCL was we were just walking around in the afternoon and end up playing a game of pictionary in the Promenade bar. Me being the most artistic in the family (not saying much) was given "tractor" to draw. I had a brain fart and kept trying to draw a crane instead. (I blame it on the dramamine and lack of sleep from prior night dancing) Well they didn't get tractor nor crane. In the year following both DM and son would still constantly point out a tractor to DAD! :laughing:

Chun

[Morgey24]

Hi everone!
Just checking in.

Ok, trying to capture some thoughts:

1. I (emphasis added) am the most excited one for this cruise! DD is :cool2: cool with it, but not overly excited (been there/done that) and this will be DexH's first cruise so he doesn't know what to except and is a bit negative that it's going to be on DCL...

2. The grape & cheese pizza at palo! In fact, all of the "stinky" cheeses at Palo brunch and the fabuous seafood extravaganza. I never made it to any of the entrees and I packed a plate of desserts to go since I don't eat sugar and I felt bad leaving DD when I went (I wasn't breaking the rules, IMO, I brought her the ones I would have eaten if I did eat dessert.. not as if I ate a whole plate and then took some.)

3. The loungers outside of the Cove Cafe face directly out at the sea and are padded and lovely and have a sidetable to put your cup of coffee on... just heavenly...

4. Appletinis at the Captain's reception are a favorite though they only bring them out sporadically

5. Making a fool of myself dancing at the Rockin' bar D :rolleyes1 Good thing DD can't see that or she'd be even more mortified by dear old mom than she already is.

6. I want/need to make magnets again but can't personalize them with first names because DD doesn't know her Dad is going... But I love the magnets. So festive and fun.

7. the "older" Disney stuff -- the whistle while you work kind of tunes (not necessarily the "new" Disney stuff, if you know what I mean.)

Ok, as far as tips go, done them, used them all a gazillion times. Here's a few more:

1. cheapie dollar store ponchos for those pop up showers in the Caribbean
2. pop up hamper (already mentioned)
3. a small plastic bottle with my unscented detergent (because Tide is too harsh for me)
4. little bottles of Purell for shore excursions
5. a Bandana -- which I tie from the pole on my beach umbrella at Castaway Cay so that DD (or even me!) can identify our "spot" easily when coming back from Cookies with ice cream!
6. for ladies - one small evening bag (I actually just use a little Vera Bradley quilted wristlet) for carrying your KTTW card at night. I don't mind wearing it in my lanyard all day but at night I prefer a little purse to keep it in.)

Have an awesome day,

[ICEMANPAD]

Since I saw comments about it, current dining group is posted on page 120

Man, make a facetious comment about hitting 5000 posts and see what I stirred up...actually it was 2005 when we topped, I think it was 6000...Rob i think was part of that.

Anyway, we are heading out of town shortly so i am sure there will be 15-20 new pages to read when we return on Monday.

Chuck:cool1:

[bigeskimodog]

Chuck,

Are you raising the bar to 6000 posts now!!?

[bigeskimodog]

And we barely make #2200 (Finally) today!

[eeyoremommy]

So can you order one of the dessert pizzas from room service? Is Palo the only place to get one?

[Ima Princess]

Thanks, everyone, for the well wishes on my new job! I am excited, intimidated, anxious, thrilled... you name it, I'm probably feeling it!

Welcome, new cruising friends!

Has anyone had any success in getting their kids account set up since the fax didn't work??? DD is using my account for now.

Just wanted to stop in and do a (very small) part in getting to 5000.:rotfl:

Hope everyone has a relaxing Labor Day weekend! :thumbsup2

[dustermom02]

My tip - and I apologize if this is way confusing but it was soooo helpful b/c my son had a laundry emergency:scared1: right before dh and i were trying to eat brunch at Palos on our previous cruise. Bring sticky notes, a couple ziplocks, tape and lots of quarters for laundry. I did laundry- with the help of other cruisers- while dh and i were eating brunch at Palos. I left the fold up basket by the washer with a sticky with my name on it and a sticky on the washer and a zip lock with quarters for the dryer taped on the washer and the nice people on board moved my wash to the dryer for me and then dumped it in the basket when it was done and left if for me in my basket under the ironing board to pick up when i was done at brunch. I think they must have been desperate for the laundry themselves, but when I showed up to try to switch laundry in a fancy dress they were like :confused3 - just stay at Palos! we'll take care of it! Honestly, you meet the nicest people on cruises!:lovestruc

[sherreis]

Welcome Mickey Squared! We also have 9 and 14 yr old boys.

Karen – great job summarizing things.

Question about the washing machines – are they front loaders? Want to know what kind of detergent to pack.

Christine – I wasn’t able to get an account set up for DS9 so I told him we’re going to come up with a new screen name and try again. (Don’t tell him that I’m going to make him a little older than he is when I do it. :rolleyes1)

[sherreis]

Yeah! I paid off the cruise today and got my confirmation of $0 balance. It's the small things in life, right...


Hope everyone has a great long weekend! Any good plans for anyone? We have a Bar Mitzvah tomorrow and the party on Sunday night. I needed "cocktail attire" for the party so I bought my dress that I'll wear for formal night. Just a black dress. Tomorrow night, we'll get to see my brother and SIL who are driving up from Atlanta to watch their son's 1st college football game in D.C. My nephew is deaf and goes to Gallaudet.

So, what's everyone else doing?

[bigeskimodog]

We decided to celebrate Labor day by avoiding any manual labor :)

The house may come up messy and smelly when we come out of the weekend but we will be well rested.

Sort of like a drill for our Thanksgiving week, but without the waitstaff. ;)

[izma]

I think I will celebrate labour day the same way as Chun!

I have a tip!

Last year I made "calling cards" for each member of our family. Calling cards are very old fashioned. They are just like business cards but with personal information.

Ours said our names and email addresses and a "we had fun cruising with you".

It was a great way to exchange info with friends they met.

I just printed them at home onto business card sheets.

It was fun to make them!

[alwayslisad]

Tomorrow night, we'll get to see my brother and SIL who are driving up from Atlanta to watch their son's 1st college football game in D.C. My nephew is deaf and goes to Gallaudet.



Hello - my sister and brother-in-law are both at Gally :) :) :) -- Sharron is a Science Teacher there!! oh my gosh - wouldnt it be amazing if they knew each other -- Sharron and Chip both went to Gally - and Chip works at the Commissary (sp?)there....
what a SMALLLLLLL world!!!!

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Welcome Mickey Squared. You are joining a really great group. We have many kids traveling the same age...

Hope you will join us with the fish extenders...

wendy

[alwayslisad]

Welcome Mickey Squared!!!! :hippie:

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

My tip - and I apologize if this is way confusing but it was soooo helpful b/c my son had a laundry emergency:scared1: right before dh and i were trying to eat brunch at Palos on our previous cruise. Bring sticky notes, a couple ziplocks, tape and lots of quarters for laundry. I did laundry- with the help of other cruisers- while dh and i were eating brunch at Palos. I left the fold up basket by the washer with a sticky with my name on it and a sticky on the washer and a zip lock with quarters for the dryer taped on the washer and the nice people on board moved my wash to the dryer for me and then dumped it in the basket when it was done and left if for me in my basket under the ironing board to pick up when i was done at brunch. I think they must have been desperate for the laundry themselves, but when I showed up to try to switch laundry in a fancy dress they were like :confused3 - just stay at Palos! we'll take care of it! Honestly, you meet the nicest people on cruises!:lovestruc

All great tips.. They now let you use your key to the world card for laundry....

[sherreis]

Tomorrow night, we'll get to see my brother and SIL who are driving up from Atlanta to watch their son's 1st college football game in D.C. My nephew is deaf and goes to Gallaudet.



Hello - my sister and brother-in-law are both at Gally :) :) :) -- Sharron is a Science Teacher there!! oh my gosh - wouldnt it be amazing if they knew each other -- Sharron and Chip both went to Gally - and Chip works at the Commissary (sp?)there....
what a SMALLLLLLL world!!!!

My nephew is a freshman - so he just started. He has been playing football since he was 8 or 9 yrs old and was on the team at his high school outside Atlanta. He had articles written about him in the Atlanta paper. I'm sure it's going to be weird for him to not need an interpreter to play football for the first time in his life.

It is a small world. One time I was taking care of a woman in labor and we started talking about what kind of work she did and she told me she was an interpreter. Of course, I started talking about my nephew. It was funny cause she was one of his regular interpreters and knew Scott and my brother's family pretty well. You just never know who will know who.

[mickey squared]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!! I'm trying to read through all the pages, but without my kids trying to look over my shoulder to spoil the surprise.

I have a GOOD laundry story. My husband was up at the Mickey pool with my kids enjoying the day while I was stuck inside doing loads of laundry. This was a few years ago so the kids were smaller and messier!! I was waiting for the clothes to dry and anyone who has done laundry there before knows how long that could be:) I heard the announcement for bingo so I decided, what the heck, let me go. Long story short, I won the jackpot, over 5K, and when the cm's went to get my husband to tell him, my husband thought they were pulling a prank and told them I was in the laundry room!! Of course, my luck has never been that good since...

Happy Labor Day to all

[cinderellyintx]

Ok here is a new topic to boost the count.....what food item are you looking forward to at Palo brunch/diner?

Brunch- assortment of sliced meats

diner - the fillet


Rob

Ok Rob! I am on the boards! Happy! :)
I LOVE the filet at Palo too!
78 days! :banana:

[sherreis]

Wendy or anyone else --

what size do you usually make your magnets.

[lynnivey]

Welcome Mickey Squared! We also have 9 and 14 yr old boys.

Karen – great job summarizing things.

Question about the washing machines – are they front loaders? Want to know what kind of detergent to pack.

Christine – I wasn’t able to get an account set up for DS9 so I told him we’re going to come up with a new screen name and try again. (Don’t tell him that I’m going to make him a little older than he is when I do it. :rolleyes1)

Regarding the washing machines, they are front loaders and everything in the laundry room now only takes the KTTW cards. In June, the detergent (I used Tide) was $1 and the washer and dryer were each $2 per load. When we would come back to the room before dinner, I would run put a load in and take my shower. I'd then run down and throw them in the dryer while I dried my hair and finished getting ready. I run get the clothes before we left for the night and it worked perfectly. Of course I was always fortunate that there was always a washer or dryer open when I needed it!!

Lynn:flower3:

[sherreis]

Thanks Lynn. DH will be doing the laundry. He's the one who is insisting we pack less so I'm the one insisting he does the laundry. :rotfl:

Honestly, though, he does the laundry here most of the time. It was part of the agreement when I switched from part-time to full-time 4 yrs ago.

[Morgey24]

Wendy or anyone else --

what size do you usually make your magnets.

I did them postcard size (4 x 6) the last time but I thought that they were too small when they were on our door. Some other doors did FULL paper size (8 1/2 x 11) which was too big... I think a 5x7 would be good if they had paper that size. (alternately you do not have to print on magnetic paper as it is pretty pricey -- you can print in color on any paper and put contact paper on top of it and a little magnet on the back from the kind you buy in a strip)

[Morgey24]

Ok, I'm having buyer's remorse :confused3 so I need some comforting...

I saw today an offer for a different (non DCL) cruise leaving the 21st, too. We could go as cheaply as $294PP for the week (an inside cabin for 2 is $708 for the week! so we could get 2 cabins so DexH could have his own cabin).

Alternately, we could get a Balcony cabin for the 3 of us for $1398. For the week. That is, of course, substantially less than what we are paying for this cruise...

I already paid in full and I think the 75 day mark is Monday (someone correct me if I am wrong)... so theoretically I could cancel (if my math is right) and get my $ back (less a TA penalty which is pennies compared to this) and go on the other line with a ton of money leftover....

But I love DCL. But I love $$ even more :rotfl2:

help.

[sherreis]

Donna -- it is a lot of money and I understand. I brought up the topic around here and was veto'd. DS13 said it is to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah so it really should be Disney.

The 75 day mark is Monday. Would you be able to contact your TA over the weekend if you decide to cancel?

[Morgey24]

Donna -- it is a lot of money and I understand. I brought up the topic around here and was veto'd. DS13 said it is to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah so it really should be Disney.

The 75 day mark is Monday. Would you be able to contact your TA over the weekend if you decide to cancel?


I don't think so (as far as contacting TA) over the weekend... I asked DD13 yesterday if she was excited and she just rolled her teenage eyes at me and said "Mom, you take me on so many cruises what difference does one more make" :scared1: which made me think 1) why do I bother and 2) why pay more for DCL when it is me who wants to cruise 24/7/265 :laughing:

I could save so much $ by booking Costa (cat's outta the bag) that I could pay for a spring break (non DCL, of course, since March 27 rates are astronomical) cruise.... but what the heck. Might as well live large and do Disney while I still can and then try to figure out later how to also do a spring break trip.

if it was a couple of days ago and I hadn't paid in full, well, then, that'd be a different story....

[pillow]

Regarding the washing machines, they are front loaders and everything in the laundry room now only takes the KTTW cards. In June, the detergent (I used Tide) was $1 and the washer and dryer were each $2 per load. When we would come back to the room before dinner, I would run put a load in and take my shower. I'd then run down and throw them in the dryer while I dried my hair and finished getting ready. I run get the clothes before we left for the night and it worked perfectly. Of course I was always fortunate that there was always a washer or dryer open when I needed it!!

Lynn:flower3:

So, I don't need to bring quarters!!?? Yay!

Actually, I'm gonna try to pack enough so that I don't have to do laundry. I've almost seen fights break out in that laundry room. Once, there was a man waiting for a machine. He took someone's wet clothes that were finished washing and laid them on the table so that he could use the machine (it seemed perfectly Ok to me since the lady wasn't there to get her clothes out and she was taking up a machine with people waiting). She came in and saw her clothes on the table and read him the riot act! :scared1: She was super hot! Maybe Disney should post laundry etiquette rules in the laundry rooms or something. :)

Jodie

[alwayslisad]

I am crazed over the Disney Cruise - DD is as well - DH could take it or leave it. Years ago we thought of switching to another Cruise Lines to save money - but DD and Dnephews said NOOOOOOOOOOOOO - they wanted Disney - so we booked -- now Dnephews can't afford to come :( and I am sad over that - but still tickled pink that I will get our last Disney Cruise with DD before College.....

Our very close friends are NOTTTTTTTTTTT Disney fans at all - so we probably won't be cruising again after this one on the DCL :(

Cost will be a factor for this decision as well as wanting to explore other vacation ideas....

I guess if I had the option of one cruise over another - and no one but me cared which Cruise Lines - I would do what made me HAPPY - eheheh - selfish I know...but oh well...

[alwayslisad]

I hate having to do laundry on the Ship - people are not very nice at all when it comes to leaving laundry and then the RIOT act -- ugh -- I hope that I wont have to do any - ohhh boy do I hope!!

[Morgey24]

I've seen upset :laundy: laundry folks, too. The one that got me was the upset lady when someone was FOLDING her clothes that they had removed from the dryer so that they could use the dryer.

Dryer stopped. Guest was not there to get clothes out of it. Other guest did exactly what I would do (and then more) by putting dry clothes near the iron.... Original guest was **hot** (more so than her lukewarm clothes!)

Maybe DCL should put bins of some sort so that if you had to remove someone's dry clothes there would be a little 'storage' area for them..

PS - I know I am weird but I actually enjoy clean clothes mid-week (especially unmetionables and pjs) more than I dislike doing the laundry :laughing: so I'll keep doing a midweek load of whites.

[alwayslisad]

I am figuring that since we have sea day on Sunday and Monday - we will have swimsuits on....so that saves a little - the undergarments will be the biggest problem - but they dont take up much space...

I recall being in college and washing them in the sink - eek - but oh well - I am hoping to not pack a lot this time - I have two swim suits - a cotton moo moo dress - black slacks - two shirts - two shorts - two tshirts and two tanks -- I am hoping that will be fine - if someone see's me in the same outfit two nights in a row - oh well - OH yea jammies too! ehehehe

DD is going to be my pack rat --

question - has anyone ever sent the clothes OUT to be washed and folded ? is that worth it ?

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2227

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2228

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2229.............Look I have nothing else to do ok?!

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2230

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2231

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2232......I'm done, just doing my part to 5000 or 6000 posts

[eeyoremommy]

My parents FE just came today, and it looks awesome. I am so excited. I hope they will be too.

[eeyoremommy]

2234 to make Andrew not feel alone or like he is the only one with nothing else to do...

[TheDuckStopsHere]

2233....now I'm done!

[alwayslisad]

#2236 -- spent a nice day on our boat

[alwayslisad]

#2237 - came in just in time to realize that Renee was supposed to work today - woops mommmy wrote down the wrong day -- bad mommy

[alwayslisad]

#2238 - now we are getting ready to put burgers on the grill and put a nice bonfire on.

[alwayslisad]

#2239 - tomorrow is more boating and then a craft fair....

[alwayslisad]

#2240 - ok I added to the day :) now off to the bonfire and a great burger off the grill!

[Morgey24]

you guys are too funny... 2241... going to Cracker Barrel for dinner for some country fried something ... or lots of country fried somethings with a pat of butter on the side :thumbsup2

This is livin' large in O'Town :laughing:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

OK...so...Andrew and I are working on our fish extender items... We have like 12 done and I think 20 more to go. I'm doing a "craft-type" item for each family "unit" in a cabin (so, for example, I'm doing 2 for Rob and Priscilla since their DD's BFF is cruising with them). Lisa, is it just the nephews who aren't coming or is it the inlaws too?

For some reason my brain is simply fried today....can't tell you the number of typos I've fixed in this post! I'm thinking a nap might just be in order....

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

you guys are too funny... 2241... going to Cracker Barrel for dinner for some country fried something ... or lots of country fried somethings with a pat of butter on the side :thumbsup2

This is livin' large in O'Town :laughing:

LOL...Steve loves Mamma's Pancake Breakfast. Doesn't matter the time, when we go that's what he gets! Me, I just found out that you can order an omlet there. It's not on the menu...but they'll do one up for you!

Hmm...definitely nap time (particularly since I misspelled nap 3 times while typing it!)

Karen

[lynnivey]

Well, 77 days from now I will be at the Welcome Aboard show and then waiting on dinner! This is my first time to participate in the FE exchange. I wish I could think of something original or creative, but I'm clueless!! I should be working on them now cause I know I'll be stressed out when it gets close to time and I don't have them ready! Anyway, that's what's on my cruisin' mind tonight. Just trying to post to contribute for the day!!

Lynn:flower3:

[mwstar]

Just booked today! :cool1: It has been almost 2 years since we have traveled on Disney. Did the Christmas cruise with the same itinerary in 07. I am addicted to cruising, this will be our third this year. Just returned from sailing Freedom of the Seas in late July and couldn't wait until next summer. Earlier this year we did MSC, and italian cruise line. Now that was interesting:eek:

We picked up connecting rooms on deck 7 aft, our favorite place to be. We are a family of 6 plus my daughter's friend. So we will have 17 (DD), 17(F),
7(DD), 5(DD) and 5(DS)

We did the short version of the Turkey day cruise back in 2006. Glad to see some good rates and still rooms left on short notice!

[lynnivey]

Welcome! We're doing our 2nd Disney cruise and our first was just in June. This is the first time I've ever done 2 in one year and that says a lot about Disney! I have 2 boys 7 & 5. I'm very excited about going during the holidays and seeing the boat and CC decorated. I haven't done the Eastern intinerary in 20 years!! Anyway, glad to have you! If you're interested in participating in the FE exchange, you'll have to wait on someone to post the link because I don't have it!!:rotfl:

Lynn:flower3:

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Welcome to our new members!!!!

So, in a nutshell, here's what you need to know:

1. We have a FE blog. You can go here to view and enter your family in it: http://112109.blogspot.com/ How we do the FE is up to you! You can go 1 item, one time, items everyday, items for kids, etc... It's strictly up to you.

2. Chuck (aka Icemanpad) is going to link us together for purposes of dining. He did this for us 2 years ago and all of us that had late seating wound up sitting in a group which was a ton of fun.

3. I am coordinating t-shirts for the gang. We got some printed 2 years ago and all wore our shirts on the first day of the cruise. It made it easier to spot those who were on the Disboards with us (and made everyone else wonder who we were!).

3. Chun (Bigeskimodog) and Wendy (Tinkerbellmom99) are both terrific at designing door magnets, signs, etc. They've posted some great ones!

4. If you have kids...there is a kids thread where some of the kids have been yakking about what they want to do on the ship and just getting to know each other a bit. I think it's called Turkey Day Gang 2009 Kids Thread. It was started by my son Andrew (he's 11) under his user name "TheDuckStopsHere".

And finally, though some of us have cruised together before, we welcome all the newbies! We caution you that the Disboards can become addictive and that some of us :rolleyes: are very excited about this cruise...and some of us :rolleyes: are perhaps more excited than our children are....please don't hold that against us!

Karen

Welcome MWStar....this should summarize things for you.

Karen

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Just booked today! :cool1: It has been almost 2 years since we have traveled on Disney. Did the Christmas cruise with the same itinerary in 07. I am addicted to cruising, this will be our third this year. Just returned from sailing Freedom of the Seas in late July and couldn't wait until next summer. Earlier this year we did MSC, and italian cruise line. Now that was interesting:eek:

We picked up connecting rooms on deck 7 aft, our favorite place to be. We are a family of 6 plus my daughter's friend. So we will have 17 (DD), 17(F),
7(DD), 5(DD) and 5(DS)

We did the short version of the Turkey day cruise back in 2006. Glad to see some good rates and still rooms left on short notice!

We will be on deck 7 aft also. In 7631.

[alwayslisad]

Hello and welcome :)

My nephews are the only ones not coming at this point - my sister and brother in law are coming :)

[bigeskimodog]

Welcome aboard.
:goodvibes

Seems everyone is doing their parts to reach 5000 (or 6).

Today has been fairly exhausting just hanging in the pool and trying to work off lunch. Tomorrow will be even more tiring as we will head to Disneyland. Somehow we are still achieving the goal of avoiding manual labor while keeping ourselves occupied this weekend.

-Chun:cool1: