We did the 4 day and then spent 4 days or so in Orlando (SeaWorld, MK,MGM and then Universal)...I will only report on the cruise part here...we flew out of RI on Saturday to make sure we made it down in plenty of time. When we got in to MCO, we picked up our rental car and went directly to McD's for something to eat (no food on the plane) and then to Cocoa Beach to check in at Hampton Inn. We changed into bathing suits and drove over to Jetty Park to watch the Magic leave and then swam in the ocean for a while. We stopped at the grocery store for beer, juice and some microwave dinners to heat up in the room since we were ready to crash early.
Sunday: We got up early and went down for a great breakfast, and then pack up and returned our car down the street (National). They had a taxi come pick us up and were given the taxi driver's card as we were to call him to pick us up after our cruise to bring us back for our other rental. We got to the terminal around 10/10:30 and checked in and got in line by the ears. We were about the 3rd or 4th family in line. After about an hour (noontime), Mickey came out for pictures. He was pretty mobbed by the kids, luckily, mine got in line quickly. Snow White came out after that, I don't think many kids saw her as she was close to the ears and didn't move very far from there. DD5 did not want to go near her! DD12 of course had no problem and got her autograph and then DH took our picture with her. I thought it was really funny that she talks just like she does in the movie! I can't imagine how that girl's voice must feel at the end of her shift!! Right before we got to walk on board, Minnie came out, but she kind of just ran through...I didn't let my kids go over because I knew we were about to go. FINALLY, we got to go on had the picture taken in front of the tacky cruise ship picture and then we were ushered right into Parrot Cay. While we were eating, Dale came over, and as we were getting ready to leave, Chip came in.
After we ate, we went up to our room---very glad to have gotten the verandah!!! Room 7054. Slowly our luggage came, bit by bit, but it was all there well before the drill. I then realized that we better go make our Palo's ressie--it was a little after 1:30. DH said he would go do it while I brought the kids to the clubs to check in. He walked in, no one was in line, he walked up to the table and got us a 6:30 res. for our last night! I couldn't believe it! Not a soul around! We went up to the ESPN bar to check it out and then back to the room. I made us unpack right then and there because I did not want to live out of our suitcases. At this time, we met our room steward, Emer, and then off to the lifeboat drill. This was really quick and all of our people showed up at the correct time.
We then went up to the sail away party which was very energetic and done very well with the characters. After the party, we went up to change for dinner at Animator's Palate. Our servers were Nora and O'Neill and Sid was our Head Server---they were all great. DD5 had the pizza, DD12 and I both had the chicken and DH had the chicken and whatever the pasta was that night. For desert, I was forced to have the strawberry shortcake; DD5, the mickey bar;DD12 the cheesecake; DH the chocolate cake.
After dinner, we did autographs and pictures with Dopey and Pinocchio then went to Mickey Mania. After that show, back to the room, the kids went to sleep and DH and I sat out on the verandah for a beer. I had to wake up DD12 at 11:30 to go see Signs as I had told her I would take her and she made me promise to wake her up. She stayed awake the whole movie. DH was sleeping when we got back and then we just went to bed.
Sunday: We got up early and went down for a great breakfast, and then pack up and returned our car down the street (National). They had a taxi come pick us up and were given the taxi driver's card as we were to call him to pick us up after our cruise to bring us back for our other rental. We got to the terminal around 10/10:30 and checked in and got in line by the ears. We were about the 3rd or 4th family in line. After about an hour (noontime), Mickey came out for pictures. He was pretty mobbed by the kids, luckily, mine got in line quickly. Snow White came out after that, I don't think many kids saw her as she was close to the ears and didn't move very far from there. DD5 did not want to go near her! DD12 of course had no problem and got her autograph and then DH took our picture with her. I thought it was really funny that she talks just like she does in the movie! I can't imagine how that girl's voice must feel at the end of her shift!! Right before we got to walk on board, Minnie came out, but she kind of just ran through...I didn't let my kids go over because I knew we were about to go. FINALLY, we got to go on had the picture taken in front of the tacky cruise ship picture and then we were ushered right into Parrot Cay. While we were eating, Dale came over, and as we were getting ready to leave, Chip came in.
After we ate, we went up to our room---very glad to have gotten the verandah!!! Room 7054. Slowly our luggage came, bit by bit, but it was all there well before the drill. I then realized that we better go make our Palo's ressie--it was a little after 1:30. DH said he would go do it while I brought the kids to the clubs to check in. He walked in, no one was in line, he walked up to the table and got us a 6:30 res. for our last night! I couldn't believe it! Not a soul around! We went up to the ESPN bar to check it out and then back to the room. I made us unpack right then and there because I did not want to live out of our suitcases. At this time, we met our room steward, Emer, and then off to the lifeboat drill. This was really quick and all of our people showed up at the correct time.
We then went up to the sail away party which was very energetic and done very well with the characters. After the party, we went up to change for dinner at Animator's Palate. Our servers were Nora and O'Neill and Sid was our Head Server---they were all great. DD5 had the pizza, DD12 and I both had the chicken and DH had the chicken and whatever the pasta was that night. For desert, I was forced to have the strawberry shortcake; DD5, the mickey bar;DD12 the cheesecake; DH the chocolate cake.
After dinner, we did autographs and pictures with Dopey and Pinocchio then went to Mickey Mania. After that show, back to the room, the kids went to sleep and DH and I sat out on the verandah for a beer. I had to wake up DD12 at 11:30 to go see Signs as I had told her I would take her and she made me promise to wake her up. She stayed awake the whole movie. DH was sleeping when we got back and then we just went to bed.
