Once Upon a Dream, We Took Our First Cruise - Goodbye Dream Vacation

[Timon]

This totally looks like Xander is on the outside of the ship saying "C'mon...let me on the ship guys!!!"

Love your son's name by the way...we were only able to have one child and we picked the names Kira for a girl and Xander for a boy...we got a Kira

 

[kmedina]

This totally looks like Xander is on the outside of the ship saying "C'mon...let me on the ship guys!!!"

Love your son's name by the way...we were only able to have one child and we picked the names Kira for a girl and Xander for a boy...we got a Kira

Xander and I read your comment together. We both laughed, since we never saw the picture that way before. Crap did scare his Mom by telling her he was hanging over the side. When Xander looked at the picture with me just now, he said he was being careful not to fall off. Even he forgot there was glass behind him. Now, that is funny.

Thank you. Crap is a huge Joss Whedon fan. Both of our kids were named after characters in Joss' shows. Xander is from Buffy, and Connor is from Angel. Angel's son was Connor on one planet and Steven on another, so my son has both names. My niece is Keira. She and her sister spent some time here last weekend. It was nice having some girls around even if it was only a short period of time. I really want a daughter.

 

[kmedina]

Welcome back. I know that absence was longer than planned, but we have been very busy. We hosted our nieces last weekend, received a new nephew last week, and have finally been planning our Disneyland trip this week. In 18 days, we will be leaving for that. It will be four nights at The Disneyland hotel, three days in the parks, and a short time to explore the hotel before we head to Hollywood to watch Brave at The El Capitan Theatre. Xander saw his first movie (G Force) there, so I am excited to bring Connor. This will actually be Connor’s second movie. We got a private booth to watch The Hunger Games, since we rarely watch movies and did not need a sitter thanks to the booth. Sadly, that theatre does not show kids’ movies, but El Capitan is the best place to watch kids’ movies anyway. I just hope Connor does all right, because Xander never watched a movie with a general audience until he was much older. If he does not, I will take him out of the theatre. It is just hard to pass up a Disney cartoon there on opening weekend.

We have 37-39 people confirmed for Connor’s birthday lunch. Two people are still strong maybes at this point. There are still some that have not gotten back to me at all, but I am just assuming they are not coming. I have one reservation for 35 people (since that is as high as they would go) and another for 8 people (which I will adjust closer to the trip unless the two holdouts and four no response people RSVP at the last minute). Hopefully, we can all sit near each other. The reservation will include World of Color viewing for everyone on a price fixe menu. Since dessert is included in the price fixe menu, I only ordered a small 10” Mickey cake for Connor. It will look like the one we got Xander on his birthday. We have a total of four reservations (only one with other people), although Crap is still hard at work trying to get that elusive fifth one. I do not have his rolodex, so that is the one thing I cannot help with.

Some of you may remember that lovely basket Xander had waiting for us at the Grand Floridian. Even though a business associate of Crap’s sent that, I felt it set precedence for future birthday trips. While on the phone with Disney planning, I was shocked to learn that no baskets are suitable for anyone under three. They do have an option to custom make your own but have a very limited selection compared to WDW. I was surprised that they did not even have the Mickey shaped rice crispy treats (even though we will get some from the park) or a single under-three toy. The birthday hats do not even come in infant sizes either. Aaron (the CM) suggested I do an in room celebration instead, because by the time we were done creating the custom basket (which costs $25 off the bat to start customizing) we would have been near that price point anyway. Reluctantly, I agreed.

I will get back to the cruise now. Thanks for joining me on that real life detour. We woke up very early in the morning. Our Personal Navigator showed that the Royal Palace was open for breakfast. (This was not the restaurant we dined at the night before). Since we needed a table, we checked in at the podium. At this point, we only knew about assigned tables for dinner, not breakfast. A CM escorted us to a vacant table just as a hostess would do at a normal land restaurant. Shortly after being seated, we were greeted by a nice young man who served us. Crap only took one picture during breakfast. While I am not fond of the picture, I will share. It is also a nursing photo. The one thing I love about the picture is you can see Xander’s face in the Table Number. I do remember thinking it was neat that we sat so close to our regular table. Since I did not mention it in the first update, I will add here that we never sat with anyone the whole cruise. Sometimes people sit with other cruisers they do not know. While we would have been okay with that, it never happened to us.

Breakfast was good. Our server was awesome. This was the time I learned a lesson about tips and dining at the place you had dinner at the night before to eat with your serving team. You have no check, so you cannot leave a tip via credit card unless you order a drink (which Crap never does at breakfast time). We had an early excursion to Atlantis, which we were told is a cashless resort. Therefore, we left all of our cash in the room, except a few dollars to tip our driver. I walked up to the podium and waited a while for someone to approach. The lady told me that it was okay not to leave a tip when I tried to see if she could charge our card. She said people sometimes dine at a different breakfast restaurant than the one they eat dinner at. When this happens, the servers do not expect a tip. Then, she explained that if you have breakfast at the same place you ate dinner the night before, you go straight to your table and will enjoy your regular servers.

If we had more time before our check-in time for the excursion, I probably would have gone back up to the room to get some cash. I really felt guilty about leaving there without tipping. It was a strange feeling. We headed up to the fifth floor to utilize babysitting. This excursion was going to be just me and Crap. All through breakfast, we prepared Xander for the Kid’s Club experience by telling him things I’d read about it. Despite the fact that he had been attending full day pre-school two days a week for almost two years at that point (he has done 2.5 years rather than the normal two, since his birthday is in December), he was having a fit! Xander did not want us to leave him in the Kid’s Club. It all came to a head when we reached the Oceaneer Club. He had a meltdown at the sign in desk.

I asked Xander if dropping Connor off first in the nursery would make him feel better. Connor was easily handed off to the nursery. There was no wait to check him in, and he gladly went to the nursery CM. She took his diapers, wipes, back up clothes and the milk I pumped. I do not pump often, since Connor never accepted my milk from my MIL or husband. Whenever I do, it takes a long time. I started pumping right after I delivered the fish extenders the night before, but was not able to finish. Luckily, I was able to finish pumping very early that morning. Pumping always reminds me why Connor nurses so much longer than the average kid. I must not produce a lot of milk. It takes him a long time to nurse. After warning the CM that he does not take a bottle, she informed me the same thing the pediatrician said. If he gets hungry enough, he will take it. She assured me that he would be fine. Less than five minutes after I walked in, I was already walking out. Dropping him off only got faster every time we used the nursery later in the trip too.

After seeing his baby brother go in easily, Xander finally agreed to go into the Oceaneer Club. We spent the previous week at WDW without a single meltdown, so that drop off scene really surprised me. Luckily, it was the one and only real issue Xander had the whole trip. He cried one other time on our last day, but Crap and I found that more endearing than annoying.

Drop off took longer than we expected due to the ordeal. We still made it down to the Walt Disney Theatre in plenty of time to check in to our excursion. It was the Atlantis Aquaventure. Disney provided transportation to and from the resort, a lunch certificate and access to the water park. They must have been running late, because we sat in the theatre for a while before someone came in to take us outside the ship. It was a beautiful day outside. The weather was perfect.

The ship really is beautiful. Since you enter the ship through Port Canaveral, I had not seen it from this angle yet. Being that close to it right on the ground made it look even more majestic. I loved it.

A CM walked everyone over to the gate to enter the island. The guard at the gate let us in, and she continued with us all the way to the shuttle. It was just outside the market. Entering the market was like nothing I had ever seen. People were approaching everyone to sell their items or services. It reminded me of when your browsing in a store and employees keep asking if they can help you but on a much larger scale. This was our first cruise, so I am not sure whether or not this is normal at other ports. Luckily, the walk to the shuttle was not too far.

The shuttle driver waited a few minutes after loading before we took off. On the ride over, he explained that we could leave any time we wanted. Shuttles would arrive every hour until 1pm and every half hour until 5pm. They would pick us up in the same place they dropped us off. I think the ride was about a half hour long. We were greeted on the curb by a guide. She was very friendly, and our adventure was about to start.

On a side note, no one knows what the original Atlantis looks like, since it was lost. This replica was pretty neat as you will see in the next update.

 

[PrincessInOz]

At the risk of setting off an international incident, let me just say that tipping is such a North American thing. We don't tip in Australia unless we want to and only if we think the service was exemplery.

Having said that, I have no issues with tipping when we travel to the US....it is the custom over there and I always try to do the right thing by local custom; including trying to hit the correct % amount for the tip.



Glad to see that Xander and Connor were happy to go to the kids club.


Have fun with planning for DLR. It sounds like you'll have your hands full with that many people in attendance.

 

[kmedina]

At the risk of setting off an international incident, let me just say that tipping is such a North American thing. We don't tip in Australia unless we want to and only if we think the service was exemplery.

Having said that, I have no issues with tipping when we travel to the US....it is the custom over there and I always try to do the right thing by local custom; including trying to hit the correct % amount for the tip.



Glad to see that Xander and Connor were happy to go to the kids club.


Have fun with planning for DLR. It sounds like you'll have your hands full with that many people in attendance.

I have heard that some countries are not used to tipping. Some of them are probably used to American tourists tipping, since we have such a tipping culture. I am guessing that servers in other countries are probably paid more than they are here. Employers pay servers here very little, since they assume most customers will tip them. It is better to know that employers take care of the servers rather than relying on the customer to do it. Not all customers do, so it is presumptious of the employer not to take care of them. On the other hand, servers in nice restaurants can make a very decent living based off tips. This is a good thing, since nicer restaurants tend to have higher levels of service.

Connor had no problem going to the nursery. Xander did not want to go to the kid's club. It was not a pretty sight.

It has been a little stressful thus far planning everything and trying to ensure everyone has tickets. The recent price increase did not help matters. I decided to have everyone worry about their own tickets from here on out. After hours on the phone with multiple people, I did not come to that decision lightly. My Dad called a few days ago to ask if I had booked his hotel room. You usually need a credit card and/or a deposit to book a room. Plus, I am not in the habit of booking people into rooms and not telling them. He sensed my sarcasm and said he would have my sister book it for him. I love him, but my Dad likes other people to do his vacation planning. It really is a shame he is not married, because most wives I know happily do this. If I was not so busy, I would have helped him. I àrranged everyone's Magic Mountain tickets on our last trip. My Dad even bought everyone's tickets, since I found such a great deal.

 

[shan23877]

Your Birthday Trip is so close!!! I'm glad that you're finally able to plan for it. If you do a TR for it, I'd love to hear all about it.

That's so strange that they don't have anything for kids under 3! I'm eager to hear what you came up with for the in room celebration.

How fun to see Connor's first movie on the trip too! Maddie already has 2 Merida dolls even though she hasn't seen the movie I hope it's good!

I think it's great that you have so many family traditions and that you work so hard to keep them up.

I would have felt bad about the tipping thing too. That's weird that the CM said the servers didn't expect to be tipped. I've never met a server who didn't expect a tip

Poor Xander. I can understand why he got nervous, but I totally understand why it bothered you and Crap. You finally had something scheduled for you, and you end up with a meltdown. I'm eager to hear if he ended up enjoying himself. I suspect that he did.

We've only been on a cruise once (our wedding/honeymoon). We went to the Bahamas, and ventured into Nassau to explore. The Straw Market (I believe that's where you were) was lots of fun, but I can see why it freaks people out. We were younger and less irritable then so we might hate it now.

Looking forward to hearing about your Atlantis excursion!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have heard that some countries are not used to tipping. Some of them are probably used to American tourists tipping, since we have such a tipping culture. I am guessing that servers in other countries are probably paid more than they are here. Employers pay servers here very little, since they assume most customers will tip them. It is better to know that employers take care of the servers rather than relying on the customer to do it. Not all customers do, so it is presumptious of the employer not to take care of them. On the other hand, servers in nice restaurants can make a very decent living based off tips. This is a good thing, since nicer restaurants tend to have higher levels of service.

I think minimum wage in Australia is about $15 - $16 per hour; hence why we don't have a tipping culture.

 

[kmedina]

Your Birthday Trip is so close!!! I'm glad that you're finally able to plan for it. If you do a TR for it, I'd love to hear all about it.

That's so strange that they don't have anything for kids under 3! I'm eager to hear what you came up with for the in room celebration.

How fun to see Connor's first movie on the trip too! Maddie already has 2 Merida dolls even though she hasn't seen the movie I hope it's good!

I think it's great that you have so many family traditions and that you work so hard to keep them up.

I would have felt bad about the tipping thing too. That's weird that the CM said the servers didn't expect to be tipped. I've never met a server who didn't expect a tip

Poor Xander. I can understand why he got nervous, but I totally understand why it bothered you and Crap. You finally had something scheduled for you, and you end up with a meltdown. I'm eager to hear if he ended up enjoying himself. I suspect that he did.

We've only been on a cruise once (our wedding/honeymoon). We went to the Bahamas, and ventured into Nassau to explore. The Straw Market (I believe that's where you were) was lots of fun, but I can see why it freaks people out. We were younger and less irritable then so we might hate it now.

Looking forward to hearing about your Atlantis excursion!

We are so excited about the trip. The planning is almost all done. I am going to do a trip report although I doubt this one will be done by the time I get back. That should give me some extra time to upload pictures and possibly order a photo pass CD.

I agree they should have more items available for the basket. Aaron told me what was included with the in room celebration, but I already forgot. Some items will surprise me as well.

It will actually be Connor's second movie but first time at El Capitan. The funny thing about traditions is we almost did not take him to the Hunger Games, so he could see his first movie at The El Capitan. At least, we can still say it is his first kids' movie there.

The thing I feel the most bad about on the whole 11 day trip is not tipping that server. We always tip even for lousy service (not that I can remember the last time we even had lousy service), so it was so hard not tipping for great service. Yes, Xander had a meltdown as kids do, but that not tipping thing could have been prevented if I had cash on me. I learned my lesson and will ALWAYS carry cash when I have a meal at an off restaurant. Then, the hard thing will be figuring out how much to tip when none of the food has a price list. Disney does give a suggested tip amount per day for your regular servers, but I am assuming that includes breakfast and dinner. Maybe we would subtract a little from the daily amount for just a breakfast.

Crap and I rarely go out by ourselves. We were nervous about leaving the boys (mostly Connor since he does not take bottles), but we were excited to have some time to ourselves. Xander did not want to leave when we picked him up. There was no meltdown, but he did not walk out quietly. These kids clubs are amazing and so Disney themed. Maddie will love it. They allowed me to walk through when I picked him up. I wanted to play there.

Yes, it is called the Straw market. Thank you for that as I could not remember what it was called. I am from Vegas and brought almost no cash with us, so all of the people approaching us did not freak me out. It was just a little annoying. They were violating personal space with quite a few people. Luckily, we were not approached too closely. One lady was very bothered that someone walked right up to her (I am guessing 10 year old) daughter and grabbed her hair asking if she wanted to have it braided. It bothered me a little too. Do not touch someone else's kid, lady! I would never purposely touch a strange kid (since I am a stranger to that kid as well and the adult should know better) unless the kid was in danger and the parent could not get there in time (like a kid falling into a pool, or about to stick something in a socket). I have actually done both of those.

We had a great time in Atlantis.

I think minimum wage in Australia is about $15 - $16 per hour; hence why we don't have a tipping culture.

I believe most start between $2 - $4 an hour here. They need tips. My sister said she averaged $15 an hour with tips when she waited tables on the grave shift, so a worker in Austraila already makes that without a single tip. I prefer your way of having the employer take care of people rather than the customer. This is such a tipping culture here that we tip some positions that pay more as well, like hairdresses, massage therapists or any service you can get a spa or salon.

 

[franandaj]

I wouldn't worry too much over the not tipping thing. I'm sure it happens a lot and hopefully their regular passengers take good care of them so that they don't feel bad.

Looking forward to hearing about Atlantis!

 

[kmedina]

I wouldn't worry too much over the not tipping thing. I'm sure it happens a lot and hopefully their regular passengers take good care of them so that they don't feel bad.

Looking forward to hearing about Atlantis!

I hope their regulars took care of them. That would make me feel a little better. The lady up front who would not run our credit card for tipping did say it was common.

We had a lot of fun in Atlantis. Crap actually knows someone who works there, but we did not drop in and say hello to him.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

Happy to see that your DL plans are finally coming together.. I can't believe they don't offer any baskets for little kids. I'm debating on doing WOC, but I'm not sure, so much other stuff we want to do, 3 days is just not enough time. It's crazy that Connor's almost a year old and P is only 3 weeks behind him! Where did the last year go?. Can't wait to start reading that TR.

How funny that Xander was the one that had a meltdown, I would have thought it would be Connor. My sister's youngest would never take a bottle either and anytime she would try to do anything without the baby, the baby would have a total meltdown. She still does and she's almost 2. . Glad Xander enjoyed the clubhouse, heck the photos I'be seen, I want to go play there.

I hope Atlantis was fun.

That lady touching that little girl's hair it would be hard not to want to get involved. I know they're just trying to make a living, but that's way over crossing the line!

 

[kmedina]

Happy to see that your DL plans are finally coming together.. I can't believe they don't offer any baskets for little kids. I'm debating on doing WOC, but I'm not sure, so much other stuff we want to do, 3 days is just not enough time. It's crazy that Connor's almost a year old and P is only 3 weeks behind him! Where did the last year go?. Can't wait to start reading that TR.

How funny that Xander was the one that had a meltdown, I would have thought it would be Connor. My sister's youngest would never take a bottle either and anytime she would try to do anything without the baby, the baby would have a total meltdown. She still does and she's almost 2. . Glad Xander enjoyed the clubhouse, heck the photos I'be seen, I want to go play there.

I hope Atlantis was fun.

That lady touching that little girl's hair it would be hard not to want to get involved. I know they're just trying to make a living, but that's way over crossing the line!

I really procrastinated with the Disneyland plans, since I rarely do much planning for it. Now, I feel like we are mostly set. Lots of parents take kids for their first and second birthday, so I was surprised the baskets start at age 3. Disney is really missing some sales potential there. We saw World of Color a few weeks after it opened, and I loved it. Since I want to give everyone a chance to see it without rushing to get a Fastpass in the morning, it was an easy decision for us to get the World of Color Dining package. I like that show more than I like either of the Fantasmic shows (better show at Disneyland but better seating at Hollywood Studios).

When we first planned Disneyland, we thought we'd have five or six park days at Disneyland. Unfortunately, Crap started a new job in February. He did not want to ask for a week off barely over four months later. We are driving up on Wednesday after he gets off and driving back Sunday late night, so he can be at work Monday morning. That way, he only needs two days off work. Luckily, his boss said that was okay. I wish we had more days at Disneyland, but I really am just happpy we are going at all. Even though it will be hard with all of the new stuff, I hope we both get a lot done with our three park days. The last year went by way too fast. Our babies are going to be one. It is such a happy but sad thing. They are growing up too fast. We just celebrated 5 years with Xander, and he will be 5.5 in two days.

You're right. When we made it through WDW with no meltdowns, I thought we were in the clear until this day. I thought Connor would have a meltdown when I dropped him off, but he did fine. Then, I thought he would have a meltdown while I was gone, but that never happened either. Connor really did have a meltdown free trip the whole 11 days. It seems crazy, but it is true. Every time I picked him up from the nursery, I asked the staff how he did. They always said he did great. The staff at the kid's club let me walk through it when I picked Xander up. It was really cool. I would love to play there with you. There were so many separate rooms and spaces to play. The kids in each space seemed to be having a blast.

We had a great time in Atlantis.

It bothered me when the lady touched the little girl's hair, but I did not get involved. I kind of just shook my head. The girl's Mom was pretty civil. She just responded no thank you, and walked as quickly as she could to move through the market. The Mom was obviously upset though, since she was in the middle of the pack when it happened and quickly walked to the very front of the pack. When I wrote, you don't touch another person's kid, I meant that she should not have done it. I did not say it to her. Sorry if that was not clear. If she had touched one of my kids (assuming they were with us), I may have said something as nicely as I could. Whenever possible, I try to avoid a big confrontation. I agree that she crossed the line when she touched the kid. Adults should not touch strange kids unless the kid is in danger.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

I really procrastinated with the Disneyland plans, since I rarely do much planning for it. Now, I feel like we are mostly set. Lots of parents take kids for their first and second birthday, so I was surprised the baskets start at age 3. Disney is really missing some sales potential there. We saw World of Color a few weeks after it opened, and I loved it. Since I want to give everyone a chance to see it without rushing to get a Fastpass in the morning, it was an easy decision for us to get the World of Color Dining package. I like that show more than I like either of the Fantasmic shows (better show at Disneyland but better seating at Hollywood Studios).

When we first planned Disneyland, we thought we'd have five or six park days at Disneyland. Unfortunately, Crap started a new job in February. He did not want to ask for a week off barely over four months later. We are driving up on Wednesday after he gets off and driving back Sunday late night, so he can be at work Monday morning. That way, he only needs two days off work. Luckily, his boss said that was okay. I wish we had more days at Disneyland, but I really am just happpy we are going at all. Even though it will be hard with all of the new stuff, I hope we both get a lot done with our three park days. The last year went by way too fast. Our babies are going to be one. It is such a happy but sad thing. They are growing up too fast. We just celebrated 5 years with Xander, and he will be 5.5 in two days.

You're right. When we made it through WDW with no meltdowns, I thought we were in the clear until this day. I thought Connor would have a meltdown when I dropped him off, but he did fine. Then, I thought he would have a meltdown while I was gone, but that never happened either. Connor really did have a meltdown free trip the whole 11 days. It seems crazy, but it is true. Every time I picked him up from the nursery, I asked the staff how he did. They always said he did great. The staff at the kid's club let me walk through it when I picked Xander up. It was really cool. I would love to play there with you. There were so many separate rooms and spaces to play. The kids in each space seemed to be having a blast.

We had a great time in Atlantis.

It bothered me when the lady touched the little girl's hair, but I did not get involved. I kind of just shook my head. The girl's Mom was pretty civil. She just responded no thank you, and walked as quickly as she could to move through the market. The Mom was obviously upset though, since she was in the middle of the pack when it happened and quickly walked to the very front of the pack. When I wrote, you don't touch another person's kid, I meant that she should not have done it. I did not say it to her. Sorry if that was not clear. If she had touched one of my kids (assuming they were with us), I may have said something as nicely as I could. Whenever possible, I try to avoid a big confrontation. I agree that she crossed the line when she touched the kid. Adults should not touch strange kids unless the kid is in danger.

Obviously, making Disney baskets for toddlers would be quite a business. That's what's so great about DL is you can really go without any plans and still have a great time. DH and I saw WOC when they were giving Fastpasses to APs a few months after it opened and loved it. I agree that DL's Fantasmic is better, I just wish they had a stadium like WDW.

Peyton is the same as Conner, a very mellow, laid back baby. The closest thing we had to a meltdown was when he was tired and having a hard time falling asleep when we were having lunch at LeCellier. That lasted about five minutes. I'm sure they really appreciated me pacing back and fourth with a crying baby.

Totally understand where you're coming from with that lady. Unless it was my child, I would probably have a hard time speaking up and try to stay out of it, DH is a little braver than I am. He tried to break up a fight between some angry guests and a poor CM on TSM.

 

[kmedina]

Obviously, making Disney baskets for toddlers would be quite a business. That's what's so great about DL is you can really go without any plans and still have a great time. DH and I saw WOC when they were giving Fastpasses to APs a few months after it opened and loved it. I agree that DL's Fantasmic is better, I just wish they had a stadium like WDW.

Peyton is the same as Conner, a very mellow, laid back baby. The closest thing we had to a meltdown was when he was tired and having a hard time falling asleep when we were having lunch at LeCellier. That lasted about five minutes. I'm sure they really appreciated me pacing back and fourth with a crying baby.

Totally understand where you're coming from with that lady. Unless it was my child, I would probably have a hard time speaking up and try to stay out of it, DH is a little braver than I am. He tried to break up a fight between some angry guests and a poor CM on TSM.

We love going with the flow at Disneyland. It will be hard to go with the flow this trip, since there are so many new things to see. I just read today that all three of the new rides have a height requirment. We were hoping at least one would not, so Connor could ride. With this new development, I may spend 1.5 days at each rather than 2 full days at DCA as we originally planned. Connor needs to have fun on his birthday rather than just waiting around for us to have all the fun.

Connor had his first rough restaurant experience on Mother's Day and has had two more since. I spent most of those meals pacing with a fussy baby. Hopefully, that does not happen at any of the Disney meals, especially his birthday one. We have been eating out less because of that. Xander rarely sat nicely through a meal when he was younger, so we rarely ate out with him. I hope Peyton is still easy for you. Based on those three meals and the fact that Xander got a little harder each trip until he finally started getting better around 3.5, I am a little nervous to see how the trip goes.

Between me and Crap, I am more likely to say something first when I feel a wrong has been committed. I stay out of it for as long as possible though. There was one time where a fully grown man picked an argument with my sister at a restaurant. She was defending herself pretty well, but I felt he crossed the line when he got inches from her face. I was the first to tell him to back off. Then, he pointed his finger in my face and Crap screamed to back away from his wife. The man backed up as soon as Crap got involved but had no problem invading our space. Men who get in womens' faces really get on my nerves, especially when they are single (like my sister). Do they not get how intimidating that is for some women?

 

[kmedina]

Our guide was very friendly. She walked us through the casino first. It was nice. I come from the land of casinos, so I have seen nicer ones. In typical casino fashion, it had decorations that made it unique, like the crystal piece.

We were allowed to take pictures anywhere but on the actual casino floors. They do not want pictures of their slot machines or table games out there. It was an easy decision for us not to gamble in the casino, since we can gamble any time we want at home. Crap and I are not really gamblers anyway. Therefore, we would quickly check out the waterpark and The Ruins and rush back to the boys. Our plan was to catch the 1pm bus back to the ship.

Once our tour of the casino floor was complete, the guide took us outside to the water park. The theming of everything here is so beautiful. I really preferred the look of the outside to the inside, not that the inside was bad. It looked very old and very tropical at the same time. Atlantis really did a good job. There were many pools, water slides, smaller slides, play areas and fun things to do here. If one was not in a hurry to rush back to the kiddos, it would be easy to spend an entire day or more there. I remember the guide saying some of the beaches were manmade and others were natural although I cannot remember which was which and in typical Crap fashion, he only got one picture.

The walk to the part of the water park the guide dropped us off at was about 15 minutes from where we were dropped off. We got our towels and decided to start with the lazy river. After we changed into our suits, Crap went in search of a locker. Crap did not want to buy a water camera, so we will have no pictures of the water park. Sorry that I have shared even less pictures here than I did in the WDW report. Anyone that is brave enough to read the Disneyland report will get more pictures, because I am going to ensure he takes them or I will take them myself.

I waited for him on a lawn chair. He was gone a long time. When he finally returned, he explained how far away they were. It cost $9, I think. The credit card company never charged a currency conversion fee either, so I am assuming they take American money there. This was the only money we spent there, since everything else (the ride to and from Atlantis, the brief tour, towels, lunch, access to The Ruins and a waterpark wristband) was included with the excursion.

We were finally enjoying the lazy river. It was really relaxing and beautiful there. The weather was incredibly nice and the river was nearly empty. We noticed signs stating the current was coming. Curious to see what that was all about, we decided to paddle over to it (since there was an option to continue just being lazy in the river). There was a water escalator that I had a hard time getting on. Of course, Crap made it look easy.

I finally got on it. It took us up a somewhat steep hill. Once we reached the top, we slid down with somewhat raging waters. On a whitewater rafting scale, it was probably simulated to be a one. We had a lot of fun. When that part was over, we were reconnected to the lazy river. I believe the entire loop is supposed to take an hour. Even though we were not wearing watches, I am guessing we had been in the river close to an hour at that point. Rather than exiting at the next stop where our towels were, we got out one stop short of our towels. That stop was closer to the water slides.

The first slides we happened upon were rather small, so we knew that was the wrong section. They were light in color, so I am guessing it was not the Jungle Slide (which the website describes as for kids). After going down a couple, we went in search of the bigger rides. We never found the Jungle Slide or went in the Splashers area, since we were sans kids.

We started with The Leap of Faith. It is a mostly vertical 60 foot drop from the Mayan Temple replica. Toward the end of the drop, you go through (but not in) a shark filled lagoon. This is the slide I was most looking forward to. One season on the Amazing Race, there was a female contestant who was afraid to go down the one in Dubai. I thought it would be neat, so I could not wait to try it myself. Since we were unlikely to visit the one in Dubai, the one in the Bahamas was the next best thing. Just as the rest of the park was mostly empty, we were not surprised that there was no line at the top of the climb for this slide either. In no time at all, we were headed down.

It was over as soon as it started. Since it was a mostly vertical drop, I saw nothing as I went through the shark section. Crap experienced the same thing. We were both disappointed that you move too quickly to see anything. I wanted to try it again and try really hard to see it the second time down. Again, we saw nothing. That was very anticlimactic or so I thought. There was a different slide that you needed to find and carry up an inter-tube for. It was called the Serpent Slide. We went through the shark lagoon on that ride as well only this time we went through much slower. Both of us saw the sharks this time. It was so neat that we tried to slow the tube down to stay in the tunnel longer. Eventually, we had to move, because the next group was coming. We got out of their way with time to spare, because they did the same thing to slow down their tube.

The Challenger Slide was up next. These are side by side slides where you race down. Crap won, but he weighs more than I do. It was an unfair advantage. We ventured to the Power Tower after that to see what slides it had to offer. Up first was the Abyss. It is almost pitch black as you go through this thing. When you finally exit, you enter a well lit room that looks like a cave with large fish tanks everywhere. Some people were hanging out in there. I guess I can see the appeal, but it was time for us to leave the water.

Reading the website now, I am guessing the one exit we skipped in the lazy river would have taken us into The Falls. It is a water coaster that we need to ride next time. We also skipped the Surge and the Drop for this trip. I wanted to get lunch, walk leisurely through the casino and still make the 1pm shuttle back to the ship. We dropped Connor off in the nursery with only enough milk to get us until about 2pm. It was risky to take the 1:30 shuttle back, because I did not know how much time it would take to get back onto the ship and up to the nursery. If I had pumped more milk, I would have stayed longer.

Our towels were still a bit away, so it took us a while to get our stuff from the locker and get back over to the towels. We changed into our clothes and walked over to a quick service restaurant. It did not take our meal voucher. They directed us to one that did. Despite the fact that there were not very many people in the waterpark, a lot of people were there getting food. Had we stayed, we may not have had time to see the Ruins or the casino. Since we would not be returning to the water park, I suggested we walk to the approved quick service restaurant on the map farthest from the water park. It was a great idea, because there was almost no one there. Since it was on our way out anyway, there was not a lot of extra walking involved to get there.

I think it was called the Dine In. We each had a burger with fries. The drink selection was what you would see on ship with the exception of a passion fruit type drink that Crap was happy to partake in. He said it was good. Even though I want to try new things as often as possible, juice blends are not usually my thing. I opted for a coke. The food was all right.

Since lunch was so fast, we had a time to leisurely walk around looking at things on our way back to the casino. The outside areas really are beautiful there.

After exploring the grounds, we quickly checked out The Ruins. While it was nice, there was nothing overly compelling that caused us to miss our shuttle. There are fish tanks in there. I did not read anything while in there but am deducing The Ruins are what Atlantis would look like underwater if it was ever found. On a return trip, I would love to spend more time in there, since the Dig has quite a few lagoons that we did not see.

We went back inside the casino and walked through it slower than we did on the tour. Other than brief stops to take pictures, we did not venture though the casino much. I did want to take additional pictures of items that are uniquely Atlantis.

We made it to the shuttle stop with a few minutes to spare. Right at 1pm, we departed for the ship. This time there was no guide to walk us back, but we remembered our way from that morning. Since we did not have cash on us or any desire to stop at the Straw Market, we walked quickly through it. The experience on the way back was different than the way there. No one seemed overly pushy when offering their products or services. Within no time at all, we were headed back to our beautiful ship. Anyone who needs a reminder on how beautiful the ship is can compare it to the one parked next to it.

There was a mini customs department to re-enter the ship. They checked our passports (probably just IDs for people without them) and our room keys. We had to go through security and have our stuff searched. This is a good idea to ensure everyone gets back on board safely. Disney must know right away who misses the ship when it happens. It was still before 2pm at this point. I should make it to the nursery just in time for Connor’s next feeding. We were anxious to see how the kids did while we were off ship. Crap went straight to the room, while I went straight to the nursery.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The water rides sound like heaps of fun. And Atlantis looks nice. It's a long way down my bucket list at the moment...maybe someday. *sigh*

 

[CandleontheWater]

Atlantis looks awesome! We had talked about going in May this year, but nothing came of it. Since I ended up pregnant anyway, I'm glad we didn't go because I would have missed out on the waterslides.

Did you make the reservations for the nursery before you guys got on the ship? How much per hour did they charge for babysitting?

I'm curious because I'm putting some real thought into what we are going to do for vacation next year. I would like to do a family vacation when DH gets back from Deployment, maybe in Oct, and our usual go-to-place is Disney. However, now that they are pricing child's annual passes the same as adults, I don't know if I want to spend that kind of money.

Maybe we'll do a 7 day cruise instead. I was hesitant to go with an infant, but you guys still seem to be having a great time, and the baby would be 10 months... hmmm, lots to think about! Thank you for all the info, it is super helpful!

 

[kmedina]

The water rides sound like heaps of fun. And Atlantis looks nice. It's a long way down my bucket list at the moment...maybe someday. *sigh*

They were a lot of fun. You've done a lot of things on my bucket list too, including Macau and Hong Kong Disneyland, not to mention the fact that you live in one of the countries I most want to see.

Atlantis looks awesome! We had talked about going in May this year, but nothing came of it. Since I ended up pregnant anyway, I'm glad we didn't go because I would have missed out on the waterslides.

Did you make the reservations for the nursery before you guys got on the ship? How much per hour did they charge for babysitting?

I'm curious because I'm putting some real thought into what we are going to do for vacation next year. I would like to do a family vacation when DH gets back from Deployment, maybe in Oct, and our usual go-to-place is Disney. However, now that they are pricing child's annual passes the same as adults, I don't know if I want to spend that kind of money.

Maybe we'll do a 7 day cruise instead. I was hesitant to go with an infant, but you guys still seem to be having a great time, and the baby would be 10 months... hmmm, lots to think about! Thank you for all the info, it is super helpful!

For some, the best part may be laying out and the casino. I agree that the water slides were the best part. It is a good idea that you waited. You will enjoy it more when you do get there.

I did book some nursery time before we got on ship. It was our first cruise, so I made reservations right at the 75 day mark. Castaway Cay members (anyone who has cruised Disney at least once before) and Concierge guests get first dibs on booking. I think they get to book 90, 105 and someone gets 120 days in advance. Disney only allows each kid under three or over three and un-potty trained (regardless of VIP status or if it is your first time sailing) to have 10 nursery hours booked before entering the ship. Anyone can add additional hours once on ship if they are available. I walked in one night to see if they had an opening, and they did. They charge a very reasonable $6 per hour. We went over an hour by 6 minutes once and they did not even charge us for it. I think they must have some method of rounding (maybe like every 15 minutes or so). Any kid over three and potty trained can go into the kids' clubs for free. The nursery and clubs are open most of the day (except when most people are sleeping).

I am putting this in bold, so everyone can see this. Even though it was our first cruise and we were not allowed to book until 75 days out, we got everything we wanted. The only items that were sold out where the private cabanas on Castaway Cay (not that we would have gotten one anyway at $499 a pop) and a couple of other small things on Castaway Cay. Even though we did not do Remy's, Palo or the spa, I spot checked some dates and times once my reservation window opened up. They were all available. There was only one nursery slot booked (slots are booked daily in half hour windows), but it was not one we even needed. I really feel like first time cruisers can really get most or all of the things they want booked. You cannot even see the booking window until just after midnight on your 75th day, and anything gone will be shaded where available options appear in black. My husband got a hair appt on the spot while on ship as well.

If you choose a cruise for your vacation, I would book it as soon as possible. The best way to get a deal on a cruise is to book as far in advance as possible. Shortly before leaving, I checked pricing and our room would have almost doubled for a last minute booking (with no other change other than when we booked it). I agree that it is silly that kids have to pay the same as adults now. They cannot even partake in a lot of the most popular rides. I hope you really do go on a cruise, because it is such an awesome trip. We felt so immersed in Disney too. The characters even visit the kid's clubs. I ran into Ariel picking Connor up from the nursery one night. They gave me a free picture of him with Chip and Dale (although I do not know where it is right now). Xander said Cinderella and others visited the bigger kids. It is awesome. Plus, you also find them all over the ship. Just check the personal navigator with the time and location.

On our next cruise, I want to go for at least seven days. We did three, since it was our first, and I figured three days is not too bad if we hate it. That, and we had a week at WDW too. A seven day cruise sounds awesome. Good for you. Three days is not enough. Cruising with the kids was the easiest vacation ever! The nursery staff was amazing, and I cannot rave enough about how awesome the whole experience was.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I am loving your report! We just booked a 4 day cruise on the Dream for my 40th Birthday in Feb. I am so excited, and am trying to read as much as I can, so we can make sure to do most of the things that sound fun. What was your weather like? I am worried it will be cold, as there have been WDW trips where it has been in the 30's and 40's in December. Was it warmer once you started sailing south? That is my big concern...I'd hate to bok a waterpark or Dolphin encounter at Atlantis and be shivering the entire time. We are actually considering just staying on the ship the Nassau day...plenty of time to decide still!

I am glad you had such a great time and can't wait to read more!

 

[kmedina]

I am loving your report! We just booked a 4 day cruise on the Dream for my 40th Birthday in Feb. I am so excited, and am trying to read as much as I can, so we can make sure to do most of the things that sound fun. What was your weather like? I am worried it will be cold, as there have been WDW trips where it has been in the 30's and 40's in December. Was it warmer once you started sailing south? That is my big concern...I'd hate to bok a waterpark or Dolphin encounter at Atlantis and be shivering the entire time. We are actually considering just staying on the ship the Nassau day...plenty of time to decide still!

I am glad you had such a great time and can't wait to read more!

Thank you. I think the four day cruises get an at sea day. That is awesome. There is so much to do on ship that I wanted to try. We just never had the time. On our entire 11 days, there was only one half day that was somewhat cold. It was 12-07-11 at WDW. Ironically, it was also the only day I wore a tank top and shorts to the park, since the weather was so lovely in the morning. Every other day was lovely. I never felt cold at all when we were at sea. Hopefully, the same happens for you. I know the weather can be unpredictable, but we also had nice weather at WDW in January too. I think the weather is a little warmer the more south you go. The best part of the winter if you get great weather is lower crowds and prices come along with that as well.

I thought about both staying on the ship in Nassau and doing the dolphin encounter. We opted to get off, since it would be the first time other than Tiajuana I had set foot on foreign soil and Crap's first time since he was very young. I had a blast, so I am glad we made that decision. The only reason I decided not to do the dolphin encounter is I wanted more time to explore the waterpark and was afraid I would not get my money's worth to do it all. If you have no young kids waiting for you back on the ship, I say go for it all. You will have a great time. It sounds like a great way to spend a 40th birthday. How fun!