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

[cruisecrzy]

So my favorite part of our trip is the planning and preparing. One of the things I have been doing is reading the boards and it has saddened me some.

The two biggest things have been how they have changed the lunch buffet and what seems to be a new and very disappointing castaway club party. Does anyone else have an opinion on that?

We are still sifting through things trying to figure out what we want to do at the Grand Caymans and Cozumel. We really like the Costa Maya stop last year. We liked the giant pool in the middle of the shopping area and the easy access to the beach. We have a little one so we won't be doing any excursions. We are eager to see the "new and improved" Cozumel. We enjoyed it so much the last time we were there.

So does anyone have their plans for the islands yet? I read some of the excursions people are doing, but curious what else everyone had planned.

Counting down the days.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

So my favorite part of our trip is the planning and preparing. One of the things I have been doing is reading the boards and it has saddened me some.

The two biggest things have been how they have changed the lunch buffet and what seems to be a new and very disappointing castaway club party. Does anyone else have an opinion on that?

Our favorite lunch buffet was the seafood buffet on thursday the last 2 years. My DH will be disappointed if there is no seafood buffet. We enjoyed the CC party last year--there were drinks and plenty of hor dorves. Hopefully DCL will go back to that type of party.

We are still sifting through things trying to figure out what we want to do at the Grand Caymans and Cozumel. We really like the Costa Maya stop last year. We liked the giant pool in the middle of the shopping area and the easy access to the beach. We have a little one so we won't be doing any excursions. We are eager to see the "new and improved" Cozumel. We enjoyed it so much the last time we were there.

We are doing the stingray city and city tour w/o our DS. Our first time in GC (2004) we took him on a partial underwater boat trip and all he wanted to do was go back to the kids club. Last year, as you know, we didn't stop in GC--our DS was very happy!! In Cozumel we just plan to look around and maybe take our DS mini golfing--if we can get him to leave the kids club for a little while!!

So does anyone have their plans for the islands yet? I read some of the excursions people are doing, but curious what else everyone had planned.

Counting down the days.

Lisa

 

[cruisecrzy]

Dszygram and Icemanpad I am with you. On my March cruise it felt like we were all family before we ever got to the port. This group is definately quiet.

We just went to Disney for a few hours tonight and my daughter got all excited when she ran by one of the cruise planning desks. Everyone at the Beach Club knew she was going to be going on a cruise.

So have people decided on what they are doing at Grand Cayman and Cozumel? We are trying to figure things out. We know we do not want to do an excursion because we don't want to be tied to someone else schedule with a 2 year old that may not want to be on that schedule. And we are not keen on putting her in a taxi. We remember an area that we walked to at Grand Cayman that had some sand then a lot of rocks before you reached the water. I went Snorkeling there a few years back,however, I have traded the snorkel gear in for sand toys and a stroller. We may let her play in the sand for awhile unless we come up with a better idea.

We figured we would go off the boat for a bit then do lunch and let her take in some pool time.

So anyone want to share some ideas for the islands? Maybe we can steal them.

 

[cruisecrzy]

Dszygram and Icemanpad I am with you. On my March cruise it felt like we were all family before we ever got to the port. This group is definately quiet.

We just went to Disney for a few hours tonight and my daughter got all excited when she ran by one of the cruise planning desks. Everyone at the Beach Club knew she was going to be going on a cruise.

So have people decided on what they are doing at Grand Cayman and Cozumel? We are trying to figure things out. We know we do not want to do an excursion because we don't want to be tied to someone else schedule with a 2 year old that may not want to be on that schedule. And we are not keen on putting her in a taxi. We remember an area that we walked to at Grand Cayman that had some sand then a lot of rocks before you reached the water. I went Snorkeling there a few years back,however, I have traded the snorkel gear in for sand toys and a stroller. We may let her play in the sand for awhile unless we come up with a better idea.

We figured we would go off the boat for a bit then do lunch and let her take in some pool time.

So anyone want to share some ideas for the islands? Maybe we can steal them.

 

[DiszyGram]

Hi Michelle, I am adding you and your family to the list. It's getting so close now.

I just finished making a stick-on sign for our cabin door so my 7 year old grandson can find it. Last year our group was in three different cabins and I had magnetic picture signs for each of us. You can imagine the problems of getting large magnets through airport security.

Hope we get together some plans to meet each other while on the cruise. I'm the list maker, we need a meeting maker.

Gail

 

[DiszyGram]

Adding another post to tell our Island plans. We are just renting floating tubes for Castaway Cay. My grandson loves the ocean too much to do anything else. I love looking at the water and wading in up to my knees.

On Grand Cayman, we are doing the island tour and butterfly farm. On Cozemel we are taking the Atlantis submarine excursion. Both excursions were chosen because of my grandson but we will enjoy them too. It will be our first time on both of the islands.

 

[cruisecrzy]

For CC we are renting bikes because my daughter loves to ride. We are bringing a small blow-up raft for DD. Last November she spent about two minutes in the water and lots of time playing in the sand.

On our March Cruise we all met up at the SailAway party.

I was the list keeper and when the time came we actually made a list which included room number (or deck numbers) and what we would be wearing for our arrival at port.

I made a barett from the green Mickey Heads. One family got the green heads at home depot and some ribbon. They punched a hole in the head and made necklaces. Made it easy to find them and they were lots of fun.

I have not even started my door signs yet. Well we actually have the one for my daughter to find the door, but I need to do the ones for each day.

Right now I am working on DD pillowcase.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Michelle and Gail-

You both have some great ideas!! In 2004 and 2005 we had Dismeets on deck 10-on the side facing the port-overlooking the Goofy pool just prior to the Sail-a-way party. The group from 2005 stood out b/c we ordered matching Dis Green t-shirts. It was a good way to match faces w/ names.

Hopefully, this years group will start adding more posts to this thread so we can get to know each other better!!!!


Lisa

 

[cruisecrzy]

Lisa,

You guys certainly did standout. It was as if you guys were taking over the ship. I vividly remember all those green shirts.

I am so excited because another friend of ours just booked. It is two adults and two girls ages 3 and 5.

That means more doors signs for me. I am going out tomorrow to look for cute items to put into the package I am making my daughter and for my friends girls. Just little Disney activities for them to do at dinner and down time. We got a bunch of stuff last month at Target. I will go to Downtown Disney tomorrow and see what little stuff I can find in there cheap area.

Lisa and Gail it is obvious that we are all excited.

Where is everyone else...we need to get to know each other so we will see some familiar faces on the trip ?? We don't have much longer before our vacations will begin.

 

[cruisecrzy]

I figured I would post again and bump us up plus share some info.

Ok, so I went out today to look for more trinkets and treasures for the welcome aboard baskets we are making for the girls. I went to the Disney Store in the mall and they had all their costumes (princess for girls and buzz, capt hook. pete pan, etc for the boys) at 50% off. Thought I would share for those looking for costumes

Our baskets are coming along great. So far I have the regular autograph book, a gold autogrpah book which the kids can put pictures in, some cool things I got awhile back at Target, princess brush, pens, cruela deville journaling book, and a cinderellabration purse filled with coloring stuff. Oh, I forgot a shovel and some pool stuff. So I think we are set on those.

Time to focus on stuff for Pirate night next.

Anyone else starting to prepare.

 

[njdisneymomof2]

I convinced my children (DD-9 & DS-8) to dress as Pirates for halloween. We are bringing the costumes for them to wear on Pirate night. They are getting very excited. Less than 5-weeks away! I thought I was quite prepared, but my son tried on clothes yesterday and he needs dress pants, belt, tie and dress shoes. I hope the dresses I purchased for my daughter still fit. I can't believe how much they have grown the past few months! I love reading the posts and getting all the great information on this board. Thanks to everyone!

 

[cruisecrzy]

I convinced my children (DD-9 & DS-8) to dress as Pirates for halloween. We are bringing the costumes for them to wear on Pirate night.

I have been trying to convince my husband to let me make a costume for him. My daughter has one and I made one for me last year. He says his job is to be a photgrapher.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Hopefully our DS will want to be a pirate for Halloween--that way he can bring the costume on the Magic for pirate night!!


Lisa

 

[cruisecrzy]

Gail,

I know you said you were making door signs. I have never seen the Mickey ears and was not sure if you ever have. I found the thread today and I think I might cut me out some of those ears. I think it looks cool and I bt it would make my dd laugh.

Here is the link
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1220600&page=1&pp=15

 

[DiszyGram]

Thank you for the ears link. I bought some peel and stick computer paper that makes it easy to print out pictures and put them on the door. They come off easily with no residue.

My son, and family came last year and my second grandson celebrated his 5th birthday on the cruise. I made some extra magnetic birthday cards for him to put in the room. There were a LOT of magnets in our suitcases. Only one case was searched on the way home and some of the magnets were taken.

I bought adult Captain Jack Pirate shirts for my daughter and I from the Disney store. They were half price. The sizes were also half as big as they said they were. Mine looked like it was painted on me. I am a 62 year old grandmother who doesn't wear skin tight t-shirts. We missed the pirate party last year but will make sure we go to it this time.

Someone come up with a place and time to meet and I'll be there.

PS. My daughter is 38 and single now. I've promised to baby sit for her if she finds someone to go dancing with her. She is a very good dancer and singer, plus she is nice looking (not just my opinion ) If anyone knows of someone who would like to go to one of the clubs with a dance partner, let me know. She would kill me if she knew I was asking.

Gail

 

[cruisecrzy]

Now that we have it that magical one month and counting day I thought I would pop us back upto the top.

Is every one in full planning mode now? I finished the front of DD pillow and have started on the back. Once that is done I have three more to do. I will post a picture once I finish. There are 11 characters on the front of the pillow. I have one on the back so far and about 9 more to go.

We finished buying all the things for the kids welcome aboard baskets. We have added the remaining dresses to the kids princess collection thanks to the big sale at the Disney Store.

I guess it is time to think about adult packing. The adults are trying to finalize all their plans. Dinner linkinings and where we will be and what we will be doing each day. Just the big activities...not every minute of every day.

Are there any others interested in meeting for the sailaway celebration? I know that IcemanPad and diszygram is. Anyone else. I will organize the time and place if we are interested.

Also, anyone want to chime in with their dinner time. We can see when we will all be passing each other.

We along with the other two families we are traveling with are the late seating.

This month will fly by!!!

 

[DiszyGram]

Meeting for the sailaway celebration sounds good to me.

We will be at the early dinner. Since there are only 3 of us, we will probably be seated with strangers. I have seldom met a stranger I didn't like so I'm looking forward to meeting them.

Down to marking off the days. We are arriving Friday and staying with my sister and brother overnight in Cocoa Beach. My dear sister is picking us up at the airport, letting us stay overnight, feeding us, picking us up after the cruise, and driving us back to the airport. What more could I ask for in a sister?

Gail

 

[mollygirl13]

Less than 1 month. How great is that?? I remember booking this trip 3/05. Seems like such a long time ago.....
I am pretty much done. I have my pillowcases, my door signs, pirate night outfits, packing list (already started to pack!!!!!)
Our family has the late dinner seating-there are 5 adults!
We are going to Paradise Beach in Cozumel and on the Stingray Excursion in Grand Cayman. On CC, we are going to Serenity Bay to swim, relax, eat!
I feel very ready for my trip thanks to all the nice folks here!

 

[mollygirl13]

We are in Rooms 6072/6074. Anyone close to us?????

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We have late seating. The last 2 cruises we had APL which was great!! Hopefully we will have APL again this year--formal night in Lumiere's and Pirate night at Parrot Cay.

We are in stateroom 5020. I was home one day this summer after breaking my right arm--and luck was w/ me--5020 (one of the secret portholes) was available!!

For all of you who are totally on top of the planning and packing--I compliment you all a lot!! I just started a new job on monday--I've been leaving my house at 7am and getting home around now--I need to start working on getting ready for the cruise!!!!

Lisa