Chunkymonkey and Chubbyhubby's MAGICal 1st Disney Cruise - a May 2015 Trip Report! COMPLETED

[rndmr2]

Found this TR today and read the whole thing! Sounds like a great cruise and itinerary. Really enjoying reading about your trip, your niece is such a little cutie, too! Love that she dressed up for dinner, my Favorite so far is that Pirate dress, really cute!

 

[chunkymonkey]

The Pirate's Party sounds like so much fun. I had no idea Mickey zip-lines down! How cool! I can't imagine seeing fireworks on a cruise ship, that would be such a cool experience.

Oh my gosh, a nutella crepe?! YES PLEASE!!!

Yeah it was really cool! I mean, it was very short and not as dramatic as the ones in the parks of course, but I was amazed they could even do fireworks on a ship! It was a lot of fun.

Yes! the Pirates buffet was a nice treat even when not hungry...there is always dessert!

I'm so glad I found another one of your great trip reports. I have always loved reading them in the past, so I got really excited when I found it today!! I absolutely loved your pirate costume, and your niece is so cute!!! I can't wait to hear more about the cruise, in the mean time I'm going to start the DW portion of your trip!!

Hi Aleya, Thank you for reading!! I'm amazed at how many people actually remember me from a few years ago since it's been a while since I have written a TR. But I decided that I had to for this trip because it was amazing!!! Thank you again and welcome (back)!!!!

Found this TR today and read the whole thing! Sounds like a great cruise and itinerary. Really enjoying reading about your trip, your niece is such a little cutie, too! Love that she dressed up for dinner, my Favorite so far is that Pirate dress, really cute!

Thank you!! Thanks for reading! It was a great cruise. I saw other kids dress up too, they were all too cute. Maddie's pirate outfit was the best! It was like a pirate ballerina on steroids. LOL

 

[disney2mom]

Thank you!! It's too bad we won't be on the same cruise! You guys sound like great table mates! You must give me a little intro to your family!

I'll try and extend the TR for as long as my memory can last...LOL. Can't believe I'm already up to Pirate Night! Next day is Castaway Cay and then we disembark! But there's lots of cool stuff coming, don't worry!

Dec 18 is when Star Wars Force Awakens comes out and it just so happens to be DH's birthday. I think he knows what we'll be doing for his b-day! I'm also thinking about throwing him a big Star Wars birthday bash. He does turn 40 this year. I was inspired after attending all the Star Wars meals at DHS a few weeks ago...I love all the names they gave everything, and I think I can probably come up with theme names such as Degobah Swamp Juice, and Rebel mac n cheese.

AP was so much fun...I can't wait to try it on the Fantasy! I hear it's completely different.

Thank you!!

Lol! Keep it going, your TR has been so entertaining! You have me so intrigued now, can't wait to hear the rest!

Your husband and I are close in age, I just turned 40! The Star Wars birthday bash sounds like so much fun and great ideas for the food! Will you dress up for the party?? You can dress up as Princess Leia and Han Solo!

It is a bummer, would have been nice to meet you and your family! A little intro to my family: I am a lover of ALL things Disney, especially Mickey Mouse (he is my absolute favorite)! My parents took me to WDW for the first time when I was a teenager and I fell in love! I decided then that I would love to take my family when I had one. My husband and I took our daughter (3 years old) and son (6 months old) for the first time in 2003, we have visited for a total of 11 times since then. My husband supports my love for Disney(he secretly loves it) and our kids love it just as much! I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise so we planned one for my 40th this year since it was a big birthday! We planned a 3 night cruise on the Dream since it would be our first time and 4 nights at WDW. Let me just say that we are hooked and LOVE DCL just as much as WDW, maybe even more!

Looking forward to reading more!!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Lol! Keep it going, your TR has been so entertaining! You have me so intrigued now, can't wait to hear the rest!

Your husband and I are close in age, I just turned 40! The Star Wars birthday bash sounds like so much fun and great ideas for the food! Will you dress up for the party?? You can dress up as Princess Leia and Han Solo!

It is a bummer, would have been nice to meet you and your family! A little intro to my family: I am a lover of ALL things Disney, especially Mickey Mouse (he is my absolute favorite)! My parents took me to WDW for the first time when I was a teenager and I fell in love! I decided then that I would love to take my family when I had one. My husband and I took our daughter (3 years old) and son (6 months old) for the first time in 2003, we have visited for a total of 11 times since then. My husband supports my love for Disney(he secretly loves it) and our kids love it just as much! I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise so we planned one for my 40th this year since it was a big birthday! We planned a 3 night cruise on the Dream since it would be our first time and 4 nights at WDW. Let me just say that we are hooked and LOVE DCL just as much as WDW, maybe even more!

Looking forward to reading more!!

Happy belated birthday! Is 40 everything they say it is? Heard it was the new 30!!

I already know we'd be great friends! Your family seems super cute! Any thoughts of doing a TR on your May trip?

Wow 11 times! Cool! I went to WDW when I was a kid numerous times so that's what started my love for Disney. When I was younger I also lived in Japan for 3 years and visited Tokyo Disneyland many times! I would really love to go back there one day. DH and I first visited Disney together as a couple in 2003 and we've pretty much managed to go almost 10 times I think! Plus we've visited DLR as well since DH's family is out on the west coast. I haven't been since the new Cars land opened so am looking forward to checking DLR out once again.

I was thinking we'd do the Leia and Han thing...but I have to find a costume! Guys have it so much easier...a shirt, vest and blaster...though I know I am definitely NOT going to be Slave Leia, LOL.

I hope you like the Magic as much as you like the Dream! I hear the Dream is amazing...very big and new. The Magic didn't feel small though, but I don't have much to compare it to! I will definitely report my thoughts on the Fantasy next year...but it's so far away!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I just wanted to post a link to our Navigators for our cruise...someone was nice enough to scan theirs on the Disney Cruise Ling Blog...

5-night Bahamian Cruise Itinerary B Disney Magic Navigators

There are so many activities - we barely scraped a third of the surface! And I thought we were pretty active too.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Castaway Cay Part 1: Castaway Cay and Serenity Bay

We woke to another beautiful day - boy we were lucky with this weather. The announcement came on board that we had just docked at Castaway Cay. This was our last day of the cruise...where had the time gone? I felt like we just got on the boat! I was going to really miss it...

Here was the view from our balcony:

and looking the other way:

We couldn't wait to see Castaway Cay! DH and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Cabanas and then head out early while everyone else was still stirring...we decided we would all meet up at the family beach and we'd go find a place to sit.

Look who we saw on the way out! Aloha Stitch!

The first thing I noticed about Castaway Cay is how beautifully manicured it looked...It looked like the streets of WDW! Everything is paved nicely and all the shrubbery is trimmed.

I look back as we walked away from the ship...sigh what a beautiful ship!

We walked over to Kargo Handling to wait for a tram to take us to the family beach.

While waiting, I snapped these pictures:

I finally saw Goofy on the back of the ship!

The tram came...it felt like we were in a WDW parking lot! Woohoo!

When we got off at our stop, I headed into the stores:

There were some cute things for sale, but of course, quite pricey. I got myself a Castaway Cay insulated mug. It was really cute, perfect for our next cruise. Hehehe.

We walked over to the beach and found a row of chairs further back from the beach. It wasn't crowded yet but the seats closest to the beach were definitely taken.

The beach is beautiful, with white sand and clear water...DH and I decided to try the slide while waiting for everyone...twice! It was fun. There are 2 sides, one covered so it's dark, and one open. The one in the dark is obviously scarier. DH went on that one while I stuck to the open one.

You'll notice that there is definitely a lot of people and it got progressively more crowded during the day as people got off the ship...but the area is large and unless you plan on swimming laps, I think it was more than enough space to splash around.

Soon Maddie and team joined us!

She loved picking out the seashells from the sand. We went out into the water - she really enjoyed splashing around with her daddy and uncles!

Thanks for the shells Maddie!

As soon as the buffet opened up, we headed over there so we could avoid the lunchtime crowds. The one we went to was Cookies II.

I thought there was a nice selection of food and all prepared quite nicely. I heard the burgers were a little dry though so I got spicy breaded chicken (part of a sandwich but I went sans bun), some ribs, cous couse, and various salads. To drink I got iced tea. All of this is included with the price of your cruise so you don't have to pay for anything extra unless you wanted an alcoholic or specialty smoothie/drink.

You get real napkins and silverware too, which is nice so that stuff isn't flying around in the wind.
We sat in the covered area next to the buffet. It's pretty big but it did get crowded at peak times.

I enjoyed the fresh fruit. Excited to see mango and papaya, although the mango was far better than the papaya which was a bit lackluster.

Then...ice cream! The ice cream machines (the same as on the ship) were churning out so much ice cream that I don't think it kept up with demand and the ice cream was getting softer and softer as you dispensed it...so you couldn't use the cones because they wouldn't hold up in them, so they had cups and spoons. It was still good though.

Here's the new Frozen-inspired kiosk "Summertime Freeze" selling smoothies and shakes:

They had these Olaf souvenir sippers too. I was particularly intrigued by a smoothie that was called "Yellow Snow" but ultimately decided on getting it since I had so much ice cream already.

After a little while hanging with the family on the beach we all decided to split up. Maddie was getting tired so Sandy and Mike headed back to the ship with her. Jimmy went off to rent a bike and explore. DH, his parents, and I went to catch a tram to Serenity Bay.

It is a world of difference between Serenity Bay and the family beach...literally.

Where did everyone go?

It was gorgeous! It was probably the most beach perfect setting for lounging.

Right outside Serenity Bay is another buffet station, and this one served steak (Did all the other buffets serve steak too because we didn't see them at Cookies II). So DH and I each got a steak. Yes a steak for each of us, even after lunch. But had been swimming, and that works up an appetite, right? Even Mom decided to join in on the fun and get more food. We are an eating family!!

Flame grilled steak...for lunch #2.

After second lunch, Steve's parents left and went back to the ship so it was just DH and I enjoying ourselves at Serenity Beach.

Which is exactly what we did...

...on those 2 chairs you see above. We literally sat/swam there for 2 hours. It was really nice! The water was shallow so you could pretty much walk out to the very end of the ropes without putting your face in the water. It was also crystal clear...it was gorgeous. The only thing is that there are rocky areas around the waterline - so it was hard to get in or out if you were barefoot. I guess you could wear water shoes but who wants to? Just a minor gripe as I think if they clear all the rocks and debris it could be a perfect beach!

I'm never going home, I'm never going home....I wanted to chant over and over...but then I'd miss out on a week at WDW so I stopped the chant abruptly.

It was probably around 3pm at this time...so we headed back to the ship, all sunned out. The sun was very strong and I got a sunglass tan too. Oh great.

Back in the stateroom couldn't resist a last picture of Castaway Cay from our verandah:

Since it was still an hour or so before all aboard, the ship wasn't that crowded. I got to meet Goofy again with barely any line!

Coming up...our last dinner at Animator's Palate *sniff*​

 

[bcwife76]

Oh my gosh, CC and especially Serenity Bay, looks like a little slice of heaven!

 

[DisneyDiva84]

I have to say that I am loving your thread! We are going on our first DCL cruise this September on the Fantasy and are looking into the Magic next year! So glad you had such a great time!

 

[cheermom2four]

I so cant wait to see CC now that I've seen your beautiful pics!!! I feel like its eternity though before our first cruise ever arrives!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Oh my gosh, CC and especially Serenity Bay, looks like a little slice of heaven!

It was...esp Serenity Bay! It was so quiet and relatively empty...the water was warm and gorgeous.

I have to say that I am loving your thread! We are going on our first DCL cruise this September on the Fantasy and are looking into the Magic next year! So glad you had such a great time!

Thank you!! We're going on the Fantasy next Feburary 2016 for my birthday! I can't wait to see what it's like! But I loved the Magic...I know it's an older ship but something about it just reminds me of old-school Disney and evoked moments of nostalgia...at least for me!

I so cant wait to see CC now that I've seen your beautiful pics!!! I feel like its eternity though before our first cruise ever arrives!

Your family will love CC! There is something to do for everyone. I felt like that at the beginning of the year...oh the cruise is an eternity away, and before I knew it I was creating cruise packing lists and then finally on the plane to Orlando...it will be here before you know it. The Disboards are a good distraction

 

[cstorm65]

This was our last day of the cruise...where had the time gone?

I know...they go so fast!

The first thing I noticed about Castaway Cay is how beautifully manicured it looked...It looked like the streets of WDW!

I thought this same thing on our cruise last summer. Everything was maintained so well and was so clean, although I didn't expect less from Disney.

Right outside Serenity Bay is another buffet station, and this one served steak (Did all the other buffets serve steak too because we didn't see them at Cookies II). So DH and I each got a steak. Yes a steak for each of us, even after lunch.

Can't pass up a steak!

That is a perfect picture!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I know...they go so fast!

Sigh...tell me about it...our 2 week vacation went by so quickly...

I thought this same thing on our cruise last summer. Everything was maintained so well and was so clean, although I didn't expect less from Disney.

Of course!!

Can't pass up a steak!

I can't pass up anything it seems...

That is a perfect picture!

Thank you!

 

[disney2mom]

Happy belated birthday! Is 40 everything they say it is? Heard it was the new 30!!

I already know we'd be great friends! Your family seems super cute! Any thoughts of doing a TR on your May trip?

Wow 11 times! Cool! I went to WDW when I was a kid numerous times so that's what started my love for Disney. When I was younger I also lived in Japan for 3 years and visited Tokyo Disneyland many times! I would really love to go back there one day. DH and I first visited Disney together as a couple in 2003 and we've pretty much managed to go almost 10 times I think! Plus we've visited DLR as well since DH's family is out on the west coast. I haven't been since the new Cars land opened so am looking forward to checking DLR out once again.

I was thinking we'd do the Leia and Han thing...but I have to find a costume! Guys have it so much easier...a shirt, vest and blaster...though I know I am definitely NOT going to be Slave Leia, LOL.

I hope you like the Magic as much as you like the Dream! I hear the Dream is amazing...very big and new. The Magic didn't feel small though, but I don't have much to compare it to! I will definitely report my thoughts on the Fantasy next year...but it's so far away!

Thank you!! I struggled with turning 30 but 40 has been Fabulous!!

We have so much in common, sounds like you have traveled to WDW just as many times! I have not had the chance to visit DLR but would love to one day. Wow, Tokyo Disneyland...that would be a dream!

Can't wait to read your TR and thoughts on the Fantasy! The Dream is absolutely breathtaking as I'm sure are the Magic, Fantasy and Wonder!! I can't wait to cruise on them ALL!

 

[disney2mom]

Coming up...our last dinner at Animator's Palate *sniff*

NO!!! I want to keep reading!! Do you have a TR for your WDW trip?

I love all of your Castaway Cay pics, I can't wait to go back! Hubby and I did not visit Serenity Bay because we wanted to hang out with the kids but we are definitely spending time there when we go back in March! The water looks so much clearer and it looks less crowded!

I love your pink dress and the pic on the verandah, you look beautiful!

 

[MrsSkellington]

Maddie got a Minnie bow. Not sure if she liked it. She's probably not a hat person:

This. Is. Priceless.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Thank you!! I struggled with turning 30 but 40 has been Fabulous!!

We have so much in common, sounds like you have traveled to WDW just as many times! I have not had the chance to visit DLR but would love to one day. Wow, Tokyo Disneyland...that would be a dream!

Can't wait to read your TR and thoughts on the Fantasy! The Dream is absolutely breathtaking as I'm sure are the Magic, Fantasy and Wonder!! I can't wait to cruise on them ALL!

That's good to know that 40 is fabulous!!

I can't wait to cruise on all the ships! I will definitely cruise on the Wonder one day on one of those super-long Hawaii cruises. Hawaii + Disney are my loves! Just have to save up lots of $$$!!

NO!!! I want to keep reading!! Do you have a TR for your WDW trip?

I love all of your Castaway Cay pics, I can't wait to go back! Hubby and I did not visit Serenity Bay because we wanted to hang out with the kids but we are definitely spending time there when we go back in March! The water looks so much clearer and it looks less crowded!

I love your pink dress and the pic on the verandah, you look beautiful!

Yes I do! My WDW trip report is in my signature, or you can see it here.

Serenity Bay was definitely less crowded. Not that the family beach wasn't fun! But being in a secluded beach...just wow.

Aww thank you! Appreciate the nice comments!

This. Is. Priceless.

Totally!!

 

[Nanaji]

Hi Su-Lynn,

Your report is great. We have talked about a Disney Cruise and your report really makes it sound wonderful. I am following along with much enjoyment.

 

[Stitch808]

After reading through your TR, it's making me want to go on a Disney cruise even more. Glad to see all the things an adult couple can do on the ship. We don't have kids, but are Disney fanatics! Might have convince DGF to change up the WDW trips and go on a cruise.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I'm now caught up with both TRs!

A cruise is such a great extended family trip... it allows everyone to do their own thing AND easily join up to do things together. Your niece is just adorable!

Your walking food tour in the Bahamas sounded awesome! That's my kind of tour!

I LOVE all your Pirate Night outfits! That dress was perfect!

Castaway Cay looks so nice. I went on a Disney Cruise years ago (before Disney had their own ships) so I'd love to try it again and see their private island.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Castaway Cay Part 2: Till we meet again...plus Characterpalooza!

Tonight was our last night on the ship! Nooo! Make it stop! It's like a dream I didn't want to wake up from! Which was fitting because tonight's show was Dreams, an Enchanted Classic in the Walt Disney Theater...

...and I was really going to miss this view...

But first, we had our last dinner to attend...tonight it was back at Animator's Palate, but instead of the Drawn to Magic show, it was a 'Till We Meet Again theme which is what they do on the last night of the cruise.

There was no fancy show or theatrical effects tonight but the restaurant was already lit up and lively. The screens were showing different animated scenes that kept changing.

We were going to really miss all the restaurants and the waitstaff!

Cheers to an unforgettable cruise! Hope we get to do it again as a family soon!

I started with a chicken consomme with a chicken dumpling. It sounded better than it tasted though as it wasn't served hot enough for my liking.

DH got sesame crusted tuna tartar. It was pretty good!

Maddie really liked it too! A funny thing about Maddie is she likes adult food more than kids food. So she didn't really touch her kids plate much...mac n cheese and chicken fingers held no interest with her. Tuna tartar however...she liked it so much we ordered an extra plate just for her! (She loves sushi and stuff like that. Her palate is more sophisticated than other kids I know whom are much older than her!!)

Maddie waiting for her tuna tartar:

I also got a salad which had blue cheese, and dried cranberries. One of my favorite salad combinations!

As an entree I got the shrimp pasta. It was better than the one I had the night before and actually quite good.

DH got the Beef Wellington...I think almost everyone else got this. I tried a bit of it...it was not bad. Not my favorite cut of meat though.

I actually think this is my favorite restaurant on the ship because of the theme.

At the end of dinner, there was an announcement and all the servers marched out holding flags from around the world! We all clapped and cheered. They do really work VERY hard. They are up early too...we saw Gerado and Zsolt at breakfast busing tables in Cabanas!

For dessert, I got the baked Alaska. I thought it's supposed to be made with meringue, but instead the ice cream was inside a cake. It was ok but I like traditional baked Alaska.

DH got the Sweet Temptations trio:

Even though it was only a 5 night cruise, Zsolt and Gerado already felt like family. We were going to miss them! And I'm going to miss getting my extra cup of ice at every meal without asking...

Here's a photo of all of us!!

After dinner, we still had some time before the Dreams show so I went to see about booking another cruise with the on board discount. Note to everyone...do NOT wait until the last night of the cruise! What was I thinking!?! The line was super long! Apparently everyone had the same idea...

At least I got to enjoy the lobby a bit...

Minnie was there!

Goofy too!

I ended up not waiting and decided to come back later.

Back in the stateroom, I saw that we got our signed frame mats! I had dropped these off at Guest Services on our first day. You don't get them back until your last night. You can also do pillowcases, table clothes, and t-shirts and I guess whatever else you want signed - I hear you can only get 2 per stateroom but I think they make exceptions if you're have additional kids in the stateroom. I got 2 frame mats and I wanted one horizontal and one vertical but they made them both vertical. It's ok, I was planning to give one to my sister, CS, and making both vertical actually makes it pretty easy to decide which one to give her.

(Note, I put them in a jumbo ziploc bag, along with another small ziploc of Sharpies in the colors that I wanted the signatures in)

Here they are out of the bag:

I'm so excited to put a picture in the frame! Now to only decide which one...

I still had a lot of packing to do, so got down to it...

After we were all kinda packed we went to watch Dreams, an Enchanted Classic...and it was awesome! The best show of the trip! It takes you through a journey of a girl's desire to dream big and fly, with help from Peter Pan, Tink, the Blue Fairy...and various other classic Disney characters along the way! I highly recommend this show and it's the one show that I don't think should be missed when on the Magic!

After the show we all went back to our staterooms to finish packing...and we had to leave our luggage out so it can be unloaded the following morning. It was so bittersweet removing all the stateroom door decor. Inka came by and she was sad too and we said our goodbyes. There are amazing people working on the Magic, really!!

Bags packed and ready to go...we then went to stake out a spot for the See ya real soon farewell in the lobby atrium...and I went to get on line for the on board booking just before the desk opened...and I was third on line. Whew.

Waiting to book our next cruise!

What did we book? Well I think some of you know this already...but I booked a cruise for Western Caribbean from Feb 20-27th 2016 on the Fantasy! It's my birthday on the 27th and the cruise also has Star Wars Day at Sea!!! Couldn't be more perfect right? In all honesty I booked the cruise because I kept seeing the ads for it on the stateroom TVs...Star Wars Day at Sea, how amazing would that be? And the fact that it coincides with my 40th birthday...an extra plus! I don't even know if we can 100% make the cruise, or if anyone else can even make it (I asked my family and DH's family and all my friends but so far no one can make it at that time or can't give me an answer) since it's still so far away...but it's always nice to have something to look forward to, right? Would anyone else like to go on this cruise or is going on this cruise? Please say yes!!!

Right after I booked our cruise the farewell show began. It really is a short show, just a few announcements and greetings and they asked if everyone had a great time....etc. Then all the characters came out, and walked down the atrium staircase, including the princesses, and some of the show performers in costume. They all waved goodbye.

Now's the time...to say goodbye to all our company....M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E (I literally wanted to cry when I heard them sing this song...)

It was a very short farewell thing...and then they opened up the floor for about 30 minutes for character picture taking....YAY!!

I got sandwiched by Chip n Dale!

Pirates forever!!

Donald!

Back at our stateroom...and who did we see there...Maddie came over from her room to give me a present. For me?? Wow!
Her mom and her had picked out a Crislu crystal necklace from the Mickey's Mainsail store on board the ship in the shape of a mini DCL logo. It was really pretty! They just wanted to thank me for all the planning I did...like booking the hotel, van, decorating their door. Haha, it was nothing really since I do this all the time...planning a WDW vacation is like second nature to me! It was so sweet of them though!

Fun with Maddie:

Our stateroom was so empty without all our stuff! We left out only enough clothes to sleep in and for the next day. I definitely had mixed emotions...so sad this amazing cruise was over, but so excited for our extended vacation in WDW! I guess it makes disembarkation a little easier. We fell asleep to the tunnel vision TV watching The Lion King...

Coming up, our last breakfast at Animator's Palate and disembarkation....and onto WDW!!


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