AJ's Magical MAW Cruise - 2/1 - 2/5 on the Wonder

[camarks1234]

Ok, this is the first trip report I've done but here I go. If you would like to know the history I do have a PTR posted as well here

Well, we started the journey on Jan. 31 Saturday night. A hummer limo picked us up at our house despite terrible weather and delivered us safely to the hotel at the airport.

Everyone was surprised to see a hummer limo, but with the weather so bad and us being out in the boonies, it made sense. The boys thought it was awesome, but wished it had come with candy! Kids, what can you do? Everything is better with candy I guess. LOL

We were up bright and early the next morning to set off on the next leg of our adventure - to the airport. We went through security and boarded the plane on time arriving in sunny Orlando FL by 10:00. After that we waited to catch a shuttle to Port Canaveral and the Disney Wonder! Woohoo!

The Castmembers there treated us very well and put us into the Castaway Club line eventually taking us right from there directly onto the ship without having to wait or any delays. It was really awesome. Once onboard we ate lunch at the Beach Blanket Buffet on deck 9 while waiting to get into our stateroom.

Upon entering the stateroom we found some surprises. Our MAW host onboard the ship was Blair and he left AJ a Captain Mickey animal to say hello. We also had some special treats from our MAW angels back in Indiana. Some yummy chocolate treats and sparkling apple cider. After enjoying the treats and unpacking a little bit, we headed out to the Mickey pool for a quick swim before the mandatory lifeboat drill.

Let’s see….after the lifeboat drill we went back to our room and got changed for our first night at dinner, which was at Parrot Cay, Table 4. But WAIT! We had to go to the going away party on decks 9 and 10! It was a lot of fun. I got christened by an excited gull (icky), but it was great to see the ship head out to sea.

Port Canaveral

Right after this the bird crapped in my hair! Fun, fun!

Ok, then we went to dinner….there we met our servers that would follow us every night onboard ship. They were awesome btw. The service at Disney is first class all the way. The cleanest place I’ve ever been and the nicest. I never saw a CM without a smile and a kind word.

Ok, I would like to say we whooped it up the first night and went to the Superbowl party onboard, but AJ and Chris were so exhausted from not sleeping the previous night they were out like a light after dinner. Austin had gone off to the teen club, so I read my book. LOL

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

Christy Marks

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ajmarks

 

[jessica52877]

I am so glad that you started this report! I can't wait to read more and see what all AJ and the family did!

 

[frdeb1999]

Looking forward to reading more of your TR! Nice start!

 

[kimmylaj]

great start, i love reading cruise reports cause i have never been, and i love wish trip reports, because they have such brave and wonderful families, so two thing s at once what more could i ask for? looking forward to updates

 

[OurOhana]

Great start to your report. I can't believe you got hit by bird droppings. I swear that would just my luck, but it hasn't happened before. I did read about it happening on another one of these trip reports though. Go figure. Can't wait to read more, and see how the kids liked the club.

 

[disneymommieof2]

I'm so glad your doing a TR. I really wanted to hear about the cruise! I really really really really want to go on one someday!!

 

[camarks1234]

I just want to say, to the people who haven't gone yet. "what are you waiting for?" Life is tenuous at best. There are no guarantees. Memories are priceless. Seriously. Just do it!

 

[disneymommieof2]

I want my kiddos to get a little bigger they are are 2 1/2 and 5. We will go, I just want them to remember it too! Although that hasn't stopped us from going to wdw!

 

[TammyNC]

Enjoying your TR, can't wait to hear more!!

 

[camarks1234]

AJ’s MAW - Day 2 - Nassau, Bahamas!

Woohoo! So on Monday morning we docked at Nassau and woke up excited to start another exciting day, this time venturing into the Bahamas (first time for all of us).

Here is a pullback of the Wonder, she’s so pretty!

So after disembarking we got on a shuttle to take us to Atlantis. That was a fun ride in itself! AJ got to sit up in front and got the full view.

Here are a few shots of the resort

Ok, here is one of all of us before changing into swimsuits to tackle all of the slides

Austin and AJ’s favorite slides were in the Mayan Temple. Austin & Chris rode one that was nearly a straight vertical that took you through an underwater tube through the shark aquarium. AJ & I were like, thanks, but no thanks. It was a little much for us, but the one beside it was an innertube ride through the same aquarium that drifted once you got into the aquarium and we did that one. It was really neat to be inside the shark aquarium safely enclosed. (These were not small sharks btw) We are used to going to US aquariums and seeing smallish sharks in those. I guess I was expecting something like that, but these were some huge guys. I think the guide I talked to said there were Reefs, Whites & Nurse in it. EEEk!!! You could go walking in it with them if you wanted. (shudder)

After lunch Austin & I rode a few more slides and AJ and I decided to do the lazy river again. Unfortunately this time he got hurt. We headed up a path we didn’t take on our last go around (this is a huge lazy river) and inadvertently hit a waterslide. I asked him if he wanted to skip it and just walk down but he said he’d be fine. (I think it was the Falls) I had ridden it with Austin earlier and thought he would enjoy it.

However…you knew that was coming, right? Although he was tall enough to ride it, his weight didn’t carry him down it well enough and he got stuck in a dark corner. I was right behind him and all of a sudden just heard him screaming. I said to hold on because I’m fast and right behind you and tried to slow down but crashed into him causing him to hit the bottom of the slide which was in the rapids really hard and seriously stub his toe (we thought it was broken at first). aaaargh! After much drama (it looked terrible, turned all purple I thought it was broken) we decided to head back to the ship for the rest of the afternoon. Austin had also scraped his side good by that time on some of the rocks that lined the lazy river.

A big thanks again to the wonderful lady who went and found my hubby for me as he had the locker key with all the medication we needed. If you're on these boards you know who you are, pm me. I never got your name.

Despite all of this we all agreed Atlantis was definitely worth it and we would go back again. So there you have it, our little drama at Atlantis.

Back on board we chilled out and explored.

This is one of my fave pictures of the trip:

My fave hallway on the ship, rt 66

This amazing chandelier is right outside of Triton’s on the Wonder

Austin showing off his muscles!? LOL

Here are some towel creatures….

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures…or not…ahead!

Thanks for reading this and being with us through every moment.

 

[camarks1234]

I want my kiddos to get a little bigger they are are 2 1/2 and 5. We will go, I just want them to remember it too! Although that hasn't stopped us from going to wdw!

I hear you and didn't mean to come across so strongly. We felt that way too, when the kids were younger. It is so hard to travel with all of the paraphenalia.

But when AJ was diagnosed with Medullablastoma last year I kept thinking to myself, what are we waiting on? There is so much in this world he hasn't seen. We're trying to set that to rights now.

 

[disneymommieof2]

Atlantis looks like so much fun! My sister went there for her honeymoon and they had a wonderful time!!
I love seeing pictures of the ship! It looks so interesting all the details, it must have been like a treasure hunt!

We are definitely explorer types and take the kids on all kinds of adventures and I want them to have all kinds of interesting experiences.
We camped out in the backyard a few times last summer in preparation to go camping "for real" It opens up all kinds of doors for adventure to be able to sleep outside!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!!

 

[iu97alum]

YEA! Isn't Blair AMAZING???? We love him! He made our trip to say the least!! Can't wait to see more!!

BTW- what camera/lens are you using? Your pics are awesome!!!

 

[camarks1234]

Blair is amazing!!!

I'm using using 2 cameras. My Nikon D3 (50mm, 14mm and 85mm)

And also a P&S Canon G10 (I used the G10 on most of the excursion pictures), D3 was on some of the interior ship shots and fireworks.

 

[jessica52877]

OH NO! you had me really scared there for a minute at Atlantis. I am glad it wasn't as bad as I was imagining but poor AJ! I am sure it put a damper on the day! What beautiful pictures. So far it sounds like you are having a great time!

 

[camarks1234]

Well, it took me a whole year to get this completed...but I put together an album for our first MAW cruise last Feb and included our BB cruise from Sept. in it as well.

Enjoy!

 

[jessica52877]

What a wonderful album! I can see why it took so long to make! I hope you had a wonderful cruise (well both of them). The smiles on their faces made it look like everyone had fun!

What did you use to make the album? I would love to try and do something like that. I am not that good with those types of things though!

 

[aksunshine]

Oh, come on Jessica...You have plenty of creativity!!!

Christy- You are an amazing photographer! I love you digi book too! I am expecting in June, maybe you would be willing to shoot some family photos this fall if you aren't too far??

 

[camarks1234]

Jessica, I used photoshop for the album, some of the scrapbook mickey stuff came from a lady on the DIS boards, Brittney, Designer - britt-ish designs. I think I found her in one of the scrapbooking threads.

Alicia, I'm in Lafayette and would love to do some photographs for you and your family. Thanks!

 

[lmhall2000]

Incredible pictures! You're the type of mom all kids should have...making memories and making it happen!! What a wonderful combination!

Tara