- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
Welcome to another Fred and Wilma adventure 
Meet your host - My name is Joh and Im a Walt Disney World-aholic.
It has been 86 days since my last Disney trip. I am a serious planner, with more than a little touch of OCD. Just call me Monica! It has to be said that I am not good when things don't go to plan but my laid-back DH normally helps keep me sane. I have been known to enjoy a cocktail - or two.
Exhibit A
And Exhibit B (together with my friend, Barb)
Normally, at this point I would wax lyrical about my favourite things at WDW, my favourite rides and characters, where we are going to eat and, more importantly, what I am planning to drink!!! However, this trip is slightly different since were not going to Disney World. But more about that in a minute.
Meanwhile, meet my long suffering husband Gary.
Gary indulges my love of Disney World but its no secret that he doesnt have the same all-encompassing passion for the place. He likes the food - and the weather - oh, and Typhoon Lagoon! Gary is not a planner, in fact it's fair to say he takes almost no interest in that side of things. However, invariably, while I am planning the itinerary I will always ask him for his input and his response his nearly always the same - "just tell me where to be and when". On our second trip to WDW, we went through the usual pre-trip stuff and he showed no interest, until we arrived and he asked me when we were going to Typhoon Lagoon, then proceeded to sulk because I hadn't actually planned for us to go there. So now he knows, if he wants to do something, he needs to speak up! Gary is the brains behind this trip this is one of the things on his bucket list.
Here are the two of us at WDW last year - in case you are interested, Gary is saying "Shut up and look at the camera woman!"
Time for a back story (there always has to be one, right?)
A couple of years ago, we took a cruise with friends on a little ship called the Disney Magic you may have read about that trip. If not, and you want to, here is a handy dandy link for you.
Bad Mothers and Others
Welcome back! That is, of course, assuming you came back. Theres always the chance you read that trip report and decided not to. Our good friend, Theresa, wrote that trip report. It was her penance for gatecrashing our holiday There is no reason to believe that this trip report will be as entertaining or informative or have as many pretty pictures as hers. Actually, there is a very good chance that it might - because a) not content with gatecrashing just one of our holidays, Tony and Theresa have decided to join us on this cruise b) I am sincerely hoping that I can persuade Theresa to share the trip-reporting duties with me as it is an extraordinarily long cruise and c) I will, at least, be stealing some of Tonys wonderful photos for my report.
So, now that I have completely lost my train of thought, back to the back story.
So, in 2011 we took that cruise on the Disney Magic and, of course, loved it so much we had to rebook on board. Having initially booked a placeholder cruise at the time, we ended up moving it to a Westbound Panama Canal cruise, due to depart in May 2013. DH has always wanted to see the Panama Canal. And Im not normally one for letting him have his choice of holiday but what better way to see it than smack bang in the middle of a 14 day cruise on the Disney Wonder? So the deal was done and the cruise was booked.
Unfortunately, in mid 2012, DH found out he was being made redundant. With final payment date for the cruise looming (repositioning cruises have to be paid in full a lot earlier than regular cruises), we had to make the decision whether or not to cancel the cruise, as we couldnt guarantee that DH would have another job and we couldnt risk using our savings to pay for the cruise when we might, justifiably, need that money to pay the mortgage a few months down the line. So, it was with heavy hearts that we decided the Panama Canal cruise was not to be. It all ended happily ever after and DH did get a job, we managed to switch to a Western Caribbean cruise, which we took with friends from the 2011 Eastern so it was all good. While we were on the cruise in 2013, we obviously rebooked on board and, when the 2015 itineraries were released, we decided once again to go for it and switched to the Westbound Panama Canal cruise departing Miami on 1 May 2015.
All went well this time and, here we are, 93 days away from our cruise, paid in full, and waiting (im)patiently for the day to come.
So, back to the future so to speak! And time to (re)introduce the rest of the gang.
Firstly, we have Theresa (LatteLover here on the DIS) - also known as Tee. Theresa will be celebrating a major Birthday milestone this year and so is taking this cruise in honour of being half a century! Theresa is kind, generous, sweet and amazingly tolerant, a personality trait that fares her well in her friendship with me. Tee has also been known to enjoy the odd drink or two - as evidenced in the picture below, taken at Manny's in 2011 - but it is rare for her to drink too much. In fact, in all the time I have known her, I have only seen Tee drunk once. She was hilarious though and I am very much hoping to see drunk Tee again on the cruise.
I had to look long and hard to find a picture of Tee drinking - and even then I couldn't find one of her drinking alone!
And, last but by no means least, we have Tony (tony64). Tony is a mega planner like me we have probably driven Gary and Theresa to distraction over the last couple of months since they booked this cruise. Gary always jokes that its a good job Tony and I are not married to each other or we would be bankrupt with all the holidays we would have
Tony is a mean photographer and loves a good pina colada.
Bring me two pina coladas, I want one for each hand!
Our friendship with Tony and Theresa goes back quite a few years. We first met at a DIS meet in Chippenham in March 2006. Although Gary wasnt at that meet (something about not wanting to meet a load of internet freaks), it wasnt long before we had arranged another get-together and Gary got the opportunity to meet Tony and Theresa for himself.
Now, almost 9 years later, we have been to several more DIS meets, spent countless weekends together, celebrated Birthdays and weddings and even had a couple of holidays with them.
Youd think they would be sick of us by now
Seriously, we always seem to have a good time together and to say that I was seriously excited when they booked this cruise would be an understatement. We are gonna have a blast!
So thats how we met. Next up .planning, planning and yet more planning!
Meet your host - My name is Joh and Im a Walt Disney World-aholic.
It has been 86 days since my last Disney trip. I am a serious planner, with more than a little touch of OCD. Just call me Monica! It has to be said that I am not good when things don't go to plan but my laid-back DH normally helps keep me sane. I have been known to enjoy a cocktail - or two.
Exhibit A
And Exhibit B (together with my friend, Barb)
Normally, at this point I would wax lyrical about my favourite things at WDW, my favourite rides and characters, where we are going to eat and, more importantly, what I am planning to drink!!! However, this trip is slightly different since were not going to Disney World. But more about that in a minute.
Meanwhile, meet my long suffering husband Gary.
Gary indulges my love of Disney World but its no secret that he doesnt have the same all-encompassing passion for the place. He likes the food - and the weather - oh, and Typhoon Lagoon! Gary is not a planner, in fact it's fair to say he takes almost no interest in that side of things. However, invariably, while I am planning the itinerary I will always ask him for his input and his response his nearly always the same - "just tell me where to be and when". On our second trip to WDW, we went through the usual pre-trip stuff and he showed no interest, until we arrived and he asked me when we were going to Typhoon Lagoon, then proceeded to sulk because I hadn't actually planned for us to go there. So now he knows, if he wants to do something, he needs to speak up! Gary is the brains behind this trip this is one of the things on his bucket list.
Here are the two of us at WDW last year - in case you are interested, Gary is saying "Shut up and look at the camera woman!"
Time for a back story (there always has to be one, right?)
A couple of years ago, we took a cruise with friends on a little ship called the Disney Magic you may have read about that trip. If not, and you want to, here is a handy dandy link for you.
Bad Mothers and Others
Welcome back! That is, of course, assuming you came back. Theres always the chance you read that trip report and decided not to. Our good friend, Theresa, wrote that trip report. It was her penance for gatecrashing our holiday
There is no reason to believe that this trip report will be as entertaining or informative or have as many pretty pictures as hers. Actually, there is a very good chance that it might - because a) not content with gatecrashing just one of our holidays, Tony and Theresa have decided to join us on this cruise b) I am sincerely hoping that I can persuade Theresa to share the trip-reporting duties with me as it is an extraordinarily long cruise and c) I will, at least, be stealing some of Tonys wonderful photos for my report.So, now that I have completely lost my train of thought, back to the back story.
So, in 2011 we took that cruise on the Disney Magic and, of course, loved it so much we had to rebook on board. Having initially booked a placeholder cruise at the time, we ended up moving it to a Westbound Panama Canal cruise, due to depart in May 2013. DH has always wanted to see the Panama Canal. And Im not normally one for letting him have his choice of holiday but what better way to see it than smack bang in the middle of a 14 day cruise on the Disney Wonder? So the deal was done and the cruise was booked.
Unfortunately, in mid 2012, DH found out he was being made redundant. With final payment date for the cruise looming (repositioning cruises have to be paid in full a lot earlier than regular cruises), we had to make the decision whether or not to cancel the cruise, as we couldnt guarantee that DH would have another job and we couldnt risk using our savings to pay for the cruise when we might, justifiably, need that money to pay the mortgage a few months down the line. So, it was with heavy hearts that we decided the Panama Canal cruise was not to be. It all ended happily ever after and DH did get a job, we managed to switch to a Western Caribbean cruise, which we took with friends from the 2011 Eastern so it was all good. While we were on the cruise in 2013, we obviously rebooked on board and, when the 2015 itineraries were released, we decided once again to go for it and switched to the Westbound Panama Canal cruise departing Miami on 1 May 2015.
All went well this time and, here we are, 93 days away from our cruise, paid in full, and waiting (im)patiently for the day to come.
So, back to the future so to speak! And time to (re)introduce the rest of the gang.
Firstly, we have Theresa (LatteLover here on the DIS) - also known as Tee. Theresa will be celebrating a major Birthday milestone this year and so is taking this cruise in honour of being half a century! Theresa is kind, generous, sweet and amazingly tolerant, a personality trait that fares her well in her friendship with me. Tee has also been known to enjoy the odd drink or two - as evidenced in the picture below, taken at Manny's in 2011 - but it is rare for her to drink too much. In fact, in all the time I have known her, I have only seen Tee drunk once. She was hilarious though and I am very much hoping to see drunk Tee again on the cruise.
I had to look long and hard to find a picture of Tee drinking - and even then I couldn't find one of her drinking alone!
And, last but by no means least, we have Tony (tony64). Tony is a mega planner like me we have probably driven Gary and Theresa to distraction over the last couple of months since they booked this cruise. Gary always jokes that its a good job Tony and I are not married to each other or we would be bankrupt with all the holidays we would have
Tony is a mean photographer and loves a good pina colada.Bring me two pina coladas, I want one for each hand!
Our friendship with Tony and Theresa goes back quite a few years. We first met at a DIS meet in Chippenham in March 2006. Although Gary wasnt at that meet (something about not wanting to meet a load of internet freaks), it wasnt long before we had arranged another get-together and Gary got the opportunity to meet Tony and Theresa for himself.
Now, almost 9 years later, we have been to several more DIS meets, spent countless weekends together, celebrated Birthdays and weddings and even had a couple of holidays with them.
Youd think they would be sick of us by now
Seriously, we always seem to have a good time together and to say that I was seriously excited when they booked this cruise would be an understatement. We are gonna have a blast!
So thats how we met. Next up .planning, planning and yet more planning!
What happens in Panama, stays in Panama (unless of course waivers were signed)!!! 
yeah you've started your TR Joh 
Thanks Bex
