First Ever DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise 5/10/2009

[disneyholic family]

Thanks everybody! I'm sure we'll get this worked out. For now I think we will just sit tight as the school year is so new (this is only the second week) that DD's teachers really don't know her well enough to decide whether or not it's even feasible for her to miss that many days. I'm hoping we can work some magic and she'll be able to take both trips....if not, DS can decide whether or not he'd like to cruise without her. If he doesn't, then I'm sure we'll find a way to make it up to him. Gosh -- wouldn't it be just awful if DH and I were forced to go without the kids?

playing it by ear is the right approach...it's too early to say right now whether your daughter will be ok with missing that much school...(my daughter would have been ok missing that much...it would have been a bigger problem for my son....but you won't know until later in the year if it might be a problem or not)

as for your son - all i can say is, DS had a spectacular time on both cruises we were on and had absolutely nothing to do with us or DD the entire time...
since they were different ages, they weren't in the same groups on the ship...
DS was 15 on our first cruise and 17 on the second, so he was in the teen group....
DD was too old to be in the teen group on either cruise, so she hung out with us in the adult section of the ship..
so it wouldn't have mattered had DD been on the cruise or not, from DS' perspective....

anyway, DS had an incredibly good time...
in fact, those cruises were a turning point in his life....
he completely changed from a shy homebody into an outgoing leader (student leader in school, the national leader of his youth group).....
it was the most incredible thing i've ever seen..
when i mentioned it to him recently (he's now 21), he totally agreed with that assessment.......
he said that without question, the cruises were turning points in his personality....
and he said the CMs who worked with the teens on both cruises were absolutely outstanding...

on both cruises, the only time he was with us was for meals (because we insisted) and to go into nassau....the rest of the time he was with the teen group....
of the 4 of us, DS had the best time on both cruises....not that we didn't enjoy the cruise, but of the 4 of us, there is no doubt that he enjoyed it the most....

On a four day cruise, how formal is the formal night? On the Magic, we went full tilt, full length dresses, suits, etc. But, I've heard it's a wee bit more relaxed on a four day cruise. Could I get away with just bringing a regular cocktail dress rather than full length formal gown? Just "Wonder-ing".

have they added a formal night to the 4 day cruise?

on our 4 day cruise, there was no formal night...
there was one night (i think the last) when people dressed up more than other days, but it wasn't a specified formal night..
a few people were full out formal, but most people were just in nice attire, and quite a few were like us - exactly as we were dressed on the other nights - resort/cruise casual....DH said on vacation he refuses to wear anything fancier than a polo shirt and khakis.....that was perfectly fine...though others were a bit dressier than that....
pretty much anything was fine...

 

[winotracy]

have they added a formal night to the 4 day cruise?

on our 4 day cruise, there was no formal night...
there was one night (i think the last) when people dressed up more than other days, but it wasn't a specified formal night..
a few people were full out formal, but most people were just in nice attire, and quite a few were like us - exactly as we were dressed on the other nights - resort/cruise casual....DH said on vacation he refuses to wear anything fancier than a polo shirt and khakis.....that was perfectly fine...though others were a bit dressier than that....
pretty much anything was fine...

Beth's right, it is called a dress up night, not a formal night. Some wore tuxes and formals, but not nearly as many as on the Magic for formal night.

 

[Yvet]

But it's not tsrange if you wear a tux and dress??
Okay ofcourse when you wear a tux and a dress together people would look strange

Lat trip on the western we both were dressed up and we would love to do that again, but only when it's accepted, not when people llok at us if we were from mars....

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

DS had an incredibly good time...
in fact, those cruises were a turning point in his life....
he completely changed from a shy homebody into an outgoing leader (student leader in school, the national leader of his youth group).....

Beth ~ This is exactly how my son is! I think it's because they need to be around other teens that treat them differently in order to build up some confidence as the kids they see on a daily basis tend to form an assessment early on (usually a negative one!) and it's difficult to break free of that...the middle/high school pecking order can be pretty brutal.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Lat trip on the western we both were dressed up and we would love to do that again, but only when it's accepted, not when people llok at us if we were from mars....

You'll be fine if you want to dress up -- the last few cruises we've been on I've seen a trend that's kind of "anything goes"...some men wore tuxes, some had on a dark suit, others just wore slacks with a sportcoat. Same thing for the women, everything from formal wear to a simple dress or skirt. So do whatever you get the most enjoyment from!

 

[SamIAm21]

Dress up night sounds good! I can do that! Having to pack formalwear is tough especially with all the luggage restrictions these days! I have a lot of cute dresses that I could wear that will pack much easier.

 

[scarlett873]

I'm not sure DH will bring a jacket/suit/sportcoat for this cruise. With it being such a short cruise, I don't want to bring 45 suitcases...lol! He can just wear a dress shirt and slacks for Palo, can't he?

I can always throw a tie into the suitcase as a just in case...

 

[disneyholic family]

Beth ~ This is exactly how my son is! I think it's because they need to be around other teens that treat them differently in order to build up some confidence as the kids they see on a daily basis tend to form an assessment early on (usually a negative one!) and it's difficult to break free of that...the middle/high school pecking order can be pretty brutal.

yes that's exactly it i think...
there's a guy on the UK board (Wayne) who said the very same thing happened with his son on their cruises...

But it's not tsrange if you wear a tux and dress??
Okay ofcourse when you wear a tux and a dress together people would look strange

Lat trip on the western we both were dressed up and we would love to do that again, but only when it's accepted, not when people llok at us if we were from mars....

you can definitely dress up and you'll be fine...as i said, there were lots of people dressed up in a tux and evening gown.....and lots not....no one looked out of place...

I'm not sure DH will bring a jacket/suit/sportcoat for this cruise. With it being such a short cruise, I don't want to bring 45 suitcases...lol! He can just wear a dress shirt and slacks for Palo, can't he?

I can always throw a tie into the suitcase as a just in case...

i think you need a jacket for dinner at palos, but i'm not sure..
we had brunch there for that very reason....so that DH and DS didn't have to have jackets....they wore nice polo shirts and khaki trousers.....

 

[ADP]

Are shorts with a dress shirt and sports jacket approved attire for formal night?

 

[disneyholic family]

Are shorts with a dress shirt and sports jacket approved attire for formal night?

it's acceptable in bermuda (and back in the times when the sun never set on the british empire)....dunno about the Wonder...

 

[dpuck1998]

Are shorts with a dress shirt and sports jacket approved attire for formal night?

I saw someone with one of the tuxedo t-shirts on the last cruise....and shorts.

 

[Launchpad11B]

I saw someone with one of the tuxedo t-shirts on the last cruise....and shorts.

That means the guy knows how to dress....and how to party!

 

[pershing]

I plan on bringing one nice dress that won't wrinkle for dress up night. One that packs nicely. That's playing dress up for me. I'm a t-shirts and jeans kinda gal!

Right now, I'm not a happy gal though. I'm writing this from Children's Hospital in Boston. My youngest ten year old son was rushed here on Wednesday. Apparently, he has diabetes and we never knew it.

Here, I was trying to get him to eat 'cause he had thinned up so much in the month of August and he was in Diabetes Ketoacidosis and I was just making things worse!

He's getting better with the treatment and I'm being inundated with all the info on how to care for him.

This is my first break away from him since Wednesday and I really appreciate coming on here and being able to smile. Cause I'm in this pity party mood and need a good quick kick in the _____! I've been crying about my oldest being bi-polar, my middle is autistic, and now my youngest is diabetic. I must say, I'm feeling very overwelhmed at the moment.

Not sure what this means for the cruise. I've figured my insurance will cover about 80% of the three hospital days and am shuddering about what kind of bill I'm gonna be handed. Ugh! That being said, I'll probably go anyway.

I need to count my blessings like the fact that in general my kids are or will be healthy and I have my house unlike some of the hurricane victims and life will get better....and nothing will probably get between me and my Disney vacations. I just have to plan harder........good thing I'm really good at planning! I guess that's a blessing in itself.

 

[DVCsince02]

Oh Sue, I'm so sorry to hear about your family troubles. You come here and we'll cheer you up. Remember to try to take care of yourself during all this.

((hugs))

 

[kab407]

Sending good thoughts and prayers for you and your son, Sue.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Awww Sue -- I'm so sorry!!! I hope your son is feeling better once they determine the best way to treat his diabetes. Hang in there and know that we are here if you need us.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Hang in there, Sue. Once the meds are adjusted, your son will be feeling like new again! My brother has been living with diabetes since he was 2 years old, and he's 52 now. Treatment is so much more precise now than it used to be!

I also have a son with bipolar disorder, and he's in college and doing great. Adjusting his meds when he was newly-diagnosed was a trial, though...I really understand that stress. Just understand that all this stuff, piled one on top of the other, feels completely overwhelming now, but just work at one piece at a time, and know that it'll all fall into place soon.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

I plan on bringing one nice dress that won't wrinkle for dress up night. One that packs nicely. That's playing dress up for me. I'm a t-shirts and jeans kinda gal!

Right now, I'm not a happy gal though. I'm writing this from Children's Hospital in Boston. My youngest ten year old son was rushed here on Wednesday. Apparently, he has diabetes and we never knew it.

Here, I was trying to get him to eat 'cause he had thinned up so much in the month of August and he was in Diabetes Ketoacidosis and I was just making things worse!

He's getting better with the treatment and I'm being inundated with all the info on how to care for him.

This is my first break away from him since Wednesday and I really appreciate coming on here and being able to smile. Cause I'm in this pity party mood and need a good quick kick in the _____! I've been crying about my oldest being bi-polar, my middle is autistic, and now my youngest is diabetic. I must say, I'm feeling very overwelhmed at the moment.

Not sure what this means for the cruise. I've figured my insurance will cover about 80% of the three hospital days and am shuddering about what kind of bill I'm gonna be handed. Ugh! That being said, I'll probably go anyway.

I need to count my blessings like the fact that in general my kids are or will be healthy and I have my house unlike some of the hurricane victims and life will get better....and nothing will probably get between me and my Disney vacations. I just have to plan harder........good thing I'm really good at planning! I guess that's a blessing in itself.

Just let us know when you need to talk....(or vent). Just take things one at a time and it'll seem better.

That being said, we're sending pixie dust your way!

And I'm a jeans and shorts girl too- Think it's tacky to take the same outfit for Palo and dress up night? And some Fabreeze? Or maybe we'll just do Palo on dress up night........Which night is that anyway?!?

Soooooo confused.........

Lori

 

[DisneyKevin]

<sniff sniff>

Is that Fabreeze my dear?

Ok....I'm in goofy mood, but that struck me very funny.

 

[disneyholic family]

I plan on bringing one nice dress that won't wrinkle for dress up night. One that packs nicely. That's playing dress up for me. I'm a t-shirts and jeans kinda gal!

Right now, I'm not a happy gal though. I'm writing this from Children's Hospital in Boston. My youngest ten year old son was rushed here on Wednesday. Apparently, he has diabetes and we never knew it.

Here, I was trying to get him to eat 'cause he had thinned up so much in the month of August and he was in Diabetes Ketoacidosis and I was just making things worse!

He's getting better with the treatment and I'm being inundated with all the info on how to care for him.

This is my first break away from him since Wednesday and I really appreciate coming on here and being able to smile. Cause I'm in this pity party mood and need a good quick kick in the _____! I've been crying about my oldest being bi-polar, my middle is autistic, and now my youngest is diabetic. I must say, I'm feeling very overwelhmed at the moment.

Not sure what this means for the cruise. I've figured my insurance will cover about 80% of the three hospital days and am shuddering about what kind of bill I'm gonna be handed. Ugh! That being said, I'll probably go anyway.

I need to count my blessings like the fact that in general my kids are or will be healthy and I have my house unlike some of the hurricane victims and life will get better....and nothing will probably get between me and my Disney vacations. I just have to plan harder........good thing I'm really good at planning! I guess that's a blessing in itself.

so sorry you're having to deal with this, Sue...
like Mindy's brother, my best friend is 50 and has been living with diabetes since she was two years old......while it isn't easy, it isn't impossible either....the do's and don't eventually become second nature...

i'm glad to hear you're still planning on the cruise!!