February 21, 2009 Magic Western Caribean

[pouncingpluto]

bkfor, welcome aboard!

 

[Cinderella&Dopey]

okay, all caught up. i've started a google docs spreadsheet for ease in handling all the info on who's doing what, etc. its also very easy to print and pack. pm me with an email address, i'll send the invite link, then simply follow link. you will have to sign in which is nothing more than an email address and password. feel free to add what you want, change things around, whatever.

a few pages back someone asked about not getting ressies, but wanted to know the possibility of getting them on board. to my knowledge, disney holds many spots until boarding (not everyone has internet i guess is their idea), but as soon as you board you will need to make them. if you are one of the first boarding groups, your chances are great at scoring palo and spa ressies.

i added the 3:00pm meet and greet to the google doc. i think another one later on would be great, but i couldn't remember time and location someone suggested. another idea is one at the terminal. it IS chaotic there, but it's always nice to kill some time before they start calling boarding numbers. Radisson meet and greet anyone?

pouncing we're from chilly michigan also. and i'm a fellow u of m alum!!

Welcome Aboard! and yes you can get ressie on the boat! We didn't get to board until later because we took the resort bus and we still were able to bruch and high tea!

 

[Dave and Micha]

I think what I am MOST looking forward to is the character breakfast! We used to do them at Disney all the time when I was growing up and it makes everyone feel like such a kid.

 

[drskw]

I think what I am MOST looking forward to is the character breakfast! We used to do them at Disney all the time when I was growing up and it makes everyone feel like such a kid.

We always have fun with character dinning. Everyone gets to be a kid again and spend time with their favorite character!!! We love Disney for this, everyone can be themselves and enjoy the magic of Walt Disney World.

 

[drskw]

This being our first crusie EVER we are super excited, just hope we have the sea legs to go with it!! Still have our fingers crossed that we can get a res for PALO brunch, it sounds amazing. Is high tea worth doing???
Hope everyone is doing well, doing the happy dance here, one month today that we fly out of the cold and into warm Florida air. I can smell it already

 

[mc2]

Good afternoon!

Just realized that one month from right now, we will be flying somewhere over the US en route to MCO!

We're planning on being at the Radisson by 5 pm or so Friday night - PM me if any of you are also staying there and want get together for a pre-cruise pool party!

On that note, for those of you who have experience cruising in Feb, what is the weather usually like in Florida in February (and onboard/other ports)? I'm trying to figure out if the kids are going to freeze onboard in tank tops and shorts - should I pack more early summer-like clothing (lightweight pants/shirts/sweaters), or will we be melting and wishing we had more "I'm dying of heat" clothing (shorts, tank tops, no sweaters required)? Trying not to pack too much - have to leave room for souvenirs!

The kids and I are spending the afternoon trying on all of their summer clothing to see what still fits and what doesn't - running out of time to fill in the gaps - and that is an AWESOME realization!

 

[bkfor]

we plan to be at the Radisson sometime early afternoon. poolside meet and greet sounds great.

about the weather question: this is our third year in a row for the western carribean, always in february (not necessarily a preference, just logistics). we have been so, so fortunate regarding weather. we heard many stories in the ports about the weather the week before being cold and rainy. and in 2007 we returned to mid-50, rainy florida weather, suggesting the following week would be cold. Grand Cayman and Coz have small enough latitudes that we never were concerned about their weather. But Port Canaveral, Key West, and Castaway Cay are still questionable in february. we pack the usual shorts and such, then when we can get a 10-day forecast from weather.com we add warmer clothing accordingly.

to those who pm'ed about the googledoc, the invite link will be sent right now.

ONE MONTH!!

 

[pouncingpluto]

drskw, bring a big supply of Bonine/Meclizine (non-drowy Dramamine, but look for the Bonine brand or the generic to save a lot of money) with you on the ship. And start taking it like the day before. If you're someone who tends to get motion sickness, like I am, it is a lifesaver.

mc2, def more than tank tops and shorts. I mean, some days those might be fine, especially when we're further south. But there were times on ship last year (did a 3-night the same week last year) that we were cold enough to want jeans and sweatshirts.

I am a great big cold-wuss, though my husband is not at all, and we were both glad to have our shorty wetsuits with us on the cruise. It helped us enjoy the water at times we otherwise wouldn't have been able to brave the cold temperature. (For me, pretty much the whole cruise, including Nassau and Castaway Cay. He took his off by afternoon on Castaway Cay.)

I really, really hate to be cold, so I try to prepare. I am hoping Grand Cayman and Cozumel will be warm enough for me to swim in just a swimsuit.

bkfor, where in Michigan are you? We're in Ann Arbor (I'm in the U of M law school). I'm really from Georgia/Florida, but my husband is from Flint and is a double U of M grad.

 

[Dave and Micha]

Good advice about the weather... having lived in Orlando for 20 some years, you get everything in February so the idea of checking the 10 day forecast is a good one. The weather has been really nice this winter so far... so keep your fingers crossed.

Just got finished watching the inaugeration.... so exciting!

 

[DMMarla07860]

any weather other then cold NJ weather is fin by, be in it is 50 degrees that would be good weather for me

can't wait for this cruise, I'm getting pumped about it and go to Disney the night before the cruise so I love it

 

[mc2]

Thanks for the weather-related advice, although it looks like we should bring a little bit of everything...guess we know what I'll be doing the week before the cruise:
(does it really ever end? )

Looking forward to being able to check the 10 day forecast!

Take care,
M.

 

[bkfor]

bkfor, where in Michigan are you? We're in Ann Arbor (I'm in the U of M law school). I'm really from Georgia/Florida, but my husband is from Flint and is a double U of M grad.

we are in corunna, midway between FLINT and lansing.

 

[pouncingpluto]

OK, people, go add your stuff to the spreadsheet. I keep going back and checking to see if anyone else has.

 

[Mineu]

Hi everyone! We're new to the group and counting down the days!

 

[DMMarla07860]

Hi everyone! We're new to the group and counting down the days!

welcome aboard

 

[mc2]

Just wanted to say...

Happy "1 month to go" Day!

Starting to get a LITTLE bit excited!

 

[Dave and Micha]

Old Island Days Festival Has Real Flavor
Submitted by TripSmarter.Com on January 20, 2009


Key West, FL - Fine art aficionados can discover the work of approximately 100 artists in a balmy open-air setting during the Annual Old Island Days Art Festival.

Old Island Days Festival Has Real Flavor
February 21 - 22, 2009
Where: Old Town Key West
Website: KeyWestArtCenter.com

The critically acclaimed show takes place in the island city's historic Old Town district. Colorful booths are to stretch along lower Whitehead Street and into the gracious Truman Annex, adjacent to 19th-century homes and museums showcasing the island city's past.

Presented by the Key West Art Center, a co-op organization for local artists, the juried show typically draws artists from across the United States and Canada. Offerings range from watercolor and oil paintings to sculptures, graphics, collages and photography.

Organizers expect 25,000 to 30,000 attendees during the event.

The art show is a highlight of Key West's Old Island Days, a multimonth celebration of local arts, culture and history that began in 1960 under the auspices of the Old Island Restoration Foundation.

Other notable events during Old Island Days include tours of unique private homes and gardens, theatrical and musical productions, museum exhibitions and an offbeat conch shell blowing contest.

The Old Island Days Art Festival is free to attend. For more information, call (305) 294-1241.

 

[strega7]

I haven't been on in awhile, but am sad to say that I don't think we are going to get to go after all....thank goodness for trip insurance. My sister, who was coming with us, was in a horrible bicycle accident and had some head trauma, along with a broken spine, and some other broken bones. She is still trying to wake up.....Please pray for her. Maybe we will get to meet some of you on a later cruise.....bye for now


Marci

 

[Dave and Micha]

I haven't been on in awhile, but am sad to say that I don't think we are going to get to go after all....thank goodness for trip insurance. My sister, who was coming with us, was in a horrible bicycle accident and had some head trauma, along with a broken spine, and some other broken bones. She is still trying to wake up.....Please pray for her. Maybe we will get to meet some of you on a later cruise.....bye for now


Marci

OMG... our thoughts are with you and your family Marci!

 

[pouncingpluto]

I haven't been on in awhile, but am sad to say that I don't think we are going to get to go after all....thank goodness for trip insurance. My sister, who was coming with us, was in a horrible bicycle accident and had some head trauma, along with a broken spine, and some other broken bones. She is still trying to wake up.....Please pray for her. Maybe we will get to meet some of you on a later cruise.....bye for now


Marci

Best wishes!!