February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[DizNutDad]

For anyone that has been on DCL before...

What are your thoughts on the best food you have had on the ship?

 

[patrsn]

That's a hard question, it's all so yummy! I guess I don't have any favorites, is that a bad thing? My son would tell you it's the endless pizza, chicken fingers, fries and ice cream, but he's so 12! I'm most looking forward to the endless fresh fruit. It's a very long winter up here in the NE. Good fruit is hard to come by.

 

[JJCJFL]

Good morning from cool but sunny Orlando!

I see that there were a few questions that were not answered so...

Yes, I also saw that they added flat screen TVs to the Magic. I'm sure DH will appreciate that. Our TV never gets cold.

My favorite foods....chocolate souffle at Palo, the chicken fingers are good...and I agree about the fruit. I love fresh fruit but hate to cut it up so it is a treat to have it all prepared for me. I also like that there are omlettes at the buffet in the AM made exactly like I want!

I'm good for some kind of marking but hesitate to do name tags. I wear one every day and would rather not on vacation. How about we shave VV into our heads?

Jill

Can we go now?

 

[patrsn]

Good morning from cool but sunny Orlando!

I see that there were a few questions that were not answered so...

Yes, I also saw that they added flat screen TVs to the Magic. I'm sure DH will appreciate that. Our TV never gets cold.

My favorite foods....chocolate souffle at Palo, the chicken fingers are good...and I agree about the fruit. I love fresh fruit but hate to cut it up so it is a treat to have it all prepared for me. I also like that there are omlettes at the buffet in the AM made exactly like I want!

I'm good for some kind of marking but hesitate to do name tags. I wear one every day and would rather not on vacation. How about we shave VV into our heads?

Jill

Can we go now?

ooohh I forgot about the omlettes, YESSS...

Ok Jill, besides nametags, any ideas? I don't want to shave anything into my head.

 

[GPLarge]

Haven't posted in a few days. DizNutDad you are not alone in here. I will be in a tux for formal night as I actually want a formal hoto with my DW and DD. DW has been planning the excursions and we can't wait to be on our way. I just need to get rid of this cold before we go.

 

[deedeedubbs]

I have to say, "what a better world this would be if everybody was a Disney Fanactic and addicted to the DISBoards like you all!!" We are by all measurements strangers but look how we have extended such support, pleasentries (sp?), humor, community!"

I am so happy to be a part of this network. "I love you , man!" something I heard on TV.

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DizNutDad, my DH is all in for trying on clothes and dressing up! You are not alone He will also help pack. I do have to say that all planning is left up to me but I'm fine with that.

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Playo Uvas - oh boy!!! I am so tempted to cancel or day at the ruins just to hang with everyone and not be the one person who doesn't go with you all! I need to bring my kids to the ruins so I can use the educational aspect of the trip to rationalize and prove to the schools that taking them out early was worth it. So far my DD's teacher is being wonderful. Haven't heard back from DS's.

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I don't remember who gave us the tip about about K& G's and also Burlington for tux and suits (thank you again!) but we went last night (DS and DD in tow - never go shopping at night again!) and we bought DH a tux, shirt, bowtie, cumberbun, links and DS a suit and matching shirt with bow like DH. It came to just about or just over $200 which we figure it would have cost just about that to rent onboard. Now our kids are under strict orders that they must plan their weddings (20 years from now) around DH's tux so he gets to wear it again . DH is now questioning the quality of his pants compared to the second store's pant quality but he hmm-ed and haw-ed about it and after I suggested he go back to store 1 and look again he said no...but the entire 30 minute plus trip home he talked about probably 3-4 more times. Too late now, they've probably already began alterations.

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Early coffee with the Valentine Voyagers on deck sounds wonderful! Can I do tea instead? I'm not a morning person in my real life but seem more able to get up on vacation.

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Heat wave gone and artic chill is back.

Toodles,
~ Dee

 

[mickchick6]

Good Morning!

I agree with Dee, it's so nice to have this connection with all of you. I believe things always happen for a reason, so meeting all of you on this board (to me) wasn't an accident! It's been so much fun to share and vent and laugh with you all. Thanks for all the pre-cruise fun!

I don't have anything planned for the shore. the boys are being very uncertain. I'm fine with that, we're all such free spirits that who knows where the wind will carry us! But I do have some ideas, just in case the wind doesn't move us anywhere!

Have a great day everyone---

"Think of a wonderful thought....Any happy little thought"

 

[Billinaz]

We will be at the port at 10ish..... my vacation starts then. We really dont mind waiting, the enviroment is what we are there for and I like to absorb all I can.

Our tux's have mickey vests and vow ties, take a look at table 31. We will most likely be seated there.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Playa Uvas Peeps or PUPs for short. LOL

PUPs, our group keeps growing which I think is really cool!

DS9 is driving me up the wall with talking about the menus every single day. Currently he's in the background asking about cherries jubilee and creme brulee cheesecake. If only I had his metabolism!

Has anyone ever put acrylic nails on by yourself? I tried it for the first time yesterday and it looks really good but my fingers hurt like a ... female dog. Are they supposed to be this sore?

Amanda

Yes, a couple days... it is normal, it actually changing the shape of your nail. You will have to fill them again in about two weeks depending on how fast your nail grow. Generally they start to look bad after two to three weeks.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Good morning from cool but sunny Orlando!

I see that there were a few questions that were not answered so...

Yes, I also saw that they added flat screen TVs to the Magic. I'm sure DH will appreciate that. Our TV never gets cold.

My favorite foods....chocolate souffle at Palo, the chicken fingers are good...and I agree about the fruit. I love fresh fruit but hate to cut it up so it is a treat to have it all prepared for me. I also like that there are omlettes at the buffet in the AM made exactly like I want!

I'm good for some kind of marking but hesitate to do name tags. I wear one every day and would rather not on vacation. How about we shave VV into our heads?

Jill

Can we go now?

OMG

Yes, All the DH's and DS a VV and a Mickey Head.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Made my ressies for Uvas yesterday!!! Yay!!!

I just did the basic... I'm hoping to find myself my own snorkel equipment before I go so I can just use it as I go. Plus, we may wander over to Chankanaab after awhile just for something different for the boys (I guess there's a lagoon and playground over there too and it's about the same price as Uvas-- AND there's a coupon on the internet I saw somewhere...).

I feel like there's still a million things to do!!! Time to go look for a couple of last minute things!!!

 

[deedeedubbs]

We hope to get to the port 10 ish also. I loved going in with very few people there. It really allowed us to breath it all in and explore with ease. Last Feb we got there and were turned away for a short while. I don't remember if we got there before 10. I do remember tearing up, maybe even just a tad more than that (I'm such a baby)...when we were driving up over the bridge and saw the Wonder for the 1st time.

I'm going to attempt to make a Valentine Voyager Flag...it may become a poster but I'm aiming for flag...so that anyone who wants to just say, "Hey there, Hi there, Ho there!" they can easily find a friendly face from the board.

I found a nice light and black beaded cover for my full length black velvet dress I told you all about. I'm going to be wearing the oldest and most hideous shoes of all time but I had to cut corners somewhere and besides...whose gonna be lookin' at my feet, right?

We have 2 haircuts down, I'm going for mine today and I'll cut my DH's sometime this weekend. I also color mine sometime this weekend (need to hide all the white hair I scream each time a look in the mirror so it's time.)

I have 2 more things I'd like to do for the FE's but not sure if time or $ will allow. Neither costs much but when you've already spent over $XXXX for a vacation and haven't even gone yet...again, I've got to cut corners somewhere. (But I reeeeaaaaly want to do these two also). We'll see.

Oh, for 1st time cruisers with little ones who will be playing at the beaches - bring your own pail/shovel and toys with you. The cost once you're away from home is crazy.

I did check and there is a Walmart very close to the port. We'll be there stocking up on water, sunscreen, beach toys and snacks and what ever I forgot to pack.
~ Dee

 

[deedeedubbs]

What is the best cruise tip you can share or have heard?

I'll begin with one and may add more later:
Use an over the door pocket shoe holder (2 will be even better) to keep all your small items together, room clutter free and easy to find as you're running out of the door and to save on drawer space for socks/undies/etc...

 

[patrsn]

Just for your information, this is what I found about the kids club. I thought it was late but I couldn't remember so here it is...

The Club and Lab are open from 9 am - midnight or 1 am depending on what activities are planned for the adults and/or movie schedule.

About 9 pm, the club turns on a movie and the kids lie down on mats to watch the movie/fall asleep. Sometimes I would see a group or so of kids coloring or playing on the computers during the movie. If you kid falls asleep, you can pick him up and carry him back to the room.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Dee-- do you think that the sand toys would be available at WalMart for a reasonable price? I was planning on getting that stuff down there so we didn't have to lug it with us through the airports with luggage and boys and me in a boot, haha

 

[deedeedubbs]

Dee-- do you think that the sand toys would be available at WalMart for a reasonable price? I was planning on getting that stuff down there so we didn't have to lug it with us through the airports with luggage and boys and me in a boot, haha

Last year my parents did some of our beach shopping ahead of time for us at Walmart in Daytona and then we finished up once we got there so, YES. We even got really nice disney shirts for the kids at a fraction of the cost.

 

[patrsn]

What is the best cruise tip you can share or have heard?

I'll begin with one and may add more later:
Use an over the door pocket shoe holder (2 will be even better) to keep all your small items together, room clutter free and easy to find as you're running out of the door and to save on drawer space for socks/undies/etc...

My tip is to get a deck chair early for days at sea, they fill up early.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

single digit dance 9 days until we leave for WDW...


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The comradeship is a wonderful part of this board. I have been on some other boards and they seem to snipe at each other if your opinion doesn’t match theirs. Here I feel like people genuinely want to know what others think and want to share theirs and can without fear that they will be shamed.
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Identifying name tag at the port, well I'll have the name badges at the meet, but I won't be arriving early, we probably won't get to the port until about noonish, if not a little later. I like the idea of ribbons, so I went out a looked up the meaning of disboard lime green, it is used for lymphoma, etc. in the awareness ribbon colors site. So my thought was to go with lime green and just tie it like a regular bow not the awareness style and put on our lanyard that we get for the returning cruisers. I know I'm leaving out you 1st time DCL cruisers. I recommend that you go out and buy from home or buy the DCL lanyard from on ship/port, everyone generally wears them to put their id and KTTW card in, it is a wise investment and you will be like the rest of us.


Dee great Idea on the flag. You might try if you have time go to a fabric store and get the print on fabric sheets and sew/glue that onto a flag. I did that for a bag I made.
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TIP’s

I definitely agree with Dee on the over the door shoe holder…


I’m sorry; I have two… bring a power strip for the desk area. You only have 2 regular plugs over there and if you are anything like me, I have to charge my camera’s we have 2, cell phone, us them as alarm clocks, curling/straightening irons, yes both, hair drier, that brings me to the second tip, bring your own hair dryer, unless your hands can tolerate the high temp of the vacuum cleaner hose type dryer. It works OK for the guys (short hair or no hair), but if you style your hair with your hair dryer bring your own. Note about power strip and leaving things plug into the wall, they don’t get upset if you leave the power cord plug into the power strip if it is shut off when you leave the cabin; just make sure you shut it off.

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Place to shop at port, walmart is close but walgreen is even closer for small items, we stop there and buy water, soda for shore, and shampoo and conditioner. I don't like to pack that stuff, I buy in the small size... I don't like what they have on the ship, I just don't like the smell of lavender.

 

[Michellepooh]

I like the idea of some sort of nametag for the meet. At other DIS meets I've been to, it was always awkward (at least for me!) to have to keep asking everybody their name.

We have an 8:40 breakfast reservation at 'Ohana before we head to the port, so I'm figuring we'll get there around 11. We're parking our rental car at the port, so we don't have to worry about shuttles, etc.

Hmm... best tip.... I guess to have a way to leave messages for the other people in your group. DH and I often head in different directions on the ship, so it's nice to know where the other is and what time they'll be back. I usually bring a dry erase board to leave messages.

I like the idea of morning coffee! I'm a coffee addict, so I tend to visit the Cove Cafe' quite a bit anyway.

OK, I better go finish my ironing! Ugh!! Why is it that at home, I never iron anything, but when going on vacation all of our clothes need to be ironed?!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

UPDATE I'm the 1000'th post Yahoo....

Not that we will need one, because I'm sure everyone will want to see the great Valentine Voyagers.

After completing my FE, I had some left over material so I mad a tote. I am going to offer it up as a doorprize at the meet. Here a picture of it guys you can carry it yourselfs or give a gift to you DW's

Sharing, This is our FE, I don't have a dowel rod yet, that's today.