From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 4

[emum]

Sherri - you posted while I was typing ! I hope the clearing out of stuff isn't too difficult for you. That was the hardest part when my little sister passed away - finding the will to give away so much of her stuff

Good luck at the gym - I've been in a funk the last couple of weeks and haven't been in all that time (and I can assure you, being pooh sized, I *really* need to keep going !)

You do bring me to a question I was poindering earlier - how early do you all start to pack ? i know Alan said he's last minute.. I've started with a list, but that's probably all I'll do until we're about 1-2 weeks from leaving.

Cheers,
Sally

 

[shushh]

Hi Sally! Nice to see you back! It sounds like you'll really have your hands full over the next couple of months. Let me join you in the madness. We have so many social functions on, on top of the school commitments, arranging Christmas overseas, having make up Christmas gatherings with family, and trying to get our plans for our new house into council before we leave on Dec 9. I will also be away for work for the 3 days before we leave with my husband being on call...To make things worse, we've had ongoing difficulties with making reservations. Despite exchanging multiple emails and having had to call the US 2 nights in the row at about 40 minutes each, after which I received an apology email from DCL with a promise to help resolve further issues via email...we are now unable to access our reservation completely. When I emailed them about it...twice. I was given a standard response both times, asking me to call them. I give up. I'm so frustrated.

The room tour sounds nice. If you need a cat 6, we're a GTY 6A. Anyway, I'd better go to bed. Its 130am.

 

[sak0526]

Sally and Belinda, and everyone else who's posted - i dont know how you are doing what you are doing!! wow! overseas esp. I can't seem to get motivated to do anything. i think i'm still depressed. my cousin has received a foreclosure notice too and i feel so badly i can't help her. I had to help get rid of some of my mom's stuff, but not as much. and i didnt help at all when, 27 years ago my 40 year old brother was lost to us forever, I have to say i was no help at that funeral or after either. i feel so badly now. but i look to the future. My dad was only sorry not to see one of his grandchildren married so that will be hard when one does get married.

ok so back at the question at hand: i dont actually pack till during the week before. I have a florida packing list but it is just a start for something like this. there was a whole stream of discussion about doing laundry on the cruise. DH and I will absolutely be doing laundry on the cruise! I hope y'all don't mind seeing the same 5 or so outfits over and over. jk, i'll have more than that, but not much. it's coordinating that meds dont run out before the cruise and how does one pack the shampoos we prefer and that kind of thing that boggle. and of course it sounds like lots of sweatshirts needed for night and coats and shorts for days and jeans and cruise casual and .... HELP!!! anyone have a packing list for a 15 day like this? especailly those who've been one one before! I will, contrary to some, only have 2 sets of sneakers, 2 low heels and 2 sandals max (oh and flop flops for beach) for shoes!

and those with families not coming - what are you doing about being semi-reachable? i'mthinking i'll see if i can find an international phone card and call DD and DS and maybe sister from each port? what are your thoughts? (those who remember who i am may remember DD spent a week in the hospital a few weeks go,so when her disease acts up, i worry,so i like to know she's ok, and DS seems to injure himself in sports so i worry. i'm a master worrier!

thanks!
Sherri

 

[valbob89]

My DH and I would be interested in signing up for the postcard exchange...but I don't have quite enough posts to PM yet (I'm working on it, slowly but surely )!

Welcome. I'll add you to the post card exchange list. When you can PM, send me the details. Val

 

[valbob89]

Nearly 1.30am here, I can't sleep - too much on my mind Plus, taking advantage of the fact I only get one Saturday a month off from work. Sipping a Cointreau neat always helps

I'm glad we don't really "do" Halloween, and of course, we don't do Thanksgiving. Plus, we leave Christmas Day. I feel for you all who have those to get through. I've got plenty of other "stuff" on my plate, though - I have a 3 day residential training course for Cub Scouts in 4 weeks, and a 2 day training course for work in a couple of weeks. Plus DS has a massive Ancient Egypt project due Monday, and DD1 has her end-of-year exams in 3 weeks. Add to that the Shakespeare festival, umpteen Christmas parties, Speech night, Presentation Day, oh, and my 40th birthday, and things are quite manic enough for the next 10 weeks

Anyway, I love the idea of a "cabin viewing". Not sure if you'd all want to see one of our two - we're staying in two Navigator's Cabins on deck 5. Let me know.

I really *must* get to bed - DD4 is my early riser and will be in my ear at 6am. Been bopping away most of the night to an array of songs - everything from Phil Collins to Phantom of the Opera to Little Red, so need to unwind a little first.

Night all !

Cheers,
Sally

Sally

Thank you for offering your cabin for the room tour. I'll add you to the list as "offers". After we get the final (almost final?) list of cabin assignments we can sort out which ones to include in the tour. Is yours a 7A? What is the room number? Have a good Saturday. Val

 

[LindaBabe]

Packing - in my Excel spreadsheet I have a page for packing list divided by category - electronics - clothes - household (for when we dvc) - cooler (for auto trips) - Dimples (teddy bear = vast wardrobe) - miscellaneous - cruise only (evening wear, FE gifts, dry boxes)

I have the last 10 years of spreadsheets, filed by year. They get copied over every year and updated for that years trips, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Toiletries bag stays packed all the time - replenished after every trip. camera gear & related chargers have their own zipper bag, computer cords, mouse, extension cord go in a zipper bag.

"Cruise only" Stuff except evening clothes stays packed in a box because it is never used any other time - evening bags, tiara, glow sticks (for nightlights), dry boxes, water shoes, tropical theme straw tote, "hawaiian" shirt, command hooks, over-the-door shoe bag, hamper, post its, highlighters, duck tape, teddy bear pirate outfits, collapsable hamper, etc.

Dimples' list stays the same, pretty much, it's just a matter of which princess dress and which party dress.

Obviously, for a cruise, I don't need household box, but I do pack ziplock bags in every size & a tiny dishwash soap. Don't need a cooler either, really, but I put an insulated lunchbag in my suitcase for water and snacks on excursions or the beach.

Hope that sparks some ideas.

and those with families not coming - what are you doing about being semi-reachable? i'mthinking i'll see if i can find an international phone card and call DD and DS and maybe sister from each port? what are your thoughts?

I'll buy some computer time and check email every couple days. There's a phone number where you can be called in case of emergency. I leave that with several people back home, but don't expect to be called short of catastrophe.

 

[Tami0220]

Just pop in and say random things like "I am so excited about this cruise" or we could help you out with questions...so...where are you from? Have you cruised with DCL before? Any favorite sports team? What knid of excursions do you want to do?
Answer all of those in different posts and you're golden =0)

Is anyone else having nightmares about Christmas? I dreamt I woke up on Christmas morning and I had forgotten to get presents for everyone! Do you think I am preoccupied with something else? But, I did finally get my Hallooween decorations up last night...better late than never!

We also live in a rural area, no sidewalks or street lights, so no trick-or-treaters. Thanksgiving our grandson is coming so we will celebrate Christmas then. He is the only one getting gifts this year as we had the expense of the wedding. So no stressing about any of the holidays here.


I hope you all have a great day and weekend!
Melissa

Sherri -
You do bring me to a question I was poindering earlier - how early do you all start to pack ? i know Alan said he's last minute.. I've started with a list, but that's probably all I'll do until we're about 1-2 weeks from leaving.

Cheers,
Sally

I have a packing list I printed off one of the DIS boards. I have started a suitcase (and it's almost full!) of SM gifts, toiletries, shoes, water bottles, bathing suits, etc. The actual clothes wont be packed (but will be segragated so I know what's going) until a few days before we leave.

Just finished SM gifts yesterday. Now working on some more door decorations, as if I dont have enough already. Printed out Brooklyn's calendars and counting down the days til Friday evening when I can book excursions and Palo. Really only booking something in Costa Rica. We hope to do the sail with Val & Bob in Aruba, nothing in Manzanillo, zipping in PV and nothing in Cabo.

Does anyone know if the drink station has soda water?

 

[sak0526]

I have a packing list I printed off one of the DIS boards. I have started a suitcase (and it's almost full!) of SM gifts, toiletries, shoes, water bottles, bathing suits, etc. The actual clothes wont be packed (but will be segragated so I know what's going) until a few days before we leave.

?

can you copy the packing list on to a post or somehow get it out there for us bad packers? (well not bad, confused/worried)

 

[sak0526]

DH would like to do the room tour. i haven't understood categories yet but we're on 7th fl with a navigators verandah. i think you al ready have that. but add us to the let us know. i cna't pm right now for some reason. thanks, sherri

 

[Love_to_travel]

Hi all,

Off to two soccer games today and finishing up getting ready for our schools book fair.
This is my first year co-chiring and I'm very nerves.

I'm with you on the packing thing. I think I just need to sit down and start making lists. Im starting to feel overwhelmed. I've had this trip planed for so long that the other day when I looked at the calendar I totally freaked out because it just accrued to me that we would be gone for 3 weeks. . I think Im loosing my mind. Yes! Over a year ago and Im just figuring this out NOW!

-Beth

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Good morning everyone!

Just checking in...went to the gym this morning and DD has a birthday party to go to this afternoon.

I am so behind this time around....I did find some bubble wrap andphoto paper at the .99 store yesterday so I picked that up. Just waiting for the final count on the FE list so I can order my final FE gift....I need to start making a list of what I need and finding the things I already have.

I have a box I have started but I won't actually pack things until about a week or so before hand as we just don't own that many clothes that we can do without them for more then a week!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[jl]

Quick - quick just was able to book brunch on Tues., day 6 which is Jan.11.

 

[tinkryansmom]

Can a technologically saavy person post the info for shipping a box to the port? I am thinking this is the way to go for FE related items -

Got logistics set for trip to airport - found a rental company that only does passenger vans here in Fresno. A friend volunteered to drive it back and turn it in for me.: We decided to go to Oakland the night before our 7 am flight so that will be the 4th! fly on the 5th ship on the 6th!!

have to handle t-shirts and door magnets

and shop.

I am short on space here for leaving out suitcases but I do have a rubbermaid container I have been tossing items into as I think about it or buy them - goggles, water shoes, and those things we don't need anymore as winter approaches.

Love the collapsible hamper idea!! I think I should be able to find one of those near the over the door shoe holder! Added to shopping list!Thanks for that idea!!

 

[KayR]

Previous PC and TA cruisers.

What other theme nights might we have (apart from the usual formal, semi-formal, pirate)?

Just wondering whether to start hunting for stuff.

-Kay

 

[KayR]

From http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2068966


Boxes Sent the Ship Ahead of Cruise - PLEASE follow these instructions carefully!!!!!! UPDATED AS OF 2/25/2009
• ONE box per stateroom, no exceptions.
• The package must have the guest full name, ship, sailing date, stateroom number or GTY if you have not been assigned a stateroom number.
• The package also must have a packing slip attached to the outside of the box that details the contents of the package. For prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient. Your list may or may not be read but it must have one. Write packing slip on the outside of the envelope.
• NO FOODS/DRINKS OF ANY KIND, LIQUOR OF ANY KIND, FIREARMS, ETC.. Items that cannot be shipped to the Disney Cruise Line Warehouse and delivered to the ship include: food products (any and all food products including baby food/formula), beverages (liquor, water, etc.), chemicals, and luggage. These items will not be accepted at the warehouse and will be returned. This may cause the dogs to hit on your box and that would be a bad thing.
• The required size of the cartons you are shipping down have to be about the size of a record storage box 12 inches on a side and should not weigh more than 20 lbs. (This has been asked personally by Dave Adams who is the owner)

Address your package(s) to:
Disney Cruise Line Warehouse
Guest Name / Stateroom # (GTY, if you don't know what it is when you send the package)
8633 Transport Drive
Orlando, FL 32832
Phone: 407-566-8196 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 407-566-8196 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

In the bottom left corner of the top of the package put the following information: ATTN: HOUSEKEEPING
*Name
*Sail Date
*Ship
*Stateroom Number
*Packing slip that details contents of the package (for prescriptions, a copy of the prescription is sufficient)
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 7-Night Cruise on the Disney Magic (Saturday).
• Packages must arrive by Friday by 3:00pm for the 4-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Sunday).
• Packages must arrive by Wednesday by 3:00pm for the 3-Night Cruise on the Disney Wonder (Thursday).

If your box is hit on by the screening dog or chosen for additional screening they will open the list and the box and look through it. They will close it back up and provided nothing bad is in it then it will be in your room as usual later after boarding. These boxes will be coming on the ship with the crew mail among other things so they may be in the staterooms later then they were before as they are low priority in the scheme of things for Disney.

Can a technologically saavy person post the info for shipping a box to the port? I am thinking this is the way to go for FE related items -

Got logistics set for trip to airport - found a rental company that only does passenger vans here in Fresno. A friend volunteered to drive it back and turn it in for me.: We decided to go to Oakland the night before our 7 am flight so that will be the 4th! fly on the 5th ship on the 6th!!

have to handle t-shirts and door magnets

and shop.

I am short on space here for leaving out suitcases but I do have a rubbermaid container I have been tossing items into as I think about it or buy them - goggles, water shoes, and those things we don't need anymore as winter approaches.

Love the collapsible hamper idea!! I think I should be able to find one of those near the over the door shoe holder! Added to shopping list!Thanks for that idea!!

 

[KayR]

Can a technologically saavy person post the info for shipping a box to the port? I am thinking this is the way to go for FE related items -

I did this last time and it worked out OK. My box wasn't in my room by 6pm, so I had to call guest services and they went to hunt for it. It finally turned up , but I was paranoid that it had been left behind at PC .

Just a heads up.

 

[valbob89]

Shushh, Emum, and Sako526. I have added your names to the list of people willing to offer their rooms for the room tour. Thank you. We won't finalize the list until after the GTY assignment and upgrades come in but want to continue to gather the info on those willing souls. As of now we have 10 different room types scheduled so I am sure we can make it happen. Thanks again.

Pixzpwr - I have added you to the postcard exchange list.

Regarding doing laundry while on board. For those who have not been on a longer cruise - be prepared. The laundry rooms are ALWAYS busy. I am not exaggerating. I got up one sea morning at 3:45 (yes there is a 3:45 a.m. on the clock) and still had to wait 30 minutes to get a washer. I have found it a highlight of my cruises to observe the people who have never done laundry before (not all of them are men). I never believed the sitcoms that show how --um-- challenged??? people can be by laundry until now. That 4:00 a.m., one problem was a machine that had finished the entire cycles and still had a tub full of suds, which spilled all over the floor. The very nice lady had washed only a tee-shirt, in the HE machine but used an entire box of regular (not HE) soap. Then their was the man who admitted he didn't know how to wash and when I told him not to wash his wives' white bras with his jeans and red shirt took the advise of the other young lady who told him in these machines it would be ok and she knew because she was a platnum DCL passenger (did she think there was pixie dust in these machines maybe?). But the best was the lady who informed me in a very up-crust voice that she had NEVER done laundry in her life - her maid did it. I suggested she could have her laundry sent out - no response. When she put her undies, jeans and tennis shoes in the same dryer, on high and I suggested she use medium and again in her special tone of voice she informed me her jeans would neeeever dry on medium. Am I a b---h for enjoying the show they provide? val

 

[granmaz]

Previous PC and TA cruisers.

What other theme nights might we have (apart from the usual formal, semi-formal, pirate)?

Just wondering whether to start hunting for stuff.

-Kay

We had a tropical night, where all kinds of tropical, Hawaiian, and floral clothing was worn, and a Mexican night, so plenty of Mexican things from the ridiculous to the sublime!!! John, and other more sedate men wore the Mexican wedding shirt, or whatever it is called, and they all looked wonderful.

Look out forretty embroidered blouses or dresses that have been around recently.

 

[JenKatt]

Shushh, Emum, and Sako526. I have added your names to the list of people willing to offer their rooms for the room tour. Thank you. We won't finalize the list until after the GTY assignment and upgrades come in but want to continue to gather the info on those willing souls. As of now we have 10 different room types scheduled so I am sure we can make it happen. Thanks again.

Pixzpwr - I have added you to the postcard exchange list.

Regarding doing laundry while on board. For those who have not been on a longer cruise - be prepared. The laundry rooms are ALWAYS busy. I am not exaggerating. I got up one sea morning at 3:45 (yes there is a 3:45 a.m. on the clock) and still had to wait 30 minutes to get a washer. I have found it a highlight of my cruises to observe the people who have never done laundry before (not all of them are men). I never believed the sitcoms that show how --um-- challenged??? people can be by laundry until now. That 4:00 a.m., one problem was a machine that had finished the entire cycles and still had a tub full of suds, which spilled all over the floor. The very nice lady had washed only a tee-shirt, in the HE machine but used an entire box of regular (not HE) soap. Then their was the man who admitted he didn't know how to wash and when I told him not to wash his wives' white bras with his jeans and red shirt took the advise of the other young lady who told him in these machines it would be ok and she knew because she was a platnum DCL passenger (did she think there was pixie dust in these machines maybe?). But the best was the lady who informed me in a very up-crust voice that she had NEVER done laundry in her life - her maid did it. I suggested she could have her laundry sent out - no response. When she put her undies, jeans and tennis shoes in the same dryer, on high and I suggested she use medium and again in her special tone of voice she informed me her jeans would neeeever dry on medium. Am I a b---h for enjoying the show they provide? val

Nope, I did the same thing in college. It was awesome watching all these kids who's moms had always done their laundry all of a sudden have to do it. I found a lot to laugh at those 4 years....

 

[granmaz]

Shushh, Emum, and Sako526. I have added your names to the list of people willing to offer their rooms for the room tour. Thank you. We won't finalize the list until after the GTY assignment and upgrades come in but want to continue to gather the info on those willing souls. As of now we have 10 different room types scheduled so I am sure we can make it happen. Thanks again.

Pixzpwr - I have added you to the postcard exchange list.

Regarding doing laundry while on board. For those who have not been on a longer cruise - be prepared. The laundry rooms are ALWAYS busy. I am not exaggerating. I got up one sea morning at 3:45 (yes there is a 3:45 a.m. on the clock) and still had to wait 30 minutes to get a washer. I have found it a highlight of my cruises to observe the people who have never done laundry before (not all of them are men). I never believed the sitcoms that show how --um-- challenged??? people can be by laundry until now. That 4:00 a.m., one problem was a machine that had finished the entire cycles and still had a tub full of suds, which spilled all over the floor. The very nice lady had washed only a tee-shirt, in the HE machine but used an entire box of regular (not HE) soap. Then their was the man who admitted he didn't know how to wash and when I told him not to wash his wives' white bras with his jeans and red shirt took the advise of the other young lady who told him in these machines it would be ok and she knew because she was a platnum DCL passenger (did she think there was pixie dust in these machines maybe?). But the best was the lady who informed me in a very up-crust voice that she had NEVER done laundry in her life - her maid did it. I suggested she could have her laundry sent out - no response. When she put her undies, jeans and tennis shoes in the same dryer, on high and I suggested she use medium and again in her special tone of voice she informed me her jeans would neeeever dry on medium. Am I a b---h for enjoying the show they provide? val

Not at all, we need everything to make the laundry onboard to be a pleasurable experience!!!!