Coffee on the Verandah -The Last Slide, Recap & Souvies 5/29 - Link to Aulani TR 5/31
- Thread starter eandesmom
- Start date
eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
THIS JUST IN!!! Customize Upload Options (SIZE) was back on PB for me this morning!!!
eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
Sorry for the delay! Real life is well, real life! We've been busy around here. Jeff and I ran away a couple of weekends ago for a night to celebrate our birthdays and Valentine’s day as is our tradition and had a lovely time in our own town with an amazing dinner, a show at a local jazz favorite and a night at a downtown hotel. Of course it was jam packed on either end with getting kids off to snow caves camping, overnights and opening night of the Sounders with grandparents and then soccer games and a lot of math homework all around. Which meant....no update! Then this weekend we had one college visit/ID camp for K (Vanderbilt), middle school registration for Eric and high school registration for Evan plus some other school events. The latter was mildly stressful, that thing read like a college catalog and was paired with an open house that was of no use whatsoever. Hopefully we've made the right choices for all. Thankfully this weekend should have some real downtime, or at least one can hope. K has a tournament but it’s in Vegas so we will not be going and right now the E's schedules look relatively light.
I am hideously behind on everyone's threads, my apologies in advance. I will get caught up, I will! Someday.
I have to admit, in the light of what happened at POP this weekend I am a bit freaked out now about leaving the E's unattended even though I know they have good swimming skills and there were multiple lifeguards there while we ditched them in search of Serenity. I digress but my heart hurts for the family for those who don't know, a 13 year old boy died after almost drowning in the Hippy Dippy Pool. The family was right there and honestly, at 13 with good swimming skills, we are not always "right" there. We are nearby but in the pool or physically next to where they are? No, not always. As I read about the incident, and thought of our trip to Serenity Bay it just gave me pause. Heck, as I think about our trip, or life, in general. Several times the boys were swimming without us. Never alone, usually with a lifeguard present but at what age, what skill is it ok? Is it? I know my parents weren't with me at that age. As long as I could pass the swim test to swim out to the platform at the lake we went to, that was good enough. I do not expect the lifeguards to babysit and heaven knows the boys swim at their own risk in our lake all summer long. Often we are there, but not out on the dock watching every move and at 13 the club allows them to be there without a parent. No lifeguard… and Evan spends most of his days down there with his friends jumping in and out of the lake. Last summer, at 13, was the first summer we let him go on his own without us, per club rules. I admit, I’ am glad Eric won't technically be old enough until after summer is over this year as I certainly don’t trust Evan to keep an eye on him if he has friends there. Last summer, before the trip, Eric was on an aggressive lesson schedule so we could get him to a point where he could go into the ocean and even consider trying to snorkel but still, lessons aside, visuals aside, beyond the swim test at the Y
So how can you really know how far to let them go? At their ages I thought we did but with this happening it really makes me wonder if there is more to the story or not. The news said he was jumping in and out. CNN had a great article on teens and swimming and going beyond limits with peers as well as a scary bit of information about something called "shallow water blackout" that I’m going to share with the E’s. Hard. I can’t even imagine.
At any rate I've truly meant to get this update up for what feels like a week and between life and a high maintenance cat I've not had my normal "free" writing time. I do want this done before we go to Aulani so need to get cracking. This is a bit shorter than I wanted but if I wait to get the rest of the night in it, it might not happen today!
With that, let's go back to Castaway Cay! When I left off we’d been robbed, robbed I tell you of a drink at Serenity Bay. We'd left, and headed back to find the kids. Done with snorkeling (we could tell by the gear at the loungers) we easily spotted them and gave them the one last slide warning. Which let me get set up for a photo attempt.
Where they'd go?
Don't get salt water up your nose Eric!
Did I miss Evan?
Yep
No clue what this picture was about
The sad walk up
Okay...
Really, I have NO idea what they were doing here other than I distinctly recall they thought it was hilarious and I thought it was hideous, which of course made them keep doing it. We did do a quick slide ranking at this point and on the Evan slideometer Pelican Plunge, the fast side (you can see in the pics they were on different slides) gets a 10!
We had bribed them to get out with promises of a smoothie and more shopping. I really wanted to try that darn Konk Kooler and we were cutting it close. We packed up, Kendall had found us while we were getting the E’s out of the water and headed over here
Carp. No smoothies on the menu
One of them they were able to make without rum but it was not what the E’s had in mind so the 3 of us ordered.
And here it is, the infamous Konk Kooler!
from Alears (I need to check this against evan's Disney cookbook as it's in there too)
3 oz. Light Rum (Suggestion - Malibu or Parrot Bay)
3 oz. Dark Rum (Suggestion - Cruzan Black Strap)
4 oz. Orange Juice
8 oz. Cream of Coconut (Suggestion - Coco Casa)
6 oz. Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate (Suggestion - Welches)
3 oz. Ice
I LOVED it! I was worried it would be too sweet and it wasn't. Just lovely tropical coconutty deliciousness. Honestly, had I not been robbed at Castaway Air, this might have been my 2nd.
While the drinks were being made I let Jeff get them and settle up. As you can see, while we were trying to get Conched Out…the whole Island was almost out. They were literally boarding up the bar while making our drinks.
What it "normally" looks like
Mission (for 3 anyway) accomplished!
I'd sent the boys ahead to shop
Where honestly there was nothing of interest. Evan was bummed, he’d been convinced he would find a necklace but there just wasn't a thing anyone wanted. I think they are missing the mark on merch here, Big time. Most of it was either too cute (very little kid Disney) or too generic.
I was not leaving without the mandatory pic
They look miserable huh
Who is your favorite character?
I could not get Kendall and Jeff in the picture, oh well. With that, it was time to head back to the ship.
Continued in next post
I am hideously behind on everyone's threads, my apologies in advance. I will get caught up, I will! Someday.
I have to admit, in the light of what happened at POP this weekend I am a bit freaked out now about leaving the E's unattended even though I know they have good swimming skills and there were multiple lifeguards there while we ditched them in search of Serenity. I digress but my heart hurts for the family for those who don't know, a 13 year old boy died after almost drowning in the Hippy Dippy Pool. The family was right there and honestly, at 13 with good swimming skills, we are not always "right" there. We are nearby but in the pool or physically next to where they are? No, not always. As I read about the incident, and thought of our trip to Serenity Bay it just gave me pause. Heck, as I think about our trip, or life, in general. Several times the boys were swimming without us. Never alone, usually with a lifeguard present but at what age, what skill is it ok? Is it? I know my parents weren't with me at that age. As long as I could pass the swim test to swim out to the platform at the lake we went to, that was good enough. I do not expect the lifeguards to babysit and heaven knows the boys swim at their own risk in our lake all summer long. Often we are there, but not out on the dock watching every move and at 13 the club allows them to be there without a parent. No lifeguard… and Evan spends most of his days down there with his friends jumping in and out of the lake. Last summer, at 13, was the first summer we let him go on his own without us, per club rules. I admit, I’ am glad Eric won't technically be old enough until after summer is over this year as I certainly don’t trust Evan to keep an eye on him if he has friends there. Last summer, before the trip, Eric was on an aggressive lesson schedule so we could get him to a point where he could go into the ocean and even consider trying to snorkel but still, lessons aside, visuals aside, beyond the swim test at the Y
So how can you really know how far to let them go? At their ages I thought we did but with this happening it really makes me wonder if there is more to the story or not. The news said he was jumping in and out. CNN had a great article on teens and swimming and going beyond limits with peers as well as a scary bit of information about something called "shallow water blackout" that I’m going to share with the E’s. Hard. I can’t even imagine.
At any rate I've truly meant to get this update up for what feels like a week and between life and a high maintenance cat I've not had my normal "free" writing time. I do want this done before we go to Aulani so need to get cracking. This is a bit shorter than I wanted but if I wait to get the rest of the night in it, it might not happen today!
With that, let's go back to Castaway Cay! When I left off we’d been robbed, robbed I tell you of a drink at Serenity Bay. We'd left, and headed back to find the kids. Done with snorkeling (we could tell by the gear at the loungers) we easily spotted them and gave them the one last slide warning. Which let me get set up for a photo attempt.
Where they'd go?
Don't get salt water up your nose Eric!
Did I miss Evan?
Yep
No clue what this picture was about
The sad walk up
Okay...
Really, I have NO idea what they were doing here other than I distinctly recall they thought it was hilarious and I thought it was hideous, which of course made them keep doing it. We did do a quick slide ranking at this point and on the Evan slideometer Pelican Plunge, the fast side (you can see in the pics they were on different slides) gets a 10!
We had bribed them to get out with promises of a smoothie and more shopping. I really wanted to try that darn Konk Kooler and we were cutting it close. We packed up, Kendall had found us while we were getting the E’s out of the water and headed over here
Carp. No smoothies on the menu
One of them they were able to make without rum but it was not what the E’s had in mind so the 3 of us ordered.
And here it is, the infamous Konk Kooler!
from Alears (I need to check this against evan's Disney cookbook as it's in there too)
3 oz. Light Rum (Suggestion - Malibu or Parrot Bay)
3 oz. Dark Rum (Suggestion - Cruzan Black Strap)
4 oz. Orange Juice
8 oz. Cream of Coconut (Suggestion - Coco Casa)
6 oz. Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate (Suggestion - Welches)
3 oz. Ice
I LOVED it! I was worried it would be too sweet and it wasn't. Just lovely tropical coconutty deliciousness. Honestly, had I not been robbed at Castaway Air, this might have been my 2nd.
While the drinks were being made I let Jeff get them and settle up. As you can see, while we were trying to get Conched Out…the whole Island was almost out. They were literally boarding up the bar while making our drinks.
What it "normally" looks like
Mission (for 3 anyway) accomplished!
I'd sent the boys ahead to shop
Where honestly there was nothing of interest. Evan was bummed, he’d been convinced he would find a necklace but there just wasn't a thing anyone wanted. I think they are missing the mark on merch here, Big time. Most of it was either too cute (very little kid Disney) or too generic.
I was not leaving without the mandatory pic
They look miserable huh
Who is your favorite character?
I could not get Kendall and Jeff in the picture, oh well. With that, it was time to head back to the ship.
Continued in next post
eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
Continued from previous
And look, we are the last ones off the island (shocker I know)
And onto the tram
For some reason I thought that was funny at the time
There she is
No one walking back apparently
Hey look someone else is still here!
Too late to get on the tram going the other way…unless you are a towel
Sadly, we got off the tram and with the rest of the stragglers, I mean the rest of the folks who maximized every minute they could on the Island, we headed in.
Up next. Where are the kids?
Sorry this one is short guys, the rest of the evening involves well, more than one story, so I need a little writing time. It was an interesting evening.
Trick or Treat
And look, we are the last ones off the island (shocker I know)
And onto the tram
For some reason I thought that was funny at the time
There she is
No one walking back apparently
Hey look someone else is still here!
Too late to get on the tram going the other way…unless you are a towel
Sadly, we got off the tram and with the rest of the stragglers, I mean the rest of the folks who maximized every minute they could on the Island, we headed in.
Up next. Where are the kids?
Sorry this one is short guys, the rest of the evening involves well, more than one story, so I need a little writing time. It was an interesting evening.
Trick or Treat
mickeystoontown
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
As I was reading your post about the boy who died after the drowning, I was thinking of all those times we snuck off and went swimming in the pond behind our house and of those times when I let my kids swim waaaaaay out in the lake when we were camping. It's scary to think what could have happened.
Moving on to happier thoughts. Ya'll really did milk every single minute out of Castaway Cay! I can't say that I blame you as it's such a beautiful place.
Moving on to happier thoughts. Ya'll really did milk every single minute out of Castaway Cay! I can't say that I blame you as it's such a beautiful place.
MEK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
Reading about that 13 year old boy certainly was certainly tragic. I remember, a few years back, reading about a 14 year old who died at Typhoon Lagoon. She didn't drown, but she literally cardiac arrested for some unknown reason. I was always on high alert when my kids were in that wave pool. I could never relax.
So, how WAS the Konch Kooler? (did I spell that right?
) I didn't here any rave reviews. Do tell. I have to have at least one "signature" drink while lounging around on the island.
I love that your gang closed down the island. That's awesome. Just goes to show what a great day you had!
So, how WAS the Konch Kooler? (did I spell that right?
) I didn't here any rave reviews. Do tell. I have to have at least one "signature" drink while lounging around on the island.I love that your gang closed down the island. That's awesome. Just goes to show what a great day you had!
I am taking a break from school work to treat myself to some DIS time. I can't see the pictures here, but I sure will look forward to seeing them tonight! For some reason I can see one of them - the Conched Out Bar (what it normally looks like), and I see palm trees, which makes me happy. 
For some reason I can see one of them - the Conched Out Bar (what it normally looks like), and I see palm trees, which makes me happy.
eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
You didn't although I was probably uploading it as you typed this! Hope you have a great weekend too
So true!
We did milk it that's for sure! And I'd do it that way again for sure.
I'm on high alert in the wave pool, they are not allowed in it without me and/or Jeff but even then we do get split up, it's hard not to.
So, how WAS the Konch Kooler? (did I spell that right?
Konk and it was fabulous! So fabulous that maybe that should be our drink for F&G. I checked the all ears recipe against the Disney cookbook and while similar ingredients, they are NOT remotely the same proportionately. Check it out
Allears (this is making a batch versus single)
3 oz. Light Rum (Suggestion - Malibu or Parrot Bay)
3 oz. Dark Rum (Suggestion - Cruzan Black Strap)
4 oz. Orange Juice
8 oz. Cream of Coconut (Suggestion - Coco Casa)
6 oz. Passion Fruit Juice Concentrate (Suggestion - Welches)
3 oz. Ice
Mix in blender until slushy.
Disney (single)
1/4 oz. Light Rum
3/4 oz. Dark Rum
1 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Pina Colada Mix
1 oz. Passion Fruit Juice
Shake and serve in a tall glass with crushed ice.
We did shut it down, I'd do it again too!
I am taking a break from school work to treat myself to some DIS time. I can't see the pictures here, but I sure will look forward to seeing them tonight!
Oh how funny, the one public domain picture I hijacked you can see but not any of mine. Hopefully you can see them now. Palm trees would make me very happy today too.
Cynthia, playing catch up myself, but just wanted to say that I love all those photos of an empty CC!
Glad you got your drinks in the end ...... and sorry to hear about the shopping.
Oh it's ok on the shopping, I just think they are missing some sales is all. Believe me, we found plenty to buy over the course of the trip
eandesmom
I'm with Beast
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
We had gotten back on the ship at 4:19. Not bad when you consider all ashore was at 4:30! Back on board there was business to attend to, 2 things on my list. The first was the days FE delivery and the second was something for Jeff and I. We agreed that the boys would do the delivery, Jeff and I would go do our thing and then wed meet back at the room or at least the E's would meet us back at the room in time to head to the show. Believe was playing and we all wanted to see it though Kendall planned to see it with her friends so she would meet us at dinner if not at the room right before. The E's also wanted to shop. They had identified what they wanted to spend the last of their souvenir money on and the plan was to go purchase everything after the show as wed be right by the shops.
After the FE delivery I honestly don't know what the kids did although I'm fairly sure it was a movie either on the funnel or in the theater. For some reason I am missing that Navigator so can't be sure. In the meantime for Jeff and I, we decided it was time. Time for the Aquaduck! The line wasn't short but it was kind of one of those now or never things. If we didn't do it then, it wouldn't happen this trip and we certainly didn't want to get off the ship having never tried it. So we did! And we LOVED it. It was a ton of fun. Not enough so that wed stand in line, again, but still, a ton of fun. We also didn't have time to stand in line again. With a show at 6:15 we had enough time for one ride on the AD and then needed to head back to the room to get ready. Tonight was Palo night and since the plan was to shop after the show, we needed to be mostly ready prior to the show, showered at least! Heading back to the stateroom we found it empty and proceeded to get ready. Showtime drew near and kids were nowhere to be found. Frankly, I was annoyed. Supremely so. Id have preferred more adult pool or AD time instead of getting ready prior to the show so I could take them shopping. I had no intention of missing the show either. We left a big fat note on the white board and headed to the show. Which, for some reason I didn't take a single picture at. Probably because I was distracted and mad at the E's, and mildly worried as well. We kept hoping theyd show up at the show looking for us but, nope. I did like the show, very much, I think it was my favorite of the cruise. Kind of a corny story line but the sets and numbers were pretty great. After the show the question for us became what to do about the desired souvies. We determined we had 3 options.
1. Go back to the room and look for them and try to squish in shopping? There really wasn't time for that and getting ready for Palo.
2. Just say "you blew it" and not buy the items knowing there wouldnt be another chance?
3. Torture them by saying "you blew it and missed your window" but really have already bought the items and hide them?
We picked a lane and headed back to get ready. As we were finishing dressing 2 kids showed up about 5 minutes before it was time to leave for their seating. If that, it might have been right at 8:15. I truly cant recall the story but whatever it was it didn't fly with us. Bottom line was they'd totally lost track of time and tried to get creative with covering it up. They were in trouble with a capital T and had blown the gift of freedom theyd been enjoying on the cruise so far. But they needed to shop they pleaded, couldnt they do it after dinner? Um, no, we have our own plans and they include Palo and Shutters. By the time those 2 things are done, the shops will be closed. Discussion closed kiddos, its time to head to dinner.
To say they were upset was an understatement. They pulled it together in time to be seated for dinner, where we left them (and Kendall who had found the restaurant just fine on her own) at Animators with our table mates. It turns out that one of her friends was seated almost next to them and her mom was proposed to that night! Kendall knew about it from her friend (future stepdad having looped her in before hand) and the kids got to see a pretty magical Disney moment with their dinner as well as seeing the full Animators "show" that Jeff and I would miss due to our Palo dinner. Kids accounted for we headed off to dinner. Checking in we were asked to wait in Meridian again but sadly, I didn't take any pictures. I don't think we had a drink there though and we were not there for all that long before we were seated. We were pleased to see we would have the same server as our brunch the day before, Manuel. Warning, horrible phone pictures is all I have. WAH. The big camera just didn't go with the dress.
We ordered a bottle of wine though apparently I neglected to take a picture of that as well. Oh well. One of my favorite things about Palo is the antipasto cart. YUM! I really could eat an entire plate of those peppers and olives.
Jeff's first course, for the life of me I have NO idea what this is (nor does it look appetizing, it looks like a giant blob lol) and I did not see anything on the Allears menu that remotely resembled it. It may be this as I do remember whatever he ordered surprised the heck out of me and this would fit that bill.
Lobster and Mascarpone Ravioli with a light truffle burro Bianco
My appetizer, a bit of an out of the box choice for me these days
Sicilian Pesto Marinated Grilled Shrimp on a Mussel, Crab and Cherry Tomato Ragu
Some sorbet to cleanse our palate
My entree
Grilled Tuna Piemonte. Truffle-infused potato risotto with garlic marinated artichokes and a tarragon veal jus.
Good lord was this thing huge!
Jeff's entrée
Our Beef Tenderloin "Palo" served with Palo signature Barolo red wine sauce or gorgonzola sauce
then again, this might be the lobster ravioli that Jeff got as a side
I'd have thought I'd have gotten the mushroom risotto with my Tuna as a side but have no picture to prove it.
And for dessert&no we didnt do the soufflé. Im just not a soufflé person. Too rich.
Mine
Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Basil Sorbet
Jeff's
Homemade Tiramisu, Layered Coffee-infused Ladyfinger with Mascarpone Cheese
At some point during the evening the Shutters photographer came by and took pictures. I was very excited about this. This was now our 4th trip to Palo and the first time wed gotten a Shutters picture. Id deliberately waited to choose our photos in hopes of this. I was even more excited because honestly I was wearing a dress I love that finally fit just right and had gotten an unusual amount of compliments on it already. Not to mention the fact that there just aren't a lot of pictures of the two of us out there.
During dinner something else arrived. Rain. And a LOT of it. We could see it pouring from our table, which was the exact table wed sat at for brunch. Pouring. With some nice wave action too. We were very happy to be inside and watching it from our lovely table, with our lovely meal. As always, it was simply outstanding. All of it.
Dessert arrived at 10:30. I am guessing, with coffee and dessert we didn't leave all that much before 11. Which, I believe is when Shutters was scheduled to close. We settled up and boogied down to Shutters and I set about finding our "book" which of course didn't have the Palo pics in it yet. I looked online, not there either. And then tried to get someone to help us. Which, if you can imagine, right before closing on the last night of a cruise was easier said than done. During all of this, what to our wondering eyes should appear but 2 little boys who shouldn't have been there. If memory serves they had, after not being where they were supposed to be earlier, supposed to have gone straight to the stateroom after dinner.
No. Instead they'd been waiting to pounce, knowing I had planned to hit Shutters tonight after dinner. Pounce to beg to go shopping. Beg to divide and conquer, I stay and do the pictures; Jeff takes them to the shops.
No.
I don't think so.
Nice try.
You have to love 12 and 13 year old boys making a scene in the middle of a crowded photo area. Yeah. Not. At all.
Jeff quickly ushered them away as nothing was happening until I finished my business. Hard to concentrate on picking out pictures and looking for missing ones when 2 little boys are alternatively glaring at you from across an atrium, or looking at you with hangdog puppy dog eyes. At some point I think Jeff just made them go to the stateroom to start packing.
Sigh.
After what seemed forever our Palo photos were located.
They were awful. Just awful.
WAH!!!!
The reality is that generally speaking, dinner table photos with one person standing behind the other just aren't that great of a layout. Nice photo of the top of my head and part with crummy lighting. Bleh.
Bummed out I made my choices and we headed back to the room to put them away. We had rushed out of Palo to make it in time to get the pics and had wanted one last after dinner drink. First though was dealing with the matter at hand. Overwrought boys.
Who I decided had been tortured enough. They needed to pack, it was late and I needed compliance.
Trick. Then Treat. I cannot say I feel bad about it at all, though I would have preferred not to have rewarded the horrendous behavior in Shutters. Still, it was vacation. I had known what they wanted and had picked it all up after the show. And to be honest, there were things both Jeff and I wanted so we had picked it all up at the same time. Actually what had really happened is Jeff had gone back so he could iron his shirt and I had picked it all up, along with a little surprise for Jeff. Shopping had been deliberately delayed until after CC and I didn't feel that they should be totally robbed of things they had thought about, wanted and really planned for within their budgets and had really avoided impulse buying. I didn't regret the torture.
Mean I know.
Happy boys with treasures in hand, they got busy packing under strict instructions with a time for lights (aka TV) out. It would be an early morning for them with breakfast at 8 and all items needing to be packed up before breakfast. One thing I did love about the Dream was the option to carry off your own luggage at disembarkation versus putting it outside of the room at 10pm. SO much better!
Jeff and I headed off in search of the Outlook . Supposedly a bar that is midship, deck 14. Of course now, looking at my Navigators from the trip, the time shown for it is "Sunset", implying that was the only time it was open. All I know is it was not to be found on any ship map, or on most and in fact it has disappeared off of the DCL website in the dining/lounge area although you can still find it on the deck plan.
At one point, it existed
Deck 14 isn't really a deck, it's just a floor in the funnel. To get there you need to go up through the funnel but we didn't figure that out for a bit and wandered around confused. We may have even gone down to Deck 4 and see if we wanted a drink at any of the lounges there but honestly, they didn't "speak to us". Here is my thought on the Deck 4 adult lounges. They tout them as being these super cool separate and distinct areas, and to some degree they are. To some degree though you kind of cut through one to see the other, they are sort of all connected and ultimately, pretty small. Pink and 687 did nothing for us and for whatever reason, nigher did Skyline but I think we may have just been on a mission for something else and we really didn't like the way everything was connected, kind like a thoroughfare, it made it all less intimate. So back to trying to find Outlook.
The only way to even try is through deck 12's elevator but in our effort to figure that out we kept going down, to go back up as it was pouring so hard outside, cutting across an actual outside deck was out of the question (especially in our Palo attire). Seriously, sheets of water. Kendall told us later a bunch of the teens had panned to swim and hit the Aquaduck, but when they went up to head out they all came to a screeching halt at the door when they saw the sheets of water. The only way to get there was to take the center elevator as if you were going to Edge, but go one more floor up. So we did. Once there, it appeared to be a no man's land of teens hanging out, like they had taken over the place with squatters rights. Guess that will happen when it's located right on top of the tween club. Nothing was actually open in there, other than the room itself. I don't really know what has happened to the space now. I've no idea how long it took to find the place that didn't really exist but by the time we did, we were done and ready to turn in.
Except we had to pack first.
Packing sucks.
Are we ever getting off this ship?
After the FE delivery I honestly don't know what the kids did although I'm fairly sure it was a movie either on the funnel or in the theater. For some reason I am missing that Navigator so can't be sure. In the meantime for Jeff and I, we decided it was time. Time for the Aquaduck! The line wasn't short but it was kind of one of those now or never things. If we didn't do it then, it wouldn't happen this trip and we certainly didn't want to get off the ship having never tried it. So we did! And we LOVED it. It was a ton of fun. Not enough so that wed stand in line, again, but still, a ton of fun. We also didn't have time to stand in line again. With a show at 6:15 we had enough time for one ride on the AD and then needed to head back to the room to get ready. Tonight was Palo night and since the plan was to shop after the show, we needed to be mostly ready prior to the show, showered at least! Heading back to the stateroom we found it empty and proceeded to get ready. Showtime drew near and kids were nowhere to be found. Frankly, I was annoyed. Supremely so. Id have preferred more adult pool or AD time instead of getting ready prior to the show so I could take them shopping. I had no intention of missing the show either. We left a big fat note on the white board and headed to the show. Which, for some reason I didn't take a single picture at. Probably because I was distracted and mad at the E's, and mildly worried as well. We kept hoping theyd show up at the show looking for us but, nope. I did like the show, very much, I think it was my favorite of the cruise. Kind of a corny story line but the sets and numbers were pretty great. After the show the question for us became what to do about the desired souvies. We determined we had 3 options.
1. Go back to the room and look for them and try to squish in shopping? There really wasn't time for that and getting ready for Palo.
2. Just say "you blew it" and not buy the items knowing there wouldnt be another chance?
3. Torture them by saying "you blew it and missed your window" but really have already bought the items and hide them?
We picked a lane and headed back to get ready. As we were finishing dressing 2 kids showed up about 5 minutes before it was time to leave for their seating. If that, it might have been right at 8:15. I truly cant recall the story but whatever it was it didn't fly with us. Bottom line was they'd totally lost track of time and tried to get creative with covering it up. They were in trouble with a capital T and had blown the gift of freedom theyd been enjoying on the cruise so far. But they needed to shop they pleaded, couldnt they do it after dinner? Um, no, we have our own plans and they include Palo and Shutters. By the time those 2 things are done, the shops will be closed. Discussion closed kiddos, its time to head to dinner.
To say they were upset was an understatement. They pulled it together in time to be seated for dinner, where we left them (and Kendall who had found the restaurant just fine on her own) at Animators with our table mates. It turns out that one of her friends was seated almost next to them and her mom was proposed to that night! Kendall knew about it from her friend (future stepdad having looped her in before hand) and the kids got to see a pretty magical Disney moment with their dinner as well as seeing the full Animators "show" that Jeff and I would miss due to our Palo dinner. Kids accounted for we headed off to dinner. Checking in we were asked to wait in Meridian again but sadly, I didn't take any pictures. I don't think we had a drink there though and we were not there for all that long before we were seated. We were pleased to see we would have the same server as our brunch the day before, Manuel. Warning, horrible phone pictures is all I have. WAH. The big camera just didn't go with the dress.
We ordered a bottle of wine though apparently I neglected to take a picture of that as well. Oh well. One of my favorite things about Palo is the antipasto cart. YUM! I really could eat an entire plate of those peppers and olives.
Jeff's first course, for the life of me I have NO idea what this is (nor does it look appetizing, it looks like a giant blob lol) and I did not see anything on the Allears menu that remotely resembled it. It may be this as I do remember whatever he ordered surprised the heck out of me and this would fit that bill.
Lobster and Mascarpone Ravioli with a light truffle burro Bianco
My appetizer, a bit of an out of the box choice for me these days
Sicilian Pesto Marinated Grilled Shrimp on a Mussel, Crab and Cherry Tomato Ragu
Some sorbet to cleanse our palate
My entree
Grilled Tuna Piemonte. Truffle-infused potato risotto with garlic marinated artichokes and a tarragon veal jus.
Good lord was this thing huge!
Jeff's entrée
Our Beef Tenderloin "Palo" served with Palo signature Barolo red wine sauce or gorgonzola sauce
then again, this might be the lobster ravioli that Jeff got as a side
I'd have thought I'd have gotten the mushroom risotto with my Tuna as a side but have no picture to prove it.
And for dessert&no we didnt do the soufflé. Im just not a soufflé person. Too rich.
Mine
Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Basil Sorbet
Jeff's
Homemade Tiramisu, Layered Coffee-infused Ladyfinger with Mascarpone Cheese
At some point during the evening the Shutters photographer came by and took pictures. I was very excited about this. This was now our 4th trip to Palo and the first time wed gotten a Shutters picture. Id deliberately waited to choose our photos in hopes of this. I was even more excited because honestly I was wearing a dress I love that finally fit just right and had gotten an unusual amount of compliments on it already. Not to mention the fact that there just aren't a lot of pictures of the two of us out there.
During dinner something else arrived. Rain. And a LOT of it. We could see it pouring from our table, which was the exact table wed sat at for brunch. Pouring. With some nice wave action too. We were very happy to be inside and watching it from our lovely table, with our lovely meal. As always, it was simply outstanding. All of it.
Dessert arrived at 10:30. I am guessing, with coffee and dessert we didn't leave all that much before 11. Which, I believe is when Shutters was scheduled to close. We settled up and boogied down to Shutters and I set about finding our "book" which of course didn't have the Palo pics in it yet. I looked online, not there either. And then tried to get someone to help us. Which, if you can imagine, right before closing on the last night of a cruise was easier said than done. During all of this, what to our wondering eyes should appear but 2 little boys who shouldn't have been there. If memory serves they had, after not being where they were supposed to be earlier, supposed to have gone straight to the stateroom after dinner.
No. Instead they'd been waiting to pounce, knowing I had planned to hit Shutters tonight after dinner. Pounce to beg to go shopping. Beg to divide and conquer, I stay and do the pictures; Jeff takes them to the shops.
No.
I don't think so.
Nice try.
You have to love 12 and 13 year old boys making a scene in the middle of a crowded photo area. Yeah. Not. At all.
Jeff quickly ushered them away as nothing was happening until I finished my business. Hard to concentrate on picking out pictures and looking for missing ones when 2 little boys are alternatively glaring at you from across an atrium, or looking at you with hangdog puppy dog eyes. At some point I think Jeff just made them go to the stateroom to start packing.
Sigh.
After what seemed forever our Palo photos were located.
They were awful. Just awful.
WAH!!!!
The reality is that generally speaking, dinner table photos with one person standing behind the other just aren't that great of a layout. Nice photo of the top of my head and part with crummy lighting. Bleh.
Bummed out I made my choices and we headed back to the room to put them away. We had rushed out of Palo to make it in time to get the pics and had wanted one last after dinner drink. First though was dealing with the matter at hand. Overwrought boys.
Who I decided had been tortured enough. They needed to pack, it was late and I needed compliance.
Trick. Then Treat. I cannot say I feel bad about it at all, though I would have preferred not to have rewarded the horrendous behavior in Shutters. Still, it was vacation. I had known what they wanted and had picked it all up after the show. And to be honest, there were things both Jeff and I wanted so we had picked it all up at the same time. Actually what had really happened is Jeff had gone back so he could iron his shirt and I had picked it all up, along with a little surprise for Jeff. Shopping had been deliberately delayed until after CC and I didn't feel that they should be totally robbed of things they had thought about, wanted and really planned for within their budgets and had really avoided impulse buying. I didn't regret the torture.
Mean I know.
Happy boys with treasures in hand, they got busy packing under strict instructions with a time for lights (aka TV) out. It would be an early morning for them with breakfast at 8 and all items needing to be packed up before breakfast. One thing I did love about the Dream was the option to carry off your own luggage at disembarkation versus putting it outside of the room at 10pm. SO much better!
Jeff and I headed off in search of the Outlook . Supposedly a bar that is midship, deck 14. Of course now, looking at my Navigators from the trip, the time shown for it is "Sunset", implying that was the only time it was open. All I know is it was not to be found on any ship map, or on most and in fact it has disappeared off of the DCL website in the dining/lounge area although you can still find it on the deck plan.
At one point, it existed
Deck 14 isn't really a deck, it's just a floor in the funnel. To get there you need to go up through the funnel but we didn't figure that out for a bit and wandered around confused. We may have even gone down to Deck 4 and see if we wanted a drink at any of the lounges there but honestly, they didn't "speak to us". Here is my thought on the Deck 4 adult lounges. They tout them as being these super cool separate and distinct areas, and to some degree they are. To some degree though you kind of cut through one to see the other, they are sort of all connected and ultimately, pretty small. Pink and 687 did nothing for us and for whatever reason, nigher did Skyline but I think we may have just been on a mission for something else and we really didn't like the way everything was connected, kind like a thoroughfare, it made it all less intimate. So back to trying to find Outlook.
The only way to even try is through deck 12's elevator but in our effort to figure that out we kept going down, to go back up as it was pouring so hard outside, cutting across an actual outside deck was out of the question (especially in our Palo attire). Seriously, sheets of water. Kendall told us later a bunch of the teens had panned to swim and hit the Aquaduck, but when they went up to head out they all came to a screeching halt at the door when they saw the sheets of water. The only way to get there was to take the center elevator as if you were going to Edge, but go one more floor up. So we did. Once there, it appeared to be a no man's land of teens hanging out, like they had taken over the place with squatters rights. Guess that will happen when it's located right on top of the tween club. Nothing was actually open in there, other than the room itself. I don't really know what has happened to the space now. I've no idea how long it took to find the place that didn't really exist but by the time we did, we were done and ready to turn in.
Except we had to pack first.
Packing sucks.
Are we ever getting off this ship?
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
I love that you spent every last possible moment at Castaway Cay. I'm glad you enjoyed your Konk Kooler. Sounds awesome!!! I love coconut but I adore passionfruit. Mmmmm...
Great pictures of the boys in this update. It seems like everyone had a fantastic day!
Great pictures of the boys in this update. It seems like everyone had a fantastic day!
englishrose47
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2007
Great Update Oh you Mean Mutha !!!!
dizneeat
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2006
Great update!
To answer a question - your DH's appetizer is the Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Polenta with a Roasted Shallot Sauce. A light creamy Polenta served with Grilled Portobello and Parmesan shaving
I love that you still had a nice night after all the stress with the kids coming in late. Bummer about the Palo photos though.
We had quite the same experience looking for Outlook, and even though we knew where it was it took some time figuring out the right elevator. It IS only open and sunset though (at least that is what we were told by a CM)
I cannot believe you are getting ready to get off the ship!
Where did the time go?
To answer a question - your DH's appetizer is the Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Polenta with a Roasted Shallot Sauce. A light creamy Polenta served with Grilled Portobello and Parmesan shaving
I love that you still had a nice night after all the stress with the kids coming in late. Bummer about the Palo photos though.
We had quite the same experience looking for Outlook, and even though we knew where it was it took some time figuring out the right elevator.
It IS only open and sunset though (at least that is what we were told by a CM)I cannot believe you are getting ready to get off the ship!
Where did the time go?
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
GREAT POST!!!
Good for you two for checking out the Aqua Duck- it looks like so much fun!
I'm glad you enjoyed the show- how annoying that the boys were not around to join you!
Dinner looks fabulous. At first I thought your appetizers were your entrees and I thought "Well, that's not enough food!" But then your entrees came.
Bummer about your Palo/Shutters photos not being good.
Hilarious about the super secret bar that doesn't exist (and the blog link you put in your update- it's blocked out. Coincidence? I think NOT!)
I didn't know that about taking your own luggage off the ship. That's cool. Now can folks who are continuing on with a Disney vacation send their luggage to the resort if they so desire?
Boo! On the end of your cruise, but I know you still have some fun and surprises up your sleeve.
No objections on how you handled the souvenir situation. Definitely a no win situation, but I think you made the right choice and I hope it instilled in the boys a lesson about never doing that again.
Good for you two for checking out the Aqua Duck- it looks like so much fun!
I'm glad you enjoyed the show- how annoying that the boys were not around to join you!
Dinner looks fabulous. At first I thought your appetizers were your entrees and I thought "Well, that's not enough food!" But then your entrees came.
Bummer about your Palo/Shutters photos not being good.
Hilarious about the super secret bar that doesn't exist (and the blog link you put in your update- it's blocked out. Coincidence? I think NOT!)
I didn't know that about taking your own luggage off the ship. That's cool. Now can folks who are continuing on with a Disney vacation send their luggage to the resort if they so desire?
Boo! On the end of your cruise, but I know you still have some fun and surprises up your sleeve.
No objections on how you handled the souvenir situation. Definitely a no win situation, but I think you made the right choice and I hope it instilled in the boys a lesson about never doing that again.
merbobear
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
I have been reading along with your TR but not really commenting, but I just have to chime in about the boy who passed away after the near-drowning at Pop Century. First of all, how sad. I had read about it in a news article and it is heartbreaking. I can't imagine his family's pain.
Second, I have to say that my childhood was full of swimming, and rarely was it supervised by a parent. My family purchase a pool membership every year and we always went by ourselves (it was down the street from our house). We were enrolled in swimming lessons every summer and my brother and I were both great swimmers. I can say that we both went swimming there without parental supervision from a much younger age than 13! In fact, I would say that I was probably about 7-8 when my parents would drop us off there! We had a pool in our yard too (above ground, a 4 footer) and we would go swimming in there and all of our friends would go in too. It was a different time, I guess (growing up in the 80s lol) and it certainly wasn't that my parents didn't care if we were injured and just set us free, but I guess they felt we were good enough swimmers to be trusted. I am not sure what age I will decide is appropriate for my own dd to go swimming without me or dh, but luckily she is only 5 so the time to think about that is a bit far off for me.
At the end of the day, you know your kids best, and if they are good swimmers and understand about water safety (such as no diving in untested or shallow water, etc) then I would think they are ok to swim, especially in a pool or other swimming area with a lifeguard. Is there a cpr or junior lifeguard class available for their ages? That might make you feel more secure this summer, if they are both trained in case of an emergency!
Second, I have to say that my childhood was full of swimming, and rarely was it supervised by a parent. My family purchase a pool membership every year and we always went by ourselves (it was down the street from our house). We were enrolled in swimming lessons every summer and my brother and I were both great swimmers. I can say that we both went swimming there without parental supervision from a much younger age than 13! In fact, I would say that I was probably about 7-8 when my parents would drop us off there! We had a pool in our yard too (above ground, a 4 footer) and we would go swimming in there and all of our friends would go in too. It was a different time, I guess (growing up in the 80s lol) and it certainly wasn't that my parents didn't care if we were injured and just set us free, but I guess they felt we were good enough swimmers to be trusted. I am not sure what age I will decide is appropriate for my own dd to go swimming without me or dh, but luckily she is only 5 so the time to think about that is a bit far off for me.
At the end of the day, you know your kids best, and if they are good swimmers and understand about water safety (such as no diving in untested or shallow water, etc) then I would think they are ok to swim, especially in a pool or other swimming area with a lifeguard. Is there a cpr or junior lifeguard class available for their ages? That might make you feel more secure this summer, if they are both trained in case of an emergency!
rentayenta
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
Wonderful updates. Palo looks amazing! I'm a risotto junkie and Michael makes the best mushroom risotto I've ever had. I'd give Palo's a try though. If Joshua ditches me on the cruise I'm going to try and get a table for one. Or maybe I'll stay by the pool and drink.
The rest of your CC day looks great. Love the boys making faces. And I like that you guys were some of the last back on the ship. That'll be us. I'm going to squeeze every single minute out of CC.
Looks like I'll be booking on board. Gabby wants a family disney cruise for graduation.
The rest of your CC day looks great. Love the boys making faces.
And I like that you guys were some of the last back on the ship. That'll be us. I'm going to squeeze every single minute out of CC. Looks like I'll be booking on board. Gabby wants a family disney cruise for graduation.
Sunset Cliffs
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2009
I'm all caught up! It has been fun to read all of the different parts of your trip. Your pictures of OKW definitely made me dream of going back to WDW again.
To comment on your most recent update, Palo sounds amazing. I'm glad that you got so much kid-free time on this cruise. It seems like the adult only areas were much quieter, and much more relaxing "cruise-y" feeling. It's nice you got to take advantage of those areas.
To comment on your most recent update, Palo sounds amazing. I'm glad that you got so much kid-free time on this cruise. It seems like the adult only areas were much quieter, and much more relaxing "cruise-y" feeling. It's nice you got to take advantage of those areas.
Mndisneygirl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2008
So glad you enjoyed CC to the fullest and got your Konk Kooler! I think it's pretty yummy!
Palo, ah Palo! I just LOVE that place. Your food looked really good. I love the simple little centerpiece with the three roses too.
You are too funny - those boys are dang lucky if you ask me! I would have done the same thing though! Glad you found time to hit the Aquaduck, get in your shopping and all!
Palo, ah Palo! I just LOVE that place. Your food looked really good. I love the simple little centerpiece with the three roses too.
You are too funny - those boys are dang lucky if you ask me! I would have done the same thing though! Glad you found time to hit the Aquaduck, get in your shopping and all!
Poolrat
I am alive, sometimes I wonder too.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
I totally understand the shock over the situation.
The news kept harping on "No Lifeguards" They go off duty at 8pm. Signs are posted. Some reports had nothing about parents nearby and then some did. I first heard it from a clip from a Firefighter from Buffalo nearby that did CPR.
A 13 years old in the Hippy Dippy pool? That pool is not deep..4 4 1/2 feet deep maybe? Parents and other kids areound in a clear pool? Something else must have been going on. Maybe a medical emergency? Maybe he hit is head? Not sure but many, many,many kids play on a regular basis in a pool and do it safely.
Heck I did it and when of appropriate age and skill my kids did it. For me it was 12 and I could go to the pool by myself. Did every day during the summer.
Kids should have a buddy or someone with them- Rule One - never swim alone and someone should know where you are.
Kids should know how to behave and be safe around water.
Shallow water blackout happens during breath holding. Kids playing "how long can I stay under" games can lead to this.
Honestly, we used to play them often, How far can you swim underwater? How long can you stay under? Things like that.
Big NO NOs now. It is usually coupled with hyperventilation.
So sad it happened to this family and I hope they get some answers as to why and how.
In the end the posted ages along with a parent's confidence in swimming ability and common sense of the kids is all you can go on. In a guarded area, activities in the area and depth of the water also play a part. Unguarded areas require more consideration. Supervision at that point is the key, and the ability to get help if it is needed.
******************
Now for the updates. Palo looks great and so sorry about the pictures.
Even though it was a touch mean the boys deserved the trick and treat. THey were told where to be and well they weren't. Knowing there would not be oppotunities after that night, getting items for them was understandable and having them wait for it also justified.
I probably would have done the same thing. They lost out on the actual shopping part and that might have been enough punishment for losing track of time.
Packing up does suck but you are going back to Disney right? A couple more days? A few more surprises right?
Share this page
-
New Treats at Vivoli il Gelato in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World
-
Nothing is Amore About Mama Melrose's New Menu at Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Two Guest-Favorite Guided Tours Return to the Disneyland Resort
-
Need Help Planning the Itinerary for Your Walt Disney World Vacation?
-
How Many Days Do I Need to Enjoy Walt Disney World?
GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE
Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.
Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!
Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.
Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!
