mississaugamom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2003
- Messages
- 1,066
Cast: myself, DH (Martin), our 7 yr old DD (Lara), and DHs Aunt and Uncle (both 81)
Feeling exhausted from our travel day, we did not set a Mickey wake-up call this morning. However, Lara was wide awake and anxious to go swimming by 7:30 am! The two of us got changed and headed up to Deck 9, where she checked out the Mickey Pool (too cold) the Goofy Pool (too wavy) and the hot tubs (just right!). After getting tea and hot chocolate from the beverage station, we went to get breakfast in Topsiders. The breakfast buffet there was wonderful! DH and I were going to Palo for brunch at 11:00, but I couldnt resist having some smoked salmon on a half-bagel while Lara enjoyed her bacon and Mickey waffles.
After breakfast, we returned to the cabin to get changed and scoot off for our DIS-Meet in the Promenade Lounge. When we got there, Lara decided to play shy and hid behind me for awhile. (Not her "real self"!) It was great to meet people we had corresponded with in the weeks leading up to the trip, and to recognize some familiar faces as we ran into them throughout the week. DH wandered down near the end and was able to take a group photo for us.
After dropping Lara off at the Club, Martin and I went to Brunch at Palo. It was incredible!!!! Our server, Milan, started us off with a glass of champagne, then took us on a tour of the food offerings. The selection was amazing fresh breads, cheese, meats, and seafood large shrimp (already peeled), Alaskan King crab legs cracked in half, Stone Crab Claws, and more smoked salmon. We filled our plates and began eating when Milan brought us a proscuitto and cheese pizza for us to share. Then he asked for our lunch orders! Martin had the grilled tenderloin, which simply melted in our mouths. I had salmon with risotto (I think). This was also wonderful. It didnt, however, leave room to order desserts, although Milan brought us an assortment plate to share. I am so glad we got the chance to enjoy this brunch (and some time alone together) while we were arriving in Key West.
Lara didnt want to leave the kids club yet, so we went ashore and walked around Key West for a while on our own. After buying a lycra dive suit for Lara for snorkelling later in the week, our pager went off telling us that Lara wanted us. After not receiving last nights pages, we hurried back to the ship as quickly as we could, only to discover that Lara only wanted her sweater!!!! Since we were there anyways, we convinced her to leave with us and go to the pool with Daddy. I was off to the spa!
Im somewhat a spa virgin so I had booked the Spa Taster package, which was the 25 minute massage and 25 minute facial. Marcia provided the treatment. She is new to Disney, having only been onboard for about 3 weeks. The massage was wonderful, but there was too much hard sell of the products to allow me to thoroughly enjoy the facial. Being on the cruise was already working its magic though despite having a fairly stressful job and busy life at home, she had a hard time finding any stress knots during my massage.
I went back in search of my family and found the Goofy pool empty! (I mean of water not people around it.) Apparently a plug had inadvertently been pulled and drained the pool, which caused it to be closed for a couple of hours while it re-filled. I found them back in the cabin, watching TV and getting ready for dinner.
Auntie called to see how our day had been. They had breakfast at Lumieres, played Bingo, lunched at Topsiders, and rested in the afternoon. They were ready for dinner! We met outside Animators Palate, where Gaspare took wonderful care of changing our seating. We were now at Table 61 (just the five of us) with our new serving team of Claudio from Italy and Leasa from Jamaica. They were amazingly attentive all week and we felt very spoiled by them. The early seating worked out much better for our family; Auntie and Uncle arent used to eating as late as 6:00 at home, so 8:30 was far too late for them. We had a lovely dinner and enjoyed the show on the walls and the wait staff parade when everything was in colour.
We lined up to meet some characters before the show. The show that evening was Who Wants To Be A Mouseketeer. Although we didnt get selected (although I really wished we had I knew the answers!) we were so excited to see Plutospup chosen to be on the Experts panel. Their wave from the panel box was really funny!
We hit the shops for a bit (Auntie had to get Lara a jewelled bracelet for formal night) then headed upstairs to watch the ship sail away from Key West. (Of course had to buy a light-up necklace for Lara). After filling our drink mugs, we then headed back to the cabin for another rock to sleep. We were all excited to find our first towel animal an elephant wearing my sunglasses!
Arlene
Feeling exhausted from our travel day, we did not set a Mickey wake-up call this morning. However, Lara was wide awake and anxious to go swimming by 7:30 am! The two of us got changed and headed up to Deck 9, where she checked out the Mickey Pool (too cold) the Goofy Pool (too wavy) and the hot tubs (just right!). After getting tea and hot chocolate from the beverage station, we went to get breakfast in Topsiders. The breakfast buffet there was wonderful! DH and I were going to Palo for brunch at 11:00, but I couldnt resist having some smoked salmon on a half-bagel while Lara enjoyed her bacon and Mickey waffles.
After breakfast, we returned to the cabin to get changed and scoot off for our DIS-Meet in the Promenade Lounge. When we got there, Lara decided to play shy and hid behind me for awhile. (Not her "real self"!) It was great to meet people we had corresponded with in the weeks leading up to the trip, and to recognize some familiar faces as we ran into them throughout the week. DH wandered down near the end and was able to take a group photo for us.
After dropping Lara off at the Club, Martin and I went to Brunch at Palo. It was incredible!!!! Our server, Milan, started us off with a glass of champagne, then took us on a tour of the food offerings. The selection was amazing fresh breads, cheese, meats, and seafood large shrimp (already peeled), Alaskan King crab legs cracked in half, Stone Crab Claws, and more smoked salmon. We filled our plates and began eating when Milan brought us a proscuitto and cheese pizza for us to share. Then he asked for our lunch orders! Martin had the grilled tenderloin, which simply melted in our mouths. I had salmon with risotto (I think). This was also wonderful. It didnt, however, leave room to order desserts, although Milan brought us an assortment plate to share. I am so glad we got the chance to enjoy this brunch (and some time alone together) while we were arriving in Key West.
Lara didnt want to leave the kids club yet, so we went ashore and walked around Key West for a while on our own. After buying a lycra dive suit for Lara for snorkelling later in the week, our pager went off telling us that Lara wanted us. After not receiving last nights pages, we hurried back to the ship as quickly as we could, only to discover that Lara only wanted her sweater!!!! Since we were there anyways, we convinced her to leave with us and go to the pool with Daddy. I was off to the spa!
Im somewhat a spa virgin so I had booked the Spa Taster package, which was the 25 minute massage and 25 minute facial. Marcia provided the treatment. She is new to Disney, having only been onboard for about 3 weeks. The massage was wonderful, but there was too much hard sell of the products to allow me to thoroughly enjoy the facial. Being on the cruise was already working its magic though despite having a fairly stressful job and busy life at home, she had a hard time finding any stress knots during my massage.
I went back in search of my family and found the Goofy pool empty! (I mean of water not people around it.) Apparently a plug had inadvertently been pulled and drained the pool, which caused it to be closed for a couple of hours while it re-filled. I found them back in the cabin, watching TV and getting ready for dinner.
Auntie called to see how our day had been. They had breakfast at Lumieres, played Bingo, lunched at Topsiders, and rested in the afternoon. They were ready for dinner! We met outside Animators Palate, where Gaspare took wonderful care of changing our seating. We were now at Table 61 (just the five of us) with our new serving team of Claudio from Italy and Leasa from Jamaica. They were amazingly attentive all week and we felt very spoiled by them. The early seating worked out much better for our family; Auntie and Uncle arent used to eating as late as 6:00 at home, so 8:30 was far too late for them. We had a lovely dinner and enjoyed the show on the walls and the wait staff parade when everything was in colour.
We lined up to meet some characters before the show. The show that evening was Who Wants To Be A Mouseketeer. Although we didnt get selected (although I really wished we had I knew the answers!) we were so excited to see Plutospup chosen to be on the Experts panel. Their wave from the panel box was really funny!
We hit the shops for a bit (Auntie had to get Lara a jewelled bracelet for formal night) then headed upstairs to watch the ship sail away from Key West. (Of course had to buy a light-up necklace for Lara). After filling our drink mugs, we then headed back to the cabin for another rock to sleep. We were all excited to find our first towel animal an elephant wearing my sunglasses!
Arlene
