Sept. 9. 2004

[Honeychild]

James and Kalypso, I hope everything works out with your flights and that you have a smooth trip.

Ginabug, are you driving? We are to leave on Tuesday after work and drive to Gainesville, spend the night, drive to the Port and spend the rest of the day at the Radisson. I am by nature a worrier and my latest fear (besides Frances and the damage) is that traffic will be bumper to bumper and that we may not actually have rooms when we get to our destinations.

Anyone have any idea when the majority of people will be allowed to return? Will their be fuel? What if the Radisson doesn't have power? Will there be somewhere we can eat? See, I told you I worry alot! (I tried to take my mind off all this last night and went to the mall, I bought three pairs of shoes. LOL My husband says this trip is costing him a million bucks.)

Kalypso, I'm with you. We are sailing as long as I can get us there. My job is very demanding and I haven't had a day off in forever. My children need this vacation with us and we have been anticipating it for a long time.

As for meeting, I can't help with a location either as this is our first cruise. Barb, any suggestions?

 

[Kalypso]

Bumping up for Barb! Where should we all meet if we all get on Barb??

 

[CrazySun27]

So to everyone on the Wonder on 9/9....Happy Cruisin...and have a cold one for me!!

Thanks!...I'll be with the "MOUSE" shortly

 

[JamesF408]

Well I am going to be on my way on Sunday from the San Francisco Bay Area, I will arrive in Orlando at 1:30 on monday so hopefully all is well. I talked to a Disney Rep today and they told me the parks will be open on monday but Im still optimistic. I also talked to a Dis Cruise Lines rep today a couple minutes ago and they told me as of right now they are planning on going to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. But they don't know for sure until this passes and they can survey the damage. Thats the latest here I will meet with you all on the cruise if we can pick a place and time.

 

[ginabug]

Kalypso, to answer your?, I manage apt. complexes in different towns so we wee told we had to say on ground. Yes, let's do meet for a celebration of our own.

Honeychild, we are planning on leaving Quincy about lunch on Wed. and driving most of the way down. We do this all the time and have never even had to book a hotel. I really HOPE we can find some where to stay that night. I'm worried that we won't. Maybe Tuesday I need to call and see if I can get some kind of
resvs.
Bunco, are you okay? Pixie dust you way..

 

[Kalypso]

Okay - well, Barb hasn't checked in on the thread for a while so we should probably pick a place before we lose touch with James completely!

and everybody? SHHHHHH on James' proposal plans! LOL...I swear, I had to remind myself to say that or I would have met his GF and said "hey, let me see the rock!" LOL

I know some of you all are traveling with kids - the sail away party takes place on Deck 9, right? There MUST be a bar right there - I know that Signals Bar is right by the Adult Pool area - but I want to meet someplace everybody can access easily.

You know what? I'll post a thread on the general forum and ask experienced DCL cruisers where a good place to meet after the sail away party would be!

And James? That is GREAT news about Nassau and CC - I hope they are both in good enough shape for us to stop!!

Crazysun - I wish you were sailing with us anyway I just COULDN'T cancel this one - where are you staying at WDW? You'll have a great time! Don't forget to go on "rock 'n' rollercoaster" for me - it's my fave - other than California Screamin' here at our own Mouse Factory.

Ginabug - be careful on the drive down! do you care where you stay?? Surely there must be a Super 8 or something along the route - are you afraid everything we'll be sold out? I will send pixie dust your way!!

 

[Tinkertude]

Count me in on meeting up with you guys,just let me know where. How will we know each other?

 

[Honeychild]

I just want to cry Frances has stalled and it looks like it is causing a great deal of damage. (I'm concerned for everyone in South FL.) MSNBC has it coming straight toward me late Mon. or early Tue. (My husband will be reluctant to leave his parents, my DFL has cancer and will try to "clean-up" by himself. DH said we may have to go without him.)

I read on another thread that the Radisson at the Port is not planning to open until 9/10, I wonder if they'll contact those of us who have reservations before then. (I haven't tried to contact them, I really don't want to hear.) I've contacted my TA and she is trying to check on availablity for 9/8 at WDW. (Not sure if this is a possibility.)

Even if Disney gave me the option to reschedule I don't think I could. It is extremely hard for me to get off from work. It probably would be late April before I would be able to miss this many consecutive days. (I need a vacation NOW!)

Okay I'll stop whinning and I'll try to get a grip on my pity party.

I hope I can meet you guys, You'll know me because I'll bring the cheese with my WHINE

 

[inkkognito]

I'm finally checking in...any plans yet, or is everything still up in the air due to all this hurricane madness? It would be nice to meet up on the Castaway Cay "sea day" (I doubt we'll actually be able to go there) on the deck 7 aft verandah. If anyone wants to call us on board, please feel free to call stateroom 5650. But I'm really wondering just what is going to happen...Frances is so unpredictable
Barb

 

[Kalypso]

I agree Barb - I'm now starting to think we may not make this cruise at all

I'm keeping my hopes up!

Deck 7 aft verandah sounds great on CC "sea day" - we can all pick a time.

We are in state room 5644 just down the hall from Tony & Barb if anyone wants to contact us too!

 

[Kalypso]

Honeychild...HANG in there!!! You may yet make it! It's only Saturday....I know it looks impossible right now...but remember what the ship's horn plays ....and keep wishing....

 

[Kalypso]

UGH.
Well...I just went to the United Airlines site and they are saying you can reschedule now THROUGH September 8! That's when we're supposed to fly....

Has anybody on our 9/9 cruise talked to a Disney rep about what the policy is on rescheduling this cruise???

I just read on another thread that Carnival isn't docking at PC now until TUESDAY...this does NOT bode well

Has anyone talked to DCL besides James? James - I know you got the itinerary but did you ask them what your options were?

Heavens...I know we all want to go....but I just don't know if stressing to get there is really a good idea if it's still too dangerous

 

[CrazySun27]

Kalypso,

I'm staying at the Sheraton Vistana....i will be sure to ride the rock n roller coaster for you, maybe a couple of times...I just love it!!

Well enjoy the Wonder...

 

[JamesF408]

Originally posted by Kalypso
UGH.

Has anyone talked to DCL besides James? James - I know you got the itinerary but did you ask them what your options were?

Heavens...I know we all want to go....but I just don't know if stressing to get there is really a good idea if it's still too dangerous

Kalypso, They told me they are willing to reschedule if all else fails with no penalties, for some reason they mentioned if the cruise date I select cost more then this one then I have to pay the diff. I am still being very optimistic. I was watching the news and they said that Nassau is starting to clean up as we speak. So keep the fingers crossed and keep sprinking that pixie dust.

If there is a downside: we will have to reschedule. American Airlines is willing to change dates up till the 30th of this month. But that is worst case scenario. The hurricane has reached 7mph and the eye is over south east florida. Damage has been reported already. with wind up to 70-90 mph but they said it should decrease over the land. I am keeping very close attention up until tomorrow when my flight is supposed to leave. If you hear from me tomorrow hopefully it will be because I am leaving.

Check www.weather.com it is a very good resource for the latest.
Also you can see latest videos there too

For local video from Florida goto
http://www.nbc-2.com

Lets all hope for the best, and pray for the safety of all you Floridians. Hoping and being optimistic, see you on the boat Im in 6638

Hopefully we will be seeing you later and yes dont mention about the GF

 

[inkkognito]

Our flight tomorrow morning is still showing "as scheduled," but I haven't seen any reports on the airport. I've seen video footage from a friend in Celebration...winds were not as bad as predicted, but they did hit almost 70 mph, and the wind and the rain are still there. Goodness only knows how things are at the port!
Still waiting, watching, and keeping my fingers crossed.
Barb

 

[JamesF408]

Our flight is showing as scheduled also. I was watching the weather channel and they said at the port the wind gusts reached 100mph. But they are saying this storm should be past by tonight. Lets hope so. I seen images of Nassau, that doesn't look too good. Well I might check back a couple more times today, it looks like my flight is still scheduled so hopefully nothing changes for the worse.

Keep your fingers crossed.

My GF is stressing too she felt sick last night. I don't blame her.

Instead of leaving and going through LAX airport from San Jose, CA we got moved to going to Boston, then to Orlando.

Anyway keep an eye out, I know my mind will be there.

 

[Kalypso]

Good morning Barb and James -- James, if I don't talk to you again before you leave, I hope all goes well and I see the two of you on the ship!!

If anyone would like to hook up for a celebratory "we made it" cocktail on Deck 9 after the sail away party, maybe we should try to hook up in front of Pluto's Dog House or something and go from there? I can wear my ABC I.D. (looks like a Disney "castmember" ID since we are owned by the Mouse - but is has the abc logo on it) so everybody knows that the geek with the different looking nametag is Bridget

I checked on the United website last night and they are now saying you can change your flights through the 8th - so that gives us the option of rescheduling - James, I read where someone else changed their cruise and it cost about $408 in different fees! I guess if the cruise goes, we should be on it!! Unless we can't fly in...

 

[Honeychild]

Deck 9 after the sailaway party sounds great! After all this stress I may need several "we made it" drinks! I'm starting to look forward to a cruise to nowhere. I've always read that you can never do it all on the ship. Well this will give us a better opportunity to explore many more options. (Also, my DH feels so sorry for me that he's even thinking we might can book a second cruise.)

We are still planning on leaving on Tuesday afternoon, I'm affraid if I don't get out of town I might not get my leave time.

I'm going to spend the rest of the day packing, watching no tv. I think I'll play my Wishes CD really loud and sing with it! Sorry you all will miss my concert, but I will confess that you wouldn't be sorry. LOL

I hope everyone gets to make the cruise. Please travel safely.

 

[inkkognito]

If you don't see us at sailaway, it doesn't mean we're standing you up. With any luck, we will be comatose in the spa having our traditional bon voyage massages.
Barb

 

[JamesF408]

Hello Everyone,

Well as far as Orlando goes it looks decent. There is no reported deaths of any thing as of I heard. Thats great. My flight is still on schedule as of 3pm PST I leave at 10pm PST so it looks good.

I hope to see you all on the cruise.