Roll call for the 10/23/2004 Western Magic. Who's with us?

Well hey Pooh, you could easily make that flight, just book it with Expedia and use that phone reminder function. Then your darnded phone will ring at 4:00 A.M., then again at 5:00, etc... to wake you up on time for the flight. Even if it is your home phone and the reminder is for DH's flights leaving in Kentucky, happened this morning, wanna kill the guy.

Skylynx and Jeanne, that is partly why I had to go shopping. My standard dress is jeans or jean shorts and tees. Had to upgrade a bit to show up at my kid's school. But all my dressy stuff was the same old. The pictures from both cruises are only distinguished by the change in those present and what the guys were wearing.

Skylynx, feel for your husband, the witch I used to work for pulled the last straw over vacations with many of those who HAD worked for her. Even though all of us had more than enough vacation time, she would always pitch a fit (Psychiatry department, no less.) It got really old, but I reported her to Human Resources and gave two weeks notice of my early retirement when she was on a ONE MONTH vacation. Never even had to look at her nasty face again when I finally did not have to work over Christmas and carry the stinking pager ONE MORE TIME over the holidays. Oh, it was sweet.

Pamela, try my standard kid's snorkel training ritual. Fill the bathtub with soapy water, then toss in a bunch of small items, coins, shells, drain clogging Leggos, then make him retrieve the stuff using his mask and snorkel. Try running snorkeling or diving as key words for Cayman, since that is about all that goes on on that island. You might pick up some stuff looking at the web sites of some of the shops listed on the pdfs on Barb's site for the shopping guides. How big are Marvin's boats, I was going to book that too, if I have not fooled around until it is too late.

I have special spot in the closet for all the cruise stuff, lightsticks picked up after Halloween, un-holey underwear. Plus I keep a spot under one of the bathroom sinks with motion sickness meds, sunblock, contact stuff and reading glasses, the over-the-door shoe holder, frizz ease and toothbruhes, small deodorant (I always seemed to forget those in the past). Another favorite stash spot is the net compartments in the suitcases, detergent tabs, disposable ponchos and tea bags. Backfired one year when the mice got into the suitcase closet, boy was that ugly.

Oh geeze, the last few days have been nuts, and I realize I have probably blown getting Food and Wine ressies for October 30th or 31st.

Carla
 
DENISE: I leave my suitcase open from this point on & just keep putting things in it. You know the new underwear, socks, outfits, etc. What great memories you have of your childhood! My parents NEVER vacationed so I promised myself that vacations would be a priority for my family. I have to admit my kids got sick of Disney:earseek: We went skiing in the winter & always took a summer vacation together (now I have to bribe them to go on vacation).

I started the diet AGAIN today since I don't know if I'll have money to buy new outfits! I do have a new outfit from the holiday party last year. I am really excited:bounce: :bounce:

We are experiencing the three H's again in New Jersey - hazy, hot & humid :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: Hope you all stay cool:cool2: Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE
 
I guess everyone is on vacation.....

FAITH: I don't feel so bad about my airfare. I went on the Southwest website & they were the same price as AirTran to fly from Philadelphia to Orlando. Did you get my e-mail about "The Dolphin"?

Car still not done so I am stuck in the house again. Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow but I am working ALL weekend. Hope you have fun for me this weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE
 
Originally posted by DudetteTwo
I guess everyone is on vacation.....

FAITH: I don't feel so bad about my airfare. I went on the Southwest website & they were the same price as AirTran to fly from Philadelphia to Orlando. Did you get my e-mail about "The Dolphin"?

Car still not done so I am stuck in the house again. Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow but I am working ALL weekend. Hope you have fun for me this weekend. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE


Hi Jeanne, yes I did get your email, Thank you
Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow and for the next 3 days. :tongue: :hyper: I hope the weather is better than it has been. ::yes::
Faith :wave:
 

Hi! I was reading all of your post's & I just had to suscribe here. You all sound like a great group of people! :)

This will be our 1st time on DCL, our first cruise ever.
We are...
myself (33)
dh (48)
ds (9) will be 10y a week after our trip.
dd (7)
ds (3)
(I hope I did that right) :)
My dh say's I'm obsessed. I have been trying to find all I can on DCL I have found out all sort's of info & good tips on this site. I guess you could say I'm a little excited, but anxious & I just want everything to run smoothly. It sound's like you guy's have a lot of fun. What do your kid's think? Do they like the lab's? What about the excursion's? I don't want to over due it. Anyway, I hope to keep in touch. Thank's -Jen
October 23rd & counting... :earsgirl:
 
Hi Jen.

I'm also a first time Disney cruiser (2 other cruises over 10 years ago on another line...) and my DH also thinks I am obsessed! For the last few weeks I have been reading hundreds of posts and trip reports. I have even started a box in my closet where I am putting stuff I don't want to forget to pack!

We have only made up our minds on one excursion (non-DCL) which is a snorkel trip with Capt. Marvins at Grand Cayman. I am still trying to decide about stuff at Key West and Cozumel. My DH is still considering parasailing at Castaway Cay - I think he is a little concerned about doing it with his bad back. (Although his back survived 7 rides on Big Thunder Mnt. in May!)

Would you like to be included on our cruise website? It is at http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl if you want to take a look at it. All it takes to be included is to post your info here (you already have a start at that) or PM or email me (pdarrah@sprynet.com).

Pamela
 
Hi Pamela, Yes I would love to be included on your Disney Website. I too, have ?'s re: excursions. I was thinking of doing the catamaran sailing/snorkling in KeyWest w/ just my DH & myself & then snorklng in stingray city in Grandcayman w/ my DH, DS-9 & DD-7. We would leave our DS-3 @ kids club. But, I keep hearing about Capt. Marvin's & maybe that's a better idea. We also are looking @ the dolphin excursion in cozumel & bringing our DS-3 along too. If anyone has any advice about the excursions I would love to hear them. We want to get the most of our trip, have ton's of fun, but I don't want to over do it. :rolleyes:
Pamela,
my DS-9 want's to go parasailing, too. He's trying to talk his dad into going w/ him. :) By the way...
My name is Jennefer, My DH is Mark, Our DS is Adam & he will be 10 November 7th. Our DD is Haleigh & she is 7, but will be 8 december 30th & our DS is Joey, who is 3 & will be 4 on December 10th. Needless to say we are pretty busy @ the end of the year. :)

-Jen :-)
October 23rd,,, Here we come :)
 
What's up with this computer?:badpc: It is SOOOO slow.

JEN: Welcome!:chat:

DENISE: My daughter is getting married in Paris (the casino that is in Las Vegas). She booked July 16th, 2005, as the date to give us plenty of time:bride:. She didn't want to have to leave the air-conditioned hotel to go to one of those chapels. She hates the heat:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: .

I thought 2004 was a fun-filled year but it looks like 2005 is going to be very BUSY!

Hope you all had a good weekend. Work was really good this weekend. Have a great week. Toodles:wave2: :earsgirl: JEANNE
 
Hi Jen - I put the information you have posted onto the website. If you would like to add anything (or I made a typo) please just let me know.

I am sorry it took me so long - I wasn't able to get connected to the DISBoard nearly all day!
--------
Hi Jeanne - I'm glad your work was good this weekend - if one has to work weekends, it should at least be good! So, is a "good" weekend in the Mother/Baby unit mean lots of babies or very few babies? :)
--------

Is anyone staying at the Radisson the night before? We are still trying to decide what to do and the reviews seem a little mixed. We are renting from Budget and want to drop the car off Friday night, so the Radisson seems to make sense for that. We probably won't get there until about 5:00pm, so I am not sure the amenities make much difference.... Any of you experienced cruisers have any input?????

Thanks,

Pamela
 
PAMELA: A good weekend on the Mother/Baby Unit means not alot of deliveries but I saw two maternity tours go by which had at least 30 couples in each so I guess I have job security! Joyce & I (Ted & Sandy too) are staying at the new Ron Jon Resort in Cape Canaveral. There was a special for $75.00 a night so we are arriving Thursday morning & will take a cab to the port on Saturday AM. We have never stayed there but they have a waterpark in the resort. Doing things backwards - resting BEFORE the cruise.

Good-bye again. Toodles

:wave2: ::earsgirl: JEANNE
 
I just wanted to say thanks for the welcome you guy's(gal's):wave:

-Jen :earsgirl: Can't wait for October 23rd!!!
 
:wave2: Hi Jen, welcome to our thread and the cruise, too. This is my 4th Disney cruise. Can't wait for it. We usually don't do excursions. We strike out on our own. Saves $$ that way.

Yep, I have a cruise drawer where I stuff all the "don't forgets". It is full of the stuff that I use for any Disney vacation. I thought I was the only one. Good to know I'm not.

The FIL is home from the nursing home and is having his kids stay a week at a time with him until he gets back on his feet. My family has taken charge of everything. We are soooo ready for this vacation. You just can't imagine! :crazy:

We have stayed at the Raddison before and it was great. Not a problem. Just chose to stay at Ron Jon's because it is right on the Cape and we can see the ships come and go. Also, they have such a wonderful pool and water slide.
 
Jen...if your kids are anything like mine, you won't be able to DRAG them out of the Lab/Club. It was all I could do to wrench them away for meals.

It was a riot to be lounging by the pool and see my kids galloping around the ship with their new pals on some well-designed scavenger hunt that disguised how well it was supervised, much to the delight of my fiercely independent dd11 and ds 8. I'd intended to keep them with us on Castaway Cay day, but one look at those morose eyes over missing the treasure hunt and it was "here's your sunscreen, see you later, have fun"!

I think kids who tend towards shyness might be less enthralled, but my two complained when we'd pick them up, around midnight, that they weren't ready to leave yet! The BIG upside is it gives you lots of opportunity for adults-only meals at Palo, shows, or hanging out on the verandah with smuggled-on alchohol. My kid pager only went off once the entire cruise, and that was because my daughter wanted her hat!

We were rigorous in our pre-cruise research the first time, as well, and I was glad for it. We knew what to expect but it did not in any way diminish the "discovery" of our new environment. We knew to rush to make Palo reservations, to dash for deck 10 tables to watch the sailaway party immediately after the lifeboat drill, and to take our own cab to Lucaya in Freeport (saving beaucoup bucks on the shore excursion). We always research trips in a big way--some people say that kills the spontaneity, but we believe it enhances the precious time spent on vacations, plus we have a marvelous time dragging out the anticipation phase.

Jeanne--your daughter is smart to have the wedding at a casino hotel chapel. My husband and I went into one of the downtown Vegas chapels to ask directions to the marriage license bureau and there was a queue of gowned and tuxed brides and grooms waiting (like at the deli counter at the grocery store) to get into rooms at the chapel that looked frighteningly like the rooms wakes are held in at funeral parlors. Narrow, with two long rows of folding chairs, a podium, creepy piped-on organ music, and a floral display on a stand just like those that accompany coffins. Argh. The casino hotel ones are much nicer. And at least you won't be next to a pawn shop!
 
Thank's Sandy & Denise for your good advise. We are thinking of striking out on our own in Key West. Do we just walk off of the ship, find a cab or bus & take it from there?

I keep hearing about Capt. Marvin's. Is he better than the excursion(s) that Disney has set up? We did want to go snorklng. We never have been before so we are absolute novice's! :)

Denise, you said that it was cheaper to catch a cab in Lucaya, is that for a snorkeling trip?

We were planning on taking our Ds 9 & DD 7 w/ us on the snorkling trip. Would it be ok to then leave our Ds 3 on the ship @ the kids club. They wouldn't be able to page us.
Any advice is very much appreciated.

Also, do most people really dress up for formal night. Should I be renting my Dh a tux?
Also, leaving the kids @ kid's club/lab til 12-1am I'm not to worried about for my older kid's, but what about my Ds 3? My Dh & I want to experience a little night/adult life, dancing, etc.. but I feel a little guilty picking my tired 3 year old up @ 12 or 1am. Do they have cot's they could rest on or something? Don't get me wrong we wouldn't do this every night, but 1 or 2 night's would even be nice. Anyway that's enogh ?'s for now. :D

Thank's alot, Jen :earsgirl: October 23, October 23, October 23.......... :bounce:
 
Hi Jen,

Since I am a first-timer also, my answers aren't as good as others - but I have been doing A LOT of research so I have some ideas for you!

I have booked a snorkel excursion with Capt. Marvins. From all my research, they seem to be much more "personal" than the DCL excursions - there are few people on the boat and they can spend more time with you. DH & I have been snorkeling, but I am trying to teach DS5 a little before we go. Several trip reports have said that the staff at Capt. Marvins were great and really helped the kids and new snorkelers. We are going on the 1/2 day excursion in the morning. There is lots of info at their website www.captainmarvins.com

Yes, you can leave your 3yr old on the ship at the club- you might also want to talk to Capt. Marvins - I think there was something about 3 and under are free. If you wanted to bring him, it might be OK.

I have seen a number of posts that say that at the kid club at night they put out mats on the floor for each kid and show Disney movies. It sounds like most of the little ones fall asleep. I am hoping my DS5 will - he really needs 10 hours of sleep at night (no nap anymore).

The dressing up seems to be up to you - some people do it (since DH owns a tux, we will dress up) and others just wear a suit. It sounds like most people do make some sort of effort to dress nice for the formal nights, but it is a wide range of "formal". I have seen some people suggest renting the tux so that it is waiting for you on board and you do not have to pack and lug around a suit.

I had a lot of the same questions when I started researching a couple of months ago - the amount of information on this board is amazing!

Pamela
 
Hey Jen, welcome. We should "get our kids together" I have two sons, one 11 when we cruise, the other will be 8. We have cruised the Eastern twice before. The first time the kids were not crazy about the clubs, but liked it better the second time. It seems to help if they go early on to cement friendships early before other alliances are made. We are thinking of trying to get Palo the first night, just to get the kids to the clubs early on.

Hey, Jeanne, seems like there are lots of babies around right now. Three of the teachers at my younger son's school were supposed to have had babies by now, but all are still there for the new school year. Seems the babies wanted to meet their new students even more than the moms.

Carla
 
Jen...Oceaneer's Lab/Club It's true that at night the mats go out and the movies go on and there's plenty of snoozers among the night owls. Since I didn't have a small child, I can't say for sure but I wouldn't feel too guilty about an occasional late night outing. That's what the pagers are for...you'll know in an instant if there's a problem with your little one. Chances are your pager will stay blissfully silent, like ours!

Re: dressing up...we LOVE to dress up because there are so few places we can get dressed up to go to these days and it is especially nice not to have to drive/take a train to a "dress up" venue. My husband has a tux and I have a closet full of cruise glam gear including sparkly gowns and long black gloves ;-) We've gotten dressed even for semi formals just because we like looking at each other all decked out. So I guess, if you've been dying to have a place to wear those rhinestone heels and black diva dress...this is it! And we'll be there to join you!

Re: Freeport. Don't think the Wonder goes there anymore, but we found another few people to go with to rent a cab and the whole thing cost us $10 a person round trip. The guy even arranged to meet us when we wanted to come back to the ship (and was there, on time.) I've looked at lots of shore excursions and it seems with few exceptions, you could easily book the same experience yourself, for a lot less money, and with more control over the amount of time you spent on it. Your mileage may vary!

Denise
 
Pamela, Thanks for the info. I'm going to check out Capt. Marvin's now & I think I might take our Ds 3 w/ us. I just feel guilty leaving him behind on the ship while the rest of us go & have fun snorkling. How are you going to get to Capt. Marvin's? A cab? A bus?

Thank's for the info on formal night too. I have 5 people to pack for & I don't want to over pack(whick I end up doing anyway) & I don't want to under pack either. I think I will rent a tux from the place mentioned on Passporter's web site. Thanks.

Carla, We should have our son's meet. My Ds 9 will be 10 a week after we get back from our DLC. Maybe I will try for Palo's the 1st or second night, too.

Denise, Thanks & I'll try not to feel too guilty about my kidlettes. I'm sure they will have lot's of fun & rather be @ kid's club than back in the cabin for an early night. About transportation... When I try Capt. Marvin's maybe they will have some good advice on which is the better way on getting to & from their place & the Wonder.

Anyway, Thank's guy's. :sunny:
 
Jen - We are going to walk to Capt. Marvins - it is only 2 blocks from where the tenders will drop us off and we should have plenty of time to just amble our way there. They have told us to be there by 9:15 for our 10:00 tour and the "all ashore" is usually at 7:30am - even if we don't get on one of the first tenders, there should still be plenty of time to get there.

Denise - Cool! "long black gloves " - I was just cleaning out a drawer and found both white & black long gloves. I couldn't bear to just throw them out, but couldn't figure out when I would ever wear them - now I know! If I'm not the only one on the ship with gloves, I'll wear them then. (Now, maybe I need a fancier dress...)

Pamela
 


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