1/10/09- EARLY Roll Call! Who's coming?

[tinkluvr12]

As I sit here listening to the howling wind and looking at the weather alerts for over a foot of snow in the next few hours I am so thankful to have all of you to look forward to meeting! I just thought I'd let you all know that. I love the fact it feels like we already have friends on our upcoming vacation. Finding this board was such a blessing to me. I have not ever read or participated in a forum before and I have learned SO much. I was trying to explain it all to my mom. She doesn't yet get the FE thing or the magnets or the threads/posts/ etc. Finally I told her it feels I'm 12 again only I got the pen pals before summer camp even started instead of as I was leaving. It will make the week even better.

That's it- nothing too cruis-y tonight but a big "can't wait to meet you all" and thanks for being such great listeners! Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephanie

ps. Lattemom & Wiseman my little M says "Hi" and sends a to your little M & little K

 

[Pansy]

So looking forward to warm weather cold here

 

[tiggerlover2]

As I sit here listening to the howling wind and looking at the weather alerts for over a foot of snow in the next few hours I am so thankful to have all of you to look forward to meeting! I just thought I'd let you all know that. I love the fact it feels like we already have friends on our upcoming vacation. Finding this board was such a blessing to me. I have not ever read or participated in a forum before and I have learned SO much. I was trying to explain it all to my mom. She doesn't yet get the FE thing or the magnets or the threads/posts/ etc. Finally I told her it feels I'm 12 again only I got the pen pals before summer camp even started instead of as I was leaving. It will make the week even better.

That's it- nothing too cruis-y tonight but a big "can't wait to meet you all" and thanks for being such great listeners! Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephanie

ps. Lattemom & Wiseman my little M says "Hi" and sends a to your little M & little K

Its's so funny to hear you say that about your Mom, because my Mom about had a heartattack when my friend and I discovered Cruise Critic! She said that we could be talking to serial killers or perverts! We have met several people over the years on cruises and the message boards that have become very good friends!

I don't want to rush Christmas, but I am so ready to go! As it stands now for excursions, we are on our own in Key West, Rasul Spa & Palo on a sea day, Atlantis Submarine in Cozumel and Island Tour & Stingrays in Grand Cayman. I chickened out on Snuba because that weight belt thing still freaks me out a little! I would love to do the Xcaret excursion but it looks like time plays a big factor in it and it seems like you would need a full day to really enjoy it!

I am driving my husband crazy with all my questions about: "Do you want to...."? or "How about if we..."? His response is always, "Whatever you want to do." or "You book it and I'll try it." Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh! This is so frustrating! I don't want to miss out on anything! Looks like we will have to keep cruising to try them all!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[tiggerlover2]

So looking forward to warm weather cold here

Our weather is so weird here. We had shorts on last weekend and jackets a couple days ago, and now we are back to shorts! This constant change plays havoc on your sinuses!

 

[JanDave]

I have been on the DIS boards for eight years and for each DCL cruise we've been on, I learn so much on the boards. DCL continually makes changes and I want to know about them before I cruise! We've met some great friends on these boards. We cruised with Glindamood and her husband in October 2008.

By reading your posts about 8pm dinner, I didn't realize that DCL changed their dining times to one early and one late time. In October, there was still 3early seatings and 3 late seatings. Carla and I are waitlisted for early. But, as I learned on the DIS boards, we will go to Rockin Bar D after lunch to request early seating.

Four weeks from today, we'll be boarding that beautiful ship!!! Hope to meet all of you four weeks and 8 hours from now!!!

Jan

 

[tiggerlover2]

I don't know about from Orlando but we are flying into Daytona and got a one way rental car from National for $43 dollars. They have a turn in right at Disney's terminal. It was way cheaper than a shuttle. They even let us use the coupon from our Happenings Book.

Also, I am so happy to see others who want the 8:00 seating. More time to hang out with you nice people!

On the Wonder, we had the late seating and it worked out great for us, because we attended the early show, ate dinner and then hit the clubs. We were happy with the adult entertainment on the Wonder but haven't sailed on the Magic yet! The CMs are so friendly on the ship. I feel tears in my eyes when I first catch sight of the ship and then when the horn sounds, , there is no other feeling like it! Can't wait!!!!!

 

[Jennifer in MI]

As I sit here listening to the howling wind and looking at the weather alerts for over a foot of snow in the next few hours I am so thankful to have all of you to look forward to meeting! I just thought I'd let you all know that. I love the fact it feels like we already have friends on our upcoming vacation. Finding this board was such a blessing to me. I have not ever read or participated in a forum before and I have learned SO much. I was trying to explain it all to my mom. She doesn't yet get the FE thing or the magnets or the threads/posts/ etc. Finally I told her it feels I'm 12 again only I got the pen pals before summer camp even started instead of as I was leaving. It will make the week even better.

That's it- nothing too cruis-y tonight but a big "can't wait to meet you all" and thanks for being such great listeners! Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephanie

ps. Lattemom & Wiseman my little M says "Hi" and sends a to your little M & little K

Awwww. This is so sweet! I love the summer camp analogy! Did your mom get it then? And, I totally agree!!! Knowing you all will only make the cruise better.

Okay - so now I'm thinking of switching to late dinner. We wouldn't have to get back to the ship as early. Also, I think my dd would just fall asleep at the table, which would probably be a good thing! What time is the early show? I definately don't want to miss those.

Jan - I wrote DU to see if I could get the latest of the three early dinner seatings and was surprised to see there was only the one early seating. Oh well!

tiggerlover - my dh is the same way. "Whatever you want dear!" It's nice, but I'd like SOME feedback! LOL

Is anyone else parasailing on CC? My 11 yo ds wants to do it with me. I think he'll chicken out though.

Our excursions:

Key West - We're taking the trolley (I'm ordering the tickets next week to get the online discount). We'll get off at a few of the places - kids want to do the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum; I want to see the Hemingway house; We'll do the southernmost point; Maybe we'll have time for a shipwreck or pirate museum.

Cozumel - Dolphin Swim and Chankanaab. Ds 11 and I are doing the Swim Adventure. We booked on our own. The other kids and dh will walk around the park. I want to take lunch with us off the ship. Can we do that?

Grand Cayman - We're doing the Submarine one through Disney. It's not the one we really wanted to do - we wanted the one that went way underwater, but my dd couldn't have gone then. So, we're doing another one. I think we'll still like it!

CC - Parasailing.We have our own snorkels, and floats. We may rent bikes.

Everyone else?? I know we've talked about it before, but now that we're down to the wire, what has everyone actually chosen?

Is anyone else leaving early? We actually start our drive down on the 6th. We're staying in NC with relatives the first night. Then we'll go another 6 hours on the 8th to S. GA. On the 9th we'll drive to PC and do Merritt Island. We're staying at the Radisson that night.

After the cruise we're staying at hte Radisson again and doing Kennedy Space Center.

I'm still trying to find a deal to stay at WDW for a couple nights before or after our cruise. Prices are still a bit too high.

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Oh - totally forgot to add - I bought the rest of my FE gifts yesterday!!! They had to order our special MI gifts from another store, so I couldn't put them together yet. But, I think I like them!! I can't wait to give them out!!! Do we have specific dates we give them out? Or just whenever?

 

[dznymania]

I don't know about from Orlando but we are flying into Daytona and got a one way rental car from National for $43 dollars. They have a turn in right at Disney's terminal. It was way cheaper than a shuttle. They even let us use the coupon from our Happenings Book.

Also, I am so happy to see others who want the 8:00 seating. More time to hang out with you nice people!

I could not find a location for National in the area of the Port, did you call them directly?

 

[JanDave]

On the Wonder, we had the late seating and it worked out great for us, because we attended the early show, ate dinner and then hit the clubs. We were happy with the adult entertainment on the Wonder but haven't sailed on the Magic yet! The CMs are so friendly on the ship. I feel tears in my eyes when I first catch sight of the ship and then when the horn sounds, , there is no other feeling like it! Can't wait!!!!!

I agree, seeing the ship as we cross over the bridge and the horn and walking into the atrium for the first time, still brings tears to my eyes. The Magic never goes away.

Jan

 

[JanDave]

Yippee! Just realized that my previous post was number 1000! Obviously, I am not a frequent poster since I've been on the DIS boards since 2001.

Jan

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Wow Jan!! Congratulations on reaching 1000! I was just happy a couple weeks ago to be upgraded from "Earning My Ears!"

 

[dznymania]

I am a mouseketeer now too

 

[thepeacekeeper]

On cruises DW and I have been on in the past we never really took advantage of any excursions, although she did do some snorkeling a couple of times. Her and the DS's have left it up to me to plan some excursions, so I just booked a couple. I wanted the boys to have plenty of free time to explore to other things as well.

Key West - I don't have anything booked for Key West, we'll just play it by ear. I know we'll definitely be on the prowl for Key Lime Pie, however! We may have to have a taste test at different restaurants!

Cozumel - I booked a 3 stop snorkeling excursion on our own which includes a lunch. They take a max of 6 people to an outlying reef. Since we have 4 in our family we may be the only ones on the boat! I have heard the guides for this are very good at teaching the kids about ocean life, so I hope they like it.

Grand Cayman - I booked an island tour on our own which includes Stingray City and all the other usual spots and also includes a "Caymanian" lunch. I think the maximum number on this tour is 15, so another cozy group. The kids know about "Hell" and are anxious to send a postcard to school from there. I'm not sure how that will go over for my youngest since he goes to Catholic school!!!

I'm surprising DW with a couples massage on day 3 and a cabana massage on CC...DON'T TELL! Her birthday is Jan 7th and our 20th anniversary is in April so this is going to be one big celebration! She has no clue about these extras...she's so easy.

 

[dznymania]

Hey guys, we are still making some decisions but what we know right now is this.

Key West-We are going to stay on the ship for the most part. We might venture into the town to get some of my favorite Key Lime Honey Mustard. It is AWESOME!!!

Grand Cayman-We are looking at doing a city tour that goes to the butterfly house and turtle farm.

Couzmel-We are going to go to Chuk I believe on our own.

Castaway Cay-We are going to loung around and maybe do some snorkeling.

I have my wife a facial booked. This cruise is her graduation present. She graduated from nursing school as an RN on Wednesday.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

WOW our cruise is pretty full. The whole thing is on gty except for cat 4 and 5.
I wish someone would desperately want my room so they have to put me in cat 5. LMAO!

Not long now....

 

[thepeacekeeper]

Hey guys, we are still making some decisions but what we know right now is this.

Key West-We are going to stay on the ship for the most part. We might venture into the town to get some of my favorite Key Lime Honey Mustard. It is AWESOME!!!

Grand Cayman-We are looking at doing a city tour that goes to the butterfly house and turtle farm.

Couzmel-We are going to go to Chuk I believe on our own.

Castaway Cay-We are going to loung around and maybe do some snorkeling.

I have my wife a facial booked. This cruise is her graduation present. She graduated from nursing school as an RN on Wednesday.

My wife is a cRNA, maybe they can swap nursing school horror stories.

 

[dznymania]

My wife is a cRNA, maybe they can swap nursing school horror stories.

Sounds good

 

[dznymania]

Just talked with Disney and we have the 5:30 early dinning

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Attention anyone going on the ship with me!
I NEED some of those new hersheys kisses that have cheesecake flavour inside!!! We can't get them in Canada! I was down in the US yesterday and looked and couldn't find any. Apparently they are TDF and I really want some!

If anyone sees them, can you grab a pack and bring them for me?? I am happy to pay for them!
Thanks!