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

[DiszyGram]

Willie, I'm trying my best. Might be that last year's turkey day cruise was so outstandingly fantastic that our group this year is intimidated about posting.

 

[The Ducks]

You can count us in! DH & I, and 16 y.o. DD. Have been trying not to think too much about it yet, because it's still 6 months away, but today I thought I'd glance at the boards and that was several hours ago - I'm still here! This will be our 3rd DCL cruise - we did one 4 day in 2000, which wasn't nearly long enough, and one 7 day in 2001. Made the mistake of trying CCL in 2003 and now can't wait to cruise Disney again!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Hi everyone!! We sailed on the Thanksgiving Magic in 2004 and 2005. We were going to try the 10 day Holiday Magic this year, but we are not able to take the time off from work. As a result, it looks like we will be joining ya'all for the 2006 Thanksgiving Magic. We will be travelling w/ our DS, Mason, who will be 7 by the time of the cruise.


Chuck and Lisa

 

[DiszyGram]

Hi Chuck and Lisa. Nice to see another group joining us. My grandson will be there with my daughter and I. He just turned 7.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Thanks for the welcome DizyGram!! Has your grandson sailed on the Magic before? This will be Mason's 3rd time--He LOVES the ship and the Children's programs!!

Lisa

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Hopefully we can stir up some chat on this thread. Next year's Turkey Day thread is up to page 14, largely b/c it was started by the Turkey Day gang. Growing from a core of 5 families in 2004, we linked 28 cabins for dinner in 2005 and essentially had the right side of the entry walkway in the dining rooms to ourselves. They actually treated us as a small convention. Come November 18th, we will be there in our flourescent green Turkey Day gang t-shirts. last year, we had over 100 people in the shirts at the port. Made us easy to spot for each other. Also, the thread spanned at least 3000 entries.

Seriously, we knew no one when we signed up for the 2004 cruise in August 2004. Through this site, we met what became the core group and ultimately expanded to last year's much larger group. We even managed to get a party of about 30 people into Palo's together for brunch. Hope to hear from others soon.

 

[DiszyGram]

Hi Lisa, we did go on the Disney Wonder last year after Thankgiving on a 4 night cruise. I met a few people then from from your huge group. That was my second cruise on the Wonder and this will be my first on the Magic.

My very first cruise was just with my sister, who is fortunate to live in Cocoa Beach, and can afford to go on numerous cruises every year. No children.

Gail

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Gail-

You will really enjoy the Magic!! Those extra 3 days are great!!


Lisa

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Lisa, Chuck......looks like you guys are in charge of keeping the "Thrkeyday" reputation in line.........

 

[DiszyGram]

We plan on having a MAGICAL time.

This will be the first western cruise for us too. Waiting impatiently for Southwest Airlines to post their November dates and rates. I've found you can't beat their rates and we don't need airline frills on a two hour direct flight.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Lampy- We're trying!! We miss all you Turkeys!!


Gail- We always fly Southwest b/w FLL and BWI. Chuck's family is from the Baltimore area. His parents live in Pikesville. Where in Maryland are you from?


Lisa

 

[DiszyGram]

I'm in Glen Burnie, just south of Baltimore and 15 minutes from BWI. My daughter is in Severna Park.

I'm close enough from the airport to make it a short trip there, but not close enough to notice the noise from the planes flying to and from it. We like having an airport van pick us up at my home and take us there. It's nice to have it waiting for you when you return to go home. No picking on relatives to transport you.

We had a van waiting for us after our last cruise. There were 7 of us coming back. Our van was the ONLY vehicle waiting in front of the departure doors when we walked out. That was extremely strange for a busy BWI early evening. We soon found out some security problem had shut down those lanes and our van was the only vehicle who made it through before the shutdown. The driver had no idea about why he was alone out there. He was directed to drive over the curbs to get out of the lane.

I was pleased our exhausted family had someone there.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Gail-Great story!! It sounds like you picked the right transportation service!!


We got our Disney planning kit in the mail today!!


Lisa

 

[DiszyGram]

We have our Southwest tickets reserved! Southwest just posted their November and December flights this afternoon. The day we planned to return on was almost sold out already. We didn't get their cheapest rates but did get tickets on the days and times we wanted.

Thanksgiving week is a huge traveling week for families. Starting out with a little traveling magic.

 

[MontclairBear]

First time for us. We will have 11 in our group. Me, DH, DD4.5, DD2.5, my Brother, his wife, DS11, DS6, DS3, our Nanna (89!) and my Godmother.
We are so excited.
I'm wondering if it is advisable to book 2 excursions in one day (Grand Cayman)? We'd like to take the kids on the semi-sub in the AM and then put them in the clubs and head out in the afternoon for Ship Wreck & Reef snorkeling. Any advise? Has anyone taken these excursions? What about excursions for Nanna in GC and Cozumel?
Thanks- look forward to sailing with you.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Welcome to the thread Montclairbear!! We took our DS on the semi sub excursion 2 years ago when he was 5. It was neat for him to see the coral, fish and diver. After that we offered for him to go shopping w/ us or we offered to take him back to the ship and go to the kids club. He chose the club. He LOVES the club!!

There is enough time to do the semi sub excursion and something else in GC--so long as the times of the excurisions don't conflict.

If Nanna can climb stairs, she may enjoy the semi sub also.

2 years ago we did the fury catameran in Cozumel. It was a fun excursion!

Last year, due to the weather, the ship wasn't able to go to GC and then we went to Costa Maya instead of Cozumel due to the damage of the port after Wilma. So, we are trying again this year!!

We look forward to meeting you and your family!!


Lisa

 

[DiszyGram]

Welcome Montclairbear. Wow! You have a nice sized group going. We had 7 of us on the Disney Wonder last year and it was my treat for my children and grandchildren. Spent a lot of time later on the side of the road, after the cruise, with a "will work for food" sign.

I'll be on the computer as soon as I can, which I believe is 60 days before the cruise, and pick out our excursions. They'll all be new to us since we've never taken the western cruise. Definately want to go on one of the mini subs.

We all just have to hope and pray a new hurricane season doesn't wipe out our choices

 

[ICEMANPAD]

montclair: two excursions in grand cayman is likely to be difficult given the overall amount of time that you are there combined w/the extra time it will take to tender the kids back to the ship. the faux-sub is fun w/the kids. we are doing the stingrays this year to make up for last year's inability to make port.

also, to all concerned, the passporter guide rates all the excursions and we have found their ratings to be pretty good. the turkey day gang took lots of excursions the past two years.

looks like we are holding down the fort this year, but as can be seen from the 2007 thread started by doogierunner, the gang will be back in force next year.

chuck

 

[ICEMANPAD]

This thread was on page 4. Where is everone??? I have had a rough week. I broke my right arm on wed. and yep--i'm a rightie!! Hopefully, the rest of you are having a better summer!


lisa

 

[MontclairBear]

Ouch! Guess you'll be back in tip top shape by NOV.
I've been busy planning excursions, etc. Get to book 105 days in advance b/c we have Romance Pkg- it is our 7 yr anniv.
saw Pirates last Thurs- got us excited to visit CC