December 03, 2005 Western Magic?

[april riddle]

Hi everyone - we will be sailing with you. We are myself (45, DH 47, DS 11 DS 9 DM 69) We sailed on the 11-27 Eastern and had such a wonderful time we rebooked on ship. My mom doesn't know she is going yet - I am surprising her for mother's day after she has knee surgery in March. I have been looking for the thread. We are still posting to the 11-27 thread. Both DS had pen pals before the cruise and had alot of fun with the boys they met. They did not spend as much time in the clubs as I thought they would but they loved hanging out around the pools and eating ice cream all day. I am trying to figure out how to scrap together another couple of grand in order to take my sister and her family but I don't think DH is going to go for it. We are just getting through the Christmas season and I can say that after getting off the cruise on December 3rd it was really hard to get into the Christmas mode. I have already promised myself that everything (including all the gifts wrapped) will be done before we leave. So that I can just continue to relax after we get back. I have enjoyed your posts so far. There were 13 of us from our last thread that met for high tea. That was really fun. OK everyone Happy New Year and before we know it it will be time to reboard the Magic.

 

[Popovich]

Hi April! We might be sailing with you again!! We're currently booked with Diane (NJ Cruisers) on the Eastern 11/26 '05. But might be switching to this Western. I just can't decide! The friends that we made on the boards before the trip really helped make our cruise memorable for my family.

I agree that the best tip for us was the over the door organizer. I packed two. One for shoes for the 4 of us and one for "stuff". It really helped the room stay organized. The second best tip was bringing a multi-pocket drop down folder from Target. It helped keep our airline papers, cruise papers, birth certificates/passports and WDW reservation papers organized and in one place.

We're a group of 6. My DH (40), me (40), DD Nicole (8) DS Matthew (6) and my MIL and FIL. We had two adjoining cat 6 rooms this year and loved them.

The hardest thing for me to give up on the Eastern is the shopping in St. Thomas and the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel. However, I've read great things about the dolphin encounter on the Western.

I've enjoyed reading your thread. I busted out laughing (with you, not at you!) at the formal gown story. That's a nightmare, losing your gown after you found one that fits AND looks good!!!

Oh, BTW, what is the Plap Lap-er Group????

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

 

[april riddle]

Hi Gaylyn I am with you - we really had some discussion on whether we should go back on the Eastern. We really loved St. Thomas too - maybe we just need to go there for a week another time. I think I will miss that extra day at sea too - I personally think it gives you alot of choice for times for the spa if you get the REAS. I think the Plaplapers is the dinner rotation people had. We were Plaplapers too last cruise and will be requesting this again. I loved being in Lumere's for the formal night and Parrot Cay for Pirate night. I am putting my scrapbook together this weekend - We always spend New Year's just the four of us having finger food and celebrating with sparkling cider at midnight. Everyone have a great New Years.

 

[Popovich]

I'm working on my scrapbook today too. I'm on my way to Costco with my CD of pictures and the 8 X 10s and 5 X 7s from the cruise to shrink into 4 X6s. We bought our Christmas cards on the ship and they turned out great. I hope to do that again next year.

I have to email Diane and see if they would be interested in switching to the Western. It would be nice to see them and the boys had a great time together.

Whether we cruise the 26th or the 3rd, I need to be more prepared for Christmas before we leave. I felt very rushed and was even wrapping on Christmas Eve after church!

Have a great New Years Eve everyone!

Gailyn

 

[house_of_princesses]

Whether we cruise the 26th or the 3rd, I need to be more prepared for Christmas before we leave. I felt very rushed and was even wrapping on Christmas Eve after church!


Gailyn

I rest my case. THIs, dear friends, is why I'm seriously considering dropping this trip from my long term plan, and sticking with the Nov. 06 trip. This season wasn't horrendous, but as April said, getting off a cruise in December makes for a difficult transition to the Christmas season. I rather enjoy the hustle and bustle of Advent, but I'd also like to bask in the cruise afterglow a little longer than I did. In addition, I believe we'll be staying at OKW for 2 last week of September, first week of October.

 

[april riddle]

OK now that I have introduced myself and with alot of worrying and thinking and basically obsessing about whether we can do this cruise and only have two weeks before Christmas by the time I get home - I forced myself to weigh the pros and cons and have decided to rebook for the Eastern November 26. You guys already seem like a great bunch and if Gailyn decides to go with you - she is a very nice person. spent some quality time with her waiting to rebook! Good Luck and have fun on your cruise. I am sure we will see each other on the regular cruise boards. Happy New Year.

 

[GrayFal]

Hi April and Gailyn .......Glad you found us!

Although, it seems April is leaving us so soon....and Vicki is sure on the fence.

FYI - we are the PLAP LAPers - named after our dinner rotation last cruise....so we might have a different name before we leave for this one .
Several of the PLAP LAPers have also re-booked for <a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=685164">November 11, 2006 - MAGIC - Special Western "Double Dip" Cruise</a>. This is the time we cruised in 2004 - it was nice to cruise then go home the week of Thanksgiving and start the holiday celebrations. I really enjoyed it....but will give the December date a try with my friend Sarah. I will be misssing both mine and DH's work Christmas Parties....will just have to see how it goes. I also do not have young children so it is a bit easier for me to travel then. But several families from our 11/13/04 cruise rebooked for the 12/17/05 cruise and they are traveling from California! Go figure!

Anyway, have a very Happy New Year to all cruisers and especially my PLAP LAPers Pals

 

[cjsmom97]

Hi April and Gaylin.......Glad you found us!

Although, it seems April is leaving us so soon....and Vicki is sure on the fence.

Vicki - please say it isn't so! I have already promised to be your Christmas Elf to help you get everything done in time! Heck, I will even do some of your Christmas shopping for you. I wrap really well, too!! Just supply the paper and I am there!! Please don't cancel.... Rick isn't afraid of you! He even wants to drive with you too! Go figure! What can I say? I am willing to do anything to keep the man happy that keeps me cruising!!! LOL

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

I rest my case. THIs, dear friends, is why I'm seriously considering dropping this trip from my long term plan, and sticking with the Nov. 06 trip. This season wasn't horrendous, but as April said, getting off a cruise in December makes for a difficult transition to the Christmas season. I rather enjoy the hustle and bustle of Advent, but I'd also like to bask in the cruise afterglow a little longer than I did. In addition, I believe we'll be staying at OKW for 2 last week of September, first week of October.

Vicki, if you do this you will be breaking the heart of a little girl who turns 6 the day we sail. She is sooooooooooo looking forward to spending another week with your 2 youngest princesses. Could you really live with yourself if you caused this type of distress to a sweet little child? Am I making you feel guilty yet GOOD that's the entire point of this post. You can't abandon us now Vicki. You are the queen mum of our "little" group.

 

[Popovich]

We went ahead and changed from Nov 26 and booked the Dec 3rd date. This way we can enjoy Thanksgiving without having to fly out the next morning at the crack of dawn. This year we spent 3 hrs at my sister in laws on Thanksgiving and then rushed home to pack until 1:30 am. I don't know how this happened because we planned for this trip for nearly a year!! Next time I know better. Be packed the weekend before.

Anyway, we decided to give this time of year one more try. We'll just shop early and put our lights up when we take the Halloween decorations down. I'm going to have a gift wrapping/wine drinking party the week before Thanksgiving and give my girlfriends and family alot of notice so they can shop early too. This way all of the rushing/shopping and wrapping will be done before Thanksgiving and all we'll have to do upon return is relax and enjoy and do some baking and visiting with family and friends!!

We really liked alot of things about sailing in December: the ships decorations, the snow on CC, Christmas music in shorts while having a drink of the day (not the kids, just DH and I) and most of all, meeting our new friends from dis boards . All these things made for a very special trip. It dosen't get better than that!

We also liked doing MVMCP at MK and being at WDW for the holiday shows and seeing all the decorations. We spent 4 days at Disney after the cruise. This year, we're going to arrive at Disney Sunday the 27th or Monday the 28th.

Well, all for now. Happy New Year!!!!

 

[GrayFal]

We really liked alot of things about sailing in December: the ships decorations, the snow on CC, Christmas music in shorts while having a drink of the day (not the kids, just DH and I) and most of all, meeting our new friends from dis boards . All these things made for a very special trip. It dosen't get better than that!

We also liked doing MVMCP at MK and being at WDW for the holiday shows and seeing all the decorations. We spent 4 days at Disney after the cruise. This year, we're going to arrive at Disney Sunday the 27th or Monday the 28th.
Happy New Year!!!!

Gailyn, you have some good plans - and I think that's what it will take to travel this time of year. I am hoping to convince my travel companions to fly/drive in on Thursday to go to the MVMCP on Friday - I haven't been to WDW at Christmas before and I think it will be something to see PLUS, a REALLY nice way to kick off the cruise.

We sailed this year - OOPS - last year, on the first cruise that had the Christmas decoration - 11/13 Magic and I can't wait to see Castaway Cay decorated, too!
So do the PLAP LAPers hear Gailyn.....plan, plan, pack (she forgot!) shop, wrap, PLAN!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

http://community.webshots.com/user/kycruisecrazy incase and one wants to look at the pictures from our nov 04 cruise here is the link. let me know what you think

 

[chichihoney]

John
i like the pictures

 

[GrayFal]

John
i like the pictures

We are a GOOD LOOKING group....aren't we !

yes we are pat

I especially like your DIS Meet pictures ...I was sooooo busy talking I missed taking any!
And nice shots of "The Roy" - we all look right at home .

 

[chichihoney]

yes we are pat

 

[cjsmom97]

http://community.webshots.com/user/kycruisecrazy incase and one wants to look at the pictures from our nov 04 cruise here is the link. let me know what you think

Loved the pictures!!! Also glad to hear I wasn't the only one that didn't take any pictures in the Roy Suite. Brought my camera everywhere (including there) but never took a shot. Oh, well. Guess John's will have to do.

John - did you happen to remove the later days from the list? Could have sworn they were all there. Then they were gone.

 

[swampkatz]

Good Morning Cruisers,
Just went and changed my countdown clock, hope I have it right
This time yesterday I thought we would be on the Wonder for 4 nights, beginning Nov. 6 but after a day of looking at pictures of the cruise ships, reading about the shore excursions, drooling over DISer's photos and trip reports and a full hour about the Disney cruise line on the Travel Channel, well reservations were changed. Had to pick this cruise 'cause from the looks of this thread this is THE group !
My husband and I will be taking our first cruise and our first vacation in 27 years without kiddos, grandkids, in-laws or out-laws. Whatever will we do?
I look forward to getting to know you and participating on this thread.
Kathi

 

[Hannosmom]

Happy 2005 everybody! Hope your new year has shoved off to a good start.

I'm just about over the lovely cold my granddaughter gave me for Christmas. I don't mind, it was worth all the smooches.

Love the pictures, John. It looks like we all had a lot of fun! Our pics are almost ready, I just need to put some captions on them. Will post the link as soon as I am done. (no yelling, lol, I'm working as fast as I can. *whiney voice*Take pity, I have been sick )

Hello to everybody I haven't met yet! We're going to have a great time.

Pat, Sarah is working on me (i.e. pestering me a lot) to go a day early. We really enjoyed MVMCP in 03, so I would love to go again--just have to do a little more planning.

Vicki, I totally understand why you might have to cancel, but we will sorely miss the Queen and her princesses! Wait until the last possible minute to make up your mind.

Toodles!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

http://www.majesticnetworks.net/cgi-bin/whoisgoing/whoisgoing.cgi nedd everyone that is going on this cruise to please sign on this list. it will help with door sign to be made by me again. i do a great job and my fee is 20 bottles of mt dew. no diet please. just let me know as the cruise gets closer. email me at gunner40047@yahoo.com and let me know family last name(s) favorite charactors for each person and if you want me to print it to magnetic paper. thanks and enjoy the time waiting like i will LOL

 

[cjsmom97]

http://www.majesticnetworks.net/cgi-bin/whoisgoing/whoisgoing.cgi nedd everyone that is going on this cruise to please sign on this list. it will help with door sign to be made by me again. i do a great job and my fee is 20 bottles of mt dew. no diet please. just let me know as the cruise gets closer. email me at gunner40047@yahoo.com and let me know family last name(s) favorite charactors for each person and if you want me to print it to magnetic paper. thanks and enjoy the time waiting like i will LOL

Just to clarify for John here... he means 20 oz. bottles of Mountain Dew... not 20 bottles.