August 12, 2006-DIS DREAMS DO COME TRUE-Magical Western Cruise

[pjclarke]

I've not used Shirley personally, but I understand that if you give her a call, she can work with you to get the sort of thing you want. Probably don't want to leave it too much longer though.

I know, but I keep thinking about packing and forget...

Pam

 

[DVC4US]

Is anybody ordering from The Perfect Gift, or had experience with them? I'm interested in surprising the boys, but don't see anything that I'm getting a happy feeling about?

Any ideas? Thanks!!

Pam

Hi Pam,

We have used Shirley from "The Perfect Gift" several times and have always been extremely happy with her baskets. Her website just shows you some of the things she can do but all you have to do is give her a call and she can do just about anything you want. I always call her and tell her the ages of the kids, anything specific I might want in the basket, and then I let her work her miracles. She will usually give you some ideas about things to put in the baskets and she will ask a dollar amount you want to spend. She will also try to save you some money if you are ordering 2 or more baskets. DCL charges $12 for each basket and if you are ordering 2 she will ask you if it is okay to tie them together so you will only be charged one delivery fee.

I ordered 5 baskets for our cruise and I can't wait for everyone to see them! Give Shirley a call, she is a great person to work with and she will help you out any way she can.

 

[pjclarke]

Hi Pam,

I ordered 5 baskets for our cruise and I can't wait for everyone to see them! Give Shirley a call, she is a great person to work with and she will help you out any way she can.

Hi LeiLani,

Since you've ordered from Shirley before, I'll give her a call tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be able to help me with a couple baskets.

Thanks very much!!

Pam

 

[zzzzjohnzzzz]

Hey guys we are the next Western cruise lets get posting and stay up on the front page. I hate looking for our thread.
Weather same as yesterday except TS Chris will likely be Hurricane Chris by tomorrow. Still headed for the Fla Straits so should only bother us if it turns back into FLA West coast. Even if it does should only bother the early arrival not the cruise.
No other areas of intrest in Carib right now. But will keep watching. John

 

[indimini]

It's hard to believe we'll be cruising so soon. I agree, John, let's bump up the posts and keep our thread active.

I had a question for all you early packers. Are you actually putting things in suit cases already or just planning what you'll be taking? We've done our planning, but I can't imagine putting things in bags until next Thursday night.

I've been keeping myself in a Disney mood by listening to the DISRadio stream in iTunes while I work all day.

 

[pjclarke]

I like to be on the first page

Bob - I've been setting things in a pile that I plan on packing. I haven't actually put them in the suitcase, but I'm dreaming about it. I still need to find pirate costumes. Where did you get yours...online???

OMG--only 10 more days

Pam

 

[jd99]

Ok, I just got off the phone with Shirley from the Perfect Gift and I am here to tell you that I have never had such a great customer service experience before. Not staying at a Ritz Carlton, not shopping at Nordstrom's. I merely told her what I was thinking in general and the ages of my girls and the next thing I knew, she had a whole basket planned, priced and ready to go. Wow. And she was so much fun to talk to as well. If you're reading this Shirley, thanks from Jeff from Pittsburgh!!!!!!

 

[firstmickey]

Wooo Hooo....just ordered from Shirley also!!!


and it's official....I've bought out every thing I could possibly need or want...lol. Im gonna need a truck to haul it all down there!

 

[ReggieB]

I've been putting things aside, but packing wont happen until next week. Trying to think of what I will use.

I looked all the packing lists and got some great tips last time but ultimately didn't use half of things that they suggested! I didn't need the over the door shoe hanger things last trip, only 3 of us in the room and we had so much storage space. The power strip is not a must have for us either, although there is only about two outlets, we don't have much plugged in at any one time.

Pop up laundry basket does sound like a winner though. Running between decks 7, 6 & 2 trying to find an empty dryer, something to carry all that stuff in would be a big help. Follow my sock trail!

Big party poopers, but no Pirate costumes for us. Ben will have something. I got some cool Mickey pirate ears from WDW. We didn't actually make the Pirate party last time, we were all asleep!

Have been keeping an eye on the weather too. I'm always at the National Hurricane website (www.nhc.noaa.gov) You can get the facts without all the drama! Fingers crossed for smooth sailing.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Good Afternoon

We only have....

10 Days until we are on the MAGIC

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

The only thing I have actually packed in the suitcase are the items for the goody bags. All the cloths are washed some are ironed. (not everything yet) For anything that will wrinkle I will wait until just before we are ready to leave before I place then in the suitcases. A few days before we leave I'll back everything else socks, pj's ect. ect.

I'm going to try to bring less this cruise not sure if I'll succeed. I just have too many shoes.

Beckie

 

[firstmickey]

I just have too many shoes.
[/size]

You say that like that's a bad thing!


Im just putting stuff aside also....getting all the documents together, toiletries that I can pack like sunscreen, underwater cameras, etc.

I found a beautiful picture frame matted to an 8X10 size photo. Im bringing the white mat and some colored sharpies to have the characters sign it. I want to have at least one nice family photo with the character siggies on it. I saw another thread with pictures and it looked really nice! I read that if you take it to guest services with the markers, they will have them sign it and return it to your stateroom.

 

[DVC4US]

Hey All!

I can post today and tomorrow and then I will be without a computer. I will try to post as much as I can until then.

For those of you who have called Shirley I am sure you will be very happy. She is a gem and we have been doing business with her for 4 years now. Every time I call her, even if it's been two years since our last cruise, she remembers who I am. I told her I am really going to miss her when we go on the Med cruise next summer. Maybe she can ship a basket to Spain.

We are having a great time at my parents house. Alyssa and Madeline have been swimming in the pool all day, every day. I told them they are going to be tired of water by the time we get on the cruise.

We drove over to Panama City to check out the progress on the condos we purchased last year. They are not scheduled to be ready until October 2007 so they are just getting started. Mom and I then took the girls to the beach for a little while. I think they like the pool better than the beach.

Brittany's caravan has now made it to South Florida. They went to Universal today and then they will be at Daytona for the next couple of days.

I'll try to post again later and keep us on the first page.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

LeiLani

I'm so glad you and the girls are having a great stay...I have been so busy trying to get everything ready for this week-end and then the cruise I haven't posted much but have been reading when I can.

Oh, our banner for the DIS-Meet should be ready tomorrow (Hope it looks Good) The Banner will be DIS Green with Blue Lettering.

Beckie

 

[indimini]

I love the idea of a frame/mat for picture to have characters sign. DW and I may bring an empty one that we will fill with one of the photos from the cruise.

So I guess we've been packing for some time too lol as there are piles of items and lists of what to bring.

We will be in full pirate costume. DS has a Jack Sparrow costume complete w/ wig from the Disney store. I have pirate pants and a ratty old t-shirt that looks like it is 200 years old (original pirate clothing ).

DD has pirate clothing from Hot Topic and DW has the top from an old pirate costume (that went w/ the pants I wear.) Add on some bandanas, jewelry and whatnot and we're quite the pirate clan.

Less than 10 days until we're in Orlando. I had a great daydream mid-day today recalling our trip w/ DS last September to the parks. I started in tomorrow land and rode Space Mountain with DW and DS. It was pretty darn realistic and much more fun than work.

DS and I have a new game we've been playing at home. It's the "I'd rather be doing something really boring than be on a Disney cruise." We imagine how much fun it'd be to take out the trash and why it's way cooler than being out at sea. Somehow we're not buying it, but we're so excited if we don't do something we won't sleep for the next 10 nights which would be bad.

 

[firstmickey]

 

[DVC4US]

Thanks Beckie - it sure is good to be back home in good old Florida again. No matter how long I've been away and how many places I've lived this will always be home. That's one of the reasons I am so excited that we are buying a condo on Panama City Beach. It's nice to say I have a tie to Florida again. Most of my Mom's side of the family still live here so we are down this way a lot and having the condo will make it really nice. Even though the condo is in PCB it is only about 45 minutes from my parents house. I wish we could have bought in Destin, which is just across the bay, but they were way to expensive.

I am looking forward to meeting you, Terry, Laura, & Marco on Saturday. If for some reason you are not going to make it to the Territory Lounge just give me a call and let me know. And I will do the same. Thanks!

 

[sugarplums]

PS if I brought my computer could you help me get the wireless connection???to work??

Hi John... well, as far as hooking up Wireless, that might be pushing it But Im trying beyond hope to get the hubby to leave this puter at home that week. And beleive me, I will probably have to yank and snatch it out of his arms while he screams and cries.. but I... will....prevail!!!

As far as packing... I have just started laying things out and putting things in stacks.. I haven't actually put anything in a suit case yet.. I did go out and buy some new luggage. Our old luggage needed to be sent to a retirement home.

The big day is so close. Im going to the Crysler dealership tomorrow to get my car serviced and then the next day I am going to spend some time at the car wash getting her all per-tah for the drive up to Fl.

I havent had a vacation in a little over two years, so if the Hurrican ruins my trip ... well, you get the picture ...

 

[mgbagley]

Thanks for the tip about the dollar store. I bought a shoe bag for $19.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond with 42 pockets. I like the dollar store idea and then I can just leave it behind.
I found Shirley's number on the thread about the best tips for the cruise on these boards. Everyone loves her. We are ordering two birthday baskets.
DH bought a tux at JCPenny's tonight.
Everything is laid out, but not actually in the suitcases.
We too are watching the weather. Maybe I will get some gingerroot just in case. I heard it works wonders when the waves get high.
Michelle

 

[sugarplums]

MagicInMyHeart.... thank you so much for sending me the meet up info and the "who's who of DIS".. that must have taken forever to get written up. Great work on summerizing everything. Again thanks a ton!


I have a couple of questions about some of the other posts. Whats a power strip and do I need one? Also are door shoe hangers beneficial? I usually have a whole suit case devoted to shoes and never really thought about hanging them up or putting them away. Of course I havent been on a 7 day cruise before.. always 4.

Also, what are the baskets you guys are talking about? Is there a person that does up baskets and decorations for your room or something? I would be interested in this if so. I was thinking about calling in an order from DCL to have setting in our room for my daughter, but I couldnt find anything on their site that just made me go... "ohhhhh... ahhhh".... so I haven't yet... any comments?