Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[gunka]

For those of you waiting patiently, just like we are I posted on the Sept 16 cruise meet to see when they get their assignments. That will give us a little peace....

 

[5crazyfordisney]

For those of you waiting patiently, just like we are I posted on the Sept 16 cruise meet to see when they get their assignments. That will give us a little peace....

Waiting? Yes. Patiently? Not so much. Still checking every day *just in case*!

Good thinking to keep track of 9/16 assignments - hopefully we are one week after! Thanks!

 

[AussieMumma]

Hello everyone
I've missed a few pages on here and have just done a quick catch up.
So many little jobs to do to get ready for our trip, I have lists everywhere but can't start packing until a couple of days before we go as we don't have any spare bedrooms or floor space in this house to have suitcases laying around! So I just have little piles here and there and then just lists and lists and more lists!!
Eldest dd's 14th Birthday this Saturday and we're all heading to Dreamworld for the day with and extra four 14 yr olds I have to buy her some presents this week, she is at a really hard age to buy for!


Gail, glad to hear Drew and his wife got home safely and that the storm wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
Sounds like a busy few weeks ahead for you at the office, at least that will make the time fly and you’ll be relaxing on the cruise before you know it!!

Erbie, You’ve reminded me that I’ll have to pack accessories as well as the outfits! Gah our bags are going to be heavy!!!
Thanks for the info on the fish taco locations, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
Sounds like an interesting weekend ahead for you! Good luck with it all.

Tink157/Sandy, You’ve reminded me about pillow cases, better add that to my list! We really want to do pillowcases too, I’m just not sure if I’ll send four or maybe just one and we’ll frame it,
Glad Matthew had a great party yesterday and that his arm is feeling better. You sound like an awesome Grandma, I wish my kids had one of you
I get that feeling at Disneylnd too, I had tears in my eyes the first time I walked down Main st, I just had to stand there for a minute and take it all in, we all shed a tear when it’s time to leave for the last time each trip also, knowing it will be at least another year until we get to go back.

ADandBsmommy, for door magnets I’m printing out the ears etc from here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2172891 you just click on the link and then you can either right click and save it to your files or you can right click and hit print. I’ve got a laminator so I’m laminating them but tink157 had a great idea with the clear contact. Some people print them out on magnetic paper also, but that’s a bit fancy for me!!

Marian, I wondered where the cruise ship attacking prawn photo story came from! Where on earth would Oli get an idea like that?!!
You got your docs!!!! I hope mine come this week, we booked via our travel agent and she thinks they’ll get sent to her.
How are the boys doing, are they feeling better?
You’ll appreciate those small bills for your first two weeks in the USA, I find we’re just dishing out money here there and everywhere when we’re over there!!!

LiseG, thanks for the info on bringing alcohol on board. We are thinking of bringing a couple of bottles of wine to have in our room as it is so expensive to buy on the ship!


Off to cut out the door magnets I printed out. I need to actually buy the magnets this week too, best add that to a list

 

[ADandBsmommy]

Can someone give me information about sending a package ahead? I am thinking since we have 3 staterooms participating in FE's we should probably send them ahead but can't find the info anywhere!

 

[kangamommy]

I will call Tuesday and ask!

 

[ADandBsmommy]

I will call Tuesday and ask!

Thanks! This next week is crazy around our house - our 5 year old's birthday is on Thursday, his and his brother birthday party is on Friday and then our 7 year old's birthday is on Monday. Add in the start of golf lessons for one, rockstar camp for the other, soccer practices and games and I feel like a crazy person. Our poor 2 year old just has to go with the flow around here!

Oh and totally off topic but I am SOO excited to tell the entire world that my husband passed his National nursing boards! WOOHOO

 

[dennes]

Just board hopping here - Have a great time on your cruise people - we leave tomorrow for the 9/16 cruise - we are off to DLR and Hollywood before getting on that big boat as my five year old calls it

Have a blast
Cheers
Deb

 

[fshagan]

For those of you planning to drive in Los Angeles after we dock on the 30th, be aware that the 405 Freeway will be closed between the 10 Freeway and the 101 Freeway due to construction. This will be only the second time this has ever been done, and is locally referred to as "carmageddon".

Access to LAX should be OK; the 405 / 10 interchange is just north of the airport, and the port is south, but there could be greater than usual traffic. People planning to drive up into the San Fernando Valley should choose an alternate route (such as taking the 110,Harbor Freeway into downtown and picking up the 101 or 5 there).

 

[AussieMumma]

Thanks! This next week is crazy around our house - our 5 year old's birthday is on Thursday, his and his brother birthday party is on Friday and then our 7 year old's birthday is on Monday. Add in the start of golf lessons for one, rockstar camp for the other, soccer practices and games and I feel like a crazy person. Our poor 2 year old just has to go with the flow around here!

Oh and totally off topic but I am SOO excited to tell the entire world that my husband passed his National nursing boards! WOOHOO

Congratulations to your dh that's fantastic!

 

[5crazyfordisney]

For those of you waiting patiently, just like we are I posted on the Sept 16 cruise meet to see when they get their assignments. That will give us a little peace....

Just saw on the 9/16 meets board that VGT/IGT/OGT assignments are in! Hope we have only one more week to wait for room assignments!

 

[socababy]

Just saw on the 9/16 meets board that VGT/IGT/OGT assignments are in! Hope we have only one more week to wait for room assignments!

How exciting! I am so excited to find out what room we will be in. Anyone hoping to snag one of the 1 bedroom suites when they get to the ship? I've never seen so many concierge rooms still available on any sailing I have done in the past.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Just board hopping here - Have a great time on your cruise people - we leave tomorrow for the 9/16 cruise - we are off to DLR and Hollywood before getting on that big boat as my five year old calls it

Have a blast
Cheers
Deb

Deb, Ka kite anō au i a koe! Do us proud mate.

AussieMumma - Oli became obsessed with prawns in Sydney at the wedding. Then he went to Paddys Market and bought a bag of prawns there instead of a soft toy. He's drawn nothing but prawns for three weeks - he's a quirky wee chap at the best of times. He's also into the whole 'biggest, tallest etc' thing at the moment so a leap to a giant prawn isn't too far fetched for his brain. He's all good about spotting any prawns now he knows JSGs husband is on the case.

Happy birthday to your oldest. You are taking five 14 year old girls down to Dreamworld for a birthday treat? Good luck on rounding them back up at the end of the day! You may need a quiet chardonnay with DH at the end of the day.

ADandBsmommy - wow you are busy with two boys having birthdays. Are you making cakes etc?

socababy in my dreams I'd get a 1 bed suite! I don't even know what the price of one would be, I think I'd be too scared to look.

Kids still sick here, we are being reviewed tomorrow as we fly Saturday (which is Friday for anyone but AussieMumma and I).

 

[j2tyco]

Hello cruisemates!!

I just wanted to post that I just got back from Target (here in Gilbert, AZ--east of Phoenix) where I scored some GREAT photo matte frames for about 50% off on clearance...at my store they had black frames and they had oakish/wood looking frames (the oak ones were even cheaper maybe 60% off) and they had all sorts of sizes... I went with the gallery frame
14 in. x 18 in. MATTED to 8 in. x 10in. as I am hoping with the regular characters and the special pixar characters that we will get lots and lots of special signatures to cherish as our souvenir.

Has anyone taken a matte this size and if so were you able to find the a big enough bubble envelope to transport it in? Where at? Thanks in advance

Less then 3 weeks!!! YIPPEEE ---

We got all laundry done and will be "mock packing" today to see what pieces of luggage we will for sure need to take--6 of us will be driving out to LA in my in laws GMC Envoy so we already played with the luggage we think we will need and pieced it all into the vehicle, so we know what fits for the drive...now to make it all fit into those suit cases
Wish us luck!

 

[gunka]

Just saw on the 9/16 meets board that VGT/IGT/OGT assignments are in! Hope we have only one more week to wait for room assignments!

Guess the Disney folks don't get Labor Day off, but exciting to know that we have one week to go (Hopefully) to find out our room assignment.

 

[gunka]

I have completed everything there is to complete, I have my port arrival time, printed the signature form, registered my DD, but it still says Begin Check In. Does anyone else see this? Am I missing something?

 

[ADandBsmommy]

Deb, Ka kite anō au i a koe! Do us proud mate.


ADandBsmommy - wow you are busy with two boys having birthdays. Are you making cakes etc?

This has been a toughie! On Dylan our 5 year olds actual birthday he need something "healthy" for his class treat. Well his class has 48 kids in it since he is in a K-2nd multi age program where they are all together for three years! It is a TON of kids. I am thinking strawberries with the tips dipped in chocolate.

For the birthday party I ordered mini cupcakes since we are expecting 50ish people between the two kids with parents

And then I have to figure out a treat for Aidan's birthday on Monday which he is in a regular class and then also a special ed classroom part of the day as he has autism. I am so not one of those people who spends anytime in a kitchen on a regular basis so this is a hard one for me! After birthdays it is back to packing!

 

[erbie]

Oh and totally off topic but I am SOO excited to tell the entire world that my husband passed his National nursing boards! WOOHOO

Congratulations to your DH!

 

[erbie]

How exciting! I am so excited to find out what room we will be in. Anyone hoping to snag one of the 1 bedroom suites when they get to the ship? I've never seen so many concierge rooms still available on any sailing I have done in the past.

I'm definitely going to get there early and see what the upcharge would be. I think it's more likely that we'd spring for a 9A, and no higher, but it depends on what the upcharge is. I'm willing to do about $300 more, so from an 11B we paid for, I can probably get a 10A or possibly a 9A. If by some miracle, it was only $500 to go up to a 1-BR, I think I could talk my DH into it. I'd really like to have the split bath, as it's much more room for getting ready.

 

[AussieMumma]

I have completed everything there is to complete, I have my port arrival time, printed the signature form, registered my DD, but it still says Begin Check In. Does anyone else see this? Am I missing something?

Mine says this on one of our two cabins, but when you click on that it then says your check in is complete or something like that. I also had a minor heart attack when I saw the 'begin check in' last time I looked!!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Okay it's only taken me 15 months to learn how to multi-quote!!

I'm definitely going to get there early and see what the upcharge would be. I think it's more likely that we'd spring for a 9A, and no higher, but it depends on what the upcharge is. I'm willing to do about $300 more, so from an 11B we paid for, I can probably get a 10A or possibly a 9A. If by some miracle, it was only $500 to go up to a 1-BR, I think I could talk my DH into it. I'd really like to have the split bath, as it's much more room for getting ready.

How do they work out what the upcharge would be? Do they go on what Cat you are in and what Cat you want and take it from there? What's the rough difference compared to rack rate? I'm worried if we get a noisy room and need to shift out to another one at a different rate.

This has been a toughie! On Dylan our 5 year olds actual birthday he need something "healthy" for his class treat. Well his class has 48 kids in it since he is in a K-2nd multi age program where they are all together for three years! It is a TON of kids. I am thinking strawberries with the tips dipped in chocolate.

For the birthday party I ordered mini cupcakes since we are expecting 50ish people between the two kids with parents

And then I have to figure out a treat for Aidan's birthday on Monday which he is in a regular class and then also a special ed classroom part of the day as he has autism. I am so not one of those people who spends anytime in a kitchen on a regular basis so this is a hard one for me! After birthdays it is back to packing!

We do fruit kebabs with the sharp ends cut off the sticks for wee kids for healthy. You know, grapes, pineapples, strawberries. They always seem to get scarfed down at a rate. We have a couple of kids with allergies and one poor kid is allergic to egg including baking at Kindergarten at the moment, so that knocks cakes out completely. That's a huge class to cater for tho', what's the age spread like?

You could also do the fruit kebabs for Aidan's class. Really easy to knock up once you get a process line going and some music on. Just prepare them an hour or so before you go and you're done.

I love my kids birthdays but I have to do a huge cake with two seperate components. One cake took over 8 hours to put together and had a Thomas and a James and a half a roundhouse. It weighed nearly six kilos in the end. Last year was a treasure box as they had a pirate party. This year they wanted a scale model of the Disney Wonder . No way. I'm going to do a Lego theme as I have a cake in my mind I'm sketching out on bits of paper. I have Rich's birthday in October first and I've got a special cake all planned for that as he'll be 45.

Four sleeps for us!!! Rich went to Christchurch today, on the second anniversary of the first big Chch quake. The second quake in Feb 2011 crushed the city centre and killed so many. He was driven through the damage in the centre and was very moved. He said it was worse then going into Kuwait after the first Gulf War for damage to a major city (apart from dead camels and burning oil rigs).