July 2, 2005 - WE ARE THERE!!!

[jgiants21]

Page two again????? - Family has decided to drive down Friday night. We will stop close to Bakersfield to break up the drive. The planning continues.

 

[tchrmom]

We got a letter from DCL this week, suggesting that we get passports. Anyone else get this? So......DH (XLT800) and I had pictures taken today at Wal-Mart. We had already planned on getting passports for this cruise, this was just a gentle reminder.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

YIIIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!
No school tomorrow!

Fran

 

[XLT800]

Just wanted to get us back to page 1. Can't complain since I have not been doing my share.

Still have no decisions on excursions. I know we want to swing through the trees though. Just need to decide if we go on our own or through Disney.

Dave

 

[wdw1014]

I did get the letter about passports. My DH and I have them, but I think I will just take birth certificates and drivers license for my two DS ages 17 and 22. It did say at the bottom of the paper that these could be used if you did not have a passport. Does anyone know the advantages of having a passport or disadvantages of not having a passport?
Thanks, Angie

 

[jgiants21]

Did not get the letter. My wife and I both have passports, my wife is considering them for the children. Would also like to know pros & cons.

 

[AnnaS]

Hello everyone - I also read on another thread people are receiving letters from DCL regarding passports. We have not received anything yet. I did pay off my balance and received the updated confirmation letter - what a relief. We (dh and I) have always used our "naturlization papers" DL and birth certificates for the kids. I pick up the passport applications every so often at the post office (I have some now) and we never go through with it. I think after listening to their rules on who has to be present and the time allowed that they do this discourages me and always say maybe next time.

We have not discussed recently anything on excursions either. I wonder how physically fit you need to be for zipping through the forest. I know my sons would love to do the horsebackriding (I would not mind myself), the swimming with the Dolphins (I don't swim well or in 15 ft. of water), snorkeling, atvs, - of course, we prefer to do something together and that we can all agree on.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Do you think they want us to get passports for the kids also? That would be almost $300 for my for kids and 2 of them are babies. Maybe I'll give them a call. Amy (no sunny happy face today as we haven't seen the sun in days!!)

 

[AnnaS]

You guys out there are getting a lot of rain. Are you anywhere near the vicinity of where the last mudslide was?

 

[wdw1014]

I was told by DVC that we would need passports to cruise this time. (we made our reservations through them with points) So, Dh and I got passports and with photo's and everything spent around $200.00. But just before I was going to get them for my ds age 17 and 22 someone told me that they were never needed for a disney cruise. I called the cruise line and was told that a passport is not needed. I sure wish I had made that call before I spent the first $200.00. Oh, well they are good for 10 years, but I dought that we will ever use them again. Happy to report that we have seen the sun for two days straight. Here's hoping you get to see it too, Amy!
Angie
p.s. just remember it may be sunny here, but it's only 27degrees.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

You guys out there are getting a lot of rain. Are you anywhere near the vicinity of where the last mudslide was?

No we live about 2 miles from the beach so no mudslides here. If you happened to see the funnel clouds on the news off the coast...that's where we live. Amy (hoping to dry out today)

 

[AnnaS]

Updating - re: passports

My son just received a letter today from DCL. A very nice letter and inside it is recommended/suggested that a passport would help and it is good for 10 yrs, etc. If you don't have one, it goes on to say what you need. They also supply an application. I wonder now if we are all going to get an envelope/application. I am going to encourage him to do this. He can go on his own to have his picture taken and go to the post office. But laziness might win out.

 

[wdw1014]

I found us on the second page. Just thought I would give us a little boost back to the first page. It is sunny and a little warmer here today (40 degrees) and all I can think about is my first trip to DL and my third DC. Have a good weekend everyone.
Angie

 

[jgiants21]

Has anyone heard when Space Mountain will re-open? I hope it is before our cruies.

 

[mokehil]

Since Christmas Day (A generous gift from my folks) I have been thinking about our first cruise. I have learned so much from reading these boards. I just wanted to let you know that we will be on the Magic 7/02/2005.
I am expecting that my kids DS5, DD7, DD12, DD14) will find friends to pal around with. Of course the 12 and 14 will be in different groups and I am one of those mom who believes in hanging in packs for safety (I would have liked them to be together). Please reassure me that they will be successful in meeting "nice" kids so I can allow them to do their own thing. They are very trust worthy and responsible, but the thought of returning to Deck 2 alone at night is still making me nervous!
Looking forward to all the great things that will happen. Hoping for fireworks on the 4th of July!!!

 

[AnnaS]

Mokehill - Wow another cruiser found us. First I would like to say welcome to the disboard, I see this is your first post. How did you find us?
A very nice, generous gift if I may say so.

This will be our third cruise and I can say your children will be fine. We have never had any problems and have not read or heard of any problems. Sometimes you hear about rowdy teenagers in the hallways late at night, running, hanging out or using the elevators. We really have not experienced that. My youngest - daughter is 12 - first cruise my daughter and Wendy's daughter (AOPI57 cruised and will cruise again together) were in the club quiet a bit, second cruise not too much. Will see about this one.

We need more details - where are you from? CA? Are you driving? Flying? Staying in DL before or after? Read on and ask away. We need to be on page 1.

 

[mokehil]

We live in the Northern California foothills. We are flying and we have transfers too. After all I reads on these boards, I want to board the ship early, but not sure how often the tranfers will leave LAX. I am looking at a flight that gets in at 10 am ish but that means we leave home for the Sacramento airport around 5. Figured that would be fine because I'm not going to sleep that night anyway!! The next flight gets in about noon . I am back and forth on the Palo ressies and the spa. One day gotta have them the next I am thinking they are not neccessary.

I looked into DL for the two days before but at $1600 we just can't afford it. Beside we were there last year on Leap Day for my son's "FIRST" birthday.

My little guy is celebrating his birthday for three days this year- in an effort to make up for the lack of one. It's so stange: on the 28th his birthday is tommorrow and on March 1 it is yesterday. Firend's party Sunday, Monday birthday with family and Tuesday his preschool party. A lucky unlucky kid. His birthday is not as bad as my daughter's whose is three days after Christmas. June is the best for birthdays and weddiings.

I will make sure to post more questions to try to keep us on page one. Thank you for the welcome.

 

[XLT800]

Welcome Mokehil....Your kids will have no problem finding good friends. We have dd (10) and DS (13). They have always found someone to hang out with. We set the rules and remind the kids about all the hidden security cameras and that Disney will see everything they do. They are good kids and they have made good choices about who to hang out with and we have always met the parents of the other kids.

Mokehil....IMHO...PALO is a MUST!!!!

Sent away for my passport.....DW is sending hers off next week. Have a great weekend.

Dave

 

[MinnieMart]

the kids will be fine. wait till you see. there is a 411 mtg in the teen area for your 14yr old. make sure she attends. you make palo resseis the day you booard. and if something comes up you can be put on a wait list. the food is unbelievable , the service is unbeliveable, this will be our 3rd cruise. the shows are great, the staff of room stewarts, servers, are unbelievable. it will be such a great vacation for everyone. the deck party starts it off. get a drink that they will serve at the stations. and wait till you hear the horn!!! talk soon lisa!

 

[tchrmom]

Hello, Mokehil!

I must agree.........(especially with XLT....since he is my DH )

Palo IS A MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You must do the dinner AND the brunch, but not on the same day. And.........for dinner, and this sounds odd, but order at least 1 of their pizzas!
You will thank us later.

Hope everyone has a good week!

I'm going to drop off my passport stuff tomorrow.
Fran

 

[jgiants21]

Welcome Mokehil..... Your children will have a great time. Glad to have you on board. Jim (We made 200 - Yea)