03/01/2008 Eastern!!

[kshabare]

Oh my gosh. You ladies are funny. I'm NOT gaining 10 lbs. this 2008! You can have your drinking. I'm sitting by the pool! I just love those little deck 4 chairs. I cannot wait to sit down by myself. Well, I cannot wait to meet up with ya'all again. We have had such a hoot of a time and didn't spend time with even half of you yet.
Rani, as far as formal night goes you get dolled up, go get your picture done by DCL photographer, go to dinner and after dinner you go back to your cabin and change. Well, my family does. DH and DS just get on a pair of dress pants, dress shirt and tie. Those pictures hang in the living room so I'm always happy to see dressy but not out-of-the-ordinary. Face it - every big girl and little girl likes to get dressed up sometimes.
We've been fortunate enough to cruise 6 times since 2000. It all started with a little 3/4 day that lead into a 7 day. We book our own air. This year we're waiting until later to book because the prices are so darned high. We always take the transfers. Leave it to the professionals. Plus, we look forward to the bus trip with movie trailers introducing the ship (that never gets old!!), and having someone else drive us! We book on the ship for the next year with the minimum deposit. We also pay toward the trip through the year. Yes, it could be collecting interest during the year but I won't spend what I pay toward the trip.

Don't overplan. Don't overpack - you're going to be carrying it. It's not a big deal to wash clothes at least once (undies, shorts, t-shirts) and it's cheap.

Welcome to the group. Most of whom I've met - all big kids who just need a break from the grown-up stuff!

p.s. TIM -- I'M NOT PLAYING BINGO AGAIN - IT'S RIGGED!!!

Kim

 

[atinkerbellmom]

That's alright Tim, BINGO I'm in. Last cruise I missed Bingo because I went to Tea with DD with Wendy and the other hand was during a cake decorating class I thought I could take and would walk away making my cakes look like the ones there, (sorry to say it will take more than one class for me.) So BINGO, sounds good.
Brenda, Jen, Michelle & Tammy, I e-mailed you with DS e-mail address to give to your DKs if they have their own e-mail accounts. Did you get your mail from me?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

That's alright Tim, BINGO I'm in. Last cruise I missed Bingo because I went to Tea with DD with Wendy and the other hand was during a cake decorating class I thought I could take and would walk away making my cakes look like the ones there, (sorry to say it will take more than one class for me.) So BINGO, sounds good.
Brenda, Jen, Michelle & Tammy, I e-mailed you with DS e-mail address to give to your DKs if they have their own e-mail accounts. Did you get your mail from me?

I got the email but before i could reply, it disappeared. (operator error!) lol. My daughter doesn't have an email account (she's 9), mainly because i know she would sign up for every hannah montana mail list and then the spam (and some of it might be bad spam) would fill up her box.

 

[ranidayz]

Heads-up: Happened to be in Macy's today - where I never shop really....and they had a ton of kids clothes on the $4.99 rack and $6.99 rack + 50% off. I picked up two terry dress/swim cover for my daughter in a size big so she'd have them for the cruise and next summer. But they also had two-peice outfits, shorts, tshirts and on the $9.99 rack they had swim suits. So if you need to adjust sizes for March- you may want to go and pick some up - but bring your coupon from the paper for an EXTRA 15% off.

Rani

 

[atinkerbellmom]

SHHHHHHHH................... Do not tell JS, about the sell; MS might see it. Shopping is a secret. We shop and pack and shop again. Ladies I feel so behind, I have been so busy, I have not hit all of the racks yet. After Labor Day, I know it will be gone.

 

[Johnna_Story]

SHHHHHHHH................... Do not tell JS, about the sell; MS might see it. Shopping is a secret. We shop and pack and shop again. Ladies I feel so behind, I have been so busy, I have not hit all of the racks yet. After Labor Day, I know it will be gone.

That's what PM's are for!

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I have to say, I have been so busy with these pillowcases I offered to do for other DISers that I almost hate looking at the PMs. Lately I have just come to this cruisemeet thread. Each time the request calm down and I catch up, I get more messages. I would rather get my PMs from you guys.
Rani-
DS has been talking with your boys via e-mail and he is really excited to meet them. He says "we will be great friends". He has been printing out activities and asking for past navigators, so they he can write them. So CUTE .
Off now to get the last minute supplies and who knows, catch a sales rack or two or three or four.........

 

[Johnna_Story]

MMichelle- you are CRAZY for volunteering to do all those pillowcases. I hope some people are at least compensating you for the cost of the materials. Since you can't "sell" stuff on the boards. I saw some of the samples you posted and they are just lovely. You obviously have a very generous heart.

That said...knock it off and focus some time on US. It's all about your fellow March 1 cruisers now. We're a little over 6 months out so I expect to see this board activity heat up quite a bit!!

Anyone think of a nifty name for our group? Last year we were March Maniacal Mom or something like that. Get those minds working folks...

Ciao for now! J

 

[ranidayz]

I have to say, I have been so busy with these pillowcases I offered to do for other DISers that I almost hate looking at the PMs. Lately I have just come to this cruisemeet thread. Each time the request calm down and I catch up, I get more messages. I would rather get my PMs from you guys.
Rani-
DS has been talking with your boys via e-mail and he is really excited to meet them. He says "we will be great friends". He has been printing out activities and asking for past navigators, so they he can write them. So CUTE .
Off now to get the last minute supplies and who knows, catch a sales rack or two or three or four.........

YOU are making pillowcases for other people? That is very nice of you. There is such an easy way for them to make the cases themselves. They can either use a flat sheet they have around or buy one. Then, using the size case they want as a guide, they can cut the material, use facing tape to hem it with an iron and boom -- they have a pillowcase.....where are the pictures of the samples -- I haven't been able to check them, but I'm interested!

Rani

 

[atinkerbellmom]

MMichelle- you are CRAZY for volunteering to do all those pillowcases. I hope some people are at least compensating you for the cost of the materials. Since you can't "sell" stuff on the boards. I saw some of the samples you posted and they are just lovely. You obviously have a very generous heart.

That said...knock it off and focus some time on US. It's all about your fellow March 1 cruisers now. We're a little over 6 months out so I expect to see this board activity heat up quite a bit!!

Anyone think of a nifty name for our group? Last year we were March Maniacal Mom or something like that. Get those minds working folks...

Ciao for now! J

ALL SO TRUE LADY J........ I am CRAZY or at least they have drove me crazy. It all started by me offering to do one for one DISer who decided after I made it, that she did not want it. I do have them pay for the case and shipping. I have been nuts and picking up the other part of the exspense because I do it for a hobby. The problem is, once the thread dies down, someone ask me to post the ones they had me make or someone else post pictures and there goes my PMs again. My DH told me to STOP already. He reminded me that as of now, I usually have started to pack . He came up with the idea of just making shirts for all of our kids and not those other guys. I know, we need to get busy. I keep feeling like there is something I need to be doing.
Are you guys coming in the night before and if so, where are you staying? You have to help me plan our Eastern Beach activities. As I mentioned before, this is our first time doing the Eastern. This is also our first time doing March. We have done May, May & July. Different weather for us. I am looking forward to the extra Sea day.
Do you guys do Door Magnets? I have never done this before. Did I mention my computer crafty talent stinks?
Everyone need to make sure all of the info Kim has on them is complete. I think everyone was missing some stuff, (me included).
Okay PILLOWCASES ASIDE and Cruisemates first.

 

[ranidayz]

ALL SO TRUE LADY J........ I am CRAZY or at least they have drove me crazy. It all started by me offering to do one for one DISer who decided after I made it, that she did not want it. I do have them pay for the case and shipping. I have been nuts and picking up the other part of the exspense because I do it for a hobby. The problem is, once the thread dies down, someone ask me to post the ones they had me make or someone else post pictures and there goes my PMs again. My DH told me to STOP already. He reminded me that as of now, I usually have started to pack . He came up with the idea of just making shirts for all of our kids and not those other guys. I know, we need to get busy. I keep feeling like there is something I need to be doing.
Are you guys coming in the night before and if so, where are you staying? You have to help me plan our Eastern Beach activities. As I mentioned before, this is our first time doing the Eastern. This is also our first time doing March. We have done May, May & July. Different weather for us. I am looking forward to the extra Sea day.
Do you guys do Door Magnets? I have never done this before. Did I mention my computer crafty talent stinks?
Everyone need to make sure all of the info Kim has on them is complete. I think everyone was missing some stuff, (me included).
Okay PILLOWCASES ASIDE and Cruisemates first.

Oh, sure, now that I've added the need to make pillowcases in my notebook, now I need to find out about what the magnets are for.....

What other cruise mysteries are there lurking out there?!?!?! )

 

[Johnna_Story]

I do door magnets (but have never done pillowcases!).

Some people do really elaborate graphics, and fonts, etc. I don't - mine are very basic clip art arranged on a page, and I use the Disney font. I'll try to email a sample to you. I just color print them on regular paper, and then got a roll of magnet tape and put a piece on each corner.

A lot of people get Disney paint chips from Home Depot/Lowes and make them into magnets also. There is a whole thread about door signs, but I find it very itimidating!!! I'll stick to my clip art and paint chips.

 

[Johnna_Story]

Are you guys coming in the night before and if so, where are you staying? You have to help me plan our Eastern Beach activities. As I mentioned before, this is our first time doing the Eastern. This is also our first time doing March. We have done May, May & July. Different weather for us. I am looking forward to the extra Sea day.

Okay PILLOWCASES ASIDE and Cruisemates first.

I know you'll do what's best about the pillowcases. I applaud your generosity, but it must be a huge demand on your time.

We are actually coming in on Thursday, and we'll probably stay at the Residence Inn; I do a lot of meetings at local Marriotts and get points so we stay there for free. I know ejkjmom is coming Friday and staying at the Radisson.

As for beach activities: we didn't beach at St. Maarten last year - we stayed on ship. It was really interesting and nice to be on board when the ship was in port - it was quiet, and the kids had the Mickey pool practically to themselves. And also DH and I were sunburned from our lounging on deck the day before, so going to a beach was not for us that day! DD and I went to the beach in St. Thomas the next day (the boys did the submarine excursion) - we went to Maagen's Bay - it was beautiful. Kind of crowded, but nice. We went on our own in a taxi - not the Disney excursion. It was a little cheaper that way. The only bad thing about the beach was the line for the snack bar was CRAZY long. But it was a calm bay, not a lot of waves, so DD was in the water A LOT. I know Norm and Kim went to a beach in St. John - I don't remember which, but they really liked that one too.

The weather last year in March was great - probably not as great as in May or June! But we had done February twice prior, and it was not good - only one nice sunny day the whole week. So hopefully it will be a good March in 2008 too.

Ciao for now - J

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Guess What Guys, My niece decided to get married.......... Guess where???? Sunny California.......... Guess when????????????? The week before the cruise I guess I have to go up in the air to come down again to go back up to go down to sea legs
This wedding has been in the talk for two years and all I desired was that they stay away from the week before the cruise, the week of the cruise and the week after...... They claim they honestly did look into changing it, but since this is her Spring Break and she is a school teacher, they decided it was the best time. A little stressing you think?
MMichelle

 

[Johnna_Story]

Can you say - Frequent Flyer Miles???

My sister is getting married but not until the end of March, so we have two weeks to recuperate.

Hey - at least you can have your formal night dress for the wedding, and then the cruise. Silver lining... ?

 

[ejkjmom]

Geez...I'm feeling a little left out, so thought I'd better pipe in with my 2 cents worth!!! You girls have been busy today LOL!!!!!

I totally understand the stress you are feeling trying to plan your first Disney Cruise...you want it to be perfect and you want to make sure you have everything planned before you go..been there done that, so I do understand...

As far as the door magnets go....the only thing that we did was the home depot paint chips, with our name's on them, and then I cut out big black mickey ears to go on top of the room number on the door (it makes it look like Mickey's head...cute)... I will bring enough of both for everyone, and hand them out when we meet for our meet and greet on the first day

Eastern Activities....can't say that we done anything too exciting ( unless you count shopping at Diamonds International LOL!!!!) St. Maarten we did the Butterfly Farm on our own....Would NOT recommend doing that one, as far as we were concerned, it was a big waste of time...DD's Emily 13 and Kaylee 10 didn't like it at all, seemed like the farm was out in the middle of a drab pasture... seriously, and the drive over there was anything but scenic...it was actually depressing.... then we had to wait for a taxi to come back and get us !!!!!! I think booking thru Disney would have been better,as far as being a scenic drive, but don't think that would have made the Butterfly farm anymore interesting LOL!!!

WE did then take a taxi over to Marigot (the French side), that was really a pretty drive.... and we got a much niecer taxi driver that time around. so that helped... after we got back from Marigot, we hung out at the beach which was within eye shot of the Disney Magic...we truely enjoyed that the most, it was a nice beach. There are chairs and umbrella's that you can rent for a pretty reasonable price, as well as outdoor bar/s that was just across the street, that you could go and get a drink and bring it back to where you are sitting... it really was a Great place to hang out... the girls loved it, as did Ron and I...they also had great little shops in the same area...to get there and back from the ship, they have a water taxi that is a short and easy 5 minute (or so) ride...I'm sure that is what we will plan on doing again this time around...

St Thomas...after the whole Butterfly Farm deal...we decide to just hang out close to the ship...we took a taxi into town and did some shopping for gifts to take back home...and that was it!

It really is nice to get back to the ship early and take advantage of the pools, that was what my girls enjoyed the most during port days...

Be prepared for LONG lines when you get off the ship if you get off early...since we didn't have any set times that we had to be anywhere, we sleep in and avoided the lines..which was nice

I know that last year I felt like I had to have something planned during port days....but I feel differently about that this time around, I think we will just hang out close to the ship and take advantage of the quite pools

Okay I was long winded again...sorry

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Hey Guys, I PMed Kate and told her how to get on the main thread board. I invited her back if she finds out she is going the 1st week in March, but to get her questions answered to go to the main boards and she may actually get them answered by other teens.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Okay guys-
First of all welcome back to the school life for some. I hope the Labor Day went well. First Labor Day in a while I did not spend with laboring women.

I had to come and bump us. It took me looking through 4 pages to even find our thread. What's up with that. Maybe I should go back to making pillowcases. Even the November 2008 cruises had posted since we have. I need all of you to post so that I can follow your ticker tape. Never took the time to download mine.

Just had a minute to say Hi and to say lets chat more. Everyone get the cruise attire thing done yet? What is the temp. usually?
MMichelle

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I have no idea of the temps. I wondered about that. We are doing organized tours on both islands we visit, and I think it would be a drag to carry a sweatshirt for everyone. But, I hope that won't be the case. I assume that the decks might get chilly at night though.

I am planning on buying my son a pair of dress pants and a dress shirt for formal nights, no tuxes for us.. We are going to a wedding tomorrow so I am going to get those today. As for my daughter, I will get her a nice dress and one for me prior to the wedding. I have bought swim shoes for everybody and new swim suits for the kids. That is it. I guess I should buy some new shorts for my daugther since she wore last years this year since when I got them they were a tad big. I am going to Goodys as I think they will have everything that I need.

My brother, who is sharing a cabin with my son, bought a new suit for an interview he had not long ago and I assume that he will be bringing that with him. I will wait for the after new year sales on formal wear to pick up an outfit for formal night.

So that comprises my plans for attire. Ha ha. I think that might have been more that you bargained for.

We were thinking of going to St. Johns but I have scrapped that idea. Simply because we would get so little time on the island. I would like to get up early and go to the beach via cab and then pick up the tour with Sonny Liston on St. Thomas and then when the tour ends around 2, go back to the boat instead of beach, since we have to get back for all aboard around 4.

175 days to go I think!

 

[Johnna_Story]

Having gone at the same time last year, I can pretty safely say the weather is pretty warm during the day - breezy when at sea, but warm breezy. And all of our port days were warm - great beach weather. And it's great because it's not really hot at all, but just perfectly warm enough to hang at the beach, shop, walk around, etc. Nights are kind of cool, but not really sweatshirt cool, more light sweater/long sleeve t-shirt cool.

If anyone from last year wants to pipe in if my remembering isn't accurate, feel free. I am getting older you know!

Hope you're all doing well as we head into fall. Perhaps the Vermonters and Minnesotans are taking out their snow boots already - I'm just such a cold weather wimp that to me, living someplace where it's winter 80% of the year is completely out of my comfort zone.

Ciao for now...Johnna