March 26, 2011 - Eastern Caribbean Magic and FE Exchange!

[karajeboo]

Got my docs and yes, I'm starting to get things together too. I keep a spreadsheet and when I read something or think of something new, I add it quickly so I don't forget. I'm such a planner and what is freaking me out is that I have never been on a cruise before so I have NO IDEA what I might need! When we lived in FL i had a bag for Disney that I could literally just grab and head out the door (we lived about 2 1/2 hrs away) if we were going for the day, and I even kept things in our weekend bag for 2 or 3 night trips there. I am a PRO at packing for Disney..... but DCL? I have no clue!!!!

I did go shopping for ME last night (although I'm still holding out for another 10 lbs to come off before we set sail) and found a couple of fun sun dresses, plus shoes for formal/semi/Palo. Trying to only pack ONE pair of strappy sandals. The rest will be flops and crocs probably. I even bought a couple dresses snug so they will fit after 8-10 lbs. And if I don't lose it? Then I get to suffer wearing too tight clothes!

Yes, I'm rambling now.... it's what I do when I get excited!!!

And we paid for our DVC rental in December in BWV (taking my parents for their 50th anniversary), and now debating whether to drive or fly for my DISmoms trip in May. I'm such a nervous flier, but it's an 8 hr drive..... Do I really want to do that by myself when I can fly nonstop in 1 1/2 hrs?

 

[llenne]

My husband and I are traveling on our first Disney Cruise. Have cruised with Carnival in the past. We booked using DVC points over a year ago. I have read that some people have documents already. Hope to get ours soon. Looking forward to the night life, relaxing with a good book, and enjoying the beautiful beaches in St. Martin.

 

[FrogLady23]

My husband and I are traveling on our first Disney Cruise. Have cruised with Carnival in the past. We booked using DVC points over a year ago. I have read that some people have documents already. Hope to get ours soon. Looking forward to the night life, relaxing with a good book, and enjoying the beautiful beaches in St. Martin.

Welcome!! And I second all of your comments..... I have a countdown on my whiteboard at work....

 

[karajeboo]

OK, how's THIS for drama?

Jeff still has not gotten his passport, which infuriates me to begin with. In fact, he has not gotten his drivers license since moving to SC last summer. So TODAY he is going to DMV to get license, then going to PO to apply for passport. Here's the problem. Once he sends in his birth certificate with passport application, he has no birth certificate. And I was watching news yesterday talking about possible govt shutdown beginning next FRIDAY. If this happens, passport applications are all put on hold, because there is nobody to process them. So he would have no passport in time and no birth certificate.

So I looked into ordering another birth certificate. Well, he was born in West Virginia, and let's just say they are still operating in the same decade that he was born!!! He has to MAIL IN the form and hope for the best. So there is an actual chance that he could miss the cruise. Yes, it's a very SLIM chance, but still a possibility. I am freaking out!

And I already told him..... we will go without him. I got my new drivers license back in August. I already had my passport, but he has known about cruise since October....

 

[jcarwash]

I know DCL recommends everyone has a passport, and we certainly all have ours ready to go, but I did see in the cruise documents book the list of forms of ID that could be used for boarding and disembarking the cruise. I want to say a passport is not required to cruise...a birth certificate would suffice.

 

[karajeboo]

I know DCL recommends everyone has a passport, and we certainly all have ours ready to go, but I did see in the cruise documents book the list of forms of ID that could be used for boarding and disembarking the cruise. I want to say a passport is not required to cruise...a birth certificate would suffice.

Yes, we can use a birth certificate but his birth certificate is with his passport application...... THAT is the problem. Once he applies for passport (right now, today) he sends in the bc with the application. And who knows how long it will take to get another birth certificate! This is freaking me out!

 

[jcarwash]

Oh, I see. So either you skip the passport app and keep the BC (sounds like it's too late) or try for the passport and try for the add'l BC from WV. Wow.

 

[KristiMc]

If it's not too late, I would have him skip the passport application.

 

[coleenmark]

We got our travel documents!

3 of our 4 Pirate Costumes have arrived.

Just got a notice that our FE has shipped!

Done clothes shopping for the boys and now my wife and I need time (without the boys) to shop for ourselves.

It's beginning to feel like March 26th is actually coming.

Now we need to figure out what FE Gifts we will bring to share.

 

[llenne]

I was reading prior postings about decorating the door. My husband is so not about the fish extenders although I think it would be fun. Keep in mind we are traveling with no children. (Our children are now married but we still do Disney every year, sometimes with and sometimes without them)

Anyway, I saw a site on a prior posting called vistaprint.com where you can create your own car door magnents. Just finished creating one for our cabin door. You can download your own pictures and text. Since not adhesives are allowed on the doors this is a great wayto still be creative.

 

[FrogLady23]

Still waiting for our docs.........
I am so envious of those of you that have got them. I can't wait to get home everyday to check the mail.... Still nothing.....

 

[luvndizny]

karajeboo....If it's any consolation, we went in on a Saturday (January 29th) and applied for our passports. (All were renewals.) We got ours in earlier this week, so there is still time (took less than a month to get here). We did not pay to expedite ours, etc. If I remember correctly, they didnt take our original birth certificates, I could be wrong. They asked for color photo copies of them. I can't be for sure. Also, I was reading an article about the possible government shut-down and, if I understood correctly, it said post offices would be open, etc. and shouldn't be affected by it, if it happens.

Anyhow, so if he did go in today, then his *should* be back in time.

I hope everything works out for you! I can DEFINITELY understand what it is like to be a super planner and have a spouse who isn't quite so the organized person. I have planned every single vacation of ours since we've been married (14 years). Sometimes I think it would be nice if it were ME who got to kick back and let someone else do that planning. Heck, tonight (Friday's are our 'family nights'- yet again I am the one planning...I never get a break from it- everyone leaves it up to me- always.)

 

[FrogLady23]

karajeboo,

I tried to pm you but it says your inbox is full. Just checking in. Tori sent Ally an email last week and we were wondering if she got it.

 

[luvndizny]

We're at the 30 day mark!!!!!

Woohoo!!!! I am gonna be making some magnets this weekend! Need to go get some new clothes for myself, the kiddos...hubby already has his minus some more formal stuff. (I keep begging him to wear his dress blues but he won't budge.)

I am hoping to buy myself a better camera before the trip. Mine's an older model that isn't so great on any indoor shots (all come out fuzzy) and forget action shots. Would be cool to get something with decent underwater capabilities.

Karajeboo...how are things going with the passport?

 

[jcarwash]

I'll be a pain...I checked my ticker widget (not my DIS ticker) and it's actually 28 days because of the short month .

It is four weeks though which is very exciting!!!

 

[alt_1998]

Hi All!

Our family is really looking forward to this cruise! We have received our documentation and passports... made door decorations... crafted a countdown chain... bought lots of supplies... my DD has already started packing--now all we have to do is wait! Ugh--the hard part.

I did have an excursion question--thought someone might be in the same boat (so to speak). We booked the 7:30 Jet Boat excursion on St. Thomas... but the ashore time is 7:45. Hmmmm.... So, I tried changing my booking to 8:30 only to find the sytem would then drop my next reservation at 10:15 (even though the Jet Boat is only supposed to go until 9:30). Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

 

[karajeboo]

Well, he put a rush on the bc copy that should be here this week (somehow he got someone on the phone who let him fax in his info), and he did the rush on the passport (you now need to set up an "interview" when you rush a passport) and it was only $60 extra so that made me happy. All should be here within two weeks so we should be good. I won't be happy until he has one of the two in hand though.

I am checking Ally's email account now so I will have her respond and send out emails this week!!!

 

[luvndizny]

I'll be a pain...I checked my ticker widget (not my DIS ticker) and it's actually 28 days because of the short month .

It is four weeks though which is very exciting!!!

You're right...and that's even better!!!!

Booking our train tickets some time day if I can figure out which car rental agency is there at the Orlando station so we can just drive ourselves to the Radisson. This is the most logistics I have had to plan for a trip in a LONG time, but it'll be sooooo worth it!

Karajeboo...Great news on the bc/passport!

 

[jac1976]

We are cruising this month!!!

I am so excited! I haven't been on a Caribbean cruise in years- any packing tips? This is also my first Disney cruise, so are there any things I might not think to pack?

Thanks so much!

 

[karajeboo]

We are cruising this month!!!

I am so excited! I haven't been on a Caribbean cruise in years- any packing tips? This is also my first Disney cruise, so are there any things I might not think to pack?

Thanks so much!

I'm cracking up right now because I just sent out the final FE list and I put "we are cruising THIS month" too!!!! Never thought we'd get to this point!!!

And since in my email I was looking for the dancing banana.....