Hailwood Cruise - "Disney Magic" 7th-14th May 2011

[Whisky In A VAse]

So we have done our brilliant 10 day stay at the Villa and done all the parks, parades and fireworks we had planned on doing. Disney and Universal was brilliant as ever, but we were moving onto something we had never done before. Yes we were going on not just or first cruise, but our very first Disney Cruise.
We had lots of decisions to make before booking the cruise, which cruise? which ship? which cabin? how many days? when to cruise? before parks after parks? + lots, lots more... But we answered all the questions and went for 10 days at a villa first, followed by a 7 night cruise on the Disney Magic, on the Eastern Caribbean staying at St Maarten, St Thomas, Castaway Cay with 3 days at sea. We travelled on the 7th - 14th May 2011.
I was nervous as we had never booked anything like this before and I was planning for my family of four and also the in laws and brother in law and it is not the cheapest holiday in world... So was looking forward to it, while feeling nervous... But before I go any further, this was the best 7 days of my life...

I hope you enjoy the video I have put together of my vacation. This video takes us from our villa at Hampton Lakes to the end of our first day on the Disney Magic ... Click here for video ...

So with all the time and effort going into booking the holiday (which I enjoy), some how we ended up here.

You can't beat the feeling of having a family photo with Mickey in front of the model Disney Magic cruise ship.

On the ship early and you can't beat a wander around with no one about, it felt like my ship.

Adventures Away

Sail away party

Great table for dinner...

Can't remember what we had for starter... But it was good.

Cocktail of the day

Perfect end to the perfect day....

 

[iloverags2]

Wow! Definitely a great table for dinner! Perfect choice for your first cruise. Looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[heaven2dc]

Sounds like you had a great time on your vacation - WDW plus a cruise! I tried to view the video but it won't let me view it. Will you be writing a trip report as well? We would love to read all about it!

 

[Linda67]

Oh I do hope you are going to do a full TR; I for one would love to hear all about your cruise

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

There seems to be a problem with the video which I will try and sort tonight....

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

The video link should now be working. Please let me know all is ok with it.
Thanks
Neil

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Well it was our 2nd day on the cruise, and we have set off the the Caribbean. Words of photos cannot describe how truly wonderful this cruise was. Lauren spend loads of time of the clubs and had a great time, we booked Matthew into the nursery for a couple of hours and for the first time on holiday for 9 years, the wife and I had a couple of hours when it was just the two of us... After checking on both kids on a regular basis mind...

Click here for the video

So it was time to relax, the sea was calm and the sky was blue. Look at this picture and see the sea. Look at the photo quickly as I can't breath in for long....

After a very relaxing day it was time for our formal evening dinner...

Two happy people with their cocktails of the day...

This is one of my favourite picture of the whole holiday, don't know why, but I love it....

I love this area of Disney Magic, I would sit look at this picture hour ages thinking am I really cruising on a Disney Ship... While wishing the wife would hurry up the shops....

These are my two princesses...

Time for bed...

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

This is our 12th day of our Disney holiday in April/May 2011.
This was our 3rd day of the cruise, but our 2nd full day at sea.
Again, the video is short, but I have added lots of photos at the end of the video.
The kids again had a great time in the pools, on the slides, in the clubs, eating lots of food and ice cream.

To see the video please click this link....

So it was an early start for our character breakfast which was great fun.
We were joined by Minnie Mouse for breakfast, along with lots of her friends..

Anyone seen Dumbo?

The it was time to... well just relax really...

Anyone seen my kids?

Found the kids just in time for Dinner....and a taste of the cocktail of the day!!

Don't think she likes it....

Wife, Daughter and Mother In Law... look happy...

Everyone's favourite...

Deck 11 at night....

Look out for a crab eating my chocolates...

 

[Princess Sleepy]

I look forward to reading about the rest of your cruise. We have a cruise booked with that itinerary and I am anxious to see what people have experienced.

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

I look forward to reading about the rest of your cruise. We have a cruise booked with that itinerary and I am anxious to see what people have experienced.

I cannot put into words, video's or pictures how brilliant this cruise was. We had two brilliant 3 days at sea, great stops at St Maarten, St Thomas & Castaway Cay... It was just brilliant.
We went snorkelling at St Thomas, which was just brilliant.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant...
If you want to know anything, just shout...

 

[Linda67]

Great video

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

This is our 13th day of our Disney holiday in April/May 2011.
This was our 4th day of the cruise and after spending 2 days at sea, we arrived at St Maarten for our first port of call.
As my little lad was not toilet trained, he was not allowed into the Disney Magic Pools, so he loved having a good run around the beach and splash in the sea. We then had a great night enjoying Disney Pirate party.

There are two video's for the today:
Part 1: Early Start - Beach time with the kids
Part 2: Disney Pirate Party including fireworks

It was the first time we had been off the ship and got a proper close up look of her.... and what a beauty she really is...

Welcome to St Maarten

Looking back on these photos now, make it all feel very not real, but it really was... Brilliant..

Time to party...

I really don't suit that hat...

One of our servers

Food, food, glorious food..

Do we look like a pirates...?

Spot the odd one out...

 

[Sharry77]

Looks like a fantastic time!! I am really looking forward to our first Disney cruise in October! TFS!

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Day 14 of our Magical Disney Vacation 2001.
I am determined to finish these video's before 12 month before we set off on the trip. Even though it is 10 months since we had this holiday there is not a day that passes that we don't discuss something about the holiday, as it was truly brilliant.....

Day 14 was St Tho,as and we went on Castaway Girl for a snorkelling trip, which was one of the highlights. Although we did some some footage of the trip to go snorkelling, I did not get any of the snorkelling, which looking back I wish I had have done, but I was too busy enjoying myself.

We then had a lovely afternoon around the pools on Disney Magic listening to the Disney band. It was a wonderful day..... Hope you enjoy the video...

Click here for the video

Here is the team that went Snorkelling.

Here is Lauren relaxing onboard Castaway Girl

Snow White and Dopey make an appearance:

What do you think of this one?

Cocktail of the day...mmmmm lovely...

Views like this make for a wonderful vacations.

Well you have to make an effort.

Look who was hanging around our room when we got back...

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Day 15 was a day at sea... It was a great relaxing day with the Lauren and Matthew at the kids clubs while we just chilled out around the pools and enjoying the cocktails of the day. Disney Magic was speeding its way to Castaway Cay and this caused a sometimes bumpy ride... But it was fun being in the pool having a deep end, that within seconds became a shallow end... But fun all the same...

This is the video

Lauren was in the show Friendship Rocks in Walt Disney Theatre

That was followed by a lovely meal...

Do you think Matthew was enjoying the cruise?

The Disney Dream show honestly brought a tear to my eye...

Next stop Castaway Cay... Goodnight... x

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Well it was out last full day on our cruise and what better way to spend it than on Disney's very own Island - Castaway Cay. It is the most beautiful relaxing place I have been to.
The day was then followed by our lovely meal and then the final time to say goodbye to Mickey and Minnie and all our Disney Friends at the 'til we meet again show.. I think everyone had a tear in their eye....

Here is the video....

Welcome to Castaway Cay

I think this hug means thank Mummy for the best day ever...

Goodbye to our servers

The Goodbye show... which was great...

Final pictures with all the Disney gang...

And its bed time....

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Well this is the end of our amazing 17 day cruise which included 10 days staying at a villa and visiting all the parks, followed by a wonderful 7 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Magic. It was the best time ever....

Here is the video of our last day as well as lots and lots of photos

After a great relaxing cruise, everyone was feeling relaxed and wide awake on the way to the airport....

The end....