Before the Magic- Pre-Trip 10/18-25 WC- Kruzin' 2008 About This Page:

[DyanKJ130]

Nice photos!! Was this in Galilee? Right by George's and Champlin's? Champlin's whole belly clams are our favorite!!

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by MyRapunzal

First of all I have to say... you cracked me up with the October babies comment! Me and Rob are both March babies--- so sometimes it gets a little too Pices here with our daydreaming and whatnot! I totally feel ya!

I still think a Boardwalk restaurant would be fun since you are already doing a DTD one. We are trying Spoodles but I have heard great things about Flying Fish and we also looked into Big River Grill since it has a microbrewery in it.
When you get back you HAVE to post a TR with lots of pictures! I am super excited to hear about everything! I want to stay at POFQ and a Disney Cruise will be like a dream come true!

I think the experts say you are not supposed to fall for someone with the same sign... Oh well, I think we have debunked that one, and the internet romance one, too... we met on-line, through a friend.
Thanks for the new choices. See, I hadn't looked into those and I think the BRG looks interesting.
I intend to do a TR, in fact, I just got in a bit of trouble for getting a camcorder on Ebay! Brenda couldn't understand why we needed one! My only response was: "But Honey, it's for the cruise!"... eventually, she agreed that it wasn't a bad purchase after all! I was in hot water for a few minutes, though...

Originally Posted by DyanKJ130

Nice photos!! Was this in Galilee? Right by George's and Champlin's? Champlin's whole belly clams are our favorite!!

Oh... You're good! Actually that was taken from the second floor dining room of, I think, Georges. It may be the other, but I remember Brenda talking about Georges of Galilee. That was the day after Labor Day when they were out of clams! We each had a lobster roll instead... mmmmmmmmmmmm good!

[MyRapunzal]

I actually thought Rob was going to go for BRG myself (I know it seems bad that I only let him pick ONE restaurant but I do the research so I usually know what he would like... lol) but he went with Cap'n Jack's in Dowtown Disney and since I knew we would want to eat at the Boardwalk since thats where we are staying so my thought process was like this-- we are already doing a fish place, Rob already passed up BRG, and I had heard good things about Spoodles. Boardwalk is also relatively easy to get to since you can take the water launch from MGM or Epcot or just hop a bus in DTD from POFQ.

[DyanKJ130]

Originally Posted by Kenny

Oh... You're good! Actually that was taken from the second floor dining room of, I think, Georges. It may be the other, but I remember Brenda talking about Georges of Galilee. That was the day after Labor Day when they were out of clams! We each had a lobster roll instead... mmmmmmmmmmmm good!

I had a feeling you might be near or in George's. Champlin's is just to the right of that parking lot. There is indoor and outdoor seating on a second floor (above an ice cream place, I believe). You order at a window and wait for your number to be called...you know, typical counter service and they're pretty quick. Sometimes the line snakes down the stairs, around the building and into the parking lot! George's is a little more 'high end' with waitresses, but the service isn't always consistent and they are frequently out of things. (As your wife unfortunately experienced! ) Still yummy stuff though!

[NanaTink]

Originally Posted by Kenny

No, Melissa, we have not made our choice... did I mention we are both October babies?.. Choices are hard to come by around here!

Originally Posted by MyRapunzal

First of all I have to say... you cracked me up with the October babies comment! Me and Rob are both March babies--- so sometimes it gets a little too Pices here with our daydreaming and whatnot! I totally feel ya!

Two more March babies here....late March...you know, Aries THE RAM???

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by MyRapunzal

I actually thought Rob was going to go for BRG myself (I know it seems bad that I only let him pick ONE restaurant but I do the research so I usually know what he would like... lol) but he went with Cap'n Jack's in Dowtown Disney and since I knew we would want to eat at the Boardwalk since thats where we are staying so my thought process was like this-- we are already doing a fish place, Rob already passed up BRG, and I had heard good things about Spoodles. Boardwalk is also relatively easy to get to since you can take the water launch from MGM or Epcot or just hop a bus in DTD from POFQ.

One restaurant out of, what, like 10...15?.. Aren't you the generous one! (He probably would rather you pick them ALL!)
Too bad you can't take the water launch from Port Orleans to Boardwalk. I remember that we passed Boardwalk on the way to DTD, but I don't think it stopped.

Originally Posted by DyanKJ130

I had a feeling you might be near or in George's. Champlin's is just to the right of that parking lot. There is indoor and outdoor seating on a second floor (above an ice cream place, I believe). You order at a window and wait for your number to be called...you know, typical counter service and they're pretty quick. Sometimes the line snakes down the stairs, around the building and into the parking lot! George's is a little more 'high end' with waitresses, but the service isn't always consistent and they are frequently out of things. (As your wife unfortunately experienced! ) Still yummy stuff though!

Brenda confirmed George's. It was lunchchtime and the second floor. We were almost the only ones there at the time. Those lobster rolls were de-lish!! This may be in front of Champlin's then:



We took a walk on the beach for a few minutes after lunch.

Originally Posted by NanaTink

Two more March babies here....late March...you know, Aries THE RAM???

Are you trying to say that there is a lot of head butting around your place?!!

[Kenny]

OK, it’s a cruise, for goodness sake! Isn’t the itinerary pretty much laid out for you? Well, that’s what I was thinking until I realized There are a lot of pre-planning things to do on a cruise. There are excursions, Palo, Palo, and, of course, Palo (dinner,brunch,and high tea)! You have spa treatments… there are a lot of plans an Itinerary Nerd such as I, can make.

First, I should point out that I have been looking into these cruises for several months, now and didn’t know all there is to know! For instance, I knew the REAS package included the ability to make Palo dinner reservations at 105 days out… but, I didn’t know, until I went to make our Palo dinner reservation, that you could make Palo brunch and high tea reservations also at 105 days! And book excursions and spa treatments at 105 days, too. I didn’t have any spa treatments to book, but I took care of Palo. We are still considering excursions.

So, here is what we have, now:

·Thursday Oct 16: The day before the day before. We may go to Cincinnati and get a room since we live about 3 hours away from the airport. Depends on my work, if I get in in time, we might do this, otherwise we will leave early Friday.

·Friday Oct 17: The day before the Cruise. Make our way to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport and then to the Delta Airlines check-in. Catch our flight to Orlando at about 10:55 am. This is a direct flight that gets in about 1:01 pm. We will board DME to Port Orleans French Quarter. I think we will arrive about 2:30-3:00 pm. Check into our room and take a break for about 2-3 hours. About 6 pm, we will probably be going for dinner, to be decided.

·Saturday Oct 18: The Cruise Begins! We will board the DCL bus for Port Canaveral and the Magic! Nothing special planned today… except, maybe, the most exciting day of the millennium!

·Sunday Oct 19: Key West and our 10 year anniversary celebration. Our plan is to do the Conch Train on our own today. We will make stops at the Southernmost Point, and somewhere for Key Lime Pie, other than that, I don’t know. Today, we will celebrate 10 years of marriage, 6 months and 3 days early. As an aside, today is my Mom’s anniversary, so she will no doubt get a call from Key West! We should get cake at dinner tonight!?

·Monday Oct 20: At Sea; Palo High Tea. No plans for today except Tea at Three!

·Tuesday Oct 21: Grand Cayman; Palo Dinner. We may get off the ship for a while, mainly just to say we’ve been there.

·Wednesday Oct 22: Cozumel; Brenda’s Birthday. We really don’t know if Brenda will swim with the dolphins here, but she did say that since I bought that camcorder she just might spend the money on the excursion! Hey, Ken.., I mean, Brenda gets cake again tonight!

·Thursday Oct 23: At Sea; Kenny’s Birthday, Palo Brunch. Nothing planned today except Brunch… and Kenny gets cake again tonight!

·Friday Oct 24: Castaway Cay; Last full day on the Magic. I’m pretty sure we will get off here and explore the island a bit from the tram to Serenity Bay anyway.

·Saturday Oct 25: End of Cruise; Back to POFQ. Back to the World. Fulton’s for seafood tonight.

·Sunday Oct 26: Fly Home today; The End! Back to reality… Bummer!!. At least we get to fly First Class!

Well, that’s it for now. The excitement is building….

Up Next: More DCL mail… isn’t life great?!

[chezp]

What awesome plans! And yes, you're right, there's lots of planning to do for a cruise for planning nerds like us.

[DyanKJ130]

Originally Posted by Kenny

This may be in front of Champlin's then:

I was thinking that blue canopy looked like Champlin's, but it was hard to read so did a search and found this:

Small world!


Great update!! You're teasing me with Cincinnati! (My favorite ball player is on the Reds! ) Your itinerary looks great!! I'm sure you are going to have a wonderful time!!

[MyRapunzal]

Sounds great! You must be so excited... especially because I am so excited for you just so I can read about it!

[NanaTink]

Your plans look wonderful, Kenny, though I am concerned about one eensy weensy little thing...
are you sure...are you very very sure...that you are getting enough cake in your diet (it had to be asked)

Sounds like you really have a wonderful cruise planned out! I can't wait to read all about it.
Guess I need to start my pre-trip!

[retiredkid]

Great plans, Kenny! The only thing I would say ( my 2 cents worth ) is to definitely get off the ship at Castaway. That was our best day of the whole cruise.!!

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by chezp

What awesome plans! And yes, you're right, there's lots of planning to do for a cruise for planning nerds like us.

We have to finalize things and get packing lists started and arrange for the pets to be boarded and make sure the bills are paid up and and and.... whew! I'm already tired! I need a vacation!

Originally Posted by DyanKJ130

I was thinking that blue canopy looked like Champlin's
Small world!
Great update!! You're teasing me with Cincinnati! (My favorite ball player is on the Reds! ) Your itinerary looks great!! I'm sure you are going to have a wonderful time!!

OK, the picnic tables are not, but the blue canopy in the background sure is Champlin's! Brenda doesn't know Champlin's. She wanted me to ask if you remember an amusement park, Rocky Point, she used to go there as a kid. Yes, a small world it is.

I have always used Columbus airport, and that's the one we use for my work. But I couldn't get first class tickets out of Columbus for our dates and got, not only first class, but a direct flight to boot out of Cincinnati. The Reds have always been my ball team, but I haven't kept up with them for several years. Now that I have XM radio, I keep saying I'm going to get back into baseball because I can follow all the games, but I haven't yet.

Originally Posted by MyRapunzal

Sounds great! You must be so excited... especially because I am so excited for you just so I can read about it!

I am SOOOooo excited!!! Now I just have to get DW to really get into it with me (did I mention that she's from New England?) She's there, she just can't let it show too much yet. I think we are the opposite of you and Rob... I'm the excitable one, she's more down to earth! But... do you know what she asked me yesterday?? "How would you like to cancel our Disney Cruise and go on a cruise next spring with some music stars we like! I couldn't believe she asked me that. Of course I said: "NO!!" and she said: "just kidding!"
Hon, I think your excitement here and for your own trip is half the reason I'm so excited!

Originally Posted by NanaTink

Your plans look wonderful, Kenny, though I am concerned about one eensy weensy little thing...
are you sure...are you very very sure...that you are getting enough cake in your diet (it had to be asked)
Sounds like you really have a wonderful cruise planned out! I can't wait to read all about it.
Guess I need to start my pre-trip!

I really don't know about the cake... I'm really, really... no, I mean REALLY, hoping our table mates are celebrating something on our off days and are willing to share!!
I may have started this PTR a bit early... I don't know when I will get another update together. But it sure is FUN!!

Originally Posted by retiredkid

Great plans, Kenny! The only thing I would say ( my 2 cents worth ) is to definitely get off the ship at Castaway. That was our best day of the whole cruise.!!

Well, considering the fact that your 2 cents is worth a LOT more than my 2 cents these days , we will take your advice and get off the ship at Castaway!

[DyanKJ130]

Oh boy! Sure do remember Rocky Point!! DH was a much bigger fan of the place - I wasn't so crazy about the smell of some of the rides when walking around - kind of like an oily/greasy smell. DH says he never noticed a smell You should get your wife You Must Be This Tall as a surprise. I bet she would it! DH did!

Great score on the airline tickets! I keep hoping that the Reds would perform better! I would also to see them back at Fenway Park!