DVC Firsts - BCV, MNSSHP, '09 Members Cruise, Kidani

[DenLo]

Wow, wow, wow--what a great trip report. Your DS is a handsome boy. You are smart mom to know when to go with his flow or head off to the cabin/room for nap time. Looking forward to reading the rest.

 

[BoosGram]

Thank you for the explanation Joanne. I did not know how it began.

We had a wonderful time at Castaway Cay. Even the rain couldn't stop us.

Well, that's my understanding, but there's every possibility I could be wrong. I do think it might have started on the first Panama Canal cruise though.

 

[BigDogHU75]

Wow, wow, wow--what a great trip report. Your DS is a handsome boy. You are smart mom to know when to go with his flow or head off to the cabin/room for nap time. Looking forward to reading the rest.

Thank you for both compliments and welcome.

 

[BigDogHU75]

Sorry for the delay in my next post. I have been very busy with things for the 2010 Members Cruise. I did not get through until close to 1:00 p.m. on last Saturday but I was able to book three rooms on deck 7. My family, my parents, and my mother-in-law and brother-in-law will be joining us next year. It should be fun. We definitley had fun with them back in Feb. '09. They are all characters. Please read my Feb. TR (if you want) to find out what I mean.

I have also started a 2010 S.S. Members Cruise Thread. Please join us on that thread if you are going or if you just want to stop by.

Alright, so next up will be Pirate Night.

 

[BigDogHU75]

Now, we are not like some folks who dress in their best pirate finery. However, we (or should I say I) did want to get in the “pirate mood.” So, I had my family dress in white tops and black bottoms. Plus, with some of the pirate items we received in our fish extender, DH was able to accessorize.

Though we were dining in AP, we had special menus since it was pirate night.

After perusing the menu, we made our dinner selection.
For an appetizer, DS had

I had the Black Beard’s Jumbo Crab Cake.

DH had the Pirates Golden “Pot Stickers”.

For our salads I had the Jerk Chicken Salad.

DH had the Mr. Smee’s Bibb Lettuce Salad

At the same time, DS’s dinner came out.

While we were waiting for our main course, our head server came over and made pirate hats out of napkins for the children at the table.

However, DH ended up wearing it.

For our main course I had the Treasure-of-the-Seas Grilled Shrimp and Seared Scallops

I forget what DH had but this is what it looked like

After the servers were finished serving the main course, their parade around the dining room began.

We enjoyed it. After the parade, we had dessert. Both DH & I had the Pirates of the Caribbean’s Sweet Temptations which Shiver-me-Timbers White Chocolate Cheesecake, Rum Barbossa, and Walk the Triple Layered Chocolate Gangplank Cake.

The food was very good except for the pasta. It lacked seasoning. However, the seafood in the pasta was very good.

 

[BigDogHU75]

After dinner, it was time for the DIS Meet photo (thank you Robbie for posting it in your TR).

After our photo meet, we went back to our room and were greeted by our towel animal and the chocolates on the bed.

DH had plans to go see the movie Up! He was not interested in Pirate’s Night up on deck which I was a little peeved about. However, we did go up on deck so he could get a slice of pizza and had the opportunity to see at least some of the setup.

DS & I went back to the room and I put him to bed. DH enjoyed the movie. He was raving about the 3-D experience. I was happy that he enjoyed the movie but at that moment I did not want to hear about it. I decided that I would deliver the majority of my FE gifts that night which is what I did. I was able to tour the ship and discovered CMs on the ship cleaning and vacuuming. I also ran into some teens raving about the teen club. After delivering my gifts, I went back to the room and settled into bed.

 

[manntra]

Marsha,
I am really enjoying your TR! You really packed a lot in to your trip!! I went on my first DCL cruise in 2007 and would love to do a Member's Cruise one of these days.
2 days on Castaway Cay! I had that Konk drink and I could have konked right out!!
Love all of your pictures and looking forward to the rest of your cruise and your take on Kidani

Tracy

 

[Crystal_27]

LOL - your "finger hook" pirate pictures are very very cute!!

 

[BigDogHU75]

Marsha,
I am really enjoying your TR! You really packed a lot in to your trip!! I went on my first DCL cruise in 2007 and would love to do a Member's Cruise one of these days.
2 days on Castaway Cay! I had that Konk drink and I could have konked right out!!
Love all of your pictures and looking forward to the rest of your cruise and your take on Kidani

Tracy

I am gald you are enjoying the TR. I must say, I cannot believe how much we did especially with a 2 year-old. So, I could not be mad.

LOL - your "finger hook" pirate pictures are very very cute!!

Thank you. DS tried to do it, I halfway did it, & DH did it the right way.

 

[BigDogHU75]

DS & I were up before DH. So, I decided to take DS up to Beach Blanket Buffet for breakfast. It was a gorgeous day and wouldn’t you know it I forgot my camera. DS & I enjoyed breakfast outside. I should say that DS enjoyed breakfast outside since I did not eat. I knew that I had reservations for Palo Brunch at 10:30. I was so looking forward to the brunch since I had never experience it before. I had only seen pictures.

But, getting back to breakfast with DS, it was very enjoyable. It was great to have a mommy and son moment. And, though DS is only 2, he is a talker. He liked his breakfast. He liked sitting outside. He liked looking at the water. It was great getting a glimpse of things through his eyes.

After breakfast, we did a little exploration of deck 9 & 10. On our way back to the room, we ran into DS’s tablemate and his DF. They “played” ping pong for a little while and a game they made up for using the ping pong ball.
Once back in the room, DH & I got dressed and then headed to Flounder’s Reef Nursery. Since I had registered DS online, the only thing we had to do was to give the CM our name and DS’s bag and they gave us a beeper. DS walked right in much to our relief. Finally, it was time for our Palo Brunch.
Let me tell you, the brunch was amazing. Even though DH does not like seafood, he was able to find something to eat. The food was delicious. The company was fantastic. The view was breathtaking. The service was great. The beeper did not go off. I was on since I had alone time with both of my guys. I do not have much more to say about it. I think the pictures will tell it all.

 

[BigDogHU75]

We were definitely pleased.

 

[Donald is #1]

After dinner, it was time for the DIS Meet photo (thank you Robbie for posting it in your TR).

You're welcome! If you want, PM me here or on facebook with your email address.... then I could send you a jpeg file....


Brunch at Palo's sounds great! Sandi & I did dinner instead of brunch and really enjoyed it. Did they give you each a DVC wine glass at brunch?

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow, the cruise looks awesome!

 

[dopeygirl76]

Oh My!!! I am so excited for the SSMC 10 - reading your TR just makes me want to go tomorrow!!! How many days is it?!?!?!

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[manntra]

Wow!! Your Palo brunch looks amazing! Very happy that you had alone time with each of your boys! Is it wrong that I want to eat crab at 10am?

Tracy

 

[Crystal_27]

Yum, double yum, and triple yum - another great installment! The only thing I had to laugh at was that, with all the amazing creations of Palo Brunch, how is it that the pancakes are so average and boring?!? DH and I laughed about that on the Magic, and it looks like the Brunch pancakes of the Wonder aren't any better.

 

[BigDogHU75]

Wow, the cruise looks awesome!

It was awesome. That is why we are going again.

Oh My!!! I am so excited for the SSMC 10 - reading your TR just makes me want to go tomorrow!!! How many days is it?!?!?!

Can't wait to read more!!!

301 Days and counting!

Wow!! Your Palo brunch looks amazing! Very happy that you had alone time with each of your boys! Is it wrong that I want to eat crab at 10am?

Tracy

10 am is not too early. Our brunch was at 10:30 am. It is never too early to have brunch at Palo.

Yum, double yum, and triple yum - another great installment! The only thing I had to laugh at was that, with all the amazing creations of Palo Brunch, how is it that the pancakes are so average and boring?!? DH and I laughed about that on the Magic, and it looks like the Brunch pancakes of the Wonder aren't any better.

I know. We did not even waste our time with the pancakes. Why bother?

 

[BigDogHU75]

After our brunch, we headed out on deck and enjoyed the view.

We then went to pick up DS.

We headed back to our room and there were gifts waiting for us.

This was my favorite gift.

I already knew that I would be attending the Castaway Club event but I wanted to do something else. Once we got settled I perused the navigator.

The Castaway Club event was fun. It was held on Route 66. We were provided snacks – cookies, Mickey shaped krispie treats, fruit, water, and soda. It was a fun event. However, no one in our room won anything. It was a conspiracy. After the event was over, I went back to the room to find both of my guys taking a nap. I told DH that I would be going to Bingo. But, before I went, I had to go purchase a few things from Mickey’s Mate & Treasure Ketch. As you may remember, I forgot the sunscreen. Now, DH was paying the price. I purchased some sunscreen, H2O solar relief gel, and the S.S. Member Cruise 2009 Pin (which reminds me that I have not seen it since I’ve been home).

When I returned to the room, I rubbed DH’s arms down and then I was off to bingo. Now, I had not played bingo since our last cruise in 2002. Back then, I found it very addictive and today was no different. That is why I do not gamble. There were a couple of times I was one away from BINGO but at last I did not win. All of the players were given gifts throughout the game. We received a poster, a Jonah Brothers guitar pick, and some other things.

 

[BigDogHU75]

I met my family at Animator’s Palate. We made our selections from the menu.

DS had soup as an appetizer. Though he did not eat much of it, it was very delicious.

I selected the Wild Mushroom Risotto and Porcini Twist.

Again, I cannot tell what DH had.

After the appetizers, I noticed a strange smell coming from DS. I whispered to him and he confirmed what the smell was. Now, I always carry a bag with us just in case of accidents so I took DS and the bag to the bathroom. When I opened up the bag (after I took of his pull-up), I could not find another pull-up. I could not believe it. I dressed DS minus the pull-up and went back to the restaurant. The salads & soups were already at the table. DH was kind enough to take a picture of his salad (I guess I have drilled it into him).

I did not take a picture of my Creamy Butternut Squash Soup since I was so flustered. I told DH what was wrong. DH volunteered to go to the room and get a pull-up. When he came back he took DS to the bathroom to put it on. By the time they came back, our main dishes were ready to be served.

DS’s picture of his plate.

Our entrees

We then ordered dessert.

I have to say, our servers were very nice. They made sure our food stayed warm and did not bring the food out until we were settled. We were very appreciative of that.

More pictures from the evening.

After dinner we went through Shutters and looked at some of our pictures. Then we just strolled back to our room.
DS & His tablemate

When we returned to our room we were greeted by our towel animal and more gifts.

Tonight we decided to spend a relaxing evening in the room for tomorrow would be our second day at Castaway Cay.

 

[podsnel]

Two days at CC....Sooooo awesome, I really need to figure out how to fit a 5 day Dream cruise into our life (it stops twice, too). It really looks like they had some great special DVC stuff planned, that's excellent!

And the palo brunch- we loved it, too. Yummmmmm!!!