Hello Everyone:
We got back from our very 1st Disney Cruise yesterday! This was our 7th cruise together (2nd with dd). We had alot fun and not enough time to do everything! If you have been on this board before there are great detailed reviews out there so I will try to be brief.
PART I - ARE WE GOING ON A DISNEY CRUISE
?
Everything started about 1 month ago all of a sudden I wanted to get out of here and go on a cruise. But where?Did we have the funds?Time? After much debate, research and consideration with our CFO (dh) we (dd 2 1/2 and I )decided to go on a Disney Cruise much to CFO's horror
!! He said yes but only if it was a 4 day cruise we agreed and the deal was done. We had about 3 weeks to pack our bags and that meant a trip to the Disney Store to check for any "end of the summer sale". I was sooo delighted to find great deals (t-shirts for $4.00, shorts for dh for $10.00, skirts for me and dd for about $3.00) I didn't go crazy just got a few things and some surprise toys for dd. Then we had to sit and wait for the days to go by. I cleaned the house, did laundry, took suitcases out of the closet, made lists and packing 2 weeks before the cruise! That's right folks! 2 weeks ! I couldnt' stand the excitement! Then something started to concern me. My daughter is only 2 1/2 (she will be 3 in February) she loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Winnie the Pooh, Little Eisteins (sp) but would she understand the whole princess thing? Would she understand the shows and characters? Well time for a "princess crash course" I rented a few dvds and bought some and we watched a few Disney Classics together. She loved Cinderella, Little Mermaid and Peter Pan she didn't care for Beauty and the Beast (my favorite) and off course I fast forwared a little bit when the beast was having his tantrums because she was a little scared. We didn't have time for Snow White and she didn't care for Sleeping Beauty. Huh? Would this cruise thing be fun for someone not that interested in characters? Then I made up a song.That's right folks, I am a mother, nurse, wife, cook, travel agent, closet organizer, and a song writer. While watching Little Eisteins I got the song in my had with the LE beat on it:
We're going on a trip on a big Disney Ship
Sailing thru the seas with Mickey and Minnieeeee
Climb aboard there's much to explore
There's so much to see with Mickey and Minieeee
C'mon le't go, with Mickey and Minieee
So, we sang that for 2 whole weeks non stop and it drove dh insane!!!
On October 1 we received the documents and 2 days later the DVD with a vacation package thingie ( ordered online)
I checked in online but was not able to sign up dd for Oceanneer 's Club do to her age I had to do in person. Finally the day was here!!! October 14, 2007
PART II: EMBARKATION
I set the alarm for 7:30 but off course we got up late cause the thing didn't go off. We went to bed early (meaning me and dd) but I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep. I checked our 2 suitcases, packback with toys, playdough, crayons, snacks and juice and my purse with documents for 1 last time before snoozing. We got up at 8:00 am and were out of the house in the car by 8:46. I laid everything out the night before from breakfast to clothes and we just pack dd stuffed animal, toilletries and off we went. I ho I ho to the cruise we go!!!! I took us 1 hour from Tampa Bay to get on 528 West and another 1 hour from there to Pt Canaveral. We paid a total of $2.75 in toll to go and $2.50 for our return home. We got to port at exactly 10:45. As we turn into the Disney Terminal they have people to show you where to unload, where to park etc. You have to show your ID so have on hand. After unloading dh and dd (that's right folks, I am a mother, nurse, wife, cook, closet organizer, song writer and driver) We unload our 2 suitcases, stroller and the backpack with toys.( I am glad I brought this backpack it kept dd busy in our room (if she didn't want to watch tv) and we use it to take beach toys, sunscreen, cameras etc. to Castaway Cay) DH tiped the porter while I drove across the street, gave the parking attendant my cc and park by the white canopy because there's where you are coming from with your suitcases after you leave the ship. They have a big sign there warning passengers not to leave any open food or beverage containers in the car because of ant investation. Can you imagine coming home from a wonderful cruise and have your car invaded by ants
I met dh/dd by the security and up the elevator we went. So easy no lines. The cruise terminal is just beautiful, from floor to ceiling, there are people to help you with forms if you didn't have them filled out, there are tv, nice couches, tables for children to sit and color, a snack bar and lots of counter space for the check in process. Because dd is not quite 3 yet I had to go to Oceanner's club (inside the ship) speak to a manager in order to sign her up. But if your children are of age you can sign them in right there on the cruise terminal. It was 11:00 am when we checked in and we had boarding number 7 and we were called in around noon. 
We got back from our very 1st Disney Cruise yesterday! This was our 7th cruise together (2nd with dd). We had alot fun and not enough time to do everything! If you have been on this board before there are great detailed reviews out there so I will try to be brief.
PART I - ARE WE GOING ON A DISNEY CRUISE

Everything started about 1 month ago all of a sudden I wanted to get out of here and go on a cruise. But where?Did we have the funds?Time? After much debate, research and consideration with our CFO (dh) we (dd 2 1/2 and I )decided to go on a Disney Cruise much to CFO's horror

We're going on a trip on a big Disney Ship
Sailing thru the seas with Mickey and Minnieeeee
Climb aboard there's much to explore
There's so much to see with Mickey and Minieeee
C'mon le't go, with Mickey and Minieee
So, we sang that for 2 whole weeks non stop and it drove dh insane!!!


PART II: EMBARKATION
I set the alarm for 7:30 but off course we got up late cause the thing didn't go off. We went to bed early (meaning me and dd) but I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep. I checked our 2 suitcases, packback with toys, playdough, crayons, snacks and juice and my purse with documents for 1 last time before snoozing. We got up at 8:00 am and were out of the house in the car by 8:46. I laid everything out the night before from breakfast to clothes and we just pack dd stuffed animal, toilletries and off we went. I ho I ho to the cruise we go!!!! I took us 1 hour from Tampa Bay to get on 528 West and another 1 hour from there to Pt Canaveral. We paid a total of $2.75 in toll to go and $2.50 for our return home. We got to port at exactly 10:45. As we turn into the Disney Terminal they have people to show you where to unload, where to park etc. You have to show your ID so have on hand. After unloading dh and dd (that's right folks, I am a mother, nurse, wife, cook, closet organizer, song writer and driver) We unload our 2 suitcases, stroller and the backpack with toys.( I am glad I brought this backpack it kept dd busy in our room (if she didn't want to watch tv) and we use it to take beach toys, sunscreen, cameras etc. to Castaway Cay) DH tiped the porter while I drove across the street, gave the parking attendant my cc and park by the white canopy because there's where you are coming from with your suitcases after you leave the ship. They have a big sign there warning passengers not to leave any open food or beverage containers in the car because of ant investation. Can you imagine coming home from a wonderful cruise and have your car invaded by ants

