January 4, 2003!!!!

[Lisa F]

Wow... under 40 days. Only 6 more cruises before us. Only 3 more WESTERN cruises before us. It's getting close!

Lisa

 

[mmouse37]

Dawn...

I booked a separate cabin for my DD14 and my hubby. It didn't change our existing ressie...just added a new ressie with them. Obviously, once onboard I will put myDD14 with her sister and cousins (21) in the quad cabin and hubby and I will share the double cabin. I am so happy he is coming!!!

MJ

 

[cottoncandy]

HI MJ

My DD will be so thrilled to hear that there is another 14 year old girl to hang out with. So far there are Joanna'sgirls, but most of the others were older. Be forwarned, she will talk your ears off.

What have you done so far to get ready? (I mean with the holidays right smack dab in the middle and all). It is so stressful to try and do it all by yorself. I started packing for 2 out of the 6 of us, Have Christmas cards signed and ready to go out, 90% of shopping done, and 20% of wrapping done. The most stressful thing of all I think was shopping around for tuxes for my boys. My older boys are 6ft. 4 and 6ft. 2 and very thin and 10 year old is short and husky. I finally said let Disney deal with their sizes and am ordering them on board. That way that a lot less headaches I have packing them.

We also just took the kids to get their passports last week. They told us 4 to6 weeks. They were in the mailbox 3 days later. I hope everything else from here on out goes that smoothly.





I am getting so excited
Candy

 

[mmouse37]

Hi Candy....

well, I am lucky not be hosting Turkey Day!!!! We ususally have about 30 people to our house, but my sister offered to do it this year. I only have to bring a side dish.

I plan on taking down all the Christmas decorations out of the attic next week. I have hardly anything bought and nothing wrapped. My DD19 knows that this cruise is her main Christmas present and DD14 knows that as well. We just sailed this past august, but my DD19 wanted to sail one more time. The rates were good so we decided to sail again. They just want to get away and enjoy the sunshine. They both get very down during the winter months...what's that condition called, I know there is a name.

Still trying to get hubby on our same flights but not having luck. Him and DD can fly down on our same flight, but the return is booked. They probably will fly home earlier in the day and then come back to airport to pick the rest of us up.

No shore excursions planned, just taking it day by day. Docs came today!!!!

MJ

 

[disneygal58]

After a 10 hour day at work, I crawled into the house where the sight of that beautiful FED EX package immediately perked me up! We are all set for Category 9, cabin 2580!
Tomorrow I AM cooking, but for a much smaller crowd than usual.
The cruise is our major Christmas gift to one another - we will wrap up some token gifts (probably cruise related, sunscreen, extra bathing suits, books. Disney Dollars etc...) Decorations are still packed away and I do not have one one card addressed. Oh, well it all somehow gets done just when it is supposed to... this year we get a cruise at the end of it.....yeah!!!!
MJ - I'm so glad that you are able to bring along the rest of your family.
I wonder if many people are panicking and cancelling?
I think it is about time to watch the DCL promo video again.
Have a great day everyone,
Dawn Hope

 

[mmouse37]

Dawn......that's funny that you said we should watch the promo video again....THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID AT 7:30 AM THIS MORNING!!!

Got home from work at 11:30 pm last night and saw it on the table with the mail....had to get up and watch it!!!! Brings back such great memories.

I also have no cards addressed or filled out...have to get that done also....this month is going to fly by with the holidays and all!!!

The only member not sailing with us is our DS17. He is already taking a week off to go to WDW with his class for a project and can't afford to take more time off in January. He has been several times on DCL and it isn't bothering him too much that we will all be away.

MJ

 

[sandygirl]

I am so psyched!! No one was home at my house, so the Fed Ex guy delivered my docs to my office. I guess it does help to be employed by my local municipality. Just one of the little perks, even the Fed Ex guy knows where to find you.

See you all onboard!!!!!!

 

[mmouse37]

I feel just awful about the Magic cancelling for next week. All those cruises who now need to scramble to make alternate plans. I hope DCL does alright by them.

I also think it is a good idea to cancel. I just don't know where they are going to keep the crew for a week!! I know a few crew members who just got back from vacation this week. I doubt they would send them back home to Europe a week after they flew them here. Also, one of the threads said that the Magic will be cleaned at a different port. New York would be nice. I would love to drive the 25 minutes to the port and take a good look at her!!! I hightly doubt it though...

MJ

 

[CindyAnn]

I also feel really rotten about the November 30th cruise. I guess Disney made the best choice from their perspective, but there must be so many disappointed families out there. Let's hope all of them are able to rearrange something with such short notice.

We'll be on the January 4th sailing, too. We're heading for WDW on December 27th (driving for the first time) and doing the cruise afterwards. It's a 15th anniversary trip for us, and WE CAN HARDLY WAIT! (No documents yet, but we have our cabin assignment). The "we" is myself, DH, DS (9) and DD (6). I expect that both of the children will want to spend lots of time in the clubs, but after an action packed week at WDW the adults plan on doing very little.

We'll be sending out Christmas cards in January this year, and that's when the kids will be getting their photos done, too. Our first celebration of the season is over, so that only leaves Hankuah, Christmas, a dance recital, a piano recital, a whole bunch of parties, the first year end for my husband's new company and about a bezillion other things before we head off in 29 days.

Now that I see "29 days" in black and white, I think I'll start in on my packing lists ASAP, or we'll be known as "that naked family on the January 4th cruise".

 

[disneygal58]

Cindy Ann - Welcome to our little group. I, too feel terrible for the folks that have put so much time and effort into planning, counting down etc... only to have to scramble at the last minute to make alternate arrangements. Still, I must hold onto my belief that everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is never revealed to us.
Will you be staying at Disney property the evening prior to the cruise or joining a group of us at the Radisson?
I have been toying with the idea (for years, actually) of sending out Valentines instead of Christmas cards to everyone on my list. This may be the year to follow through.
I hope everyone had a festive Thanksgiving,
Dawn Hope

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello Fawn,
We have a wedding to get ready for young lady so when you can - drop me a note ok
Looking forward to meeting up with you and yours.
Hugssssssssss from a "cold" Florida Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Luv ya
Shirley

 

[CindyAnn]

Thanks for the welcome, Disneygal. I like the Valentine's day cards idea - or maybe Easter - or maybe the summer solstice - or maybe if I procrastinate long enough, I'll just send them all for next Christmas. We'll be heading straight over to the Magic from WDW on Saturday morning.

 

[mmouse37]

Just read on CNN.com that Disney is replacing mattresses and pillows on the ship!! I guess in 5 weeks we will be sleeping on new stuff!!!

Imagine....875 cabins X at least 2 beds in each cabin = 1750 mattresses plus the cabins that have three or four beds. If they replace all the mattessess that is some order!!!!

MJ

 

[sandygirl]

Personally I'm glad to hear DCL is replacing bedding and pillows. If they are going to cancel a cruise to clean house, they may as well do it right. Think of those passengers who were confined to their rooms while they were ill. I feel better knowing that they are willing to replace the bedding and pillows.

I feel so bad for the cruisers who were canceled. It sounds like some of them have been able to make other arrangements and are salvaging their vacation. I know there are some who will not be able to and I send them all my thoughts and prayers.

Jan 4th is coming and I can't wait.

 

[prymsu]

looks like my family is still planning on this cruise date. I am so fortunate to have a couple of good friends that will check on my folks every day. If my Mom holds her own and is doing as well as she is right now, we can go, but if something happens then i may have to cancel at the last minute.

how many folks are staying at the radisson the night before?

 

[mmouse37]

We are!!! We have a group of about 12 staying there on Friday night. Varying ages from 2 up to 45!!!!

I think we plan on doing Grills Restaurant for dinner that night.

MJ

 

[prymsu]

excellent! Will you all have your lime green ribbons on? That would really make it easy to pick one another out!

 

[disneygal58]

We'll be there, too - myself and two daughters, Erin (17) and Meagan (19). We're driving over from Clearwater and hope to check in by 6:00. If this weather continues we'll be in sweatshirts! Now, lime green isn't really my color, but I would be willing to don it for the sake of the group!

Dawn Hope

 

[prymsu]

well, we could always go with another color too. I am not too hip on lime green either!

Has it been cold in Florida? I am sure it will seem like a heat wave to my family...

We are flying in that day, so we should be getting there around six also. Was planning on going to Fawn's wedding, but i don't know if we will be able to make it there in time as i think the plan is for them to get married at sunset.

 

[Lisa F]

We will be at the Radisson the day before but not until LATE. It's a friday night and there is much partying at pleasure island to be done, hehe. But, the car has to go back at 10am the next day and we decided the drive to the port might be less painful if we did it the night before rather than having to get up and get packed at the crack of dawn (okay, so I exaggerate a little!)

I can't wait to go!

Lisa