I'll Be Good Next Year- Fantasy Eastern NYE 13/14 Updates 6/17

[podsnel]

Well YAY! Welcome back! And thank you! So did you book? Where are you going? It really is the BEST vacation- I can't say enough good things about it-

We booked a 4 night on the Disney Dream for next May. I really want to do a 7 night on the Fantasy but since my kids have never cruised we are trying a 4 night out first. I'm such a planner and list maker, I'm having so much fun reading and learning from all you experienced cruisers.

I think that's smart- to try shorter first, then go longer next time. Congratulations!!

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear sister in law. She sounded like a truly remarkable lady. I'm sure she's in a better place now.

Yes- on all of that. Thank you.

So sorry about your SIL. What sad news to come home to. She sounds like she was a wonderful person. Prays for you and all of her family.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

Your travel agent trip looked both fun and successful. I still want to try that slushie!

Of course you HAVE to try the slushie!! It is incredible!

I am so sorry for your loss friend.

Thanks, Jenny. We all lost.


I'm with Alison and would like to know more about the travel agent trip. Who is it through?

It was through Disney- it is offered several times a year to Travel Agencies who are Earmarked- so we met TAs from all over the country, all of them Disney Geeks! So fun!

Jen, I don't want to speak for you ladies, you both looked great - but I CAN attest I looked like death that night. I was SO TIRED.

AEP is NOT for late risers, huh!

We got a great parade viewing spot right in front of Tony's, and we stood right behind a garbage can so no one would be in front of us.

I loved that spot!

We had SUCH a great time!! I knew I would like you, Ellen, but I feel like we really became good friends! Can't wait to see you again!

Ditto! See you at our next AEP! Hopefully this fall!

I'm so sorry about your sister in law, she sounds like a beautiful woman. I'll continue to pray for her husband and children.

Thanks Katie- very grateful to you-

 

[Linda67]

Sorry about your SIL Ellen - love and hugs from England xxx

 

[ktb2002]

Prayers to you and your family. I lost my husband at the age of 45 almost 2 years ago. He bravely fought GBM for 22 months, and like your sister in law lived every last day to the utmost!

 

[podsnel]

Sorry about your SIL Ellen - love and hugs from England xxx

Thanks so much Linda- love and hugs back to you from the US-

 

[podsnel]

Prayers to you and your family. I lost my husband at the age of 45 almost 2 years ago. He bravely fought GBM for 22 months, and like your sister in law lived every last day to the utmost!

Thank you VERY MUCH- I am so sorry for your great loss! Mariana was 49- both seem so young, right? Good for him living his life to the utmost- 22 months is amazing! BIG BIG hugs- how are you doing, 2 years later?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Ellen! I was so sorry to hear about your Sis in Law. I know you have said how special she was, and I know she is missed so very much.

How cool that you could take a "work trip" to WDW and tour the Dream! That is the kind of research to be doing. Looks like you had a great time with some great peeps!

 

[ktb2002]

Thank you VERY MUCH- I am so sorry for your great loss! Mariana was 49- both seem so young, right? Good for him living his life to the utmost- 22 months is amazing! BIG BIG hugs- how are you doing, 2 years later?

Thank you! Overall pretty well, we have an almost 12 year old son who is my rock!

 

[englishrose47]

Ellen so sorry about your SIL !! She sounds like a remarkable woman.
Loved all your pix of your Disney College !! What exactly do you do??? Are you a TA for Disney??

 

[Beth D]

Thoughts and prayers to your family! :group hug: Your words were a moving tribute.

Glad to have you back! I can't wait to see how this whole trip plans out.

Your TA trip looked like a great time!

No, I can't remember what I had the first night, but it was either chicken or steak. No seafood for me. We still haven't moved our dummy date yet. Trying to decide if we're going to keep it. I really wish they'd make the window 24 months, as we like to be on the 2 year plan for cruises. It just works better for us.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I finally got caught up with your TR. I was in Florida for five weeks having a great time escaping the terrible weather.

I was so sorry to hear about your SIL. It's always sad when someone loses their life before their allotted time. While we were away friends lost their 16 year old in a really horrific car crash.

Your breakfast was wonderful, I would love to have some of those pancakes.

A seven day cruise is the only way to, anything else is too short.

 

[podsnel]

An update!! WOOHOO!!!! After our delicious dinner, we headed over to The Tube for some Adult entertainment- tonight there was a Juggling Act, Paul Dimuzio, followed by Match your Mate, which, as always, was HILARIOUS!!!



The juggling act was a married couple-



The guy in the middle was a passenger- I actually did not believe he was a random pick when I saw the show, I mean, the guy didn't flinch, and his facial expressions were PRICELESS- but I ran into him on deck another day, and he said that yes, he was definitely just a guy in the audience, not a guy that did this for a living, he had just been there early and the act spoke with him before hand when they asked him if he wanted to participate. Have to say, we were impressed by this act, but we were also SUPER impressed by this guy in the middle who never flinched no matter what they threw at him!

Match your Mate was awesome- a honeymoon couple (of course- they were adorable), a couple together for just a little while longer (Pods thought they seemed like they had been practicing their answers before hand), and the married longer than the dinosaurs roamed the earth couple- THEY were HILARIOUS!!!!! OMG!!! The things they said!!



The MC was Teesa- LOVED Teesa- she was SOOOOO funny!! Every night!! After these shows DJ Z came out at 11:45- we decided to check out Ooh La La instead, a little tired for dancing this first night.



And I think this is the only photo I have of him, and now I forget his name, but this was the REALLY nice bartender who worked there.



Sorry. I always say I am going to take notes...and then I don't! Or, actually, I don't take COMPLETE notes.

My cocktail of choice was an Elderbubble...



Champagne, St Germain, vodka. One of the best cocktails ever. But then I think you could pour St Germain on anything and it would rock!



Pods enjoyed a glass of wine.



After that, it was time for bed...at least for Mom and Dad. The youngins were up to all hours with their new friends. Looks like I stopped by a bathroom on the way back upstairs to our AFT cabin (which is EXTREMELY convenient at night- if you go to any of Europa, because Europa is AFT as well).



Back in the quiet AFT cabin-



ANd look where we're going for dinner tomorrow!



No idea what's up with that towel animal- he does look happy to see us though!

We were pretty tired going to bed that night- but I really LOVE the Eastern itinerary...2 great big sea days were up after this- so no rush to wake up in the morning! Just GREAT zzzzzzzzz's on the rocking ship!

Back soon with more....

 

[DWGal210]

Great picture of you and the hubby!

I love the Eastern itinerary too, for that very reason - lots of sea days! Very conducive to sleeping in and laying by the pool.

I have yet to catch the Match your Mate game; I should go in August and watch. I hear it's a hoot!

 

[KristiMc]

We missed the jugglers and Match Your Mate. I think we were having our first of many martini's in Skyline that night. We will have to catch MYM on our next cruise.

I love Teesa - hope we get to see her again. She was on our NYC cruise also.

We got a drink from that same Ooh La La bartender but I don't remember his name either.

 

[JulieODC]

Match your Mate is always so fun!!

Looks like a nice night, with some tasty drinks!!

 

[JKSWonder]

I want to do Match Your Mate. My shy Mike would rock at that because he's so quiet, but then busts out with some of the funniest things you ever heard.

I think that towel animal is a walrus. With tusks. Definitely.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I love the decorations behind the bar! Match your mate is always so funny! How was the aft cabin for stability? Did you hit any rough water? Looking forward to seeing what you do for your sea days!

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like a great night out! After dinner we are always so stuffed and exhausted that we have to go back to thw cabin and crash. I can't believe that you made it to 11:45!

The Fantasy sound like a wonderful ship with many fun places to hang out. We are trying the Dream for our first "big ship" cruise in a year and nine days, but who's counting?

 

[podsnel]

Hi Ellen! I was so sorry to hear about your Sis in Law. I know you have said how special she was, and I know she is missed so very much.

Thanks Tammie. She was a really incredible woman.

How cool that you could take a "work trip" to WDW and tour the Dream! That is the kind of research to be doing. Looks like you had a great time with some great peeps!

YES!! It is definitely one of the BIG perks of being a Travel Agent, I think!

Thank you! Overall pretty well, we have an almost 12 year old son who is my rock!

I am so, so glad to hear that- it gives me hope that Steven and the boys will be ok- I know they are surrounded by wonderful family and friends.... Thank you for sharing, and please stay in touch!

Ellen so sorry about your SIL !! She sounds like a remarkable woman.
Loved all your pix of your Disney College !! What exactly do you do??? Are you a TA for Disney??

Thanks Rosie- Mariana was amazing.

In August I decided to go back to work and decided to become a travel agent- so the agency I was fortunate enough to be hired by specializes in Disney vacations- although I have been booking all kinds of vacations other than Disney, too, since I do love to travel EVERYWHERE, lol! Agencies that Disney calls "earmarked" receive special training from Disney- and that is what I was lucky enough to attend, along with about 40 other agents from around the country. It was so much fun, hanging out with a bunch of Disney Uber Geeks for 5 days, learning even more than we already knew!

Thoughts and prayers to your family! :group hug: Your words were a moving tribute.

Awww...thank you Beth- I hope they do her justice!

Glad to have you back! I can't wait to see how this whole trip plans out.

I am hoping we can do it again in a couple of years. Shhhh....Pods doesn't know yet!

Your TA trip looked like a great time!

It was so wonderful, and Katie and I had a blast together when we weren't in school! Very fun!

No, I can't remember what I had the first night, but it was either chicken or steak. No seafood for me. We still haven't moved our dummy date yet. Trying to decide if we're going to keep it. I really wish they'd make the window 24 months, as we like to be on the 2 year plan for cruises. It just works better for us.

I agree, I wish it was still 24 months, too. Although now that I got to Gold status, I feel like I am in a race to be Platinum, so trying to squueze in as many as I can as fast as is financially possible! Poor, poor Pods.....

I finally got caught up with your TR. I was in Florida for five weeks having a great time escaping the terrible weather.

I saw! Welcome back! I hope Spring has sprung for you- daffodils are blooming here and it has made everyone's mood MUCH MUCH better!

I was so sorry to hear about your SIL. It's always sad when someone loses their life before their allotted time. While we were away friends lost their 16 year old in a really horrific car crash.

Thank you. And that is horribly tragic, I am so deeply sorry for your friends' loss. How are they doing?

Your breakfast was wonderful, I would love to have some of those pancakes.

They were very good! Trying to figure out where to have our bon voyage breakfast in October, since Kouzzina will be closed by then, and that was a no-brainer for us. Maybe across the lake to CG, maybe somewhere at the Swalphin, or actually hoping they open something temporary and very special at the BW.

A seven day cruise is the only way to, anything else is too short.

I know....but the shorter cruises are very good for a fix! Just the week (or longers) offer so much more in terms of variety- in every way- special activities, menus, all kinds of things that you would not be offered on shorter cruises. I feel so very, VERY lucky we are going on another 1 weeker this summer!

 

[podsnel]

Great picture of you and the hubby!

Thank you! I am looking kinda tired, but ok!

I love the Eastern itinerary too, for that very reason - lots of sea days! Very conducive to sleeping in and laying by the pool.

Yup- really nice to get to relax for a bit before you have excursions planned.

I have yet to catch the Match your Mate game; I should go in August and watch. I hear it's a hoot!

They do this on many cruiselines- it is very, very funny everywhere!

We missed the jugglers and Match Your Mate. I think we were having our first of many martini's in Skyline that night. We will have to catch MYM on our next cruise.

Yes! You had already started "working on your passports".

I love Teesa - hope we get to see her again. She was on our NYC cruise also.

I forgot that you had said that when we were on this cruise- she was hilarious, we loved her too!

We got a drink from that same Ooh La La bartender but I don't remember his name either.

We went to Ooh La La the first two nights- after that we were always "working on our passports" with this other couple in Skyline, so we never went back....

Match your Mate is always so fun!!

Looks like a nice night, with some tasty drinks!!

I agree! It's a blast, and the oldest couple is ALWAYS hysterical!!

They have the BEST cocktails on DCL, don't they? LOVE that there are so many unusual ones to try-

I want to do Match Your Mate. My shy Mike would rock at that because he's so quiet, but then busts out with some of the funniest things you ever heard.

You guys would be awesome!!! We tried to volunteer on another cruise and got laughed at because we had only been married 20+ years- we are in the in-between being on the stage age. Guess we will have to wait 20+ more years to get up there and humiliate ourselves. Darn!

I think that towel animal is a walrus. With tusks. Definitely.

I think you are right! I was thinking walrus or seal, but ultimately this question was too difficult for me to answer at that point and I just went to bed.

I love the decorations behind the bar! Match your mate is always so funny! How was the aft cabin for stability? Did you hit any rough water? Looking forward to seeing what you do for your sea days!

The decorations were EVERYWHERE- I am looking forward to seeing the Dream in Oct when it is all set up for Halloween-We were fine for stability, it is a big ship with stabilizers (those make a big difference on any ship). But we like the movement, so I might not be the best to judge. No rough water except when we were trying to get into CC, I think- again, I don't really remember anything awful, but I like it to be moving out there. And our sea days were GREAT!!!

Sounds like a great night out! After dinner we are always so stuffed and exhausted that we have to go back to thw cabin and crash. I can't believe that you made it to 11:45!

Well, YOU would still be dealing with the time change- that is rough for sure! And I think we made it past 12-

The Fantasy sound like a wonderful ship with many fun places to hang out. We are trying the Dream for our first "big ship" cruise in a year and nine days, but who's counting?

LOL- gotta love the countdown. I think you will love the Dream- we will be on our 3rd cruise on her this fall (although it will be Pods' first voyage on her). The Fantasy was CRAZY amazing, though- my favorite ship ever. But we will see what I think after I am on the newly reimagined Magic next Spring- I hear that is incredible!Really, they are all amazing- the service is just the best, the food is delicious, the drinks are fantastic- oh wait- Disney is for kids, right? Yea, that kid stuff rocks TOO!

 

[MEK]

That cocktail looks enticing with all the bubbles in the background.

Both shows you saw look really fun. I wonder how Denny and I would fare on such a game. We are almost that couple that has been together since the dinosaurs.

Cute picture of you and Pods.

Love all your updates and yay for a new one!