March 12, 2011 Eastern Caribbean, Let's rock the Magic!

[Paragd911]

Hi , We had a GREAT time on the ship! Thank you for all the FE gifts!

A few photos of Shadow's retirement cruise!


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/paragd911/031-1.jpg
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/paragd911/068.jpg

This photos were off my veranda...

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/paragd911/074.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/paragd911/032.jpg

[candizfan]

Hi everyone.

We made it home last night by about 9:30 PM. Everyone is exhaused but we had a great time.

We lost DH's camera at Coral World but we are hoping someone turned it in and I emailed them today.

I hope everyone liked the magnets (pictures of the ships) and pins we gave out with the Canadian chocolate bars.

We had fun seeing what we received and some of you are so good at the crafts, I was amazed.

:woohoo:

[Ashansen]

Wow! What a trip....My head is reeling today, though, being "back at it". We also got in very late last night....and crashed! But back at work (and kiddos at school) early this a.m.!

FE gifts were GREAT! Thanks to everyone. And once I get unpacked I'll get to see again what they were! Seems like I just kept picking up packages. My kiddos LOVED it!

Sorry to hear about the missing camera...hopefully someone will turn it in. That is a bummer! Loved the Canada pins and candy (my DD8's teacher is from Canada...she decided we needed to give all the chocolate to her teacher, cause it will remind her of home! We'll see how much if any was left over! We might just be showing her the pins!).

We didn't get on the ship until after 3 due to our driver being a little late (he had driven a family to Por Canaveral a little earlier and before leaving found one guy that had forgotten his passports in a safe at his Disney property! So he offered to bring him back...he called us, so we were not concerned, just felt horrible for the guy who had forgotten his passports and had to come all the way back!).

We had a couple days in Disney before and after the trip. Loved doing it that way, but really was worn out by the time we hit the plane on Sunday. Now I have loads and loads of laundry to do when I get home....may take awhile!

Well....fantastic cruise. Cannot wait to plan another....shhhh, don't tell my husband!

Ashley

[Ashansen]

Just listened to the CD with my DD10 as she loaded it on her computer! LOVED IT! Thank you Shadow (and family!) for a MAGICal CD!

[Mickeyhugger]

This was a great cruise and we enjoyed meeting all of you. Keep in touch and hope to see all of you guys in the future.

We are booked on the Dream in Aug 16th 2011

Rob

[Paragd911]

Just listened to the CD with my DD10 as she loaded it on her computer! LOVED IT! Thank you Shadow (and family!) for a MAGICal CD!

Your welcome! I got the idea from another FE years back.
I need to update the songs ..i think.

[Michelle064]

Hi everyone,

Can't believe our dream cruise is over already. :sad2::sad2:

Thanks to all of you for answering my questions and helping to make our first ever cruise extra magical!

We had such a fabulous time. :cloud9: Laura was heartbroken Friday night and Saturday morning that she had to leave the ship. :sad1: I'll admit, I was pretty upset about it myself.

We had a great drive home...sunshine all the way. Unfortunately, they're predicting a snowstorm tonight and tomorrow, so the groundhog's prediction of an early spring was not meant to be! :mad:

I was all up for booking our next cruise onboard but I think DH and Colleen will need some time to think about it. I'm sure Laura and I will win them over!! :) ;)

Michelle

[candizfan]

I want to take a moment and thank Marcy for organizing this thread.

Thanks for taking on the fish extender list and setting up the DIS Meet on the first day.

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to plan another cruise, though we don't know when that will be at this time but we figure it will be March 2013 to the Mexican Riviera instead of the Caribbean.

Thanks again Marcy.
:goodvibes

[Ashansen]

I want to take a moment and thank Marcy for organizing this thread.

Thanks for taking on the fish extender list and setting up the DIS Meet on the first day.

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to plan another cruise, though we don't know when that will be at this time but we figure it will be March 2013 to the Mexican Riviera instead of the Caribbean.

Thanks again Marcy.
:goodvibes

I agree! Thanks Marcy for putting out the FE list (and all the revisions!). My kids had a great time delivering the gifts...and I was able to fill my "FE" suitcase on the way back with all my trip goodies! (here I thought I'd have an empty bag after delivering all of the FE things we brought!).

Ashley

[jennyh2829]

Joining in to say Thanks Marcy!! You are awesome!!

[dfamily]

Just adding my thanks to everyone for the great FE gifts. We've already enjoyed listening to the CD and most of the candy is gone! Loved the homemade gifts and all the magnets. It was a wonderful first Disney cruise and we're already counting down the days until our next one on the Fantasy in 2012. Thanks terimac for sharing info about rebooking onboard. Can't wait to enjoy our stateroom credit. :)

I'm an avid imovie user and put together a "trailer" of some highlights from our cruise if you'd like to check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c86Y2jcalt4

[candizfan]

That was a great video. Very well done. You make such a nice family!

Thanks for sharing.

[Stinasmom]

Do you all have your sea legs back? I noticed it most in the shower!:lmao:

Well, what a great cruise. What a great group of people to cruise with too!:thumbsup2

Thanks everyone for the "thanks!" I was glad to get this thread going way back on October 29th, 2009. Wow! that was over 16 months to wait! So glad to get to chat online with you all during that time.

The FE exchange was a great success too! Thanks everyone for the gifts! Some serious creativity and thoughtfulness went into everything. How fun it was find treats and gifts throughout the week. The stateroom attendants sure get a kick out of it.

Big thanks to Mark, Joy, Marissa, and Shadow for being such fun table mates!
My family really enjoyed getting to know all of you and we really seemed to hit it off. Although it was challenging at times to talk across such a big table. I do miss the Shadow keeping my toes warm under the table!
And - sorry I didn't get a chance to say "goodbye" on the last morning. Between the luggage, bathrooms, and crowds, I even lost my family until Customs!

Big thanks also to Jo Anne and family for suggesting a great excursion on St. Maartin. We really got a feel for the island and even some relaxation time at the resort. Of course, I am very appreciative still that you lent me the towels too!

We did rebook onboard... have no idea when we may actually sail again. Maybe on the Wonder to Alaska in 2013. We can at least drive to that port!
My parents are completely sold on DCL. They rebooked too and will likely sail sooner.

Since sailing, we have been in Central Florida visiting parks and enjoying the warm weather. For the most part, this vacation is shaping up to be one of the best yet.

We are at the Orange Lake Resort in two (2-bedroom) villas. Big resort! Pools, waterpark, and even fishing lakes for my DS10 who brought an angling rod as well as a fly rod!

Discovery Cove on Monday was awesome. Almost like the ship in that it's all inclusive... although at DC the beer is included too! Here we are with our dolphin "Kaylee:"

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/stinasmom/M032211_00_0390.jpg


DH & I had a resort (pools!) day on Tuesday while the grandparents took the kids to Kennedy Space Center.

Wednesday and Thursday were our Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure days. We booked a night at the Royal Pacific Resort for Wednesday night which gave us "front of the line" priviliges for both Wednesday and Thursday. WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!
Actually the parks weren't as crowded as I expected. Even the Harry Potter area was approachable. We got early entry on Thursday morning for staying onsite and walked right onto the new Harry Potter ride.

Only two not so good things have happened... there is always something on a big trip.
DS10 locked the rental car keys in the trunk last Saturday, had to get a locksmith to break in. Guess when we return the car we'll see what that will cost us.
And I managed to leave my cell phone (Motorola Droid) in a bathroom at Universal yesterday. :headache:
As of yet, it hasn't been turned in.... I am seriously bummed but will keep checking back. I can disable the phone online, so it is of no use to someone else.

Today is a resort day too. :beach: Worked out this morning, brunch soon to use up a bunch of the food we still have. Pool and warm sun this afternoon. With any luck, I will need to drive out to Universal to pick up my phone!

We check out of here tomorrow but don't fly back home until Sunday. Thinking of going to Sea World (admission was included with our Discovery Cove tickets.)

Not that I want to go home to the cold rain, :sad2: but there is so much to do when we get back. So much to get "back on track!"

Bye all! And happy travels in the future!


Marcy

[terimac]

It was so wonderful meeting you guys! I will cherish the new friendships I've made, and hope to cruise again with you soon! I hate that I didn't get to meet some of you onboard...maybe someday we will cruise together again...
This was our first FE experience, and we loved it! Seriously, the journals and other FE treats that I brought not only filled an entire suitcase, but they maxed out the weight on it also! I was hoping that by giving all of that out that I would have plenty of 'extra' room on the way home. WRONG! Had to use an extra duffle for a carry-on...Oh well. We will pack better next time! :rotfl2: And the special gifts and treats and gifts from each of were wonderful! Thank you, again!
We booked the Dream for March 9, 2012 for the 4 day, and then plan to spend another 5 or 6 days in the parks afterward. We've also booked the Fantasy for Thanksgiving of 2012. I am already counting down the days to both!

See you real soon! ;)
Teri