The Sea Witch Stole My Voice! Our Two Week Land and Sea Adventure! COMPLETE 4/12
- Thread starter Lifelong_Dreamer
- Start date
jordanyosh
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
Waiting in the terminal waiting is almost more than one can bear! Can't wait to hear more!
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
Welcome back. You are almost on the ship! I also hate at airports when people crowd to board before their group is called. Poor feet
Yep, we were just not having any luck this trip when it came to our feet.
The wait actually was not that bad. There were things to look at and people to talk to. We were anxious to get on the ship though.Woo hoo!! The cruise part has started. Welcome home Lessa!
Psst...did stepmonster make it back?!
Unfortunately she did, I do have lots of stories from the trip. I'll post some pictures etc later on.
princess_momma
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2009
All you've done is board the ship and I'm already jealous and want to book a cruise right this second! Can't wait to hear more!! Glad you're back!
Can't wait to hear more!! Glad you're back!
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
All you've done is board the ship and I'm already jealous and want to book a cruise right this second!
I want to book a cruise right this second too! Darn school expenses! 
FauntleroyFAN07
Commander of Donalds Crew Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2007
and we are cruisin out the gate....love cruise TR's cant wait for the rest of this...show as many and all the pics you want.
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
and we are cruisin out the gate....love cruise TR's cant wait for the rest of this...show as many and all the pics you want.
Don't worry, you know I'm NEVER skimpy when it comes to posting pictures.
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
I am doing a little write-up of my trip for another forum and I figured I would copy it here too. There will probably be a post every couple of days. Don't worry this won't effect the cruise report.
I know many of you are fans of my brothers and well we went on some amazingly beautiful hikes so I figured you might enjoy reading about the trip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~
Our first day in BC was going to be a long one. Alek, Erich and I were all working the night before we were set to fly out. Our flight was very early in the morning so we had to leave the house at 3am to get to the Ottawa airport (2 hr drive) on time.
We stopped at McDonald's on the way out of town but they only had salads and muffins available as they were cleaning their grills and fryers. We said "No Thanks!" and figured we would just have to grab something at Tim Hortons when we got to the airport.
The drive up made me a bit nervous as it was pretty foggy in some places. We arrived at the airport safely though, hugged Mom goodbye and then watched her drive off.
After dropping our one checked bag off we went and grabbed some breakfast at Tim's.
Our flight to Toronto was uneventful. We had a hour and a half layover in Toronto where we would catch our connecting flight to Kelowna, British Columbia. Well all I can say is that the Toronto airport SUCKS! There was nowhere to get anything to eat other than a Starbucks or a newstand that only had candy. This is really surprising at this is the biggest airport in Canada.
Erich did take a picture of this sign which he thought was hilarious.
Again the flight was uneventful. I did find out that I had forgotten my ipod and camera at home. :no: So no tv on the plane for me. Luckily Erich had his camera so there were no worries about not being able to take pictures. :wink:
As we approached BC Alek began looking out the window to see if he could spot any fires. In case you didn't already know BC has been up in flames pretty much since the beginning of July. We didn't see anything though which was good as the fires could have really limited what we did during our visit.
Dad was there and waiting for us when we arrived. It looked as though he had lost some weight since we last saw him. Makes sense as he hikes every week with the Vernon Outdoors Club.
Hugs all around.
Once our checked bag arrived we walked out of the airport. The temperature was so nice! It was warm but there was no humidity so it felt absolutely perfect!
We told Dad that we were starving so we stopped at A&W to get some food. This would be our first of many trips to A&W that week. Don't know when Dad became such a fan but he has to have his root beer! :lol:
The drive to Vernon from Kelowna was less than an hour and it was a beautiful drive right along the Kalamalka and Okanagan Lakes.
We had decided to go visit Grandma before heading to Dad's house. We figured this would be best since we were really tired and had no idea how long we would last once we got to his place.
I was really impressed with Grandma's nursing home. The place is set up into "cottages". Each cottage holds about 10 patients. Everybody has their own private room and private bathroom and the rooms are really spacious. There is also a large kitchen, living room, tv room and garden.
Grandma was really happy to see us. We were happy to see her too and that she was doing well. She had lost weight since we saw her last summer. Dad told us she only weighs about 80 pounds now. She is in fairly good health but her short term memory is pretty bad and she can not move quickly and needs the support of a walker. She is 87 years old though so that is wonderful for somebody her age.
We only visited for about 30 minutes. Visits really wear her out so we never stayed longer than 30-45 minutes.
We hugged Grandma goodbye and told her we would be back each day to see her.
Back in the car it was finally time to go "home". I was very interested to see Dad's house. This is the house we are due to inherit and he is always talking about how we should move out there and live with him. Well I don't care how nice the house is there is no way I could ever live in the same house as Maria(step-mother). :whistle:
Well Dad drove us up to his house which is located in a new neighbourhood that is being developed on a hill that overlooks the town. I was impressed, it looked really nice and had great views. It wasn't a cookie-cutter neighbourhood either. Each house complemented the other in appearance and colour (earth-tones) but each one was a different design. I hate neighbourhoods where each house is exactly alike.
Maria greeted us when we arrived and presented us with a big lunch. Well despite the fact that we had just eaten Alek and Erich dug in. They are always hungry.
We ate out on the balcony that is off the living room and kitchen.
Here's the view
It was beautiful! You can see the whole town of Vernon laid out below and three lakes. Swan Lake, Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake. Then of course you have a great view of the surrounding mountains.
After eating Dad gave us a tour of the house and then we sat and chatted in the living room for a while.
We didn't want to stay still for long though or we would fall asleep so Dad took us outside to check out the yard.
Well remember how I told you the Okanagan Valley is classified as a desert? Well because of that they do not get much rain and water is really expensive where Dad lives as they have to pay an extra fee living up on the hill as the water has to get pumped up there. As a result they do not have a lawn but instead have a "rock" yard that they had somebody come in and landscape for them.
They also had a little vegetable garden growing off to the side. Because they live right on the edge of the hill they did not have much of a yard but what they did have was really nice. Only bad thing, lots and lots of wasps. Apparently they are a big problem out there. It was decided that we would pick up some wasp spray the next time we were out and go nest hunting.
Next Maria suggested that we go check out the "mall" and also make a stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things.
Oh yeah, we had been at the house for a few hours so far and had yet to see Angelica (step-sister). Dad says she was home but I guess she was hiding from her scary step-siblings. :lol: Dad told us that apparently she thinks we are snobby and stuck-up. Ummm, has she not met Alek and Erich? They are the farthest thing from stuck-up that you can get. Sure I can be described as snobby and stuck-up (Dad trained me well) but certainly not Alek and Erich.
So back down the hill we went and headed into town to do some shopping. Dad took us to the Outdoors Store that he shops at and gets all his hiking gear. I was tempted to pick up some hiking shorts but decided against it. I figured the clothes I brought would do the job.
At the grocery store we hunted down the wasp spray and picked up some other necessities like skim milk for me.
Back at the house Maria went inside to start preparing dinner while Dad and Erich got ready to go up on the roof to start killing the wasps.
I spotted this random sunflower growing on the edge of the hill next to Dad's house.
After getting my sunflower pictures I went inside. I didn't want to stick around and get stung if the wasps got angry. Alek stayed outside for a bit and got a couple pictures of the mighty warriors.
Alek figured it was wise to hide inside as well, he is very allergic to bee stings.
Here's some pictures of the view that Erich took while wasp hunting.
Dad and Erich came in after half an hour. They had run out of spray but they say they found 5 nests on the roof and there were still more up there.
We had a leisurely dinner out on the balcony where we got to see this lovely sunset.
We outside talking, I am amazed at how late we stayed up considering we had all been awake since the morning of the day before.
The city of Vernon below
We eventually all went to bed around 10. I fell asleep right away, I was tuckered out!
I know many of you are fans of my brothers and well we went on some amazingly beautiful hikes so I figured you might enjoy reading about the trip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~~~
Our first day in BC was going to be a long one. Alek, Erich and I were all working the night before we were set to fly out. Our flight was very early in the morning so we had to leave the house at 3am to get to the Ottawa airport (2 hr drive) on time.
We stopped at McDonald's on the way out of town but they only had salads and muffins available as they were cleaning their grills and fryers. We said "No Thanks!" and figured we would just have to grab something at Tim Hortons when we got to the airport.
The drive up made me a bit nervous as it was pretty foggy in some places. We arrived at the airport safely though, hugged Mom goodbye and then watched her drive off.
After dropping our one checked bag off we went and grabbed some breakfast at Tim's.
Our flight to Toronto was uneventful. We had a hour and a half layover in Toronto where we would catch our connecting flight to Kelowna, British Columbia. Well all I can say is that the Toronto airport SUCKS! There was nowhere to get anything to eat other than a Starbucks or a newstand that only had candy. This is really surprising at this is the biggest airport in Canada.
Erich did take a picture of this sign which he thought was hilarious.
Again the flight was uneventful. I did find out that I had forgotten my ipod and camera at home. :no: So no tv on the plane for me. Luckily Erich had his camera so there were no worries about not being able to take pictures. :wink:
As we approached BC Alek began looking out the window to see if he could spot any fires. In case you didn't already know BC has been up in flames pretty much since the beginning of July. We didn't see anything though which was good as the fires could have really limited what we did during our visit.
Dad was there and waiting for us when we arrived. It looked as though he had lost some weight since we last saw him. Makes sense as he hikes every week with the Vernon Outdoors Club.
Hugs all around.
Once our checked bag arrived we walked out of the airport. The temperature was so nice! It was warm but there was no humidity so it felt absolutely perfect!
We told Dad that we were starving so we stopped at A&W to get some food. This would be our first of many trips to A&W that week. Don't know when Dad became such a fan but he has to have his root beer! :lol:
The drive to Vernon from Kelowna was less than an hour and it was a beautiful drive right along the Kalamalka and Okanagan Lakes.
We had decided to go visit Grandma before heading to Dad's house. We figured this would be best since we were really tired and had no idea how long we would last once we got to his place.
I was really impressed with Grandma's nursing home. The place is set up into "cottages". Each cottage holds about 10 patients. Everybody has their own private room and private bathroom and the rooms are really spacious. There is also a large kitchen, living room, tv room and garden.
Grandma was really happy to see us. We were happy to see her too and that she was doing well. She had lost weight since we saw her last summer. Dad told us she only weighs about 80 pounds now. She is in fairly good health but her short term memory is pretty bad and she can not move quickly and needs the support of a walker. She is 87 years old though so that is wonderful for somebody her age.
We only visited for about 30 minutes. Visits really wear her out so we never stayed longer than 30-45 minutes.
We hugged Grandma goodbye and told her we would be back each day to see her.
Back in the car it was finally time to go "home". I was very interested to see Dad's house. This is the house we are due to inherit and he is always talking about how we should move out there and live with him. Well I don't care how nice the house is there is no way I could ever live in the same house as Maria(step-mother). :whistle:
Well Dad drove us up to his house which is located in a new neighbourhood that is being developed on a hill that overlooks the town. I was impressed, it looked really nice and had great views. It wasn't a cookie-cutter neighbourhood either. Each house complemented the other in appearance and colour (earth-tones) but each one was a different design. I hate neighbourhoods where each house is exactly alike.
Maria greeted us when we arrived and presented us with a big lunch. Well despite the fact that we had just eaten Alek and Erich dug in. They are always hungry.
We ate out on the balcony that is off the living room and kitchen.Here's the view
It was beautiful! You can see the whole town of Vernon laid out below and three lakes. Swan Lake, Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake. Then of course you have a great view of the surrounding mountains.
After eating Dad gave us a tour of the house and then we sat and chatted in the living room for a while.
We didn't want to stay still for long though or we would fall asleep so Dad took us outside to check out the yard.
Well remember how I told you the Okanagan Valley is classified as a desert? Well because of that they do not get much rain and water is really expensive where Dad lives as they have to pay an extra fee living up on the hill as the water has to get pumped up there. As a result they do not have a lawn but instead have a "rock" yard that they had somebody come in and landscape for them.
They also had a little vegetable garden growing off to the side. Because they live right on the edge of the hill they did not have much of a yard but what they did have was really nice. Only bad thing, lots and lots of wasps. Apparently they are a big problem out there. It was decided that we would pick up some wasp spray the next time we were out and go nest hunting.
Next Maria suggested that we go check out the "mall" and also make a stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things.
Oh yeah, we had been at the house for a few hours so far and had yet to see Angelica (step-sister). Dad says she was home but I guess she was hiding from her scary step-siblings. :lol: Dad told us that apparently she thinks we are snobby and stuck-up. Ummm, has she not met Alek and Erich? They are the farthest thing from stuck-up that you can get. Sure I can be described as snobby and stuck-up (Dad trained me well) but certainly not Alek and Erich.
So back down the hill we went and headed into town to do some shopping. Dad took us to the Outdoors Store that he shops at and gets all his hiking gear. I was tempted to pick up some hiking shorts but decided against it. I figured the clothes I brought would do the job.
At the grocery store we hunted down the wasp spray and picked up some other necessities like skim milk for me.
Back at the house Maria went inside to start preparing dinner while Dad and Erich got ready to go up on the roof to start killing the wasps.
I spotted this random sunflower growing on the edge of the hill next to Dad's house.
After getting my sunflower pictures I went inside. I didn't want to stick around and get stung if the wasps got angry. Alek stayed outside for a bit and got a couple pictures of the mighty warriors.
Alek figured it was wise to hide inside as well, he is very allergic to bee stings.
Here's some pictures of the view that Erich took while wasp hunting.
Dad and Erich came in after half an hour. They had run out of spray but they say they found 5 nests on the roof and there were still more up there.
We had a leisurely dinner out on the balcony where we got to see this lovely sunset.
We outside talking, I am amazed at how late we stayed up considering we had all been awake since the morning of the day before.
The city of Vernon below
We eventually all went to bed around 10. I fell asleep right away, I was tuckered out!
FauntleroyFAN07
Commander of Donalds Crew Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2007
thanks for all the cool pictures, it is so pretty to see those.
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
Glad you liked them, just the tip of the iceberg. Really it is the pictures from the last two hikes that are the most beautiful.
bluechic03
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
Can't wait to hear more!!!!!
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
LOVEMY3KIDDOS
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 31, 2009
What a beautiful view!!!!!!!!!! And for the record...I do not find you snobby AT ALL!
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
Thanks, it was a wonderful view, too bad the smoke obstructed it the last two days we were there.I can be a bit snobby from time to time. I blame Dad, he can be stuck-up as well.
jordanyosh
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
I can't wait to visit Canada! You have such a beautiful country!
How did your mom do while you were gone? I wonder if she gets lonely?
How did your mom do while you were gone? I wonder if she gets lonely?
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
Well while we were gone Mom threw a dinner party, met a guy through one of her sorority sisters and hung out with him a bit.
I suspect that she probably enjoyed the peace and quiet of Erich and I not being in the house screeching at each other and squabbling like we were 5. It is sad but true.
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
"Welcome Aboard to the **** Family!"
After you are announced there is a line of CM's waiting to greet you in the lobby. They are there to answer any questions you may have and to direct you to where you need to go. The staterooms are not available for your use until 1:30 so your options are the two lunch buffets, the pools or you could just wander the ship.
Well I already knew what our first order of business was upon boarding the ship. We had to head over to Rockin' Bar D to try and snag a Palo Brunch reservation. These are nearly impossible to get online before the cruise unless you have sailed previously (you get to book Palo and excursions earlier). I had already successfully booked a dinner at Palo before the trip but what I really wanted was the champagne brunch! Palo is the adults only restaurant on the ship. It offers dinner, brunch on sea days and also a special tea.
We found Rockin Bar D no problem and got in line. There were already a few people ahead of us. I was so anxious, would they have a reservation available for us? I was told that they keep spots available for onboard booking but I wasn't 100% sure.
Well lucky us, when we got to the desk they had a spot for us! Hurray! The CM helping us looked up our dining rotation to make sure that the brunch would not interfere with our character breakfast and booked us appropriately. We were scheduled for the first brunch seating on our second sea day.
We walked out of the bar victorious, we were now on our way to Parrot Cay for the Welcome Aboard lunch buffet. We saw the Dis lady we had been talking to in the terminal in the Palo line as we walked out so we waved hello.
Parrot Cay is one of the three main "table service" restaurants. It is one of two lunch buffet options when you board the ship. The other option is Topsiders which is a traditional buffet but most of the seating is outside. Since it was raining Mom and I opted to go to Parrot Cay.
One of the hallways on the Magic. This one runs alongside Lumiere's which is another of the restaurants on the ship.
When we got to Parrot Cay there was a CM there at the entrance handing out antibacterial wipes. You had to wipe your hands down with these each time you enter a restaurant.
We were then greeted by a host who lead us to a large table that we were sharing with a family of three. A mother and father traveling with their teenage son.
Dining in the restaurants is a communal affair and it is very rare that you have a table to yourself, especially if you are traveling in a small party. The way this works with Disney is that for the dinner rotations each restaurant you go to you will be seated with the same tablemates and your waiters follow you from restaurant to restaurant.
The family was very friendly and we chatted with them while we ate.
Parrot Cay was set up as a buffet for lunch so Mom and I headed up to get our food after placing our drink order.
My first plate
Strawberry soup, some kind of cheese, salad with raspberry vinagerette dressing.
It was all very good although the strawberry soup was not as good as the one offered at the Grand Floridian in 1900 Park Fare.
Mom's dessert plate
My dessert plate
I could not eat all of the food on my plate but I sampled a bit of each.
So I had Strawberry cheesecake, white chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce, a brownie, chocolate chip cookies and jello.
By far my favourite dessert at that meal was the white chocolate mousse. Yum yum!
Our meal finished we wandered out of the restaurant and checked the time. It was just after 1pm so we decided to just head up to deck 6 and wait for the staterooms to become available.
This is the lobby/atrium. I have better pictures of it later in the trip.
You know how it is nearly impossible to find anything Goofy related in the parks? Well there is Goofy artwork all over the Magic.
Here's Mom reading the Welcome Aboard Navigator that we were given at check-in.
Deck 6 Mid-Ship elevator lobby
If you walk behind the elevator bank you will see a mural that is three decks high.
Looking up you can see the mural overlooks on the higher decks.
Right at 1:30 they dropped the ropes that prevent you from entering the hallway that leads to the rooms.
Our room was 6054, a category 6 verandah room. It was very close to the midship elevator lobby which was very nice when it came to getting around the ship with ease.
Mom had me pose for a picture opening our door....
Click here to continue
After you are announced there is a line of CM's waiting to greet you in the lobby. They are there to answer any questions you may have and to direct you to where you need to go. The staterooms are not available for your use until 1:30 so your options are the two lunch buffets, the pools or you could just wander the ship.
Well I already knew what our first order of business was upon boarding the ship. We had to head over to Rockin' Bar D to try and snag a Palo Brunch reservation. These are nearly impossible to get online before the cruise unless you have sailed previously (you get to book Palo and excursions earlier). I had already successfully booked a dinner at Palo before the trip but what I really wanted was the champagne brunch! Palo is the adults only restaurant on the ship. It offers dinner, brunch on sea days and also a special tea.
We found Rockin Bar D no problem and got in line. There were already a few people ahead of us. I was so anxious, would they have a reservation available for us? I was told that they keep spots available for onboard booking but I wasn't 100% sure.
Well lucky us, when we got to the desk they had a spot for us! Hurray! The CM helping us looked up our dining rotation to make sure that the brunch would not interfere with our character breakfast and booked us appropriately. We were scheduled for the first brunch seating on our second sea day.
We walked out of the bar victorious, we were now on our way to Parrot Cay for the Welcome Aboard lunch buffet. We saw the Dis lady we had been talking to in the terminal in the Palo line as we walked out so we waved hello.
Parrot Cay is one of the three main "table service" restaurants. It is one of two lunch buffet options when you board the ship. The other option is Topsiders which is a traditional buffet but most of the seating is outside. Since it was raining Mom and I opted to go to Parrot Cay.
One of the hallways on the Magic. This one runs alongside Lumiere's which is another of the restaurants on the ship.
When we got to Parrot Cay there was a CM there at the entrance handing out antibacterial wipes. You had to wipe your hands down with these each time you enter a restaurant.
We were then greeted by a host who lead us to a large table that we were sharing with a family of three. A mother and father traveling with their teenage son.
Dining in the restaurants is a communal affair and it is very rare that you have a table to yourself, especially if you are traveling in a small party. The way this works with Disney is that for the dinner rotations each restaurant you go to you will be seated with the same tablemates and your waiters follow you from restaurant to restaurant.
The family was very friendly and we chatted with them while we ate.
Parrot Cay was set up as a buffet for lunch so Mom and I headed up to get our food after placing our drink order.
My first plate
Strawberry soup, some kind of cheese, salad with raspberry vinagerette dressing.
It was all very good although the strawberry soup was not as good as the one offered at the Grand Floridian in 1900 Park Fare.
Mom's dessert plate
My dessert plate
I could not eat all of the food on my plate but I sampled a bit of each.
So I had Strawberry cheesecake, white chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce, a brownie, chocolate chip cookies and jello.
By far my favourite dessert at that meal was the white chocolate mousse. Yum yum!
Our meal finished we wandered out of the restaurant and checked the time. It was just after 1pm so we decided to just head up to deck 6 and wait for the staterooms to become available.
This is the lobby/atrium. I have better pictures of it later in the trip.
You know how it is nearly impossible to find anything Goofy related in the parks? Well there is Goofy artwork all over the Magic.
Here's Mom reading the Welcome Aboard Navigator that we were given at check-in.
Deck 6 Mid-Ship elevator lobby
If you walk behind the elevator bank you will see a mural that is three decks high.
Looking up you can see the mural overlooks on the higher decks.
Right at 1:30 they dropped the ropes that prevent you from entering the hallway that leads to the rooms.
Our room was 6054, a category 6 verandah room. It was very close to the midship elevator lobby which was very nice when it came to getting around the ship with ease.
Mom had me pose for a picture opening our door....
Click here to continue
jordanyosh
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
The cruise ship was definitely more relaxing for us but I could easily see how people could make it jam-packed full of activities and running around just like at WDW.
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