February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[JRandAJsMom]

Well, we made it through the cruise with no illness (other than DH having a slightly sore throat the last night). Then I pick DS6 up from his first day back at school today. Apparently he had been telling the assistant teacher all day that he didn't feel good. No one called me In fact, they told him he didn't "look" sick and I sent him to school so he must be fine (he WAS fine when he left). By the time he got in my car at pick-up, he was all teary eyed and broke down crying when I asked him what was wrong saying he was freezing and his throat hurt really bad. I called the doctors office and left a message while still in the parking lot and took his temp when we got home-- 102.5!!!!! The poor kid was shaking and crying and had sat through school feeling like that all day. He didn't leave my bed all afternoon except to go to the bathroom as he transferred to his own bed. Doc called back and they didn't have any appointments left today, so we go tomorrow morning. I talked to the assistant teacher after school when she called to say that I might want to watch Joey tonight because she didn't think he felt well. I told her (nicely, of course) if he ever says he doesn't feel well again, I want to be called right away. At least it's all after the cruise though... However-- I need another one to calm my nerves!!! Is it time for bouncebacks yet??? I need back out of this real world junk!!!

 

[princessmeesh]

well my cold is still hanging out but not by much, but nonetheless i am going for the bounceback if not over halloween then in Nov....this time maybe if i dont get as excited then i wont get sick??

i just wanted to say thank you to everyone in the VV's. our FE was soooo much FUN! we got such great gifts and it was such a treat for the DD's to rush to the door every morning when they awoke and every night before bed, it was so cute! thanks again for everyone's generousity, thanks to you all i gained some Lbs this trip!!

hopefully we can coordinate for the bounceback and/or the next 7 day!

stay warm everyone in the colder climates!

 

[patrsn]

Hi guys, well I got a cold on the cruise, not too bad but enough so that now my kids have it and are coughing like crazy, thank goodness it's this week and not last.

Michelle V..what happened to you on the ship? were you sick? I think I missed that, so sorry and hope it's better next time you cruise.

I am going to book the 99 dollar bouncback for the three nights, who else is doing it and what are your dates? I'de like to go when someone else is going.

Thanks Sue and Dee for doing so so much, it was so much fun..I wish I could have spent more time with everyone, but having a cold and coughing so much all I really did was sit in the sun trying to cook it out of me!

I hope we can keep in touch through this board or facebook... off to cook dinner, yuck!

Michelle

 

[TinkerKat]

Home sweet Home! I am finally going to sleep in my own bed tonite! Do miss the rocking ship at night though! I haven't slept that soundly in years! Unlike Michelle V. who was home hours after the cruise , we drove to disney and stayed at Pop Century for 4 days. You do get spoiled on the ship though,
not having to think about cooking, cleaning, paying, tipping! I actually was not even hungry! I think the ships food overwhlemed the senses as I know I don't eat three squares a day (though I should). My absolute favorite dessert was a cake they had on Pirate night. They called it the Spider cake, it was a white cake with buttercream icing that was to die for!


It was wonderful meeting most of you! Sorry I missed the meet... Our train was delayed by three hours. And that NEVER happens! Like others have said, it was nice running into familiar friendly faces. Even when I walked the decks like a thief in the night delivering goodies !
I wish I would have known about " dummy bookings" I would've jumped all over that. Too bad they don't offer dummy DVC
Maybe they'll have great offers again when I cruise on the 3 day. We too thought about October. But I think November is more doable. Maybe even first week in December. I'd love to see the ship decorated for holiday!

Thank you Sue, for suggesting I contact Guest Services. They sent Eleni a certificate for a Magical Moment regarding the loss of her first tooth, it was signed Tinkerbell and the tooth fairy They included lots of confetti and a Castaway Cay Minnie Beanie in a Sarong! She was thrilled. It was truly Magical. Thanks again for the tip!

Oh yea, Al forgot his luggage at the Port! He didn't realize it until about
3pm. Concierge at Pop called for him, and DCL delivered his luggage to the hotel that same night! Top notch Guest Service all around. Ok, gotta catch up on Lost! Ciao my Voyager friends!

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Does anyone have the pic from the meet? I had left my camera up in the room!!!

 

[pgsahm2]

Welcome home to everyone who's currently back to reality!

Can you believe it was two weeks ago we boarded the big ship and already one week since we left it behind? Where has the time gone???!!!

I would also love a picture of the meet if someone has one uploaded.

I'm not sure when we'll be doing the bouncback but I hope we get to. I think we're leaning toward December along with a short trip to WDW since I have a 40% off pin code for lodging. Fingers crossed!!!

Are we the only ones who didn't rebook while on board? I'm still sad that we didn't.... Dh just couldn't find it in him with the way the economy is. We have to make sure we have a house and cars and food to eat before trips... personally I'd rather cruise... lol

 

[Namsupak]

I think we're trying to do the bounce back in December too. Maybe we'll see some of the Valentine Voyagers A nice short trip to see what it's like to travel with the new baby.

We'd love to get a copy of the group pic too. Anybody have a copy to upload?

 

[deedeedubbs]

Hi VV's!!!
We finished up our week with my parents in Daytona. It was hard leaving the cruise but even harder for me leaving my parents. As you may or may not remember we almost lost my mom in October...it was a minute by minute thing where she was going and then she was revived. Well, spending this much time with my parents, as we do every Feb, meant much more to me! I cried like a baby as we drove away and my special Jerry, DH, just grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly and didn't let go for about 30 minutes.

Fore those of you wondering, "Did Dee get on 95 the the wrong way again?!" The answer is no. I went on the cruise with something, got worse and sported a fever for a few days, it seemed to go away and then wham! I was hit for a second time and much harder. Jerry had to drive the entire trip home because my fever was so high my hair hurt. But each time we stopped for gas or rest we did tease, including my kids, about making sure we got on 95 the right direction.

I last wrote we were going to Hoop Dee Doo Review on Sunday. It was more fun than ever. Bailey, DS6 , was selected to ring the dinner bell to start the show. Jerry was highlighted as a cheater with Claire, one of the characters in teh show, and Bailey was selected again to go on stage as the Texas Ranger. The only downside of the night was each of our cameras and video cameras batteries died just before Bailey came out to do his thing. Disney did take a professional photo and gave it to us - so nice! While on the cruise I know I spoke with a few of you about spending that Sunday before the show hopping from the hotels to the next...never happened. Jerry had College homework and lots of it to do or we couldn't go to the show so maybe next time.

We just got in late last night and had to snowblow our driveway. We are getting more snow today! ugh! How are you doing Al? Done with the CT snow?

I DO have the group shots...the kids and the entire group. I'll try to post on my facebook and photobucket so everyone can get to it. If I have technical difficulties I'll email the pix to someone who has a clue about these sites and get the pix up somehow.

I'm sorry to hear that so many of you aren't feeling well either! I hope everyone is better soon!

Kathy, how special of the cruise to have made your daughter's lost tooth so special!!

We also didn't rebook. If we had the extra $ we would have done a dummy booking but we just didn't have it this time around. It looks like we won't be doing the bounce back either. I suggested to Jerry he and I go away with each other as a special date. He likes the idea but then who'd watch the kids and could we afford it and would he be able to get more time off.

I'm probably going to slip back into bed for a little while. I'll look for my all of my pix cd's and sticks and find the group shots as my 1st VV priority when I get back up.

Toodles,
Dee

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hello everyone. Sound like everyone had a great time. I'm so glad that you did. I hope to do the bounce back, but not sure, schedule might not work out as well. I did a dummy rebook, they only charge half the deposit, which is great.

DD is in michigan and had her audition at the univerisity and it went really well. Now all she has to do is wait and see if she gets in and the scholarship and assitantships she can get to fully pay for it. They told them they would know be the end of March. A month and a week to wait. That is going to be tough on her, me too. Oh, it is snowing there and very cold, but she is bundle up and was playing out in the snow today. She was having a good time. You know we don't get the snow so for a few days it can be fun.

Next weekend it is the SoCal adutions she is going to stay with her ex boyfriend, he works for Disney corporate as an artist for all the commercial area, they are planning on going to DL on Monday between auditions. she really enjoy DL.

Her last semester at her current college is a very light semester she only has classes on Tue and Thur and one hour on Friday. She is hoping the she will get accepted at all the universities and then only a decision on what kind of assistance she gets for them.

I'm back into work full swing. But have been under the weather some. My troat and voice are soar. I have resting all weekend. But I need to be doing laundry. I just want to get better fast.

Kathy I saw where you posted that you got some magnets solen, I'm sorry about that. We were very lucky we had a lot of Just Disney Magic logos and non were taken. I expected that a few would have been, we took ours done the night before, but forgot one of the skull and cross bones and we were given as a FE, but it was still there in the morning and we didn't get out of our room until around 745am as our breakfast was at 8am.

Well I hope everyone that take the bounch back that you have as wonderful of a time as we all had this time. 3days for 99 seems good, but it just might be to short of a cruise. I might have to make it a back to back instead. I'll have to check on that, humm that is a thought.

Well anyway, take care. Have a great week.

 

[marieeb]

Thank you all so very much for your generosity of spirit and for making our vacation that extra over the top magnificent!! It was so nice to see people around the cruise that I 'knew'. I only wish that I had come to know more of you!! We loved the FE gifts and, as I told Dee, I too wish that I had made time to write such lovely thank you notes to you all.

Dee, I am glad that you made it home safely. Cleo was teary a few nights ago missing Jordan and Nicole. I'm glad that you had a good time with your folks too. Time like that is always special but a close call like that with your Mother makes it even more pecious.


I am happy to report that we had a relaxing and healthy time on board. After we returned Cleo went back to school for two days and then was off the rest of the week with a GI bug. All is well now.

I am very sorry that some of you spent your vacation sick. How miserable. I'm not sure if it made a difference, but one of the first things that I did was to use hospital strength disinfectant wipes and go over the bathrooms, and all handles and knobs and the phone in our stateroom.

It was fun catching up on all of your posts that were written after we left. I especially like the last minute preparation ones. I went through exactly all of that stress on our departure day. Stress must come with the cruise tickets. I even called my best friend the morning of our departure to tell that I was going to murder my husband. If anyone has figured out how to avoid the stress please share. Overplanners anonymouse maybe????

So after the cruise I resolved to keep my Disney Carribbean state of mind and to get off the treadmill (not the exercise one but the one of life) and to take more relax time. Despite my efforts, life is getting busier anyway. I must say that I am a little more serene through it all though.

We are hoping to do the bounce back as well. I was initially planning for December 17 but then we would get into the Christmas airfares. Mark and I both have birthdays in mid December so there would be at least one free park ticket if we plan it right. Alternatively, the difference in airfare could buy alot of park tickets if we went earlier. Christmas is supposed to be so pretty at WDW. Has anyone been at Christmas? We made no onboard reservations as I figured that we would do it on the bounce back cruise.

Susan, we did not buy into DVC this time. When and if we ever do I will use your name as a referal. Thanks especially to you, Susan, for your coordination with this group.

I was hesitating to get back on this site as I thought that it would make me sad but I really wanted to thank you all. I am also happy to report that I don't feel sad although I wish we could all start planning our next cruise together. I'm a little nervous about going on another...will it be as good without you?

Have a wonderful week.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Marie, good to hear from you and glad you had a wonderful time. I'm sure that your next cruise will be just as wondereful. And if there isn't another Susan type on the board, I give you full permission to take over my roll. You will have a blast doing it as I did.

I'm glad you got back on the thread, we would keep it going for a long time even though the cruise is over it will last a long time in our memories and posts.

 

[TinkerKat]

Susan... hmmmm back to back! Now there's a thought! We'll either try to swing that or a 4 day land, 3 day sea. Trying to narrow down the days as I will be pulling the kids out of school again. But not as many as this last time

 

[deedeedubbs]

Hey Everyone!

Jerry has the disc with the group pix on it at work. He is showing off his trip to his co-workers. I gave him strict orders to get him home tonight! Hopefully he remembered. The poor guy has been at work since 6 am and it is now 9pm. I'll give him a little slack if he doesn't have it tonight but tomorrow...no excuses

Good night!

Dee

 

[deedeedubbs]

Hey everyone! The group shots (big group and kids) are up. They are in my facebook account. Here's the uncropped version. Can everyone find themselves? If not I'll place the cropped version in. I'm adding all pix eventually (about 2 thousand plus!!) feel free to look and grab any you like or have you and your family in it.

Once we begin looking at the pix let's do a roll call of sorts and announce where we are in the picture. I met so many of you at the meet but I must admit I'm not good at remembering faces and names together.

I'm Dee Williams in CT on facebook and my image is Jordan and Bailey hugging.
Here's the link to my photobucket:

http://s384.photobucket.com/albums/oo286/deedeedubbs/Disney Magic Cruise 2-09/

I'm holding the flag, DH jerry - tallest guy in back line wearing black shirt, DD Jordan - standing directly to left of me...looks like a floating head, DS Bailey is directly left to me holding his version of VV flag.

DD Jordan sitting far left waving, DS Bailey standing front with arms crossed looking angry for some reason.

I hope it all works.

 

[deedeedubbs]

How do I keep the replies with pix within the screen size? Is it OK if you have to scroll to teh right to see everything?

 

[marieeb]

Thanks for the picture Dee. Did Jordan get Cleo's email?

 

[Billinaz]

Hey Dee, what boarding number did you get? I was in the terminal when you came in.....

We were sitting over here:

 

[deedeedubbs]

Thanks for the picture Dee. Did Jordan get Cleo's email?

Hi Marie,

She did and it made her so happy and so so sad! She has every intention of writing her back but she has been swamped with catching up and mainting her school work. Friday is a no homework day so after we get home from our PTO event I'll be sure to give her time to sit and email her.

I saw the pix of Cleo and Nicole on Marie's facebook. How nice they are!!!

I offered Jordan to give Cleo our phone number when she emails her. Jordan loves the idea of talking with her.

 

[deedeedubbs]

Hey Dee, what boarding number did you get? I was in the terminal when you came in.....

We were sitting over here:

We were given a 9 but then some very nice guy gave us his three. The 1st bit of pixie dust we got!

 

[patrsn]

Hi guys, well it's been 2 weeks now... I was doing well till I saw the picture of everyone at the first meet, I want to be there NOW!! I hope everyone is well and getting better. Seems like a lot of us were lucky we got sick after the cruise. I too hope we can keep up this thread as I want to do the 99 dollar cruise and would love to be on with some of you, I'm thinking Dec. too. Anyway, just wanted to say hello to everyone, and Dee thanks for posting that picture, I'm going on facebook now to tag myself.

Michelle