08 DEC 2007 - 7 Day Eastern Magic

[MrsMork]

Good morning to all of you that seem to have a life outside the DIS, from one who does not. Just bumping us up.

 

[DrHug]

Ok....that's just WRONG!!! How could he get a massage and not let you get one?! You tell him next time you need 2 to make up for it!!

In my defense; She made me do it! That's why my shoulder and neck were hurting. She twisted my arm !

She could have done the massage too. We usually get a couples massage, or some other kind of treartment. Our DS and DDIL are Massage Therapists, but moved away to Phoenix. So now we have to do the Vista Spa. Such a shame huh?

 

[whazzapp]

Hi all,

It's been a couple of months since I have been on this thread. I see some have joined and some have left.

This will be our second cruise. We did the 10 night southern in September. There was a very active DIS group on that cruise. We have small children so we did not participate much in the meets. However, we greatly enjoyed the fish extender gifts and door decorations. Anyone planning fish extenders?

I have read a lot about excursions on this thread. We stopped in St. Thomas on the 10 night. We decided to rent a jeep. I would highly recommend it!! There were four of us. It only cost us like $65 for all four of us. Much cheaper than an excursion and we were able to spend the time as we wished. We went first to Coki Beach, then to Magens Bay beach and then to Mountain Top. We were not crazy about Coki beach. It was pretty, but rather small. I snorkled a little there until I saw a jellyfish. That was enough for me. We liked Magens Bay much better. It is a very long beach and very pretty. It has restrooms, bathhouse, bar, etc. The view from mountain top was breathtaking. It overlooks Magen's Bay. You can also see St. John.

We drove back to the ship for lunch. We then did the St Thomas Skyride. It was also a beautiful view. It gives great views of the ship in port.

I can post pictures of any of these places if anyone is interested.

We are anxious to see the ship and wdw adorned with Christmas decorations!!

 

[plutojudy]

Hi Whazzapp, we are thinking of renting a car/jeep this trip. Who did you rent with? Did you make reservations in advance?
Did you feel you had enough time there?
The view from the mountaintop sounds nice. Last Eastern cruise, we did the St John excursion so we did not see much of St Thomas.

 

[whazzapp]

We rented with Budget. It is right across the street from the shopping area where you disembark. They have there own website, but I found it to be cheaper to use the budget corporate site. We had no problems. In fact, the guy working the counter was originally from Michigan. The car was just like US, driver on the left. However, the driving is opposite, on the left. It took a little extra thought than normal, but not bad.

We did have one problem. The guy at the counter marked "you are here". After we drove by the Budget office three times trying to figure out where we were going, we realized his "you are here" mark was in the wrong place.

We really liked being in control of where we went and how long we stayed.

 

[MrsMork]

We are thinking of doing Trunk Bay this trip. I am a bit leary to take the ferry outside of Disney excursion. I worry about being back on time. I know the ship will wait if we are on their excursion. We have been to St Thomas 3 times. The first time we took the morning Island Tour and just got an overview of the whole island as well as a bit of history from the tour guide. The second time I was ill the night before (kidney stone on Christmas Eve on the Magic ) so we just took the tram up for a bit. The last time we did the St John Island Tour - again to get an overview of the whole island. St John is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to get in the water at Trunk Bay.

 

[MrsMork]

We will have a Fish Extender that we can bring - I just got one for the WB Panama Canal Cruise. If this group gets active and wants to do that we are up for it. So far this has been a very quiet group, but closer to sail we may get more active and plan some activities and meets.

 

[plutojudy]

MrsMork, please tell me about fish extenders. Our last cruise was in 2004 and I don't remember seeing fish extenders.
You are right this group is too quiet.

 

[MrsMork]

A fish extender is a thing you hang on the fish outside your stateroom. It has pockets where other DISers can drop little surprises throughout the cruise. I'm not sure which cruise started this, but there are variations such as using Christmas stockings. Since this is a Dec cruise stockings might make sense - and I already have stockings for the 4 rooms for the group traveling with us.

 

[plutojudy]

Sounds like fun. Christmas stocking sounds like a great idea. Is it one per room? I will get one. They don't disappear do they?

 

[plutojudy]

MrsMork, what type of little surprises? We will be in Florida in September with a stop at Downtown Disney, I'll be able to pick up some things then. Thanks.

 

[MrsMork]

Yes, one stocking per room, just hang it on the fish by the door. We have never had any disappear, but you might personalize it just to make sure. Glitter DIS name or something on the fur. We have not done this though and they have never disappeared. The surprises are many and varied. Folks are creative. Some people get stuff from Oriental Trading Company (OTC)for everyone - on the 12/9/06 DD I got pirate beads for everyone and dropped them in the stockings before Pirate night, someone got us lime green leis, someone else made lime green bandanas, someone got pencils personalized with the DIS Geeks DD on them, someone else got pirate stickers from OTC for all of us, someone had a deck of cards made with DIS DD Geeks on it, someone else had lime green glow in the dark wrist bracelets made with DIS DD Geeks on them, someone else got glow necklaces from OTC, someone else made Mickey Head magnets for our door with our name/DIS name on them. That was a very large group though, so there were lots of things. Some things cost more, some less, we all just dropped in whatever surprise we could come up with for about a hundred stockings! Some days we would find a little bag of candy or a smiley face magnet in our stocking. Our DGS was with us that trip and he had such fun patting the stocking each night to see if something was in there. There was no pressure to bring gifts, but those of us who did provided them to everyone that was on our roster. Someone provided the stockings for the group as her gift.

 

[plutojudy]

Sounds like fun. I have a lot of time to come up with some ideas.
Something else to have along with our door sign. Have to change that to make it more festive for Christmas. I just can't wait to see all the Christmas decorations on the ship and island.
"All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan".

 

[MrsMork]

"All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan".

That is the BEST Christmas gift for sure!!

 

[spoiledbrats3]

Hay MrsMork. I found you and the DIS board!! Just thought I would say "HI"

Love Mary

 

[MrsMork]

Hi, you spoiled one! I have stockings for your staterooms already! Now I just need to get treats to drop in there!

 

[TSirgey]

I didn't know about the fish extenders. What a neat idea!

About how many items do you plan to bring? I guess we can figure out how many of us there are closer to the date of the cruise.

This sounds like a great way to get in the holiday spirit.

Count us in!!

 

[MrsMork]

It is fun, both to give and to receive. We should start a roll call somewhere, like on the first page or something so we can get an idea of how many DISers will be on this cruise. It has been very, very quiet and I know that some who planned to be on this cruise have rebooked to the canal cruises.

 

[TSirgey]

So excited!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night we booked another room for my sis and b-i-l!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just sent her the link so she can join our group. Welcome Naku!!!

They live in the UK and we do not get to see them nearly as much as we like, so this is so exciting.

Yippee!!!

 

[MrsMork]

So excited!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night we booked another room for my sis and b-i-l!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just sent her the link so she can join our group. Welcome Naku!!!

They live in the UK and we do not get to see them nearly as much as we like, so this is so exciting.

Yippee!!!

Great! My sis and bil are with us too! SpoiledBrats3 is their DD. Should be a fun time. The spoiled one and I need to get my sis hooked up on the DIS. Project for us.