06/08/08 Magic And Mickey To Mexico!!!

[justmestace]

Our last day at Disneyland and I have to say I'm glad. I am so tired!!
I guess we should have done DLand first and rested on the cruise after.

I left sailaway a little early....sorry I couldn't stick around and chat more.

We LOVED all the gifts. You all are far too creative! Thank you!!!

 

[Hotdogs]

Thanks to all for the FE gifts. Everything was great.

My sons will be talking about their first cruise for a long time to come. On ship we booked another, originally for 9/26 Eastern. I had the wrong week, as I thought DS had time off around that week. So we ended up changing to Western on 9/5. That way he only misses 3 days of school.

Bye for now..

 

[aseal]

We had such a great time and met so many nice people. We really enjoyed the gifts. Next time I will bring smaller gifts and not take up a whole suitcase. All those boxes of Mike & Ikes, beachballs and notebooks took up alot of room. I loved all the creative things people made. We had so much fun, but feel like we need a vacation from the vacation. Hope to talk to yall again. It has been a pleasure. Alana

 

[WVMD]

We had such a great time and met so many nice people. We really enjoyed the gifts. Next time I will bring smaller gifts and not take up a whole suitcase. All those boxes of Mike & Ikes, beachballs and notebooks took up alot of room. I loved all the creative things people made. We had so much fun, but feel like we need a vacation from the vacation. Hope to talk to yall again. It has been a pleasure. Alana

We loved all of the candy... thanks....LOL... I forgot to label mine....

Thanks for letting us borrow the video camera - btw - you now have a memory card in it....

Virgil

 

[castle4us]

Well everyone, even though we've been back since late Sun. nite, I'm just getting caught up. Got my laundry done then managed to come down with horrible head cold, been out of commission for two days. I don't mind, I just prayed and prayed we'd all be healthy for and on the cruise and we were.

Phyllis, so sorry to hear about Olivia. I hope she's doing better and that you get the insurance thing all worked out. Let us know. GrumpyMom1 told us at sail away party and I felt so bad. Thanks for awesome FE gifts you made. You must scrapbook! I put my FE gifts for you on Grumpymom1's door, hope they didn't get taken before she got them!

Thanks to everyone else for such awesome gifts. Some weren't labeled who they were from, so sorry if I don't thank you by name and we got so much, it's hard to remember each thing! Even DH was getting into checking our bag for gifts, ha! Kids loved the candy and took it to movie theatre with them! Lorielucks, awesome idea with the customized chocolate bar! Wish I would have thought of that! Provencio, is that a real worm in the lollipop? Texas gifts were awesome. Vegas gifts were so much fun. We've been there, so that made it really fun. Aseal, loved the pirate things! And so were rest of pirate things, like someone said, enough to last quite a few pirate nights! With two boys, that's great! Stacey, I didn't use the cork screw on the trip, but did last night and thought of you! I couldn't find the end to the one I have and dug out the green one you gave. Space Monkey, my boys were SO into the NASA stuff. DS, 15, has worn the pin nonstop, even puts it on his p.j.'s at night when he undressed (on the cruise and now at home, too). That cracks me up! I know there was more I loved, but my brain is freezing right now.

I wish I'd seen more of you guys around the ship, it was fun to meet at sail away party after so many months of anticipation. Aseal and I must be secret twins, we planned almost same schedules, it got to be amusing how much we saw each other. Rebecca, nice to meet and talk with you at Palo. We have a lot in common! I saw Grumpymom1 a few times but other than that, not much of anyone else. So sorry to have missed the big proposal. That would have been so much fun to see in person. Great planning and congratulations! Stacey, we were on the quiet deck on 7 aft on Sat. afternoon, and if my calculations were right, you're balcony was right next door. I peeked over once, but no one was home. I wish I would have gone to that secluded deck sooner. DH and I froze sitting by the pool on Friday! Other than that, not a whole lot of time for sunbathing, but I got a lot of great color in just the short time I was out. The boys Cabo dolphin swim was great, we were entering as Jlima was leaving! Our PV zipline was SO awesome. I lOVED my salt glow exfoliation. My skin is still so soft. I could kick myself, I didn't buy the exfoliation stuff after the treatment and by the time I realized how long my skin felt smooth and I went back, they were sold out. I'll have to order online and pay for shipping. So mad at myself! DH and I did spa villas, that was quite fun. I'm feeling the need to be pampered after such a great vacation!

I'm going through soft serve ice cream withdrawels! I had to take kids to McDonalds on Monday to get a cone, ha! I ate soft serve once or twice every day. My clothes are SO tight from all the food! Palo supper and brunch were my favorite meals. Glad we did that.

Well, enough of my rambling. We had a great trip and was fun to do FE gifts with all of you. I was thinking I would have lots of room on way home, but got so many nice things and they took up a lot of room!

 

[castle4us]

Oh, I forgot to mention the lime green customized bracelet from Dagny with name of our thread and dates of our trip. I didn't even know you could do that!

 

[LisaTex]

Hello to anyone still out there!! I, too want to say THANKS!! for all the very cool FE stuff. The kids (andI) had a lot of fun checking the FE each day. Just wish I could have met you guys - besides running into Virgil and bumping into ? aseal? while giving out FE gifts - we never got a chance to say hi. Never thought planning for a big group would be so time consuming, but it was great and I did have a nice "ALone time" at the spa the last day (sitting in a jacuzzi on a verandah with the wind blowing bubbles/foam everywhere CAN be relaxing by the way!!)
We re-booked for July 4 too!
Trying to get my sound to work so I can watch the "proposal"
We loved the zip lining too!
Stacey - did you guys get to try out the new Toy story ride at CA?
Thanks for so much fun building up to the big trip everyone - I'm sure we will run in to each other somewhere on the Dis again - ANyone else interested in the next Med cruise(if there is one)?

HAve a great weekend!

 

[justmestace]

Finally getting caught up at home. Am finishing the last of the laundry (nothing like putting it off!) and will attack the pile of bills waiting for me (thanks Honey, for not doing them for me! )......that's the only bad part of a vacation.


Lisa...we did do the Toy Story ride on Sunday when we first got there. The wait time said 40 minutes, but I think we were on the ride in 25 or so. It really isn't that much different than Buzz Lightyear...shooting at carnival targets, and instead of pulling a trigger on a gun, you have to pull a rope in and out of the back of the "gun" instead....and it kills your arm!!
I definitely wouldn't wait even an hour to do it.

 

[justmestace]

Did anyone get a picture of the ships' Captain Jack Sparrow???
People on the Canal cruise want to see what he looked like, and I didn't take one.

 

[pillow]

So Virgil, did you get any info on the 2010 itinerary??? Apparently, the cruise line has set up an office in Europe, so maybe the Med again? or Greek isles?

Did you rebook onboard?

Oh, and I LOVED the proposal video!!

Jodie

 

[WVMD]

So Virgil, did you get any info on the 2010 itinerary??? Apparently, the cruise line has set up an office in Europe, so maybe the Med again? or Greek isles?

Did you rebook onboard?

Oh, and I LOVED the proposal video!!

Jodie

Hi Jodie,

I couldn't Find out anything - Captain Thor isn't the talkative type - and the others were quite coy about anything. They will definitely do the Med again - just the timing is the issue. Probably not until a new ship arrives. We already had a cruise booked for July 18, 2008 so we just booked Kristin and Nick on it.

Virgil

 

[provencio]

Hi everyone!! Well I finally feel like I am back in the swing of things. We had a great time and I would like to say that our little group made it that much better. Thanks to everyone for the tips and the many hours of fun chats! The FE were great and yes...that is a real worm. I look foward to reading the trip reports.

Belive it or not we are planning our next Disney trip... we are going to try Disney Adventures!! Can't wait only 11 months to go as my husand says... here we go again. Pixie dust to all of you and your families!

 

[WVMD]

Hi everyone!! Well I finally feel like I am back in the swing of things. We had a great time and I would like to say that our little group made it that much better. Thanks to everyone for the tips and the many hours of fun chats! The FE were great and yes...that is a real worm. I look foward to reading the trip reports.

Belive it or not we are planning our next Disney trip... we are going to try Disney Adventures!! Can't wait only 11 months to go as my husand says... here we go again. Pixie dust to all of you and your families!

What ABD are you doing? Lauren and I are doing the August 1 Knights and Lights. I've been impressed so far with the planning and communication.

Virgil

 

[provencio]

We are hoping to book the wyoming adventure. I jut spoke to the ABD travel agant and she said the date we are interested in will be opening up the end of next month. Glad to hear someone else is trying it out. DH and I were a bit concerned because we priced it out doing it on our own and it was alot cheaper. I spoke to a couple of individuals on the crusie who had peviuosly booked with ABD and they reassured us it was worth every cent. They let us know that everything is planned to the last minute and no rocks are left unturned. Please let me know how your experieince has been and how the trip goes...

 

[lorielucks]

Well, it has taken me a week and one day to get back to reality. What a great trip we all had! It was sooo great to meet you all. It really made the experience so much better (as if it wasn't already great) to walk around the ship and run into and say hello to my DIS family. Josie (my DD) LOVED that she already knew a few of the kids from this board (she sends a big hello to her DCL buddies!). We also really loved the whole FE experience. I loved the planning and delivery and my DD LOVED checking the FE every time we returned to our cabin. You are all a very generous and creative bunch. I have to especially thank the person who gave us the night light. I am afraid we ripped it open so fast that I lost track of who it came from. My DD had been complaining (read: whining) every night about how dark it was at bedtime. The night light was a real savior to my nerves and hers!

I tell you, people were not kidding about the magic that DCL makes. Josie got to be one of the 7 Dwarves for the Golden Mickey's, she had a private meeting with Peter & Wendy, had a "mysterious" gift package delivered with a magical moments certificate from Dawn in the gift shop, and so many more wonderful little moments. I think I have my DH sold on the idea of sailing on the new ships when they are ready. I can not wait!

So, now we are back to the everyday. I guess I'll just have to start planning the next cruise!

Take Care All!

 

[LisaTex]

Hard to get back to reality isn't it!! Virgil and Provencio - ABD is worth every penny! We did the Hawaii trip the 1st year and were hooked - then London/Paris last year before the Med. cruise - WONDERFUL trip!! I am taking Ashton (my DN) on the Costa Rica one July 22 for his b-day - will let you know how it goes. You know Trevor - one of our cruise staff? He was 1 of our ABD guides in Hawaii - 2 more weeks he goes back to ABD to guide the AUstria trip. I know they work really hard, but I still want his job
Can't seem to let the cruise go.... have a nice 4th everyone

 

[pillow]

Hey guys. Tell me more about ABD and why you liked it. I have to admit that I was a bit turned off because of the price. I priced the Hawaii trip a couple years ago, and staying at the same resorts, I could do it on my own for half the price that Disney was charging. I remember thinking that they were charging a HUGE premium for some of the Disney extras. What made it better than an "on your own" trip? Was it really worth the $$? Curious to know your thoughts.

Jodie

 

[sftnslky]

I don't remember who gave the FE gift of the Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines...But my goodness they were DELICIOUS!!! I was having a huge chocolate craving and remembered the box of 'texas candy' and thought "oh I will have just a taste", Well sufice to say THE BOX IS NOW EMPTY.. That was probably some of the best candy I have ever tasted. So first off THANK YOU what a great regional gift and secondly "where can I get any more" Oh and By the way DH was just a tad upset that I didn't leave him any but hey you know what they say "you snooze you loose" Have a great weekend all.

 

[LisaTex]

Hi Rebecca - that was us. So glad you enjoyed them! They were from a local candy company called Lammes. www.lammes.com cute story behind the company if you go to their website.

Jodie - we priced it out as well - after the trip - when I knew what all was included and it was maybe $500 more to go through ABD - so worth it as I would not have been able to get a famous volconologist to give us the tour of the volcanoes etc. - also, as fun as it is to plan for cruises so that you have all the little extras - it's also nice sometimes to not have to plan anything and KNOW that the little extras will be there. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Cant wait to go to Costa Rica - hoping China is still offered next year - I banked a bunch of DVC points - not a bad way to use them IF you do the early booking. They are offering pretty good deals on some of their trips right now......

 

[justmestace]

Is Costa Rica all booked full? My DH would love to go there, but I don't know a thing about it. Have no idea where we'd go or where we'd stay......I would feel so much better doing it with Disney.
And next summer is our "land trip" summer. I made a stupid agreement with my husband that one year we'd cruise, the next we'd go stay on an island somewhere. Not that I'm really complaining, but I'd cruise every year (twice) if I could!!