4 Night Wonder out of Miami (update 3/1-Complete)

[Pinkocto]

It was fantastic to be back to Serenity Bay.

I was happy to find a regularly sized bathroom. The ship bathrooms are a bit on the small side.

My first order of business was to find a Konk Kooler

The day was gorgeous although a bit windy. The water was too chilly to swim so I sat in the sun and caught up in my journal and mom went on a walk up the beach.

The water is so pretty.

Looks like some people were out enjoying the water

 

[Pinkocto]

We enjoyed the beach for a while and then I decided I was going to head back to the ship. The wind was making me irritable. I told mom to please stay and enjoy the sun but she was happy to join me. We didn't get very far because we noticed they were serving lunch. Neither of us were hungry since we had just had breakfast not too long before. That didn't stop me, the BBQ smelled too good to pass up.

My first plate, mahi mahi, marinated tomatoes, German potato salad, and cheese.

They'll freshly grill up fish, steak, hamburgers, and veggieburgers. There's also ribs and chicken available.

Mom decided she had some room to eat as well so got a veggie burger. She had one last time and really enjoyed it.

The bread mom got for her burger looked so good I went and made myself a sandwich. It was so good I'm planning on having an exact repeat in a few weeks. Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, mayo, and salad dressing.

I did remember to get pictures this time of all the offerings.

grilling area

lots of fresh fruit

toppings area

I couldn't resist some dessert. the cookies are heavenly.

mom had some mango

Everything was delicious.

 

[Pinkocto]

What a pain, the situation with your mom. I've never really been solo at Disney except on a day when I went to the spa. Sounds like a great breakfast, I'm just getting up now and I'm starving! I can't wait to go to Castaway Cay, so I'm going to have to live vicariously through the DIS! .

The biggest thing that got me is that I've asked her several times over the past year if she told him about it and she kept saying she'd get to it. This cruise was booked 16 months in advance, she had plenty of time to tell him. Thankfully everything is now taken care of. I called Disney and changed the transfers to take her to the airport after the cruise instead of Jambo House. I've booked her a rental car to drive up to Jacksonville because they don't do direct flights from Orlando. And she has a flight home after spending a week with him in GA. He's retired so will drive back later. I got a taste of all the rearranging you've had to do and it is a pain in the rear! I'm just so glad I didn't have to try and get any points back from the cruise.

I hope you get to Castaway Cay soon, it is paradise

Get breakfast quick!

I just upgraded to pro a couple months ago because I was at my storage limit. I have an account with shutterfly, but I have an album in progress on PB and hate to dump that. I haven't even tried the album creation part of the new PB. Just the storage for TRs.

I've emailed them asking why my pictures are uploading so big. I can't find anywhere to change them. On the old one you had an option of choosing what size they uploaded as, but I can't find it on this new one.

 

[fredgirls]

I haven't read the updates yet, but i'm just here, making my pirate t-shirts and I heard the e-mail 'ping'. And it was more updates from you!
I can't wait to read later! After i've done some packing! 3 more sleeps 'til we leave!

 

[Pinkocto]

I haven't read the updates yet, but i'm just here, making my pirate t-shirts and I heard the e-mail 'ping'. And it was more updates from you!
I can't wait to read later! After i've done some packing!

packing in advance, I'm impressed! I never got to it until the night before.

3 more sleeps 'til we leave!

That's so exciting!

 

[Linda67]

A little update on my upcoming trip. I just found out that mom had not told her DBF about this trip until two days ago. Well he had been planning on taking her to their vacation home in GA for her birthday, 3/7. Our trip is 3/8-3/19 so he was for lack of a better word, upset. Mom recognizes this is her fault but for some reason put off telling him. I have been on pins and needles the last 24 hours thinking of all the things I'd have to change and if I could get any points back if she didn't go on the cruise. She called this morning and thankfully she'll still be cruising but will head to GA after the cruise and I will go to WDW as planned. I did have to call and rearrange transportation and still need to book a few things for her but it could have been worse. This will be the first time since 2007 that I'll be at WDW alone, I'll be there 4 days post cruise. I know I'll have a great time but its a little sad to change plans this close to vacation.

Just wanted to chime in and say that solo trips can be a ton of fun
I love going to WDW with DH, he is a wonderful travel partner, but I've done a couple of solo trips to Disneyland Paris and one to Disneyland CA (another one coming up) and I have always had a wonderful time
You'll probably find the CMs chat to you even more than usual, you'll be totally on your own schedule and oddly, I think you will soak up the lovely atmosphere even more than usual

 

[PizzieDuster]

That bread looks so yummy! What a great idea...that sandwich! Yummmmy

 

[Pinkocto]

Just wanted to chime in and say that solo trips can be a ton of fun
I love going to WDW with DH, he is a wonderful travel partner, but I've done a couple of solo trips to Disneyland Paris and one to Disneyland CA (another one coming up) and I have always had a wonderful time
You'll probably find the CMs chat to you even more than usual, you'll be totally on your own schedule and oddly, I think you will soak up the lovely atmosphere even more than usual

Thank you I know I'll still have a great time I was just frustrated. I did a solo trip for a week in 2007 and loved it. It's a nice change of pace from traveling with anyone else. I'm already thinking of some things I want to do I'm never able to otherwise.

 

[Pinkocto]

That bread looks so yummy! What a great idea...that sandwich! Yummmmy

It was so delicious! No exaggeration, I'm having that exact sandwich again. and maybe some fish, and cookies, hmmm, might need to skip breakfast that day so I'm adequately hungry.

 

[carissa1970]

9/3-9/9. Even though its been planned for a while it feels much more secure now that I have the room. I need to start reading up on DL!

Thanks!

Are you staying at the Grand Californian? Studio? Request Room. 5505. You won't believe the view.

 

[Pinkocto]

Are you staying at the Grand Californian? Studio? Request Room. 5505. You won't believe the view.

Yep, VGC studio. Awesome, thank you.

 

[rentayenta]

Yep, VGC studio. Awesome, thank you.

I love the GCV! Seriously, they're amazing. When are you going?

 

[dolphingirl47]

It was great to see the photos of Castaway Cay. Even though I have done 4 Disney cruises since, I have not been to Castaway Cay since October 2013. I hope I will make it back next year.

Corinna

 

[Pinkocto]

I love the GCV! Seriously, they're amazing. When are you going?

They look amazing, I'm so excited. This will be my first trip to DL so after this upcoming trip I really need to start planning it's in September, 9/3-9/9.

 

[Pinkocto]

It was great to see the photos of Castaway Cay. Even though I have done 4 Disney cruises since, I have not been to Castaway Cay since October 2013. I hope I will make it back next year.

Corinna

I have quickly fallen in love with Castaway Cay. It is so relaxing and beautiful.

 

[MEK]

Thanks for all the wonderful food pictures. They literally do look good enough to eat! YUM!

Serenity Bay - I can't wait!

 

[Pinkocto]

Thanks for all the wonderful food pictures. They literally do look good enough to eat! YUM!

Serenity Bay - I can't wait!

And you must try a Konk Kooler, they're so good!

 

[rentayenta]

They look amazing, I'm so excited. This will be my first trip to DL so after this upcoming trip I really need to start planning it's in September, 9/3-9/9.

They're pretty sweet, right up there with AKV. We love the Hearthstone Lounge. Great drinks. We'd have nightly night caps after ditching the kids. It's nice to just pop downstairs and relax.

Whitewater Snacks has the best nachos ever. We had those many times during the trip and big enough to share.

Storytellers has always been good too for both character and non character meals.

While I love WDW, Disneyland will always be my first love. While I'm not well versed with DCA, I know parts of Disneyland like the back of my hand if you've got any questions.

And off topic, there's a thread for our cruise in the meets section.

 

[Pinkocto]

They're pretty sweet, right up there with AKV. We love the Hearthstone Lounge. Great drinks. We'd have nightly night caps after ditching the kids. It's nice to just pop downstairs and relax.

Whitewater Snacks has the best nachos ever. We had those many times during the trip and big enough to share.

Storytellers has always been good too for both character and non character meals.

While I love WDW, Disneyland will always be my first love. While I'm not well versed with DCA, I know parts of Disneyland like the back of my hand if you've got any questions.

Thanks so much! After this cruise I'll be in full DL planning mode. I'm sure I'll have tons of questions.

And off topic, there's a thread for our cruise in the meets section.

Thanks, I just jumped over there.

 

[Pinkocto]

After our lovely lunch we headed back to the ship.

I’ve never seen this plant before, thought it was unusual. Mom knew what it was called but I forget what she said.

This sight doesn’t get old.

I think I was trying to be artsy with this one…

Anyone familiar with ships know why the bottom looks like this?

The post office. You can buy postcards and stamps and have an official Castaway Cay postmark. It will take many weeks for your card to arrive at it’s destination but it is still a fun activity. We didn’t send any this trip but did last time.

How cute is this! Air Mail, just love it!

We were able to board aft and took the elevator right up to our room.

This was a midday towel figurine. A cake or flower, I couldn’t figure out which.

We went out to the secret deck and had a gorgeous view of CC.

Then we headed up to the Rainforest Room for one last time. I must have taken this on the way. I really love the look of the upper decks. Well I loved pretty much everything about the Wonder for that matter.