Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[tiggerwannabe]

I was thinking of posting a paper on one of our cabin doors for any DISers to "sign in". It would be a nice addition to my scrapbook.

Here's my thought
I made this keychain from my DIS profile and a paint sample card from home depot. I've heard of others making magnets for DISer's doors and I would like to make you all the same or something similar.

Did you see my posts about wanting to be the first to board the ship? I'll save you all spaces on line, so we can woo hoo together going through the gangway!

Yes, actually I did! We are sooo there with you!

Let's pray that it's a nice sunny warm day that day, because I've been reading some TRs that say December 24th is a bit on the cool side at the port.

Mom and me having the matching tigger hockey jerseys, we'll be warm I saw your idea for matching shirts, maybe you should get matching jackets too

Tig and Jill,
Chad says it's too bad AJ isn't coming; he'd like a guy his age to hang out with.

I'm sure our two would have gotten along great....tell Mr Chad he may even enjoy our company. Jesse can hang with my girls (they are looking forward to meeting him) and Chad can hang with us old folks. (at least until he meets someone else that interests him)

You all have Got To Read This!

Put on your safety glasses first tho...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=677356&page=1&pp=15

I've learned a couple things reading this thread:

1. Keep the curtains closed when docking.
2. The mirror on the deck outside of Palo's is a two way mirror.
3. Breastfeeding happens! Get used to it.
4. Disney Cruise Lines does expose you to clothing optional beaches.
LOL. (pun intended)

 

[Aisling]

Tig, the Mickey head key chain thingy is a great idea! And the magnet is a greater idea! I'm not crafty, but they should be easy to make. Hmmm, now you have me thinking about little doo-dads to make to give to my Dis cruise gang!

But now to a serious topic.
Yesterday, I booked our return flight out of Tampa. It was only $69 pp, and leaves at 2 pm, which will get us home at an early time to get ready for NYE. I checked Song today, and the same flight is $249 pp.
I have to get to Tampa by noon. We'll be renting from Budget at the port, $63. My concern is that I originally thought we'd have plenty of time to get to Tampa after the cruise...get off the ship by 8:30 AM, be driving by 9-9:30, and get to Tampa by 12 noon. Now, I've been reading a few posts that say it's going to be close. And other posts have said it's a piece of cake. One lady even said she got off the cruise, got the Budget car, stopped in Orlando for souvenirs, and made it to Tampa for a 1 PM flight.

I've already bought the tickets. The worse that could happen is that if Song drops their afternoon fares from MCO (which I very strongly doubt they will), I'll buy those and lose the $300 I already paid for Tampa. I keep telling myself at least we have tickets at a great price for a great departure time.

Ok, I've purged!

 

[trinibjill]

Just a suggestion. Take your cell phone - if you foresee problems - call them.

Our cruise was delayed 3 days. They changed our plans no less than 20 times.

I never saw soooo many cell phones being used at one time.

It was one time I was glad I had booked thru DCL. No matter how many times we got changed. God bless them - they handled it. It was great especially since I didn't bring my cell phone. (hee hee)

Jill

 

[Aisling]

Just a suggestion. Take your cell phone - if you foresee problems - call them.

Jill, I'll definitely have my cell phone with me! I feel naked without it LOL!

Good news, sort of: I've gotten a few PMs from people who've done the cruise-rental car-Tampa thing, and they say it worked out well for them, that we'll make our 2 pm flight home. Good advice was to join Budget's Fastbreak, and to take a cab for a few bucks to the Budget office instead of waiting for the shuttle.
So now I feel better. I'm SURE it's going to work out perfectly for us! I'm such an optimist!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Reassurance is Good!

Ais: I'm glad your plans are working out.

Have you ever spent NYE in Times Square like Chad did this past year?

 

[Aisling]

Have you ever spent NYE in Times Square like Chad did this past year?

No, I've lived here all my life, and I've never done this. It used to be an uncontrolled madhouse down there, but over the years, it's gotten so much better, very safe, great people, organized, etc. Maybe this year. I was always worried about the cold and having to have a potty break, but last year it was so mild, no need to drink gallons of hot chocolate, which means not having to go potty every half hour. So we shall see!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I was always worried about the cold and having to have a potty break

~I'll pray you have mild weather for NYE~

 

[grimgrinnin]

I made my reservations at BCV today for Dec 31st - Jan 6th.

Now, where are my flippers!!!


grim

 

[3xthecharm]

We will be at BCV from 12/31-1/4.

 

[Franco56]

Just made going home ressies with song airlines. We were going to stay until January 4th (your humble ones birthday) but song is all over the place with thier prices. For the 4th they wanted $204.00 plus per person one way Yikes!! But on the 3rd I got them for $69.00 per, plus tax. $310.00 for the four of us, non-stop! big difference! So, we will leave Boston on the 23rd do our cruise and stay at SOG until the 3rd of January, that still gives the boys a couple of days to run around the parks, and for DW and myself time to chill out!

 

[Aisling]

$310.00 for the four of us, non-stop! big difference!

Franco, wow a great price! And on Song, which is my favorite airlines! Good going!

Have you decided where you'll be staying the night before the cruise?

So far, I have my flights, night-before hotel, and rental cars. Now all I have to do is obsess over excursions and wait until our 90 days before to book. Time is really going by so fast. I feel like winter is over already.

If you have Disney Visa, I hope you're using it...I already have about $250 reward dollars on mine, and expect to have a solid $400 by the time we go. That's a tremendous amount of free money. I'm lucky enough to have in-laws who are world travellers, and I books their flights on my card, and they give me the cash to pay it off. Those trips to Asia will be paying for my excursions!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Let's get this party started

It's all coming together very nicely I see

Franco: Isn't it amazing what a difference one day can make. God forbid you want to come home on a Friday for a reasonalbe amount

Aisling: Your inlaws live nearby? That's great that you can help each other like that...free money is free money!

3x & Grim: I bet BCV is a great place. I've never stayed there but have read alot of good comments about it on the DIS.

Hi lurkers!

 

[Aisling]

Tig, I see your WDW trip is getting closer. I would be so excited if I were you, and I'm sure you are! Where are you staying, and for how long??

For my rental car, I found a code on mousesavers from Costco, and it saved my about $1.75. hey, I love saving money, no matter if it's a small amount. That $1.75 could buy me...Jill, maybe you can help. What can $1.75 buy me on the cruise??

 

[trinibjill]

I know - You could go to Scoops & get an ice cream & watch the kids swim.

Jill

 

[Franco56]

Yes Aisling, I am about all set. Have flights back and fourth, and we are staying at the Motel6 (the same one the people from Passporters recomends) we will only be there from 5ish pm to 8:30ish am so not much time to do anything else so a $50.00 a night room will be just fine. Have ressies with Budget from MCO to Port(one day) and then from Dec31-Jan 3rd (from port to SOG) will have to cancel one day at SOG, but thats ok. Other than excursions, and a couple more payments for the cruise, I think we are ready to Rock and Roll!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Tig, I see your WDW trip is getting closer. I would be so excited if I were you, and I'm sure you are! Where are you staying, and for how long??

My friend Rose has timeshares everywhere, we're staying at Star Island in a 1 bedroom condo. Off property. We'll be flying in Wed night March 9th (late), staying for 4 full days and flying back on Monday the 14th.
It'll be a nice, relaxing trip but I'll miss my family while I'm there. What can I say, I like em...

This is the same friend that has us going to NC with her for 2 weeks in August. My whole family will go on that trip, even DS' girlfriend and our dogs get to go.

 

[Aisling]

I've been thinking about how many pairs of shoes we'll need, and this is what I came up with:

Mel 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Chad 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Jesse 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Aisling 1 pair sneakers, 2 pairs flip flops, 2 pairs dressy shoes, 4 pairs sandals

That's 27 pairs of shoes! Well, flip flops don't take up much space. I'm going to pack them in a rolling backpack. I originally thought we can squeeze the shoes in our regular luggage, but no way.

So the luggage count is: 2 big suitcases, 1 rolling backpack, 1 garment bag, 1 toiletries bag, and my rolling Mickey cooler that'll be used as our day bag.

Can you tell I have too much time on my hands?? LOL

 

[KKB]

I have been over at cruise critics searching for others on this cruise to no avail! Finally cruiseclues led me here, and hooray!
Looks like most of you are from the east, so adding my midwestern point of view here!
DH and I took our first cruise on Princess this last Oct. and we are hooked!!! MIL is taking entire family on this cruise for our Xmas present this year. (hey, it's her $ to blow!
Since several of us are families of 5, we have the luxury of the family suites. That will be quite a difference from our exterior on Princess (thank you upgrade fairy for that one!)
One question to those of you w/ children young enough to still believe...I have been telling the children that Santa will come to our house as usual, not on the ship. Is Sants going to 'visit' any of you on the ship? I'm worried this coud blow the whole Santa thing for DD-7. Just wondering what others might be doing--don't really want to lug gifts along w/ luggage for 5!!!!!
So glad I found you all--will touch base again soon.
Kristin
DH Dan, plus sons 10 & 5, DD 7 (by Dec.)

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I've been thinking about how many pairs of shoes we'll need, and this is what I came up with:

Mel 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Chad 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Jesse 2 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair flip flops, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair boat shoes
Aisling 1 pair sneakers, 2 pairs flip flops, 2 pairs dressy shoes, 4 pairs sandals

That's 27 pairs of shoes! Well, flip flops don't take up much space. I'm going to pack them in a rolling backpack. I originally thought we can squeeze the shoes in our regular luggage, but no way.

So the luggage count is: 2 big suitcases, 1 rolling backpack, 1 garment bag, 1 toiletries bag, and my rolling Mickey cooler that'll be used as our day bag.

Can you tell I have too much time on my hands?? LOL

I'll just call you thorough!

That's alotta shoes!

I tuck my sandals, flip flop & water shoes into the side pockets of my luggage. I can usually get 4 pair into the sides of each suitcase.

I agree with 2 pair of sneakers each-when one pair gets wet I like having a dry pair available. I will take 1 pr water shoes, 1 pair sandals, 1 pr dress shoes and 1 pr of flip flops. ( that's 6 pr for me)

I guess I should be grateful I only have to pack for DD and me.

I have been over at cruise critics searching for others on this cruise to no avail! Finally cruiseclues led me here, and hooray!
Looks like most of you are from the east, so adding my midwestern point of view here!
DH and I took our first cruise on Princess this last Oct. and we are hooked!!! MIL is taking entire family on this cruise for our Xmas present this year. (hey, it's her $ to blow!
Since several of us are families of 5, we have the luxury of the family suites. That will be quite a difference from our exterior on Princess (thank you upgrade fairy for that one!)
One question to those of you w/ children young enough to still believe...I have been telling the children that Santa will come to our house as usual, not on the ship. Is Sants going to 'visit' any of you on the ship? I'm worried this coud blow the whole Santa thing for DD-7. Just wondering what others might be doing--don't really want to lug gifts along w/ luggage for 5!!!!!
So glad I found you all--will touch base again soon.
Kristin
DH Dan, plus sons 10 & 5, DD 7 (by Dec.)

Welcome KKB!

That's awesome of your MIL! The suites on DCL are gorgeous!
My Mom is taking my daughter, dd's best friend and me on this cruise.

I'm going to contact DCL gifts and have personalized packages and a small lit christmas tree sent directly to our stateroom. There's been mention of "Shirley" here on the DIS that does more personalized gift packs. (I think her company is called gifts of a lifetime?)

 

[3xthecharm]

My youngest and my nieces still believe. Santa will be on our cruise! He brings a small gift for each child. Mrs. Clause even reads a bedtime story in person on 12/24 night.

Gift ideas:
arcade cards you buy on the ship
new princess night gown
charm of ship for DD
candy for movies
disposeable cameras
glow necklaces for wearing on deck at night
Journal/pen for writing about trip
video game cartriage for gameboy
park tickets(we are visiting WDW after cruise)
make your own coupons for special activities(excursions, staying up late, junk food for dinner)