3/24/07 Western Magic

[pclaire]

One thing I learned from the last cruise is that the great memories may come from a place you didn't expect, and the things you thought would be wonderful may not be. And you definitely can't predict kids moods, especially if they haven't gotten enough sleep! I guess you really have to roll with the punches. That said, I'd have a tough time being all mellow if my stateroom stunk. My daughter would tell me to sue disney. (She's still at the stage where she thinks being a lawyer is cool and powerful - like a police officer. I'm guessing that'll change pretty quick)y. The thing I worry most about is if my daughter gets too excited about an excursion - like the dolphins or parasailing, and then we get rained out or something.

 

[bellelinus]

Hopefully your daughter will continue to think you are super-lawyer for quite some time . . . I'm sure Disney would love to hear that your 8 year old daughter would encourage you to sue them if your stateroom wasn't good -- that's probably their worst nightmare!

You are right about worrying if a highly anticipated excursion gets rained out. I try not to tell my girls everything I have planned so that they don't get too worked up in advance, but I'm pretty bad at keeping secrets. Luckily I believe March is a very good time of year in terms of weather, so hopefully we won't have any problems in that department.

I'm a little shaken this evening since that airplane crashed into an apartment building about 16 blocks from home, and even closer to my girls' school. Serious flashback to 9/11. A friend of my oldest daughter lives in that building, but luckily no one was home and they have a place to stay tonight.

 

[jldunbar]

We are getting into Orlando on Friday at noon - hope to be pool side at the Radisson by 3pm

 

[pclaire]

I'm so sorry, that must have been really disturbing for you and your family. I hope your kids are dealing ok - unless they are big talkers, its so hard sometimes to tell how things are really affecting them. I live very close to Columbine High school, and we recently had another school shooting incident in a town called Bailey, about 30 miles away. It really stirred up a lot of bad memories and feelings for people - along of course with new fears about school safety.

 

[jldunbar]

So -- is it just me or is everyone having a hard time getting excited about Key West? Is anyone planning an excursion there, via Disney or on your own? I am thinking of just walking around near the port with my girls, and perhaps finding a beach to hang out on for a while. However, I am open to change if anyone has thought up something wonderful there . . .

I acutally am quite excited about Key West. I actually have 3 excursions saved to my "wish list": Pirate Scavenger Hunt, Glassbottom Boat Tour, and Catamaran Sail & Snorkel. We will only be doing one with my daughter deciding.

 

[jldunbar]

We are getting into Orlando on Friday at noon - hope to be pool side at the Radisson with an "umbrella" beverage by 3pm. In the past I have used FL Tours for towncar transportation and have had no problems (last year our flight got in 4 hours late at 2am and they were there waiting) - has anyone had any issues with them getting to/from the port?

I am planning on taking a cab from the Radisson to the port as I have read bad things about their transportation.

 

[pclaire]

I still dont know when we'll be arriving at the Radisson - waiting for southwest to open its fares for that week. We might not make it it time for the pool, but there will be drinks (with or without umbrellas!)

 

[bellelinus]

Good for you! We don't get in until 7 or so on Friday, I am planning to spend that night at the Hyatt at the airport, and get a car service from the airport to the port Saturday morning. The car service I use has been banned from the Disboards (supposedly for "advertising" but the manager says he was just trying to answer a question), so I can't post the name!

 

[auroo]

just checking in for the 3/24 cruise!

thanks for the note bellelinus!

 

[bellelinus]

Welcome, auroo! So do you and your boyfriend have early or late seating? Have you thought at all about excursions?

 

[pclaire]

welcome auroo - we're a small group here, but we try hard to keep the thread alive! are you from australia?

 

[T&Tmom]

We - me, DH, DS 14 and DS 6 (who turns 7 on the second day of the cruise!) will be sailing with you.

We went on the 7 day Eastern back in October 2001 and are looking forward to the Western.

We have not looked too much at the excursions yet. Key West day is my little guys birthday - so I think we will end up doing the Pirate Museum or the Pirate scavengar hunt. He was a bit worried that his brithday would be on the ship. I told him that I let Mickey know that he was coming for his birthday. I am going to go to the Post Card thread in January and ask that someone send a card from Mickey telling my little guy that he is getting ready for his birthday!

 

[Minnie328]

We - me, DH, DS 14 and DS 6 (who turns 7 on the second day of the cruise!) will be sailing with you.

We went on the 7 day Eastern back in October 2001 and are looking forward to the Western.

We have not looked too much at the excursions yet. Key West day is my little guys birthday - so I think we will end up doing the Pirate Museum or the Pirate scavengar hunt. He was a bit worried that his brithday would be on the ship. I told him that I let Mickey know that he was coming for his birthday. I am going to go to the Post Card thread in January and ask that someone send a card from Mickey telling my little guy that he is getting ready for his birthday!

Hi and welcome!
Tell your son not to be worried about his birthday on the boat--I had my 14th birthday on the Magic in March, and I will be celebrating my 15th on Pirate Night this year! (yes, I've already planned my outfit for my birthday dinner...it's my Halloween costume). My parents (skibum is my dad) brought decorations from the party shop at home and decorated our room with them. I also special ordered a dessert for my birthday, and they gave me the chocolate mousse cake. If your son likes chocolate, he will like the cake.

Our group has 6 adults, me (14 turning 15 on Pirate Night), my sister (10), and my cousins (15, 13, 10). We are all on deck 5 with main seating! If you have any questions about the western in March, feel free to PM me!

~Minnie

 

[bellelinus]

Welcome T&TMom! I think a birthday on the Disney Magic sounds like the best a kid could have. I'm sure your 14 year old will see my oldest daughter in the teen club. If you have any questions about how that was for her in August, you can ask (I guess he was in the Oceaneer's Lab last time you sailed). Do you have early or later seating?

 

[auroo]

Hello again! Sorry for not posting more frequently, I am just too busy!

I am not from Australia, but my boyfriend is. We've been together for 4 1/2 years and have had a bi-continental relationship since day 1!

We haven't really thought of excursions but will most likely not do any. We don't see each other for months at a time and I think are keen to take advantage of an empty boat on port days to spend some quieter time together.

We will most likely do Palo though and may book a massage or two.

 

[auroo]

oh and bellelinus, we have late seating and will be calling to request a small table

 

[T&Tmom]

Hi and welcome!
Tell your son not to be worried about his birthday on the boat--I had my 14th birthday on the Magic in March, and I will be celebrating my 15th on Pirate Night this year! (yes, I've already planned my outfit for my birthday dinner...it's my Halloween costume). My parents (skibum is my dad) brought decorations from the party shop at home and decorated our room with them. I also special ordered a dessert for my birthday, and they gave me the chocolate mousse cake. If your son likes chocolate, he will like the cake.

Our group has 6 adults, me (14 turning 15 on Pirate Night), my sister (10), and my cousins (15, 13, 10). We are all on deck 5 with main seating! If you have any questions about the western in March, feel free to PM me!

~Minnie

Looks like my oldest will be hanging out in the teen area with you and some of your cousins. Any boys in that group? He is looking forward the teen center.

We are on deck 6 and have the main seating.

 

[T&Tmom]

Welcome T&TMom! I think a birthday on the Disney Magic sounds like the best a kid could have. I'm sure your 14 year old will see my oldest daughter in the teen club. If you have any questions about how that was for her in August, you can ask (I guess he was in the Oceaneer's Lab last time you sailed). Do you have early or later seating?

We have the early seating and my oldest was in the Oceanear Lab the last time we went on the cruise. He keeps telling his little brother about all of the fun stuff that he did!

When we where on the cruise in 2001, we were talking to one of the teens on the cruise while we were all waiting to go on a shore excursion. He was very nice to my oldest (who was 7 at the time) and was telling him about all of the cool things that they got to do in the teen club. DS14 has been looking forward to this trip ever since!

 

[bellelinus]

T&TMom, I think your oldest will really enjoy the teen activities . . . I know my oldest daughter enjoyed the freedom she had on the ship the most. She made a friend and the two of them would meet to swim up on deck 9 at 10 PM. Of course Minnie can answer all of your questions from a first hand point of view!

Auroo, I think you and your boyfriend will enjoy the emptyness of the ship while in port . . . however, with how beautiful some of the beaches are, you might think about taking a taxi from the port in Grand Cayman and/or Cozumel, and doing a few hours on the beach.

If we keep planning, it will make the time pass faster, right?

I think we are the only ones with the later seating, by the way. We had earlier (main) seating in August and it was just too early for me, but since this will be my first experience with the later seating, it's possible I may decide it was a wrong move. Only experience will tell . . .

 

[pclaire]

welcome T&T Mom, glad to see there are finally some boys on this cruise! I am travelling with my 8 yr old daughter, we're on deck 6 and we have main seating as well.
auroo, I'm impressed that you've carried on a relationship with someone who lives so far away, for so long. I have a very close friend who lives here in Denver, but has a house in Perth. He goes there about three times a year. door to door, it takes about 36 hrs!
Looks like planning the cruise may be the only fun thing we do for a while - my dd was diagnosed with mono yesterday. She has to quit soccer and can't do PE, which is her favorite class of course. Poor thing, she's sooo tired and has such a headache. hopefully it wont last too long. . . .