Dare to DREAM- a pre trip report

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I never in my life thought I would be on or interested in a cruise.

Somehow,I imagined it as floating HomeTown buffet with geriatric patients in a Condo line or swingers club revival.
But then, a couple of years ago I saw the Disney Dream featured on America's Funniest Videos.
I saw food that looked yummy, especially Palo (the Dream was still a dream at that point so no Remy or Aquaduck). I saw there was so much to do for people of ALL ages. I saw interesting points of call, most importantly Disney's own private Island and most of all Pirate Night Arrrr.

But having a daughter will some developmental delays, I feared she would literally climb the rafters and wind up going over board which made me still think, a cruise wasn't right for our family.

Then I started to surf the DIS board and learned not only do they have a plexiglass wall, so the railings can't be climbed, child safety locks on veranda doors but that no kid has EVER went overboard.

So I started to dream, at first I thought about a Wonder MR last year, especially with the Kids Sail Free offer, but our budget wouldn't allow it at the time and my husband who is a little socially awkward was still apprehensive.

Ever so slowly my husband became more and more open to the idea. Although, I must admit it might have something to do with me training the girls to cuddle up to daddy saying "Pa-LEZ Daddy, can I go on the Mickey Boat?" several times a day. They are kind of irresistible, so much so I've been tempted to let them eat cookies for breakfast, they make prayer hands and puppy dog eyes. It's hard to say no.

In meantime, the DREAM had been launched and I shifted my focus from a MR cruise on the Wonder to the new ship with all it's bells and whistles.

One day I was talking to a life long friend of mine from Canada (where I grew up) and she said her husband was open to a Disney Cruise.

With that in action, we picked a date...almost a year ago to sail on the Dream Jan 29th.

Sailing will be
Me- Martina but the kids call me MOM. I will be a fresh 41 at the time of sailing
DH- Dylan also 41
DD1- Ryanne who will be 4 but almost 5
DD@- Reese who will be 2 but almost 3

Our dear friends Tommi and Michelle and their two girls (6 and 10) will be joining us.

This is me and my girls, YES DD1 can be every bit as cheeky as she looks in that photo.

This is all of us

We've been to Disneyland only a couple of times ( I actually HATED my first visit there, is was PACKED and many rides were broken. Actually, in the 3 times I have been there, every time Pirates of the Caribbean has been shut down, along with many of the water rides)

But the second time we were there, my oldest daughter was 3 and just starting to understand the magic. As much as we spent in the park that day for 4 adults (we took the grandparents) and 1 child (the youngest was free), as annoying as the lines were, as hot as it was...it was all worth it to see the look on her face when she met Mickey Mouse. I almost felt like crying I was that verklempt.

This is the youngest with Pluto with her NaiNai (my step MIL)

Coming soon will be pictures of us in our pirate attire, knowing we were going on a DisneyCruise, we spent a fortune on our Halloween costumes, because we figured we'd wear them twice.

 

[Jennifer48]

Can't wait to hear your plans!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Cant wait to hear more.

 

[Marshay]

Joining in!

Your daughters are beautiful!

We hope to Dream in January 2013, so I definitely have an interest in your report. My DD's are 2 and 6.

 

[mimmi]

Checkin' in.
I will probably be too lazy to write a trip report myself, so I can't wait to read yours.

 

[jedijill]

I'm in! Your girls are gorgeous!

Jill in CO

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Thanks for all the kind words about the girls and for checking in on the thread.

The date which seemed so far away at one point now seems like it's right around the corner.

Unfortunately, we hit a few snags along the the way. One of them being that while watching the cost of air fare to MCO I saw a news report about a price increase in airfare and sure enough when we checked hotwire that night, there was a steep increase. In a panic (well, I think it was more me nagging and complaining to my husband " You see, I TOLD you we should have booked sooner...wonka wonka wonka" )we purchased 4 seats....only to discover a few days later that the prices dropped by $360.

My rant can be seen here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2830993

The next is that given the recent changes in regards to the youth clubs, having a toddler who would have been a few weeks shy of her 3 birthday at the time of cruising and who is potty trained, in addition to a 4.5+ year old who is special needs there is still questions and concerns on how this will effect us. But I have come to the conclusion that a "wait and see" approach will save me a lot of frustration and grief.

So onto the better parts

I've been trying to loose a few extra lbs before the cruise so I joined the local curves and started using myplate to count my calories. I lost 7.5lbs in the first month. Unfortunately, with the holidays (thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday and New Years I haven't had another drop- the good news is I haven't had a gain either. If I play my cards right, I can still possibly lose another 8lbs from my goal.

 

[Marshay]

So onto the better parts

I've been trying to loose a few extra lbs before the cruise so I joined the local curves and started using myplate to count my calories. I lost 7.5lbs in the first month. Unfortunately, with the holidays (thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday and New Years I haven't had another drop- the good news is I haven't had a gain either. If I play my cards right, I can still possibly lose another 8lbs from my goal.

Sorry, about the airfare...I think you are adopting a great attitude on the clubs. Maybe they will be more flexible, too, if the clubs aren't so crowded...

Great news on the weight loss! I saw that anyone who hasn't gained weight over T-day, Christmas and New Years is doing super!! They are such hard times to maintain weight, let alone LOSE weight!

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Since booking our cruise, we made another trip to Disneyland in Sept. when my sister, her DH, their kids (my niece and nephew) and my dad came to CA for a visit.

All the kids seemed to loved Mickey with the exception of my DD2 who refused to be put down. but then again it was Fantasia Mickey which I always thought was a little creepy.

Meanwhile our oldest DD has us worried that in her teenage years, she will be the one who is able to sneak out of her room in the middle of the night and that she will not be contained.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

So knowing we were going on a Disney Cruise, we decided that we would get more bang for our buck by having everyone being pirates for Halloween and recycling our costumes on the cruise. I also found a coupon for 20% off (sweet.) which saved us a few bucks, especially since DH and I went all out and got theatrical quality (or so the box said) costumes. DH and I will pirates for the next 20 years.

Not to mention DH also spent hours carving special jack-o-lanterns.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Sorry, about the airfare...I think you are adopting a great attitude on the clubs. Maybe they will be more flexible, too, if the clubs aren't so crowded...

Great news on the weight loss! I saw that anyone who hasn't gained weight over T-day, Christmas and New Years is doing super!! They are such hard times to maintain weight, let alone LOSE weight!

Thanks for posting and for the supportive feed back.
Hopefully, by as the cruise date comes closer there will be more positive and reassuring information coming down for the clubs on the execution of the new policies on how toddlers and special needs kids will be accommodated. I'm not sure what if anything will be done for 18 year olds still in highschool but I also hope there is a viable solution to that situation as well.

I also hope as the weeks get closer my weight loss ticker moves down.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Thanks to the DIS boards, I knew lanyards were only provided to CC members so I knew if I wanted one I had to provided my own.

In searching online I was able to find some some Disney themed ones for the adults on ebay and for the kids on http://www.thatsmyticket.com/cdistinktl.html

I also found a few of these notebooks at the 99 cent store that I figured the girls could use for autograph books.

And as luck would have it, Santa also heard they were going on a Disney cruise and sent them some Princess outfits to wear (seen to the left of the photo in a boxed 3 pack).

 

[my2disneyboys]

Looks like when you get off the ship, we will be getting on!! Those pumpkins look amazing! I also bought pirate costumes thinking my kids would get two uses out of them but they didn't want to be pirates for halloween and I think I bought them too early because they hardly fit them anymore! So my boys will be wearing their Mickey Pirate ears!

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I hope you enjoy your cruise. I'm sorry that it sounds like your kids won't fit in their costumes. We actually ended up buying our youngest the next size up when we tried them on in the store since the original one 'just' fit her and didn't leave much room for growth.

If you get the chance to check out your local dollar store, they sometimes have great pirate accessories. (The flashing skull and crossbones necklaces my girls are wearing in the Halloween picture were got at one)

Although Mickey Ears (just like Princess dresses) work every night. ;

 

[Maddies Mama]

Aww, what cuties you have! You are going to have such a great time on your trip! Pirate night is so fun and you have great costumes for it.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Thanks MM

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

So the cruise seems to be right around the corner and in the last week there have been a ton more bookings. I'm excited because from our cruise meet thread it seems like a lot of really great people will now be my shipmates. (there were great people before- but now there is more)

There is also a few of us who decided to get together for a FE exchange so I have been spending all my free time shopping for and making my gifts. I'm really excited. I have even printed out a a copy of the deck plans and highlighted the stateroom locations. It's funny that I am organized over the gift exchange but I have a feeling I will be scrambling to get everything else done.

I still need to create a packing list, making sure I have everything on it, figure out what outfits to pack and makings sure I don't forget anything. .

I have already booked our airport parking, we a are using a service where you go to their lot- then they use your car to drive you curbside then take it back to their lot for parking. They also pick you up on the way back. That saves us worrying about waiting for a shuttle or wondering if it has carseats for our little ones.

We also booked our pre-cruise stay at the Embassy Suites. I have read a lot of great things about the place according to on line reviews and fellow DIS-ers.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Looking good. have fun packingHope you have a great trip

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Thank You, unfortunately I am the worst at packing. I always seem to over pack and now that I am married with kids, I will probably end up over packing for 4 people.

 

[lianne_0325]

If you want to share your map, I'd be forever grateful.