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

[OHJulie]

Partypat - you can start making reservations on February 13th, if you are paid in full. I am pretty sure that it is midnight west coast time. A lovely 3 a.m. for those of us in the east.

Interesting note - when I paid off our cruise the TA said that we would receive the cruise documents 3-4 weeks before the cruise and they would be sent directly from DCL. This is new, they used to go to the TA first. Anyone else hear this?

Tom- good luck with the interviews. Hopefully you will find that person that just seems to "click" today. I am in sales also, I know how hard it is to find someone to fit the bill these days. In most cases, salespeople have to be great multitaskers - companies don't have the support staff that they used to have.

OHjulie

 

[castlegazer]

I know Tom, I know

Partypat -

Julie - That is what my friend our TA told me too. I got the other stuff through her, though. And yeah, that is the date for us LLLLLoooossser first time DCL cruisers.

On my usual depressing note lately:

The reason this decision is coming now, is that when we made this reservation we didn't think we would have the option of staying in the condo in Florida at all - it had been completely blown out in the Hurricane and it was not looking like my BIL would have it ready for anyone to stay there by this time. We also had told ourselves that we would not be vacationing anywhere expensive the year prior because of Catrina's birth, therefore, allowing us to save for this big trip.

Well, what we couldn't have predicted, although we were idiots not to be able to, is that saving for a vacation is a total joke with two in day care, my company would have a lackluster year, therefore, minimizing my bonus which usually is our gravy for spring trips, that the condo would be available, and how freakin tired we would be.

I think the last one is the biggie for us right now - we could easily just say, to hell with all the projects we need to spend money on - let's just go. But then we come back to our prior experiences with cruising and realize - we really just want some time with the kids and some time to relax. It's been a crazy, hectic year - and I am sooo tired. Bone tired. A cruise would be awesome to cure this if it were just Paul and I. But taking two young kids on a cruise will not be relaxing at all - FUN, yes, relaxing, no.

Can you tell today is a lean the other way day?

Two things to note if I do drop out of this thing:

1) I will still be ordering the arm bands for everyone as I can drop any extras we have off (that haven;t been mailed to you all prior to the cruise) with one of the people staying in Cocoa Beach on Friday night.
2) I plan on meeting up with as many of you prior to the cruise as I possibly can.
3) yeah, I added a three - I can take photos of the ship leaving the docks for all you guys and your scrapbooks!!!!!

 

[castlegazer]

THEN....... I see this photo and I am back into the cruise fold..........

How awesome is that thing?????????

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

CG...I don't really know you or your situation, but all I can say is that we absolutely did have a relaxing time on the cruise last year. It was the perfect mix of "time with the kids" and "time without the kids". My kids really enjoyed the clubs so on our "at sea" days they hung in the clubs and we relaxed on deck and waited for Jamaica James to bring us another round. We were traveling with a two year old at the time so she was not old enough for the club, but she did spend some time in Flounders Reef Nursery. We also took the kids to the clubs/nursery at night for a few hours and hung out with BowTieJoe and the gang in the Rockin Bar D. On the "in port" days we had family time all day and it was awesome!

With Disney Cruise prices being what they are, this is quite possibly our second and last Disney cruise...we were lucky enough to re-book on board last time and get the 10% off plus the 200.00 per stateroom credit (which is four hundred bucks since we have two rooms ), but the prices now are way way waaaayyy more than what we are paying. That being said, our family of five can sail on RCL (or something else) for a lot less money. But we absolutely loved DCL last time and can't wait to do it again. It is sad thinking it might be our last time, but sometimes the truth hurts!!!

Do what is best for your family and don't worry about a bunch of geeks that you met on the internet!!! We'll miss you, but we'll understand!!!

 

[castlegazer]

Thanks Julie - Its good to hear that it was relaxing. Our last cruise was port intensive so that may be why my lasting impression was not of relaxation. I was also pregnant so it gave me a clue as to what I would be facing with staying in almost every night.

When I checked prices for this date for 2007 when the prices first came out it was about a $1,000 difference over what I am paying for the 2006 cruise. RIDICULOUS! (any Harry Potter fans out there hear Lupin the background there? - Jen????). This point has made it into our discussions.

I think I am making excuses for what is essentially a monetary discussion. If everything were equal money wise I would sooo be on this cruise. So that must be the bottom line for us. Now we just need to reconcile that aspect of it along with our lingering doubts about how hard it will be with Catrina in tow.

Trust me, I am spending every waking moment in contemplation over this right now. So, its nice to hear your thoughts on it.

BUT - we sooo need something else to talk about!!!!!

I found another cruiser over on the main board - so hopefully they stop by and say hi!! They have kids around the same age as a lot of you guys!

 

[castlegazer]

You know, I just have to say Tom and Julie and BTJ that it used to be you guys posting the most on this thread - not me!!!!!!

Oh, and to stir up some more posts by you guys and to lighten the load here - I had to resurrect this as I think this is one of my favorite pictures:

 

[hccb]

New to DIS, heard some not so great things about this place...but did hear the Cruisers forums were much, much more polite and held a real sense of decorum. So far I've found that to be very true, thankfully! I am so not about the drama and all about making friends, so I think this forum will be a good fit

We are cruising very soon...My husband, myself, my daughter Chloe(6), my son Chase(9) and all of our dreams for this vacation will be coming along as well to be magically turned into reality

While I do have a fairly good idea of what it is we want out of this vacation, and have a few things planned, our main goal is for the kiddos to disappear , us to RELAX(it's been a loooong two years), have some spectacular moments of family memories and be pampered by the much applauded concierge staff. Sounds like a plan to me. I'm even going to have my toesies polished-~sigh~

So thank you for having me on this thread! I look forward to partcipating and if it all possible giving something back to each of you-

I haven't read this thread in it's entirety yet, but I will tonight. Have to get to school to do some volunteer in the copy room . Teachers have to have extra hands these days....

Thank you castlegazer for the invite, much appreciated, I assure you-

I'll see you all later on this evening

Heather

 

[castlegazer]

TO THE DIS!!!!!!

TO THE 4/29/06 CRUISE THREAD!!!!!!

We are so happy to have you here too!!! Hey, wait, are you possibly our first concierge class cruiser to join us??????

What category do you have?

I will get a roll call up for you once the boards stop acting funny. I have been having some problems today posting.

Oh, and yes, the DIS is a very, very nice place to get lots of answers and make a lot of very nice virtual friends. I even met a now very good friend of mine through the DIS and she only lives 1 mile from my house. I also met up with my 4th grade best friend who I had lost touch with since that year. It was a ton of fun meeting her again as an adult. We now are close friends again. This is not to mention these amazing people here on this thread - I am just honored to be here with them all and their daily antics. You can talk about everything from fine wine to yabows here at this thread (we'll give you a dictionary later when you pass the test - Just Kidding )

Welcome!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Hey all, just checking in, met Julie on my way back down the state and did the child exchange, she is off on her girls weekend and I am the single parent for once. Thanks Oh Julie (I love spelling it that way and also saying it to) and Party Pat for the well wishes in the interview process, you would not believe what happened to me today, the 9th person to interview came in and introduce themselve to me and I took a look at their resume and asked what had happened at their last place of employment to make them look at our company? I do this with everyone to make sure that they have a positive attitude about life, and I never want to hear excuses for it being someone elses fault. This person just looks at me and starts crying, I did not know what to do I grabbed some tissue and told them that they did not have to answer the question, and if I said something to upset them that I had meant no ill will at all. After about 5 minutes and multiple times of trying to compose themselves, we went through with multiple breakdowns that they had been let go, and they were a good person and that should never happen to anyone, because no matter how bad they were at their job, with time and support they could improve, and companies did not care about individuals just about making money. I looked around just to make sure I wasn't being tape for a show of Americas Funniest Videos, but then realized that I needed to end this interview somewhat quickly and in a very polite way not to upset this person any further, but also not give them any hope that they would be a person that we would consider for the opening. Probably the worst situation that I have been in, and honestly have not had any experience or training on how to deal with a situation like this, I felt bad for the person, but had to make sure that I and my company were protected from doing anything wrong.

Thank goodness for the next person, exactly what we are looking for and fits right in line with our pay scale. Hopefully they don't read this and I will have to pay them more, but I have been purposely vauge in describing the people that I interacted with, but had to share the story with someone. If any of you have wondered why I drink hopefully this explains a little, I wish I was with Party Pat right now and could just drive down the street and pick up a nice bottle of wine from the neighborhood.

Shy, do what is right for you guys, after reading the Queens post about this might be our last DCL also it sort of hit home for me. I do understand about putting away some money to take care of things around home, we struggle with that also, but I never took vacations as a kid (we lived on a lake so was told we did not have to), so we take more than most people to make up for it. Thanks for the picture of us hard to believe that was from Halloween of 04, we have been at this quite a while.

Well I am off to Soccer practice with Linds, and then back tommorrow for games for Abby and Sarah, then Sunday for practice for Linds and a game for me, and last but not least on Monday night for Lindsey game. I sure without my better half around this weekend I will be checking in quite a bit more than usual especially if any of you can do hair through the computer.

Tom

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Wow, I got nothing? No takers on the hair gig? The Queen wont be happy but thank god for hats or this is what we would be looking at as far as hairstyles go. We ended up getting about 6 inches of snow after yesterday was in the 40 s, I just finished shoveling so time to get the princesses up and go to the indoor soccer fields for the second out of 5 times this weekend. Funny story about shoveling, when my parents retired my dad said he was going to strap a snow shovel on top of his car and start driving south, then when someone finally asked him what it was, he said that was where he would stop. Because he was tired of snow, by the way they are in North Carolina up in the smokies where it still does snow but it will be gone in a day. Oh and my parents called me last night and said that they are working at the Dream Home that is going to be given away on HGTV. My dad is driving a schuttle bus and my Mom giving guided tours of the house, the old guy said that someone told him the taxes alone are in the 600 thousand range. My mom said that the place is unbelieveable and at least worth 2 to 3 million, especially where it is located, they live about 15 minutes from the location.

Tom

 

[OHJulie]

Tom - I can't believe your interview story! I think that I would have headed directly to the bar after that one!

I love the smoker mountains - what a great place to retire! That dream home is gorgeous - actually very similar to ours

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes for Jessica's doctors appointment. It was fine - NO SURGERIES THIS SUMMER!

OHJulie

 

[partypat]

Hi Guys, I had a little time before heading off to weightwatchers and Curves, so thought I'd see whats up with all of you.

Tom, thats quite a story about the interview. I think I'd head to the bar too. It reminds me of when I had to layoff an assistant. I work in a small office. Theres two of us Escrow Officers and a parttime assistant. During the refinance craze we hired an additional assistant (20 years old) and she worked for us for about a year. When business slowed down we had to lay her off. When I told her she started to cry and said she was very upset because she wouldn't be able to see us everyday. Not that she was worried about not having a job, but that she was going to miss us. Needless to say, we had a big cry fest in the office. We did help her find another job and we're still great friends and see her often. About the hair, pony's are good, but hats are better. Good luck. And I'm jealeous you get to visit the Smoky Mountains often. I have a girlfriend who lives and works in Sieverville, TN and works at Dollywood. She rides the ostrich at the Dixie Stampede. I've been to visit her and I loved driving thru the Smoky Mountains. What a beautiful place. The mountains are full of hidden treasures and great vacation cabins to rent. I'm do for another visit when I get done seeing all the other things on my list.

OhJulie, thats great news about Jessica. I bet your all relieved to have a stress free summer to look forward to.

HCCB: I'm not as good as CG at the welcome glitter, but feel the same. It will be great to get to know you and your family. Your kids are about the same age as everyone elses. I'll have a girls ages 4, 6 and 9 in tow with our group. Theres 14 of us. I think your son will be overwhelmed by the all the girls in the Dis group. And I hope you like Martinis, because that seems to be the drink of choice, along with the wine.

Speaking of wine, I read that you can ship stuff directly to the cruise line and have it in your stateroom when you arrive. What a great idea. I get wine at a great price (almost nothing and sometimes nothing as clients give it to me), so I think I'll be shipping at least a case and I plan on sharing.

I was able to book 6 of our 14 tickets so far with airline miles. Now comes the hard part of booking the rest at a great price or trying to use the misc airline miles we still have. Its hard trying to match them all up with 3 different airports.

CG: How's it going. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes with this delima. What a hard choice. If you decide not to go, a get together in Cocoa Beach would be fun. We're there the whole week before.

Well off to the Grind.....I post my results later as to the BL

PartyPat

 

[partypat]

I'm back from weightwatchers....wow....I'm down 3.8 this week. What a surprise. Total weight loss since November 7.4....I'm on a roll.

PartyPat

 

[castlegazer]

That's awesome PartyPat!!!!! Great Job!

Me, down nothing. Yup, not working on it at all - just had a beer while watching the DCL planning video! I am having the toughest time getting up the gumption to go to the gym. I am a procrastinator, though - so watch up in those few weeks leading up to the cruise - I will be on fire I tell ya.

TOM - HOLY BAJOLY (CAN'T SAY WHAT I AM THINKING)!!!!!!!!! Oh my God, Oh My God, Oh My GODDDDDDDD!!!!!!! I am a Dream Home fanatic - I mean fanatic! I am nuts about this contest every year. I enter every day, mail in entry forms, and lurk on the message boards sometimes. There's a DIS'r from Scripps that I bug too - no, she's nice, and I don't bug her, well, very often, about it.

This home this year is actually my dream home - totally my ultimate dream type of home. I am sooo in love with it.

The taxes actually would be about $900,000!!!! There is a CPA over on the Dream Home message board who has it all worked out. I suddenly want this one a little less than the other homes they have given away. But it hasn't stopped me from entering.

From January 1 - February 17th every year I am all about the Dream Home - every day. I bug the crap out of my family about it.

I have seen photos from people taking the tour and have been reading reports of people who have taken the tour. The darn house is 30 minutes from the visitors center they say - so I can't imagine where the nearest grocery store is to the thing!

Anyways, you hit on one very soft spot for me!

And if you guys didn't catch that - yup, we were watching the planning video. The throw cares to the wind attitude is taking hold in the household.

 

[partypat]

CG, you go girl.....when you win the house maybe we can all vacation with you next year in the Smokies. Last year I entered everyday and told all my family and friends that we would be vacationing in Texas for a few years until we tired of the location. I guess I'll have to sign up and enter again this year. Maybe between the two of us we might have some luck and not have to worry about decisions about where we vacation.

PartyPat

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Hey CG,

if you make it down by Ashville I know a lady who would probably give you quite a tour, it is funny that you said that you enter every day, I have instructions while the Queen is away to register her and my email. She thinks we will win it and then turn it around on the open market for a nice sum so that she can build her Dream House here in Williamston (an Oxymoron if I have ever heard one).

Well the girls are here with my nephew and I am on my way to a surprise 40th for a friend, not to long ago we were celebrating people turning 21, oh how times have changed.

Hope all is well with everyone and I will be checking in again soon, BTW everyone should have the planning video memorized because there will be a test very soon.

Tom

 

[The Roses]

Newbie here. First post on a board, ever.
My husband and I will be joining you on the 29th. This is our first cruise. We're celebrating our 10th anniversary, so we're in one of the suites. Hope to see you there; we'll be the awestruck couple in the corner with our mouths wide open.

The Roses

 

[PhillyJen2006]

(Never saw that little guy!)Welcome to all the newbies! It should be fun.

Tom- Pat and I had a good laugh at your expense yesterday after reading your post. The part about looking around for the hidden camera got us! I hope it all works out for you.

CG- glad to hear that the Caution to the Wind attitude is taking hold. When we booked the cruise-I had just left my job. I promised HGP that I would be able to save the $$ for the cruise(ok- never been able to save a dollar in my life)- I always forget about the 90 days prior payment thing. That gets me everytime. Well, Mermaid Patty has informed us that we are due to pay in like a week- and I have saved a grand total of $1000! Yep that's it. And here is the fun part-I STILL don't have a "corporate" job and don't plan on getting one any time soon. I guess I just need to figure out how to skim money off my business.....However, for the reasons every one has stated-the prices getting prohibitive, and the look on my girls faces as we got on the ship last time was priceless, we decided just to go for it. Couldn't put a dollar figure on that and so we decided to take the jump. The funny thing is that Disney is well aware of the "pricelessness" of the ship-and charges accordingly!!

So we went out last night to a bar for a friends 30th birthday party. His wife held it in a college bar, in the basement. She rented it out from 6-9(right there you know we are getting old). Well, it was fun she had some nice snacks and cake and stuff. At 9-the doors opened and the college kids started filing in and we had such a blast watching the "pick ups" happen, checking out what little the college girls wear to bars these days in the dead of winter-watching the bouncer thouroughly check the ID's at the door. Absolutely hysterical. And we were both shocked at the apparent comeback of facial hair- not goatee's but full beards. Very interesting stuff. Pat and I went to high school and college together- so it was really fun to reminesce about old times. But then I realized what we were....."Townies"!

Party Pat-great job on the weigh in-HGP is down 10 lbs. Me-still 4 ish. We started a workout program about 2 weeks ago and my scale just isn't budging for now- I think I had lost so much muscle over the last few years that the added muscle mass is just adding pounds for right now. I am hopeful-I am doing all the right things 90% of the time and working out for about an hour a day 3 days a week and 45 minutes the other days. My clothes fit better- and I promised myself that that would be my goal instead of the number on the scale. It is tough- because I am paying Weight Watchers, who expectes the number on the scale go down, and that is what I'd ultimately like to happen, but the health benefits of getting fit are more important to me right now.

Alright- gotta get my girls breakfast! Chat soon-everyone have a great day.
PJ

 

[castlegazer]

I have a Squirming baby in my hands so I will be back with a proper welcome for you - the Roses! a little later. We are sooo happy you will be joining us!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

CG,

Did you just say us? Welcome back aboard, and it looks like everything is coming up roses, good to have you join in. Jen about going to a college bar, I did that last night also but for a 40th, so we were quite a bit older than the crowd that they normally attract. The funny thing is that I do not miss that enviorment one bit, I would much rather be hanging out in someones cabin while the kids are in the club, drinking Key Lime Martinis, with my Queen.

Abby woke up with a sore throat today, and asked if Daddys are aloud to make kids feel better, when Moms are not home. I guess I am not the only one who is missing the Queen, I tell you what I have a lot more respect for the wife when I am out of town (better stop before I go to far because I know she will read this).

Head Gear, way to go with the 10 pounds, I wish I could just get motivated. Everyone else congrats and keep it up, I wonder how Suzie is doing down at WDW, I talked to BowTie Joe last night and we are going to meet up at Disney over Thanksgiving this year.

Party Pat, if you want you could ship that wine to Michigan and I drive most of it down to the cruise for you, just a thought keep it in mind.

No hair, and it might be a pajama day, because this ship is going to limp into port until the captain returns.

Tom