Wonderful Panama Canal Sept 2014

[kdeans1010]

Hey everyone...we are BACK!!! Our handfasting was amazing...what a great party!! Good food, excellent cake all in all a good time was had by all. We were so wound up we went to bed at 2am and were up at 6!! Took off on our driving trip to WDW (from Bethlehem,PA). We arrived at WDW on Monday night (the 14th) and then boarded the Fantasy on the 19th. The Magic was in port as her cruise was delayed/cancelled due to all the repairs still needing to be done and the broken glass (all of it I heard). What a great cruise we had...we did nothing...absolutely nothing! The cabana on Castaway Cay - so worth it! Then the drive home...via Skyline Drive in Va. We managed to see 14 sunrises that morning. So beautiful.


make sure you get to see a "the bodies" exhibit...most interesting for those not faint of stomach or heart!

So because the wedding was amazing? My friend just had a hand tying ceremony with her wife. That's the same thing, right? What kind of cake did you have?

I heard there's some controversy over "The Bodies" exhibit because of how they got the bodies. A bunch of my friends have seen it. But maybe I'm a freak (we know that I am!) if I have the choice between going to Seattle and seeing the EMP/Sci-Fi center (favorite place in Seattle) or "The Bodies" exhibit- I am going to nerd it up at the Sci-Fi center (In Seattle the Science Center and the EMP are kitty-corner from each other and about the same price.).

So super awesome weird thing about pancreatitis: apparently my metabolism became really fast! I've lost weight. Yay! I mean I can't eat bacon, butter, beef, or drink wine.... but I'm getting skinny.

 

[davidls]

Hey everyone...we are BACK!!! Our handfasting was amazing...what a great party!! Good food, excellent cake all in all a good time was had by all. We were so wound up we went to bed at 2am and were up at 6!! Took off on our driving trip to WDW (from Bethlehem,PA). We arrived at WDW on Monday night (the 14th) and then boarded the Fantasy on the 19th. The Magic was in port as her cruise was delayed/cancelled due to all the repairs still needing to be done and the broken glass (all of it I heard). What a great cruise we had...we did nothing...absolutely nothing! The cabana on Castaway Cay - so worth it! Then the drive home...via Skyline Drive in Va. We managed to see 14 sunrises that morning. So beautiful.

So, my wonderful, amazing wife and I are finally back on the boards and on FB. If anyone needs to be added to the FB page...please PM me and include your FB email address.

Bittersweet to be home, we are now having to go to work and be apart after almost 19 days of togetherness (we love it)....part 1 of the honeymoon is over - getting ready for part 2,3,4,5,6,7!!!

We have a packing lists all set for each trip, getting the reservations in place. For this trip (#6) we have our San Diego hotel, rental car from Long Beach to San Diego all set. We are awaiting Southwest and Jet Blue to announce their schedules to book our flights. And the 7 month DVC window to open for Disneyland. (my wife's first visit to the west coast!)

Congratulations, glad everything went well for you two. And, welcome back. For this cruise, this won't be our first visit to the West Coast, we've both been there for business reasons, but it will be our first visit to Disneyland. Looking forward to seeing the park that started it all.

 

[davidls]

Question for everyone. Has anyone sent a package to the port or to one of the park hotels before? I want to send a package to myself to the Disneyland Hotel before our cruise. It will contain our FE exchange gifts. Just not sure how to go about this. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Shelljay]

David...I'd contact Disneyland Hotel and ask guest services. I'm sure people have done it before.

I'm getting ready to make final payment on the cruise. I see that there is transportation from the airport to the cruise port through Disney. It also said they'll provide transportation to hotels as well. I'm going to call them and get more info. It also said something about pre-cruise hotel reservations can be made through Disney Cruise Line as well. I've got 2 nights booked at Hilton Harbor Island one on Hilton Points (yay...it's free) the other night we have to pay for.

I'm soooo excited!!!!

 

[kayaker35]

I'm not the bit surprised it's a real product seeing the things people come up with, but glad to know you aren't serious about getting it!

Sometimes things look really funny, but if they work, then they're worth it. That item looks like it would be a little unstable.... I can just see someone's head rolling off to one side..... and then they'd wish they had the u-shaped travel pillow lol. Maybe they'd work in tandem. That aside, there is an item that I saw.... and bought.... that is working out just wonderfully for me: http://vivafina.com/ziesta-face-pillow.html I haven't tried it for travel yet, but I can tell you it has relieved my upper back/neck pain completely! I occasionally get burning pain across my upper back/shoulder blade area... and nothing relieves it except taking the weight of my head off my shoulders. For some reason, lying on my back or side doesn't help. I can, however, relieve it by sitting and resting my forehead on the edge of a table... which takes the back pain away, but obviously isn't too comfortable otherwise. When I saw the Ziesta pillow I thought it looked like it was just what I needed.... and it has been a little miracle when the back pain arises. It's small, and will be easy to pack in my carry-on when we take that cross-country airplane trip to San Diego. A snooze might be just the thing when packed in like sardines on Southwest. I hate it when someone reclines their seat in front of me, and the Ziesta pillow means I won't annoy others by reclining my seat. So, laugh, laugh, laugh if you will.... but if it works for me, I can take the snickers, lol.

Karen

 

[kdeans1010]

David...I'd contact Disneyland Hotel and ask guest services. I'm sure people have done it before.

I'm getting ready to make final payment on the cruise. I see that there is transportation from the airport to the cruise port through Disney. It also said they'll provide transportation to hotels as well. I'm going to call them and get more info. It also said something about pre-cruise hotel reservations can be made through Disney Cruise Line as well. I've got 2 nights booked at Hilton Harbor Island one on Hilton Points (yay...it's free) the other night we have to pay for.

I'm soooo excited!!!!

Congrats!

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Sometimes things look really funny, but if they work, then they're worth it. That item looks like it would be a little unstable.... I can just see someone's head rolling off to one side..... and then they'd wish they had the u-shaped travel pillow lol. Maybe they'd work in tandem. That aside, there is an item that I saw.... and bought.... that is working out just wonderfully for me: http://vivafina.com/ziesta-face-pillow.html I haven't tried it for travel yet, but I can tell you it has relieved my upper back/neck pain completely! I occasionally get burning pain across my upper back/shoulder blade area... and nothing relieves it except taking the weight of my head off my shoulders. For some reason, lying on my back or side doesn't help. I can, however, relieve it by sitting and resting my forehead on the edge of a table... which takes the back pain away, but obviously isn't too comfortable otherwise. When I saw the Ziesta pillow I thought it looked like it was just what I needed.... and it has been a little miracle when the back pain arises. It's small, and will be easy to pack in my carry-on when we take that cross-country airplane trip to San Diego. A snooze might be just the thing when packed in like sardines on Southwest. I hate it when someone reclines their seat in front of me, and the Ziesta pillow means I won't annoy others by reclining my seat. So, laugh, laugh, laugh if you will.... but if it works for me, I can take the snickers, lol.

Karen

actually, I think that looks quite neat!! I'd like to have one here at work so I can take a nap at lunch!

 

[mmbl]

Someday I'll get to where you are. But right now, not so much. It's hard to think that someday they'll be grown up an on they're own. This trip Will be the longest time we've ever spent away from the kids.

Don't rush the time! It's frightening how quickly it seems to go once they're on their own. We went on our 'empty nest' cruise ( spouse knew I would need something after our last left for college) in 2005 and here we are already 8 years later- all kids married, grandkids... A minute ago, or so it seems, they were all home driving us crazy! I so , so, so miss those days.

 

[mmbl]

Welcome welcome Safflower!

Welcome! Don't forget to check page 1 for our group plans, lists, carpool, etc. This is a very busy board! It's going to be a great cruise! Glad you're with us!

 

[mmbl]

Wow. We've fallen silent here lately. Is it the pre cruise blues - because we still have over 10 months to wait!!! Or is it something else? It's Wednesday everyone.....................that's something to be excited about isn't it?............................wait a minute................Wednesday................I have to work on Wednesdays, and Thrusdays, and Fridays...................guess I'm not all that excited either!!! I'm beginning to feel a little light headed everything is growing black..............I think I'm going to pass out!!! Wait a minute, feeling better now that I got a lovely beverage in me. Ok ya'll................what doya want to talk about?

I think we've all been busy with other travel!

 

[mmbl]

Goodness! Go away for a week or two and there are 10 pages to read through! This is the busiest cruise board I have ever been on! Do we all talk a lot in person too?

 

[Va-NanaTink]

Goodness! Go away for a week or two and there are 10 pages to read through! This is the busiest cruise board I have ever been on! Do we all talk a lot in person too?

Nope, not me...I watch and listen

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

I love this board. You can just read along, or reply if you want to. I am also a watch at listen for the most part type, my mother is not She has never met a stranger and she tells people anything they ask. I am looking forward to meeting each and every one of you and hope that we can have a nice long meet.

I also find the face pillow to be quite interesting and would be interested in picking one up for myself. Mother prefers the neck pillow.

 

[kdeans1010]

Goodness! Go away for a week or two and there are 10 pages to read through! This is the busiest cruise board I have ever been on! Do we all talk a lot in person too?

Yes. Yes I do. I'm a babbler. Babble on Kim, babble on.

Glad you had fun on your trip.

 

[padalyn]

So because the wedding was amazing? My friend just had a hand tying ceremony with her wife. That's the same thing, right? What kind of cake did you have?

I heard there's some controversy over "The Bodies" exhibit because of how they got the bodies. A bunch of my friends have seen it. But maybe I'm a freak (we know that I am!) if I have the choice between going to Seattle and seeing the EMP/Sci-Fi center (favorite place in Seattle) or "The Bodies" exhibit- I am going to nerd it up at the Sci-Fi center (In Seattle the Science Center and the EMP are kitty-corner from each other and about the same price.).

So super awesome weird thing about pancreatitis: apparently my metabolism became really fast! I've lost weight. Yay! I mean I can't eat bacon, butter, beef, or drink wine.... but I'm getting skinny.

Our cake was pumpkin and carrot! Yes we had a hand fasting ceremony. Hand Fasting predates marriage. The bodies exhibit is controversial, but amazing none the less. The Sci-Fi center was interesting but I wasn't that blown away. Enjoy it! Not sure if the weight loss is from the metabolism or the lack of fat!! Congrats on that part!

Question for everyone. Has anyone sent a package to the port or to one of the park hotels before? I want to send a package to myself to the Disneyland Hotel before our cruise. It will contain our FE exchange gifts. Just not sure how to go about this. Anyone have any suggestions?

You should be able to ship to the hotel, however it can't arrive more than 48 hours before you do as I recall.

I'm getting ready to make final payment on the cruise. I see that there is transportation from the airport to the cruise port through Disney. It also said they'll provide transportation to hotels as well. I'm going to call them and get more info. It also said something about pre-cruise hotel reservations can be made through Disney Cruise Line as well. I've got 2 nights booked at Hilton Harbor Island one on Hilton Points (yay...it's free) the other night we have to pay for.

I'm soooo excited!!!!

we are still working on the pay off....we have a hotel in San Diego for two nights before...is DCL doing hotel pickup in San Diego? I wonder what that will cost...we have a rental car, but we have to return it to the airport, so we are trying to figure this all out!

 

[kdeans1010]

Our cake was pumpkin and carrot! Yes we had a hand fasting ceremony. Hand Fasting predates marriage. The bodies exhibit is controversial, but amazing none the less. The Sci-Fi center was interesting but I wasn't that blown away. Enjoy it! Not sure if the weight loss is from the metabolism or the lack of fat!! Congrats on that part!

You should be able to ship to the hotel, however it can't arrive more than 48 hours before you do as I recall.


we are still working on the pay off....we have a hotel in San Diego for two nights before...is DCL doing hotel pickup in San Diego? I wonder what that will cost...we have a rental car, but we have to return it to the airport, so we are trying to figure this all out!

Ohhhh pumpkin and carrot. Ohhh.... Is it bad that the part I'm looking forward to most of helping my sis plan her wedding is the cake tasting? They picked a caterer, it's going to be BBQ (yay! Can't eat any of it!) by some of our/their friends.

I was told weight loss: lack of wanting to eat, lack of eating fat, high metabolism.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking at Christmas gifts or things I want for Christmas that would be good for the trip.... new luggage perhaps? There is a set on overstock that's calling my name....

 

[kerstfan1]

Only 10 more months until we sail

 

[davidls]

Goodness! Go away for a week or two and there are 10 pages to read through! This is the busiest cruise board I have ever been on! Do we all talk a lot in person too?

Nope not me.................I don't talk too much. You can ask Donna, she'll tell you it is sometimes like pulling teeth to get me to say something. Like theotherday I was watchingTVandDonnacameuptometoaskifIwouldgiveherahandinthekitchen,wellIguessIjuststaredatherlikeIdidn'tevenhearwhatshewassaying. Thenagainanothertime,shetoldmetoshutupbutagainIdidn'thearhersoIjustkepttalkingandagainshetoldmetoshutup.Well,IgottotellyouifI'mtoldtoshutup,Ishutup.Youdon'thavetotellmetoshutuptwice.Ishutupwhentoldtoshutup!!!

So you see, I don't talk too much at home or on here!!!

 

[davidls]

only 10 more months until we sail

yeah!!!

 

[davidls]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking at Christmas gifts or things I want for Christmas that would be good for the trip.... new luggage perhaps? There is a set on overstock that's calling my name....

Christmas is our favorite holiday of the year. I am always on the look out for something new to decorate the inside of our home for Christmas. We use to decorate the outside of the house as well. Our next door neighbor also decorates the outside of his home. One year we both were outside decorating our homes, when all of a sudden he brings out some new decorations, to one up me. So the next year I go out and buy some new ones to out do him. The next year he buys more to out do me. (I think ya'll can see where this is going.) This got to be where it was taking 2 or 3 days or more to decorate the outside of the house. Then the final straw. A few years ago, I had just started decorating our home. I came home from work one day. and he had an army, literally an ARMY, of people outside decorating his house. From family, to friends to even hiring people who decorate homes for the holidays. I saw I wasn't going to be able to keep up, so I thru in the towel. Now we just decorate the inside of our home. We get to enjoy all of the decorations better this way. And, I have to say not doing all of that decorating outside, I don't miss it in the least. That was allot of work. I found a couple of nice things online at the Disneystore we will be using this year to add to our collection.