A Gaggle of Band Geeks on a NYE Dream FINISHED! 2/28

[micandminforever]

I loved Shaelyn's and Ariel's matching dresses. Purple looks good on the two redheads, no wonder she wanted to wear it two times.

Great pictures with Mickey and Minnie in their Christmas sweaters.

Tyson looks so grown up in the picture with Belle.

 

[Sooze]

I loved Shaelyn's and Ariel's matching dresses. Purple looks good on the two redheads, no wonder she wanted to wear it two times.

Great pictures with Mickey and Minnie in their Christmas sweaters.

Tyson looks so grown up in the picture with Belle.

Purple and Green.... love to see her in those colors!! Thanks for noticing

And thanks for hanging with me during this drawn-out TR. You already know how long it takes me to finish these things, yet you are always still here! I appreciate it!!

 

[glennbo123]

(Sorry I'm not quoting your post, trying to head to bed, but I better comment now or I'll probaby forget.)

Shae is enjoying this cruise so much, she has to bevel!

Why, you look so Sandy Duncan-esque next to Peter Pan.

You reminded me that the servers cut up our kids' meat when we took a cruise on Royal Caribbean back a number of years ago. So nice!

 

[micandminforever]

I love your updates, they are always full of fun and wonderful pictures.

 

[howlongtildisney]

Love the update! If I looked that good in address, I'd wear it twice in a cruise too. The picture of Shae talking to Ariel is priceless.

 

[Sooze]

(Sorry I'm not quoting your post, trying to head to bed, but I better comment now or I'll probaby forget.)

Shae is enjoying this cruise so much, she has to bevel!

I am so proud of you for spotting the bevel!! Maybe I could do a "how many bevels" competition (Like your Judy count!)

Why, you look so Sandy Duncan-esque next to Peter Pan.

:good vibes Why, thank you!

You reminded me that the servers cut up our kids' meat when we took a cruise on Royal Caribbean back a number of years ago. So nice!

That was such an unexpected experience! I could get used to that!

I love your updates, they are always full of fun and wonderful pictures.

Thanks so much!!

Love the update! If I looked that good in address, I'd wear it twice in a cruise too. The picture of Shae talking to Ariel is priceless.

That is one of my favorite pictures of Shae!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Way behind there, but caught up I have.

Loving the cruise pics! I SO have to do one of those.

I have to say I would have been giving the jello globs the stink eye as well. I like things simple and meaty.

 

[hcoker1]

I just caught up on your posts, your cabin looks amazing! We always book a verandah cabin when we cruise (Holland America) but would definitely consider an ocean view if we could get that cabin.

Shae looks gorgeous and you should be proud of how Tyson is stepping up to be "big brother"

 

[Sooze]

Way behind there, but caught up I have.

Thank goodness, Yoda!!

Loving the cruise pics! I SO have to do one of those.

Yes, Yes you do! And I'd be first in line to read your TR on it!

I have to say I would have been giving the jello globs the stink eye as well. I like things simple and meaty.

Agreed!

I just caught up on your posts, your cabin looks amazing! We always book a verandah cabin when we cruise (Holland America) but would definitely consider an ocean view if we could get that cabin.

When we booked our next cruise (yes, we are now addicted!), we tried to get one of those rooms and they were already gone. There are very few on the ship... not sure how we lucked out getting this one, since we were clueless!! We got a verandah for our next one!

Shae looks gorgeous and you should be proud of how Tyson is stepping up to be "big brother"

Thank you so much! I am, indeed, proud of my young man. When he's not annoying the tar out of her, he is a wonderful big brother!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I have been getting all caught up!!!

Holy Moly!!! Tinkerbell outdid herself on Shae's tooth. How special and sweet of those CM's. That is what makes me love Disney. They really know how to make things special.

You have gotten me so giddy today with excitement for our cruise in November. The ship looks amazing in all its decorations. Oh, and I love how the characters were dressed.

Can't wait to experience Castaway Cay.

Love the picture of Tyson and Shae with Belle. Too precious!!!

 

[Sooze]

I have been getting all caught up!!!

Holy Moly!!! Tinkerbell outdid herself on Shae's tooth. How special and sweet of those CM's. That is what makes me love Disney. They really know how to make things special.

You have gotten me so giddy today with excitement for our cruise in November. The ship looks amazing in all its decorations. Oh, and I love how the characters were dressed.

Can't wait to experience Castaway Cay.

Love the picture of Tyson and Shae with Belle. Too precious!!!

See? It's a good thing it takes me FOREVER to update my trip reports.... it gives everyone time to catch up, right?!

You are getting closer to your cruise!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Sooze]

It was New Year’s Eve Day and the Disney Dream at parked at Nassau for the day. We had all decided that we did not need to get off the ship. We were looking forward to a day of relaxing and enjoying what the Dream had to offer. The morning began with a lobby filled with Princesses! Since yesterday had educated me in the LONG LINES that were associated with character meet and greets, Shaelyn and I got to the lobby early! We were still stuck in a decent sized line, but we weren’t as bad-off as others!

Soon, the lobby was filled with royalty and Shaelyn could NOT stop smiling

.

First up was Snow White:

Here’s another view of how the princesses were lined up. It looks so empty, but the queue was off to the right, and it wrapped down a long hallway. These princesses were going to be BIZ. ZEE!

Next was Cinderella:

You can see Shae’s ripped Tiana gown. I was a bit embarrassed by it. But she wanted SO badly to wear it and didn’t care. I can’t begin to tell you how much she wears her princess dresses at home. And since most of them are from WalMart, they get destroyed pretty quickly!

Who doesn’t love a princess-hug picture?

On to Aurora, who was just precious:

Ariel was next, and she was AWESOME!!!! She spent sooooo much time talking to Shae. She went on and on about her shell necklace, and how Shae might look for a shell to make her own necklace when she goes back to the beach, and how her friend Sebastian made her necklace for her, and does Shae have a friend who might help her make a necklace, and, and, and…….!

And then.. Tiana!!! Shae was so excited to show Tiana she was wearing her dress… and Tiana’s reaction did not disappoint!

Love….

Finally… Belle!

This was after Shaelyn told Belle that she was her favorite

The whole princess experience was fantastic. Each one spent A LOT of time with each kid or group of siblings. I was super impressed by their characters and would do this again in a heartbeat. The next time we go, Shae will be almost EIGHT… gasp!! I sure hope she can squeeze in one more Princess-fest for me!


Shae was on a Princess-high. It was time to grab some food and check out the ship-parking-lot outside. WOW!

 

[Sooze]

The rest of our group had already acquired a “zone” on deck 14 overlooking the pools and Funnelvision. We made our way up there to meet them. As soon as I emerged onto the deck, I literally gasped! This was RIGHT next to us:

And I mean, right next to us!!

There were SIX ships in port that day, and they were crammed in like sardines. I cannot even imagine parking those things. How do they DO THAT?!?! We did watch a ship come in and park on the other side of us. #1 it was totally amazingly cool to watch such a huge vessel be parked. #2 I once again felt like royalty, as it was another sad Carnival ship, and I was standing on the Disney Dream! (So spoiled).

After waving hello to our ship neighbors for the day, I parked my tushie on a lounge chair and settled in for a long day of doing absolutely NOTHING!!!! This was my view for many hours:

Tyson was all over the place. I can’t even begin to tell you what he did all morning. He was LOVING the tween club and, probably even more so, his freedom to go to the club, and hop back to the pool, or go back to the room and chill, whenever he felt like it!

Shae stuck with me most of the day. She would spend some time in the Mickey pool, then head over and get some ice cream and sit with me for a while:

Then head back to the Mickey pool, then get some more ice cream and sit with me for a while:

Doesn’t get much better than THAT!

We enjoyed WallE on the big screen, then an hour of Pixar shorts…. Awesome!

The view above me (and NO, it NEVER leaked water on us!)

Finally, it was lunchtime. We all headed to Cabanas to eat and enjoy the beautiful view of Atlantis.

Can you even guess what Shae is eating? I’ll give you a hint… it rhymes with head and nutter:

Some of our gaggle visiting at lunch. You can see another ship in the background

Dean and Adrianna and Atlantis:

There it is… and it looks just like it does on TV!

Here are some highlights of the rest of the afternoon:

Matt and I got hot rock massages in the spa. Broke the bank, but was TOTALLY worth it. Walking into my massage room, to see a bay of windows and the clear blue sea stretched out in front of me…. Ahhhhhh!! (Shae enjoyed the Oceaneers club while we did this)

Tyson and Shaelyn had a “date” and went to see “The Muppets” in the Buena Vista theater while Matt and I enjoyed some adult pool time.

Two words: ICE CREAM!!!

Soon, we found our selves getting dressed up for formal night, a New Year’s Eve dinner, and the most amazing way to ring in 2012! (Now if only they didn’t give everyone noisemakers at dinner…..)

 

[Sooze]

After such a relaxing day, we were ready to party the night away! First up, we got ourselves gussied up and headed to the Walt Disney Theater to watch “The Golden Mickeys” show. Remember the DVD family who had cruised with DCL before? Well LVD leaned over to me as we were waiting for the show to begin and said, “You and Shaelyn should head out to the lobby for a bit.” I gave her the “What are you talking about?” look and she said, “Just trust me.”

So Shae and I headed out to the lobby area to see a camera set up and a small queue forming. Still not sure what was happening, I got us in line. Soon, we were among the guests that were welcomed into the auditorium by the on-screen personality who was interviewing people on their way in (like a red-carpet interview). Apparently, as Shae and I were being interviewed, we were being shown in the theater on big screens! It was so cool, and we felt just like superstars!!

The show was FANTASTIC!!! At the end, little golden Mickey confetti pieces fall down from the ceiling, and we STILL have these little things popping up around our house… 8 months later!

Next up, we gathered in the atrium for formal pictures. Again, our fearless leaders, the DVD family, who knew how crazy this area was (as EVERYONE on the ship wants their formal pictures taken!), zipped us right over to the queue before it got incredibly too long! When it was our group’s turn, it was CRAZY! We went one family at a time first. Here we are:

After all 5 families had their turn, we took over the grand staircase with our gaggle of band geeks. Check us out:

We clean up kinda nice!

Up next was our New Year’s Eve Dinner at Animator’s Palate. Here is the menu that greeted us:

Next to everyone’s menu were hats or tiaras, and a lovely, loud, and extremely annoying noisemaker. We knew we were in trouble as soon as the kids got a hold of their New Year’s Eve bounty:

Shae knew it was going to be a CRAZY night too!

The dinner was extremely festive, and at random points throughout the meal, a table of guests would decide to start blowing on their noisemakers, which caused a chain-reaction throughout the restaurant. Soon, every single person was blowing, loudly, on their cheap cardboard horns. Oh my WORD… it was LOUD!!

After dinner, we escaped to our quiet state room to put on some warm clothes for the party out on the main deck. Shaelyn was begging to celebrate in the Oceaneers Club, as she knew they were having their own, much more fun party for kids! We dropped her off and headed up to the deck. Our group quickly found a PERFECT spot right in front of the large screen, but up on the 2nd level, where it wasn’t as crowded. We settled in and Tyson took off… he rode the AquaDuck the entire night! It was freezing, and there was NO line. He was in heaven! We were standing right by the stairs for it, so he would speed by us every once in a while!

Here are some pictures from the NYE party. Let’s start with Dean and Adrianna getting cozy in our awesome location:

Beauty and Beast lookin’ so happy:

Matt and I enjoying the happiness:

Our view of the party. There was a band on stage keeping the crowd jammin’ until the countdown began:

There were cast members coming around all night with trays of champagne and wines. Adrianna clearly was enjoying the free bubbly!

(Just kidding… she didn’t really drink ALL of that… Dean helped her out!)

Soon Minnie and Mickey were on stage in their New Year’s finest:

The only thing we missed out on, by being on the 2nd deck, was the chance of being on the big ol’ screen:

We were okay with that. It was fun watching other guests being silly and crazy in front of the whole ship!

We grabbed Tyson in time for the final countdown. Here’s a video of the fun!
Please notice the loud noise-maker sound, courtesy of Tyson!


After the craziness, we spent some more time as a group welcoming in the New Year. We finally got Shae close to 1am! We came back to our state room to find a beautiful NYE gift:

It was a yummy box of chocolates. We devoured them, then went to bed, with our minds racing with the amazing events of the day. We still had a full day at sea, and another visit to Castaway Cay before this incredible vacation was over.

 

[micandminforever]

What a wonderful way to welcome the new year. The group picture and your family picture were fantastic. I know you must treasure them

 

[glennbo123]

I'm sitting here rubbing my eyes, to make sure these recent updates are really real.

Did you know that Shae was making those cute poses during your picture session? What a cutie! I was thinking the same thing as you said -- you guys cleaned up well! Great pictures.

Your New Years Eve looked a little more exciting than mine...if I recall correctly I went to bed before midnight for the first time since I was around age 7.

 

[Sooze]

What a wonderful way to welcome the new year. The group picture and your family picture were fantastic. I know you must treasure them

I'm usually a homebody when it comes to NYE. This was definitely different and absolutely wonderful! Can't wait to do it again in 2013! And the formal pictures?! I just LOVE our big group picture. Seeing all of those people come together for this trip is a dream come true.

I'm sitting here rubbing my eyes, to make sure these recent updates are really real.

ha. ha. ha. very funny, glennbo!!
This darn school year is interfering with my ability to DIS!!

Did you know that Shae was making those cute poses during your picture session? What a cutie! I was thinking the same thing as you said -- you guys cleaned up well! Great pictures.

We did... and we totally let her go with it. I'm so glad we did. Not sure if she will be young and free enough to ever to that again. Our next cruise is NYE 2013/2014 and she will almost be EIGHT! She may be too cool for that posing stuff. (Hoping not)

Your New Years Eve looked a little more exciting than mine...if I recall correctly I went to bed before midnight for the first time since I was around age 7.

Ha! We are usually in bed before midnight, so this was a big change for us!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

You are selling me on the whole cruise experience. And NYE seems like a pretty awesome night to be at sea!! Great picture of the group. You clean up well, indeed!

 

[Sooze]

You are selling me on the whole cruise experience. And NYE seems like a pretty awesome night to be at sea!! Great picture of the group. You clean up well, indeed!

Oh, do you think DCL will pay me for my marketing skills?! I will tell you that within a week of getting off the ship, we had already booked the next one. It was THAT incredible of a vacation.

 

[Sooze]

We didn’t have time to sleep in the next morning and recover from our New Year’s Eve extravaganza. Why, you ask? Well, let me share. On the amazingly detailed Navigator that arrives in your room each day to tell you what’s going on, Shaelyn and I noticed something very very special that was happening at 9am the next morning. It was a TAP CLASS!! Not only a tap class, but a tap class with the Disney Dream’s DANCE CAPTAIN!! How super cool!!!

So we got up and grabbed some breakfast and headed to the D Lounge. There were several other kids there and pretty soon, they were up on stage learning some steps with the Dream’s Dance Captain, Jess.

Shae was a little pro up on stage!

Jess tried hard to give a serious tap class, but there was a little boy in the class who clearly was NOT having it. Unfortunately for the few girls who really wanted to tap, the class turned into a creative movement session. I was impressed with Jess’s ability to monitor and adjust the situation. She made the class work, even though she had a very hyperactive, unfocused, and crazy little participant! Of course, Shae didn’t know the difference, and had a blast anyway. Here’s a shot of the kids playing a ‘sleeping animal’ game

Afterward, we asked Miss Jess for her autograph and a picture. She seemed genuinely surprised that we took the time to do this!

We spent some time talking to her and telling her how much we LOVE the shows. We told her about our dilemma of never being able to communicate with stage performers since we have no access to them. She assured us she would pass on our praise and thanks. I was so thankful to have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Jess, and know that she would spread our thanks to the cast!

You may have noticed Shae took her tap class wearing her pool cover-up. That’s because today was our day at sea, and we planned on spending another full day lounging around the beautiful ship, mostly by the pools! We were headed upstairs to meet the rest of our crew, when Shae stopped dead in her tracks and this expression spread across her face:

What was it that she saw? It was Minnie Mouse. Yeah… Minnie Mouse. Why was that such a big deal? Well, my friends… it was PRINCESS MINNIE!!! And she had a TWIRLY dress on! And, best of all, she had NO LINE!

We got some cute video of her spinning so Shae could see her skirt flair out. It was so cute! She still talks about this character encounter more than any other!

We hopped in the elevator and were glad to finally get one of the corner elevators. I had heard about the paintings you see as you travel through the decks, and was not disappointed!

I have no more pictures from the day by the pool. I put away the camera and just SOAKED UP EVERY MOMENT!!! Shae spent a lot of time in the Oceaneers Club, because she kept asking to go back! Tyson had basically disappeared. His confidence was soaring as he transitioned from the Edge Club, to the pool, to grabbing his own ice cream (multiple times), to going back to the room, to finally meeting us to prepare for our pirate evening.

Ah… the pirate evening… stay tuned for some swashbuckling fun! And a few amazing sunset pictures!