August 28, 2004 "LOST AT SEA" Cruise

[winnyis]

I did the western magic during the last week of August in 2002 and I will warn you - it was very very hot...and humid... especially in Key West.. it was almost unbearable there. We wound up doing the conch train tour, the acquarium and then headed back to the ship to swim.

Cozumel was also very hot but that could have been because I was running from jewelry store to jewelry store - LOL.

Karel - I know what you mean about Jersey week - we did the Navigator of the Seas cruise this past Nov during Jersey week and I would say almost half the ship was from NJ - it was really cool. Met a few families that we are still in touch with.

 

[sandygirl]

I'm looking forward to some HOT weather! We sailed the Western in Jan '03 and I froze in Key West. We missed Grand Cayman because of a storm and Cozumel's weather was pleasant. Castaway Cay was a little chilly.

We chose the 8/28 sailing because DD's birthday is the 20th and that week wasn't open for reservations when we booked onboard (need that credit!!). I also thought it would be a good time because many other states are already back in school.

So, bring on the HEAT .

 

[ThreeCircles]

Winnyis--

You noticed the heat too, huh? As a Floridian, I'm somewhat used to the heat and humidity as well as the sunshine. Being in strong sun for the better part of the year, you tend to have somewhat of a resistance to burning. Well, I found out the hard way that the sun in Grand Cayman and Mexico is much stronger than than in Florida!!! All I can say is, sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!

 

[winnyis]

Jason & Travis - let me ask you an off topic question... Just how hot is it in the middle of summer in Florida.. reason I ask is that DH and I are waiting for word from his employer if he can transfer to florida...Im used to high 90's here in NJ in the middle of the summer and can certainly tolerate that as long as I have a pool (which I do now).

So tell me - how long do the really hot temperatures last??? If it matters we would probably be in the Orlando area since both our employers have offices there. (although my first choice would be Sarasota county).

TIA

Ginny

 

[ThreeCircles]

Well, temperatures can vary around the state to a large degree. Tampa Bay (and Sarasota, as well) is generally a few degrees cooler than central Florida (Orlando) because the surrounding water acts as an insulator. The temps here are usually in the mid to upper 90's for the better part of the year. Say from the beginning of May through the end of October. (Usually, we end up having a pretty hot Halloween.) These temps and this time of year could be considered our "summer", I guess. However, even as early as the end of Feb. we can have "warm" temps. Today, for example, was 82, and that is the expected high temp for Wed., Thurs., Fri. and Sat. (Orlando is expected to have highs of 84 for the better of those days.)

The summer becomes really unbearable when you factor in the humidity. It wouldn't be uncommon for summer temps, adjusted for humidity, to ring in upwards of 100-110 or so with the heat index.

Sometimes WDW can be hard to take in the dead of summer. Even for huge Disney buffs like us!

 

[winnyis]

thanks for the info.. We are really hoping that they give us the go ahead... Im sure hot summers are a hell of a lot better than the brutally cold winters we have here...DH and I have absolutely no tolerance for the cold anymore.

Ginny

 

[Mjasp]

Ginny...If you do check out real estate in the Orlando area.

Check out my favorite (where I wanted to move) Avalon Park, you can check out their website at www.avalonpark.com

Our second choice was in Oviedo. The name of the development was Live Oaks Preserve.

Good Luck and I hope you pull it off.

Joanna

 

[Mary Anne]

Personally, I 'll take those hot, humid, August's over the frozen cold January's anytime!

If it was me, I'd go in a heartbeat! Hope it all works out for you.

 

[paulinewdw]

If you run into me on the cruise at anytime...remind me to put on sunscreen! Now do not laugh, I am allergic to the SUN! Up north here I never have a problem, but when I go to Florida!!! As long as I keep sunscreen on, I should be just fine!

 

[ThreeCircles]

It's always quite painful to see those individuals who fail to recognize the importance of sunscreen in the first place. You know the ones, they're up on Deck 10 laying in the sun and they're already as red as a lobster! Ouch!

Here's an interesting little fact...

Did you know that the greatest environmental cause of cancer here in Florida is, yup, you guessed it, the sun?

 

[SeaSpray]

This is one of the reasons why we're going to book our massage for EARLY in the week, in case we get sunburn. I imagine it'd be pretty painful to get a massage on a sunburned back and shoulders! I'm always chasing DSs with the sunscreen when we're out in the sun. DH is usually pretty good, at least he sits still for me. LOL

As for the weather, I don't know.... I don't think I could take humidity like that, for so much of the year. If I'm near a pool or the ocean then I'm fine. I enjoy the 4 seasons too much to move to a state where there's one dominate climate. As much as I love a day at the beach, I enjoy a snowy day cuddled up in front of my fireplace

Spring is almost here, though.... I can see a lot of my spring bulbs sprouting up through the ground. It's nice to see GREEN again!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by SeaSpray
As for the weather, I don't know.... I don't think I could take humidity like that, for so much of the year. If I'm near a pool or the ocean then I'm fine. I enjoy the 4 seasons too much to move to a state where there's one dominate climate. As much as I love a day at the beach, I enjoy a snowy day cuddled up in front of my fireplace

That's one of the things I miss the most too SeaSpray! I remember, even though I was much, much younger, how nice the changing seasons were. Spring and Autumn especially. Here, we don't really get to experience that and miss out on so much.

Other things I miss after living up north: basements, lightning bugs, long, rolling thunderstorms, hills...

Oh well, I just keep telling myself that it's all worth it because we have Disney and DCL.

 

[winnyis]

Seaspray - I will agree with you about curling up in front of the fire - I also enjoy that... but one thing I wont miss is my over $500 heating bills this last few months... funny thing is - I only had my thermostat set for 69... so its not like I was trying to immitate being in florida or anything.....

Keep your fingers crossed for me guys that UPS agrees to transfer hubby......

Ginny

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by winnyis
Seaspray - I will agree with you about curling up in front of the fire - I also enjoy that... but one thing I wont miss is my over $500 heating bills this last few months... funny thing is - I only had my thermostat set for 69... so its not like I was trying to immitate being in florida or anything.....

Keep your fingers crossed for me guys that UPS agrees to transfer hubby......

Ginny

I hope it works out for you, Ginny!!!!

 

[Mjasp]

Originally posted by winnyis
[B
Keep your fingers crossed for me guys that UPS agrees to transfer hubby......

Ginny [/B]

Ginny...My fingers are crossed for you. Good Luck

 

[Mjasp]

Good Morning everyone! It's Friday and I know we get a countdown today. Another week has gone by.

My friend who is cruising with us (Darwin91) is checking out the Hampton Inn, for pre cruise. She is getting a price of $89 and breakfast is included and it is on the beach. Since Avis is not at the Radisson anymore, it really doesn't matter where we stay. We still have time and will see what comes up.

Joanna

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone

Twenty five weeks from today we'll all either be in Florida already, or getting ready to go! We'll be in the air at this exact time. I know 6 months still seems like a long way off, but personally I think these last 6+ months have gone by pretty quickly, snow and all.

I got the new DCL planning DVD in the mail the other day and it's greatly improved over the VHS tapes. There's a ton more content, and you're able to scroll through the decks and click on the restaurants, theaters, staterooms, etc. They have 360 degree views of most of the rooms, and a short movie "The Making of the Disney Magic". Also shows what the new lounges and The Stack look like, since the Magic's drydock last fall. It's free to order from www.disneycruise.com Click on "Order Free Vacation Planning Information".


Joanna: I keep going back and forth on where to stay the night before the cruise. Right now we're booked at the Radisson, and now so are SIL & BIL, so I have a feeling we will end keeping our reservation there. But the new Ron Jon resort looks good, and really, I think any of the hotels near the port would be fine. You're right though, we still have plenty of time. I have been enjoying having all this time to plan and research...and plan more and research more....

Jason: Until recently, I didn't realize that lightning bugs were not in every state. I have friends in California who've never seen them! Catching lightning bugs is one of my most fondest childhood memories I love a good thunderstorm every once in a while too

 

[Mjasp]

Jason...Where up North did you live pre Florida?

Terry...Hmmm Let see. Every first snow fall I say, I guess I really do like snow, it's so cozy. BUT once the second one comes, I say, Give me Florida. When we go in April, I will go to Avalon Park and my kids will ask my husband, Daddy, Are we moving to Florida? He answers, No, we just have to take mommy to visit Avalon Park. LOL
Thanks for this weeks countdown!

But I am going to see if they will take me to visit Live Oaks Preserve in Oviedo, this time. Only DH and I went, kids stayed with their grandma in Orlando last time, just curious if I will like it as much as before.

 

[ThreeCircles]

I was born and raised (at least until age 10 ) in Springfield, Illinois. The Land of Lincoln's capital city!

I may live in the "South" but I'm a true Northerner at heart!!!

As if you couldn't tell...

 

[Mary Anne]

Yeah! Another week Closer. I so look forward to Friday's and seeing the number go down.