It's Almost Time for the BASH--Pre Trip Report 10/24/2009 DCL Magic Eastern Cruise

[captchris]

I joined the DIS in February 2005 just after our last WDW vacation. At that time we were considering joining my family on their 9/2006 7 day cruise. We weren't committed, but I joined nonetheless and read on a very rare occasion. I have always been a Disney nut and have enjoyed all of my trips to the World. For several years I read other Disney boards such as wdwmagic, and I think the other was the disneyecho. Once I joined the DIS though, I was hooked as it seemed so much larger and more comprehensive than the others.

Over Labor Day weekend 2005, my family came to visit and my sister encouraged Elaine and I to join them for their cruise a year later. Elaine and I did some number crunching and although it would be tight, we were able to do it. We booked a Category 10 on Deck 7 a week later and were set to sail.

My sister encouraged me to read up on all things DCL on the DCL section of the DIS. Shortly after I became a regular reader/lurker, I came across Timon's (Cass and Rob's) 2005 WDW, Universal, Sea World and DCL live Trip Report. This was amazing and they even had the Captain on the Magic see them in the hall and asked how many views they were up to!

After a while, I posted on the DIS, ocassionally asking a few questions. As the cruise got closer, I believe I was up to 500 or so posts. While I posted on our cruise meet thread, there wasn't too many activities, or pictures exchanged. I didn't do any DIS meets or make any effort to meet and DISers on our 2006 cruise. I remember people saying, "look for the group by the Mickey Pool on sailaway day." Well I did, and there were a few groups! I am not the type to just walk up and say, "eh, so are you guys DISers?"

When we fiinally settled on the 10/24 cruise, I was home for lunch and my sister called me and said, "Chris you got to check out our cruise meet thread. There is a lot of activity and so and so (names witheld) are on this cruise. You should join the thread!"

I posted a friendly greeting and explained that we would be joining the 10/24/09 Bash on the Boat B.O.B for short. I was immediately welcomed, added to the first page cast of characters, and given information on DIS meets, door magnets and other cool things. Over the next few months, I got to know these fine people and have felt welcome to share a vacation all together.

In the fall, we made arrangements to stay at the Radisson at the Port, official hotel of the Bash on the Boat. There will be a DIS meet on 10/23 by the pool on the eve of our cruise. It should be a good time and I pity anyone with a poolside room that night!! There are literally dozens (well maybe a couple dozen) families staying there that night...all of them BOBers.

In late spring, I attended my first official DISmeet! This was initially way out of my comfort zone, but Walt put me in charge of finding a place to organize the meet. Coerscion at its best!! 2 other couples and myself (Elaine couldn't join us) met in suburban Boston for a DISmeet at TGIFriday's. It was a great time to get to know people that we already sort of knew. It was a surrealistic feeling to introduce oneself in person to people you have been talking to for several months, but Walt, Di, Dan and Nancy made it easy to chit chat about the cruise and life in general. As I drove back home to Connecticut, I got the feeling that this would be an amazing cruise if everyone was as cool and friendly as they were. It made me yearn for the cruise even more.

So in a nutshell...

I am a BOBer, an official member of the Bash on the Boat, or KK2. While I may not be screeching like KarenMouse, as I walk through the courtyard at the Radisson, a smiling man I will be as I greet these friends I have come to know over the last 12 months. The next morning, I may be a little more animated, but alas, still no screeches. I will be grinning ear to ear as I walk through those ears and onto the Ship of Dreams. Will I have a t shirt? I'm still undecided on that one as I am not artistic at all, but make no mistake, I will enjoy hanging out with family and friends on the Bash on the Boat.

I will close each chapter with an update summary of our vacation plans. So here goes...

In Summary

10/22
Get kids at school dismissal 3:15--Drive to Maine
Arrive in Maine around 6:00 PM
Sam and Tracy to the Mall for Pedicures around 7:00

10/23
Sleep in the best we can
Eat lunch around 11:30
Head to Portland Jetport (yes thats what its called, it was the 60s)
Depart Portland for Orlando 1:55 PM
Arrive in Orlando 5:07
Get Budget Car, drive to Radisson 5:45-6:00 or so
Dinner at Grills!
DIS meet with fellow BOBers until the wee hours

10/24
Welcome the Magic Home--Not likely! Too Early!!
Drive wife and kids to the ship, then return car to Budget (10:00)
Hang out with BOBers and family until our number is called!

 

[B9erSteve]

I'm kinda bummed that I'll probably miss that DIS meet at the Radisson. Since I decided to do MNSSHP we'll be back too late. We may cross paths as I am leaving just as you are coming.

Like you I'll probably miss the Magic coming into port. As much as I want to do it, it'll be early after a late night.

 

[B9erSteve]

BTW, I've never noticed that our Join date is the same month. Funny that.

 

[captchris]

I'm kinda bummed that I'll probably miss that DIS meet at the Radisson. Since I decided to do MNSSHP we'll be back too late. We may cross paths as I am leaving just as you are coming.

Like you I'll probably miss the Magic coming into port. As much as I want to do it, it'll be early after a late night.

So you are staying at the Radisson but going to MNSSHP on the 23rd?

 

[B9erSteve]

Yep, Thought about changing to WDW but haven't made up my mind yet. I was hanging with the Radisson because I already have the reservations, but that can easily be changed.

 

[Karen Mouse]

"Screeching Karen Mouse" checking in and subscribing..... I actually prefer "squeeling", but I'll take screeching being as you named and shamed me

 

[B9erSteve]

I somehow knew that verb choice was going to get a reaction.

 

[captchris]

"Screeching Karen Mouse" checking in and subscribing..... I actually prefer "squeeling", but I'll take screeching being as you named and shamed me

I somehow knew that verb choice was going to get a reaction.

I was trying to remember what exactly the verb was that I have heard describe your behavior on previous cruises. I considered using the "edit" feature, but whats done is done.

 

[Karen Mouse]

I somehow knew that verb choice was going to get a reaction.

I was trying to remember what exactly the verb was that I have heard describe your behavior on previous cruises. I considered using the "edit" feature, but whats done is done.

Maybe that should be my new tagline "I screech when I see the Magic"

 

[Scouter]

LOL no Rose!!!

I am going to discuss air travel planning, room planning, MNSSHP planning and then as we get closer, other specific stuff.

Our baby factory is shuttered...hope that isn't TMI, but don't want the rumors starting!!!

 

[GOS]

Maybe that should be my new tagline "I screech when I see the Magic"

Well we can have our own group of screechers then Karen.

 

[Dyerneeds]

what?? no welcoming the Magic home at 5 am?
come chris...elaine will love it.

 

[captchris]

what?? no welcoming the Magic home at 5 am?
come chris...elaine will love it.

She will love staying on that sleep number bed at the Radisson, dreaming of the next day!

 

[cntkg1]

All signed up bigboy.
Let the games begin.

Is there no thread safe from you? I believe this is a Tart Free Thread.

 

[Dyerneeds]

She will love staying on that sleep number bed at the Radisson, dreaming of the next day!

We loved that sleep number bed!!

 

[captchris]

I may meet the Magic if I am awake for whatever reason that early, but I am not going to make a conscious effort to wake up. Last cruise I did wake up when nature called around that time and I made a point to look out our window at the Residence Inn toward the inlet channel, but no Magic.

 

[Dyerneeds]

we wernt planning on seeing the Magic return in 07, but we were "too excited to sleep" and said "lets head down and maybe we'll see her".
we got there just in time.
we were amazed at how quiet it was.
it was just one of those moments you remember forever.

 

[Timon]

This will be a fabulous cruise no matter what but the BOBers will make it that much more special

Even if it's just a quick "Hi" as you cross paths on deck, it's nice to have a friendly, familiar face wherever you go

 

[captchris]

As I shared in the last chapter on my DCL cruise I didn't do anything DIS despite being a regular on the general forum and a rare poster on the cruise meet thread.

I decided on this cruise to dive right in and enjoy all that being a DISer, BOBer has to offer. Here is where I stand on various things...

DIS Meets
As I stated in my previous chapter, I have been a regular poster on our cruise meet thread. Since joining the thread, I have averaged about 300 posts per month, so as a result, I couldn't very well be a behind the scenes, hidden member of this cruise. I plan to be at a lot if not all of the DIS meets. I will be at the Radission on Friday night, Pool on Saturday (mingling in between watching the kids), and various spots throughout the week. We don't drink, so we will be missing the wine tasting, etc, but we are linking ressies with fellow BOBer's for dining so we will be in the same vicinity of the dining rooms and have the same rotation. It will be great seeing friendly faces across the way. We will also be at Palo Brunch pretty much the same time as several fellow BOBers, and many of us are taking the same excursion in St. John. I pity anyone on that ferry and bus who aren't with us!

I decided that I am jumping into the deep end of the pool on this cruise and am going to enjoy it as much as possible.

Fish Extenders
First of all, let me say how much I have fallen from the Artsy tree. I can take decent photographs, but that is about the limit of my artisitic ability. I was always the kid that tried so hard in school in art class only to fail, well not literally!

Therefore, I am not even going to attempt to make my own fish extender! I did look at Ebay, and none of the ones I saw really appealed to me. What I will probably do is go to Walmart or Target and get some nice fabric/cloth pumpkin or other seasonal item to hang from the fish outside of my stateroom.

The last thing art related that I had to make was a banner in my Old Testament Class in Seminary. It was a simple single color with a square house on it with the following passage, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" I somehow got a B on it, but it was hideous. My letters did not look good, despite using stencils, my house looked cheesy. This was 13 years ago, and I have no intentions of being artisically creative for a vacation!

In another class, I had to make a childrens Bible story and I bought a big coloring book, colored the pages, cut them out and pasted them onto a flip chart. That one I didn't get so lucky as I got a D on it. I did get an A for story presentation as that is more of a gift, my oratory skills. I was very vocal on the course evaluation form and I said something like, "we people who are not artisitic are penalized in this class for not handing in material worthy of Michaelangelo, or Leonardo. This must be corrected!"

Ok, enough stories and on with the report!


You can see why I am not even attempting a "no sew" fish extender.

Door Signs
This is one thing that I think I will actually have fun with. 15 years ago, I would never have attempted this, but I am fairly savy on computers and can navigate my way around MS Office, MS Publisher, so I should have door signs to hang up on our door. I did start one and have a rough draft. I am ordering a new color laser printer for work, so that should work well for me.

Here again, no door signs last time...

One thing that was missing from my title was t shirts. I have never made t shirts and I dread that I would have a similar fate with t shirts that I did with my Old Testament Banner...crooked letters, etc.

At this point, I do not think our family will have Bash on the Boat T shirts. That could change if I research it enough and attempt to make some and they actually turn out okay. We will see.

Vacation Summary

10/22--3:15 PM--Pick up kids at School Dismissal
6:00 PM--Arrive in Maine at parents house
7:00 PM--Tracy and Sam to the mall for pedicures

10/23 Sleep In!!!!
11:30--Eat Early lunch
12:30--Head to Portland International Jetport
1:55--Wheels Up to Florida
5:07--Wheels down at Orlando International
5:30--Pick up Car at Budget
6:15--Arrive at Radisson--Check In
6:30--Dinner at Grills
7:30--DIS Meet at Radisson Pool

 

[Dyerneeds]

wheels up to florida.
wheels down to orlando.

i like that.