5 Night Dream 29 June 2012,(Day 1 part 1 & 2)

[Skyw]

Hi everyone. We just got back from an awesome cruise.
I am putting together my review right now. But first I have a dumb disboard question....How do I add links to this post for the different days. So that you only have to click on the the words "day 2" and it will go to that post.

Edit: Got the answer.....

Get the url address for your trip report and copy it.
For Chapter links click on the post # in the right hand corner it opens up a new screen and you can copy that URL.

Go to edit your signature, or edit on your first post, and then type out the name of your Trip Report or Chapter and highlight it.

Click on the link icon . Paste your url address there, then click okay.


Pretrip Report

Day 1-The Drive from Columbus.

Day 2, To JAX

The Big Reveal

At the Disney Terminal


Day 1 part 1

DAY 1 part 2

 

[juliebug1997]

No idea, but hi!!!! We were on that cruise!!!!!!

 

[Skyw]

Hi Juliebug.

Did you have fun? I am having dessert withdrawals now!!!

 

[juliebug1997]

Well, the desserts were okay. We're missing the room service oatmeal raisin cookies and Mickey Bars. We got a dozen delivered the last day and downed them pretty quickly.

Were you guys first dining rotation or second? We love Animator's Palate!!!!

 

[Skyw]

first. We loved AP but didn't "love" food. It was the only meal that we thought was just OK. But we LOVED crush!!!!

 

[iloverags2]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Skyw]

Day 1-

Finally the day had come!!!! We were on the road by 8am heading to Chattanooga and then past Atlanta!!!! I was so incredible excited. To the best of my knowledge my DS still did not know we was going on a cruise.

The best part about driving is that I did not have be on a time line. I didn’t realize what a pain going to the airport was and the stress of it all. Especially nowadays. This was the first time we drove. And I liked it.

First stop was just north of Nashville for lunch. It was the last wholesome meal that we were going to have for the next 8 days. And I was Happy.


By 2pm we arrived in Chattanooga. And what a great stop that was. We went to the aquarium (ignore the laser eyes!!LOL! It is my zombie family. )

and ate at Mellow Mushroom.

The aquarium was really fun with lots of huge freshwater critters. And Mellow Mushroom was the best pizza ever!!!!

We hopped back in the car and was hoping to make it thru Atlanta after rush hour. It was about 7pm and we only got in a little bit of traffic down town.

About 8pm we stopped at a really nice Courtyard south of Atlanta. I will dig up the town when I can find my other notes. Definitely worth stopping at again.

A few more pics

Traffic in Atlanta.

 

[jedijill]

Can't wait to hear all about it.

Jill in CO

 

[AAshleySEG]

Looking forward to reading about your cruise! My DH and I are going on the Dream 5 Night Double Dip on August 19th! I can't wait! It was funny as I was reading the Day 1, I noticed you guys went to an aquarium and Nashville, did you know there was an Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville? We went to it awhile back, but it made me think of it...LOL Anyways, can't wait to read more!

 

[Skyw]

Looking forward to reading about your cruise! My DH and I are going on the Dream 5 Night Double Dip on August 19th! I can't wait! It was funny as I was reading the Day 1, I noticed you guys went to an aquarium and Nashville, did you know there was an Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville? We went to it awhile back, but it made me think of it...LOL Anyways, can't wait to read more!

I had no idea there was an aquarium with a restaurant in Nashville. We lived in Clarksville Tn for 4 years, but that was 10 years ago.

 

[Skyw]

Can't wait to hear all about it.

Jill in CO

Thanks. Welcome.

 

[Skyw]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

welcome

 

[Skyw]

Well, the desserts were okay. We're missing the room service oatmeal raisin cookies and Mickey Bars. We got a dozen delivered the last day and downed them pretty quickly.

Were you guys first dining rotation or second? We love Animator's Palate!!!!

Ohhh, the Mickey Bars.....yummy.

 

[Skyw]

Day 2-

It was a pretty uneventful drive to Jacksonville Florida. Staying at a wonderful Courtyard off of Monument Drive. Courtyard does not include breakfast in its price. However, we paid about $20 less then expected. They do have a really nice café where you can order meals. I preferred this to the included buffet for many reason. The main is that I am not fighting for food as it runs out. I just got a couple of oatmeal’s (with nuts, brown sugar and berries) and cereal for DS. It cost less them the $20 I saved.

We met up with my Navy daughter and got the chance to see where she works.

This is her ship the USS Roosevelt.

Family Picture

We headed to Olive Garden for dinner and said our Goodbyes until the morning.
I did not sleep much that night. OMGosh. I was soooo excited. My husband felt my eyes boring thru him about 6am in the morning. I was just laying there waiting to get up!!! If you read my pretrip report you will know that I am the one that wanted to go on the cruise. My DH was just supporting my addiction. So he was sleeping wonderfully all night. (Love 'em)

DSD showed up by 8:15 and we were on the road towards the Dream…………. It was the longest 2.5 hours in my life!!!

 

[pooksma]

Great start! Looking forward to details about the reveal and the rest of your report

 

[Skyw]

Finally, on the road. The ride was uneventful until about half hour out. I was jumping around the front seat. DS still did not know where we were going. By this time my DSD was dying too. We were talking about 100 mile per hour. And the moment happened…..

We drove off of US95 to A1A. My heart was pounding…..I grabbed my camera and started filming him.

It went like this…

“ So lets look at around and see if we see anything we haven’t seen before”

Up over the first bridge, I can barely see the stacks from the Dream and DS sees a bird.

Then back to land. He still sees birds, cool cars but no Dream.
Really? Now we are on the second bridge. I can really see the Dream now!! But DS still only see boats, cool cars and birds. So we redirect his eyes to the front of the car. (Take note future surprisers…..they can’t see in front of the car very well) . A few more birds, cool cars and buildings get pointed out. Finally, he sees the ship. And yells, A Disney ship!!!! I could hardly contain myself and blurted out “ we are going on that ship”!!!!!! And I start to cry. Really, I did. He yelled and carried on like crazy . He was also in a bit of shock. (More on that later).

I have a video but am clueless on how to download to Youtube. Hopefully, I will figure it out soon so I can share his excitement with you guys!!!

So we drive past the ship. I am looking for the Park and Cruise. During the reveal, DH was trying to tell me that we just past it. I was clueless. Normally I have all of that stuff locked up tight. Not this time. I was experiencing a large amount of pain from the nerve damage on my face. It started 2 days prior to going and stayed with me until the second day of the cruise. So many of the details that I normally take care of, well, went undone. And that included the location of the Park and Cruise. So for you, because I love the Disboards, here is the location of the Park and Cruise.

and a link http://parkcruise.com/

Because I was holding the video camera, there are no photos yet!!! Next will be parking, luggage, check in and getting on. It took a whole half hour.

 

[Toria]

I love hearing about surprises and watching them!

 

[addieandaidan]

So much fun, can't wait to hear more.

 

[Skyw]

I love hearing about surprises and watching them!

Me too!!! But I just about blew it!!! It was so hard to keep that secret!!!!

Hopefully the video will be up tomorrow.

 

[iloverags2]

Oh, how fun! I would never be able to hold a surprise like that in!