Completed w/ Photos 8/26 Seven Days on the Magic, Western...err make that Eastern.

[grumpydude]

Hey GD, I saw your link to your TR in one of your posts! This is a great report. I cannot believe that there was another family wearing the exact same matching shirts that your family did.

I also have a guess who CLG is.

We had Maria when we went on our 7 day western earlier this year. She was great wasn't she?

I haven't finished reading your report yet, I'm up to part 3 but I wanted to let you know that I'm enjoying this and that my family shares some of the same experiences that yours does.

Tye - Thanks for reading and thanks for posting, it is great to read what others have to say about your TR.

But now you have me in suspense. Who or what is your guess??

Yes...Maria was great. I wanted to pack her in my luggage and bring her home, Sonya too. Head Server Dude, NOT. How nice it would be to have someone to make dinner recommendations to me each evening. Even better, how nice it would be to have someone entertain Mr. KIA each evening so LOP and I can enjoy dinner. She said she was leaving soon to take some time off.She was actually going back to Hungary and taking her mother on a cruise for vacation. I thought that was pretty funny. It is like a forest ranger going to Yellowstone for vacation. I am not sure if/when she was going to come back to DCL.

However, you must tell me what your guess is.

Thanks
GD

 

[tyedye]

Directly above Mr KIA in dark shirt? If I am right will you tell me?

What exactly is the blond dude doing biting his fingernails or telling someone off?

 

[RLccweems]

I'm loving your trip report! I feel like your sitting here talking to me. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying! Also, your son is a little cutie pie!


lettie

 

[tyedye]

Hey GD, You should have rebooked on board anyway, you could always change the date or get a refund but that way you would have received the on board discount.

Thoughts and prayers to you and LOP after your loss. It's a difficult thing to deal with as I too have experienced that prior to our first Mr. KIA, then again before our 2nd Mr. KIA.

I can't believe Mr KIA got lost or misplaced or dropped his shoe or whatever to become separated from you and LOP but thankfully like you said it was on CC. I probably would have been crying too if I was there. This happened to our 2 Mr. KIA's at IoA a few years back. At least they were together, only problem was they were with each other and not me or DH and we didn't know where they were. I went to a store to tell them and they called security, DH started frantically searching for them in the play area where they took the slide down while DH took the stairs, then they bolted to the right out of that area instead of the left or just waited till DH got down the stairs.

A few minutes later (which seemed like days to me), DH intercoms me (yeah we had those walkie talkie thingys to prevent from being separated) to say he has them and then another lady walks into the store where I'm waiting for security (and why were they not here yet?) to say oh yes the 2 boys in green shirts they're with their Dad. When we all meet up seconds (which felt like hours) later they say they're ready to go home. Home?!? Uh I think not, it's only like 1:00 and we paid to stay here all day, let's get some ice cream and forget the last 30 mins happened.

We cruised at the end of Jan and we had Maria and Sarad (or something close to that) from Australia. Anyways Sarad was leaving shortly because she wanted to settle down. We really like Maria alot and saw her everywhere on the ship. She was even handing out the hand wipes at breakfast.

We were on the western however we didn't get to go to Cozumel because DCL wasn't going there yet due to the damage from the hurricane so we went to Nassau instead. We did however know this prior to leaving by a few weeks. One of the main reasons we choose the western was to go to Cozumel. This was our 3rd DCL cruise and the previous 2 were 4 day trips so we had been to Nassau a few times already.

So what was one to do but rebook on board for another 7 day western. So next year we will hopefully make it to Cozumel.

 

[grumpydude]

RL Thanks for reading and thanks for the PM. It is appreciated more than you know.

Tye- What can I say?...We have a winner. Now you must tell me your theory.

As far as booking on board...we were not really sure how it worked and how long we could keep pushing it out. I just signed a contract to more than double my current mortgage payment on a new house because at the time we needed another bedroom. We never really considered booking again because we were going to be busy and very very very poor for the next few years. We are still going to be poor in April when the house is completed so we will be vacationing in the back yard around the kiddie pool.

Hey now I have another idea for a trip report. Thanks Tye

 

[tyedye]

Theory? Um, he just looked like CLG to me. The others in the pic looked busy or like they were with someone. You said he didn't appear he was with anyone and he is just standing there not appearing he was with anyone. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Perhaps he is an uncle or relative or something of someone cruising and is waiting for them to get to the terminal.

BTW, completely understand about needing another room, buying new house, etc etc. We bought a house so our 2 boys would have their own rooms and we'd have more space etc. Well 5 yrs later and they're still sharing a room (they are 17 months apart). Good thing too cause all of my stuff has taken over the spare room.

Best of luck to you and your family. Again, great report.

 

[abbs25]

This was such a great report. Makes me want to sign up for another Disney cruise right away. Prayers to you and your family right now!

 

[grumpydude]

This was such a great report.

abbs25...thanks for reading. And thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

 

[firstmickey]

I just read your whole trip report and really enjoyed it!


1. Steeler fan... ...did you ever get that Steeler grumpy?
(we won't discuss this year's season however)


2. Your cruise was several weeks after mine and I remember hearing about the hurricane and feeling so bad for all of you and your switched itinerary. You had such a good attitude about it all. Hopefully you will get to do the Western again soon.

3. Laughing at the Kraken....I thought that several times!

4. Loved all your pics...Mr. KIA is adorable!


thanks for sharing!

 

[CastleCreations]

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your trip report. I was in such a hurry to get home tonight and finishing reading it. I'm sorry for the loss of your little one. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us!! I loved it!
Lisa

 

[grumpydude]

I just read your whole trip report and really enjoyed it!

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your trip report.

First of all, thanks for reading. No I do not want to talk about this years season, I mean how can you lose to the Raider's? No I did not get a Steeler's Grumpy but I do have the Mickey you sent me; thanks.
The itinerary switch was not that bad, after all, we never had been to those places. It was just that we had really prepared to go to the Western destinations. There were many on the cruise, including the family that was not related to us but dressed like us, who had already gone Eastern and specifically wanted the Western...well because they had done Eastern. LOP is still kind of bummed about it. She, not so subtly, hints she wants a return trip and it better be Western or somebody will get hurt. So Captain Tom, when you see our names pop back up on the guest list...you better be driving that ship toward the Western Carib.

As for as Adorability, yes Mr. KIA looks adorable. But I can assure you looks can be deceiving. Some days, he becomes the poster child for abstinence. But alas, he is mine and I still love him anyway.

 

[chepic]

I just picked up this thread from another...Happy trips....and I am so thankful I did. GD....you rock. I am not certain who is funnier, you or ziewand...I am going to have to now read the other TR from the other person you recommended. We are going on our first Disney cruise Jan. of 2008, unlike you I plan well in advance....and we have a little boy in tow. He will be 7 at the time of the sailing, and I can totally relate with alot of what you talked about. We are also from the North...RI...and can relate to DOT noise. Our plan is to tell him he is not allowed to page us, it is for us to page him.

Thanks again for the review, look forward to sharing it with the others that are cruising with us.

che

 

[DisneyPhD]

Hey, I read it all and really enjoyed it. Good way to spend a snowy afternoon.

Thanks for the warning of the suck o matics. My 5 year old DD is wigged out enough with the auto flush ones at WDW. I can give her fair warning at least. I was hoping 2 year old DD would be potty trained by our May trip (she is well on her way now.) but I am started to 2nd guess it. Something like that would make her stop using the potty.

 

[grumpydude]

I just picked up this thread from another...Happy trips....and I am so thankful I did. GD....you rock. I am not certain who is funnier, you or ziewand...I am going to have to now read the other TR from the other person you recommended. We are going on our first Disney cruise Jan. of 2008, unlike you I plan well in advance....and we have a little boy in tow. He will be 7 at the time of the sailing, and I can totally relate with alot of what you talked about. We are also from the North...RI...and can relate to DOT noise. Our plan is to tell him he is not allowed to page us, it is for us to page him.

Thanks again for the review, look forward to sharing it with the others that are cruising with us.

che

I will say you plan ahead. It would kill me to know that I had to wait a year...but I have issues.

Zweilhund (Erica) is much funnier than me. You should also try Oboyshoi (Brenda)...she has couple of good trip reports too. I must admit that I thought Sleepy Dog's was the master of all Cruise Trip Reports and when I grow up I hope to write another report like his.

Telling your son the pager is for you to page him...sheer brilliance. I will need to remember that next time I am in that predicament.

Thanks for reading.
GD

 

[CapnJackGroupie]

Grumpydude! You are hilarious! I just picked up this thread and HAD to sit and read it all at one time - my kids are yelling for me in the background cause they're starving....but I don't care!! "Not till I'm done w/ Grumpydude's TR" I yell at them!! We're going on our first DC in March and we're so excited. Thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[grumpydude]

Grumpydude! You are hilarious! I just picked up this thread and HAD to sit and read it all at one time - my kids are yelling for me in the background cause they're starving....but I don't care!! "Not till I'm done w/ Grumpydude's TR" I yell at them!! We're going on our first DC in March and we're so excited. Thanks so much for sharing!!

Capn...thanks for reading I am glad you enjoyed it. Don't worry about the kids, being hungry builds character. As for your trip in March...I am sure you will have a great time and I hope you post your own TR.

 

[Floridagram]

I'm glad I just found this report today, I wouldn't have wanted to wait a month for all the installments! Great TR! When are you going again?

 

[steveandtonya]

Grumpy---- Excellent trip report. I am a fellow Steelers fan and was lucky to be on the Magic last february for the Super Bowl. It seemed like half or more of the ship were Steeler fans. It was the highlight of the cruise to watch them on the big screen while in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

Steve

 

[grumpydude]

I'm glad I just found this report today, I wouldn't have wanted to wait a month for all the installments! Great TR! When are you going again?

I wish I was going today...it has been too damn cold. I seriously checked into going on the Panamal Canal one...but it was booked up in less than a day. Now I will lurk the boards to find out who I have to kill to get their room.

 

[grumpydude]

Grumpy---- Excellent trip report. I am a fellow Steelers fan and was lucky to be on the Magic last february for the Super Bowl. It seemed like half or more of the ship were Steeler fans. It was the highlight of the cruise to watch them on the big screen while in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

Steve

The only thing that would have been more cool than watching last year's Superbowl on the Big Screen in the middle of the ocean would to have watched it on the Big Screen at Ford Field. Unfortunately I was only watching it on the little screen in my family room, which I can tell you, is not near as exciting as the two previous options.

But the Steelers won last year, they sucked this year and Cower quit. I hope to look forward to next season but their new coach (Mike Tomlin, who???) is going to his high school prom during the draft so I do not look forward any good picks. Plus his mom won't let him stay up past 10 so there goes any Sunday Night or Monday Night games. Thanks Mr. Rooney.