January 13, 2007 - 7 Night Magic Western

[ldeninge]

My son is 7 and my daughter is 3. We live in NW Indiana and are looking forward to getting out of the cold in the middle of January!!!

Welcome Luckymom! Let's hear it for the midwesterners! (Iowa City, Iowa)

 

[DiaLady]

Hi All --

Welcome to the party, Familycruisers . . .

Car Rentals - Best rates by far that I've found have been through Costco dot com. I don't think you have to be a member to take advantage of them. Just click on the travel link and then on car rentals.

Lanyards - I bought my lanyard at the Guest Services Desk onboard during our first cruise. It was the 2nd thing I did (after getting our Palo's reservations).

Palo Ressies - Well we signed for the cruise too late to get any online reservations, too. I'll be racing you to the tables to secure our night. We've gotten reservations every single time. DH just commented that he doesn't understand the hubbub with the reservations. Every time we've been in Palo's it hasn't been crowded . . .lots of empty tables.

Question for those in the know out there . . .can you make reservations for PALO's for more than ONE night?

Cruising weather . . .
We're enjoying the start of another n'oreaster. The winds are brisk at close to 50 mph and the rain is starting to come down. This is like the third one this season. It's pretty early for this many n'oreasters. Basically a n'oreaster is a LOW churning off the coast of North Carolina and bringing in all the cold and rain. I'm hoping they are a lot less frequent by January. The Captain of our snorkle sailboat excursion in St. Thomas last December said the n'oreasters are the reason our seas were so choppy going out from Port Canaveral (I was very seasick). It also kept us from going to the other side of St. John. You could see the big waves breaking on the rocks outside the cove. Glad we stayed in calmer waters! Anyway, I"m sharing this so that you have something of interest to watch on the Weather Channel in preparation for our cruise . . .LOL

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Everybody

Is everyone all ready for Thanksgiving? We are taking our dinner to my Grandmother's home tomorrow. My parents are bringing the turkey, potatoes & gravy and my DH & I have the veggies and pumpkin pies. Grandma still lives on her own and does pretty well, but at 98 she just finds it too tiring to make the whole meal!

DiaLady - I believe that they will only allow you to book 1 dinner at Palo initially, but if you contact them (or stop by) a day or two later you can sometimes book another or get put on a wait list. THis is all as I've heard it on the DIS, we haven't ever tried it.

familycruiser - I just added your info to the Who's Going list on the website. If you would like to change/add/delete anything, just let me know.

pdarrah

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Oh, yeah, Thanksgiving. I almost forgot about that I've been so busy concentrating on all of our planning for the DISNEY CRUISE!!! I said "almost" forgot...I guess we're ready. I've got a few last minute items to pick up from the store on my way home tonight, I'm sure that won't be a quick trip as there will probably be hundreds of others making their own trips to the store for last minute items. Hopefully the rest of you are prepared!!

Pdarrah & Ideninge - Thanks for the warm welcome to the DIS!!!

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and you all enjoy your family dinners!!!

 

[DiaLady]

Ummmm . . Thanksgiving . .ummm .. .just finished the pumpkin cheesecake. My kids actually prefer pumpkin cheesecake to pumpkin pie . . . LOL. They are way too gourmet for their ages . . (10 & 12).

It's just us for the holiday meal. The kids and I are headed to Raleigh later in the weekend for my neice's Baptism. I'm bringing along a lasagna & and the mandatory southern delicacy of ham biscuits . Should be a festive occasion and a chance to hang out with my siblings and their kids.

Well back to it. . . . Have a very Happy Thankgiving!

Theresa

 

[blacksmithcrm]

I guess all of us are still working on the leftovers and have been too busy to post!

Less than eight weeks to go!

 

[Ginny]

For us, it wasn't the leftovers......but a mad panic to pack up Thanksgiving really early this year and put up all my Christmas decorations over the long weekend. Between the warmer weather (60's) and the extra time off - it was a perfect plan!! Regrettably, after a day and a half of creative lunacy, my back had it's own "panic attack" at this sudden rush of activity. So, I ended up spending most of yesterday afternoon watching movies and remembering a fonder, younger time in my life......when I could move faster than slo-o-o-o-w motion!!

I've learned over the past 2 years in this role that the weeks before Christmas are an incredibly busy time at work for me so I'm trying to get everything done early. And, this year is a bit more "colorful" because we have a big Disaster Preparedness Exercise at the hospital on 7 December and DH has overseas travel. DD is being an angel and was excited that we were all decorating together before the "craziness" starts.

We managed to get the outside done except for the Red Ribbons up on all the light fixtures. The inside was done slowly but surely throughout the day yesterday but it looks great. I still have some roping to add to the staircases and we won't get the tree until the 9th so that will be a whole new evolution......but, then, we can relax and enjoy it all. We have lots of decorations and always have fun pulling out each one and looking at it and remembering the history.

Today's activity is to write our Christmas letter and do all the mailing labels to get all of those mailed off. I've missed the last two years but no excuses this year..............We will conquer the Christmas Mailing season.

I'm off to get ready for church.....and take more Motrin. I told DD that we needed to go to the earliest mass possible so I can move at my own pace (envision a blonde snail) and not impede anyone else while I get in and out. I'm not sure she's too crazy about my logic but she is being supportive anyway.

Needless to say...................7 days in balmy weather on a relaxing cruise sounds pretty inviting right now!

Have a lovely Sunday!

 

[skylynx]

Hi, Everyone
Logging on to check in for our Southwest flight back home to Chicagoland tomorrow and decided to say hi to my fellow Disboarders. We've had four glorious days thus far hiking the cliffs, riding horses on the beach in Big Sur, sampling lots of Central Coast wine, and being awed by the marine life we've seen (both in and out of the very amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium). We've seen otters and sea lions and seals and some of the most beautiful birds imaginable, all up close and personal in unsuspecting locations.

During the after-Thanksgiving sale at the local Circuit City (we were awake at 4 am anyway) we broke down and bought a hard drive camcorder (with the cruise in mind) as we've realized we've all but stopped taking videos because our VHS-C camcorder is just too clunky and the tapes keep getting messed up. This one is smaller than our digital camera, and takes great video and still pictures. We're looking forward to using it on the cruise and making some cool "movies" afterwards with all the crummy parts cut out (like when you think you are on pause and really you are on record and you tape your feet for about twenty minutes before realizing it).

Welcome to the new folks...

 

[Vulcandream]

Hey Skylinx we are seriously considering buying a Sony HD cam ourselves. Haven't decided on the 60 gig or 30 gig unit yet. Best Buy has the for $719 which is the best price I ahve seen.

Fore everyone what can any previous DCers tell me about the family talent shows. My daughter and I are thin king about doing something but are curious about what it is like.

After a sermon this morning about priorities and remembering that people matter more than stuff (cruises included) I abstained from the boards for most of the day. Wow, I really am a sad puppy.

 

[Colorado Mom]

Hey everyone!
Just checking in We watched the travel channel DCL show last night, got all of us excited all over again. I am thinking we need to make one of the paper count down chains that are nights until we leave instead of until Christmas.

 

[Bytor01]

Well, it's now official. I bought my tickets. Jet Blue finally lowered their prices and I hoped on it. $222/person from NY. Not the best but much better than previously. What is better though is that I had a $360 credit so I only paid $132/person. So, I have my tix, I have my ressie at the Hyatt the day before and we have the crusie and all our dinners and excursions booked. All we have to do now is wait.

Tim

 

[blacksmithcrm]

Waiting is going to be the hardest part!

 

[sopandbass]

I woke up this morning suddenly wanting to pack for the trip. It's too early, right?

This past weekend was unseasonably warm and wonderful. We had a great opening weekend for the Dickens Festival that I direct (DH and I perform there as well) and the street entertainers were basking in the nice weather! I've been so busy getting ready for the Festival that I haven't thought much about the cruise lately. Maybe that's why I want to pack now that I have down time.

I hope you all had a lovely and blessed Thanksgiving. How lucky we all are to be going on this cruise!

Peace,
Sharon

 

[DiaLady]

I woke up this morning suddenly wanting to pack for the trip. It's too early, right?

Personally, Sharon, I don't think it's ever too early to start backing . . .LOL. DH went to the drugstore yesterday (for more cough medicine - yuck!) and picked up another pack of motion bracelets. Guess he has it on his mind, too. I also just received my suntan lotion this week. Guess I need to find a box to put the "cruise stuff" into . . .LOL

Does anyone else feel the urge to purchase new luggage? I just don't think we're going to have enough room this trip. My boys have gotten so much bigger in the past year!

Well, back to teaching school . . .gotta get a plan for the boys so they know what school work they have to finish before Christmas and before the cruise . . .

Have a super day!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

We DID have to go buy some new luggage for my daughter, so, yes, I know what you mean about having to worry about luggage space with growing children. Especially since we're going on a 7 day cruise...can't skimp on the packing!!

I stocked up on sunscreen over the Summer when it went on sale!! I've been keeping all of my "stuff for the cruise" in my bathroom cabinets so I know where it all is and I'm not running around like a madwoman trying to find everything I want to pack. I called my doctor a couple months ago to ask him to prescribe me the motion sickness patches so I knew I would have them for the cruise. (I know, THAT was a little early, but I DIDN'T want to forget to do that!!)

I'm actually taking a weekend trip this weekend to go to a friend's baby shower in North Carolina, so I would probably be packing for the cruise if I didn't have to use my luggage for this trip. So, all of you out there that are getting the urge to pack, you're not alone!! I actually have all of my daughters clothes that I plan on packing for the cruise all tucked away in their own dresser drawer.

Anyone else out there getting this urge to pack already? Anyone else starting to have the typical pre-vacation nightmares that they left their luggage at home? (I had that nightmare last night!!)

Well, I better get back to work!!

 

[Colorado Mom]

after our first cruise, Oct 05, Santa brought the boys their own sets of luggage. What a smart Santa! They were ready for more room and they both got a color instead of trying to be responsible for black suitcases that look like everyone elses.

I am mentally packing, making sure I have what I need for 7 nights. Soon I'll be checking swimsuits.

 

[cepmom]

hi everyone
I just had a moment of realization today....we are leaving for this cruise in just 6 weeks!!!! All this talk of packing I guess

In the past I have packed quite early for our trips, but the last two were cruises in August so we were still wearing all the clothes we wanted to pack. I did pack the little girls summer clothes away in a place that I could get to easily keeping the trip in mind. I guess that means I can start packing now too!!

This also means I really need to make sure I have enough clothes for myself and DH needs to get a new suit. His old suit does not fit anymore and he really doesn't want to rent a tux. Hopefully we can fit in some suit shopping the next week or so. The dress I was hoping to wear for formal night still does not fit, so I guess I need to think about getting a new one

For those of you that were not able to get Palo dinner, I am going to cancel my reservation for 7:30 on Tuesday night. DH and I decided to just do Palo brunch this time around. If anyone wants to try and get the spot, PM me and we can try to coordinate the time. Maybe if I cancel and one of you try to make a new reservation at the same time it will work out.

 

[Ginny]

With all of the new fees for oversized bags and the new weight limits, I am going to have to revise all of my packing strategies. I've gotten so much better about what I actually pack for the ship (I'm down to about 1/3 of what I took on my first cruise) but still want lots of weight allowance for all my DCL Treasures. DH has long since given up trying to get between me and Treasure Ketch or Mickey's Mates!!!

I have two big hardsides which I love but they weigh too much and are now passe for plane travel. In the last few months, we've bought DH a new suitcase for short trips and plan to buy him another larger one because he travels about 60% of the time. He likes his new ballistic one that he got and it's so light.

One of my dear DIS Friends visited us and brought me a wonderful basket just made to hold all my pre-pack items for cruising. So, the basket is now out and I will begin to fill with all the really important things: My pin collection, individual wipes, Purell, walkie-talkies, Disney Dollars.....you know - the important stuff.

 

[Colorado Mom]

Oh! and I forgot We are ordering a new toiletry case, super exciting I know, and I found water proof bags small enough to be portable but big enough to hold money, cards and our digital camera. I think they will be perfect for the beach days, no worries about sand or water or losing anything.

 

[ldeninge]

Glad to hear I'm not alone - I've been stockpiling sample bottles and various sundry supplies that have been 'advised' by you experienced DISers. thanks for all the great tips!

I did get a great set of luggage from Overstock.com (4 pieces for under $200) a month ago. I've already used 2 of the pieces and they are great! I'm all for cheap luggage. I think pricey fancy luggage screams 'steal me - I've got valuables in here!'

Is there a central site for luggage size/weight restrictions, or should I check with the individual airlines for their policies? I don't want to find out at the airport that I am OVERWEIGHT...guess I don't want to EVER be told I'm overweight...but that's a different story.