Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) **** PART III ****

[BBQMommy]

Still taking the Airborne to help keep not-sick.

Feel better vibes ----->

I <3 Timmy Ho's Coffee!

Both zazzle orders arrived. Photos to follow! Happy wth the Back of the Pack duo!

Caryn

 

[mmi]

Santa boxes mailed today! woo hoo!

 

[BBQMommy]

Joann's performance micro (nice!)

My regular T

Looks to fit well. In hindsight I wish I had put 2010 on the back, but ah, well. One of my 2 HP shirts is wacky small and not measuring to what the website posted on their size chart but will contact and see.

Leave in a week!
Caryn

 

[pennymike]

Got my Zazzle 5k shirt yesterday! Fits perfectly (Whew! )

Anxious to start packing!

 

[MommyLissa]

To all DISers,

and esp @ miatamel:

We are steering clear of all things Disney during my re-integration into the states. We'll be in Orlando from the 15th - 17th, but I have way too much shopping/eating/manicuring to do! So....we are staying at the hotel at the Florida Mall, which, from what I understand is about 6 miles from MCO.

If anyone would like to store luggage with us, we would be more than happy to meet up later, or even bring it to the port for you. We will have two cars (including hubby's pick-up truck) traveling down to the port on the afternoon of the 17th and have no problem delivering to various hotels.

If you're interested, just let me know. We could even meet you at the airport if needed, or offer a ride somewhere if it's less than 4-5 people. It's completely unrealistic of me to expect DH to spend all day at the mall with me!

You all have been so supportive, encouraging, and just down-right sweet, I just thought I'd throw that offer out there... no worries!

 

[skypixy]

Santa boxes mailed today! woo hoo!

Box to ship sent today~loaded with FE's......hope it doesn't get lost! How sad would I be, I feel like the box is going on vaca before me!

 

[thegales]

I think I have finally caught up. May I say that I am truly impressed with all the things everyone is doing.

This weekend is my DD12's home gymnastics meet. I emcee, play the floor music, announce awards and generally just keep things going on time. I start Friday afternoon and finish up late Sunday night. So that leaves my DW to finish all the planning. She is not too happy with me.

About 300 pages ago (or so it seems), someone posted they were headed to their gymnastics State Championship. Different states are so funny, we are just beginning our season, while others are ending theirs. How did your DD do?

We think we know what we are doing for FE, now just working on the logistics of transporting them down.

I have to admit, while the shuttle launch would be absolutely amazing, it was really stressing me out. I am used to Port Canaveral being a certain way, and I don't think I could have handled all the extra people.

Safe journeys to anyone starting your trips.

 

[3princessMommy]

hey, we are on deck 2 nearby the laundry as well - we could have a DOTD dirty clothes party....

Cool!

Oh, dear, really? My TA knows my travel arrangements--actually, she recommended doing it this way--and never said that they wouldn't take them on while we headed in another direction.

I just cannot get this worked out. Trying to get DD9 to WWoHP and not cause DH undue anxiety about toting bags, transportation, etc. Renting a car is NOT an option for us (I only drive in my town of 6000 and he will not consider driving in a place like Orlando).

You could hire a limo service. Sometimes they'll do a stop en route - so they could take you to the hotel to drop the bags and then drop you at Universal or maybe wait at Universal. Don't know how much that would cost though.

Joann's performance micro (nice!)

Caryn

You're Awesome Caryn!!!! Thank you!


@DVC4Us - DH updated the winetasting location. Still no word on the meeting location for the Dismeet????

 

[DVC4US]

@DVC4Us - DH updated the winetasting location. Still no word on the meeting location for the Dismeet????

Tell your DH thanks so much. Still no answer on the DIS meet. I will email DCL right now to check on it.

 

[BBQMommy]

You're welcome, Joann - hoping it is what you were expecting.

I kind of feel the same way about the launch - crowds + traffic =

Cold here in TN today. Went to a birthday party for a classmate of dd5's last weekend and one of the mothers asked me if I ran. I said no, but I did the Susan Komen 5K this Fall and am doing another 5K later in the month. She said, "Won't that be too cold?" I replied, "Not in the Bahamas."



Caryn

 

[mmi]

I think I have finally caught up. May I say that I am truly impressed with all the things everyone is doing.

This weekend is my DD12's home gymnastics meet. I emcee, play the floor music, announce awards and generally just keep things going on time. I start Friday afternoon and finish up late Sunday night. So that leaves my DW to finish all the planning. She is not too happy with me.

About 300 pages ago (or so it seems), someone posted they were headed to their gymnastics State Championship. Different states are so funny, we are just beginning our season, while others are ending theirs. How did your DD do?

We think we know what we are doing for FE, now just working on the logistics of transporting them down.

I have to admit, while the shuttle launch would be absolutely amazing, it was really stressing me out. I am used to Port Canaveral being a certain way, and I don't think I could have handled all the extra people.

Safe journeys to anyone starting your trips.

It was my DD (8) headed to the State Gym meet last weekend. She improved her scores in each category, which was her goal for her first year competing. She got medals in each event and was a happy girl. The University of Alabama's head Gym coach was at the meet watching the girls, she knew several of the girls on the home team. My DS (14) thinks the floor music could use some improvement he dies of boredom during the events! DH has had National Guard duty for every meet this season, so he has missed out on the excitement.

My friends in Georgia said that they don't have a state meet until March of next year.

 

[BBQMommy]

Just got off the phone with zazzle. They are sending the next size up in the l/s t and not having me return the smaller size. Wow! Will donate happily in the next Good Will batch. They are expiditing it to get it here by early next week. Go zazzle!


Caryn

 

[SwimMama]

I am so excited my DS11 will be running with me in the Castaway Cay 5K. I just ordered his BOTP t-shirt and I am praying it will come in time.
Wish my DH could too but he has to watch the other two younger children.
So add one more to our growing Back of The Pack list.
My shirt came in from zazzle. A little small, but it will do. The women's shirts seem to run small.

So excited to have finshed my FE gifts. Now I am trying to figure out how to get them all there. One more suitcase I guess.

I am just giddy with excitement! I am sure you are all too! Looking forward to meeting you all.

Jo
__________________________
SwimMama

 

[Kitster]

and guess who stopped by to say 'HI' ..........

 

[BBQMommy]

Yea, Jo! Getting so so so excited!


KITSTER! Love Chefs du France!!!!!

Caryn

 

[miatamel]

Kitster--thanks so much for the heads up...you were exactly right. No ME for us. So, ten days out and my plans are completely scuttled. TA has cancelled my ME AND my Pop Century resort stay (even though I told her NOT to cancel til I figured out a better way. Ugh). The option now is to get a limo service from MCO/US/Port/MCO for about $30 more, which is okay. The kicker is, if I stay at Universal on-site, which would be easiest, it is over $100 more a night than Pop Century.

She is suggesting staying at MCO Hyatt (which I'm sure I've missed on Hotwire), going to US, coming back to MCO, then to port and back but that just seems like ALOT of back and forth. I'm trying to save hubby from handling a bunch of bags (which is why I opted for ME to begin with) and making it as anxiety-free as I can before we get on board.

I feel a bit strange saying this here, but we had tragedy in September, two weeks before a scheduled HP trip for DD9. Succintly, it was a sexual assault by a family member perpetrated on me, then a suicide of said perpetrator after charges were filed. It's been a mess and a difficult situation and this is my "recovery" trip. "Anywhere but here" was the motto this year. Anyway, this has kind of sent me over the edge and I'm not quite sure how to fix it where it's not too angst ridden but the most important thing is DD gets the trip that she lost thru no fault of her own. So, in other words, its not an option NOT to do Potter.

I'm up for suggestions.

 

[cquick]

Can someone from the area help me? I'm having trouble figuring out my Friday when we arrive. Something just keeps jiggering at me, like I don't have it right somehow.
Right now, I have ME from MCO/resort/port/MCO. However, we are going to US/WWoHP Friday afternoon, already have the tickets. So, I was going to pay for transport directly from MCO to US while our bags went to resort. But, according to traffic reports at WWoHP, this might not be ideal, maybe better to wait til evening. I thought it would be best to go, get 'er done, come back to Pop to rest because we fly in the wee hours Friday morning. I guess I'm worried if we don't get on the ME at MCO, they won't take our bags. Or the thought that I'm paying for transfers I'm not using while also paying for transfers from MCO to US. But, I also thought MCO to Pop just to check in to a room that might not be ready then transport to US seems pretty awful too.

That's a long way of asking this: what are the time traveling frames for MCO to Pop; MCO to US; US to Pop? Approximately?

OK, let me get this straight.....you are talking about before the cruise.....right? I am not sure what traffic reports you are referring to.....road traffic? Tourists? number of people going to Universal?

so, you want to send your luggage (actually it will go by truck) That's OK.

You should take a taxi straight to Universal Studios when you arrive in Orlando. Then take a taxi to Pop Century after doing the Harry Potter. That way if there are long lines, you will have more time at the Studios.

If there was bus transportation thru Universal Studios from the airport to the Studios that would be a good option, but I just don't know if there is. I certainly wouldn't take a city bus to Universal, because you don't know how many stops it might make.

That is MY opinion, others might have a better idea than mine!

 

[cquick]

Oh, BTW, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to get to Universal Studios from the airport by taxi, and it will take you at least 30-40 minutes to get to POP from Universal. But the taxis are easy to get at both the Studios and the airport.

 

[VMinick]

She is suggesting staying at MCO Hyatt (which I'm sure I've missed on Hotwire), going to US, coming back to MCO, then to port and back but that just seems like ALOT of back and forth. I'm trying to save hubby from handling a bunch of bags (which is why I opted for ME to begin with) and making it as anxiety-free as I can before we get on board.

I am SO sorry to hear about your experience! I hope that this trip takes your mind off of that and gives you happy thoughts instead! There are lots of hotels in the Orlando area that offer free shuttles from their hotel to US (as well as to Disney properties), so maybe taking the free shuttle to US and hiring a car from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the port would work. Some hotels even offer to pick you up from the airport! The trip to HP can definitely work, and I think the planning will be the most stressful part. Once you figure it out, I don't think the actual adventure will be stressful!!!

P.S. I love your girls' names, and that Christmas card rocks! My son plays the guitar (acoustic and electric) and would flip if I did a card like that!

 

[cquick]

Kitster--thanks so much for the heads up...you were exactly right. No ME for us. So, ten days out and my plans are completely scuttled. TA has cancelled my ME AND my Pop Century resort stay (even though I told her NOT to cancel til I figured out a better way. Ugh). The option now is to get a limo service from MCO/US/Port/MCO for about $30 more, which is okay. The kicker is, if I stay at Universal on-site, which would be easiest, it is over $100 more a night than Pop Century.

She is suggesting staying at MCO Hyatt (which I'm sure I've missed on Hotwire), going to US, coming back to MCO, then to port and back but that just seems like ALOT of back and forth. I'm trying to save hubby from handling a bunch of bags (which is why I opted for ME to begin with) and making it as anxiety-free as I can before we get on board.

I'm up for suggestions.

Well, it looks like my suggestions are going to work for you since you are not going to stay at Pop Century.

Are you planning to go to the Disney parks at all? If you are NOT, then just stay at the airport Hyatt.
You don't have to lug your luggage anywhere that way.
You can buy Disney Cruise Line transfers to the Port and after the cruise, back to the airport.
You can store your luggage at the Hyatt, no luggage toting there either. You can also rent a car right there at the airport to drive over to Universal Studios.
No luggage toting there either.

I must be missing something.....