Christmas 2003 - Who's sailing (20-27 Dec 03)?

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

Good Job!


As usual, I was very impressed with the efficiency of the process (other than the BF boo-boo).

Phones were answered promptly, and I have fax confirmations of everything.

I think holding on to the confirmations is a really good idea, since reading the post of the person who showed up an the ship and they had no excursions!

We have the 2:30 parasailing.

It should be a ball!

jim

[Ginny]

Jim and Lynn,

Congrats on getting your excursions booked! And, here I was so proud of myself for getting right through at 0905. You guys had already called, booked and were having coffee and danish by the time I got around to it! Gee, I am so glad that I called to verify the time. Oh well, humility checks are good for us all.

We got the Catamaran Racing in Key West which we all really wanted to do, parasailing at 3:30 and the Banana Boat rides @1150 on Castaway Cay (we will do lunch afterwards which I'm sure everyone will appreciate). I am really happy! Tammy at DCL was very nice and I called back to double check something and Dana was just as pleasant this evening.

So, I can take a deep breath and sleep soundly tonite. Take care all -

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

Congrats on the excursions!
Sound like you will be in the parasailing group after ours.

Should be an absolute blast.


The girls have been after us for years to let them parasail in Ocean City. DIS is actually cheaper than the OC places, so what a deal?


Jim

[hawkrn]

I got my excursion without problems too and that was after work! My DS can't go parasailing because he doesn't weigh enough but we got the other stuff. Now I'm going to the site to get my trolley tickets.

[Grumpy's Mom]

Hi everybody == it is SOOO EXCITING!!

I called this morning at 8:59, and got through after holding about 2 minutes - waiting to hear the "our offices hours are ... please call back..."

I had a GREAT CM - Donnie - who has grown children at Camp Lejeune!!

We are doing the Trolley in Key West (have to get those tickets).

We have currently have three reservations for Stingray City --
the 11:00 with Captain Marvin, the 1:00 DCL, and an afternoon with Native Way -- it was 1:00 yesterday morning when I was so tired and still couldn't figure out the difference between the two Disney excursions, too tired to search the board for info whether Coral Reef or Barrier Reef was better, who had a catamaran, who didn't, how many people on this boat as compared to that one, etc. and so on -- so decided to cover my bases and sent emails everywhere. Will figure it out in the next 48 hours, as I don't want to hold a reservation someone else would like to have.

In Cozumel, the girls are going to do the Dolphin Swim with Discovery, I am going to go watch and video - we will probably enjoy the park, and then hang at Mr. Sanchos (Dis meet, maybe?). The girls are both booked for the teen cruise -- hoping that Shannon will be able to join them. Still working on fly fishing excursion for DH. Mini Golf, anyone?? I did wonder about this being Christmas Eve, and what might be going on onboard while the teens cruise --

On Castaway Key renting snorkle equipment and floats, all doing the banana boats at 2:30 - hopefully we will be able to see the parasailers from the boat!

I asked Donnie if he had any information on whether there would be special holiday happenings on the Magic. Here is what he told me:
--Tree lighting ceremony in the atrium on Sat. night
--Holiday family story time every night
--In room holiday movies
--Traditional Christmas dinner
--Christmas carols by international CM's
--Sat. Night a Festival of Lights service for Hannukah
--Christmas day services - Catholic or interdenominational (sp?)
--Yes, people decorate - doors, inside, verandahs, etc.
--If we have special things that we would like to have on our table at dinner (a traditional candle you have at dinner every year, confetti, etc.) that would be fine to bring.
-- I asked if we can have candles in our rooms - he said it falls under same rules as smoking = verandah only.
--Julie - yes, we can bring wrapped gifts - security would be the same as for any other item - if it looks suspicious in the scanner, they will open it (he ACTUALLY used the ticking clock example - lol). He suggested we bring a roll of tape just in case.
--Also suggested for those with ocean view rooms - the porthole is 4' diameter - put lights around the inside of the window.
--Trees - no aluminum - will set off the scanners.
--Can't have live trees (I asked about the Perfect Gift) he said there are agricultural laws, which I understand, that you can't bring anything live off the boat on return - So, I don't know if that means we have to leave a live tree behind (I am not taking a live tree on the airplane with me:rotfl: )

There was a response to my post on the main board about Christmas, and someone posted a list from a yahoo board -- pretty consistent with what Donnie told me. So, who is ready to leave tomorrow????? If I could get the packing done .........

Well, I have spent most of today trying to catch up on what I didn't get done yesterday while researching excursions, learning new spreadsheet software and putting together a data base for our trip. I am behind still behind workwise, but pretty caught up on the cruise. (I have decided that it is very difficult to have a job and plan a cruise at the same time!)

West. Caribb ---- here we come!!

[hawkrn]

Wow, Bonnie, thanks for all the info! I especially like that I can pre-wrap presents before the trip! And I never thought about putting lights up in the window-I will do that (I just hope there's an outlet nearby!) We are doing Stingray through DCL but it also included rum point beach. I need my beach time!

[jgalecpa]

Mr Sanchos Meet sounds Great!

We are doing 1115 capt marvins in Grand cayman.

Great tip on lights bonnie.

I am bringing at least one extension cords per room, and may make it two per room, with the extra for the lights!

Finally booked the trolley.

I do hope Kenzie and Shannon can do the cruise together. Hope to persuade the powers that be once on the boat. Shannon's an old 12.

Jim

[Ginny]

Happy Friday -

Sharon called from Nativeway watersports and we are locked on for 1145 in Grand Cayman. I hope you guys on earlier trips leave some stringrays for us to "play with!" She was so very nice and very appreciative of Dave's kind words in his review.

Bonnie - thank you so much for the great "intel" on the lights and other stuff. It is amazing how much CM's will share if they know someone kind is listening and really interested. But, I am beginning to rethink my packing strategy: All these clothes are getting in the way of my decorations!! LOL

[hawkrn]

Are you guys reading all the rumors about DCL and California? Interesting

[Grumpy's Mom]

I feel the need to explain -- as I am rather embarrassed --

I received my tag as a result of a response to a humorous complaint by a poster about having received the same tag as another very frequent poster.

My reference to "going commando" was purely with regard to posting without a tag -- nothing else. I didn't think posters got tags until they had been on these boards for a good long while, and I didn't give my response a second thought.

Once I noticed it, I did go back and ask the TF to edit the tag so that it reflected the above, but then decided that I should leave things well enough alone - who knows what might have happened. Any advice besides I MUST learn to think before I type?

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday and watching these numbers trickle down.

DD-just-turned-13 Mackenzie had a "come-apart" at the mall last night, seeing all the Christmas decorations, etc, while we were shopping for DH's birthday. We will be watching the two Disney Cruise video and the previously recorded Travel Channel show today and browsing through the excursion websites. Hopefully, this will help.

Bonnie

[Ginny]

Bonnie -

Congratulations on your tag..................and don't you dare try to edit it!! The whole wonderfully magical thing about the TAG FAIRY is that the TAG FAIRY calls the shots and you just have to wait until you sprinkle pixie dust in the right direction............and get tagged. If you could predict it, the fun would be gone.

Of course, I will no longer be able to speak, PM or e-mail you because I am simply overcome with jealousy. First, Jim's big fish and now you're a "commando." Obviously, I need to get more interesting..............or charming! :crazy:

Okay, seriously, I personally think you should get extra points because you noticed the tag!!

[jgalecpa]

We mere mortals should not question the Tag Fairy!

I agree about the extra points for noticing. Took me days!

pirate:

Jim

[kolakdaw]

Well I have just faxed our choices for excursions. I know I'm doing this a week late, but I hope we'll get our choices. We chose more than one excursion per day. The form I downloaded from the Disney site made it seem like you could only book one. Anyway, I made note that we wanted both if available! Here's our plan:

Keywest--Glass Bottom Boat. I looked at their website and it doesn't look like much of a boat, but DD15 wants to do it, so we will! I'm sure the rest of the day will be spent exploring and shopping! Teens you know...

Grand Caymen--Atlantis Submarine. Also looked at this site and this looks really cool! DD15 also wants this one. DD17 actually had no imput--she'll do what we tell her! Also, Stingray City later 1:00. If we don't get in, I'll try to do it myself through Captain Marvins as you've all suggested. I put Rum Point Beach with Stingray City as a back up.

Cozumel--Xcaret Eco Park. I went to this website also and it seems to have a lot to offer with beaches, underground rivers to explore, an aquarium and Mayan ruins. Also booked the teen cruise even though both were not sure they wanted to do it. I'm sure once we're there they will.

Castaway Cay--Parasailing for the girls. You won't get me up there! They both really want this one. I booked the "Get away package for myself--bike, tube and snorkle. I see myself riding and floating the day away...

Now--how long does it take to find out if I got these or not?? Should I call to ask?? Did any of you get confirmations in the mail yet? I booked the cruise through Cruise Direct. Hopefully, I can book these excursions now. They did charge my credit card for the remaining amount back on 10/5. I know, I'm fretting too much... It's been one of those crazy weeks!

I can't believe time is going so fast. Can't wait to get there--and meet you all!!

Dawn and the girls:bounce:

[Ginny]

Dawn -

It's great that you and the girls have come up with a FUN game plan. I would suggest calling the 1-877-566-0968 number as soon as you can to run through your choices and confirm your ressies with a "live person". When you call DCL, you can determine right then if your excursions are still available and ensure that you get what you really want OR have time to come up with a Plan B.

Because they opened pre-books a week ago, you may find that some things are full. Even if you call and some or all of your choices are full, I don't believe they pre-book all available seats. I believe they save some for when we embark on Dec 20th. But, you can double check with them. I called DCL back on the night of the 21st to verify our para-sailing times and all the other times for para-sailing were already taken but I asked if additional seats would be available when we boarded and they confirmed that there would be.

I have not received a confirmation in the mail yet but have all the CM's names and times written down just in case. Good Luck!!

[kolakdaw]

I'm happy to say I just got a prereserved shore excursion confirmation fax back from Disney and we got all of the excursions I requested! YAY! (As my daughters would say!) The one I was really afraid of not getting was the Stingray City--but we are on for 1:00. They also listed our stateroom which I did not know up until this point as we were guaranteed Cat. 5. We are in 7612 which looks perfect to me! Near elevators, and closer to the back near those "hidden" sun decks. I think it has finally just hit me that this is really happening! I'm TOO excited! Dawn

[Ginny]

Dawn -

I am so excited for you and the girls that you got everything you wanted. How great!! AND, you got your fax confirmation back before I even got mine in the mail a week later. Terrific!

What time are the girl's parasailing? I think Lynn is in the later morning, Jim is at 2:30 and DD and I follow him at 3 something.

I know you will have a wonderful time on this cruise. Now, don't you wish there was someway to speed up the days??

Have a great day!

[kolakdaw]

Ginny--the girls are signed up for 1:30 Parasailing. When I told DD17 that I had booked her, for this, she got mad and said she'd never do it! So I told her I'd call Disney and change her name to mine and I'd go up with her sister instead. Five minutes later, she came upstairs and says--"don't change the name. I think I will do it, I just need time to get used to the idea...." LOL--I'm sure she'll love it all. I also booked one of those TIffany Towncars today. I looked into the Budget rental cars you all were talking about, but it' s just so high. Maybe I'm just too late. It was around $190 with taxes. $149ish when I used the discounts from Mousesavers, but that doesn't count getting another car for the return. It would cost $144 for roundtrip Disney busses and $145 roundtirp for the car (using the $15 coupon in the back of the Passporter). So we're going with the car and will get there in style. We should be there by 10:30 am. The girls are excited about the changes to the teen areas on the Magic. They are really looking forward to this! Dawn.

[jgalecpa]

Ginny:
don't you wish there was someway to speed up the days??

I dunno. I think that thing is going pretty fast!

We have Xmas cards to get out and some of my family wants to exchange XMAS presents at thanksgiving!

I think that timer is going faster everyday.

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Oh No! Christmas cards.....I guess they are NOT on the list of things we don't have to do since we will be cruisin' for Christmas!

Dawn - great reverse psych -- what a mom!! I noticed your treble clef - do you play or do you sing?? I am surprised I even know what that is - everyone else in my family could tell you ==

Ginny, Jim, Lynn and Dawn - I hope we get the chance to watch you parasail. Does anyone know offhand where this is done? Pass me the cameras if you would like.

Gosh, it is getting close, isn't it? Yesterday was DH's birthday - he received several very flamboyant tropical shirts as gifts - I think they went back to the store today!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

He was hoping to get another guitar for his birthday. I had hoped he would buy this himself when he was in NYC last weekend, but he seems to have a much harder time spending money than I do - he came home and said they were all too expensive!! I hadn't a clue what to buy - so I gave him the Musician's Friend catalog and a check and told him to go to it. This was before I knew he was looking for another ELECTRIC guitar -- my Hendrix-wannabe DH = HWDH??

I will be asking Santa for ear plugs in my stocking this year -- lol!!

Well, I have one big question to ask your advice about, but I need to spend some time getting it pasted into my signature - hopefully sometime this week -- how is that for suspense??

[kolakdaw]

Jim--why did you have to go and bring up Christmas cards? LOL I hadn't thought about them. I remember seeing one last year that had a Santa sitting under a palm tree. I think I'll get some like that!

Bonnie--good for you recognizing the treble clef! I do play the piano and think of myself as a musician anyway--music teacher really. I've made a couple of Christmas CD's that I plan to bring along on the trip. Playing Christmas music is my favorite holiday activity, so this year, I'll just listen! (I make the CD's as holiday gifts for family and to sell at school to fund the Adopt a Family Holiday drive.)

My reverse psychology worked thank goodness. DD17 now wants to parasail with her sister. If it hadn't worked, I'd be up there in her place probably having a heart attack!

Dawn, Kate & Becky

[LynnTarrant]

oh my goodness Christmas cards. Jim that was mean I'd managed to completely forget about them!!!!
Bonnie
You'll hear me even if you don't see me, I'll be the one dangling in the air screaming!!!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

When we lived in Ireland, my sister used to make a lovely Christmas pudding.

It took about a month, if I remember.

I dont suppose you'll bring one along for our get together in Bonnie's room?

(Just kidding. I don't even want to think of what the Homeland Security people would do with that!)

:wave2:

jim

[LynnTarrant]

Jim I'm afraid that I'm a full time working modern woman and the nearest I get to cooking puddings is to microwave one from the supermarket.
I can bring you one of those if you think customs would allow!!!:hyper:
I can't decide if I'm with Ginny or you I alternate between wanting the days to fly by and panicking about how much there is to do.... and then you went and mentioned those cards.........

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

Cards? Did I say Cards?

I meant to type Christmas CORDS.

You know, those things I will use to plug in my lights around the portholes.

Forget about my typo!

Jim

PS: Thanks for the thought. I am saving myself for the Palo's dessert.

PPS: They Have microwaveable puddings?:wave2:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Is anyone interested in fly fishing in Grand Cayman -

My DH wants to do this, although I know that he will balk at the prcie -- is anyone interested in joining him?

This would be a half-day guided trip with transportation from the dock and equipment included. there are two different excursions, one wading in the flats and the other fishing from a 17 ft stratos flats boat.

The half day price for the wading excursion is the same for 1-3 people, and from the boat 1-2 people.

I have emailed him back to see if he can accommodate both a fly fisherman and a spin casting fisherman on the boat at the same time.

Capt. Ebanks is willing to adjust his timing to pick up the fisherman(men, women) on the first tender to the dock.

This is a great opportunity for someone who has been wanting to try this -- the price for a guide, 1/2 day, equipment and transportation for two/three is the best I have ever seen anywhere.

PM me for more information --

[Grumpy's Mom]

Did you all realize that with the time change this weekend we gained an hour in our timers?????

[belle&beastcrazy]

Hi everyone.

I don't know how you all have time to post as much as you do. This is the first day I have had off in months. DH went back to work this week, moving slow but sure. I have booked the excursions we wanted. I have started packing, really just laying things out on the spare bed. I did make a find at Walmart this past weekend the are LARGE zip lock bags that are decorated for Christmas. Just place your items in and zip up and easy to open if the security guards want a look.

I do have a question of the ladies. Are you packing evening attire at is more summer like or more holiday?

I have already done my Christmas cards and most of my shopping. Taking most if it at Thanksgiving to leave at the Grandparents houses for them to pass out for us later.

Kim

[LynnTarrant]

Ahh now you see that's where I've gone wrong.... Kim's done all her shopping and she's written those cards!!!! But she hasn't been hanging about on these boards....
Way to go Kim now if I just e-mail you my card list could you do mine as well!
Glad to hear your hubby is doing well
lynn

[Grumpy's Mom]

Kim -- I am IMPRESSED!!

I'm with Lynn - if I send you my Christmas list, will you shop, wrap and send????

I am sooo looking forward to not being up til 3 am on Christmas Eve this year!!

What excursions are you going to do?

I am glad your DH is doing well, I am sure you both are relieved to have some sense of normalcy back.

I think my evening attire is going to be more geared towards the Holidays - and hope they have the AC cranked up!!

[Grumpy's Mom]

We've been moved - just in case you didn't bookmark this thread -- New Cruise Meets Board --

[LynnTarrant]

I wondered where we were!
Thanks Bonnie
Jim I went out and bought them yesterday... you know...(The cards):p

[LynnTarrant]

I just saw this on another site, it's made me go all goose bumpy!!

Disney Cruise Line Celebrates Magical Holidays

Disney Cruise Line® guests can enjoy a festive holiday celebration sprinkled with pixie dust on sailings between Nov. 23 and Jan. 1.

It all starts at Disney's private cruise terminal at Port Canaveral, Fla., where festive holiday décor and Disney characters dressed in their season's best await all who board a Magical Holidays sailing. On board the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder, guests find the ships decked with boughs of holly and filled with holiday-themed entertainment and activities for the entire family.

Magical Holidays highlights include:


A tree-lighting ceremony in the atrium lobby, where "snow" magically falls

A Christmas Eve visit from Santa Goofy, with surprises for kids enrolled in children's programming

International holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe

Special family time, when families join together to design and decorate their own gingerbread houses

Classic holiday story time in the atrium hosted by Mrs. Claus

Traditional holiday feasts in Disney's three themed dining rooms

First-run premieres of the animated film "Brother Bear" and live-action release, "The Haunted Mansion", two of the holiday season's films

Multiple faith and inter-denominational holiday services

:bounce:

[kolakdaw]

Lynn--so glad you found this. It is so exciting! I wonder if we'll all be able to get the teens to join in the gingerbread house making? One of our family traditions is to make Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve. Maybe I can convince DD15 and DD17 that the gingerbread would be like this...

DD15 was hoping that they would be running Pirates of the Carribean continuously--LOL. I just saw today that it will be coming out on video/DVD on Dec. 2, so all the teen girls should get their Johnny Depp fixes before we go!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Dawn & girls

[jgalecpa]

Happy Halloween!

Just found us. I was looking and looking. Resorted to my bookmark.

I don't usually get notices that people psot, so I'll have to get used to checking via bookmark.

Dawn:
I just saw today that it will be coming out on video/DVD on Dec. 2, so all the teen girls should get their Johnny Depp fixes

Thanks for the 4-11! You just solved a present problem for DD-15! That gift is small enought to pack for the Shipboard Santa (SS).

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

Dawn
I've just spotted the post where you gave out your cabin number you're at the other end of the ship to us on the same corridor.
Ginny
I've just rereread some posts from when I was very busy, should I have PMed you if I want to have brunch with the group or have no definite arrangements been made?
Can you ask for a dining rotation or do you just have to go with the flow?
Bonnie
I think you were talking about linking reservations for late seating, We would be happy to link with you if you know how to do this

[jgalecpa]

Rooms:

Here is our room number. I looked back a few pages and couldn't find any, but here are ours:

We have adjoining rooms 2646 & 2648.

They are on the starboard side, at the very back of the ship. There is only one room past us.

We don't know which ones will be the girls and which will be for Rieann and I. As far as DCL is concerned, Rieann and shannon are in 2646 and Caitlin and I are 2648, I think.

Yeah Right.


Jim

[kolakdaw]

Ginny--I saw in Lynn's post about a group brunch. I must have missed this as well. I'd be interested in joining you all as well. As a single mom with these active teens (who don't want to be seen in public with me) I'm sure I'll be on my own for most ship time!

Lynn--that's great we're both in the same corridor!

Jim--My DD15 will never make it to Christmas without the Pirates CD. I'm sure we'll be in line to buy it on Dec 2! We should get these two together. How many times has your DD seen the movie??

Hope you're all having a good Halloween. I've just opened my seventh bag of candy. It's in the 60's here in upstate NY--rare for this time of year, so the kids are out in droves!! (And no, I'm not eating all the candy...)

DAwn

[kolakdaw]

Oops--I mean Pirates DVD. We already have the CD of course...

[jgalecpa]

Dawn:
I'm sure I'll be on my own for most ship time!


You're never alone when your with (new) friends.

I knew you meant the DVD, I guess. Never even noticed the CD part.

Caitlin must have seen it 4-5 times that I know of. Bonnies Daughter Meghan sounds like the same child as mine, so it sounds like the three musketeers. Is yours going on the cozumel teen cruise? Caitlin and Meghan both are, I believe.

It's 71 here, and we have had two groups. We usually get 0-1. We are the last street in the subdivision and at the top of a hill. The little goblin legs are just too tired by the time they get here.

The cross street at the bottom of our hill looks like a Wiccan convention, though!

BOO

pirate:

Jim

[kolakdaw]

Jim--yes, both DD15 and DD17 are going on the teen cruise. Or I have at least reserved it. We'll have to see if they actually go. It will probably depend on what their new friends are doing! Ugh--back to the door. I've had over 100 kids so far tonight!

Dawnpirate:

[hawkrn]

Jim, we must be down the hall from you-we're 2066. Can't wait for the POC DVD-definitely a stocking stuffer!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Hi - Halloween is finally over!!

DD-13 Kenzie had about 10 of her friends over tonight before they went out -- they relieved me of door duty for about an hour -- we always have at least 150+ kids - we all count our candy before and after to make sure we have enough for the next year, as the first year our neighborhood was together we all ran out. We have a neighborhood dinner/drinks and costume parade in one of the culdesacs around 5:30 each year - but mine are too old for that, and don't want to go!

Kenzie was a pirate wench - waiting for Johnny Depp!!

Megan went to her BF's last home football game, and they left a little while ago for a midnight performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show at the community theater. Renaissance Festival tomorrow, and sleeping all day on Sunday (not me-- have to work!).

We booked a guarantee because that was what was available in the category I wanted at the end of August (when we finally made our minds up as to exactly what we were doing). So, we won't have room number until our docs come --

Jim, you were smart to book two cabins. We were going to do that, but took too much time in deciding that this was really what we wanted to do, and that we wanted to go over Christmas instead of New Year's, which was what was originally planned. We had two on hold for the 12/27 sailing, but the day I finally called back, the rooms had been released back to Disney, and on the 12/20 there were no cabins either next door or across the hall that were in close enough proximity for my comfort level. If we do this again, we will book at least a year in advance --hoping DH will be interested in booking on board -

Dawn - I had to have my annual Baby Ruth fix - that was all!

Lynn, we will be working on our cords soon (that really should be "I" will be --) I will PM you either tomorrow or Sunday about the dinner ressies -

I guess I had better figure out how to get my item that I had a question about pasted into my signature this weekend, and then get on with some Christmas clipart --

The next trick is to figure out what to do with the leftover Halloween candy -----------:teeth:

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie,

Last year in London we booked two rooms. It opened my eyes to how much more enjoyable it could be. With three Females (note the capital "F"), the extra space bathrooms AND PRIVACY made it enjoyable for everyone.

While it increased occupancy costs (of course travel, food, etc is unchanged) some, it increased enjoyment exponentially!

Some people laughed at me for booking 15 months before hand, but I find if you really want to get the combination of dates, places, rooms, etc you really need to.

We had Shannon's friends sleep over. It was not bad. Didn't hear from them after 1030. Reports are they were asleep by 1230! Thank god for early soccer games. They were great.

Dad was up at 630 to get dunkin donuts.

Dawn:

You are on the port side, almost exactly mid-ship. A short walk!

Gotta do leaves today!

jim

[kolakdaw]

Bonnie--it sounds like you have a really fun neighborhood! It's hard when the big kids want to stop doing the fun things! I showed the list of Christmas Activities to Becky DD15 and she thought they all looked great EXCEPT the gingerbread houses!! When she was little, she would have loved that! On Halloween, I really miss having elementary aged children! We only had 10 candy bars left, so we must have had 130 kids. That's about normal. DD15 and DD17 came home covered in shaving cream and silly string....

Becky and I are going gown shopping this weekend! Dawnpirate:

[jgalecpa]

Seven weeks today!


Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick.......


:earseek:

[Ginny]

Hi, All!!

Time is really flying by now!! We had a great Halloween - went to my sister's in Maryland so Erin could T&T with her cousins. They are 14 but have been taking her with them since she was almost 2 and it is a great tradition. All their friends just expect that Erin will join them although now they do it more for Erin than for themselves.

Erin is very excited for Zach that there are so many teenagers cruising (the fact that most appear to be girls is not lost on her) but if one of you could come up with a 8,9, or 10 year old daughter between now and the cruise, I would really appreciate it!!

As to the planning for brunch: I'm thrilled with more folks...it is always so much more fun when there are lots of people. I am still waiting for a call back to see if we can pre-arrange the brunch for Monday, 22 December at 1030. I will try for 15 people in the little private room but if the group grows (and I think we are at 11 already), we can just move out to the larger room. More later when I have info from DCL.

[LynnTarrant]

Jim
0ur cabin is 7502 quite far forward on the starboard side.

Dawn
My hubby and I never had kids, when we wanted to do fun kiddy things we used to just borrow other peoples, more recently through we just decided to revert to being big kids ourselves. So I dare say we'll be there making gingerbread houses if you want to you could join our family!

Bonnie I'll try to remember to check for a PM

Halloween
This never used to be a big celebration over here we saved ourselves for Nov 5th Guy Fawkes night, however in the last few years it seems to have really taken off, and last night we had nearly 50 kids call. I had to ask my hubby to get more sweets on the way home from work!

7 weeks I'm really excited now

[kolakdaw]

Lynn--LOL, I may take you up on that! We'll see if the DD's want to make some. If not, I will definitely make one to decorate our cabin with!

I was successful in getting a gown tonight! DD15 did not have any luck however. We're going to try Filenes tomorrow. We of course could not go there tonight, because she couldn't be seen at the mall on a Saturday night with her mom! Horrors of horrors! Ah, to be 15... The one I found for myself has a beaded top, and looks very festive. Hopefully I didn't go too dressy! What types of gowns did all of you ladies get? Also, if you have a late seating, do you wear the gowns and all to the show prior? Or is there time to change? Dawn

pirate: :Pinkbounc

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - have you checked this in your CP Edit Options Page? It is under "Messages and Notification". When someone responds to a thread you have posted to, it notifies you by email - I like it because it helps me keep up with our 12/20 thread particularly, and responses to threads I have posted. Sometimes it is a pain if you post a reply to someone and the discussion gets to be a bit disjointed and longwinded. You will be notified of a new post, and not again until you have visited that thread. Sometimes, like this morning for example, I received one email that you had posted to the 12/20 thread. When I went to the thread, there were 4 or 5 more.

I would suspect that you and HWDH can spend many a minute commiserating about being the only man in a three-woman household!!

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING -- DH purchased a new guitar yesterday - it is a Martin backpacker - but thank God, it is accoustic! I have to assume it will be accompanying us on the cruise!! Maybe I can get him to learn some Christmas carols --

Dawn, your dress sounds lovely - I would expect most everyone would be wearing them to the show before dinner - what I have read on the boards is that a lot of folks dress for dinner/show or show/dinner, and then go back and change into more comfortable clothing-I know for a fact that my DH will be doing that. It will depend on what the activities are for the girls that night as to whether my DDs decide to change.

I think shopping for the younger girls is going to be a challenge.

Jim, I would be interested in hearing Rieann's thoughs on a dress for Shannon.

Ginny - Too bad - could have almost accommodated your wish for Erin - DH came home from the hospital about 4 weeks prior to DD-13's first day of Kindergarten, wanting to discuss a third child - I told him that he was about a year too late -- LOL!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn
over here we saved ourselves for Nov 5th Guy Fawkes night

Penny for the Guy?

pirate:


Bonnie,

I will have Rieann contact you directly about the dresses. I'm a guy, so I don't know anything.....

When I was much younger, I wished to be surrounded by women. You know the saying: "Be Careful what you wish for".

I am so outnumbered.


Jim

[LynnTarrant]

I don't know Jim it could be worse, friends of ours Neil and Wendy have 4 daughters 20,18,16, 14 imagine what poor Neil goes through I think he often just retires to the shed!!!

Mind you I often feel sorry for very close friends of ours Penny and Anthony 5, yes 5, boys. 27,25,23,19,17... and not one of them has properly left home yet. Poor Penny!!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

One word: AAAGGGGHHHH!

One of my clients had SIX girls. Wanted a boy so bad, finally got it on the seventh try.

Now of course, the girls are older so he has Boys all over his house!

:earseek:

jim

[LynnTarrant]

Jim - Penny for the Guy
Not many children do this anymore, there are many more official displays, I think thats why trick or treating has caught on suddenly.
Do the youngsters in the States ever abuse it.
I guesss it's not such a big tradition here and alot of older folk don't realise what's happening. This year a group of young teens threw eggs and flour at an old man's (74) house because he didn't give them anything. He came out of the house and chased them away and had a heart attack and died. it's been all over the news here and the boys have been arrested.
I think that's why I have my reservations because it's a dressed up threat give us sweets( treat) or else (trick).
Does everyone in the States take part? What happens to you if you don't give out sweets?

[Grumpy's Mom]

Lynn, that is absolutely awful --

In my experience, everyone everywhere in the US observes the Halloween tradition of trick or treating.

Occurences such as what you have described are extremely rare, at least where we live. I can remember when I was a young teen, egging and shaving cream and toilet paper were very common - but the police cracked down heavily and that type of thing seems to have tapered off.

In our neighborhood (about 110 homes), we generally don't see too many children over the age of 13-14 trick or treating. There are the odd ones - but they generally live in the neighborhood and are just out having fun with their friends -

Because our community is gated (a bit safer to be out walking at night) and has nice wide sidewalks, we have children coming from everywhere - We do get a few kids from other neighborhoods which aren't quite as properous, who come with a pillow case and no costume - We always give them candy - either their families cannot afford a costume or the parents don't care enough to help the kids put something together. They are not rude or obnoxious, and make no trouble, so we don't think they come just to get free candy!


I am not familiar with the Penny for the Guy tradition-

[jgalecpa]

(Lynn, Correct me if I'm wrong)

There was a member of British Parliament named Guy fawkes who was caught trying to blow the houses of parliament up by planting explosives under the House of Parliament.

To this day, Britons commemorate this day with fireworks and bonfires.

Children used to go around the neighborhood collecting money from neighbors to buy fireworks with.

They would say "A penny for the guy".


it is kind of a combination of the US's 4th of July and halloween.

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

You got it Jim, 10 out of 10 for British History
Remember Remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

The children would make an effigy of Guy Fawkes which they would take with them to collect the money, it was then burnt on top of the bonfire.
When i was little everyone had their own fireworks you watched your own and all the neighbours. Now with cost, safety and other factors coming into play most people go to an organised display so the act of collecting for the guy is a dying tradition.:D

[Ginny]

Okay, so I am guessing that none of you are hiding a spare daughter anywhere and I will just have to punt for Erin. I'm sure she will meet some lovely little girl in the lab!!

Zach called & left a phone message at 11:45PM on Saturday night and his High School Soccer Team WON their State Championship. His message was incredible and we are so excited for him. He has been playing for many, many years but this news really is a show-stopper. Erin is taking the article from the Chicago papers in for her "news" story tomorrow.

I am struggling with the Evening Wear issue and hoping for one of those "ambush makeover's" where you walk out looking 30, thin and toned. No, huh??? Okay, if the truth be told, I would settle for simply looking 46 and elegant!!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny - congratulations to Matt!! Soccer is a big sport here and for his team to have won their state championship is awesome!!

I am sure you will look absolutely elegant - and I can't imagine that anyone would even think of you as a candidate to be considered for the "What not to Wear" type shows!! I think that a stop at the Clinique counter for a makeover would be lots of fun!! They should have all kinds of fun things for the holidays!!

I have looked in my closet, and while I thought I had a lot to wear, most of it is "winter" - so I guess I will have to shop!! Going to Winston-Salem this weekend as a chaperone for Megan's State Honors Choir concert. I think I will be able to get some shopping done at Hanes Mall while the kids are in rehearsal on Saturday. I haven't shopped for myself since since last spring -- that should be fun!! Is Chuck wearing a tux or suit?

Thanks for sharing your thrilling news with us!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

So let me get this straight:

Daughter's names include:

Megan,
Caitlin
Shannon and
Erin

Irish I had a dollar for every Irish name!

Ginny,

Congrats to matt on his soccer.

I'm sure Erin will have the time of her life.

Bonnie,

I'm wearing a tux.

I have a couple different vests. Is the Mickey Vest formal or semi-formal?

pirate:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - the real question is does anyone have red hair to go along with those names???

I believe the Mickey vest and tie would be considered formal, yes --

Are you wearing it on Christmas, also??

[kolakdaw]

Ginny--I also stressed over the formal wear issue. 95% of my clothing is casual and I haven't worn a gown since my wedding day some 22 years ago! I did get lucky and found a lovely two piece gown at David's Bridal (which I think is a big chain). I tried the big stores like Filenes, Macys and Penney's but didn't have luck. Every gown there seemed to be designed for 5'10" slim models! So I went to David's thinking they could alter it to fit. But--with the two piece, I can just pull the skirt up a little higher on my waist and it fits fine! The top is beaded and looks very festive. The bottom is a solid color--navy. I had read on one of the sites that the photographer does formal family portraits on formal night, so I wanted to find something that didn't clash with my daughter's lavender prom dress. This will go nicely. Even DD15 thought it looked good--which is saying something! Now to find something for her!! She tried on a size 2 (the smallest David's carries) and it was huge on her. That's next week's chore! I'm sure you will find something lovely. It seems like they are starting to put out the holiday wear now. Let us know what you find! Dawn

[kyravw]

::yes::

Hi everybody!
I'm glad that i'm not the only one fussin' over what to wear. In Holland we don't have your "prom" tradition so wearing my prom dress is out of the question. ( I don't have one) But,... i've come up with a good alternative... my dark blue chinese dress ( one of the ankle long ones with the short sleves and high collars). I'll work something out with chopsticks for my hair and... voila! A chinese-dutch -X-mas special !!
See you all at the ship!

Kyra

[Grumpy's Mom]

Kyra - sounds fabulous!! Can't wait to see you!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie:

No red heads in my family, though my mom, two nieces and one nephew have flaming red hair (read: orange).

(One of the read headed nieces is named "Keara" which is pronounced the same as "Kyra"!)

As to dress, I believe these times call for dressing up. I will probably wear the MM vest on Xmas. I've seen some people's pics with them on, and they photograph very nicely.

If I wear the tux more than once:

a) please don't snicker, and
b) it will reduce the packing I need, and
c) the vertical stripes on the pants makes me look taller!

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - I am surprised there are no redheads - it is recessive and usually skips a generation --

Snickering is just not the Disney way -- I am sure you will look quite handsome in your tux (will we recognize you without the fish?)

If you reduce your packing, does that mean Rieann gets to bring more shoes??

and as for the third -- everything I can think of to reply with would be subject to a BD response, so you can fill in the blanks yourself!

Bonnie

[Ginny]

Chuck and Zach will both be wearing tuxes (which we will rent for both when we receive our docs). Chuck did this last cruise and it worked out great - he wore it for both semi and formal night. The tux and all accessories were already in our closet when we arrived. Plus, as Jim pointed out (probably inadvertently).............more room for me.....more room for me!! Chuck, too, has a Mickey cumberbund and tie and will be packing them. I also gave him a beautiful tie last year for Christmas with Mickey on it. He wears it and it looks gorgeous.

No true red hair on my family tree but I am a purebred Irish lass. My mom did dye her hair red once once in about 1930 for her prom..................and it came out green!! Jim, do we get any extra points for trying???

Dawn - I am so excited for you - your dress sounds lovely. I will go shopping in the next couple of weeks.

Kyra - I have always loved the high neck style with the cap sleeves. I am sure you will look beautiful.

I am getting so excited!!

[Grumpy's Mom]

OMG -- did you see that someone posted they received their 12/13 Wonder Docs!!!!

ANY DAY NOW --- WHO WILL BE THE FIRST????

[jgalecpa]

Jim, do we get any extra points for trying???


There are ALWAYS points for trying;

[quote[ who will be first [/quote]

Someone on the east coast who Booked directly with DCL.

I used AAA.



Who did everyone book with?

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

www.*****************s.com -- the only travel agent who had any cabins left for the soldout 12/28 sailing - the one we had originally planned to go on --

They are national, and our agent is in Raleigh, NC

[kolakdaw]

I booked with BestPriceCruises.com--one of those internet cruise travel agents. I looked at ALL of them and this place was $1200 less than Disney for the same category (5). It seemed to be the lowest of the online agents. I still can't believe I'm spending this much money, but I think it will be a very special cruise! Dawn

[Ginny]

Dreams Unlimited! This is our second cruise booking with DU. We can't use them for land portions because we go through Shades of Green for our rooms and tickets but they've been great with the cruises.

Plus, I like supporting Pete Werner and the DIS when the price is the same as DCL. Of course, we are this crazy family on the 26 month planning cycle. Now, if they would just release the dates for New Years' cruise of 2005/2006!!

[hawkrn]

AAA this cruise and the last. Got a shipboard credit, which I believe is already gone (!) and my unlimited pop (not soda!) deal which that alone should be a xmas present for my son! We picked out a little xmas tree and some garland, etc at Target last night. I'm going to have to take an extra suitcase to fit the presents and tree in-plus take souvenirs home. I plan on getting the Haunted Mansion Clue game at WDW for his present, just wish that there was someplace else I could get it instead of lugging it home. Any ideas?

[hawkrn]

I answered my own question. Mouseshoppe.com and allthingsdisney.com are good sites. The second one is cheaper and they actually go buy it at the park for you. They have everything!

[jgalecpa]

So far I see no one who used DCL itself (we started with them and transferred to AAA)

It will be interesting to see who gets the docs first!

Let the Wait Begin!


Jim

[Ginny]

Julie -

If the game is exclusive to the parks, you may be able to order it directly through WDW Merchandising at 407-363-6200. I have ordered directly from them several times before and been happy with the service.

Disneyland also has "Delivears" at 800-362-4533 0r 714-781-4560.

Good Luck!!

[hawkrn]

Thanks Ginny!

[kyravw]

Originally posted by jgalecpa
So far I see no one who used DCL itself (we started with them and transferred to AAA)

It will be interesting to see who gets the docs first!

Let the Wait Begin!


Jim

I booked with DCL direct. I realize its probably not the cheapes way but from holland you need some extra centainties..... There are some dutch agents that have the cruise in their catalogue but the're very expensive.
Since I'm on the other side of the globe I 'll probably won't be the first to receive my docs!

Bye Kyra

[Grumpy's Mom]

Just an update - on the "Have you ever been upgraded" thread, one person has received docs for 12/13 Magic cruise and one has received docs for 12/18 Wonder cruise --- OMG!!!:hyper:

[jgalecpa]

Ok, Found an "excuse" to call AAA today.

Asked TA if I call them to request a specific rotation for dinner.

Really I was mentioning others the week before had gotten their docs. She said she'd "call" when they came in. I expect them in a wwke to 10 days (I like being a pessimist about somethings).

TA did say we call DCL directly about rotation. Has anyone requested one specifically. (APL/LAP/PLA).


If so why?

Jim

[jgalecpa]

Since we have "older kids", Passporter implies my rotation might be PLA.

APL Seems to be "younger kids".

I'm thinking of requesting APL as a rotation:

OK, Here's my logic:


Sat: Animators Palette (nice magical way to start your cruise)

Sun: Parrot Cay (after Key west; a "party restaurant after a party town)

Mon: Lumieres (The fancier restaurant for the Formal night (smart packing!))

Tues: Animators Palette (repeat, no show) Go to Palos

Wed: Parrot Cay on Mexicali Night. Island restaurant for Island party

Thurs: Lumieres, again, Xmas day, Captains Gala. Nicer restaurant on fancy dress night.

Fri: Repeat An. Pallette again, but for us the first repeat since we tried Palo's on tues. If we cant get Palo on tues, do Palo tonight.



You could avoid nice outfits for lumieres AND the Formal/semi-nights (at least for the dad's).

What do you all think?


Jim

[LynnTarrant]

Your logic, concurs with mine, Ginnys and Bonnies. I don't know if either of them have called yet. Bonnie was going to try and link our seating at the same time. I could try the I'm from out of town routine.. I'm not sure what I'm doing but could you help me LOL

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - My feelings precisely -- I think I have seen those reasons in print somewhere else.

I would expect that there would be more older (12 and 15 yo type) children at the SECOND SEATING on the APL rotation than there will be at the first seating -- really something to consider (if you REALLY want your children to have a good time (((read guilt jerk)))----------

How was your TA?

Bonnie

[Grumpy's Mom]

One more reason - if I remember correctly, Lynn brought up the problem with the Character breakfast - if we chose APL, we don't have to worry about that rotation interfering with brunch on Sunday, as I believe character breakfast is on Monday.

[LynnTarrant]

I think the character brekkie thing is the other way round Bonnie APLA is sun character breakfast and LAPL is Mon leaving PLAP with Thurs. I thought Ginny was going for mon group Brunch. Thats why I'd like to talk to disney ahead of time *** otherwise as 2 adults i can see us getting the LAPL rotation.

[Grumpy's Mom]

Lynn, I am sure you are right -- my brain can only hold so much today -- and I agree, we will probably get LAP if we don't request -- Bonnie

[Grumpy's Mom]

Sorry - I will get it together probably by bedtime tonight - can't keep my thoughts pulled together --

Lynn, was hoping we would have one more party of four to join us - but, alas, my techniques of persuasion are not what they used to be -- and it is rather difficult to do that in print!! I have one more tactic and then I will call - we have to link using our reservation numbers - I have to link with yours and you have to link with mine - so I will PM you when I am certain as to who all might be sitting close by -- (Teen girls, you know, their trips often are really made by the friends they meet -- and actually have the ability to spend some time with (like dinner) -- nothing worse than a pouting 12 - 13 yo-- IMHO -- and I would expect the ones from the upper south are as just as good at pouting as the ones from the middle south -- but then, I guess their daddy didn't really want them to have all that much fun ... oh, well ...) ;)

I had also PM'd Dawn, but haven't heard back -

Well, we now have less than five weeks - if there is anyone else (besides me) who has done absolutely nothing about getting ready for this other than reservations and some serious Christmas tree and ornament shopping, we need to form our own little club!!

Jim, I was thinking about all the decorations I would like to bring - we are going to need a lot of duct tape --

Any more ideas on the green mickies? I have one cooking - but am going to have to call out the cavalry (one of my GF's is a Martha Stewart wannabe - or maybe Martha S. would want to be my friend-- (she doesn't currently have any problems with the SEC)) as I can't quite figure out how to manufacture it.

Okay - so this is getting closer and closer and I am just getting so excited to see everyone at the terminal and meet everyone and their spouses and kids ... what a great holiday!!http://netforbeginners.about.com/library/graphics/emoticons/santa_smiley.gif


I thought I had submitted this earlier - after my last two -- but something got lost --- so this is out of order -

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie
Teen girls, you know, their trips often are really made by the friends they meet -- and actually have the ability to spend some time with (like dinner) -- nothing worse than a pouting 12 - 13 yo-- IMHO -- and I would expect the ones from the upper south are as just as good at pouting as the ones from the middle south -- but then, I guess their daddy didn't really want them to have all that much fun ... oh, well .

I'm taking a guilt trip!

LOL

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

If guilt was your last tactic Bonnie i'm not sure......seriously Jim it would be good to chat to you and Rieann over meals... No pressure you understand!!!!!!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - don't travel too far on that one -- It doesn't appear that our dinner times are within your or my control --

Lynn, I like your approach -- I did try that early on --

Our girls are REALLY working their dad right now -- DH's parents want to go to the beach (Fripp or Kiawah) for Thanksgiving --- the girls have decided that since we are going to be out of town for Christmas, they want to stay home at Thanksgiving for a more traditional holiday. :love1: It will be interesting to see the outcome of this - this is the first time they have really joined forces to change DH's way of thinking --

Just about had arrythmia at the mailbox - big white envelope with Disney in red in the upper left corner - on more careful inspection in the kitchen were the words "Visa Card" written underneath in tiny, tiny print.

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie:

Just about had arrythmia at the mailbox

CLEAR! [sounds of paddles being applied]

We ALWAYS go to the beach immediately after leaving TG dinner at my brothers. I plan on being in the surf fishing Fri. About 630 am.


Lynn
I concur with Bonnie, the seating time is not under my control. That being said, if anyone wants to link to us for the early seating, we'd love to.

Just don't expect to see all of us at bkfst!

Jim

[belle&beastcrazy]

Hi all

Just got home and the doorbell rang. It was UPS with our travel
books. I had booked on the Wonder cruise in Aug. 02 and just left it with disney.

Jim- we are the early dinner too.

Packing is under way. Hope the weather is warm and sunny.


KIM

[LynnTarrant]

oh kim
That means you're the first... how long will they take to fly across the atlantic.
This is really exciting now....

[jgalecpa]

KIM IS THE WINNER!!!!

I gave you Royal blue 'cause your in Front Royal.


Congratulations 100 times over!

It's gonna be a BLAST!




:wave:

[Grumpy's Mom]

http://www.diamond-webdesigns.com/webmastercentral/images/purple_fireworks_burst.gif

YEAH!! Congratulations Kim!!

Jim -- If we can't get them to change dinner seatings, we can do lunch!

DD=13 told me this afternoon that while I was out of town over the weekend DH told her that we were going to have to bring a Christmas tree for our cabin -- little does he know.... ;)

[Ginny]

Yesterday was a DCL Day for me!!

Congrats, Kim, on your docs. It looks like Virginia wins the lottery for Docs (I have no problem being #2 or #3 depending on P3Guy):

We got ours at 7:30PM. I walked into the house from the garage and Chuck looked like someone had just handed him a million dollars. He looked at me and said "So, how much do you love me?" I knew something was behind his back (that huge smile was a dead giveaway) and I said, "It's our cruise docs isn't it?" He pointed out that they were "his" cruise docs at that moment but he might be willing to share!! :) He was so excited............so very excited!! Plus he had just driven 13 hours from Indiana so was probably a bit punchy as well. :crazy:

Called DCL again yesterday as I had not heard anything from the previous call and had written it off to being too early. You leave a message and they call you back. Several of the processes have changed since our last cruise so here goes:

Great News!! We are booked for PALO for brunch on Monday 22 December at 1030. All pre-arrangments for a group brunch are limited to the private dining room which seats 14 (that is new). Additional folks can make their own ressie on 12/20 for the same time on Monday but Debbie cannot pre-position us (as a larger group) into the main dining room. So, once we fill the table for 14 which I think is already done, we can just pull together a second group of 6-8 and ask for a table near the private dining room. I hope everyone is okay with that plan! I will go back through the thread and just fill in the names of those who PM'd me or wanted to attend the brunch and will post it later today. If folks have changed their minds or don't want to attend, I understand and just ask that you let me know.

I confirmed that if you have the APLA (I always type that ALPO first), your character breakfast is on Sunday. So, if folks have that rotation, the brunch won't interfere with your character breakfast.

I also received some advice. If you link your seating with others, you will be in the same station/rotation with those with whom you have linked. There are several large groups on this sailing (120 people and 90 people just to name two). If you link too many people together (like 20 or 30), you may find some difficulty in getting what you would like for availability because you are competing with a group that booked as a group.

That is my update for now!!

P.S. Bonnie, I loved the fireworks!! And, no funky heart problems until I get my CPR renewed! "Bonnie, Bonnie, Are you alright??"

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny,

I am great ---- no documents ---- http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung0903/traurig/sad-smiley-047.gif


CONGRATULATIONS!!!



http://www.gifs.net/animate/firewk-grn.gif



Thank you so for the information on linking - we should probably get busy and get that taken care of.

And, many thanks for arranging for the brunch - it should be a highlight of our trip!

I will be staying home today -- waiting, waiting, waiting!!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Congratualtions Ginny!!!!

Sitting here on the "I got no Dang Docs" front porch!

Brunch sounds great! You da bomb for doing the arranging.


Bonnie, Lunch sounds purrrfect!

Gotta get back to my front porch....

Jim

PS maybe we should alert the NC paramedics for when bonnie gets her docs.

"Come into the light..."

[Grumpy's Mom]

Just saw the UPS truck ... go by .....

[kyravw]

Well I guess Holland is still on the map in the US. I got my tickets today. Time to start packing....

Kyra:hyper:

[jgalecpa]

Kyra Scores!


Holland -2-

Maryland -0-


Sing with me Bonnie!

Oh where, Oh where have my Disney Docs gone?
Oh where, Oh where can they be?
With my luggage tags and my boarding passes
Oh where, Oh where can they be?



Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Okay, Jim - let's try this one now --


Bonnie's Cruise Doc Lament
Two part harmony for alto and tenor?? bass??
(To the tune of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean")

My cruise docs have no-ot arrived --
My cruise docs have no-ot arrived –
My cruise docs have no-ot arrived –
Oh, bring me my cruise docs today -

Bring me, bring me, oh bring me my docs today, today!
Bring me, bring me, oh bring me my docs today.

I know they are somewhere out there–
I know they are coming my way —
I am so tired of waiting –
And hope to receive them this day –

{Refrain}

I wait patiently by the door --
I hope they will be here today –
We can’t get too excited quite yet --
Because we don’t know where we will stay –

{Refrain}

UPS please get here in a hurry –
I know you can beat Silver Springs --
The docs will all arrive in a flurry –
And we will all begin to sing –

{Refrain}

The EMS truck is on standby –
The neighbor M.D.s are at home at play--
You’ll know if I get them later –
By the bright red fireworks display!!

{Refrain}


Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Ginny, what do you mean by "there are several large groups, 120 and 90 to name 2?" Do you mean they are together???? No docs here in Iowa either. FYI, my Disney Visa newsletter said that Golden Mickeys is now not going to be on the Magic till January. Darn! OK, roll call -I am all confused as to who has early seating. Me, Ginny, Jim...anyone else?

[kolakdaw]

I've been away for a week at a conference in Chicago and it looks like I missed a lot of excitement! We are in the late seating. Bonnie, we would love to link with you. I have no idea how to do the PM thing, so I'll email you.

No documents here in upstate New York either!

Dawn & girlspirate:

[Ginny]

To all - Additional info

Here is the list that I have culled from previous posts. If I have missed anyone or if I have added you and you would rather participate in other activities, please let me know:

Ginny & DH
Julie
Lynn & DH (pending Character Breakfast)
Milt & DW (though we haven't heard from them in a while)
Bonnie & DH
Jim and DW (in casual attire)
Kim & DW
Dawn
Greg & DW (Beer on order)

Kyra - I didn't know if you were interested, but didn't want to leave you out so please just let me know.

The above list has us right at 16 and if Kyra decides to participate that would be at 18. That is a great group!!

Please PM me with your room number and full name if you would like to participate in the brunch.

To answer Julie's question, when I inquired about the potential for linking reservations to secure a specific dining rotation, DCL does still link ressies if you request but the caveat was that whatever was assigned would be assigned for the group. Then, they explained that with large groups booked together for the big Christmas cruise, they would be seating them in groups which might would impact other "linkings" of cruisers. Though nothing was specific, these were not groups that were formed because a travel agency bought chunks of room but rather groups of people who booked together like family reunions or weddings etc. They would be doing functions together so when assigning seating, etc, have probably booked seating at the same time/rotation.

On our Halloween cruise (an Eastern) we had a religious group of about 700 people who, for the most part, did not participate in the usual activities (excursions, shows, family activities, parties) but had many meetings in the ballroom and did utilize the Rainforest Room extensively. They had early seating and half of our dining room rotation was composed of their members.

[kyravw]

Hello,
I don't know yet if we're going to join your brunch. I'll have to ask my friend ( my husband is not coming) Just let me know the where and when and we'll show up ( or not). Don't worry about us, we're just not the "meeting with the group" kind of people. But if anyone is interested in learning how to play "settlers of catan" during the cruise let me know, I'll bring my boardgame.

Bye Kyra:tilt:

[hawkrn]

Ginny, I am skipping the brunch so I can spend time with my DS. I would love to go-but he doesn't understand why he can't go to the "adult" areas. He is upset he can't do some of the "enrichment" activities, like the tours of the galley, ship, etc. Thanks though! So sounds like we will fend for ourselves at the dining rotation and seating arrangements! I am amazed at the large groups!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie -- you get the A+ Mom award! I am sure this will be time well spent, that he will never forget --

What kind of decorations did the two of you pick out? I am having a time with this. The things I want to bring don't travel well. I am thinking I should be bringing plastic, wood, etc. and not glass.

DD-13 told me at Target yesterday that the 3 ft tree was too small -

Ginny - where do you anticipate putting your tree? I was thinking either on top of the dresser or a nightstand (is there one?). Is there any way to find out what the surface area is of either of those, or the distance from the surface of either of those to the ceiling? I had thought about the table, but everyone will bump it, and and that will be the end of it.

Will we need something to anchor the light cords to the porthole rims? I am not sure that duct tape would be the thing to put up there -- but I don't know what the wall surface or covering is.

Should I ask the folks on the Magic now to get a tape measure, and find out about the surface of the walls -- tell them that a bunch of nuts (maybe just one nut) want to decorate their cabins for Christmas and need help?

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

I am using those little suction cup with hook holders for the porthole lights. We are taking window clings too. My tree is just going to have garland and some cheap ornaments that we bought and intend on tossing when we're done. And I bought some magnet strips at Michaels but haven't figured out what to make to put on them!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, somewhere on this board I saw something about magnets that Andy (Verandahman) had written - apparently you can get magnet "paper", pick out clip art, and print it on the magnet paper, cut it out and voila! I will try to find it tonight at 11:01 p.m., that seems to be the bewitching hour for the search mechanism.

Suction hooks are a great idea --

[hawkrn]

Bonnie, magnet paper that you can run through your printer? That sounds weird! I remember as a child we taped xmas cut-outs in the windows (pre-made, thin cardboard). Maybe they still make them at a card outlet or something. You are doing the Budget rental too, right? I'm getting confused now as to who's doing what. I'm wondering if I drive to the terminal if I can unload my luggage to a porter and then drive to Budget with my DS so we don't have to take our suitcases on the shuttle. I know your DH is dropping you off first. What time will you be at the terminal?

[hawkrn]

Bonnie-I found Verandahman's magnet instructions. I must be behind the techno times. My magnets are definitely not going to look as good as his!

[jgalecpa]

I raced to the door when the bell rang unexpectedly tonight. My docs were....NOT...

"Hello sir. would you like to help us support...."

Ok. You with the docs. What's in em?

Bonnie and Jim want to know.


Julie:

Great Idea for the suction cup lights. Off to Home Despot!

Kudos on skipping Palo for DS. Very Admirable.


Bonnie:

We got the small Target tree that's only about 18' tall, but has a relatively heavy base covered in burlap.

I got a 50 light set (the smallest we could find) and plan on running the lights around the perimeter of the table I'll set it on, or something.

I figure that is about all the space I want to take up in a suitcase.

We are definitely bringing "stockings" so sounds like extra suction cups are in order.

"The stockings were hung on the Porthole with Care...."

I may bring a small can of wd-40 (in a ziplock bag), which is GREAT for removing any traces of adhesive.

[Duct tape, wd-40, Extension cords. Sounds like a west virginia wedding reception. Oops sorry. BD must have typed that.]


Jim

[jgalecpa]

Ok the tree is 18 INCHES tall, not 18'

It's not like size matters or anything.

[hawkrn]

Jim, we have the same Xmas tree! I figured I could stuff it in the suitcase and make it still look presentable when it came out (hopefully the airline will help out with that one). Isn't there only 1 outlet in the cabin (other than the bathroom)? It's over the desk (I remember it because I had to plug in my hair-dryer there. I don't remember any being near the bed because the clock they had was battery operated. If we have a porthole room, isn't the desk/tv down on the end with the porthole? I guess that would be closer but still, lots of cord to trip on! Can you take WD40 on the plane or will it explode? That would definitely be a mess!

[kolakdaw]

Ginny--definitely count me in on the brunch. I'm sure my daughters won't be missing me. They will be either--

a. Sleeping in
b. Off with new friends
c. Sunbathing.

I'm looking forward to it.

Dawnpirate:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - Mackenzie would love the 18' tree - the best we have been able to do in our house is about 10' (and it fell over three times that year). We finally figured out it was the dog roaming under the bottom branches ---

One year when our cats were young, they climbed to the top when we were out for an evening and couldn't get down --

If you are planning on trimming the table with the lights because you think you will have too many left over, wrap the branches individually with the light strand - start at the top at the trunk, and wrap from the trunk out to the tip of the branch and back down, then around the trunk on to the next branch.

I tried this two years ago - we usually get really big trees -- that year, I bought these beautiful crystal cut round lights at Target. When I had wrapped about 1/3 of the tree in $200 worth of lights, and the guy in the Christmas Dept. was tired of seeing my face asking for more, I decided to give it up -- However, that top 1/3 was the most beautiful tree I have ever seen -- without a spec of other ornamentation.


Yes, yes, yes, I wanna know what is in the envelope ---------


Julie, I feel like I need a spread sheet to keep up with everyone - I didn't read through Andy's thread long enough to see pictures - were there any?

We will be at the terminal hopefully by 10:30 - I want to get every minute of enjoyment I can ---- If you need help, let me know.

Bonnie

[LynnTarrant]

Yes please I'd like to know whats in the docs packet too.
I haven't been joining in the christmas tree discussion because, I didn't think I'd be able to bring one but last week while at the local garden centre supposedly buying rabbit food. I found a little wooden tree which comes packed flat in a box it has eyelets on all the branches and comes with it's own little decorations all in a box for a very reasonable price... I just had to have it.
My hubby is really into lights and gadgets so he might need to visit all your cabins to get his fix i can't decide whether to tell him you're all lighting up or not, I have visions of all clothes being thrown out of the cases, especially anything like formal shoes, in order to fit in his light displays!!! What do you think, should i risk it?

[Ginny]

Good Morning -

It appears that our group is now at 15 total (and we haven't heard from Milt or Greg in a while so am counting them until they decline or I need to give the final headcount). This will be a wonderful brunch!! Just as a reminder: There is a charge for the brunch per person so I need to submit the names and room numbers for the charges...........I am not just being nosy (okay, well, maybe a little).

I have heard folks mention that their DIS meets were a bit warmer in that room. Now, I don't know if they were cruising in December or it was just alot of hot air (did I say that?) but I will probably dress lighter and bring a sweater.

Julie - We will definitely miss you but I, too, think it is pretty special that you are choosing to spend time with your son!! If something happens and he meets a group of friends he would enjoy time with, I will be happy to head back to PALO and amend the ressie.

ALSO:

Julie brought up a good point and I wanted to clarify one of my previous messages. I am not trying to discourage anyone from linking their dinner ressies or rotation but since the "large group" info was shared with me when I called DCL, I wanted to let you know. Also, I think I wrote for linking of larger groups of 20-30 because that is what they mentioned. I would strongly encourage everyone to contact DCL or your Travel Agent (whomever you booked through) and make sure that your request for a dining rotation (whatever that is) is noted. I don't think you can switch from early to late seating until we board and, only then, if seating is available. Someone correct me if that is wrong.

Once you make sure your rotation request is noted, even if you link ressies, if you all request the same rotation, I would think you would have a better chance as long as the group isn't too big. I hope that is a bit clearer. Thanks, Julie!!

Jim - Do you frequent weddings in West Virginia?? Perhaps they tried to deliver your docs but, alas, you weren't home.....you were throwing rice somewhere. Just wondering!!

Jim and Bonnie and Lynn -

As directed (I am really good at following orders :scratchin - well I try hard), I present "The Documents:"

1) Your Travel Booklet: about 2 x 7 inches in size - (as opposed to feet like your tree) - - one booklet per person with all required documents, itinerary and luggage tags). I recommend you fill all the documents out before you get to the terminal. That way you can just breeze into to check-in.

2) A Gentleman's Formal Wear Brochure.

3) A bright orange card which specifies documents required for immigration.

4) Passport to Disney Magic - This is the information booklet with everything you ever wanted to know: What to Pack, Directions to Port Canaveral, Gratuities, Onboard Dining and Activities, Castaway Cay just to name a few. They used to include a map of the ship but I notice that is gone............possibly due to changes with the recent Dry Dock.
They also describe the stateroom amenties.

5) A commercial message for new Castaway Cay excursions of which we wise, savvy travelers are well aware and have already booked.

6) Disney Gifts - The brochure is a "dazzling, enchanting" array of gifts available for pre-purchase and delivery to your stateroom. You can view it on INKKOGNITO's website.

All of the above items are of the same approximate shape and size and fit compactly into a little "suitcase" in the Art Deco theme. (Please envision Carol Merrill on Let's Make A Deal as she brings your attention to the items behind Door #1)

Okay, are you feeling a little bit of the MAGIC. Do I have a future in
advertising? :jumping1:

I am sending lots of PIXIE DUST that everyone gets their DOCS today!!

Ginny

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny - you made me laugh till I had tears streaming down my face -- what a lovely vision -- Carol Merrill and her DCL docs!!!

Thank you for the goodies -- We are still anxiously awaiting a truck, any truck --

Do you mean to say that you think you might have seen Jim at a wedding and DID NOT go up and ask???? I can think of so many interesting opening lines, most having to do with a big fish .... and hoping it was him!

Lynn - yes, yes, yes -- tell him!! It would be so much fun to see what a true lighting afficionado could do! We are hoping for a verandah - and have plans for that!!!

I have just resigned myself to the fact that although my family could get easily pack one suitcase per only, we are going to have to take advantage of the two per rule - I am planning on leaving the tree in the box it comes in, and wrap all the ornaments in bubble. With the lights, etc., this will take a suitcase by itself. Now we just have to figure out how to get all of those from the airport to WL and then to the ship. Two cars?? Do rental agencies provide rooftop luggage carriers?


Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Good News/Sad news

First the Good.

Heard from our TA today. She has Our docs and they are being mailed out today.


Can't wait for the Suitcase.

And no, haven't done any weddings in WV lately....


Sad News:

If you haven't checked the regular DIS board, Nate Page has taken was sound like a very grave turn this morning.

Some things.....

:(

[Grumpy's Mom]

It looks like you are going to win, Jim --

Our TA DOESN'T HAVE OUR DOCS YET - she says they are on 12/16 right now - AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH

A cranky parrott -



Say a prayer for the Pages -

[hawkrn]

Bonnie, here's the link to Verandahman's magnets. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=465383. Hope this works. My docs are coming thru AAA so I don't have them either. Interestingly, my TA's son works at WDW as Peter Pan currently, but he usually gets to "play" characters because he's on the short side. So not only does my TA get to go to WDW for TA stuff, she gets big discounts for personal vacations because her son works there! I'm jealous!

[jgalecpa]

Here's a link to an office depot page with the magnetic sheets

http://www.officedepot.com/txtSearchDD.do?searchTxt=magnetic+sheets


Jim

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

Your pixie dust worked because my Docs got here today.

Our travel agent also threw in a nice travel WDW clock and a WDW tote!


BTW, Charge my room for the brunch (two only, please!). I'm listed in 2648 and Rieann is listed in 2646. I would assume you can charge them both to one room, but if they need to be charged to the room the person is in, there you go.


Carol Merrill, Boy that goes back.

Bonnie,

I am now throwing all my pixie dust towards NC so the parrots are less cranky!

I can think of so many interesting opening lines, most having to do with a big fish .... and hoping it was him!

"Excuse me sir. Is that a fish in your pocket, or ...."

pirate:

[Grumpy's Mom]

OMG!!! That was NOT one of them ---- :blush:

Congratulations -- I am certain that "Carol" did the packet justice!

I guess we will be cranky a while longer - The TA said she would contact me when they come in and I haven't heard.

Trying desperately to get this week's work finished up and getting ready for opening night of "Little Women" tonight at the community theater -- Mackenzie is playing Beth - the drama queen has a death scene!!!! She is quite worried about how her mother will react -- so am I.

Hopefully we can steal a few hours tomorrow to try on formals --

Bonnie

[p3guy]

Ginny,
I've been a little busy lately so I haven't been on the boards in awhile. Count on Tina and me for brunch. Thanks for coordinating that. Will pass our room number when it gets assigned. We made our reservation a bit late in the game through DCL. No Docs yet either but I'm expecting them anytime since they called us last week with our airline reservations.
Greg

[jgalecpa]

Welcome back Greg.

How is the five sided wind tunnel?

See you on board.

Jim

[p3guy]

Jim,
Life is the puzzle palace is about the same...busy as always. Thanks for asking though. Looking forward to the break the cruise will offer. I think we're set as far as the reservations and excursions we have control over. Still waiting for DCL to assign our room and move us to the early dinner if possible. We look forward to meeting you, Rieann, the kids and your fish...I assume you are bringing your fish(?) I won't recognize you without it :D
Looks like we have a terrific group so far. I'm especially interested in meeting our friends from Netherlands and the UK since I do distinctly remember be stiffed for a couple of pints by some rather rowdy P-3 and Nimrod flight crew members from each of these wonderful countries in times past. Perhaps some payback? We'll see.
Ginnny...thanks again for your efforts and advice.
Greg

[kyravw]

I don't know about other dutch on the ship but I don't drink so I can't help you there.....But if I know the british.....

Bye Kyra;)

[LynnTarrant]

Really Sorry Greg We're not drinkers either LOL.
Interested in your airforce references since our adopted son joined up a year ago looks like he'll be back in Iraq for Christmas, not so good but he seems happy enough.

Kyra What do you mean?!!
J
im i totally agree with Greg I'll only recognise you with the fish

[kyravw]

Oh Oh,

No offence meant! You are obviously not the british people i met on my holidays in thailand.

Again, sorry if i have offended you.

Kyra:worried:

[LynnTarrant]

Kyra none taken
I was only joking back with you
The Brits on your Thailand trip sound like Party animals!!:D

[jgalecpa]

Kyra and lynn
You are obviously not the british people i met on my holidays in thailand.
I've met those British people on Holidays in Barbados. A bunch of Royal SAS guys who had served in the Falklands and had fond memories of their stopovers in Barabados, the land of the 2 for one ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR.

It took all my Irish Genetics to keep up with those guys.


AND I'm glad to see everyone on this thread can take a joke.

That will be very important, or I'll be out of my element.

Jim

[jgalecpa]

Just went to a michaels craft store and found two things:

(a) set of six suction cups with hooks for holding lights onto porthole, etc $2.49

(b) set of 10 multicolored xmas lights for the small tree. Only 1.99. It is powered by two c batteries, so we are going to try it.

jim

[LynnTarrant]

OMG
I've found a great little restaurant in Key West for a get together. Check out Shirley's post entitled 'we're back' on the main cruise board for further details!!!

:teeth: :hyper: :teeth:

[jgalecpa]

Eat lunch Commando Style?

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim,

Did you read the rest of the thread? Ask Rieann what she is planning on doing with the girls -- sounds kind of scary - Jamie is going fishing -- there are a zillion fly fishing charters, and of course, just got an email from another guy in Grand Cayman --

Lynn - thank you for bringing that to our attention -- we may prefer to go commando style (i.e., sans tag), but not at lunch -- lol! Actually, I think Julie had the great lunch place - fritters with key lime mustard and pie???? let me see, we would only have 1 day to work that off to get in our formal clothing???

I guess I will be putting my$3.95 in the mail to Shirley tomorrow to see what else there is to do --

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Wow, that thread from Shirley did not paint a pretty picture of Key West. My friends love it but they never go with their kids. The restaurant DS and I are going to is away from "downtown" and on the wharf. So unless they have naked fishermen (!)....hey wait, I might have to leave DS in the kids club all day and sit down there with a margarita! I figure the trolley tour is safe and they wouldn't take us anywhere inappropriate. But we do plan on getting off the trolley and especially looking for those 6-toed cats!

[hawkrn]

I almost forgot to tell you that today is our 30 day mark until we go to WDW and DCL! So how ironic is it that I get the morning paper and on the front page is Mickey Mouse and how it's his 75th birthday! Weird, huh? There's also an article from one of the columnists (who's probably in his late 60's) about how he tried to do a phone interview with Walt but when Walt found out where he was from (Davenport, Iowa) he sent his Mary Poppins jet out to pick him up and bring him to Anaheim for the interview! Apparently Walt tried to get a cartoonist job here way back when and was turned down, but he remembered the area. How cool is that!

[jgalecpa]

Bon,

I did read the rest of the thread.

I am not going to go crazy worrying. Just use common sense and steer away from questionable material. We had to do the same thing a couple of times in Soho in London. Didn't make a big deal of it. Laughed, said something innocuous and went the other way.

That Key lime place is where we will almost certainly do lunch.

Conch Republic Seafood Co. I think it is.

Get the stuff from shirley (its great) and it gives you lots of ideas.

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

we be workin' on the fly fishing right now -- the Orvis place has an off shore fly fishing trip - catch sail fish, wahoo, tuna --- they go out 10- 15 miles (makes me ill just to think about it).

I could go for some key lime anything -- drinking this morning's stale coffee - ugh!

[jgalecpa]

I've never heard of offshore fly fishing!

Sounds very cool.

One month from today we will be flying to Florida.

One month from tommorow.......

[LynnTarrant]

Now Bonnie seriously if I go to the key lime place for lunch I could be doing commando formal night if I can't fit back into my outfit!!

BTW I can get into it now:Pinkbounc
One month to go heard from TA today she is posting docs to me asap

[Grumpy's Mom]

Yeah - Lynn!! Congratulations!!

I talked with my TA yesterday via email - no docs yet -- anyone else book a guarantee who HAS received their docs??

We'll be doing the under 30 dance soon -- :cool1: :cool1:

[Msteg]

Hi everyone,

We haven't been looking at this board for a while, sorry.

We have two rooms on the Christmas cruise. One using DVC points and the other is a cash reservation. The documents for the cash room arrived the last week of October. The documents for the DVC point room have not come yet.

From reviewing your recent posts I gather the DIS group would like to meet for brunch. Is it too late to signon for this? What about our kids? Any plans to get them together?

Mike

[Grumpy's Mom]

THIRTY DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jgalecpa]

Question:

When is November really December?

When you lose 1/2 December to a Cruise!

I notice the posting has dramatically dropped the last few days.

I bet its due tp the fact that we are now really scrambling to get stuff together.

We have a Big TG dinner next week with my nuclear family (25 of us from my M&D down to the nieces and nephews: Irish Catholic much?) and since we won't see some again we have to exchange gifts with those.

Shannon (DD-12) and I spent last Sunday wrapping 5 boxes of presents!

Rieann has to still find one more outfit for Shannon.

I Need to find how to make a cutout of my Fish so I can be recognized.

:Excuse me sir: You must check that fish in with your luggage:


But he wondered, how will he ecognize you all..................

Jim




:earseek:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim,

Been thinking about the cutout of the fish also - would you believe there are NO inflatables on the internet that resemble your fish???

Heard an interesting story on "Bob and Shari" this morning about a groom who gave all of his groomsmen inflatable sheep for their gifts -- but I guess that would be OT -=-

Still waiting for docs - can't figure out if this is good news or bad news - and thinking about the length of the list that is still to be done. Hoping to get into everyone's closet this weekend - don't want to think about shopping next weekend.

Oh, yes, the 16 pounds -- the tree, the gifts, can anyone find their flipflops?

Having the cast party for "Little Women" Saturday night - at least the house will be clean!!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie,

Don't laugh about the blow up sheep. My brother gave that as a gag gift at the sibling gift exchange one year. It went around for years!

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - this was told in the B&S "chatroom" - what one thing would you absolutely not want your friends or relatives to find in your house when you die -- apparently his was anatomically correct!!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie,

apparently his was anatomically correct!!

Yes, I am familiar with that product. Sounds like my Bro. got the same thing.

what one thing would you absolutely not want your friends or relatives to find in your house when you die

I'm not sure my friends would be surprised, I'm sorry to say.

jim

:earseek:

[hawkrn]

FYI, my airline sent an email saying that wrapped presents are not allowed and will be unwrapped by security. What do they do with checked baggage now? I know that you have to run your suitcases through a special xray machine, but are they opening all the checked baggage now and checking them? I thought if they thought something was suspicious they would open it. So unless your present was suspicious I thought they wouldn't unwrap it. Maybe I'm wrong. Finally got my docs yesterday. No magical upgrade I see. Oh well!

[LynnTarrant]

Docs arrived:Pinkbounc :bounce:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Oh, Pooh -- Julie - I was hoping that those of us who have had to WAIT were going to get a surprise!!

I am taking gifts and gift bags - easier to deal with, I think.

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

Congrats on the docs.

Bonnie,

Sorry about the docs. (Jeez, England gets 'em, Belgium gets 'em, But NC can't?)


The gift bags are a good idea.

We are lucky, since we are staying before (1 nt) and after (3 nts) in Melbourne, we will just have our gifts shipped down there the week before already wrapped, then open the boxes and repack the cruise gifts in the luggage.

Jim

[hawkrn]

ok, is anyone else confused on the dress code for the Mexicali night in the dining rooms? I remember a long thread about people wearing shorts and saying that DCL encouraged them to do so, but on our docs it clearly says "shorts and jeans not allowed" in the dining rooms. I think people were confused because when it describes the actual party it says something about wearing shorts. Personally, DS and I could wear khaki pants with our tropical shirts so it's not a big deal. But I never pass up a chance to "dress down". We will be changing back to shorts probably after every meal anyway. FYI, if you have been reading the "razor" thread, my DS did the animation class at the AP last year and didn't mention seeing razor blades and he used a pencil, not a charcoal crayon. That doesn't mean that the "animator" didn't use one, it's just that it wasn't left lying on the table with a room full of kids.

[jgalecpa]

Jules,

Did a search for Mexicali night and found this thread to be most helpful:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=416153&highlight=mexicali

Some wear shorts, but they are not suggested. Loud shirts seems to be the thang. I'll be fine in Kahakis a flowered shirt, docksiders and no socks ("Accountants Gone Wild"!)

Yeah, I saw the razor thing. Sounds like an Urban legend. Three circles pointed out it was this person's first post after three supposed cruises.

I know if I find a razor in my pudding, I want everyone to ask what the heck I was doing eating pudding!



::yes::

[Grumpy's Mom]

:worried:

Sorry about the docs. (Jeez, England gets 'em, Belgium gets 'em, But NC can't?)

There are posts from the January 3, 2004 travelers who have RECEIVED THEIR DOCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I dare to hope for one big fat upgrade for having to wait???

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

To everyone that's going, the MVMCP on 12/19 is sold out. May be more crowded than the one we went to last year! Do we get ABC on the ship? We usually watch the WDW Xmas parade on Xmas day but I wonder if we can get it in the Caribbean? I see that Samantha Brown is also going to film a holiday special at WDW. I want her job!

[LynnTarrant]

Julie I saw that as well, never mind keith and I will be semi comatose anyhow and we're going for atmosphere rather than to get on rides etc.
remember that we'll be the ones at the terminal yawning and red eyed!!!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

Great news (maybe)

i just looked at Dave DCLtribute.com website and he has a link to menus then holidays.

They served English pudding on Xmas!

MMMMM.

Jim

[kolakdaw]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Just think, next holiday, we'll all be aboard the Magic (and not cooking and cleaning--YAY!)

Dawn & girls:Pinkbounc

[LynnTarrant]

Sounds good Jim and means that I won't get into trouble with customs for bringing in contrabrand xmas pud!!
Three weeks today we leave for the airport by now our luggage will be all checked in and we'll be settling down for our last night on British soil for a couple of weeks.
We stayed late at school tonight and put up the decorations ready for the kids on Monday, It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!!

[hawkrn]

We saw the Haunted Mansion movie-you'll have to see it on the cruise. Everyone's kids will enjoy it-especially if they've been to the WDW HM.

[hawkrn]

Did you read Barb's post on "christmas on Castaway Cay"? Cool! By the way, what IS English pudding?

[LynnTarrant]

I read it Julie, It sounds very festive and we'll be there on boxing day. I feel as the UK representative on this site I should fill you in on English Pudding or as we call it here Christmas pudding but I'm sure Jim will add to it as he has fond memories of his Grandma's. i was very glad to see that they were serving it on board otherwise I would have had to hide some in my case for him.:teeth:
Christmas pudding can have a variety of ingredients depending on the maker but it is rich and dark and fruity. It traditionally is a suet based pudding boiled for several hours. It has currants sultanas peel and other dried fruits in it with spices like cinnamon and cloves, a fair bit of alchol is added to keep it moist. When it is turned out of the bowl onto a plate for serving a sprig of holly is placed on top and a tablespoon of brandy poured over the top this is then lit and the flaming pud carried to the table to be consumed with custard, cream or brandy butter.
Hope this answers your question, not sure if Disney will do the lit pudding thing but I'm sure they can manage the pud.

[hawkrn]

Wow, quite a production! Guess I won't want my DS to have any!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn,

Glad you don't have to smuggle any for me! If it was anything like we used to have, the weight of the thing would have put you over the limit on your luggage.

The tradition/production was always the best part of the thing. Eating was almost anti-climatic.

Hawkrn:
Guess I won't want my DS to have any!

Ah, G'wan. I never had a piece after the age of 13 and look at me! :bounce:

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

Yes I must admit i was never that keen on the taste as a child. Jim is right the making of it is all part of the fun, every member of the family takes a turn to stir and make a wish, then siver charms and a silver sixpence used to be added before it was cooked, as kids I'm sure that was the only reason we ate it to see who would get the sixpence. Nowadays that isn't done so much and I can't see disney following that tradition, too much chance of broken teeth and big injury bills:)
Now my favourite Xmas dessert is mince pies do you have them in the states?

[Grumpy's Mom]

Hi Lynn -- yes, we do have mince pies, though they are not quite as common as other pies - I remember making one with my mother one year. I know the mince meat came in a jar - I have never made one from scratch. My family prefers that old standby - CHOCOLATE! We always make a Buche de Noel for Christmas dessert - I am interested in seeing Disney's meringue mushrooms on theirs!

18 days -- OMG!!

[hawkrn]

My favorite DCL dessert last year was the Amaretto cheesecake creme brulee. Yum!!! My friend loved the cherries jubilee (another production)!

[Ginny]

Hi all -


I hope everyone is well and that you had lovely Thanksgivings. Yesterday we hit the two week mark and I am counting the hours until that plane lands in Orlando.

Mike (Msteg) - My apologies for such a delayed response. You are most welcome to join us for brunch! We look forward to meeting you. Please send me a PM with your full names and room numbers and I will add you to the list. Again, I am sorry for being so slow.

Well, my "formal wear trauma" has been successfully resolved by the purchase of a gown last Saturday. I went to a store in McLean, Va which was wall to wall evening gowns and tried on more gowns than my years of age (which is alot) and ended up with one by the company that I usually wear (although not in my usual size - but humility checks are good for us all). So, my family can all finally relax and no one was happier than Chuck!! He was dreading my dramatic rendition of the phrase " You all have a lovely time without me!" :)

Zach was with us for Thanksgiving and we had a great time. It only made all 4 of us more excited about the cruise. Chuck's mom is still with us so now that Zach has headed home to Chicago, we turned his room into DCL Central (I hope he doesn't kill me if he is still reading our thread). We only have two weekends left to accomplish so much before we leave for WDW and DCL. And, I do much better when I have one place to store all the stuff we need to bring and get organized. I still want to mail a box with presents, snacks and stuff to Wilderness Lodge so that it is there when we get there.

Julie, I'm so glad you liked Haunted Mansion. I look forward to seeing it on the Magic. Of course, the list of things I plan to do on the ship is endless which is why I need to slow down and regroup or I will need a vacation to recover from my vacation!!

Take care -

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny, mailing is a great idea!! Are you going to overnight your box, or do you have a method of calculation to make sure it arrives while you are still there -- or send it well before you are there to wait for you??

I am intrigued -- I am just thinking about how much I could mail down there, and how much I could send home if it is cooler in Orlando than we will expect on the cruise, i.e., long pants, etc.

I have mailed complete Christmases on several occasions --

May be better to mail the Christmas tree and its trimmings than to lug it on the plane - my imagination does run away with me!!

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

yes, Ginny, fill us in on the details of how you plan on mailing this. Do you just put your name on it and Wilderness Lodge?

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

Glad the Formal issue is resolved.

I have PM'd you my cabin info.

Jim

[kolakdaw]

My daughter just did a weather.com search and it is 81 in Grand Cayman at this moment (10:50pm). It sounds mighty good to us up here in Albany NY where it is now 15 degrees out and dropping. We have an inch of snow on the ground. It's always wonderful leaving weather like this! Can't wait! Dawn:Pinkbounc

[Ginny]

Hi all -

I have never tried mailing packages before but thought with bringing all the Christmas Decorations and now you can't wrap presents for the airline...............I needed a bit of Disney Magic to pull everything together. So, I will wrap our gifts and box those up, plus all the decorations. I think I may also check out NetGrocer to have a delivery made to WL or just send a separate box with snacks, etc. We won't have a car (which is becoming more of a pain as we get closer) so I am having to do a bit of innovation.

When I started thinking about this, I did a search on the Dis Resorts Boards and found several threads for mailing with package or box as an optional word. Here is one link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=448669&highlight=Mailing

I also started a thread about mailing home from WDW (instead of lugging warm clothes)............if you are interested. There are 10 responses with info.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=457203&highlight=Mailing

Also, just a suggestion from past experience. If you can ziplock or garbage bag stuff when putting them in the box for mailing, you might protect it from the different elements in our home towns. It may not be an issue but thought I would throw it out there.

ALSO - I got an e-mail from Shirley and she will be offering Table top trees (since they aren't live I think we squeak by the requirements) so contact the Perfect Gift if you are interested.

Have a great day.

Ginny

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny - thanks again for the great information!!

I read the thread last night which RellingTwin had started regarding apprehension going to Dis meets -- I think that most of us have passed that stage, and are really looking forward to meeting each other - I certainly am!! :goodvibes

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Ginny and all, I know that you can't take wrapped presents through airline security, but what about DCL security? You know you have to put your luggage through the scanners there too! I think I will just wrap on the ship and send my DS off to a movie or something. Our Home Depot finally opened last night so I got a bunch or Mickeys! They are pretty small-are you sure we'll spot each other? I guess we'll look for each other in the terminal and then the sail-away party? Ha ha-I watched the weather channel and it looks like all you Easteners are getting snow/ice today! We are snowless so far this winter!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, do you think if you wrapped everything and put it in a box and shipped it to WDW (I can't remember if you are staying there before) and then checked the sealed box as part of your luggage at port that would be okay? Certainly they can see through the gift wrap with the x-ray, but that begs the question of why they unwrap stuff to begin with.

Bonnie

[Ginny]

Julie - You bring up a great point. I was hoping to just check the box with the presents in it. But, I will contact Donna with DU and see if she has any info about presents at the port. Thanks for bringing that up!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny - did you stay home today??

[hawkrn]

bonnie, I don't know about Ginny, but I stayed home today! And I'm accomplishing nothing! I guess I am lucky because I am only taking xmas presents for 1 person and they are all small (nintendo, etc). So I will shove them in the suitcase. And I never understood the rationale for not wrapping presents, other than if it looks suspicious, they will unwrap it. And at Orlando, my friend was picked out to have her carry-on searched and she had presents she had bought but were in a sack-they went through those too. Now I considered the security at DCL to be about the same as the airport (they were searching carry-ons) so I would imagine they would unwrap too!

[jgalecpa]

Julie
Our Home Depot finally opened last night so I got a bunch or Mickeys!
It seems like just yesterday you said it wouldn't open for months!!!!

The time really few, in hindsight.




I would think that shipping the items to WDW and then checking it at the ship would be no problem. This may be one of those "Ask forgiveness and not permission" things.

If they try to unwrap every wrapped item on this cruise the ship will never sail.



We shipped the Mebourne FL people (the ones we are staying with before and after) their xmas box last night, and in it we had a little room so I.....


Packed my Duct Tape!

as well as extension cords, etc.

I thought it might look odd going through airport security with them!

Go to accuweather.com and they have weather 15 days out, so you can see the forecasts starting friday 12/5.

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Atta boy, Jim!! We knew you wouldn't let us down!!

How should we go about contacting you to borrow (steal) some?

Does anyone know if there are phones in the cabins? I wondered if we wished to reach others from our thread how we would do that onboard.

It's so close!!

Bonnie

[kolakdaw]

Bonnie--they must have phones in the room, otherwise how could you call room service? I bet it's just like a hotel, and you dial the person's room number. Maybe we should post them all and make a list to bring along. I have no problems posting mine--we're in 7612. I still didn't get my docs yet. The travel company said they don't send them until 10 days before, so don't even call to ask... We fly out two weeks from today! Dawn and Girls.:bounce:

[Ginny]

Hi, all -

I'm busted!! Boy, you can't get anything by Bonnie. I was eating lunch and forgot I was at work and the next thing I realized was that I had posted!! Hey, but Julie's point was a good one and, of course, my obsessive-compulsive personality took over and now I am in worry overdrive. Between "worry overdrive" and my "elevated guilt titer" - I think we can agree that a vacation will do me good.

But, what I really want to know is "How does time FEW?" Or, Jim did you mean "FLU?" I am really too confused! Oh heavens, I slipped..............better not say the word FLU on a DCL thread!!

For me, the best news of the day is that Jim has got the duct tape covered. So, we're golden!

By the way, they have phones in each stateroom and you can call room to room just like in a hotel. But, if you need to stay in touch with home, bring your cell and call from Ports where it will work. We have the previous bills for ship-to-shore calls and it isn't pretty.

Just added: Just read Dawn's post! Great Idea!! I have an Excel spreadsheet for the brunch with most of the folks listed and Julie had sent me her info earlier. I don't mind doing one for everyone that I can send by PM (or e-mail) if everyone concurs to share info. Let me know -I want to respect everyone's privacy and security so will not share anyone's info if they don't want me to!!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Ginny, that would be a great idea - I would love to have that information, and to share mine -- if I had any information to share ----

My TA sent me an email the day before Thanksgiving saying something to the effect of my documents would be in her office when she returns from her trip on DEC 8 and she would THREE DAY fedex them to me (I frankly think she had them that day, but didn't have time to send them off to me- I had called DCL the end of the week prior to Thanksgiving and the wonderful CM told me that my docs went out on 11/20 - and should arrive by 11/25 - which would have been the Monday of Thanksgiving week) I am not HAPPY about that at all - I still don't know our stateroom number and would like to have those in hand now (or one month ago).

I know that I could probably call DCL and have them give me the stateroom number, but there is just something so exciting about getting the packet and seeing it there in print.

I think we have quite a few very organized (shall I say Type A) people on this thread. Jim and I were discussing our mutual excel spread sheets for this trip - his is very thorough and even includes clothing choices for day and evening. Mine also has excursion details down to the minute, dining dress codes, etc.

Thinking back several months ago, we still don't have a name for our merry band of Dis'ers --

Edited: Thanks to Lynn's sharp eye - I hope my docs arrive BEFORE Christmas Day LOL!!

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-045.gif

[kolakdaw]

Bonnie--I didn't know my room number either until I got the confirmation from DCL about the excursions. It was listed in small type at the bottom of the page. I had a guaranteed room up until I saw that. Was your room number listed there? Dawn

[Grumpy's Mom]

Dawn, I haven't received anything -- Do you think my excursion confirmation will come with my cruise docs?

Did you get upgraded?

Bonnie

[LynnTarrant]

Hi all
In a bit of a rush. Xmas dinner for 10 tomorrow as Jez hsa to be back with his squadron on Sunday he flies back to Iraq on Monday:(
We are quite happy to share room no's Ginny i have already made a table of info that folks have been happy to post just so I could sort out all the families so if you want a copy I could e-mail it to you.
Bonnie I've read and reread your post at first i thought It was the difference in US and UK dates day/month month/day etc but no I really think you posted that DCL said your docs will arrive on Xmas day!!!!!:D
2 weeks today and we'll be in the air over the pond
lynn

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

Feel free to share my info. I have no secrets nor shame. (The last part, I Find, really helps)

BTW, time was supposed to "flew".


Bonnie (and anyone):


I packed about 1/4 of a full size roll of duct tape. All anyone has to do is ask and you can use some. I won't ask what for....


Lynn,

Jez hsa to be back with his squadron on Sunday he flies back to Iraq on Monday

All Pixie Dust for safe return!!!!

Jim

[hawkrn]

Does anyone know if this cruise will be at capacity? How many people is that anyway? I just can't believe that it is only us on the boards. What are all those other people doing?

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, I don't know what they are all doing, but they certainly won't be as well prepared as we are!!

[hawkrn]

By the way Bonnie, I had the excursion reservation people mail me a confirmation of my excursions. I received it about 5 days after I made my reservations. I would be frustrated too if I didn't have my docs. Who did you go thru?

[kolakdaw]

Bonnie--I faxed my excursion request and within an hour had the confirmation faxed back. I bet if you call them, they'll send it or fax or email it even. We're getting ready for a big storm up here. Supposed to be 12-18 inches of snow tomorrow. I am SO glad I decided to leave for Florida a few days early. I bet this happens again in two weeks! Dawn

[Ginny]

Jim - I hope you knew I was kidding about time "fewing" and that I can still be on the "Duct Tape Brigade."

Lynn - My thoughts and prayers are with you. Have a wonderful feast!
And, please, thank Jez for his service.

Bonnie - My post was supposed to read: "You can't get anything by Bonnie" as opposed to "You CAN get anything by Bonnie!" I've gone back in and edited. I am sending you lots of Pixie Dust about your DOCS. I would be peeved as well that no one else in the TA's office could send you those docs. I hope Dawn's idea works about the room number on your confirmation.

I was a little concerned this AM when WTOP (leading news radio station) had a rep from VDOT on addressing their new policy on clearing of subdivisions during snowstorms. If I understood it correctly......they will be plowing subdivisions last instead of intermittently during the storm!! Now, why did they wait until we bought a home in the farthest cul-de-sac of our subdivision before making this change? Were they not aware of my scheduled hair appointment?? This is not something I can cancel, it takes time AND many talented professionals to help me!

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

Of course I knew. You're on the duct tip list!


Bonnie,

Feel free to have DCL fax your confirmation directly to me if you like. I can call/pm/email when it arrives. At least you know someone has it in hand.

Let me know if you want to. If you need my fax number, just ask.

Just emailed my SIL in melbourne to pick us up a small can of wd40. She wondered WHAT on earth you'd use it for on a cruise (she knows me). I'm just glad I didn't ask her to pick me up some Bailey Irish cream at the same time.

Baileys and Duct tape on a cruise. As BD would say, sounds like a marriage made in heaven!


pirate:

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - what about the Bailey's? Are you going to pick some up before boarding?

Is anyone else bringing any kind of beverage with them? I am trying to decide what to do - I know we can bring our own on board. No one in our family really drinks enough soda to make good use of the soda program, and I am not sure I want to hassle with drinks AND the christmas tree stuff.

Ginny and Jim - did you all get snow today (Friday)? We got a phone call today from one of Kenzie's friends who lives in Woodstock, MD - she said they had 6" and were out of school -- we got a very, very light dusting yesterday morning, and more was to come on Saturday, but that forecast is now rain.

Ginny - how dare the VDOT tinker with your hair appointment!! Must not be a woman anywhere close to the level that made that decision!! She would have understood the issues of not being able to get another appointment in the same month, and the likelihood of not getting one the next month, either! Can you try out some of the latest hats?

Should I have asked for a mailed or faxed confirmation of my excursion reservations? I asked for a confirmation number, and I was told that they fall under the reservation number. I have called twice since then, and all of my excursions have been there attached to my cruise reservatoin. I didn't think about asking for anything in writing.

Julie, I used *****************s.com. When I first looked into this, we were going to go the week of 12/27/03 - and the ship was supposedly "sold out" in August. I couldn't find an available reservation anywhere, and at that time, there were no TA's in my city that specialize in cruises. Then I got the bright idea to search the web for "sold out Disney cruise 12/27/03" and they were the only TA that still had rooms from a large block they had purchased a year and a half before. When we decided to change the date, I stayed with them - she had been really helpful. This agency is a national chain, and she works out of her home, so there really is no one else to get them to me. I am just disappointed in have to wait so long.

Jim - thank you for the generous offer. I will call tomorrow to see if DCL might have sent it with the cruise docs. If not, I might take you up on your offer.

Ginny and Lynn - can you believe it that two weeks from tonight, we will be at MVMCP??? I'm so excited!!

And for everyone else -- two weeks from tomorrow!! We will be doing the "under 14 days dance"!

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Ginny,

My plan is to pick up some bailey's in melobourne. I can't think of anything better for that in cabin get together with friends!

We got about 6" of snow all told (2 yesterday and 4 more last night). Very Christmas like!

Shannon had done her snow voodoo: ice cubes in toilet, inside out pajamas and cottonballs on the floor. It worked so blame her!

Two weeks today, you'll be sick of me already.

Jim

[hawkrn]

hey Bonnie-we'll be at MVMCP too! Still no snow here!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, will you be in the park beforehand for dinner?

We will be at Tony's on Main Street with our respective families.

How will we know you and DS amongst the 24,998 other people there??

If you are in the vicinity - stop by at 5:45 p.m. --

Lynn, do the same - we know you will be in a fog -- LOL!

Jim - do you drink the Bailey's in something? (Can you tell, I am not a Bailey's afficionado, nor Irish, though to look at me, you would never guess that.)

I was thinking more along the lines of Courvoisier VSOP --

Jim and Ginny - hope the snow melts between now and the 18th!

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Bonnie, we will be in MK ALL DAY! We are actually going to stuff ourselves at Boma for breakfast (lots of coffee for me) then go over to MGM just to see the HM movie set then it's off to MK. We don't have any PS for dinner, just counter service like last year around 4:30. Is that how many tickets they sell for MVMCP? It did feel crowded last year! Did you read the new trip report about the 2nd day at Castaway Cay that the Thanksgiving cruise had? They had a new drink called the Snowflake-sounds awesome!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, I have yet to delve too deeply into the trip report forum - I feel like I spend so much time on these boards already, and from my cursory glance, I could probably spend a good 20 - 30 hours in there reading everything -- I don't have the time right now, as I have mounds of work for clients to finish before we leave on the 18th -- It doesn't look like there will be any decorations in my home, either!!

If you are on Main Street at dinner time, stop by and introduce yourselves.

Bonnie

[LynnTarrant]

Bonnie
We won't be arriving in the park until around 6:30pm, but on our way down mainstreet we'll stop in at Tony's and see if we can see you, It will be about 11:30pm for us by then so we might just about have our eyes open!!:D
All went well yesterday and it does mean all our decorations are up so that's another thing to cross offf the list, I've got one present to collect because it had to be odered , today is you've guessed it Jim Card writing day!! ugh Can you believe it 2 weeks today and we'll have just spent our first night on board.
Excited......me.....never!!

[jgalecpa]

Lynn:

No need to send me a card this year.

Seeing you will be enough for us.

Maybe next year!

:wave:

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

aw Jim!!!
You know how to make a girl feel good:)
Next year .... maybe cards... or maybe a reunion on the 10 day..... what da ya think?

[jgalecpa]

Lynn:

You know how to make a girl feel good

It's the "gift of the gab" thing we Irish have working (or is it blarney?)

See you soon!


Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

I think I told you all about a month ago that I needed help with one last thing if I could figure out how to get it on the board -- DD -17 finally got this together for me this afternoon.

I know we are all beginning to feel the frenzy of getting ready --

This cute thing is the last thing on my list to take care of - mostly because I don't want to think about it.

http://thumb6.webshots.com/s/thumb4/5/72/16/103657216dNWhWd_th.jpg

This is Mollie, and she joined our family in August - she is now five months old, and is NOT housebroken yet.

We have two cats, Fred and Emmy, who are litter mates, and about 8 years old. They have terrorized Mollie, so much so, that we make sure that she is either in her crate or with one of us every minute of the day.

I can't decide what to do with her. Leave her at home with a college freshman who lives 2 doors down to stay at the house (they have five kids, 3 in college, and grandpa living in - I am sure they would love to ship one up to our house), or send her to the vet for ten days. We have noticed that she is somewhat frightened when she hears other dogs barking in the neighborhood. I don't know if she will just be scared to death to be at the vet with about 10 - 12 other animals "on vacation". We have plenty of friends who would gladly take her for the time we are gone, were she house broken.

Any suggestions, hints, etc. about how to get this sweet thing housebroken in 10 days??

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Bonnie, is Mollie a dachshund? I have 2 dachshunds, the youngest one was also born in August! My oldest is a girl who is 4 years old and is just like Mollie in temperment. She would like nothing more than to be held all day and does not like to be around other dogs. She is only 7 pounds and is very petite for her breed. I have taken her to be boarded at the vets but then someone told me of another place and we took her there last December. Of course I was worried about her everyday. When we picked her up, they had moved her to the "isolation" area, not because she was sick, but because she got stressed with all the other dogs barking. They said they spend a lot of time holding her too. They also gave her a blanket from the dryer every night before they left. Now I have this male puppy who is a handful and is hyper and is also not housebroken. He is paper trained but went through a period of "marking" the furniture but hasn't done it for about 2 weeks now (got neutered 3 weeks ago). I wish I had housebreaking tips for you, but I am also frustrated! As far as boarding, I think vets put them in little cages, whereas if you find a real "boarding" place they put them in runs so that they can go outside without having to be walked. I heard about mine thru word of mouth and you have to reserve your spot about 6 months ahead of time because they are very popular!

[jgalecpa]

Bonnie:

Can you pack the puppy in your luggage and pretend he's a Homeland security Drug sniffing dog in training?

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim, believe me, I have thought about that. I had toy poodles growing up, and my mom flew several times with one in her purse.

What about a seeing eye dachshund? I could get one of the larger, handicapped rooms - handicapped guest who travels with personal physician --think they would buy that?

Julie - yes, she is a black and tan long hair with dapple coloring.

We finally broke down and got another one. Our first one, Bumper, was a female, and we got her from the pound three years before Megan (DD-17) was born. She had to be put to sleep 2 years ago this January, and it was a very sad day. She was 18.

I guess I will check the kennel that most of my neighbors use. I had gotten used to taking Bumper to the vet because her last year it seemed we were gone a lot, and I felt much better with her there. I am just concerned that the barking of the other dogs will scare her, but I guess she will get over that.

I just don't want to come home to another psycho animal - we will tell you the stories of Fred and our move from Birmingham to Hickory on the ship!

B.

[hawkrn]

Jim, I checked accuweather.com and I hope they are wrong! I'm sure that knowing the weather 15 days in advance is impossible. Anyway they are predicting cold weather in Orlando for our MVMCP (just like last year). I don't know if I can deal with being that cold again (and I'm from Iowa)! Maybe I'll check Key West's weather, etc.

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie,

they are predicting cold weather in Orlando for our MVMCP

How cold is cold??? Will we get any use out of those clothes on the cruise???

B.

P.S. Forgot to add that Mollie is a miniature also, but her mother was just over 12 pounds, and if you notice the size of those paws, she may be over the limit!!

[hawkrn]

low 60's during the day and low 40's at night. Last year when we got back to the hotel after MVMCP it was 49 but it felt a lot colder than that maybe because of all their lakes down there? I froze in a heavy sweatshirt, turtleneck and gloves. I mean shivering cold. Looks like key west, and everywhere else will be great! High 70's to 80's! Bonnie, I also grew up with a mini dachshund who was 15 when he died. He was a tubbo though. My female is I guess a "teacup" dachshund. Everyone thinks she is a puppy because she is so small. She's red shorthair. My male is a piebald which means he's black/white and tan.

[jgalecpa]

Julie

Want to feel good?

Go to accuweather, click on world forecast and type in: grand cayman.

Watch the "rf" real feel. next week its 101 and then cools down to 90's.

Do the same for: cozumel, mexico

Takes the "brrrrrs" away.

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Lynn, we got our cabin assignment - 7504!

And, for those inquiring minds, NO I DID NOT GET MY DOCS YET - my TA emailed me now that she is back from her trip -- and she has sent them second day Fed EX --

[jgalecpa]

Congrats on the room Bon,

I'd have that fedex tracking number and watch that thing move.

Also, about 3/4 of the time I use FedEx 2-day it gets there in one day.

I want to know AS SOON as you get them.

Rieann has not filled out ours yet, as she is waiting in sympathy with you for yours.

Went to AAA and got my travellers cheques today (While they are a bit archaic, I always have some just in case).

Jim

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim, while at the bank this morning, I got travelers' checks also - I think they are a much easier way to travel with money when you aren't sure there will be an ATM. I am planning on depositing some into our onboard account when we get there -- would rather do that than charge against the credit card, which by the time we sail should have a zippo balance.


My TA said that when she uses FedEx 3 day, the package usually gets there overnight. I just checked the Fedex site, and all that is noted is that the package was picked up in Durham at 7:46 p.m. At least they are on their way!!

Tell Rieann thank you, I appreciate her solidarity -- I will email as soon as I get them.

I hate to complain, but does anyone other than me think 101 is too hot??

Bonnie

[jgalecpa]

Oh yeah, 101 is too hot. When we get there it is scheduled for the mid-80's I think (RF).


Brrrrring on the Sunscreen, baby!

Jim

PS Because we will have Smas on thursday, does this mean we will miss our lobster tails?

:earseek:

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim - here's the link to Dave's site and a Christmas menu.

http://www.dcltribute.com/menus/christmas.htm

The only lobster I see there is in the bisque -- maybe they will have them another night?

B.

[jgalecpa]

B.

They better, or I'll just have to catch my own. (Don't worry, If I get enough, I always share.)


J

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jim, I hope you thought to pack the traps in the box you sent to Melbourne!!

We could have a lobster boil out on the secret area Deck 7 aft!

B.

[Grumpy's Mom]

Hey gang, while we are making our packing lists and checking them twice, I just noticed something in the Passporter that I had not seen beforehand, although it seems to me that Jim mentioned something in connection with this when we talked about dining rotations.

On page 183 of the Passporter, third paragraph discusses 7 night Magic cruise. "In addition, you are asked to wear semi-formal attire when your dining rotation moves to Lumiere's restaurant."

I guess we cannot take for granted that our APL rotation requests will be granted, so we may need to plan for two more semi-formal outfits just in case.

Does this mean that the men can wear their tuxes 4 times???

Bonnie

[Grumpy's Mom]

PS - I note that in reading further down this page, the Passporter recommends Victoria's Secret for semi-formal wear - Oh my! :blush:

[LynnTarrant]

Wow next door neighbours!! How cool is that!, we were quite pleased with the position of our cabin. Looks sorta quiet and out of the way but near enough to the stairs to get places. Are you pleased?

[Grumpy's Mom]

YES! Very! Glad to finally know where we are - and what luck -- to know our next door neighbors!!


Someone on another thread who I know had posted that she was in 7510 the week of 11/15 - and while there are many posts on the boards about less motion further down and futher aft, she said they had no trouble at all, and that the stairs were very convenient.

I am wondering what the open space on the deck plan is at the far of the boat?

B.

[LynnTarrant]

Not sure but possibly crew quarters or recreation?
10days until we fly, i have to keep pinching myself to believe it is really happening
L

[Ginny]

Bonnie - I am so excited for you and I have updated the roster to reflect your new room number.

Deck 7 has a wonderful secret verandah area aft. If you don't know it is there, you will miss it and it is open to everyone. It is just another open deck area with chairs, etc. This is where we went to watch the CAPT attempt to dock at Castaway Cay. He didn't make it but it was a great place to watch him try.

I have sent PM's to Greg (P3Guy), Kim (Belle&BeastCrazy) and Milt (Magic8540) to check on info for brunch. I sent it about 2 days ago but haven't heard back from any of them as yet.

So, Jim is going to catch lobster for us all with the traps he mailed down to Melbourne? And, then he is going to serve it to us all at Lumiere's because with all the Pixie Dust we have going....we all got the rotation we requested, I'm sure. Did I summarize everything correctly??

[hawkrn]

Lynn and Bonnie, are you exactly right next door to each other? That would be so weird! Speaking of weird, we are having a THUNDERSTORM of all things, right now. This is December isn't it? The dress in Luminieres is not "semi-formal". I wore a sundressy type thing, some women were wearing pants and blouses. Guys were wearing open-collared shirts and some did wear jackets. But we were on the wonder and didn't really have a formal dinner. What I really mean to say is that I did NOT wear pantyhose! hee hee. And there better be lobster! If you read one of the posters Thanksgiving trip report they had lobster on one of the nights. Might have been Thanksgiving

[jgalecpa]

Lynn & Bonnie<

I notice that 7504 is an adjoining room with 7506.

If you have those two, it will make for a great Party Room!

Two fridges for Baileys, etc.

And yes, Victoria's Secret for semi-formal wear

I'm glad to see someone looks out for the guys point of view as to what is proper (un)dress on a woman.

[Grumpy's Mom]

http://ww.glambam.com/images/animations/works/aniworks6.gif

The docs have arrived!!

Do I get the prize for being the last one? Anyone else out there without docs?

Jim, I believe Lynn and DH are in 7502 - but that was a good thought!

[jgalecpa]

Just wanted to make a suggestion, in case you haven't thought about it.

I always call my credit card companies to let them know I will be out of the country and for how long.

That way they don't freak out if they see a charge in Mexico or someplace.

Bonnie:

Yeah!

Great news!

Jim

[LynnTarrant]

Alright Bonnie!!
Sorry Jim but Bonnie is right we're in 7502.
If Victorias secret sells over there what they sell over here the formal night will be very interesting between that and our new Key west lunch venue I'm beginning to wonder what I've signed up for
;)

[jgalecpa]

Lynn:

If Victorias secret sells over there what they sell over here

Yes. Yes they do.

:earseek:

jim

[LynnTarrant]

Goodness I think I'd better rethink my wardrobe I feel I might be overdressed for the occassion!!:)

[hawkrn]

FYI,on Sunday night the Travel Channel is having a WDW holiday special followed by the DCL special (if you don't have it taped already). And Jim, weather.com (weather channel) is giving 10 degrees warmer for Orlando and Cape Canaveral. I'm hoping for them (please, please)!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Well, after all is said and done, DH was talking with a neighbor at the hospital Tuesday night whose family was on the Wonder for Thanksgiving.

Seems they really enjoyed their Verandah.

DH wants to upgrade.

The important thing about this is the response from my TA:

"Everything is full on the ship."

[hawkrn]

Bonnie, do you have a room with a porthole? That's what we have. A verandah would have been great, but.....

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, yes we do --

But DH got the full description of sitting on the Verandah and watching the sun go down while drinking wine and eating cheese --

And I am sure the cigars have something to do with this, although unless our neighbor told him, he probably does not realize that he can't smoke those things anywhere except on deck or out on a verandah!!

The TA put us on a wait list --

I don't remember what the cost differential was, I don't know if I even checked into that at the time - do you?

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

Didn't check, mainly because this Xmas cruise was a lot more expensive than the other cruises. The cruise coming up this Saturday was significantly cheaper than ours! But I'm happy just to be on it! We didn't book until January-it sounds like Jim booked 4 months before me! What's capacity? I suppose could look in my book!

[hawkrn]

By the way, what day are you leaving? We are leaving a week from today! We will actually be at WDW (barring no aiport delays) right now!

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, our flight leaves at 7:30 p.m. on the 18th - I know - one more week!

I have put everyone on notice that this weekend they have to get all of their clothes organized, and packed as best they can.

We booked this cruise the end of August, 2003 - and it was plenty expensive then!! That is why I didn't even bother with a verandah, nor would I have even mentioned it to DH, as that would have been really pressing my luck at the time.

I am betting that the upgrade will be in the range of $1000 - I am not willing to pay that, I don't know about DH.

I didn't want to pay the airfare - I love road trips - but DH didn't want to drive down.

Bonnie

[hawkrn]

You could do a lot with $1000! What time will you get to Orlando? And then you're renting a car thru Budget, right? Don't forget change for the tolls! Yes, I also told DS that this weekend he has to try on his summer clothes to make sure they still fit. I went to the post office and had a hold put on my mail, next is the newspaper. And remembering to put the bills out before we leave! What are you going to do with your little puppy?

[Grumpy's Mom]

Julie, I made a reservation at one that several friends use. I was talking with my next door neighbor this morning who has a Siberian Husky - she always uses the vet, the same one we use, and used to board our first Dachs with as she got older. My neighbor says her dog loves to go there, Bumper did not.

Still have the option of a college student from down the street, that way the house will look lived in, etc.

B.

What are you doing with your two?

[Grumpy's Mom]

We will arrive in Orlando I think at 9:00 - get a car at Budget, and then to WL.

Sounds like you will be there earlier in the day!

B.

[hawkrn]

Boarding at a kennel. I know my 1 dog last year was $125 for the 8 days were were gone. can't imagine how much 2 will be (hopefully if they share the same run it won't be double what it was). We have to take them Wed. because our flight leaves at the ungodly hour of 5:10AM on Thursday. So Wed night will be lonely and quiet around here! By the way, last year my dog came home and promptly went right up to my bed and peed on it. Never, ever did that before or since. I think that was her way of showing her true feelings about her little "vacation". I will watch her like hawk this time! It was sooo wonderful to come home from vacation and have to wash your sheet, blankets, etc when you have suitcases full of dirty clothes!

[jgalecpa]

Passporter says the ship's capacity is 1750 at double occupancy and close to 3,000 at "Full capacity", so we are somewhere between the two!

Shannon and I made our "door magnets" last night with our office depot magnet/phot paper. I used clip art I gathered into a word document and cut and paste into a new word document.

It was really quite easy.

If anyone wants I can email both a copy of ours and a copy of the clipart.

Just email me at JGaleCPA@aol.com

As to verandah issue, I'm the traditional frugal acct who lives by two rules:

1. Always book a cheap room on a great ship,

2. I'd rather take four cruises with portholes than three with verandahs.

But hey, that's just me.


Regarding the Animals:

I think that was her way of showing her true feelings about her little "vacation".

And they call them "Dumb" animals!

Bonnie,

I'd probably favor the college student in your case.

[hawkrn]

Jim, we did magnets the same way! Since we're also on deck 2 we'll have to check your's out!

[LynnTarrant]

Julie
Our house Bunny did exactly the same on our sofa> They definitely aren't dumb.
Jim
I've emailed you for copies of your clip art
Thanks lynn