Dec 5, 2009 -- now traveling to Tortola

[Hanover]

Here is a great tip I heard a few years ago, if eating at a buffet clean hands before you enter the restaurant and again as soon as you sit down to eat after serving your plate, I also do not let my kids touch the serving spoons just their plates. I am not a germophobe but when on vacation the last thing I want to do is get sick.

We do the same! I love the Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's but it never fails to see people lick their fingers after they spooned their food and got stuff on them and continue to spoon more food. I've seen it happen on the ship a lot too. I keep the purrell bottle on the table and ask the boys to use them each time they sit down after getting more food. I've seen people use napkins wrapped around ketchup bottles and salt/pepper shakers but we haven't gone that far--we just wipe our hands after using them.

 

[Hanover]

I forgot to add--not sure if anyone booked through Southwest for their return flights but ours went down today to $92. We originally booked them for $134 each. I have enough SW credit now it should pay for Brennan and my flight down to Star Wars weekends in June.

 

[rowst3]

We do the same! I love the Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's but it never fails to see people lick their fingers after they spooned their food and got stuff on them and continue to spoon more food. I've seen it happen on the ship a lot too. I keep the purrell bottle on the table and ask the boys to use them each time they sit down after getting more food. I've seen people use napkins wrapped around ketchup bottles and salt/pepper shakers but we haven't gone that far--we just wipe our hands after using them.

Seeing people lick their fingers after spooning food onto their plate has to be the grossest thing in the world. I think I'll be wearing gloves at Topsiders.

Thanks!

 

[Hanover]

Seeing people lick their fingers after spooning food onto their plate has to be the grossest thing in the world. I think I'll be wearing gloves at Topsiders.

Thanks!

I think it's sick too! The worst was the very first time we cruised DCL--the guy in front of me in the embarkation buffet kept putting his knuckle in the sliced French bread to see if it was soft or something. I was stunned and didn't want to be confrontational so I didn't say anything--you can bet I didn't get the bread or let anyone in my family do so. I just go to Goofy's Galley now for lunch!

 

[carmie3377]

I forgot to add--not sure if anyone booked through Southwest for their return flights but ours went down today to $92. We originally booked them for $134 each. I have enough SW credit now it should pay for Brennan and my flight down to Star Wars weekends in June.

Glad it worked out for you! That's one of the reason we love SWA! However, this trip hasn't worked out all that great for us. I'm currently flying out of different airport because it was so much cheaper. I just "knew" that SWA's rates would go down and I could change to my local airport (Houston Hobby only 20 mins away). HOwever, the rates have done nothing but go up. If they don't have a lower rate tomorrow when they release their weekly sales, I wll have lost all hope for flying out of Houston on this trip.

 

[Hanover]

Glad it worked out for you! That's one of the reason we love SWA! However, this trip hasn't worked out all that great for us. I'm currently flying out of different airport because it was so much cheaper. I just "knew" that SWA's rates would go down and I could change to my local airport (Houston Hobby only 20 mins away). HOwever, the rates have done nothing but go up. If they don't have a lower rate tomorrow when they release their weekly sales, I wll have lost all hope for flying out of Houston on this trip.

Don't give up! I checked daily, sometimes through out the day (I work from home and it's easy to just check my personal computer since it's next to my work computer) and the return flight on 12/13 didn't budge forever either-- until about last week when it went to $117, then $107 and now today at $92. I hope it will go even lower! We booked several of our last flights for $49 including the way down on Dec 4 and our Aug and Oct flights.

 

[carmie3377]

Don't give up! I checked daily, sometimes through out the day (I work from home and it's easy to just check my personal computer since it's next to my work computer) and the return flight on 12/13 didn't budge forever either-- until about last week when it went to $117, then $107 and now today at $92. I hope it will go even lower! We booked several of our last flights for $49 including the way down on Dec 4 and our Aug and Oct flights.

Thank you. Maybe there still is hope then. When they released a sale a couple of weeks ago, it started on Dec 2 and ended on Dec 16. We're flying Dec 1 and Dec 17. I couldn't believe to have missed it by one day on each end! Oh well, I got a good rate as it is ($59 each way). I'm just trying to avoid the 4 hour drive to Dallas when I live so close to Houston Hobby. Sometimes I wished I hadn't even looked at those Dallas fares and just booked originally out of Houston.

 

[wuv tigger]

OK now that I see 19 days left on my ticker I am I am nowhere near ready to leave, to much to do and not enough time.


I forgot who was making a journal for their little ones but here is a great link with lots of activites not disney but still great to keep them busy.

http://www.penworthy.com/web.nsf/Den?Openform

Not that I spent much time on it today. I have PTA stuff to get out of the way b4 I can really get ready for this trip.

thanks for the link to activity pages!

 

[wuv tigger]

WUVtigger--sorry about the loss of your brother

I am REALLY trying NOT to be a Debbie Downer for my dh who loves me ENOUGH to take me on a cruise .... hoping it will help me heal. Death stinks!

wuv tigger

 

[wuv tigger]

The dkids journal is going well.

I have a few more pages to print off when they are in school this week.

I am hoping that I can bind the journal while I am at school later this week.

DH can't believe some of the graphics I got for their journals. There are alot of talented disers out there!

 

[Hanover]

I think I caught up to everyone that wanted a free token code for the 4 day Disney Cruise sweepstakes from Disney Cruise Line for the house party I held. If anyone else still wants one, please PM me. There is no purchase neccessary. You just have to be over 18 and a US Citizen to apply for it. Good luck to those that got a code! It would be awesome to see one of us win. I'm not sure how many codes are out there, but as far as I know 1,000 people hosted a house party (or got selected to do so) and each person hosting was supposed to be given 15 packs with about 5 or so codes in each. I only got about 11 packs and handed out about 25 codes at our party.

 

[rowst3]

I know this has been brought up before but is there a schedule? I'm finally ready to get my gifts put together and was wondering if one existed. Just wanted to know if my day fell before or after Pirate night.

Thanks! Rosemary

 

[NHdisneylover]

I know this has been brought up before but is there a schedule? I'm finally ready to get my gifts put together and was wondering if one existed. Just wanted to know if my day fell before or after Pirate night.

Thanks! Rosemary

Rosemary, I do not have it in front of me but I think we have pirate night on the 8th when we leave Tortola.


Marika is back home sick again! All the same symptoms as last week (but not quite as bad) after three days of being totally fine. I tried calling the doctor--but the office is closed because the doctor is sick. The message said to call the other pediatrician in town (they cover for each other). Called there, got a message that THAT doctor is sick and to call Marika's doctor The pharmacist says he has seen many, many kids relapse so it is not something to worry about in and of itself (pharamcists here are very doctore like and a better choice than the doctor to visit for minor stuff--I love them). Meanwhile, of the 9 teachers Rio should have today, 7 are out sick. He will have 3 45 minute classes between 7:45 and 2:35 and then get to come home an hour and a half early. I think the entire city must have this!

 

[amyngary]

Marika is back home sick again! All the same symptoms as last week (but not quite as bad) after three days of being totally fine. I tried calling the doctor--but the office is closed because the doctor is sick. The message said to call the other pediatrician in town (they cover for each other). Called there, got a message that THAT doctor is sick and to call Marika's doctor The pharmacist says he has seen many, many kids relapse so it is not something to worry about in and of itself (pharamcists here are very doctore like and a better choice than the doctor to visit for minor stuff--I love them). Meanwhile, of the 9 teachers Rio should have today, 7 are out sick. He will have 3 45 minute classes between 7:45 and 2:35 and then get to come home an hour and a half early. I think the entire city must have this!

That stinks. If it were my kids, my employer would think I was fibbing! Poor Marika. I can't believe the rest of your family has escaped getting it so far. I hope her relapse is brief.

On a different note: Has she decided about the Benedict book yet? We leave in 2 weeks, so if I'm going to order it from Amazon, I should do it right away.

 

[NHdisneylover]

That stinks. If it were my kids, my employer would think I was fibbing! Poor Marika. I can't believe the rest of your family has escaped getting it so far. I hope her relapse is brief.

On a different note: Has she decided about the Benedict book yet? We leave in 2 weeks, so if I'm going to order it from Amazon, I should do it right away.

Thanks for reminding me about the book! I forgot with everything else going on. She would like to just borrow Julia's copy if that is okay. We are worried about luggage space going home (we plan to stop at Target on the 12th and buy things like the only jeans she likes, etc until the siutcase is full). She reads quickly and promises to finsih in plenty of time to return it.

THANKS

 

[Hanover]

Hadley, I hope Marika is feeling better soon. Sounds like the school has been hit hard.

I think it's peaked here, but kids are still getting sick. I know the school has started giving out Purrell as soon as the kids get on the bus from the driver, then after recess/before lunch and at the end of the day. They are also asking for antibacterial wipes for the kids to have to wipe their desks down every couple of days.

My friend's son that had the 104 fever last week is still sick with what his doctor said is just a virus. He was negative for H1N1. Her younger son now is at the start of it and her older son tested positive yesterday for strep (he was negative last week). That's the 3rd virus they have had this year. My other friend whose daughter was hospitalized last week with H1N1 complications including pneumonia has also had 3-4 viruses go through their family this year. I'm still holding my breath that we remain virus free.

I have yet to start putting my FE stuff together in bags or start packing clothes but I have an idea what I'll be bringing. I just hope everything still fits since I haven't worn them since our last 7 day cruise.

 

[hurley03]

Hi all,

will it really be shorts and tank top weather?
I am just not sure what to pack.

thanks!

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

Hadley I sure hope Marika gets to feeling better.

will it really be shorts and tank top weather?

When we sailed at the same time 2 yrs ago we wore shorts and tank tops every day. When we left texas though we had on a sweater and jeans so we had those as backups just in case. This time we are going to have to remember to put the sweaters on the top of the suitcase for when we land back in texas.

 

[Inkmahm]

Hi all,

will it really be shorts and tank top weather?
I am just not sure what to pack.

thanks!

You need regular pants for the dining rooms, I don't think shorts are acceptable for dinner. I'd bring a sweater, too, as the public parts of the ship can be cool.

If you're spending any time at WDW before or after the cruise, I'd also bring a few warmer clothes. I've been to WDW at the beginning of December for a few years now and the weather ranges from jeans/jacket all day to shorts/tshirt even late into the evening for MVMCP. It's not predictable.

 

[Tower]

will it really be shorts and tank top weather? I am just not sure what to pack.

Nope, you need to pack a parka, wooly mittens, thick, waterproof boots and don't forget your toque eh?

Ooops, sorry, I was thinking of an Alaskan Cruise!