MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[alikat99]

Don't worry, Amy. It seems our whole world revolves around Disney and the looks we get from family and friends I could make a book out of (You name the look, we've seen it ). We've just come to accept it, they've come to accept our obsession with Disney and life goes on .

Yeah, that's how our friends & family have become! They all know that we're Disney fans, and they also know that if they want to know anything about Disney, we're here for them!!! We've had several people ask us for opinions on WDW & DCL and even had a friend or 2 buy into DVC because of us. So, we don't mind being known as "that Disney family".

I can't wait for Melissa to meet your girls (they are both adorable, they look a lot alike. Do they get along?). She will be 4 at cruising time (her BD is May 26th) and she loves to play with kids her age. The last cruise she stayed with us and I felt she missed out on a lot. I am hoping for a lot more activity for her this time around!

For the most part, my girls do get along. Now, that being said, they are ready to go back to school, because they are starting to get on each other's nerves. They need a break from each other, all day, every day. Madison's birthday is April 28th, when she'll turn 4. So, Melissa and Madison are only 1 month apart in age.

 

[ShannonR]

Amy, that is so funny that you should bring up everyone coming to your "Disney family" for advise, because that is exactly what happens with us . Every time someone wants to plan a Disney vacation, etc...it's us they come to and I reply "so now it's okay that I like Disney so much, hunh ? I wouldn't trade my Disney vacations or my new found love for DCL for anything, though, so I will continue getting the strange looks, rollling of the eyes, and mumbles under the breath when Disney conversations comes up . I wish we had something that closely resembled WDW here in Texas, I would be there all the time, no matter what looks I got!

That is great that our girls are so close in age!!! Do your girls go to preschool? We just put Melissa in preschool this year, 3 days a week, for 6 hours each of those days and she loves it . She was getting so bored with the older two kids at school, and I had put the older in preschool at age 3, 4 and started them in kinder at age 5 so I guess it was time.

Shannon

 

[alikat99]

That is great that our girls are so close in age!!! Do your girls go to preschool? We just put Melissa in preschool this year, 3 days a week, for 6 hours each of those days and she loves it . She was getting so bored with the older two kids at school, and I had put the older in preschool at age 3, 4 and started them in kinder at age 5 so I guess it was time.

Emily turned 6 in October, so she's in Kindergarten. She's actually been at the same school since she was 3 (they go all the way through 8th grade). And, Madison started preschool this year. Actually, when we decided to keep Emily at our school (which is connected to our church), instead of going to our public schools, we decided that I needed to go back to work, at least part-time. So, I signed Maddie up for preschool, and low & behold, I ended up getting offered a part-time job at the girls' school. So, I work on the preschool side (elementary & middle are across the street), 5 days a week from 8:15 - 1pm, and both girls are in school. I love being where they are during the day, knowing that I can "pop" in to see them whenever I want.

 

[nzdisneymom]

No flying for us, either, since we live close enough to drive down the day before. I do need to remember to get a hotel reservation for the night before - we stayed at the Radisson in 2005 but will likely try Country Inn and Suites this time as we like that chain of hotels and they are a little closer to the port.

It's back to work and school for us this week - this time next year will be even harder!

 

[nzdisneymom]

double post - sorry

 

[ShannonR]

That is great Amy! I have a friend who is a school nurse at her boy's elementary school and she loves it. She waited patiently for that opening and she took it to be closer to her kids! Her husband is an at home dad, just like mine, but now her children are being watched by their parents 24/7, as she likes to put it . Unfortunately, her oldest goes to middle school next year, so she has to decide whether to stay where she is at with the younger one or try to transfer to the middle school with the older one .

I am trying to get myself aquainted (sp?) to what the fish extenders are all about (we didn't do these with our last cruise DIS group, so this is all new to me ) and I saw yours on the thread dedicated to fish extenders. It's great! Did you make it, or buy it? I saw some of the ones that people have made and they are beautiful!! I am no where near that crafty and/or coordinated but I could easily buy one! Are you going to use the same one for this cruise? Any suggestions as to where I could get one or how to make one EASY?

Shannon

 

[ShannonR]

Welcome back Cindy! How was your trip to Vero Beach? Are you now starting the planning for your spring break trip to WDW/Wonder Cruise? This will be the first year in a long time that we have not gone anywhere for spring break.

It cold in Florida right now? It is still pretty warm and sunny here in Texas, but my best friend and I have been talking lately about how windy it has been this year. I don't remember it being this windy for all the other years that I have lived down here, but this year has been horrible for the wind. She agreed and she has lived here all her life. Even with the wind, it is still better any day than the cold life I led while living in Michigan.

Shannon

 

[nzdisneymom]

Welcome back Cindy! How was your trip to Vero Beach? Are you now starting the planning for your spring break trip to WDW/Wonder Cruise? This will be the first year in a long time that we have not gone anywhere for spring break.

Thanks for the welcome back - we had a marvelous time at Vero Beach - it was so relaxing and I cannot recommend it highly enough for a place to go for some down-time. There were a few days we said that if they had had free food 24-hours-a-day it would've been like being on a cruise The rec-staff at VB is great - they threw a really fun NYE party that was on par with the DCL deck parties. They had various activities for the kids and adults to do and there was plenty of time for us to just relax in the room. Our balcony was bigger than our ship verandah.

And yes, we're in the gearing-up stage for our April cruise - I did all the online registration stuff this weekend so now we're just kicking back til mid-March when I go into major packing mode for spring break - several days at SSR and then the Wonder for three nights. It will be so fast but so nice.

After that we'll have a trip to DC in July that we've exchanged DVC points for and then we won't go anywhere til December unless it's a quick weekend to WDW. I still haven't blabbed to the kids about December - it will be harder once our other trips are out of the way. But I really really really want to keep it a surprise for them.

 

[alikat99]

I am trying to get myself aquainted (sp?) to what the fish extenders are all about (we didn't do these with our last cruise DIS group, so this is all new to me ) and I saw yours on the thread dedicated to fish extenders. It's great! Did you make it, or buy it? I saw some of the ones that people have made and they are beautiful!! I am no where near that crafty and/or coordinated but I could easily buy one! Are you going to use the same one for this cruise? Any suggestions as to where I could get one or how to make one EASY?

I bought that fish extender on eBay a few years ago. That's where Diana & Cindy got theirs too. But, that being said, I'm tempted to try to make a Disney Christmas one with some red/green/white fabric, and use my new/used embroidery machine with some of my Disney designs.

 

[ShannonR]

I also forgot to tell anyone, IF and that's a really big IF you believe in this sort of thing, that if you were born in the year of the RAT, 2008 is the year of the RAT so this should be a good year for you.

My best friend is 100% into astrology of ALL kinds, but mostly the months and the Chinese year. I swear she lives her life by it. She will introduce herself to you, ask you your name then ask you for your entire birthdate to figure out your compatability to God know's what. She is constantly cracking me up with this stuff. Some of what she says truly makes sense, but she bases EVERYTHING in life on it. I would say I ride the fence 50/50 in my belief of what she tells me .

Anyone a RAT? I am a GOAT, whatever that means

Shannon

 

[alikat99]

You're SO good to keep the Christmas cruise a surprise. I can't even imagine trying to do that. I gave in when Emily started begging to go back on the "Mickey boat". I told her that it wouldn't be until next Christmas and she was not happy at all. Then, she was concerned that Santa wouldn't know what to do with her presents. I did tell her that Santa wouldn't be bringing our presents to the Magic, but that I was sure that he would just leave them at home and we'd get them when we got home from vacation.

 

[alikat99]

Anyone a RAT? I am a GOAT, whatever that means

Hello GOAT!!! Actually, I'm not even sure what I am!!!

 

[ShannonR]

You would be my absolute idol, Amy, if you could make a Christmas/Disney fish extender with your new sewing machine . I would end up sewing my finger to the material if I even looked at a sewing machine. If I attempt to make anything, it will definitely have to be a non-sewing kind of project, otherwise I will have to buy one. I don't have a crafty bone in my body, unfortunately and would find a way to ruin the sewing machine.

I do, however, have some friends who ARE good sewers and maybe I could bribe them, to make me one. They have such cute fabric at Christmas time with Disney print on it (even scrub tops that I could buy and cut up ).

Anyone else making one?
Shannon

 

[ShannonR]

Well, Amy, all I CAN tell is what I have learned from Criselda. There are 12 years in the Chinese astrology (I don't even know what they all are, really ) Some are better than others, of course, when it comes to patience or energy or love, etc... Mix that with your SIGN (Scorpio, Libra, Sagittarius, etc..) and that is WHO YOU ARE. I am a GOAT and a Sagittarius. Cris says that means I am lazy and obsessive/complusive. However, because, I am 100% Irish, that superceeds the Goat (she says this because I am an all go-no quit-all energy kind of gal). Are you confused yet, because I am and am most of the time when she talks to me about this stuff. Example: Pisces people are always laid back, like to sleep kind of people!?! Geminis are hot tempered!?! I could go on forever, but it makes my brain hurt so I will stop! I just smile at her and say okay . and agree with whatever it is she tells me (sort of the same as the Disney looks we get, wouldn't you say? )

Shannon

 

[Diana Lyn]

Wow, I have some chatty friends today!!

First off, Welcome to the newcomers!

We spent the afternoon at the beach, so yes, it is warm again in Florida. 80 today and the sun is just gorgeous today. The water is like ice though but there were plenty of people in there swimming. I could hardly stand just dipping my toes in.

I'm really excited for this cruise, but we're cruising on the Wonder in just 34 days, so right now my mind is set on that.

BTW---I'm a rat. I know this b/c the placemats at the Chinese restaurant we used to eat at (You guys like Mexican and Greek, I LOVE Chinese food) had the Chinese Zodiac on it and I used to read it saying, man, what a crappy sign I get---the rat. I'm a Capricorn and the classic Capricorn traits fit me to a T. [SIZE=-1]Practical and prudent, Ambitious and disciplined, Patient and careful, Humorous and reserved. [/SIZE]On the dark side....[SIZE=-1]Pessimistic and fatalistic, Miserly and grudging. I really don't believe in that stuff, but it's scary how that totally describes me! [/SIZE]

 

[cgcw]

Whooah, who jump started this thread? There are pages to catch up on.

We may end up driving, depending on what airfare we can get between here and there. Unfortunately, it's more than a couple of hours, more like about 18! It's been a while since we've drove down so we really can't complain too much.

No flying for us, either, since we live close enough to drive down the day before. I do need to remember to get a hotel reservation for the night before - we stayed at the Radisson in 2005 but will likely try Country Inn and Suites this time as we like that chain of hotels and they are a little closer to the port.

We stayed at the CI&S in November. It was very nice and clean. We booked a standard room and were pleasantly surprised when our friend had us upgraded to a kids suite. The boys had their own area, with bunk beds and a race car design jumping out of their wall. Here's a picture:

We will probably also stay at the Port as I've already heard requests to have dinner at Grills again. We did that with our friends in November and my boys especially enjoyed the added attraction of the fishing boats coming in while we were there. Crazy as it seems, they loved watching the fish get cleaned as well as watching the pelicans waiting for a handout. Seeing the Magic & Carnival Glory head out on their voyage was just an added bonus. Thinking about it now, we might have to do that post cruise as we sail on the Magic on Saturday.

I am almost finished working on my scrapbook for our November cruise so these pictures were very handy to post.

 

[cgcw]

Wow, I have some chatty friends today!!

You did not post that just 2 minutes before me.




GMTA!!!

 

[Diana Lyn]

Did everyone purchase their airline tickets through DCL, or are some of you finding your tickets on your own . Last cruise we got our tickets through DCL, but we weren't happy with the prices and/or the times we had to leave/arrive on either day, so we are going to try doing it ourselves this time. I hope it works out okay and we don't regret just making it a part of our package. . I think Rick said we can start pricing the tickets at the end of January. Time seems to be moving so slow right now, but I remember feeling the same way last year and then boom, it was here!

Hope to talk to everyone soon!
Shannon

No flying for us either. We'll probably do like Amy is and drive up to Disney Saturday morning (about 1 hour and 15 mins) and stay the night and then head over to the port in the morning. too mutoo

Thanks for the welcome back - we had a marvelous time at Vero Beach - it was so relaxing and I cannot recommend it highly enough for a place to go for some down-time. There were a few days we said that if they had had free food 24-hours-a-day it would've been like being on a cruise The rec-staff at VB is great - they threw a really fun NYE party that was on par with the DCL deck parties. They had various activities for the kids and adults to do and there was plenty of time for us to just relax in the room. Our balcony was bigger than our ship verandah.

I read your trip report and loved the pics! Vero is definitely on our must do list very soon. We're heading up to Hilton Head this summer so maybe Vero next winter, after this cruise. Too many vacations to take, so little time!

 

[cgcw]

I read your trip report and loved the pics! Vero is definitely on our must do list very soon. We're heading up to Hilton Head this summer so maybe Vero next winter, after this cruise. Too many vacations to take, so little time!

We're heading there too....in July.

I hope to see you there!!

 

[ShannonR]

Well, unfortunately, we live on the other end of the earth (okay it's only Texas, but it feels that way when its comes to getting to WDW )so we have to fly and there are 5 of us so it can get pretty pricey. We will take our time and hopefully get the best deal.

We hope to spend a lot of time at South Padre Island this summer (about 1 hour away from us). We didn't go much last summer because of baseball, but hopefully we will have more time this year. The water stays pretty warm all year round which is nice for the kids!

Glad to hear we have a Rat is our group! Diana: This is your year, Ha!Ha! I hope all goes your way this year and you have good luck the whole year through! You won't get another year for another 12 so LIVE IT UP!!!! (I really don't know what I am talking about, but it sounded good, didn't it? Cris would be proud ).

The kids go back to school tomorrow, thank GOD!!! They are house crazy and half the school year is gone already, can you believe it?

Shannon