TammiMcMan
Ohana
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2002
- Messages
- 6,315
Well, it's a little after 6:30am on a beautiful Friday morning in the Bahamas. I've had my coffee, a stroll around the decks and witnessed an incredible sunrise. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the Disney cruise. Everything has been magical.
I'll post a trip report when I get back, but I'll give you a brief breakdown of our time so far and some observations.
We arrived into Orlando on Wednesday night at 11pm. It had been rainy and cold for the past 5 days in Massachusetts and we were actually wearing jeans and sweaters on the plane. You gotta love Orlando airport, our luggage was already going around the loop when we arrived at baggage claim. I used a courtesy phone to call for the Hawthorn Suites shuttle and he arrived within 10 minutes. We got a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite at the hotel and I thought, how nice, a little pixie dust before our vacation even got started. The hotel was very nice and very convenient to the airport. We paid $86.43 for the night. In the morning, they offered a complimentary hot buffet breakfast. DH and DD took the shuttle back to the airport and picked up a nice Aztec from the National Emerald Aisle. DH reported that there was also a few Jeeps available, Aleros and PT Cruisers. We were on the road at about 9:30 heading for Port Canaveral. The ride only took about 35-40 minutes. Speed limit on the Beeline is 70mph and we hit no traffic at all. We decided to stop at the Walmart (thanks to the boards) and picked up some sand toys and a few other things that we didn't want to lug all the way from Massachusetts. Got to the DCL terminal at about 11am and there were no lines at curbside check-in. Dropped off our luggage and headed through security while DH parked the car. Before going to our check in area, I stopped to see the friendly folks at the kiosk and they helped with filling out and arranging all our documents. Again, there were no lines at the concierge check-in and I don't know if our timing was just perfect or what, but we were the very first family on the ship. What an amazing feeling it is walking into that atrium. We had a delicious lunch in Parrot Cay, went to meet the concierge staff who assisted us with reservations, excursions and registered our youngest DD with the kids club. She recommended the lab for her because she is tall and I knew that she would probably be happier there anyway. From there, we found a restroom, changed into our bathing suits and hit the pools. DD had the Mickey slide all to herself for close to an hour. Did the lifeboat drill, had fun at the sail-away party, unpacked. (We're in 8022, room was ready at 1:30 and our luggage was sitting in front of our door at that time) We saw Hercules and laughed our butts off. DD went to the kids club, DS took off with his cousin to eat and check out the teen room. DH, myself, oldest DD and my cousin had dinner in Palo's. The restaurant was maybe half full. We got a lot of personal attention from our server Balasz. The meal was incredible. After dinner, we picked up DD from the kids club. She was playing a game with about 7 other girls and a counselor. She said she had a great time and they had a pizza party. We took a walk around deck 9, she was hungry again and got another slice of pizza. It was about 10:30 when we made it back to our room. DS and his cousin went to the 11:00pm showing of Hidalgo and they were premiering Raising Helen at midnight. We were rocked ever so gently to sleep.
A few observations: weather has been great and the seas have been calm so far. I packed the Bonine, but we haven't had a need to take it yet. The ship is full, but honestly, it doesn't feel crowded at all. It's taken us a while, but we're figuring out the layout of the ship and moving around it pretty well. After the first hour on board, we decided that the elevators are not really necessary. They are very, very small and take forever. I'm using the excuse that if I take the stairs, I'm working off all those extra calories. Sounds good anyway.
Plans for today: DH and oldest DD are going to take the Catamaran sail and snorkel excursion at 9am. When they've finished up with that, they want to take a taxi over to the Atlantis. DD is 18 and wants to spend $20 in the casino and buy a drink. Youngest DD wants to see Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen at 10:30am in the theatre. We're going to swim for a while, take a quick tour of the straw market and she's going to the kids club while my cousin and I do the wine tasting at Palo's this afternoon. Not sure what DS has planned with his cousin. He's 14 and enjoying the limited freedom he has on the ship.
Well, I'm headed back to my stateroom now. Room service should be delivering breakfast soon and I need to make sure my family is up and moving.
Ciao,
Tammi
I'll post a trip report when I get back, but I'll give you a brief breakdown of our time so far and some observations.
We arrived into Orlando on Wednesday night at 11pm. It had been rainy and cold for the past 5 days in Massachusetts and we were actually wearing jeans and sweaters on the plane. You gotta love Orlando airport, our luggage was already going around the loop when we arrived at baggage claim. I used a courtesy phone to call for the Hawthorn Suites shuttle and he arrived within 10 minutes. We got a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite at the hotel and I thought, how nice, a little pixie dust before our vacation even got started. The hotel was very nice and very convenient to the airport. We paid $86.43 for the night. In the morning, they offered a complimentary hot buffet breakfast. DH and DD took the shuttle back to the airport and picked up a nice Aztec from the National Emerald Aisle. DH reported that there was also a few Jeeps available, Aleros and PT Cruisers. We were on the road at about 9:30 heading for Port Canaveral. The ride only took about 35-40 minutes. Speed limit on the Beeline is 70mph and we hit no traffic at all. We decided to stop at the Walmart (thanks to the boards) and picked up some sand toys and a few other things that we didn't want to lug all the way from Massachusetts. Got to the DCL terminal at about 11am and there were no lines at curbside check-in. Dropped off our luggage and headed through security while DH parked the car. Before going to our check in area, I stopped to see the friendly folks at the kiosk and they helped with filling out and arranging all our documents. Again, there were no lines at the concierge check-in and I don't know if our timing was just perfect or what, but we were the very first family on the ship. What an amazing feeling it is walking into that atrium. We had a delicious lunch in Parrot Cay, went to meet the concierge staff who assisted us with reservations, excursions and registered our youngest DD with the kids club. She recommended the lab for her because she is tall and I knew that she would probably be happier there anyway. From there, we found a restroom, changed into our bathing suits and hit the pools. DD had the Mickey slide all to herself for close to an hour. Did the lifeboat drill, had fun at the sail-away party, unpacked. (We're in 8022, room was ready at 1:30 and our luggage was sitting in front of our door at that time) We saw Hercules and laughed our butts off. DD went to the kids club, DS took off with his cousin to eat and check out the teen room. DH, myself, oldest DD and my cousin had dinner in Palo's. The restaurant was maybe half full. We got a lot of personal attention from our server Balasz. The meal was incredible. After dinner, we picked up DD from the kids club. She was playing a game with about 7 other girls and a counselor. She said she had a great time and they had a pizza party. We took a walk around deck 9, she was hungry again and got another slice of pizza. It was about 10:30 when we made it back to our room. DS and his cousin went to the 11:00pm showing of Hidalgo and they were premiering Raising Helen at midnight. We were rocked ever so gently to sleep.
A few observations: weather has been great and the seas have been calm so far. I packed the Bonine, but we haven't had a need to take it yet. The ship is full, but honestly, it doesn't feel crowded at all. It's taken us a while, but we're figuring out the layout of the ship and moving around it pretty well. After the first hour on board, we decided that the elevators are not really necessary. They are very, very small and take forever. I'm using the excuse that if I take the stairs, I'm working off all those extra calories. Sounds good anyway.
Plans for today: DH and oldest DD are going to take the Catamaran sail and snorkel excursion at 9am. When they've finished up with that, they want to take a taxi over to the Atlantis. DD is 18 and wants to spend $20 in the casino and buy a drink. Youngest DD wants to see Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen at 10:30am in the theatre. We're going to swim for a while, take a quick tour of the straw market and she's going to the kids club while my cousin and I do the wine tasting at Palo's this afternoon. Not sure what DS has planned with his cousin. He's 14 and enjoying the limited freedom he has on the ship.
Well, I'm headed back to my stateroom now. Room service should be delivering breakfast soon and I need to make sure my family is up and moving.
Ciao,
Tammi
Thanks for the report. Sounds like you are having a wounderful relaxing time. I can't waite.
I wanna be on the Wonder NOW (not 6 months from now) 
