11/06/04 Western New and Improved Official Thread!

[CatLady]

It's so great to hear that some of you are started to head down toward the cruise. I'm just back from my business trip and have my hands so full of laundry it's unbelievable. I keep telling myself it's good practice for the day after the cruise, since I hope not to have to do laundry onboard!

We sat down and talked about the GC excursions last night, and I think DH is going to call tonight about the Shipwreck and Reef Snorkel. I think my sister is kind of disappointed now that we're headed to GC, since she was looking forward to the ruins tour. But we're going on a Disney cruise... the rest is just details.

Drive safely, everyone!

[MiaSRN62]

Karen,
We're leaving around noon. Sending the kids in for 1/2 day and I'll pick them up at lunch. This gives us enough time to load the car and drop our dog off at the kennel for boarding. We'll probably drive till around midnight and sleep for the night. I anticipate getting to WDW around noon-1 pm'ish on Tuesday.
I emailed Capt Marvin about 2 days ago and also got a confirmation back. In fact, we're even a "go" for a side trip to Hell and the turtle farm. I had heard rumors that the farm was hit hard, but I guess it's ok ?
CatLady,
Good luck with that laundry ! I just finished up with mine yesterday. Our suitcases are packed !
Have fun on the shipwreck excursion (we considered that one too). Hope your sister has fun despite missing the ruins. Could she do one of the ruins tours in Cozumel ? I think the Cozumel tours were a tad more expensive though ?
See you all on Saturday !
Oh.....and Happy Halloween to everyone :earsgirl: :earsboy: princess: pirate: :jester:

[CatLady]

MiaSRN62, we thought about the ruins tour from Cozumel, but it's an all-day thing, and we actually wanted to spend some time in Cozumel itself.

Before I forget (since so many of you are getting ready to leave!) the DIS folks are meeting outside Scoops at 3, correct? I can't remember the alternate "rain" location, so I thought I should check.

[scottygirl]

Maria,

Have a safe trip!!! I am jealous. I would love to spend a few days at WDW before the cruise, but we spent a week down at Universal/ Marco Island this past January so something has to give!! Looking forward to meeting you on Saturday.

Catlady,

Before I forget (since so many of you are getting ready to leave!) the DIS folks are meeting outside Scoops at 3, correct? I can't remember the alternate "rain" location, so I thought I should check.

You are correct!! The rain location is in the Promenade Lounge at 3:00 pm.

Well I am off to do some power packing. DH took the kiddos to a Halloween Party, so I have the house to myself!!

TTFN,

Jackie

[MiaSRN62]

CatLady,
I can totally understand not wanting to spend a whole day with the ruins excursion---I hadn't realized that.
Scottygirl,
We haven't been to WDW in almost 18 months (normally we're every 12 months and on occasion we've gone twice in a year). We canceled our summer vacation because we were caring for my terminally ill mil. So we had our DVC points go into a "holding acct". They would have expired if we didn't use them by March '05, so we decided to add the nights on at OKW. It's a nice "splurge" vacation for us. I've been having WDW withdrawls so it'll be nice to get back.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all at Scoops (because it's not going to rain !). Safe travels to everyone.
PS: I got super lucky today. I was scheduled to work tonight and they just called me to offer me the day off "if I wanted it". Heck yeah, I said ! :smooth: :earseek: ::yes::

[CatLady]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
I'm looking forward to seeing you all at Scoops (because it's not going to rain !).

Weather bulletin.... You heard it here first!! No rain at 3:00! :teeth:

[sjcubedofct]

Lori & Jackie, we're headed to Nativeway for 9a, too! We'll have to be sure to hook up, I think I'm most paranoid about missing the excursions...

[MiaSRN62]

I'm off everyone ! We'll be on the road within 2 hours and in WDW by tommorrow noonish.
See ya all on Saturday :wave:

[jel0511]

Originally posted by sjcubedofct
Lori & Jackie, we're headed to Nativeway for 9a, too! We'll have to be sure to hook up, I think I'm most paranoid about missing the excursions... AWESOME!!! Looks like a complete DCL excursion to me!!! Maybe at the Scoops meet, we can set up a meeting time for GC. Since we have to go wait for tender tickets in Walt Disney Theatre, that might be the best spot. I think we have to be ashore by 8:45, so maybe 8AM outside Walt Disney Theatre so we can all be on the4 same tender?

Maria -

Have a GREAT and SAFE drive!!! We'll see you on Saturday!!!!

[scottygirl]

Maria,


Bon Voyage!! Ride Rockin' Roller Coaster for me!!

Sherry,

Glad to hear you are going to join us! I like that Nativeway meets you right at the pier. I wonder if we will be on the same boat? It looks like they have two boats.

I officially started packing yesterday, I feel better now. Starting anything is always the hardest part for me!! There are 5 people in our family x 2 suitcases "allowed" per person = 10 suitcases. I will be filling all of them!

TTFN,

Jackie

[scottygirl]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jel0511
[B]AWESOME!!! Looks like a complete DCL excursion to me!!! Maybe at the Scoops meet, we can set up a meeting time for GC. Since we have to go wait for tender tickets in Walt Disney Theatre, that might be the best spot. I think we have to be ashore by 8:45, so maybe 8AM outside Walt Disney Theatre so we can all be on the4 same tender?

Lori,

That sounds great to me. Like my previous post said, I wonder if we will be on the same boat?

TTFN,

Jackie

[jel0511]

I hope so!!! If not, I'll throw myself down on the dock in front of the Nativeway people and DEMAND we all get on the same boat!!!:crazy: :tongue: :crazy: :tongue: :crazy: :tongue:

Remember with a 6 YO and a 3YO I have VERY good teachers!!!!

[LAMPSKIES]

I've followed this thread a little...........looks like you guys are going to GC.....right? We will be sailing the next Western after you guys.......Have a great sailing!!!!

[jel0511]

Originally posted by LAMPSKIES
I've followed this thread a little...........looks like you guys are going to GC.....right? We will be sailing the next Western after you guys.......Have a great sailing!!!! Yep, we all received a call from DCL or our TA on Friday letting us know the change to Grand Cayman. I was told that our visit is an "experiment" to see how GC responds to having cruise visitors again. It is entirely possible that it might be a bust and any following ships won't go to GC for a short time. If you check www.caymanport.com you can see what ships are scheduled to dock in Grand Cayman. As of right now, the GC government is only scheduling ships for the first two weeks of November as a test of their ability to handle passengers.

[Sue88]

I never got a call to say we were going to GC!

It's a good thing I chat with you all or I would be in the dark!::yes::

::MickeyMo ::MickeyMo ::MickeyMo

[scottygirl]

Good Morning Fellow Cruisers!!

Is everyone excited?:bounce: :Pinkbounc
I made lime green Mickey head pins for the family to wear at the DISmeet. :chat: In fact we may wear them to the port also! I wonder how the first ships to arrive at Grand Cayman fared? I think I will try to find some info, maybe on cruisecritics.com

TTFN,

Jackie

[sjcubedofct]

I've got to post, just to see my countdown timer....

[scottygirl]

Here is a thread I found on cruisecritics.com that has some info on the first ships to visit Grand Cayman. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=96250

If you go to the site listed in the second post there is a picture of the two Carnival ships in port. Sounds like the people of CG are working hard to "spruce" up the place for us. Don't count on a lot of shade!!

[Mindymom]

I also had to see my timer:p

Me and kids are SO excited :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :bounce:

Suitcases are all packed. I just have to throw in those last minute items. Our airplane takes off at 8:30am, Thursday morning and we arrive in Florida at 7pm. First long flight for the kids.

My DS11 came down with a bad cold! Me and my DD9 are doing our best to not catch what he has. I picked him up from school this morning because he was just too miserable. He may have to miss tomorrow also, even though he's going to be missing 5 days for this trip.

I received an e-mai from Captain Marvins that they were all ready for us. I wonder if any of the sandbars where the stingrays hang out were effected.

See you all soon :wave:

[jel0511]

Well, I think I'm going to start packing tomorrow. I have 5 loads of laundry to fold from today, something to keep me busy during the Election coverage tonight. I went to Target today and bought some odds and ends. Extention Cord, surge protector (I'm sure security will be scratching their heads on that one), over the door shoe holder, regular hanging shoe holder (I think our final shoe tally here is 16 for all), dramamine, and the usual personal items. Hopefully I can get DH to bring up the suitcases from the basement tonight, and I'll do what I can tomorrow. I've already picked out all my dinner clothes and formal stuff, as well as the kids, so I just have to gather and put it in. I just can't get motivated, I have a cold and feel lousy, so the last thing I want to do is anything, let alone start packing!! Hopefully, I'll feel better tomorrow and can get more motivited!! DS has school in the morning, so I can get everything done while he's there, that is if I fold all the laundry tonight, and DH brings up the suitcases. I won't bring them up because their in the unfinished section of the basement, with the icky spiders, I don't go there!!!!! Oh well, the thing that does keep me going is that on Saturday we'll be on the ship, but I've just got so much to do, and I have no energy to do it!!!! Hopefully, I'll get to it tomorrow, or it's down to Thursday!!

[thumpery]

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
We're Off to WDW!!!!! Our flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I'm all packed and the suitcases are in the car. We are so excited!! My boys are having trouble falling asleep due to being so excited. I'm just doing one final load of laundry so it's all caught up before I leave.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a safe trip. We'll be cruising with Mickey real soon!

[scottygirl]

Mindy,

Have a safe trip. That flight from the west coast is a long one!

Mindy and Lori, Have you tried Airborne for colds? It is all natural and developed by a teacher to help prevent/treat colds. I have used it and it seems to work for me.

Lori, I will be finishing my packing tomorrow too. I have to take my car in for brakes and an oil change so I will be without wheels tomorrow. Since I will be "trapped" at home I will be forced to finish my packing.

Thumpery, Have a safe trip!!

[jel0511]

Jackie - thanks for the good thoughts, I'm starting to feel better today, so I should be fine on Friday. I did start packing, and we have 6 suitcases, and I don't think we're going to have enough room for everything. I just e-mailed my husband saying that I think we might have to go buy another piece. I have an entire carry-on sized piece FILLED with shoes!!! We'll just have to see how it shakes out, and if I need another piece, I'll buy it!

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

Wow, I haven't posted for a week so I had some catch up reading to do.

We are all so excited here too about going to GC. My dad nad uncle are going to do some submarine excursion. I am probably not going to do excursions this trip, I am going to stay with my kids at the Mickey pool.

We are leaving on Friday night and not getting into Orland until 12:20 AM on Saturday morning!! We are going to be tired but sooo excited to get on the ship!! I am planning on being at scoops at 3:00 pm - if all goes as planned on my end with all ressie scramble, lunch and settling in!! I look forward to meeting all of you!!

Well, all of you that are leaving soon, have a happy, healthy and safe trip down to the Magic. I will hopefully see you all on Saturday!!

Enjoy!!

Lisa

[confal1]

:hyper: I can finally say it " I leave the day after tomoroow!!!"
This morning instead of perfume I used Coppertone for my scent. I can't even wait to go. At work everyone was like " Who smells like the Summer and the beach" of course it was me. See you all on Sat.:wave2:

[sjcubedofct]

It feels great saying "We're leaving TOMORROW!!"

[scottygirl]

Sherry and confal1,

Have a safe trip!! We will see you on Saturday!!!

TTFN,

Jackie

[jel0511]

Originally posted by sjcubedofct
It feels great saying "We're leaving TOMORROW!!" I can say that today!!!!! I have to go out and buy more luggage today! 3 suitcases, 1 garment bag, and 2 carry-on sized pieces aren't just cutting it for this family of 4. Off to the store once it opens.....

[howardk613]

After 700 days of counting, it is finally here !!!
See you all on that AMAZING ship this Saturday.

[scottygirl]

I just wanted to say Bon Voyage to everyone. I won't have time to be online tomorrow before we leave. I can't wait to meet everyone at Scoops. I just checked the weather and it looks like it will be a beautiful on Saturday. I hope everyone has a safe trip.

TTFN,

Jackie

[WheresGoofy]

We have returned from our WDW and DCL vacation. Out of the whole trip, I only remember seeing one family on a bus from Port Orleans to Epcot that had a lime green Mickey displayed. I kept looking.

We didn't make it to the gathering on the departure Saturday. Our luggage was at our room when we got there and our daughter (who had a happy 1 year birthday celebration while at Cozumel) was very Grumpy. We tried to find her a Grumpy baby outfit, but they did not have such an outfit at WDW. She had a rough few hours when we arrived at each new place of stay (PO and the Magic)

I have to say our vacation was great except for 1 of my sisters getting sick on Tuesday, then my wife on Wednesday and then me on the last night of the cruise. :( My sister believes it was their room hostess that might have started the chain of illness. It was first thought to be something she ate till my wife got the same exact thing without eating the same items. Hope no one else experienced that.

We missed deck 10 last night. We pushed our daughter around each night till she fell asleep. She had withdrawals last night.

Now I can start planning our next Disneyland vacation!

Hope everyone had a great time!

[howardk613]

We also just got back from that amazing vacation. This was our 4th cruise with DCL and I have to say that it was the best so far. The food was exceptional (it was MUCH better than our last cruise and that is saying a lot because it was great 2 years ago), the service was terrific, the weather could not be beat, the shows were truly wonderful but as usual Castaway Cay was the highlight of the week. It was out of this world and beyond description. What a way to end a perfect week, being in heaven with your family !!!

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the cruise as much as my family and
I did.

Howard

[MiaSRN62]

Arrived home on Sunday from a terrific cruise. I only got to meet a few of you at the Scoops meeting as I was a little late getting on board (we just couldn't pull ourselves away from OKW and WDW on time). I did seem to run into Jackie many times on the ship and in port and it was very nice to do the Key West jet ski excursion with her and her family, though we both agreed it was quite a physically demanding one. I was sore for a couple days after that one !
Loved the stingray snorkel excursion in GC and also the Fury catamaran in Cozumel.
We all really lucked out with great weather. Not sure when we'll be booking again as my son will be in college next year and not sure he'll even want to go. He had a fantastic time with the Stack and has already been emailing and IM'ing with friends he met on board. Hoping everyone had a great time and wishing everyone the best of luck in getting back to the routine of daily life ! I've had 2 weeks without having to cook----gonna be tough to get back to doing that !

[jel0511]

I've had 2 weeks without having to cook----gonna be tough to get back to doing that ! I know what you mean!!! We got home Saturday afternoon, and I haven't cooked yet!! We picked up a pizza on the way home from the airport on Saturday, and went out yesterday!! Tonight is International Festival at DS's preshool tonight, so I have to cook today for that, YUCK!!!! I also had a GREAT time on the cruise, and did run into a few DIS'ers during the week, with me always seeing Jackie too!! We were on Nativeway together, and also were at Paradise Beach at the same time. It was a truly GREAT vacation, and we did book on board for the next two years, an Eastern next year and a Western in 2006. The Western is a definate, the Eastern is about at 70% probability now, so we'll most likely be going on that one too!! YIPPEE!!! And a sad welcome home to the rest of the 11/6 cruisers. When we were waiting in the airport, I kept seeing the DCL CM's meeting the 11/13 cruisers and I wanted to follow one of them back to the Magic!!!!

[sjcubedofct]

Let the whining commence! I don't want to be home! I don't want to be cold! I don't want to wear shoes!

Yes, we safely arrived home Saturday night also, and began the mass laundering. Sunday involved grocery shopping, 1 hour Walmart photos, and more laundry. Now, we're back to work and sharing with all the amazing time we had aboard the Magic.

This vacation so far exceeded our expectations, I'm either speechless or can't be silenced. For the last 18 months (when we booked this cruise) I've said that after this Disney Cruise, I won't have to do another, we'll seek out another cruise line. Well, long story short, we booked our next cruise on board for Eastern October 2006. And I'm totally tempted to move it up to 2005.

The kids had a great time, hubby and I relaxed, my mother in law was completely spoiled and in heaven... what an amazing trip. 2006 can't come soon enough. Looking through the photos, the blues and greens of the waters and skies, the white of the sand, it is hard to believe we were there less than a week ago.

Jackie, Lori, and all- it was great meeting you and seeing you on board. My son is still talking about the stingrays and the conch!

My only question is... how do I get the house/office/everyplace I go to stop rocking??? :) I felt every movement on ship (not sick, just aware) and also felt it at every port. And I'm still feeling it. When does the equalibrium return to normal??

Oh, and Paula and I intend to put together our modified list of what is important to do/see/bring, as we felt the lists that are circulating are out of date. Did anyone really need a bungy cord? Or clothespins? Or duct tape? Did anyone try the fruit and cheese platter and would agree with us that it wasn't anything to rave about? We don't want to bash, we just want to update the lists out there for those of us who I guess are not terribly discriminating.

[scottygirl]

Hello Fellow Cruisers!!

It was really nice meeting everyone! Back to reality. I was expecting that when I returned back from church yesterday that all the beds would be made and the house straightened up, but it wasn't!:mad: I said to DH, where is Don?;)

Sherry,

DS10 met a girl from Connecticut named Choni (sp?) By any chance was that your neice? He had so much fun in the lab and can't wait to start IM'ing his new friends.

We rebooked on board for 7/22/06 Alt Western with 2 stops at Castaway Cay and Cozumel and Costa Maya. We were able to get connecting SPH rooms!

TTFN,

Jackie

[sjcubedofct]

Yes, Jackie, that is my niece, Chani. Who has already spent an hour on the phone with a boy from Las Vegas- her mother is ready to strangle her! LOL, puppy love is so much fun.

My son spent some time in the labs, but enjoyed running around with Chani, too. The two of them had quite the time together...

[scottygirl]

Sherry,

I guess Chani was pretty popular! That boy from Las Vegas is Max. Drew really liked him too. What is your son's name? I need to ask Drew if he met him also.

I have had a few of those "feeling like I'm on the ship" moments also. It mostly seems to be when I have my head down. After our first cruise (which was on a much smaller boat) DH felt weird for about a month!!

I did not use duct tape, but there was a lady who was looking for some because her suitcase ripped! I had already packed mine away and put our luggage out so I couldn't help her.

TTFN,

Jackie

[sjcubedofct]

My son's name is Steven. He's not quite as outgoing as Chani, he spent more time on the computers than hanging out with the kids. Although they were roaming the ship quite a bit together.

A month, eh? I don't know if I can take this feeling for a MONTH!

[Mindymom]

I'm so jealous of those who have booked another cruise! I'm the one who is from the West Coast and my husband won't fly. Me and the kids are working real hard to try and find a way to talk him into going in the near future. I wanted to be one of those sitting with the booking agent on board. I'll probably have to settle on a cruise out of LA. And the Disney cruise next summer out of LA is just too soon.

My kids had a blast. My DS11 spent most of his time in the arcade and my DD9 made some really good friends to hang out with. They had so much fun staying up late with their friends.

Does anybody know the name of the song they played constantly (left foot down, right foot down, jump 2 times, now clap, clap, clap, do the cha cha ya'll)? My daughter loved that song and I want to buy it for her for Christmas.

This was my first cruise and I believe that a cruise is the all time perfect family vacation. I'm hooked! Now I have to convince my husband.

Mindy

[MiaSRN62]

Jackie~
I'm glad u were able to get the connecting SPH rooms ! Rob told me you asked about them. We loved (and needed) the extra space and bathroom. I couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams all five of us sharing a cat 4 !? :confused: Yet, this is what DCL wanted to put us in. I went to DU and asked about connecting cat 10's and was told 5522/5524 were available so I grabbed them. Sure there's barrels in front of the one window, but we could still see around them. Just a warning too......on 3 occassions we had a crew member up there working. Pretty funny coming out of the shower and there's a guy in a yellow raincoat at your porthole window !
Mindy,
The song I believe is the cha-cha version of the electric slide. I believe it's actually called Cha-cha slide. Hope this helps.
On a slightly sad note......we think (pretty sure) we left a souvenier Castaway Cay shirt on the ship that my dd had picked out. We've searched every suitcase and nowhere is it to be found :( Anyone know if there's a way to check and see if it was found. Should I just call or email DCL ? Anyone aware of a lost and found department on the ship ? Thank.

[MiaSRN62]

UPDATE: dh just came home from work. He found the "lost" shirt in 10 min----I searched all day and couldn't find it....lol :teeth:
Also, as for the rocking......I've been feeling like I'm moving from time to time. I even noticed it when I was shopping in Cozumel. It's random and doesn't seem to last long. I don't feel sick or anything, just like the floor is moving underneath me.

[Mindymom]

I turned in 2 pillowcases to guest services to be signed by the characters and totally forgot about them! They did say they'd be in our room by Friday evening, so I think I just put them out of my mind. Well, they never delivered them and I totally forgot about them. I wonder what they'll do with them.

[sjcubedofct]

I want to go back NOOOOOOOOOOOOOW...

[thumpery]

I AGREE WITH YOU!!!! I mailed postcards to my boys from Castaway Cay and they just received them yesterday. My 8 year old ran up to me and hugged me. Then he said, "Thanks mom, can we go back again some day?" YES YES YES!!!