Just back from Magic May 20-27!!

[NurseChell]

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Thankyou churchlady for taking this photo of me and DD!!

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[jmatias]

I really enjoyed reading your report and great pictures too!

Thanks for taking the time to post all the great info.

Aloha,
Jen

 

[kimsue68]

Great pictures!! I am really enjoying your trip report!! Keep it coming!!

 

[NurseChell]

Disembarkment day/ Trip to Magic Kingdom

Ok, last day...Woke up way to early. Had to finish packing up day bags.
My last look at the beautiful atrium...

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8am Breakfast was at Parrot Cay...Our last meal. BOOHOOOOOO! Breakfast took a long time to get there it seemed like so by now it was 9am, and they were announcing basically that anyone still on board had to leave. Didnt really know what to expect while disembarking, but it was QUICK and painless, basically we just walked off the ship. Luggage was waiting for us. The porters where very helpful. How he loaded 7 huge bags on that one little cart I will never know. He took it out to our vehicle for us, gave him a really good tip. So sad leaving the port, and watching all the new people line up for the next cruise.
Was soooo not ready to go home yet. My sunburned body and aching feet were really really hurting this morning, my DH's also. But here's me...Lets go to the Magic Kingdom!! Way to go Me!! So off we went to Orlando.
Cinderella's castle was so pretty with it's new make-over celebrating DisneyLand's 50th Birthday.

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Headed straight to Space Mountain section. NO WAIT! yes!!! Decided to try to get a character lunch at the Crystal Palace. Success. NO WAIT here either. DD was disappointed that no Winnie Pooh characters on board the Magic, so this really made her day. Enjoyed this lunch very much, the characters stay longer at each table and interact with each other. ie...Piglet was constantly pulling tiggers tail, and tigger would chase him around the tables. SO FUNNY!

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I believe we rode almost everything in the park, which was so much fun! The parade's were so cool, some of the best I've seen! The new fireworks show..Magic, was pure MAGIC!!! Most impressive firework shows I have ever seen. And by the way how fitting it's name was, being we just got off the Magic this morning. The park closed at 12am, and we didn't leave until then. Can you say TIRED!!!! We drove just to the other side of Orlando and stopped at a rest area to sleep. The drive home...about 5 hours, and I slept the whole way.

So to sum up the week.... MAGICAL, IMPRESSIVE, AWESOME, AND THE BEST VACATION EVER! DH had more fun than I thought he would, but still he says we have to wait a few years before we can take another Disney Cruise. So now I'm SAD again. It is now Wednesday, and DD still refuses to take off her kids lab braclet. and her and DH are still walking around with there lanyards on. We all became Pin Collectors on this cruise, so I think between the 3 of us we bought 20 something pins between the cruise and the Magic Kingdom. It's addicting!!!! So now I'm home, still haven't unpacked just sitting around the house doing absolutely nothing and being bored! until Friday Night when I have to go back to work!! OOHHHH NOOOO!
So I was in a funk until today because I kissed the stingray which was suppost to be good luck right...A couple of days before getting off ship Started getting a sore throat and congestion, got a massive sunburn at Castaway Cay, and I started getting fever blister when I got home. OH NO, what happened to that good luck??! My good luck finally hit today...Went to pick up my paycheck, and found out I got a $2 hour raise. THANKYOU stingray!! That's one step closer to that next Disney Cruise!!!!

I Did put together a few more Tips for all of you 1st timers hope this helps:
1. Sunscreen ALL the time, many times a day, even when its cloudy.
2. Over the door show hanger, clock with light-up panel, and surge protector are a MUST!
3. Take the stairs, as they are SOOO much quicker than the elevators!
4. Either bring your own bottled water, or buy a case in Key West. Much cheaper than buying it onboard.
5. Send your laundry/drycleaning to get pressed. Dont waste your time doing it yourself. You Wont have time anyways! To much to do!
6. If doing an autographed pillowcase, put your markers in a separate baggie.
7. Print out the 2 for 1 adult coupons for Key West. Saved us lots of money!
8. Mickie, Minnie, and most of the other characters dress in different outfits everyday and Kids will get OUT OF WHACK if you dont get photos in EVERY outfit!
9. When standing in lines for characters...The character wont leave until everyone has been through the line...NOT like at the parks when they leave you standing there waiting.
10. Pack an extra luggage bag inside one of your larger luggage bags for all those souveniers you Say you aren't going to buy! haha
11. We took, but NEVER used: duct tape, walky talkies, video camera (I love my digital camera as I took 1200 photos with it)
12. Take some hats and hair clips with you, Dont forget about the top of your head burning, and it gets pretty windy on some excursions.
13. If you have children: Find some DISers going on the trip with you, with children similar ages and ask if the children can email each other before hand. That away when You get on the ship they have a friend or two. BEST thing we ever did. DD says Anty30's DD is her Long distance Best Friend. Aahhh! We love you AVA!!!!!
14. Ask people to take group photos of you and your family! People and crew on this ship are so friendly! they are more than willing to help. Dont get left out of your own vacation photos.

There is probably more that I'm missing, but this is the biggies. Thankyou all for reading my trip report, and thankyou for your kind words.

 

[kimsue68]

Hi NurseShell, This is weird because both me and my dh got fever blisters!! My dh get's them when he doesn't use chapstik in the sun but I have never had one before . Luckily it wasn't too bad.

 

[anty30]

Michelle,
I loved your report and pics. I cannot figure out the picture thing, so I just put the link in my post to get to our pics. It was such a wonderful cruise. Couldnt have asked for better weather. Ava got a really cute pic of Lauren when they were in the lab. I gave her a disposable camara so she could take pictures of her friends and counselors. I am glad our girls got along so nicely. Talk to you soon.

Anty

 

[AshAlytwins]

I regret only one thing, I didn't buy a photo album and now I am sad!!

Hi Kim...this is Kim.....look in Ebay for the albums...that is where I got ours for a cheap price!!!

 

[msr709]

Report was very well done! The pictures and your description made it seem like I was there with you! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm also a first time cruiser and I can't wait to go. I was thinking of skipping the excursions but you are making me reconsider, your pictures make them seem very enticing! Thanks again for a such a wonderful report.

 

[cinderella_mom]

Wow great report and great tips for cruising. Can't wait 'til August...

 

[churchlady]

Michelle, That was the best report ever! I feel like I am still there! The pictures were great! You really captured everything and made the most of every minute. I think our husbands are really lucky to have such "in the know" wives, don't you?

 

[sejejoemmiev]

Hi. Great Trip Report. I Loved it! My family is going on the 2/24/07 Western.
My son 8 wants to go parasailing with his Dad. The description on-line is confusing. It says min. weight is 90 lbs. and maximum wt. is 375 lbs. They would go tandem of course and be under the maximum weight limit but my son does not have to weigh the minimum weight of 90 lbs. by himself right??
He weighs 70 lbs. That should be okay right?
Also, I orginally planned on doing xcaret for our excursion but the travel time scared me. (I heard longer estimates than what you experienced) I will be traveling with my 4 kids ages: 1 1/2 , 4 , 7, and 8 @ the time of cruising so the travel time is important for fidgety kids. I changed my mind to do the Cozumel Beach Break because of this. After reading your report and seeing the pictures I want to go there. What do you think? How did your daughter do with the travel time? Was there things to do in transit? Did she have a good time there? How much time did you have actually in the park? About 5 hours or so? Is this enough time there that you don't feel like you wasted an entire day? What do you think about taking the small kids there? Did you see anyone there with little kids? Sorry so many questions!!!!!!! Thanks!

 

[NurseChell]

sejejoemmiev:
about the parasailing. My DD is 8, she is a whole 54 lbs soaking wet. They would have let her go up by herself if she wanted too. The online info says min weight 90 lbs, thats for going by self, but like I said...They said everyone on our boat was big enough to go by self. Me and DD chose to tandum together though.
Xcaret questions...I am a clock watcher, but when I got seasick on the ferry that was the last thing I was looking at. My DH said that it was 30min on the ferry. DD does well playing by herself, and the time did seem to fly. She had her Nintendo DS with her that she played with. She really liked Xcaret. There was also several young children (between ages 2 and 6) on the bus with us and seen lots of children in the park also. I never heard anyone say they were sorry they went, everyone was talking about what all they did. I took tons of photos. Would have enjoyed more time here, but with all the stuff in this place to do we will plan on going here next time we cruise. I think we had about 4 hours, both clock watchers were having a good time. I just remember we had to be back at the bus at 3pm. no later than 3:10. sorry. With a 1 & 1/2 year old though, dont think they will let them do the underground snorkel, the others should be fine. They do have beachy area's with inner tubes (just like Castaway Cay). Hope this helps answer your questions.