March 10, 2007 - 7 Day Western Magic

[I'mWong]

Suz...I just looked at our reservations...finally and realized we are having bruch on Monday at 11:00. I thought we were on for Thursday, but that is the tea. I wasn't sure what time you have the craft planned for, but wanted to let you know we had that scheduled. Not that I would expect everyone to work around us. Just wasn't sure what time the open time you were talking about takes place.

Shannon...one of the emails I sent to the people who hadn't posted in a while inviting them to join the fun, turned out to be your husband. That is funny! I didn't realize you had both at one time posted!

One last thing...how do you find the Navigators from January? Where are they posted? I would like to look them over. I have the ones from our trip last year, but assume things might have changed since then.

Everyone have a great day!

 

[kperkins0407]

Laura,
I have seen the personal navigators posted on-line in several places. I first found them by googling them. The latest one that I found from a few weeks ago was at www.wdwinfo.com Click on cruise and then scroll down to navigators. Hope this helps. The print is very small.

I called the credit card company and the house alarm company tonight to let them know that we will be out of town. Wanted to make sure that the alarm company would have someone to contact in case the alarm goes off while we are gone.

Linens N Things had space saver bags in a large set. The set has 2 boxes with several sizes. With the 20% coupon it was about 24.00. Much cheaper than the ones at the container store. I have never used them to travel with, but thought I would give it a try. Has anyone else used these vacuum bags?

Kim

 

[Suz D]

Suz...I just looked at our reservations...finally and realized we are having bruch on Monday at 11:00. I thought we were on for Thursday, but that is the tea. I wasn't sure what time you have the craft planned for, but wanted to let you know we had that scheduled. Not that I would expect everyone to work around us. Just wasn't sure what time the open time you were talking about takes place.

Laura, looking at the January navigator for Monday it looks like there is free time from 2:30 to 3:30 for the 10-12 year olds and the 5-9 year olds have a craft/free time until 2:45 and then free time until 3:30 so if that holds true I was thinking about meeting at 2:30. That DOES include the 15 minute transition time as well.

Shannon...one of the emails I sent to the people who hadn't posted in a while inviting them to join the fun, turned out to be your husband. That is funny! I didn't realize you had both at one time posted!

One last thing...how do you find the Navigators from January? Where are they posted? I would like to look them over. I have the ones from our trip last year, but assume things might have changed since then.

I don't know if I can post the link, but I found it here on the disboards under Disney cruise line information at the top. Then I clicked 7 day Western and on the left hand side clicked "Navigators". Here's the link in case it works.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/1-13-07/index.htm

Everyone have a great day!

Suz

 

[I'mWong]

I have never used them to travel, but I love them to pack my winter clothes and blankets in for storage. I think I am going to find my way to Linens and Things. There isn't one of those close to me. There is a Bed, Bath and Beyond. I wonder if they match prices. Anyone know?

Suz, thank you for the information about the time. I am glad it was later. While I don't want anyone to wait on me, I don't want to miss the fun either!

When we booked the cruise, we booked in cabin 6536. Yesterday when I pulled up our reservations, we have been moved to room 6570. Not sure why we were moved. The other room was right by the stairs at the end. This one is more midship. I guess it doesn't matter. I read the report on both rooms and they seemed about the same. I thought maybe we had gotten moved because the other room was an ajoining room, but when I looked online, so is this one. Shannon, will you let Morgan know the change in the room? I am sure Sarah will email her as well.

A couple of the people I emailed sent me a message back. One was Shannon's husband, and two others moved to different ships. I guess that would explain why they stopped posting!

I haven't started any of the suggested books yet, but I have been gathering some titles. I am reading Holes with my son, though. It is really good. I loved the movie and the book is pretty much right in line with the book so far. Makes my son laugh and that is what I love to hear!

Great day to everyone!

 

[MECH8T7]

Laura...Thanks for updating the roll call. It looks great.

I noticed that our cruise is now one of the ones for which DCL is offering "Magical Rates". The pricing they are showing ($999 pp) is based on Cat. 12. Just wondering how that rate compares with the fares when the cruise was first released (i.e., first tier, early booking fare).

 

[ShannonR]

Good afternoon everyone!

Just woke up from a very long, and depressing two nights at work! I swear there must be a sale on cocaine this week, because we had sooo many cocaine addicted mothers! I even admitted a heroin addicted (and I mean ADDICTED) girl who was only 21 years old. There wasn't an inch on her body that wasn't covered in track marks and she had been using since she was 14 years old! I was both disgusted with her and sad for her at the same time. I got her through the initial withdrawl (that was tough for both her AND me ) and got her into a extended rehab program for the duration of her pregnancy. Early this morning, I had a lady come in who was such a chronic abuser that she looked like she was 60 years old (she was only 29) and she decided to snort too much cocaine while in the bathroom (I could tell what she had done as soon as she came out of the BR, abrupted her placenta and killed her baby (she was 23 weeks pregnant with her 5th child). We did an emergency C-Section but it was too late The really pathetic part was that she was too high to realize and/or care what she had done I'm not sure, but I think I am in DESPERATE need of a vacation.

Melissa did pretty goo with her surgery! The surgeon was 1 hour late, of course, and he found a hole in her right eardrum that he had to repair with a skin graft from her outer ear, but she seems to be fine today! Her poor little hands are a mess because, from what I can see, they poked her 8 times before getting her IV started! She has an appointment in one week to see in the graft is going to work. He said that it was no problem that she go on the cruise, but CANNOT get her ear wet! The graft has to heal for a least a month!

Mitchell has basketball practice tonight. It's finally back up in the 80 degree weather mark. It's about time.

So the times are as follows: Meet and greet on Sunday at 9:30AM at Topsiders and the craft project on Monday at 2:30PM by the pool, right? I want to make sure I am where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be there!

We got Morgan a whole new wardrobe from Kohl's on Monday. They had 60% off on a lot of their junior's clothes. New shorts, pants, tops, etc.... Mitchell had plenty of clothes and well, I constantly shop for the baby. It so easy to over shop for a 2 year old girl!

Rick made up our "family business cards" to pass out on Sunday! They are so neat! They have our photo on them and the information the kids will need to find each other! Can't wait!

Talk to everyone soon! Shannon

 

[jpilgrim]

Shannon; my oldest, Sophie, got ear tubes last year when she was 8 years old.
Best thing we could have done for her since she had a 30 percent hearing lost in both ears because of all the ear infections.

In terms of Melissa not getting her ears wet, did they tell you about Doc's Proplugs. Sophie wears them whenever she washes her hair or goes swimming. Do a search under this name and you can get a link on where to pick them up before the cruise.
Cheers
Janice

 

[Marsh Family]

Shannon, glad to hear about the sugery going well and that they were able to fix up the hole right then and there, at least she only has to recover once. is the graft site on the outer side of her pinna or more by the lobe?

I found it quite ironic that i read your post last night just before going in to work and then we had 2 moms in with coccaine addictions, one who right after delivery pulled the cord off the placenta and then had to have a manual removal (she was high at this time). Babies aprehended. so very sad.

sorry to hear of your night, those night suck you dry in so many ways.

Going to see if i can figgure out how to make the cards on the computer, have a night off the back for the final 4!

going to sleep now for a bit...

Erin

 

[I'mWong]

Just noticed you were logged in and wanted to say, Hi. I am at lunch break and thought I would see what is going on.

What does everyone think of the announcement of the two new ships?

 

[Marsh Family]

Sorry Laura I must have missed you, I am really finding these boards so great to go to and enjoying posting with everyone, can't wait to see you all in person! And the kids are very excited as well.


Courtney has so been enjoying emailing to your DD. She looks on the computer after school to see if anything new has come in.

I have no idea about the 2 new ships, have been working and sleeping the last few days so completleyout of the loop! do let me know.

Erin

 

[discruiser]

Just saw the news about the 2 new ships. How exciting! Sure would be nice to have one sailing out of Houston/Galveston.

DH and two of the kids got their luggage tags and paperwork today. I would have thought both sets would have arrived together, but they didn't. Hopefully the other set will show up tomorrow.

 

[ShannonR]

That's great news Kim! We have been looking in the mail for the past couple of days for our paperwork, but nothing yet How long do we wait until we get nervous and contact DCL?

Everyone in our house is now healthy and Mitchell never got the URI that plagued this house for almost a month!! (knock on wood) In one week from travel time, I am going to have everyone start taking the Airborne and Ecchinacea in hopes to keep us from getting sick while on vacation (again, knock on wood).

Janice, thanks for the information on the ear plugs. We ordered some for Melissa today in pink! Hopefully they will help her with swimming and baths. When we went through this with Mitchell, we had to wash his hair with him upside down for a long time before it was safe for him to get his ears wet.

Today, we were trying to determine just how much cash to bring with us for shopping, etc... We were thinking $500.00-$700.00 What is everyone's suggestion? I know that almost everything can be charged to your room (which is exactly what we do at WDW), but I say it is better to have more than not enough.

Hope to hear from everyone soon!
Shannon

 

[MECH8T7]

We got our cruise docs today, too!

Now that Laura was kind enough to update the roll call with where we're from, Erin's comment about her heated garage got me thinking that maybe we can pass the these last few days before we descend on Florida by telling each other something interesting about where we live? Or maybe we can exchange funny stories about previous Disney or non-Disney vacations?

I'll start with a tidbit about where we live: We live in Toronto, which is in Southwestern Ontario. Did everyone know that Walt Disney's grandfather settled in a Southwestern Ontario town called Bluevale (near Goderich on the eastern shore of Lake Huron) and his father, Elias Disney, was born there in 1859? Honest. (see the excerpt from a WED bio at the following link: http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679438229&view=excerpt)

Anyone else?

 

[Suz D]

Today, we were trying to determine just how much cash to bring with us for shopping, etc... We were thinking $500.00-$700.00 What is everyone's suggestion? I know that almost everything can be charged to your room (which is exactly what we do at WDW), but I say it is better to have more than not enough.

Hope to hear from everyone soon!
Shannon

Shannon, you will only need to bring with you what you will spend in port. They don't accept cash at all on the ship. Everything is charged on your room key. You can tip in cash, but that's it. You also will need cash if you want to buy stamps on Castaway Cay as they don't use your room card. Everything else on CC is charged to your room. That was a weird thing for me to get used to. We only brought about $200.00 in cash and came home with pretty much all of that.

Suz

 

[kperkins0407]

We also only take approx. $200 cash. Mainly for traveling to and from Orlando. (food at the airport, tips at the airport, etc.) Most places in port take credit cards. During the year I Keep a jar of all of our change...the week that we are leaving I take it to the grocery store and put it in the coin machine. Usually end up with $75 to help with some of the things that I forgot to budget for.

Travel agent left me a message today stating that Disney shipped our documents today and that they will be ready for me to pick up Monday.

As for the 2 new ships....I am looking forward to seeing where they are going.


Glad tomorrow is Friday!

Kim

 

[ShannonR]

Unlike you, Kim, I am NOT happy it is Friday because it means I start my run of 5 nights in a row tonight! (but I am definitely happy for you!) Every once in a while I am envious of the 9 to 5 Monday through Friday jobs that have every weekend off (only once in a while, though). I get 5 days off every two weeks (when I don't work any extra) and make good money to work 3 days a week, so I guess I shouldn't complain, right?

We leave two weeks from today! With any luck, this last bit of time will fly by (then I want time to slow down drastically) We have several basketball games, orthodontist appointments (both of the older kids have a full mouth of braces) and follow up ENT appointments for Melissa.

I am hoping to get our documents in the mail either today or tomorrow. I keep a planning journal and trip journal (I have all our planning and daily activities written down for every WDW trip since we started going years ago) and can't wait to make THAT entry!!!

Have to take Morgan to school, now and Mitchell to the orthodontist. Talk to everyone soon!

Shannon

 

[discruiser]

We tend to use mainly credit cards when we cruise, as well. However, we like to take some cash. Singles are good for tipping porters (who help with your bags embarking and debarking) and room service onboard the ship. We will also be taking cash for Cozumel. We are thinking of getting a taxi and going to Paradise Beach. We will need cash for the taxi and also for food, drinks, etc. at the beach. Paradise Beach does take credit cards, but according to (the menu on) their website, a 20% service will be added to credit card purchases.

This brings up something else. We were in Grand Cayman and Cozumel last January (2006) on a Carnival ship and we bought some small souvenirs (shirts, earrings, etc.) in each port using our credit card. When I got the bill, the charges for Grand Cayman were correct as we were charged in US dollars in Grand Cayman. However, the charges for Cozumel were higher than what we were told in the shops. If I remember correctly, our card was charged in pesos and the credit card company charged us a service fee for currency conversion. I think it amounted to around 10% of the original charge. I wasn't aware of this beforehand. Fortunately, our purchases weren't big, but I would have been upset if I had bought an expensive piece of jewelry and gotten charged more than what I thought was paying. This was on the Disney Visa. Don't know if all cards are this way or if the shops are still charging in pesos, but it's something to keep in mind. Anyone else have any experience with this?

Hmmm....as far as something interesting about where we live, here's mine. This is related to the talk the other day of the shuttle launch scheduled for March 15. We live just outside of Houston, about 10-15 minutes away from the NASA Johnson Space Center. The space program is a very big deal around here. We have many friends and neighbors who work for NASA. But our neighbor two doors down is an actual astronaut. He has been on three missions and was mission commander on his last mission. I believe he is scheduled to go back up next year. He and his family are some of the nicest people you could meet.

 

[I'mWong]

Good morning everyone!

I am with Kim...TGIF! I have to conduct a training over some new technology we got today after school for an hour and attend an 8 hour training tomorrow, so it isn't going to be a very long weekend for me. I hope everyone gets all their last minute stuff done so rest can come next weekend! Shannon, I wish time went slower on the cruise too, but to me it seems to go by so quickly. The biggest let down is that last night when you know you are getting off the ship the next morning. Always makes me blue!

Got word today that our uncle's kids have decided to turn the respirator off tomorrow after the 1:00 visitation ends. The doctors have told them there is pretty much no hope. If he survives the respirator removal, he will be moved to a hospice center once he is stable enough, or he will stay in the hospital until the end. It is sad to come to this point. I have so many memories of him in just the years I have been in the family. I am so sad for his kids and my MIL and DH. Say extra prayers for us this weekend. I think we will need all the strength we can get.

On another note, is it too late to book excursions through the website? I tried earlier this week and either I couldn't figure it out, which I hope is not the case, or it is too late. I could look at them and read about them, but not book them.

A tidbit about Houston...hmmm...each year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo comes to town in late Feb. through mid March. It is the biggest rodeo in the world and often brings some of the most popular entertainers of the time. For the past three years, we have taken our daughter and son to see the "Disney" entertainer. Three years ago, it was Hillary Duff, last year we saw Raven and this year it will be the Cheetah Girls with Hannah Montana on March 4th. I am skipping this one since I will be at a scrapbook retreat. I wish I could somehow tie Houston to Walt Disney, but can't find the connection. That is pretty cool about your connection, John.

Have a great weekend everyone! Two weeks and counting for us too!

 

[discruiser]

Laura...I just pretended that I was going to book an excursion online and it looked like it was going to work (I stopped before I actually booked the excursion). I got there by going to My Cruise Plans (on the left) after logging in with my reservation number, clicking on Reserve Excursions under the Shore Excursions tab, finding the excursion, selecting it and hitting the Continue button. The next page will allow you to select a time (if multiple times are offered) and the guests who want to purchase the excursion. Then there is a yellow Reserve button which should reserve your spot. I went as far as the last page but didn't hit the Reserve button to see if it would actually go through.

Hope this helps.

 

[jpilgrim]

Laura, sorry to hear the latest about your uncle. My prayers for you, your family and his family.

God Bless
Janice