February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[deedeedubbs]

SAY WHAT???!!!​

Hey everyone! Guess what????

* We're going on a Disney cruise NEXT MONTH!!!!

:

SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

 

[Michellepooh]

I leave for Florida one month from today!!!!!!!!!

I am just so excited!!!!! It's about -10 here today with the windchill, so I can't wait to get warm!


Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!!

 

[JRandAJsMom]

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

I can't believe it's next month!!! I'm at my parents house in the snowbelt taking on wind from the lake and they got a bunch of snow yesterday and the day before... Soon enough we'll be able to build sand castles instead of snowmen!!!!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

I made a twist on the name badged started by another Dis'er. I made it especially for our group. I haven't printed it out yet, so I don't know how it will print if it is to detailed for the size. You can bring in this image in to Word and add your Name or Celebration Room number what ever you want.

 

[mickchick6]

Happy New Year! Last night my DH and 2 youngest sons ran into the travel channel which was spotlighting all the Disney Cruise and Park stuff! It was such a great, unexpected way to ring in the new year! We have 3 days at the parks first, so we are getting the list together of must see's!

We havn't decided on shore excursions yet. Any suggestions?

This month will go by SOOOO fast!

pgsahm2, if I had to bet on a #4 for you....it would be another boy! But if you're thinking about it, I wouldn't trade my team for all the girls in the world!!

 

[TinkerKat]

Sue,
LOVE the Name tag! Can't wait to go print it up!

Mickchick, Welcome! Two of my boys 15-11 seem to be in good company ages wise (thankfully!)

pgsahm2, I too had three sons and decided I was "done" We did a Disney Cruise... I swear it was the magic and the ocean ! I got off that cruise expecting Baby #4 .... a girl!
Big surprise but so worth it. In my case, a 4th boy would've been just as welcome

 

[Michellepooh]

Went shopping today and started to pick up some stuff for the FE exchange.


MyLove4Disney - love the name badge! I wish I could do stuff on the computer like that. I'm lucky I figured out how to post here!

 

[mickchick6]

Thought I'd mention...Dh and I will be celebrating our 40th birthdays on board the ship! His birthday is Jan 23 and mine is Feb 27th. Not so much looking forward to the 40 as much as the cruise, but oh well!

BTW, I'm Linda... our cabins are 5129 and 5131 and we would love to participate in the FE.

Pulling out the suitcases tommorrow while packing up the tree.

 

[Orlando Disney Guy]

I just booked the other night! I am taking my sister on a magical vacation! This will be her second cruise and my 11th! She first sailed on the Wonder a few years back, I surprized her, her son and our Mom when they came to visit me in Orlando a few years ago. They thought we were going to do Disney for a few days and then take a 1 night cruise to the Bahama's out of Ft. Lauderdale (that is how I made sure they had proper docs with them).

Everything was booked in my name ofcourse, while my family was eating breakfast at the food court I ran back to the room to get my cell phone. While there I packed all of our stuff into the trunk of the car and drove the car back to food court building. After breakfast we got in the car and started our drive to what they thought was sight seeing and the beach. (Luckily no one had to go back to the room for anything)

The ship was just about in sight when I started telling them how much they meant to me. See the four of us used to vacation together, infact we were pretty inseperable untill I finished school and moved to Orlando. My nephew was about to enter his senior year of high school and was ready for a military career and to start a family of his own. This was really our last chance to vacation together just the four of us so I had to make it special.

Needless to say we were all in tears as the ship came into view.

My sister is comming back to Orlando to visit me in Febuary. I just surprized her with a 7 night western caribbean cruise. She is so excited and calls me almost daily asking questions about this and that. I originally was going to tell her it was just a 3 day cruise then surprize her once we got on board but logisticly with my nephew over seas right now I needed to make sure he had the information to get ahold of her if needed for that length of time.

She has endured a lot over the years with divorce, seeing her only child go off to fight and protect our country and ofcourse missing her baby brother tremedously! ! ! ! ! I am just excited as she is to have 7 whole days to bond and reconnect with each other just the two of us an no other dysfunctional family memebers around o make it unpleasant. My Mom (who now lives nearby in Orlando) could not make the trip this time around.

I am planning fun surpizes for my sister on the cruise:
I booked a verandah (she thinks we are in an nside room)
Palos one night for dinner
Probably wine and cheese in the room on arrival

Long story short we are more than ready for this vacation!

See you on deck four enjoying the lounge chairs!

 

[deedeedubbs]

I made a twist on the name badged started by another Dis'er. I made it especially for our group.

Sue,
I LOVE IT!

I copied it to a jpeg file and inserted it into Word. I enlarged it a bit to test the print quality and it looks great. I don't see any pixelling.

Nice job! Once again you did a bang up job. Which software packages do you use to create your images?

Thanks,
~ Dee

 

[MyLove4Disney]

The question is? When shall we put an end date to who is joining the exchange? I know everyone is continuing or starting to purchase/make their gifts. But I for one need to get a count and don't want to miss anyone, I guess it's the analyst and over planner in me that needs to be prepared.

How about a date of Jan 8th to end the sign ups? That way we will have at least 3 full weeks before anyone would be leaving for the cruise to get the gifts put together.

Also how many times would everyone like to do the exchange? 1 time, 2 times, or 3 times and what nights do you want the exchanges to happen. I have heard a few mention in the pasts months ask questions on how, what, when, but thought we should confirm this soon. Sorry we probably should have a guidelines set up.

Please note I have not participated in an exchange before, but here are my thoughts. So if other have ideas, lets put them into place.

1. Two separate exchanges on any night you have time to distribute the gifts. But lets try to spread it out so there are gifts that show up later in the cruise.

2. Secrete or Not up to the exchanger.

3. Themes Valentine, Home Town, Pirates and of course Disney and candy is always good.

4. Individuals or Room only. I would recomend individuals, we have a wide range of kids in the group. I think that each child would really like their own gifts. We could leave this up to the exchanger.. I am going to do both types.

5. Value; that is variable, I believe that it is the thought that counts, not how much you spend. Don’t spend a lot, think small, remember, we have to take them home in our suitcase

6. Bring something extra just in chase you see someone with a FE that forgot to sign up.

7. Have FUN

 

[pgsahm2]

Welcome OrlandoDisneyGuy! That sounds like such a special treat for your sister. She is lucky to have you as her brother.

Just to be it on record, TinkerKat this is especially for you, if I end up pregnant after this cruise I'm holding someone other than myself responsible! LOL

I love the name badge but unfortunately I've already printed out the other style on that expensive magnetic paper.

I have to get hopping on my FE gifts. I was in such a hustle trying to get Christmas to pan out just right and now I'm mentally exhausted and don't even want to think about the details of packing and this and that. Again, I think once the kids go back to school next week I'll hopefully get back into the groove.

36 days!!!!!!!!!

 

[mickchick6]

This is fabulous! My kids are gonna be so excited for the special little things. I think I understand the whole jist of the FE, except...what do we put on our door to hold the gifts? Is there something specific or do we just get creative on our own?

I'm becoming obbsessed with thoughts of cruising!

 

[Namsupak]

Susan I love the new magnet design. Thanks so much! Also thanks for getting the FE stuff organized. Jan 8th sounds like a good cut off date

 

[deedeedubbs]

Sue, your outline sounds very sound.

How about a date of Jan 8th to end the sign ups? That way we will have at least 3 full weeks before anyone would be leaving for the cruise to get the gifts put together.

- I agree with a deadline. I'd hate to turn anyone away but if someone joins last minute or a huge amount joins last minute it could really throw a wrench in some plans. Having the deadline will also help us to focus more clearly on our FE gifts.

Also how many times would everyone like to do the exchange? 1 time, 2 times, or 3 times and what nights do you want the exchanges to happen. I have heard a few mention in the pasts months ask questions on how, what, when, but thought we should confirm this soon. Sorry we probably should have a guidelines set up.

- Not sure how to set up when to deliver. Should we say those on floor ?-? deliver this night, next floor on this night and so on...? And after you did your “assigned” night you can go whenever you wish if you have brought more gifts for more nights. That may help spread it out and ensure something almost each night. Or give each floor two or three choices on which evening to deliver so we’d have some overlap for those who wish to remain anonymous.

2. Secrete or Not up to the exchanger.

Perfect, I’m ok with that…anyone else? I haven’t decided for us yet. I guess though if we give out Connecticut things you’ll know it is us

3. Themes Valentine, Home Town, Pirates and of course Disney and candy is always good.

Can’t go wrong with Disney or candy…even better - DISNEY CANDY!!!

4. Individuals or Room only. I would recomend individuals, we have a wide range of kids in the group. I think that each child would really like their own gifts. We could leave this up to the exchanger.. I am going to do both types.

I'm ok with receiving or giving either individual or cabin-type gifts. It may make it easier for some to think of one gift rather than 5 per cabin (as an example only) or it may make for a nicer gift for cabin vs individual. And I think for some the exact opposite may be easier because you can get some cool stuff in bulk.

5. Value; that is variable, I believe that it is the thought that counts, not how much you spend. Don’t spend a lot, think small, remember, we have to take them home in our suitcase

As for cost I too am comfy with leaving it up to the individual - My thought is up to the individual because some have more means than others, some may have a certain $ amt in mind and some may have a different talent than others and still some may have more or less time to make or purchase.

7. Have FUN

I especially agree with # 7 in the rules outline

Well Sue…I guess it is true…great minds do think alike!

~ Dee

 

[TinkerKat]

pgsahm2 All I can say is.... Ha! Ha!

Sue, love all the suggestions! I am so swamped that having others do the ground rules is always welcome! I love to participate, not Run things
I agree with you and Dee cut off date works.

I can't believe it's only 36 days!
I'm thinking for the FE to make the NYC themed a "family" gift. And the others geared towards the kids. I know I'll end up with like 40 of everything, I can't get compulsive. It's just gonna be a lot of fun!

Orlando Guy, WELCOME!

Lastly, for those of you thinking "softside coolers" Target has a bunch of shoulder tote coolers on clearance! One is perfect size for wine bottles!
Or water.

 

[Billinaz]

Well, who is going to be the first one to post that they got their cruise docs??

 

[Billinaz]

OK, I have something to give to the person who wants/needs it most.

We get to the port really early and get the first round of boarding cards (a number 2).

We dont need the card, who wants it?

TinkerKat, where on LI are you fron?

I moved here to AZ from Massapequa.

 

[pgsahm2]

About the FE exchange.... I'm good with the posted "rules" and I think a cutoff date is probably a good plan because I really need to buckle down and figure out what I'm going to do for each person/family. The later we wait for participants the more complicated it could get.

I've also wondered who would be first to receive docs! How exciting that we are that close already! I also wonder if anyone will be upgraded!!! Woohoo!

We plan to get to the port really early as well but I'd love to take the number2 pass off your hands. If we worked it out that we have even a mini-meet in the port then whoeever doesn't have a 2 I could pass it on to them if we don't end up needing it. Does that make any sense? LOL

What else?

Oh, as for the DIS meet once on board, how are we going to remember who is who? Honestly I don't remember everyone's first names here. This might sound ridiculous but should we have a nametag or something with our screenname? Once I meet you hopefully I'll remember first names... lol But since not everyone has their name (me included) in their signature it's difficult to place first names with screennames.

I think I'm rambling again.. Let me pass the "rambling torch" to someone else. Next!

 

[princess sparkle p]

I had my monthly meeting with the Upgrade Fairy and she told me that sine we have all been such good planners and Disboarders that each and every one of us will be upgraded!!! I gave her a nice tip