February 7, 2009 Western early check in!

[pgsahm2]

Good morning! It's 4° outside. Yay.

I had two giant margaritas last night to help keep me warm. At least that's the excuse I'm using. It was a nice reminder that in 3 weeks I'll be having a real Mexican Margarita! Woohoo!

Jill, congrats on being the first to receive docs! I got butterflies in my tummy reading that you did. The rest of us should be following suit pretty soon!!!!!

I think I'm going to do a fashion show today to see what fits from last summer. I need to decide what to pack for myself and that's a start. If I don't get started soon I'll be running around like a chicken with my head cut off two days before we leave. Not what I want to do!

Have a great Saturday! Regardless of your cold (or colder than cold) temps keep in mind that three weeks from today we board the Magic!!!!!!

Amanda

 

[princessmeesh]

the first thing i said to the DD's this morning was 3 WEEKS!

VERRRRRY excited in this house!!

Sue, thanks for the templates for the magnets for our group and of course, for keeping the meets in check!!

packing and unpacking again today, i agree with the fashion show, time for one of those to help decide! LOL

off to the store ONE MORE TIME to see if there is ONE MORE THING for the FE gifts, why not fill a THIRD carry on?!

okay, for the DD's that are right beside me..... forgive me please......

 

[princess sparkle p]

okay, for the DD's that are right beside me..... forgive me please......

Just for your DD! Here are my favorites...



I have been trying to keep up with all of you here, and you have been busy! As soon as I got over the stomach flu I got a sinus infection. This always turn into bronchitis, which it has, and the icing on the cake is the the ear infection. DH has an ear infection too. I guess we just wanted to make sure we got every illness our of the way before the cruise

We had a negative 35 here yesterday with the wind chill..a little chilly!!!

 

[deedeedubbs]

SUSAN,

YOU ROCK!

Yes, Susan, you do rock. I don't know how to put links inmy siggie so I'm very happy you consolidated the facts

 

[deedeedubbs]

Well DW and DD ventured out in the cold today to shop for pirate costume stuff. I was out picking up material to make our FE and played around in Photoshop making a door magnet.

At least the coffee helps to keep me warm during the day

Everyone think warm thoughts and we'll be there soon.

Beautiful magnet! You did this in photoshop? I think I need to venture into some new software for myself.

 

[Namsupak]

Yay that so exciting that somebody got their docs. Can't wait to get ours!

This weekend I'm going to work on putting all of our FE stuff together. I can't believe we only have 3 weeks until were boarding the ship The other night I had the worst dream that we got all the way to port and then I realized we had forgotten our passports! Of course when I got up I immediately I ran and double checked that our passports were where we always keep them and moved that to the top of our what to pack list

I'm totally jealous of all of you that have started packing. Hope I can follow your lead

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Is it sad that now that someone has gotten cruise docs, I am pretty much waiting to pounce the mailman when he comes walking up the street??? I can't wait!!! It still feels so far off now-- when those get here it'll feel a little more real

Weather.com says it's 1 degree here (without windchill), but I don't plan on going out to find out if it's really that cold (it certainly LOOKS that cold!!!)... The only temps I currently care to feel are those in the Caribbean... For those who are wondering:

Key West: 68 (74 within 10 days)

Cozumel: 76 (83 within 10 days)

Grand Cayman: 80 (82 within 10 days)

Bahamas: 74 (78 within 10 days)

Ahhhhhhh....

 

[mickchick6]

Happy SATURDAY!

Well, the target box of swimwear I ordered FINALLY came last night. It looked like it may have gone through several mudslides and perhaps even a volcano, but it's here! Our boys will no longer be swimming in the buff!

We are leaving in 17 days! Now my kids are getting excited, before they felt like it would never come! Since they have a 4 day weekend, I will be taking each one individually and pack their bag. Once that's done, there's no looking back!

Susan, from the very beginning you have made this board so easy to be part of ....thank you for caring so much!

Have a great day!

 

[margolyn]

I think I responded that we would attend the birthday bash on Sunday, but in case I didn't, we plan to join in. I will be 44.5 3 days before we leave.

Have a great day!

 

[patrsn]

Hello everyone and Happy 3 weeks to go!! I cannot wait to get my docs, watching the mailbox right now as I type.

Excuse my ignorance but how do you all make door magnets? I want to make one too. Where do you get the templates?

single digit weather here in Mass but at least the suns out. Snow tomorrow.

Still not packed, but going to start to attempt that today and tomorrow.

Also, I need to buy park passes for a few days before the cruise, anyone have any recommendations on where to purchase those? Ebay has some good deals but Im a little nervous to go that route. I was thinking just hitting the disney store but I know I won't get any deals there. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

I was just reading another thread before I linked to this one, some guy is totally annoyed that he got late seating for his cruise (not ours) and he's saying he's never going to cruise again and that they won't eat anything but buffet all week. Just curious, I have late seating, have always had late seating, love the late seating because by then we are actually hungry and I don't mind being up late but how do you guys feel about the dinner seatings? Do you love early seating? Late seating? I guess its all just personal preference but Im curious as to everyones thoughts on that. Wondering if Im missing out on something at the early seatings...

 

[marieeb]

Happy 3 week countdown!

Our documents arrived yesterday! They arrived by FedEx What a welcome sight on a cold, dark Friday night after a loooong day!!

Thank you for the copies of signs. I have my magnetic paper loaded as I write.

I to start putting things in the suitcases today. I have to dig out my kid's summer stuff. I may spend my 'buffer day' in Orlando shopping for her!! She seems to have put on a growth spurt and finding summer clothes in Canada in January is a bit of a challenge!!!

I have the FE gifts put together. They do take up alot of travel space! I briefly considered shipping them ahead. I rejected that idea as I realized that they will hold space for all the stuff I won't be able to avoid bringing back (despite my resolve).

It looks like the whole eastern coast of North America is frostier than normal.
so I will spare you the details of the weather. I'm Canadian, I expect the cold; I don't like it though!!

I am watching/listening CNN this morning. Everyone is wrapped up!! I don't want to stir political waters but I am watching the proceedings in Washington with interest. Can't help it! As our former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, once said about the relationship between Canada and the USA, "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."


Anyway I am off to pack. To respond the seating question - I think that ,with a late afternoon snack, the late seating will almost be preferable. That way we won't have to race back from the days events and transform ourselves into something more civilized for dinner. But I'm new and my learning curve is steep!!

I pointed out to the family last night that 3 weeks from then we would be meeting people at the Radisson the night before our cruise!!!

I can't wait!
Marie

 

[marieeb]

I hve th magnetic paper but when I attempt to print, the paper jams. Has anyone else had this problem?

If it continues I will print them and just glue is to the page...
Thanks,
Marie

 

[GPLarge]

I had to feed mine like you would a card from the back of the printer. Not real happy with the final result. may go the photo paper route and then mount it to the magnet.

 

[princessmeesh]

i am going to try the magnetic paper too, i am hoping for better results GPLarge.....wish me luck! i have NO clue what i am doing, but DH is sort of a techie so i am hoping he will have patience with me! lol

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Now this may not be true in all cases. If your printer does not feed in from the back, (it needs a straight path), you will most likely have it jam on you. You may have to help it feed in as well, it is possible the the feed dogs are slipping when it first tries to pull the paper in. Try slightly, I mean slightly help it feed, by pushing in at first, then let go of it, otherwise you will wreck your image.

If you are going to print on paper and then glue it to the magnetic paper, you will need to use a much heavyer weighted paper, let the ink dry very well before glueing it down. As said using photo paper is much better, there is a coating on it that doesn't let the moisture from the glue seep though, like regular paper. Do used to much glue and take care with the edges. I also find that glossy looks more like the professional magnets. Light weight paper will wrinkle when trying to glue it to the magnet, you will not get the wrinkles out and may bring the ink wet and then wreck the image you printed.

Another suggestion would be to print on regular paper, laminate the paper, then use small magnet circles to mount to the door. I have also heard that if you get the avery brand magnetic paper it feeds a little better, but don't know for sure it that is so.

Yet another suggestion, before anyone trys printing a full sheet of magnetic paper, to put a very tiny image or even a text word in the top corner within the margins, then print that on the page, so you can see how your paper will feed through and how dark you need to set your ink level. This way you won't waste and entire page, if something doesn't work out. I have to set my printer to the highest level of ink. "Best". This uses a lot of ink and takes longer, but the results were very good. I also cut my shapes out as opposed to just a rectangle shape, you don't have too, I just liked mine that way.

Also, if you are not making full page magnets, and have many small images, you may need to rotate your images on the pages so that you use up as much of the white space as possible and not waste your magnet paper, it is expensive. I haven't found any paper for less that 3 bucks a sheet. So if you find you have a lot of white space, put something in it, even if it is some type of saying or words. Like "We'er at the Goofy Pool" "If you're looking for me, look no further, I'm at the spa" or some wonderful cruise phase.

Have fun with it!

 

[JRandAJsMom]

Ugh! I just ordered magnet paper-- I hope it works!!!

No docs for us today Maybe Tuesday...

Just started snowing outside again-- it's supposed to snow til Monday night now. I'm hoping it warms up at least a little though so the boys can go out and enjoy it. If it doesn't, that means 3 days straight of helping Mommy pack

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Happy SATURDAY!

Well, the target box of swimwear I ordered FINALLY came last night. It looked like it may have gone through several mudslides and perhaps even a volcano, but it's here! Our boys will no longer be swimming in the buff!

I bet your boys are happy your got that package, did you tell then they were going to go in the buff, that in the caribbean thats how it done, I bet I could just see their eyes roll, and the comment of the with a big sigh of "MOMMMM..."

We are leaving in 17 days! Now my kids are getting excited, before they felt like it would never come! Since they have a 4 day weekend, I will be taking each one individually and pack their bag. Once that's done, there's no looking back!

I see you guys are stay at OKW, what type of rooms do you get to fit you boys and yourselve. I like OKW because the studio has two queen real beds, the studios in SSR have only one real bed. The pull out is ok, but the foam pads they have for the mattress is just to thin to sleep on for an adult. Since there is only two of us, I don't usually get a one bed room(but I did this time) because I don't really use all the feature of the one bed room. Leaves me more points for more days ya know.

Susan, from the very beginning you have made this board so easy to be part of ....thank you for caring so much!

Have a great day!

Thank you MickChick6 and to everyone for all the kind words. It has been a pleasure chatting with everyone and making plans to meet you. I am looking forward to our meet, and I'm sure DeeDeeDubbs(Dee) will make it a wonderfull event and all we have to do is join in. The Birthday Bash will be fun also, we have so many that are celebrating Bdays on the cruise and me in the middle of it. I'm sure these events will be just the start of all kinds of mini meets. We will find each other thoughout the cruise and have fun saying hi and even sitting with each other at the events that are going on aboard the ship.

Anyone that can on the last night make it to the pub night, it really is a hoot and a great place to say goodbye.

A possible mini meet If Anyone going to go to one of the martini tasting, haven't done that in the past and DD and I are going to try one this time. I'm not much of a drinker but do like apple martini's. They don't post when they are going to do them until be are on ship, but if any of one is going to one we would love to join you, I think they run about $15 each, but not sure.

Again, thanks for all your kind words it is really nice to hear.

TTFN...

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hello everyone and Happy 3 weeks to go!! I cannot wait to get my docs, watching the mailbox right now as I type.

Excuse my ignorance but how do you all make door magnets? I want to make one too. Where do you get the templates?

Patrsn

You can do a couple of things. On a few post back I put our group theme magnet and badge up. You can save a copy of those out to your desktop and put them in word or any photo editing program, edit with personal information, Name, room number what ever you want. Or you can email me at mylove4musicsue@yahoo.com and I can send you the orignal word doc, bmp files for better resolution and editing of the files I made for our group.

Then take these files and print on magnetic paper that you can get in many office supply stores. Just a thought you make be able to take the file to a copy center and have them print on magnetic paper, but not sure if any do that or not. I never tried.

Please note, I'm putting this here so I don't get into any trouble, with Disney. (I haven't yet). I'm sure everyone know this already, but, just incase.

I do not charge for any of these files, I do not charge for my services either.
I just did this for my personal enjoyment. I hope you enjoy them also. Everyone is welcome to use them and edit with your personal information.
Since they have disney look-a-like logos on them they are copy written per sa, so they cannot be used to make a profit... But use them for your own personal use and enjoy.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

I was wondering if you all won't mind sharing your real 1st names.

I am making tags to put on all my FE Gifts so I won't mix up what is for who after I wrap them up. I thought about putting your user name and then like

MyLove4Disney's DD24 on it, but is seems so impersonal.

So I'll go first

MyLove4Disney= is Susan or Sue I go by Both
DD24 = AKA (MEDisneyCM) is Monica

So send as follows

ID = Your First Name
DH = Husband/Wifes First Name
DS# = Sons First Name with Age
DD# = Daughter First Name with Age


Thank you.

 

[brinalyn530]

to princess sparkle p and DH, and to JRandAJsMom - may your foot heal miraculously before our cruise ! If not, at least you can prop it up and take off the boot to avoid those dreaded tan lines ! Maybe you can get DH to carry you and run on the beach - you'll still get the wind in your hair experience that way and not have to worry about re-injuring your foot !

I am trying to decide whether to hoof it up to the mailbox to see if our docs came today, or wait until we're on our way to my mom's later this evening. I think I am too excited to wait - I may just have to bundle up and hustle as to not freeze in place.

marieeb - The concensus here where I live (about 25 mintues to DC in regular traffic - an hour or more in rush hour!) is "we can't wait for this to be over"! I don't ever remember so much fanfare for an inauguration - it usually just comes and goes without much notice. I do understand that this one is a big deal, but I'm content to watch it on TV, especially since it's only supposed to be in the low 20s as a high that day (we need a snowsuit smiley!). But if I did want to go I'd need to prepare for an epic adventure! No driving into the city, which means everyone has to take Metro (our version of the subway), but certain stops will be off only, others will be on only, and all of the parking lots will be either full or closed, which means we'd be taking a bus for a half hour, then the Metro for an hour or more just to get into DC. Then comes the security checkpoints, yes that's plural. No camera bags, purses, or backpacks, no strollers for the kids, wheelchairs have a special security entrance, and those are just the restrictions that I can remember. The worst part is that even today, three days out, they are still changing the road closings and Metro schedules (on top of charging full rush hour fare for the Metro ride!). I can't imagine what the poor unfortunate souls who are not familiar with the city and the transportation system will have to experience that day ! Right now DC is certainly one big elephant !

But I am looking right past the inauguration because - We will be on the Magic three weeks from today ! Right about now we'll be getting ready for the muster drill, having already met all our new DIS friends and getting our picture taken with the Mickey statue. I am so excited to meet you all - I know we will have a blast getting to know eachother and enjoying our Magical cruise!

Well, off to make DS try on summer clothes before his big three night sleepover (with my parents)! I'm going to finish up our FE gifts, pack everything but the toiletries and dressy clothes, and then I've got a lot of movies to catch up on that aren't necessarily appropriate for 8 year olds - The Dark Knight, Stepbrothers, and Mr Deeds (which is old, but Ive actually never seen it - apparently I'm missing all kinds of pop culture references ?!?). I may not be checking back in until Monda since my schedule is so full . Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

Sabrina