Disney Wonder - Galveston to San Jaun - January 20, 2017

[Angel Rae]

It's adorable! You have to get it.

 

[pixiehallow]

I have requested a reservation for our mixology, and am waiting for a response from the onboard group planner to get back with me. We still need at least 5 more participants to guarantee a reservation in advance.
I am going to try to post this at the top of each page (going forward ) so new members won't have to search to find out what we are planning.

~Planned activities ~
(Meets, cabin crawls, mixology, etc )

Mixology
(will need a minimum of 20 - must be 21 or older)
Currently interested:
Pixiehallow (2)
SunI17 (2 )
StefunnyD (1)
MNnice (2)
Sian (2)
Bbrown (2)
ColoradoMrs (2)
DesertGal(2)​

Pre Cruise Meet for Harbor House
Pixiehallow
MNnice
StefunnyD
Zoijmvs
BBrown
crystalsnowseekins
Mngirl80
westonkamom
asperle
alaskanabbott
MNMommyof2
Grumpy's Group
Angel Rae​

____________________________________________________

Cabin Crawl
(with or without poker)
Currently interested:
Pixiehallow
alaskanabbott
MNnice
Angel Rae
westonkamom​

​

 

[pixiehallow]

Today was our planning party for this month!
Our theme this month was 'Mustard' Drill.
The back story to the Mustard drill is.....
We wanted to stick to a cruise centered theme - Muster Drill (for those new to cruising, this is a fun 15 minute informational meeting you must attend with all of your ship mates prior to setting sail) ~ Mustard Drill.
For the Mustard drill we pretend that we have just spilled mustard on our outfit, and we have to change for dinner. This has turned into some what of a race over the years. Everyone gets timed trying on each outfit, and a picture is taken of each outfit as well (with pictures, there is no more "what was I wearing with that ").
When all of the fun is over, and we have had our cookout (hot dogs of course) and our mustard yellow cupcakes. I get to make a chart that will include day time and dinner outfits for each day. I will also add in the time it takes each person to shower and wash their hair. Plus shaving and mommy prep time. When all done, I will know how early we need to get up to make it to our excursions, and what time each person needs to be back to the cabin each day so that we make it to dinner on time.
Yes, I know my OCVPD is worse than you had imagined. But, since we started doing this, prep time has become stress free!

~ Tink ~

 

[pixiehallow]

Happy Monday everyone!!!!
14 Mondays until our cruise!!!!
My cruise countdown slider actually says 3 Months and 3 Days.
Woo Hoo!

This weeks Monday Forget Me Not is inspired by the email I just got from Disney Cruise Line warning us about the Zika Virus.
(In case you did not see the email, I am attaching it to the end of my reminder.)

Anytime you travel to areas that are prone to mosquitoes it is a good idea to plan a defense plan. In central and south Texas, this is a battle we prepare for in early Spring every year. If you are not used to fighting of this sucky pest, I have a few tips.

You will read in the email from Disney that a bug repellent with DEET is recommended. However, several people are severely allergic to DEET. There are good repellents out there that are DEET free. Bull Frog sells what we call bug screen. It is a sunscreen that has a bug repellent in it. Also, we use Sun X towelette sun screen. This company also make a bug repellent towelette (there are actually quite a few companies that make an easy to use towelette applicator including Avon {Skin So Soft}).
If you want to stay away from the liquid / lotion type all together, there are bug bands available (little stretch bracelets, or live strong type of bracelets). There are a few different types out there (if you would like a picture of one, I can post the type that we got last season from groupon. Theirs advertise that 1 band lasts for 100 hours...we find that about 3 days is the limit). As I just mentioned, you can find them on groupon. If you are in an area that does not have a mosquito problem, you may need to search some place like San Antonio or Houston's groupon page to find them. I have also seen a similar product in the camping section of our local Walmart. However, they are starting to run out of them this time of year, and they will usually not restock until early spring.
Finally, a solution that works for a good number of people ( I am not sure if the difference between working or not is due to blood type, or body chemistry), is peppermint oil (it is one of the essential oils). I know you can find the actual oil at health food stores, but we have found that anything with peppermint oil in it works. Mine and my youngest son's favorite is a hand sanitizer spray that has the peppermint oil in it. EO peppermint hand sanitizer is the one we get from Lucky vitamin (online). With the spray, you are getting the sanitizer, which comes in handy on the boat (we like to have more than just the sanitizer wipes they give you before entering the dining areas), and the peppermint all in one.

I would suggest putting what ever type of bug repellent you plan to use on your shopping list soon. The farther away from summer we get, the harder it will be to find.

Here is the email I received from Disney today (just in case you haven't seen it yet):

Important Information About Your Cruise

10/17/2016


Reservation #:

Dear...,

We appreciate you booking a Disney Cruise Line vacation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel alert for countries and territories in Latin American, the Caribbean and Bahamas where Zika virus, a mosquito related illness, has been found. They have also issued specific guidance for people living in or traveling to a specific areas in Florida.

The precautions recommended by the CDC are similar to those to prevent other mosquito borne illnesses and include wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using EPA-registered insect repellents containing an active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to the label. While the most common symptoms are usually mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes, pregnant women should pay special attention to the travel alert and take necessary precaution to avoid mosquito bites.

Additional information can be found under the Travelers Health and Zika virus update sections of the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices and http://www.cdc.gov/zika.

Should you have any questions related to your sailing, please feel free to call us at 800-939-2784 or 407-566-7000.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line​

 

[Angel Rae]

Thanks for the tips on mosquito!
I would like to add, since we have lots of kids, that peppermint oil (especially undiluted essential oil) is not recommended for children and definitely not on babies. It can cause respiratory arrest because of the menthol as well as other issues. Just don't want someone to use that on small kids. So little options we have for bug repellant for little kids

We have terrible mosquito and my poor kid has allergic reactions. I found a decent deet free option was cutters natural. I just found it this year. Its my go to now. Sure wish we didn't have to douse ourselves with chemicals to avoid disease.

 

[pixiehallow]

Thanks for the tips on mosquito!
I would like to add, since we have lots of kids, that peppermint oil (especially undiluted essential oil) is not recommended for children and definitely not on babies. It can cause respiratory arrest because of the menthol as well as other issues. Just don't want someone to use that on small kids. So little options we have for bug repellant for little kids

We have terrible mosquito and my poor kid has allergic reactions. I found a decent deet free option was cutters natural. I just found it this year. Its my go to now. Sure wish we didn't have to douse ourselves with chemicals to avoid disease.

Wow, thanks for the input on the peppermint oil. I was not aware of the child warnings. Our go to person at our health food / all natural supplements store did not tell us about that. Maybe it was because our little ones aren't so little any more, but if they knew, I would hope they would have said something. Anyhow, I looked at the warnings on our peppermint oil hand sanitizer, and its only warning was to supervise children under 6.
I am so glad you mentioned this. I will make sure to pass that on when ever I share the peppermint tip.
Would it be a problem for young kids to be around people that have used the peppermint spray? If so, I will make sure not to use it when we are in Galveston that Thursday before we sail.
Also, would having peppermint oil as one of the ingredients in the bug band cause a problem? It is one of the last ingredients (so, I would assume there is not very much of it), and from the scent, I never would have guessed it was an ingredient. The package says they are safe for kids.
And yes, it is sad what we have to do to stay well. My youngest is allergic to all stinging and biting insects and arachnids. And I have tried just about everything for him. I have not tried the cutters natural yet though. Mainly because, for some reason when I think cutters, I think DEET. I will look for it and give it a try.
Thanks again!!!

~Tink~

 

[Angel Rae]

Not really sure if the spray would have an effect on people in the surrounding areas. I wouldn't think so but I really don't know. I definitely wouldn't use it on kids under 6.
Peppermint is a rather potent oil so a good practice is to just NOT with kids. I am one to aire on the side of caution?
Bug bands I have no idea.
I guess the only thing i can say about peppermint is to avoid it with small kids and use with caution on older kids.

 

[westonkamom]

Finally just PIF tonight!! Super excited to check in Friday night. Please add us to the cabin crawl...we have one of the more obstructed view secret porthole rooms so some may be interested in seeing what that looks like. Thanks!

 

[pixiehallow]

Not really sure if the spray would have an effect on people in the surrounding areas. I wouldn't think so but I really don't know. I definitely wouldn't use it on kids under 6.
Peppermint is a rather potent oil so a good practice is to just NOT with kids. I am one to aire on the side of caution?
Bug bands I have no idea.
I guess the only thing i can say about peppermint is to avoid it with small kids and use with caution on older kids.

Thanks again Angel!!!

 

[pixiehallow]

Finally just PIF tonight!! Super excited to check in Friday night. Please add us to the cabin crawl...we have one of the more obstructed view secret porthole rooms so some may be interested in seeing what that looks like. Thanks!

Will do!
I am excited to see the secret porthole room too.

Oh, and yes, thanks for the reminder.
Attention all Silver Castaway members (any one who has sailed on at least one Disney cruise but under 6...even if only one member of the cabin meets the required number of sailings, the whole cabin is qualified) -
Your online check-in opens tomorrow night (Friday the 21st or very early on the 22nd depending on your time zone) at at midnight (12:01 AM) Florida time (Eastern time zone). So, if you are in say the central time zone, you can log in at 11:01 PM (your time) to start your check-in. **Side note, my travel agent advised me that if you are logged in prior to the exact time your window opens, you will need to log out and log back in again to begin the log in process.***
As long as you are paid in full, you will be able to complete all of the steps for on line check in such as signing your cruise contract (just a reminder, I highly recommend that you read over the contract with your kiddos - if they are old enough to understand rules - prior to arriving at the port), setting up your on board account (who will have signing privileges and so on), and picking your port arrival time. You will also be able to begin booking your on board experiences like Palo and Princess gatherings, and your shore excursions.
It is time to get excited.

 

[SunI17]

did you hear back re mixology? I know you said it'll be a sea day but don't want to have conflicts with other activities.

 

[Angel Rae]

What exactly is the mixology?
Obviously involves drinking which we probably are interested in! Lol

 

[SunI17]

Yes, its sampling a variety of drinks with the bartender and a group in a private setting. We need 5 more folks so feel free to sign up! There is a small fee.

 

[Angel Rae]

That sounds like a lot of fun! How much is it normally?

 

[pixiehallow]

did you hear back re mixology? I know you said it'll be a sea day but don't want to have conflicts with other activities.

I have not. They usually will not get back in contact with me until about 1 month out. But if you want to make plans, just let me know so I have a list of times / dates to work with when they do call me.
From past experience, we will most likely be looking at a sea day.

 

[pixiehallow]

That sounds like a lot of fun! How much is it normally?

Angel,
The cost is $20 per participant.
A little more about the mixology - Along with sampling the drinks (which our last class I think was around 7 to 8 drinks), you also have the opportunity to volunteer, and make the drinks. I was told, before my first class to volunteer when you get asked, it makes the class more fun. Because of how true the advice was, I suggest that to everyone now. I am not a big drinker, but I have fun making the drinks, and socializing with everyone in the group.
Funny story, on our last cruise, one of our class mates was pregnant (which the bartender picked up on our groups joking nature and made that a part of the fun for the rest of the class), so she was not drinking. However, she did volunteer. When she heard that we get to drink our own creation, knowing she would not be drinking it, she made one for her husband. When he took a sip, he let out a large gasp. She had added twice the alcohol, and 1/2 the flavoring. Oh, also, when there was a drink someone particularly liked, they would beg for hers. We had a few bidding / bartering times come up. Long story short drinking or not, we had a fun time.
Let me know if you want me to add you to the group.

 

[pixiehallow]

Attention Group 2 FEer's:
Please check the FE spreadsheet for updates.
Jenncardenas (the first cabin in group 2 ) had a cabin change. I have updated the spreadsheet with the new information.

~ Tink ~

 

[@jenncardenas]

Tink, you're probably talking about the same guy/tour we just booked this past week for when we're in PR.

Is it with Carlos? I love him!! What day do you have scheduled with him? We may be interested again

 

[pixiehallow]

Is it with Carlos? I love him!! What day do you have scheduled with him? We may be interested again

Yes , it was Carlos , but the only response we received was for a family of 10 , and Carlos could not accommodate 13. We were wanting to go on Thursday, but he is all booked up now.
We have been trying to find someone else with very little success.

 

[@jenncardenas]

Yes , it was Carlos , but the only response we received was for a family of 10 , and Carlos could not accommodate 13. We were wanting to go on Thursday, but he is all booked up now.
We have been trying to find someone else with very little success.

How about his son? Is he available?