May 23, 2009 (5/23/09) E. Caribbean w/Tortola

[PeeWee Mom]

All packed and ready to "Rock and Roll" towards our adventure!

 

[CajunGirl2]

Safe travels to everyone! We're heading out in 4 hours. I still need to throw toiletries in the suitcase then we're done. 4 pieces of luggage plus a hanging bag for clothes. And one carry-on backup with 4 bottles of wine.

Ang

 

[acomasdiaz]

cloudy and overcast today here at WDW. Hope we get a few hours today of sunshine. Not raining now, but it's supposed to.

Today is our 16th anniversary We are going to Jiko tonight for dinner and off to the port tomorrow morning I am starting to have weird dreams about embarkation so I woke up early. All will be fine!

See everyone onboard tomorrow!!!

Happy Anniverary! Enjoy dinner at Jiko!

 

[justmestace]

Well....we're halfway there!We're in San Antonio. Our flight to Orlando is a little delayed....but it's finally!

 

[brucechase]

OK everyone - I am on the May 30th cruise.

I hope everyone has a great trip and keep her (the Magic) in great shape for those of us following you.




Wishing you guys the BEST trip ever!

 

[justmestace]

We're sitting on the plane on the ground in Texas. Orlando isn't letting any more planes in for now. Not sure when we'll get there.

 

[winotracy]

We're sitting on the plane on the ground in Texas. Orlando isn't letting any more planes in for now. Not sure when we'll get there.

Probably because of the weather here today. Hopefully you'll get here soon.

 

[goofygal1975]

We're sitting on the plane on the ground in Texas. Orlando isn't letting any more planes in for now. Not sure when we'll get there.

Yeah, that is why...high winds the news cast said. We got to Pop yesterday evening. We then checked into SSR today before we headed to Orlando to visit the inlaws. Tornado warnings around the area for a bit. LOTS of pouring rain! 2 weeks of rain at home, and we come here to add on 2 more days of rain. Hope it's SUNNY Saturday for our cruise!!!!

 

[WiscBill]

We're sitting on the plane on the ground in Texas. Orlando isn't letting any more planes in for now. Not sure when we'll get there.

We made it to Orlando, but were almost diverted to Ft. Lauderdale. We circled for about half hour. This was about 5 PM to six PM EDT. Right before landing, our pilot came on and announced that all traffic to Orlando was stopped not because of weather, but because the fuel delivery system to the tarmacs had failed. There were no landings because the airport was full because planes could not take off. Apparetly, Tampa and Jacksonville were also full with diverted planes, so we were going to Ft. Lauderdale. Then about five minutes later ( and after we started to figure out how long it was to drive from Ft. Lauderdale to Port Canaveral), he announced the fuel system was now working again and that planes were being allowed to land and takeoff. We landed around 6:15 PM (one of the first planes in) and there were planes parked everywhere. I had never seen anything like it. They were literally parked on some aprons nose to tail, so they could fit more in. The terminal was jammed with flight cancellations posted and delays of more than 2.5 hours for those going. We had heard about the bad weather also, but we left at 3 PM and had no bumps the entire trip. We made it to our hotel, the Embassy Suites Airport by 6:50, in time for 40 minutes of free happy hour. We kept saying how lucky we were and were also grateful to have flown in the night before. We are taking it easy this morning, doing some shopping,etc. Not sure when we get to port. See you all later.

 

[JOANNEL]

Just checking in from the residence inn. The ride down was awful, rain- heavy about 50 percent of the time, I wanted to pull over a few times but could not even see to exit. it was scary.

Stacy hope you made it in, we will see every one later.

 

[ehagerty]

Just finishing up breakfast in our room at OKW. Glad we did not have to travel in the weather this week. On the other hand, not so glad we were less able to use our park passes than usual. I won't ruin a good pair of sneakers in the rain, and my feet are not used to hours of flipflops (even well cushioned ones) or crocs (which are VERY slippery on wet pavement). At least I brought my summer-weight Goretex walking jacket.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Just checking in to see if anyone was posting from the Magic.

Have a wonderful cruise. I hope the weather at Castaway Cay is more iinviting that what you left behind in Orlando.....

 

[winotracy]

We were having too much fun to post during the cruise LOL!! We were first at the port in the rain and ran into Melody and Jon there, and kept running into them all cruise long Glad to meet as many of you as we did, but I feel like we didn't meet very many.

Now if we could just get home.... Flight is delayed out of MCO and we will miss all possible connections with our carrier.....

 

[CajunGirl2]

Anyone else home yet? We're home now after an 8 hour drive. Dropped the girls off at my sister's in Orlando area so we are now kidless for at least a week! We won't know what to do with ourselves!!!

Stacey, any word from Megan yet?

Got to meet a few folks onboard but not as many as I would have liked. Kept running in to WiscBill quite a few times. Ran in to Tracy a few but that was about it. Also was "busted" dropping off FE gifts.

Hope everyone had a great cruise. We did! Sad to be home now. I'm still swaying in my chair. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have my land legs back!
Ang

 

[ehagerty]

Just got out the computers - actually just got access to the computers from Brian & Sean checking up on their friends.

Did laundry, sunned by the pool (laundry), went to Wolfgang Puck Express (Marketplace) and stayed awake long enough to go to Mass at 06:00 (because we have to return our one day rental tomorrow morning by 08:00 am at Doubletree LBV). Happy to be "chillin" in the room, following a couple of very sleep-short nights.

I still have a couple of FE gifts, cabins without drop points (probably upgraded) - will PM those once I get home - happy to mail them (not that they are THAT valuable!).

Had a great time - enough to post for many episodes to come - hopefully taking me all the way up to the DVC member cruise in Sept!

More later - see you then!!

p.s. - was pleasantly surprised how painless it was to do the one way, each way car rentals. We were in the first van pick-up. Paperwork says we checked out the car at 7:58 am - and we were checked into our ROOM (not our preferred location, but we were willing to take pretty much anything for a couple of nights in return for the opportunity to drop stuff off) by 9:15 am. Cool. $53.16 rate through work for one way (24 hours). Beats weekly rental plus parking for 7 nights. Definitely needed the full size for 4 peoples-worth of luggage.

 

[msmith07101]

Hello everyone! We are back home...so sad. We were off the ship and in the rental car from Budget by 9:00. Went to Cocoa Beach for a couple hours and then to Downtown Disney (like I hadn't spent enough money already!) Arrived back in Cincinnati around 7:00 PM. I had an AMAZING time on this cruise! This was our first...and I am so hooked! I was fighting back the tears last night during the show and dinner thinking of leaving! I know...I am crazy...but I had such a great time. Disney certainly knows how to treat you...for sure. I only met a few of you...had hoped to meet more but didn't think to take room numbers or anything with me. Couldn't remember where we had decided to meet...so I just looked for the green Mickey's...spotted a few on some lanyards and just introduced myself. Oh...then there was one person who so easy to spot..I mean, how many people wander around the port in a kilt?!?!?
I hope to cruise again someday...we are all sad that we are not on the Magic right now! If it weren't for the high cost of the airfare, we just might have booked a Mediteranean while on board...but it's a little steep to fly to Barcelona
I hope everyone had a great time and arrives home safely!

 

[ehagerty]

How cool is this??

Will be posting MANY pictures - but it will take some time.... stay tuned

Castaway Cay - May 29, 2009 - Flying Dutchman under the Caribbean Sky

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[Poppins2000]

We were home by noon yesterday, moving slowly since I've still got my cold. (And still swaying as I write this, wheeeeeeeeeee!) Tracy, Stace, Joanne, Mona, it was a pleasure to meet you guys (and Heather, our brief hello at Tequila Tasting!). Wish I had the chance to meet the rest of the DISer's on this thread!

I am so glad we had the opportunity to upgrade to a Cat.3 - what a great way to spend our anniversary! Joe said now that we've had a taste of the concierge life, we can never go back, hahaha!

Back to my Beckarella duties, laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping...where are those magical mice when you need them...

Take care all - have a magical day!

Becky

 

[Poppins2000]

How cool is this??

Will be posting MANY pictures - but it will take some time.... stay tuned

Castaway Cay - May 29, 2009 - Flying Dutchman under the Caribbean Sky

.

That is an awesome pic!!!!

 

[Disneyelf10]

Hi all, we had a great time, wish we had the chance to meet more of you on the ship. I did meet some in the spa and on the last day in the airline checkout line- and I forgot to see your new wedding ring!! Please don't forget to post pictures of the vow renewal!
Thank you to all of you for the lovely FE gifts-- this was a very creative bunch! I loved them all! Thank you again!!!
Now what to do today? Oh yeah the chores, laundry, food shopping and cooking- I think I want back on the ship as I'm not ready to be home. I miss my wait staff- Putu and Olivera, they are the best I requested them from the last trip- thanks guys!!!
hope to talk to you all soon......
Donna