20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 3

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by Dancind
I might get her one of those teen special packages. But if I do that, I should get a package too!

I'm looking forward to some night life on the ship. We kind of missed that last time. And maybe going to the adult beach on CC.

Can't believe I forgot to add that we are DVC members too! We love our DVC, we've got three nights at OKW after the cruise, and it's "free".

What's the lower age limit on the teen special package?

Maybe all us women should schedule in a block. Or get the rainforest room and take it over! Wouldn't that be a crack up. All of us "old friends" chatting and laughing!

Diana, this last cruise we finally did more adult things. The shows are hysterical. My hint....sit in the back if you don't want to participate!

I didn't add that we are DVC members too. Actually, one contract, 3 add ons.

 

[justmestace]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
Free Dinner for you!

Now, for the bonus question (actually, after talking to ohiomickey, I realized I had the wrong plate)

The REAL plate says:

23PAIR

Tooth re-pair

Out of here till after soccer!

Interested if teens can go to the spa?

 

[WDWLVR]

Well we have officially cancelled the Hershey trip. Just got off the Marriott site and cancelled all our reservations. We're disappointed but I guess it was meant to be. A little disappointment is nothing compared to what everyone has gone through with Charley, Frances and Ivan.

 

[WDWLVR]

No personalized plates here, but someone I think in New Jersey has WDWLVR as their liscense plate. Got an e-mail from someone asking if it was me.

 

[WDWLVR]

We always like to do something new and different on each vacation. For this cruise that will be:

* Palo Brunch - did dinner for the first time on cruise #5. Looking forward to trying brunch.

* Rainforest Room - we had planned to do it on cruise #5, but never got there. This time for sure!

* Sea Trekkin in St. Thomas. Saw in on our '01 cruise and have wanted to do it since.

Also, of course, will be our first visits to St. Lucia and Antiqua. Really looking forward to new ports!

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by dobelover
Lynda and Cash - What made you decide against the Pirate Excursion? I was thinking about it but my Mom has limited mobility. Thanks, Sue

Not accessible says DCL. It really made me mad, too (excuse me, friends but I may become a little unruly here)

This is the latest exchange: (Put your fingers in your ears, folks)

My TA:
I just spoke to DCL and they advised me that the Pirate cruise is not accessible.

Me:
Well, why doesn't Disney just tell me what excursions are accessible? This is rediculous! I've been trying to plan my excursions so I can plan my REAS activities...It's Catch 22.
What am I supposed to do, GUESS at which excursions I might be able to do? I want to do the pirate thing...What about it is inaccessible? Transport to the activity? The activity? Does DCL offer any excursions that ARE accessible or do they just take the money from passengers that they know are access challenged and that's IT? Grrr. I've got the Christmas cruise, the Panama canal cruise, and a land/sea cruise coming up. Does DCL expect me to sit on the ship for all these cruises? I could just as well stay at home...At least there I can get into the swimming pool...

The response:
As for shore excursions, since most of them are done outside of Disney they have no control over what they can do and can't do. As for options there are not that many, but she is taking our concern to the Shore Excursion Department to see what can be done. Right now there are only a few that are accessible.:

Key West -
Old Town Trolley or Conch Train Tour (1-1.5 hours)
Train or trolley? Take your pick--either one will take you on a fascinating 60-minute tour in the southernmost city in the U.S. You'll see 100 points of interest, including attractions and historical sites such as Ernest Hemingway's house, the famous Sloppy Joe's and more.

Adult Price: $22 (ages 10 and above)
Child Price: $11 (ages 3-9)†
Departure Time: 12:35 pm


St. Thomas -
St. Thomas Island Tour (2.5 hours)
This picture-perfect excursion is conducted via open-air safari bus, giving you an excellent vantage point to take in the natural beauty of the island. Explore St. Peter's Great House, and stop for an exceptional photo opportunity at MountainTop, the highest point on the island.

Adult Price: $33 (ages 10 and above)
Child Price: $23 (ages 3-9)
Departure Times: 8:00 am, 12:15 pm
or

Coral World Ocean Park & Island Drive (3.5 hours)
A world of discoveries awaits during this scenic island drive. Enjoy stops at MountainTop and Coral World, one of the most popular attractions in St. Thomas. Here, you can observe marine life without getting wet, pet a shark or touch a starfish at one of the world's few underwater observatories.

Adult Price: $39 (ages 10 and above)
Child Price: $29 (ages 3-9)
Departure Times: 8:00 am, 12:00 pm
TA:

What DCL was saying is these islands are not up to code to being accessible by wheelchair so that is why there is not a lot of choices for shore excursions, but again the Shore Excursion Department is looking into it for us. It appears that Key West and St. Thomas are the only ones a little better prepared.


And that's the response I got. I still don't know what it is about the Pirate thing that is inaccessible...Not even on a scale of 1-10...

 

[WVMD]

OK - Back in town after our Director's meeting in Canton, Ohio....

You guys have been busy....

Welcome to the newbies... the lurkers... and the returning posters!

Going on the cruise:

Me - Virgil - 44 - ER doc - ER Director
DW - Frances - 43 (BD on Xmas eve) - Nurse Practitioner
DD - Kristin - 19 - looks 15 - Sophomore at WVU studying engineering - even though she does have her "blonde" moments, too...
DD - Lauren - 9 (10 at cruise) thinks shes 16-18...

Virgil

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by videogal1
What DCL was saying is these islands are not up to code to being accessible by wheelchair so that is why there is not a lot of choices for shore excursions, but again the Shore Excursion Department is looking into it for us. It appears that Key West and St. Thomas are the only ones a little better prepared.

I'm confused. Probably because I don't deal with this daily as you do. But what code? You mean like the ADA? If that's it, that would explain why Key West and St. Thomas are the most prepared---I'm sure Key West is, and I'd assume St. Thomas would be bound by the ADA regulations.

It stinks. That's for sure.

Of course, you said "code" and I thought "they are more like GUIDELINES than actual rules" (from the Pirate's Code--Parlay)

 

[WVMD]

OK - DW's custom license plate.....

IFANC8

Virgil

 

[DVC4US]

IFANC8

I know!!! I know!!!

I fancy 8. Which means she is a Dale Earnhart, Jr. fan.

Do I win a prize?

LeiLani

 

[DVC4US]

Boy, you guys have been busy.

First a reintroduction:

Me - LeiLani - 41 Accountant(but stay at home mom)

DH - Rich - 42 He is an orthopedic surgeon(and hardly ever home. I have to take him on vacation just to spend some time with him.)

DD- Brittany - 15 In high school and is on the diving team and plays soccer. She has her home to school permit so she is excited about driving.

DD - Alyssa - 8 She is in 3rd grade and plays soccer and takes dance lessons.

We are Disneyholics also and we are DVC owners. This will be our 5th cruise.

LeiLani

 

[DVC4US]

Dee - we also have ressies at LTT for 4:30 on the 17th so we can hopefully meet up with you guys and Lynda and Cash.

Diana - after spending half the day on the phone with them yesterday, I finally talked my relatives into evacuating. They went to a hotel in Tallahassee. Which is not totally out of the way, but better than nothing.

Stacey - I will take 2 notepads if you have any left.

Welcome MrsMork/Angie and goofydadeo/John.

Okay now I have to go cook dinner before the heathens revolt. I am just kidding they are little angels.

LeiLani

 

[WVMD]

Originally posted by DVC4US
I know!!! I know!!!

I fancy 8. Which means she is a Dale Earnhart, Jr. fan.

Do I win a prize?

LeiLani

Ding Ding...... a winner!!!

Frances' nickname is also Fancy - so it works that way too.... as Kristin says - her stepmother is becoming a redneck liking NASCAR!

Hmmm - have to think of a prize....

Forgot extra stuff... DD Lauren - is a dancer too, she love Tap, Jazz..... barely tolerates ballet. She's on the competition team.... She's also been asked to be on a basketball drill team by one of the local college coaches.....

Stacey - 2 notepads here, PLEASE!!!

Virgil

 

[gail1771]

Welcome newcomers and all that have been on the DIS previously.

We finished our holiday dinner and the company has left.

Our family going on this cruise:

Gail- 44 worked at a large hosptial on Long Island as an Administrator of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurology, Pain Center and Pre School. I than had DD 5 years later, took a year off as DD was a premie and had medical issues. After the year off I went to staff in the Cardiac Cath Lab as a secretary and nurses assistant p/t 2 - 13 hour shifts a week until I had DS. The hours worked better for me than going back to all the hours I was working as an Administrator. I than went per diem after DS was born and decided almost 2 years ago to call it quits for a while and be a stay at home mom. I am very involved in the PTA at DD school, class mom, Brownie troop leader and a Delegate for PTA. I also do fund raisers for DD school as I will be co- chairing a huge function in the spring.

DH - Steven-39 is a general contractor who does mostly dormers and extensions along with the bathrooms, kitchens, basements, ect. DH loves to frame and do tile so he is working on the jobs. He is his own secretary. He is a one man show and has a crew on the jobs. We are lucky that his crew has been with him for a very long time along with his electrician, plumer and wood floor man. I would help him but he says it gets to involved when the contracts get typed up and all the ordering of the materials.

DD- Emily will be almost 8 at the time of the cruise. DD loves dance, singing, musicial theatre, piano, art, drawing and tennis.
Emily is a very busy little girl. She has an enrichment art class after school on Mondays, Tuesdays is Hip hop and Musical Theatre, Wednesday and Thursday are free days, Friday is Brownies every other week, Jazz and piano in the early evening and Saturday is singing lessons, acting class and hip hop again.
DD loves older girls. She is first on the quiet side.

DS- Ethan will be 3.5 time of the cruise. He is actually going on 7!!He loves soccer and gymnastics. He goes to pre school 3 times a week and takes gymnastics on Thursdays. He is such a chatter box. I wonder where he gets that from????

We will be a MVMCP on 12/17. We made reservations at LTT at 4:10pm that day. The in laws will be with us for a few days before we cruise. We are staying off site for 3 nights before we cruise.We will check out Sea World also.

The first time we cruised with DCL on the Wonder last August DD got very sick with her Asthma and we did not get to do or see very much. We spent most of the time in the cabin. I did get a few hours on CC and a massage in one of the cabanas on the beach. Loved that while DH stayed with DD. We tried Palo's the second night but never got through dinner as DD asthma acted up. She spent a total of 1 hour in the Children's program.

We can not wait to check out everything including the adult shows and dancing at night.

I had to laugh when I read the post warning all if they did not want to be picked on to sit in the back. We just returned cruising on RCCL and we were sitting in the way back and I pointed to my husband to help out the man in the act. The man came back to me and said I do not pick the person you want I pick the picker. Boy did I turn red and ended up on stage to help him with the act. It ended up being a lot of fun .a I was lucky I was literally not being picked on.

Almost 3 months till we cruise and I get to meet everyone. I am looking forward to meeting all the wonderful people on this thread.

Be back later. Fondly, Gail

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
I'm confused. Probably because I don't deal with this daily as you do. But what code? You mean like the ADA? If that's it, that would explain why Key West and St. Thomas are the most prepared---I'm sure Key West is, and I'd assume St. Thomas would be bound by the ADA regulations.

It stinks. That's for sure.

Of course, you said "code" and I thought "they are more like GUIDELINES than actual rules" (from the Pirate's Code--Parlay)

My TA was speaking of the specific requirements that the ADA sets forth to measure business compliance with the ADA...at least 60" clearance for wheelchair turning around..., ramp slope, door width, etc, etc.

The controversy here is that DCL is required to comply with ADA rules yet it does not require that its contractors comply. Sure, they are based in foreign countries yet I see nothing unreasonable about a company such as DCL making accessibility a requirement for its contractors....DCL DOES take money from disabled passengers...full fare, I might add, and yet offers significantly degraded cruise activity opportunities.

And now you know as much about it as I do....

 

[gail1771]

LeiLani, Dee, and Lynda we will also be at LTT. We have a reservation at 4:10pm. I think I already just mentioned that in my long post. To lazy to go back and read it.

Does the Magic have trivia games or any type of stuff you all have been doing today on this thread?? If they do you all would win first prize. You all are so great at this.

TTYL-Gail

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by gail1771
LeiLani, Dee, and Lynda we will also be at LTT. We have a reservation at 4:10pm. I think I already just mentioned that in my long post. To lazy to go back and read it.

Does the Magic have trivia games or any type of stuff you all have been doing today on this thread?? If they do you all would win first prize. You all are so great at this.

TTYL-Gail

Yayyy, more dinner company!
I'm only good at general trivia (Jeopardy and Millionaire-type stuff) I stink at Disney trivia...
I DID kick butt at a pictionary game I got dragged into on the Wonder, though....

 

[paulcrsb]

Lynda - I posted it awhile back but we will be at LTT at 5.

As far as our info, I can't remember what alias I posted last time so I'll see if I can get the DW to post.

Paul

 

[ohiominnie]

Ugh. I've been over to the main cruise board and saw the pictures of the Grand Cayman devestation. Horrific!

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by paulcrsb
Lynda - I posted it awhile back but we will be at LTT at 5.

As far as our info, I can't remember what alias I posted last time so I'll see if I can get the DW to post.

Paul

Yayyyy...even MORE company at dinner...I wonder if they'll scatter us around. I can't imagine each party checking in at their PS time and saying we want to sit with the dog....