halloween cruise/ Magic: October 28th-nov..4th 2006

[sjcubedofct]

Regarding shirts, my sister can get whatever kind of shirt we want. We'll just need to choose one as we get closer. I'll ask her if there is a catalogue we can check out on line.

 

[captaincrash]

1500!!!!!!!

AWWW!!!!!

I wanted to have the 1500th posting.... but just the same.....

YAHHYY!!!!! ​

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1502!!!!! ​

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I'll have to settle for celebrating 1502..... ​

 

[captaincrash]

So how about a little "get to know ya" game for the weekend? And JUST for the weekend to keep it under restraint... as I imagine some folks might be concerned this could get out of hand!


So... let me propose a couple of guidelines... anyone can answer in anyway they want and at anytime we can modify the question at anyone's request or suggestion ... but anyone who sees the Q should feel free to step forward to make an entry in response if they wish. IE... no real restrictions and really just encouragement to get involved!

So... for the general question to begin with (until someone feels it was a lousey Q and they have a better one to shift everyone over to...) (2 parts) 1st What is the first thing that comes to mind that you're looking forward to most on our "haunted" sailing? And part #2) is there anything that comes to mind that you're NOT looking forward to that's connected or related to the trip?


And i'll volunteer my first notion that comes to mind.... my two little girls are gonna start going nuts when they see the boat from the car as we drive by... they will yell "YAHY!" and they'll be smiling broadly and waving their arms in the air. MY FEELINGS at seeing them like this are simply indescribable! And that is something I expect and look forward to on this sailing! And what I'm NOT looking forward to is the hurricane forecast for the week we sail.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Great questions!!!

I am looking forward to the sail away party - I love being up on deck and watching the ship pull away and knowing that the adventure is beginning. This was the biggest disappointment on my first cruise on RCI, but it sounds like Disney does it up right!

I am with you on the hurricane thing - Also, for some reason I am just not into formal night this time. Before DD came along, DH and I really got into it- because we rarely had any other chance to dress up like that (we don't do New Years out or anything) - this time I am not looking forward to it for the same reason, we just do not have those clothes, I am not excited about shopping for them, will never use them again. I have bounced the idea of using it as a quiet night - take advantage of fewer people at the pool and just hang out and relax, eat at the buffet - instead of getting all dressed up. Then again, I have lots of time to change my mind, so we will see!

 

[missyoh8]

Great questions!!!

I am with you on the hurricane thing - Also, for some reason I am just not into formal night this time. Before DD came along, DH and I really got into it- because we rarely had any other chance to dress up like that (we don't do New Years out or anything) - this time I am not looking forward to it for the same reason, we just do not have those clothes, I am not excited about shopping for them, will never use them again. I have bounced the idea of using it as a quiet night - take advantage of fewer people at the pool and just hang out and relax, eat at the buffet - instead of getting all dressed up. Then again, I have lots of time to change my mind, so we will see!

OK........i am ready to be slammed but anyway...don't worry about being super formal on formal night! It is your vacation too, formal shormal..just wear something resort casual you will not be alone! We dress, but I am certainly not offended by those who don't.

Not that anyone ask me..........on our last cruise someone did tshirts and they uploaded the image at http://www.cafepress.com/flipfloppin and then cafe press does the rest. Everyone can order what they want and can deal with sizes, quanity, etc. I did not get into the whole tshirt thing but those who did were happy with the results. Just a suggestion for you all. Seems very easy and does not require anyone to do a bunch of extra work.

I look forward to everything beachy and we switched our cruise month from September to October in order to avoid what has happened to us the last 2 years...........so think positive people! No hurricanes, no hurricanes.........maybe it's us and you all should be nervous that we are booked on the same cruise as you!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Missy

 

[captaincrash]

Great questions!!!

I am looking forward to the sail away party - I love being up on deck and watching the ship pull away and knowing that the adventure is beginning. This was the biggest disappointment on my first cruise on RCI, but it sounds like Disney does it up right!

I am with you on the hurricane thing - Also, for some reason I am just not into formal night this time. Before DD came along, DH and I really got into it- because we rarely had any other chance to dress up like that (we don't do New Years out or anything) - this time I am not looking forward to it for the same reason, we just do not have those clothes, I am not excited about shopping for them, will never use them again. I have bounced the idea of using it as a quiet night - take advantage of fewer people at the pool and just hang out and relax, eat at the buffet - instead of getting all dressed up. Then again, I have lots of time to change my mind, so we will see!

pansmermaidzlagoon:

We agree... the sail away is a close 2nd to fun things we look forward to. I think DCL goes almost over the top with theirs and enuf souls are up on deck dancing away that I would say they do it better then many other cruise lines we've sailed.

Not lookin' to "slam" anyone... but I used to never dress a stitch for formal nite. Heck- it used to be enuf to get me to pack a sport coat and tie... plus dress shoes too on a carribean cruise?!? But since my older daught... well... got older... she sort of asked if we could dress up for formal nite like she saw somewhere in a crusie brochure or??? somewhere. So I - being the doting dad said... "but of course sweet heart!".

So... I did not won a tux - and really did not like the idea of renting one. Like ... who is really going to recognize me and snicker if it is not tailored just right> Now... bear in mind that I do have acouple of black tie events each year over the past decade but I sort of get by with my darkest suit while most of the other folks do full tuxes... and I get away with it (leave it at that). My spouse ocassionally suggests I should get a tux and I sort of ... resist. Well... for our recent cruises I've since found inexpensive tuxes on Ebay - and I bought a white dinner tux in the "proper format" with scalloped lapels in fabric that matched the body fabric. Then I got a give away bargain on a tux set in black... but the pants barely fit me. Ask my spouse about it and she'll chuckle pretty heavily since I did not bother trying it until I got on our last ship. But I managed... barely.

So... no flames intended... and the honest reasoning behind my packing tuxes (2) is here.... and it's just for my little girl so she can say her Daddy dressed up for her.

ANd BTW... I think you should consider swinging by to glance at the menu before you go up to the buffett on formal and semi-formal nite. If it looks of interest than please come by - dress nice casual (no one really cares) and ENJOY A SIT DOWN with stuff that interests you. Why not? And if it makes you feel any better than come join us at our table (we'll get the dining manager to scrape up a bigger table for us and we'll laugh it up with your nice casual and our full formal - and that way "your table" will look more formal. In fact - instantly "your table" will be more formal than most since you'll have one tux on it with ya! Everyone will stare at YOUR table cuz your table might have OVERDRESSED! Yeah... you might be doing ME a favor by helping me tone it down a little! LOL!!!! So that was not exactly a "slam" towards anyone who is NOT going with formal wear - is it?

Not that anyone ask me..........on our last cruise someone did tshirts and they uploaded the image at http://www.cafepress.com/flipfloppin and then cafe press does the rest. Everyone can order what they want and can deal with sizes, quanity, etc. I did not get into the whole tshirt thing but those who did were happy with the results. Just a suggestion for you all. Seems very easy and does not require anyone to do a bunch of extra work.

I look forward to everything beachy and we switched our cruise month from September to October in order to avoid what has happened to us the last 2 years...........so think positive people! No hurricanes, no hurricanes.........maybe it's us and you all should be nervous that we are booked on the same cruise as you!

And Missy,

I am open minded to the T-shirt thing... and I do believe we have someone who has a sister who runs a silk screening deal. So we should give consideration to both perhaps and see what the community says. I think it will work either way.

Maybe I should not have mentioned the dreaded "H" word. But I must also confess we were thinking the same thing as a contibuting consideration in changing to the end of Oct. Of course there were other considerations too... we thought that Halloween would make it a little different compared to jsut any other weekend and we did not want to disrupt the 1st week of our daughters entry into K-school. We usually would sail over labor day as it was the 1st sailing that was discounted AND used a holiday to conserve precious vaction days. But now her K-school begins on that week!

So - on "H" activity... even though October is technically still "H" season it is not as much of the peak of season as September would be. Or so - that is my understanding. We were disrupted by H Frances and that was pretty interesting.... and not really anything we want to repeat if possible. Heck... Hurrican F really messed up a grand DIS meet we had planned. Plus we had arrangements to split unlimited internet access among 5 families thus saving the 5 of us about $360... but the other folks canceled going leaving us on the ship without our DIS friends to share the account with. Oh well.... in the end DCL squeezed 3 shiploads of remaining passengers into one 4 day sailing. Yeah - they took the 3 and 4 day WOnder passengers who were still arounf and with the remaining Magic passengers they had one packed ship! It was still fun and memorable since they upgraded us to a cat 6 veranda from our 9 window.

Oh well... has anyone noticed (as I did) that we just got another vote on the cabin poll? I am pretty sure it was for a catagory 6. Come out come out who-ever you are (if you have not already been chatting in the open!).

I have a meeting in 2 hours so I gotta get ready for it. I may lurk a bit for the next few hours... so everyone can look forward to being free of my windbag novella responses for a little while.... LOL!

BTW... anyone going to see Ice age 2 tonight or tomorrow? It's opening today and we have a couple of free tickets we got through a local supermarket promo. We had to buy $60 in groceries and we get what amounts to 2 free movie passes. That saves us $20. Most of the stuff we bought would have been normal purchases anyway so how could we pass it up?

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

cool! Don't get me wrong - I would not do the jeans in the dining room, just not up to a tux and floor length gown. I am looking forward to the semi-formal, we can do those right!!! But, I do appreciate the invite!!!!!

Sounds like we would be OK as long as we are not tooooo casual!!! And...you bring up a good point, although I ran the "skip formal night and relax" idea to my DH - I have yet to run it by the "boss" - DD just might have something else in mind!!!!

 

[captaincrash]

cool! Don't get me wrong - I would not do the jeans in the dining room, just not up to a tux and floor length gown. I am looking forward to the semi-formal, we can do those right!!! But, I do appreciate the invite!!!!!

Sounds like we would be OK as long as we are not tooooo casual!!! And...you bring up a good point, although I ran the "skip formal night and relax" idea to my DH - I have yet to run it by the "boss" - DD just might have something else in mind!!!!

Yeah... my daughter sort of runs things sometimes.... it's sooo cute! She gets quite "serious" sometimes. I love being a parent!

And for any who might not have noticed... Kristens' next posting will be her 500th contribution here. Be sure to give her an appropriate congratulatory comment when she puts something up! I'll probably be away from the computer when that happens!

I gotta git back to my work now....

 

[GoofyDrivesACar]

Not much planned for the weekend. Supposed to be really nice again. Mid 80's and nothing but sun. Just got the solar heater fixed so maybe the pool will heat up some by Sunday.

Have a great weekend

Dave

What I wouldn't give for some "Mid 80s" right about now, or a pool for that matter. Have a good one.

 

[captaincrash]

We've got cool rain again here in the LA area.

And tomorrow it's pretty routine... a make up class of gymnastics in the morning, a birthday party at another gymnastics place in the afternoon... and maybe we'll catch ice age 2 in the evning if we have the energy. then Sunday we're thinking of going to DIsneyland again if the weather is tolerable and if our annual passes are not blacked out. If they're blacked out or the weather is marginal then it'll just be church and a lazy afternoon at home just doing... nothing. Except maybe lick our wounds from this afternoons' visit with our CPA. Well... actually Uncle Sam's bite was typical so that's probably a good thing. In years past we've had modest surprises... and we'll just leave it at that.

So... anyone have anything extraodinary in their cards for the next week or so?

Cheers and warm tidings to all for the weekend and week ahead!

 

[buckifan]

cool! Don't get me wrong - I would not do the jeans in the dining room, just not up to a tux and floor length gown. I am looking forward to the semi-formal, we can do those right!!! But, I do appreciate the invite!!!!!

Sounds like we would be OK as long as we are not tooooo casual!!! And...you bring up a good point, although I ran the "skip formal night and relax" idea to my DH - I have yet to run it by the "boss" - DD just might have something else in mind!!!!

We aren't going to be dressed that formal on formal night either. Dh will wear a tie and possibly a sport coat, and I'll wear a nice dress, but certainly NOT a floor length dress! So, we'll be thinking of it as 2 semi-formal nights, rather than one formal and one semi-formal. I'm sure there will be plenty of people dressed as we are!

BTW Missy........keep in mind this is our first cruise, but we have vacationed in WDW in October twice before, and our weather was PERFECT both times! I've been told that "H" season ends beginning of November, so part of our trip falls into that safety zone (or at least "safer" zone). Was I given incorrect info? Can one of the FLA residents tell me when "H" season is officially over?

 

[buckifan]

Okay, I just answered my own question.......I Googled it and found the "official" dates for hurricane season are June 1st thru November 30th. Oh well, so we're not in the safety zone. But I'm still going to remain optimistic about our weather!

 

[missyoh8]

Our first cruise was in October and it was beautiful!!! The next two years we rode with h******** and so we thought we would try October again. When we travelled with H******** Jeanne it is comical looking back! So funny it would make you want to CRY! Last year not so bad, we just left the port and the captain came on saying we were going western no eastern...........we were one of the last to make it to Cozumel before it was destroyed.

Make no mistake there will be no floor length sparkle gowns in our group either! The kids,to be honest, dictate and they LOVE to dress up! The boys even love to put on their suits and a tie!

Gotta run........hockey and then 2 soccer games (not to mention a psych test for me) all before noon!

Missy

Missyoh8

 

[captaincrash]

Okay, I just answered my own question.......I Googled it and found the "official" dates for "H" season are June 1st thru November 30th. Oh well, so we're not in the safety zone. But I'm still going to remain optimistic about our weather!

Well,

Actually - for those of us who moved our sailing date from September to late OCtober/early November we have shifted into a far superior period for expecting calmer seas. Take a look at this NOAA table tabulating the number of Cyclones and "H" in the carribean over the past 100 years.

According to this table there were 20 storms over 100 years that were cyclones which occurred in our week. That suggests it is a one in 5 chance for a storm in the carribean/gulf of Mexico region. And as for storms that achieve "H" status there were 5 over the past 100 years. That suggest there is a 1 in 20 chance for a "H" somewhere in the region. Compare that against the PEAK of the season (1st week of Spetember). It looks like there were 95 cyclones out of 100 years in this period. That's a 19 out of 20 chance! And it looks like there were 50 "H"s in this period over the past 100 years. Yup... a 50% chance for a "H". AND ... bear in mind that "H"s go through mutlidecade cycles. And that for a given 10-20 year period the region should experience below average activity. SO even though it may be September - if you are in a low cycle in terms of decades then it is really a less than 95% chance for a storm. And by the same token if you are in an above average period/decade (like we are now) of activity then the likelihood of one (or more) clycones or "H"s emerging in the area is heightened. So - the operative thought is how much higher can it go above 95%?

Another thought to weigh is that the likihood of having any storm affect our sailing is not great. The region is vast. And we would have to have a storm track right over Port Canaveral in such a manner that it prevents the approach or departure of the ship on precisely the day that we are embarking or debarking. And of course, this is exactly what happened during "H" Frances... and that was precisely the sailing that my family was reserved for - and that was the one I foolishly drove through to get to Jacksonville so that I could drive to port Canaveral the next day to embark. Only I had no way of knowing at the time that Frances tracked right over the Port! So they shifted our embarkation from port canaveral that Monday to Fort Lauderdale tuesday. The end result was our 7 day was reduced to 4. The folks already on the Magic obviously had their 7 increased to 10 with an unscheduled stop in Houston. I got 50% refunded and 25% off a future cruise, plus another $200 cabin credit, transfers to FL port and an upgrade from 9 to 6 veranda. Plus a nite at their Polynesian resort and a set Disney Ultra passes. Not bad except for the fact it was a bit of a travel back-flip to get there and wait it out to board. Once aboard it was wonderful even though it was reduced to 4 and a Western schedule.

At any rate, my point is that we are better off sailing late October then early September... and the table cites numbers to support my suggestion. AND - based on past experience - IF our sailing should be threatened or disrupted I trust in DCL to take decent care of us.

And for further consideration... here are the NOAA probability storm origins and likely "H" tracks based on historical patterns. Time range was not specified. AND LOOK at how it changes between September, October and November... and we are of course sailing in between these months.

SEPTEMBER​

OCTOBER​

NOVEMBER​

And for those propeller heads who want to look at my source page ... here it is for your meterological fancy.... http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml?

Cheers!

 

[kritter]

We aren't going to be dressed that formal on formal night either. Dh will wear a tie and possibly a sport coat, and I'll wear a nice dress, but certainly NOT a floor length dress! So, we'll be thinking of it as 2 semi-formal nights, rather than one formal and one semi-formal. I'm sure there will be plenty of people dressed as we are!

BTW Missy........keep in mind this is our first cruise, but we have vacationed in WDW in October twice before, and our weather was PERFECT both times! I've been told that "H" season ends beginning of November, so part of our trip falls into that safety zone (or at least "safer" zone). Was I given incorrect info? Can one of the FLA residents tell me when "H" season is officially over?

I agree with you...My dh and I were just discussing this...I am not going to be putting the twins in a floor lenght gown or anything like that...Thinking a really nice sun dress and that will be fine for them...Dh will wear a suit and that is it...and I have a black dress from ann taylor that will be great...

 

[captaincrash]

I agree with you...My dh and I were just discussing this...I am not going to be putting the twins in a floor lenght gown or anything like that...Thinking a really nice sun dress and that will be fine for them...Dh will wear a suit and that is it...and I have a black dress from ann taylor that will be great...

This was Kritter's 500th posting to our cruise meet thread (or rather to her thread! heh-hee-heh!)!!!!!

YAHHYY!!!!! ​

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Congrats Kristen on #500!!!!!
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[Big15Foot]

Q: Can one of the FLA residents tell me when "H" season is officially over?
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A: When the SnowBirds Arrive.

 

[kritter]

This was Kritter's 500th posting to our cruise meet thread (or rather to her thread! heh-hee-heh!)!!!!!

YAHHYY!!!!! ​

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Congrats Kristen on #500!!!!!
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Hey thanks a lot...How did you find that out???

Thinking we need to start off the weekend well not really start but keep it going with the question game..Here goes....

What is the best most special thing you have done ofr your spouse or your spouse has doen for you lately???

 

[captaincrash]

Hey thanks a lot...How did you find that out???

Thinking we need to start off the weekend well not really start but keep it going with the question game..Here goes....

What is the best most special thing you have done ofr your spouse or your spouse has doen for you lately???

Well... on how I knew you were at 500 that's easy.... I flipped through 101 pages and counted. How else would I know?

And as for the what my spouse has done for me lately? Well - I really can't talk about "that" on a "family friendly thread".... NAW~ LOL! ... I wuz just kidding... really, she does not know this but the nicest thig she's about to do for me that I suspect is shes got something planned for my birthday this week! My daughter has already told me something is up! Don't you love the way kids are so honest? And what have "I" done for my spouse lately? Gee... take out the trash last nite? Oh, actually that still needs doing. So.... now I have to think of something else. Oh... how about when I watched the kids this evening so she could have some free time to do what-ever she wanted to do ... and she went shopping for a bit. She even called once to ask how I was doing and if she could stay away a little longer and I said "sure".

These things may not seem particularly exotic or fancy but they pass for recent events.... or in my case they pass for recent developements.

And... as for how I REALLY knew you were at 500 I clicked on the "number" that shows how many postings have been left here and that brings up a list of all the posting entities and the number of contributions each has made. You can find this by clicking on the line above that says "cruise meets"... and find our thread and to the right is the number of postings - that will say something like 1518 or something slightly above that in the "replies" column. Click on the 1518+ something number and the 2nd window pops up with summaries.

So ... NO... I did not count through 101 pages of postings.

And as for the question thing - I proposed that we modify the rules from the last time we ran it so all the questions were officially open to everyone. IE - feel free to answer an old Q for this weekend even if has already been answered. This seems like more fun and means having an open framework. AND I even suggested if folks did not like my first Q and things were slowing down we should have another fun question offerred! So there you have it....!

 

[kritter]

Capt,


When is your birthday??? you said this week..You must tell the day so we can wish you a Happy ONE!!!!!


WOW five hundred Dh was laughing at me and called me a looser and told me that Ineeded to get a life....that I am on the board tooo much....oh welll....

Sounds like you might be getting a party for your b-day Capt...