Back to the Island-Double Dip Delight!Western COMPLETE~Cruising with a baby w/PICS!

[jollytammy]

Hey we had table #22 on our first Magic cruise and we just loved the location. I was so worried about eating with others, and then it turned out we got a table with just us four. It was a nice location!

[anewmac]

Omg 1st Savannah looks so grown up! love it!

im so glad we have a lot of people doing tr.. make me feel like im back on our boat LOL

& next time so not doing the get ready thing LOL... that took us forever each night LOL

[anc22]

You are so good about your updates. I am having a hard time finishing my TR. It is just a constant reminder that it is over.

[nenner1]

Originally Posted by TheDisneyGirl02

OMG! She looks so grown up!!!!! Thank you so much for posting the pictures! Made me think about my days in my dance company!

I have to laugh, though. Its the stripper makeup.
But let me tell you, I did it RIGHT. I did it just like Carlos, makeup artist to the stars TOLD us to. He told us to cake it on like Tammy Faye. (Yes, we (the parents) actually had to take a mandatory stage makeup class. I did what they told me to, I'm just sayin'...... )

Originally Posted by anewmac

Omg 1st Savannah looks so grown up! love it!

im so glad we have a lot of people doing tr.. make me feel like im back on our boat LOL

& next time so not doing the get ready thing LOL... that took us forever each night LOL

You just don't even want to know what a pain in the rear those false eyelashes are....

Still waiting for your next update...you guys aren't even on the boat yet!!!!

Originally Posted by anc22

You are so good about your updates. I am having a hard time finishing my TR. It is just a constant reminder that it is over.

Oh I am the same way. On top of my post-cruise depression, my updates have slowed quite a bit also 'cause I'm too lazy to lug the laptop to work with me anymore. Reading all of ya'lls reports does make me feel better, though. So no dipping out on me!

Originally Posted by jollytammy

Hey we had table #22 on our first Magic cruise and we just loved the location. I was so worried about eating with others, and then it turned out we got a table with just us four. It was a nice location!

I totally agree. And it was great in all three restaurants.
We were very, very happy with our dining situation!
Thanks for reading!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Originally Posted by nenner1

I have to laugh, though. Its the stripper makeup.
But let me tell you, I did it RIGHT. I did it just like Carlos, makeup artist to the stars TOLD us to. He told us to cake it on like Tammy Faye. (Yes, we (the parents) actually had to take a mandatory stage makeup class. I did what they told me to, I'm just sayin'...... )


You just don't even want to know what a pain in the rear those false eyelashes are....

OMG, I remember those days! All of that make up...I like your description of stripper make up! LOL!!!! Never had to deal with fake eyelashes, but I have had to deal with the crystals that get glued to your face next to your eyes...fun times! What we do for the love of dance!

[SamIAm21]

I visited Ybor City a few years back. What a great part of town. I loved the authentic food restaurants. Yummy! I actually stumbled upon it after getting lost leaving the Aquarium, which is also way cool!

I love getting lost and finding something really really different.

Savannah looks amazing although I will say it took me a minute or two to pick her out of the first picture. They all look like teeny tiny Rockettes!

[nenner1]

Originally Posted by TheDisneyGirl02

OMG, I remember those days! All of that make up...I like your description of stripper make up! LOL!!!! Never had to deal with fake eyelashes, but I have had to deal with the crystals that get glued to your face next to your eyes...fun times! What we do for the love of dance!

Oh, the jewels....ugh..... (They don't have a ripping-out-my-hair smiley on here, do they?)

Originally Posted by SamIAm21

I visited Ybor City a few years back. What a great part of town. I loved the authentic food restaurants. Yummy! I actually stumbled upon it after getting lost leaving the Aquarium, which is also way cool!

I love getting lost and finding something really really different.

Savannah looks amazing although I will say it took me a minute or two to pick her out of the first picture. They all look like teeny tiny Rockettes!

Yes, Ybor is very distinctive. Its a fun place. Can I say....I live here and we have not made it to the FLorida Aquarium yet??? Crazy I know. We haven't been to Busch Gardens in about 3 or 4 years either, and its 15 minutes away. Strange how that is. And we have Adventure Island annual passes, too (the water park right here next door to Busch) so we are right there all the time.
Rockettes! Too funny! They DO look like them, what is so crazy is how some of those girls can kick like them...they're 5 years old and they can wrap their leg around their neck they are so flexible!


Next installment will be coming soon, but I have to get my underwater pics...we took them to get developed about 2 weeks ago and keep forgetting to pick them up...of course they probably look just like last years water pics, but I digress.....

[nenner1]

Sunday morning dawned as we slept soundly. I’m not sure when we awoke, but it was after sunrise. I’m guessing around the 7:00 hour. We did hear some noise from adjoining cabins and the hallway of people stirring, or at least I did. As I awoke, the first thing I noticed was that I was in a lot of pain, stiff neck and back from the super firm mattress. I probably should have just asked Calvin to change it out (from reading all the saggy mattress complaints on the Dis, I’m sure it could have been traded with someone who wanted more firmness and support) but I thought I would adjust to it after a day or so. Boy was I wrong!

From the porthole we could see Castaway Cay in the distance, and I anticipated a lovely family beach day. Since this was a double dip cruise, we would have two days on CC. This would be the shorter of the two days, as we had all aboard scheduled for 2:30 PM.

Ron decided to go up to the Fitness Center for some exercise, while I got Sarah fed and everybody dressed in their beach attire. Some of our Dis group were meeting mornings on deck 4 for walking/jogging but Ron thought he would enjoy finally making it up to the Spa. He did take pleasure in the breathtaking view and the appearance of “running” into Castaway Cay as the island slowly drew nearer.

When he returned from his workout, we gathered our mass of beach gear (snorkels, floaties, etc.) and headed up to deck 9 to grab some quick breakfast. The lines for Topsiders were long and the restaurant inside looked full, so we just grabbed some pastries, fruit and cereal from Goofy’s Galley.

The kids pose from Deck 9 with the Island behind them:


We were in a hurry to get off the ship, hoping to snag a spot on the beach near a hammock. It was still fairly early, and we headed down to disembark shortly after the all ashore announcement was broadcast. Obviously we weren’t the only ones with this idea, as there was a mass exodus off the boat. As we walked onto the dock, we went over to the CM’s handing out towels. Boy, were they stingy. One towel per person, they stood there and counted them out. I probably should have just asked for a couple more but instead just accepted what they had to give in order to hightail it out to the family beach. As luck would have it, a tram was pulling away just as we reached the loading area, so we decided to take the short walk. We had Sarah in the stroller and it was LOADED down with stuff anyway, so that was the best decision.
Besides, I never get tired of this photo op:




Right past the Dutchie, we found the line of people for Cap’n Jack. I was surprised to see a lineup so early in the morning, as our experience on the Wonder had been that he does not come out until 10 or 10:30. I briefly considered stopping to wait in the line, since Cap’n Jack was the only character we had inadvertently eluded on our previous cruises. But the queue was LONG and the masses were disembarking and moving in throngs to the beach, so we decided against it.

We found someone with no line right up the road, though:



We arrived at the first family beach access path, right by She Sells Sea Shells. After pushing the stroller about three feet into the sand, we quickly realized we weren’t going to get far that way. Ron went back to the stroller/wheelchair area near Mt. Rustmore and grabbed a wagon, which was great, we popped Sarah’s seat in it, collapsed the stroller, and stuffed the rest of our beach junk in the other end. It was still hard to pull, but easier than the stroller, that’s for sure!

As we canvassed the beach it was readily apparent that we had arrived too late for a hammock spot. They were all taken, even the ones on the far outskirts of the beach area. Oh well, no big deal. We were very surprised to see that there were far less hammocks out than on our last visit to the island. There had been a bunch of hammocks in banana frames right in the main drag down the middle of the family beach by the water last time…this time there were none of the portable ones.

We finally decided on a spot with an umbrella near Cookies near the lifeguard stand. The kids went running for the water while I unpacked and susncreened up myself, Ron and Sarah. Eventually the other kids made it back for sunscreen too.





Sarah is ready for her first beach experience!





We went straight out to the water, I wanted to let Sarah encounter the sand and sea before the sun became too overpowering. We sat at the shoreline for a while. She loved the approaching waves.



It got hot quick and it was floatie time!



Sarah enjoyed the water a lot. A Shutters photographer came by to take her picture, which I was happy about. It took a little while to get her situated right so I could step out of the frame (I’m shopped out of the one above, lol) but he finally got two shots, and I anticipated at least one of them would come out nicely.

After a while, we headed back up on the beach. We ordered some Konk Koolers, which arrived quickly and were strong, strong, strong. Did I mention they were strong? Boy. Walking in the thick sand is hard enough for me under normal circumstances…after having a drink that tasted like it had half a bottle of rum in it? Forget it!

My favorite beach in the whole wide world:





Ron took the kids snorkeling (we brought our own gear).



He found the sea life similar to our last visit.





Some of the other undersea props were different, though (or at least we did not see them last time). He discovered the sunken subs from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (so sad, I’m a nostalgic sap for the WDW rides of the past).

In fact, I think we rode in Seaworthy Sue!!!





And look! Minnie!

(Is this new? She sure looks nice!)





Since we had such a light breakfast, we headed to Cookie’s early (for us), around noon. The kids grabbed burgers, chips and the big ‘ol island cookies. I had hot dogs, banana bread (not as good as Parrot Cay’s!)and cookies. I also tried the couscous salad, which was just OK. Ron had chicken and the mayo-laden fish sandwich.

Sarah wasn’t interested in the food:



Afterwards the kids stopped for chocolate-chip cookie dough cones, and I surprisingly passed on one. I had other ideas in mind, and headed for the Conched Out Bar.

I was actually going to get another Konk Kooler, hopefully one that tasted like a Konk Kooler this time, and not like Cruzan straight out of the bottle. But once we got up there, I saw a Mudslide drink and decided on that instead.

It’s OK for kids to sit at the bar on Disney’s island, right?



Look at this chocolatey, creamy, boozy deliciousness:



We lazed in the sun (or shade) for a little bit longer before deciding to pack it in.


We're Here to "PUMP YOU UP"




Even though it was nowhere near 2:30 yet (probably only about 1 PM) we were surprised to see everyone packing up and heading back onboard. We are usually back on the boat early so it was strange to feel like some of the “last” ones on the island. Even though we had hundreds around us, it seemed to be emptying out quick!






We finally packed everything up and headed in.
I was looking forward to a lazy afternoon and Palo that evening, Ron wanted to head to Diversions to watch the Bucs play Green Bay, and the kids were chomping at the bit to get into the Mickey pool. It was a beautiful day at Castaway Cay, and the best part was that in just a few days, we would be back!!

Up Next: Perrier Blues

[zweihund]

Oooh.....note to self: try the mudslide next time.

[MaryAz]

Yay, what a great update! Looks like everyone had a great time!!

[anc22]

I'm glad that you mentioned photo shopping because I was freaked out by the human thumb sitting on Sarah's shoulder

[anewmac]

OH love all the pics... especially the mudslides yummy definatly getting on of those NEXT TIME lol

[MAGICFOR2]

Jen! I loved your CC day! It's nice you could just relax and note feel like it was your once chance to enjoy the island!

Your kids are so cute! You didn't ever meet Captain Jack?

[IrishCowboy]

Thanks for sharing....love the pictures!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Originally Posted by anc22

I'm glad that you mentioned photo shopping because I was freaked out by the human thumb sitting on Sarah's shoulder

I didn't see that at first! LOL!!!!

That is so funny!

Great update!!!! I love all of the pictures!!!! Cant' wait for the next update!