MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[DCLInauguralXmas]

Shannon-

That would be awesome to get together after at Port Orleans. Shelby texted Morgan before I could tell her that she can only call her right now. So I would imagine Morgan will be getting a call from Shelby soon. We are flying in the morning of the cruise from Indy. Hopefully that is not a mistake.

 

[DCLInauguralXmas]

When we went on the Disney cruise 10 years ago we did the 4 day land/3 day cruise and we boarded the ship Christmas day. So in our Disney hotel room the kids received a few small presents from Santa along with notes saying that there were a few presents that Santa felt were better off left our house for the kids. It was nice because after the trip was over, it gave the kids something to look forward to at home.

It sounds like Disney has improved the cruising experience in the past 10 years, back then other than the Christmas decorations there really wasn't anything special done in honor of Christmas.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Were staying at AKV after the cruise. Spending NYE at the MK.

Who is heading to WDW after the cruise and where are you staying?

Carly and I are heading to VWL for 3 nights. Joe has to head home and back to work.
tenya

 

[hinsok1]

We travel every other year to family 6 hours away, so the kids are use to Santa bringing everything to the house to be opened when we get back from Grandma and Grandpa's . . . so we will do the same thing this year . . . As a family we are doing very small things this year. . . not sure again if we will bring them with us . . may do it before so they can bring their new gifts with.

DS (7) is still a believer while DD (12) hasn't believed in years . . .

It still doesn't feel real that we will be in warm weather for Christmas!

 

[DisneyZell]

I too can't believe we will be in warm weather. We have already had to turn on our heat this year. We have had a freeze warning a couple of nights ago. This is why I have to get away during the kids February break each year. To me, it doesn't matter where we go, as long as it is warm! This year, we are hoping to trade into a timeshare in the carribbean, but don't know if any will be available. Hope everyone has a great day!

Deanna

 

[tinksmom]

Here in north Texas our highs are still in the 80s. We've had a couple of days in the 70s -- it was beautiful. I'm hoping the water at our ports will be warm enough for me to get in. My toes don't like to be cold.

I've been looking at pirate costumes on ebay and can't decide if I want to get one or not. How dressed-up are y'all getting? Are any of your hubbys or teenagers going to dress like pirates?
tenya

 

[perdy1234]

We are thinking of dressing up for pirate night also but not sure if we'll have room in our luggage for the extra costumes! So we are really on the count down now! Has anyone started packing? I started our list of things to bring last night. I am so looking forward to the warm weather. We have chance of snow for the next few days and it is starting to get cold. I am not a person who should be leaving in the great white north Hope everyone one has a wonderful day. I am off to the dentist!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I haven't started packing but I have started gathering I have a place where I have the fish extender stuff, and I bought a junior snorkel set for each of the boys on clearance in case they want to use it (but Gary keeps insisting that the water will be too cool). I have the binoculars in the pile, too, because when we did the Wonder in April, there were a couple of times we would've enjoyed having them to look at things from the verandah.

I have a list of things in my head that I want to be sure to pack - like walkie-talkies for use on Castaway Cay, a dry-erase board to leave msgs for each other, check the motion-sickness medicine's expiration date to see if I need to get a new box, etc.

 

[tinksmom]

Another "what I learned today during my phone call with DCL" update:

Formal night is night 3 (first sea day)
Pirate night is night 4 (Cozumel)
Semi-formal night is night 6 (Christmas)

Dining rotation is 1223123

As a holiday cruise we should be receiving a letter explaining all of this.

Now, if someone else has time to call today it would be interesting what your told.

Everyone have a great day. I'm off to pick up my new personalized lisence plates -- WDW 4 ME
tenya

 

[ShannonR]

Good morning everyone!! I have the next 7 days off and can't wait for this quincienera (I really don't know how to spell it ) to be over!!! Criselda and I spent the whole day shopping yesterday for last minute wedding, oops...er... I mean quincienera (it's the same thing in my opinion )things. I have a really pretty outfit that I bought that I will also be able to wear on formal night. DH is going to rent a tuxedo this year. Last cruise he wore a suit with a Micky tie, but this time we are going ALL OUT! being Christmas and all.

Here in South Texas, it is still in the upper 80's, lower 90's and sunny!! It's the whole reason we moved down here. I LOVE THE HEAT! The mornings have gotten cooler, though, so I think we will be dropping down to the 80's all the time real soon.

Well. after Saturday, I will be able to focus more on the cruise. Right now, it is all about the quincienera! We have more running to do today. Criselda doesn't drive-her choice, so between her husband and me, we take her EVERYWHERE! Last minute alterations, decoration and jewelry purchasing, and shoe shopping. Tomorrow it is Salon decorating(for you northeners-Hall decorating) until deep into the night. Saturday the service and reception! I can't believe how involved and EXPENSIVE this is!! Criselda says she better elope when it comes time to marriage!

Gotta go!!
Shannon

 

[nzdisneymom]

Shannon - I know you'll be glad when this party is all over -- but I imagine it will be so much fun and that the guest of honor will have a memory of a lifetime!

Tenya - thanks so much for checking on the dining rotations and which nights are formal, semi-formal, and Pirate nights. It falls real nice with formal and semi-formal both being on sea days, and I like semi-formal on Christmas as Christmas for us is usually pretty laid back. What will be weird is that our family usually has it's "main meal" on Christmas at lunch, and then for dinner we have leftovers.

 

[DisneyZell]

Cindy, we usually do a big lunch for Christmas as well...it's all about the leftovers for us! Thanks again, Tenya, for getting the schedule for formal, etc. We have pirate outfits for the boys and myself, we just have to find one for DH. For the boys, last year after halloween we got Connor a Jack Sparrow costume at Target for I think around $4 and we got Nick a different pirate from the movie (I don't the name) for about $5. I think we'll look this year after Halloween for DH.
Deanna

 

[nzdisneymom]

Deanna - I like the idea of post-Halloween shopping for pirate gear. I'd really like to find a costume like Minnie's that she wears for Pirate party - I love it.

 

[hinsok1]

Last time we all dressed up as pirates . . . not sure this time. We actually have dinner reservations at Palo's at 6:30 on the 23rd, so I'm thinking we will leave the pirate stuff at home. Maybe bring the eye patches .. . I'm still not sure how we will bring everything in four bags!!! Last time we took six or seven.

Kim

 

[nzdisneymom]

In April, the boys just wore their Pirates of the Caribbean t-shirts for the Pirate party. I need to look in the halloween box and see what pirate pieces we have from previous costumes that we could use to just accessorize. It gets pretty warm up on deck with the dancin' and crowds, etc, even in December.

 

[njmom23grls]

Gotta move this up from the END of the 2nd page

Not sure if we will do as much pirate stuff as we have in the past (Several people thought we were CM's)- we have fun with it - but the ole fat man issue presents some creative suitcase/space usage issues. Its a borderline time and I want it to last as long as possible!

 

[xsjackson]

We are staying at Port Orleans from 12/27 to 1/2. We love New Years at WDW.

we are staying at pop century 12/27 - 1/2

 

[xsjackson]

We are never home at Christmas ... its a long story. We take a mini tree and have a few presents, mostly disney $$ and gift certificates. Anything big waits at home. My kids are now older but they love to decorate the room and have that Micheal's 1 ft tree. We make a big deal about decorating it on board.

What we are doing this year for Santa is that he will bring a couple of little gifts to the ship for Christmas morning, but will be dropping off everything else at our house while we are gone. We are heading down to Orlando on Wed. so while the kids are in school that day, we will be getting the presents out. We'll pick them up from school and go straight to the airport so they will not see anything. I am thinking of giving the boys the presents from us before we leave b/c I want to give them stuff they can use on the cruise.

Deanna

 

[xsjackson]

I've been looking at pirate costumes on ebay and can't decide if I want to get one or not. How dressed-up are y'all getting? Are any of your hubbys or teenagers going to dress like pirates?
tenya

All of us 16 in all will be dressing up to the hilt. my sister Ginny is mainking costumes. We did not dress up on our 1st cruise and have dressed up ever since. It is fun and we all look forward to it. That includes 3 adult guys, 2 boys and 1 girl teens, lots of kids and 4 women adults. Pictures are fantastic.

 

[xsjackson]

Can you tell it's Saturday?? My coaching job ends the 30th and I will be so excited to get to leave school at 3m instead of 6pm daily. Then I will be ready to start preparing fr the trip.

I am truly enjoying the almost empty nest. My college daughter is away in Philly, my 10grader wants to spend thanksgiving with his cousin in SLC and that leaves my husband and I alone. Yeah! We decided if everyone else was away we would go too. We are going to take the 6 hr drive to Whistler, BC for thanksgiving. oh, alone time.

Next summer we have a RCCL Med. cruise planned. Gotta enjoy kids while I can and enjoy alone time before I get too old

Off to the gym. Got 5 lbs to lose before Dec. when I see my sisters who are all much skinner than me.