Feb 5th - 12th 2012 Mexican Riviera on the Disney Wonder

[Krilper]

Question of the Day: Tuesday, January 17

Fish Extender participants, how are you preparing? Are you a crafter or a buyer?

A little bit of both here! I think I have a little bit of ADD about this whole FE thing! I'm crafting some, buying some, some are family gifts, some are individual gifts, I just need to STOP! This is my first FE experience and I want to make sure I do it right!

I was planning on making my own FE hanger, but got too overwhelmed with life , so went ahead and purchased one from Gradysmommy. THAT'S the way to go! Totally custom and I don't think I could have made one for the price she charges! AND free shipping! She even is doing a rush job for me! The lady ROCKS! SO excited to get it!

 

[PrincessSophiesMom]

A little bit of both here! I think I have a little bit of ADD about this whole FE thing! I'm crafting some, buying some, some are family gifts, some are individual gifts, I just need to STOP! This is my first FE experience and I want to make sure I do it right!

I was planning on making my own FE hanger, but got too overwhelmed with life , so went ahead and purchased one from Gradysmommy. THAT'S the way to go! Totally custom and I don't think I could have made one for the price she charges! AND free shipping! She even is doing a rush job for me! The lady ROCKS! SO excited to get it!

Seriously, there is no way I can beat Gradysmommy. My rule is, if they can do it for less than I could earn in the amount of time it would take me to make, I pay for it. She's so quick! She shipped me my FE two days after she received my fabric. I just received my FE today and it is adorable. She made a small mistake (an oversight, not a typo), but I think we'll keep it and not make her fix it (though she is willing to).

 

[Krilper]

Seriously, there is no way I can beat Gradysmommy. My rule is, if they can do it for less than I could earn in the amount of time it would take me to make, I pay for it. She's so quick! She shipped me my FE two days after she received my fabric. I just received my FE today and it is adorable. She made a small mistake (an oversight, not a typo), but I think we'll keep it and not make her fix it (though she is willing to).

OOOOH! Now I'm SUPER excited to get mine! I'm so anal about things, I was really hoping she would have sent an e-mail confirming all my details, but she didn't. Guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best! All I can ask for, considering she's rushing my order and it took TONS of stress off of me!!

 

[DVCTigger]

Not doing the FE, but will be looking for them as I walk the halls

In the mean time, here is a little something to get us a little excited!

 

[PrincessSophiesMom]

OOOOH! Now I'm SUPER excited to get mine! I'm so anal about things, I was really hoping she would have sent an e-mail confirming all my details, but she didn't. Guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best! All I can ask for, considering she's rushing my order and it took TONS of stress off of me!!

I wouldn't worry. It seriously was just a hiccup. She probably just got distracted as she was working. You can get the particular FE we had made with or without your family name. I wanted it with, but she forgot to put it on there. Everything else was to perfection.

 

[brentm3]

Question of the Day: Tuesday, January 17

Fish Extender participants, how are you preparing? Are you a crafter or a buyer?

Some purchased, some homemade. The homemade stuff is about 50% complete. One project was delayed because the letters we purchased contained N's that were printed backwards! Ugh!

 

[TheLanes]

Not doing the FE, but will be looking for them as I walk the halls

In the mean time, here is a little something to get us a little excited!

Oh yeah!!!!

 

[PrincessSophiesMom]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

Hubby is looking forward to his blackout. I, however, am not! I love having internet access and am really going to miss it. I know we can get some access, but the thoughts of going back to the pre-dsl/pre-fios days is painful. i'm pretty sure i'll only be able to check a few emails and send a few. No surfing my beloved sample sights or browsing social media sights.

 

[brentm3]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

Ahh, one of the main reasons I love cruising! After being effectively on call, 24/7 for 18 years, they finally let me hire help. Every trip in my sig from 1992 until 2008 I was saddled up to payphones, cell phones, cell laptops, smartphones, and/or tablets...it didn't matter to them if my kid was 1 away from the front of the line for Winnie The Pooh or not (feel the animosity still seething through about THAT one? ) I'm taking every opportunity I can to go off grid now!

Sure I'll try to snag a free wifi signal in port and download email, but mostly for checking my BarnCam.

Funny story in Ketchikan, AK...I was (cyberwalking?) for a free wifi signal, came to a bar just across from the ship and picked up a signal but couldn't hit the internet with it. Walked inside to ask the bartender if I needed to buy a beer to get online. He said he had been trying all week to set up their wifi and it wasn't working. He had all sorts of things messed up between two routers. I spent about 15 minutes helping his straighten out the wiring, logins, and a relatively simply addressing train wreck so they were up and running, downloaded my emails, and went on my way...The craft store my wife was in was boring anyway...

 

[msttfn]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

Hubby is looking forward to his blackout. I, however, am not! I love having internet access and am really going to miss it. I know we can get some access, but the thoughts of going back to the pre-dsl/pre-fios days is painful. i'm pretty sure i'll only be able to check a few emails and send a few. No surfing my beloved sample sights or browsing social media sights.

I go through internet withdrawal when I am at work and can't check email or FB. I'm expecting to stay busy enough that I won't miss it. Internet or not, I am ready for some warmer temps...we are supposed to get above zero this weekend

 

[TheLanes]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

First, what is SOPA?

I actually can't wait to be unplugged. I use my iPhone way too much, am on a computer most of the day at work and then even spend time on the internet at home. I may have withdrawals, but it will be nice.

 

[hawky7]

I am stoked to be unplugged!!! Its one of my favorite things about going on vacation, i unplug no matter where we go usually. Work tends to call me alot on days off and after hours, so i enjoy anytime i dont have to worry about work. And lets be honest...i spend way, way,way too much time on facebook, so i actually quite enjoy a week unplugged from the everyday stresses.

 

[PrincessSophiesMom]

First, what is SOPA?

I actually can't wait to be unplugged. I use my iPhone way too much, am on a computer most of the day at work and then even spend time on the internet at home. I may have withdrawals, but it will be nice.

It is a proposed anti-piracy bill that many technologically competent people believe will "break" the internet. I would send you a wiki for it but wikipedia is blacked out today in protest. SOPA is also the reason Google's name is blacked out today. If you click on the black box over Google it will explain this in more detail.

 

[TheLanes]

It is a proposed anti-piracy bill that many technologically competent people believe will "break" the internet. I would send you a wiki for it but wikipedia is blacked out today in protest. SOPA is also the reason Google's name is blacked out today. If you click on the black box over Google it will explain this in more detail.

I signed the petition. I heard about it, didn't recognize the acronym though.

I'll be in DC next week, does anyone want me to lobby for them? I am cheap!

I actually am trying to get a ticket to see the State of the Union Address next Tuesday night. I am usually in DC this time each year for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting, and have tried unsuccessfully to get a ticket. This year, my congressman's office let me know there is a slight chance I can get one! Woohooo! that would be so cool.

 

[vljohnston]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

But I'll still have my iPod with Angry Birds right?

Yes, I will miss my Internet to keep up on what's happening. The hardest will be evening/mornings when I'm used to checking things on email/news/FB. Hopefully I'll be too pooped from partying to notice.

Maybe we should plan a internet withdrawl party.....

 

[DVCTigger]

QotD: Phone/internet withdrawls?? Not me!! One of the best things about our vacations (cruises and dry camping), we cant be reached. We will check in with DS17 before we board and when we get off. He knows he can get hold of us in an emergency. Other then that, we/I enjoy DH not being stuck to his computer . . . he is a software engineer that works from home. So he is always working. Even our days at DL we wont be checking email. I think we are one of the only families around that dont have any smartphones, ipads, or any of the new-fangled techno gadgets!

 

[Krilper]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

Like many, we're looking forward to the no-contact to the outside world! A cruise is the only opportunity for my DH to really get away from it all! He'll slip away to the internet cafe a couple times during the trip, just to "check" in, and possibly to check what the weather is doing at home, but other than that, we'll be going through no withdrawls!

(FYI, for any of you that plan on going to the Crown Paradise, they have free wi-fi!)

 

[Krilper]

How many people are planning on going to the Crown Paradise when we're in Puerta Vallarta? I just read this on a DISboard...

We did the Crown Paradise on the 2/6 cruise and had a great time
The resort is very close walking distance. When we arrived they tried to charge more than was quoted. I think it was $44 adult $22 kid but I had the e-mail and they stuck to the quoted price.
We were issued wrist bands and walked around the resort to scope it out. Chairs by the main pool were plenty and we made friends with a nice family staying there. The gave us the low down on food and advised us not to leave our kids in the kid club. One of their kids escaped earlier in the week and when the brought the child back they had not even known he was missing.
The main pool water was warm. Kids area was awesome and my girls (7) had a great time playing there. There are no loungers around the kids area so you either have to stand on the hot pavement or in the water. Drinks are not allowed here. I didn't see any signs but got a stern whistle blown at me for standing at the edge with a drink.
We spent about 15 minutes at the beach and did not enjoy it at all. As soon as you sit down your chair sinks all the way down to the ground. The way to seem to avoid this is to stack 3 or 4 chairs. Vendors were very annoying and kept coming back after being told no thank-you.
Food was not that great but we did not starve. There is an area with fried foods, area with hot dogs, pizza and hamburgers (avoided this area because all of the food looked awful) and a buffet which was not kid friendly. I was disappointed because I was looking for some Mexican food.
Drinks were very good. They did not know how to make a couple of my favorite drinks but you could taste alcohol in everything I ordred. They have a signature menu which we mainly ordered off. The non alcoholic drinks all have Disney names which my kids loved. Their favorite was the frozen Nemo.
We felt it was well worth the money and would recomend it. I will try to post pictures later.

So make sure, if you're going, or thinking about going to the CP in PV, print off and bring the information of the $35 deal. Do you know if that deal also includes the spa services?

Has anyone heard about the Villa Del Palmar in PV? Same kind of deal?

 

[DisneyLago]

Question of the Day: Wednesday, January 18

In honor of the SOPA controversies: who is going to go through internet/cell phone withdrawals during the cruise? 7 whole days!

Hubby is looking forward to his blackout. I, however, am not! I love having internet access and am really going to miss it. I know we can get some access, but the thoughts of going back to the pre-dsl/pre-fios days is painful. i'm pretty sure i'll only be able to check a few emails and send a few. No surfing my beloved sample sights or browsing social media sights.

I think I'll survive the blackout! I think? We'll see I think I'm going to be having sooo much fun!

 

[DisneyLago]

Question of the Day: Monday, January 16

On a more somber note, and in light of the recent maritime disaster, is there anything you've done differently or plan on doing?

We took the time to discuss emergency protocol. If we are on different parts of the ship what we would do. At what point we would not go back to our rooms for life vests but go get the life vests stored in the benches on deck. Keeping a waterproof floating flash light in our stateroom (I already own one). Make sure to leave colored photo copies and scans of all of our essential documents at home as well as including it in my folder of planning materials. Despite the fact that DCL no longer requires you try on your vests, we will be doing so (especially with a rather lanky 2 year old). We've also decided that we will not be dropping off DD at any clubs until she is old enough for us to effectively explain emergency protocol to her.

We'll definitely be paying attention to the drills and be aware of surrounding "exits"... i guess just being more aware. But on a positive note since this just happened i think Disney will most like visit safety regulations and all captains are probably more focused on safety now. Sometimes it takes an incident to waken everyone up.