January 4, 2003!!!!

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Well, now I'm getting really excited--we just got confirmation in the mail for our excursions booked through Disney, and we finally have our room assignment! We were Cat. 6 guarenteed--I know that, the later they assign it, the better chance of an upgrade, but I was really just hoping to get our room assignmnent! So, we'll be in 6034 (please, someone let me know if this room is a "problem" room!). I'm just so excited! I'm probably going to hurt myself when my documents actually come!

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

MJ we saw the Travel Channels episode on the YC/BC and DD would really like to try the "kitchen sink" but DH would like to have dinner at the Cape May Buffet, it's one of our favorites so we'll have to see who wins out. We are really excited about staying at the YC and all the great reviews I keep seeing about it make me even more excited!

Lisa my DD will be one of those kids you see dashing for their towel in cold weather. She says she is swimming in Stormalong Bay no matter how cold it is!

I can't believe it's just over 7 weeks untill we go!

Cheryl

 

[disneygal58]

Fifty Days Until We Check In At The Radisson!!!!!
With the holidays to "distract" us, the time will fly by.
Soon we will be blowing bubbles and getting teary eyed as the Magic's version of "When You Wish Upon A Star" fills the air...

Dawn Hope

 

[Lisa F]

B&B's mom, 6034 looks like a great location! I really wanted to try a verandah this time but DH was unconvinced that we needed one (we've cruised twice already with a porthole, why do we need a verandah???). The $1000 it would've cost us to upgrade will more than take care of our excursions and on board expenses soooooooooo I can kind of see his point (and on our past two cruises we spent almost no time in the room anyway). Plus we managed to score a secret porthole room at the 60 day mark so I think there just went my hopes for trying to upgrade at the port! I guess we may try anyway but he will be harder to convince. I'd better practice giving him "the eyes" if I really want one but to tell you the truth I am torn myself!

Cheryl, brrrrrrrrr! That's all I can say! Let's all hope for nice warm weather. I'm tired of freezing in January (though this will be our last January trip, going to switch to the fall and food and wine festival for our yearly trip after this year). The one nice thing is that while it was cold in central florida, it was gorgeous everywhere we went on the cruise (including castaway cay, I was really afraid it would be cold there but it wasn't! it was beautiful!)

Lisa

 

[mmouse37]

We cruised on the Eastern Itinerary of the Magic last year in mid-February and St. Thomas and St. Maarten were very hot. CC was about 78 with a breeze and NO HUMIDITY!!!! The water at CC was a bit cool, but you only felt chilly when you first stepped out of it.

At night onboard it was just beautiful!!! Breezy but not too chilly!!!

Can't wait......I just sent my nieces the DCL brochures so that they can get even more excited. They have heard us talk about the cruise enough, but never saw the brochure yet!!!!! They will have some nice tropical pictures to look at while they're freezing at their upstate NY colleges!!!!

MJ

 

[mureste]

Is it just me or does ther seem to be less people on this cruise? I have been monitoring the other groups and dates on a couple of boards and there seemed to be more people talking about those dates than the Jan 4, 2003 cruise.

Hey that would be fine to me, more of the ship for us.

I cruised this same exact week this year on RCCL and the weather was fantastic. The price was awsome. The ship was about 2/3rds full. I am thinking that this trip will be about the same. I may be wrong.

Me and my kids are so fired up that my wife won't talk to us about it anymore. She thinks we are obsessing. She's right.

Also how do you get the countdown clock?

 

[disneygal58]

mureste - I checked availablity through Travelocity and there appears to be quite a few cabins still offered in many categories, so maybe we will be sailing at less than capacity. That's okay with me too - less ressie scramble for Palos's etc....
We are bouncing off walls here, also. I look at our peel away the day Disney calendar and think in 7 weeks at this time, we'll be driving to the Radisson, hanging out on Castaway Cay, wandering Key West.
Perhaps once the holidays wind down, people will be anxious to come out and play.

Dawn Hope

 

[mmouse37]

I also noticed less DIS people on this cruise. This is really the only time my DD and my nieces could go. They are still on their break from school. My other DD14 and DS17 are bugging out because they cannot come this time. Their school starts on the 6th. Though I took them out for a week last Feb, this year my son is going to be at WDW in FEB for a week with school and I didn't want him missing anymore time.

Maybe there are less people because it is so close to the holidays. People are still recovering from the holidays and would want to cruise a bit later. I for one cannot wait. I plan on taking down all my Christmas decorations before we leave so I do not have to do that when we get home. It is depressing enough to come back after a DCL cruise, and to start taking down Christmas decorations on top of it would be just TOO MUCH!!!

I definitely would not mind a less then full ship!!!!

disneygal..... My aunt lives in Clearwater, on Highland Avenue right across from the Three Coins rest. I was just down there visiting at the end of October!!!

MJ

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I think there's fewer people because of the time of year--just recovering from Christmas break (ka-ching!), and having to take most kids out of school. We were originally scheduled to go Feb. vacation, and had to book that WAY in advance, but we were forced to move up the trip due to our impending visit from the stork. Bummer! But I agree, less of the scramble for reservations, fewer people on the ship--you won't see me crying! We will try to take it easy during the Christmas break, and you're right, mmouse37, about getting down the tree and stuff ahead of time--that would just bum me out big time! (As if it wouldn't be bad enough, leaving the ship, and then flying to Albany, where there will probably be 3 feet of fresh snow covering the car...). I can't believe how excited I'm getting!

By the way, before I forget, our real names are Rob, Laura, Jocelyn, and Robert.

 

[mmouse37]

MJ stands for Mary Jane!!!

I was just checking on the website and it looks like a whole bunch of cabins still available. I checked for a party of 3 and this is what came up as of right now:

Cat 5 - 3 cabins available
Cat 6 - 8 cabins "
Cat 7 - 6 cabins "
Cat 8 - 7 cabins "
Cat 9 - 8 cabins "
Cat 10 - 8 cabins "
Cat 11 - 8 cabins "
Cat 12 - 2 cabins "

Anyone have any pics of themselves they would like to post so we know who our fellow DIS'ers are??

Here is my family in August on Formal Night. DD Keri (in pink) will be onboard with me and two of my nieces. We are also travelling with another couple, Laura and Bob.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/48196942/48728383IIyrEs

MJ

 

[sandygirl]

A less crowded ship would be okay with me. Shorter lines to meet the characters. When I asked DD5 what she was looking forward to the most on this cruise, she said seeing the characters. So, look for us in line!

Honestly, I'm looking forward to the whole thing. I'd love to know how to get the countdown thing. I check the boards everyday and would love to see it counting down the days.

I'm also hoping they still have the Christmas decorations up on the ship. When we sailed this week in 2001 the decorations were up and it was so nice. Does anyone know when they take the decorations down this year?

mmouse37 - you have a beautiful family.

Darlene sailing
all grown up and on their own!

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks for the nice comments about the family!!! Wish we all could go in January, but work/school will keep some home.

I actually did ask the question about the decorations and was told they will be taken down already....too bad, I have always wanted to see the ship decorated for the holidays.

MJ

 

[prymsu]

I was only the Jan 4th sailing of the Magic in 2002, and we did not see any hint of christmas decorations at all on the ship.

 

[disneygal58]

We, too, were originally scheduled for the Feb. 1st Western, then changed to Jan.4th, so that my oldest daughter, Meagan would not miss any college classes (this is her freshman year). It does feel a bit odd to head out on vacation days after the holidays - hardly have time to lament the pounds put on from festivites between Thanksgiving and New Year's before the Cruise fare stares at our eager faces and bellies.
I have always hated January/February - the cold, snow, lack of sunshine - I grew up in CT/moved to Colorado immediately after college, lived there for 21 years and then post 9/11 decided to live where we vacation - FLORIDA. It was important for me to have a vacation to countdown to during the bleak months of winter. This will be a whole new experience for me - now I will be sad putting my daughter on the plane to return to CO after the cruise, to continue her studies. So, I will be the hysterical woman sobbing dispropotionately, clinging to her daughter as we disembark the ship.
Seven Weeks Fom Today........
Dawn Hope

 

[mmouse37]

Dawn....I know how you feel when they leave to go back to college. My DD is also a freshman this year but she is going in Upstate NY so it is only 3 hour drive. She has been home a few times for various family functions already....but it is so hard to drive her back home (to school!!) It's sad when they start to call school home!!!

Keri has a few days at home after the cruise before she has to go back...it tough for us moms!!!

My hubby work for the Port Authority of NY& NJ at the GWB as a police officer and he has been on mandatory 12 hour shifts since 9/11. We have not had a dinner together since he works the 5 pm to 6 am shift. Sometimes I wish we could just move away from the area. It was really tough for him because the PA police lost 37 of their officers, and my husband knew most of them, one was from the bridge and worked with him regularly.

Our family cruise in August was very special because that was the first time he had off at all since 9/11. We travelled with two other Port Authority families and we all had a blast!!! It was great to see them finally relax and enjoy life after such tragedy.

MJ

 

[disneygal58]

MJ - There are very few places better in the world or life to reconnect/spend "quality" time (without the usual distractions) with our family than Disney. The minute we board the ship or stroll under the bridge onto Main Street, we are transported; the daily stresses dissipate and all that becomes important is what we will be doing with the people that we love most in the world during the next few days.
I'm sure that you could write testimonials about how time enters warp speed when you are watching your children grow and evolve into amazing young adults.
I look forward to bumping into you and your crew.

Dawn Hope

 

[mmouse37]

Dawn...you hit the nail on the head. Disney has that wonderful power to let you forget about the real world for awhile. I also look forward to meeting up with you and rest of the DIS onboard!!


MJ

 

[sandygirl]

Woo Hoo!!! Finally figured out how to add the countdown.

 

[beautyandbeast]

Hi we also will be sailing 01/04/03. There are four of us. DH, myself, two teens 14 and 15. This is our third Disney cruise, but the first time we've used the Dis to find other cruisers. Do you all get together and meet?

Lynda

 

[disneygal58]

Hello Lynda,
Welcome and we look forward to meeting you and your family. My daughters, Meagan (19) and Erin (17) will be on board for our 4th cruise (first 7 night). We are staying at the Radisson Friday evening and there has been some earlier discussion about a meet there and I am certain that we can arrange something on board if your plans do not include the Radisson.
So, whomever would like to assign themselves as our own private "Dis Cruise Director" - we invite you to come forth with suggestions about a meet!!!!!

Counting the days,
Dawn