BASTHEFIRST
Cruise Rookies
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- Messages
- 112
http://basthefirst.blogspot.com
My son and I are taking our very first cruise, on the Disney Dream, leaving Easter Sunday for four nights. I guess the best way to begin this would be to tell a
little bit about me and how I got to this point.
First, I'm a single dad of my now 8 year old son and namesake. We lost his mother at birth, and it's been just the two of us since. I've had a couple of
relationships, but nothing forever, not like the one we have with Disney anyway.
I've done a lot of traveling in my life, in the U.S. anyway. As a kid we used to travel by motorhome, or camper, or RV, whichever you prefer. We started in a
VolksWagon Camper and continued to move up in size as me, my older brother, and my younger sister grew up as well. My parents were both teachers in our
school district(retired now), so the whole family always had the same vacation days off. Hence, it was a lot easier to plan vacations. And our favorite was
always Disney. We've been many times over the years, considering we live near Atlantic City, New Jersey and always drove a camper there. We stayed in
different campgrounds but always loved Fort Wilderness the most. Heck, it used to have it's own waterpark! So we're not only a close family in heart and home,
but we traveled in close quarters as well. We even took a trip in an RV around the U.S. one summer, but that's another story.
I think it was all that traveling that first interested me in the industry. I've been in and around the hotel and hospitality industries since I first started working
in High School. I even studied Hotel/Restaurant Management in college. So even though I've never really liked to read much, I love to research. So after my son
was born in 2002, I was already thinking about his first trip to Disney. So after he grew a little and I finally caught up on my sleep
, I started doing
some reading. I have to give a shout out at this point to both the people at PASSPORTER and THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO DISNEY. While I read some official
Disney publications and did some research on-line, I found the Passporter's Guide to have lots of great information. What turned out to be the Bible (pardon the
blasphemy) of research and day planning was The Unofficial Guide to Disney World. It literally breaks down every restaurant, counter service, ticket package,
transportation, hotel, ride, show, and more, but rates everything for different ages and interests. But what I loved best was the "touring plans". Actual routes to
get around the parks based on interest without ever waiting in lines. Man did this work. In an entire week, we never waited more than 10 minutes in line. All this
research and regimentation really suited my anal-retentive type A personality.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/s...otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
This picture is not only a great memory, but a fine example of the family i'm a part of and where I came from. On our first night in Disney, celebrating my
son's 4th Birthday, the 8 in my immediate family at the time, went to Chef Mickey's in The Contemporary for dinner. It was my sister, my mother, my father, my
brother and his two boys, and my son and myself. I personally think this is the greatest restaurant in all of Disney World. It's a buffet, so there's a selection for
picky eaters. It's big and open so you can see and move around. All the characters come right to your table and spend time with you individually for pictures.
There's music and dancing and crowd interaction. I love everything about it. Well, we ate our dinner and saw all the characters. Minnie fawned over the boys
and like it's been for decades, Chip and Dale were all over my mom.
But the whole time Mickey was in a large separate room on the side and never came
out, for over an hour. I figured it was full of VIP's or DVC members. It was still kind of new then and they really catered to new members. One never knows, but
it was becoming a concern as we reached the end of our meal. We're rubberneckin like tourists checking an accident on the side of the road wondering what's
going on. Well then the check comes. Now my son had a GREAT time. Birthday cake, song, pictures, you name it. But no Mickey. I can see that this could
quickly get to tears if I don't handle it right. Well I never got that chance. Did I mention how my father feels about his Grandkids? The check comes and my
father says, "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa there. WHERE'S MICKEY? He hasn't been here." Oh, he's in another room right now. Now he stands up.
Look
out. "Either you go in there and get him out or I WILL." This poor girl looked like a deer in the headlights. She went and told who I assume was the Manager,
while we all walked toward her. Well when that guy looked up and saw my dad b-lining for him . . . he went and got Mickey! He tried to say, "Mickey only has a
minute out here in the hallway, he's busy." Another mistake. My dad quickly said, "He'll stay as long as my grandson wants him to stay!" We were all totally
humiliated and proud as hell at the same time. The funny part is, you know it's only some little girl in that costume. She didn't do anything. And "Mickey" was
great! Played and kidded and posed with all of us, separate, together, you name it. The point? We LOVE Disney, but you mess with our cubs and you WILL hear
the bear roar.
Even though that situation had the potential for disaster, Disney as always, came through. That's why I took my son back to Disney World for his 6th
Birthday too. This time we stayed in The Contemporary overlooking the Magic Kingdom. WOW. I never stayed in a Disney Resort in all my trips. WOW.
Amazing. If you can get a price you're happy with at any of them. All I can say is, do it.
So that brings me to now. My house is covered in Mickeys. I'm blessed with a son that is sweet, polite, incredibly smart, humble. I know all parents rave,
but i'm so lucky it's scary. He's nothing like I was. I was a nightmare. I know it. Thank God. He's also a believer. 8 years old and holding tight. Believes in
Santa and loves to tell people about his trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express to meet him. Believes in the Easter Bunny, so we have to leave a note at
home telling him we'll be on the Dream Easter Sunday. And he believes in Mickey Magic. So I do everything in my power to try and give him what he deserves to
foster those beliefs. I don't spoil him, even though this trip is, because he doesn't ask for anything, ever.
I told him after our last trip to Disney that I would take him back when he turned 10. I was really just picking a number. I figured that was 4 years away and
if he didn't forget, maybe i'd have at least saved the money.
Well, after he turned 8 last April I took my first look at going back to Disney. That's kind
of how I came across cruising. Because it wasn't too long after that, that the information on Disney's new cruise ship, the Dream, started trickling out. I started
researching cruising, then seasons, then dates, then itineraries, then ships, then restaurants, then kids clubs. All the while time was passing. Well, by this time I
realized it was going to be Disney. I knew if I was taking a cruise, I was taking my son. So that meant things on and off of the ship during our trip had to be
geared toward him or at least accessible and an option for kids. Each time it kept bringing me back to Disney. I made two mistakes in all this research. Letting
my son see the Disney Cruise Line website and then letting him see pictures and information on the Dream. I could have booked a week long cruise on the Magic
the same week for about the same money in a bigger room. Once he saw the Dream, it was all over. And to make it worse? Like so many other parents are
suffering with now, he HAD to have a inside stateroom with a Virtual Porthole. I would have booked the Verandah without blinking. I'm all about the space and
the view. I even upgraded to a Deluxe inside, just to get a little extra space, and it's only two of us. But that "magical" porthole and the Aquaduck were all he
could think about. Then the new Animator's Palate show information came out. Originally there was no information about it, and I might have been able to swing
the Magic vs. giving up that dinner show he was excited about. But once he saw Crush and the gang. Forget about it. We had to do Turtle Talk in Epcot 5
times.
I probably could have picked other dates for the Dream too and saved more money. I mean he's only in 3rd Grade, so how much would he really miss if I took
him out of school? But he loves school and is number one in his class. It just didn't seem like the right thing to do for us. And i'm not against it by any means.
With teachers as parents, those were the only days I was ever aloud to miss, when we were leaving for vacations. So, here we are. Easter 2011. I booked
early figuring that it would be the first cruise to sell out with kids being on vacation. When it didn't, I asked on these boards when everybody's kids vacations
were just to compare. It's amazing how, with Easter being on April 24th this year, the kids Easter vacations are spread all over the place. I personally think
that's one of the reasons the Dream has been so full of kids non-stop since February. Lots of different vacation weeks. My son's is actually Easter week, which
works unbelievably well for us this year. Not only do we sail on Easter Sunday and get to celebrate Easter on board, but the 3rd day of our cruise is my son's 9th
Birthday!
Inspired by all my new found information and research from books, magazines, guides and most importantly now, these boards, I decided to start writing my
own blog for all my friends on Facebook through Google on BLOGSPOT, on all that I found and learned. I titled it "99 DAYS OF DISNEY" ( http://basthefirst.blogspot.com) and write everyday counting down from 99 days to go til Easter Sunday and our departure. It really helps maintain my
sanity, or i'd probably already be packed!
There's much more to tell, but with 27 days to go, i'll stop here for now. Thanks for reading along, and I appreciate all the knowledge and tips you all have
shared.
My son and I are taking our very first cruise, on the Disney Dream, leaving Easter Sunday for four nights. I guess the best way to begin this would be to tell a
little bit about me and how I got to this point.
First, I'm a single dad of my now 8 year old son and namesake. We lost his mother at birth, and it's been just the two of us since. I've had a couple of
relationships, but nothing forever, not like the one we have with Disney anyway.
I've done a lot of traveling in my life, in the U.S. anyway. As a kid we used to travel by motorhome, or camper, or RV, whichever you prefer. We started in a
VolksWagon Camper and continued to move up in size as me, my older brother, and my younger sister grew up as well. My parents were both teachers in our
school district(retired now), so the whole family always had the same vacation days off. Hence, it was a lot easier to plan vacations. And our favorite was
always Disney. We've been many times over the years, considering we live near Atlantic City, New Jersey and always drove a camper there. We stayed in
different campgrounds but always loved Fort Wilderness the most. Heck, it used to have it's own waterpark! So we're not only a close family in heart and home,
but we traveled in close quarters as well. We even took a trip in an RV around the U.S. one summer, but that's another story.
I think it was all that traveling that first interested me in the industry. I've been in and around the hotel and hospitality industries since I first started working
in High School. I even studied Hotel/Restaurant Management in college. So even though I've never really liked to read much, I love to research. So after my son
was born in 2002, I was already thinking about his first trip to Disney. So after he grew a little and I finally caught up on my sleep
, I started doing some reading. I have to give a shout out at this point to both the people at PASSPORTER and THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO DISNEY. While I read some official
Disney publications and did some research on-line, I found the Passporter's Guide to have lots of great information. What turned out to be the Bible (pardon the
blasphemy) of research and day planning was The Unofficial Guide to Disney World. It literally breaks down every restaurant, counter service, ticket package,
transportation, hotel, ride, show, and more, but rates everything for different ages and interests. But what I loved best was the "touring plans". Actual routes to
get around the parks based on interest without ever waiting in lines. Man did this work. In an entire week, we never waited more than 10 minutes in line. All this
research and regimentation really suited my anal-retentive type A personality.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/s...otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
This picture is not only a great memory, but a fine example of the family i'm a part of and where I came from. On our first night in Disney, celebrating my
son's 4th Birthday, the 8 in my immediate family at the time, went to Chef Mickey's in The Contemporary for dinner. It was my sister, my mother, my father, my
brother and his two boys, and my son and myself. I personally think this is the greatest restaurant in all of Disney World. It's a buffet, so there's a selection for
picky eaters. It's big and open so you can see and move around. All the characters come right to your table and spend time with you individually for pictures.
There's music and dancing and crowd interaction. I love everything about it. Well, we ate our dinner and saw all the characters. Minnie fawned over the boys
and like it's been for decades, Chip and Dale were all over my mom.
But the whole time Mickey was in a large separate room on the side and never came out, for over an hour. I figured it was full of VIP's or DVC members. It was still kind of new then and they really catered to new members. One never knows, but
it was becoming a concern as we reached the end of our meal. We're rubberneckin like tourists checking an accident on the side of the road wondering what's
going on. Well then the check comes. Now my son had a GREAT time. Birthday cake, song, pictures, you name it. But no Mickey. I can see that this could
quickly get to tears if I don't handle it right. Well I never got that chance. Did I mention how my father feels about his Grandkids? The check comes and my
father says, "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa there. WHERE'S MICKEY? He hasn't been here." Oh, he's in another room right now. Now he stands up.
Look out. "Either you go in there and get him out or I WILL." This poor girl looked like a deer in the headlights. She went and told who I assume was the Manager,
while we all walked toward her. Well when that guy looked up and saw my dad b-lining for him . . . he went and got Mickey! He tried to say, "Mickey only has a
minute out here in the hallway, he's busy." Another mistake. My dad quickly said, "He'll stay as long as my grandson wants him to stay!" We were all totally
humiliated and proud as hell at the same time. The funny part is, you know it's only some little girl in that costume. She didn't do anything. And "Mickey" was
great! Played and kidded and posed with all of us, separate, together, you name it. The point? We LOVE Disney, but you mess with our cubs and you WILL hear
the bear roar.
Even though that situation had the potential for disaster, Disney as always, came through. That's why I took my son back to Disney World for his 6th
Birthday too. This time we stayed in The Contemporary overlooking the Magic Kingdom. WOW. I never stayed in a Disney Resort in all my trips. WOW.
Amazing. If you can get a price you're happy with at any of them. All I can say is, do it.
So that brings me to now. My house is covered in Mickeys. I'm blessed with a son that is sweet, polite, incredibly smart, humble. I know all parents rave,
but i'm so lucky it's scary. He's nothing like I was. I was a nightmare. I know it. Thank God. He's also a believer. 8 years old and holding tight. Believes in
Santa and loves to tell people about his trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express to meet him. Believes in the Easter Bunny, so we have to leave a note at
home telling him we'll be on the Dream Easter Sunday. And he believes in Mickey Magic. So I do everything in my power to try and give him what he deserves to
foster those beliefs. I don't spoil him, even though this trip is, because he doesn't ask for anything, ever.
I told him after our last trip to Disney that I would take him back when he turned 10. I was really just picking a number. I figured that was 4 years away and
if he didn't forget, maybe i'd have at least saved the money.
Well, after he turned 8 last April I took my first look at going back to Disney. That's kind of how I came across cruising. Because it wasn't too long after that, that the information on Disney's new cruise ship, the Dream, started trickling out. I started
researching cruising, then seasons, then dates, then itineraries, then ships, then restaurants, then kids clubs. All the while time was passing. Well, by this time I
realized it was going to be Disney. I knew if I was taking a cruise, I was taking my son. So that meant things on and off of the ship during our trip had to be
geared toward him or at least accessible and an option for kids. Each time it kept bringing me back to Disney. I made two mistakes in all this research. Letting
my son see the Disney Cruise Line website and then letting him see pictures and information on the Dream. I could have booked a week long cruise on the Magic
the same week for about the same money in a bigger room. Once he saw the Dream, it was all over. And to make it worse? Like so many other parents are
suffering with now, he HAD to have a inside stateroom with a Virtual Porthole. I would have booked the Verandah without blinking. I'm all about the space and
the view. I even upgraded to a Deluxe inside, just to get a little extra space, and it's only two of us. But that "magical" porthole and the Aquaduck were all he
could think about. Then the new Animator's Palate show information came out. Originally there was no information about it, and I might have been able to swing
the Magic vs. giving up that dinner show he was excited about. But once he saw Crush and the gang. Forget about it. We had to do Turtle Talk in Epcot 5
times.
I probably could have picked other dates for the Dream too and saved more money. I mean he's only in 3rd Grade, so how much would he really miss if I took
him out of school? But he loves school and is number one in his class. It just didn't seem like the right thing to do for us. And i'm not against it by any means.
With teachers as parents, those were the only days I was ever aloud to miss, when we were leaving for vacations. So, here we are. Easter 2011. I booked
early figuring that it would be the first cruise to sell out with kids being on vacation. When it didn't, I asked on these boards when everybody's kids vacations
were just to compare. It's amazing how, with Easter being on April 24th this year, the kids Easter vacations are spread all over the place. I personally think
that's one of the reasons the Dream has been so full of kids non-stop since February. Lots of different vacation weeks. My son's is actually Easter week, which
works unbelievably well for us this year. Not only do we sail on Easter Sunday and get to celebrate Easter on board, but the 3rd day of our cruise is my son's 9th
Birthday!
Inspired by all my new found information and research from books, magazines, guides and most importantly now, these boards, I decided to start writing my
own blog for all my friends on Facebook through Google on BLOGSPOT, on all that I found and learned. I titled it "99 DAYS OF DISNEY" ( http://basthefirst.blogspot.com) and write everyday counting down from 99 days to go til Easter Sunday and our departure. It really helps maintain my
sanity, or i'd probably already be packed!
There's much more to tell, but with 27 days to go, i'll stop here for now. Thanks for reading along, and I appreciate all the knowledge and tips you all have
shared.
I lost that fantastic tv commercial moment. I'll never forget it, but I would've loved to have been able to keep showing that one.
I was always going to use my Disney Visa, and maybe that's 
It's only my son and I so I didn't want to book Remy or Palo. I mean I 
The funny thing is, since we 
Enjoy.
