Dream a Little Dream Feb 2/6/11 Finished 3/4/11

[BethC1952]

Originally Posted by missj1975

Thank you!!! If we get a chance to meet on board, I will bring an extra coin for you!!! Everyone needs a little pirate treasure.

I am so freakin antsy. I'm never like this before vacations. I think it is all the snow in St. Louis. I just want to get away.

Thanks! I'd like that!

We're supposed to get snow again tomorrow. There has been snow on the ground since the day after Christmas, and that's very unusual here at the Jersey Shore. Now it's just yucky, miserable gray ice. Some of the sidewalks I have to use on my walk to/from work every day still haven't been cleared! I can't wait to be somewhere with a temperature above 40 degrees!

Beth

[Lemola]

Great pre-trip report so far! I am antsy too - can't wait to sail! 10 more days until we fly down. We are doing a couple of days at Beach Club AFTER the cruise.

And I'm totally JEALOUS of your next cruise! You must have the best puppy-dog eyes EVER!

[missj1975]

Originally Posted by Lemola

Great pre-trip report so far! I am antsy too - can't wait to sail! 10 more days until we fly down. We are doing a couple of days at Beach Club AFTER the cruise.

And I'm totally JEALOUS of your next cruise! You must have the best puppy-dog eyes EVER!

I am so excited to be staying at the Beach Club. This will be our first time. We got a great AP discount so couldn't resist staying there for a couple of days. Plus since we plan to spend most of our time at Epcot, Beach Club seemed the best choice.

And yes I have pretty good puppy dog eyes, second only to my Death Star Glare (which I have only had to use once on my husband).

[kristinanderic]

I'm excited to read your TR. We live about 25 minutes from St Louis and will be on the Dream on 2/13/11, woo hooo!!

[missj1975]

Originally Posted by kristinanderic

I'm excited to read your TR. We live about 25 minutes from St Louis and will be on the Dream on 2/13/11, woo hooo!!

My neighbor just said we are suppose to get more snow on Monday and Tuesday. As long as the snow is done by Wednesday I am happy. We fly out Thursday evening.

I just ordered a waterproof camera bag for my camera from ebags. I know I am cutting it close but hopefully it will arrive on time. Expediated Shipping would have cost $12.95 extra and they only predicted one day faster then normal shipping. I will take my chances with normal shipping.

My waterproof camera konked out in December. Instead of buying a new one, I plan on using my regular camera with the waterproof bag. The bag has good reviews so hopefully it works.

[jenseib]

I'm joining in too. I loved your last report.
Let me know how that waterproof bag works. I am considering getting one too.

[Princess Bette]

Hi!
I loved your first trip report and I am subbing this one. Can't wait to hear your view of the Dream. You kept me in stitches with your last report! Great move with your hubby and booking the MV on the Fantasy! That's a talent you don't ever want to lose! Hope you have nothing but blue skies and smooth sailing on the Dream!

[missj1975]

Five more days till we leave for Disney!!!

We went shopping today so DH could get some nice dress shirts. I resisted the urge to buy more clothes but I did buy two new pairs of shoes. I only have so much willpower at the mall .

So when browsing the disboards this week, I saw a cool thread about "showing off your door." I knew people decorated their cruise ship door with magnets but I just never had the urge to do that myself until I read thru that thread.

I mentioned the door decorating to hubby and he thought it was a cool idea. DH is so much more creative with computer art then me so I showed him the thread and the links to templates. He made me two 8 X10 photos and 2 name tags that I just laminated and now I am getting ready to apply magnets to the photos. I am so excited, they turned out really great.

My ebay FE came in yesterday. It is cute but after looking at my homemade Valentine FE I decided to stick with my homemade FE. I will save the ebay FE for a future cruise. I did alter my homemade one to make it more compact and sturdy and it just looks even better. I am so happy with it. Plus I have the FE hanging next to our front door so it is a constant reminder of our upcoming vacation every time we leave the house.

[jenseib]

Where did you find the name tag templates. I want to make some of those too.

[missj1975]

Originally Posted by jenseib

Where did you find the name tag templates. I want to make some of those too.

All the templates my DH used were from this wonderful disboarder.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/19077581/...0/sharing.html

[Futurist]

Hey there, hi there, ho there!

My DW, the Lady Jay, and I will be on the same cruise. You'll be able to tell it's me because I have long hair pulled back in a pony tail, and look a bit like Doc Brown when it's loose!

Hope to see you on board - although with 4000+ other people, it may be hard!

Love the TR!

Richard

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by missj1975

All the templates my DH used were from this wonderful disboarder.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/19077581/...0/sharing.html

Thanks. Do you remember which folder it's in. I have been looking through the cruise folders but can't find it yet

NEVERMIND. I found it...thanks again

[missj1975]

I left work early, headed home to pick up DH and luggage. With the airport shut down the previous two days due to snow, we were worried the airport was going to be crazy...It wasn't.

We were thru security quicker then we have ever been. So we get to our gate and my cell phone rings...the airline is kind enough to let us know that our flight has been delayed for an hour. *sigh* But wait...it gets worse...twinkies start appearing out of no where...and not the golden fluffy kind I adore...nope twinkies as in high school cheerleaders wearing matching clothes carrying matching duffle bags. Yep...cheerleaders...or pom girls...or whatever heck they call themselves. I started counting the sheep...at least thirty of them. I give DH a panicked look...he pulled out his pharmacy...handed me a happy pill and then all was good in the world.

We finally board...ahead of the cheerleaders...thank goodness for SW early check-in...love it!!! We are always in like the third or fourth row. I never understand the people who board before us and then head to the back of the airplane. I am an accountant...I prefer the first in first out boarding method. (forgive me, just a little accounting humor). Anyway, the cheerleaders were actually quiet. At least I think they were...the happy pill knocked me out as soon as I buckled my seat belt.

I thought the cheerleaders were going to be the bane of my existance but they weren't. Guess what is worse then a cheerleader on caffeine? A single middle aged man who thinks he has a chance with the hot girl who was stupid enough to sit next to him. *sigh* I was woken up from my peaceful slumber by Mr. Rico Suave and Miss Get-Me-Out-Of-Here sitting behind us. After listening to Rico unsuccessful hit on his seatmate for 10 minutes I begged DH for another happy pill. He just shook his head (he likes to follow the Dr.'s rules of only 1 every 12 hours...spoilsport).

Finally we deplaned, got our luggage, and headed to Magical Express. We usually get a rental car but since we would only be at the parks for two days we decided to give Magical Express a try. Never Again. If we would have rented a car, we would have been to our hotel in less then an hour. 2 hours later we finally arrived at our hotel. Neither of us are patient people so sitting on a bus with a different group of cheerleaders was absolutely no fun. Especially when the driver dropped them off at their hotel, they all got off, and then back on because apparently the cheerleaders had their own check in place around the building and God forbid they walk.

Yep, next time we get a rental car...sometimes spending a little more money is necessary for keeping our sanity.

So we finally check in to the Beach Club. I'm tired, crabby, and even more crabby when there are no Bellmen to help us with our luggage at 1am. Yes between the two of us we have four suitcases. Usually we just have one each but cruising requires more clothing for dinners, excursions, etc.

I do perk up when I see our room. I love it.







That is until my $400 less-then-four-months-old camera quits working. At this point I think our vacation is doomed. I have never had a worse travel day then today. I resist the urge to cry and go to bed while husband researches possible camera issues on the internet.

[missj1975]

So I wake up happy because the bed is just so darn comfortable. My happiness remains until DH wakes up and informs me he thinks the camera has a bad battery. Of course the camera doesn't take double A's. No it is a rechargeable battery that comes with the camera. I have the charger but the battery isn't retaining it's charge. And of course a replacement battery isn't found at most normal stores. *sigh*

DH is not worried, he says he will take care of the camera when we get back home and for now he will just buy me another camera. Very sweet but I'm still not happy because I love my current broken camera.

We walk to Epcot's camera store, buy a Kodak camera which is nice but not as nice as my Canon, and meet up with my sister and her family.



Seeing my nieces instantly cheers me up and we have a wonderful day at Epcot.

Of course we have to stop by Mexico because a trip isn't complete without nachos.



Plus it was fun watching birds swoop down on people and steal chips. OMG the birds were bad this trip, very very bad. My BIL had a churro stolen right out of his hand earlier in the week.



We rode Malestorm against my five-year-old niece's wishes. She said she didn't want to go on a ride that goes backwards. I was like what, you've never been on the ride and it doesn't go backwards...Yeah Yeah I was wrong. Apparently my niece is psychic and the ride does go backwards. She got over her fear and enjoyed the ride. Yep my sis is a terrible mother. She makes her daughters go on all the rides even if they don't want to. Which is actually a good thing because Haley doesn't want to ride anything at first but usually loves it afterwards...well except for Tower of Terror. I am pretty sure she still isn't talking to her mom after riding that one.


Haley showing off her coloring skills to Uncle Bob.


So do you think my sis and I look alike?

I just love walking around Epcot looking at all the nice touches.




As we stroll through America, we watched the Flag presentation. The girls even got to join in on the fun and march with the honor guard.



After Epcot, we took a friendship boat to Hollywood Studios for a couple of hours. We then parted ways for awhile. They had dinner reservations at Ohanas and we had reservations for Chefs De France.

[Princess Bette]

Hi! I just love your trip reports! Your room at the Beach Club is awesome! Jealous!!! Sorry about your camera - what a bummer! But what a sweetie your hubby is! I don't think you and your sis look like twins, but def. sisters. How fun to have her fam with you - very special! Okay, now we want more from you on your trip!!! Please!