Chicago area Diser's - check in here Part 4

[Crissup]

John Welcome back from cruising!! Hope you had a great time!! I've been looking into going on that cruise!!! In fact we were discussing it just yesterday. How did you like it?

Thanks Bunchy! I believe the magic is only there for another couple weeks, so if you're interested, you better move quickly.

I'm usually the one who thinks everything was only good or OK or alright, it takes a lot to get me really excited. With that in mind, I felt the Disney Mediterranian Cruise was a lot of fun. I've never been overly interested in visiting most of Europe, and outside of Disneyland Paris Resort, have never really cared if I ever saw France at all. just never appealed to me. However, it's hard to not enjoy a Disney Cruise in the first place. I've found the 3-day cruise to be just a bit to hectic for me because you try to fit so much into that short time, you never find time to relax. But, the 10 days in the Med with all the ports of call was a ton of fun and more than enough time to unwind and enjoy the ship!

After a day at sea after leaving Barcelona, we stopped in Palermo, Sicily, and enjoyed a morning at Mondello Beach. The water was great and the beach was calm and very shallow for a long way out, so you didn't have 10 thousand people all crowded into the first 30 feet of water near the shoreline. This is a public beach, but Disney had a small private area that was sectioned off from everyone else, so you were guaranteed a beach chair and one umbrella for every two chairs.

Next, we hit the port of Naples, where we visited Pompeii, the port of Olbia, Sardinia and enjoyed another beach day (The water was even more clear than Castaway Cay!), then Rome (very hectic and fast paced day with a *lot* of walking), La Spezia (Pisa, Florence, etc, but we chose a tour of a tiny set of fishing villages called the Cinque Terre), Nice France (where we went to Monaco, very cool!) and Marseilles France. Finally, another sea day and back to Barcelona.

My two favorite excursions were the Cinque Terre and Monaco. We all agreed our least favorite was Marseilles, France.

If I had to decide all over again, I would definitely do the cruise again. It was enough time to enjoy the ship, yet still get out and see the ports. It was just a lot of fun knowing that you were participating in a special set of cruises that is not part of Disney's standard offerings and Disney played it to the hilt with special menus and merchandise, etc.

We used DVC points, so we saved about $16,000. I heard the average booking was about $24,000!! Yikes!

 

[Mcqueen Fans]

LOL!! As I reread my reply, I realized I made it sound like you might worry because there are posters here that live close to there.

Obviously, I meant that there are posters here who will give you more detail.

I did not get that the first time I read that. LOL
If anyone lives up that way, I would love some information about the area. nice places to eat would be nice to know. Thank you for letting me come into this thread and ask questions!

 

[macraven]

I have a question for all of you that live in the Chicago area. My husband and I are going with another couple to chicago next week and we got a room at the super 8 in Waukegan. We want to go shopping at Gurnee Mills and they said they were close and we got a great deal. I am wondering if this is a good location, will we feel safte there. I don't really know anything about this area. Has anyone ever seen this hotel. We want a good deal but we don't want to be scared to walk outside. I love chicago I have just heard there are certain places you don't want to go to. Thank you so much for any information.

waukegan is over 90,000 and spread out.
is the super 8 you are booked at on greenbay rd?
as long as you stay away from north chicago (the city), you should be fine.

there are many hotels over in the gurnee area and not all are expensive.

depending on what part of waukegan you are staying in will determine how long it will take you to get to gurnee mills. the time and traffic can make a difference also.


i live 8.5 miles from gurnee mills

send me a pm if you want me to help you

 

[slo]

I'm tired this morning - I was up to late paying bills last night.
But at least I can say that chores done for a week



I hired someone yesterday
She's very young, and this is her first job. I'm hoping I can have her totally trained for Christmas. I was a little hesitant about hiring someone so young, but then I thought to myself that I started framing when I was 16, and look at me now. I won't be able to leave her alone for a very long time, but that's okay. She'll be able to work on Saturday's with my current employee when she comes back from school, and that will be a good thing for me. Her first day is Wednesday night.



Disneynut - I"m sorry to hear about your son leaving for 2 weeks But at least you have something to really look forward to, and keep you busy with packing. I hope these 2 weeks go really fast for you

McQueen Fans - Welcome to the Chicago thread I'm glad you felt comfortable to come here with a question Unfortunately I can't help you, but I'm sure others can Have fun when you come to Chicago next week

HERSEY -

Crissup - It sounds like you all had a great time With that price tag, I don't know if we'll be taking that cruise in the near future. But I'm sure it's in our distant future, because it may be the only way I can get Kevin to Europe

Mac -



Well, I gotta run - Stephanie has another early day today. They are going to The Enchanted Castle do any of you know what that is . She's excited though!!!!

Have a good day today!!!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone! Man i haven't been to Enchanted castle since I was a kid It's a big arcade party type of place. (chuckie Cheese like). The one and only one that I used to go to as a kid went down hill super fast. So I really don't know what they are like now adays! But i do remember them being fun!!


Have a fabulous Tuesday! I'm incredibly nauseous today and totally ready to pull this baby out why do i have so long to go still

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Bunchy, love the kermit avatar! Makes me laugh when I see it! When are you all planning on cruising?? We're going in September of 09. I'm bummed as we were supposed to be going this December, but well babies happen So we moved it back to 09 b/c next yr is our big Mexico trip. Anyone else cruising at this time??

 

[Bunchkin]

slo I assume Stephanie is going here. We've been to haunted Trails, owned by the same people.
Good luck with the new employee!

Crissup You're right, the cruise is expensive!!! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!! It does sound like it goes to some wonderful ports.



DMM We are not settled on a cruise yet, a date or ports of call. I'm thinking '08 or '09. I already have a couple vacations (non-Disney) in the works for next year so we'll see what happens.
Eat saltine crackers, it will help with the nauseousness!!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Morning all!!! We are home. It is HOT!!!! California was so nice and comfortable each morning and evening. Only the middle of the day was truly warm, and if you found some shade it was still tolerable. This is just miserable. I let the dog out this moring and needed a shower by the time I crutched my way back up the stairs.
I wrote up a trippie on the plane. DH just looked at me like I have 2 heads. I am going to upload my photos first, so I can add them as I go along.
We had a nice vacation. The boot was a great help at DL, acted like a fastpass at Legoland, and no help at DCA. While I enjoyed DL, I have to agree with Bunchkin about the CMs. They are much more helpful and go out of their way to make conversation at WDW. We only encountered a few really remarkable ones at DL. One was a gentleman at a pin cart in DCA. He was from Sandusky, OH. Can't remember his name. He was a wealth of knowledge about the parks and really enjoyed sharing what he knew. Kids were trading with him and buying pins at the cart, so while they were looking he was quizzing us with Dis trivia and chatting with us about Pirates and HM.
Well, I need to get unpacking and doing . I'll try getting these photos loaded and start a tr. Ok to do it here? Not sure it would be good enough to run it on the official board. They are such great writers over there. I would love to share with all of you though.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Welcome Home!

 

[SamIAm21]

Hey Tiggerrn, you're back! Welcome to the Hot Zone! Yes, it's going to be a rough one this week! Some how though, I think we'll all remember this fondly in January!! I had the same experience at DL. A few really awesome Cast Members, but most were just "working". I did love the parks though and I have read some really awesome things about how John Lasseter is going to completely redo DCA! It should be mostly done by 2010!!

Well, what's new peeps? Is everyone getting ready to go back to school. I've been doing this stuff on the sly this week. I ordered Megan's clothes on line, purchased a supplies box from the PTO before school ended and really I don't have any preparations to make for this year's BTS season. I figure I saved a ton of money just by not taking Megan into the stores to buy her new clothes. I always spend way more money that way. I measured her and then ordered a few things to get her started on line from Old Navy! Yeehaw! You know you always spend more if you let them in the stores. They always want more than you intended to spend!!

So, I don't really have a lot of new stuff going on.

I ordered a few posters from art.com and I can't wait to get them and have Slo frame them up for me. We are painting my bedroom and I'm going to hang them in there when I get them! My DH ought to be thrilled!

Oh well, he'll get over it. Like he says, I just go in there to close my eyes and sleep, so do what you want! Sounds good to me! They aren't too fussy, just architectural type drawings of the castle, etc. I can't wait to see them in person!

Have a good day everyone! DMM, you know what worked for me when I was nauseous?? An orange. Don't ask me why, but it worked like a charm. It couldn't hurt to try right? Always need that Vitamin C! I hope you feel better really soon!

 

[macraven]

tigggerrnnn welcome back home.
glad you are back.



and a big hello this tuesday afternoon to all the chicagoland homies !

 

[piglet too]

Hi everyone!

Slo ~ Sounds like the new hire should be good. Not always a bad thing to be young.

Trying to get stuff done, but just no desire to go out today. Don't know how I am going to surrvie Thursday when I take Nathan to Great America.

 

[Crissup]

Crissup You're right, the cruise is expensive!!! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!! It does sound like it goes to some wonderful ports.

Of course, if you're willing to do the Carribean itineraries, the price is much more reasonable. I hear the 4 day Wonder cruises are going to begin visiting Castaway Cay a second day instead of the day at sea.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Thanks for the welcome home all. I got some photos uploaded so I will start a trippie here in the AM with some photos. For now, I'm off to bed. Tis late.
Nighty night!!

 

[slo]

Whew......it's going to be another hot day!!!


DMM - I hope you are feeling better today. Be careful in all this heat

Bunchkin - That's exactly where she went, and she went to Haunted Trails earlier in the summer. She had so much fun, and won a jackpot of tickets - she was very excited!!!!
*Thanks for the good luck w/ the new employee. It's a drag having to start over with someone, but hopefully she'll catch on quick so she can be fully trained for Christmas (it'll be here before you know it )

Tiggerrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn - Welcome home!!!!
I can hardly wait to see your pictures and read your TR

SamIAm - It'll be great to see you when you come in with your posters.
*I always overbuy when I take Stephanie shopping too, and it's because of me not her I should try the online shopping too.

Mac & Crissup -

piglet too - You're right, it's not always a bad thing to be young Especially since I started framing when I was 16, and one of my best friends (Stephanie's Godfather) started framing when he was 15. I'm just praying that she works out so Allie (current employee) has someone to work with on the Saturdays that I"m gone on my cruise, and other times during the Christmas season.
**Have fun at GA on Thursday - drink lots of water!!!



Well, I gotta go take a shower and get ready to go to work.
Have a great day today, and try and stay cool

 

[bigben]

GOOD MORNING TO ONE AND ALL
It's been a while since I've checked in, so I'm checking and saying HI.

 

[Crissup]

Got all my new Mediterranian cruise photos online. As always, you can find them at http://disney.crissup.com/

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone! Thanks for all the comments on healing nausea!! I needed them Today i am feeling better, but boy is this heat is incredible! it's barely 8am and it's HOT HOT HOT!!

Stay cool everyone!!

 

[HERSEY]

John Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Michelle Stay cool and hydrated. I hated being pregnant in the summer. It was the longest hotflash.

 

[Becky2005]

Good Morning all.

I'm happy it's August!!! Yeah...back to school time soon.

At the end of next week the kids should find out who their teachers are & their schedules. I think I'm more impatient than the kids for that.

The only bummer is looks like my DD won't be able to go to the 1st locker set-up this year so will have to go the day before school starts. She's supposed to be going on an overnight with her Sunday School class the night before (which may actually just turn out to be her & one of her best friends! since as of right now they are the only 2 that can make it) and I don't know if she will get back in time for the 1st locker set-up, depends on what time they leave in the morning, etc.. Kind of stinks as we usually like to go to both of them. She was in shock that she doesn't get to meet the teacher's ahead of time this year. Technically she shouldn't have last year but being a brand new school, I think all the grade level teachers were there. Usually they only have a special time for the 6th graders to meet the teachers.

My brother called me either Monday or yesterday (I can't remember now! You know one of those Senior moments again!) and told me they "walked a LOT" at MK. Hee Hee but it sounded like they had a great time, so I'm really happy for them. I wasn't sure how it was going to go as I don't think they are quite the over planner that I am. I know they were thinking of going to Sea World the next day, etc... I can't wait for them to get back and hear about what all they really did. I didn't ask them much as he was mostly telling me about they place they were staying (off-site in a timeshare I believe) and how HUGE it was. Along with the delays they had at the airport, rental car place & keys not working to get into their place at first. Nothing too major just frustration stuff but they got through it all.