20040131 ~ Cruising Jan 31 2004 Western Who's with us?

[kmc33]

Am I the lucky one?!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. We didn't do anything special except recover from Christmas (and eat). Luke (and DH) are having fun playing with his toys from Santa.

The downside to our Christmas is that my mom was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve. The good news is that she is recovering well and will hopefully be discharged any day now.

 

[Kabuli1]

Yeah Kim, you are lucky 700! I claim 1000. I've already told them that I want to be 5000 on the 10-day cruise thread. someone else snatched 1000 from me.

Sorry to hear about your mom's, glad to hear she's on the mend, please keep us posted.

Dean, tell Matt that there is a time to be selfish and that's when he has a cold! No need to share everything.

And Dean, those are MY docs that are arriving today, Mine, Mine, All MINE! My Preciousssss. . . .

Speaking of sharing, you wanna send Matt out here to help me pack? I could use a big strong young man around here, and I know Jill wouldn't object.

This packing stuff is hard on the almost-but-not-quite-50-year-old body. BUT I can't stop yet. One more day to enjoy the vigor of my 40s - so I need to take advantage of that.

Karyn

 

[Kabuli1]

Sorry guys, I forgot something.

Here's how I figured it out. 32 days (if we don't count 1/30- cause we'll all be travelling) and 300 posts (well, technically 298 now).

That's about 9.4 posts every day. So it's up to each of us to check in every day. I know we can count on Dean, Kim, Gary, Cap, Nikki and myself (perhaps too often!) to chime in. Randy and Annie, where you been? AND then there are the less oftens - you need to start pulling you weight here, ya hear that, shingle, grandmaX2, Scott? We need you here more often than your weekly checkin. And where are Jami and Renae lately?

We're off to a good start today! Keep it up!

Karyn

 

[The4OfUs]

Well, my illness is not abating - DAMN these viral things, with the "there is no medicine to take" issue. *sigh* So I'm more than happy to babble on, because I can't TALK without sounding like Yoda (the voice, not the vocabulary).

We're actually travelling to FL on the 30th, and staying overnight at the Hyatt, to ensure that the wonderful New England weather does not affect our trip... Of course, you know I just jinxed it...

Still no docs for us, but it will go to my mother-in-law first, and she hasn't said a word. I am excited about this "Romance at Sea" thing...after all this coughing my back is so sore that a nice massage is exactly what is called for, PLUS now I don't have to worry about getting Palo ressies! WHOO HOO!!

We were going to do Palo on the last night, my birthday, but I want to spend that night with the kids in the restaurant...so we're going to do it on Wed. night instead - that's the tropical night I think, so I'd rather miss that in the regular restaurant rotation than the last night.

 

[dheller97]

First coffee break so thought I'd check in. OK, so I am addicted, so what?

Sorry, Karyn, I called documents today first so it will be me. You'll just have to wait.

I'll check in after awhile.

Dean

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by dheller97
First coffee break so thought I'd check in. OK, so I am addicted, so what?

Sorry, Karyn, I called documents today first so it will be me. You'll just have to wait.

I'll check in after awhile.

Dean

LOL! YOU'RE addicted? I run one of these things for work (http://www.elderhostel.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi) and also for fun (http://www.voodoomoose.com) and I also write for a video game magazine (yes, I'm 36 and weird) and take part in THAT discussion forum too, as "Staff" (http://www.digitpress.com/forums/)

Making friends online can be amazing, and yes, addicting too.... *grin*

Now...speaking of coffee...

*shuffles off to get java*

 

[kmc33]

Monique -- the romance package sounds wonderful!! I was looking at it in the brochure. Wish I had thought to tell DH that's what I wanted for Christmas! And I was just reading a review in the Cruise Trip reports of someone who had that package and it really did sound nice.

 

[OKWMEMBER]

I do Diet Pepsi for my morning caffeine myself.

We are printing the Official Vacation Checklist (OVC) on new years day. Then the vacation preparations begin in ernest. (KnowhutImean, Vern?) We've worked on this list for many years now and it's had several revisions, but it covers every vacation form us now.

Now Dean and Karyn!!! If you don't stop fighting I'll turn this car around right now!!!!! Don't make me come back there !!!

HADD!!!

 

[Kabuli1]

Awwww, Nikki, baby! I'm so sorry you're still sick! I was hoping you'd be all better by now. Are you sure you don't sound like Gollum, not Yoda? I need a massage myself right now! My back is killing me from all the packing.

I'm going to see what our rotation is before I decide what night to do Palo. I would rather skip Animator's Palate - it does absolutely nothing for me, my least favorite restaurant. I'm hoping for LAPLAPL rotation. Last year we had PLAPLAP which was ok, I'd be happy w/ that, but not the kids rotation APLAPLA. If we get that one Dean, we're all going to the table change desk and fixing it! Did I mention I don't like Animator's Palate?

Is everybody planning on doing the brunch in Palo? It is wonderful. I think we'll do it Sunday morning before heading into Key West? Want to join us? ut if I get LAP like I want I'd have to do Palo that night for dinner as well - this is getting confusing. But if we do Palo for dinner, we could do an early one and get to the SSuper Bowl Party on time and Gary wouldn't have to save seats for as long . . . . This is so difficult. Then there's afternoon tea at Palo, Randy's not thrilled at the thought, any of you ladies want to join me?

I really need to get back to packing - but this is so much more fun.

Karyn

 

[Kabuli1]

Sorry Dad, I'll be good.

Mooooom, he touched my docs! Make him stop!

 

[Cap]

I'll have to run my average for check in up early in the month, as Judi and I are leaving Jan 23 to start south. We'll do the gulf side for a while, and then Boardwalk for three days before we cruise.

Dean, I'm glad that you are working today. There need to be a few workers to support us retired ones. Technically I'm not retired until New Years day, but not having the alarm go off at zero dark 30 was great today.

It's raining here in Michigan, and I don't think a Mickey Poncho is going to handle it, considering the low temperature. I'm off for one of the yearly joyfull events, paying the property tax bill.

I hope all of you who are ill get better soon. Best to get it out of your system now, so you can be fully ready to play on the cruise.

 

[The4OfUs]

Oooh, Kim, where is that report? I wondered if anyone had done it yet because it said that it started 1/1/04, but I wanted an idea of what a "romantic turn down" is. DH is a tad uptight about the couples massage, I'm trying to get him to relax about it...I'm sure he can beg off if need be.

I'd love to do that Palo thing Sunday - when is the DVC meeting tho? Isn't it that day too, from 10-11? *confused*

Ya know...everytime I feel like I'm kicking this thing, it takes another turn - last night I had a night like never before - I have never been so completely bone-chillingly COLD like last night. It made me cry, it was like lying in a snowstorm naked, my limbs hurt and no matter what I could not get warm. I did my best, stole all the body heat I could from anyone near me, but all that did is make them sweat and I still was ice cold. FInally got up around midnight and did the four Advil thing...and that helped a bit - but today I feel dizzy and "not myself" mentally, and my cough is back with a vengence...so I might be making yet another trip to Good Ol' Dr. today....but like you said, Cap, and like I told DS today, thank goodness it is NOW and not in 33 days!!

Speaking of Gollum...wonder how bad I'd be if I took 3 1/2 hrs to sit in a theater today.... *evil grin*

 

[The4OfUs]

Found it in the cruise report thingie-ma-bob (the technical term I'll have you know!)

I had booked the ROMANCE PACKAGE and so we had been able to make Palo reservations before leaving home, so we went to the Spa and booked our couple’s message. Note on the ROMANCE PACKAGE: the cost was $299. It included tea roses in the room ($39), Romance basket with chocolates, champagne, and a photo album in the room ($54), dinner at Palo for 2 ($20), a couples message ($178), and a day in the rainforest for 2 ($30), for a total of $321. In addition, I was able to make my reservations over the phone from home for Dinner, Tea, and Brunch at Palo, as well as pick my dinner rotation.

So...ADVISE THE NEWBIE TIME you guys...if I do get to pick my rotation, where would I want to be on Formal night? I see that AP is not a hit for some, but being the first time, that's the one I'm most looking forward to, just for the view....but where would I want to be for formal night? I also get to prebook tea and brunch, is brunch daily? And the rainforest thing - I wasn't going to try that, but if it's included....


Any thoughts?

 

[Kabuli1]

This makes 15 posts for the day - and it's not yet 9am here! At this rate how far can we go?

Nikki, you don't get to choose your rotation, but: the APL rotation puts you in Lumiere's for formal and semi-formal night on the Western - and for some reason it's the "kid" rotation. So if you have young children you will probably be on that rotation. LAP tends to be the adult rotation and sticks the "adults" in Parrot Cay for the fancy nights - go figure! I don't really care. One of the reasons I don't like Animator's Palatte is that we were stuck in the way back corner by the kitchen w/ a view of a stack of chairs. I was very good and didn't complain, cause somebody has to sit back there - but I will NOT do it on another cruise, I already took my turn. Another reason is that there are no Windows and I don't like the closed in feeling. On PLA we were there for the dress up nights. It was a good rotation otherwise cause I didn't mind three nights in Parrot Cay, I like the funky wild Caribbean theme there.

Brunch is only on Sea days and Key West morning. Tea only on sea days. Oh and we loved the Rainforest - Randy especially.

That Gollum thing, sure you can take 3.5 hours in the theater, (tho, I'm not sure people around you are going to appreciated it if you cough the whole time)! I'm supposed to go (again) myself this evening w/ friends - it's only the 7th time, but who's counting? There are a couple of spots in the movie when Gollum souds just like yoda - at least it sounded like that to me, tho I know Frank Oz and Andy Serkis are different people.

I think I'm obsessed! There are only 3 foci in my life right now: ROTK, this cruise and what was the other . . . . ? Cant remember, must be getting old!

Karyn

 

[The4OfUs]

Ah, I see said the blind man to his deaf sons....well, my kids are "tweens" - they'll be 10 and 11 at the time of the cruise...so I wonder which that means.

I completely understand about the bad table thing - being married to a chef, I get a totally different experience than you "normal" people at restaurants! *grin* I hadn't thougth about the window thing!!

I read in that trip report that the Romance Package had them marked as "VIP" for Palo, and they got window seats...that would be beyond cool...

*sniffle*

Maybe I'll watch the National Geographic special "Beyond the Return of the King"...instead of infecting my fellow movie goers... *sigh*

 

[kmc33]

When I read that report, it sounded like she did get to pick the rotation because of doing the Romance Package. How Karyn described it is the way I have read things fall out. I am figuring that we will be APL since we will have small kids at our table. And anytime I read of adults w/o any small kids, they seem to get LAP. I have also read of people with in between kids getting the PLA. But it will be interesting to see if you get to select yours. If you can't select it, I would think they would have to tell you before you can start making your advance Palo reservations.

Does anyone know which morning you have the character breakfast based on your rotation? I know the character breakfasts will be Key West and the two at sea days. I want to see if I can find out the formula so I will know our character breakfast day as soon as I see my rotation in order to know what day to try for Palo brunch.

 

[Scott5150]

Return of the King was excellent. You will really enjoy it. I am getting curious as to what Disney movies will be showing on the ship when we are on. My son is at the perfect age for the Disney movies, so we will have fun with that.

I have set my priorities for when I board as:

1) Attempt to change my dinner seating time to First Seating

2) Palo Reservations for Mexi night (Dont like mexican food)

3) Lunch

Scott

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by Scott5150

2) Palo Reservations for Mexi night (Dont like mexican food)

ExACTly our thoughts!! We'll be seeing you there then! That's the night we're doing it too.

My TA/MIL just said that she called Disney and she can't make our ressies until the 31st of Dec, and that she can book our seats for air 30 days out, so within a few days of THAT we'll get our docs. So I'm not holding my breath for that today.

 

[dheller97]

I was thinking about that Romance Package for DW too for a Christmas present. Then, "somebody" talked me in to bringing our DS along and most of the romance flew out the verandah. Hmmmm, wonder who that was? Oh, by the way, got your packing all done yet Karyn?

Maybe I can sneak in the Rainforest thing. Is that something that can be done in advance or when we arrive?

Dean

 

[Cap]

To The4ofUs,

Judi and I had the couples massage this last Spring at Castaway Cay. It was very nice, relaxing, and non-threatening. Judi had to talk me into it. Having done it once, I would do it again.