Get Off The Ship - we are running out of towel animals! Update 10/25 Day 31

[perfectmatch300]

Karin, awesome news on yourupgrade to Business class for your flight to the US. It seems like a good way to regain some of the time you spend traveling. My DH is very reluctant to make some of the longer trips I would like to take because of the travel time involved. I wonder if traveling in Business class would help.....
Glad you were able to get your MDE straightened out. As locals we haven't had much experience dealing with it yet. Hopefully before we do they will manage to get the kinks worked out.
I am looking forward to reading about your tour in St Thomas. I have been there several times now and have really enjoyed my time there, but I am always looking for new ideas. DH is not the beach bum that I am so I want to find excursions that both of us will enjoy. I am already considering the fort in St Martin as a possibility the next time we are there.

Nancy

 

[jenseib]

Yay!!! for the upgrade and so happy they got your account settled. Sounds like the first person just didn't do anything about it.

 

[dizneeat]

Great news update Karin! So happy you got the MDE set up correctly. We are freezing here with snow, still waiting on baby Otto's arrival.

Thank you, Teresa!
I hope baby Otto will be here soon. Please let me know when he arrives. And that photo of you, Mick and little Lily, that you sent some time ago, is just too cute!
I am glad we got the MDE sorted out. We are still too far out to make reservations, but I cannot wait to try it out.

Great news on both the upgrade and the sweet CM who fixed your MDE and didn't make you wait on hold!

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

Jill in CO

That was the nicest CM on the phone. She really tried to fix it and once she realized this was a long distance call she made sure she would be able to fix it without me holding.
And I am so pleased that the upgrade went through, especially since the MK will be open until 1am (we'll arrive at 6pm) and we are staying at VGF - so just a monorail ride away.

Great update Karin !! I too prefer a sit down breakfast , but the Lunch on boarding day was fantastic!! Great news on getting Business class on your flight to the US !!!Also for getting access to your FP+ I can't believe how close my trip is and I hae so much work to do before going But I will make it

Thank you, Rosie!
Lunch at the Enchanted Garden is a buffet too, Rosie! They just lead you to a table, bring you drinks and then you serve yourself at the buffet. It's just a tad more quiet there.
We are so pleased that our waitlist for Business class came through. And even though it is only for the flight TO the US, I am loving the idea of not being crammed into a tiny seat at the beginning of our trip.

Can't believe you leave for your big birthday trip next week. I just LOVED following along your planning thread.

Your dinner in Palo looked delicious! For now, we are skipping that one on this next trip- for dinner, anyway. Having brunch there, though!

Glad to see you enjoying your verandah with some prosecco- looking forward to hearing what's on the agenda for STT!

At least you are going to have yummy brunch at Palo! We do dinner there, because we want to skip the Pirate night menu - it's my least favourite, but since DCL pays for Palo dinner it is a no brainer.

We did a lot of sitting out on the veranda with a nice drink this trip. So relaxing to have two weeks of pure DCL bliss.

 

[dizneeat]

Karin, awesome news on yourupgrade to Business class for your flight to the US. It seems like a good way to regain some of the time you spend traveling. My DH is very reluctant to make some of the longer trips I would like to take because of the travel time involved. I wonder if traveling in Business class would help.....
Glad you were able to get your MDE straightened out. As locals we haven't had much experience dealing with it yet. Hopefully before we do they will manage to get the kinks worked out.
I am looking forward to reading about your tour in St Thomas. I have been there several times now and have really enjoyed my time there, but I am always looking for new ideas. DH is not the beach bum that I am so I want to find excursions that both of us will enjoy. I am already considering the fort in St Martin as a possibility the next time we are there.

Nancy

Nancy, after having the pleasure of flying business on this trip I can tell you that it is so worth it on long journeys. Even after a 13 hour stopover in Frankfurt and a 10 hour flight we arrived relatively relaxed. I cannot imagine how we would have felt flying economy.
I am really looking forward to try some new technology this trip. We did not get to try it out in the summer and since we only have three park days (and a night ) being able to select FP times might come in very handy.
As for St. Thomas/Sint Maarten - we are not huge beach people ourselves and since it was our first trip there, we chose to do an excursion that showed a lot of the island. Both were really nice.
The Fort in Sint Maarten is really worth climbing up the steps. The view was awesome and we just love a bit of history.

Yay!!! for the upgrade and so happy they got your account settled. Sounds like the first person just didn't do anything about it.

When they said waitlist only for the business upgrade I was kind of sure it would not come true, but then I started to watch how much economy seats filled up (once you are booked you can choose and change your seats ) and it was not the same rate in business, so I kept my hopes high.
I was over the moon when it came through. The MK is open until 1am on our arrival day and hoping to score some LATE FP+ might give us a nice evening in the park PLUS we will be well rested as those business seats are VERY comfy and convert to a bed!
Now that second CM really knew what to do getting our MDE fixed. I am so happy it worked out and that we will be able to get some FP+!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 8, August 14

Banana Daiquiri saves the day! - Part 2

And after a short pit stop to pick up our IDs and bags for the day we were on our way to the D-Lounge to sign in for our tour.
Now today we were within the last people to arrive at the check-in and were told that we would leave in just a minute or two. About five minutes and a few more people later we really made our way down the stairs and off the ship.





Everyone followed the appropriate paddle



with the character whose sticker one was wearing. We were led to the parking lot and got a glimpse of our ride of the day.



The trucks they loaded us in were old, they just had benches in the back, open sides and it was hot and everyone was squeezed in like sardines. I am not sure what it is with me these days, but I did not feel very safe on this “safari vehicle”. Soon we left the parking area







and started to climb up the streets into the hills.



There were spectacular views of the Fantasy to be had



and the whole island looked so beautiful,



but I could not forget that we were sitting in this strange vehicle. When we made it to a viewpoint



we took a VERY sharp right and then down a very steep part of the street so we could park.



Was I happy to get off? You bet I was! But the view made up for it.













Our driver told us that we had a 10 minute break there and so everyone took off to take some photos and enjoy the view. There was a man with a “decorated” donkey



who would yell at anyone who tried to take a photo of it without paying him first – his comment, “that’s not a donkey, that’s a business”. Poor donkey – not so sure it wanted to be a business.
The 10 minutes went by far too quickly and soon it was time to board our “Safari taxi” again.



Higher up into the hills and down again we went and then up again to another view point and shopping area.

To be continued ............

 

[MEK]

Congratulations on getting your business class upgrade. That sounds like the perfect way to travel.

And I'm glad everything is straightened out with your account.

Cute Thanksgiving picture! :good vibes

Yup - everyone DOES look a little packed in that vehicle, but the view is pretty darn spectacular. Love it.

Can you imagine actually paying that man for a picture of his donkey? Yeah, like THAT would happen.

 

[englishrose47]

Karin the mode of transportation does look a littleThe views of the Island were breathtaking !!!! Yes I have 2 more sleeps before Disney Soooooo excited

 

[dizneeat]

Congratulations on getting your business class upgrade. That sounds like the perfect way to travel.

And I'm glad everything is straightened out with your account.

Cute Thanksgiving picture! :good vibes

Yup - everyone DOES look a little packed in that vehicle, but the view is pretty darn spectacular. Love it.

Can you imagine actually paying that man for a picture of his donkey? Yeah, like THAT would happen.

We are VERY happy that the upgrade went through! We will arrive so much more relaxed.

The view was worth the scary ride and I soon found a cure against my fear.
That guy was pretty stern about his donkey. I took that pic from the bus while he was not looking but he would really go after people who took a photo without paying him.

Karin the mode of transportation does look a littleThe views of the Island were breathtaking !!!! Yes I have 2 more sleeps before Disney Soooooo excited

It was pretty scary until I found the perfect remedy against my fear.
The view was more than worth it though.

 

[dizneeat]

Don't forget .......... the advent calendars started today. Don't miss fun pics and yummy pics!

Food Christmas calendar

Funny Hats Christmas calendar ​

 

[JKSWonder]

Don't forget .......... the advent calendars started today. Don't miss fun pics and yummy pics! Food Christmas calendar Funny Hats Christmas calendar

Cute!

 

[dizneeat]

Cute!

Thank you!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 8, August 14

Banana Daiquiri saves the day! - Part 3

Higher up into the hills and down again we went and then up again to another view point and shopping area.
There was a huge hall filled with all kinds of souvenirs and knick knacks, a viewing platform at one side and a small bar at the end.
Not much peaked our interest in the shopping area, so we headed for the viewing area and were in awe. Beautiful!







The water was the most wonderful shade of blue and the vegetation was just so lush. Tom made a stop in the restroom and since we had time to spare we decided to get a drink in the bar.



They were advertising their World Famous Banana Daiquiri,



so why not give it a try. We sat down at the bar,



ordered our drinks and watched the nice lady behind the bar make it. Seeing how MUCH rum went into it, made me hold my breath, then she poured everything into two cups and topped it up with even more rum.



We took a sip and then another one, and boy, this was a really good drink! It was strong, very strong, but yet so sweet and tasting of ripe bananas. Yum. Once we had finished our drinks we slowly made our way outside to the waiting ride and funnily enough, after that nice drink, the truck we were sitting on didn’t seem all that bad any more.
In fact, it started to be quite fun. And we were on our way to our next location, the Botanical Gardens.



Our driver/tour guide walked us in and explained that we had an hour to walk around















and enjoy a drink from the containers they had put out.
Then we were on our own and walked up to the viewing areas which offered an awesome view over Magen’s Bay.

















The landscaping was beautiful and we walked around a bit and up to the balcony on top of the house to admire the view a bit more.

Don't forget .......... the advent calendars are open now. Don't miss fun pics and yummy pics!

Food Christmas calendar

Funny Hats Christmas calendar​

To be continued ............

 

[MEK]

Wow - that view is Spectacular! Amazing!

And that banana daiquiri - now THAT's what I"M talking about! Now wonder the truck ride didn't seem so bad after that! That drink was literally floating in rum!

 

[Timon]

How did I not know about this report!!!???

I'm so in

 

[jedijill]

That Banana daiquiri looks yummy!

Jill in CO

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Banana Daquaries look so good, I have to try one of those. St Thomas was very pretty, but the park at St Johns was simply wonderful. It was an easy boat ride from St.Thomas.

 

[perfectmatch300]

Ugh! I hate touchscreens! One slight touch from a misplaced finger and the whole post I'd just finished writing disappeared! So here's the short version.

St Thomas views - awesome! We saw them from a zipline tour we took this past April. Pretty much the same views that you had. I couldn't get enough of them.

St Thomas taxis - far more scary than the zipline tour! DH, who is from NY city and drives like a NY taxi driver himself, wants no part of driving in St Thomas! I want to plan a land trip there soon, so I don't know what we will do about getting around. More taxis, I guess.

The advent calendars were fun. Thanks for sharing them. I did get the "Oh, No" message thanks to another misplaced finger on the touch screen but I really didn't mean to cheat and look ahead. That's what I get for balancing my tablet in my lap.

 

[dizneeat]

Wow - that view is Spectacular! Amazing!

And that banana daiquiri - now THAT's what I"M talking about! Now wonder the truck ride didn't seem so bad after that! That drink was literally floating in rum!

The view was really awesome. We kept soaking it in ........ AND the banana daiquiri!
There was SO much rum in the drink, it even made the truck ride fun.

How did I not know about this report!!!???

I'm so in

Cass!
I am thrilled to have you here!

That Banana daiquiri looks yummy!

Jill in CO

It was! If we ever make it back to St. Thomas I definitely want another one.

 

[dizneeat]

Banana Daquaries look so good, I have to try one of those. St Thomas was very pretty, but the park at St Johns was simply wonderful. It was an easy boat ride from St.Thomas.

Doris, they were just heavenly. So sweet from the bananas and shock-full of rum.
I heard a lot about St. John, but since this was our first visit, we wanted to get a feel for St. Thomas as well. I am sure if we go back we will take a trip to St. John's as well.

Ugh! I hate touchscreens! One slight touch from a misplaced finger and the whole post I'd just finished writing disappeared! So here's the short version.

St Thomas views - awesome! We saw them from a zipline tour we took this past April. Pretty much the same views that you had. I couldn't get enough of them.

St Thomas taxis - far more scary than the zipline tour! DH, who is from NY city and drives like a NY taxi driver himself, wants no part of driving in St Thomas! I want to plan a land trip there soon, so I don't know what we will do about getting around. More taxis, I guess.

The advent calendars were fun. Thanks for sharing them. I did get the "Oh, No" message thanks to another misplaced finger on the touch screen but I really didn't mean to cheat and look ahead. That's what I get for balancing my tablet in my lap.

I just cannot work on Tom's tablet. Everything takes forever for me to get done and then I hit the screen in the wrong place and everything is gone - tell me about it.

You know, one of the zipline tours is just behind those botanical gardens. We watched them "zip" down the lines while enjoying the view.
And driving definitely is crazy there. I would NOT rent a car and try to drive ourselves, so I guess a taxi would be our own option too.

I am glad you enjoy the calendars! Tom loves making them and no problem about the "oh no" page . It's all part of the fun.

 

[WDWaddictt]

Wow...soooo beautiful!!

Yummy banana daiquiri!

Oh I wish I was there now....instead of the freezing rain...