March 22-29, 2008 - Here Before You Know It!

[dlf246]

that is scheduled to launch while we are there. I actually use the Kennedy Space Center website to check launch schedules. It's pretty accurate, subject to the million delays they always have.

Here's the link I use:http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches/scheduleStatus.asp

DisneyMom92: If it does launch on March 22, will it be very visible to us?

 

[DisneyMom92]

I would think so. We watched one from Cocoa Beach one year. We couldn't really make out the shuttle, but you could see the flames and smoke from the launch. It was pretty cool.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

OK, It's actually 60 days today that our cruise departs!
But, 59 days before we're officially on Holiday!

Next Milestone? Doing the Doc. Dance!

Still keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see some sort of launch from Cape Canaveral while we there!

 

[akarts]

I've been excited for the last 9 months ...however, my DH (after I informed him we were 2 months from cruising) is starting to get a little glint in his eyes We're staying at the Radisson the night before and would think of it as the cherry on the sundae if we could see a shuttle launch...what time would it happen?

I finally settled on playa mia beach excursion in cozumel for my family....fingers crossed it will be nice!

 

[JerseyBelle]

I finally settled on playa mia beach excursion in cozumel for my family....fingers crossed it will be nice!

We are taking this excursion too. Can't wait. Can't believe there are only 2 months to go. It hasn't been 9 months for us, but nearly 7 months is long enough.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

I've been excited for the last 9 months ...however, my DH (after I informed him we were 2 months from cruising) is starting to get a little glint in his eyes We're staying at the Radisson the night before and would think of it as the cherry on the sundae if we could see a shuttle launch...what time would it happen?

The Nasa Website is still saying Mid-March+ for the shuttle launch.
As DisneyMom92 has pointed out, the kennedyspacecenter website is showing a launch of an Atlas Rocket 5:30ish PM EST on the 21st March. So assuming you make it in to Port Canaveral early enough on the 21st, you should see this. ((And assuming the time / date doesn't change?))

I wouldn't mind a 24 hour delay, so we could watch from Deck 10 of the Magic!

Hopefully our flight will be "close to being on time", and we should be in Port Canaveral early afternoon on the 21st.

 

[joepoe]

52 days!

Trying to decide if I should take a tux and a suit, just take a suit and rent a tux for 85 bucks or just take the tux and wear a t-shirt with it on semi-formal night.

 

[whamma]

Hi All! Today is the day we can start to say our cruise is "next month"! Yeah!!
Plenty of snow where I live so I'm looking forward to sun, sea and sand!!

 

[whamma]

Six weeks and counting!
Anybody out there???

 

[MN Dis Fans]

There's a Blizzard in Western MN, so no hockey today!

So, I guess I will be doing some "Dis"ing today instead.

Next milestone is the "Document Dance" in about 2 weeks? We're definitely / and finally getting real close now!

 

[whamma]

The document dance is new territory for us--but I'm looking forward to it. We too have had plenty of snow lately. 13" last Wednesday--which is a lot at once in this area. We've had 4 snow days from school this year--which is also an excessive number. I work for the school district--so at this rate it's looking like we might be going to school until the 4th of July! Tonight we have a wind chill warning. Yikes--bring me the sun!

I changed a couple of my shore excursions this week. Keep thinking and rethinking things --which can be dangerous I suppose. Starting to wonder if we should maybe cancel those--and just spend more time on the ship when we're at ports--since this is our first time on the ship. Any advice? Also wondering if we want to spend all the extra money on shore excursions! It's been an expensive couple of weeks for us--we decided to buy DVC last week. Which is exciting. Wish we'd done it 5 years ago!! We'd be that much further ahead... oh well. It's exciting though.

I've also been thinking about decorating our door. Bought some sticky magnetic sheets to decorate for that. Sorted through DD's summer clothes this week. Started a list of "what-to-wear-to-dinner" clothes. DH and DS are griping about having to wear a tie on vacation. So much to think about in the coming weeks! But it's all good because it means we'll be cruisin soon.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

So much for the Global Warming thing. It's colder than -20F, as it's off the scale on my weather station AGAIN this morning. Brrrrrrrrrrr.

DW is in charge of packing for the DS's and herself . I think I'm going to do the tux thing for me & the boys, so we don't have to lug around extra gear. Plus, the DW likes it when her men get all spiffed up.

All shore excursions booked; spa reservations for the DW booked; PALO brunch booked; airline booked and seat reservations assigned; door magnets done; hotel reservations before and after cruise done; car rental done; online check in done. Hmmmmm, what am I forgetting? Oh yeah: The extra money to pay for it all!

Whamma: As far as advice for getting off the ship: Every family is different, but I would recommend that you get off the ship at each port, even if it's only for a couple of hours to shop or walk around. My $0.02 worth anyway.

We're getting closer and closer. Cruise time will be here before we know it.

 

[work4diz]

Hi, I'm a newly registered disboard member (although have been reading and using so much good info for our wdw trips over the past few years - thanks to you all!!)...anyway, we will be on the march 22 western and I thought I read somewhere that the disboard members meet on board the first day. If so, where can I find out more about where/when/etc? Thanks!!! First cruise!!!

 

[whamma]

work4diz! I don't think there's been a plan yet about meeting the first day. (I'm a new Disboard member too on our first DCL cruise.) Along with meeting on the ship, I'm also wondering who is up for doing "Fish Extenders" while we're cruising?

 

[DisneyMom92]

Unless I've missed something, we have not scheduled a meet? Anyone want to step forward on this one? I think it would be great fun.

I would love to do the fish extenders too, but wondering where to get one at this late date (sewing challenged here, but might be able to whip one up with felt and glue?). So I'm game for that! Someone with experience needs to organize that too, I guess? Not sure, but reading about it, it sounds fun!

I agree with MN Dis Fans, I would get off the ship at each port, especially if this is the first time you have travelled out of the country. Things are so different and each port is different. It was a great learning experience for the kids, as well as being fun. You wouldn't necessarily need an organized excursion, especially at Grand Cayman and Key West, both have plenty to do within walking distance. I think I would go away from the port at Cozumel. But that's just me.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

My DW got her (our?) fish extender (reasonably priced) off of E-Bay. I know she would be interested (if anyone else is) of doing some sort of exchange, or leaving little trinkets / goodies in other extenders.

Cruise Meets: I guess this will be our 5th cruise, and we've never had a great deal of luck with cruise meets. The problem as I see it has always been that the location has not been definitive enough on the ship. One was scheduled for Deck 10 (for any of you that have ever cruised, Deck 10 is large, and with 500 other people on the deck, pretty hard to figure out who is a Dis'er, and who's not ); I've seen other threads that have met in one of the lounges, and think these might have been better attended. We're quite happy to meet other folks on the cruise, (and have always managed to meet other Dis'ers whilst on board) I would just suggest that a very explicit location / time be given so there is no question as to where / when the meet is. ((Or perhaps some creative sort do up a sign for a Dis-Meet?))

 

[brendat22]

There's a Blizzard in Western MN, so no hockey today!

So, I guess I will be doing some "Dis"ing today instead.

Next milestone is the "Document Dance" in about 2 weeks? We're definitely / and finally getting real close now!

This is weird but I am in MN as well and my girls hockey was cancelled for the same reason - this cruise can't come fast enough! We were supposed to have a playoff game in Bemidji but the freeway was closed because of the weather!

 

[whamma]

My DW got her (our?) fish extender (reasonably priced) off of E-Bay. I know she would be interested (if anyone else is) of doing some sort of exchange, or leaving little trinkets / goodies in other extenders.

Cruise Meets: We're quite happy to meet other folks on the cruise, (and have always managed to meet other Dis'ers whilst on board) I would just suggest that a very explicit location / time be given so there is no question as to where / when the meet is. ((Or perhaps some creative sort do up a sign for a Dis-Meet?))

I bought my fish extender on eBay this morning. I'd been watching/bidding on one but then a new "Buy It Now" came up. DisneyMom92, you might look for one there. I was successful using "fish extender" as my search name on eBay. SO, I am planning to participate in the fish extender fun.

A try at a meet sounds good. MN Dis Fans or another veteran might have the best suggestions for location. Certainly can't count on the newbie here to suggest the best spot! Maybe closer to cruise date we can set a place and time.

Thanks for the advice re: shore ex. vs. staying on ship. I'm planning to leave things as they are for now. I know I have up til 3 days before departure to cancel.

Oh, and by the way, I'm home AGAIN today due to weather. School was cancelled because they couldn't start 45 buses this morning because it was so cold. I'm really tired of winter now.

 

[dlf246]

I ditto the comment that cruise meets can be tricky... Gimpeaux, the starter of this thread seemed to hit on something (spring break cruise Magic '06) by picking a spot by the sail away party (deck 10 above goofy pool, can't remember whether starboard or port). This has the advantage, that those family members who aren't into the meet can enjoy the deck party, and those who want to meet can do so. We were fortunate that gimpeaux had arranged and all of us dis'ers had purchased from him green arm bands, so easier to pick out. i'd hate for Gimpeaux to have to worry about getting arm bands again, unless he WANTS to do it. Maybe we can all buy some lime green yarn and put it on our wrist that day??

The other reason I say the cruise meet is tricky, my family can exemplify, is that as this was our 1st DCL cruise, I just briefly came to the meet, and no other family members.... you have to be flexible!!

Now this brings me to my bigger concern: where are you gimpeaux???? I think we have gone pages without posts... hope you and yours are all healthy and excited... After so many families from our '06 venture have jumped ship, I hope you haven't !!

 

[Post4]

Hi All,
Just found this site and am excited to find other Easter cruisers! We've done a four day, but this will be our first seven day. I can't tell you how excited I am for some sunny weather. Cleve. is downright dreary these days. We're flying in on Friday-staying at the airport hotel. We are traveling with two boys 10 and 14. Has anyone ever done the dolphin encounter?
Sunshine ahead....