May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[Bibbidi]

My husband has said to me, "that's all you do on the computer, isn't it - plan disney things". It's really not all I do, but it sure is the fun part of my computer time! Besides the Dis, I have a friend here at home who is as nuts about Disney as me, so at least she "gets" it, even when my husband doesn't!

 

[CustardTart]

I think my DH has always indulged my DISobsession but he now understands a little more as I've dragged him into my world!

We're cruising for our 25th Wedding Anniversary in September and thro' the boards we've been able to link our reservations and ensure that we're dining with a fab group of like-minded people! As he was a little scared that we might be seated with freakish strangers (such a baby) he's had to admit that chatting about Disney with a bunch of online buddies is the way to go...

 

[alecsmom]

Oh gosh we all sound the same! Mousermom - your comment had particular significance for me - cause for the past few weeks all my son has been wanting to do is watch the Star Wars movies - yes all 6 of them - so your reference to the "Dark Side" had me LOL!!!

 

[Mousermom]

I'm not a big fan of Star Wars, but that is how DH describes my obsession!!

WHAT obsession???

Just because I am on the DIS day and night doesn't mean I'm OBSESSED!!!

I got a new one for ya----Magnetic Door Signs!!

Anyone plan on doing these???

 

[Bibbidi]

Sorry to break the thread up a bit, but I was wondering how soon those of us who will need passports are getting them. My husband's is current and I sent mine in for renewal last week. I was going to get our girls' forms done this weekend and send those off. I realize I'm early, but you guys understand--the obsessive planner in me wants to have our passports in the Disney 2008 Cruise folder months before we need them

 

[Mousermom]

I'm starting to freak out about this myself, Bibbidi!

We recently moved and of course I can't even find our birth certificates!!

I sent away for new ones and they haven't come yet.

I have to wait for those before I can even apply for the passports.

I was told by out Travel Agent that they will let us know how to expedite the applications so they will get to us faster.

Also, does anyone know where to go to getthe passport photos taken?

I've heard about Wallgreen's, but I've also heard that they don't take them properly!!

I'm starting to break out in a sweat here!!!!

 

[alecsmom]

Wow I thought i'd be the only one with a Disney Cruise 2008 folder. In it I have passport applications which I've printed off the internet, but still haven't gotten around to applying for them yet. Was planning on doing it in the next week or two. We are just planning on going to the courthouse and getting our photos done there - at least they'll - hopefully - do them right if they're processing the whole thing. Your local post office will probably do them too, but I think you can check online to make sure.

By the way - great idea about magnetic door signs - we have over a year to get really creative!

 

[Bibbidi]

Also, does anyone know where to go to getthe passport photos taken?

I've heard about Wallgreen's, but I've also heard that they don't take them properly!!

I'm starting to break out in a sweat here!!!!

I actually went to my new Walgreen's and had them done there. They had me turn my girls shirts around to the back because they said you can't have any images on your clothes. they also made me take the barrette out of my youngest's hair. It seemed like they knew what they were doing. Also, the girl then went in to the computer and cropped the images according to a grid which zoomed in so they fit what the Passport people want (supposedly). I guess I'll find out soon enough if they did them right!

 

[Mousermom]

Ok, the birth certificates came today!!

Step one is done.

Thanks for the info, Bibbidi!!

There is a Wallgreen's up the street from me and I'm gonna check it out.

I guess it's always better to figure things out for yourself!!

Kepp your fingers crossed!!!

 

[Bibbidi]

Ok, the birth certificates came today!!

Step one is done.

Thanks for the info, Bibbidi!!

There is a Wallgreen's up the street from me and I'm gonna check it out.

I guess it's always better to figure things out for yourself!!

Kepp your fingers crossed!!!

Glad that the birth certificates arrived! We've moved A LOT so I know how that goes

As for the photos, I'm pretty sure that the government passport website tells you which of their passport centers have photos onsite. I know our post office doesn't, but the local clerk of courts here does. That is another option. Walgreens was just convenient for me and I happened to see "Passport Photos Here" on their digital display the other week - I took it as a "sign" figuratively and literally

 

[CustardTart]

We were at the bottom of page 2 so giving us a little nudge...

I've just had to request a replacement marriage certificate - after 25 years and 12 house moves, it's simply disappeared! Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing any of our birth certificates for a while so I'd better order their replacements too...

Yvonne, Atlantis is an awesome resort but IMO the DCL excursions described in PassPorter don't sound great. The aquarium is amazing so it'd be worth taking him to see that and I think you can use the beach which is pretty nice but not any of the pool facilities. It might be worth seeing if you can arrange your own thing directly with Atlantis...

 

[Mousermom]

A little story about moving....

My parents divorced when I was 6 years old. After my mom sold our house, we had to rent A LOT of houses because every time we would get settled in a place, the owner of the house would want to sell it.

I cannot even tell you the number of times we've had to move in our life.

The funny thing was, we never left the neighborhood. Whenever we go back to the old stomping grounds. we'll take a tour of all the houses we've lived in.

I can laugh about it now, but back then it wasn't funny.

My mom did the best she could and I have a lot of respect for her. It couldn't have been easy for her.

Anyway, my brothers and I managed to stay in the same school and maintain all the same friends that we still have to this day.

Just a little tidbit about me to share today.

So, believe me, I know about losing stuff when you move.

I'm an EXPERT!!!!

 

[CustardTart]

*bump*

OMG we were at the bottom of page 3 so I thought I'd better do something!!!

Hope everyone's OK and having a good week...

DH and I were discussing our September cruise at the weekend with the kids and, as they were so keen on the idea, we've pushed the boat out (get it?!) and booked the NYE 2008 cruise for all 7 of us! I love doing something special for NYE - we've been to Disneyland California, New York and Paris in the past so this is bound to be fantastic! I especially can't wait to see all the men (and boys) in my life dressed up and looking handsome in tuxedos...

Just got to make sure we don't tell the bank manager for a while...

 

[Bibbidi]

*bump*

OMG we were at the bottom of page 3 so I thought I'd better do something!!!

Hope everyone's OK and having a good week...

DH and I were discussing our September cruise at the weekend with the kids and, as they were so keen on the idea, we've pushed the boat out (get it?!) and booked the NYE 2008 cruise for all 7 of us! I love doing something special for NYE - we've been to Disneyland California, New York and Paris in the past so this is bound to be fantastic! I especially can't wait to see all the men (and boys) in my life dressed up and looking handsome in tuxedos...

Just got to make sure we don't tell the bank manager for a while...

Karen,

How fun! That is so neat that you'd book a cruise for the family. Now why is it that I have parents who love Disney, but never think to book a trip for us???? All their friends are doing it! Oh well - I love them anyway. Although, my DH and I have said that once we're grandparents (20 years from now) we're going to do things differently. We want to be the grandparents who book the condo in Florida for a month and have our kids and their families come down to stay with us, or go on a Disney cruise together. I don't want to miss out on the fun just because we don't have our own little kids anymore.

 

[CustardTart]

...That is so neat that you'd book a cruise for the family...

It's v cool that they want to join us! Even tho' my two eldest are 24 and 21 they still enjoy spending time with us and like to be a part of our vacation plans - I hope they always will. DH and I prefer to treat them to a vacation rather than buy them the more conventional Christmas/Birthday gifts...

...We want to be the grandparents who book the condo in Florida for a month and have our kids and their families come down to stay with us, or go on a Disney cruise together. I don't want to miss out on the fun just because we don't have our own little kids anymore.

I know what you mean. I hope DH and I can create those kind of memories when we're grandparents...

 

[alecsmom]

Yvonne, Atlantis is an awesome resort but IMO the DCL excursions described in PassPorter don't sound great. The aquarium is amazing so it'd be worth taking him to see that and I think you can use the beach which is pretty nice but not any of the pool facilities. It might be worth seeing if you can arrange your own thing directly with Atlantis...

Thank you for your input Karen. I would really love to try it so I will do some investigation to see how we could do it on our own and not thru DCL. We had originally thought about staying on the ship that day, but I know my husband will want to see Atlantis if we're there, and at least some of the island itself.

 

[CustardTart]

Good luck with that, Yvonne! Let me know how you get on...

Hope everyone's having a good weekend - we're decorating our study and the paint fumes are giving me sinus problems but the weather is gorgeous so it's hard to be down...

 

[Mousermom]

Hey everybody!!!

The weather in Philly is gorgeous too!

However, there was MAJOR flooding in our basement a few days ago and now there is a very musty smell down there.

We rent the house we are living in right now and the landlord doesn't have much of an interest in fixing it.

It's supposed to be nice the next few days at least.

Hope everybody is doing well and I'll talk to you all soon!

 

[Bibbidi]

So glad to hear that we're all having great weather. It was about 80 here today in Ohio. The girls loved being outside in the sun all day. I can tell though, my girls are definite "burners" if we don't load them up with sunblock. We'll have to be really careful out on the ship next summer.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi guys! Been sitting out in the garden perusing the PassPorter guide and thinking about Castaway Cay! I've never really bothered before to read up on the excursions offered as I like to spend as much time as poss catching rays on Serenity Bay BUT I've just been looking and think Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure sounds pretty good so I need to discuss that with DD...

Study's now finished! All fresh and neatly painted so I've ordered a desk, chair and filing cabinet to take the overhaul a stage further. Hopefully this will have a positive effect on our paperwork organisation...