We were the Magical Family! + report - p.2

[joseph'smom]

talk about luck! Just back from our Wonder 3 night cruise..and we were picked to be the Magical Family! We were treated like royalty! I will post all the details, tell you tips on how to get FREE stuff- yes FREE- and give you some advice. Also , things I wish I had known ahead of time. I am still floating on clouds right now...will post tomorrow

[tjbaggott]

Can't wait! I'll be watching! popcorn::

[bobbie0253]

I have no idea what that means... I'm new...LOL But it sounds super exciting! Can't wait to read all about it.

[joseph'smom]

It means that out of 2,700 people, we were chosen to get tons of free surprises for the entire trip. It was unbelievable.

I can't wait to share some great tips...although I haven't a clue how we got picked, other than they said we were such a "cute family." And NO, we did NOT wear matching t-shirts or anything...speaking of t-shirts, your children can get FREE ones even if they do not participate in the kid's club- just ask guest services for one. That's one of many tips to follow...including how to get really cheap cute souvenirs!

[stsomewhere]

excited to hear the tips... we are sailing in a few weeks

[ChrisMouse]

popcorn::

[disneynewbee]

Congrats!!!! Can't wait to hear all about your perks.

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Congrats on being picked! That is very cool. Can't wait to hear about all of your perks. :cool1:

[tink,too]

Congratulations! :goodvibes Can't wait to read more. :)

[WishingMom]

Ohhh...exciting.

[nicki.momof3]

Subscribing

[joseph'smom]

Okay- details on being Magical Family- On the first night, around 7:00, we went into our room and there was a letter congratuating us on being selected to be the Magical Family of the cruise. The letter was from guest services. It said to expect prizes and personalized service during the cruise. And there was a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries.

So I couldn't stand it- I had to know more- so I went up to guest services and played dumb....I asked if the letter was a trick- and was told that 2 families are picked each cruise at random...but then they said tey picked us because we were cute. So I have no idea why we were picked. Later I'll post pics- you'll be able to see how ordinary we look although my 6 yr old son is a knock out :).

Okay, back to perks...we rec'd lots of food gifts twice a day. My son rec'd a stuffed Mickey, autographed pics of all the characters, a pin for trading. We rec'd a nice certificate, tickets to use at Castawy Cay - we were able to snorkel, get floats and use the boats free.

The best part was the reception they had for us- the Disney stars were there (although these stars were SNOBBY except for the teen band All Star). The reception was for all conceirge guests and the Magical Family. It was very cool.

The whole experience was amazing. It was a great cruise- even without being selected. I'd love to know what made us stick out- maybe it was when I jumped up and down when I saw Mickey for the first time (in my life.) Maybe someone saw my son run behind a lady who had lost her pin lanyard and give it back to her. I just don't know...but I am so appreciative. Okay later I'll post tips on how to save some $$$.

[Pooh_Friend#1]

How cool, glad you enjoyed your trip.

[wcw57]

You guys must be pretttttyyyyyyy cuuuuuute!:thumbsup2

How exciting for you! I look forward to detailed reports and be sure to tell us more about the snobby stars (names...must have names) and what made them snobby. I can't imagine wanting to become famous and then treating your fans rotten.....makes no sense to me.

I would post pics of my family to see if you guys think we're Magical Family qualifiers, but, with the exception of my little ZuZu (the cutest little girl in the world), you can just recall the Addams Family and get an idea......:rotfl2:

[woody73]

Congratulations.

Woody

[joseph'smom]

There were not many neg. things but let me get them over with:
1) The Disney "stars"- Jason Dolley- wore his sunglasses even at night- traveled with an entourage and was always "roped" off and untouchable- at least I thought so. Chelsea Staub- saw her mom a lot- never saw Chelsea or Nicole Anderson. the Band "All Star"- sweet, gracious and pleasant- happy to be there and happy to mingle- awesome kids!

2) Teenagers- played on the elevators all night and basically just tried to impress each other with their obnoxiousness. There were only a dozen or so like this though...

3) Okay- this will not make some of you happy with me- but I wasn't all that impressed with the food- some things were amazing, but I liked Carnaval's food better. My son LOVED the chicken strips, and all the fried unhealthy food. The Cookies BBQ was good.. Shrimp cocktail at Tritons awesome. My steak at Parrot Cay- way OVERcooked. Asked for medium, got well done. But that's okay- I ate it anyway...Most desserts were good...

4) The weather - no one could control that- but, alas, Castaway Cay beach was closed except for about 2 hrs. We did get to snorkel, float and play, but it was over way too soon. It rained almost the entire time we were docked at CC.

5) Light up JUNK at Pirate Night- the things they sell break so quickly. We exchanged two things that quit working within 5 min of purchasing. The 3rd thing quit so I asked for a credit. Save yourself $ and buy some light up sticks for the kids ahead of time...

That is really all I can think of. The good stuff- and there is a lot of that- is coming soon...

[joseph'smom]

1) Kid's program t-shirt- my son didn't participate but I asked guess services on last night and they gave me one and even let me pick out the color. It says "Friendship Rocks" with the boat.
2) At Mickey's Mates you can buy a 3 piece pin set that makes up the boat. It is $6 for all 3 pins. Then your kids can either keep them or trade them on the last night with the officers and get pins they like better. We bought 2 sets, kept one set and traded the other. Pins are normally $7-$11 EACH!
3) The lotions and shampoos- I asked our stateroom host a a couple more and he brought me 4 of each- I bought little basket from dollar store and put the lotion, shampoo, conditioner in basket along with a small trinket. This is our gift to grandmas.
4) If you spend $30 at Mickey's Mates, ask for the free keychain- it is really really nice...
5) I am not sure if this is because we were the Magical Family, but they have rice crispy treats on a stick in the shape of Mickey's head. They were out at the concierge reception that we were invited to- see if you can get those- they are packaged and make nice gifts for kids...
6) Take the stationary in your room and wrap it around a water bottle for a cute souvenir. Give someone that and a small gift...cheap but cute.
7) Don't forget the Mickey Ice cream bars.
8) Deck 4- Disny Vacation Club- ask them for the button and kid tatoos. I asked for 2 and they gave me 5.
8) Character pics- ask the person assisting to take a pic with YOUR camera- they take really good pics!!!!
That is all for now- more to come

[Narnia_girl]

Congratulations on your special trip and the perks. How exciting!! I guess Magical family of the cruise is different from Family of the day who boards first?

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip. And sorry about your CC day. :sad2:

[tink,too]

Glad your negatives list was quite short. :goodvibes

Looking forward to reading about your special treats. :)

[joseph'smom]

We were not the Family of the Day...this is something different; I was told 2 families are selected for the Magical Family. The cruise was great fun - even without the extra...but so glad we got to get the snorkeling gear free because we had not planned to do that and it ended up being my son's favorite part of the trip...

[joseph'smom]

Trip Report Day one: Wednesday:

My DH made res. at Holiday Inn at Cocoa Beach. I was happy that he took the initiative to do this yet very scared having read so many bad reviews. Sure enough, we got there and our oceanfrot room wasn't available "yet." Me: "Um....it's 6:00 and check in is at 4. What's up?" Guy at hotel: "We are working on getting things fixed in that room." me: "Did somebody get murdered in there or what?!" guy: "If you'lljust wait a few min we will get it ready." Meanwhile, my husband and I have decided there isNO WAY we can stay here...very creepy place IMO. Ten min. later...Guy: "I am sorry but that room is not going to be avail. There was a flooding issue. But we do have a villa." Me: "I want to see the villa before we decide." Saw the villa- SCARY! So we hightailed it outta there. We decide to stay at Sheraton Four Pts. which is beside the Ron Jon surf shop. Paid $130 (actually CHEAPER than HI would have been!) and the room was decent- clean. We have a great night chillin' at the shops and eating at the Shark Shak. Souvenir opportunity: Ron Jon has a package of 10 nice big starfish for just $10. You can make awesome ornaments with them and use Disney ribbon for a cute gift...

Day Two: Thursday...waiting to board

We get up, eat a very exp and overpriced breakefast at Omelete place and head to the terminal. We got there at 9:45, unpacked luggage. Husband had to wait for parking lot to open. Very easy unloading, etc. At 10:00 we are in the line and are the 3rd family to check in. It's a breeze. We get our pics made for the KTTW card and we sit down. We saw the SNOBBY stars walk by and they are put in a separate room. That's the only time I will see Chelsea and Nicole, except for their mandatory appearances.

We get DS wristband and pager for kid's [program.

Around 10:45, Mickey shows, I squeal and jump like a kid - we are 2nd in line to meet him. I may have shed a tear even. This is a dream come true for me- I finally get to see the characters in person...

Finally at 11:45 they call group 2 and.....

More to follow. I have lots of pics but can't post- assume b/c I haven't been a member long enough??

[anetnmike]

This is really exciting! Thanks for sharing your experience! Can't wait to hear more!

[joseph'smom]

cont'd day 2...now boarding...

So we walk into the ship - we are on Deck 3 midship...they call our names...we walk some and are told to go to Parrot Cay for lunch. So that is where we go. It is a buffet; I honestly can't remember what we ate, but I'll go ahead and tell you that the food did not impress me that much...After PC lunch, we go to the Mickey Pool, put on our bathing suits and have a great time waiting for 1:30 to go to our rooms. My DS has the slide all to himself- he slid at least 30 times. My DH and I get our first drink. Don't know what it was called but it was so so yummy, red on top, white on bottom...so good. At 1:30 we go to our room...Deck 2 forward, room 2028. No luggage but no worries...We check out our room...wow- so glad we got the free last min. upgrade from Cat 12 to Cat 9. Love the big porthole. MMMM...that shampoo smells so good- had to ask for more...I really can't remember what we did leading up to the 3:30 drill...but at 3:30 we go to our station and lucky us...it's at the theater- inside! YAY. no heat.

The drill was quick and easy. We went back to room, our luggage is there, and we change to go to the bon voyage party. From 4:30-5:00 we dance and have a great time. We see all of the characters, see the SNOBBY stars, All Star band looks happy to be there at least...We count down from 10-1, and wait, wait , wait. DH notices lots of police at the terminal. It's now 5:45- why haven't we left??? And then the captain's voice is heard. over the mic....

[Narnia_girl]

Trip Report Day one: Wednesday:

My DH made res. at Holiday Inn at Cocoa Beach. I was happy that he took the initiative to do this yet very scared having read so many bad reviews. Sure enough, we got there and our oceanfrot room wasn't available "yet." Me: "Um....it's 6:00 and check in is at 4. What's up?" Guy at hotel: "We are working on getting things fixed in that room." me: "Did somebody get murdered in there or what?!" guy: "If you'lljust wait a few min we will get it ready." Meanwhile, my husband and I have decided there isNO WAY we can stay here...very creepy place IMO. Ten min. later...Guy: "I am sorry but that room is not going to be avail. There was a flooding issue. But we do have a villa." Me: "I want to see the villa before we decide." Saw the villa- SCARY! So we hightailed it outta there. We decide to stay at Sheraton Four Pts. which is beside the Ron Jon surf shop. Paid $130 (actually CHEAPER than HI would have been!) and the room was decent- clean. We have a great night chillin' at the shops and eating at the Shark Shak. Souvenir opportunity: Ron Jon has a package of 10 nice big starfish for just $10. You can make awesome ornaments with them and use Disney ribbon for a cute gift...

Day Two: Thursday...waiting to board

We get up, eat a very exp and overpriced breakefast at Omelete place and head to the terminal. We got there at 9:45, unpacked luggage. Husband had to wait for parking lot to open. Very easy unloading, etc. At 10:00 we are in the line and are the 3rd family to check in. It's a breeze. We get our pics made for the KTTW card and we sit down. We saw the SNOBBY stars walk by and they are put in a separate room. That's the only time I will see Chelsea and Nicole, except for their mandatory appearances.

We get DS wristband and pager for kid's [program.

Around 10:45, Mickey shows, I squeal and jump like a kid - we are 2nd in line to meet him. I may have shed a tear even. This is a dream come true for me- I finally get to see the characters in person...

Finally at 11:45 they call group 2 and.....

More to follow. I have lots of pics but can't post- assume b/c I haven't been a member long enough??

Wow that is scary about that hotel. We initially had ressies there too, so glad we cancelled!! I'm glad you got a good place to stay.

I think you should have enough posts to add pictures. Have you got a photobucket account for them?


...but at 3:30 we go to our station and lucky us...it's at the theater- inside! YAY. no heat.

The drill was quick and easy. We went back to room, our luggage is there, and we change to go to the bon voyage party. From 4:30-5:00 we dance and have a great time. We see all of the characters, see the SNOBBY stars, All Star band looks happy to be there at least...We count down from 10-1, and wait, wait , wait. DH notices lots of police at the terminal. It's now 5:45- why haven't we left??? And then the captain's voice is heard. over the mic....

oooh you are lucky, it was broiling at our muster station. Sorry about the Snobby stars, too!!! :snooty: :snooty: :snooty:

[joseph'smom]

...captain on the mic..."Thereis a security issue but we hope to leave soon..." I now know there was a luggage that the dogs didn't like the smell of...so we didn't leave until 7:15...which is when we our first pin tradin experience started. It was SO much fun and so addictive. My son had 10 pins that I had bought him. He was hoping to find Star War pins, but no such luck on 1st night. We did meet some really nice pin traders who were so patient with my son. The CM were so kind and gave them their lanyards so that he could get a really good look. We traded for about an hour. Then time for dinner at Parrot Cay. I requested the ribeye (I think) cooked medium. Um....got it very well done...wasn't very good. I think Ryan's steakhouse is better than that steak. Ouch! Oh gosh, somewhere between the drill and dinner we did go to the Golden Mickeys...and everyone was holding seats. It was ridiculous! I only needed 2 freakin' seats! Finally found them...sat down...and..."Mommy, I need to potty." !&*#^ So we lose our seats....once we get back in and find more seats the show starts...well...not really...the cruise director talked and talked and talked. So much so that my son got agitated and couldn't take anymore. After the openeing act with Snow White (who is my FAV character!) we left. more to come....

[joseph'smom]

...cont'd

Sometime during the 1st night we are notified in the form of a letter and choc. dipped straw. that we are the Magical Family. Um...awesome! Also, we get pics with Goofy. After our somewhat average meal, we went to the shops where I found a great deal on the cruise pin- set of 3 for $6 and they are tradeable. Each one is so cute alone, but to put them together and the the ship design is awesome. I bought 2, one for a cheap set to trade and one to keep. Joseph found two Star Wars pins, so we got that and since we spent $30 we got a nice keychain that looks like a pin, oh wait it can be a pin.. By this time it's 11 and we decide to call it a night- Joseph is DYING to order room service...so...we did...and he was asleep when it arrived. Also in the room when we get back is another letter with tickets for the snorkeling/floats/boats at CC. Joseph rec'd a nice stuffed Mickey.

Day 3...Friday...Nassau.

We didn't arrive in Nassau until 10:45 due to our late departure from Cape Can. I forgot to mention that a lot of people got sea sick the night before...I am not sure if we were traveling faster to make up time or if the sea was rough, but thank GOODNESS for the Sea Bands- They work! And I ALWAYS get sea sick. I could def. feel the boat moving but never got green or ill.

So we decide to walk around in Nassau and after 30 min we were DONE. We went back to the boat, changed into swimsuits and get a taxi to the beach at Paradise Island. Cost is $4 pp for cab...we are taken to a public beach but you can rent chairs and umbrellas. AND there is a bar. It's all good! The water is amazing there. We had a great time...until....lightning. We are the only ones who seem concerned enough to get out of the water. We decided based on the approaching storm to go back to the boat. As we walk back and get a taxi, the bottom drop and it begins to pour. Thank goodness we were already in the cab. Everyone else got soaked. By the time we got back to the terminal the rain had stopped and it was MUGGY....more later

[conandrob240]

Whic beach did you go to? The one adjacent to Atlantis or a different one?

[joseph'smom]

Whic beach did you go to? The one adjacent to Atlantis or a different one?

Honestly, I was so confused I don't know. Someone said it was Cabbage Beach. It was right near all the Atlantis stuff but not right beside it...

[joseph'smom]

Nassau cont'd..
Okay we are back at the place you have to go in to to get back to the boat. There I see a most beloved sight....DIET MTN DEW!!! I HAD to have one....at $3 it was the most expensive yet best one I've ever had.

So we get back on the boat and husband decides to take a nap. I refuse to take naps on this vacation. I want to get all I can out of it. So my son and I explore. This is when we find the DVC booth on deck 4. I asked them and they gave me buttons and tattoo sheets. We also ran into some characters so we got autographs and pics taken care of.

This was pirate night so they were setting up the stuff to sell. We went back to the room and got ready for pintrading round 2. I must say the CMs were so awesome. They remembered that my son was looking for Star Wars pins and when we got there one of the CM showed my son one she had gotten and he immediately traded to get it. He cont'd trading until our dinner time. We ate at Tritons. I can't remember what I got. I am thinking the shrimp for appetizer was here - and it was very very good. But my entree was not so great, of course I did ask for chicken....

[IrenicMom]

Did you happen to get a picture of the activity on the dock while we were delayed? I didn't - I was stressing out too much about my luggage being out there!!

[joseph'smom]

Did you happen to get a picture of the activity on the dock while we were delayed? I didn't - I was stressing out too much about my luggage being out there!!


No I didn't even think to take a pic...I was stressed that we would never get to leave or that there were hijackers on board.

[Scooby3x1y]

1) Kid's program t-shirt- my son didn't participate but I asked guess services on last night and they gave me one and even let me pick out the color. It says "Friendship Rocks" with the boat.
2) At Mickey's Mates you can buy a 3 piece pin set that makes up the boat. It is $6 for all 3 pins. Then your kids can either keep them or trade them on the last night with the officers and get pins they like better. We bought 2 sets, kept one set and traded the other. Pins are normally $7-$11 EACH!
3) The lotions and shampoos- I asked our stateroom host a a couple more and he brought me 4 of each- I bought little basket from dollar store and put the lotion, shampoo, conditioner in basket along with a small trinket. This is our gift to grandmas.
4) If you spend $30 at Mickey's Mates, ask for the free keychain- it is really really nice...
5) I am not sure if this is because we were the Magical Family, but they have rice crispy treats on a stick in the shape of Mickey's head. They were out at the concierge reception that we were invited to- see if you can get those- they are packaged and make nice gifts for kids...
6) Take the stationary in your room and wrap it around a water bottle for a cute souvenir. Give someone that and a small gift...cheap but cute.
7) Don't forget the Mickey Ice cream bars.
8) Deck 4- Disny Vacation Club- ask them for the button and kid tatoos. I asked for 2 and they gave me 5.
8) Character pics- ask the person assisting to take a pic with YOUR camera- they take really good pics!!!!
That is all for now- more to come

Just out of curiousity....what made you concierge? We were just discussing this on another thread.

[joseph'smom]

Oh I didn't concierge. We were the magical family so we were invited b/c of that.