Mickey + NYC = MAGIC - June 2, 2012 8-night - FINAL 2/23

[KristiMc]

Originally Posted by mommy2mb

Joining in!!

Originally Posted by 15isto2

Signing up to hear the tween saga

Nothing too major on the tween saga. He loved the Edge if you have a similar aged kid.

Originally Posted by wendydarling78

Um, no we blame all the bad driving on those from PA! (Since we are minutes from the OH/PA line!)

Enjoying your trip report so far! Keep going!

Wendy
Also from NE Ohio- near Youngstown

I have to disagree Wendy (I'm from PA - Meadville) .

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally Posted by TopRowSeat

Not a lot to add here...


I was prepared for the bill but still choked a little on the $280 parking charge..

OK..is there taxes and such? I thought to park at the port was $30/night? By my calculations, that $240. Please tell me why it's $280...ouch

[KristiMc]

Originally Posted by Disney1fan2002

OK..is there taxes and such? I thought to park at the port was $30/night? By my calculations, that $240. Please tell me why it's $280...ouch

The price went up to $35/night earlier this year.

[KristiMc]

It was getting close to 4:00 so we left the DISmeet to join up with the boys in our room before the Muster drill. The drill went fairly quickly, not as smooth as our last cruise and then we were off to the sail away party. We headed up to deck 10 because I wanted to be able to see the Statue of Liberty and other sights as we sailed away. Shawn wanted to be down by the stage on deck 9 so he went down there and we were able to watch him party.









Countdown video:
http://youtu.be/fGmXS-FLXUg

We started to sail away and it felt like the cruise was truly starting!











After we sailed past the Statue of Liberty the boys headed back to the room while Steve and I stayed to watch us sail under the Verazzano-Narrows bridge.





We headed down to the room and relaxed a bit before the show. Tonight's show was the Welcome Aboard show and also John Charles. I really liked John Charles and Steve and I went to see the adult show later in the week.

As we were walking out of the theater I realized that I didn't have my wave phone. I went back to our seats and didn't see it. I am pretty sure that I brought it with me, but we went back to the room and it was not there. I went back to the theater again and was able to find it. I didn't want to give Matt a phone thinking he would lose it - and I almost did. We did end up having Matt use one of the phones the whole week and he did great with it. It was nice being able to have him text us just to let us know where he was with the Edge kids.

The only problem we had with our stateroom was that we were not able to get our safe to lock. We called guest services and they sent someone to look at it. He was also not able to get it to work so they sent a maintenance employee and he replaced the locking mechanism.

We got changed for dinner and we were off to Animator's Palate. This is my favorite restaurant on the ship. Our table this time was right under a vent so I was cold every night we ate here.

We met our servers, Laura from England and Sant from Indonesia. They did a great job and Laura was great at giving us suggestions every evening.

The boys got the first of their many smoothies. Strawberry for Matt and banana for Shawn.


I had planned on taking pictures of our meals every evening, but this was the only night I did.









After dinner, the boys headed off to the lab and Edge. The Edge has a special activity at 10:30 where you get to meet all the kids. I really wanted Matt to attend this to try to make some friends right away.

Steve and I strolled around for a bit and went to Treasure Ketch to do some shopping. I had gotten a Chamilia bracelet for Mother's Day and I wanted to get the DCL charm. We bought that and a NYC cruise ornament.



We made it back to the room and ordered milk and cookies for the boys and put out the room service order for the next morning.

The boys got in right after the clubs closed at 12:00 and we were soon all a sleep.

[TopRowSeat]

Originally Posted by KristiMc

The drill went fairly quickly, not as smooth as our last cruise

It did seem a bit more hectic during muster this year. Less organized. But it was quick and reasonably painless.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

Shawn wanted to be down by the stage on deck 9 so he went down there and we were able to watch him party.

This kid never ceases to amaze. I have no idea how he knows the words to every song. It doesn't matter if it's from the 80s, today or anything in between. Shawn will be singing along.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

After we sailed past the Statue of Liberty the boys headed back to the room while Steve and I stayed to watch us sail under the Verazzano-Narrows bridge.

The boys put up with us but were much less impressed by Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and all the rest. As soon as we set them free they were off like a shot. In their defense it was getting chilly on deck, but I think they just wanted to exercise their freedom a little bit and be wherever we weren't.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

As we were walking out of the theater I realized that I didn't have my wave phone.

After all the lectures to Matt about being responsible with the Wave Phone and how much it cost to replace who was the first, and only, person to have a wave phone panic attack?

I confess, now that it's safely in the past and I'm not currently within reach, that I thought this was hilarious and was trying real hard to be supportive and all that... while not laughing.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

We met our servers, Laura from England and Sant from Indonesia. They did a great job and Laura was great at giving us suggestions every evening.

Ahhh.. I'll go ahead and say it here. Laura was absolutely adorable. I think I went with every single thing she suggested all week long. By the end of the week the boys were giving me a hard time... "If she recommended that you eat your napkin you probably would..."

It turns out that Laura knew Benny our assistant server from our last cruise. They apparently worked together in London before they both signed on to Disney.

Laura and Sant were an excellent team and far exceeded our other servers. Best so far! And this isn't just because I now have a crush on Laura. She really was very good.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

After dinner, the boys headed off to the lab and Edge. The Edge has a special activity at 10:30 where you get to meet all the kids. I really wanted Matt to attend this to try to make some friends right away.

You forgot to mention a cruise tradition.... Matt wasn't feeling well. Something about the first night on the cruise leaves our big dude feeling a bit squishy. I don't know if it's the excitement, seasickness, eating badly or what but he is now two-for-two in not feeling well the first night.

Shawn bolted from dinner to hit the Lab. Matt went back to the room and chilled for a bit but then he rebounded and left to go to Orientation in the Edge.

Thankfully by day two he was fine and he was perfectly ok the rest of the week.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

Steve and I strolled around for a bit and went to Treasure Ketch to do some shopping. I had gotten a Chamilia bracelet for Mother's Day and I wanted to get the DCL charm. We bought that and a NYC cruise ornament.

I wanted a good travel mug but the only ones they had weren't quite what I was hoping to find. Hmmm, I'll have to think about this and see what I can't live without on another day.

A very long day one (since someone was up at 2am) was in the books and it was time to get some sleep.

I did have one more task to complete. The clock in our room wasn't set correctly and the iPod dock wasn't working. It took me a couple minutes but I discovered that the clock wasn't plugged in. I lifted the bed and Sparky crawled under and plugged it in.. Well.. attempted to.. The European plug had her stumped so I slid the bed back away from the wall and plugged in the clock.

It was at that point that I discovered why the clock had been unplugged. The thing was BRIGHT. It had a blue glow that could be spotted from the International Space Station. I turned it around every night and pushed it flush up against the wall which kept the light to a reasonable level. It was nice to be able to charge my iPhone every night without digging out the cord.

Not even 24 hours in and we've already had a busy vacation. I can't wait for a full day at sea!

[kid-at-heart]

I am enjoying your wit - and your cruise report.

Thanks,
kate

[MomToPrincePhillip]

I'm joining in too! I'm really enjoying this TR and your photos! Thanks.

[moparop]

Loving it so far! How cool that you to tour NYC and go on a Disney Cruise. Two items on my bucket list!

[buzzcrazy]

Great job!! Getting so excited for our 8/17 cruise. Do you have to shop earlier on the cruise? Do they run out of stuff? Just curious.

[Dislaney4n6]

I wish I was on this cruise with the two of you.. I can only imagine the banter between you two in person!!!

[karajeboo]

Originally Posted by TopRowSeat

You're doing good so far, especially this part....

Oh my.... this will surely be an "interesting" TR.....

[karajeboo]

Originally Posted by KristiMc

[SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"]


I spotted a few more friends, Brook, Maria and Heather.

Yes, you tend to do the stalker dance in the terminal, eh?

Originally Posted by TopRowSeat

Ah... you see we moved to Ohio a few years ago: "Home of the worst drivers in the country" I think that may actually be the state motto.

And the state animal is the Orange Barrel......

And I see from sailaway pics that poor lil Shawn was left on his own again, huh? I swear, I will have to be on my toes on NYE 2013 and watch that poor lil guy!!!! He's just too cute for his own good!!!!

And no, Steve, he does NOT take after his daddy.... just want to put that out there before you get any funny ideas....

[podsnel]

Kara just told me you started! I'm subbed! I'll catch up after I get off the phone with Kara!

[mariaelenak]

Originally Posted by KristiMc

I had planned on taking pictures of our meals every evening, but this was the only night I did.

I had planned to do that too, but I too forgot! Oh well, we'll just have to go on another cruise and try again.

Originally Posted by KristiMc

Steve and I strolled around for a bit and went to Treasure Ketch to do some shopping. I had gotten a Chamilia bracelet for Mother's Day and I wanted to get the DCL charm. We bought that and a NYC cruise ornament.

I hit Treasure Ketch the first night as well! I couldn't wait to get my DCL Chamilia Cruise Ship!!

[mariaelenak]

Originally Posted by TopRowSeat

Laura and Sant were an excellent team and far exceeded our other servers. Best so far! And this isn't just because I now have a crush on Laura. She really was very good.

I thought you had a crush on Minnie? Oh wait...that's right, Minnie has a crush on you.

Originally Posted by TopRowSeat

It was at that point that I discovered why the clock had been unplugged. The thing was BRIGHT. It had a blue glow that could be spotted from the International Space Station. I turned it around every night and pushed it flush up against the wall which kept the light to a reasonable level. It was nice to be able to charge my iPhone every night without digging out the cord.

I did the exact same thing. Had that darn clocked turned and pushed right up against the wall.