12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[brendalee59]

I think we will walk to Florida.

you best plan on leaving early...you know the ship won't wait

 

[brendalee59]

I know I shouldn't say this for fear of the JINX, but once you are driving into DFW, it makes more sense. Not to say I haven't gotten turned around, but it's always been about parking. I am still scared of that place, but I always manage to find the right terminal - and I am severely "directionally challenged", just ask DH!

We are doing a tree, of course, but DH had to give up his Clark Griswold days when he developed a herniated disc. I'm too chicken to climb on the roof, so our Christmas decor is all safely on the ground. Christmas tree is pretty important to me, so that will go up as soon as we get back from Thanksgiving. We'll take it down after the trip. I like to enjoy as long as possible! I'm a Christmas nut, though.

Just realized how quickly this is coming - counting days or weeks still sounds longer, but when I looked and saw one weekend before our Thx. trip, and two more after -and then the cruise - kind of freaked me out! I'm going to have to do some shopping in here somewhere, and those 2 Dec. weekends are DD's Nutcracker ballet performances! Yikes! I have a feeling December will be a whirlwind!

Since we are staying at the airport Hyatt the night before, hopefully we will be able map out a course from the hotel so we can repeat it the next morning Then hope like crazy they don't change terminals on us

Yeah, I can see the next 6 weeks going in a blur. Haven't decided if that's a good thing or not

I need to do some shopping as well. Lindsey and I are ok, but the guys need some new things for the trip.
Need to get reservations for the dogs at the kennel, plan out what outfits and shoes to bring. I used to just bring everything I thought I might wear.That isn't gonna work this time around.
I better shut up. I'm beginning to scare myself silly

 

[brendalee59]

Just ran across this on Seatrade. Couldn't get over here to post it fast enough..

Disney outlines holiday sailing extras
11/11/2008
Disney Cruise Line outlined holiday activities on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, starting Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving and continuing through to the New Year.
Turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas feasts, ‘snow flurries’ and New Year’s Eve galas are planned.

Activities will include a nightly ‘King Triton’s Tree Lighting’ in the atrium lobby, a daily afternoon pool party with Santa and Mrs. Claus, family crafts-making and holiday story-telling (with traditions from Hanukkah and Kwaanza to the Bahamian Junkanoo).

Disney characters will be in holiday attire to greet embarking passengers at Port Canaveral, and Castaway Cay will have decorations and carolers.

Holiday sailings begin with a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Disney Magic Nov. 22 and a four-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Wonder Nov. 26.

 

[drag n' fly]

sweetorama...thanks B

 

[drag n' fly]

I was reading on another thread (thx! lbgraves..mod) that this Disney movie "Bedtime Stories" which is being released on Christmas Day will be shown on the boat.

"Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson's life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He attempts to take advantage of the phenomenon, incorporating his own aspirations into one outlandish tale after another, but it's the kids' unexpected contributions that turn Skeeter's life upside down"

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809973784/video/10420964

 

[AndymanGA]

I was reading on another thread (thx! lbgraves..mod) that this Disney movie "Bedtime Stories" which is being released on Christmas Day will be shown on the boat.

I've been looking forward to this movie. Love Sandler. When I did daddy boot camp (before Bryson's birth), the instructor looked like him and was kinda wacky, too. Made that class fun

 

[brendalee59]

I was reading on another thread (thx! lbgraves..mod) that this Disney movie "Bedtime Stories" which is being released on Christmas Day will be shown on the boat.

"Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson's life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He attempts to take advantage of the phenomenon, incorporating his own aspirations into one outlandish tale after another, but it's the kids' unexpected contributions that turn Skeeter's life upside down"

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809973784/video/10420964

DUH...I posted this weeks ago when I saw the trailer on TV, Some of us are a little slower than others But we love ya anyway Yeah, it premiers on Christmas Day,so if DCL does the same thing they did on our last Christmas cruise, they will premier it on Christmas Eve, so we get to see it before the rest of the world The twins still brag about seeing the Emperors New Groove before it was released in the theaters. They are equally excited to see this one . Adam Sandler is a favorite of our family too Andy. They all think it is awesome that the premier showing is one of his movies instead of an animated movie...even though they like those too.

Have a wonderful Wed.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

I just logged into my reservation on the DCL site and my waitlist request for main (early) dining has been granted! Happy news!

 

[brendalee59]

I just logged into my reservation on the DCL site and my waitlist request for main (early) dining has been granted! Happy news!

Whooohooo! Congratulations Adrianna! I know you have been waiting for this a long time. Now I don't have to feel guility cause Dale wouldn't give up our early seating so I could give it to you

 

[hkatmom]

I just logged into my reservation on the DCL site and my waitlist request for main (early) dining has been granted! Happy news!

That is great news. I am so ready for this cruise. It has been a long week. My DD and I may both have surgery before we go. Her a tonselectomy and me a total hysterectomy. We both will know more come Friday. Say a little prayer for us if you will.

Also, for you have cruised before. Do they have plain sugar cookies on board? It is a tradition in our family that Santa gets them plus a coke and I'm not sure I can or want to bring cookies from home. DD is insisting that Santa will need one on the boat!!

 

[brendalee59]

That is great news. I am so ready for this cruise. It has been a long week. My DD and I may both have surgery before we go. Her a tonselectomy and me a total hysterectomy. We both will know more come Friday. Say a little prayer for us if you will.

Also, for you have cruised before. Do they have plain sugar cookies on board? It is a tradition in our family that Santa gets them plus a coke and I'm not sure I can or want to bring cookies from home. DD is insisting that Santa will need one on the boat!!

You will both be in my prayers. Having had a total hysterectomy myself a few years ago, I can honestly tell you, unless you have complications, all should go well. I enoough nausea to prevent them from letting me go home the morning after surgery, but once I got over that, two or three weeks and I was back to normal. The only problem being hitting on the right doasage of HRT. My son had a tonselectomy at 13 and bounced back pretty quickly. course they say the younger ones recover faster. Courtney can help you there as she is a pediatric nurse.
All in all, unless they schedule the surgeries really close to departure time, I think all will work out well.

Now for those sugar cookies. The ship should have them. But if it would make you feel better about it, I would stop at a convience store and pick up a small pkg. on the way to the pier. We haven't been on Disney cruise for several years, so I honestly can't remember, but Adrianna has, so maybe she can help.

Good luck to you with your possible procedures. I'll be keeping you and DD in my prayers

 

[brendalee59]

Good morning fellow cruisers

Ok, am I the only one beginning to stress here? We leave for WDW in five weeks I need to get in gear and start sorting outfits for packing. This is our first time with the new luggage restrictions, and I must admit that I am just a little concerned. I have no problem filling the old two bags per person, and making sure we all had our two carryons, whether the kids needed one or not
Been reading on the transportation board about people pushing the limits with carryons,to the point the last people to board don't have room to stow theirs. And of course we will be among the last to board. The guys need some new things, and I'm sure if I gave her the option, Lindsey will decide she needs some new things as well Got online check in all filled out, just need to print it out.
Ya'll think we can start to look for our travel docs within the next week or two?
Ok, I'll stop spazzing now. Got a hair appointment later this morning. I need a humidity friendly hairstyle...yeah, fat chance of that Gawd I hate this curly mop of mine.

Have a Wonderful Thrusday. See ya later

 

[brendalee59]

I can't remember if anyone here is planning on spending the day at Atlantis. I ran across this on another forum, and thought I'd share it here. It is really a sad look at how our sagging economy is effecting other countries.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Brenda-

I couldn't follow your link but found the story on the Miami Herald website. 800 layoffs. Wow. When we booked this cruise, we had been contemplating Atlantis instead, but they were fully booked for Christmas 10 months ago. They just ran a full page ad in the Sunday paper here with amazing deals for the spring with roundtrip airfare on JetBlue from JFK for $99 per person.

Adrianna

 

[adrianna_sarah]

That is great news. I am so ready for this cruise. It has been a long week. My DD and I may both have surgery before we go. Her a tonselectomy and me a total hysterectomy. We both will know more come Friday. Say a little prayer for us if you will.

Also, for you have cruised before. Do they have plain sugar cookies on board? It is a tradition in our family that Santa gets them plus a coke and I'm not sure I can or want to bring cookies from home. DD is insisting that Santa will need one on the boat!!

I don't recall about the sugar cookies, but I know that you can order cookies from room service, and in this era of kids with lots of peanut and chocolate allergies, I assume they would offer sugar cookies, too.

Sorry about the surgeries. My 5 year old had his tonsils out last spring and was fully recovered in less than two weeks.

 

[brendalee59]

Good morning!

another day closer Going shopping for the guys this morning, then meeting a friend for lunch. Swim meet at 4:00 football game at 7:30. Gonna be a busy day.

The date of Lindsey and her best friend's sweet 16 party is in the fate of the football game tonight. It's first round of playoffs,and if we lose, they can keep the date for their party(next Fri). If we win, the next available date is Jan 10th

Good to see you Adrianna. We sure miss your happy posts around here

Well kids, Time to get busy, I have two guys to outfit for a cruise

Have a fabulous Friday everyone!

 

[brendalee59]

Just checking in. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I found a little christmas tree today at Home Depot. It isn't pre decorated, but for 4.99 I think that will be ok. I can get some little satin mini ornaments for less than $1 a pack. Maybe a tiny set of battery operated lights, and a little tinsel. I plan on leaving it there for those in the cabin after us. And for 5 bucks, it won't even hurt a little bit

 

[drag n' fly]

Hi everyone! Are you all getting excited about the cruise! We sure are!! We made a few changes to our itinerary. We are doing Aquatica if the weather is ok and spending one night at Lake Beuna Vista Resort Village and Spa in a 3 bedroom condo to check it out and do some shopping.

I am officially done Christmas shopping....stocking stuffers and all! Everyone has cruise clothes and our pet care costs just went from 1000.00 for this trip down to 600.00. My neighbour was supposed to go to Mexico and is not now so she can look after my three cats. The dog and 4 birds will still need to be kennelled though!`

Talk to you soon!!

Annette

 

[AndymanGA]

Disney Stores had everything 25% off yesterday. Not sure how long the sale lasts.

Does anybody know if gift certificates bought at the Disney Store can be used on the ship?

 

[brendalee59]

uooooooo People! Thought I was talking to myself for awhile there

Have I got treat for you guys! I found port canaveral web cams, so we can all watch the Wonder set sail, and follow it out to sea

http://www.passporterboards.com/for...oyage/146097-port-canaveral-area-webcams.html

Annette and some other Passporter folk may already know about these, and if you do, shame on you for not sharing The "webcam" isn't the clearest ,but has a great view of the the Mariner. You can even see people walking on deck! The Wonder is in he background in the upper left of the screen. Mariner leaves port first then you have a clear view of onder when she leaves. If you double click on the picture, it will go full screen. Wonder will leave about 30 to 45 min after the Mariner sets sail. Usually between 3:00 and 4:00. Then I switch over to the Cocoa Brach Surf Company webcam. You don't have to control it, someone seems to always be manning it at sailaway time. It takes quite some time before you see the ships come past, 30 minutes or so, but then you can follow it all the way out to sea. It is just awsome. Happy viewing gang!