~~~ May 16, 2009 ~~~ Western Magic ~~~

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Oh My I about fell out of my chair when I saw the prices. We (ok, really just me) are looking at the 10 and 11 day towards the end of the summer. The Baltic ones looks fun too but the prices are even worse! I can't imagine not having a verandah so that makes it even higher and then there is this little guilty voice in my ear telling me I should really take the kids. I am with you though -- want to book it tonight and we don't even know if we will enjoy this one! The deposit wasn't so bad right?

Thanks for the tips on London. We are thinking of staying at a very posh hotel on starwood points -- it even has an indoor pool -- so worst case, we hang out at the hotel BUT that isn't the point. I have never been on the London Eye so that is a must. Tea with my daughter is a FABULOUS idea for a mother/daughter outing. We will of course go to Harrod's and do at least a little bit of sightseeing. Would love to see a show but not sure if we will be up for it (we will be jetlagged). Museums may be fun. I am not much of a history buff but DH is. I am definitely a shopper but the pound is so much higher than the $$, everything is so expensive!

Ok, back to work -- just for one more hour before I can call it a day!

Still at work?! I forget the time difference - I'm now off to bed!!!

My mum and dad had afternoon tea at Claridges on Monday for her birthday - apparently there was someone playing a harp all afternoon and it was beautiful.

And excellent news - Harrods now has a Krispy Kreme Donut shop in it! Worth going to just for that!! Well my DH and I certainly think so!

The hotel sounds lovely - you will definitely need an indoor pool in December!

I have just ordered a load of dresses to try on for formal night! Is it me or is everything getting a bit real now?!

 

[Tink113]

Eat em while their hot....

Krispy Kreme is listed as one of the companies that may end up out of business by the end of 2009

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Eat em while their hot....

Krispy Kreme is listed as one of the companies that may end up out of business by the end of 2009

OMG NOoooooooooooooooooo.

 

[austin77]

Eat em while their hot....

Krispy Kreme is listed as one of the companies that may end up out of business by the end of 2009

NO way!!! Everytime we go south we keep our eyes open for the Fresh sign

 

[texfinn]

Oh Noooooooooo! We do have Krispy Kreme here. I avoid it all costs. Why? Well, it seems if I get within smelling distance of a doughnut, they disappear!!!! Especially the chocolate ones -- Ahhhhhh. Sabrina got a coupon for a free doughnut for Valentine's day and we had better redeem it!!!!

I'll have to call the hotel -- think it is Le Meridian? Sound right? Something fancy. It is free with points so don't be impressed. It kind of cracks me up to stay in these fancy shmancy hotels with the kids. We do it in Finland and always run into some pretty dressed up folks, then here we are, with these two little kids in tow. I figure folks just curse these darn Americans under their breath!

Yes -- cruise is REAL! I cannot wait! I worked until about 5:30 tonight so pretty good. Lately wfh has been hard. All I want to do is research on the cruise! I need to look for formal dresses too. Talked to DH today about it. We decided to go the suit route for him and Kai. I got an ebay ID for me and will try to find Kai a suit that way. Has anyone bought kid's clothes on ebay? I am kind of nervous about it but it makes so much more sense than spending the $$$ off the rack.

Still have no clue on FE gifts for adults. I need to get out in the stores to see what I can find. I am guessing y'all don't want 10 gallon hats right?

Ok, back to surfing the forums. Am going to order this FE tonight once I find the picture of the one I loved!!

 

[lucyddr]

Eat em while their hot....

Krispy Kreme is listed as one of the companies that may end up out of business by the end of 2009

I read this on Yahoo the other day as well. Our nearest one is about an hour from here, which is wonderful! (They are still obtainable in a crisis situation, but not close enough to be convient!) Of course, now I feel I should buy as many as possible to help keep the chain open forever!

Texfinn: You asked about taking the wine out of the dining room. Yes, you can take it back to your room after dinner. You can even get a bottle in "advance" if you want as well. You can also "upgrade" to a better wine (We did this at Palo.) and just pay the difference. So, it's very flexible. I just don't want to limit myself to wine only on the cruise and I know if I have an obligation to drink it, I won't get my "foo foo" drinks!

I still haven't gotten our FE yet, but I ordered ours off of Ebay from gradysmommy or something like that. She actually only lives 2 hours from us!

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

If you don't mind sitting with 2 kids at least part of the time, we would love to link up with you. If not, I completely understand. Can you ask for an 8:00 pm seating? That is what we want too but didn't know you could ask for it.

Totally up for sitting with a couple of kids. Heck if we left it to chance we could get that family with 8 kids.

Awesome! I think you were ok with 2 kids right -- just not 8. We are older but I still feel like I am 25 (and it amazes me sometimes that I am not when my body not so gently reminds me!). I can start a list and once we have a good idea, I'll call it all in. Sound like a plan?

Sounds like a great plan.

I was able to get a formal night outfit last month at Macy's off their mis-matched rack. Jim will be doing a navy sport coat and slacks for both nights (different shirts and tie) to reduce on the amount of stuff we have to pack.

I have downloaded a countdown clock from somewhere (maybe the disney website) and we are 77 days away!!!!

I'm thinking about running over to Home Depot and grabbing a bunch of Mickey head paint samples to make a countdown calendar. Like I have time to do another craft project. I need to find material and design our FE and Figure out FE gifts.

I forgot who was talking about a TR (maybe Texfinn?) if it was really good and informative what was the title? Id love to check it out.

 

[texfinn]

Sounds like a great plan.

I was able to get a formal night outfit last month at Macy's off their mis-matched rack. Jim will be doing a navy sport coat and slacks for both nights (different shirts and tie) to reduce on the amount of stuff we have to pack.

I have downloaded a countdown clock from somewhere (maybe the disney website) and we are 77 days away!!!!

I'm thinking about running over to Home Depot and grabbing a bunch of Mickey head paint samples to make a countdown calendar. Like I have time to do another craft project. I need to find material and design our FE and Figure out FE gifts.

I forgot who was talking about a TR (maybe Texfinn?) if it was really good and informative what was the title? Id love to check it out.

So we have a table already -- at least 6 of us. Any others out there who want to link for the late dining?

I need to get a countdown clock but that might put me in a state of panic. In an odd way, the trip still seems so far away but it really isn't is it?

I ordered my FE tonight! Woo Hoo! I ordered mine from ****oosMommy? Something like that. I won't get it for another month -- she has 18 in front of mine to make

Ok, trip report -- I warn you, I got addicted and it was 75 pages long. Even skipping the commentary it took me almost an entire day. It was 17 days including a long trip to WDW first. That was the most incredible part -- you won't believe what she did for her kids at the GF!!!!! All I know is my kids can never ever every read it or they will either expect me to do something that amazing or I will lose my only 2 votes for Mom of the Year!

Let me see if I can find it and will post it.

 

[texfinn]

Ok -- you asked for it!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1976201

 

[austin77]

77 Days???....Its 83 days away...Isnt it?

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

It's 77 days for us - we go to WDW first.

 

[shasess]

12 Weeks
Until We Take The West
​

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

12 Weeks
Until We Take The West
​

WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!! 10 weeks until Orlando for us then!!!!

And look Peeps - I have a new ticker!! We went ahead and booked! DCL have assured me we can re-book in May on board to take advantage of the discounts they offer! Its a bit too far away to get excited yet, but its nice having something to focus on once May is over!!!!!

Lets hope I enjoy the first cruise as I have a 2nd planned now !!!!!!!

 

[tigger2002]

We are first time cruisers so we have to wait until 75 days out. Are there any Palo dinner or brunch times left? If so when are they, day and times, for you guys that can check now.

<

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

We are first time cruisers so we have to wait until 75 days out. Are there any Palo dinner or brunch times left? If so when are they, day and times, for you guys that can check now.

<

I know yesterday there was no brunch or tea left. I'll check on dinner...stay tuned!

ETA: It's still fairly open! Available times are:

Sat-6:30, 7:30, 8:30
Sun-all open (6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00)
Mon-7:00, 7:30, 9:00
Tues-all open
Wed-all open
Thurs-6:30, 9:00
Fri-all open (no 9:00 seating, though)

 

[lucyddr]

We are first time cruisers so we have to wait until 75 days out. Are there any Palo dinner or brunch times left? If so when are they, day and times, for you guys that can check now.

<

Just a word of encouragement... When we went on our first Disney cruise, we booked way to late to get anything online. I went straight to the desk on day 1 and was able to get Palo brunch and dinner reservations without any problems. I probably got there around 11:30, but they had plenty of times left! (We ended up with brunch on KW day and dinner on Pirate night.)

Congratulations Pooh and your second cruise. That cruise is very tempting to me as well, but I'm hoping we'll be pregnant by then. I'm not sure I want to be that far from home in my 2nd trimester (I wouldn't even attempt the trip in my first of third.)...

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

12 weeks!! Wow! It'll be here before we know it!!!

NICE TICKER, SONYA!! WTG!! Hopefully you'll be able to use that awesome rebooking discount onboard!

Tim--just like Cinda says, if you go to Rockin' Bar D as soon as you board, you'll probably be able to get exactly what you want. We did that last time. I reserved Wed for Palo dinner online but wanted it on Thurs because that was our anniversary, and there was no problem getting it switched. I didn't get to reserve any Palo brunch online (full), but I got a time once we got onboard, too. A fellow DIS'er told me (one of the many times we saw each other in passing) that he was on a waitlist for every Palo meal, and if they happened to have last minute cancellations, they called him. I don't know how many times he ended up eating there, but I'm thinking it was multiple times for brunch & dinner!! I know once he even ate by himself because his DW & kids had something else they wanted to do. Now that's a love for Palo!!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Just a word of encouragement... When we went on our first Disney cruise, we booked way to late to get anything online. I went straight to the desk on day 1 and was able to get Palo brunch and dinner reservations without any problems. I probably got there around 11:30, but they had plenty of times left! (We ended up with brunch on KW day and dinner on Pirate night.)

Congratulations Pooh and your second cruise. That cruise is very tempting to me as well, but I'm hoping we'll be pregnant by then. I'm not sure I want to be that far from home in my 2nd trimester (I wouldn't even attempt the trip in my first of third.)...

Thats good to know - we missed out on a Palo brunch. I was thinking of getting up at 5am (our time) to try book one when bookings open on March 2nd for everyone else, but I'm not sure if they load anymore slots that day?: I may just leave it now as I start my new job that day and don't want to be in a complete state for that!

We are similar! We were going to try for a baby next year! Now its been put back to post-August! My mother is going to judge me bad for putting a vacation over a baby!!!!

 

[lillygator]

Val - you mentioned 6:30 dinner - has it changed? i thought it was 5:30, 5:45 and 6? I would love a 6:30, heck I would love a 7:30!

 

[lillygator]

my whole dining room table is covered with cruise things. I just bought the girls some Jonas Brothers and Buzz outfits, so I have them out waiting to find the matching jewelry on Ebay...have the bows.....such fun.