May 28, 2005 Mexican Riviera

[grammiegail]

We're in cabin 2528
Mom & Dad are in 2526

How ironic! Our daughter and grandkids are in 2626 and we are in 2628. Gosh, I sure hope we don't have a little too much to drink and try to crash into each other's rooms!

 

[poconoboatniks]

Grammie that would be too funny.

Happy Belated Mother's Day to everyone!


Mom, Dad & sisters were here yesterday. Everyone is getting very excited. Colleen is making door signs. Mom is shopping. Bob, dh, has been studying the pin trading websites. Kate & Brett are still clueless. Thank goodness!

Rebecca, what excursions have you decided to do with Grandma? BTW, she must be one special Grandma to give you guys this cruise as a graduation gift! Congrats on your accomplishment! College is appreciated more if you have experienced a little life first. The second time around was much more meaningful for me. I was paying for my masters and I knew what I really wanted to do. Your son is very lucky to be able to take part in your graduation. Enjoy your graduation!

Poconoboatniks

 

[CSNYDER]

I took my youngest daughter to Disneyland yesterday. Susie was ill and didn't go (she MUST be ill not to go!). They had the front of the castle area closed off as Regis was doing some filming. That was a real pain, as it meant circling a LONG way around to get from one part of the park to another, especially when you're pushing a wheelchair! I took some photos of some of the photo collages, I'll try and get those up this evening. I did notice that the Jungle Cruise has had a few additions and Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion now floats around. See y'all in a few weeks.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Challada,

Now that you have packed, go back and repack. You won't need as much as you threw in the suitcase. I'm getting really good at cutting down on how much we take. Bob's & my suitcases are 25x16x8. We're in cat. 9 which will have the steamer trunk to unpack into. The kids suitcases are the next size down from ours and fit inside our suitcases. We put their suitcases inside ours then put them in the closet. I pack one suit case for each of us and one garment bag for shoes and long hang stuff, suits & shirts. Once onboard, I send everything out to be pressed. I'm working on reducing the amount we pack in our carryons. Brett carries his Snoopy so we don't have to pack him.
That beagle has been on every cruise with us. Make sure the kids bring their favorite stuffed animal to sleep with. The cabin host incorporates them into their towel animal display.

We met someone onboard our first cruise who was able to pack everything into carryon bags. I was in awe.


Poconoboatniks

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Once onboard, I send everything out to be pressed.

I hope you don't mind my asking, but about how much do you send out to be pressed and how much does it cost? I want to send our formal stuff and our daily shirts and pants, but I don't want to pay an arm and a leg to get it done.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Just in case anyone forgot to look at their calendar... it is just 18 days until we ALL get on the MAGIC.
For those of you who have cruised before... when the ship comes BACK to port... what time does it GET IN? I want to be on the DOCK when she arrives.
Who is gonna be on the dock in the morning to help us GREET her?
:thewave:
Come ON... we have to make a showing...
Show Disney that WE, the DISsers LOVE Cruising and they should KEEP the Magic here!
Who's coming with me?!

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

I just bought the "Birnbaum's Disney Cruise Line 2005" book. It, of COURSE, has all the East coast ports in it and non of the West Coast. All we get is a page of recognition. But they do have lots of interesting factoids and tips. For you pin traders, it says they have Pin trading from 7:30-8:30. So that's good. Jumping on Challadas Hidden Mickey band wagon, I'll post a "Hot Tip" from the book every day.

They have this page called "Be Bored: We Dare You!" It give a sample of the activites available on board on any given day. Here is the sample:
10am - Team Trivia
11am - Informal Basketball Play
12pm - Island Music
1pm - Disney behind the Scenes (Tour of the Walt Disney Theatre)
1:30 - Character Stage Show / 1:30pm - Family Golf Putting
2pm - Magic Workshop / 2pm - Disney's Art Of Entertaining (Cake Decorating)
2pm - Beer tasting
2:30 - Wine Tasting
2:45pm - Disney Navigator Series (walking tour of the ship)
3pm - Pool games
3:30 - Mr. Toads Wild Race/3:30pm-Jackpot Bingo/3:30pm-High Tea at Palo
4:30 - Informal Ping Pong Play
4:30-5:30-Family Basketball Time
4:45-5:30 - Ballroom Dancing
5:30-6:16pm-Dancing Music/5:30pm - Family Sing Along
5:45 - 6:30 - Captains Welcome Reception (for guests with 8:30pm dinner seating)
5:45-6:30 - Family Dance Party
6:30pm - Darren Romeo: The Voice of Magic
7:30-8:30pm - Family Dance Party/7:30-8:30 - Pin Trading
7:45-8:30pm - Captains Welcome Reception (for guests with 6:00pm dinner seating)
8:30pm - Tailgate Party/8:30pm - Darren Romeo: The Voice of Magic
9:30 - 10:15pm - Family Dance Music
10:15 - 11:30pm - Fammily Karaoke
10:15pm - Cabaret Show
10:45 - 70's Boogie Down Disco Night
12-2 am - Dance Party
*Offerings may differ during your cruise.

Anyone for some Karaoke!?!?!?



Hot Tip #1 (and this is a good one)- The mid-ship elevators are the most crowded throughout the day, but especially at mealtimes. Try to use the forward and aft elevators as often as possible.

 

[528 Cruiser]

I hope you don't mind my asking, but about how much do you send out to be pressed and how much does it cost? I want to send our formal stuff and our daily shirts and pants, but I don't want to pay an arm and a leg to get it done.

I found this on another thread. Here's the list which itemizes the costs.
2piece suit 7.00 3p 9.00
coats 7.00
paints 4.25
jackets 4.50
shirts 3.50
sweaters 4.00
ties 2.00
blouses 4.00
dresses 8.00
skirts 4.50

LAUNDRY
shirt 3.00
pants 3.50
socks 1.00
undershirt&bras 1.25
pjs 4.00
under shorts 1.25
t-shirts 2.50
blouses 3.50
slips 3.00
night gowns 3.00
shorts 2.50
sport shirts 2.50


It's a great idea to have it sent for pressing on the first day once you board. We did this last time. We gave our formal and semi-formal garments to the stateroom host on the first day, and we got it back the next day already hanging in the closet. Since formal night is Sunday night, we plan on doing this again.

With regards to when the ship arrives back at the port, in Port Canaveral it normally came in very early around 5:00 or 5:30 am. I'm not sure when it's arriving this time, but I would guess it would be very similar. The ship needs a couple of hours to get all the luggage sorted out/placed for pickup, and to be cleared by authorities for debarkation.

 

[528 Cruiser]

Clarification on the above prices: This is the price for DRY CLEANING. If you only want PRESSING, I read that the cost is only 50% of the dry cleaning costs.

 

[first timers]

I had a face to face discussion last night with a very reliable CM who told me there will be a "Ducky" Williams lithograph for the cruise and that he will be onboard for the cruise (I think each cabin might get one- not totally sure though). Ducky does great work and is very interesting to listen to. Alex

 

[sandysplayhouse]

528 CRUISER, Thanks for the info...
will you be on the dock at the CRACK with us?

 

[suesings]

Sandy,
I thought the port gates are closed until 10 AM or so? Can you actually greet the boat? 5:00 AM is way to early for us but I plan to go out to our balcony and try to catch a glimpse.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Sue,
I have NO IDEA as to what time the port gates open... I had not thought of a port as having GATES... but I guess it would wouldnt' it?.. Anyway, I may have to take a drive out there and see what the situation is like... Anyone been to this Dock before? Our rooms face the harbor and we should be able to see the Magic as it comes in... but I wanted to actually be there with my WELCOME signs and horns and confetti... (confetti might be considered littering... hummm might have to rethink this part) but if they don't let me in until 10am... then I'll just have to make it a BYE-BYE-BYE party from the boat. Either way, I'm having a party with all my stuff.

 

[528 Cruiser]

Sandy, we're not staying overnight at the port. We'll be driving down early that morning and hope to get in by 10:00 am. I'm sure it'll be exciting to see the Magic coming in. Not sure if they'll let anybody in the port that early except maybe for the media if this is a media event.

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

We'll party with you Sandy!​

​

 

[ssnyder]

For those of you who have cruised before... when the ship comes BACK to port... what time does it GET IN? I want to be on the DOCK when she arrives.

I think it was around 5am. We were woken by it and I usually get up fairly early.

My plan was to get up early to watch it arrive. We asked for a harbor view room. I sure hope we get it. I figured that if we don't, I'm definitely up for a morning walk.

I did a drive-by of the harbor area a few weeks ago. There is a security gate and the whole area is surrounded with a high chain link fence. But, the slip where the Magic is supposed to dock is very close to the gate and you should be able to see it quite clearly. However, the immediate area around the gate may not be somewhere you want to hang out. There is just a narrow patch of grass between the fence and and the road (4-lane if I remember right). On the other side of the road are lower income houses. Anyway, I didn't see a good place for a group to hang out.

However, I can't imagine the media not being there to greet her. So maybe the gate will be open earlier than usual.

 

[challada]

Hey poconos...thanks for the tip on repacking...that was my plan since I really haven't packed the clothes yet (yikes)! I was going to go thru everything next weekend and actually match days to outfits!

I can't believe we are 18 days out...I think I'm going to have a heart attack by the time it gets here I'm so excited!


Sorry it's so late today, been a crazy day and will be a crazy week...so you will probably get evening hidden mickeys this week instead of morning ones...LOL.


Hidden Mickey #9:
Hey kids...look at that pirate ship!

 

[LiserAnn]

Hi May 28th cruisers!
What time do y'all set sail on the 28th? I'm from the July 30th thread and a group of us are planning to gather with the kids at Long Beach to see the first Magic sailing!!!! We thought that would be fun to hype the kids (not to mention ourselves) up before our trip and give you guys a good send off! But we need to know when you all leave the port!

Thanks a bunch!

Lisa

 

[suesings]

Hi everybody,
I cannot believe it is 18 days out??? That is incredible! It is coming really fast. I still have another 5-8 lbs. to lose, ugh!! Grammiegail, I've been hitting the gym 1-2 days a week and just hit the 50 lb. loss mark (since January 2004)!! woo-hoo. I am actually ENJOYING shopping now (I haven't enjoyed shopping in over 10 years!!). 18 days, eh? I could probably get another 2 off by then? We will see!!!

I have been going through the girl's outfits trying to decide what to wear for each day/night so I don't totally overpack. I bought beautiful dresses for the girls for Formal night. I can't wait to see them in them.

How dressed up are all you adults getting? I was looking through my dressier stuff tonight and most of it is too big. I do have a black skirt and top? Are others wearing formal gowns? I wish I had one I could wear. Not sure if I want to buy a new one to wear just this once?

So much to think about and do!!!

 

[suesings]

I meant hitting the gym 2-3 times a week (not 1-2)