4/29/06 Eastern Magic...We're Going!!!!!

[OHJulie]

HEEELLLLOOOOOOO!!!

Anyone still here??

Just got the kids on the bus - now for the long wait for them to get home - then it's off the the airport!!!

 

[Sue718]

Hello --
We are heading to the airport...12:50pm flight.

Safe travels!

-Sue

 

[Verandah Man]

Have a MAGICal cruise to the Eastern Caribbean!!! The next time the Magic heads to the Eastern Caribbean on May 13th, I'll be on it!!!

Disney Magic sailing by the Two Palms cam on Saturday April 29, 2006

 

[Verandah Man]

Here are some shots of the Magic arriving at St. Thomas on 5-3-06. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1102379

I also have a pic of the Magic docked at St. Maarten on 5-2-06.

 

[Snoopyto]

We made it home. It was great to meet everyone!! Now just to spend a few more hours recovering.

 

[mketting]

Home too and soooo tired and very sad the trip is over. My entire family had a great time. It was great to meet many of you, sorry I missed many others.

Roses- Thanks again for opening up your suite!

 

[Lisa D]

My family had an awesome time as well, and we're also sad that the cruise is over. What a vacation! Back to doing our own dishes, cleaning, cooking, etc - YUCK!

We met sooo many wonderful people. I know we missed a few of you also - sorry! It was great to see so many familar faces. Sue and John, thank you so much for your "Hospitality Suite". It was a great way to begin and end the cruise.

Suzie, Trish, and Barb - I know most of you aren't home yet but I can't wait to share all of our pictures! Promise to help me if I can't figure out what I'm doing!

Julie, I was so happy Jimmy and Kyle hit if off. I think the teens had a really great time.

More later - back to laundry and unpacking.

Lisa

 

[partypat]

Where's my room stewart with my coffee Oh, how I miss being waited on.

We all had a great time and it was so fun meeting everyone Time passed so fast and I'm sorry I didn't have more time to spend with everyone.

[/IMG]

Happy Limo had a surprise for us and picked us up in the Limo Bus. The driver told us we would be sharing it with another family....and guess who? Barb, Len and Family. What a surprise that was. I didn't meet them the whole trip, but got to spend an hour on the way to the airport getting to know each other.

[/IMG]

Had a great flight home....but upon arriving at the hotel in Oakland to pick up the car.....wouldn't you know it.....a flat tire. Thank god for AAA. It was fixed and we were on our way in under an hour.

Had a great nights sleep in my own bed and my dog is giving me the silent treatment. I think she's mad a me.

Off to do the pile of laundry and sort out the mess I made packing on the ship.

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

Today I am very...

Because it has been...

Day since our AWESOME...

We had such a great time...it was so nice to be able to "hang out" with some of you...you are all awesome people...I only wish I could have met/hung with all of you, but when you're traveling with a posse of 20 like we were, hanging out with even more people is difficult! It was nice though to always have someone to say "hi" to as we were walking around the ship!

Sue & Jon...thank you so much for opening up your beautiful suite to all of us! You guys ROCK!!!!

PartyPat...thank you so much!!! You are the BOMB!!!

We landed in Detroit yesterday at 3:30 PM and by 5:00 we were at Lindsey's double header soccer game...UGH! And it was FREEZING!!! Home at 10:00, in bed sleeping by 10:30! We were all so exhausted! Today has been nothing but laundry, mail sorting, blah, blah, blah...all of the boring stuff we have to do in "real life"...counting the days until we sail on the MAGIC again in 2008 (yes, we booked on board)!!!

 

[PhillyJen2006]

Party Pat, you wouldn't believe this, but we got a flat tire on 528 headed to our 8am flight this morning and it was 6:30 when it happened!!! We didn't get picked up until 7:15....we were getting really nervous but we made it! The good news is they left the piece of crap on the highway

It was great to meet everyone! WE had an absolute ball, very sad to see it come to an end! Mermaid Patty and Philly Jen are in for 2008....just working on getting the men to commit!

I am sitting here at 3:09 on a sunday trying to recreate the ultimate Cosmo, complete with lime wedge!!! PAt is very upset they aren't coming out red enough so I may have to drink a few before he is satisfied with the results~
Then HGP's birthday tomorrow, then diet.

I am going to have to officially change my weight countdown....I gained about 7 lbs on the cruise! I guess it was the feed bag that I had strapped to myself all week!

Have a great weekend everyone. Hope everyone made it home safely!


PJ

 

[castlegazer]

I'm home now too!


We LOVED staying at the Hyatt last night.

I am sooo beat. We spent Saturday sleeping in Cocoa Beach and then now we are off for more naps. Castaway Cay really knocked us out. I am psyched that I got the Konk Kooler recipe for TT because I am soooo going to be making those - Holy AWESOME!

Suitcases and bags are unpacked.

Today is my true Birthday! I celebrated it the last night on the ship also.

It was wonderful having so many friends on board with us! What fun!

Pat - Thank you so very much!

PAHW - I never got your cards to you because I intended to be at the party on Friday but fell asleep - so sad! So this will hve to do: Happy 50th Jon, and Happy Anniversary to you both!

YOu all were wonderful people to get to know and I apologize for being so reclusive, but we enjoyed family time and our verandah! All the research really paid off - except for the fact that we were a rare sailing that didn't have matinees of the shows which screwed me up a bit on our Palo night, but not badly.

As everyone checks in why don't we all put what our favorite things were.

Mine was Palo brunch with everyone and Palo dinner and then spending so much time with the kids which was wonderful.

I am desperately trying to find time to write a trip report because if I don't I will forget everything.

We rebooked but it will be at least two years until we sail again. I hated the crowds and rude people and the lines everywhere but I did love the cruise. I always find that I am so booked from moment to moment on cruises and this was no different and maybe even worse because of the character lines. But I loved the shows, I loved seeing the kids so wowed by the shows, I loved the cabins, and I actually really liked the food except one night in Lumieres. OUr server and assistant server were amazing and wonderful people to boot.

Well, I should go and nap.

 

[castlegazer]

Jennifer, my crappy home scale is showing 10 pounds gained!


OMG!!!!!!!!!!!


We finished lunch today and had to have something sweet - don't you always have desert after every meal????????? So sad.............

 

[OHJulie]

Well, we're back but not happy about it!

We get home yesterday around 6:00, had chinese food and watched a movie with the kids(The Greatest Game Ever Played was in the mail).

Man were we wiped out!!

We have been busy all day - Grocery store, mowing and just home from Jessica's piano recital. Back to reality.

The cruise was awesome and I loved meeting everyone!! I wish we would have had more time to talk with all of you, but as Julie said - it is tough when you are traveling with a large group.

The cruise was very different from most of our vacations. We tend to schedule many activities during vacations and generally keep very busy. For some reason naps for Ken and I seemed to be a neccesity - must be the rocking of the boat! The kids never stopped however!

Lisa - Kyle had a great time hanging with Jimmie and the other boys. It sounds like Ocean Quest was a hit.

Kyle made me laugh yesterday. I was saying that I did not do much reading on this trip and he said "Why would you spend time reading - unless it's a menu." Obviously, he loved the food!!

Jessica also loved meeting Emma and Lindsey. She really wanted to spend more time with them, but she was with her cousin and she didn't want to go to the Lab very often.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Golden Eagle Catamaran - A beautiful, relaxing day.

Captain Nautica - This was my first snorkeling experience - I felt like Mr. Lippit in that undersea world!! The whole family loved both excursions.

Tequila and Margarita Tasting - Very fun!

Palo - Brunch and Dinner - Outstanding!

Watching our kids - Kyle is becoming so independent and loved the freedom of the ship. Jessica loved everything and is still excited by the characters. We had a great time together at the Farewell Show in the atrium.

I was pleasantly surprised that I did not run in to too many rude people. It may be because our kids are older and we did not spend much time in line for characters and at the Mickey Pool - but overall I thought everyone was very cordial. Our last cruise there were several times when I wanted to smack some of those parents!!

We did not rebook - the first day was a KILLER for Ken, he is not enthusastic about cruising again. Kyle and Jessica are already scheming though - they have decided to wait 6 months and then start working on Dad.

Well, I should go - we are going out for Mexican today, it's Ken's Birthday. We get to use our new Margarita Knowledge - 1800 and Grand Marnier!!

Happy B-Day Shyla!!

OHJulie - (The Other Julie)

 

[partypat]

Yohooooo.....I didn't gain a pound. Don't know how that happened, but it must be that I took my own advice and tried not to use the elevator. Those stairs were a challenge at times, but it paid off. Now the challenge of losing the next 20 pounds for a new me come summer.

PhillyJen, can't believe you had a flat tire too.

Sue and Jon....you guys are the best. Enjoyed your suite and especially Jon in his kilt on formal nite. I thought you might enjoy this picture.

[/IMG]

Tom and Julie, it was great seeing you everywhere on the trip. And Tom, thanks for taking such good care of my boys....Speaking of boys....these guys look like trouble

 

[The Roses]

We got home in the wee hours of the morning after spending 8 hours sitting on our butts in the airport, another 8 hours in the airplane, and another 8 hours whining about how fast the week went.

Happy Birthday Shyla!
How's the sunburn Suzie? I feel your pain.... Next time I'll bring better sunscreen.

When we got up this morning, there was no coffee waiting for us, no room service, no one bringing us fresh towels...can you imagine? Tonight I might have to cover our old dog with a towel and prop her on the bed. Good thing she doesn't move around much anymore.

The piratewear and wenchwear is in the laundry. Jon is watching Kill Bill, which balances out all of the Disney movies we've watched in one fell swoop.

Thank you all for a wonderful cruise! I have to say that this was the most fun we've ever had on a vacation. Ever. Because of all of you. We loved all of the pre-cruise excitement and getting to know people. We've rebooked for the first week in May 2008 and looking forward to more verandah parties. Join us!

The Roses

 

[GrumpyC.Hook]

Home as well! Had a great time!

Sorry i never made it Friday night to the farewell party but my mom and I got stopped at the Till we meet again with the characters and I was able to spend like 10 minutes with Captain Hook! By the time we got out it was late and we were so tired.

We rebooked for 2007 but as soon as 2008 rates come out we are going to rebook it for then.

We are going Western Caribbean this time!

We loved everything about the cruise but we found the one thing we didn't enjoy was the seats in the ship. there were very few that were comfortable for Pooh Sized people. But since we only sat for Dinner, the shows it wasn't horrible.

Exhausted today and i can't go to work tomorrow now have a throat and ear cold so won't be back to work till tuesday earliest but probably friday.

Thanks to the Roses for opening the suite and thanks to all those who I met who were so nice !

April and Tim hope your drive to Kentucky went smoothyly and keep in Touch!

Sandy and Carol-- Hope you had a great time at WDW!

Well talk soon!

 

[partypat]

Amy and Angela, it was sooooo nice meeting you first thing in the terminal. I think you were the first Disers we met in line while checking in and then the last on Castaway Cay at Serenity Bay. By the way, how were the massages at the Cabanas. You and your mom always had smiles and called out my name. Thanks for the memories.......

 

[PhillyJen2006]

PartyPat, BTW Thank you so much. Decided to save it for Headgears birthday tonight! Also-I would love a copy of that photo you have at the heads up bar. Mike and Pat are the ones on the end opposite Pango!
Thanks.

I have a correction to make!!! 10 stinking pounds. I guess it was PAt's homemade Pizza last night and the Cosmo tasting that did me in. Then we went for a walk and ended up finding the whole "It must be happy hour somewhere" concept happening in our neighborhood. It was nice cause we weren't ready to be "home" yet.

Pat did mow our waist high lawn. I think he is fogetting it is his Birthday. Happy Birthday Shyla!!!

Great day all! I will post favorite things later in the day. My website is calling me....thanks to all of you who reminded me that it wasn't done!!!

PJ

 

[Lisa D]

Here I am posting when I should be putting my 5 loads of laundry away and going to the gym to work out (I'm afraid to get on the scale after viewing all these 10 pound weight gains), but here goes:

Favorite things:

1. The Roses' Verandah parties (Happy Birthday Jon & Happy Anniversary). It
was such a great opportunity to meet everyone and recognize other
Dis'ers from the very beginning.

2. Monday's lunch at Lumiere's with Ed, Suzie, Trish, Barb & Len - what a
great idea for a sea day! Their tilapia was delicious!

3. Tequila & Margarita tasting - it was great to see so many Dis'ers there!

4. Golden Eagle Catamaran - I'd recommend that excursion to anyone!

5. All the colorful fish that would eat out of your hand at Coki Point.

6. Dinner and (when I finally got there) Brunch at Palo - Aleksandar was
a marvelous server and great to talk with.

7. Comedy and Dancing at Rockn' D Bar - Phil and I practically NEVER go
out here at home (things are just too busy) so it was wonderful to have
a whole week of "date" nights with our new friends while the kids hung
out with their new friends.

8. On behalf of Jimmy and Jonathan, The Stack & Ocean Quest were
apparently a big hit.

9. Our chocolate peanut butter pie on the last night - Phil was looking for a
chocolate peanut butter dessert on the Buffet, and since there wasn't
one, they arranged to make one for us to have for dessert the following
night - how awesome is that?

Happy belated birthday Shyla and Pat - Jenn, sorry we never got to meet you and Pat. We also just met PartyPat on the last night.

It was really hard getting everyone up for school today. Monday means vacation is really over But we had a fabulous time, and the memories will last forever!

Lisa

 

[castlegazer]

I just wanted to say that maybe those scales may settle down a little. I just noticed that my watch was spinning on my arm again and not painfully tight and that my pants felt OK so I went and weighed myself here at work (yeah, we have a scale in the caf ) and I am only up a little over 5 pounds and not the horrific 10 that I was weighing in at yesterday.

I have layouts ready for posting, but I need to be home to do it so I will work on a start to a trip report tonight if I get a chance beyond making dinner out of no groceries yet.

Amy, I hope you feel better. Paul is feeling rather awful now too. The kids and I have been nursing something all week. But it helped enormously to have the Airborn along and to use the antibacterial stuff all the time along with when they had us do it.

Sue, how'd the dog do last night?