9/19/09 Western Magic

[tink&cinderella]

Please..no reminders of a Disney Visa... event though we Cdn's have Chase bank who owns several credit card programs, Disney visa is still not available to us.. this SUCKS!!!!!!!

Nice to see someone else here from Ontario....we usually drive but with my dad and mom that was not an option.

I actually got a great price for all 6 of us return, direct flight with Air Canada for $1600 for all of us, taxes in....check out cheapoair.com they have great fares.

I sometimes drive to Kitchener for work,,lovely area...I love St.Jacobs


Denise

 

[kileybeth]

Jodi and Gretchen,

I will happily contribute those never ended Disney song videos that the littles so love to sing loudly along with whenever we travel. You will know my husband by his love for children and his complete understanding that they can remain quiet when in stressful times of navigating the car in unknown areas. We usually hit WashDC area just long enough after drving that everyone has to make a potty stop as well. Try that with a car full of kiddos on the Beltway! They should have a fabulous trip. Are either of you girls up for stopping for a latte or a mani/pedi on the way down? Bet we have time to squeeze it in!

and in REAL life, I forgot to take the 3 suitcases I had my DD14 put in the car for me (to see how they would fit) out again so when we went to BJ's last night the DH says to me, "Oh good! Are those the suitcases you decided to pack in?" And then "You decided not to bring the stroller right?"
My answers? "Well of course, those are our suitcases, I haven't decided on what I will pack in for the 4 children yet" and "where did you get that idea? It's going to be 90plus degrees and humid ever day and we plan to walk MILES in that heat at each PORT? Are you carrying DD4 on your shoulders all that way along with the backpack full of water bottles?" It's just better if he doesn't know these things until he gets in the car to leave!

Glad all of our Canadian travels escaped unscathed from that tornado, gives me chills when I see that stuff on tv.

Karen,
So totally related to that "mountain in the corner but some of my stuff isn't even in the pile" I can't find some stuff either and yet the mountain still grows. I am cleaning out and cleaning up our sitting room in the Master Bedroom today (kids get in there and watch our tv and leave a mess, I use it for my own piles and also fold laundry in there!) so I can lay out all the suitcases and start getting organized. It seems rather daunting today and a huge task. How much can clothes really matter anyway right? sheesh. I'm a mess!

Hang in there everyone, ready or not, we are cruising in just 29 days!!!!!

 

[gvivanco]

Gretchen and are are sending our Dh and kids down together and we are riding down in peace and quiet......I will let my DH know that your DH and kids will be joining them...I am sure they won't mind. I am sure that 3 men can handle driving to Disney world, 24 hours straight with 8 children. I will make sure that I stock up on lots of drinks and sugary snacks for all of them

Oh my gosh! You crack me up!!

 

[kileybeth]

I know we have all talked tentatively about when the last official FE list and map will be distributed and I was wondering if it was possible to do it by September 9th...the reason being I will be out of contact after that due to the wedding and pre cruise honeymoon. I hope this doesn't throw a wrench in anyone elses plans but seeing as there are other leaving early as well I wondered what the best time to distribute it would be. By the way, we are in cabin 7596 Hope you are all well!
Holly

whatever works for everyone else is good for me, so Septmeber 9th sounds fine on this end.

Who is doing this, Yonkr's girl? Monica, let us know if you are able to do this.

 

[mamajojo]

Jodi and Gretchen,

I will happily contribute those never ended Disney song videos that the littles so love to sing loudly along with whenever we travel. You will know my husband by his love for children and his complete understanding that they can remain quiet when in stressful times of navigating the car in unknown areas. We usually hit WashDC area just long enough after drving that everyone has to make a potty stop as well. Try that with a car full of kiddos on the Beltway! They should have a fabulous trip. Are either of you girls up for stopping for a latte or a mani/pedi on the way down? Bet we have time to squeeze it in!

and in REAL life, I forgot to take the 3 suitcases I had my DD14 put in the car for me (to see how they would fit) out again so when we went to BJ's last night the DH says to me, "Oh good! Are those the suitcases you decided to pack in?" And then "You decided not to bring the stroller right?"
My answers? "Well of course, those are our suitcases, I haven't decided on what I will pack in for the 4 children yet" and "where did you get that idea? It's going to be 90plus degrees and humid ever day and we plan to walk MILES in that heat at each PORT? Are you carrying DD4 on your shoulders all that way along with the backpack full of water bottles?" It's just better if he doesn't know these things until he gets in the car to leave!

Glad all of our Canadian travels escaped unscathed from that tornado, gives me chills when I see that stuff on tv.

Karen,
So totally related to that "mountain in the corner but some of my stuff isn't even in the pile" I can't find some stuff either and yet the mountain still grows. I am cleaning out and cleaning up our sitting room in the Master Bedroom today (kids get in there and watch our tv and leave a mess, I use it for my own piles and also fold laundry in there!) so I can lay out all the suitcases and start getting organized. It seems rather daunting today and a huge task. How much can clothes really matter anyway right? sheesh. I'm a mess!

Hang in there everyone, ready or not, we are cruising in just 29 days!!!!!

Oh My DH LOVES those songs as well! I am sure he would be soooo pleased to have them playing loudly ALL of the way down ( side note...when we bought our new car we were looking at installing a DVD player instead of having them keep their own on their lap. DS says, "maybe we shouldn't because if we put on kid movies then Daddy will fall asleep while he is driving ). We should also instruct the kids to make sure that the men don't get bored, they should be asking "how much farther" in between EACH song. I am all for stopping for a mani/pedi on the way down....how about some shopping as well..... or even better, the guys can stop and take the kids shopping so that they have something to surprise us with when they get there. We don't want to be stressed out by carrying packages before our vacation

 

[mamajojo]

Please..no reminders of a Disney Visa... event though we Cdn's have Chase bank who owns several credit card programs, Disney visa is still not available to us.. this SUCKS!!!!!!!

Nice to see someone else here from Ontario....we usually drive but with my dad and mom that was not an option.

I actually got a great price for all 6 of us return, direct flight with Air Canada for $1600 for all of us, taxes in....check out cheapoair.com they have great fares.

I sometimes drive to Kitchener for work,,lovely area...I love St.Jacobs


Denise

Yes, quite upset about no Disney visa here as well.

We are from London but moved here when my DH started a job in TO. We wanted to stay somewhere between work and family.

 

[gvivanco]

Jodi and Gretchen,

I will happily contribute those never ended Disney song videos that the littles so love to sing loudly along with whenever we travel. You will know my husband by his love for children and his complete understanding that they can remain quiet when in stressful times of navigating the car in unknown areas. We usually hit WashDC area just long enough after drving that everyone has to make a potty stop as well. Try that with a car full of kiddos on the Beltway! They should have a fabulous trip. Are either of you girls up for stopping for a latte or a mani/pedi on the way down? Bet we have time to squeeze it in!

and in REAL life, I forgot to take the 3 suitcases I had my DD14 put in the car for me (to see how they would fit) out again so when we went to BJ's last night the DH says to me, "Oh good! Are those the suitcases you decided to pack in?" And then "You decided not to bring the stroller right?"
My answers? "Well of course, those are our suitcases, I haven't decided on what I will pack in for the 4 children yet" and "where did you get that idea? It's going to be 90plus degrees and humid ever day and we plan to walk MILES in that heat at each PORT? Are you carrying DD4 on your shoulders all that way along with the backpack full of water bottles?" It's just better if he doesn't know these things until he gets in the car to leave!

Glad all of our Canadian travels escaped unscathed from that tornado, gives me chills when I see that stuff on tv.

Karen,
So totally related to that "mountain in the corner but some of my stuff isn't even in the pile" I can't find some stuff either and yet the mountain still grows. I am cleaning out and cleaning up our sitting room in the Master Bedroom today (kids get in there and watch our tv and leave a mess, I use it for my own piles and also fold laundry in there!) so I can lay out all the suitcases and start getting organized. It seems rather daunting today and a huge task. How much can clothes really matter anyway right? sheesh. I'm a mess!

Hang in there everyone, ready or not, we are cruising in just 29 days!!!!!

Kileybeth (by the way, is that your name or just disboard name - I have no idea??) - that is hilarious! If y'all can get yours to agree, I'll work on mine...... (yeah, right) That so makes me laugh, though!


I can't get off the computer to do any packing!!!! I'm also dealing with some family issues (I have some crazy family members - I'm sure no one else deals with that!) , so I'm juggling a bunch of stuff right now.

And my DD6 is like, "more errands today???" Yes, honey, we need MORE STUFF FOR OUR TRIP!! It never ends!!! Fun stuff, though. I just wish I had
limitless funds!!

 

[daveyc150]

daveyc - you are on the FE list I have that yonkrs_girl sent me. It states no cabin #...I assume you are GTY for now...soon to hear it seems.

Thanks, I passed the number to Monica so we're all sorted for when the final list goes out.

I know we have all talked tentatively about when the last official FE list and map will be distributed and I was wondering if it was possible to do it by September 9th...the reason being I will be out of contact after that due to the wedding and pre cruise honeymoon. I hope this doesn't throw a wrench in anyone elses plans but seeing as there are other leaving early as well I wondered what the best time to distribute it would be. By the way, we are in cabin 7596 Hope you are all well!
Holly

I am happy with this, we leave on the 11th so this would be perfect for us too. Only three weeks to go! Bet you can't wait for your wedding, I know we are really excited to.

 

[kileybeth]

Hey Gretchen,

KIM here, aka Kileybeth which is actually our 4th child's name (combined without the Eliza- part making her Kiley Elizabeth) a teenager now who can't believe I ever used her name in such a way (been on the Disboards a long time!) Feel free to say hi to her though, she is getting into the cruise. And feel free to ask my name again and again, I remember faces and what people are wearing but always need to practice a few times with names!


No crazy family members here, noooo, pefectly sane ones, who think it is a good idea to ask us (repeatedly) why we would ever want to cruise period, let alone in hurricain season, isn't it dangerous? and why is the DH taking a job so far from home, aren't you worried about him at all, and why in the world did you ever have 6 kids, how do you ever get anything done, oh and one more, how can I possibly love all those kids! not even kidding. Perrrfeecctly normal. . .

Today I have been hoping up and down from the computer, using the teens desktop as I needed to print a few things out, but side benefits were 1) I got the desk in the office somewhat cleaned off 2) I managed to copy and fill out the rebates for the new camera 3) I gave my back a needed rest as I woke to back pain, really pushed it last night not good, but, it's a chronic thing, age and few other factors I suspect, and 4) go to DIS while I did it!

What I did not get done, finish cleaning up sitting room for packing, continue with the laundry, or make my pico de galo for my mexcian girls night out tonight. Think I will stop by costco or bj's and bring warm churros instead.

and Jody (Gretchen too), we surely must have some great guys don'tcha think? They are so tolerant and put up with so much from us! Approached in a reasonable fashion (meaning find the angle that shows a monatary savings) and my DH will go along with most all my plans! And if any of the guys ever get on here and read these shananigans? My oh my! wouldn't they have something to say or do with the bunch of us??!! DH knows how much the anticipation of something means to me so he never fusses only smiles in amusement when I tell him the latest DIS news and goings on.

Watch, they will probably meet on the boat and say "you too? You should see what my wife bought/brought/did/has with her!"

 

[kileybeth]

Do we have anyone on our cruise meet who has sailed the 7 nite western before? I have a question about tendering in Grand Cayman. (JanDave maybe?)

If I do not have a Disney based excursion planned but want to get off the ship as quickly as possible will I be able to do that and where do I go to do so? The excursions all seem to have a meeting up place? I see on deck plans the Deck One is where we tender from but do we just go there?

 

[dennismcneely]

We leave on September 6th so at least I would need the most updated list before that date , I hope you all with GTY'S will get your cabin number sometime next week.

Have a great weekend!!

Dennis

 

[LoriS]

Do we have anyone on our cruise meet who has sailed the 7 nite western before? I have a question about tendering in Grand Cayman. (JanDave maybe?)

If I do not have a Disney based excursion planned but want to get off the ship as quickly as possible will I be able to do that and where do I go to do so? The excursions all seem to have a meeting up place? I see on deck plans the Deck One is where we tender from but do we just go there?

We have done the Western before, but it was 3 years ago. I know we just went to deck 1 to board a tender when we were ready. I don't know if they try to keep the first few for Disney excursions though, sorry.

 

[kileybeth]

We leave on September 6th so at least I would need the most updated list before that date , I hope you all with GTY'S will get your cabin number sometime next week.

Have a great weekend!!

Dennis

Oh my! Yes, September 6th then! I read your departure date in some of the thread and when Holly said Sept 9th , my brain just saw it as the same!

Let me tell you, If and when we ever get our cabin number assigned, everyone else will have theirs I'm convinced of it! HA! Also trying not to be convinced, but thinking at this point we will be in one of the only 13 true Cat12's but if we are? I am still going so I will deal!

My guess is early next week. Which gives us plenty of time to update list with all but PORT upgrades which we still have to find out about once we board or in terminal or at one of our meets. Yes, my head is spinning. I plan on carrying a sharpie and a pile of free buisness cards I had made just for this trip with me so I can write down and hand out changed info at will!

Have a safe trip over McNeely family! We"ll seeya real soon!

 

[kileybeth]

We have done the Western before, but it was 3 years ago. I know we just went to deck 1 to board a tender when we were ready. I don't know if they try to keep the first few for Disney excursions though, sorry.

Thanks LoriS, that at least tells me where to go! And at the rate we are going (2Cat12's STILL unassigned!) I will probably just have to walk out my door and across the lobby and we will be there bright and early!

 

[mamajojo]

Hey Gretchen,

KIM here, aka Kileybeth which is actually our 4th child's name (combined without the Eliza- part making her Kiley Elizabeth) a teenager now who can't believe I ever used her name in such a way (been on the Disboards a long time!) Feel free to say hi to her though, she is getting into the cruise. And feel free to ask my name again and again, I remember faces and what people are wearing but always need to practice a few times with names!


No crazy family members here, noooo, pefectly sane ones, who think it is a good idea to ask us (repeatedly) why we would ever want to cruise period, let alone in hurricain season, isn't it dangerous? and why is the DH taking a job so far from home, aren't you worried about him at all, and why in the world did you ever have 6 kids, how do you ever get anything done, oh and one more, how can I possibly love all those kids! not even kidding. Perrrfeecctly normal. . .

Today I have been hoping up and down from the computer, using the teens desktop as I needed to print a few things out, but side benefits were 1) I got the desk in the office somewhat cleaned off 2) I managed to copy and fill out the rebates for the new camera 3) I gave my back a needed rest as I woke to back pain, really pushed it last night not good, but, it's a chronic thing, age and few other factors I suspect, and 4) go to DIS while I did it!

What I did not get done, finish cleaning up sitting room for packing, continue with the laundry, or make my pico de galo for my mexcian girls night out tonight. Think I will stop by costco or bj's and bring warm churros instead.

and Jody (Gretchen too), we surely must have some great guys don'tcha think? They are so tolerant and put up with so much from us! Approached in a reasonable fashion (meaning find the angle that shows a monatary savings) and my DH will go along with most all my plans! And if any of the guys ever get on here and read these shananigans? My oh my! wouldn't they have something to say or do with the bunch of us??!! DH knows how much the anticipation of something means to me so he never fusses only smiles in amusement when I tell him the latest DIS news and goings on.

Watch, they will probably meet on the boat and say "you too? You should see what my wife bought/brought/did/has with her!"

oh my gosh, yes, this is my DH as well. I always start a sentence with...."guess how much money I saved?" He always starts with " How much money is this going to cost me?" He is so not into Disney ( Have no idea what is wrong with him ... must have been dropped on his head or something as a baby ) but because he knows I love it so much, and he loves me so much, he lets me plan away and then listens as I tell him all about it and all about the DIS. I have been planning this trip for almost a year and a half now. I guess I shouldn't say plan....obsess is more the word....... Come to think about it....maybe we shouldn't have them meet...... They might band together and start a group for Spouses of Disney Addicts He calls Disney my addiction but as it gets closer he has started adding more to my plans...and my addiction

 

[Disneymoon0909]

Ok, so after having started my pre-trip report way back in January I finally decided I would share it with others so I posted it today Thought I would let you guys take a gander if you are interested. However, be prepared, you will only be more assured how nuts I am with my obsessive planning issues...lol

Here it is:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2263483

 

[kileybeth]

oh my gosh, yes, this is my DH as well. I always start a sentence with...."guess how much money I saved?" He always starts with " How much money is this going to cost me?" He is so not into Disney ( Have no idea what is wrong with him ... must have been dropped on his head or something as a baby ) but because he knows I love it so much, and he loves me so much, he lets me plan away and then listens as I tell him all about it and all about the DIS. I have been planning this trip for almost a year and a half now. I guess I shouldn't say plan....obsess is more the word....... Come to think about it....maybe we shouldn't have them meet...... They might band together and start a group for Spouses of Disney Addicts He calls Disney my addiction but as it gets closer he has started adding more to my plans...and my addiction

No No No! MY DH favorite thing to say is "She saves me so much money I"m broke!" When I say "I saved so much" or "This was a great deal" His first question is "how much did you have to spend to save that much?" Knowing now to times the amount saved by anything from 10 to 90 percent to get the total of what I spent.

There's just no Disney math in that ya know? God Bless him, I just think differently about my math!

Our first WDW on site trip was with free dining and I convinced him we should stay at the POLY since it was like paying $150 for the room and $150 for the food we would have had to pay for anyway, Now that is Disney math! No $300 a night room was ever mentioned. . .

 

[kileybeth]

oh my gosh, yes, this is my DH as well. I always start a sentence with...."guess how much money I saved?" He always starts with " How much money is this going to cost me?" He is so not into Disney ( Have no idea what is wrong with him ... must have been dropped on his head or something as a baby ) but because he knows I love it so much, and he loves me so much, he lets me plan away and then listens as I tell him all about it and all about the DIS. I have been planning this trip for almost a year and a half now. I guess I shouldn't say plan....obsess is more the word....... Come to think about it....maybe we shouldn't have them meet...... They might band together and start a group for Spouses of Disney Addicts He calls Disney my addiction but as it gets closer he has started adding more to my plans...and my addiction

Must mention this one fact. My DH took us to WDW for our honeymoon and I hated it. with a capital H. Oh how the times have changed. No more time now, he's on his way in from work and I am on my way out for girls night. He is a good man!

 

[kileybeth]

Ok, so after having started my pre-trip report way back in January I finally decided I would share it with others so I posted it today Thought I would let you guys take a gander if you are interested. However, be prepared, you will only be more assured how nuts I am with my obsessive planning issues...lol

Here it is:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2263483

Can't wait to get over and read this!

 

[cakesnjammom]

gretchen - I got the glitter spray today...I spent $88 at Ulta maybe I should not go there again before the cruise...I needed my Pur Minerals Makeup too and they had a gift if you spend $17.50 on Ulta products...so also had to get my Heaven in the Hair Condish...so! we got the white (they had sliver, gold and white/pearly) dd picked the white! Like I said we are happy to share too!!

I got my last list of things today...downy wrinkle releaser, sunscreen, undershirts for dh (he has some that need to go in the trash), kid's motrin, tums, hair spray, glitter spray, snacks, candy for the CM's, highlighters, sharpie's, etc...you know all the little things. DS needed a black polo shirt for lifestyle portraits (we were going to wear white tops but I am scared ds and I will be too washed out - we are the fair ones) my dd got my dh's asian skin, lucky ducky! ds and I burn...easy hence all the sunscreen...I got burned while I was in GA under an umbrella at my brother's pool! I actually think the burn made me sick! And I have been so itchy!

ds needed new shoes laces for his shoes and that was one thing I could not fnd today...no navy ones? he has a bad habit of letting them come untied and then walking on them

I also got sidetracked and forgot the dry cleaning on the way home!! so I will get it tomorrow.

ds had a couple of school supplies that we had to pick up today...open house for school here is Sunday afternoon...so I wanted to be sure and take all his stuff so he does not have to lug it in!

yes, dh and I can have the map ready by the 9th ....I was planning on bringing it and handing it out in the port...but whatever works for the group is cool! I will ask LoriS to post it on the yahoo group!! That saves me from having to email it to everyone if you do not have access to the yahoo group LMK!