Christmas Cruise 2005!!!

[FletcherMem0rial]

Come on down....

Aisling said she's able to change her flight with no penalties maybe you can too!

It would be nice if you could-

Ahhhh, Fall is almost upon us

Ayup, that means football and hockey and closer to cruise time. Being back in school could also be an advantage-our countdown to cruise time will come that much quicker.

Gambling can be beneficial to the kids, as long as you don't play with money. It teaches them strategy right? Exercises their brains.

My game is rummy (and not gin-I never did understand that game.)

I look forward to playing a little cards with you and I'm sure learning a trick or two. ~I've played just not recently.~ I know 7 card stud and straight poker, never s**t on anyone before tho

I popped in in between loads of laundry, I'll be lurking around for awhile if anyone's on today.

~TTFN~
colleen.

 

[Aisling]

CM "Mrs Skjerven, are all of these friends yours"
Nan "yes they are, but have pitty on them they work at McDonalds and don't get out much"

I look forward to playing a little cards with you and I'm sure learning a trick or two. ~I've played just not recently.~ I know 7 card stud and straight poker, never s**t on anyone before tho

It is nice that the kids are getting older and we can teach them the joys of gambling...wait, I mean game playing!!!!


You're killing me!


Kris, I can't believe summer's almost over, and it's back to school already. We still have a few weeks left, and I'm glad we did all our back-to-school shopping little by little over the summer so I wouldn't have to spend a ton of $ all at once. Jesse's at the age where Payless sneakers just don't cut it anymore, and name brands mean everything, like Rocawear and JNCO, and all these names I never heard of but cost so much. Thank goodness for ebay!

BBL

 

[nskjerven]

Good Morning Xmas Cruisers:

Nice cool morning here in Northern CA. Gotta get back to cleaning up the house here....I'll lurk in and out today....Please don't make plans to join us at the GF for New Year's Eve (ha ha ha ) reverse psychology


Speaking of which, WhAT are we going to do that night????? I've thought of La Nobua (sp) would anyone want to join us? Is it too late to get good tickets?

Hey my counter tells me it's only 3 months (& 3 weeks) unitl the cruise,can you believe it?

Did I tell ya we are thinking of Hawaii for Thanksgiving instead of Dland? We have a friend (& family with 3 little girls) that lives on Oahu, and we would have a room for ourselves with a view I'm told for free!!!! SO I need to look at airfare and decide if we want to travel that far so close to the Bon Vogage party and Xmas trip....should we ???? Ha I knew what you would say....

Must motoivate kids to toss some toys...wish me luck,

N

 

[FletcherMem0rial]

Aisling: My son wears name brand clothes but he shops at Marshall's

I'm thinking Flemington would be a good spot to pick up some deals on clothes for the kids as well.

Nan: Cirque is Mom's favorite!

If we did that I have a feeling our girls would be at Disney Quest while we did the show. It's still on the list of possibilities for Mom and Me for the new year.

I think they come out 90 days prior to the New Year. NYE is a special show in itself, I'd be glad to go.

Hawaii!

Okay, my turn to be jealous! Opportunities knocking girl, go let that little guy in!

We'll be neighbors after the cruise. Shades of Green, where Mom and me stay, is a stone's throw from the GF. We walked to the Poly a few times from SOG last year.



One more month and we can start doing our 90 day stuff!

Cirque Tickets First!

 

[trinibjill]

I was thinking of La NOuba the 9 pm show they serve Champagne.
Tickets for La Nouba can be bought 6 months out. I have to find out If Tigg wants to go.
Jill

 

[trinibjill]

I checked Cirque & they are not showing the NYE schedule

 

[trinibjill]

I just called the ticket line At WDW. She said NYE tickets arn't on sale yet & to call back or keep checking on line

 

[domiii]

Just back from the playhouse and rehearsal! The excitment is just jummping off the screen!!! Great news that you will all be together at AKL and that you are planning NYE dates!

I'm thinking Flemington would be a good spot to pick up some deals on clothes for the kids as well.

Hate to burst your bubble, Tig, even though it says outlet ... not always the case. The funny thing is that most of us who live in the area don't even shop there. Just want you to be prepared!

Kris, it's always sad when summer is over ...

Even though it's early, I am probably turning in soon.

 

[Aisling]

Jill, We loved La Nouba when we saw it last summer, especially the music. Wish we could be there for this NYE.

For those of us staying at AKL, I originally said that the Zebra Trail was prime, but that's if you have a savannah room. We have a standard this time, and after some research (I called CRO ), I found out that Zebra Trail for standard rooms may give you a room overlooking the bus stop, which would be fine with me, but if you get a low floor, you're literally eye to eye with people waiting for the bus. The CM said the Ostrich Trail, on the other side would be more private. THEN she said it might be better not to make a request, just to get there and see if the CM can sprinkle some and give an upgrade. I really don't care, honestly, which room I get, especially since it's only one night.

Nan, I've been checking out the two bike excursions on St. T and St. M. They don't seem too rigorous, altho too rigorous for me! If you do any research on them, would you please give me your opinion? I think I remember you saying that you want to do the Dolphin Encounter on Anguilla, so that would eliminate the St. T bike excursion. Anyway, no pressure AT ALL, but if Paul wants two riding partners, my guys will be doing one or the other.

Kris, where are you while I'm being chatty??? Probably getting ready for school tomorrow. Let us know how your first day goes. <--------an apple for the teacher Just kidding sweetie, I know your students will be
little

Grim, Tig, Karen, Tori, Lurkers... yoo hoo! I wanted to ask everyone a question: now that the cruise is really gettin close, have your plans been changing much. I knew when I first booked last year that I had everything down in stone (well except for how many pairs of shoes I'm taking), but not things are changing. I wasn't going to bring any booze, but now I'll be bringing wine coolers. I wasn'tgoing to bring my blow dryer to straighten my hair, just let it dry naturally and not very nicely wavy, but my dryer is already in my suitcase. A biggie is that now that we're staying at AKL and taking the DCL bus, which doesn't leave until noon, we won't be at the port at the exact moment it opens. But that's not too important to me anymore. I look forward to relaxing at AKL for a few hours that morning, reporting to the DCL desk, and waving bye bye to the ones not cruising as we board the bus. So what if we get there at one o'clock. We can walk right on the ship, after checking out the lovely terminal and posing for pics, and then go eat. Our rooms may be ready to enter, so we can even drop off our carry-ons before we eat.

And I know I've asked this a long while ago, but will any of you be dressing a little nicer since it'll be Christmas Eve? I don't mean formally, but something a little extra?
I'm praying for the PLA rotation, even called Costco to request it, to have Formal Night at Lumiere and Pirate Night in Parrot Cay. How perfect would THAT be??

Have you all been looking at the Cruise Food thread?? Holy moley, the food looks good, especially the desserts! I'm gonna go get a little something right now, those evil pictures hit me in my yummy bone!

BBL

 

[Aisling]

Hate to burst your bubble, Tig, even though it says outlet ... not always the case. The funny thing is that most of us who live in the area don't even shop there. Just want you to be prepared!

Karen, is there a restaurant nearby? Maybe we can meet for lunch instead of shopping. My boys would come, too, if food is involved!

Did I ever post this photo? It's my mom meeting Mickey for the first time, and I love the look on Chad's face...like he's introducing them. My Jesse is a lot taller than he is in the pic, since it was taken last summer. The kid is growing so fast, he's my bean pole!

 

[Aisling]

Just back from the playhouse and rehearsal!

Karen, please tell me that your family is going to be in the talent show on the cruise!

 

[grimgrinnin]

I found out that Zebra Trail for standard rooms may give you a room overlooking the bus stop, which would be fine with me, but if you get a low floor, you're literally eye to eye with people waiting for the bus.




Grim, Tig, Karen, Tori, Lurkers... yoo hoo! I wanted to ask everyone a question: now that the cruise is really gettin close, have your plans been changing much.

RE: Bust stop view: The first time we stayed at AKL, we booked a standard room, and got the bus stop view, 2nd floor. I was VERY disappointed. I wasn't expecting a savana view, but I wasn't expecting having to listen and smell the buses. The buses are loud, but the people waiting for the buses are even louder! After 5 minutes in the room, I called the front desk and asked how much it would cost to move to a savanah room. $75 a night later, we were in a great savanah room.

RE: Changes: Not a whole lot has changed:

• Staying at AKL instead of the Hyatt or Radisson
• Not getting REAS - booking Palo online now!
• Staying at OKW instead of BCV after the cruise
• Taking Disney trasportation to the port instead of a Town Car service

Think that's about it.



grim

 

[minniegrl]

I hope that "better late than never" holds true for this thread, too!

This is Dede. I am Grim's wife. I was forced to read all 123 pages over the weekend so that I can join the thread.

I can't remember what Grim has told you about me, so I'll do a little recap.

I am a teacher (6-8 Grade Technology & Careers)
I am 34 (35 at cruisng time)
My favorite Disney character is Minnie
Favorite Princess is Aurora

I'm very excited to be going on another cruise, but I am really hoping for CALM waters this time around!

Well that's all for now. Thanks to all you ladies for bringing my husband out of his "shell". You'd probably be surprised to know that he is extremely shy!

Bye for now
Dede

 

[Aisling]

Yay!!! It's Dede!!!
I'm SO happy you're here! :thewave: <---that's Grim, by the way
We've been waiting for Grim's princess to join us!
Welcome! And I'm dying to ask you what you think of your cruise gang after reading all those pages??

Please post often!!!

 

[nskjerven]

Dede:I'm so glad you joined us I wish I could get DH, Paul to join in too, but he wouldn't have the stomach to read all 123 pages of us gabbing. I'm so glad that your DH wasn't shy for he found me asking questions on another board and pointed me to this group...for that I owe him a beer or a spot o rum.

Grim: Gotta ya on the room...I'll call and ask them to make a note of my request and then hope to remind them when we arrive.

Asling: I'll check into the excursions on the bikes, but I think you are right one of them conflicted with the Dolphins so we'd opt for the other. I told Paul he could do either, but he wants to see Molly swim with the fishes.

We spent most of today working on the kids rooms again, then headed to the pool for a pizza dinner with Playgroup(3 families,3-8 year old girls 3-5 year old boys) . 5 of the 6 kids headed home with one family for an overnight, poor Wilson, I had to keep him home since he has a cough...couldn't expose the rest of the gang to him. He was sad.....so am I. He is really missing out on the fun. Ph well, more time for that latter he's only 5 right.

This week will be busy, work and getting ready for school....well better call it a night.

I'll check ya tomorrow,

Nan

 

[Aisling]

Dede, I have a very important question to ask you...would you rather be called Dede or Minnie, since that's your Dis name?

 

[minniegrl]

Aisling & Nan-
Thanks for making me feel so welcome tonight.

Ok Aisling, to answer your question, this is what I think of all my fellow cruisers.

I think:
all the girls in the post are very supportive of each other - yay girls!
grim is really cute
everyone seems really fun and excited to be cruising for Christmas
and ya'll do a LOT of talking! (i'm not sure I can keep up with all of you)

Anyway, I'm glad we're going on this cruise, and it will be nice to meet you all in person!

nighnigh

Dede

 

[minniegrl]

Dede, I have a very important question to ask you...would you rather be called Dede or Minnie, since that's your Dis name?

Dede is good, but whatever is easiest is fine with me.

 

[trinibjill]

Only two majorrrr changes.
Staying at AKL instead of Rad
Where to leave the car. Tigg going to fix that.

I like your idea of hanging out at the AKL instead of rushing to the ship. Last cruise our flight landed approx 1225 & it took about 10 min to find our mickey guide - took the magical bus to the terminal - they droped us off - we zipped thru & we still had a wee bit of time before all what needed to be done.

The rest except for the excursions is by ear .

HI Dede

Jill

 

[domiii]

Welcome Dede!!! Glad you joined us. I too had to catch up on a lot of pages, but I jumped right in and have been off and running ever since!! DH lurks but lets me to all the talking!!

I have to share with you all, especially you AKL people, our 'upgrade' story. I read a tip on these boards about taking candy or cookies and giving them to the CM at check in. Sometime it works, some times it doesn't. So we thought we would try it. DM makes the MOST unbelievable brownies (a story unto themselves). So I asked her to make a batch for the trip and told her why. We were staying at WL for the first time and doing the 3 days on the Wonder. There were 8 of us in 2 rooms on this trip, DM included. We were to have standard rooms - the ones overlooking the parking lot!

After they checked us in, our rooms were not ready, I handed over this nice sized package and said from our family to yours. The CM thanked us and said we should check back for our rooms in about 1/2 hour. We went to get a bite to eat before we got to our rooms.

WELL - we had the most amazing rooms - connecting, overlooking the otter pond facing the MK so we could see the fireworks every night!!! 15 minutes after we got to our rooms, we got a delivery of balloons, chocolate totem poles, chocolate coverd pretzels and a thank you card. Boy was our family impressed with us!!

But it doesn't end there. We were greeted daily by someone who thanked us for the brownies. (How they knew we were the ones, I still don't know!) The day we boarded the bus to go to PC, the cruise CM made everyone stand back and escorted us to the bus first. I'm telling you these are SOME brownies!!! We felt really special.

Now I don't know if this will help any of you in your quest for savanah views or not, but you never know! I believe in the power of random acts of kindness!! Plus it makes me feel good.