A Disney Start to 2015 - What a Dream! :-) Disney dream 12/29/2014

[js]

We are coming in on the 25th and staying at the Grand Floridian. So excited!! We booked the Atlantis Aquaventure. When we did it in February it was warm enough. Do you think it will be warm enough in December?

I hope December will be warm enough!
We just stayed in a two bedroom at the GFVs in September and loved it.
My dd and I have Victoria and Alberts booked for December 26, before the rest of our family shows up the following days. My dd and I took a "ferry" over to Atlantis in March to just walk around and I loved it. I want to go back as a vacation one day. There looks like so much to do for all. Enjoy!

This is our first cruise in December.
I pray that the weather is warm.
We are doing the Atlantis Aquaventure too with a cabana.
It will be crowded so I didnt want to be hunting for chairs but i was only able to get one cabana
We will arrive sunday dec 28th and staying at Marriott Resident Inn@ Cape Canaveral.
My family plans to do a hunt before departing ...gotta let them big boys shoot their new guns aka "Girlfriends"

We are not doing concierge so didn't get the cabana. May try to get one for our September trip. We sail Concierge on NCL and usually get the cabana. They are very nice and come with food/beverage credit, which is wonderful, lots of food and less expensive than Disney. But, I'm sailing DCL in September with my mom and thinking about the cabana for our girls only trip.

I've purchased my FE items and began making what I need. Its very exciting and a nice way to lead up to the cruise although the girls at work think I'm crazy when I explain to them what I am doing and my family thinks I've gone off the deep end but I'm having fun so go me! as my dd would say LOL

Shawn, I have a count of 16 for FE cabins, is this correct? I'm just asking since I had to purchase some items and also making so just need to know if everything is now finalized. My poor fingers can't handle the glue gun any longer

Need to confirm our transportation from BLT to Port, think I'll take care of that today.

 

[The Mouse Marvels]

I'm working on my FEs too!! My family thinks I'm crazy too but it has been so much fun preparing. It makes the trip even more exciting!

 

[js]

I'm working on my FEs too!! My family thinks I'm crazy too but it has been so much fun preparing. It makes the trip even more exciting!

Yes, it very much makes the trip and the waiting more fun! I couldn't believe my dh actually came shopping with me last weekend when I was picking up the items. I began making them yesterday and again today and I must say, I really like them and think they are great LOL

Still more to do but they are looking great and can't wait for November since it is not unusual for me to start packing (well at least getting my clothes out) a month before a cruise. Then a week of ironing, etc. I have off the week prior to Christmas, and leaving on December 26 so I want to be done packing by December 19 so I don't have to do while off from work

Happy planning everyone!

 

[js]

How is everyone doing?
For those that celebrate Christmas, are you having it at your house this year or out at family?
I was to have Christmas this year but my mil asked if I could switch Thanksgiving with her and do Christmas next year. At first, I was looking forward to having everyone over on Christmas knowing my dd and I were leaving early the next morning for vacation and was a little disappointed but the more I thought about it, I liked the idea of a clean house, no cleaning up, having friends over for drinks/desserts, etc. This way, if we still want to go out, we can stop over friends without us having to do any of the dirty work this year since we will be going away.

I usually put the tree up day after Thanksgiving, and will do so again this year and usually I am up early and taking everything down the morning after Christmas. BUT, now I am leaving for the airport about 4:30 am and I think my family would get annoyed if I took the tree and decorations down Christmas night but I may though that idea out there and see if anyone has anything to say I hate the thought of coming home from vacation and having to do it.

 

[js]

When is our Meet and Greet? Want to make sure I have it written down. Thanks.

 

[js]

I guess everyone is usually busy. Im here too much lol

Just want to say WE ARE GOING AWAY NEXT MONTH!!

 

[TheBanksFam]

***OFFICIAL UPDATE***

I am removing the following people from the FE List for failing to give final updates:

WDWCathy - Group 1
soxfam04 - Group 1
PhiK Dis - Group 2
--------------------------
Also, hopefully everyone noticed, SitPlutoSit was added to Group 2 a day or two after the close. Dropping the others should make up for it if you have already made purchases. Sorry to those we dropped but, we had to have this information to move forward and have made several attempts to get your info including PMs, Facebook, and thread posts.

That leaves 19 Cabins for Group 1 & 15 Cabins for Group 2

***** MEET & GREET *****
Is scheduled for 5pm-5:45pm on Dec 29th in the Vista Cafe (Deck 4 , Midship). All are invited to attend.

 

[TheBanksFam]

Sorry I have been MIA for a little bit. We have had some health issues here at the Banks house. We were gone on a weekend trip two weeks ago and my 77 year old mother, who lives with us, fell and could not get up. A family friend went to help her and got her up but, her condition deteriorated throughout the day. By that evening, she was very week. We came home and she ended falling again. This time we called paramedics and took her to the hospital. She, a diabetic, had not eaten anything since Friday morning! She hadn't shown signs of this as an unknown kidney infection had spiked her sugar levels to normal. After a several day stent in the hospital she is back home and getting stronger but we are going to have to arrange for friends to check on her and make sure she is behaving herself while we are on the cruise.

So, that's why I haven't been on. I have managed to begin a packing list, finish our online registration, replenish some of our necessary sundry items, and gathered some stuff for the FE gifts. If all goes well today, we will pull out the suitcases in the guest bedroom and put the pirate costumes and our FE in. We might even begin putting the FEs together today. I have a few things left to prepare to complete them.

But that is all if I can get some grading done first. So ta ta for now!

 

[TheBanksFam]

Please forgive me, I added one more cabin to Group 1. Since we dropped two I thought it would be ok. They were only two and really wanted to join. It's their first cruise and all. If you have ordered stuff already and don't have enough, don't sweat it. I'm sure some candy or something will suffice. Besides, she's just a few doors down from us and I don't want her to leave old banana peels in my FE

That being said, the list is REALLY FINAL! I will not add anymore. I promise.

So welcome EmilyFox! Let us know if we can be of assistance in any way.

Shawn from TheBanksFam

 

[EmilyFox]

Please forgive me, I added one more cabin to Group 1. Since we dropped two I thought it would be ok. They were only two and really wanted to join. It's their first cruise and all. If you have ordered stuff already and don't have enough, don't sweat it. I'm sure some candy or something will suffice. Besides, she's just a few doors down from us and I don't want her to leave old banana peels in my FE

That being said, the list is REALLY FINAL! I will not add anymore. I promise.

So welcome EmilyFox! Let us know if we can be of assistance in any way.

Shawn from TheBanksFam

Thank you SO much for adding us. My daughter and I are very excited to be joining this group. I'm getting sucked in to Pinterest and Etsy finding FE gift ideas. Can't wait to meet everyone! And don't worry Shawn, I won't be packing any banana peels.

 

[TheBanksFam]

I worked a little on our gifts yesterday and created two coloring books for the boys for the car ride. It would be nice if I didn't have a meeting tonight, Parent Teacher Conferences tomorrow night and a Scout Food Drive this weekend. I am hoping the DW (BJBanks) will finally make it on here this weekend and drop by to say howdy. She too is a teacher and was told she was moving to 1st Grade from Jr High the day before school started! She need this cruise more than anybody! I booked her a massage to give her some pampering to help

I hope that the lack of discussion on the thread is due to how hectic our lives are right now and not some other reason. We would love to here from you. We have only 54 days left! And in that time we have Thanksgiving and Christmas, so you know that the time is going to zoom by.

So what is everyone looking forward to? My boys say with no pause, "The Oceaneer's Club!" They absolutely loved it on the Wonder and are really excited to see Andy's Bedroom on the Dream. I am looking forward to being catered to! It seems like we are always doing for others. It will be nice to be catered to for a change. I am also looking forward to ringing in the new year with the fireworks. We didn't get the firework experience in Alaska. Bobbie says she is looking forward to rest, relaxation and getting away from it all.

Well time to get the hooligans ready for school. Have a great day everyone!

Shawn of TheBanksFam

 

[js]

Welcome EmilyFox!

Thank you Shawn. I, too, hope the lack of posting is due to all heavy schedules but I'm in front of a computer during the day so I have a chance to pop in to post.

I am looking forward to just relaxing and being away from a schedule. My dh is the same, he runs around with my ds-16 for baseball showcases, tournaments and pitching/hitting lessons that he looks forward to just relaxing too. He and my ds don't even have their fights booked for MCO yet since we are waiting on a college's schedule for their December camp, which is usually the two days right after Christmas. So once I have that schedule, I can book their flights and they will meet us. I know my ds looks forward to relaxing too from school LOL

My dd will be 2 months shy of 21 and she is looking forward to us going to Senior Frogs with her, her only request for the trip (well, that and Victoria and Alberts, which we are doing on December 26, when it will just be the two of us before everyone else starts arriving).

I love how my FE gifts came out and surprised myself LOL

I saved two vacation days for the end of the year so I have off two full weeks for Christmas and very happy about that!

 

[js]

Just came back to edit I was finally able to book my dh/ds their air to fly down to Disney. My dh wanted to come in on the morning of the cruise, OMG NOOOO, so they are landing about 7:30 pm since they will be at baseball December 27-28 (depart late afternoon December 28). They will miss Chef Mickeys and Ohana with the rest of my family but I know if my son had to choose it would be baseball. Oh well. At least I can do things with my dd and not have to "worry" about what the guys want to do and if we want to nap, well we can LOL

 

[js]

Anyone thinking of doing the 5K in CC?
Would so want to do this but it is January 1 so not sure how much fun it would be getting up and out early LOL

 

[russ0907]

My family as well as another that cruising with us are planing on completeing the 5K. Hoping they will allow my DD to complete it with us. She is only 8 but is doing 3 5K over the next 3 weeks, so I know she's capable. I guess there is an age restriction.

 

[TheBanksFam]

No 5K for us. The Banks' are geocachers and there is a geocache in the Serenity Bay Area. We are planning to take the boys to Scuttles Cove and then head over to find the geocache. After a bit we will go get the boys and head to the beach for some ocean/beach fun. I'm sure BJBanks will want to shop on CC too

 

[EmilyFox]

I'm excited about all of it! Since I have never been on a cruise before, let alone a Disney Cruise, I have no idea what to expect. My daughter is very excited about the kid's club. It's all she has been talking about since we saw it on the cruise DVD. After the cruise we are going to WDW for 9 days. I am most excited about not having to drive anywhere. I love the idea of having no cooking, cleaning or working for 2 whole weeks! I have found a lot of cute ideas for my FE gifts, but am now struggling with how to bring them from CA to FL. I may need to shift my idea to one per cabin, as it may take up less space. 52 days and counting!

 

[GrumpyVader]

I'm sorry but I think I have to agree that the absence of posts is due to people being really busy. For us, we are in the hard run to the end of the year, when everyone takes a very long break at Christmas. Our children finish school on 2 December and don't go back until 27 January. Many workplaces in Australia close down for about 3 weeks over the Christmas / New Year period and everyone heads to the beach

Having said that, we are all getting really
excited about our big trip and the cruise, and looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[GrumpyVader]

Shawn - I'm intrigued that there is actually shopping on CC - Shouldn't be surprised that there is the opportunity to acquire more Disney merchandise there...

Is it mainly clothing and CC related souvenirs?

 

[The Mouse Marvels]

I didn't see any race on the 1st. Where did you find that? Also I'm intrigued about the geocache. We enjoy that too! Have you found it before?