August 28, 2004 "LOST AT SEA" Cruise

[invaderzim]

Wow -- what an experience! Definitely one for the story books. And just think, we were all a part of it.

Except for the fact that the last three days on ship were a little more stressful than a "planned" 10-day cruise would have been, I must say we tried to enjoy it for it's "historical" value. This was a first for Disney and a first for us after three cruises. So we just tried to go with the flow. The only thing we were concered about was the unknown of getting to the airport and not knowing if it would be a "mob scene" with other cruise ships arriving.

Disney had rebooked our flights from the original Saturday at 1:35 to Tuesday at 1:35 p.m. However, by the time we found out they were disembarking and we made it to the first level, we didn't actually get on a bus until 10 a.m.! So we missed our flight because the driver had to make a restroom stop. US Air had nothing else, so we got a flight out this morning at 9:30 a.m.

The ironic thing is, our whole trip from start to finish was a comedy of errors. Our 10:00 flight from Philadelphia on Tuesday, 8/24, was 3-1/2 hours delayed due to mechanical failure. We should have known that was a sign . The other irony of the timing of this cruise is that we changed our original date from November to August because we didn't want my daughter to miss any school, and she missed two days anyway.

After we took Disney up on their free hotel accommodation offer, they put us up at the Port Orleans Riverside last night. Haven't been there since it was called Dixie Landings. Ate in the food court and enjoyed their pool for a while -- and then crashed in those great beds. We had a pick-up at 6:00 a.m. with Meers (Disney also gave us all free shuttle passes) and everything this morning went like clockwork. The flight left on time and even arrived a few minutes early.

So we are happy to be home. I will be posting some of our fond memories and interesting observations (good and bad) on the board later.

So glad you are all getting home safe and sound. It was a pleasure to go through this unique experience with all of you.

 

[DARWIN91]

We arrived home at 4:30 pm today. Stayed at Port Orleans also last night. Just finished unpacking and I am exhausted. Glad to be home! Had a great time but the end got a bit stressful here and there. DD7 missed 2 days of school but "oh well" no one has control over Mother Nature. Glad to get out of FL though as Ivan starts approaching.

 

[xABearx]

Originally posted by sgt. jeff
ABEAR...Couldn't find you up on deck 9 for the nascar race....!!!

Hey Jeff....sorry I missed you guys, they finished cleaning the deck on 7 so I went back down there....Elliott Sadler ended up winning the race with Jr. ending up in 34th and Stewart finished 18th .... glad you guys made it home safe and hope to see you on a future cruise, it was nice meeting you and your family .... Andy

 

[MoranClan]

Hello Everyone..

For some reason we got the Late bus to the port..hehe

drove for about 6 hours yesterday, then caught up to frances...There Were tornado warnings..So we stayed in Georgia..

Left this morning at 4:00am, and went the North East way around the storm....

I felt like Capt. Tom...hahahahaha

We went up the Chesapeke bridge and tunnel..Didnt hit rain until New jersey...Took alot longer but I knew we would be out of any trouble..

HAD A GREAT TIME..

Remember..We are Disneys First 10 Night Cruise..WOO HOO..

Have to go unload the car..wanted to check in with all my New friends..

Bobby

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi Bobby and Cindy!!

So glad you made it home safely!! It was wonderful getting to meet you and your family on our cruise.

 

[xABearx]

Hey Bobby & Terry .... glad you guys made it home too, it was nice meeting you and your families and hope to see you on a future DC as well .... Andy

 

[Karel]

We finally made it back Wed night at 5:30. Stayed the night in South Carolina in Florence. Those tornados were giving me the willies and we went to sleep with dripping water at our window.

A long long two days. I was so happy to see my van in one piece! And those people at Radisson are morons. "Well, we don't know the schedule so we were waiting for people to call..." Duh!

I think we saw Mary Rose in line for gas in Fl. Bobby - do you have a blue/greenish Astro van? I was sad to see the destruction in Fl.

We took 301 to avoid Washington and went by Annapolis, over the Chesapeake and through Maryland into Delaware. Took forever but we didn't leave until 8;30 this morning.

A curse of a thousand nightmares to who ever stole the magnets off our door!

 

[Mary Anne]

A curse of a thousand nightmares to who ever stole the magnets off our door!

LOL my DH said the same thing about the ones that were stolen from our door too. Next time, I'm going to personalize each and every one. The only one that was left was the one that had our name and room #.

 

[Karel]

Were you on deck 2?

Our name wasn't on anything. My husband didn't want to advertise our name on our door.

 

[MoranClan]

Bobby - do you have a blue/greenish Astro van? I was sad to see the destruction in Fl.


A curse of a thousand nightmares to who ever stole the magnets off our door! [/B]

hello...Yes i do..

My American Flag Mickey Antenna topper made it through the storm..

Tornados gave us the willies also..thats why we stayed in Brunswick GA..

If anyone wants the Magnets that were stolen maile to them...I can make more..Let me know..

Bobby

 

[Mary Anne]

Yes, Karel we were on deck 2 - 2603. the only one left was the lime green mickey head one.

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by MoranClan
hello...Yes i do..
If anyone wants the Magnets that were stolen maile to them...I can make more..Let me know..
Bobby

I think we passed you today. I was driving and we went by in the left lane. I was going to drop back to see if it was you but you got off at the exit. Cindy was driving. (my family thought I was insane)

Thanks for the magnet offer but I'm going to print the one from this thread and put it in the scrapbook.

 

[sandygirl]

We're Home!
Glad to see so many of our friends have made it home safely. We took the bus to the port to pick up our rental car and then drove to Port Orleans-Riverside. We left there very early this morning to catch a Spirit flight out of Tampa. If we waited for MCO we would still be there (is that a bad thing?).
I have to say this was our best cruise. We met so many nice people and really enjoyed seeing friendly faces everywhere we went. Even at Port Orleans. I half expected to see someone in Tampa. LOL
I for one think DCL and the CM's did an outstanding job of keeping us safe, fed and entertained. Can you imagine the logistics of getting everyone off the ship and bussed to different locations? That alone had to be amazing. The only thing I missed that I regret is not being on deck on Mon night when the Wonder sailed in. Can't believe I missed that!!! Someone post some video!
Sandy had a wonderful (Magical) trip. She loved meeting all the kids-Conner, Jessie, Casey, and everyone. This is a trip she won't forget. We had great tablemates and excursion mates. Everywhere we went we met super nice people.
Mary Rose, Terry, Joanne, Ginny, Bobby & Cindy, Jason & Travis, all the other great Dis'ers I kept running into. Welcome Home and stay in touch.

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by Mary Anne
Yes, Karel we were on deck 2 - 2603. the only one left was the lime green mickey head one.

Yeah, I passed by there later in the week and saw that only the mickey head was left. Figured they got you too. I even checked guest services to see if someone found the magnets, hoping the little brats threw them somewhere.

 

[Karel]

Anyone know what happened with Jason and Travis? I guess they probably stayed on board?

Did you see that the Wonder people were given $300 ship credit and 25% off next cruise? Is this true?

 

[O'BWV]

Darlene - So glad you're home safe & sound! So nice to meet you and your DH & DD!

Bobby & Cindy - Please tell me the Radisson shuttle picked you up at PC? Glad you made it home safely too!

We spent the night just in Selma NC, just south of Rocky Mount. We stopped about midnight. We didn't know about the tornado warnings last night or we would have stopped sooner. We got back on the road this morning at about 6:30 and made it to Old Bridge around 3:30 - 4:00. Today we did know about the tornado warnings and I was scarred to death until Wash. It was a rough ride home. First I kissed my car at the Radisson and then I kissed the floor in my foyer. I had an absolutely fabulously great time, but I can honestly say, I have never been so glad to be home in my life!

What an experience huh guys?


-Mary Rose

 

[MoranClan]

Couldnt get the Radisson...Not their Fault..

DCL Driver took a whole bus over there..Again...Even though some inconvience with the whole Port canaveral being Closed..

I think DCL did a Great Job..

I am posting some pics now...Should have the link up tomorrow..

looking forward to all your pictures as well..

Bobby

 

[Karel]

Bobby - sorry that Radisson wasn't there to greet you. We stopped at the front desk and told them on the way out to send their shuttle down there. They said they were waiting for people to call them and then I reminded them their phones were out. They said, oh yeah...

 

[O'BWV]

Hi Bobby,

Me & John went back to PC to see if anyone needed a lift to the Radisson. The Radisson shuttle was there at the time so I felt confident that everyone would have a ride and I went in search of desparately needed gas. I'm glad your DCL bus driver also took you guys over to the Radisson, that was the decent thing to do. The main thing is that you got to the Radisson to your car, but after me & Karel telling the front desk that the Magic cruisers needed to be shuttled, I wish they could have handled it better. Oh well, all's well that ends well!


-Mary Rose

 

[SeaSpray]

I'm so glad to see more of us are arriving home safely!!! Andy, Karel, Sandygirl!!!

As for the magnets, someone stole the personalized Mickey Head magnet off of my sister in law's door! On the first day, we brought in the other magnets and put them on the inside of the door because we didn't want anyone to steal them. We left the personalized green Mickey heads out there. Ours weren't stolen, but I can't believe someone stole my sister in law's!! When she saw that it was gone she called us to warn us, so we took our Mickey heads into the cabin at that point. Now they are all on our fridge! Thanks again, Bobby!