Best Friends and New Friends - a MAGICal Tale

[Jennifer48]

We were hungry, again. The thought of free food just made our stomachs grow in size. So we headed back up to deck 9 and I got chicken fingers, of course, and I believe Dan got pizza. The pixie dust in the food told us to head back down and rebook our next cruise. How could we not? We looked over the brochure the night before. Since the 2009 dates were not out yet, we decided to book a dummy date in October for the Western Caribbean. Once the ’09 dates are out, we will reschedule. They put the deposit on my credit card and they even gave us our room number! We booked another category 9 and our room was closer to midship instead of aft where we were.
The sun was beginning to set so we made our way up to deck 10 to watch and take more pictures.

We headed back to our room to download our pictures to Dan’s laptop since our memory cards were getting full. As they were loading, I did some packing and we changed for dinner. We like bringing a laptop to do this. Not only can you format your memory card, but you can also look at all the pictures you have currently taken.

Dinner tonight was in Parrot Cay and it would be another romantic dinner because all of our tablemates had Palo reservations so we had the whole table to ourselves. Well it was romantic until the little girl at the table next to us puked while sitting in her stroller. Mom was ready for it and had her throw up in a bag but then she made her sit there while everyone else ate dinner! The little girl was whining that she wanted to go lie down in bed so instead of one of the 7 adults at the table bringing the little girl back to the room, they took 2 of our empty chairs and made a little bed for her. They laid her down and then Soumitra came by and put napkins over her as a blanket. It made me upset that they didn’t take her back to the room. Oh well.

They were taking professional photos out in the atrium lobby and I really wanted a picture in front of the Captain Mickey statue so we got in line.
We headed back to the room to change and take some meds. Neither of us felt very well but me especially. I don’t know if it was all the food I ate or the motion or both so I just loaded up on as much meds as I could because another night at Rockin’ Bar D was in our evening plans.

When we got to Rockin’ Bar D, the ventriloquist was still on so we sat outside the room in one of the porthole window seats. As we are sitting there I see a stroller with what I thought was just a doll in it. Now this is outside Rockin’ Bar D in the hallway. Then I see mom come out of the bar and check on the kid, apparently he was sleeping, and then she headed right back into the bar. I couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t even standing next to the stroller or even out in the hallway. She was INSIDE the bar area while her little child was sleeping in a stroller in the hall. Now I understand that if the kid was taken, they’d be able to find him, one would hope. But I could have easily just walked away with the stroller and no one would have known. I did feel like moving it to the other side of the hall just so mom could have a heart attack when she walked out and he wasn’t there, but I didn’t. I just took his picture instead to show everyone on the DIS

Abandoned child

One Hit Wonders was the show when Rockin’ Bar D emptied out and we were to meet Glenn and Donna there. Well just as the rest of our week was going, we walked in from one side, they walked in from the other side and no joke, we literally met up in a table in the center without even seeing that the other was coming! Told you it was eerie. We watched a bit of the band High Frequency after the One Hit Wonders show and then we hit the hay around 1am. It was Castaway Cay tomorrow and we were so excited!!

Up next: KONK KOOLERS!

 

[pierresgirl]

WTG on the rebook I cannot believe someone left their kid outside of the bar like that! Crazy! That's a very cool compass pic, I love how your reflection shows up.

 

[Hixski]

We still haven't figured out who was stalking who that week!!!! We really did have some weird psychic connection or something.

 

[scottishwee35]

Thursday, September 20th

Mickey and Minnie all dolled up[/I]

Beautiful photo

We made our way outside and walked around and enjoyed the beautiful air.

A new find for me, these compasses on Deck 10 above the Mickey pool

Never notice it so look it next time!!

My artistic side

Ah, it look so calm, beautiful photo

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

WTG on the rebook I cannot believe someone left their kid outside of the bar like that! Crazy! That's a very cool compass pic, I love how your reflection shows up.

Yes, terrible, she should take the kid to stateroom not leaving the kid outside of the bar!!

If it was me, I take my kids back to room, if they are sick or tired. I cannot image that I leave the kids outside the disco or bar!!

Scottishwee35

 

[Kimberly815]

We were hungry, again. The thought of free food just made our stomachs grow in size.

Kind of like how the Grinch's heart grew three sizes because of the thought of the Who's in Whoville celebrating the spirit of Christmas?

(I don't know why, but that was the first thing I thought of when I read that!)

The pixie dust in the food told us to head back down and rebook our next cruise. How could we not? We looked over the brochure the night before. Since the 2009 dates were not out yet, we decided to book a dummy date in October for the Western Caribbean. Once the ’09 dates are out, we will reschedule. They put the deposit on my credit card and they even gave us our room number! We booked another category 9 and our room was closer to midship instead of aft where we were.

Very nice! Someday Joey and I will make it on a Disney Cruise. If the fates ever align properly!

Then I see mom come out of the bar and check on the kid, apparently he was sleeping, and then she headed right back into the bar. I couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t even standing next to the stroller or even out in the hallway. She was INSIDE the bar area while her little child was sleeping in a stroller in the hall. Now I understand that if the kid was taken, they’d be able to find him, one would hope. But I could have easily just walked away with the stroller and no one would have known. I did feel like moving it to the other side of the hall just so mom could have a heart attack when she walked out and he wasn’t there, but I didn’t. I just took his picture instead to show everyone on the DIS

This is just too weird. And just so irresponsible. I am very suprised that they would do this.

 

[Jennifer48]

WTG on the rebook I cannot believe someone left their kid outside of the bar like that! Crazy! That's a very cool compass pic, I love how your reflection shows up.

Thanks! I'm actually going to try to push that dummy date out and book one of the new Eastern sailings to Tortola!

We still haven't figured out who was stalking who that week!!!! We really did have some weird psychic connection or something.

I secretly think you were stalking us. We are just that nice

Kind of like how the Grinch's heart grew three sizes because of the thought of the Who's in Whoville celebrating the spirit of Christmas?

(I don't know why, but that was the first thing I thought of when I read that!)

Kind of! Thats a good way to think of it.

This is just too weird. And just so irresponsible. I am very suprised that they would do this.

Isn't it?! I was so shocked when the woman came out to check on the kid because like I said, I thought it was just a doll in there!

 

[Jennifer48]

Friday September 21

How does anyone sleep in on Castaway Cay day I’ll never understand. We set the TV alarm for 8am and we dragged our groggy bodies up and headed to Topsiders for breakfast since they weren’t letting anyone off the ship until after 9am. As we were eating they ok’ed it for everyone to disembark so we decided to wait until the mass of people were out as we finished up our breakfast and took some pictures. It was currently drizzling but we were optimistic that it would clear up for us.

Our first view of the Flying Dutchman!

We walked out and took in the site of the Flying Dutchman. There was a small family walking behind us. Captain Jack Sparrow was standing in front of the Dutchman for photo ops. The father behind us says to his children, “look its pirate man!” The son says “that’s Captain Jack Sparrow” and dad’s like “oh yeah.” Dan and I laughed the whole way to the tram.

We arrived on Serenity Bay around 10am. Glenn and Donna were already there and there were 2 available loungers right next to them so we plopped our stuff down and took it all in. Before we left, I purchased a water pack bag for my digital camera so I could take underwater pictures. I have to say it worked quite well but it took some adjusting to because it was difficult to zoom over the bag.

Underwater photos

I think I had 2 Konk Koolers before lunch rolled around so needless to say I was in an even better mood even though I was in paradise with my boyfriend and new friends. We made our way over to lunch around 11:30a. This was a good time to go because most people don’t eat that early so by the time we were already seated and eating, the line just kept growing!

Since you have to wait to swim after eating, Dan and I had planned on heading back to the other side of the island to rent a water trike. Once we got there, we saw the FunCat! Those that don’t know, it’s basically a motorized chaise lounge that you power with a button that moves you in any direction. So us being lazy, we rented this instead of the exercise we’d have to endure with the bike!

While we were out there we noticed the most peculiar fish. It was as if it was swimming on its side with one fin out of the water but boy could he move! He was so fast that we couldn’t catch up to him and I caught only one picture of him but its not that great.

Can you see the fishie?

Now when you rent one of these floats they tell you not to get off of it and if you get stuck, just wave your arms and one of the life guards will come out and get you. I looked over and saw a water trike that looked like it had been abandoned. There, in the water, was a woman and her son. I couldn’t believe it! I took her picture to prove what I saw. By the time I took it she was already trying to get back onto the trike but she was unsuccessful. Dan and I headed in that direction to help her but the life guard was already on her way over to speak to her.

Not listening!

Our 30 minutes were almost up so we headed back to shore and back to Serenity Bay. As Dan and I headed back into the water, there was a young couple snorkeling a little further out than us when the woman yells out that there is a giant stingray! I threw the camera to Dan and he started taking some photos. There were so many cute yellow fish around and even some large starfish.

He was so big!

Giant starfish! No I didn't censor Dan, thats a water droplet

Future office

I headed back in after an hour or so because I had stepped on a sharp rock and it really hurt the bottom of my foot, plus I wanted another Konk Kooler Dan stayed out and took more fishie photos and chatted with the snorkeling Glenn and Donna.

We left Serenity Bay around 3:30 so we could go do some shopping at She Sells. There was also a huge thunderstorm building that we thought was heading our way so we wanted to head back by the time it started raining. I bought some postcards and a t-shirt and we headed back towards the post office so I could mail my aunt a postcard and Dan mailed one to his son. Wouldn’t you know it? As soon as we walked out of the post office towards the Magic it began to rain! Did we time the right or what?! I had to point out our room of course because this was the only dock that I could!

My hair was a rat’s nest of gel and sea salt so I showered and we both changed before heading up to deck 10 to watch Castaway Cay get further and further away. Such a sad sight. Donna and I got some pizza and beer and chowed while our men took photos.

Good-bye Castaway Cay!

Storm

Up next: ‘Til We Meet Again

 

[Kimberly815]

This is such a cute picture!

Giant starfish! No I didn't censor Dan, thats a water droplet

WOW! That's awesome!

 

[Jennifer48]

Packing is another sad part of ones vacation but to do it after you’ve left Castaway Cay is just plain torture! But, it had to be done so we did a majority of it now before dinner.

I took a picture of our Cruise Director Rachel on the TV

We finished early and changed so we headed up to the Promenade Lounge and you’ll never guess who was there? Glenn and Donna is the answer for those of you that haven’t followed the pattern yet. So we had drinks with them before heading to Lumiere’s for our final dinner.

'Til We Meet Again Menu

The show that they put on here on the final night was fantastic. Of course it made you want to stay even longer! We gave our tip envelopes to Romeo, Soumi and Jeevan. We took pictures with them and of them before saying our goodbyes. I hugged everyone and I didn’t want to leave even though I knew I’d see them all at breakfast the next morning!

Our awesome tablemates

The bestest waitstaff EVER!

Dan and I headed out to the atrium lobby to watch the Til We Meet Again show because I missed it on our previous cruise because I hadn’t finished packing yet. So I wanted to make sure I caught it this time. I’d rather not give too much away since I think it’s a fabulous farewell and just enough pixie dust to make you run and rebook! This show was a close second behind Wishes of Disney shows that make me cry. It was just awesome and I hope everyone that is able to go on a Disney cruise has the time to make this show. It’s so cute.

Pinocchio

Captain Mickey

Beautiful Belle

Cinderelly

Lion King CMs

Sailor Goofy

Natalie from the UK... another awesome CM!

Back to our stateroom to change into comfy clothes and put our luggage out. We had plans to head to Diversions to catch the Red Sox game and have our final drink with Glenn and Donna but it was Pub Night. We accidentally ran into this show that the cast members put on on the final night and it was so funny! I hope you can catch this show also. Those cast members don’t get paid enough in my opinion so I make sure to tip everyone plenty because I have had nothing but above and beyond service on both of my Disney cruises now and I certainly hope that is going to continue.

Back to the report, after the show and our final beers, we again said goodbyes to Glenn and Donna and Dan and I did not want to call it a night yet so we headed up to deck 4 to watch the lightning. It was wicked cool to see in the distance just lighting up the sky while sitting on one of the comfy loungers. A great way to spend our final hours onboard. We did get a bit antsy so we headed up to deck 10 and just walked around in total silence. No kids playing basketball, no one standing up there at all. It was so peaceful. I think it was after midnight by the time we were back to our room for our final sleep on the Magic.

Up next: See Ya Real Soon!

 

[Kimberly815]

I’d rather not give too much away since I think it’s a fabulous farewell and just enough pixie dust to make you run and rebook! This show was a close second behind Wishes of Disney shows that make me cry. It was just awesome and I hope everyone that is able to go on a Disney cruise has the time to make this show. It’s so cute.

Awww! It sounds great! And it has to be if it makes you cry!

Back to the report, after the show and our final beers, we again said goodbyes to Glenn and Donna and Dan and I did not want to call it a night yet so we headed up to deck 4 to watch the lightning. It was wicked cool to see in the distance just lighting up the sky while sitting on one of the comfy loungers. A great way to spend our final hours onboard. We did get a bit antsy so we headed up to deck 10 and just walked around in total silence. No kids playing basketball, no one standing up there at all. It was so peaceful. I think it was after midnight by the time we were back to our room for our final sleep on the Magic.

What a peaceful way to end the last night! It sounds perfect!

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi Jennifer

Oh I loved your trip story.

Hey, you and me have same mind as I got a menu which you had photo it!!

I will show you the photo of last day on the sea as it is ready but Need to put Naples, Rome etc. you will see it.

Anyway, love your photos and love one picture I thought wow what a beautiful photo of Storm.

I remember I saw you both at Castaway last year and also you ran to say goodbye on last day while my son was crying. I never forget it.

Scottishwee35

 

[Hixski]

Our awesome tablemates

I am sad just looking at this picture. Our last night.

Sad too that the lovely tan DH and I had is lonnnnng gone!!!

We are the ones in the back of the photo. The old folks keeping the kids in line that week!!!

 

[ReAnSt]

[

Our awesome tablemates

Good to see all of you. You all look great. I bet you had a great time with your table mates. I enjoyed getting to know all of you.

 

[Jennifer48]

I will show you the photo of last day on the sea as it is ready but Need to put Naples, Rome etc. you will see it.

Anyway, love your photos and love one picture I thought wow what a beautiful photo of Storm.

I remember I saw you both at Castaway last year and also you ran to say goodbye on last day while my son was crying. I never forget it.

Scottishwee35

Can't wait to see your Naples and Rome photos!
Thank you for your kind words about our photos. We love taking pictures. Too bad the DIS only allows for 25 per post!
I remember that too. It was so great meeting you. You were my first DISer meet and I will never forget that either!

I am sad just looking at this picture. Our last night.

Sad too that the lovely tan DH and I had is lonnnnng gone!!!

We are the ones in the back of the photo. The old folks keeping the kids in line that week!!!

I know. Its sad not being there
Tan?! That looks like we are all fried to a crisp!
Old folks that can drink us all under the table!

 

[Jennifer48]

Breakfast was at 8:45a which we were very happy about since we hate getting up early not to mention on our last day. All of our tablemates made it to breakfast which was nice to say our goodbyes a second time. Lisa and Chris were heading home today. They missed their children and were excited to see them. Like Dan and I, Donna and Glenn had planned an extra day at Disney. After the crazy week we had bumping into them everywhere, we figured we’d be seeing them again at some point later today possibly at Downtown Disney which was in both of our plans. Again, we all hugged, said good bye and headed for the door.

Down to the basement of the terminal, we followed the signs to our blue Donald luggage holding area. Our luggage was easily spotted as it seemed the majority of the ship had already disembarked! By the way, Glenn and Donna had joined us in line. They found their luggage just as quick as we did! Through the customs agents and we were outtie. Do you remember at the beginning of my trippie when we arrived in Orlando and got stuck with the one non-Disney bus for ME? Well we get outside the terminal and check in to take Disney transportation over to Caribbean Beach. There are 4 DCL buses and we get stuck with the Mears 8-passenger van!!

We get in the van and there is an older couple already there and not 2 minutes in, they already started talking to us asking us where we were from and where we were going. Oh boy. I just wanted to travel in silence. Then a family of 4 gets in and the couple starts talking to them. The couple was from MI and the family was from CA and they all talked about their cruise experience. The weird part was they all talked and Dan and I were sitting in the bench between them so it was kind of awkward. We chimed in every now and then but for the most part we didn’t care for their conversation. Thankfully the ride was short and we were the first to be dropped off. We gather our belongings and head inside of CBR which was a madhouse! I couldn’t believe how crowded it was! Kids running around, luggage piled up in a corner, complete chaos. I found a small spot for Dan to stand with the luggage as I went to check us in. I get to the counter after waiting in line for about 10 minutes and she takes my name and all the normal stuff. She’s over there clicking away on her computer and she says “hold on a minute, I’ll be right back.” I’m thinking ‘oh man did my TA mess up and not book this hotel?’ I started freaking out right away. Moments later the friendly CM comes back and this is how the conversation goes:
CM: I’m sorry but the resort has been overbooked. We would like to move you over to the Saratoga Springs Resort if that’s ok.
Me: Say what?
CM: Yes your room has been overbooked and we would like to upgrade you to the Saratoga Springs Resort.
Me: Do I have to pay the difference?
CM: Oh no. It’s a complementary upgrade
Me: How do I get there?
CM: We will have a van come by and pick you and your party up with your luggage.
Me: A Mears van?
CM: Oh no one of the WDW resorts vans.
Me: Sounds good to me!

I head back towards Dan to tell him the news that they overbooked our room and we have no place to stay. You should have seen his face, classic! I told him the truth and we headed outside to wait on our van.

The CM driver was really nice and sweet….and short! So short that she couldn’t lift our luggage into the van so we had to do it ourselves. No biggie. Off we go to SSR and luckily we had gone here last Saturday to pick up other cruisers because the woman didn’t know where the entrance was! It was her first time over to that resort in the few years that she’s worked at WDW. I looked at Dan at one point and said “where did Glenn and Donna say they were staying?” His eyes got wide and he said “I do believe that they are staying at Saratoga Springs!” We both laughed uncontrollably at this point because we could not believe it was happening. But, we’ll see if we actually bump into them.

Up next: Have Glenn and Donna checked in yet??

 

[Kimberly815]

Breakfast was at 8:45a which we were very happy about since we hate getting up early not to mention on our last day.

Is it difficult to make yourself get off the ship on the last morning? I think I would hate that part, especially if I had as good of a time as you guys did.

 

[Jennifer48]

Is it difficult to make yourself get off the ship on the last morning? I think I would hate that part, especially if I had as good of a time as you guys did.

Its so sad knowing that you actually have to get off. You seriously start thinking of clever ways of stowing away!

 

[Jennifer48]

We headed into the huge lobby in The Carriage House. It was beautiful. I headed over to the desk and explained my situation to the CM. I was assured by the CM at CBR that everything should be ok but she lied. My info wasn’t in the system yet at SSR so it took the CM about 15 minutes to enter everything in and confirm that this was a complementary, no charge, upgrade. My credit card was already stretching at the seams, I didn’t need anymore charges. So, I was patient and the CM thanked me for that because there were a few things she didn’t know how to do and had to get a superior to assist. No problemo. Once everything was hunky dorey, I asked her if she could look to see if friends had checked in yet. I had Glenn and Donna’s last name because Donna had given us her contact info to keep in touch in the future. CM said they hadn’t checked in yet.

Dan was chilling out on a nice round sofa when I walked over to him and let him know we were all set and that our friends hadn’t checked in yet. Before we left the lobby though, I wanted to verify that Magical Express would be picking us up and not heading over to CBR to wait for us. Things like that happen to me. So I headed over to the concierge woman and asked if she could look it up for me. She wasn’t sure exactly what to do so I gave her my ME confirmation number and told her that we got moved from CBR to SSR and we are scheduled to have ME pick us up on Sunday. She was a bit confused so I had to explain it 2 more times before the light bulb turned on and she called her handy dandy ME phone number. As I’m standing there waiting for my confirmation, I feel a strong arm around my shoulders. It startled me at first so I turned and there was Glenn! I laughed, he laughed, I looked over at Dan and Donna and they were laughing too. The odds of us running into each other this much is just unheard of. If Disney had a lottery on site I would have played it with as much money that was in my pocket because they were in my favor to win and win big. Here’s more insanity, we were in the same building! Yes, we were both booked for The Springs. There are 5 different sections and each section as approximately 3 buildings and we were totally booked in the same building, one floor apart. Unreal. Anyone else think that Dan and I were supposed to meet these people? Thankfully we like them otherwise it would have gotten really annoying really quickly!

They had a rental car so we piled in and headed over to our home for one night. We headed our separate ways and bid adieu, again, and said that we’d probably see them later today at Downtown Disney. But will we? Find out next time!

Heres some photos of our room

We weren't used to this level of comfort. This is like staying in a 5 star hotel!

Little sitting area

View from our veranda

Comfy bed!

Armore

kitchenette

Hidden Mickey in the bathroom!

Up next: Hoop Dee La!

 

[Hixski]

Awwww....gee thanks!!!!! We like you guys too!!

Funny the pictures from your veranda look almost exactly like ours!!!