20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal

[Scott H]

The couple will be glad that I am not the music for the wedding.. I will be officiating. I do this for friends. I get appointed as a District Court Commissioner for the day to make it all legal. I have even done one underwater. That had a pretty scarry ring exchange, we were afraid we would loose the ring.

Linda, thanks much for the well wishes, I think it will work out. Just have a good feeling. DVC MS should be ready for an onslaught of calls. Hope I get a good cast member, but I have never had a bad experience with MS. Member since 1991.
I got a laugh out of your comment about your 64oz mug, now if they could only put wheels on them so it could double as a rolling piece of luggage. I always bring a travel mug for coffee as I watch the sunrise. Thankful we have a cash reservation. Just checked on airfare and we might be flying out of SLC, $400 cheaper than flying out of JAC at this time. Will keep an eye on it and see what happens. Heck we may be living in FL by then. That would be nice.

Jindy, well June is almost half over.. Where does the time go.

Linda, I would also be curious about a head count as I think there are more here than have signed up on Jeff's site. It is very gracious of him to have put the work into the site, Thanks Much.

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by dianthus


. Perhaps Disney felt that since they charge more than other cruise lines, they need to add some extra value to the cruise. Soda costs them pennies a day per guest, so I'm sure they'll find a new profit center somehow... I wonder what they'll start charging for now to replace the soda money ...

Actually Disney doesn't pay anything for it's Coke products, except for seltzer. The stuff from the fountain is essentially free to Dsieny, Coke gives them the syrup for free in exchange for the exclusive rights to sell at Disney

 

[jin diesel]

Linda, Kelly Rippa annoys me too!

If it is true that there will be celebrities onboard as Disney's "guests" I can only assume it will be actors from their ABC shows heavily promoting I really hope that's not the case, but they do it down here at California Adventure ALL the time. I would hate for our voyage to be a giant advertisement for Disneyland's 50th.

BUT, we ARE the ones bringing the Magic to California. So it could happen. Hopefully whatever fanfare or secrets Disney has up their sleeve for us will only ADD to the magic of our cruise!!!


Scott, I think it's awesome that you're doing this for your friends! Have a great time at the wedding.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!!!

(Robin is in FL with her daughter I believe. She should be back soon, I hope!)

-jindy

 

[dianthus]

Maybe they can get Regis, or that Meridith Viera woman (I'd prefer Regis...) to do a real "Who wants to be Mouseketeer" & make the prize the return Canal cruise in August. Wouldn't that be cool!

 

[Scott H]

We were on the inaugural western 7 day along with Peter and Jen. Here is what I recall that was special for that cruise.

We got a nice card commemorating the western inaugural and a small poster listing the dates and ports of call. There was also a hand fan (for lack of a better description) given out at sail away time. In the cruise terminal there was a mararachi (sp?) band and lots of characters in Mexican and tropical garb. There was definitely an air of excitement.

Celebs on board were Ernie Saballa (sp?) the voice of Pumba. He gave some very good and informative presentations about the Lion King. He is genuinely gracious person.

If they had ABC celebs I would be in the dark. Personally I like the Disney behind the scene folks. i.e. imaginers and animators, etc..

I would like to see a presentation on the history of the canal and the history of the pirates of the area.

I recall getting off the ship on Grand Cayman and the Cayman Tourist Board having a steel drum band to greet us and a display of drawings done by local school kids welcoming the Disney Magic. That was cool to me. Having been to several Dive Business trade shows I know the Cayman Tourist board is very active.

I got kick that at Key West the Conch Republic Courtesy Flag was flown on the Magic while we were in port. I would assume this is still done. I wonder if a Panamanian Courtesy Flag would be flown while the Magic transits the Canal?

 

[JenKatt]

Just came back from WDW. It's officially hotter than the surface of the sun here in Central Florida. Thankful to be back in the Tampa area where at least there is a breeze.
The Rose and Crown is closed for refurb, it's just not the same getting a Strongbow in a plastic cup and drinking it on a bench instead of a proper glass and a comfy bar chair. Ahhh to be back at Diversions again.....

 

[kaylin]

I had a long, busy week so I had a lot of catching up to do! It is very HOT in Florida! Im so glad we had a pool put in this year. My daughter has lived in it! Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far. Does anyone have any great plans for the 4th of July? Well, we are getting a bad storm, so I'd better get going!

Kim

 

[ImprovGal]

Hello, everyone (and tigfanjeff & JenKatt, too)!
I couldn't resist the lure of the Panama Canal and the chance to visit all US Disney parks in the same vacation, so I booked a cat 8 as soon as booking opened up. When I started poking around for more information about the cruise, I found the disboards!

I'll be travelling solo, flying in a couple of nights before the cruise to stay at a WDW resort before boarding the Magic. After the cruise, I added DCL transfers to take me over to DL for a 3 night stay.

I think the true Disney magic is when a 19 night vacation ends up only costing me 10 vacation days.

Looking forward to May!

-- Amy

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by ImprovGal
Hello, everyone (and tigfanjeff & JenKatt, too)!

edited for length

Looking forward to May!

-- Amy

Amy is a very good friend of ours from RADP. She's quite the comedian and a great person.... Hi Amy!!!

 

[RickW]

Originally posted by JenKatt
Amy is a very good friend of ours from RADP. She's quite the comedian and a great person.... Hi Amy!!!

Ah, RADP. I haven't been there for a while. I was there back in 93 (Although that was before RADP existed, and there was only RAD) and was there on and off on a pretty regular basis until about 99. I have been back occasionally since then, but not often. RAD was pretty much my initial exposure to the internet.

For those of you who are completely lost at this point, RADP is the rec.arts.disney.parks newsgroup on usenet. (RAD was the rec.arts.disney newsgroup before they split up into multiple groups)

Oh, and welcome to the DIS, Amy, and to this crowd of lunitics that are joining you on the cruise.

 

[Scott H]

Welcome aboard Amy.

 

[bonzie1]

From what I've read, it looks like I'll have some competition Monday morning at 9:00 with DVC and sailing through the Panama on points (smile)!

Good luck Scott!

I have a cash ressie with Dreams, but quite frankly, I don't really want to take out a loan for this vacation, especially since we've pre-paid our points... sure hope we can swing it. Sounds like a once in a lifetime event for us if we can... and an early celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary!

Wish me luck! I'm gearing up... even bought the Nova video "A Man, a Plan, a Canal". What an unbelievable story. I had no idea so many lives were lost building this passageway.

 

[Scott H]

Bonzie1, Good Luck to you also. If I get a busy signal and put on hold I hope your dreams are coming true. We also have a cash reservation but would also prefer to use points. We really like the Nav Verandas, but will take a cat 5 or 4, just have to wait and see. I hate waiting. FYI, I called DVC last Friday and the CM called over to DCL and indicated to me there was still availability. MS CM was very helpful but would not say if there were some staterooms blocked for us DVC folks.

I would guess most of us will be at WDW before the cruise. Maybe we could do a pre cruise meet. I think we will stay at SSR before and Grand CA afterwards.

Get the speed dial ready......let's see I could use the personal and work cell phones that would give us four lines to get in to MS... Just kidding. This almost rates up there with getting tickets to a Jimmy Buffett concert.

Will have to get a copy of that video. Just got travel guides and history books yesterday from Amazon. So I have some reading to do.

If you have the points think about the Tanzanian Wildlife Safari. Again a once in a lifetime trip that we want to do again. We were going to return there in 2005, but this cruise came up and a transit through the Canal is on the list of stuff to do, so will see if this works.

 

[moocow35]

fyi/

http://www.sealetter.com/Mar-01/panamac.html

 

[bonzie1]

moocow35... THANKS! The article is WONDERFUL! A good pre-travel document! ...appreciate you sharing this.

 

[kellib36]

Hi, Amy!!!

Another cruise? We've got to stop meeting like this!!! Who else is going? Are you in a room alone? How will you survive without your 2 caballeros?!?!?!?

Glad to see you here, Kelli

 

[jin diesel]

Hi everyone!

Welcome aboard, AMY!

Robin, thanks for the link. Great article.

I had a very busy weekend and it looks like it's going to be a busy week.

I bought "The Path Between the Seas" today. I look forward to reading it and being able to somehow share the history with my daughter.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

-jindy

 

[JenKatt]

Jeff and I finished the new bookcases so we can finally put the house back together. Booked our room for his birthday down in Key West. Couldn't stay at the Navy Lodge, it was booked, which is unusual since June if usually way off season for Key West. Found out there is a charity fishing thingie going on. Oh well, got a great room for a decent price right on Duval street so the Duval Crawl won't be bad.

 

[ImprovGal]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone!
I know it's awfully early to start planning *giggle* but I'm hoping to be able to sign up for the talent show and do a standup set again. I'm not sure if it will be allowed in the "family" division, though, since they no longer seem to have a separate "adult" talent show.

Kelli:
I'm not travelling with anyone else -- this is totally a spoil myself solo trip.
And while it may be tough to survive without Lori & Catherine in my cabin, I'll be able to tough it out by s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out in the room.
After that 3-in-1 room share, I decided that I really need more space to myself (especially for a 14 night trip!!), so I just went and booked the trip solo. In other words, I think since it's been well over a year, I can safely be considered a unique individual and no longer merely 1/3 of a caballera cluster.


-- Amy

 

[kellib36]

Amy!! Sounds like you've got it all worked out! Good for you.....we may be just the opposite.....trying to decide if we want to put Keith and I in his Mom's handicap room....it is larger than your old room, but still.......at least when we go visit her, there's a whole house to get lost in......but I'd worry about her falling if she was alone, too.....but she needs the bathroom assistance.....but the reg cat 6 rooms have the plexiglass wall on the veranda, so she can see out...(she's height impaired like some other people I know!!) ;-) One dilemma after another!

Anyway, this is gonna be great, looks like Margaret and Beth may join us too! Old home week.....

Nighty night, gotta get some rest before work tomorrow! Kelli