Calling All 8/19/06 Special Western Cruisers! AKA "The Cruisin' Castaways" Part 2

[SeaSpray]

Hi everyone

I have not been feeling well the last couple of days, especially today, so I apologise for not keeping up with the thread!

First of all: TINA! I am so sorry I didn't call you back yesterday. When is a good time for me to call you?? My sister is in the hospital and I was talking to my niece (her daughter, they live in NJ) when you called me. You didn't sound too good yourself, your cold is still pretty bad, huh

Andy: Sorry about that fall. *ouch* But you know, I have to say that I love your attitude, and you poor thing, when I was reading your post, I could just picture you falling and then laying there laughing hysterically! I SO can't wait to meet you and Hazel and Angelina How is your knee feeling today? Oh, and do you know if I am linked to the late-dining crowd?? I don't remember if I ever sent you my reservation # or not I know Doreen will want to be included too. I *think* hers and ours are already linked, but I have a really bad memory so I'm not sure.

Disney Poly: Welcome to the thread and cruise! I have DSs the same age as your 2 older ones. My DSs are 17 and 14 now, will be 18 and 15 on the cruise. Looking forward to meeting you and your family

Ed: I'm glad you had such a wonderful vacation. Have a safe trip home!

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Hi all,

Day 2 from the road. Toady we started the day in SC and drove thur SC, NC and spending the night in Roanoke Va

Tomorrow we will see the natural Bridge and Luray Caveens and other sites before heading for Maryland.

Had one delay today, a major accident shut down the roadway in Charoltee NC. Took out the maps and a hour detour and we were back on the way.

Ed

 

[DisneyPoly]

Hi everyone!

Verandah Man ... sent you a p.m. with ressie info.

SeaSpray ... thanks for the note. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time!

 

[Verandah Man]

Hi everyone!

Verandah Man ... sent you a p.m. with ressie info.

SeaSpray ... thanks for the note. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time!

Maureen--I wrote your ressie number down, we will be calling DCL in the morning to add you on.

Terry--I remember a while back that about 11 of us turned our ressie numbers in and someone linked us all together for late dining dinner. I'm guessing, but I think it might have been Doreen who called. I'll have to try and go back through the thread, or, Doreen if you read this, are you the one that linked all our dinner ressies together a few months ago?

 

[Verandah Man]

Hi everyone!

Verandah Man ... sent you a p.m. with ressie info.

SeaSpray ... thanks for the note. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time!

Good Morning Maureen,

Hazel called DCL this morning while I was at PT and got your ressies added in with the group. The CM Hazel spoke with said we have about 11 or 12 ressies now linked together for dinner, so we should be taking up quite a few tables in our rotation next August!!!

Andy

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

We're not actually booked yet on this particular cruise, but I've posted a couple of messages and the responses have been helpful. We're considering two dates in August. I'm waiting to hear back from my Board of Ed. I'm a little worried the 8/19 cruise is cutting it too close to the start of school.

When I do book I wanted to be prepared with my insurance decision and dinner seating. I'm probably going with the Costco quote and they also offer insurance at what seems to be a great deal and meets my expectations. Is there an advantage to booking directly w/ Disney vs. Costco? I've been finding Costco very helpful.

Costco suggested taking the 2nd dinner seating. That way you can bring the kids to a "special" early buffet, take in the 6:30 show, drop off the kid's at the club & then go to the late dinner. I hadn't considered that and wasn't sure what this "special" buffet was. I'm not sure I'd want to do that every night. Your dining assignment is for the entire duration, correct?

Thanks again for all your help. Hopefully, we'll be able to firm up our decision soon. Maggie

Hey Maggie, I went ahead and booked the 8/19 cruise based on the fact that our school district seems to be starting,at least the last couple of years, the Monday before Labor Day. It does make it a bit tight getting back (ship arrives in port on Sat AM, we have to be back in PA Mon AM, a leisurely drive back is not an option!). From what I understand, if we do have to change the date, like when the official 2006-07 school year calendar comes final out in February, we should be able to do it at no cost. I'm sure that is only up to a certain point, but you might want to check with your travel agent, but you would hate to miss out on any early booking discounts, too.

As for dining rotation, I'm pretty sure you have to stick with early or late, although you do have some flexibility if you eat at Palo one night. I would have preferred the late seating, because 6 really is a little early for us to eat, but it was pointed out to me that the 8:30 seating isn't going to be over until 10 or later, and that really is too late for the kids. As for feeding the kids at the buffet, the kid's club will take the kids to the buffet, but if I did, and then went to the 8:30 seating, I would end up eating 2 meals!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Hey DisneyPoly, where are you in Bucks Co.? We're over here in Newtown.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Aurora's Mommy ... we're neighbors!

We live in Holland. Our children also go back to school prior to Labor Day.

We are planning to disembark the ship and take the Auto Train home on that Saturday. We find the Auto Train works best for us as the kids don't like to fly.

How old are your children?

 

[maggie mfg]

Thanks Aurora's Mommy. I'll know this week about 2006 schedule. I have a friend on the Board of Ed. Our schedule usually isn't published 'til the winter too. There's been a push to start school earlier. With all the snow days, our kids have been getting out later and later. June 28th this year! Really would like to firm up my plans.....Maggie

 

[Reenieny18]

Yes, ANDY , it was me some time ago that linked the RESSIE together... We have you and my family, Sue, Terry and her family, Tina, Lynn and her friend Dori and any9one else that was linked to those people. All we have to do to be linked is to give one of us your RESSIE number and than call DCL dining and ask to be linked up!!

Anyone that has late seating thats wants to be linked together.. Hook up with us...all that means is that during the the dining rotations we will be stting near one another and at the same dining rooms WAHOO!! Anyone from this cruise that wants EARLY dining and to sit with other DISERS,... hook up with BOBBY or MARY ROSE since they have early sitting....

MAGGIE.. last year we were on the AUG 28th cruise and we were on it for an extra 3 days.. luckily our school starts the Wednesday after LABOR DAY..You can't plan on the weather but you hope for the best.. Please try to join us.. we are a fun bunch.. I have a 16 yr old daughter and 12 yr old son (17 &13) at cruise time.

Ed, I hope you have a better time getting home.. drive safely...

Doreen

 

[Reenieny18]

TINA, I sent you a PM..

TERRY,, I hope your feeling better soon..

Tonight Marty took me out to dinner for our ANNIVERSARY.. 3 whole years.. The kids gave us a card and wrote out the words like the "Waiters" on the ship sang it to us last yr with " HAPPY VERSRY TO YOU, HAPPY VERSRYTO YOU"... what memories...

and I even had Prime rib for dinner too... just like last year!!

The NY STATE FAIR starts here tomorrow... we get invaded with all walks of life.. but it does boost our economy.. Does anyone come to see it?? It about a 15 min car ride from my house..

Andy how is your moms car??

Doreen

 

[Reenieny18]

Update on HurricanUpdate on Hurricane Hilary's path

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As you all may have heard the Magic has been rerouted to Manzanillo due to 15 ft waves in Cabo. Our captiain decided that with the tendering it would be too dangerous to stop. Therefore we are on another sea day and will hit Manzanillo Tuesday where we get to dock (Yeah!). Captian Tom has assured us that as we proceed further south we will smaller and smaller waves/swells. Anyway, just wanted to write since I hadn't seen anything yet. Quite possible might be something on another thread but haven't heard of any injuries although the ship was rocking and rolling from the night before. For those of you back there, maybe this will make you feel better about being on land. Right now although the swells are getting better, my stomach wishes it was back on land.

ALso, have taken lots of pixs but haven't been able to download with our laptop. If anyone has seen pixs please pm me and let me know who's doing it. Would love to learn how they did it. Wasn't sure if it was us or the system. Others seem to be having the same problem. Gotta go the line for the computers is getting long again.
Laura

e Hilary's path

As posted from LIVE FROM BRINGING HOME THE MAGIC!!

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Doreen,

The ride home has gotten better, thanks for asking

Today we started in VA and are ending in VA.

We decided to take it slow today. Visited the Natural Bridge and Luray Cavernns. We loved the area so much we decided to stay overnight. Found a great local resturanrt(Stake place). Best road meal we have had in a while. Dan's Restraunat in Luray VA.

Tomorrow we drive to home(375 miles to go).

We may make it, unless we decide to stop at hershey Pa.

Time will tell.

Ed

 

[Verandah Man]

I called my mom earlier this evening just as she was walking out the door to go pick her car up from the shop. It wasn't the fuel pump after all, it turned out to be an electrial problem.

 

[Reenieny18]

Andy I was waiting for you to say it was " I ran out of FUEL"

Ed.. I have heard that is a wonderful place...All the times I have been to VIrginia this year.. I have never been there..one of these days... Glad things are better for you and your family..


Doreen

 

[Verandah Man]

Andy I was waiting for you to say it was " I ran out of FUEL"

Doreen

No, we still had a half a tank of gas when the car died on us.

 

[castoff]

Aurora's Mommy: I guess I should feel lucky that my kids don't start school till Thursday after Labor Day. I still have school shopping to do.

Maureen: I know what you mean about feeling skeptical. First time for us going in August and watching the weather channel now. It only means everything will be fine for us next year. By the way...........are you getting cruise insurance?

Terry:Not a problem, I understand. Hope all is well with your family. Will be sending you a PM when I am done posting.

Andy: Glad they found the problem with your Mom car now is it all fixed? The goodies are gone I needed them. Thank you

Ed: Your trip sounds so familar to me. Last month we drove from the Catskills to Gatlinburg. We also stopped at the Natural Bridge to break up the trip. It is so beautiful. On our way back to NY we spent the night in Hershey PA. I remember saying to myself after we got home now I need a vacation. It was such a long drive.

Doreen: Do you believe I have never been to the state fair? I guess I just never had any interest in it. I bet the traffic is nuts ! I am really coughing up a storm now. Yes I know I probaly have bronchitis at this point. I tell ya my immune system is just to low. Will see what doctor has to say on Friday.

 

[castoff]

Here is a picture of the Natural Bridge when we saw it last month.

 

[Verandah Man]

Here is a picture of the Natural Bridge when we saw it last month.

Tina--take care of yourself there girl and get better soon. Hazel and I stopped to see the Natural Bridge and Luray Caverns back in 1977 on our way home after taking Hazel's grandmother back home to Tennessee. Your photo looks just like one that I took, only Hazel was in my photo, LOL!!!

 

[castoff]

Andy: Lol Now that I look at picture closer it makes me laugh to see Jonathan & Brooke's pose like Tada........... It was weird that we were the ONLY ones there. We had the whole place to ourselves ! We wen't right in when it opened up. I think it was a fluke. The kids have a couple of appointments this afternoon that they can't miss I am hoping to get a nap in between them. The nights are the worse.

Since nobody has mentioned................I will What are the odds that we will be this lucky next year of no" H#**($@#& "it's like snow I can't spell it out. lol Kinda glad it wasn't this year.