July 2, 2005 - WE ARE THERE!!!

[tchrmom]

Well, XLT and I got our passports.......and

WE PAID OFF THE CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That means we're going!!!!!!!


Fran

 

[AnnaS]

Found us on bottom of page 2. Bumping

Okay guys, behave. I will be back on-line next Thursday eve. or Friday. Leaving very early am for Jupiter and then a few days at WDW. Be good.

Happy Easter everyone.

 

[MinnieMart]

my neighbor has girl scout cookies. they do direct sales. and they bought cases to sell at a later date in april. i don't know how to get them to you. ? ! happy easter everyone! lisa

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Yeah!! The check went out in the mail today. That was a SCARY amount. I've never spent so much on a vacation but I'm sure it will be worth every penny!! Magic here we come. Amy

 

[mokehil]

I just send an email to Randi to see if she has room for us. Hope you don't mind that I am following you on an that day trip. This just sounds so much better than all the other choices.

Can anyone tell me how the excusions work? How to I make sure I am off the ship in time to make the pick up? When she contacted you did she give you those details?

We are just days from the 90 day mark. Would you be so kind to remind me what trips everyone is planning? I read on other threads that many excusions sold out.

I REALLY want to do the Los Veranos Canopy tour but nervous about planning all my own transportation. Anyone want to do that one together? Their age limit is 6 and that would allow all in my family to all go. (Although I would be cheating and saying my 5.5 DS would be six.) He is tall and I know he would LOVE IT after the first step!!

Moving us back to page one! Happy April Fools Day!

Darcy

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

We did Randy's Horses a few years ago and it is a nice day. I hope she has room for everyone. Like I said before, I'm just along for the ride with the 2 of our 2 youngest. The rest of our group is signed up to ride. It's easy to "find " Randy as she waits for you after you take the tram from the ship to where they drop you off. It is an industrial port so I guess they don't want us wandering around so they load everyone up on trams at the ship regardless of whether you are on a tour or not. Randy will be there waiting with her pink sign and shirt when you get off the tram.
I think we changed our mind about our Puerta Vallarta tour. We were going to do the Las Castillos tour (did it a few years ago) but my DSIL didn't want to shell out $75 pp for her family to go and the it would have been a long day for the babies so I think we are going to do the Paradise Village Hotel. Less expensive and shorter trip. Anyone ever been to this Hotel?? It look nice on there website. Pools, waterslides, etc... Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Amy

 

[mokehil]

I contacted Los Veranos and they said they would consider my son to do the tour based on size. Jim, are you still waiting to do that tour? I have also a DD12 and maybe they would have fun together. Should we try to make reservations for the same time? I was thinking of the 10:00 am due to finding own transportation and the 2 hour time difference from our west coast time. I am waiting to hear back from them to determine if they will take my reservation now or if I must wait like it says on the webpage.

Randi confirmed us for 6 horses. She said there was a 12 and 15 year old on the tour, it that any of you? I have DD12 and DD14 DD7 and DS5.

Still not sure what to do in Cabo. Anyone else make that decision? It is 90 days today so I guess that if I choose a Disney tour I can make the ressies tomorrow when TA gets to work.

Darcy

 

[jgiants21]

Hi Darcy, Yes we will be with you on Randi's. The 12DS and 15DD are mine. Randi may also make reservations for them to ride a bananna boat when we are spending time on the beach at Victors. It is great that you will be with us. As you have read, Amy also has a group sign up with Randi's that day.

I tried to make reservations to Los Veranos, but they would not accept them until one month out. If you have better luck, please let me know. Thanks for the invite, it would be great to do this adventure with another famiily. We were considering the 11:00 time slot; however 10:00 would work for us. I will try to obtain reservations for the 10 slot.

As for cabo, no plans as of yet. We may just make a decision that day. Some ideas inlcude, shopping, spending time at a pool at a near by hotel, and renting a water taxi for a tour of the coast line. My 15DD wants to try para sailing, not sure about that yet. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great week all! Jim

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Boy, we're are all slacking here!! Has anyone else made their shore excursion reservations with DCL? We are only doing 1 ship sponsored tour and I reserved it today for our family. It was the Paradise Beach Break in PV. Nothing looks too interesting for Cabo. Last time we just walked around and we went whale watching but it is the wrong time of year for that this time. We have an off-road car so paying major $$ to do it there wouldn't be very fun. Anyone have any ideas or know of maybe hotels with nice pool areas that take cruise passengers for day use??? Talk to you all later!! Amy

 

[tchrmom]

Oh my gosh!!!!!!

The 90 day mark sneaked up on me! We've been SO busy! (Anyone want the exterior of their house painted? XLT is a PRO now!)

We're thinking of doing a canopy tour thing too...........Just not sure about doing it on our own, or through Disney. The ONLY thing that makes me even consider doing it through Disney, is the "departure" times. So far, I don't feel real certain about an exact time that we will leave each port. However, Disney is usually a little more $.

In Mazatlan, XLT and I discussed the Tequila, Saddles and Huaraches tour. DD9 said "Sounds like a lot of walking".

Cabo really has nothing so far that grabs me.

OK................I need someone to talk to me about excursions. Whos ready to discuss?
Fran

 

[mokehil]

PV: tchrmom, you should join us! We are doing the Los Veranos Canopy tour because of the age limit. I will be able to have everyone participate, even the 5+ (I hope). I can't make those reservations until 30 days out and we will sign up at 10 or 11. Jim we are flexible on time too. Maybe your 11 would be better so the kids can sleep, eat and still not have the 2 hour time change bugging them. It is cheaper than Disney and it does not look too hard to catch a bus or taxi to the pick up point. Maybe if we have a large enough group thay will pick us up at the port.

M: I have signed up with Randi's Happy Horses. I read about her on the CruiseCritics Board and there were rave reviews.

C: I am in the same position as everyone else. My TA said it's tenders and it is easy to just find a glass bottom boat tour or something on shore. Still looking into a hotel pool and or wandering around and shopping. We are skipping snorkling because ds has ear tubes and it would be a drag if they got infected. I'd love to do kayaking but my fair skin will not do well in the hot sun on the ocean. I am now wondering how crowded the ship will remain in Cabo, since I have read that many are not finding anything too interesting in Cabo.

We got our passports last week. I am much more comfortable travelling with them rather than birth certificates. Did I read somewhere that Disney keeps them? If so, I think I will bring BC to give to them and I will keep the passports with me while in the ports.

I am eager to hear back from the May 28th group to hear more details.



Darcy

 

[tchrmom]

Mokehil...............

Maybe I missed it, because I'm too lazy to go back and search for it......but do you have the website address for the canopy tour? I KNOW that is the one thing we WANT to do.

BEAUTIFUL day here in Tampa. I hope everyone else is have a great weekend too!
Fran

 

[jgiants21]

90 DAYS ------------- All right..........

Fran, Here is the link to the canopy tour Darci's Family and mine our considering. They don't make reservations until one month out.
http://www.canopytours-vallarta.com

Darci, 11:00 sound fine with us, we should have plenty of time to return to the ship. Let me know if you find a good day hotel for Cabo - price being reasonble.

Little League has started, and DD is playing high school softball. Very little time as of now. Have a great weekend everyone

Jim

 

[mokehil]

I will book the 11:00 . I am waiting for June 2. I am definently interested in the canopy tour. DH and I were high ropes course leaders in our before kids life. It will be such a thrill to do such long lines. We did a leadership training course for inner city at risk youth.

We have teeball and U12 softball too. Just home from softball game.

Darcy

 

[tchrmom]

OK..............Thanks for the website. Looks good to me!

Anyone have any thoughts on Cabo? Personally, Id just like to go and see THE Cabo Wabo Cantina....but I'm not sure that would be the best family type of excursion. ( see www.cabowabo.com)
Fran

 

[jgiants21]

I will also try to book the 11:00. This will be the first time adventure for me. DD has done the ropes at camp. I sure you can help me along. DW will ride to the sight with us, but I am not sure if she wants to swing in the trees!

Darci, we also live in N Cal, what city are you in?

Jim

 

[mokehil]

We live in Mokelumne Hill.
(Hwy 49 just south of Jackson. We are about 1 hour east of Stockton and 1 hour south-east of Sacramento.)

Agreed! 11:00 it is. The ziplines are the one thing I am most looking forward to. I just talked to a friend who went. She suggested to bring a camera (disposable at the very least) and to buy the video, even it it is $45. She went with her 7 year old and had a great time. They did the other one.

Better get off the computer and give my homeschooler her assignments for the day!!

Darcy

 

[XLT800]

Ok.....The house is painted, the pool deck is painted, the pool is open ready to swim and all the landscaping is done. All I have to do for the summer is mow the yard......and put down the 3 pallets of tile that we are having delivered next week, at least I can do that in the air conditioning.

The canapy tour looks awsome. We have to also start thinking about PS reservations for DL. 60 days will be here before we know it. Any do not miss restaurants for DL??

Dave

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Dave, At DL the only restaurant that would stick out is the Blue Bayou, which you probably know, is inside the POTC ride. Other than that, nothing really sticks out as a "must do". Most of the other restaurants are more of the fast food type of places. In DCA, they have a character restaurant, which I believe is a buffet and they have a nice "winery" restaurant in that section of the park. With the kids, we usually end up with Happy Meals for the kids at McDonalds (yes, there is even a McDonalds in DCA) and DH and myself go get a soup or salad in the bread bowl and we eat while we're waiting for Electric Light Parade. We end up spending ALOT of time at DCA because we get tired of the long lines and crowds at DL. Let me know if you have any other ??. Amy


Edited to add, They do have a dessert buffet at DL for the Fantasmic show but its expensive IMHO. I think it's about $45 per adult for dessert and a seat but it is a good way to see the show(a must do) if you don't want to sit on the ground waiting for the show. You need to get there 1-1 &1/2 before show atleast to get a good seat.

 

[XLT800]

Amy...thanks for the info. Blue Bayou was the only thing that we know for sure that we wanted to try.

Jim and Darcy.....We received an interesting email from Sylvie at Los Veranos. She said that she would be happy to book us 2 months out. Just to be sure that we gave her our arrival time.

Dave