any1 going in december 17 2005 on the west

[cheermom4ever]

Cindy D.

Good point! This is our first cruise and I keep forgetting about all the activities they offer on the Magic.

Donna

 

[tamicampbell]

I am so happy to see our group growing. I would like to say hello to all the new people. I can not believe that tomorrow is December already.

Last night I made a list of things that I need to do before the cruise. I have all my xmas shopping done except my parents. That will be easy though. Everything is already mailed and ready to go. I have one suitcase packed with all our pirate stuff. I am going out today to buy another suitcase. I went to Kohls yesterday to buy the girls a christmas dress and walked out of there spending way too much money on myself and nothing for the girls.

That is a good idea about the no sales pitch for the massage. My DH still has no idea about the REAS package. He will be so excited. He keeps saying that we need to go to the spa and get a massage. I tell him that I keep forgetting to call and make us an appointment. I have no idea how long that excuse will work. I guess there is nothing wrong with have a massage now and one on the cruise.

My girls have decided that they want their hair braided. Jenna (dd6) wants the haedband type braids and Brianna (dd9) wants just a few. I have seen tons of messages about it but just skipped over them because the girls did not want it done. Since they have been back at school this week some of their friends went on a cruise for Thanksgiving and came back to school with the braids. Is anyone else doing the briads? Do we make an appt. as teh port or on the actual ship? I remember our last cruise people saying that Disney was cheaper then any of the islands.

Well I guess I am off to work now. See you all real soon.

Hugs
Tami

 

[glindamood]

Good Morning everyone! Boy, gone a week and you all have been so busy. We had a great time on the Thanksgiving Wonder - and seeing the Magic at Castaway was totally awesome. I keep reading about those on the beach seeing all the flashes from the Wonder - we saw lots of flashes from the beach! We were having brunch in Palo as we sailed by so went outside and got some pictures and then just enjoyed the view.

New cruisers - I have a spreadsheet with names, kids, ages, dining times and whatever anyone shares with the group that I would be happy to add you to. If you would send me a PM with the information as well as your email address I will update the list and send it out again this weekend.

I almost forgot - we got one set of documents yesterday (two cabins and the boys cabin ended up at my SIL's). Very different than the documents I got for the Wonder tirp last week. DH and I were in one cabin and our docs were in one booklet but this time we each have our own. Oh well, still great to see them.

Time to get back to work.

 

[tamicampbell]

Gail,
Glad to hear that you had a great time. How was the brunch?

Hugs
Tami

 

[princessmomma]

I was just thinking, for those of us getting to the port early, would there be a place to meet (or way to find each other) before we board?

I remember having about an hour wait to board our last cruise. It seemed so longggggg to sit around. If we could try and track each other down, that would be fun!

Colleen

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi Colleen,
We always try to spot fellow Disers while we wait to board.
One way is if you know what clothes you will be wearing, let us know .
If there is anything unusual about your group, such as a pink carry on bag, or a bag with a brightly colored ribbon tied to the handle. That really helps to spot people. I will have a white short sleeve shirt on with either a picture of goofy in a tux on the back , or A big smiling Donald Duck on the back. Both shirts will have 2 small pictures of the same characters on the front too. If it's warm, i'll have blue denim shorts on , if it's cool i'll have long jeans on and will be carrying a Donald Duck sweatshirt over my arm in the terminal. i have gold rim glasses and brown hair that goes on to my shoulders. We are a party of 4 adults and 2 kids, 11 and 14. That should help some. We should get there by 11:00.
Now post some of your descriptions too and we can look for each other.
One thing I have always done that helps is to take the description with you on a piece of paper with the persons name on it, or you'll be too excited and forget it.
Hope to spot you there!
Kathy

 

[princessmomma]

Good idea Kathy,

I will be very easy to spot, I am very tall, 6 feet tall with brown hair. My sister is will be with me and she is 5'10". DH and 4 kids (2 ours, 2 hers) will be in our party. I am not sure what I will be wearing, but I will post it when I decide.

Colleen

 

[nzdisneymom]

That's a great idea to meet at the Port - we're going over from the Radisson on the 10:00 shuttle, so we'd love to have some folks to look for. I know my Day Bag will be a Red Mickey backpack. We're a family of 4 - the boys are 8 and 9 1/2 and almost identical in size. My DH will be the one looking frazzled after I've bossed him around all week with the packing and getting there. I was just thinking that it would be a great way to pass the time by meeting up with others - and for those of us who are newbie cruisers, it would be great to meet up with those who have experienced the Port before so we don't get totally turned around or end up in the wrong line

Anyone else staying at the Radisson on Friday night? I have another friend from an email list who is and we're hoping to meet up at the pool or somewhere around the hotel on Friday night -- so if anyone else is also staying, perhaps we can have a pre-cruise meet.

We've met Kathy and her DH at Epcot - and she's right - take a paper with description and that helps!

 

[lsfla]

Hello again everyone..

I haven't been on the boards much but finally have some time to check back in.

Things have been hectic ever since the hurricane. Our area was hit hard by Wilma. Lost power, telephones (land lines and cell phones). Dh said losing the internet and cable was the worst! Over a million people here in miami-dade county lost power so it took a really long time for them to get everyone back up and running. The good news is we're all okay.

Leia's school was closed for 2 weeks! We are finally getting back to normal and we're very excited that the cruise is almost here.

 

[lsfla]

Well I *thought* we would do the snorkel excursion but it seems to be sold out.....guess I will have to explore private operations and find something suitable.

We were in Costa Maya last December. DH and DD booked a private snorkel when we arrived. They were VERY HAPPY. It was reasonable and they had lots of fun. They were taken by a little boat to the reef and they said it was AWESOME. DD was 8 and had never snorkelled before and they were willing to teach her. They are planning on doing the same trip this time.

I will stay on the beach and get my $20 massage. I also like to look at the local craft stands set up along the way. Last time we got some beautiful hand painted tiles....

 

[krhardy]

well, I finished the last of my Christmas shopping yesterday that will be done pre-cruise. Now, the rest of what I am purchasing will come from one of the ports. The biggest thing I have left to do is purchase my food for Christmas day, and do some preparing of a few things before we go. Oh yeah, I have to figure out a time to get the kids layaway out...you know, the Santa stuff. Since I homeschool, finding time to do this without the kids can be a bit tough. Hmmmm, was going to have DH bring them home from church next Wednesday and do it then, but he has to work late...hmmmm...must give this some serious thought!
I've started my laundry basket...this is my favorite packing method...for a week before I pack I keep a laundry basket out and as I think of things, or run across them (especially things that might not have made it onto my list) I toss them into the basket. The trickiest thing is going to be packing without the kids knowing, since they do not know that we are going to WDW first...at 5 and 3 we could trick them, but at 11, 8, and 5, they're not quite so gullible!
My house is as decorated as it is getting...I don't want a whole bunch of stuff out with 2 cats home by themselves for a week and a half...I see baaaaad things!
Well, it is time for me to go wake sleeping beauty (my 11 yo DD) and make her do a bit of school work before I have to go to work...hopefully everyone's head is not in as much disarray as mine is right now!

OH, BTW, not sure what we will have on at the port yet...will post closer to sail date!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

ISFLA,
Gald to hear your ok, i was wondering about you when Miami area got hit. It missed us in Kissimmee this time, thank goodness. WE got hit 3 out of 4 times last year, that was enough for my lifetime. Although we were very lucky and came through it ok, but some of the neighbors wern't so lucky.
Looking forard to meeting you on board.



Kelley,
wow it sounds like you are really prepared. We will finish up decorating the house this weekend and I only have 2 gifts yet to buy and wrap.
I need to cook our christmas turkeys and freeze them yet. Since we are having 10 guests this year I really need to make everything ahead of time that I can. I do have 3 kinds of cookies in the freezer so far and will save them for the grandkids to decorate on the 24th when we return.
Good luck with sneaking out to get the gifts, that never worked for me.
wEll time to run and do a few more things before having to get dinner ready.
See you soon,
mom x4,grandma x4
Kathy

 

[62travelDisney]

Hi Everybody!

New family signing in here. Very late in planning, missed the boat (ha) on everything, no Palo ressies, no excursions planned. Kids are 13, 11, 8 & 6. Staying at the Raddison the 16th. Any suggestions? See you all VERY soon!

Laurie

 

[Richfield Autopia]

New family signing in here. Very late in planning, missed the boat (ha) on everything, no Palo ressies, no excursions planned. Kids are 13, 11, 8 & 6. Staying at the Raddison the 16th. Any suggestions? See you all VERY soon!

Laurie,

Welcome!

You could start by reading the 750+ posts in this thread, but, by the time you finish them all, you might miss embarkation.

Seriously, you should still be able to get reservations for Palo. I understand that not all Palo reservations are available online. They hold back reservations for onboard. So, as soon as you board, head to wherever they're taking Palo reservations. And, as in the past, people who check with Palo during the week for cancellations are often successful.

Along the same lines, you should be able to book shore excursions onboard if you check right after boarding, even if the excursions you want are no longer available online.

Be sure to read the recent posts about DIS meets and what excursions people are planning.

Good luck!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi Laurie - we're staying at the Radisson on the 16th, too... I'm Cindy D., dh is Gary, and we have two boys ages 9 1/2 and 8 1/4.

 

[Scotch]

Ok, I'm getting kind of nervous 'cuz NO DOCUMENTS YET!! We booked via group via DU, and DU's TA told me last week that DCL is sending the docs for this group this week. So I've been watching out for them, since DCL uses one of the express services, right? We're departing for WDW next Saturday, the 10th. When should I start to panic and contact DU again? If I don't receive the documents by next Monday? Anyone else still waiting for cruise documents?

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Welcome Laurie and family,
one thing to know is that we are all meeting on the first day at 3:00 in the promenade lounger. Please join us there so we can meet you.
I have a GS who is 11 with us and a GD that will be 14. The 11 year old would probably like to meet your 11 year old.
See you soon,
Kathy

 

[62travelDisney]

Thanks Kathy, my 11 yr. old is a boy as well. See you onboard!

Laurie

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Laurie,
my GD is 14 and she has been writing to other teens on the cruise. The use the PM messaging so we OLD PEOPLE dont know what they are saying! Ha! Ha! If your 13 year old wants to meet some of the teens ahead of time on line , have them send a PM to Fonzy for my grandaughter, that is her dis board name and she will get it. Also there is a boy named of jgrant03 who is a teen on this thread who I'm sure would like to hear from another teen.
There are others too, but I dont know their names, but I'm sure they will get connected if your teen chooses to contact Fonzy or jgrant03.
Se you soon,
mom x4,grandma x4
Kathy

 

[Momma2girls]

We've got a snow day here- so the girls are home from school and planning to have fun in the white stuff.
I've started filling the laundry basket- we're getting excited!
Is anyone staying at Port Orleans Riverside pre cruise? We will be there on the 13th. We've got Cindy's lunch and dinner at Chef Mickey's on the 14th.
Happy packing!