DCL is really good at spilling the beans..LOL!

[sweetpee_1993]

Soooooo, recall that we're surprising our two teenage boys with a January cruise out of Galveston for Christmas. As per our usual, we've been watching the availability of the concierge suites like hawks contemplating the odds and cost of a port upgrade from our verandah stateroom. Weeeell, looks like the surprise is on me....only the surprise was a lot sooner than my poor husband wanted it to be....again....

I was laying in my bed with my pooch over here in Alabama at my parent's house (we live in Texas) all snuggled up half dozing when my phone rings. It was a 407 area code. Who could be calling me from Orlando???

Bless his heart! When I answered my phone I was thinking, "Oh no! What's wrong?! Why is DCL calling me?!" Then the gentleman introduced himself as part of the Shoreside Planning Team and I knew. Total sweet-Holy-Moses-what-did-he-DO moment. Not griping. Not that I don't appreciate it because I do. The poor husband has been working 6 days a week, 10-12 hour days. He's just tooooo dang sweet to me! Ugh! Spoils me rotten no matter how hard I try not to be all high-maintenance and all that jazz! LOL! See?!?!

I think I've got him all calmed down now. I was talking to my mom who asked what all perks come with concierge level on the Magic. Then I realized the boys can have Palo now because they will serve us from the Palo menu in our stateroom. THEN it hit me that I don't have to go to any of the dining rooms if I don't want to, don't have to dress up in dresses or wear those evil heels or anything because they'll serve us from any/all of the menus in our stateroom. Of course we'll go to the dining rooms at least some but still, WOW! Nice to have the options! You shoulda seen me dancing around the front porch freaking out over that, tho. It was so funny!

And so, Disney isn't so swooft with surprises but TAMMY sure is!!! I love this woman! LOL! Now we're contemplating whether to tell the boys about the upgrade on Christmas when they get their cruise gift or wait until we're at the port boarding and let it unfold. Woohooooo!!!

 

[TDF]

Damn… Disney always ruining peoples surprises! Glad you got an upgrade though…. lucky you! We are going on a 3-night for spring break and all the suites are sold out or just not available… Yikes!

I would keep it a surprise… what’s bette then a Disney cruise and a surprise upgrade at the port!
- Justin

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks, Justin! Keep an eye on the staterooms, you never know when one will pop up for you. I was definitely surprised just not exactly when the hubby wanted me to be. LOL! He was pretty mad but then he said Tammy told him she would do all she could to keep me from finding out. It's just not in the cards when I'm the planner and all the contact info is mine, I guess. I'm glad I found out, tho. When I was on the phone with the guy I was so utterly shocked I was all but speechless. Now I have several requests I'd like to make! Now I can email them back and provide a list! LOL!

 

[TDF]

Thanks, Justin! Keep an eye on the staterooms, you never know when one will pop up for you. I was definitely surprised just not exactly when the hubby wanted me to be. LOL! He was pretty mad but then he said Tammy told him she would do all she could to keep me from finding out. It's just not in the cards when I'm the planner and all the contact info is mine, I guess. I'm glad I found out, tho. When I was on the phone with the guy I was so utterly shocked I was all but speechless. Now I have several requests I'd like to make! Now I can email them back and provide a list! LOL!

So out of surprises comes good. I’m sure the hubby couldn’t keep it in anyway if he wanted to.

 

[harveyt0206]

What I appreciate most about your family and your stories is that all four of you obviously have a huge amount of love for each other. So many of my friends are going through divorces or spend next to zero time with each other. It's nice to see a family spend time together AND be happy about it.

Have a great cruise. I'm right there with ya on the not having to get dressed up bit. If I could have anything delivered from any menu??? Oh, it would so be on. Dinner on my verandah every night, thank you.

 

[Minthorne]

It is because of people like you who answer telephone calls that we can't plan special surprises anymore!!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So out of surprises comes good. I’m sure the hubby couldn’t keep it in anyway if he wanted to.

So true! He woulda popped within a few days, I bet! LOL!

What I appreciate most about your family and your stories is that all four of you obviously have a huge amount of love for each other. So many of my friends are going through divorces or spend next to zero time with each other. It's nice to see a family spend time together AND be happy about it.

Have a great cruise. I'm right there with ya on the not having to get dressed up bit. If I could have anything delivered from any menu??? Oh, it would so be on. Dinner on my verandah every night, thank you.

Awww...you are so, so sweet! Ugh! Well, we aren't perfect by far, believe me. There was a time we were on the very verge of throwing in the towel, too, but decided to rethink it and find our way thru the problems. I'm often perplexed when other family & friends go thru divorces and such. I don't think of us as all that different or special so I wonder why or how it is that we're different from others. I dunno. It's a thought I never seem to find an explanation for. Right now Tracey is working so much we don't get to see a lot of him at all. We text and call and talk all that we can, tho. Definitely treasure the time we can escape and be together! Really stinks right now because I'm in Alabama with 1 kid while the other is home alone in Texas while Dad is mostly working. We're counting the days until they fly in over here! I'm ready for the apart part to be OVER! 2 weeks in different states is brutal!!!

Um, heck yeah on the not dressing up! I'm sure we'll hit the dining rooms some on cruise casual nights but it's nice to have other special options available! Woohoooo!!! Tracey wants me to see if our waiter from our May cruise is still onboard so we can request him. That's sooooo cool!!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It is because of people like you who answer telephone calls that we can't plan special surprises anymore!!!

I'm sorry! LOL! I didn't know who it was! I saw an Orlando area code and was clueless! I do have friends and ex-family who still live there although I don't tend to get phone calls from any of them. I figured something was wrong. Scared me! Plus, I was half dozed-off so I wasn't thinking super clear either. Poor hubby. He's all excited with me now, tho. Even if I hadn't answered the call, I imagine they'd have left me a voicemail and I'd have still had the beans spilled. LOL!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe they called you!!! They told me they took off all of your contact info!!
Wahhh!!! Tell Tracey I'm so sorry!!!
I got all the confirmations and I thought we were good.
I just logged in for the first time today and when I saw your thread title, I almost screamed!! I was hoping this was the last surprise thread that had been bumped.

But on a happier note, I am so excited for you!! Your husband is awesome.

 

[tiaragirl]

KELLY IF YOU DO NOT GO TO THE DINING ROOMS AND DRESS UP I'M GOING TO BE MASSIVELY FREAKING UPSET WITH YOU.

HEELS ARE NOT EVIL, THEY ARE A PRIVILEGE.

Listen to me, I keep you young(er than you already look and act and feeeeel).

 

[sweetpee_1993]

KELLY IF YOU DO NOT GO TO THE DINING ROOMS AND DRESS UP I'M GOING TO BE MASSIVELY FREAKING UPSET WITH YOU.

HEELS ARE NOT EVIL, THEY ARE A PRIVILEGE.

Listen to me, I keep you young(er than you already look and act and feeeeel).

Heels were created by men, Kenzie. I know this because they don't wear them. They're awful & make my hoofs hurt. We'll prob'ly hit the dining rooms at least once but it's 99% sure those nights we'll order in or hit Topsiders will be formal & semi-formal nights. We've spent enough on the cruise. I'm not dropping another grand for us to buy clothes we'll wear all of 2 hours. No way! I'd rather put that moolah towards the next adventure! We'll call it "selective spending". LOL!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

KELLY IF YOU DO NOT GO TO THE DINING ROOMS AND DRESS UP I'M GOING TO BE MASSIVELY FREAKING UPSET WITH YOU.

HEELS ARE NOT EVIL, THEY ARE A PRIVILEGE.

Listen to me, I keep you young(er than you already look and act and feeeeel).

Alright, Kenzie. I gave in. Bought the formal gown today. And sparkly, scary heels. Eek! Renting tuxes for my guys. Figured it was an investment with 3 cruises this year. Gonna have to practice in these scary shoes!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Alright, Kensie. I gave in. Bought the formal gown today. And sparkly, scary heels. Eek! Renting tuxes for my guys. Figured it was an investment with 3 cruises this year. Gonna have to practice in these scary shoes!

Yay!! Can't wait to see this trip report!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks, Tammy. I was hoping to find something with a print but time is growing short. I ended up with this one:

http://www.impressionbridalstore.com/gallery.php?cat=29&p=56&c=d

Still needs some alterations but it's really pretty on. I'm quite a bit curvier than the model in the picture so I bring a lot more va-va-voom to the table.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

That is gorgeous! I love it! That color must look great on you.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The color is really flattering! Thanks!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

The color is really flattering! Thanks!

You are very welcome!
We are homecoming dress shopping this week for Ally! So fun!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

You are very welcome!
We are homecoming dress shopping this week for Ally! So fun!

It's the shopping that I hate most. Ugh! I dunno. I'm still kinda meh on the dress. It worked and I'm short on time. I shouldn't fuss. It's like this dilemna: keep it and wear it even tho I'm not loving it or shop more. Which is the lesser evil? Right? Even tho the shop where I bought the thing has a pretty firm "no returns" policy I just found out that Discover Card (looooove!) has a no-holds-barred, doesn't-matter-what-the-reason-or-store-policy 100% satisfaction guarantee. They'll refund me 100% of the dress cost if the shop doesn't up to $500. Um, yeah. That works. LOL!

The dress I really wish I could find??? This bad boy right here:

http://www.newyorkdress.com/Jovani/2737.html

Or this, although I'm not real sure how I feel about the pleated look:

http://www.newyorkdress.com/Allure/A401.html

 

[Disneyfalcon]

It's the shopping that I hate most. Ugh! I dunno. I'm still kinda meh on the dress. It worked and I'm short on time. I shouldn't fuss. It's like this dilemna: keep it and wear it even tho I'm not loving it or shop more. Which is the lesser evil? Right? Even tho the shop where I bought the thing has a pretty firm "no returns" policy I just found out that Discover Card (looooove!) has a no-holds-barred, doesn't-matter-what-the-reason-or-store-policy 100% satisfaction guarantee. They'll refund me 100% of the dress cost if the shop doesn't up to $500. Um, yeah. That works. LOL!

The dress I really wish I could find??? This bad boy right here:

http://www.newyorkdress.com/Jovani/2737.html

Or this, although I'm not real sure how I feel about the pleated look:

http://www.newyorkdress.com/Allure/A401.html

I love the shopping!
That's crazy about the Discover card!
Those dresses are totally you. I can see you wearing them.
But the one you got is great too!

 

[Phonedave]

Alright, Kenzie. I gave in. Bought the formal gown today. And sparkly, scary heels. Eek! Renting tuxes for my guys. Figured it was an investment with 3 cruises this year. Gonna have to practice in these scary shoes!

Good for you. Nothing wrong with dressing up a bit.

As for your guys. I think I paid $150 for my tux over 10 years ago. Go to a rental shop and ask them if you can buy last years model. One year three buttons are in, the next two button, or maybe it is notched vs shawl collars - rental shops have to change their lines to keep up with the trends. As long as it is not something outlandish (poweder blue with ruffles I'm thinking) it should last many years. Mine has more than paid for itself in saved rentals over the years.


-dave