July 17, 2004 Magic (Western)

[rcdisneyfam]

Another past cruiser looking in on what we wish we were going on with you guys. I know Joanne and Roger are going before you guys, Caroline and Mike went in May and Beth and Tony just came back from the Western. We do 7 days in WDW and 3 days on the Wonder with our neighbors starting August 5 - 15th. Wish we could all sail again....Have a great cruise, and Enjoy!!! Miss you guys. By the way - Ross had a 3.8 first year of college!!!

 

[keenercam]

Hey, Roberta! How proud you must be of Ross! Hard to believe we were with you guys a year ago for his graduation party. We will miss you on this cruise. So glad you have your wonder cruise to look forward to.

For those on this thread who have never been on a DCL cruise, they will get the idea of how much fun it can be and what wonderful friendships can be formed with great DISers.

So, July 17 cruisers -- is anyone doing door signs? I picked up a couple of the disney mickey head paint chips -- 3 alien green and a couple black -- trying to decide whether I really want to put our kids' names on the door. Maybe if I do that I just won't put our last name or state --have to walk that line between friendliness and caution, right?

Tip for the day for those of you with verandahs -- you may want to bring a couple votive candles (in breeze-proof holders) to be used ONLY when you are sitting out there (or a can of air freshener)-- believe it or not, the smell of cigarette smoke can be very intense on the verandahs -- especially if you are not at the very front of the ship, it all blows back. I know it sounds far-fetched, but truly it is not.

 

[mousemom218]

I would like to do the door signs, but I'm afraid DD would be mortified and not come in! I think I'll pick some up and judge the reaction when the time comes. I agree with you on names. How do you affix them to the doors?

 

[Susan Prescott]

Hi, what I did for our 3 state rooms was the Home Depot Mickey paint samples. I cut out the heads, wrote first names only and laminated them. I used the magnetic tape to adhere them to the doors. I let everyone pick their color.

 

[keenercam]

I am going to buy some magnets with sticky stuff on the back. The doors are metal, if I remember correctly, and magnets worked great for our memo pad. An alternative is the blue stick-um.

 

[mousemom218]

Check out this link:
http://www.dcltribute.com/navigators/west_carib[/U]
It has all the navigators for a recent Western cruise. I am getting so excited I can hardly stand it!!!

 

[MaryPSU]

Hey guys - on door signs - we've decided to bring our PSU Nittany Lion paw refrigerator magnets. Won't be able to mistake our three staterooms! (Maybe I should also post green Mickey heads so our doors symbolize two of our greatest passions - PSU and DIS!)

Here is my tip for the day (Cam ... no fair! ... you used up two of mine when you posted THREE at a time yesterday!! Hmmm ... I may just run out before we cruise!!)

If you plan to bring bottled beer and wine on board to enjoy in your stateroom ... don't forget a bottle opener and/or a corkscrew! I hear that your stateroom host(ess) may be able to get you one, but we always pack our own so there is no waiting when we're ready for a beverage!!

 

[keenercam]

Sorry, Mary!

Wait til Howard hears you are bringing a Nittany Lions magnet --he has them on the van and I bet he will suddenly decide they need to be removed, washed, and packed.

LOL!! He just happened to call and I mentioned this and he said "We'll have to pack the ones from the van -- remind me to take them off and clean them and give them to you to pack"

Hard to be here at work when I'd rather be shopping and packing.

Here are two more items I thought of, but I won't call them "tips"--
FIRST -- If you are packing any magnets at all -- DO NOT put them anywhere near your credit cards, mac cards, KTTW cards, etc. -- anything with a black strip on the back WILL lose its ability to scan if it is near a magnet -- found this out the hard way a couple years ago .


Second -- Andy's ENT strongly recommended Afrin nasal spray for the day before flight, the day of flight, and the day after, to help with the pressure that comes from flying -- it can also help prevent fluid buildup that can lead to infection.

Well, I am going to take my own advice and re-visit what I am packing. I am so dismayed at how much weight I have gained since my heart surgery last year and accompanying thyroid issues -- I unboxed all my "fat clothes" that I hadn't given away when I lost four sizes and I have some beautiful evening wear there that I can re-cycle. So, I am going to use those items and return the new stuff -- my theory is that I am NOT going to wear this size much longer, so why keep the new stuff when I have beautiful items in this size already.

Does that make sense? TMI, I bet

 

[Susan Prescott]

Hi, Barb's castawayclub site has Western Navigators for the 6/19 western cruise. It talks about the free soda on board now. Cathie and I are really starting to get excited. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone. We had a little scare this week. My daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia on Sunday and my husband was rushed to the hospital Monday night with atrial fibrillation. Thankfully both are okay. We had a lot of prayers and they are both doing well. Hopefully no one else in anyone's family will get sick. We are so excited for this trip.

 

[MaryPSU]

Wow, Sue! I sure hope your DD and DH are feeling better.

Our thoughts are with them ... if there could be anything 'good' about their situation, it's that they became ill with some extra time to recover before the cruise!

Looking forward to meeting you all.

 

[cathie]

Hey Everybody! I keep reading posts about how bad the bugs are at Cozumel. My sister Sue is bringing a huge can of bug spray. Does anyone know just how bad they are & what kind of bugs they actually are.. (mosquitos?) It's getting close!!!! Cathie

 

[MaryPSU]

Cathie - I too have heard that the bugs are bad in Cozumel ... not sure about all the details but I think they are BIG mosquitoes, and they're not bad all the time but this time of year (or especially after it has rained) could be treacherous.

I plan to pack my Avon bug repellent product as well as some spray Off.

Here is my tip for the day - if you want to try to avoid the laundry rooms (which I do because there is too much else to do) - pack some Shout or OxyClean wipes. You can get them in small, individual packages at stores like WalMart ... and they're great for saving a white T-shirt or khaki shorts or whatever ... to perhaps wear a second time. My children are guaranteed to drip a Mickey Bar or Scoops chocolate ice cream right down the front of their shirt!!

 

[KeenHo]

Hi everyone, after being shut out for a few weeks, I am finally able to post. [note to admin: THANK YOU!!!!]

The daily tips are great, PSU magnets will be on our door, maybe Cam can find one for Lafayette College where she graduated from.

It is really great to see posts from Joanne and Roberta, former co-cruisers who we love and hope to share a cruise experience again with in the future.

I am really glad to see so many posts and I am looking forward to meeting everyone onboard at sail away and seeing everyone at dinners, on deck, on excursions all week. It is a great time.

Keep up the lively banter...THANKS!! LETS COUNT DOWN THE DAYS TOGETHER!!

My Tip: Head up to the pool (of your choice) early in the day on "at sea days" to reserve your deck chair. It is amaxing how many are taken when you arrive later (after breakfast, etc.)

All the best!

Howard

 

[MaryPSU]

Remember ... it all started with Howard!! I was wondering what happened to you - thought your words were coming to us through Cam. You started this thread way back when - and it's hard to believe that we're almost there!!!

It IS a small world ... Cam, I grew up in Allentown, PA ... near your alma mater!! My parents (who are going on the cruise) still live there. Right now, we live just across the PA/NJ border but are still just minutes from Lafayette!!

 

[Dis4kids]

Wow, what a great thread, very informative and entertaining.

We'll have DD's 9 and 5. Third Disney cruise. We kind of know what to do and expect but this thread is full of excellent tips.

Susan, hope your husband and daughter recover quickly and stay healthy. Our kids have a history of respiratory health issues, bad enough we don't even consider traveling in the winter/spring, because they're frequently sick. But the 9er just had some minor surgery last week, is vastly improved, and the 5er has a procedure on Tuesday. We'll be good to go by the 17th.

My wife's birthday is on the 18th. I've got plans, I can't say, she'll probably read this thread! She's worked so hard to put this all together.

I'll tell you, when I see the joy my girly girls get from the characters, the kids clubs, the food, the shows, that about does it for me.

 

[keenercam]

Hey, Sue: I just wanted to check in to see how your husband and daughter are feeling. Hopefully having the trip to look forward to will speed their recovery. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you all and sending good wishes.

Mary-- I can't believe you grew up in Allentown -- we are going there on Saturday for a drum & bugle corps competition at J. Birney Crum stadium. What a small world! Was very familiar with Phillipsburg in college, too. Loved my time at Lafayette -- we called it a greenhouse on the hill because it sat up on that hill, separated from the rest of the world. LOL.

Does anyone else want green ribbons? I found something pretty close to lime green (last time all I could find was emerald green). I will be making them up and mailing them out. If you want some so we can spot each other at the port and sailaway party, email me at keenercam@aol.com

Tip for the day -- your kids may enjoy having their own disposable cameras -- be sure to put the last name & cabin number on them in permanent marker (oh, yeah, you might want to pack a permanent marker ) and let the kids take them to the kids' club or the Stack or on their excursions. It is always fun to see the vacation from their point of view. Jenn loves getting double prints and sending them off to the new friends she has made.

 

[MaryPSU]

Dis4kids - glad you're part of the thread! Be sure to get some of those green ribbons from Cam so that we can introduce ourselves ... and so we can say 'happy birthday' to your wife!! We are traveling with three girls - 7, 8, and 11 - I'm sure they would love to meet your daughters. We wish them both the best with their recovery.

Cam - we've been to the drum and bugle corps competition - and used to watch the fireworks every year from that stadium until a couple years ago when they were moved. We now live about ten miles in from Phillipsburg ... on top of our little mountain ... but spend lots of time in A-town with my parents and many friends who are still there.

Small world!!

We would be thrilled if our children attended Lafayette (or ... you might not want to hear this ... Lehigh!) - but my son says "Princeton" and I say "Penn State"!!

 

[dznyacct]

Mary and Cam ~ Are you guys referring to a Lafayette in PA? I live in Lafayette, IN... too weird, huh?! It's kind of like that seven ways to Kevin Bacon thing, somehow we're all connected! I still can't believe how close we all are to sailing. I just did cards and gifts for all the family and friends that have birthdays and anniversaries in July last night. We have 8, so I wanted to be able to check something else off my to-do list.

One tip (I'm not sure if it's been mentioned), make sure you put your camera(s) and all film in your carry on bag. I think it's pretty much a guarantee that any put in your checked luggage will be ruined. Another tip, I found a travel lint brush to take along.

 

[Susan Prescott]

Keenercam, thanks for your concern about Mark and Sarah. They are both doing much better. Mark has to take Coumadin for a short while and get his levels monitored regularly and Sarah goes on Tuesday for a chest x-ray to see if the pneumonia is gone. I'm just so thankful this didn't happen while we were on the cruise.

Cathie and I are getting so excited. It's hard to believe it's just about two weeks away. I've convinced Cathie that she has to go to High Tea with me on Monday. No one else in the family will drink tea and has no interest in going. Does anyone else plan on making reservations for High Tea on Monday?

 

[NeedsNEscape]

Hi Folks,

I just love seeing that countdown getting shorter and shorter. Is anyone else having trouble concentrating at work? I work for NASA and I am supporting a satellite launch on July 10 (AURA). Wish us luck! Lots of anticipation and worry. The fires in Alaska may make us postpone. (Cross your fingers!)

I am still in the organization stage and I was trying to get my tip money organized into envelopes. I don't know what I was thinking but it didn't dawn on me until I was doing it that the tips are per person. Well, of course, that does make sense when you divide it by the number of days, but it was a big surprise that it amounts to more than $300 in tips per family of 4. I wish they would include this in the cruise bill. I figure I will need to set aside about $400.00.

SO I was doing the math and if the room steward is responsible for 15 rooms and can expect $100 per room --- $1500/week. If they get minimum wage, overtime and room and board, that is not a bad weekly salary. I might want to switch jobs after the cruise!

Unless, I have totally mis-understood the tipping situation. Is so, please advise this newbie to cruising!

Jeanne