09/15/07 Early Check in September 15, 2007 Eastern

[Hixski]

I am glad to know I am not the only one that does ALL the shopping for my hubby!!!

FYI....I made more updates to the website this morning so if you have sent me a change (or posted something on the thread) it should be on the website now. If I missed something or need to add/change anything let me know.

I just rechecked the roster. It really looks great!!!

 

[Hixski]

Time for a few more pictures. I don't remember what ones I posted before but I am sure no one will care.

IS EVERYONE READY TO GO NOW?????!!!!!

 

[Windy City Heather]

I am thinking that water would cost a lot to ship and I am not sure that is cost effective? How are you getting to the port? Can you stop and pick some up down there?

We are on late, we can that the 6 year old. We will make him eat everything including his salad no elbows on the table no clowing around no food fights he must sit on his chair Don't you think he will think it is cool to eat with us. We are one big happy family O.k. o.k. so we are not like this and I know he will get moved to early seating with you.

 

[Bareacuda]

LOVE the pics!
DD and DSIL were just here...both are getting so excited about going. I think thoses pics would have sent them over the top.

Ann

 

[kamgen]

We are going to have a rental car, so we will stop and buy what we need so we dont have to pack it (i.e. diapers, baby food, water, etc)
I think it makes more sense. If you are getting transportation like FL Tours or Happy Limo, I think you get a grocery stop....so I would take advantage of it instead of paying for shipping....
We just hope we can fit all of us in our rental! LOL!
Hixsi- thanks for the pics...love them...and I am SOOOO READY!!!

 

[TLHB70]

Lisa, the roster looks great!

Nikkistevej, when you check in at port you will be able to find out when and where to go on ship to request dining changes. They usually start taking those requests about an hour or so after boarding. (Right everyone??? I can't remember how long, but I do remember we had to wait a little bit.) It was in the Wavebands or Rocking Bar D.....I think. (Can you tell it has been a while since our last cruise?!?!?! ) Anyway, you go to meet with the dining change people at the specified time. Explain to them what has happened with your nephew. They will take care of it. He will be able to eat with the rest of your family. They just have to be the ones to make the change at that time.



BTW, does anyone know if we are able to pay and go to the stingray encounter at Castaway Cay on the actual CC day? I really want to do it, but DH doesn't want to. He plans to snorkel the whole time. (He has already bought lots of neat snorkel gear.) If I can convince DDs to go with me, is that something that we can decide to do that day? Or does it sell out? I didn't know if they would let us pay that day like they do with renting the floats and stuff.


I can't start packing yet. We have a trip to Washington DC in August. I will have to wait until we get home from DC before I can start the cruise packing. All of our DC clothes will be worn on the cruise so I will have to wash and then hopefully start to do some packing.

 

[kamgen]

We hit 100 pages!!!! WOOHOO!!!

 

[Jennifer48]

The problem is that DBF and I will be flying down the Friday before and staying at CBR. We won't have a rental and are using ME to get to the resort. We are paying for DCL trans to and from the port so I won't be able to make a stop for water. That is why I was considering shipping water down. Since I can buy a large case up here at a wholesale club for much cheaper than what you can purchase it for on the ship. I have no idea what the shipping costs would be though. I'm also worried that I won't be able to make Palo ressies once I board since we are taking the DCL trans from the resort and probably won't be there until close to 2pm (at least thats what I've been reading on the DIS). Now I'm trying to see if I have enough money in the budget to get a towncar instead.

 

[JNorris]

No physical packing for me yet. Just putting together my list.

Is anyone going to be shipping stuff down to the port? I would really like to ship some bottled water since DBF and I drink like fish.

I'm also thinking of writing a trip report. Anyone else?

Forgive me if someone already replied to this, but I know I have read somewhere that they don't accept water shipments at the port. Maybe on the regular cruise boards, or in the stickies at the top. I don't know if I can find where I read that, but it seems there were a couple of threads about that in the last year or so.

 

[JNorris]

I can't start packing yet. We have a trip to Washington DC in August. I will have to wait until we get home from DC before I can start the cruise packing. All of our DC clothes will be worn on the cruise so I will have to wash and then hopefully start to do some packing.

We just got back from DC!! If you've never been, and have questions, let me know!! My DH works there, and travels back and forth from there to SC where we live. DD and I have been there many times in the last couple of years.

 

[JNorris]

Time for a few more pictures. I don't remember what ones I posted before but I am sure no one will care.

IS EVERYONE READY TO GO NOW?????!!!!!

AAAAHHHH!!! HOME!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Forgive me if someone already replied to this, but I know I have read somewhere that they don't accept water shipments at the port. Maybe on the regular cruise boards, or in the stickies at the top. I don't know if I can find where I read that, but it seems there were a couple of threads about that in the last year or so.

You are right. I just reread that sticky and it says that bulk cases of water will be rejected. But, I've read numerous trip reports where people have shipped them down and they still received them in their room. I'll play by the rules and not ship any. Thank you Judy for the reminder.

 

[Hixski]

The problem is that DBF and I will be flying down the Friday before and staying at CBR. We won't have a rental and are using ME to get to the resort. We are paying for DCL trans to and from the port so I won't be able to make a stop for water. That is why I was considering shipping water down. Since I can buy a large case up here at a wholesale club for much cheaper than what you can purchase it for on the ship. I have no idea what the shipping costs would be though. I'm also worried that I won't be able to make Palo ressies once I board since we are taking the DCL trans from the resort and probably won't be there until close to 2pm (at least thats what I've been reading on the DIS). Now I'm trying to see if I have enough money in the budget to get a towncar instead.

You might want to think about a rental. We did the DCL transfers last time and thought they were a bit pricey. We are going a day early staying at BCV and coming back and staying another night at SSR. We are renting a car from Avis on Friday, going to BCV, next morning out to DCL. We can drop it off at Avis and they have a shuttle back to the port. Total for that was $36.98 plus gas. We are doing the same thing coming back but it is $44.17 coming back as it is a Saturday rate. Still cheaper than the DCL transfers for DH and I.

We will be able to pick up some beer and bottled water on our way to the port. So for us no fuss no muss.

 

[JNorris]

You are right. I just reread that sticky and it says that bulk cases of water will be rejected. But, I've read numerous trip reports where people have shipped them down and they still received them in their room. I'll play by the rules and not ship any. Thank you Judy for the reminder.

No problem...I'd just hate for you to pay to ship it down there, and then have them not accept it! I know that would make me very unhappy !

We are planning to roll a small cooler on with cans of Diet Pepsi, and maybe a couple of bottles of water. I think the water from the faucets taste fine, and I don't usually like to drink tap water. But I gotta have my Diet Pepsi! DH thinks I'm nuts, but I just don't like the flat diet coke that comes out of the drink station!

 

[Windy City Heather]

If I make a grocery stop can I leave the case of water and Dr. Pepper with my luggage or will that get rejected too? I thought I read that if you put a sticky with your information and room number they will deliver it for you. We are also getting some beer but I was planning on putting that in a duffle bag and carrying that on myself.

 

[JNorris]

If I make a grocery stop can I leave the case of water and Dr. Pepper with my luggage or will that get rejected too? I thought I read that if you put a sticky with your information and room number they will deliver it for you. We are also getting some beer but I was planning on putting that in a duffle bag and carrying that on myself.

I've seen some people on here say they have done that, and some have put it inside luggage, and it was fine. I guess having it shipped there, when you are not there with it, that is the problem Maybe you could tape a cruise luggage tag onto it??

 

[nikkistevej]

I am thinking that water would cost a lot to ship and I am not sure that is cost effective? How are you getting to the port? Can you stop and pick some up down there?

We are on late, we can that the 6 year old. We will make him eat everything including his salad no elbows on the table no clowing around no food fights he must sit on his chair Don't you think he will think it is cool to eat with us. We are one big happy family O.k. o.k. so we are not like this and I know he will get moved to early seating with you.

Hey, in that case you can take my DD too, and my Dh and I can eat at Palo every night! LOL

 

[Windy City Heather]

I already think our dd's need to hook up. My dd turns 5 next week.

 

[nikkistevej]

That would be cool! My nephew will probably find some boys his own age to hang with, (he will be 7 in October), also they will have been together for the whole week in WDW- and will probably need to be separated by then!

 

[TLHB70]

We just got back from DC!! If you've never been, and have questions, let me know!! My DH works there, and travels back and forth from there to SC where we live. DD and I have been there many times in the last couple of years.

OOHHH, yes, I have questions.
This will be our second time in DC so we are not doing the red trolley. We did that last trip. So we are not hitting all of the monuments again. This time we are doing the staff led Capitol tour with our Representative. We also put in a request for the White House tour. We put the request in 5 1/2 months in advance. Our Representative told us that we should get that, but we will not find out for sure if we have it or not until July. So far I haven't heard from their office yet. I hope to learn soon that we will get that White House tour!! We are also going to Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about that!!!!! The rest of the time we will be touring all of the Smithsonian Museums. I heard that one of them will be closed when we go. (first full week of August). Which one is that?
My biggest question is about eating. What restaurants do you recommend? We will have our two daughters with us, ages 12 and 8. So we need good food, but nothing too fancy. We do not like to go to fast food places. I am thinking of places like Ruby Tuesday, Applebee's, etc. It does not have to be a chain, but restaurants like that. Kid friendly, good food.........etc.
Any recommendations?
We are staying at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza. Are any of these type restaurants near the hotel?
If I think of any other questions, I will ask.
Thank you so much for your help!!!!