Cruisin' a DREAM and WDW July 2-July 15th TR updated 1/25:Final Entry! page 15

[princessnpirate]

Loving the trip report!

 

[DisneyZell]

ya know you eagerly anticipate my input.

LOL! sometimes I'm not sure what to make of your comments.

Loving the trip report!

Thanks and welcome aboard. as with all new members to the thread I will apologize now for the keyboard marks you will have on your forehead when you fall asleep. I think Quiltteddy has suggestions on how to best treat those wounds!

Thanks for the comments!

DZ

 

[QuiltTeddy]

LOL! sometimes I'm not sure what to make of your comments.


DZ

 

[LuvEeyore]

Okay...I am back...just had tp work and drive a days journey...before I could come back. I hope you will be back with another update befoe I drive home Monday.
crazy porcupine? That sounds good...might have to make me one.

 

[dededisney]

Okay...I am back...just had tp work and drive a days journey...before I could come back. I hope you will be back with another update befoe I drive home Monday.
crazy porcupine? That sounds good...might have to make me one.

I hope he has another update before Monday as well...you just never know when it will strike his fancy as to when he would like to contribute. He did put up a new ceiling fan in our room today, so that earned him some points...now he only has 3 more to go!

 

[DisneyZell]

I'm keepin' my eye on you.

Okay...I am back...just had tp work and drive a days journey...before I could come back. I hope you will be back with another update befoe I drive home Monday.
crazy porcupine? That sounds good...might have to make me one.

Welcome back! Uh..yeah, can't promise another one before Monday. But you never know.

I hope he has another update before Monday as well...you just never know when it will strike his fancy as to when he would like to contribute. He did put up a new ceiling fan in our room today, so that earned him some points...now he only has 3 more to go!

Yeah...not like I do anything else. I have not gotten to play as much Call of Duty as I'd like because of all the stuff I have going on! And yes...I was Bob the Builder today...three more fans...have to crawl up, sweat my tookus off sitting and breathing in insulation, to finally have those done. Plus stabbing myself on the head on the nails from the roof. Do I get sympathy? noooooooooooo!

DZ

 

[QuiltTeddy]

I'm keepin' my eye on you.

Well, I would expect nothing less!!!

Yeah...not like I do anything else. I have not gotten to play as much Call of Duty as I'd like because of all the stuff I have going on! DZ

Does this mean I need to buy another trunk (since you trashed the last one)?

 

[HeyyCali]

I am learning so many great tips with this TR! Lazy rivers, jailhouse haircuts, crazy porcupines and fishlips. And we haven't even hit the ship yet! Keen 'em coming!

 

[DisneyZell]

Well, I would expect nothing less!!!
Does this mean I need to buy another trunk (since you trashed the last one)?

I wouldn't say I trashed it, I'd say it is just well used. And, yeah, it kind of smells. So I'm thinking new one.

I am learning so many great tips with this TR! Lazy rivers, jailhouse haircuts, crazy porcupines and fishlips. And we haven't even hit the ship yet! Keen 'em coming!

Welcome aboard...hopefully we will be welcomed aboard here shortly! Thanks for joining along!

DZ

 

[QuiltTeddy]

I wouldn't say I trashed it, I'd say it is just well used. And, yeah, it kind of smells. So I'm thinking new one.

"well used"......I guess that's the polite way of saying it.



HeyyCali.....the most important tip, and this is being given from one who is now following the second TR by DZ, is do NOT hold your breath!!

 

[DisneyZell]

I know all of you have been waiting with baited breath (by the way, what the heck does that mean. I don't think I would want my breath to smell like bait...that's just kinda gross. And I certainly do not want DW to have baited breath. Huh. Anyhoooooo) for us to get on the ship. Well, today is your day. I have lots of pictures, and even some video today. So hang on to your hats!

It is now Sunday July 10th. Look, it's only been three months since we got on-board. Holy crap I'm slow.

We got up a little after 7am, packed up and checked out of our hotel. A couple of quick pictures from our room:

This is the room

and this is the room on kids. Don't let this happen to you. Get it? Huh? not at all? drugs? oh never mind.

We checked out around 8, and headed to steak n shake for breakfast. Yes we were going there again. We single handedly helped out that company for a week or so! But we had not had breakfast there....this one was on Merritt Island...it was good, not great...but what can you do? We grabbed some cash and filled up the car with gas. Then we headed over to the port...looking for...there it is! The Disney Dream!

http://youtu.be/yrIjMbLuhWQ my videos are posted on youtube. I don't think you can imbed video in TR's? too bad!

After that wonderful view...and note in the video us making fun of people leaving the ship...ha! It's ours for now! Yes, I know, in a few short days people will be laughing at us as we have to leave. Yikes!...I dropped them all off at the terminal with out luggage.

In answer to the question going through your heads, no we were not looking to upgrade...yes we are mentally unstable...and yes we like to be one of the first families on the ship. OK? ready to move on. righty then...

DW and kids were around the 5th family in line (ha! we are NOT the only insane ones!), and got to hang out while I took a drive over to Avis. I dropped my car off and waited for a shuttle talking to a nice family (mom, dad and 3 kids...and about 500 suitcases).

***********tip***************
yeah! A tip! How lucky for all of you. I steal that line from the movie Dave. If you don't recognize it...well...anyway...moving on.

If you rent a car, don't return the car with your family and all it's luggage. It's so much easier to drop at the port. They can check you in if need be...and then you won't have to haul all that stuff around. While it's a bit of a pain for the person being dropped off...at the end of the day it is much better to not have to haul all that stuff around. Just a suggestion!!!

Nick and Connor waiting to get on the Dream!

I made it back not long after that, just as they were starting to let people in. We made it quickly through security, up the stairs and filled out our health questionnaire...and then everything went crazy. There were a bunch of people who got in line at the castaway club check-in...the CM didn't bother to give any of us numbers. Finally the realized it and started handing them out...it was an older gentlemen...and he kept getting distracted. So instead of getting a "2" we got a "3". The screwy part was that everyone in front and behind us got 2's. Yeah...I'm a whiner! I want to be a two! waaaaaaaaaa!

Depending on who is reading this, we might get flamed for this...but we brought it up to the nice lady who was checking us in...she just crossed out our 3, and put her initials on it...adding a 2! Wow how we moved up in the world!

Our doctored boarding pass

Nick Connor and I hang out

Must have a picture by the model. of course this is one of those smaller ships (nose up in the air like I'm a snob...except....except...I *like* the smaller ships).

Quick picture outside...hey, we had to entertain ourselves somehow while we were boarding!

About 11 our neighbors called to say they were in the terminal! Yeah! We were excited to really get the vacation started. They got checked in and came over to hang out with us. The time really did fly this time..which was the first time I wasn't going out of my mind with boredom.

At noon they started boarding with the family of the day. Everyone speculates how they pick the family of the day...but of course we have no idea. Then they start the boarding...us and our doctored boarding pass...and of course 4 extra people (our neighbors). When they called two we snaked our way through to the front, showed our pass...which someone else saw and apparently made a big deal of. I, of course, didn't hesitate...but apparently DFW (Disney Friend Wife, if you recall from the very first page of this TR, written like 10 years ago, we needed to differentiate between these neighbors and the neighbors we had gone with before. So there you go. DFW is also Jennifer..which I may refer to as at some point...you just never know), anyway, she heard the grumbling...but we all made it on. Yes, we could have just crossed out the 3 and put a 2 ourselves...but we didn't. really! We didn't! Just Sayin'.

We boarded the ship...

http://youtu.be/lMM-0CT_3Qo Introductions...and a little joke as apparently Ellie (DFD11, sheesh, just Ellie, it's shorter!) was concerned about how the luggage got on-board...and mom's always have to twist the knife just a little!

After getting on we headed up to the pool deck, found a couple of tables. DW and the kids changed into their swimsuits and headed for the aquaduck. We had heard it was good to do right away and it was...the line quickly became longer. Brian (DFH) and I hung out while the rest of the crew did that.

There are better pictures of us later...but here is the aquaduck.

The Aquaduck gets great reviews from me. I really like how it works...it's a combination of a fast ride and a lazy river ride...all on a ship. I think this is pretty impressive. I mentioned Crush 'n Gusher at Typhoon lagoon and it was definitely not quite as fast...but again just something neat about it being on a ship. Through the TR I'll talk about the best times to go on it...as the lines did tend to get quite long.

Eventually DW came back and Brian and I changed to hit the aquaduck as well. Then came lunch. There was a lot to choose from and it was my first visit to the buffet. I've read various reviews on the buffet, but I think overall I like it better than the Magic and Wonder. You can wander and get the same things from different spots...so there isn't as long a line as there frequently was on the other ships. I thought the choice of food was quite good and had no problem finding things to eat.

DW cruised down to get reservations at Palo for brunch which we wanted to do instead of dinner. She scored at 11 on our sea day. We thought this would be hard because there was only one sea day....more on that when that day comes. We decided to cancel our dinner reservation...as we both like Brunch better.

Meanwhile the kids hung out around the pool...

This is the hot tub...the coolest thing ever. The side against the side of the ship (can I say side any more??) was about a 3 inch thick piece of glass...so you could see out. What I did not realize until later was that on the floor of the hot tub (and on the floor outside the hot tub at various spots) was a glass view-port where you could see all the way down to deck 4. You can't see this if the bubbles are going...but again..very cool touch in my opinion.

Connor hanging out

Nick and Connor by the pool

About 1:45 we went down to check out our stateroom and it was ready. Most of our suitcases were there so we were able to unpack a bit and relax in preparation for the rest of the cruise. this is a good time to show you the navigator:

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[DisneyZell]

And here is the room:

Nick at the desk

Connor watching TV already

The toilet room

The shower room

The shower...this shower was great. the really designed this item well..it was round, and the circle continued in the room...but while it did not take up much of the stateroom it made a huge difference in the bathroom. Instead of the SHUB (not quite a shower, not quite a tub) that they have on the Magic and Wonder you have a real shower. it also had two shower heads...one was rain overhead and it had a hand-held wand. I'm a big fan of this upgrade!

Long shot of the room

After we unpacked we went over to our friend's room...which was on the other side of the ship and down a bit, but on the same floor...nice! The kids took off to play mini golf and ping pong.

Ping Pong

The sport court

Connor takes his turn

Nick takes his too

And John. Not sure why I didn't get a shot of Ellie. Sorry Ellie! We miss you guys by the way!

Meanwhile Dw and I did a little wandering of our own...

The atrium...incredible.

Another shot

Dw got a froo froo drink. She then used that glass for the crazy porcupine the rest of the week. Good deal in the end!

Who is that good looking guy? OH, it's me. If you see the glass that I'm standing on...that's the viewport that shows all the way down to deck 4. DW didn't like it.

You can't really see it...but this is what I"m talking about.

Lounging with DW's froo froo drink.

DW doing the same

The splash area was really cool..if we had kids that age anymore. We don't. Whew!

Another view of the splash area

Then we headed back to the room to get ready for the safety drill.

There was a cool picture in the room that I liked...so you get to see it.

All the ships together

Like the other ships you no longer have to wear your life jackets. And like all the past cruises I've been on there are guests who feel they don't need to come to the drill on time..so we all get to stand around and wait for them. This annoys the you know what out of me. How silly is it that it bothers me...but it does! Some people in life just believe their time is more valuable than yours is.

Here are all the people

That's it for now...I promise I won't take as long between posts this week.

Coming up: Chapter 9: More on the Dream

 

[DisneyZell]

"well used"......I guess that's the polite way of saying it.

HeyyCali.....the most important tip, and this is being given from one who is now following the second TR by DZ, is do NOT hold your breath!!

HEY! I would take offense to that comment if it weren't...so...well....uh...true.

 

[Grooovertoo]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeey, you made it to the ship part of the report and just in time for me to get on the Dream in 3 days....very nice.

Okay, I've had both, but I need your thoughts as well...Steak and Shake versus In-N-Out? Great selection and SnS, but something about InO.

 

[DisneyZell]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeey, you made it to the ship part of the report and just in time for me to get on the Dream in 3 days....very nice.

Okay, I've had both, but I need your thoughts as well...Steak and Shake versus In-N-Out? Great selection and SnS, but something about InO.

That's easy mainly because the main purpose of going to a burger place is the burger...and In-n-Out just does it right....it's all about Animal Style.

However, I would gladly take SNS fries over In-N-Out anyday. I love the skinny fries...good stuff! If I had to pick one over the other...In-N-Out. If I can somehow meld them together...yum!

I'm jealous that you are headed out in 3 days! I'll try to at least get the first day out of the way!

DZ

 

[iloverags2]

A "Dave" reference! Love it!

Oh, and loving your report also. I'm a little late to the game here, but ready to go!

As for the latecomers (and even no-shows) at the safety drill? One of my biggest pet peeves. Seriously. And I love to point out that fact when they decide to sashay up to the group 15 minutes late. I (loudly) mumble under my breath.

Back to the fun!

 

[LuvEeyore]

DZ, you did well!! Got back about 9pm lastnight...just now catching up on DIS and you have gotten the requested update done. You did well!

 

[QuiltTeddy]

HEY! I would take offense to that comment if it weren't...so...well....uh...true.

But you'd never "dream" of chasing me away. (Get the correlation? )

That's easy mainly because the main purpose of going to a burger place is the burger...and In-n-Out just does it right....it's all about Animal Style.

DZ

So, do tell. Do you just belly up to troughs if "it's all about Animal Style"?

OMG, I couldn't resist....you certainly walked right into that one and, you've got to admit, I've been quite restrained and well behaved in this TR so far.

I, too, get really annoyed at the late comers to the fire drill and find it hard to contain myself when they amble by. To make matters worse, most of the late comers have absolutely NO clue where they are supposed to be going.

So far, the ship is beautiful. Can't wait to see more pictures.


PS It's okay to say "I'm a man's man, but I like froo froo drinks". You didn't have to conceal it.

 

[DisneyZell]

A "Dave" reference! Love it!

Oh, and loving your report also. I'm a little late to the game here, but ready to go!

As for the latecomers (and even no-shows) at the safety drill? One of my biggest pet peeves. Seriously. And I love to point out that fact when they decide to sashay up to the group 15 minutes late. I (loudly) mumble under my breath.

Back to the fun!

ah! glad you got the reference. It's a tad obscure...kinda like me! Welcome to the show. Don't listen to Quilteddy who will tell you that I take forever to write the next chapter...not true, not true!

And yeah...those latecomer...grr...usually carrying a beer...like the rest of us wouldn't rather drink than do that. You know, though, I do think of it kind of like the airline announcements. They could skip them...because frankly if there were an emergency likely you wouldn't go to the right spot...you would forget which one you were going to...and you would go to the closest place. Would they say...oh sorry sir, your boat is on the other side of the ship and leave without you? Hmmmm..

DZ, you did well!! Got back about 9pm lastnight...just now catching up on DIS and you have gotten the requested update done. You did well!

See, it's you! Your back...so I'm writing faster. these other people just complain too much! Yeah, that's it!!

But you'd never "dream" of chasing me away. (Get the correlation? )

So, do tell. Do you just belly up to troughs if "it's all about Animal Style"?

OMG, I couldn't resist....you certainly walked right into that one and, you've got to admit, I've been quite restrained and well behaved in this TR so far.

I, too, get really annoyed at the late comers to the fire drill and find it hard to contain myself when they amble by. To make matters worse, most of the late comers have absolutely NO clue where they are supposed to be going.

So far, the ship is beautiful. Can't wait to see more pictures.

PS It's okay to say "I'm a man's man, but I like froo froo drinks". You didn't have to conceal it.

First you should go into comeday. Ha. ha. ha. Love the big smiley.

Yes, if they offered Double Double Animal Style burgers in a trough (dang I had to check the spelling on that one), I'd be there. so HA!

See my comment above about the late comers, and while the occassionall froo froo drink is ok (like Pina Colada...that's a good one), I generally prefer beer. DW will confirm this for you. Although to be honest I don't drink a ton...

DZ

 

[QuiltTeddy]

First you should go into comeday. Ha. ha. ha. Love the big smiley.

Yes, if they offered Double Double Animal Style burgers in a trough (dang I had to check the spelling on that one), I'd be there. so HA!

See my comment above about the late comers, and while the occassionall froo froo drink is ok (like Pina Colada...that's a good one), I generally prefer beer. DW will confirm this for you. Although to be honest I don't drink a ton...

DZ

Check my spelling?

Yes, I do recall that you are as cheap a date as I am. The bar bill attributable to the trunk was minimal, at best.

I'm already so famous, my picture is all over the internet. You've probably have already run across it, but to refresh your recollection: