MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[nzdisneymom]

The Clubs become "adults only" after 9 pm except for Studio Sea which is always a family club. Diversions definitely is open for families during the day - we introduced Nathan to Scrabble in Dec. 2005 on our first cruise there. It was a great place to go relax and watch the ocean sail on by on a sea day. They also have DVC meeting in there sometimes as well as other activities. I only went by Diversions late one night as we were usually doing something with the kids. They were doing the Pub show (the CMs put on a hilarious show) - definitely not a "family" show, but funny.

 

[hinsok1]

SO, question: Everyone is talking about magnetized signs for their doors. Does this mean that the doors are metal (steel)? And does Disney not want anyone to use masking tape? AND, if that is the case, where are you all getting your magnet printer paper....Best Buy had none.

I also was looking for the paper, found out that several of the stores only carry it on their website . . . .so that isn't an option anymore . . . I am sending DH out tomorrow to get the magnet strips. I have post it note pictures paper I was going to try, but have been advised that it is not allowed. Magnets work great.

 

[hinsok1]

Now I am just hoping my DD (4) doesn't have ear problems flying - she can be a bit of a drama queen! At least she loves gum for a little while! DS (2) doesn't like gum, but has the tubes so I don't think the pressure will bother him.

A friend once suggested something called Ear Planes . . . I think you can get them at Walgreens . . . they are suppose to help the ease the pain from the pressure . . . it might be worthwile looking into . . . ?

 

[SnowWhite2]

Hi everyone! I can't keep up on the reading. One more day at work and then I'm free

Does anyone know if there are any special "treats" for the Christmas cruise? Like a Ducky Christmas litho in the room or a chachke with DCL Christmas 2008 printed on it? I know one year for NYE every cabin got a NYE engraved gift. Just wandering how much space to save for extra stuff to bring home.

I hope everyone is packing and feeling the excitment...only a few more days.

Laurie

 

[BearFan]

I think it will be shown at Diversions in Beat Street (by the nightclub area). I know my husband will be there also. We have lived in Minneapolis for 18 years and he is still a die hard Packer Fan!!! Being able to watch the game has definately been a topic for him!! He even has his Packer clothing packed!

You have to tell your fellas to go easy on me in Diversions. I'll be the one in the Bears Jersey.(what a surprise) Maybe Rich Purpura will be on board again so I have some company cheering for my team!

Gee, I feel like a downright wimp griping about a -18 wind chill, man. You Canadians are from hearty stock. I tip my hat to ya!

Lisa Marie

 

[minnie1]

Well I am totally packed. I can't believe I got it all in. It is rainy and yucky here today and changing into a winter weather advisory this afternoon. At least driving weather for Thursday and Friday look good for now. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I don't have any business cards but I thought maybe I could print off some labels and then stick them on to index cards. Would that work?

Have a great day everyone. For all of you that are starting you travels, be safe and we will see you when we get there.
Angie

 

[nzdisneymom]

It's 59-degrees here in north Florida today, so all you folks heading south, be prepared for some warm-to-you weather. I'm packing my jacket

I didn't get anything done for packing last night, but we did get DH a new pair of jeans for the trip - he needed some so this seemed like a great time to get them. Then we watched A Christmas Story on DVD with the boys - somehow I think they'll never have the cultural-references necessary to fully appreciate that movie.

Three more sleeps til I can tell the boys....

Angie - I think labels on index cards is perfectly fine! I already had some blank business cards so that's what I used.

Speaking of address labels - I read a tip that you should bring some address labels that have your address on them already so that makes labeling your luggage tags at the end of the trip so much easier. You know they give you those tags to put on your bags so they'll know what area to put them in inside the terminal? This way you can just stick a label on instead of having to write all your info on it. We did that before and it was so much easier (we didn't do it the first trip and I had 8 tags to write). I just remembered it so I need to put address labels with my to-be-packed-still stuff.

Happy Tuesday!

 

[Diana Lyn]

I don't have any business cards but I thought maybe I could print off some labels and then stick them on to index cards. Would that work?

I don't have business cards either, but I was planning on just printing on heavy cardstock and cutting.

I'm SO not ready to go and have such a busy week, I'm actually thinking about just pulling an all-nighter tonight to get it all done. I have no other time. I found a downside to living in Florida--we need all the casual clothes we have to pack, so I couldn't do it over the weekend. Now I have about 10 loads of laundry to do before I can pack. On top of it all, Emma's school, which has been in a temporary location, the new building is ready and they're packing today. So I'm meeting at school at 3 and working there until it's done.

We're leaving 12:30 on Friday whether we're ready or not!

 

[Diana Lyn]

Speaking of address labels - I read a tip that you should bring some address labels that have your address on them already so that makes labeling your luggage tags at the end of the trip so much easier. You know they give you those tags to put on your bags so they'll know what area to put them in inside the terminal? This way you can just stick a label on instead of having to write all your info on it. We did that before and it was so much easier (we didn't do it the first trip and I had 8 tags to write). I just remembered it so I need to put address labels with my to-be-packed-still stuff.

Happy Tuesday!

I've always done this and it's such a time-saver, especially on that last depressing night. I usually print out 6 of them and do 1 of ____ 2 of _____ and then fill in the last number when I know exactly how many bags we're putting out there.

 

[DisneyCamper]

Good morning! It has been a very long time since I last posted and I think I lost track of a few things. Our girls are so excited and looking forward to the trip. We basically leave right after school on Friday.

I know we are participating in the FE but I think I read something about a scavenger hunt(which my teenage DD is very interested in). Is there an itinerary of the planned events for the cruise? Thanks and again looking forward to the cruise.

 

[tinksmom]

Cindy, loved the code for the boys. It was so cute.

To everyone in the frozen north, take care and stay warm. I hope power comes back on today! We've got sub 32 temps with a tiny little bit of ice, not enough to cause problems or cancel school.

Safe travels to everyone leaving today!
tenya

 

[ShannonR]

Can you believe it is 34 degrees here in the south of Texas this morning! This was NOT in my plans when I moved down here! What part of palms trees and sun every day did mother nature not get!?@#! If it weren't for final exams at school and that darn truancy law, I would have kept the kids home from school and under the blankets!

We are taking Melissa to see Santa today at the mall (that is if it warms up in the afternoon) and then Christmas pictures of the kids later in the day.

We are completely packed and ready to go!!!

Shannon

 

[DCLInauguralXmas]

Cruizing Latta - My husband used to have excruciating ear pain when we flew. I mentioned it to my doctor once, and she said to have him take Benadryl a few days to a week before flying and he would not have any problems. I had him try it when we went to Hawaii and he had no problems. He has been taking his Benadryl since Sunday and will take it until we leave on Friday. It is definitely economical. It seems to work for him, you might try it with your daughter!

A friend once suggested something called Ear Planes . . . I think you can get them at Walgreens . . . they are suppose to help the ease the pain from the pressure . . . it might be worthwile looking into . . . ?

 

[alikat99]

I don't have business cards either, but I was planning on just printing on heavy cardstock and cutting.

I was going to just put a label on the back of some family business cards that we have with our names, address, etc. But, Chris found a box of old blank business cards, so we made a few sheets of those.

I'm SO not ready to go and have such a busy week, I'm actually thinking about just pulling an all-nighter tonight to get it all done. I have no other time. I found a downside to living in Florida--we need all the casual clothes we have to pack, so I couldn't do it over the weekend. Now I have about 10 loads of laundry to do before I can pack. On top of it all, Emma's school, which has been in a temporary location, the new building is ready and they're packing today. So I'm meeting at school at 3 and working there until it's done.

Don't feel bad! I think that I'm going to pull an all-nighter tonight too. I really need to evaluate and get done as much as possible. That way, if I need to go out and get anything, or do anything, I still have Wednesday night to do it. I'll sleep on Thursday night!!!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I know we are participating in the FE but I think I read something about a scavenger hunt(which my teenage DD is very interested in). Is there an itinerary of the planned events for the cruise? Thanks and again looking forward to the cruise.

Monday morning, 9:30 at the Promenade Lounge - that's where the Ornament Exchange, Group Photo, and Digitial Scavenger Hunt info take place! Lisa Marie (BearFan is coordinating the Ornament Exchange and Digital Scavenger hunt).

I pulled out our old digital camera and charged it up so we'll have two cameras so the boys can each participate (and also for taking pictures throughout the cruise - our last trip, the boys scolded me for having had the camera with me when they wanted to get some shots).

 

[CrusinLattas]

A friend once suggested something called Ear Planes . . . I think you can get them at Walgreens . . . they are suppose to help the ease the pain from the pressure . . . it might be worthwile looking into . . . ?

Thanks! I have heard of them and never tried them - might be a good time to try them!

 

[CrusinLattas]

Hi everyone! I can't keep up on the reading. One more day at work and then I'm free

Does anyone know if there are any special "treats" for the Christmas cruise? Like a Ducky Christmas litho in the room or a chachke with DCL Christmas 2008 printed on it? I know one year for NYE every cabin got a NYE engraved gift. Just wandering how much space to save for extra stuff to bring home.

I hope everyone is packing and feeling the excitment...only a few more days.

Laurie

Last year we all got lithos - one per room and the kids got a bag full of games/toys from the kids club.

If you have cruised before - there is also the return gift in the stateroom. If I remember last year it was mesh beach bags with cups and some other travel type stuff like suntan lotion etc. I think every time we go back we get the lanyards for the keys to the world - I'm assuming that is always the norm and not packing any - if that is not the case someone let me know and we will pack our old ones!

 

[CrusinLattas]

Well I am totally packed. I can't believe I got it all in. It is rainy and yucky here today and changing into a winter weather advisory this afternoon. At least driving weather for Thursday and Friday look good for now. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I don't have any business cards but I thought maybe I could print off some labels and then stick them on to index cards. Would that work?

Have a great day everyone. For all of you that are starting you travels, be safe and we will see you when we get there.
Angie

Angie, I think that would work great! I used heavy stock paper and just cut mine into business cards.

 

[CrusinLattas]

Cruizing Latta - My husband used to have excruciating ear pain when we flew. I mentioned it to my doctor once, and she said to have him take Benadryl a few days to a week before flying and he would not have any problems. I had him try it when we went to Hawaii and he had no problems. He has been taking his Benadryl since Sunday and will take it until we leave on Friday. It is definitely economical. It seems to work for him, you might try it with your daughter!

That is a great tip! I think I should get her on it anyway - she has had a cough twice this week due to drainage and I have been debating packing her nebulizer - she has not needed it for almost a year, but with the weather lately...Thanks, I would think that would help alot!

 

[CrusinLattas]

Great tip on printing the lables for the bags - I would also recommend putting tags on all your carry on bags. Our first cruise with Anna when she was a baby we had so much stuff to get through all the security checks that we ended up leaving a bag (all her toys and books) at security on the boat - they found it and got it to our room - even though it didn't have a tag, but since then I have tagged everything! There is nothing like the feeling that you are going to be without something you thought was important enough to carry on for a week!

It was snowing as I walked into my office this morning - ice on bridges - I am so ready for the beach! I think it will be back up to nice weather before we leave Saturday AM, so it is really helping me get in the mood to go tropical!

For those leaving already - have safe travels and we will see you in a few days!