DiaLady
Ready for another vacation!
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2003
Well, I know I started the "live" thread, but this is the trip report that I didn't write when we were live .. .LOL
Casting:
Me (39)
DH (37)
DS (11)
DS (8 11/12)
DAY 1 - Arrival / SW
We arrived from Virginia on the Friday after Thanksgiving into MCO (Orlando). We stayed at the Comfort Suites across from Universal. We visited Sea World in the afternoon using our annual passes from Busch Gardens. Wish we were able to get into the Radisson by Sea World. Enjoyed Sea World, but only got to see one show
Day 2 - Emparking on the Magic
We had rented a car from Budget. We drove to Port Canveral and arrived around 10:30 AM. It was cool seeing the Magic as you crossed that last bridge. We all knew it was coming so we were looking for her.
DH dropped us off with the porters and returned the car to Budget. Check in as a Castaway member was quick and easy - only 2 or 3 people in front of us. I did attempt to upgrade at the port. The only room left was a category 3 (we're in a category 9). The cost was only $1500!!! If we'd had an extra $1500 we would have jumped on it. However, we had other things to purchase (see day 5) . . .
We were in group #6. I must say, I really liked the new boarding. It was rough last time (2003) when we had to have someone holding our place in line so we could board the ship. Our children don't sit still long The only challenge was hearing the announcements over the cartoons playing on the TV's.
We boarded and heard our names called. Only one person clapped, but hey, we didn't care. We had arrived on the Magic! We were off to Parrot Cay to enjoy the buffet.
I had heard about the Mango soup, but tasting it was out of this world. It was better than the Mango smoothies I get at home. Wow! DH loved the shrimp. He put away quite a bit. Our boys were biting at the bit to get to those kids clubs so they weren't hungry (except for chocolate chip cookies).
We headed to the kids clubs to get our pager for the week. When we noticed the new Ocean Quest was open for families, we headed down there. My DS11 found his favorite place for the cruise! He worked to learn to drive the ship on the simulator. It was impressive.
Our rooms were ready before we knew it! The last trip, we stayed in an inside stateroom. We were so excited to have a port hole. After checking out the room, we dashed up stairs to enjoy the DIS MEET. It was so cool to put a face with the folks we'd be chatting with for months. What a great group of folks. DH was suprised when folks were asking about his mom and how our kitchen cabinets were coming along . . .LOL. He felt at home quickly. My DS8 searched to find his email buddy. They hung out the entire trip!
After the boat drill with the new life vests (very sleek!), we headed to the room to start unpacking. DH, DS11, & DS8 headed up for the party on deck. By the time I got up there we were pulling away. It was fun to wave at everyone as we left port. DS11 used the journaling information provided to us at the terminal to look for bouys as we left. We were suprised how far out into the ocean the channel was marked.
For dinner, we were on the PALPALA rotation at 8:15 PM. It was just right. We went to Diversions to watch the beginning of the VA Tech game and then headed to dinner at Parrot Cay. Our servers were Pairoj (Thailand) and Jonathan (Phillipians). They were lovely and did a great job.
Shockingly! We couldn't drop the kids at the kids clubs the first night. DH and I were so disappointed. You can imagine how upset the kids were, too. We had looked forward to doing the Marriage match game, but couldn't b/c the kids didn't have any place to go. In the end, we watched the rest of the terrific VA Tech game on our TV in the cabin and hit the sack early.
More soon!
Theresa
Casting:
Me (39)
DH (37)
DS (11)
DS (8 11/12)
DAY 1 - Arrival / SW
We arrived from Virginia on the Friday after Thanksgiving into MCO (Orlando). We stayed at the Comfort Suites across from Universal. We visited Sea World in the afternoon using our annual passes from Busch Gardens. Wish we were able to get into the Radisson by Sea World. Enjoyed Sea World, but only got to see one show
Day 2 - Emparking on the Magic
We had rented a car from Budget. We drove to Port Canveral and arrived around 10:30 AM. It was cool seeing the Magic as you crossed that last bridge. We all knew it was coming so we were looking for her.
DH dropped us off with the porters and returned the car to Budget. Check in as a Castaway member was quick and easy - only 2 or 3 people in front of us. I did attempt to upgrade at the port. The only room left was a category 3 (we're in a category 9). The cost was only $1500!!! If we'd had an extra $1500 we would have jumped on it. However, we had other things to purchase (see day 5) . . .
We were in group #6. I must say, I really liked the new boarding. It was rough last time (2003) when we had to have someone holding our place in line so we could board the ship. Our children don't sit still long The only challenge was hearing the announcements over the cartoons playing on the TV's.
We boarded and heard our names called. Only one person clapped, but hey, we didn't care. We had arrived on the Magic! We were off to Parrot Cay to enjoy the buffet.
I had heard about the Mango soup, but tasting it was out of this world. It was better than the Mango smoothies I get at home. Wow! DH loved the shrimp. He put away quite a bit. Our boys were biting at the bit to get to those kids clubs so they weren't hungry (except for chocolate chip cookies).
We headed to the kids clubs to get our pager for the week. When we noticed the new Ocean Quest was open for families, we headed down there. My DS11 found his favorite place for the cruise! He worked to learn to drive the ship on the simulator. It was impressive.
Our rooms were ready before we knew it! The last trip, we stayed in an inside stateroom. We were so excited to have a port hole. After checking out the room, we dashed up stairs to enjoy the DIS MEET. It was so cool to put a face with the folks we'd be chatting with for months. What a great group of folks. DH was suprised when folks were asking about his mom and how our kitchen cabinets were coming along . . .LOL. He felt at home quickly. My DS8 searched to find his email buddy. They hung out the entire trip!
After the boat drill with the new life vests (very sleek!), we headed to the room to start unpacking. DH, DS11, & DS8 headed up for the party on deck. By the time I got up there we were pulling away. It was fun to wave at everyone as we left port. DS11 used the journaling information provided to us at the terminal to look for bouys as we left. We were suprised how far out into the ocean the channel was marked.
For dinner, we were on the PALPALA rotation at 8:15 PM. It was just right. We went to Diversions to watch the beginning of the VA Tech game and then headed to dinner at Parrot Cay. Our servers were Pairoj (Thailand) and Jonathan (Phillipians). They were lovely and did a great job.
Shockingly! We couldn't drop the kids at the kids clubs the first night. DH and I were so disappointed. You can imagine how upset the kids were, too. We had looked forward to doing the Marriage match game, but couldn't b/c the kids didn't have any place to go. In the end, we watched the rest of the terrific VA Tech game on our TV in the cabin and hit the sack early.
More soon!
Theresa