1-3-04 magic western day 2 key west

jollytammy

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 19, 2003
Messages
441
January 4th—Key west

Since I knew I would be eating quite a lot, I decided to try to use the stairs a great deal and to run or walk on deck 4. So Sunday morning I was woken early by Mickey and headed out to try to even out the results of eating all the delicious foods! I will say that running along that deck early in the morning with the ocean right beside you, but without the pain of sand, was my all time favorite thing on the whole cruise. It was a time for me, a quite time with only a few other dedicated walkers and runners out there with me. It started the day out on a good note, of course it was all down hill from there, but at least I started the day right.

After my run, I went down and got my DSs and carried them up to breakfast. Since I knew we were scheduled for Palo’s at 10:30 I just got some fruit and coffee. I told my DS9 that he had to go to the club while his father and I went to Palo’s. DS13 I knew would go play in the arcade and watch movies in the room. He had tried the stack the night before and all the teens were older and no one really talked to him. I was not surprised having read earlier that that happens with the teens. If there are a lot of older teens, the younger ones don’t fit in. But he had made the effort and went the first night, and he was ok with not going back.

I went back to the room to wake my husband and to get DS9 ready for the club—brush his teeth so he wouldn’t knock out the counselors. We dropped him off—him very unhappy about it—and got to Palo’s right at 10:30 and were seated right away. Enough cannot be said about brunch. It was absolutely fabulous. My husband got the champagne and I asked for the sparkling cider. My husband wasn’t too impressed with the champagne, and I was glad I went with the cider.

We came away unable to barely walk. They had an absolutely wonderful sun dried tomato salad that was incredible. I would love to have the recipe. We finished brunch about the time we arrived in Key West. It was wonderful to sit in Palo’s and watch as Key West came into view. I will say that with Palo’s aft and the boat maneuvering into port, that I was quite unsteady as our server was giving us a tour of what was available for brunch. We waddled back to the room to change, and gathered up DS13. DS9 was scheduled to be at lunch until 12:30 so we waiting until then, then went and retrieved him.

DS9 had a good time at the club, but because his older brother was not going to a “club” during the day, he never went back. It wasn’t a problem. My DH and I had not made any plans on the ship, other than brunch, and it was not a problem to go and read while he was in the pool. I would have read with or without him in the pool. I think he would have had a good time if he went, and seemed to enjoy himself while he was there. But he has always worried about missing something if he is not with us. So I was not surprised that he didn’t want to go back. After the first couple days I didn’t even try to entice him to the club events.

So after gathering us all together, we headed off the ship into Key West. We had no plans. Originally we had decided to go to Margaritaville and then look for Key Lime pies to try. But after brunch, the idea of eating was unthinkable! We did walk down to margaritaville. It was hot and DH and myself were miserable because of all the food we ate. So after making it to Margaritaville, we headed back to the ship. The kids went to the arcade and went swimming. We had been to Key West many years ago and seen all the wonderful acts at the sunset celebration, so headed out that way about 5:00. We dragged the kids kicking and screaming out of the pool, changed clothes and went back. The kids loved it! They saw the “catman,” a high wire act, and another balancing act. I was a little upset about missing our first night at animator’s palate, but the kids had such a great time I got over it. We went to topsiders for dinner, and were surprised to find it was a sit down dinner. I was disappointed with the fact they didn’t have a vegetarian selection, but they made me a special salad and it was ok. They were very considerate and offered to go to Lumiere’s to get me one of their selections, but I was happy with the salad. We were not impressed with the evening meal at Topsiders. Breakfast and lunch were always wonderful, but the dinner was not half as good as the other restaurants. Even my kids made the comment that they did not like eating there that night. Room service would maybe have been a better choice.

Since the kids didn’t seem interested in the Who wants to be a Mouseketeer we all went together to see Finding Nemo. Then headed back to the room and started the nightly ritual of order room service. My DS13 loved the cheese platter and the rest of us got chocolate chip cookies. They were ok, not the best in the world, but they hit the spot. Having gold dollars to give as tips made it real simple. And the kids thought it was the best thing in the world to give the tip! Then everyone conked out for the night.
 
I'm especially interested in your reports since I'm planning a spring 2005 Western cruise and my sons will be 9 (nearly 10) and 12 at that time. We did the three day last October so I definately understand the arcade dilema!

Lisa
 
Thanks for your reports - I enjoyed reading all of them! I'm surprised to read that Topsider's was not a buffet for dinner. I thought it was always a buffet?!? Can anyone confirm or deny? :p

Carla
 



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