MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[CrusinLattas]

I took off for Thanksgiving and came back and had quite the reading on here! You guys have been busy!

Robin - sorry your mom's report was not better! I know how hard it is dealing with a terminal parent and trying to plan for fun! I am glad you are still planning on going - you will enjoy the full days of fun during this time!

Kathy - Finally someone else on deck 1! I have no idea about your room - I have never even stayed on deck 1 but I was starting to think we were the only ones in the basement!

Tenya - hope Carly's results are back soon so you can resume the fun planning!

Thanks so much for the two links - one for the F/E - of course they are calling it a card holder - but it looks perfect and a much better price than the ones on EBAY! I am also glad to have the link for the post office! I didn't know you could do that on line - thanks for that timesaver!

Thanksgiving went by fantastically! We not only survived, but had a great time and enjoyed the company.

Anna woke up this morning so excited it was December! To a 4 yr old it is now time to go on the boat - the next couple weeks will be so long for her!

Last year when we booked the cruise we talked about all the fun things that would happen before it was time to go to Florida again - and they have all passed so we should be there - right?

This weekend we went to Disney on Ice and it was the perfect show to get ready for the trip - the Incredibles went to Disneyland and rode the rides we are looking forward to! I thought my kids were going to rush the ice to see Mickey again! They are both SO excited and ready to go!

Now - I have to get ready to go! Last year at this time I was already packed and we were driving - this year I have so much still to get together!

Oh well - at least it is less than a month for my Vista Spa!

 

[HFC1969]

17 Days til we leave...


Oh... and I have the greatest DW in the entire world..


Just incase she is lurking...

 

[tinkerbell_29]

WOOOO-HOOOOOO !!!!! I have 12 days of work left and 16 until we leave. I'm so excited and so ready for a break from this cold weather. It has now snowed and iced all day I am really hoping for the dya off tomorrow so I don't have to drive again in this mess. I'm ready fro warm weather.

We got our documents today . Now my mom wants em to call and see abotu adding transportation. It has to cost less for that then to park at the port but I hate having to wait on soemone elses time schedule instead of leaving when we are ready to. Besides what do you do with your car?

Lissa

 

[minnie1]

I am about to pack up FE box and seal it. I might be shipping it because I don't think it will fit in our car with everything else.
Anyway, it looks as if last minute cabin switching may be happening. Are we going to have somewhere that we can post any cabin switches that happen at last moment? I have a small magnetic white board that I can put on our cabin for those things if everyone would like that.
Let me know.
Angie

 

[Diana Lyn]

We got our docs today!!!!! It definitely feels real now!!

Question for you all---I know you can't fly with wrapped presents, but can you cruise? Or do I have to wrap once I'm onboard.

 

[xsjackson]

Went to Whistler, BC for thanksgiving. Kidless...a 1st in 18 years! It was fun. I even took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. 4 hour delay at border though. Made for a 8 hr trip home. Ugg.

When I talked to Dreams Unlimited last week they said our docs would arrive Friday but alas its Monday and none of my families 6 rooms have gotten docs yet.

Post Office lost the box I sent to my sister in VA with all my FE gifts in it. Now I gotta think of what to do to replace them. It still might show up but 7 day transport has taken 21 and still a no show!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Question for you all---I know you can't fly with wrapped presents, but can you cruise? Or do I have to wrap once I'm onboard.

Great question! I just emailed our TA to ask. I hope we don't have to wrap onboard! We are bringing just a very few things but I don't want to have to wrap onboard - guess we'll do gift bags if we do.

Yay for getting cruise docs. It's so odd that some folks have them already and others don't.

Susan - yikes about the lost box of FE gifts. Any sort of tracking on it? Hopefully it will turn up in the next day or so.

Angie - having a "last change" place is a great idea. Thanks for volunteering!


I took the boys to get their last haircut of the year. I feel like I'm getting a few things done each day - yay!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Our TA responded to our question about wrapping before boarding... she checked with DCL and said they suggested you wait and wrap them onboard so in case they do want to check them out they don't have to ruin your wrapping.

So we'll go with that.

 

[hinsok1]

I can't remember which one of you remarked about the www.hallmark.com deal where they mail your cards . . . but I wanted to say THANK YOU!!!!

I just finished my cards. This will be the earliest my cards have ever been mailed. I can't believe how easy it was. I was even able to do a little newsletter. I may have paid a little more than I usually do, but right now time is worth more to me!!!!!

Cindy - We all did the happy dance as noted on your count down list for the month!!! We are in the home stretch!!!!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Dec. 2nd - Check that you have all the medications that you'll need for the trip. Mark down if you need to refill prescriptions. Buy motion sickness meds if you want them.

Chewable Dramamine has worked well for my kids - it comes in orange flavor. I have to remember to give some to Nathan just before the safety drill so it will have time to take effect before we sail. Same for me - when we sailed in April, both of us felt sick at dinner. I hated that because we were in Parrot Cay and they had creme-brulee cheesecake which is my favorite DCL dessert - and I felt so bad that I skipped it. Our server remembered the next night and brought me some over in Lumiere's

 

[alikat99]

We got our docs too!!!!

 

[Diana Lyn]

I'm working on my online check in now.

I noticed on the cruise docs themselves it says Wednesday Grand Cayman Arrival 11:00am Onboard 4:30. Yet, I had reserved the Island Tour/Butterfly Farm from 9:30-1:30. I'm looking around in there and there are other things availabe to book before 11. Does anyone know what the heck is going on?

 

[alikat99]

I'm working on my online check in now.

I noticed on the cruise docs themselves it says Wednesday Grand Cayman Arrival 11:00am Onboard 4:30. Yet, I had reserved the Island Tour/Butterfly Farm from 9:30-1:30. I'm looking around in there and there are other things availabe to book before 11. Does anyone know what the heck is going on?

OMG What's going on?? I looked at the DCL website, and you're right, it says 11 - 4:30pm there too. NOT GOOD!!! I wonder what's going on? I thought that originally we were there kind of early, but leaving early too. I guess we'll find out later, huh?!?!? Or, maybe we can call DCL and ask???

 

[CrusinLattas]

You're welcome! It was the best Christmas Card experience I have ever had! Mine got to everyone the day after Thanksgiving and the cards looked great! I'm never going back to the old way again!

I can't remember which one of you remarked about the www.hallmark.com deal where they mail your cards . . . but I wanted to say THANK YOU!!!!

I just finished my cards. This will be the earliest my cards have ever been mailed. I can't believe how easy it was. I was even able to do a little newsletter. I may have paid a little more than I usually do, but right now time is worth more to me!!!!!

Cindy - We all did the happy dance as noted on your count down list for the month!!! We are in the home stretch!!!!

 

[DCLInauguralXmas]

We just got our Doc's delivered UPS! Woo Hoo!!!

It is coming so quickly! I have 3 1/2 days of work this week, spend next week in Chicago for business and then 3 days the following week and we will be packing the car for the airport!

Our cabin numbers are the same that we reserved, so darn no upgrades here!

I loved the daily checklist that was posted last week! It was awesome that I was able to check a few things off on that list.

Have a wonderful week! 18 days and we will be cruisin! Did anyone hear about the Wonder breaking free at the CC dock? It sounds like they were very lucky!

Anyone get any answers on the fuel surcharge being dropped? I saw a thread yesterday that talked about how future cruises have dropped the fuel surcharge, but if you have already booked they won't be lowering the price. There was some talk on onboard credits, but no one knew anything for sure.

 

[nzdisneymom]

OMG What's going on?? I looked at the DCL website, and you're right, it says 11 - 4:30pm there too. NOT GOOD!!! I wonder what's going on? I thought that originally we were there kind of early, but leaving early too. I guess we'll find out later, huh?!?!? Or, maybe we can call DCL and ask???

It might be that 11 o'clock will be the time for non-DCL excursions guests to disembark, and that DCL booked excursions will be tendering over earlier. Also the excursion time that you book is the time you meet for them to get you checked in, etc., so there is a little leeway. My guess is that if you're able to book an early excursion through DCL that you will be accommodated.

But it probably wouldn't hurt to confirm with DCL / your TA.

 

[minnie1]

No Docs yet
Our UPS delivery usually doesn't come until 6p.m. so there is still a chance for today.

I just packed up my box to send off to the ship. Let's hope it gets there.

I have 2 finals and a group presentation left and then the semester is over. I can officially concentrate on the cruise after that (not that I'm not already in cruise mode ) It is cold here and I need some sun.

Angie

 

[psharrock]

I see from a thread on the main DCL forum that disney have stopped the fuel surcharge for new bookings, but existing bookings can only get it as an OBC credit, if the fuel price at the start of the quarter was lower than $70/barrel, so in our case it was much higher than $70 at the end of September.

I feel a bit let down by this as we originally booked in Jan 06, but had the chance to upgrade in September 08, so we took it and they added the fuel surcharge amount to the new booking.

Paul

 

[alikat99]

I see from a thread on the main DCL forum that disney have stopped the fuel surcharge for new bookings, but existing bookings can only get it as an OBC credit, if the fuel price at the start of the quarter was lower than $70/barrel, so in our case it was much higher than $70 at the end of September.

I feel a bit let down by this as we originally booked in Jan 06, but had the chance to upgrade in September 08, so we took it and they added the fuel surcharge amount to the new booking.

Paul

That STINKS!!! Thankfully, I booked a LONG time ago (Jan 07, when it came out to book), so I never paid the fuel surcharge. And, I wouldn't even be that upset, if maybe I was just getting an OBC (since I would probably spend it anyway). But, if you're not getting one at all, because it was higher that $70 in Sept, that just seems a little ridiculous!!!

 

[psharrock]

That STINKS!!! Thankfully, I booked a LONG time ago (Jan 07, when it came out to book), so I never paid the fuel surcharge. And, I wouldn't even be that upset, if maybe I was just getting an OBC (since I would probably spend it anyway). But, if you're not getting one at all, because it was higher that $70 in Sept, that just seems a little ridiculous!!!

oops I meant Jan 07 when I booked