February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[pgsahm2]

Marieeb, welcome to our ever growing group! You shouldn't regret deck 5 as the cabins are not exactly "near" the kids' clubs. I've read nothing but good things about the deck 5 rooms. And we'll be your neighbor! We're in 5022 and 5024. How cool!

I have to say again that I think it's so funny there are so many 9 year old girls from this group. If memory serves me right there should 4, maybe 5? My 9 year old boy is going to be either really lonely or in heaven while in the Lab. LOL

48 days left! And only 4 til our big reveal!! Yahooooo!

 

[TinkerKat]

Looking over the list, looks like it's a nice mix of kids with everyone having at least one counterpart in their group.! All it takes is one familiar face to make those little ones let go of the apron strings!
This is becoming more exciting to me than the fact that Christmas is just 4 days away!

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

Perfect...we should sit together because we'll be with the DD and DS who are each being tested for Executive Dysfunction and ADHD. The rest of the dining room should be so happy to see our families walking in
~ Dee

oh the 8:00 dinner rotation should be a riot. we're there also and 2 of our 3 kids are ADHD too! We're West Coasters, so hoping the late seating will work for us. We'll be attempting to stay on west coast time. and we've requested a table for just the 5 of us (actually a 6 seat table with an empty seat). we've found that our kids get very wiggly over these long dinners, especially when conversation gets diverted to the adults at one end of the table. Hoping that dinners will be great way to review the day and have fun with each other.

 

[deedeedubbs]

oh the 8:00 dinner rotation should be a riot. we're there also and 2 of our 3 kids are ADHD too! We're West Coasters, so hoping the late seating will work for us. We'll be attempting to stay on west coast time. and we've requested a table for just the 5 of us (actually a 6 seat table with an empty seat). we've found that our kids get very wiggly over these long dinners, especially when conversation gets diverted to the adults at one end of the table. Hoping that dinners will be great way to review the day and have fun with each other.

I just can't believe how many families I know who have ADD or ADHD in their families. Either the doctors are better at diagnosing than in the past or there is an epidemic of sorts. We should find out if our two have it just about the time we sail. It is so much longer of a process than I expected.

In Feb 08 we had our own table...didn't ask for it but the CM was just kind enough to give it to us (maybe he read the strain and panic on my face). Given some of our family challenges I hope we have a 4 seat table again so we can avoid some issues. After saying that, just watch, my kids will probably surprise me and prove me wrong. I'll hope for some pixie dust either way.

Good for you that you got a table for yourselves. That alone must eleviate some stress for you and for the kids also.

I can't wait to see our dinner staff's faces when they see our interesting and diverse group for 8:00. Their faces might look something like this:

All in jest of course. We'll all have a marvelous time and deal with what happens if/when it does, right?! And now we know we're not alone

~ Dee

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Daughter/Son~AGE~HOW MANY
DS~0~1
DS~2~1
DS~4~3
DD~5~2
DS~5~1
DS~6~4
DS~7~1
DD~8~3
DS~8~3
DD~9~5
DS~9~2
DD~11~1
DS~11~2
DD~12~1
DS~12~2
DD~13~2
DS~13~2
DS~14~1
DS~15~1
DS~18~1
DS~22~1
DD~24~1
other children ages are not listed~6
TOTAL CHILDREN~~47
TOTAL ADULTS~~62
TOTAL FAMILIES~~30

Alberta CAN ~1
Ont CAN ~ 1
AZ ~ 1
CA ~ 2
CT ~ 1
FL ~ 2
MA ~ 1
MD ~ 2
MN ~ 1
NH ~ 1
NJ ~ 1
NY ~ 2
OH ~ 2
PA ~ 2
VA ~ 1
WV ~ 2

 

[deedeedubbs]

MyLove4Disney...you are the best! It must have taken you a great deal of time to break down the list like that!

~ Dee

 

[marieeb]

Thank you all for you welcoming words and reassurances.
My daughter is very pleased that there will be other children around her age. Pgsahm2, my daughter has good friends who are boys too! She would like to know if he a Star Wars or Indiana Jones fan? If they connect it will be especially nice that you are neighbours.

It looks like there will be a range of kids. Thank you Mylove4disney for compiling that list. It looks like a nice group of 8 and 9 year olds.

We drew the late dinner as well, I'm hoping that this will work with some distraction and a snack.

Is anyone booking shore excursions? DD desperately wants to swim with dolphins and so I have booked that. It seems that most things that I am interested in occur in Cozumel and the Dolphins trump all.

44 days until our vacation starts ...47 to sail!!!
Marie

 

[TinkerKat]

mylove4disney, Great List! Thanks for the hard work! We too drew the 8pm dinner seating. As stated before, on days we were on land, this was definately the preferred seating. My kids are "night birds" like their mom so we'll be fine.

 

[Michellepooh]

Wow, MyLove4Disney, thanks for putting that list together!

Just wanted to wish all of the Valentine Voyagers a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you may celebrate ).

Once Christmas is over I go into full-fledged planning and packing mode - time to make the spreadsheets! I drive my DH crazy!

 

[deedeedubbs]

Wow, MyLove4Disney, thanks for putting that list together!

Just wanted to wish all of the Valentine Voyagers a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you may celebrate ).

Once Christmas is over I go into full-fledged planning and packing mode - time to make the spreadsheets! I drive my DH crazy!

DITTO for all of the above! especially the driving of the DH crazy part.

~ Dee

 

[pgsahm2]

Daughter/Son~AGE~HOW MANY
DS~0~1
DD~2~1
DS~4~3
DD~5~2
DS~5~1
DS~6~4
DS~7~1
DD~8~3
DS~8~3
DD~9~5
DS~9~2
DD~11~1
DS~11~2
DD~12~1
DS~12~2
DD~13~2
DS~13~2
DS~14~1
DS~15~1
DS~18~1
DS~22~1
DD~24~1
other children ages are not listed~6
TOTAL CHILDREN~~47
TOTAL ADULTS~~62
TOTAL FAMILIES~~30

Wow! Thanks for this list! See, I knew there were a bunch of 9 year old girls!

I'm not sure if you may have my 2 year old down as a girl but I have a DS that's 2.

Again, thank you!

 

[pgsahm2]

Marie, my son is into football and video games more than anything else right now. But he does like Indiana Jones and Star Wars, he's just not a huge fan. Once we announce our cruise to them on Christmas I'd be happy to let him email her if you'd like. That way they could connect prior to the cruise.

If anyone else wants to do the kid email thing please let me know. I'd supervise on my end of course. And I'd let them use only my email address.

I'd also like to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to everyone here! It's been nice getting to know one another a bit in the last few months especially. I hope we can continue to do so and even make lasting friendships once our cruise is over. (Don't even want to think about it being over yet!! Doh!)

I also agree that once Christmas is over I will be in full planning/packing/preparation mode. Dh will be ready to move out within a few days once it starts. Ha! Maybe all of our dhs should consider rooming together somewhere for the next 40 days or so just until we are fully packed and ready? LOL

Two more days until our reveal! Everything's prepped and ready to go!

45 days til cruising!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Make sure to take videos and lots of pictures. Share some if you have time. In 20 years those pictures will be priceless.

After Xmas day, I'll be packing the everyday stuff and hopfully I will get DD and my formals gowns made and of course the FE and working on our FE gifts. I have a few Ideas, I hope I can get them all done intime for the cruise.


Everyone have a wonderful holiday season.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

I'm so excited for everyone's reveals tomorrow!!! Please let all of us know how they go!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve getting ready!

If anyone is traveling for tomorrow, have a safe trip and a very Merry Christmas! We're going up to my parents house and they live around the corner from the world headquarters of JoAnn Fabrics, so I'm going FE fabric shopping the day after Christmas, haha And I'm with everyone else on the driving the DH crazy... Only I've been doing it already since we made our ressies a few months back, haha He just hasn't realized that I'm not in overdrive yet-- these few months were only the BEGINNING, haha However, he must be at least a little excited because he didn't say no when I told him I was planning on taking advantage of the $99 deal...

Laundry time so I can pack for tomorrow... Good luck again and I can't wait to hear how things go for everyone!!!!

 

[Billinaz]

Our kids can email, but only with me monitoring it.

The email I set up for them is:

kids-disney-cruise@cox.net

Kim is 13
Dan is 11
Melanie is 9

Anyone going to WDW after the cruise?

 

[Michellepooh]

Billinaz - We're doing a week at WDW before the cruise, and then going back to WDW for one night at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

First I hope everyones Christmas was special and no one was caught in an airport from the storms. Our day was very nice. It was very lovely here in nor cal. It stopped raining early in the morning and was a beatuiful day. In fact the house was getting kind of warm about the time we sat down for supper at 1pm. I had to open the front door to cool down the house which is directly in front of the dinning room table. I had it open the full time we were eating. By no means was it warn, just nice cool fresh air, today is the same.

Today, is my DD birthday. She is turning 24, she got a gift card from her grandpa to go out and buy a new guitar. Its her first one, this last semester she took her first guitar class as it is required for her music degree. She had been putting off this class until almost the last moment because she thought she would not be able to play it. (She can play many many of the other instraments, but she has never played a string instrament before, well except she does play the piano). She loved the class so much she ask for a guitar for christmas. At the age of 24 it's hard to get her anything without her knowing. I talked my dad into getting it for her so it would sort of be a supprise. So she is beggin me to go out with her this morning to the music stores in Sacramento, thinking that we would get a better deal of the stores equipment. I hope so inexpensive guitars still cost over 300 bucks, I hope we find something..

Ok, for everyone that didn't get up early this morning and go out and return or begin shopping for their cruise supplies and FE gifts. How did the Big Reveals go yesterday.

I hope it was the biggest smiles you have every seen on your kids or the biggest looks of bewilderment. Spill the stories.

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Ok, for everyone that didn't get up early this morning and go out and return or begin shopping for their cruise supplies and FE gifts. How did the Big Reveals go yesterday.
Spill the stories. [/FONT]

Haha-- I was out shopping... Pat Catan's had AMAZING sales... All their stuff that was already marked down 50-75% was marked down another 90% off the SALE price!!! I was sneaking FE stuff into the DH's cart among all the sale stuff he was getting (you couldn't see out of the back of our van and the back seat was even folded down...). We're going to JoAnn's next... Time to get FE material!!! And then hope I can talk my mom into helping me make it, haha

 

[princess sparkle p]

Some exciting news to share!!! We are arriving on 4/4 before the cruise to get some much needed pre-cruise R&R ( I am still trying to talk DH into spending a day at one of the parks).

I got a call from DVC yesterday telling met that our waitlist came through for AKV!!! I was so excited, BUT the catch....we are in the Sunset Savannah and there will not be any animals since they are going to be acclimating to the new savannah in Kidani village. She told me that when we checkout we will only be charged for using standard view points since there will not be any animals. Our original reservation was for SSR, and we have never stayed at either. I was initially disappointed and considered giving up AKV but I came to my senses and decided to keep it.

It keeps getting closer!!!!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Some exciting news to share!!! We are arriving on 4/4 before the cruise to get some much needed pre-cruise R&R ( I am still trying to talk DH into spending a day at one of the parks).

I got a call from DVC yesterday telling met that our waitlist came through for AKV!!! I was so excited, BUT the catch....we are in the Sunset Savannah and there will not be any animals since they are going to be acclimating to the new savannah in Kidani village. She told me that when we checkout we will only be charged for using standard view points since there will not be any animals. Our original reservation was for SSR, and we have never stayed at either. I was initially disappointed and considered giving up AKV but I came to my senses and decided to keep it.

It keeps getting closer!!!!

Great News for your pre cruise stay, it will still be very beautiful. You can always go to the areas with the views of the animals it is a wonderful resort. We tried for there also, but they couldn't get us the 1st two nights. I didn't want to move though. I think you probably made the right decission if you haven't stayed at either resort and you were able to get in at AKV. We will miss ya at SSR though.

See you soon... Happy New Years