11/22/08 Thanksgiving 2008 cruise thread. Double Dipping Travelling Turkeys!

[cruisecrzy]

Hey kids (we're all big kids here, right?)

We are:
ME: ChezPixelPixie aka Mom aka Kimberli (Boston)
DD6: Pixie Princess aka Luba (Boston)
Granny: High Queen of the Pixies aka Granny aka Lois (Minnesota)

I
Anyways, I just wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself and say "Hi!" We're looking forward to seeing all of your smiling faces in 24 days!!

Welcome Aboard I love your slogan and think it should be your door sign. I am sure you will love your first Disney Cruise. We think it is the best family time ever!!!

BTW, what deck are you on?

Welcome Kimberli

Problem is Tuesday is Parent -Teacher conferences. What school district schedules those right before a holiday? He said he'll just hang a sign on his door to call and he'll meet with parents that want to see him after the holiday.

the kind of school district that does not want anyone to show up for the conferences!!!

Sandy I loved the shirt logo. But my husband is the same way about shirts so I understand. He actually just got a new pirate shirt that he has been wearing to Halloween Party's as his "costume"

 

[chezpixelpixie]

Thanks all, for the warm welcome! It's cold and damp in Boston today, I can use all the "warm" I can get

I got a message asking if I would be participating in the FE exchange. We won't have a fish extender, but I bought temp tattoos and glow sticks in bulk for pirate night, and I know how to distribute them

I decided to make our own magic, and picked up presents for my mom and Luba for every day of the cruise. I almost started listing them, then realized that I gave my mom a link to the Dis, and I don't want to ruin the surprise!

I read somewhere in my cruise documents that you can't bring coolers on the boat. But, I read somewhere else that it's ok to bring soft coolers on wheels with no ice (which I conveniently have) and that I can fill it up with drinks like gatorade and alcohol. What exactly is the "no cooler" rule about? Is it just a "no ice" rule, or no hard coolers? Also, is there a limit to the amount of alcohol I can bring on board? I want to bring a half-case of the little bottles of wine / champagne so that I can open a fresh bottle and have a glass or two without worrying about wasting the rest. Can anyone clarify this?

Also, is anyone getting gifts for any of the CMs? I was thinking of picking something up for the kid's club counselors, but what? Any ideas?

Is there going to be a DIS meet and greet? DD is shy for about two minutes, but I think it would be great for her to meet some other kids early in the cruise so that she can get over the shy and be more comfortable. Ok, and the extrovert in me wants to chat it up with some of the incredibly awesome people I've been reading about...

 

[cjckclan]

Joan ~ I can't see your pictures.

Today is DH's bday. I bought him a pirate t-shirt to wear on the cruise. It's not normally something he would wear so I might be taking it back.
It has this image on the back.

Considering that I am considerably computer challenged, I wouldn't have a clue why you can't see the photos in the signature. I know that sometimes I just see a box with a red X and sometimes I can see the photos. No matter - you'll see us soon!!

BTW - I like the t-shirt. Maybe he'll wear it if you just pack it for him.

We'll all be dressed up for pirate night. DS is using DH's last pirate costume (Capt Jack Sparrow). DH has made himself a Barbossa costume. DS went to a costume party as Jack Sparrow and took "best overall." He's even been perfecting his Sparrow walk. I think it's some sort of genetic disorder that obviously came from DH's gene pool.

 

[cjckclan]

But, as the trip gets closer it consumes my every waking thought (who am I kidding?? it consumes my sleeping thoughts too :-D) It got to the point where I just had no choice but to give in and join the masses!

We are:
ME: ChezPixelPixie aka Mom aka Kimberli (Boston)
DD6: Pixie Princess aka Luba (Boston)
Granny: High Queen of the Pixies aka Granny aka Lois (Minnesota)

Welcome

 

[cruisecrzy]

Thanks all, for the warm welcome! It's cold and damp in Boston today, I can use all the "warm" I can get


I decided to make our own magic, and picked up presents for my mom and Luba for every day of the cruise. I almost started listing them, then realized that I gave my mom a link to the Dis, and I don't want to ruin the surprise!

I read somewhere in my cruise documents that you can't bring coolers on the boat. But, I read somewhere else that it's ok to bring soft coolers on wheels with no ice (which I conveniently have) and that I can fill it up with drinks like gatorade and alcohol. What exactly is the "no cooler" rule about? Is it just a "no ice" rule, or no hard coolers? Also, is there a limit to the amount of alcohol I can bring on board? I want to bring a half-case of the little bottles of wine / champagne so that I can open a fresh bottle and have a glass or two without worrying about wasting the rest. Can anyone clarify this?

Also, is anyone getting gifts for any of the CMs? I was thinking of picking something up for the kid's club counselors, but what? Any ideas?

Is there going to be a DIS meet and greet? DD is shy for about two minutes, but I think it would be great for her to meet some other kids early in the cruise so that she can get over the shy and be more comfortable. Ok, and the extrovert in me wants to chat it up with some of the incredibly awesome people I've been reading about...

We did the gift things once. I got little things for each day and made a tag saying to Jessica from a different character each day. We would set them outside the room or on the dresser for her to find. It was lots of fun.

We bring candy and we have some friends currently living on the ship so we bring them special presents. I can tell you that any type of candy, crackers, cookies are appreciated. A lot of them have cell phones that they can use in ports and not need to get off the ship so phone card are not as practical as they once were. But if you want the gift to go to a specific counselor make sure there is a tag on it with their name.


As for the meet check with love2travel (she is setting up the gift exchange) and lexandme (she is organizing the meet) I believe I have that correct, but if not someone correct me.

 

[disneypoor]

More great news!

FE bags completed and packed--CHECK!

Homework completed and turned in--CHECK!

Okay, so this news wasn't as awesome as the news I had about Brianna yesterday, but it's still pretty good news for me.

 

[lexandme]

More great news!

FE bags completed and packed--CHECK!

Homework completed and turned in--CHECK!

Okay, so this news wasn't as awesome as the news I had about Brianna yesterday, but it's still pretty good news for me.

Susan -
You're tearin' it up out there in the heartland! I can smell your smoke.......
You're also making me feel like I need to get my butt in gear!
Maybe I can finalize my FE stuff tonight.
Judy

Kimberli
I sent you a PM with the web site address but I'm not sure if you'll get it. Keep posting until you have at least 10 (I think that's right) posts then I'll send it again.
Meet is on Saturday at 3pm. Haven't heard from DCL about a meeting place yet but I'll post it as soon as I hear from her. There is also a gift exchange if you want to participate. Teresa is coordinating that. It's very simple. Put a gift in, take one out. Average cost I believe is $5.00.

 

[cruisecrzy]

More great news!

FE bags completed and packed--CHECK!

Homework completed and turned in--CHECK!

Okay, so this news wasn't as awesome as the news I had about Brianna yesterday, but it's still pretty good news for me.

Susan you are too funny!!! But I am inspired by the work you have gotten done.

 

[love2travel]

Thanks all, for the warm welcome! It's cold and damp in Boston today, I can use all the "warm" I can get

I got a message asking if I would be participating in the FE exchange. We won't have a fish extender, but I bought temp tattoos and glow sticks in bulk for pirate night, and I know how to distribute them

I decided to make our own magic, and picked up presents for my mom and Luba for every day of the cruise. I almost started listing them, then realized that I gave my mom a link to the Dis, and I don't want to ruin the surprise!

I read somewhere in my cruise documents that you can't bring coolers on the boat. But, I read somewhere else that it's ok to bring soft coolers on wheels with no ice (which I conveniently have) and that I can fill it up with drinks like gatorade and alcohol. What exactly is the "no cooler" rule about? Is it just a "no ice" rule, or no hard coolers? Also, is there a limit to the amount of alcohol I can bring on board? I want to bring a half-case of the little bottles of wine / champagne so that I can open a fresh bottle and have a glass or two without worrying about wasting the rest. Can anyone clarify this?

Also, is anyone getting gifts for any of the CMs? I was thinking of picking something up for the kid's club counselors, but what? Any ideas?

Is there going to be a DIS meet and greet? DD is shy for about two minutes, but I think it would be great for her to meet some other kids early in the cruise so that she can get over the shy and be more comfortable. Ok, and the extrovert in me wants to chat it up with some of the incredibly awesome people I've been reading about...

WELCOME!!! Yes we are having a DIS Meet. Saturday at 3pm (is that right), place to be determined. We will be having a grab bag at the meet, if you are interested. If you bring a gift (around $5) you drop it in the bag and when you leave, you get to take a gift out. We did it on our last cruise and it was a lot of fun.

 

[love2travel]

Susan -
You're tearin' it up out there in the heartland! I can smell your smoke.......
You're also making me feel like I need to get my butt in gear!
Maybe I can finalize my FE stuff tonight.
Judy

Yes I have to agree with Judy. Susan calm down out there . I still have lots of things to get done. Maybe I'll work on my FE gifts tonight also. I have everything bought I just have to sort it out.

 

[disneypoor]

Yes I have to agree with Judy. Susan calm down out there . I still have lots of things to get done. Maybe I'll work on my FE gifts tonight also. I have everything bought I just have to sort it out.

Okay--I'll calm down. I can't tell you how good it feels to have it done though. I can't remember--does the gift we bring to the gift exchange at the meet need to be wrapped? Or am I off here--is the gift exchange at the meet or the port?

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Well we will definitely be packing the night before we leave for the port since I have to fly to PA that tues/wed and wont return to Florida until late wed night...but we do have the advantage of driving 3 hours to the port friday night.

As to coolers, they will allow the softsided ones on wheels, and you can fill them with water, gatorade, even beer (but beer is hard to keep cold b/c most cabins still have the coolers instead of the mini-fridges and trust me I have done this), but make sure the coolers contain NO ICE when you board the ship and make sure there are no open containers.

Chuck

 

[disneypoor]

I won't pack our clothes until last minute because I'm anal about having them all wrinkled when we get there. However, I had to get the FE stuff packed and ready to go so that I had one less thing to worry about. I'm glad I did too because it took me a LONG time to get the bags ready and addressed. It should make delivery easier though.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

I would think the gift exchange has to be done on the boat and probably not too early to allow everyone participating to get on the boat...though most of this group seems to be coming in a day early...that said, the shuttles from Orlando generally do not make the first couple of boarding groups...we will be boarding group 2 as usual (group 1 is limited to the 30 or so concierge cabins)...it is always nice to see the first 4-5 cars lined up across the street having their occupants wearing lime green, or this year lime green bracelets.

And as for FE stuff, for us we have the big OTC box which we have kept intact w/everything in sets of 48...fortunately FE's have plenty of pockets.

Chuck

 

[disneypoor]

How do you know you'll get boarding card 2? I'm just curious because I thought they were handed out as you got to the port with the exception of Cat. 1-3. Am I wrong?

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Two reasons - one is that we will be there well before 10 a.m. and will be one of the first people into the lot...if need be, I drop Lisa and Mason at the bus unload area and then I wait with the car across the street...we know the system...then we get to use the Castaway Club line which is shorter and faster.

Second reason is that not everyone throws away the old cards which tend to be the same on successive trips.

Chuck

 

[disneypoor]

I get it now, Chuck! You know, I just happen to have a set of number 2 boarding passes from our last cruise too. However, we'll be right there with you among the first to get to the port. On our last cruise, I was the first person in the terminal. I always feel like vacation officially starts when I walk through that door!

 

[J&ADisneyMom]

Welcome Kimberli. I have a five year old DD who plays shy at first, too. I don't think we'll make the dis meet, but you never know. What is your stateroom number?

Daytonamom, I need your room number too.

This is what we had to look forward to this morning. (you may have to copy and paste). It's still snowing and cold here. Many school south of me where closed or delayed today. My ds was very upset that our district was not included. I tried to call my mother all morning but their cable and power were out due to downed power lines. Oh, the joys of winter! My sister in FL had 38 this morning. Hope you Floridians will be warming up soon.

http://www.uticaod.com/homepage/x1588592370/Snowfall-predicted-later-today-Wednesday

My poor dog is sick and in the dog hospital today. They think she has some kind of intestinal infection. She has been vomiting for a couple days and not eating well. She's very active normally, but has only been laying around for two days. She's now hooked up to iv's and getting antibiotics. Hopefully she'll be able to come home tomorrow.

Shay are you flying over? If you have a car, I would pick up diapers, etc at Publix in Cocoa Beach. What time do you plan to arrive at the port?

Sandy, love the shirt. Make him keep it!

Shell

 

[Zandy595]

We haven't cruised since they started the boarding group numbers so forgive me if this is a dumb question... Does a family get a group # to themselves or are there a certain number of people in each group?


BTW, DH surprised me, he actually likes the shirt.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

One pass per family - who knows but there may be some extras floating around as the same people are likely to get fresh ones this year.

Chuck