11/06/04 Western New and Improved Official Thread!

[scottygirl]

Sherry,

Are you planning on getting to the port early? If you board the ship at 12:00, I think there will be plenty of time to get settled and do all the ressies. Of course the margarita can be enjoyed at the DISmeet! We are planning on being on the first DCL bus to the port and boarding ASAP. I love all the info on the DISboards but sometimes I think too much info can be dangerous as it makes us anxious about getting everything just right, if you know what I mean! I plan on bringing my family to the meet, the kids can swim and maybe make a few new friends.

Maryann,

We are going "Up North" for the 4th. In Michigan going "Up North" is the equivalent of going to "The Shore" except there is no ocean, just some beautiful Great Lakes!! Have fun at WDW.

By the way DS10's baseball team "The Bees" were the AA League Tournament champions!! :thewave:

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[sjcubedofct]

Well, we'll have rental vans to return to budget that morning, so I imagine we can be at the port when we need to. What time would you suggest?

Scoops at 3p sounds good, I'll try not to stress about accomplishing too much before then. I'm sure it will all fall into place.

SJ

 

[scottygirl]

Sherry,

It seems like people here on the DISboard say to get to the port by 10:00-10:30. You will have to wait in line but that will give you time to explore the terminal and plan your Palo and Spa times after getting your KTTW card. Your biggest challenge may be getting all the people in your party to the same place at the same time!!!

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[sjcubedofct]

Thanks, Jackie!

Also, I'm an avid reader. For me, the best part of laying out in the sun and relaxing is reading a great book. Plus, a book is essential to endure the whole airport/airplane fiasco. I know there is a thread about this on the boards, but thought we could chat about it here, too!

In the last several months, I've read and completely enjoyed the following:

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
The Lovely Bones by Alice Seybold
Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
Private Matters of Lord John Grey by Diana Gabaldon
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Holes by Louis Sachar
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Left Behind Series by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
The Day I Turned Uncool: Confessions of a Reluctant Grown Up by Dan Zevin
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warner
A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard


Anything by: Orson Scott Card, Patricia Daniels Cornwell, Jonathan Kellerman

What do you guys recommend?

 

[lUVTOGO]

Hi Everyone,

I called my Travel Agent today and I think we are going to go into a CAT4. This way if my neighbors do decide not to cruise, I will not be waiting for a cabin at the last minute. (My neice was on their ressies)

So now my neice will surely be able to go. Plus my sister already has her airfare booked, so she wouldn't be to happy if she wasn't able to go!

It is room 8524, have to go look at the deck plans to see exactly where that is!

Jeez, The time is flying!! Only 4 more months to go!

Maryann

 

[jerry112]

Maryann,

Glad things worked out for your niece. A cat. 4 sounds like the perfect idea.

I can't believe it's only 4 months til cruise time! Will have to book all my excursions in the next couple of weeks.

Have a great birthday in WDW.

Karen

 

[scottygirl]

Maryann,

Glad to hear you have worked things out and congratulations you are our neighbor!!! We are in 8526. I think it will be a good location, not too far forward and not under the Goofy Pool!!

Sherry,

I just finished reading A Walk Around the West Indies by Hunter Davies. It is sort of a travelog about several Caribbean Islands written by a Brit. I enjoyed it but there are a few snippy remarks about Americans in the book! I am starting on 12,000 Miles in the Nick of Time by Mark Jacobson, I'll let you know how it is. I have read several of the books on your list, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon (SPICY!!), Midwives by Chris Bohjalian and I love Patricia Cornwell and Jonathan Kellerman too!

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[Mindymom]

I'm new to the disussion

Hi everyone, I sure had fun reading all your messages and hearing all the excitment. I'm DW 40 and my DM & DD are taking me and my DD9 and DS11 on the 11/6 trip (hope I got all those correct). My parents have 10 grandchildren and have taken every one of them in pairs (each child went with a cousin) and my 2 are the last to go. I have 3 older sisters and they all got to go with one of their kids (1 sister got to go twice). Since my 2 are last and are siblings, my husband was given the choice to go and won't because he's scared to death of flying! Can you beleive someone could pass up a FREE trip. So my parents will travel with us. I'm so excited. My nieces and nephews all did the 3 day land 4 day cruise. My kids opted for the 7 day trip and I'm glad because we just visits Disneyland in CA.

Here's my question, is it necessary to plan out the island visits before hand vs. just getting off the boat and exploring?

 

[jerry112]

Welcome aboard Mindymom!

Looks like we have at least 2 things in common. My DH won't fly either, but luckily (or not) we can drive to the ship. It only takes about 17 hours! LOL Also, my DS will be 11, too, when we cruise and my DD will be 7. Both of my kids loved the lab and club on our last cruise. This will be our 2nd DCL. I hope we all get a chance to meet.

To answer your question, I would research the areas a bit just to know what was around. You don't have to book any excursions unless you want to but it really helps to know alittle about where you are. Do you want shopping or beaches? Just ask away and I'm sure you'll get lots of responses.

Karen from NJ

 

[Mindymom]

Karen,

How funny about our DH's! We're flying from Portland, Oregon so driving wasn't really an option. I wish SO badly he was joining us. It sounds like the perfect cruise for familys.

I think my kids will want beaches during the excursions. And lots of snorkling. We really want to swim with the sting rays. My kids havn't done much traveling at all so this will be quite the adventure for them.

Mindy (from OR)

 

[sjcubedofct]

Welcome, Mindy! Which day are you arriving? Are you having a late or early dinner? If you want, I can add these things to the first post so we know if we're dining at the same time.

We're preparing to make our excursion reservations very soon. It sounds like we'll be doing the dune buggies at Cozumel and the sting rays with nativeway or capt marvin at Grand Caymen. At Castaway, we're just meandering. My parents live in Key West for some months out of the year, so they will be giving us a grand tour there.

Paula and I are supposed to be getting our group together to discuss our choices... but I'm thinking now that our best bet to plan excursions will be for each of us to get the details of what our families want, then the two of us sitting down together. Summer is so crazy, I'm not sure when we could get everyone else together! I don't know, we'll have to look at a calendar, and soon.

SJ

 

[jerry112]

Mindy,

You might want to research 7-mile beach in Grand Cayman and Paradise Beach in Cozumel. Also, try looking up nativewaywatersports.com or captainmarvins.com for snorkeling with the stingrays.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Karen

 

[scottygirl]

Mindymom,

Welcome to our thread!! You will learn a lot of info on the DIS, sometimes too much! If you want a great book on the DCL get PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line and Its Ports of Call by Jennifer Watson, Dave Marx and Mickey Morgan available at passporter.com or amazon.com. The book has a lot of useful info. Our family is doing Key West on our own, Stingray City through nativewaywatersports.com and probably the Fury Catamaran Sail and Snorkle through DCL. I have spoken to the owner of Nativeway on the phone and she was very professional and helpful. I have heard great things about their excursions, so we are giving them a try.

It's too bad about your DH being afraid to fly, has he tried any programs through the airlines? I think there is a website called fearofflying.com? or fearofflying.org? that offers some help.

Also, we are planning a DISmeet on embarkation day (11/6) at 3:00 by Scoops (deck 9 by the Mickey Pool) so we can meet and chat with the other DIS'ers
on this thread. It will also give the kids a chance to make some new friends!

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[chefnm]

Well it's time to sign in. I've been reading the posts for months but never took the time to write.
We will be a party of 14. Me(DH38),DW38,DD12(-16days), DS8,DMom,DDad,DS&BIL w/son4,BIL's M&D,BIL's Sis,Niece15&Nephew17. I think I got everyone.
Between all the posts and pictures and web sites, I think I have an idea of what is going on and what to do, hopefully.

 

[jerry112]

Welcome aboard chefnm!

 

[scottygirl]

Welcome chefnm. Please consider joining us at our DISmeet. 3:00 p.m. on embarkation day at Scoops!

Well I started my cruise shopping. I purchased my favorite sunscreen which was on sale and I got an underwater camera that I had a $1.00 off coupon for! Less than four months to go.

We haven't heard from Renee for a while, where are you?

TTFN,

Jackie

 

[chefnm]

Thanks for the greeting Karen and Jackie. We will try to make the 3pm Scoops meeting, we only have to worry about making Brunch reservations and registering the kids in the clubs. I'd be surprised if they spend much time there, they like to act grown up and spend the time around the adults. No problems their, this is a family vacation.
This is our first cruise but it is my sister and her husbands side of the families second.

Less than 4 Months and I'll be in paradise, I can hardly Wait!!!

Neal

 

[bernee]

Hi Jackie, et al.

I'm back. I was off for a little while -- minus a keyboard. Bought a new one Tuesday. All better now.

We plan on being at Scoops at 3PM. Can't wait to meet everyone. I need to call Debbie for my ressies. Has anyone done that yet?

My cruise box is full. Need to start another one. That's OK since we just bought my husband a huge bag (with wheels) for the trip.

Did everyone have a great 4th? We took easy down here.

Talk to you soon.
Renee

 

[Mindymom]

sjcubedofct,

We will be arriving on Friday, the 5th (not sure where we're staying yet for the night, anyone have any recommendations)?

Late dinner.


I did order the Passporter book. Should be receiving it any day.

I'm beside myself with excitment for the cruise.

How do I add the count down ticker?

Mindymom

 

[bernee]

Hi All,

I talked to the famous "Debbie" today to make my REAS reservations. REAS is worth it just to be able to make reservations forever in advance. We are doing brunch on 11/8 (11AM) and afternoon tea @ Palo (even though we don't drink tea) at 3:30 the same day. We have our spa treament on 11/11 at 3:30 and dinner at Palo at 7:30. Since 11/11 is our big day it worked out perfect. The only thing I need to work out on the ship (at boarding time) is add'l spa treatment and Tea with Wendy. Also, if our brunch conflicts with our "breakfast w/Disney chars", we may need to make other adjustments. Whoo Who! Anyone else doing REAS and have you made your ressies yet?

Have a great night!
Renee