August 6, 2005 Mexican Riviera..Who's In?

[SchultzFamily]

Happy Easter everyone! (closest I could find to the Easter Bunny!)
Vickie

 

[Catnip0113]

I hope you can work this out Stacey. I can't imagine not getting to meet you after almost a year of talking to you! I was afraid we will still be in school from this year in August with all the snow days to make up. Actually, a lot of days were delayed start or early dismissal which count as full school days. Did you have plans at DL for the week afterward? I can't remember who was doing "before" versus "after" things.

Cathy

 

[justmestace]

Hi!
Back from my weekend in Vegas. We had fun. My mind was racing, trying to think about what to do about this.
It wouldn't be any problem at all to keep them out those first two days....except....it's Jordan's first days in high school. I plan on talking to her, to see how she feels about it, and going from there.
I had pretty much decided that I needed to just cancel. We had 3 days at DL before the cruise, so I was hoping that would I could do instead would be to just go to DL when you guys are getting off the ship and maybe meet at Disneyland. I don't know.
Before I cancel anything, I am going to the high school and talk to them. I need to find out if this schedule that they posted online is "set in stone". Also, I want to ask them if they are nuts! And find out just how bad it would be if Jordan missed those 2 days. I'm not worried about Jared missing. He'll be back at the middle school, and I know they don't do anything those 2 days.
I just can't believe this, though. We have always started in mid-August, but this is just stupid!
I'll keep you posted. Of course, this is spring break this week for our schools, so I can't go talk to them this week.
Hope everyone had a nice Easter!

 

[Itinkso]

Hi Stacey - Even though schools are closed this week for you, the school district offices may be open. They are the ones who set the calendar and they would have all the official info. Also, you may want to try calling the high school as many administrators and head secretaries work during down times as they have to get in more days. I work at 4 high schools and the orientation assemblies are usually a day or two before school opens. If Jordan can go and take a tour of her school and possibly receive her class schedule before you leave for the cruise, then she would be set for when she arrives that Monday. I'm sure all of her friends can get her up to speed really fast...they'll know the lunch routine, lay-out of the school etc. Good luck in your decision-making!

 

[Catnip0113]

School starts so early in the warm states, they must get out early. Some schools here don't start until after Labor Day. Ours starts the week before Labor Day. Jessica is starting high school too, here it is 9th grade through 12th grade.

Cathy

 

[justmestace]

Our school always started right after Labor Day and ended the first week in June. It was hard to get used to when my kids started here....August is sooo early.

Anyway, now for the bad news. Jay and I talked, we talked to Jordan.....she was a little back and forth on it. She thought she could handle missing those days and starting on Monday, but then again, she didn't really want to.
Jay doesn't like them to miss school at all, no matter what.....and my opinion was that if it were any other days beside the first two, I wouldn't care either.

It just seemed the smarter thing to cancel. Jay was not crazy about cruising the Mexican Riviera anyway. I guess what bugs me the most is the fact that I have been dying for DCL to cruise out of California (even have a Tag about that!) and now I can't do it!!
I think DCL will eventually have a ship over there, and then we can do it.
I had my TA put the money from this one on the May of 2006 cruise (the kids are out of school for that one!) and it totally paid off May, with some left over.
There wasn't room on any of the July cruises...I looked at those.
I guess I feel kind of nice that I probably made a family or two really happy. Someone got two connecting Cat 5's.
I am sorry....I do wish we were sailing together. I made reservations for the Grand Californian for the Saturday and Sunday after the cruise, so if anyone still wants to meet up, I'll be there!

 

[SchultzFamily]

Stacey,
I'm really disappointed that your family won't be cruising with us but I can completely understand why you made this decision. We still haven't decided about Disneyland so I don't know if we'll be able to meet (if we don't do Disneyland maybe we could plan a lunch or dinner at Downtown Disney). As much as we want to go go to Disneyland I feel we are really stretching our vacation budget with the cruise so I don't know what we will be doing. Disneyland is close enough to us that we could go at another time and I've always wanted to go at Christmas so we may not end up doing Disneyland in August. We'll have to try to plan something because we were all planning on meeting and we'll just have to make that happen!
Vickie

 

[Itinkso]

Stacey - I am also disappointed in not being able to meet you and Brynee was looking forward to hanging out with Jordan. But, Jordan will always have fond memories of her first day in high school! I am not sure if we'll be going to DL after the cruise as that Monday is my first day back to work and Brynee begins school on the 18th and I'm sure I'll have much laundry to do! But if it's a lunch in DTD, we might be able to drive over.

 

[Kidoctr]

WAHOO!!! I just got through reading all 1048 posts in this thread!

First - STACEY - OMG ~ I can't believe after reading ALL of your posts that you won't be able to go with us!

A big THANKS to Jenny for linking me to this board and thread.

[I just LOVE all the cool features on this board - the smilies, the format, etc!]

My name is Eve. It looks like we will be some of the younger ones in this group: DH (Seth), 8DD (at time of cruise), Amina, 6DS (ATOC), Rhys (pronounced "Reese"). Seth and I are "30-somethings", lol.

DH and I are seasoned cruisers but are first timers on Disney (though we are routine Mouse worshippers) and this is our childrens' first cruise ever. We spent our family vacation in 2004 at WDW for 5 days and the kids had a BLAST. DH and I honeymooned at WDW and returned for our 10 year anniversary a few years ago. We are going to DL for 3 days before the cruise staying at the Grand Californian. It's been well over 10 years since we have been back to DL. Our last cruise to Alaska was on Celebrity (without kids) and we had a great time - even though we had no luggage for 3 days - a story for another time.

I feel like I know some of you so well after reading the posts! Looking forward to joining in and posting lots! I might have to give you a run for your money on those T.O.P.s. I'm also full of questions so get ready ~

 

[Kidoctr]

First question: Anyone know which nights the formal/semi-formal nights are? Want to make plans for Palos but don't want to miss the formal nights....

 

[Kidoctr]

Is this a T.O.P??

 

[Kidoctr]

Hmmmm.....let's see if this works:

Amina's school pic last year. She has since gotten her hair cut shorter....​

Rhys' School pic last fall​

 

[Kidoctr]

Yikes! Those pics are BIG! LOL!

 

[Kidoctr]

One more of me and DH (that dress might look awfully familiar this August..... ):

 

[Kidoctr]

OK - I believe we are officially INTRODUCED! CU all tomorrow!

 

[SchultzFamily]

Hi Eve - Welcome!!! I can't believe you read all of the posts in this thread!!! I still haven't and I've been around for a little while!
I think we are all sad about Stacey not going with us but we have to make a plan to meet!!!
Where in Oklahoma are you from? My father was born in Oklahoma although I only went there once in my life. Your family is beautiful!!
Vickie

 

[Kidoctr]

Hi Eve - Welcome!!! I can't believe you read all of the posts in this thread!!! I still haven't and I've been around for a little while!
I think we are all sad about Stacey not going with us but we have to make a plan to meet!!!
Where in Oklahoma are you from? My father was born in Oklahoma although I only went there once in my life. Your family is beautiful!!
Vickie

Hi Vickie - yes, I'm compulsive that way. When Jenny directed me to this thread from the Cruisecritics board, I jumped right in with post #1. It only took 2 days....lol. We live in Enid which is about 1.5 hours northwest of OKC - so we are RURAL. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics - I'm so so proud of my family! (don't know how the banana fits but he sure is cute....) Did I read that you were a nurse? Thanks for sharing your pics too way back around post 400..... Yes, I'm taking notes too!

 

[SchultzFamily]

Hi Eve, I guess you are taking notes! Yes I am a nurse. I work for Kaiser (don't know if you're familiar or not, its a huge HMO) I work in the surgery department (clinic setting) with the plastic surgeons. We do lots of minor surgeries (not cosmetic) mainly skin cancers, breast cancer reconstructions and grafts. Its very interesting and one of the very few areas of nursing where you can work "regular hours" (no evenings, nights, weekends or holidays!!! ) Yes I like the little banana guy too!
My father was from Tulsa. We visited Tulsa and Oklahoma City at least 20 years ago. I'm sure I have relatives there but none that I have ever met.
I don't know anything about formal night yet but we booked the REAS so as soon as we start getting some of that info I will be calling for Palo ressies!
Vickie

 

[Itinkso]

Hi Eve - I'm glad you made it over here and got all caught up with everyone And, you even got a T.O.P. Your kids sure are cute! Enjoy the thread!

 

[Kidoctr]

Vickie - oooooh yes, I've heard of Kaiser in CA. I'm a pediatrician in private practice for the last 8 years. Your position sounds NICE. I'd love to have no call, weekends, holidays, etc! We have a plastic surgeon right down the hall from our office and it always looks like a ghost town over there compared to the chaos in our office. We're a practice of 4. Thank goodness we're seeing things finally slowing down this week. Rotavirus and RSV was the pits this year.

Jenny - thanks for the welcome. I think I'm going to just fit right in here but I am shocked that there aren't a few more families joining in. Is Jilljill out of town?