10/4/08-Buccaneers Take the West! Cruiser List in Post #1

[NZMUM]

Good luck getting your flights Lois .

Lori, that's great news. We will be at WDW but not doing MNSSHP.

Tania

 

[karibritt01]

Well... 1:45 and I still can't get on their website! I really want to check and be sure my TA got my final payment in!

Lori... Yay for you!

Lois... Boo for you! Hope you were able to get something worked out. Isn't it lovely to plan everything down to the last detail, only to have someone muck it up in the end?

Gretta... My kids are 10 and 5. Tucker is old enough to travel without a booster, although we do still use one at times because he is underweight, and I feel better with him in it on trips and such. (Big roads and high speeds.) Avery is still in her carseat because she has not quite reached the weight limit for the booster. I am planning to leave my car seats in the car (we drive down) because I think it would be a lot to keep up with during the day on excursions. If you do use a booster for the taxi rides, you will have to tote it with you all day. As for life jackets, we are bringing our own. The kids will each have a blow up floaty for the beaches, and we will just let the air out to tote them around. But in Cozumel we are planning to go to Paradise Beach, and they have water trampolines, an iceberg, boats, etc. They will both be wearing real life jackets then. I will probably take them to the other beaches, too... but since we go to the beach a lot, they are pretty good about knowing their limits in the ocean. What about shipping a box to the port with your life jackets and such in it so you don't have to pack it?

 

[karibritt01]

I finally got online! I was able to register the kids for the clubs, and I could have reserved Palo and excursions (but didn't) but could not access the online check-in forms. Do they have to be filled out closer to the trip? Just hoping that doesn't mean my final payment hasn't arrived or something!

 

[NZMUM]

Karibritt01 - I couldn't access my online checkin forms until later in the day (next day for me) when I was booking Palo. I'm not sure what date they need to be done by, though, so will do them soon.

Carseats - can someone advise what the legal requirements are in Florida. Here kids don't need a seat/booster once they are 5. However my DS still uses a booster cause he gets slightly carsick when he can't see.
When we were in France they had to be over 10 to be allowed not to use one.

I haven't used seats in taxis when overseas once they were over 5. Just made sure the kids were well buckled in.

Can't help on the life jackets. Both of mine are good swimmers (better than me).

Tania

 

[mollygirl13]

I'm so excited! My DH just said that we can spend two, maybe three nights at WDW when we disembark. THat will ease the pain of getting off the ship a little. I'm leaning towards the cabins at Fort Wilderness since they will sleep 6. Anyone stayed there before?

I wanted to go to MNSSHP, but I can only do that if we stay three nights. anyone else going on the 13th?

Lori P.

Chris and I will be there on the 13th! Looking very forward to it since it ranks up there as one of our favorites!

 

[karibritt01]

According to a website I found, Fl car seat law is: Car seat from birth - 4 yrs old. After 4, a booster seat is strongly reccommended, but not required.

I think if you are renting a car, I would request the safety seats. For those taking the DCL bus, I would ask how that is handled if your child is under 4. I know Avery was never buckled or anything on the WDW buses, and those do travel on the main roads.

I hate that they cancelled the party for Oct 3rd. We weren't planning to go, but I was thinking of taking the kids to Poly to watch the fireworks. I have heard that the Hallowishes is spectacular! As of now, they are having the Haunted Carriage Ride at Fort Wilderness. I think we will do that, then go back to POP and swim before bedtime. I had thought of doing the movie at Fort Wilderness, but since my kids can watch movies at any time... I think we will take a more active activity before bed!

 

[karibritt01]

Just looked at the weather... I hope Dolly isn't doing any damage in Cozumel! We dealt with Tropical storm Cristobal over the weekend, but it was only a few good rain bands where we are.

 

[momofapirate]

I finally got through this morning. Although not much to be excited about everything was booked! No Paolo anything and would only let me book one excursion in Grand Cayman even though the times don't conflict. It seems like there could be a better plan. Like as soon as you pay in full you could book stuff. Just color me crabby I guess!
I hope the rest of the gang got everything they dreamed of. (And that they will meet me on deck and tell me all about it, so I can live vicariously) Toodles!

 

[momofapirate]

Kari at least it looks like a Tropical storm currently. That's good right. Help me it has been a while since Highschool earth science. They usually need warmer, shallow waters to pick up strength right? So basically it could turn in to a Hurricane the closer it gets, or do they normally lose strength as they approach land. I forget all that stuff. Every single time we get a Tornado warning/watch, I have to wait and have the meteorologist explain to me like I am 6 which one is more serious. Not proud of that BTW

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I was also able to get in this morning, around 7:00 am eastern. I guess I got lucky! We were able to book the Tulum excursion at Coz, the Reef and Shipwreck snorkle at G.C., parasailing at Castway Cay, as well as Palo dinner the last night. Our dinner options were very limited, and brunch and tea were totally gone. I have a feeling I will be sad to miss the last dinner with our tablemates, but maybe I can move it once we get onboard, fingers crossed. Like I said, it looks like we lucked out. Perhaps it helped that were are only a couple and not a larger group?

 

[karibritt01]

Gretta... check about Palo when you first get on board, as they will have openings there. You may have better luck going in small groups instead of all together, though.

Dolly came ashore in Cancun as a tropical storm. Cozumel is on the lesser side of the storm, so it may be fine. They are predicting Dolly to cross the gulf today and reach hurricane status before hitting near the Mexico/Texas border on Thurs. I looked at some web cams, and it looks wet but fine. I just have this fear that something is going to happen to mess up this trip, since I have worked so hard and waited so long for it!

 

[momofapirate]

Aaaah I talked to my TA, who is the best thing ever!!!!! She called DCL and got the skinny for me. It is because our party is so large. I was able to book DH and me @7:00 PM at Paolo on the last night. DD and his wife got 6:30PM, so I am hoping we can work some consolidation magic once on board. As far as the excursions. Booked Dolphinaris on Cozy, booked Stingray City in Grand Cayman and booked the very last cabana massage in CC. Things worked out loads better when I did small groups. Thanks gang for the positive MoJo.
Now I am trying to fix a major screw up on my part. The whole family wanted 2nd seating....Now the older folks feel 8:00 PM is way too late to eat so now trying to switch a party of 12 to early! Hold on while my TA pulls out her magic wand. Once she gets us on this silly boat, she will block all emails and our phone numbers I am sure of it and I don't even blame her!
Toodles!

 

[wareagle]

Good Morning Everyone,

Lori, happy to hear your good news. I'm still working on my DH to do the MNSSHP on the 2nd. I'm going to have to get him to commit, especially since they have cancelled the party on the 3rd.

Lois, hope you were able to correct your flight problems.

Tania, you should be fine without the booster.

Kari, glad to hear that you are safe from the storm.

Lauren, congrats on booking the things you wanted. Good luck on changing your seating. Our TA was able to do this for us for this cruise. On our last cruise, we had a party of 8 and were able to get our seating times changed. If you can't get it before, try to get it changed once you board.

I have not tried to go online yet to book or reserve anything. We did Palo brunch last time and don't want to do dinner. If I can just get DH to decide on excursions, then I'll be fine. I did order my FE the other day and then found my gifts this weekend.

My uncle is still in critical condition. We will know hopefully by today or tomorrow whether or not his burns are 2nd or 3rd degree. They are concentrating on the mass in his throat today. The doctors said they have to do something about it right away. They want to take him off the respirator, but if they take the tube out of his throat, they are afraid they won't be able to get it back in. They told my aunt yesterday he could be in the hospital up to 3 months. Thank you for your prayers and words of concern. It is going to be a long process for him. On a happier note, my student who was hospitalized came home yesterday and is doing better. I hope to go and see him sometime this week. Thank you also for all of your words of support for him as well.

Hope everyone has a great Monday. I am off to school to work on my room. I am sure I will be going to Nashville later this week to be with my aunt.

Gena

 

[momofapirate]

Gena-
Girl you have had a lot of loved ones hit so hard this summer. I'll keep you and yours at the top of the prayer list. I am thrilled Quinn got to come home.

I am bummed for those of you with MNSSHP plans. I have yet to do any of Disney's parties and I am just dying to. Hubby is not a Disney fan (you would think that kind of thing would come up before you got married), so I take my 1 trip a year with the kids and I try not to push my luck.
Have a good one! I am off to take my monkey's to the pool. A tired monkey at the end of the day...."That's a good thing" in the words of our favorite ex-con Martha Stewart. (Still can't get that image of her in that homemade poncho out of my head)

 

[mollygirl13]

Gretta,
I just have to say I do enjoy reading your posts. You are ery funny!!
I can't wait to meet you when we get on the ship!!

I was wondering if we could poossibly talk about Pirate Night for a moment.

On our last cruise, Chris and I didn't get too dressed up for Pirate Night. We did have a few Pirate things on but we didn't get all decked out. We were thinking on really getting into Pirate Night this year and also wearing our costumes to MNSSHP on October 13th. (Boy, is AirTran really gonna make the money from The Wetzel's! With everything we need to bring, we are looking at a large surcharge on extra baggage! But we don't care-Its all for Disney!)

I was wondering if anyone has thought of how much/how little Pirate Gear they are going to be wearing. Any thoughts??


JW

 

[karibritt01]

I was asking about KSC tickets on the main forum, and someone posted this response:

Teachers get in free to KSC. Also at Sea World,too.

You just need a copy of your teaching certificate, badge, and last paycheck stub.

Thought maybe some of the many teachers on our thread could use this info!

 

[momofapirate]

Jacqueline-
If this were all up to me, My whole family would be completely decked out in elaborate pirate costumes including the make up that makes you look like you have bad teeth. As it stands now I am traveling with for the most part NONS. I like to dress up in costume any chance I get. Halloween is a sacred day to me and my people (Just kidding put the rosary away and no need to pray for my soul until you meet me in person).
My sweet son is all mine and has been known to dress in full pirate gear to the local Kroger. So he is set with his Jack Sparrow costume from last Halloween. Now for me....I am envisioning myself as a saucy Pirate wench in Off the Shoulder peasant blouse with black corset laced over the top, full skirt with Petticoat showing and and black riding boots.
The reality of it is I am a soccer mom over the age of 30, with a blond Posh Spice Bob not at the ideal weight for my height. So gang as Miley would say "Do the Math!" I'll come up with something! I love the idea and wouldn't dream of leaving my Darling son as the only one dressed up.

 

[karibritt01]

Wynn and I will probably wear pirate T-shirts and the bandanas from dinner. Being "not quite" at my ideal height to weight ratio myself... I doubt I will play the sexy pirate wench! I would look a bit ridiculous with my fat rolls hanging over the top of a corset! My kids are planning to dress up. Tucker will be a pirate. Avery has picked the top from her hula girl outfit, paired with the tutu from her ballerina costume! I have tried HARD to talk her into Elizabeth Swann at the very least... but she isn't budging! Guess she'll be a baby wench!

 

[momofapirate]

See she is embracing her inner wench, you are to encourage her carefree lifestyle, that's what pirate chicks do mom. My son is soooo pirate obsessed that anytime anybody even neighbors find something in the pirate genre....It ends up in our mailbox. One of his books has the funniest bits about how to dress pirate. It cracks me up and even talks about why pirates have certain clothes. I wish I could figure out a way to post. I'll see if i can scan it in, because it makes me giggle

 

[dvanhazel]

Well, I am one of the ones affected by the cancellation of the MNSSHP on the 3rd. Big disappointment here...it was going to be my one and only trip to The World.

Bad news continued as I was not able to book Palo at all last night. Been trying again today though and was able to book a brunch for Key West (not my first choice since we'll want to get off the ship) and dinner on CC day (certainly not the best choice here either). I got the dinner first so I grabbed it, but now I am thinking if we do the brunch, we probably will not go back for dinner. ..not because it is not great but because we'll want to spend that last night with our kids.

Happy for those of you who were able to get your excurions! We are doing Sting Ray City in Grand Caymen through Captain Mmarvins and booked the Dolphin Royal Swim through Dolphin Discovery at Cozumel. Really did not event think about doing anyting on CC besides relaxing, but I may reconsider...i think the kids would love the parasailing! I did that when I was in my teens and it is something I have never forgotton. We'll have to see about that one.

I am so bummed out about MNSSHP...but really trying to keep it into perspective. Just glad I never told the kids about it. I don't want them heading into vacation disappointed. We're staying at POFQ the night before, so I guess we'll just take the boat to Downtown Disney to catch some Magic vibes.

Best wishes as you all continue your travel plans!