DREAMS really do come true! 1/30 4-day Cruise Report with Tons of Photos! Video done!

[Pooh's Pal]

Originally Posted by Timon

Stateroom Review

The phones kind of sucked....the wave phones weren't fully charged and when I did use the other one, it didn't always work great. We threw them in the drawer until the last night when I charged them both for the next guests. The room phone was retarded. Nothing is marked on the phone...there is a card next to it with some handy numbers but not all of them. Once there was a message on the phone so I tried retrieving it but it wouldn't play...it just kept saying "Press 3 to get your messages" over and over. Never did get that message

The verandah was nice to have but the new dividers made it easy for peeping toms (or peeping Debs ) to check out things on YOUR side of the divider. Luckily we had great neighbours (more on that later) and ended up having a lot of laughs over the lack of privacy later on.

Hope you're enjoying it so far

Wave Phones? I thought that was the TV remote!!

[Timon]

Originally Posted by ESN

awesome - Thanks!

Now I get it -- did not realize they had added that area

Map helps a lot - and thank you so much for the prompt response!

Yes, maps are awesome

Originally Posted by disnerdiest

Hi Cass, what kind of camera did you use to take these pictures?

I've been following this trip report for like 2 weeks now, my family all huddle around the computer whenever you post new pics. Thanks so much for this awesome report!

I used a Canon Rebel XT It's a little on the old side now, considering Canon has 3 newer versions now but it is still a great camera

Awww, how cute...a family huddle

Originally Posted by Pooh's Pal

Wave Phones? I thought that was the TV remote!!

I still laugh about that, you know Michelle asked me if I was going to post about that but I told her that it was your story to tell

But thanks for the laugh...OMG, I hadn't laughed so hard in soooo long!!!

If I ever go on another AEP, will you come with???

[Pooh's Pal]

Originally Posted by Timon

I still laugh about that, you know Michelle asked me if I was going to post about that but I told her that it was your story to tell

But thanks for the laugh...OMG, I hadn't laughed so hard in soooo long!!!

If I ever go on another AEP, will you come with???

Oh, but of course!!

[KarlaG4Kids]

Where would you recommend as a great spot for the pirate party and fireworks, and how early would you think we should stake out our spot? We have the 9pm show so it might be tight! Did you post your video of the pirate party anywhere? Thanks for all of the fantastic info. I made my cruise final payment today and I can hardly wait. One part of me wants to see every picture you post and hear every tiny detail, but another part of me wants a few surprises!

[Timon]

Originally Posted by Pooh's Pal

Oh, but of course!!

Originally Posted by KarlaG4Kids

Where would you recommend as a great spot for the pirate party and fireworks, and how early would you think we should stake out our spot? We have the 9pm show so it might be tight! Did you post your video of the pirate party anywhere? Thanks for all of the fantastic info. I made my cruise final payment today and I can hardly wait. One part of me wants to see every picture you post and hear every tiny detail, but another part of me wants a few surprises!

I have not even begun to work on my video...that will be after I am all done the trippie

I would recommend getting there are early as you can. A good spot would be on deck 12, starboard side, anywhere near the stage or little aft of it

[DizDragonfly]

Originally Posted by WDW Poly Princess

This might be a dumb question, but back in the dark ages when I was last at Castaway Cay, you could rent blue floaty mats to lay around on in the water, but I don't see any in your pics.

Is this what you are remembering?



This was from a set of pics taken recently by budwmn of the cabanas area.

[Karen Mouse]

Come on Cass.... stop pretending you have a life and get typing girl!

[Zandy595]

Is Outlook an adults only area?

[4 mickey]

Hi Cass
Yeahhhh I have your fabulous and so complete and detailed TR to read since I'm also back from my DCL dream vacation needless to say I'm in major DCL withdrawal as I lovedddd that beautiful ship .
But I'll read ( I just started ) your report and kind of be in the magic that is a DCL dream cruise .

[WAHkoMom]

Timon/Cass,
It took me several nights to read through your TR, but I just finished and wanted to say "THANKS" for all the time you are devoting to this - both during your cruise and now that you are home.

DH and I are sailing on the 5/8/11 4-night Dream cruise and yours is the thread I am enjoying the most! The pictures are great! This is getting me so excited

Switching gears, don't you wish there was some sort of screening DCL could do to prevent rude, "no one is as important as I am" people from sailing with the rest of us who just want to relax and escape the pressures of "real life"??? I have more than enough drama when I'm home, thank you very much. Okay, end of rant. I feel better now.

[dahuffy]

Originally Posted by Zandy595

Is Outlook an adults only area?

Yes it is.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/sh...ges/cove-cafe/

[Timon]

Originally Posted by DizDragonfly

Is this what you are remembering?



This was from a set of pics taken recently by budwmn of the cabanas area.

I saw that too but that's the cabana area, so hopefully they also have the blue mats on the family part of the beach

Originally Posted by Karen Mouse

Come on Cass.... stop pretending you have a life and get typing girl!

Originally Posted by Zandy595

Is Outlook an adults only area?

No, I don't believe it is actually. It is not listed under adult-only areas on the website. However, there's not much to do up there....and very secluded so unless there is a reason you need to be there (like a wedding) I doubt people would use it very often.

Now on the Wonder, there is an Outlook Cafe, which IS an adult only area which is situated above the Cove Cafe

Originally Posted by 4 mickey

Hi Cass
Yeahhhh I have your fabulous and so complete and detailed TR to read since I'm also back from my DCL dream vacation needless to say I'm in major DCL withdrawal as I lovedddd that beautiful ship .
But I'll read ( I just started ) your report and kind of be in the magic that is a DCL dream cruise .

Glad to hear you had a great trip

Originally Posted by WAHkoMom

Timon/Cass,
It took me several nights to read through your TR, but I just finished and wanted to say "THANKS" for all the time you are devoting to this - both during your cruise and now that you are home.

DH and I are sailing on the 5/8/11 4-night Dream cruise and yours is the thread I am enjoying the most! The pictures are great! This is getting me so excited

Switching gears, don't you wish there was some sort of screening DCL could do to prevent rude, "no one is as important as I am" people from sailing with the rest of us who just want to relax and escape the pressures of "real life"??? I have more than enough drama when I'm home, thank you very much. Okay, end of rant. I feel better now.

Thank you!!!

I guess there's always going to be people like that, what can you do?

I will say that DCL has WAY less of those people than RCCL

[Timon]

Princess Gathering

Man, this was the toughest part of my whole trip! My daughter is a HUGE princess fan and when I saw SIX Disney princesses all lined up there...I just lost it!!

I had to run out to the promenade deck just to pull myself back together

I must say that I saw a lot of happy little girls that morning LOL! The line was long, as expected, but not nearly as long as the ones on the Magic on our last cruise where we arrived to see the princesses at the designated time only to find a line about an hour long!!!

They also had two princess gatherings that day so that might have helped!

It's funny because I grew up with Disney....lived...read...breathed Disney and now my daughter does too so I just take it for granted that everyone does too but while I was taking my photos, a lady came up and asked me who the princess in pink was

It really does show you that a Disney cruise really just isn't JUST for Disney people

Here's some photos...











Princesses just waiting around for the little girls to make their way to them....they were waving and blowing kisses to people





All the CMs working with them were great, they really tried to get the kids to smile and look up but most were just so darn enthralled with the princesses they didn't look up at mom and dad









LOVE that the Atrium is so big and elegant, it holds all of the princesses, all the CMs and all the people waiting in line AND you can still roam freely if you are just passing through!



While that was going on down there....I found someone else upstairs.



So other than the other princesses doing nothing for the first 10 minutes or so (and really, I can't see a way to prevent that) The Princess Gathering was a hit in my book!! Disney did a great job with this event!!

I LOVED seeing the little girls all dressed up WITH the princess that they were dressed up as....that was just so

[Timon]

Art of the Theme Ship Tour

I love doing these kind of tours on the ships...like I said...I am a behind-the-scenes kind of gal so it was right up my alley

The tour began in Meridian. I don't recall the name of the CM who did the tour but I remember he was French Canadian and because of that, he spoke really fast (no comments from the peanut gallery please, I was born in Montreal and they DO speak fast ) But he did tell us that if he was going too fast just to tell him. He was reading from his notes most of the way but I guess with a new ship, it is expected.

I won't go into major detail because I don't want to spoil it for you that haven't been on the ship and will be doing this tour. Unlike the Making of the Dream presentation in the BV Theatre, this was totally worth taking time out to see!

He told us all about the little details found in Meridian and how they designed the whole ship so that even if you have cruised before, you can come back and maybe find and see something new! I totally agree with that because I explored that big beautiful ship for 4 days straight and now I am reading all these great trip reports and seeing and hearing about little details that I totally missed!

Then we walked through Palo and headed down to deck 5 where he talked a little about the Enchanted Art.



Next up we walked through the kids club and pointed out the little fairies (in silhouette) that were in the Pixie Hollow part of the club, which I totally missed that first day.





Look who we ran into...



Then over to BV theatre but there was a movie playing so he just told us about it in the hallway. Around the corner to more enchanted art...

This might be my third fave EA on the ship







Then we walked outside on the promenade deck and he told us about the lifeboats...which you probably know about already if you are a Disney fan!



Then we walked to just in front of the RP where he talked about the Atrium and then our final stop was right in front of the WD Theatre...



He then took some questions....there were only 2 of them...the first was if there was a photo somewhere of the ship's Godmother (Jennifer Hudson) and he said no...at least not right now. And the other question (mine!) was if the glass sculpture in Palo was a Dale Chihuly piece...he is the guy who created the sculptures that are located in the Atrium on both the Magic and Wonder.

He didn't know but he said that it was in his notes that he didn't bring. He said he had been asked that question a few times apparently and I don't think he even knew who Dale Chihuly was. He took my room # and told me that he would check his notes and leave a message for me later. He never did.

Not that I COULD get any messages on the phone...I tried the day before to retrieve a message but it didn't work

All in all, it was a pretty good tour. But personally, I think they need two kinds of tours...a general one like that one...and then a more in-depth one for Disney freaks and geeks who are really into details and trivia

Maybe that's just me though

[dsnydaddy]

Cass,

Just letting you know I'm still reading and enjoying your posts. I had a long response going to a bunch of your posts and somehow it all got lost when I tried to reply. I didn't have the energy to do it all again.

I agree with your assessment of the Princess Line-up. Those other Princesses don't have a bunch to do while the first photos are being taken, but I really like the format as it allows you to only have to stand in one line and get all the visits out of the way. I saw them do this for the first time on the Wonder and really thought it was efficient. I'm glad they're doing it on the other ships.