June 1 – 7, 2008 - Mexican Riviera Cruise Can't Contain the Excitement Pre-trip Report **Updated 6/4** About This Page:

[DyanKJ130]

What a way to celebrate your upcoming cruise! I'm sure your girls (they're adorable, BTW) will remember that forever! Can't wait to see what you're going to cook up next!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great party

[Grammy Grumpy]

Awesome way to get ready!!! I think you should do that every month or so until the cruise, and by the way, can I come?????

[disneycrazey]

That is SO fun! Wish we would have though of that! Less than one year for all of us in my house and I am the only one with a passport so far!! Well, we might steal your idea for the six month mark! Have a great eleven and a half more months!

[JaimeandChad]

That has got to be the coolest idea for a party ever! i reall like it and am going to borrow it okay? Thanks This is so ccol to have a TR starting a year in advance. Can't wait for more, don't forget to update when you find your DD birth certificate

[sueh818]

Originally Posted by JaimeandChad

That has got to be the coolest idea for a party ever! i reall like it and am going to borrow it okay?

Please do! It was a lot of fun. I'm glad it inspired you And like Grammy Grumpy proposed a little ways above -- mayble I'll do it again too...except I threw the decorations away...

don't forget to update when you find your DD birth certificate

I have made progress in this area. The story is a little embarrassing for me I'm sure you'll all enjoy that. I'll update in a few weeks.

[DrDolphin]

What a great idea with the kids to give them a vague idea about what to expect with the lifeboat drill, etc -- and to have a one year count down party!!!

[marisag]

This has been GREAt so far! I LOVE the party! Can't wait to read more!

[Disney_Scarlett]

What a great start to your TR! I'm so excited for y'all! Your girls are adorable. Love the idea for the party - too cute.

Hope you get the passports straightened out, and looking forward to more planning updates!

[Cheriemek]

What a great idea ! Can't wait to hear how the girls like the cruise.

[SusanW]

You are such a fun mom -- wow!

We are on the Aug '08 Mexican Riviera cruise, and I couldn't agree more about being excited we have THIS LONG to look forward to it! The planning/dreaming is at least half of the fun! I am soooo excited and feel so GRATEFUL we're able to do something that many others would only dream of.

Happy Planning!

[discruisin4ever]

I am so excited for you, you will have the best time !!! The anticipation and excitment is fun. Hope you have a wonderful time. Will be on the same cruise in August. Terri

[Kenny]

And I thought I was bad getting excited and getting my DW irritated with my obsessions to planning What GREAT ideas!!! You do give new meaning to my motto:
Planning is half the fun!!!

Kenny

[sueh818]

Quick recap --

Who:
Me – Sue
DH – Theo
DD1 – Chloe (10)
DD2 – Lucy (8)
DD3 – Cecilia (8)
DD4 – Daphne (5)

What:
June 1, 2008 Mexican Riviera Cruise on the Disney Magic, our first ever real vacation.



When I left off I was searching for my daughters' birth certificates so that we could apply for passports. Found three of them no problem. They were right where they were supposed to be. And right next to them where it was supposed to be, both copies of Chloe's certificate were missing. I searched everywhere! Three or four times! I finally gave in and sent off for a replacement copy.


The next day seeing as I wasn't preoccupied with finding the birth certificates, I finally got around to getting the loan papers out of the garage that Theo had been asking for. Of course, you know what happened. The birth certificates were right there misfiled with the loan papers. Who knows when or how they got there. It was such a perfect example of Murphy's law that I couldn't even be frustrated. It was too funny.


I thought it would be easier if the six of us when down and applied together, that way Theo could help corral and distract the kids. We couldn't go right away because he was waiting for a copy of his birth certificate. Three months later...it still hadn't come! Hearing reports of the months-long delays for receiving passports, I was getting a little crazy. It was the end of August and I was anxious to get it done before school started.


So I sucked it up and just took them in by myself one day. I had filled out the forms on-line, so the process was actually fairly quick and painless, albeit expensive! Then, of course, you know what happened...Mr. Murphy visited again the next day and his birth certificate arrived in the mail. Whatever! At least the applications were all in and the government could take six months to get us our passports if they needed to. Three weeks later I nearly fainted when I got the mail and there they were. I guess the government finally cleared up their backlog!


Not much happened cruise-wise for the next few months. For something to do, I got a copy of the Third Edition of the cruise passporter. And For Christmas I got each of us a Passholder Pouch for stocking stuffers. In January I started making stateroom door signs and Theo and I decided what activities and excursions we wanted. We also decided to splurge even more and get a limo to take us to the port.


Finally March rolled around. We paid off the cruise and waited for the 18th to register for activities and do the on-line check in.


Here's what we're doing:


Day 1 - Port of Los Angeles
Limo picks us up at our house at 9:00 am and drops us off in San Pedro by 11:00 am.


Day 2 - At Sea


Day 3 - Cabo San Lucas
Dolphin Swim for Theo and the kids. This one was Theo's choice. I'm fine to just watch and take pictures, thank you very much!


Day 4 - Mazatlán
City Highlights & Mexican Mardi Gras Fiesta. We both thought it would be cool for the kids (and us) to see cliff divers and traditional Mexican dancers.
Palo Dinner
I took the advice from my trusty passporter and scheduled for a port day. I chose Mazatlan because I believe that there is not one of the big shows playing this night.


Day 5 - Puerto Vallarta
Outdoor Adventure. This one was my choice. It's just Theo and I, of course. I had originally planned for the canopy adventure, but this new one sounded even better. It includes a zip line, repelling and a hike through the Sierra Madre jungle.


Day 6 - At Sea


Day 7 - At Sea
For our last day Theo thought it would be nice to try a couple massage. I get a massage a couple times a year, but this will be his first. So he knows I scheduled one, but what he doesn't know is that I ordered the Couple's Choice massage in one of the Spa Villas! That's going to be a surprise.


So that's all folks! During the next two months I get to count the days and play with all those fun e-worksheets in the reading room.

[disneydeva]

it is so exciting isn't it. We have a May of 2009 booked and I am so excited. Glad to read that I am not the only one who is counting the days.