May 28, 2005 Mexican Riviera

[wccruiser]

Hi everyone!

welcome Rebecca! Thanks for the dolphin report. My daughter is Grace (5 yo) and I have her booked for the dolphin encounter, not the swim...thanks for confirming I did the right thing. I'd hate to pay all that money for the swim and have her be too scared to do it (which I could totally see happening). I think she'll really enjoy just the encounter and petting the dolphins. It's all she talks about.

Sue- Welcome back!

OK, here's my question: if we're at the pool and want to go to lunch, we'd probably go to the buffet....do they let you in if your wearing a cover-up over your swimsuit or do you still have to go back to your cabin and change? What about the men...my husband's swim trunks look just like shorts (we're past the Speedo years!) and he would throw a t-shirt on? Is this OK or not for the buffet?

 

[grammiegail]

Sue, welcome back from our favorite vacation city! LOVE Vancouver, BC. Great job on keeping true to the plan on being fit for the cruise. I'm doing better on the exercise piece of my plan than the food part, but I'm still making progress!

Regarding dolphins, 2 years ago, I swam with the dolphins at the place in PV. I found them to be very gentle (well, except for the one that kept nudging me in the back, if I gave too much attention to another dolphin). Anyone swimming with them will get a memory of a lifetime. I think kids can enjoy it, but it will definitely depend on the kid. But, if anyone has a swim with the dolphins booked and wants to swap it for an encounter, we can accommodate you. We are looking for 3 more dolphin swims and can swap our 2 dolphin enounters and 1 dolphin encounter for kids onboard.

 

[Madison'sMom]

Hi Everyone!

Well I just thought I would check in to let you know I'm still around. I was off in Las Vegas last week with my mom and some of her friends. It was a great time but not as good as this cruise coming up. My daughter Madison is really looking forward to the ice cream social. Is anyone spending time at Disneyland before the cruise? We are hitting Disneyland and Knotts. We are counting the days. My stepmom and I are going to be doing some shopping at the end of the month for cruise wear. If it was only as easy to buy clothes for me as it is for my daughter or husband. I am determined to get some new clothes. I think I have the formal night taken care but I am unsure of the semi-formal night. What is everyone wearing?

 

[challada]

Gotta give ya updates on my atheletes! Ridge to River Jr was today which is a big multisport race here in town (people come from all over NW to do the adult version).

Alex did a tandem team so he ran, kayaked and obstacle course w/his best friend...they were #2 finishers of tandem teams (ok...there were only 2 tandem teams, LOL).

Emily did her first race and kayaked (she had a full team of 5 girls)...they were in the top half for their age group until some errors (Emily couldn't find her biker to pass-off to, obstacle girls fell down and no one knew how to run together down the hill)...I'm not sure what they placed, but was not in the top of the bunch (but not last either!).

Rebecca- make sure you bring Sam for the ice cream meeting party on Saturday. Only other thing I know we have going is the doortag thing on the Dis people's doors. Kids are bringing postcards of their hometown to pass along to their boat friends. Feel free to plan anything else in the activity department!

See ya soon!
Chris

 

[rccllap]

Sam and I will hope to meet up with y'all Saturday--I'll have a cone and he'll hit the water. My son is probably one of the only children who honestly doesn't like ice cream but maybe he'll change his mind! But he's still excited to meet everyone. I've made him a countdown calendar that he can tear the pages off of every night before bed so he can practice a sense of time and also look forward to the trip!

We'll be coming in Friday from North Carolina, shuttling to DG's in San Bernardino, then Saturday in the morning the shuttle will ferry us to the port. Sam and I are staying extra days after the cruise (til the 8th) and might head to DL then.

Is Disney accomodating about seating arrangements? Like, if I call them, will I be able to arrange a table near the front of the restaurants to be close to 1. the door 2. the bathrooms and 3. to try to cut down on possible motion? Sadly, I think I'm going to have to ask for our family group to not be placed with others (my grandmother does not play well with others and my son has the table manners of your average farm animal--not that I haven't tried and am still trying to work on that).

In the meantime, we're counting down!!!!!!

Chris--congrats to your athletes! Way To Go!!

peace--
Rebecca

 

[carriep1657]

Rebecca, I'm so glad that you, Sam, and your grandmother will be on the cruise. It's great to have another boy. My Sammy turned 4 in January. He's quite outgoing with other children especially if they're boys.

Congratulations on your graduation. When did you graduate? What was your major? Where did you go?

Challada, your kids are so athletic. Way to go!!! I'm impressed.

 

[challada]

No carrie, they are not athletic...we live in a hugely athletic town, so they play along (and my underachiever DS doesn't ever mind finishing last...LOL).

Rebecca- It's my understanding that seating is accommodating, especially if you have special needs for your DG....I just don't know if they will give the 3 of you your own table. If not, you can join us since my DS who is 10 has only graduated from farm animal manners to domestic dog manners.

Madison's mom...didn't mean to skip your semi-formal question....still a question in my mind as well. I now have:
1. My own long black formal (for formal night for SURE)
2. My friends long black formal & shawl (was going to be for formal night before I found mine on great sale price)
3. My friends tea-length black print formal (was going to be for semiformal night and/or Palos)
Now I am thinking of using #2 for semiformal night and skipping bringing #3, but I'm worried about being too formal. Then again, I'm debating returning her both #2 and #3 and just wearing #1 for both nights so I have more room for other stuff. That's clear as mud, right!

 

[rccllap]

Y'all have been so kind and inviting! Maybe having the love of Disney as a common factor pulls the nicest together

Answer to the college question; I'm a non-traditional student right this very moment. Didn't get my act together for a long time and started college when I was 30. Will graduate May 14th with a BA in History, minor Legal Studies, from UNC-Asheville. I'm actually not finished either....am planning to go on to law school in the fall! I'm insane

My two cents on the semi-formal & formal issue is, dress how you're comfortable and what will help you feel pretty! There is going to be such a range of attire, from clueless in sundresses to ultra-formal in long ballgowns. I don't know yet if I'll be packing with an eye to attend, myself, because I'm dealing with DS who honestly can't be expected to cope, and DG who may not feel up to that much of an effort. I'd say that Chris has got a good plan--options, possibly with a repeat, and accessorizing to complement without loading down the suitcases.

I'm going to call Disney today and see what they say about dining accomodations, and I will post the answers!

peace--
Rebecca

 

[carriep1657]

Challada, I'm even more impressed to learn that they aren't athletic but they still give it a try. My Mattie tends to avoid doing anything she's not good at and it frustrates me.

Madison's mom, as for clothes I'm trying to not buy any new dresses for the trip. I almost never have occasions to dress up so I'm going to wear some that I already have. I'll be wearing a black knee-length dress for formal night. It has some beadwork on the sleeves which is somewhat sparkly. For semiformal, I'll wear another knee-length black dress with an ivory floral pattern. I picked these two dresses because I can wear the same shoes with each. As for casual nights, I think I'll just bring a couple of skirts and a two or three tops that I can mix and match and wear some black sandals.

 

[carriep1657]

Good morning, Rebecca. I see we're both online right now. The only place I've ever visited in NC was Asheville. I was visitng my cousin in SC and we drove up to see the Biltmore at Christmas. I loved Asheville and thought that part of NC was absolutely beautiful.

Great job!!!! I can't imagine the discipline it would take to complete school with a little one. When are you planning to start law school?

I forgot to mention my DS also needs alot of work on table manners. We are working on it before the cruise. The other night he stuck his fork down his shirt and started to eat broccoli his hands. I gave him a look and he asked, "Will people eat like this on the cruise?" So, he's trying but we've got a long way to go.

Oops, Rebecca. I see you are going to law school in the fall. Where will you go?

 

[challada]

Rebecca- congrats on graduation and law school...good for you!

As far as semiformal night...I asked the question on the cruise forum board and got varying ideas of what people are wearing on that night...sounds like almost anything goes. I think I have decided to go w/ my formal for formal night and my regular black dress w/the fancy shawl for semiformal night...that way I can wear the black dress another night w/just a regular sweater or such.

I had another idea last night when I couldn't sleep...since we seem to all be traveling for 7-10-21 days, do we want to have a bookswap meet in the ending half of our cruise? I know mom will finish several books by then and I can probably get thru 1 (if I start now, LOL)...maybe an afternoon in the cafe, bring your books and ideas about what you've been reading that's great, good, not so good....let's talk books!

 

[wccruiser]

OK here's my question: if we're at the pool and want to go to lunch, we'd probably go to the buffet....do they let you in if your wearing a cover-up over your swimsuit or do you still have to go back to your cabin and change? What about the men...my husband's swim trunks look just like shorts (we're past the Speedo years!) and he would throw a t-shirt on? Is this OK or not for the buffet?[/QUOTE]

Anyone??? Also, what do we do with our lifevests after the drill at 400p? Do we have time to put them back in our cabin before the Sailaway party starts?

Rebecca, congrats! My little sister is 35 and graduated law school 2 years ago. Best thing she ever did.

Challada and Rebecca- the way you are describing your sons' table habits is bringing to mind the mashed potatoe scene from "A Christmas Story".

Book exchange sounds good since they don't have a library.

If anyone wants to by any "Lime Green" Diser stuff, check out www.disshop.com

 

[suesings]

Chris - Unfortunately I doubt I'll get much of a chance to read given Ava can only go into Flounders Reef (not the kids club because she is too young) so we will probably have her with us most of the time. Which isn't a bad thing but a toddler doesn't lend itself to a lot of reading time We'll be busy making sure she isn't grabbing anything sharp, jumping in the pool, tripping downstairs, etc

I would love to meet for coffee in the adult cafe though!! I love lattes. Hopefully Kelly will love the clubs with all the kids and so Mark and I can just trade off with Ava so the other person can relax a bit now and then.

As far as formal clothes. I am waiting to see where my weight ends up. I've lost a lot of weight in the last year and I have just recently started shopping again (it had been years, except for maternity clothes!!). I wonder if I can get into any of my old "thin" black dresses now? Not sure but I will try some things on. I was hoping to lose another 10 lbs before the cruise and then see what I can get into. Maybe even buy a new dress, who knows???

Mark and I are pretty strict when it comes to table manners but I can only imagine that things will be much tougher in a diningroom filled with kids and babies It will be interesting!!

Have a great Sunday!

 

[wccruiser]

Challada and Rebecca- the way you are describing your sons' table habits is bringing to mind the mashed potatoe scene from "A Christmas Story".


[/QUOTE]

Opps!..sorry...I mean Carrie and Rebecca....and really, I'm sure they'll do just fine.

 

[rccllap]

Sue--I took my son to WDW when he was 13 months old. My mother was with us, and we had one of those harness thingys which I highly recommend. He had a great time, we traded off for some things like Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Country, and the whole family got a great vacation. He fell in love with Goofy that trip, and even though I doubt he's got any real memories of it, he retains his love of Goofy and Disney in general. Your daughter will be the darling of the ship, I bet!

Thanks on the college nodnods--it's been quite an experience, but as a single mother, I knew that the only way I'd be able to provide well for Sam would be to get my act together! I might end up in Jacksonville for law school, or Knoxville, or Athens; that is one thing still unknown. The process is a nightmare.

We live in Asheville and the Biltmore is certainly the big attraction isn't it! In fact, some old friends were just in town this week, and that's where they wanted to go. I swear one of these days I'm just going to move in...surely they have room for little ol' me?

peace--
Rebecca

 

[challada]

OK here's my question: if we're at the pool and want to go to lunch, we'd probably go to the buffet....do they let you in if your wearing a cover-up over your swimsuit or do you still have to go back to your cabin and change? What about the men...my husband's swim trunks look just like shorts (we're past the Speedo years!) and he would throw a t-shirt on? Is this OK or not for the buffet?

Anyone??? Also, what do we do with our lifevests after the drill at 400p? Do we have time to put them back in our cabin before the Sailaway party starts?

Rebecca, congrats! My little sister is 35 and graduated law school 2 years ago. Best thing she ever did.

Challada and Rebecca- the way you are describing your sons' table habits is bringing to mind the mashed potatoe scene from "A Christmas Story".

Book exchange sounds good since they don't have a library.

If anyone wants to by any "Lime Green" Diser stuff, check out www.disshop.com

[/QUOTE]

As far as the lunch dress code, my understanding is that it is VERY relaxed...yes people go in cover ups/tshirts coming from the pool

For the lifevests...I haven't thought about it...hopefully there is some plan to have our room attendants gather them up or something as I would hate to mad rush back to our rooms and back!

Sue...come join us for coffee and just chatting...we won't quiz you or make you give a book report!

 

[sirod]

hi everyone....I'm new at this so be patient. We're grandparents....don't feel like it but the proof is here....and are taking our "just turns 6 in May" grand-daughter on the May 28 cruise. Just wondering if there are any others doing the same. Also would love to touch bases with anyone else with a girl that age. Hope to hear from someone.

 

[Jedisan]

Anyone??? Also, what do we do with our lifevests after the drill at 400p? Do we have time to put them back in our cabin before the Sailaway party starts?

When we've done other cruises, there has been time to go back to the cabin and leave the lifevests on the beds. The room steward will put them away while you're at dinner. However, since this will be our first Disney Cruise, I'm not sure if they do it the same way?

Rebecca - you are to be congratulated! One of my favorite sayings is, "Education is something no one can take away from you." I would love to go back to school one of these days. It's great you have a goal. The years go by so fast and you will be finished with school before you know it. We have a friend who just finished lawschool at 50! He couldn't be happier.

What to wear, what to wear? I really wanted to treat myself to something new this year. I have a full-length black dress that I have worn before. But, I would like to have something with color. We'll see. For the semi-formal, I have a black pantsuit (if it still fits). My DH has it easy -- he just needs to change the shirt and tie

I don't think I'll get much reading in (unless it's reading schoolbooks to help with the girls' homework), but I would love to join you ladies. Just let me know when.

Katie is drawing pictures to give to all her new friends. She can't wait to meet everyone. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone as well.

 

[suesings]

Welcome - Our older daughter will turn 5 in a couple weeks so she is close to your granddaughter's age. I could technically have a 6 year old granddaughter I guess, we started having kids later so we might be close to the same age

We have a 19 (almost 20 month old) DD too.

All the kids (& parents) on this string are meeting at 3:00 PM on the day we board at Scoops (the ice cream place) on the pool level. Join us!

 

[Moley]

On the life vests, you do have to wear them back to your room and put them back there before you go to the party. There is no place to deposit them and have them returned, but you can leave them anywhere in the room. The good news is that your life vest drills are fairly close to your rooms.

You have no trouble going into Topsiders in swimsuits and coverups. You would probably not be allowed to do that with the other lunchtime choice of Parrot Cay.