12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[adrianna_sarah]

All-

The universe has given me a big fat 'no' on adding a couple of extra days to my trip. Apparently Northwest and Midwest are not currently offering partner travel with one another (though my tickets are still good) and I am stuck traveling Midwest because of the one ticket I actually paid for. I did finally get an answer from Midwest about the schedule change. I was told the change was based on their summer schedule and that this far out there could still be a couple more schedule changes and the addition of another afternoon direct flight, so potentially we will be okay. If we have to, we'll take them up on the 1 day bump forward and go visit the Kennedy Space Center. I'm going to let it go for now. The universe always seems to come together regarding these things.

As far as concierge, I think it's a smart idea. For us, it was usually about $125 over the room charge in that category when I was pricing the different deluxes. We have spent that much on a character breakfast alone at Cindy's, so to be able to snack all day long on that is a good deal! Might be a higher charge for you with the bigger kids though.

Anyway thanks for all of the encouragement. I was kind of getting excited about the idea of two more relaxing days at the world. Now I have to go see my in-laws for New Years! I no longer have an excuse not to.

 

[brendalee59]

I'm sorry you aren't going to get your extra days in. I was pulling for you.
Hopefully the airline will change the schedule so it works for your family.

I think I'll email my DU agent and have her check on cost to upgrade.Another good thing about going club level, we'll know what building we will be in. Which brings out another delimma. I requested a building close to TTC. It is the only building that has two sinks in the bathroom,and is on a mostly desserted beach.( alot of folks don't know it's there ) Of course we all know a request is just that. We may or may not get what we want. Oh I hate decisions
Ok ladies, I'm off to bed. Nitey nite

 

[brendalee59]

Good morning.

I emailed my DU agent this morning. If it is cost effective, we may upgrade to club level.

I'm getting in the Disney frame of mind. I ordered a Mickey Aloha t-shirt,and a Mickey faux suede windbreaker for me. I also ordered an Ariel and Friends beach towel for Lindsey. I still have my windbreaker from our last visit, but it's way too big

Adrianna, close those windows. West Texas is supposed to come for a vist this afternoon Don't you just love orange skies?

I'm off to Lowes for a new hummingbird feeder and some flowers. My feeder broke while I was cleaning it last night, and my flowers haven't bloomed yet. My poor hummers are hungry

Catch ya later. Have a great day!

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Sheesh Brenda!

I have been sneezing all day. What the heck is pollinating right now? This is my third spring in OK and my allergies have never been this bad before.

*%#@%*ing Oklahoma! Just kidding. You know I love it here.

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

Sheesh Brenda!

I have been sneezing all day. What the heck is pollinating right now? This is my third spring in OK and my allergies have never been this bad before.

*%#@%*ing Oklahoma! Just kidding. You know I love it here.

Adrianna

everything Seriously though, it is bad. DS takes 2 allergy shots every week. This is his second year, and he is still sneezing and coughing like crazy.
I just got off the phone with DH. He's snowed in east of Denver. He was in western Kansas this morning, and was considering shorts for the day. Now he's in a white out

 

[TXdeVille]

I ordered a Mickey Aloha t-shirt,and a Mickey faux suede windbreaker for me. I also ordered an Ariel and Friends beach towel for Lindsey.

Where are you shopping from? I know I need to start doing all this, especially with upcoming extra money that I will have this summer from being in the OR from 7a to 7a. JK. Almost that long. Seems like that sometimes. What else do you suggest on making sure I have? How do I buy needed stuff for the kids without them having to ask why? Still keeping it a secret

Brenda and Adrianna....no joke about the allergies. It has been bad here as well. SOOOOO windy yesterday. Everyone is sneezing their backsides off and some of us are even losing our voices (sometimes people enjoy that). I hate those brown-outs. Thank goodness we haven't had one this year so far. Knock on wood.

 

[brendalee59]

I ordered a Mickey Aloha t-shirt,and a Mickey faux suede windbreaker for me. I also ordered an Ariel and Friends beach towel for Lindsey.

Where are you shopping from? I know I need to start doing all this, especially with upcoming extra money that I will have this summer from being in the OR from 7a to 7a. JK. Almost that long. Seems like that sometimes. What else do you suggest on making sure I have? How do I buy needed stuff for the kids without them having to ask why? Still keeping it a secret

Brenda and Adrianna....no joke about the allergies. It has been bad here as well. SOOOOO windy yesterday. Everyone is sneezing their backsides off and some of us are even losing our voices (sometimes people enjoy that). I hate those brown-outs. Thank goodness we haven't had one this year so far. Knock on wood.

The Disney Store online. Would you believe I got all three items for $45.00? Thanks to a promo code. Now I just hope it's "true Disney" as in well made. As for the kids stuff. Could you have it shipped to a friends house? It's been very windy here too. So far west Texas is staying put though.

 

[MorganR]

So when are y'all going on the cruise?

 

[drag n' fly]

So when are y'all going on the cruise?

December 24-28

 

[drag n' fly]

Good morning ladies. Well the weather is finally warming up somewhat. Yesterday I started all my annuals in peat pots in the house so they will be ready for planting near the end of the month. We are doing the REAS pkg. I contacted DCL yesterday and was able to switch our Palo dinner to the brunch which is what we wanted. I finally ponied up the coin for trip insurance last night. Have a great day and great weekend.

Annette

 

[adrianna_sarah]

We toyed with the idea of the REAS package simply for the priority bookings, but decided against it. Hopefully being Castaway Club members will allow us to book early enough to have book brunch. We'd rather have the dinner, but feel guilty about ditching our kids on Christmas Eve or Christmas Night. We for sure don't want to miss Pirate Night on the 26th and the 27th should be Triton's (never been on the Wonder before so can't miss that), assuming we get PAAT which I assume we will since our kiddos are little. That leaves us with brunch. When our booking window on the Magic opened at the 75 day mark, all the brunch and high tea slots were already filled.

We never did get to try Palo, so keep your fingers crossed for us this time!

 

[drag n' fly]

We toyed with the idea of the REAS package simply for the priority bookings, but decided against it. Hopefully being Castaway Club members will allow us to book early enough to have book brunch. We'd rather have the dinner, but feel guilty about ditching our kids on Christmas Eve or Christmas Night. We for sure don't want to miss Pirate Night on the 26th and the 27th should be Triton's (never been on the Wonder before so can't miss that), assuming we get PAAT which I assume we will since our kiddos are little. That leaves us with brunch. When our booking window on the Magic opened at the 75 day mark, all the brunch and high tea slots were already filled.

We never did get to try Palo, so keep your fingers crossed for us this time!

Oh I am sure it will pan out! We did not want to miss any dinners with our kids either including pirate night that is why we moved it to a brunch. I also thought the view up there would be nicer during the day than at night. What would the rotation be for the second seating? I wonder what they do for Christmas day. Do they have a special menu?

 

[adrianna_sarah]

4 day cruise
TAAP 5:30 and 8:00
APPT 5:45 and 8:15
PTTA 6:00 and 8:30

Hey, I misspoke! This is from the info thread. They try to group all the people with little kids into the the TAAP. (Woo-hoo, this means we can do Palo on the last night, as Parrot Cay is my least favorite restaurant!!!) The people with older kids get APPT, and the all adult parties usually get PTTA. They stick pretty close to this rotation whenever possible so that the all adult parties don't have to put up with crying babies, etc. IT is not 100% certain, but a pretty good guesstimate.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

I read somewhere else (can't remember where) that the do a special Christmas dinner wiith ham, turkey, stuffing, that kids of thing. Brenda, can you remember what they did on your XMas cruise in 2000?

Adrianna

 

[brendalee59]

Good morning ladies. Well the weather is finally warming up somewhat. Yesterday I started all my annuals in peat pots in the house so they will be ready for planting near the end of the month. We are doing the REAS pkg. I contacted DCL yesterday and was able to switch our Palo dinner to the brunch which is what we wanted. I finally ponied up the coin for trip insurance last night. Have a great day and great weekend.

Annette

OMG am I ever going to be busy this weekend. I had some time to kill while waiting for the dr office to open after lunch,so I went to Lowes. They had their 6pk of annuals .10 each! Let's just say I'm going to be up to my elbows in dirt all weekend I also got two 4 gal pots,one Salvia, one Hibisus, and one Mandivilla(sp). And 7 two gal pots. Can't remember what they were. Something for my hummingbirds. Our patio table is crammed full

 

[brendalee59]

I read somewhere else (can't remember where) that the do a special Christmas dinner wiith ham, turkey, stuffing, that kids of thing. Brenda, can you remember what they did on your XMas cruise in 2000?

Adrianna

I'm trying to remember. I think it was on the menu if you wanted it,but they also had the usual choices too.

I don't know if we will do Palo. Haven't discussed it with Dale yet. Let me see if I can figure this out. Adrianna, you said families with older children have APPT? Is the second Parrot Cay also Pirate Night? We have first dining,do you think we would be finished with dinner before the fun starts?
Ok got to run back to town, and pick up some stuff I forgot. See ya later

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Brenda-

That would be the general rule, but with kids as old as yours, you could end up with the all adult rotation. They have to keep them balanced and I expect that the number of true all adult parties would be fewer on a Christmas Cruise. Again it's not 100% but even PassPorter says it's the general rule. Pirate Night is always the third night unless our special Christmas itinerary messes with that. The pic of my kids in my signature are their Hook and Tink costumes that they wore for Halloween and on the Magic for Pirate Night. Hopefull they'll still fit in December. I an thinking of ordering a custom Wendy costume for myself from Kelly Costumes.

Cheers,
Adrianna

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Is the second Parrot Cay also Pirate Night? We have first dining,do you think we would be finished with dinner before the fun starts?

The dinner was a big pirate shindig and then there was a big party on Deck 9 much later, like 10:00... after hubby and the kids were in bed. I am thinking that this was the fireworks night as well and remember sitting out on my balcony watching them. They shoot them off the starboard side. I went up for a little while to check out the midnight dessert bar at the deck party, but didn't stay for long.

Adrianna

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that regardless of where you are dining on "Pirates in the Carribean" night, the entire ship eats from the same menu. Everything on it has a pirate-ish name like Mr. Smee's Bib Lettuce Salad. The dress for the evening in "pirate casual" and most everyone dresses up, so remember that when pirate Halloween costumes are 50% off. They come around selling special light up Hook and Tink cups. Unfortunately, we hit super rough seas that night and most of the dining room left before the main course was served. My son yakked at the table and my husband took him back to the room. Our Assistant Server was good enough to deliver the boys' dinner up to our room and the baby and I finished up in the dining room.

 

[brendalee59]

Brenda-

That would be the general rule, but with kids as old as yours, you could end up with the all adult rotation. They have to keep them balanced and I expect that the number of true all adult parties would be fewer on a Christmas Cruise. Again it's not 100% but even PassPorter says it's the general rule. Pirate Night is always the third night unless our special Christmas itinerary messes with that. The pic of my kids in my signature are their Hook and Tink costumes that they wore for Halloween and on the Magic for Pirate Night. Hopefull they'll still fit in December. I an thinking of ordering a custom Wendy costume for myself from Kelly Costumes.

Cheers,
Adrianna

I was wondering if they would consider the twins adults for dinner. That's ok, works for me. We won't know till just before sailaway if we will have a special itinerary. It's completely up to the captain. I just know we did in 2000. I doubt any of my family will dress up for pirate night. I think it would be fun, but can't see Dale or Michael doing it. Lindsey might,but not 100% sure.
You children's costumes are adorable. Can you see the fireworks from a midship starboard balcony? I have read it can get pretty crowded on deck. It would be nice to watch them while relaxing on our balcony.