From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 5

[RRBB]

We made it home Sunday night, just barely. When we got to the car in the parking lot at the airport the battery was D-E-A-D. Thankfully they have a jumbo jump box at the parking lot and got us going fairly quickly. But the drive home wasn't enough to charge the battery so I had to take my car in on Monday morning. That blew going grocery shopping, but I figured the kids could go a day or so without food after the feeding frenzy we'd just been on. The car situation totally threw off my plans for the week - had to leave it for a couple days while other things that reared their ugly heads got fixed. We've unpacked a couple of suitcases - the clothes - but the rest is going to take some time while I figure out where to put everything.

We had a fantastic time on the cruise. The kids loved checking the FE - several times a day - for little gifts and post cards. Thank you everyone for all the great FE gifts. Everyone put so much thought into it. And of course the candy was a big hit with the kids.

I have to say, the service we got on this cruise was by far the best ever. Our asst. server (Jorge) at times was a little slow, but he'd only been on the ship a month when the cruise started. And by the second week he was better and much more personable. Our server (Daniel), who'd only been on the ship 3 months, was phenomenal!!! Our kids fell in love with him and insisted on going wherever he was for breakfast and lunch most days. And we got close to a server (Terry) 2 stations down from our dinner table, too, because we kept seeing him at the buffets. DD, who's all of 3 1/2 years old, has decided that both Daniel and Terry are her boyfriends now. She even got upset as the plane was landing on Sunday because we "forgot" to bring them home with us. Yeah, I wanted to bring them home, too. I'm not liking this having to cook and set the table myself.

We gave up on the pins after we missed out on Puntarenas pins. I figured why waste so much time in the lines knowing we wouldn't have a complete set. But we did get a coveted time slot with Ducky. DH was the second to last to get a time. There were lots of people in line behind him that walked away very angry because they'd waited for over an hour and a half and were late to dinner just to find out they wasted their time. (I remember hearing the announcement and I believe it said one time slot per stateroom. But when the sign ups actually happened it changed to one per person.)

 

[Wyndi Mother]

If I had had time to run to my room and grab postcards and anything with character pictures, I would have but we didn't.

Anyway, as we were boarding the boat, some CMs were leaving with stickers for the kids. I think sending out the characters would have been awesome!

We had the same experience and feelings. We didn't have anything on us either, and it was just a little before all aboard by the time were heading back to the ship. The children were asking us for pictures too. We told some of the crew, who were on the pier, about our experiences with the kids and asked if they could could walk some stickers or pictures or chocolates or something down to them.

I kept thinking about how the ship pulling into port was such a big event for people for miles around that community. And since we could see the ship from way up in the mountains, I am sure it was known to many, many people that Mickey Mouse was in town. It is easy to take for granted the access we have to a day at Disneyland or other such pleasures...For those kids, such things are an otherworldly dream...That is one of the greatest gifts of travel--to see the world through others' eyes...It is humbling...

 

[orlandothebeagle]

maybe my standards arent so great, but i thought all 3, brent, christiaan, and clayton, were great! of course i had no problems! and i want the captains job, as it seems all he did was walk around the ship cause i ran into him everywhere!! LOL and jk of course!

I thought they were good too, I was just saying I prefered Brent after having both them for 2 weeks each.

Mike from concierge told me that at least in Costa Rica, the characters did get off the boat and meet the kids at the port. We saw the Wonder as the lead story on the news channel while we were eating lunch in Costa Rica. It was a huge deal. Our tour guide told us most of the kids never think they'll see Mickey Mouse in real life, not to mention knowing who most of the characters are since they don't get alot of the movies/ television.

christiaan announced they went out for visits.

 

[rotary2808]

It seems like everyone has brought back some sort of bug. Right now I'm blaming it on all the temp. changes cold to hot to cold to even colder. This is the worst I've felt all week, scratchy throat, stuffy nose, cough, headache, etc. I'd much rather be in bed than at work.

 

[TxMermaid1]

We made it home Sunday night, just barely. When we got to the car in the parking lot at the airport the battery was D-E-A-D. Thankfully they have a jumbo jump box at the parking lot and got us going fairly quickly. But the drive home wasn't enough to charge the battery so I had to take my car in on Monday morning. That blew going grocery shopping, but I figured the kids could go a day or so without food after the feeding frenzy we'd just been on. The car situation totally threw off my plans for the week - had to leave it for a couple days while other things that reared their ugly heads got fixed. We've unpacked a couple of suitcases - the clothes - but the rest is going to take some time while I figure out where to put everything.

We had a fantastic time on the cruise. The kids loved checking the FE - several times a day - for little gifts and post cards. Thank you everyone for all the great FE gifts. Everyone put so much thought into it. And of course the candy was a big hit with the kids.

I have to say, the service we got on this cruise was by far the best ever. Our asst. server (Jorge) at times was a little slow, but he'd only been on the ship a month when the cruise started. And by the second week he was better and much more personable. Our server (Daniel), who'd only been on the ship 3 months, was phenomenal!!! Our kids fell in love with him and insisted on going wherever he was for breakfast and lunch most days. And we got close to a server (Terry) 2 stations down from our dinner table, too, because we kept seeing him at the buffets. DD, who's all of 3 1/2 years old, has decided that both Daniel and Terry are her boyfriends now. She even got upset as the plane was landing on Sunday because we "forgot" to bring them home with us. Yeah, I wanted to bring them home, too. I'm not liking this having to cook and set the table myself.

We gave up on the pins after we missed out on Puntarenas pins. I figured why waste so much time in the lines knowing we wouldn't have a complete set. But we did get a coveted time slot with Ducky. DH was the second to last to get a time. There were lots of people in line behind him that walked away very angry because they'd waited for over an hour and a half and were late to dinner just to find out they wasted their time. (I remember hearing the announcement and I believe it said one time slot per stateroom. But when the sign ups actually happened it changed to one per person.)

The pins were suppose to be 2 per stateroom but also were changed to 2 per person as well. I also noticed they did not stick to that either as I know of someone that actually went back for 2 more. They really messed up on those things.

I asked constantly about when to sign up for Ducky, I wanted a special sketch for my daughter. I was like 6 or so in line so I did get my sketch. It seems a lot of people never knew when sign ups were. Thanks dis friends for the heads up on him being there and that he would be having private sessions.

 

[TxMermaid1]

My Daughter is an eye Dr. and has been concerned about Mickey getting older and maybe needing glasses. When he came to a local mall she gave him an eye exam. I took the pic to Ducky and asked for a sketch of it, I told him he did not need to put her in the pic, just the eye chart. In the original pic she is holding the eye chart. Mickey looks the same in the pic. This is what he came up with and she loves it. She has a Mickey exam room at her office and this will be a great addition for it.

Can someone tell me how to get an actual picture on here?



http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=1544876828537&set=a.1076175511297.2012196.1433507202

 

[CruznLexi]

When we got back on the ship in CR we saw the Character handlers going off the ship with huge bags of toys to the local hospital and orphanage. The local kids by the gates and beach had been waiting all day for Mickey. The mouse is huge abroad that is universal. That us one thing that my husband family asks for when we go to Europe! In Manzanillo the kids were so cute! They were from the orphanage too. I too wanted a picture from Ducky and asked about it on Day 1 and never got a answer. Another cruise maybe. Eagerly waiting for my schedules to come out. Currently booked on the Dream for Dec but am not impressed so far. I think for that kinda of money may wait for Fantasy! For $200 I can go on a $7 night cruise on the Magic!

 

[bwcb4]

Hi!
Dick and I have the deep cough too after getting back.

Did this also happen to people after the TA?

Anyone who does not have a cough do anything special during the trip to avoid problems?

Still wouldn't give up the trip! Well worth a cough.

In fact, after telling our two sons about it.....we wouldn't let them drop out of college to come along... the family vote was to trade in our DREAM and FANTASY ressies for the May Eastbound TA! Any of our new friends going to be joining us???

It's a close trip. Already needed to pay in full and our sign up time for excursions has already started. I don't know if this will be the same itinerary as previous Eastbound TA but if anyone has any suggestions for excursions, please let me know.

Well, back to work.....don't feel like it but I am a one person department and everything was waiting for me.

Again, WHAT A GREAT VACATION!!!!!!

Barb

 

[valbob89]

Hi!
Dick and I have the deep cough too after getting back.

Did this also happen to people after the TA?

Anyone who does not have a cough do anything special during the trip to avoid problems?

Still wouldn't give up the trip! Well worth a cough.

In fact, after telling our two sons about it.....we wouldn't let them drop out of college to come along... the family vote was to trade in our DREAM and FANTASY ressies for the May Eastbound TA! Any of our new friends going to be joining us???

It's a close trip. Already needed to pay in full and our sign up time for excursions has already started. I don't know if this will be the same itinerary as previous Eastbound TA but if anyone has any suggestions for excursions, please let me know.

Well, back to work.....don't feel like it but I am a one person department and everything was waiting for me.

Again, WHAT A GREAT VACATION!!!!!!

Barb

We are both sick with flu/cold too. Ear ache, sinus, cough, muscle pain and headache - same as everyone else. We did not come home with anything from the TA.

We did the WBTA and would do it again in a heartbeat. Give yourself time in Barcelona. The HOHO bus is a great deal. Monserrat is a great trip. Everything about the trip was wonderful.

 

[valbob89]

 

[Pixie Dust II]

I went to Urgent Care Tuesday. Got med yesterday & feel better today. Ryan is fine. I am working on photos. Anyone know where we can buy Enchanted Rose champagne? Having withdrawal!!! Miss all of you & the knock on the door "house keeping"! They forgot to come home with me along with the Vista Spa staff!!!

 

[valbob89]

 

[TJFrack]

I went to Urgent Care Tuesday. Got med yesterday & feel better today. Ryan is fine. I am working on photos. Anyone know where we can buy Enchanted Rose champagne? Having withdrawal!!! Miss all of you & the knock on the door "house keeping"! They forgot to come home with me along with the Vista Spa staff!!!

Bummer to hear a lot of people got sick. We were just fine. Hope everyone recovers quickly.

 

[tinkryansmom]

mixology looks like fun!!!

DD11 came home with a cough. Nothing med worthy - yet. My body is adjusting to less food intake. And the dryers onboard seems to have shrunk some of my clothes.

Congrats on the May TA booking. DH says his office will not let him go 2 more weeks this year. Drats. Hoping for a southern caribbean itinerary for summer 2012 or 2013. 7 days will be hard after doing 15.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

QUOTE]

great pics thanks for posting!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We are both sick with flu/cold too. Ear ache, sinus, cough, muscle pain and headache - same as everyone else. We did not come home with anything from the TA.

We did the WBTA and would do it again in a heartbeat. Give yourself time in Barcelona. The HOHO bus is a great deal. Monserrat is a great trip. Everything about the trip was wonderful.

mum and dad are ill, dad is really bad and on antibs,there was A lot of coughing around the ship.

 

[granmaz]

Lynne, sorry your mum and dad are poorly. I hope they soon feel better. We are still well and enjoying our stay in San Diego. What. Great place. P,us we are still having the unseasonably great weather. We will need to come back to see all there is here though.

Soon be checking in online for our flight over to Orlando before setting out again.

Hope all you sick folk out there feel better very soon.

 

[aan1701]

I was thinking, I keep forgetting to point out one of the more positive aspects of this cruise. The Wave Phones. What a great addition. Yes I found texting a pain due to the fact I use a iPhone but all in all a great new addition.

 

[valbob89]

I went to Urgent Care Tuesday. Got med yesterday & feel better today. Ryan is fine. I am working on photos. Anyone know where we can buy Enchanted Rose champagne? Having withdrawal!!! Miss all of you & the knock on the door "house keeping"! They forgot to come home with me along with the Vista Spa staff!!!

Harole Ann

I am thinking the Enchanted Rose label is made for Disney. However, you might be able to get that wine from your local wine dealer by asking for the winery and looking to see what they sell. Here is a picture of the label. It is from the Vinicola Abbazia De Gaudenzio winery, with the distributor S Stefano Belbo of Ialia. The wine is Vino Spumanite Aromatico de Qualito - dolce 7%.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I was thinking, I keep forgetting to point out one of the more positive aspects of this cruise. The Wave Phones. What a great addition. Yes I found texting a pain due to the fact I use a iPhone but all in all a great new addition.

I put them in the drawer and never touched them, 250 bucks if I loose one of them