March 10, 2007 - 7 Day Western Magic

[Goofy559]

Only 6 more days of work till we leave for the trip!!!! While I haven't been at all diligent in posting (hence why this is post #2) I have enjoyed continuing to read everyone's comments - sounds like a fun group.

I tried to convince my daughter she wanted to scrapbook, but, because she's travelling with two other friends, she decided she'd rather hang with them and make new friends along the way....

I'm hoping to make some truly canadian mouse ears for the door....just working on how to make a Canadian flag become that shape.....the joys of being computer challenged!!!

In terms of an interesting fact about Toronto, we are home to two "hidden" subway stations, one of which many of you have likely seen on film pretending to be a NYC subway platform. Known as lower Bay station, it was only open for a few months, before being deemed too awkaward to route trains through!!! It is likely that Keanu Reeves (Johnny Mnemonic) and Mira Sorvino (Mimic) have spent more time in one of Toronto's coolest, yet unknown locations than any Torontonian ever will!!! Incidentally, for the next few weekends, they are doing work on one of the subway stations, so trains are actually passing through this hidden gem. There is also a second roughed out station, underneath the Queen station -- it was the beginning and end of the proposed Queen St, subway line -- it was roughed in when the original Yonge St. line was built in 1952.

That's all from relatively mild (2C) Toronto!

Lisa

 

[I'mWong]

Hi all.

We got our documents last week around Wed or Thurs. Haven't really looked at them too closely, but I verified our room number. We are in 6570. I ordered two baskets from Shirley at The Perfect Gift and wanted to make sure they made it to the right room. I ordered the Pirate's Chest for my son and had her make a beach bag for my daughter. She is going to include some sand toys for CC and a beach towel and flip flops as well as whatever else she comes up with. We ordered last year and they were a hit! They are already in the room when you come in and they kids are soooo excited to see them. She did a great job. I took some pictures, but those are on the card that I lost.

Shannon...Sarah is really enjoying talking to Morgan. It is funny. She gets really excited when the phone is for her and then they have a hard time thinking of enough things to say. Tell Morgan to feel free to call her anytime. She is usually up until around 8:45 or 9:00. It makes her even more excited to get to the cruise and meet the girls. Our internet is up and down, so neither her or Gregory have been able to send any emails. My DH is supposed to call today and see what the deal is. We are having our yard landscaped, but we still have cable tv, so don't think they did anything. Oh well...we'll see.

I am not sure what time early dining is, but maybe we can make a quick meet right after the sailaway party and then plan for something later. With the early departure in key West, I think we might be too pressed for time. If we meet on Saturday, atleast we can say hello and share the cards we made with our info so we can contact each other by phone. Everyone would also know their dining rotation and we could see how many would be affected by the Character Breakfast. If not too many or maybe with any luck, none have the CB that morning, we can still have the same 9:30 meeting. What do you think of meeting right after the party up on deck 10?

Why don't we all try to post a picture of our family so we can easily recognize each other? I think we might even run into each other at the port. I don't know how to post a picture, but if someone could send me some directions, I can post one from work. I have our Christmas picture here on my computer. It is time to put a face to these names!

We haven't made any signs yet, but hope to within the next week. We will probably make them on the computer and put the magnetic strips across the back. That is what we did last year and it worked well. I think it would be fine to have your kids draw pictures, or whatever makes you happy. Kim was saying she bought foam shapes from Michaels and I think that is a great idea as well. I might "borrow" that one too. Have to see what shapes they have here.

The info about your hometowns has been fun to read. Kim...when I was a kid, and now that I am a big kid, I loved going to San Antonio. I think we went there atleast every other year growing up and my DH and I have been there too many times to count! My favorite place to eat there is Margaritas. We go to San Marcos to the outlet stores a lot and always drive back home through San Antonio. I LOVE it there! Now I will have a new friend to meet up with!

Gotta go, but I am getting more excited every post I read.

PS...our uncle died within 15 minutes of turning the respirator off. Obviously, it was his time to go. I am glad the suffering is over for him. When they moved him over on Friday, he was so frail that another of his bones broke. He had to be in so much pain. Thanks for all of your kind words and prayers. Now his family can have some closure.

 

[ShannonR]

Good afternoon!

We got our travel documents today!!! We also got Melissa's earplugs today!!!

Rick (being the computer genius that he is ) has created some beautiful magnetic door signs as well as "family cards" for us! He put a lot of time and energy into them and I am pleased with the results. Morgan also drew some pictures on magnetic paper to put up on "the girls room"

I will tell Rick to scan a family picture and post it (because I am CLUELESS on how to post a picture ). Have we finalized times for the meet and greet and the scrapbook project yet?

Kim: We are doing the trolley on our own only because we have a two year old and want to be able to get on and off when we need to. The only two excursions we are doing with DCL is the horseback riding and the parasailing. The submarine we are doing on our own (again because of the age requirement with Melissa ).

Laura and Erin: Morgan is enjoying taking to Sarah and Brittany! She is like her mom and LOVES to talk! She is SOOO excited to meet all the girls she has been writing and/or talking to!

I am listening to my Disney CD's (Disney's Greatest Hits Volumes 1,2, and 3) and can't wait to go on this trip!

Only 6 more working nights for me (4 scheduled and 2 extra) and then I am off for 2 weeks!!!

Shannon

 

[I'mWong]

 

[jpilgrim]

Hi Laura, saw your picture --- looks good and I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. My youngest, Nicole, gets along very well with boys and when she saw Gregory's picture she said "maybe I can be his friend".

I saw on the last list that you prepared that Sophie's name is listed as Sophia. Could you please correct. Thanks

Can anyone tell me if the bathroom door is also metal.

John has prepared the magnetic door decoration and the "business" cards to hand out at the meet and greet. I can't wait.

Janice

 

[MECH8T7]

Laura...Condolences to you and your family for your uncle's passing. It sounds like he was suffering and I'm sure he was comforted by the love and caring of his family at the time of his death.

Thanks for mentioning The Perfect Gift in your previous post. I googled it and found their website. I'm going to ask Mary to give them a call and see if we can have something small made up for our kids

 

[Suz D]

Laura, so sorry to hear about the loss of your uncle. Even when it is someone's time to go, it's very hard.

Here is a link to our pictures.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=13609&sort=2&cat=500&page=1

We are decorating our door as well, but I'm waiting on a new ink cartridge. It's supposed to be here tomorrow. We've got a busy week ahead of us and I've got a school board meeting on the day before we leave.

We've had a bit of a bummer for our trip. Jeff has been so stressed out (he's home with a migraine right now...he had to cancel class tonight). Anyway, he's been so stressed out that he forgot to write something very important on his calendar. ARGH!! We are leaving March 7th for WDW and he has important (critical) meetings at work on the 8th and 9th. He was so distressed to realize that he'd completely forgotten to write them on his calendar. They'd been scheduled for almost a year so it just slipped through the cracks with everything that is going on in our lives right now. (For those who don't know, we started foster care for an 8 month old baby girl, I'm a new member of the school board-read LOTS of time, and Jeff is going through the tenure process at the University).

The bottom line is that we had to change his ticket and Katie and I will be coming to WDW alone, Jeff will fly in Friday evening. He was flying on a free ticket and of course all of the free seats were gone for Friday (the night before spring break, duh!). We had to pay $230.00 just for that leg of the trip! Depressing.

Suz

 

[I'mWong]

Janice, thanks for pointing out the name correction. I made it. I apologize for that. Names are important things and should be correct! That was the sweetest thing Nicole said. I know Gregory would love to meet her. He gets along well with boys and girls. Thanks for looking at the picture. I hope we can spot each other from the pictures.

Suz, I am sorry to hear of the problems Jeff had with the meetings. I am glad you were able to save all the money earlier at WDW now that you had to spend so much to get your husband there! I guess the really good news is that the meeting wasn't during the cruise! That would have been terrible.

John, I know you will be happy with the baskets you order. There is a thread that has some pictures of different baskets that she has made. If you do a search on the disboard you will find it. Might give you some ideas as to what to put in them. Last year we got two sand pails and they were filled to the brim with stuff. When you call, they will ask your child's favorite snacks, drinks, etc. Ask to speak with Shirley. Just to see how excited the kids are makes it worth it to me. Have your camera ready when you open the door!

What is the latest on the meeting?

Have a great day everyone! We are definitely in the countdown mode!

 

[jpilgrim]

Here is a picture of our family.

Pilgrim Family

 

[Jara]

I just quickly skimmed this thread and there are a few families that have posted once but haven't posted anything else. These families have girls who might want to scrapbook...

Jara

Kath1210

Michellej2000

Let me know if your daughters would be interested in making the craft with the other girls from the "Dis". The more the merrier and we'd love to meet all of you.

Suz

Hi Suz- I have been busy working and had not logged in but finall got a chance tonight. My daughter Rubi would have loved the scarpbooking... I am sure all the girls will get to meet at the different activites. If your daughter is interested have her e-mail Rubi our e-mail is jara@entouch.net
Thanks,
Ana Jara

 

[kperkins0407]

I am having trouble figuring out how to post the family pictures. Would appreciate any help / directions.

Thank you!

Also, just heard that the shuttle lift off has been pushed back to at least April. Too bad--I would love to have seen lift off while we were in Cape Canaveral.

Kim

 

[Goofy559]

No document dance for us -- yet.....while both families we are travelling with had received their documents, our were missing in action. I called DCL last night and learned that they had been sent out Feb 20. Now, I know that Florida and Toronto are good ways apart, but...long story short, UPS delivered them to the wrong address, in the wrong city!!

All has been straightened out, and a new set is being express couriered our way...just a word of warning for any one else missing their docs!!

Six days and counting till we leave for Florida!!!

Lisa

 

[MECH8T7]

Speaking of cruise documents, are any of you bothering to check-in online beforehand through the DCL site?

 

[Goofy559]

We completed all our docs on line. All you have to print and bring is a three page form -- having crusied before, I found it much easier than trying to complete everything in that little booklet they send you. You can't do the bahamas immigration forms online though.

We also registered Sage for the clubs online.

I've heard through other posts on the DIS that doing the forms online really speeds things up at the port. Infact, when the folks at DCL saw that we had done so, they said "why do you want your cruise packet? you can get the luggage tags and the bahamas form at the port"

To which I replied "...'cause I like getting mail from the mouse!"

 

[I'mWong]

Kim, I did a search on how to post pictures. The directions were posted on the technical thread. I just followed them step by step. If you have any problems, let me know and I will try to find the thread again.

We have already checked in online and registered my kids too. Last time we sailed, you were even able to pick up the wristbands and pagers at the port. Warning...remember the password you register your kids with. I didn't last year and had to quiz the guy for clues

Lisa, I am glad your documents are on the way.

Janice, I love the picture of your family. That is such a cute pose. Thanks for posting. Suz, your is great too. Everyone else, can't wait to see yours.

Anything new on the meet yet? I know some people are leaving early so we might want to make sure we have that decided for sure before too much longer.

Have a great day, everyone!

 

[MECH8T7]

Also, just heard that the shuttle lift off has been pushed back to at least April. Too bad--I would love to have seen lift off while we were in Cape Canaveral.

Rats!...Details in the story at the attached link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17362178/

 

[ShannonR]

Good evening everyone!

I just finished my last run of 5 nights before we leave (I still have 4 more nights starting on Saturday). Come Wednesday morning and it's officially vacation time for me! I don't go back to work until the 23rd of March! I hope to not see ONE pregnant lady in that entire 2 weeks!

Is everyone flying in at least the day before the cruise or there some people who are flying in that day? If everyone is in the vicinity on Friday, maybe we could all meet Either Friday or the Saturday before cruise time (even in the terminal, if necessary). I don't know if this is even a possibility (remember this is a first for us), just a suggestion.

Suz-any concrete thoughts on the craft project time/place yet? It probably should be someplace that is not windy, right?

Mitchell has one more basketball game on Saturday then on to tournaments (which we will miss ). However, the alternative is what we have been waiting an entire year for!

Melissa has her follow up ENT appointment tomorrow to see if her ear skin graft took or was rejected. I am also going to have him fit her with her new earplugs! I really am hoping that she doesn't have to miss our on the pool because of her ears!

Talk to everyone soon!
Shannon

 

[Suz D]

We're doing the document dance here in Indiana!

Shannon, I'm so glad you are almost finished! Hooray for vacations

I don't have anything concrete for the craft project. Time wise, I'm planning for the first free time on Monday. On previous Navigators that was around 2:30. We are going to be in cabin 5514. If you do not make it to the meet to exchange contact information, please call and leave a message on Sunday at some point and tell me your name and cabin number. I'll plan on calling each of you on Sunday after I see Monday's navigator to firm up the time, but it will definately be Monday afternoon.

I'm going to scope out the ship after lunch on Saturday to check out where we might "play" if it's really windy. I called them but didn't get a lot of info. I'm thinking there are a couple of options. Guest services on the ship wil be more helpful I think.

Shannon, it would be nice to meet before hand. We are going to be at Magic Kingdom until Friday night so that would be out for us, but probably not for everyone. Jeff's plane doesn't land until 8:15 Friday night so Katie and I will leave the park after Wishes. Our transportation will pick us up at 9:30 Saturday morning so we should be in the terminal no later than 11:00. Let us know if anyone decides to meet at the port and we'll be there.

I can't believe that we sail a week from Saturday. Next week is just going to fly by!!

Suz

 

[Marsh Family]

well everyone we are in the final countdown, 24 hours and counting..

our room #'s are 6049 and 6051 Suz would love to hear from you with the time and place of the meet (if it has changed or does change) and the time of the scrapbooking project. Thanks
Shannon, so glad to hear you are on vacation soon, i am enjoying it soooooo much, although so much to do to get ready, last minute things, laundry (of course) and then we are going to pack the van tonight and head out tomorrow. Brittany is having a blast chatting with Morgan and Roxanna! she loves to talk on the phone with her as well, I think they have alot in common.

so this is probably my last post, Have a safe journey everyone and so looking forward to seeing everyone, I have not had time to post a pic and don't think i will have time (since that would involve me looking up the instructions and actually finding a pic) but will be looking for some of the familiar faces (great pictures, by the way) ... and will be at the meet and greet whenever it is!

see you all real soon.

Erin

 

[NoFussRuss]

Sorry if I have not posted in a while, but I stopped getting those e-mail updates from this board! Don't know why - but I have found my way back!

Got all my docs late last week - but still waiting for my kids passports ! It has been 9 weeks now and when I contact NPIC they told me not to worry since I should have them before the trip. Here is the catch - I had to submit my kids original birth certificates with the application - so that leaves us with NO id for the kids to get on the ship! Sweating this one out! Their passports expired in November and December at the post office was just to hectic to try to get it done then - so we did it on Jan 2.

Otherwise we are pretty much set to go. We will be heading to Orlando on Friday staying at the airport Hyatt on Friday and heading to the ship Sat. morning. Hopefully the kids will get some pool time out of the way on Friday
followed by a good night's rest.

I now have to go back and read about 150 posts to see what everyone has been saying! Bye Bye!