EARLY CHECK IN: December 15th, 2007 - Seven night Western - 12/15/07

[kcwildcat]

Where we live in sw portion of kc metro we dodged another bullet as far as the ice goes. Much worse to the north. The temps actually went up during the day yesterday at our house and melted some of what we got Monday night. However, as temps dropped overnight things started to refreeze and we lost power around 12:15 this morning. Power is still out and Mike's going to try and get the generator up and running this morning after he takes Laura into town for school.

I'm came on into work after putting on makeup by the glow of a flashlight and brought the curling iron in with me. The power outage doesn't seem to be as widespread as in the Jan 2002 ice storm when we were without power for 6 days. Hopefully we will have our power on soon.

It's supposed to be only in the mid 20's here today but tomorrow it is supposed to warm up into the upper 30's - heat wave. Possibility of snow Friday night but we should be in Orlando by then.

Fortunately we are mostly packed. Laura is completely packed. If we are still without power Thursday night we may have to go to my sisters to do the last bit of laundry then finish packing Friday morning when the sun comes out.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Thanks for the weather report Melissa. Let us know what DCL tells you. I'm more worried about rocky seas than where we go. We didn't pre-book any excursions because of Maggie's illness. We spent lots of money getting her well. We had decided to do some things at Key West and Cozumel. My cousin spent her honeymoon in St. Thomas. It's beautiful there.

DH and DD are going on a field trip today. My dad is going to help me clean out the van while they're gone. We'll get the bulk of our stuff packed up tonight and leave as soon as we can tomorrow morning. John may make us stop every hour

I'll check back later for a weather report.

Patty, hope your power comes on so you can get things finished at home.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

I just checked out the live trip report Kathryn referred us to. Sounds like their seas are pretty rocky. I hope it blows over before we board.

Can I get some packing advice. I know that many of you mailed some stuff ahead of time. Since we're driving, we didn't do that. I'm wondering if it will be best to pack John's diapers, formula, food, and stuff in a box, or in an extra suitcase. If we do a box, how do we label it?

Stacie, we got the blue lizard sunscreen. I'm going to use it too b/c sometimes sunscreen causes me to break out. I did a test patch last night.

 

[cristit14]

I'm with you Susan. More worried about rocky seas than a change of port. I don't really care where we go as long as it is warm.

 

[yearbook50]

Well I called Disney Cruises and talked to one of the people there. Apparently, for Tropical Storms, they just sail through them because 'its nothing major.' so the ports will be the same...

but that also means, the seas are going to be really rough.

I need to go get more seasickness stuff.

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Well I called Disney Cruises and talked to one of the people there. Apparently, for Tropical Storms, they just sail through them because 'its nothing major.' so the ports will be the same...

but that also means, the seas are going to be really rough.

I need to go get more seasickness stuff.

That seems really weird, what do they call "major"? when I looked at undergroundweather yesterday it was a tropical storm one category below a hurricane. It's supposed to go through Friday and Saturday and we're supposed to be there Tuesday and Wednesday, maybe we'll miss it. I feel like the bad weather is following me.

I think I'll put my St. Thomas and St. Maarten pages back in my Passporter just in case. If we go to St. Thomas I think we'll check out St. John this time, we didn't go there in March and heard it was just beautiful.

Susan--I would say a suitcase then you can use it on the way back for souviners and stuff. If you did do a box, you can just slap a luggage tag on it and drop it off at the curb with your luggage. Last time they damaged our box and we couldn't reuse it to ship things back home, so we had to cram and shove things in our luggage until we got off the ship and could resort it and got to a shipping store.

Patty--Hope you get your power back soon. The flight to Orlando from DSM was able to take off last night so tomorrow should be no problem.

Sharon--Glad you talk to your Dr. I hope the ice misses you and that everything goes smoothly. Hopefuly you'll get out before anything starts.

School is delayed two hours this morning but not cancelled. I was hoping it would be cancelled so that the choir concert would be cancelled too. DH hasn't packed anything and DS still has to put his stuff in the suitcase.

We're getting so close now!!! Hope everyone has a great day!!!!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I'm concerned about rocky seas and all the rain. It'll probably be raining in every port. When I checked the weather it's very high probability for rain in all the ports. Not a great outlook for excursions.

 

[yearbook50]

I'm concerned about rocky seas and all the rain. It'll probably be raining in every port. When I checked the weather it's very high probability for rain in all the ports. Not a great outlook for excursions.

Thats not going to be much fun.

We ended up cancelling our excurisions and will add them at guest services if we really want to do something.

That seems really weird, what do they call "major"? when I looked at undergroundweather yesterday it was a tropical storm one category below a hurricane. It's supposed to go through Friday and Saturday and we're supposed to be there Tuesday and Wednesday, maybe we'll miss it. I feel like the bad weather is following me.

I think I'll put my St. Thomas and St. Maarten pages back in my Passporter just in case. If we go to St. Thomas I think we'll check out St. John this time, we didn't go there in March and heard it was just beautiful.

School is delayed two hours this morning but not cancelled. I was hoping it would be cancelled so that the choir concert would be cancelled too. DH hasn't packed anything and DS still has to put his stuff in the suitcase.

We're getting so close now!!! Hope everyone has a great day!!!!

I think I'm going to read those sections in the Passporter tonight just in case. The lady seemed very definate about it but I'm sure its a call that could be made at the last minute to change ports, especially looking at the route we would be going through it Sunday Night/Monday.

Sorry school wasn't cancelled for you.

Patty - I hope you get power back soon.

Susan - Suitcase! You can never have too much room.



Tonight is laundry night (for the pants) to finish the packing. I also need to find my autograph book.

 

[kcwildcat]

When I called Disney this morning the person I talked to checked with the weather department who said they were closely monitoring the storm and if they changed the itenerary they would call us.

Like Susan I'm more concerned about rough seas. I guess I will check into picking up something at the drugstore over lunch today

 

[Kadorto]

It's beginning to look like Olga will not really affect us much at all. By the time we leave key west the storm should be well west of the yucatan peninsula. I think our biggest worry will be rough seas. Right now it looks like rain will be most likely during our stop at Grand Cayman, which at least I shouldn't notice too much since I hope to be 80 feet under the surface
Don't forget the sunscreen...I don't think I've ever read a forecast before that's mentioned "brilliant sunshine" Sounds pretty good to me though


Key West- Dec 16, Mostly cloudy with a couple of showers possible, High 79

Grand Cayman-Dec 18, Considerable cloudiness with thunderstorms; very humid. Winds from the ENE at 16 km/h. High: 27

Cozumel- Dec 20, Humid with times of clouds and sun. Winds from the NNE at 4 km/h. High: 27

Castaway Cay-Dec 21, Brilliant sunshine. Winds from the NE at 28 km/h. High: 25 °C

 

[yearbook50]

Patty - Don't you love how when you call Disney you can get two totally different answers

 

[feinfam]

On my last cruise (with my Mom to Mexico to celebrate huge birthdays for both of us), I spent half the time in my room either feeling nauseous from the rocking or tired from the seasickness meds. And that was in a midship cabin. This time, I'm armed with more knowledge, and am going to start taking Bonine on Thursday night just in case.

I'd actually love it if we changed ports - we've always wanted to go to Atlantis, but getting there from California is a big deal (time changes and just the flights themselves). Thanks, everyone who chimed in - now we can all go look at the Eastern ports and be ready just in case. We only had one DCL shore excursion booked for the Western itinerary, for my DH - we had already cancelled everything else and were just going to do stuff on our own.

As for any rain, it will be warm rain, so you can still swim and walk around - just be sure to pack some comfortable water shoes so your sandals don't get drenched.

Two more days 'til our flight...

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Well, my parents have left with Maggie I'm a little worried b/c of her recent illness. I let my dad give her the medicine this morning and it didn't go so well. He was afraid of choking her. I showed him how, so I hope he can do it. Don't know how she'll be for 12 days without medication.

John is sneezing today and has a runny nose. I hope it's allergy stuff b/c of our Spring like weather.

DH is off to the bank for quarters and ones.

We have some bonine, but only an 18 pack. I've read that the ship gives it away during rough seas. Is that correct?

I got the van cleaned out...the inside anyway. We're under strict water restrictions, so no washing the outside. We'll be doing our part for water conservation by going on the cruise!!

Off to finish the last load of laundry and finish packing.

Oh, the suitcase wins for John's stuff. We'll have lots of room for souvineers

 

[cristit14]

I'm on vacation!!!

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

I'm on vacation!!!

 

[cristit14]

I was supposed to work all day, but they said to leave around 1:30!!! I am so glad. I have lots of stuff left to do, plus something I hadn't planned on. I am thinking I need to go get some meclazine for motion sickness just in case.

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Well tonight is the choir concert. The kids have to be there in an hour, it starts in two hours. I have to pick up DS from the pool and bring him home to change clothes then bring him back in. He is trying to finish up the lifeguarding class. Saturday was supposed to be the last day but they cancelled a class a couple times so they are trying to make up what they missed. Hopefully he gets done tonight so he doesn't have any to do when we get back.

I'm picking up fast food on the way, we are out of milk and I'm not buying any more. While I was loading the dishwasher after supper last night, I though about how nice it will be not to have to cook or clean for the next week!

 

[kcwildcat]

Good news the power was restored this afternoon now I can do my laundry in my own house and finish packing without the use of a flashlight.

Stacie have a safe fight tomorrow. The forcast looks good for the next few days.

Christi I'm with you on picking up something for motion sickness. The past cruises we've been on have been smooth sailing. Hopefully we won't encounter too rough of seas.

Tomorrow will be a short day at work as we are having our Christmas lunch. As of right now I plan to work at home from 6:00 to 10:00 on Friday, I may change my mind and take the whole day off it will depend on how ready I am tomorrow night.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

We joined this cruise meet on 3/9/06, shortly after booking. I think we were the fourth family to join. Three of those 4 are still going on this MAGICal journey.

John is sleeping. We're doing our last minute things. Our plan is to leave around 6:30 am to miss rush hour traffic. Next time you hear from us, we'll be in Daytona Beach.

I hope the weather cooperates and everyone makes their flights. We'll see you on the MAGIC in about 65 hours

 

[yearbook50]

I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE!!!!!!!

All I need to do is turn in my CDR form to make it official.

Apparently I'm leaving tomorrow night instead of Friday morning now as Jo-Ellen is concerned about the drive to her house near Boston so she rather get there the night before than that day (Her dad is taking us to Logan) because we are suppose to get 5 to 10" of snow.