The Dream is over, but I don't want to wake up...Sailing into a New Year

[tokyodisneydad]

Well folks I am back in Japan and though it has taken me a few days to start this trip report I finally am.
First and foremost I am in severe denial that my trip has come and gone. I truly can't believe that it took 702 slow days of planning before I boarded an airplane in Tokyo Narita and then it went by like a flash. I've had the worst case of cruise and Disney withdrawel the last couple of days. My body is rejecting the knowledge that I am home and that today was my first day back at work. I went through the motions of teaching, but my heart was definitely not in it. I've slept alot and not eaten enough since starting for home and then arriving. To kind of make up for it I've already started planning the next one...either an Alaska cruise or a 7 night Fantasy cruise. We shall see.

Ok now to move on to the report itself. It will take a couple of days to get pictures loaded, especially since my computer is acting funny. When I do I will share what I have. The report itself partially a review,partially tips, but mostly just my story of what was a wonderful cruise. Was it perfect....well no as you will see, but it was an incredible experience.

Ok here is where I introduce the folks you will meet along the way in my story. Well one of the title opions for thie was "One Sumo and Five Ninjas and the quest for the Honey Dipped Bacon."

So I am the Sumo...pictures did not suit me well this time as I am a big guy. I will share some of them, but will leave some of the more frightening ones out. My name is Wally for those who don't know me. I took this trip with my wife and four other Japanese friends... The five ninjas.

My wife...Kiyomi..the love of my life...my angel...my sweetheart. I wanted so badly for this trip to be perfect for her. You will have to wait and see if it was.

THE HIROTA family
Tomo and Hidemi...Hidemi has been a good friend of ours for quite awhile and she is like a daughter to us, although she is only about ten years younger. Tomo is her husband and it was a first time cruising for both of them and a first time to Walt Disney World for him. He is a shy and quiet guy.

THE SUGIZAKI family
Maki and Shu...Maki was probably most excited overall. They are friends of Hidemi, but now are friends of ours also.

All of this adventure started 702 days before ever leaving Japan....and that is where I will leave you. I hope you will join in and read along. You will hear my thoughts on Palo, how to celebrate a birthday on the Dream and what really happens on a cruise ship on New Year's eve.

While you wait....this is my second TR....the first one is linked below and included my daughters, but they are grown up now and stayed home. This is an all adult ...mommy and daddy...trip...and believe me it was neeeded.

LINK for past TR

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1569813

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Ok I'm back and with actual photo evidence that I went on this trip. No followers yet, but I hope that will change as I have lots of fun to share.



So this is me and my wife. The first of our group that you will see a picture of. We left our house at about 8 am in the morning on the 27th of December in Japan. It took us about 30 hours from our front door to the hotel room door. This really played gmes with my mind and my wife's mind the first night as you will see soon.



This is Hidemi and Tomo. Hidemi had been to WDW before, but it was Tomo's first time. It was both of their first time on a cruise.



Finally after 28 hours of buses and planes the whole group was getting ready to board the Magical Express....our destination ....All Star Movies. Oh that is Maki and Shuichi. Yes the date on the picture was the 28tyh becaquse the camera was set to Japan time and it was the 28th in Japan, but we had time traveled and it was the 27th in Florida.
We had chosen a value hotel because it was just a place to sleep and if I told you how much a plane ticket from Japan cost per person you would understand better.

 

[IadoreWDW]

Hi Wally! I'm here! looking forward to your report!

 

[Jazzy B Bunny]

Hey Wally! Looking forward to updates

 

[Lita]

I'm following! I subscribe to a lot of trip reports (including your prior ones), but don't announce that I am following.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[figment52]

Looking forward to your report. Having priced flights to/from Tokyo I would stay at All Star as well.

 

[DisneyZell]

Well one of the title opions for thie was "One Sumo and Five Ninjas and the quest for the Honey Dipped Bacon."

I vote that you change it to this!

I'm on-board and ready to ride! Can't wait to hear how it went. Particularly the Honey Dipped Bacon part. Only I know what that is!

DZ

 

[dededisney]

So glad you are posting this Wally. I have been waiting to hear about your trip. Hopefully you won't take quite as long as someone else we know

 

[DisneyZell]

So glad you are posting this Wally. I have been waiting to hear about your trip. Hopefully you won't take quite as long as someone else we know

Ahem. I wonder who your talking about???

 

[perfectmatch300]

I'll be following along.

I can't even begin to imagine adjusting to that time change!

 

[2015Cruiser]

I've got another year until mine, so I'll follow along with yours..

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Ahem. I wonder who your talking about???

Yeah I wonder... Lol...and as u will see eating the bacon really was a quest as all except the last day the wife was on me about my eating.

Thanks everyone for joining in... U will get an update after work tonight. Yesterday was my youngest daughters Coming of Age ceremony so didn't have time. I may even throw in a picture of her in her Kimono... Very expensive Kimono... We rented it and the cost to rent was more than the cruise. Japan... Gotta love it

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Looking forward to your report. Having priced flights to/from Tokyo I would stay at All Star as well.

Yeah it was sticker shock when we got the per person price for airline tickets. Just because of the time of year

 

[Spunkyminky]

Hi Wally, okaerinasai.
Looking forward to your trip report but I have a question just out of curiosity.
Were your "ninjas" strictly Japanese speakers?

I'm Japanese-American, fluent in English/Japanese. My brother and his family lives in Japan. Other than my brother(who was born and raised in the US), rest of his family does not speak any English. Do non-English speaking cruisers enjoy cruising at all if they have no clue what's happening during shows and movies?

My sister in law is a huge Disney fan and when I told her that we're going on a Disney Cruise, she had mentioned that she wanted to go with us next time. My nieces are 7 & 5 yrs old, and I don't even know how that would work while they're at Oceaneers Club. I just wasn't sure how much the girls will enjoy cruising if they don't understand any English.
Would love your input!
Arigato~

 

[DisneyZell]

I may even throw in a picture of her in her Kimono... Very expensive Kimono... We rented it and the cost to rent was more than the cruise. Japan... Gotta love it

 

[DisneyZell]

LOL...the Disboards couldn't handle how scared I was.

 

[dizneeat]

You are back already? That vacation went by fast!

But I am all aboard for the TR!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Hi Wally, okaerinasai.
Looking forward to your trip report but I have a question just out of curiosity.
Were your "ninjas" strictly Japanese speakers?

I'm Japanese-American, fluent in English/Japanese. My brother and his family lives in Japan. Other than my brother(who was born and raised in the US), rest of his family does not speak any English. Do non-English speaking cruisers enjoy cruising at all if they have no clue what's happening during shows and movies?

My sister in law is a huge Disney fan and when I told her that we're going on a Disney Cruise, she had mentioned that she wanted to go with us next time. My nieces are 7 & 5 yrs old, and I don't even know how that would work while they're at Oceaneers Club. I just wasn't sure how much the girls will enjoy cruising if they don't understand any English.
Would love your input!
Arigato~

Ok first of all welcome to my TR. I will do my best to aswer all your questions as best I can. 3 of the 5 Japanese people in my group are non English speakers. Also this cruise was full of Japanese tourists, alot more than last time I cruised. I spoke with several while onboard. I think this is due to recent TV specials here in Japan centered around the Fantasy and Dream.

I would say 100 % without a doubt that the cruise can be enjoyed without being a native English speaker. There is so much to do and enjoy that each member of the family will have a great time. As for shows...yes the comedy of Villains tonight could be a bit hard to understand, but the other two shows could be easily followed by those in my group...English Speakers and non English speakers alike. As for movies....do ou really want to waste precious ship time by sitting in a theater?

I would recommend asking your Travel Agent to see if a Japanese speaking waiter could be a part of your waiting team, but if not Japanese menus are available in all the dining rooms. As for the kids....I teach that age now and you will find that at first they are shy, but quickly adjust and will have fun. Again ask ahead of time if a Japanese speaker will be in the kid's area, but if not I would just give them a short list of some Japanese words and translations....example...ITAI(It hurts) or OSHIKKO(I have to pee). The staff is usually willing to go above and beyond to help.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

We interrupt this Trip Report for a real life update.

I Haven't updated in a few days and the reason wy is that my youngest daughter...Junna had her Coming of Age day ceremony yesterday. ...Yes the little girl that scared all the cows back in my 2007 trip report has grown up. Becoming 20 is a big deal here in Japan and the second monday in January is designated as a holiday for all those who have turned 20 the year before to be recognized as adults. (although most --including mine don't act like adults).

Anyway below are some pictures of her in her Kimono....and like I have already said the rental on that cost more than the cost of one person to go on the cruise. Just for the ceremony it was 160000yen. Yes count those zeros again....now go ahead and translate that into whatever currency you use on a daily basis....go ahead....I'll wait.




Trying it on and choosing which one



Final results after all the hair salon (at 5 am) and makeup...with her mom

 

[tokyodisneydad]

So before this trip I had made a very ambitious list of everything I wanted to do this trip. as it turned out it was way too ambitious and due to circumstances beyond my control seeral things never happened. I'll tell you about those as we go along together. Now don't worry.....I still had an incredible time, but live and learn. Next time will be different and some things I would change. Other things like my room on the ship I wouldn't change for anything.

Ok back to the story.....after 28 hours of time traveling using cars, buses and planes our little group arrived at Disney's Allstar Movie resort. I went up to the counter and checked everyone in. They also gave us Mickey Magic bands. I had hoped not to have to use these as I had heard about many problems and glitches in the system that were being ironed out. They insisted that everyone was now required to use them. I found out a little later that this wasn't quite true, but more on that when we get to that part of the story.
Well I atleast refused to connect them to charging priveledges or tickets. They ended up being used as fancy room keys except in Animal Kingdom....again we shall get to that part of the story.
While at the desk i also got a Happy Birthday badge for myself (Dec.29th) and for Shuichi (Dec.23)...These turned out to be a GREAT idea and you will soon see why.
At the Allstar Movie we stayed in the Mighty Duck Section. This was funny because only I had seen the movie Mighty Ducks. So no one else in our group understood the theming.



Ignore the date...the camera was set on Japan time and never got changed. So it was the 27th and about 7:30 pm when we finally arrived at our room.


Here are the only pictures we took of the room...


Me unpacking my suitcase and



The towel mickey on the bed as we went in.

The first thing we did was turn off the air conditioner. My wife's body temperature can't stand any cold. It was a little warm outside, but definitely not that warm.

Now after all that travel time you would think we would jump in bed and get some rest.....no not us.....but that will have to wait till next post.