From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 3

[WDW Princess 71]

Hi All,
How is everyone on this fine Sunday? Wow, talk about a BEAUTIFUL day! After the strangest, hottest week, we had perfect weather for the weekend. How often does THAT happen?
I'm checking in to let you know that I have the general template created for the "program." I wanted to run some thoughts by all of you and also get some ideas to create the most useful document for everyone!
Here are my thoughts:
-Include the list of "who is going," "where we are from" and "where we are staying"
-Include a 20-24 hr daily schedule documenting everything "we" have planned as well as space for everyone to write in what they want to do for the day.
-Include a tutor schedule that only has each of us (who volunteer to tutor a topic) tutoring for one hour during the entire trip.

My Questions:
1. What do you think so far?
2. What else do you think we need?
3. There are a lot of runners, should we schedule a meeting time each day on deck 4 for those who want to run together?
4. I have all of the activities from the website, but are there others you want to do?
5. I remember reading something about a "tag" game with a Mickey Mouse Magnet "tagged" on peoples' doors--should we do that? If so, how does it work?

Feel free to answer any or all of ?'s 1-5...any help is most appreciated!

Lynne, so Jealous!!! I hope you have a great time jumping (cruising) the "pond" to our side of the globe

I hope everyone has a great week!
~Melissa

P.S. Sherri, I am so sorry to hear about your dad...I have not stopped thinking of you and was concerned for the answer which is why I didn't ask how you were. I hope you are finding peace in this tough time and my prayers and thoughts are with you!
P.P.S I like the idea of us linking our dinners together as a group. I, too, have late dining and a 12yo DD, so keeping her with other girls her age so that they can run off after dinner will make us ALL happy

I love the idea of having a 24 hour breakdown for each day showing what things are available so we can use it in conjunction with our Navigator to keep track of everything. Thanks for organizing this!

meanwhile, we're doing late dinner and i'd love to meet everyone. I'll talk to DH about linking but i suspect hes too into his creature comforts and would like to know he has his table and a favorite seat at it (whereever it is). how does that work? are we just near each other or what? but we're heading closer to 60 and our youngest is in his 3rd year of college, so we're a bit older than those with kids on the cruise anyway. i love the program idea. i'd love to meet you all and have people to do stuff with and all, people of all ages!

has anyone figured out yet the weather chances for the different places? and at sea?

thanks,

Sherri

I would love to sit with DISer friends too, but my brother and I have already requested our same servers from our January 2010 cruise who will be on this cruise, we liked them a lot. So we dont want to jeopardize our request by complicating it with tablemate requests on top of server requests- hopefully we'll be with some DISers anyway, or at least meet some fun people either way!

 

[DCLtravler]

I've added this information to the first post.




I've added this information to the first post.


Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

Interlibrary loan loves me I spent the weekend perusing all available guidebooks on central America, and finally found one worth buying.

Panama Canal By Cruise Ship: The Complete Guide To Cruising The Panama Canal [Paperback] byAnne Vipond

http://www.amazon.com/Panama-Canal-Cruise-Ship-Complete/dp/0980957311/ref=pd_sim_b_1

I liked it because - it had history as well as tourism information - an adequate map was included - AND it covered all the ports we'll be visiting.

Thanks Linda for keeping things so organized. I was going to PM you today but you beat me to it =0)...you are so efficient and it is much appreciated!

In regards to weather, I went on a cruise to Cabo mid January before and the weather was pleasant (T-shirt/shorts). The thing that makes it different from summer are the COLD evenings and the COLD water. Although the water may be warmer in Jan than it would be in May.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Can you add Jeff and I? I realized we never submitted ourselves for the SM!

Thanks for joining! Please click on the link and add in your information (it's a likes/dislikes kind of thing!)

Our kids have always been old enough to look after themselves and they ALWAYS show up for supper but I have a friend who is cruising in Septemer. Her kids are 4, 6 and 8. She has asked me about meals in the kids clubs. If your kids are there over lunch or supper, do they get them something to eat or do you have to go and spring them? I thought maybe they would offer snacks or pizza or something easy. Can any one wise me up?

They will take them to the buffet usually if I remember correctly. Someone else may be able to advise you on this as I always picked my daughter up for meals. At that age however, if your friend wants them to join her for meals, she will need to sign them out (ok..noq that I think about it - the 8 year old might be able to sign themself out but not 100% sure).

 

[DCLtravler]

Our kids have always been old enough to look after themselves and they ALWAYS show up for supper but I have a friend who is cruising in Septemer. Her kids are 4, 6 and 8. She has asked me about meals in the kids clubs. If your kids are there over lunch or supper, do they get them something to eat or do you have to go and spring them? I thought maybe they would offer snacks or pizza or something easy. Can any one wise me up?

They escort them through the back stairwells (the ones we use during the drill) to the restaurants. AP for lunch and I think the buffet at night (not sure of that one as we never did dinner w/o the kiddo)

 

[DCLtravler]

I love the idea of having a 24 hour breakdown for each day showing what things are a
vailable so we can use it in conjunction with our Navigator to keep track of everything. Thanks for organizing this!



I would love to sit with DISer friends too, but my brother and I have already requested our same servers from our January 2010 cruise who will be on this cruise, we liked them a lot. So we dont want to jeopardize our request by complicating it with tablemate requests on top of server requests- hopefully we'll be with some DISers anyway, or at least meet some fun people either way!

Oops, I'm sorry if I misunderstood this original suggestion...I was thinking that we would request the same dining rotation so that we were all at the same restaurant at the same time. That way all of the kids could see when their buddies were done and leave together.

 

[KayR]

Our kids have always been old enough to look after themselves and they ALWAYS show up for supper but I have a friend who is cruising in Septemer. Her kids are 4, 6 and 8. She has asked me about meals in the kids clubs. If your kids are there over lunch or supper, do they get them something to eat or do you have to go and spring them? I thought maybe they would offer snacks or pizza or something easy. Can any one wise me up?

Thanks for joining! Please click on the link and add in your information (it's a likes/dislikes kind of thing!)



They will take them to the buffet usually if I remember correctly. Someone else may be able to advise you on this as I always picked my daughter up for meals. At that age however, if your friend wants them to join her for meals, she will need to sign them out (ok..noq that I think about it - the 8 year old might be able to sign themself out but not 100% sure).

On our last two cruises, they would take the kids upstairs to the buffet for dinner. Lunch was usually brought in, but sometimes it may have been in a restaurant and followed by an activity.

However...

I have been reading a thread about the recent changes in the kids clubs and there are reports that they no longer take the kids up to the buffet (in fact they don't take the kids out of the club/lab much at all) and that food was brought into the clubs for dinner.

If that is the case, I am not impressed with the changes. I thought initially that the changes would be good, but not sure now.

-Kay

 

[sak0526]

Urgh, cold!! didn't want tcruise cold!! Can you define cold though? We all react differently. though if it's not bathtub almost I dont do water. But what about ports and evenings on ship. Do i need more than a sweater -well again that's relative. lets do degrees - in americcan - that's farenheit i think? like is it 70 or 50? Sorry to be picky bt at 70 out of sun i have a sweater around my shoulders, but DH doesnt till maybe 60 or less. thanks!

 

[DCLtravler]

Urgh, cold!! didn't want tcruise cold!! Can you define cold though? We all react differently. though if it's not bathtub almost I dont do water. But what about ports and evenings on ship. Do i need more than a sweater -well again that's relative. lets do degrees - in americcan - that's farenheit i think? like is it 70 or 50? Sorry to be picky bt at 70 out of sun i have a sweater around my shoulders, but DH doesnt till maybe 60 or less. thanks!

Sorry to make you panic =0). I don't think my idea of cold would be what most people think. Cabo was about mid to low 80s during the day. We were able to lay out comfortably. At night it dropped to low 60s maybe, but keep in mind we were moving so the "breeze" didn't help. In Jan, water temp should be in the mid 60s

 

[sak0526]

Sorry to make you panic =0). I don't think my idea of cold would be what most people think. Cabo was about mid to low 80s during the day. We were able to lay out comfortably. At night it dropped to low 60s maybe, but keep in mind we were moving so the "breeze" didn't help. In Jan, water temp should be in the mid 60s

Melissa, Well 80s should be good. i'll dress for 60s at night - bring stuff i mean to layer. thanks! DH will be very happy to hear prob not 90s!

So DD2 is on royal caribbean as we speak. (left from baltimore, saved air fare and time - hers in both cases). she feels like they nickel/dime you the whole time, no mints on bed either! If you forget to turn your towel in at pool they charge $20!! (you have to swipe a room key to get one). They dont let you bring any drinks (alcohol or not) on board. but seems they charge for evertying. and they have to skip st thomas because of the storms!!

DD1 didn't say if the storm is affecting the Wonder. Sounds like we're gonig to have a great time on it though - she's loving life so far on the ship!

Have a good day! Home for lunch - back to work now!

Sherri

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Melissa, Well 80s should be good. i'll dress for 60s at night - bring stuff i mean to layer. thanks! DH will be very happy to hear prob not 90s!

So DD2 is on royal caribbean as we speak. (left from baltimore, saved air fare and time - hers in both cases). she feels like they nickel/dime you the whole time, no mints on bed either! If you forget to turn your towel in at pool they charge $20!! (you have to swipe a room key to get one). They dont let you bring any drinks (alcohol or not) on board. but seems they charge for evertying. and they have to skip st thomas because of the storms!!

DD1 didn't say if the storm is affecting the Wonder. Sounds like we're gonig to have a great time on it though - she's loving life so far on the ship!

Have a good day! Home for lunch - back to work now!

Sherri

OMG I would hate that nicke and dimed feeling, seriously you have to "check out" towels? That is ridiculous. I have no desire to try another cruiseline. I love DCL and I would hate to deal with stupid crap like that, especially for a long cruise like this one!

 

[izma]

Thanks for the answers. I will pass them along!

 

[JenKatt]

Cabo was ok, air temp wise in May. But the water was easily in the low 70's in mid-May.

I know for us Floridian, California will be down right cold unless they're having a warm spell. I love Florida in January. I can get away with jeans, a t-shirt, maybe a cardigan or sweatshirt with flip flops. I'm going to have to remember to pack warmer stuff for all of us for California (and hope we don't need it!)

 

[Tinkerbel129]

Urgh, cold!! didn't want tcruise cold!! Can you define cold though? We all react differently. though if it's not bathtub almost I dont do water. But what about ports and evenings on ship. Do i need more than a sweater -well again that's relative. lets do degrees - in americcan - that's farenheit i think? like is it 70 or 50? Sorry to be picky bt at 70 out of sun i have a sweater around my shoulders, but DH doesnt till maybe 60 or less. thanks!

Sherri....same neck of the woods as you....thinking the same thing.

In Jan, water temp should be in the mid 60s

was curious as to water temps for that time of year.....Dh & I love to snorkel, haven't tried diving yet, but thinking about the discover diving. Would like to know a bit more about water temps on Mexican Riviera for that time of year.


I didn't notice anyone post the...
Hey, We are officially under 130 days......129 a special number to me!

 

[LindaBabe]

Cabo was ok, air temp wise in May. But the water was easily in the low 70's in mid-May.

I know for us Floridian, California will be down right cold unless they're having a warm spell. I love Florida in January. I can get away with jeans, a t-shirt, maybe a cardigan or sweatshirt with flip flops. I'm going to have to remember to pack warmer stuff for all of us for California (and hope we don't need it!)

Except January 2010! It was SO cold in Florida, this New Yorker was wearing my entire parka system AND a turtleneck AND long underwear AND a polar fleece hat and gloves for most of my 3 week stay. <--this is what COLOR I was - brrrrrrrrr.

(Yes, it gets colder than that in NY, but up here, I'm in by the fire not outdoors trying to have fun!)

 

[granmaz]

Except January 2010! It was SO cold in Florida, this New Yorker was wearing my entire parka system AND a turtleneck AND long underwear AND a polar fleece hat and gloves for most of my 3 week stay. <--this is what COLOR I was - brrrrrrrrr.

(Yes, it gets colder than that in NY, but up here, I'm in by the fire not outdoors trying to have fun!)

Oh my goodness it was a cold winter in Florida. We were there for 6 weeks from early February, and it was cold just about the whole time. Winds straight from Canada(thank you). The best day we had was when we were setting off to come home, honestly. We worked up a sweat for the first time taking the luggage out to the car!!!! Brrrrrrr.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Except January 2010! It was SO cold in Florida, this New Yorker was wearing my entire parka system AND a turtleneck AND long underwear AND a polar fleece hat and gloves for most of my 3 week stay. <--this is what COLOR I was - brrrrrrrrr.

(Yes, it gets colder than that in NY, but up here, I'm in by the fire not outdoors trying to have fun!)

I know we were in WDW 12/30/09-1/2/10 before our cruise, and it was pool weather the first day, about the same for NYE luckily since we were outside in MK literally all day/night, and then rain 50s the 3rd day. It was sunny the day of the cruise on 1/2 but still only 50s, but we still sat by the pool since luckily it wasnt breezy, which makes a big diff. HOWEVER when we got back to PC on 1/9, it was dreadfully cold- 30s and rain! I was stunned. Just running out the car to lunch at DTD and back was torture. I would have died if my vacation were there longer than 1 day. This is why I'll never do WDW that time of year unless its for NYE again because that was awesome. Like you said, I'm from NJ and we get colder up here a lot, but we're not outside trying to have fun! I'm indoors 99% of the time and when I do have to go outside, I'm remote starting my car from inside the house/office so I dont have to be tortured!

 

[Tinkerbel129]

I know we were in WDW 12/30/09-1/2/10 before our cruise, and it was pool weather the first day, about the same for NYE luckily since we were outside in MK literally all day/night, and then rain 50s the 3rd day. It was sunny the day of the cruise on 1/2 but still only 50s, but we still sat by the pool since luckily it wasnt breezy, which makes a big diff. HOWEVER when we got back to PC on 1/9, it was dreadfully cold- 30s and rain! I was stunned. Just running out the car to lunch at DTD and back was torture. I would have died if my vacation were there longer than 1 day. This is why I'll never do WDW that time of year unless its for NYE again because that was awesome. Like you said, I'm from NJ and we get colder up here a lot, but we're not outside trying to have fun! I'm indoors 99% of the time and when I do have to go outside, I'm remote starting my car from inside the house/office so I dont have to be tortured!

Nicole, What was the temperature at Castaway like for January?

 

[disneylove69]

PIF I am on the FE, Mickey exchange and I haven't played cribbage since I was little but always willing to relearn and I have a friend who would also like to participate. If we need some tutors I am there I love working with the elementary age group the best. I do feel sorry for them though getting to be on a great ship and studying.

 

[JenKatt]

Nicole, What was the temperature at Castaway like for January?

We were there in January of '09 and it was in the 80's.

This past winter was a fluke (it had better be anyway). There were many a mornings I was so glad I got the heated seats in my car!!!

 

[carmie3377]

My I've missed a lot! This thread is moving so fast. I'm going to try to keep up with it throughout the day. I for sure can't let a week and half escape by!

Anyway, I went back through the last 25 pages (where i posted last) and I didn't see where anyone has requested to be in the SmugMug photo sharing. If you are interested, please check the link in my signature and make sure you are added just in case I did miss someone

As far as January weather in Florida, I'm sure it's normally pleasant. However, the one time we were there (early January 2008), we just about froze the first few days! We were bundled up as much as we could but it was still so cold and it was so windy, making it feel so much worse. I even ended up leaving the MK early because it was miserably cold and crowded. Now, I'm a Southern girl so I don't handle cold very well but everyone was saying it was cold. But the last couple days of our trip was extremely nice. On January 2 & 3 we were bundled up drinking hot cocoa and still freezing but by January 6 & 7, we were eating ice cream and sweating! Sounds like the crazy the weather we have here in Texas!