November 18, 2006 Thanksgiving Magic Special Western 2X Castaway Cay 11/18/06

[DiszyGram]

Hi Andrea, Hopefully you will be able to book Palos on board. Do it as soon as you can.

I just finished packing one large suitcase and sat on it to get it closed. It weighs 42 pounds and the limit is 50. The other large suitcase is quickly filling up too. Then there's my carry-on. Can't believe I'll be wearing and using so many things in one week. If we get stranded on a desert island, I'll be prepared.

I went out today and bought a nice formal dress. It will be great for Christmas too. The one I originally had looked more semi-formal than formal, so it will be for the semi-formal night.

 

[cruisecrzy]

So last night we put together all of DD clothes adn they are suitcase ready.

I have one more pillow to embroider then the pillow assembly factory will begin. They are a lot of work, but i love doing them. I'll post the "before siggies" picture when I am done.

I am checking more signs off my list. I am doing one for each day and some days there will be two. I am posting our main door one and pirate night one. I have lots more, but these two have been saved as Jpeg. The rest are still photoshop files.

I hope more of you have gotten your docs. It is odd since in the past we were always the last to recieve them.

Well time to make some dinner.

 

[DiszyGram]

Very nice signs! Michelle.

 

[The Ducks]

Does everybody have their documents already? I keep looking out for the UPS man but he hasn't been by yet! If we don't get them tomorrow I'm calling Disney. It's getting a little too close for comfort!

 

[DiszyGram]

We are in Maryland and haven't received ours yet.

 

[mollygirl13]

My mom got hers today only because she drove herself to the TA to pick them up She is very excited, can you tell???
I should receive mine by Friday. The TA mailed them out today.

 

[The Ducks]

They're here!! They're here!! THEY'RE HERE!!!

 

[cruisecrzy]

Well I finished embroidering all my pillows I just need to put zippers in and finish them up. Then all my stress will be gone. I am waiting until Monday to print out all my signs. I want to make sure my room # does not change. I know that two of the people in our group have had room # changes. As of now we have 11 for our stateroom and I made 4 for other people.

Tomorrow is our last day to relas. We have my MIL coming for 5 days with her young granddaughter and we will be running the WDW shuttle. Plus friends are in visiting the mouse and we need to meet up with them. We will get to be building our excitement with our multiple Disney trips so that will be good.

Glad all the docs are arriving. We are almost there.

 

[outahere]

It must be real!!!!! Got our docs yesterday afternoon.

Probably should start getting ready to pack!! We haven't done a thing yet, other than put the docs with our passports and lanyards (at least I know where those are!). Oh well...... if you see me wearing the same clothes every day, you'll know why.

Ed

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We received our docs over a week ago and have long since registered online. No chance my wife would wait on that one. As to packing, knowing us, next Thursday night is when we will start...and finish since we are heading to the port after work on friday. As always, we will be one of the first cars in line for the parking lot before 10am on the 18th.

As to the question from Andrea about transportation, we strongly suggest arranging thru Disney or renting a car and driving yourself. The reason is that if you travel thru Disney and there is a problem, they may hold the boat. If you travel thru someone else.... Also, two years ago, someone on the Disboards group had their Disney arranged flight arrive late. The boat was held for about 1/2 hour for them to make the ship.

As to door signs, we will have one dedicated to the Turkey day gang (note our signaure below). In years' past, there was also a game of door magnet tag to see who would be left w/the, what else would you expect, turkey. Each cabin had to sign off and pass it on to someone else's door.

As to the Palo question, Andrea, if you arrive early, or when you arrive, go straight to Rockin Bar D or wherever may be designated as soon as you board. Not all the Palo reservations are released in advance online. Further, as a party of 1 or 2 you have a pretty good chance and there are always cancellations. Finally, you can potentially be added to someone else's reservation. The latter was done extensively last year amongst our 28 limked cabins.

Chuck

 

[DiszyGram]

We are arriving on Friday and my sister should be waiting for us by the luggage return. Years ago she would be waiting at the door as we got off the plane. Unfortunately,for security reasons, no one can do that anymore.

Anyone else remember how nice it was to get off the plane and see the smiling face of a friend or family member waiting right there?

I rechecked my packing list and realized I forgot bras.

 

[andilynn]

Thanks so much for the info Chuck! I can not believe how nice everyone on this board is. No wonder you guys make this cruise a yearly event. I don't think I've ever been this excited to go on vacation. I had second thoughts about booking a cruise as a solo traveler...especially a family cruise like this one. I am so glad I did! It's been a really difficult year so I really needed this.

I booked myself on the Disney shuttle yesterday. It turns out that it's a great deal and I won't have to see my luggage again from California to the ship. I found out that my documents will go to Travelocity first, who I booked the cruise with, and then will be sent to me. Makes me nervous but I'm sure it will work out.

I was reading about the pillowcases and getting them signed. Is that free to do or is there a charge? I think that would be a great gift for some of my family and friends. Is there a limit to how many pillowcases you can turn in?

Last but not least - when I lived on Cayman I went to Stingray City many...many times. I highly reccommend that to anyone. When I'm in Cayman on this trip I hope to meet up with some friends. One of my friends is a Principal of a school on Cayman and wants me to meet some of his kids and tour his school. It got re-built after the hurricane. So I won't be able to go to Stingray City on this trip. Is the stingray feeding and snorkle at Castaway Cay worth it for just an hour? Plus I wouldn't want to get in the way of kids trying to enjoy it for the first time.

Thank you!

Andrea

 

[favoriteslave]

Chuck & Lisa:

Thanks for stopping by to say hi to us NANA HEADS. I will truly miss you guys this year. We were watching video of last year where Charlie and Chuck were standing next to each other (Charlie being on a chair) and Hunter said goes he was really tall wasn't he.

I bet you guys are getting really excited. I haven't even started packing yet, just firmed up the rental car thing this morning and now im trying to decide what to wear. To catch you up on what will be happening on our cruise, we have people with dressed up teddy bears (im a Hairy god mother to one), the women are all wearing tiara's - whenever possible, most everyone one is going on the Sunny Liston tours in St Marteen and St Thomas and still with all of that going on, it won't be like last year. I hope you guys have a great time and I will make sure to start watching the cruise report threads to see how you guys are doing.

Have a great time all and leave some of the ship intact for us on the 25th.

Hugs and Kisses

Tonya, Trey & Hunter

 

[DiszyGram]

Andrea, my son and daughter-in-law did the stingray feeding on Castaway Cay last year with my other two grandchildren. I thought it was a little expensive but they loved it. The stingrays have lost their stingers so they are very gentle and tame.

I would be very nervous being around wild stingrays with stingers. This year is the first time I've heard of them killing people.

We used the Disney Shuttle last year to get to and from the Coronado Springs Resort in Disney World. It was great. It's well organized.

You are going to have a long flight from San Francisco. My husband and I visited your beautiful city twice and loved it. He passed away over 5 years ago but I still feel him with me.

Gail

 

[andilynn]

Hi Gail,

I think I'll take my chance at just snorkeling at Castaway Cay. Maybe I'll see some Stringrays without having to pay to see them! I am crazy for snorkeling. I've lived in some great places (Cayman, Micronesia, The Big Island and Maui) so I've fallen in love with snorkeling. I'm in the hotel business so I've been able to move a lot and see a lot of great places.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. I know what you mean about him being with you. My dad passed away 12 years ago and I feel the same. San Francisco is an amazing city. I really love it here. Unfortunatley the cost of living is outrageous. I have been thinking a lot lately about moving again. We'll see! Looks like I'll be hanging out in Orlando at the airport for 4 hours. My plane arrives at 6:02 am. I'm stoping in Vegas and connecting to Orlando. Maybe I will win some cruise money in the Vegas airport on slots!

Ok, talk to you later!

Andrea

 

[cruisecrzy]

Icemanpad did you win Turkey Tag? You are seiorus about being there early. We are planning to leave our house by 9:00am which puts us there some time around 10am. Of course all bets are off since we are on little kid time. We hope to be prepared, but we have some many visitors right now my head is spinning. i'll be running to the other end of Deck 7 to see your door signs. I loved seeing all the signs last November. When we went last March there were not as many door signs but still fun to see all the decorations.

Glad that everyone who has been checking in seems to have recieved their docs.

To answer the pillowcase question. Just put your pillow case in a ziploc (I include my own markers) and take it to Guest Services on the first day. Then you will get it back on the last day. No charge and they typically say one per person in the stateroom. I am finishing mine now and will post pictures when they are done.

Safe travels all!!!

 

[DiszyGram]

Vegas is another favorite place of mine. You know, I actually saw someone win a few hundred dollars on one of those airport machines. It's fun watching the people rush over and play them between their flights. It's a good way to get rid of any money you may have left. Hope you get some sleep during the trip.

My only snorkeling is the noises I might make while I'm sleeping.

Many of my and my daughter's stories about how we know my husband, her father, is still around have been collected by an award winning author. She is putting together her first non-fiction book about after death experiences.

It's a controversial subject that only someone who has experienced them will believe.

 

[njmoms]

Hey Diszy, I know what you're talking about and I understand!

We are now just the 3 of us, me, my DP and our 7 yr old daughter, Jordyn. Wendy's (my dp) mom fell and broke her leg back in August and has had nothing but problems with it since. She's had surgery on it, pflebitis (I think that's how it's spelled), and 2 weeks ago she had a pulmonary embolism! She is doing fine now, thank the Lord, but we are just shocked at the trouble she's had. She decided she'd better not risk going on the cruise, so her husband decided to stay home too, so then their son, Wendy's brother, said he'd go to their house for Thanksgiving instead of going on the cruise.

So, it's just the 3 of us now. Really just the two of us, since Jordyn will be spending 99% of her time in the Kid's club. Maybe we'll get some sleep..... We're in cabin 2578, so walk softly!

Does anyone know what movies are going to be showing during our cruise???

NJ Moms - Me (Melissa) and Wendy, moms to Jordyn, 7
Succasunna, New Jersey

 

[andilynn]

Hi Melissa,

I'm so sorry to hear about Wendy's Mom. Please send her my best. I hope to meet you on the cruise!

I can't believe how many clothes one person has for 8 days !

Andrea

 

[outahere]

I can't believe how many clothes one person has for 8 days !

Andrea

Just remember the old advice...... pack everything that you think you will need, then put half of it back. We've been on 6 cruises so far, and have never used everything we took with us!! We're getting better, but still have some unused items when we get home.