NYE Western Cruise 2008 - New Thread

[ohioworkingmom]

Aisling - Congrats to Chad - sounds like an amazing opportunity for him

 

[Anjelica]

Hey everyone..

I am seriously thinking about booking the REAS package.

What is everyone thinking about the night they would upgrade to Palo.. I am not sure which night to do.

Also, Someone posted that the most recent rotation that has Lumiere's on NYE would be the 8:15 seating.

I think that my goal for my 10th anniversary will be to stay in a cat 1 or 2 or 3.. so that gives me 7 yrs (really 6.5 at this point) to get to that place where its something that I can afford. I think that I would also want to do a vow renewal!

We will be booking the REAS package - we did it last time and since I am so anal about planning I liked the feature of being able to book everything without getting up way early in the morning at the 75 day window (we weren't castaway club members then). I also like some of the perks and we enjoyed it - even with the kids around...

We originally wanted to go to Ireland for our 10 year but instead we decided this trip would be our 10 year - so we are celebrating it on the cruise. Our anniversary is Jan 4th 2009 - 10 years.

Aisling - I saw your Obama comment - hmmmm...are you trying to tell me something there... (Disclaimer: Although most of my best friends are liberals I am conservative - although most would never know with the flaming red streaks in the hair and very obvious tattoo on forearm). BTW - I LOVE talking politics with people especially if we see eye-to-eye and if not like I said - Best friends are liberals...

 

[disneykelly73]

Anjelica...

Which perks did you like the best about the REAS?

I wont be able to get on a computer at 3am on 9/28/08, but I am thinking that shouldnt be a problem since they would still have ressies on the 90 days out.

Too bad you cant book more than just the Palo dinner.. like say a brunch as well!!!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

My gang likes the blue Mickey logo. We'll be wearing them on white tees. We'd like 6 large logos, please! That's 6 large drinkies for you. I'll tell you what, I'll buy you your refillable beer mug on the ship!

I spoke to Chad yesterday, he's so cute...we were talking about the cruise and he sais, "do you realize that by the time we cruise Obama may be president?" He's got politics-on-the-brain syndrome for real! Some very good news, though...so far, he's been a straight 4.0 (A) all through grad school, and he's an exceptional writer. Well, he did a 30 page paper on the fight of the European Romanys( Gypsys) to be recognized as a nation without borders. He went into his idea of how to develop nation-status based on culture in order for them to gain United Nations recognition. His prof gave him an A, and asked him to present the paper in Boston in November at a 3-day International Diplomacy Conference! He's going to be the youngest speaker they ever had at age 22! AND he's getting paid for it! Another prof is encouraging him to write a book about diplomatic advocacy of developing countries! All this, and when he was little, he said he wanted to be an astronaut/ comedian! Wow how things have changed!!!!!!!!

One more thing about Chad, is there anyone on our cruise who enjoys talking politics/history/world affairs? He's looking for some conversation over a corona!

Now something about Mel...Mel is a man of few words, and I put him on the phone to Chad and he told Chad, "good job." Coming from Mel, that says a lot, and was very appreciated by Chad.

I have a feeling, though, when we're at the dinner table on the ship, Mel's going to let loose especially being around Artman and his jokes.

OMG I've written so much. I should be getting ready to go down to Tig's in Jersey soon. I just have to get Jesse settled, fed, find out which friend's house he going to be in this evening, and then leave here about 1:30, as it's a 2 hour drive.

Hopefully Tig will let me snap some pics of her scrap party and I can post them from my laptop to this thread on the spot.

Happy day, Magic Mateys!

Congrats to Chad! that is really awesome - i'm still so sad we didn't get to hook up in Rome...but i'm so looking forward to meeting him & Mel now in Dec! That cute ltl Jesse will probably be talking my ear(s) off by then!
Have fun in Jersey!!!!! I'm available if you need me!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

So if my cruise is completely paid off now - can i book ressies earlier than the 90 days out? I'll book at least one night at Palo & a brunch...who wants in on those?

 

[disneykelly73]

You can only book earlier than 90 days if you are in a Cat 1, 2, or 3 state room, OR you have the REAS package attached to your cabin. THEN you can not start booking until 105 days out which is on 9/28/08.

Hope this helps, I was just asking to see what direction most people were leaning on how to set up their Palo ressies'...

 

[CADZNYCHC]

You can only book earlier than 90 days if you are in a Cat 1, 2, or 3 state room, OR you have the REAS package attached to your cabin. THEN you can not start booking until 105 days out which is on 9/28/08.

Hope this helps, I was just asking to see what direction most people were leaning on how to set up their Palo ressies'...

Thanks Kelly - i will be on the phone 1st thing 9/28! Chel & Rus are 1st time cruisers, so they won't be able to make ressies till 75 days....
:-(
I know i want to definitely do at least one dinner & one brunch at Palo...maybe 2 dinners....LOVE that place!

 

[Anjelica]

Anjelica...

Which perks did you like the best about the REAS?

I wont be able to get on a computer at 3am on 9/28/08, but I am thinking that shouldnt be a problem since they would still have ressies on the 90 days out.

Too bad you cant book more than just the Palo dinner.. like say a brunch as well!!!

The booking of everything at 105 days out - not just the Palo dinner. But we were able to book brunch, all our spa treatments and all of our excursions that we were doing through DCL. We didn't have our son on the last cruise but since he is still to young for the bigger clubs he has to do flounders - and I believe we can book that at 105 days out.

- Liked the rose petals on the bed with turn down service
- The rainforest spa pass good for all week
- Champagne Breakfast that is delivered to stateroom
- The robes you get to keep were nice. I'm not a small or short person and these robes fit me great.
- The price of the palo dinner is included with the REAS as well

All in all - you can pay for most of the above things seperate and come out ahead in the price department but I kind of liked the packaging deal and the nice thing about booking at 105 days out kind of sweetened the deal for us.

 

[ohioworkingmom]

What day/night is the best for the brunch and/or dinner? We have never done the dinner, and would like to, but DH is a picky eater, and I looked over the menu, and not sure he would like it. He is a meat and potatoes kind of guy I on the other hand just melt reading it. We have done brunch twice before and loved it, so I was thinking of doing it on our first sea day, which would be Monday, I think they also do on Key West day, since we don't get off till noonish.

 

[ohioworkingmom]

Being dumb here, but where or how do you book the REAS, and how much is it?

 

[artman]

Being dumb here, but where or how do you book the REAS, and how much is it?

I second that question. Being the "budget" travel planner that I am, I booked us sleeping quarters somewhere between the keel and the starboard propeller shaft. It would be nice to plus our trip a little bit for the lovely wife. Just hope nobody gets a rash from the rose petals.

 

[DDeb4evr]

You got it Brenda!

Who else wants iron ons?

Deb, how many of each do you want and of which kind?

Tell me now so I can start my list please~


Brenda is getting her own lime green tees and I am making a chest piece for each front and a back piece for each shirt for the four of them. This is what she is putting on them;

Tigg, I'd like 2 small and 2 large of the gold medallion and 2 large of the other.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I second that question. Being the "budget" travel planner that I am, I booked us sleeping quarters somewhere between the keel and the starboard propeller shaft. It would be nice to plus our trip a little bit for the lovely wife. Just hope nobody gets a rash from the rose petals.

ohhhhh you are soooo going to be the life of the party!!! when does Claudia get back????or is she just going to stay at WDW & wait for all us to arrive in Dec?

 

[CADZNYCHC]

i told Michelle today that i had made an exec decision for the 4 of us to link up for dining...and she was all excited about that!!!! i kinda thought she would be...& Rus is so easy going as well - i know he'll love that too...

 

[magicalfam5]

I was thinking about making a button with the magic mateys logo. Would I just cut and paste it somewhere, then shrink it to the size of the button? I saw buttons at Michaels.

We're not doing brunch or dinner at Palo. We did brunch twice--it was too much to eat too early in the day. I like eating dinner with the whole family so that is why we don't do dinner at Palo.

We aren't booking any excursions with DCL so we have no need to call for any ressies this time.

Are we going to meet up the first day somewhere? On other cruises we met on deck 10 starboard at 3 or during the sailaway.

Judy

 

[artman]

ohhhhh you are soooo going to be the life of the party!!! when does Claudia get back????or is she just going to stay at WDW & wait for all us to arrive in Dec?

She will be home tomorrow night, just talked to her about an hour ago she was at Disney Studios, it was raining hard. They were hoping to see Fantasmic but it looked like it was going to be rained out. She talked her friend into rock-n-rollercoaster, I think she may have left out some of the important details like the fact it was a roller coaster until it was too late. I asked if her friend liked it, she said I think she'll forgive me eventually.

She had a great week but I think she is ready to be home now. I am ready for her to be home as well, the dishes are piling up and I am dangerously low on clean underwear (just kidding I haven't eaten all week and now I fit into Owen's underwear, two problems solved!)

 

[CADZNYCHC]

She will be home tomorrow night, just talked to her about an hour ago she was at Disney Studios, it was raining hard. They were hoping to see Fantasmic but it looked like it was going to be rained out. She talked her friend into rock-n-rollercoaster, I think she may have left out some of the important details like the fact it was a roller coaster until it was too late. I asked if her friend liked it, she said I think she'll forgive me eventually.

She had a great week but I think she is ready to be home now. I am ready for her to be home as well, the dishes are piling up and I am dangerously low on clean underwear (just kidding I haven't eaten all week and now I fit into Owen's underwear, two problems solved!)

RAIN......oh no.....that sure stinks....well glad she'll be back tomorrow so everything can get back to normal & while we're all 'losing' weight, you can start gaining back what you've lost this week....ugggghhh MEN - it's so easy for you guys!!! altho my DH has weighed the same for 30+ years

 

[Aisling]

Being the "budget" travel planner that I am, I booked us sleeping quarters somewhere between the keel and the starboard propeller shaft. It would be nice to plus our trip a little bit for the lovely wife. Just hope nobody gets a rash from the rose petals.

I am ready for her to be home as well, the dishes are piling up and I am dangerously low on clean underwear (just kidding I haven't eaten all week and now I fit into Owen's underwear, two problems solved!)

We're not doing the REAS. I really don't want to spend the extra money, and I didn't have a problem getting a Palo ressie the regular way, although I cancelled it in order to join our friends. To be honest, I'm thinking of skipping Palo this time. I think Chad and Louise would be interested, but they may choose to do it alone for some romance time together.

Artman, you gave me a great idea about the rose petals! Stay tuned.

I was thinking about making a button with the magic mateys logo. Would I just cut and paste it somewhere, then shrink it to the size of the button? I saw buttons at Michaels.

Are we going to meet up the first day somewhere? On other cruises we met on deck 10 starboard at 3 or during the sailaway.

Judy

Buttons are a cute idea, even though I have no idea how it's done! Can anyone help?

On our last cruise, we met in the Promenade lounge at around 3, and ended up hanging out all together at the sailaway. It was really fun. Anyone want to organize a meet?

Aisling - I saw your Obama comment - hmmmm...are you trying to tell me something there... (Disclaimer: Although most of my best friends are liberals I am conservative - although most would never know with the flaming red streaks in the hair and very obvious tattoo on forearm). BTW - I LOVE talking politics with people especially if we see eye-to-eye and if not like I said - Best friends are liberals

Anjelica, Chad is a staunch Conservative! He was just bemoaning the fact that Obama may be president come cruise time! I think you two will have some very interesting and fun conversations!

Well, I made it to Tig's home, and we had a very pleasant afternoon/evening with her girllfriends and scrapping supplies. Thank you Tig! I finally made it back to NYC by 11 pm, as the traffic was horrendous, but I listened to Sean Hannity on the radio all the way home, and the time flew by.

Good night, everyone!

P.S. Hi Brenda, Robin, and dear Debbie!

 

[Aisling]

Cool - Is everyone else getting something on the front and the back? If so that's what we want as well and that's why I thought it would be 4 large and 4 small or is that to much? I'm sorry - i'm worse than a needy child.

Quickly popping back in to say that my family will be wearing white tees with the blue logo in large on the front. We'll leave the back blank, unless we put the other logo on the bacK? Too much?? Ok, we'll leave the back blank. The large blue logos on the front of a white shirt will show up nicely in photos, especially our embarkation photo. In fact, our whole 2005 group wore the specially made shirts at boarding and at the sailaway, and it looked so good in the candid photos. People were looking at us like "hey, I want that shirt, too!"

Ok, for real I'm going nite nite now!

 

[artman]

Artman, you gave me a great idea about the rose petals! Stay tuned.

The suspense is killing me.