3/24/07 - Western - Newb report - Pic Heavy

[Enderikari]

Hi there everyone - I am proud to introduce my first ever Trip Report!
..I'll wait for the applause to die down..

Go easy on me, I'm still getting used to this


Here is your cast of characters -

Me - http://bp1.blogger.com/_bNgSFr4TleI/RiA7SP47zbI/AAAAAAAAAfo/XJsl18HHMM8/s320/Jeff+birthday+067.jpg - Almost definately the biggest Disney Nerd you will ever meet (or not meet, depending on whether or not we ever meet, I guess). I love my job, and thus I work very hard at my job. I don't vacation very much, simply because I really don't get out as much as I probably should. I have gone on cruises before, but.... never on a Disney Cruise.:scared1: I know, I know.. A quality Disney nerd like me, not going on a Disney Cruise? It shocks most people I tell as well...

Luckily, to combat my reluctance to go on a vacation, much less a Disney Cruise, is my Dear Girlfriend Whom I Adore™ (DGWIA™).

She - will determine whether or not I post pictures of her, she's sleeping now, so I won't ask - A world traveler, an educated goddess... Smart, funny, and knows when my ego gets the best of me. In short, wonderful (why she puts up with me, I don't know). She convinced me to go on my first cruise more than a year ago, but because of my desire to gamble on vacation, we (RO) went (yal) with (Car) another (ribb) company (ean). A company which I won't name.

Another She?!? - Alright, its DGWIA's roommate and my good friend, she travel together, shop together, play together (but don't work together). Thus she will be a fun addition to our little cruise group.. Additionally, her parents are coming along to celebrate their anniverary. So, its more like they are a group of three, but another She is staying with us... Fun Acroynm™ for her to come later...

With that started - time to cue up the Go-Gos!
"Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away"

Coming soon -
Disboards as Vacation Planners
My Obsession with knowing absolutely everything
Port Canaveral and Tears of Joy
And Styx - That's right - Styx

[Floridagram]

This should be interesting! I hope you don't keep us waiting too long. :flower3:

[Babs417]

More more dont tease:thumbsup2 :goodvibes ;) :) :cutie:

[flafan]

Yeah A new trip report. I can't wait to hear more. :cool1: Please don't make us wait too long :rolleyes1

So far so good though:goodvibes

[nenner1]

Subscribing!

[Enderikari]

Pre-trip Stuff for discussion

... Hi everyone, My name is Enderikari and I am an internet addict...:surfweb:
Can anyone think of an invention that so changed the world we live in, created in my lifetime? God, I love the internet, Thanks Al Gore!

Now remember, looking at our cast of character, only I and DGWIA™ had ever been on a cruise before, and even then, only on a small, o(R)t(o)h(y)e(a)r(l) c(c)o(a)m(r)p(r)o(i)n(b)y(b...ean darn). Also, I have this unnatural, and kind of scary obsession of knowing absolutely everything...at all times.... about everything....

So... from the moment that DGWIA™ informed me we were going on a Disney Cruise(sometime in Feb), I sought out all the information I didn't know... And, there is only one place for that!

:woohoo:The Internet!:woohoo:

And let me just say, thumbs up to the Dis for being there when I needed a friend... Someone who could help me, guide me, mold me into a true Disney-Cruiseliner... Countless hours were spent logging in, lurking, laughing, crying, studying
and relaxing... http://photos.pe.facebook.com/v10/136/106/7005245/n7005245_30140286_6832.jpg
Before Dis -
"Cinderella Castle is 189 feet tall... Disney's Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the world, topping out at over 500 acres.. There are 17.3 miles of monorail tracK at Walt Disney World... Typically, advanced dining reservations for Cinderella's Royal Table are unavailable 179 days out... 1.3 miles of Utilidor underneath the Magic Kingdom..."
After Dis -
"Disney Cruise Line is the best... See the shows... Check in as early as possible, and make sure to rush off and change any dining you may need as soon as you board the boat... Christiaan is awesome... Make sure you bring a costume for the "Pirates In the Caribbean" party... It is possible for mid-20's friends to rock hard (and not in the turbulent way) on the Disney Cruise, sans children..."
Was the Official Disney Website good info? Sure... after all, I could make Palo reservations... But, when it comes to the nitty gritty, and every little detail... I had the Dis...

And I told DGWIA™ about the Dis (she loves y'all, and even referred me to trip reports I missed.) And she told our traveling companion, henceforth known as ALOHA™ (I'll think of the acronym later, until then, roll with it), and she started reading the Dis....

Do I get a commission? :scratchin

(Fun Side Note™ - During the months of planning, after I informed ALOHA about the Dis, we started talking up various trip reports... Though she had read many, many trip reports, ALOHA didn't recall reading about a lot of things DGWIA™ talked about... She also wondered why nobody ever seemed to finish trip reports.... It was then we found out that she didn't know each trip report had mutliple pages, and had only read the first page of every thread...) :laughing:

But the cruise is fast approaching.... So time to cue up some inspiring music - Time for the first of many Jimmy Buffett to visit my trip report...
"Billy pulled in in a Jaguar
Red convertable sixty-five
Headed home to Mississippi, he'd been around the world
That black sheep uncle of mine
His ship had come in, he was looking to sin
Singing his own song
When he yelled from the drive, my heart came alive
'Jimmy boy come along'

It's time to see the world
It's time to kiss a girl
It's time to cross the wild meridian
Grab your bag and take a chance
Time to learn a Cajun dance
Kid you're gonna see the morning sun
On the Pascagoula run"

Still to come -
Romantic Me
A ship, a terminal, and a Disney Nerd walk into a bar (Ouch)
Styx - Does it get any better?
Heck, I might even board the boat

[nenner1]

TWO trippies quoting Jimmy Buffett?

OMG I died and went to heaven!!! :cloud9:

(Love the shot in the Margaritaville chairs, btw.)

[DeloreanGirl]

Wow, it's like reading my future trip report, but in the past. And it's like ME, but you're a boy! Long lost twin? :laughing:

[Enderikari]

So, because I really want to start talking about going on the cruise... I will hop, skip and jump through the days leading up to the cruise... Suffice it to say, those days consisted a lot of me and DGWIA™ looking at one another, texting one another, or simply calling each other, only to exclaim, "We're going on a cruise!...

We're weird, I know and accept.. Moving on..

Day before - I bought DGWIA flowers... A milestone, marking the first time I ever bought her flowers
http://bp1.blogger.com/_bNgSFr4TleI/Rg_y6P9Qv-I/AAAAAAAAARw/CFWf7hmOdnU/s320/CRUISE+002.jpg
I know, I know... I'm bad... Been together for so long and never bought her flowers before? Well, its time to make up for that....
But did anyone notice BONE-HEADED MISTAKE™ #1?:rolleyes1 The day before the cruise, I bought her flowers... The flowers didn't go on the cruise with us... Therefore, upon return to home, flowers were dead... Well, she got several full hours of me giving her flowers... Good enough, right? Well, it doesn't matter too much because we are .....

GOING ON A CRUISE :banana:

Day of - Remember that WDW commercial where the kids couldn't get to sleep, because they were excited about going to Walt Disney World the next day? Remember the feelings everyone got on Christmas Eve, where they would lie awake waiting for the sun to rise to go and get presents?

Yeah, didn't happen to me...

I sleep well, and most of the time I sleep like a well-wrapped rock... And thus, the time that DGWIA™ and ALOHA™ agreed to meet was a little out of the question... or so one would think...
Let's just say I was lucky to have packed everything the night before, because I learned that when DGWIA™ wants to leave... She will grab on to my leg and pull me, covers and all out of bed...
I was lucky to get a shower (but then, everyone else was lucky I got a shower too)
But, excitement grabbed hold and soon we were on the road barrelling towards Port Canaveral... As I have the directional skills of a dyslexic gnat, we relied upon the leadership skills of someone we knew could set a course and keep us on it... A person we all know and love...
(Picture coming later... stupid websites)
Captain Mickey!

Thanks to the leadership skills of M.M. We made it to the Port on time, checked in, received a number 5 (thanks Disboards for letting me know what that meant)... And settled in...
And by settling in, I meant.... picture time!
(Pictures coming later... stupid websites)
(ditto)
(ditto)

Finally, our number was called... And guess who's job it is to carry on all the carry-ons? I'll give you three guesses, the first two don't count...

Who wants to see my backside? The guy, in the blue, carrying all the bags? Yeah, that's me... popcorn::
http://bp1.blogger.com/_bNgSFr4TleI/Rg_zjP9QwBI/AAAAAAAAASI/8SYJyHurn0M/s320/CRUISE+029.jpg

Hooray! We are on the ship!
Cue up some Muppet Movie Music-
"Movin' right along in search of good times and good news,
With good friends, you can't lose,
This could become a habit.
Opportunity knocked once, let's reach out and grab it,
Together we'll nab it.
We'll hitch-hike, bus, or yellow cab it.

Movin' right along, foot-loose and fancy free.
Gettin' there is half the fun; come share it with me.
Movin' right along
We'll learn to share the load.
We don't need a map to keep this show on the road."

Coming up-
The Room, The TV?
Styx - Come on, I know you all are waiting for it
Remember when I said Disney Nerd? I mean Disney Nerd...

[Babs417]

The ship The ship

[nenner1]

You're right.

I am waiting for Styx.

:confused:

[rdy2bpampered]

popcorn:: popcorn:: :banana: popcorn::
Subscribing!!

Lovin' it... can't wait until we go on our first cruise!! It's gonna be a long summer!!!

:dance3:

[DreamCruiser100]

This is Great........Keep posting.............Hey, I know you, You drive a monorail don't you:lmao:

[Luv2Travel]

Pre-trip Stuff for discussion

... Hi everyone, My name is Enderikari and I am an internet addict...:surfweb:
Can anyone think of an invention that so changed the world we live in, created in my lifetime? God, I love the internet, Thanks Al Gore!


:lmao: Hi Enderikari, My name is Jessica, and I'm an internet addict too! :surfweb:

EXCELLENT beginning! I can't wait to read more!! popcorn:: Too funny that your friend didn't know to go to page 2 for the trip reports! :lmao: :rotfl2:

[plutospup]

...and Muppet Movie music, too!

[MagicMe]

Did I miss the multiple pages :lmao: or is this it so far?????

Flowers :flower3: the day before you leave :sad2: Nice idea but your timing was sure off :rolleyes1

Excellent start but remember, your readers get impatient and hate to wait for updates!!:thumbsup2

[sherrie]

subscribing and waiting for more please.

[JDBlair]

Definitely subscribing to this one. It has most excellent potential!! :happytv:

[Tink rules]

You had me at "Movin Right along"

I know all the words to the Muppet Movie and I won't admit how much beer it took that summer to do it!!!

[deaner]

Ok,joining in on the fun! :lmao: Keep it up you are doing great! :thumbsup2

Come on more details, more pictures and quickly! We have the fever. :rotfl2:

Patiently standing by.....:surfweb:

[Enderikari]

Sorry everyone - Remember how in the very first post I said

I love my job, and thus I work very hard at my job.
?

Well, now that I am off the cruise for awhile, the job has me again... But I am one of the rare few who absolutely adore what I do..

Anyway, short update before I pass out on the keyboard and post gibberish...

A special thank you to everyone who posts on the Dis... Without which I never would have known where to go to

A:Make Palo reservations (Did Enderikari and DGWIA™ go to Palo? Oh boy did we! More later)
B:Check with Guest Services for neato-keen stuff to sign up for? (Including one of my favorite DCL memories, as well as the chance to get schnokered)
C:Go to Topsiders to introduce ALOHA™ to the tip of the iceberg, at least as it pertains to the wonderful food you get while cruisin'

So, immediately upon boarding the ship, we rushed, bags and all (ok, I carried the bags, DGWIA™ and ALOHA™ kind of saundered unencumbered) to Rockin' Bar D to see the Palo availabilities... We held our breath with Antici - - - - - pation.

Imagine the light of the heavens shining down on us, with an angelic choir singing in harmony when we made both brunch and dinner reservations... DGWIA™, who was judging the future of our relationship based on whether or not we dined at Palo, was pleased as a peach... or is that pleased as pink? or pink as a peach...? hmm.. no... Tickled Pink? Could work but doesn't seem right... Let's just start over..

DGWIA™ was happy about the reservations, so we decided to try our luck at the casino table... Lacking that, we went to Guest Service to see the fun things we could do... And we signed up for fun things...
Let's see here...
Martini Tasting - Check
Beer Tasting - Double Check
Galley Tour - Triple Check

The trip was shaping up for what the ancient greeks called, "Pure Awesomeness"

Unfortunately, seeing as how it is late, and I have been working very hard.. I must pre-emptively stop what I was writing otherwise I will pass out on my desk, but not without a song before I go.
Maybe some Huey Lewis
"And if you want it,you got it forever
I could just stay here beside you and love you baby
Let the music (take your mind)
Just release and [you will find]

You're gonna fly away
Glad you're goin my way
I love it when we're cruisin' together
Music is played for love
Cruisin' is made for love
I love it when we're cruisin' together"

Coming Up-
The same stuff that was coming up last time... I really didn't get anywhere with this post... sorry.

Goodnight everyonesxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsccscfsdvdscscscdsd

[LITTLEKID58]

Great Tr TFS

[scottishwee35]

Hi

Waiting for more your report:surfweb:

Scottishwee35:thumbsup2

[GreenAcres]

Keep it coming! You're doing great!

Lisa