12/19/2009 - 12/26/2009 Magical Christmas Cruise! It's not that far Away?

[itutorfortravel]

Robyn, I know how you must feel with the pressure to get things done...I only have to order and assemble my FE gifts, and I feel overwhelmed!

Dan, I'm glad you got the upgrades. Especially since you are taking Kathleen, whom you've said has never been on a vacation like this. It will be really nice for her!

I would love to get a call about an upgrade, but if I don't it's okay. Actually, if I don't, I hope I get cat 11's on deck 7. I love deck 7. We had a cat 5 on deck 7 aft on our last cruise and it's a great location. But we will have to see what happens. As disappointing as it's been to not have been offered an upgrade, I thought to myself today...am I so disappointed about this that I'd rather not go if I'm in a cat 12? And I answered myself - heck no! I am thrilled to be going on this trip. Thankfully we decided to book 2 cabins for the 4 of us, so even if we have inside cabins, we will have more space to spread out.

Anyone started a dry run of packing yet? I plan to get started on that in a few weeks. Right now I am keeping very busy with plans for a lowcountry boil we are hosting for 8 other couples. Just trying to get the house looking nice and planning the menu, etc. All of that amidst the excitement of impending cabin assignments, tutoring, and DD's social life!

Well, goodnight everyone!

Kimberly

 

[shannonetherton]

Kimberly I totally agree with you! I am just happy to be there! I adore deck seven! It so peaceful. Where are you located? I just giggled at the Low Country Boil as I am a Charleston girl and we do love a good Boil. I grew up with Frogmore Stew and freshly shucked oysters!! Enjoy your party!
Shannon

 

[Downrivermama]

Well guys, I'm official today was my last day!!!
I am taking a last vacation day tomorrow since dd has a 1/2 day of school. Monday will be my first official day of retirement. My department threw me a very nice luncheon. Disney/DCL themed! I'll have to post some pics. And well we had cake!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Kimberly I totally agree with you! I am just happy to be there! I adore deck seven! It so peaceful. Where are you located? I just giggled at the Low Country Boil as I am a Charleston girl and we do love a good Boil. I grew up with Frogmore Stew and freshly shucked oysters!! Enjoy your party!
Shannon

Shannon, are you serious...you're from Charleston?! ME TOO! I lived there for over 30 years and then moved to Charlotte with my DH and DD about 7 years ago...what part of Charleston did you live in? We lived in Mt. Pleasant...loved it!!!

By the way, I do not have an assigned stateroom. I booked a gty 12, but I would love to be assigned a cat 11 on deck 7...we'll just have to see.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Well guys, I'm official today was my last day!!!
I am taking a last vacation day tomorrow since dd has a 1/2 day of school. Monday will be my first official day of retirement. My department threw me a very nice luncheon. Disney/DCL themed! I'll have to post some pics. And well we had cake!

CONGRATULATIONS!

I can only imagine how you feel...

 

[lovesDCL]

Well guys, I'm official today was my last day!!!
I am taking a last vacation day tomorrow since dd has a 1/2 day of school. Monday will be my first official day of retirement. My department threw me a very nice luncheon. Disney/DCL themed! I'll have to post some pics. And well we had cake!

Congrats!!!

 

[robynchic]

Would you guys believe that I live near Savannah and haven't had a low country boil yet? Granted, I haven't even been here a year yet, but still!

I have had the opportunity to have a fantastic shellfish platter, though. My first oysters!

I'm thinking that I may need to go back there some time...

 

[Pluto 2]

Well guys, I'm official today was my last day!!!
I am taking a last vacation day tomorrow since dd has a 1/2 day of school. Monday will be my first official day of retirement. My department threw me a very nice luncheon. Disney/DCL themed! I'll have to post some pics. And well we had cake!

congratulations.

 

[shannonetherton]

Shannon, are you serious...you're from Charleston?! ME TOO! I lived there for over 30 years and then moved to Charlotte with my DH and DD about 7 years ago...what part of Charleston did you live in? We lived in Mt. Pleasant...loved it!!!

By the way, I do not have an assigned stateroom. I booked a gty 12, but I would love to be assigned a cat 11 on deck 7...we'll just have to see.

I was born at St. Francis and we lived in Summerville. We still have family there. We moved when I was a kid but I still hold strong and hard Charleston is my hometown. Heck my husband and I even got married there. It is the most lovely city I know!! To this day I HATE the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico (and I have a condo there) because they don't have marshes and they have no dark compacted sand!! I have already instilled a love of Charleston in my daughter! She asked the other day "Mom when can we go back to Charleston? I love that place!!" Charlotte is nice. It is like a baby Atlanta. After being in the ATL for 30 years I am beginning to get a little tired of it. I would pack my bags in two seconds flat if I could live in Charleston! Alas my husband's company is here. Oh well there is always retirement and I am much closer to Disney from here!! Can't wait to meet you!!

 

[itutorfortravel]

I was born at St. Francis and we lived in Summerville. We still have family there. We moved when I was a kid but I still hold strong and hard Charleston is my hometown. Heck my husband and I even got married there. It is the most lovely city I know!! To this day I HATE the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico (and I have a condo there) because they don't have marshes and they have no dark compacted sand!! I have already instilled a love of Charleston in my daughter! She asked the other day "Mom when can we go back to Charleston? I love that place!!" Charlotte is nice. It is like a baby Atlanta. After being in the ATL for 30 years I am beginning to get a little tired of it. I would pack my bags in two seconds flat if I could live in Charleston! Alas my husband's company is here. Oh well there is always retirement and I am much closer to Disney from here!! Can't wait to meet you!!

Sounds like we have a lot in common! I also lived in S'ville for awhile as a child. And DH and I also got married in Charleston.

How far is it from Atlanta to Port Canaveral? My cousin lives in Atlanta and I just found out that another cousin is moving there within the next month...we may have to make a trip over there sometime soon. I have not been to Atlanta in many years. We had actually talked about taking DD to the American Girl store in Alpharetta for her birthday next year. Have you been? Is it wonderful? She's just started talking about the AG dolls, and Santa may have to add that to his list

 

[shannonetherton]

The American Girl Store is very cute. If you have been to the one in NYC it seems very small but not quite as overwhelming. Our Aquarium prety much rocks and there are other fun things to do. You can combine the GA Aquarium with the World of Coke for a fun outing as they are right next to each other and within walkign distance of CNN and good places to eat. I would be happy to help you find some fun stuff to do! We went through an American Girl phase but is has passed! I lugged one all the way home from NYC!!! Crazy! It is about 7 hours to the port from here. I just checked Charleston is closer. A whole other reason I need to move back there!!

 

[3DAN]

Congratulations, Tina!!!!!
Can I ask you guys a question?
I am debating getting ressies on the Disney Dream. I can do that tomorrow. Problem is, I am not sure if and or what to get. I can book through DVC, but that is a bad use of points. I know they are booking for gold members tomorrow. And then when???? and how many days??? Billy will , hopefully, be in college. That will not likely be a problem. Kristen, however, will be in the tenth grade in 2011. Christmas, Spring break, summer, I just don't know. Any ideas???? It seems too far off for me to know.
Bill

 

[bpescar]

We are talking abot ressies for the Dream as well. I am debating Christmas over summer. I usually have my best break over Christmas. So that is probaly what we will do. I usually teach during Summer. However with the cuts to college classes I have no idea what 2011 will look like. It is a hard decision. The weather is great over Christmas. I guess we will have to just roll the dice!

 

[3DAN]

I don't know what to do. Maybe nothing. Money is tight. Got to worry about Billy. A computer in the office went out tonight. We will have to rebuild it. Just more time problems. Not enough of it. And to top it off, this thread is on page 2. Got to bump it up. Maybe some of my friends will cheer me up.


Straight from that famous restaurant, the Copa Banana.
Bill

 

[stichlover87]

I started substituting on Friday...I am so excited to be finally working! Hopefully this will help me get a teaching job next school year I also signed my lease for my first apartment...I can't wait to move in!

 

[Peaceableone]

Hey Bill... I haven't even thought of the Dream. We have the Panama crossing booked. We tried for a Kids Sail free for April and that didnt pan out. So, at this point we are waiting. In order for us to travel, we have to have the money up front. So, I'm sure we don't have the money ready yet, so, no traveling for us. I was taking to some financial people and they were very honest with hubby and I, the millionaires they work with, drive everyday cars and pay cash for everything. Not that I'm going to be a millionaire, but, I try to pay cash for everything too. One time I had a bill hanging over my head, and the constant worry I had about paying it off.. it was not worth it. The Dream isn't going anywhere..it will be around. Maybe you are on it when all the kinks are worked out and when the 'good' rooms are identified, etc. Just one perspective. (Almost forgot to give you some DB's -- ) Keep Smiling

Stitchlover87! Congrats on your substituing. Nothing like having some money come in the door. I know nothing about teaching or raising kids (I can't believe they didn't come with a manual ). I'm learning everyday. Being around kids like you will be, sure will shine a new light on what you learn and see from their perspective . Have fun.

Can you guys believe our trip is just over a month away! OMGosh! I have one FE 99% complete. I have a prototype of the other two. I worked on my FE (the holder) this weekend and made great progress. I'm happy -- I decided to put a clear see through pocket at the top so that I could print out a Family Name and Cruise Information and slip it in the pocket. So, each cruise we go on (wow, look we are planning more ) we can customize the trip info, put our cabin number, etc.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Good morning everyone!

I am not booking the Dream anytime soon either. My thoughts are that it will be incredibily expensive and I am too cheap to pay what they'll be asking - LOL! I am a relentless bargain shopper That's how my family is able to get on DCL and to WDW as much as we have...which I know is not much compared to some other people, but our friends cannot believe how much we've gone or how we can possibly afford to go as much as we do. Like I said, I'm a bargain shopper...working part-time helps some as does cleaning my own house (tho I really hate that!!!) using coupons, shopping sales, etc. Anyhow, I like the longer itineraries anyway so I will probably wait for the ship coming in 2012 and likely will not be sailing on that until it's been in the water one or two years. So it will either be the Magic for us again in the next couple years or another cruise line (dare I say that?!) or we have also talked about flying to St. Thomas for a land vacation. It all remains to be seen.

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! DD had a good time going out with her dad and some friends. We did not have as many trick-or-treaters as we have in prior years. I couldn't believe it given it was a Saturday night. The weather was fine where we were, too. I definitely have to cut back on the candy next year because now I am eating it! And that is not what I need to be doing 7 weeks before a non-stop feeding frenzy on a cruise ship!!!

Have a great day everyone

Kimberly

 

[itutorfortravel]

Hey everyone! I've been lurking around other meet threads and noticed that some came up with a slogan for their cruise and then put together an image that they can all print out for door magnets, etc.

I'm not artistic in the least but just wondered if there is any interest here on coming up with a slogan for our sailing and if anyone knows a cute image we could use to put together a design for door magnets? There are some talented people on the DIS that will customize images for others, so maybe there is already a cute image out there and we could get them to customize that for us so we could all make our own door magnets. That would be another way to recognize each other's cabins when doing FE deliveries.

Just a thought!

 

[shannonetherton]

Kimberly we are cut from the same cloth!! I am super cheap myself. Hence my cat 12 on this sailing. It was $3K less than the Cat 11 that I will probably end up in! I really only book when I can find an amazing deal and I will search until I find it. I am waiting on the dream unless we can book a trip with customers that the company pays for! I also prefer a seven day trip so it will be a while for me. I know it will be amazing but we also need to get out there and try new things ourselves. I would really like to do a CA visit with the National Parks thrown in now that Emily is almost ten and ready to really explore.
Kimberly have you tried Southernsavers.com? It is my favorite couponing site for the south!

We are getting so close!!

 

[bpescar]

That is a great idea! Let's start thinking of slogans. Mark's suggestion:Castaway Cay Ski Team. Another idea: Holiday on the Water

By the way are we still doing the wristbands Bill?