August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[Anal Annie]

Welcome aboard the cruise meet thread for the MAGIC sailing the Med on August 13, 2011!!

Well, so I know I am not entirely alone on this boat as I just transferred my ressie from SPH cabin # 5020 on the July 20 10-night Med to #5020 on this 7-night Med and there's only 1 other SPH cabin left!! So I hope someone will join in here soon so I don't have to talk to myself for TOOOOO long! :goodvibes

I decided to name this meet thread based on my own bouncing around from one date to another for this Med cruise. The third time MUST be the charm!! I started out booking on day # 1 of the itinerary release for the original 10 night August 10 cruise. Then DCL suspended sales & we flipped to the July 20 one to preserve our SPH cabin. Then they announced the 7 night cruises and we became torn about staying with the 10 night or flipping again back to August (which is a better month for us to vacation). But we really wanted to try to do the 10 night cruise so we hung in with that one for awhile. THEN DH's car blew up last week (oil pump, timing chain, timing belt, valves, cylinders - the whole engine)!! The repair bill is going to be over $7 grand!!:scared1: So with a heavy heart this car repair has pushed our decision to switch to 7 nights while we could still snag "our" SPH cabin. HENCE the reason I had to use "marauding" in the title!!!:rolleyes:

So who else is with me on this beeg 'ole boat!? Me = DH and 1 DS (who will be 14 when we go) and myself.

I am a planning fanatic!! I keep telling myself that the 7 night will work out just fine as we plan to sandwich it inbeween a few nights in Barcelona pre-cruise and a few nights in Paris post-cruise (or vice versa).:confused3 The money saved from the extra 3 nights will certainly help pay for several excursions!:yay:

Cruise website:

http://mickeysmaraudingmates.weebly.com/


PEEPS NOW CRUISING ON THIS AUG. 13 DATE (Names & ages at cruise time):

Me, Anal Annie (50) with DH Daryl (41) and DS Jared (14) / From Maryland, USA / 4th DCL

Kels Sem - Kelly (35) with DH Gary (39), DS Nathan (6) and DD Keira (4) / From Bangor, N. Ireland / 1st DCL

Luke - no AKA, just Luke (29), sailing with DW, Paula (29) / From Liverpool, England / 2nd DCL

jd99 - Jeff along with DW Mina and DD Elizabeth (12, ALMOST 13) and DD Emily (7) / From Pittsburgh, PA, USA / will be 10th DCL!!!

west&east - Karen (41) with DH Harvey (42), DD Leah (12) and DS Aaron (8) / From Charlotte, NC, USA / 1st DCL

NJ.Ohana - Liza (37) with DH Jeremy (41), DD Alexis (9) and DD Isabella (5) / From Hawaii but living in New Jersey, USA / 1st DCL

CastwayJP - Jeremy along with DW Lindsey, DD Alyssa (12), DD Regan (4) & DS Joshua (3) / from Falls Church, VA but recently moved to Bucharest, Romania / 7th DCL
Also sailing with JP's parents - Jerry and Mickey from Richmond, VA, USA / 1st DCL

Mikki.Young - Mikki (50) with DH Andrew (60) and Figaro (a trip report writing toy cat :cat: ) / From Lincolnshire, England / 2nd DCL

Joanne Hollyoak - with DH Derek and DS Aaron (4) / From Birmingham, England / 1st DCL

LNRP - Lisa with DH Mark, DD Caitlyn (6) and DS Zach (4) / Originally from Houston, TX but living in Moscow, Russia / 1st DCL

Goofygoof - Sheeren with DH Dave and DS Youssef (5) / From Essex, UK / 1st DCL

MallenBeadle - Jon (41) with DW Amanda (37) and DD Charlotte (9) & DD Katie (5) / From England / 1st DCL

Esther1403 - Esther (36) with DH Juan (36) and DS Oscar (5) and DD Sandra (5) / From Spain / 3rd DCL

SharonL - Sharon (45) with DH Steve (47) and DS Jake (5) / From Kent, England

Cumbley - Cheryl with DH Grant and DD (8) and DD (5) / From Staffs, UK / 1st DCL

MJWBCV - Marcus with DW Emma and DS Ben (14) and DS Matty (11) / From Kent, UK / 2nd DCL
(celebrating DW's birthday)

DoeWDW - Doreen (47) with DH Todd (49) / From Southcentral PA, USA / 2nd DCL
(celebrating their 26th anniversary)

KerryKerr - Kerry with DH Andrew and DD Emma (5 almost 6) / From Ontario, Canada / 1st DCL

Criscoloo - Chris with DH Martin and DD Aisling (13) and DD Ciara (8) / From NYC, New York / 4th DCL

UKWIZARD - Andy (41) with Hayley (38) and Jen (niece - 13) / From Sales, UK

janetfk - family of 4 (DS8 and DD3) / Originally from South Africa but living in Germany / 1st DCL

Canadian Crew - Lorne with DW Carrie, DD Cassidy (16) and DS Logan (8) / From Calgary, Alberta / 4th DCL

fongds - Diane with DH Spencer, DD (11) Alyssa, DD Britney (6) and DD Kaitlyn (6) / 3rd DCL
(celebrating their 25th anniversary on August 16th)

SailingSeas - 2 adults + DS20 and DD14

rexalite - 2 adults (38) and DS3 / First DCL

chrssher - Sherri with DH Chris, DS Justin (10), DS Michael (7), DM and DB / expats living in Germany / 2nd DCL

[jilljill]

Moving this to the meets section. You can also post a link to this thread on the Magic meets thread for IrishCowboy to add to the first post.

[Hockeychic]

Hi there, we where looking at booking Sept 3rd but we might be changing that already to this cruise. What is a SPH room?

Kim

[Anal Annie]

Hey there Hockey Chic - didn't you cruise with the DISFunctional peeps before?! (RJ, Cheri, Betsy, Johnna et al)?? I went on back-to-backs with them last summer!! Come on over!!

SPH = secret porthole. They are essentially obstructed view rooms (and there are only 6 of them) and DCL sells them as inside Cat 10's - so you basically get a free porthole!! :thumbsup2 They are reclassified Cat 8's! We stayed in 5520 on the Wonder last year - I can post pics if you want!!! It's a real bargain of a room but no steamer trunk!!

[Hockeychic]

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly.

We are trying to plan this cruise with a trip to England and France so playing around with dates but I am liking mid August.

Yes I did cruise with the gang, quite awhile ago in 2005. It was my first ever cruise and well the gale force winds kept me out of action for a day or two;) All awesome people, would like to meet up with them again some day they where alot of fun.

[MRAven]

Hi A Annie and every one else. I'm not booked on your exact date of cruise but just one week later (08 20 2011); that is, I get on as you get off !

Do you mind if I share info with you guys since on my cruise there's little (actualy there's none) persons whom to talk etc etc ?

[Anal Annie]

Hockey Chic - I THOUGHT I remembered you popping in to say hi on our old Wonder thread... That was the Halloween cruise, right? They are all cruising together again on the Dream...July 10, 2011 I think...well, Johnna is going on the PC repo but RJ, Cheri, Betsy, Sean & Sue Ellen are on the Dream. We really wanted to cruise on the Dream too but I wanted longer than 5 nights and someplace beyond the Bahamas. :guilty: Soooo we went our own way. They are indeed a fine bunch of fun peeps! They have a meet thread going again too! :thumbsup2 I hope to see you come back here to stay!! I need peeps!!! :goodvibes

MRAven - of course you can hang out here! I saw your thread...it does look a little lonely over there! I will probably pop back into my old July 20 thread too to stay in touch... Everybody is very friendly around here and all are welcome!!:goodvibes

Are we there yet?:rolleyes1

[Hockeychic]

Oh that is awesome, I might have to pop by and say hi to see if anyone remembers us. That was the only cruise we did on DCL, we made the switch to Carnival, we could get balconies for what we paid for inside on DCL and since we go to disney 2 or 3 times a year we where getting our disney fix and also my kids, well really aren't kids anymore so they stay home;) While researching a med cruise, I thought wow lets see what DCL charges and they are the same price for a 7 night as Carnival is for the 9 night, but since we are also going to England and France the 7 nighter fits better. Really excited about coming back to DCL. Still deciding on the week, Sept is about $400 cheaper but we have to wait to see when we can book our Normandy Battle Fields tours, that will help us decided, but I would love to come back and chat until we decide if that is OK.

[Anal Annie]

Oh that is awesome, I might have to pop by and say hi to see if anyone remembers us. That was the only cruise we did on DCL, we made the switch to Carnival, we could get balconies for what we paid for inside on DCL and since we go to disney 2 or 3 times a year we where getting our disney fix and also my kids, well really aren't kids anymore so they stay home;) While researching a med cruise, I thought wow lets see what DCL charges and they are the same price for a 7 night as Carnival is for the 9 night, but since we are also going to England and France the 7 nighter fits better. Really excited about coming back to DCL. Still deciding on the week, Sept is about $400 cheaper but we have to wait to see when we can book our Normandy Battle Fields tours, that will help us decided, but I would love to come back and chat until we decide if that is OK.

OOOHH!! A real live DCL vs Carnival comparison!! What did you think? Noticable difference? We have only cruised DCL - I am afraid to be disappointed in others. Although I hear OK things about RCCL and Celebrity.:confused3 I keep thinking it would be like when we went from staying in a Deluxe resort to a Moderate prior to buying our DVC membership - we didn't like going backwards. We live about an hour from Baltimore, Maryland and they've slowly started adding cruises out of their harbor. They don't go in the dead of winter though...but we could drive to the port or have someone drop us off...it is something I've had tucked in the back of my mind as a cheap(er) vacation since there would be no airfare involved. Carnival sails their old ship the 'Pride' out there.

We also want to add days in France (Paris). I know it's not the best use of our DVC points but we CAN stay at one of the DLP properties on points for 3 or 4 nights and preserve our cash for excursions & a hotel in Barcelona as we also want to add 3 or 4 nights in Barcelona - so yes, the 7 night cruise in the end will probably work out to be a better length than the longer ones when it gets sandwiched in the middle. The Normandy thing sounds neat. We will not have time for that type of thing though. We want a couple of days for DLP and a couple of days for Paris. I went to France & England WAAAY back in high school with my French class. It was a whirlwind of a week with 4 nights in Paris and 3 nights in London. We sure got around though.:rolleyes1

[Hockeychic]

my DD just did a school trip to Italy and after hearing her stories I wish I had that chance when I was in school.

Honestly....probably not the best place to post this but I prefer Carnival. I liked disney, and am a disney freak but I just find Carnival offers much better ports, food is just as good, I wouldn;t say better but as good, I liked the entertainment better as well. Carnival does have casinos but I have never spent a dime in them. The only thing I liked better on DCL was the restaurant rotation. Carnival you eat in the same dining room each night which is fine, you get to know where your table is but I prefer the rotation. I was a little worried about trying Carnival due to the booze cruise comparison but honestly I have never seen that and I have done 6 Carnival cruises since 2005 when I was on DCL and have 2 more booked 1 to Alaska in a few months and western caribbean in Nov.

Carnival Pride is in the Spirit Class of ships and is my fav' actually my 2 next cruises are on Spirit and Legend....same style of ship.

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list :thumbsup2

[Anal Annie]

Bump!!:goodvibes

[MRAven]

Well thank you A Annie for your response. This means I will be having a double thread - double people - double fun.


Well, I will share with you our "1st Nice to Have Itinerary", so sugestions are allway welcome; thats the idea right ?


First of all our main objective is to celebrate DD 18th birthday on the cruise which is on Aug 21st 2011; that is one day after sailing. She knows we are going to Europe but doesn't know about the Disney Cruise. :cake:


Vacation plan for about three weeks which include:

4 to 5 days in Madrid with a visit to Toledo (Medievel City). One day sacrifice due to jet lag !

3 to 4 days Barcelona with a visit to Monserrat (Monastery)

And the highly expected DCL Med Cruise for on week somewhere in between. Shore excursions not decided yet.

Still have some days to decide what to do.


Our cruising experience is
DCL Disney Magic December 2002 7 night Eastern Caribbean
DCL Dsiney Magic December 2009 7 nights Western Caribbean

[Floridasunshine]

It is great to see this link and people to talk to. I booked the August 13th 7 night Mediterranean Cruise with my DD who will be 25. :hippie: I got alittle carried away on the last cruise and also booked the Alaskan cruise for July 26th. We will have about 10 days at home between the two cruises and I wonder if I am making a mistake with them so close together. Has anyone else booked so close together?:scared1:

[MRAven]

my DD just did a school trip to Italy and after hearing her stories I wish I had that chance when I was in school.

Honestly....probably not the best place to post this but I prefer Carnival. I liked disney, and am a disney freak but I just find Carnival offers much better ports, food is just as good, I wouldn;t say better but as good, I liked the entertainment better as well. Carnival does have casinos but I have never spent a dime in them. The only thing I liked better on DCL was the restaurant rotation. Carnival you eat in the same dining room each night which is fine, you get to know where your table is but I prefer the rotation. I was a little worried about trying Carnival due to the booze cruise comparison but honestly I have never seen that and I have done 6 Carnival cruises since 2005 when I was on DCL and have 2 more booked 1 to Alaska in a few months and western caribbean in Nov.

Carnival Pride is in the Spirit Class of ships and is my fav' actually my 2 next cruises are on Spirit and Legend....same style of ship.



At the end of the day it's all about cruising. I've done all kinds of vacations and cruising is the best for me (untill space cruising comes along).

I don't have any comparison among cruise lines but I must say I've seen people (adults, childrens with me included) with tears of joy on our eyes when getting off the Magic at the end of the cruise.

[MRAven]

It is great to see this link and people to talk to. I booked the August 13th 7 night Mediterranean Cruise with my DD who will be 25. :hippie: I got alittle carried away on the last cruise and also booked the Alaskan cruise for July 26th. We will have about 10 days at home between the two cruises and I wonder if I am making a mistake with them so close together. Has anyone else booked so close together?:scared1:



I don't think you should be concerned about it since the itineraries are totaly diferent. And you will need to change your clothes an gears. Mediterranean and Alaska are completely different worlds and that's where your fun will be.

[Anal Annie]

It is great to see this link and people to talk to. I booked the August 13th 7 night Mediterranean Cruise with my DD who will be 25. :hippie: I got alittle carried away on the last cruise and also booked the Alaskan cruise for July 26th. We will have about 10 days at home between the two cruises and I wonder if I am making a mistake with them so close together. Has anyone else booked so close together?:scared1:

:banana: Yay!! Another peep!! There we go!! FLSunshine, I have never been one to be able to have 2 vacations that close together so I don't know how that will be. Exciting & hectic!! But they will indeed be SOOO different!! Alaska will surely be beautiful but cold. Then you'll come to the Med & get your tropical week.:love: I really want to see Alaska one day but I just don't want to be cold! I will go whenever I can figure out how to do that. :rotfl: I also didn't want to do it on DCL's first year at it. We did the Mexican Riviera on DCL back in 2005 and they really charge a premium for their first year somewhere. At least you got the rebooking discount for both of them, right? :confused3

MRAven - your plans sound awesome as well!! I wish we had time for Madrid too but we really want to see DLP & Paris while we're THAT CLOSE! That way we can still get our "Disney Fix"!!

Well, we are currently in the beginning stages of a blizzard (expecting between 20-30 inches of snow over the next 24 hours) so I am going to go outside now with DH to clear some snow before we go to bed & before it gets TOO DEEP. Can we go yet??:rolleyes:

[Floridasunshine]

so sorry to hear about your weather. We had tornado warnings yesterday and heavy rain but it looks like all has passed for now.:confused3 I am so ready for a vacation, not sure if I can wait this long. :banana: Good luck with the snow, I know how challenging that can be but keep dreaming of a great vaca ---:cheer2:

[Anal Annie]

We had about 12" of snow last night by midnight and then we got another 14" over night for a total of about 26" by 8:00 am. Supposed to continue until about 8:00 pm.... Here's a few pics I took this morning (remember, we had cleared it all out once last night)

Looking out a front window at our sidewalk
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc27b3127ccef919f27834e800000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Looking out of our garage across our court
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc27b3127ccef9190657b58d00000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Our mailboxes
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc27b3127ccef918f9c3548200000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Our front door (it's blowing hard & sticking all over our windows & doors)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc27b3127ccef918cb62543a00000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Measured 14" from overnight
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc27b3127ccef9188b18546000000010O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Anal Annie]

so sorry to hear about your weather. We had tornado warnings yesterday and heavy rain but it looks like all has passed for now.:confused3 I am so ready for a vacation, not sure if I can wait this long. :banana: Good luck with the snow, I know how challenging that can be but keep dreaming of a great vaca ---:cheer2:

There were tornado warnings once when we were at WDW. It was before we bought our DVC membership & we were staying at Corondo Springs - I made DS go sit in the bathtub 'cuz I figured we should be in an interior room. The weather channel specifically named diff. parks at WDW so I was paranoid. Now he is scared to death of storms 'cuz I freaked him out!:sad2:

[Hockeychic]

wow that is some huge snow, stay safe

[Floridasunshine]

Your pictures are incredible - how quickly I forget what it is like to live with snow. Just keep thinking about the great sunshine :happytv: Disney has a program where you can volunteer for a day and they will give you a ticket for the day for one of the parks. We decided at work to have a group of employees do this so we could donate our tickets to the local boys and girls club or the make-a-wish foundation. My daughter and I have volunteered for the day and are headed out to set up a health fair in New Port Richey. Will give you an update later.:scared1:

[Anal Annie]

Your pictures are incredible - how quickly I forget what it is like to live with snow. Just keep thinking about the great sunshine :happytv: Disney has a program where you can volunteer for a day and they will give you a ticket for the day for one of the parks. We decided at work to have a group of employees do this so we could donate our tickets to the local boys and girls club or the make-a-wish foundation. My daughter and I have volunteered for the day and are headed out to set up a health fair in New Port Richey. Will give you an update later.:scared1:

Yes, we are signed up for the GAD program too...actually, we are all supposed to volunteer at a food bank this Wed. evening...now they are calling for more snow Tues. nite into Wed. morning so I am hoping it doesn't get cancelled!!! We are going to WDW for spring break...we have Annual Passes so don't need the free park ticket but we can use the vouchers for special fast pass cards. They only do the food bank thing once a month & they said they've been hit with a lot of requests...the March one may be too late for us to get the vouchers before our trip so I am really hoping it doesn't snow TOOOO much again!! We are "DONE" and "OVER" all of this snow!!!!:rolleyes: I had a hard time finding something to do on the GAD list that DS12 could participate in too...a lot of the things were age 15+.

[Kels Sem]

Welcome aboard the cruise meet thread for the MAGIC sailing the Med on August 13, 2011!!

Well, so I know I am not entirely alone on this boat as I just transferred my ressie from SPH cabin # 5020 on the July 20 10-night Med to #5020 on this 7-night Med and there's only 1 other SPH cabin left!! So I hope someone will join in here soon so I don't have to talk to myself for TOOOOO long! :goodvibes

I decided to name this meet thread based on my own bouncing around from one date to another for this Med cruise. The third time MUST be the charm!! I started out booking on day # 1 of the itinerary release for the original 10 night August 10 cruise. Then DCL suspended sales & we flipped to the July 20 one to preserve our SPH cabin. Then they announced the 7 night cruises and we became torn about staying with the 10 night or flipping again back to August (which is a better month for us to vacation). But we really wanted to try to do the 10 night cruise so we hung in with that one for awhile. THEN DH's car blew up last week (oil pump, timing chain, timing belt, valves, cylinders - the whole engine)!! The repair bill is going to be over $7 grand!!:scared1: So with a heavy heart this car repair has pushed our decision to switch to 7 nights while we could still snag "our" SPH cabin. HENCE the reason I had to use "marauding" in the title!!!:rolleyes:

So who else is with me on this beeg 'ole boat!? Me = DH and 1 DS (who will be 14 when we go) and myself.

I am a planning fanatic!! I keep telling myself that the 7 night will work out just fine as we plan to sandwich it inbeween a few nights in Barcelona pre-cruise and a few nights in Paris post-cruise (or vice versa).:confused3 The money saved from the extra 3 nights will certainly help pay for several excursions!:yay:


(PS) IrishCowboy can you hook us up with a link please?! TIA

Hi there!

I am new to these boards and this will be our first DCL cruise. I just thought I would say Hi and it looks as if we are going to be neighbours on the cruise as our stateroom is 5022.
Cruising will be myself, DH DS age 6 and DD age 4.

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Hi there!

I am new to these boards and this will be our first DCL cruise. I just thought I would say Hi and it looks as if we are going to be neighbours on the cruise as our stateroom is 5022.
Cruising will be myself, DH DS age 6 and DD age 4.

Kelly

:wave2: WOW! A real newbie!! Your first post!! Welcome aboard!! Yes, we will be next door neighbors! I KNEW we weren't alone on this boat!! You've booked a great room IMHO. We sailed in 5520 on the Wonder last year - fantastic bargains these SPH rooms!! :thumbsup2 (I have pics I can post if you've never seen any. The views are very similar.)

We are in the middle of yet ANOTHER blizzard, expecting between 10-15 inches MORE snow on top of the 31" we got a few days ago. We had about 6" this morning before the winds started picking up so now it will be hard to measure as it's already drifting badly. Afraid we will lose power again. I am SOOO ready to cruise again!:rotfl: Gotta wait HOW LONG?! :rolleyes1


(PS) Let me apologize NOW for any DISfunctional fussing you may hear coming from our cabin!!:rolleyes:

[Kels Sem]

:wave2: WOW! A real newbie!! Your first post!! Welcome aboard!! Yes, we will be next door neighbors! I KNEW we weren't alone on this boat!! You've booked a great room IMHO. We sailed in 5520 on the Wonder last year - fantastic bargains these SPH rooms!! :thumbsup2 (I have pics I can post if you've never seen any. The views are very similar.)

We are in the middle of yet ANOTHER blizzard, expecting between 10-15 inches MORE snow on top of the 31" we got a few days ago. We had about 6" this morning before the winds started picking up so now it will be hard to measure as it's already drifting badly. Afraid we will lose power again. I am SOOO ready to cruise again!:rotfl: Gotta wait HOW LONG?! :rolleyes1


(PS) Let me apologize NOW for any DISfunctional fussing you may hear coming from our cabin!!:rolleyes:

Hey, if you could post some pics that would be fab. We ended up with this room by fluke, being a complete Newbie to DCL cruising this was actually the cabin allocated to us while booking. It wasn't until after that I found out it has a SPH so I was really pleased.:)

I am soo looking forward to this cruise and I can't stop dreaming about it and I still have this year's holiday to WDW to look forward to.

Can't wait to start planning and I'm just reading everthing I can at the mo.

Hope your snow doesn't get too much worse.

[Anal Annie]

Oh lucky you! These are the BEST of the Cat 10's so I think they come up first even when people only randomly select Cat 10's. OK, so a little background...there are 6 of them, 3 on either side of the ship. 5020 is a single stand-alone room while 5022 connects to 5024. Same on the other side (5520 is the single while 5522 connects to 5524). The better views are in the 20 & 22 rooms. Like I said, we were in 5520 on the opposite side last time so this view is slightly different, but very similar to the one you will have.

While still docked at Port Canaveral
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b779ee5dd200000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b60b657d2c00000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

While docked at Castaway Cay one day
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b714c61d5400000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Another day at CC
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cf31b3127ccef8c1a0fe7a1600000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Zoomed in view of the island
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cf31b3127ccef8c1418bbbbb00000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Room in general
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b762e49c7d00000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b63678bc8700000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

From the outside...there are 2 decks with these big white lifeboat canisters - we are on deck 5 which is the upper one. Look at the top of the tail of the 'D'. The first room in this pic to the left of the 'D' is the __20 room. You can really barely see your room (__22) which is the one in the middle and you can really barely see __24 - it is to the far left, behind the double stacked lifeboat canisters. There is actually a little flat platform beneath your window & that's what is obstructing the view of the window in this picture. If you look at deck 6 above you can imagine where our windows are lined up.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce37b3127ccec534e00ed2f100000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Hope that helps! It is a great bonus to be able to book an inside category but have a window!!

[Anal Annie]

Bump!:goodvibes Cruisin' for more peeps!

[Floridasunshine]

Well my daughter and I went and volunteered for the health fair in New Port Richey. Overall the other volunteers were great to meet and I think I may have a job opening for one at work. :hippie:We received our park vouchers three days after the event via email. All we do is print them out and take them to the park - how great is this.

I feel so bad for everyone with the snow storms. We are currently experiencing weather in the 50's and rain:littleangel: but we have a lot of our facilities closed due to the terrible weather you are experiencing. :scared1: I am so looking forward to this cruise. I am back in school getting my masters and keep thinking this is a reward -- :dance3: Oh let the time pass quickly - - - - - -

[Kels Sem]

Annie, thanks so much for taking the time to post the pics. The view looks great. What a bonus:)

I will be following this thread closely.

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

FLsunshine - good job on the volunteer work!:thumbsup2 Our food bank has been rescheduled for Mon, Feb. 22. DH cannot go on a Monday tho so I will need to find something else for him to do. A MADD Chapter over in VA is looking for people to make ribbons...he could do that!:rotfl:

Kels Sem - please come hang out every day!! We gots of time to get to know each other!! Your post count needs some work!! :goodvibes Come chat!!

Hockeychic - when will you know for sure what you're going to book??

MrAven - you sure you don't want to come with us??:rolleyes:

[MRAven]

FLsunshine - good job on the volunteer work!:thumbsup2 Our food bank has been rescheduled for Mon, Feb. 22. DH cannot go on a Monday tho so I will need to find something else for him to do. A MADD Chapter over in VA is looking for people to make ribbons...he could do that!:rotfl:

Kels Sem - please come hang out every day!! We gots of time to get to know each other!! Your post count needs some work!! :goodvibes Come chat!!

Hockeychic - when will you know for sure what you're going to book??

MrAven - you sure you don't want to come with us??:rolleyes:

Hi A Annie thank you for your invitation; and believe me I will think about it.

The only thing that is tying me to my cruise schedule is my DD 18th birthday which it is on Aug 21st. DW and I want to celebrate it on the cruise. When booking on our last cruise we were even considering doing it on the Dream but DD wants to go to Europe; it's her birthday, so we told her yes to Europe but she doesn't know about the Magic; it's a suprise :cake:

[Anal Annie]

Hi A Annie thank you for your invitation; and believe me I will think about it.

The only thing that is tying me to my cruise schedule is my DD 18th birthday which it is on Aug 21st. DW and I want to celebrate it on the cruise. When booking on our last cruise we were even considering doing it on the Dream but DD wants to go to Europe; it's her birthday, so we told her yes to Europe but she doesn't know about the Magic; it's a suprise :cake:

Ahh yes, DD's big birthday...I forgot about that leeetle detail.:rolleyes: Well, you're still welcome to hang out here until you find yourself some more peeps on your cruise!

I poked around a little bit yesterday on a cruise website (CruisesOnly.com) just to nose around & see what was out there. I've been reading other threads about people jumping ship from DCL to cruise on other lines...and then there are some saying sales are slow. Well, they apparently only post the itineraries at 18 months & they don't even have August 2011 up for sale yet as we're still just under that mark right now. Actually, looking at my ticker, TODAY is exactly our 18 month mark! Anyway, you can only select cruises through July. And the only 2 cruiselines that came up for that far out were DCL and Carnival. So I suspect come March they will post August. So of course until then sales will be slow. WE are the early birds! Hopefully we'll pick up more peeps in a month or two. :goodvibes

[MRAven]

Ahh yes, DD's big birthday...I forgot about that leeetle detail.:rolleyes: Well, you're still welcome to hang out here until you find yourself some more peeps on your cruise!

I poked around a little bit yesterday on a cruise website (CruisesOnly.com) just to nose around & see what was out there. I've been reading other threads about people jumping ship from DCL to cruise on other lines...and then there are some saying sales are slow. Well, they apparently only post the itineraries at 18 months & they don't even have August 2011 up for sale yet as we're still just under that mark right now. Actually, looking at my ticker, TODAY is exactly our 18 month mark! Anyway, you can only select cruises through July. And the only 2 cruiselines that came up for that far out were DCL and Carnival. So I suspect come March they will post August. So of course until then sales will be slow. WE are the early birds! Hopefully we'll pick up more peeps in a month or two. :goodvibes

I guess a little pacience won't hurt. As you mentioned we earlybirds once we book we just can't wait to get back on.

DCL Marketing should kick in very soon. Do you think they read the threads in order to obtain feedback ? or what cruisers are saying ? None the less here is a letter post for DCL Marketing and Sales departments:

"Dear DCL Marketing and Sales castmenbers; please send us some cruiser along. Here's some pixiedust: to help you out.


Thank you.


DCL Fans"


Now the trick is to know if they get this.

[MRAven]

Hey, they posted the new Winter 2010 Castaway Members Compass Newsletter. If you are a member check it out.

:cheer2::dance3::cheer2:

[Anal Annie]

Trolling for new peeps! :rolleyes:

Just one year, 5 months and 24 days to go!!

[Anal Annie]

:sail: Still lookin' for more peeps!!!

[MRAven]

Thank you Annie for your tips on posting things on the thread. And don't worry, if I can't figure it out I always have a teenager to teach me. :lmao:

I'll dedicate it some time this weekend :surfweb:

[Anal Annie]

:rolleyes: Just doing my daily "bump up".

[veludo]

Hello!

Were booked on the 13th August med cruise 2011 :yay:

Looking forward to getting to know you all :cheer2:

Justine

[Anal Annie]

Hello!

Were booked on the 13th August med cruise 2011 :yay:

Looking forward to getting to know you all :cheer2:

Justine

OH Yay!!! Another newbie!! Welcome aboard!!! :dance3: Looks like my peep patrol is working!! Where ya from & how many in your family (kids? ages?) Have you cruised before? Come tell us your story!! :flower3:

[veludo]

Hi

We are from Lancashire in England and this will be our first ever cruise and we are VERY excited!! :banana:

There will be myself (Justine - 36), DH Martin 37 and our son Matthew who will be 6 when we cruise.

We love WDW and have been to Orlando several times (last time was Christmas and New Year just gone) but felt like a change next year and we are looking forward to the short flight and no jet lag when we get back!!

We have booked one of the Secret Verandah rooms - I think its 6134.

I wish it would hurry up and get t cruise time - I cant wait!! :dance3:

Justine xx

[Anal Annie]

Hi

We are from Lancashire in England and this will be our first ever cruise and we are VERY excited!! :banana:

There will be myself (Justine - 36), DH Martin 37 and our son Matthew who will be 6 when we cruise.

We love WDW and have been to Orlando several times (last time was Christmas and New Year just gone) but felt like a change next year and we are looking forward to the short flight and no jet lag when we get back!!

We have booked one of the Secret Verandah rooms - I think its 6134.

I wish it would hurry up and get t cruise time - I cant wait!! :dance3:

Justine xx

Oh that's a great room too! Well done!! :thumbsup2 Look at us early bookers - snapping up all of the good bargains! :) I considered booking one of those when we transferred our ressie from the 10 night to the 7 night but since it was a financial move, even though it would still cost less than the 10 night, I figured we should stick with our SPH room to maximize our savings. The other thing about the SPH room is that it has the pull-down bunk so DS can sleep up there & we can still have the couch "free" so I liked the idea of him being "out of the way".:rotfl: The only real drawback with the SPH room we booked is there is no steamer trunk. But I suppose with all the luggage restrictions when you travel now that will force me to pack more efficiently too. I hope so anyway! :lmao: Ask me again in about 17 1/2 months from now how the packing situation looks! :rotfl2:

I can pretty much tell you that after doing ONE DCL you will be "hooked" and will want to do more!! We thought our first one that we did back in 2005 would be the only one we'd ever do...but we really, really enjoyed it a LOT. Next thing you know we're trying to figure out how to get back on that boat!! I don't blame you for wanting to stay on that side of pond to do it. That makes perfect sense. We can't afford to cruise more than once about every 3 years. Especially by the time we add in other vacations we want to do. We own DVC so we usually go to do WDW about 2 or 3 times a year. But our next trip down at the end of March will be our last to FL for awhile. It will be our 3rd trip on our AP's which expire in May & we've decided to just go to the DVC resort at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina for a beach vacation this year. (Not that I expect you to know where that is.:rolleyes:) Just trying to save money for NEXT years trip - which means saving on park tickets for a change!!! Once we get on that boat next year I don't us to be penny pinching over every little thing. I want to book private tours in Naples & Rome & possibly LaSpezia too.

Anyway, glad to have a new peep on board!!

[Anal Annie]

Hey ya'll - I am going to go back to my first post on this thread & edit it to start adding our cruisers to the first post so new peeps can see who's crusing. MRAven is a lurking visitor and hoping Hockeychic will switch from her Sept. cruise to ours but so for now I am just posting those officially booked on our Aug. 13 cruise date. I still need a little more info. from Floridasunshine & Kels Sem (names, ages etc. if you want to share that info.) but so I will just post what I have for now. :goodvibes

Oh, and tell me if we have any birthdays or anniversaries or any special celebrations!

[MRAven]

Hi A Annie just to give you a weekly Bump Up and a Cheer Up and a What's Up !

And why not, also a Bottom's Up ! :drinking1

[Kels Sem]

Hi,

Anal Annie - FYI on the 1st post - cruising will be me Kelly (35) DH Gary (39) DS Nathan (6) and DD Keira (4) and we're from Bangor in N Ireland!
I am soo looking forward to this cruise and I think more so than this year's trip to WDW.
Like Veludo I'm looking forward to the short haul flight. Veludo and I have already met over on the DIBB boards.

Justine - if you read this I couldn't get the same user name as mine on the DIBB as it was already in use which is why I'm Kels Sem on these boards.

I have wanted to cruise with Disney since I found out that they have a cruiseline and this is now possible with the Med. I'm just not sure if we could afford it when combining with a trip to WDW with the transatlantic flight prices especially now we have 2 little people to pay for as well!!

Chat soon.

[veludo]

Hi,

Anal Annie - FYI on the 1st post - cruising will be me Kelly (35) DH Gary (39) DS Nathan (6) and DD Keira (4) and we're from Bangor in N Ireland!
I am soo looking forward to this cruise and I think more so than this year's trip to WDW.
Like Veludo I'm looking forward to the short haul flight. Veludo and I have already met over on the DIBB boards.

Justine - if you read this I couldn't get the same user name as mine on the DIBB as it was already in use which is why I'm Kels Sem on these boards.

I have wanted to cruise with Disney since I found out that they have a cruiseline and this is now possible with the Med. I'm just not sure if we could afford it when combining with a trip to WDW with the transatlantic flight prices especially now we have 2 little people to pay for as well!!

Chat soon.

Hi Kelly!

Great to see you on here - only 18 months to go! Im sure once this August is here the time will fly - I have already been buying some "cuise" items! I probably wont be able to find them when the time comes lol!

Justine x

[veludo]

Will we be doing Fish Extenders on our Cruise???

I will need 18 months to get organised if so :banana:

I need to think about lovely sunny cruises - its freezing here and has been snowing - its horrible brrrr

Justine

[Kels Sem]

Will we be doing Fish Extenders on our Cruise???

I will need 18 months to get organised if so :banana:

I need to think about lovely sunny cruises - its freezing here and has been snowing - its horrible brrrr

Justine

I will need to get up to speed on what the Fish Extender involves! I would also need the 18 months to organise!

it's just cold and wet here today but DH says it's snowing where he is. He's working in Blackpool at the moment which isn't too far from you Justine I believe.

You mentioned before that you were thinking of extending your hols either before or after the cruise with a few days at the beach. Any ideas where that might be yet?

Kelly:)

[veludo]

I will need to get up to speed on what the Fish Extender involves! I would also need the 18 months to organise!

it's just cold and wet here today but DH says it's snowing where he is. He's working in Blackpool at the moment which isn't too far from you Justine I believe.

You mentioned before that you were thinking of extending your hols either before or after the cruise with a few days at the beach. Any ideas where that might be yet?

Kelly:)

Hi Kelly

we will probably stay beforehand - we will probably stay at one of the resorts close to Barcelona - I think Sitges is not far and also Salou, dont really want to be more than about an hour away from the port by taxi. I need to get investigating properly and get a shortlist. Matthew will be happy anywhere there is a beach so he is easy to please:)

When we booked I was originally hoping to fly to Barcelona on Jet2 from Blackpool - how easy would that have been!! BUt they are not operating that flight any longer so we will fly from either Liverpool or Manchester, either way its still a nice quick flight!!:yay:

Justine x

[Kels Sem]

We will be able to fly from Belfast to Barcelona with Easyjet (providing they don't pull the flight!) based on this years timetable we will need to spend a night in Barcelona on either side of the cruise.

I'm not sure yet if we will spend any more time at the beach it will depend if we get away for a weeks holiday at Easter or not but plenty of time to think about it.

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

:banana:Yay! The new peeps are chatting it up! :thumbsup2

We are planning to probably go to Paris first for at least 3 nights pre-cruise. (We HAVE to visit DLP while we're in Europe plus I'd like a day to go into the city.) I have been looking into our options then of getting from Paris to Barcelona (flying vs taking the over night train). We have never used a train before and while that might be a new adventure for us I hear iffy things about train travel with lots of luggage. Have any of you done this before?

I have been looking at flights too...I saw this EasyJet airline but am not familiar with them...but they sure are the cheapest! What should I know about them? Are they reliable? How are their luggage fees?? Are there pitfalls we need to know about?? I was thinking that HERE we would not fly to the port on the day of the cruise - we would go to FL at least a day before...so I figured if we fly we should plan for that there too. Interesting idea to go to a beach area rather than in the city of Barcelona. I LIKE that idea as I figured we'd add 3 nights in Barcelona AFTER the cruise. But that would only be worthwhile if we had an early flight. I heard the best beaches are not IN Barcelona but outside the city an hour or so. I would like to hear more about what you know about that too! One of the things I was thinking about with the train is it would not only be our transportation but it would be our "hotel" for the night too. Then we would just go to Barcelona to arrive the morning of the cruise.

The FE exhanges are quite fun. I participated in one on our back-to-backs that we did in summer 2008. I had not decided yet though if I will do it on this cruise. I think it may depend on how many people sign up for it - if it gets too big then it would consume too much luggage space. I am concerned about trying to fly with excess luggage as it is since this will be a 2 week trip for us. When I did it before it was only 11 cabins (36 people) so my FE stuff fit into one carry-on bag to bring with us. Then of course we had to have room to bring home all the stuff we collected.:rolleyes1 The luggage restrictions have gotten worse since then. I'd like to do it BUT will have to see later. If it starts turning into more than a doz. or so cabins then I will definitely have to think hard about it so it doesn't turn into a monster I can't control. I would likely only bring one or 2 SMALL items per cabin. Last time I made goody bags for each cabin with about 6 items or so in each. I made luggage tags, frig magnets, bought picture frames, stickers, magic towels, pens.... Oh, and then there's the cost of going overboard. Can I just say that planning TOOOO early only leads to more ideas...and more FE goodies!! :rotfl2: Look at my screen name - I am an obsessive planner to that ranks right up there with the best of them! But some things just get me into trouble!!

I started trying to put together a website for us...I am a little challenged with some of the technical stuff & am going to need to get some help from DH on it. Maybe by sometime over the weekend I can get it to the point of sharing. Right now it's still in a construction state. He has classes 3 nights a week and DS swims 3 times a week so it's hard to get time to sit down together during the week.

Can you tell I am excited already??!!

[veludo]

Hi Anal Annie!

I think that the coastal resorts close by are on the Costa Dorada (resorts like Salou) - this is sort of South West of Barcelona down the coast and then in the oppsite direction is the Costa Brava (places like Lloret De Mar - I spent many hols here as a small child!!). The nearest resort I can find to Barcelona so far is Sitges which looks quite nice but Ineed to do more research and it looks quite pricey :confused:

If you have a look at some UK tour operators websites it might give you afew ideas of what the resorts / hotels are like - this is what Im going to do then book the hotel independatly, Some are Thomas Cook, Thomson, Airtours - they should give you an idea of the area.

You are brave to consider a train with lots of luggage! In the days pre having DS, DH and I took the train and then a bus from Rome Airport to the Via Veneto as someone told us taxis were really expensive - it took us ages and a lot of messing about. Coming home - we found that the taxi was hardly more expensive so took that! Typical!!

It is possible that we will fly with EasyJet if we go from Liverpool - Ive not flown with them before but for such a short flight they surely cant be too bad. Im just hoping that the airline that runs from the airport very very close to our home town (Jet2) start their Barcelona flight again - that would be SOOOO convenient!

Justine x

[Kels Sem]

Hi Anal Annie,

I have never experienced the trains in Europe before but I believe they can be quite good. I have a friend who has lived in France, Germany and italy so i could pick her brains if you like. I suppose at the end of the day for me it would come down to the price difference between the train and flying and if it wasn't too much different I would fly. I have also been to DLP twice and there is a train that runs from DLP into Paris. If you have any questions just shout and I will see if I can answer!

I have flown with easyjet alot over the years internally in the UK and also to Europe. I have flown with them from Belfast to Paris & Malaga and my parents have used them to go to Nice. we have never had any probs with them. They are a budget airline so they will get you from A to B with no frills. You will have to pre book baggage with them and the standard weight that you buy per bag is 20kgs. I think that you can also purchase extra weight if you think you will need it. If you do go over the amount of weight you buy the charge will be high! We will defo be flying with them next year.

I had a quick look at spending a couple of nights before the cruise at
Portaventure in Salou. What a price is was shockingly expensive:scared1: and that was based on this years prices

Plenty of time yet to research and decide what we are going to do:)

Looking forward to seeing your website.

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Sigh. SOOO much to consider! SOOO many options!! SOOO much time to plan!!:rolleyes: I wish we had unlimited time and unlimited funds to go with it so we could really "do" Europe. One day we need to see the UK too!! I know nothing about your geography over there and I really have no grasp of how big England is. My ancestors on my maternal Grandfather's side are from England. They've traced our family tree back to like the 1200's or something. They passed out a bunch of stuff at a family reunion a few years ago. The family name is Lowther & there's an old castle & a park... Some of the names of places mentioned are Cumbria & Penrith in Westmorland or something. Do you know where that is? Is it anywhere you've heard of? I don't think there's any way we can do EVERYTHING in one trip. Guess we'll have to go again!:rolleyes1

I am not set on taking the train...I thought it would be interesting but the more I read about it the more hassle it sounds like. Appears the luggage might be the biggest issue unless we could somehow get a private sleeping car or something. I really don't quite get it all. :confused3 Someone told me since we're a party of 3 we'd have to buy a 4th ticket to get one or otherwise we'd be separated by gender?!:scared1: Ummm...not liking the sound of THAT!! If we DID buy a 4th ticket that just gets wasted would the luggage thing be solved? Wouldn't we just have it WITH us then in our compartment?

Anybody know how much 20kgs is compared to our American pounds?:scared: Our domestic airlines allow 50 pounds per checked bag plus 1 carry-on bag & a "personal item". EasyJet might eat us alive in fees??!! I was thinking that the price for the train may make up the extra price on another night in a hotel if we went to Barcelona on Friday PLUS if we stay at DLP on our DVC points they force us to buy length of stay park tickets. So for example if we leave here on a Tues. night and arrive in Paris on Wed. morning then we'd have most of Wed. and all day Thurs + most of Fri. in Paris. Maybe we should leave here on Mon. tho? Anyway, if we check out on Friday then we'd take the train over night to Barcelona and avoid paying for another night & 1 more day of park ticket. I called & asked & they said even if we're leaving at the crack of dawn on Saturday we'd have to still buy park admission for Sat. THAT is screwy. So the cost may work itself out?! I don't know. I need to check on the price of the train more in depth as well as the park admission.

[MRAven]

Hi A Annie regarding your question about train experience my recomendation is for you to considere how many hours is the trip, specially if you are with small kids.

I once took the train from Orlando, FL to New York, NY. This specific trip took 15 hours; so we booked a private cabbin with private bathroom and TV. The train left Orlando at 4 pm and arrived at Penn Station at 9 am next day. Due to the fact that we had the cabbin we were very confortable and very rested and had a great time; but, talking with other passengers that were not in private cabbin they didn't feel the same. The train also had a food/bar carriage and restaurant carriage. This was the AMTRAK experience. Do note, that for us the savings were only US $ 100 oposed to taking an airplane.

In Europe my experience is with the EUROSTAR, Paris --> London --> Paris and also had a great time, this is a fast train so the trip wasn't too long. Also with all comodities: Food bar etc. No private cabbien this time but didn't need it. This trains is not cheap; but it is fast and it also goes to DLP, I think.

So, as final recomendation is to consider traveling party, Kids/elderlys, and like I mentioned before How long it takes.

Considering that at the time of your cruise it's still summer nightfall will come late so the views and the beatiful contrysides will be awsom. This is defenetly a capital PLUS. :thumbsup2

[Anal Annie]

Hi A Annie regarding your question about train experience my recomendation is for you to considere how many hours is the trip, specially if you are with small kids.

I once took the train from Orlando, FL to New York, NY. This specific trip took 15 hours; so we booked a private cabbin with private bathroom and TV. The train left Orlando at 4 pm and arrived at Penn Station at 9 am next day. Due to the fact that we had the cabbin we were very confortable and very rested and had a great time; but, talking with other passengers that were not in private cabbin they didn't feel the same. The train also had a food/bar carriage and restaurant carriage. This was the AMTRAK experience. Do note, that for us the savings were only US $ 100 oposed to taking an airplane.

In Europe my experience is with the EUROSTAR, Paris --> London --> Paris and also had a great time, this is a fast train so the trip wasn't too long. Also with all comodities: Food bar etc. No private cabbien this time but didn't need it. This trains is not cheap; but it is fast and it also goes to DLP, I think.

So, as final recomendation is to consider traveling party, Kids/elderlys, and like I mentioned before How long it takes.

Considering that at the time of your cruise it's still summer nightfall will come late so the views and the beatiful contrysides will be awsom. This is defenetly a capital PLUS. :thumbsup2

I believe the over night train is about 12 hours....departs Paris around 8:00 or 8:30 pm I think and arrives in Barcelona the next morning. The Elipsos it's called I think. DS will be 14 when we go. So if we can get a private compartment and we can sleep we would be fine. Especially with a nightcap or two!:rotfl: I read where some of the trains make a lot of stops though and that can be disruptive to sleeping. :confused3 So I need to investigate that some more too. I want to go straight through. Just get on and GO!!

[veludo]

I believe the over night train is about 12 hours....departs Paris around 8:00 or 8:30 pm I think and arrives in Barcelona the next morning. The Elipsos it's called I think. DS will be 14 when we go. So if we can get a private compartment and we can sleep we would be fine. Especially with a nightcap or two!:rotfl: I read where some of the trains make a lot of stops though and that can be disruptive to sleeping. :confused3 So I need to investigate that some more too. I want to go straight through. Just get on and GO!!

Ive just had a look at Elipsos - it looks great!! Ive always wanted to go on a train with "beds". Have a fab im eif you go on it!!! :thumbsup2

[Anal Annie]

Ive just had a look at Elipsos - it looks great!! Ive always wanted to go on a train with "beds". Have a fab im eif you go on it!!! :thumbsup2

:rotfl: It does look neat doesn't it? Being this far out tho I will likely change my mind about it once a day for the next 9 months or so...or at least until I actually book hotels & airfare.... Although I am thinking of booking some of that stuff this fall...:rolleyes: Be nice if we could get thru SPRING first tho before I start talking about fall huh?! :lmao:

[Anal Annie]

:wave2: Hey there peeps! Just a bump up from page 3!! Page 3 is no way to find more peeps!! ;)

Gettin' ready to go to MIL's for dinner with BIL & SIL. Actually we're going to finally have Christmas with BIL & SIL & baby! BIL is in the Army & WAS stationed in the mid-west however he was actually in Iraq until about the week before Christmas. He came home to Kansas a few days before and then he was transferred here to Maryland in January. We all decided we'd just wait for them to get here to celebrate together rather than mailing the gifts but once they got here they had to get housing & we had those 2 BIG blizzards and it's just been crazy :crazy2: trying to get everyone together! MIL left her tree up waiting for everyone to have time to hook up... But I think she's finally ready to take it down! :rotfl:

(PS) DH showed me how to do what I was stuck on for the website so I hope I'll have time to fool with it again tomorrow!! I don't want to reveal it just yet though!

[Anal Annie]

OK now peeps, peepettes and peeplets...we're back to page 3 again!! I hope ya'll were doing some serious cruise planning this weekend!:goodvibes

I have been piddling around with the website this afternoon...it is coming along...I had some computer problems slow me down...I am doing a temporary run-around fix until DH has more time to fiddle with the computer. It needs some updates loaded & they won't load so I don't know what's going on. My internet browser keeps shutting me down.:headache: Those instances provoke a big "DOH!" from me along with a few other choice words that I can't repeat on the DIS!!:rolleyes1

Hope everyone is having a splendid weekend!:)

[Kels Sem]

I've been looking at accomodation options in Barcelona but haven't really gotten very far. I'm probably a bit like yourself A Annie and will change my mind everyday between now and when I book.

To get back to Easyjet you probably would get hammered in excess baggage charges. 20Kgs allowance is approx 42lbs. You can buy extra kilos but it works out about 9 euro per Kilo.

Hope you enjoyed your "christmas dinner" with your family

[Anal Annie]

:wave2: Hey ya'll!! SOOOO, the website is not nearly done yet - it will always be a work in progress but I am going to go ahead & post a link for it just to get some feedback. Do you think that to make it easy to find I should go ahead & put it into our first post on the thread with the roll call info? I mean we can bookmark it or add it to our favorites but if I put it up front in the first post potential new cruisers could check it out too. :confused3

I have plans in my mind for adding a lot more pages and I am only getting started with adding stuff to the ones I HAVE created so far. Like the hotels page. OH MY will that one take a long time to complete!! I have 3 guide books + the DIS + websites like Conde Nast & Trip Advisor that I am gathering info. from so it's gonna take a long time to compile it all. I just wanted to give ya an idea of the direction that the website is heading in so far. As our merry group grows and we get to know each other I am sure I'll re-do the "Cruisers" page & spiff it up a bit.

As it grows ya'll will have to help me edit and proofread things. Also, let me know if you have any ideas of things you'd like to see... It's a real work in progress yet though...

http://mickeysmaraudingmates.weebly.com

Let me know if you see anything I need to fix!!! I'll be working on it steadily from now on!:dance3:

[MRAven]

:wave2: Hey ya'll!! SOOOO, the website is not nearly done yet - it will always be a work in progress but I am going to go ahead & post a link for it just to get some feedback. Do you think that to make it easy to find I should go ahead & put it into our first post on the thread with the roll call info? I mean we can bookmark it or add it to our favorites but if I put it up front in the first post potential new cruisers could check it out too. :confused3

I have plans in my mind for adding a lot more pages and I am only getting started with adding stuff to the ones I HAVE created so far. Like the hotels page. OH MY will that one take a long time to complete!! I have 3 guide books + the DIS + websites like Conde Nast & Trip Advisor that I am gathering info. from so it's gonna take a long time to compile it all. I just wanted to give ya an idea of the direction that the website is heading in so far. As our merry group grows and we get to know each other I am sure I'll re-do the "Cruisers" page & spiff it up a bit.

As it grows ya'll will have to help me edit and proofread things. Also, let me know if you have any ideas of things you'd like to see... It's a real work in progress yet though...

http://mickeysmaraudingmates.weebly.com

Let me know if you see anything I need to fix!!! I'll be working on it steadily from now on!:dance3:


Very nice A Annie. The design, the colors, and the presentation of the info just invites you to take a cruise in the Mediterranean !:thumbsup2

[veludo]

Thats excellent Annie!!

I wouldnt know where to start!! I shall have a good look when I get in from work tonight :)

Justine

[Kels Sem]

Looks great so far, will have a better look later tonight when I get the kids to bed. Off to do the school run now.

Kelly

[Kels Sem]

Hi, I've had a look good look at the website and it's looking good:thumbsup2 I presume that you will be looking to add details/suggestions for shore excursions (DCL & private), things to do in Barcelona and activities on board? Wow if you are planning all this I am really impressed and appreciate all the time and effort you are putting into this. I have been reading a few threads on here and the shear amount of information is vast.

If I can be of any help researching let me know:)

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

:lmao: Oh yes, you can presume I will be adding a lot more pages...probably eventually one for each of our ports. Right now I am consumed with the ENORMOUS amount of information on Barcelona itself! I think there will ultimately be a lot of people who add pre- and post- cruise days there and who will opt to do it outside of DCL because it will be more affordable. The hotel options there alone are STAGGERING!!

I am glad I started this wesite though! I was collecting SOOO much info. and bookmarking threads & writing stuff in notebooks and copying stuff into Word documents... This thing is essentially turning into a fancy spreadsheet!! :thumbsup2 Perfect for OCD people like myself!! :goodvibes I hope everyone finds it helpful as it grows!:goodvibes

[Floridasunshine]

Hope everyone is doing well. I am headed up to Epcot later today. :woohoo:My youngest daughter and I are running in the 5k Princess race at Epcot in the morning. Just found out we are suppose to wear crowns when we do this - (it is hard enough to run let along have a crown on your head) and yes they are available when we pick up our race packets today. It will be fun and we can't wait. Weather alittle cool at the moment unlike Florida weather and the schools are starting to official recognize spring break! :rotfl: Wish us luck as we will need it.

[Anal Annie]

Hope everyone is doing well. I am headed up to Epcot later today. :woohoo:My youngest daughter and I are running in the 5k Princess race at Epcot in the morning. Just found out we are suppose to wear crowns when we do this - (it is hard enough to run let along have a crown on your head) and yes they are available when we pick up our race packets today. It will be fun and we can't wait. Weather alittle cool at the moment unlike Florida weather and the schools are starting to official recognize spring break! :rotfl: Wish us luck as we will need it.

:cheer2: Yay FLsunshine! :sunny: Go! Go! Go! :wave: Good to hear you're still around - good luck! Pop back in & let us know how it goes! Post some pics!! I sure hope it warms up down there before we come down on the 26th!!

[Floridasunshine]

Yes we have survived and had a wonderful time! The 5k was around EPCOT and there were Disney characters located everywhere for you to stop and take photos. :banana: We have decided to go ahead and start training for the 1/2 marathon fr the next Disney race- There were over 14,000 females who participated in at least one of the 3 runs according to the DJ who was great at 5:30 in the morning. :hippie::dance3: I can't wait to go again. :worship:

I am so looking forward to a vacation. Keep tracking the days on my computer at work to keep focused. Hope everyone is starting to get nicer weather at least, I know this has been a difficult season.

[Anal Annie]

Yes we have survived and had a wonderful time! The 5k was around EPCOT and there were Disney characters located everywhere for you to stop and take photos. :banana: We have decided to go ahead and start training for the 1/2 marathon fr the next Disney race- There were over 14,000 females who participated in at least one of the 3 runs according to the DJ who was great at 5:30 in the morning. :hippie::dance3: I can't wait to go again. :worship:

I am so looking forward to a vacation. Keep tracking the days on my computer at work to keep focused. Hope everyone is starting to get nicer weather at least, I know this has been a difficult season.

I saw some great pictures posted over on the DVC boards by DVCMike. He started a trip report for AKV Kidani and was at Epcot for the race. He caught one racer in a pic that was a princess of another gender! Pretty funny. Looks like ya'll had GREAT weather for it! :thumbsup2

I cannot wait - just under 3 weeks and counting until our spring break trip. This will be our 2nd time to catch the Flower & Garden Festival... It has been SUCH a nasty winter up here this year - we STILL have snow in our front yard (which faces the north so we don't get any sun there). We got a notice from our sprinkler company that they'd scheduled our spring start-up for Monday, March 8 and I had to call them up & say UMMM....no can do yet!! :rotfl2: They were laughing too. I guess they usually start turning the systems back on in March & this is the first time it's been a problem to still have snow covered yards. (Don't know about down there but up here we have to get the systems shut down for the winter & get air blown through the lines so they don't freeze.) But I guess it's a sign that spring will EVENTUALLY get here. I am ready to pack but need to get a better forecast so I can pack the right layers. I am crossing my fingers for AT LEAST 78 degrees while we are there!

So I keep toodling around with the website a little here, a little there. Trying to add something every day or so. Do we not have any Hidden Mickey Hunters amoungst us? No guesses yet for any those or were they too easy? I think I will go ahead & put the link for the website in the first post. I think it's time we find some more peeps for our cruise doncha think? Where is everyone?:confused3 I see that we have well over 850 views so far on our thread so SOMEONE is spying on us!!

[Anal Annie]

Just a bump up from page 3!! :beach:

I haven't had time to mess with the website in a couple of days...hope to toodle some more later today or tomorrow.

:rotfl: I found a new handbag (or purse or pocketbook - whatever ya'll want to call it) this week with our cruise in mind...now not to ruin it before next year! :rotfl2: It's a neutral color, a good size and has several pockets & zippers and a nice long shoulder strap so I can wear it across my body from one shoulder...I was thinking of pickpockets & having free hands when we're in Europe. I've read that tourists can be easy marks in some of these cities we're visiting so I will want to take extra precautions with whatever bag I carry.

I have started looking at luggage restrictions on some of the airlines.:headache: Air France says they have a maximum of 21.7"x13.8"x9.8" (including wheels & handles) on their carryon bags. Our most FAVORITE carryon bag (with the spinner wheels) says it is 22"x14x10.5 but when I measure it to the top of the handle it is 23" so if they are really super strict they would make us check it I guess. :headache: Anybody know how strict Air France really is with the carryon bag sizes? Air France pops up with some of the cheapest flights but they may not be worth it in the end. Oh, and they charge $100 to check a 2nd bag!!!:scared1: I am in deep guacamole here with that! It may be worth it to just book one of our domestic US carriers that I think will let that carryon bag slide thru.:confused3 Guess I will have to spend some more time on the Transportation Board!!!

No, I am not anxious at all.:rolleyes1

[MRAven]

Just a bump up from page 3!! :beach:

I haven't had time to mess with the website in a couple of days...hope to toodle some more later today or tomorrow.

:rotfl: I found a new handbag (or purse or pocketbook - whatever ya'll want to call it) this week with our cruise in mind...now not to ruin it before next year! :rotfl2: It's a neutral color, a good size and has several pockets & zippers and a nice long shoulder strap so I can wear it across my body from one shoulder...I was thinking of pickpockets & having free hands when we're in Europe. I've read that tourists can be easy marks in some of these cities we're visiting so I will want to take extra precautions with whatever bag I carry.

I have started looking at luggage restrictions on some of the airlines.:headache: Air France says they have a maximum of 21.7"x13.8"x9.8" (including wheels & handles) on their carryon bags. Our most FAVORITE carryon bag (with the spinner wheels) says it is 22"x14x10.5 but when I measure it to the top of the handle it is 23" so if they are really super strict they would make us check it I guess. :headache: Anybody know how strict Air France really is with the carryon bag sizes? Air France pops up with some of the cheapest flights but they may not be worth it in the end. Oh, and they charge $100 to check a 2nd bag!!!:scared1: I am in deep guacamole here with that! It may be worth it to just book one of our domestic US carriers that I think will let that carryon bag slide thru.:confused3 Guess I will have to spend some more time on the Transportation Board!!!

No, I am not anxious at all.:rolleyes1


Hi A Annie :wave2:, here's a few comments on you post:


1.- I've wanted to ask you, what does the word "Marauding" mean ? Do excuse my english. :blush:

2.- On your handbag (or purse or pocketbook - whatever ya'll want to call it) just dodn't forget the matching shoes ! :cutie:

3.- August 2011 cruse itineraries are starting to appear on different web pages; so we can expect some more cruisers to come along. :cheer2:

4.- Luggage restrictions are getting really bad, mostly because of the plane's fuel. The more it weighs the more fuel it consumes; also they can have more space for courrier services, etc. This might really impact activities like Fish Extenders; I think you mentined it before: What to do ? What's the alternative ? :confused3

5.- Anxios ! Your not alone. :grouphug:

[Anal Annie]

:wave: Hey there MrA!! What's up!?

Let's see if this makes sense for you. To maraud means "to rove in search of booty; raid for plunder. To invade for loot." I felt like I was sort of a vagabond (which is a person without a permanent home who wanders)! Since I bounced around by originally booking the August 10th 10-night cruise which was subsequently cancelled and moved then to the July 20 10-night cruise (until DH's car blew up). THEN we moved back to August 13 for the 7-night I figured I was doing a lot of roaming and since pirates were marauders in search of loot that description fit!!:goodvibes

I'm already freaking out over these luggage restrictions! I just spent the afternoon measuring and weighing all of our old luggage!! And we have a LOT of it. We have an old set that is really well made & holds a TON however it's made TOO well and is very heavy. The largest case weighs 16 Lbs EMPTY!! If we're only alloted 50 Lbs that only gives me 34 Lbs of STUFF. :scared1: The last time I packed all of us in regular suitcases (in 2006) we went to Hawaii for 10 days and were SOO over weight!! They made me repack in the security line. NOT fun!! So then I started switching to rolling duffles because they weigh less and I honestly think they may hold more...but so I bought 2 nice ones but the larger one is 30" and it never fails that I hit that 50 Lbs...the other one we have is 28" and that one I can keep under the 50 Lb limit...but on the cruise I'm also going to probably want a garment bag and another bag of JUST SHOES!!:rotfl: We have a garment bag AND 2 old traditional style suitcases that are called "suiters" because they have a small amount of hanging garment capabilities built into them...but THEY'RE HEAVY BAGS. I couldn't believe it - our rolling garment bag weighs 15 Lbs EMPTY!:headache: I am also very confused about the dimensions given on the tags which DON'T include wheels, feet & handles. That usually puts them outside the limits.:sad2: I am just trying to assess what luggage we may have that we can use & how much new I may need to buy. It will depend on the airline we end up booking I suppose. I purchased a number of sets of packing cubes and a packing folder last year which have helped me A LOT when I pack. I want to get a couple more of the folders too so that we each have one of those. They are really neat, neat, neat things. Check this out: http://www.ebags.com/travel_accessories/packing_folders_cubes/category_search/index.cfm?seeall=true&N=20014520 I absolutely LOVE them. :love: They have really made me a more efficient packer - even though I still do over pack a little...they've helped me a LOT. PLUS I love that you can just set them into your hotel / cabin drawers rather than unpacking. The trick to this trip is going to be how to leave enough empty space GOING over to be able to bring souvenirs & stuff HOME!!:rolleyes1

[MRAven]

:wave: Hey there MrA!! What's up!?

Let's see if this makes sense for you. To maraud means "to rove in search of booty; raid for plunder. To invade for loot." I felt like I was sort of a vagabond (which is a person without a permanent home who wanders)! Since I bounced around by originally booking the August 10th 10-night cruise which was subsequently cancelled and moved then to the July 20 10-night cruise (until DH's car blew up). THEN we moved back to August 13 for the 7-night I figured I was doing a lot of roaming and since pirates were marauders in search of loot that description fit!!:goodvibes

I'm already freaking out over these luggage restrictions! I just spent the afternoon measuring and weighing all of our old luggage!! And we have a LOT of it. We have an old set that is really well made & holds a TON however it's made TOO well and is very heavy. The largest case weighs 16 Lbs EMPTY!! If we're only alloted 50 Lbs that only gives me 34 Lbs of STUFF. :scared1: The last time I packed all of us in regular suitcases (in 2006) we went to Hawaii for 10 days and were SOO over weight!! They made me repack in the security line. NOT fun!! So then I started switching to rolling duffles because they weigh less and I honestly think they may hold more...but so I bought 2 nice ones but the larger one is 30" and it never fails that I hit that 50 Lbs...the other one we have is 28" and that one I can keep under the 50 Lb limit...but on the cruise I'm also going to probably want a garment bag and another bag of JUST SHOES!!:rotfl: We have a garment bag AND 2 old traditional style suitcases that are called "suiters" because they have a small amount of hanging garment capabilities built into them...but THEY'RE HEAVY BAGS. I couldn't believe it - our rolling garment bag weighs 15 Lbs EMPTY!:headache: I am also very confused about the dimensions given on the tags which DON'T include wheels, feet & handles. That usually puts them outside the limits.:sad2: I am just trying to assess what luggage we may have that we can use & how much new I may need to buy. It will depend on the airline we end up booking I suppose. I purchased a number of sets of packing cubes and a packing folder last year which have helped me A LOT when I pack. I want to get a couple more of the folders too so that we each have one of those. They are really neat, neat, neat things. Check this out: http://www.ebags.com/travel_accessories/packing_folders_cubes/category_search/index.cfm?seeall=true&N=20014520 I absolutely LOVE them. :love: They have really made me a more efficient packer - even though I still do over pack a little...they've helped me a LOT. PLUS I love that you can just set them into your hotel / cabin drawers rather than unpacking. The trick to this trip is going to be how to leave enough empty space GOING over to be able to bring souvenirs & stuff HOME!!:rolleyes1

:lmao:

It looks like you need a garage sale with an offer on suitcases.

On our last trip DW and I (always over packed) decided to recicle a little more. That is more washing :laundy: on the ship, less volume to take in order to make up space to bring back mostly DCL stuff. We did two washing cicles in one week cruise, really late at night while we were partiying. party: Took turns, she washed, I dried. It wasn't that bad, considering that it only took me 15 minutes away from the Rockin' Bar D; 14 minutes to figure out how the dryers worked, 1 minute to go from deck 6 to deck 3. If any ironing was required it was done as needed. :snooty:

On our flight back: Delta airlines flying Orlando --> Atlanta --> Venezuela, we had 5 bigg ones with two suitcases over the limit. I ended up paying $ 120 addicionally with a major fuss :guilty: of repacking (weigh balancing the suitcases) at security. But there's a benefit on this; apparently when you pay luggage fees there's some kind of insurance on that luggage, so we received all of it really fast on the luggage claim belt. Lot's of other passenger where very upset because their's didn't arrive. I remenber saying to DW that at least our suitcases traveled in 1st Class ! Now this was on December 29th, all airports where totally packed. :crowded: Do note, Delta airplanes are sooo much confortable than American Ailines planes; at least the ones I've been on.

Hey, here's an expensive idea ! :idea: If you book 1st class you don't have to worry about any luggage, you can carry all you want. But it will probably cost you more than the Roy Disney Suit.

[Anal Annie]

:lmao:

It looks like you need a garage sale with an offer on suitcases.

On our last trip DW and I (always over packed) decided to recicle a little more. That is more washing :laundy: on the ship, less volume to take in order to make up space to bring back mostly DCL stuff. We did two washing cicles in one week cruise, really late at night while we were partiying. party: Took turns, she washed, I dried. It wasn't that bad, considering that it only took me 15 minutes away from the Rockin' Bar D; 14 minutes to figure out how the dryers worked, 1 minute to go from deck 6 to deck 3. If any ironing was required it was done as needed. :snooty:

On our flight back: Delta airlines flying Orlando --> Atlanta --> Venezuela, we had 5 bigg ones with two suitcases over the limit. I ended up paying $ 120 addicionally with a major fuss :guilty: of repacking (weigh balancing the suitcases) at security. But there's a benefit on this; apparently when you pay luggage fees there's some kind of insurance on that luggage, so we received all of it really fast on the luggage claim belt. Lot's of other passenger where very upset because their's didn't arrive. I remenber saying to DW that at least our suitcases traveled in 1st Class ! Now this was on December 29th, all airports where totally packed. :crowded: Do note, Delta airplanes are sooo much confortable than American Ailines planes; at least the ones I've been on.

Hey, here's an expensive idea ! :idea: If you book 1st class you don't have to worry about any luggage, you can carry all you want. But it will probably cost you more than the Roy Disney Suit.

Oh very funny!! First class!! :rotfl: ROFL!! One 1st class round trip ticket probably does cost as much as the cruise itself in our measley Cat 10!! Not quite the Roy Suite...but significant expense yes!! I really should try to get rid of some of our old luggage...but I'm a pack rat!! I keep everything....:sad2:

[Anal Annie]

OK, this was weird... I was just popping in to give us our daily bump back to page 1... I glanced at the first post on our thread & didn't see the cruise website link. I am SURE I added that a few days ago but it was GONE! :scratchinHummm...mystery at sea!! :teleport: I guess I will have to check on that little detail sometimes 'eh?:surfweb:

Meanwhile, we are being stalked! Our view count is closing in on 1,000 but we haven't picked up any more peeps so I don't know who's reading our thread!! Come talk to us whoever you are!! I get lonely out here!!! :hyper2:

[MRAven]

OK, this was weird... I was just popping in to give us our daily bump back to page 1... I glanced at the first post on our thread & didn't see the cruise website link. I am SURE I added that a few days ago but it was GONE! :scratchinHummm...mystery at sea!! :teleport: I guess I will have to check on that little detail sometimes 'eh?:surfweb:

Meanwhile, we are being stalked! Our view count is closing in on 1,000 but we haven't picked up any more peeps so I don't know who's reading our thread!! Come talk to us whoever you are!! I get lonely out here!!! :hyper2:

I do see your link on the first post. So as of now you can be sure that it is there. :goodvibes

[Kels Sem]

I can also confirm it is there.:thumbsup2

I can't even begin to think about packing yet! On our 1st cruise it was for 14 days and I was well over the luggage limit so got stung for excess baggage. I'm kinda thinking that the kids will each have their own luggage allowance and their clothes are small and don't weigh much and also they don't need loads of different styles of shoes which means that
there is more weight free for me! I've also got used to packing lighter over the years! I used to pack loads and then not wear half of it. I think I will also do laundry on the ship if necessary.

At the moment I am just thinking of our upcoming trip to Legoland Windsor which is outside London. DS loves lego and is very excited:yay: We have never been before so we're all looking forward to it. We will then have to pay a visit to the new Legoland which is being built at Cypress Gardens and see how it compares!

I must go and start printing of all our booking confirmations for this trip and then when we get back I will be on the countdown to our trip to WDW:banana:

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

:wave:Hey there peeps!

Kels Sem - when do you go to Legoland? We have never been to one but I have an old friend from high school that I reconnected with on FaceBook who's son won a contest for a JOB at the one in San Diego, CA!!! Isn't that wild? He had to build something on the spot to win - it was apparently quite an intense day-long project. I guess it's sort of an engineering type of design / building job. :confused3 And so then when is your trip to WDW?? This summer?? We will be going down there in about 12 days and I am anxious to pack...but FL has had much cooler than average weather for months now...easily 10 degrees cooler than what they're supposed to be!! The whole US has had a really WEIRD weather pattern for months & months. Anyway, I would normally start ironing stuff to pack by now but want to get closer for hopefully a more accurate weather forecast. When we go it is SUPPOSED to be about 80-81 degrees F but they've been lucky lately to even hit 73. I am cold at anything below 75!!:rotfl: That is my cutoff temp for shorts & swimming!! Nevermind that I force DS to do summer swim team which starts at the end of May and our pool where he swims is not heated...and so here in the NE / Mid-Atlantic the water is FREEZING cold. Poor child is BLUE and cold to the BONE after an hour & 1/2 of practice (every morning from 7:30-9:00)!!:scared: He doesn't mind indoor swim practice during the winter but during the summer HE HATES ME!!!:rotfl2:

I have been hard at work on the website this weekend...adding a lot of info. & links to the port pages. Still a long way to go but it's taking shape (I think). SOO much info. to dig through. I am glad to see the link is still there. I wonder what happened to the link before. Very weird indeed.
(Think of erie music playing in the background...)

[Kels Sem]

:wave:Hey there peeps!

Kels Sem - when do you go to Legoland? We have never been to one but I have an old friend from high school that I reconnected with on FaceBook who's son won a contest for a JOB at the one in San Diego, CA!!! Isn't that wild? He had to build something on the spot to win - it was apparently quite an intense day-long project. I guess it's sort of an engineering type of design / building job. :confused3 And so then when is your trip to WDW?? This summer?? We will be going down there in about 12 days and I am anxious to pack...but FL has had much cooler than average weather for months now...easily 10 degrees cooler than what they're supposed to be!! The whole US has had a really WEIRD weather pattern for months & months. Anyway, I would normally start ironing stuff to pack by now but want to get closer for hopefully a more accurate weather forecast. When we go it is SUPPOSED to be about 80-81 degrees F but they've been lucky lately to even hit 73. I am cold at anything below 75!!:rotfl: That is my cutoff temp for shorts & swimming!! Nevermind that I force DS to do summer swim team which starts at the end of May and our pool where he swims is not heated...and so here in the NE / Mid-Atlantic the water is FREEZING cold. Poor child is BLUE and cold to the BONE after an hour & 1/2 of practice (every morning from 7:30-9:00)!!:scared: He doesn't mind indoor swim practice during the winter but during the summer HE HATES ME!!!:rotfl2:

I have been hard at work on the website this weekend...adding a lot of info. & links to the port pages. Still a long way to go but it's taking shape (I think). SOO much info. to dig through. I am glad to see the link is still there. I wonder what happened to the link before. Very weird indeed.
(Think of erie music playing in the background...)

Hey, We're off to Legoland in 13 days just for 4 days.:yay: We also intend to visit Windsor Castle for some culture ( this is were the Queen lives for part of the time)

We head over the pond on 26th June for 2 weeks:banana: I know it will be hot, humid, busy and wet but it sure as hell beats the weather here. The weather over here has been awful the last
number of summers especially as it has been cold and wet. I think I'd rather be hot & wet. I'm looking forward to getting a peek at the new Harry Potter World! I loved the books but it will be horrendously busy so not sure if i'm doing the right thing by going:eek:

We've also got a few other things that I'm looking forward to ie breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table (DD will be beside herself with excitement) and the Pirate & Pal Firework Voyagepirate:

I hope it warms up for your trip.

Kelly:)

[Anal Annie]

:woohoo: One day closer!! :rotfl: Only what? 513 days to go? :beach: Where IS everyone? Come talk to me!!

Oh, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day!! :shamrock:

[Kels Sem]

Hey Anal Annie!

I have just been reading your packing tips on another thread. I had never heard of packing cubes before so I will have to investigate if you can buy them here. Also what is this wrinkles release stuff you are talking about? Are they sheets or powder or something? Where do you buy them from? I thought I might get some when I'm in Florida if it's that good:thumbsup2. Have you got packed yet for your spring break trip? Not long to go now:dance3:

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Hey Anal Annie!

I have just been reading your packing tips on another thread. I had never heard of packing cubes before so I will have to investigate if you can buy them here. Also what is this wrinkles release stuff you are talking about? Are they sheets or powder or something? Where do you buy them from? I thought I might get some when I'm in Florida if it's that good:thumbsup2. Have you got packed yet for your spring break trip? Not long to go now:dance3:

Kelly

Look here for the packing cubes & folders - they are must haves!!:thumbsup2
http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=endecasearch&n=0&lastterm=packing+folders&Ntt=Packing+Folders&x=23&y=9 Maybe you could do an internet search for them in the UK?

Here in the U.S. Downey makes both liquid fabric softeners for the wash & dryer sheets along with other laundry products. The Wrinkle Release is a spray that you spray on your clothes rather than ironing. It works really good on cotton especially. It is really handy to get out packing wrinkles from stuff when it was previously ironed. (It can leave spots on like rayon & some silks.)

Downey Wrinkle Release:

http://www.downy.com/en-US/product/downy-wrinkle-releaser.jspx

This one has a little video:
http://www.downyez.com/

GREAT stuff - I keep a big one in our bedroom & have the travel size for traveling... If you can't find it to order it online look for it in Florida...I get mine at Target but I am sure you can find it in other places too in the travel products section. Works like a charm - I just spritz it on & smooth out my shirt or whatever & they're good to go!!

I have NOT started packing yet which is unusual for me - have you started? I am really waiting for next week to get a better long range weather forecast. FL this time of year should be about 80 degrees but it's been running in the upper 60's / lower 70's. I am chilly below 75 and will want more long sleeves & long pants if it remains cool. IDEALLY, I would like to be able to pack shorts & Tshirts - but I need it to be warmer than 75. I also want to be able to pack each of us in just carry-ons (YAY for packing cubes!) I KNOW I can get us in carry-ons only for the week if the weather warms up - but long pants & long sleeves take up more room & I will probably have to check 1 bag if it stays cool. The weather forecast is frustrating me. This week it has been nice here at home - 72ish (not sure what that is in celsius) which is FANTASTIC after this horrid winter we just had...but I want FL to be WARMER than home!!:rotfl: RIGHT NOW it is also 72 in Orlando. <heavy sigh>

Look at the weather.com website. Yesterday they had predicted a high of 72 but it only got to 64. http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/monthly/USFL0372
Is there a big weather difference from where you live to where you're going or is it safe to say it's about the same? That would make packing easier I guess.:confused3

[Anal Annie]

Well, it is finally nice here in the D.C. area this week (warmer than average) so I started working outside a little bit today. Started mulching and covering some of my beds with landscape netting to keep the deer & bunnies out!:headache: Last year they ate off all of my tulips and none of them bloomed.:mad: They're coming up again this year but I have my doubts if they will bloom or not. They likely will not so I'll yank them out & replant next fall if they don't bloom. I also have a small pond that I shut down for the winter - I am going to drain & clean it tomorrow. That is a BIG job that I now HATE every spring!:rotfl2: But I HAD to have that pond! DH was against it & a few years ago he finally broke down & said "if you can dig it you can have it"!! :rotfl: I think he didn't think I'd really dig it myself but I DID!! I started the very next day by buying some supplies! I didn't even have a plan for what to do with the dirt!:sad2: Then 6 inches down I hit solid rock!:eek: Ended up taking me WEEKS to chop thru it with a pick axe. DH just stood & watched.:lmao: Then we hit a streak of storms every day - really BIG ones. I tried to keep it covered with tarps when I wasn't working on it but it still filled up with water!! Then I had to climb into this mud pit and bail it out before I could work. It really did turn into a nightmare. But I couldn't QUIT!!:rolleyes1 I did stop when I got to 18" deep. Anyway, I finally finished it and it's given us a lot of enjoyment but it takes a lot more work to maintain than I ever imagined. So tomorrow is pond day. I have hip waders (boots) that I wear...I'm real sight!:rotfl: We go to FL in ONE WEEK!:yay: So I need to get it done.

[Kels Sem]

Look here for the packing cubes & folders - they are must haves!!:thumbsup2
http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=endecasearch&n=0&lastterm=packing+folders&Ntt=Packing+Folders&x=23&y=9 Maybe you could do an internet search for them in the UK?

Here in the U.S. Downey makes both liquid fabric softeners for the wash & dryer sheets along with other laundry products. The Wrinkle Release is a spray that you spray on your clothes rather than ironing. It works really good on cotton especially. It is really handy to get out packing wrinkles from stuff when it was previously ironed. (It can leave spots on like rayon & some silks.)

Downey Wrinkle Release:

http://www.downy.com/en-US/product/downy-wrinkle-releaser.jspx

This one has a little video:
http://www.downyez.com/

GREAT stuff - I keep a big one in our bedroom & have the travel size for traveling... If you can't find it to order it online look for it in Florida...I get mine at Target but I am sure you can find it in other places too in the travel products section. Works like a charm - I just spritz it on & smooth out my shirt or whatever & they're good to go!!

I have NOT started packing yet which is unusual for me - have you started? I am really waiting for next week to get a better long range weather forecast. FL this time of year should be about 80 degrees but it's been running in the upper 60's / lower 70's. I am chilly below 75 and will want more long sleeves & long pants if it remains cool. IDEALLY, I would like to be able to pack shorts & Tshirts - but I need it to be warmer than 75. I also want to be able to pack each of us in just carry-ons (YAY for packing cubes!) I KNOW I can get us in carry-ons only for the week if the weather warms up - but long pants & long sleeves take up more room & I will probably have to check 1 bag if it stays cool. The weather forecast is frustrating me. This week it has been nice here at home - 72ish (not sure what that is in celsius) which is FANTASTIC after this horrid winter we just had...but I want FL to be WARMER than home!!:rotfl: RIGHT NOW it is also 72 in Orlando. <heavy sigh>

Look at the weather.com website. Yesterday they had predicted a high of 72 but it only got to 64. http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/monthly/USFL0372
Is there a big weather difference from where you live to where you're going or is it safe to say it's about the same? That would make packing easier I guess.:confused3

Thanks for the info. I will have to look out for the Downy Wrinkle Release when I'm in Florida.
It is safe to say that the weather in England will be about the same as were I live. It may be a degree or 2 warmer. I just hope in doesn't rain. There is nothing worse than tramping round when it's cold and wet.:rotfl2: I won't pack until the day before we go. It's just a short trip so it shouldn't take too long..

Good luck with the pond:rotfl:

[Anal Annie]

Well peeps...I am pooped!!:rotfl: Oh my! Spring always does me in (workin' outside)! I am sooo sore but it was a fantastic weekend to work outside. Spent about 6 1/2 hours yesterday draining, cleaning & refilling the pond. WHEW! That is a buggger of a chore & I am glad it is done now.:rolleyes: This afternoon I worked on my largest perennial bed (I have several). I left things in a mess in the fall so I first had to clean it up then mulch it. Then we have a bit of a problem around here with deer & bunnies coming by to snack...so I had to cover it with some landscape netting which is another fun activity.:rolleyes1 It is going to rain tonight and cool off to more seasonal temperatures for the rest of the week. And considering that I've not begun packing yet for our trip to FL I think the remaining flower beds will have to sit & wait on me for a couple more weeks. Ah well. Can't be helped. There's only so much time in a day.

So where's Veludo? Has she ditched us? Come on peeps! Talk to me! I look silly sitting out here all alone just narrating my boring life in order to keep the thread alive!!:grouphug: Come on! Group hug!!

[MRAven]

Well peeps...I am pooped!!:rotfl: Oh my! Spring always does me in (workin' outside)! I am sooo sore but it was a fantastic weekend to work outside. Spent about 6 1/2 hours yesterday draining, cleaning & refilling the pond. WHEW! That is a buggger of a chore & I am glad it is done now.:rolleyes: This afternoon I worked on my largest perennial bed (I have several). I left things in a mess in the fall so I first had to clean it up then mulch it. Then we have a bit of a problem around here with deer & bunnies coming by to snack...so I had to cover it with some landscape netting which is another fun activity.:rolleyes1 It is going to rain tonight and cool off to more seasonal temperatures for the rest of the week. And considering that I've not begun packing yet for our trip to FL I think the remaining flower beds will have to sit & wait on me for a couple more weeks. Ah well. Can't be helped. There's only so much time in a day.

So where's Veludo? Has she ditched us? Come on peeps! Talk to me! I look silly sitting out here all alone just narrating my boring life in order to keep the thread alive!!:grouphug: Come on! Group hug!!

My gosh A Anie, you must have a large lawn or landscape around your house. Deers, rabits, morounding around your ! :rotfl2:

Anyway, remember if it gives you pleasure it's not work, it's work when you get paid to do it !

Personaly I would still be tired of the snow shoveling; but I do live in an apartment. :rolleyes:

[Anal Annie]

:lmao: It only SOUNDS like we have big yard!! We live in the Washington, D.C. suburbs where the cost of living (land) is very high so we actually have a small yard - just a little under 1/4 acre. So not big at all. I just do a lot of gardening on our little plot of land. DH has warned me tho that if I dig 1 more hole, plant 1 more tree or make one more bed that he has to mow around that I have to start doing the mowing. :rotfl: So I have held off adding anything else...but I DO have another tree that I propagated from a cutting from one of my trees...I made the mistake of planting it near the original, in the same bed, just to keep it safe from DH's mower until it got bigger...once it got going & got to be a couple of feet high a neighbor dug it out (or at least THOUGHT he did) and took it to plant in his yard. Well, he apparently did not get ALL of the roots and it is growing back again!! The other day I mentioned digging it out & moving it over by the neighbors fence & he was like "then you're gonna start mowing"!:headache: I already do all of the mulching and gardening & shrub pruning...like I am asking TOO MUCH of him to MOW.:sad2: His problem is that he is lazy & just wants a straight shot. He doesn't want to have to take that extra minute to go around something. :mad: We have about 9 trees now (but 2 are in 1 LARGE bed and 1 is incorporated into our patio... I have 1 large round perennial bed out in the yard and the others are located against the sides of the house so they're not really "in the way" but the stuff DOES grow & sort of spill out by the middle of the summer...

Well, we are in the final countdown to our trip and I am still not packed. :scared: I tried to get started yesterday... Well, I covered the bed with a zillion piles (for me: 3 pair of shorts, 2 pair of long pants that roll up & button in various stages + 3 pair of crops + 5 long sleeves & 5 short sleeves + 2 bathing suits a coverup, PJ's & undergarments then the same piles for DH). Then some extra shoes/sandals. It is not looking good for getting everything into just carryons. It is really CLOSE but not QUITE.:sad2: It might fit GOING down but then there won't be 1 inch of space left to buy anything while we are there! :laughing: The odds of THAT happening are like about ZERO!!:rotfl: No shopping at Disney World! Yeah. Right!:rotfl2: I wish the forecast was a few degrees warmer...then I could drop some of the longer stuff out. I definitely need to weed through the piles & do some more consolidating.

[Kels Sem]

:lmao: It only SOUNDS like we have big yard!! We live in the Washington, D.C. suburbs where the cost of living (land) is very high so we actually have a small yard - just a little under 1/4 acre. So not big at all. I just do a lot of gardening on our little plot of land. DH has warned me tho that if I dig 1 more hole, plant 1 more tree or make one more bed that he has to mow around that I have to start doing the mowing. :rotfl: So I have held off adding anything else...but I DO have another tree that I propagated from a cutting from one of my trees...I made the mistake of planting it near the original, in the same bed, just to keep it safe from DH's mower until it got bigger...once it got going & got to be a couple of feet high a neighbor dug it out (or at least THOUGHT he did) and took it to plant in his yard. Well, he apparently did not get ALL of the roots and it is growing back again!! The other day I mentioned digging it out & moving it over by the neighbors fence & he was like "then you're gonna start mowing"!:headache: I already do all of the mulching and gardening & shrub pruning...like I am asking TOO MUCH of him to MOW.:sad2: His problem is that he is lazy & just wants a straight shot. He doesn't want to have to take that extra minute to go around something. :mad: We have about 9 trees now (but 2 are in 1 LARGE bed and 1 is incorporated into our patio... I have 1 large round perennial bed out in the yard and the others are located against the sides of the house so they're not really "in the way" but the stuff DOES grow & sort of spill out by the middle of the summer...

Well, we are in the final countdown to our trip and I am still not packed. :scared: I tried to get started yesterday... Well, I covered the bed with a zillion piles (for me: 3 pair of shorts, 2 pair of long pants that roll up & button in various stages + 3 pair of crops + 5 long sleeves & 5 short sleeves + 2 bathing suits a coverup, PJ's & undergarments then the same piles for DH). Then some extra shoes/sandals. It is not looking good for getting everything into just carryons. It is really CLOSE but not QUITE.:sad2: It might fit GOING down but then there won't be 1 inch of space left to buy anything while we are there! :laughing: The odds of THAT happening are like about ZERO!!:rotfl: No shopping at Disney World! Yeah. Right!:rotfl2: I wish the forecast was a few degrees warmer...then I could drop some of the longer stuff out. I definitely need to weed through the piles & do some more consolidating.

I hate having to pack when I don't know what the weather will be like ::sad2: At least I know were I'm going it will be cold!:rolleyes1 I haven't even thought about packing yet. Will do so the day before we go.
I've ordered some of those packing cubes to try. DH travels every week with work so I will try them out on him:rotfl2:

Happy packing:banana:

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Oh where is that smiley that's nervously biting his nails?! :scared: Now I am going to sweat bullets to see if you like the packing cubes!! I certainly hope you do! But be honest if you don't!! I hope you like them! I personally think they're one of the best inventions since heated leather seats!!:rolleyes1 I am waaay too anal to wait for the last day to pack!! I gotta get it organized!

I worked some yesterday on my packing...so I think I should get an award of some sort!!:rotfl: I got us packed in carry-ons for a week (well, now that I know it all FITS I have to take it out & IRON it all)! And one of you please shoot me if I overpack on our trip next summer!! :lmao: I used the rollup compression space bags for our socks, undies, PJ's & bathing suits (actually I put the small & medium packing cubes INSIDE the space bags). Anyway, for myself I got 15 tops (mix of long sleeves, 3/4 length sleeves & short sleeves) in one packing cube (2 layers deep). In the other packing cube I got 3 pr. of shorts, 3 pr. of crops and 2 pr. of convertible rollup pants.:thumbsup2:thumbsup2 I got all of this PLUS 2 pr. of sandals into one 22" carry-on suitcase! (I'm wearing jeans, sweatshirt & tennis shoes on the plane.) Granted, the bags are soooo stuffed they're bulging at the seams...so there will be no shopping allowed... OH, and I wasn't able to fit in my big DSLR camera, only my little pocket size one... It is times like this that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Owners Locker too. I couldn't have done it if we didn't already have all of our toiletries & stuff waiting on us down there.

:headache:DS has been sick with a sore throat & cold all week:sick:...I am afraid I will be the next victim and catch it ohh, right about say FRIDAY or SATURDAY so that then I will be the sick one on vacation.:eek: I am going to throw in some extra cold & sore throat meds...just to subsidize whatever we already have stored in our Owners Locker. Figure I should go prepared to get sick!:rolleyes: Would be just my luck 'eh!!

I have not had time to fiddle with the website at all this week...too many other things on my to do list...

[Kels Sem]

That's very impressive the amount of clothes you have managed to get into carry on luggage! At least when you're packing for the cruise you know the weather will be hot so that always helps keep the amount of clothes down.! I have bought one set of 3 of the packing cubes to see if I like them and if so I will buy more. They should be good for DH shirts for work when he's travelling. He packs his own holdall so I'm sure the shirts are a mess by the time he gets to his hotel!

How long is your vacation for? Not long to go now:banana:

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Well, the countdown is ON!! 12 hours from now our flight takes off for FL!!:banana: I am packed but now DH is looking at how the bags are bulging and is like "Ummmm....we COULD redistribute and check a bag":rolleyes1 I don't think the bags are any bigger really than normal...I got them zipped shut without using that 2" expansion feature. And I tried not to overstuff the outside pockets....but they are very heavy for sure.:rolleyes:

Kelly - I DO hope your DH likes the packing cubes...he might like a packing folder better for work / dress clothes though.:confused3 So are you packing for your trip to Legoland today? You'll have to wave :wave2: to the Queen for us when you visit Windsor Castle!! I hope you have a GREAT trip!!

I don't know if I'll get a chance to pop in much next week - we'll see how our "down time" goes. I expect the parks to be PACKED so we'll probably encounter long lines. We'll either run commando style or we'll get fed up & opt to hang at the pool instead if it's warm enough!!

Well, today I am cleaning & doing last minute laundry so I'd better get with it!! Talk to ya'll later!! Keep the thread going someone!!

[Kels Sem]

Well, the countdown is ON!! 12 hours from now our flight takes off for FL!!:banana: I am packed but now DH is looking at how the bags are bulging and is like "Ummmm....we COULD redistribute and check a bag":rolleyes1 I don't think the bags are any bigger really than normal...I got them zipped shut without using that 2" expansion feature. And I tried not to overstuff the outside pockets....but they are very heavy for sure.:rolleyes:

Kelly - I DO hope your DH likes the packing cubes...he might like a packing folder better for work / dress clothes though.:confused3 So are you packing for your trip to Legoland today? You'll have to wave :wave2: to the Queen for us when you visit Windsor Castle!! I hope you have a GREAT trip!!

I don't know if I'll get a chance to pop in much next week - we'll see how our "down time" goes. I expect the parks to be PACKED so we'll probably encounter long lines. We'll either run commando style or we'll get fed up & opt to hang at the pool instead if it's warm enough!!

Well, today I am cleaning & doing last minute laundry so I'd better get with it!! Talk to ya'll later!! Keep the thread going someone!!

No still not packed yet as I was at work today. I will do so tomorrow as I have all day to get sorted.

Have a fab trip yourself and say Hi to Mickey for me:) I'll not be online myself when I'm away but will post when I get back even if it's just to bump the tread.

ENJOY:cheer2:

Kelly

[MRAven]

Well, the countdown is ON!! 12 hours from now our flight takes off for FL!!:banana: I am packed but now DH is looking at how the bags are bulging and is like "Ummmm....we COULD redistribute and check a bag":rolleyes1 I don't think the bags are any bigger really than normal...I got them zipped shut without using that 2" expansion feature. And I tried not to overstuff the outside pockets....but they are very heavy for sure.:rolleyes:

Kelly - I DO hope your DH likes the packing cubes...he might like a packing folder better for work / dress clothes though.:confused3 So are you packing for your trip to Legoland today? You'll have to wave :wave2: to the Queen for us when you visit Windsor Castle!! I hope you have a GREAT trip!!

I don't know if I'll get a chance to pop in much next week - we'll see how our "down time" goes. I expect the parks to be PACKED so we'll probably encounter long lines. We'll either run commando style or we'll get fed up & opt to hang at the pool instead if it's warm enough!!

Well, today I am cleaning & doing last minute laundry so I'd better get with it!! Talk to ya'll later!! Keep the thread going someone!!

Have a GREAT TRIP A Annie.

[BWV Dreamin]

I just booked this cruise yesterday! I got the last SPH room! I'd like to join your meet. Just the hubby and I going, no kids. I'll be reading this thread daily as I know a super uber planner on here!(Anal Annie!) :lmao:

[Anal Annie]

YAY!:woohoo: A new peep!! It's a party now!!:rockband: Welcome aboard our leeetle boat!!

Note to the other peeps - I "know" BWVDreamin from the DVC boards...she lives in the same state that I do so we will likely have to meet up sometime BEFORE we meet in Barcelona!! Hope - next time you're on here leave me your info. for your ages & your DH's name so I can add ya to the roll call on the first post and the website page!!

Kelly & Justine - I was just thinking that I can't wait to meet ya'll & hear your accents!! I heard some people today from the UK in the Animal Kingdom...that's what made me think about it...now I have to read your posts with an accent!! :rotfl:

[BWV Dreamin]

YAY!:woohoo: A new peep!! It's a party now!!:rockband: Welcome aboard our leeetle boat!!

Note to the other peeps - I "know" BWVDreamin from the DVC boards...she lives in the same state that I do so we will likely have to meet up sometime BEFORE we meet in Barcelona!! Hope - next time you're on here leave me your info. for your ages & your DH's name so I can add ya to the roll call on the first post and the website page!!

Kelly & Justine - I was just thinking that I can't wait to meet ya'll & hear your accents!! I heard some people today from the UK in the Animal Kingdom...that's what made me think about it...now I have to read your posts with an accent!! :rotfl:

Ok, roll call info. Me (Hope) age 50 now (so 52 on the cruise) and Marc, 59 now (so 61 on the cruise). :wizard:

[Kels Sem]

Hi, Great to see that we have some new people:yay:

I just got back from our trip to Legoland/ Windsor last night and we had a great time. The kids really enjoyed it. We went to Windsor Castle which was huge but I think we went round in record time as keira had decided that she didn't like The Queen's castle so she wasn't very impressed. We were quite lucky with the weather in the fact that it didn't rain the whole time we were there! It was much better then at home were there was snow, heavy rain and a very cold wind so I was glad that we missed that.

I tried out the packing cubes and really liked them so I will have to buy some more. A Annie you don't need to break a sweat now, I am converted!

Leanne - I hope you are having a fab vacation and just so you know my accent will be very different to Justines with me being from N Ireland:laughing:

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

WHEW!! I am sooo glad to hear you liked the packing cubes!! I just love them. I am glad you had a great time on your trip - and EEEK - still snowing where you live!! :scared1: I imagine Legoland was a blast!!:)

We just got home last night and I am trying to play catch up on the DIS etc. Having withdraws from not having been on here much for the past week!!:rotfl: I need to go to the grocery store too...YUCK. Back to reality. That is the worst thing about returning from vacation (besides :laundy:). Having to cook for myself again!! :headache: And with this being Easter this weekend I suppose I really should plan to make a nice dinner on Sunday too.:rolleyes1 I will pick up a ham. Those are easy...I just hate the thought of going & doing it!!

Our trip was great as well. Cooler than I'd hoped for & not as much pool time as I wanted (LOL...I wanted to come home with a tan!):rotfl2: Weather at home is actually very nice this week - just as warm as FL now!! Unusually warm. No complaints from me though!! I love it except for the pollen getting bad!! WDW was PACKED - the MK reached capacity every day starting on Monday!! :eek: We had never been when it was so busy before. I will try to post some pics EVENTUALLY. We were feeling sorry for all of the first timers who didn't have a clue which way to go & how to navigate the parks. We're lucky that we KNOW what we want to ride & what we can skip and the best way to use the FP's...Standby wait times were over 100 minutes for almost EVERYTHING by lunchtime every day!!:scared: We felt lucky if we decided to ride something that was only a 60 minute wait!! Now that's scary 'eh?!

Well, need to move on to get some stuff done around here. Like maybe some laundry.:rotfl:

Glad to hear our little group is doing well.... Now where is that Justine these days?! And FLSunshine?! MrA?! Where are you? Hope - I am off to update the first post on page 1...probably will do the website this weekend sometime....

[BWV Dreamin]

Yeah your back Annie!!!! I have soooo manyyyyy questions, but I want to give you time to enjoy your WDW high right now!:rotfl: I love your website! And we must hear about Kidani (my trip is in August at value studio in Jambo H.). Sanaa? I just changed my ressie to eat there! Ok, glad your back!!!:goodvibes


WHEW!! I am sooo glad to hear you liked the packing cubes!! I just love them. I am glad you had a great time on your trip - and EEEK - still snowing where you live!! :scared1: I imagine Legoland was a blast!!:)

We just got home last night and I am trying to play catch up on the DIS etc. Having withdraws from not having been on here much for the past week!!:rotfl: I need to go to the grocery store too...YUCK. Back to reality. That is the worst thing about returning from vacation (besides :laundy:). Having to cook for myself again!! :headache: And with this being Easter this weekend I suppose I really should plan to make a nice dinner on Sunday too.:rolleyes1 I will pick up a ham. Those are easy...I just hate the thought of going & doing it!!

Our trip was great as well. Cooler than I'd hoped for & not as much pool time as I wanted (LOL...I wanted to come home with a tan!):rotfl2: Weather at home is actually very nice this week - just as warm as FL now!! Unusually warm. No complaints from me though!! I love it except for the pollen getting bad!! WDW was PACKED - the MK reached capacity every day starting on Monday!! :eek: We had never been when it was so busy before. I will try to post some pics EVENTUALLY. We were feeling sorry for all of the first timers who didn't have a clue which way to go & how to navigate the parks. We're lucky that we KNOW what we want to ride & what we can skip and the best way to use the FP's...Standby wait times were over 100 minutes for almost EVERYTHING by lunchtime every day!!:scared: We felt lucky if we decided to ride something that was only a 60 minute wait!! Now that's scary 'eh?!

Well, need to move on to get some stuff done around here. Like maybe some laundry.:rotfl:

Glad to hear our little group is doing well.... Now where is that Justine these days?! And FLSunshine?! MrA?! Where are you? Hope - I am off to update the first post on page 1...probably will do the website this weekend sometime....

[Anal Annie]

Yeah your back Annie!!!! I have soooo manyyyyy questions, but I want to give you time to enjoy your WDW high right now!:rotfl: I love your website! And we must hear about Kidani (my trip is in August at value studio in Jambo H.). Sanaa? I just changed my ressie to eat there! Ok, glad your back!!!:goodvibes

Hey there...we have done the value studio at Jambo House and this time was a Std. studio at Kidani (WONDERFUL view of the parking lot!) OVERALL we liked Jambo better 'cuz we felt it was more impressive in appearance...but there's definitely pluses and minsues for both. The lighting is better in Kidani and the pool slide is better and the buses stop there first which is good. Even though the lighting was better at Kidani I didn't like the bathroom layout. There was a large room JUST for the toilet but so then the bathtub/shower was in the main room with the sink. The counter was quite large which was nice but it was awkward to have 2 people getting ready at once. At Jambo, the toilet is in with the shower... BOTH places have a TON of pillows that you have to move out of the way. If it's just you and your DH you'll be fine but our DS uses the sleep sofa...BIG pain to make up, esp. with all the pillows. The kitchenette area is small at both places...wish they'd give it just even 6 more inches would be helpful to be able to make coffee AND toast bagels at the same time!:rotfl: The counter space is no where near the same was what Vero has... Don't know about your BWV as we haven't had the chance to try it yet.

We have now eaten at all 3 AKV TS restaurants. We still prefer Boma as our favorite - the buffet is just SOOO good and there are so many choices. Sanaa is in 2nd place for us. I thought it was reasonably priced for the most part - our server was FABULOUS and I had a really good "slightly dirty martini".:thumbsup2 The Tandoori Chicken was quite good as was the green curry shrimp. Jiko IMHO is very overpriced - I didn't get what the fuss is about with Jiko and I can't even remember what I ordered there. I didn't think the food was any better there to be honest and you can really drop a bundle there as it's a signature restaurant. You will have a great time though - the architecture is wonderful as is the atmosphere.

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, I have to ask this question. Are there any formal nights or semi-formal nights? The cruise is so port intensive, I don't know if I would make any of these. Looking at the itinerary I don't see any mentioned. There is only one sea day. What are my options if I want to skip them?

[Anal Annie]

Ok, I have to ask this question. Are there any formal nights or semi-formal nights? The cruise is so port intensive, I don't know if I would make any of these. Looking at the itinerary I don't see any mentioned. There is only one sea day. What are my options if I want to skip them?

I am guessing it's too early to find out much about what's going on on what nights...I'll bet we won't be able to confirm anything until next spring. I think typically on the Magic 7 night cruises there is one "formal" night and 1 semi-formal night. I am just hoping that neither are on the Naples or Rome ports where the onboard time is at 9:00 because we DO like to dress up for dinner a couple of times. The rest of the nights will be "cruise casual" where you dress nicely but not shorts & stuff - more of a business casual look. (The Magic is dressier than the Wonder BTW.) Now if you don't want to go to the dining rooms on either of these nights you can book Palo (provided we can find out which night will be which but you'd still have to dress up some) or you could go to Topsiders (the buffet) or you could order room service OR grab a burger or pizza by the pools. I am hoping we can make it back to the ship by 7:00 or so on those longer days so that we have an hour to shower real quick & dress.

[BWV Dreamin]

I am guessing it's too early to find out much about what's going on on what nights...I'll bet we won't be able to confirm anything until next spring. I think typically on the Magic 7 night cruises there is one "formal" night and 1 semi-formal night. I am just hoping that neither are on the Naples or Rome ports where the onboard time is at 9:00 because we DO like to dress up for dinner a couple of times. The rest of the nights will be "cruise casual" where you dress nicely but not shorts & stuff - more of a business casual look. (The Magic is dressier than the Wonder BTW.) Now if you don't want to go to the dining rooms on either of these nights you can book Palo (provided we can find out which night will be which but you'd still have to dress up some) or you could go to Topsiders (the buffet) or you could order room service OR grab a burger or pizza by the pools. I am hoping we can make it back to the ship by 7:00 or so on those longer days so that we have an hour to shower real quick & dress.
I have to buy a dress for my son's wedding which is this October. It's in California so it can be spring or early fall type of dress. If I do the formal I would hope to be able to wear this dress on the cruise. DH has a ton of suits so he's not the problem! That was my concern, if its during a late night port that I know we will be too tired to attend after a loooonnnggg day in Rome. Ok, well that's why I'm not seeing any dates, cause there aren't any posted yet! Hey group, we've got the best planner for our trip!!!:wizard:

[Kels Sem]

I would have thought that the formal night will most likely fall on the sea day. I had a look at the planning information here on the DIS and on the 7 night carribean itinery's the formal night and semi -formal nights are on sea days. As we only have one sea day my money is on formal night being on that.
It would be very unfair if they did the formal nights on Rome or Florence days as these will be very long if you're going to see them.

Does anyone know anybody doing the med this year? We may get a rough idea from that.
A friend of mine is sailing on one in May so I can ask her when I see her.

I have a dress which I bought for a wedding and I intend to wear it as for any other night I don't have a clue yet. it is so hard to pack clothes for all occasions when you are tied to the airlines luggage limits!

[MRAven]

WHEW!! I am sooo glad to hear you liked the packing cubes!! I just love them. I am glad you had a great time on your trip - and EEEK - still snowing where you live!! :scared1: I imagine Legoland was a blast!!:)

We just got home last night and I am trying to play catch up on the DIS etc. Having withdraws from not having been on here much for the past week!!:rotfl: I need to go to the grocery store too...YUCK. Back to reality. That is the worst thing about returning from vacation (besides :laundy:). Having to cook for myself again!! :headache: And with this being Easter this weekend I suppose I really should plan to make a nice dinner on Sunday too.:rolleyes1 I will pick up a ham. Those are easy...I just hate the thought of going & doing it!!

Our trip was great as well. Cooler than I'd hoped for & not as much pool time as I wanted (LOL...I wanted to come home with a tan!):rotfl2: Weather at home is actually very nice this week - just as warm as FL now!! Unusually warm. No complaints from me though!! I love it except for the pollen getting bad!! WDW was PACKED - the MK reached capacity every day starting on Monday!! :eek: We had never been when it was so busy before. I will try to post some pics EVENTUALLY. We were feeling sorry for all of the first timers who didn't have a clue which way to go & how to navigate the parks. We're lucky that we KNOW what we want to ride & what we can skip and the best way to use the FP's...Standby wait times were over 100 minutes for almost EVERYTHING by lunchtime every day!!:scared: We felt lucky if we decided to ride something that was only a 60 minute wait!! Now that's scary 'eh?!

Well, need to move on to get some stuff done around here. Like maybe some laundry.:rotfl:

Glad to hear our little group is doing well.... Now where is that Justine these days?! And FLSunshine?! MrA?! Where are you? Hope - I am off to update the first post on page 1...probably will do the website this weekend sometime....

Glad your back and hopefully RELAXED :goodvibes You really deserve it after all that snow shuveling, and then all of that garden building and speacilly (to all of our benefit) all of that web page creating :surfweb: It's really good/nice/easy to read/easy to surf/etc So for you on this Spring I offer you :flower3:

[Anal Annie]

AAACCKKK!! I hate packing dress clothes. DH does NOT currently have a good suit that fits him. He has only 1 sport coat as he works for a lumber yard (ie casual dress even in the offices). The last time we did a 7 night we rented the tux, shirts and black dress shoes via cruiselineformal.com so that all I had to pack for him was black socks!! That may be an option for us to consider again for this cruise too just to save packing. Then I can just bring his sport coat & 1 dress shirt & tie for the semi-formal night / Palo. I have a black almost ankle length dress - plain & simple but which can be dressed up with accessories that I will likely bring for formal night (if it still fits):rolleyes1. It also has a sheer scarf that can be either thrown around the neck (I sometimes wear in front to back so it dangles down my back) and sometimes I use it more like a wrap, which is handy in those freezing cold dining rooms. I've had it for YEARS, leftover from a Holiday Party but it WORKS. I mean, simple black dresses are always "in" right?! I have a pair of heels that are a mix of black patent & clear straps that also go with a lot of things so I will try to bring other items to wear with those (ie dressy black capris for cruise casual nights etc). I have another dress that I bought for a "destination wedding" on St. John a few years ago...it's very flowy & does not wrinkle badly so I may possibly bring that too...then I also have a strapless cocktail dress (animal print) that I wore for Palo the last time that goes with those same strapy shoes... IF I can contain myself and resist buying anything new I will bring these.... BUT if I run into a bargain at TJMaxx I may have to snag something new...but ONLY IF it's a steal!!:rolleyes: But I agree that the sea day will likely be the formal night...that makes the most sense.

Sorry, I still haven't touched the website since I've been back nor have I uploaded any pics from vacation...between Easter and this nice above normal weather here this week I am ummm...shall we say "distracted". DS is still off from school until Wednesday...he has an orthodontist appt. this afternoon and swim practice starts back up this evening...meanwhile I still have a lot of gardening to finish... Oh and I still have a mountain of laundry to finish too...:laundy:

[Anal Annie]

Well, I just got Hope added to the roll call on the website...that's all I've done with it for now. I want to add more DCL excursion info. but that's very time consuming so it will have to wait for the weather to turn crappy again!!:rotfl: I am just not in the mood to fiddle with it right now. I guess vacation broke my concentration on it?! :confused3

So I got a job...well, sort of. A temporary, part-time one... Going to work for the US Census Bureau!! I went & took the aptitude test back in like February...I knew what I scored but wasn't sure if I scored high enough to actually get a position and hadn't heard anything from them since I took it. Anyway, they called yesterday afternoon. I will have 4 days of 9-5:00 training the very last week of April then will be given work "as available" for 6-10 weeks, minimum 20 hrs. a week going door to door - looking for the deadbeats that don't return their forms.:rolleyes1 I will probably have to work mostly evenings & weekends to try to find people at home. I guess it will be different 'eh?!:rotfl: I would love to find a "real" part-time job but I haven't been looking too hard!:rolleyes: Nobody to blame but myself for that one. Anyway, this will get me through at least June probably...and the extra money will certainly come in handy - DH and I BOTH need new tires SOON and DS's swim club gets more expensive next year as he moves up an age group into a different program. Hopefully I will make enough to buy 2 sets of tires and pay for DS's swim session that will start next Sept.:thumbsup2

[BWV Dreamin]

Well, I just got Hope added to the roll call on the website...that's all I've done with it for now. I want to add more DCL excursion info. but that's very time consuming so it will have to wait for the weather to turn crappy again!!:rotfl: I am just not in the mood to fiddle with it right now. I guess vacation broke my concentration on it?! :confused3

So I got a job...well, sort of. A temporary, part-time one... Going to work for the US Census Bureau!! I went & took the aptitude test back in like February...I knew what I scored but wasn't sure if I scored high enough to actually get a position and hadn't heard anything from them since I took it. Anyway, they called yesterday afternoon. I will have 4 days of 9-5:00 training the very last week of April then will be given work "as available" for 6-10 weeks, minimum 20 hrs. a week going door to door - looking for the deadbeats that don't return their forms.:rolleyes1 I will probably have to work mostly evenings & weekends to try to find people at home. I guess it will be different 'eh?!:rotfl: I would love to find a "real" part-time job but I haven't been looking too hard!:rolleyes: Nobody to blame but myself for that one. Anyway, this will get me through at least June probably...and the extra money will certainly come in handy - DH and I BOTH need new tires SOON and DS's swim club gets more expensive next year as he moves up an age group into a different program. Hopefully I will make enough to buy 2 sets of tires and pay for DS's swim session that will start next Sept.:thumbsup2
Hi Annie! I have been peroosing the Med threads. I have more questions also. One, is it really anymore expensive booking air through Disney? They will pay the cost for inadvertent changes in flights (hotel room, transfers, etc.) I can get my whole trip insured, including airfare, if I use DCL insurance with their air. I wonder if they can find me airfare later in the day on that Saturday so I don't have to stay over an extra day, since I want to go out two days early. I've been looking at some of the private tours. Looks like its a better deal if you can get 4-6 people on tours. I'm alittle scared to be taking the train all over and finding my way around to save some $$. About Palo, can I book that on any night I want (if available?) I want to do it on my AP night as I really don't like that dining.

[Anal Annie]

Hi Annie! I have been peroosing the Med threads. I have more questions also. One, is it really anymore expensive booking air through Disney? They will pay the cost for inadvertent changes in flights (hotel room, transfers, etc.) I can get my whole trip insured, including airfare, if I use DCL insurance with their air. I wonder if they can find me airfare later in the day on that Saturday so I don't have to stay over an extra day, since I want to go out two days early. I've been looking at some of the private tours. Looks like its a better deal if you can get 4-6 people on tours. I'm alittle scared to be taking the train all over and finding my way around to save some $$. About Palo, can I book that on any night I want (if available?) I want to do it on my AP night as I really don't like that dining.

YES if you book the "cruise air" thru DCL it will cost you more! And you will have no choice in the flights or airline they use or how long or how many connections you have!! All you'll be able to do is tell them which airport you want to fly in & out of. EXAMPLE - last month I priced the DCL air for our cruise from just about every major east coast city. Here's what I found: From BWI it was running $1,832.69 pp. / from Dulles $2,055.53 / from JFK $1,683.19 / from Boston $1,700.03 / Pittsburgh $1,785.03 / Atlanta $ 1,862.69 / Philadelphia $1,803.07 and finally for some reason from Raleigh it was only $902.69!!! So I was considering driving down to NC as I think that's about 5 or 6 hrs drive....I also priced flights on Air Tran & SW to Raleigh too - I think they were running between $69 & $99 each way or $138 - $200 round trip. I tried to price flights myself out of Raleigh for this summer but got nowhere close to that price so I thought that was pretty weird. Gotta wonder where they're going thru.:confused3 But I will definitely price compare Raleigh again when it's actually time to book. I don't know what time DCL will book your flight home but from what I've seen most of them are pretty early - which is why I've decided to just add our extra days in Barcelona AFTER the cruise rather than before.

Anyway, I have had fare alerts set up on kayak.com that I've been watching since last fall. I think on our own I will be able to find air somewhere between $950 - $1,200 pp. (Ours is more complicated though because we want to go to Paris first and then leave out of Barcelona.) I am also very picky about how long it will take and about connections. The more connections you have the more your odds are of lost luggage. And I think IF I have to transfer someplace I'd rather do it on THIS SIDE of the ocean. You will not know anything about what they book you on until about 3 mo. before. But I am more irritated with that mark-up they put on it!! I will be happy if I can find air for somewhere between $1,000-$1,050 pp. That's really where I need the price to fall 'cuz I am trying to cover at least 2 of us with credit card miles and that's about all I can cover. If I book thru DCL then I can't cover ANY of us.

I am not adding trip insurance until I have our hotels & flights figured out etc. and will book it on my own thru insuremytrip.com or someplace like that so I can include everything.

Private tours are definitely cheaper if you have a full van full. I believe 'cuz it goes per car / van not per person. So if it's $600 Euros for example, it would be cheaper to split it between 2 families than to go alone 1 family at a time. Same price but for less people = more per person.

Yes, you can book dinner at Palo on any night you want but we likely won't know what our dinner rotation is going to be until we get on the ship so you won't know which night to book if you want to avoid a particular venue. I like the Parrot Cay menu the least so I would choose that night if I could choose one. You could always call and put a request on your ressie for one of the 3 rotations and that may help (you would have to ask on the cruise board the exact order but I do know they have 3 distinct orders they use). I don't know if it's APLLAPP or PAALPPA or what, but someone will know. Of course there is no guarantee that's what you will get (sort of like a DVC room request) but then you could always try to switch it once you get onboard if you don't get your request.

(PS) you can always call & have them add the DCL "cruise air" to your reservation and then shop it yourself. If you find a better deal on your own you can call & have them drop it from your reservation as long as you do it before the final balance is due. But if you'd sleep better knowing you have it then add it and think it over later. You can price the air out on the website...

[BWV Dreamin]

I priced airfare from BWI having one layover, either Canada or London, and the airfare thru Orbitz was like $1000.00 round trip into Barcelona. That was for this August. So that's the price I'm trying to keep to. Also, I will probably go thru insuremytrip.com because they will include air you book on your own. Its looking like two days before and one day after the cruise in Barcelona. That still puts us about 10 days for the trip. That is great about your job!! Any money right now is a good thing!! I can't believe how much more Disney wants for their excursions than a private company!!

YES if you book the "cruise air" thru DCL it will cost you more! And you will have no choice in the flights or airline they use or how long or how many connections you have!! All you'll be able to do is tell them which airport you want to fly in & out of. EXAMPLE - last month I priced the DCL air for our cruise from just about every major east coast city. Here's what I found: From BWI it was running $1,832.69 pp. / from Dulles $2,055.53 / from JFK $1,683.19 / from Boston $1,700.03 / Pittsburgh $1,785.03 / Atlanta $ 1,862.69 / Philadelphia $1,803.07 and finally for some reason from Raleigh it was only $902.69!!! So I was considering driving down to NC as I think that's about 5 or 6 hrs drive....I also priced flights on Air Tran & SW to Raleigh too - I think they were running between $69 & $99 each way or $138 - $200 round trip. I tried to price flights myself out of Raleigh for this summer but got nowhere close to that price so I thought that was pretty weird. Gotta wonder where they're going thru.:confused3 But I will definitely price compare Raleigh again when it's actually time to book. I don't know what time DCL will book your flight home but from what I've seen most of them are pretty early - which is why I've decided to just add our extra days in Barcelona AFTER the cruise rather than before.

Anyway, I have had fare alerts set up on kayak.com that I've been watching since last fall. I think on our own I will be able to find air somewhere between $950 - $1,200 pp. (Ours is more complicated though because we want to go to Paris first and then leave out of Barcelona.) I am also very picky about how long it will take and about connections. The more connections you have the more your odds are of lost luggage. And I think IF I have to transfer someplace I'd rather do it on THIS SIDE of the ocean. You will not know anything about what they book you on until about 3 mo. before. But I am more irritated with that mark-up they put on it!! I will be happy if I can find air for somewhere between $1,000-$1,050 pp. That's really where I need the price to fall 'cuz I am trying to cover at least 2 of us with credit card miles and that's about all I can cover. If I book thru DCL then I can't cover ANY of us.

I am not adding trip insurance until I have our hotels & flights figured out etc. and will book it on my own thru insuremytrip.com or someplace like that so I can include everything.

Private tours are definitely cheaper if you have a full van full. I believe 'cuz it goes per car / van not per person. So if it's $600 Euros for example, it would be cheaper to split it between 2 families than to go alone 1 family at a time. Same price but for less people = more per person.

Yes, you can book dinner at Palo on any night you want but we likely won't know what our dinner rotation is going to be until we get on the ship so you won't know which night to book if you want to avoid a particular venue. I like the Parrot Cay menu the least so I would choose that night if I could choose one. You could always call and put a request on your ressie for one of the 3 rotations and that may help (you would have to ask on the cruise board the exact order but I do know they have 3 distinct orders they use). I don't know if it's APLLAPP or PAALPPA or what, but someone will know. Of course there is no guarantee that's what you will get (sort of like a DVC room request) but then you could always try to switch it once you get onboard if you don't get your request.

(PS) you can always call & have them add the DCL "cruise air" to your reservation and then shop it yourself. If you find a better deal on your own you can call & have them drop it from your reservation as long as you do it before the final balance is due. But if you'd sleep better knowing you have it then add it and think it over later. You can price the air out on the website...

[Anal Annie]

I am going to try REALLY HARD to book direct to Paris and direct home from BCN as a multi-city flight. I'll most likely figure out the Paris to Barcelona part separately - unless I book on Air France and find a deal to do them all in one booking. Problem with Air France is I can't get direct flight home - would have to go back thru Paris...I guess coming home is not quite as critical as GOING maybe.:confused3 I am just really paranoid about lost luggage in Europe. Not having clothes to wear to dinner etc. :goodvibes Be careful of the flight restrictions if you go thru London. My neighbor is from India and on one of their trips home they transferred there. I don't know what airline but once they got there they were no longer allowed 1 carry-on and 1 personal item - it was one or the other and they had to check their 2nd items! Then they had to PAY for them 'cuz they were over their luggage allowance... That's one reason I'd rather avoid all that if there's any way I can.

[BWV Dreamin]

Oh geez!!! How can I check out Disney's air prices? Thru the DCL website?

I am going to try REALLY HARD to book direct to Paris and direct home from BCN as a multi-city flight. I'll most likely figure out the Paris to Barcelona part separately - unless I book on Air France and find a deal to do them all in one booking. Problem with Air France is I can't get direct flight home - would have to go back thru Paris...I guess coming home is not quite as critical as GOING maybe.:confused3 I am just really paranoid about lost luggage in Europe. Not having clothes to wear to dinner etc. :goodvibes Be careful of the flight restrictions if you go thru London. My neighbor is from India and on one of their trips home they transferred there. I don't know what airline but once they got there they were no longer allowed 1 carry-on and 1 personal item - it was one or the other and they had to check their 2nd items! Then they had to PAY for them 'cuz they were over their luggage allowance... That's one reason I'd rather avoid all that if there's any way I can.

[Anal Annie]

Oh geez!!! How can I check out Disney's air prices? Thru the DCL website?

Just remember that you have no control over where they book you thru...
Anyway, you add / price the air on the "customize" tab. You can check to / from just about any airport.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e1s8#page=AirTravel

BWI air:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e1s8#page=AirTravel

[BWV Dreamin]

Another question. Have you found out what Disney's pre-cruise hotel stays cost? I was wondering if they were comparable to those hotels you posted on your website. I looove your website. I also need the names of some books your reading. I need to take one on my August Jambo H trip!:goodvibes

[Anal Annie]

Another question. Have you found out what Disney's pre-cruise hotel stays cost? I was wondering if they were comparable to those hotels you posted on your website. I looove your website. I also need the names of some books your reading. I need to take one on my August Jambo H trip!:goodvibes

I currently see at least 4 properties being offered thru DCL for pre & post cruise stays. It looks like they've sold out of a couple of them for pre- stays so if you decide to eventually book thru them don't delay adding it to your ressie. The prices are shown in USD. This is again found under the "customize your cruise" tab. This is also the same area where you would add ground transfers or any other add-ons. Pretty much anything that you book thru DCL will be at a premium price.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/customize?execution=e2s6#page=Resorts

The cheapest one listed on DCL's site is the AC Diplomatic for $244 / night plus tax. I have that one already linked on our website...just re-checked it....it is going for between $100-$115 Euros per night (looks like a 2 n minimum for a weekend). That converts to $134 - $154 USD per night. So it appears that DCL is charging approx. $100 more per night on that one over booking direct. The priciest one on DCL's list is LeMeridian at $524 / night. That one is also already on our website...pricing it directly for 2 adults starts at 169 Euros ($226 USD) for a std. King room (this is for a fully prepaid rate) and goes up from there to approx. 500 Euros / night. Rooms that sleep more than 2 start at 249 Euros ($333 USD). The type of room that DCL is booking for that price is not provided on the website. There are many diff. types available. (Note that this is a Starwood property and may be available to book on Starwood points.)

I plan to add more hotels - eventually. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Right now, the one I think I am most interested in for us post-cruise is the new Novotel Barcelona that just opened last month. I am waiting to get some reviews by some of the 2010 cruisers...It runs approx. $135 - $150 USD / night for 3 people. Kids under 16 are free and that price includes breakfast for the kids. It is BRAND NEW and has a rooftop pool (something our DS will definitely want / like).

Books. Ahhh my travel books that I am referencing. I am starting quite a collection!! I have hit Borders Books more than once!:rotfl: I have 2 regular full-size books - one on European cruises (Fodor's) and one on Italy (Eyewitness Travel). Then I have 3 smaller (more like purse-size) books just on the city of Barcelona. One by Eyewitness Travel, one by Frommer's and one by Fodor's. I figure I will pick up more books as time goes on...I will probably get one on Paris too. I like these smaller ones - they will be easy to bring along. Some have pull-out maps, useful phrases, they review dining / restaurants and they cover the touristy things to do and tours and review hotels etc. I think I am partial to the Frommer's & Fodor's guides. PLUS the smaller books are more affordable so I can have 2 for the price of 1.:rotfl:

[BWV Dreamin]

I asked my TA about Disney Air...she said they do not book air for Disney. She said I would have to do that thru DCL but would then lose the reservation thru them (Small World Vacations) and lose my OBC!!! Uhhh, I don't think so! So I'm booking my own air and getting trip insurance thru insuremytrip.com to cover both the cruise, air, expenses.

I was looking at your hotels on your website. The moderate ones look pretty good, there is one there with a roof top pool. Looks like we will be staying one night after the cruise, two days before. I was going to try and use my Disney rewards points towards transfers, but I think the cruiseline bus only goes from the ship to the airport, not like to another hotel. I don't need a 5 star hotel, just clean, convient location, and a pool would be nice!!;)

Frommer's is good. My son went to Paris last year, we have some of those books. Maybe we can meet for lunch sometime and I can give you them.

I am just tooo excited tooo early for this trip. I hope the other posters don't get tired of my newbie questions!!!:yay:

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, I just read on DCL website that if you book the hotel thru DCL I can get transfer thru Disney to pick us up at the hotel via the cruiseline bus. That way I can use my disney rewards points to pay for the transfers. It might be better to book thru DCL for those hotels. Which ones did you say were also on your website?

[Anal Annie]

I asked my TA about Disney Air...she said they do not book air for Disney. She said I would have to do that thru DCL but would then lose the reservation thru them (Small World Vacations) and lose my OBC!!! Uhhh, I don't think so! So I'm booking my own air and getting trip insurance thru insuremytrip.com to cover both the cruise, air, expenses.

I was looking at your hotels on your website. The moderate ones look pretty good, there is one there with a roof top pool. Looks like we will be staying one night after the cruise, two days before. I was going to try and use my Disney rewards points towards transfers, but I think the cruiseline bus only goes from the ship to the airport, not like to another hotel. I don't need a 5 star hotel, just clean, convient location, and a pool would be nice!!;)

Frommer's is good. My son went to Paris last year, we have some of those books. Maybe we can meet for lunch sometime and I can give you them.

I am just tooo excited tooo early for this trip. I hope the other posters don't get tired of my newbie questions!!!:yay:

We are booked with DU and my TA friend there recently left to go somewhere else but I didn't pull my reservation to follow her 'cuz I was afraid of losing the OBC from DU. So I understand that.

I don't have it on the website (yet) but want to add the Renaissance at the airport. I have read mixed reviews on it BUT it's certainly a convenient one for someone only looking for 1 night. I have not determined yet if we will fly from Paris to Barcelona or if we will use the over night train. If we fly we will likely go on Friday so I can be sure we're there without any stress. I was thinking this would be a good option for just that one night to avoid so many transfers and then we'll stay IN Barcelona city after the cruise. There are several hotels with small rooftop pools. Not that I expect we'll have a lot of time to USE it but it would be a nice option to have available "just in case".

Since we only live like what, an hour apart, yes, we will have to have a little DIS meet sometime! Maybe we can hook up in Mt. Airy or something? That's sort of in the middle, right? (It is about 30 minutes for me.) We have lots of time to plan...I also forget sometimes just HOW MUCH time is left!!:rotfl:

Some of our peeps are in other time zones so we probably won't all be online at the same time...They will just have to jump in with their questions and not be shy!! We won't bite!!

[BWV Dreamin]

Yes Mt. Airy is good! How about on a Saturday!! I never thought of the airport hotel. That will work for the one night after the cruise. I'm looking into the pre- cruise hotel package. DCL says I have to book thru
my TA. But great idea for the airport hotel. This weather is gorgeous!

We are booked with DU and my TA friend there recently left to go somewhere else but I didn't pull my reservation to follow her 'cuz I was afraid of losing the OBC from DU. So I understand that.

I don't have it on the website (yet) but want to add the Renaissance at the airport. I have read mixed reviews on it BUT it's certainly a convenient one for someone only looking for 1 night. I have not determined yet if we will fly from Paris to Barcelona or if we will use the over night train. If we fly we will likely go on Friday so I can be sure we're there without any stress. I was thinking this would be a good option for just that one night to avoid so many transfers and then we'll stay IN Barcelona city after the cruise. There are several hotels with small rooftop pools. Not that I expect we'll have a lot of time to USE it but it would be a nice option to have available "just in case".

Since we only live like what, an hour apart, yes, we will have to have a little DIS meet sometime! Maybe we can hook up in Mt. Airy or something? That's sort of in the middle, right? (It is about 30 minutes for me.) We have lots of time to plan...I also forget sometimes just HOW MUCH time is left!!:rotfl:

Some of our peeps are in other time zones so we probably won't all be online at the same time...They will just have to jump in with their questions and not be shy!! We won't bite!!

[BWV Dreamin]

My TA emailed me back and has already booked me two nights pre-cruise and one night post cruise for the AC Diplomatic. She said we can always drop a reservation, but wanted to get these booked since they do book up fast. Wow, I did not know she could book these rooms 17 months ahead!! Still looking to stay at the Hotel Renaissance at the Airport post cruise.But I have time to change for this. One thing about booking thru the TA and having this added to your DCl package...there is nothing due until final payment. No charge upfront to hold the rooms. I don't know how they do it in Europe if they charge you one nights stay or the whole thing to reserve.

[Anal Annie]

Where's our peeps?! :confused3 Guess I'll just talk to myself again for awhile so I can bump us back up.:goodvibes

I've been busy with various appointments & such...had to take one of our cats to the vet this afternoon. She's been drinking LOTS of water and throwing up her breakfast. I know, TMI, right? She's just not been quite as perky or something lately. She just turned 1 last month so is still a kitten and should be pretty frisky still. SOOO...I finally decided it was time to visit the vet just to see. They did some bloodwork and next thing you know I spent $292 on the office vist what with the exam, extensive bloodwork and 2 RX's!! She had a slight temperature (3 degrees) and an elevated level on something from her liver...so they think it might be an infection of some sort. They sort of wanted to also do an ultrasound but I was like "and how much more is THAT?" and they were like $250 more!!:scared1: So I said can't we try some antibiotics first and then recheck the bloodwork down the road?! :confused3 So that's what we're doing for now. 2 RX's for now. Pain in my butt those will be (1 is a pill that has to be given on an empty stomach an hour before eating for 30 days - and the other is a liquid that has to be refrigerated and given 2x a day WITH food for 2 weeks.) If any of you out there have cats (or pets) you know what a pain meds can be to give to them. Let's hope this works and when we go back in 30 days she's fine! I really don't want to have to go thru an ultrasound and whatever else THAT may lead to!!:eek: I guess I'm going to have to start getting up a few min. earlier in the morning so I can go grab their food bowls and put them away so I can give her that pill on an empty stomach and then feed them later.:confused3 Gonna mess up my schedule!!:rotfl: They also want me to stop giving her canned food - which I put out in the mornings on top of the dry 'cuz our OTHER cat is a male and has an RX diet for urinary problems.:headache: She's a piglet and won't hardly let him finish his without moving in on it (and he LETS her). I may have to start locking one of them up in the bathroom or something while the other eats. I don't know how else to separate them.:sad2:

The weather here has been WONDERFUL this week but boy oh boy have I been miserable with my allergies!! Glad it is supposed to rain this evening to hopefully wash the pollen out of the air. Worst thing is it's going to drop 30 degrees over night! Brrrr again!!

[BWV Dreamin]

I hope your cats get better!! My dog had to get two little cysts cut out. I said no biopsy, no bloodwork, just cut the crap out. Anesthesia and a halo with the surgery...$225.00. Here is some more bad news!

The day I put my cruise deposit down my widescreen TV blew up!! Bought a "46" Samsung on sale....BUT... warranty, tv stand all came to $1700!!!!
A week later the DH check engine light comes on. Take the truck to the dealer. He has a rusted fuel tank! $800 thank you. Today my son calls and tells me his car runs, drives but no electrical things working...:confused3 Take it to a different dealer. The part that will fix it is $250. Ok, not too bad. BUT.... water pump is also leaking, rear boot axle is punctured... :confused3 Since you are going to need a timing belt anyway( car has 90,000 miles) you mise well do the pump and belt at the same time cause they gotta take the pump off anyway whenever we go to do the belt!!! What the he.. $1500!!!!

I think I'll be working for free the next two months!!!!:scared1:

[Anal Annie]

I hope your cats get better!! My dog had to get two little cysts cut out. I said no biopsy, no bloodwork, just cut the crap out. Anesthesia and a halo with the surgery...$225.00. Here is some more bad news!

The day I put my cruise deposit down my widescreen TV blew up!! Bought a "46" Samsung on sale....BUT... warranty, tv stand all came to $1700!!!!
A week later the DH check engine light comes on. Take the truck to the dealer. He has a rusted fuel tank! $800 thank you. Today my son calls and tells me his car runs, drives but no electrical things working...:confused3 Take it to a different dealer. The part that will fix it is $250. Ok, not too bad. BUT.... water pump is also leaking, rear boot axle is punctured... :confused3 Since you are going to need a timing belt anyway( car has 90,000 miles) you mise well do the pump and belt at the same time cause they gotta take the pump off anyway whenever we go to do the belt!!! What the he.. $1500!!!!

I think I'll be working for free the next two months!!!!:scared1:

:hug: I hope your dog will be OK... Your vet sounds a lot cheaper than ours! We lost a cat to kidney failure 1 yr. ago so I am paranoid about them getting sick and not taking them in soon enough - and that's how we ended up getting this kitten. We had given DS 2 kittens for his birthday when he was in 1st grade - brothers from the same litter - both all black. We named them Buzz and Woody!:) Well, it turned out that Woody only had 1 working kidney and it failed last year - it devasted both DS and Buzz. Buzz was SOOO lost without Woody.:sad1: He walked around HOWLING.:guilty: It was so sad. Then a few weeks later my Mom rescued this kitten from a creek and calls me up & asks if we want her. We took her in and named her Cricket (Crickee for short) after the "lucky bug" in the Mulan movie. We figured she'd just used 1 of her 9 lives so she must be lucky.:goodvibes While not a replacement for Woody she helped re-focus DS and Buzz and get them out of their funks.

RE: your car problems :hug:!! That is exactly what we just went thru in January with DH's car EXCEPT his pump stopped working and instead of a timing belt he had a timing CHAIN and when the pump stopped the chain broke! Then it flew apart inside the engine and bent the valves & cylinders and a bunch of other stuff - so his repair estimate went from $1,200 to $5,000 to a final total of $7,085!!!!!:eek: So if they suggest replacing the pump DO it before it causes other damage!! The alternative repairs are MUCH worse!! But I can totally relate!! That is why we ended up switching to this cruise from the 10 night one.

[BWV Dreamin]

I am bound and determined not to let these financial bills detract from my Med planning!!!:laughing: Thank goodness the final bill is not due for me until April 14, 2011! I put my deposit on Disney Visa so I get 6 mos no pay, no interest. Still need to pay that sucker off by Aug! I sure hope your cat gets better and you don't end up paying alot of money towards its care. Where is the OBama Pet Healthcare bill!!!:rotfl::rotfl2:


:hug: I hope your dog will be OK... Your vet sounds a lot cheaper than ours! We lost a cat to kidney failure 1 yr. ago so I am paranoid about them getting sick and not taking them in soon enough - and that's how we ended up getting this kitten. We had given DS 2 kittens for his birthday when he was in 1st grade - brothers from the same litter - both all black. We named them Buzz and Woody!:) Well, it turned out that Woody only had 1 working kidney and it failed last year - it devasted both DS and Buzz. Buzz was SOOO lost without Woody.:sad1: He walked around HOWLING.:guilty: It was so sad. Then a few weeks later my Mom rescued this kitten from a creek and calls me up & asks if we want her. We took her in and named her Cricket (Crickee for short) after the "lucky bug" in the Mulan movie. We figured she'd just used 1 of her 9 lives so she must be lucky.:goodvibes While not a replacement for Woody she helped re-focus DS and Buzz and get them out of their funks.

RE: your car problems :hug:!! That is exactly what we just went thru in January with DH's car EXCEPT his pump stopped working and instead of a timing belt he had a timing CHAIN and when the pump stopped the chain broke! Then it flew apart inside the engine and bent the valves & cylinders and a bunch of other stuff - so his repair estimate went from $1,200 to $5,000 to a final total of $7,085!!!!!:eek: So if they suggest replacing the pump DO it before it causes other damage!! The alternative repairs are MUCH worse!! But I can totally relate!! That is why we ended up switching to this cruise from the 10 night one.

[MRAven]

:hug: I hope your dog will be OK... Your vet sounds a lot cheaper than ours! We lost a cat to kidney failure 1 yr. ago so I am paranoid about them getting sick and not taking them in soon enough - and that's how we ended up getting this kitten. We had given DS 2 kittens for his birthday when he was in 1st grade - brothers from the same litter - both all black. We named them Buzz and Woody!:) Well, it turned out that Woody only had 1 working kidney and it failed last year - it devasted both DS and Buzz. Buzz was SOOO lost without Woody.:sad1: He walked around HOWLING.:guilty: It was so sad. Then a few weeks later my Mom rescued this kitten from a creek and calls me up & asks if we want her. We took her in and named her Cricket (Crickee for short) after the "lucky bug" in the Mulan movie. We figured she'd just used 1 of her 9 lives so she must be lucky.:goodvibes While not a replacement for Woody she helped re-focus DS and Buzz and get them out of their funks.

RE: your car problems :hug:!! That is exactly what we just went thru in January with DH's car EXCEPT his pump stopped working and instead of a timing belt he had a timing CHAIN and when the pump stopped the chain broke! Then it flew apart inside the engine and bent the valves & cylinders and a bunch of other stuff - so his repair estimate went from $1,200 to $5,000 to a final total of $7,085!!!!!:eek: So if they suggest replacing the pump DO it before it causes other damage!! The alternative repairs are MUCH worse!! But I can totally relate!! That is why we ended up switching to this cruise from the 10 night one.

Hey, we (DW's pet) also have a totaly black female cat; her name is Tuna-Catuna and she is 20 months old. :cat:

There's an interesting story with her:

We hava at home a gas stove, I was alone at home and after preparing a couple of sandwiches I felt asleep. Now this cat (kitten at the time) all of a suden starts to jump on top of me until she wakes me up, just then I sence a burning smell so I get up to check it out. I had left left the grill on a kitchen towl that was near by got heated up it was on fire ! I put it out and nothing bad happend (exept for the towl which was totaly burned) Fortunately the cat woke me up otherwise it would probably have been a lot worse. I guss animals do know when danger is around and she knew how to let me know. As a reward I bought her a Cat Condo. :firefight

We also have a small Yorkshire female puppy (DD's Pet) her name is Candy-Candy. :dogdance:

Now, DW has a cat and DD has puppy, What do I have you my ask ? Nothing yet, but planning on gettin a talking parrot and teach it to say: Feed the Cat, Feed the dog, Feed the parrot, feed Daddy ! :rotfl2:

[Kels Sem]

Hi all, I hope all your animals are getting better:goodvibes I haven't been on that last couple of days as I have been a work. I work part-time and do 2 full days which is great. Congratulations on your job A Annie:yay:

The weather over here has finally picked up and DH and the kids have spent the day in the garden. DH has been painting the fence and we have finally got the trampoline up again for the kids so hopefully they will be very tired and sleep well tonight!

I went for a run today as part of my new fitness regime! I haven't gone running in a long time or done any other exercise for that matter. So I wonder how long it will last:rotfl2: I will probably be an agony tomorrow.

Tomorrow we are taking the kids to see a Disney show called Three Classic Tales so hopefully that will be good.:dance3:

I have ordered the Passporter's Disney cruise line guide for 2010 as it is being updated with the Med ports but it keeps being delayed. It was supposed to be released in March, then April and now it looks like the end of May. This is very disappointing as I have been looking forward to reading it. Hoepfully it will be worth the wait.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[veludo]

Hi Everyone

Hope youre all well :flower3:

Sorry Ive not been on here for a while, we booked for Disneyland Paris for this August so that has kind of taken over in the planning stakes seeing as it comes first.

We are still really excited about the Cruise. We have also "ordered" the Passporter book from Amazon but it hasnt turned up yet :rolleyes1

I need to get back in to the Cruise Planning!!! :yay:

Justine x

[Anal Annie]

:banana: Disneyland Paris!! YAY! What fun Justine! Glad to hear you haven't jumped ship on us! :rotfl: Details! I need details!! :) We are planning to go to Paris for a few days pre-cruise next year - spend a day or 2 at the parks and spend a day in Paris sightseeing!! I will be depending on you now for blow by blow scoop!!

Kelly - how was your show over the weekend? What kind of show was it (play...movie...?)

I have never used Passporter...I just rely on the DIS!! You guys will have to let me know what's in it!!


OK, so does anybody else remember this old Stephen King horror movie, Christine, which about this old possessed car that goes around killing people?!

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/christine-1958-plymouth-fury-killer-car-horror-plus-cannibal-corpse/06113b7d18f31600952206113b7d18f316009522-1599551373655

Well I have officially named DH's car Christine now!! He called me earlier today & said his car wouldn't unlock! It wouldn't let him IN!!:headache: Not only would the remote not work but neither would the actual key turn the lock! And he doesn't have a lock on the passenger side, only the driver's side. He opened the remote to look for a battery but couldn't get into it - it's like sealed up or something. SOOO I went over to his work with MY key / remote & it wouldn't work either!!:eek: He got the trunk open & it beeped like there was a door open but that does no good as his back seat doesn't lay down. We called our little car repair shop & they sent someone over & they couldn't get it open either...so they called a tow truck. THIS GUY got it open somehow & then DH's key started it up & it APPEARED to reset the system...but he's afraid to lock it back up!! I am afraid it is a short or something in the electrical system. I told him he needs to call Audi now and see what they say. He can't just NOT ever lock it again. Alls I can say is DON'T EVER BUY AN AUDI!!!!!:headache: Stand by for more headaches...

[Kels Sem]

The Disney show was excellent and the kids really enjoyed it especially Keira. It was a play. Firstly Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy came out and then the story's of Snow White, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast were told. Keira's face was a picture when the fairy godmother turned Cinderella's dress into the blue ball gown!

I received a Welcome Aboard postcard type thing from Disney Cruise line today:banana: It didn't say much apart from cruise date, final payment date and that you can book Port Adventures etc from 30 May 2011. It was a nice touch. It helps make it more real and exciting:yay:

I can't believe I'm back to work tomorrow for my whole 2 days work.

LeeAnn I hope you get your DH car sorted!

[Anal Annie]

:wave: I got that postcard a few days ago too!:jumping2: 'Bout time they acknowledge we're on their big 'ole boat!! :rotfl: Funny how they just HAD to remind us that we still owe them money though! I went ahead & set our balance due aside in a special vacation fund bank account when we got our tax refund back. I didn't want to have to be worrying about that AND excursions etc. for the next year. I am not paying it though until the week it's due. I really have been quite sidetracked by shiny objects lately and have not touched the website. :tongue: A little ADHD I suppose.:rolleyes1

So DH's car has been fine since the incident yesterday. THANK GOODNESS! Just a weird fluke I guess?!

I have been on a rampage to buy new patio furniture. I know we should not but the thought of actually earning some money in a few weeks got me thinking (scheming):hyper2:. I have been researching and pricing ALL OVER town and ALL OVER the internet. I don't know why patio furniture should cost as much as house furniture but it certainly does. I sort of want some of that all-weather wicker stuff but am afraid of how long the cushions will hold water if I don't cover it every day. We currently have a glass table & some sling chairs that we've had for about 12 or 13 years. It was a good set that we spent quite a lot on back in the day & it held up well...but the slings are starting to slip down a bit now & the paint on the frames has faded badly over the past couple of years, even though we've covered it over the winters. Then we also have a couple of teak "steamer" chairs that we've had for about 10 yrs. - I am tired of maintaining the wood as I've tried to keep it from turning gray. I am just not in the mood to futz with it any more. One of you needs to slap me around a bit and remind me that I have other, more important things to spend $5,000 on!!!:goodvibes

[BWV Dreamin]

What postcard? :confused3 I called DCL just to get an idea about excursions for Barcelona. Only cruises that have a full day port in Barcelona can partake in the DCL excursions. Since our cruise is on embarkation and disembarkation days, will they not have any excursions for Barcelona? I will be there a couple of days before, so I can always line up something. But it would be nice to see what our options are with DCL.

Annie, hope the car situation takes a break so you can save up $$$ for your excursions! Looking at all the excursions I want to do, using DCL for the excursions, whhoooaaaa!!!! It looks like between $1500-$2000!!! :scared1:

[Anal Annie]

Postcard - simple one from DCL that says welcome back sort of thing and has a reminder of our balance due date.:rolleyes1 Maybe 'cuz you just booked recently it hasn't come out yet...the rest of us have been booked for awhile so I'm sure you'll get it eventually.

I am planning to book private tours in both Naples and Rome and am not sure yet about the other cities...but I've decided for budget purposes to just round it off to $200 per person per port as an average. So that would be $600 x 5 = $3,000 for the 3 of us. :scared1: But I'd rather just budget & plan for it NOW than be shocked later. We may have a day that's $800 if we do a private tour and don't share it with anyone else - and that will hopefully be offset by a day that is closer to $300.:confused3 But for now, I figure I'll just round UP.:rolleyes: I did not expect DCL to provide us with any excursions in Barcelona... I want to see the sights in Barcelona and I want to see Montserrat which I think is at least a 1/2 day. We will likely spend 3 nights in Barcelona post-cruise so that would give us most all day on Sat., and then all of Sun & Mon if we leave to come home on Tues. That of course is still subject to change...we may come on home Mon. and only stay 2 nights in Barcelona. It will likely depend on what day we leave home to go to Paris and how we decide to go from Paris to Barcelona. If we decide to fly from Paris to Barcelona then I will likely want to GO on Mon. eve., arriving on Tues. morning because we will transfer to Barcelona on Fri. sometime & I need to be flexible for that flight time. Then we will likely stay at that Renaissance hotel at the airport for that night. That would then give us a partial day on Tues and all of Wed & Thurs in Paris. Pretty much the same scenario if we take the train to Barcelona except it would be an evening / over night train so we'd have all day Fri. in Paris, but we'd have to store our stuff somewhere after we check out of our room.

[veludo]

We got our postcard too:thumbsup2

Re Paris - we are flying Air france from Manchester to CDG, we are having 2 nights in Paris itself the taking the train to DLP and having another 2 nights at the Newport Bay Club. We are going in August so I expect it to be mad busy but hey ho :cutie:

Work has been pretty busy recently so Ive not had much time to do ANY holiday planning - it wont get any quieter either before we go to DLP so we shall probably be very disorganised - Im sure it will still be great!

Justine :cheer2:

xx

[Anal Annie]

Do our UK peeps have any problems now with this volancic ash thing? I feel so bad for all the stranded people - and for all the folks hoping to get over there for their cruises & such next week. Yet another GOOD REASON to be sure to have good travel insurance!! Oh Boy! CAN YOU IMAGINE?!:eek:

So Justine - have you been to DLP before or will this be your first trip? I am wondering how much time we actually need for the 2 parks. I know by using our DVC points to stay on site they will force us to buy length of stay park tix but I know I want at least 1 day for sightseeing. And some of the peeps from our last DCL just went to Europe and they took some AMAZING pictures of Paris at night...I am thinking that is a must do as well!! :rolleyes1

SO DS has a swim meet this weekend over in Virginia...about 45 minutes away and we have to BE THERE by 6:50 am for warm-ups on both Saturday AND Sunday!! Thankfully, his events should be done both days by 10:30ish - and I am hoping the coaches will say GO HOME after he is done! Cross your fingers for some pixie dust (for some fast swims)!!pixiedust: I have to get up a few minutes before 5:00 to give the freaking cat :cat: her pill so I have an hour between the pill and her breakfast before we go.:headache:

Good night all!!!

[Kels Sem]

DH usually flies home from England on Thursday's. Obviously this week he couldn't with the volcanic ash. He then booked himself on the boat to get home on Friday so he had a 4.5 hr drive to get the port. At least he is home! I really feel for those either stuck somewhere or waiting to go on their holiday. A friend in work is due to go on holiday today. His flight isn't until 5pm but airspace is closed until at least 7pm. In may be unlikely he will get away.

I off now to get ready for a run. Then DD goes to her dance class this morning.

LeeAnn I hope your son does well at his swimming today.

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

DH usually flies home from England on Thursday's. Obviously this week he couldn't with the volcanic ash. He then booked himself on the boat to get home on Friday so he had a 4.5 hr drive to get the port. At least he is home! I really feel for those either stuck somewhere or waiting to go on their holiday. A friend in work is due to go on holiday today. His flight isn't until 5pm but airspace is closed until at least 7pm. In may be unlikely he will get away.

I off now to get ready for a run. Then DD goes to her dance class this morning.

LeeAnn I hope your son does well at his swimming today.

Kelly

Wow. So does your DH commute back & forth like this every week?? Does he have to go back on Monday?? I sure hope this ash clears up soon. Guess I'll catch up on the news this evening. I didn't see the news this morning about it since we had to leave out at 6:00 am....

DS did OK this morning. Due to this, that & the other he hadn't gone to a meet since December so I was expecting bigger drops in his time than what he did... BUT he DID drop 3 seconds off his 100 backstroke & 1.5 seconds off his 50 freestyle. He doesn't ever try the breast or butterfly in these winter meets but he will do them if he swims an IM. But the IM on this meet was Friday and I chose not to pull him out of school to go. I had a doctors appt. in the morning & it just seemed silly to do all that running around for one event. Tomorrow he just does 2 events as well. He is not an overly competitive child. Summer team will start up on June 1. Then he will HATE me 'cuz it's outside & the team pool where he swims in the summer is not heated.:scared:

[Kels Sem]

Wow. So does your DH commute back & forth like this every week?? Does he have to go back on Monday?? I sure hope this ash clears up soon. Guess I'll catch up on the news this evening. I didn't see the news this morning about it since we had to leave out at 6:00 am....

DS did OK this morning. Due to this, that & the other he hadn't gone to a meet since December so I was expecting bigger drops in his time than what he did... BUT he DID drop 3 seconds off his 100 backstroke & 1.5 seconds off his 50 freestyle. He doesn't ever try the breast or butterfly in these winter meets but he will do them if he swims an IM. But the IM on this meet was Friday and I chose not to pull him out of school to go. I had a doctors appt. in the morning & it just seemed silly to do all that running around for one event. Tomorrow he just does 2 events as well. He is not an overly competitive child. Summer team will start up on June 1. Then he will HATE me 'cuz it's outside & the team pool where he swims in the summer is not heated.:scared:

Yes, DH commutes every week. He leaves on Monday morning and is usually home by about 7pm on Thursday's although sometimes he is not home until Friday.
It's not looking very likely that he will get away this week so he will work in the office in Belfast. So an unexpected week at home!

I'm off to clean my floors now!

Kelly

[veludo]

Morning All

First time for DLP - we have bought a couple of planning books but I think 2 - 3 days ill probably be enough from reading others trip reports.

We are flying to Majorca at the end of May so I hope that the Volcano / Ash saga is all over by then.

Ive been reading threads on The Dibb this morning from people who are eitehr stranded in Florida and unable to get home or are due to fly out and have had their flights cancelled - it awful. I would hate to be in that situation, when its time to come home I just want to get back so all this uncertainty would be dreadful. I feel so sorry for all those affected.

Kelly - does your DH fly in / out of Blackpool? We are flying from Blackpool when we go to Majorca in May - never flown out of there before even though its only about15 minutes drive from our house!!

Justine xx

[BWV Dreamin]

Hello all, I have been checking airfare for this years flights going from the US (Baltimore MD area) and have not seen any non stop flights. So taking into consideration I must stop over, it looks like the choices are Montreal, London, Frankfurt and Munich. I am thinking of leaning more towards Montreal Canada as the first leg is short, then board Leuftansa for the remainder and longest leg of the flight right into Barcelona. I think Air Canada is the carrier into Montreal. Does anyone have any experience with Canada's airlines? Leuftansa does not charge extra for checked bags( from what I have read so far). And they are one of the few who serve free drinks on their flights!!!:cool1:

[Kels Sem]

Morning All

First time for DLP - we have bought a couple of planning books but I think 2 - 3 days ill probably be enough from reading others trip reports.

We are flying to Majorca at the end of May so I hope that the Volcano / Ash saga is all over by then.

Ive been reading threads on The Dibb this morning from people who are eitehr stranded in Florida and unable to get home or are due to fly out and have had their flights cancelled - it awful. I would hate to be in that situation, when its time to come home I just want to get back so all this uncertainty would be dreadful. I feel so sorry for all those affected.

Kelly - does your DH fly in / out of Blackpool? We are flying from Blackpool when we go to Majorca in May - never flown out of there before even though its only about15 minutes drive from our house!!

Justine xx

Hey,
No DH flys in and out of Manchester. The Belfast/Blackpool route only operates in summer time and the flight times are more suited to holiday makers rather than commuters. He did fly for a while with manx airlines but then they had to stop at the Isle of Man!

I have done DLP twice now and yes it could be done in 2-3 days.

I've also been reading The DIBB today. It must be a real nightmare for them. My Aunt & Uncle are currently stuck in Majorca. Fortunately my cousin lives there so they have somewhere to stay. They just don't know when they are going get back at the moment.


BWV Dreamin - Sorry I haven't flown with any Canadian Airlines before so can't help with your flights.

Kelly

[Kels Sem]

I've been reading a few pre-trip reports people have started here on the DIS for their upcoming Med Cruises.

It won't be long until the first Med cruise and then the trip reports. I must say I'm looking forward to reading them to get all the great info:banana:

Kelly:cheer2:

[Anal Annie]

OK, so how many of our UK / Ireland peeps have been to Majorca before? I am guessing that it is to you guys like the Caribbean islands are to us? A frequent vacation destination? You must give us all the scoop on Majorca!! I was wondering if that port would just end up being sort of a beach day sort of stop for us.:confused3

Hope - Would you consider using another airport besides BWI?? US Airways has direct flights between Philly and BCN! How far are you from Philly? You must be closer than we are. They price out round trip right now for $1,073 (I used Mon. 8/9 to Tues 8/24 as those are the closest dates to what we would likely do). The non-stop flights would be great doncha think? I have several alerts set up on kayak.com that I've been watching... I can't set up an alert for multi-city so I've got several one-ways going since we're flying in & out of different cities but the one-ways are BIG BUCKS.

If I go in and do a search for round trip (which I have to do manually each time I look) I get Air France Dulles to Paris (direct in 7.5 hrs), Paris to Barcelona and then Barcelona back to Dulles via Paris for $1,052!!! The trip home is 11 hrs. 40 min. which sucks but....nothing direct coming back on Air France. If I price it out one-way so I can use Swiss Air home it works out to be more! I think $1,052 is reasonable considering it includes Paris to Barcelona too. If I price it without that hop from Paris it comes up at $1,020 (Delta codesharing with Air France non-stop going) and Delta home via JFK in 12.5 hrs). Air France includes 1 checked bag for free I think but their carry-on size is smaller than our domestic airlines so I might have to buy a new carry-on or two and they have a 26 Lb weight limit on the carry-ons. Anybody ever use Air France? How strict are they on this carry-on size? I wonder how much they really enforce it? I know I probably only have 1 bag that meets their measurements. Most of our carry-ons are 22" x 14" x 10" (empty, ie no overstuffed protruding pockets). Their website info. works out to 21.45" x 13.75" x 9.95" including handles, pockets and wheels so all of our bags are JUST SLIGHTLY over their limits. I might go start a thread to see what people say about their policies...

I think I will be also shopping our flights direct thru the airline websites too!! I am concerned that this volcanic ash thing will ultimately result in higher fares being passed along by the airlines in order to recover their losses. I hope everything returns to normal soon!!

[BWV Dreamin]

The best prices seem to be out of Dulles. That's where I am checking flights from. But I'm checking thru like Orbitz. I'm not checking directly thru the airlines. Are there any airlines from Dulles that are direct, not stops? Philly is too far. It's BWI or Dulles. What airlines should I check out?


OK, so how many of our UK / Ireland peeps have been to Majorca before? I am guessing that it is to you guys like the Caribbean islands are to us? A frequent vacation destination? You must give us all the scoop on Majorca!! I was wondering if that port would just end up being sort of a beach day sort of stop for us.:confused3

Hope - Would you consider using another airport besides BWI?? US Airways has direct flights between Philly and BCN! How far are you from Philly? You must be closer than we are. They price out round trip right now for $1,073 (I used Mon. 8/9 to Tues 8/24 as those are the closest dates to what we would likely do). The non-stop flights would be great doncha think? I have several alerts set up on kayak.com that I've been watching... I can't set up an alert for multi-city so I've got several one-ways going since we're flying in & out of different cities but the one-ways are BIG BUCKS.

If I go in and do a search for round trip (which I have to do manually each time I look) I get Air France Dulles to Paris (direct in 7.5 hrs), Paris to Barcelona and then Barcelona back to Dulles via Paris for $1,052!!! The trip home is 11 hrs. 40 min. which sucks but....nothing direct coming back on Air France. If I price it out one-way so I can use Swiss Air home it works out to be more! I think $1,052 is reasonable considering it includes Paris to Barcelona too. If I price it without that hop from Paris it comes up at $1,020 (Delta codesharing with Air France non-stop going) and Delta home via JFK in 12.5 hrs). Air France includes 1 checked bag for free I think but their carry-on size is smaller than our domestic airlines so I might have to buy a new carry-on or two and they have a 26 Lb weight limit on the carry-ons. Anybody ever use Air France? How strict are they on this carry-on size? I wonder how much they really enforce it? I know I probably only have 1 bag that meets their measurements. Most of our carry-ons are 22" x 14" x 10" (empty, ie no overstuffed protruding pockets). Their website info. works out to 21.45" x 13.75" x 9.95" including handles, pockets and wheels so all of our bags are JUST SLIGHTLY over their limits. I might go start a thread to see what people say about their policies...

I think I will be also shopping our flights direct thru the airline websites too!! I am concerned that this volcanic ash thing will ultimately result in higher fares being passed along by the airlines in order to recover their losses. I hope everything returns to normal soon!!

[veludo]

Ive been to Majorca quite a few times - its an easy short flight (about 2 1/2 hrs) for us. We used to holiday there a lot when I was little - we mostly stayed in Cala D'or which I seem to remember being vrey nice (although that was more than 20 years ago LOL).

I have stayed in Palma Nova a couple of times (again this was about 15 years ago) and it can't have been far to Palma (the port) as we hired a car and went there quite a few times (and I was only 21 and the first time Id driven abroad - i wouldnt dare do it now :confused:).

In May we are staying at Puerta Pollensa which is in the North of the island - about an hour from the airport. Were staying at Club Pollentia resort - it looks very nice and I cannot wait for a week of all Inclusive doing nothing apart from lazing about and making my way to the swim up bar :woohoo:

On the cruise, when we dock in Palma - we wont be taking any organised excursions. we will probably just make our own way around. There IS a cathedral to visit but Im not sure our DS will find that very amusing and I remember a large department store called El Corte Ingles or similar - its quite a few years since we went so its probably changed a lot in Palma itself. I dont remember it being massive so its probably somewhere that you could explore on foot on your own.

Justine xx

[Kels Sem]

I've been to Majorca a few times myself and have always stayed in the North of the Island. Last time I was there was about 12 years ago. It was a girlie trip with my friends. I have vague memories as a child going to Palma. As Justine says it can be explored on foot. My cousin is currently living in Palma so i intend to spend the day with her if she can get the day off work. If she is no longer living there then I think we will have a beach day. When I next see her I will pick her brains on what to do for the day.:thumbsup2

Kelly

[BWV Dreamin]

Hello all! I am geographically challenged.....:goodvibes Where is Majorca?

Rethinking doing the pre-cruise hotel bookings thru Disney. I have them booked, but haven't paid for them yet. My travel agent suggested hotels.com. I see lots of hotel rooms for half the price Disney is charging. In fact, for the AC Diplomat, I can book that on my own for half the price! So still searching the hotels around the central part of Barcelona.

Annie, how is the job going? Have you started yet? I didn't get a census form so I guess someone will be knocking on my door!:rotfl:Just doin my part to keep some people employed!:laughing: (Sorry international friends! Political shot I just took!)

Lets talk money....I know Suntrust Bank here is the US sells Euros for a $10 surcharge. Do any international friends here know where the best place to convert US dollars into Euros? I think doing it at the airports gives the worst return.

[veludo]

Hi

Majorca is an island in the Mediterranan, its part of a group called the Balearics and they belong to Spain - I think that they are a bit South of Spain but I too am useless at geography - i DO know that whenever Ive been it been sunny and warm so thats good enough for me.

There are some lovely beaches - I think that when in Palma we might pinch Kellys idea and have a beach day - DS 4 just loves being onthe beach. Ill do some investigating of some nice beaches not too far from the port.

Oooh I can do some investigating when I am there in 5 weeks!! I so cannot wait and pray that the travel chaos is over by then :)

Justine

[veludo]

Hello all! I am geographically challenged.....:goodvibes Where is Majorca?

Rethinking doing the pre-cruise hotel bookings thru Disney. I have them booked, but haven't paid for them yet. My travel agent suggested hotels.com. I see lots of hotel rooms for half the price Disney is charging. In fact, for the AC Diplomat, I can book that on my own for half the price! So still searching the hotels around the central part of Barcelona.

Annie, how is the job going? Have you started yet? I didn't get a census form so I guess someone will be knocking on my door!:rotfl:Just doin my part to keep some people employed!:laughing: (Sorry international friends! Political shot I just took!)

Lets talk money....I know Suntrust Bank here is the US sells Euros for a $10 surcharge. Do any international friends here know where the best place to convert US dollars into Euros? I think doing it at the airports gives the worst return.


I think that you will save loads booking your hotels yourself - have you tried LastMinute and Expdia (both .com) or I think there is also Alpharooms and laterooms.

In the past I have also booked direct with the hotel itself after checking it out on a few travel agents websites and thats worked really cheaply aswell.
Good Luck

Justine x

[BWV Dreamin]

A beach day would be great!!! Didn't really know what to do in Palma. It would also be a great relaxing day after such busy itineraries in Italy! Yes, I have been looking at some hotels right in the center of Barcelona. Looking forward to your trip report!:goodvibes

Hi

Majorca is an island in the Mediterranan, its part of a group called the Balearics and they belong to Spain - I think that they are a bit South of Spain but I too am useless at geography - i DO know that whenever Ive been it been sunny and warm so thats good enough for me.

There are some lovely beaches - I think that when in Palma we might pinch Kellys idea and have a beach day - DS 4 just loves being onthe beach. Ill do some investigating of some nice beaches not too far from the port.

Oooh I can do some investigating when I am there in 5 weeks!! I so cannot wait and pray that the travel chaos is over by then :)

Justine

[veludo]

Hi BWV

For our pre cruise - i think we are going to look at one of the beach resorts nto too far from Barcelona - there is Sitges and also a couple of resorts on the Costa Dorada. We have a DS (4) who loves the beach - even though here in the UK we live right on the coast we rarely visit the beach - I'm sure Kelly will vouch that Blackpool beach / sea isnt for the faint hearted!! Our coast is on the irish sea and its pretty choppy so we dont get a nice calm blue sea - we get sandy, brown rough seas :sad2:. Needless to say, we dont go swimming there. There are a couple of places further up the coast that have prettier beaches but nothing like those in the Med.

Best beach ever was Naples (near the Vanderbilt hotel - is that still there?) getting drinks fro the Chickee Hut and watching the sun go down on a gorgeous florida sunset

J xx

[veludo]

Found this:

http://cruises.about.com/cs/europe/a/mallorca.htm

may be useful

:)

[BWV Dreamin]

Found this:

http://cruises.about.com/cs/europe/a/mallorca.htm

may be useful

:)

Great link! If it's not too far from the ship I would love to see the beach! But the castle tour looks good too. Hmmmm... decisions, decisions.:goodvibes

[Anal Annie]

Hey ya'll :wave: I hope our UK friends are getting back to normal now with all this volcano nonesense. I will certainly be keeping this mess in mind whenever I shop for trip insurance next year!!

Hope - I think you will save yourself BOATLOADS by booking anything you can on your own VS booking thru DCL. You don't need to PAY DCL for the hotels NOW do you? I didn't think that was due before the cruise balance.:confused3 We may book a couple of excursions thru the DCL for France or Majorca but not our hotels or flights I don't think. If you use the links that I've got so far on our website you can see where booking any of those hotels direct would be a big savings over DCL. (And no, I haven't touched the website lately...my bad!) Justine - thanks for the Majorca link! Also, if you go onto the DCL website for our cruise and click on the itinerary tab it will pop a little map and show the sailing route / ports and you can see exactly where Mallorca / Majorca is located. :thumbsup2

Hope - I can't believe you didn't get a Census form! Wow! :eek: Shocking. We got ours back in mid-March. I filled it out & returned it before we went to FL for spring break. I have not started working yet. My training is next week Mon-Thur 9-5:00 in Montgomery Village. My "Crew Leader" called me yesterday to tell me a couple of things & I asked him if he knew what area I would be working & he said likely from East of I-270 (which is like 1/2 mile from us) / North as far as the Frederick Co. line and up Rt. 27 to Damascus. So no really bad neighborhoods in that area I don't think. :confused3 (There could be some in Germantown if I had to go in that direction.) This sounds pretty rural though. I will get paid mileage too.

I asked at my bank (Chevy Chase) about getting Euros and the girls there said to get them at the airport at a Travelex booth.:confused3 They appeared to maybe be from India and they said that's where they get them when they travel rather than the bank where they work! :confused3 Chevy Chase charges a fee to order them and another fee to exchange them back if you don't use all of them. So I don't know yet what I will do. My "cruise fund" bank acct. is at Wachovia (now Wells Fargo I think) so I can always check there too. Do we go anywhere that doesn't take Euros? France, Italy & Spain all take them, right? But the UK does not? So if you xfer planes or something somewhere you may need to have something else if you need for food or something?:confused3 I don't know. I haven't gotten that far in my planning yet.

I went to Costco in Frederick yesterday & the food sampler people had a sign that they were hiring PT. :rotfl: I might apply for that too! :rotfl: $11 / hour for 6 hr. shifts. :rotfl: Pretty mindless work. We'll see. I could do a couple shifts a week. :rotfl: I really want some new patio furniture and am trying to figure how to pay for it if I were to talk DH into it!! :rotfl: I need a job but I don't really want a FT office job again. I feel like I've been "out of it" for too long now. I want something where I can work around DS's swim schedule etc.

[Anal Annie]

Hello. My name is LeeAnn (aka Anal Annie) and I am a shopaholic.:rolleyes:

Just wondered if any of you saw this thread about Overstock.com having 50% off on the Pac Safe bags??

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2446201

http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=pac%20safe&SearchType=Header

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=82&features=specification

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=88

I sort of feel like I am being a little paranoid BUT....I read too many stories! These were such good prices....I just ordered the smaller messenger laptop bag (M100 in silver/black) for DH and the H200 Totebag for myself (in the smoke blue). I had looked at them a day or so ago but didn't order anything...then I looked again today & it said they were at a high risk of selling out so I just did it. When I put them in my cart it said there were only 5 left of one & 8 left of the other. I got both for just under $60 with the shipping. I had found a "Baggalinni" bag a couple weeks ago that has some neat features but it's a bit too small so I had been sort of looking for a larger one...but I hadn't settled on which one...but then I couldn't pass up this price on these.:rotfl: I have no will power gals!!

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't have to pay for those DCL hotel bookings my TA made. She just added the cost to my total that is due next year. But I am going to have her cancel them anyway. I have looked at your website (its awesome!) plus searched thru hotels.com. I'm going to book hotels on my own. That will also save me on trip insurance because they won't be included in the total cost (I can cancel those rooms 24 hrs. ahead of check-in).

I haven't even thought of itineraries, just briefly looked at the excursions DCL offered. I'm going to do Barcelona on my own. The hotels there have people that will help you see the sites, and give you contacts for tours.

Most of my fact finding has been looking for flights from the US! I just don't see me getting around a connecting flight. Sooo, do I connect in Canada or London? I feel like I want an English speaking country where I connect. I have connected in Frankfurt before...people not so nice there!! I know they probably think we are dumb US travelers, don't know where we are going, etc!:laughing: Well, they are right!!!:laughing:

[Anal Annie]

I don't have to pay for those DCL hotel bookings my TA made. She just added the cost to my total that is due next year. But I am going to have her cancel them anyway. I have looked at your website (its awesome!) plus searched thru hotels.com. I'm going to book hotels on my own. That will also save me on trip insurance because they won't be included in the total cost (I can cancel those rooms 24 hrs. ahead of check-in).

I haven't even thought of itineraries, just briefly looked at the excursions DCL offered. I'm going to do Barcelona on my own. The hotels there have people that will help you see the sites, and give you contacts for tours.

Most of my fact finding has been looking for flights from the US! I just don't see me getting around a connecting flight. Sooo, do I connect in Canada or London? I feel like I want an English speaking country where I connect. I have connected in Frankfurt before...people not so nice there!! I know they probably think we are dumb US travelers, don't know where we are going, etc!:laughing: Well, they are right!!!:laughing:

Hope - of course ALL of these flight schedules are subject to change drastically between now and next year BUT...just wanted to say that you can also look for a cheap flight on Air Tran or SW to say NYC (JFK) or Atlanta or Philly and then you CAN get direct flights between BCN and those cities if you'd rather transfer on American soil. From Atlanta you can go direct on Air France / Delta (codeshare). From Philly on Spanair which codeshares with US Airways and from JFK there are multiple choices - AA, Continental, Delta & United I think all offer non-stops. (Delta round trip is currently $1,004 thru JFK.) I will consider this option when it comes time to book which won't be before Sept. anyway.....

[Anal Annie]

Ya'll will never guess what I found today! I went shopping to get some new shorts for DS (he recently had a growth spurt & got a lot taller...so some of his shorts from last year are too short on him & his gangly skinny knees are poking out the bottoms & he looks silly). ANYWAY, I found REVERSIBLE shorts for MEN!!!! The were cute (I thought). Solid on one side & plaid on the other. :confused3 They were on sale half off (only $15) so I got a pair for DH to see how he likes them. I got sort of a khaki color & the inside is khaki, white & orange plaid. They also had cheap lightweight polo shirts for $15 so I grabbed an orangey color one of those too to be sure he had something to match... But how perfect is that for packing on a trip like this one next year!?! Two shorts in one! I hope he likes them - they had them in a gray color with a blueish plaid inside too...I could go back for more!!:rotfl2: Our anniversary is this Sunday so I'll give them to him then. We had agreed not to exchange gifts - I just want to go OUT to eat rather than order take-out for once but this doesn't really count as a gift, right? It's really just a little wardrobe maintenance, right?!:rotfl:

(Hope - this was at 'Old Navy' if you have one of those near you...)

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=45495&vid=1&pid=750898

[BWV Dreamin]

Hope - of course ALL of these flight schedules are subject to change drastically between now and next year BUT...just wanted to say that you can also look for a cheap flight on Air Tran or SW to say NYC (JFK) or Atlanta or Philly and then you CAN get direct flights between BCN and those cities if you'd rather transfer on American soil. From Atlanta you can go direct on Air France / Delta (codeshare). From Philly on Spanair which codeshares with US Airways and from JFK there are multiple choices - AA, Continental, Delta & United I think all offer non-stops. (Delta round trip is currently $1,004 thru JFK.) I will consider this option when it comes time to book which won't be before Sept. anyway.....

Please keep me in the loop before you book your airfare. That is a good idea about catching a short flight in the states than staying on the plain non stop. How far ahead do we need to book?

[BWV Dreamin]

Great, there is one 5 minutes from my house!!! Will check it out! I just bought a third matching 25 inch piece of luggagefor the trip, 65% off thru Kohl's. So I have a 19 inch carry on, big oversized tote bag, and now this 25 inch bag. Everything better fit!!

Ya'll will never guess what I found today! I went shopping to get some new shorts for DS (he recently had a growth spurt & got a lot taller...so some of his shorts from last year are too short on him & his gangly skinny knees are poking out the bottoms & he looks silly). ANYWAY, I found REVERSIBLE shorts for MEN!!!! The were cute (I thought). Solid on one side & plaid on the other. :confused3 They were on sale half off (only $15) so I got a pair for DH to see how he likes them. I got sort of a khaki color & the inside is khaki, white & orange plaid. They also had cheap lightweight polo shirts for $15 so I grabbed an orangey color one of those too to be sure he had something to match... But how perfect is that for packing on a trip like this one next year!?! Two shorts in one! I hope he likes them - they had them in a gray color with a blueish plaid inside too...I could go back for more!!:rotfl2: Our anniversary is this Sunday so I'll give them to him then. We had agreed not to exchange gifts - I just want to go OUT to eat rather than order take-out for once but this doesn't really count as a gift, right? It's really just a little wardrobe maintenance, right?!:rotfl:

(Hope - this was at 'Old Navy' if you have one of those near you...)

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=45495&vid=1&pid=750898

[Anal Annie]

Hey there peeps! :wave: What's goin' on?! Where are our UK peeps these days?!:confused3

So I start my PT Temporary job on Monday...:eek: Work! :scared1: I have become so lazy!! I am trying to get a lot done this weekend in preparation for going back to the real world next week. No days next week to throw in a load of laundry whenever I feel like it.:rolleyes1 I really hope that I DO end up getting a fair amount of hours to work though. I heard this morning that they received a 72% return on the census forms. So I hope that translates into 10 weeks of work for me to find my alloted 28%!!

After searching EVERYWHERE I have decided on the patio furniture that I want but have not made any purchases YET.:scared: I think it will have to be purchased in chunks - some here...some there. I found the best deal on a "Hanamint" fire pit at a patio store down in Rockville (Offenbachers) and have found the best price on the rest of the furniture at an online retailer out of of Arizona. I orig. wanted some all weather (faux) wicker but have since decided against getting cushions. So I now want this "Tropitone" sling set with recliners & ottomans etc. I have picked one fabric for those...then LATER, down the road I want to replace our outdoor table & chairs with the same style furniture but have picked a slightly diff. fabric for those chairs - just so everything isn't TOOOOO matchy matchy. But so I am hoping what I picked out doesn't get discontinued b4 I get around to buying all of it...my plan is to purchase this fire pit and seating group sometime over this summer and then hopefully get the dining set for next year.... Not the IDEAL way to do it but I want to make sure I have the $$ saved up before I spend it!! KWIM? :goodvibes

Well, off to do more :laundy: and some housework....

Ciao!!

[Kels Sem]

Hi all:wave2: I've been at work the last couple of days and also out in the evenings so I haven't been on line.
I've just been on facebook and today The Magic sets sail for it's first Med cruise of the season. They had the drill about an hour ago so I'm sure they have now left Barcelona. Someone is giving a sort of picture commentary on Facebook. it said that the terminal is pretty boring and nothing like Port Canaveral.

Good luck for starting your new job this week LeeAnn:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

I really like the idea of those reversible shorts my DH would probably love them. What did your DH think of them? I must look out for them when I'm in Florida. There is an Old Navy in the Premium Outlets I think.

I told you all before I had ordered the Passporter guide to Disney Cruiseline. Well Amazon have now cancelled my order as their supplier have been unable to supply the new book, so I'm very disappointed:sad2: I add been really looking forward to reading it. I might see if I can source it from somewhere else.

Nothing much else planned for the weekend.

Chat soon.
Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Hi all:wave2: I've been at work the last couple of days and also out in the evenings so I haven't been on line.
I've just been on facebook and today The Magic sets sail for it's first Med cruise of the season. They had the drill about an hour ago so I'm sure they have now left Barcelona. Someone is giving a sort of picture commentary on Facebook. it said that the terminal is pretty boring and nothing like Port Canaveral.

Good luck for starting your new job this week LeeAnn:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

I really like the idea of those reversible shorts my DH would probably love them. What did your DH think of them? I must look out for them when I'm in Florida. There is an Old Navy in the Premium Outlets I think.

I told you all before I had ordered the Passporter guide to Disney Cruiseline. Well Amazon have now cancelled my order as their supplier have been unable to supply the new book, so I'm very disappointed:sad2: I add been really looking forward to reading it. I might see if I can source it from somewhere else.

Nothing much else planned for the weekend.

Chat soon.
Kelly

Awww. I'm sorry about your Passporter...I know you were looking forward to getting it. I'll bet you could find it somewhere else. I can't imagine what it could tell you tho that you can't find out on the DIS?! We all already have the BEST cabins booked!! 3 of us are in SPH cabins & Justine is in a "secret verandah" room.

I will have to go check out the Magic's happenings on Facebook....

Hey ya'll! :idea: I've had an evil idea! :lmao: Just how much trouble :furious: would we all get into if we all bought our DH's those reversible shorts in the same exact patterns...then had them all wear them on embarkation day!? We could all meet up at the Sail Away Party & then all the DH's would all be in the same shorts! :rotfl2: My DH would be so floored!! :rotfl: The last time we sailed we did B2B's and we were sailing with a bunch of other families that I hooked up with on our meet thread. We "talked" for about 16 months - much like we are now...after awhile we all knew each other pretty good. Well, so someone made us T-shirts for Sail Away...I bought 1 for each of us...DH did NOT want to wear his (he is not a DIS'er) but so he stuffed it into his laptop bag that morning but didn't WEAR it. We get to the port and here is everyone (about 30 peeps) in their "DISFunctional Wonderpeeps" T-shirts and he felt silly NOT wearing his so I turn around to say something to him and he's hastily trying to pull it on right there in the middle of the terminal. It was pretty funny. I am not sure how the peep who made them did them but the design wasn't waterproof & it started melting & running once we boarded & got outside & everyone got all hot & sweaty!:rotfl2: So then we didn't all match so much 'cuz we all melted in different places! :rotfl:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d636b3127ccec4b721485d5800000040O08Qbs27Ju5cA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

Mental note...make sure if we decide to wear matching shirts that they're sweatproof!! :rotfl2:

[BWV Dreamin]

I think I have found the hotel I want to stay pre-cruise. It's "Hotel Continental Barcelona". It has a 24 hour FREE buffet that includes beer and wine!(I think.) it in Las Ramblas and close to lots of places. It has a great website. Very reasonable.

I'm up for t-shirts but the creative part of my brain never formed!!:lmao:

[MRAven]

Hi Annie, how's the census ? Are you doing this alone ? You should have a partner.

What's the poll on the number of US citizens ? Shall we say: 348,999,999 :grouphug:

[Kels Sem]

I'd be up for T-shirts as well but as for designing them I would be useless:rotfl2:
Hope - I will have a look at the hotel you picked out. In Barcelona it is difficult to get family rooms which sleep 4 people. Also at the moment I'm not sure how much time we're actually gonna spend in Barcelona so maybe an apartment would be better for us. I still have a few months to decide, well until the flights come out anyway.

Everytime I'm on here and the kids see a picture of the ship they say "I want to go on that boat" little do they know;)

Well with it being Sunday morning here I'm off to do some washing (laundery):laundy: and cleaning. It's not a very nice day here today so I don't mind so much.

Kelly

[BWV Dreamin]

Hi Annie, how's the census ? Are you doing this alone ? You should have a partner.

What's the poll on the number of US citizens ? Shall we say: 348,999,999 :grouphug:

Ha! There are many undocumented citizens, so who knows? I noticed from your signature you've done both of the 7 night Caribbean cruises. Which one did you like better?

[BWV Dreamin]

Hi Kelly, yes let me know what you think. It's only the hubby and I sailing, so we don't need an apartment. I need to read the reviews, but the food would help offset some expenses.

It's Sunday morning here so off to Church and then to the grocery store.

I'd be up for T-shirts as well but as for designing them I would be useless:rotfl2:
Hope - I will have a look at the hotel you picked out. In Barcelona it is difficult to get family rooms which sleep 4 people. Also at the moment I'm not sure how much time we're actually gonna spend in Barcelona so maybe an apartment would be better for us. I still have a few months to decide, well until the flights come out anyway.

Everytime I'm on here and the kids see a picture of the ship they say "I want to go on that boat" little do they know;)

Well with it being Sunday morning here I'm off to do some washing (laundery):laundy: and cleaning. It's not a very nice day here today so I don't mind so much.

Kelly

[Floridasunshine]

And a happy Sunday morning to all. I have not fallen off the face of the earth - at least not yet. I am trying to catch up on all of the postings. I did not get any census information either and I am a UK citizen in the US. Yes, I am legal and have a green card. I am also a full time student getting my MBA and finals for this semester are next week. - I signed up this week for the team in training to run a marathon to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There is a race at Disney in Oct. and we train for several months to get ready. I just wanted to make sure I am not the oldest grandma and the one in the rear that everyone looks back to ----:rotfl:still that is the picture I am envisioning. :cool2:I so need a vacation. I keep looking at the Florida resident discount rates and think I can squeeze another cruise in there somehow. :cheer2: So sorry to hear about all the challenges everyone has had with the traveling in Europe. I have never bought the insurance for a cruise and now starting to second quess this. :hippie: Hope everyone is doing well - will make more time to post moving forward. :goodvibes

[Anal Annie]

Oh I love to wake up to our little group chit chating so much!:love: Yay!:cool1: Glad to hear you're still around FLSunshine! Another UK peep deep down underneath! Wow! I feel so international somehow now! :rotfl: Good luck with all your marathon training and your finals next week!!pixiedust: Here's some pixie dust!! Use it wisely!

I really need to get back to working on the website sometime.... And I was thinking about working on a logo thingy for our siggies.... I haven't fiddled much with photoshop lately so I am a bit rusty...I will bone up sometime and see what I can come up with one of these days. Stay tuned!:rolleyes:

Soooo did anybody else see that thread where DCL just cancelled that 10-night cruise that was to be on 12/29/10?!:scared: They're now making it into 2 5-night cruises!! It was apparently not selling very well (it was VERY pricey) but there is at least one person who is totally pissed 'cuz they had already booked non-refundable airfare and they don't to do the B2B's, which having already DONE B2B's I can understand that. But holy crap...it makes me afraid to book our air TOO early as I know I would book non-refundable 'cuz it's always the cheapest! I of course have been watching fares for this summer so when our 331 days hit in Sept. I would be ready to recognize a good rate. But I may hold off on making any purchases until after the first of the year...I do not trust DCL at this point to not jerk us around again.:sad2: I mean, you would THINK the Meds would be different - I mean, there are repos involved...which I would think can't simply just be changed on a whim...but who knows.:confused3 It just makes me nervous that they would cancel a cruise 8 months out!!

[Anal Annie]

Everytime I'm on here and the kids see a picture of the ship they say "I want to go on that boat" little do they know;)


Oh what fun! I don't think you'd said that the cruise was a surprise for your kids!! That must be a hard secret to keep!! That's awesome!! :thumbsup2

[MRAven]

Ha! There are many undocumented citizens, so who knows? I noticed from your signature you've done both of the 7 night Caribbean cruises. Which one did you like better?

Hi, personally I liked best the Eastern based on places to visit. But there are also other factors that influenced me:

Eastern:

- Before Christmas,The Magic was decorated.
- Eastern Caribbean was our first DCL Cruise, so we where overwelmed
- DD was eight on the Eastern and she liked it very much
- Ports where very much nicer
- Didn't like to wake up at 4 am to do inmigration when arrived at St. Thomas this has to be done by everyone, including crew members.
- St. Thomas is defenetly one of the best caribbean islands tp visit.
- You get three days at sea, less ports
- Wanderfull time on Castaway Cay.
- Tears of joy on our eyes when we got off the ship. :sad:


Western:

- Before Christmas with the Magic decorated
- Second time around on the Magic, everything was so much familiar when moving around the ship. I really felt like "Welcome Back Home"
- The first night we had a thunder storm, so the ship was really rocking, made a lot of people sick.
- DD was 16 and she really had a great time. She came back to sleep every night around 3 am.
- We didn't spend too much time persuing Disney Characters to take our pictures.
- Defenetly much more relaxed on this cruise
- Two days at sea, you get one more port tham on the Eastern.
- It was raining while on Castaway Cay
- No tears this time around since I had booked Mediterranean Cruise :woohoo:


Hopefully this helps. :goodvibes

[BWV Dreamin]

Wow Leann! I can't believe DCL cancelled that cruise!! Well I think we will be okay because they have already changed our cruise. I am definitely waiting to book airfare untill after the new year. Is refundable airfare alot more money? In the grand scheme of things, it might not be. I'll have to get over to the cruiseline boards.:surfweb:

[Kels Sem]

Hi Kelly, yes let me know what you think. It's only the hubby and I sailing, so we don't need an apartment. I need to read the reviews, but the food would help offset some expenses.

It's Sunday morning here so off to Church and then to the grocery store.

Hi Hope,
I had a look at the hotel and it looks great. I read some reports on trip advisor and all the reviews I read were very positive:thumbsup2

Kelly

[Kels Sem]

Oh what fun! I don't think you'd said that the cruise was a surprise for your kids!! That must be a hard secret to keep!! That's awesome!! :thumbsup2

Well, I haven't told them yet! I don't think that I will be able to keep it a secret until we go. I think it would be great if I could though but I do like to see the kids getting excited before a trip:banana:

We will all just have to keep all fingers and toes crossed that Disney don't change this cruise. I agree with Hope I don't think they will as they have already done so. It must be awful for those people who had been looking forward to a 10 night cruise and then getting a B2B.

Nathan's school is closed today (hence me being on here so early in the morning) so we are off to a soft play area this morning and I'm meeting some friends there for coffee:)

[BWV Dreamin]

Well, I haven't told them yet! I don't think that I will be able to keep it a secret until we go. I think it would be great if I could though but I do like to see the kids getting excited before a trip:banana:

We will all just have to keep all fingers and toes crossed that Disney don't change this cruise. I agree with Hope I don't think they will as they have already done so. It must be awful for those people who had been looking forward to a 10 night cruise and then getting a B2B.

Nathan's school is closed today (hence me being on here so early in the morning) so we are off to a soft play area this morning and I'm meeting some friends there for coffee:)

I miss those "coffee" meets with other moms!:hippie: I hope to find good coffee on our Med cruise. I can't find that thread about the cancelled cruise. Would DCL help compensate for that cruisers lost airfare?

[Anal Annie]

Wow Leann! I can't believe DCL cancelled that cruise!! Well I think we will be okay because they have already changed our cruise. I am definitely waiting to book airfare untill after the new year. Is refundable airfare alot more money? In the grand scheme of things, it might not be. I'll have to get over to the cruiseline boards.:surfweb:

Yes, refundable air is a lot more expensive - because it's more flexible. I certainly HOPE they're done messing with the Meds!! As anxious as I am to book I also know that booking TOOO far out is just asking for schedule & itinerary changes. I booked air to Hawaii really far out once (used Delta Skymiles) and then they kept futzing with the flights. I expect that with our little flights to FL that we book on Air Tran but for something like THIS...ummm...no thanks! I want to keep what I book. HOWEVER, if I would see a fantastic unbeatable price I would book it to snag the price. At this point it's looking like $900-950 would be an unbeatable price. We shall see. I just hope the airlines don't impose any more fuel surcharges or anything.

Well, I have had 3 days of Census training now. They told us 9-5:00 but I've only gotten 20 hours so far in 3 days. It's been a real mix of BORING (safety, EEO, employee handbook stuff) and interesting (procedures on actually completing the forms). There's a LOT of stuff to read & go thru (you know the government) & some of it is a little complicated. They want everything done X, Y, Z. No deviation from the script.:scared: Tomorrow we're supposed to get sort of a test case to go out & work on and then get our assignment binders. The first few cases will be laborous I'm sure until I get the hang of it. We are allowed up to 6 attempts to contact someone (3 in person & 3 by phone). They don't provide us with phone numbers tho so I'll have to look online or something... I am worried about running into big nasty dogs!! I am not a dog person and big loud barking ones scare me. :scared1:

I am ready for this weather to improve again! SPRING!! HA! I was back to wearing fleece these past couple of days...but I hear it is supposed to get up into the 80's this weekend!!:banana: Yipee!! That's what I'm talking about!!

OH!! Verdict on the reversible shorts!:rotfl: I GAVE them to DH with the plaid side out. I said LOOK! They're reversible!! He PROMPTLY turned them plain side out! :rotfl2: He is not so fashion aware & I think HE thinks the plaid is for younger guys! :rotfl: I will probably not buy any more of them with HIS attitude but I thought they were neat!!:rolleyes: So buy at your own risk...you'll have to assess your own DH's fashion sense!!:goodvibes

[Anal Annie]

:sail: Hey guys! Happy Friday! Just a quick bump back up to page 1!

Well, my census training is still ongoing sort of....they didn't get our assignment binders completed until late last night so yesterday we had a short session which concluded with a test and now we have a meeting this afternoon to pick up our assignments. Then I guess we get turned loose to start knocking on doors this weekend.:scared:

DH is going away for the weekend with a whole bunch of his buddies (10 or 12 I think). A friend of ours bought a house on the Chesapeake Bay and they're going to play golf, swim & possibly jet ski. IMHO it's supposed to be nice & hot this weekend but I would think the bay water would still be too cold for jet skis...but I suppose if they consume enough beer they won't mind.:rotfl: I have to run errands this morning, hit the grocery store and get ready for my meeting this afternoon...so I guess I shouldn't tary too long here right now! TTYL

[Anal Annie]

Hey peeps!! What's shakin'?

I got started on my door-to-door census gig yesterday. My initial binder had 33 addresses to work. It is very time consuming. I attempted 19 addesses over the course of 3 1/2 hrs. yesterday (only got lost once & that was 'cuz the maps show the road as completed but it's NOT yet). Out of the 19 homes I only got 3 questionnaires completed - most people were not home. I spent about an hour last night online searching thru property tax records trying to find names to look up phone numbers. I found 8 out of my remaining 16 and will try calling them this evening. I piddled on & off with the stuff just about all day yesterday - enough time that I got nothing done around the house. (45 min. in the morning getting organized, 3.5 hrs. hitting the pavement, another hour after lunch RE-organizing & sorting thru what I did in the field, 1.5 hrs for a meeting with my group then an hour online...) I am not doing anything today until this evening. I am going to try calling the phone numbers I found last night... Then I will go out again tomorrow to hit the remaining 14 that I have that I didn't try yet. I encountered 1 dog that I would call viscious.:scared: The people weren't home but he was growling & snarling thru the door and when I pushed my "notice of visit" thru the crack (up above my head even) he jumped up & snatched it!! That would be a BIG doggie not a little fluffy thing!! I made a note on which one it was so I will remember which house for when I go back!!

So I had ordered a Pac Safe Anti Theft handbag and wasn't sure if I liked it or not so then I ordered a Travelon Anti Theft bag which came on Friday. I think I like it better and am going to return the Pac Safe one. I am sooo picky about my handbags and how they are made (pockets & divisions etc.). I know the point of this is for safety but I still want it to "feel" right. I wish it was just a smidge bigger but oh well. It has 2 expanding pockets on either end that unzip and will hold like water bottles or a sm. umbrella or my sunglass case or small stuff that I want to keep handy so this is the one I am going to keep: http://travelonbags.com/pages/XXXXX/2200/2242.html (And yes, I know we still have over a year to go and I could've waited BUT I couldn't because I am an anal shopaholic!!:rotfl:)

[BWV Dreamin]

Be careful Leann! It sounds like alot of unknown's. Are you going into pretty nice neighborhoods? Hopefully we should start to read some TR from past Med cruisers. There is an ongoing TR on the DIS, but I've not kept up on it. How are our european cruisers doing? Here in the US, we've a big of a disaster happen as a huge oil leak is threatening our southern coastlines, we had a bomb scare in NYC and another in Pittsburgh!! Too much happening over the weekend! :upsidedow

Hey peeps!! What's shakin'?

I got started on my door-to-door census gig yesterday. My initial binder had 33 addresses to work. It is very time consuming. I attempted 19 addesses over the course of 3 1/2 hrs. yesterday (only got lost once & that was 'cuz the maps show the road as completed but it's NOT yet). Out of the 19 homes I only got 3 questionnaires completed - most people were not home. I spent about an hour last night online searching thru property tax records trying to find names to look up phone numbers. I found 8 out of my remaining 16 and will try calling them this evening. I piddled on & off with the stuff just about all day yesterday - enough time that I got nothing done around the house. (45 min. in the morning getting organized, 3.5 hrs. hitting the pavement, another hour after lunch RE-organizing & sorting thru what I did in the field, 1.5 hrs for a meeting with my group then an hour online...) I am not doing anything today until this evening. I am going to try calling the phone numbers I found last night... Then I will go out again tomorrow to hit the remaining 14 that I have that I didn't try yet. I encountered 1 dog that I would call viscious.:scared: The people weren't home but he was growling & snarling thru the door and when I pushed my "notice of visit" thru the crack (up above my head even) he jumped up & snatched it!! That would be a BIG doggie not a little fluffy thing!! I made a note on which one it was so I will remember which house for when I go back!!

So I had ordered a Pac Safe Anti Theft handbag and wasn't sure if I liked it or not so then I ordered a Travelon Anti Theft bag which came on Friday. I think I like it better and am going to return the Pac Safe one. I am sooo picky about my handbags and how they are made (pockets & divisions etc.). I know the point of this is for safety but I still want it to "feel" right. I wish it was just a smidge bigger but oh well. It has 2 expanding pockets on either end that unzip and will hold like water bottles or a sm. umbrella or my sunglass case or small stuff that I want to keep handy so this is the one I am going to keep: http://travelonbags.com/pages/XXXXX/2200/2242.html (And yes, I know we still have over a year to go and I could've waited BUT I couldn't because I am an anal shopaholic!!:rotfl:)

[Kels Sem]

Be careful Leann! It sounds like alot of unknown's. Are you going into pretty nice neighborhoods? Hopefully we should start to read some TR from past Med cruisers. There is an ongoing TR on the DIS, but I've not kept up on it. How are our european cruisers doing? Here in the US, we've a big of a disaster happen as a huge oil leak is threatening our southern coastlines, we had a bomb scare in NYC and another in Pittsburgh!! Too much happening over the weekend! :upsidedow

Yeah, you guys are having a pretty rough time this weekend. When I got up this morning the Irish airspace was closed again due to the volcanic ash! I really thought we were over this and I hope it's not for long this time and the volcano stops erupting. I don't want anything to spoil my trip to Florida next month.

I'm sure the TR will start coming through soon as the cruise ends tomorrow. I have read a few pre-trip reports and I'm looking forward to the rest especially from those who are travelling with kids.

[Anal Annie]

Morning peeps! :chat:

Kelly - got my fingers crossed for you that the volcano settles down for the next hundred years or so!! Guess you're counting down to your trip now! (I would be anyway!)

Crossing my fingers they can contain this oil spill before it hits the FL coast & rolls up the entire eastern seaboard!! They're saying it's POSSIBLE it could go as far as the North Carolina shore if they don't get it stopped!!:eek: What a catastrophe that would be!!

I have been trying to keep busy with working on the census but I need more assignments to keep REALLY busy. I am trying to talk my group leader into giving me more. As it is now I've completed enough of my original addresses that I only have about 3-4 hrs of work left per day. I would like to work at least 6 hours per day!! Cross your fingers that I can get some more assignments!

Meanwhile, I still need to spend some time working outside here at home but I am also going out working in the evenings on the census so it makes it hard to get stuff done outside & not get all hot, sweaty & dirty before time to go out & knock on doors. Kinda makes it hard to budget my time with these weird hours. My pond is a mess, my flower beds are a mess... I bought a couple of tomato plants yesterday & have no idea when & where I am going to plant them!!:sad2: But I LOVE :love: tomato sandwiches in the summer (BLT's)!! Yummmmm!!

I think we are due to collect more peeps for our cruise...:sail:

[Kels Sem]

Morning everyone!

Yes LeeAnn,, I am on the count down now to our trip. 7 weeks today:dance3: I'm soo excited:banana: I have all the planning done so not much to do and it's way to early for me to start packing although I have started to shop for new summer clothes!
The weather over here has been nice but it's still pretty cold. Too cold for summer clothes anyway except if you're my DD who has been wearing her summer dresses.:eek:

A friend of mine was due to sail on The Magic on wednesday and didn't get away because of the volcanic ash cloud:eek: Flights in N Ireland were grounded on Tuesday & Wednesday morning. They were due to fly to Barcelona on the day of the cruise:scared1: Whoever recommended that should be shot! If that had happened to me I would be soo gutted. It just goes to show that you really should travel the day before if flying.

It's DH birthday tomorrow so we're off to MIL's for dinner.

DD goes to her dance class this morning and then DS has a birthday party to go to later today so a busy weekend!

Enjoy your weekend everyone
Kelly:)

[BWV Dreamin]

Good morning all! I have a friend on another board who just came back from the 11 night Med Cruise. If you want to follow that trip report email me at hheppding@comcast.net. I'm not allowed to post the link on this board!

Apparently pick pocketing is rampant in Barcelona. They have tricks they use to do it. My friend had an empty camera case stolen.

My dog was sick last week after getting her annual shots! Had to go on an antibiotic. This is the last time I'm giving her these shots other than rabies. They say older dogs have a harder time with them.

How is work LeAnn? You haven't come to my door yet!:laughing:

Today is my 29 th anniversary! Getting hair and nails done and crabs for dinner! Next year my big present is the Med Cruise for our 30th!!

[Anal Annie]

Good morning all! I have a friend on another board who just came back from the 11 night Med Cruise. If you want to follow that trip report email me at hheppding@comcast.net. I'm not allowed to post the link on this board!

Apparently pick pocketing is rampant in Barcelona. They have tricks they use to do it. My friend had an empty camera case stolen.

My dog was sick last week after getting her annual shots! Had to go on an antibiotic. This is the last time I'm giving her these shots other than rabies. They say older dogs have a harder time with them.

How is work LeAnn? You haven't come to my door yet!:laughing:

Today is my 29 th anniversary! Getting hair and nails done and crabs for dinner! Next year my big present is the Med Cruise for our 30th!!

:sad2: Nails done THEN crabs?! THAT my friend is backwards!!! I always need my nails done AFTER!!! We LOVE crabs!! Our place where we always used to go is closed now. Gotta find a new place. I have a friend that goes somewhere in Frederick (not the Cracked Claw in Urbana, someplace else). I suppose we may have to go up that way.

Sorry about your doggie...our kitten, Cricket has been in / out of the vet this week. They did a sonogram but didn't find anything. Doing another bloodtest tomorrow. Trying to avoid having to do a biopsy!! ($$$ 1,500 $$$):eek:

The census work is OK - working lots of odd hours...most all day on Sat. and most evenings. Kinda getting me all disorganized with my time!! Not liking THAT. Don't have my first paycheck yet...looking forward to THAT tho!!!:goodvibes

DH wore his new reversible shorts over the weekend when we went out for Mother's Day...he turned them back to the plaid side for me!!:rotfl: I thought he looked good.:rolleyes:

[Anal Annie]

:wave2: Hey peeps!! I am POOPED for some reason today! Gotta hit the hay in a few minutes...just wanted to give ya'll a shout out & give us a bump back up to page 1!! Got my first paycheck (stub) today!:banana: Very exciting for a change!! I have been trying to work at this almost full-time while it is available - but it's really whacky hours - it's keeping me very disorganized. :headache: My latest binder of assignments is in a very rural area so it's very time consuming & I've found a few creepy run-down places that I do not look forward to visiting over & over!! But I will take the work while it is available. The Census Bureau is not taking NO for an answer!! If I submit something without a proxy they send it back out to be worked some more.:rolleyes1

OK, it's bedtime...I am falling asleep and 6:00 am will be here before I know it! Nite all!!

[BWV Dreamin]

Hope you are staying safe!! I've been hearing some bad stories concerning the census workers! My friend's trip report has been very informative. I think I will only book Rome as a full day excursion. The other ports I'm going to book 1/2 day excursions so I have some time to rest! I also got some good ideas concerning Barcelona. Staying at the Hotel Continental in Barcelona (in Las Ramblas) I can do the hop on hop off bus and see most everything. I think I am going to pass on Mesterratt (I know, bad spelling). I think it will be too high up for me! I did see airfare out of Philadelphia that is non-stop to Barcelona. If I hop from BWI to PHI to BCN I can get pretty good airfare. Its US Air though, and I hate that airline!!! We'll see!:hippie:

:wave2: Hey peeps!! I am POOPED for some reason today! Gotta hit the hay in a few minutes...just wanted to give ya'll a shout out & give us a bump back up to page 1!! Got my first paycheck (stub) today!:banana: Very exciting for a change!! I have been trying to work at this almost full-time while it is available - but it's really whacky hours - it's keeping me very disorganized. :headache: My latest binder of assignments is in a very rural area so it's very time consuming & I've found a few creepy run-down places that I do not look forward to visiting over & over!! But I will take the work while it is available. The Census Bureau is not taking NO for an answer!! If I submit something without a proxy they send it back out to be worked some more.:rolleyes1

OK, it's bedtime...I am falling asleep and 6:00 am will be here before I know it! Nite all!!

[BWV Dreamin]

Bumping this thread up! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Question... since we only have one sea day, is anyone doing Palo? I've never ate there but don't want to miss the formal night. If there is a semi-formal night, I might try and book Palo on that night. Thoughts?

[Anal Annie]

Hey peeps! :)

Hope - dunno yet about Palo....will decide next year once we can hopefully get more info about what nite will be what on our cruise. We have done Palo for dinner but not for brunch so I might try for the brunch which is usually on a sea day.

Kelly - been thinking about your DH and his commuting with this crazy volcano still acting up - hope he doesn't get stranded somewhere again!!

Nice weekend here but gonna be a rainy week - trying to work for the census AND get some stuff done around the house... Census taking IS NO FUN IN THE RAIN! But I wanna work all I can from today thru Friday - DS turns 13 this week so we're going to Williamsburg next weekend for an overnight trip on Sat. to Busch Gardens Theme Park. He has a required band concert on Fri. night so we can't go earlier. I think it is about a 3 hour drive from here so I figure we can get up REALLY EARLY on Sat. & drive down (it opens at 10:00). Then I booked us a $110 room at a Hampton Inn for Sat. night so we don't have to drive home late. Tell ya what, when I price park tix for one day at this place it makes Disney seem like a real bargain. They're almost as much... but they have a lot of roller coasters so I think DS will like it. He has never been there so hopefully it will be a good surprise for him.

OK, off to shower & "work". Have a good day!!:dance3:

[Kels Sem]

Afternoon everyone!

Hope, I don't think we will being going to Palo. I mentioned it to DH and he doesn't seem that keen as he would rather eat with the kids. I would also be a bit sunk if I had it booked and then DS & DD decided they didn't want to go to the kids clubs. I think they will love the clubs but there is always that chance that they decide it's not too their liking.

DH is currently at home and the airspace in the UK is currently closed in parts so it's not looking likely that he will get away in the morning. My mum is currently in England and it looks like she won't get home tonight. Bloody volcano. I really feel for those who aren't getting away. I am really excited about our upcoming trip but I'm trying to calm myself down in case we don't get away even though it's still 6 weeks away.:scared1:

I was at an eighties blue lamp disco last night and it was great fun:) Anyone else remember these discos? Did you have them in the states?

It's been a fairly crap day here weatherwise so I have just been catching up on some housework today.

Chat soon.
Kelly

[Kels Sem]

Hey peeps! :)

Hope - dunno yet about Palo....will decide next year once we can hopefully get more info about what nite will be what on our cruise. We have done Palo for dinner but not for brunch so I might try for the brunch which is usually on a sea day.

Kelly - been thinking about your DH and his commuting with this crazy volcano still acting up - hope he doesn't get stranded somewhere again!!

Nice weekend here but gonna be a rainy week - trying to work for the census AND get some stuff done around the house... Census taking IS NO FUN IN THE RAIN! But I wanna work all I can from today thru Friday - DS turns 13 this week so we're going to Williamsburg next weekend for an overnight trip on Sat. to Busch Gardens Theme Park. He has a required band concert on Fri. night so we can't go earlier. I think it is about a 3 hour drive from here so I figure we can get up REALLY EARLY on Sat. & drive down (it opens at 10:00). Then I booked us a $110 room at a Hampton Inn for Sat. night so we don't have to drive home late. Tell ya what, when I price park tix for one day at this place it makes Disney seem like a real bargain. They're almost as much... but they have a lot of roller coasters so I think DS will like it. He has never been there so hopefully it will be a good surprise for him.

OK, off to shower & "work". Have a good day!!:dance3:

Hey, I forgot to say, I hope you have a great trip[ to Busch Gardens and Happy Birthday to DS! You will have to let us know what you think of Busch Gardens. I was there when I was 17 and I don't really remember much about it.:rotfl2:

kelly

[Anal Annie]

Hi peeps! Sun is finally coming out today! Just getting past 3 days of cooler temps & rainy, drizzly, yucky days. Hoping for a nice warm day down in Virginia for this weekend. I think there is a high chance of storms in the afternoon. I haven't been to Busch Gardens since sometime in like the mid-1980's probably so it this shall be all new for us too. I need to figure out what to wear / pack for an overnighter without putting too much thought into it.:rolleyes1 I am wondering if we can leave the park and re-enter.:confused3 I am thinking that it might cool off in the evening and we'll want jackets or sweatshirts for the evening...there's probably lockers though that we could rent, right? They are not open during the week right now for me to call them... Maybe I could try their reservations line though to get some more info.

Well, I need to go get some census work done since I won't be able to work on Sat. Need more hours!! I took my truck in for an oil change yesterday and they gave me a WHOLE LIST of things that I need to get done, including front & rear brakes & like ALL of my fluids. It would cost a real wad of cash to get everything done so I'd best get cracking.

Hope everyone's having a good week!!!:goodvibes

[BWV Dreamin]

Hello all!! Okay, I think we are going to stay at Hotel Continental in Barcelona pre-cruise, and stay at one of the airport hotels one day post cruise, unless I happen to get a late flight out on that Saturday. I've been checking airfare....Annie...I can get a connecting flight from BWI to Philly to Barcelona for about $450/round trip per person. That was basing it on this August 2010 rates. That would be flying US Air. So I'm going to keep my eyes out for that type of itinerary after Jan 1.

I have decided to scrap "Montserrat" due to time constraints. The hop on/hop off bus in Las Ramblas looks to be a good deal. I'm also going to try and only do a couple of all day excursions (Rome and I don't know where else yet), so we can get some rest, and make a Palo ressie.

Annie, will be picking your brain about HHI. Have a good day groupies!:hippie:

[Anal Annie]

Hi folks! We're BAAACCK from our little overnighter to Busch Gardens / Williamsburg. Had a good day weather-wise on Saturday. Rode all the coasters 2x 'cept one. There were a LOT of groups (bands) so the park was fairly crowded but I don't think we waited more than 30-40 minutes for anything. We got SOAKING WET on some river rapids ride thing - I never did dry out. I was wearing jean shorts & they were just sopping wet. I kept wringing the hem out. By 10:00 that night they were still damp but my underwear were still really wet. It was NICE but not HOT so the drying out just didn't happen! I know, TMI.:rotfl: But I was sooooo ready for dry clothes by the time we got to our hotel!! We didn't get ANY pictures at the park!! :headache: We got a locker & put our jackets in it on our way in and we went straight to the Loch Ness Monster coaster to ride and they wouldn't let us on with our string backpack!! NO BAGS or loose articles of any sort were allowed on any of the coasters & they didn't offer any place to leave them except lockers!! Well, we weren't going to rent a new locker EACH TIME we rode something so we just went back to the front of the park & locked up the whole bag. My camera didn't fit in my pocket (plus we didn't want it to get wet) so we just left the bag & camera locked up all day. We were bummed not to get any pics but it was too far to go back to the locker over & over. On Sunday we slept in (well, if you call 8:15 sleeping in), showered & got breakfast before checking out. I guess we left around 10:30 and went to Jamestown (the first settlement in the US). We were there a long time looking at artifacts & going thru the museum and looking at the replica ships that they had come over on etc... Then we went to Yorktown which is where the last battle of the Revolutionary War was. Ended up not leaving to head home until well after 5:00. It was almost 9:00 when we got in.

WOW Hope! What site are you using to get those prices on US Air? That is about the cheapest I have seen for ONE-WAY fares!! I still see round-trips for more like $950-$1,100 for our itinerary. I hope that price holds out for ya but you've got a long time to go yet before you can book!!

I WAS thinking we'd leave on Monday for Paris but now I am fairly certain that we will leave for Paris on the Sunday night before our cruise starts...spend Mon afternoon & all day Tues-Thurs in Paris then fly to Barcelona on Friday. That gives us 2 days for DLP and 2 for the city and then gets us to Barcelona the day before the cruise. Will likely stay at that Marriott at the airport in Barcelona for that one night. They have a pool and a shuttle into the city as well as offer transfers to the port. That will make Saturday a lot easier to figure out. This way we can just veg at the hotel pool or we can go into the city for a bit to explore. I think the flight from Paris to Barcelona (on Air France anyway) is fairly early in the day so we'd have a fair amount of time if we're staying close to the airport. And I like that they have the shuttle to the port too. AFTER the cruise we will either stay 2 or 3 nights in Barcelona. Not sure just yet about that... We could possibly do Monsterrat on our return day from the cruise as I think that's about a half day thing. If we have that 1 day in Barcelona pre-cruise then we might only stay 2 nights after...

Hope - we have never been to HHI but chose it for this summer to save some money! We'll drive not fly, have our own transportation & beach stuff...No new park tix to buy....trying to save up for the Med next summer ya know!!

How are our UK peeps these days??

[BWV Dreamin]

Oooopsss.....my bad. That airfare was for one-way!:rotfl:But still the cheapest I've found. What's the name of that Marriott hotel at the airport? I have not seen any when on hotels.com.:hippie:

Hi folks! We're BAAACCK from our little overnighter to Busch Gardens / Williamsburg. Had a good day weather-wise on Saturday. Rode all the coasters 2x 'cept one. There were a LOT of groups (bands) so the park was fairly crowded but I don't think we waited more than 30-40 minutes for anything. We got SOAKING WET on some river rapids ride thing - I never did dry out. I was wearing jean shorts & they were just sopping wet. I kept wringing the hem out. By 10:00 that night they were still damp but my underwear were still really wet. It was NICE but not HOT so the drying out just didn't happen! I know, TMI.:rotfl: But I was sooooo ready for dry clothes by the time we got to our hotel!! We didn't get ANY pictures at the park!! :headache: We got a locker & put our jackets in it on our way in and we went straight to the Loch Ness Monster coaster to ride and they wouldn't let us on with our string backpack!! NO BAGS or loose articles of any sort were allowed on any of the coasters & they didn't offer any place to leave them except lockers!! Well, we weren't going to rent a new locker EACH TIME we rode something so we just went back to the front of the park & locked up the whole bag. My camera didn't fit in my pocket (plus we didn't want it to get wet) so we just left the bag & camera locked up all day. We were bummed not to get any pics but it was too far to go back to the locker over & over. On Sunday we slept in (well, if you call 8:15 sleeping in), showered & got breakfast before checking out. I guess we left around 10:30 and went to Jamestown (the first settlement in the US). We were there a long time looking at artifacts & going thru the museum and looking at the replica ships that they had come over on etc... Then we went to Yorktown which is where the last battle of the Revolutionary War was. Ended up not leaving to head home until well after 5:00. It was almost 9:00 when we got in.

WOW Hope! What site are you using to get those prices on US Air? That is about the cheapest I have seen for ONE-WAY fares!! I still see round-trips for more like $950-$1,100 for our itinerary. I hope that price holds out for ya but you've got a long time to go yet before you can book!!

I WAS thinking we'd leave on Monday for Paris but now I am fairly certain that we will leave for Paris on the Sunday night before our cruise starts...spend Mon afternoon & all day Tues-Thurs in Paris then fly to Barcelona on Friday. That gives us 2 days for DLP and 2 for the city and then gets us to Barcelona the day before the cruise. Will likely stay at that Marriott at the airport in Barcelona for that one night. They have a pool and a shuttle into the city as well as offer transfers to the port. That will make Saturday a lot easier to figure out. This way we can just veg at the hotel pool or we can go into the city for a bit to explore. I think the flight from Paris to Barcelona (on Air France anyway) is fairly early in the day so we'd have a fair amount of time if we're staying close to the airport. And I like that they have the shuttle to the port too. AFTER the cruise we will either stay 2 or 3 nights in Barcelona. Not sure just yet about that... We could possibly do Monsterrat on our return day from the cruise as I think that's about a half day thing. If we have that 1 day in Barcelona pre-cruise then we might only stay 2 nights after...

Hope - we have never been to HHI but chose it for this summer to save some money! We'll drive not fly, have our own transportation & beach stuff...No new park tix to buy....trying to save up for the Med next summer ya know!!

How are our UK peeps these days??

[Anal Annie]

Hey peeps! :surfweb: Looks like I've really been slacking - we were all the way back on page 3!! :sad2:

Well, it appears that my little Census gig is about to be over soon.:sad1: I got my last binder full of assignments yesterday...so depending on how quick I get thru it only about another week or 10 days worth of work. :sad: I'd really hoped it would last thru June. This will JUST BE BARELY ENOUGH work to cover the new tires DH and I both need and the repairs / maintenance I need on my SUV (60,000 mile maint. + new brakes). I'd really REALLY wanted to make enough for that new patio furniture too...but I guess it is not to be for this year. UNLESS I can get on for the next phase. Supposedly my Crew Leader is making recommendations to the local office for people to train & keep for the next phase...I have my fingers crossed. I think that phase starts in July but I have no idea when I'll hear anything about it (or not).:confused3 IF I can get on for another 4-6 weeks of work that would ALMOST cover 1/2 of the stuff I was hoping to buy...so we'll see. Cross your fingers I can get more work later this summer!!

DS's summer swim team starts next week so we'll be getting back to evening practices every evening until school is out (which is June 16 I think). THEN he goes to am practices every morning thru the end of July (7:30-9:00 am!!):eek: Yesterday & today are nice & hot here which is good for the pool water...hoping for lots & lots & LOTS of sun for it. The past 2 years we had cool, rainy weeks the week before it started & the water never had a chance to warm up AT ALL. I am hoping the forecast holds thru next week for warm, sunny weather!! Poor scrawny kid FREEZES in the mornings!! He really does turn blue and he gets cold to the bone!! I DO feel bad for him but I pretend not to and tell him to "man up"!! Some Mom I am 'eh?!:rotfl:

Well, off to get some stuff done! Hope everyone is having a good week!!:hippie:

[BWV Dreamin]

Where are all of our European friends? Annie it looks like I'll have to keep the thread going! Ok, question which I'm going to post. Can we use Disney Reward points towards excursions? I will have enough I think to pay for at least one for both DH and I. Have my wedding dress all picked out for my sons wedding so I'm hoping we have a formal night!! Going back and forth between Palo brunch and Palo dinner. Ok well talk to you all soon!:)

[MRAven]

Hi A_Annie and shipmates, just stopping by to say Hi. Hopefully all of your cruise planning is going shall we say, Ship Shape ! :wave2:

[Kels Sem]

Morning all,, I'm still here, I've just been busy lately. Justine is off to Majorca on her holiday so we won't hear from her for a while.

Leeann- Glad to hear that you had a good time at busch gardens and I hope that you get some more part-time work.

I have been reading the Med trip reports and it has been making me very excited! I have started to make some notes for our cruise. Maybe I should start a scrap book or something as I think I will gather quite a bit of info over the next year. Barcelona, Naples and Palma have Hop on Hop off citysightseeing bus tours which are a great way of seeing the highlights of cities. I have done a few of these in the UK so I think I may have a look into these and tickets can be booked online.
www.city-sightseeing.com This company cover these 3 cities but I'm sure there are others.

Well i was hoping to go out for a run this morning but it is cold and raining.

Have a great weekend everyone.

[MRAven]

Morning all,, I'm still here, I've just been busy lately. Justine is off to Majorca on her holiday so we won't hear from her for a while.

Leeann- Glad to hear that you had a good time at busch gardens and I hope that you get some more part-time work.

I have been reading the Med trip reports and it has been making me very excited! I have started to make some notes for our cruise. Maybe I should start a scrap book or something as I think I will gather quite a bit of info over the next year. Barcelona, Naples and Palma have Hop on Hop off citysightseeing bus tours which are a great way of seeing the highlights of cities. I have done a few of these in the UK so I think I may have a look into these and tickets can be booked online.
www.city-sightseeing.com This company cover these 3 cities but I'm sure there are others.

Well i was hoping to go out for a run this morning but it is cold and raining.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thanks for this info, defenatly taking them at least in Barcelona. I once took one of this buses in London and are really great.

[Anal Annie]

:beach: Hey everybody! Well that Miss Justine is just going to have to answer to all of us when she gets back for not saying Ciao or Toodles or CYA before she left!! :rotfl: She is going to have to give us the low-down on Majorca!! I am thinking that will be a beachy kind of day for us (unless she tells us about something REALLY INTERESTING that is a NOT TO BE MISSED kind of thing)!!!

Hi Mr. A! Sorry I haven't been over to your thread to say hi lately...I've just been out of whack with these crazy hours I've been working. Have you recruited any more peeps for your cruise lately?!

Kelly - I am sorry you live in such doom & gloom!! That would make me MAD I think!!:crazy2: It is a National holiday here this weekend (Memorial Day) and our swimming pools open for the summer. I suppose they've been open all along down south but up here in the Mid-Atlantic region the public pools are only open from Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend (the first weekend in September). It is about 80 F here today which is quite pleasant. Supposed to be in the upper 80's tomorrow and lower 90's on Monday!! THIS IS A GOOD THING for DS's pool where he swims for the summer team!! The past couple of years the week before swim season we had terribly cool, rainy & cloudy weather the week before opening and the water was FREEZING. I believe this warm, sunny weather will make a great impact on the water and by the time his actual practices start up on Wednesday evening the water should've lost a good bit of it's newly filled chill. I am sure it will still be cool...but not NEARLY as bad as in the past.

I goofed off all morning on Facebook then worked for 2 or 3 hours...I don't have enough work left to keep me very busy. I am down to bare bones on hours now. Only a handful of address to complete. Depressing. I think I shall go outside & putz around for a bit and PRETEND I have new patio furniture to sit on!!:rotfl: I purchased a small fortune worth of flowers a couple of weeks ago that I have yet to get planted / potted so I think that would be a good project to go start!:rolleyes: Maybe that will perk up my patio a bit. I also need to get in my pond to do some cleaning - the string algae is HORRIBLE this year!! I've never had sooo much of it. Dunno why... I need new fish too. Maybe tomorrow I'll see about re-stocking it.

Talk to ya soon!!

[Anal Annie]

WHEW!! It is a HOT & HUMID one out there today!! My outside thermometer reads 89 F in the shade and it's only 11:30 am! I got my pond cleaned out a bit yesterday and got MOST of flowers planted / potted but am still out there trying to GET DONE!!:goodvibes (I plant a LOT of stuff!:rotfl:) But OMG. :scared: I was out there for about 30 min. & had to come in to cool off. I am sweatin' bullets! I hate it when the sweat drips off my forehead into my eyes!! It is that kind of hot out there at the moment... So just popping in to give us a bump on my break!!

[Kels Sem]

WHEW!! It is a HOT & HUMID one out there today!! My outside thermometer reads 89 F in the shade and it's only 11:30 am! I got my pond cleaned out a bit yesterday and got MOST of flowers planted / potted but am still out there trying to GET DONE!!:goodvibes (I plant a LOT of stuff!:rotfl:) But OMG. :scared: I was out there for about 30 min. & had to come in to cool off. I am sweatin' bullets! I hate it when the sweat drips off my forehead into my eyes!! It is that kind of hot out there at the moment... So just popping in to give us a bump on my break!!

Wow, that's hot. We could only dream about temperatures like that in NI. It is very rarely it would ever get that hot here. It has been a lovely sunny day today with a max temp of 14 C. That's probably freezing to you but quite pleasant for here.

Chat soon

[BWV Dreamin]

Hey Annie....I just saw the SNL show with Betty White and rolled over laughing thinking of you!! They had a skit on there with a census worker trying to get Betty White (the one who didn't fill it out) to answer the questions so the worker could fill it out!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Hysterical!!!

Anyhoo...reading that table mates thread, OMG!!!! We are a party of two adults who like to keep food in their mouths when they eat!! Is there any room at anyone's table for us folks who eat with table manners!!!:rotfl2:

[Anal Annie]

Hope - I heard that SNL skit was really funny - I'll have to go online & look for it or something!!

SOOO I saw on the news about that taxi driver guy in the UK who went ballistic and shot all those people!:eek: That town that this happened in, Cumbria, is where my ancestors are from. Never thought I'd hear something like that on the news and kinda sorta know where it is. Sorta.:confused3 Kinda. It sounded like a terrible masacre.

So DS's summer swim team started. Now I will feel like I live at the pool with practice every evening from 7-8:30 until school lets out on the 16th then every morning after that. The water has warmed up nicely now though so at least he wasn't freezing cold. I was sooo glad to see that.:yay: Am watching the radar for storms now though - hoping practice doesn't get cancelled.

Kelly - you don't have a countdown ticker & I keep forgetting your trip date - so how many more days until your fab trip to FL? Have you started packing yet? Will you go online & check in with us while you're gone?!

[Kels Sem]

Hey, We head to FL on 26th so 3 weeks today!!:yay::yay: I haven't starting packing yet but I'm going to look at buying some new suitcases today:) It won't be long coming in. I'm not sure if I will be able to check in while I'm away as I won't have my laptop with me but if I do manage to get online i will.

The weather has been quite nice here the last couple of days and the kids have been to the beach with their grandparents while I was at work. They absolutely love the beach and it helps it's just at the bottom of our road:)

DH is also taking the kids swimming today as DS is just learning to swim so he needs to practice for his lessons.:)

Chat soon.
Kx

[Anal Annie]

:scared1: OH MY !!! We were all the way back on page 3!!! Tsk tsk...shame on US!!!!!! My census crew had a guy who was sitting on a binder (he had 2 and was only working on 1 of them at once) and they wanted this stuff DONE NOW so they took it from him & gave it to me to work on! :yay: Yay me!! More work - at least some for this week!! SOO I am still working the nutty hours and then DS has swim practice right now every evening. So I've been working some every day until about 6:00 pm then coming in & giving DS a snack b4 heading out to the pool...so then I'm not home until about 9:00 pm. THEN I still have to make dinner while DS is showering!!:eek: It has been between 9:30-10:00 dinner every night.:sad2: Hate being so screwy but am glad to still be getting a paycheck for a few more days.... DS gets out of school next week on the 16th...then practices start at 7:30 am and the meets will start too...

So where is JUSTINE!!?? HELLO?! Tell us about Majorca!!!! (please!):goodvibes

[MRAven]

How are you A Annie, how is work ? Glad you got extra days. For what I saw on the news census crews pushed down unemployment helping the economy so you should be proud of that :thumbsup2, specially if they are like you a big spender :rotfl2:
Bought any new suit cases letely ? :lmao:

The world Cup Beguins tomorrow for one whole month. It is a wild month, specially here in Venezuela some games will be held at 2 pm, paralizing everything way into 4 pm and more, depending on who is playing or winning.

I'm rooting for Brazil, 5 times Champions, but do wish the best of luck to all of those other teams, at the end, only the best will win, so who ever they are they deserve it.

None the less:

:cheer2::cheer2: GO BRAZIL GO :cheer2: :cheer2:

[Anal Annie]

Hi Mr. A!! Thanks for the bump up!! :thumbsup2 I don't follow soccer...but hope you enjoy your games!!

I saw on the DIS where DCL has started to reduce some of the June 2011 Med cruises so I am keeping an eye out :sail: for ours to get reduced. That would be nice wouldn't it?! One can only dream, right?!

Ahhh Friday...got lots to do. :laundy: 'Lil work...some grocery shopping...'lil cleaning & laundry... DS has swim practice again tonight then they have Time Trials tomorrow am. Warm-ups are at 7:30 am so we'll be at the pool at least until probably 11-12:00 tomorrow...then I'll have to work in the afternoon. Trying to finish up this last binder they gave me. Our Crew Leader makes it sound like we'll get to work some more in a later phase which is good. I just don't know WHEN or how MUCH. I am really behind on just about everything so I guess a week or two "off" wouldn't hurt. :rolleyes:

JUSTINE!! Where ARE you? Tell us about Majorca!!! Kelly leaves in 2 weeks...

[Anal Annie]

Still watching for fare cuts...

Kelly is packing...

Justine has abandoned us...

Wondering what my fellow peeps would think if I brought 2 completely black dresses on the cruise?? That's a little silly isn't it? I HAVE an old black dress - tea length with a scarf hem that I'd planned to bring...but then today I found a real bargain at TJ Maxx - another simple black dress - sorta clingy (I might need some bulge tightening spanx stuff underneath!:rotfl:). It hits just above the knee for only $30 so at first I thought the longer one for formal night & the shorter one for semi-formal night and VOILA only 1 pair of shoes!! But I should probably return it & go for something with a little color or pattern or something, right?! There were some others with some black in them for a few more $$ that I didn't try on...black with some patterns in them. Hummmmmmmmm :confused3 WWYD gals?! I shouldn't be ALL black both nights right?! Would it be alright to wear the shorter black one on formal night & leave the longer one at home? Thinking the shorter one would be a lot easier to pack maybe? Not so much material to fold & deal with - the other one is sorta flowy & has a lot of skirt. :confused3 Goal is 1 pair of dress shoes to go with both dresses!! :idea: I could dress us all in black & we could do family portraits before dinner...

[BWV Dreamin]

Do you think we will have both nights on our cruise? I want to bring another dress as well. How does one pack these dresses so they don't wrinkle? How will I get them ironed on the cruise ship?

[Anal Annie]

Do you think we will have both nights on our cruise? I want to bring another dress as well. How does one pack these dresses so they don't wrinkle? How will I get them ironed on the cruise ship?

Yes, the 7 night cruises always have 1 semi-formal night and 1 formal night and I was debating if a dress above the knee would be OK for the formal night if it's dressy enough looking other than that.:confused3 I am just thinking that it would be easier to pack something that's shorter & has less skirt to it. This little black dress that I bought the other day is a combo of about 95% polyester & 5% spandex I think - something with that much polyester shouldn't wrinkle TOO badly. It is definitely the kind of dress you'd wear "out" and not something you'd wear to church or work.

We have a suitcase that is called a "suiter" because it has a section in the top with a hook like in a garment bag that holds some hangers and it has a piece that folds out that you lay the clothes on and strap down to reduce wrinkles. If that doesn't hold enough then we also have a rolling garment bag that we could bring that holds a lot. I don't want to check any more bags than I have to though so I'll try the "suiter" first. I would love to get by with only checking 1 bag per person but I figure realistically we'll end up with a 4th checked bag between us for the dress clothes. When I pack our dress clothes I use tissue paper in them to help cut down on wrinkles and I put stuff in those dry cleaner bags. The slipperyness of those bags is supposed to help but I don't know if it really does or not!:rotfl: Finally, there is a laundry service on the ship. So once you get there & unpack your dress clothes if they're in terrible shape you can send them out with your stateroom host to be cleaned or pressed or steamed or whatever. I have read posts where people say the prices are reasonable. Of course I don't want to spend my drink of the day money on laundry tho if I can avoid it!! :lmao:

[Anal Annie]

Still no sign of Justine I see.:sad2:

Kelly is down to 1 more week before she's off to Floooreeeda!!:woohoo:

FLsunshine is also MIA....wonder if she's still going on the boat with us?!

I am busy, busy today. DS's swim practices just moved to the mornings yesterday so I leave home at 7:15 am and get back around 9:30. It feels so late already by then!! :rotfl: On the bright spot I should have some free time in the evenings again....

We are going to my parents house in West Virginia for the weekend. Dual purpose trip for 1) a family reunion and 2) Father's Day on Sunday. It's sort of a semi-annual trip for us. About a 4 hour drive. So I have to go to the grocery store today for my weekly shopping, have to make my dish to take so I don't have to do it in my Mom's kitchen tomorrow morning (it's like a covered dish thing where everyone brings something). Also need to do some :laundy: and pack a few things and run the vacuum cleaner... Just thought I'd check in with ya'll now while I had a moment. Give us a little bump up. Still no more word about any more price cuts for the Med for next year...still hoping!!!

TTYL

[MRAven]

Do you think we will have both nights on our cruise? I want to bring another dress as well. How does one pack these dresses so they don't wrinkle? How will I get them ironed on the cruise ship?

I'm a little confused :confused3 on the semi and formal nights because they have now a party which it is called Pirate Night, and is very casual; but people do bring amaizing costumes, also you can buy all kinds of pirate stuff on the ship. On our last trip formal night was on wednesday, then Pirate Night was on thursday, and friday night was also Formal Night, people where really dressed up for the Go Away Party; do mind it was also doring the hollydays.

[Kels Sem]

Hi all, I haven't been on here much as it's only 1 more week to go before I'm off to florida. i'm soo excited:banana::banana::banana: I haven't started packing yet but I'm going to DH to get the suitcases out today.:thumbsup2 It's going to be a week of washing and ironing. The weather is good here at the moment and the kids are wearing their summer clothes that we are bringing with us. They will be looking like orphan's by the end of the week when I have packed all their nice clothes:rotfl2:

I really haven't given any thought to the cruise as I'm so busy thinking about seeing the Mouse.

I'm having a girlie afternoon/night out with my girlfriends today so I'm really looking forward to that!

I will try to check in before I leave next week but if I don't manage it you will have to forgive me!!

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Calling all of Mickey's Marauding Mates!!!!
DCL has started price reductions on our cruise!! :woohoo: Check your prices peeps!! I am waiting for DH to answer me about what we should do. So far they haven't reduced the price for persons 1 & 2 in the Cat 10A's but they HAVE reduced the prices for persons 3 & 4. On the HIGHER category cabins they've reduced prices across the board for all persons in the cabin by significant amounts (like about $350 pp on some). So I am chomping at the bit to see if DH wants to spring for an upgrade to a balcony!! Got all my fingers & toes crossed that he says to GO FOR IT!!!:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

Hi all, I haven't been on here much as it's only 1 more week to go before I'm off to florida. i'm soo excited:banana::banana::banana: I haven't started packing yet but I'm going to DH to get the suitcases out today.:thumbsup2 It's going to be a week of washing and ironing. The weather is good here at the moment and the kids are wearing their summer clothes that we are bringing with us. They will be looking like orphan's by the end of the week when I have packed all their nice clothes:rotfl2:
I really haven't given any thought to the cruise as I'm so busy thinking about seeing the Mouse.

I'm having a girlie afternoon/night out with my girlfriends today so I'm really looking forward to that!

I will try to check in before I leave next week but if I don't manage it you will have to forgive me!!

Kelly

I always do that to Jared too! I keep some of his older raggedy too small stuff in the back of his closet for him to wear while I am packing his "good" stuff!! :rotfl: I am SURE YOU ARE EXCITED! But I hope you have time to check your cruise price this week to get the additional savings!!

[Anal Annie]

So I hope it's not a mistake but we did it - we upgraded from our SPH cabin to a balcony!! :woohoo: I feel just a little pang of guilt over it but the new reduced prices made the balcony seem so much more reasonable than they used to be....and we got another $100 out of DU toward our OBC. The savings on the SPH room was only going to be $153. Better than nothing but not much to brag about. The additional out-of-pocket to upgrade to a 5C only worked out to be about $386 over what we WERE paying before they started discounting. I just couldn't stand that they didn't reduce the inside cabins as much as they did the verandahs!!:rolleyes1 That was just eating at me!! :) I couldn't stand it!

[BWV Dreamin]

I knew you would do it! Well, I am changing my sail date to Aug 27, 2011 cruise. The discounts were great. For $180 dollars( really only $80 cause we got $100 more onboard credit) we upgraded from the SPH Cat 10A to 5C verandah! Just couldn't pass this up. This is only our 2nd cruise and first with a verandah.

I would like to keep posting on your thread if you'll have me!:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

I knew you would do it! Well, I am changing my sail date to Aug 27, 2011 cruise. The discounts were great. For $180 dollars( really only $80 cause we got $100 more onboard credit) we upgraded from the SPH Cat 10A to 5C verandah! Just couldn't pass this up. This is only our 2nd cruise and first with a verandah.

I would like to keep posting on your thread if you'll have me!:rolleyes1

:sad: My goal here is to ADD peeps not LOSE peeps!! Errr...I mean mates!!! :rolleyes1

I know, I know...you couldn't pass up the price....that date is too late for us....DS starts his first year of high school that week. Important he not miss that!! You can certainly hang out here with us, just like MrA does... Goodness knows I appear to be out here alone just talking to myself most of the time!!! :rotfl: Justine & FLsunshine have totally abandoned us... Kelly is packing for her trippie to FL (note that I am jealous that she gets to go for soooo long of a stay!!) :goodvibes I just hope the other peeps see the rate reductions and catch them while they can!! I still can't believe we upgraded to a balcony!! :rotfl: This TA I worked with at DU thought I had some creative math skills. :rotfl2: SHE looked at it as a $639 increase rather than my $386. She was looking at how much more the 5C balcony cost compared to the newly reduced price of the cat 10 - and she didn't count the add'l $100 in OBC. I gotta count that in. Wouldn't you look at how much you WERE paying compared to just how much you're paying NOW? To me, that's our "net increase". :confused3

[Kels Sem]

Hi, DH has agreed that we can upgrade to a Cat 5C! It looks like the cost of the upgrade for us will be $560. I know you guys have gone ahead with your upgrades but I don't know whether to hold out to see if there are further discounts:confused3 It's a bit like when I'm buying dollars - I always look at the exchange rate and think I'll hold off for a bit and see if it gets better but I usually get it wrong:sad2:

How easy is it to do the upgrade? I have booked direct with Disney as I didn't know about DU when I booked the cruise. Do I just ring them and ask for the price of the upgrade? No additional OBC for me:sad1:

This is all i need when we're travelling in a few days!

Thanks
Kelly

[Anal Annie]

Hi, DH has agreed that we can upgrade to a Cat 5C! It looks like the cost of the upgrade for us will be $560. I know you guys have gone ahead with your upgrades but I don't know whether to hold out to see if there are further discounts:confused3 It's a bit like when I'm buying dollars - I always look at the exchange rate and think I'll hold off for a bit and see if it gets better but I usually get it wrong:sad2:

How easy is it to do the upgrade? I have booked direct with Disney as I didn't know about DU when I booked the cruise. Do I just ring them and ask for the price of the upgrade? No additional OBC for me:sad1:

This is all i need when we're travelling in a few days!

Thanks
Kelly

:yay: WhooHOO Kelly!! :woohoo: Yes, it should be VERY simple for you to just call DCL and tell them you've heard about the rate reductions and tell them you'd like to switch your room!! Personally I would do it now rather than wait as you don't want them to start raising the prices again in the meantime! If they should reduce them AGAIN you can always call & ask for the lower price (I will always be watching and will let you know if they reduce again). They will honor the new price as long as it's not after our PIFD (paid in full date). Thing is you don't get it automatically you have to ask for it.

We booked on the port side just forward of the Aft elevator bank in #6108 thinking it would be convenient to the restaurants & drink station being located sorta aft. I specifically wanted a room that sleeps 4 even tho we're only 3 so that DS can sleep in the pulldown bed and we can still have the sofa as a sofa. A lot of the rooms that only sleep 3 are aft of the aft elevators. It's nice back in the aft area as there is less foot traffic - I really wanted deck 5 but there were no Cat 5C's available on that deck. I selected the port side of deck 6 as the ones directly across on the starboard side of the ship are above the theater. None of those room reports were BAD but a couple of people mentioned hearing noise (booms from the bass levels I think) on that side of the ship. There are also some 5C's a little more forward near the forward elevators.

I am psyched!! :banana:

[Kels Sem]

:woohoo::woohoo:Hey,,I have gone and done it upgraded to the Cat 5C:yay: LeeAnn unfortunately for you, you have not gotten ridden of us as neighbours as they have assigned us 6110!! You will be thinking I'm a stalker but honestly this just happen to be where they assigned us.:rotfl2:
At least now DH and I will have somewhere to sit when DS & DD are watching TV or they're sleeping.
I can't believe I've gone and done this as I never expected it.

Hope - sorry to hear that we're losing you but I would have done the same. Unfortunately DS & DD both start back to school around the 26th so I couldn't even do the cruise on the 20th.

Well, only 3 more sleeps until Florida. I have all the packing done that I can as I'm working the next 2 days.

I will try and check in again before I go

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

:woohoo::woohoo:Hey,,I have gone and done it upgraded to the Cat 5C:yay: LeeAnn unfortunately for you, you have not gotten ridden of us as neighbours as they have assigned us 6110!! You will be thinking I'm a stalker but honestly this just happen to be where they assigned us.:rotfl2:
At least now DH and I will have somewhere to sit when DS & DD are watching TV or they're sleeping.
I can't believe I've gone and done this as I never expected it.

Hope - sorry to hear that we're losing you but I would have done the same. Unfortunately DS & DD both start back to school around the 26th so I couldn't even do the cruise on the 20th.

Well, only 3 more sleeps until Florida. I have all the packing done that I can as I'm working the next 2 days.

I will try and check in again before I go

Kelly

:woohoo: I hope YOU'RE NOT THE ONE who regrets being next door to US!!!! We can be a bit DISfunctional!!!:lmao: I hope you have a fantastic trip to WDW!! Will you be going to Universal too? We have not done that (yet) with DS and now that the Harry Potter thing is open I figure we should try to go there on our next trip. I am sure it will be PACKED this summer! When do you come home? Did you say you're going for 3 weeks!? You will be here for the 4th of July then right? It has been REALLY hot over here this month so I hope you can find some shade & fans!! Cool off in the pool... Where are you staying?? Are you onsite? I have to live THRU YOU now!! :goodvibes

DVC posted some point charts yesterday for the new DVC resort at Aulani in Hawaii....I am already plotting for 2012!!!:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

No farewells from Kelly!:guilty: Hope is gone...moved on to bigger & better things... Justine & FLSunshine don't come out to play any more...:sad2: 'Tis a LONELY job I have to keep this thread going I tell ya!!:surfweb: Even MrA is MIA lately!

DS's swim coach is short on some of his regular 15-18 yr old boys for the 'A' meet tomorrow so he is swimming DS UP from his normal 13/14 age group into the 15/18's tomorrow.:scared: I know he has the POTENTIAL to show his stuff but it all depends on his frame of mind in the morning. I NEED to get him to bed SOON but I don't want to send him off in a pissy mood 'cuz he'll WAKE UP in a pissy mood which will blow his mental attitude at the meet...swimming can be a very mental sport...and right now he wants to STAY UP late. :rolleyes1 Such a fine line we walk with these newly minted teenagers!!

We went out for crabs tonight...first we've had this season. They were good but they were LIGHT. I cut my thumb pretty good on one so I stopped picking 'cuz I didn't want to get crab junk inside it. :mad: Waaa! I wanted more crabs!! Me LOVE crabs!!

[Kels Sem]

Just popped in quickly to say bye as we're going today! We're going for 2 weeks and yes we're going to Universal probably against my better judgement but I just have to go and see the WWoHP even if we don't get to go on the main ride.

:dance3::dance3:

[BWV Dreamin]

Popping in to say HI!! My new cruise meets thread only has one other poster on it!:sad2: your not rid of me yet! :)

We are off to AKV in little more than a month. It will be our first time. So trying to get excited about that. August has not been kind to my asthma so here's fingers crossed that I get thru it this time!

Leann, have you decided what Barcelona hotels you are staying at?

[Floridasunshine]

Hello, yes I am still alive but life is so hectic. Been traveling a great deal at work. Returned from Las Vegas :cool1:where we had a combined operations and HR meeting and then had to go to San Diego last week for a national HR conference. I am such a gambler, I did manage to play the penny machine one night for several hours and won $100.40. I also won a gift certificate at the HR conference to Tiffany's for $100 - my daughters are argueing over who they think will get this to spend -:rotfl: Our company purchased another company in Canada so we have gone international - yea! Even better since I am British. :hippie:

Still in school on-line and can't wait for this cruise. Every time I fly I volunteer to get bumped off so I can get a credit for another flight in hopes I can use this for this cruise. No such luck as I manage to get on every flight. The employees at work are thrilled that Disney now offers annual passes and they can pay for them monthly, great response. :dance3:

Actually thinking of going to Disney for the day on Saturday if the weather holds out. :cheer2: I did sign up for the 5K run they are having in Oct. Thought I would be ready for the 1/2 marathon but it is not in the cards this year. Does anyone know if there is a dress up theme night like the pirate night on this cruise. I am currently signed up for 3 cruises and keep getting them confused. :dance3: Will promise to come out to play more often.

[Anal Annie]

There are peeps!! Alive & well!!!:banana: Ahoy!!! :rotfl:

Glad to hear that you have not left us hanging FLsunshine! You sure are quite the traveler!! Did you check your cruise fare? You should also be due for a discount / sale!! You must find time to check on that!! You DO KNOW that if you go to Disney this weekend it will be MOBBED for the July 4 holiday?! :eek: I do hope Kelly is getting along OK down there!!

So, Hope - our trip to HHI is in just over a month too (Aug 14)! What are your dates again? I bought boogie boards & noodles the other day! :rotfl2: I am a bit "touched in the head" sometimes!! Since this is a driving vaca and it's about a 10 hr. drive from here I think we've decided to head out on Fri. night after rush hour dies down on the Beltway & drive for about 3 hours. Stop just past Richmond, VA - maybe at a Hampton Inn or Comfort Suites type place (one with a free breakfast included). That way we won't have such a hard push on Saturday and we can head out with a cup of java & a full tummy. I'd like to get there by around 3:00 or so & this would make that goal a lot easier! We will just drive it straight thru on the way home. But I don't like the idea of getting up to head out at 4:00 am on Saturday so this seems like a good compromise.

And no, I have not decided FOR SURE on any hotels anywhere yet in Paris OR Barcelona! There is plenty of time. I will reshop prices after we get under a year. I've read of people getting some good deals at that Eurostars Grand Marina thru like Travelzoo or something so I may look at that too. Not sure if we should stay at the same place before AND after?!:confused3

DS has been swimming in 2 meets a week so I am keeping busy at the pool. I have been taking pics to help out with the team CD and the editing of all the pics has also been keeping me tied up. I will have to post some pics one of these days after I get them uploaded to a photo sight somewhere.

Well, DH just gave me a new little pocket size video camera today for my b-day & I think it is charged & ready for me to play with. Must run do some testing before the meet tomorrow AM!! TTYL...good to hear the peeps live on!!:goodvibes

[BWV Dreamin]

Hi all! Happy 4th of July!! Annie, are you still working the " census"? My trip dates are Aug 13-17th. You will have to tell me all about HHI!! We are going next year over Memorial Day weekend and week.

Glad to hear about all the upgrades! I am psyched about a verandah! Everyone stay safe this holiday!

[MRAven]

Hello, Annie and all; yes been MIA but still around :goodvibes

If you are like me, my Go No Go date is about 90 days before sailing. That is the date when it has to be 100% paid in order to book shore excursions. So, considering this for all of you Morounding Mates, this cruise's Go No Go date is only 10 months away :dance3:

It doesn't sound too long away does it !:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

Hey all!! :wave2: We were back onto page 3!! I have been quite busy with DS's swimming the past couple of weeks. I feel like I live at the pool between meets & practices. I have been helping with the team pics for each meet too and have taken hundreds of them - they take a lot of time to go thru & edit / crop etc. I pass them on to someone else who's putting a CD together. I enjoy it but it's very time consuming!!

It has been MISERABLY hot here for the past couple of weeks. A couple of days it hit 100 this week and the humidity is HORRID. It was like 102 on Wed. night for our meet - I thought I was going to melt. For real. Just melt. It was just disgusting out. Finally expecting some rain & cooler temps (90) this weekend. We REALLY need the rain but we have a meet in the morning tho so I hope it's not pouring. They will swim it in the rain as long as it's not storming with thunder & lightening and as long as it's not raining so hard that the lifeguards can't see the bottom of the pool. DS is only swimming freestyle tomorrow which is the first stroke they do. We should be able to leave once he is done.:banana:

Well, Kelly should be coming home soon I guess. I wonder if SHE melted!!:confused3 I hope she had fun!!

Our Hilton Head Island vaca is just over a month away. :banana: I booked us a hotel room about 3 1/2 hours from home - it is a 10 hour drive for us so we decided we didn't want to do all of it on Saturday & get down there really late. This way we can get a good head start that Saturday and only have to drive about 6 1/2 hrs. and hopefully we'll get there by around 3:00. We'll just do the 10 hour push on the way home. It won't matter so much what time we roll in for that trip. But GOING I want to get there at a decent time. I bought some boogie boards & pool noodles. I think I am ready to pack! :rotfl:

[Anal Annie]

OK kiddos! Just a quick bump back up from page 4!!

Went to the beach Tues. for a quickie over night trip to our neighbors beach house - had to come back today tho for DS's swim meet this evening...just discovered that I'd left my camera ON the past 2 days (my DSLR doesn't have a timer to just shut off automatically)!!:eek: I got 45 minutes to see how much charge I can get on the battery (and I don't have a spare, only the one)!!:headache: DOH!!! :sad2: This is NOT good I'm afraid!! :mad:

[Anal Annie]

OK boys & girls! Time to get recruiting here! What's going on? Where is everyone!? Why aren't we picking up any new peeps!? :confused3 I am hoping it's just 'cuz everyone is so busy over the summer and not 'cuz I've scared anyone away! :scared:

Kelly should be back from FL now! Where is she?! HELLLLOOO!! Kelllllllyy!?! Trip report please!!:goodvibes

DS's summer swim season ends pretty much this week with the "Superstars" meet on Wed. evening. We had meets both Sat. & Sun. this past weekend and were up & out EARLY both days. He does not make Divisionals or All Stars which are the following week but they still have practices so we may still go to SOME thru the end of the month - the Awards Banquet is the 28th so maybe until then. His fall team starts back up on August 30 so we have a month "off". He has a 2-week day camp the first 2 weeks of August and then we go on vacation the 3rd week. Still plenty going on to keep me busy.

But I am getting concerned about our lack of new peeps!:guilty: What to do? What to do?!:confused3

[BWV Dreamin]

I just read FLSunshine is moving over to my cruise! :banana:


OK boys & girls! Time to get recruiting here! What's going on? Where is everyone!? Why aren't we picking up any new peeps!? :confused3 I am hoping it's just 'cuz everyone is so busy over the summer and not 'cuz I've scared anyone away! :scared:

Kelly should be back from FL now! Where is she?! HELLLLOOO!! Kelllllllyy!?! Trip report please!!:goodvibes

DS's summer swim season ends pretty much this week with the "Superstars" meet on Wed. evening. We had meets both Sat. & Sun. this past weekend and were up & out EARLY both days. He does not make Divisionals or All Stars which are the following week but they still have practices so we may still go to SOME thru the end of the month - the Awards Banquet is the 28th so maybe until then. His fall team starts back up on August 30 so we have a month "off". He has a 2-week day camp the first 2 weeks of August and then we go on vacation the 3rd week. Still plenty going on to keep me busy.

But I am getting concerned about our lack of new peeps!:guilty: What to do? What to do?!:confused3

[Anal Annie]

I just read FLSunshine is moving over to my cruise! :banana:

Oh that's just GREAT!!:sad2: I may as well have stayed on that July 20 10-night cruise the way this ship is sinking!! :headache: Hopefully it will mean more discounts later if nobody else wants to sail with me. :rolleyes2 I guess I may as well just give up on the thread until someone else finds it. :snail:

[Anal Annie]

popcorn:: Bump back to daylight!

Boy! This cruise is picking up peeps at a :snail: pace!!

[veludo]

Hello Everyone! :)

Im sorry Ive been missing for ages!

Time has just flown - we've been away in Majorca which was fab and then seem to have been super busy with various things since we got back.

We go to Disneyland Paris next week - we changed our hotel from Newport Bay to Hotel New York so I hope its good!

Tonight Mart rang DCL and we got the $800 or so dollars knocked off what we still have to pay due to the prices being reduced so thats great news! :cool1:

Its the school summer holidays here now for six weeks and I have some time off so hopefully more time for cruise planning!

Will catch up with all the posts very soon - I dont think Ive been on since May just before we went on hols :guilty:

We are away this weekend and then work for a couple of days then off to Paris next Thursday so I may go AWOL again but I will be back :yay:

Speak soon

Justine xxxx

[Anal Annie]

Justine is ALIVE!! :rotfl: Hi!! I need to hear ALL ABOUT Majorca AND Disneyland Paris!!! We're planning to go to Paris pre-cruise next year - but we're planning to use our DVC points so cannot splurge on such a fancy hotel...likely will go to either Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay. Both will eat a lot of points but since we're not planning to go to FL next year (as of right now) that's OK. We'll bank whatever's not used and use 'em for Hawaii the next year!!! :rolleyes1 Glad you got your discount on your cabin. I was hoping you were keeping up with what was going on!

Just over 2 weeks until vaca for us...nothing so exciting as Majorca tho!:rotfl: Just going to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Trying out the DVC resort down there. This is our first real road trip. I started my packing list...DS starts camp next week for 2 weeks so I will start gathering & packing then. Getting my new tires (finally) on Saturday. Been calling around for prices on brakes & other general maintenance items...need to get a lot done before we attempt to drive 2,000 miles (round trip). :rotfl: We booked HHI to try to save money over buying new AP's but I didn't figure in all the car maintenance I needed to do FIRST!! :rotfl2: I cannot believe how much brakes run!!:eek: I may end up doing only front ones for now & may do the back ones later. We'll see. So far it's looking like between tires & maintenance (if I do EVERYTHING I SHOULD do) it will cost us just almost $2,000!!!:scared1: Remind me next time to just fly somewhere!! :lmao:

[Anal Annie]

Well, I guess Kelly got lost in FL and never came home.:sail: I am truely all alone out here!!:sad: At least the boat will not be crowded :crowded: and I should be able to get my pick of Palo ressies!!

[MRAven]

Well, I guess Kelly got lost in FL and never came home.:sail: I am truely all alone out here!!:sad: At least the boat will not be crowded :crowded: and I should be able to get my pick of Palo ressies!!

Do not fear, MRAven is here :flower3:

Although, totally agree with you. :sad1:

[Kels Sem]

Hellooo!! I'm still here and didn't get lost in Florida, sorry I haven't been on since I got home but it's just been mad. It took me a while to get over the jetlag. I felt tired for about 2 weeks after. The kids were alot easier to ajust than me. Now school is out for summer I just feel that I have been driving Nathan to and from summer schemes and Keira was also at one last week. The things that we do to keep the kids happy. Also all they seem to want to do at the moment when they aren't at summer scheme is the play in the street. There is a path at the side of our house which leads to a very busy road so I have to go out and supervise them so not much time to be on line.
Well back to Florida. We had a really great time. We went to the Magic Kingdom twice which the kids loved. Keira was tall enough for Splash Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain railroad so they loved those. Keira is gonna be a roller coaster girl :banana: The Electric Parade was brillant and we got to meet the characters we wanted. We had breakfast at CRT and that was lovely so nice to actually be in the Castle. We had dinner at Chef Mickey's which we all enjoyed as well. Then we went on the Pirate and Pal firework voyage and met Captain Hook, Me Smee and Peterpan and got to see the 4th July Celebration fireworks over the Magic Kingsom which was awesome.

Then there was Universal and Islands of Adventue. The theming in Harry Potter land was just amazing. I'm a fan. It was soo busy though. Unfortunately I didn't get to ride the Forbidden journey. I didn't realise until I read something when I came home that there was a single rider line so I was gutted but there is always the next time.
Then there was all the pool time, the cinema the shopping so an amazing time as always.

I'm so glad I've got the cruise to look forward to or otherwise I would probably be looking to book Florida again.

My baby sister graduates from college next summer and she would really like to work in Disney for a year so I am really trying to encourage her to do it. I believe it's a great experience and of course it gives us an excellent excuse to go back in 2012. Not that I need one:)

I think that's all my news and I'll be back on this thread from now one:thumbsup2

Kelly

[Anal Annie]

:banana: WhooHoo! Kelly's alive too!! Glad you had a good trip!! Did you get a chance to look for the Downey Wrinkle Release while you were in FL?! Both of ya'll need to give me more details about your trips!! I love hearing of other peoples adventures!! OK now gals...it's looking like it's just the 3 of us now on this big 'ole boat!! We shall have our PICK of lounge chairs!! :lmao:

I was baaaad yesterday! I got my new tires yesterday (finally - after I've been TALKING about needing them for how many months now)!! I'd just been putting off spending the money - but our trip to Hilton Head is in less than 2 weeks now and it's quite a long drive so I am trying to get EVERYTHING done to my truck this week so it's in A-1 shape. ANYWAY, I took it to this place at the mall (called Sears - I doubt you have them in the UK but they have an automotive dept.) and when I picked it back up I went shopping for a birthday present for my little neice who's turning 1 the week we come back from vaca. ON MY WAY to my fav. childrens store I passed thru this dept. store which had SOOO many 40% off clearance racks! I couldn't HELP myself!!:rolleyes1 I had bought that 1 black dress a few weeks back to bring for the cruise and I had been telling myself NO MORE CRUISE SHOPPING until next year...but 40% off!!:eek: I had to at least LOOK!!:rotfl: I got a really cute pair of paisley print capris & a sleeveless top to match - sort of a salmon color with pink.:love: I WAS only going to bring solid color bottoms so I could mix & match them with diff. tops & wear them ea. 2x but this set was TOO cute to pass up. Then I bought a pair of plain white capris (I HAD a pair but these were much nicer & fit better) and another top to go with those - sort of a fancy one - and it's polyester so it won't wrinkle. Do you think I can possibly wear white capris 2 evenings? Could I really plan to NOT drop food in my lap on the first night?! :rotfl: THEN I found a plain white thing to wear over top of things - I don't know what to call it exactly. It's thin & lightweight, has long sleeves, no buttons or closures and sort of just drapes & hangs like a scarf in the front. Just a coverup type thing to bring for the dining rooms. I always FREEZE:cold: in the dining rooms!! OK...so now...DON'T let me buy anything ELSE for this cruise!!! I really will overpack if I buy anything else!! Well, maybe I could buy a couple of tops for the daytime.:rolleyes:

You girls must come chat more often!! Keep me in line!!:)

[Anal Annie]

BUMP off of page 3..........

Ohhhh GIRLS!!! Have you heard of "Switch Flops"?! ADORABLE mix & match sandals and soo helpful for the cruise!!! (And they have a website for the UK too....)

I bought "Lilly" in the cork and "Taylor" in black plus of course some spare straps:

http://www.switchflops.com/cart/home.php#shoe=taylor-black&strap=dflt

http://www.switchflops.com/cart/home.php#shoe=lilly-cork&strap=dflt

I am officially ADDICTED!!!!:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

:cat: Bump!! :bored:

[Kels Sem]

BUMP off of page 3..........

Ohhhh GIRLS!!! Have you heard of "Switch Flops"?! ADORABLE mix & match sandals and soo helpful for the cruise!!! (And they have a website for the UK too....)

I bought "Lilly" in the cork and "Taylor" in black plus of course some spare straps:

http://www.switchflops.com/cart/home.php#shoe=taylor-black&strap=dflt

http://www.switchflops.com/cart/home.php#shoe=lilly-cork&strap=dflt

I am officially ADDICTED!!!!:rolleyes1

My goodness you really are a shopaholic! I had never heard of switchflops before but they really are a great idea.
I really like the pink ones.
TBH I haven't really thought about clothes for the cruise yet. Plenty of time for that.:dance3:

[Anal Annie]

Shopaholic? Who? ME?! :rotfl2: Do ya think?! :rotfl:

I really must start getting organized for our vaca to Hilton Head!! I am usually PACKED by now! But instead I just have a HUGE list of "to do's" and "don't forgets"!!! I DID go thru & bag up SOME stuff yesterday like our coffee & filters, cereals, snacks, ziplock bags, paper plates & utensils, trash bags for the car/beach ETC. I made a pile of some clothes for DH and set it aside so he wouldn't WEAR the stuff before I got it packed! I hate when I am trying to pack & I think I have all the laundry caught up & the ONE THING I can't find is dirty again!!:headache: DS is in camp this week so anything I want to pack for him that he may also wear to camp has to be worn by like Tues. so I can have time to wash it again & pack it. They go to the pool again on Wed. so I may put him in an older swim suit so I can get everything done. It's OK if it's a little short, right?!:rotfl: SUCH planning!!:rolleyes:

Still waiting for Justine to come back from all of her travels & give us the scoop on DLP and Majorca...:rolleyes1

[Anal Annie]

Sigh. So lonely out here....on this beeeg 'ole boat:boat:....all alone....:worried: