12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[TXdeVille]

Shouldnt we be seeing a photo of someone's new tattoo?

EXACTLY!!!!

I'm beginning to think that we will never see it and of course now she is on holiday!!

Brenda, thanks for the well wishes about my English tart. She is so miserable being back home. Hung her laundry out on the line (no dryers) and it rained. She went to the pub to have a pint, make that three, and of course they don't have anything light so it was fattening. AND she has to stay with the in-laws until they find a house to rent. Bless her heart! I do plan on visiting her just don't know when. Wish it could be this year but I think it will have to wait. It would be expensive but perhaps I could go in 2012 when the Olympics are in London. I just want to see a REAL football game. Complete with the stadium experience.

As for the heat.....my badonkadonk has been in the 65 degree operating room most of the time so haven't felt it much. However, when I leave at 830 pm it is 100 degrees still. I think we have had 20+ days over 100. Thank goodness it has been drier than usual otherwise the humidity would have killed me!!! The hair is doing alright

Berry_disney_girl glad to have you. What room are you in? We have all posted ours and wanting to know who we can run up and down the hallway with. DH and I are going on our first cruise ever, as well as our kids DD 16 and DS 11. It is a surprise to them. How old is the rest of your fam?

As for the itinerary it really will put a damper on things for those of us that are pre-booking excursions. Although Brenda won't have to worry. She can make hers in a few days. I was thinking about booking something in Nassau but maybe I shouldn't now. When can we find out??? I guess Pirate Night will be on Christmas Day?? SOMEONE HELP!!!! Perhaps the dolphins can wait this time....

 

[AndymanGA]

So I am back doing bootcamp. Today was day 2. The humidity is so high even at 6 a.m. that we are dripping with sweat BEFORE we even get started.

 

[DisneyMama27]

Hi everyone! We JUST booked today - kind of "last-minute" for us, since we usually plan ahead. DH is turning 40, and decided he wanted to take the Disney Cruise! It will be our 1st cruise, and we are SO excited! All the Cat 4 rooms are booked, so we had to get 2 Cat 5 rooms, but that means even more space right? He said the verandah was a MUST, and it IS his birthday!

I have been reading your thread about the itinerary - I am curious too, since DH's b-day is the 27th. I want to be able to plan something fun for him, if we are going to be on an island that day. We thought that would be an "at-sea" day. Doesn't matter - all the days sound fun!

We are DVC members also (SSR and AKV), but are not using points for the cruise. We actually have a pretty unique itinerary pre/post cruise: DH and DS 10 will drive out on the 19-20. I teach 2nd grade and can't miss this Christmas party on the 19th, so DDs 7 and 9 will fly out with me on the 20th. We're all meeting at OKW for that night. The next day we will drive to Vero Beach for 3 nights. We've never been there and I have wanted to go for awhile. (We did Christmas week at WDW last year - it was a blast, but required a lot of scheduling.) We'll be cruising the 24th-28th with all of you happy sailors, then we have a night at SSR on the 28th. I liked the idea of bookending the trip with some Disney time, but we won't need a lot - we will be spending Thanksgiving week with my whole family (13 total) at SSR!

Anyway, I am happy to find this forum, and SO SO SO excited to be going on this cruise! We have talked about this for so long, I thought it would never happen!

 

[AndymanGA]

Welcome to our cruise DisneyMama

 

[DisneyMama27]

Welcome to our cruise DisneyMama

Thanks! I will be going back through this huge thread to get "caught up" on all the good trip info/tips. We are seasoned WDW travelers, but it's our first cruise. I spent hours tonight browsing the cruise boards, and now feel very confused.

What is a fish extender?

What is a door magnet?

I have read a lot about them and get the general gist, but haven't exactly found an explanation. Anyone know?

Thanks - I am sure I will be learning a lot in the next few weeks! It's very distracting, when I really should be getting things ready for school to start in a couple of weeks!!

 

[AndymanGA]

The door to your room is made of metal. Many people decorate the door with graphics, etc. with magnets on the back (tape not allowed). It makes your room easier to find for kids, etc. and allows you to show a little personality.

Fish Extender info can be found here
They have pictures of door magnets and fish extenders there and explain the history and purpose.

 

[brendalee59]

Welcome aboard Disneymama! Glad to have you with us for Christmas. I'm Brenda, yeah pretty obvious huh? You will find some pretty great folk here. At least I think they are. We tend to get a little silly and off topic from time to time,but in the words of my DD's favorite new boy band....that's just the way we roll I see Andy got you the info you needed. Thanks Andy

Courtney, I hope you are also enjoying the cooler temps and a little rain. Didn't have pirate night in 2000,so I can't be 100% certain.but I think it is on the night we leave Castaway Cay. Maybe Berrydisney will come back and let us know.

Andy, don't overdo it in all that heat and humidity. Sorry, the mom is coming out in me. We do want you to be ready for the race on CC,just want ya healthy too


The twins enrolled yesterday,and are ready for the first day of school on the 15th. Lindsey has been at all week working the swim team table. Silly girl seems to think she could talk me into letting her take her car without me.

Hope everyone is enjoying these last few days of school vacation. I'm off for my workout. Catch ya'll later

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Feels as if I've been gone forever. Hubby and I are nowhere near fully unpacked. Let me just say that going from 2500+ sq. ft. to 1350 is no easy task. It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Open a closet and the world comes tumbling out! Frankly, we're just so glad for spending time together after the recent 15 month deployment, we spend a lot of time out on the deck drinking beers at night when we should be working. Our view (I included the railing for perspective's sake):

 

[TXdeVille]

Thanks! I will be going back through this huge thread to get "caught up" on all the good trip info/tips. We are seasoned WDW travelers, but it's our first cruise. I spent hours tonight browsing the cruise boards, and now feel very confused.

What is a fish extender?

What is a door magnet?

I have read a lot about them and get the general gist, but haven't exactly found an explanation. Anyone know?

Thanks - I am sure I will be learning a lot in the next few weeks! It's very distracting, when I really should be getting things ready for school to start in a couple of weeks!!

First of all, welcome DisneyMama! I have a DS 11 so I'm sure they can hang out together in the Lab. This is our first cruise as well and we are AKV owners as well. We used points this time since we just joined and had incentives to help out with that. We will be staying pre-cruise at our home resort for a few days. I already have add-on-itis especially when they send great deals but it will need to wait. Besides they are offered add ons at AKV. I would want another resort so it could be my home too. I have always wanted to try Vero Beach. Let me know how it goes! Maybe next round we can head over there.

Courtney

 

[TXdeVille]

Nice view, Adrianna! Welcome back! You should definitely spend time with DH since he was gone for so long. Don't feel guilty at all. However, I don't envy you having to unpack while losing 1000sq ft.

Brenda, the temps haven't bothered us too much. It got slightly cooler the other day...only high 90's but got hot again. Today and tomorrow it is supposed to be cooler with some of that rain you guys have been getting. I only hope the front is allowed to come further south so that it really cools off.

We really should find out about the Pirate Night, etc. When will we know for sure? When we check in and embark???

I'm seriously trying to think about excursions and reservations, etc.

 

[TXdeVille]

Okay. So after finally finding out that Junkanoo is celebrated in the wee early mornings of December 26th....and someone mentioned that most places will be closed, what will be open?

Our back up plan should I decide not to do the dolphins would be a walking tour and the pirate museum. I am assuming the pirate museum would be closed. AND THEN....there is always the lack of cracked conch, BRENDA!!! Say it ain't so!!!

 

[TXdeVille]

So I know some of us older posters (not in age just here longer) have different dinner times. Some of us are early some are late. We never discussed linking dinner reservations. Is that possible and do we want to do it?

 

[drag n' fly]

Well 1600 miles later we are back! Here is that darn tattoo y'all keep harpin about. In the bottom of the petals is the first initial of each of my children and of course my not so hidden mickey lol. The sparkles and wings are translucent so they don't seem to show up well on camera. Just ignore those things that appear as stretch marks...must be a shadow Going for some finishing touches on Saturday.

 

[JoDale]

Newbies here. My family and I are booked for the Christmas cruise on the Wonder it is our first cruise ever and in addition to being Christmas, we will be celebrating my daughter's sweet 16th birthday.

 

[DisneyMama27]

Welcome, JoDale!

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone! My evening reading has been catching up on this thread so I can get to know y'all (yep, another Southern girl )... I am all the way to page 16 and am about to pass out! I'll have to read some more tomorrow!

Courtney, when does your DS turn 11? Mine turns 11 on 9/28... he'd love a buddy in the Lab. With 2 sisters, he's always outnumbered! BTW, I drive a Camry and DH drives a Tundra! Thought I would miss my Sequoia more, but 40mpg (it's a hybrid) sure dulls the pain!

We are in 2 rooms, Cat 5 or 6... TA is supposed to be working on room assignments. DCL could not guarantee adjoining rooms, but TA said he can do it. Hopefully we will know soon! We have 5 people, but they were out of Cat 4 rooms (I can't believe we booked so late...Adrianna, I am usually much more like you and PLAN PLAN PLAN!) so DH decided to splurge - it is his 40th b-day - and get two rooms. Gives us some "alone time" anyway - we'll put the kids next door. Our last non-DVC trip, we booked 2 rooms at POR and were spoiled for life. We bought DVC on that trip and have never looked back!

Happy News! DH called and booked Kidani Village at AKL for next June! Our families think we are insane... 3 Disney trips booked? DH thinks we will book a Magic Cruise while onboard. Anyone know of any "special cruises" in 2009? (like the Mx Riv, etc) We might have to wait till 2010.

Disney tripping is so addictive!

 

[DisneyMama27]

Oh yeah - ANDY, I read your article....

WOW. That's all I can say. Wow.

 

[drag n' fly]

Good morning everyone! Welcome to all the new arrivals!! Adrianna your view is beautiful!!!
21 more days until school starts

 

[brendalee59]

Goodness. We go for days without a single post then wham Welcome Jodale. Courtney and will both have 16 yr old daughters on the cruise. Mine turns 16 end of Nov,and Courtney's early Dec. Hopefully the girls will all click,and hang out together. But I'd never ever presume to suggest it to my DD

Good luck getting those room assignments Disneymama. I wish my DH would let me book like that. I have been told this is his last cruise for awhile. Guess that means I go without him

Annette Love the tattoo! And Mickey seems pretty hidden to me. 21 days? shoot the twins start school Friday!

Courtney. Last time ( I know, 8 years ago) All we saw were the rements of junkanoo. The bleachers were still set up,and the streets weren't cleaned. But most of the shops were open. As for knowing for certain. We didn't find out till the captain made the announcment just before the sail away. I don't know what to tell you. Are you booking the Dolphin Experience through DCL or private vender? I think I would go with the cruise line,that way they will make the change onboard if the captain does change the itinerary. We have early dinner. Last time( I know I know,but it's all the experience with DCL I have ) we had a table just for our family. We didn't ask for it that way. Just the way it worked. Until I found Disboards, I thought Disney didn't seat you with other families.

We didn't get much rain here. Just a little here and there. And while it did get cooler, the humidity was just awful. I think I preferred the 109 temps with low humidity, to the upper 80's with dewpoints in the high 70's

 

[AndymanGA]

Has anybody started a spread sheet with room number, number of kids, etc? Might be helpful...

 

[drag n' fly]

Has anybody started a spread sheet with room number, number of kids, etc? Might be helpful...

Ae you offering? It is a great idea but I am far too lazy, dh is an engineer he is the spreadsheet master! If no one else wants to do it I volunteer my dh.