December 13, 2008 Western Caribbean!! Let's get acquainted!

[KATIESMOMMY]

Congrats to the new DVC purchases guys! I actually tried to convince Case to after we went to one of the sessions, but he said no of course lol

 

[SILLYANDI]

We are FINALLY home. Had quite the adventure started with an aborted take off at MCO due to a brake malfunction (and a LONG wait on the tarmac), in Denver when that plane crashed and we got stuck in the air for HOURS while our pilot argued to have a runway cleared for us instead of diverting us because we were running out of fuel after the MCO issue, etc... There was way more to it, but I'm too tired to type it all. We got home early Sun morning instead of Sat afternoon, but at least we got home. There were so many people stranded in frozen Denver it was aweful. Mandy had an even worse trip home, but I'll let her fill in the details!

We had such a great time, we rebooked a dummy date and hopefully in Jan when AAA runs their Disney specials we will select a final date and transfer to them to get the extra on board credit. We looked into DVC too but just can see how it would be advantageous for us. We do WDW every few years but I am such a crazy planner that I can save us much more money than buying DVC...
Dave & Hillary it was great snorkling for you (OWWW! It zapped me in the butt! Did you hear Madi screaming that? It was the funniest thing I had ever heard!) I have some pics for you when I get around to downloading them...

Grumpy Gramps- THANK you SO MUCH for the birthday serenade for Mikey! She wears her pin proudly everyday. I had to pin it on her PJ's a couple times too!
Deb & Becka-we miss you already Madi & Morgan were so sad when they didn't get to say goodbye) Keep in touch (I have pics for you too!)

Michelle-parasailing was INCREDIBLE! I have GREAT pics for you (I'll get them to you before 2009 ends, I promise!)
Marcy-Tequila tasting was a blast! I wish we would have saw you in the beginning it would have been ever better if we were all together!
Everyone else-It was so great to met all of you and it was so awesome to get all the goodies! My kids were so excited to check the FE everyday (although someone was helping themszelves to our stuff the last couple of days and my kids ended up fighted each other for what was left!)

Overall it was GLORIOUS! Every day got better & better. I could live in Cozumel, the dolphin swim at Chankanaab was incredible and the people there were even better! DH thought it was a Disney property because the people were so helpful and informative (food was good and cheap too!)

I'm thinking about doing a trip report but first I need to make it through Christmas! My mom wrapped all my presents for me but didn't put name tags on anything? So I will be unwrapping and rewrapping tonight! I guess it's the thought that counts...

Back to real life now...

 

[SILLYANDI]

So did everyone have a good time? Did anyone notice that Albert Pujuls and his family were on our cruise?? Being from St Louis I, of course, noticed. He flew up on the same flight as my family on thursday and then came back home on the same flight last night.

Our family had an excellent time and we can't wait to come back sometime.

We saw him and his family arrive and board but we had no idea who he was. Being from Cali (lots of overtime for movie/tv shoots in our neck of the woods!)and working in law enforecement DH & I are familiar with celebrity protocol and we noticed the increased security and undercover guys then started looking for the celebrity-we didn't know if it was him or one of his kids or wife that was famous because we didn't recognize any of them!

 

[fbtbdisney]

My husband and I would like to thank those who put together the FE gift exchange. It was our first time participating and we had a blast. Thank you again, it added a whole new aspect to our cruise. Frank (DS)was so excited about checking for something new everyday.

This turned out to be one of our favorite cruises. I got home about 9:30 am, however my DH Frank works at DCL checking people in for the cruise and he had to work Saturday after we got back; so I had to go back to the terminal at 3:00 and get him. He was really tired but he did not mind, since he was still vasting in the after glow of a great week.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

SEE YA REAL SOON!

Teri

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Wow Andrea, your flights sound scary! Sorry someone was taking your FE stuff, your oldest daughter caught me at midnight putting you guys candy in, she grabbed her bag of candy and gave me a big ole smile and said cool lol

 

[SILLYANDI]

Wow Andrea, your flights sound scary! Sorry someone was taking your FE stuff, your oldest daughter caught me at midnight putting you guys candy in, she grabbed her bag of candy and gave me a big ole smile and said cool lol

She is a party animal. She outlasted us several nights Thank God she could cehck herself in/out or I would have been TIRED!

 

[PenskeSth1]

Andrea I am glad you all made it home safely...I seen that incident with the plane sliding off the runway on the news. How scarey that your plane was running on fumes.

DH and I deposited our FE gifts at about 2:00 am. We figured we wouldn't get caught if we picked a real late time! LOL

Our first night on the cruise was pretty icky as some inconsiderate person decided to pack liquor in their checked baggage, so when I got my bag EVERYTHING in it was soaked in someones favorite beverage! I wasn't to happy about it either, so I spent part of my night Saturday doing laundry. The only good thing about it was perhaps whoever the inconsiderate person was, there clothes were most likely wet too!

I finally stopped swaying yesterday! It felt like it lasted longer this time. DH decided we are going to try and cruise again in Jan of 2010. He wants to go at the beginning of the year. This time it will probably be the Eastern as we have done the Western twice now.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year!

 

[dweitzel0]

I have a bunch of pictures as well and will get around to sending them out some time after Christmas.

We rebooked for December 2010 Eastern, but who knows what will happen between now and then. I got to thinking about the Adventures by Disney trips. The Castle/Fairy Tale tour through Germany looks like fun, but it quite a bit more than a cruise so I don't know if we can pull it off. Maybe in three or four years.

 

[SILLYANDI]

I have a bunch of pictures as well and will get around to sending them out some time after Christmas.

We rebooked for December 2010 Eastern, but who knows what will happen between now and then. I got to thinking about the Adventures by Disney trips. The Castle/Fairy Tale tour through Germany looks like fun, but it quite a bit more than a cruise so I don't know if we can pull it off. Maybe in three or four years.

We booked the Dec 4th Eastern...is that what you booked too? We were thinking we would change the dates once the 201 dates become available but we picked that date thinking if we didn't change it would still work...

 

[grumpy-gramps]

Hi all,
Been real busy since our return..

We hope all of you had a great holiday..

gg & Barb

 

[Stinasmom]

Andrea-- we can relate to the difficulties of flights home... Glad to hear you made it safely! Guess that's what counts in the end.

We had a great flight direct from MCO to Seattle, but that is where all h-e double hockey sticks broke loose.

Cancelled flights, crazy snow, extra hotel night stay, and finally a rental car later we got home a day late.

I can't believe I managed to wrap up that 24 hour period of stress and expense into one sentence!

I will elaborate on my trip report... that could take me months to actually complete! We really packed so much into our vacation!

We loved every minute of the cruise! our DD had the best time, though, making lots of friends.

We did rebook onboard... two staterooms as we hope to bring my mom and step dad next time. We probably won't sail until 3/2011 or 6/2011 however.
Would really love to get on one of the new ships!!

HUGE thanks to everyone in the FE exchange! It was so fun finding treats everyday! Had lots of people in nearby rooms or walking by that asked what it was all about.

We also have TONS of pictures. I want to figure out my new scanner so I can post up some of the shutters and other prof pix we have.

And...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We are home for the first time since moving here (9 years) because we can't drive to Portland due to snow. It is relaxing.

Great traveling with you all! Take care!


Marcy

 

[dweitzel0]

We booked the Dec 4th Eastern...is that what you booked too? We were thinking we would change the dates once the 201 dates become available but we picked that date thinking if we didn't change it would still work...

How funny, we booked the same cruise with the exact same intention. The price was low and if we don't reschedule the time is good for us.

Merry Christmas All

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Great pic GG

glad you made home ok Marcy

Merry Christmas all

 

[friendw/boys]

Welcome Home everyone. I have been crazy with trying to make Christmas happen over here I havent had time to post. I am very sorry I did'nt make the greet. I would have loved to meet the rest of you. We too had a difficult flight home. I got sooooo sic I actually tested out the....how shall I say.......barf bags on the flight home. In case anyone wonders they work just fine
My family and I had an amazing time. Thank you to all in the FE exchange. My boys ran to the door every morning like it was Christmas wondering what they would find in their pockets. John, thank you so much for all the great name tags you have no idea how many compliments we got on them. Dave and Hillary it was great to spend time with you both. You have a wonderful family. Lucinda I seemed to run into you every where I went It was nice to meet you and your family. Thanks to all the magnet exchangers too. That was fun to see all the different states and I look forward to hanging those as a constant reminder on my fridge.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

LOL Mandy, Casey said the same thing, everytime we turned around we saw you or Dave. Did you get the video from the dolphin encounter? If not I can send you a copy of ours.

 

[friendw/boys]

LOL Mandy, Casey said the same thing, everytime we turned around we saw you or Dave. Did you get the video from the dolphin encounter? If not I can send you a copy of ours.

I would love for you to send me copy. Thank you!! We ended up buying the video from the dolphin swim our older son and myself and my DH did. I felt bad not getting the video for the little guy but we have to cut costs somewhere.
So thank you again.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

I would love for you to send me copy. Thank you!! We ended up buying the video from the dolphin swim our older son and myself and my DH did. I felt bad not getting the video for the little guy but we have to cut costs somewhere.
So thank you again.

Mandy
PM me your address and I will get it to you in a couple weeks ok? I am going to have to have my brother in law burn it, I tried and for some reason it is not turning out so will see if he can get it to go right.

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

OMG you guys, remember I said we werent going to cruise for awhile. Well, I was WRONG lol. Casey DID rebook us on board!!! We are doing the December St Croix!!! It was supposed to be a surprise for our anniv in Aug, but he left the paperwork in the luggage and when I was cleaning the front pockets of it out before I threw it in the basement I found it!! OMG I am soooo excited!!

 

[Stinasmom]

That's great Lucinda! DCL becomes addictive!

Although, my DH would never rebook for us, the fact that he doesn't put up a big fight when I do is his way of saying that he does enjoy cruising.

It really helps that the deposit rates are 1/2 right now!

Enjoy planning for your next cruise!!

Marcy

 

[SILLYANDI]

I fell asleep and DH went without me. I need at least a few pics to make it look like he was there...Anyone have some to share?

David-any good shots of Snorkling Grand Cayman? I'd love to have those too-ours were...interesting (remember Mikey kept taking pics? that's pretty much all we have!)


Michelle-PM me your address and I will send you the parasailing pics. I printed them accidentally (I was going to send the files but since I have the pics I might as well give them to you!)