Hey! July 30th, 2005 cruise to Mexico DISfriends!

[LynnTarrant]

Happy Birthday Bill from Lynn and Keith
Have fun in NYC I keep looking at airfares Debi we'll definitely be there sometime next year if thats still alright with you
I wish they'd do summer 2007 and put us all out of our misery... I want Alaska myself... here's hoping we all get to go somewhere together.
lynn

 

[jlawall]

Rainy and cold here on the East Coast!!! (What's new??)

HB, Mark! Enjoy the day!!

 

[littleowensmommy]

Happy Birthday Mark!

We got home yesterday late afternoon. We had a great trip and perfect weather...sunny and warm. The F&W Festival was great. We loved the Party for the Senses last Saturday night. We did the Family Magic Tour on Monday. It was a highlight of the trip. Jenny, M&M would love this tour. It is definitely one the best kept secrets and values ($20.00/person with Disney Visa 20% discount) at Disney. We highly recommend wegoshop.com. I emailed them a grocery list and they delivered it to our villa at the Beach Club. They even called to ask questions before substituting an item. We also loved the sitter from Kids Night Out. We used Disney Magical Express instead of renting a car and the service was flawless. CRT was just OK, definitely overrated, but not doing it with a little girl would be like not going to the prom. I had my first Dole Whip in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. I now understand what all the fuss is about...delicious! The kids had a blast on the Albatross Cruise out of the Yacht Club on Wednesday. We did the Segway Tour of Epcot while they were otherwise occupied. It was awesome! We spent the first hour learning to operate the Segway and the second hour touring around the World Showcase before it opened to the public. It was so much fun. Ted wants one now...not gonna happen at $4500.00. MNSSHP was great. We all dressed up as the Incredibles. It was quite a sight but everyone loved us. The parade was great and the kids loved trick or treating in the park. LTT was excellent and the perfect place to have dinner before the party. Mickey's Backyard BBQ was a blast. The food was very good and the kids danced the night away with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip and Dale. They treat these characters like rock stars. We went to Typhoon Lagoon specifically so Ted and Owen could do the snorkel with Sharks thing...however Owen got cold feet at the last minute and wouldn't do it. Ted was so disappointed. We rode the Aerosmith Rollercoaster in MGM for the first time. It is awesome. We enjoyed Fantastmic. I don't think it's necessary to do a dinner package in order to get seats. They are already putting up the Christmas lights at MGM. I can't wait to see them in December. Ted took Owen to DisneyQuest. They both loved it. Owen and Amy have become pin traders. I'm sure we'll live to regret the decision to allow them to go down this road. We bought them each a starter pack and 5 or 6 other pins each. That set us back nearly $200.00. They were so excited to trade pins with the CMs. We're all exhausted. Owen has finished all of his homework so we're happy not to have that hanging over our heads tomorrow. It was so nice to have a W/D in the unit so there was no pile of dirty laundry to face when we got home. If we get a second wind maybe we'll go to Busch Gardens for Halloscream tomorrow after Mass and Sunday School. However it's not looking good right now. I'm off to bed!

 

[jlawall]

Ok, I'm exhausted just reading your report! You are so in the know!

We have swum with the sharks in TL, and my policy is to only do it in the summer in 90+ degree weather b/c it is so cold!

The Segway Tour sounds like a must do, Ken would LOVE to do that, he tried on DCL years ago and he loved it!

Everything else you described sounded fantastic, you really did your homework! Welcome home!

 

[LynnTarrant]

Kathy sounds like you had a ball in WDW we are doing the segway tour in Dec too. I've also got into the Virtual Magic Kingdom and have just won one of their insider tours, this really keeps me in the disney mood I feel like I can visit everyday!

 

[jlawall]

Lynn,
Your trip sounds really good and I'm really jealous. I've been checking my soccer tournament schedule to see if we could get one day up in WDW in December ......it doesn't look good though. I guess we'll have to plan something in the Spring!

 

[DisneyMom13]

Kathy - Your trip sounds awesome. Glad you guys are back safe & sound. The Rock N Roller Coaster is my favorite all time ride anywhere, I have such a laugh when I go on it! We would love to try that Segway tour too, I know Micco and the girls would really get a kick out of it? So are you coming for our w/e in NY. Let us know, and again you can stay with us if you like.


Thoughts on Cozumel OK, I have been stressing (yes and crying) about this for days. Micco and I have been to Cozumel 5 times (the girls 3 times) over the past 11 years. It is our favorite island, and almost like a home away from home for us. The dive establishment that Micco dives with (Aldora Divers) is like our Mexican family. We are worried, as there are not many reports coming out of Coz, but we know that they got pounded for about 60 hours straight with a Cat 4. No electricity, food, water, etc. The hotel we usually stay at (El Presidente Intercontinental) will be closed at least till 11/1 to ***** damage. The news the other night said that if you ever have been to Cancun or Cozumel, it will never be the same. I lost it! Prayers to our Mexican friends!

Lynn & Keith - Anytime you want to come to NY, our door is always open (well not really, we do lock the doors - LOL - but yolu know what I mean).

Jenny - PM me Mark's email and cell #, we will definitely call and email this Friday.

Love to all, miss you guys!
Debi

 

[littleowensmommy]

Hi Debi,

I was thinking about Cozumel too and I remembered that you and Micco especially love the island and vacation there often. We are supposed to stop there on our 24 June 2006 cruise. Keep us posted on anything that you hear. I haven't found a sitter yet for the kids for the NY weekend. I have looked into flights however. I can fly Continental into Newark or Southwest into Islip. Is Islip anywhere near where you live Debi? Where is Jenny flying into?...what airline?...what time?

JoAnn, I think that Ted would jump at the chance to do the Segway Tour again. Maybe next June before our cruise? Lucy and Bob too? There is room for about 10 people.

 

[jlawall]

Thx Kathy,

Again, you are an AMAZING planner! I hope you have recovered from your trip, it sounded WAY to good!!

 

[DisneyMom13]

Still not much word on Cozumel, most of the reports seem to be out of Cancun, where they are calling it "Paradise Lost". They say about 90% of the hotels sustained major damage there. I am fearful for Cozumel, I know it will never be the same as we remember it. It's very frustrating not to hear any word on how they fared.

Anyway, If you fly in, please fly into Newark, it is only about 20 minutes from us. Islip is way out on Long Island and would take about 1-1/2 hrs. Jenny is flying in Friday around 4:40 and leaving Monday am. I have taken the day off that Sat, and will leave work early on Friday if I have to, or Micco may be able to pick her up. Hope this helps!

Debi

 

[lwilliam]

our computer is on repair for a week, and we missed reading all these threads.
We are SO dependent on technology - I actually couldn't wait to come to
work this morning and catch up on my friends' lives.

Jenny - SEND, NOW! I want to e-mail AND phone that guy!

Kathy - I'm hurt - you had SUCH a good time, but forget to say, "but it
would have been MORE FUN with all of my DISer friends" - come on girl!
It was your friends that went on this computer early Wed. morning to find
out what the Magic was doing in 2007, while you were having fun in Disney (and reading all the nasty threads about the $$$$). Kathy, please try
to come up in December....we are so looking forward to seeing everyone.

Debi - you are crying AGAIN....seriously, we are sad too - we loved Cozumel, it was so clean, so much fun, loved the beach and the little mall. Key West too, didn't do much there, it was so hot, but a fun town.
Hey, Debs, will you cry again when you see all of us..... Joking........

Lynn: we are also trying to get down to Disney to see you and Keith.
Airfares are outrageous and that is the ONLY way we could get there by Saturday morning. Cathy and Dave got airfares and will be there by Friday, but they forgot to mention them to us.....so, we are....hmmmm.....there is a word i wanna use here.....we are

JoAnn - can you believe we are getting part of this Hurricane Wilma....
let's see, I'll try to cheer myself up and catch a raindrop that may have
been brought from Florida! I'm sick of rain!

Debi - we just set up a weekend chaperone for Tyler.....hope it comes thru - Bob's niece - he loves when she comes over - plays video games with him all weekend and we truly make it worth her while.....now that we MIGHT have that set - I'm ready. Do we need dressy clothing for dinner Saturday night?

 

[DisneyMom13]

Lucy -
The guys need a sports jacket, but not a tie (I believe). The ladies should wear something casual, but neat (pants suit, dress, etc., but no jeans). I am going to make ressies this week, I will make them for 10 of us (my cousins Annmarie and Freddy are coming - you guys will love them) and hopefully I won't have to cancel any! LOL.
Debi

 

[lwilliam]

make a ressie for Kathy - then she HAS to come.
Where has Wendy been?

 

[jlawall]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....10 ressies............

Deb & Mic
Ken & Jo
Jenny
Lucy & Bob
Kathy?
Looks like we still need another couple.....................
Hmmmmmmmmmmm............

Did you know that Brigantine is really only about 1 1/2 hours from Staten Island? How weird is that?.....................

Oh, yea Deb's cousin, I guess we're ok, but, I bet she could add if she had to?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............What DO people do at the shore in the winter....it might be nice to get away and .......you know.........see New York or something..........you know.................DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT??

No offense guys, but, there's a lot of beautiful women committing to this trip!

 

[littleowensmommy]

No problem Debi, Continental flies nonstop from Norfolk to Newark...much more convenient albeit more expensive than the Southwest flights into Islip. I haven't figured out the childcare situation yet. During the day is no problem but we need to have a plan in case Ted has to go into the hospital for an emergency during the night. We'll need to have a sitter spend Friday and Saturday night at the house even though Ted will most likely be home.

Lucy, of course it goes without saying that our trip would have been even more fun if all of you were there too.

I am so excited. I was just online at the disneystore.com site. They now have personalized sweatshirts available. There are several different designs that you can choose from, including several Christmas themes. You can then add up to 3 lines of text (36 characters per line) underneath the picture. I'm trying to come up with text to go with design #028 for our December trip. Here is what I've got so far:

"Our Very Merry Christmas Vacation
5 Magical Moms And 9 Goofy Kids At
Walt Disney World - December 2005"

Feel free to offer alternatives.

 

[jfis1020]

Kathy Sounds like you had the a wonderful time!!! We have been down there at MNSSHP the last two years, so I am having withdrawls!!! I would recommend the Halloween party at Sea World!

JoAnn What's with Bill and Alice? Do they have a heavy social calendar and we just don't fit in it???

Come on J.T. I know Alice can hold up with us....... It's you right???

Debi I am so excited about all this!! We will have a blast! Now we just need to get Lynn & Keith, Kathy, Bill & Alice, and anyone else that can to join us!! BTW........I am watching the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!!!

Well, my Hoosiers got beat bad and so did the Bengals. Of course, Mark was gloating (like beating Indiana is a big thing! ). His Buckeyes beating us just makes him smile!! (o.k. Bill, so you were right AGAIN!!!! ) It was cold and rainy Sunday during the game. That makes it worse when you lose!!! Luckily M&M decided to stay home!! Oh well......next week "The Pack is Back" in Cincy Bengals vs. the Green Bay Packers!

Lynn & Keith Jump that "Puddle Jumper" Dec. 2nd and join us! You only live once!!!

Lucy The niece with Tyler........ Good luck! I hope it works out o.k. Finding "childcare" is a pain I agree!!! Don't tell Tyler I called it that!

 

[Albill]

Hi kids.... thanks for thinking of us... but we can't make it this time...

Kathy ...you are sooooo Disney wise, I don't know what your talkin' about most of the time..

Deb &Mico ...thanks for the offer, that's very generous for you to open your house to all these folks.... hide the silverware...
Go jets.....well... maybe not tonight injuries,injuries....

Jerry....did we get the Phone#and Email stuff ?? I'm at albil@comcast.net The "pack" should be a easy win....
Hey, hows that little darling doing..??is the cast off?? she's one of the M's I believe...
We be getting our butt's kicked with this storm, more beach erosion...
It's to bad, because the stripers have been really biting, I'm looking for a "record breaker" one of these days

later...

 

[jfis1020]

Bill Thanks for asking.......Mallory's cast has been off for 12 days. We had an appointment yesterday and the doc. was quite pleased with her progress thanks to Daddy, the new resident Physical Therapist!

Look for a mass e-mail all for Mark's birthday info. Today or tomorrow!!

 

[DisneyMom13]

Alright, let's not talk about the Jets anymore, Micco and I went to watch the game at Boulder Creek (where Alex works) and had to leave because I couldn't bear the pain!!!

Anyway, finally got some reports on Cozumel, it's not good at all. Lots of tears on my part. Many of the places we have been to and love are totally or partially destroyed. The cruise ship piers are gone. I know they are looking to bring cruises back asap, because it supports their economy, but they will be tendering in for awhile. It is really sad to see the pictures of places that we love, looking like a bomb hit them. The hotel we always stay at, El Presidente (a 5 star hotel) suffered severe damage and will not be open before Jan. 31st at this point, it could be longer. I am sure the beach where I drank many a margarita is gone, the trees are all gone, the park at Chankanab (where you swim with the dolphins) is gone. It will take them years to recover. It is really devastating, as Cozumel is a part of us. Micco and I have spent 5 weeks of our life there over the last 11 years.

But on a lighter note, we are very much looking forward to the weekend. Depending on everyone's plans, we could go to the city Sat or Sun or both for that matter. We are easy and up for anything.

We are trying to stay warm here, as the chill of winter already seems to be upon us. What happened to fall???

Debi

 

[jlawall]

Don't feel bad, Deb, you're not living in Philadelphia right now......it could be worse!! WE HAVE NO OFFENSE!! GL to you, Jenny, I'm afraid to watch the next Eagles game, the way things are going!

I had to get that off my chest!! I feel bad about all the hurricane damage, it's hard to imagine such a beautiful place with such bad weather (I still want to move to Florida, though.)

Hmmmmmmmm............pp(party pooper...........guess who?)


Kathy, let us know ASAP about your NYC travel plans! I have a student who just got back from WDW, too. She was telling us about it and I'm still so jealous! Especially to be able to take little ones again!!

Where's Lucy?