- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 2,479
So here is my late trip report. The players- Myself 43, DH 41, DS 14, DD 6, DM 77, and my DSIS 51.
Pre-trip: We had planned the cruise for a year, going back and forth about the date, the length. Finally settling on Feb 14 Magic, I got down to details. Deciding to fly down the day before, I made reservations for Jetblue flights on 2/13 5:30 PM. Late, so that the kids could go to school and DH and I could stay home and pack, clean, etc. This part worked out well-the return trip wasnt as pleasant-but Ill get to that.
My mom and sister decided to fly down a few days early and go to Epcot and MK. Good for them. They did-and Im glad I didnt. I was under enough stress already.
Ok-Lets talk about luggage and carryon bags.
#1-Listen when people tell you to bring less clothes than you think you need. I didnt wear most of my clothes. At home-I tend to wear the same things over and over. I am a real t-shirt and jeans, khakis, shorts. Think Lands End- kind of gal. I really didnt need or wear the 3 pairs of sweats. Or the two different swimsuit covers. Also shoes! Good Lord, thank you for my blessings-but keep me from shoe stores! I am a Payless Shoes addict! And I packed most of them in my garment bag! I ended up wearing one pair of white casual sandals, white sneakers and a pair of black pumps. So pack less.
#2-Carry on luggage. I didnt need to bring most of what I packed in my carryon. I looked like I emptied the shelves of our Duane Reade! A small bottle of Advil, Tylenol and my Dramamine would have been fine. One pair of hose (I brought 3), etc-Anything I thought I might have needed-I brought three of, all in my carryon bags. Also-I will never bring my laptop on vacation again! (Imagine, a starving Scarlett OHara). I didnt use it, it was a cumbersome annoyance. And ALL of my textbooks and notebooks (I go to college). Next time, I will take the professors advice and make other arrangements. I was exhausted and needed a chiropractor by the time we got to our cabin!!
#3 do not, in a moment of exhausted tension and surrender, allow your six year old to bring 3 Care Bears and a baby doll, plus coloring books, crayons, stickers, and the odd, naked Barbie doll. Your DD will not be able to carry-though she will swear to our Creator she can-you will. She will not touch them, once you pack/shove them into her Barbie backpack (which she also needs).
#4 The absolutely best thing I purchased-prior to our trip-were our DS clothes. He is a terrible dresser on his best day. And he is growing like a weed. I did my best-made concessions where I could. And we were both contented. Until formal night-Ill get to that later.
#5-Probably the most important tip of all-laugh. I did this a lot. While we were packing, shopping at Target the morning of our flight, waiting to board, filling out the embarkation forms again, waiting for our cabin to be ready-just laugh. First, it really does lift the mood when everyone is tense, and secondly, people will think youre crazy and leave you alone!
Ok-everything is packed and we are on our way to the airport. Here is where my plans begin to fray a little-just at the edges. With our flight leaving at 7-ish, we left our home areound 5-ish. The kids had some snacks, a quick hotdog at the airport and then we boarded. By the time we checked in to the MCO Hyatt and sat down in a restaurant, my DS was too tired to eat and fell asleep, my DD went into a full blown melt-down and my DH and I had migraines!!
Hindsight is 20/20. Next time I will plan better. Earlier flights and a simple, but filling, meal before we leave.
The MCO Hyatt was lovely and convienent-$26 through Hotwire! We arranged for Happy Limo to pick us up, but DCL picked up our luggage at the Hyatt and delivered it to out cabins. This was the best reason to stay at the Hyatt. I had the luxury of a stretch limo and the convienence of of DCL transporting our luggage.
We made a grocery stop and arrived at the terminal after most people had already boarded. Another tip-have a CM check your docs before you get in the check-in line. I had totally screwed them up! The CM behind the counter got a little testy with me, because I got everything confused.
During this, DS and DD wandered around terminal, had their pictures taken with Max and watched tv.
Ok. Poor DD-by the time all was straightened out and it was time for our embarkation photo-she was so excited-tired-hungry-nervous she had-another meltdown. Frankly, I was embarrased and disappointed. I kept quiet, got everyone onboard and up to Topsiders. I got chicken fingers for DS and DD and water-sat then down-and made sure they ate.
DH, during all this was trying to be a peach, but came out more like a lemon. Sour!
It rained during the sail-away celebration, so it was moved to the atrium. We headed to our cat 3 suite to relax before dinner.
Pre-trip: We had planned the cruise for a year, going back and forth about the date, the length. Finally settling on Feb 14 Magic, I got down to details. Deciding to fly down the day before, I made reservations for Jetblue flights on 2/13 5:30 PM. Late, so that the kids could go to school and DH and I could stay home and pack, clean, etc. This part worked out well-the return trip wasnt as pleasant-but Ill get to that.
My mom and sister decided to fly down a few days early and go to Epcot and MK. Good for them. They did-and Im glad I didnt. I was under enough stress already.
Ok-Lets talk about luggage and carryon bags.
#1-Listen when people tell you to bring less clothes than you think you need. I didnt wear most of my clothes. At home-I tend to wear the same things over and over. I am a real t-shirt and jeans, khakis, shorts. Think Lands End- kind of gal. I really didnt need or wear the 3 pairs of sweats. Or the two different swimsuit covers. Also shoes! Good Lord, thank you for my blessings-but keep me from shoe stores! I am a Payless Shoes addict! And I packed most of them in my garment bag! I ended up wearing one pair of white casual sandals, white sneakers and a pair of black pumps. So pack less.
#2-Carry on luggage. I didnt need to bring most of what I packed in my carryon. I looked like I emptied the shelves of our Duane Reade! A small bottle of Advil, Tylenol and my Dramamine would have been fine. One pair of hose (I brought 3), etc-Anything I thought I might have needed-I brought three of, all in my carryon bags. Also-I will never bring my laptop on vacation again! (Imagine, a starving Scarlett OHara). I didnt use it, it was a cumbersome annoyance. And ALL of my textbooks and notebooks (I go to college). Next time, I will take the professors advice and make other arrangements. I was exhausted and needed a chiropractor by the time we got to our cabin!!
#3 do not, in a moment of exhausted tension and surrender, allow your six year old to bring 3 Care Bears and a baby doll, plus coloring books, crayons, stickers, and the odd, naked Barbie doll. Your DD will not be able to carry-though she will swear to our Creator she can-you will. She will not touch them, once you pack/shove them into her Barbie backpack (which she also needs).
#4 The absolutely best thing I purchased-prior to our trip-were our DS clothes. He is a terrible dresser on his best day. And he is growing like a weed. I did my best-made concessions where I could. And we were both contented. Until formal night-Ill get to that later.
#5-Probably the most important tip of all-laugh. I did this a lot. While we were packing, shopping at Target the morning of our flight, waiting to board, filling out the embarkation forms again, waiting for our cabin to be ready-just laugh. First, it really does lift the mood when everyone is tense, and secondly, people will think youre crazy and leave you alone!
Ok-everything is packed and we are on our way to the airport. Here is where my plans begin to fray a little-just at the edges. With our flight leaving at 7-ish, we left our home areound 5-ish. The kids had some snacks, a quick hotdog at the airport and then we boarded. By the time we checked in to the MCO Hyatt and sat down in a restaurant, my DS was too tired to eat and fell asleep, my DD went into a full blown melt-down and my DH and I had migraines!!
Hindsight is 20/20. Next time I will plan better. Earlier flights and a simple, but filling, meal before we leave.
The MCO Hyatt was lovely and convienent-$26 through Hotwire! We arranged for Happy Limo to pick us up, but DCL picked up our luggage at the Hyatt and delivered it to out cabins. This was the best reason to stay at the Hyatt. I had the luxury of a stretch limo and the convienence of of DCL transporting our luggage.
We made a grocery stop and arrived at the terminal after most people had already boarded. Another tip-have a CM check your docs before you get in the check-in line. I had totally screwed them up! The CM behind the counter got a little testy with me, because I got everything confused.
During this, DS and DD wandered around terminal, had their pictures taken with Max and watched tv.
Ok. Poor DD-by the time all was straightened out and it was time for our embarkation photo-she was so excited-tired-hungry-nervous she had-another meltdown. Frankly, I was embarrased and disappointed. I kept quiet, got everyone onboard and up to Topsiders. I got chicken fingers for DS and DD and water-sat then down-and made sure they ate.
DH, during all this was trying to be a peach, but came out more like a lemon. Sour!
It rained during the sail-away celebration, so it was moved to the atrium. We headed to our cat 3 suite to relax before dinner.
