A Mother's Day Cruise on the Fantasy sandwiched between BCV (Complete 10/12, p.33)

[Pinkocto]

Where are you going next wk for your fall trip?

Down to WDW

 

[rentayenta]

Great meet photo! Your cute mom does seem so friendly, I bet she can talk to anyone, just like you!

The BCV really do have their own vibe. One of these days we'll have to venture away from AKV. I can really see how each resort has such a different feel. Michael wants SSR proper during our next trip for sure but the second half is up in the air.

Spice Road looks delicious!!! Grape leaves are one of my favorites and I agree the plates don't look small at all.

Bummer about the $250 not being applied.

 

[MEK]

Yayayayayayay for our DIS meet! That was such a fun way to end a trip (well, for me anyway ). I loved getting to meet you and your mom and I'm glad youe enjoyed your goodybag!

Your room is amazing! I feel like its been awhile since I've been in anything but a studio (even though I was in a 2BR last October) and I would just love to splurge on a 1BR. So nice!

So - cruise question - when Denny and I get off the dream next month we are getting picked up by our friends in Daytona. Realistically, what time will we get off the ship. Is is better just to wait until everyone disembarks or is there a certain system for doing it. We are just heading to Cocoa Beach, so its not like I'm in a rush.

 

[Pinkocto]

Great meet photo! Your cute mom does seem so friendly, I bet she can talk to anyone, just like you!

The BCV really do have their own vibe. One of these days we'll have to venture away from AKV. I can really see how each resort has such a different feel. Michael wants SSR proper during our next trip for sure but the second half is up in the air.

Spice Road looks delicious!!! Grape leaves are one of my favorites and I agree the plates don't look small at all.

Bummer about the $250 not being applied.

I am antisocial compared to mom. She could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere. I'm so glad the meet worked out, those are two great ladies!


You know how much I love AKV, like LOVE it! But the location of BC really can't be beat, and SSR is really a nice place. They all have a completely different atmosphere.

Spice Road Table was scrumptious, very worth being in the list. Mom said the grape leaves were fabulous.

I was really annoyed about the gift card business, but we used it at WDW so all was good.

 

[Pinkocto]

Yayayayayayay for our DIS meet! That was such a fun way to end a trip (well, for me anyway ). I loved getting to meet you and your mom and I'm glad youe enjoyed your goodybag!

Your room is amazing! I feel like its been awhile since I've been in anything but a studio (even though I was in a 2BR last October) and I would just love to splurge on a 1BR. So nice!

So - cruise question - when Denny and I get off the dream next month we are getting picked up by our friends in Daytona. Realistically, what time will we get off the ship. Is is better just to wait until everyone disembarks or is there a certain system for doing it. We are just heading to Cocoa Beach, so its not like I'm in a rush.

I did enjoy my goofy bag, thank you again, that was so sweet!!!! And thank you again for taking the time to meet up, that was a highlight of my trip!

I've found that traveling with mom the 1BR is the way to go. She likes to get up early, make coffee, and tends to rustle things. She's happier not waking me up and I'm happier sleeping in a bit. I could use more points



There are several ways on approaching disembarkation. You can get off early if you want, as soon as the ship is cleared by customs, but you'll have to carry your bags off yourself and that is between 6:30-7:00. That is usually met by the least resistance as there will be relatively few people getting off at that time. If you wait to have breakfast in the main dining room you'll be off and through customs by 10:00 at the latest. You will have to wait in line and it could seem very hectic. The line moves steadily but they have to scan each and every passenger off the ship. You can also do the buffet breakfast and can probably be off by 9:00 if you have an early breakfast. They will start paging overhead to please disembark as soon as you can, but please don't be stressed by the announcements. Take your time if you want, they are not going to force you off the ship. Enjoy enjoy enjoy

 

[MEK]

There are several ways on approaching disembarkation. You can get off early if you want, as soon as the ship is cleared by customs, but you'll have to carry your bags off yourself and that is between 6:30-7:00. That is usually met by the least resistance as there will be relatively few people getting off at that time. If you wait to have breakfast in the main dining room you'll be off and through customs by 10:00 at the latest. You will have to wait in line and it could seem very hectic. The line moves steadily but they have to scan each and every passenger off the ship. You can also do the buffet breakfast and can probably be off by 9:00 if you have an early breakfast. They will start paging overhead to please disembark as soon as you can, but please don't be stressed by the announcements. Take your time if you want, they are not going to force you off the ship. Enjoy enjoy enjoy

Thanks for the info Pam! I doubt our friends are going to want to pick us up by 7am so perhaps its better for us to wait until later and just drag our feet a bit. I hate lines and stress. I guess there is no way around that.

 

[Pinkocto]

Thanks for the info Pam! I doubt our friends are going to want to pick us up by 7am so perhaps its better for us to wait until later and just drag our feet a bit. I hate lines and stress. I guess there is no way around that.

That's exactly why we take our time that last morning. The line keeps moving so when we're ready we just get on the end and try to be patient. This is when the grumps really come out, and people can be rude. Sometimes the line goes all the way back to the Animators Palate. If you look at the deck plan you'll see its about half the length of the ship. Its usually that long when we go into breakfast at 8:00.

 

[Leshaface]

I think that's the best idea to have a few days at WDW after the cruise. Especially since that last morning on the cruise is hectic and rushed. It's like BOOM vacation is over, everybody off the ship.

What a nice room at BCV! I really want to stay there one day. DH isn't that interested, but DM and I would love it.

So fun that you go to meet up with Cynthia and Mary Ellen!!! I would love to meet them one day. And your small plates at SRT look great!

Hopefully it won't be too cold in January, i'd love to visit that ice cream shop.

 

[Pinkocto]

I think that's the best idea to have a few days at WDW after the cruise. Especially since that last morning on the cruise is hectic and rushed. It's like BOOM vacation is over, everybody off the ship.

What a nice room at BCV! I really want to stay there one day. DH isn't that interested, but DM and I would love it.

So fun that you go to meet up with Cynthia and Mary Ellen!!! I would love to meet them one day. And your small plates at SRT look great!

Hopefully it won't be too cold in January, i'd love to visit that ice cream shop.

Even if it's cold, icecream should be gotten! it is the creamiest most delicious icecream EVER!

You're so right, BOOM the vacation is over! No good, no good at all

The BC/YC area is absolutely gorgeous. Very peaceful but a totally different vibe than the peacefulness of AKV. Very worth trying at some stage, and SAB is AWESOME!

SRT was scrumptious, and Im so glad the meet worked out

 

[Pinkocto]

Day 9 continued:


I left off with us heading to the magnificent Stormalong Bay. The only thing that is less than magnificent is the fact that people are beyond lazy and can’t take their towels to the towel bin when they leave. Resulting in the appearance that all the chairs are being used. A very nice man was leaving and said to take his chairs so we did that and lounged in the sun for a bit. We had the Captain’s Grille booked for breakfast the next morning but after chatting I canceled it. I think it came down to timing and price. After being on a cruise where food is ‘free’ for a week, its hard to start paying for every little thing. I will get to the Captain’s Grille one day. Instead I made us some FP+ for HS the next morning, Star Tours, ToT, and RnRC. Sorry no pictures of SAB, I left the camera behind this time.

Back to the room to get ready for dinner and then head back to Epcot.

I love these flowers everywhere





And even though we got to Chefs de France at our reservation time of 8:00 we still had to wait 25 minutes. This has happened without fail and usually we’re early. No matter. We were seated at a table with a perfect view of the fireworks and had the loveliest of waitresses.

Mom started with the crème brulee



And then had the French onion soup



And we were going to share the mac and cheese



And margarita pizza



But the dessert, soup, and bread filled her up and she only had a few bites of pasta and only one piece of pizza. I did take some pasta home but the pizza got devoured. This meal is magnificent, and I think we’ve had practically the same one each time we’ve eaten here.

We thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks from our table and then moseyed on back to BC. We had talked about going up to MK after dinner, they had EMH’s until 1:00, but we were both glad we decided not to, we were tuckered out. There was a big French celebrity in the restaurant, mom thinks a soccer player, but by the attention and looks he got from everybody he was definitely somebody. I would have gotten a picture if I had been on the other side of the table, and mom refused to get one for me…

As we walked back to the resort we saw these fireworks from the beach, which I later discovered were the special SWW fireworks. Too cool.





And back in the room we saw the MK fireworks from the balcony. It was a lucky fireworks night!

We tried to watch Dick Tracey but the DVD player wouldn’t work. These TVs and DVD players in the villas are not all that user friendly, but I have figured out how to use them and this one was defective. Mom called the front desk and they said they’d send somebody up ‘right away’. But after 20 minutes mom was seriously falling asleep so we called back and canceled. I was not a happy camper.

I took a bath instead, in that gloriously huge whirlpool tub. Love the 1BR and that tub!

Tomorrow we’d be going to HS in the morning and relaxing by the pool in the afternoon. It would be our last full day of vacation.

 

[Leshaface]

I love that your mom started off with Creme Brulee first!

That's too bad that the wait was long, but the meal looks like it made up for it!

You should have tried my paparrazing technique that I used at Disneyland even though it was a total fail

Score on all the fireworks!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I was amused that your mom started with dessert. I love the fireworks photos.

Corinna

 

[Pinkocto]

I love that your mom started off with Creme Brulee first!

That's too bad that the wait was long, but the meal looks like it made up for it!

You should have tried my paparrazing technique that I used at Disneyland even though it was a total fail

Score on all the fireworks!

She likes to make sure there's room for dessert. It always throws the server for a loop.

I don't know what it is but we always have to wait there. She doesn't want to go back on the next trip because of the waiting. The plan is to get the creme brûlée at the QS instead.

She didn't tell me about the guy until they were just about to leave. I definitely would have gotten one somehow if I'd been facing him.

All the fireworks were awesome!

 

[Pinkocto]

I was amused that your mom started with dessert. I love the fireworks photos.

Corinna

She likes to make sure there's room for dessert


I loved the fireworks behind the Boardwalk. I wish I could have gotten more but I'm abysmal with firework pictures.

 

[franandaj]

Nice dinner! Fran will start with dessert at buffets. I just can't do sweet before savory. It messes up my palate. Nice how you caught fireworks on three fronts! I love the giant Jacuzzi tubs too. That's one reason we always get the one bedrooms!

 

[MEK]

Score on the amazing fireworks! How lucky! Love those pics!

When we were at SAB in March (on an overcast day with no one around) it also looked like all the chairs were in use. You're right - people are lazy.

Dinner looks delish!

Boo on the DVD not working. Cynthia and I never figured out how to use ours at OKW. I am clueless when it comes to those things. I rely totally on Denny.

Looking forward to your last full day!

 

[rentayenta]

Joshua wants to know which soccer player?!


Love that your cute mom started with dessert. That's something Chloe would do too. Dessert is my least favorite part of the meal but if I could I'd start with the entree and work my way back and then forward. Your meal looks wonderful! That pizza!!!

 

[jedijill]

I'm dealing with the post cruise blues right now too...I wish I was headed to WDW instead of home!

Jill in CO

 

[Pinkocto]

Nice dinner! Fran will start with dessert at buffets. I just can't do sweet before savory. It messes up my palate. Nice how you caught fireworks on three fronts! I love the giant Jacuzzi tubs too. That's one reason we always get the one bedrooms!

I'm so used to dessert at the end of a meal that if I would end up eating double desserts if I had one at the beginning

Oh those jacuzzi tubs!

 

[Pinkocto]

Score on the amazing fireworks! How lucky! Love those pics!

When we were at SAB in March (on an overcast day with no one around) it also looked like all the chairs were in use. You're right - people are lazy.

Dinner looks delish!

Boo on the DVD not working. Cynthia and I never figured out how to use ours at OKW. I am clueless when it comes to those things. I rely totally on Denny.

Looking forward to your last full day!

Oh those horrible DVD players! You have to first turn on the DVD player and TV. Then push input on the TV to find the DVD player. And the remote is difficult because now a lot only have one remote and you have to first hit the TV or DVD button depending in which one you want to do something with. Ugh. This one was undoubtedly broken.

Dinner was fabulous!

I'm so bad with fireworks but I wanted some to remember what happened. That was really cool.

I'm down at Disney now, and was hoping to finish this before my trip, but it didn't work. Next weekend it should be complete