March 15-22, 2008 Eastern - Way-Way Early Check In

[disneycrazy2004]

I am all packed, but getting worried.... We have 4 suitcases - large, medium, small and duffel bag. Now I am freaking I packed too much.

We are getting a freezing rain storm tomorrow

Anyway, we are all packed, ready to go and can't wait for the sun
We are off to a hockey tournament off Island this weekend and when we come back: Caribbean, here we come - 9 days for us until we leave

 

[limati]

Freezing rain storm - yuck!!! Yesterday it was about 70 here. Today - 40 degrees and pouring rain, chance of snow tonight. Can't wait for warmth!

 

[Pammy jo]

We're staying until Easter afternoon - going to
DTD one day and then MK on Easter day. So the Easter bunny has to come with us. Thank goodness we'll have a rooftop on the van!!!

 

[Gretel]

PammyJo: make sure you get to MK early on Easter, the park has been known to close due to full capacity on that day. If your staying on property you are all right though!

I have to go buy a new suitcase, a friend of my borrowed it last week and it did not return well from Vegas! Counting the days!

 

[tecdavidt]

I pack a 26" size suitcase for each one of us plus one bag for the dress clothes. I also have one smaller size checked bag for toilitries. I protect the toilitries with a lot of bubblewrap. Each one of us will also carry on a backpack and I will have a small roller board for a few items. Hopefully in the smaller toilitries bag I will have room for my 3 diet tonic waters. I pack that by double bagging each bottle in ziplock bags then wrapping each bottle in bubblewrap. The small rollerboard will be for the items that are OK to bring onto the plan and the checked one will be for the liquid/gel etc. items that are typical bathroom supplies. If I am lucky maybe the dress clothes will fit in each of our own bags. Kathy

 

[pop5]

For the ladies......what are you wearing for the formal nights??? Paige

 

[nlm]

For the ladies......what are you wearing for the formal nights??? Paige

I've got a full length black dress that I wore on my last cruise. I'd like to get something else, but I think I've run out of time.

BTW - DH FINALLY went to the Dr. and has the flu and a sinus infection. He's now on antibiotics and hopefully will feel better soon. How's your husband?

Nancy

 

[Gretel]

For Formal night I am wearing a calf length black dress and for semi-formal a skirt and top, both nights black heels.

Three out of the four of my family has colds so hopefully those will be gone soon too! Over and done with. We know a lot of people who have the flu (type A) and just thankful we just have colds. My oldest daughters boyfriend has it and has not gotten out of bed for three days (except for the bathroom run. Poor guy!)

 

[pop5]

My husband is doing much better. Tamiflu works wonders. The boys (except one)havent gotten it. They usually dont get most things that go around.Lets hope it stays that way. I havent decided what I will wear for those nights. I find the more I think and plan something the worse I look. Basic black is easy and always works. Cant wait, Paige

 

[carolmp]

I have a long black skirt that I am wearing for both formal and semi-formal night. Just changing the tops for the evening.

I haven't actually started packing yet. Not sure how many bags we will have. I think it's the shoes that are going to take up the most room.

 

[cozit]

We're planning on doing it (me, DD5, DD10). I was surfing the board and came across the following hint:

One tip for that is: when you get on the ship go to Guest Services and ask "What's going on that I have to sign up for?" Then you can go ahead and reserve spots in any of the on-board activities that will be coming up during the week.


Yes, I think I counted about 19 10 - 12 year olds! Unbelievable! DD10 will have sign out privileges - anyone else giving their child sign in/out privileges?

Good suggestion! Especially as we'll be hitting that line anyway

Both my kids will have sign in/out privileges to begin with, although DD9 says she won't want to use them (ok, so she's since said *maybe* to sign herself in sometimes)... and who knows whether or not DD11 will get to keep them (impulsivity ought to be his middle name... thinking? he's *very* smart, but doesn't always think first)

 

[cozit]

We got ours on 2/29 (Friday). Our travel agent is in CA, so the documents have to go from FL to CA to VA - quite a commute for them! We filled out the documents on line, and are driving (no flights or Disney transportation), so the only thing we got in the package that we needed was the luggage tags.

Aww! We didn't get luggage tags :-(

I have to remember two things to do this weekend (well, in with all the other cleaning and gymnastics meet and packing and lesson planning and my own homework and grading papers (that's the one that will have to slide if any)... oh, my I have *way* too much to get done before 6pm on Friday!)... cut out the mickey magnet for DIStag, and get DD9 to make up the magnets... picture's here, but I haven't printed it onto the magnet paper yet... maybe Thursday night...

 

[cozit]

For the ladies......what are you wearing for the formal nights??? Paige

Calf length black dress, with jacket... I don't love it, but it'll do (arg! one more thing to do... hem the sleeves up an inch and fix the tacking job done on one lapel (it was pressed correctly, stitched incorrectly.. hangs oddly). Semi-formal. Don't know about shoes though... I can't wear heels anymore and my black flat-types don't *really* go with the dress... either pair (one's more casual... the other has a silly strap that worked well with another dress, but... maybe I'll get lucky - lately no-one has sold a black flat that fits my foot at *all*... silly arches)

Same thing semi-formal nights DD9 has a formal and a couple ok for semi-formal night dresses.

 

[cozit]

For those of you flying - How many suitcases/carry ons are you taking? I think we will have 4 carry ons and 1 medium sized suitcase. I am trying to pack lightly and I wonder if I'm doing okay.

The Easter bunny should be ready for us on Easter morning (he may be hopping a little slower!)

11 DAYS

We're aiming at two large (one's a rolling duffle) and two small... I think just above *real* carry-on size (kids were just gifted them by grandma, so we're stuck with them rather than a third large/medium. And then carry-ons for each (activity bags for the kids, DH probably gets the overnight bag, and I get my computer and whatever else I put into that backpack carryon).

We might get away with less than that as I've pretty much decided to do a wash around Tuesday or so... we'll see... I'll decide for certain on Thursday night.

 

[cozit]

Hey Nancy, my husband has the flu also. That is exactly what I was thinking-get it now and not in 2 weeks!! Are you guys busy doing your packing AND getting Easter baskets ready for the day after we get back?? Paige

The flu is *everywhere* it seems. I know 3-4 adults who were diagnosed with the flu (rather than just "flu-like"). The kids and I got the shots/mist, DH always gives excuses so he didn't this year, unfortuately. I'm not sure how well mine took as I got the pneumonia shot in the same arm... and had a two+ month reaction to it (quite swollen for over a week over both shot areas)..... so who knows how my body picked up what or not. Fingers crossed...

And hoping that all who are ill recover well before the trip, and that no one is ill *during* the trip at all!

 

[happymommy]

DS and I had the flu a month ago. Really sucked. DD just got over pinkeye. Has everyone been sick? Seems like it!

I'm probably wearing a knee length little raw silk black dress (sleeveless) for formal night. Very simple; looking for a little black wrap for it. It is getting late, so now I'm shopping in my own closet. I've owned this dress for 16 years! Yikes! DH is just doing a suit.

The kids can't use the clubs the first night from what I uderstand, right? Except for with the parents to check it out.

I'm wondering if when we board and I take the kids to the pool, will they have time for a quick shower before the sail away party, or before the first dinner seating? I'm not swimming, therefore I can go as I am! I'll bring dry clothes in the carry on for them. Has anyone done this? I like to rinse them off after swimming. Luckily we have two rooms, so they can be showering at the same time. So 30 minutes should be sufficient (even if DD's hair is damp who cares).

I've been shopping for the kids lately - why do they have to grow? I thought my DD could wear the same swimsuit size as last year - wrong! Got a few from Lands End for her, plus rashguards for them both.

Yeah - it's getting soon!

Amy

 

[tecdavidt]

I will be wearing a black cocktail dress and dress sandles--no hose.

I checked the weather for St. Thomas on Weather.com (from the weather channel) highs for St. Thomas look like 80 to low 80's right now.

Weather in Orlando Friday will be low 80's.

It is too early to have Saturday pop up on the 10 forcast. I also check before I pack to make sure I have what I need incase the weather dips much cooler than it should.

Iowa had a beautiful weekend last weekend and we went downhill on Mon. It has been cold all week, snowy and icy. Spring can't get here soon enough.

Kathy

 

[tecdavidt]

If I remember correctly, I thought the clubs opened once the ship left the dock? I remember the long lines to check in and getting pagers--now you can do this at the port unless they changed that from our '06 cruise. Kathy

 

[PixyDusted]

I'm wearing a knee-length black dress for formal night too! And black heels. I'm bringing a whole bunch of dresses so I'll probably wear one for semi-formal night too.

 

[nlm]

My husband is doing much better. Tamiflu works wonders. The boys (except one)havent gotten it. They usually dont get most things that go around.Lets hope it stays that way. I havent decided what I will wear for those nights. I find the more I think and plan something the worse I look. Basic black is easy and always works. Cant wait, Paige

I'm glad your husband caught it early enough to get Tamiflu. DH waiting a week before going to the doctor - too late for Tamiflu!

I haven't actually started packing yet. Not sure how many bags we will have. I think it's the shoes that are going to take up the most room.

Ahhh, shoes! DH made fun of me for taking 5 pairs of shoes - and then he realized he was taking 4!

If I remember correctly, I thought the clubs opened once the ship left the dock? I remember the long lines to check in and getting pagers--now you can do this at the port unless they changed that from our '06 cruise. Kathy

In '06, you checked the kids in at port. They also implied that you couldn't leave the kids in the club on the first night - but loads of kids were being left there anyway. Anyone with more recent experience?

I'm wearing a knee-length black dress for formal night too! And black heels. I'm bringing a whole bunch of dresses so I'll probably wear one for semi-formal night too.

You're a woman after my own heart! I'm bringing four dresses - but would rather bring a different one for each night. For the sake of packing, I'm limiting myself.