Anyone for the 12/12/04 Wonder??

[BethC1952]

PattiPB:
I think everyone (including me) from North Jersey spent at least one childhood vacation in Wildwood! Our last non-Disney vacation was spent in Las Vegas (for DS's wedding). I can't wait to go back there!

The verandah's not a surprise anymore. DGD told grandpa that we would have a "front porch" while we were on our cruise (she's mad that she can't go with us this time).

Beth

 

[PattiPB]

Beth: We love living here. It's a bit different from NJ, but that's not necessarily bad! LOL!!! Just returned from San Diego---now that is a perfect weather location!!!

Where did you stay in Vegas and where was the wedding?

We are hoping to do Wildwood/NJ/NY/DC next summer for two weeks.

 

[BethC1952]

We stayed at New York, New York for the first two nights and then spent six nights at Luxor. The wedding was at Excalibur. We had a great time, and Excalibur took care of all of the details and the ceremony was lovely.

I have to agree with you about the weather in San Diego. I was out there for a week about eight years ago, and I loved it.

I'm heading to DC for a few days for business in mid-September, and I can't wait. Then it's off to Atlantic City for a week (business again) in mid-November (no, I'm not a teacher!), and then it will be time to start packing my suitcases for my annual Disney trip! This will be our fourth DCL cruise, so I know pretty much what I need to pack and what I can do without (I like to travel as light as possible). We plan on having a very busy week at WDW before the cruise, and then having a very relaxing cruise. I hope we have a chance to meet while we're on board--I haven't had much luck meeting DIS'ers while cruising. I only met one (are you still here, Maureen?) during my 12/2002 cruise. I tried to meet up with Ohmom last December, but things never worked out, although I think my neice met her daughter at the kids' club.

Where are you from in North Jersey? I'm originally from Jersey City myself, and DH is from West New York. As you can see, I live in Long Branch now, within a block of the ocean.

Beth

 

[PattiPB]

My counter is at 100 today!!!! However, we will be at WDW for 10 days prior to the cruise, but all of you must be at/approaching/below the 100 day mark!!! LET'S DANCE!!!!

Beth: I worked at the TI Wedding Chapel for two years. The large casino chapels do a GREAT job of coordinating elegant weddings. You stayed in a great part of town, too.

We ARE teachers (who never went to WDW during "Jersey week"!!). DH is in a year-round school (where our kids go), so he is off from Thanksgiving through New Year's. I haven't been teaching in Vegas, but hope to go back within the year now that my youngest is in First Grade.

I was born and raised in Montclair, taught in Livingston (both Essex County) and we lived in Basking Ridge (Somerset County) before moving here in 1996.

We need to try to set up a meet for the cruise. I have no idea how to arrange it, but I'll try to make it!

 

[music777.com]

We are getting close to the 100 day mark. Going to Georgia first then AKL.

JJ

 

[BethC1952]

When it gets closer to cruise time, after the 60 day mark when everyone is confirmed, I'll see what I can do about arranging a meet. I expect to be on the ship fairly early that day. This is the first time we'll be arriving by limo instead of by Disney Transportation, so we'll be out of the hotel early.

Anyone who is interested in either helping me coordinate something or in attending the meet can either post to this thread or pm me. My email is a bit unreliable at the moment because we're changing servers and it's all up in the air.

I look forward to meeting everyone on 12/12! Let's start getting some excitement going here!

Beth

 

[PattiPB]

I will definitely try to attend the meet, but as a first-timer, I have no clue when or where to arrange it!!! LOL!!!

Did everybody get airfare? I got my trusty SW $99 each way flights.

Did everybody see the December car thread on the transport board? They helped me save a TON of money by sharing codes I hadn't thought to try!

 

[BethC1952]

I've never arranged a meet either, although I've cruised before. However, as part of my job I arrange all kinds of meetings and gatherings, and I'm pretty familiar with the ship, so I'll start thinking about it.

DDIL is arranging the airfare for us (she has a lot more spare time than I have). It looks like we're going to fly out of LaGuardia for around $90 round trip! She's taking care of that today.

We were among the lucky ones who got email and postcard discounts for our hotel stays, so that's taken care of.

We always use Tiffany Town Car for our ground transporation, although this will be the first time we'll use them to the Port. This gives me time to catch up on some work like checking my email and a few other things while we're on the way.

I'm starting to get excited for this vacation, but I have two business trips I have to survive first, althought they're both to really great places--one week in Washington DC in September and one week in Atlantic City in November! Once I'm back, I can start getting into "vacation packing mode". My family says there's no living with me once I start that!

Beth

 

[music777.com]

It's great to see everyone's countdown clocks under 100 days. I can't wait.

JJ

 

[PattiPB]

I know it's waaayyyy early, but anybody wondering what ports we will visit?????

 

[music777.com]

I am sure that our ports will remain the same. Nassau is already accepting cruise ships after Francis and Castaway Cay will be ready by then. Barring any late season hurricanes that barrell through right before we cruise.

JJ

 

[bossladypu]

My husband and I, our daughter and husband and their two daughters and my son's daughter will all be on the Dec. 12 Wonder. We then will go to MK for a couple days and stay at Pop Century. We cannot wait. My husband and I have been on the 4-day before and the 7-day Western, but want to experience the Christmas themeing plus see it through our grand-daughters eyes. They will be 11, 10 and 6. My daughter is really worried because if they go to the clubs the six-year old will be by herself, but I told my daughter with the six-year olds' personality she'll make a lot of friends.

 

[BethC1952]

The Christmas decorations are really nice. It's hard to imagine that it can feel so "Christmasy" when it's so warm and tropical outside (although if you're from somewhere that's warm at Christmas it's probably not so strange!). I love the fact that there's usually holiday music playing in the hallways.

On our first Christmastime Cruise (12/2002), my husband was really enjoying the Christmas music, dancing down the hallway (with his 75 year old father!) to what may have been James Brown's "White Christmas". They were acting like two absolute idiots (and they hadn't been drinking, either), and laughing and having fun. So much fun, in fact, that they didn't notice someone's room service dishes (fortunately, they had already eaten the meal) on the floor outside a doorway, and danced right into them! All those aluminum covers can make a lot of noise when they're bouncing off the wall! We still laugh every time we think of that. I promise that I'll make DH behave himself this time, though, and his dad's not coming with us.

I'm starting to get really excited for this trip. I'm getting ready to pack for my trip to DC on Sunday, and just having my suitcase out where I can see it makes me want to get cruising!

Beth

 

[music777.com]

Beth,

We went on the 3day cruise in Dec2002. I think it left the 4th. Can't remember exactly. This will be our first 4day.

JJ

 

[BethC1952]

We were on the 4 night right after that--we sailed on Dec. 8. My boarding picture is hanging here in the office over my desk so I can see the date. We like to sail on the second Sunday in December. That way, the Thanksgiving rush is over, the Christmas rush hasn't started, we're home in time for the holidays, and I get to do some of my Christmas shopping at WDW and in Nassau.

Beth

 

[momof2tx]

I have a son turning 5 on the disembarkation day (12/16) and a 3 year old daughter.

Will we meet up at anytime on the ship?

 

[BethC1952]

Will we meet up at anytime on the ship?

I certainly hope so! I guess it's time to start thinking about a meet. I had orginally planned to be at the ship early, but will now be spending a few extra hours at WDW with son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and taking Disney Transportation to the port. However, I will be happy to start setting up a meet. If you've been on a DCL cruise before and have an idea where you'd like to meet (or a time), either post to this thread or PM or email me. A lot of people like to meet on the first day so that they already know some people on the ship. My personal feeling is that the first day is very busy for those of you who are trying to sign your kids into the clubs or get reservations for spa services or Palo.

Let me know what you want to do, and we'll start having cruise fun ASAP!

Beth

 

[music777.com]

I am all paid now, so I guess I'm going

JJ

 

[BethC1952]

I'm paying mine off on Tuesday!

It's amazing how quickly the time rushed by while I was worrying about getting all the money together so that I could pay it off. Now the money is in my bank account, and time has come to a standstill! These will be the LONGEST two months of the year!

Beth

 

[music777.com]

Now I need to pay off my stay at the AKL. Booked them seperate.

JJ