Cruising on the Wonder Jan.29, 09

[natale1980]

-5!!! WOW put on the sun screen!! It's -30 here!

-nat

 

[Pakey]

Guys, I came to work in a short sleeved top, no jacket. You are going to be basking in the warmth on that cruise and I'm going to be freezing.

Cari, our guide dog puppies wore green, from San Rafael. I had never known much about the program before they started working here. OMG, they are so amazing and so much time and effort goes into raising and training those dogs. It takes such a huge committment on the raiser's part and I don't think people realize how much they give to raise just one dog. I wish someone had raised my two dogs then maybe they would be better behaved instead of spoiled brats.

We have flown out of LAX and SFO on occasion when taking the kids on vacation but this time, the prices were not different enough to justify the drive plus the cost of a hotel for the night before. When it's just my husband and I, we would rather pay a higher rate and fly from home then make that 4 hour drive to/through Los Angeles.

Acegolfer, sounds like a good room assignment; we'll be on the same deck but at opposite ends.

Ollies, did you get your docs?

 

[samily]

-30, OMG! I guess I shouldn't be complaining about our 10 degree weather here - lol

1 week until we leave for FL and I can't wait!!!!

 

[4Ollies]

Ollies, did you get your docs?

No docs yet. I called and talked to Disney yesterday and she said I didn't need to worry about them since I did all the "paperwork" online. Makes you wonder why they send out the docs in the first place since you can do it online, at the resorts, or at port.

Apparently our docs were sent out but sent to a travel group that hasn't sent them on to us. Needless to say, the person we booked through hasn't returned my call! Which reminds me I need to go harrass him nicely again. LOL

Years ago I worked at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO during the summers while teaching. There was a couple who were training a monkey to be a service animal. Guarantee that I had a huge crowd at the carousel while he was riding. So cute seeing that little guy sitting, holding on to the pole in his little diaper. Hey, he didn't need to be reminded of the rules. He knew to hold on to the pole.

I didn't know that different groups used different colors to show what school they were from. Don't think my Shih Tzus would make very good guide dogs. They both think the world revolves around them.

 

[Pakey]

Ollies, tell your Shih Tzus that the world revolves around Chinese cresteds, at least according to my two.

I called DCL to find out about our pickup time for our DCL transfer to port and the CM told me it was in our packets that we received. She gave me the information anyway but when I got home, I went through that packet with a fine toothed comb and there is nothing in there about the pickup. Luggage tags, yes, nothing about the pickup.

Good news is that they are picking us up at the Beach Club so I don't have to transfer 11 people and 20 pieces of luggage over to the Dolphin (which is what I was thinking we would have to do).

 

[4Ollies]

Ollies, tell your Shih Tzus that the world revolves around Chinese cresteds, at least according to my two.

I called DCL to find out about our pickup time for our DCL transfer to port and the CM told me it was in our packets that we received. She gave me the information anyway but when I got home, I went through that packet with a fine toothed comb and there is nothing in there about the pickup. Luggage tags, yes, nothing about the pickup.

Good news is that they are picking us up at the Beach Club so I don't have to transfer 11 people and 20 pieces of luggage over to the Dolphin (which is what I was thinking we would have to do).

We aren't using Disney for transfers so that helps too. We are getting a rental car and doing it ourselves. Might be interesting. I wanted to get to the port early. Originally we had a long time between our disembarking and our plane leaving. Now we don't have much time. I wanted to go to Downtown Disney for a few hours. Oh well. We will get home a little earlier which will be nice for all my boys who have school and work the next morning at 8.

 

[guitardiva]

Happy Friday!!

 

[Pakey]

I just finished my last fish extender gift and put it in the box that I'm UPSing to port. It's a good thing I'm shipping it because I could barely pick up the box; I think the extra pounds would have put me over the airline weight limit anyway.

I'm really worried that people are going to steal this stuff out of the fish extenders. If you guys don't get it, at least know I had a lot of fun making it.

 

[guitardiva]

Well Orlando is suppose to have a high of 75 on Friday. Hopefully it stays steady after that.

 

[hm21999]

We are getting SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!
Safe travels to all of you who are leaving next week.....
We are heading out the 28th and staying overnight at the Hyatt at MCO
We opted out of disney transfers as i found out through the infinite knowledge of the disboards that a round trip with happy limo put me at $50 +/- more than DCL transfers !!! They are going to put my daughters name on the board when they pick us up - I cant wait to see her face

 

[denversees4me]

you guys r getting so close !!!!!! WOO HOO
yes i have herd of monkeys they are a BIG help. They have re written the definition of a service animal now and sadly monkeys are NOT included.... they have found the very helpful but as they age they become agressive twards people not all but some do .

So on my last cruise we did the countdown with the dancing abnannas !!!!
we counted the dancing banannas to our cruise LOL it was kinda fun sooooooooooooooooooooooo
happy dancing banannas everyone !
cari and Denver

 

[4Ollies]

Well I finally tracked down my cruise docs. They are STILL at my travel agent's office. Of course he isn't working this week. Would have been nice if he had updated his voicemail. I just called and talked to a manager and she is overnighting them to me so I should have them on Tuesday. She did give me the tracking number too! LOL

On another subject, my boys are interested in meeting some people they "know" on the ship. They are seven years old and I see there are a couple of others with kiddos the same age. Want to attempt to meet up somewhere on the boat early so the kids can have a few friends when they go to the clubs?

Still planning on being in Epcot next Saturday if anyone wants to try to meet up there. We will be at POR if you are staying there.

 

[eeyore7360]

We will be at POR from the 22nd. We most likely will be at Epcot at some point on Saturday.

 

[hm21999]

Happy Monday All!
OK - I am giving away one of the FE gifts since I am staring at it - and unless I was told what it was, I would not be quite sure what to do with it or what the heck it is - In the kids bags there will be a ball with a pirate on it - this is a soaker ball that they can use at CC at the beach -

 

[4Ollies]

I think I have a very random group of FE gifts. The kids will have fun with the soaker balls.
I can't believe that the time is finally here. We leave on Friday!

 

[natale1980]

We fly in on Thursday!!! I'm getting very excited!! A little Worried about money (we close on our house on Feb 20th)... it's funny how stuff like that happens. I mean how could I have guessed six months ago that we would have found a house right before our vacation!!!

Does anyone want to plan a meet when we arrive on the ship? Or is everyone going to be well marked with lime green mickey heads - so your easy to spot?

-nat

 

[guitardiva]

I'm all for a meet on the boat. Let me know.

We are leaving Friday afternoon after the kids get home from school. I have to say I am pretty excited.
I hear ya about the $$ thing Nat. After we were PIF they had cut DH 's hours at work . Been tight times. Don't think anything else pricey will be in the cards on this trip. Thankfully everything is paid for including food on the land portion of the trip. I checked Orlando weather the other day.
Mid to high 70'!!..

Did anyone change room #s?? We have the same room.
Can we get a final rundown on the rooms for the FE?

 

[samily]

I also think it would be fun to have a meet! Where & when? What do you guys think? We've never done it before so not sure what works best. On our 1/25 cruise we are meeting at the Mickey pool at 2pm. I have also read of people meeting around 3 before the safety drill at different spots around the ship. Anyone have any ideas? What time is everyone planning on boarding?

4ollies - my DS7 is excited to have some other 7 yo boys onboard! We will be at Epcot on Sat. the 24th but I haven't been there since it opened so really wouldn't know how to plan to meet there. I'm up for it, but would need some direction...

Here is the latest (I think) FE list - please double check your staterooms:

natale1980 - 4 people (2 kids - DS3.5, DD1) (stateroom 2500)
guitardiva - 5 people (3 kids - DD17, DS14, DD7) (stateroom 8538)
samily - 5 people (3 kids - DD 10.5, DS7, DS4) (stateroom 8534)
hm21999 - 4 people (1 kiddo - DD9) (stateroom 8026)
pakey - 2 people (stateroom 7108)
pakey's family - 3 people (1 kiddo - DGS3) (stateroom 2009)
4ollies - 4 people (2 kids - DS7, DS7) (stateroom 6040)

Nat, congrats on your house!

 

[hm21999]

Am up for a meet here too... Just tell me where and hopefully I will find it Nats - congrats on the house -

 

[acegolfer]

Samily,

Do we have to be on the FE list to meet?

Is FE a gift exchange thing? This is our first disney cruise and my wife doesn't show much interest in FE yet.