"Double Dip Delight" Alternate Western 09/27/08

[Epperbiker]

Yea! DS3 started using the potty this week and he's already talking about how he can slide down the Mickey Slide and swim in the pool!!!

HURRY UP SEPTEMBER!!!

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Yea! DS3 started using the potty this week and he's already talking about how he can slide down the Mickey Slide and swim in the pool!!!

HURRY UP SEPTEMBER!!!

That's awesome, Jeff!!!

 

[Fizzgig]

Yea! DS3 started using the potty this week and he's already talking about how he can slide down the Mickey Slide and swim in the pool!!!

HURRY UP SEPTEMBER!!!

I'm there with you... We're bribing kiddo with the Disney Cruise, too!

Brandie

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Did any of you see the geocaching thread on the main DCL forum? With all of our techno geeks out there (love ya!), I'm willing to bet there are some geocachers on our cruise. I personally don't have a GPS, but apparently there are 3 locations on Castaway Cay. I'm thinking there could a good competition with this for some of you!

PS - I reached the milestone mark of 1000 posts today!!! All in 8 months!! Yikes! "My name is Kimberly, and I am addicted to the DIS."

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Congratulations Kimberly!

 

[zweihund]

Did any of you see the geocaching thread on the main DCL forum? With all of our techno geeks out there (love ya!), I'm willing to bet there are some geocachers on our cruise. I personally don't have a GPS, but apparently there are 3 locations on Castaway Cay. I'm thinking there could a good competition with this for some of you!

PS - I reached the milestone mark of 1000 posts today!!! All in 8 months!! Yikes! "My name is Kimberly, and I am addicted to the DIS."

Lionel and I are geocachers, but have not done anything for about a year. Last year we took the GPS and left it on the boat. I remembered at Serenity Bay, and looked at my drink, and said "ah well, next time!"


We are totally down for doing some hunts at the ports. I'll have to check out the thread. In fact, L and I were talking about getting back into it a few days ago! We bought a travel bug and never placed it anywhere. Cozumel seems like a good place to start.....

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Ohhhh....we're closet GeoCachers too! Actually, I've been wanting to start geocaching with our 4yo son and never found a good time. TWO visits to Castaway Cay seem like a great idea

 

[Buckeye Gal]

I just KNEW it!!! Now can you create a new spot and put the coordinates on the website?? I'm thinking if so, wouldn't it be cool to put our cruise logo out there on Cataway Cay?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hi all,

Geocahing: Hmmm, we are funny and prefer the old fashioned letterboxing route. None of those at Castaway--I do understand the security risk there--but it would be nice if DCL would palce one themselves I hope the rest of you have fun finding your stashes! All of our letterboxing stamps are pirate related and we sign in as "The New Hampshire Pirates" and put out individual stamps around the outside with our "names" Marika is "Parrot Girl" Dave is "The Silent Captain"(silent becuase he refuses to have a stamp and I am "Friday" Rio is "Rio" He says he LIKES his name and it sounds piratey and no one will think it is a real name anyway

Website: Brandie, give Jeremy a big hug from me and tell him thanks for the awesome site I am sure he put a lot of work into that.

Cozumel: Someone asked why no one was voting for it in the poll (can't remember who--sorry). I voted for CC because--well it is my favourite place in the world Last time I took the Double Dip I was probably even more excited about Costa Maya becuase I had never been there and I was excited about seeing the ruins (was not disapointed by the way). Cozumel is somewhere I have been a few times (3 times on a cruise plus two full vacations there as a teen) so it hold less appeal, BUT it is a nice port (not at all like Nassua ). Lots to do there. Good shopping, good beaches, nice people, etc. Also, the ferry to the Mainland is easy to taoke and Playa Del Carmen is nice also--and the Tulum ruins are lovely, but a pain to get to (qualifier I was last there about 20 years ago--they may have been totally comercialized in that time for all I know--I do know you can no longer hike up them as I did). Anyway, I do not suggest skipping Cozumel (I would suggest skipping Nassua if it were on our itenerary).

So we are in full election craziness with the NH primary only 5 days away. Marika and I are going to an event in Manchester Saturday morning sponsored by Lifetime TV which will have a bunch of the candidates there. A lot of my neighbors are sick of hearing about it, but I am really enjoying living where we have so many chances to MEET the candiates and really hear about issues, etc. I know now that Iowa is over they will all pretty much be here solid until Tuesday

 

[Fizzgig]

Hadley, I think Jeremy is enjoying the work on our website. He starts classes again on Tuesday ("Death and Dying" = woowee!), so it'll be interesting around here again. I told him if he acts all mooooorbid, I'm yanking him out of that class. He's made several grumbling comments about Firefox being better than IE and not understanding why I don't upgrade my IE version, so we're back to being professionally antagonistic.

Oh, and by the way, everyone, I'm throwing my helpful weblinks in "Links" area. Feel free to check that mess out. The whole website is now on Eastern Standard Time, to match with the boat (at least for a little while). I would appreciate it if someone with a thick notebook would add which nights are themed ("Formal Night", "Pirate Night", etc). I also want to add the port information (Arrival time to Departure time at XYZ port).

I don't know what to put in the Forum area, but it's up.

Brandie

 

[pfishgirl]

Spoke with DCL today and the CM told me that the Costa Maya Excursions are being worked on and will be up on the DCL Site soon !!! I can't wait cause I am totally clueless at what we can do there

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Thanks, Stacy!!! It sounds promising that they think there's some probability that the port will be ready for us then!!

I am curious to know if the Mayan ruins survived or not. I know the ones Hadley spoke of were interesting to me. I have them noted at home, but I remember they started with a "K", were not a DCL excursion, and were managed by two men whose names alse escape me at this time! Maybe Dave and somebody??? I'll look this weekend.

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Cozumel: Someone asked why no one was voting for it in the poll (can't remember who--sorry). I voted for CC because--well it is my favourite place in the world Last time I took the Double Dip I was probably even more excited about Costa Maya becuase I had never been there and I was excited about seeing the ruins (was not disapointed by the way). Cozumel is somewhere I have been a few times (3 times on a cruise plus two full vacations there as a teen) so it hold less appeal, BUT it is a nice port (not at all like Nassua ). Lots to do there. Good shopping, good beaches, nice people, etc. Also, the ferry to the Mainland is easy to taoke and Playa Del Carmen is nice also--and the Tulum ruins are lovely, but a pain to get to (qualifier I was last there about 20 years ago--they may have been totally comercialized in that time for all I know--I do know you can no longer hike up them as I did). Anyway, I do not suggest skipping Cozumel (I would suggest skipping Nassua if it were on our itenerary).
:

Hadley: you seem to be very knowledgeable regarding our destinations....I may sound a bit paranoid, but a friend of ours sent me an excerpt from a discussion oncruise critic regarding malari and Costa Maya/Cozumel. It mentions that since these two desinations are on the malari watch list, doctors a various travel clinic recommend taking antimalaria medication. I don't believe that my DD and I, due to various reasons, will be able to take the malaria medicine. Now I am worried we may have to cancel this cruise. I don't want to have to worry about every fever my family gets for the following year or so (told you I may sound paranoid). What has been your experience with this, if any? DCL said they had no information or notices regarding this issue. Ya gotta love well-meaning friends.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks, Stacy!!! It sounds promising that they think there's some probability that the port will be ready for us then!!

I am curious to know if the Mayan ruins survived or not. I know the ones Hadley spoke of were interesting to me. I have them noted at home, but I remember they started with a "K", were not a DCL excursion, and were managed by two men whose names alse escape me at this time! Maybe Dave and somebody??? I'll look this weekend.

There is a private group that does them and it does have a Dave in the title. I actaully did the excursion offered through DCL to Kohunlich. We loved it. They are VERY far inland and I cannot imagine the storm reached them.

 

[videoman]

Just was looking thru the posts and came across this post....This will be our 4th Disney Cruise.... I will be sending all the info soon. Can't wait to catch up on all the posts:banana:

 

[Fizzgig]

The CDC doesn't consider Costa Maya to have a risk for malaria: http://live.nybloodcenter.org/files/Media/84/mediumFilename/malaria.pdf
The date on that document is June of 2007.

The Cruise Critic page on Costa Maya + malaria mentions the worry is over a night-biting mosquito, whereas we'll all be on a day trip.

The CDC has a malarial risk viewer on: http://gis.hhs.gov/website/mrisk9/viewer.htm
The quote for Mexico is: "Risk is limited to areas infrequently visited by travelers including small foci along the Guatemala and Belize borders in the states of Chiapas, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco; rural areas in the states of Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sinaloa; and in an area between 24°N and 28°N latitude, and 106°W and 110°W longitude, which lies in parts of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango. No malaria risk exists along the United States-Mexico border. No malaria risk exists in the major resorts along the Pacific and Gulf coasts. Risk is very limited; therefore, prophylaxis is not recommended for most travelers to Mexico. Travelers should use personal protection measures such as insect repellents for malaria prevention. Chemoprophylaxis is recommended for the rare traveler going to the risk areas."

Blood centers are also noting on their website that they no longer have a policy against blood donation if you've visited Costa Maya (or Mexico), though I see San Diego blood centers are still stating to wait a year. It looks like the change was made to allow donations on July 30th for Bonfils.

As one who has taken anti-malarial drugs... *ugh* I do NOT want to do that again. I was in India for a month. You have to start the drugs before you reach the area. I don't care for those side effects (which is why I jumped on the research when you mentioned malaria and Costa Maya! )

Hope that helps!
Brandie

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hadley: you seem to be very knowledgeable regarding our destinations....I may sound a bit paranoid, but a friend of ours sent me an excerpt from a discussion oncruise critic regarding malari and Costa Maya/Cozumel. It mentions that since these two desinations are on the malari watch list, doctors a various travel clinic recommend taking antimalaria medication. I don't believe that my DD and I, due to various reasons, will be able to take the malaria medicine. Now I am worried we may have to cancel this cruise. I don't want to have to worry about every fever my family gets for the following year or so (told you I may sound paranoid). What has been your experience with this, if any? DCL said they had no information or notices regarding this issue. Ya gotta love well-meaning friends.

Okay I am NOT a doctor, but I will tell you what I know and belive and what my doctor told us. Is that fair?

Cozumel is not on any watch lists that I know of (though technically the CDC says anywhere not in the US, Canada or western Europe can put you at risk--this is just super caution I believe). You CAN give blood having been there and the Red Cross is very, very careful. As long as you stay on the island and do not take a trip into the mainland and then into the jungle there is no need at all to worry about malaria there.

Costa Maya IS on the watch lists and we could not give blood for a year after going there on the Double Dip last time around (didn't know before we went). I spoke with my docotr about this. I really, REALLY trust his opinion on it as I trust him in general AND he wroked in England for years and actaully has a lot of expereince working with travelers there who contracted Malaria while traveling in Asia and Africa. HE says for our next trip we should not need anti malarial drugs UNLESS we plan to go into the jungle (such as to the ruins--which we did the last time not knowing we should have these). Even then the chance of conracting malaria is TINY, but he would be willing to prescribe the drugs as a precaution (though he feels liberal application of a DEET repellant would be more than satisfactory).
If we stay in the immediate port area at Costa Maya there is almost no risk as spraying is VERY heavy in such areas (and it is, we see it at my parents' homes in Puerta vallarta all the time--and they spray stuff which is much heavier duty than we allow in the USA).

Additioanlly, he points out that the type of malaria in Mexico and South America is a much less dangerous form than that in Africa/Asia. It is relativly easily treated if you were to contract it. The biggest issue is figuring out what it is. So if you get sick with flu like symptoms which are severe or do not go away in normal flu like time frames post cruise be sure to see the doctor and tell him/her where you have been. Also, he points out that the mosquitos which carry malaria are nocturnal and on a cruise you will not be out and about at night. Both of these last two facts are easily verifiable on the CDC website and other places because I checked when I spoke to him about it after our last Double Dip when I realized we had been in a watch area and panicked.

All in all he says we are MUCH more likely to end up severly injured or dead in a a car wreck driving from MCO to the port than contracting malaria on this cruise.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Go Brandie You have RECENT research
Okay, between my post and Brandie's (I was typing while Brandie posted) I hope everyone feels very safe on this trip

 

[Fizzgig]

Hadley: THANK YOU! Malaria -freaks- me out! But if I can avoid taking malarone ever again, I'm on it! The dizzy spells, depression, and wacko dreams... *ugh* Along with all the serious warnings to NOT get pregnant for 3 months after stopping...

Brandie

 

[zweihund]

Thank you Brandie and Hadley for the info! You guys are awesome

As far as placing a cache on Castaway Cay goes (for a time there were three, and then I know one got muggled), you have to be able to provide upkeep for the cache in order to place it. In other words, you either need to live there, or know someone who does, so that when something happens you can get to it and fix it.

But still, doesn't stop us from searching there! I might have to pop on the geocaching website and have a quick look now, see what's still on CC. I am positive there will be something at Cozumel, not so sure about Costa Maya. But you never know!