December 12 - 19, 2009 Western Magic

[MemoryMakers2669]

what price did you get?

I had to bid blind, since biddingfortravel had no information for Cape Canaveral hotels. I bid $55 and with taxes it was $68. But I am super happy with what I got!! They have a free breakfast buffet in the morning and I know from last year that it gets good reviews.

 

[GoBison]

Bevtoy, MemoryMaker, Scooby,crsndsny

Thanks for all the advice. I read this like my disney bible. I'm feeling more prepared every day because you guys give such good advice.

I've packed the girls... mostly. And I'm thrilled to have a pressing service available to me on the boat. Unfortunately, when I packed the girls, I opted out of all of my other daily chores... so the house is a mess and the girls room is trashed. I had to pull down all their old, current and future clothes to get what I needed. Is 5 play outfits enough if I do laundry?

And I'm shopping for christmas clothes for the girls still. Spent all day yesterday and came up empty. I need a size 8 and a size 4.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Also, how do you put pictures up on here?

 

[GoBison]

Have you all read the room reports on wdwinfo?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomlist.cfm

you look things up by your number. I may be committing a no-no by posting another site on here, but I found it helpful. It tells your catagory also.

 

[poohfriend]

Bevtoy, MemoryMaker, Scooby,crsndsny

Thanks for all the advice. I read this like my disney bible. I'm feeling more prepared every day because you guys give such good advice.

I've packed the girls... mostly. And I'm thrilled to have a pressing service available to me on the boat. Unfortunately, when I packed the girls, I opted out of all of my other daily chores... so the house is a mess and the girls room is trashed. I had to pull down all their old, current and future clothes to get what I needed. Is 5 play outfits enough if I do laundry?

And I'm shopping for christmas clothes for the girls still. Spent all day yesterday and came up empty. I need a size 8 and a size 4.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Also, how do you put pictures up on here?

some places that you might be able to order online with matching at reasonable prices:
children's place
target
gymboree
old navy (although I haven't seen thier Christmas clothes yet)


I would think 5 play outfits will be plenty if you are willing to do laundy. On our cruises, I find that the kids want to swim every day...adds an additional shower to the day and another set of clean clothes to the list. Laundry is busier on sea days than port days...and much busier toward the end of the cruise. So a load of laundry early in the cruise will cut down on how much you need to get done on the busy days.

I too have neglected the house making arrangements for the cruise and thanksgiving. and more is on the agenda for the day. Along with painting a room!

 

[Orlando36]

Thanks, GoBison! But now I'm really confused! It says our stateroom, 2026, is a category 9 and has a porthole window. As far as I know, we're category 12. Did I get a huge upgrade and not even know? If so, I will be SO excited! You guys are so knowledgeable.... you're totally going to laugh at me about this one, I know....

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Have you all read the room reports on wdwinfo?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomlist.cfm

you look things up by your number. I may be committing a no-no by posting another site on here, but I found it helpful. It tells your catagory also.

Nope, you can post just about anything. Recently they asked no political, etc. Also, if you click on the home site from the logo of DIS board, they have the room layouts and deck plans.

 

[GoBison]

Thanks, GoBison! But now I'm really confused! It says our stateroom, 2026, is a category 9 and has a porthole window. As far as I know, we're category 12. Did I get a huge upgrade and not even know? If so, I will be SO excited! You guys are so knowledgeable.... you're totally going to laugh at me about this one, I know....

We have a 12 that got boosted to a 9 also. We are just down the hall from you. Congrats! You hit the jackpot. Also, I just looked and there are about 15 rooms still available on our cruise. All cat5 and higher.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Bevtoy, MemoryMaker, Scooby,crsndsny

Thanks for all the advice. I read this like my disney bible. I'm feeling more prepared every day because you guys give such good advice.

I've packed the girls... mostly. And I'm thrilled to have a pressing service available to me on the boat. Unfortunately, when I packed the girls, I opted out of all of my other daily chores... so the house is a mess and the girls room is trashed. I had to pull down all their old, current and future clothes to get what I needed. Is 5 play outfits enough if I do laundry?

And I'm shopping for christmas clothes for the girls still. Spent all day yesterday and came up empty. I need a size 8 and a size 4.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Also, how do you put pictures up on here?

Your post made me laugh, because all of us early packers are doing the same thing. I justify it as being organized and then when it's all done I still have time to clean/pick up my house before we leave. (I now understand why my mom wanted to clean the house before we ever left on vacation.)

5 play outfits is enough. My advice would be to wash after the 2nd or 3rd day, thus giving you enough to get through the week. The washers seem to get more busy as the week goes on.

Have you checked the Disney store and Ebay? I've had great success at both sites in the past. I'm often amazed at what Ebay has. They have discount Disney stores near WDW and DL, and people pick stuff up cheap and list it on Ebay. It seems like I've seen Disney stuff at either Kohls, JC Penney or Target.

Also, if your kids like the water, I would concentrate more on extra swim suits, shorts, etc. You REALLY need two swimsuits. It seems like when you want to go back to the pool the one is never dry or clean. Also, especially on foreign beaches, there are little "foreigners" - I think they're called sand mites - and they say it's better to not wear the same swim suit again until it was washed and dried. With that being said, I will bring little packets of detergent and hand wash in my bathroom sink, and hang dry in our cabin. Then you have your other suit available to wear.

I just picked up a really cool thing at Walmart that I had never seen before for laundry. It's like a dryer sheet, but has detergent on it. You put it in the washer, and then keep it in the load in the dryer and it works as a dryer sheet. One sheet does both. Very cool. Oh yeah, if you think you'll be doing laundry, don't forget the Tide to Go!... another favorite of mine.

It's always hard to remember when we're coming from snow in Illinois and SLC that it will be warm where we're going.

 

[GoBison]

I went to Dillards, Macy's, Yonkers, Old Navy, Gymboree, Target, Gordmans, Sams, Childrens place. I was hoping for something in the same color family. Not matching. I'm going to check Ebay and the disney store right now. I hear Costco has some cute outfits. I don't live near one though.

 

[Orlando36]

Bevtoy, MemoryMaker, Scooby,crsndsny
And I'm shopping for christmas clothes for the girls still. Spent all day yesterday and came up empty. I need a size 8 and a size 4.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

I FEEL your pain! I found a beautiful Gymboree Christmas dress in my daughter's size in new condition at a garage sale, of all places, months ago. ALL I need is one burgundy boy's dress shirt, and we're set. I have been to NINE stores trying to find one, searched all over online, NO LUCK. It's driving me crazy. I'm ready to toss the bargain dress and just go to TCP or Gymboree and buy a pair of outfits... I'm so tired.

As for the stateroom, WOW! What a bonus! I'm thrilled, and I had no idea! It's an extra Christmas gift! We're apparently near the elevators to the restaurants, too. Woo hoo!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I went to Dillards, Macy's, Yonkers, Old Navy, Gymboree, Target, Gordmans, Sams, Childrens place. I was hoping for something in the same color family. Not matching. I'm going to check Ebay and the disney store right now. I hear Costco has some cute outfits. I don't live near one though.

I have to go tomorrow to Costco. They have some waaaay cute disney stuff. PM me your phone number if you want, I'll take pictures with my cell and email/SMS them to you, you can decide then and I'll ship them to you if you want.

 

[poohfriend]

Thanks, GoBison! But now I'm really confused! It says our stateroom, 2026, is a category 9 and has a porthole window. As far as I know, we're category 12. Did I get a huge upgrade and not even know? If so, I will be SO excited! You guys are so knowledgeable.... you're totally going to laugh at me about this one, I know....

yipeeee upgrade to a window!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I FEEL your pain! I found a beautiful Gymboree Christmas dress in my daughter's size in new condition at a garage sale, of all places, months ago. ALL I need is one burgundy boy's dress shirt, and we're set. I have been to NINE stores trying to find one, searched all over online, NO LUCK. It's driving me crazy. I'm ready to toss the bargain dress and just go to TCP or Gymboree and buy a pair of outfits... I'm so tired.

As for the stateroom, WOW! What a bonus! I'm thrilled, and I had no idea! It's an extra Christmas gift! We're apparently near the elevators to the restaurants, too. Woo hoo!

Have you tried Kohls online?

 

[bevtoy]

We are arriving the night before. Staying at La Quinta

So who is coming in early and who is staying after? I am sure this has been talked about, but I can't read the whole thread.

We are doing both! I just Pricelined and got Country Inn and Suites for Friday night, the 11th.

For after the cruise, we are staying at Wilderness Lodge on the 19th...going home the 20th.

 

[GoBison]

Instead of a burgandy shirt... what about a white or black dress shirt? with a tie?

 

[Orlando36]

Instead of a burgandy shirt... what about a white or black dress shirt? with a tie?

Kate's dress is burgundy, black and ivory plaid, with black velvet accents and an ivory colored blouse. Sooooooo. That rules out a white shirt for Jason. DH is wearing an ivory dress shirt with a burgundy based Christmas tie. I'm all in black. I already have black pants for Jason. I can't get my arms around a black shirt with black pants. I've considered an ivory shirt for Jason.... can't find that either. Walmart had a few, but they were off white, and just looked dirty.

I see the exact color burgundy I want in men's shirts all over the place. For boys, all I can find is a deep maroon, which looks purple and makes Kate's burgundy look candy apple red... yuck. I have checked Kohls, JCP, Sears, TCP, Gymboree, Bealls, Marshalls, Gymboree, Gap, Walmart and Target. I have checked a bunch of places online too. Dillards has a three piece set for $35 with the correct color shirt, but they are out of it in his size online. I don't really want to buy pants again, but heck, at this point I've probably spent $50 in gas driving around.

I am at my wit's end! Sorry for long-winded venting! Thanks for listening!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

We are arriving the night before. Staying at La Quinta

We're staying at the Econo Lodge. Normally we stay on the main strip of hotels there in Cocoa Beach, but I think this is one off the beaten path. I was thrilled it is right by a Sams Club and Walmart. I'll be able to grab water and some other things before we board.

 

[GoBison]

I see the exact color burgundy I want in men's shirts all over the place. For boys, all I can find is a deep maroon, I don't really want to buy pants again, but heck, at this point I've probably spent $50 in gas driving around.

I am at my wit's end! Sorry for long-winded venting! Thanks for listening!

My head hurts for you. Good luck.

 

[poohfriend]

My head hurts for you. Good luck.

do they even make those for boys?

18 days!!!

 

[kcashner]

Thanks, GoBison! But now I'm really confused! It says our stateroom, 2026, is a category 9 and has a porthole window. As far as I know, we're category 12. Did I get a huge upgrade and not even know? If so, I will be SO excited! You guys are so knowledgeable.... you're totally going to laugh at me about this one, I know....

Yes, you got an upgrade and didn't know it! You are in a cat 9. Go pixie dust!

We are coming in on the 11th and staying at AKL on DVC points. Yes, it is too expensive, but I had points left in a "use em or lose em" status." We're not arriving till late afternoon, so won't do parks or anything....just dinner and enjoy the area. Then drive to the port the next morning. Would love to get there earlier, but DD has finals thru the afternoon of the 10th and there weren't any evening flights out that she could make after finals, driving home, etc.

I'm hoping to confirm with someone who gets off the ship this weekend whether platinum members got priority boarding; if yes, no need to rush to the port. The reports have varied over the last month or so.