Happy 21st Birthday! WDW, DCL and a Dis meet! *TR COMPLETE*

[tinkerbell87512]

Yay so I was finally off to head into the DCL building. The first stop was the metal dector. Just like at the airport your carry on goes through a scanner and you walk through a metal dector. There was virtually no line since it was 2:00. I then made my way upstairs and made my way into the check in line. I then heard someone call out my name. I looked and it was B and K in the "board the ship" line. They started to leave the line but I motioned them to keep going since they were almost to the front. I didn't wait more than 15 minutes before getting to the front of the line. The DCL cm was not very friendly but I didn't care I was on my way to the Bahamas! After getting my Key to the world card (my room key charge card) I made my way to the "board the ship" line. The woman at the front scanned my card looked at my passport and I was on my way! Once you make your way through the Mickey head shaped entrance way there is another line in a hallway to get your photo taken. Well I skipped this line since I knew I wasn't going to be buying the photo anyway. At the end of the hallway there is the ship entrance door. I was so excited to go through I took a deep breath and took in the atmosphere. The ship is so beautiful! I've seen pictures here on the Dis but nothing compares to actually being there and seeing it for yourself. There was a line of CM's in white jackets on the left and a CM on the right asking the family name. I told her my first name and then she announced "Disney Cruise line is proud to welcome aboard Cheryl!" and all the CM's to the left would start to clap as you entered. It was a cool moment.

On the bottom left you can see the door and the CM's I was talking about.

Now after you get though the welcome there are tons of CM's around. One came right up to me and welcomed me and told said my room was ready. She told me how to get down there and if I needed some help. I politely told her no thanks because I was looking for B and K. I didn't see them anywhere around so I figured they must be in their room. Well I made it down to deck 2and to my room and who was standing outside of it but B and K! We were so excited to see each other since it had been since July. Almost a whole year! It was so good to see them again. We then went in my room to check it out.

That fish was a cool little message holder. You would walk around the halls and see DVC bags and notes hanging from it.

The cabin door. Good old room 2021!

To the left was the small shower.

We then went down to their room so they could show it to me. They were upgraded from a 12 to a cat 9 so they had a port hole and a split bath. The room was really nice but I actually think I liked my room with out the port hole better. I would like to have a room with a veranda someday though.

At this point we were getting hungry so we headed up to Beach Blanket buffet on deck 9. There was so much food to pick from. Meats, cheeses, chicken everything! So good! We grabbed a table outside over looking the FL coast and we just had a chance to catch up. Before we knew it, it was 3:30 there was an announcement saying that the safety drill would be in 30 minutes at 4pm. We decided to make our way back down to our rooms to grab our life vests and read the maps on where we needed to be during the drill.

I was trying to take a picture in the mirror of myself with the vest on.

Anyway at 4:00 there was the drill horn and we were instructed to head up to the walt Disney theater. B and K saved me a seat and we were told the reason for the drill and why it was important. It was short and before we knew it, it was over. It was almost time for the sailaway party so we went down to our rooms to drop of the vests and then made our way up to deck 9 for the party.

 

[tinkerbell87512]

How exciting!

Even I got excited seeing the picture of the cruise ship in your TR!

hehe I'm getting excited all over again just writing this TR!

You are at the port! I can't wait to hear about your first impressions of the ship.

The ship was amazing. So big at first but once you have been on for a day you actually know your way around.

Great update Cheryl. I can feel your excitement through your trip report, how very exciting to see the ship from the highway and knowing your cruise was coming up. Very awesome. Can't wait to read and see more. Sounds like it is going to be wonderful.

Oh it was such an exciting feeling! Since this was my first cruise it was a whole new experience!

the size of the ship is huge! great post

Thanks for reading! The ship is huge. I have a photo from castaway cay where I'm standing infront of it and it is just massive.

You are making me excited for my October cruise!

You should be so excited, I'm jealous of you!

Fun update!

I stayed at CBR the day before my last cruise. We loved just lounging in the hammocks the day before. It was so relaxing!

Can't wait to hear how you feel about the terminal

Thanks for reading! The hammocks are so nice...I seem to find my way over to them at every resort.

You haven't even boarded the ship yet and I SO want to go on a cruise now! (DCL of course)... I was excited watching the ship in your pictures, I can't even begin to imagine how you must have felt!

You have to go at some point! I'm already trying to plan another cruise.

I'm excited for you!! Let's get on the boat!

Yay were on the boat now!

Wow, the cruise ship is so beautiful...I can't even imagine what it must look like in person! I really want to go on one of the Disney cruises!

It was so amazing! All the Disney detail. You really have to look for all the Disney touches but they are there.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I guess the good thing about arriving later in the afternoon is that you can head straight to your room, no waiting around. How did you find the food at Beach Blanket?

 

[jnjusoioa]

How exciting Cheryl!!!! It is so neat to listen to you tell your story of the cruise, I am so excited to be following along. It sounds like you are off to a great start. Sorry to hear that you had a couple of experiences with not so nice CM's, that can be a big bummer sometimes. How exciting that you got to see B&K again too. Your room looks cool on the ship. Can't wait to read and see more. Keep up the great work.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Yay! Okay, Cheryl, I'm so dissapointed that you didn't take a picture of the Mickey head shaped doorway!

So is the first picture you posted the inside of the ship or the entrance to the ship? It looks like an incredibly beautiful spot!

I love your room, it looks really nice and comfortable, I don't think anyone would really need much more than that, it's like a value hotel! LOL You only shower and sleep in there!

I hadn't realized that they do a safety session before the cruise. Did you all HAVE to wear your vests? Wow... that's really interesting. I guess like a fire drill at school, and soon we'll be doing Lock Down drills too (in case of a potentially harmful intruder in the building, like with a gun or something).

Keep it coming, it's a great TR... and you didn't fool us, we're still all waiting to see what you forgot! ::cop:

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I hadn't realized that they do a safety session before the cruise. Did you all HAVE to wear your vests? Wow... that's really interesting. I guess like a fire drill at school, and soon we'll be doing Lock Down drills too (in case of a potentially harmful intruder in the building, like with a gun or something).

Sadly it has come to the point where schools in the States at least already are doing lockdown drills. When I was in high school we did them several times a year.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Sadly it has come to the point where schools in the States at least already are doing lockdown drills. When I was in high school we did them several times a year.

It's VERY sad, but at the same time, it's better safe than sorry. As a teacher, I think I'm happier knowing that we'll all know what to do if something ever did happen. Although I hope nothing ever does...

Sorry Cheryl, for being so

 

[tinkerbell87512]

I'm so sorry there hasnt been another update sooner. I've been feeling sooo under the weather lately and not really feeling up to writing but thats changing now. I'm still not 100% but I miss the Dis and need to get back into the swing of things. So on with the TR!!! Thanks for sticking with me!

So we made our way up to Deck 9 for the sail away party. The music started and CM's came around handing out streamers for everyone to wave around.

They started playing some music to get everyone up and dancing as they introduced some of the CM's that would be sailing with us.

Then the cruise director came out getting everyone even more pumped for sail away!

Mickey, Minnie and some of their friends came out to dance with everyone and really get the party going.

This CM was so fun to watch he was standing there and shaking his streamers and all of a sudden he just broke into a full on dance routine.

Then Mickey and his friends gathered and it was time to start counting down. The moment I had been looking forward to for months! 5...4...3...2...1 The Disney horn blew and we were off and sailing! Streamers fell from the smoke stacks and everyone was cheering and dancing!

The jumbotron showing us pulling out and the open sea ahead of us!

We made our way over to a table by the window so we could see us actually pull out from port and as we did I noticed that the CM's at the Disney check in building were waving good bye!

On the way out of port there was this long strech of land with a bunch of cars parked along it. People come and just park there cars and watch the ships pull out of port. How cool! They were waving to us and seemed like they were having a good time. I know If I lived down there I would totally watch the ships come in and out!

Part 2 continued in next post due to photo limit...

 

[tinkerbell87512]

After relaxing at the table and catching up we decided to go do some exploring. We found our way to Route 66 which is the Cali highway themed adult area.

The route 66 elevator...

K on route 66...

The cool carpet...

Just had to get a pic in the portholes

Up next Please don't say B is getting sea Sick and our first dinner on the ship!

 

[tinkerbell87512]

I guess the good thing about arriving later in the afternoon is that you can head straight to your room, no waiting around. How did you find the food at Beach Blanket?

Yea that was one nice thing. My luggage was at my door when I arrived and I was free to go in. My room attendent was there and waiting to welcome me.

Beach Blanket was alright. The food is what you would expect for a high volume of people buffet. It wasnt bad but not nearly as good as the resturants.

How exciting Cheryl!!!! It is so neat to listen to you tell your story of the cruise, I am so excited to be following along. It sounds like you are off to a great start. Sorry to hear that you had a couple of experiences with not so nice CM's, that can be a big bummer sometimes. How exciting that you got to see B&K again too. Your room looks cool on the ship. Can't wait to read and see more. Keep up the great work.

That was it for the grumpy CM's! Thank goodness!

Yay! Okay, Cheryl, I'm so dissapointed that you didn't take a picture of the Mickey head shaped doorway!

So is the first picture you posted the inside of the ship or the entrance to the ship? It looks like an incredibly beautiful spot!

I love your room, it looks really nice and comfortable, I don't think anyone would really need much more than that, it's like a value hotel! LOL You only shower and sleep in there!

I hadn't realized that they do a safety session before the cruise. Did you all HAVE to wear your vests? Wow... that's really interesting. I guess like a fire drill at school, and soon we'll be doing Lock Down drills too (in case of a potentially harmful intruder in the building, like with a gun or something).

Keep it coming, it's a great TR... and you didn't fool us, we're still all waiting to see what you forgot! ::cop:

Hahaha I meant to take a picture of it but I was just so excited to get on the ship I figured I could take it when we were getting off the ship...WRONG. We ended up getting off below the main entrance in a not so Disney customs room.

That's what I figure with the room. It's only for sleep and a shower. I actually pefered my room over the porthole B and K had. Yes it was nice but I wouldn't justify it for a solo trip.

The safety drill was quick and painless. You have to meet at your check in location with your vest on and from a number on the vest the CM's check you in once you arrive. Once your group is all there the CM's played some Disney trivia with us. Once the drill was over an announcement came on and we were free to go do whatever we wanted.

Sadly it has come to the point where schools in the States at least already are doing lockdown drills. When I was in high school we did them several times a year.

Yea I remember doing the drills too. As sad as it is it's better to be safe than sorry.

It's VERY sad, but at the same time, it's better safe than sorry. As a teacher, I think I'm happier knowing that we'll all know what to do if something ever did happen. Although I hope nothing ever does...

Sorry Cheryl, for being so

No worries!

 

[jnjusoioa]

Great update Cheryl!!! I was wondering what happened to you, so sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling that well, I hope you will be 100% in no time. Your cruise sounds very exciting, I could feel your excitement about the sail away party and all. Sounds very cool. Route 66 looks very cool. I hope no one is getting sea sick, Yuck!!! Your doing such a great job and can't wait to read and see more.

 

[Jennifer48]

Glad you're back Cheryl! Hope you feel 100% better soon.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Aww, I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well but am glad to see another update! The sail away party looks so awesome...that would probably be my favorite part of the cruise. LOL. OK, maybe not but it definitely seems like a lot of fun.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

So sorry you're not feeling well. Hope you continue to feel better.

The new update was great! I love the pictures. Too bad about the Mickey hole... if I ever go, I'll be sure to try to take a picture. I sure hope that B is not sea sick! I always thought they said that you don't really get sea sick on cruises...

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Ok so after checking out Route 66 we decided to go back to the rooms and start getting ready for our 8:15 dinner. After I had gotten ready I called over to B and K's room to see if they wanted to go explore the ship a little bit since we had time before dinner and we werent going to the "golden mickey's show". They said no that they just wanted to relax for a bit since B wasnt feeling so well. I will say it was really rough seas. The whole first night we could not walk in a straight line if our lives depended on it. It was crazy. Anyway so since B and K wanted to relax I decided to go do some exploring.

I made my way up to deck 4 where the Walt Disney theater is. The area was decorated for the Golden Mickeys like an award show with banners and all.

Sorry this next picture is so blurry (I have some better ones later in the TR). This is facing the WD theater and to either side is both of the ships stores.

Here are some of the decorated windows for the shops.

Very cute minnie!

I decided to go in and catch some of the show.

I watched about 5 minutes of it and from what I saw it was cute. I missed the whole story but it seemed really cute.

I figured I should head back down stairs to see how B was feeling. I got down there and B was alright her stomach was very unsettled but she wasnt "sick-sick" if you know what I mean. She took some dramamine and we decided to watch some of Beauty and the Beast which was showing on the movie channel.

Here is a picture out of B and K's window. It felt like we were going a 1000 MPH. Those ships can fly.

Before we knew it, it was 7:45 and time to start making our way upstairs to Parrot Cay (our first resturant.)

I was so excited to try the food since I've heard so many great things about Cruise food in general.

We got up to the resturant around 8 and we were the 3rd group in line to get in. In a matter of minutes the line behind us stretched all the way down the hall. Before anyone was let in there were a couple of CM's that came down the line and handed everyone a sanitizer wipe for your hands. They are very health concious on the ship which is a good thing! Anyway we were let in at 8:15 on the dot and shown to our table #53! Our table was at the very back of the resturant and we quickly noticed we were seated at a table for 9. I was excited to meet other cruisers! Turns out there were 2 Dr.s from Germany (husband and wife) and 2 mother daughter groups both celebrating college graduations (they didn't know each other beore hand).

The resturant was very colorful and caribbean themed.

Once we sat down and got settled poor B started to feel sick again. If you watched her she actually swayed with the boat. K and I figured she needed some food in her stomach since she hadnt eaten in a while. (turned out thats exactly what she needed)

So we got to meet our servers. It is so cool how cruises work. You have a drink server who does just that and helps your main server and then you have your main server and a head server who just walks around and makes sure you have everything and if you are celebrating anything he takes care of it. Well as we were sitting there I started to put my napkin on my lap and our server came over and starts saying "no no no". So I put it back and he said "Let me get that for you". I was shocked. They do EVERYTHING for you. I know some people complain about how expensive the tips are but seriously those CM's deserve every bit of it! They work so hard.

So back to the resturant after getting our drinks we ordered our meals. You get an appitizer, meal and dessert! No wonder people talk about gaining weight. I got a fruit salad for my app. and the roasted chicken.

Oh my gosh it was so good!!! Those were the most amazing tasting sweet potatos I have ever had! Mmmmmm
I actually passed on dessert I was so full. Our server was shocked and told me that everyone must eat dessert. But I insisted I was full.

After we ate the lights flickered and some music started to play. All the servers started to dance around the resturant and a lot of the guests joined in too.

Our server Miguel came over with some crayons and put them down on the table in different puzzles and had us solve them. It turned out to be really fun bonding thing for our table and him. It became a nightly thing at each resturant with him.

After dinner we headed back to our rooms to find our beds turned down with chocolates and a certificate and buttons.
B and K's bed:

My bed:

The certificate was really cool it was about how that night was the premier of Narnia Prince Caspian at 12:01!

B really wanted to go but she was so tired that she didn't want to go that night. I told her it was ok and that they could go to bed and I would catch up with them in the morning. She agreed and off to bed they went. This is where I noticed the thing I forgot. I figured I would charge my phone and put it away since I wouldnt be using it for the next few days. I must of went through all my stuff about a hundred times before I realized the morning before when I was getting ready to leave for the air port I left it on my bed at home! UGH! That means no calling home and no mini AK dis meet since we never met on a time and the diser's number was on my phone! Ugh how could I of forgotten that. It wasn't a huge thing but it made things more difficult back at Disney trying to call home.

Anyway back to the cruise. It was 10:30ish at this point and I didn't feel like sleeping so I went up to deck 10 and spent some time under the stars and looking out on to the open ocean. I will admit I went to the front most part of the ship I could get to and did the whole Titanic thing (I'm flying) yes dorky I know! But no one saw me. hehe

After some time on deck 10 I went back to my room and decided to make use of the room service. I got some mac and cheese (which actually wasn't very good) and the cake at sea and decided to watch finding nemo and fall asleep.

Up next Pulling into Nassau.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That's too bad about the sea sickness, hopefully she felt better in the morning.

I am shocked, not going to see the Golden Mickey's or Prince Caspian! It sounds like you had a nice relaxing first night though.

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Great update Cheryl!!! I was wondering what happened to you, so sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling that well, I hope you will be 100% in no time. Your cruise sounds very exciting, I could feel your excitement about the sail away party and all. Sounds very cool. Route 66 looks very cool. I hope no one is getting sea sick, Yuck!!! Your doing such a great job and can't wait to read and see more.

Thanks Jen! I'm feeling sooooo much better now. The cruise was fantastic I really hope someday I can do another and it's sooner than later!

Glad you're back Cheryl! Hope you feel 100% better soon.

Thanks so much! I'm feeling 100% now!

Aww, I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well but am glad to see another update! The sail away party looks so awesome...that would probably be my favorite part of the cruise. LOL. OK, maybe not but it definitely seems like a lot of fun.

Sail away was so fun. It was awesome to see people let loose and have a good fun time!

So sorry you're not feeling well. Hope you continue to feel better.

The new update was great! I love the pictures. Too bad about the Mickey hole... if I ever go, I'll be sure to try to take a picture. I sure hope that B is not sea sick! I always thought they said that you don't really get sea sick on cruises...

Thanks so much! Yes if you see something you want a picture of make sure you take it. I'm so bummed now that I don't have that picture for my scrap book. After the first night B did a lot better. By the time she got her "sea legs" though it was time to go home...I guess next time we will have to take a longer cruise right!?

 

[tinkerbell87512]

That's too bad about the sea sickness, hopefully she felt better in the morning.

I am shocked, not going to see the Golden Mickey's or Prince Caspian! It sounds like you had a nice relaxing first night though.

I know! We did end up seeing Prince Caspian our last night though!

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Yay some somewhat off topic news. My free rapid rewards flight credit posted to southwest meaning I have a free round trip ticked to use within the next year. Well with our not so stable economy and the airlines charging for everything I figure I better use it sooner than later incase they decide to discontinue the program. So I had a nice chat with my boss and turns out she will let me take off sometime in November! Since the holidays are such a busy time for us usually no one is allowed extra time off in Nov or Dec. So guess what that means?! I'm going to Disney again! I just had to share my exciting news with you
guys! I know the osborne lights wont be up till nov 28 and I'm going to miss them but I'm hoping all the other decorations will be up since the MVMCP is going on. I guess I will have to start doing some research!

So now there is another trip to plan!

 

[jnjusoioa]

Cheryl, Your update is awesome. I am glad that B didn't get to sick, glad the eating seemed to help. The cruise looks so amazing, Parrot Cay looks way cool, very neat. Very cool how you all got to know your waiter and everything too, they sound amazing. The stuff they left on your bed was so cute, I love it. I can't believe you forgot your phone charger, I would have been hunting high and low to find one, I go crazy without my cell. Your doing a great job, can't wait to read and see more.