12/9/06 December Double Dip DIS Geekorama Part 1 (cruise completed) pretrip added 1/8

[CRSNDSNY]

Oh my goodness! I'm welling up now just reading your ending! I'll just blame it on the overload of pregnancy hormones!

 

[mruhaak]

Thanks! Great trip report! And I appreciated the packing advice too!

Your daughter is very beautiful!

 

[jaimee1024]

Hey Lisa! Caroline has that pink Laura Ashley dress that Kaitlyn is wearing inthe pictures!! I'm trying to talk DH into a Disney Cruise for next December!!

 

[lbgraves]

Aimee.....12/8/07!!!

 

[disneyfan21]

Hi Lisa!!!

Great trip report!! It was nice meeting you. Thanks for your hard work in organizing everything, you truly made our vacation a memorable one. Enjoyed meeting everyone.

Hope you enjoy your next cruise.

 

[cristit14]

Great trip report Lisa! I loved the pics of the kids on pirate night. I wish you guys had picked the 12/15 cruise to all go on. That is the one we have booked.

 

[curlybop]

What a great trip report. Your photos are fantastic!

 

[tjeagle]

TERRIFIC REPORT!

 

[TiggersPal]

We too had a huge group on a double -dip much like yours! Reading the trip report and seeing the photos brought it all back! We did the 11/11/06 and we too, had some wonderful DIS'ers with us... it made the trip I'll tell ya - as a matter of fact we are doing a re-union in 12/07 with the "gals" but we'll be doing a SURF & TURF this trip. Then most of us re-booked for 2008 - awaiting the release of itinerary! ASIA - YIPEE!!!! (opps did I say that out loud?) That's the rumor or one of them anyway.

Your photos were beautiful and the shots at Palo and many other things brought my trip right back to the surface and I am pleased to sit here and enjoy those moments.

We got to see the ginger bread house being built throughout our trip and it's nice to be able to see the finished product!

I loved walking down the ship and one day the tree and all the decorations just suddenly APPEARED!

Funny thing about our second day on CC too, it was over cast... but I too don't get the people who didn't rush to the beach... heck, I heard that over 70 percent of our cruise were multiple DCL folks, and that would explain it... for me, it was a first so I rushed out there like a kid at heart!

Thanks again for the memories!

 

[lbgraves]

Our trip started at 11:31 on Tuesday morning when I picked up the kids from school. Any time after 11:30 and they are considered present for the day. We went home, switched into the Explorer where DH had packed everything under the sun that I put in the living room. I swear next trip I am NOT packing lots of goodies that take up so much room. LOL! I had 65 stockings for DISers on the ship, Santa hats & Mickey gloves for the sailaway party, a carry on bag filled with goodie bags for my kids & their friends, a carry on bag filled with candy for the club CMs. OY! Next time the theme will be PACK LIGHT!!!

So we are on our way to SC for the night. Since Mike travels alot...especially over the past year for grad school internships (gone 10 1/2 of 12 months Sept to Sept last year UGH!)...he has alot of hotel points. We use those to book a room midway for both legs of the trip to WDW. It works better when we can arrive in FL rested 1-2 pm and still be able to do something versus driving all day 11-12 hours and having the kids be ready to go since they napped in the car & Mike & I are too cranky for anyone to have fun that first night.

We arrived in Orlando around 2 pm. Instead of heading right to OKW we stopped at DTD to let the kids stretch their legs & check out a couple of the stores. The kids had to go to the Lego store...it is a tradition.

It was a warm day and Friday, when we would be there again, was suppose to be cold & rainy.

The kids refused to go on a little boat with DH. He has tried to get them to go for the past three years, poor guy. I would go with him but then what would we do with the kids? They did agree to talk to Santa, after a little coaxing. This was the first year they had both talked to him since DD was born.

We left there around 4 and went to check in at OKW.

The CMs at the desk were very friendly even though we weren't DVC. We stayed with our friends who we met on the DIS and have now cruised with three times. We unloaded the car and DH took DD to the pool, which was right next to our building. We didn't have long to relax because we were to meet DIS friends for dinner at Boma at 6:50.

It didn't take long for me to spot Angie and Dennis, who we cruised with 12/05. They had their grandson Aaron with them this trip and it didn't take long for the boys to hit it off.

DH & DD walked around AKL while we waited.

PJ walked up to us shortly after we started talking. Even though it was the first time we had met, it seemed like we were meeting up with longtime friends.

Dinner was fantastic, although our server seemed to disappear. I managed thru dinner without a refill of my drink. It had been a long day so we all went to sleep early to prepare for our next day in MK!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

YEAH! What a nice surprise to get even more TR!

 

[DreamCruiser100]

Thank you so much for your TR, I have enjoyed seeing and reading sooo very much!!!

Thank you!!!

Pam

 

[lbgraves]

When we go to WDW we go to one park when it opens and leave after it closes. We don't hop. We do lots of rides using FPs to the utmost extent possible. The bus stop was right down the street so that was a short walk in the morning. There was an early hour for resort guests and we were there before the music played to let us in the gates.

We hit lots of rides before 9:20 am and got FPs for Buzz since DS hadn't been able to ride it last year.

We had to convince...OK practically force...the kids to go on Haunted Mansion. I don't understand what was up with them this year. Last December DS rode practically everything...the 3 mountains, HM...everything. This year they didn't want to do any of that stuff.

He SO didn’t enjoy BTMR this time and wouldn’t get on it again. We were getting off the HM ride and both kids were upset saying that it scared them to death. The CM at the end smiled and said that they were going to be happy that they were scared to death because they were winners. The only thing that I could think was WHY IS THIS GUY BREAKING OUT OF CHARACTER??? They aren't suppose to smile. They are suppose to look grim & make sarcastic remarks. Why is this guy being nice? DH on the other hand started whooping and hollering about us being winners. I looked at him wondering what he was talking about. Didn't he realize there is something wrong with this CM? We went thru the exit door and there is a CM holding a fist full of something in his hands. He gives us each one of them. What are they? They were Magical Dream Fast Passes!!!!! The center had a number on it and there were tabs going around it with the number for each FP ride in MK!!!

This was totally awesome!!!! The park wasn't really crowded but these helped us to do so many rides this day. We also got regular FPs during the day to use.

 

[lbgraves]

The kids got to meet a few new characters this trip when DH was off using a couple of the Splash Mountain FPs. We went to the Tiki room for the first time and when we came out The Genie, Aladdin, and Jasmine were signing autographs.

They also met Mary Poppins when we got off the carousel.

The entire day was fantastic for us.

We had planned to meet DIS friends in MK but a lost cell phone number kept us from getting together. We did run into PJ at Wishes though.

We were going to stay for the night parade but decided that it was too cold and windy to wait another hour. Instead we hopped on the monorail, then the fairy boat back to the MK. The fireworks were in 10 minutes but the kids just wanted to go to bed so we got on the bus and headed back to OKW.

 

[lbgraves]

Only one more day before we board The Magic…but what a busy and exciting day it will be. We got up early and said good morning to our friends. It was hard to get the kids to focus on getting ready for our breakfast at Chef Mickey’s.

This was our first time there and we all enjoyed ourselves. The buffet was very good and the mood is very festive. Every time the music started and Pluto ran over to our section to lead the napkin waving the girls got up to dance. There was something there for every one of us…which doesn’t happen very often.

We finished off the meal with a spin around the parks on the monorail…one of all of the kid’s favorite rides.

 

[lbgraves]

Our next stop for the day was DTD. My goal for the day was to figure out how to help Santa get the Cinderella Castle for DD without her knowing about it. OY BOY! The CM at the register at WofD was fantastic. She put it in a big ugly brown trash bag with my name on it. I sent Mike to pick it up and figure out a way to get it in the already packed car since he was the one who said to get it. Somehow it was out of sight when we went back to the car later. YEAH Daddy!!! It wasn’t difficult to keep the kids distracted during this entire time in that store. We then hit the Lego store to fill a couple containers with the neat pieces they have in the bins. Both kids are lego nuts and always look forward to doing this. We ended up leaving DTD a little early because of the cold and the crowds. Earl of Sandwich had a 30 minute wait just to place your order in line.

We drove back to OKW and had lunch at the counter by the pool. This was perfect. The kids finished it off with Mickey bars.

This was our first experience with the dining plan and I have to say it is fantastic. It made meals so easy. We tried out places we have never been before.

 

[lbgraves]

We went back to the suite to relax for a while until our date with Prince Charming at 1900 Park Fare. The girls were so excited about this. They were also going to meet their email friend Savannah for the first time at dinner. We got to 1900 about 30 minutes early but we still had to wait past our reservation time. This ended up working out because Savannah was having a little trouble getting back to the resort from her appointment at BBB.

​

Kaitlyn got a kick out of Susie fussing over her dress taking measurements and having her spin around.

​

Pearla seemed quite taken with William and would stop by to hug him or pat his head every time she went by the table.

The highlight of the evening was … of course … meeting Prince Charming himself. The girls dissolved into giggles as each of them took a turn getting their pictures taken with him.

Mr. Charming even had a few words of advise for William on how to stand like a prince. Of course, it wasn’t until we were finished with dinner that he told me that he wished he had worn his best clothes there like the girls had. Talking about it beforehand it was going to be torture for him to even attend. OY!

Of course we had to get an updated picture of DD with Cinderella.

The girls enjoyed white chocolate pops after dinner.

​

Even though the Prince had kept us longer than we had planned, no one was upset about it. It must have been almost time for 1900 to close because as we were waiting in the lobby everyone started to gather in front of the tree. By everyone I mean the characters…Cinderella, the Prince, the Fairy Godmother, Susie, and Pearla. We were all just WOW and got the cameras back out. The girls got their picture taken with everyone. DS then decided that it would be OK for him to have his picture taken on his own.

We were then on our way to Boardwalk to drop the kids off with Devon, who was cruising with us. The adults went to the DIS meet at Jellyrolls. The music there was good and a few things or rather people were comical. I was just too excited about getting on the ship the next morning and we left after an hour or so.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Wow....looks like you all had a fantastic time even BEFORE boarding! How wonderful!
The picture of all the little princesses are beautiful!

 

[kimerinc]

We went back to the suite to relax for a while until our date with Prince Charming at 1900 Park Fare. The girls were so excited about this. They were also going to meet their email friend Savannah for the first time at dinner. We got to 1900 about 30 minutes early but we still had to wait past our reservation time. This ended up working out because Savannah was having a little trouble getting back to the resort from her appointment at BBB.

​

Kaitlyn got a kick out of Susie fussing over her dress taking measurements and having her spin around.

​

Pearla seemed quite taken with William and would stop by to hug him or pat his head every time she went by the table.

The highlight of the evening was … of course … meeting Prince Charming himself. The girls dissolved into giggles as each of them took a turn getting their pictures taken with him.

Mr. Charming even had a few words of advise for William on how to stand like a prince. Of course, it wasn’t until we were finished with dinner that he told me that he wished he had worn his best clothes there like the girls had. Talking about it beforehand it was going to be torture for him to even attend. OY!

Of course we had to get an updated picture of DD with Cinderella.

The girls enjoyed white chocolate pops after dinner.

​

Even though the Prince had kept us longer than we had planned, no one was upset about it. It must have been almost time for 1900 to close because as we were waiting in the lobby everyone started to gather in front of the tree. By everyone I mean the characters…Cinderella, the Prince, the Fairy Godmother, Susie, and Pearla. We were all just WOW and got the cameras back out. The girls got their picture taken with everyone. DS then decided that it would be OK for him to have his picture taken on his own.

We were then on our way to Boardwalk to drop the kids off with Devon, who was cruising with us. The adults went to the DIS meet at Jellyrolls. The music there was good and a few things or rather people were comical. I was just too excited about getting on the ship the next morning and we left after an hour or so.

Lisa,

I love all these pictures! can you e-mail me the originals?

Thanks!

Kim

 

[brack]

Lisa that was a great trip report.

Thanks for all the work you put into the trip for the group. It was appreciated.

I sent your jump drive back with pictures of you all but did want to include a couple here on your report.