FEBRUARY 14, 2009 (very early roll-call!)

[minniemousememories]

Thank all of you who are participating in this thread! My excitement grew 10-fold if that is possible! I have my gifts almost done for the gift exchange and my kids are helping and my daughter is excited to help deliver them.

Valentine Voyage
Cupid Cruise

I like Cupids Folly too!

 

[Jodi]

OK, here's a ? about the gifts. We're supposed to give 21 gifts, correct? So how do we deliver them? Leave them outside the door? Should we put them in bags so we can hang them on the Fish thingies? ARGGGH! I'm SO easily confused!!1

 

[Jodi]

Also, friendly reminder that the kids thread is up, too. If any of your kids want to chit chat with others. So far just my 12 YO has posted. Maybe kids aren't interested? I know it was like pulling teeth to get him to post.

WHERE IS IT?? MY DS 13, WILL POST!!

 

[lovesDCL]

OK, here's a ? about the gifts. We're supposed to give 21 gifts, correct? So how do we deliver them? Leave them outside the door? Should we put them in bags so we can hang them on the Fish thingies? ARGGGH! I'm SO easily confused!!1

good question! i'd like to know as well...and also, is it still 21? since unfortunately disnutt will no longer be joining us , does that make the count 18? i'm trying to pack as light as possible so i'm trying not to pack anything extra !

also, does anyone know if the water will be warmer 3 weeks from now? i don't want to cancel my water excursions but may have too and play it by ear if the water will still be that cold!

 

[grizbuzz]

good question! i'd like to know as well...and also, is it still 21? since unfortunately disnutt will no longer be joining us , does that make the count 18? i'm trying to pack as light as possible so i'm trying not to pack anything extra !

In answer to your questions:


1) How many gifts? We are at 18 gifts
2) Where do I leave gifts? If there is a fish extender of some sort, leave it in the fish extender. If there isn't, hook it on the fish. And yes, I would put your gift in a little baggie so it will hook nicely on fish.
3) How do I know where to leave gifts? Everyone needs to PM me their cabin number. If it is in any reason subject to change, let me know that as well. I will distribute lists of cabin numbers with your date to distribute gifts at the DISmeet. I am doing it at the DIS meet and not providing electronically beforehand, as there is at least one group who will not know their cabin number until boarding. If you are not at the DIS meet, I will deliver the card with info to distribute gifts to your cabin.

And for the cold water...we're used to the Pacific ocean and ice run off in Lake Tahoe, so hopefully we will be prepared.

 

[Snow What]

In answer to your questions:


1) How many gifts? We are at 18 gifts
2) Where do I leave gifts? If there is a fish extender of some sort, leave it in the fish extender. If there isn't, hook it on the fish. And yes, I would put your gift in a little baggie so it will hook nicely on fish.
.

We do not have fish extenders. I am planning on decorating paper gift bags and using them as "FE's". Economical, easy to pack and easy to dipose of!!

 

[Jennifer_W]

WHERE IS IT?? MY DS 13, WILL POST!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2050726

Does anyone have teens signed up for "the Wild Side" excuriosn at Castaway Cay? Passporter said the reviews from kids were positive, as long as they knew people in the group. Topic for discussion on the kids' board?

 

[Jodi]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2050726

Does anyone have teens signed up for "the Wild Side" excuriosn at Castaway Cay? Passporter said the reviews from kids were positive, as long as they knew people in the group. Topic for discussion on the kids' board?

Cool!! I'll get my DS on here tonight!!

Alright, hit me over the head with a brick, people. 18 gifts, I got that part of it. But we're a family with 2 cabins...is that 18 gifts per cabin?? I know we went over this before, but... . I woke up in the middle of the night pondering this & couldn't get back to sleep. . So very sad, my existence

 

[Jodijo]

Cool!! I'll get my DS on here tonight!!

Alright, hit me over the head with a brick, people. 18 gifts, I got that part of it. But we're a family with 2 cabins...is that 18 gifts per cabin?? I know we went over this before, but... . I woke up in the middle of the night pondering this & couldn't get back to sleep. . So very sad, my existence

I don't believe each cabin hands out 18 gifts. I believe it is 18 gifts per group. For example, we have 2 cabins but together we are handing out gifts to 18 cabins (Not 36). If I am wrong, please let me know.

 

[Jodi]

I don't believe each cabin hands out 18 gifts. I believe it is 18 gifts per group. For example, we have 2 cabins but together we are handing out gifts to 18 cabins (Not 36). If I am wrong, please let me know.

Hi Jodi!! I think you're right...

 

[grizbuzz]

Cool!! I'll get my DS on here tonight!!

Alright, hit me over the head with a brick, people. 18 gifts, I got that part of it. But we're a family with 2 cabins...is that 18 gifts per cabin?? I know we went over this before, but... . I woke up in the middle of the night pondering this & couldn't get back to sleep. . So very sad, my existence

OK, PLEASE do not lose sleep any more over this. Promise me!

There are 14 groups, numbered below. Some groups have one cabin, some have more. So for jodi and Jodijo - you each have one group. Bring 18 gifts.

Again here is the list and the guidelines:

GIFT EXCHANGE LIST:
Participating Groups:
1. grizbuzz (One Cabin. Jen, John, Max DS5, Nico DS3)
2. SnowWhat Cabin 1 (Jean, Eddie, Catrina DD5, and Christine DD will be 2 weeks shy of 4)
3. SnowWhat Cabin 2 (DSIL Debbie, Buzz, DS 11, DD9)
4. SnowWhat Cabin 3 & 4 (Cabin 3: Denise, Johnny and DD3; Cabin 4: twins13 and DS10)
5. Jodi (Two Cabins. Cabin 1: Jodi and DH; Cabin 2: Spencer DS13, step-son Eli 13, step-daughter Skye 17)
6. rubbergypsy Cabin 1: Liz and Riley DD8
7. rubbergypsy Cabin 2 & 3 (Cabin 2: Friend, DS7, DD9, DD12; Cabin 3: two adult females)
8. lovesDLS (One Cabin. 2 people)
9. Jodijo (Two cabins. Cabin 1: Mitch & Jodi; Cabin 2: Mason (13) & Mickayla (11))
10. Jennifer W Cabin 1: Jennifer and DH Mark.
11. Jennifer W Cabin 2: DS (14), DS (12), and DS (22 mo)
12. chrissyt27 (One cabin: me, DH)
13. Daleh (me, DH -- 40th anniversary!)
14. minniemousememories (Two cabins: 2 Boys age 4, 1 girl age 4, 1 boy age 8, 1 girl age 10, 2 adult F, 1 adult M)

HOW IT WORKS:
1. Participating groups will get small gift for each cabin signed up (not including your own cabin). This means each group will distribute 18 gifts.
2. Each group listed above will be giving gifts. In some cases there is more than one cabin listed per group. Every cabin listed will get gifts, but only the 14 groups above will be giving gifts. We've made the decision that it is OK if your group is getting more gifts than you are giving. If you have a large group, it is up to you how many cabins you want to give gifts. I'm assuming that you will only be giving one gift per group, unless you let me know otherwise.
3. As soon as you know your cabin number(s), PM grizbuzz
4. grizbuzz will write up a gift exchange list to distribute at our DISMeet (tentatively scheduled for Day 2 at 1pm, location TBD) with a list of cabins to deliver gifts to, as well as your assigned day to deliver the gifts. If you have a preference for which day you do or do not want to distribute gifts, PM grizbuzz.
5. Fish extenders not required, though if you want to make/bring one, by all means do!

 

[Jennifer_W]

Thanks again, Jen!

 

[Jennifer_W]

OK, I am starting to get panicky here--has anyone received their luggage tags yet? And should we be getting cruise documents? Or is that what I got a few months ago with the little booklets on the shore excursions, etc.? With the online check-in stuff we fill out ahead of time, is that all there is for "cruise documents" now? And I guess since we're not using Disney transportation, will we even be getting luggage tags???


For the life of me I cannot remember how it went last time. Sorry to be a spaz!

 

[rubbergypsy]

OK, I am starting to get panicky here--has anyone received their luggage tags yet? And should we be getting cruise documents? Or is that what I got a few months ago with the little booklets on the shore excursions, etc.? With the online check-in stuff we fill out ahead of time, is that all there is for "cruise documents" now? And I guess since we're not using Disney transportation, will we even be getting luggage tags???


For the life of me I cannot remember how it went last time. Sorry to be a spaz!

Usually you receive cruise docs around 2 weeks before by ups (at least that is how I have received them). Should be soon!!!

 

[Wachsdds]

Yeah, We're getting excited in our house, too. The documents should be here next week and then I know the kids will be frenzied for the trip. We actually have a weekend in Palm Beach planned for the last weekend on the month. So time is just flying by. We'll all be St. Martin bound in a blink of and eye!!!!

 

[grizbuzz]

Is anyone doing excursions on their own in St. Martin and St. Thomas. I'm looking for beautiful, hassle free beaches to go to with the kids and have been reading and reading and reading. The excursions for the 5 and under kids just don't look like much more than you could do with a taxi on your own.

Anyone have any ideas or experience?

I am SO ready to be on a Caribbean island.

 

[Snow What]

i've been bouncing off the walls for about a year thinking and planning everything for this vacation. Now I am in a real frenzy. My DBIL is having T-shirts made up for our group. 14 of us...

 

[grizbuzz]

OK, I am starting to get panicky here--has anyone received their luggage tags yet? And should we be getting cruise documents? Or is that what I got a few months ago with the little booklets on the shore excursions, etc.? With the online check-in stuff we fill out ahead of time, is that all there is for "cruise documents" now? And I guess since we're not using Disney transportation, will we even be getting luggage tags???


For the life of me I cannot remember how it went last time. Sorry to be a spaz!

I haven't received my documents or luggage tags either. No worries.

i've been bouncing off the walls for about a year thinking and planning everything for this vacation. Now I am in a real frenzy. My DBIL is having T-shirts made up for our group. 14 of us...

Snow What--I need you to come out to California and help me pack. I've got the kids tuxes and gift exchange trinkets and that's it. I do NOT like packing.

 

[Jennifer_W]

I haven't received my documents or luggage tags either. No worries.

Snow What--I need you to come out to California and help me pack. I've got the kids tuxes and gift exchange trinkets and that's it. I do NOT like packing.

And THEN swing on up to northern Minnesota. It's lovely this time of year.

OK, I am relieved. And I remembered we MUST still get luggage tags, because they are color coded to an area of the ship or something, I think.

Is anyone doing excursions on their own in St. Martin and St. Thomas. I'm looking for beautiful, hassle free beaches to go to with the kids and have been reading and reading and reading. The excursions for the 5 and under kids just don't look like much more than you could do with a taxi on your own.

Anyone have any ideas or experience?


I am SO ready to be on a Caribbean island.

I am in the same boat. I am not wanting to do a pre-arranged excursion, want something fun, easy, yet not waste our time on a beautiful exotic island. I thought of renting a car on St. Maarten ahead of time, as apparently it's a lot cheaper to do that, but do they have car seats??? Will any type of transportation be safe to do with small ones?

I am also reading Mozart's trip report--he did the eastern itinerary in Dec. I haven't gotten to the ports yet, though. He is a good read.

i've been bouncing off the walls for about a year thinking and planning everything for this vacation. Now I am in a real frenzy. My DBIL is having T-shirts made up for our group. 14 of us...

How fun to have t-shirts! Since this thread is mostly the wives planning and discussing I am wondering if your DH's are like mine. He has absolutely NO idea how I can spend so much time planning. He is seriously thinking I have OCD. Like ready to make a call to the doctor serious.

Heeeey, I think I learned how to use multi-quote!

 

[Jennifer_W]

I am also reading Mozart's trip report--he did the eastern itinerary in Dec. I haven't gotten to the ports yet, though. He is a good read.

-----
OK, just got to a part in his TR that says the eastern itinerary on his cruise was changed to a western because of weather. Still a great read, but alas, not info on eastern ports.

I found www.cruisecritic.com last week. They have lots of info, maps, etc. for our ports of call. Still don't know exactly what we are going to do, though.