May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Tink1987]

Agility is lots of fun. My wife loved it and misses it since we had to let Chloe retire. It teaches dogs all sorts of great things. Chloe knows sign language if she ever goes deaf, for example.

As requested, here's Windy Meadows Rhodora Chloe running her first and only 1st place.

Oh she is beautiful! And how fantastic that she knows sign language! Dogs are so wonderful and clever.

I was watching a program last night about sniffer dogs at London Gatwick - this one dog had been taught to sit down when they had sniffed somebodies's baggage and that's how the border force officers knew it was contraband!

One of the border force officers wasn't sure if this bottle of cooking oil that this women tried to being in was vegetable fat or animal fat and the dog knew it was animal fat!!!

 

[Tink1987]

I had to chuckle when starting to catch up here...

Had our first trip to our new Trader Joe's in our area.

And then afterwards to Costco. They had one of the "rotating vendors" set up near the milk dept that was sampling "frozen concoctions". It was three bags for just under $18 and even without the alcohol, the ones I sampled tasted good.

Just now took out the bags to google it: http://www.ltblender.com/

And on the back of the bag:

"Imported from Galveston Island, TX" LOL!!!!

These look very simple to buy your bottle of tequila, rum, Malibu, etc -- mix in your cabin, and store in your fridge. I asked how many servings, and was told 16 servings.... but that's 4 ounces. So I figured really 8 servings if I am realistic.

Might be an option for those not ashamed to have a stash of fruity drinks in your cabin. The screw top cap looks to be sturdy as well. Looking at their website they seem to be $7.99 each and we paid under $6 each at Costco. Plus, they can be packed in my luggage - just bring the alcohol on separately in carryon.

Hubby was with me, he thought three was enough. They leave my Costco on Sunday so I might be making a sneaky trip back....

They sound lovely!!

Now you have me thinking and talking about alcohol again at 07:15 my time!

 

[Tink1987]

For those playing around with graphics, remember we have our DISigner forum here with folks more than happy to help create unique designs for you! Some also have blanks you can personalize or they can. There are literally zillions of beautiful designs out there! (okay, maybe not zillions, but you get the idea)

Here's the "Meet the DISigner" thread of various folks along with their shareware sites:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2430332

Thanks for that - I will take a look at that when I get some time over the weekend!!

 

[binkytell]

They sound lovely!!

Now you have me thinking and talking about alcohol again at 07:15 my time!

this time difference doesn't work for us, at least over weekend I can stay up later and chat with a nice glass of red

 

[binkytell]

Do we think its time someone headed up a new thread??

Lots of people have made comment on how much easier
They find it if all the info is placed on front page.

We can carrying on chatting here while its getting set up and then move over
When were ready.

Volunteer??

 

[WVURunner]

We booked a category that only had GTY staterooms left. Does anyone know when we will get assigned a stateroom? I hate not knowing.

And I am a horrible wife! I forgot in my excitement of the cruise planning that I will be my husband's birthday. Looks like birthday cruises are becoming a thing for him, last year we were on the Fantasy.

 

[MandyGirl]

We booked a category that only had GTY staterooms left. Does anyone know when we will get assigned a stateroom? I hate not knowing.

We received our's prior to wbta about 3 weeks prior to cruising.

And I am a horrible wife! I forgot in my excitement of the cruise planning that I will be my husband's birthday. Looks like birthday cruises are becoming a thing for him, last year we were on the Fantasy.

Those can be fun!!

Have your TA denote birthday on your reservation, and you most likely will have a small cake to surprise him with one night at dinner.

Our youngest turns 3 a few days after disembarkation so we plan to do something for her onboard the last day.

 

[MandyGirl]

Do we think its time someone headed up a new thread??

Lots of people have made comment on how much easier
They find it if all the info is placed on front page.

We can carrying on chatting here while its getting set up and then move over
When were ready.

Volunteer??

I know I don't have dozens of DCL cruises behind me, but I am definitely for a setup like we had for WBTA. Compared to the other cruises we have taken on various lines, that has been my favorite rollcall setup over the years (including the rollcalls I've been on with CruiseCritic, a different message board). For WBTA: Each organizer held a placeholder on page one of each new thread and updated their own events. So quick and easy to see at a glance, plus any time they made an update by editing that post, they put a brief description as to what was updated in the "reason" box when making the update (like if they had multiple events). We used one post for all of our events because it is based on number of posts that fit on the first page - so if you were coordinating three events, you put all three in your own post. That enabled all organizers to fit on page one versus making a separate post for each event.

I had suggested this format over 150 pages ago in this thread to no avail, but maybe now people are getting tired of fishing through thousands of post to look for the most updated info for an event? I'm all for the efficiency of setting up the next thread to utilize page one like this was here, but that's just my two cents. Please please please no flames or hurtful PMs. I'm up for it if nobody else is.

 

[Kirbo]

Yep! That's where all of mine come from. The one for this cruise was simply finding graphics from various DISigners and arranging them into one jpg. Once you have the image(s) you want, just upload to VistPrint

I love the one that binkytell has in her siggy. You did that one, right? Good job!

 

[Kirbo]

Do we think its time someone headed up a new thread??

Lots of people have made comment on how much easier
They find it if all the info is placed on front page.

We can carrying on chatting here while its getting set up and then move over
When were ready.

Volunteer??

I know I don't have dozens of DCL cruises behind me, but I am definitely for a setup like we had for WBTA. Compared to the other cruises we have taken on various lines, that has been my favorite rollcall setup over the years (including the rollcalls I've been on with CruiseCritic, a different message board). For WBTA: Each organizer held a placeholder on page one of each new thread and updated their own events. So quick and easy to see at a glance, plus any time they made an update by editing that post, they put a brief description as to what was updated in the "reason" box when making the update (like if they had multiple events). We used one post for all of our events because it is based on number of posts that fit on the first page - so if you were coordinating three events, you put all three in your own post. That enabled all organizers to fit on page one versus making a separate post for each event.

I had suggested this format over 150 pages ago in this thread to no avail, but maybe now people are getting tired of fishing through thousands of post to look for the most updated info for an event? I'm all for the efficiency of setting up the next thread to utilize page one like this was here, but that's just my two cents. Please please please no flames or hurtful PMs. I'm up for it if nobody else is.

I think it'd be great to have a new thread with everything we need on the first post/s. ValBob is busy with health stuff and hasn't been able to keep up with this thread, so I cant imagine she'd mind. And it's gotten REALLY hard to find anything in this thread since it's all spread out. We've got tons of information and it's just not readily available to any of us. (I have tried the search function and apparently suck at it. I never find what I need.)

If MandyGirl is up for starting a new thread, I'm all for that . Perhaps she can get it up and running, then we can put the link in the final post here and have a mod close this thread (unless ValBob happens to be around and able to do it).

 

[Kirbo]

Oh she is beautiful! And how fantastic that she knows sign language! Dogs are so wonderful and clever.

I was watching a program last night about sniffer dogs at London Gatwick - this one dog had been taught to sit down when they had sniffed somebodies's baggage and that's how the border force officers knew it was contraband!

One of the border force officers wasn't sure if this bottle of cooking oil that this women tried to being in was vegetable fat or animal fat and the dog knew it was animal fat!!!

That's so cool

 

[Kirbo]

They sound lovely!!

Now you have me thinking and talking about alcohol again at 07:15 my time!

 

[Kirbo]

We booked a category that only had GTY staterooms left. Does anyone know when we will get assigned a stateroom? I hate not knowing.

And I am a horrible wife! I forgot in my excitement of the cruise planning that I will be my husband's birthday. Looks like birthday cruises are becoming a thing for him, last year we were on the Fantasy.

What a lucky guy

 

[WVURunner]

We received our's prior to wbta about 3 weeks prior to cruising.

That late! That's when we got our IGT room assignment for the EBPC. I was hoping GTY would get thiers earlier. I remember on the EBPC, they got thiers much soon than the IGT people. I had waiting and not knowing...

Have your TA denote birthday on your reservation, and you most likely will have a small cake to surprise him with one night at dinner.

We don't use a TA. I am to much of a control freak! Plus, the one time we did use a TA (for our honeymoon), they messed it up horribly! Our flights and hotel stay didn't match up! They had us flying down on Sunday (which we wanted) but didn't have us checking into the resort until Tuesday! By the time the documents arrived and we noticed it and pointed it out, the resort was booked for Sunday and Monday night! GRRRR This should have been a sign our wedding was going to be a disaster. Looking back, the universe was telling us NOT to get married.....And they didn't really do anything to correct their mistake. Hubby felt so bad since he talked me into using a TA since he thought I had to much on my plate that I would mess it up. Anyway, I will contact Disney and make a note.

I know I don't have dozens of DCL cruises behind me, but I am definitely for a setup like we had for WBTA. Compared to the other cruises we have taken on various lines, that has been my favorite rollcall setup over the years (including the rollcalls I've been on with CruiseCritic, a different message board). For WBTA: Each organizer held a placeholder on page one of each new thread and updated their own events. So quick and easy to see at a glance, plus any time they made an update by editing that post, they put a brief description as to what was updated in the "reason" box when making the update (like if they had multiple events). We used one post for all of our events because it is based on number of posts that fit on the first page - so if you were coordinating three events, you put all three in your own post. That enabled all organizers to fit on page one versus making a separate post for each event.

Also, don't flame me but isn't that the purpose of the website? On other cruises, all the info was placed on the website and the front page just had a link to it and the thread was just keep for talking and a "website updated post" All important info was on the website. We had an awesome website for EBPC http://12-09-12-ebpccruisers.weebly.com/

Don't get me wrong, this website is pretty awesome as well!

 

[binkytell]

I think it'd be great to have a new thread with everything we need on the first post/s. ValBob is busy with health stuff and hasn't been able to keep up with this thread, so I cant imagine she'd mind. And it's gotten REALLY hard to find anything in this thread since it's all spread out. We've got tons of information and it's just not readily available to any





of us. (I have tried the search function and apparently suck at it.

I never find what I need.)

If MandyGirl is up for starting a


new thread, I'm all for that . Perhaps she can get
it up and running, then we can put the link in the final post here and have a mod close this thread (unless




ValBob happens to be around and able to do it).

Yeah I was thinking the same about valbob, didn't want to put pressure on when she has so

much going on just now

I'm up for you starting up too Mandy if you can

 

[MandyGirl]

I think it'd be great to have a new thread with everything we need on the first post/s. ValBob is busy with health stuff and hasn't been able to keep up with this thread, so I cant imagine she'd mind. And it's gotten REALLY hard to find anything in this thread since it's all spread out. We've got tons of information and it's just not readily available to any of us. (I have tried the search function and apparently suck at it. I never find what I need.)

If MandyGirl is up for starting a new thread, I'm all for that . Perhaps she can get it up and running, then we can put the link in the final post here and have a mod close this thread (unless ValBob happens to be around and able to do it).

Yes- the search feature can be quirky or you have a term but come up with too many posts to fish through. I hear ya! Unlike facebook where all answers to a question are in a "thread".

We'd need to set up Part Two thread first, get organizers to do placeholder, then add link to this thread. At that point we can then ask a mod to close Part One thread. We would usually have the new thread set up within 24 hours (taking into account timezone differences) but would need all organizers onboard and ready to go so we get the placeholders marked. Can go back and add specific event info later to placeholder - just want them to have their own "parking spot" on page one - one per person.

 

[MandyGirl]

Also, don't flame me but isn't that the purpose of the website? On other cruises, all the info was placed on the website and the front page just had a link to it and the thread was just keep for talking and a "website updated post" All important info was on the website. We had an awesome website for EBPC http://12-09-12-ebpccruisers.weebly.com/

Don't get me wrong, this website is pretty awesome as well!

Yes, the EBTA website is absolutely awesome! We have worked sending Chris descriptions, creating the polls, etc over the months. However, he's been the one point to make all updates except for the few who felt comfortable with making the updates on the website. The website has been in place 6 months and some are not comfortable making the updates, putting the burden on his shoulders to juggle around his busy work schedule. Even now, people will ask about an event, and although the website has been on page one, they still don't know to click on the website and go find the event there. Even the other day someone didn't know the Pub Crawl was an event, but we've had it on the website the entire time. For some reason, people are not utilizing it from what we are observing.

 

[Kirbo]

Yeah I was thinking the same about valbob, didn't want to put pressure on when she has so

much going on just now

I'm up for you starting up too Mandy if you can

 

[Kirbo]

Yes, the EBTA website is absolutely awesome! We have worked sending Chris descriptions, creating the polls, etc over the months. However, he's been the one point to make all updates except for the few who felt comfortable with making the updates on the website. The website has been in place 6 months and some are not comfortable making the updates, putting the burden on his shoulders to juggle around his busy work schedule. Even now, people will ask about an event, and although the website has been on page one, they still don't know to click on the website and go find the event there. Even the other day someone didn't know the Pub Crawl was an event, but we've had it on the website the entire time. For some reason, people are not utilizing it from what we are observing.

Chris has be wonderful with the website. But I admit that I'm someone that hasn't fully utilized it unless it's specifically mentioned in a post here. Then I click the link and see it.

 

[MandyGirl]

We don't use a TA. I am to much of a control freak! Plus, the one time we did use a TA (for our honeymoon), they messed it up horribly! Our flights and hotel stay didn't match up! They had us flying down on Sunday (which we wanted) but didn't have us checking into the resort until Tuesday! By the time the documents arrived and we noticed it and pointed it out, the resort was booked for Sunday and Monday night! GRRRR This should have been a sign our wedding was going to be a disaster. Looking back, the universe was telling us NOT to get married.....And they didn't really do anything to correct their mistake. Hubby felt so bad since he talked me into using a TA since he thought I had to much on my plate that I would mess it up. Anyway, I will contact Disney and make a note.

Yes - that's the other thing you can do. Our's is also booked directly with DCL again so when booking on your own, just a quick phone call to DCL to add the note in your reservation. Also be sure to re-verify once onboard with the head server or on embarkation day where .

So sorry you had that awful honeymoon experience! With some TAs or phone reps, I have to wonder "have you ever BEEN on a cruise?" when I hear responses to a question I might ask.