Today was the day...Feb. 28! It was our turn again to board the Disney Magic!! Today was the day we prepared for over the past 6 months. DD6 & I danced to "La Vida Mickey" over, and over, and over. We couldn't wait to get onboard and dance to these tunes again. Now we're not talking "Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers". We're more like "Elaine from Seinfeld". It's not pretty, but DD6 & I enjoy it!
Despite this being our third voyage on the Magic, we were excited. This was DMIL's first cruise, and we were especially excited for her. We were looking forward to pampering this very hard working woman who deserves a lifetime of R&R. ...if only she didn't snore.
Hmmm imagine this...I couldn't sleep Friday night! I awoke at 3:30am, and couldn't go back to sleep. Finally, at 6 I got dressed, and drove to Walgreens for a few items, and to Winn Dixie for Diet Pepsi, and bottled water. DW enjoys Pepsi, and we all enjoy the bottled water. A new trick we learned this cruise was to place the bottles in the stateroom's "cool box", along with a large zip lock bag filled with ice. Each day when the stateroom host brought ice, I refilled the bag. It kept our beverages nice and cold.
Upon my return to the Holiday Inn Express I enjoyed their continental breakfast, and read the newspaper. By 7:30 I figured it was time to return to our room and get the rest of my family to get moving! Sure enough everyone was awake, and getting dressed. Soon we went back downstairs for a nice breakfast. As I mentioned in my previous post, the breakfast buffett was very nice, and overall a big thumbs up for the HIE.
Soon it was time for checkout, and to head over to the Perfect Gift to see Shirley. DD6 was very much looking forward to this. Shirley has a "Fairy Fountain" where DD6 makes a wish. Last year she "secretly" wished for a toy elephant, and to her surprise the fairies delivered an stuffed elephant to our stateroom! Well, this year Mom, Dad, and Nana were shoed away to another corner of the store while DD6 made a wish with Shirley. As we said our goodbyes, the "secret fairy" took me aside and said good luck, she wished for a "LIVE Guiena Pig"! It took me several days to figure out what to do. Stay tuned to Day 5 for the dramatic answer!
From there we went next door, and dropped off our minivan at Avis. Soon we were in the shuttle on our way to the "Magic"! I always get excited when I first see her. In today's world of "white refrigerator box" cruise ships, the Magic is unique...a very classy ship.
Checkin was easy as usual. While in line "3Things" came over to say hello. She use to live in the town where I work. It was fun talking about the "local hangouts". To our surprise a long line was already forming by 10:45. I did my duty by standing in line with our carryons, while DD6, DW, and DMIL relaxed. Before long the characters came out. I enjoy watching their interaction with children. Unfortunately, DD6 is still afraid of the characters and won't go near them. While waiting in line DD6 & I started doing our little dance. Soon Mailman, and MamaGriz came over to say hello. It was so nice all week long to see friendly faces. This cruise had a great group of Disers!
Soon the line started moving, and we were walking through the Mickey Ears! We stopped for the welcom aboard photo, which we later bought. As we were announce we looked for Capt. Mickey on the deck 4 balcony, but he wasn't there. I'm sure he was tending to other important shipboard matters.
Quickly we ran off to get spa ressies for DW & DMIL. Neither had ever been to a spa, but thought this would be a special treat. They quickly got their "Spa Taster" resevations. We checked to see if we could drop off our bags, but to no avail. Next it was lunch at Parrot Cay! I, of course, had way too much food, and enjoyed every bit of it. It was funny how I thought of Verandah Man when I saw the Jumbo Shrimp, and Rae when I came upon the Mango Soup. It was wonderful to watch DMIL go to the dessert buffet..."so many desserts, and they all look so good!" It was priceless.
Time to head back to the room and drop off the bags. Along the way we ran into my Aunt & Uncle, and Cousin's family. Their 5yr old looked very tired. They booked their air through DCL, and had to get awake at 3am Saturday morning to make their flights. We were very happy that we booked our own flights, and flew down a day early. We were well rested and excited, while they
looked beat.
Onto stateroom 6512, the "Pup Suite". This is the third time we stayed in this category 8 stateroom. Very quiet, and convenient to the forward elevators where there's easy access to the Walt Disney Theatre, Beat Street, and the Quiet Cove pool area. Our luggage arrived quickly, and we were able to unpack. Time for a little nap. We found a short afternoon nap helps everyone enjoy their evening...especially when DD6 & Daddy stay up until 11 or 12 o'clock!
Soon it was time for the safety drill. DD6 couldn't wait to get her lifevest on. This was a vast departure from two years ago when she screamed she didn't want it on. I snapped the obligatory pictures of everyone in their orange vests. I have no complaints of the safety drill. Two years ago on our March sailing we were awakened at 4 am, due to a fire in the aft funnel. We were told to go to our muster stations where we waited until the fire was out. You never know when problems might arise.It's best to be prepared.
Onto the sailaway party! DD6 & I did our little dances, while DW & DMIL looked on. It was fun! The Magic blew her famous horn and we were off! We've found deck 10 to be best for us. It's less crowded, and you get a great view of the characters, etc. As the party wound down the family went back to the room to get ready for dinner, while I watched us leave Port Canaveral. As we were passing the "two palms cam" area I gave a little wave to Verandah Man, who I knew was capturing the web image. Soon we were headed out to see. There is nothing I enjoy more than standing on deck watching the sea.
Time for dinner. Early seating at Animator's Palate. We were introduced to our server Putra and his assistant Mirro. The head server, "Z" also came by (that was the last we saw of him). Every other word out of their mouths this week was "excellent". I don't care for a week long "excellent speech". Let's just say they weren't excellent, especially compared to last year's server Darko.
During dinner DD6 finished early, and DW took her to the club for the Aloha Luau. She loves the Oceaneer's Club, and always makes new friends. This year her 5 yr old cousin was there, and we thought it would be great. Unfortunatley, after 15 minutes little cousin asked to page her Mommy, but there was a problem with the pager system. Her mother never got the page. Fortunately, her mommy stopped by 30 minutes later only to find a very distraught daughter. That was her last time at the club. Fortunately DD6 continued to go, and once again made new friends.
DW, DMIL & I went to the Welcome Aboard Variety Show. The comedian Gary Delena was funny, and the juggler was great! The ship was really rocking, and this guy was juggling! Pretty impressive.
After the show we picked up DD6 at the club, stopped by Mickey's Mates to check out the merchandise, and then back to the room. It was a full day, and we were all tired. Fortunately, nobody in our party was bothered by the rough seas. Instead it rocked us to sleep. DW put in her earplugs, and DMIL & I snored away having "Magic" dreams.
Despite this being our third voyage on the Magic, we were excited. This was DMIL's first cruise, and we were especially excited for her. We were looking forward to pampering this very hard working woman who deserves a lifetime of R&R. ...if only she didn't snore.
Hmmm imagine this...I couldn't sleep Friday night! I awoke at 3:30am, and couldn't go back to sleep. Finally, at 6 I got dressed, and drove to Walgreens for a few items, and to Winn Dixie for Diet Pepsi, and bottled water. DW enjoys Pepsi, and we all enjoy the bottled water. A new trick we learned this cruise was to place the bottles in the stateroom's "cool box", along with a large zip lock bag filled with ice. Each day when the stateroom host brought ice, I refilled the bag. It kept our beverages nice and cold.
Upon my return to the Holiday Inn Express I enjoyed their continental breakfast, and read the newspaper. By 7:30 I figured it was time to return to our room and get the rest of my family to get moving! Sure enough everyone was awake, and getting dressed. Soon we went back downstairs for a nice breakfast. As I mentioned in my previous post, the breakfast buffett was very nice, and overall a big thumbs up for the HIE.
Soon it was time for checkout, and to head over to the Perfect Gift to see Shirley. DD6 was very much looking forward to this. Shirley has a "Fairy Fountain" where DD6 makes a wish. Last year she "secretly" wished for a toy elephant, and to her surprise the fairies delivered an stuffed elephant to our stateroom! Well, this year Mom, Dad, and Nana were shoed away to another corner of the store while DD6 made a wish with Shirley. As we said our goodbyes, the "secret fairy" took me aside and said good luck, she wished for a "LIVE Guiena Pig"! It took me several days to figure out what to do. Stay tuned to Day 5 for the dramatic answer!
From there we went next door, and dropped off our minivan at Avis. Soon we were in the shuttle on our way to the "Magic"! I always get excited when I first see her. In today's world of "white refrigerator box" cruise ships, the Magic is unique...a very classy ship.
Checkin was easy as usual. While in line "3Things" came over to say hello. She use to live in the town where I work. It was fun talking about the "local hangouts". To our surprise a long line was already forming by 10:45. I did my duty by standing in line with our carryons, while DD6, DW, and DMIL relaxed. Before long the characters came out. I enjoy watching their interaction with children. Unfortunately, DD6 is still afraid of the characters and won't go near them. While waiting in line DD6 & I started doing our little dance. Soon Mailman, and MamaGriz came over to say hello. It was so nice all week long to see friendly faces. This cruise had a great group of Disers!
Soon the line started moving, and we were walking through the Mickey Ears! We stopped for the welcom aboard photo, which we later bought. As we were announce we looked for Capt. Mickey on the deck 4 balcony, but he wasn't there. I'm sure he was tending to other important shipboard matters.
Quickly we ran off to get spa ressies for DW & DMIL. Neither had ever been to a spa, but thought this would be a special treat. They quickly got their "Spa Taster" resevations. We checked to see if we could drop off our bags, but to no avail. Next it was lunch at Parrot Cay! I, of course, had way too much food, and enjoyed every bit of it. It was funny how I thought of Verandah Man when I saw the Jumbo Shrimp, and Rae when I came upon the Mango Soup. It was wonderful to watch DMIL go to the dessert buffet..."so many desserts, and they all look so good!" It was priceless.
Time to head back to the room and drop off the bags. Along the way we ran into my Aunt & Uncle, and Cousin's family. Their 5yr old looked very tired. They booked their air through DCL, and had to get awake at 3am Saturday morning to make their flights. We were very happy that we booked our own flights, and flew down a day early. We were well rested and excited, while they
looked beat.
Onto stateroom 6512, the "Pup Suite". This is the third time we stayed in this category 8 stateroom. Very quiet, and convenient to the forward elevators where there's easy access to the Walt Disney Theatre, Beat Street, and the Quiet Cove pool area. Our luggage arrived quickly, and we were able to unpack. Time for a little nap. We found a short afternoon nap helps everyone enjoy their evening...especially when DD6 & Daddy stay up until 11 or 12 o'clock!
Soon it was time for the safety drill. DD6 couldn't wait to get her lifevest on. This was a vast departure from two years ago when she screamed she didn't want it on. I snapped the obligatory pictures of everyone in their orange vests. I have no complaints of the safety drill. Two years ago on our March sailing we were awakened at 4 am, due to a fire in the aft funnel. We were told to go to our muster stations where we waited until the fire was out. You never know when problems might arise.It's best to be prepared.
Onto the sailaway party! DD6 & I did our little dances, while DW & DMIL looked on. It was fun! The Magic blew her famous horn and we were off! We've found deck 10 to be best for us. It's less crowded, and you get a great view of the characters, etc. As the party wound down the family went back to the room to get ready for dinner, while I watched us leave Port Canaveral. As we were passing the "two palms cam" area I gave a little wave to Verandah Man, who I knew was capturing the web image. Soon we were headed out to see. There is nothing I enjoy more than standing on deck watching the sea.
Time for dinner. Early seating at Animator's Palate. We were introduced to our server Putra and his assistant Mirro. The head server, "Z" also came by (that was the last we saw of him). Every other word out of their mouths this week was "excellent". I don't care for a week long "excellent speech". Let's just say they weren't excellent, especially compared to last year's server Darko.
During dinner DD6 finished early, and DW took her to the club for the Aloha Luau. She loves the Oceaneer's Club, and always makes new friends. This year her 5 yr old cousin was there, and we thought it would be great. Unfortunatley, after 15 minutes little cousin asked to page her Mommy, but there was a problem with the pager system. Her mother never got the page. Fortunately, her mommy stopped by 30 minutes later only to find a very distraught daughter. That was her last time at the club. Fortunately DD6 continued to go, and once again made new friends.
DW, DMIL & I went to the Welcome Aboard Variety Show. The comedian Gary Delena was funny, and the juggler was great! The ship was really rocking, and this guy was juggling! Pretty impressive.
After the show we picked up DD6 at the club, stopped by Mickey's Mates to check out the merchandise, and then back to the room. It was a full day, and we were all tired. Fortunately, nobody in our party was bothered by the rough seas. Instead it rocked us to sleep. DW put in her earplugs, and DMIL & I snored away having "Magic" dreams.
