January 4, 2003!!!!

[disneygal58]

It has been a bit chilly lately - this is my first Florida winter, so I was not expecting to turn the heat on in the morning to chase the chill away. Temps have been dipping into the 40s in the evening and then rising to high 60s/low 70s, so I really shouldn't complain - I spent many years digging out of the snow in Connecticut and Colorado.
Fawn - where are you? How are the wedding plans going?
Perhaps we can organize a meet down by the pool around 8 or so?
Less than 5 weeks to go,
Dawn Hope

 

[prymsu]

I think a meet at the pool would be a terrific idea. Hopefully the pool is heated so all the kids can enjoy a swim while the adults get a chance to meet and to visit.

 

[disneygal58]

If anyone is interested, I am spending the weekend of 12/ 14-16th at WDW (DD is flying into Orlando from Denver, thus providing an excuse to spend a few days within the Kingdom) - any requests for postcards, last minute gifts etc...? I'd be happy to try to accomodate.

Dawn Hope

 

[beautyandbeast]

Gosh I didn't think I'd ever find this place again!! Is there a way to mark the spot so that when I come to the DIS it brings me here? We (DH, myself, DD15, & DS14) are all getting very excited! The time is so short. We have not received our docs yet. We booked through DVC. I imagine they'll arrive any time now. Does anyone have any idea what the weather is like in GC or Coz this time of year? Is the ocean temp warm? We've never been out there during the winter months. I'm not sure what to pack. We are usually so hot there in Sept. that we don't need to pack much. Hope to meet you all on board. Anyone for the SW part of the US?

Lynda

 

[mmouse37]

Well, what started out as a mother daughter get-away has turned into quite a family event!!!!!

First, my DD and myself were to sail. Then we thought it would be nice to ask her two cousins who have been dying to try DCL.

Then I asked my friends to join us...Yeah!!! Other adults for me to hang out with!!!

Then a few weeks later my hubby decided he would like to join us....then my other DD says, well, I don't want to stay home with Brian...can't I come too!!! How could I say no!!!

Then my sister and her family thought if would be great to try DCL with the old pro (me) and decided to join us (6 of them).

Then yesterday my son (who did not want to go in the first place) says...well, if everyone is going I guess I would like to also (I think the thoughts of warm tropical breezes in light of the predictions of a long, cold, snowy winter got to him!). But of course, if he goes, he would like his friend to join us (will pay his own way, thankfully!!!). Well, I talked to the friends mom, got her OK, called DCL and was able to snag another cabin, and was able to get DH, DD, DS and friend on the same flights coming home!!!

What started out as 2 turned into 16!!! The more the merrier!!!! For our immediate party of 8 I rented two cars to get us from MCO to Radisson...still worked out cheaper than limo service!!!

Since this turned into a family event I told the kids this is their main Christmas present!!! Maybe a CD or two, but this is the big one!!

Maybe the dog will be asking to come along as well!!! LOL!!!!

Getting really pysched!!!

MJ

 

[Lisa F]

Wow, what a crew! You are going to have a fabulous time.

We still haven't gotten our docs yet, which is a little surprising considering how early we got our docs the last two times we cruised. Oh well, the anticipation is almost as much fun as the cruise! I can't wait!

Lisa

 

[beautyandbeast]

mmouse37
Is anyone in your group 15(dd) or 14(ds)? They usually make lots of friends on board but it would be nice for them to know others their age before hand.

Lynda

 

[prymsu]

my son is ten years old...

 

[Dani's mom]

Hello,

I'm a newby, both to the site and cruising. My family is booked on the Magic for the Jan 4 cruise. We are going courtesy of Make-A-Wish of Iowa. My daughter, Dani was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2001. She finished 13 months of intense chemotherapy and radiation, and is on maintenance therapy for the next 18 months.

This was her wish, and I still can't believe we are going in less than a month! My husband and son Scottie, 19 will be going too. I was surfing the web to find out more info and the stuff the brochure doesn't tell you - never dreamed I'd find this!

Anyway - I do have one question that maybe you can help me with. I'm a little hesitant to let Dani go off by herself but I am sure she won't want me around 24/7. Since my son is 19, will he be allowed to accompany her to any of the teen activities? I'm really hoping that they will each find some new friends quickly and hubby and I can enjoy some quality time.

Thank you.
Laura

 

[disneygal58]

Laura,
WELCOME! My daughters are 17 and 19, never spent much time in Common Grounds, but are experienced Disney Cruisers and would love to meet up with your group and "show them the ropes". You didn't mention how old your daughter is?
Several of us are spending Friday night prior at the Radisson and plan to meet by the pool around 8. If you are staying elsewhere, I'm sure that we can find a time and place to introduce ourselves.

MJ,
That's incredible! What a wonderful family you must have - I may be putting myself up for adoption.....

To Everyone Else,
I'm so excited and trying to stay in the moment and enjoy the holidays, when what I really want is to fast forward to 1/4 - then of course have time sloooooow way down!!!!

Dawn Hope

 

[sandygirl]

I know your family will enjoy the cruise. I'm sure you all could use a break from the everyday. The DCL is the place to be for that.

Ask all your questions here! I am a 3 time cruiser and am still learning things from the people on the boards. Everyone has been awfully nice.

Can't help you with the teenage thing, my daughter is only 5, and my boys are all grown up and on their own. Hope to meet up with you though and get to say hello on board.

 

[beautyandbeast]

Laura

How old is your daughter? If she's 13 or under she will have a ton of activities at Oceaneer's Club. My son was in there the past two cruises. He made lots of friends and they did alot of organized activities. We were kind of nervous at first to let him stay out alone. (although he wasn't actually alone, but without us) but they give you a pager and they won't hesitate to page you if need be. We never got paged!! If she's in common grounds (the teen room) again she is with a bunch of people and there are also lots of organized activities. (no pagers though). After the first days of her be out by her self you will probably feel alot better. Especially after she tells you how much fun she's having!! Hope this helps.

Lynda

 

[Dani's mom]

Duh - tell you how old everyone is but Dani! Actually - her 15th birthday is Jan 7 so it's a very special celebration for us. It's just incredible how everything worked out.

Since Make-A-Wish is setting everything up, I'm sort of clueless about most things. We are leaving Iowa Dec 30 and driving to Valdosta GA to visit my brother, his wife and their baby boy, who we haven't met yet. We will be driving down to Port Canaveral Sat morning.

You know, I don't even know what questions to ask, but I have already learned a great deal from this bb. This is gonna be great!

Laura

 

[prymsu]

Hi Laura, from one Iowan to another...If there is anything I can do to help your family get ready for your trip, please let me know. I am not sure where in Iowa you are located, but I am very close to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. My family will be flying out of the Moline airport on 1/3, since the airfare is so much cheaper.

Make a Wish Foundation is very active in this area! What a wonderful wish that you daughter has chosen, and something that will be very memorable for her as well as your whole family.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

 

[Lisa F]

Laura:

One of the great things about a Disney cruise is that you don't really NEED to plan very much. We went on our first totally clueless and had such a wonderful time, we booked another. After experiencing my first I know what everyone is talking about around here now but honestly, it's the type of vacation where you can just show up and have a perfectly wonderful time (unlike going to Disney World which does require some planning).

To mmouse37:

We STILL have not received our docs, AND last night made the decision to downgrade from a cat 10 to a cat 11 because of the incredible prices (our price dropped $810, I could not justify even the secret porthole room for that much money... that will buy our annual passes for us!) I am beginning to think at this rate I will NEVER get my docs (because of the change I made).

I suppose there are worse things in the world though!

Lisa

 

[mmouse37]

Lisa....give DCL a call, it is possible that the change is holding them up...how long ago did you change??? I would also drop to a Cat 11 for $810 savings!!! way to go!!!!

If you don't get them by mid-week, next week, give DCL a call and check to see if they were sent out. I would be jumping out of my skin....though it really is not that late when you think about it. A few cruises our docs literally came 2 weeks before...

Welcome to all the new additions to 1/4!!!! We should all have a great time.

MJ

 

[beautyandbeast]

Laura,

My daughter just turned 15 in October, so they will be in common grounds together! Thats great. If Dani wants too she can email Shaylee and they can get to know each other a bit before the cruise. She knows all the in's and out's of the ship. On our last cruise she and a couple of other kids got to sound the horn when we left St. Thomas! They rang it "5" times!!! Shay would love to hear from her! Our email address is lyndagonzales@msn.com.

Lynda

 

[Dani's mom]

Thanks everyone, for the warm welcome. If it's possible, I am even more excited than before!

I am a little unsure about the excursions. From what I've read, I think we can handle Key West on our own. I also don't know exactly what we're going to be up for, since Dani's endurance is not quite back to good yet. Is it going to be ok to decide what we want to do, and how to do it when we get onboard? I know hubby & son have their heart set on snorkeling somewhere. Any tips for me?

Thanks,
Laura

 

[prymsu]

you could go as a family to the seven mile beach in GC. Also, if your husband and son decide to go off on their own, a more active idea would be the stingrays in GC, or a dolphin encounter in Cozumel.

 

[bpitzer20]

Hello!
My dad, sister (21), and I (23) will all be on the January 4th cruise, and we can not wait! My sister and I went on a 3-day cruise a few years ago with our mom, but this will our dad's first Disney cruise- we are really excited! I hope you all have a really great time!
Thanks,
Becky