9/19/09 Western Magic

[dennismcneely]

Just Checking in to wish you all safe travels, See you Saturday!!

 

[JanDave]

is anyone else concerned that it shows rain for all of our ports next week? i dont always trust weather sites so has anyone heard anything else? no storms i hope?

Weather is of no concern for us. I was on a January 2009 Magic cruise and the weather was cool. It was sunny and in the low 70s in Grand Cayman on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning when we woke up at Cozumel, it was raining and cool. We ended up going to our destination (Nachi Cocum on our own) around 11am when the rain stopped. However, we didn't see sun again until Friday at Castaway. Even though it was sunny at CC, it was windy and cool. I wore jeans on CC! Very few swimmers. But it was wonderful because we were on vacation!

My DD who is cruising with us called to say she saw a weather report that it will be raining when we are at Key West. My DH's response is that there are roofs over Sloppy Joes, Margaritaville, Red Fish Blue Fish, etc.

Safe travels to everyone.

Jan

 

[cakesnjammom]

Wow I just realized that it may seem that we have everything ready to walk out the door but I have things to get done each day too!Gabbie I know U must be exhausted I hope you get some much deserved rest! I too like to leave the house clean so coming home is so much nicer! Doing laundry now to get all the beds changed!No bon-bons here either LOL!
My best to all! Happy Packing and safe travels!

 

[gvivanco]

Kim - don't worry!! Still going crazy over here in GA, too! I am slowly but surely getting stuff done, but I tell ya, I'm a little scared I'm going to end up with 10 suitcases I did take some stuff out that I just thought, NO, the girls are not going to need that! And it's getting down to the wire where there are so many categories of STUFF to take that I feel sure I will forget a bunch of stuff!!

Anyway, off to get some stuff done before the kiddies get up.....and I have my hair appt today (yay!), and have to pick up some RXs for Sophie (asthma and allergies).

Have a wonderful day everyone! Can't wait to meet everyone - RAIN OR SHINE!!

 

[disneyfinatics]

We leave tomorrow. I have a packing the car list on the front door to check things off as they go in. I'm just hoping everything is on the list. I realized this morning I didn't have passports on it. I've been trying not to worry about the weather. I switched our hotel to Country Inn & Suites so the boys will have bunk beds. I don't them arguing over who touched who the night before the cruise. Plus it's only 1/2 mile from the port. If I get too anxious I'll walk myself to port & stand there until they let me in.
Kyle,ds2, has bad allergies that have decided to kick him in the backside. He's got a stuffy nose. I hope they won't stop us from boarding the ship. I've given him his second allergy med that he's got to take this time of year. I'm hoping it will clear up when we get to Fla.
I can't believe we leave in the morning.

 

[LoriS]

My only other fear this close into travel is for everyones health. Everyone stay healthy you hear? I keep telling my kids, don't touch that! Wash your hands! Was that a cough I heard? Don't hug anybody! Yeah, bordering on paranoia here. I will settle down once we walk onto that ship!

Kim glad to hear all worked out with DH's job, and I know what you mean about the health issues. I am battling a cold right now and hoping it wil leave really fast.

Looking forward to visits from those in Epcot today and tomorrow!!

 

[CurlyBlueEyes]

Hi everyone (who is still around)

We are leaving tomorrow morning, I just printed my airline boarding passes

I got about 90% of my packing done last night. I, unlike my DH am a fast packer and have had my lists ready for quite some time, so all I had to do was gather everything and dump it in. I KNOW I have packed way too much, but since its all skorts and tanks, the bag only weighs 41 pounds and its not stuffed to bursting so I have room for souvenirs DH was agonizing over pirate costuming because he could have 1 whole suitcase full of pirate stuff (he is an entertainer and Ren Faire enthusiast) "but Honey, why won't they let me take my sword on the boat?!?"

I still have a list of things to accomplish before 6 am tomorrow, what I don't get done I will just have to let stay undone

See you all in a few day. Stay safe and well.

Patty

 

[so_oregon]

GWTINKERBELLLLLLLLLL.......what is your mom's name?

I promise the email harassment will stop soon.....really. No, really.

noooo, really.....that's because in THREE AND A HALF DAYS, I can harass y'all in person!!!!!

 

[Magical_Tink]

JanDave: We live about 15 miles outside Pittsburgh and are very glad to be out of town for the World Summit 9/24-9/25. I heard a frazzled groom-to-be discussing changed wedding plans because the Summit will be held here. At this point he is not sure they can get to Heinz Chapel at Univ.of Pittsburgh for the wedding ceremony. I am concerned our travel plans home will be affected too. In fact the President is here today to address the Labor Union and the Parkway to the airport will be closed 3 hours. At least it will be our return day. I am doing whatever I can to procrastinate packing.

 

[kileybeth]

hmmmm I'm thinking we'll skip the RI shuttle and head over to the port early! Looks like half the DIS is going to try and book Palo and/or upgrade.

No no no silly, only half the meet thread will be there and truly? how many is that? 25 of us or so? I see another mini-meet shaping up as we all recognize each other in line! The rest of those sailing the Magic know none of these great insider tips we are all privvie to!

 

[kileybeth]

I too am glad I'm not the only one not packed yet! I'm starting to go a bit nuts... I've still got to finish my FE gifts, haven't even started my FE yet (I did buy the material!), finish laundry, pack, etc. Things are as crazy as ever and I am SO looking forward to the relaxation of the boat... and NO cell phone! School is in full swing, my piano accompanist job is getting more intense, I still have my kid that I babysit (who graces me with her presence every morning between 4 & 5 am) daily, as well as a part time job and am in charge of 2 activities a week for our young single adult program at church! This trip is the only thing helping me keep my sanity... I keep telling myself... in just ___ (# of days) I'll be on my ship and carefree. I have told everyone my plans are to work on my tan and eat as much as I can! Dream big, right! See y'all in 4 days!

One of my best friends is a single girl and you sound so much like her it's funny! Going in twenty seven different directions at once until you actually reach that destination and then you are fully engaged! Look forward to meeting you! Safe travels!

 

[kileybeth]

No bon bons here silly....it's a chocolate Frosty from Wendy's!

Final loads of laundry are drying right now...should be packed by this time tomorrow. FE gifts and excess baggage will be shipped out Wed for overnight arrival.

Say, since you DH is a fed now, he can book the RI at the govvie rate...

hhhmmm, intriguing. I just popped over to see what that rate might be, it is just a few dollars less then the CIS suite we have booked but am wondering about the cruise parking and if it would add considerably to the rate? Like I have any time to add another phone call to me day!

funny thing is, we just stayed down in VA a few weeks back on "travel" as they like to call it and I booked a room the night before Gov't benefits kicked in and I paid $89 for a king suite but once we checked out and back in with Gov't rate? I lost the king suite, went to a reg room and my rate jumped to $169 Crazy!

 

[kileybeth]

Weather is of no concern for us. I was on a January 2009 Magic cruise and the weather was cool. It was sunny and in the low 70s in Grand Cayman on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning when we woke up at Cozumel, it was raining and cool. We ended up going to our destination (Nachi Cocum on our own) around 11am when the rain stopped. However, we didn't see sun again until Friday at Castaway. Even though it was sunny at CC, it was windy and cool. I wore jeans on CC! Very few swimmers. But it was wonderful because we were on vacation!

My DD who is cruising with us called to say she saw a weather report that it will be raining when we are at Key West. My DH's response is that there are roofs over Sloppy Joes, Margaritaville, Red Fish Blue Fish, etc.

Safe travels to everyone.

Jan

great attitude, I am going to adopt it right this vey minute! I do not need another thing to worry about

and wondering if you mean Morgantown as in Morgantown Outlet Mall of MOM fame years back just down the road from Goods and Shady Maple? Beautiful countryside, love our day trips up that way!

 

[JanDave]

great attitude, I am going to adopt it right this vey minute! I do not need another thing to worry about

and wondering if you mean Morgantown as in Morgantown Outlet Mall of MOM fame years back just down the road from Goods and Shady Maple? Beautiful countryside, love our day trips up that way!

Morgantown, WV. My kids live about 1 mile from the WVU football stadium. Will be there this Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Years. Maybe in October, too. We are usually in WV every other month or so.

Jan

 

[kileybeth]

Wow I just realized that it may seem that we have everything ready to walk out the door but I have things to get done each day too!Gabbie I know U must be exhausted I hope you get some much deserved rest! I too like to leave the house clean so coming home is so much nicer! Doing laundry now to get all the beds changed!No bon-bons here either LOL!
My best to all! Happy Packing and safe travels!

No Paige, of course I wasn't thinking of you with your color coded list and suitcases all ready to go. . . Just ribbin' ya a little, you know we would not all be nearly as ready and organized as we are without you cheering us on and reminding us of stuff!

 

[jonesing]

hhhmmm, intriguing. I just popped over to see what that rate might be, it is just a few dollars less then the CIS suite we have booked but am wondering about the cruise parking and if it would add considerably to the rate? Like I have any time to add another phone call to me day!

funny thing is, we just stayed down in VA a few weeks back on "travel" as they like to call it and I booked a room the night before Gov't benefits kicked in and I paid $89 for a king suite but once we checked out and back in with Gov't rate? I lost the king suite, went to a reg room and my rate jumped to $169 Crazy!

Parking is free at the RI. You can leave your car for the length of the cruise, just ask for the card to go on the dash (so they don't peg your car as abondonded )

Govvie hotel rates ARE NOT always the lowest rate! Depending on the market, the rates for gov/military wonks can indeed be HIGHER than some specials the hotel is running. That's why I always check 2-3 corp codes in addition to the gov rate before booking. The nice thing about the govvie rate though is that you typically won't have to make an advance deposit and can cancel up until 4pm/6pm day of check-in irrespective of the hotel's usual policies.

A friend likes to book the Ritz-Carlton DC for $129/night. Sure, she could get her Hilton or Marriott points but as she puts it..."It's the Ritz!"

 

[kileybeth]

Kim - don't worry!! Still going crazy over here in GA, too! I am slowly but surely getting stuff done, but I tell ya, I'm a little scared I'm going to end up with 10 suitcases I did take some stuff out that I just thought, NO, the girls are not going to need that! And it's getting down to the wire where there are so many categories of STUFF to take that I feel sure I will forget a bunch of stuff!!

Anyway, off to get some stuff done before the kiddies get up.....and I have my hair appt today (yay!), and have to pick up some RXs for Sophie (asthma and allergies).

Have a wonderful day everyone! Can't wait to meet everyone - RAIN OR SHINE!!

yup, working on 10 suitcases here for sure once I add in snorkle stuff, hanging garment bag, port hotel suitcase, FE one. . . and one for each of us! Do I have to count all the kids backpacks and my husband and my briefcase type bags? oh dear!

 

[Gabbie]

Woah I just taught myself how touse the multi quote! LOL I really am avoiding packing now!

What a great idea, wonder if we just ask once we are on the ship something can be arranged? I now I will not call anyone before that, I am swamped here just trying to get out of here.

Someone, anyone please feel free to take over this event for me?! HA! I love to come up with ideas but am not the one with administrative duties to see them thru.

So far we have Monday(1st sea day) in front of Lumieres and a Mickey Statue? Anyone figure out a good time for this?

I know on the Pamama Canal cruise the group had their picture taken in front of the Black Pearl (or whatever boat it is at CC) the group was pretty large and I am fairly sure it was the shutters people who did it and not one of the group! I think its a great idea for a group pic! Although I won't be offering to get it together as I have firgured out I am either going to be down in the engine room or hanging off the back of the ship to get some rest!

You folks flying in on Saturday make me nervous!!! I will pray for good weather for you and no delays.

I feel the same way! I am already nervous that the bags are not going to find their way to us in Tampa! I would be throwing up if we were flying in on Saturday! I guess that is one good thing about living in no mans land, we have limited flights so we had to fly out friday!

So glad to hear someone who is in about the same plannning stages as me! I was starting to think everyone was all packed and sitting around eating bonbons and twiddling their thumbs waiting for Saturday to arrive! I am a nervous wreck about getting everything done.

I must clean before we go, it is part of the OCD!

It is still summer clothes weather here in godd ol' DE too so my kids are having fits because I won't give them their clothes back once I launder them!


See ya real soon!

I too am glad I'm not the only one not packed yet! I'm starting to go a bit nuts... I've still got to finish my FE gifts, haven't even started my FE yet (I did buy the material!), finish laundry, pack, etc. Things are as crazy as ever and I am SO looking forward to the relaxation of the boat... and NO cell phone! School is in full swing, my piano accompanist job is getting more intense, I still have my kid that I babysit (who graces me with her presence every morning between 4 & 5 am) daily, as well as a part time job and am in charge of 2 activities a week for our young single adult program at church! This trip is the only thing helping me keep my sanity... I keep telling myself... in just ___ (# of days) I'll be on my ship and carefree. I have told everyone my plans are to work on my tan and eat as much as I can! Dream big, right! See y'all in 4 days!

LOL Well ladies I am glad to know I am not the only one!!!

No bon bons here silly....it's a chocolate Frosty from Wendy's!

Final loads of laundry are drying right now...should be packed by this time tomorrow. FE gifts and excess baggage will be shipped out Wed for overnight arrival.

Ahh yes my lovely husband eating a frosty which combines the two things he is not to eat, milk and chocolate! And of course all his yummieness is going right to my tukis! Thanks HC!

Do you live in PA? We drive through Pittsburgh frequently on our way to Morgantown to visit our precious grandchildren and their parents.

Save travels! See you on Saturday.

Jan

Jan I had to reply to this!! I am laughing at how you worded it... TO see the grandchildren and their parents! Because as we all know once there are grandbabies involved the parents are just an afterthought! My mother in law told me they can not wait to see the kids again......... oh and of course us also!

Wow I just realized that it may seem that we have everything ready to walk out the door but I have things to get done each day too!Gabbie I know U must be exhausted I hope you get some much deserved rest! I too like to leave the house clean so coming home is so much nicer! Doing laundry now to get all the beds changed!No bon-bons here either LOL!
My best to all! Happy Packing and safe travels!

I am SUCH a lister!!! It drives DH nuts! I have lists of lists but I will tell you I never leave things behind! I have the sheets ready to change on Thursday night and my little guy has become obsessed with vaccuum cleaning so he will do that for me while I am making up the beds! Ok so he is 4 and I have put him to work but its pay for this trip! Thank god for the central vac!

I took DS to school where I threatened him to NOT go kissing and hugging everyone he must stay well! We are not in the room 2 minutes and his girlfriends are all over him kissing and hugging him! He had a look like "I hope mommy doesnt kill me but it is them kissing me not me kissing them!" I just laughed! I should be doing trip stuff but I figured I would get a post in and I am watching Lauren, who just whiped off her dress and tossed it on the floor since it was getting in her way. She is climbing in and out of the toy box and giggeling at herself for her new skill! I am just waiting for the busted lip or blackend eye to happen right before our trip!
Ok I am off to get something done! My sister is on lunch right now I am am sure to avoid work another hour I will give her a ring!

Take care everyone! Safe travels for those who are leaving today!

Amy

 

[kileybeth]

We leave tomorrow. I have a packing the car list on the front door to check things off as they go in. I'm just hoping everything is on the list. I realized this morning I didn't have passports on it. I've been trying not to worry about the weather. I switched our hotel to Country Inn & Suites so the boys will have bunk beds. I don't them arguing over who touched who the night before the cruise. Plus it's only 1/2 mile from the port. If I get too anxious I'll walk myself to port & stand there until they let me in.
Kyle,ds2, has bad allergies that have decided to kick him in the backside. He's got a stuffy nose. I hope they won't stop us from boarding the ship. I've given him his second allergy med that he's got to take this time of year. I'm hoping it will clear up when we get to Fla.
I can't believe we leave in the morning.

See you at the CIS, my little ones are gonna love the bunks.

My family does not suffer from seasonal allergies very much, DD14 a little bit bu every time we go to FL we all seem to get stuffed up! ugh! I told my DH I was gonna drug every last one of us if anyone looked remotely sick and claim we were all just sleep deprived. CDC is saying H1N1 outbreak is picking up particularly in the southeast region of the US right now. No cracker barrel stops or McD play places for us on trip down.

Wash Your Hands People! I'm soundin' a little paranoid doncha think?

 

[kileybeth]

Morgantown, WV. My kids live about 1 mile from the WVU football stadium. Will be there this Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Years. Maybe in October, too. We are usually in WV every other month or so.

Jan

ahh, yes! WV, wrong side of PA I was on!

Around these parts Morgantown,WV is where all the duPont transfers use to move to/from! Not so much these days with duPont's downsizing but again, back in the day. . .