08 DEC 2007 - 7 Day Eastern Magic Part 2

[AmberDaClown]

It wasn't about MOTHERHOOD. It was about single motherhood. I grow weary of DH's travels. I grow weary when there is no one to share bathing, reading, playing duties with when he goes away. I was TRYING to be empathetic as I read you were a single mom.

We never post online exactly our real names or where we will be. We think it is a mistake. Once on board there is nothing that can be done about that. However to post them beforehand to us us just not good as evidenced by the activities in this thread.

You and another poster obviously have me confused with someone else who isn't even going on this cruise. Who had a brunch reservation if you read that other thread. It is pointless to bother to respond to either you or the other poster. We are never going to agree or get along.

I hope the rest of us in this thread can have a happy and wonderful cruise.

Don't forget, we do NOT change our clocks tonight in the US. It has by law been extended to next weekend.

 

[JsMom2]

I was TRYING to be empathetic

If you were being sincere, then I do apologize.

 

[coastgirl]

I was looking at the website about the launches and they mentioned something about tickets to the launch and transportation tickets. I didn't really understand where the transportation is from. Check out Shirley's sticky at the top of the cruise forum. If not, you could probably start a thread and get some good info.

AFAIK, the transportation is your bus around the center. It's huge. I looked at the launch package myself, and I know they bus you out to the best/closest viewing site, which seems to be along one of the causeways. Once you park they drive you around in there. Personally I'd want a viewing spot at the press location, where you get to watch the countdown on the huge clock you see on CNN...I think the recommended beach is as good, or nearly anyway. Plus I'm not sure how they handle refunds/rebooking in case they scrub it. I would totally pay for the "full meal deal", lunch with an astronaut and then the launch package, but my kids are too young to appreciate the lunch and I can't leave dh in charge of them so I can have lunch with an astronaut AGAIN! I could be sweet and offer to take the kids so he can go--but I'd be crying the whole time in envy!

 

[MrsMork]

Are you on a different computer than normal? Sometimes 'net connections will be set to not allow "questionable" content. And let's face it... it doesn't get any more questionable than us.

My computer at work just has the red xes.

 

[MrsMork]

Oooh, 40 second rule is gonna make me the again, isn't it?

Congrats to you!!

 

[MrsMork]

JoAnne! That was so close that the "You will now be taken to your message" message actually took me to your post! We musta just been microseconds apart.

The chase is so fun!

 

[MrsMork]

I'm gonna try to leave most of my "just in case" items at home. I hate schlepping extra luggage. As it is, I think I might bring an extra case packed less than full to bring home some cheap liquor from the islands. Gift for the cat-watcher, you know.....

Julie, we have found that liquor from Costco in CA is almost as cheap as the islands. First cruise we bought several bottles that we had to schlep home, now we just stop at Redding Costco whenever we are heading home from DL. You might take a look at Costco before you leave and price some of the alcohol that you like, then price compare in the islands and see if the difference is worth taking up luggage space and weight.

 

[MrsMork]

I thought I remembered to post the Mondays this week, but it's been a busy one. Usually I remember about halfway thru the day, which of course works because I have time to sneak in the post before you guys wake up!

I think Rob or someone posted the Monday for us this week. Wonderful group here, we take care of each other.

 

[Jenngoofys]

Ok so our Schedule so far. We are flying down the same day as the Cruise, the 8th leaving probably -30 degrees going to hopefully 70's lol. Yay Us. Meeting everyone at 3 PM, hoping to take our DD 6 swimming and meet some people there. From there we will be looking to the Navigator for events and on the go go go.
In St. Maarten - no clue yet LOL
St. Thomas - Magens Bay All day Love that beach.
Castaway Cay - Beach, snorkeling and enjoy the party
On Board I enjoy the classes and games while
my DD enjoys the club and Tea With Wendy and
my DH enjoys rest, and eating .

And we Cant wait for the shows

We are sure no matter what we are doing it will be great You all know the Disney Magic makes everything exciting

We are staying On property from Saturday - Monday after the cruise. We have annual passes to we could possibly any where lol No schedule for there yet. But cant wait to make one

 

[MrsMork]

Ok so our Schedule so far. We are flying down the same day as the Cruise, the 8th leaving probably -30 degrees going to hopefully 70's lol. Yay Us. Meeting everyone at 3 PM, hoping to take our DD 6 swimming and meet some people there. From there we will be looking to the Navigator for events and on the go go go.
In St. Maarten - no clue yet LOL
St. Thomas - Magens Bay All day Love that beach.
Castaway Cay - Beach, snorkeling and enjoy the party
On Board I enjoy the classes and games while
my DD enjoys the club and Tea With Wendy and
my DH enjoys rest, and eating .

And we Cant wait for the shows

We are sure no matter what we are doing it will be great You all know the Disney Magic makes everything exciting

We are staying On property from Saturday - Monday after the cruise. We have annual passes to we could possibly any where lol No schedule for there yet. But cant wait to make one

Your plans sound perfect! We really are getting close now.

 

[MrsMork]

I think we have our plans all set now. The last piece was a hotel near Portland airport with park and fly. We live over an hour away and our flight leaves a little after 7 am.....long day from the west coast to Orlando! We have for the last several trips done the park and fly. The hotel for the night, and convenience of being 10 minutes from the airport and so getting an extra hour of sleep, is only going to cost us about $30 after subtracting what 2 weeks of parking at the airport would cost! We are sharing a room with DD and DSIL also so the cost is really nothing for the convenience! I got that booked yesterday. So, until I remember the next LAST thing that I have forgotten to do for this group of 13, I think we are set!

 

[AmberDaClown]

Score Mia and Tia this morning. Woo Hoo!

 

[AmberDaClown]

If you were being sincere, then I do apologize.

I was and apology accepted.

 

[Jenngoofys]

LOL MrsMork I feel your pain we live 3 hours from our airport and we are thinking rather than starting out our vacation on the tired - exausted side we would rent a hotel the night before and it too would save us on parking Besides that the sleep will be needed lol. It worked perfectly last time. Yay I am so excited LOL

 

[MrsMork]

LOL MrsMork I feel your pain we live 3 hours from our airport and we are thinking rather than starting out our vacation on the tired - exausted side we would rent a hotel the night before and it too would save us on parking Besides that the sleep will be needed lol. It worked perfectly last time. Yay I am so excited LOL

We fly Dec 2, so hotel for the night of Dec 1 and yesterday several of the hotels at the aiport did not have any rooms available for that night! I was really surprised as it is between the holidays and it seems not that many folks would be staying at hotel airports that night. I did get rooms for us at the Best Western that we used last year. It is nice and the folks there are very friendly. The web site did not say park and fly available so I called. They said they don't advertise that because they only have a few parking slots available, but she did book us while I was on the phone.

 

[coastgirl]

The hotel for the night, and convenience of being 10 minutes from the airport and so getting an extra hour of sleep, is only going to cost us about $30 after subtracting what 2 weeks of parking at the airport would cost!

We've done this too and I think it makes a difference to be OUT of home in the morning, all those things that slow you down are already done, like taking out the garbage, finding space for the last little bit of stuff, running back to check the doors...
Glad you found your park and fly rate. We've got to do that too, the place we stayed last time seems to have jacked up their park and fly rate.

 

[Cruise]

Julie, we have found that liquor from Costco in CA is almost as cheap as the islands. First cruise we bought several bottles that we had to schlep home, now we just stop at Redding Costco whenever we are heading home from DL. You might take a look at Costco before you leave and price some of the alcohol that you like, then price compare in the islands and see if the difference is worth taking up luggage space and weight.

We don't actually have a Costco membership, but I think I've seen flyers where non-members can get in for the day if they pay a 10% premium on anything they get. The closest one is still about a half hour drive, but definitely better than trying to fly liquor home in checked luggage. Thanks.. I'll check that out!

I think we have our plans all set now. The last piece was a hotel near Portland airport with park and fly.

Oops. Forgot about getting to the airport. Ok, so the cat-watcher wasn't the last piece of the puzzle. We'll probably just end up cabbing it which will run about $40 (including tip). Before we moved last spring, we lived much closer to the airport and it was only about $10-$13. I've looked into car services and they seem to run about the same $40 (but before tip). The worst part either way will be allowing for LA traffic.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

I am definitely not looking forward to arriving at the hotel after 11 (probably won't go to sleep until after midnight) and then getting up at 3

 

[JoiseyMom]

Dh and I are traveling without the kids (think second honeymoon???), and are flying out first thing the morning of the 8th. We are gonna grab a rental car, and drive down to the port. We will probably make a quick stop at a store. As soon as we get on the ship, I want to try to get any sort of Palo ressies! I want brunch and or dinner maybe even try out high tea. I want something!! I have no idea what we will do on the islands. I did read about http://www.norushtours.com/, and we are considering doing that. We plan on many drinks of the day, and a relaxing cruise. I am looking forward to the ships activities, day and nite time and just relaxing and having fun. I am also looking forward to meeting you guys!! We will be flying home the day we disembark.

Any suggestions of places that you 'must" see on the Islands??? Please feel free to share, I am open to all suggestions.

 

[Cruise]

I think the "must sees" might be more determined by what you're hoping to do for the cruise. For the easiest, most relaxing day on St Thomas, I suggest walking off the ship, grabbing a taxi and going over to Magen's Bay. Consistently voted one of the top 10 (sometimes #1) beautiful beaches in the world in travel magazines. There's not a whole lot in the way of snorkeling there, but it has crystal clear, calm water as it's in a naturally occurring cove (bay). That's what we did for our first Eastern.

This time, we're going to make the trek to St John. A lot of people on the boards say it's also beautiful and worth the trip. I'm just not sure as I'd qualify it as a more relaxing day since there is more travel and ferries involved in getting there and that's already a short day in port so it might feel a little rushed. The snorkeling is supposed to be better though, and I knew I definitely wanted to see St John, so we're gonna give it a try. If you'd like to do snorkeling but not make the trip to St John, a lot of people recommend Coki Beach which is right next to Coral World. I've not done either though, so I wouldn't be able to tell you how they are.

In St Maarten, we'll probably just head over to Front Street and do some shopping. From what I've read, it seems almost unanimous that the shopping deals are better in St Maarten and we did find that to be true on our last cruise. We might make our way to a beach, but it's doubtful since we'll be doing the beach at St John and again at Castaway Cay. I think most people either choose Orient Beach (clothing optional) or Dawn Beach for St Maarten. I might check the Disney site again to see about shore excursions for St Maarten, but I think it'll probably just be our relaxing port day.

We travel without kids too. Mostly because we don't have any and people seem to frown on just picking up a couple at the airport.