8/26/07 Wonder (L&S) If it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing.

[pamouselover]

Great picture! Did you think the stingray was worth it? I am wondering if my DS ans DD would like it.

 

[Tink rules]

Great TR!!!

Just a hint... and I know it costs a bit more... but Clinique has an incredible sun spray - it doesn't come out in a spray line... and I have NEVER burned with it. Tell DW also that it is incredible for using on her face and I never break out or anything from using it... it's @ $15 a bottle but it really does go pretty far.

They sell it in SPF 15 and 30

http://www.clinique.com/templates/p...l?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4923&PRODUCT_ID=PROD588

 

[TyTysMommy]

I'm enjoying the TR. Please post more!

 

[DAggiesRWe]

Great picture! Did you think the stingray was worth it? I am wondering if my DS ans DD would like it.

I thought it was well worth it for three reasons:

1. Part of the fee you pay for the excursion supports the Disney Wildlife Fund. Which is used to support wildlife conservation projects around the world. Here's more info:

http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/dwcf/index.html

2. It is a chance to get "up close and personal" with these totally foreign creatures, and to see them more-or-less in their environment (as opposed to a zoo or aquarium). When we first walked out the track, they were swimming around everyone's ankles like a pack of excited puppy dogs. They are very soft to the touch. After the feeding, take the opportunity to snorkel and watch how gracefully they move through the water. I could have watched them all day.

3. It is a great opportunity for your kids, and is about as safe as they can make it. The rays have their barb removed (their area is completely fenced off from predators, so they have no need for it), so the chance of being stung goes from minimal to non-existent. This will be an experience they will never forget. Plus if they pay attention at all, they will learn something about sea life and may just spark an interest to learn more.

In case you couldn't guess, I highly recommend this excursion. However, I would think twice about the full "Extreme Getaway Package".

Great TR!!!

Just a hint... and I know it costs a bit more... but Clinique has an incredible sun spray - it doesn't come out in a spray line... and I have NEVER burned with it. Tell DW also that it is incredible for using on her face and I never break out or anything from using it... it's @ $15 a bottle but it really does go pretty far.

They sell it in SPF 15 and 30

http://www.clinique.com/templates/pr...T _ID=PROD588

Thanks for the tip. We will look into that next time (although I don't know how much sun we will be getting in December). The other thing we will do is make sure we put at least one coat on before leaving the room in the morning.

I'm enjoying the TR. Please post more!

Glad you are enjoying. I am working on the Pirate Night report. To whet the appetite, here are a few "teaser" topics:

A sleepy pirate reaches the end of his rope.
Can we do this again?
Big Bad John
Oceaneer's Graduation
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Is there such a thing as too much Disney?
Champagne, moonlight and sleeping kids.
Happy Birthday to me
Bonus day at WDW

And of course, what TR would be complete without the list of tips and hints.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Glad to see you have caught up with my TR--Now we are on the same day. The end is getting close and I feel like I have left so much out.

 

[kaysmommie]

I love your trip report! The cruise sounds wonderful. You have me looking at itineraries and prices for fall of 2008. Do you happen to have any pics of your stateroom set up for sleeping. I don't know if my DD would sleep on a bunk since she moves around alot in her sleep. I know the pull out only sleeps one person . So not sure which Stateroom category would work. Waiting for the rest

 

[DAggiesRWe]

I love your trip report! The cruise sounds wonderful. You have me looking at itineraries and prices for fall of 2008. Do you happen to have any pics of your stateroom set up for sleeping. I don't know if my DD would sleep on a bunk since she moves around alot in her sleep. I know the pull out only sleeps one person . So not sure which Stateroom category would work. Waiting for the rest

Darn. I was just looking through my pictures and realized that we never did get a photo with the beds made up. Heck, most of the photos of the room are incidental to pictures of other things, and we never got a good picture of the length of the room showing the door, etc.

Oh well, something else to get a picture of on our next trip.

The top bunk has rails so the only really open area is at the ladder (which is on the end away from the divider curtain. DS7 also moves a lot in his sleep and he did fine in the top bunk.

The sofa also converts to a bed (both of them are twin-sized) which gives another option closer to the floor.

 

[DAggiesRWe]

Before I go further, I would like to express here the same suggestion I made on the comment card and in an email to the DCL. I wish for the 4-night cruise that they would make Day 3 at sea (and then have the PItC party that night) and then have Castaway Cay on Day 4. People are so exhausted and sunburned from the day at CC that they end up missing one of the highlight events of the cruise . From reading Wally's TR, I think he would agree that this would have been a better schedule. Anyway, back to the report...

So, after we finished rubbing the cooling aloe onto each other , it was time to get into our pirate costumes for dinner. Tonight is Parrot Cay. We missed the regular night at PC (something for next trip), and are looking forward to seeing how done-up things will be for the dinner. On the way, we stop and pose for a family portrait. Thank goodness Shutters is there because I forgot to bring the camera.

DW grabs a couple of the bandanas and a menu and shoves them into her bag for her scrapbook. We don’t need the bandanas, since we are already in costume, but our tablemates do agree to wear them so they don’t feel too out of place. DW and I are still full from lunch, but we do manage to top off the tanks with our dinner and then get pushed over the top with the “Lost Banana Treasure” desert and even got in my Captain Jack Sparrow impersonation asking the server “But why are you burning the rum?” . A rock/salsa version of "A Pirate's Life for Me" starts coming from the loudspeakers and Mariana comes by and grabs the boys to dance. Romy grabs me from behind and I am soon in line dancing along with the rest of the pirates while DW and the rest of our tablemates laugh along .

After dinner, we trudge back to the room to get the camera and then make our way down to the Walt Disney Theater for the Golden Mickeys show. Tonight we got there early to get our seats in the middle right in front of the sound and lighting desk. These seats make for a good view of the show, but if you are there early enough you should sit on the aisle near the walkway halfway down in the theater (you might get to participate in part of the show). The show itself was good and had some really great moments, but overall there really wasn’t enough of a storyline to hold it together. DW and I aren’t big fans of award shows in general so add this to our being exhausted from the day in the sun, and you can see why we voted this our least favorite show. We did enjoy the Cruella DeVille number though:

Warning…less than “Disney” moment coming.

DS7 and I are butting heads from the minute we leave the theater (we are both exhausted, and probably should be in bed at this point). As tired as we are, I am determined that we are going to make it to the Pirates IN the Caribbean party. So we get up to Deck 9 and DS7 starts begging me for one of the light-up toys and I tell him no (not because I’m trying to be cheap, but because I am cranky and don’t want to deal with the crowd at the light stand). Well, he keeps begging and I keep saying no and eventually the situation turns ugly (with him in tears, DS11 actively avoiding me, DW giving me a look that says “you are going to walk the plank, even if I have to make one” ). Reality hits me in the face (like a 2x4) and I take DS7 out of the traffic path and he and I have a well-deserved cry as I explain that I am not mad at him and am sorry that I yelled at him, and wouldn’t he rather get an arcade card tomorrow (and faster than the electrons in the machines, I go from being the world’s worst dad to the best). I have a bit more sympathy for those parents I have seen at WDW yelling at their kids(and swore that I would never let this happen again).

We return to our spots by the Deck 10 rail, and by now the music is starting to crank up for the party. DW looks down, and DS7 is getting the nods and can barely keep his eyes open, so she tells me she is going to take him to the room and that DS11 and I should let her know how the party went. Unfortunately, the batteries in the camera chose that time to die so I don’t have any pictures, but DS11 and I got into the singing and dancing, the booing of Captain Hook and the other pirates attempting to take over the ship, and cheering when Captain Mickey came swinging in for the rescue. We oooed and ahhed at the fireworks , and both of us agreed to head back to the room right after they were done.

We got back, DW said that DS7 was snoring as soon as his head hit the pillow and she watched the fireworks from the balcony. We decided to forego our trip to Cove Café (Gede and Christina would have to hold down the fort without us), and within minutes we had both joined our boys in dreamland.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

I agree that the schedule you suggested would work better. I'm happy to say that no when we go though we get two days at CC. Burned like a potato or not it was still the best part of the trip for us. I know what you mean about being burned and a bit grumpy.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I am really enjoying your trip report! Thank you for all the tips you are offering. I'm in the process of planning my first cruise right now and I'm trying to do all the research ahead of time!

 

[Dopey'sMAMA]

Hi there Tracie! It's Tracy from the cruise! We met at the pool....I was on the cruise with my niece! Hope all is well and you are having a good winter!

Hi Tracy! Isn't this a great TR! We are staying at the AKV this April, I'm so excited I'm ready for Spring, we haven't really had snow, just Freezing temp

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I read you trip report from start to finish. I am soo excited. We booked the 4 day DCL trip for April of 2009 through Small World Vacations (because of Mary's recommendation). I actually know nothing about DCL. I feel lost. First thing first, I need to order that DVD. Second, How do I find about excursions? Third, I need to think about those door magnets. Anyway, great report.

 

[kaysmommie]

Darn. I was just looking through my pictures and realized that we never did get a photo with the beds made up. Heck, most of the photos of the room are incidental to pictures of other things, and we never got a good picture of the length of the room showing the door, etc.

Oh well, something else to get a picture of on our next trip.

The top bunk has rails so the only really open area is at the ladder (which is on the end away from the divider curtain. DS7 also moves a lot in his sleep and he did fine in the top bunk.

The sofa also converts to a bed (both of them are twin-sized) which gives another option closer to the floor.

Thanks anyway though. I have never seen a picture of how high the bunk is. The soaf bed will work but DS3 will proably sleep there and DD would be stuck with the bunk. She would proabaly end up sleeping in between DH and I if the bunk is too high.

Great update, love the pirate night outfits.

 

[DAggiesRWe]

Thanks anyway though. I have never seen a picture of how high the bunk is. The soaf bed will work but DS3 will proably sleep there and DD would be stuck with the bunk. She would proabaly end up sleeping in between DH and I if the bunk is too high.

Great update, love the pirate night outfits.

The bunk isn't too high really. It comes down from the ceiling about 3 feet or so with the area in the ceiling where the bed fits into open (DS7 was able to sit up without hitting his head). This puts the matress about 4 to 4.5 feet above the floor which is actually about a foot lower than the standard top bunk.

Heck, as exhausted as she will probably be from all the activities you probably don't have anything to worry about because she will be sleeping very soundly.

 

[nezy]

Thanks anyway though. I have never seen a picture of how high the bunk is. The soaf bed will work but DS3 will proably sleep there and DD would be stuck with the bunk. She would proabaly end up sleeping in between DH and I if the bunk is too high.

Great update, love the pirate night outfits.

There is a link from another trip report-this person had some pics from the cabin w/bunks. I'll try to link--but I am challenged in this area.

http://picasaweb.google.com/thebrownfamily.us/DisneyCruiseTheStateroom

 

[kaysmommie]

There is a link from another trip report-this person had some pics from the cabin w/bunks. I'll try to link--but I am challenged in this area.

http://picasaweb.google.com/thebrownfamily.us/DisneyCruiseTheStateroom

Thanks

 

[carone0318]

I am thoroughly enjoying your TR. Glad that you mentioned that Castaway Cay has bikes with training wheels - my ds would need them.

My kids will be the same age as yours for our cruise in Aug. Dd will be 11, turning 12 in Sept and ds turns 7 this Valentine's Day. I am a little concerned about them being in different "clubs." Dd will love it, but ds will want to be with dd. Don't know how much club time will be happening.

Anyways - great TR, sounds like a great trip!

 

[DAggiesRWe]

I am thoroughly enjoying your TR. Glad that you mentioned that Castaway Cay has bikes with training wheels - my ds would need them.

My kids will be the same age as yours for our cruise in Aug. Dd will be 11, turning 12 in Sept and ds turns 7 this Valentine's Day. I am a little concerned about them being in different "clubs." Dd will love it, but ds will want to be with dd. Don't know how much club time will be happening.

Anyways - great TR, sounds like a great trip!

Thanks for the nice words and welcome aboard.

You may be surprised with how much time your DS wants to spend in the club. A good amount of "Club" time was actually spent in the Lab or in some of the other areas of the ship especially with the 7-8 y.o. group. One thing that helps is to go over your Navigator each night to tell them about all the fun things they will be doing in the Club the next day. Don't let either of them miss the Graduation Ceremony (more on this in my next report).

BTW to those following this saga, I am sorry to take a little longer to get to the next installment, but I have been suffering from a stomach flu for the past few days. I'm better now, and have my Disney attitude back and want to return to the Wonder (mentally even if I have to wait until December to do it physically).

Please stay tuned...

 

[gwcollins71]

Thanks for the nice words and welcome aboard.

BTW to those following this saga, I am sorry to take a little longer to get to the next installment, but I have been suffering from a stomach flu for the past few days. I'm better now, and have my Disney attitude back and want to return to the Wonder (mentally even if I have to wait until December to do it physically).

Please stay tuned...

Please get better. I am waiting for the next installment. I can't think of anything bettert than reading more while enjoying a hot cup of cocoa during the Chicagoland blizzards today.

Gretchen

 

[PA Princess]

We will be cruising in Sept on the magic-special 5 day, 2days at CC. I'm just hoping I will be finished reading your report before then!

JK: I am enjoying it all and the thorough detail and tidbits, like being able to sign the kids up for Oceaneers Club in the terminal before 12:30. That is a great thing to know. Also, if you don't mind I am going to put in a request--I have 3 children ages(at the time of the cruise will be) 13(DS), 12(DS) and 10(DD). The 13 year old is not sure about the teen club thing. He definately seems to be a little in between --too old for one club and too young for the teen/club, what did your sons like to do? Please feel free to add this info when you get to that part of the Trip Report

Thank You.

Hello Nezy! We also will be sailing on the 5 day cruise this September AND we also have two boys ages 12 and 13 (well they actually turn 13 and 14 literally a day and two days before the cruise). I just wanted to say hello since we have kids similar ages on the same cruise