Roll call for the 10/23/2004 Western Magic. Who's with us?

[faithmagicmickey]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pdarrah
[B]Hi Faith - I just sent you an email with a different address you can try. It is really odd that my email isn't working right. I've had this account forever (sprynet.com is now part of earthlink.com) and it has usually been very reliable...

Hi Pamela, I resent it under a jpeg file this should work fine now.

Thanks, Faith:wave:

[DudetteTwo]

I heard there is nudity during the Fantasy Fest too! That both men & women paint there entire bodies & walk around nude! :eek: :earseek:

It is cruise:boat: time! I am getting very excited:jumping2: Just need my airfare to get me there!

Worked Monday & Tuesday, Los Amigos after work with Joyce. Today went to lunch with old friends who are returning to Argentina on Friday. They met my boyfriend Bobby for the first time. They want us to me to Buenas Aires for vacation. They could be fun! Have a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[pdarrah]

Hi Jeanne,

I sent you a PM a few days ago, but I don't think you have received it. Maybe I did something wrong. Should I try and resend? Faith managed to get an email through to me today, so maybe those problems are solved.:)

Pamela

[DudetteTwo]

PAM: Got your PM & tried both addresses & both still said "undeliverable" so now I don't know if it is my computer or yours. I will send you a PM with all the information.

We are having storms but the computer seems to be functioning. Toodles, Jeanne

[pdarrah]

Hi Jeanne,

I'm not sure what is up with the email. The PM worked great! Were you trying to email any attachments (a photo?) or was it just text? If you get a chance and can copy the error message to a PM it might give me some idea what is causing this....

I have added your info to the site. If you would like and changes/additions, just let me know. :confused:

Pamela

[pdarrah]

:jumping1: Double Digits!!! :jumping1:

I can't wait ....

Well, I guess I HAVE to wait - but I don't like it!

I have posted all the info I have been sent to the website. If anyone sent stuff and it isnt' there, please try to resend or PM. There seem to have been weird email glitches and I don't want to seem to be ignoring anyone.

Pamela

[faithmagicmickey]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pdarrah
:jumping1: [B]Double Digits!!! :jumping1:

I can't wait ....



YAHOO!!!:tongue: :hyper: ::yes:: :yo-yo: :rotfl: :cheer2: :thewave::earboy2: :hyper2: :cool1:

[abitjaded]

Hey all,

Had a good week at WDW, but we are all bushed. A few days we did Early Entry, yipes, never again in high season.

Pamela, I emailed you about the website, forgot to add we are from Denver, Colorado.

Sandy, sorry for you. I empathize. We usually take my 87yo mom on trips, but we thought it would be easier to leave her home. With all the problems she has and all the arrangements it took to do that this time, I wonder....

Pooh Friend, welcome to the personal purgatory of trying to arrange air from Denver to MCO. Fun, eh? If the times are right, it costs $700. If you get a deal it takes the whole stinking day to fly. I PMd you. We finally bit the bullet and booked American, $129 plus $30 tax via Travelocity, leave at 4:00 Fri, arrive really, really late. Return is leave at 6:00 Sun and arrive really, really late. It will be ugly the next morning when the kids have to go to school.

Is anyone planning on hitting Epcot before or after for the Food and wine Fest? Don't think I wanna toss Tonga Toast on the RnR. Ye gads, reminds me I need to get Saturday night teacher's rate at The Swan or try to get a deal for the Contemporary. Want something easy in and out of Epcot.

Carla

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know about some website updates.... (www.bwdarrah.com/dcl)

A bunch of us are now in the "Who's Going" page.

I have added a LOT to the "Links" page. After reading a couple of Key West guidebooks and doing a little web surfing, there are now many more Key West links. Although some of the standard attractions are listed, there are also some more unusual ones. If anyone wants to add anything, just let me know.

Once I read more on Grand Cayman & Cozumel, they will probably expand also. (This is a little self-serving - this way I don't have to put them all into my bookmarks and clean them out after the trip! :cool: )

Pamela

[jiminyC_fan]

Thanks Carla. Ted's dad is doing better. As of today he is home from the nursing home and his kids will take turns staying with him until he recovers. We are still very busy getting his house in order. Ted and I are flying Frontier out of DIA on the 21st and staying at Ron Jons for 2 days. We leave Sat the 30th like around 4:30. Luckily we got great rates and straight through flights plus tv for every seat. Looks like my dd,Heidi, (Pooh Friend) will probably end up taking American Airlines.

Pamela, I have to get on the ball and email you my info. Thanks for the work!!

[DudetteTwo]

SANDY: Heidi made me nervous with the airfare so I booked it Thursday. We are flying down early Thursday around 7:00 AM & our flight home is around 4:00 PM on Saturday too! We can play in the airport together!!!!!!

Hope you all are getting excited:jumping4: :jumping4: I know I am! Still need to lose some weight to fit in those cruise:boat: clothes. I may have to buy some new ones since I don't want to look the same in all the pictures! Sandy you need to take me shopping! I thought I was a good shopper but I think you won!

Have a great weekend. We will try to stay dry - going to rain:umbrella: again tomorrow. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi All :wave2:

I don't know about you guys but I've been working way too hard, last week I pulled about 50 hrs. Today I finally have a day off and it's raining out :umbrella: Oh well I guess I will have to stay in the house and clean. :crazy2:

I'm so excited we went on line last night and got a great price for our tickets on "Southwest airlines" $45.00 each way. Not bad!:hyper:

I hope you all have a great week.

Faith:wave:

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Faith - I wish I could get $45 tickets. So far I had a great deal at $183, but I lost it. Waiting for it to come around, hopefully on Wednesday it will be back down to $183.

Jeanne - you finally booked a flight!!! Now I have to book the flight, and book the cruise too. Still a little hesitant about booking this cruise but I am trying to be brave. I don't want to be a third wheel, and other memories make me hesitant.

Carla - thanks for the PM. I hate booking flights from Denver and it does look like I will spend all of Friday just to get to Florida or else I have to take out a loan for a nonstop flight. My parents are so lucky!!!

[jiminyC_fan]

Yes, we are lucky Heidi! We have you! :love: Oh, oh wait. You meant because we have our tickets. We are lucky there as well.

[DudetteTwo]

FAITH: How did you book on Southwest? It would not let me book past 10/29/04. I paid $176.70 round trip. I'm jealous :snooty: of your $45.00 flight! I cleaned my house too!

HEIDI: Get busy!

Is everybody getting very excited?:jumping1: I have a small vacation to Virginia Beach but the only vacation I am REALLY looking forward to is this cruise:boat: I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you all have a great week. Back to work tomorrow & Saturday. Thursday I am leaving off my car to get the driver's side window fixed - it is stuck up. It also needs a tune-up, oil change, light fixed & a recall to get fixed. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[abitjaded]

Hey Pooh, don't worry about third wheel, lets all meet up early on and you can be our fifth wheel if parents need "space".

Love your sites Pamela, the Key West stuff is great.

Carla

[faithmagicmickey]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DudetteTwo
[B]FAITH: How did you book on Southwest? It would not let me book past 10/29/04. I paid $176.70 round trip. I'm jealous :snooty: of your $45.00 flight! I cleaned my house too!

We just kept on checking and the other night they had up to Dec so we went for it.

Faith

:wave:

[pdarrah]

Pooh - abitjaded (Carla) is right, you can hang out with any of us DISers (is that spelled right?)

Carla - thank you for the kind compliments! I am surprised at how much interesting stuff I have found about Key West. Today, I added a few things for Cozumel, but I am still working on that.... Grand Caymen seems to be the hardest, although the official site is actually fairly good.

Today, I made up my mind and booked us for Captain Marvin's 1/2 day (10am-1pm) snorkel tour. I decided that the full day might be too much for a 5 year old and I didn't want to try and be there by 8:00 for the first short tour.

The snorkel practice with DS5 is actually going pretty well, but I need to take him to a bigger pool! In his little "quick set" pool, he can just stand up and that isn't giving him a very realistic feel for this!

Pamela

[skylynx]

Hi, Everybody

Jeanne--I had to laugh at your concern about having the same clothes on in the same pictures...I found to my horror while looking at pictures from past cruises that I was wearing the same tropical fish outfit ALL THREE TIMES we were in Nassau! I am officially retiring that outfit from Disney Cruises.

Does anyone else have a "Cruise/Vacation drawer" or suitcase that they stash stuff for upcoming trips into? My habit of doing this started when I was little and my family would go on the annual drive from NY to Florida (very pre-Disney) We went to Daytona Beach and St. Augustine and Ocala (for my horse fix). Then, the big attractions were Weeki Watchi and Rainbow Springs, Six Gun Territory, Silver Springs, Monkey Jungle, Parrot Jungle, Marineland...wow...anyone else a veteran of "old Florida circa 1972 BD? (Before Disney) Anyhow, weeks before the annual pilgrimage my mom would start buying me and my two older sisters new clothes and sneakers and socks and coloring books and they'd all go into our respective "vacation drawer". That way, on every day of our trip we'd have new outfits and hair ribbons and socks! That my dad would take Super8 movies of us wearing! I STILL have a "vacation drawer" which now has some cruise clothes and jewelry and a hat/tote bag in it for our October Magic trip. I think it helps crank up the anticipation enjoyment to admire and fondle those new things, still with tags on, before all the Bahama Mama spills get on them and the tote bag gets full of sand!

It is not long at all now...we got super cheapola tickets on ATA from Chicago Midway. In our Tribune this morning, Spirit was advertising $39 each way tix to Orlando. Catch is you have to fly down on a Thursday and back on a Monday, and my husband started a job recently that is like a POW camp. No days off until the cruise in October. He's looking for something better, since his boss is exactly like the mean boss in the movie "Gung Ho," just without the eventual self-realization of his de-humanizing practices and repentance. He thinks John should take away his team's chairs because they will be more "efficient" if they have to stand up. Crikey.

It is miserably hot here in Chicagoland today, so I'm going to hide out somewhere cool with my 8yo son. My 11 yo daughter is at camp touring Walmart freezers at night and wearing towel turbans to meals. This camp has an "Owl" group that runs around all night and sleeps during the day. I can see pictures of her on the camp website, eating ice cream in Walmart's freezer at around 3 a.m. All I ever did at camp was make lanyards and compare mosquito bites.

Have a great day, everybody.

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Originally posted by jiminyC_fan
Yes, we are lucky Heidi! We have you! :love:
No mom I am still not buying you all the drinks, no matter how much you suck up!! :p

Thanks guys for all the offers. Everyone is so sweet.

I know Jeanne, time to get a move on, I was going to book the $183 tickets but lost it when I found out how cheap it was because when I tried the flight going home for that price would be at 7:00 am, don't think I will make that one!!!

[abitjaded]

Well hey Pooh, you could easily make that flight, just book it with Expedia and use that phone reminder function. Then your darnded phone will ring at 4:00 A.M., then again at 5:00, etc... to wake you up on time for the flight. Even if it is your home phone and the reminder is for DH's flights leaving in Kentucky, happened this morning, wanna kill the guy.

Skylynx and Jeanne, that is partly why I had to go shopping. My standard dress is jeans or jean shorts and tees. Had to upgrade a bit to show up at my kid's school. But all my dressy stuff was the same old. The pictures from both cruises are only distinguished by the change in those present and what the guys were wearing.

Skylynx, feel for your husband, the witch I used to work for pulled the last straw over vacations with many of those who HAD worked for her. Even though all of us had more than enough vacation time, she would always pitch a fit (Psychiatry department, no less.) It got really old, but I reported her to Human Resources and gave two weeks notice of my early retirement when she was on a ONE MONTH vacation. Never even had to look at her nasty face again when I finally did not have to work over Christmas and carry the stinking pager ONE MORE TIME over the holidays. Oh, it was sweet.

Pamela, try my standard kid's snorkel training ritual. Fill the bathtub with soapy water, then toss in a bunch of small items, coins, shells, drain clogging Leggos, then make him retrieve the stuff using his mask and snorkel. Try running snorkeling or diving as key words for Cayman, since that is about all that goes on on that island. You might pick up some stuff looking at the web sites of some of the shops listed on the pdfs on Barb's site for the shopping guides. How big are Marvin's boats, I was going to book that too, if I have not fooled around until it is too late.

I have special spot in the closet for all the cruise stuff, lightsticks picked up after Halloween, un-holey underwear. Plus I keep a spot under one of the bathroom sinks with motion sickness meds, sunblock, contact stuff and reading glasses, the over-the-door shoe holder, frizz ease and toothbruhes, small deodorant (I always seemed to forget those in the past). Another favorite stash spot is the net compartments in the suitcases, detergent tabs, disposable ponchos and tea bags. Backfired one year when the mice got into the suitcase closet, boy was that ugly.

Oh geeze, the last few days have been nuts, and I realize I have probably blown getting Food and Wine ressies for October 30th or 31st.

Carla

[DudetteTwo]

DENISE: I leave my suitcase open from this point on & just keep putting things in it. You know the new underwear, socks, outfits, etc. What great memories you have of your childhood! My parents NEVER vacationed so I promised myself that vacations would be a priority for my family. I have to admit my kids got sick of Disney:earseek: We went skiing in the winter & always took a summer vacation together (now I have to bribe them to go on vacation).

I started the diet AGAIN today since I don't know if I'll have money to buy new outfits! I do have a new outfit from the holiday party last year. I am really excited:bounce: :bounce:

We are experiencing the three H's again in New Jersey - hazy, hot & humid :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: Hope you all stay cool:cool2: Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[DudetteTwo]

I guess everyone is on vacation.....

FAITH: I don't feel so bad about my airfare. I went on the Southwest website & they were the same price as AirTran to fly from Philadelphia to Orlando. Did you get my e-mail about "The Dolphin"?

Car still not done so I am stuck in the house again. Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow but I am working ALL weekend. Hope you have fun for me this weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by DudetteTwo
I guess everyone is on vacation.....

FAITH: I don't feel so bad about my airfare. I went on the Southwest website & they were the same price as AirTran to fly from Philadelphia to Orlando. Did you get my e-mail about "The Dolphin"?

Car still not done so I am stuck in the house again. Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow but I am working ALL weekend. Hope you have fun for me this weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE


Hi Jeanne, yes I did get your email, Thank you
Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow and for the next 3 days. :tongue: :hyper: I hope the weather is better than it has been. ::yes::
Faith :wave:

[jenmack]

Hi! I was reading all of your post's & I just had to suscribe here. You all sound like a great group of people! :)

This will be our 1st time on DCL, our first cruise ever.
We are...
myself (33)
dh (48)
ds (9) will be 10y a week after our trip.
dd (7)
ds (3)
(I hope I did that right) :)
My dh say's I'm obsessed. I have been trying to find all I can on DCL I have found out all sort's of info & good tips on this site. I guess you could say I'm a little excited, but anxious & I just want everything to run smoothly. It sound's like you guy's have a lot of fun. What do your kid's think? Do they like the lab's? What about the excursion's? I don't want to over due it. Anyway, I hope to keep in touch. Thank's -Jen
October 23rd & counting... :earsgirl:

[pdarrah]

Hi Jen.

I'm also a first time Disney cruiser (2 other cruises over 10 years ago on another line...) and my DH also thinks I am obsessed! For the last few weeks I have been reading hundreds of posts and trip reports. I have even started a box in my closet where I am putting stuff I don't want to forget to pack!

We have only made up our minds on one excursion (non-DCL) which is a snorkel trip with Capt. Marvins at Grand Cayman. I am still trying to decide about stuff at Key West and Cozumel. My DH is still considering parasailing at Castaway Cay - I think he is a little concerned about doing it with his bad back. (Although his back survived 7 rides on Big Thunder Mnt. in May!)

Would you like to be included on our cruise website? It is at http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl if you want to take a look at it. All it takes to be included is to post your info here (you already have a start at that) or PM or email me (pdarrah@sprynet.com).

Pamela

[jenmack]

Hi Pamela, Yes I would love to be included on your Disney Website. I too, have ?'s re: excursions. I was thinking of doing the catamaran sailing/snorkling in KeyWest w/ just my DH & myself & then snorklng in stingray city in Grandcayman w/ my DH, DS-9 & DD-7. We would leave our DS-3 @ kids club. But, I keep hearing about Capt. Marvin's & maybe that's a better idea. We also are looking @ the dolphin excursion in cozumel & bringing our DS-3 along too. If anyone has any advice about the excursions I would love to hear them. We want to get the most of our trip, have ton's of fun, but I don't want to over do it. :rolleyes:
Pamela,
my DS-9 want's to go parasailing, too. He's trying to talk his dad into going w/ him. :) By the way...
My name is Jennefer, My DH is Mark, Our DS is Adam & he will be 10 November 7th. Our DD is Haleigh & she is 7, but will be 8 december 30th & our DS is Joey, who is 3 & will be 4 on December 10th. Needless to say we are pretty busy @ the end of the year. :)

-Jen :-)
October 23rd,,, Here we come :)

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi jenmack, Welcome It's nice to meet you.:wave2:

[DudetteTwo]

What's up with this computer?:badpc: It is SOOOO slow.

JEN: Welcome!:chat:

DENISE: My daughter is getting married in Paris (the casino that is in Las Vegas). She booked July 16th, 2005, as the date to give us plenty of time:bride:. She didn't want to have to leave the air-conditioned hotel to go to one of those chapels. She hates the heat:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: .

I thought 2004 was a fun-filled year but it looks like 2005 is going to be very BUSY!

Hope you all had a good weekend. Work was really good this weekend. Have a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[pdarrah]

Hi Jen - I put the information you have posted onto the website. If you would like to add anything (or I made a typo) please just let me know.

I am sorry it took me so long - I wasn't able to get connected to the DISBoard nearly all day!
--------
Hi Jeanne - I'm glad your work was good this weekend - if one has to work weekends, it should at least be good! So, is a "good" weekend in the Mother/Baby unit mean lots of babies or very few babies? :)
--------

Is anyone staying at the Radisson the night before? We are still trying to decide what to do and the reviews seem a little mixed. We are renting from Budget and want to drop the car off Friday night, so the Radisson seems to make sense for that. We probably won't get there until about 5:00pm, so I am not sure the amenities make much difference.... Any of you experienced cruisers have any input?????

Thanks,

Pamela

[DudetteTwo]

PAMELA: A good weekend on the Mother/Baby Unit means not alot of deliveries but I saw two maternity tours go by which had at least 30 couples in each so I guess I have job security! Joyce & I (Ted & Sandy too) are staying at the new Ron Jon Resort in Cape Canaveral. There was a special for $75.00 a night so we are arriving Thursday morning & will take a cab to the port on Saturday AM. We have never stayed there but they have a waterpark in the resort. Doing things backwards - resting BEFORE the cruise.

Good-bye again. Toodles

:wave2: ::earsgirl: JEANNE

[jenmack]

I just wanted to say thanks for the welcome you guy's(gal's):wave:

-Jen :earsgirl: Can't wait for October 23rd!!!

[jiminyC_fan]

:wave2: Hi Jen, welcome to our thread and the cruise, too. This is my 4th Disney cruise. Can't wait for it. We usually don't do excursions. We strike out on our own. Saves $$ that way.

Yep, I have a cruise drawer where I stuff all the "don't forgets". It is full of the stuff that I use for any Disney vacation. I thought I was the only one. Good to know I'm not.

The FIL is home from the nursing home and is having his kids stay a week at a time with him until he gets back on his feet. My family has taken charge of everything. We are soooo ready for this vacation. You just can't imagine! :crazy:

We have stayed at the Raddison before and it was great. Not a problem. Just chose to stay at Ron Jon's because it is right on the Cape and we can see the ships come and go. Also, they have such a wonderful pool and water slide.

[skylynx]

Jen...if your kids are anything like mine, you won't be able to DRAG them out of the Lab/Club. It was all I could do to wrench them away for meals.

It was a riot to be lounging by the pool and see my kids galloping around the ship with their new pals on some well-designed scavenger hunt that disguised how well it was supervised, much to the delight of my fiercely independent dd11 and ds 8. I'd intended to keep them with us on Castaway Cay day, but one look at those morose eyes over missing the treasure hunt and it was "here's your sunscreen, see you later, have fun"!

I think kids who tend towards shyness might be less enthralled, but my two complained when we'd pick them up, around midnight, that they weren't ready to leave yet! The BIG upside is it gives you lots of opportunity for adults-only meals at Palo, shows, or hanging out on the verandah with smuggled-on alchohol. My kid pager only went off once the entire cruise, and that was because my daughter wanted her hat!

We were rigorous in our pre-cruise research the first time, as well, and I was glad for it. We knew what to expect but it did not in any way diminish the "discovery" of our new environment. We knew to rush to make Palo reservations, to dash for deck 10 tables to watch the sailaway party immediately after the lifeboat drill, and to take our own cab to Lucaya in Freeport (saving beaucoup bucks on the shore excursion). We always research trips in a big way--some people say that kills the spontaneity, but we believe it enhances the precious time spent on vacations, plus we have a marvelous time dragging out the anticipation phase.

Jeanne--your daughter is smart to have the wedding at a casino hotel chapel. My husband and I went into one of the downtown Vegas chapels to ask directions to the marriage license bureau and there was a queue of gowned and tuxed brides and grooms waiting (like at the deli counter at the grocery store) to get into rooms at the chapel that looked frighteningly like the rooms wakes are held in at funeral parlors. Narrow, with two long rows of folding chairs, a podium, creepy piped-on organ music, and a floral display on a stand just like those that accompany coffins. Argh. The casino hotel ones are much nicer. And at least you won't be next to a pawn shop!

[jenmack]

Thank's Sandy & Denise for your good advise. We are thinking of striking out on our own in Key West. Do we just walk off of the ship, find a cab or bus & take it from there?

I keep hearing about Capt. Marvin's. Is he better than the excursion(s) that Disney has set up? We did want to go snorklng. We never have been before so we are absolute novice's! :)

Denise, you said that it was cheaper to catch a cab in Lucaya, is that for a snorkeling trip?

We were planning on taking our Ds 9 & DD 7 w/ us on the snorkling trip. Would it be ok to then leave our Ds 3 on the ship @ the kids club. They wouldn't be able to page us.
Any advice is very much appreciated.

Also, do most people really dress up for formal night. Should I be renting my Dh a tux?
Also, leaving the kids @ kid's club/lab til 12-1am I'm not to worried about for my older kid's, but what about my Ds 3? My Dh & I want to experience a little night/adult life, dancing, etc.. but I feel a little guilty picking my tired 3 year old up @ 12 or 1am. Do they have cot's they could rest on or something? Don't get me wrong we wouldn't do this every night, but 1 or 2 night's would even be nice. Anyway that's enogh ?'s for now. :D

Thank's alot, Jen :earsgirl: October 23, October 23, October 23.......... :bounce:

[pdarrah]

Hi Jen,

Since I am a first-timer also, my answers aren't as good as others - but I have been doing A LOT of research so I have some ideas for you!

I have booked a snorkel excursion with Capt. Marvins. From all my research, they seem to be much more "personal" than the DCL excursions - there are few people on the boat and they can spend more time with you. DH & I have been snorkeling, but I am trying to teach DS5 a little before we go. Several trip reports have said that the staff at Capt. Marvins were great and really helped the kids and new snorkelers. We are going on the 1/2 day excursion in the morning. There is lots of info at their website www.captainmarvins.com

Yes, you can leave your 3yr old on the ship at the club- you might also want to talk to Capt. Marvins - I think there was something about 3 and under are free. If you wanted to bring him, it might be OK.

I have seen a number of posts that say that at the kid club at night they put out mats on the floor for each kid and show Disney movies. It sounds like most of the little ones fall asleep. I am hoping my DS5 will - he really needs 10 hours of sleep at night (no nap anymore).

The dressing up seems to be up to you - some people do it (since DH owns a tux, we will dress up) and others just wear a suit. It sounds like most people do make some sort of effort to dress nice for the formal nights, but it is a wide range of "formal". I have seen some people suggest renting the tux so that it is waiting for you on board and you do not have to pack and lug around a suit.

I had a lot of the same questions when I started researching a couple of months ago - the amount of information on this board is amazing!

Pamela

[abitjaded]

Hey Jen, welcome. We should "get our kids together" I have two sons, one 11 when we cruise, the other will be 8. We have cruised the Eastern twice before. The first time the kids were not crazy about the clubs, but liked it better the second time. It seems to help if they go early on to cement friendships early before other alliances are made. We are thinking of trying to get Palo the first night, just to get the kids to the clubs early on.

Hey, Jeanne, seems like there are lots of babies around right now. Three of the teachers at my younger son's school were supposed to have had babies by now, but all are still there for the new school year. Seems the babies wanted to meet their new students even more than the moms.

Carla

[skylynx]

Jen...Oceaneer's Lab/Club It's true that at night the mats go out and the movies go on and there's plenty of snoozers among the night owls. Since I didn't have a small child, I can't say for sure but I wouldn't feel too guilty about an occasional late night outing. That's what the pagers are for...you'll know in an instant if there's a problem with your little one. Chances are your pager will stay blissfully silent, like ours!

Re: dressing up...we LOVE to dress up because there are so few places we can get dressed up to go to these days and it is especially nice not to have to drive/take a train to a "dress up" venue. My husband has a tux and I have a closet full of cruise glam gear including sparkly gowns and long black gloves ;-) We've gotten dressed even for semi formals just because we like looking at each other all decked out. So I guess, if you've been dying to have a place to wear those rhinestone heels and black diva dress...this is it! And we'll be there to join you!

Re: Freeport. Don't think the Wonder goes there anymore, but we found another few people to go with to rent a cab and the whole thing cost us $10 a person round trip. The guy even arranged to meet us when we wanted to come back to the ship (and was there, on time.) I've looked at lots of shore excursions and it seems with few exceptions, you could easily book the same experience yourself, for a lot less money, and with more control over the amount of time you spent on it. Your mileage may vary!

Denise

[jenmack]

Pamela, Thanks for the info. I'm going to check out Capt. Marvin's now & I think I might take our Ds 3 w/ us. I just feel guilty leaving him behind on the ship while the rest of us go & have fun snorkling. How are you going to get to Capt. Marvin's? A cab? A bus?

Thank's for the info on formal night too. I have 5 people to pack for & I don't want to over pack(whick I end up doing anyway) & I don't want to under pack either. I think I will rent a tux from the place mentioned on Passporter's web site. Thanks.

Carla, We should have our son's meet. My Ds 9 will be 10 a week after we get back from our DLC. Maybe I will try for Palo's the 1st or second night, too.

Denise, Thanks & I'll try not to feel too guilty about my kidlettes. I'm sure they will have lot's of fun & rather be @ kid's club than back in the cabin for an early night. About transportation... When I try Capt. Marvin's maybe they will have some good advice on which is the better way on getting to & from their place & the Wonder.

Anyway, Thank's guy's. :sunny:

[pdarrah]

Jen - We are going to walk to Capt. Marvins - it is only 2 blocks from where the tenders will drop us off and we should have plenty of time to just amble our way there. They have told us to be there by 9:15 for our 10:00 tour and the "all ashore" is usually at 7:30am - even if we don't get on one of the first tenders, there should still be plenty of time to get there.

Denise - Cool! "long black gloves " - I was just cleaning out a drawer and found both white & black long gloves. I couldn't bear to just throw them out, but couldn't figure out when I would ever wear them - now I know! If I'm not the only one on the ship with gloves, I'll wear them then. (Now, maybe I need a fancier dress...)

Pamela

[jenmack]

Thanks Pamela, I went on Capt. Marvin's website & I saw that too. That's pretty easy, and inexpensive. I keep going back & forth about bringing our little one. I keep weighing the pros & con's.

-Jen :earsgirl: can't wait for October 23rd...

[pdarrah]

Hi Jen - If your little one is free, could you just book it and make that decision at the last minute? I guess it would depend on whether Capt. Marvins needs to know in advance or not.... You'd think that they wouldn't care since he wouldn't be snorkeling or need equipment. If they were OK with that, you could see how he was doing at the club since we don't get to Grand Caymen for a couple of days. Then, if he loves the club you could leave him or if you think he would be happier with you, bring him along.

I am sort of thinking along those lines for Key West. My DS5 is NOT very good about walking (he's perfectly capable - he just doesn't like it!) - it has been a battle to get him to mostly give up his stroller. We have already told him that it is not going on this trip and he is going to have to walk more! Since most of the things we would like to do in Key West involve walking, I am very tempted to leave him in the club. The plan is to have him spend a couple hours there the first night and maybe on Sunday morning so we will have an idea if he would be happy there for a few hours while we were away on shore. If we're not sure, then we'll probably bring him along and just scale back on what all we do....

Pamela

[jenmack]

Pamela, I think that's a good idea. I already e-mailed Capt. Marvins about our Ds 3 & I think we will introduce him along w/ his sibling's to kids club the 1st night & just see how the rest falls into place. Thanks alot & I'm off to bed -Jen :) :cat: October 23rd Here we come!!!

[skylynx]

Re: Long Black Gloves

Hey, Pamela...bring your gloves along. I'm sure bringing mine. In fact, when I got them for our first cruise, I had no clue what glove wearing "etiquette" was (for example, at the captain's cocktail party, are both gloves or just one on or off when you eat buffalo chicken wings and swirl your cocktail?) Naturally, there was a website that contained more than the average human would ever need to know about gloves and glove wearing protocol. If you'd like, I can dig it out...it's kind of funny.

Dress-up divas/gents...there are so many great photo ops for the nights you glam it up. We even had total strangers take our picture when we were posing for our own "Love Boat"-style photos by the railing at night on deck 10. On the way to Palo we ran into Goofy in the elevator (won't ever happen on Royal Caribbean) and HE initiated a photo! We got lots of smiles and appreciative nods from our fellow cruisers. We dressed up both on cruises with and without the kids (though my DS8 complained bitterly about his tie).

This is our first cruise on Magic with actual "formal" nights--we kind of just made our own on Wonder. We are really looking forward to not being one of the four couples onboard overdressed for every occasion!

[jiminyC_fan]

Hi everyone, a busy summer with my FIL and hail damage to the house, brand new truck with 2300 miles on it and our 5th wheel. Having to fight insurance company, roofers and whoever else in between. Calgon take me away!

Heidi (PoohFriend), check Frontier website for a one day sale for your flight. The sale is for the 29th ONLY.

My hubby brings a suit and I bring my formal dresses. It seems to me that there is probably more suits than tuxes. With that said, tuxes look sooooo much better though. Especially for the pics. My hubby just doesn't own one and refuses to spend the money to rent. I understand that too. We are just happy to cruise.

[Mom2Princesses]

Why is it I don't own a pair of black gloves and all you wonderful divas do?

:tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

I am bringing only one "dressy" dress (and it's not all that dressy but very pretty)

My other dresses are basically sundress types (casual), maybe a touch dressier than the "norm" My DH is bringing 2 suit jackets w/ dress pants -- no suits though.

I am having problems right now trying to find shorts in my area -- it's like everyone has given up on summer in Michigan!

I am really starting to get excited -- I will post when I know more about the excursions, but I must admit, I intend on leaving my DDs ages 4 and 6 on the ship at Key West and probably Cozumel too!

[JonJehrio]

My wife and I will be on this Cruise. It will be our first time on the Western. It's our 10th anniversary, so we will be traveling with both set's of parents, and 2 other couples I grew up with. There will be 10 of us total. I hope the weather is nice.::MickeyMo

[pdarrah]

Hi JonJehrio,

Welcome! It sounds like you will have a great time with your whole group coming along with you!

I have put together a website for all of us on this cruise. It is at www.bwdarrah.com/dcl. If you would like to be included, just post here or PM or email (pdarrah@sprynet.com) and I will add you and however many of your group you would like. In addition to a list of all of us who are cruising, there is also a "links" page with a lot of links to stuff in Key West and some stuff in Grand Caymen & Cozumel. (I am still adding to it as I find stuff...) If you prefer not to be included, that is fine - I just don't want to leave anyone out who would like to be there.

My DH and I are 'celebrating' our 15 year anniversary on the cruise. It was really in June, but we are postponing it until October. :)

Pamela

[skylynx]

Hey, divas, making Audrey Hepburn moments need not cost a fortune: I got my long black gloves for around $16 at Claire's/Afterthoughts/The Icing at the local mall (all the same chain, I think), so it wasn't a real extravagance. Plenty of low-end (but still tres sparkly) rhinestone jewels and assorted danglies there, too. They only make you FEEL like a million dollars :-)

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Yes I tried to get the airfare sale but when you read the fine print it won't work out for me. Atleast I still have a few more months to wait it out!!!

[jenmack]

Hi Everyone! I an seeking advice about a Cozumel excursion that you can book through DCL.

We want to do the excursion A Chankanaab Park w/ the dolphins.
It say's that afterward the time w/ the dolphins you can enjoy the park, botanical garden's, beaches, snorkling & I guess there is a really unique lagoon there too.
Does the price we pay for the dolphine part include the entry fee into the park? I read somewhere that it is a $10 enrey fee for those who want to just visit the park. Do you pay the $5 dollar snorkling rental fee or is that included in the whole price? Do you have to pay for the botanical garden, lagoon, beaches? I quess that even though the DCL shore excursion book say's that it's offered to us I want to know if we have to pay for it.

Also, how far is it from the ship to the park?

Thanks, any advice would help. -Jen :earsgirl:

p.s. The black gloves sound great! :)

[pdarrah]

Hi Jen,

I looked into that excursion and I believe that the fee covers the dolphin stuff and admission to Chankanab. You would have to pay to rent snorkel equipment. The botanic garden, lagoon, beach, etc. are included in the admission to Chankanab.

You might want to look into doing it on your own. All you would need to do is book the dolphin thing direct (I know there is a link to it on our cruise site) and grab a taxi at the pier to Chankanab. Taxis are plentiful and have set rates - I think it is around $10 each way. There are also plenty of taxis when you leave Chankanab. As I understand it, the DCL excursion uses the taxis - they just herd everyone out and put them in the taxis (& pay them of course) and do something similar on the return.

We have decided not to do the dolphins since our DS is only 5 - I am sure he would love it, but it is expensive and he would get more from it and would remember it better when he is older. I still haven't decided what we are going to do at Cozumel, but Chankanab is still on the list....

I hope that helps some.

Pamela

[abitjaded]

Welcome Jon from PA. Whooee, a group of ten. We often have WDW parades of many, but not this time. Sounds wild.

Yipes, gloves! Had to wear white gloves all through high school for pep club, and it felt a bit like Lady Macbeth, out darned spot. The stupid things always looked awful. Then had to wear them for Rainbow Girls. Since then, I've figured out I cannot even wear a white tee shirt without slopping something on it the first time. But black, now there is a thought. Denise, would love to see that glove web site.

But otherwise we will be dressed up. DH and I work(ed) for State Universities and we do not even get Holiday Parties any more, so this is my big chance to get the guys in something other than jeans and tees. DH has a black suit, plain, "suitable for weddings and funerals" and he will bring that. The kids also have black blazers, but the pants change, too skinny, too tall. I made them all tuxedo style vests and bow ties that we will recycle this cruise.

We were thinking of grabbing a cab to Chankanaab, also. Then if the snorkeling is crowded we may bail to Palancar. We dove there many moons ago and the coral was amazing.

Since this whole itinerary is so good for snorkeling, those who plan on trying it at Cozumel, Cayman and Castaway Cay may want to check into getting your own gear. Just about every major city has more than one dive shop (look under "Scuba" in the yellow pages. There is nothing better than the luxury of your own well-fitting mask and fins. A dive shop will set you up right for less than you may think. There are many grades of gear, from the most pricey for deep dives, to affordable, nice snorkel grade. If you rent even two places it may pay for itself. Dive shops will often offer a free or cheap check-out instruction in a pool if you purchase from them. If you keep the stuff clean it can last for many years. We also have cool backpack, netted, that holds all our gear but leaves the sand behind. If you have your own stuff, you are freed from the mass herdings of excursions.

Carla

[DudetteTwo]

Just wanted to say "Good Evening". I went to the pool for the FIRST time all summer. Joyce & I were supposed to go to a "Disney Meet" in KOP but she hurt her back this week & is practically bedridden.

SANDY: Remember save Key West for all the "FESTIVALS":earseek:. I don't know what "Hell" is & I am not sure I want to go to hell!

Hope you all have a great weekend. Toodles:wave: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[DMoss3377]

Hi everyone.

Finally settling in. We've had some visitors which have helped to make us feel more at home. Still looking for a job.

DH and I are really looking forward to this cruise...and to seeing everyone. We're in desperate need of some all out, who cares who sees, funky, silly, crazy fun. And a whole lot of BBC's. :)

Miss talking with everyone, hopefully I'll be around the thread a little more.

:)

[skylynx]

Hello, everyone

Spent the weekend at the airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with my husband (private pilot). This is an equal opportunity marriage...I happily tag along with him for hours looking at unidentifiable bits of airplanes in exhibit halls in exchange for his being dragged about to endless horse-related shows and expos and grand displays of muck buckets and fly spray without a single complaint. We've been married five weeks today...so far so good!

Carla and other LBG (long black glove) divas...here's the website where I found info on the etiquette of glove wearing. www.gaspargloves.com/etiquette.htm I agree the short white gloves are dirt magnets and best suited for garden parties (that I never get invited to). They are polar opposites, as far as I am concerned, from long black ones, which stay clean, drip glamour, and have the added bonus of being exceedingly um, inspirational to my DH. (He calls them my "come hither" gloves.)

Those of you considering the Chankanab (sp?) trip might want to search the main cruise forum for info...I read a few posts recently claiming the beach at that park was stinky and people were very disappointed. It could have just been a bad day or a few grumpy cruisers, but it might be worth checking it out before you plunk down a fortune for the excursion.

[abitjaded]

Denise, love the glove site. Do you have the long black vinyl ones? Madonna ain't got nothin' on you, Babe.

Were the complaints about Chankanaab due to the sandy beach quality? Usually if the beach is good for snorkeling the sand part leaves something to be desired. Just too rocky, or bad care-taking?

Oshkosh Airshow! Does your DH have his own plane? My DH and my late Father were both pilots. DH used to drag me on rentals all the time, we used to have enough strange gear failures that, I think, finally, he got cured. My Dad belonged to the OX-5 Club, and I, too, used to be drug to numerous Airshows. You mean DH has not yet convinced you to get your Pinch-Hit? My Stepmother is a 99, and has headed up a few chapters in Michigan and New York. At the age of 70, she still flies (my Dad's old Rockwell) and has convinced her SO to get his pilot's license, too. They are supposedly flying to Denver in August, but the last couple of planned visits were scrapped due to tubo failures, sheesh.

But then, I could tell you about my knees and how they have never been the same since a horsey-encounter, and a broken arm, etc. Which is more dangerous, horses or planes?

Ooh, Jeanne, back problems. I feel for her. Every year I blow my back gardening, but this year blew it out going to BUY the plants. coughed sitting in the car and that was it. I can give chapter and verse of just about every back treatment know to man, ranging from Kyphoplasty for collapsed disks (my Mom), to physical therapy (DH and all his sibs), low doses of antidepressants to loosen muscle and silk underwear (best friend's DH), to time and massive stomach-upsetting doses of Ibuprofen (me). Hope it is mending. Too much baby-lifting?

Hell is a place on Grand Cayman, sounds like a big chunk of rock and a post office to mail stuff from Hell. But then, if you have back problems, who needs to visit. With back problems you have already been to Hell.

Carla

[skylynx]

Hey, Carla

The gloves aren't vinyl, they are sort of like spandex-y but not glossy. Verrrrry classy to accessorize the kind of black dress you could NOT wear to a funeral. :-)

Ah, the plane thing...DH had 1/3 ownership in a (Rutan) Long EZ when he was still living in England (he is a Brit). Sort of looks like a white Star Wars starfighter. (Same plane John Denver met his untimely demise in over Monterey Bay). DH was accumulating hours towards his American pilot's license when 9/11 put a stop to it (he was living in DC airspace at the time and most private pilots were grounded). He will begin again as soon as we can afford it. I thought the horse was expensive!

I was hoping enough ladies would be into the LBglove thing that we could do a formal night gathering that would make the "Red Hat" ladies go green with envy. I'll have mine on, regardless. If you are interested, let me know, and we'll see who else might like to play.

[jenmack]

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if any of you have been to or heard of Paradise Beach in Cozumel? I'm thinking of that as an alternative to Chakanaab Park.

The "black gloves" I'm strongly thinking of buying myself a pair now. It sound's like a lot of fun. :)

[pdarrah]

Hi All,

I'll wear black gloves if you do! DH justs groans and says I am "weird". He is a very conservative dresser.

There is some info on Paradise Beach at http://cozumelmexico.net/Cozumel-Beaches.html - there is a map near the bottom of the page, just click on the name of the beach for more info and some photographs. Also, I think I saw some good comments on the boards when I searched on "Cozumel"

I am still debating on Cozumel, but am leaning toward doing a snorkel excursion with Eagle Ray Divers. They have a 3-hour, 2-reef snorkel (Starts from their office at noon) which sounds like it may work for us. I don't think DS5 would be up to much more than that since we are already doing a 3-hour snorkel trip on Grand Cayman the day before. The other options are just going to a beach to play or to a "beach" that has good snorkeling. The dune buggy tour sounds fun, but I am not sure it would be safe for DS5 (if they even allow kids). One advantage of the snorkel tour (beside what should be fantastic reefs) is that it is only 3-hours so we would still have time to go to a beach or shop afterwards.

Pamela

[jenmack]

Thanks Pamela.

Actually, I already looked on that website among other's. My family & I talked it over & we all agreed to do Paradise beach.
We are doing the snorkling thing on Grand Cayman & I'm more of a beach kind of girl so we opted to just relax & have a lot of fun in the sun. :sunny: Paradise beach has a water trampoline, a floating iceberg the kids can climb on. They have kayak's & snorkling, lounges, & floating mat's & it's all for free. They have no entrance fee too. I guess it's really clean & it's been opened since 2003. It seem's like it will be a lot of fun. The only thing is...My Ds9 & Dd7 keep talking aout shark's. My older son has been fascinated w/ sharks since he was about 2 or 3yrs old. He has several books on shark's, has a shark in a bottle, 2 shark teeth necklaces, stuffed sharks, singing shark for the wall. He even did a sleepover @ underwaterworld @ the Mall of America. They slepped under shark cove. :eek: Anyway, because of all his "shark knowledge" the result is, he's now scared to "go into the water.":rolleyes:
Anway, thanks so much for checking that out. I 'm sure whatever your family chooses it will be a lot of fun.

[Mom2Princesses]

Don't count me completely out on the black glove thing --

But I really don't have a dress that they would go with, since much of my stuff is dressy casual or sundress casual.

Now, if I run into a cannot-pass-up-deal on the perfect dress then I will be in the glove club!

BTW, what are the "red hat" ladies?

[skylynx]

Ahhh Nancy...having black gloves is the PERFECT reason to go hunting for a dress to accompany them! Most of my glam gear was purchased at department stores like Hecht's or JCPenney or the equivalent when they had big clearance sales plus additional-off coupons. It became quite the good game to see how inexpensively one could acquire high price tag clothes. Marshall's and TJMaxx are great for that, too but they often don't have what you want in your size. In this case, a pretty simple black cocktail type dress would fit the black glove bill-it doesn't have to be a long gown.

The red hat ladies are a social group for ladies 50 and over (I'm a few years off from that yet) who want to be frisky and wear red hats to identify themselves to each other at horse races and arboretums and such. http://www.redhatsociety.com I think the Long Black Glove Society would be full of equally frisky ladies of all ages who are just a bit more subtle about their membership. Even if you only haul your black gloves out once a year on a cruise, or maybe a New Year's Eve party, they'll last you a long, long time. :-) My 11 year old daughter has a pair and we wore them together on (semi) formal night on our last cruise. That was for the hour and a half I could keep her out of the Oceaneer's Lab long enough to have her picture taken.

I know lots of people really just want to be comfortable on their vacations, but we really enjoy dressing up since there are so few occasions we can wear our good stuff and not feel terribly out of place or have other people think we're on the way to the Prom.

Ohhh. Carla, Chankanaab...several people posted saying it smelled like sewage and there was (non-oceanic) debris all over the beach and in the water. Again, it could have been just that one day, but still might be worth checking out on the main boards.

DANA...glad to hear you are settled in your new home. I'm still job hunting, too. :-( Can't wait to see you again!

[abitjaded]

Hey Jen, are you going to WDW first? If so, check out Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon. My DS-11 is also shark-crazy. He has THREE sharks' teeth, loves to wear them. The reef swim is so non-scary. The sharks just swim below you. Might be just the thing. They are more afraid of him than he is of them. Remind him more humans eat shark than shark ever ate human! In all our years of diving and snorkeling I have never seen a shark, except at Typhoon Lagoon and Sea World. Sharp coral and spiny sea urchins are more of a problem, and they are just stuck in one spot!

Idunno, how would a red hat and black gloves look with a pink and lime green gown?

Another website showing Paradise Beach:

http://cozumelmexico.net/Cozumel-Beaches.html

The site is a little flakey to negotiate, but there is an interactive map, makes Dzul Ha look great for snorkeling!

Carla

[jenmack]

Thanks Carla, We are, doing WDW before our DCL. I will definetly check Typhoon Lagoon's Shark Reef out. I think my son has found himself a kindred spirit. :) He will be wearing his shark tooth necklace, too.

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am so excited. I just booked my airfare to join all of you on this cruise!!! My coworkers think I am absolutely crazy that I am so excited now that I have airfare. Now I can officially post on this thread!!!

[jiminyC_fan]

Welcome dd, Heidi. Now we can plan together. You owe me a BIG daquiri for adding you to our cabin!!!!!!!!!! :teeth: :hyper:

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Originally posted by jiminyC_fan
You owe me a BIG daquiri for adding you to our cabin!!!!!!!!!! :teeth: :hyper:

I think I owe you more than one!!!

[jiminyC_fan]

Originally posted by Pooh_Friend#1
I think I owe you more than one!!!

YAHOO, you all are witnesses. It is in writing. Heidi, you owe Dad and I more than one. How about a drink a day?? :teeth:

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone!

I have just added some more links to our website. Many thanks to Carla who sent me a bunch of great Grand Cayman links. I also added a few for Cozumel. If you haven't bookmarked it yet, it is at www.bwdarrah.com/dcl

I believe I have put up all the "Who's going" info that I have, so if you have sent me info or a correction and its not there, please email, PM or post here and I'll get right to it.

Pamela

[Mom2Princesses]

Originally posted by skylynx
Ahhh Nancy...having black gloves is the PERFECT reason to go hunting for a dress to accompany them! Most of my glam gear was purchased at department stores like Hecht's or JCPenney or the equivalent when they had big clearance sales plus additional-off coupons. It became quite the good game to see how inexpensively one could acquire high price tag clothes. Marshall's and TJMaxx are great for that, too but they often don't have what you want in your size. In this case, a pretty simple black cocktail type dress would fit the black glove bill-it doesn't have to be a long gown.

Skylnnx AKA Denise--

You are really making me curious to go and puruse the clearance racks! I just wish I hadn't fallen in love with and bought the dress that I did -- but, alas...

And, a yippee for me, I paid the cruise off today!!!!!! It only took 14 months to pay it in full, but it is done! Now, onto the awful airfare game.

Pamela, in case I never said this before, your hard work is truly appreciated and your website is extraordinary!

Is anyone else here going to MNSSHP on October 22 (Friday) before the cruise? I got my tix yesterday! Yay! :Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc

[DudetteTwo]

Now I'll have to talk Joyce into getting gloves so we can recognize each other at the formal & semi-formal nights!:magnify:

Had a nice lunch with my old roommate for her birthday. I haven't seen her since she moved out in June. Back to work tomorrow. Then my son has a job interview Friday at 1:00 PM & after the job interview we are off to Virginia Beach until Wednesday so I will be MIA. I really NEED to get away, not alot of good things going on in my life. The cruise :boat: is the one thing that keeps me very UP.

Hope you all have a good day. I had a hard time getting on the boards this afternoon "the server was busy". Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Originally posted by jiminyC_fan
How about a drink a day?? :teeth:
I don't have that great of a job to afford that many drinks!!!

[pdarrah]

Hi Nancy - Thank you for your kind praises! It really isn't that much work - I've been making website for years. The links were all things I found doing my own crazy research and Carla kindly sent me a bunch for Grand Cayman.

Heidi - I saw your transportation problems on another thread. If our schedules work out and you don't have tons of luggage, we might be able to give you a ride. The only problem is that we have a rather set schedule which may not work for you. We are flying in Friday morning (arriving 10:15am) and are renting a car. We have arranged to meet some relatives at GatorLand for a few hours. The plan is to leave Orlando around 4:00pm and drive to the coast. We need to return the car at the Budget office before 6:00pm, but could drop you off at RonJon's before that. Of course this will only work if youare getting in early enough to meet us at the airport or catch a taxi to GatorLand before we leave there! (We have a full size car because of luggage - We'll have 2 suitcases, 1 garment bag and probably 2 or 3 carry-ons)

If that doesn't work, you might want to look into a 1-way car rental. I believe that we are paying around $45 for ours and it is a full size - by yourself, you could probably get away with a compact. Then your only problem is getting from Budget's office at Cape Canaveral to RonJon's - if they can't shuttle you over, there is always calling a taxi.

Pamela

[Mom2Princesses]

Wow, did I get the deal with the airlfare! Spirit air from Detroit to MCO $136.70 roundtrip, including taxes! I cannot believe I got it that cheap. The downside is that we leave at 7:30am, but it does give us another day in WDW that way, we really are hoping to go to Blizzard Beach on 10/21!


For those of you who have cruised before, I have some questions:

Do children wear life jackets on the tenders/boats/ however you say it?

Is is wise to bring large beach towels from home, I also have those mats that are disposable for the sand?

Cabana massage at Castaway Cay -- has anyone done it before? Worth the $$?

Are people still giving the childcare people (Lab and Club) gift cards to places like target or phone cards etc? I noticed in Passporter it says you CAN tip them (cash?) but I remember a while ago reading somewhere they could not take cash?

Realistically, how much should a family of 4 put aside for tips, total? I know what the servers get, but the overall picture, does anyone know? Also, do you bring the cash for them or charge? I am trying to have this trip be pretty much paid for before we go, I want to charge as little as possible, because Christmas will be right around the corner when we get home!


I will leave it at that for now, still working on the excursion questions!

I appreciate you all!

[jiminyC_fan]

This is really Pooh_Friend#1, but am too lazy to switch names so I am posting under my mom's name.

Pamela, thank you so much for the offer. You are so sweet. I don't think our schedules will work though because my plane gets in at 1:30 pm. Thank you again for the offer.

[abitjaded]

Nancy,

There are not any vests required on the tenders, these things are generally pretty large, but I do not have direct knowledge of Cayman.

Great airfare!

I would leave the beach towels at home, unless you have a lot of extra luggage room. There are generally large carts of towels for Disney sponsored shore excursions, and large holders parked as you disembark at all the ports. Also ones to toss in the dirties when you return. If not, you can go up to deck nine and get some from the teak cabinets by the pools. We have never taken beach towels and never had a problem. Mats, hmmm, most of the beaches have either free or rentable lounge chairs. We usually rent a chair and umbrella or two, not bothering with adding any for the kids since all they do is hang in the water.

Seems like tips are generally about a hundred per cruiser. We leave extra at Palo, but our kids never have spent a large enough time in the clubs to feel we needed to tip a specific counselor. Check the FAQ at the castaway club site. Barb covers most of it pretty well, including gift cards, etc. We left about 20% over and above the standard for our dining room servers on one cruise, since they were awesome. They would even cross the room and do extras for us even if we were not in their breakfast or lunch station.

Cash-wise, you'll need about a buck per person per room service delivery. We did coffee and rolls each morning, and fruit and cheese trays every evening when we did shower shifts before dinner. We also left cash at Palo at brunch and dinner. Cash for the luggage handlers at airport and port (you'll get a good one if crowded and you wave the cash). Cash for cabbies and shuttle folks if they schlepp your luggage. And don't forget cash for shore guides' tips, or purchases. (Captain Marvin is even requesting cash or traveler's checks to pay off their excursion, rather than the credit card that holds the reservation.)

We charged the "envelope" tips to the room. Put down a credit card to have this priviledge, but then pay it off in cash if you prefer at Guest Services. Ask when it will be posted to the CC, sometimes as it adds up they post sooner.

Carla

[Mom2Princesses]

Wow, Carla, Thanks for all the help!

You know, tipping can be the most confusing thing, there are just sooo many people to tip! I will be looking into the Castaway Club site.

I have given up having enough cash to not charge -- almost made it, but a little charging will be necessary...

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, Thanks again Carla!

[BeanoC]

Hey everyone... :)

I thought I'd try to get back in the loop here once again; life sure has been busy lately. Gotta keep workin' to try and pay for this dang cruise! :crazy:

Just over 2 months away now. Can't wait!

I haven't read all the posts from the last few pages, so sorry if I am being redundant here.

I thought I'd ask about a DIS meet at sailaway. We usually get together on deck 10 above the Goofy pool for sailaway. It is, IMO, the best place to be as the ship pulls away from the dock, unless you really want to be right in the "mix" of everyone dancing with the characters on stage down on deck 9. Anyway, that's where we'll be if'n anyone wants to avoid... I mean meet us! :earsboy:

Just remember, if you want a sailaway drink, AKA a Bon Voyage, DON'T get them from the deckhands who are carrying them around on trays. Theirs are nasty!:crazy2:
Take the time to go to the bar and order one, so it's fresh, and um, actually has some alcohol
in it! Trust me on this one. Right, Kamy? Right, Renee?

Can't wait to meet y'all, and to see all my cruise friends again!! (Even you, "Tim the tarzanman")

Boy, that Tim. Watch out for him. That's a dangerous dude. Whack. Sicko. Crazed lunatic. Borderline psychotic. Needs therapy. Should probably be locked up.



My kinda guy. Might have to buy him a beer! ::yes::



'Beano' :cool:

[skylynx]

Hey, Beano, we're with you for the Sailaway DIS meet on Deck 10 over the pool. I consider it one of our "insider secrets" to dash up there immediately after the lifeboat drill and snag a prime table overlooking the Goofy pool on the port side (so we can quickly walk over to the rail and watch the DCL terminal ladies waving). We've done it successfully twice now.

And you are TOO RIGHT about the drinks...by the time the guys toting them around get to you, the Bahama Mamas have already been standing around a while with the ice melting. I'll have mine full power, please. One of us will stake a claim at a table and the other does the cocktail run. Works for me!

A friend of ours has a house on the north side of Grand Cayman very near Rum Point I've been lucky enough to visit several times. My honey and I are planning on renting a car and driving out there to see them (though there is a chance they won't be there). Even if they aren't there, we'll probably drive that loop through Bodden Town and out to East End. Though I've driven a manual shift Rocky there on a few occasions (major brain disconnect) I am very happy to rely on my husband's driving ability this time--since he's a Brit he'll be back in his (left side of the road) element!

In case anyone else is interested in going this route, we were able to reserve a car from Budget for about $40 US including taxes, and will just have to pay the $7.50 for a driver's permit issued at the rental counter. I thought that was pretty cheap. We figure compared to the price of a shore excursion, the two of us can gad about the island a few hours, snorkel in my friend's " back yard" and still make it back to the tenders in plenty of time. Luckily, I think I remember most of the main roads (there aren't many) and as long as you keep hugging the shoreline as you drive, you can't really get too lost.

Can't believe we are getting so close!!!!!

[abitjaded]

Hey Beano, welcome back, was wondering where you were. Contingency plan for Sail-Away? We cruised once before in earlier October and the weather was great, but on our January trip the weather was nasty. Everyone had to huddle next to the covered pool areas for the Sail-Away, it was so dreary only one brave soul came out to wave us off, and she did not stay long. And we were very late leaving, the ship waited for a late group, sans luggage, carry-ons in hand; they sprinted to get on.

What day is anyone trying to get Palo brunch or tea, any easier to get than others? How was the ressie rush for these from past-non-lucky-concierge cruisers?

Oh man Denise and/or John, friends with a place on Cayman! Have you checked out the shore dive spots right off the pier and slightly south in George Town? I was reading a dive guide and it looks like Balboa/ Hamburger Reef and Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto and Parrot's Reef are within walking distance? Is it safe to leave gear about on shore if we try a quick snorkel post Captain Marvin's? (Love the wedding pix.) How are the currents in October if no storms nearby?

Carla

[BeanoC]

:wave2: Hi everyone......This is Beano's wife Renee here.
Beano is soooo right about the sailaway drinks on the platters......bad bad! Go down to Signals and hopefully my fav bartender Mark from Jamaica will still be onboard! He is the man!!!! Makes an awesome drinkie :teeth:
Can't wait until this cruise....have been dreamin' about it for some time now......well, actually ever since I left the last one!!!
Life has a way of making it hard to get around to posting, so forgive us for not being around lately! School is starting for my kids.....yikes! Freshmen in high school this year and a 6th grader....I'm thinkin' I'm really gonna need this cruise by the time it gets here!!!! hehehehe!
Have a great day all......
:wave: Bye, Renee

[pdarrah]

Hi BeanoC and everyone!

Deck 10 sounds good to me since I would rather not be "right in the "mix" of everyone dancing with the characters on stage down on deck 9." However, will DS5 feel left out being up there? Do people dance around at all on deck 10 or blow bubbles or do you just watch the "party" from there?

I'll tell DH about the drinks - unfortunately, I have never been able to drink alcohol (its sort of an allergy) so I am always the designated driver!

Renee - we are starting school here too - DS starts Kindergarten 2 weeks from today! However, he is staying at his current school for this so it is just a longer day than before and a new teacher. Next year will be the big change when he goes to 1st grade at the public school :eek:

Denise - Wow! friends in Grand Cayman - how cool! We are booked on Capt. Marvins (I always want to type Capt. MarVEL :) ) because DS really, really wants to see sting rays and snorkel. Dan & I did some shore snorkeling when we were last there about 10-12 years ago, but we hadn't even heard of the sting rays then so it may have been before that really started.

Pamela

[Mom2Princesses]

I have another question -- I have a wallet sized, with raised seal, "Certificate of registration" from the "Michigan Dept of Public Health" which "Is to certify that a certificate of birth has been filed at the Michigan Dept of Public Health" It also has my name, date of birth, Registration number, City and State of Birth, Sex, and Date of Recording. Is this sufficient, do you think, to use as my proof of citizenship? I am thinking to go up to the post office and see if it is sufficient to get a passport with, but I really don't want to spend the $$ on the passport (I will not need it again!).

Pamela -- I am not much of a drinker, either -- although I may make an exception for the cruise LOL! Congrats on the new Kindergartener, that is such a big deal! My oldest will be in 1st grade in a couple weeks and I am getting sooo nervous for her -- all day is a big step!

Since it is our first cruise, we will probably stay where the characters are for the sail away party -- would they be on Deck 10, too or just at Deck 9? My daughters are just at the perfect age for the whole character thing and I know it is a short-lived experience for them!

The cutest was when my then 5 year old DD asked us on her 1st trip to MK "Is that the FOR REAL Ariel?" It melts my heart! :cutie:

[jenmack]

Hi Everyone:sunny:
I would love to meet everyone on deck 10, but I too (along w/ family of course :) ) will probably be on deck 9. I know the kids will love being in the mix of everything. Dancing w/ the character's, bubbles... W'ere first time cruiser's you see. Although, away from a huge crowd. Sitting & relaxing & enjoying it from a afar seems enticing. I too am not much of a drinker, but the Bahama Mama's sound yummy. I already told my DH that I was definetly going to have a couple, few... of those. (probably a couple other umbrella drinks too). ;)

-Jen :earsgirl:

[skylynx]

Hi, Everyone

Sailaway at Deck 9 or 10? We took the kids on the Wonder for the first time last February-because they are 8 and 11 and I could see them perfectly, we reached the happy medium of letting them dance around in the mass of junior humanity on the Goofy pool while we watched blissfully, cocktails and camcorder in hand recording the festivities from Deck 10. There are stairs right there on both sides that you can get down to the dance area quickly if you needed to. Kids will probably want to be in the thick of it where the character stage is (mine did).

Carla...I've snorkeled at Eden Rock before. It is in the same harbor water the ships are anchored in, which gets VERY DEEP very quickly. Might be too far to walk-can't remember. I was there several years ago with my friends who were diving (I'm not scuba certified yet) and I was snorkeling. We had to leap into the water at a fairly rough water area with big rocks and surf (scary). The reefs are quite a strong swim out a ways, and I decided I'd had enough when two fish (giant tarpons) appeared out of nowhere and swam Too Close For Comfort. They aren't supposed to be a danger, but any fish bigger than me instantly earn my respect. In comparison, the water behind my friend's house at Cayman Kai (north shore) has tons of coral formations beginning at only fifty feet or so off the beach (depending on the tide). You can literally snorkel in chest deep water and stop, stand up, and rest when you get tired. Because their beachfront is part of a conch preserve, there are no conch or spear fishermen nearby and so LOTS of conch and impossibly colored tropical fishies and rock lobsters and sea fans and (ugh) barracuda. If I find out my friend won't be there and her house won't be rented, you're all invited to a fabulous shallow water snorkel excursion! In fact, if she is there, she might say bring a crowd anyway. :-)

The first time I went with my friends to Cayman, they had just bought the house from THEIR friends, and we were going to "help paint". It was during the Batabanoo festival, which means something like "the time when the turtles crawl back to the sea". There was a big parade and lots of hangovers the next day. Not much painting got done. But we caught rock lobster and ate conch and had pina coladas made with fresh coconuts hacked down from the palms around the patio with a rusty old machete. Jimmy Buffett would approve.

It is around sixty degrees or less here in Chicagoland, and we've got a blaze going in the fireplace. I'm no fan of hot weather, so I actually am secretly pleased about the chill while everyone else is moaning!

Can't wait to meet you all...don't forget your black gloves, ladies. I'm already thinking what a great picture it would make with all the gloved ladies and Mickey in his tux.

[skylynx]

Ohhhh and by the way...the deck 10 crowd is involved in the festivities. If you are a spectator, you are one by choice, as there's always plenty of adrenaline-fueled dancing going on around the upper deck. My dad got my handsome new husband on the camcorder rocking out on Deck 10 all by his onesie. An instant family classic for our collection, right up there with the video of me falling off my horse.

[DudetteTwo]

Back from Virginia Beach. I went to the beach every day except for the day we went to Busch Gardens & the sun:sunny: was out every single day. Now my punishment is that I have to work four 12 hour days in a row!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Sounds like a plan... Party on Deck 10 above the Goofy Pool - got it!

I am getting SOOOOOOOO excited.:jumping1: Are you all paid for?

Bonnie & Charley are coming:umbrella: Hope all the hurricaines are gone before October 23rd. Hope you all have a terrific week. Think of me working hard:scared: Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[Mom2Princesses]

Jenmack - Jen

I just realized that you also have a DD around my DD's age. (From Pamela's website)! Will you be utilizing the Club or is she going to be old enouch for the Lab? My other DD will be 4 at the time, so she may be with your DS in the Club, as well.

The only other person I saw with kids younger like ours is Pamela's DS, the soon-to-be-kindergartener (LOL!)

What are you bringing for your DD to wear for dressy nights? Mine (of course) want their Princess costumes and they have a million adorable sundresses. How many do you think we need to pack? I was thinking 5 or 6, but I have 2 girls -- so that is 12 dresses, plus casual stuff, shoes, and accessories!!!! I feel a lot of luggage tipping in my future! ;) ;) ;)

I way overpack -- even when we camp which is like every weekend! I need to start visiting some of these awesome websites about packing light!

[jenmack]

Hi Nancy,

First off, I am so with you on the over packing. My mom, who has done DC's Magic 2x's keeps telling me to "pack light, pack light, pack light". But I can't! it's actually an ongoing joke in my family.:) Last summer coming home from Chicago (American Girl Place). It was just my daughter & I along w/ my friend & her daughter. Anyway, for only 4 days & packing for just my daughter & myself our suitcase weighed in over 50#'s on the return flight home. :eek: It doesn't matter how hard I try I end up taking everything but the kitchen sink. :) Anyway, about your ?'s...My DD won't be 8 til December so she will be in the club. I feel better that way anyway, because my DS(who will be 4 in December, too) will be in the club also. I'm puting my DS9 in the lab since he will be 10 a week after we return from the cruise. About the dresses. I am going to bring about 6 sundresses. My DD has a really pretty party dress that she will wear on formal night. She's alway's been into the princess (cindrella especially) but lately besides her ballet/tap she want's to do soccer, say's she's a tomboy therefore doesn't due princess' anymore, but @ the same time loves Lizzie Macquire. I think she's going thru a stage. She even say's she's getting to old for polly pocket's. ( I do catch her playing with them, though).:) We should definetly have our kid's meet. Are you going to put your DD"S in the club the 1st day/night? I am. I guess that way they make friends early on & I want them to enjoy the club/lab so then my DH & I can enjoy @ least a little time to ourselves. :) -Jen:earsgirl:

[tarzanman]

I would have to say that BeanoC is not entirely wrong about me. I am a few of those things that he mentioned. After 3 Disney cruises with me, he should know me pretty well I suppose.

I would have to say that regardless of where you are standing around the Goofy pool, you can have a good time. Even on deck 9 some people choose to just stand around and not participate. Some kids parents are just lame that way. Why go on the cruise if you are not going to smile, cheer, dance and have a good time? Those people take up valuable deck space. On deck 10 there is usually more elbow room for dancing and you can of course watch the ship sail away.

To all of those new cruisers out there, I hope that you are getting all the info that you are looking for on the Dis. If not, post your stuff here and all of us crazy repeat cruisers (Me and DW will be on #7) will help you out. As far as the deck 9 deck 10 thing goes, little kids, unless they are in the front, may have a hard time seeing what is going on. They might like being above it all on deck 10. Just an idea.

Now is about the time to start looking for Lime green stuff if you are planning on getting anything. It is so hard to get stuff at the last minute. You might want to order something. It is not necessary but it helps to make you more identifiable as a DISer.

Well the countdown continues on. We are now less than 2.5 months away. I cannot wait to meet up with all our Cruisin' friends. Beano and I will be glued to our video cameras again as usual.

Can't wait to meet you all!

[Mom2Princesses]

It MUST be a phase, Jen! Take her to the Toy Store and show her the hotel/rollercoaster that came out a couple of weeks ago -- if she doesn't start begging take her directly to the pediatrician ;) :) ;)

My daughter is actually somewhat similar, although she loves her Bratz and Pollys, she equally enjoys the roughhousing and such. How nice that they will be in the same place. we will definitely have to introduce them to each other. I will absolutely be taking them to the club the first night, by that time we will need a break from each other! My oldest and I are, dare I say, very stubborn and we butt heads all the time!

I am going to start really looking into the packing light websites. It is also a joke at my house!

Does anyone know if capris are acceptable for dinner attire for ladies? I have some nicer dressy capris that I may even want to wear in the day on the ship if it is too cool.

Tarzanman -- I can vouch for you -- you may be most of the things that Beano called you, but by NO means are you BORDERLINE psychotic, you are not BORDERLINE ANYTHING, you are all the way!!!!! LOL! I sent Kamy a PM, congrats on your BIG Florida move! Keep in touch!

[BeanoC]

:wave: Hi everyone...Renee here

I don't know if anyone other than Kamgen and Tarzanman are in Bonnie and Charley's path, but I hope and pray that all are safe. Just talked to Kamgen and she is fine.
Out here in California:sunny: its all sunny and warm. Supposed to be 103 today.
I keep counting the days until our cruise......Can't wait!!!!!:Pinkbounc

Happy day to all
Hugs and smiles, Renee

[pdarrah]

I have some family in the direct path of Charlie (or at least what they think is the path right now!), but they all say they are ready and will be fine.

Here near Chicago, it is COLD. It feels like October here! It has made it all the way up to 65 degrees so far today - we haven't seen the 70's since Monday. "Typical" temperatures should be around 85. :mad:

Nancy & Jen, I am hoping to introduce my pirate
pirate: to your princesses princess: princess: princess: even though he is a little younger than they are. He is pretty advanced for his age and has been in school most of his life! He isn't really shy, but can take a few minutes to adjust to a new situation. If you don't mind, he has been asking to "send a message" to the other kids that are going on the cruise. (He sees me typing stuff here and has seen the photos online of other kids.) He'll dictate what he wants to say to me (he's a little advanced, but he's not really writing yet!) Should I post it here or send it as a PM?

I am leaning toward joining y'all on deck 10 for the sail-away. Darrah is small (only 41" tall) and he may see more from up there than down in a crowd. As long as he can dance and be involved, he'll be happy.

Pamela

[Mom2Princesses]

Pamela --

You can either post it or PM me, but I would like to print it out and give it to my girls, then they can have it in their hand, and respond, too!

Michigan is also cold, and we are leaving to camp in a few hours. Good friends of ours live in Florida, near Fort Myers but she is visiting her parents in Oregan right now. Her husband is stationed in Iraq. I am praying their home is okat through it all!

Have a great weekend everyone!

[jenmack]

Hi Everyone, :wave2:

Pamela, You can either post or pm me, too. We will definetly answer back. My DS 3 (almost 4) is also advanced. Well, socially that is. It's from being around his older sibling's & their friends. My DS 3's regular playmate is 6. He's alway's trying to do what the bigger kid's can. Scooter, swimming, bike riding.
Also, I think we are going to deck 10, too. Per Tarzanman, it's just as fun & if the kid's want to go down to deck 9 & get in the mix of everything it sounds like all they have to do is go down some stair's & "Voila!" They are @ the goofy pool & dancing w/ all the character's. By the way, thanks Tarzanman for the offer to answer any ?'s from the "1st time" cruiser's. Everyone has been so helpful & welcoming.

Nancy, We definetlyl need to introduce our DD's. We too are going to MK, But we haven't decided on which day yet. It's either Thursday, the 21st or Friday, the 22nd.
About the capri pant's. I have a couple nice/cute pairs too & i'm bringing mine to wear for the more casual night's.

Well, it's been pretty unseasonably chilly here in good ol' Minnesota. "Sweatshirt weather". It's now finally getting warmer, though. :sunny:

My DH leaves for Naples, Italy this Saturday. Boy, am I going to miss him. :sad2: He's a Navy Reservist & will be gone for 3 weeks. I just keep him in my thought's & prayer's along w/ other soldier's & their families. Although I don't know anyone in Florida personally, I pray they among other's in "Charlie's" path are safe.

[abitjaded]

Pamela, if you hear anything directly about the condition of Ft Myers, please PM me.

Carla

[DMoss3377]

Hi gang,

Just checking in. Been watching the olympics...most of favorites were on tonight. :)

Still on a job search but otherwise, doing well. My last wedding for the year is in a week. It should be a nice get away. :)

DH and I have been discussing what we're going to do on the cruise in the way of excursions. We're probably only going to do one or two at the most. Here's what we're interested in...we'd love any input from previous cruisers who may have already tried these.

Stingray City - Grand Cayman
7 mile Sail & Snorkel - Grand Cayman

Horseback riding - Cozumel
Tropical Jeep Safari - Cozumel
Fury Catamaran - Cozumel

Any info would be great!

See you all soon.
Hugs

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone - here is the note that Darrah dictated for the girls on the cruise. Once he started he got a little tongue-tied! I mostly stuck with his phrasing except for his list of "I like to go on ..." at Disney World which was a lot shorter the way I typed it!

Pamela

---------------

My name is Darrah. I am really excited to go on the mickey cruise with Melinda, Chloe & Haleigh! :Pinkbounc

I am 5 years old and I like Minnie & Mickey ::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo I am going to bring my pirate costume on the boat. pirate:

And ... I am running out of things to say! At Mickey's world I like to visit Mickey ::MickeyMo at his "building". I also like Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Dumbo, Test Track, and Small World.

That's all.

Darrah

[jenmack]

Hi Darrah, my name is Haleigh and I am 7 years old. I'm looking foreward to the Disney World too. When I go to Magic Kingdom I hope I see Mickey mouse and Minnie Mouse. Ummm, are you going to stingray city? Because, I'm going to stingray city. What room is your's on the Disney Cruise? Well, goodbye Darrah.

-Haleigh ::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo :sunny: :tongue:

[tarzanman]

Hey DMOSS,

I think that we are going to Stingray City on this trip since we didn't make it in 2002. No hurricanes this time! I think that we are going to go with Capt'n Marvin. Kamgen would know more than I, of course.

The horseback riding excursion sounds fun. Does it go down the beach?

[abitjaded]

Dana, and Kamgen and Tarzanman, Pamela's family and my family are signed up for the half day Stingray City ride with Captain Marvin. Looks like you get a bit more time and at least one extra snorkel stop with them as opposed to the DCL excursion.

Pamela, I kind of agree about the Sail-Away. We have been on deck 9 for both, and did not see a whole lot. The kids saw even less, buried in a sea of legs. See ya on Deck 10.

Still waiting to hear from the Red Cross if they have any report on my relatives, glad you other Floridians are safe.

Carla

[jenmack]

We are signed up for the half day sting ray city excursion w/ Captain Marvin's, too. :)

Carla, I pray you hear from your family soon & that they are safe.

[tarzanman]

So, does anyone know if they have Pirate night on the Western Cruise too? I am assuming yes. I have to go out to buy a new outfit now Beano! Should we get eye patches?

[abitjaded]

Just got a call from my FL contingent. All is well, they got a generator and are cleaning up, lost half the roof shingles but did not get flooded out!

Carla

[jenmack]

Carla,

I'm glad to hear the good news about your relatives in Florida. That they are safe & haven't suffered to much damage.
:sunny:

[DudetteTwo]

Worked my four 12's in a row & it was a nice weekend at work.

Is everyone as excited as I am about the cruise:bounce: . It is getting close. I really need to start thinking about what I still need to get but feel like I can't start until summer is over.:sunny:

Are all the Florida & Southern dis'ers okay? My cousin lives in Cape Coral, Florida, & they have no electric & can't drink the water without boiling but those poor people in Punta Gorda:(
Today in N.J. it started out raining but now is just hot & humid. Have a great day & week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[DMoss3377]

Thanks gang,

Captain Marvin's sounds pretty cool. Would love info on any other excursions people have planned.

Glad everyone in FL is doing well. My fam in Orlando and Tampa are fine. Orlando crew didn't have water or power, not sure if they are still down, but houses came through well. We here in Atlanta didn't get anything...just beautiful sunny weather. :)

So someone explain to me this Pirate Night thing...Argh...sounds like it could be fun mateys!

Hugs

[jiminyC_fan]

:wave: Hi guys,

Probably no excursions for us this time. I think that we will do it on our own.

More than likely we will keep our tradition going and not be on deck 9 or 10 for the sail away. We love to be in the front and watch for the dolphins. (which are not always to be seen)

We are getting excited. We changed flights and will be in a day earlier on Wednesday to hopefully enjoy RonJon's. Just read something negative about RonJon's yesterday tho. Sure hope everything changes by October!

[abitjaded]

Oh how I would love to see the dolphins. We have looked our other two trips, none. Saw a turtle, and our verandah was right over the pilot boat jump-off, but no dolphin.

Carla

[jiminyC_fan]

My dh got us on tape with excitement but never captured the dolphins on tape. :(

[DudetteTwo]

Babysat my Mother today after taking her to her Dr.'s appointment until my Aunt came home from HER Dr.'s appointment.

SANDY: I am so happy you got your airline reservations changed. You will see us bright & early Thursday morning. We have a 7:00 AM flight! Getting very excited!:bounce: :bounce:

FAITH: Are you still with us? You're probably out shopping for a new wardrobe for your NEW figure!

Hope you all have a good week. Toodles:wave: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[skylynx]

Hello

Does anybody have any updated info on car rental at the Port?

We have an evening flight for the 22nd October, as I cannot escape from my office early. Our current plan is to rent a car at MCO and drive to and from our WDW hotel that night, and then drive to the port early saturday. The last cruise we did we parked our car at the port for the 4 days. As this is a 7 day trip we are looking at alternatives. Another previous cruise we rented AVIS and left our rental car at the Radisson and picked up another when we returned, for the drive back to WDW.

I know the Radisson Office has closed. Any other ideas. We have booked a car for Grand Cayman, for 20 plus dollars.

Any thoughts fellow travellers...?????

cheers

John

[pdarrah]

Hi John - I understand that both Avis & Budget have shuttles to the port. If you rent with either of them, you could return it to their office near the port on Sat. morning and take their shuttle to the port. On the return, just catch their shuttle back and rent a different car.

We are basically doing this with Budget except that we are returning the 1st car on Friday evening. Since we are staying at the Radisson, Budget was our best bet since they are only a few blocks away. We'll use the Radisson's shuttle on Saturday. On the return, we will take Budget's shuttle to their office for our 2nd car rental. Both our rentals are 1 day (actually, not even one day - pick up and drop off the same day!) This gives us a lot more freedom since we arrive early Friday (10:30am) and our flight out on Saturday isn't until 8:00pm. On the Friday, we are going to meet some relatives at Gatorland before we drive to the port. On the last Saturday, we plan to go to the Kennedy Space Center for a few hours. (Darrah wants to find out more about "space robots" like the ones on Mars!) The total cost for the 2 car rentals is around $85 which is still less than DCL transfers for 3 and MUCH more flexible.

Pamela

P.S. I'll contact you & Denise about our trying to get together when we get back from Wisconsin. We leave Thursday morning and will be back on Sunday.

[abitjaded]

Denverites! Foley's, Dillards and Lord and Taylor have some good bargains this week on the last of their summer stuff. Saw gowns for 60-75% off. There are additional percentage off coupons for Lord and Taylor and Foley's in the paper.

Dave's site has a lot of good car rental info. He has all the codes for the pick-ups and drop offs and lots of insider info. We have done Avis twice, both when the office was at Radisson and since it has moved. Worked fine. Tip one of the luggage handlers at the port on return and they will do a better job of dragging your stuff across the street to catch the shuttles. The best deal depends on what kind of discounts you may get with certain companies. We have some kind of "Wizard" for a couple companies. Then you can just go straight to your cars at the airport or port.

www.dcltribute.com

Carla

[skylynx]

Helllllooo everyone

I am getting so excited! John and I are going to this fabulous Mexican restaurant close by for dinner tonight to celebrate our first fifty days of marriage. Warm up for Cozumel. Great, authentic Mexican food (no TacoBell-ishness), singing guitarists, and Coronitas for two in a tin bucket of ice!

Made our car reservations with Budget-cheaper than Avis by $40 for both the day before and the day after the cruise. We've done the Avis-drop-off-at-the-Radisson twice on past cruises and were disappointed when we learned Avis moved out of the hotel. I'm glad to hear it is still an option. When we went on the Wonder in February, it turned out cheaper to get a car for a week at MCO ($99) and pay the four days' parking due to some strange surcharges for renting at Cape Canaveral. Guess it was a one-off thing, as the rental prices we got this time seem normal. We need the flexibility of the car to hit all our favorite spots and the Character Wearhouse to see if any cruise stuff turns up.

We booked the last possible flight back to Chicago on ATA on Halloween so we could enjoy most of the day Saturday and Sunday at the World.

Pamela...have a great time on your trip...daydream about the cruise on that long ride up and back, and we'll look forward to arranging a pre-cruise meet when you get back!

[jiminyC_fan]

Hey thanks Carla for the tip. I am not buying anything new because I am on a diet and have lost 6 lbs so far this first week. I think that I will try and squeak by with old cruising clothes and summer clothes and start fresh next year for the Panama Canal cruise. Hopefully, I will be back down to my size 10 by then.

We rent Avis all the time. Never had a problem. Will do it again this time.

50 days of marriage. Congrats Denise and John.

Jeanne, Faith has been working some long hours. Probably too tired to post. I know I would be.

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone!

I'll be offline for the next few days (I may go into withdrawal!) My parents and I are taking DS5 and his best friend (boy from next door) up to my parent's cabin in Northern Wisconsin. It is about 400 miles in a van with 2 little boys :eek: DH is driving up tonight after work. The cabin has most modern conveniences except for TV, telephone and computer.... We're driving back home on Sunday.

If anyone wants to add anything to the website or update their "Who's going" listing (or add a new one), please just PM or email and I will do all the updates on Monday.

See y'all later,

Pamela:wave2:

[abitjaded]

A klink of the dos cervezas con limon to John and Denise on their 50 day anniversary.

Hey, Pamela try the "that's a quarter" trick. Each boy starts with a positive budget, then each time they start to lose it, deduct a quarter. If good behavior ensues, return the quarter. Works for us. The kids survived a van trip to Phoenix with only one movie on the laptop computer, and were only down a couple bucks by the time we got home.

Jiminy (Sandy?), what better excuse NOT to diet then buying clothes now! Then they will fit. Works for me.

Carla

[jiminyC_fan]

Hey Carla, just wanted you to know that the 75 Mickeys are here at Cherry Creek mall. We had the opportunity to see them at WDW last Christmas. If you don't have anything to do head on over there. We loved them! p.s. I think all of them are here. got to thinking that maybe they split them up.

[Mom2Princesses]

Sorry it took us so long to get back to you all, between camping, my college classes, and getting ready for back-to-school, we have been crazy! Anyway, my DD 6 1/2 wrote a message which I am typing for you both:


My name is Melinda and Chloe and we are going to bring Ariel and Belle (costumes). I like ::MickeyMo and ::MinnieMo . In Toon Town I like Goofy's Barnstormers. And I am 6 and Chloe is going to be 4 in October 16. I am not sure about Stingray City yet. Our room is 7509. Do you like to swim? I am excited to meet you both on the cruise. We are going to the Magic Kingdom before we go on the cruise.
Bye,
Melinda and Chloe

[abitjaded]

Gee Sandy,

We saw a few at WDW, but just did not have a lot of time. Thanks for the heads up. We had no idea! We ride bikes over there a lot, about 4 miles from our house on the Highline Canal. Gotta do it, that is if the youngest feels better. He had a Mission to Mars type-protein spill on the school bus yesterday and is not his best today. This is also the last week-end my oldest is a little kid. He starts Jr. High Monday, yuk. But this sounds like a great last summer "Hurrah!" Bike, Mickey, then BLT pizza at California Pizza Kitchen.


PAID OFF!!!!!!!! Still just wait listed for early dinner, though.:bounce: :bounce: :( :( :(

Scanned availability of our cruise date with this site:

http://www.nlgsolutions.com/cruises/

Looks like most every category is still available if looking for cat 4-11. The only category that is on guaranteed status is cat 6. Be interesting to see what happens the next few days as the 60 day mark comes and goes.

Carla

[jiminyC_fan]

Carla, my dd went on 9News website and couldn't find exactly where in Cherry Creek. It was on 9News this morning or last night. My advise to you is to call the mall first before heading out.

[DudetteTwo]

JEANNEI just want to warn you all that the Three Disney Dudettes:earsgirl: :earsgirl: :earsgirl: have reunited for the cruise:boat:. Bonnie (alias Disney Dudette #1) will be joining us! Hope she gets an opportunity to post & introduce herself.

SANDY: Have fun camping! Congratulations:flower3: on the weight loss.

Hope you all have a fun-filled weekend. I am supposed to work for "WEEKEND INCENTIVE" which is another name for "BIG BUCKS"$$$$$$$ Cruise is paid so we REALLY are going!!!!!!! Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[jenmack]

Hi, I'm Haleigh and I am 7 years old. I have never been to a Disney Cruise or to Disney world. I am going to Magic Kingdom, too. I am in room 8050. I can't wait to go to stingray city. My brother's are going and so are my mom and dad. I asked my mom if I have to wear a life jacket. I don't want to, but my mom said I have to. I like to swim and I went off the diving board my first time this summer.

My mom didn't get my costume for me yet. I have a cinderella costume, but it doesn't fit me anymore. I'm going to wear my princess crown when I wear my party dress. My brothers are going to wear eye patches and pirate hat's and they want to bring swords, but my mom no.
Do you like lizzie mcQuire? I gotta go now, bye.
-Haleigh:wave2: ::MinnieMo pirate: :cool:

[BeanoC]

:wave: Hi Everyone, Renee here......

Wondered if anyone else is getting excited yet?:earseek:
My son starts freshman year tomorrow....yikes!
Hope everyone had a nice weekend.....
Looking forward to seeing you all onboard,
Renee

[diz_princess]

Hello,
We are going on this cruise...my husband, my son (8mo) and I. We will be spending a couple of days at WDW beforehand.

[pdarrah]

Hi Cori,

I am a 1st time DCL cruiser for this one, but it doesn't look like they do anything for Halloween other than just on the actual day. My son (5 yrs) is still planning on bringing his costume. He is being a pirate this year and if he can't wear it anywhere else (kid clubs or the new "pirate theme" night) then he will wear it on the formal night. The logic there is that if the little girls can wear princess costumes for formal night, then he can wear his costume.

We traveled to DisneyWorld with our son at 6 weeks, 6 months, (and every 6 months thereafter). The parks were really easy with him before he could walk! The "baby care" centers in each park are great and you can carry him on every ride except the ones with restrictions (ie. the Mountains, Rock & roller coaster, etc.) I was never really willing to change my travel plans that much - so we have always just taken him with us to nearly everything. At this young an age, you probably want to bring a reclining stroller so he can sleep whenever/whereever he wants.

The only real restrictions I could see in the ports would be some of the more active excursions. Dune Buggies probably wouldn't be a good idea! Even snorkeling would be OK if you and your DH were willing to take turns. If you do an excursion that involves a boat, I would buy and bring your own life jacket for him - "infant" ones are available, but they may not have them at the excursions.

I hope this helps a little....

Pamela

P.S. We have a website for our cruise at www.bwdarrah.com/dcl. If you would like to be added to the "Who's Going" page, just send me a PM or an email (pdarrah@sprynet.com) or post your info here.

[abitjaded]

Welcome Cori and family,

My kids loved the beach when they were little. They found the waves in Hawaii (North Shore, January Pipeline) a little intimidating, but liked just sitting in the biggest sand boxes they had ever seen. Pack a pail and trowel if you have room!

Hey Denver, the Mickeys are in Cherry Creek North, not the Mall. We biked over Sunday. Disney Radio had a thing for the kids, music, free comics, travel brochures, kits to build Mickey bookends. The statures are stationed around on the corners. Bit of a hunt to find them, we had a map and still walked a long way just to see a few. Don't think there are anywhere near 75 of them. But it was fun, had lunch at Cucina Colore on the patio and the kids quietly read Donald Duck comics.

Carla

[DudetteTwo]

I don't know about anyone else but two months to go & I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited:jumping1: I can't stand myself!
I think it is sinking (poor choice of words) in that it is getting close. Shopped all weekend & got some real bargains. I decided I didn't want all the pictures to look the same by wearing the same outfits. Strawbridges had a great sale 75% off the clearance items & them if you spend $25.00 they took another $10.00 off, so they were practically giving the clothes away! The Disney Dudettes are doing their "formal" shopping this weekend. I even got a new pair of P.J.'s half price at the Disney Store.

I really can't wait to meet some of you & see some of my old friends again:grouphug: Back to work for three in a row. Hope you all have a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[abitjaded]

O.K., glad someone finally went bonkers over the 60 day thing. Me. too, now it seems real.

I want the lowdown on the Dudettes. Once there were two and now there are three?????? What gives? Sinking, arrrghhhh!

Also Denver and otherwise citywise, when we were looking for the Mickeys Sunday, we stopped off in a strange store that is legion in Denver. The place is called Wizard's Chest, full of Dungeons and Dragons, strange games, magic tricks, and.....drum roll COSTUMES. I was amazed to note a huge collection of wild pantyhose and GLOVES. Man, they had long ladies gloves in every price range. Red, lace, pink, shorties, over the elbow. And, of course, black, in a variety of fabrics. They had your Goth look, pretty princess, Sunday church-lady, you-name-it. Now I'm really tempted. Plus, all kinds of cool Pirate Gear!!! Think I'll get the kids a few patches and earrings. Close enough to Halloween to pull it off? If you are looking for cruise stuff, try your friendly local costume store. We are kind of missing Halloween, due to a late return on Sunday, maybe a wild Pirate Night would make up for it. Anyone seen the menu yet?

Carla

[skylynx]

So, Carla, how many pair of gloves did you get? :-)

I was happy to find my long black gloves tied around the hanger of my husband's tux--no need to turn the house upside down to find them!

I will be teaching two English/writing courses at a local college this semester(and just found out), so I've been going crazy developing the syllabus for each and FORGOT the 60 day marker until this morning when I caught up reading Disboards! Since I got laid off I've been piecing together employment doing contract work and, as oft occurs, ended up with three deadlines for three different jobs all this week, plus I'm supposed to be interviewed for a tv show about my racehorse rescue next week and have to prep for it. Of course, weeks went by earlier this summer with my scrapping for a few hours of work here and there. Oh well, I'm happy to have the work, even if one week it blasts like a firehose and the next week barely dribbbles.

Our local department stores are pretty much giving things away, as well, with 75% off sales on summer merchandise (great for fall cruisers!) The Christmas ornaments are already out in the Hallmark store. I have to laugh, because I distinctly remember growing up on Long Island about a hundred years ago when not a HINT of Christmas decor or merchandise came out until the day after Thanksgiving!

John and I bought tickets on eBay to go to the Jimmy Buffett concert here Thursday night (as a warm-up for Key West!). The eBay seller accidentally sent our tickets to someone else in Chicagoland who'd also won tickets, so we're trying to figure out if we can get them in time. I'll be disappointed if we can't go--we went last year and it was the wildest thing I've ever seen. I went to a Buffett concert during grad school, but it was in the Dean Dome at UNC-Chapel Hill--a huge, no-nonsense indoor place with no "lawn" seats. The stage was too far from everyone for the three-hour beachball volley game to occur. At the Tweeter Center, everyone spends the entirety of a Buffett concert standing in front of, not in, their expensive seats except during intermission. It is a non-stop party with inflatables flying around the whole time and lots of men dressed up in grass
skirts. The lawn area looks like Woodstock. Well, fingers crossed.

PS There's still time to get your black gloves, ladies!

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Good morning everyone. I am finally able to post again after being MIA due to a 2 week training course for work.

I am so excited that the cruise is getting closer, I can't wait.

YEA Bonnie is coming on the cruise, I am so excited she decided to join us.

I am very busy at work today but thought I would check in. I haven't been to work since August 5th.

[pdarrah]

Here is a reply from Darrah to all the "princesses"

Pamela
------------------

Hi Haleigh and Melinda and Chloe,

I wanted to say I am going to talk a lot on the cruise.:tongue: I always talk a lot! :tongue: Before the cruise, I am going to go to GatorLand. My cruise room is #2548. I am going to Stingray City on the Mickey Cruise. :bounce: :Pinkbounc So I am REALLY excited to go on the Mickey Cruise!!!

Tomorrow I am starting Kindergarten. One of my best rides at Mickey's World is Dumbo. At Castaway Cay I want to go to the snorkeling place and I want to see what is at Key West. I want to go to the Fort at Key West. Are you going to see stuff in Key West?

Bye, Time to go.

Darrah

[jiminyC_fan]

Jeanne, thanks for the congratulations on the weight loss. Lots and lots more but it is a start.

Bonnie, (dudette 1), welcome aboard. I am so happy that you decided to join all of us. What would the cruise be without ALL of the dudettes?

Welcome back Heidi. Missed you!

[Mom2Princesses]

Excursion Questions:

Grand Cayman:

Nautilus Undersea Tour (All ages) Good for 4 year old and 6 year old? My kids are interested in this one! Meet at 9:05 [1-1.5 hours]

OR

Captain Marvins -- 2 hr excursion to meet the Stingrays -- but keep in mind my children are saying that they don't want to meet the stingrays (they are scared!). Meet at 1:15pm [2 hours]

I could do them both, 1st with kids and 2nd without??? I would just have to get them back on the boat. It seems doable ;)

Cozumel:

Xcaret Eco Archeological Park -- 6.5 to 7.5 hours! I think this one, although it sounds kid friendly, is a bit too long but it sounds so nice! 9:45 [all day] Anyone taken small ones before?

Then there are all these beach excursions, like Mr Sanchos, Cozumel Beach Break, etc.

The Sea Lions Discovery also sounds great, but my kids are not into the sea lions (I think they actually would be if they saw the show, but they keep saying they are scared!)

:confused:

How do I decide what to do????

Thanks for your help

PS Melinda & Chloe will be writing back to the kids here tomorrow!

[abitjaded]

Hey Nancy, cannot answer any of your questions with specifics, BUT. Xcaret is actually across on the mainland, you have to ferry over, and this ferry ride can be notorius for being rough. We planed over the one time we went between CanCun and Cozumel. But Xcaret is amazing, Some of the snorkeling is in strange water. The "lake" is a stream feed between fresh and salt water, so there are real thermoclines, layers of the water and temperature mixtures that make visibility "wobbly" in some areas. Amazing fish, some pretty large. The ruins at Tulum are interesting and the location is spectacular. The ruins on Cozumel are paltry. But if you have been to other places in Mexico, the ruins at Tulum are quite small. The whole area is quite crowded, many vendors and tourists. I think some are considering Chanknaab, somewhat similar to Xcaret, but much easier to get to. There is a DCL excursion to there, but it can be done for less via taxi. Take a look at Pamela's site. She has good links. Just a note, we think Mexico is easy to do on your own, very non-intimidating. We are thinking of taxiing down to PalMar, mostly because DH tends to get strange Tourista in Mexico, if you want company negotiating the natives. DH speaks SOME very rusty Spanish.

Nautilus is ages 6 and up, only. We took DH1 on a semi-submersible when he was about two (Hawaii), it was pretty rough, DS was fine, but DH nearly had a protein spill. These things stay in the wave action and it can be unpleasant, though some love it. They are just a boat with a deeper hull that is windowed, confining, too.

You do not have to get in the water with the Stingrays, lots of folks take excursions to Stingray City and don't get in the water with the rays. Check ages with Marvin's, Disney's are also ages 6 and up. Ask if Marvin's can load some face mask boogie boards. These are surf board size things with a mask in the front. A kid can "snorkel" and you can tether them to you.

Carla

[Mom2Princesses]

Thanks Carla!

Xcaret sounds so awesome, but I do think that the rough ride will be too much for the girls. I have showed the girls a few images on the internet, and they are interested in the dolphins, now. I did not realize that at Stingray City they didn't have to get out of the boat! So, we could take turns (DH and I) with sitting back with the girls? That may work. And they may wind up going in after they see us in there...hmmm

In the Passporter, it says that the Nautilus is for all ages...I will try to find out for sure, though. Still, if they do Stingray City that will probably be enough.

Mr Sanchos website looked like it was for adults to me, so that one is out.

The Spanish is intimidating to me -- I took French! LOL! It does worry me some and we have never been to Mexico before! What about those vendors? We were in Toronto several years ago and the vendors were a pain there--especially the ones in drag!!! No joke, men dressed as women trying to sell roses at the subway stops. I may need assistance in Cozumel! :o

Off to research a bit more, everytime I think I have it narrowed down, I get new info!

Does anyone do any excursions in Key West? The ratings are not very good for them in Passporter, we are planning on doing our own thing there.

[pdarrah]

Hi Nancy,

If you are thinking of doing Stingray City with Capt. Marvin, there are already several of us from here that are doing the "1/2 day" tour with them. It is actually just 3 hours and stops at a couple of reefs and the stingrays. Since my DS5 is going, your's wouldn't be the only little ones... Darrah is actually really excited about it. We have been reading books from the library about coral reefs and practicing snorkeling at the public pool. I have no idea how it will go when we get there, but right now he plans to snorkel every reef and touch a stingray!

It has been about 12 years since I was last in Cozumel, but at that time the vast majority of people (and all shopkeepers) spoke perfectly adaquate english. I believe that they start teaching English in the schools in Mexico at a very early age. I took 2 years of Spanish in high school (then switched to German) and my tiny bit of remembered words were more than enough. We actually enjoyed the interplay and bargaining at the shops. Basically, you just have to reallize that this is how it works in this culture and try to join in and enjoy it. 12 years ago the shopkeepers weren't that agressive - yes, they would come out and talk to you and try and get you to come in, but it wasn't agressive (not like Jamaica or some of the other islands) and a simple "no thankyou" or "no gracias" was enough. I don't know if this has changed a lot - if it has, I will just get off the main street, since usually this type of thing isn't as bad if you are a block or two away from the "strip" in any city. There was a wonderful "market" (small stalls or tables for each vendor) a little way back from the square that I hope is still there.

We still haven't decided about Cozumel - Chankanab, Mr. Sanchos or other beach, or another snorkel excursion are still in the running.... I hope to spend a few hours early in the day doing one of those things and then a little time later in the day looking around/shopping in town.

In Key West, we are definitely going to just do stuff on our own. There is a garden I really want to see and (for some unknown reason) Darrah wants to see the fort that is there. I also want to find a good place to have cuban food for lunch - I haven't ever been to a cuban restaurant, but have made "cuban inspired" recipes that I really enjoyed. Nearly everything in Key West is within walking distance (and there is also a bus system). There are links to most of the attractions at http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl/links.htm.

Pamela

[pdarrah]

Oops - Duplicate post (I'm never sure what to do when it stops responding and you get that "server busy" message....)

[DMoss3377]

Hi all...

We're back from the last wedding of the year for us...thank goodness. It's amazing how demanding and time consuming someone else's wedding can become. :) But it all went beautifully and the party was a blast.

The only downside was the my DH had to make a visit to the Emergency Room. They didn't give us a definitive answer on what was wrong, so when we got home did the rounds with the doctors...and ended up back in the ER today. Finally found out, he's got Kidney Stones. Ugh...and on top of that, I'm babysitting our friends 18month old while they are on their honeymoon. :) Needless to say, I've got my hands full. :)

But I'm doing a happy dance now that we're getting even closer to the cruise. :)

[LoveMyBirmans]

Hi everyone! We're also booked on this cruise and VERY EXCITED!!!! Four cheeseheads from Wisconsin here .... I'm a dental hygienist, my DH is in the optical field and we're bringing DS10 and DD6. We've booked the dolphin encounter/swim in Cozumel and planning on Stingray City in GC (not booked yet). Already throwing a few things in my empty suitcase for the trip, and surely driving my co-workers to the brink with my Disney droning ..... anybody else?

It's our first cruise, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can from these boards. Hope to meet some fellow DISers.

~ Leanne

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Welcome Leanne. These boards have such great information, I am sure you will get so much information that it will become overwhelming. I am so excited the cruise is in 2 months.

-Heidi

[pdarrah]

Hi Leanne,

Welcome! This is my family's first Disney cruise. (DH & I cruised twice - years and years ago...) I am getting somewhat crazy about it and want to start packing now :)

This board has been a wonderful wealth of information. We also have a website for our cruise at www.bwdarrah.com/dcl. If you would like to be included on our "who's going" page, just send me an email (pdarrah@sprynet.com) or a PM or post it here.

Has it warmed up where you are? My family spent last weekend in Birchwood, WI (family cabin - abt 20 miles from Hayward) and it was freezing. That is literally true - we actually had frost on Friday night! Here, near Chicago, it is back to summer (rainy, but at least it is warm.)

Pamela

[jiminyC_fan]

Leanne, welcome, welcome, welcome.

[LoveMyBirmans]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Yes, Pamela, we were having October weather up here for awhile. Now it's back to the hot humid stuff (figures since the kids head back to school next week).

My kids are ALMOST as excited as I am about this cruise. We made a big paper link chain last week, so we're tearing off one each day.

Anyone else going to Mickey's Halloween Party the night before the cruise? We are staying at Pop Century the night before we sail and going to MNSSHP. I can't bear the thought of being that close to the "World" and not visiting.

Well, I'm off to gather up rummage from the basement. Time to clear out all the baby stuff and make a few extra bucks for the "Mouse". We're having a yard sale next weekend.

Bye for now!

~ Leanne

[skylynx]

Welcome, Leanne

You've come to the right place to get good and worked up for the trip (which is half the fun).

Got our ebay concert tickets sorted out finally and we're off to see Jimmy Buffett tonight on the steamiest, sweatiest night of the summer so far (after night after lovely night of welcome coolness). Not looking forward to the drive to the arena and the parking and traffic nightmare...the location of this place leaves no viable option for moving traffic logically. Last year we waited over an hour on the line just to turn into the parking lot. This year we're trying to find a back way in to avoid that mess. Still...it is an intoxicatingly exciting warm up to a Caribbean cruise that isn't far away AT ALL anymore! And JB is always a vivid reminder that if you've got the right formula, the fact that you are middle aged, balding, and have a bit of a beer belly doesn't stop millions of fans from worshiping you. And now he's added all the country-western folks to his entourage after recent duets with c/w stars. As if he needed more fans! It is going to be a loooooong night.

Is it too soon to start thinking about when cruise docs will come?

Fins to the left....

:-)

[luvgoofy61]

Wanted also to say hello to Leanne. We are also going on the cruise the 23rd and also are cheeseheads from the Milwaukee area. I am a nurse DH is a salesmen and DD 12, DS10 and DD6 will be going along also. Also will be my mother-in-law, her first cruise. Hope to meet up with all of you soon. Linda

[pdarrah]

Hi Linda,

Wow! More and more DISers!:bounce: Welcome to the thread. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone.

I feel like I am repeating myself, but I wanted to invite you to add your info to our website (www.bwdarrah.com/dcl). Without knowing if everyone goes back and read the older posts, it seems best to just invite each new cruiser as they introduce themselves....

There sure are a lot of 6 year old girls going on this cruise! Hopefully, they will be willing to play with a 5.5 year old boy :)

Pamela
- cool! I just noticed that I am a "DIS Veteran" now.

[jenmack]

Welcome Leanne & Linda & families. :)

It's nice to have more DISer's & everyone here is so nice & helpful.

Nancy, we are doing the 1/2 day w/ Captain Marvin's, too. So along w/ Darrah, Haleigh, & my DS's there will be a couple kid's on the boat. Captain Marvin's seems very friendly & accomodating. Even our DS 3 will be coming. As for Cozumel, we are just going to do our own thing & take a cab to Paradise Beach. My husband know's a litle Spanish so I'll just rely on him. :eek: :)

To Darrah, Melinda, & chloe... Haleigh say's "Hi". :wave2:

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi all I know it's been a long time since my last post. I have been very very busy. I started working 3rd shift at the hospital OMG it's harder than I thought it would be, I feel like a zombie most of the time. I'm getting sort of use to it now.

WOW, it just took me quite a while to read all the past post you guys have been very very busy as well I see. It sound like we are all going to have a blast.:hyper:

Welcome to all the new people on this thread it's nice to meet all of you. I just can't wait to meet everybody.

The only shore exc we are doing are:
in Grand Cayman we booked the Auqaboat adventure
in Castaway Cay me, DD & DH are going to parasail SIL is going fishing

There is not much to do in Key West so we may just go to a beach called "Fort Zachary taylor" beach
Oh and we have to "go to hell" in Grand Cayman
In Cozumel we only plan to shop and go to 'Carlos & Charle's"

Have a great night all, I have to rest a while before I have to work tonight.

Bye all,:wave:
Faith

[Mom2Princesses]

First, Welcome to all the newbies...

How are we all going to distinguish ourselves as DISers? I was thinking of going to home depot and getting that Mickey Paint swatch that is the bright green and attaching it to...something? I know we all have the Sail Away Party, but just in case it is busier, should we have some other way to distinguish ourselves?

Leanne We ARE going to the MNSSHP the night before, too! We have a PS at Liberty Tree Tavern at 4pm so we can get in early. What are your kids dressing up as? Mine have the Jasmine and Aurora costumes to get this year, then we will have bought all 6 of the main Disney Princess costumes -- I am done with that! :eek:

For Halloween at home they are being a Christmas Tree and Christmas present -- it all started with a box that is a tall triangle. We go Halloween Camping the last weekend of September every year, so I have to have the costumes done by then...I am trying to think of something unique to make them for the MNSSHP but I am so far stumped. I need to find an obscure character to create -- one that is still easy to walk in!

Anyway, I am thinking that I may call Capt Marvin's and book that half day trip, too! Do you know how we get there from the boat? I will be following you all, that is for sure! What time are you guys leaving?

My girls were real busy today so they were unable to write back. A good friend to my daughter had a house fire 2 nights ago and they are completely displaced from their home, and school starts Monday! So we had her friend over today, and my DH took them to see Princess Diaries 2 and for an ice cream. I am trying to figure out how to be truly helpful in a way that matters for them, right now they are living in a hotel! Keep them in your prayers, please!

Anyway, in case I am tied up tomorrow, have a great weekend everybody, we will be gone again (to visit family this weekend).

[LoveMyBirmans]

Hello Linda! Wow, you're really close by ... and we have kids the same age. Cool!

Mom2Princesses, I'm not sure what we're doing for costumes. I really didn't want to pack more than we had to. I have a feeling our suitcases will be overstuffed already. If I could talk them into being pirates they could at least wear it again on the ship. But my daughter is not thrilled about being a pirate pirate: ... not girly enough I guess. I did think about getting PS's for dinner, but our flight got bumped later and we're not going to be getting in until around 2 pm.

Pamela, your website is awesome. I will be emailing you with our info.

Skylynx, how was the Buffet concert? I'm so jealous!

Thanks for the welcome Jenmack & Heidi & Faith & JiminyCfan.

Can't wait to meet everyone! :wave2:

~Leanne

[DudetteTwo]

LINDA: Welcome:flower3:. The Three Disney Dudettes:earsgirl: :earsgirl: :earsgirl: are all R.N.'s. Dudette #1 works for BC &BS. Dudettes #2 & #3 are both maternity nurses that work post partum the majority of the time. Just wondering what kind of nursing you do?

LEANNE: Welcome! My name looks like yours but it is Jeanne.

The Disney Dudettes were reunited last night for a little trip to Los Amigos for a great mexican meal & margaritas:drinking1. Tomorrow we will be reunited AGAIN for a shopping spree. We are looking for gowns for formal night.

FAITH: I'm so glad you posted. I was worried about you! Sorry to hear you are working so hard.

TGIF. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Wow busy thread since I was last on.

Glad to see new people coming to this thread. Welcome Linda.

Jeanne - how long do you think it will take before Bonnie starts posting on this thread? Do we need to giver her an extra push?

Hi Faith, good to see you posting again...anyway of convincing Kristy to post on here too?

My friend's sister works at Disneyland so I am trying to get tickets to go to MNSSHP from her but so far it is unsuccesful. If not I will enjoy the Ron Jon's resort.

I think I am going to try to wear a lime green shirt. I have a lime green Margaritaville tank top from Las Vegas, or I can wear my lime green tropical tank top.

Have a great weekend.

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone!

I had been really hoping there would be a MNSSHP the day AFTER the cruise (Saturday) - we would have stayed until Sunday for that. The night before the cruise just doesn't seem to be a good idea with a little one :( - starting a vacation with a tired & cranky kid just doesn't sound good to me. DS5 definitely needs his sleep! I know from previous VMCP nights that we tend to be up VERY late.

Nancy - I have also been thinking of doing something with the HD Mickey heads. I bought the WalMart lanyards, so I was thinking of making something that would fit in them...

We are walking to Capt. Marvins - it is supposed to only be a couple blocks from where the tender brings us in. The plan is to disembark fairly early so there is plenty of time for a leisurly walk over. Some of us from this thread are planning to meet and walk over together.

Jeanne - I added Dudette #1 to the "who's going" page - but I don't think my edit to the text part was correct since she is a different typs of nurse from you and Dudette #3. Do you want to send me a re-write or should I just try and wing it?

Pamela

[BeanoC]

:wave: Hi All......Renee here

I don't know about anyone else but lately I have been thinking about hearing the words:"Welcome Aboard":Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce:

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!

I wanna go now....I wanna go now!!!!!

My family and I are also thinking of doing Captn. Marvins and we already have our MNSSHP tickets!!!
I made my list and now I'm checking it twice.....

Hope to see you all onboard and chat:chat:

Have a nice day to all.......
Renee

[abitjaded]

Welcome Leanne and Linda,

I also have a 10 DS, (other Ds is 8). We will be on the Captain Marvin's half day with Pamela and Kamgen? and Jenmack. Do the other 10DSs like YuGiOh or Gameboys?

We are thinking of getting the tickets for the Key West Conch train (trolley?). Whichever one allows getting on and off. There are stops near Mel Fisher's museum and near the beach, and a few blocks from the fort. The price for the tickets seems to be as cheap as renting bikes, the other thing we were considering.

Hey Faith, welcome back, I have a friend who is an ER Doc and she is always working the wackiest hours, I don't know how she does it, Have you been to any of the Key West beaches before, Shirley of the Perfect Gift seems to think they are not so great anymore. Any snorkeling there that you have tried?

Mickey Heads???

Carla

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My sister and her DH love to snorkel in Key West. They are going on the Western Itinerary October 8, 2004 and are so excited to get to go snorkeling there again. So I am guessing the snorkeling is good.

[tarzanman]

This thread is definitely rolling again.

DMOSS,
Sorry to hear about Steve. I hope that all goes well. I will call and check up on you soon.

Key West: I think that we are just going to hang out on Duvall Street. Last time we walked around and went to the Little White House. It was interesting but this time I think that we want to sit and drink. A co worker of mine goes on snorkling excursions there quite often. I will ask him which ones he does.

I think that the only excursion that we are doing is the half day Captn Marvin's but I am not sure. Kamgen plans all that stuff for me.

LoveMyBirmans
We are going to the MNSSHP before as well. It should be fun. I don't think that we are dressing up or going early but it will be a blast.


Looks like we have a big group of DISers on this cruise. The Home Depot swatches are good but name tags help. Everyone should probably get nametags.

[jiminyC_fan]

Welcome Linda! Are you as excited as the rest of us?

Heidi, I will cross my fingers about the MNSSHP tickets. Wouldn't that be FANTASTIC!! For you new people, PoohFriend is my adult dd who is joining us on our cruise.

I was wondering about Bonnie alias Dudette #1 posting here as well. Where is she??

Faith, what a great surprise to read from you! Get lots of sleep so that you can enjoy the trip! Missed you!

We probably won't join in the sail away party but I will be wearing a lime green shirt. I also have a pin with JiminyCfan (made by a fellow diser)on it that if I get enough courage I will wear it as well. Wearing lime green with my red hair is scary enough.:teeth:

Carla, the mickey heads are paint chips that you can get at any Home Depot. They have a variety of colors including the lime green.

Heidi's twin sister does like snorkeling in Key West but I wonder if the hurricane messed that up. Don't think that we will go to any beaches in Key West.

[BeanoC]

Hey Sandy....this is Renee.

I am also a red head and you'll look fine in lime green!

::yes::

Smiles, Renee

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi all, Hope your all having fun!
Jeanne, Heidi, Carla,& Sandy, Thanks for the welcome back I have been working way too hard but we all do what we have to do. :tongue:

Heidi, I will try to talk Kristy into posting on this thread but I don't think she does dis boards.

Carla, thanks for the tip about the beaches in Key West. I'm not into snorkeling but Eugene & Kristy are. In fact just today I received the stuff from DCL about the shore excursions so they are going to read up on them and maybe take one of the ones that DCL has to offer. The only other thing I want to try is to go to "Bo's Fish Wagon" and try some Conch fish. It was on the Travel channel and it sounds great. Something I would not do in Boston.
I work in the ER a lot at night and it's nuts! I think there is a full moon this weekend and of course I'm working so I know this will be a crazy weekend. You never who is going to walk or wheel through that ER door. CAN'T WAIT - NOT!!!!
But the one good thing is that it will go by fast.:hyper:

Sandy, It was great talking to you on the phone today. We are going to have such a blast.:rotfl:

Hey Bonnie, Where are you???????:confused:

Renee, I agree with you. You guys are going to look great in lime green

Dmoss, best of luck to Steve.

Good luck to all of you getting MNSSHP tickets. I got mine back in May because I wanted to go on Halloween night.pirate: and that sells out fast.

Well, I need to rest I have to work tonight. Have a great one. Wish me luck this weekend! :sad2:


Faith :wave:

[jiminyC_fan]

Hey thanks Renee. I have never really worried about color too much. We both can wear lime green and start a fashion trend!:teeth:

Faith, conch fish?? What is that? :confused: Maybe we might want to go there too. Tell us more.

[DudetteTwo]

PAMELA: Don't worry about Disney Dudette #1. I think Sandy is sending her this thread & she is VERY computer literate & will tell you what she wants you to post.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO:jumping1: excited. The Three Disney Dudettes are going out gown shopping together but I tried on my semi-formal & some other things & it wasn't as bad as I thought - very tight but I GOT INTO THEM!:crowded: I think I would be in trouble if I lose my "body armor".

Hope you all have a great weekend. The heat:sunny: is on again. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by jiminyC_fan
Hey thanks Renee. I have never really worried about color too much. We both can wear lime green and start a fashion trend!:teeth:

Faith, conch fish?? What is that? :confused: Maybe we might want to go there too. Tell us more.

I know it's something you can only get in Key West (I think) It looks really good from what I saw on the Travel channel, they say Bo's is the best (it's what the local's like the best) so you know I have to try it. and I know it's walking distance from the ship. so lets all go. :jumping1: :hyper2:
Faith:wave:

[jenmack]

Hi everyone,

I have a couple ?'s about Palo's. We are doing the REAS & so we get to have dinner @ Palo's, but I was thinking it might be nice to do brunch or high tea their too. To you seasoned DISer's...Since I'm already experiencing Palo's for dinner is it worth it to make ressies for Brunch or high tea. What's it like? Is it worth an experience? :)
Also, What about the Spa? Has any one tried any other treatment besides the messages? That Ionithermie algea detox looks kind of nice. I could stand to loose an inch or two, detoxify, say "bye-bye" to some celulite. :wave2: Does anyone use the salon for getting their hair done? Like maybe on formal night?

I'm working on my travel budget & trying to see if it's worth squeezing a couple of spa treatments. :) I didn't plan on doing a lot of thing's but I keep adding on & adding on... oops. :eek:

Anyway, any input is very much appreciated & everyone, have a nice weekend! :earsgirl:

[jenmack]

ok, I did something wrong. I posted, it say's my name as the last person to post, but I can't find my post. I sent the same post again & still can't find it. Oh well, if the post(s) do finally appear & there are 2 of the same one...That is why.

:rol:confused: :rolleyes: :) Thanks, -Jen:sunny:

[jenmack]

Ok, here it goes...I'm going to try again :rolleyes:

I just had a couple ?'s for you "experienced" DISer's.

We are doing the REAS so we will definetly have "dinner" Palo reservation's. My ? is about brunch & high tea @ Palo's. What is it like? Since we will already have the experience of Palo's via dinner, is it worth it to do the Brunch and/or high tea? Is the champagne brunch better than the dinner? Is the champagne included w/ the $10pp fee? Do you know what is served @ the high tea?

Also, I have a couple span ?'s, too. Has anyone tried any of the spa treatment's besides the message's? Is the couple's message better than the spa taster? I was looking @ the Ionithermie algae detox & it looks kinda of nice. :) I could stand to loose an inch or two, detoxify, loose a little cellulite...:eek: :)
Do any of you use the salon? I'm getting a pedicure before I leave, & I'll probably do the hairbraiding for my daughter, but I was thinking of maybe getting my hairdone for formal night. I was planning on doing my hair myself & still might, but now I'm thinking it might be kind of fun to have it done in the salon. I'm doing my trip budget, again & I keep adding on & adding on...oops :eek: Oh well, It's not like I do this all the time. :) Anyway, any input would be very much appreciated. I'm just so excited...I CAN"T WAIT til Oct 23rd!!! :hyper: Thanks & everyone, have a nice weekend. -Jen :earsgirl:

[skylynx]

Hi, Everyone

Leanne--Jimmy Buffett was fantastic, as usual.

I can't believe he's approaching 60 and still packing them in. John and I were laughing noticing how the mean age of a Parrothead has crept up since I started going to these concerts when I was in college. Now its primarily 40 and 50 somethings dressed in grass skirts and coconut bras with parrots or sharks on their heads--we imagine the next morning they all come in late to their jobs as office managers and IT directors and accountants and...The nice surprise was that Martina McBride showed up to sing a gorgeous duet with Jimmy B. We had great, great, great, seats cheap cheap cheap courtesy of last minute eBay purchases. What fun! And it certainly got us into a tropical mood knowing that two months from the concert date we'd be in Grand Cayman--with all of you!

Re: hair braiding story. On our first cruise on the Wonder, a lady at our table had brought her granddaughter on the cruise and got her hair braided at Nassau. (Dana and Steve will probably remember this.) After spending around a hundred dollars on the hair braiding, when they got back on the ship the braids were so tight they were making the poor little girl cry, and when it didn't subside after an hour or so, they ended up taking them out (which took forever). Might be something better to spend a hundred dollars on. Other people have probably had good experiences, but we did witness this one first hand!

Don't forget your black gloves, lady shopping divas!

By the way, you can get cool, lime green Disboards t-shirts from the Dis store. We'll be wearing ours. They ship quickly, too.

The countdown ticker is looking better and better, isn't it? :-)

[DudetteTwo]

FIRST: I'll answer the hair question (before I forget). I had my hair done in a up-do & it looked beautiful & was very reasonable - something like $26.00. The problem was they asked if I wanted this rhinestone barrette in my hair & that cost $24.00! So don't buy their barrette.

Bargain gown is bought & is REALLY, REALLY beautiful. It is black with white embroidered flowers & beads on the bodice & all down the back. $178.00 gown for $32.78. The problem is I can't breathe in it :crowded: unless I lose weight. THE DIET IS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like I'll be shopping for long, black, satin gloves. The Three Disney Dudettes:earsgirl: :earsgirl: :earsgirl: had the best time shopping!

I can't take this heat:headache: It is so hot & humid I am not leaving my air-conditioning except to walk Dodger dog. Hope you all are having a great fun-filled weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[abitjaded]

Jen, yes do Palo Brunch. It is wonderful, about the only place I know to see it is on castawaycayclub. She has pictures. There is a gret variety of fresh seafood, including king and stone crab. Then lots of salads with an Italianish bent, olive, eggplant, cuke, etc, all VERY good. Then an entree (as if you had room), crepes, pancakes, eggs or tilapia or pasta and more. There is a bread and cheese table and a dessert table. Well worth it. All the oj you can drink and one glass of champagne is included.

I have done the capsule thing at the spa and would give it a pass, pretty lame for that amount of money. Love the Rainforest pass and the Surial Bath.

Hair, wow, my mom paid over $65 for a blue screw and glue job for formal night.

If you want a good hair time for formal night, you must add that to your ressie rush at the spa, especially if you need to do Palo ressies, too. Split the adults up and have a clear idea of what day, when, so ressies do not overlap. We have used the family radios to coordinate schedules. We got tea once and had to give it up due to hair appointment and never got a reschedule. There is hairbraiding on ship, maybe if you have it done there there is at least a "return" chance.

Hope Steve's kidney stones are a "passed thing" by now.

Ohhhh, Jeanne, love the gown bargains!

Ah, Jimmy Buffet, Denise, gotta get out some of the old tapes and give a listen. We are only young once (not).

Carla

[jenmack]

Thanks Jeanne, Carla, Denise for all of the advise.

Palo's brunch sounds yummy. It's definetly in the plan.
The hair thing sounds an x'tra fun thing to do on what will be an x'tra fun, special, & memorable evening (formal night). I think I will check Claire's out & bring my own sparkly/rhinestone barette or whatever...

Thanks Denise for the tip about DISboard t-shirt's @ the Dis store. I didn't even realize there was a Dis store here. I checked it out & even though I didn't order the t-shirt's I found a couple other Disboard thing's that I ordered. I'm glad you enjoyed the Buffet concert. Sound's like a lot of fun. :)

Jeanne, just have to say that I'm totally jealous! What a great bargain on your dress. I, on the otherhand alway's seem to be at the wrong place @ the wrong time. (usually a day, or even a few hours to late). Or, I find something I totally love @ a fabulous price, but the only size(s) they have left is a size 1 or 2.:rolleyes:
Anyway, congrat's. -Looking foreward to meeting everyone, hope you all had a god weekend. -Jen. :earsgirl:

P.S. I finally broke down & bought a Passporter's guide. I guess I can now toss out the 83 page "Magical Disney Cruise Guide" that I printed out off of some website.:eek: Maybe that's why my husband think's I'm somewhat on the obsessed, fanatical side. Do you think ? :teeth:

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I would also not do the hair braiding. I have heard horror stories that they could be very expensive and hard to get out. Some times they get the braids in so tight that people have to cut them out, if you do it on the islands you have to be careful with the bugs and I guess they itch very bad. To me it is not worth it!!!

I love Palo's brunch. Very good and worth it.

Are the docs here yet? I can't wait until the day my mom calls me, or I walk into my house and see the docs.

[DudetteTwo]

HEIDI: Are we following each other?

Now I have a gown, shoes & some accessories but still need to shop for those black satin gloves!

Getting VERY excited:jumping1: I really can't wait until it is cruise:boat: time.

About the hair appointment - I didn't have any trouble getting a hair appointment on the cruise & I think I even waited until the last minute. NO BRAIDS! Just think about it - those beach braiders use the same comb on everyone!

Have a great Monday. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[tarzanman]

Just to add my two cents:

I would not miss the Palo brunch on the cruise. It is one of the best dining experiences to have on the ocean. The food is fantastic and if you can find the right group of friends to share it with, it can just be so much fun.

As far as the high tea, I choose to pass on this one. I am not a tea drinker so it was kind of dull to me. I am sure that some people really love it. My DW certainly does. It just isn't for me. I did not think that it was worth the time or the money to participate. The wine tasting was fun but still not that great. Maybe I haven't been with the right people for these two events. That tends to be what it all comes down to.

Getting closer..............I should start packing I think. Wait, my stuff is still in Michigan.

[DudetteTwo]

It's not such an "Early Roll Call" anymore.

We are doing the High Tea this time just because we have never done it before. Love the Palo Brunch & are doing it again but are skipping the dinner this time.

I am really getting very EXCITED:jumping1:

Hope you all have a great evening. The stormy weather is coming my way. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[BeanoC]

Hi everyone... Beano has once again entered the building. We be gettin' close now!!

Tarzanman - The wine tasting this year is in our stateroom, and Beano will be there. What more do you need? :)


DudetteTwo - Point taken. I will change the topic of the thread immediately!


"Who's ready to go on a cruise!!!" :hyper:



'Beano' :cool:

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Is it time yet? I could sure use one of those drinks about now. How many more days till we get our docs?

[jiminyC_fan]

Originally posted by BeanoC

"Who's ready to go on a cruise!!!" :hyper:
'


I'M READY ! I'M READY !! :Pinkbounc :bounce:

[tchrmom]

Just dropping in,:wave2: to say "HI".

I can't believe how "out of the loop" we've been!

School is back in session, and I'm about as busy as a 1 armed paper hanger. When I do get home at night, I'm just too tired to "DIS" (:sad2:.....GASP!)

I guess I'm getting too old to deal with 6 year olds!::yes::

Hope everyone is well. There are just too many pages to read right now.

So, Beano...How many bottles of "Cinzano" should I try and get???

Fran
:teacher:

[DudetteTwo]

I am SOOOOOOOO ready to cruise:boat: :boat: :boat: :boat: :boat:

BEANO: I can't believe you changed the name of the thread that fast!

I had a really busy day. Took my Mom to the Psychiatrist (I need him more than her) with my Aunt tagging along & then my reward was we all went to an early dinner at the diner.

Back to work for many days in a row. Hope you all have a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[tarzanman]

Welcome Back TCHRMOM!!!!

I was beginning to wonder if you folks had changed your cruise dates. Can't wait for this one. Kamgen and I are loving FL so far except we haven't moved into our permanent residence yet. That will be in about two weeks. We will be right in lovely downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Love it! Kamgen started her new job yesterday. She can tell you all about it.

Worry of the week: Hurricane freakin Francis. Looks like this one could hit Orlando like Charley did. We are supposed to be there this weekend. Hopefully all goes well. Love ya all.

Later.

[BeanoC]

Welcome back, Fran!

The more Cinzano the better; that's my motto. ::yes::


Tim, don't be talkin' about hurricanes, man!
They make you go insane, according to Jimmy Buffet. I think. :confused:

I guess we can start the 'doc watch' soon... should start seeing them within the next few weeks. Sweet.



'Beano' :cool:

[DMoss3377]

Hi All!

Nice to see you are still with us Fran. :)

Tarzanman...give Kamgen a big hug and CONGRATULATIONS on the new job. I'll catch up with you guys soon so she can fill me in. :)

Beano...you da man...just had to say that cause you are! :)

We're keeping our eye on that 'cane...praying for all our FL people...hopefully it putters out before it hits land. :)

Well, it's been eight crazy days! We give the little chubby (aka our friends daughter) back to them tomorrow night. It's been an adventure to say the least...but she's been as good as you could hope any 18 mo old to be. She's just a little princess. princess:

Now back to the grind of finding a new job. Hope I have the good fortune Kamgen has had. :)

Hugs

[BeanoC]

Nice of you to say, Dana ! :D

Hey - How's about them CD's? You like?



'Beano':cool:

[tarzanman]

First of all, I didn't get an CD's from you Beano. What is with that?

Looks like H. Frances is going to beat the crap out of Castaway Cay tomorrow or Friday morning. They showed the island that closest to it last night and the people were battening down the hatches if you know what I mean.

Kamgen and I are packing tonight to get out of town. Where out of town is the question. Orlando might be right in this things path. At least we would be at WDW though.

Anyone got any ideas?

[BeanoC]

Tarzanman.......you can come to my house!!!!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :hyper: Love you guys and have a great weekend in WDW!
Love, Renee

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Tarzanman - how do you like Ft. Lauderdal so far? My best friend is moving from Colorado to Boynton Beach, FL this Saturday. Thankfully they are driving so it will take a few days and they can avoid the hurricane. Me, I am wishing their home will be hit and they will have to stay here!!!;) Boynton Beach I believe is about 1 hour North of Ft. Lauderdale. They wanted to move to Lauderdale but they couldn't find a good job there so they headed North.

[DMoss3377]

Hey Beano...

Thanks for the CD's...very much puts me in the mood to cruise. :)
I listen to them everychance I get. :)

Tarzanman...you and Kamgen have fun at WDW. Wish we could join you...next time! :) Just stay clear of Frances...but if you're going to be in her path, there's no better place to be than WDW.
Be safe.

And that goes for everyone in FL.

Hugs

[tarzanman]

Pooh_Friend#1

Boynton Beach is about 40 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale and only 10 minutes north of where I work. It is a nice area. We thought about living there before my DW got a job downtown. The housing market is crazy here but prices are better up that way. I hope that your friends have a safe trip.

[BeanoC]

tarzanman - I didn't send you any CD's cuz you didn't ASK for any CD's. So don't give me any attitude, or I will kick you in the n... :D

I'll buy you a beer to make up for it. :drinking1

Ronnie has the right idea - come out here for the weekend instead! We ain't got none of them hurricanes in California.



:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:




'Beano':cool:

[abitjaded]

Finally got our shore and gift excusion brochures from our TA!

Hey Fran, know how that six year old thing goes. I'm running a school fundraiser and the company leader made a fool of me at the assembly, told the kids to tell me how nice I look everytime I see them in the hall, gets the kindies in trouble!

Dudettes, just how serious is Osgood Schlatter's Disease? Sounds awful, huh? My DS10 went to one day of middle school track and woke the next morning, unable to stand on his leg. Seems the "disease" is the tendon pulling away from the shin, common in growing, athletic kids. Looked awful on the x-ray. Just got the other knee all righted after a baseball slide this summer. Our exercise may be curtailed on this cruise.

No hurricanes in Colorado either, as Heidi and I can attest.

What wine tasting? What kind is needed for admission?:jester:

Carla

[pdarrah]

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that I will be off-line for the rest of the week/weekend. We decided to go up to the cabin (northern Wisconsin) one last time this summer in hopes of better weather than when we were there 2 weeks ago.

If anyone wants to add/update/change anything on the website, just send me an email or a PM and I will take care of it when I get back. :)

We'll be driving home on Sunday night, so I'll be back around here on Monday.

Pamela

[tchrmom]

:scratchin

Beano...............
How many suitcases am I allowed to bring...............
And, How many bottles can I fit into an average size suitcase???

Fran

[BeanoC]

Carla - The guest list is pretty simple : If you're nice, and come and introduce yourself at the port and say hello, you will likely get an invitation to our humble gathering! At this point, it is a small gathering of my current wonderful DIS friends (although they are so much more than that now!), and those on this thread who are interested in meetin' and greetin' with us!

We are just going to get together in our stateroom for 2 or 3 (or 4 or 5...) hours and taste... ok, drink... wine! It's a laidback time to just laugh and joke. VERY informal. :)


Fran - Ah, such dilemmas!!

But I have seen (and I kid you NOT) people wheeling carts with cases and cases of beer on board! So, I don't know how many suitcases you want to bring, but there is no limit on the wine! More ya got, more welcome ya are ! :drinking1

Just kidding - you and Dave are always welcome.

And since the calendar now says September, let me be the first to point out that we are all going on a cruise NEXT MONTH!! :cool1:


Can we leave NOW???


'Beano' :cool:

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Hope I can just jump in here... :wave:

This is our 2nd cruise and we are looking forward to another great time. I haven't gotten through all of the past posts, so could someone please fill me in if there are any boys around 11 on board? Seems like my DD (6) will have plenty of company.

:crazy: Cheri
"where's the party"

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Carla is right, no hurricanes here!!!! No boarding up windows, no evacuations from homes....we are clear. Anyone can come here to escape the hurricane if they want.

I can't answer your question Cheri, but I just wanted to say Welcome. Sounds like we have a good group of people going on this cruise.

YEA next month is the cruise. Does anybody know when I can expect the Docs to come?

[tarzanman]

Beano,
I will take you up on your offer to buy me a beer. It will have to be more than 1 though.

Looks like we have some late joiners. The more the merrier! I love it when we can take over the return cruisers party.

"Just leave us the tray sir!"

Castaway Cay is going to be hit tonight and tomorrow from Frances. Hopefully all will be back to normal in a month. Either way, with this group, we should all have a wonderful time wherever we end up.

Monkey! The cruise is next month isn't it.
DCL Cruise, Sweet. DCL Cruise with DIS Pals, So Sweet.

[BeanoC]

Cheri - Welcome aboard !!

I don't think there will be any shortage of 11 year old boys on the ship! Our DS is 14, DD is 12.... but tarzanman and I act like we're 10.

Ok t-man, I guess I better register my credit card with Guest Services to cover the bar tab, huh? :crazy:


'Beano':cool:

[luvgoofy61]

my ds 10 will be on board. He loves to play soccer, baseball, and yu gi oh cards.

[jiminyC_fan]

Welcome Cheri! Can't help you in the kid dept. My girls are 24 and only one going.

Crossing my fingers for Castaway Cay. That is my favorite part of the cruise. We were there right after another hurricane hit a few years ago. If I remember correctly it was about 5 years ago. Disney worked hard and furious and got it back up in no time.

Carla and Heidi, we might not have the horrible hurricanes but mother nature can sure punch out some nasty blizzards for us. Remember shoveling the 36" a couple of years ago, Heidi?

[BeanoC]

I'm with you, Sandy - I LOVE Castaway Cay!

We have been very fortunate so far, and have never missed CC on any of our DCL cruises. But, I'll take what I can get. If I have to settle for another sea day aboard the Disney Magic, oh well ! :jester:

We'd just have to have a second DIS party I guess.
:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:



'Beano':cool:

[Soccermom-Cheri]

After flipping through some of the past posts, I noticed sosmething about "walking around with silly smiles on our faces with drinks in our hands." At last! I've found my place! :rotfl:

You sound like a great group of party animals ready for a good time. I always bring lot's of cd's for the room, so maybe after your "wine and cheese" night, you can margarita and guacamole & salsa in our suite before dinner some night. (I'm sooo glad my kids love the kid's club!)

My kids are DD 6 and DS 11. PM me if your kids want to email and get acquainted before getting on board. Last year my son liked having a ready made posse.

Beano: where in sunny CA are you?

[abitjaded]

Sandy, Oh yeah, I remember that snow, killed a bunch of trees, one across the street came up by the roots and filled half the street. Even the guy down the block with the Humvee couldn't get out. We had abandoned cars for a week until our friendly local water board member used a back hoe. (We are unincorporated Arapahoe County, so low folks on the totem pole.) Could barely cross country ski through the mess.

Cheri, I'll get my guy on the email. Welcome to you and Sandy. Sandy PM me with the data and we will get a REAL boy (and any young ladies who are interested) Round Robin going.

Is the wine party before or after one of the duty free ports? Need cheap if we are talking a case admission price!

Carla

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi all WOW ONLY 49 MORE DAYS ::yes::
I can't wait. Hope all is well with all of you. Things here are OK just working way too hard.

Welcome Cheri nice to meet you.

Sandy I will not mind if we have to have another sea day that will get me out of having to parasail:hyper: HA HA HA:tongue:

hey, when do the docs come :confused:

I hope you all have a great weekend:jumping1:

Faith:wave:

[BeanoC]

Oh, come on Faith!! Don't be a wimp about parasailing! ;)

My DW was nervous too, and she LOVED the experience! So did I. Very peaceful. Seeing the Magic from a couple hundred feet up is amazing. You might have a few jitters at first, but it is SO worth it. Breathtaking!!!

Cheri - We are in the dry central valley of CA. Near Fresno. I must say, we love it here!! Cool mountains 2 hours northeast, the beautiful Pacific Coast 1.5 hours west, and hot and sunny summers right here, with no stinkin' hurricanes!!

;)

Obviously you have a suite, too. Sweet. There will be parties all week long on board. So who needs ports of call anyway? :thewave:



'Beano':cool:

[BeanoC]

Oh, come on Faith!! Don't be a wimp about parasailing! ;)

My DW was nervous too, and she LOVED the experience! So did I. Very peaceful. Seeing the Magic from a couple hundred feet up is amazing. You might have a few jitters at first, but it is SO worth it. Breathtaking!!!

Cheri - We are in the dry central valley of CA. Near Fresno. I must say, we love it here!! Cool mountains 2 hours northeast, the beautiful Pacific Coast 1.5 hours west, and hot and sunny summers right here, with no stinkin' hurricanes!!

;)

Obviously you have a suite, too. Sweet! There will be parties all week long on board. So who needs ports of call anyway? :thewave:



'Beano':cool:

[tchrmom]

:wave2:

Hello, Soccermom!

We have a DS 12. He will be on the cruise with us! As will our DD 9.

Beano..........OK, I'm going to see if Southern Liquor Distrib. will ship directly to our stateroom.:hyper:

Also, I noticed that you will be getting OFF the Magic in CA, the day we will get on! We are on the 7/2/05 Magic, after 3 days in Disneyland.

I HAD this on my countdown timer.......but now it looks like I have lost BOTH of my timers.:mad:

Looks like Frances will skim by us this weekend. They have cancelled our schools for tomorrow, to help make room for South FL residents.

Have a great day tomorrow!
Fran:teacher:

[jenmack]

Welcome Cheri!

I have a DD 9, who will be 10 a week after we disembark. He likes soccer & baseball, too. As well as snowboarding.
:)

I'm with you Faith. When DO the doc's come?
:hyper

Getting so excited. I keep saying that I can't wait til school start's (kid's start Sept. 7th), because I too can say we leave next month! The kid's keep looking at me wierd, though. THEY CAN wait. For school, that is. :)

Anyway, looking foreward to meeting ya all. Will Asti be excepted at the wine party? (my choice:drinking1 ) :teeth:

[jenmack]

OOPS!!!

FYI Cheri, I don't think my DS 9 would appreciate it that I referred to him as a DD in my previous message. :eek: Oh well, I won't tell him if you don't. :)

[Mom2Princesses]

Boy, things are starting to go crazy around my house now that school has started -- hope everyone is doing fine! I cannot believe that cruise time is getting so close.

I have yet to book my transportation or my shore excursions...guess I need to get busy!

How many 5-7 year old girls do we have? I have one (DD6) and then a younger (DD4) who will be in the younger group. Wow, thats alotta girls! :p

Okay, in case this weekend gets crazy (I will actually be home) everyone have a fun and SAFE Labor Day weekend, and to the Floridians here, I hope Frances stays away!

[Soccermom-Cheri]

OK, if I promise to bring REEEAAALLLYYYY good wine and play nice can I come to your party too? (you guys are just too much fun! this is going to be a blast.)

DH told the kids tonight and they are ape sh*t! "When? Where? Who are we gonna meet?" Cassie, 6, wants to meet everyone, so send those emails. Timmy is so embarrassed ("Geez! Mom!") But, anyway. I set up "cruisekids@yahoo.com" for any kids that want to talk ahead of time.

So, what cool things are you doing with the 5-10 year old set? I've heard the dolphin thing is over their heads. I haven't booked anything, so send all your ideas! I don't plan on sitting down for 7 days, unless it is in a deck chair with a drink, with an umbrella in it :cool:

[Soccermom-Cheri]

who knew "cruisekids@yahoo.com" would be taken on yahoo?:rolleyes: your wonderful kids can reach my rugrats "timandcas@yahoo.com".

Thanks.
:crazy:

[BeanoC]

Yes, Cheri, you may attend... if you bring REALLY REALLY good wine; at least $2.00 a bottle.

And you're right - it IS a blast... just don't use language like "Apesh*t" in front of Tim and I. We're sensitive. :earboy2:

NOT!

Glad we're not going next week - their cruise has been shortened to 5 days 'cuz of the hurricane. Bummer. This week's cruise was extended to 9 days! It might mess up travel plans, but oh well!

I'll just take a nice, normal 7-day cruise with DIS friends, thank you.



'Beano' :cool:

[RonnieJo66]

Hi All:wave:

Well I finally got around to getting registered myself.......now I don't have to post under Beano's name!!!

Any and all types of wines are welcomed......we like to try 'em all:tongue:

To those of you in Frances' way....good luck and I'll be thinking and praying for all of you.

Have a great Labor Day weekend..

Smiles and hugs,


RonnieJo:flower1:

[DMoss3377]

Hey RonnieJo...

It's been awhile since we were able to chat. Glad you're around to post on the thread, at least we can keep up that way. :)

Really looking forward to seeing you and sharing some laughs. :)

Now...about that wine...:drinking1 ...I personally love the sweet dessert wines...and I'll be bringing at least a couple of those bottles just for myself...but I've like to bring something to share :grouphug: too....so what does everyone else tend to lean toward...whites, reds, blushes...sparkling??? Since I'm driving this year, now that we live closer, no need to spend the extra dough on flights...we should be able to pack a little more than usual. :)

RJ: I'm also really looking forward to doing the MNSSHP with you guys and T&K. Can we say...Sugar Rush! :)

Hugs

[RonnieJo66]

:wave: Hey Dana......glad to hear from you!!!!:Pinkbounc
I am sooooooo looking forward to seeing you!! Can't wait to watch everyone stare at us as we enjoy ourselves by making a spectical (as usual)....someone has to do it!

MNSSHP.......a given that it'll be a sugar-rush. Anyone wanna trade for a fundip?:hyper: :drinking1 THE WINE: don't know about anyone else, but I really like blushes , whites and sparkling (doesn't leave much out...hahahahaha)
Wait come to think of it, I reckon I like most of them, especially when sharing them in good company!!

Where are my docs?

Last person to get' em has to buy the first round..........it's tradition!
Great weekend to all....... Love RJ

[DudetteTwo]

Worked today, off tomorrow & then work Monday & Tuesday. You can tell who the nurses are! Planning on going to Cape May tomorrow to visit with my friend - maybe bike ride or go to beach & definitely have a cookout.

RJ: I'm an "ASTI":drinking1 kind of girl. I love anything sparking! I really don't care for the dark wines like the Merlots.

Still thinking & praying for our little Sophie:angel: God will be done. I suppose it's in His hands now.

Thinking of all you poor Floridians - enough is enough!

Hope you all have some fun planned this weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[RonnieJo66]

:wave: Hi Jeanne...

Ya' gotta love that Asti! Yummy stuff I agree!

Been watching CNN and keeping track of that darn ole' Frances.........hope all you Floridians fare well.

Enjoy the weekend.....


Ronnie:flower1:

[tchrmom]

Well.............I think she's finaaly gone. Thankfully, we never lost power. I'll chalk that up to us living in a new subdivision with under ground utilities. We do now have a LARGE leak in Kelly's window, thanks to beating rain. Can you say, "New carpet and drywall"? Other than that, we are VERY lucky!!!!!!!!!! (however, last night I was SURE our pool's solar panals were going air born!)

Hope the rest of you Floridians weathered this thing as well as we did.::yes::

Happy Labor Day!
Fran
:teacher:

[abitjaded]

Yeah Fran,

Glad you and yours are safe. Heard anything locally re: Pompano Beach? Have not gotten my daily email from cousin there. Is power out?

Carla

[BeanoC]

Well, I talked to Tim and Kamy (tarzanman and Kamgen) today, and the poor things were stuck at Epcot... eating lunch in France... drinking expensive wine. Tough day huh? Let's just hope they have a Ft. Lauderdale to go home to!! (If not, you guys can come live with me! ) :D


Today is my DW's birthday! Everyone say "Happy Birthday Ronnie!!!" She's 26 again, I think. ;)

A mere 44 days until we leave for Florida...

So where's my DOCS?!! Gimme!! :mad:


'Beano' :cool:

[tchrmom]

Abitjaded...........

My mom is in Pompano. She lives in a condo off the beach, she has power and everything is fine. I even spoke with her today. Maybe her (your cousin's) server/phone line is down.

Do you know exactly where your cousin is?
Fran
:teacher:

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Are those of you going to Capt. Marvin's doing the morning or afternoon snorkel? Anyone taking the little ones?

Has anyone heard how Castaway Cay faired in all this?

[BeanoC]

Cheri -

We are going on the morning Capt. Marvin's tour - 10AM to 1PM. We are taking our kids; not exactly 'little ones' though - they're 12 and 14.

At least, we HOPE we're going on the Capt. Marvin excursion! Last time, the Magic couldn't stop at Cayman because of weather, so we missed it. But it was all good - we had a blast that night in Cozumel instead! At least that's what they tell me; I can't remember much! ;)


I have no idea if my beloved Castaway Cay got creamed by Frances. I pray it didn't... Gotta have my CC, man! :Pinkbounc :bounce:


'Beano':cool:

[faithmagicmickey]

:bday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONNIE :cake: :rose:



Faith:wave:

[RonnieJo66]

:wave: Hi All......

Faith: Thank you for the warm wishes! I had a very nice birthday relaxing.........Beano cooked dinner for me!!!! Very good!!!!!


I'm gettin' images in my head of sailaway drinks, friends and Mickey!!!

I wanna go now:bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc


:sunny: It's nice and sunny here......hope all my Floridian friends are doing alright!!!

Anybody got docs yet?

Smiles to all,
Ronnie:flower1:

[Mom2Princesses]

Gimme a 29 ... :cheer2:

;)

Happy Birthday!

Enjoy!

[RonnieJo66]

:love1:

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!!!!

29 again!!!! YEAH RIGHT:hyper:

Can't wait to see you all in person to chat:chat:

Smiles,

Ronnie:flower1:

[paulcrsb]

Originally posted by BeanoC
we had a blast that night in Cozumel instead! At least that's what they tell me; I can't remember much!
Yeah you had a good time! I gave you a video of it remember?

Paul

[BeanoC]

Paul, that tape is unreliable - the cameraman was drunk, too. :D

We're gonna miss you guys on this cruise! :(

Tell 'Vicky' we say hey!!


'Beano':cool:

[paulcrsb]

Originally posted by BeanoC
We're gonna miss you guys on this cruise! :(
Thanks Beano! You guys have a great cruise!

Butch

[tarzanman]

I can't believe that we have to cruise without Butch and Vicki Patterson! What a bummer? :(

Love to Paul and Pam and the family.

Of course Happy Birthday to Ronnie. :)

Kamgen and I made it through the hurricane like Beano said. We sat in our room at Saratoga Springs for two days and waited for the weather to calm down. We went to EPCOT in the rain on Monday and walked onto everything that we wanted to do. We actually had to wait for people to join us on Mission Space. It was so weird. Dana - Remember 240 minutes at New Years?

The wind was crazy and there are a lot of trees down. The golf courses were littered with trees and debris. WDW with its underground utilities is a great place to be during a storm though. We never had a power problem. Things here in Ft. Lauderdale are ok. Power is still not fully restored everywhere. We have power though.

On another note, today Kamgen and I became official FL residents and finally have our Driver's lisences. Yeehaw!!!

[RonnieJo66]

:thewave:

Lets hear it for Tarzanman and Kamgen!!!!!!!!

Look out Florida...now they are residents with a license to drive!!!!!!! The land yacht flies at dawn!

Tarzanman: now you're gonna have to change the city registration on your board icon.... SWEET!

:boat: I wanna go now..I wanna go now!!

Getting closer day by day....


Smiles to all..

Love

Ronnie:flower1:

[DudetteTwo]

It was a working holiday & also my weekend so I ended up working Saturday, off Sunday, worked Monday & Tuesday. I did manage to go down to Cape May on my day off & had a fun day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:bday: :cake: (Belated) RONNIE!

I got my passport last Friday but no doc's yet. I am getting VERY EXCITED:jumping1:. I can't wait for the cruise!:boat:

Busy day today - food shopping, laundry, dog care & took down the red, white & blue decorations (which have been up since Memorial Day) & put up the fall decorations. Also planted some mums. I didn't have the heart to take down the "Pray for Peace" flag.

Hope you all had a more relaxing day. It is really hot & humid here but the rain is coming:umbrella:. I almost wish it would get here & cool us off! Have a great night. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[BeanoC]

You spoke too soon, Tim. You too, Ronnie.

The DMV, in their infinite wisdom, would not issue Tim's license. (I'll let him explain!). Easy does it, Tim! Remember, Beano is going to buy you a beer to calm you down! :D

Well, this Saturday is sort of our "DCL Shopping Day". All the travel accessories, shampoos, camcorder tapes, etc. etc. etc. need to be purchased! I only get 2 weekends a month off, so were are short on time to do things. Besides, it's fun!

Then all I need is my DOCS!! Gimme, d*mmit!



'Beano':cool:

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I am with Beano, just give me the darn docs, NOW!!!!

[RonnieJo66]

Question:

How am I supposed to do the happy dance when I don't have my docs yet???

:earseek:

"come sailaway, come sailaway......come sailaway with me"



:boat:

Smiles,

Ronnie:flower1:

[DudetteTwo]

Should I be waiting by the mailbox at this point in time? I am soooooooo excited I can't stand myself! I just want to see it all in black & white that the cruise:boat: is really here.

Just wanted to drop in & say 'Hi". Hope you all have a great day. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE

[kamgen]

Hey everybody!! It is lunch time here at work, and I am sneaking on to post!!! LOL!:rolleyes1
I am sorry I have not been around...things have been so hectic! Well, I am at my new job, which doesn't allow for as much computer time, but once we get settled in to our new place and hook up, I will be here!! So look out! :cool1:

I am so ready to cruise...and so ready for hurricane season to be over! Looks like Ivan is on his way.....we will see what happens! :sad2:

Just wanted to say hi!!!! Cannot wait to cruise with all my friends!!!!! :thewave:

[Soccermom-Cheri]

I found an old thread called "roll call 10/23/04 Magic w/ kids". I was hoping that we could use that one for our kids to post on. (I had my kids put up something already to break the ice.) :hyper2:

That way this thread stays for the big kids. :drinking1:

[jiminyC_fan]

Heidi has been waiting and waiting for the docs to come........
soon, Heidi, soon.

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I want the docs now!!!! I can't wait any longer. I was the last one to book the cruise back in August, but I wanted the docs back in May!!!!

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by Pooh_Friend#1
I want the docs now!!!! I can't wait any longer. I was the last one to book the cruise back in August, but I wanted the docs back in May!!!!

Heidi, I'm with you I WANT THEM NOW!!!!! :tongue: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :hyper:

We leave in 40 days from today for FL I can't wait but I still have lots to do. We did pull down all the suitcases from the attic. Eugene is the only one that has started to pack. I've been way too busy working.
Hey Sandy long time now speak I need to call you soon.

I'm worrier about Ivan. Does anyone know how CC is doing?

Got to run, lots to do.

Faith
:wave:

[jiminyC_fan]

Faith, long time!!! Call me anytime next week. Yes I am a worrier also. Sounds like CC did fine on the last hurricane. Now we have to wait and see from IVAN. Ron Jons has closed for a short time as well from water damage. If it stays closed, we will probably join you at WDW!! And by the way, STOP trying to get out of parasailing!! :p

[BeanoC]

Gee, we're not starting to get excited, are we now?? :Pinkbounc :bounce:

Hey Faith, has concierge called you yet? I haven't heard from them, but I expect they'll call within the next week or 2. I got a list of "to do's" ready for 'em! :p


Gimme gimme gimme! LOL



'Beano':cool:

[RonnieJo66]

:wave: Hi All....

Just peeked in on another thread and they are the week before our cruise. Some of them have checked on when they are getting docs and it looks like they have about 2 weeks......so I guess that means we have about 3???????

:goodvibes Well with good vibes maybe it'll be sooner!!!!!!!!

Have a good weekend everyone......

We're going shopping today for toiletries etc. for the cruise!!!

I wanna go I wanna go:hyper:

Smiles,
Ronnie:flower1:

[abitjaded]

Cheri, I had my kids post there. Boys of many words (not).

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?postid=6440747#post6440747

MY MAJOR FUNCTIONS ARE OVER!!!!! Sorry for yelling, but we had a bunch of time-consuming obligations on our plates this early Fall. And now they are out of the way, and I can think about the cruise. Only problem, will there be anywhere left to dock in the Caribbean by the time we leave? Fairy dust to all of you in Hurricane Ivan's path.

Carla

[DudetteTwo]

Went down the shore Saturday & stayed in Cape May but went over to Wildwood to go on the boardwalk & encountered the "ROAR TO THE SHORE":moped: :moped: :moped:. It was really something to see - 1,000's of Harley's all in one place!

The weather in New Jersey is beautiful. The sun is up:sunny: & the humidity is down.

I am still really nervous about the cruise:boat: & hope they are working REALLY hard to get Port Canaveral back in shape. Hope all our ports of call are still standing!

Hope you all have a blessed Sunday & a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE