Cruising the Dream on our 1st cruise ever!!! (5 Night Double Dip)

[MEK]

240 points - just like that! Nice! Congrats! I'm officially jealous. I would love some AKL points!

The pizza does look delish!

 

[Pinkocto]

I was wondering about Amile. Glad it worked out okay!
I've subscribed to your TR so keep it coming!

Welcome! I had to hold myself back from saying anything before, I'm really trying to keep to the timeframe.

Thanks, lots more to come

 

[Pinkocto]

woohoo! 2 contracts! SWEET!!! LUCKY!

Question for you as I have only been on 1 cruise (not Disney) and it was awhile ago. Meals are "free" on the cruise right unless you go to the places like Palo or like the Frozone place in your last post right? I can only remember dinners on our cruise, for some reason I don't remember eating any other time (except the chocolate midnight buffet!) but I am POSITIVE I ate more than just dinner every day haha.

Thank you! I'm still so excited! I truly was going to wait until next year to add on but the timing was right.

Exactly, you don't have to pay extra for any of the meals except Remy and Palo. They have the beverage stations that have sodas, coffee, juice, and milk available 24 hours. You do have to pay for soda in the bars and from room service. The 'specialty' drinks like at Frozone Treats, Cove Cafe, and all the bars of course you have to pay for. But Disney is quite clever, everything is 'cash free' you have to charge everything to your room which I found much easier to spend money that way. It was so nice not having to pay for any thing, and an adjustment when we got to WDW even though we've been there many times.

 

[Pinkocto]

240 points - just like that! Nice! Congrats! I'm officially jealous. I would love some AKL points!

The pizza does look delish!

I kept waiting for someone to ask, but I got 240 at Aulani. Figured that should be enough for a two week vacation but when looking at the charts its not quite.

I don't know if you remember, but just before we left I was waiting to hear back about a new job, and I did get the call a few days before hand. otherwise it wouldn't have been an option and I would have had to wait until next year.

The pizza gets a bad rap, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was downright delicious!

AKV is my absolute favorite. Now how can we convince Denny you need some more points :

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Can you post a picture of your 'itinerary tshirt' that you mentioned awhile back? I would love to see that. I'm on the May 27 double dip and hope they have the same type of thing, I love memorabilia like that.

 

[Pinkocto]

Pam- no worries, I didn't go back to scrutinize what I wrote, for all I know in my old age I may not have even said it!

Since it will be a May trip I can't book til June of this year, we will do AKV my "home" so I can do it at the 11 mo mark. Stupid thing is the 1 day before the cruise I can book on June 8 (since it is May 8 ) and then I have to wait til the 12th to book the week after ANd yeh, I have to do it right at 11 mo or I will go NUTS worrying that I may lose our pre-cruise room by what, 4 days

I completely understand, and it's the only guarantee you'll get exactly what you want. With DVC I found myself planning so much more than I used to.

 

[Pinkocto]

Can you post a picture of your 'itinerary tshirt' that you mentioned awhile back? I would love to see that. I'm on the May 27 double dip and hope they have the same type of thing, I love memorabilia like that.

Your trip is coming up fast!

Front:

Back:

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Thanks, I love the tshirt! They didn't have that one on my Dream cruise in February. I hope they still have it next month so I can snag one!

 

[Pinkocto]

Thanks, I love the tshirt! They didn't have that one on my Dream cruise in February. I hope they still have it next month so I can snag one!

It was only available on the sea day and only in Quacks. They made a special announcement about it over the loudspeakers. I'm so glad we got them. I hope they still have them, I can't see why not.

 

[ngrowbo]

Great info and pictures! We are on the Dream in June for the first time.

 

[franandaj]

Welcome! I had to hold myself back from saying anything before, I'm really trying to keep to the timeframe.

Thanks, lots more to come

Wow!!!! How much addonitis did you succumb to?

Are you joining the 1000 point club on the DIS yet!

 

[Linda67]

Another great update

Wow, another contract - that is just so exciting

20 extra points per use year is a great deal, I wonder how long they will run it for - I probably shouldn't turn up to the DVC meeting, who know's what I would end up doing

 

[Pinkocto]

Great info and pictures! We are on the Dream in June for the first time.

Thanks You're going to LOVE it!!!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Wow!!!! How much addonitis did you succumb to?

Are you joining the 1000 point club on the DIS yet!

Oh no, not yet, a little more than half way there. but i like the idea! bought 300 more and got 60 'free'. . but I still need some Grand Floridian points next year!

 

[Pinkocto]

Another great update

Wow, another contract - that is just so exciting

20 extra points per use year is a great deal, I wonder how long they will run it for - I probably shouldn't turn up to the DVC meeting, who know's what I would end up doing

Thank you : I'm so excited! It opens up so many more possibilities.

It really was a great deal. It was to commemorate DVCs 20th anniversary. Amile said it wouldn't last long but wouldn't say a date. I do know both resorts are increasing in price this month, not sure if that's already happened. That was one of the reasons I succumbed.

Go to the meeting! They're fun regardless what you do

 

[Pinkocto]

We delivered some FE gifts before the show and also picked up our DVC gift of the day. There was a choice between some beautiful matted prints of various DVC resorts and we chose Vero Beach.

Here is the ball cap we received the day before.

Tonight's show was Mike Super the magician. He was a riot. He has made up a new word, 'lavenous'. It means everything and nothing, and he wanted us to use it whenever we could. For example, This food is just lavenous! You are looking lavenous this evening. Could this weather be any more lavenous? It was too funny.

A few pictures of the theater.

We delivered the rest of our FE gifts after the show and came upon Stitch in the atrium. He is mom's favorite so we stuck around for a while.

Clayton was there too.

Stayed and listened to the music and watched the children dance to their hearts content.

Headed back to the room to drop off our bag before dinner. This is part of the running track that goes around the bow.

We were greeted by a cute lobster.

Kermit was all ready for bed.

Next up dinner at the Enchanted Garden.

 

[pooksma]

Great updates. Congrats on your "extra" purchase

 

[Pinkocto]

Great updates. Congrats on your "extra" purchase

Thank you so much

 

[Pinkocto]

Dinner tonight was at the Enchanted Garden. I wasn't expecting much from this restaurant but it was beautiful and dinner was splendid. I have a bunch of shots on the way to the table. I was just clicking right and left trying to take everything in. Hopefully you can get a sense of the layout and decor.

Nice little seating area right outside the entrance.

We told the podium our table number and someone escorted us there.

All our tablemates were already seated. Dinner tonight was much more comfortable this evening and good conversation was enjoyed by all.

I thought the place setting was lovely.

We both started off with the Golden and Red Beet Carpaccio Seasoned with Celtic Salt and a Ginger, Garlic and Rice Wine Vinaigrette. We love beets so this was fabulous. I probably would have enjoyed a second helping.

Mom also had the Thyme and Garlic Brioche Filled with Chanterelle, Hedgehog and Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Leek Stew in a light Buttermilk Cream. The mushroom part was absolutely delicious, but the bread was a bit too thick, it needed something like a sourdough bread.

I had the Tomato Soup which was a bit on the sweet side so I didn't finish it.

For entrees mom had the Glazed Portobello Mushrooms With Brown Lentil and Parsley Sauce and Sun-dried Tomato Cream Drizzle. She enjoyed this immensely.

I had the Pan-seared Sea Bass With Saffron and Fennel Risotto with a Sweet Chili Glaze which was very tasty.

For dessert mom had the "Sacher" Chocolate Torte With Apricot Sauce.

and the Steamed Lemon Buttermilk Pudding With Citrus Reduction .

She enjoyed both but claimed the lemon pudding was the best thing she'd had so far.

I had both sugar free desserts. The Strawberry Cheesecake With Whipped Cream and Fruit Coulis was good

but the Silky Dark Chocolate Mousse With Whipped Cream and Berries was absolutely divine!

Mom enjoyed some coffee with dessert. And Charlie our server brought out these little treats for everyone to enjoy.

We chatted so long we were one of the last tables to leave. It was a fabulous evening.

 

[dgbg100106]

Everything looks wonderful... Thanks for the wonderful update and i love your hat...