April 21, 2007 -- Western Magic -- anyone?

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

do I have to be concerned that our luggage will not be in our stateroom before its time to change for dinner? Do I have to pack dinner clothes in our carry on?

I don't know for sure since I'm a first time cruiser, but I did just see this question asked on the main board a couple days ago, and others said that they usually arrive in the rooms around 4ish. HTH!

Val

 

[alikat99]

Quick question---Since we are driving to the port ourselves, do I have to be concerned that our luggage will not be in our stateroom before its time to change for dinner? Do I have to pack dinner clothes in our carry on?

Cyndi

We always drive to the port, since we live here, and we have never NOT had our luggage before the lifeboat drill. And sometimes, it shows up not long after we get to our room. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much. One tip though, is to pack a little bit of everyone's clothes in each of the suitcases. That way, if for some reason a suitcase doesn't make it, you'll still have stuff to wear, because the suitcases sometimes come at different times.

 

[alikat99]

Oh, and a little reminder to the group. I know that a few of us have already linked dining together, but if you're still dining alone (and don't want to be), you still have time to link your dining with a fellow DISer. I know that they usually make the dining seatings around 4-6 weeks before the cruise, so we're coming up soon to the cutoff and wanted to make sure that everyone was aware.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

if you're still dining alone (and don't want to be), you still have time to link your dining with a fellow DISer.

How do you know if you are dining alone or not? Is it just whether or not you have been linked to anyone? If you don't know your rotation yet anyway, how do you know who has the same rotation? Are most people here eating early or late? (We're late.)

It's just the four of us going (no links), so I was under the impression that we would get seated with other people anyway, but we are kind of stressing about that because mealtimes are usually not our best part of the day. On rare occasion, it goes very smoothly, but the boys usually get banned from public for awhile after we have an unpleasant dining experience. We're trying to teach them how they have to behave on the cruise, but at this point, it doesn't seem to be sinking in. Maybe it will go better if there are other people at the table, too. So if anyone wants to be seated with an extremely picky eater that will throw a fit if "anything yucky" is on his food and with his extremely messy brother that needs a bath after every meal, we're the family you want! (I guess I shouldn't be so hard on DS3; he has gotten his messy eating under control quite a bit lately!) Now you will probably all request to NOT sit with us!

BTW, speaking of messy eaters...do they offer some sort of wet nap to clean up sticky hands and faces? We have our box of baby wipes near the table at home, so they are very good about cleaning up as soon as they're done eating. I know they will want to do it on the cruise, too, so I am planning on bringing some for port days, etc., but I'm just wondering if I need to drag them along to the restaurants every night. Thanks!

Val

 

[alikat99]

Hey Val - actually no one knows their dining rotation until they get onboard. But, you can call DCL and link your reservation with someone else, and they will make sure that you are dining together each night. I would imagine that most would do this because they are family/friends traveling together. But, in the case of the DIS, you can at least "know" your tablemates ahead of time, and not get stuck with complete strangers.

 

[ohMom]

val - are you late dining? i have been linking the late diners together, so far it's us, dadlvsdisney and dvc2themax. If you or anyone else is late and want's to be linked with us, PM me your reservation number and family last name. anyhow -- we can just puty our boys with my teenage girl who eats like she's in the school cafeteria and my 10 y/o who chats non-stop. perfect! LOL

our first cruise we got in an elevator with a coupel with small kids and they were saying 'now remember your manners like we talked about...this is really the cruise' and i was comforted to know i wasn't the only parent cramming manners

i just sent in my DDs note to school yesterday! oh it's all feeling so real finally!

Taylor and I got formal dresses at Filene's basement this weekend. i was glad we started putting our dinner outfits together, we try to coordinate for the formal nights for pictures. Paige has a really cute dress from limited too she got for her birthday and it is blues/greens/browns. well for shame i had nothing brown to wear! neither did Taylor -- so we are all set up now! we have our semi-formal night and i think i may coordinate one other evening for a casual photo, i think they are calledl lifestyle, white background, bare feet.

we cruised thanksgiving '06 and that is another DISgroup that talks nonstop in their meet thread. oh my gosh i could never keep up! they are all still at it, planning their thanksgiving cruise this year. it's actually neat that they continue to cruise thanksgiving together, it's just an expensive week for us. also, i felt like we missed the holiday being away. guess i'm a bit old fashioned

 

[curlybop]

My DH is exactly the same!!!! When I mention DIS he shakes his head and says "not again" When I start out by saying "guess what I read...." he gets this glazed look on his face and tends to just smile and nod. Cyndi

I am cracking up at the DH's. Mine would probably flip if he knew I was talking about him to you guys. But, he does know how to find this particular thread, and I've encouraged him many times to jump on here & just read, and get to know a few people's names & look at the photos. He hasn't though....guess if he knew what I was saying he'd check in more often.

 

[dadlvsdisney]

It has been awhile since I last posted. My kids had vacation week last week and were away, and I was away on work at the beginning of this week. I am still reading through posts I missed. It is only 45 days until the Cruise.

I love Larry the Cable Guy. That guy is a comedic talent!!

If the father/husbands are up for a man's night out, (Beer, Sports, Cigars and Texas Hold'em at Diversions, or whatever the sports bar is, let me know, we could set something up) We of course would do it later on after the shows etc. Also, if anyone is up for Basketball or a ping pong tournament, I am up for that as well.

I am changing my plans today. I am adding days on afterwards to go to WDW. I knew there was no way of making a trip down and not going to the parks. What was I thinking.

 

[curlybop]

I love Larry the Cable Guy. That guy is a comedic talent!!

Somehow now I can picture a few of the men from this group of DIS'ers all meeting each other in the hallway and saying "Git-r-done!" instead of hi, how are you.....

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

ohMom, I'll talk to DH about what he thinks as far as linking dining or not. We may request a table by ourselves ( ) so we don't disrupt an entire table every night. I would hate to make enemies! (I'm probably making them out to be worse than they truly are. They really aren't that bad.) Plus, I've read in PassPorters that those with young kids will ususally get APL seating, and I think I would prefer that, so we may just play it by ear. I'm so indecisive! I still need to get you all of my info for the Excel list, but I still have to finalize some things first. I'm really liking seeing everyone's family photos. I hope everyone will put theirs up! I've been working on memorizing user name with their faces and real names!


dadlvsdisney, my DH might take you up on a guys night (no cigars for him, though!). Just how serious are you with your poker? (Anyone can take that any way they want, but seriously, I'm asking about the card game. ) He enjoys leisurely games but is not a big $$ player. I'm sure he would love to challenge anyone at foosball, too. He is serious about that, though. (I thought I saw a foosball table onboard while watching the DVD, but I could be wrong, too.)

 

[ohMom]

hey val -- i have requested the APL rotation for us - but we'll have to confirm once we get onboard

my DH might do the ping-pong and/or cards with the menfolk

 

[dadlvsdisney]

I am a game player not a gambler. Definately low stakes, we are spending enough on the cruise are we not. I am not even sure if you can smoke cigars on the boat. I only smoke them on poker nights and golfing sometimes. It has been 2 - 3 in the last year. It is just something I thought that the husbands could do socially.

I used to play foosball and threw darts in college. I'd love to play, but I am sure I am rusty now. Also, chess, checkers, backgammon, I am into any of these leisurely pursuits. I only play them on vacation.

Hudson5&Lennon3, the servers are wonderful. Do not worry so much about your sons. The atmosphere is conducive to them not being bored. On our last cruise, our waitress made origamy characters out of the childrens menu each night. There was a swan whose wings moved and a frog that could hop. You definately felt good about tipping the staff, because they are all so attentive.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

Hudson5&Lennon3, the servers are wonderful. Do not worry so much about your sons. The atmosphere is conducive to them not being bored. On our last cruise, our waitress made origamy characters out of the childrens menu each night. There was a swan whose wings moved and a frog that could hop. You definately felt good about tipping the staff, because they are all so attentive.

Whew! It could be good afterall!

 

[SnowyW]

Just checking in. OhMom did you receive my PM?

Also Hudson&Lennon I will let you know if my parents decide to cancel their Palo reservation.

Anyone else taking the AutoTrain? We are taking the Wednesday train down and departing on the Saturday train home. We took it once before one way and the kids loved it because they are so into trains. The adults didn't like so much during the night...too much swaying back and forth.

41 days to go for us.

 

[alikat99]

Oh Val, don't worry about the boys at all!!! The waitstaff really does a great job of keeping them entertained. Plus, they are very good about getting their food out quickly.

On our very first cruise in 2003, Emily had just turned 2. On the first night, we ordered her the fruit cup for her "appetizer", but she only ate the grapes, she didn't like anything else. Our waiter asked if she didn't like it, and we said that she only really liked the grapes. Well, every night at dinner, there was a bowl of grapes, sitting at her place before we even arrived.

And, on our most recent trip, our servers even cut up the kids food, before we even started. So, they are used to kids, and do their best to help out when they can.

 

[alikat99]

I'm sure that my DH would be up for a boys night out!! On our last cruise, we had a couple that was getting married at WDW, just days after our cruise, so we had little bachelor/bachelorette parties in the clubs onboard.

But, if the boys are having a get-together, then I think that the ladies here need to have a girls night out too. Maybe some cocktails out on deck, or something like that. How about it, ladies????

 

[Cyndibear]

Count my DH in too. Girls night out sounds good too.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

And, on our most recent trip, our servers even cut up the kids food, before we even started.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! Seriously? I really won't have to cut their food?!?!?!?! Usually my food gets cold while I'm cutting theirs!

But, if the boys are having a get-together, then I think that the ladies here need to have a girls night out too. Maybe some cocktails out on deck, or something like that. How about it, ladies????

Sounds good!

 

[alikat99]

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! Seriously? I really won't have to cut their food?!?!?!?! Usually my food gets cold while I'm cutting theirs!

Oh yes!!! I'm sure that not every server does this, but ours did. And, they poured ketchup in the shape of Mickey head for the girls too. The perks of sailing on DCL!!! And, if you have to leave the dining room (to bring the kids to the club, bathroom, etc), the servers will even cover your food so it won't get cold. They truly do earn their tips!!!

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

They truly do earn their tips!!!

Now I see what the main board means about giving extra tips when they deserve it! I had no idea...I guess I just expected "normal restaurant" service (which is pretty much below average where I'm from). I will definitely be pleasantly surprised!

Val