Early-Early Roll call.... 4-28-07 Eastern

[J & C's Mom]

Our cruise docs just arrived (we're in Colorado)! My DH just called and said that UPS just dropped them off. I can't wait to get home and look at them! I made him promise not to open them until I get home.

Our docs arrived today.

UPS dropped them off this evening (we are outside of Philly, PA). I am so excited. My DD (4.5) did a little dance when I showed her the luggage tags - the littlest things get me really excited.

Now all I have to do is pack (oh boy)

I can't wait to see everyone at the sailaway party.....

 

[mormadsmom]

Probably shorts and flip flops in the day, and dress and heels at night.

Soooo, I was reading the passporter and I take it that we can self serve breakfast and lunch or have the option for sit down meals? I guess this is by choice right?

I did my "cruise" shopping today too. Got some bonine for kids, and the over the door organizer among other things that were on the must have list I read in other trip reports.

What's with the flying duchman at CC? Is that a permanent display? or that something temporary?

10 more days! Bring on the soufles and cheesecakes. I have such a sweet tooth.

 

[angilovesthemouse]

Called Disney. Since we booked through a TA, they sent our travel docs to the TA. We have to wait until TA then mails them to us...Does this sound like a convoluted way for us to get our little luggage tags to anyone else?


and waiting

 

[MakoMama]

Wednesday is our big shopping day. Has anyone shipped your box to IDS,yet? I am sending one this week. I am finally finding a use for those old Caribbean Beach unlimited soda mugs. I'm going to use them onboard and then just leave 'em behind.

Okay, we're total newbies with the whole "Disney Thing". (And we live in FL - I know, I know) What is IDS???

 

[DeloreanGirl]

Called Disney. Since we booked through a TA, they sent our travel docs to the TA. We have to wait until TA then mails them to us...Does this sound like a convoluted way for us to get our little luggage tags to anyone else?


and waiting

That's what's happening to us right now. Sent from Orlando to TA, then TA to us. Argh!

 

[DeloreanGirl]

Probably shorts and flip flops in the day, and dress and heels at night.

Soooo, I was reading the passporter and I take it that we can self serve breakfast and lunch or have the option for sit down meals? I guess this is by choice right?

I did my "cruise" shopping today too. Got some bonine for kids, and the over the door organizer among other things that were on the must have list I read in other trip reports.

What's with the flying duchman at CC? Is that a permanent display? or that something temporary?

10 more days! Bring on the soufles and cheesecakes. I have such a sweet tooth.

I think by self-serve they mean that you can have a sit-down breakfast/lunch at the 3 restaurants and a buffet style lunch at Topsiders. Same food pretty much. At least with Topsiders you can sit out on the back of the boat. I mean....a deck out on the back. Yeah, that doesn't sound as scary.

Where did you get your Bonine at? I'd love to try it this time instead of Dramamine. Is it different than Dram.?

The Flying Dutchman was the evil ship from Pirates of the Caribbean II. It got pretty good air time in the movie, although that movie was very dark. They floated it from Freeport over to Castaway Cay as a permanent display (so far). Captain Jack poses on land in front of it and some people have taken their jet-ski's up to it on the sandbar it sits on and have taken pictures with it. The Black Pearl used to be over here in Long Beach but I think they moved it.

11 more days!

 

[DeloreanGirl]

I made a door sign but don't know how to post it on here. I know there's some shenaningan about

 

[shooie]

Anyone leaving WDW on the DCL bus? If so, we should wear our leis/bracelets so we can identify ourselves before we get on the boat!

We are catching it at AKL! I am sure that they have a few shuttles though.
I don't think that I can talk the boys into wearing green leis for the entire day. Anyhow, my son and I generally engage those around us in conversation. My husband, not so much. Be on the lookout for a family of three, very chatty and smiling ear to ear. That is until the shuttle back to the airport.

 

[eph94]

Soooo, I was reading the passporter and I take it that we can self serve breakfast and lunch or have the option for sit down meals? I guess this is by choice right?

Yes, your choice, though I highly recommend hitting Lumiere's at least once for a sit down breakfast and a sit down lunch. Sure, you have to put aside some time for it, but it's a nice luxury and a welcome respite from the poolside fast food.

What's with the flying duchman at CC? Is that a permanent display? or that something temporary?

I believe it's permanent. It's the actual Flying Dutchman from the POTC set! Isn't that neat?

Joe

 

[TXBzean_DizKruzr]

About the Flying Dutchman...the first cruise we took in Sept last year, I ended up taking pictures of it from Deck 10 on the Wonder. I was excited because I was going home and would be able to show off my Flying Dutchman photos. I got home and when I was looking through the pics, I noticed that I took them from the back. I forgot the ship was a darn set, so the front half of it is where all the action takes place . Thank goodness we went back in Dec and I was able to get my long-awaited retribution on Davy Jones's ship.

Does anyone have some good suggestions for excursions in either St Thomas/St John or St Maarten? Also, how on earth do you get photos pasted to your message? I tried entering all that

 

[DeloreanGirl]

Also, how on earth do you get photos pasted to your message? I tried entering all that stuff and it wasn't working.[/COLOR][/FONT][/QUOTE]

Ah hah! I'm not the only one that thinks it's crazy!:rolleyes1 (See post #587)

If and when you get an answer, let me know!

I think there's a tech board on the main DIS page that explains it. Bleh! :sad2:

 

[Faith&Hope]

Got my docs today!!

I have no idea how I got them directly from Disney because I booked through Disney and then transferred to Costco(so it was supposed to be sent to them and then to me). Hmm....I'm not gonna complain! For those of you who've sailed in the last year, the docs are the same. I've read that in years past, they've send cool docs that make you a little bit more excited! Maybe next years docs will be really cool!!

ANyways, the whole pic things is driving me crazy as well because I was trying to put a picture of deck 10 so everyone could see where we are going to meet. It's actually on the DIS tips on the top of the cruiseline forum under deck plans. Anyone know how to help us people who are having trouble posting pictures?

DeloreanGirl....did you mention that you got a semi/formal dress at Kohl's? I went today and they didn't even have any dresses that would even be Sunday wear. I was really disappointed. Anyone have any other suggestions for a dress (not a formal prom gown though)? Yikes....I'm getting anxiety attacks thinking about my lists of things to get!

 

[Faith&Hope]

I believe everyone is meeting on Deck 10, which will overlook the mainstage on Deck 9. If you see people grouped together who have some sort of green/lime green artifact or clothing on their bodies, then that should be the group. That's what I'll be looking for!

Here's a Deck 10 view of the Sail Away party from our cruise last month (I'm guessing that we'll all meet on either the port or starboard sides, though, and not from this point facing the stage since there is not a look of room here):

And this is us as before we boarded the Magic:

See you guys soon!

Joe (me)
Amanda (DW)
Sam (DS6.5)

YEAH!!! I've been trying to post a picture of the deck 10 plans but can't figure out how to get the pics posted! This is exactly where we will be meeting! It's on deck 10 overlooking the main stage! You won't be able to miss us as all the DISer's will be the most excited people on the ship! We have prepared for months or years and we are ready! We are more prepared than everyone else on the ship and we will have the great signs on the doors!!

 

[shooie]

TXBzean_DizKruzr,
I did some research from other cruise boards and found that Sunny Liston tours were highly recommended. He is not one of the "Disney" excursions but he has been showing people around for awhile. I wanted to see as much of St. Thomas that I could for the short time that we are there. Former travelers say he is warm, friendly and was the highlight of their day. $30 pp sounds great to me. http://sunnylistontours.com
I started backwards, looking at the excursions and wondering which was the right one to do. Then I realized this vacation is about ME (and I am going to say the rest of the fam for good measure, or they might toss me off the ship) and how I (we) want to spend my (I mean, our) time and money. My suggestion is that you think of how you and your family want to spend your day in port and then match it up with a excursion or just chance it on the pier. I was scared of just showing up and grabbing a cab or tour but talking with a few people who just returned from this trip, it's not a bad idea. Some reviewers rate cab experiences right up there with a near death and at the expense of a second mortgage.
I am surprised that most of our cruise's excursions sold out. I could book my dh for the tram but no one else. I could book my son for the "two flags" but not me. DH is going on the certified dive in St. Martin, so he's taken care of. All three of us are booked for Blackbeards tour but I am going to cancel.
Disney Blackbeards 4 hours, walking $82.
Sunny Liston 7 hours, car, walking $90.
I booked with Sunny and if I get it wrong, then I will just have to go back and try again!

 

[MakoMama]

From what everyone here says, they save about 50% of the Palo ressies for onboard booking, so you shouldn't have a problem getting one!

We also have a 4 year old daughter (Olivia) as well as an almost 3 year old daughter (Lauren) that we hope will be able to be in the club with her sister - I really don't know what we will do if she can't, because they are so close and the little one wants to do everything that her sister does! Lauren is the more outgoing one of the 2, so I think that she will be fine! They are both so excited about this vacation! As soon as we watched the planning video and saw the Oceaneers Club, Lauren said "Ooohh, I want to play in there!"

Thanks for the info! We were really looking forward to dinner there, so that is great to hear. Our daughter (Erin) kept asking me to replay the Club portion of the DVD - you would have thought it was a Princess Marathon Movie. My husband said last night "Do you think they have sitters if we want to do dinner by ourselves one night?" I just looked at him and laughed. I asked him if he has finally "checked in" for the planning portion of the trip. LOL He thinks I am crazy for all of the "lists" I make, etc., but I tell him "You'll thank me on the trip when you have your (whatever it is that he forgot to pack)."

 

[walt's_freezer]

It is with great trepidation that me and my dw (hey, I know the lingo!) are going on our first Disney Cruise within 2 weeks. We'll be going with her family, and while they all have drunk deeply from the Disney kool-aid, I am slightly Disney-jaded.

I blame this on the fact that I grew up a short drive from Disney World and every time we'd have a visitor from out-of-state, we'd go there - sometimes three or four times a year. I keep my cynicism a closely guarded secret, as I would never want to damper my in-law's enthusiasm.

Surely, there must be someone reading these boards who is childless, and is feeling the same apprehension that I am. Or perhaps you once were much like me, and this is your 17th Disney Cruise and you've named your children after Disney characters and you can tell me how I'll be won over by the experience. Or even better, you plan on spending the bulk of your cruise locked away in the safety of the adults-only area and you need a drinking partner.....

 

[Floridagram]

I remember someone asking if anyone was playing golf but don't remember that there was an answer. DSIL is interested in playing if anyone else needs someone to play with.

 

[Floridagram]

It is with great trepidation that me and my dw (hey, I know the lingo!) are going on our first Disney Cruise within 2 weeks. We'll be going with her family, and while they all have drunk deeply from the Disney kool-aid, I am slightly Disney-jaded.

I blame this on the fact that I grew up a short drive from Disney World and every time we'd have a visitor from out-of-state, we'd go there - sometimes three or four times a year. I keep my cynicism a closely guarded secret, as I would never want to damper my in-law's enthusiasm.

Surely, there must be someone reading these boards who is childless, and is feeling the same apprehension that I am. Or perhaps you once were much like me, and this is your 17th Disney Cruise and you've named your children after Disney characters and you can tell me how I'll be won over by the experience. Or even better, you plan on spending the bulk of your cruise locked away in the safety of the adults-only area and you need a drinking partner.....

Walt , pretty funny! My Dad (who you would not want to hang with) is going and we just call him Grumpy. He is very cynical and is only going because we will not let him stay home!

DS and DSIL might want to hang out and drink though! You didn't mention old you are, if that makes a difference. We are from less than an hour from DW so we understand how the novelty wears off. Can anyone imagine that we never went to WDW from 1990 to 2003? Kids grew up and life happens and you blink and the years go by.

Then the granddaughters arrived and now we can't go enough. DS is childless however and DH and I will be at the adult pool. DH will be there all day every sea day, he will probably be the darkest tan and baldest head and loves to talk!

See you on the cruise, try to come to our meet, although all of us there will be pretty Disney jaded it will be alot of fun.

 

[eph94]

Anyone know how to help us people who are having trouble posting pictures?

For those of you having trouble posting pictures, do you all have an account at a picture hosting site like www.photobucket.com? If not, that's your first step. It's free and you can upload whichever photo you want to share here. Afterwards, it will provide a link to your uploaded photo. At that time, you can copy the link and paste it in the message here in between the "

" markers. Photobucket will actually provide all the code you need under the IMG Code line, the third one down. Just copy-and-paste and you're done.

For example,

without the bold produces:

View of the Magic from the Snorkel Lagoon at Castaway Cay

 

[DeloreanGirl]

DeloreanGirl....did you mention that you got a semi/formal dress at Kohl's? I went today and they didn't even have any dresses that would even be Sunday wear. I was really disappointed. Anyone have any other suggestions for a dress (not a formal prom gown though)? Yikes....I'm getting anxiety attacks thinking about my lists of things to get!

Congrats on getting your docs, lucky duck!

Kohl's is weird. They don't really have a "dress department". They have some slinky wrap dresses in the Daisy Fuentes department, then they have dresses for teens in the Candies department. I found my dress near the Career department where all the collared work shirts and blouses/skirts are. It's only one rack and they come in black and peach. Trust me, I did about 27 laps in Kohl's until I realized the dresses were sprinkled around the store!

You can also try Mervyn's, they have a small selection, JC Penney has a great selection! Sears and other places had dresses for Prom but of course those were waaaaaay too formal. Good luck!