May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[woody73]

. . . I did use Expedia last year and they did not book our flights until the morning of our outbound.

. . . Why they waited 2 months to book our seats I will never know.

. . . lesson learned for me....use Kayak and book thru the airlines themselves.

Very good advice.

Woody

 

[LiserAnn]

Hey, they read my email on Today's version of the DIS unplugged Podcast! You can hear their advice for us after the cruise and Disneyland on that podcast, which you can stream from right here on the DIS, or download through iTunes (for you iPod owners like Cherie)

Hi Everyone! It's been a busy couple of weeks but I have been following the thread and checking in here and there.

John-I listened to the podcast....was pretty accurate info regarding travel times, etc. I can't believe it would cost a family of 4 $120 to get to DL from the port! I wish WISH Enterprise would open up on Sunday....if they would you could rent a car for $50 to get to DL! I emailed Enterprise regarding it but no response. By the way, Bob Varley who answered your email on the podcast is our travel agent at DU!!!

 

[LisaG520]

There are a couple of programs, I use a program called Handbrake, do a google search, it is free. You can't do all DVDs that you own but I haven't had any issues with Disney studio titles yet. There are other methods that break down the coding in a DVD, but I really just wanted to put the DVDs that I already own on to my ipod, not burn lots and lots of copies, so Handbrake works great for me.

Thanks for the info - I'm a total novice to the iPod world but have been thinking it would be nice to have one for traveling - smaller and lighter than my portable DVD player and bag of DVDs!

So which iPod is the best for watching tv shows, movies. etc. on? And are shows and movies available to download from iTunes? (See I know nothing about them) and are they available in pink?

 

[Jhalkias]

I have been fiddling with my home network all day, and just got it fixed a 1/2 hour ago . . . so I have not been around much tonight. Watching the All-Star game where my man Victor Martinez just hit a HR to put the AL further ahead!

John, do you think the MEATLOAD would go with the BEAR STEW that we learned about last year?

PJ

Yes PJ, Meatload, and Bear in a crockpot - what could be better? Seriously, Amy made us the Beer and Brisket in a crockpot for Alex's homecoming tonight - it was SUPER! Alex got home from London safe and sound, and tired, and . . . BROKE!

Ipods....we are a family of many, but primarily shuffles. We have 3 shuffles (myself, and each DD- all the old kind), one nano (DH) and DD8 just got the 80gb Ipod for her birthday...quite the spoiled child if I say so myself. Actually, I love that thing and want one for myself. I am so impressed with the quality of the picture. It certainly makes for more peaceful car rides and both DD's plug into that now! They have most of the Hannah Montana episodes, Pirates 1 & 2 and cowbelles on it. I could certainly find myself spending a fortune on itunes in the future.

Speaking of that...with all the apple people here...is there a way to take a dvd you own and transfer it onto your computer to put it on your ipod?

PJ already told you about Handbrake, however, if you do not use a Mac, let me know, and I will find out from my son what he used on a PC. I do the same as PJ - just the Disney DVD's I own, which I put about 15 movies on Sophia's 60gb iPod -and she LOVES it!

Ok, I booked my WDW room for pre cruise already, but through DVC. I could only book my "home" resort, so in october I will call back and try to change it to another resort...but if not Old Key West will be fine. I've never been to WDW since DVC has been added so I am not sure which one will be best...so if I can't get beach club or boardwalk, then I'll stay where I am.

Good Luck...oh..if anyone has any thoughts on DVC places to stay in florida please post...
Thanks
Steph

Steph . . . OKW is one of our FAVORITE resorts to stay at. The rooms are the largest, and if you have a car, you can pull right up to your building. One caveat - no elevators if you are not on the first floor. We will be at SSR with a group from this cruise that was on our last cruise, in a Grand Villa and Studio.

Hi Everyone! It's been a busy couple of weeks but I have been following the thread and checking in here and there.

John-I listened to the podcast....was pretty accurate info regarding travel times, etc. I can't believe it would cost a family of 4 $120 to get to DL from the port! I wish WISH Enterprise would open up on Sunday....if they would you could rent a car for $50 to get to DL! I emailed Enterprise regarding it but no response. By the way, Bob Varley who answered your email on the podcast is our travel agent at DU!!!

Bob is a riot . . . but they really do pick on the poor guy . . . with his Caht . .

Thanks for the info - I'm a total novice to the iPod world but have been thinking it would be nice to have one for traveling - smaller and lighter than my portable DVD player and bag of DVDs!

So which iPod is the best for watching tv shows, movies. etc. on? And are shows and movies available to download from iTunes? (See I know nothing about them) and are they available in pink?

Any of the video ipods work GREAT! If you are really more interested in video, get the largest HD ipod available - an 80gb like Cherie. Video really eats up the HD. iTunes has an unbelievable amount of video, TV and movies, and as posted above, you CAN rip DVD's with a little effort.

Video iPods are not available in Pink - only the nano's - they do not do video. You could buy a white iPod though, and buy a pink cover or protective skin! By this next Holiday, a lot of us are betting that there will be an ipod for sale with a lot of the technology of the new iPhone.

Go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/ - iTunes is a free download, and you can check it all out.

 

[taysmom]

John...
SSR is my other home resort, but they wouldn't let me book there cause I have no points under that contract. If it was necessary, I was going to transfer points from my other contract to ssr, but the reservation cm said just to call back in october, that it shouldn't be a problem to switch if I want.
We're only going to be there for 2 days, so I thought we'd skip magic kingdom and concentrate on epkot, studios and animal kingdom. Does that sound good? Having not been there in 20 years, it's difficult to plan out.
Also...is there a specific time when the shuttle goes to the ship or can you catch it throughout the day?
Anyone know???

S

 

[nskjerven]

Finally got caught up and now for my quotes....

Alavro, I read your posting last year and can't wait to experience the crosing next year.

Ok, Guys has anyone see this custom shirt company, http://www.bluecotton.com/ I have been having a blast in the design studio. I did a design with the mickey head with a pirate ship inside, simple and cute, might pass. http://www.bluecotton.com/design.html?loaddesign=true&designcode=2186:624:532-57 , click on open. I wonder if it would pass, hmmm.......

Only issue is that the shirts would have to be ordered in a min of 6 units per order.

I never could get the link to work...is this an option or are we out due to copyright issues?

We are heading to Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk today and then I came across this article about a roller coaster - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/22/national/main2965711.shtml?source=mostpop_story

It does make you question those rides. I know it is really unusual but it does get your nervous.

Beautiful day here in California! Sunny and warm. Maybe we will stick to the beach and not go on too many rides!
Lisa

We like the Boardwalk, we usually get season passes. we tend not to do alot of the high thrill rides, luckily Wilson is a bit short, so that has kept us to the easy brezzey rides. Sad to read the story of the little one that lost her feet. I'm that worried mom and will keep my kids off those thrill rides for a while longer.

Not such a good weekend anymore. At Lowes today, Tyler was misbehaving, getting into stuff he shouldn't be touching. I gave him a couple warnings to stop and come stand by me because I can't stand it when kids act up in stores. I firmly believe kids need to stand next to their parents in stores, behave, and not grab everything in sight. So the third warning was that if he didn't do as I had asked him 2 times before, he'd lose his priviledge of going to open skate today. Sure enough, he still disobeyed, so no skating for him. Then lots of screaming the whole way home, etc. Lots of not nice things said to me, so then he also lost the ice cream outing we were going to do after skating. I later learned that he was just tired (because despite being done with naps for almost a year, he slept for 2 hours this afternoon), but being tired doesn't make it OK for him to misbehave. He begged me to let him do something to earn skating back today, but I told him he has to learn to not misbehave in the first place and to do as he's told. So he'll get a chance to try again next weekend.

Most people tell me I'm too strict and I feel so bad about him not being able to do those fun things today that he'd been looking forward to for days. Made me literally cry too (but out of his sight) for his sadness at losing those treats. But most kids nowadays are so disrespectful, and I'm just hoping he doesn't end up like all the troublemaker teens we have in the world now.

Well I'm off. Have to go hide outside in my car so I don't have to hear the 3 hours of bedtime screaming that's coming. I SO do not enjoy my time with Tyler and haven't since we've had months of screaming. I handled the terrible 2s and 3s much better than this defiant behavior. Too bad I couldn't send him to his dad's for a whole month.

One of my friends, when her kids were this age and doing the same screaming, took ALL of the kid's toys away, put them into storage bins, locked them in the garage or basement or somewhere out of reach and sight, leaving NOTHING in the bedroom but a bed and dresser, making the child sit in the empty room for time out for each episode of screaming, and had to earn each toy back, one at a time, with a whole day of good behavior. She did this with each child and completely changed their behavior in about 3 months. Sounds drastic, but I'm about to that point.

SO sorry...just HAD to vent. Most of you have kids, so I'm sure you understand my frustration. It's just hard when you don't have that other parent in the house to take over for 15 minutes or so to just walk away and calm down, so the tension and anger and frustration just build non-stop, all day long. So I sit outside on my front porch to get a self-imposed "time out", but can still hear him, so most of the time I have to sit in my car and cool off to prevent me from screaming at him, which just scares him and is hurtful to him.

Sorry.....just venting. Now to go back in the house, throw him back into his bed, and try to keep my sanity.

Holly,

You so have my ears to vent to and shoulder to cry on. Raising kids is the hardest job I've ever had. The best, but the hardest. I agree with holding a firm hand and being strict. It has worked so far with my 2 kids, I just hope the in next years they remember the values that we believe. As they get older the challenge is letting them enter the world a bit at a time without you.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Not sure if anyone remembers me talking about this house that we have been trying to get since October. Well, it went to auction today and.........
WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone else there to bid on the houses knew our story and let us go for it. I guess everyone was rooting for us that the bank didn't show up and.....they didn't! We got it for 1.00 over the opening bid Just what we had hoped for.

Here is a picture of the house...

The view of Mt. Rainier from the house is amazing, but of course, it is raining today so no view
I'm sure I'll bore you all with more as we get it fixed up. It needs a lot of work and TLC before we can live in it, but we are ready for it. The girls were so excited to see the inside (they had never seen it since it went into foreclosure before we could show them).

Just had to share!

CONGRATS!!!!! Good house karma....I met a bunch from Half Moon Bay on my China tour and they have inspired me to keep the spirit up on our house hunt...almost 2 years now and still waiting.

Anybody taking a 5 or 6 year old boy? My DGS is asking. Where is everyone staying before the cruise? I want to stay at DL after the cruise so I am undecided as far as before the cruise.

My little guy will be 8 at the time of cruise, but likely to enjoy playing and hanging with your DGS. Wilson has little friends and older friends so he tends to roll with it....

Plane trips home:

I just spoke with a great rep at Super Shuttle about return flight times. She told me that it is only 25 min to LAX (with no traffic) and usually on Sundays there is very little traffic. Worst case scenario, she said ask for first off the ship and you could make earlier flights but in her opinion there wasn't going to be a problem with a 1245 flight for me. With that being said, we all know that LA traffic can be very unpredictable...but there are at least 6 other flights heading to Seattle that night, so we can always do standby if we have to. It was either a 1245 or 345 and the 3 one just seemed so late. We are booking a private supershuttle van which will cost about 86+ for the family to get to LAX, not bad in my opinion.

I am kind of sad about rushing out of there on the last morning...but I also know I will want to get home to see the dogs and get settled in before we head back to the real world on Tuesday. I am glad that I can use Sunday as a travel day and then Monday as an unwind day since it is Memorial Day and the schools/offices are closed. Are we going to be the only ones going straight home?!

we are going to fly right back, just a long time to be away we'll need to get home and decompress for that last bit of school. Ahhhhh the flights....no luck today, prices seemed too high, so I'm going to wait it out for Southwest. I looked last year and saw some good rates, so when they release I'll be looking again.

How are the ones of you that are doing DL after the cruise getting there? How many of you will be dressing for all the formal nights?

Totally formal here. Guys in tuxes, I have dresses from the last cruise so just need to shop for Miss Molly. She is having growth spurts so I have to wait until a bit closer to see what I find for her.

I hope the next one is better too! But I've lived with the migraines for close to 30 years, so I'm quite used to it. And with the preventative stuff, it's really only about once every 2 or 3 months that one comes that completely debilitates me. But I'll be really relieved to graduate and get a full-time job with insurance so I can have more choices. In the meantime, I can deal with a couple more years of what I'm used to dealing with.

sorry to hear of your bad headache day. I get migraines too. I take daily preventative medicine, but still get them every few weeks or so. I do have a good pain med, just had my new doctor refill it for me. I was sweating it out though, as not all doctors believe in the same kind of treatment. I've had others tell me nope. I switched doctors. Good luck and never give up hope, they may go away just as the came, ya never know.

Hi everybody.....

Been a very difficult few weeks. My mom was directly instructed by her doctor she can no longer be alone and my life has turned to H*LL. My brothers and I are trying so hard to be accomendating. She does not want to go into assisted living...so we suggested spending some time with each of us during the year. She only wants to go home to her own house. She does not want to be with any of us. She has lost 16 pounds in 6 months and now weighs 95 pounds. They can find no medical reason for the weight loss at all. She is just not eating enough.

I am supposed to leave in a few weeks for the MED cruise and I am hoping I do not need to cancel.

Please keep me in your prayers.

I will check in when I can.
Lisa

Dear Lisa,

My heart is breaking for you. Just last summer I was in that same place of having to tell my mom that she had to move and leave her home. I can't offer anymore advice than what you have heard, but my mom's doctor did give me a piece of advice that held true for us. She said that once mom was in her new place it would be likely she would be happy. Sure enough is was right. Mind you we have mom on anti depressants and that is a big part of the sucess I believe.

I will keep you and your siblings in my prayers. I know it has caused much strain between us four sisters in my family.

Lastly, remember to tell yourself, your husband and kids that you love them and thank them for the support they provide. I know without my family I would have lost it and I think you have that same kind of support in yours.

 

[fourmcds]

IPJ already told you about Handbrake, however, if you do not use a Mac, let me know, and I will find out from my son what he used on a PC. I do the same as PJ - just the Disney DVD's I own, which I put about 15 movies on Sophia's 60gb iPod -and she LOVES it!
.

John...I did notice they had downloads for windows but wasn't sure how well they would work. If you wouldn't mind asking Alex what he uses that would be great. I am not a mac user YET!

I would love to just pop all the dvds onto Jaide's ipod and not have to buy any more movies off of itunes.

thanks

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly,

You so have my ears to vent to and shoulder to cry on. Raising kids is the hardest job I've ever had. The best, but the hardest. I agree with holding a firm hand and being strict. It has worked so far with my 2 kids, I just hope the in next years they remember the values that we believe. As they get older the challenge is letting them enter the world a bit at a time without you.

Thank you! We made it through whatever phase that was. It was about a month of misery and tantrums and horrible behavior. Now he's back to his usual helpful self! We cleaned the whole house, every room, including yardwork a couple of days ago and he was unbelievably helpful. He even asked for a big empty box so he could put stuff in it to give away that he doesn't use anymore. I almost fainted because I've been trying to clear out his clutter for a year!


sorry to hear of your bad headache day. I get migraines too. I take daily preventative medicine, but still get them every few weeks or so. I do have a good pain med, just had my new doctor refill it for me. I was sweating it out though, as not all doctors believe in the same kind of treatment. I've had others tell me nope. I switched doctors. Good luck and never give up hope, they may go away just as the came, ya never know.

There was one time in my life where I was completely migraine free for a LONG time.....while I was pregnant! Then it took about 6 months for them to start coming back, gradually at first, then up to full force and frequency in about 3 years.

Hey everybody, guess what?! I get a free massage today! Yup, FREE! It's only a short 15 minute chair massage, but FREE! Every semester when finals get close, our law school hosts what the call a "stressbuster" just for us students. It's today from 11-2, free massages and refreshments. And since my new work schedule starts today (leaving work at 12:30pm Wed, Thurs, Fri to have more time to focus on school), it works out perfectly!

 

[ibouncetoo]

John...
...is there a specific time when the shuttle goes to the ship or can you catch it throughout the day?
Anyone know???

S

Yep, a specific time, usually around noon and only from certain resorts (Grand Fl, AKL, Beach Club, Poly, Swan/Dolphin, Carib Beach and PORiverside and POFrench Quarter) and I THINK you'll need to let DCL know which resort you will be picked up from.

 

[granmaz]

We were down on page 2! What are we all doing?

 

[tlb2864]

Ok, I booked my WDW room for pre cruise already, but through DVC. I could only book my "home" resort, so in october I will call back and try to change it to another resort...but if not Old Key West will be fine. I've never been to WDW since DVC has been added so I am not sure which one will be best...so if I can't get beach club or boardwalk, then I'll stay where I am.
On the flight front..I think I'll fly into florida overnight, so we arrive early thurs. am maximize our time in the park..and then RT from oak/lax. I just have to wait for southwest to open their schedule.

Steph

We're in the same boat. Booked Home resort of OKW for 5/3-10 but really want BC. Will have to try to change in October, along with everybody else.....but at least for now we have a Grand Villa at OKW which will be fine. At least we've got a place to stay. Now the only thing I've got left to do is pay off the cruise

 

[lillygator]

is anyone else dragging today? I am soooo tired.

 

[granmaz]

I'm tired, but I will be off to bed in an hour or so, so not too bad for me.

 

[Jhalkias]

John...I did notice they had downloads for windows but wasn't sure how well they would work. If you wouldn't mind asking Alex what he uses that would be great. I am not a mac user YET!

I would love to just pop all the dvds onto Jaide's ipod and not have to buy any more movies off of itunes.

thanks

Alex says the other methods in Windows require a LOT of work. He says to try Handbrake . . .

Here is an article too . . .

http://www.methodshop.com/2006/02/handbrake-for-windows.shtml

And, yes, I am DRAGGING too!

 

[fourmcds]

Alex says the other methods in Windows require a LOT of work. He says to try Handbrake . . .

Here is an article too . . .

http://www.methodshop.com/2006/02/handbrake-for-windows.shtml

And, yes, I am DRAGGING too!

Thanks John. I look at it next week when I get back home! I am off tomorrow and heading to CT for the weekend with Scott for my HS reunion...19 years! I know, a strange year, but I lived in a very small town with about 50 kids per graduating class so we don't do reunions often. This is actually a reunion for years 1986-1992. It should be fun as I haven't seen anyone since I graduated in 88. I ran away from there Not really but definately wanted to get away from small towns...of course, I ended up in a small town on the other side of the country, go figure!

 

[fourmcds]

The house....here are some recent pics (I spared everyone the yucky ones with all the flies around )

The front of the house with the wheat field in front!

The back of the house

Jaide in her new room....love the ceiling angles in her room.

Taylor in her new room....neither of them look too happy, right?!

The first family photo in the house with our champagne!

The view...first pic from the back deck and the second from our bedroom

And my favorite picture...this is the night that we got the house. We were eating dinner and noticed a rainbow so Scott and I ran out to get a picture...

Although there is still a ton of work to be done, it is getting closer and closer to our dream home. It was a long 10 months of waiting but I think it will be worth it

 

[gouodux]

Extremely tired here too after the events of last night/early this morning . . .

We learned a very valuable lesson last night as parents. Don't let your little ones dance on your 10" high living room coffee table!

Our "baby" Kayla (pictured below), lost her balance and fell the very short distance from the table to the carpeted floor and broke her tiny left arm last night. Never before have we felt so awful. It truly was crushing to see her in so much pain. She handled it like a champ, but we were shattered. Her main concern at the hospital was to still be able to participate in a fashion show she was "hired" to be in on Friday. Of course her Dad happens to be employed by the company (starts with an "N") putting it on - so it shouldn't be a problem. But through it all, that is all she was worried about.

She sees the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow morning. Her wish now is a Minnie Mouse cast (or a pink one)!

 

[gouodux]

That is an AWESOME picture!

 

[endkaos]

Our "baby" Kayla (pictured below), lost her balance and fell the very short distance from the table to the carpeted floor and broke her tiny left arm last night. Never before have we felt so awful. It truly was crushing to see her in so much pain. She handled it like a champ, but we were shattered. Her main concern at the hospital was to still be able to participate in a fashion show she was "hired" to be in on Friday. Of course her Dad happens to be employed by the company (starts with an "N") putting it on - so it shouldn't be a problem. But through it all, that is all she was worried about.

She sees the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow morning. Her wish now is a Minnie Mouse cast (or a pink one)!

I hope she feels better soon. We are currently working on palette expanders and such with my 3. We're hoping to have them all off by the cruise next year. Here's some pixie dust for a fast healing.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Lesile, I had a friend who fell off a swing, it was still at the time, and broke her leg. It's all about the angle of the fall. It is good that she is most worried about the fashion show.