Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[tiggerwannabe]

Hi Guys!

I was pretty sure it was the holidays keeping you away. It's ok

Yes Franco, I realized I haven't started my itinerary for you-but I am actively working on my trip report

All of my photos from the last trip are now uploaded & I will continue the story soon...the links are all in my signature.

Aisling, You up yet? How was your party? Hubby and I have 2 dates tonight-a party to visit and a dinner to attend. I hope I can stay up

I'll look for Chad on TV-can you believe they replaced Dick Clark with Regis?!

My kids haven't been in the catholic school for 3 years now and they still get called to work the coat room-they tend to do very well in tips there...so they happily volunteer.

I think Sunday would be the last day I could keep the girls in Florida, the only reason we chose the Christmas cruise is so Stefanie wouldn't miss any school. She's the stickler about being in school, my DD could take it or leave it

3X: Did trini's answer help? You could ask your travel coordinator that same question, they would have all your reservation details so they could give you a more exact number.

Happy New Years Christmas Cruisers!

 

[Franco56]

I have looked but I have not seen a tread for the teens going on our cruise. So, our boys started one up! Our youngest Daniel (Goofy10101) will be 11 at time of cruise and our oldest Leonardo (Japanaman) 15 want to hear from all of them about cruising and some excursions they have been on. Thank you kindly!!

 

[Aisling]

Franco,
Thanks for starting a new teen thread! My boys tried to get one going on the teen board, but it didn't take off. Having a thread for our kids right here on the Meets board is a much better idea! Let's encourage our children/teens to post and get to know each other, and pass along ideas!

 

[Aisling]

Ok, it's Jan. 1st! This is our year! Woo hoo!!!

Colleen, I'm up and well-rested! Party last night was fun, especially since we're not party-people, but I think I've been converted LOL.

Gotta go out, I'll write more later!

 

[3xthecharm]

We (me,DH,DD5,DS8,DS10) will be staying at BCV after the cruise until 1/4. My DD and I were at WDW last summer, and we did all the princess/character things. She prefered this to many rides. My DH and DSs have not been for 4 years. The new EMH have messed me up a little, since we will not have any for MK.

Does anyone else who is going to WDW after the cruise have a plan yet? I would love suggestions.

 

[Ginny]

Happy New Year!!

I realized that I needed to come back and update all on our little family. I know I have been absent for quite some time but I have good reasons and a note from my husband excusing me!! Now, if I could just get a hall pass!

In September of this year, I officially retired after 20 + years of active duty service. I began terminal leave in June so enjoyed a long break. In November, I began career # 2 and love my new job. For me, it encompasses all the best parts of my military role without the typical A/D parent worry of deployments, the Physical Readiness Testing or uniforms which were never really in my colors!!

But, with my new role, it became apparent that the holidays will always be the most hectic time because so many wonderful people want to do so much for our military. After lengthy discussions, Chuck and I have cancelled our reservations for next year's Christmas Cruise. We are so sorry to miss the opportunity to meet all of you in person but I so appreciate your warmth, kindness and willingness to open your hearts and families to new friends.

Although we wondered if cancelling the cruise was a smart move, it became really clear that we had made the correct decision on 23 December when I had to meet my family at a restaurant at 7:30 PM for dinner. That was after a 13 hour day on my feet trouble-shooting a last-minute function. I was simply exhausted by the time I sat down at the table and I had no idea what anyone was talking about. I woke up the next morning in a panic at 2 AM because I knew if I didn't get up right then, I would never get everything done in time for Santa.

Well, to make a long story short..............I had 5 hours sleep from Thursday at 4 AM through Saturday night at 9 PM trying to accomplish everything that my 14 hour days precluded. Christmas was a lovely, quiet day but it was quite obvious to us that for me to remain in this current role, our holidays take a back seat to others. And, we are okay with that ..............in fact, we think it captures what Christmas should really be about.

We rebooked on RCCL for a post Thanksgiving cruise next November and are excited about that. Again, it is our loss to miss our dear friends from Christmas 2003 and not to meet so many of you. But, for us, this is the way to go.

Happy New Year and we sincerely wish you "Fair Winds and Following Seas" over Christmas 2005!!

Ginny

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Ginny:
That's so sad that you had to change your cruise, and yet an excellent reason!

Good luck in your new career and enjoy your early Christmas Cruise!

Franco:

I've done a hand written itinerary, as soon as I transpose it into readable form I'll post it...writing it made the upcoming cruise seem that much more real!

3X:

Help! I need a plan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We (me,DH,DD5,DS8,DS10) will be staying at BCV after the cruise until 1/4. My DD and I were at WDW last summer, and we did all the princess/character things. She prefered this to many rides. My DH and DSs have not been for 4 years. The new EMH have messed me up a little, since we will not have any for MK.

EMH means it's a busy day for that park...I have learned to avoid the EMH parks on those days. IMHO-Schedule what you like around the EMH days.

Does anyone else who is going to WDW after the cruise have a plan yet? I would love suggestions.

We are staying Dec 31st definitely-here are the plans we are considering for NYE: SOG-formal celebration, NYE at Cirque de Soleil-special ticket night (lots of freebies included), or poss just hang out in DTD with our cruising friends.

If we stay, beyond that I forsee relaxing by a pool somewhere for me

HTH-cmj.

 

[3xthecharm]

This is our general idea.

12/31 hang around BCV and do some laundry/homework

1/1 MK in morning (Kids will go nuts if we don't)
MGM EMH in evening

1/2 MGM morning
MK evening to see Spectromagic, Wishes

1/3 MK morning
Epcot evening to see Illuminations

Any thoughts?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Your plan looks fine...
would you try to come over to DTD with us NYE night?

Our group also considered watching fireworks from a bridge near where you're staying-
there's one that goes to the Swan/Dolphin Resort area that supposidly has a great view.

 

[3xthecharm]

Thanks for the response.

I would love to do DTD NYE, but the kiddies would have trouble staying up late and then going to MK the next day. There is a good change we will be watching the Fireworks. Maybe we'll see you. I'll were a green ribbon.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

If we should meet on the cruise, we should know each other's face by then
Green Ribbons are actually very hard to spot.

This last trip I only noticed 2 DISers, and that's cause they were completely decked out in green, with buttons & name tags to boot!

 

[3xthecharm]

I'm not sure I could go that far.

My sister is in WDW right now. She said crowds were low in MK on Sunday morning, but got buisier after lunch. She tried the EMH in MGM last night. She said they did Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney, Star Tours, and two other attractions in under 1 1/2 hours in the park. That's not bad with 4 young kids in tow. MGM crowds were low today, Monday.

 

[Franco56]

Holey Moley, Today is my 55th birthday! how did that happen? An eightteen year old boy in a war(still paying for it) All those crazy times in the 60's and 70's, A complete violent hippy after the war (Peace or I will clock you!) A thirty year old daughter with five grand kids with one lady, a twenty three year old son with another and now I am a housedad with my best family ever! Do I feel 55? You bet I do, every single hour of it, it's been a long winding road. But now I am off and back to the YMCA after my birthday to get into my fighting weight for our cruise!! Who knows where the time goes?

 

[trinibjill]

Sounds like you have a full life.
Jill

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Francoooooooo, Happy Birthday to yooooooooou!

A Happy Life is a Good Life!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3X: I know the holidays can be totally nuts at WDW. I'm glad to hear the crowds dissipate so quickly. I've always like the first week of December for the lack of crowds. The Thanksgiving vacationers are gone and Christmas crowds haven't arrived yet

 

[Franco56]

Thanks ladies for your kind words. Now its time to get out of being a old fundy-dundy! Really I'm not!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hey Franco! You're up to 92 posts!

Happy Hump Day Christmas Cruisers!

 

[Franco56]

No school in Quincy, Ma today. Just a few inches of snow but messy. It was not like that in my day! We would have to walk to school five miles a day in drifts of snow with no shoes and just a hard biscut for lunch, there a soft lot nowadays!! HaHa!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Good morning!

No snow here, we were threatened with ice and got nothing but rain.

 

[trinibjill]

No school in Quincy, Ma today. Just a few inches of snow but messy. It was not like that in my day! We would have to walk to school five miles a day in drifts of snow with no shoes and just a hard biscut for lunch, there a soft lot nowadays!! HaHa!

Hey Franco
You forgot the part where you had to walk uphill both ways.
Jill