any1 going in december 17 2005 on the west

[nzdisneymom]

Hooray - we put in our passport applications yesterday (well, for DH and the boys) and I mailed mine in today (I could renew mine since it was issued less than 15 years ago, so that saved me about $30). We went to the courthouse to do it and it was so easy! She said they say 45 days to get them back but they are actually running about 4 - 5 weeks (so 28 - 35 days). We don't need to have them for this trip, but figured it will be easier. Plus my previous passport expired with ZERO! stamps in it -- yep, I had a valid passport for 10 years and didn't go anywhere. Boo-hoo. So that's why I wanted to get this one before the cruise.

Re: formal night - DH will wear his suit (probably) or at least suit pants, dress shirt and Mickey tie (I've bought him three Mickey ties from the Character Premier Outlet store in Orlando for $9.99 each instead of the $29/each they have them for at WDW). I'm not sure what I'll wear - it depends on how much more weight I lose before the cruise - I've lost 35 lbs since May and hope to have another 10 gone before the cruise. I have a couple of girlfriends who are size(s) smaller than me that have various-sized dresses that they have worn for formal nights on cruises before, so if I can fit in any of them, they are going to let me borrow the dress(es). The children will wear nice dress pants, long sleeved dress shirts and clip-on ties (although I haven't broken the news to them yet!).

 

[khakismum]

Formal Night-

We dress for formal and semi formal night. On both nights it is gowns and tuxedos. We don't get the opportunity to play dress up very often, and if I do say so myself, we clean up "right purtty". To *US*, it is Magical to do it all, and that includes the dressing up. If you want to wear resort casual, that is your prerogative. But to us, it is just that much more enjoyable to see folks all dressed up to the nines. It gives it that Cinderella Ball type feel.

Now, just because we dress up doesn't mean we didn't have fun! This was the night that we celebrated DHs 40th b'day. It was formal night and *our* theme that night was Mardi Gras. (For this if you that don't know, we dressed up every night.)

Anyway. That is my $0.02 on the matter.

 

[Disney Rocks]

We are planning to dress up for formal night. Our girls and myself all have long gowns including our little girls and my DS and DH will wear a suit. Packing all the extras won't be easy but we would like to participate fully in the various events on the ship since this is our first cruise. Hope to have a blast.

We have our pirate outfits ready as well.

Take care,

 

[krhardy]

We too will be dressing up...we don'thave a chance to do that often, and I want my children to have that experience. In fact, we are going next week for an "etiquette lesson" just to make sure that the kids know the "proper" way to behave! We eat dinner together as a family at home, and manners are expected at the table, but this is sort of a polish them up type of thing.
I've made my list of things left to get: a bigger memory stick for my camera! When DH and I travel alone, we usually bring my laptop-both as a CD player and to dump pics, but we're traveling w/3 DC and my DM...computer aint coming! The kids have digital cameras, but they're not great quality...wanna get them better ones...underwater cameras for the kids...pirate costume for 11 yo DD-as a homeschooling family we have the luxury of picking our subjects, and we did a unit on pirates...she decided that she wanted to dress like a real woman pirate-that is to say like a man. Totally her idea-NOT mine...so, we head out to good will after her orthodontist appt on Monday. DH and I talked at length the other night about what else we needed, and neither of us could come up with anything (except our costumes for dinner-you'll see!). So, can anyone think of anything else I might need but not have?? We've got all our formal gear, bathing suits, and first aid kit. Hmmmm,there must be SOMETHING else I need to shop for????

 

[krhardy]

Diane,
I should have scrolled up...aaah, the memories! What ARE we going to do on this cruise???? Terri, any ideas??? Pat's vote was for the colored googlies!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi Kelley,
It sounds like your pretty well set. The only thing I can think of and you probably have it already is extra batteries for your digital camera and a battery charger if you use the rechargable type. They sell them on board, but they are very expensive! The same thing for your cam corder if your taking one.
Your way ahead of me. I'm still working on my list of what I need to take.
I will have a house guest the next 2 weeks, so I wont get any cruise stuff done, but I will try to finish Christmas shopping during that time, so I can then concentrate on the cruise.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Everyone remember your cameras for our meet so we can snap a few shots of each other before we start scattering all over the ship.
Kathy

 

[krhardy]

Kathy,
We have both spare batteries and a charger...DH is an AV geek, so he has a whole backpack dedicated to cameras/memory sticks/batteries etc. <groan!> Fortunately, this cruise IS our families Christmas present, so I don't have to do any shopping ahead of time. I'll pick up something for the inlaws and my sisters family on one of the islands! However, SANTA has to find time to go to WalMart and put some stocking stuffers in the layaway!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Kelley,
I figured you had batteries, but that was all I coulc think of. Your obviously an experienced packer!
See you soon,
Kathy

 

[glindamood]

all! What will you be doing nine weeks from now??? 4 of our 6 fly down Friday morning and the other two get in about 6:30 so we will be heading back to the airport to pick them up.

I am home now for a few weeks (been gone two weeks in a row) and will get the spreadsheet updated and sent out this weekend - unless the bottom falls out of something else. Laundry is respectable (that means not done but it isn't a mountain anymore) and I have caught up on most of my sleep. My mom had surgery earlier this week but that all seems to be coming along as expected so there is one more thing to be thankful for.

I had mailed an envelope to Shirley for Key West info - lots of good information. We divided into teams for planning activities on our stops - DH and DSGF have Key West so they were really happy to see the info. DH has our day all planned (that could be scary).

I have done nothing about pirate costumes - and since we are travelling on the Wonder for Thanksgiving I had better get my head together and get something done.

Look for a spreadsheet over the weekend - and any new members to our group (welcome by the way) please PM me with your group (names, ages of children, dining time, special celebrations while on the cruise and your email and I will send you a copy too).

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Gail,
Glad to hear all is well and your back home.
We are gaining people now that the cruise is getting closer.
Hope your Thanksgiving cruise goes well for you, it should be awesome!!!
It will be a warm up for our cruise in December, remember to give us a trip report when you get back.
Looking forward to meeting soon, mom x4,grandma x4
kathy

 

[krhardy]

9 weeks from this very moment, I will be shoving food down my children's throats so we can be on the road by 90-woo hoo!!!!

 

[princessmomma]

Wow!!! 63 days that is great!

Does everyone have their flights, etc. in order??

We are driving down Thursday at noon from NC; Friday my sister and her two kids are flying down from Canada and we are going to MVMCP Friday night. I was able to Priceline a couple of hotel rooms for Friday night...got the Peabody....I always wanted to stay there and see the duck parade. Has anyone stayed there?

When is everyone else arriving?

Colleen

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

We dont have to worry about flights, we just hop in the car and drive a little over an hour and we are there!!!!
However our daughters and their families have to fly out from Oregon, we are hoping there are no bad weather delays. Rachel arrives on the 15th so she has a safety margin for bad weather, but Marie arrives on the evening of the 16th. That is close in case there are any weather delays. But work schedules cant be worked around it this time.
We'll keep our fingers crossed.
Kathy

 

[glindamood]

I just emailed the cruise list - please let me know if I need to make any changes. If you didn't get a copy and would like one - send me the information about your group - names, ages, special events, where from or anything else you would like to share and I will add you to the list and send
you a copy.

Enjoy the rest of your day all!

 

[Grandma x3]

Hi Gail,
I sent a pm to you on Oct 3rd w/my info for inclusion in the cruise list. I didn't receive your email today - so I'm wondering if you got my message???
Let me know if I should resend it.
Thanks - Chris

 

[tamicampbell]

Thank you for the updated list. I can not wait. it is only 60 days away. YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!

We are trying to do things every weekend to keep us busy. Last weekend we went to Epcot and this past weekend we went camping. Novemeber we are going to Disney for the weekend on the 11th, staying at the Nick hotel (keeping our fingers crossed that we enjoy it, have heard mixed reviews), then we are camping again and then it is Thanksgiving. Then it will be December, wow.

When we went to Epcot last weekend we followed the DCL bus 3/4 of the way there. More so on purpose, the kids and I were talking about what we would be doing on the cruise right then and what we wanted to eat. Made our drive alot shorter, LOL.

Well I am off to read some more on the boards.

Hugs
Tami

 

[tamicampbell]

~~~~got the Peabody....I always wanted to stay there and see the duck parade. Has anyone stayed there?~~~~~

Colleen, I have never heard of the Peabody. I take it is in Orlando? What is the dick parade? I am curious.

Hugs
Tami

 

[glindamood]

Tami - what kind of a parade?

Chris - I have sent you the list, let me know if you have any corrections.

Nine weeks from today we will be enjoying a day at sea - not to wish my life away but come on already!

Have a good week all!

 

[tamicampbell]

OMG, I need to start to proof reading my messages. I am so sorry gang. I was asking Cindy about the DUCK parade. The I and the U are next to each other on the keyboard, LOL. Again I am sorry. Honest mistake.

(wouldn't that be an interesting parade though? )

Hugs
Tami

 

[glindamood]

Tami -

How is everyone's week going? Fall has arrived here in Cadillac, MI. Leaves are turning and falling, I imagine we are in our peak for color. Very windy today so we will loose many of them. Soccer season will be over this week for us here too. What will I do with myself??? Plan some more for this cruise!
I really need to get our pirate costumes together - we have a Halloween store in town so I best get over there before everything is all gone.

Take care and have a good day!