July 17, 2004 Magic (Western)

[MaryPSU]

I can't believe that exactly two weeks from right now, we will be on our way to the airport. Woo hoo!! And some of you are lucky to be traveling even sooner - wow! I agree that it is hard to concentrate on anything else - especially WORK - and my work is a lot less interesting than working on a NASA launch ... how cool is THAT?? I can't wait to hear more!

Jeanne, I can't help much with calculating how much money the room stewards make ... I know there have been threads about that subject. I have witnessed, however, how hard these people work (seems like around the clock) and the overwhelming majority of them are absolutely fabulous.

I know some people really like to set aside cash for tipping the folks who attend to us in the dining rooms and staterooms ... but we've found it more convenient to charge these tips. Through guest services, you can let them know how much you want to tip each person (based on Disney's recommended amount). Then they will put the tipping amounts on your credit card (along with everything else you're spending via the KTTW card) - and will print you little slips to put in the tipping envelopes that they provide you toward the end of the cruise. These slips note the tip that you have agreed to give each person, and you have the opportunity to hand the envelopes/slips directly to your servers/steward on the final evening and/or morning.

One caution: guest services gets pretty crowded toward the final day of the cruise. We always know how pleased we're going to be with these folks pretty early on in the cruise. So we take care of getting the tipping slips as soon as we can ... to avoid waiting in line and facing additional stress during those final hours of fun!!

(I know the cash vs. credit card topic is an individual decision, so I don't want to push that. For us, the credit card works well because we have one that gives us airline miles based on how much we spend ... so putting EVERYTHING we buy on the credit card gets us that much closer to another Disney experience!! We just always pay it off each month to avoid interest charges.)

 

[mousemom218]

You're right, Jeanne, there's real sticker shock involved in the tipping situation! The staff there works very hard with very little free time, so they deserve whatever they get!

You can add your tips to your onboard account. You have to visit Guest Relations (?) on 3, and they will credit the people you request. They will give you an envelope to give them just as if there was real money inside, so it isn't completely cold! But if you have the discipline to put the cash aside beforehand, then you go girl! Sadly, I lack this discipline.

Yes, I am having a terrible time concentrating at work also. Thank goodness no space activity depends on me, as I am hyper!

Two weeks from tomorrow! What a blast

 

[cathie]

Good Morning Everybody! The Western Magic that leaves from Port Canaveral will be the last Western before ours.... 14 days to go! We're heading to the beach today (York Beach, Maine about 35 miles away) to catch some rays & surf. Have a great 4th everybody! Cathie , Sue & The Gang

 

[NeedsNEscape]

York Beach, Maine: I love that place. That is why we decided to get a dog! So many folks up there have one and take them everywhere. The kids loved playing with them. So we came back and got a dog! We like to stay at the Stage Neck Inn. It was wonderful. Have fun!

I confess that after I realized that I wasn't putting aside $25 for the room steward and instead had to put $100 for the room steward, I suddenly realized why everyone was charging the tips!

Catch you later,
Jeanne

 

[KeenHo]

Thanks for the notes everyone! I am back!!!

We will all soon be doing the happy dance on the gang plank (ramp thingy).

The days are growing short, the excitement is high around here. Packing and organizing are not far away. I still need to go through my stuff to see what I am taking and not taking. I might have to make one or two last minute purchases, I should be ready in plenty of time.

HAPPY 4th of July everyone!!!! Have a safe celebration!!!



Howard

 

[dznyacct]

I'd like to echo Howard and wish all my fellow 7/17/04 western cruisers and their families a safe and happy 4th of July! Just think, 2 weeks from tonight we'll be spending our first night on the Magic!! Better get packing!!

 

[MaryPSU]

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a good July 4th ... we spent the weekend with my brothers and their families in the Philadelphia area. I'm thrilled to have a 'free' day today to get out my packing list and get myself organized.

Here is a tip for today ... pack an extension cord. There aren't many outlets in the staterooms, and they're not strategically placed. If you think you'll need to plug in things like a laptop, battery charger (camera, cell phone, shaver, walkie talkies, etc.), personal hairdryer, curling iron, etc. - an extension cord can be useful!

The countdown continues - yippee!!

 

[sullync98]

Hi all - The Sullivan's checking in again (14 of us from NC,NJ, and Fl). Can't believe its less than 2 weeks away - this trip has been planned for years.

I have a really stupid question - especially for a vacation. If you bring your own PC - can you connect to the ships internet (I was going to pay the internet cafe fee - but need to look at certain things on my own pc)? I have seen some posts on bringing a PC and was just wondering.

FYI - I am a Bucknell grad and my wife went to Lafayette - I have seen a bunch of Pa schools listed.

Look for us in our t-shirts. We are also celebrating the 40th wedding anniversary of our parents and having them re-new their wedding vows! (its a surprise right now - we are going to tell them on board)

So, we are ready to party!!! The adults will also be :

 

[keenercam]

Hi, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend! My firm was closed today, and normally I would have gone in, but decided not to. Did lots of errands, including a really FUN one -- bought Andy a drumset for his birthday and we will give it to him at his party this Saturday. He is going to be sooo excited!!!!

Spent Saturday night at a drum & bugle corps competition in Allentown -- awesome show! Yesterday we dropped Andy off at boy scout camp and spent the rest of the day at our friends' house, swimming and watching their (non-disney) cruise videos. Today, I got everyone's lime green ribbons tied and into stamped, addressed envelopes. I think there were about 38 requested. I still have ribbon and pins, so if you want me to send you some, drop a note. I am hoping that the teens who have been writing to each other will tie the ribbons on their backpacks or walkman's or something, so they can look for each other.

Sully, how amazing that your wife went to Lafayette! What year? I am an '85 grad. What a small world, huh?

On the question about the laptop. I think the internet access is the same price regardless of whether you bring your own laptop. And, since there is a phone in your room, it may be possible to dial out, but that seems less likely to me. You should definitely call DCL to find out. Let us all know what you find out! It can be your tip for all us all tomorrow.

My tip for the day: We have all heard that you should pack your swimsuit in your carryon in case your luggage doesn't arrive quickly and you want to swim. You may also want to pack your casual Saturday night dinner clothes in your carryon, especially if you have early seating. Even if your bags do arrive in plenty of time, you may not have time to unpack or to iron.

Sully -- how wonderful of you to surprise your parents with a vow renewal -- they only do 2 per sailing, so you are very fortunate to have booked it. When I tried to book it, the two spots on our sailing were already taken. After seeing the food network special on Disney weddings, however, I think we may aspire to that. Probably for our 25th!!! Hard to believe we are celebrating 20 years this December!

Well, all, have a good night. I only have 6 more work days, since I am taking off Weds. 7/14 and we are flying to Orlando Thursday 7/15!

 

[sullync98]

Looks like someone had my same question on the PCs: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=600531

Well, I can tell my boss i tried!!

 

[MaryPSU]

Hi Sully and all! Sounds like you 14 are going to party!!! I want to see you doing some karaoke or John Travolta impersonations just like this:

I just ran into my friend whose family we're cruising with (she works in my building ... but in a totally different area so we see each other outside of work much more than inside). We're just bouncing off the walls with excitement.

Here is my tip for the day ... won't apply to everyone but will for anybody who is like me and ALWAYS cold: bring a sweatshirt and/or sweater. While the islands will probably be 90+ degrees, I'm always cool in the ship restaurants (therefore have planned a sweater to go with some of my dining outfits) and FREEZING in the movie theater. I've even heard that some people have left their movies right in the middle because they were too cold.

I'll be packing a sweatshirt for my DS, and a couple sweaters for DD since she is like me and might be cold at dinner.

Yee-haw ... can't wait ... just need to get through one more week!

Mary

 

[Susan Prescott]

Hi Everyone, I can't believe how fast the time is going by. Cathie showed the rest of our family the footage from our prior Disney Cruise this weekend and it really has everyone excited. There's a Hard Rock Cafe in Key West and everyone wants to go there for lunch. It is said that it is haunted by the ghost of the former owner of the house. My tip for today is to bring a mini sewing kit. Cathie bought a sundress at Ron Jon's the last time we cruised and needed to alter the straps. Thankfully, she always travels with her mini sewing kit. Have a great day everyone!

 

[keenercam]

Hey, Susan, hate to ride your coattails, but be sure the sewing kit includes plenty of safety pins! Sometimes there is no time to sew a hem back up or to alter those straps -- safety pins are wonderful! Some people say to use them for the curtains on your verandah to keep out the morning sun, but clothespins work really well for that! Remember, you want 2 clothespins per person to hang wet bathing suits in the shower on the clothesline and you want another 2 or 3 if you have curtains to the verandah -- I am drawing a blank on whether there are curtains on the huge windows that you would want to close.

BTW, Jeanne & Cathy -- I think Ian and Travis and Jenn have been emailing, along with your friend's DD14, Jeanne -- isn't that great? At least they can all look for friendly faces at the port! Be sure they wear their green ribbons on their backpacks or walkmans or something so they can spot each other (then I am sure they will be very eager to take off the ribbbons )

Hey, even without my countdown clock, I know that my flight is exactly 8 days and 19 minutes away!!! Only 4 more full days of work!!

And Jenn gets her driver's permit today and Andy comes home in 2 days and we get to surprise him with his drumset in 3 days! -- how much more excitement can we all stand?

 

[keenercam]

packing?

 

[Corl4]

Hi Cam and Howard!

I'm having cruise withdrawl so I got on the boards to check out your thread. We were on the June 19th Western and had a wonderful time! The Hardens (remember them?) were on the cruise too and we had a great time with young Wes....he was in the John Travolta contest...didn't win but had lots of fun! On 80's night, Lyns and I ended up in the battle of the bands as 2 of the Go-Gos (we won, of course) and Tony was one of the Village People on 70's night. Had lots of fun with Lyns since she's 18 and could go in the adult clubs.

A few suggestions for all you cruisers: Most places in the ship, Rockin'Bar D, dining rooms, bars , Walt Disney Theater were all very warm! The only place I needed a sweater was in the movie theater!

Anyone doing the jeep tour in Cozumel....bring lots of bug spray! Because of all the recent rain in the Yucatan, mosquitos were terrible. Lyns had at least 25 welts on her arms and legs...they even bit through her shirt! By the time the tour guides realized how bad the mosquitos were, it was too late for their bug spray!

If any of you run into Jevaan (head server) or Jean (waiter in Palo) tell him the Corls from PA said "Hi"!

Have a great trip.....I'll be thinking of you!

Beth

 

[MaryPSU]

I'm here ... tried to post earlier but things were too slow. Wasn't sure if it was the server or my DSL connection but I think it's better now.

Sue, thanks for the reminder about the sewing kit. I bought a new one for this trip ... but now have to remember where I put it! With my guys wearing dress shirts on some nights, it's inevitable that we'll have to sew on a button or something...

Here is a tip for today ... aren't you all going to be glad when the criuse comes so that you don't have to put up with all my silly tips?? Don't worry - I'm almost out of ideas. But this is for all of you who like to read as much as I do ... I rarely go to sleep without reading a few pages (until I do head bobs), and I also like to read when I wake up in the morning if I have time. The staterooms are very dark, and so that I don't turn on a light and disturb the rest of my sleeping family, I pack a small book light.

Getting closer and closer - very excited!! Cam, you sure have a lot of fun things going on to help pass the time. I'm heading to New York City with some girlfriends this weekend, so that will keep my mind off of "I can't wait to cruise" mode for a little while!!

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Beth!!
I am so glad you had such a great time! Young Wes was such a blast on our trip, I am sure time has only improved his capacity for fun!
How great that Lyns could go to the clubs with you -- sounds like you guys had such a great time! She sure has grown up quickly!

I know I am really going to miss our evenings at Offbeat with dueling pianos.

And I know what you mean -- I am already worrying about cruise withdrawal and we haven't even left yet!!! How pathetic!

Thanks for letting us know it is warm on the ship -- I guess too many people complained about the air conditioning and now it is at the other extreme

I am definitey going to bring deep woods off w/25% DEET instead of skin so soft or skintastic or anything like that for Cozumel -- especially important walking to and from Carlos & Charlie's late at night Thanks for the warning!

We will miss you all very much and are sooo thrilled that you had a great time! Love to Tony and Lyndsay and Logan, too!

 

[keenercam]

Mary -- we were posting at the same time. I have also found the boards to be soo slow today.

What an AWESOME tip of the day!!! I had NOT thought of that and I am a voracious reader. I just added it to my list -- now I have to find mine and be sure to bring extra batteries for it!

Don't stop posting those great tips!

 

[cathie]

Hey Everybody! 10 Days to go until cruise day.....we leave for Florida a week from tomorrow! We'll be spending the night before @ Ron Jon's. My son Travis was playing the cruise music CD he made while I was in the pool this afternoon. For a minute there I thought I was seeing the Mickey smokestacks & sitting by the Goofy pool! Mary, great tip, I always bring a flashlight for reading before bed when we travel ( everybody picks on me ) I usually end up falling asleep & wearing down the batteries. Oh well it works..I always bring extra batteries! I have another tip...if you like chewing gum ( I'm definitely a gum addict ..Trident White is the best!) bring some along, as with WDW they don't sell gum on board. Well I think it's time to do some more packing...TTFN Cathie

 

[NeedsNEscape]

Hi folks!

It was nice to have that holiday right before the trip but I'm still swamped at work!! Gosh, I'll be tired before I get there. You will be able to find me easily on the Magic, I'll be the one sleeping on a deck chair!

I hope to start packing on Sunday, because we leave next Wednesday. We decided to drive down and come back from the cruise via some Atlantic coast beaches. I'm still on the lookout for the ribbons, Cam! Yes, Jenn did a nice job writing to Ian. Please encourage her to continue. My D-psuedoD14 is very excited to here from someone she will be traveling with and might share her interest is shopping and movies.

Our group of travelers got together last weekend to make magnetic door signs! What fun that was... Maybe some of you will see our crazy, Mickey ear magnets with famous movie quotes!! (We wanted to do something a little different.)

Anyway, I have been on the transportation board trying to get a leg up on driving to Florida. We haven't done so in a long while (frankly it is probably cheaper to fly) and I was hoping that some nice hotel with a big pool had opened somewhere conveniently off of 95. No one on that board had any suggestions. We are looking forward to some big down time and driving seemed to be the perfect solution.

See you all later,
Jeanne