40 is a FANTASY! Chunkeymonkey & Chubbyhubby STAR WARS cruise and POLY Feb 2016 TR Link Added!!

[LizardQueen8]

That's what I expected. I'm not sure how much we'll leave the boat. Especially because of the zika virus. I've had people (doctors even) tell me I should rethink our vacation plans. I know it's a risk going to the caribbean and I've read every CDC notice there is on zika. But I am not pregnant and I know how to take acre of myself, being from southeast Asia and all, where they have things much worse. gonna have to bring bottles of the top consumer reports bug spray! You know they were sold out everywhere? ugh. SO I had to buy #2 and #3 ranked repellents.

I know the reports on zika are scary...but we bought repellent on the ship (so, probably not the top rated one ), covered ourselves with it, and then did the ATV excursion in the jungle (where there was TONS of standing water) and got exactly zero bites. Used the spray for Grand Cayman too, also zero bites. Be prepared and I really don't think you need to worry.

 

[chunkymonkey]

If that fails...you can always hop across the border to Canada and get some lol.

Your trip is so close...so excited for you and your plans sound just fantastic!!! I can't wait to live vicariously...especially all the eats lol

Haha yes Canada for kinder eggs!
Thank you! I'm looking forward to eating it all and reporting back!

I know the reports on zika are scary...but we bought repellent on the ship (so, probably not the top rated one ), covered ourselves with it, and then did the ATV excursion in the jungle (where there was TONS of standing water) and got exactly zero bites. Used the spray for Grand Cayman too, also zero bites. Be prepared and I really don't think you need to worry.

Thanks for the info! It is a relief to hear that things are not as bad as they seem. On the news and the CDC website it is a little scary as that is all they talk about. But I will just be safe and hope for the best! Thank you!

 

[bcwife76]

What, like about 96 hours to go?? Wheeee!!

OK I just had to share this with you, proves how small the world and the internet is.

So last night we upgraded our cabin for our upcoming cruise on the Wonder from an inside to verandah, room 6118. I was doing a search just now for images of this cabin....I clicked on one image (where is says visit page but does not give the website address its taking you to) and it went to YOUR blog site and your review of your Magic cruise, where you cruised in room 6118!! lol So now I'm reading your blog posts all over again haha!!

 

[chunkymonkey]

What, like about 96 hours to go?? Wheeee!!

OK I just had to share this with you, proves how small the world and the internet is.

So last night we upgraded our cabin for our upcoming cruise on the Wonder from an inside to verandah, room 6118. I was doing a search just now for images of this cabin....I clicked on one image (where is says visit page but does not give the website address its taking you to) and it went to YOUR blog site and your review of your Magic cruise, where you cruised in room 6118!! lol So now I'm reading your blog posts all over again haha!!

HAHAHA That is so funny!!! I'm glad my blog is getting some readers! LOL
The Wonder and Magic are the same layout, right? If so, I really loved our room. So convenient, and it got a lot of attention from people waiting at the elevators, they would catch a glimpse of our stateroom door decor and they would come around to get a closer look at it! It was fun!

YES Only 3 days until we leave, 4 until we set sail! Lots of last minute packing this week!

 

[bcwife76]

Yes they are sister ships so I expect them to be exactly the same in every aspect.

Guess I'll have to ramp up my door decorations this time around ;-)

 

[chunkymonkey]

Yes they are sister ships so I expect them to be exactly the same in every aspect.

Guess I'll have to ramp up my door decorations this time around ;-)

Now I want to go on the Wonder!! I think I'd love to do a Hawaii cruise one day!

And...I'm sure it'll be an epic door!

 

[chunkymonkey]

PTR Update 2/16 - Pre-birthday celebrations!

3 Days until Disney Cruise on the Fantasy!
10 Days until WDW Vacation!

It's crunch time! Our trip is only a few days away...and it's packing craziness around here. I think I have everything packed - it's just packing a few last minute extras...should I bring that extra cardigan or extra bottle of sunscreen...I don't want my suitcase to weight a ton but I don't want to be without anything just in case! Do any of you second-guess stuff that you're bringing? I feel like I'm like that...I decided I didn't like any of my makeup so I went out and bought new makeup, LOL. Then I looked at the wardrobe I packed and realized that most of my and DH's t-shirts are gray. I think Disney makes a ton of gray t-shirts and I can't help but buy them because they are so cute, but now we have a ton of gray t-shirts.

This weekend my family and friends took me out for my birthday since they essentially won't be seeing me for a while (and my birthday falls right smack in the middle of our trip). It was really fun and I wanted to share what made me happy this past weekend!

First up, DH took me to the Liberty Science Center in Newark, NJ to check out the special Star Wars Science exhibition there. It wasn't anything super fancy but it was more like an opportunity to take a picture with R2-D2, and kids could do crafts. The best part was the Tesla electric show which was done to Star Wars music. They also piped in Star Wars music in the atrium which was nice as I assumed Star Wars Day at sea would sound something like that. The lines and crowds were a bit ridiculous though so we didn't wait on line for R2. I figure I may get a chance to see him on the cruise.

Some Star Wars stuff at Liberty Science Center

Sid the Science Kid was there too! I'm sure he's a Star Wars fan!

Random Stormtrooper...

This was the really cool Tesla show set to the Star Wars soundtrack. This one was the Cantina:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154009551697754

​

Later that night my family took me to a steakhouse near home. It was a delicious meal and it ended with a specialty cake, a pecan custard cake, sort of like a paris-brest, where it's like a cream puff or puff pastry filled with creamy custard. This one was topped with icing and candied pecans. Yum!

My steak, doesn't it look so pretty? Like an artist palate!

This was that delicious pecan custard cake:

Here's my niece, Eva helping me blow out the candles!

It was a great meal!!​

The next day was Valentines Day! We honestly did not do much - we were just trying to get stuff done around the house before we had to leave. But we did get some yummy lunch at Houston's near us. If you have a Houston's or Hillstone near you, then you're lucky enough to get this: The French Dip sandwich. It is literally the best sandwich in the world, I kid you not. I always get it with a fully loaded baked potato, au jus, and horseradish on the side, yes please. No other sandwich has done it for me other than Houston's. It's so good that I try not to have it too many times as I can literally eat this every day, and it's not so good for my diet.

The French Dip sandwich from Houston's (or Hillstone as it's called in some areas)

​

Soooo good! (BTW, as an attempt to not be so gluttonous before the trip, I only ate half of everything and then ate the other half of the baked potato later that night, and the rest of the sandwich the next day.) Mmmmm.

DH also got me donuts from a specialty bakery in the area. It's called Glaze Donuts and they have delicious flavors. The below are (L to R): Maple bacon, red velvet nutella, and green tea. Which one would you eat?

​

BTW, Do you like my Magic Kingdom plates?

I actually ate half of all three of them. I liked the red velvet nutella the best but that was because I craved something sweet at that moment, and it satisfied that craving really well! The maple bacon was a very close second and probably something I'd pick on a regular day given the salty-sweetness. The green tea I thought needed more tea flavor but otherwise a good standard donut.
And um, I was supposed to be on a pre-vacay detox all week...​

The next day was President's day so my friends and I were all off! So we headed into the city to dine at an old favorite, Otto. It's a Mario Batali restaurant and one of his first restaurants in NYC. It's a great spot for groups as you can share a lot of stuff. We got wine and got right down to eating!

These were our apps! I'm not sure of everything we ordered but there was definitely prosciutto, a goat cheese and grilled onion pizza, 2 different salads, and a ton of seasoned veggies like broccoli rabe, cardoons, cauliflower, sunchokes, etc.

My entree was a gemelli with rapini pesto. It was really good!

And DH got fresh spinach tagliatelle with pork shoulder bolognese

Oh and dessert of course, the olive oil gelato was out of this world.

Why oh why do I love carbs?

Otto is a great spot if you're visiting the city, especially the Greenwich village area. I highly recommend it!

Here's a shot of us in the restaurant!

After lunch us girls went our separate ways from the guys...the girls had a treat for me while the guys played pool at a nearby pool hall. We on the other hand were going for a beauty day! My friend got us all appointments at BITE Beauty for some customized lipsticks! We had to trudge there in the snow - we didn't realize it would snow that much today but it really came down!

Snow day shenanigans on the way to Bite Beauty!

I was excited to make my first custom lipstick!
It's basically a lipstick "bar" where you sit with a helpful lip technician who custom mixes you the color of your dreams. It was a lot of fun. You can choose between sheer, cream and matte finishes, you can choose your scent (or unscented) as well as the lipstick container shape. If you didn't like your color, just keep mixing! They are here to make you your perfect color so don't hesitate to ask questions and tell them what you were looking for. It's also really fun to go with a friend or friends who can give you opinions.

This was my palette as she was mixing:

Mu friend, Christine and I posing with our lips:

I ended up getting 2 lipsticks, a sheer nude, and a bright pink color. I'm wearing the nude above.

Here are the lipsticks which were custom-made for me:

​

Here's how the pink looks on me:

We all bought two colors, and some of them 2 of each color! They loved them so much. My friend Christine paid for my lipsticks for my b-day. It was so nice of her because they are regularly 45 per customized lipstick. I have da bomb friends!!!

Here's all of us at Bite Beauty. I had a great time!!!

Us at the Bite Beauty lounge. It was am awesome day and I have the most awesome fiends!!

Can't wait to continue the celebrations into March!!

2 days before we leave!!!

​

 

[KathyM2]

No other sandwich has done it for me other than Houston's.

That sandwich looks awesome...and especially the bread lol...that's what really makes a sandwich for me lol

Which one would you eat?

Any and all..but I love anything red velvet so I'd go for that first.

the olive oil gelato was out of this world.

I'm sure it was good but that just sounds odd...

BITE Beauty for some customized lipsticks!

That is seriously cool...I wonder if they have that anywhere else? So much cool stuff only in NYC...sigh...

 

[LizardQueen8]

I have those plates! And I want that maple bacon donut!

Also, I was second guessing what to pack for my cruise until about two hours before I left for the airport .

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Yay for fun early Bday celebrations!

 

[soniam]

Happy birthday, since you might not be on the boards during the trip. All of the food looks very good.

And only 3 days! Awesome! I am very excited for you You will have a great time. I don't think we will be doing a cruise until summer 2017 So I will have to live vicariously through your TR.

I love Houston's. We used to have one in Austin. When it shut down, the chef bought it. So, it's still open, with a different name, and serves a lot of the same dishes. I like the chicken salad, and DH loves the French dip. Their key lime pie is spectacular We went to one in Napa valley called Rutherford Grill (in Rutherford, CA). We didn't know it was pretty much a Houston's and thought they were ripping off Houston's menuWe looked up online and discovered they have a lot of them with different names. It was still very good.

 

[kadrachb]

Do any of you second-guess stuff that you're bringing?

All the time! It tends to me thinking I might have lost something I actually wanted to pack, unpack, finding that I did indeed pack it, and then requestion everything I already packed. My cousin says she does it too, and she has 4 kids .


You always post the best pictures of food, and I always seem to see them when I'm hungry!

 

[chunkymonkey]

That sandwich looks awesome...and especially the bread lol...that's what really makes a sandwich for me lol

Mmm yup the bread is awesome! The whole sandwich is just perfect.

Any and all..but I love anything red velvet so I'd go for that first.

It was really good!

I'm sure it was good but that just sounds odd...

It does sound weird, but it's so different than what you'd expect!

That is seriously cool...I wonder if they have that anywhere else? So much cool stuff only in NYC...sigh...

They might have some custom beauty bars elsewhere - but probably not a brand as big as Bite (they sell their products in Sephora) - but maybe more local makeup artist type products.

I have those plates! And I want that maple bacon donut!

I love those plates!! And that donut was so good! I'll eat one for ya next time.

Also, I was second guessing what to pack for my cruise until about two hours before I left for the airport .

I had a feeling that I'd do a major unpack and repack tonight - which I don't want to do, so I zipped up and locked one of my suitcases already so I won't touch it!

Yay for fun early Bday celebrations!

Thank you! It was a lot of fun!

Happy birthday, since you might not be on the boards during the trip. All of the food looks very good.

Thank you!!! I really appreciate it! All the food I ate was yummy! I do love my food.

And only 3 days! Awesome! I am very excited for you You will have a great time. I don't think we will be doing a cruise until summer 2017 So I will have to live vicariously through your TR.

Thanks!!! Sure you can live through me, and then I can live through your WDW TR for your spring trip...as I'll probably have some serious Disney withdrawal by then.

I love Houston's. We used to have one in Austin. When it shut down, the chef bought it. So, it's still open, with a different name, and serves a lot of the same dishes. I like the chicken salad, and DH loves the French dip. Their key lime pie is spectacular We went to one in Napa valley called Rutherford Grill (in Rutherford, CA). We didn't know it was pretty much a Houston's and thought they were ripping off Houston's menuWe looked up online and discovered they have a lot of them with different names. It was still very good.

That's so funny. Yeah I remember seeing they had different names! They changed the name of the Houston's in NYC to Hillstone because there's an NYC rule that if you are a chain restaurant with more than a certain number of stores you have to disclose the calorie count of each item.

New Jersey doesn't have that law so I do not know how many calories I ingest when I'm there.

All the time! It tends to me thinking I might have lost something I actually wanted to pack, unpack, finding that I did indeed pack it, and then requestion everything I already packed. My cousin says she does it too, and she has 4 kids .

Hahaha, I was just thinking that the other day...I was thinking that I lost a dress because I don't think I packed it and I can't find it anywhere else even though I had set it aside. I'm pretty sure it's not in the suitcase as I did a quick visual check but didn't pull anything out. It may surprise me when I open my suitcase on the boat, ta da! Wow you're cousin must be very busy when packing! I can't imagine packing for myself and then for everyone else! Although I do pack for DH. If I left it up to him, he'll bring one pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

You always post the best pictures of food, and I always seem to see them when I'm hungry!

LOL Glad to whet your appetite!

 

[cajunfan]

I am such a slacker! I can't wait to hear about the trip! Looks like you had a fun filled weekend!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I am such a slacker! I can't wait to hear about the trip! Looks like you had a fun filled weekend!

Thanks Lynn! We leave tomorrow! Can't wait!

 

[ursalita]

Looks like I missed a couple updates. You are so close!! Have a great time!

I'm looking forward to seeing some amazing costumes too. I saw on the last cruise that one guest dressed up in an amazing hand-made Kylo Ren outfit and he actually had a line for pictures!

Wow! That's an amazing costume. Wonder how Disney feels about that?

I may agree with the first 2 reasons but I really hope they don't dumb-down the menu and make it less exotic. I think this is exactly what Disney needs at MK (especially at a Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant!) - different, rather than more mainstream eats.

I totally agree with you. I like the idea of something less mainstream at MK.

Our flight arrives at around 8:30 am which will leave us more than 24 hours to spend at the airport. Last year we arrived at around 3pm so it wasn't so bad. I guess we'll just relax in our room at the Hyatt, go to the airport Disney and Universal stores and eat in the food court again! Let's hope it's warm enough to get some pool time too! Otherwise, I'm not sure it's even worth it to rent a car for less than a day just to wander around the area. I think this will be a relax and recharge day.

Wow, that's a long time at the airport. It reminds me of that movie, I think Tom Hanks was in it. I think it's warming up a little so I hope you get to relax at the pool.

Well, that's all for now!! It's gonna be a month of B-day celebrations for me! My family and friends are taking me out to 2 separate early birthday dinners this weekend and I'm so excited. Although it is not boding so well for my pre-vacation detox.

Happy birthday!

Do any of you second-guess stuff that you're bringing?

Not really. I don't put enough thought into packing and end up having sunscreen confiscated by TSA. It's good that you're so careful.

I loved all of your birthday celebrations and food pictures. You're not even on the trip yet!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Looks like I missed a couple updates. You are so close!! Have a great time!

Thanks!!!

Wow! That's an amazing costume. Wonder how Disney feels about that?

I think they encouraged the cosplayers to come out in full force! People were reporting that they had better interactions with guests rather than the characters at the meet n greets themselves!

I totally agree with you. I like the idea of something less mainstream at MK.

I think it's about time they introduced some interesting fare at MK!

Wow, that's a long time at the airport. It reminds me of that movie, I think Tom Hanks was in it. I think it's warming up a little so I hope you get to relax at the pool.

The Terminal! That's the movie! Hahaha, I'm gonna have some fun at the airport! Right now looks like tomorrow is shaping up to be 74 deg and sunny!

Happy birthday!

Thank you!!

Not really. I don't put enough thought into packing and end up having sunscreen confiscated by TSA. It's good that you're so careful.

I try to be prepared! LOL. But I am also lazy sometimes...so I have to remind myself to bring things.

I loved all of your birthday celebrations and food pictures. You're not even on the trip yet!

I know, right? LOL I'm gonna be 5 lbs heavier before the vacation even starts.... but it was a lot of fun!

 

[chunkymonkey]

WE LEAVE TOMORROW!!!


1.5 Days until Disney Cruise on the Fantasy!
8.5 Days until WDW Vacation!

Doing some last minute stuff tonight! Packing all the toiletries, getting my clothes laid out for tomorrow. My dad picks us up in about 8 hours! Thanks to everyone for following along! I'm sure I'll have some time to post tomorrow while at the airport and still with wifi. I feel like I still have a lot to do....so better get around to doing it! I'll see you guys back at WDW after the cruise! If you'd like to follow along, please check out my instagram page. I probably won't be able to post much after the boat departs on Saturday but I'm definitely posting from our time at WDW!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for following along on the PTR!! And thank you for all the birthday wishes!!! I will be back soon!!
May the force be with you all!

​

 

[KathyM2]

Have a great time!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!! And I will surely follow on IG!!

 

[Dugette]

Thank you Dugette!!! And happy early birthday! How was Aulani????? (jealous) (just a little) (ok, a lot)

Thank you! And happy early birthday to you too! (You are definitely having the better celebration, haha!) All of your food pics looked awesome. Yum!

And Aulani was great - we love that place so much. Izzy was just asking me tonight if we could back there and she could play in the kids club again.

I hope you have an amazing trip! Looking forward to hearing all about it!