12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[adrianna_sarah]

Brenda-

Academic Hts, land of the big-cheeses, but by luck and not rank, we just hit the top of the list at the right time. Most of my husbands peers live on Upton. Probably the biggest house we'll live in for a few years. Depending on which neighborhood we get at Leavenworth, we'll be moving into 1500-1800 sq. ft. Going to have to get rid of some stuff.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

Brenda-

Academic Hts, land of the big-cheeses, but by luck and not rank, we just hit the top of the list at the right time. Most of my husbands peers live on Upton. Probably the biggest house we'll live in for a few years. Depending on which neighborhood we get at Leavenworth, we'll be moving into 1500-1800 sq. ft. Going to have to get rid of some stuff.

Adrianna

Ahhh, is this over by Sheridan House? Dale moved four post commanders in and out of there. If not there, I'd guess behind the firestation.
I love those old buildings. Except when I had to pack one out. There's alot of stairs

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Ahhh, is this over by Sheridan House? Dale moved four post commanders in and out of there. If not there, I'd guess behind the firestation.
I love those old buildings. Except when I had to pack one out. There's alot of stairs

By Butner House. And yes, there are a lot of stairs! But I love it. The house is about 80 years old. They just don't make them like this anymore. All hardwood floors, maid's quarters, an entry vestibule-modern homebuilders would call this "wasted space". We feel very lucky to be living in a piece of history, even if we only got to call it home for a couple of years.

I'm off to bed. I got precisiely nothing done tonight, besides the dishes. I have no motivation.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

By Butner House. And yes, there are a lot of stairs! But I love it. The house is about 80 years old. They just don't make them like this anymore. All hardwood floors, maid's quarters, an entry vestibule-modern homebuilders would call this "wasted space". We feel very lucky to be living in a piece of history, even if we only got to call it home for a couple of years.

I'm off to bed. I got precisiely nothing done tonight, besides the dishes. I have no motivation.

Adrianna

Yes. The third floor maid's quarters. Packed many in my days of helping Dale. I remember wishing we could live in a house like those. I wanted to set up a cozy reading area in the sleeping porch. And the entry is great for wet,and/or muddy shoes. I wouldn't change a thing about those old houses. Except the kitchens. Unless they changed in the past several years, they could use some updating.
Tomorrow is another day. Hopefully, you will feel more like cleaning then.
Nitey Nite.

 

[TXdeVille]

Adrianna,
Your place sounds wonderful! I am envisioning it now and I always wanted a house like that myself. There is so much I would do with it. Of course a kitchen update would be absolutely necessary.

As for the ressies, my 7 month mark was Saturday and I forgot about it until the office was already closed for the day. So I called Sunday. Guess I could call again and check it out. I know Annette is staying at AKV with me. Couldn't hurt, right? Perhaps they will have something. Someone once told me that I would be lucky to get anything on the DVC side of Wilderness Lodge during Christmas. If we didn't mind using the extra points for the 1 BR I would love to stay there but for three nights? Doesn't seem worth it. Besides I don't want to take too much from next year's vacation.

Brenda-
I have checked out the menus at all ears. That's what helped me last time with my decisions on where we were to eat in January. It's a great thing. DH loved Boma's breakfast when we ate there. He'll probably want to eat there again.

 

[TXdeVille]

Hi Courtney-

Was today the first day of your 7 month window? It might pay to call back tomorrow first thing. I am sure there was a lot of scrambling today as people shifted to their first choices and I am thinking that I read that released rooms don't go back into inventory until the next morning. You were the one who talked me into all those splendid decorations at WL, after all.

Adrianna

Don't have time to call MS right now to ask about the VWL lodge thing. Gotta go do surgery. But I submitted a request form online. First time I have ever done that. We'll see what happens. May call tomorrow anyways. If I don't get called in or forget.....

 

[TXdeVille]

One more thing before we start at work....
I don't recall if I ever posted it here or not but I did elsewhere and didn't get much of a response. Thought you guys might be able to help out. As of now (and with the current airfare and extra fee issues) we are planning on driving to FL. Normally once our stay at the resort was done we would drive the car over to the port. Haven't decided yet if the kids will find out at dinner the night before or as we arrive at the port. Guess that depends on this....I had a thought to utilize a limo to take us to port and return us to the resort when we come back. Do you think there would be a problem leaving our car at the resort? What's your opinion/advice??

 

[AndymanGA]

Still waiting for the FE explanation... or did I miss it?

Welcome Caroline.

 

[TXdeVille]

Still waiting for the FE explanation... or did I miss it?

Welcome Caroline.

Andy,

I think someone may have given a brief synopsis of it but here is a link that will really help out.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

There are a few others but this one really helps explain. You can do a search in the forums for threads that involve it as well.

 

[brendalee59]

Good afternoon everyone.
It sure is hot today.. The grandkids came over so we've all been hanging out in the pool. I ordered pizza and thought I'd take a minute to check in.
Good luck getting your ressie changed Courtney. I have no idea how to do any of that. I just emailed DU and booked the cruise,and they took care of the rest. Just the way I like it. Someone else doing all the work. Shoot, she is even going to make our ADR's,and get tickets to Cirque. Hi Andy, Glad courtney could help you out with a link. It takes me forever to search for anything. I had a moment of insanity while reading that thread. I actually thought"Gee, I can probably make on of those fish extenders" Then I slapped myself back into reality

 

[chhall28]

Wow ... you guys are awesome! Really looking forward to meeting you. Adrianna ... glad to see that our methods of clean are the same! I don't think I've seen REALLY clean since Arianna was born ... she's quite the personality and demands more time than I can part with sometimes. Brenda ... I read your story about the rest of the family ... sorry that didn't work out. Glad you still decided to go though! You are going to love that big room! My brother is staying in one of the one bedroom suites. They look beautiful! Not sure what the name is of TxdeVille ... so if you could tell me that would be great! Thanks for the welcome though. My husband picked out Arianna's name ... picked it when he was a teenager. Funny you say your son is like two kids ... my husband will probably get along splendidly with him. He is EXACTLY the same! Yes! Add me to the FE club! I'd love to participate! Just tell me what we're going to do and I'm in. I'll start looking on ebay today! OK ... better put some dishes in the dishwasher so it looks like I got SOMETHING done!

 

[brendalee59]

Wow ... you guys are awesome! Really looking forward to meeting you. Adrianna ... glad to see that our methods of clean are the same! I don't think I've seen REALLY clean since Arianna was born ... she's quite the personality and demands more time than I can part with sometimes. Brenda ... I read your story about the rest of the family ... sorry that didn't work out. Glad you still decided to go though! You are going to love that big room! My brother is staying in one of the one bedroom suites. They look beautiful! Not sure what the name is of TxdeVille ... so if you could tell me that would be great! Thanks for the welcome though. My husband picked out Arianna's name ... picked it when he was a teenager. Funny you say your son is like two kids ... my husband will probably get along splendidly with him. He is EXACTLY the same! Yes! Add me to the FE club! I'd love to participate! Just tell me what we're going to do and I'm in. I'll start looking on ebay today! OK ... better put some dishes in the dishwasher so it looks like I got SOMETHING done!

Thanks Caroline. I'm sure we will enjoy the room. Esp after a four day WDW stay. I remember how bad my feet and back hurt last time,and that was 8 years ago Dale and I may very well sit on our balcony the whole cruise. I'm hoping the twins will actually get involved in some of the teen activities. On our last cruise in 2006,Michael stayed in the room and watched TV most of the time. Lindsey's best friend went with us so they did things, just not with the teen group. Neither of them are comfortable meeting new people. I'm hoping that Aloft is so cool, they will want to hang out in there.

TxdeVille is Courtney.
Drag n'fly is Annette
You got Adrianna
And last but never least, is
AndymanGA hmmmm Andy right?


That's the gang so far.

 

[chhall28]

Thanks, Brenda! I think it's great that so many of you are spending time at the parks before the cruise. I have a sister that lives in Orlando, so we're coming down a few days early to spend some time with her. I use to live in Daytona Beach, so I'm hoping to look up a few friends while I'm there too. Thanks for the names! I was trying to figure everyone out, but some of you have been around so long that you have to go WAYYYY back to find the actual names.

 

[brendalee59]

Thanks, Brenda! I think it's great that so many of you are spending time at the parks before the cruise. I have a sister that lives in Orlando, so we're coming down a few days early to spend some time with her. I use to live in Daytona Beach, so I'm hoping to look up a few friends while I'm there too. Thanks for the names! I was trying to figure everyone out, but some of you have been around so long that you have to go WAYYYY back to find the actual names.

You are welcome. I actually waited over a year to even post a cruise meet thread. Then it was months before anyone came along. We booked this vacation cruise in Dec of 06. (for Christmas 07)Then transferred to the 08 itinerary as soon as bookings opened. We've been waiting a LONG time.
Catching up with old friends a few days before sounds like fun.

 

[TXdeVille]

Okay...here is a little poll. I was sniffing some candles while waiting for DD's driver's ed class to finish. I remember a couple of years ago there was a study that was done in regards to smells that men and women liked. Thought I would do my own.

What smells/fragrance do you find most appealing or welcoming or whatever?

Caroline, sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Courtney as Brenda already so kindly told you. Yes, DH is a big kid. He once told me to quit acting like his mom and I told him to quit acting like he needed one. We both laughed. This is usually him . This is what he wants again except on a Harley. And this... only he's not that smooth of a dancer. But we were walking in Six Flags the other day and started doing a little country swing. He was surprisingly good at that. Hmmmm.....gives me an idea.

Brenda, I don't know if it is possible for others to do it but sometimes changing ressies if I use my DVC points can be pretty darn simple. If rooms are available. I just call. They look. I switch.

 

[drag n' fly]

Thanks, Brenda! I think it's great that so many of you are spending time at the parks before the cruise. I have a sister that lives in Orlando, so we're coming down a few days early to spend some time with her. I use to live in Daytona Beach, so I'm hoping to look up a few friends while I'm there too. Thanks for the names! I was trying to figure everyone out, but some of you have been around so long that you have to go WAYYYY back to find the actual names.

Hi Caroline glad to have you aboard!!
It finally stopped raining. I almost need a swather to cut the grass Sounds like everyone's holiday plans are chugging along nicely.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Hmmm... okay in candles I like smells that are only meant to smell like one note. For example, if it has a name like "Fresh Laundry" or "Night Sky" they always smell chemical to me. I like the citruses and plumeria, cinnamon in the fall and pine in the winter.

My all time favorite scent is bergamot, though. It is what gives Earl Grey tea it's yummy scent. It is actually a little tiny orange-like fruit that is used as an undertone in a lot of men's colognes.

Now thinking of colognes-for Christmas last year, I bought my husband the coolest thing for Christmas. At Sephora, for $50 you could buy a box with 10 deluxe sized men's cologne samples and the box included a gift certificate that could be redeemed for a full sized bottle of his favorite. We took the box on our Disney Cruise and he wore a different on every night. Our favorite was Blue Sugar, which I swear smells like caramel, licorice and baby powder, but it makes me weak in the knees.

Adrianna

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Andy and Caroline-

Where are you guys on the ship?

Adrianna

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Hi Caroline glad to have you aboard!!
It finally stopped raining. I almost need a swather to cut the grass Sounds like everyone's holiday plans are chugging along nicely.

Hope your eye is feeling better. Can you switch out the piercings or will it close if you try?

Adrianna

 

[chhall28]

Brenda ... I didn't book my cruise quite as early as you, but we did book it almost a year ago. Just took me a while to stop snooping and start posting I can't wait to see my son react to seeing the actual ship ... I think he'll say ... Wow ... it's beautiful! That's how he reacts to everything amazing.

Courtney ... great to meet you! Looking forward to cruising with you this Christmas! Can't believe it's getting so close! We still have to figure out how we're getting down there. We are going back and forth between train, plane and automobile. The train would be so fun and the kids would love it, but it takes a long time! We're traveling down from Michigan so you have to go to Washington D.C. first and then down to Orlando. I remember that study you're talking about Brenda. I think it was vanilla for women and cinnamon for men. I have both candles here and sometimes burn both scents at the same time! Sounds like our husbands our very similar. Mine drives a motocross bike and has been after me for a couple years now to get a Harley. With gas prices the way they are he may just be getting one in the next year!

Thanks for the welcome Annette and Andy! Look forward to chatting with you!

Adrianna ... we are in stateroom 7514. Wasn't quite ready to do a deck with the kids, but wanted a big porthole for the view. Arianna is all attitude and I know she would be trying to climb off the ship every chance she got!

Well ... have to get ready to go to another graduation party. This one is in Kokomo for my sister. Kenny (my DH) leaves tomorrow for Italy for a week and then we get to spend a week in Savannah. I should have lots of down time this week to scrapbook and post!