April 16 2005? Eastern Magic? 4/16/05

[Hollua]

I'd love to join you. Well, maybe that isn't appropriate for tea. How about...

 

[princessdaisy]

Hollua, would love to have you join me for a cuppa tea!

Anyone else like to join us? Could be a mini Dis Meet

 

[MargaretMary]

Bumpin' Up...

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

Hey everyone. Just a quick reminder, now is a good timeto make sure that you have your Birth Certifiates. We were checking lst night and could not find mine. I am glad I realized it early as now I have time to get one without rushing.

Fortunately, I confirmed our passports were tucked away safely where I thought they were. Unfortunately, I opened mine and was reminded about the horribly unflattering picture!!! Does anyone ever take a good passport or license picture???

 

[Hollua]

Fortunately, I confirmed our passports were tucked away safely where I thought they were. Unfortunately, I opened mine and was reminded about the horribly unflattering picture!!! Does anyone ever take a good passport or license picture???

My passport photo isn't that bad, not great, but not horrible. It's my lisence photo that is down right scary. I've lost something like fifty pounds since the picture was taken. Can you say - chubby cheeks?

 

[spoon2003]

Princessdaisy,
Count me in for tea!! As the date gets closer, I'm also getting a little sad that this fantastic trip will be over in a week's time. We won't be rebooking on board, we want to do LA, Vegas and San Diego in 06 and Hawaii in 07. So much to do, so little time and $$.

Sue

 

[princessdaisy]

Great Sue!! so far three for tea Hey fellas don't be shy, your most welcome too!

I know how you feel about the cruise week going by fast I love planning for our trips.

Sue, if you need any info on LA or San Diego just let me know. I am originally from LA area but been here in SD for 11 years. The Wild Animal park here in San Diego is sooo much fun! it reminds me of Jurassic park the way the plants & decorations look. Beachs are nice here to but water is so cold use to get while I was a kid but not anymore...

 

[Tylerandalliesmom]

Is this a Palo's tea or one of the dcl activities? It would be nice to relax and have girl talk. I am sure my husband would not find that fun! Do they still have the sports bar?

 

[princessdaisy]

Yes, it is the Palo tea that is served on "sea days". I have reservations for Sunday at 3:00, I was able to prebook because of the REAS package I purchased for my husband & my anniversary. I have never done the tea but it is supposed to be nice...with different types of tea, scones, eclairs, etc. they do charge 5.00 person but I think it would be worth it

 

[Hollua]

Princess Daisy-

When we make our reservations upon boarding should we all make it for one (or two if spouses want to join in). I've never been on a Disney cruise and I'm unfamiliar with how this would work if we want to sit together. Any ideas? Maybe it won't matter as long as we inform Palo that we are together before tea time.

 

[princessdaisy]

When you board the ship you can make reservations for Palo, Dinner, Lunch or tea...last time we sailed (on the western) we went straight to Palos for reservations and only dinner was available so we decided to book the Romance at Sea package which includes the opportunity to book the palo ressies in advance. I have the tea already booked for Sun at 3:00 and I can just add on people to the reservation...I think we have 4 so far

Since this cruise will have more "sea" days (the days tea & brunch are served) I think there will be more availability for reservations. You can always make a reservation onboard and then add more people on to it, if there is available seating. Example: we meet a couple on the last cruise and they invited us to join them for their Palo reservation...so we ended up going to Palo for dinner two times

Wow, it is pretty confusing, now that I reread my post I hope I kind of make sense...sorry!!

 

[Hollua]

I'm not super worried about getting Palo reservations. We are driving to the ship and we plan to get there early. I don't mind waiting a little to get on board if it will save me a little heartache over not getting to do something. I am a little concerned since I'm thinking about a spa treatment and so I'll have to be on the move to get both.

The plan is to get whatever reservations we are interested in, grab a bite to eat, and let the girls swim a bit before the lifeboat drill. Can you tell I'm bouncing off the walls thinking about this cruise.

 

[princessdaisy]

Sounds like a great plan!! Can't wait to goooo!!

Look forward to meeting you at Tea

 

[spoon2003]

Massachusetts cruisers,
If you need waterproof disposables, Target has the Fuji for $6.99 (compare to Kodak at 9.99).

PrincessDaisy,
We did a west coast trip 4 years ago and my son fell in love with LegoLand (big lego fan), I promised him that we will go back soon, and I want to fulfill that promise before he loses interest in Lego. We were there in April and played on the beach at Hotel Coronado, it was beautiful and warm
You want to feel cold beach water? come to New England beaches in August

Anyone read the St. Thomas immigration thread on the cruise board? It's making me nervous about the long wait and tendering, maybe I should re-plan my excursions.

Sue

 

[princessdaisy]

Sue: Thanks for the reminder on the cameras! I need to get some of those and yes, I was nervous about the St.Thomas immigration thread...my dh & dd have reservations for the Captain Nautica snorkeling for the am. and I ended up changing to the 12:00 noon slot...just in case

Oh, I forgot about the cold New England water come on over to Calif. semi cold water ;-)

 

[Hollua]

I think the water is wonderful in New England in August. Really. It can be a bit chilly in June, but August is good.

I'm worried about St. Thomas too. We decided to do a daysail on our own. I found a number of daysail places that will take no more than 6 people of any age. The one I booked serves lunch and has an open bar all day. It will sail to a spot or two to go snorkeling and/ or we can take a dingy to a secluded beach. It has floats for those that can't swim and a glass bottom bucket, too, for my kids to snorkel. (They don't get that they can breathe through the tube.)

I decided to do the daysail because my 4.5year old isn't allowed on many of the excursions and we don't want to leave her for four or five hour at the kid's club. Another thread that has me worried. What if my kids aren't into the clubs.

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

Here in CT, August means jellyfish!

Thanks for the tip on the waterproof cameras! I always pick up regular disposables for my kids, too. They love to have their own camera to take pictures of whatever they want.

The St Thomas thread has me a little concerned too. But I can't figure out what I want to do there anyway. I know I want to head over to St John - just looking for a little beach time. I am thinking about Trunk Bay, but I still can't tell which ones will land me on a beach and which ones just anchor for snorkeling. DD5 will want to hang out on the beach and may not be too keen on swimming ashore even with help.

I did, however, book the Golden Eagle Catamaran in St Maarten. We took the AM so we can spend some time on Front Street in the afternoon and still have time to clean up for dinner since we have the early sitting.

I've started picking up some things here and there. And started getting some new summer clothes for the kids since almost nothing from last year seems to fit either of them!

I am really getting excited. Things have been extremely hectic here at work, so I am definitely going to need this vacation. I am actually looking forward to being "unreachable" for a while. If they have to pay $$$$$ to call me on board, they will certainly think twice about it. A definite plus!

BTW, is anyone thinking of putting together a DIS meet on board? I am a first timer, but I hear that is pretty popular. I am willing to coordinate it if others are interested. Let me know!

 

[Hollua]

Okay, I've gone back and forth a million times on the shore excursions. My DH and I had planned on doing the Kayaking in St. Maartin and leaving the kids in the Kid's Club for the morning, but after reading the Kid's Club thread I'm not feeling super comfortable with that. My huband thinks it is like them going to kindergarten for the day as far as time away from us is concerned. My kids love school and play dates. We have never had trouble leaving them at an activity, but others have posted similarly and then found that they could not get their kid's to use the club! So I'm torn about St. Maarten. I had thought that we could do the excursion, have lunch with the girls and then explore the island a bit with them. Now I'm wondering if we should take advantage of the low crowds at the pool for the morning, have lunch and then explore the island. Okay, I'm just babbling, now. Has anyone gone to St. Maartin before and have thoughts on the place?

We are definitely going to keep the daysail charter for St. Thomas. So no Disney excursion on that day.

I would love to do a DISmeet on board. Did you see the posts about people meeting in Palo on Sunday for tea, too?

 

[spoon2003]

I don't recall how old your children are, but to share my last experience, my DS didn't want to leave the kids' club. He was five then,you ask him his favorite part of the cruise and he'll tell you it was the kids' club. We left him in the club while we shopped and walk around in Nassau, he didn't missed us a bit. My dd was 9 and enjoyed the club as well but she picked and choose activities that she wanted to do. Personally I think the kids' clubs are fabulous.

Sue

 

[Twinklee]

We're still going back and forth about a St. Thomas excursion. We're thinking about doing Magens Bay on our own, but I'm concerned about transportation since I have severe allergies. I think I read somewhere that the taxis are larger vehicles, open to the air. Even a short drive, with the wind hitting me in the face, could cause me to get sick. Has anyone been to St. Thomas that could give me any info?

Is anyone planning to make a magnetic door sign for their stateroom door? I scrapbook so I've been planning some out in my head, but haven't hit on the final product yet. I'll probably end up changing my mind a dozen times before I finally settle on something.

Toni