"Ginger"
Sailing, sailing away is where I want to be....
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2000
- Messages
- 1,968
I first want to say that this was the best cruise yet. Actually, the best vacation we have ever had.
We started our vacation by driving from Maryland, we're about 15 minute from Baltimore City, to Orlando. I was scared to death that my 4.5 year old would not travel well, she really surprised us. DH is a tracker trailer driver so he is use to driving forever and ever. We left our house Sunday morning at 2:15 a.m. and we were sitting at the Fla. visitors center by 5 p.m. the evening. We had no place to stay since our reservations at OKW was not till Monday. So we looked over and over at the travel brochures that the visitors center had to offer. We found the Holiday Inn Family Suite brochure looked inviting, so I called and thank goodness they had room for us. We arrived there around 7:30 p.m. tried and hungry. We were very surprised with our home for the night. It was great, our DD had her own bedroom with a Manatee theme. She loved it, and so did we. After our 1 night stay there we headed over to Old Key West for a 5 night stay. WOW!!! Another great place to rest our heads. We had a studio, building 14, perfect location for a 4.5 year old, close to everything they have to offer. I loved the Community Hall activities. DD and DH loved the heated pool. Our stay there was much to short. We enjoyed the parks, MK, MGM and AK. On Friday, Natsmom125 and her family stopped by to visit, we cruised with them in January. We all had lunch at Olivia's Cafe, the food was YUMMY!!!. That night DD, DH and I went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, it was fun.
~Cruising Day~
We packed up and headed to the terminal around 9:45 a.m. arriving there at 11ish. We were very impressed with the security. They now have 2 check-in points before entering the unloading and parking area. You must show photo I.D. and proof that you are cruising on the ship. We pulled up to the curb and unloaded, the porters are there to help. Then you park your vehicle if you are driving. You pay for your parking then also, $7.00 a day. Once we were all together inside the terminal we got in line to check-in for the cruise. I noticed lime green T-shirt running around everywhere, all sizes. We got in line to board the ship and dropped our carry-on to the floor, someone was tapping me on my shoulder and I looked around to a gentleman who handed me a bag saying, I beleive this is yours. It was Ray, "PRYD", he had bought me a box of special candy from Ethel M's. They were wonderful, thanks again Ray. Then we met "Suzin" and her Mom, Pat what great ladies. Then Tricia, "TommyJoe" it was her boys Joedy and Tommy who I saw running around in the lime green T-shirt, so cute. My DD, Ashley grew very attached to these little guys. We were allowed to board around 12:05, I had no problem getting passed the dog sniffing for bombs and guns, I guess, or with the bagage scanner looking for sharp objects. My carry-ons were loaded down with beer and booze and 2 tons of candy for the trick-or-treat bags nothing interesting Ha! Ha!. We by-passed the Welcome Aboard picture taking and went straight to our stateroom 7074. Our stateroom hostess was a bit upset but she got over it. Staterooms are not available till 1:00pm. We just wanted to drop off our carry-ons and grab a personal navigator. We went to Topsiders for lunch. Then to Palo's to make our ressies. Once there I double checked our reservations for our Dis brunch and gald I did, Palo's had us down for the wrong day. Once we got that fixed we were off the to spa to make our Surail Bath ressies. We arrived 15 minutes early, they were outside the spa area excepting reservation at the time. We got what we wanted and decided to wonder around the ship awhile. When the ship was leave the port we had the Coast Guards by boat and air escorting us out to sea. We saw the Dolphins swimming in front of the ship a true Magical Moment. We had early dinner so I went down to our room to get ready. We had connected our rotation dining reservations, (APLAPLA), with 5 families which I had met on the boards. It was great to finally meet them. We tried not to eat to much because we had Palo reservations at 7:30. YUMMY!!!! is all I can say.
More to come,but less words....I promise.
We started our vacation by driving from Maryland, we're about 15 minute from Baltimore City, to Orlando. I was scared to death that my 4.5 year old would not travel well, she really surprised us. DH is a tracker trailer driver so he is use to driving forever and ever. We left our house Sunday morning at 2:15 a.m. and we were sitting at the Fla. visitors center by 5 p.m. the evening. We had no place to stay since our reservations at OKW was not till Monday. So we looked over and over at the travel brochures that the visitors center had to offer. We found the Holiday Inn Family Suite brochure looked inviting, so I called and thank goodness they had room for us. We arrived there around 7:30 p.m. tried and hungry. We were very surprised with our home for the night. It was great, our DD had her own bedroom with a Manatee theme. She loved it, and so did we. After our 1 night stay there we headed over to Old Key West for a 5 night stay. WOW!!! Another great place to rest our heads. We had a studio, building 14, perfect location for a 4.5 year old, close to everything they have to offer. I loved the Community Hall activities. DD and DH loved the heated pool. Our stay there was much to short. We enjoyed the parks, MK, MGM and AK. On Friday, Natsmom125 and her family stopped by to visit, we cruised with them in January. We all had lunch at Olivia's Cafe, the food was YUMMY!!!. That night DD, DH and I went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, it was fun.
~Cruising Day~
We packed up and headed to the terminal around 9:45 a.m. arriving there at 11ish. We were very impressed with the security. They now have 2 check-in points before entering the unloading and parking area. You must show photo I.D. and proof that you are cruising on the ship. We pulled up to the curb and unloaded, the porters are there to help. Then you park your vehicle if you are driving. You pay for your parking then also, $7.00 a day. Once we were all together inside the terminal we got in line to check-in for the cruise. I noticed lime green T-shirt running around everywhere, all sizes. We got in line to board the ship and dropped our carry-on to the floor, someone was tapping me on my shoulder and I looked around to a gentleman who handed me a bag saying, I beleive this is yours. It was Ray, "PRYD", he had bought me a box of special candy from Ethel M's. They were wonderful, thanks again Ray. Then we met "Suzin" and her Mom, Pat what great ladies. Then Tricia, "TommyJoe" it was her boys Joedy and Tommy who I saw running around in the lime green T-shirt, so cute. My DD, Ashley grew very attached to these little guys. We were allowed to board around 12:05, I had no problem getting passed the dog sniffing for bombs and guns, I guess, or with the bagage scanner looking for sharp objects. My carry-ons were loaded down with beer and booze and 2 tons of candy for the trick-or-treat bags nothing interesting Ha! Ha!. We by-passed the Welcome Aboard picture taking and went straight to our stateroom 7074. Our stateroom hostess was a bit upset but she got over it. Staterooms are not available till 1:00pm. We just wanted to drop off our carry-ons and grab a personal navigator. We went to Topsiders for lunch. Then to Palo's to make our ressies. Once there I double checked our reservations for our Dis brunch and gald I did, Palo's had us down for the wrong day. Once we got that fixed we were off the to spa to make our Surail Bath ressies. We arrived 15 minutes early, they were outside the spa area excepting reservation at the time. We got what we wanted and decided to wonder around the ship awhile. When the ship was leave the port we had the Coast Guards by boat and air escorting us out to sea. We saw the Dolphins swimming in front of the ship a true Magical Moment. We had early dinner so I went down to our room to get ready. We had connected our rotation dining reservations, (APLAPLA), with 5 families which I had met on the boards. It was great to finally meet them. We tried not to eat to much because we had Palo reservations at 7:30. YUMMY!!!! is all I can say.
More to come,but less words....I promise.
