March 4, 2007 Wonder - Anyone Else?

[eagercruiser]

Atlantis is excellent, however, be prepared to spend some money. My wife and I went a couple years ago and had lunch there. It consisted of a hamburger and fries and chicken salad sandwich and 2 drinks for a grand total of $40 and that was at the "cafe" restaurant that was there, not even the sitdown "nice" places. It was a good thing I was up at the Black Jack table.

So Frazzledad do you recommend it with kids or is there nothing for them to do besides the aquarium i guess.

 

[doug46]

We booked through Small World Travel as well. Very happy with our TA (she is so patient). We have had our cabin assignment since the day we booked the trip in early Decmber. No docs yet, though.

 

[rpclmc]

It is sounding like maybe the way the docs work through TA's, is if they are a personal TA - like mine is, AAA, they send to the TA and the TA contacts the client. If they are a big corporate TA - like Costco they just send to the cruiser. Just my thoughts on this, not really important.

Eagercruiser, I asked for middle of the boat, not by an elevator (to avoid the noise) first and an upgrade second. I did not get an upgrade. I also did not get by an elevator, nor did I get middle of the boat. So, I guess, 1 out of 3 is good? We are on level 6, so I think that might be good. I think I am not going to worry about trying to upgrade, even with a little more money (I truly haven't decided). I am kind of thinking maybe if I go with the smallest cabin and make it work, I won't think I need more when I cruise again. I don't know, just one of my thoughts again.

Doug, you must have booked above a cabin 11. I think they just guarantee a stateroom with 11 and 12's, but don't assign until about 3 weeks ahead.

Work is really getting in the way of being on the Dis board as much as I want. Gotta get the DD to school, workout, coffee with friends and then go work, so I better get going. I was going to cancel the coffee with friends, but really that is so much more important than working and I have let friendships go in the past because of work - not doing that anymore.

What is weather like in everyone's part of the country? We are raining and 50's here in Idaho. It isn't bad, but Florida and Bahamma's will be better - even if it is raining.

Linda

 

[FrazzledDad]

Eager, I really couldn't say either way. When we went it was "our" time so the kids stayed home. Although, I really didn't see much for the kids to do unless you went to Atlantis' beach.

Linda, seeing as we live in the Snow Capital of the country, it is absolutely horrible. I am sure you guys have seen Oswego, NY on the news. They are at approx. 6-7 feet of snow in the last 4 days with another 1-2 ft coming today. We are about 1/2hr away in Syracuse and didn't get hit like they did but we are sitting at a couple feet. It is currently 16 degrees with a wind chill of -4 degrees. So, I'm sure you can see, WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrazzledDad]

Lovely, isn't it?

 

[Paxton's Mom]

My DH and DD told me tonight they were tired of me talking about it. How can that be?

Linda

My family gets the same way with me. For every trip we've ever gone on, I'm the planner. I research, read, do everything. Then they get to come along and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Oh well, I figure if I'm going to spend the money going on vacation I might as well full well enjoy it, before and during. Luckily we've all found the DIS. I thought I was one of a kind and here it turns out there are a whole bunch of us vacation planning fanatics!

 

[rpclmc]

Frazzledad, I am one of those people, that if it is going to be winter, it needs to be winter and snow. I think those photo's of the snow are beautiful. I don't do anything with snow (ski, etc).

Paxton's mom, I so like planning and my family loves it that I plan and make the vacations fun and organized, so we are not standing around going "duh, what do we do next". They just get tired of hearing me talk about it. My DD-7 informed me this morning that she and DH will enjoy the trip on the trip, just don't want to use all their excitement up beforehand. O.K. I guess that kind of makes sense, just not how I do it.

Linda

 

[rpclmc]

Eager, I really couldn't say either way. When we went it was "our" time so the kids stayed home. Although, I really didn't see much for the kids to do unless you went to Atlantis' beach.

Linda, seeing as we live in the Snow Capital of the country, it is absolutely horrible. I am sure you guys have seen Oswego, NY on the news. They are at approx. 6-7 feet of snow in the last 4 days with another 1-2 ft coming today. We are about 1/2hr away in Syracuse and didn't get hit like they did but we are sitting at a couple feet. It is currently 16 degrees with a wind chill of -4 degrees. So, I'm sure you can see, WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't get to see the news. When it is on, I am either involved in my DD's events or working on homework with her and then the late news is too late and I am in bed. The cruise will be 2 hours ahead of us and I go to bed by 10:00 pm here, wonder how good I will be for the late night stuff?

I did read some information on the storms on msn.com news just now. Wow, you guys are getting hit. Any closures? I would assume you guys probably know how to handle it pretty well. We have so many Californian's here that a little snow shuts this place down.

Linda

 

[doug46]

You are right Linda, we booked a Category 9 Stateroom.

As for the weather, we have been in the minus5-10 degree area for about four days now. Actually a little warmer today, i am told it is about 7 out today.

 

[rpclmc]

It is absolutely gorgeous here today (nothing like the cruise weather will be). My bookkeeper just tried to leave the door open to bring in fresh air, but we are on a main street and it is just too noisy, so we had to shut it.

She just got from Mexico and got stuck in Minneapolis for 24 hours. So she is still doing a weather shock adjustment - 90 degrees with humidity to -4 to 50 degrees.

O.K., I am going to say it again - I can't wait. It is only 20 days until we fly out for our land portion. Yippee!

Linda

 

[FrazzledDad]

You are right Linda, we booked a Category 9 Stateroom.

As for the weather, we have been in the minus5-10 degree area for about four days now. Actually a little warmer today, i am told it is about 7 out today.

That's cold, Doug. We get a ton of snow but it is rarely that kind of cold. My wife is from the Canadian/NY border and it gets that kind of cold and I hate going up there.

 

[doug46]

Holy Moley, we got our luggage tags and Disney Transportation transfers in the mail yesterday.

Question for anyone who has done this before, or anyone who might know, I guess. These luggage tags look a lot like the luggage tags the airline will put on the bags. Will Spirit Air have a problem with these Disney luggage tags being on there already?

I ask because I saw a very cool show, I think on the travel channel, that was all about a company that makes the airport systems (conveyors and computer systems) that move luggage from checkin to the correct flight and from the plane to the baggage area. It is incredibly complex and involves scanning the bar codes at like 15 different stages on the conveyor system (they have fixed scanners that can scan all the way around the bag as it travels by the scanner to pick up the bar code on the luggage tags). They said that the most common reason a bag goes to the wrong place is because people leave old luggage tags on the bag and the scanners read the wrong one. That is why airport check-in people are so careful to make sure all old luggage tags are taken off the bag. I am concerned that they will not like to have this Disney luggage tag on there that looks so much like an airport luggage tag. Any thoughts?

 

[eagercruiser]

Sorry I cannot throw any light on luggage tags.Good point raised though.

Looks like we are all ready to get out of this cold weather.My kids would have loved to be in your place,Frazzledad.We usually get good amt. of snow twice -thrice in winters but this year there has only been a brushing and few inches once.My DDs have been wearing pajamas inside out,doing snow dances,anything to bring snow.

My DH is just beginning to show some interest in cruise talk(no excitement yet).But at least I get an occasional "hmmm".

I heard about Shirley's baskets and decided to do something on my own(as I wanted baskets with princess stuff in it).So I got some stuff from Disney store( princessclips,jump rope) and dollar store( princess bubbles, musical flower,glow in the dark necklaces....) and put them in heart baskets(Lots of them in store due to valentines day).Just made the baskets today and they look beautiful.Plan to sneak them in somehow in our room before my DDs enter it.Can't wait to see their reaction.

I have an exam coming up next week ,so trying to keep away from here for a while.But this is addictive.Cannot concentrate on studies.

 

[rpclmc]

I also checked into Shirley's Basket and one other place and just decided to do things on my own. When we board the ship, we will all go to the stateroom to take our luggage, then my husband is doing to take my DD out and look around while I decorate. That will really surprise her, because she will she it with nothing and not expect anything and the next time it will be decorated. It is her birthday, so I am going to really do it up.

I have no answers on the luggage tags. But what good questions. How about sending disney and the airlines an email question about that?

I just sent Disney cruise an email question about the Oceaneer's Lab and they got back to me withint a day with a really good answer.

I would be careful about the snowdances, you don't want so much snow that you can't get out for the cruise.

Linda

 

[FrazzledDad]

Almost forgot to post, our Cruise Docs came last night

 

[rpclmc]

Ugh, I want mine docs NOW!

Linda

 

[doug46]

Don't feel bad Linda. I booked both our crusie and my sister-in-laws at the same time (linked reservations) and they have not received thier docs yet either.

 

[rpclmc]

O.K. how self-absorbed am I? I need help, I forgot my mom's birthday and do I ever feel guilty about this one. She lives in Illinois, I live in Idaho. How do I make something like this up?

And it is not like I completely forgot. On Monday, I informed my DD-7 that it was grandma M's birthday on Friday and then it just went out of my mind until I receive an email from my father asking when her birthday was. At first, I got scared because I thought he was really going senile (his dad did and he is approaching that age), but then I realized, it was reminding me/us (2 of my 3 brother's also forget - which makes me feel better, but I still shouldn't have forgotten) that we had forgotten her birthday.

Now what?

Linda

 

[meeone2]

ohhh my linda,i would ask 1 brother who did not forget why he did not call me and remind me .don't they know how busy you've been with this cruise coming up

 

[rpclmc]

It isn't even the cruise for the reason I forgot. If I was just involved in the cruise on top of my regular stuff I would have remembered.

We own a part of a commercial construction company. It was my husband' and mine, we had one part and then another couple had a different part and 2 years ago we merged the 2. Thinking it would be a good idea and diversify us. It wasn't all bad, but the bad outweighs the good, so we decided to split. It is kind of like a divorce and now we need to unravel everything. All the debt, assets, etc. Then on top of that my husband and the other guy started 2 other companies, which have to be delt with also. One of the companies owns a house/office. This property was residential, is converting to business, but needs to be brought up to code - ADA requirements, etc. They don't want to mess with it, but won't commit to selling it to us for a fair price. The city says we have to update it in 7 weeks or vacate. It can't be sold "as is". So, we have to buy out, update and sell or vacate and abandon. They won't commit to anything - I hate limbo - just make a decision, even if I don't agree at least it is a decision.

So, with all this, the cruise, sicknesses and the normal stuff - I just missed it. And now, I have huge guilt on top of everything. OOOh, do I need this trip soooo badly.

Well, gotta go swimming. I have been swimming 3 times a week, working out (with weights 2 times a week and cardio 2 times a week) 7 days a week for 7-9 months now. Nothing, I have lost nothing, but inches, which still makes the size of things I have to buy the same. I just don't get it. Oh well, at least I am healthier - still look terrible, but I can do more.

Linda