Experiment-627: A Caribbean Double with a Wilderness Chaser

:welcome:

Thanks for chiming in and I’m glad to have you along.

So… you read up to that point just today? And then went on and read some more... of my writing??? :eek: Some folks might call that crazy… but I’m still glad to have you follow along.

I thought everyone still used bumbershoot on a regular bases. No… must just be me then. Actually, I remember writing that bit of the TR. I almost use the word “brolly” (and yah… I know that’s an “English slang term as opposed to an American or even a Southern one), but I’d have lost even more of you.

Again... welcome aboard.


OK so its 9 hours later and I am done with this TR!!!! In between laundry, cooking and living I could not stop coming back! I so totally love this report so far and I can't wait for the rest.....some folks do call me crazy so I guess that works!

Have fun this week! Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa
 
It looks like I'm probably a little bit late, but if you happen to pop back in here, I hope you guys have a great time in NY!
 
Rob, I enjoyed the latest chatper...looks like it will make for a nice, relaxing day at sea.

And I think I'm probably too late for you to read this, but I hope your trip to NYC is fantastic. Should be a great experience, and I can't wait to hear about it.
 
Howdy all!

We’re Baaaaaack!

And I’ll try to get this TR back on the road in the near (you can consider that a threat).

Now then…
The “Great Thanksgiving Odyssey” was a monstrous success! We are absolutely worn out (I even managed to pick up a fairly nasty cold ***hack, hack – cough – wheeze*** as one last souvenir from NY-NY), but it was worth it. The entire endeavor was nothing short of amazing. As you’ve already been warned, I will be doing a TR on this adventure that you are free to utterly ignore, but it will be forth coming. As a bit of a teaser… here’s some of what we got our selves into…


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And here’s one image from fairly early in each day to give you a clue as to what was going on at that time...


5:42 am Monday

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9:23 am Tuesday

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2:29 pm Tuesday
(This day was busted into two halves, so ya’ get two clues)

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10:25 am Wednesday

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3:32 am Thursday

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10:17 am Friday

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9:25 am Saturday

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If you're interested... there is also a Youtube post where someone kindly cut out all of the 2011 performances and strung them together in one 12 min video (our kids were 7th of the 11 groups to perform). Each band gets only one minute, 15 seconds to perform and get moving and we don’t really get a say into how they introduce us or what they focus on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7sDKsrHUfw

Another note… we were actually one of the smaller bands there Thursday. Nearly all of our young’ens were on the green carpet, where as most of the groups had half or more beyond either edge and out of the picture (but still playing)

I’ll talk to y’all again in the near… Take care and I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!​
 


Looks like a fantastic whirlwind trip to the Big Apple. Looking forward t hearing more about it!!:thumbsup2
 
It looks like I'm probably a little bit late, but if you happen to pop back in here, I hope you guys have a great time in NY!

Rob, I enjoyed the latest chatper...looks like it will make for a nice, relaxing day at sea.

And I think I'm probably too late for you to read this, but I hope your trip to NYC is fantastic. Should be a great experience, and I can't wait to hear about it.

Welcome back! I look forward to hearing about the band trip. Get well soon.

Dave

Looks like a fantastic whirlwind trip to the Big Apple. Looking forward t hearing more about it!!:thumbsup2

Gents… Thanks!

I appreciate the well wishes on the trip (and it went well indeed), and the laurels and hearty welcomes back to the real world. The wishes for my good health and recovery are also much appreciated. This was a good week to have taken on that little excursion. It gave me pause to take stock of just how lucky I actually am and just how thankful I am to be here at this place in time and this place in life. I still haven’t decided if I want to finish this TR completely before starting the next one, but I’m leaning toward trying to do two at once (unless one of y’all would like to try and talk me down off that particular ledge). Thanks again and now I think I might just have to go ahead a throw up a minor update to this little ol’ TR.


What say?
 



Chapter 7:
The tail of: “The Tale” - Day 4 (Wednesday)




Part 3: Where Forth Art Thou






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Juliet Red: “Oh, my giddy aunt, did you just hear all that?”





Zzzzzzzzzzz…. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Hum, What!

I’m, I’m, I’mmmm… awake, I’m awake…. Good Lord, you know you shouldn’t be rousting folks out of their slumber like that! You could send someone into a conniption. Well, since I’m up (now), what say we take in a move? The Disney Dream has two fine venues for viewing a film: the main “Walt Disney Theater” (obviously)… and the Buena Vista Theater.


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There is a similar Buena Vista Theater on both the Magic and Wonder, but the one on the Dream has one extra teensy-weensy, but ever so crucial little, tiny detail… Leg Room! The rows on the older ship are tight (and I’m a fairly small guy). But on the Dream there is a good bit more room to spread out.


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Additionally, on board the Dream, you can enter the theater from either side and from both Deck-4 and Deck-5 (on the port side in both cases). On top of that… the thing is just flat out gorgeous. I mean just look at it…


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Well… that and the fact that it has 3D capabilities and a fabulous sound system, but as guys, we demand that anyway and you’d expect no less of a Disney venue now would you? Anyway, the good folks at DCL will show several films a day in this theater and the list will include recent releases and even current run films (all Disney properties, but that’s also to be expected). This afternoon, they were showing a film that came out a couple months earlier in the year (and that I didn’t not realize was a Disney property until we got aboard the ship).

This film here…


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OK… I just heard most of y’all scoff and shake your heads (and I suspect there was a face-palm or two as well), but this turned out to be a whole lot better then the reviews would have you believe. And… if you know even a little bit about Shakespeare, there are sly references and double edged jokes hidden all over this film like so many Easter Eggs strewn about the White House Lawn. And speaking of lawns, the play on the English middle class’s percent for over the top gardening fits in well with the choice of characters to play the rolls.


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My son had actually studied this particular play in the last semester of English so he was intrigued by the similarity of the story lines. It pretty much follows the original up to a point (well… the original didn’t have a character that was a statue of a fawn wielding the scatter brained memory and voice of Ozzy Osborne, but I digress).


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The beginning of Act three commences with the expected duel between our hero and his main rival but rather then swards or knives, it takes the form of a thrilling Chariot… errrr… I mean Lawnmower race. (Lawnmower Race?) But the result is the same…


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Exiled and thought to have shed this mortal coil… Gnomeo runs into a statue of Will himself and within the conversation learns that his tale is match like one of the Great Bard’s tragedies. But here the story departs and our fearless “Blue” concludes that he needs to find a way to keep every member of the cast from being laid out like so many slaughtered lambs on the stage as the curtain falls. Will he succeed? Will he get the girl, without having to first join her in the hereafter?


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Well… it’s Disney, so you can probably surmise, but… you won’t know for sure unless you can put your preconceived notions aside and give this quirky film a chance. As Featherstone the Plastic Flamingo ultimately observes in the following conversation:


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Juliet Red: “He's a Blue!”

Gnomeo Blue: “She's a Red!”

Featherstone: “And I'm Pink - who cares!”





Just give it a try. Oh, buuuuuut… you just may not want to admit that you did so to your pals down at the sports bar afterward. Got it?


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Additionally, on board the Dream, you can enter the theater from either side and from both Deck-4 and Deck-5 (on the port side in both cases).
Yes, this was very cool, I dropped in several times to check what was on since my room was just down the hall on Deck 5.



This film here…​


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OK… I just heard most of y’all scoff and shake your heads (and I suspect there was a face-palm or two as well), but this turned out to be a whole lot better then the reviews would have you believe. And… if you know even a little bit about Shakespeare, there are sly references and double edged jokes hidden all over this film like so many Easter Eggs strewn about the White House Lawn. And speaking of lawns, the play on the English middle class’s percent for over the top gardening fits in well with the choice of characters to play the rolls.​
I watched this last weekend with DD and I found it enjoyable...now after the 6th and 7th times...not so.​

(well… the original didn’t have a character that was a statue of a fawn wielding the scatter brained memory and voice of Ozzy Osborne, but I digress).

Nor the Dolly Parton character.

Just give it a try. Oh, buuuuuut… you just may not want to admit that you did so to your pals down at the sports bar afterward. Got it?
Opps, I just said I watched it....delete, delete, delete....
 
How appropriate, you give us the "trailer" for a TR, then go on and tell us all about the movie theater and movie that you saw!
We didn't see any movies while on the ship, but I did walk through the theater during some of my wanderings of the ship. Certainly beats my local cineplex!
 
I appreciate the well wishes on the trip (and it went well indeed), and the laurels and hearty welcomes back to the real world. The wishes for my good health and recovery are also much appreciated. This was a good week to have taken on that little excursion. It gave me pause to take stock of just how lucky I actually am and just how thankful I am to be here at this place in time and this place in life. I still haven’t decided if I want to finish this TR completely before starting the next one, but I’m leaning toward trying to do two at once (unless one of y’all would like to try and talk me down off that particular ledge). Thanks again and now I think I might just have to go ahead a throw up a minor update to this little ol’ TR.

What say?

I'm glad it was a great trip! I didn't get a chance to see the band in the parade on TV, but I caught up with the YouTube clip and thought they did great!

Now please, don't vomit in your TR. You don't want to have to clean that mess up.

The Disney Dream has two fine venues for viewing a film: the main “Walt Disney Theater” (obviously)… and the Buena Vista Theater.

It certainly is a first-class theater. We got to see Up in 3-D in there. Good stuff.

And… if you know even a little bit about Shakespeare, there are sly references and double edged jokes hidden all over this film like so many Easter Eggs strewn about the White House Lawn.

:confused3

Shakespeare..Did he write the James Bond movies?

Just give it a try. Oh, buuuuuut… you just may not want to admit that you did so to your pals down at the sports bar afterward. Got it?

I'm a dad. I have no shame anymore. I just watched and thoroughly enjoyed the Muppets, and I'm happy to admit it. :thumbsup2
 
Yes, this was very cool, I dropped in several times to check what was on since my room was just down the hall on Deck 5.

We stayed on Deck-5 aboard the Wonder. The layout was similar to the Dream and of the places I’ve stayed on the three ships, this one was most convenient, most of the time.

I watched this last weekend with DD and I found it enjoyable...now after the 6th and 7th times...not so.

That would be true for a lot of films (including some of Disney’s clasics)

Nor the Dolly Parton character.

Good point.
Opps, I just said I watched it....delete, delete, delete....

The secret is safe with me




How appropriate, you give us the "trailer" for a TR, then go on and tell us all about the movie theater and movie that you saw!
We didn't see any movies while on the ship, but I did walk through the theater during some of my wanderings of the ship. Certainly beats my local cineplex!

More proof that you don’t really need to actually read my TR. It’s like most movies released these days… the trailer has all the good stuff in it and the rest of the film is just wasting time and space.




I'm glad it was a great trip! I didn't get a chance to see the band in the parade on TV, but I caught up with the YouTube clip and thought they did great!

Thanks! It was quite the whirlwind of an adventure. I’ll pass the congrats on to the kids (they actually did all the work).

Now please, don't vomit in your TR. You don't want to have to clean that mess up.

Don’t vomit? Have you been reading this drivel? I suspect that all my readers have to keep the Pepto and Alka-Seltzer at the ready each time they dare to open up this TR.

It certainly is a first-class theater. We got to see Up in 3-D in there. Good stuff.

::yes::


:confused3
Shakespeare..Did he write the James Bond movies?

Yah that’s the guy…

Bond: “Would’st thou have me spill thy secrets?”
Goldfinger: “No dear sir… I would’st have thee die.”

I'm a dad. I have no shame anymore. I just watched and thoroughly enjoyed the Muppets, and I'm happy to admit it. :thumbsup2

Once you become a parent, you really are excused from just about everything that all the young punks would apply shame to. How ever cool you thought you were in your teens and twenties… is immediately and geometrically reversed at the moment your first kid is born. The good thing is that at that same time, you also stop caring about your coolness factor. It just pales to the insignificance that it actually deserves once you’ve held you own child in you hands and realized that it was never about me… it’s was always about them.

That’s what you do…
 

Chapter 7:
The tail of: “The Tale” - Day 4 (Wednesday)




Part 4: The Calm Before the Storm






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That title back up there at the top of the post is a rather well worn cliché. Actually, that’s a stupendously gross understatement. Lord knows that one certainly couldn’t write a supremely lousy novel or a ghastly waste of a screen play without sticking that particular collection of words somewhere within the confines of the text. One might just as well have start off with: “It was a dark and stormy night…”. But then again, I am a truly lousy excuse for a writer (just ask any of my English teachers), so it seems appropriate that I ought to abuse your cultural sensibilities with a tired cliché. And yet… the phrase is indicative of the events that were looming on the horizon.


Even though we’d taken time to sit back and enjoy a movie, it would still be a little while before the first performance of that evening’s show in the Walt Disney Theater. This was actually a good thing, because we had a task that needed to be accomplished this evening. It was our turn to play St. Nick… errrr… St. Mick – ey… St. Goofy? I don’t know, but the point is that there were whimsical “Fish Extenders” scattered about the ship that were in desperate need of attention, and it was out turn to provide the medication.


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I suspect that you remember that picture form earlier on in this train wreck. That’s the stash of goodies we brought along this time around. Every group that dares put together an F/E Exchange will come up with a different way of performing the task. Our merry band decided to assign specific days to each family so that there’d be a little something in your Extender every day of the cruise. Not a bad plan actually. The girl that was looking after the F/E list, assigned the days, and we were one of four groups that drew the sea day for distributing our whosits and whatnots. To help with the task, I put together a ships map which marked the location of each cabin that was participating in the exchange. Once completed, I also posted it where the other cruisers could go a get a copy. I got a lot of compliments and “thank-es” for that little exercise, but it wasn’t really all that hard to do. Actually… for those of you that may be planning a DCL cruse in the future and are considering joining in on the F/E… here’s a copy of a blank version of the map in question for you… to have…


(Just click to enlarge, then right click and save)


All I’d do to update that bad boy was to check the updated F/E list whenever it was republished and then just color in the corresponding cabins (using “DIS-Board Green” of course) on the document when new stateroom assignments arrived. You can use just about any image editor for the task (just to keep it simple I would actually just open it up in the little “Paint” app that’s buried inside every Windows O/S in existence).

OK… back to the action. Once back to our cabin, we pulled out that little suitcase and started sorting the bags by deck (we had thought to number them before we left and that made the job easier). Then we divided the ship in half. Tamara and Max put one batch of goodies in our beach bag and headed up to Deck-10. From there they’d work their way back down. I put the rest in the laundry bag that DCL provides each room and tossed it over my shoulder. Now all I needed was a red suite and a small herd of reindeer. I took my half of the doo-lollys and shot down the stairs to Deck-6. form there I keep working my way down through the ship until I got to the last cabin on Deck-2. Since nearly all of the traveling was in a downward direction, we could make great use of the stairwells without getting too winded (this was also good because the wait for an elevator on a sea day can be a might… ummmm… l-o-n-g).


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The storm was upon us now. Map in hand and sack over my shoulder I tore up and down the lower decks of the Disney Dream like a cat burglar in flight. Quickly, I located and filled the pouches of each Fish-Extended on the list. I recognized one family heading toward their cabin and doubled back for a moment so that they could herd the little ones inside before I pounced. I didn’t want to just walk up and hand over the goods… even Robin Hood will tell you that it’s more fun when the kids find a hidden prize and don’t know exactly where it came from.

Being as it was a Sea Day, I also had to contend with hallways that were packed with legions of young’ens trying to locate the next piece Magical Art and decipher the clues from the Midship Detective Agency. There was a good deal of hustle and bustle and some of the pictures had accumulated fairly long lines of impatient sleuths. I suspect that they looked at me rather oddly as I whizzed by like some lost Santa in a Hawaiian shirt.

But I was on a mission and didn’t have time to look back for reactions. Stick and move… bob and weave… around the corner and down the stairs… one more hallway… one more cabin… There! Mission accomplished. And now for a quick retreat back up to 9543 and some well earned refreshments. I might even have to drop by the pastry case on Deck-5 on the way.




(You just can’t really have too many of those miniature éclairs ya’ know).


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Chapter 7:
The tail of: “The Tale” - Day 4 (Wednesday)




Part 5: A Little Night Music







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With our demented Santa impersonation now completed, it was time to put the members of the Cruise Director’s staff back in control. Good call on my part (it requires a lot les thinking). What they had in mind for this evening’s entertainment in the Walt Disney Theater was a spectacle steeped in the grandest of Hollywood traditions and inspired by these little statuettes right here…


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“The Golden Mickeys” is basically another chance for our resident song and dance troop to display their talents and present a few more of the tunes form the Disney / Pixar song book that we all know and love. It’s quite the extravaganza. Presented as a full on red carpet event, they even go so far as to set up an actual red carpet replete with a film crew and a chicly clad roving reporter conducting paparazzi style interviews amongst the guests arriving for the show.


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Of course most of the interviewees will end up being kids but you’d expect no less of anything with Walt’s name attached to it. They even record the whole thing and toss it up on the screens on either side of the theater as preshow entertainment.

The show itself débuted in 2003 and is the oldest offering currently in production aboard DCL’s ships. I’ve seen it before on both the Wonder and Magic and as such… we considered (for just a minute mind you) actually skipping it this time around and seeing what else we could get into. Ultimately, I was glad we didn’t do that though.


The show is presented in the style of an awards ceremony with characters from Disney films being nominated for awards including: heroism, symphony, villains, friendship, and romance. Much is similar to the original, but they have been updating and altering the production here and there over time. A lot of the choreography is new and several the songs presented have been rotated as well. The basic premise is still the same. It has a shy and somewhat frumpy stage manage (“Ensign Benson”) being forced into hosting duties for an awards show when the ship’s captain is unable to take on the task. Needless to say, she’s not so sure abut her ability to pull this off but receives encouragement and advice along the way via video clips and appearances from various denizens of the Disney Pantheon…


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Events move quickly and carry our heroine and the audience through excellent productions of a number of the Disney film classics…


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(I suspect that y’all will have not trouble at all figuring out what tune was supporting those particular scenes.)



Another fun little bit held over from the original production is where the CMs will secretly pull several young’ens out of the audience and have them help out Snow White and Dopey is a rousing rendition of “Hi-Ho”


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Always a winner!


And of course it wouldn’t be Disney if our timid church mouse of a stage manager didn’t develop into a confidant and accomplished Master of Ceremonies and even lead the cast in the grand finale…


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Interestingly… you can also catch a variation of this show on dry land at Hong Kong Disneyland. There is even word going around that the Imagineers are planning to install a version over at Tokyo Disneyland as well. Personally… I’m for it.


I mean, is it really possible to have too much exposure to the great songs and characters of the Disney universe?





Is that even a valid question?


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With our demented Santa impersonation now completed, it was time to put the members of the Cruise Director’s staff back in control. Good call on my part (it requires a lot les thinking).

It's always good thinking to do less thinking.

Of course most of the interviewees will end up being kids but you’d expect no less of anything with Walt’s name attached to it. They even record the whole thing and toss it up on the screens on either side of the theater as preshow entertainment.

Very cute how they do that. I really enjoyed that show.

(I suspect that y’all will have not trouble at all figuring out what tune was supporting those particular scenes.)

Well, it's certainly a lot easier than trying to figure out all those nautical flags!


Yes?

Oh, you were talking about the show. Sorry.

I mean, is it really possible to have too much exposure to the great songs and characters of the Disney universe?

(thinking.)

(still thinking.)

(thinking some more.)

No. No, it's not. Unless you're on a certain boat ride featuring dolls.
 
It was our turn to play St. Nick… errrr… St. Mick – ey… St. Goofy?
St. Goofy... I like it! :thumbsup2

You can use just about any image editor for the task (just to keep it simple I would actually just open it up in the little “Paint” app that’s buried inside every Windows O/S in existence).
For some of us, that's the only thing we have access to. :rolleyes1

Now all I needed was a red suite and a small herd of reindeer.
That would make all that walking easier.

I whizzed by like some lost Santa in a Hawaiian shirt.
:lmao::rotfl2::rotfl:

I might even have to drop by the pastry case on Deck-5 on the way.
Yeah, all that work deserves some snacks!

Good call on my part (it requires a lot les thinking).
That always helps.

“The Golden Mickeys” is basically another chance for our resident song and dance troop to display their talents and present a few more of the tunes form the Disney / Pixar song book that we all know and love.
That's gotta be a great show.:thumbsup2

I mean, is it really possible to have too much exposure to the great songs and characters of the Disney universe?
No

Is that even a valid question?
Beverly no!
 
It's always good thinking to do less thinking.

::yes::
Especially if you’re me.

Don’t think… just throw…


Well, it's certainly a lot easier than trying to figure out all those nautical flags!

Touche pussycat!!!!

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:


Yes?

Oh, you were talking about the show. Sorry.

Actually I was talking to myself (as I dwell in that particular cave)…
But your welcome to join me down in here.


(thinking.)

(still thinking.)

(thinking some more.)

No. No, it's not. Unless you're on a certain boat ride featuring dolls.

I must concur.



On both observations.




Cool, now why didn't I think of that. I will use this for the next time.

I'm just sorry I didn’t think to post that little detail earlier when you could have made use of it.




St. Goofy... I like it! :thumbsup2

I like that one too.


That would make all that walking easier.

It certainly would have. But I suspect that I’d have been running down young’ens left and right as crowded as the halls were, and the reindeer stables aboard the Dream were hidden in some restricted location, so I’d of had to put them up on our cabin. :eek: Just think of the mess!


Yeah, all that work deserves some snacks!

Yes it does… especially the climbing back up the stairs part (the elevators were still too crowded to actually be able to catch one).


That always helps.

The less time I actually spend thinking… the better for all human-kind


That's gotta be a great show.:thumbsup2

Really, all the shows on any of the DCL ships are excellent. Even if you’ve seen them ten times (but of course that would also mean that I’d been cruising more the ten times and that would be such a good thing that I don’t think I’d care what show was in the theater at that moment).


No


Beverly no!

You are correct sir!
 

Chapter 7:
The tail of: “The Tale” - Day 4 (Wednesday)




Part 6: Highfalutin





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“COME… AND… GET IT!”

Can you imagine the maitre d’ of one of the Dream’s signature restaurants standing at the door… ringing a dinner bell… and hollering that little refrain at the top of his lungs? Maybe at the Hoop-dee-doo Review, but on one of the cruse ships? Naaaaa… me neither, but it does paint quite the picture. First off... this just wont happen on any cruise ship (with the possible exception of an “Elbonian” liner), and secondly… even if we were in one of Steven Hawkings alternate universes, it wouldn’t be happening this evening, because aboard the Disney Dream we’ve officially reached the “Formal Night” of the cruise.

The official dress code of cruising has changed over the years and also varies a bit more depending on the cruise line. On the great Transatlantic Liners of yore, diner was always a black tie affair (for the wealthy that is… if you were confined to steerage it was a whole other matter, but that’s a rather different aspect of shipboard lore and history). With the passage of time, the mingling of the classes (God forbid) and the shift from touring to cruising, things have lightened up considerably and the expectations have grown a good bit looser in the past two decades alone. The first time I was aboard a cruse liner you were expected to wear what would now be called “business casual” every evening. The exception to this was the Captain’s Dinner (what now is called “formal night”) when it was more like the cruises of the early 1900s. I saw this first hand during our honeymoon better then twenty years ago. The first time I cursed on a DCL ship (many years later), “formal night” saw me in a suite and tie. Two years after that, I didn’t need the jacket. This past outing, the business casual that was the regular daily norm twenty years ago, was all that was required for the dressiest evening aboard the Dream.

Times have changed.


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Now, there will still be plenty of folks aboard that will dress to the nines. Some will do so out of habit or preference; others will be taking advantage of the moment to have formal family portraits done by the staff at Shutters (with or without a Character in the photo… both option are available on this evening). Tamara for one would be quite pleased if her family was at least observant of the finer points of fashion, but she mistakenly married me, and then we had a son who takes after me on this issue so… she’s learned to relent (but is secretly making plans for the future possibility of having granddaughters to bring into the fold). Now, as I was saying… we did clean up a good bit for Formal Night on the Dream; but we settled for being dressed to the 7.5s rather then the 9s (less to pack and carry that way as well).


OK, now that we’ve sorted out all this dress code nonsense, it’s time for some grub.
Our fine dinning destination on this lovely evening:

Enchanted Garden


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This venue is a new design concept for DCL. The Magic and Wonder both have a version of Animator’s Pallet, and the Dream’s Royal Palace is similar to both Lumiere's and Triton’s. Enchanted Garden however, is unique. Conceptually, it is inspired by the formal gardens of Versailles.

These gardens right here…


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The intention is to have you feel as if you were dining in one of the conservatories on the palace grounds. The Imagineers also decided to play with the atmosphere over the course of the dinning experience by transitioning the ambient lighting within the room to simulating a passage of time from late afternoon to dusk and then on into the evening. Here are a couple of images published by DCL to that illustrate the point…


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When we arrived at Table-66, our tablemates were already there. Well… the young ladies were. As with the previous evening, the grownups were experiencing one of the adult only restaurants and their eldest was charged with the chaperone duties for her younger siblings. Charming as these girls were (and they were), English was still their second language, so the conversation was subdued and pretty must divided by family. That didn’t stop Daniel from entertaining the group though. I can’t quote anything specific that was said, but there was general laughter within each exchange.

Another interesting point is that according to our serving team, we were being offered a brand new menu that was being débuted for the first time on our sailing. I suspect it was an experimental one as well, because I’ve not seen anyone post or mention the changes we encountered, and because a couple of items were listed in both the appetizer column and as part of the “Vegetarian” section of the Main Courses column (and being as one of them had some meat in it, this was surely an oversight). All that being said, it was still an excellent meal.

Here’s a look see at the menu…


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Yah I know… between the glare of the flash and the ridiculous scale of the image I can’t read that either, so here’s the translation…


Appetizers

Cucumber Garden Roll
filled with Julienne of Carrots, Bell Peppers, Zucchini, flavored with Cilantro
and dressed with White Shoyu and Lemon Dressing

Ahi Tuna and Avocado Tower
With Crispy Noodles and Wasabi Dressing

North Atlantic Lobster Ravioli
With Roasted Garlic and Sweet Basil
in a light Tomato Broth

Thyme and Garlic Brioche
filled with Lobster, Morels and Porcini Muchrooms
and Leek Stew in a light Buttermilk Cream



Soups and Salads

Heirloom Tomato Soup
with Sour Cream, Croutons, and Basil

Cream of Green Asparagus
with Crab Meat and Asparagus Tips

Spinach and Raspberry Salad
tender Spinach tossed tithe fresh Raspberries, toasted Pine Nuts, and crumbled Gorgonzola
and a Raspberry Vinaigrette

Romaine Wedge
Fresh Crisp Romaine topped with a Creamy Romano
Dressing and Homemade Spiced Croutons



Bread Service

Multi-grain and Country Current rolls
with Chickpea-Garlic Purée




Main Course

Caramelized Sea Scallops
With Roasted Asparagus, Sun-dried Tomatoes,
and Pearl Pasta, garnished with Caramelized
Leeks and Veal Jus Reduction

Roasted Pork Tenderloin seasoned with Smoked Salt
Citrus flavored Polenta Cakes and Oven Roasted Carrots,
Parsnips and caramelized Granny Smith Apples

Pan-seared Sea Bass
With Saffron and Pea Risotto with
a Sweet Chili Glaze

Marjoram Scented All Natural Chicken
Half a Chicken served with Baked Sweet Potatoes
and Sautéed Baby Spinach

Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Thyme-roasted Vegetables, Double-baked Potato served with a natural jus


Vegetarian

Cucumber Garden Roll
filled with Julienne of Carrots, Bell Peppers, Zucchini, flavored with Cilantro
and dressed with White Shoyu and Lemon Dressing

Thyme and Garlic Brioche
filled with Lobster, Morels and Porcini Muchrooms
and Leek Stew in a light Buttermilk Cream

Heirloom Tomato Soup
with Sour Cream, Croutons, and Basil

Pearl-Barley Cakes with Shallots, Leeks, and Rosemary
Over sautéed Julienne of Carrots, Root Celery
and Leeks with a light Saffron Sauce

Glazed Portobello Mushrooms
With Brown Lentil and Parsley Sauce and
Sun-dried Tomato Cream Drizzle



Lighter Note Offerings

The Enchanted Garden Tuna Salad
Sushi Grade seared Tuna on Organic Field Greens,
Micro Greens, Wakame and Squid Salad, Sesame Seeds
and White Shoyu and Lemon Vinaigrette



Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak

Slow Roaster Breast of Chicken

Oven Baked Fillet of Salman

The above three entrées are served with
Garden Vegetables and your choice of
Steamed White Rice or Baked Potato




So… what hit the table?

I suspect you have read enough about me to quickly pick out the entrée, but the appetizer was another one of those experiments that I was conducting while aboard the Dream. I decided to give this one a shot…


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That is the “Ahi Tuna and Avocado Tower”… sushi grade Ahi Tuna. Now I’m one of those folks that will tell you that sushi is basically another word for bait. But I also figured that if I were ever going to try something that could possibly turn out to be a gastronomical mistake, then a high-end restaurant (where the bill has already been paid beforehand and I could also change my mind) was probably the best place to do it. Verdict? Not bad… not something I’ll do on a regular bases, but not bad. The rest of my household did a better job with Tamara trying the “Garden Roll” and Max taking a stab at the “Lobster Ravioli”


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OK, so what about that entrée? Well, the “Prime Rib” sounded very good…
but I was in a “Tenderloin” kind’a mood.


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And as good as that looks, it tasted better; one of the best meals of the trip hands down.

The wife and young’en decided to test the seafood waters with the “Sea Bass”…


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…and that turned out to be an excellent choice as well.


As I said earlier, part of the show aspect in the Garden is the lighting shift from day to night. Here are a couple more pictures to illustrate the point. The first was from the time the main course was served (depicting the sunset time frame), and the second was of the same spot in the room at about the time that the desert menus arrived.


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And speaking of desert menus… here’s a look at what was being offered up this evening…



Dessert


Sweet Temptations
A trio of Esterhazy Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Chocolate Silk Mousse

Steamed Lemon Buttermilk Pudding
With Citrus Reduction

Esterhazy Cake
Almond Meringue soaked in Maraschino Liqueur
and layered Pastry Cream

"Sacher" Chocolate Torte
With Apricot Sauce

Banana Foster Sundae
Rum-glazed Bananas, Vanilla Ice Cream,
Whipped Cream, and Caramel Sauce



No Sugar Added Dessert

Strawberry Cheesecake
With Whipped Cream and Fruit Coulis

Silky Dark Chocolate Mousse
With Whipped Cream and Berries



We put a good hurting on this menu.

Max and I had the Sacher…


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…Tamara got the trio (because there’s always just too much to pick only one)…


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…and then we had them bring us the Lemon Pudding to split amongst us
(just to give it a taste and because… well… because we could).


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Then on top of all that, Daniel decided once again to champion the underdog on the menu. Since no one at the table order the Banana Foster Sundae… He felt it was his duty to ensure that every one at the table got the Banana Foster Sundae in addition to what ever else was ordered. And as usual, it was very good (but for the first time, the ice cream wasn’t better then some of our choices. Dang close… but no cookie, orrr… would that be banana? A little bit of coffee (which in the restaurants is properly brewed and not the Ness-cafe stuff up on the drink bar), and a bit more conversation with our hosts and among ourselves and we declared it a fine evening that would now be discussed in the past tense.

As we headed out to take a turn around the decks and enjoy the evening air, the Garden had finally completed its transition into full nighttime mode


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Everything glowed and sparkled with a noticeable elegance. The Darkness has a magic and electricity about it. With only the shimmer of moonlight or subdued lamp light scattered here and there, the night has a certain ability to transform collections of mundane and ordinary objects into an enchanting landscapes and even surreal tapestries. Much of what appears to be beautiful (or in some cases sinister and frightening) during the nocturnal hours will often turn out to be just the same flotsam and jetsam that we’d generally ignore during the day. Imagination and darkness make a great combination.



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One might just as well have start off with: “It was a dark and stormy night…”.
Hey now, all the best literary works start with “It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly, a shot rang out!"

But then again, I am a truly lousy excuse for a writer (just ask any of my English teachers)
I'm surprised they even bother to each English that far south...
:rotfl2:


I put the rest in the laundry bag that DCL provides each room and tossed it over my shoulder.
That nice cloth bag with the embroidered DCL logo almost made it into one of my suitcases. But then my conscience started talking to me and convinced me not to. Funny, my conscience sounds a lot like my wife.


even Robin Hood will tell you that it’s more fun when the kids find a hidden prize and don’t know exactly where it came from.
:thumbsup2

Stick and move… bob and weave… around the corner and down the stairs…
Veteran crowd movement moves there. It's hard to pull off, but I enjoy using unsuspecting strangers to set a pick and roll for me.

I might even have to drop by the pastry case on Deck-5 on the way.

(You just can’t really have too many of those miniature éclairs ya’ know).
Of all of the advice I got from your TR, this one may have been the best! :thumbsup2



“The Golden Mickeys” is basically another chance for our resident song and dance troop to display their talents and present a few more of the tunes form the Disney / Pixar song book that we all know and love. It’s quite the extravaganza. Presented as a full on red carpet event, they even go so far as to set up an actual red carpet replete with a film crew and a chicly clad roving reporter conducting paparazzi style interviews amongst the guests arriving for the show.
Great Show! :thumbsup2

I mean, is it really possible to have too much exposure to the great songs and characters of the Disney universe?
Well, there was this one time.


Nah, just kidding. Bring on more!
 

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