Magic - January 12, 2008

[cmacf1]

A month ago I wrote that my 3 year old was showing no interest in potty training and I was worried that it wouldn't happen before the cruise. One month later, she's totally trained!!!!!!!!!! One day two weeks ago, her dad took her older sister swimming and we told her she couldn't go because she wasn't potty trained. Within 3 days, she was no longer wearing diapers and has had only 2 accidents since then

So, looks like my husband and I may actually have some alone time finally! YAY!!!!!!!!! Only 5 months, 11 days to go!!

 

[laura_hattaway]

One month later, she's totally trained!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet!! That's SUCH a relief. And, think of all the $$$ you'll save on diapering products!

We went to Hawaii several years agi, and my daughter WAS potty-trained, but that was in Las Vegas, where there's no humidity of which to speak. Once we were in HI, I guess she didn't sweat as much or something, but she kept drinking on par with usual... and she couldn't keep it in!!

 

[MarissaMouse]

Sigh... we were expecting my brother to have a day off from school this week, therefore allowing us to come without him missing a full week of school. Turns out he doesn't get that day off... so the cruise has been cancelled, or at least postponed... I'm fully disappointed...

I guess I won't be seeing you then! lol Oh, well! Have fun!

 

[jhannah]

So sorry it's not working out for now. Just let "for now" be the key. I'm sure you'll find another sailing that will work for you.

 

[hsmom]

We're still around, and anxious to set sail. Our team will include:
Granddaughter age 8
Granddaughters (2) age 6
Grandson age 4 1/2

You can tell he's a grandpa (called "Pappy" around these parts). He forgot to mention that his wife, two daugthers and sons-in-law will also be tagging along. Guess it's all about the grands now, though.

cmacf1, it looks like we have kids around the same ages. At the time of sailing, mine will be dd 8, dd 6, ds almost 5.

Thanks again, Pappy (and Nana) for our first cruise!

 

[jhannah]

Guess it's all about the grands now, though.

Well ... that's really who the cruise is for!

 

[jhannah]

Hurricane Dean is forecast to be around a category four when it runs head-on into Cozumel early next week. Let's hope it doesn't cause the damage like was done previously. That would almost certainly make that port call a no-go. Say, maybe they'd substitute Turks-Caicos.

 

[jhannah]

Things turned out fairly well for these ports, so I'm sure we'll be just fine in January. (As long as another hurricane doesn't form and mess things up!)

 

[Eeyore77]

Luckily things turned out good with Dean and both Cozumel and the Grand Caymans were spared. We went on this same cruise back in 2005 and it was just after the horrible hurricane season had torn Cozumel to bits. Because of that they had sent us to Costa Maya instead and was OK but I was not that impressed overall. The beaches were beautiful, but the actual area was very dirty and poor. They had only had electricity for a few years is what we were told. I really want to go to Cozumel. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for a smooth Hurricane season so we can go there. I hope it is nice there.

 

[laura_hattaway]

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for a smooth Hurricane season so we can go there.

Urm... and then there's the little issue of, you know, people who actually live there.

 

[Eeyore77]

Urm... and then there's the little issue of, you know, people who actually live there.

Oh no I didn't forget that part. You see I live in South Florida just north of West Palm Beach. We on edge here all Hurricane season long after that bad season 2 years ago where we were hit by large storms 3 times. So although I don't live in the areas Dean hit I live in an area that can be a common Hot spot for storms. Hope I didn't seem Heartless as that was not what I meant to do. I just really want to get to go to Cozumel this time around and I know that they are still digging out from what happened to them 2 years ago. My Cousin went there on his Honeymoon last July and he said that they still have so much to do there to get things back to the way they were. So I know that another storm hitting there would be tragic. I promise you that I am not Heartless and I do worry for the safety of those people during stroms as I know people here whose homes were without roofs etc.... after the last bad season.... So please don't think badly of me as that is not the case. I was just responding about my wishes for the cruise as were others.

 

[laura_hattaway]

Yes, I think you're terrible and I don't even want to be on the same ship as you!

I was just teasing. My dad's the one who started it, anyway. He IS heartless. Except for the whole "buying us a cruise" thing. That part is okay.

My friends and I have often lamented that there's not a specific "sarcasm" icon for electronic communications. It'd make things a lot less confusing.

Seriously, I'm glad we'll get to visit Cozumel, but it wouldn't really matter because I've never been outside of the US, so it's all an adventure to me. And I look forward to meeting you onboard the ship! Thanks for keeping our cruise meet thread active!

 

[Eeyore77]

Yes, I think you're terrible and I don't even want to be on the same ship as you!

I was just teasing. My dad's the one who started it, anyway. He IS heartless. Except for the whole "buying us a cruise" thing. That part is okay.

My friends and I have often lamented that there's not a specific "sarcasm" icon for electronic communications. It'd make things a lot less confusing.

Seriously, I'm glad we'll get to visit Cozumel, but it wouldn't really matter because I've never been outside of the US, so it's all an adventure to me. And I look forward to meeting you onboard the ship! Thanks for keeping our cruise meet thread active!

Your are so right about not being able to tell if people are upset at you or not on these threads. I always feel so bad when I feel like I have upset soemone and it was completely not what I meant to do. Well I am glad that I didn't offend you. I try so hard not to do that on these things. I am so ready to go on this trip. Work has been a bear as of late and I need to get out into the ocean where I can't be reached. AHHHH what a great thought.

So this is your first time out of the US ever? Wow you will have so much fun. We went on our first DCL cruise in April 2004 and have been hooked ever since. Disney does such a great job on these cruises. Beware though, the food is always available and you will always seem to be hungry. I seem to gain weight eveytime we go. You know what though What the Heck I am on Vacay I am going to enjoy.....

Are you guys going to try Palo? It is really good. I think that we are going to try to go there on our anniversary and probably one day for afternoon brunch. Both are fabulous!!! You really should go if you have the chance.

 

[laura_hattaway]

So this is your first time out of the US ever?

We went to Montreal on our honeymoon, but this is the first time I'll be somewhere not attached to the US by land (the 'rents took us to Hawaii 3.5 years ago, which is farther away than the Caribbean, but still technically our country).

Are you guys going to try Palo?

Yes! As soon as we're able to do online ressies, I plan to try to get brunch for the Key West day, assuming they have it available that day. They have in the past, but I know it's no guarantee.

Work has been a bear as of late...

My husband is in the same boat. Fortunately, very soon he literally will be on the same boat! Maybe you can commiserate... or obliviate... or whatever.

 

[Eeyore77]

Trust me it will be time to RELAX and do nothing.... Ah just the thought!!! I don't know how I will make it to that point. I guess I will do it with my trip to WDW for 3 days this coming weekend and then a 3 day trip in Dec with my husband and Grandmother. We live so close I try to get my fix as much as possible. I am a hopeless Disney Freak what can I say.

 

[Eeyore77]

Sigh... we were expecting my brother to have a day off from school this week, therefore allowing us to come without him missing a full week of school. Turns out he doesn't get that day off... so the cruise has been cancelled, or at least postponed... I'm fully disappointed...

I guess I won't be seeing you then! lol Oh, well! Have fun!

Sorry that I jsut noticed this one. I am soooooo sorry that you will not be able to join us with your family on the cruise. I hope that your parents will be able to find a better time to go so that you can get to have the DCL experience that you were so looking forward to. Here's to wishing you a great cruise in the future!!!!

 

[laura_hattaway]

I don't know how I will make it to that point.

Yep. My daughter is BEGGING us to go on vacation somewhere (of course, her sights aren't set too high; she just wants to drive to Arkansas and hang out at her favorite hotel with an indoor pool), and is very frustrated that we're not being cooperative! She has no idea about the cruise and is going to be SO excited when she figures out what's going on!

 

[Eeyore77]

Yep. My daughter is BEGGING us to go on vacation somewhere (of course, her sights aren't set too high; she just wants to drive to Arkansas and hang out at her favorite hotel with an indoor pool), and is very frustrated that we're not being cooperative! She has no idea about the cruise and is going to be SO excited when she figures out what's going on!

She will be soooo excited!!!! That is a great surprise. So where is eveyone. It seems that you and I have been left all alone on here. I think the 2 of us need more people to join in and discuss their hopes for the trip. What you wanna do etc... If there are an first time DCL cruisers I will be glad to help out since this one will be my 5th one!!!

 

[jhannah]

You are not alone! (That sounds quite Twilight-Zonish, doesn't it?) We're all just hangin' waiting for the day.

I posted on another thread that one pre-cruise packet has already arrived for one family in our 3-family group. Seems a bit early ... but it's nice to have confirmed in a tangible way that we're "in the system." Hopefully the other two sets will arrive soon.

What shore excursions are you planning? Frankly, I haven't seen any that interest me. Having been to Cozumel and Grand Cayman and taken excursions, it will be nice to just stroll and go with the flow.

I do want to take the trolley/train in Key West to go around to the southernmost point of the U.S. We've been to the eastern-most point of North America (where Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic radio transmission.) So this will be a neat geographic point to visit. Also want to see the Hemmingway House and whatever else we can manage to do. Oh, and I will not ... I repeat ... WILL NOT leave KW without a piece of chocolate-dipped key lime pie on a stick!

 

[laura_hattaway]

And I'm the other "talkie," but I'll bite...

Even though our party of 10 will be on the cruise together, we're all doing airline separately so if one of our planes goes down, the rest can still enjoy the cruise (I kid... the other two families didn't know for sure from where they'd be flying out until recently).

SO... the morning before the cruise, we're going to get up and be ready to go by 5:00 AM. If all goes as planned, our then-6-year-old will not know about the cruise or even that we're going anywhere until we pull her sleepy li'l head out of bed and quietly invite her on a "surprise field trip" (we homeschool and do this about quarterly). She usually likes to be surprised by our destination, but if she asks, we're just going to tell her "the beach." We will have stashed our dog the night before and have set up a friend to come check on the cat and hamster without her knowledge. The luggage will already be in the van and ready to go.

Her first clue will be when we pull into the airport remote parking lot. At some point before we get off of the plane, we will have to tell her, "Yes, we're going to the same airport as the Disney World airport, but we are NOT going to Disney World this time around. It just happens that the beach is in the same state, so..." (We've already told her we'll return to WDW when she's 10 and can ride everything.) This shouldn't be too disappointing, as she's expressed a desire to go to the beach a few times lately.

Once we arrive at the airport, we'll pick up our rental car and (hopefully) luggage, then drive over to the beach-front hotel my sister and her husband so gracefully booked for us -- for free because of reward points -- where we will do the very thing my daughter finds synonymous with vacation: SWIM.

We plan to have dinner at Grills that night. My sister's family is staying in the same hotel we are, and my parents are at the next one over. We might hang with them at the beach or pool, but are planning dinner on our own as we'll spend every night of the next week together on board!

The next morning, we'll head to the port... I can't WAIT to see Daphne's reaction when she realizes what's going on! Yea! Our plan is to board early and head straight to the Mickey pool. If we're hungry, we'll nosh around deck. My sister and I have talked about having a few adults watch the kids and relax while the alternate adults explore the ship a bit, then take turns doing that.

As long as we get everything we'd planned to do online done, we should be able to hang out until pretty near time for the lifeboat drill. I do plan to run to the room to unpack at some point before that. I've been picking up clothes here and there for the better part of a year, so Daphne has an entire cruise "wardrobe." (If you knew what a skinflint I am, the fact that she has all new -- to her -- outfits for the trip would make you laugh. But it's vacation, so we're all splurging a bit! )

Ooh, and I just read that you can pick up the Navigator for the next day at customer service when you board, so that'll be some great poolside reading.

After the drill and sail-away party (memo to me: bubbles!), we should have early dinner seating, so will make our way there. We plan to check out the kids' club after supper. I am so glad they have an official "open house" (though I know parents are always welcome) because my daughter would be pretty mortified if I poked around too long as the only parent in the joint!

We don't have any excursions planned, but know that on Key West day, my husband, Ken, and I are going to try to get Palo brunch reservations if they have the brunch that day. On Key West, we want to do the Blonde Giraffe thing for sure (as jhannah, better known to Daphne as "Pappy," mentioned). We also want to visit the lighthouse, the Pirate Soul museum, and Hemingway House. Daphne doesn't know Hemingway from Steinway, but if her interest in the six-toed cats is anywhere as strong as her interest in finding the grave of Rudy the Alamo Cat in San Antonio, there will be plenty to keep her happy on that campus. We also plan to walk a bit and take in the architecture, etc.

Our only "must see" on Grand Cayman is Margaritaville, because the pool view looks amazing. We want to get off of the boat and immerse ourselves in a bit of the culture both there and on Cozumel, but don't have any huge itineraries.

Onboard, as a family, I hope we can do a dance party, the Mickey 200 (or whatever the veggie car race is called ), kite-building, maybe a game show, some ping pong, and lots of exploring. My daughter loves shopping, which she must have gotten from her Nana (my mom) or grandma (Ken's mom) because neither of her parents are into it at all. But we'll probably spend some time on board in the stores. In fact, our last day at Disney World two years ago, Daphne and her two girl cousins spent about two hours in the gift shop at Old Port Royale at the Caribbean Beach Resort! It was pouring down rain, but even if they could have been outside, they had SO much fun pretending to talk to each other on the Princess candy cell phones and picking up the stones from the "pirate treasure chest." *sigh* Girls.

As for the grown-ups, Ken will love the beer tasting, and I will love the dessert demonstration. Sadly, this tells you much about our individual vices. Anyhoo, we're also planning one spa treatment, and I might spring for a Rainforest pass when (if) they go on sale later in the week. I just want to try the scented showers. Also looking forward to just hanging out reading or sitting on the verandah once little D goes to sleep. I think we'd both like the galley tour and meeting the captain. Also looking forward to a game of Scrabble, and just visiting with my sister a bit (we talk on the phone often, but she has three kids and I have one, so the reception isn't always static-free, if you know what I'm sayin').

Then there's a wonderful sit-down dinner every night -- that I don't have to make, and that after which I do not have to clean up -- with my parents, brother-in-law, sister, neices, nephew, daughter and husband. How much better does it get than that?

We plan to catch the live shows at matinee any time they're offered. And at least one night, I'd love for us to sit on deck in the dark and watch something on the DumboTron. We're scheduling a nap on Pirate Night day so Daphne can enjoy (not just stay awake for, but actually ENJOY) the festivities.

This is probably WAY more information than anyone wanted, so for bearing with me! As you can tell, I have thought about this a WHOLE LOT and am looking forward to it very much.

I cannot thank my mom and dad enough for the cruise! Even waiting isn't so bad...