March 17, 2007 7 Day Eastern

[disneypoor]

Hi, everyone! I'm finally back to work! We had Thursday and Friday off because of ice and snow. The news reported that we had 13.2 inches of snow here in Ottawa, Kansas! I didn't think it was ever going to stop!

My family is really starting to get excited for this cruise! Some of you may recall that we booked through Expedia and it was a big ordeal. Well, Expedia is supposed to pay the remainder of our cruise balance the 10th of December, so I'm anxiously awaiting Sunday to see if it really happens or not. Regardless, we'll be on the ship! It will just be a lot better if Expedia pulls through and holds to their mistakes and promises. We'll see.

My mom was just recently diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer, so she will be having surgery next week. I'm hearing that cancer in the thyroid is one of the best kind of cancers to get if you're going to have cancer at all. I'm praying that it will be gone once she gets her thyroid removed and that it hasn't spread. We'll need lots of prayers over the next couple of weeks.

Have a great week everyone! I'm really liking seeing the numbers on our tickers going down and down and down!

 

[DW4US]

We lucked out the with weather --- we live on the right side of town!!! Just a little ice, but the kids were still out of school both Thursday and Friday!! Did a little bit of shopping this weekend, it really wasn't too bad. So far so good, I have a stop to make a Best Buy tonight --- hopefully they'll have what I'm looking for.

Disneypoor --- we'll keep you and your family in our prayers. Hopefully everything will work out.

 

[TiaMaria]

disneypoor - that's a lot of snow!!! Keeping you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers. Going through similar times with my Dad these days - just trying to keep him as comfortable as possible.

We are to the point now in the weather that it melts a little during the day where the sun hits, but freezes up HARD again each night. Still so many in the metro area without power - we are SO lucky in that regard. I was on vacation Thursday and Friday but found out today that they let people start going home at 3pm on Thurs - but told them they had to make it up Friday or take 2 hours unpaid!! Friday was not any better in the morning! I sure picked the right time to take off.

C'mon March!!

 

[disneypoor]

TiaMaria--I was just thinking about you! I was reading in our local paper about all of the power outages in St. Louis. I'm sure glad you have power! Our paper said it could still be several days before all of the power was restored. I hope they get it up and going sooner than that though.

I've been teaching for 13 years, and this is the first time we've had snow days in November. We did get a couple of days off in early December last year, but November is a first for me! We went on our first DCL cruise last May and left the day school got out, so I was so worried that we'd miss too many days for snow and that we'd have to make up time and it would affect our cruise. We didn't have to make up anything though!

My mom is having surgery next Wednesday to remove part of her thyroid. I'm hoping that we'll get good news back after the surgery. I found out about her thyroid cancer while we were in CA for our DL vacation with my husband's family for Thanksgiving. That was a real bummer! I just hope we've caught it in time.

Have a good rest of the week everyone! Our snow is finally starting to melt a little.

 

[disneypoor]

Hi, all! I'm just bumping us back up. I cannot believe that in just 8 days I will be able to make reservations for Palo and excursions! It's really almost here! What kinds of excursions is everyone doing? Hope you are all having a good week. I'm just glad it's almost Friday!

 

[DW4US]

Hi everyone!!!

Bought our insurance this week and authorized the final payment on the cruise today . I'm starting to get excited now! Now I just have to make some excursion reservations and we'll be all set. I think we are going to just play it by ear in St. Maarten, maybe find a beach to play on and I'm sure we'll be shopping. In St. Thomas we'll probably do one of the St. John snorkle excursions. I know we could go over by ourselves but we feel more comfortable doing one of Disney's excursions.

I guess I better start concentrating on Christmas shopping! Seems like everything is slipping up on me again!!! Every time I turn around there's someone else to shop for!

Have a great weekend and keep warm!!!!

 

[jenbrem1]

Happy Friday everyone! I'm jealous of those of you who can start booking excursions. I counted back and I think the day I finally can is January 1. 75 days back from sail date is what it reads.

As far as our excursion plans, I'm not sure what we're doing. When I've cruised before, we've played it by ear and just found taxis off the boat. This will be the first time traveling with kids and I'm not sure I'll be able to be so casual about it.

 

[disneypoor]

Patty--we'll be there with you on the Disney excursions to St. John. I'm just like you--I think we could probably book it on our own, but I'm scared to. I need to go and check it out the first time with the security of Disney and then maybe branch out next time on my own. We still aren't 100% sure of what excursions we want to do. We've got to do some serious researching and talking about it this weekend. I'm more concerned about when to book Palo. I don't want it to interfere with dinner at night, so I'm not sure when to book it so that it won't be right in the middle of something we want to do. Any suggestions? I was thinking brunch but don't know what day to plan for.

 

[TiaMaria]

Happy Friday everyone! I'm jealous of those of you who can start booking excursions. I counted back and I think the day I finally can is January 1. 75 days back from sail date is what it reads.

As far as our excursion plans, I'm not sure what we're doing. When I've cruised before, we've played it by ear and just found taxis off the boat. This will be the first time traveling with kids and I'm not sure I'll be able to be so casual about it.

Hi Jen - You are right and I'm in the same boat (no pun intended). Our date is January 1. If you are out/up late for New Years Eve - you can hop online a couple of hours later and book whatever is left with me!

 

[jenbrem1]

I can't remember the last time I was up until midnight on New Year's Eve. I'll make an effort this year. Can we log on right at 12:00am?

 

[DW4US]

Jen --- I don't think they open up the booking window until 2:00 am central time --- so you'll have time to take a little nap!

Disneypoor --- We're going to try for brunch on one of the sea days. You can go out on this site and look at navigators for the eastern cruise to get an idea of the kinds of things they have going on in the mornings on sea days. They only thing you have to be careful of is a conflict with your character breakfast. If you have early dining the breakfast will be plenty early for you to go to it (you don't have to eat) and then go to brunch later. I don't know what time the character breakfasts are for late dining, but I would imagine if you booked around 11:00 or so you'd be in the clear. I think we're going to book the St. John Trunk Bay Beach and Snorkle Tour. We liked it better than the 5-Star --- you get a little tour of the island and we got more beach/snorkle time. Good luck!

 

[disneypoor]

Patty--I think we're doing the trunk bay excursion too. That's about the only one we know for sure we're doing. I hadn't even thought about our brunch interferring with our character breakfast. Is there a set day for character breakfasts or do they vary? Thanks for the help!

 

[disneypoor]

I can't believe I forgot to post this! Expedia pulled through and paid off the remaining balance of our cruise today! I even called Disney Cruise Line to verify that we were paid in full. I can't believe they actually held true to their promises, and I'm one happy camper!

 

[jenbrem1]

By the time those of us newbies are allowed to ask for reservations on January 1, is there a chance that anything is still available? I'm thinking about dinner reservations on Thursday night.

 

[SB's Mom]

The character breakfast is based on the dinner rotation. In June, when had late dinner with our rotation starting in Parrot Cay and our breakfast was on Friday.

I paid our balance yesterday!! We can start booking on Sunday! I don't recommend the dolphin encounter. It was a terrible boat ride to Anguilla! We are looking into 2 Island tour in St Maartin. We haven't decided on anything for St John.

Looking forward to Palo's! It was so wonderful before. I understand that they changed and you don't serve yourself at brunch but you waiter is with you and prepares your plate.

They also changed Topsiders from a buffet to a cafeteria style place.

Looking forward to March!
Charlene

 

[DW4US]

Are we still doing a big Palo's brunch?????

 

[DW4US]

Jen -- I think you'll be fine booking excursions 75 days out. I think they only release so many at each booking window --- that way they don't shut everyone out.

Disneypoor -- I hope everything went well with your mom today

 

[disneypoor]

Patty--mom got through the surgery just fine. Now we have to wait and see how everything comes back. Thank you for remembering us. Have a great day!

 

[DW4US]

I'm happy to hear the surgery went well --- I hope you get good news.

Have you decided on your brunch yet? I saw your post out on the "regular" board. I think we're going to try for Thursday (first choice) and work back from there. On the navaigator I was looking at I noticed a DVC reception we'll want to go to on Sunday (if they have it at the same time on our cruise) so I wanted to leave Sunday morning free. We haven't decided on a Palo's dinner yet --- hate to leave the girls high & dry and I don't want to miss a "special" night. But, on our other curises we've done Palo at night and the girls loved going to dinner on their own --- I think they got a lot of special attention from the servers! I can't remember how old your kids are, but they might enjoy being "adults" for one night. On our first cruise my girls were 10 & 13 and our friend's daughter was 10 also, and they had a great time just the three of them. After dinner they kept walking by Palo's trying to see in --- so funnny .

What is everyone else planning --- not many posts lately, guess everyone must be busy getting ready for Christmas.

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

Just a quick post to tell everyone that the group website is updated.

We paid our cruise off this week too. We leave 90 days from today!!