MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[ShannonR]

Good Sunday Evening everyone!!

I have gotten a few PM regarding the Ornament Exchange and Secret Santa Gift Exchange and let me start by saying, Thank You for all the reassurances you have that I can actually pull this off! I am going to try my best and I already have some lists going and ideas how to make these activities work the best. I also got to thinking that the Secret Santa should be a FAMILY activity, not just for kids. I got a PM from one person that reminded me that not all people involved will be traveling with kids, and I want EVERYBODY to be able to take part in this activity! It's Christmas, right? What does everybody else think? I have ideas for both adults and children. Please give me some feedback so I can better plan. I know it's still early, but I would like to be organized by September for both the Ornament and Secret Santa so others can plan as well.

Shannon

 

[BearFan]

Sounds good to me Shannon! I'll have to put my thinking cap on and work on some fun activities/ideas for the cruise. We had a whole lot of things going on during the summer repo cruise but that one was a 14 day cruise so we had much more time together. I'll look though my info and see if some of the ideas couldn't be transferred. We're going at such a special time of year, it needs to be especially magical.
BF

 

[nzdisneymom]

I think for the Fish Extender (or Secret Santa or whatever we want to call it) part that each DISer can decide for their own family if they want to give out one-per-stateroom or if they want to leave things throughout the week. I think that having a good list of DISers on-board and their traveling-party-make-up will be helpful -- I have some ideas for adults and some things for tweens / teens and some ideas for the younger set, so what we might put together for one stateroom of DISers might be completely different than what we would drop off for another. So having a list of who is traveling will make it easier.

Like we're in Cabin 6116 - Mom, Dad, 12 y.o. boy and 11 y.o. boy. (of course we can put names, etc.) For us, it's fun to see what is left for the boys, but it's also nice if there is a little treat for us as adults because we all love finding surprises (shoot, if you all want to, just leave the lotion from your cabin in our fish extender and I'll think we've hit the jackpot - I love that lotion - just ask your cabin attendant if you can have an extra tube and drop it off at Cabin 6116. That would be Cabin 6116!! ).

For the ornament exchange, I think it would be good to have each DIS-family assigned to another DIS family -- and then you drop off your ornament early in the week so those who are decorating in their cabins can display them.

Speaking of decorating - have you all given any thought to what you might bring to decorate your cabin? I have a tiny tree that I use in my office that I might bring, and of course the boys' have their stockings.

 

[BearFan]

OMG! I never even thought to decorate the cabin!!!!!! I think garland would be an absolute necessity and small-ish stockings to be hung from magnetic hooks on the cabin door. Should I go with the holiday Mickey fish extender or an all-season one, hmmmm, let me think about it........ Oooh, Oooh, how about Christmas cards for everyone?!? I'm going to have to bring an extra bag for everything!


BF

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Hi Everyone,
I've just got a few minuts but I thought I'd drop a quick note. Why I thought getting my masters online would be easier than sitting in a classroom I'll never know.

ShannonR I think I sent you a PM about being involved in the fish extender and other stuff. If not we do want to be. In my few minuteswhile my kids are testing I'll see if I can come up with any ideas for activites and such. We are going to be decorating our room have some stuff we used last year at WDW and plan on getting a little more to put. I've even made a few christmas door signs.

Amy could you add my mom b'day to the list on the first page it's 12/17. She's going to be 60 but shhhh don't let her know I let anyone know that.

Got to get back to class hope everyone is well.

Lissa

 

[pogopossum]

for our room we have a little lighted fiber optic type tree that we bought at wdw in 06 at christmas. and we'll bring our stockings from home to hang by the ? with care, i guess we'll figure that out once we are there.

have to decide if we'll bring the tiki decorations or not. last cruise we used those command wall hooks from 3m with the sticky stuff that comes right off after you are done, they worked on the walls, but when we left the verandah door open, (ssh don't tell anyone), the humidity made them not as sticky. shouldn't be a problem this time since we won't have the verandah.

we haven't really gotten into full cruise commando mode yet, but after american airlines announcement today about luggage charges, i'm glad to be driving. we can each bring our two heavy bags, and save enough money for two tanks of gas.

so far april has been really busy, and may is shaping up to be busy as well, if the mavericks would cooperate it would be even busier. oh well, at least the stars look like they will make me some money. a stanley cup finals would really be welcome.

i think i like the idea of the ornament being the secret santa gift and giving it early for cabin decorating. then trinkets for the fish extenders, however you personally wanted to leave them would be cool.

 

[sailingshamu]

Hi we are already on the front page as disneyzell's neighbors!
We finally got hooked up Drew put Christopher's age as 12, but he is 11.
We are very excited to set sail. We would like to be apart of the ornament exchange and fish extender gifts.

This will be our 2nd cruise. We are looking forward to meeting everyone.

Hopefully I will come back and check this thread soon!

Good bye for now!

Kim

 

[DisneyZell]

sailingshamu! It's good you finally got on our board! This will be such a fun cruise. We cannot wait.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Kim - welcome to the board! Glad you finally got on here with us.

7 1/2 months til we sail -- woo-hoo!

 

[DisneyZell]

Hi everyone,

Was thinking about a thread I was reading about gift baskets from Shirley and saw Shannon asked the question of what people had put in them. Does anyone here have any ideas? I was thinking of ordering one for my two boys (6 & 10) but don't have a clue as to what to put in them. Any thoughts would be great! Thanks.

Deanna

 

[ShannonR]

Good morning everyone!

I just got done working 5 VERY busy nights in a row (where do all these babies COME FROM? People need to find a new hobby! ), got Monday night off, and I go back tonight for another 4 in a row. I spent most of my day off yesterday in bed going between being in a coma and watching CSI.

Hey Deanna: so you saw my question on the gift basket thread, right? Did you also see how many responses I got to it? I guess we will just have to wing and see what Shirley has to offer? I LOVED the baskets my kids got on the last cruise and want to get some really neat one for them for Christmas!

Mitchell has a baseball tournament that starts today and I than God everyday that I have an at home dad that is able to be with him through all these sporting events! I miss a lot of them because I work nights, but at least he has one parent and Rick either videotapes and/or takes pictures of all of them so I can see.

I am SOOOO ready to have school done with for the year!! I am tired of homework, projects, ironing clothes, etc... Does anybody have any big plans for summer break? Rick is taking the kids back to Michigan for two weeks in June to visit his parents, Mitchell has BOTH baseball AND basketball, and we go to Dallas for a week in August for a GT learning camp for Mitchell.
I might also put Melissa in a phonics camp in July.

Well, I am going to sign off for now and go to Walmart for groceries.
Shannon

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Woo-hooo! Just counted we have 21 days of school left. Is it wrong for the teacher to be excited about school almost being over? As for summer in June i'm doing major cleaning on my classroom. July we are going to Alabama to see family. August 1st-14th we will be at WDW. I'm looking forward to the break.

Lissa

 

[DisneyZell]

Lissa, I think the teachers are the ones who are most excited about summer vacation! My sister is a teacher and my mom used to be, and they were/are always counting down until their next vacation. Up here in New Hampshire, we still have 31 days of school left (those darn snow days.) We don't get out until June 19. For our summer plans, I am taking my boys to California for 2 1/2 weeks right after school gets out, and then we will be going to Hershey, PA for a weekend in August. Of course the whole month of August is accounted for with football practice for both the boys, so that will be it for us.

Shannon, if I think of anything for the gift baskets, I'll let you know. I can't wait to start looking for an ornament for the gift exchange. Has many people responded to you yet?

I'm not sure if I gave everyone our room # yet, but if not, we are staying in 6528 and our friends (sailingshamu) are in 6530. Anybody else in the same area?

Well, better get going to make sure all the homework is done before bedtime. Have a great night everyone.

 

[minnie1]

WELCOME to all the new members. We are all so excited for this cruise!

I also can't wait for school to be over, mainly because of homework and projects. How many projects does a 3rd grader need to have anyway!

I just took my last final. I start classes again on May 20th. I am taking 3 summer courses. I am really trying to finish this degree as fast as I can.

For the summer the girls have 3 camps(VBS, Girl Scout Camp, and Dance Camp). Those are all in July then we will have a few weeks off. We will be going to the shore every other weekend through June and July. Then we will be at WDW from August 14-21.

Shannon, did you get my PM about being part of the exchange? Let me know what I need to do. Thanks,

Well I am off to paint my kitchen. I am redoing my kitchen over my break before summer classes start.

Angie

 

[HFC1969]

Just returned from WDW and DCL last night at 11pm....


What a great time... but all is go for Christmas 08! The DCL rep says there is still plenty of rooms available..

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi everyone. We're counting days til school is out -- 13 more school days and 18 calendar days. We're heading into our busy season as far as traveling so we'll be in and out for a while. Can't believe we're at the just over 7-months mark already. I've been reading trip reports with an eye toward excursions in Cozumel.

And the kids STILL don't know!

Gosh, I hope I can write that still when it's 7 DAYS before! and even 7 HOURS before!

 

[DisneyZell]

Gosh, I hope I can write that still when it's 7 DAYS before! and even 7 HOURS before!

Isn't it a great feeling to keep this cruise a secret for so long! We did it for our last cruise and boy were they surprised! It was hard, but well worth it. I have been keeping my eye on the price of airline tickets for this cruise and am hoping they come down or southwest opens up their dates soon. So far the best price I have found is $285 per person from Boston to MCO, but I am hoping for around $200. Hopefully southwest will come through and have spectacular deals...yeah I know I'm dreaming, but one can hope. We have even considered taking the train down for $400 RT (for all 4 of us), but it would take a full 24 hours to get there and back. We don't mind the 24 hours to get down there, but I'm sure we will not want to do the 24 hours to get back! And that is just in the coach class, not the sleeper cars. Oh well, my kids want to go and celebrate our dog's 1st birthday now, so I better get the dog ice cream out...I know, I know, but the kids think it is fun. Talk to you all later,

Deanna

 

[tinkerbell_29]

17 more school days for us. I'm trying to convince my kids that school is not out yet and we still have to work but they don't believe me. it might have to do with the fact that were going to Dollywood on a field trip and they are very excited. We are in the midst of planning a cruise for 2010. We want to go back to Europe but are considering taking another cruise line. Just not sure which one yet.

Lissa

 

[DisDancerina]

17 more school days for us. I'm trying to convince my kids that school is not out yet and we still have to work but they don't believe me. it might have to do with the fact that were going to Dollywood on a field trip and they are very excited. We are in the midst of planning a cruise for 2010. We want to go back to Europe but are considering taking another cruise line. Just not sure which one yet.

Lissa

How is Dollywood educational???

 

[tinkerbell_29]

It's not. We are allowed to take one fun field a year at the end of the year. This year the whole school is going to Dollywood. Next year we are thinking about taking the school to WDW for a week. Were a small private school.

Lissa