July 9th 2005 - West Coast Cruise.

[Dylcal]

Well it is snowing in Maryland although nothing is sticking to the Roads. The kids are out of school for a third straight day!!

-Stateroom number -- 5132
-Early/Late seating info -- Late Seating
-Occupation -- Mid-Level Manager over Computer Specialists for Federal Goverment -- guess the agency -- we are quite popular this time of year!
-Sail away drink preference -- Mai Tai

 

[Amous]

Hey Sheryl, are you the one I thank for the refund?! Great job! You're awesome! Matt & I have late seating for dinner too. Would you like to hook up for dinner?

Chris / Cheri, ya'll had a beautiful weekend for golf. Perfect! Taking orders for the sailway party already? Hmmm, what to order........

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Refunds??? Refunds???

I didn't even know such a thing existed. For me, April 15th is a day for wearing black, writing checks to the state and federal governments, and general mourning. Refunds??!!??

Don't worry, though, Sheryl, I know you don't make the rules....

By the way, my drink preference will be either a Pina Colada or the Sail Away special, eseciallly if it's the Pina Colada and Strawberry daquari mix they had during our last cruise!!!!

Oh, and Lori, on that sail-away drink thing.... If I am buying a round of drinks for my friends, especially after making them work for them on the DIS boards for 6 months, you can be assured I'm not going to do it from one of the CMs running around with a tray of melting concoctions that were made 30 minutes before and have been sloshing around on the tray in 90 degree weather since then. For mixed drinks, I will get my buddy Hopeton over at the adult pool bar to make them fresh, and properly. Therefore, whether it's the "official" sailaway drink or not, you can have whatever you want!!!

BTW, for those of you first-time cruisers, there's good advice in that last paragraph: don't buy mixed drinks from the people running around...get a bartender to make it for you....trust Mr. Chris on this one...he knows....

 

[Sarangel]

-Stateroom number -- 6082

-Early/Late seating info -- Early Seating (with a 2 year old, how could it be anything else?)

-Occupation -- Controller for an A/V Rental Company.

-Sail away drink preference -- Depends on the weather, but probably something with an umbrella in it....

 

[jel0511]

sorry guys, double post, but it does help the post count!

 

[jel0511]

Chris - You know our occupations.... But for those of you who don't, Darren is a VP for an Investment Bank and I'm a stay-at-home mom. Also, I'll follow your lead on the drinks.... Remember Mr. Chris knows all.....

 

[Amous]

Those refunds go to my home improvement account! Hey, we could cut out the middle-man, right?!

Here's our official info for the Cheat Sheet:
1. Stateroom number: 2058
2. Early/Late seating info: Late
3. Occupation: Board Assistant (County Government)
4. Sail away drink preference: Tequila Sunrise, please

Amy

 

[jel0511]

I also want to say "What are refunds?" Do you mean people actually get money back from the government? I didn't realize that..... Also, I currently have a guarantee cabin, so I don't know where we'll be. I'm still trying to become Chris' neighbor....

 

[Amous]

Uh, oh..... my secret is out!

 

[Sarangel]

1) Tell us about the worst location (i.e. city, resort, etc.) you've ever vacationed/stayed in.

Sad to say, this last trip to Disneyland was one of the worst trips we've been on... 4 days solid of rain, with a not-quite-two-year old in the hotel room. Because we were staying on DVC points, we couldn't even leave early (well we could & did, but the points were lost). The pool was closed most of the time due to fear of lightning strikes. And, Mike's favorite hat was stolen (probably because they couldn't find anything else in the Diaper bag or stroller).

2) Tell us about the worst dining experience you've ever had while on vacation (don't be shy, you must name names).

I'm sure we've had bad ones, but I'm drawing a blank on any of them right nowl....

3) Tell us about the rudest behavior you've ever seen another human being exhibit while you were on your vacation.

The guy who almost started a fist fight with Mike because Mike asked his kid to pick up the garbage he dropped *next* to the trash can... How rude can you get. The kid would have had to travel a whole 2 feet to get his stuff into the garbage can.

On an up note the coolest thing that ever happened to us on a vacation happened on a Disney cruise... We had booked what I had been told was a Dolphin 'Swim' with shore excursions (I asked specifically since I wasn't really interested in standing knee deep in water & petting a dolphin). Sure enough, when we actually got there, it turned out to be an encounter excursion. Mike talked to some people at the dolphin site & found out that there had been a couple of cancellations for a swim later that morning - all we had to do was pay the difference. Except that we had left all our credit cards & cash back on the boat!

Well, this lovely Canadian couple (who had also been hoping for cancellations) offered to loan us the money for the upgrade, and after we were done offered us a little extra for the pictures. How cool is that? We did end up using the rest of our time in Nassau going back to the ship & getting the money to them at their resort, but it was worth it. I still can't believe that they just loaned out that much money to complete strangers.

Sara

 

[renknt]

Sad to say, this last trip to Disneyland was one of the worst trips we've been on... 4 days solid of rain, with a not-quite-two-year old in the hotel room. Because we were staying on DVC points, we couldn't even leave early (well we could & did, but the points were lost). The pool was closed most of the time due to fear of lightning strikes. And, Mike's favorite hat was stolen (probably because they couldn't find anything else in the Diaper bag or stroller).

I'm sure we've had bad ones, but I'm drawing a blank on any of them right nowl....

The guy who almost started a fist fight with Mike because Mike asked his kid to pick up the garbage he dropped *next* to the trash can... How rude can you get. The kid would have had to travel a whole 2 feet to get his stuff into the garbage can.

On an up note the coolest thing that ever happened to us on a vacation happened on a Disney cruise... We had booked what I had been told was a Dolphin 'Swim' with shore excursions (I asked specifically since I wasn't really interested in standing knee deep in water & petting a dolphin). Sure enough, when we actually got there, it turned out to be an encounter excursion. Mike talked to some people at the dolphin site & found out that there had been a couple of cancellations for a swim later that morning - all we had to do was pay the difference. Except that we had left all our credit cards & cash back on the boat!

Well, this lovely Canadian couple (who had also been hoping for cancellations) offered to loan us the money for the upgrade, and after we were done offered us a little extra for the pictures. How cool is that? We did end up using the rest of our time in Nassau going back to the ship & getting the money to them at their resort, but it was worth it. I still can't believe that they just loaned out that much money to complete strangers.

Sara

Darling you left out that after we paid them back they insisted on walking us to the nearest bus stop and giving us the bus fare instead of us taking a cab back to the ship.

 

[FOJMO]

Looks like there are now several new columns to add to my cheat sheet:
-Stateroom number
-Early/Late seating info
-Occupation
-Sail away drink preference

OK, here's our info --

Stateroom - 6562

Dinner Seating - LATE

Occupation - I'm a Word Processor/Receptionist and Stu is a Distribution Systems Manager for a Drug Store Company

Sail Away Drink Preference - Me - probably a Virgin Mary and Stu a White Zinfandel

Thanks, Chris!!!

VAL

 

[Dylcal]

Well I wish I could say that I am responsible for the refunds and I suppose the computers do process them, but my focus is on creating the Enterprise Data Warehouse for decision analytics and management information. They also use the data base for identifying complaince issues and creating ways to get people to apply -- it is more than just exams or collection. I don't even get an employee discount!!!!!! Now that is rude! OK I have bored you all enough but we are trying to get to 90!

Seems like a lot of us are doing late seating so we should hook up. I know that I will be spending many nights dining without my son although last year we had two great waiters that played tricks on everyone. He enjoyed them so much he only had one meal at the club!!! The cruise before we sat a large table and everyone bailed on formal night so I dined alone in my formal gear. But given the Disney magic I didn't feel pathetic as the waiters really doted on me!

Still snowing in Maryland --- Is it July yet?????

 

[mommykeg]

Here's our info for the cheat sheet...

stateroom#: 6060
dinner seating: early (currently...haven't decided whether or not to change)
occupation: I'm a first grade teacher...Danny is a substitute teacher and a computer operator.
sailaway drink preference: Me? either a mai tai or something fancy with rum and an umbrella. Danny? not sure yet...will get back to you!

Kim

 

[jel0511]

Oops, I forgot our seating... We're currently late seating, but hoping to get early seating. Coming from the East Coast, late seating is just too late for us..... But we'll make it work if we have to have.

 

[FOJMO]

Coming from the East Coast, late seating is just too late for us

Lori,

Just curious... what does that mean? East Coast'ers eat early??? I'm from the East Coast (PA, born and bred) and we always eat late - lol.

Val

 

[mommykeg]

Val,

I think Lori means that 6pm West Coast time (early seating) would be 9:00 East Coast time (where she is from) and would already be much later than their normal dinner time...8:30 pm West Coast time (late seating) would be 11:30 East Coast time...REALLY late to eat dinner with little ones. Lori has small children like I do, so she probably wants to stick as close to their regular eating schedule as possible. Just a guess.

Kim

 

[jel0511]

Val,

I think Lori means that 6pm West Coast time (early seating) would be 9:00 East Coast time (where she is from) and would already be much later than their normal dinner time...8:30 pm West Coast time (late seating) would be 11:30 East Coast time...REALLY late to eat dinner with little ones. Lori has small children like I do, so she probably wants to stick as close to their regular eating schedule as possible. Just a guess.

Kim

Exactly Kim. Though, we will be on the West Coast for a week before the cruise, so if we get late it won't be THAT bad, but when we get home, it will be a while until we are readjusted!!! I'm really hoping the wait list comes through for us......

 

[GrumpyMom1]

I guess I'd better get with the program here.

Stateroom - 5137

Dinner seating - Early. We had late seating last time and I liked it but because I am an early to bed, early to rise person I decided to stick with early this time.

Occupation - According to Chris:

Lori,
My expertise with laptops is limited mostly to how to get one to work for 8 hours on a flight to London without having to have 4 batteries. Procuring them, or parts for them, is something that some geeks with pocket protectors on the 2nd floor in my building do when I need something

Actually I do Technical Support of a different kind, but I do work in the same department with the "geeks".

Sail Away Drink - Bahama Mama or Margarita.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

For mixed drinks, I will get my buddy Hopeton over at the adult pool bar to make them fresh, and properly.

Your buddy Hopeton??? AHA! I always wondered where you where "relaxing" ..... Now I know where to find you!

Can I tell everyone about our famous "Surf and Turf" dinner? --- We drove from Kaanapali to Wailea (sorry about the funky Hawaiian spelling) just for the highly recommended dinner at the Four Seasons. I wanted steak and lobester. It wasn't on the menu, but the waiter asked the chef and he "graciously" agreed to make a special meal for us. -- The wine chris picked was fabulous by the way, good job as always, dear. -- Two waiters came with two plates. Silver domes over the top of each plate. With great vibrado, they lifted the domes --WHOOSH! and there .... there on the plates ... where two of the smallest pieces of food I've ever seen. Maybe bigger than a silver dollar each ... maybe And the bill had to be around $300.

I'll let Chris tell you about the rudest people some other time.

Oh, and honey, make mine a Lava Flow... better make that two - I drink fast and I'd hate to have to send you back.