3/28/09 Spring Break Magic in St. Croix

[starview]

I'm also heavy into the packing mode. We're spending 9 days in WDW pre-cruise, so I have lots to pack!! I haven't made my final decision on FE gifts, but I promise they will be good. I'm so excited!

Starview--small world, I'm also in Edmonton!!

We'll certainly be ready for this cruise with the awful weather we've been having. Next week is supposed to be really cold as well.

When are you flying out & with who?
We're out at 8:40AM on Friday with AC.

 

[gagamouse]

We are flying out Friday 7am Airtran.

 

[kcashner]

I'm also heavy into the packing mode. We're spending 9 days in WDW pre-cruise, so I have lots to pack!! I haven't made my final decision on FE gifts, but I promise they will be good. I'm so excited!

Starview--small world, I'm also in Edmonton!!

A thought....each of the WDW resorts has one or more laundry rooms...usually located near the pool. I do all my laundry either the night before or the morning we leave for the cruise. That way I only have to pack half as much and I get on the ship with everything clean. I also pack a "cruise only" suitcase of things (like formal clothes) that I know I won't need at WDW. It doesn't even have to be opened while at the parks.

I'm becoming afraid....very afraid....we are flying and I was trying to make this a "one suitcase for each" trip. DD started trying things on today. "This would be good for semi-formal night...and this would be good for formal night." I pointed out that both would be good choices because they were essentially "wrinkle free" dresses. "But mom, I want a more fancy dress for formal night." That darned prom-type dress with the built in tulle slip, etc. would take a whole suitcase all by itself!

 

[mumom95]

Yesterday my dd(7) and I went shopping for her for the cruise (she has outgrown almost all of her summer stuff from last year). And while we were out, we bought her the most beautiful dress for formal night. It's much more formal than I originally expected to buy, but she looked so pretty in I just couldn't say no. I got it at JCPenny, and it was on sale, plus I had an extra 20% off, so it was only $34 when it was all said and done, which isn't bad at all. The only bad thing is that this is probably the only time she will wear it. It's too formal for church (even Easter), and she'll probably outgrow it by the time she needs another formal. Oh well, I plan on getting lots of pictures of her in it.

I also finished up my magnets last night, and finally decided what I'm going to do for my FE exchange. Three more weeks, I may actually get it all done before then

 

[kcashner]

But she'll be a princess in it...and she can wear it for both formal and semi-formal nights.

My teen has informed me that she intends to "pack light" so that she can take the prom dress. She has other "smashable" things that would be great, but this is big, poofy, etc. Groan. At least we're on Southwest. We could end up with a garment bag just for the dress.

 

[starview]

Our family is not going to be dressing formally, mostly in part due to luggage restrictions.

I have to save room for all the fish extender stuff to take!

We will be on the dressy side but no jacket or tie for the guys & dress pants & fancy blouse for me. I know this has been the topic of many threads but we just decided we wanted to keep it to one suitcase each & just can't fit in suit jackets, so I'm also dresssing down a little.

It is -30 + here now with windchill & supposed to warm up by the end of the week, so knowing we'll be in shorts & sandals soon is all that's keeping me going.

I finished making all the crafty parts of my fe, so now just have to organize everything. We booked over a year ago & now I'm scrambling to find time to get ready.

 

[kcashner]

Hey gang--I found a new Budget rental car code that got me $6 off the previous lowest rate I could find for our cruise.....

It is Z959200 and requires that you be a Choice Privileges member. No biggie--that's a free on line sign up. You've got to be careful with these codes...one gave me the best rate on the way to the port and a different one gave me the best rate on the way back!

ALso...in the fine print....Budget is now charging $13.99 "fill up" fee on all rentals of less than 75 miles. You can get it refunded if you return the car with a full tank AND show a receipt to prove that you bought gas.

 

[skohrs]

ALso...in the fine print....Budget is now charging $13.99 "fill up" fee on all rentals of less than 75 miles. You can get it refunded if you return the car with a full tank AND show a receipt to prove that you bought gas.

Very interesting. They have finally caught on.

 

[disneyfreak1]

Our family is not going to be dressing formally, mostly in part due to luggage restrictions.

I have to save room for all the fish extender stuff to take!

We will be on the dressy side but no jacket or tie for the guys & dress pants & fancy blouse for me. I know this has been the topic of many threads but we just decided we wanted to keep it to one suitcase each & just can't fit in suit jackets, so I'm also dresssing down a little.

It is -30 + here now with windchill & supposed to warm up by the end of the week, so knowing we'll be in shorts & sandals soon is all that's keeping me going.

I finished making all the crafty parts of my fe, so now just have to organize everything. We booked over a year ago & now I'm scrambling to find time to get ready.

I am sure we will see folks dressed all kinds of ways, so I wouldn't worry about it. You will probably be more comfortable anyway.

 

[kcashner]

If it were totally MY choice, I wouldn't be doing the formal bit. Since DD wants to go formal, I'll go dressy...but it must be able to smash into my suitcase!

 

[disneyfreak1]

Well I am not buying a suit for my DS. If he can't fit into one of my husband's jackets, he will just be doing a shirt, pants and tie.

 

[Dyanne]

I haven't posted on this thread in a while and thought I'd chime in. If anyone has a 12yo DD, mine would LOVE to send yours an email. She's an extrovert stuck in a family of introverts, so she likes to find new friends everywhere she goes. Please PM me if your daughter would like to meet mine. (She's into everything "12," such as Twilight, being cool, music, etc.)

And for the many of us from Minnesota who will be cruising: let's all cross our fingers and send good vibes out into the universe in an effort to ensure a VERY WARM TRIP!

I'll see everyone at 3:00 on embarkation day!

Dyanne

 

[mumom95]

Well I am not buying a suit for my DS. If he can't fit into one of my husband's jackets, he will just be doing a shirt, pants and tie.

The only reason my DS is going to be wearing a suit is because he had to have one last year for his first communion, and my MIL was able to let the pants out length wise to still fit him. My DH and DS aren't happy about it though. But they've agreed to do it for dinner and to get pictures, but I'm sure right after that they will be out of them and back into more casual clothes. Heck, I probably will too. I'm not one who likes to dress up too much, but I am looking forward to getting some nice family photos.

The one nice thing about driving down is we don't have to worry as much about luggage issues. But that 14 hour drive isn't going to be fun.

 

[disneyfreak1]

The only reason my DS is going to be wearing a suit is because he had to have one last year for his first communion, and my MIL was able to let the pants out length wise to still fit him. My DH and DS aren't happy about it though. But they've agreed to do it for dinner and to get pictures, but I'm sure right after that they will be out of them and back into more casual clothes. Heck, I probably will too. I'm not one who likes to dress up too much, but I am looking forward to getting some nice family photos.

The one nice thing about driving down is we don't have to worry as much about luggage issues. But that 14 hour drive isn't going to be fun.

14 hours? Yikes! I'm glad I only have a 5 hour drive. It is very nice not to have luggage issues, though. We flew to Miami last spring break and cruised out of there. That was very different for us. I felt like we had to be careful what we took and brought back. I had some jerk seasoning from Jamaica that got confiscated. They called it a liquid! Huh?

 

[KAH]

Hi everyone- We will be joining you on this cruise, our very first Disney. We were able to get a really great military rate and we are very excited. Joining me are DH, DS 11, DS 9 and DD 7. We will be driving 13 hours from TN which won't be fun, but all in an effort to save money. Our last cruise was 4 years ago on Royal Caribbean. That time we had two adjoining inside cabins. This time we are in a cat 4. It will be nice having a balcony, but I'm a little worried with 5 of us we will be cramped in the room. My DS 11 is anxious to be in Ocean Quest and able to come and go as he pleases, but I don't know if I'm ready for that. Luckily, he is a responsible kid. I do wish he were in with DS 9, because he is my shy one and will try more new things if older brother is with him. DD 7 is very excited about all the fun stuff on ship....she has watched the video a few times.

We have booked Palo for one night, but no excursions yet. My brother lived in St. Thomas for a couple years. He said to take a taxi to Magen's Bay because the kids would love the beach.

I'm enjoying these DIS boards but they are quite addicting.

 

[mumom95]

Hi everyone- We will be joining you on this cruise, our very first Disney. We were able to get a really great military rate and we are very excited. Joining me are DH, DS 11, DS 9 and DD 7. We will be driving 13 hours from TN which won't be fun, but all in an effort to save money. Our last cruise was 4 years ago on Royal Caribbean. That time we had two adjoining inside cabins. This time we are in a cat 4. It will be nice having a balcony, but I'm a little worried with 5 of us we will be cramped in the room. My DS 11 is anxious to be in Ocean Quest and able to come and go as he pleases, but I don't know if I'm ready for that. Luckily, he is a responsible kid. I do wish he were in with DS 9, because he is my shy one and will try more new things if older brother is with him. DD 7 is very excited about all the fun stuff on ship....she has watched the video a few times.

We have booked Palo for one night, but no excursions yet. My brother lived in St. Thomas for a couple years. He said to take a taxi to Magen's Bay because the kids would love the beach.

I'm enjoying these DIS boards but they are quite addicting.

My DS is also 9, and a bit on the shy side, we should make sure they get introduced early on and maybe they will become fast friends. My DD is also 7, but turns 8 the second day of the cruise, so I'm going to move her up to the club with the 8-9 year olds.

 

[KAH]

My DD 7 is in 2nd grade and will be 8 in a couple months, so I had thought about trying to move her up as well. After she looked at some of the activities for her age group she said she wanted to stay in th 5-7 age group. Guess we will see what the makeup of the group is when we get there, hopefully more towards the 7 year old side.

 

[alikat99]

My DD 7 is in 2nd grade and will be 8 in a couple months, so I had thought about trying to move her up as well. After she looked at some of the activities for her age group she said she wanted to stay in th 5-7 age group. Guess we will see what the makeup of the group is when we get there, hopefully more towards the 7 year old side.

My oldest DD is 7 1/2 and she's quite outgoing too. Maybe we can introduce them early on too.

 

[wjbc]

I haven't posted on this thread in a while and thought I'd chime in. If anyone has a 12yo DD, mine would LOVE to send yours an email. She's an extrovert stuck in a family of introverts, so she likes to find new friends everywhere she goes. Please PM me if your daughter would like to meet mine. (She's into everything "12," such as Twilight, being cool, music, etc.)/QUOTE]

Dyanne - I sent you a PM.

Also, if anyone has a 14/15 year old daughter that is interested in exchanging emails with my other daughter, please let me know

I can't believe the cruise is so close. We haven't done anything yet to get ready. I'm sure it will be a last minute thing, as always for us. We are going to Universal Studios to see Montgomery Gentry this weekend, so that leaves only the weekend before that we'll have to shop and pack.

Wendy

 

[skohrs]

We'll be going to see Montgomery Gentry this weekend at Universal as well.