July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[goingsouth]

Oh, me too!!

I have now packed twice for the 9 year old, because she's the easiest (the most clothing, the least fussy) so it's more fun.

Next is the 4 year old. She's fussier and has less clothing. Hmmmmm.

I already assumed 1 checked bag for each of us, plus 1 carry on for each of us (and of course, the "personal item"). The extra copies of the passports are in the carryons, plus jackets to wear in London, and of course, my pillow. I've put my foot down on that and will no longer sleep on cement disks.

you're bringing pillows? I'm bringing snuggies! I figure it will help the girls sleep on the plane and be useful to throw over luggage in the rental car and John and I will steal them for deck 4 lounging!

 

[aurorafan65]

Shaun & Jill - saying prayers for you guys

Deb - awesome job with the packing

Joanne - I am the list queen! Tim even said tonight 'where's the list for our final check-offs'


We ended up with a new rolling duffle today - I went upstairs yesterday & looked at our luggage, 3 of them had broken wheels - why were they still up there
I also did a ton of laundry so we can pack tomorrow. I'm going to try & give Deb a run for her money

Tomorrow our phone is supposed to be here so we have that fun to look forward too.

I've printed all my docs & organized them in a folder.

I think I'm ready except for the stuff they're coming up with now - I want to go to the tower bridge, I want to go on the London Eye, I want to go...... where was this months ago when I was asking??

 

[goingsouth]

Bummer about the rental car. That sure sounds like some sort of bait and switch trickery. I do hope you're able to find the American lounge vouchers. Any chance you have an email confirmation for purchasing them? We have a similar issue with DH's flight info... the airline website keeps asking for his personal info, I input it all, and then it never shows up in their system. I figure we'll just take care of it when we get to the airport.

I'm a compulsive list maker. I keep a lot of them on my computer, like packing lists. For this trip, I also broke down my lists into what I wanted/needed to accomplish each day. It helps to keep me calm when travel panic sets in.

Deeeeeeeep breathing.... deeeeeeeeeep breathing..... Close your eyes and imagine... soon you will be completely pampered on the Disney Magic, soon you will be waited on hand and foot, soon you'll have at least two weeks of no cooking, cleaning, or working, soooooooon, soooooooon, sooooooooon. And another deeeep breath. Ahhhhhhhhh, feeling a little better yet?

you know you are my new best friend, right?

 

[goingsouth]

Joanne - I am the list queen! Tim even said tonight 'where's the list for our final check-offs'
:
I've printed all my docs & organized them in a folder.

:

Ok- lists are great, I obviously agree, but don't they seem to grow and grow?
My folder will beat up your folder in a rumble. It's decorated and has everything organized by day in those clear plastic paper holders. What is yours like?

 

[Deb T.]

Deb - awesome job with the packing

I also did a ton of laundry so we can pack tomorrow. I'm going to try & give Deb a run for her money

Ahhhh, I love being a DISer! I wish you the best of luck with your packing, Grasshopper! Please be sure to report back on how you did! But, remember, I am the grand master of packing!

I think we're all getting slap happy under the pressure.
At least we can all laugh together!

 

[Deb T.]

you know you are my new best friend, right?

Awwww, thanks! Can't wait to meet you in person!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I skippped out on packing tonight to watch the bachelorette.

I read on one of the trip reports that dcl is putting blankets out with the deck chairs.

Tomorrow night is when I full on pack.

Shaun, I hope the catheter works well for your father and he gets the relief he needs.

 

[DW2DH&DS]

you know you are my new best friend, right?

my feelings are deeply hurt...I thought I was your new best friend!!!!

 

[fabumouse]

you're bringing pillows? I'm bringing snuggies!

Ha! I'm bringing only MY pillow. I even put my name on it.

Snuggies are a great idea. I collect squishy Mickey sweatshirts when they're on sale at Disney and the rest of the family can wad those up, if need be.

I am definitely getting slap happy under the pressure. I bought these matching outfits from Disney (the hawaiian print) for the first day. But then packed an appropriate outfit for everyone for wandering around Dover.

So, I have TWO first day outfits and I was sitting on my floor at a loss... so I guess we'll change in the port bathroom, with an iron handy??

 

[slg]

Ah packing...after packing the entire day, we still aren't done. We are allowed 44 pounds each, and we have approx 35 pounds each. I'm hoping that I have enough wiggle room for buying stuff. Carry ons are limited to one per person at 11 pounds, which isn't much.

I still haven't decided what I'm going to wear on the plane. I'll probably have to unpack everything. And shoes...yikes!

Tomorrow I plan to do all the administrative stuff...print itineraries, check flights, email the two b+b's, email Silverline, email my friends who have keys, call ADT, get a mani/pedi.

Wednesday is my haircut/colour, pay bills, mow lawn, unplug stuff around the house, garbage out, etc.

Thursday morning we leave for my mom's.

Friday we leave.

Panic...panic..panic. Right now it doesn't feel like a whole lot of fun. Since we are doing all DCL excursions, I'd like some trip reports. Right now I'm second guessing my choices too!

Breathe...breathe....breathe. I think I'm going to stop packing, go on the elliptical for a little while and then watch THE WIRE to relax.

Talk to you tomorrow!

 

[BTKTropea]

First...Shaun & Jill sorry to hear the news! I hope he gets better soon. I'll be praying for you.

I can't believe we are SO close now! To everyone who's leaving in the next few days goodluck with your travels! To those who have packed, I haven't even started, so great job! To those who are last minute packers...that's me all the way too!

This weekend will be pack time for us and our flight leaves bright and early Monday morning. I've made my packing list so I'm not too worried. We're used to traveling with the weight restrictions by now.

We're doing all DIS excursions aside from Stockholm and Oslo which we are doing on our own. I'm a little nervous because I haven't found many reports from people who have done DIS trips. Any thoughts? I wish I had more time to look into private tours and other stuff but I just don't and it's too late now!

We plan on doing Leeds Castle on Monday after we get in, anyone else going to be around there?

Tara

 

[nzdisneymom]

Tara, do u mean Monday before or Monday after the cruise? We are doing Leeds and Canterbury on Monday after.

For those with dcl excursions, don't second guess yourself. We have done loads of dcl excursions and not yet been disappointed. And part of why we do them is to take away the stress of logistics ESP traveling with two boys. If it were only me and Gary we might do some diy in the ports but dcl has worked well for us. And it is fun to get to know fellow passengers.

Gotta get to work so I can get home to pack. Pizza tonight.

 

[Stimpy]

Shaun & Jill hope your dad is feeling better soon and everything goes well!

I'm a last minute packer! We are getting picked up for the airport next Monday about 2:30 pm. Yesterday around 10 am, DH mentioned that this time next week we should finally start packing

Heck, we just went out last night to get DS his suit for formal nights! Completely forgot he grew out of his old one from last summer already. We're supposed to pick it up from the tailor on Monday morning And of course now DD wants a new dress to go with his new suit!

We're off to Target today for all that other stuff we need.

Still have to get a pet sitter...again completely forgot about my "babies!"

And have to call Virgin Atlantic today to make sure my kids have seats on the return trip. On paperwork from DCL I have seat numbers assigned for everyone but on the website it shows blank seats for my 2 kids but only on the return flight.

 

[mom_rules]

A quick word about allergies-read on someone's trip report that the pollens in Europe (esp. St. Petersburg) were really bad! It looked like it was snowing.
Pack your allergy meds!

 

[babybear42]

Just a quick up date on the state of play with Shaun's dad. It looks like the operation was successful. Don't know the full story yet, but things do look a bit rosier.

I've started packing, well that is to say I've got my stuff sorted, Shaun has to get his out for me so that I can pack that. The meds are sorted, the tickets are printed and stored away as are the passports and copies.

I'm now praying that nothing else happens between now and next Monday.

 

[Deb T.]

Just a quick up date on the state of play with Shaun's dad. It looks like the operation was successful. Don't know the full story yet, but things do look a bit rosier.

I've started packing, well that is to say I've got my stuff sorted, Shaun has to get his out for me so that I can pack that. The meds are sorted, the tickets are printed and stored away as are the passports and copies.

I'm now praying that nothing else happens between now and next Monday.

Wonderful news. We're all hoping for a speedy recovery from this operation!

 

[tfc3rid]

Interetsting note on one of the current cruiser's blogs... The train that DCL has chartered from Warnemunde to Berlin is not air conditioned and gets quite warm and stuffy...

 

[aurorafan65]

Shaun & Jill - lets hope it all stays good for you guys!

Yes - I think we've all gone goofy!!!!!!!!!!! 1 load down 3 more to go

 

[aurorafan65]

Tara, do u mean Monday before or Monday after the cruise? We are doing Leeds and Canterbury on Monday after.

For those with dcl excursions, don't second guess yourself. We have done loads of dcl excursions and not yet been disappointed. And part of why we do them is to take away the stress of logistics ESP traveling with two boys. If it were only me and Gary we might do some diy in the ports but dcl has worked well for us. And it is fun to get to know fellow passengers.

Gotta get to work so I can get home to pack. Pizza tonight.

We're doing Canterbury after too.

Totally agree with the DCL excursions, I was looking at the dropping our Rostock Regional highlights since the train station is right across from the dock & we could do it ourselves, but Tim said exactly what you said - doing the DCL excursions makes it soooooooooooo much easier someone else plans it & takes care of everything all we have to do is show up & go. (Plus he has this HUGE fear of something happening, like the train breaking down & with one of their excursions you are guaranteed not to miss the ship)

 

[RichC17]

LOL Deb - I will do a Trip Report here on the DIS after we get back, so we can share - promise! But I have several non-DIS people who had been asking if we were going to do a trip report and I know it's hard to post to DIS from the ship, so setting up at blogger was a good option - as long as I can send an email, it's good - and email is a lot easier to do than having to log onto a site, especially one that is graphic intensive.

Rory, welcome!

Joanne - wish I could help you pack - I've never gotten a DOD before but was thinking I might this trip seeing as we've ended up with $75 extra in OBcredit - I can't figure out what it was for but I'm not complaining

Rich - I need your cabin number for your FE gift to be properly delivered.

I thought I was done but ended up buying Zachary another pair of pants today and I found a new long sleeve shirt for me plus two more short sleeves that I just had to have. But they will be good for work, too, so that's how I justified it I got pain relief meds today for the boys and us to have should anyone have a headache. And I bought a couple of packs of those colgate wisps to try - anyone used those before? I thought it might be nice to freshen up with after the flight over...

I'm laying out all my clothes for packing and the boys, too, tomorrow. And doing all the odds and ends. If it's something we need between now and leaving on Thursday, tough luck - we have to figure out how to get by without it. Gary is planning to lay his clothes out, too, but, like Deb, I will be putting them into the suitcase. We plan to have three larger suitcases, one medium one (and none of them over-packed - gotta pay attn to weight requirements), plus each of us with a carry-on (boys will have their school backpacks and I will have my Castaway Club bag and Gary will have whatever bag he chooses). We will each have a change of clothes in the carry-ons plus whatever doesn't fit in the suitcases that is ok to take on the plane with us. And snacks for the boys. PB crackers and protein bars.

I can't decide about jackets - the boys have sweatshirt-style jackets we got at Disneyland last summer when it was cool (about the same temps as we'll experience in the Baltic - we were there for June Gloom), but my sweatshirt style Mickey jacket seems a bit heavier than theirs. I don't want something that is too much and I end up feeling hot and having to carry it, but it's about impossible to find anything like that here now. I did tell Gary that I may just *have* to get something in London (LOL). What do you all think? Think that will work?? Plus, how cool will it be come early November when I need a light jacket and I can wear it and say "this old thing? I got it in London..."

So who's leaving first???

My room # is 5012. Thanks!