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

[sandiegosusie]

I know that you have been concerned on that so that you heard back and one is in process.

 

[rgroves]

I took the time to look this up and found several recipes. But it does look interesting - less the amaretto anyway. And then, what is dark rum. I don't like spiced rum so if it is anything like that - I guess I will stick to my "fun on the beach".

Dark rum IS NOT spiced rum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum

Dark Rum, also known as black rum, classes as a grade darker than gold rum. It is generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels. Dark rum has a much stronger flavor than either light or gold rum, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. It is used to provide substance in rum drinks, as well as color. In addition to uses in mixed drinks, dark rum is the type of rum most commonly used in cooking. Most Dark Rum comes from areas such as Jamaica, Haiti, and Martinique, though two Central American countries, Nicaragua and Guatemala, produced two of the most award-winning dark rums in the world:

Spiced Rum: These rums obtain their flavor through addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel. Most are darker in color, and based on gold rums. Some are significantly darker, while many cheaper brands are made from inexpensive white rums and darkened with artificial caramel color.


And YES, the Bushwacker is an AWESOME drink, and several of them will knock you on your butt.

 

[Bamfield]

I posted this on the main boards, but has anyone tried Hotwire lately? I think they took away the info that tells how many reviews the rating is based from, making it difficult to pinpoint the MCO Hyatt (or is it just me that can't see it anymore?).

Val

We stayed at the MCO Hyatt last year for a day room. We had a late flight on Saturday. It was very nice. Our experience was that we didn't hear a lot of noise. Our room looked into the "lobby" of the airport where people were milling about waiting for security. The biggest kick was the pool for the kids. You can see the planes taking off while your swimming on the "roof".

Travelbee - Your FE looks great! I have mine 1/2 done (hoping to complete this weekend) and still wishing I used Ebay.

 

[mousemom11]

I am so excited...just got an email back from my favorite FE creator on Ebay. She is making a cruise themed FE for us!!!! Yippie!

 

[Desi]

Door magnets done *
FE done *
FE gifts done*
ordering 4yr olds tux
ordering daddy's tux
looking for over the door shoe holder

** Just realized *I* have nothing to wear. All I've bought is a swim suit cover up. If you see me, I'll be the one wearing the black swim cover all week **

 

[King Charming]

I thought I'd stop by for a visit, so...

Cigar night may have to be moved so it does not conflict w/ pirate night. It never occured to me that they might change the party to Tues nite (GC) from Wed (Coz) like it was 18 months ago. SWMBO is NOT going to let us miss out on a family deck party, even if the cigars are Cuban. And it's way too easy to concede this one and save our debating skills for more important cruise matters. Like who has to go to the cabin and fetch another round of cold beers. ('I went last time' is always my opening salvo). Tues or Wed, after 10, deck 9, pirate dependent. Future posts on this topic will be over on the private board.

I'm so glad to pass the 75 day mark with our group intact. The 'scrimp & save' concept has been full embraced very successfully. Everybody give yourself a round of applause.

Again welcome to our new friends. And Holy Cow, did you ever throw our group of compulsive planners for a loop Jeff. WAY TO GO . Forgot about a vacation? on a boat? with Mickey? Dang, I sure wish Hypermommy could do that .

And speaking of witch, ...er... which, ah... I mean my dear wife, she's safely down in MickeyTown, started her job today, that went REAL well. It could be the dream job she was hunting. So a new chapter of our lives begins now, probably titled 'Life with Mickey'. I wonder if I can claim him as a dependent? (or him me).

 

[RookieMouse]

Better late than never, I suppose! We are soooo excited about our Double Dip cruise! I'd love to meet some of our fellow DISers (I've always been more of a lurker than a poster, but I've been here for a looong time anyway!)

Our crew includes:

Me (Jen)- 34, and lover of ALL things Disney
DH (Josh)- 26, and has grown to love Disney (although he hates to admit it!)
DD (Hollye)- 9, and a total Disney veteran. She took her first DW trip when she was three, and has taken approximately 2-3/year since then. I would love to put the princess smiley, but she would kill me...she's "getting too old for princesses"...*sigh*
DS(Brant)- 7. and another Disney vet...he's still young enough to think it's ALL cool, though

I'd love to get the scoop on DISmeets, FE's, Secret DISer's, and all this great stuff I keep hearing about, plus any tips I need! This will be me, DD, and DS's second cruise, but the first was only a 3 day, and we are still newbies. Advice via repies or PMs is welcomed and appreciated!

Thanks...happy planning!

Welcome Jen!! Glad to have you joining our crazy crew.

Hey Denise... look... another 9 year old girl to help with the ship takeover while we chill at the Quiet Cove pool.

Sorry, Jen, kind of an inside joke on this cruise meet... at one point, the 8 and 9 year old girls (including my own daughter) seriously outnumbered every other demographic on this thread, and we joked that they would take over the Magic. I figure as long as they sail it straight to Castaway Cay and beach it there, all is good.

Hey KC, gotta watch the little Freudian slips there, pal. And I guess you could maybe claim MM as a dependent, as your money supports him (along with the money of a few million others).


John

 

[Hypermommy]

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!! I'm off the boards for a day and a half or so and we're up to four pages. I just LOVE this group!!!!!!!

So I got into Orlando Monday night and got settled into the hotel. Nice enough room but tiny! It's a good thing it's only me because if any of my menfolk were in the room with me we'd be bumping into each other. I tweeted a picture of it the other day so if you follow me on twitter and/or friend me on facebook you'll see it.

So then I decided the smart thing to do would be to make sure I knew exactly how to get to the office. Everything in me was screaming to just head to DTD and get a bite at Earl's but I decided to be responsible and do this first (see, KC... it can happen... but on my schedule... ain't life with me grand?). It's a good thing I did because I missed it at first and went a mile or so past it. But then I found it and I drove the route again just to make sure I'd recognize the landmarks.

Then on the way back to the hotel I heard that the I4 was at a standstill. Turns out some idiot didn't put the dump part of his dumptruck down and got stuck under a bridge. I guess idiots are the same the world over, huh? And then, my oil idiot-light on my dashboard came on. Well, I pulled off immediately and called KC. He didn't answer. Tried a time or two but he must have walked away from the phone. I turned the engine back on and no light. But KC called me back and we decided it was high time for a lube job on the car anyway. Then I got groceries and by the time I got back and made dinner it was like 8pm. So no DTD.

Thought about it yesterday but the weather's been very rainy. I expect it to be rainy again tonight so I might not get there until tomorrow. <big sigh>

Okay, enough non cruise related stuff. Hope I haven't bored everyone.

Yup, that's exactly what we did too and plan on doing...probably get off the boat at around 10:00 a.m. ...

Sometime over the next couple of weeks we should probably get together (virtually) and figure out when everyone's leaving the boat for the Dolphin Encounter and/or Royal Swim. Maybe we can all meet up somewhere together and head off the boat together. And share the expense of transportation. Any few dollars saved is another DoD, right?

Y'know, I FINALLY figured out why my father bugged and teased me so much when I was growing up... because it's FUN!

Sorry, but I have to show male solidarity and go with KC and the other men on this one. Ask any man (especially a married one) and he'll tell you that "female logis" is an oxymoron. (ducks and runs from Denise and Gail).

Amen to the teasing of the kids!!!! Such an enjoyable pasttime and of course we can always claim that we're trying to toughen them up to handle the slings and arrows of this world.

Speaking of slings and arrows...... Gail, what'dya think? We'll have to come up with something "special" for RookieMouse's FE, huh?

That's easy Denise! I have a bad back to begin with, plus when I get really stressed out my back gets worse. And who is it that causes most of my stress? He Who Shall Remain Nameless, of course! So I get a massage every 2 weeks as a proactive way to keep my back from going out!

Hmmmmmmm..... okay....... you know, my back has been bothering me some lately. I sure hope it doesn't get worse <evil grin>

Well, I gotta admit payback sure is a #%^&~. irish Belle caught my dusting off the stairmaster post a few pages back and needless to say, it wasn't pretty.

All I'll say is, The couch was pretty lumpy last night

There goes the coffee all over the poor monitor again! Way to go, Belle! Get 'im good!!!!!

So sorry!

OK - I will behave now.

Why? That's no fun!

We booked this trip last December on board and all but FORGOT about it until today when I had to send the payment in LOL

OMG!!! Forgot!?!?!?!? I wonder if there's a pill I can take for that. I know KC would love it!

This looks sooooooooo great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alas, it will be a couple of years before we get to stay there. Our home resort is SS. I love it, but it is not BLT.

Well, you do have to look on the bright side. One of the things KC has been smiling about lately is that he'll never have to hear about DVC again. I must admit it's a trade-off. As much as I'll love living in Orlando, I will miss the possibility of getting a DVC membership. Mostly during the Food & Wine festival when we'll have to find a safe ride home.

However, my boss was telling me yesterday that I'll have to get KC down here for the annual drink around the world thing they do.... they hire a driver and go to Epcot for the evening. Yep, I just know I'm going to love my job!

Oh, which reminds me.... turns out my boss might be sailing with us. He can't remember if his is a DCL or a RC cruise but the dates of our trips match up. Hopefully I'll know today. I told him yesterday that if the boss is on the cruise with me I'll have to behave and his response was basically "Nonsense!!!"

Any ideas that may be nice for my husband... he's a ships captain and has never been on a ship when he's not incharge. Hopefully he can enjoy someone else stearing the ship!!!!

Hey, if your DH decides to do the tour that includes the bridge (anyone know what that's called) I'd love to do it with him. Not only would I get the Disney official version of everything they show us but I know your DH would have tons more info. I remember one time doing a tour of a submarine with a cub scout leader who was a submariner in the Navy and it was sooooooo cool to have his take on it too.

DW: "But it's only $200, and it's regularly $250. If we buy it we save $50."

Me: "But if we DON'T buy it, we save $200..."

The Bushwacker sounds great! As for the logic thing.... well, all I can say is it's basically a cup half empty/cup half full thing. Or an optical illusion. It's all in how you look at it. And/or attitude... you can look at it as the loss of the $200 or the absolutely wonderful saving of the $50. You just have to change your mindset ('cause you ain't gonna change our spending!!)

/me ducking and running.... fast!

Here's a random piece of fun. I took the kids to the zoo today (last day before school starts), and now we may be in a movie. They were making "Zookeeper" with Kevin James. They filmed us watching the ostriches. He filmed "Mall Cop" in our town's mall, too.

How cool is that!?!? When the movie comes out you'll have to let us know!

Better late than never, I suppose! We are soooo excited about our Double Dip cruise!

Maybe the Disney purchase of Marvel will help your husband admit his addiction more now? Maybe since it's "cooler" now?

I am so excited...just got an email back from my favorite FE creator on Ebay. She is making a cruise themed FE for us!!!! Yippie!

Oh, I can't wait to see that! You mean a FE with our logo and such? That'd be too cool!!!

Door magnets done *
FE done *
FE gifts done*
ordering 4yr olds tux
ordering daddy's tux
looking for over the door shoe holder

** Just realized *I* have nothing to wear. All I've bought is a swim suit cover up. If you see me, I'll be the one wearing the black swim cover all week **

I think your cover up would be perfect for formal night! I can't wait to see your 4yo in a tux... that's gonna be sooooooo stinkin' cute!!!!!

I thought I'd stop by for a visit, so...

Cigar night may have to be moved so it does not conflict w/ pirate night. It never occured to me that they might change the party to Tues nite (GC) from Wed (Coz) like it was 18 months ago. SWMBO is NOT going to let us miss out on a family deck party, even if the cigars are Cuban. And it's way too easy to concede this one and save our debating skills for more important cruise matters. Like who has to go to the cabin and fetch another round of cold beers. ('I went last time' is always my opening salvo). Tues or Wed, after 10, deck 9, pirate dependent. Future posts on this topic will be over on the private board.

....

And speaking of witch, ...er... which, ah... I mean my dear wife, she's safely down in MickeyTown, started her job today, that went REAL well. It could be the dream job she was hunting. So a new chapter of our lives begins now, probably titled 'Life with Mickey'. I wonder if I can claim him as a dependent? (or him me).

I think you should just plan to move cigar night as you've mentioned above. I'll keep up with it on the private board and will post whatever details I find there in the next summary update I do (probably this weekend).

"I went last time" is your opening salvo because you're sweet and kind and always go. (cough, cough, gag)

As for your last comment....... I'm gonna beat you with my broom! And don't forget it's a Firebolt 2000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Denise... look... another 9 year old girl to help with the ship takeover while we chill at the Quiet Cove pool.

They can have it! It's good thing we don't have a little Joan d'Arc to hijack the ship. But then again, if we did maybe we could just spend the week at Castaway Cay!

Okay, time to go get in the shower and head off to work. Now that I have a room in which the internet works (internet withdrawals for me yesterday morning) I'll be back tonight. Boy, I'm truly getting thoroughly excited!!!!!

 

[Fivepin]

I am so excited...just got an email back from my favorite FE creator on Ebay. She is making a cruise themed FE for us!!!! Yippie!

I'm glad you heard back from her. One less thing to worry about.

Door magnets done *
FE done *
FE gifts done*
ordering 4yr olds tux
ordering daddy's tux
looking for over the door shoe holder

** Just realized *I* have nothing to wear. All I've bought is a swim suit cover up. If you see me, I'll be the one wearing the black swim cover all week **

I wish my things were done. I need to go to look for suits for my boys. They have outgrown everything from last year. I need to work on fitting back into my stuff. I may be joining you just wearing my bathing suit and coverup.

Better late than never, I suppose! We are soooo excited about our Double Dip cruise! I'd love to meet some of our fellow DISers (I've always been more of a lurker than a poster, but I've been here for a looong time anyway!)

Our crew includes:

Me (Jen)- 34, and lover of ALL things Disney
DH (Josh)- 26, and has grown to love Disney (although he hates to admit it!)
DD (Hollye)- 9, and a total Disney veteran. She took her first DW trip when she was three, and has taken approximately 2-3/year since then. I would love to put the princess smiley, but she would kill me...she's "getting too old for princesses"...*sigh*
DS(Brant)- 7. and another Disney vet...he's still young enough to think it's ALL cool, though


Thanks...happy planning!

Welcome to the group. I have a DS who is 7 as well. We are Disney veterans here too. Maybe my DH will rub off on your DH-he fully admits that I have made him grow to love Disney He has to-we got married there. I can relate with what you're going thru with your DD. My DS who is going to be 10 next month thinks he getting too old to do the Disney characters-I can still get away with Star Wars disigns for him. Where did I go wrong?

The Bushwackers are very good. I'm planning on bringing from home the premixed bottle they have of Bacardi's 151 Long Island Iced Tea. I usually bring it to castaway filled in the 20 oz water bottles and put it in my collapsible cooler. Then when we get to the beach I fill by coconut cup with ice, pour, and enjoy while swinging in the hammock. It's really good. If you're not careful it sneaks up on you and can knock you on your feet.

All right back to real life now. Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[smye1stdisneycruise]

When we sailed last(Nov/07) we had Brent as a cruise director and I thought he was great! I don't remember anyone by the name of Clayton but would be extremely interested in hearing other peoples take on him as a CD? Any of you die hard cruisers know anything about Clayton?

 

[glindamood]

When we sailed last(Nov/07) we had Brent as a cruise director and I thought he was great! I don't remember anyone by the name of Clayton but would be extremely interested in hearing other peoples take on him as a CD? Any of you die hard cruisers know anything about Clayton?

I think - but that can get me into lots of trouble - that he was part of the cruise staff when we did the 11 Night Southern on the Wonder a few years ago. Great guy - he even joined in on the grass skirt fraternity events, in a grass skirt.

 

[glindamood]

When we sailed last(Nov/07) we had Brent as a cruise director and I thought he was great! I don't remember anyone by the name of Clayton but would be extremely interested in hearing other peoples take on him as a CD? Any of you die hard cruisers know anything about Clayton?

I think - but that can get me into lots of trouble - that he was part of the cruise staff when we did the 11 Night Southern on the Wonder a few years ago. Great guy - he even joined in on the grass skirt fraternity events, in a grass skirt.

 

[makaylee]

I'm glad you heard back from her. One less thing to worry about.




It's really good. If you're not careful it sneaks up on you and can knock you on your feet.

All right back to real life now. Hope everyone has a great day.

That's the fun part though ; ]

 

[Fivepin]

When we sailed last(Nov/07) we had Brent as a cruise director and I thought he was great! I don't remember anyone by the name of Clayton but would be extremely interested in hearing other peoples take on him as a CD? Any of you die hard cruisers know anything about Clayton?

I actually had Brent for the first time last October. I have had Clayton on 2 or 3 crusies. He's great and alot of fun. He get right in there and interacts with you. I also have had Rachel.

 

[Fivepin]

That's the fun part though ; ]

Oh so true!!!

 

[RookieMouse]

When we sailed last(Nov/07) we had Brent as a cruise director and I thought he was great! I don't remember anyone by the name of Clayton but would be extremely interested in hearing other peoples take on him as a CD? Any of you die hard cruisers know anything about Clayton?

We had Clayton (aka Hollywood) as assistant CD to Brent on our February cruise. He is awesome and would make a great CD.

For those who know him (or may have seen him and don't know it), here he is... from Tri-circle-D's awesomely funny first trip report.

For those who like to read TRs (hilarious TR's at that), I must say that TCD is the funniest writer since I read Sleepydog's TR a year or so ago. Go check him out and prepare to laugh.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1853401

and the newest one...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2207882


John

 

[xxcell]

hi and welcome to all the new folks, gonna be a great cruise.

And hi to all those who haven't posted in a while.

 

[Lyrah]

Hi everyone!

My family and I are also going on this cruise, so I thought I would introduce ourselves.

My name is Charyl Lee and my husbands name is Jeff, both in our fourtys. We have 2 daughters, Jade-11 and Paige-14. We are huge disney fanatics, and try to visit at least twice a year. This is our first Disney cruise and it is a total suprise for our girls.

I noticed that you have several events planned. My husband likes to enjoy a good cigar, so I thought he might like to meet other fellow cigar enthusiasts.

Also I have a couple of newbie questions if you do not mind.

Can you please tell me about the formal night and the semi-formal night? I see that some people are even renting tuxes. Is this the captains night and what exactly does it entail? My husband is not too thrilled about even wearing a suit. His exact words were "What? I have to wear one everyday, I don't want to wear one on vacation. I'm out". Help........

Will my girls feel left out if I do not have a FE? I looks like fun but I am not sure if i can make one. If we participate, what do I bring to put in them? Do you just put things in the ones on your deck level or the whole ship?

Thanks so much for all of your help.
Charyl Lee

 

[mommyarewegoingback]

Hi everyone!

My family and I are also going on this cruise, so I thought I would introduce ourselves.

My name is Charyl Lee and my husbands name is Jeff, both in our fourtys. We have 2 daughters, Jade-11 and Paige-14. We are huge disney fanatics, and try to visit at least twice a year. This is our first Disney cruise and it is a total suprise for our girls.

I noticed that you have several events planned. My husband likes to enjoy a good cigar, so I thought he might like to meet other fellow cigar enthusiasts.

Also I have a couple of newbie questions if you do not mind.

Can you please tell me about the formal night and the semi-formal night? I see that some people are even renting tuxes. Is this the captains night and what exactly does it entail? My husband is not too thrilled about even wearing a suit. His exact words were "What? I have to wear one everyday, I don't want to wear one on vacation. I'm out". Help........

Will my girls feel left out if I do not have a FE? I looks like fun but I am not sure if i can make one. If we participate, what do I bring to put in them? Do you just put things in the ones on your deck level or the whole ship?

Thanks so much for all of your help.
Charyl Lee

Welcome!
It's my first cruise too! My husband is not too excited about dressing up. I think I can maybe get him and DS in a shirt and tie (and that's it). I think the Dis boards and meet threads with the Fe's, secret mickey's, lanyards, meets ... will help make this a completely diff experience than just going to WDW. Because we'll already kinda know each other and be able to recognize other folks on the cruise.

I don't think you have to worry about the FE being hard to make. I think I've hear of folks just getting a gift bag and using that, or connecting several canvas bags together to make one. Me personally, from doing my "projects" know that I would have spent more money on the materials than having just ordered from a dis member on ebay.

If you take a look for a post by hypermommy (denise) or mousemom11 (becky) you'll see links about the activities and how to get access to the spreadsheet. Everyone is real friendly here, so if you have any questions, just ask.
-virginia

 

[mousemom11]

Hi everyone!

My family and I are also going on this cruise, so I thought I would introduce ourselves.

My name is Charyl Lee and my husbands name is Jeff, both in our fourtys. We have 2 daughters, Jade-11 and Paige-14. We are huge disney fanatics, and try to visit at least twice a year. This is our first Disney cruise and it is a total suprise for our girls.

I noticed that you have several events planned. My husband likes to enjoy a good cigar, so I thought he might like to meet other fellow cigar enthusiasts.

Also I have a couple of newbie questions if you do not mind.

Can you please tell me about the formal night and the semi-formal night? I see that some people are even renting tuxes. Is this the captains night and what exactly does it entail? My husband is not too thrilled about even wearing a suit. His exact words were "What? I have to wear one everyday, I don't want to wear one on vacation. I'm out". Help........

Will my girls feel left out if I do not have a FE? I looks like fun but I am not sure if i can make one. If we participate, what do I bring to put in them? Do you just put things in the ones on your deck level or the whole ship?

Thanks so much for all of your help.
Charyl Lee

We're so glad that you're joining us! We are also surprising our girls with this cruise My oldest DD will be 11 on the cruise, so she and Jade can hang together in Ocean Quest. To get caught up on what's happening with the group, click on the link to Post 2140 in the bottom line of my signature. Also, we have a Google workbook with information on all our DIS cruisers. To access it and add your information, you need a google account. If you don't have one, just go to google and set one up. Then email your google address to me. My email is becky AT rebeccabrauncpa DOT com. I'll send you a link to the workbook and our private website.

I bought my FE on Ebay. There is a DIS member (gradysmommy) who makes customized ones. Just search for "fish extender" on Ebay and you'll find her stuff. Most people who participate in the FE pass out their FE gifts once during the week to all participants (we'll have a list and you can also see it in the workbook). It's usually just little stuff that you can find at the dollar store or Oriental Traders.

Don't worry about attire for formal and semi-formal nights. From what I've read, you see a real range of attire. Some men wear tuxes, others wear suits, many others just wear a dress shirt and tie (some no tie) with dress pants. I've asked my DH to wear the latter as a minimum.