pepe3penelope
Princess Ariel at Heart
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2013
- Messages
- 1,441
DAY SIX: Friday, October 16, 2015; DISEMBARKATION at San Diego...then onto our mini staycation at Disneyland!!!
I can't believe it's been over TWO months since my last post on this thread!!! Blame it on work, meetings, holidays, and just catching up with LIFE! My goodness! Let's get going on wrapping this TR up!
On the last post, I talked about our last cruise day. As usual, I woke up before everyone else. I looked at the tv's map channel and could see that the ship was going to enter San Diego in the next few minutes. I looked out the porthole window. The sky was still dark and I tried to take in the peaceful serenity outside.
I washed up and changed. I woke up DH. Soon we were entering the San Diego area. The kids were so tired, but we got them ready. We finished packing the toiletries and did a final room check. We were first seating, but decided we didn't need to take our luggage to the restaurant. We headed to Shutters to pick up the Frozen pictures that were missing from last night's folder. Then we headed to breakfast and brought along the server tip envelopes.
The disembarkation breakfast is so depressing. It goes by so fast because they're trying to get you in and out. The reality that paradise onboard a Disney cruise ship is ending is realized and I seriously get so sad on the inside. On the outside I was smiling because we were happy to thank our servers. We also had bags ready for them that had large boxes of candy treats (especially since it was a Halloween cruise) and custom business card-sized magnets that had Halloween on the High Seas, the itinerary dates and our ports of call.
We walked outside on deck 4 to look at everything again ONE last time. We returned to our cabin for a last restroom break. We checked again to make sure that nothing was missing. We took the stairs up to deck three and saw the massive sea of people. It's about 8:00 at this time. No one was moving and it got more and more crowded as time went by. The poor people headed for the second breakfast couldn't get through, especially with all the luggage from everyone. Finally, someone from Parrot Cay diverted traffic. At least 1/2 hour later, the line started to move enough for us to go to Promenade Lounge and sit and wait and wait and wait and wait for the announcements. It was so frustrating hearing the announcements of the missing passengers that didn't check into the theater. Then they finally announced Express walk off then the other groups. It took FOREVER!!!! We all went for a restroom break. At almost 9:30, the crowds had really thinned out but many of us were still waiting. I took the maternal initiative and said let's wait near the lobby. As we walked, they finally called our group! JEEZ LOUISE!!! By the time we stepped off the ship, it was almost 10:00.
I have to say that the whole ordeal of getting off the ship was the MOST excruciating thing to go through. We were on Wonder in San Pedro (Los Angeles) and Fantasy in Port Canaveral. Both times was so easy, fast, and efficient getting off the ship. I had read previously that people have been frustrated in San Diego. You can count me as another frustrated traveller.
We got a porter to help us and within a couple minutes we got our 6 luggage onto the cart. Going through US customs was a joke. The person barely glanced at it and let us through. I told the porter that we parked across the street at the Wyndham and that I needed to get the car and drive over. We followed him to an area that didn't look busy. He dropped off the luggage and I thanked him and took off while DH paid his tip when he was done. The walk took a few minutes (only because of the signal light. I'm a very fast walker otherwise.) I walked up to the valet w/my ticket and printed prepaid receipt. I sat down and the car came in just a few minutes. Sooooo easy and fast. I would TOTALLY do the Wyndham's valet again!
From leaving the driveway, entering the port driveway, and getting to the family...it was a few minutes, less than five minutes. We loaded and left. I drove because I was excited about our next stop...Disneyland!!!
Everyone was so tired and the kids actually fell asleep less than 15 minutes into the drive!!!
This is actually a Friday morning and we left the port around 10:20ish. It was cloudy and misty. The cruise had been so hot and we arrived to a cool San Diego. The roads were actually wet and continued to be misty. About 1/2 hour into the drive, I was getting VERY sleepy. I told DH to keep me awake so we kept talking, I had the fan on my face, & turned up the radio!
There was traffic, but I finally let up. We arrived at Disneyland and drove up to the Camelot Inn and Suites. It is across the street from the Harbor Blvd. entrance. We are local passholders, but it was our first time staying across the street. We liked the location, that it's next to McDonald's, the price was good, and the rooftop terrace pool had a view of the nightly fireworks. They have self-parking and when it gets full they have valet. We purposely only brought luggage into the room that we needed for the next 3 days. The other luggage stayed in the car. We entered the lobby and checked in. He was courteous and confirmed that rooms were available for us to check into.
Then the bad news came...I had prepaid the 1st night on Expedia 6 months earlier and was expecting to only pay the 2nd night on checkin. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but the card didn't work so you have to pay both nights right now." What?!?!?!?! I went from
to !!! DH could see how pissed I was! I verbally told him that while I acknowledged that this wasn't his fault, I never received any phone calls or emails from Expedia nor the hotel. I begrudgingly gave him my card for payment. We went to our room and I have to admit that I still felt like this...
I really tried to let it go. The hotel is on three floors and our room faced the back parking lot of McDonald's and we could clearly see the Fairfield Inn. We were on the second floor and luckily we were away from the elevator and closer to the rear of the property. As soon as we opened the door, we were so surprised at how much bigger it was than the pictures. It had two queen size beds. Next to the entrance there were two large chairs and a small round table. There was a lot of storage space, a refrigerator, microwave, and decent size TV. At the opposite end is the sink with wide countertop that had a K-cup style coffeemaker. The shower/tub combination and toilet were in a separate enclosed area. I sent DH to get lunch at McDonald's. The kids played while I unpacked.
DD kept begging to go to the pool, but DH and I were sooooooo tired. 5 days of rushing around a cruise ship (meet and greets, Palo brunches, port excursions, etc.) finally caught up to us. As Cruise Director Clayton said to me, "You need a vacation from your vacation." Boy, was he right! I told DD that DH, DS, and I needed to take a nap and that she could go to the pool later. She agreed and played in the room, had the TV on, and also had DH's tablet to keep her company.
The 3 of us fell asleep and I could NOT get up! TWO hours later I popped up like a lightning bolt! I had also arranged for us to meet our good friends who also have 2 kids similar in age. Their house is literally behind the off ramp to Disneyland. Having cruise food (as wonderful and delicious as it is) was amazing, but I was ready from some good old Chinese food!!! We got ready and headed out for dinner less than 15 minutes away.
Up next...Chinese food and Disneyland fireworks!
I can't believe it's been over TWO months since my last post on this thread!!! Blame it on work, meetings, holidays, and just catching up with LIFE! My goodness! Let's get going on wrapping this TR up!
On the last post, I talked about our last cruise day. As usual, I woke up before everyone else. I looked at the tv's map channel and could see that the ship was going to enter San Diego in the next few minutes. I looked out the porthole window. The sky was still dark and I tried to take in the peaceful serenity outside.
I washed up and changed. I woke up DH. Soon we were entering the San Diego area. The kids were so tired, but we got them ready. We finished packing the toiletries and did a final room check. We were first seating, but decided we didn't need to take our luggage to the restaurant. We headed to Shutters to pick up the Frozen pictures that were missing from last night's folder. Then we headed to breakfast and brought along the server tip envelopes.
The disembarkation breakfast is so depressing. It goes by so fast because they're trying to get you in and out. The reality that paradise onboard a Disney cruise ship is ending is realized and I seriously get so sad on the inside. On the outside I was smiling because we were happy to thank our servers. We also had bags ready for them that had large boxes of candy treats (especially since it was a Halloween cruise) and custom business card-sized magnets that had Halloween on the High Seas, the itinerary dates and our ports of call.
We walked outside on deck 4 to look at everything again ONE last time. We returned to our cabin for a last restroom break. We checked again to make sure that nothing was missing. We took the stairs up to deck three and saw the massive sea of people. It's about 8:00 at this time. No one was moving and it got more and more crowded as time went by. The poor people headed for the second breakfast couldn't get through, especially with all the luggage from everyone. Finally, someone from Parrot Cay diverted traffic. At least 1/2 hour later, the line started to move enough for us to go to Promenade Lounge and sit and wait and wait and wait and wait for the announcements. It was so frustrating hearing the announcements of the missing passengers that didn't check into the theater. Then they finally announced Express walk off then the other groups. It took FOREVER!!!! We all went for a restroom break. At almost 9:30, the crowds had really thinned out but many of us were still waiting. I took the maternal initiative and said let's wait near the lobby. As we walked, they finally called our group! JEEZ LOUISE!!! By the time we stepped off the ship, it was almost 10:00.
I have to say that the whole ordeal of getting off the ship was the MOST excruciating thing to go through. We were on Wonder in San Pedro (Los Angeles) and Fantasy in Port Canaveral. Both times was so easy, fast, and efficient getting off the ship. I had read previously that people have been frustrated in San Diego. You can count me as another frustrated traveller.
We got a porter to help us and within a couple minutes we got our 6 luggage onto the cart. Going through US customs was a joke. The person barely glanced at it and let us through. I told the porter that we parked across the street at the Wyndham and that I needed to get the car and drive over. We followed him to an area that didn't look busy. He dropped off the luggage and I thanked him and took off while DH paid his tip when he was done. The walk took a few minutes (only because of the signal light. I'm a very fast walker otherwise.) I walked up to the valet w/my ticket and printed prepaid receipt. I sat down and the car came in just a few minutes. Sooooo easy and fast. I would TOTALLY do the Wyndham's valet again!
From leaving the driveway, entering the port driveway, and getting to the family...it was a few minutes, less than five minutes. We loaded and left. I drove because I was excited about our next stop...Disneyland!!!
Everyone was so tired and the kids actually fell asleep less than 15 minutes into the drive!!!This is actually a Friday morning and we left the port around 10:20ish. It was cloudy and misty. The cruise had been so hot and we arrived to a cool San Diego. The roads were actually wet and continued to be misty. About 1/2 hour into the drive, I was getting VERY sleepy. I told DH to keep me awake so we kept talking, I had the fan on my face, & turned up the radio!
There was traffic, but I finally let up. We arrived at Disneyland and drove up to the Camelot Inn and Suites. It is across the street from the Harbor Blvd. entrance. We are local passholders, but it was our first time staying across the street. We liked the location, that it's next to McDonald's, the price was good, and the rooftop terrace pool had a view of the nightly fireworks. They have self-parking and when it gets full they have valet. We purposely only brought luggage into the room that we needed for the next 3 days. The other luggage stayed in the car. We entered the lobby and checked in. He was courteous and confirmed that rooms were available for us to check into.Then the bad news came...I had prepaid the 1st night on Expedia 6 months earlier and was expecting to only pay the 2nd night on checkin. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but the card didn't work so you have to pay both nights right now." What?!?!?!?! I went from
to !!! DH could see how pissed I was! I verbally told him that while I acknowledged that this wasn't his fault, I never received any phone calls or emails from Expedia nor the hotel. I begrudgingly gave him my card for payment. We went to our room and I have to admit that I still felt like this...I really tried to let it go. The hotel is on three floors and our room faced the back parking lot of McDonald's and we could clearly see the Fairfield Inn. We were on the second floor and luckily we were away from the elevator and closer to the rear of the property. As soon as we opened the door, we were so surprised at how much bigger it was than the pictures. It had two queen size beds. Next to the entrance there were two large chairs and a small round table. There was a lot of storage space, a refrigerator, microwave, and decent size TV. At the opposite end is the sink with wide countertop that had a K-cup style coffeemaker. The shower/tub combination and toilet were in a separate enclosed area. I sent DH to get lunch at McDonald's. The kids played while I unpacked.
DD kept begging to go to the pool, but DH and I were sooooooo tired. 5 days of rushing around a cruise ship (meet and greets, Palo brunches, port excursions, etc.) finally caught up to us. As Cruise Director Clayton said to me, "You need a vacation from your vacation." Boy, was he right! I told DD that DH, DS, and I needed to take a nap and that she could go to the pool later. She agreed and played in the room, had the TV on, and also had DH's tablet to keep her company.
The 3 of us fell asleep and I could NOT get up! TWO hours later I popped up like a lightning bolt! I had also arranged for us to meet our good friends who also have 2 kids similar in age. Their house is literally behind the off ramp to Disneyland. Having cruise food (as wonderful and delicious as it is) was amazing, but I was ready from some good old Chinese food!!! We got ready and headed out for dinner less than 15 minutes away.
Up next...Chinese food and Disneyland fireworks!
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Tonight I'm hoping for Shabu Shabu for dinner.
Does she get her wish?!?!? 
