Sept 17 2005 Magic - am i alone on the ship?

[getoutthere]

I forgot---WinMo- We are going on Lord Sheffeild's (not Disney) in St. Maarten with the kids and in St. Thomas the kids are staying on the boat a we are doing a daysail with Jen and her DH. I didn't find that Disney had a lot of shore excursions for younger children.

 

[rotary2808]

Wendy, I imagine if you go at some point that first day and pick up the pager and wrist band the line shouldn't be too bad b/c all the registration stuff is done, so the CM's just have to hand out pagers and wrist bands. Should be easy.

Trisha, you'll love Wonka!!! I want to see it again. Let me know what you thought. It is slightly different than the original though, so be prepared.

Today I'll be playing the role of Jen by posting just about every hour.

Emily

 

[jennat]

Hey All!
Welcome Lisa! I will get this organized and send you out a list. Anyone who still needs to give me infor (you know who you are) send it. I am going to try to do a doc with pictures attatched (small)....it will be so cool and if I don't have your e-mail you can't have it....nanny nanny poo poo!

Brad joke! It's like the one where the couple is driving in the country. They pass a bunch of grazing cows. He says relatives of yours? She says..Yep, in-laws!

Missy, With regard to dinner....We do dress for dinner, and I will dress Trenton at least in kahkis...I just thought with a five year old....It's not as big a deal. Just didn't want you to think I am one of those people who wears a t-shirt with a tux printed on it! So glad your air conditioner is working! Can you imagine!

I just went and bought my green thread because I knew I would forget (we are wearing it around our wrists on the first day). Just a hint...I got the .49 cent crocheting?? stuff instead of the 3.50 yarn. I think it will do just as well.

Susan, I want to hear all about your trip! I don't think you missed anything pertinent, just having fun chatting.

New folks...don't be confused, jump in like you have known us forever. You wouldn't believe just how new some of us are. We WANT to talk with you so don't be intimidated! Lisa and Pam, keep posting and in a week it will be just like you have been here a year. Lorra....you did great....do you feel welcome now?
Lastly, (thank goodness)...do you all put your tips in envelopes or on your account? and tell me about the adults only side of the magic (last time we had a 2 1/2 year old.
Send me your infor and I will send an updated list w/ pics (so send me pics, too) mjcrouch@4dv.net

 

[rotary2808]

We charge our tips to the room and guest services prints out these little receipts and we put those in the envelopes and give them to each person. Hint though, if you are going to go to guest services for your tips, don't wait till the last minute, the closer to dinner it gets, the busier they get. Try to do it first thing that morning before you get off for CC.

What do you want to know about the adult only side? Even though I don't really think there is one, since really all of us on the cruise, are just big kids. We didn't spend that much time in the clubs, but we did go see one show on our cruise, Freddy Fusion. That guy is hilarious, hopefully he'll be on our cruise, I know he's been on the west coast, but you have to see his adult show (there is also a family friendly show). You should try to do some of the Art of Entertaining series, they show you how to cook different parts of a meal (appetizer, main course, dessert, drinks, etc). You don't cook, but you do get to try whatever is being prepared. Plus they show you what wine to pair it with, and you get to sample that for FREE. That part is kind of a mini free wine tasting, they show you how you're supposed to drink the wine. Did I mention it is free wine? Try to do the bridge tour, they normally offer it on Thursday while we're at sea, I think. That's free too by the way. I like free things. If I think of anything else I'll post.

Emily

 

[4kidsandadog]

WinMo, my husband's parents and sister live in St. Peters... his brother is in Florissant.

I hope Palo ressies aren't gone.. we were waiting till we got on board to make ours; I figure they will make room for concierge guests (gotta have some kind of perk, paying those kind of prices!).

Brad, loved the inlaws/outlaws joke.

Karen

 

[jennat]

I jsut sent out an updated list w/pics to those of you that I have e-mails for. If you didn't get it and want it, send me your e-mail.

 

[Trisha's_DH_Steve]

HOLY MOLY WHERE DO I START
It has taken me a week to catch up with everything and of course I have forgotten everything that I have read. I got caught up yesterday afternoon before heading home for the day but did not have time to post anything. I look again this afternoon hoping to post and see 2 MORE PAGES of posts that I have to read.

Welcome to all the new people and hello to all you old people

Jen, how did you know that I wore polka dot underware.. You know us crazy architects (well at least me anyways).

I do not think Jen will be wearing one of those t-shirts with the tux on it but I bet she has one of those t-shirts with the bikini, and she will be wearing it at the pool everyday.

Happy B-day to Abby

I plan on dressing up some what for dinner, you now dress pants and nice shirt except for the formal night I will probably wear a suit. The kids on the other hand, not sure what we are doing for them (duct tape and leg irons). Nobody from the DCFS in here is there?

 

[rotary2808]

Karen, we concierge people got first dibs. Why did you choose to wait? Now we don't have to worry about it and got what we wanted.

Steve, duct tape & leg irons. I love it, and I don't even have kids.

Killing time before I have to go sit through a meeting. I'd rather not go, but I suppose I need to.

Jen, you forgot the attachment. All I got was the email.

Emily

 

[jennat]

Picky, Picky! I resent it. I think it will be nice to have the pics attatched to the list, esp on the cruise.
Steve, OMG! That was just a guess! Polka dots! Who would have thunk it Actually, now that I think of it, it makes sense. How did you know about my t-shirt with the bikini on it! (not) Just be glad I don't really wear a bikini Remember the girl in the thong with the tatoo on each b**t cheek on the Voyager! Yeow!

By the way, it was 105 here Sat and is 64 degrees today. Welcome to COlo. I will send it your way...It is COLD!

 

[shmora]

Yes, I do feel like I'm starting to know people now and it didn't take long. I got a Palo for Sat. night, it was the last available last week already. Do you think that it is a good night or is there too much to do the first day. It is at 6:30 so I don't know if I'm going to keep it. I'm very disappointed that they went so fast I needed time to ask my mom. She was moving so it took time for her to get settled before she could think about it. I just don't think it is fair to the people that don't own computers and believe it or not there are people that don't.

Lorra

 

[missyoh8]

Steve..........packing question for you I am wondering how all of us who need to bring leg irons are going to get them through airport security? I have been pondering this and am wondering if possibly we should opt for duct tape alone?

Jen.......you will love me in my thong bikini, I hope you like the cottage cheese I have been working on for the last 15 years! Do you like a little jelly with your cottage cheese? How 'bout a formal with no back........you know the kind you can't wear a bra with(keep in mind middle aged woman with 3 kids and no plastic surgery)? Ugh.........good thing I got that all out of my system when I could still pull it off! Shhhh( I will be the one in the all black swimsuit with the skirt attatched ).

You are all a very fun group. I am really not much of a joiner.........but you guys are kinda growing on me. I am pondering meeting you all......LOL Seriously though, it has been very fun getting to know everyone and I am glad you are all so open and talkative!

Have a good night everyone,

Missy

 

[4kidsandadog]

Emily, we just don't know when we want to eat at Palo yet! That's why we didn't try to make them earlier when I registered the kids for the clubs. Oh well... if we get to eat there, fine. If not, I don't guess I'll miss what I never had. Suppose I can always rub a lamp for luck...

Jen, I didn't get the updated list...

Off to make dinner.

Karen

 

[donaldsgal]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the updated list Jen. If anyone cares and wants to update their list, we are now doing St. John on our own and the Golden Eagle Catamaran at St. Maarten. Keep me away from the shore excursions section in Passporter and on the DCL site so I stop recommending changes!

I was thinking, and I know this is way in advance, but we should probably work out some form of phone chain in case of emergency weather. Instead of the National Weather Service, we should call it the Nationwide Flip Floppin' Castaway Weather Service. I think we should work out a system where every family calls the next family on the list for updates. This way no one person gets the bulk of the responsibility/stress being the caller or receiving tons of calls. I just don't want to be the first person on the list, so whoever DOES start the chain should be moved to the top of the spreadsheet Jen put together. Person 1 will need to be agreeable with staying in regular contact with DCL in case of emergency weather issues. I propose putting Missy or Jen (since they suggested the idea) at the top of the list. I'd be glad to be second on it. I don't want to add extra stress to embarkation day, but what's the point of having the cell phones if we don't get organized as far as who calls who when/if a problem does occur? And to avoid one person calling certain people, then others getting left out or calling the first person who then spends all day on the phone, the phone list is a good idea. I have decreed it.

Here's my suggestion:
1) Whoever doesn't mind being first gets moved to the top of the FFC spreadsheet Jen sends out (by Jen so we all have it right).

2a) We use the spreadsheet as the phone call list. Person 1 calls person 2, person 2 calls person 3, who calls person 4, etc. etc. etc.

2b) If you DO NOT want to be called, let us know so that person 2 knows to skip you and call person 4. Jen (hopefully, since Jen rocks and is incredibly gifted, talented, beautiful, charming, and good-hearted) could note on the spreadsheet something like "On phone list: yes or no". You'll need to make sure you pay attention to the order of the list and whether or not the people before and after you are opting to be on the phone list.

2c) If you want to be included but DO NOT want everyone to have your number, just make sure the person BEFORE you on the phone call list has it. It would be your responsibility to make sure the person before you has your cell phone.

3) For newcomers, we'll just add on to the bottom if they want to be included.

Again, I don't care where I am on the list; I just put myself second since I tend to rival Jen with the longest posts (despite valliant efforts to steal the title by other noble contenders ). And I don't care whose first; again, I suggest Jen or Missy if they don't mind that responsibility and can handle being in regular touch with DCL. If they do mind, any takers on being #1?

What do you think of all this? I've spent the last hour trying to think this through and had to ask scientist DSis to say it all so I could type it without overcomplicating the matter. I anxiously await your opinions. If you shoot me down, "be gentle with me, be gentle with me!" (anyone recognize that classic movie quote)?

*** By the way, when we get this all squared away, I will most definitely add this info to the thorough post generated by me (another Jen who rocks and is incredibly gifted, talented, beautiful, charming, and good-hearted) on post 1250 on page 84. I see you all referring to this post with ease. Way to go, gang!

 

[shmora]

Great idea but we should say that if you can't get ahold of the next person on the list to keep going down the list until we find a person that you can get ahold of. I just don't want the chain to die before all the info. gets to everyone on the list.

Just an idea!

Lorra

 

[missyoh8]

Jenny.....thanks for all of your thoughful work and planning. Please know that I am not trying to sound like a "you know what" (starts with a B), hopefully it won't come out that way.

In my experience, when there is a H******** the information everyone will get is so mixed up that every single person will hear a different story from their TA and/or DCL. Emotions are on high and it is extremely difficult to share information. Therefore I can not imagine a phone tree in this emergency type situation would work. That being said, the phone numbers will be extremely helpful to everyone to have a contact number to reach someone.......anyone to see what they are being told.

Thankfully, the other DISer that I befriended (well mostly my 9 year old) and I had exchanged cell numbers not thinking we would ever need them. They were actually turning around to back to the airport to go home, when I (a complete stranger) talked them into evacuating all over Florida with us! She turned out to be an angel, an angel with a laptop!!! We got some of our best information from our cruise mates via our cruisethread!

I would say to find internet access if there is a crisis situation. DCL changed the story everytime we called, within minutes of eachother! I guess, I just don't think it would work. Everyone will be under a heck of a lot of stress if this were to happen, but of course it won't. Keep the sheet in your carryon stuff and just know it is there "just-in-case" would be my advice.

OK........did that come out ok? I hope . Use me, use me, I am not a virgin h********* cruiser ! What do the rest of you experienced h******** cruisers think?? Every situation I suppose is so different. We were delayed almost 4 days and switched ports (Canaveral to Lauderdale), but only found out Friday evening! I will say again, we actually had a ball through all of the confusion and I don't even think I yelled or cried in all of those 4 crazy days! Wow, and I have done both today alone (maybe I forgot to take that little blue pill this morning )!





Missy

 

[shmora]

I cruised last year in Jeanne and I found out we were using another port from another person at POP the night before not from Disney so I would rather get information from The Flip Flop Castaways than from no one. Even if it is information that changes at least we have some place to start from. I will not have internet on my vacation so if another person does I would be glad to hear about any information so if we don't end up doing this chain could someone write down my number and call me if they hear anything I should know. If it would have been up to Disney I would have missed the cruise. I understand it was a confusing time but I called Disney everyday and the port changing was never told to me. It was hard because the tvs were down so we didn't even know what was going on while the hurricane hit. It just felt like the world was going on and we didn't know what was going on anywhere.

Lorra

 

[donaldsgal]

Lorra, I'm sorry DCL didn't give you straight answers. Boo hiss! I guess your story is what I'm afraid of. I doubt we'll have access to the internet from Sat AM from 3 AM on because that's when we're leaving for the cruise, can't get online on the plane. We could check the internet at the airport but that's expensive I thought? Anyways, Missy, I understand your perspective and maybe this wouldn't work. I guess I'm with Lorra that I'd rather get the info from one of you, and I figured organizing was the best way to do it if it was gonna be done. But maybe that was never the point of the cell exchange - in which case, I jumped the gun and my apologies. We could also do an abbreviated list. Some TAs might not be with the program (such as Tammy's who just overcharged her), and mine is all the way in Colorado. I hope it didn't seem unfair to put the burden on one person to check in with DCL. I just figured if we're all calling DCL we are competing with each other to get access to a service rep, whereas if one person calls and relays the info then we've eliminated the number of people vying for an open line to DCL by like 40 or 50 other families. And again this was just a suggestion for what to do IF we need this (which I pray we won't). I guess I just thought we exchanged cells for this reason. Anyways, no offense taken, and maybe I jumped the gun on this one. Sorry!

 

[missyoh8]

Lorra.............were we on the same cruise??? Hmmmmmm. I bet you were on the Wonder? We were on the Magic docked together, they were, in Lauderdale. Did you see me waving at you? Perhaps you were on the Magic? ok I gotta know.........do tell, now I am curious.

I agree about DCL having serious communication issues! Our TA actually called us about dinner time and DCL called at 1 a.m. and left a very vague message on my cell phone. So I do understand your frustration completely. I agree with having the numbers, in fact it was my idea. Phone chain I do not think would work though, just because of the confusion and how stories can change from one person to the next. The main problem is what you stated about having the link broken. I know as well I am not one to sit around and wait for information. I am not very patient and neither are my sister or husband! I guess you could call that............hmmmmmm.........PRO active (aka loudmouth).

Missy

 

[TeaforWendy]

Ok guys, we need to use our collective brain power and experiences to think this through. I like the phone chain idea -- but also understand Missy's point. And I do understand how emotions can get high at h-time. (I cancelled a whole blasted wedding, 'member?!) That being said, I do have sympathy for DCL. Because of the way hurricanes move and the variety of ways they can be affected by weather systems around them, it is so hard to know where they are headed. H. Andrew was an exception b/c there was a stalled high pressure system off N. Florida that kept it south -- so we knew we would be hit in S. Fla. And DCL is dependant on the authorities -- what ports will be open, what will be closed, when, etc. Perhaps we could do a modified chain. Not sure what that means, but I'm guessing that at least one of us will end up learning that our TA is quite plugged in and is getting the most up to date info and we can spread it. I'm also guessing that we will be glued to this board the week prior, esp. if it looks like weather may be brewing. So...I'd say let's stay tuned, see what it looks like as the cruise approaches, and then finalize a plan. Like I said, the phone chain sounds good, but maybe we can build in some flexibility. Again, not sure what that means, but pipe up everyone, what do you think?

We could kinda make a list (I know we are good at that) -- these DIS'rs come in Friday and are at these airport hotes, at these port hotels, etc. These come in Sat. and go straight to cruise, etc. We could also do text messaging on our cell phones once away from the i-net. I'd be happy to text everyone on the list if I got some reliable info, for example.

Just ideas...back to the laundry. Sounding familiar?

Missy, glad you have "joined" us. You crack me up.

Sleep tight, all.

 

[jennat]

Without a ton of time to think this over...one thing that pops into my head is we could have groups of say five families (each with a very active poster in it ..aka pathetically dedicated diser to make sure it happens) and a laptop in it, if possible. They could just share info with each other...did you hear this..etc. This way it wouldn't be overwhelming and infor wouldn't be changed (I think for fun we should start a story and go down the list and see what the story is at the end ) and the info the one person gets wouldn't be gospil (how sad, I can't spell gosple, gossple, gosspol, supercalafragilisticexpialadosous)( I need spell check, I hate spelling things wrong! ) Just an idea. We could see who wants to be involved and divide it out.
Tammy, I will get rid of the blond bombshell. Is the one in the list okay? I don't know how to convert the one in the doc to jpg...tried to cut and paste and copy into adobe...any suggestions?
GOSPEL! Got it! (totally cheated and looked it up!)

Missy, you are sooooo funny!
I think an important thing to have would be room numbers so if we have a change in plans due to h****** (lord valdemort....that was for you Wendy) we can call each other on the ship and reschedule events. Just for those interested....totally understand if you just do the family thing.
I know for a fact (by that I mean, I think) they save Palo reservations....I wouldn't worry about it, I would just go straight there. We will just to see if we can get a reservation for four instead of 2.
Tonight ws back to school night Dreadfully dull!