April 2, 2005 Magic-First DCL cruise-anyone going?

[anlashokna]

Busy prepping for a business trip in a few weeks and getting the garden harvested

Did get my dress for the Captains Gala the other day Found it on ebay brand new

Now i just have to make sure I can get into it in 224 days

Stacey

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I hadn't even thought about the dressing up part....My boys have both out grown all of their nicer clothes. I think this time we're going to just do dress shirts & ties without the jackets. My DH is very hard to fit. I found a tux for him on Ebay - but it's such a hassle to pack all of the extra clothes... I took both a formal and semiformal dress last time. This time I think I'll just see if I can find a nice little black dress.

Of course if I managed to loose that last 10-15 pounds before then - well I might have to rethink the whole wardrobe issue!

 

[RachelTori]

I haven't given much thought to the "dress" either!! Last cruise, my DH and his friend spent the entire formal evening referring to their "stupid suits"!! We saw every style of dress possible on formal night (including jeans/shorts&tees which were really the only things that looked out of place!).

I think this time DH will be happy to leave the jacket home!

Laura

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Whew! Glad to see I won't get flamed for leaving the suits & tuxes at home! Although my 8 year old will probably complain if he doesn't get to wear his "Gentleman" suit!

My 14 year old is growing so fast I doubt I can keep him in any thing that will fit for more than a week or two! All of his pants from the end of the school year are about 3 inches too short right now. Luckily he was wearing short all summer so it wasn't an issue...but now it looks like I've got to make a really expensive trip to Old Navy!

 

[cwf1028]

I think I have decided that if the girls (4 and 7) want to eat with us that night, they will just wear their princess gowns. I have a feeling they won't be eating with us much, we have late seating and I doubt they will want to stop and get dressed and eat. I think I am going to pack a dark suit for DH for both nights (he is always afraid of being under dressed) and I have a black dress for both nights. Other than the semi formal and formal nights, we will both be pretty casual (capri pants, collar shirts, etc.) I will pack one other dress maybe for Lumiere's and of course our tropical wear. Gee, when you really spell it all out like that it is a bunch of clothes! Glad we have a lot of suitcases!

 

[RachelTori]

What I remember most about 'formal night' on our April 2003 cruise is that we got our nicest/best portrait that night! Formal Mickey & Minnie and the 3 of us - all cleaned up!!!

 

[anlashokna]

I tell you what. On ebay if you search for formal direct the dresses are fantastic. Come quickly and don't be shocked. Mine came in a priority mail box. I kept looking at that thinking they must have sent the wrong thing! Sure enough it was in there and when I unfolded it had very little wrinkles!! Need them to pack it for the trip for me !!

I did fall in love with a couple of the dresses but thought they were more for a christmas ball. Beautiful though.
Mine is a black number with aqua embroidery. Pretty pretty..and yes I still need to loose some weight. I'll probably have it altered a bit before I go..hopefully because I lost the weight
Decided I'm going to try to get into Palo's that night too! Kill two birds with one stone

Will find a little number for semi formal night too! I figure what the heck...I don't get to dress up very often.

 

[RachelTori]

Stacey, that's great that your dress arrived so quickly! Maybe someday I'll get brave and try to order that way. I have never bought clothing I didn't try on in the store first! (old habits die hard!) Last cruise I found several dresses at Kohl's that worked out well for the cruise. I really enjoyed seeing what everyone was wearing on those themed nights. I don't judge - just ooooh and aaaaah!!

 

[anlashokna]

There just isn't any place around to buy gowns like that. I thought about waiting and going up to Mall of America. But then realized if I did that I wouldn't have any money for the disney trip!
Shopoholic here

I'm sure I'll be standing around oohing and awing too. Or just watching the kids. I got the biggest kick out of watching kids at the magic kingdom last year. Especially when Mickey would show up. They're too cute

 

[RachelTori]

Stacey, you're really going "all out" - a gown, wow! I wore a tea length dressy dress and will probably opt for that type of dress again. I also saw lots of dressy pants suits on our cruise; long skirts and jackets too - real classy! And I'll tell you what we did last time packing our clothes that kept them virtually wrinkle-free: we invested in some plastic bags from ebags.com (although you can buy them at Target too!); we used tissue paper when we folded the items - think that helped too!

 

[anlashokna]

I can pack them to stay fairly wrinkle free but it doesn't work if the bag is gone through When I went to orlando last trip and made it to the hotel I had a little note that said they checked the bag. Okay...but they literally tossed things around. That irked me. I might just take them in a bag as carry on. I've used those space saver bags in the past and liked them. Probably send it out to be steamed or dry cleaned night one anyway. Or buy a little steamer to take with. (more things to drag along ).
I dunno..don't want to think about packing this far out..LOL. Have to do that in a couple of weeks for a short trip to D.C for training. Ack..

Oh and did everyone hear that tropical night has been replaced with Pirates of the Caribean night? Just when I found the perfect little tropical outfit to tuck away.....just need to find an eye patch for the ensemble I guess

 

[anlashokna]

On a side note if you know EmmysGrammy you might want to check over on the DCL line forum. The sad news is posted there.

 

[RachelTori]

OMG - that's so very sad. Things like that really bring home the reality of just how fragile life is and how none of us is guaranteed tomorrow.

 

[cwf1028]

I could not believe the very sad news myself. It happened to by my older daughters 7th birthday and I must say it really dampened my spirits. My youngest daughter is Emmas age and I was so sad. I also checked my smoke alarms and found out my upstairs one was defective. Just got old I guess because we do check them from time to time. It really scared me and I went out and bought two new ones and replaced both of the ones in our home. Just can't imagine....

 

[anlashokna]

Sorry this one hit a bit too close to home here as well forcing me to stay away for a couple of days. I don't know her personally either but knew the name as most folks on these boards do. An 8 year old relation of mine passed suddenly this last spring. Not a house fire but completely unexpected and circumstances just as tragic. There isn't words to express ... I feel horrible for her and hope the best for the surviving family.

I did see that a memorial fund has been put together on the main forum too.

 

[anlashokna]

Ahh...

Who got all the suites?? I was even looking at other cruises and can't find any. Had started thinking about trying to get a cat 3 for this cruise. Alas...none to be had. Kinda relieved in a way...frightening to wonder what the cost might have been.

Anyone on this thread currently in Florida... take care of yourselves this weekend. Frances is definately a monster.

I joked with my mother that we do have hotel reservations in cocoa beach....if the hotel is still there We still had not broke the news that this location was a barrier island. Watching the ships on the port cams leaving this morning.

Everyone stay safe.

 

[RachelTori]

I believe the Cat 1, 2 & 3 suites are rarely available. My understanding, at least several years ago, was that people send in their requests for the suites and those get booked before the "dates & rates" are released to the public. You should inquire about that on this cruise - you know when they offer the $200 on-board booking credit? You should tell them you'd want a Cat 3 and see when you could get availability. I'll bet it's 18 months to 2 years out!!

We'll have to follow the Magic and see what happens to this week's and next week's cruises due to Frances. Last I heard, the Magic was looking for an alternate port since Port Canaveral on Saturday will not be possible. There was even talk of another day at sea. Sure glad we didn't have a booking on the 9/4/04 Magic.

I know we're expecting lots of Florida people here in Atlanta this weekend. Watching the news at noon; saw the northbound traffic on the Florida Interstates - unbelievably, there were some cars still heading south deeper into Florida.

We're keeping everybody in our prayers. Just hope Frances doesn't turn out to be as devastating as they're expecting.

 

[anlashokna]

Last I read someone posted from the Magic this morning saying that it looked like a potential extra day at sea. Something about the captain not wanting to attempt another port with the unpredictability. Had folks with flight arrangements to fill out forms so new travel arrangements could be made. Sounds like Disney is taking care of their passengers. Just feel bad, they may get off the boat and have flying nightmare to look forward to if Orlando sustains damage.

You know its funny on the suites. I thought when I was getting the original quotes back in the beginning of this adventure I was given one for a cat 3. Didn't jump then thinking..ahh don't really need the extra space. Now I wish I had.

Probably better not to spend the extra money right now. Still don't know how I'll like "cruising". And believe it or not I'm biting the bullet and going to try to book the 12 metre regatta at St. Maarten. Loved watching America Cup racing and always thought it would be neat to do. Could live to regret it

And I'm thinking about all this while I'm miserably couped up with a cold Good timing to think about getting sea sick !

Stacey

 

[RachelTori]

Stacey,

I just know you're going to love cruising! You can look at it this way: with the $$ you save by NOT upgrading to the Cat 3, you can take another cruise!

The regatta sounds fun! If it's something you've wanted to do - go for it! I used to be petrified of heights, but always wanted to go in a hot air balloon. Well, on a vacation to AZ, I finally tried it - loved it and now I'm only "afraid" of heights, no longer petrified!!!!

Take care of that cold. Knock wood, I haven't had one in several years -- I keep saying I "refuse" to get ill, but just been lucky I guess!

Laura

 

[anlashokna]

Hot air ballooning? Wow thats something. Never get me up there though..too chicken I thought Parasailing might be neat but I would have to have a few drinks in me to get me anywhere near that!

This hurricane is turning into something else. Everyone keeping up with it? The wonder had to go back to Castaway Cay to help batten it down and I guess the 41 cast members left with the ship? One poor soul on the Magic doesnt mind the extra two days but is wondering about his car in Port Canaveral floating away...eekk..no hurricanes in April right???

Keep checking the two palms cam to see if its still there