Mexican Riviera Cruise 03/27/2011

[MyLove4Disney]

We are really getting close. I'm getting the last of my FE gifts and magnets put together. My bags were packed and put out by the front door, and then I remembered I didn't pack my FE. I leave tomorrow night for OC, gotta find someone to take me to the airport. Luckly, I'm only 8miles away from the airport, I could almost walk, um not LOL.

So when is everyone else heading out? Will you be enjoying Disneyland before or after cruise?

 

[CalDisfans]

Hi Susan!
We are going to leave our home at 7:00am on Sun. We live less than an hour from the port.
We were considering staying in a hotel down there the night before, but the 6 of us would've taken 2 rooms, and when asking the kids would they rather stay in a hotel the night before, or drive there the next morning & save that $$ for on the ship, they all chose option2!! Smart kids...
We will be going to Disneyland afterwards, sometime that week. Can't wait till Sunday! (Hoping no rain,..been there, done that last week there!!) LOL!!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hi Susan!
We are going to leave our home at 7:00am on Sun. We live less than an hour from the port.
We were considering staying in a hotel down there the night before, but the 6 of us would've taken 2 rooms, and when asking the kids would they rather stay in a hotel the night before, or drive there the next morning & save that $$ for on the ship, they all chose option2!! Smart kids...
We will be going to Disneyland afterwards, sometime that week. Can't wait till Sunday! (Hoping no rain,..been there, done that last week there!!) LOL!!

Living only an hour away I would say your kids are smart too. 100 bucks or so for stuff on the trip that you can have for longer than a night is always good value.

 

[merrygirl]

Hi Susan,
Sorry for delay in my response about meeting up at Disneyland. I have been really busy and before I knew it its Wednesday. We plan to be at Disneyland tomorrow providing its not raining too hard. If your still planning a trip there, let me know. Maybe we can have a tentative meet time if the weather permits. Ok have a great day.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Hi Susan,
Sorry for delay in my response about meeting up at Disneyland. I have been really busy and before I knew it its Wednesday. We plan to be at Disneyland tomorrow providing its not raining too hard. If your still planning a trip there, let me know. Maybe we can have a tentative meet time if the weather permits. Ok have a great day.

Oh would love to my DD has school all day and the only thing I really have planned for Thursday is I have to get her car smogged. So would love to me up with you. My cell phone going to be sent to you in a pm.

 

[penguinaddict]

Hi everyone,

Driving out Thursday afternoon.... we'll be staying near Long Beach Thurs-Sat nights. Thinking of Downtown Disney Friday at some point and may have to venture into the parks just to get a fix. Saturday we'll be going to San Juan Capistrano for the day if it isn't raining. If anyone is in the Long Beach area Saturday evening and wants to get together for dessert or something... let me know! I'll send me cell phone via PM.

We plan to arrive at the port around 9:30am - check in is 10:30am. I think Bryce and I plan to wear matching Mickey Hawaiian-print shirts (although it's kind of big on me) so look for us!! Of course I'll have a two kids in tow but then most people will.... so it might be harder to find us if I just said we have two kids.

And we'll be doing Disneyland after cruise for a couple of days so staying in Anaheim......

PS: Stressing because I can't find my annual pass - - - got everyone else's in the house, but not mine!

 

[jrask]

Are we almost there yet?

 

[penguinaddict]

Are we almost there yet?

"Yes... we're just driving around looking for a parking spot."

 

[jrask]

"Yes... we're just driving around looking for a parking spot."

Good to hear. But so not what I meant. Some of us are working through Friday.

 

[penguinaddict]

It's my favorite thing to say when the kids ask......



I'm working til noon tomorrow then off! I work four 10-hour shifts a week so comp'ing off the extra hours Thursday and I'm outta here!!!

Sorry you're working til Friday.... happy hump day!!

 

[MyLove4Disney]

PS: Stressing because I can't find my annual pass - - - got everyone else's in the house, but not mine!

Don't worry if you don't find it, they will replace the pass for you. You just have to go to the ticket booth and let them know.

 

[Omasgirls]

Got my permission for International travel with a minor Letter signed by my husband!

 

[cmwade77]

Got my permission for International travel with a minor Letter signed by my husband!

I would strongly recommend getting it notarized as well. I am not sure if it is still required or not, but I would hate or you to get there and find out that it is and not have it notarized. I know in the past when I looked at the government sites that it said it needed to be. I noted it in case we ever take my siblings with us.

 

[penguinaddict]

I would strongly recommend getting it notarized as well.

We got ours notarized - - - I found the US Gov't website said Mexico requires it - not really the cruise ship. So, don't want to mess around with Mexican rules and regs so got it notarized.

 

[penguinaddict]

Don't worry if you don't find it, they will replace the pass for you. You just have to go to the ticket booth and let them know.

Found it!!! Yippee!!! One less thing to stress about.

 

[Mommy22Cuties]

Got my permission for International travel with a minor Letter signed by my husband!

Am I missing something... I'm taking my 4 year old without daddy... do I need one? Yikes

 

[penguinaddict]

Am I missing something... I'm taking my 4 year old without daddy... do I need one? Yikes

We decided to get it, even though we technically didn't have to. Hannah's dad is deceased (Bryce and I will be married this year) so I'm bringing a copy of his death certificate. Even though we have shared custody of Skyler, we did get the notarized letter from his mom (Skyler shares the Smith-Velasco last name) but we did it just in case. We do not want to have to deal with any issues getting out of Mexico (not really with the cruise aspect but if we had a medical emergency on the ground or something involving the police). This requirement is even included under the passport area even though both parents must apply for the passport together. It's really a matter of protecting children of parental-abduction issues.

So, here's info from the US Goverment Travel website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html:

Minors: Mexican law requires that any non-Mexican citizen under the age of 18 departing Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Mexico. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s). The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel. The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable. Travelers should contact the Mexican Embassy or the nearest Mexican consulate for current information.

Hope this was helpful and not alarming.

See you soon!! Lori

 

[Mommy22Cuties]

We decided to get it, even though we technically didn't have to. Hannah's dad is deceased (Bryce and I will be married this year) so I'm bringing a copy of his death certificate. Even though we have shared custody of Skyler, we did get the notarized letter from his mom (Skyler shares the Smith-Velasco last name) but we did it just in case. We do not want to have to deal with any issues getting out of Mexico (not really with the cruise aspect but if we had a medical emergency on the ground or something involving the police). This requirement is even included under the passport area even though both parents must apply for the passport together. It's really a matter of protecting children of parental-abduction issues.

So, here's info from the US Goverment Travel website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html:

Minors: Mexican law requires that any non-Mexican citizen under the age of 18 departing Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Mexico. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s). The State Department recommends that the permission should include travel dates, destinations, airlines and a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the travel. The child must be carrying the original letter – not a facsimile or scanned copy – as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (usually a birth certificate or court document) – and an original custody decree, if applicable. Travelers should contact the Mexican Embassy or the nearest Mexican consulate for current information.

Hope this was helpful and not alarming.

See you soon!! Lori

Thank you so much Lori. I'll get one just to be on the safe side It makes sense- and it's the first time I'm traveling with children outside of the US- so good to know!
I can't wait to meet you and everyone!!!!

I have been scrambling to remember everything- I haven't even started packing. Tonight- after work tonight and tomorrow it's going to be a packing marathon since we leave early Sat. to drive out (we live in Las Vegas).

WOW- TWO DAYS to California and ONLY 3 to sail!!!!

 

[kvichi]

When I took my son to Canada without my husband I had to have notarized permission from him. And they did ask for it at customs.....and I've heard Mexico is the same.

 

[penguinaddict]

Alrighty....

bags packed - check
paperwork and passports packed - checked
cameras - check
right number of people in the car - check

On the road in a horrible, horrible, stormy, blistery winter rain storm - check

I'll be back on the board late tonight.... wishing everyone safe travels and see you on the ship!

Lori, Bryce, Hannah and Skyler