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

[karajeboo]

I'm baaaaaaack! Had a ball with 5 other DISmoms this trip at BWV. I'll post the link to that TR once we begin. Lots of laughs and some tears too..... but what a great weekend with a great bunch of women!!!!

Now I just need to recoup before I pick back up the McSparkleson TR!

 

[KristiMc]

Glad you had a great time.

 

[jenseib]

I read your last TR and LOVED it and just found you by accident reading another TR.

Now I'm off to read and catch up!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Wow, that trip went by so fast! Let's hear if there was any McSparkleson glitter.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Kara! Welcome Back! I'm glad you had such a great time - can't wait to hear about it.

 

[anewmac]

I'm baaaaaaack! Had a ball with 5 other DISmoms this trip at BWV. I'll post the link to that TR once we begin. Lots of laughs and some tears too..... but what a great weekend with a great bunch of women!!!!

Now I just need to recoup before I pick back up the McSparkleson TR!

Aww glad you had a great time. El sent some pics.. looks like you gals did me proud!!!

 

[dvc4life]

Yay you are back. Sounds like you must have had a good time if you need to recoup and all!

Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[denisea51]

Glad you had a great time but could you PLEASE recoup quickly and get on with your TR. My DH asks about the McSparklesons everyday. I look forward to reading about your adventures.

 

[jenseib]

I just read the first 2 cruise updates. You had such an empty terminal. We sailed on the Dream on the 31st of March and that place was very crowded. I noticed some things were done differently too. I wonder if it is because of the 2 different ships. We had our KTTW card picture taken at the check in desk. The lady there had a small camera thing she held up with one hand and took a face picture of each of us. I never did see those pictures.
Off to read more!!

 

[nenner1]

Woo hoo, welcome home Kara, it was so wonderful to finally meet you in person! I had a wonderful time and since now I am indebted to ya'll It will be my turn to buy around next time...oh yes...next time!!

Hope I didn't get anybody sick I think I have a nasty flu going on that just came out of nowhere. Bleh- at least I got through the trip first!

I have some catchin' up to do!

 

[WestCoastMama]

Loving your trip report!! I was looking for MR reports, fell into yours and can't get enough!! You set the bar quite high when it comes to TRs. Hoping to write one for our cruise on the Wonder in October but... don't know that I can even compare. Looking forward to reading the rest. You're the first TR I ever subscribed to..

 

[karajeboo]

Glad you had a great time.

It was awesome as always!!!!

I read your last TR and LOVED it and just found you by accident reading another TR.

Now I'm off to read and catch up!

Are you caught up yet? I'm waiting on you before I add another installment.....

Wow, that trip went by so fast! Let's hear if there was any McSparkleson glitter.

I know, right? I can't believe how fast these darn trips go by!!! Yet the anticipation of the upcoming trip just drags and drags......

Kara! Welcome Back! I'm glad you had such a great time - can't wait to hear about it.

We'll get a TR started soon.....

Aww glad you had a great time. El sent some pics.. looks like you gals did me proud!!!

Who me? Chocolate milk for me of course......

Yay you are back. Sounds like you must have had a good time if you need to recoup and all!

Can't wait to hear all about it.

Those DISmoms wear me out!!!!

Glad you had a great time but could you PLEASE recoup quickly and get on with your TR. My DH asks about the McSparklesons everyday. I look forward to reading about your adventures.

Love that your DH checks up on me.... tell him that the McSparklesons are ready for an update!

I just read the first 2 cruise updates. You had such an empty terminal. We sailed on the Dream on the 31st of March and that place was very crowded. I noticed some things were done differently too. I wonder if it is because of the 2 different ships. We had our KTTW card picture taken at the check in desk. The lady there had a small camera thing she held up with one hand and took a face picture of each of us. I never did see those pictures.
Off to read more!!

Yes, I do think the KTTW card photo was taken at check in....... The only time I saw the pics was when we were debarking at the ports.....

Woo hoo, welcome home Kara, it was so wonderful to finally meet you in person! I had a wonderful time and since now I am indebted to ya'll It will be my turn to buy around next time...oh yes...next time!!

Hope I didn't get anybody sick I think I have a nasty flu going on that just came out of nowhere. Bleh- at least I got through the trip first!

I have some catchin' up to do!

Oh no!!!! I hope you at least got home before you got sick. After all, there's no sickness in Disney!!!! It was great to meet you too!!!! So, when are we cruising????

Loving your trip report!! I was looking for MR reports, fell into yours and can't get enough!! You set the bar quite high when it comes to TRs. Hoping to write one for our cruise on the Wonder in October but... don't know that I can even compare. Looking forward to reading the rest. You're the first TR I ever subscribed to..

You are so sweet!!!!! I feel so honored that you subscribed.... Well, get ready for another round cause I'm off to write now.....

 

[karajeboo]

ARe you still there? <knock, knock>

Sorry it's been so long but between the DISmoms trip (I'll post a link to that TR, sure to be entertaining!) and the end of the school year, it seems that life has gotten in the way!!!!

So... where was I?

Ah, yes, relaxing by the pool on our second day at sea. Seems like there was a lot of relaxing and chillaxing, huh?

But on this day, I finally decided to shake that pool gravity, get up, throw on my coverup, and head to the Promenade Lounge to hear "Flash" Gordon give me some St Thomas Shopping highlights.

Now this is the job I want. Travel around on various cruise ships and spend a couple hours each day telling people where to get the best deals in port. And for my research, and a sure tax write off, I need to go shopping....... Sounds like a no brainer, right??????

Well, "Flash" gave us tips on who to ask for in each shop, and rated the shops from 1 - 10 based on where we could get the best deals. Oh, and did I mention freebies? Who doesn't like freebies? No, not frisbees, although those are fun, too, especially when thrown to dogs to catch, although my dog is either too fat or too dumb or too uncoordinated to catch a frisbee. But I still like them anyway.

But back to freebies....... Flash told us about each shop we could walk into and get a free charm, necklace, print, etc. And this would prove to be lots of fun for Ally once we hit St Thomas.......

So after my enlightening visit with Flash, I headed back up to Deck 10 to round up the troops. OK, so my troops are limited to 2, but sometimes they feel like a whole lot more.......

We headed back to our cabin to get cleaned up for the evening. Tonight was our first night in Animator's Palate and The Dobo had told me every time I'd seen him not to forget my camera this night because we had "the best" table for "the show."

We always got ready so early and just explored the ship before heading to the show. At first we were ready early because we thought we needed 30 minutes for the commute. Cause you never know how much traffic there will be in the elevators, or along the promenade deck. What if there are rubberneckers looking down at the characters in the atrium? That will slow us down for sure!!!!

Then there is the occasional broken heel and the whole family has to stop to help jack up mom while she changes shoes...... And don't even get me started on walking rage, when family A cuts off family B..... it can get really messy.

But once we realized that the commute wasn't so bad, we just liked to wander and see what we could find.

Oh look!!!!!!

I cannot even begin to tell you this was one of my favorite things on this cruise. The intimacy of the character interactions. They were wandering all over and sometimes alone. I know, I know.... not smart for a hot mouse to wander alone, but this is a Disney ship, okay? So I think it's fine...... But usually they had their handlers with them. Except for the princesses. On more than one occasion I saw a princess holding court with one or two little girls and their families and nobody else around. Well, except for me. I was round, and probably crying because Ally was off rolling her eyes at me and Snow White. But really, how awesome is that to have the characters all to yourself?????

Now I absolutely have no idea what Jeff did to offend Mickey. But it was obviously something big...... I'm surprised we were allowed to rebook for next year, based on this photo. Luckily Mickey doesn't hold a grudge.......

WAIT!!! Could it be that Mickey saw the pic of Jeff and Minnie? Speaking of intimacy with the characters!!!!! I just KNEW there was something up between Jeff and Minnie!!!! This confirms it! Mickey found out and that's why he wouldn't even stand next to Jeff.

I can assure you, there is a certain Mr McSparkleson who has some splainng to do tonight after work!!!!!

But I won't bore you with our domestic problems. I should have listened to my sister though when she warned me about "her." Kami always told me to stick with Mickey and avoid "her." Now I know why........ The homewrecker......

Even Donald knows who's #1.....

Oh, Ally, my sweet baby. If only you knew about Daddy and "her."

Yeah, "she" would be flipping her hair around too...... if the little vixen HAD any hair to flip. So you just flip away Ally. Show "her" who's a little hottie.....

I guess the wife is always the last to know, huh? But I went along my merry way and off we went as a family to see the next Broadway style show, "Villains Tonight."

This was my favorite of all the shows, mainly because I think it's the only one that allowed my mascara to stay on all night. It was funny and colorful, and didn't make me cry once!!!!!

I lied. I did cry. I cried when Ally leaned into me and knocked my FULL tall gin and tonic into my lap. It was cold. It was wet. And I was wearing white pants.......

I jumped up and raced out of the theater without a word to anyone. I sprinted back to our room, thankful that 99% of the cruisers were either at dinner, or watching me race out of the theater. But nobody was in the hallway.

Except for the cabin stewards. I lost count of how many times I smiled sheepishly and said, "my daughter spilled a drink on me." I think by the time I finally made it to my cabin, my story had turned into, "little brat threw a drink at me!!!!!!!" Or something like that.

Now, did I mention that the Walt Disney Theater was in the furthest forward part of the ship on deck 4. And we were, say it with me, AFT on deck 6. I made it from the WD Theater, to my cabin, changed clothes, and back to the theater.... in 8 minutes flat!!!!

AND that includes stopping at Preludes, outside the theater, to order another drink......

Yeah, cause I'm good like that. And it just goes to show you, that either I'm a world class sprinter, OR the ship just ain't that big...... I'll leave it to you to decide.

But when I got back to the theater, along with about 6 pounds of paper towels from Preludes...... poor Ally was still crying. She felt so bad and because I jumped up so quickly, I didn't have time to let her know I wasn't really mad AT her, I was just upset at the situation. Well, and the fact that I looked like I missed my calling as a Depends spokesperson.......

So I snuggled with her for the rest of the show, and kept my drink safely on the floor away from her flailing arms......

Up next..... Animator's Palate dinner show.......

 

[denisea51]

Glad to see you back. Keep it coming. Denise

 

[KristiMc]

You know I saw this crazy person running out of the theater that night and wondered who she was - just kidding . Glad you were able to get back quickly and with a drink in hand.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Oh - that kind of malfunction! I haven't seen that show - sounds like fun! IKWYM about those shows making you cry - I seem to always blubber at those things. I'm glad you could get changed and get back so quickly - they should have given you and escort to get those towel carts out of the hallway - "MCSPARKLESON COMING THROUGH!!!" Poor Ally - thinking you were mad.

 

[kid-at-heart]

What a great sense of humor you have! Which means you should live a long, long time - as long as you avoid having black cats cross your path or walking under ladders...

(Research shows a positive correlation with happy people and longevity.)

 

[karajeboo]

Glad to see you back. Keep it coming. Denise

Hopefully I can wrap this up before me next WDW trip.... in December!

You know I saw this crazy person running out of the theater that night and wondered who she was - just kidding . Glad you were able to get back quickly and with a drink in hand.

And you just thought I was in a hurry for another drink!!!

Oh - that kind of malfunction! I haven't seen that show - sounds like fun! IKWYM about those shows making you cry - I seem to always blubber at those things. I'm glad you could get changed and get back so quickly - they should have given you and escort to get those towel carts out of the hallway - "MCSPARKLESON COMING THROUGH!!!" Poor Ally - thinking you were mad.

Jeff and Ally took bets at the beginning of each show to decide how long it would take me to cry!!!!

As for the towel carts, I was like OJ in an airport heading for Hertz...... no silly towel carts got in MY way!!!!

What a great sense of humor you have! Which means you should live a long, long time - as long as you avoid having black cats cross your path or walking under ladders...

(Research shows a positive correlation with happy people and longevity.)

Well, if that is any case, just keep "her" out of my way and I will be very happy!

 

[podsnel]

I think Jeff needed some ME time and couldn't wait......

 

[Toria]

Yes, that was funny about Mickey. ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE! I sometimes wonder what their facial expressions are under those costumes. LOL