callahanjulie10
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2000
- Messages
- 947
Crew: Me-34, DH-40, DD-11, & DDfriend-11
This was our 5th cruise on DCL- 4th on the Magic...
We rented a van from Avis- using rental codes I got off these boards. We rented one way and got unlimited mileage. It was great- spent about $100 for total trip. We left early Friday am from Panama City Beach and arrived in Orlando right when the outlets opened! I hate it when that happens! My Dh went to BassPro and then we hit the largest McDonalds. They have some great deli like sandwiches. We left there and drove on to Cape Canveral- checked into Radisson- the earliest van was around 12 which is to late for me! We drove on over to RonJon, stopped off at Eckerds to pick up some milk and cereal for breakfast the next day. We had brought a styrofoam cooler for the trip down so we had some snacks, fruit, and drinks. We checked the van in- checked on the shuttle-and went to go and swim some. We found a coupon in the phonebook for Dominos- ordered and ate around the pool before we hit the sack! They had some kind of comvention buffet and it started getting wild and crowded. We woke up- dressed in our DCL outfits- ate our cereal and fruit and left the unopened food/drinks in the cooler for the cleaning lady and went down to check on the shuttle. We got one at about 9:50 from Avis and were the first ones at the terminal parking lot. We waited about 15 or minutes before they let us in the terminal. The girls were 2nd in line before they opened another line and moved the girls to that one! Two families were first! DH and I were in line to check in- decided to upgrade to cat4- family stateroom. I am so glad that we did this! It really was a saving grace for me! We had booked a cat 9- and I was worried since I am closterphobic- those long hallways and we were in room 2500- the very last room- in the front of the ship!
Embarking- everything went smoothly- like usual. I meet the disneymom in the terminal- as well as her DD- Kaitlyn. Really nice family. They had a cat 3- as did Stewblew. They had changed a few things since our last cruise- Memorial week 2002. You know get your embarkation pics before you go over the gangway. We had carried on our rolling cooler filled with drinks/liquor. No problems.
Onboard- We then went to let stateroom hostess know of upgrade- we had 2 items that needed to be moved from 2500 to 8592. She also let us leave carry ons- no problem. I went straight to Rockin D and got right in to make ressies for Palo- got brunch for Monday- already had High Tea with Disneymom, Stewblue, and Samsma setup. Went to Parrot and ate- saw Leo- who has been our server for 3 trips but couldn't get him for this one since we were lucky to even get Main seating. We were lucky to get Main- they changed us about 2 weeks before we left! Got our rotation- APLAPLA- hated this!! We have always had PLAPLAP and loved it. If we wouldn'thave been linked with Samsma- I think I would have changed back to late seating to get a different rotation! The girls were the first one in Goofy pool! They had it to themselves for about 20 minutes. We went to the drill- station S in Animators. Not to painful but DH never got a lifejacket! There were only 3 in our room- we had 4 people! Had a great sailaway party- then we went to get dressed for dinner. Meet Samsma and family- they were so nice. Very genuine people. Poor Sadie-4 was pooped and feel asleep before dinner was served. We were disappointed in serving team- the only negative on the cruise. We ended up not going back after Monday- we ate at Topsiders or around the pool- the girls had room service!! What a life. had great servers at Topsiders- Valentine and Noel. I didn't realize Topsiders had a limited menu though- and they went and got me lobster on Thursday!!
Had High Tea with the girls on Sunday- the Disneymom, Stewblue, DD, and mom, and Samsma. It was so nice and relazing. Everyone must have forgotten their gloves and hats though!!! I went back to Stewblues cat 3- which is amazing! The first cruise we went on we had a cat 11- which we loved! The walk in closet was enough to make me jealous- but the jacuzzi tub- the verandah! It is enough to make a girl feel faint! Amazing is the only work to describe it.
I pretty much stayed on the verandah reading while everyone else went out and about. In St Maarten- we had booked horseriding through Shortrips.com- great- is the only thing I can say. We had ridden at Bayside riding stables once before and it is still wonderful. We also did a little shopping- the girls got fake Oakleys and sarongs- DH refilled our liquor cabinet!
In St Thomas- the girls wanted to do an open air bus tour- we did this- went everyhwere- had a blast. Beautiful- this is what you think of when you hear tropical island! Got some Cruzan rum- and had driver drop us at Hard Rock. My DDfriend had never been to one- so we bought shirts and then ate. Cool- scored some points as a cool mom! Got a cab back to ship. Loved every sea day!!! Arrived at CC on July 4th. Had a blast. The girls got their hair braided- the deal we had made so that I could get some nice pictures! We found a nice tree for shade- 2 chairs and a lounge. This is the life for me- the water was fabulous. I can honestly say out of all 5 trips- this was the nicest at CC- weather wise. We had a nice lunch- sunned- swam- then went back to the ship to clean up. What a day. For the festivites- they had a balloon drop in the atruim- some balloons had prizes. Which we didn't win- but it was great. I bought a limited edition 4th of July 2003 pin and then went to purchase pics! That is one thing I don't mind splurging on. They are great- but we didn't get any from CC- they need more cameras there! Those are always my favorite.
We had packed up Thursday evening- so didn't have much to do but relax on Friday and just enjoy every minute we had left. We docked the next morning and were off the ship and at Avis at 8 am. This was a wonderful trip but probably the last on DCL for a while. We had done most of the activites/shows. We are planning a trip on the new Mariner of the Seas for 2004.
Friends- I have met some of the nicest people while cruising DCL. We meet a couple and their twins on 2nd DCL in 1999- whom we still see and try to vacation with! We meet another couple from Texas last May whom we meet up with at WDW last Thanksgivng! Then we meet Samsma/the Disneymom- whom I hope we can stay in tough with. Disney fans are some of the most friendly- family oriented- genuinly nice people.
This was our 5th cruise on DCL- 4th on the Magic...
We rented a van from Avis- using rental codes I got off these boards. We rented one way and got unlimited mileage. It was great- spent about $100 for total trip. We left early Friday am from Panama City Beach and arrived in Orlando right when the outlets opened! I hate it when that happens! My Dh went to BassPro and then we hit the largest McDonalds. They have some great deli like sandwiches. We left there and drove on to Cape Canveral- checked into Radisson- the earliest van was around 12 which is to late for me! We drove on over to RonJon, stopped off at Eckerds to pick up some milk and cereal for breakfast the next day. We had brought a styrofoam cooler for the trip down so we had some snacks, fruit, and drinks. We checked the van in- checked on the shuttle-and went to go and swim some. We found a coupon in the phonebook for Dominos- ordered and ate around the pool before we hit the sack! They had some kind of comvention buffet and it started getting wild and crowded. We woke up- dressed in our DCL outfits- ate our cereal and fruit and left the unopened food/drinks in the cooler for the cleaning lady and went down to check on the shuttle. We got one at about 9:50 from Avis and were the first ones at the terminal parking lot. We waited about 15 or minutes before they let us in the terminal. The girls were 2nd in line before they opened another line and moved the girls to that one! Two families were first! DH and I were in line to check in- decided to upgrade to cat4- family stateroom. I am so glad that we did this! It really was a saving grace for me! We had booked a cat 9- and I was worried since I am closterphobic- those long hallways and we were in room 2500- the very last room- in the front of the ship!
Embarking- everything went smoothly- like usual. I meet the disneymom in the terminal- as well as her DD- Kaitlyn. Really nice family. They had a cat 3- as did Stewblew. They had changed a few things since our last cruise- Memorial week 2002. You know get your embarkation pics before you go over the gangway. We had carried on our rolling cooler filled with drinks/liquor. No problems.
Onboard- We then went to let stateroom hostess know of upgrade- we had 2 items that needed to be moved from 2500 to 8592. She also let us leave carry ons- no problem. I went straight to Rockin D and got right in to make ressies for Palo- got brunch for Monday- already had High Tea with Disneymom, Stewblue, and Samsma setup. Went to Parrot and ate- saw Leo- who has been our server for 3 trips but couldn't get him for this one since we were lucky to even get Main seating. We were lucky to get Main- they changed us about 2 weeks before we left! Got our rotation- APLAPLA- hated this!! We have always had PLAPLAP and loved it. If we wouldn'thave been linked with Samsma- I think I would have changed back to late seating to get a different rotation! The girls were the first one in Goofy pool! They had it to themselves for about 20 minutes. We went to the drill- station S in Animators. Not to painful but DH never got a lifejacket! There were only 3 in our room- we had 4 people! Had a great sailaway party- then we went to get dressed for dinner. Meet Samsma and family- they were so nice. Very genuine people. Poor Sadie-4 was pooped and feel asleep before dinner was served. We were disappointed in serving team- the only negative on the cruise. We ended up not going back after Monday- we ate at Topsiders or around the pool- the girls had room service!! What a life. had great servers at Topsiders- Valentine and Noel. I didn't realize Topsiders had a limited menu though- and they went and got me lobster on Thursday!!
Had High Tea with the girls on Sunday- the Disneymom, Stewblue, DD, and mom, and Samsma. It was so nice and relazing. Everyone must have forgotten their gloves and hats though!!! I went back to Stewblues cat 3- which is amazing! The first cruise we went on we had a cat 11- which we loved! The walk in closet was enough to make me jealous- but the jacuzzi tub- the verandah! It is enough to make a girl feel faint! Amazing is the only work to describe it.
I pretty much stayed on the verandah reading while everyone else went out and about. In St Maarten- we had booked horseriding through Shortrips.com- great- is the only thing I can say. We had ridden at Bayside riding stables once before and it is still wonderful. We also did a little shopping- the girls got fake Oakleys and sarongs- DH refilled our liquor cabinet!
In St Thomas- the girls wanted to do an open air bus tour- we did this- went everyhwere- had a blast. Beautiful- this is what you think of when you hear tropical island! Got some Cruzan rum- and had driver drop us at Hard Rock. My DDfriend had never been to one- so we bought shirts and then ate. Cool- scored some points as a cool mom! Got a cab back to ship. Loved every sea day!!! Arrived at CC on July 4th. Had a blast. The girls got their hair braided- the deal we had made so that I could get some nice pictures! We found a nice tree for shade- 2 chairs and a lounge. This is the life for me- the water was fabulous. I can honestly say out of all 5 trips- this was the nicest at CC- weather wise. We had a nice lunch- sunned- swam- then went back to the ship to clean up. What a day. For the festivites- they had a balloon drop in the atruim- some balloons had prizes. Which we didn't win- but it was great. I bought a limited edition 4th of July 2003 pin and then went to purchase pics! That is one thing I don't mind splurging on. They are great- but we didn't get any from CC- they need more cameras there! Those are always my favorite.
We had packed up Thursday evening- so didn't have much to do but relax on Friday and just enjoy every minute we had left. We docked the next morning and were off the ship and at Avis at 8 am. This was a wonderful trip but probably the last on DCL for a while. We had done most of the activites/shows. We are planning a trip on the new Mariner of the Seas for 2004.
Friends- I have met some of the nicest people while cruising DCL. We meet a couple and their twins on 2nd DCL in 1999- whom we still see and try to vacation with! We meet another couple from Texas last May whom we meet up with at WDW last Thanksgivng! Then we meet Samsma/the Disneymom- whom I hope we can stay in tough with. Disney fans are some of the most friendly- family oriented- genuinly nice people.
