The McSparklesons are BACK and they are CRUISIN! COMPLETE 10/4

[podsnel]

Kara & Joan- we finally have a cruise meet thread for our May 6th Dream cruise!! Here's a link-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2698795

 

[cherokeemamma]

Okay...I am late to this party but I am loving it! I have sat here all morning and read the entire thing! Loving your writing style.

We are planning our first cruise for this upcoming Feb. I am so excited but have no idea what to expect. Your TR is wonderful and I am loving all the details. I must admit that I did cheat and only read your installments up until the last one. I wanted to ask... when did you request you dining rotation? Did you do that directly through DCL or your TA?

Thanks! and I'm Looking forward to more...
TTFN
Darlene

 

[karajeboo]

Okay...I am late to this party but I am loving it! I have sat here all morning and read the entire thing! Loving your writing style.

We are planning our first cruise for this upcoming Feb. I am so excited but have no idea what to expect. Your TR is wonderful and I am loving all the details. I must admit that I did cheat and only read your installments up until the last one. I wanted to ask... when did you request you dining rotation? Did you do that directly through DCL or your TA?

Thanks! and I'm Looking forward to more...
TTFN
Darlene

I got the idea for the dining rotation from the DIS and requested it a couple of months before we left - I just emailed my TA (Dreams Unlimited) and they replied that they sent the request but there were no guarantees..... Of course, I KNEW I'd get what I want.... cause I'm a McSparkleson!

 

[karajeboo]

Since I had such a hard time eating the first night, what with pirates, Titanic, etc...... I was ready to get my eatin on!!!!

But I must admit, I did have some concerns. This would be our first time in Lumiere's the most "formal" of the dining rooms. And after a couple DOTDs today, plus a glass of wine during the show, I was concerned about Mrs Potts. Or even Chip for that matter. I mean, seriously..... what would YOU do if you saw a giant tea pot during dinner??? And it talked to you in that Murder She Wrote voice that might make going down with the Titanic the best option of the night????? Next thing ya know, you hear the Law and Order theme song and Lennie Briscoe turns on that awful French accent and waddles over to light YOUR fire? Hmmmmm?

Yeah, it was all going on in my head. But I can tell you all. There are NO giant tea pots, psuedo French Lennie Briscoes, or walking grandfather clocks. None at all. So rest assured, your time in Lumiere's can be spent on the atmosphere and the food.....

We started off with a bottle of Pouilly Fousse Chardonnay......

For my appetizer I ordered the Double Baked Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese Souffle with Gorgonzola Bleu Cheese, Spinach and Marscapone Sauce with White Truffle Oil.

Oh my. Ally heard the word "cheese" and she was all over it. Jeff took one bite and HE was all over it. So we ordered another. And we were ALL over it, too!!!

Jeff ordered this....

But I cannot remember what it was!!!! He did enjoy it, in addition to our two cheese souffles!

Then we both ordered The Beast's Potato and Sausage Casserole Soup
a hearty recipe with a touch of paprika

Ally ordered her usual pizza with french fries, and her ketchup came out tonight with a bow tie.... after all, it IS formal night!!!!

I ordered Roasted Filet of Beef Wellington
covered with mushroom stuffing wrapped in puff pastry served with fingerling potatoes, baby vegetables, and a cabernet black truffle jus

I can honestly say, I was sopping it all up, just shy of licking the plate. Of course I didn't.... I mean, I might have dribbled it on my dress.....

Jeff ordered the Rack of New Zealand Lamb with a Dijon Mustard Crust
with gratin potato cakes, baby Mediterranean vegetables, and rosemary flavored jus

He said it was excellent.... "mate." I don't know where that came from, but American lamb chops don't bring that response.... just sayin....

I ordered the Sweet Temptations
Miniature tasting of Cinderella's Lemon Cheesecake, Chilled Chocolate Souffle and Tiramisu. I got this quite a few nights because it was a nice little sampling of three desserts. And three is always better than one, right?

Jeff got the Prince Charming Chilled Chocolate Souffle
Semi-frozen chocolate cream with almond brittle.

Ally couldn't even finish her smoothie,

but she sure as heck finished her dessert!!!!

And now for Willy's magic trick of the night. Move one crayon to make a square.....

Don't peek!!!

Are you ready for the answer?

OH, that Willy, such a trickster!!!!!

After dinner, we wandered. We went up on deck and watched the sea go by. We went out on deck 4 and watched the sea go by. We went back to our room and onto the balcony to watch the sea go by.

Yeah, the McSparklesons really know how to shake it up!!!

When we got back to the cabin, there was a message from Ally's new BFF, Tori on our whiteboard, and they decided to head to the Lab after dinner. So we all got changed, dropped Ally off at the Lab and Jeff and I made our way to Rockin Bar D to watch Taylor Mason, a hilarious ventiloquist that I have seen somewhere before.... I'm thinking back in college when he was just getting started.

When we got there, about 15 minutes before show time, it was packed. And there was a little 10 or 12 year old bulldog holding about 15 or 20 seats. Not kidding. I was not happy because we were waaaaaaaay off in the corner. By ourselves. And we had a great view of Taylor's right ear through the whole performance.

This was really the only time I saw someone so boldly saving seats. I should have gone all fire hydrant on the little bulldog. After all, they were too young to be there anyway!!!!!

But we got our drinks and settled into a nice round booth in the corner. I actually sat up on the back of the booth and had a much better view. Taylor Mason is hilarious and while this was the "adult" cabaret show, it was very clean, with a bit of adult humor, but nothing raunchy.

Right near the end of the show, my neighbor from SC came in with the other 2 women from her party and they were able to join us in our mega booth. Again, how big is the ship? And in they walk and make a beeline toward our table. Crazy!

After Taylor Mason, the "Disco Legends" show was beginning. I love me some disco music, always ready to let my Disco Inferno burn, but his was ultra cheesy. The "Walt Disney Theatre Dancers" came out on the itty bitty stage and danced for a few minutes. I'm guessing the dance floor opened up after that, but we were out of there. Jeff always gets a little scared when he sees a dance floor. It takes a LOT of DOTD for him to get his white man overbite going.

You know about the white man overbite? Just go to a club and watch the middle aged men. For some reason they get that bite going and think that gives them the rhthym that absolutely NOTHING will give them.......

We left around 11:15, waaaaaay past my bedtime in real life and headed back to the Lab to pick up Ally. She was still going strong with Tori but the other little gal that we all met in our DISmeet on the first day, Alessandra, was sacked out on the bean bags. It was so cute!

By the time we made it back to the cabin, it was nearing midnight. Not because it took us 45 minutes to go from Rockin Bar D to Lab to cabin 6648. But because we diverted up to Deck 10 to.....

Watch the sea go by. Oh yes we did!!!!

Then down to the drink station on Deck 9 to grab some drinks, and finally back to the cabin.

Where we were greeted by this guy....

But once more... let's head out to the balcony to....

WATCH THE SEA GO BY!!!!!!

Up next..... Another Day at Sea....... Are we really only on Day 3 of this cruise????

 

[KristiMc]

Glad you were able to enjoy your meal!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Great review so far!

We had Willy as our assistant server back last October on the Magic and he was really wonderful - very fun and we had a lot of interaction. My mom only has the use of one hand so he would cut her food up every evening. On the second formal night I was sick so he brought a lobster tail dinner down to my cabin for me. My mom cried on the last night of our cruise cause she was already missing him.

 

[podsnel]

I am so glad you were really enjoying WATCHING THE SEA GO BY! You all looked so great on Formal night- just wanted to remind you in case you forgot....

 

[karajeboo]

Glad you were able to enjoy your meal!

Oh yes.... and pretty soon you will see me (well, see in pictures....) devour TWO entrees!

Great review so far!

We had Willy as our assistant server back last October on the Magic and he was really wonderful - very fun and we had a lot of interaction. My mom only has the use of one hand so he would cut her food up every evening. On the second formal night I was sick so he brought a lobster tail dinner down to my cabin for me. My mom cried on the last night of our cruise cause she was already missing him.

I LOVED Willy!!! He just had the BEST attitude - super sweet! Ally kept calling her "my boy" all trip. Every morning we had to go whereever they were working. "C'mon, I need to see my boy this morning...."

I am so glad you were really enjoying WATCHING THE SEA GO BY! You all looked so great on Formal night- just wanted to remind you in case you forgot....

Yeah, I know. We are hot.....

 

[CRdisMom]

we're going to be hot next week...

 

[nenner1]

Yeah, it was all going on in my head. But I can tell you all. There are NO giant tea pots, psuedo French Lennie Briscoes, or walking grandfather clocks. None at all. So rest assured, your time in Lumiere's can be spent on the atmosphere and the food.....

Oh...food porn...<sigh> and it looks SOOOOOOO good!

I ordered Roasted Filet of Beef Wellington
covered with mushroom stuffing wrapped in puff pastry served with fingerling potatoes, baby vegetables, and a cabernet black truffle jus

That looks amazing! I avoided the beef wellington on our cruise because the one I had in '08 was just nasssty. But this....ahhhh....this one looks just delish!

Jeff got the Prince Charming Chilled Chocolate Souffle
Semi-frozen chocolate cream with almond brittle.

OK, now *THIS* I don't remember..it must have been the night I missed for Palo, because THAT right there looks awesome!

And now for Willy's magic trick of the night. Move one crayon to make a square.....

Don't peek!!!

Are you ready for the answer?

OH, that Willy, such a trickster!!!!!

Ah, my dear Kara, it is YOU that is the trickster. The bottom photo is the first photo and the top photo is the answer. You thought you could slide that one by on us but I SAW YOUR PHOTOBUCKET IMAGE TAGS!

When we got there, about 15 minutes before show time, it was packed. And there was a little 10 or 12 year old bulldog holding about 15 or 20 seats. Not kidding. I was not happy because we were waaaaaaaay off in the corner. By ourselves. And we had a great view of Taylor's right ear through the whole performance.

This was really the only time I saw someone so boldly saving seats. I should have gone all fire hydrant on the little bulldog. After all, they were too young to be there anyway!!!!!

Ron always swears that when we encounter this we will have some fun with it, just walk over and plop down next to the person and when they say "This seat is saved", just reply back "Que?" and then just start talking to each other in Spanish sounding jibberish. I have yet to see him actually do it, maybe because he knows I will start giggling like a fool! (We would be the ones to try it with people who actually speak Spanish!)

We were at our water park around here last weekend and in the kids area there were like no chairs at all that weren't hogged and most prominently a lady in a lounge with empty chairs on both sides of her that she had her arms strewn out over to "hold" ...I told Ron he didn't have a hair on his behind if he wouldn't just walk over there and sit down in one and say "Wasssup?"

But once more... let's head out to the balcony to....

WATCH THE SEA GO BY!!!!!!

So did it finally pass by, or what?

 

[karajeboo]

we're going to be hot next week...

Girllllllllll, I am a McSparkleson and I was BORN hot!!!!

That looks amazing! I avoided the beef wellington on our cruise because the one I had in '08 was just nasssty. But this....ahhhh....this one looks just delish!

It was great - and I can honestly say that my meat was cooked to perfection EVERY time on this cruise.......

Ah, my dear Kara, it is YOU that is the trickster. The bottom photo is the first photo and the top photo is the answer. You thought you could slide that one by on us but I SAW YOUR PHOTOBUCKET IMAGE TAGS!

OMG! I am so embarassed!!! I must have a pathetic excuse for that. Gimme a few minutes and let me check my notebook for pathetic excuses.... nope, used that one already..... too common...... Jen won't get that one..... aha! PMS.

Ron always swears that when we encounter this we will have some fun with it, just walk over and plop down next to the person and when they say "This seat is saved", just reply back "Que?" and then just start talking to each other in Spanish sounding jibberish. I have yet to see him actually do it, maybe because he knows I will start giggling like a fool! (We would be the ones to try it with people who actually speak Spanish!)

See, I would do that too. But Jeff and Ally would be hiding under a table or walking the other way. I'd be on my own, like Maverick without Goose. Henry without the VIII. For crying out loud, I'd be like Chip without Dale!!!!!! But oh, I would so love to do that some time.....

So did it finally pass by, or what?

To the best of my knowledge, it's still passing by......

 

[WannaBeADisMom]

White Man Overbite!!!!

 

[anewmac]

Kara & Joan- we finally have a cruise meet thread for our May 6th Dream cruise!! Here's a link-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2698795

hmm more and more I hear about it.. more and more tempting...

For my appetizer I ordered the Double Baked Aged Reggiano Parmesan Cheese Souffle with Gorgonzola Bleu Cheese, Spinach and Marscapone Sauce with White Truffle Oil.
YUMM-O

But I cannot remember what it was!!!! He did enjoy it, in addition to our two cheese souffles!
I love how you remember yours down to what type of Oil..but cant rmemeber the name of poor Jeffs lol

I ordered the Sweet Temptations
Miniature tasting of Cinderella's Lemon Cheesecake, Chilled Chocolate Souffle and Tiramisu. I got this quite a few nights because it was a nice little sampling of three desserts. And three is always better than one, right?

ODL that looks awesome why did they not have that when I cruised.

but she sure as heck finished her dessert!!!!
thats my girl!

And now for Willy's magic trick of the night. Move one crayon to make a square.....

Don't peek!!!

Are you ready for the answer?

OH, that Willy, such a trickster!!!!!
alright.. call me a dork.. I blame the heat (it was 98 here today) but I dont get it.. someone break it down for me

But we got our drinks and settled into a nice round booth in the corner. I actually sat up on the back of the booth and had a much better view. Taylor Mason is hilarious and while this was the "adult" cabaret show, it was very clean, with a bit of adult humor, but nothing raunchy.
Hmm go figure an adult show still clean, unlike a family show thats dirty... 1 point for Mickey.. just saying

After Taylor Mason, the "Disco Legends" show was beginning. I love me some disco music, always ready to let my Disco Inferno burn Im so doing the dance from our Carny cruise we learned LOL, but his was ultra cheesy.

But once more... let's head out to the balcony to....

WATCH THE SEA GO BY!!!!!!
So where did it go? lol

we're going to be hot next week...

Monkey Loven Hot!

Ah, my dear Kara, it is YOU that is the trickster. The bottom photo is the first photo and the top photo is the answer. You thought you could slide that one by on us but I SAW YOUR PHOTOBUCKET IMAGE TAGS!
OK call me pretty.. I still dont get it

Ron always swears that when we encounter this we will have some fun with it, just walk over and plop down next to the person and when they say "This seat is saved", just reply back "Que?" and then just start talking to each other in Spanish sounding jibberish. I have yet to see him actually do it, maybe because he knows I will start giggling like a fool! (We would be the ones to try it with people who actually speak Spanish!)
Im so gonna do that to you next time I see you LMAO

So did it finally pass by, or what?

Yes Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[karajeboo]

White Man Overbite!!!!

Just do it.... bit your lip, stick out your neck, and shake your bootay..... and you have, The White Man Overbite!!! It's how they all dance!

hmm more and more I hear about it.. more and more tempting...

Come on!!!!!

Monkey Loven Hot!

I'm sure there will be much monkey lovin, and I'll have the camera to prove it!!!

Yes Inquiring minds want to know.

OK, the trick that Willy did, and Jen was so kind as to point out that my PMS riddled brain put the photos in the WRONG ORDER, but with the crayons all touching each other, there is no space. If you move one out, it creates a sort of square where they all were touching..... TA DAHHHHHHH!

OK, so that sucked.... but leave poor Willy alone... he was sweet.... and as they say in the South.... "Bless his heart!" Meaning..... dang but he's stupid!

And again, for all those inquiring minds.... the sea is stilll......

Passing by...... and I"m not there to watch it!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm joining in!!! You've had me laughing so hard I was snorting.

Loving it all-I can't wait for my turn!!!!

 

[Toria]

I am truly loving your trip report!

 

[CRdisMom]

"Bless his heart!" Meaning..... dang but he's stupid!

And again, for all those inquiring minds.... the sea is stilll......

Passing by...... and I"m not there to watch it!

Rut R'oh! People have said that to me all the time Bless your heart.... Me thinks me all kinda bookie smart.

 

[AquaDuck1]

I am loving your trip report!!!Can't wait for more!!!
AquaDuck1

 

[anewmac]

Ever been to a comedy show where everyone laughs at a joke, then 5mins later when its quiet you hear a lone chuckle.. like oh look they finally got it LMAO well that lone chuckle was me.. Im totally cracking up. ya ya I know bless my heart lol

 

[karajeboo]

I'm joining in!!! You've had me laughing so hard I was snorting.

Loving it all-I can't wait for my turn!!!!

That is a great McSparkleson trait.... snorting. "Pull my finger" is another one, but let's just stick with snorting for now, shall we?

I am truly loving your trip report!

You don't get out much, do you? But thank you!

Rut R'oh! People have said that to me all the time Bless your heart.... Me thinks me all kinda bookie smart.

Awww, is that what you think? Well, bless your heart!

I am loving your trip report!!!Can't wait for more!!!
AquaDuck1

Ever been to a comedy show where everyone laughs at a joke, then 5mins later when its quiet you hear a lone chuckle.. like oh look they finally got it LMAO well that lone chuckle was me.. Im totally cracking up. ya ya I know bless my heart lol

I have been the lone chuckle..... I have created the lone chuckle..... I have been responsible for the lone chuckle..... And MY heart has been blessed many a time since moving down South!!!!