October 7, 2006 Western "Latitude Adjustment Cruise"

[twinmom108]

WOW, what a wonderful cruise.
We got back in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. Yesterday (Tuesday), we received our first snowfall, 6-8 inches. It's definately culture shock to our bodies as it was just last Friday that we got sunburned on Castaway Cay even after reapplying sunscreen.

It was so much fun to meet and talk with some of you last week, Barbara (Mousemo), Hope William had a great birthday, Maureen (Pit303), wasn't the Snorkel, Beach Party & Catarmarran Sail a blast, Chris, Glenn & David (ChrisnGlenn), enjoyed the Palo Tea and chatting on the beach, and Allen (alias BigRed) I give you much thanks for all you did to make our first Disney Cruise a memorable one.

My only regret is that I didn't get to meet more of you, especially GoofyShell because I believe you have boys the same ages as ours.

If any of you didn't hear and are wondering if our "Surprise" for our sons came off I will be posting that story very shortly.


Disney Dreamin'
Sharon

 

[joksten2000]

Glad to hear everyone had a great time, hope to see some of you on another cruise. We will be on the 2/03 & 2/10 cruises and won't be back till the family cruise in Jan 08. Because the Magic will be away next summer we are taking the family on the Crown Princess for a nine day cruise out of NYC.

 

[Vocaleze]

Hello All!

Yes, yes and yes! We can't wait to book our next one. For first-timers - we certainly had a wonderful time and also joined DVC and looking to take more family members with us next time.

Allen - thank you for the special surprises - You are very thoughtful. I enjoyed all you did.

till we meet again...
Tricia

 

[cruzincricketts]

What a great trip we all had! Thanks to Alan for introductions and cool magnets. Thanks to Palos for great desserts.yum.

So I must ask you Jamie Ricketts; Were you the last on the boat at CC? We were among the stragglers but saw you were still living it up at Heads Up bar! We were asked several times on the cruise if we were part of your family get together, we should have past on our bar bill to "the other Ricketts".

I can't believe this time last week we were still on CC. Oh well good while it lasted, I'm sure we will be back one day.

Carole

 

[1971visitor]

I wasn't last on the boat, but the group I was with was trying to be! It became a 'thing' when we went to walk back on the ship....I think that it finally turned out that there were 3 that boarded after us, is that right Bill?

I was the one saying that we'd better hurry!

Anyway, turns out there is no need to get back on the boat at 3:30 when the kids clubs close. The beach is deserted for about the last hour! We'll do it again next year!

It was nice to meet you Carole & Antony.

TN is so cold.....wish I could zap myself to CC!

Jamie

 

[TexasGirl]

Are we the only ones who rebooked for the same time next year?

We had a good time. This was # 4 for us on DCL. Prob our least favorite itenenairys but still a great trip.

I think next vacation we are going to do is Beaches resort. We are ready for a slower pace. Wish Disney ran something similar but will have to
"make do" with the Beaches/Sandal's company and the Sesame Street theming.

We disembarked one week ago today. Seems longer ago doesn't it. I need a vacation!

 

[MAL HOMBRE]

Two thumbs up, A+, five stars, 4.0, however you want to say it this was a wonderful cruise. We give the Disney boats a plug everytime someone asks!
A big hats off to the line for: 1.) Going out of the way to make sure folks have the opportunity to run a wipe over their nasty meat hooks before eating! Assigning someone to WP (wipe police) outside the dining facilities is an excellent idea, 2.)having wireless internet available. I ended up losing 3/4 of the 100 minute deal just due to not having a chance to get online! Someone on board told me that they don't plan on having an unlimited wireless plan because so many people would just leave their laptop on all the time. (Dang gringos!), and 3.) the fireworks at sea! One word: D***!!!!
In all, the place we would go back to would be Key West. The Cayman Islands came in second and Cozumel was a reluctant third. (Muy caliente!)
In regards to rebooking, cruising once every two years is plenty for us! Considering vacation days and funds, there is too much of the US and world left to see to lock in some of the same ports every year after year.
But, the Disney line has spoiled us. As kids, the mrs. and I were not big Mickey Mouse fans. I was raised under the notion that Batman, Spiderman and that bunch kept the world safe while we slept. Now, that torch has been passed to Jack Bauer (I need a hacksaw!)...that was for the wife and Mrs. Valerie
Despite the time in the truck (25 hours), the cost of gas (($150 round trip) and vacation time left(one day) with two months still to go, only one word describes the photo of the daughter hugging Cinderella: priceless! Ya'll saw that one coming, right?
Watch your six....
Mal Hombre

 

[GGBacha]

Well, I haven't posted anything really since we've been back. It's certainly not because I didn't enjoy myself. I think it's more out of depression! This was our first cruise. We had no idea they would become so addictive!

That week in October seems like such a wonderful dream now that we are in the cold, dreary days of reality again. I find myself thinking of ways to get on a cruise quicker than the 2008 that we have planned. Please tell me that 1) this is normal, and 2) it will eventually go away.

Alan, thank you so much for organizing everything and for the wonderful treats on the door! The kids were so tickled to see them.

Jamie, it was a treat to get to talk to you at dinner! I just wish the week could have been two weeks instead!

I asked if they needed a teacher on the boat, but they didn't take me up on my offer. Oh well, I'll just have to wait to get back on the boat the normal way.

 

[lbrening]

Well, I haven't posted anything really since we've been back. It's certainly not because I didn't enjoy myself. I think it's more out of depression! This was our first cruise. We had no idea they would become so addictive!

That week in October seems like such a wonderful dream now that we are in the cold, dreary days of reality again. I find myself thinking of ways to get on a cruise quicker than the 2008 that we have planned. Please tell me that 1) this is normal, and 2) it will eventually go away.

Alan, thank you so much for organizing everything and for the wonderful treats on the door! The kids were so tickled to see them.

Jamie, it was a treat to get to talk to you at dinner! I just wish the week could have been two weeks instead!

I asked if they needed a teacher on the boat, but they didn't take me up on my offer. Oh well, I'll just have to wait to get back on the boat the normal way.

I am feeling the same way and wondering if I was the only one. This was our first Disney cruise and now I see why everyone has been on so many. We planned in the car coming home same time next year. I don't know if I can wait that long. I have been going through cruise withdrawls. Thanks Alan for the cool magnets.
Lisa

 

[LaurlieMT]

I am feeling the same way and wondering if I was the only one. This was our first Disney cruise and now I see why everyone has been on so many. We planned in the car coming home same time next year. I don't know if I can wait that long. I have been going through cruise withdrawls. Thanks Alan for the cool magnets.
Lisa

I agree. I think my husband and I are still having a hard time returning to the real world. I'm not sure we'll be able to swing another cruise for a long time, but if we could, I'd go in a heartbeat! BVE - Best Vacation Ever!

Yes, thank you so much Alan for the magents and the list and for being so welcoming.

Hope to cruise with you again!

Laurie

 

[1971visitor]

I went through major cruise withdrawal/depression after our first cruise. I was checking the DCL website to see if there was a job for me.

As soon as we called and rebooked, the feeling went away. Even though it was for the next year, I knew we were going back, so I was OK.

I promise I know how you all feel. Now we rebook for the next year on board so we don't get that funky letdown feeling. We know we can always cancel later, but we don't....

It's soooooooooo cold and rainy here in middle TN.......

Jamie

 

[pit303]

We are going through cruise withdrawl also. Is cold in PA also. We are thinkng about another cruise for New Years Eve 2007 on the Wonder.

Joe and Maureen

 

[lbrening]

We are going through cruise withdrawl also. Is cold in PA also. We are thinkng about another cruise for New Years Eve 2007 on the Wonder.

Joe and Maureen

I am soooooo jealous! I know we can't do anything until next year. Our lives are too busy with three kids and three diffrent schedules. I wish someone would start a cruise report so we could relive the cruise. I am not a good writer but I will give it a shot if no one else is willing. Lisa

 

[LaurlieMT]

I am soooooo jealous! I know we can't do anything until next year. Our lives are too busy with three kids and three diffrent schedules. I wish someone would start a cruise report so we could relive the cruise. I am not a good writer but I will give it a shot if no one else is willing. Lisa

My DH is writing a trip report and posting it on our family blog, so I'll either have him post it to the DIS or I'll do it for him. It isn't geared toward fellow cruisers, it is more for our long-distance family, but it is cute and would help bring back fond memories for you. I'll keep you posted...

Laurie

 

[LaurlieMT]

Oh, and I am also writing a "Tips" article that I'll post when it is done. It is all the tips that I learned from you folks on the DIS, as well as ones I came up with on my own once I got to the ship. Maybe it'll help some other first-time cruiser know what to expect better than I did!

Laurie

 

[LaurlieMT]

We got a postcard in the mail the other day saying DCL had chosen a “small, but significant selection of guests to participate in a specialized online survey” and the card had a website to go to and a password. DH and I just filled out the survey. It was a lot like the paper survey, but it had room for short comments.

Did you guys get a post card? If not, the last page of the survey gave an email and an address that you can write with specific questions that you’d like addressed. So you could send them your comments that way:


dcl.guest.communications@disneycruise.com
or
Disney Cruise Line Guest Communications
PO Box 10238
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0238


Laurie

 

[LaurlieMT]

Me again! Last post for awhile...

I just posted my DH Rob's trip report that he had written for our long-distance family. It is under the "Trip Report" thread, and it is called: Magic Western Caribbean Oct 7-14 '06 Family Fun Trip Report - Lots of photos!

Hope you enjoy!

Laurie

 

[BigRed1]

Hello All!
Sorry I have been so long getting back to the board. We have been very busy since we got back from the cruise. My laptop caught a “bug” on the ship, nothing fatal, but very aggravating. As I said in my last post, I think this was the best yet of the 3 Disney cruises we have been on. I definitely want to spend some more time in Key West. I think there were only 2 or 3 people on the list that I didn’t run into at some point. Unfortunately, we didn’t rebook while on the ship. I think we are going to take a year off from cruising. We have a New England fall foliage tour booked for next October. Maybe a west coast cruise on the Disney Dream someday. I mentioned in my last post that we stopped in Stone Mountain, GA., to see the Laser Show. We had reservations at the Stone Mountain Inn, operated by Marriott, for the night. It is a great location, just a walk across the street to Memorial Hall for the show. We arrived at the hotel at 7 pm, just in time to get checked in, change into warmer clothes, grab a box dinner and get a seat on the lawn for the show that starts at 8pm. For whatever reason, they didn’t have enough rooms for us. So, they offered us rooms at the Evergreen Conference Resort for the night, and for our trouble, at no charge “if that is ok.” So I thought about it for about ½ a second and said “Sure, I think that we can handle that!” We even got a free breakfast the next morning. The magic of Disney followed us home. It was great! So you can guess what hotel chain will get most of my business from now on. When I get my pictures posted, I will send out an email to the list. I am thinking of changing my picture hosting to a new site. I hope everyone liked their magnets. That was the first time I have been in the stateroom area of deck 1….the watertight doors were interesting …..It was good exercise and we found corners of the ship we didn’t know were there!! It was lots of fun! If any of you ever find your way to middle Tennessee, or the Smoky Mountain / Gatlinburg area, be sure to drop us a line and we will try to have mini meet, have lunch or dinner, or show you around our little part of the world. Anyway, we hope to see you all again someday,
Allen & Mary

 

[twinmom108]

Hi all, just was curious to see how you all were doing.

Any future Disney cruises or WDW trips in the works?
After getting back home from our cruise in October, I had a severe case of mourning for several weeks before getting back to normal.

We had such a great time surprising our sons with the cruise. They didn't know we were going on the cruise till we let the cat out of the bag in the stateroom. They thought we were just taking a tour of the ship.

Well now I've booked the Special 5-Night Bahamas cruise with 2 stops at Castaway Cay departing 09/01/08 for just DH and me. This time it's a surprise for DH.

But...September 2008 is so far away. DH agreed we could buy a DVC resale and then addon at the new Animal Kingdom Villas once we were in the system. AKV dvc purchase was done yesterday and I'm taking one of the twins with me for a week at AKV in October 2007. Okay I can handle this - it's only a few months away, but no surprises for this trip.

Disney Dreamin
Sharon

 

[Danzer45]

Hi all, just was curious to see how you all were doing.

Any future Disney cruises or WDW trips in the works?
After getting back home from our cruise in October, I had a severe case of mourning for several weeks before getting back to normal.

We had such a great time surprising our sons with the cruise. They didn't know we were going on the cruise till we let the cat out of the bag in the stateroom. They thought we were just taking a tour of the ship.

Well now I've booked the Special 5-Night Bahamas cruise with 2 stops at Castaway Cay departing 09/01/08 for just DH and me. This time it's a surprise for DH.

But...September 2008 is so far away. DH agreed we could buy a DVC resale and then addon at the new Animal Kingdom Villas once we were in the system. AKV dvc purchase was done yesterday and I'm taking one of the twins with me for a week at AKV in October 2007. Okay I can handle this - it's only a few months away, but no surprises for this trip.

Disney Dreamin
Sharon

Hey there Sharon,

I'm still in mourning from that cruise, however it's getting better because we have booked the Oct. 11, 2008 7 day Eastern , so that gives me more hope! Big Red and M&M will also be going as will many of the guys on the '06 cruise.

Sounds like you are the Queen of Surprises and really know how to make Magic for your family!

I've been keeping up with the Magic in the Med repo cruise this week... today they are in Gibralta.. some beautiful pictures. Hope you are enjoying that also.

Enjoy your trip to WDW in Oct. and hope to see ya real soon!

Sandra (Danzer45)