Sept 29 - Oct 6: Trippin' with the Mimis and a 17 month old - completed!

[ibela]

Getting Ready for the Cruise – 9/27/07

Me (Irene), 30 – Compulsive planner
DH (Erik), 31 – Hates to plan
DD (Fallon), 17 months old – A very outgoing child and lover of all things Elmo

After 11 months of perusing the DIS boards, I was ‘in the know’ for our first DCL voyage. We were cruising the Disney Magic for 7 nights from 9/29 -10/6. I had my list of DIS tips printed, we were flying in the day before, and all our reservations were confirmed. Thursday we dropped DD off at her daycare bright and early so that we could pack quickly. I was all set to pack ASAP but DH had other ideas. After we got the car washed, picked up our ginger (I’m a planner but also a procrastinator, they were on order because I just went to the vitamin store the Saturday before and they were out of the Minty Ginger for kids), bought photo mats and Sharpies (which included price comparison shopping – ended up getting a pack of 25 for $4 at Target since we did have the WHOLE day ahead of us anyway, according to you know who) I was ready to pack. DH had other plans, so we picked up his mother and headed out for lunch and a quick stop at Blockbuster to watch a movie not sure when. The day went on like this and we finally packed after DD went to sleep, finishing at 1am. A-OK by me because my real concern was getting to the port at the crack of dawn to get a #2 boarding pass and making my Palo reservations.

Will we get to the port on time? For that matter, will we make it to the airport on time? Do I get my Palo reservations? Do we follow any of my well thought out planning? Will DD call any/all of the characters Elmo? Stay tuned to find out the answers to these questions and more.

 

[tfc3rid]

Subscribed...

Can't wait to hear about the trip from your perspective!!!

 

[Babs417]

What is minty ginger

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[MagicMe]

Can't wait to hear all about your first Disney cruise!

 

[ibela]

What is minty ginger

Ginger droplets for small children. Ginger soothes an upset stomach (food as well as motion sickness) and the droplets form is easiest for them to ingest.

 

[Babs417]

Thank you I use candy ginger but its to spicy for the kids

 

[ibela]

9/28/07 – just 1 little day left before the cruise

At 9am, my in-laws arrive to pick us up and take us to the airport. I wanted to take a picture SO bad but my MIL threatened me. In the front was FIL driving, MIL sitting next to him holding our full size stroller in her lap so that DD can sleep in the airport and on board where needed. When I say she was holding the stroller, it was folded but the wheels were by her head and her arms were wrapped around it, she could barely see out of the corner of her right eye as all other views were obstructed by the full size stroller. In the back was my DH, me squished between him and DD’s car seat, and DD all comfy in her extra-wide car seat, with the dog at our feet (on her way to get dropped off at the kennel). In the trunk of the car was our luggage, carry-ons, pocketbooks, and 1 non-stop ringing cell phone (MIL’s). We dropped the dog off and continued on our merry way to Newark Airport. We ate some lunch and boarded for DD’s first flight. We didn’t get a seat for her which was a mistake. I ended up holding her the whole time because she wanted to sleep (on me only, not dad), she was a bit cranky but not too bad. Good thing it was a short flight.

We landed safely and on time. We went to pick up our car rental (Budget) but had a bit of miscommunication regarding the car seat. I had added the toddler car seat on our reservation about 2 months ago. The man in the garage insisted that they didn't have toddler seats, only infant seats and booster seats. We explained she was in between weight limits on those 2 and he said that was all they ever offered and he never even heard of a toddler seat? OK, after a few minutes we discover that the infant seat is actually a convertible but thanks for being so informed buddy. They gave us a nice upgraded car (hey, we can only take what’s available!) so onwards and upwards with our travels.

We arrived at our hotel exhausted from the day’s travels. It was such a good move flying in the day before, it’s definitely the only way to start a vacation off for us from now on. We checked into the Wingate Orlando Airport that I got on hotwire - nice, clean, convenient, breakfast in the am, and one of those cappuccino flavor steamer machines in the lobby 24/7. We went to TGIFriday’s (in the complex area by the hotel) for dinner and ended up sitting next to a family also going on the cruise the next day. It was their 3rd cruise and they loved it. Talking to them got us even more excited and ready for the trip! By the time we finished with dinner it was too late to go shopping for all the stuff we needed to get (ex. alcohol, diapers – I wasn’t packing a week’s worth of diapers in my luggage!) so DH got the diapers and baby stuff, the liquor run was to be saved for the next day. I was tempted to set the alarm but didn’t, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be making the terminal by 10:30am . . .

 

[ibela]

9/29 – THE MAGICAL DAY IS FINALLY HERE, part 1 – getting onboard

We woke up at 8am and went downstairs for breakfast ready to board. Erik went on the computer to print out driving directions, but for some reason he was gone for over 1 hr, he insisted he was getting directions to a liquor store too. By this point I was getting very nervous, 10:30 and still in the Orlando airport hotel!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was texting with fellow DISer JDBlair who was already long at the terminal, met another DISer Jajomo (we were all seated together for dining), and they both had Boarding Pass #3!

After web surfing, e-mail checking, and our scheduled stop we finally arrived at the terminal. He dropped me and Fallon off with our luggage (loaded with the new purchases, the poor porter guy asked if we had gold bars in there!) A quick look around and I was glad we didn’t wear our matching Disney tropical dresses, we would have matched about 100 other families!! He went to drop the car off at Budget and I had all the paperwork completed and signed so that I could check us all in. After getting through security I was handed a Boarding Pass #18! I said I’d now never get Palo reservations so late in the game, I had wanted to get there early but my husband likes to procrastinate and that’s why we got to the terminal SO late. I went on to check us in, got all our KTTW cards, and then a CM handed me a #7 Pass (that someone didn't need?) and said her husband was a procrastinator too and she didn’t want my first DCL trip to be without a Palo stop because he was slow! I thanked her about 10 times and rushed over to board (they were boarding #11). I did manage to ask how I’d get my KTTW card to my husband and she said it’s easy to get off the boat so I can just meet him in the terminal.

We got on the line that skips photos (figured I’d save that for a family shot), quickly got our names announced (kinda nice), and I asked where RBD was for the Palo ressies. The line wasn’t THAT bad so I just jumped on. A little while later Erik called to say he was in the terminal. I told him he had to wait a little because there were only 6 people in front of me and ~100 behind me so there was no way I was getting off the line. I got the dinner day (Wed) and time I wanted but brunch was all booked, the nice man took my name and room number and said I’d be waitlisted (with my preference for Monday). I went to meet Erik but he had already boarded. He explained to a supervisor that I had checked us all in and had his KTTW card and passport (and boarded without him to make Palo reservations). He had his driver’s license so they checked in the system, and the supervisor said if I was waiting for Palo he’d be waiting for me for a while so they printed him another KTTW card and he met me on board. We went back out to take the picture together and got our names announced for the 2nd time.

We thought the ship was beautiful and were very excited to have 7 days to call it home.

 

[ibela]

9/29 – rest of Day 1: food, dancing with the stars, and more food

We went to Parrot Cay for lunch. Chip & Dale came out and Fallon got very excited, she ran right over to give them a hug. They played Ring Around the Rosie with her and both fell down with her too. She loved it and it was definitely a special moment. In fact it was SO cute that other people were taking pictures and several people came over to me afterwards to say what a special memory to have. I’ll try to add the picture tonight.

We headed to the room to unwind a little and check out the verandah. Fallon fell asleep so Erik stayed with her while I wandered the ship a bit in anticipation of the first DIS meet. About 30 of us got together, it was great to put some faces to the names! Grumpygramps had made some of us door signs and name tags so he handed those out too – THANKS AGAIN!!!

Back to the room for the lifeboat drill. As soon as we got there they said we could all leave - breeze. We headed to Deck 9 for the Sail Away party and thought it was a great way to start off the trip! We were by the side by the stage so we had a great view and Fallon was in heaven already. So were we.

After the party we walked around a bit and then stopped off at Pluto’s for a quick snack. Then we went back to the room and 30 minutes later got ready for dinner in Lumiere’s. Our servers were Alexander from Russia and Erwin from St. Vincent – both were great (as were our tablemates)! For anyone keeping track – that’s our 3rd meal in 5 hrs.

After dinner we went back to the room to unpack and call it an early night. I didn’t think the variety show was something Fallon would enjoy/sit through and we were tired too, must have been all that eating . . .

Next: our first sea day

 

[Babs417]

Good job I cant wait did you rebook

 

[granmaz]

Great start, can't wait for more.

 

[mruhaak]

Subscribing!
Interested in hearing your report since I'm cruising with a 17 month old next month!

 

[MagicMe]

Loved your account of the first day. There's nothing like it!

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Hi Irene! LOVE your trip report! I can't get over how cute and such a happy baby fallon is.... it must be 'coz she has happy and loving parents We loved spending time with u guys I forgot to ask where u live.. I'll pm you and we'll have a talk.

Pauline

 

[SweetSpot]

Great trip report! Alexander from Russia was our asst. server last year. We loved him!! Not only a great server an absolute pleasure to talk to and to get to know. I hope he's still on the ship next month.

 

[ibela]

Great trip report! Alexander from Russia was our asst. server last year. We loved him!! Not only a great server an absolute pleasure to talk to and to get to know. I hope he's still on the ship next month.

He said he plans on being on the ship for at least another year so make sure to ask for him!

 

[ibela]

Hi Irene! LOVE your trip report! I can't get over how cute and such a happy baby fallon is.... it must be 'coz she has happy and loving parents We loved spending time with u guys I forgot to ask where u live.. I'll pm you and we'll have a talk.

Pauline

Thanks! We loved hanging with you guys too! Please send me the pic of Fallon with Sarah (if you haven't deleted it). Thanks oodles!

Keep an eye out for my pm.

 

[jajomo0118]

Great trip report! Alexander from Russia was our asst. server last year. We loved him!! Not only a great server an absolute pleasure to talk to and to get to know. I hope he's still on the ship next month.

He is leaving this week for his break, DH and I had a lovely conversion with him out by the "mickey pool" on the Friday before we left, he has two little girls so I bet he his super excited to go home for awhile.. and he was wonderful.!! My boys already said they miss him...

Hi Irene, Fallon and Eric...

 

[ibela]

We woke up and the ship was a lot smoother (had been rocky the night before, didn't affect us but many others felt sick). We headed up to Topsiders for breakfast and to the pool.

For those travelling with children not potty trained - you're not allowed in the pool (well you are but your kid won't be) and are limited to 1 ear in the Mickey pool. This ear is pretty small and since no one leaves their child alone (even though the water is only about 1 inch) it can get very crowded very fast. I'd estimate that it can hold about 6 kids + 6 adults comfortably, then it'll get crowded. We only spent a few hrs there a day b/c she was too tempted to go to the Mickey pool. Every 5-10 minutes she'd attempt to climb out of the ear. There were times that she enjoyed the ear though, and sometimes the older kids would go in there too. Here's a pic:

Fallon fell asleep so we figured we'd take advantage and go to Lumiere's for a nice lunch. JUST as we were about to leave she woke up hungry. We asked what they had for kids, they said they can make anything and offered pizza. About 10 minutes later they brought it and apologized for having it take so long, they went to room service for it! Well sheesh, we could've just taken her back upstairs to the pool to eat or ordered something else. How nice.

We caught the matinee showing of Golden Mickeys in case she wouldn't be able to stay up for it after dinner. The show was great and we absolutely loved it!!

We went back to the room to shower and get ready for dinner - formal night tonight. We were a bit slow and missed all the photo ops except for a quick one with Captain Tom. Dinner was in Animator's Palate that night, the "show" was OK, very subtle and our whole table spent 1/2 the night looking for the changes.

After dinner we made it to the photo ops (and scored a free drink too) and a quick stop by Shutters (which became a nightly ritual) before heading back to the room for the night. Erik wanted to catch a movie so we made a deal, I'd stay with her while he went to a movie and the next night I'd go out. hehehe Stay tuned to find out why he got the short end of the stick!