February 17, 2007

[christinou]

Sue, that is so evil I love it........
Have a great get away, I am leaving for Princeton for a conference, by myself so that I can really think about excursions as I am driving.

 

[PhotoLisa]

I originally asked the generic question about if the status on the website would change after my TA submitted my payment to them. She asked for my reservation # and said it would be easiest to check to be sure the balance was zero.

I definitely wasn't going to turn her down and it did put my mind at ease!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Well, we are home, and we have decided on excursions (almost). The only port we haven't made a decision on is St. Maarten. I started a new thread in the general cruise forum to get some ideas. We don't want to do another excursion, because our excursion budget is drained, so we're looking for stuff to do on our own. Who knows, maybe a beach, or hiking. I'm going to look into it, and hopefully some expreienced DISers will have good ideas too.

OT-The weather is so strange around here today. We walked the "marginal way," a path along the ocean's edge in Maine early this morning--in jeans and T-Shirts, and everyone in our home town seems to be wearing shorts. It's November 10th! I am usually wearing tnecks and sweaters by now!! We were only 3 degrees cooler than Florida yesterday...

 

[cdnstitchfan]

Hi Sue, I am also trying to decide on excurisions. As none of us have been to these ports before, we are trying to figure out what is a must see. Where did you post your question, I went looking for it and couldn't find it. I obviously was not looking in the right spot.

Thanks

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

No replies yet,but here's the thread...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1273674

 

[cdnstitchfan]

Thanks Sue.. I am driving the family bananas trying to get them all to agree on execurisions. Seems in some cases too much information may not be a good thing when trying to make a decision....

 

[christinou]

Sue, I just responded on the other thread, I have copied it below, I will add that it was a really easy and cheap way to spend the day, the kids were free on the water taxi, and I only got 1 lounger on the beach as we never really used it, I think that I ended up spending $20 for the lounger and all of us to use the trampoline, there was a bathroom that flushed (alway important) and a sink, that was about it, It was really nice to just go back to the ship at lunch time, shower and eat lunch relax a little then go back.
We went to great bay beach and really enjoyed it, easy access you pay $5 for the water taxi and can use it all day, we spent all morning there, went back to the ship for lunch and went back to the beach and shopping in the afternoon, there was a water trampoline and that was great fun.

 

[kcashner]

Hi gang!
This will be our 15th cruise on the Magic. DD has been in every age group. I checked in to see if any of my old buddies were on this one (I think I really don't like school schedules as they limit my travel so.....)

Since you are asking about excursions/places to do on your own, I'll give you a few of our favorites.

Little Bay is a lovely beach--not famous like Meagan's, and not crowded. You can hop a taxi from the port. The beach is free, but they will happily rent you an umbrella (and plant it in the sand for you), beach chairs, whatever. Food and drinks are available at the nearby hotel. Sorry, I don't remember the taxi fare, but it is close to the port and was only a few $ per person.

Coral World (think I got that name right). You can do it on a DCL excursion or on your own. Particularly if you have kids in the 10-13 range, on your own is cheaper. There are discount coupons available at the tourist info place at the port. Again, taxi is easy from the port and not very expensive. There is a lovely beach right across the parking lot, so you can make a full day of it if you'd like. At coral World, there is an aquarium, underwater viewing area, area where you can touch sharks and other sea creatures, gift shop, snack area, hiking trails, etc. Good for all ages as there is something there for everyone.

Sorry, gotta run right now....will post more later.

 

[dgaston]

Wow! we dropped down to page 3! Guess everyone is busy. I just got back from a 2 1/2 day conference in DC (evaluation standards) and am looking forward to Thanksgiving even though that means trekking back up to N Adams to retrieve daughter. For cruise excursions, DS is leaning toward parasailing at Castaway Cay, and I think DH and I will snorkel at St. Thomas. They want to repeat Orient Beach on St Martin, but as I said we WILL go to the Butterfly Farm first! I'll probably rent a car from Budget again on St Martin.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

OK time for a vacation!!!

I know this is OT, but I am so frazzled. Our high school (that DS15 attends) has had an awful few days. Over the weekend, someone broke in and was seen on the security camera entering the school with a duffle bag, then seen leaving the school without it. Bomb squads and dogs were brought in, a thorough search was done, and the school was cleared. They sent a note home about it Monday. Then yesterday when I was picking DS up at 4:30, they evacuated the entire school and sent everyone to the football field, cancelling all activities (abou 100 or so kids had to borrow each other's and teacher's cell phones to call for rides). DS said it was really creepy because they didn't say what was going on. I could tell he was glad I was there early and he could just leave. Today on the AM news, we found out that it had been a bomb threat. No backpacks, cell phones, IPods, calculators, etc. allowed to school. School had been searched and cleared for students and staff. DH said the day was awful. So many kids never heard about it because it was so late after school, and many don't watch the 5:30 news. Bags/electronics were searched and stored in the locked auditorium, and security was TIGHT. I won't go to details, but I think the administration did a good job with security measures, and the local law enforcement and state police were great, but this was scary! It seems to be a trend around MA lately. We are the third or 4th district to have this happen. And we thought moving away from the city would be so peaceful.. They are pretty sure it was some kid playing a prank, but obviously have to take precautions...I hope they catch the jerk that did it. Today's world is so different from when we were kids. UGGH!

Now that I am done fizzing... I can't wait to go away! Saturday's the day to book excursions/spa/Palo for us CC members! Have any of you repeat cruisers done the Elemis aromatherapy stone massage (I think that's the name)? It sounds heavenly, but it's $$ and I'd like to hear a review or two before I book it. Today I requested PLA rotation be put on my ressie. BTW--Lisa-DCL wouldn't tell me if my cruise was paid in full-I tried 3 times--you got lucky! I am not worried though because I saw the cc transactions, and my TA sent me a congratualtions note and said I could book excursions etc. Saturday.

Wow-I just realized I am really rambling. Forgive me . Time for a glass of wine and to go hug my family. Take care all!

 

[6powaydisneyfans]

Welcome Pam and family! My kids were happy to hear of more boys on the trip! My boys are 15, 13 and 10...
It's a great group on this thread meet. We will be planning some meets on the ship, and having the kids get to know each other via e-mail before we sail. If you're interested, I am keeping a list of all of us, and will email it to everyone when we get closer. If you want me to add your family's info, please PM me the following. Just leave anything out that you would rather not give...

This is the info we are collecting
Name, sex, ages of all travellers, where you are from, stateroom number/s, dining time, precruise hotel, email address.

Hi Sue What do you mean PM you with my family information?

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Hi Sue What do you mean PM you with my family information?

HI Pam-
If you want me to add the information such as room#, names etc, I am keeping a list of our groupthat I'll print out for everyone. To send a PM, or private message, just click on my DIS name (upper left). One of the choices underneath will be "send a private message..." Of course, it's totally optional.

 

[justhat]

Wait, Saturday is when we book? I thought Sunday. So it's the 18th? We paid off our balance this week so we're set for booking but if I have the day wrong I'll be kinda annoyed if it means we don't get the Flounders times we want.

We just got back from 10 days in Florida, WDW and Vero Beach. It was very nice, though my son would have preferred to stay home I think. He loves his sleep, in his nice dark bed, and well, WDW just wasn't so conducive to that so he wasn't always so thrilled to be there. I'm doing a trip report on that forum if anyone is interested.

We're going back next month right before Christmas so I hope he adjusts better then. Then we went up to NJ for his christening which was just this huge event. My mom is really into planning parties so she really went overboard with it. We saw my in-laws who all went to WDW without us this summer (yes, all of my husband's family minus us) and I considered telling them about this cruise since it's Mardi Gras week (I think) and since they're from New Orleans they have vacation time them. I didn't though cause I'm not sure I want to do absolutely everything with them for a week. Oh well, maybe sometime in the future.

Well my son is very annoyed so I should go. Looking forward to booking day!

 

[christinou]

Sue, we had a bomb scare in my DD middle school last Wednesday, they sent a note home to all parents that night, they had the sheriffs as well as dog sniffing for bombs the next morning, and all kids had to get their backpack searched, the kids were quite scared.
I think that it is happening everywhere, and we leave in a really small village in the middle of nowhere......

I also thought that the day for reservation was Sunday, as printed in the letter from DCL, but when I checked my reservation the DCL website, it says the forms will be available on the 18, so I guess I will try on Saturday.

 

[PhotoLisa]

OK time for a vacation!!!

Saturday's the day to book excursions/spa/Palo for us CC members! Have any of you repeat cruisers done the Elemis aromatherapy stone massage (I think that's the name)? It sounds heavenly, but it's $$ and I'd like to hear a review or two before I book it. Today I requested PLA rotation be put on my ressie. BTW--Lisa-DCL wouldn't tell me if my cruise was paid in full-I tried 3 times--you got lucky! I am not worried though because I saw the cc transactions, and my TA sent me a congratualtions note and said I could book excursions etc. Saturday.

Sue:

Before I saw this post, I called Disney direct to ask which day will be THE day to make reservations for the 2/17 cruise if you're a CC member. They told me the 19th. When I asked about the time -- she said 3 AM Eastern/midnight Pacific (since the website is based in California).

Just to be sure, I guess I'll attempt reservations on Saturday morning and if it fails, then on Sunday morning.

Lisa

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

My mistake--I don't know why I wrote Saturday. It is Sunday. I think my brain is in overdrive because we have a lot going on right now. I plan on trying when I get up Sunday morning (but not at 3:00AM, LOL).
Sorry for the confusion...

 

[PhotoLisa]

My mistake--I don't know why I wrote Saturday. It is Sunday. I think my brain is in overdrive because we have a lot going on right now. I plan on trying when I get up Sunday morning (but not at 3:00AM, LOL).
Sorry for the confusion...

OK -- you've convinced me to sleep Saturday morning now. lol

I've been running at full speed ahead for the last two weeks shooting sports again now that I'm released from the doctor (actually, I fudged it a bit and began shooting about 4 days earlier than I was supposed to).

Last week, I covered the state high school volleyball championships for 4 days. On Friday, I went to New Orleans for the semi-final match that started at 1:15 -- arrived home at 4:45, downloaded the images, sent the paper image via email to the office and left for the high school football playoffs at 5:15. Had to travel to Baton Rouge for that one. Got home at midnight - went to sleep at 1:30 and left for the LSU football game Saturday morning around 9 AM and didn't get home until 1 AM.

This week is no better -- basketball is in full swing -- 5 evenings of shooting hoops followed by high school football playoffs Friday night (at home this time!) and LSU football on Saturday. I can use all the sleep I can get between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Only 92 days until I can RELAX 100% for SEVEN full days!!!

 

[justhat]

Lisa, we saw tons of LSU and Saints shirts while we were in WDW last week. My SIL is a teacher in NO and I asked her if there were any school breaks and she said no, but wow were the LAers out in droves!

 

[PhotoLisa]

Lisa, we saw tons of LSU and Saints shirts while we were in WDW last week. My SIL is a teacher in NO and I asked her if there were any school breaks and she said no, but wow were the LAers out in droves!

Louisianians are wild about the teams they support. With the Saints doing so well this season after such a dreadful year last year, it has inspired so many to "believe" more this year than ever before.

As for as LSU fans, their whole closet is purple and gold (speaking from experience . . . lol) so they have nothing else to wear!

Next week, most of our schools will be closed the entire week. We get 2 weeks off for Christmas, a week at Mardi Gras and a week at Easter.

You would think with so many week-long holiday breaks people wouldn't have the need to pull their children out of school.

 

[PhotoLisa]

WAAAAKKKKKEEEEEE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

HELLO -- W A K E UP NOW!!!

It's almost time for CC members!

Just getting home from the LSU game -- great come from behind win in OT (we didn't deserve to win) -- I figure what's 40 more minutes to wait to begin my sleep.