December 26, 2006, on the MAGIC!!!!

[kimszath]

Updated to include the current list of DISers on our cruise! I'll do my best to keep it updated! if you see anything wrong or missing, feel free to share! Also, please drop me a note if you'd like the link to our DISer homepage for this cruise! Will send by PM to protect privacy--only for folks going on our cruise to make contacts, share info, etc.

DISer Manifest

kimszath (Kim), DH, DS7 Cabin 7010
rifgirlsmom (Wendy), DD13, DD10
disneycrusin, DW, DS15, DS18
DisneyRocks (Sandra), DH, DD10, DD8, DD5
havencruiser (Sharon), DD15
Scratch42 (Janet), DD14
thesoldtrain (Jeanette), DH, DD7, DD3, DS1
HillPete (Hillary), DH, DD, DS6, DS4
ladypoo, DF, DGD6
BethA (Beth), DH, DS10, DS18, DS's friend 19
cruiseronmagic
luvgoofy61 (Linda), DH, DD14, DS12, DD8

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Previous post:
Is anyone else booked on this right-after-Christmas cruise on the MAGIC??? We cruised on the MAGIC two years ago on the 7-night Eastern--were happy to see her offering a 4-nighter after Christmas next year. Would love to chat with anyone else booking this cruise. I was so happy to arrive at Port Canaveral two years ago, already having "friends" I'd yet to meet in person. Nine of us got together for high tea at Palo's. I regularly stay in touch with a couple of them to this day!!! Drop a note, please!

We'll be a party of three: I'm 40-something, so is my husband, and our (then) 7-year-old son will be with us. We live less than an hour from Port Canaveral, so we'll probably show up around lunchtime to check in. SEE YOU THERE!!!

 

[Momma Rabbit]

Hi! We will be joining you on this cruise. I booked it today We last cruised on the Wonder 2yrs ago, and we are looking forward to a trip on the Magic.

We are also a party of three my husband and I are both 30 somethings and our DD will be 13.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I just booked this cruise. SPH 5524! I couldn't believe it was still available. It will be me, (42 at the time), my DS (15) and my DD (Turns nine on the cruise). Unless I break down and book a cruise in the spring, It will be our first cruise! I'm dancing!

 

[kimszath]

You will absolutely have the most wonderful time, and will wish you'd booked a longer one! When we cruised two years ago, I never thought it would take us so long to book the follow-up, but I've retired, we've moved to Florida, and have just been so busy, busy, busy. Since I'm working on school stuff only, and not working at the moment, we've had to rein in our spending a bit, but I'm guessing once I start working, we'll start doing a lot more cruising, now that we're less than an hour from Port Canaveral!!! Can't wait to meet you all!
I've gotta get me a countdown clock...

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Thanks for the welcome! I called Sam's Club back today and switched to 5020 from 5524. It has less of an obstruction and it is not a joiner (less noise). This is the perfect cruise for us. After spending Christmas at home, which is important to me, we can take off for our vacation. After the cruise, we plan to spend 3 or 4 days at the World for our first New Years at Disney. That way maybe I won't be so disappointed at having to get off the ship!

By the way, the price at Sam's Club was less than disney by about 300 dollars. I was surprised because supposedly these peak cruises are not discounted much. But I am sure glad that I checked.

Let's get the party started!!
I am looking forward to cruising for the first time.

 

[kimszath]

Hmmm... didn't even think about checking with Sam's, and we were just there a couple of hours ago... we did check with our insurance company (USAA) and with AAA, and couldn't find anybody to beat Dreams Unlimited's price plus rebate... will have to check into it, for sure. Thanks for the info!!! And yes, the timing couldn't be better. I'm not sure if I'll be working by then but am assuming that I will--at least any school ought to be off that week!!!I'm currently teaching for Embry-Riddle (online graduate classes), but am planning to get a full time job in the classroom sometime early next year, if they'll have me! I'm in the middle of working on my Ph.D., so that's keeping me pretty busy. We do miss the money, though. My hubby is cracking the whip on me to get started!!! I may have to go get my Real Estate license for some extra cash for a bit! Can you tell that I'm not in a big hurry????

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hey Kim! I am working on my Ph.D. also, but I should be graduating in June. I am writing the dissertation now! I am in the job market and will be starting a new job in August 2006. (Not sure where just yet) Just in time to make the final payment on the cruise.

This cruise is the perfect timing. I have to go during peak times anyway because I will be a college teacher and pulling my kids out of school is one thing, but I can't pull myself out! So I might as well take advantage of the great decorations of the Christmas season.

I will probably do one excursion at Nassau and then just plop on the beach at CC and chill. I don't want to overplan with two children in tow.

I look forward to meeting you and yours on the cruise!

 

[kimszath]

What's your dissertation topic, Tammy? I'm still trying to come up with a good one--I really want to do something I'll enjoy. I'm getting mine through NCU--the program is quite a bit harder than I 'd hoped, but they're protecting their reputation by really working our hineys off. Mine's in Business Admin, and I'm adding the International Business specialization, so that'll be another 6 classes, or I could start the Research modules next month! I'm at least a year away. Where are you hoping to teach? I'm already teaching for Embry-Riddle with my flying background and Masters degree, but am thinking about maybe going to a different university with the Super MBA... SORRY EVERYBODY!!! I got off topic! Will try to stop that! Oh, and Tammy--we went on a 7-day right before Thanksgiving two years ago--the Christmas decorations had just gone up on the Magic, and they were wonderful!!! :thewave:

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I am getting a doctorate in Accounting. My dissertation topic is in Ecommerce and Assurance. I know! I am a real nerd! Small world huh? I am at Southern Illinois university. What is NCU?

I am already planning excursions! I want to parasail at CC and send my son on the fishing excursion. At Nassau, I want us all to do the dolphin encounter. And that is all I want to do beside enjoy the cruise.

We are going to follow up with a few days at Disney to see the New Years fireworks. It is a little scary to me, all the crowds but we will stay at the BWV so at least we can take the back door to the resort instead of inching through the World Showcase and then waiting for buses and so forth. A little less stress, but, wow, I have heard that the crowds are murder.

Anyhow, I hope we gets lots of people on this thread as I am sure that eventually the ship will sell out, since the timing is so great!

 

[kimszath]

That sounds like WORK!!! Wow... a doctorate in Accounting. You must take alot of Aleve!!! Where is Southern Illinois University? Isn't that close to St. Louis? We lived in O'Fallon while I was still on active duty--my son was born on Scott AFB there. NCU is Northcentral University out of Prescott, Arizona. It's a fully accredited online program, and boy is it a killer. I'm working SO much harder than I ever did on my Masters degree with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and that was definitely NOT a cakewalk, either. They're so determined to make sure that nobody ever accuses them of being a diploma mill that I think they're overdoing it a little... all the Professors I've had were amazing. They even require leveling courses if they think your writing isn't at the level required of a doctoral candidate. I'm doing on average about 100-130 pages of writing per course. And every professor grades your writing, just in case you slip through the cracks during admissions. Every single assignment gets graded on their writing rubric--if you're not getting all 5's and 6's, they refer you for evaluation. YIKES!!! Good thing I've always been a pretty good writer. One of my professors has 4 doctorates, and teaches at universities from Canada to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Sydney, Australia (where she lives for the moment). She was actually born and raised in Memphis, though--very cool. I'm having to re-take Statistics for currency before my dissertation process can begin--that prof is the head of the department at the U of Toronto. They've got some pretty distinguished people on staff--I'm so glad! But there are times when it would be nice to sit in a room with a prof to see him/her do some of the specific problems I've dealt with for clarification--we do it all through email, and then occasionally through phonecalls if needed. Luckily, I'm 20 minutes from the Daytona Beach campus of Embry-Riddle, and since I'm technically "on staff," I can go bug the Stats teachers if I get in a bind with any of this stuff. I'm just starting the Stats class this week--should be okay--the new text teaches alot of the functions in Excel, and assumes you don't have a copy of Excel for Dummies. I need it spelled out for me!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I have worked really hard too. If it was easy, I guess everyone would do it. I understand what you mean about the online school wanting more work to establish credibility. I have dedicated four years so far to this program and I am interviewing this fall and spring in pursuit of a position. I can see the finish line. Hang in there!

The dissertation is the worst! I find it very intimidating to have so much on me. You really have to be self motivated. And getting a topic that everyone agrees will be worthwhile is not easy either. I guess I will say the same about tenure too.

We definitely have to get together on the cruise! Maybe if enough people join this thread, we can put a mini-DIS meet together.

 

[JodyTG]

My family and I are thinking about booking this cruise, but we're just worried about being disappointed that it's only 4 days. (We usually cruise 7 days.) It can't be longer because I'm spoiled and have to spend Christmas at WDW each year.

Does anyone think that I'm worrying needlessly and should just book it?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hey Jody!

I want to be spoiled too. I want to make Disney at Christmas a family tradition!! I am a little worried about the fact that this is only four days so I plan on spending a few days at Disney after the cruise to make the letdown of getting off the boat a little easier.

Maybe you can plan something like that. Even so, the deposit is fully refundable so if you book now and then change your mind, you get your money back anyway. Also, there is a 10 nighter for the 12/16-12-26. That might be an option too.

Good Luck deciding.

Tammy

 

[kimszath]

It's hard for us to even drop down to the 4-nighter, but I think that since this will be our second cruise, we'll be less stressed, and the cruise won't fly by so fast. We spent the whole 7-nighter running from event to event to event.. and dressing up for everything they said you should dress up for. Plus my Mom was with us, and that slowed us down a bit. This time, we'll be taking more casual clothes, I think, and trying to enjoy ourselves, and not stress over a run in my hose, or a missing button, or wrinkles in my evening gown... We'll dress nicely, but I will NOT be stressed, since I know what to expect. We'd love to take a longer cruise this time, too, but the timing of the week after Christmas couldn't be better, and I won't have to worry about whether I'll be able to get off work. I'm also still trying to learn that an elementary school student CAN miss a week of school without failing or getting behind! My folks never took us on great vacations during the school year--we just couldn't afford it. Now here we are--45 minutes from the Port, and we could take that first-week-of-December cruise for a song!!! We could take TWO 7-day cruises for what this 4-nighter is costing us, almost. If I knew what I'd be doing work-wise, we would be going for that 10-nighter. If they didn't have their rules about only booking for one cruise, we'd be booked on both for now, until we see what the job market has in store for me.

 

[JodyTG]

Well...I did it! We're booked on the Magic Dec. 26, 2006 cruise. I used mycruisevalue.com and saved over $300 off of Disney's direct price! That will just be money that we'll spend on the cruise, though.

DH and I be there with our DD who will be 15 and our DS who will be 2. It should be a nice, relaxing, but fun little holiday. We'll be at WDW Dec. 17-26 and then drive to the port for the next leg.

 

[JodyTG]

We'll have to keep this thread going. My DD (who will be 15 for this cruise) is already asking if there will be other kids her age to hang out with. She's loving the idea of the teen club and is already warning us that we may not see too much of her on the boat. (Wanna bet?)

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hey Jody,

I will have my 15 year old DS on the cruise, but based on his interest in girls, you may want to keep your daughter away!! No really, he is quite scared of girls at this point. I am glad that you have joined our group.

If it is any consolation, you will at least see your daughter at dinner.

Tammy

 

[kimszath]

YEA Jody!!! Glad you got it booked!!! Tell your DD not to worry--there are always tons of teenagers onboard, and I think she'll find so many cool places to hang out that you won't see as much of her as you'd like! But Tammy's right--dinner is a good catching-up point every day! She'll have a wonderful time. If you haven't gotten the DCL DVD yet, be sure to order it from the Disney website. They've updated it since I last saw the DCL video a couple of years ago--it's nice that they keep it current. I showed it to my 6-y.o. DS a couple of days ago--we're going to be watching it alot, I can tell.

 

[lbgraves]

Hey there, Kim! VERY glad to see that you finally booked another cruise! It will be nice to have just the three of you onboard this time. You know we will be sailing a few weeks before you in 2006 but it was great to see your name back on the boards. For everyone going, Kim is a great person. We cruised together with the DIS bunch back in 11/03. Happy planning!

 

[kimszath]

HI LISA!!!! I've been watching some of your postings, too! I'm so glad you're getting to go as often as you are--in a couple of years, I hope we'll be settled enough that we can start taking at least one long cruise every year!! I was kind of keeping an eye out for something to pop up around Christmas this year for Florida residents (I'm AM one finally!!!), but Mom's having knee replacement surgery next week, so I need to stay close by. And yes, it will probably be a bit more like a vacation next year (especially for Mike!) without Mom in the cabin. I do know she had a wonderful time, though. I hope she'll be able to take another trip some day. As much as Mike adores my Mom, I know that he'll be much more relaxed if we have some alone time. I'm thinking Luke is big enough now that he'll enjoy the kid's club even more, too. I can't wait until next Christmas... I've got a feeling we'll be going on another one maybe next summer--just a short one. If I have a job. Mike's driving me nuts. I think it was the first $300 electric bill a couple of months ago. All of a sudden, he thinks we have no money. We're doing okay, but I suppose one of us should go get a real job!!!! Thanks for your sweet comments--I hope I'll be as lucky to find new friends on this cruise as I did on that one--can you believe it's been two years already??? Do give us a heads up if it looks like you'll have a few minutes while heading down this way--we're only 45 minutes from PC, and we owe Luke a day or two at Disney.