THIS IS MY FIRST TRIP REPORT THAT I EVER POSTED, SO BEAR WITH ME. IT MAY HAVE BITS AND PIECES ADDED TO IT AS THE DAYS GO BY, SO ILL PUT THOSE BITS AND PIECES UNDER A NEW THREAD.
I HAVE TO START THIS OFF WITH THIS--LET ME SET THE STAGE A BIT ..... WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE "MAGIC" AND AMOUNT OF "WARM FUZZIES AND BUTTERFLY IN THE TUMMY" FEELINGS THE INSTANT YOU STEP ONBOARD. WE HAD NO CLUE.....AFTER A CRAZY MORNING CHECKING OUT OF THE HOTEL, VAN RIDE OVER, ETC(ILL TOUCH ON ALL THAT SHORTLY)DH WAS LOSING HIS TEMPER...SOME PUSHY PEOPLE BUMPING AROUND, I WAS A LITTLE UNORGANIZED WITH OUR PASSPORTS(I THOUGHT WE LOST ONE), BABY SCREAMING,WANTING TO JUST GET ONBOARD AND PUT DOWN ALL THE CARRYONS,I KNOW A LOT OF YOU CAN RELATE.ANYWAY, WE STEP ONBOARD AND MY LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD PAINTED A PICTURE OF HERSELF AND MICKEY SHE HAD SINCE BEFORE WE LEFT CHICAGO. WHEN WE CROSSED THE LITTLE BRIDGE AND THEY WELCOMED US WITH ANNOUNCING OUR NAME AND CLAPPING, DH WAS A LITTLE TOUCHED AND ACTUALLY STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS AND SMILED. THEN, MY 4 YEAR OLD, CIARA, STOPPED IN HER TRACKS WHEN SHE SAW MICKEY UP ON TOP OF THE STAIRS WAVING FOR HER TO COME UP. SHE DUG IN HER BAG , GRABBED THE PAINTING, AND A CAST MEMBER TOOK HER UP THE STAIRS HOLDING HER HAND. MICKEY RAN OVER, GRABBED THE PIC, HELD IT TO HIS HEART AND PICKED HER UP AND HELD HER TIGHT FOR A MINUTE. WHEN HE PUT HER DOWN, THE CAST MEMBER SAID" I HAVE TO TAKE MICKEY TO HIS CABIN RIGHT NOW!! WE HAVE TO HANG THIS IMMEDIATLY!"AND ANOTHER CASTMEMBER TOOK HER BACK DOWNTHE STAIRS TO US AS THE OTHER LED MICKEY TO SOME UNKNOWN PLACE. WHEN SHE REACHED US, CIARA WAS SO PROUD THAT HER PAINTING WAS GOING TO BE HUNG IN MICKEYS ROOM, SHE WAS STUTTERING! I LOOK OVER AT MY DH, AND HES ALMOST IN TEARS!THAT ALL HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 60 SECONDS AFTER BOARDING.
ANYWAY, WE FLEW SPIRIT EARLY OUT OF CHICAGO THUR. LEAVING WAS TOUGH WITH -25 WEATHER WITH A 5 1/2 MONTH OLD. NICE FLIGHT, LANDED ON TIME AS USUALL WITH SPIRIT. AND WE WERE GREETED AT BAGGAGE BY OUR DRIVER FROM FL TOURS. $275 FOR LAND AND SEA TRANSPORT IN A LUXURY VAN. GREAT DEAL!! WHEN WE WERE SETTLED IN, THE DRIVER PUT ON FINDING NEMO FOR MY LITTLE ONES. WE MADE IT TO OUR HOTEL HOLIDAY INN FAMILY SUITES ( LIGHT TRAFFIC), CHECKED IN, AND WENT TO MK. GREAT, GREAT, MAGICAL DAY, OF COURSE! MY TINY ONE STAYED AT HIFS WITH MIL SO THE 4 YEAR OLD HAD CONTROL OF THE DAY.
WE HAD A GREAT 2 NT. STAY AT HIFS-$79 WITH THE ENT. RATE FOR A 2 BEDROOM KIDSUITE. JUNGLE THEME WE HAD THIS TIME. FREE BREAKFAST, KIDS EAT FREE, AND FREE SHUTTLE TO ALL DISNEY THEME PARKS. IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND ARE ON A BIT OF A BUDGET-STAY HERE. TRUST ME. YOU AND YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE IT!YOU SAVE A TON OF DOUGH!!AFTER PAYING FOR A CRUISE, IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE GETTING A STEAL OF A DEAL BEFORE YOU SAIL.
SAT AM, AS PROMISED, FLTOURS WAS ON TIME TO TAKE US TO THE SHIP. WE STOPPED AT A LIQ. STORE AND PUBLIX(FORMULA, DIAPERS, JAR BABY FOOD)AND STOCKED UP. WE REALLLY SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT TO THE LIQ. STORE. HERES WHY-- EVERY DAY THERE WAS A "DRINK OF THE DAY"FOR $3.50 OR $2.99 THAT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!E.G.-YELLOW BIRD, B. MARY, MAITAI THINGIES, ETC. WE BARELY TOUCHED THE GALLON OF VODKA WE BROUGHT (AND LEFT) ONBOARD. IN THE NIGHT CLUBS, THE WERE ALSO DEALS-$10 PITCHERS OF MARGARITA, VODKA PUNCH, RUMRUNNERS, ECT.WE REALLY DID NOT NEED TO BRING OUR OWN.
CHECKIN WAS PRETTY SMOOTH, GETTING ONBOARD WAS MAGICAL!
AFTER THE MAGIC, IT KIND OF GOT PRETTY HECTIC.THE RESSIE LINE FOR PALO WAS NUTS, BUT ORGANIZED. WE GOT THE 2 NIGHTS THAT WE REQUESTED. THEN, OFF TO THE SPA FOR RESSIES FOR MIL. THAT WAS BUSY, BUT OGANIZED.THEN TO THE OCEANEER CLUB FOR CIARA. THAT WAS THE COOLEST PART OF THE SHIP TO CIARA. THAT TOOK ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO GET HER REGISTERED AND TO GET A PAGER. TIP---WAIT TILL EVENING TO REGISTER YOUR LITTLE ONES. THEY CANT STAY AND PLAY UNTIL THAT EVENING ANYWAY, SO WHY WAIT IN LINE AND WASTE PRECIOUS SWIMMING AND EATING TIME?THEN TO THE NURSERY--WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR REQUESTS MET FOR PALO EVES NO PROBLEM! WE WERE IN AND OUT OF FLOUNDERS IN 5 MINUTES.
OUR STATEROOM WAS READY, SO WE MET BENNY FROM INDIA. HE TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE SWEETEST AND HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT WE EVER MET. JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON!WE PUT OUR BAGS DOWN AND CHOWED OT TOPSIDERS. YUMMY FIRST MEAL!MY HUBBY ATE ABOUT 2 LBS OF SHRIMP AND I HAD YUMMY MINUTE STEAKS. CIARA ATE A BUNCH OF FRUIT AS DID MIL. VERY GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION ON THE FOOD!
WE HAD OUR SUITS ON AND WENT TO THE MICKEY POOL-ALITTLE CROWDED(IT WAS ABOUT 2-ISH)WE HAD NICE WEATHER THAT DAY SO THE WATER WAS WARM AND SO CLEAN!!A FEW FOOLS LEFT THEIR SHOES SPREAD ACROSS 6 CHAIRS TO SAVE THEM. AFTER 45 MINUTES AND NO SIGN OF THE PEOPLE, I REMOVED THE SHOES AND TOOK 2 CHAIRS FOR DH AND MYSELF. WE WERE SITTING ON THE LEDGE OF THE POOL WATCHING TO SEE IF THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO EVER USE THESE. FINALLY, NOT EVEN AFTER 2 MINUTES WE WERE ON THE LOUNGERS, THIS!@#$%^&* CAME OVER AND SAIS" THES ARE MY CHAIRS! I SAVED THESE WHILE WE ATE!" I POINTED TO WHERE IT SAYS "NO RESERVING CHAIRS"AND TOLD HER WITH A SMILE, "YOU WERE GONE FOR 45 MINUTES. YOUR PAIR OF SHOES I PICKED UP AND PLACED ON ONE OF "YOUR" OTHER CHAIRS."SHE DIDNT EVEN HAVE HER FAMILY WITH HET. OR HER BATHING SUIT ON YET. THE GIRL WHO SUPERVISED THE POOL, TINA , OVERHEARD AND TOLD HER" DCL HAS TO ENFORCE THIS RULE DUE TO COMPLAINTS AND ALSO IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE THEM. BUT WHY DONT YOU TRY THE GOOFY POOL ONCE YOU ARE CHANGED?"I LOVED IT! SHE GRABBED ALL THE SHOES AND SRORMED AWAY, SLIPPED ON THE WET FLOOR AND DROPPED ALL THE SHOES. AHH- HAA!!
EVERYDAY I SAW THE!@#$%^&*, SHE GLARED AT ME.......
THAT NIGHT WE HAD OUR FIRST MEAL 6 PM WITH SLYVESTER FROM INDIA AND LEASA FROM JAMAICA AT ANIMATORS PALATE. WHAT A TREAT!!!THEY ARE THE FINEST SERVERS ONBOARD!DH ALSO WAS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS ON OUR LAST NIGHT WITH THEM....
WE REALLY GOT TO KNOW THEM AND WE WERE REALLY SAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEM.
MORE LATER.....LITTLE OLIVIA IS WAKING UP!PART 2 TONIGHT!
I HAVE TO START THIS OFF WITH THIS--LET ME SET THE STAGE A BIT ..... WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE "MAGIC" AND AMOUNT OF "WARM FUZZIES AND BUTTERFLY IN THE TUMMY" FEELINGS THE INSTANT YOU STEP ONBOARD. WE HAD NO CLUE.....AFTER A CRAZY MORNING CHECKING OUT OF THE HOTEL, VAN RIDE OVER, ETC(ILL TOUCH ON ALL THAT SHORTLY)DH WAS LOSING HIS TEMPER...SOME PUSHY PEOPLE BUMPING AROUND, I WAS A LITTLE UNORGANIZED WITH OUR PASSPORTS(I THOUGHT WE LOST ONE), BABY SCREAMING,WANTING TO JUST GET ONBOARD AND PUT DOWN ALL THE CARRYONS,I KNOW A LOT OF YOU CAN RELATE.ANYWAY, WE STEP ONBOARD AND MY LITTLE 4 YEAR OLD PAINTED A PICTURE OF HERSELF AND MICKEY SHE HAD SINCE BEFORE WE LEFT CHICAGO. WHEN WE CROSSED THE LITTLE BRIDGE AND THEY WELCOMED US WITH ANNOUNCING OUR NAME AND CLAPPING, DH WAS A LITTLE TOUCHED AND ACTUALLY STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS AND SMILED. THEN, MY 4 YEAR OLD, CIARA, STOPPED IN HER TRACKS WHEN SHE SAW MICKEY UP ON TOP OF THE STAIRS WAVING FOR HER TO COME UP. SHE DUG IN HER BAG , GRABBED THE PAINTING, AND A CAST MEMBER TOOK HER UP THE STAIRS HOLDING HER HAND. MICKEY RAN OVER, GRABBED THE PIC, HELD IT TO HIS HEART AND PICKED HER UP AND HELD HER TIGHT FOR A MINUTE. WHEN HE PUT HER DOWN, THE CAST MEMBER SAID" I HAVE TO TAKE MICKEY TO HIS CABIN RIGHT NOW!! WE HAVE TO HANG THIS IMMEDIATLY!"AND ANOTHER CASTMEMBER TOOK HER BACK DOWNTHE STAIRS TO US AS THE OTHER LED MICKEY TO SOME UNKNOWN PLACE. WHEN SHE REACHED US, CIARA WAS SO PROUD THAT HER PAINTING WAS GOING TO BE HUNG IN MICKEYS ROOM, SHE WAS STUTTERING! I LOOK OVER AT MY DH, AND HES ALMOST IN TEARS!THAT ALL HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 60 SECONDS AFTER BOARDING.
ANYWAY, WE FLEW SPIRIT EARLY OUT OF CHICAGO THUR. LEAVING WAS TOUGH WITH -25 WEATHER WITH A 5 1/2 MONTH OLD. NICE FLIGHT, LANDED ON TIME AS USUALL WITH SPIRIT. AND WE WERE GREETED AT BAGGAGE BY OUR DRIVER FROM FL TOURS. $275 FOR LAND AND SEA TRANSPORT IN A LUXURY VAN. GREAT DEAL!! WHEN WE WERE SETTLED IN, THE DRIVER PUT ON FINDING NEMO FOR MY LITTLE ONES. WE MADE IT TO OUR HOTEL HOLIDAY INN FAMILY SUITES ( LIGHT TRAFFIC), CHECKED IN, AND WENT TO MK. GREAT, GREAT, MAGICAL DAY, OF COURSE! MY TINY ONE STAYED AT HIFS WITH MIL SO THE 4 YEAR OLD HAD CONTROL OF THE DAY.
WE HAD A GREAT 2 NT. STAY AT HIFS-$79 WITH THE ENT. RATE FOR A 2 BEDROOM KIDSUITE. JUNGLE THEME WE HAD THIS TIME. FREE BREAKFAST, KIDS EAT FREE, AND FREE SHUTTLE TO ALL DISNEY THEME PARKS. IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND ARE ON A BIT OF A BUDGET-STAY HERE. TRUST ME. YOU AND YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE IT!YOU SAVE A TON OF DOUGH!!AFTER PAYING FOR A CRUISE, IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE GETTING A STEAL OF A DEAL BEFORE YOU SAIL.
SAT AM, AS PROMISED, FLTOURS WAS ON TIME TO TAKE US TO THE SHIP. WE STOPPED AT A LIQ. STORE AND PUBLIX(FORMULA, DIAPERS, JAR BABY FOOD)AND STOCKED UP. WE REALLLY SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT TO THE LIQ. STORE. HERES WHY-- EVERY DAY THERE WAS A "DRINK OF THE DAY"FOR $3.50 OR $2.99 THAT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!E.G.-YELLOW BIRD, B. MARY, MAITAI THINGIES, ETC. WE BARELY TOUCHED THE GALLON OF VODKA WE BROUGHT (AND LEFT) ONBOARD. IN THE NIGHT CLUBS, THE WERE ALSO DEALS-$10 PITCHERS OF MARGARITA, VODKA PUNCH, RUMRUNNERS, ECT.WE REALLY DID NOT NEED TO BRING OUR OWN.
CHECKIN WAS PRETTY SMOOTH, GETTING ONBOARD WAS MAGICAL!
AFTER THE MAGIC, IT KIND OF GOT PRETTY HECTIC.THE RESSIE LINE FOR PALO WAS NUTS, BUT ORGANIZED. WE GOT THE 2 NIGHTS THAT WE REQUESTED. THEN, OFF TO THE SPA FOR RESSIES FOR MIL. THAT WAS BUSY, BUT OGANIZED.THEN TO THE OCEANEER CLUB FOR CIARA. THAT WAS THE COOLEST PART OF THE SHIP TO CIARA. THAT TOOK ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO GET HER REGISTERED AND TO GET A PAGER. TIP---WAIT TILL EVENING TO REGISTER YOUR LITTLE ONES. THEY CANT STAY AND PLAY UNTIL THAT EVENING ANYWAY, SO WHY WAIT IN LINE AND WASTE PRECIOUS SWIMMING AND EATING TIME?THEN TO THE NURSERY--WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR REQUESTS MET FOR PALO EVES NO PROBLEM! WE WERE IN AND OUT OF FLOUNDERS IN 5 MINUTES.
OUR STATEROOM WAS READY, SO WE MET BENNY FROM INDIA. HE TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE SWEETEST AND HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT WE EVER MET. JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON!WE PUT OUR BAGS DOWN AND CHOWED OT TOPSIDERS. YUMMY FIRST MEAL!MY HUBBY ATE ABOUT 2 LBS OF SHRIMP AND I HAD YUMMY MINUTE STEAKS. CIARA ATE A BUNCH OF FRUIT AS DID MIL. VERY GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION ON THE FOOD!
WE HAD OUR SUITS ON AND WENT TO THE MICKEY POOL-ALITTLE CROWDED(IT WAS ABOUT 2-ISH)WE HAD NICE WEATHER THAT DAY SO THE WATER WAS WARM AND SO CLEAN!!A FEW FOOLS LEFT THEIR SHOES SPREAD ACROSS 6 CHAIRS TO SAVE THEM. AFTER 45 MINUTES AND NO SIGN OF THE PEOPLE, I REMOVED THE SHOES AND TOOK 2 CHAIRS FOR DH AND MYSELF. WE WERE SITTING ON THE LEDGE OF THE POOL WATCHING TO SEE IF THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO EVER USE THESE. FINALLY, NOT EVEN AFTER 2 MINUTES WE WERE ON THE LOUNGERS, THIS!@#$%^&* CAME OVER AND SAIS" THES ARE MY CHAIRS! I SAVED THESE WHILE WE ATE!" I POINTED TO WHERE IT SAYS "NO RESERVING CHAIRS"AND TOLD HER WITH A SMILE, "YOU WERE GONE FOR 45 MINUTES. YOUR PAIR OF SHOES I PICKED UP AND PLACED ON ONE OF "YOUR" OTHER CHAIRS."SHE DIDNT EVEN HAVE HER FAMILY WITH HET. OR HER BATHING SUIT ON YET. THE GIRL WHO SUPERVISED THE POOL, TINA
, OVERHEARD AND TOLD HER" DCL HAS TO ENFORCE THIS RULE DUE TO COMPLAINTS AND ALSO IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE GUESTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE THEM. BUT WHY DONT YOU TRY THE GOOFY POOL ONCE YOU ARE CHANGED?"I LOVED IT! SHE GRABBED ALL THE SHOES AND SRORMED AWAY, SLIPPED ON THE WET FLOOR AND DROPPED ALL THE SHOES. AHH- HAA!! EVERYDAY I SAW THE!@#$%^&*, SHE GLARED AT ME....... THAT NIGHT WE HAD OUR FIRST MEAL 6 PM WITH SLYVESTER FROM INDIA AND LEASA FROM JAMAICA AT ANIMATORS PALATE. WHAT A TREAT!!!THEY ARE THE FINEST SERVERS ONBOARD!DH ALSO WAS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS ON OUR LAST NIGHT WITH THEM....
WE REALLY GOT TO KNOW THEM AND WE WERE REALLY SAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEM.MORE LATER.....LITTLE OLIVIA IS WAKING UP!PART 2 TONIGHT!
