Bringing Home the Magic - Part 2 - 8/18/07 - 9/01/07- list of cruisers on page 1

[sjcubedofct]

Donna, what a great idea! Is the information up to date for this cruise or for the last one? There are already seventeen eleven year old boys on this cruise just in our DIS group??? Yikes!!! That's quite the pack of preteens!!!

Sherry

 

[wackywexler]

Kid List sounds great!! I was planning to surprise the kids with the cruise at Christmas, so I guess we can't be chatting with ya till the New Year!

 

[ds2Mom]

Welcome, welcome to all the new posters!! This group is growing fast!

Donna - Love the kids' list idea, too! Our two DS will be 11 and 8 when we sail. Jeez, just typing 11 and 8 feels weird.....where did my little boys go?

I was thinking about that late last night while reading some posts on whether this cruise is worth the $$ or not. I've usually held to the "life is short, eat dessert first!" theory when planning vacations. Not promoting reckless spending and I know we're blessed to be able to take the trips we do, but I always remember my MIL/FIL. They would never spend $$ on vacations when my DH was young. Saved their entire lives with the plan to travel when they retired. FIL got sick and they never did. MIL did a few things before she got sick.....but overall, the "grand plan" never panned out. DH has no memories of family trips together. My family could only afford a few, but they are great memories and the pics are still fodder for much LOL as we've gotten older. (Tent dresses! Yowser! Not a "good thing"!)

So, that's my 2 cents worth. No U-Hauls pulling up to the pearly gates. (Climbing down off my travel-if/while-you-can soap box now!)

 

[DisneyAnn&Dan]

There are two girls that I know of that will be hanging in the Stack! Well most of the time. Add her to the list and we can get them talking before the cruise!

j

I also have a daughter who will be 13 when we cruise. She has a blast in the Lab on our last cruise, but can't wait to be in the Stack. We were looking at some Navigators from some past cruises. They sound like they have some really fun activities. My daughter would love to chat with other girls her age. She's been begging to start a thread. Sounds like this cruise will have many more kids on it then May PC cruise did. I can't believe how many are on this cruise from the boards. Sounds like the kids will have great fun. I think the parents will have great fun too.

Ann

 

[pyramid2000]

I am so happy to see so many 13 yr old girls!! It will make my "baby" going to the Stack a whole lot easier! I know DD would love to chat with others on a thread since I don't let her chat in general. This is going to be so much fun!

 

[NYCMickeyMom]

hey ann,
buffy here....my DD is taylor (13 at cruisetime) and would love to post on a thread here, so we will keep our eyes open.....

 

[NYCMickeyMom]

hey there pyramid 2000 ,
we are in the city and maybe after some initial chats we might find we are close enough to meet sometime.....taylor is going to be so happy there will be girls she's acquainted with before the cruise

 

[pyramid2000]

Ok this is really bad...I was looking over the Stack navigator from this past January (I had never thought to actually READ it before ). Well, I started to tear up when I got to CC day thinking about how many friends DD will have made and then having to say goodbye . What is wrong with me?!?!?!?!

 

[dletz]

The list is last years list, I just sent it as an example. When I get the new list up I'll let everyone know.

Donna

 

[faireygod mother]

FGM Dee, by the time you go on THIS cruise....you will already know me and Tom and Linda and Ed in the FLESH....that is if your family will allow us to see you on the "Double Dip" in November.....

I am certain that we will meet in November, however on the repo you will have late dining and I will have early, unless you want to eat both times. LOL

I am trying to talk DH into late, but so far not all that successful. Maybe after he meets you guys he will be willing to change and we can join you (if there is room of course).

Well back to painting and cleaning. I might get this place done by the weekend. I never realized how big this house was and how much stuff was left here by my lovely family occupants when they moved out on on their own. I had made more trips to the childrens hospital thrift store that they know me and my sis when we come in.

Well have a great day and check back later.

 

[Scratch42]

Ok this is really bad...I was looking over the Stack navigator from this past January (I had never thought to actually READ it before ). Well, I started to tear up when I got to CC day thinking about how many friends DD will have made and then having to say goodbye . What is wrong with me?!?!?!?!

DD was a blubbering Fool when we left the ship!

But the friendships have continued!

DD still talks about the cruise! And can hardly wait for this one!

j

 

[J&B_Disney]

Dug out the navigators: 2 formal, 2 semi-formal, 1 tropical, 1 pirate.

Thanks!! I guess the packing part is going to be quite an experience. I always, always overpack (that just in case attitude of mine!) and this time I'm going to be gone from home for over a month! I haven't been in the laundry rooms yet ... do I need to bring my own soap, etc or is there some there?

I like the idea of the kid's list especially the "Cool Fools" part!!

 

[Scratch42]

I haven't been in the laundry rooms yet ... do I need to bring my own soap, etc or is there some there?

You can purchase onboard but I think it's $1.00 per pkg which does one load.

I find that it's better to bring your own. I buy the same little boxes at home and then pack dryer sheets. Or you can pack powder in ziploc baggies too!

Also, word of warning on the dryers. You will need to run the dryer thru 2 cycles in order to get your clothes dry!

j

 

[J&B_Disney]

Thanks ... more questions though. I'm assuming the machines take quarters only (does the US have a dollar coin yet?). How much for a load in each? And can I get a roll of quarters at guest services or should I get some beforehand? I don't think I can get US change at the banks here though ... I'll have to get my Mom (who works in a bank) to look into that for me.

Ahh the joy of doing laundry on vacation ... I have more questions about laundry than anything else yet

 

[dletz]

We way over packed for last year. Stuff I was sure we would wear would never get worn. There is no way I am packing that much stuff this time. We will cut down considerably from what we had on the last cruise.

I can't tell you how much time I spent in the stupid laundry room. Everytime Lindsay got sick I would rinse it out in the sink then run down to the laundry room with anything else we might need. This cruise Lindsay better stay healthy, one trip to the dr is enough. I felt like such and idiot when I finally figured out she wasn't sea sick or had a stomach bug, but that there really was something wrong with her.

Last cruise I didn't want to have to do any laundry. This one I plan on it. Since we wore a lot of our clothes more than once anyway. Or we would wear an outfit for a couple hours one day, and a couple more another. Also since I didn't go to dinner 3 nights but stayed in the room with Lindsay, I had lots of unworn clothes.

The original plan was to cut out one whole suitcase but we got busy before the cruise and never had time to go through the stuff and remove 1 suitcase worth. I wish we had, we probably could have gotten rid of 2 suitcases.

 

[dletz]

There are change machines in the laundry room, and I do know some people went down to Guest Services to get them. For us it was easier just to bring our own. As far as the soap goes, I had always heard it was out of stock. Well on the last cruise they kept it pretty well stocked, and when it was empty or broke and you called down to Guest Services they would send someone up.

We only used a dryer one or two times, mostly we did small loads of clothes and just hung them outside on the balcony. This time we won't have that luxury. Quite a few times There would be washers open, but a long line of people waiting for the dryers. Most would bring a bag or something, when the washer was done take their clothes out and then put them in the bag and wait in line for a washer. Some insisted they could not remove their clothes from the washer until they could move it to the dryer. Things got pretty heated in one laundry room, when someone didn't want to have to wait for the washer. I also saw people removing other peoples things (either washer or dryer) if they didn't come claim them when the cycle was up.

 

[DenverVal]

I do have a ?? for all of you who did the 1st Aug repo. How did you pack for it?? We will probably be travelling for almost 2 months prior and I have no idea what we will do about clothes!

Thanks!! I guess the packing part is going to be quite an experience. I always, always overpack (that just in case attitude of mine!)

Last time I packed waaaaaay too much stuff. We won't be doing the long tour prior, so with 8 sea days, 4 pairs of shorts/shirts and a swimsuit will be enough. Maybe a skirt and a shawl/scarf that will cover the shoulders for visits to cathedrals. (Maybe I'll find one there!) Casual dinner wear will be kept to a few separates worn many times. Formal/semiformal will be one outfit worn four times, with a few accessories to mix things up. Formal shoes, tennies, flipflops. I kept my packing list from last time, and crossed off all the stuff I didn't need. Doing laundry really wasn't that big a deal. Toting all that luggage (and stuffing it all back in the suitcases at the end) was. We had too many pieces of luggage to easily keep track of, and a porter at Avis loaded one of our carryon bags into someone else's car!!! It contained the passports, car keys and all the electronics. The people who ended up with the bag were honest folks, and returned it to Avis, and we did get it back, but NEXT time there will be a MAX of one suitcase per person, and a carryon for DH and me.

I have one DD who will be 14 at cruise time, and this will be her first time in the stack. Several other of her cruise friends from last time will be there also, ranging in age from 11 to 15 at cruise time. They have been corresponding since 2004, and at least mine is excited to add more to the group. DisneyAnn&Dan, Pyramid2000, NYCMickeyMom, if you're game, PM me and I'll put your kids in touch with my kids.

My other DD will be 12 at cruise time, so Maryisme and WackyWexler, if your DDs would like to get to know mine, please PM me.

EyeRN (sorry, so many Dees on this cruise) Rachel is not happy that Hope isn't coming!!!

 

[Linda Bell]

Ahh the joy of doing laundry on vacation ... I have more questions about laundry than anything else yet [/QUOTE]

My #1 question when we went on the Panama sailing! I was also waiting to see how long it took to come up here.

For me it came down to how many suitcases. We ended up giving up formal night for a bag full of gifts, bubble soap, fans, crafts, toe nail polish, bling and assorted non-essentials we could not live without.

Don't forget a large collapsable bag for the laundry room. Ikea sells their shopping bags which are huge and fold into a small space which worked well for me. I used as a laundry bag during the cruise.

Dispenser was out of soap when I was there so some kind soul gave me enough to do 3 loads. This time I'm bringing my own.

Just so you know, the iron in the laundry room was very gross. Asst. ick was melted to the bottom. Might consider a small sprayer bottle of wrinkle release and a couple of hangers you can take into the bathroom to steam you clothes when you shower. Disney laundry fees are very high!

I also took a large duffle that folded up into a tiny ball and a few cinch sack kitchen garbage bags for dirty laundry. Also threw in other things and this left me one suitcase empty for all the important stuff like souveniers and things we collected along the way like Mickey napkins and Navigators.

Linda

 

[Linda Bell]

Where's my Federal Way fellow cruiser? There's a Rainforest Cafe in Southecenter. Let's have lunch! RFC always puts me in a Disney mood![/QUOTE]


Can do on a weekend! I'll drag Beth....she is taking the boat to Spain for us!

Linda

 

[Linda Bell]

Barcelona Glòries
Avda Diagonal 208, Eixample (93 486 04 04 / www.lesglories.com). Metro Glòries.
Open Shops 10am-10pm Mon-Sat.
Since opening in 1995, this mall, office and leisure centre has become the focus of local life. There’s a seven-screen cinema (films are mostly dubbed into Spanish) and over 220 shops, including a Carrefour supermarket, an H&M, a Mango and a Disney Store, facing on to a large, café-filled square decorated with jets of coloured water. Family-oriented attractions include a free pram-lending service, play areas and entertainment such as bouncy castles and trampolines. As a leisure zone, Glòries stays open until 1am.

Linda