September 29, 2007 - Magic

[Zane_Anthony]

Sooo I have been waiting for 9/14 to read the reports from MNSSHP and I can't believe I forgot to check them until just now...Doesn't sound like it went very good It poured down rain and a lot of the events were canceled or postponed. I hope we all have better luck !!!

 

[Shannon1984]

Guess Who,
Remember this is just to show you what my name tag looks like...

Now all you picture happy ladies know who to look for..
have a nice night, again,
gg

I've seen those! Ragdoll will be wearing hers. I think she has it sitting on her dresser. She's all ready. I'll be with them at the meet, so everyone will know who I am. We'll get green ribbon in dd's hair too.

 

[Tink*s_mama]

Were the baskets really expensive? I've gone back and forth so many times on this. I didn't want a lot of snack food stuff because I figure we'll be full with the food from the cruise. If you don't mind me asking, what is going in your baskets?

Anyone who ordered baskets can you please help me! Thank you!

JD, I ordered two medium sand pails and it was right around $90 including tax and delivery. Disney charges Shirley 12.50 per item delivery charge which she has to pass on, but she can tie up to two things together as one "item", so I only got charged the $12.50 once for my two. I didn't want candy because of MNSSHP or soda, so she substituted with snacks/drinks. I think EACH bucket will have 4 bottles of water and 4 juice boxes, which will come in handy for excursions and late night thirst. She's also putting in some sand toys, fruit chewies, bagged chips and cookies, a princess tatoo, etc. She's signing the notes from each girl's favorite princess and she's personalizing the bucket and making it their favorite colors (pink for one, purple the other - true princesses!). Hope that helps!

 

[JDBlair]

Guess Who,
Remember this is just to show you what my name tag looks like...

Now all you picture happy ladies know who to look for..
have a nice night, again,
gg

Those don't look too hard to make! Maybe I should think about making one for me - I want to be noticed!

 

[JDBlair]

We are taking a van because we don't want to drive and having 7 people plus luggage we would need two cars!

You have a good load of people! The luggage is going to be interesting!! Good luck!

To me they were very reasonably priced and Shirley will ask you about a favorite character and then make suggestions. She can probably do whatever price range you choose but I got a small sand pail and sand toys, (can't fit them in suitcase) a plush, soda, candy and snacks.

I think Shirley is open tomorrow, right?

He was banned from the DIS awhile back around the time the CA cruises were announced. He started his own website but it closed down not too long ago...I think he ended up canceling on our cruise though because I had asked him about it and I think he said they had given up the suite. They orignally had it booked for the whole month of Sept. I wish he was my dad

I think someone said the promenade lounge would be a good place to meet to do the bags and have a drink??

I got the medium sand pail for my son ( candy, juice, soda, sand toys, etc..) and a disney tote filled with movie candy, sodas, and water, and some other things for my sister and an extra sand pail for around $90.00 total with delivery and all. Can't wait to see their faces.

He was banned? Did anyone read his TR last year? They were attacking him like crazy but maybe they had history with him and what not? I actually liked the TR but I was a newbie - or as Trent would call me - A Virgin!

Promenade at 11 on Monday works for me!

Wow, these baskets are very tempting. I've been back and forth on it for weeks now. I would want 1 for each of my "babies". That way nobody would have to share and DH would definitely try to sneak stuff out of their baskets when they weren't looking so he'd need his own!

JD, I ordered two medium sand pails and it was right around $90 including tax and delivery. Disney charges Shirley 12.50 per item delivery charge which she has to pass on, but she can tie up to two things together as one "item", so I only got charged the $12.50 once for my two. I didn't want candy because of MNSSHP or soda, so she substituted with snacks/drinks. I think EACH bucket will have 4 bottles of water and 4 juice boxes, which will come in handy for excursions and late night thirst. She's also putting in some sand toys, fruit chewies, bagged chips and cookies, a princess tatoo, etc. She's signing the notes from each girl's favorite princess and she's personalizing the bucket and making it their favorite colors (pink for one, purple the other - true princesses!). Hope that helps!

It helps a lot. Thank you! I have a feeling I'll be calling Shirley tomorrow. I'd call now, probably, if it wasn't 11:18 pm in Florida!!

DD got on the phone with her Daddy tonight and said, "Did you know it's 2 weeks until the Mickey Boat?" And tonight the kids and I watched "Cruising Do's and Don'ts" on the Travel Channel. DS kept asking if clips were from DCL He asked about a stateroom they were showing and I said, "No! DCL's rooms aren't tacky like that!" (This particular room had a gold dust ruffle - it really looked like tacky, old Vegas had thrown up in the room! ) But he got a little concerned when I explained the size of our room. But at least he's asking questions!!

 

[LAWalz23]

You have a good load of people! The luggage is going to be interesting!! Good luck!

Actual luggage isn't so bad but we will be taking 2 or 3 suitcases with just water in in (because of allergy issues) and we are taking a wheelchair for my mother! It ought to be fun! I was pepacking tonight and with all of the extra stuff I am going to need an 18" carryon in addition to my backpack! Might have sis put 18" through with her stuff when we get to the cruise, so I don't have to lug it around until we can get to the room! This is the 1st time we are traveling with a wheelchair so I don't want to be too loaded down at the airport or getting on the ship.

 

[StaciJo]

Sooo I have been waiting for 9/14 to read the reports from MNSSHP and I can't believe I forgot to check them until just now...Doesn't sound like it went very good It poured down rain and a lot of the events were canceled or postponed. I hope we all have better luck !!!

It poured...and poured...and poured...and did I mention it poured? It started almost immediately after MNSSHP started. We finally left at 9:15, when it was still raining, and they gave us a card to use with our tickets to come back for free on a regular day. Since we're passholders, that amounted to nothing, but that's life. They assured us that the fireworks go at 9:30 pretty much no matter what, so we hung around outside the gates, and they postponed them promptly at 9:30. So we left (my daughter had fallen asleep waiting for them to fix the Pirate of the Caribbean ride...again...while we waited for the pouring rain to stop). If there's any chance of rain, I highly recommend getting a poncho AHEAD of time - that particular rain came out of nowhere, we thought the rains were done for the day, so left most of our rain gear in the car! We would have had a hike ahead of us in pouring rain to get a poncho if we wanted one as we weren't even near one of the shops. And bring an umbrella. But the people with ponchos seemed to be the best off. The umbrella is good to keep your bags of candy dry. You really just need one for one person to carry all of them in the hand with the umbrella, unless you really want to drag around all those umbrellas - you all believe me when I say I didn't try the different configurations for keeping the candy dry, right? If we'd had the ponchos and no stroller (and probably no DH!), I'm afraid we'd've been trick-or-treating away for hours, anyway. But alas, it did not work out. We only trick-or-treated until we were soaked! That took about 5 minutes with just an umbrella, but we got a good amount of candy! Incredibly disappointing overall, given our expectations, but you can still have fun if you want to. Just go prepared to have fun no matter what - if that means trick-or-treating in the pouring rain, then do it anyway! They still had the candy stations open, and the lines were much more managable. AND they gave more candy if you looked pitiful coming in out of the rain! On top of that, you can keep going through the same line over and over. We didn't try it, but you could probably pester them into filling your bag after a while (I saw a woman magically produce 3 full bags of candy in under 10 minutes during the rain storm, so it must be possible).

Personally, I'd prefer that y'all have absolutely perfect weather. But, if it doesn't work out, it's nice to know the alternatives and be prepared. I wish you all luck!!! Have fun no matter what!! That's what Disney is for!

 

[JDBlair]

You have a good load of people! The luggage is going to be interesting!! Good luck!

Actual luggage isn't so bad but we will be taking 2 or 3 suitcases with just water in in (because of allergy issues) and we are taking a wheelchair for my mother! It ought to be fun! I was pepacking tonight and with all of the extra stuff I am going to need an 18" carryon in addition to my backpack! Might have sis put 18" through with her stuff when we get to the cruise, so I don't have to lug it around until we can get to the room! This is the 1st time we are traveling with a wheelchair so I don't want to be too loaded down at the airport or getting on the ship.

Oh wow, that does sound like it requires some planning and what not. I think I read recently that our bags for the airlines can't weigh more than 50 lbs. I thought it use to be 75? I've already asked my sister if we can borrow the luggage I got her for Christmas so I'm not trying to force all our stuff in to the 3-4 suitcases we have. I'm going in to my packing with the idea that I am going to pack 2 suitcases each for a total of 8 and with each of us having carry-ons - I hope the limo has a big trunk! DH even took the day off that I plan to pack and I think it's to constantly remind me of how small our VUE's trunk space is!

 

[LAWalz23]

Oh wow, that does sound like it requires some planning and what not. I think I read recently that our bags for the airlines can't weigh more than 50 lbs. I thought it use to be 75? I've already asked my sister if we can borrow the luggage I got her for Christmas so I'm not trying to force all our stuff in to the 3-4 suitcases we have. I'm going in to my packing with the idea that I am going to pack 2 suitcases each for a total of 8 and with each of us having carry-ons - I hope the limo has a big trunk! DH even took the day off that I plan to pack and I think it's to constantly remind me of how small our VUE's trunk space is!

It is 50lbs now! JetBlue used to be 75 but no more and there are even restrictions on how big the luggage can be! We usually get around it by having the skycaps check us in, it is well worth the $10 tip not to have to pay the extra weight surcharge which is like $50! We have seen them make people take stuff out or put stuff in another bag. The water and luggage comes to about 48.5lbs, two pairs of water shoes put my sister over in Aug but a tip to the skycap and he just told her to be more careful coming back! We would like to buy some liquor and bring it back but now it all has to go in checked luggage because of 9/11, actually that is where bringing the water with us helps because we have extra suitcases for souveniers! I always seem to fill up my suitcases coming back no matter how much extra room I have and usually wind up shipping at least one box home!

 

[LAWalz23]

It poured...and poured...and poured...and did I mention it poured? It started almost immediately after MNSSHP started. We finally left at 9:15, when it was still raining, and they gave us a card to use with our tickets to come back for free on a regular day. Since we're passholders, that amounted to nothing, but that's life. They assured us that the fireworks go at 9:30 pretty much no matter what, so we hung around outside the gates, and they postponed them promptly at 9:30. So we left (my daughter had fallen asleep waiting for them to fix the Pirate of the Caribbean ride...again...while we waited for the pouring rain to stop). If there's any chance of rain, I highly recommend getting a poncho AHEAD of time - that particular rain came out of nowhere, we thought the rains were done for the day, so left most of our rain gear in the car! We would have had a hike ahead of us in pouring rain to get a poncho if we wanted one as we weren't even near one of the shops. And bring an umbrella. But the people with ponchos seemed to be the best off. The umbrella is good to keep your bags of candy dry. You really just need one for one person to carry all of them in the hand with the umbrella, unless you really want to drag around all those umbrellas - you all believe me when I say I didn't try the different configurations for keeping the candy dry, right? If we'd had the ponchos and no stroller (and probably no DH!), I'm afraid we'd've been trick-or-treating away for hours, anyway. But alas, it did not work out. We only trick-or-treated until we were soaked! That took about 5 minutes with just an umbrella, but we got a good amount of candy! Incredibly disappointing overall, given our expectations, but you can still have fun if you want to. Just go prepared to have fun no matter what - if that means trick-or-treating in the pouring rain, then do it anyway! They still had the candy stations open, and the lines were much more managable. AND they gave more candy if you looked pitiful coming in out of the rain! On top of that, you can keep going through the same line over and over. We didn't try it, but you could probably pester them into filling your bag after a while (I saw a woman magically produce 3 full bags of candy in under 10 minutes during the rain storm, so it must be possible).

Personally, I'd prefer that y'all have absolutely perfect weather. But, if it doesn't work out, it's nice to know the alternatives and be prepared. I wish you all luck!!! Have fun no matter what!! That's what Disney is for!

Thanks for the first hand report! Sounds like it was a miserable night, weather wise! I agree if you plan to have fun you will, no matter the conditions!
Does anybody know if you can carry an umbrella on the plane or does it have to go in checked luggage?

 

[LAWalz23]

Here is a picture of our signed photo mat from last year:

Did you make any notation of how you wanted to the autographs such as where the top of the frame was (so all of the autographs were going in the same direction)?

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Is 37 the correct # of kids that we have so far???

Please PM me to add your kids names to the goody bag list

Do we have a definite answer for the following:

1) when and where to meet for MNSSHP
2) stuff n drink or drink n stuff party

If you see anyone wearing lime green shirts or ribbons, don't be shy to say hi!
Since we'll have a rented car, we'll be at the port early (hopefully). I need to make ressies for Palo for brunch thursday, get a ticket for Tea with Alice (MUST DO) and book a couples massage.

Nighty night everyone... sweet dreams

Gr00vyChc

 

[JDBlair]

It is 50lbs now! JetBlue used to be 75 but no more and there are even restrictions on how big the luggage can be! We usually get around it by having the skycaps check us in, it is well worth the $10 tip not to have to pay the extra weight surcharge which is like $50! We have seen them make people take stuff out or put stuff in another bag. The water and luggage comes to about 48.5lbs, two pairs of water shoes put my sister over in Aug but a tip to the skycap and he just told her to be more careful coming back! We would like to buy some liquor and bring it back but now it all has to go in checked luggage because of 9/11, actually that is where bringing the water with us helps because we have extra suitcases for souveniers! I always seem to fill up my suitcases coming back no matter how much extra room I have and usually wind up shipping at least one box home!

Good and useful stuff to know!!!

Does anybody know if you can carry an umbrella on the plane or does it have to go in checked luggage?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
It says you can bring it in your carry-on. I've heard, though, that while the TSA site says some things are permissible, getting the actual item through security at our airport has proven to be impossible. I don't know the specifics but what I do know is I now strongly limit what we do and don't take in our carry-ons and I check the rest. If you're not sure the umbrella would make it through, I'd check it because chances are you don't really need that umbrella until you reach your destination, any way. Unless Disney is getting your bags and you won't see them until you're at your room?

Do we have a definite answer for the following:


2) stuff n drink or drink n stuff party

If you see anyone wearing lime green shirts or ribbons, don't be shy to say hi!
Since we'll have a rented car, we'll be at the port early (hopefully). I need to make ressies for Palo for brunch thursday, get a ticket for Tea with Alice (MUST DO) and book a couples massage.

Nighty night everyone... sweet dreams

Gr00vyChc

I don't think there is a definte answer other than Monday at 11 and someone recommended the Promenade lounge.

I'd be less shy if they served alcohol in the terminal!!! (I know they don't!!) Then I'd probably ask anyone, even those not wearing lime green, "Are you from the DIS?" because I would probably think the blank expressions on the Non-DIS peoples faces would be a riot. They'd think they were missing out on something fun (because they are!). And then DCL would have to make an annoucement to ignore the crazy lady. I'm sure we'll take the first shuttle we can get on from the hotel and get to the terminal as soon as we can because I do need Palo ressies (even though I will have a good time without a Palo visit ) and I too want the Tea with Alice because I think DD would just love that.

I don't know why I woke up in the middle of the night, maybe I thought it was time to call Shirley!

 

[vpalmer]

Did you make any notation of how you wanted to the autographs such as where the top of the frame was (so all of the autographs were going in the same direction)?

When you take you mat to Guest Services, they have a form you fill out and there is a section for special requests and if I recall correctly you can select from groupings of characters. I think I chose all available. I think I did write vertical in special requests and I added red, blue and black Sharpie markers although I don't think you have to do that. As for the frame, it's not really necessary to notate where the frame begins because the frame style di not cover the mat and the characters knew not to go to the very edge.



I wanted to add something about packing for those of you that may not have been on a plane in a while. All your liquids and gels (even chapstick, etc) must be fewer than three ounces and fit into a single quart bag per person. The three ounce maximum includes the packaging so you can't take a half empty 6 ounce bottle. As much as I read and planned for our toiletries when we flew in May, they still took away my DD's toothpaste that I had thrown in her bag at the last second not noticing it was 4.5 ounces.

 

[LAWalz23]

Is 37 the correct # of kids that we have so far???

Please PM me to add your kids names to the goody bag list

Do we have a definite answer for the following:

1) when and where to meet for MNSSHP
2) stuff n drink or drink n stuff party

If you see anyone wearing lime green shirts or ribbons, don't be shy to say hi!
Since we'll have a rented car, we'll be at the port early (hopefully). I need to make ressies for Palo for brunch thursday, get a ticket for Tea with Alice (MUST DO) and book a couples massage.



Gr00vyChc

Pauline, I have a count of 37 also.

Ithink MNSSHP was 6:30pm by the castle?
Stuffing goody bags, before lunch on Monday sounds good, someone mentioned the Promenade lounge as somewhere that has room to stuff and you can get drinks. That is of course if it doesn't conflicy with Palo's. I am thinking Thursday brunch also even though we have dinner there Wed. We would like to do Tea with Alice also, I think it is Sunday although I had heard there might be a choice of 2x.

We will be at the Port early since we have a 9:15a pickup from WDW but I think we will get Alice before Palo's brunch or try to send one of us one way and another a different way then communicate by cell phones, they should still work in port, right?

 

[Beck's mom]

Trent and I went shopping today and bought a ton of our "travel sized" items for the cruise. Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was at Target yesterday and got a bunch too! I love all that tiny stuff!

By the way, if you see a kid walking around the beach wearing tennis shoes, throw something at him and tell him to go put on the sandals his mother spent weeks shopping with him for!

Too funny Jac! My boys wear their sneakers all the time, everywhere. I thought I would never get them to wear sandals either. They say they are not comfortable. However, we found these great sandals called Keens. They are like hiking shoes, sandals, and water shoes all rolled into one. They are fabulous! They have anti-bacterial/anti-odor footbeds too, which is great because teenage boys have smelly feet (and I'm sure my brother will be grateful, because he has to share a cabin with them! ). And they don't look too dorky so the boys consent to wearing them.

But we can tie some lime green ribbon to backpacks, carry-on, etc. We are all still meeting at 3 though on boarding day, right?

I have some lime green ribbon I will tie to our bags too!

Hi All,
Just so you know this is what I wear, beside my green shirt with blue stripes and my green castaway cay shirt T-shirt.

Grumpy Gramps and Grumpy Grandma, I am pretty sure we will ALL recognize you! No worries there! You are going to be like the celebrity on the ship - lines of people waiting to take their pic with you!

If you see anyone wearing lime green shirts or ribbons, don't be shy to say hi!
Since we'll have a rented car, we'll be at the port early (hopefully).

We're going to be there early too, (trying for that Palo brunch as well!)! Look for us!

 

[Deweysgirl]

Here is the one we had made. We brought a big ziplock bag with the photomat inside and every color sharpie marker.
They had us write our name and cabin number on the
outside of the ziplock bag and told us to come back the
last night to guest services and it would be ready.
This picture is not so good because I took it with my
camcorder (couldn't find the camera right now) but
the colors are vivid and they really do a beautiful job.

 

[JDBlair]

Too funny Jac! My boys wear their sneakers all the time, everywhere. I thought I would never get them to wear sandals either. They say they are not comfortable. However, we found these great sandals called Keens. They are like hiking shoes, sandals, and water shoes all rolled into one. They are fabulous! They have anti-bacterial/anti-odor footbeds too, which is great because teenage boys have smelly feet (and I'm sure my brother will be grateful, because he has to share a cabin with them! ). And they don't look too dorky so the boys consent to wearing them.

I bought sandals just like that for DS before he went to camp this year. I thought they would be perfect for the things he likes to do. He said he wore them once. They cost me $40! I'm pretty sure he has them buried in his closet somewhere so I will forget about them!

 

[harper2203]

OMG!! Off for one day and 6 pages later!! It's awesome! My DH says I'm obsessed! Everytime he comes into the office, he's like "what are you doing? On the message boards AGAIN???"

I feel so very far behind! I haven't packed or planned something to wear or anything. NEED TO START!! Though my DH and I have matching mickey bathing suits!

Does anyone know if they are doing the Goofy PJ party or is it Puma's? We watched on the Disney Cruise DVD about the Goofy PJ party and my oldest DS said, "we need goofy PJ's!!" so of course I go and get Goofy PJ's, but read on the navagator that it was Puma's.....

I will have some lime green ribbon on me, maybe in my hair, but not sure I can convince my 2 boys and DH to put something lime green on! I can't wait to meet all of you!

 

[JDBlair]

OMG!! Off for one day and 6 pages later!! It's awesome! My DH says I'm obsessed! Everytime he comes into the office, he's like "what are you doing? On the message boards AGAIN???"



I will have some lime green ribbon on me, maybe in my hair, but not sure I can convince my 2 boys and DH to put something lime green on! I can't wait to meet all of you!

These boards are addicting and don't worry, your DH will be in good company with the other DH's that make fun of us! I tell DH he may make fun of me now but when he has an amazing vacation, he'll be thanking me!!

Not everybody in your party has to wear the lime green. You'd be enough. Besides, if you put lime green on your DH and one of us approaches him, he may spray us with mace!