SEPT 24 2005 Enter and Sign in Please

[b&j's_mom]

I am so proud to be among the most obsessive planners on the boards!

As for the meeting time and place for us on the boat, I thought Dennis had some ideas, but I don't remember what they are. I should pay attention better and retain what I read. Maybe a good time is before the lifeboat drill? Up on a higher deck or the secret deck on 7. Or at the sailaway party - but it gets really loud down there right in the middle of it. On Key West day, we don't get to Key West until 12:30 pm or so, maybe that is an option? I don't know. Gettin' excited!!!!!!

 

[kcatoir]

Welcome Joannie, we also have DD9 & DD11. Glad to have you. Please don't let our OCD scare you away

Deanna, great schedule. Thanks for reminding us about the Character breakfast I had forgotted to check when that would be with our APL .

You know I too realized we plan and plan and wait and wait but the actual cruise is going to FLY by and we will be back to planning our next

Giles: Your DH is probably going to have his massage with the mystery woman from Palo LOL I loved your thoughts on High Tea
You do know they have Krispy Kreams on board right??? I love the cream filled.....you know I always have to eat two......one for each hip.. wouldn't want to be lopsided ......that way DH can just roll me back to our room

Julie: I think I need a "cleaning" break from all this planning. The more I plan the more I "can't wait to go".....


Didi, just a thought for the meet.....and this is assuming we are all going to be FIRST inline to board....(what am I saying of course we are, should we all take numbers now???) We are planning on going to Parrot Cay for the lunch Buffett. I don't know if anyone else was going to do this but its a thought.

 

[kcatoir]

Julie: just a thought, won't we all meet, at the latest, at dinner Sat night???

 

[b&j's_mom]

Kim - A lot of us will, but some people have early seating. I was thinking abou that as well!!

 

[b&j's_mom]

Kim - About the first lunch on board, we ate at Parrot Cay last time and it was really nice. They seat you so you don't have to find a table all by yourself with all of your carryons and junk you are carrying around. I don't know if they do that at Topsiders. We'll probably do Parrot Cay again.

 

[smilingmouse]

I agree, it would be nice to meet before dinner. Since Dennis isn't here, I say we nominate him to be the official organizer, lol
Where when should we meet?

I feel an OCD moment starting

 

[kcatoir]

Julie: Your right, I hadn't thought about that. No they do not do that at Topsiders, you have to fend for yourself when it comes to finding, and holding a table with all your stuff.

Well i'm off to work
have a great day everyone

 

[kb1esx]

Hi All,

When we stayed at Animal Lingdom Lodge they gave us a little sheet with all of the different animals on it. You could then check off all of the animals as you see them. Anybody else reading my mind???

I think we should come up with a 'Barney's Brood' checklist with all of the posters on it. The first person to meet all of the other groups gets all of his/her drinks free for the remainder of the cruise!!

How's that an incentive for the groups to get together?

Ok, at least we should do the checklist. I'll volunteer the PC skills to make & e-mail it. I can also possibly post a link so everyone can download it.

Oh boy I'm happy because I've got a new project!! No cleaning for me!!

I'm going to need to really get organized to get everyone's information together.

David

 

[power_alaska]

Well, here I am in El Paso Chrystina was shocked when she noticed that I actually brought my TIGGER Coffee Cups home ~ Quote" You must really be planning on staying awhile." Oh that woman of little faith (or lots of reality). It is a cool 94 at the moment. "Rented Kid" still with me loves it.

Meanwhile ...

ErinC ~ Great Matrix file - Thanks. Although I actually tend to be a little laid back on Cruises... Not sure why.

DIDI ~ Have lots of information. More on some than others ... Have previously sent some info to your BIL David. Let me know what you need.

KIM - My apologies, I just remembered I have NOT called DCL to link your dinner reservations yet. Was all the confusion of my Alaska Exit. PROMISE, will do it first thing in the AM.

MBMOM (Joannie) - Welcome Aboard! Julie has told me to "behave and don't scare the newbie" ... Soooo ... this is me behaving

More to follow ... Must find coffee ... Those 14 hr trips from AK to TX wear me down!!!

Dennis

 

[power_alaska]

Well, it is maybe 5 minutes later and I am still in El Paso (Homebody!)

No, Becky, you cannot delegate me as the "official organizer" for the first meet. That is the primary responsibility of the BVP Holder. Nice try... And I thought we were Buddies...

DIDI (and All) ~ Having participated in like this before, my recommendation is getting together at the just before the Sail-Away Party - Mid-Ship, One Deck Above the Festivities.... Here's my reasoning ...

First - When folks first arrive, they are usually pretty tired from travelling and have to go thru the check-in drill. DCL rectifies this by serving a nice lunch at Parrot Cay & TopSiders. Chrystina and I prefer Parrot Cay.

After that, everyone wants to find their cabins (and their luggage), maybe take a shower, nap, and such... Then there is the LifeBoat Drill. Don't forget what happened to Suzanne74 and the NAP Police.

Even though many folks will have already found each other and made introductions ... the first real activity that lends itself to a is the BVP (Sail-Away) party. That way Earlies & Latelies - Uppities & Lowlies can all get together (or not) at a leisurely pace. Not sure, but I would think that very few folks skip the BVP Sail-Away... ... just need to select side (port or starboard). Either side works because you can watch the land slip away and/or look down at the deck below as the festivities begin. All the Kids (including Larry, David & Me) will get good views of the first Character arrival .... Anyhow, that's my reasoning.

DIDI ~ Tell us where to be .... Just trying to feed that "control thing".

David - If you are going to put together some checklist, let me know what I can provide to help - I have quite a bit already. Just need to remember to maintain infosec for all.

Well, Can hear Chrystina coming in with the "rented kid" ... Need to go ...

CYA

Dennis

 

[kcatoir]

O.K. Dennis, I was beginning to wonder why I couldn't see our link online.....trust me could very well have been my lack of computer savy but this way is much better

For the BVP party , good Idea for Sail Away. On our 3 day Dh and I watched Sail away from the upper deck while DD's were below right up front for the characters. It was great we got away from the caos and could keep our eye on them and they could see us. Don't know the proper terminology but we prefer the side of the boat up against the dock that way you can see DCL staff wave goodby to you from port with their Giant mickey gloves

David... ...who gets deligated to buy those free drinks??? Perhaps the person who has marked off the least amount of folks??

 

[ANTSS2001]

You guys are almost there.. I wish one day I will be brave enough to do the cruise

 

[cujobugs]

Remember when I said I needed to give Julie something else to stress about?.........Here it goes. You all may already know this, but I didn't. So here is a helpful piece of information for those of you who have already booked on Southwest.com's website. They are currently having a fare sale to Florida. It doesn't matter if you have already purchased your tickets!!! I purchased mine in May when most of you did with the DING special. Remember? Now as long as you previously booked online at Southwest.com, and you have your confirmation number, you can get a significantly reduced fare with no penalty. You don't get credit back to your credit card, but you get credit for future flights. YOU MUST BOOK THE EXACT SAME FLIGHT AND TIME THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY MADE. The biggest fare sale is only good for flights leaving before Sept. 29. So that would be for your one way before cruise. But my return flight on Oct. 1st was even cheaper than what I had originally booked.

Okay, now it is time to apologize to anyone who didn't book through Southwest. You are bored with the email by now. But surely the ones who booked with Southwest are reading intently.

REMEMBER THERE IS NO PENALTY. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CANCEL YOUR FLIGHT FIRST. ( I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT) Here are the steps to do it.
1. Go to Southwest.com
2. Click on Travel Center tab at the top of the page.
3. Click on Change Air Reservation (NOT CANCEL BUT CHANGE AIR RESERVATION!!!!!)
4. Give them your confirmation number and name of person with credit card.
5. Select EXACT same flight days and times if it is a cheaper rate.
6. It will show you the credit that you will have for future flights on Southwest.

It worked for us. Our family of four saved $376. My SIL's family of three saved $282. And we are on the exact same flights as we were previously.

You must keep your confirmation code to use when booking your next flight in order to use the credit. And you must use the credit one year from original purchase date.

Have fun and good luck. Deanna

 

[GilesFamily]

Well, if we decide to do the “Barney’s Brood” checklist, I’ll make it real easy for everyone to find me. Hint: I’ll more than likely be the tallest women on the ship.
Since this is in reference to the Animal Kingdom checklist, I’m definitely in the “giraffe” category minus the spots

 

[cujobugs]

Giles Family you are hilarious! Giraffe category. You are cracking me up!
Well I guess you and my husband can carry on a conversation far above the rest of the crowd on the ship. He is 6'4". So we will all know where the two of you are located. Giraffe category. I'm still rolling over that one.

Julie and I actually spoke on the phone tonight. We were wondering if we get some kind of award from Dennis for being the first to actually speak to one another by phone. What do you think, Dennis? More deliciously nutritious moose nuggets? With peanut butter on top? It was great to put a voice to the messages. We were discussing our flight plans and saving money.

As far as the DIS meet goes.....my only concern is that I will want to be on deck nine with the kids. But maybe your experiences are that the kids do fine on deck 10. I do like the idea of being away from the crowd though. Where have all of you castaway members had your previous meets?

Well I'm headed to bed. Have a nice night. I'm feeling better knowing I have saved money!
Deanna

 

[cujobugs]

Oops. I just remembered that David and Didi are related. So I guess Julie and I won't get the "first to speak " award. So I guess the peanut butter moose nuggets will be heading their way. Too bad for us, Julie.
Deanna

 

[b&j's_mom]

Wow! I did the Southwest thing (with Deanna's help) and now I also have a $376 dollar credit with them. WOO-HOO!! I won't be able to sleep tonight. I'm serious. Too excited!

 

[smilingmouse]

In following the theme dor Barney's checklist:
I am a HUGE Eeyore fan, so I guess I'll be a donkey

I may regret mentioning this, but... I have a stuffed Eeyore that I sleep with (yes, he will be with me on the cruise)....my friends and family love to tell people that I sleep with an --- (insert 3 letter term for a donkey here--no additional comments are necessary, lol

 

[b&j's_mom]

It was nice putting a voice to the name, Deanna. And for the record, Deanna has a lovely speaking voice! Moose nuggets with peanut butter or not, it was great talking to you!

 

[b&j's_mom]

In following the theme dor Barney's checklist:
I am a HUGE Eeyore fan, so I guess I'll be a donkey

I may regret mentioning this, but... I have a stuffed Eeyore that I sleep with (yes, he will be with me on the cruise)....my friends and family love to tell people that I sleep with an --- (insert 3 letter term for a donkey here--no additional comments are necessary, lol

GilesFamily is a giraffe. Smilingmouse is a donkey. This is hard. I guess I want to be the meercat. Did I spell that correctly?