Any Magic Halloween Cruisers 2003 out there?

[rae519]

Emma!

So wonderful to get that travel report - my, my it sounds like you had toooo much fun. I think I'd rather enjoy meeting Helen - the way she packs reminds me of someone I see daily in the mirror!!
I even bring food on the Disney cruise!

The story about the baron's pants falling reminds me of the "Man of La Mancha" when the actor who played Don Quixote jumped three pages and no one knew where he was or what he was trying to do to make up for all the missing dialogue and song!
I learned early on to post myself a note somewhere hidden on the set to keep me in line if I mess up. Only did it once (Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers) but that was ENOUGH!

So our Halloween list is growing and we should have a "motley crew" by the time we meet.

I read a suggestion about meeting at Topsiders (outdoors) Deck 9 a half hour before the Mustering Drill. How does that sound to you? Looking for suggestions from the group here!

We had 40 degree weather and grilled steaks outdoors today! It was wonderful and tomorrow it's supposed to get cold and snow again. Gotta have fun while you can!


Rae

 

[njfamily]

Hi! Another 2002 Halloween Cruiser here! Just wanted to wish you all a magical vacation. Wish we were going with you. We are skipping this year but have booked Halloween 2004.

For those thinking of going to Stingray City - My DD, 5 1/2 loved it, she even held a stingray. She loves the water and has been taking swimming lessons at the local YMCA since she turned 3. MY DS who was 3 1/2 is scared of the water. He refuses to take swimming lessons. We did take him on the excursion and he did touch a stingray, but he was so frightened of being in the water, that after he touched one stingray we took him out of the water and he watched the activity going on from the safety of the boat. His Grandpa didn't go in the water either, so we had someone to stay with him on the boat.

 

[rae519]

Hello NJfamily!

Glad to know you booked for next year's Halloween cruise! I am considering that time again for us since it's like Goldilocks and the porridge (not too hot/not too cold/ "just right")

I am going to conquer my "Jaws" feel and talk with Michael about the Stingrays. My 9/28 pals went and loved it - so with all this great positive stuff....well, I conquered tomato juice so.... HAHAHA!

Anyway, I appreciate your posting and hey, stick around - we can always use some tips/advise/information!!

Thanks!
Rae

 

[njfamily]

Rae519 - My number one tip would be to plan your own Trick or Treat event with your DIS board friends. My kids had a blast running from floor to floor to T or T. The one put on by Disney was a big disappointment. Long, Long, Long lines. Did I mention the long lines? So long in fact that my son fell a sleep before he even got one piece of candy. After the second stop we ditched the whole thing, we had plenty of candy from our morning DIS event. I think the Disney event was held at 2 PM, right in the middle of naptime. Our DIS board T or T had about 20 kids participating and we went to about 17 rooms. Many nice DIS'ers who did not have children also participated by letting us T or T at their doors. Some people went to the extra trouble of packing goodie bags with treats from their local areas.

Also I agree with you about the weather. We don't like it too hot, but we want it hot enough to swim. Last year's weather was perfect.

 

[JLSE50]

EMMA: I am a Fennec's Fox too.
Glad you had such a nice trip.

As far as Halloween costumes are considered, I would like to suggest that you discuss it here and see if you can put together some groups. Or did I say that already? If some people are dwarfs they could go with a Snow White and have a better shot at a prize, regardless of ages. If someone is Sully, then maybe another family has a Mike and they can be a team. Dena's daughter had a Sully costume last year and she said she was HOT. But, RAE, she was fluffy.

It is 37 degrees here and overcast. It has been overcast all day. Any groundhog around here would not see his shadow so that means I get to have spring start tomorrow, right?

We spent Saturday morning and early afternoon looking at our calendars, discussing some trips, classes I may take, meetings Tom has to go to, etc. It was not until nearly noon that we learned about the shuttle disaster. We were looking something up on the internet and saw it posted on the MSN newspage that is our "homepage". What a sad thing, but it does make people more open about discussing their faith.

Have a great day,
Jan

 

[JLSE50]

When I was writing my last post the previous one was from RAE. When I checked back now, there is one from LYNN in between.
LYNN: We must have been writing at the same time!!

The DIS Trick or Treat was fun for those of us with no kiddos!!
We got photos of cuties and had fun planning before the trip what to bring. The space that the treats took in our luggage was available for souvenirs on the way home.

Jan

 

[rae519]

Oh, yeah! Sully - big and comfortable and FLUFFY!

Did I tell you that for a long time I was the Miami County Duck? Picture me in a duck suit - I called myself "Disco Duck". It was summer and I wore a t-shirt and shorts under the costume. Disco Duck left when the Chamber changed leadership - guess "disco" was never meant to be! (There's a joke there somewhere!)
I'll have to dig out a picture and attach it along with all the other pictures I've promised various people that I will get on the computer. Good excuse this time. Scanner light blew out!

I love the idea of getting the candy ahead of time and making arrangements with everyone to just go stateroom to stateroom.

If anyone else is interested, I'll use a private posting to get that info together.

Rae

 

[Rose_Greenthumb]

Today Im off school with my cold for company! I feel better having slept for 14 hours though.

I would absolutly hate the stingray thing but then I am scared of fish! Rory said it was brilliant last year though.

Helen is great! A total shopaholic and takes enough food to school everyday for a picnic!

Meeting before the drill sounds like a good idea (best one we've had so far!). Last year we arranged to meet on deck 10 at the sailaway party.

 

[rocadonismom]

Wow! There are a ton of postings since I was here last. I don't normally have access to a computer on the weekends, maybe soon.

Emma - Your trip sounded wonderful. I've always loved seeing plays, had the chance to see a few on Broadway while I was still in school. Helen sounds like my friends and I when we used to go away to camp. I think we took more goodies than clothes. Of course, camp food is special in it's own right.

Rae - I had suggested to my parents that we use a car service (have seen that suggestion many times on the boards). If we get several people together, it'll make it inexpensive (actually cheaper than the Disney transfers). The prices I have from Happy Limo for a stretch limo are round trip from Orlando International (is that MCO?) to Port Canaveral $360.00 for up to 8 adults and 2 children. A van would be $195.00 round trip for up to 10 adults. Lots of time to think about it but, if you're interested we could meet up and share the vehicle.

I agree with the post about meeting by Topsiders, do we get to wear our fashionable vests? I'm sure they would look lovely with the lime green boas.

Also, I'd love to be included in the hander-outers of Halloween treats and candy.

Welcome to the others that are joining us on this cruise (Rochelle), I look forward to getting to know you as the months go by. As for those that were there before (Jan, njfamily, pixiedust), any advice is appreciated. My first cruise was actually over Halloween 1999 on the Wonder but, we didn't know about any of this then. What a loss!

 

[rae519]

Carolyn1023 - LOVE the idea - either one would be great.
We are planning to stay at the Hyatt Airport that Friday night - are you plans similiar?

I know that this DIS Board has been a blessing for me - the wonderful friends, great advise and fun times I've had really are priceless. I wish I had known about it before my first two cruises!

It was 49 degrees here today but heavy fog! I couldn't believe the warm temps - tonight we are supposed to get snow but even with the fog - it was a delightfully wonderful day (my chiropractor came back from his vacation! AMEN)

Rae

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

We are driving down from NC. Has the Raddison posted any good codes for our October trip? Does anyone know the best rate out there?

Thanks-
Tiff

 

[laurenk]

Tiff- We got the Comfort Inn for $89 including parking, and shuttle to the ship. We picked there because it is right near the beach, and my kids want to hang out there the day before. Plus my hubby can relax after the lnog drive down. When I checked Raddison was $129.

 

[TinkerBellPixie4GOAL]

Oh yes! Stingray City was EXCELLENT! I do have to say that in the beginning I was scared to go into the water, but by the end I did go in. I still have the tape (they film a special tape that you have the option to buy)

I think Lynn is right in the fact that you should plan your own Trick or Treat. That was excellent fun last year! It did last only a short while, so you might want to make it last longer in that you make it a game or something. Make the kids guess what room to go to next or something of that sort.

I also want to suggest that you choose something to wear that everyone would recognize. As the crusie gets closer talk to each other about what you're going to wear and what you look like. That's how I found Jan and Emma!

It was also fun to get to know each other because I had been going on about how my science project this year was to collect 25 bugs, kill, and pin them. Well as you can tell I wasn't too thrilled about that and I talked a lot about it on the boards. I also talked about how my father runs the Fall Festival at my church. Well I gave the website for my church and the day before the cruise I was shocked when my dad brought home two (or maybe three?) jars of BUGS! for me. I was shocked when he said someone named 'Jan' gave them to him. *Thanks a lot Jan!*

JAN - by the way, I got a 93 on it!

Emma - Are Oliver and James excited about Common Grounds this year. Maybe they'll have more fun then we did. (Although I still loved that halloween party.

 

[Rose_Greenthumb]

Rory-I don't think they are particularly looking forward to it! Maybe I shouldn't have told them how awkward I felt in there...

I definatly still say we should have gone dressed as wallflowers to that halloween party! I still can't believe we were the only ones who dressed up!

I think the main reason I recognized you was your name tag to be honest Rory! By the time I'd spent a week at WDW the only thing I could remember about what you'd be wearing was lots of eye make-up!

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Ok you all I need your help. Even though we 9 months away I have a need to at least determine what we will be doing for our excurisons. Any and all input (helpful) is appreciated:

Group so far is me, my MIL, my parents (Mom uses a wheel chair) and my sons who will be 2.5 & 5.5 when we sail.

1. Key West: Decided on the trolley. My whole group can do it. Would you all recommend us getting off the ship and getting our own tickets to the trolley. I think I will also take my MIL and sons to the shipwreck museum/aquarium. Is it cheaper to do it on your own or purchase thru DCL?

DCL excursion is $42/$22 and includes the trolley and admission to the aquarium and shick wreck historeum.

I found the trolley page and a trolley ticket is $20/$10 but I could not find out how much admission to the ship wreck histroreum and aquarium was.

2. Grand Cayman: Ok I have decided on the Grand Cayman Island Tour for my parents and probably my MIL and 2.5 DS that goes to Hell and the turtle farm via AC Bus. I am hoping they drive by the beach too.

But I want to do a beach/sting ray excursion with my 5.5 year old DS. I am so confused. I want something easy, smaller group, family friendly. I see that DCL sponsors the Rum Beach Adventure and Sing Ray City, 7 Mile Sail and Snorkel, and Stingray City Snorkel Tour. People on the Dis have also recommended Captain Bryans and Captain Mervyn's. I am so confused?????? Or shoule we just hit the 7 mile beach?

3. Cozumel-I have been to Cozumel enough that I think we will do Chakanab or Playa Sol on our own.

Any thoughts, experience or suggestions would be great!

Tiff

 

[rae519]

Tiff -
Would love to hear your suggestions about Cozumel -

Shirley Nelson-Brown (Key West native and The Perfect Gift owner at the Cape) suggests the aquarium as has other Key West natives. That's about all I can offer there!

Rae

 

[mdvasquez]

Hi to everyone!

Welcome to all of the new people. It has been a while since I have posted, our computer was in the shop for a few days getting upgraded. And the week before that we were on the Disney Wonder 3 day cruise. Which was wonderful!!!

My daughter was dressed as Sully last year and yes she was very fluffy and also VERY HOT!!!! And I agree with NJFamily, our own T or T was way better than what Disney offered!! So I would definitely be into doing it ourselves again.

Also, we did the stingray city in Cayman and LOVED IT!!!!! My daughter who was 11 did not She kept getting bombarded with waves (she could barely stand) and when I picked her up, a stingray mistook her knee for a fist of food and sucked on it. She was so upset and scared, she went and sat on the boat for the rest of the excursion. But I am definitely going to do it again this year.

NJfamily: we also booked for Halloween 2004. That is an Easter itinerary, which we have not done yet, so I am looking forward to that.

Well, thats all for now, hopefully I will be able to post more often than I have been.

Dena

 

[JLSE50]

RAE: The Miami Duck??? Tell us more.

RORY: You are welcome for the bugs.

TIFF: Maybe you could start a new thread or two, specifically asking your travel questions and then let everyone know what you learn in case they miss it. Titles like "KEY WEST AQUARIUM--WHAT DID YOU THINK AND WHAT DOES IT COST"
and
"WHAT"S GOOD AT GRAND CAYMAN FOR A MOM AND 5 YEAR OLD?"
Stuff like that. I bet you will get some good input.

I had two children to see for physical therapy homevisits and was going to see a friend for coffee today. BUT I was running late and when I called her about coming for coffee, it was too close to an appointment she had with one of her students so we rescheduled and I headed home.
On the highway I started hearing a funny noise so pulled over to the left shoulder and discovered a FLAT tire--passenger's side rear. I called Tom who said he thought that our roadside assistance could get there faster than he, so I called them.
As I was giving the information the HOOSIER HELPER (roadside assistance truck) pulled up on the other side of the barrier going the other way on the highway. He knew what the problem was as he had seen me sitting there when he passed me on my side of the road. But he wanted to get behind me so he went on and got off at the next exit and then on again. That way his truck was a buffer for him working on the van. I told the dispatcher of our roadside assistance plan that he was coming so we hung up. Thank goodness for cell phones.
He was there a little while later, got the spare on and I was on my way. At Tom's suggestion I went straight to the tire dealer and got a new tire as the one that went flat was too damaged. They think I hit a nail and then in my attempt to get over and stop, damaged the side wall.

Hoping today was a good one for you,
jan
Jan

 

[sallyo]

We will be on the Oct 25th sailing. There will be me, my DH(54 and much older than me), DS (14) and DS (11), my Mom and Dad, sister, brother in law and neice (18). Can't wait. This will be our 4th Disney cruise but first Western cruise. Sounds like a fun group going on this. Hope we can meet up!

 

[rae519]

Welcome sallyo

I will put you on the list that I will place here Friday so we can all get to know eachother before the cruise!

Welcome aboard!
Rae