August 2, 2011 disney dream

[swissgirl66]

JMTStone, will you be in Reinach again after the summer? Otherwise we should meet once back in Switzerland, it would be fun meeting on home terrain. Did you have a chance to see a bit more from Switzerland outside of Reinach, or did your schedule not allow this. 5 AM to the docters, you sure all have busy schedules .

I am so excited about the fish extender, last year we had so much fun sneaking from room to room, placing the presents and admiring the wonderful fishextenders.

Alena did not want to dress for pirates night, I might buy some dress items in Orlando, because I am sure she might be sorry later on.

No, we had no chance to get a cabana, but I will be among the first to leave the ship on Castaway - have to get up early - so that I can find a place in the shade for my beloved once. Last time we did not have problems, but with the bigger and full ship, its worth getting up early. And I will enjoy early breakfast with a strong espresso in the coffee bar, I love that too. Or haven't they open yet. Have to check that.

Take care and see you soon

swissgirl - appreciate the spend in the U.S. Especially after I spent so much in Reinach last year! Did you ever get the cabana?

We are all super busy! I'm taking my Mom for medical procedure tomorrow 5 AM (Its summer - Doctors have to get to the golf outings in the afternoon). Then I'm supporting St. Herblain France phone system implementation. What's nice about that is they close 5 PM Europe time and that's only noon here.

I got the Fish Extender gifts done today. I really hope everyone likes their gifts. Mackenzie and I had fun doing them.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I can't believe we leave for vacation in 17 days.

I bought Mackenzie a little Pirate Girl costume.

 

[Dizzyworld]

It is a lot of fun. Alyssa went last year and had a blast. She is so excited that it is finally here and now that she is in the high school group she is hoping to do a little more behind the scenes this year. She will be happy no matter what since she will be at Sea World.

We used to watch a show on TV about the campers at Seaworld. It was fun to watch. We did a predator's tour at Seaworld a few years ago because my DS is fascinated with sharks. He even got me to pet one. I didn't want to pet a shark but I figured if I didn't I would have a hard time getting him to try things when he doesn't want to later on. From the time he could talk it has always been fish, fish, fish. When he was looking at colleges I was surprised when he switched from going into marine science to marine transportation. I think it is a good fit for him though.

Anyway, I hope she has a blast.

 

[DVC4US]

We used to watch a show on TV about the campers at Seaworld. It was fun to watch. We did a predator's tour at Seaworld a few years ago because my DS is fascinated with sharks. He even got me to pet one. I didn't want to pet a shark but I figured if I didn't I would have a hard time getting him to try things when he doesn't want to later on. From the time he could talk it has always been fish, fish, fish. When he was looking at colleges I was surprised when he switched from going into marine science to marine transportation. I think it is a good fit for him though.

Anyway, I hope she has a blast.

Can't sleep again? Or are you trying to acclimate so you can stay up late on the ship?

Alyssa sounds a lot like your son. She started watching Free Willy at 3 and watched it every night before she went to bed until she was about 8 or 9.(And I mean every night) Since then she has been all about killer whales. Her dream job is to be a killer whale trainer at Sea World. She was bummed they didn't get anywhere near them last year and is hoping they at least get to see them behind the scenes this year. Yeah, Alyssa wants to get a degree in marine biology with a minor in psychology. At camp last year she found out that to be trainer they prefer you have a psychology degree. So I told her to do both and then she options when it comes time to look for a job.

Funny story from camp last year. Alyssa and her roommate were doing the shark dive(yes they are in a cage) and her roommate came up to fast and hit her head on the top of the tank. It was just a scratch but it was bleeding. Think 2 teenage girls, in the water with sharks, and blood. After getting the bleeding stopped and the scratch cleaned up, they got back in the water with the sharks.

 

[Rob_Misses_Fla]

So, with all the excitement of this cruise, we were looking back at pictures from past cruises. I decided to put one up here so we can be recognized at the meet.

We will be starting our way down to FL on the 30th going to the West coast first. My brother Phillip, who is sailing with us still lives in Tampa. It has been pins and needles for DW and I to keep a secret, our DD Emily has no idea he is sailing with us! She even teases him on the phone about the cruise, so the joke will be on her!

 

[DVC4US]

Great pic Rob! And nice looking family.

Very exciting that it's getting so close for everyone. Sounds like a nice surprise for your DD and I bet you can't wait to see her face.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Can't sleep again? Or are you trying to acclimate so you can stay up late on the ship?

Alyssa sounds a lot like your son. She started watching Free Willy at 3 and watched it every night before she went to bed until she was about 8 or 9.(And I mean every night) Since then she has been all about killer whales. Her dream job is to be a killer whale trainer at Sea World. She was bummed they didn't get anywhere near them last year and is hoping they at least get to see them behind the scenes this year. Yeah, Alyssa wants to get a degree in marine biology with a minor in psychology. At camp last year she found out that to be trainer they prefer you have a psychology degree. So I told her to do both and then she options when it comes time to look for a job.

Funny story from camp last year. Alyssa and her roommate were doing the shark dive(yes they are in a cage) and her roommate came up to fast and hit her head on the top of the tank. It was just a scratch but it was bleeding. Think 2 teenage girls, in the water with sharks, and blood. After getting the bleeding stopped and the scratch cleaned up, they got back in the water with the sharks.

I am a night owl. I am waiting for my DD to return from her first trip to NYC. Our neighbor/her Godmother gave this trip to her for her 16th birthday. They had a long list of things they were planning to see. From her text she is having a ball.

As for Seaworld, we saw the shark cage on our tour. Blood in the water would have made me a little crazy. I wish your DD well and hope she gets her dream job.

My DS and DH did the scuba tour at EPCOT last summer. If I wanted to find them all I had to do is look for the sharks. They enjoyed this tour.

 

[DVC4US]

I am a night owl. I am waiting for my DD to return from her first trip to NYC. Our neighbor/her Godmother gave this trip to her for her 16th birthday. They had a long list of things they were planning to see. From her text she is having a ball.

As for Seaworld, we saw the shark cage on our tour. Blood in the water would have made me a little crazy. I wish your DD well and hope she gets her dream job.

My DS and DH did the scuba tour at EPCOT last summer. If I wanted to find them all I had to do is look for the sharks. They enjoyed this tour.

NYC - how exciting! I bet she is having fun. We love NYC! Alyssa loves to see the plays on Broadway.

The scuba tour at EPCOT is something Alyssa wants to do as soon as she gets certified. Hopefully, she will have that within the next year.

 

[DVC4US]

20 Days!!!!!



My countdown banner says 22 but that's counting today and the 2nd. DCL says 20 days so that's what I'm going with.

 

[DVC4US]

I posted this on a couple of threads on the main boards but thought I would post it here too since we will be the first ones having to deal with it.

Okay, I got a follow-up call from the concierge manager today. Did not really learn a whole lot of new information but this is what she told me.

As of August 2nd DCL will monitor and enforce the port arrival times. She said that if someone shows up before their arrival time then they will be told about things in the area they can do or will be made to wait outside the terminal until their arrival time. She did say that priority will be given to those guests who check-in online and have a port arrival time. As several of us have stated on this thread it will be interesting to see if DCL actually enforces the port arrival times. I can just see all kinds of problems with this. It’s going to be great if DCL sticks to their guns but until word gets out it is going to be very interesting.

There will be no separate line outside the terminal for concierge/platinum guests. So again this presents a problem if DCL does not enforce the port arrival times and they allow people to get in line before their port arrival time.

According to documentation she had, your boarding number will now be tied to your port arrival time. I’m still not sure how this is going to work with the buses from MCO. Also, as most of us have read on the boards, the boarding numbers seem to be at the discretion of the CM’s in the terminal. I have seen plenty of reports of people getting a high boarding number when they enter the terminal but then having a CM change it to a lower one just because they wanted to spread some pixie dust.

It's going to be very, very interesting on embarkation day!

 

[kathleena]

Ack!!! I messed up my neck and had a useless arm as a result. Just now getting over the most worst of the pain, still have some nerve pain.

Anyway - will get caught up on the nametag list and post and update. Also check in on the FE group and any meets.

 

[DVC4US]

Ack!!! I messed up my neck and had a useless arm as a result. Just now getting over the most worst of the pain, still have some nerve pain.

Anyway - will get caught up on the nametag list and post and update. Also check in on the FE group and any meets.

Nancy - so sorry to hear about the neck and arm. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[kathleena]

Thanks LeiLani !!!!

Here's the final list for the Nametags! Now I'm off to email my travel agent about my documents, which are not here!!

Adult
Nancy (kathleena)
Melissa (JMTStone)
Jon (dh - JMTStone)
Taylor (dd - JMTStone)
Deb (Deb in IA)
Eric (dh - Deb in IA)
Jennifer (dd - Deb in IA)
Robert (Rob_Misses_Fla)
Christy (dw - Rob_Misses_Fla)
Phillip (ds - Rob_Misses_Fla)
Scott (scooter7487)
Hope (dw - scooter7487)
Doug (Coachycp)
Lisa (dw - Coachycp)
Shirley (Dizzyworld)
Ron (Dizzyworld)
LeiLani (DVC4US)
Brittany (DVC4US)
Chuck (DVC4US)
Jeanne (jham)
Mike (jham)
Andrea (Swissgirl66)
Urs (Swissgirl66)
Tracy (tracylynn)
Bob (rjpete)
Wendy (rjpete)


Child
Nicole (dgd - kathleena)
Mackenzie (dd - JMTStone)
Mark (ds - Deb in IA)
Emily (dd - Rob_Misses_Fla)
Matt (ds - scooter7487)
Tim (ds - scooter7487)
Noah (ds - Coachycp)
Paige (dd - Coachycp)
Alex (Dizzyworld)
Allison (Dizzyworld)
Alyssa (DVC4US)
Alena (Swissgirl66)
Alexandria (tracylynn)
Micah (rjpete)

 

[Dizzyworld]

Thanks Nancy.

Hope you are feeling better.

 

[JMTStone]

JMTStone, will you be in Reinach again after the summer?
Alena did not want to dress for pirates night, I might buy some dress items in Orlando, because I am sure she might be sorry later on.

Andrea,

I have no other Europe plans this year. Asia Pacific is next on our list of things to do.

Mackenzie is looking forward to meeting Alena. She has a lot of fun doing Fish Extenders for girls her age. She points out what is cool and not! They're around the same age. We also have Emily (9) and Paige (9) from DIS. I hope to get to the DIS meet on board (we are at the mercy of Disney bus from BCV) and we'll definately be at the Boardwalk meet the night before we sail. Last cruise, Mackenzie did not dress up and she did regret it. I did buy her a pirate Minnie ears. Taylor (now 18) surprised me and bought the Goofy pirate ears hat. It was ADORABLE on her. She's already got it out to wear it again. I'm happy to say she is still a Disney Kid at heart (just like Mom).

I'm so excited, I'm almost vibrating with joy.

 

[JMTStone]

Here's the final list for the Nametags! Now I'm off to email my travel agent about my documents, which are not here!!

I hope you feel better soon! I hope you get your docs too!

 

[jham]

I posted this on a couple of threads on the main boards but thought I would post it here too since we will be the first ones having to deal with it.

Okay, I got a follow-up call from the concierge manager today. Did not really learn a whole lot of new information but this is what she told me.

As of August 2nd DCL will monitor and enforce the port arrival times. She said that if someone shows up before their arrival time then they will be told about things in the area they can do or will be made to wait outside the terminal until their arrival time. She did say that priority will be given to those guests who check-in online and have a port arrival time. As several of us have stated on this thread it will be interesting to see if DCL actually enforces the port arrival times. I can just see all kinds of problems with this. It’s going to be great if DCL sticks to their guns but until word gets out it is going to be very interesting.

There will be no separate line outside the terminal for concierge/platinum guests. So again this presents a problem if DCL does not enforce the port arrival times and they allow people to get in line before their port arrival time.

According to documentation she had, your boarding number will now be tied to your port arrival time. I’m still not sure how this is going to work with the buses from MCO. Also, as most of us have read on the boards, the boarding numbers seem to be at the discretion of the CM’s in the terminal. I have seen plenty of reports of people getting a high boarding number when they enter the terminal but then having a CM change it to a lower one just because they wanted to spread some pixie dust.

It's going to be very, very interesting on embarkation day!

It sure will! I hope it doesn't lead to a whole lot of grumpy guests on our cruise!

Ack!!! I messed up my neck and had a useless arm as a result. Just now getting over the most worst of the pain, still have some nerve pain.

Anyway - will get caught up on the nametag list and post and update. Also check in on the FE group and any meets.

Thank you! And I hope your pain disappears soon! I thought I would be a little better off by now after my foot surgery in January but I still have almost constant foot pain. I'll be the one limping!

Andrea,

I have no other Europe plans this year. Asia Pacific is next on our list of things to do.

Mackenzie is looking forward to meeting Alena. She has a lot of fun doing Fish Extenders for girls her age. She points out what is cool and not! They're around the same age. We also have Emily (9) and Paige (9) from DIS. I hope to get to the DIS meet on board (we are at the mercy of Disney bus from BCV) and we'll definately be at the Boardwalk meet the night before we sail. Last cruise, Mackenzie did not dress up and she did regret it. I did buy her a pirate Minnie ears. Taylor (now 18) surprised me and bought the Goofy pirate ears hat. It was ADORABLE on her. She's already got it out to wear it again. I'm happy to say she is still a Disney Kid at heart (just like Mom).

I'm so excited, I'm almost vibrating with joy.

I love it that my DD13 is still a Disney kid at heart and still loves to dress Disney! I LOVE making custom Disney outfits for DD5 but it is a bit of a challenge making something age appropriate for DD13. I'll post some photos anyway LOL.

kinda hard to see in the photo but my DIS friend Beth made her the I Believe in Magic shirt.

These outfits were to go see The Lion King musical: (I did not make the pettiskirts)

even princess themed! This is Belle although you can't see in the photo the rose on the shirt is in a little "glass" dome.

and just because it is one of my favorite Disney photos ever and I am messing around in photobucket, here is DD5 last fall:

 

[jham]

I am working on making my FE today, does anyone have any pics of their FE they want to share??? (LOVE yours JMTStone!)

 

[JMTStone]

I love it that my DD13 is still a Disney kid at heart and still loves to dress Disney! I LOVE making custom Disney outfits for DD5 but it is a bit of a challenge making something age appropriate for DD13. I'll post some photos anyway LOL.

WOW, Adorable. Is this your first cruise without them? Jon and I took a birthday trip to WDW on our own and felt pangs of missing the girls but were happily surprised we still found that we liked each other's company on our own. And an anniversary cruise? LUCKY!

 

[jham]

WOW, Adorable. Is this your first cruise without them? Jon and I took a birthday trip to WDW on our own and felt pangs of missing the girls but were happily surprised we still found that we liked each other's company on our own. And an anniversary cruise? LUCKY!

Thanks! Once we went on a 4 day West coast Mexico cruise and left the oldest two behind and took the baby, DS now 8 who was 10 months old at the time so it will be our first really kid-free cruise and I'll definitely be missing all 4 kids! The oldest will be at camp and the younger three at their cousins so they are all looking forward to their break from mom and dad I think. It is hard to leave them though! And I really want to make cruise outfits for someone but not me!

 

[JMTStone]

Thanks! Once we went on a 4 day West coast Mexico cruise and left the oldest two behind and took the baby, DS now 8 who was 10 months old at the time so it will be our first really kid-free cruise and I'll definitely be missing all 4 kids! The oldest will be at camp and the younger three at their cousins so they are all looking forward to their break from mom and dad I think. It is hard to leave them though! And I really want to make cruise outfits for someone but not me!

Want my girls' sizes?