December 2,2006...Anyone want to join us?

[momof6innc]

Momx4, grandmax4, I have a question for you. How far of a drive is it from the port to Downtown Disney? I know once we finish the cruise I won't want to drive straight home! We do have no-expiration tickets for the parks, and the kids love Disney Quest. I am thinking about getting a room for two nights or so like we did the last time we cruised. But that was hard!! We had 4 nights of free food, and then our first bill for lunch at Pop Century was $50!! We did buy two of those refillable mugs, but still, it was a shock!

 

[alwayslisad]

We are arriving the night before and staying at the Hyatt - we are planning on renting a van ( since there are 11 of us ) and spending the afternoon and evening at DTD - it is about 40 minutes (per the guy at the Hyatt) ride - and worth it -

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Hi everyone

I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to let you know that we decided to cancel our cruise and spend Christmas in WDW instead.

I hope you all have a great cruise.....

 

[alwayslisad]

Wwowo - I downloaded a countdown clock for my desktop and I love it - right now it shows:

9 months - 27 days - 18 hrs and 20 mins

Oh my oh my and OH MY - it is getting so close - I love it - I so hope we get to see Cozumel -


Can't wait to meet you all!!!!

 

[momof6innc]

I have dreams all the time about the cruise, mostly sitting on Deck 9 or eating--what a shock! It's fun, and it's obvious what's on my mind!

We emptied out a huge Plastic Pretzel jar the other day and that is our new Disney fund jar. The cruise is paid for but I'd love if we could save enough in the jar to handle tips, excursions, gift shop, etc. We had used a small opaque Tupperware container, but this one is big and clear, so everyone can see our progress. I'm going to the grocery store today, so I plan to comparison shop all day and put the savings in the jar when I get home.

OH!! Disney.com's store has a last day sale, an extra 14% off everything in the site until midnight tonight, Feb. 1st. I'm getting DH, age 5, a set of Dash luggage for his birthday this summer. He'll use it for trips to grandma's this summer and then the cruise! That and the matching mother/daughter sweetheart PJ's. I say I have only one daughter so I have to indulge her, then I feel guilty for not indulging the boys just because there are 5 of them, so they all will end up getting something! I can't help it. Good thing the tax refund comes soon!

 

[momof6innc]

alwayslisad, how's the weather in NH? We are military and just moved from RI this past summer. I grew up in CT, and now I really miss New England! Two winters ago we had to wake up at 3:30 am to make our limo to the airport for our cruise on the Wonder. I thought the kids would sleep on the way but they were so excited they didn't sleep until the plane. This year we'll drive down; if we leave at midnight we'll get there around 8 am. That is, unless I can convince DH to go down two days early and visit a park or two!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi momof6innc,
It takes a little over an hour depending on traffic to get from the port to downtown disney. Since we get back on a saturday you can count on some traffic, but if you get off the ship early you wont have any problem zipping right over and have the entire day to enjoy. Disney quest is a pretty neat place, but it can get a little loud for an old granny like me!!!! I do like playing some of the games they have. Although I tend to lose most of the time against the kids and grandkids. Have you tried the roller coaster simulator they have there?? It usually has along line, so our family hasnt done it yet, but I think it would be fun for those who love coasters.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Elaine,
sorry to hear your leaving us, but I wish you a very magical vacation at WDW.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[alwayslisad]

alwayslisad, how's the weather in NH? We are military and just moved from RI this past summer. I grew up in CT, and now I really miss New England! Two winters ago we had to wake up at 3:30 am to make our limo to the airport for our cruise on the Wonder. I thought the kids would sleep on the way but they were so excited they didn't sleep until the plane. This year we'll drive down; if we leave at midnight we'll get there around 8 am. That is, unless I can convince DH to go down two days early and visit a park or two!

.


Hello there

NH has been hit with tons of ice storms this winter - not a lot of snow -just tons of ice - due for more tomorrow night - one winter - 5 years ago - the snow was up to my garage roof - amazing!!! this year is just cold very very cold -and tons of ice storms - the BIG Lake ( for those that don't know NH - it is Lake Winnepesaukee) is not even totally frozen over yet - just certain parts - we usually vote on ICE OUT - when the last piece of ice leaves the big lake - this year we are voting on ICE IN....last week we did have 45 degree weather - but right now it is a nice cold 15 -

Lisa

 

[momof6innc]

Thanks, I think we'll head over there on the 9th if we're not too tired. We were planning on two nights on the property before the cruise to "get us in the mood", and we have some days left on our non-expiring tickets from last summer. But DH reminded me that we have the time share again next summer and we should save the tickets for then. So I think a good plan is Downtown after the cruise and then off to home. Can't wait!

Alwayslisad, we were in that RI storm last January that caused the governor to declare a state of emergency! We lived on a small hill that overlooked the bay, no trees, just a field and a straight shot to the water. Nice view in the summer, but horrible for snow! Even though the snow didn't stick on the field and we could see grass, the wind blew all 23" of the official snowfall up against our house!! We had 5' of snow right outside our door, couldn't even open it! Our neighbor's front door faced a different way so he was shielded from the drift, so he called us up and told us he was digging us out. My Chevy Astro, a tall van, was covered almost to the roof. The pictures are amazing! That snow stayed for two months, when a rain washed it away. Two days later we got 6 more inches!! Now that we're back in NC, we get cold weather, but maybe one small snowfall a year that lasts only one day, and none so far. I miss that season!

Well, I did it. I went to the grocery store, and while not buying dirt-cheap everything, I saved almost 20% on my bill. I tallied up the savings (tried a new fabric softener, different brand baby soap), and I saved about $18, so it all went in the jar. Even the 5 year old is hunting around the house for spare change and putting it in!

 

[princessdaisy]

Momof6innc: That is a great idea about the jar and putting in spare change! I am gonna start one here too Great job on saving on your grocery shop!

Sorry to hear about the cold weather! We are still in shorts & short sleeve shirts here in San Diego but it is getting cold at night. It was 60 degrees this morning and I had to put the heat on...LOL! yep, what a bunch of spoiled CA people.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stephanie

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

We save all our change too.
I bought 4 penny banks from WDW a few years ago.
One for each type of coin.
Everytime we break a bill and get change it ALL goes into the proper bank. It's easier to count it all when it's already separated.I havnt counted for awhile but I know it's got to be over $200 by now because I did count the quarters 3 months ago and it was $127.
It adds up really fast.
When the trip gets close and I get desperate I put a dish on the back of the toilet and ask people to leave 25 cents each time they go!!! Company always gets a kickout of it and a couple have left the quarter!!!
Everyone have a great weekend!!!
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[Zane_Anthony]

I love the change jar. My son started a "mickey bank" for our trip to WDW this past summer and now we use it to save for the cruise. I just got a clear tall round container from Wal-Mart and we decorated it with Disney stickers. I never use my change when I pay for something and Zane is always getting change from people to put in there and he also keeps his dollar bills from Grandma in there. In the year we have had the Mickey Bank we have cashed in about $700.00 just in coins. When we are in the store and he starts begging for something I usually tell him he can have that or money for his mickey bank and he usually picks money for the bank. Much cheaper and it's helps save for the trip.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hi everyone!!

Well I hate to say it but we have had to change our cruise, so we will not be going with you guys.
We are still getting our 2 weeks, but not back to back as we had booked. DH took a promotion last October and we knew then he might not be able to get both weeks together, but now it is official.
We are still doing the 11/25/06 and now the 9/23/06.

I wish all of you a magical cruise!!!!

I will be looking forward to reading some great cruise reports from you guys.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[princessdaisy]

Sad to hear you canceled but happy to hear you will still be cruising on your other two cruises Thank you for all the great information you have shared with us

Stephanie

 

[alwayslisad]

Kathy - so sad to hear you will not be joining us - please keep coming to our thread though and keeping us updated - please please

I just had parent/teacher meeting for High School ( ouch - when did I get this old to have a child heading into HS ? ? ? in the Fall ?????)

so all those interested parents ( sadly very few parents came ) met with the HS team to talk about classes/sports/attendance/higher education - I am very glad I went - I am hoping the next 4 years will be a lot easier than the past 3 in Middle School - ( the people there that teach my daughter are NUMB!!! and if you try to talk to the Head Master - he states there is nothing wrong! ) sooooo anyway - we go to listen tonite - I bring Renee - in case she has ?'s she can ask - and she did too - I was very proud of her. Renee is High Honors and has zero attendance issue - so she is very nervous about the cruise - and taking 6 days off to travel - we met with VP after the session and he stated with her track record and her grades he will have no problems allowing her to have an extended Parental Break ( guess that is what they call extra vacation days) we just need to tell all teachers in November and contact him to remind him - and she will be sent home with the school plan on Thanksgiving break to start the work.......

I am just a tad happy about that -

 

[momof6innc]

I can't believe they're talking about fall semester already. Yikes! I'll have two in the 5th-6th grade middle school, where things are a bit more intense than elementary, so I'll be sure to bring this up at the orientation. I think the kids will only miss the week, as we plan to drive down on midnight Friday night and return very late Saturday night. From what I remember, there weren't any big projects due in any of the grades for that week.

One of my best friends from high school is sailing on the Western cruise this Saturday! She's so excited; the family did an Eastern last year. I told her to remember everything and tell me all when she gets back.

 

[alwayslisad]

They have to do so much planning for this upcoming year - and then I wonder why DD is so stressed to the max! She is much better knowing that she can take her school work with her and get it done on time. She did question me about her dance and drama class - I said I could cancel the cruise so she could be sure not to miss those afterschool classes

So when your friend gets back from the cruise - be sure to tell us all - maybe soon we can all do a CHAT ROOM Or something to talk about our upcoming plans and stuff

 

[princessdaisy]

My DD willl be in 8th grade in the fall and will miss 8 days of school for the December trip. We just missed the cut off for her holiday vacation time. She gets 3 weeks off of school on the 16th just missed it by a week, oh well. She will be making us 8 days of work. She missed 6 days last year on our April cruise and didn't have too much of a problem completing the work. Did lots on our flight to Fl from San Diego.

So looking forward to being on the ship again!!

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Kathy--Sorry to see you not going to be crusing with us and jealous that you will have taken 2 more cruises before I have my first Make sure you come back and share all your great info with us and here is some pixiedust for your trips!

I am not too worried about my son misssing 6-7 days of school since he will only be in kindergarten and this will be the few weeks inbetween thanksgiving break and christmas break so i am sure they won't be doing much anyway.