October 20th 2007 Western Magic Part 4

[oybolshoi]

Brenda,

Would you buy a newer version? Or just reference your old one?

For just the regular cruises (eastern and western) I'd stick with the older version because not that much has fundamentally changed in my opinion.

Now, if I were doing a Med. or a Repo I might think about it. I actually have a 2005 that has some really interesting stuff about the last Panama Canal cruise...would that be of any use to you and the family? I'd be happy to let you guys have it.

 

[A fat english gent]

I was just talking about seat saving at lunch yesterday with my co-workers. It doesn't bother me too much in the night clubs. It does somewhat in the Theatre if it is like 10 seats some is trying to hold (i.e. one person for the WHOLE family - grandparents with two of their married children who each have 2-3 kids and only one person is in the theatre).

What I won't stand for is pool chair saving. I sat there in January for 2 hours (7:00-9:00 a.m.) alone at the Mickey Pool holding my seat (I'm up early and it is peaceful up there). There were about 10 seats with towels on them and no one to be found. The people didn't come until almost 11:00, and they were real winners. I told my co-workers I may be the seat saver police this cruise. I have no problem with some one holding a couple of chairs by the pool as long as you are sitting on one or near the pool. To come up at 6:00 a.m., drop a towel and a book on it and go back to bed, I hate. Have one person sleep in one of the chairs. I did actually pull the towels off the two next to us later that morning for a family to get a spot. Those people never came around at all that day.

It does say on the back of the Navigator - No Seat Saving. Make sure you have one of those handy if you plan on challenging someone on it.

I'm not flaming you Cass. I would gladly save you and Rob a couple of chairs in one of the bars. But then again, I'd be already sitting at the table. Now if you walked down there before dinner, put a sweater on a couple of chairs with no one else at the table/bar, and then proceeded to dinner, I would have a problem with that.

The funny thing is, we use to be big seat savers. I remember when we use to vacation down in Huatulco, I'd get up at the butt crack of stupid and go down and save two chairs for us. Go back up and not return until after breakfast. Guess I look at it differently now that I have a kid and the chairs at the Mickey Pool are a hot commodity.

Jeff i can't remember if you've said weather you've done Europe yet or not on your travels?,but be warned my friend the GERMANS think nothing of putting 30 towels out at MIDNIGHT to ensure they get all the sun lounges they want, and on more than one occasion Ive seen people of different nations "discussing" towel arrangements and one occasion even the local plod had to meditate........

ps...When were sat in the bar "WATCHING" the lady's dance round their hand bags ash me to tell you the story of the "Battle of Bulgaria" IN 1987...Between the English and the germans....thier were no P.O.W taken that day i can tell you.....

 

[JLDSMD]

For just the regular cruises (eastern and western) I'd stick with the older version because not that much has fundamentally changed in my opinion.

Now, if I were doing a Med. or a Repo I might think about it. I actually have a 2005 that has some really interesting stuff about the last Panama Canal cruise...would that be of any use to you and the family? I'd be happy to let you guys have it.

I may have to take you up on that offer.

Did they write the book before the repo cruises? I'm wondering if now that they have been done, if they'd have even more info for those cruises (including all the stuff on the Mexico ports).

 

[JLDSMD]

Jeff i can't remember if you've said weather you've done Europe yet or not on your travels?,but be warned my friend the GERMANS think nothing of putting 30 towels out at MIDNIGHT to ensure they get all the sun lounges they want, and on more than one occasion Ive seen people of different nations "discussing" towel arrangements and one occasion even the local plod had to meditate........

ps...When were sat in the bar "WATCHING" the lady's dance round their hand bags ash me to tell you the story of the "Battle of Bulgaria" IN 1987...Between the English and the germans....thier were no P.O.W taken that day i can tell you.....

We've dealt with the Germans in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta). They could be a treat. The rude ones down there seem to come from Central and South America. Although I do remember one large rude family from Chicago, but we hate them back here in WI just as much as when we're traveling.

I'll probably just start pulling towels off the chairs and putting any personal stuff they left on the chair up on the towel return along with a copy of the Navigator with the "seat saving policy" highlighted. (note to self: remember highlighter) But then again, I'll probably chicken out. But if it is like last time, there was NO ONE at the pool until almost 9:00 on sea days, so no one would see me.

I think the entertainment will be when the people come back and see their stuff moved. Just have to make sure I'm not sitting in or near their seats. If you see me at the pool when you come up, ask me which seats are "safe" to sit in (i.e. non-removed item seats).

I figure I'll be up there with Nancy, Cass, Karen and all the other nocturnal KKers. DIS meet every morning at 7:00 at the Mickey Pool.

 

[cntkg1]

I may have to take you up on that offer.

Did they write the book before the repo cruises? I'm wondering if now that they have been done, if they'd have even more info for those cruises (including all the stuff on the Mexico ports).

I also have a copy of edition 2 from 2005. No mention of the repo cruises but still a handy reference. If anyone wants it, just let me know and it's all yours. My extra edition 4 went to Poohbush (Tina...BTW, where are you?) and she loves it. I can also get my hands on another edition 4 from SIL who is not using it either. SHe's offered it to me many times.

 

[cntkg1]

I'll probably just start pulling towels off the chairs and putting any personal stuff they left on the chair up on the towel return along with a copy of the Navigator with the "seat saving policy" highlighted. (note to self: remember highlighter) {

Fabulous idea, Jeff.

I'll be up there with Nancy, Cass, Karen and all the other nocturnal KKers. DIS meet every morning at 7:00 at the Mickey Pool.

Deal!

 

[JLDSMD]

No FO for you!!!

 

[JLDSMD]

I also have a copy of edition 2 from 2005. No mention of the repo cruises but still a handy reference. If anyone wants it, just let me know and it's all yours. My extra edition 4 went to Poohbush (Tina...BTW, where are you?) and she loves it. I can also get my hands on another edition 4 from SIL who is not using it either. SHe's offered it to me many times.

Nancy, did you get your free Edition 5 yet?

Does it have anything for the Panama Repos in it? What about Mexico?

 

[JLDSMD]

Fabulous idea, Jeff.

You can join the towel police force with me since we will both be up early.

Deal!

You guys can come with your coffee and I will get my soda from the machine (my cafiene needs to be cold). We can get some fruit from the buffet and some sweet rolls if anyone wants. Have a little party those 2 mornings we are at sea. Everyone else is welcome to join us. We'll be there by 7:00 a.m.

 

[A fat english gent]

Quick question from the powers that be,do we have a date and time for the wine tasting thing please?....

 

[cntkg1]

Nancy, did you get your free Edition 5 yet?

Does it have anything for the Panama Repos in it? What about Mexico?

Yes, I got my freebie edition 5.

And yes, lots of Repo info, but not yours. It has Tenerife, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Palermo, Sicily, Naples, etc...

Maybe Edition 6 will list yours.

 

[cntkg1]

You can join the towel police force with me since we will both be up early.




You guys can come with your coffee and I will get my soda from the machine (my cafiene needs to be cold). We can get some fruit from the buffet and some sweet rolls if anyone wants. Have a little party those 2 mornings we are at sea. Everyone else is welcome to join us. We'll be there by 7:00 a.m.

Sure, coffee, chocolate croissants, and fruit for me. Chuck just needs his coffee and a bucket-o-bacon.

 

[AverysMommy]

DS is off 2 of the days during the week of the cruise, so it was originally gonig to be 3 days missed. Then 3 1/2 if we took the afternoon flight, now we are on the morning one and we're up toe 4 days. Plus, he may miss one in November if I go to Vegas for work (Suz' best friend, who is like a grandma to DS, lives out there, so we'd all go).

We should have just came down on Thursday and made it a complete week of school missed. He missed 7 last year (this past Jan) and 8 in 2006 (he was only in Kindergarden though). As he gets older, we'll miss less.

He will miss 3 in 2008 (beginning of 3rd grade) because of the repo cruise.

In '09 (4th grade), we'll probably pull him out for at least 3 1/2 to do a cruise the last week of October (again, when he has 2 days off that week).

WOW you are amazingly organized on vacations....I barely can plan 1 at a time.

the drawbacks of missing school really depends on the child and parent - I am pretty hands on so I will have no problem getting the kids to do some schoolwork on Wednedsday ngiht and Thursday while travelling while I know some kids that would never do work for their parents - they need the formality of the school environment.

I think sometimes its good for a kid to have a parent go over a homework lesson with them instead of just the teacher -gives them a different teaching style

 

[AverysMommy]

We've dealt with the Germans in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta). They could be a treat. The rude ones down there seem to come from Central and South America. Although I do remember one large rude family from Chicago, but we hate them back here in WI just as much as when we're traveling.

I'll probably just start pulling towels off the chairs and putting any personal stuff they left on the chair up on the towel return along with a copy of the Navigator with the "seat saving policy" highlighted. (note to self: remember highlighter) But then again, I'll probably chicken out. But if it is like last time, there was NO ONE at the pool until almost 9:00 on sea days, so no one would see me.

I think the entertainment will be when the people come back and see their stuff moved. Just have to make sure I'm not sitting in or near their seats. If you see me at the pool when you come up, ask me which seats are "safe" to sit in (i.e. non-removed item seats).

I figure I'll be up there with Nancy, Cass, Karen and all the other nocturnal KKers. DIS meet every morning at 7:00 at the Mickey Pool.

What we do sometimes if there is a chair that is empty but we dont like the spot and a "Taken chair" in good spot - we sometime will just switch teh chairs on them

LOL

 

[Timon]

Seat saving? Your one mighty brave lady Cass to suggest such a thing on here....

No!!

Hey, I NEVER ok rarely break the rules!

How many people are going to the Halloween party at WDW before the cruise? We are going on the Thursday night - we are so excited.

I cant decide if I will just put the kids in their pirate night costume or take another costume down with them for that day

We are going to MNSSHP on the 14th and I can't wait!! I LOVE MNSSHP!

I'll probably just start pulling towels off the chairs and putting any personal stuff they left on the chair up on the towel return along with a copy of the Navigator with the "seat saving policy" highlighted. (note to self: remember highlighter) But then again, I'll probably chicken out. But if it is like last time, there was NO ONE at the pool until almost 9:00 on sea days, so no one would see me.

I think the entertainment will be when the people come back and see their stuff moved. Just have to make sure I'm not sitting in or near their seats. If you see me at the pool when you come up, ask me which seats are "safe" to sit in (i.e. non-removed item seats).

I figure I'll be up there with Nancy, Cass, Karen and all the other nocturnal KKers. DIS meet every morning at 7:00 at the Mickey Pool.

Actually Jeff, I am the kind of person who gets verbal to those who save the seats. I also tell people off in the grocery store, you know the ones who park their cart in the MIDDLE of the aisle and then leave it to go shopping 7 feet down....I know...I'm a grumpy beeeeotch That's why I am a loner, I don't get along with most people. Rob keeps saying "I'm glad you liked ME!!!!"

Last cruise, we got our seats about 30 mins before the show ( I wanted to be in the middle to take NON-flash pics) and this family of 3 comes about 20 mins later next to us and proceeds to try to save the entire row! People keep trying to sit there and the guy keeps telling them that they were saved Finally it's about 2 mins to showtime and people are still trying to grab a seat so I said VERY loudly..."I guess he doesn't know that there is NO SEAT SAVING in the theatre!!!!"

He turns to me and says really snarky-like "Realllllly??? No seat saving huh??? Do you have that in writing somewhere???"

I replied "YES, I do actually, you should try reading your Navigator sometime or does the Navigator not apply to you either???"

But to be honest, the seat saving policy only applies to the Theatre and the Sun loungers, not the bars BUT I am not talking about trying to save 5 tables or anything...Just maybe getting a table for 4 or 6, since it's only Rob and I and then having a couple of extra chairs for some KKers that want to join us


And I won't be joining you guys at 7am My prime hours are from 10pm till 4 am. And if by some miracle I can drag by wretched body out of bed at 7am, I will be heading to the workout room for some MUCH needed elliptical time!!!






Seat saving policy on the right...

 

[Timon]

Jessalynn,

If it's your first cruise and you haven't done much research then I HIGHLY suggest getting the Passporter! I bought one for Rob's family since they have never cruised, but frankly, I don't think they've even read it yet. They are not the PLANNING type of people....if it wasn't for us, I think they would be that family that shows up to WDW/DCL doesn't know ANYTHING, figure they could just wing it then get all pi$$ed when they can't eat breakfast at Cinderella Castle by showing up at 9am

I think I have an old copy of the Passporter too, but it's only the pages since I bought the deluxe version and kept the binder for the new one I ordered for the fam. Normally the binder would be ideal for me as I write a journal on my trips but this past trip and this one coming up, I will be doing the live trip report so I don't need to jot things down to remember them

 

[AverysMommy]

Hey, I NEVER ok rarely break the rules!



We are going to MNSSHP on the 14th and I can't wait!! I LOVE MNSSHP!



Actually Jeff, I am the kind of person who gets verbal to those who save the seats. I also tell people off in the grocery store, you know the ones who park their cart in the MIDDLE of the aisle and then leave it to go shopping 7 feet down....I know...I'm a grumpy beeeeotch That's why I am a loner, I don't get along with most people. Rob keeps saying "I'm glad you liked ME!!!!"

Last cruise, we got our seats about 30 mins before the show ( I wanted to be in the middle to take NON-flash pics) and this family of 3 comes about 20 mins later next to us and proceeds to try to save the entire row! People keep trying to sit there and the guy keeps telling them that they were saved Finally it's about 2 mins to showtime and people are still trying to grab a seat so I said VERY loudly..."I guess he doesn't know that there is NO SEAT SAVING in the theatre!!!!"

He turns to me and says really snarky-like "Realllllly??? No seat saving huh??? Do you have that in writing somewhere???"

I replied "YES, I do actually, you should try reading your Navigator sometime or does the Navigator not apply to you either???"

::

You are my HERO. I always think about telling people off like that but I am such a conflict avoider that I chicken out

 

[Timon]

Uh-oh, did I scare everyone away after you found out I really am a grumpy B??

And you all thought you were gonna meet up with a nice, polite Canadian???

That would be Rob, not me

 

[AverysMommy]

Jessalynn,

If it's your first cruise and you haven't done much research then I HIGHLY suggest getting the Passporter! I bought one for Rob's family since they have never cruised, but frankly, I don't think they've even read it yet. They are not the PLANNING type of people....if it wasn't for us, I think they would be that family that shows up to WDW/DCL doesn't know ANYTHING, figure they could just wing it then get all pi$$ed when they can't eat breakfast at Cinderella Castle by showing up at 9am

I think I have an old copy of the Passporter too, but it's only the pages since I bought the deluxe version and kept the binder for the new one I ordered for the fam. Normally the binder would be ideal for me as I write a journal on my trips but this past trip and this one coming up, I will be doing the live trip report so I don't need to jot things down to remember them

i am a big planner - when we go to WDW, I spent months planning our walking paths, restaurants, shows, etc. I have done a bit for the cruise but I have done it based on the Web Site and the DIS boards. I will pick up the Passporter this weekend and get myself going.

But I know what you mean about people goign to WDW without planning - our neighbours had heard us go on and on about Disney and how great it was so they decided to go to Disney land when they were in California last year. They did absolutely nothign to prepare - hadnt even been to the website other than to get driving directions. So what happened........they hated it - left the park within 6 hours of arriving at it and said it was a waste of time.

I felt so bad for their 2 kids (4 and 6 at the time).....they had looked forward to is so much but the parents were just frustrated teh whole time.

 

[Timon]

i am a big planner - when we go to WDW, I spent months planning our walking paths, restaurants, shows, etc. I have done a bit for the cruise but I have done it based on the Web Site and the DIS boards. I will pick up the Passporter this weekend and get myself going.

But I know what you mean about people goign to WDW without planning - our neighbours had heard us go on and on about Disney and how great it was so they decided to go to Disney land when they were in California last year. They did absolutely nothign to prepare - hadnt even been to the website other than to get driving directions. So what happened........they hated it - left the park within 6 hours of arriving at it and said it was a waste of time.

I felt so bad for their 2 kids (4 and 6 at the time).....they had looked forward to is so much but the parents were just frustrated teh whole time.

I am a HUGE planner too!!! It urks me when I see people at WDW and you just KNOW that they did NO planning and now they are having a miserable time and of course, their kids suffer from their non-planning!

Or what else is hard is over-hearing conversations of people who have NO clue...I try to help as much as I can by giving them GOOD information or some good suggestions for what they want but some people just don't like strangers trying to help them out.