November 1, 2008 "Election Day Castaways!"

[tinapomp]

Which means that almost 4 years ago, my new DH and I were about a week away from boarding the Disney Magic on our honeymoon cruise!

Which also means that we are.... 22 days away from sailing away on the Magic again!

 

[mindelmouse]

that people's health issues are clearing up. Hopefully everyone stays healthy until and during the cruise.....we've spent much to much time being excited about this to get it taken away....

 

[nobodycares]

I went with two paperbacks rather than hardbacks as I am watching my "weight" (my packing weight that is). Love Grisham - always a good read.

Bought some more travel size products yesterday, they are like potato chips, you can't stop at just one. It puts me in a good mood to buy little bottles of things.

Working very hard to minimize shoe packing. Hardest thing for me to do is to bring as few pairs of shoes as possible. Since DD and I are now the same size, that will work to our advantage. I tried to stick with two color pallets so I'll need 2 pairs of shoes for the dining rooms, I'll wear sneaks on the plane, and my flip flops for beachside/poolside just don't count.

Picked up some pins at the Disney Store on clearance - those Bugs Life pins will be traded away on board for Stich pins for DD and PIRATE pins for me!

Anyone have any experience with the fitness center? I have to decide between bringing my opened back sneaks (so comfy) or the traditional closed lace up sneaks. Any restrictions on open backed sneaks? Plus, I am not a "gym" person. (Don't have matching spandex ) Can I get away with sweats and a t-shirt or will the fitness fashion police make fun of me.

 

[podsnel]

I went with two paperbacks rather than hardbacks as I am watching my "weight" (my packing weight that is). Love Grisham - always a good read.

Bought some more travel size products yesterday, they are like potato chips, you can't stop at just one. It puts me in a good mood to buy little bottles of things.

Working very hard to minimize shoe packing. Hardest thing for me to do is to bring as few pairs of shoes as possible. Since DD and I are now the same size, that will work to our advantage. I tried to stick with two color pallets so I'll need 2 pairs of shoes for the dining rooms, I'll wear sneaks on the plane, and my flip flops for beachside/poolside just don't count.

Picked up some pins at the Disney Store on clearance - those Bugs Life pins will be traded away on board for Stich pins for DD and PIRATE pins for me!

Anyone have any experience with the fitness center? I have to decide between bringing my opened back sneaks (so comfy) or the traditional closed lace up sneaks. Any restrictions on open backed sneaks? Plus, I am not a "gym" person. (Don't have matching spandex ) Can I get away with sweats and a t-shirt or will the fitness fashion police make fun of me.

I'd like to know about those open backed sneakers,too. They are so much more comfy, AND they weigh so much less!

I love Grisham, too. I haven't read him in a while though- lately I've reading books from a book club I'm a part of- sometimes it's a little (read- a LOT!) too heavy in the subject matter for me. But I love the women in the group, so i keep on going!! Fortunately, this month's book is very light- it's Twilight, a book about vampires that is very popular with teens- it's the first in a series, and it's very, very good. I may have to pick up the next one or 2 for the cruise! DH just read "Playing for Pizza", a different kind of Grisham book- he LOVED it, but it made him REALLY hungry- it's about a football player who plays in Italy, and they keep on talking about all the Italian food.

I called DVC today- they send their documents out 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before the cruise. So I can stop holding my breath now, I guess!! Looking forward to the wristbands instead!

Ellen

 

[nobodycares]

That's funny you mentioned Playing for Pizza - I picked that one up but it was shorter than I wanted. I ended up getting Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead and Jonathan Kellerman's Compulsion (Alex Delaware series). A couple of my favorite authors.

There were other books there I wanted though. I do enjoy when authors continue their characters. I'll read everything they write that way.

That Twilight series is supposed to be good. Lots of people are talking about it.



Still waiting for fitness reports from those in the know. Dress code (is it only matching spandex or can couch potato's join in) and what about open back sneaks for the casual workout?

 

[mindelmouse]

So I've printed out about half my magnets (DH has to clear up some of my images before I print the rest). So, due to the fact that some here say the magnets "walk" - does anyone have any suggestions of how to identify the magnets that are done on the staples magnetic paper. The back is black. Any ideas????

 

[stampinshauna]

This thread is going crazy with excitement! I can't wait until our trip! Is anyone else planning to rebook onboard? We are planning to cruise again next November.

 

[tinapomp]

I got my wristbands today! Thanks Shauna!!

I love them and the size is perfect.

I'm also planning to rebook onboard. I think this time we're going to go with a 7 night Eastern, just because we've never done the Eastern.

 

[nobodycares]

We booked this trip onboard last time. Saved some $$ and got the $200 OBC.

Word of advice - do your homework now while you have lots of time and access to the internet. Pick your itinerary, your sailing date, look at the prices for the cabins, heck even see what cabins are open for your sailing date (like secret porthole rooms).

I did all my research ahead of time - Got a quote from Dreams Unlimited, check the DCL site for the fares, checked the school calendar for good windows of opportunity, checked the main boards for tips (secret port hole rooms, deposit info). I took 3 or 4 pieces of paper with me on the ship with my notes - and that way the rebooking process was soooo fast and easy. Keep in mind you have to make your deposits at the time you rebook so be prepared $$.

The people in front of me at the rebooking desk were window shopping, asking about itineraries, dates, the differences in each level of cabins. I was going crazy waiting for them to finish so I could rebook my trip.

There are times when apparently the rebooking desk gets crowded - so check the navigator for times, or I think she/he has a system where you can leave them a request for a quote and they'll get back to you with it.

I am going to restrain myself from rebooking onboard again. As much as I absolutely love DCL, this is the 2nd year in a row for a DCL cruise vacation, I am not really interested in the Eastern itinerary, and the repositioning cruises are out of the question (can't get that much consecutive vacation time without the boss imploding). Plus, I've never received one of those mythical upgrades. I'm 0 for 2.

So much of the world to see - gotta get some stamps in my passport.

 

[stampinshauna]

This is our 4th time on DCL. The first trip we didn't rebook onboard because we thought it was a one and done trip As soon as we got home all we could do was dream about getting back on the Magic. We ended up booking a couple months later--wish we would have rebooked onboard to save the $. The second trip we did rebook onboard and knew that we likely wouldn't be sailing until new dates were released, but we booked and then changed the ressie. Trip #3 we rebooked for this cruise the morning that the dates came out and it has been a long wait!

 

[nobodycares]

I want to rebook, I really do. I know I am going to just hate myself later.
I know I can just pick a dummy date and move it. Decisions, decisions.

Finished my absentee ballot. Was "none of the above" a good choice???

 

[Boys Papa]

Got our wristbands today! Thanks Shauna!

 

[LBIGirl67]

I want to rebook, I really do. I know I am going to just hate myself later.
I know I can just pick a dummy date and move it. Decisions, decisions.

Finished my absentee ballot. Was "none of the above" a good choice???

I wrote in Mickey Mouse....thinking this year he may finally get elected.

 

[princesspaige]

We got our wristbands as well...I think DH thinks I have lost my mind... maybe I should not have gotten so excited about seeing that little brown package.

Knocked some things of my list...mailed absentee ballots in today, bought some travel size stuff...bought my first pair of smaller girl (not quite skinny girl yet ) jeans...bought DH some new underwear (hope he doesn't see this, don't think he will be pleased with me telling you all that )...I think that is all I got done today, but hey tomorrow is another day.

 

[princesspaige]

to reach 2000 posts only 295 more to go in less than 23 days...can we do it?? Yes we can!

 

[Lisacarolr]

Are there alarm clocks in the staterooms?

Are there irons?

Do they supply any sample size soaps/shampoos each day? Not sure this will help at all anyway. Probably will still bring shampoo at least because those samples don't go far.

 

[Buglady]

I know the dentist feeling. last march was told I needed 4th crown work to be done. Hoping to put it off until 2009. Sept. visit was told tooth had vertical crack-could shadder at any point if chewed wrong. pain of the crown work is 3/4 done(prement crown on 21st). at least it is done before the trip and not on the trip.
still over packing in baskets, 1 absentee ballet done, figuring out what I still need to get, DD hair cut done(school pictures on 16th), my color in and still need hair cut, DH hair to get cut, double check lists.

 

[mindelmouse]

Are there alarm clocks in the staterooms?

Are there irons?

Do they supply any sample size soaps/shampoos each day? Not sure this will help at all anyway. Probably will still bring shampoo at least because those samples don't go far.

From what I am told the answer to both questions is no. You are not allowed to iron in your stateroom. There are irons in the laundry room, you're only allowed to use them there. From what I've seen on this board, people are bringing their own alarm clocks, so I would think that would mean no clocks.

Leaving 3 weeks from tomorrow and I didn't get my bracelets (((

 

[tinapomp]

Are there alarm clocks in the staterooms?

Are there irons?

Do they supply any sample size soaps/shampoos each day? Not sure this will help at all anyway. Probably will still bring shampoo at least because those samples don't go far.

There are clocks in the stateroom, but I'm not sure if they are an alarm clock. It is an analog clock and doesn't have a light up dial. But you can get a wake up call where Mickey himself wakes you up. Also, the tvs in the stateroom had an alarm clock on them you could set, however, since they just upgraded all the tvs during dry dock, I'm not sure if this capability still exists.

There are irons and ironing boards in the laundry rooms that you can use free of charge.

They also do have sample sizes of the soaps and shampoos, and if you run out just ask your stateroom host, and I'm sure they'll be glad to stock you up.

 

[melidere1676]

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I am in school and working full time...did I mention I need a vacation...did I mention I am getting one!!!!

Plutospup and Jenny2 - Thanks for your kind hellos. I am so looking forward to this trip.

Lisacarolr - I would agree with what everyone else has told you, but esp. agree that the cruise staff will bring you as many a you need on the cruise with shampoos and such. I have never had a problem in 5 cruises getting as many as I needed. I would also encourage that if you think you might do laundry on the ship, that you consider just purchasing the small box onboard. On time I brought detergent with us and boy it was a hassle. The last time, I just brought dryer sheets and the $1 tide onboard the ship and I didn't have to worry about soap going everywhere.

Mom2PrincessesLinSy - Although I am not a mom, my brother-in-law started going on the cruises when he was around 10. He loved the kid and teen programs so much that he begged my in-laws to take him on a final cruise before he turned 18 so he could have one more 3-night cruise as part of the teen program. For my rather reserved brother-in-law, that's quite a recommendation!

podsnel (Ellen)
"Hi Melidere1676! Nice to meet you! You were married on CC? WOW!!! That must have been fabulous!!! Can you tell us anything about it? This is my first DCL cruise, my family and I are really excited about it, as you can imagine. Well, I'M really excited about it- they will be when we're getting on the ship!"

Ellen - Thanks for the welcome and I am totally biased, but I think you an your family will love the experience of the cruise line. I am kind of a walking version of that ad where the family "can't sleep, I'm to excited!" about the cruise line.

In reference to my wedding, well I could go on and on, but I won't bore you to pieces. We wanted a small wedding (less than 20) and we had done a 3 day Disney Cruise before and thought a 3 day would be perfect for a wedding. The things I loved were the professionalism of the staff, the fact the package came with so many of the elements included (bridal flowers, grooms flower, wedding coordinator, musician for the ceremony, small cake/champagne reception, minister, location etc.) that we chose what we wanted from the package, personalized a few things (I found a company that sold wedding cake toppers that looked like a sand castle. I thought castle (Disney) sand (Castaway Cay) perfect combo!) and the main stress was making sure I had everything before we left (tons of lists and 7 bags (included a wedding dress and a suit) for a 3 day cruise). Our guests had a blast, my mom and his mom cried, photos were beautiful and we never had to worry about "Will our guest like what we chose for dinner?" because we didn't have to choose. Our guests got to pick just what they wanted! To sum it up, I would do my wedding over the exact same way? YOU BET!!