The What Exit Are You From? Trip Report Magic 11/4/06 (NEW POST 12/10)
- Thread starter jsfein
- Start date
cheysdad said:
Michael, it was a pleasure meeting you, Cathe and Cheyenne. You have a wonderful family. You mention that you saw my stepdad all over the ship. It seemed like you and I bumped into each other at least a couple of times a day as well.
Of course I'll be nice to LI ... I did grow up there. I just won't be nice to **Manorville**.
lindaso
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
- Messages
- 713
jsfein said:
Hey no fair!! I can't help it if you have repressed childhood memories of the Game Farm. You have to admit that Gerry the Giraffe is cool
. Besides living in Manorville has its Jersey qualities. We like to tell Nassau Countiers that we live off Exit 70 of the LIE. They think it's a foreign country out here 
.And the hamptons thing?...nahh, we're not into the hamptons scene. "Those people" invade our King Kullen on Friday with their kick dogs in their shopping carts and roll their eyes as we park our minivan next to their Mercedes.
But don't even think about dissing Billy! That's just wrong.
I like to refer to the two weeks leading up to a vacation as The Race. The Race includes everything from (i) rushing to attend to things at home (stopping the mail and newspaper, getting a dog sitter, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, notifying all the coaches and religious schools that youll be away, explaining to the teachers that your kid will be missing school in order to cruise with the Mouse, etc.); (ii) taking care of things at work (dumping as much as you can on junior people and pray that you dont get sued for malpractice); and (iii) getting ready for the cruise that youve had 16 months to get ready for, but youve left everything for the last minute. Ive never not finished The Race. Its usually a question of where you finish
at a leisurely pace days before you depart or like Carl Lewis hours before you leave for the airport. This trip found us at Mach Speed 5.
The two weeks leading up to the cruise were total insanity in the jsfein household. One week before we cruised, we hosted our Second Annual Halloween party in our home for 90 people. The preparation for the Halloween party left no time at all for us to prepare for the cruise, let alone even think about the cruise.
Of course, I insisted that we all dress as pirates for our party so that we could be appropriately dressed for Pirates Night (okay, so I was doing a little bit of cruise planning). My family pirates theme did not go over well with my boys who wanted Star Wars costumes, nor with my daughter who, of course, wanted to be a Disney princess (pretty much any one would do). A war of epic proportions unfolded at the costume store and was renewed on the day of the party when it was time to get into our garb. I thought that we looked pretty darn good and that we would be a tough act to match once on board. Stay tuned for some swash buckling pirates photos when the time comes in the report. (Including photos is usually not my trip report thing, but I will try do so in this report. **Applause from the crowd is welcome**)
Karen and I both had insane work weeks during the four days before we departed for FLA. I left the office on Thursday having no choice but to dump a major project on a junior colleague. I was out of time and had no choice, and it came to haunt me later in the cruise. This is called foreshadowing. My high school English teachers actually taught me something go figure.
After leaving work on Thursday, the boys and I rushed to get haircuts and grabbed a nourishing meal at Taco Bell. Karen was out buying all of the last minute items (which were for us was pretty much everything as we hadnt found time to do so earlier in the 16 months before the cruise). We got the kids in bed at 9:30 pm and had to start packing. Two hours later we had three large suitcases, a duffel bag, a backpack, and a carry-on bag packed to the gills.
At 11:30 pm I announced that we needed to work on our door signs. Karen looked at me like I was off my rocker. I explained that all the DIS-ers do door signs and that I would be ostracized by the DIS community if our cabin doors were not appropriately decorated. As can be attested by my most recent WDW trip report, I am artistically challenged. See here (scroll down to post 49). As you will shortly see (another photo alert), our door signs may not have been the most artistic, original or technologically advanced, but they served their purpose and I actually received a few (ok, 2) compliments from other passengers.
Four hours of sleep later, we were packing the car, kids and Bobbie into the minivan. We had so much luggage, that I had to first load the boys and Bobbie in the third row, and then load Eva and suitcases into the second row. Just as I put the car in reverse to back out of the driveway, Alex announced he needed to go to the bathroom. Just as I was about to tell him he would need to hold it for two hours until we got to the airport, Karen had him climb over all of the second row bags and water a bush.
With bladders empty, we were off to JFK. Not the closest airport to my central NJ home, but my best fare and a convenient airport for my Mom and Spanky who we were flying with us. We left our home at 6:30 am for a 9:45 am flight. Seemed like plenty of time, but The Race was on. Just as I entered the airport property at 8:20 am, Spanky called my cell to advise that they just arrived at the gate, that the security lines were long, and he mentioned something about a shuttle. We still had an hour and twenty-five minutes until our flight was to depart and I thought I was doing okay with time.
I dropped off the family and luggage with a Jet Blue sky cap and headed to Avistar, an off-site airport parking facility. Even with my GPS, I got lost on my way to Avistar. I finally found the Avistar lot and checked in my car. Just as I walked out to get on a shuttle bus, one was leaving. I glanced at my watch 50 minutes until departure. What seemed like an eternity later (about 15 minutes), I was on a shuttle bus back to the airport. Karen and the kids had by now arrived at the gate and she called to check where I was. She also mentioned the long security line and something about a shuttle. I had entered panic mode and didnt really pay attention to what she was saying. I kept glancing at my watch and the Avistar driver. While it is out of character for me to ask someone to go out of their way to do me a favor, I pleaded with the driver to make Jet Blue his first stop as I was running late. He may have been going to Jet Blue first even if I didnt ask, but thinking that he had done me a favor I tipped him $5 even though I was carrying no bags.
35 minutes to departure and The Race was kicking my behind. By this time, missing the flight was becoming a real possibility. I was ready to call Karen and tell her to fly down without me and that I would catch the next flight. I was already figuring out that I would need to get a hold of a second rental car when I arrived hours later in Orlando.
When I got on the security line, I mentioned my flight situation to a security employee who wasnt the least bit concerned. I was hoping for Fastpass treatment, but was directed to the end of the security line. When the woman in the security line in front of me set off the alarm because she hadnt removed all of her jewelry I was ready to explode. She then couldnt get the clasp of her bracelet undone and her husband, who had already passed through security, had to return to help her. If security procedures hadnt prohibited the carrying of sharp objects, I would have cut the bracelet off her wrist myself.
I made it through security with 15 minutes until departure. I couldnt find the gate. I looked all over and was finally directed by an airport employee to take the shuttle. Oh, the shuttle that Spanky and Karen had told me about. A woman next to me was running with her 4 year old daughter and was struggling with two large carry-ons. It didnt take us long to realize that we were trying to make the same flight. I grabbed one of her carry-ons and the three of us started running to the shuttle. The shuttle turned out to be a bus that took us all of about 50 feet from one terminal to another terminal. Gotta love JFK. I was one of the last people on the plane, but all that mattered was that I had finished The Race.
The two weeks leading up to the cruise were total insanity in the jsfein household. One week before we cruised, we hosted our Second Annual Halloween party in our home for 90 people. The preparation for the Halloween party left no time at all for us to prepare for the cruise, let alone even think about the cruise.
Of course, I insisted that we all dress as pirates for our party so that we could be appropriately dressed for Pirates Night (okay, so I was doing a little bit of cruise planning). My family pirates theme did not go over well with my boys who wanted Star Wars costumes, nor with my daughter who, of course, wanted to be a Disney princess (pretty much any one would do). A war of epic proportions unfolded at the costume store and was renewed on the day of the party when it was time to get into our garb. I thought that we looked pretty darn good and that we would be a tough act to match once on board. Stay tuned for some swash buckling pirates photos when the time comes in the report. (Including photos is usually not my trip report thing, but I will try do so in this report. **Applause from the crowd is welcome**)
Karen and I both had insane work weeks during the four days before we departed for FLA. I left the office on Thursday having no choice but to dump a major project on a junior colleague. I was out of time and had no choice, and it came to haunt me later in the cruise. This is called foreshadowing. My high school English teachers actually taught me something go figure.
After leaving work on Thursday, the boys and I rushed to get haircuts and grabbed a nourishing meal at Taco Bell. Karen was out buying all of the last minute items (which were for us was pretty much everything as we hadnt found time to do so earlier in the 16 months before the cruise). We got the kids in bed at 9:30 pm and had to start packing. Two hours later we had three large suitcases, a duffel bag, a backpack, and a carry-on bag packed to the gills.
At 11:30 pm I announced that we needed to work on our door signs. Karen looked at me like I was off my rocker. I explained that all the DIS-ers do door signs and that I would be ostracized by the DIS community if our cabin doors were not appropriately decorated. As can be attested by my most recent WDW trip report, I am artistically challenged. See here (scroll down to post 49). As you will shortly see (another photo alert), our door signs may not have been the most artistic, original or technologically advanced, but they served their purpose and I actually received a few (ok, 2) compliments from other passengers.
Four hours of sleep later, we were packing the car, kids and Bobbie into the minivan. We had so much luggage, that I had to first load the boys and Bobbie in the third row, and then load Eva and suitcases into the second row. Just as I put the car in reverse to back out of the driveway, Alex announced he needed to go to the bathroom. Just as I was about to tell him he would need to hold it for two hours until we got to the airport, Karen had him climb over all of the second row bags and water a bush.
With bladders empty, we were off to JFK. Not the closest airport to my central NJ home, but my best fare and a convenient airport for my Mom and Spanky who we were flying with us. We left our home at 6:30 am for a 9:45 am flight. Seemed like plenty of time, but The Race was on. Just as I entered the airport property at 8:20 am, Spanky called my cell to advise that they just arrived at the gate, that the security lines were long, and he mentioned something about a shuttle. We still had an hour and twenty-five minutes until our flight was to depart and I thought I was doing okay with time.
I dropped off the family and luggage with a Jet Blue sky cap and headed to Avistar, an off-site airport parking facility. Even with my GPS, I got lost on my way to Avistar. I finally found the Avistar lot and checked in my car. Just as I walked out to get on a shuttle bus, one was leaving. I glanced at my watch 50 minutes until departure. What seemed like an eternity later (about 15 minutes), I was on a shuttle bus back to the airport. Karen and the kids had by now arrived at the gate and she called to check where I was. She also mentioned the long security line and something about a shuttle. I had entered panic mode and didnt really pay attention to what she was saying. I kept glancing at my watch and the Avistar driver. While it is out of character for me to ask someone to go out of their way to do me a favor, I pleaded with the driver to make Jet Blue his first stop as I was running late. He may have been going to Jet Blue first even if I didnt ask, but thinking that he had done me a favor I tipped him $5 even though I was carrying no bags.
35 minutes to departure and The Race was kicking my behind. By this time, missing the flight was becoming a real possibility. I was ready to call Karen and tell her to fly down without me and that I would catch the next flight. I was already figuring out that I would need to get a hold of a second rental car when I arrived hours later in Orlando.
When I got on the security line, I mentioned my flight situation to a security employee who wasnt the least bit concerned. I was hoping for Fastpass treatment, but was directed to the end of the security line. When the woman in the security line in front of me set off the alarm because she hadnt removed all of her jewelry I was ready to explode. She then couldnt get the clasp of her bracelet undone and her husband, who had already passed through security, had to return to help her. If security procedures hadnt prohibited the carrying of sharp objects, I would have cut the bracelet off her wrist myself.
I made it through security with 15 minutes until departure. I couldnt find the gate. I looked all over and was finally directed by an airport employee to take the shuttle. Oh, the shuttle that Spanky and Karen had told me about. A woman next to me was running with her 4 year old daughter and was struggling with two large carry-ons. It didnt take us long to realize that we were trying to make the same flight. I grabbed one of her carry-ons and the three of us started running to the shuttle. The shuttle turned out to be a bus that took us all of about 50 feet from one terminal to another terminal. Gotta love JFK. I was one of the last people on the plane, but all that mattered was that I had finished The Race.
DisneyZell
Likes Adventures on the High Seas
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- Sep 28, 2004
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- 1,102
jsfein said:
Another great installment...why, oh why do we all have the same issues? I loved the costume thing and can imagine the epic battles...were there lightsabers involved?
And the airport...gotta love that...isn't it interesting that they say men don't really listen...hmmm I don't know where they get that!!!
Bethipooh4
My daughter says I am to mean to work at Disney!
- Joined
- May 4, 2004
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- 1,328
**Applause from the crowd is welcome**)
Johnna_Story
Disney Cruise (and Starbucks!) Addict
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2005
- Messages
- 883
Transplanted jerseygirl here - exit 165 off the Parkway. Great trip report - can't wait for the rest. Don't know if I could have convinced DH to travel during Jersey week (he's a Red Sox fan), but maybe next year...
jsfein said:
FormrCastMbr
DIS Veteran
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- Jun 14, 2006
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- 6,598
Originally from 16E off the turnpike...SEEEE caucus!!!
I have to read your report later but just had to chime in what exit I'm at!!!
I have to read your report later but just had to chime in what exit I'm at!!!
Please tell me that my sons are not alone in this world in being completely unable to handle the 8 minutes they were without their Nintendo DS gaming systems when the use of electronic devices was prohibited during take-off. This was the first, but certainly not the last time their DS whining nearly pushed me over the edge on this vacation.
Not more than 20 minutes into the flight I began to hear:
Im thirsty. Will they be bringing water soon?
Will they be serving snacks?
I may need to go to the bathroom soon. Will you go with me?
Why did the television go out? When is it going to come back on? How do I change channels? Why dont I have any sound? What station are you watching?
How long before were going to land?
Im sure all of you with kids have also heard these questions a million times. However, not one of these questions were uttered by my 8, 6 or 4 year old. Instead, each one of those questions came from Spanky, my 64 year old fourth child on this trip. I love the man, but boy can he be a pain in the you know what (and he knows it).
I had scored the row of 3 seats with my boys and avoided the Seats of Death around my daughter, Eva. When you sit next to Eva on a plane, you must be prepared to apologize profusely to the person sitting in front of her whose chair she will kick repeatedly (we usually give this person our snacks as a peace offering and sometimes money too), the inevitable rendition of the entire cast recording of High School Musical performed out-of-tune at the top of her lungs when she listens to the iPod, and her constant shifting, moving, and climbing in her seat and on to you.
After arriving at MCO, I wheeled Spanky to baggage where we found a porter whose day we were about to make and I left the gang behind to retrieve the luggage while I rented some wheels. The Budget rental line was immense. One of these days Ive got to get myself enrolled in one of these car rental company programs where I just walk to the lot, pick a car, and drive off. It looks so easy on the commercials. 40 minutes later I completed the rental and met the gang by the Budget cars. I think our porter made out with a $30 tip a pretty good grab if I may say so.
How do you transport 8 people with 12 suitcases/bags from MCO to Cape Canaveral?? A 12 passenger van, of course. I retrieved the van, pulled it to the curb and opened the back doors. Uhhhh, where is all this luggage going to fit? There was room for just 3 pieces of luggage in the rear of the van. I started squeezing bags under seats, piled other bags on top of seats and kids, and somehow managed to make the luggage and all of us fit. One more person or suitcase and I would have had to have tied them/it to the roof.
Driving the 12 passenger van, I felt like I should have put on a chauffeurs hat and displayed a sign, Driver Accepts Gratuities.
It was nearly 2 pm, we hadnt eaten lunch, and everyone was hungry. Newbies like us didnt know that there was literally nowhere to stop between MCO and Cape Canaveral to grab a bite to eat. Before we found somewhere to eat, we first came upon our hotel, Marriott Residence Inn. My family of 5 plus Bobbie had a 2 bedroom suite, and my Mom and Spanky had a 1 bedroom handicap accessible suite. The 2 bedroom suite was huge and offered us plenty of room. I highly recommend the Residence Inn.
We ended up eating lunch at Wendys where, on November 3rd, they were already playing Christmas music. Whats up with that? The Halloween decorations were still up at our home.
After lunch, I dropped Spanky and my Mom back at the Residence Inn and the rest of us took off to run some errands and see a little of Cape Canaveral. The weather pretty much sucked over cast, very windy, and drizzling. The weather for our sail away did not look promising.
My first stop was at The Perfect Gift to visit Shirley. I had ordered gift baskets for each of the kids and the grandparents. Shirley had generously offered to lend me a discount card for Ron Jon. The Residence Inn gave me a discount card at check-in so the need to stop by The Perfect Gift wasnt necessary, but I really wanted to meet Shirley. Karen told Bobbie and the kids that I wanted to say hello to one of my scary Internet friends (she made it sound like a To Catch a Predator episode). Shirley is as advertised. The sweetest, nicest person youll ever want to meet. She gave Karen and I big hugs, showed us the already made baskets, introduced us to Norm (Hi Norm), and gave us more Key West brochures than we could hold. Im so glad that we stopped by.
Next stop a case and one-half of water at Publix for our rolling cooler. Turned out not to be enough water for the 8 of us. Sorry, but no beer, wine, Jack Daniels, margarita mix, or other alcoholic beverages made it into our rolling cooler. While I enjoy a trip report of drunken adventure aboard a vessel at sea as much as the next DIS-er, this trip report will, sadly, not include any intoxicated episodes. Those stories will have to await a future trip report when we cruise without the kids oh what a glorious day that will be.
Next stop, Ron Jon, where we picked up t-shirts and souvenirs. I picked up a really cool t-shirt depicting classic muscle cars. I had the most interesting conversation with a crewmember, Winston from South Africa in the adult gift ship on the Magic about my t-shirt and his familys very impressive car collection. If you are a car enthusiast, you must seek out Winston. You will be blown away by his knowledge and collection.
Despite the pretty favorable reviews on DIS, our meal at Grills was lackluster. It was a fun, casual atmosphere, but the food, at least for us, didnt come close to an average fish house on the Jersey Shore (yes, Im a snob). I did, however, get the following photo at Grills which is one of my favorites from the trip.
Upon returning to the Residence Inn, my mother-in-law Bobbie called her boyfriend of 6 months. I was in and out of the room over the course of the next hour and she was still talking to the BF each time I returned. I couldnt help myself and started singing, Bobbie and Donald sitting in a tree . I didnt get to finish my song as I had to dodge the pillows Karen starting throwing my way.
In the meantime, my Mom and Spanky were getting a great start to their vacation with the kids. Eva had decided that she was bunking with my Mom for the night.
Spanky and the boys were engaged in a cut-throat game of Uno.
With the complimentary microwave popcorn and Kool-Aid, the kids and grandparents had their own party underway.
A few DIS-ers had planned a pre-cruise meet at the Residence Inn pool. The weather, however, was not too cooperative and the pool was virtually empty save for a few swimmers. I told Karen that I was going to look for "my friends." I'm never the one with any friends, its always Karen who has the friends, so I reveled in the fact that I "knew" people we'd be cruising with. I walked by the pool and once through the lobby, but didnt find any DIS-ers (or at least didnt find anyone who was a flaming DIS-er with a lime green Mickey paint chip affixed to their person). Although the pre-meet was a bust for me (as I read love2travels report, however, I see that the gang all found each other without me), I figured that I would meet up with some DIS-ers at the planned meet before the sail away the next day.
Exhausted, we were all in bed by 9:30 pm. We were a mere 12 or so hours away from arriving at the Disney Cruise Terminal sweet.
Not more than 20 minutes into the flight I began to hear:
Im thirsty. Will they be bringing water soon?
Will they be serving snacks?
I may need to go to the bathroom soon. Will you go with me?
Why did the television go out? When is it going to come back on? How do I change channels? Why dont I have any sound? What station are you watching?
How long before were going to land?
Im sure all of you with kids have also heard these questions a million times. However, not one of these questions were uttered by my 8, 6 or 4 year old. Instead, each one of those questions came from Spanky, my 64 year old fourth child on this trip. I love the man, but boy can he be a pain in the you know what (and he knows it).
I had scored the row of 3 seats with my boys and avoided the Seats of Death around my daughter, Eva. When you sit next to Eva on a plane, you must be prepared to apologize profusely to the person sitting in front of her whose chair she will kick repeatedly (we usually give this person our snacks as a peace offering and sometimes money too), the inevitable rendition of the entire cast recording of High School Musical performed out-of-tune at the top of her lungs when she listens to the iPod, and her constant shifting, moving, and climbing in her seat and on to you.
After arriving at MCO, I wheeled Spanky to baggage where we found a porter whose day we were about to make and I left the gang behind to retrieve the luggage while I rented some wheels. The Budget rental line was immense. One of these days Ive got to get myself enrolled in one of these car rental company programs where I just walk to the lot, pick a car, and drive off. It looks so easy on the commercials. 40 minutes later I completed the rental and met the gang by the Budget cars. I think our porter made out with a $30 tip a pretty good grab if I may say so.
How do you transport 8 people with 12 suitcases/bags from MCO to Cape Canaveral?? A 12 passenger van, of course. I retrieved the van, pulled it to the curb and opened the back doors. Uhhhh, where is all this luggage going to fit? There was room for just 3 pieces of luggage in the rear of the van. I started squeezing bags under seats, piled other bags on top of seats and kids, and somehow managed to make the luggage and all of us fit. One more person or suitcase and I would have had to have tied them/it to the roof.
Driving the 12 passenger van, I felt like I should have put on a chauffeurs hat and displayed a sign, Driver Accepts Gratuities.
It was nearly 2 pm, we hadnt eaten lunch, and everyone was hungry. Newbies like us didnt know that there was literally nowhere to stop between MCO and Cape Canaveral to grab a bite to eat. Before we found somewhere to eat, we first came upon our hotel, Marriott Residence Inn. My family of 5 plus Bobbie had a 2 bedroom suite, and my Mom and Spanky had a 1 bedroom handicap accessible suite. The 2 bedroom suite was huge and offered us plenty of room. I highly recommend the Residence Inn.
We ended up eating lunch at Wendys where, on November 3rd, they were already playing Christmas music. Whats up with that? The Halloween decorations were still up at our home.
After lunch, I dropped Spanky and my Mom back at the Residence Inn and the rest of us took off to run some errands and see a little of Cape Canaveral. The weather pretty much sucked over cast, very windy, and drizzling. The weather for our sail away did not look promising.
My first stop was at The Perfect Gift to visit Shirley. I had ordered gift baskets for each of the kids and the grandparents. Shirley had generously offered to lend me a discount card for Ron Jon. The Residence Inn gave me a discount card at check-in so the need to stop by The Perfect Gift wasnt necessary, but I really wanted to meet Shirley. Karen told Bobbie and the kids that I wanted to say hello to one of my scary Internet friends (she made it sound like a To Catch a Predator episode). Shirley is as advertised. The sweetest, nicest person youll ever want to meet. She gave Karen and I big hugs, showed us the already made baskets, introduced us to Norm (Hi Norm), and gave us more Key West brochures than we could hold. Im so glad that we stopped by.
Next stop a case and one-half of water at Publix for our rolling cooler. Turned out not to be enough water for the 8 of us. Sorry, but no beer, wine, Jack Daniels, margarita mix, or other alcoholic beverages made it into our rolling cooler. While I enjoy a trip report of drunken adventure aboard a vessel at sea as much as the next DIS-er, this trip report will, sadly, not include any intoxicated episodes. Those stories will have to await a future trip report when we cruise without the kids oh what a glorious day that will be.
Next stop, Ron Jon, where we picked up t-shirts and souvenirs. I picked up a really cool t-shirt depicting classic muscle cars. I had the most interesting conversation with a crewmember, Winston from South Africa in the adult gift ship on the Magic about my t-shirt and his familys very impressive car collection. If you are a car enthusiast, you must seek out Winston. You will be blown away by his knowledge and collection.
Despite the pretty favorable reviews on DIS, our meal at Grills was lackluster. It was a fun, casual atmosphere, but the food, at least for us, didnt come close to an average fish house on the Jersey Shore (yes, Im a snob). I did, however, get the following photo at Grills which is one of my favorites from the trip.
Upon returning to the Residence Inn, my mother-in-law Bobbie called her boyfriend of 6 months. I was in and out of the room over the course of the next hour and she was still talking to the BF each time I returned. I couldnt help myself and started singing, Bobbie and Donald sitting in a tree . I didnt get to finish my song as I had to dodge the pillows Karen starting throwing my way.
In the meantime, my Mom and Spanky were getting a great start to their vacation with the kids. Eva had decided that she was bunking with my Mom for the night.
Spanky and the boys were engaged in a cut-throat game of Uno.
With the complimentary microwave popcorn and Kool-Aid, the kids and grandparents had their own party underway.
A few DIS-ers had planned a pre-cruise meet at the Residence Inn pool. The weather, however, was not too cooperative and the pool was virtually empty save for a few swimmers. I told Karen that I was going to look for "my friends." I'm never the one with any friends, its always Karen who has the friends, so I reveled in the fact that I "knew" people we'd be cruising with. I walked by the pool and once through the lobby, but didnt find any DIS-ers (or at least didnt find anyone who was a flaming DIS-er with a lime green Mickey paint chip affixed to their person). Although the pre-meet was a bust for me (as I read love2travels report, however, I see that the gang all found each other without me), I figured that I would meet up with some DIS-ers at the planned meet before the sail away the next day.
Exhausted, we were all in bed by 9:30 pm. We were a mere 12 or so hours away from arriving at the Disney Cruise Terminal sweet.
Suzy Mouse
<font color=green>DIS Veteran<br><font color=99009
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2000
- Messages
- 1,044
Looks as if your ENglish teachers taught you a lot more than foreshadowing! You are an incredible writer!!
BTW...did Karen ever tell you I approached her asking about you at Castaway Cay?
BTW...did Karen ever tell you I approached her asking about you at Castaway Cay?
Suzy Mouse said:
Thanks for the kind words. I've started to read your report and I'm intrigued by the "Family of the Week" title. I'm looking forward to the rest.
Karen mentioned to me that you "found" each other at the High School Musical Dance Party and that later in the cruise you somehow connected me as jsfein ... but I'm not sure how you made the connection. I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to meet while we were on board.
mmouse37
DCL Diva!!
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2001
- Messages
- 34,784
Your family was next to our ours one day for lunch by the Mickey pool....I remember Spanky from the photos you posted...we spoke with him about NJ for a bit....
We are actually from NY (Rockland County) but only live 1/2 mile from the Bergen border and my hubby is Port Authority Police on the GWB so I think I qualify as an honoary New Jersian for all intents and purposes!!!
Love the report!!! We also spent the night at the Residence Inn and loved it!!! Thought the rooms (also the 2 bedroom suites) were great....we had 20 people and many rooms and cabins so I did not have much time to meet any Disers!!!
We are actually from NY (Rockland County) but only live 1/2 mile from the Bergen border and my hubby is Port Authority Police on the GWB so I think I qualify as an honoary New Jersian for all intents and purposes!!!
Love the report!!! We also spent the night at the Residence Inn and loved it!!! Thought the rooms (also the 2 bedroom suites) were great....we had 20 people and many rooms and cabins so I did not have much time to meet any Disers!!!
Suzy Mouse
<font color=green>DIS Veteran<br><font color=99009
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2000
- Messages
- 1,044
jsfein said:
I was hanging out with love2travel and Cheysdad at the beach when I saw Karen in the water. I was telling them about "the small world" story with her and Sara and they told me that it was your wife. I quickly went over to her to confirm this news because you were one of the people I wanted to find on the trip. I asked her if she went on the Dis. Well, I'm sure you could picture the look on her face.
(the same look my dh would give!)
LITTLEKID58
Platinum Castaway
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2001
- Messages
- 2,666
Waiting for the rest of the report....
Think I was a little excited to get this party started? By 8:30 am on Saturday, we had showered, ate breakfast, repacked and fueled the van. I was going stir crazy waiting to take the 5 minute drive to the cruise terminal. I paced our suite (where Bobbie was back on her cell with her BF
ugh), Spankys suite (where Spanky was watching cartoons with the kids), and the Residence Inn lobby and pool area (still no sign of any DIS-ers; not that I would have known what any of them looked like). I hadnt done that much pacing for the birth of all three kids combined.
At 9:30 am I declared, were leaving. We arrived at the terminal 5 minutes later. Seeing the Magic for the first time had us all pretty psyched, even Spanky. We all chuckled at Goofys aft.
Every time I uttered aft during the week the kids proclaimed, Daddy said a curse word. Daddy said a curse word. Yes, they have my warped sense of humor. (A little foreshadowing to give you an idea as to my sense of humor I think I was the only person on the cruise who actually enjoyed Rhys Thomas cabaret/juggling act).
I made an effort to learn some sea terminology on this trip, but my knowledge only went so far as forward, midship and aft. I still have no idea what port and starboard mean, but I heard those terms used a few times. My dear wife, on the other hand, deliberately irked me all week in refusing to use the correct sea terms. For her, forward was front, midship was middle, and aft was back. Verandas (not that we had one) were porches and patios. I simply cant take her anywhere.
As I attempted to drop the gang at the cruise terminal, I was rebuked by the security guy that I was 25 minutes early, so we parked in the lot across the street and returned at 10 am sharp. After depositing everyone and all the luggage at the terminal, I drove to Budget to return the van.
Relinquishing control of my folder of critical cruise documents so that the gang could do our check-in was extremely difficult, almost bordering on painful. I had a substantial emotional attachment to the folder and I just wasnt ready to let go. I believe the experience of letting go of folder was analogous to when my wife had to reluctantly hand over our newborn children to the delivery room nurse so that they could be weighed.
Whereas when we visit WDW our new family member backpack is with us at all times (in the stroller, my companion on the rides, etc.), on the cruise my companion was folder. Heres a photo of me and folder relaxing by the Mickey Pool:
After dropping off the van at Budget, I became the scary Internet stalker. Let me explain.
In the check-in line at Budget, I struck up a conversation with a man who was also returning a car and taking the shuttle back to the Disney Cruise Terminal. I learned that he was from Washington State. I vaguely recalled that there was a DIS-er who posted on our cruise thread from Washington. What were the chances that more than one family was cruising from Washington? I asked if he or his wife were on DIS. He had no idea what I was talking about and took a couple of steps away from me.
But then I struck gold. After the man from Washington and I boarded the shuttle, two other dads boarded. They too were returning to the Magic. A few minutes into the conversation, I learned that the dads were from Long Island, spent the night at the Residence Inn and one of them had three kids. I "knew" a mom DIS-er from our cruise thread who fit that exact profile.
Your wife wouldnt happen to be Linda, would it? As I made this inquiry, the guy from Washington again moved further away from me.
Clearly unsure whether he should confirm his wifes identity and probably not wanting to be rude, he stammered out a Yeah. This turned out to be lindasos husband. Linda, if youre reading along, ask Chuck whether he thought, at least for a moment, that you had an Internet stalker. I hadnt met an actual DIS-er, but I had met the next best thing a DIS-er spouse. It was like finding a Hidden Mickey.
Us Dads got along pretty well on the Budget shuttle and when we arrived at the cruise terminal joked that we should leave the families in the Disney Cruise Terminal and all head over to the Carnival ship for a real week of rest and relaxation. (Except Chuck, he said no such thing. He couldnt stop talking about how much he missed his wife and kids for the 15 minutes they were apart.)
And then I took my first steps into the Disney Cruise Terminal.
At 9:30 am I declared, were leaving. We arrived at the terminal 5 minutes later. Seeing the Magic for the first time had us all pretty psyched, even Spanky. We all chuckled at Goofys aft.
Every time I uttered aft during the week the kids proclaimed, Daddy said a curse word. Daddy said a curse word. Yes, they have my warped sense of humor. (A little foreshadowing to give you an idea as to my sense of humor I think I was the only person on the cruise who actually enjoyed Rhys Thomas cabaret/juggling act).
I made an effort to learn some sea terminology on this trip, but my knowledge only went so far as forward, midship and aft. I still have no idea what port and starboard mean, but I heard those terms used a few times. My dear wife, on the other hand, deliberately irked me all week in refusing to use the correct sea terms. For her, forward was front, midship was middle, and aft was back. Verandas (not that we had one) were porches and patios. I simply cant take her anywhere.
As I attempted to drop the gang at the cruise terminal, I was rebuked by the security guy that I was 25 minutes early, so we parked in the lot across the street and returned at 10 am sharp. After depositing everyone and all the luggage at the terminal, I drove to Budget to return the van.
Relinquishing control of my folder of critical cruise documents so that the gang could do our check-in was extremely difficult, almost bordering on painful. I had a substantial emotional attachment to the folder and I just wasnt ready to let go. I believe the experience of letting go of folder was analogous to when my wife had to reluctantly hand over our newborn children to the delivery room nurse so that they could be weighed.
Whereas when we visit WDW our new family member backpack is with us at all times (in the stroller, my companion on the rides, etc.), on the cruise my companion was folder. Heres a photo of me and folder relaxing by the Mickey Pool:
After dropping off the van at Budget, I became the scary Internet stalker. Let me explain.
In the check-in line at Budget, I struck up a conversation with a man who was also returning a car and taking the shuttle back to the Disney Cruise Terminal. I learned that he was from Washington State. I vaguely recalled that there was a DIS-er who posted on our cruise thread from Washington. What were the chances that more than one family was cruising from Washington? I asked if he or his wife were on DIS. He had no idea what I was talking about and took a couple of steps away from me.
But then I struck gold. After the man from Washington and I boarded the shuttle, two other dads boarded. They too were returning to the Magic. A few minutes into the conversation, I learned that the dads were from Long Island, spent the night at the Residence Inn and one of them had three kids. I "knew" a mom DIS-er from our cruise thread who fit that exact profile.
Your wife wouldnt happen to be Linda, would it? As I made this inquiry, the guy from Washington again moved further away from me.
Clearly unsure whether he should confirm his wifes identity and probably not wanting to be rude, he stammered out a Yeah. This turned out to be lindasos husband. Linda, if youre reading along, ask Chuck whether he thought, at least for a moment, that you had an Internet stalker. I hadnt met an actual DIS-er, but I had met the next best thing a DIS-er spouse. It was like finding a Hidden Mickey.
Us Dads got along pretty well on the Budget shuttle and when we arrived at the cruise terminal joked that we should leave the families in the Disney Cruise Terminal and all head over to the Carnival ship for a real week of rest and relaxation. (Except Chuck, he said no such thing. He couldnt stop talking about how much he missed his wife and kids for the 15 minutes they were apart.)
And then I took my first steps into the Disney Cruise Terminal.
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