9/16-10/3 The trip that dreams are made of....

[Minniespal]

Enjoying ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[DisneyObsession]

Somehow I missed your trip to "Hell" and the sea turtle excursion. What a great day!!!

Can't wait for more!!!

 

[momoftriplets]

Hey Sweetie! Just checking in. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope all is well! We miss you!

 

[jaycns]

After a short delay...our day at Cozumel is up next. Disney Magic, day 5, our Mexican adventures.

When we awoke the sun was shining and we were slowly approaching Cozumel, Mexico. Numerous announcements were being made about a "ta-do" that was going to be taking place at the pier. We were told that Mexican officials and Disney officials would be taking part in a pier reopening ceremony. We were the first ship being allowed to dock at the newly repaired pier (a hurricane had closed the pier and before our ship docked it had been a tender only situation). ANYHOO....we heard the announcements and really thought very little of it as we were there to have fun and enjoy ourselves on the beach for the day...however later on we heard that the official was actually the president of Mexico and that the "little ta-do" had actually been a huge thing. Just goes to show how oblivious one can be when focused on getting to the beach!!

But enough about the ta-do that we didn't even attend. Our day was to be spent with our dear family friends at Paradise Beach. WOO HOO I don't think a more beautiful beach adorns the island. This place is a real paradise...complete with something for everyone in the family...but I am getting ahead of myself .

Once we walked out of the restricted area on the pier we were quickly approached by offers for tours etc. We actually chose to take one man up on his offer. He offered to take both of our families in one van (there were 10 of us total) anywhere we wanted all day long. He charged us $75 USD as a flat fee for the entire day and he would remain and wait for us as long as we wished at any stop. Before meeting Tomas we had planned on only going to Paradise Beach...but with our own personal tour guide, we figured we might want to expand a bit...

We asked him to give us a short tour on our way to the beach. He (like the guide we had hired the day before on Grand Cayman) was supremely helpful and his van was WAY cleaner then my van at home and the air was nice and cool. The way we figured it, a one way ride to the beach would have been about $30 for all 10 of us...the ride back would have been the same. This way we paid an extra $15 and had our own "friend for hire" (I swear, this is what "Aladdin" and "Abu" took to calling him...let's hope their was a language barrier and nobody thought they were talking about "those" kind of friends).

So on our way to Paradise Beach we took the scenic route...and it was eye opening and stunning. The eye opening part came when he pointed out that we were going through the "nice" part of town where the doctors, lawyers and other "professionals" lived. The "not so nice" parts of town in our part of the world rivaled them...with the exception of how clean it was...Cozumel was sparkling clean! What an eye opener for the kids. I want my boys to grow up and KNOW they are blessed. I don't want them to take anything for granted...I think that portion of the drive served that purpose very well! I cannot say how clean this area was though or how even though the standard of living was very different from what most people in the US are used too...it was still a very welcoming place and I would not have been afraid to be walking with the kids through the area.

And then we swung out along the coast...WOW, this is where the stunning came in.

This is also where I started having my dreams of a home along the Cozumel ocean front drive...

According to our guide, homes like the above are currently going for about $150,000-$300,000...thoughts of selling our home and buying one of these instead swirled throughout my head. With beautiful homes like those (my pictures once again do not do justice to the beauty of the homes) and BEAUTIFUL views like these...

It was hard to not want to become a home owner in beautiful Cozumel! Keep in mind, dh is much more level headed then I am and he kept me from abandoning everything I knew in favor of a home along the Mexican Caribbean (do I thank him or thump him for that one?? ).

My reality pursuits on hold, I was ever so ready to hit the beach!! Pulling into Paradise Beach this is what we saw...the landscaping was BEAUTIFUL!!

Upon arrival we staked out our spots on comfy beach chairs and paid our $9 per person fee for an arm band that would allow us to use all the beach had to offer. Which was a ton!! They had kayaks, snorkeling equipment, a huge trampoline out in the water, an iceberg (ie inflatable climbing structure) out in water (dh LOVED this), and floats. A great deal! Especially for us, we took advantage of all the beach had to offer. "Goofy" spent his day snorkeling. He didn't ever want to stop! "Aladdin" and "Abu" split there time between the water trampoline, the kayaks, snorkeling and just splashing around in the waves. Dh loved the climbing iceberg and climbed to the top and then jumped into the ocean over and over and over again. "Stitch" spent his day with "Cinderella"...they built sand castle after sand castle and took a few turns snorkeling. My favorite part of the day was lounging on the beach, drinking a margarita and eating shrimp cerviche (fresh jumbo shrimp chunks, cilantro, tomatoes, onions and lime served with fresh tortilla chips). OH MY GOODNESS...better food I have never had!! **YES, the ice and water were filtered and I would highly recommend anyone looking for a beach to spend time on in Cozumel to head over to Paradise Beach**.
Here are "Aladdin" and "Abu" when they came up for air.

While the boys played away on the beach and in the surf, I went over to the stand and had my entire head braided (and beads and beaded flowers at the crown of my head) for $50...a real deal compared to the cost for the same service on the ship or at Castaway Cay. And the combs were soaking in disinfectant...that is always a plus!

Here is the after picture of my new hairdo!

Paradise Beach was clean, the staff was friendly (and I felt downright decadent with my feet in the sand and the water lapping at my toes eating/drinking what they brought me), there was no high pressure selling of anything, one little wristband got you a whole day's worth of fun (and it cost less then $10 person), the water was calm and an almost unreal shade of jewel blue and well, it was just as close to heaven as you get down here on earth! **This may be grounds for being hung by my fingernails BUT...I think Paradise Beach is even more relaxing then the beaches at Castaway Cay....**


After spending about 4 and 1/2 hours at Paradise Beach we went and found Tomas who was waiting for us in the shade in the front. We dried off and hopped in and headed out. Now that we had enjoyed a day at the beach we were ready to stop and see Tomas's top suggestion, some ancient Aztec ruins.

While the ruins at this particular site were not on a grand scale (just the one small structure) but for a quick peek, it was just right. Along with the ruins there was a small open air church that was quaint and very pretty. Also, there was a small row of open air shops where I found some "must have" buys. And yes, I did do a bit of getting the prices dropped...but really, they were so cheap to begin with that I wouldn't have cared to pay full price...but one should always follow local customs .

On our way back to the port we saw these little soccer players and "Aladdin" (our soccer obsessed son) was in heaven seeing his favorite sport being played in another country.

Upon our return we did a bit of exploring in the mall across from the pier.

We stumbled across a man who would let you pose with his parrots for a small fee (I think it was $12 for 8 pictures on your own camera or 2 printed off taken with his). You will notice the absence of "Stitch". As you can tell by now, pictures (for some strange reason) set him off...well, after an entire day of new things...he was having no more "new" for him at all!

Above are my two favorite photos.

After this shot we made our way back to the ship. About 15 minutes after we made it back, the skies opened up and it started to pour! I was ever so glad that I was back in our dry room starting to get ready for dinner...tonight would be the Disney Magic's Pirates IN the Caribbean dinner and party...we were all looking forward to it!

However, those nifty braids I had gotten? I "had" to take out the back braids, they were starting to give me a headache. ISH...the ones on the top and sides were fine but the ones pulling at the back of my head? Nope, not gonna keep them...those little stinkers had to come out...so with only 45 minutes to go before dinner dh and I started to unweave those tightly done braids. 44 minutes later the last of the back of the head braids were finally out and the prepared cruisers we were (thanks to spending tons of time here on the DIS) we were all "pirated up" and ready to take on pirate night.

Coming up next...pirate night...TO BE CONTINUED!!

 

[jaycns]

OMG...your family portrait is fantastic!!! They definately do a professional job, but I guess that would be easy with such a nice looking family!

Thanks!! And they do GREAT work! And no sitting fees!

They do such a great job!

 

[jaycns]

Another great installment!!! Reading your TR is like taking a mini-vacation by myself for a few minutes every installment! I'm lovin' it!!!

Why thanks! What a sweet thing to say!

 

[Poohbear77]

I think the progression of my face went a little like this...
WHAT did she just say??!! Hmm...did she really just ask me if I wanted to go to Hell...I wonder what she means Hmm...it might be fun...it must be something other people have enjoyed...she couldn't really mean "HELL" could she?? Hmm...this is crazy but let's just say yes. I hope she is not one of satan's helpers...wonder what she means. Oh sure...let's try it out...what is it again did you say? Well...LET'S GO!!!



When we got there I was ... it was so beautiful!!

Just how I pictured it!!!

Also, thank you for the pictures of Cozumel, they are breathtaking. Just looking at them makes me relax!!

You are doing so great. thank you for keeping up with the trip report. i really look forward to reading them

 

[jaycns]

Hey Sweetie! Just checking in. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope all is well! We miss you!

Just wrote an update...POST #254 on page 15...our day in Cozumel. Tomorrow I will work on Pirate Night! Thanks for checking in!!

NEW INSTALLMENT ON PAGE 15...our day in Cozumel

 

[MouseTriper]

Sounds like you guys had a GREAT time at the beach!! Love the pictures of the birds on the heads. Very cute. Can't wait to see pics of the Pirate night!
Thanks for writing such a fun and exciting TR!

 

[paigevz]

Sounds like a fun beach!!!!

I love your parrot head pics...............

 

[fynook12]

Great pictures of Cozumel!!! Thanks a million for posting this wonderful TR!! I am so into it. The 7 night West. cruise is the one that i really want to do, so i'm really enjoying all of the pictures and info that your sharing about it! And, now thanks to you i will definetly be making a point to do Paradise Beach!!!! Can't wait to read about the Pirate party. I liked your hair BTW!! That's a great deal, considering all the work that goes into braids! Keep the awesome recaps coming.

 

[jaycns]

Disney Magic Day 5 continued....ARGH...here come the pirates ...

Painful braids out and "good" braids left in we were ready to swash buckle our way into the festive dining room. Tonight we would once again dine at Lumiere's...such a beautiful place to dine! However this night it would be less about beautiful china and rose adorned chandeliers and more about skulls and crossbones. This first picture shows "Abu" in the black cap, our own "Aladdin" as Capt. Jack and "Goofy" as pirate Mickey. They were loving pirate night! What little boy wouldn't?!

So as not to forget our youngest little scallywag...here is "Stitch" in his pirate best.

Of course, I am too big of a kid at heart to pass up the chance to dress up like a pirate on a ship sailing in the Caribbean...so waa laa...dh and I ala pirate duds.

Dinner was great! Once again and amazing job was done by the chef and his crew! And of course by our servers!! It may be time to restate just how much our entire family (and the other family we were traveling with) LOVED our head server, Teddy!! I honestly got teary at the thought of leaving him I(maybe it was very selfish, but I like people who cater to my every whim ). Again, I have trouble placing just what we ate...but I know it was good! And I remember that everything had some sort of piratey or Caribbean name attached to it.

The bandanna you see dh wearing was left at his place. Everyone had a bandanna and a "treasure map" (which was really a menu, shame on me for not being able to find mine right now). I didn't wear mine because I wanted to show off my pirate braids!

Here is yet another shot of "Aladdin" and "Abu". "Aladdin" told us thank you about every 15 minutes for bringing his best friend along...I was so happy to see him so happy!

"Goofy" and "Stitch" once again dined on pizza. By now, Teddy knew to bring them a heaping plate full (they find some mysterious place to store massive amounts of pizza in their bean pole bodies).
Below is a picture of "Stitch" eating (what else?!) pizza. Within three minutes of the first picture...he looked the way he did in picture number 2.

"Stitch" was so tired after our day in Mexico that he feel asleep while holding a slice of pizza. It was so funny (and a tad bit cute if I do say so myself). The poor guy missed the pirate parade, the strolling mariachi band (who had come aboard in Cozumel to play for us at dinner that night) and all of the rest of the festivities.
"Stitch" slept right through being carried out of Lumière's and on the way to our much anticipated meeting of Capt. Jack Sparrow himself!!

The other boys though tired managed to walk down to see the good ol' Capt. Jack.

Notice that "Stitch" is still asleep...we just couldn't get him to wake up.

After fighting Jack off (he tried to steal my "gold" pirate hoop...he also made motions at my rings) and getting our picture taken, we started to head out of the area. "Aladdin" took up to talking with another interesting pirate and we must have spent a good 10 minutes waiting while they talked of all things pirate. It was really cute to watch "Aladdin" acting like a buccaneer!

Would "Stitch" ever wake up?? Would anyone else fall asleep? What would the pirate party hold for us? To be continued...

 

[paigevz]

All those cherries in Abu's drink reminds me of my son, Thing 1. Thing 1 loved cherries sooo much. When he was 5, we took a trip to New Orleans.......our family, my parents, both brothers. Anyway, we went into a restaurant down in the French Quarter, and were waiting near the bar for our table. Thing 1 slipped onto one of the high bar stools there, and was just spinning it and sitting. We were standing just there, but all talking, and the Zydeco was going...........so it was loud. All of a sudden, the bartender plops a tall glass in front of Thing 1. It was loaded with cherries.............he said, "There you are sir". He looked at us and said, "The gentleman ordered a lemonade with 20 cherries".

And he had! And the bartender had given him 20 cherries in that glass. It was soooo funny!

I like the pirate party. Little sleepy Stitch. I predict Goofy will fall asleep soon..........he looks sleepy.

 

[jaycns]

To answer two of the last questions I posed...yes, "Stitch" did finally wake up and yes, somebody else did need to take a nap, "Goofy" had finally hit his own wall. Dh took "Goofy" back to the cabin for a quick refresher and a newly awake "Stitch", "Aladdin" and myself went to visit some pirate characters and have our pictures made with them. Below are the results.

The boys had so much fun with the characters!! I loved watching the boys interact with the characters...it was a swashbuckling good time!
After about a half hour with our furry friends (and a short walk out on deck to take in the night air) we went back to the room to check on "Goofy" and dh and see if everyone was up and ready for the party...

Look who greeted us at the door!

"Goofy" was ready to party!! Which made "Stitch" very happy!

We made our way up to deck 9 and this is what we saw...

We took those pictures as we made our way to the stage area. We got very lucky! We were able to stand right up at the rope...that's it...a small rope stood between us and the stage...my boys were in heaven! Another lucky thing is we were right next to the lane they left open for characters to come and go in, so we were not packed in tight like sardines. Some others closer to the middle looked like they didn't have room to breathe much less to dance. This was NOT a problem for our boys! The clapped and they jammed and they twirled and they "got down"...it was great fun watching them. I think (if one were watching us) you would have seen even myself doing a few dance moves...it was hard not to "get in the groove" with a stage full of pirates and characters commanding you too! It was such great fun! One of the best moments of the show was when "Stitch" made a pirate girlfriend. This dancer kept coming over to him OVER and OVER and OVER and making cute little comments...like "That's the pirate for me" in the middle of her dances. It was so cute! Almost every character and pirate made their way over to high five, "dance at" or otherwise interact with the boys at the front of the rope but this one pirate "wench"...she was in with "Stitch" and he was in with her! It was another favorite moment to add to my forever memory scrapbook

After a few warm up dances the party got kicked into high gear...

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[jaycns]

We were enjoying the party in all of it's ship shape goodness until a band of pirates took command of the ship and really got the party started!!

Thank goodness that Capt. Mickey was close at hand to save the day...he swooped down on a zip line and regained control of the ship!

And then some pure magic on the Magic...fireworks at sea!!

After Mickey put the pirates in their place, he let them stay and dance a few last dances with everyone...

Hip Hip Hooray for Mickey Mouse!!

After the dance party ended we made our way over to the buffet that was set up along the outside of the deck...being one of the first in line has it's benefits! We had an entire dessert buffet and midnight snack buffet full of pirate fare at our fingertips. The desserts were sort of "in shadow" so it was hard to see what you were choosing (hint hint Disney) but it was all good. The pirate munchies hit the spot too...dh and "Stitch" shared a turkey leg (all good pirates rip the meat off of a turkey leg with their teeth...ARGH and I had a fajita.

After we finished our food we were up and making our way back to our room before most people had even been served. It had been a VERY long day. A happy day full of many wonderful things...but a long day none the less so we made our way back to the room and feel quickly asleep, dreaming of the day at sea that was to be our day when we awoke!!


TO BE CONTINUED....up next our second day at sea

**I will be busy with family over the next week or so with Thanksgiving and visiting family/having family over but I do promise an update as soon as I get the chance! THANKS FOR READING and have a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!!**

 

[jaycns]

All those cherries in Abu's drink reminds me of my son, Thing 1. Thing 1 loved cherries sooo much. When he was 5, we took a trip to New Orleans.......our family, my parents, both brothers. Anyway, we went into a restaurant down in the French Quarter, and were waiting near the bar for our table. Thing 1 slipped onto one of the high bar stools there, and was just spinning it and sitting. We were standing just there, but all talking, and the Zydeco was going...........so it was loud. All of a sudden, the bartender plops a tall glass in front of Thing 1. It was loaded with cherries.............he said, "There you are sir". He looked at us and said, "The gentleman ordered a lemonade with 20 cherries".

And he had! And the bartender had given him 20 cherries in that glass. It was soooo funny!

I like the pirate party. Little sleepy Stitch. I predict Goofy will fall asleep soon..........he looks sleepy.

What a cute story!! I just love it when people go out of their way to make kids feel special and listened too! And to give them 20 cherries! Just like the gentlemen ordered!!

And yep...it was Goofy who soon had to take a break or bust!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Wonderful report and great pics. What a beautiful family!

 

[thmar]

Oh I LOVE the braids in your hair!! (the good braids) The picture of you and your DH at dinner is really a good picture...definately a keeper!

 

[fynook12]

Once again, a lovely installment. Thank you so much for posting all the great pictures!! Have a great Turkey Day!!

 

[Blaynexox]

Wow. I just sat here for a couple of hours reading your whole trip report! I dont even know where to begin! Let me start out by saying that your a great writer and your trip report is very captivating. I think all your boys are adorable especially your little "Stitch"! I think that it is fantastic that you got to take such a long vacation. Also, so many magical things happened to you in WDW - how fun!! I hope that i have that many magical things happen to me when I go on my first trip in February!! I also want to point out that I LOVED all of your pictures of the motor cars parade. Its definitely something I will have to see when I go! Also, I love getting to read about the Disney Cruise, its definitely something I will consider doing in the future! The pirate party looked like SO much fun!! I cant wait for your next installment!! GREAT JOB!