12/9/06 DISGeek DD Trip Report

[brack]

It was a sea of green and I think the others in the terminal were afraid of us!

After almost two years for Annette and I we were back to cruise the Magic. I had been spending a lot of time (Annette called me obsessed) with the DISBoard Geeks and now we would meet them all.

We had met some at a minimeet in PA and I had met up with Angie & Dennis at DL but Annette really did not know what to expect.

She was a good wife and wore the green shirt that I had bought her.

When we pulled into the parking lot and saw some of the others she began to realize what I had done. Then in the terminal it was a "sea" of green. It was too late for her. The great thing was that she quickly warmed up to the idea.

Maybe the cruise (12/8/07) she will finally use her DIS account. We'll see ........

 

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This was to be a different cruise for us. We didn't want to repeat everything we had done before. Usually we ate our first lunch outside at Topsiders but the "Group" had recommended Parrot Cay. So to PC we went.

The "sea of green" followed us and Annette was even more wary. The others in PC just stared and looked afraid ..... including the waiters!

I was mildly annoyed at having to be served at the buffet but understood the reason for it.

 

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We love the Rainforest and went immediately to sign up for the week. Before my hip replacement surgery the hot beds were a real treat to ease the pain in my hip. Now it was just a really nice place to nap! Some of my DISGeek friends came by a few times this week. I was disappointed to not have Dennis's experience in there though.

Next was the "Drill". We donned our life vests and made it to our station. Standing there with the "crowd" the lady next to us said to her daughter "Look Annette is standing in line for the drill". Now Annette is really getting nervous .... a stranger knows her by name! It is beginning to be funny.

There are several more such encounters before the sail away party.

 

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Again the deck party was awash with green shirts. They were everywhere; even on the big screen.

I think Annette was beginning to realize that to survive she had to give in to the "green".

It was fun watching the kids and adults really begin to unwind .... it was vacation and we are on the Magic headed directly to Castaway Cay!

 

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Those fellow Geeks that followed my rantings know that I love my coffee! Every morning before dawn this is my first stop.

I was more than a little annoyed that it was roped off and a server had to fetch your drink for you. This lasted until Thursday of the cruise. I quess after that if you get sick it will be after you leave the ship. Who cares then? Right?

 

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First stop ..... Castaway Cay! It was really great to spend two days there. Even though I did not get into the water this trip just being on the island was worth the trip.

We wandered around and I took pictures of everything. It is not possible to post them all but I will post more as I go along.

I really wanted to have my picture taken with the Black Pearl but did not see a photographer. We got on the tram and headed to the main part of the island. As we rode past the Black Pearl we saw a photographer and asked if he was going to be there long. He said 30 minutes. We stayed on the tram and rode back for this shot.

 

[brack]

OK this is a good start. I'll do more this weekend.

 

[MrsMork]

Brack, loving the pictures! Can't wait for the rest of your TR!

 

[tynkerbell]

Looking forward to the rest.

 

[brack]

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[tjeagle]

Great report and pictures! Looking forward to more!

 

[brack]

Today's installment of the Great Dodd Escape Vacation (also known as the Castaway Cay Double Dip cruise) starts back at CC.

I had known that the Black Pearl and Captain Jack Sparrow would be seen at CC. We had our picture taken with the Black Pearl but not Disney's Captain Jack Sparrow. It was not a problem because we knew that the better Captain Jack was a part of our DISGeek group. I did see this sign and took a picture of it ..... like I take a picture of anything else.

 

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Here's a good example of my taking many pictures:

I must have a hundred or more pictures of flowers on CC in our 7 visits to that island.

It is simply amazing to me that in the middle of my winter there are flowers growing somewhere.

Being a minister by profession causes me to think in spiritual terms about this. So when I see these pictures on my screensaver I say "Even here in the Baltimore area when the trees are bare and the flower beds empty there are flowers growing somewhere." I tell myself to cheer up; spring is coming.

 

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My DW and I went to Serenity Bay at lunch to see that side of the island. It was a ghost beach! Almost no one around. I don't know where everyone was. Someone said that they thought a lot of people stayed onboard. That is so strange to me seeing as how the main purpose of this cruise was to visit CC twice!

I took several pictures of the empty water and beach. While taking pictures I saw these shoes that someone had left and thought it would be a neat picture.

 

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I love to take pictures and have many thousands of them in my collection.

One of my very favorite subjects is my wonderful wife of 35 years. She is the light of my life and lets me take her picture .... a lot.

One of my favorite poses for her is coming out of a restroom! I have pictures of her leaving restrooms all over the world. Places like Paris, London, Mexico City, St Maarten and Castaway Cay! .... among others. Even Disneyland Paris.

She just laughs at me.

 

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I love having my picture taken with the characters .... all of them!

Someone recently asked me if we had time to ride any rides at WDW because we are always getting pictures with the characters. It is fun to stand in line with the kids. When it is my turn the photographer looks for our kid then smiles when he sees it's just me.

Yes I am a Disney Geek!

 

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The second reason we booked this cruise (first was Double Dip CC) was because it was a Christmas cruise. Disney always does Christmas right and we wanted to be a part of a Disney Cruise Christmas.

We were not disappointed because the ship was beautiful. The tree in the atrium was stunning and I have many pictures of it. Some of the best pictures of the tree are close ups with people. Not only did I take our pictures there but others in the group as well.

We loved the cruise so much we booked the same week next year.

 

[MrsMork]

Brack, what a special couple you and Annette are! You are making me get misty eyed this morning! Hard to tell who is more blessed, you or her.

 

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My DW and I went to the Character Breakfast by ourselves. I think most adults without kids skip this because they believe it is for kids only ..... NOT!

We love posing with the characters.

 

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Here's another instance of my DW allowing me to take her picture. This is one of her favorite treats. I prefer mine plain.