2 Nights @ AS + 5 Nights @ WL + 3 Night DCL + 2 Nights at BW = Our Vacation COMPLETE

[DMMarla07860]

been reading and enjoying your report, it's great

 

[BigEeyore]

Great updates! Love the shirts - you are such a fun mommy! Yay for pixie dust and the room upgrade. We want to do a disney cruise someday - looking forward to hearing more about your cruise! Sorry your server was bad. Surprised to hear the food was just OK - most cruises put a lot into their cuisine, maybe not so much on the disney boat.

 

[natale1980]

Oh My Goodness those babies have gotten big since your last TR... and there is a new family addition too! Love it!

How ironic that you found another DIS'rs tag. Too funny!

I'm am really excited to read about the adventures at sea!

I went over to your TR yesterday, I still have a lot to read. You are an amazing writer!!!

Natale, what's a 'fish extender'? It's so stinkin cute! I've never seen that before.

Just caught up. So sorry to hear you guys were sick. My DS had a bad sickness in May and I was a wreck. He lost a lot of weight too but put it back on pretty quickly.

I love the nighttime picture of you and Shawn at EPCOT! And Congrat's on Skylar walking at WDW!!

A fish extender is something a Diser came up with a few years ago. It's a pouch you put outside your stateroom door and other people put little gifts in them and you pass out gifts to theirs. After you book a cruise you can go to the cruise meet board on Dis and sign up for a Fish Extender exchange.

We are all healthy now.... we better stay that way.

been reading and enjoying your report, it's great

Thanks! We still have more cruise and then more disney world to come!

Great updates! Love the shirts - you are such a fun mommy! Yay for pixie dust and the room upgrade. We want to do a disney cruise someday - looking forward to hearing more about your cruise! Sorry your server was bad. Surprised to hear the food was just OK - most cruises put a lot into their cuisine, maybe not so much on the disney boat.

I guess saying the food was "OK" makes it sound bad. Thats not what I am trying to say. I mean when I go to McDonald's I would say the food was OK. The food was very good and it isn't like food we eat everyday. But I wouldn't go on a Disney Cruise JUST for the food. (maybe for the sweets) Plus I don't think I got to enjoy the food very much with the kids there. Eating anything is just ok right now.

 

[ktmetke]

I totally understand about the dining and kids issue........Dinner time on the cruise with my then 4yr and 2yr old son was awful.......I even brought stuff like crayons, stamps, and stickers, but it didn't help.........I think on the last night, and it was only a 4 night cruise, I had had enough and got up and left the table to go back to the room! I'm not planning on cruising again till 2012, so I'm hoping by then they will behave a bit better or want to eat with their friends in the kid's club......I can always dream!

 

[natale1980]

I totally understand about the dining and kids issue........Dinner time on the cruise with my then 4yr and 2yr old son was awful.......I even brought stuff like crayons, stamps, and stickers, but it didn't help.........I think on the last night, and it was only a 4 night cruise, I had had enough and got up and left the table to go back to the room! I'm not planning on cruising again till 2012, so I'm hoping by then they will behave a bit better or want to eat with their friends in the kid's club......I can always dream!

I was thinking 2011 but I wana go NOW!!! I'm not sure if I was overwhelmed just by the kids or if it's cause the cruise didn't go completely as I planed. humph! I'm not sure what to do about another cruise.

I'm sure the older they get the more they will want to spend with other kids in the clubs!

-nat

 

[natale1980]

I woke up the next morning feeling better then I did the night before. I had assumed that we were already docked at Nassau but when I looked out the window were were still moving. After I got ready I gave Skylar a bath and we both waited for the boys to get ready.

Skylar playing with some new Fish Extender gifts we found at our door.

I see land!

We ate breakfast on Deck 10. I love the buffet... it's hard to get the food with the kids... but so much easier then waiting at a table to be served.

Dexter spilled food on himself so we had to go back to our room before we left the ship.

We were not planning on getting off the ship that day but I'm glad we did. We picked up some rum & rum cake. YUM!!

Dexter between the docked ships.

Skylar ended up falling asleep while we were walking around so we headed back to the ship.

I let Skylar sleep while the boys went and played on the deck.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Finally all caught up! How sweet that your DD took her first steps at Disney World!!!!!! When we stayed at the WL in November my DS was 14 months and not yet walking. We wondered if he would start walking on the trip because we knew he was close. He didn't, BUT, he did learn to stand up on his own without holding anything-which led to walking just days after our return home.

The cruise looks just We talk about doing the DIS PodCast Cruise in 2010.

Can you order your meals to your room to make it easier with little ones?

 

[hhockman]

Skylar looks so cute asleep on the bed in the backpack!

This is making me want to do a cruise more and more. I've already looked at dates and prices, but I can't find what I want (a 7 day cruise or a land/sea) for the dates I'm looking for. I guess I'll keep looking. Or wait and see. Seems like prices go down the closer you get.

Hangin out for your next installment!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I've missed quite a bit. What great last days at WDW you had. And the cruise looks like a blast! Someday..... (I'll keep dreaming.) Love the cruise shirts you made Natale.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I've never been on a cruise so I am loving the vicarious cruising through your report. I would have been nervous about the gangway too. LOVE the wonder shirts you made -- too cute!

How on EARTH did your daughter sleep with that life vest on?

Love your fish extender thingy. So cute with the mickey pants.

I am liking the idea of a cruise more and more!!

 

[princessjv]

So sweet! Skylar, asleep in the back pack. Was it easy to sleep on the ship too?

btw...I've been trying to figure out what is the fish extender? Sorry if I missed that.

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hello there!

I'm jumping on board even though you are half way though your vacation. (No pun intended!)

This has been so much fun to read. Your kids are darling. I literally laughed out loud at your DH's hair. He is such a great guy and father. I know if they had been offering this stuff when my dad took us as kids, he would have jumped right into too.

I'm sorry your cruise started off with the not-so-great servers. I would have been steamed too. The cruise looks like a lot of fun otherwise.

I can't wait to read more.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh my! I was a few pages behind. We went camping this weekend and I am just now getting caught up on my reading.

 

[kelsbels]

What a great trip report! I am so enjoying reading about the details of your busy trip and seeing the pictures of your beautiful family. I'm looking forward to your next post!

 

[natale1980]

The cruise looks just We talk about doing the DIS PodCast Cruise in 2010.

Can you order your meals to your room to make it easier with little ones?

Great idea!! But then you miss out on the dinning rooms. I be it would be easier on a 7 nighter - that way you can do half & half.

Skylar looks so cute asleep on the bed in the backpack!

This is making me want to do a cruise more and more. I've already looked at dates and prices, but I can't find what I want (a 7 day cruise or a land/sea) for the dates I'm looking for. I guess I'll keep looking. Or wait and see. Seems like prices go down the closer you get.

Hangin out for your next installment!

Our cruise didn't go down in price BUT they did offer the 'kids travel free' promotion. I was mad because we didn't get to take part in it since we were already in the cancellation period. But some times the cruises go UP allot in price... so it's a gamble.

I've missed quite a bit. What great last days at WDW you had. And the cruise looks like a blast! Someday..... (I'll keep dreaming.) Love the cruise shirts you made Natale.

Thanks! We had a few more days in Disney World after the cruise too!!!

I've never been on a cruise so I am loving the vicarious cruising through your report. I would have been nervous about the gangway too. LOVE the wonder shirts you made -- too cute!

How on EARTH did your daughter sleep with that life vest on?

Love your fish extender thingy. So cute with the mickey pants.

I am liking the idea of a cruise more and more!!

I wanna cruise again very badly!!!
I have no idea how Skylar was sleeping in her life vest... that's why I kept on worrying that she had a head injury from falling. But I was worried for nothing... she was just really tired.

So sweet! Skylar, asleep in the back pack. Was it easy to sleep on the ship too?

btw...I've been trying to figure out what is the fish extender? Sorry if I missed that.

We had no problem sleeping on the ship. I think Skylar liked it cause it rocked her to sleep.

The Fish Extender is kinda like a little mail box that other disers can put little gifts in.

Hello there!

I'm jumping on board even though you are half way though your vacation. (No pun intended!)

This has been so much fun to read. Your kids are darling. I literally laughed out loud at your DH's hair. He is such a great guy and father. I know if they had been offering this stuff when my dad took us as kids, he would have jumped right into too.

I'm sorry your cruise started off with the not-so-great servers. I would have been steamed too. The cruise looks like a lot of fun otherwise.

I can't wait to read more.

Thanks for reading!
The vacation was great!! I'll have the rest of the trip posted very soon!

Oh my! I was a few pages behind. We went camping this weekend and I am just now getting caught up on my reading.

What a great trip report! I am so enjoying reading about the details of your busy trip and seeing the pictures of your beautiful family. I'm looking forward to your next post!

Thanks! I'm going to post the rest of the Nassau Day next.

 

[natale1980]

Sorry about not posting in awhile. Our whole family has been in a 'funk'. Shawn hasn't worked in almost 4 weeks!! And we have no idea when he'll start work again. SOOO I've been looking for a job.
He's a union electrician and because of the economy no one is building around here.
You would think that since he is home I would have soooo much time to get things done... but because of this funk we are in it seems like NOTHING is getting done.
But - we are ready to get going again and get used to our new schedule. SO I'm going to fishing my TR in the next few days.

-nat

 

[natale1980]

So here's the thing about A Disney Cruise Vacation. THERE IS SO MUCH STUFF TO DO!!! So I forgot to journal for the rest of the day.
Fortunately I have pictures so that helps fill in the gaps of my memory.

Nassau

After Skylar woke up we dropped the kids off at their clubs for some mommy-daddy time. We really just walked around the ship and enjoyed the time with no kids. But it went VERY quickly. And I was a little sad that most things on the ship were closed because it was a land day. who knew? When we picked up the kids everything seemed like it went well. They were both happy. So I checked with Flounders to see if they had any openings so that I could see the Toy Story musical tonight. There where!!!

We played around the ship alittle more before it was time for dinner.

On the first night (if you remember) I attended a DVC presentation. The DVC guide said they were going to have a contest on the pirate night. The contest was to see which DVC family would cover themselves in the most DVC tattoos. So we felt the need to participate.I can't remember how many we had exactly but I wanna say it was close to 30.
And incase your wondering... YES I did make these t-shirts too.

Here is Dexter

Shawn.

Me.

Skylar - you can't see any of her tattoos in this picture... but she did have a few.

Here - I found one.

While the boys were finishing dinner I took Skylar outside the restaurant to play. That's when a line started forming to see Minnie Mouse. I thought that I would try one more time to see if Skylar was interested in seeing Minnie Mouse.... GUESS WHAT??? She was!!! This is definitely a perk to staying in Disney World for more then just a few days.

Here's a picture from our room.

Once the boys caught up with us I quickly dropped Skylar off at Flounders so that we could make it to the show.
I LOVED Toy Story Musical!!! It was sooo good. I thought the night was going very well until I picked up Skylar from her club. When I got there I looked into the window and couldn't see her. I told them I was there to pick up Skylar - so one of the cast members walked out of view down a hallway... then a few minutes later came back with my baby. She could hardly breath she was crying so hard!! I mean she was all red and teary and shaking. I was not happy!!! I just took her and left.
I couldn't understand why they didn't page me... it was very clear that she hadn't just been crying for a few moments. Once I had her in my arms it still took her about 15 minutes to calm down.

Now that our family was all together we headed up to the top deck to get ready for the pirate party!!! It was allot of fun - but the show was just a bit too long for the kids. The fireworks were great!! It was very cool to be in the ocean and see fireworks.
After the show & fireworks were over they opened the dessert bar. There were allot of good snacks & turkey legs! We were still full from dinner so we only ate the sweets.

Here's a video of Dexter dancing at the pirate party!! He's too funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz-WhXrCZCo

 

[natale1980]

Castaway Cay Day!!!! Or so we thought.
One of the reasons I wanted to do a cruise in January was because of our luck with hurricanes and their effect on Castaway Cay. I thought for sure that there would be no problem getting to Disney's Island in January. Well... I was wrong.

I woke up early and went immediately to the top deck. I was soooooo excited about docking at Castaway Cay that I didn't want to miss a thing. Once I got up there I knew there was a problem.

Look at those waves!!

I'm not sure what was worse. Our first cruise when we knew right away we wouldn't be going to the island or this cruise when I could see the island but could see we wouldn't be docking. The cast members wouldn't tell us for sure what was going on... but about an hour later the captain gave up and told us we would be having a day at sea. There was a cold front that came in and the wind made it too dangerous to dock.
It was freezing!!!!

I went back down to our room and told Shawn the bad news. Oh Well... we would make the best of it and enjoy the ship. We went back up top deck to have breakfast. On the way we passed the Mickey pool. The boat was rocking so badly because of the wind that it was overflowing!!

Check out the video that Shawn took...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkiZ1YSQPE

Bye Bye Castaway Cay... "maybe" I'll see you on our next Disney Cruise.

It was freezing but we still ate breakfast outside.

After we were all filled up we went back to our room to get some more clothes. This is how we looked when we took a walk around the ship.

After that Shawn and Dexter wanted to go and see Bolt in 3D in the main Theater. I didn't think Skylar would sit for the movie since it was nap time so we stayed back in the room. Once I got her to sleep I took her in my arms and the two of us went to movie theater and watched Bed Time Stories. Skylar slept the whole time!!! It was great. The only problem was that the theater was soooo full that I ended up sitting on the steps! It wasn't very comfortable since I was holding a sleeping baby but at least I got to see the movie.

to be continued...

 

[natale1980]

After our movies Dexter wanted to go and play at his club.
While he had fun with that Shawn, Skylar and Me when on the search for the secret deck seven veranda. I guess it's not really a 'secret' just not that many people know about it. It's a public veranda on deck seven.
We were the only ones out there so we just hung out and enjoyed ourselves in the COLD!!!

When my mom saw that picture she asked if we were afraid of a strong wind coming and blowing Skylar off the ship. It wasn't something we really thought about at the time. But I think the picture makes it look like she is much higher then she really is.

We just explored the ship for awhile before we picked up Dexter. It was then time for dinner.

We didn't even bother trying to go to the show tonight. I mean there was NO WAY I was going to take Skylar back to Flounders. I'm sure we'll try again on our next cruise... but I'll be sure to tell them that if she's crying Call Me!

I can't really remember everything we did this night. I really wanna cruise again so that I can enjoy it more. Plus I would love another chance at going to castaway cay.

I know one thing I did was pack up all of our goodies! Tomorrow it would be time to get off the ship and spend the last few days in Disney World!

Here's a picture of all of our (free) gifts from the Fish Extender and from the Cruise Line. We didn't really spend too much of our money on gifts.

Good night!

 

[Nicole786]

Aw skylar is so cute in those photos! can't wait to hear about your future land adventures!