Christmas 2003 - Who's sailing (20-27 Dec 03)?

Hi folks,
Please add 4 more to the fray. First family cruise. Planning to kill two birds with one stone...XMAS and the big 20th for the wife and me. Really looking forward to it. Bringing our 15 year old DD and 8 year old DS along for the ride. Thanks for all the great information!
Greg
 
Welcome Greg and family!! The more the merrier - looks like we will have scads of teen girls!!

Had a thought today - anyone ready to start their diet?? I am thinking I could do without 16 pounds by cruisetime!!
 
Welcome Greg
Bonnie I started mine on the 1st september(diet), I've bought an outfit for formal night in the sales 3!! yes you heard 3 sizes too small. I guess I've got alot of work to do.
I'm stll torn over the sunset schooner trip, we have asked for late seating so it will probably be the show we miss, what do you veterans think.
Sorry I haven't been around for a while but we have a young friend who is like a son to us, he is in the RAF and was home on leave before being posted to Iraq, so I've been a bit distracted, of course 5 baby bunnies are great time wasters too!
Our group is certainly growing, we'll be in for a meet of some sort for sure.
BTW my DH plays Bass guitar so the band is growing!
Speak to you soon
Lynn
 
LOL Lynn - that is a mighty ambitious goal!! But in four months, it should be doable. I guess you will have to watch out for the early December parties!! I just need to get out and get some exercise and I will get rid of what I need to. That would bring me down about 1 1/2 sizes, which would be perfect. Just want to get a new bathing suit -- but then, the summer clothes won't fit anymore, and where will I get more of those in December??

You must be saying your prayers for your young friend in the RAF. We have some good friends who will be leaving for Iraq in a kind of piecemeal way this year. Dad, who is with the FBI, is leaving in October. The rest of the family will be leaving when school is out, and with their eldest daughter being sent to boarding school in Switzerland, eldest son a freshman at The Citadel, and then three youngers (the younger daughter is Grumpy's best friend) will be leaving with Mom to live on the compound in Iraq. It will be quite an experience for their family - we are very, very sad to think of them going.

Congratulations on your new brood!! (are they a brood, a litter, or what?)

As for the guitars -- what about that secret area aft on Deck 7?

Better yet, what about the talent show???

Do they still have a talent show, does anyone know?
 

Check you emails for a message from Disney either yesterday or today - starts out with "Here is Disney's most out-of-this-world offer..." I called the number and saved myself $100 on my WL reservation!! Courtyard room for $156 (which includes all the taxes, etc.) for 12/18 and 19!!

There has been a lot going on on the main board over the last 24 hours, so let me just say that before anyone says this is off topic (and I notice that I have a tendency toward that), there are several of us in this thread that are staying there before the Magic sails.
 
Well! are you all excited we've made it to double digits!!!
The countdown continues....


:jester: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :jester: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :jester:
 
BTW Bonnie
Baby rabbits are called Kittens and my husband has dubbed ours 'a cuddle of kittens' cute eh, but very off topic sorry!!
 
Good morning all -

Greg, welcome to you and your family AND to the DIS Boards. It looks like our little D.C. Metro area group is growing!! I think we are up to 4 families right now on this cruise. What an incredible 20th celebration for you and DW. If you have any questions about anything, we are happy to help!!

Bonnie - congratulations on that great rate at WL!! That is incredible!

Just a thought about a DIS Meet - On our Halloween cruise, we planned two different DIS activities: Cabin to Cabin Trick or Treating for all the DIS kids (which was incredible) and an adult DIS meet at the Palo Brunch on a Day at Sea. Palo's has a private room for about 15 (I think) but we had about 18 and they just placed us at several tables.

Any other thoughts, suggestions or diabolical plans?
 
Ginny - Brunch sounds great! Since we haven't cruised before, I don't really have any other ideas, but I will think of something.

We could come up with a treasure hunt for the kids - I would be glad to coordinate (we would probably have to have an adult at each location giving out clues, so that they were not picked up by other guests), but the mapping would have to be done by someone who has been on the ship before. I have done this before at GS camp, and it was really fun - figure out which children will be involved, either pair them up or group them in 4-5, and give each a different route (stopping at most of the same places and depending on age) and have the groups directed to one of mayybe 2 or 3 different "Treasure Chests" with age-appropriate "Treasures" at the end.

Or, we could do a Scavenger hunt with digital cameras, etc. (I don't know how how much stuff we could compile into a list for them to retrieve, for example, are there printed cocktail napkins at each retaurant, etc.) but it would be fun to make up clues, etc. for that, too.

This could be fun, and could be as intricate or simple as we choose to make it. The only downside is what other activities are happening at the same time, and do other parents want to commit?

I wonder if DCL has something like that put together already that might be available to us, or if that is something that might already be done in the kid's camps.

JIM - I didn't see anything on the DCL site about fishing being reinstated -- congrats on the tag, BTW!! The tag fairy is clever isn't he/she??


What kind of fish and where did you catch it?
 
Ginny,
Thanks for the welcome. We're really looking forward to it, especially me. I need a break from the I-66 commute from Centreville to the 5-sided wind tunnel and back each day. I just broke the "news of the cruise" to the family last night. They're excited! I'll be turning over the research duties to my wife Tina and 8-yr old DS. My 15 -yr old DD will be focused on make-up and clothes so she'll be of no use :rolleyes:
Thanks for the offer of assistance and I did mention to Tina that I knew some folks near us were going on the cruise so she may be seeking your advice since this is a first for us. We'll just be heading straight down and back since I only managed to get a week off. There is so much information out there!
Thanks again!!
Greg
 
Dear Greg,

Welcome to the cruise group!

Here's a link to a thread "all the best tips summarized" I compiled a while back. I printed it out, highlighted the ones I liked and have filed it away. I will re-read it when time gets closer. Some good tips in there. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=388591

I have a 15 yr ol DD as well as a 12 yr old DD (God must really have a sense of humour)


I think the scavenger hunt sounds good.



Rieann (DW) is a little hesitant around people she doesn't know (the ying to my yang) so it may take convincing for a Palo's brunch, but a get together would be a ball and see where it goes from there.


Grumpy's Mom:

You are right, the CC excursion still does not list the bottom fishing as an excursion. After someone posted they did get a trip booked, I called last night and DCL excursion desk did confirm that it was back on as of yesterday (9/12).

The fish is a striped bass. Around here we call 'em rockfish because they tend to hang out around rocks and other submerged structures.

I caught her this may in the Chesapeake bay opposite the mouth of the Choptank river.

She tastes really good, especially grilled and topped with some crab imperial Rieann makes with crab we catch ourselves on
our dock in OC, MD.


The trip is really coming up fast now. In the next few weeks we'll be paying the final, then in early Nov. the docs will come.

Question (To those who celebrate XMAS) are you decorating your homes for XMAS the same way since you will be away?

Jim
 
Jim - do your girls know about the cruise? Mine don't, and I am not sure when we are going to tell them - maybe Thanksgiving, because the elder DD will need more advance notice re the boyfriend etc. This is their Christmas present from us --

Decorating - that is a good question. I hadn't really thought about it yet. We usually get our decorating done the weekend of Thanksgiving -- we really do it up - last year we had 6 trees (big Radko collection, Ginny), three of the Dept 56 villages, candles, etc. I am not sure I want to go to all the work and take the amount of time to do this, as we will be leaving on the 18th.

In past years when we have gone on vacation over the holidays, we have at least put up a fresh tree in our family room, so that we have some feeling of the holidays in the house - but to be gone almost ten days makes me a little nervous with a live one in the house, and we would have to have one of the neighbors water, and then, of course, there are always the cats -- they have a tendency to go psycho both with all the decorations (and trees to climb) and the fact that there is no one home. Then, there is the outside of the house which we finally got started on last year (yes Ginny, we have been in the house 6 years, and just got started on the outdoor decs!!). I had planned to add to what we did last year this year, but I had to give the DH the solemn promise that my ENTIRE Xmas budget was going toward the cruise --

We do have one very small tree that I have saved for the last 15 years - it was a year that we had very little and it was all we could afford - it is about 2' high, and Maleficent (Megan) and I made dough ornaments to put on it. We put it up every year on our breakfast room table. It is a good reminder to us of how blessed we are, how hard we worked, and the need to share our blessings with those less fortunate in our community (our unemployment rate hit 10+% last month), as we have been in their shoes -- That will definitely go up, if not to the ship with us.

Are you still bringing the duct tape??

How many trees do you think I can get in a Cat. 8??

Jim, my DH (Jamie) will have the same reservations as your DW - I always try to prep him with information about who he might be meeting, others with similar interests, etc. Between the fishing and the music, I think he will very much enjoy himself!
 
Forgot to add that the fish recipe sounds fantastic!! Where (or what) is OC?
 
Hi, all -

I mentioned Bonnie's Radko collection and holiday decorating extravaganza to DH and I think his heart palpitations may pass in a while!! My decorating really began when DD was about 2!! I wanted every holiday to be memorable. Bonnie, how exquisite and magical your home must be!! DH will definitely be at brunch...... just to monitor any ornament conversations and for self-protection!! :)

Seriously, we too were a bit hesitant last cruise about meeting folks we had only conversed with on the DIS but we really had a great time!! It added to the whole experience to see friendly faces all over the ship, CC and on excursions.

Greg, both DH and I share your pain with the commute.......and we can both assure you that as soon as they announce your family boarding, the stress is left on the dock! Hopefully, you won't be required to bring cell phones, blackberry's or other evil tools meant to tether us to our work. Based on your user name, I suspect our families may have even more in common. Please let Tina know we are all happy to help. I strongly recommend the list that Jim started and gave you the link to as there are lots of great suggestions and I have bookmarked it for myself. Also, the two sites I gave in the first few replies on this thread are two of the best (Dave's from Marietta and the Platinum Castaway Club).

As to decorating, I've already started putting up my Fall decorations which will morph into Halloween decorations then roll into Thanksgiving decorations and, yes, I will be doing Christmas decorating with DD. It is a special tradition for us and she is growing up so very fast. By the way, Jim, St Patrick's Day is a big event in this house as well!!
 
Jim,
Thanks for the great link. I'm working on my hurricane checklist as this point but will get to the Disney checklist soon.

Ginny,
Thanks for the offer of help. DW may be seeking assistance as cruise time grows closer. Looks like we have kids about the same age. Nice to hear we may have some other things in common too. Hopefully we'll get to meet you and some of the other nice folks on this board at some point.

Greg
 
Hi, all,

Well, it was 4 years ago today that our family boarded the Disney Wonder and began our 4 day mystery cruise................which really started this "cruise" thing in our family. Six days earlier, we "snuck" out of Jacksonville, NC at 9PM at night as it seemed Hurricane Daniel was surprising all the experts and circling back to land after already hitting us once and we didn't want to get stuck with a repeat performance.

As they announced us boarding the Wonder on the 16th, Hurricane Floyd was barrelling in, there was already talk of closing WDW (which they did) and, for the next 4 days, we were never sure from one moment to the next where we were going.....but we had such an incredible time. It was an unbelievable adventure in every way from rescuing the Castaway Cay residents to being bused back to Port Canaveral from points south. The staff were so professional, most of the passengers were good sports and it was obvious that the Wonder's Captain knew exactly what to do. I wouldn't have missed a minute!!

So, tonite as we finally (and quickly) cleaned out the garage so we can get two cars in, restocked the Hurricane Locker, the frig and finished all the laundry. I have to be honest...................a hurricane party with Mickey is MUCH MORE FUN!!

I can't wait for Christmas!!
 
Grumpy's Mom:

Yes, Our girls know. DD-15 doesn't have a boyfriend at the moment, so no problem there, and maybe an opportunity.....

Rieann is ambivalent about decorating too much, as well.


OC is Ocean City, Md. It is (for now, pending "isabele") a lovely beach resort on a barrier island on the Atlantic.

We have a place on the bay behind the island, where there is lovely boating, fishing, crabbing, and clamming.


We boat 5 miles south to Assateague Island, which is the setting for the wild ponies from the book "Misty of Chincoteague". We beach our boat there, usually with only about 35 other people total. Horses will be right around you as you walk, clam, etc.

Pending Isabelle.

Awaiting Christmas

Jim

PS. Curiously, my mom's name is Isabelle. This week we are to put her in an assisted living facility, somewhat against her wishes. Quite ironic that there could be two hurricane isabelle's around here the same week!

PPS: Who's going parasailing on CC?
 
Ginny and Jim - We will be watching and waiting with you, and praying - we are too far inland, I think (read hope), to get much more than torrential rain.

We did survive Hugo in Columbia, SC (had to rethink the 3-year-old birthday party the next day - no power or water at Chuckie Cheese, or anywhere else, for that matter), and Hurricane Bonnie while at Kiawah - she only came within 40 miles of shore, and I was bound and determined to stay unless the authorities kicked us out - the next day was the most beautiful day I have ever experienced on a beach anywhere.

Jim, my thoughts are particularly with you this week - my mother is 87, and still able to manage fairly well in an apartment in a retirement community in Dallas. My sister spends every Saturday morning helping her get showered, taking her shopping, to the bank, etc., and we have someone come in twice a week in the afternoon to take care of household chores, bathing and some cooking. She is still extremely bright and full of mischief, and loves to keep up with the girls. She finally lost her driving privileges (and her car - a Datsun 280Z) four years ago when she had a stroke while driving, and drove into a house. This will be a difficult week for you, but you know, I am sure, that you are making the right choice for her. In the back of my mind I know that day is coming for us also ---

Ocean City sounds absolutely lovely-- my husband's grandfather had a place on the Cheasapeke (sp?) and he has many fond memories of spending summers there. They sold it the year before we married, and I know Jamie regrets not having been able to take our dds there.

Both of you (and P3guy), please check in with us so we know you are okay - you will be in our family's prayers over the next few days. Hopefully, she will lose some momentum over the next 24 hours, and the front that is coming (it is here already --62 degrees at 8:00 p.m. tonight) may push her just a wee bit further out to sea.

Will be thinking of you --
 
Hurricanes are just things we hear about on the news over here so i've no idea what you will be experiencing, but I'll be thinking of you and echo Bonnie's plea to let us know you're safe and well
 

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