May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[Mom323]

I love to read, sadly my favorite are romance novels (aka trash, lol), I have read all of Danielle Steel (began when I was a teen but have bought almost every new book against my better judgment), Jude Deveraux, Belva Plain, Elizabeth Adler, Lucy Maud Montgomery (I love Anne Shirley, yes, I am a complete nerd, lol), Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum cracs me up), and whatever else that falls in my hands. I will definetly go to the Cove Cafe to look for what everyone has left in previous cruises, because I am not planning to carry a whole library, lol.

I enjoy Johanna Lyndsey, Julie Garwood and Catherine Coulter. There are times I need a bit of brain fluff. I'll bring a bunch to drop off at Cove Cafe.

 

[MrsMork]

I got back the final quote....
$396.00 plus tip from MCO to port (this includes a luggage van)

$453.00 plus tip from typical WDW resort.

They have 2 hummers in their fleet. I can reserve them now. Since there seems to be a large interest in getting to the port this way, please PM if you are interested, from where and how many in your party. Let's see what the numbers look like and we can go from there...

From the posts, and I realize none of this is set in stone....it looks like these are the ones who might be interested....and if I missed you, I am sorry it is hard to catch everything in all these posts, but please PM me

from MCO (if do red eye or stay at Hyatt)
Fourmcds x4
Birkner x2
LiserAnnx4
Mexican Mousketeers x3
UKAngel x2
Also, and maybe from WDW
Granmaz
Clynne
Kymma
not sure how many in those groups.

Of course the question for some of you traveling without kids...would you mind kids in the Hummer with you or do we want to try and split into family one and adult one?
If there are enough people that def. want in, I have no problem reserving it now. It takes a cc number to hold the reservation, but you can cancel up to 1 week before. I would think if we set up a 9 or 10 am departure from MCO that would allow most red eyes to arrive and those sleeping there to get up and still get us to the port early.

Thoughts?

here is the description from the website:
Ride the longest H2 HUMMERZINE in Orlando. . The new H2 HUMMER is an exhilarating, uncompromising SUV limo unlike any other. This exotic HUMMERZINE offers, 6 flat screen tv's, 4 sub-woofers, wood flooring, DVD, 3 a/c units,2 lasers,strobe lights & much more. Reserve the HUMMERZINE today & see why this exotic is the favorite of local celeberties. Please look below for rates.
It also says somewhere something about a dance floor!

And...has anyone used Happy Limo? The website says they are listed in the Passporter.

Happy Limo is who the Geek group used. We also used them for a luxury van in 2003. They are reliable.

 

[MrsMork]

Thank you for putting us in the list. Dh and I were talking and we are definetly staying at the Hyatt MCO the night before. I don´t know if they carry kids boosters or not, but we will be carrying our ride safer vest for dd, so there is no need to reserve a booster for her.

Someone mentioned a grocery stop, is it possible? We are interested even if it is not possible, but would like to know, you know how important is to know 14 months in advance whether we will need to buy water off the internet or not, LOL

They did a short grocery shop for us Geeks. Allowed about 10 minutes, but that is plenty to run in and grab a pack of water, beer or soda. The kids stayed in the Hummer.

 

[mishoe01]

Ok - I finally was able to get the sizes on the bracelets....

small - 18cm..7 1/16 inches..."generally fits preschoolers only"

medium - 20cm..7 7/8 inches..."fits 80% of population, and preferred size. Fits almost all school age children, women, and even most men. May be streched to a large size if necessary"

large - 21cm..8 1/14 inches..."generally is only required for 5-10% of population and would not be a good size for a mix of the general population"

That being said.....below is who I have on the list and what sizes were requested....let me know if you change your minds, or if you want to be added to the list. I WILL try to get a price this weekend from the company and then pass on the info to you.

ShannonRT - 2 med/1 large
jellojatdisney - 3 small/1 med/1 large
nskjerven - 2 small/1 med/1 large
granmaz - 1 med/1 large
been2marceline - 1 small/1 med/1 large
katypop - 1 med
amesmom - 2 small/1 med/1 large
Tigger1221 - 1 med/1 large
MrsMork - 1 med/1 large
kimerinc - 3 (no sizes)
notsolittlemermaid - 2 med
liserann - 2 small/1 med/1 large
fourmcds - 2 small/1 med/1 large
cdnmickeylover - 2 large
ulittletinker - 2 med/2 large
disneylover5 - 1 med/1 large
princessttoo - 1 large
mexican-mouseketeers - 1 small/1 med/1 large
threebritts - 1 small/2 large


Let me know if you have any ?s.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Grumpy John again not Deb, just wanted to tell all that we didn't fall off the earth this last few weeks. DEB's mom is in the hospital again and with all else going on it is realy hard for her to keep up with what she loves (disboards)
I have to slip off at work with the laptop to get this off so........

anyway wishing all of our dis board buddys a great day and hope to be skulking about again soon

John

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

John, I am reading The Path Between the Seas, listening to the Harry Potter series on my ipod. Just picked up Heat, a book about the life in restaurant kitchens. Also, enjoy Dan Brown and Robert Ludlum and for serious fluff, a romance or two.

The Path Between the Seas is a very interesting read before crossing or visiting the Panama Canal, it sure gives the reader another perspective and a true appreciation, don´t you think?

I read it back in october before my trip to Panama and loved it, even if at times it was a difficult read for me because of all the names, so sometimes I had to go back in the book and recheck who was who.

 

[granmaz]

Grumpy John again not Deb, just wanted to tell all that we didn't fall off the earth this last few weeks. DEB's mom is in the hospital again and with all else going on it is realy hard for her to keep up with what she loves (disboards)
I have to slip off at work with the laptop to get this off so........

anyway wishing all of our dis board buddys a great day and hope to be skulking about again soon

John

Sorry things are difficult and worrying for Deb and you. Give her my love and a big Hope her mom is soon well again and Deb back here!

 

[LiserAnn]

It's called a medium market basket, but for the Jelly Belly event they put a red and yellow band around the edge (jelly belly colors) and "tacks" that are jelly belly logos in place of the usuall nail tacks.

I have a Longerberger medium market basket (but not that oh so cute jelly belly one!!) and it's a great size. What a special treat to win it! Lucky lady!!!

Grumpy John again not Deb, just wanted to tell all that we didn't fall off the earth this last few weeks. DEB's mom is in the hospital again and with all else going on it is realy hard for her to keep up with what she loves (disboards)

Tell Deb we're thinking about her and her mom! Good well wishes!!!

The Path Between the Seas is a very interesting read before crossing or visiting the Panama Canal, it sure gives the reader another perspective and a true appreciation, don´t you think?

I'll have to pick that up. Has anyone found a school aged appropriate book on the PC? I'd love for my oldest to start reading about it (he's 8). Last night on the history channel I happened across a program called "Modern Marvels" and it was all about the PC. Very cool, we TIVO'd and will watch it with the kids.

 

[LiserAnn]

Well, yesterday Ryan brought home a note regarding school testing this year and I'm happy to report it's 4/30 - 5/11 which means next year it will be 4/29 - 5/10 so we'll be fine (and will be taking a red eye for sure). I knew it was the first weeks of May but I couldn't remember specifically so I'm relieved to know at least we won't catch flack about missing the testing. Whew!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Amy (DW) reads all the Janet Evanovich novels - she loves mysteries, and reads a lot of those too (murder she wrote, etc) AND her fair share of trashy stuff from time to time.

The snow is unpredictible! Last year we got a major snow storm on palm sunday - usually mid-March is the last of it, but we have seen storms in April too. The house looks not nearly so nice now with all the yucky melting snow.

And Yes, I do need to get to Greece. Hopefully sometime soon. I was sooooo hoping that the DCL Med cruises would go to Greece, but no such luck. I would have probably gone if they had.

Night all - I need to get some sleep and it is 11:00!

Wow, I hope that you see the end of snow for this year very soon, and that DCL decides to cruise the Greek Islands real soon!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

We stayed at a small hotel called Villa Carolina Hotel. It is about 1/2 block from Hotel Villa Del Sol which is right on Playa La Ropa. The hotel was fabulous, only 7 villas, all with kitchens and ours had a private pool in our open air living room! We never made it to Ixtapa, never felt the need for a more "touristy" area. I was kind of sad the DCL wasn't going to Zih for a port since I loved the area so much.

I like Playa La Ropa the best, definetly it is much bether than Las Gatas and the Ixtapa beach.

I remember when we first went to Zihuatanejo that they didn´t even have a decent grocery store, and since we stayed at our friend´s and my family´s apartments and cooked breakfast and sometimes dinner too (lots of little kids), we had to bring all our groceries from Mexico City.

Did you go to "La Sirena Gorda" for dinner? If you haven´t been there, don´t miss it next trip. It is in the town of Zihuatanejo, so you will need a cab to take you there. They have shellfish tacos, yummy! My favorite are the shrip and bacon. I hope they still are there.

The Ruben´s Hamburgers are very good too, but I think that they are not longer at their original location close to where you were staying, I think that now they only keep the Ixtapa location.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Books.... I love to read(maybe why the DIS has been so fun for me ). My big problem, once I start a book I have been known to finish it the same day. Harry Potter...each time a new one comes out, I head to the local bookstore party at midnight, get the book and it is done by the next day. Then I am sad waiting for the next one and wondering why I read it so quickly. Janet Evanovich...love all of her series. Just finished Metro Girl and am almost done with Plum Lovin' (her newest Stephanie book). I was excited to read about the library idea at cove cafe so I won't have to pack 10 books to bring with me I really enjoyed Dan Brown's books too, and I have heard that Heat is a fabulous book, but I haven't read it yet. I would say I read 90% "chick lit" and 10% other stuff. I am always looking for new great authors or books though....

That is why I buy my books mostly in the US, since I also devour them. I am the kind to loose a lot of sleep over books, I always say to myself "just this one chapter and I am done for the night", yeah right! I don´t even notice when I finish one chapter and begin the next one.

I am buying Plum Lovin´ in NY in a few days, I figure I will try to save it for the return flight to Mexico (if dd falls asleep in the plane).

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Ayelet Waldman is great too! She has a series called the "Mommy-Track Mysteries" where the character is a former lawyer who is now a stay-at-home mom solving murders on the side. Mystery with humor, sort of like Stephanie Plum, but nowhere as funny. I just enjoy the books because she's a mess most of the time: answers her front door with cheerios in her hair, spit-up stains on her shirt, etc. Her husband tries to be a writer and isn't too thrilled with her "detective" work. I think there are 6 or 7 books in the series so far. Check her out at www.ayeletwaldman.com. Any mom would love her because you find yourself saying, "Yup, I know what that's like" often while reading her books and laughing because you've been through something she's complaining about.

Thank you Holly! I will look into them too!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Our DD has been home sick the last 2 days with possible strep throat. Always throws my sork off too, but she does come first. My DSis helps out and will have her over even when she is sick as she has her own room at my DSis' house and can rest in there. I'm so lucky to have my DSis so close by, really is helpful since we don't have any other family around, (or still living in the case of our parents.

I hope your dd gets well soon!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I'm with you on wanting to be at port early. Last cruise we made it late (DCL transport frpm AKL) and I never even got to look at the mini cruise ship....I must see it this time for about 2 or 3 hours I figure....ok at least 15 minutes....

Also love to read, but can't find a groove in finding an author I like these days. We (DH & I) are doing HP #5 on cd in the car but only get to listen when we take a trip, last summer Jackson Hole, last month to Dland....next time planned not sure I'd like to hear more but feel like I'd be cheating DH outta enjoying it, so I wait.

You are so nice, I definetly would have cheated my dh if I had to wait who knows how long to finish listening.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Greek was my first language too and I'm VERY rusty. I understand most of it, but I don't speak it at all. I'm very embarrased by my pronounciation. So John-we should *try* to talk in greek!

Julie-you said you have an accent...well, I'm sure John and I will feel right at home with you...since both our moms immigrated from Greece, they too had/have accents. In fact, during the German occupation of Greece-WWII, my grandfather moved the family to South America (so yes, my mom is fluent in greek, spanish and english). They moved because it seems my grandmother got thrown in jail for helping german soldiers who were against the war, get out of the army. Apparently she wouldn't stop and he was afraid she'd eventually be taken to a concentration camp! Interesting story there!

Wow, I love reading about stories like this one, you had one brave grandmother!

How did your mom´s family end in the US after living in South America?

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Always start a diet on a full stomach!

 

[pjpoohbear]

The Path Between the Seas is a very interesting read before crossing or visiting the Panama Canal, it sure gives the reader another perspective and a true appreciation, don´t you think?

I read it back in october before my trip to Panama and loved it, even if at times it was a difficult read for me because of all the names, so sometimes I had to go back in the book and recheck who was who.

My only issue with the book is no maps! Had to print some out and tuck them in the front cover, so i could look at them when needed.

 

[clynne]

Another very avid reader here (what do you expect from a librarian?) For the last couple of years I've been working in a school so have read a lot of teenager's books, and that's been great but now I'm back to reading books for grown ups. I love Anita Shreve's books and have just read 'The Last Time they Met' which made me cry. Also loved The Time Traveller's Wife. I might try 'the Historian' next....

I liked the The Time Traveller's Wife, but I was often very confused...Historian was good! Really liked The Book Thief (Markus Zusak), the Katherine Neville books (esp The Eight), The Rule of Four (Ian Caldwell) and have been strangely attracted to Wicked and Son of a Witch. Love Dan Brown, too!

Carolyn

 

[clynne]

I'm currently reading "In the Presence of the Enemy" by Elizabeth George and have had to grab the dictionary twice! I love English mysteries. Though it's been a long time since I've read one, I seem to remember PD James also has a vocabulary!

Knew there was a reason I liked you...I LOVE Elizabeth George, too!!

Carolyn