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

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by abitjaded
[

Ohhhh, my sons could come up and play the Mickey Mouse March on the baby grand for you while you do your Palo dining. They know the Siamese Cat Song and It's A Small World, too.

Carla [/B]

OH YES PLEASE. THAT WOULD BE SOOOOOO COOL
YOUR SONS MAY COME UP AND PLAY ON THE BABY GRAND ANYTIME.


HI JEANNE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!I'M SORRY ABOUT YOU BAD DAY. HAVE A GREAT 4TH.

Faith

 

[abitjaded]

LOL Faith, once you hear them play you may want to kick them out.

My gown came! And wonder of wonders it fits! Nothing like designer clothes at 80% off.

Still undecided about excursions. Maybe do Cozumel on our own to scope out good snorkeling. Anyone beach snorkeled near Palancar? I want to leave enough time to hit the pharmacy and get cheaper Renova! Then maybe Captain Marvin's longer excursion for Cayman? Has anyone visited the Mel What's His Name treasure museum in Key West? Enough there to dazzle two little boys? What else is fun in Key West?

Carla

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Carla,

I am also still undecided about excursions. We are thinking of visiting a garden at Key West (we are fairly serious gardeners) and our DS5 thinks he wants to go see the old fort that is there. We are going to leave that day pretty open and just do whatever fits - if he really wants to see the fort, we can do it. If he changes his mind, no big deal... Duval street sounds awful - since I don't much like shopping, we will avoid it. DH thinks the cemetary looks interesting!

At Grand Caymen I am seriously thinking Capt. Marvins. The 1/2 day excursions looks like it might work for us. I am concerned about being able to make an earlier start time (the first "short" excursion checks in at 8am and the "Full Day" checks in at 8:15am) since I have no idea how long it will take to tender in and walk to their office. If we take the 10:00 half day, the check in is at 9:15am which should be easy to do. It also allows us a little time afterwards if DH wants to buy some rum. So far, the swimming pool snorkling has been going well. My parents are taking DS to their cabin next weekend and will have him try snorkling in the lake (not the same as an ocean, but a little closer than a pool where he can touch the bottom any time!)

On Cozumel I am really debating. We have considered the Dolphin encounter (not swim - DS isn't old enough for that) on our own, but it is pretty expensive and I'm not sure it is really worth it. The other thing I am looking into is another snorkle excursion - I haven't seen many recommendations for Cozumel. We might just try going to Chankanab.

I know there is still plenty of time, but I feel like I should have everything planned, booked and ready to go now

Can I come hear your kids play the piano? (I really just want to see the suite!!!)

Pamela

 

[faithmagicmickey]

Hi all, happy Monday it's crappie and raining here in Boston land. I hope you all had a great 4th of July. We did but did not go down the Cape like we had planned to but we had a great time seeing the fireworks and parade here in the old home town.
We just did not want to fight the Cape traffic.

Just to let you guys know if you've never been to Key West before there is not much to do for the kids. The last time we were there we took the Conch train tour. It was just OK. This time we only want to get off the ship to have some Conch Fritters at a local's favorite place called BO's Fish Waggon. We are still deciding weather or not to go to a beach called "Fort Zachary Taylor" :still not sure yet
You may not want to shop there because (I think) everything is too expensive. I plan to do most of my shopping in Cozmuel.

At Grand Cayman, we plan to do the Aquaboat Adventure excursion because it sounds like more fun than jet sky's

Have any of you done any of the spa treatments? If so what do you suggest? I've only done the tropical rain forest for one day. and loved it

Carla, I would never kick you kids out!

Hey, I think the rain just stopped, I'm going out.:

Faith

 

[abitjaded]

Faith, I have done the Chakra balancing capsule. It was just O.K. They put you in an egg shaped capsule, head out, covered with an Indian spread. The thing gets warm and vibrates. They pump in aromatherapy and put a head set on you with new wave music and sounds. Pretty dumb, just made my sinuses tickle. The capsule was just plopped in one of the well-lit exercise rooms. More relaxing and much cheaper to veg on a deck four lounger. We have also done the Surial a few times. Lots of fun, you get a bunch of mud to smear around and the full range of their products to clean the mud off. With a partner, a bargain. Once the steam was lousy and it was kind of cold, but the second time all was functioning. You get first crack at times. The rest of us need to race to the Spa to get a time that is not on a sea day or so early it is less than fun.

Has anyone checked out the snorkeling in Key West? Sounds like the city runs a protected area that can be beach dived or snorkeled, the link is from the offical Key West Tourism site, but the site is not so user-friendly, the links stink:

http://www.fla-keys.com/keywest/diving.htm

http://www.reefrelief.org/printed_edu/kwmpbrch.pdf

Would love to check out the Dry Tortugas National Park, but looks like the excursions to there take all day, unless you can drop a huge wad on a seaplane trip:

http://www.seaplanesofkeywest.com/

First read about this place in a Nevada Barr novel, a fun servies of mysteries based in different Nat'l Parks where the protagonist is Anna Pigeon, a park ranger, might be good cruise reading if you are not familiar with the series:

http://www.nevadabarr.com/books/flashbk/flashbk.htm

Carla

 

[pdarrah]

Just wondering...

I've noticed that some of the other cruise meet threads have setup a cruise website with things like lists of DISers that are going to be on the cruise, links to useful stuff and Info about any DIS meets/activities that are planned. Would you folks like one for our cruise? I have available web space and could throw something together fairly easily. What do you think?

Pamela

 

[faithmagicmickey]

WOW, Thanks Carla
Quote
More relaxing and much cheaper to veg on a deck four lounger.

I like the cheaper verison better.



Pamela, I like your idea. Go for it.


Faith

 

[tchrmom]

It's been a while since we posted. Just thought I'd drop in and say "HI".

We're getting "in the cruise mood" again. DH finished our 5/29/04 cruise "mini-movie" this past weekend. It looked great. Watching the highlights of the trip, with "Welcome to Our Family" (from the Brother Bear soundtrack) just makes you want to drag out that suitcase and get packing!

Happy July to you all!

Happy 40th(!) to DH!


Fran

 

[DudetteTwo]

Hope you all are having a great holiday weekend. Sorry about that Boston rain Faith. I feel today is the hottest day so far this summer. You can feel heat & moisture on your skin as soon as you walk out the door. I worked the fourth but we had lots of food, nice patients & only a few deliveries.

I sat with my mom today & am doing the same tomorrow. No computer access over her house. Wednesday my daughter returns to California & will start making wedding plans. Life is SOOOOOO good! Have a great short work week. Toodles JEANNE

 

[skylynx]

Hi, Everyone...we're back and now officially newlyweds. The Vegas portion of our wedding went beautifully-we could not have asked for a more perfect day.

We opted for an atypical Vegas wedding at a ranch in Red Rock Canyon about fifteen miles from the Strip. Ours was a western-themed wedding (in a replica silver mining chapel) complete with horses and my 8 year old son in cowboy gear with toy six shooters. It was a wonderful way to get married in a jaw-dropping desert mountain setting with a minister that built the wedding service around our input so it was totally customized and not "out of the box."

Jeanne--It isn't for everyone, but if you think your daughter might be interested, let me know and I'll send you the details about this place.

After Vegas, we took off on our Disney honeymoon. Our first stop after the Character Warehouse to cruise for bargains was the Christmas store at Downtown Disney to get our long-awaited Minnie bride ears and Mickey top hat groom ears. Let me tell you, those ears netted us all kinds of special treatment around the World. We got whisked away to priority viewing areas for Illuminations and Wishes, instant "walk-on" fastpasses at rides, our own boat at Pirates of the Caribbean and our own log at Splash Mountain so no one else would be in our photo! All of these perks were just offered spontaneously by cast members (we wouldn't have asked for them). At least a hundred people--both cast members and guests-- must have offered their congratulations--it was so nice. We had reservations to eat dinner in the Cinderella Castle our first evening in Florida and when we arrived at our table it was decorated with streamers and Mickey ear confetti and we were presented by our waiter with a "magical moment" certificate and a bit of "wedding cake." That wasn't requested, either! Somewhere in our original reservation for our stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge it must have included info that this was our honeymoon, and the info got passed on. Wow!

We retraced our steps at the old Disney Institute site (now Saratoga Springs) and at Disney Quest--all part of our first meeting in May of 2000.

Carla...John and I met when we were both taking a "Customer Loyalty" business course in the heyday of Disney Institute. The third night of the course, we volunteered to participate in a pilot team building program at Disney Quest and pretty much fell in love somewhere between Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters and the Indiana Jones maze. Fast-forward four years later and here we are, newlywed veterans of divorces and lay- offs and a long-distance romance (across the ocean-my husband is a Brit).

So, altogether, much to celebrate. We are really looking forward to this cruise. It made our hearts ache when we were in various places around the World to see the cruise check-in points and cruise buses and the blue jacketed cruise ladies with their clipboards. While checking in for our flight back to Chicago Sunday, the family that joined the line behind us had just gotten off the three day Wonder and must have gone straight from the ship to the airport. They looked completely miserable to be going home. That's why we always plan to stay at least one extra day after disembarking if at all possible--waking up on the Wonder or Magic and standing at baggage claim at OHare or Midway by midday the same day is just too wrenching!

Thanks for all your good wishes!

 

[DMoss3377]

Hi Denise & John!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's so awesome to hear that your dream wedding has finally happened. I hope you plan on sharing some photos.

So happy for you guys, can't wait to see you again in October.

Hugs!

 

[pdarrah]

Hello fellow cruisers!

I have thrown together a website for our cruise. It is at http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl/index.htm

Please take a look. If you have additions/changes/new ideas please let me know and I will modify it.

Denise & John - I am so glad your wedding went well! Congratulations. You made me regret the Bride Mickey Ears even more. We DID go on our honeymoon, but 15 years ago I don't think they had the ears....

Pamela

 

[DudetteTwo]

DENISE & JOHN so happy for you two! You described your wedding ceremony & trip to Disney so beautifully it made me feel like I know both of you. Thank you for offering the information about your wedding Denise but my daughter can't stand the heat so is planning the ceremony, reception, honeymoon, etc. all in one AIR-CONDITIONED place (probably a big casino).

FAITH: I am SOOOOOOOOO glad you're back on this board. I hope you got my e-mail. Can you feel the love?

Is anybody else as excited as me? :jumping4: I just can't wait to go on the cruise. Hope you all have a great week. Toodles JEANNE

 

[faithmagicmickey]

Originally posted by DudetteTwo

FAITH: I am SOOOOOOOOO glad you're back on this board. I hope you got my e-mail. Can you feel the love?

Is anybody else as excited as me? :jumping4: I just can't wait to go on the cruise. Hope you all have a great week. Toodles JEANNE [/B]

OH YEA BABE! I FEEL IT
YES, I AM EXCITED AS WELL

Jeanne, Thank you sooooo much. Oh I sent you an email back Please let me know asap, thank you.

Denise and John, congratulations it sounds like you had a great time.

Faith

 

[Mom2Princesses]

I have not posted on the DIS boards in so long I am embarrassed to be showing up now...but I am still here and we are still booked.

And I am getting really, really excited, too!

So, count me, age 32; DH age 33; DD age 6; and DD age 4 at cruise time in...I will be asking lots more questions about excursions and such soon too -- as soon as I narrow down my options.

Nancy

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Nancy (Mom2Princesses),

Do you think your Princesses might like to meet a 5 yr old Pirate on the cruise? My son is really excited about the cruise and the kid club. I have been hoping to meet someone with similar age child. So many people have posted that their kids have particularly enjoyed the cruise if they made a few friends early on. He will be 5.5 when we cruise, but he is quite small for his age and often prefers to play with the girls at his preschool as long as they don't want to do something TOO girly. ("House" is OK if he can be the "Dad" or the "son", but he won't play with dolls or carebears!)

-------------------

Hi Everyone,

I don't know if many of you have been around this week (I'm sure there are lots of vacations), but as mentioned earlier, I created a simple website for our cruise. I have heard via PM that there has been some trouble emailing me (I don't know why yet, that account is usually very reliable...), but if you would like to add your info to the site and the email doesn't work - just send me a PM.

The wesite is at http://www.bwdarrah.com/dcl

I hope you like it and this isn't overstepping usuall protocol or something - I just saw that other cruise meets had something like this and it looked useful.

Pamela

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Happy Birthday tchrmom!!!

 

[Mom2Princesses]

I am sure my Princesses will love to meet a pirate, Pamela! But beware, my daughter really wants to "get" Captain Hook! LOL!

My DD's play pretty well with boys--well my oldest does. My almost 4 year old is at the point of extreme bossiness, which I know will pass soon...right?

I am not sure if I will break my girls up or keep them together. For my own sanity, I will probably keep them separated which means your Pirate can meet my Melinda, who will be 6 1/2 at Cruise time. Is your son really excited? My DDs are going crazy, since "cruise talk" is getting way more common around here.

Anyway, we will be in 7509...where will you be?

Anyone else around here with 4, 5, or 6 year olds on the cruise?

Nancy

 

[faithmagicmickey]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY tchrmom


Welcome back Mom2Princesses




Faith

 

[pdarrah]

Hi again Nancy,

My son's name is Darrah (actually my surname, since I didn't change it when I got married - it causes ton's of confusion ). He has been bossy as long as I can remember... Fortunately, his preschool is a montessori and ALL the kids seem to be pretty confident and have strong personalities, so they don't let him get away with it!

He is extremely excited about the cruise and between him and I, my DH is getting tired of hearing about it. This was actually Darrah's idea - we have been going to WDW twice per year since long before he was born - but someone gave him a DCL DVD a few months ago, and he started telling us he wanted to try going on "Mickey's Boat" rather than going to "Mickey's House". We thought about it for a while (it definitely will cost us more than our usual trips) but since our annual passes ran out this spring, we thought it made sense to do the cruise now. We always time our annuals so we get 3 trips. It is also the year of our 15th anniversary, so that was another 'excuse' to cruise!

We will be in room 2548 (cat 9) - since this is our first cruise on DCL (2 on carnival years ago) we have never had a verandah, so we figured we wouldn't miss it. If we decide to cruise again (it would probably be fall 2006), we would book earlier and probably go with a verandah then.

I don't think I have seen anyone else post here with kids in this age group. I seem to remember several older ones and a 3 yr old. One reason I threw together a website is that I was hoping to have an easy to access list of everyone - the thought of reading through all 460+ posts to find out who everyone is, is rather daunting. I don't want to just add people to the website without their say, so it may not work out.... Oh well, I didn't spend too much time on it.

Darrah is currently spending the weekend with grandma & grandpa, but when he gets back I'll let him know there is at least one child near his age he can "meet" on the cruise!

Thanks,

Pamela