11/14/09 - Special Western - 2 CC stops

[binky1]

I was laying in bed this morning thinking about the cruise because I didn't want to get out from under the cozy covers. Okay, all of you wishing for some of our snow- you are more than welcome to come to my house for Christmas and I will come to your house. It is -22 windchill here today - with 5 to 8 inches of snow predicted.

glindamood, I hear ya sister. I am also sick of it already and it's not even officially winter!!!

Have a great day everyone! For the girls -

 

[MaryAz]

I forgot to tell ya'll about the great deals I got at the Disney Store this past weekend. They had cute short sleeve pink shirts with princesses on them. Also Mickey Mouse t's with pink cuffs. For 4.99 with an additional 25% off. Got them for the cruise of course. Also got G'Ma and I matching "Tooh Bear" shirts as the mini cals him. Jeff got a mickey. Picked up a pink princess dress for the little one for 75% off. Go me! Picked up a few more gifts. It was pretty darn fun.

Lisa Dang girl, it is COLD there today. How did the cookies turn out??

KC Thanks to you, I will never see Mickey's hamds the same again.....

Having trouble typing today....

 

[binky1]

MaryAZ - awesome bargains!! I'm going to check out our store too 'cause you never know what you could find!!

And yes, KC, thanks for branding my brain forever with the image of Mickey with his big hands outstretched.....

Well, it's warmed up to -16 but now they're predicting close to 1 foot of snow. I shovelled my driveway 2 times today and decided not to venture out. Luckily, lots of food in the fridge and freezer although you can never have enough alcohol!!

glindamood, now I know what you experienced over the weekend - this is nasty stuff!!

Anybody else curious about what the big DCL announcement is going to be tomorrow??

Cheers,
Lisa

 

[MaryAz]

I am excited for the announcement. I really hope it is something good. This will probably be our last 7 night. We plan to do a and and sea in a few years. Sooo, if it is a save $$$ announcement then maybe....

 

[King Charming]

Sorry about the gloves, but I really tickled myself coming up w/ it and had to share. BTW, no actual 50 dollar bills were harmed (or used) during my exhaustive testing.

I heard the DCL announcement was that Mickey would explode! What? He didn't? He won't? OK, so I didn't hear. What's up w/ DCL? Do I see a sudden rush to re-book this cruise w/ upgrades if they announce rebates? Please keep us advised.

 

[Hypermommy]

It is -22 windchill here today - with 5 to 8 inches of snow predicted.

So I guess mentioning that yesterday's temperature here was 74 probably wouldn't be all that appreciated?

/me ducking and running!

I forgot to tell ya'll about the great deals I got at the Disney Store this past weekend.

Great finds! You go girl!!!!! Wish we still had a Disney store here but I guess KC's probably happy that we don't

I heard the DCL announcement was that Mickey would explode!

Y'all just don't pay him no nevermind. Back when I was big into Star Trek he used to tease me that everyone was going to die in this episode and the ship was going to blow up. And then, somewhere around the 3d season I guess it was, they did! Ship blew up and the crew had to keep repeating the same day over and over and over and over again with the same ending off the ship blowing up (until, of course, they finally figured out was was going on). Anyway... he just has a mean sense of humor like that.

Not like me.... I'm a perfect angel and would never be mean to anyone.

Ever.

(and if you believe that, let me talk to you about some land with a great mortgage)

Actually... his sense of humor is one of the reasons I love this man!

And it's today now... wish Disney would hurry up with this announcement!!!

Here's for my gals!

 

[glindamood]

glindamood, now I know what you experienced over the weekend - this is nasty stuff!!

Cheers,
Lisa

Wait until you get the Mondy/Tuesday crap, another 8 - 10 inches here at least. SOOOO tired of it!

Well, did everyone see the big announcement. Since I have no children under 12, it doesn't do me much good. And, while I love my DCL - I prefer the longer cruises, the longer the better!

Also SOOO jealous of anyone with a Disney store near them - there are none near me. There used to be one in Traverse City but that was closed a long time ago. Nothing else even close. I do frequent the www. store and have found some amazing deals there on items. UMMM - wonder if they would do a Mickey snow shovel.....

 

[MaryAz]

Sorry for all the "ick" weather!

As for the announcement, don't do me much good. 3 nights only. Takes us a day to get there by air. Was hoping for something more exciting!

KC I am enjoying re reading you post trip report. Especially the parts about never being a "repeat cruiser" Did you guys get a verandah this time???

 

[King Charming]

Heck, I still can't even afford a porthole! And at the time of writting the follow-up TR, there was still no way I was ever going to be able to scrape up enough money to do this again. We treated that first cruise as a once in a lifetime opportunity, which was why we spent like we did. But the whole experience was just beyond expectations (once the $$ got straightened out), and the entire family agreed that it would be worth doing again (even INSTEAD of the parks). Of course to them, it would have been worth it at ANY price. Me however, being a tightwad (by necessity) coin counting miser, the family was real cool about not dropping hints; they just wouldn't shut up about what a great trip it was. I still can't believe a week at 'the world' and staying at a 'value' place can cost HALF of a similar DCL bill. So a repeat cruise was too far out on the horizon to foresee.

But I got bit hard by that nasty DCL bug they let fly around Castaway Cay. So I got the spinning pea up to speed and tried to imagine when it would happen again, or if my bank account would ever again be ready for such a shock. I hope college tuition begins in 2012, a new truck in 2010, and a pair of 'world' visits highlight the (old) 5 year plan. One vacation a year is plenty (Mr skinny wallet insists!), so 2008 is out. And you know the rest.

Which brings me to the point I wanted to make. Few families have to schedule around health problems (thankfully), so WHEN to cruise usually comes down to money. Anybody who waits more than a year to go sailing probably doesn't have enough, and therefore needs to plan and SAVE!

I again expect Uncle Sam to kick in his share (tax refund, stimulas check), so we should be able to cover the proposed budget. It's hard to think about saving money just weeks before Christmas, but now that I've thrown my hat over the wall, I need to figure out how to go get it.

 

[glindamood]

KC - be sure to watch for Florida resident rates. Not being a resident (other than DVC) of Florida I am not of much use with what happens when but I do know that DCL gives you all special pricing - more special than mine (or would that be less special), whatever, just less $$'s.

Gotta love my DVC though, just gotta.

 

[MaryAz]

SAVE SAVE SAVE, thats why we rebooked on board 18 monthes ahead!! We got the 10% off and some onboard credit. We then transferred to Costco-back when you could still. We got a gift card out of that. I do need to call and check on the fuel surcharge. I will be happy if there is a stimulus check again. We will also save $$ when the big one goes to kindergarten next year instead of preschool!! You can come hang on our verandah-minus the cigar-beer is fine!!

 

[binky1]

Unfortunately, we didn't rebook onboard because we too thought it was the trip of a lifetime and we wouldn't be going again. WRONG!!!! But that's okay - just gives me ammunition for booking a 3rd one while we're onboard next time "But Honey, I'll be saving you money!!" !

 

[Hypermommy]

KC - be sure to watch for Florida resident rates. Not being a resident (other than DVC) of Florida I am not of much use with what happens when but I do know that DCL gives you all special pricing - more special than mine (or would that be less special), whatever, just less $$'s.

Gotta love my DVC though, just gotta.

Yeah the Fla Res Rates are very good. Unfortunately, KC's right and barring a Lotto win (hey, a girl can dream, right?) cruising is something we have to definitely save up for. Of course we could save with no specific plans and then be ready when the Res rates come out (because from what I've seen they often have very short lead times) but that's even harder to do (to save for something unspecific) than to save for the cruise.

And I'm right there with you in loving the DVC even though I don't have one yet. Anyone else get Celebrations magazine? They had a review of the proposed Bay Lake Towers and Treehouses at (wherever they are... it escapes me right now) and the Treehouses look like a lot of fun. The BLT one is just too "realistic" and modern for my tastes. If I'm going to Disney and going to spend that much on a room I want the room to be as much of an escape as Fantasyland is.

Ahhhhhh... but then again there's always the Villas at AKL (I believe that's what they're called). Now that would be a magnificent escape and boy, oh, boy wouldn't the kids love waking up and seeing the animals out on the savannah. But that will probably have to be an AK thing (after kids).

That feels really wierd... now that we're starting to talk about the magnificent vacations we're going to take AK.

Unfortunately, we didn't rebook onboard because we too thought it was the trip of a lifetime and we wouldn't be going again. WRONG!!!! But that's okay - just gives me ammunition for booking a 3rd one while we're onboard next time "But Honey, I'll be saving you money!!" !

I knew it! I knew it! You're definitely a girl after my own heart!!!!! That sounds EXACTLY like what KC will be hearing!!!!

 

[glindamood]

I got pricing the last time we cruised for the Baltic and Christmas 2010 but it was much too rich for my blood. It would help if we could have 2 cabins instead of 3 but...those older boys with what will be their wives by then would not hear of it. So, no DCL for our family trip. We shall see how that all plays out later next year.

 

[glindamood]

http://www.sun7news.com/spread.php

Anyone see this on the main cruise page? You really need to do it - pretty neat.

 

[Hypermommy]

King Charming had that all queued up for me when I got home. Y'all should have seen me!!!! I'm sure I looked truly stupid as I giggled and clapped and acted just like a little kid at Christmas. But it was soooooooooooooo cool to see my name and hear Goofy mention me! Boy, he truly earned some Charming points that time! Don't I just have the most wonderful man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MaryAz]

Ah what a guy! Glad you had a nice evening. My big one decided not only to cut her own bangs but also her sister's. 2 days before the Christmas picture appt. That was my presents for the grandparents. Arrrggg. She has to use her own $$ to get them fixed and not at her fun kiddy hair cut place.....

 

[binky1]

My big one decided not only to cut her own bangs but also her sister's. 2 days before the Christmas picture appt.

Ah yes, children - gotta love them.... My youngest has gone on a pants strike - dresses only and no skirts. Nothing clean so that meant a load of laundry and unfortunately, I can't let her go out in a bare butt 'cause it's -18 but if it had been a little warmer......

Keep reminding yourself - this too will pass and oh yeah, where did I put that bottle of wine?!?!?

Cheers,
Lisa

 

[glindamood]

My big one decided not only to cut her own bangs but also her sister's.

My DS's never tried that but the youngest one did cut the dog's hair once. Mugsy was a long haired chihuahua (yes, everything you hear about small dogs is true) and then, in the infinate wisdom of a 4 year old, decided to try and tape the hair back on. When he was questioned, his response was that the tape seemed to work better than glue! WHAT a kid!

Well, it's Friday again! Grocery night - snowing night but so what else is new???

 

[nc__monkey]

Where is my snow that I ordered. I want to play and make my snow people. But I can't if there is no snow. (hello) Please send it fast. My friends think I'm crazy because I want snow so bad. They asked if it did snow would I wear pants? PANTS I am a shorts person all the way, all year long. Also this morning my sister and her DH and our parents left for there cruise on the Wonder Can't wait for our turn.

Kim