NYE Western Cruise 2008 - New Thread

[nskjerven]

I didn't think about the rooms with non-fold down beds. And yep - it adjusted to show the category 6-9 with one child.

I also found it strange that the cruise wasn't "sold out" because I swear just a few months ago I was poking around on the site to see if there was anything available and it didn't even give the option of selecting the December 27th Western Cruise - just the December 13th Western Cruise. I can't imagine that many people would have cancelled this close due to the economy?

I agree that people most likely just drop out at the last minute do to economy

I can only wish for an upgrade.... Every trip to Disneyworld and DCL I have NEVER gotten an upgrade....nor have I ever won the lottery or done well at the casinos. I'm not a very "lucky" person.

Me either

 

[artman]

I can only wish for an upgrade.... Every trip to Disneyworld and DCL I have NEVER gotten an upgrade....nor have I ever won the lottery or done well at the casinos. I'm not a very "lucky" person.

I'm not lucky either, but Claudia and Owen are. I have a lotto ticket for tonight $14 million tax free, if I win I'll let Claudia buy the FE gifts. You'll probally all get jewelry.

I very rarely buy a ticket, but when I do I always think I will win.

We can always play bingo on this cruise to pay for the next.

 

[Aisling]

I know hubby and mine retirement accounts have taken a huge hit and so have the kids college accounts BUT we have our stuff in "riskier" investments due to the age. I know hubby's father is a year from retirement and has most of his items in "slow" investments but way less risky - which is what we all know to do as we get closer to retirement. I guess I just don't understand that if people are close to retirement why this latest economic downturn would effect them as much (they should have their investments going to money market accounts, cd's, bonds, etc. low interest return but very low risk).

Thanks to my husband's logical, little-risk thinking, his investments and retirement accounts have been in locked-in, slow but steady-interest mutual funds since 1982, when he first started the job. This is the only company he's ever worked for, and they have great financial managers for the employees, so thank God our retirement is safe.

As for college, we never saved specifically for that, just beat, pummeled, and horse-whipped Chad into getting a scholarship (it worked!), and doing the same with Jesse (altho that doesn't look too promising!) I've been looking into the City University of New York (CUNY) system, and thankfully if he doesn't get into St. Francis College with scholarship (where Chad went), we can afford to pay the tuition for one of the city colleges. Jesse's planning to go into film production, and a few of the schools have great programs. This financial crisis had me worried about Jesse's college education (since I'm against student loans if possible), but now I feel better after doing the research these past few weeks. Hopefully things won't get too much worse, as I know people are going to suffer, and it's scary.

You are right, a few months ago, it was "sold out". The final payment will usually kick some out, and obviously with the economy, a few more. Maybe we can all get an upgrade

I looked into my sister getting a stateroom on our cruise a few months ago, and it was booked solid (YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'm not going to tell her there is avaiability now!

I can only wish for an upgrade.... Every trip to Disneyworld and DCL I have NEVER gotten an upgrade....nor have I ever won the lottery or done well at the casinos. I'm not a very "lucky" person.

We paid for a standard view room at the Beach Club in 2002, and was upgraded to a beautiful pool view at check-in.

And before the Christmas cruise in '05, we were upgraded from a standard to pool view at AKL. I think a few of our fellow cruisers were also upgraded that same time. That was when I found a "McDonald's code", and paid less than $200 a night for the room. Tig, remember that great code? I tried it again this time, but they discontinued it. I guess too many people like me were taking advantage of the system!

 

[nskjerven]

Guess what I'm doing????

Calling DCL....

Linked us

See I was just being lazy....

I asked about our rotation but no luck.

Don't we have a cat 3 in our group? I bet they might get a better repsonse to that question????

Who are the people we are dining with? Is there a list somewhere, maybe on Aisling's webpage????

 

[Aisling]

Good luck with the lotto tonight, Artie!

If we never hear from you again, we'll know you won!

 

[Aisling]

Linked us

As my kids would say, "sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!"

 

[jeff318]

You are right, a few months ago, it was "sold out". The final payment will usually kick some out, and obviously with the economy, a few more. Maybe we can all get an upgrade

yeah, we're lucky we were able to book just a week or so ago -- we had checked months ago and there was nothing available.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Chatty chatty people you are today...well i got thru today's thread...but still have friday, sat, sun, mon, & tues to read....YIKES!!!! had a great trip to DL....more on all that (no upgrades or Disney dreams for us).....

ok ok, we'll go, but for us it really is an outing. We don't "go" to the mall unless it is for something. Wilson never goes unless dragged. Molly is starting to want to shop with girl friends etc...

We actually have a girl scout over night on the 25th at the Mall. Not quiet sure what it will be. I've been told not to expect to sleep that night. Kelly wanna join me?

i heard about that on the radio today..sounds like FUN!!!!! have a great time~will have to see if my friend Bridget is going with her troop...i'll let you know - you should meet up - since i can't ever meet you

Well, the paid in full date is coinciding with the worst of this fall's economic tumble -- and if people were driving to the port -- or hadn't bought airline tickets yet -- they might well cancel rather than pay off the cruise if things looked bad with their job and/or retirement account, etc.

Retirement account?????? what's that???? college funds??? even more confused...we'll just be in debt forever....

have a dinner to attend so catch ya all later....

PS - i already bought my FE gifts...i forgot how many...but will get you all a count....

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Julia & Ryan

Julia - Ryan - me & Dianne

The Nightmare before Xmas

Jules with Mrs. Incredible

DCA early Sunday a.m (they opened early because of Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16)

guess that's enough huh? you all get the idea we had a great time!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Those are so cool Brenda!

I like the chattyness...and I wouldn't mind seeing more pics

 

[Anjelica]

Cadz - not fair - it looks like great weather and a great time. I haven't been to DL in like 25 years so would love to go back and see all the changes (and I guess bring the kids...

Nan - what is your guys room number? I need to add that to the FE list and main roster. I added you guys to the list just not the room number. I also added you to the dining link

Aisling - got your families updates to the website.

EVERYONE ELSE - please take a look and make sure you are kosher with what I have out there or if you want me to add more or I missed something let me know. We are getting closer that's for sure: www.themcmurphys.com/2008_NewYearsEve_Disneycruise.html

If you got excursion updates send them my way if you want them to post. Also Aisling and I still have room on the private excursion in Grand Cayman if interested. I also believe OrlanR has room if you are interested in Scuba Diving in Grand Cayman.

 

[Anjelica]

I have counted up the ones that have signed up so far, and we have 12 total.. I want to see if Jeff wants in, or anyone else that has not signed up yet.. so far I have..

Artie
Anjelica
Robin
Aisling
Brenda
Rus
Me
Marla
Julie
Shelia
Ami
Cindi

I do not have Nan, did you want in??? who else am I missing?? that is the list so far.

I added Nan's group so we should have a total of 13 differing staterooms participating. I got my FE gifts a few months ago at one of the Disney Stores. The "only" request I have in terms of the rotation is I be either the designated giver of presents from our family on Pirate Night (rotation) or before as its heavily tied to "Pirate" theming - if that makes sense...

 

[bellelinus]

Our info looks great -- thanks for all your work.

If you want, you can add that we will be at the Hyatt Grand Cypress on the 26th. We will do Key West on our own, have a private boat chartered for G.C., Xcaret booked for Cozumel, and a cabana massage on CC!

 

[nskjerven]

i heard about that on the radio today..sounds like FUN!!!!! have a great time~will have to see if my friend Bridget is going with her troop...i'll let you know - you should meet up - since i can't ever meet you

ok that is a little creepy that a girl scout event is being advertised on the radio. They are usually so cautious about not telling people where we will be and when to keep away a bad element, if ya know what I mean.

Yes do tell your friend, give her my cell I'd be happy to have someone to comiserate with that night

 

[nskjerven]

Cadz - not fair - it looks like great weather and a great time. I haven't been to DL in like 25 years so would love to go back and see all the changes (and I guess bring the kids...

Nan - what is your guys room number? I need to add that to the FE list and main roster. I added you guys to the list just not the room number. I also added you to the dining link

Aisling - got your families updates to the website.

EVERYONE ELSE - please take a look and make sure you are kosher with what I have out there or if you want me to add more or I missed something let me know. We are getting closer that's for sure: www.themcmurphys.com/2008_NewYearsEve_Disneycruise.html

If you got excursion updates send them my way if you want them to post. Also Aisling and I still have room on the private excursion in Grand Cayman if interested. I also believe OrlanR has room if you are interested in Scuba Diving in Grand Cayman.

We are in 8558, unless we get that fingers crossed upgrade to a cat 3

 

[nskjerven]

I added Nan's group so we should have a total of 13 differing staterooms participating. I got my FE gifts a few months ago at one of the Disney Stores. The "only" request I have in terms of the rotation is I be either the designated giver of presents from our family on Pirate Night (rotation) or before as its heavily tied to "Pirate" theming - if that makes sense...

yes the site looks great!

a few more details on us...

My mom's name is JoAnne (81)
We are staying at AKL from 12/23-12/27

 

[Aisling]

With all this finalizing, I'm getting really excited now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anjelica, the website looks !!!

Brenda, Julia and Ryan are SOOO cute! How's Ryan doing with his scuba? Will he be certified in time for the cruise? Chad's been talking about becoming scuba-certified, and I think he'll have questions for Rus and Ryan when we cruise.

My Jesse has been so tired, hasn't even been playing his xbox. He's in a theater production and has rehearsals every night straight from school. He auditioned and got the role of John Lennon, and will even sing! OMG you should hear the Liverpool accent, he cracks me up! So real. I just picked him up, and he's in bed already. No worries about hw as there's no school tomorrow, but rehearsal from 4 until whenever.

I'm not cancelling so don't worry, but does anyone know what the deadline is to get a full refund on the cruise? Just curious.

What else? Hmmm let's see. I'm killing some time before Mel gets home from tennis, and thought I could help us bump to a new page.

Oh, today I found out that one of my catechism kids is dyslexic...he would never read outloud, and he finally told me why. Well, I have spatial/directional dyslexia, and when I told him that I'm sort of in the same boat as he is, he got a big smile on his face, so he didn't feel like he was odd. I'm odd, too! I taught him a few strategies I use to help with the dyslexia, and told him that it had notning to do with intelligence, but that we just have to learn things differently. No biggie. He really appreciated that.

Mel's got home a few minutes ago. I was waiting up for him because I have news to tell him that he won't want to hear, but I'm excited to tell him anyway. My niece Valerie (10 year old daughter of my brother John in North Dakota, soon to be in England) has "become a young lady". I was so excited and happy that she called me to tell me, that she feels close to me. I told her that she's now a member of the Ladies Club, and I'm going to send her a present. Mel's only response was "so young?" But yes, it happens like that sometimes, not common in mine or my SILs family at that age, but yes it does happen. Oh he had a second comment, something about all the hormones they put in hamburgers nowadays...G'night Mel!!

I have a bowl of huge Macintosh apples on my livingroom table, and they smell so good.

Have you read enough? LOL Did I get us to a new page with my soap opera episode?

I guess I'll find out when I press submit reply.

Oh one more thing, Artie must have won the lotto because he's abandoned us peasants already!

Pressing submit reply now, that means nite nite!

 

[artman]

Oh one more thing, Artie must have won the lotto because he's abandoned us peasants already!

Nope, we just go to bed early (plus we're an hour ahead). I guess I have to associate with the rif-raft and common folk for at least another week (some jerk in Ontario won). Which mean carrots not carats for FE gifts.

I'm busy all day, I'll catch up tonight.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

ok that is a little creepy that a girl scout event is being advertised on the radio. They are usually so cautious about not telling people where we will be and when to keep away a bad element, if ya know what I mean.

Yes do tell your friend, give her my cell I'd be happy to have someone to comiserate with that night

oh i think they (VF Security) will keep you all very safe & this information is on the internet...I just googled it & sent all the details to Bridget...I'll let you know what she thinks.....

Aisling...Ryan & Jennifer are looking into some private scuba lessons...the plan was for him to start 11/04 (2 nights a week & 2 wkends) & he'd finish 1st part of Dec so he will be certified....i think the private lessons that he & Jen take may cut that time down some as they would be taking fewer lessons but longer class sessions....

Anjelica - YES you need to get back to DL sometime soon....we love it & it's close enough for us to get there quite often....its also where the HS Seniors go for Grad Nite! OF COURSE i need to chaperone that event!!!

back later & Tigg heres a few more photos...

R&J at Buzz Lightyear

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Entrance to Haunted Mansion

This little girl just kept following Woody

it WAS Anaheim Gay Days

Our TOT

and DCA's Beach Boardwalk (the roller coaster off to the left is California Screamin - CA's version of Aerosmith's Rockin Rollercoaster....BOTH MY FAVs!!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Awww, thank you Brenda!

The pictures are really cool! That little girl following Woody is too cute~

and your two look adorable together~

Aisling, the deadline for paying the cruise off was 10/12, that may also be the 100% refund day.