August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[wayneg]

Welcome MrR and family.
I am sure you will all have a great time. Hope you all enjoy the Disney ships as much as we do.

Added you to the list of Red Hot Chili cruisers http://www.astersflorist.co.uk/ bottom link on left.
Hyperlinked you to London, let me know if you want anything more specific, a local webpage maybe. Also you said 5 DD's but only 3 ages, what ages for other 2? also if you want any of your names on.

Its gone a little quiet on here recently, hope everyone is well, I don't get too much time between Xmas and Easter, its the busiest 4 months of the year for a Florist. Valentines day next week unfortunately not as busy as it used to be with growers/importers overcharging independant florists but then discounting supermarkets.
Have a great weekend everyone.

 

[MrR]

D'oh! Apologies! I meant 3 DDs! I always think of us as a 5, and we've two family friends with us the week before the cruise (I'll edit it right away), which added to my confusion. Just dipping my toe into the DISboard waters, but more than happy to be added to the list.

I'm Paul, and my DW is Vicki.

Roll on August!

 

[wayneg]

D'oh! Apologies! I meant 3 DDs! I always think of us as a 5, and we've two family friends with us the week before the cruise (I'll edit it right away), which added to my confusion. Just dipping my toe into the DISboard waters, but more than happy to be added to the list.

Roll on August!

No problem, I think 3 DD's would be hard enough to deal with without adding another 2. So glad we have a son.
When you planning on staying at Animal Kingdom lodge, before or after cruise? we have 2 nights after cruise we might stay there. Stayed there for 3 nights after cruise last August.
Can't believe so many UK cruisers on this cruise, in 6 cruises we have never met anyone onboard from UK yet, apart from cast members.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hey all,

Welcome to everyone who has joined this thread recently.

I know I've been MIA these past couple of months. December was extremely busy and January turned out to be as well.

We've got a ski trip beginning next week and after that life should settle down more and I'll be posting more often.

Anyone thinking about booking their own excursion in Grand Cayman? We want to book our own snorkeling tour - thinking about going with Captain Marvin's as other on the DIS boards have used them.

We've booked a snorkeling excursion with Eagle Ray Divers in Cozumel. Have used them before and really looking forward to going with them again.

We'll be in Florida just for this cruise. Don't have the $$$ to do anything else. We'll fly in the night before and stay at the port.

 

[MrR]

No problem, I think 3 DD's would be hard enough to deal with without adding another 2. So glad we have a son.
When you planning on staying at Animal Kingdom lodge, before or after cruise? we have 2 nights after cruise we might stay there. Stayed there for 3 nights after cruise last August.
Can't believe so many UK cruisers on this cruise, in 6 cruises we have never met anyone onboard from UK yet, apart from cast members.

We're at AKL for the three nights before the cruise, with eight nights at Bahama Bay before that.. We've also got one night somewhere post-cruise (which we've yet to book... We'll most likely find somewhere near to the airport and have an easy day).

I'm also surprised by the number of UK cruisers. I guess the recession isn't biting everywhere, but we're counting our blessings, and under no illusion that this is our last big trip for a while...

 

[MrR]

EDIT: double post! Sorry.

 

[wayneg]

I'm also surprised by the number of UK cruisers. I guess the recession isn't biting everywhere, but we're counting our blessings, and under no illusion that this is our last big trip for a while...

The recession is biting very hard here. We have been going to Florida/US
upto 4 times a year but this year its looking like the 1 trip. With it being our 20th Anniversary spending more on it than usual to compensate only going once.
I think many people already had parts of their holidays booked before the financial problems, like us many book non refundable flights so a big loss to cancel. It will be next few years the big problems start IMO.

 

[MrR]

The recession is biting very hard here. We have been going to Florida/US
upto 4 times a year but this year its looking like the 1 trip. With it being our 20th Anniversary spending more on it than usual to compensate only going once.
I think many people already had parts of their holidays booked before the financial problems, like us many book non refundable flights so a big loss to cancel. It will be next few years the big problems start IMO.

I think you're right.

I'm self-employed, and fortunate in that I've got work to last me until the end of the year (possibly the only time, in nearly 15 years of freelancing that I've been in such a position), but my industry has been hit like every other, and I worry about what next year will bring.

But hey - I could be hit by a bus tomorrow too, and for now, at least, there's a wonderful Disney cruise to look forward to!

 

[trimix]

Welcome Mr. R and family!

Hey all,
We've got a ski trip beginning next week and after that life should settle down more and I'll be posting more often.

Anyone thinking about booking their own excursion in Grand Cayman? We want to book our own snorkeling tour - thinking about going with Captain Marvin's as other on the DIS boards have used them.

Where are you going skiing? I've never been skiing out east, but a long time ago I lived in Utah for a while, working at the Deer Valley ski resort and skiing the Wasatch as much as I could. I am working on getting back in shape for next winter - I live less than two hours south of Whistler, have for a decade, and still haven't gone skiing there! Unforgivable!

Regarding Grand Cayman, I am working on losing a lot of weight before our cruise. Assuming I meet my goal, I will be booking a dive trip independent of DCL's offerings - I will go with somebody I know will allow an experienced and advanced diver a bit more freedom than the ops that cater to cruise passengers generally allow.

 

[TheFatMansWife]

Hello All
Welcome Mr R and family

hows everyone been doing in the snow?? I hate it can't wait for sunshine

 

[Maza]

snow...ahhhh....why does the uk come to a halt...im sure it didnt when i was a kid...and it definatly snowed more...lol
kids had a snow day on Thurs...they were hoping for friday too to make it a long long weekend...no such luck! more or less pretty much gone here...cant say it made too much trouble for us personally...although i was asked to work on Thursday because one of my clooegues couldnt get in because of the snow...which i thought was funny as i had to pass her house to get to work...and ...gues what...no problems on the road! it amazes me how ppl get away with that crap...lol

but apart from that...we are starting 'cruise organising' proper now....designing magnets for the door...sorting out FE gifts...DD(14) is working on our playlist for our CD...seriously thinking about pirate costumes...looking at excursions....its all beginning to come together. well...almost

ofcourse we have the rest of our holiday to sort out too...still havent booked hotels in NY or MCO yet...keep praying the £ will rally...although i might have to give up soon and just get on with it

 

[TheFatMansWife]

is there a red hot chilli logo for the cruise.
if so can you post it so we can all make red hot chilli magnets for our doors

 

[wayneg]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1653806&page=3
Post #36.
Dave did some designing. Don't think a desicion was made on which so I put both on the website.

 

[Maza]

actually hes been playing again....

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I totally agree with the comment that we all booked this cruise well before the current recession. And I'm so glad that we did. I know what you all mean about booking future vacations. We're just doing a 4-day cruise in the summer of 2010. We were looking at the those 5-night Wonder cruises but the price was just outrageous for that extra day. Not worth it.

I did hear about the snow in the UK. Amazing. I thought you all had been having a fairly quiet winter. Scary about those wildfires in Australia.

In terms of where we go skiing......locally we go to Camelback in eastern PA. We have season passes there. Then twice a year we go to Smuggler's Notch resort in northern VT. If Disney built a ski resort they would model it after Smuggler's. In fact, Disney and Smuggler's run a family fun weekend once a year.

It has helped tremendously that gas prices have come down so much since we do a lot of driving going back/forth to the ski resorts.

I would love to learn to scuba dive. The kids are interested but DH is not so we're sticking to snorkeling.

 

[MrR]

I totally agree with the comment that we all booked this cruise well before the current recession. And I'm so glad that we did. I know what you all mean about booking future vacations. We're just doing a 4-day cruise in the summer of 2010. We were looking at the those 5-night Wonder cruises but the price was just outrageous for that extra day. Not worth it.

I did hear about the snow in the UK. Amazing. I thought you all had been having a fairly quiet winter. Scary about those wildfires in Australia.

In terms of where we go skiing......locally we go to Camelback in eastern PA. We have season passes there. Then twice a year we go to Smuggler's Notch resort in northern VT. If Disney built a ski resort they would model it after Smuggler's. In fact, Disney and Smuggler's run a family fun weekend once a year.

It has helped tremendously that gas prices have come down so much since we do a lot of driving going back/forth to the ski resorts.

I would love to learn to scuba dive. The kids are interested but DH is not so we're sticking to snorkeling.

It's been our worst winter for snow in 20 years, but it's still nothing like the real snow you get in the States. After 24 hours it had stopped snowing, and - in our area anyway - froze, and then turned to slush. It's more that our country just isn't set up to deal with it, and so the whole infrastructure grinds to a halt!

But then, the same thing happens if the wrong sorts of leaves fall onto train tracks, or the wrong sort of sun causes roads to melt, or it's a day with a 'Y' in it.

I guess I'm in the minority in that I booked the cruise this year, but I'm fortunate in that I signed a year's contract on a job at the end of last year. Plus, we know this is going to be our last ever big family holiday with the kids - they're just getting too old to come away with us (or, at least, to come away with us and not spend the whole time griping!) - so we wanted to tighten our belts, and do something really special.

 

[fluffy bunny]

Hi All,

as Maria says, I am still playing with my designs. Here's the latest and the previous two just for reference.

If you have any ideas let me know and I will have a play.
Dave

 

[wayneg]

They all look great Dave, I am useless at design. Personally I prefer the 1st 2, writing not as clear to read on new one.

Maria said you were still looking for a hotel in Orlando, how many nights for? Universal hotels have a fantastic offer on just now pay for 4 stay for 7, just prices up Hard rock for someone £49/night or about £71 for club level which is a bargain http://www.hardrockhotelorlando.com/accommodations/club_level_rooms.html

 

[kylelover1]

I am sorry if I am repeating myself, trying to play with this at work (night shift RN) Just saying hello to all and can't wait. This will be our second Disney Cruise with DH, DS 12 and 4. Double checking the theme, we are using chili peppers? My name is Marianne by the way

 

[trimix]

I am sorry if I am repeating myself, trying to play with this at work (night shift RN) Just saying hello to all and can't wait. This will be our second Disney Cruise with DH, DS 12 and 4. Double checking the theme, we are using chili peppers? My name is Marianne by the way

Welcome, Marianne. It looks like the name for our group was chosen more than a year ago, so let's just find fun ways to use the logo.

I certainly agree with you on the 'can't wait' part - twenty six weeks from right now I'll be at work impatiently thinking about my flights the very next day. I am so impatient I wish I was going tomorrow!

And for me the stress has already started. I booked flights with frequent flier miles, and the only non-overnight flight option it gave me involves a 36 minute layover in Atlanta. If the arriving and departing flights are in different terminals we may not make the connection. I initially figured five minutes to get off the plane and 20 minutes to get to the next gate shouldn't be a terribly big deal if we are on time, but checking Delta's website I see the flight to Orlando frequently leaves 8-10 minutes early. I don't want to spend a night in Orlando!