KC's Western POST trip report 4/19-4/26

[Hypermommy]

That made me laugh. It's funny how you forget the little details you swore you wouldn't but your brain is so saturated with everything it's a little overwhelming

I'm impressed, pictures already posted. Are you guys fighting over computer time to get this posted?
I'm glad you had your priorities straight bevvie then are children drowning Actually I'm slightly jealous, I still physically have to be in the water with mine. Keep up the good work. This is going to be so fun with both of you writing

Oh, please! I've got some serious CRS going on at my age. KC had his little black book in his back pocket and I had my Tink mini-notebook. Of course, I didn't start writing in it until Saturday, so right now we're just going on what I can remember.

I had to do the pictures first or my sister would have killed me. Nah... not fighting over computer time. I've actually been writing my installments at work so far. Squeezing in a few minute here and there, don'tcha know. Can you believe they actually expect me to work around this place? Don't they know how important trip reports are?

You'll get there... I remember the days of having to be in the pool with mine. Now that they're old enough to stand up if they get in trouble, well, it's just a darwinian thing. Anyone that can't figure out to stand up if he gets in trouble in a pool needs to be out of the gene pool right away. Or as I'm always telling my kids... I had an heir and a spare for a reason and one of them can die. Oh, now I know you think I'm a horrible mom. I'm not. I'm just not a nice person

 

[LovableGluttons]

Ooohhh this is GREAT!

I'm at less than 6 months until my next cruise with the Gluttons and am trying NOT to go into cruise overload.......just yet.

 

[King Charming]

Even though I loved everything about the "resort" we stayed at, it was not in the middle of the action. The most crowded area is two or so miles south at Ron Jon's. Any hotel within 3 or 4 blocks of this place puts you within walking distance of dozens of restaurants (fast food included), shops and stores. There is a grocery store (Publix) in either direction. Some of the hotels in the area were Sheraton, Country Inn & Suites, & Motel 6. Some of the chow halls were Quiznos, McDonalds, Subway, Waffle House, IHOP, KFC, Taco Bell, DQ, and Long John Silver. Winn-Dixie food store, CVS & Walgreens drug stores were nearby.

Those were all the places I did not go. And even though the swimming pool was very inviting, there were no persons of interest around. Roughly translated, no cute women in bikinis. Instead, when I got back in the van after tucking everybody in, I went to Cheaters, about a mile down the road. Another thing Tallahassee has none of is "Gentlemen's Clubs", so off I went. Cover charge was 7 bucks, a shot of tequila $5.50. The place was slap full of women of all sizes wearing tiny bikinis (when at all). I stayed about an hour, leaving 21 dollars poorer, having consumed my 2 drink/drive limit. Looking is alot of fun, but I have never been stupid enough to lose sight of the best thing that has ever happened to me.

 

[purplepeg]

Oh, please! I've got some serious CRS going on at my age. KC had his little black book in his back pocket and I had my Tink mini-notebook. Of course, I didn't start writing in it until Saturday, so right now we're just going on what I can remember.

I had to do the pictures first or my sister would have killed me. Nah... not fighting over computer time. I've actually been writing my installments at work so far. Squeezing in a few minute here and there, don'tcha know. Can you believe they actually expect me to work around this place? Don't they know how important trip reports are?

You'll get there... I remember the days of having to be in the pool with mine. Now that they're old enough to stand up if they get in trouble, well, it's just a darwinian thing. Anyone that can't figure out to stand up if he gets in trouble in a pool needs to be out of the gene pool right away. Or as I'm always telling my kids... I had an heir and a spare for a reason and one of them can die. Oh, now I know you think I'm a horrible mom. I'm not. I'm just not a nice person

It took me a long time to figure out what CRS meant but I'm pretty sure I've got it figured out now. I agree with you on the work getting in the way of tr's and I only work very part time at my other job. This full time mothering job is all consuming Why oh why does laundry multiply
Oh your kids must love you with your comments.

 

[Hypermommy]

Oh your kids must love you with your comments.

To paraphrase blatently from First Wives Club ... I'm their mother... I've got to give them something to tell their therapist about

Okay... I'm going to jump ahead of KC here since I think he's pretty much at the end of the evening (at least if he did something after visiting Cheaters he didn't tell me about it ).

I forgot what time we set the wakeup call in the room for but I was up at 5:30 that morning. I was just too excited to sleep and if you ever notice the times that I post, I'm quite the morning person anyway. I putzed around the hotel looking for coffee. I didn't want to use what was in the room becuase I know DS14 expressed an interest in making coffee that morning. Despite how mean I am, I do try to think of them. But the guy at the front desk told me they wouldn't have any in the dining area until about 6:30 but if I wanted to I could walk over to the Racetrak gas station that was just about a block away and get some. Hmm.... walking around by myself in the pre-dawn hours in a town that I don't know. Nope... doesn't sound like a very good idea to me. Sorry DS... you lose. I went and made some coffee and checked emails and the ever moreso addictive disboards. I also got a shower and got dressed. I guess it was about 7:00 or so when I woke up the family.

Even KC was easy to get up this morning (and he's NOT a morning person). All I had to do was whisper "cruise" in anyone's ear and up they were. He went and got us some breakfast from MickeyD's and got himself some Pepsi at the Racetrak. I finished up what I was working on and met the family for breakfast by the pool.

DS12 (left) and DS14 at breakfast

King Charming (note the "I'm not a morning person and why are you taking my picture" look)

I met up with Hulagirl from our thread. I was going to look after her daughter while she returned the car, but once she saw the lay of the land and realized it would mean backtracking, she decided against it. At least that's what she told me. Maybe she just realized she didn't want to leave her baby in the hands of a crazy woman but was too sweet to say so. So it was just us nuts (me and KC and the boys) heading to the port at about 10AM. We were all so excited. It's a good thing KC was driving, becuase when I first saw the ship I went just mad with excitement!!!

My first view of our beautiful ship, the Magic

We get closer

King Charming dropped the boys and the luggage and I off at the port and went to return the car to the hotel. We lined up all the luggage so I could get the tags on easily. Then I sent one of the boys after a porter. I didn't realize until later but that meant that each child was pulling one rolling suitcase or cooler and I was pulling one and carrying my backpack. They didn't challenge me or anything at the security checkpoint so I guess the backpack didn't count as a bag if you're only supposed to bring one each. But like I said, I didn't even realize that until later.

One of the suitcases was full of booze... I believe it was 2 bottles of champagne, one bottle of wine (to share with Karen who was going to do my hair Monday night), one bottle of sangria (adult koolaide?), a bottle of Baileys (in case I want to start drinking in the morning) and maybe a few bottles of beer. Now every one of my friends that'd been cruising before had given me hints about how to sneak liquor aboard, but thanks to the wonderful folks here at the Dis I knew I wouldn't have to worry about it. In fact, the only thing the security guards asked me as they reviewed the miniature bar passing through their scanner was if I had a glass.

At that point I settled the boys and the bags down in front of the cartoons and ran into a couple of Dissers. It was so cool meeting these folks that I'd been chatting with for months. But of course, I had to run over and get checked in. I got in line and got a boarding card with 4 on it. I started the checkin process but when they asked me which credit card I wanted to put on the account I didn't know the answer. KC always handles the being responsible with money kind of thing. I'm just into spending it. So I mentioned I'd have to wait for him to get there. Frank, the CM asked me if he was just parking the car. Now I don't know who said honesty was the best policy but sometimes I wonder. I told the truth that he was putting the car at the hotel and Frank told me he couldn't check us in yet becuase if something were to happen to prevent KC from getting there and they thought he was already checked in (i.e., onboard as soon as they open the gates) that would be problematic. He told me I wouldn't have to stand in line again... just to come right back to his spot. So I chatted with the Dissers some more and found a spot to have a smoke. And we waited for KC to show up. It felt like forever but it wasn't really all that long, I'm sure.

DS12 waiting for KC

DS14 waiting for KC

KC arrives (and DS14 hits him up for some Pepsi that's in the ever present big blue cup)

Yay! He's here. Now time to go get back to see Frank and finish checking in. Oh, no! Frank's nowhere to be seen. He must have gone on break. Oh well.... at least the line's not that long. Got back in the line and was very glad to have boarding number 4 becuase I believe they were up to 11 or so. Got checked in and now we just wait. Because of all the checking in stuff, I didn't get pictures with Minnie (saw her out there though) or of the ship model in the lobby (meant to do that on the way back, not knowing we wouldn't be passing through that part of the terminal again). But I did get the one I wanted with our family in front of the entrance gate.

Next up from me ... we finally really and truly get on the ship.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

LOVED IT!!!!

I love your style of writing and humor. This is a great TR to follow....THANKS!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Keep it coming! Great pics.

I didn't realize that they wouldn't let you check in if everyone wasn't present on Port property.

 

[RLccweems]

I love the pics....keep the TR and pics coming!

 

[OSUBuckly]

I think I remember seeing your younger son on the ferry in Cozumel. We were sitting on the top level outside and the trip was quite bumpy. Your son kept walking back on forth from the top to the bottom. Probably at least a half dozen times total. I couldn't quite figure out if he had a reason for so many trips or if he just enjoyed braving the motion of the boat.

 

[Hypermommy]

LOL... I had told him to come check back with me every few minutes. Apparently the crew didn't like him moving around either becuase they said something to him, at which point I told him he could stay up there until right before we docked. Hope he didn't step on you or anything

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Keep it coming! Great pics.

I didn't realize that they wouldn't let you check in if everyone wasn't present on Port property.

You can check in if not everyone's there if you have their ID. Hypermommy's issue was with which credit card to use. That's why she had to wait for KC.

 

[Hypermommy]

You can check in if not everyone's there if you have their ID. Hypermommy's issue was with which credit card to use. That's why she had to wait for KC.

Actually, which card to use is what brought it to light that he wasn't on property. Frank said if he were just parking the car I could have gone ahead and checked in with his passport. But becuase he was completely offsite we had to wait.

 

[King Charming]

Yeah, getting up was rather easy, even if my eyes wouldn't open. The gas station and fast food place were less than a block away so the boys guided me until my Pepsi level got high enough. It seemed like it took forever getting out of the hotel room, but we finally loaded up, made the short drive over (port exit A), and unloaded everybody and everything. If you are going to drop people off (or pick them up) you will drive by the loading zone and chat with the port guy at the first U-turn/left turn lane. There is a median strip that limits turns. He will explain whether you need to make the left (for parking & pick-up) or the U-turn for dropping off. We stopped at area one (of 6) because it was the least crowded and closest to the entry gate. I was there and gone in 4 minutes flat. I loved moving 7 suitcases, 1 garment bag, 1 backpack, and 3 rolling carry-on only once. I drove back to the hotel, parked in the designated lot, stopped by the room a last time, checked out (very quick & easy), then jumped on the 11am shuttle that was loading in the front of the hotel. Reserving a seat for the shuttle on the way back from getting breakfast worked well. I was told I could choose what shuttle to ride over in since I was a solo rider with no bags. I would think that larger groups would need to reserve seats upon check-in if they want to travel together. Our driver "Bongo" attempted to be chatty, but it got real quiet when everybody first saw the ship after rounding a corner and everyone sucked in a breath before proclaiming it's beauty. You will always remember the first time you see the ship. You tend to lose scale and perspective looking at photos of this magical ship. As you get closer you see the largeness of your new temporary home. After driving to within 50 yards of the rear of the Magic you know the good times are about to start. I tipped the man 2 bucks and started soaking up the salt air.

So I'm at the port, at the right terminal, in plenty of time. I'm all juiced up about being within a stones throw of the ship, and what do I do next? Nope, I went out for a smoke. I haven't seen enough of the outside of the terminal, the ship, or even the port yet. I quit smoking cigarettes 6 or 7 years ago, but have decided that for this trip only to start again. Stopping again afterwards will be no problem as I noticed a HUGE difference in my ability to consistently breathe once I stopped. So armed with a full pack, off I went to look for trouble. When I found myself watching the ship being re-fueled, I realized that there were much better things to do and headed in.

 

[MassDisLovers]

So THAT'S where you were when your family was waiting to check in.........

 

[CRSNDSNY]

So I must ask....since you are home did you stop smoking??!!

 

[King Charming]

But of course I did. The first few days of the cruise it was neat to get a nicotine buzz. Unfortunately I overloaded smoking a Cuban Tues night and OD'ed on Wed. I was one sick puppy on Thurs., not knowing what was causing it. Because I was feeling so poorly I cut way back (was up to a pack & 1/2 a day). Two puffs on one now sends me reeling. I don't miss it at all.
I did however get to meet ALL the smokers on board. They were a cool and interesting group. .

 

[CRSNDSNY]

GOOD! Glad to hear this.

 

[King Charming]

To get past the gate to get to the terminal you need to show a photo ID and be on the list. That done, I slowly strolled/strutted into the building only to be confronted by a metal detector! I don't travel often and this took me completely by surprise. So off comes the hat (w/ pin) so I can put all my metal stuff in it. I walk through the detector; beep beep beep. Then I empty the rest of my pockets of the non-metalic junk and try again. Beep beep beep again. Now what? "Please step over here sir" where the last words I wanted to hear. Now my hat full of money is unattended and I'm getting the eye from folks. They wand me and it goes off over all 4 pockets of my jungle jacket. With its oversized pockets it is a great travel shirt. But not today! The guy can't figure out why empty, turned out pockets are setting off his wand. He says take it off (a strip search, here?) and then smiles the "you're a good guy after all" smile. Your suspenders he says (Whew) are the problem (but I need them!), go ahead. I smile back and find my unmolested hat right where it should be. I had the same problem(?) the rest of the trip every time I got back on the ship. After showing the wand guys the suspenders each time the process sped up considerably.

Up the escalator I go. My photo is taken and my pepsi handed off as I'm setting foot on the second floor. Then DW plays 20 questions for the next 30 seconds and shows me our # 4 boarding pass . Then she says we have to get in line. Huh? Didn't you ... this line here? So she explains while what looked like a long line we are at the end of starts cooking right along. Soon the agent swipes my credit card as they announce boarding for 2's & 3's. The are no up-grades available due to a full ship. There is no time for photos or exploring as I have to meet fellow DIS'ers. Hi, how are you, nice to finally meet you, then THE call. Boarding for 2-5's! I know what that means!! A quick photo by the entry way, then on to the gangplank.

 

[Hypermommy]

So we go through the magnificent Mickey gateway that really means we've been inspected, detected, injected and NOT put on the group W bench and are actually allowed to get on the ship. On the way out to the ship we stop to get our photo taken. We decided not to purchase this photo and I forgot to even ask to get them to take a copy with my camera. But that's okay... we're just about to walk through those magical doors. Yes, they actually do announce your name and have CMs waiting in the lobby to applaud your entrance like we're some sort of superstars (well, we are in our own minds at least). That was really too cool. And my first view of the lobby was something I'll always remember. Of course, I've seen it several times on the Travel channel specials but it's so different to actually be in there.

My first view of the magical lobby of the Magic

Welcome aboard, young sir

So then it was off to get the wristband and pager for DS12. The line for youth services in the terminal was ungodly and I decided not to get in it becuase we'd done all the checkin online stuff. Once we got on board we headed up to deck 5 and the Lab and was able to get his pager and wristband with absolutely no wait at all. Since we didn't have any Palo ressies to make (decided not to do Palo) or anything else we needed to do onboard, it was time to find a spot for Dad and me to sit down with the bags while the boys enjoyed touring the ship. We found a spot on Deck 9 near the Goofy pool and cut the boys lose for a half hour. They were supposed to meet us back at 1:00 in that same spot. Notice I said supposed to. Of course, they were late and this would be a constant theme of the week. If you're going to give your kids time to roam on their own, get 'em a watch too. There are very few clocks onboard and they were always able to tell us they didn't know what time it was and it be rather believable. With a watch, this excuse would be gone.

But I'm jumping ahead of myself. At this point, KC and I are sitting by the Goofy pool soaking up the atmosphere of actually being onboard. Once in a while one of us walks back to the smoking area in the adult area, but for the most part we're just enjoying ourselves. And, of course, the drink of the day. I noted the time that we got our first drink becuase it meant we were onboard and all the stuff (kids club) was taken care of and we were in cruising mode. It was 12:20.

Embarkation Day drink of the day -- can't remember what it was, but it was yummy

I noticed I was getting a bit hungry so I wandered off to find something to eat. I didn't want more pizza at that point (yes, the boys found the pizza rather quickly once onboard) but I wanted something more substantial. So KC sat minding the bags while I wandered off to find something to eat. I found myself in Topsiders and loved the decorations!

I brought the food back to KC, including plenty of peel and eat shrimp which I know he loves and we had a nice lunch together.

By this time it's 1:00 and I'm anxious to start heading down to the room to see if it's available yet. But we can't leave without letting the boys know where we are becuase they don't have the lay of the ship yet. Did I mention they were late? Turns out they were about 20 minutes late or so. But finally they show up and we're able to head to the room.

One of the best things about being able to cruise when we did is that my birthday would be on the Monday of the cruise. KC was very sweet and popped the extra dollars to have the room decorated and a cake delivered for my birthday. It looked so wonderful!!

The festive birthday ceiling hanger decoration

I loved the "Happy Birthday" thing on the wall

My cake... oooh yes, the chocolate ship was yummy!!

We had just time enough to dump our stuff in our room and enjoy a bit of cake. I can't remember if our bags were there in the hallway or not at this point. I think they might have been. Anyway, after just a few minutes in the room I noticed the time (1:45) and realized that we had to find out way to the Promenade Lounge for our Dismeet. Off we go.

Next up from me.... April Showers of Happiness Dismeet

 

[CRSNDSNY]

YEAH!!!
Loved it. Pictures are great and it's a wonderful start! I miss the Magic so much!