February 28, 2009 Bushwacker Banditos Magical Cruise

[vanessa3198]

Vanessa: There is a list on the main boards - lots of tips on one of the "sticky" messages at the top. But here's my short list:

Over the door shoe hanger - keeps the small stuff organized - sunglasses, key cards, suntan lotion, shoes, toys, etc.
Basic medicine for kids: tylenol, benadryl, bonine/dramamine, cough medicine,
power strip (there's only two outlets in the room - you need more)
camera - and extra memory card
video camera
2 bathing suits per person
CLOTHES, CLOTHES, CLOTHES; shoes shoes shoes

And in FLA before we board, we usually pick up the suntan lotion, and some wine since you can't travel with that.



We usually get really dressed up - Mark owns a tux, so we bring it. I typically wear a cocktail dress, not a long formal one. Depends on what's on sale when it's time to shop! As for the kids - Ryan usually wears a shirt and tie - but no jacket; not worth the expense. Katie wears one of her princess gowns.



2 suitcases per person!?!?! That's WAY too much - maybe two carryon size ones, but not two big ones. We usually have one big one for each adult, and the kids split a big one. Plus carryons. And you're not the worst overpacker EVER - you've got stiff competition from me and Tink!! Just keep in mind that a lot of airlines charge for overweight bags and for all checked bags, so that may be additional incentive to pack lightly.

Different people have different philosophies on packing - I always wind up taking home some clothes not worn, but I can't do the "lay everything out that you think you need and put half of it away" or "take one pair of black pants and shoes, and then all different tops for dinners" - that doesn't work for me. I'm not going to wear the same pants each night - I like variety in my wardrobe. So I've pared down each year, but I still take too much. I just can't help myself.

Hope that helps!! Happy to give any advice I can!

Awesome! Thank you so much!
That helps a bunch! I would've never thought to bring a power strip. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[aan1701]

Ugh! Winter arrived today here in southern Alberta! Snow overnight and still falling. Just about 4 inches now, I cancelled my appointment in downtown Calgary as people tend to forget how to drive on these first few days with snow on the road!!

Have a great day all!

Wanda

It came to to L.A. it was only like 65 today. Man that stunk. At least the Lakers won again. 4 and 0 to start the season.

 

[Johnna_Story]

How do you all feel about dressy jeans at dinner? I have a pair of very dark GAP essential jeans that I thought about wearing with a satin blouse for one of the casual nights.

Donna - I personally don't care about nice jeans at dinner, especially if they are dressed up with a nice top. However, I know there is at least one person on this board - no names...(Tink!) who is strongly opposed to jeans at dinner. I know you can find plenty of debate over this on the main boards. I think it's a slippery slope... you might wear a great blouse and nice jeans, but the person next to you would wear ripped up old jeans and a faded "bubble yum" t-shirt... the case could be made that you're both wearing jeans. Yet the result is quite different.

Hopefully, we will be taking advantage of that $99 bounceback offer. We hope to take either the 12/3 or 12/10 cruise and stay at WDW using our DVC points from 12/6-12/10. I'd prefer the 12/3 cruise so we can stay at WDW after the cruise but the 12/10 cruise would be okay too.

We're hopefully going to do the bounceback - and hope that Thanksgiving isn't blacked out, but it probably will be. So then we'll have to choose another date. It's an incredible deal - especially for those of us on the east coast where airfare isn't as much an issue. And... since we don't have an extraordinary amount of travel just for a 3 day cruise. I could see where it isn't worth crazy airfare, and a whole day of travel on both ends for just a short cruise.

Happy Thursday everyone!!

 

[ejkjmom]

Donna -



We're hopefully going to do the bounceback - It's an incredible deal - especially for those of us on the east coast where airfare isn't as much an issue.

Have any of you checked into this yet...I know that our date falls into the time of travel, but I thought I had read somewhere that if you had a pre-existing reservation that was booked onboard, you would had to give up your 10% discount?????

I would be very curious to know, because it REALLY is a GREAT deal....I thought that we maybe could make the first part of August work for us

WEATHER here in Western Nebraska...WINDY WINDY WINDY with a skiff of snow!!!!!!! they have closed alot of our interstate due to trucks blown-over, and have canceled trash pick up for today..I think that Tropical Storm Paloma hit Western Nebraska LOL!!!!!!

Jeans in the dinning room.... I seriously have no problem with them, but like Johnna pointed out, there are all kinds of jeans in this world...and Donna I have a feeling that you could make a pair of faded holey jeans look classy
I think you will be fine

I guess it really doesn't bother me a whole lot with what people wear ...as long as it not my family,
Then I have a very STRONG opinion LOL !!

I will rent a Tux for Ron, (as I have in the past) this seem to work well for us, as it is waiting for us in our stateroom, and then when we leave, all we have to do is leave it in our stateroom.. that much less to pack

He wears it on formal night..
and then for semi formal night and Palo's, he will wear a pair of dockers with a tie and no jacket....

Johanna...let me know how your meeting goes today

Talk to everyone later

 

[aan1701]

I am hoping to use the bounce back for the 9/24 sailing, but since I booked this so long ago, I hope I get the voucher,

 

[donmil723]

I'm going to try to post this using my new iphone as DD is on the computer. Besides I'm really enjoying my new toy!

I really appreciate all of the opinions on jeans. I hadn't even thought about wearing jeans until I read on DCL's website that jeans are ok. (At least that is where I think I read it!). And then I found this red satin blouse at Express...well, I haven't bought it yet but DD, DDIL and I are going shopping in St. Louis on Saturday.

About the bounceback offer, I was told by DU that they were putting the code on all existing reservations for the qualifying cruises and that it wouldn't affect any discounts we currently have on our February cruise.
TTYL!

 

[ChocoKat]

Hello there!!!
Man I haven't checked in on a while, you guys are chatty, every time I peek there are pages and pages...
DH already asked DU to add the bounce back code. We'll def. take advantage of it. Work has been going... well.. bananas! So I am sooo looking forward to a whole week of nothing but fun.

I agree I don't really care what people wear to dinner as long as it makes them happy. I would much rather a table mate in jeans and happy than in a suit or dress and complaining all night about it

I bought a great dress for a wedding next week, it is a nice black elegant cocktail dress, so I think that will do for formal, but I have no idea yet of what I'll be wearing for semi-formal or palo hmmmm...

DH is about to experience his first tux, so I hope he enjoys it since it'd be so nice to have him all decked out for formal night

I am also tempted to make this a 2 week vacay since the buy 4 nights, get 3 offer came out for the same time period at WDW maybe we'll do it... it all depends on a job I applied for, they are doing all sorts of background checks and if I pass then it is mine.

You think hanging out with the DIS Bushwacker Banditos crew will hurt my chances?

 

[Johnna_Story]

... they are doing all sorts of background checks and if I pass then it is mine.

You think hanging out with the DIS Bushwacker Banditos crew will hurt my chances?

The who? The DIS Bushwacker Banditos? Never heard of 'em.

 

[ejkjmom]

Okay all you Southwest Fliers...... Southwest opened up they travel dates to May, so I guess we now have no excuse why we have to stay in Florida

The rates are a bit higher than what I was hoping for ( not high enough to stay home though LOL!!!) for us, our return flight is $222 per person vs last March when we paid $99 per person. That being said..with Southwest you have no luggage fee, which these days we all know is a major perk!!!!

I check everyday (sometimes several times) waiting for our fare flying out to go down...I paid $202 per person

Last year I got REALLY lucky as I paid $59 per person to fly out!!!

 

[vanessa3198]

Okay all you Southwest Fliers...... Southwest opened up they travel dates to May, so I guess we now have no excuse why we have to stay in Florida

The rates are a bit higher than what I was hoping for ( not high enough to stay home though LOL!!!) for us, our return flight is $222 per person vs last March when we paid $99 per person. That being said..with Southwest you have no luggage fee, which these days we all know is a major perk!!!!

I check everyday (sometimes several times) waiting for our fare flying out to go down...I paid $202 per person

Last year I got REALLY lucky as I paid $59 per person to fly out!!!

222 per person?

Oh how I wish our flights were that much...
59 dollars would be even better!!

Makes me wanna cry!

I need to move to Florida...

 

[Johnna_Story]

The rates are a bit higher than what I was hoping for ( not high enough to stay home though LOL!!!) for us, our return flight is $222 per person

Yeah - our return right now would be $158/pp - for 11:00; to leave at 12:00 it would be $170 each!

Seems a little crazy... will keep my fingers crossed that they come down to the $130 range...

Brenda - got your PM - will write back over the weekend. You were a little late, but I forgive you!

 

[ejkjmom]

222 per person?

Oh how I wish our flights were that much...
59 dollars would be even better!!

Makes me wanna cry!

I need to move to Florida...

I know I probably shouldn't be complaining... I guess last years airfare spoiled us

I went ahead and booked it ..we fly out of MCO at 12:55, that is earlier then we have flown out in the past, but they only offered 2 nonstop flights and the other one was late evening...

 

[donmil723]

I feel your pain too over SWA fares! Ours was $159 OW per person to fly back on Monday or Tuesday after the cruise. I'm going to play the waiting game too!

Also, tried to use my RR Award for DD's boyfriend to fly from Boise, ID to either KC or St. Louis but they weren't available even within a few minutes of the schedule opening. Of course, it was for his spring break--March 21-29.

Come on Southwest...the Bushwacker Banditos are counting on you!!!!!!

Donna

 

[DMMarla07860]

on vacation in san fran right now, just wanted to say hey!

 

[3Charbys]

Oh how fun! A vacation in San Fran!! That is one of my wish cities I would love to visit!! Let us know what fun you had!!
Wanda

 

[vanessa3198]

Have fun in San Fran! Take lots of pics!

 

[DMMarla07860]

Have fun in San Fran! Take lots of pics!

I am having fun, come home tomorrow so will try to post pictures after that

 

[RookieMouse]

Just popped on to see how well I can focus on a computer screen. I just had LASIK laser eye surgery on Friday and I'm still bringing my world into focus. Distance is great, for the first time in 30-odd years, I don't have to wear glasses (especially for driving), but due to my "advanced" age , I still require glasses for reading and, at least for now, reading the computer screen.

Well, Wanda, winter has found us up here too, although not in the form of snow. All day has been freezing rain, and the roads and sidewalks are coated in ice. Not fun!

Going to make this short... eyes are still healing and I better not overdo things. Looking forward to seeing (without glasses) everyone on the cruise now.

John

 

[mark_story]

Morning, everyone.

Up at 5:00am - had a nightmare that we missed the boat in Port Canaveral!!

AAAAAAAAHHHH!!

Must be time to leave soon.

 

[donmil723]

Morning, everyone.

Up at 5:00am - had a nightmare that we missed the boat in Port Canaveral!!

AAAAAAAAHHHH!!

Must be time to leave soon.

Oh No! What an awful nightmare and then you wake up and realize its Monday.

John, Hope your eyes continue to improve!

Well, just had to check in before I get to work! Have a good week everyone!