Magic In Paradise: 10/8-10/15 2011. All cruisers check in here. (#2)

[scottishandproud]

Glad you made it home fine and had a good time on the cruise even after a rough start. Sorry we never met up for the foosball challange. DS and I played a lot of games in preparation of the match. We'll just have to cruise again to get the match in.

Lol Dan perhaps one day

 

[scottishandproud]

We were LAP early seating but our table was 25. So didn't meet up guys either.

We will just have to hope that when we do our next disney cruise that the weather is kinder to us on the first day

 

[Octoberbride03]

Glad you made it home fine and had a good time on the cruise even after a rough start. Sorry we never met up for the foosball challange. DS and I played a lot of games in preparation of the match. We'll just have to cruise again to get the match in.

Didn't I tell you to go get them when you mentioned the foosball challenge? I am dead sure I said something like "go knock on the door"

 

[Octoberbride03]

Lol Dan perhaps one day

Honestly, I TOLD him to go find you. Its not like he didn't have your stateroom number I can't even remember where we were but he's on me 1 day about how seriously he takes his challenges Yeah, alright

 

[DVCTigger]

Well, I'm finally home. Enjoyed a great week with my DH at Kidani. Went to our first MNSSHP, loved it....better then the Christmas party we thought. Also had a great day at EPCOT experiencing the Food and Wine Festival. We had a bunch of visa reward dollars that we got to play with, so we had some fun!! Then we headed to Michigan to watch our daughter play a couple games and visit with family.
Had a great cruise, and can't wait to get back again! I really enjoyed meeting those of you at the cruise meet.
101 days is my new countdown!!! MR with DH, with 2 nights before and after at the Grand Californian!!!

 

[TigLife4Me]

We had a great time on the cruise (except the seasickness the 1st night/day). Loved all of the FEs and I'm so happy all of you were able to find me after my cabin change We didn't make it to the first meet because we were at Guest Services. Sorry I didn't get to meet more of you! Those that I met were wonderful, especially my "new buddy Alan" LOL I miss you!!! We're booked on the Fantasy for 10/13/12, so if any of you are looking to cruise again & pick this date, let me know!

 

[LKShep]

We've been away from the board since we got home, but wanted to drop in and say thanks for all you did to help make our cruise great. We appreciated all the gifts and the friendly chats with many of you on board.

As new Gold Castaway Club members who found the DIS boards before our first cruise, we are not newbies, but we had never really participated with a cruise meet group and had never participated in the FE exchange. Quite frankly, I had suspicions that the people who really got into the DIS boards conversations were a little "out there" if you know what I mean. Well, what I found on this thread and on board was a group of great people who I was happy to associate with and be a part of. So that either means you are more normal than I suspected, or we have been assimilated and now we are a bit "out there"too.

Seriously, it was great to get to know many of you in person. Thanks for the fun!

 

[LKShep]

Just had to post one of my favorite photos from the cruise. We had a beautiful day at Trunk Bay on St John.

 

[LC30]

Just had to post one of my favorite photos from the cruise. We had a beautiful day at Trunk Bay on St John.

It was so nice meeting you and your lovely wife in Palo. This is beautiful! Did you guys do an excursion or did you go on your own? We may have to try this next time. Gorgeous!

 

[Octoberbride03]

We've been away from the board since we got home, but wanted to drop in and say thanks for all you did to help make our cruise great. We appreciated all the gifts and the friendly chats with many of you on board.

As new Gold Castaway Club members who found the DIS boards before our first cruise, we are not newbies, but we had never really participated with a cruise meet group and had never participated in the FE exchange. Quite frankly, I had suspicions that the people who really got into the DIS boards conversations were a little "out there" if you know what I mean. Well, what I found on this thread and on board was a group of great people who I was happy to associate with and be a part of. So that either means you are more normal than I suspected, or we have been assimilated and now we are a bit "out there"too.

Seriously, it was great to get to know many of you in person. Thanks for the fun!

Oh I've always been "out there" I've just learned to indoctrinate people to my version

 

[Octoberbride03]

Seriously though.

You are all a fantastic group of people

Despite how I may seem on the boards in real life I am normally a bit of a shy character, but I had none of that shy feeling with anybody I met from the group. And if i didn't meet you, I'm terribly sorry I didn't.

And you weren't just great with me you were great with Rich who doesn't do the boards. On the drive home he told me how he could not believe that if any of you saw him you made sure you greeted him and possibly chatted some. It made no difference if I was there or not.

And Dan: Rich was not thrilled about me dragging him to your room for sailaway from your verandah. But with the weather being so crappy he came, and after 5 minutes with you and Renee he was almost a kid in a candy store. I think the only reason he left to get ready for dinner was because he knew we'd be seeing you again in a few minutes

And it was that way the entire cruise. It is going to be so very hard to get the next cruise to be as much fun as this 1.

 

[aan1701]

We had a great time on the cruise (except the seasickness the 1st night/day). Loved all of the FEs and I'm so happy all of you were able to find me after my cabin change We didn't make it to the first meet because we were at Guest Services. Sorry I didn't get to meet more of you! Those that I met were wonderful, especially my "new buddy Alan" LOL I miss you!!! We're booked on the Fantasy for 10/13/12, so if any of you are looking to cruise again & pick this date, let me know!

I really enjoyed the time with you two. I have been meaning to email you apologizing for not calling while back at WDW. My vertigo was killing me. I would be standing in line for something and I would need to rest on a rail cause I was still moving. I really wasn't in the mood to be around others as I was not in the most sociable of moods. Still I feel bad about it. I will be back at WDW starting 2/29 for a week. Got a studio on the club level at Animal Kingdom. So I am sure we can hang out for a bit.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Seriously though.

You are all a fantastic group of people

Despite how I may seem on the boards in real life I am normally a bit of a shy character, but I had none of that shy feeling with anybody I met from the group. And if i didn't meet you, I'm terribly sorry I didn't.

And you weren't just great with me you were great with Rich who doesn't do the boards. On the drive home he told me how he could not believe that if any of you saw him you made sure you greeted him and possibly chatted some. It made no difference if I was there or not.

And Dan: Rich was not thrilled about me dragging him to your room for sailaway from your verandah. But with the weather being so crappy he came, and after 5 minutes with you and Renee he was almost a kid in a candy store. I think the only reason he left to get ready for dinner was because he knew we'd be seeing you again in a few minutes

And it was that way the entire cruise. It is going to be so very hard to get the next cruise to be as much fun as this 1.

We knew Rich was our kind of people at this moment.

In all seriousness we had a great time meeting all the Paradise crew and really appreciate all you and Rich did to make it a Magical cruise for all. Our family had a great time every dinner. I think Rich and I learn the true meaning of "love and marriage" at every dinner. Rich is always welcome to babysit. Ok we will not be waiting for him to show.

 

[TigLife4Me]

For those of you in the FE game.... I wanted to insert something into the CD cases but never got it printed, so this will have to do. You may scratch your head wondering how some of those songs related to "Cruising with Captain Mickey". Every song either sounds 'island style' like it belongs in Hawaii or the Caribbean, is sung by Jimmy Buffet or the Beach Boys, or somewhere within the song or the title it relates to: Disney, ocean, sea, surfing, cruising, ships, boats, islands, places frequented by cruises, or they have somewhere the names Dream, Magic, Wonder, or Fantasy within the title or song. Hope nobody got confused

 

[LKShep]

It was so nice meeting you and your lovely wife in Palo. This is beautiful! Did you guys do an excursion or did you go on your own? We may have to try this next time. Gorgeous!

It was so nice meeting you too.

We love St. John! On our last visit we went to Cinnamon Bay and had seen Trunk Bay from the overlook (first photo below) but had never been on the beach. So we had decided that we were going to find a way to get there.

The Disney excursion to Trunk Bay wouldn't allow children under 5, so that wasn't an option for our group. A little Internet research and the comfort I felt from having been to St. John before convinced me to arrange our own transportation. We took a cab from the cruise dock at Havensight to Red Hook at the eastern end of St. Thomas ($10 per person), the ferry to Cruz Bay on St. John ($6), an open-air cab to the beach ($6) and the beach entrance fee ($4). With transportation back the total was $48 + a few dollars in tips per adult. We saved a few dollars over what Disney charged for their excursion ($62) and got to spend more time on the beach than the Disney group.

If you get the chance to go, I agree with some of the surveys I have read that call Trunk Bay one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world.

This photo taken near the western end of the beach.

 

[LC30]

Alan,

Seriously thinking about going to DL next year. Any recommendations on where to stay on property and off property? We are going with friends so ideally would be renting a big place to have everyone so we can hang out after the kiddos go to bed. But on or off property, happy to take any advice.

All, I'm definitely having the post WDW and post cruise blues...and the other way to deal with it is to start planning the next trip.

 

[LC30]

If you get the chance to go, I agree with some of the surveys I have read that call Trunk Bay one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world.

This photo taken near the western end of the beach.

It is beautiful!

 

[aan1701]

Alan,

Seriously thinking about going to DL next year. Any recommendations on where to stay on property and off property? We are going with friends so ideally would be renting a big place to have everyone so we can hang out after the kiddos go to bed. But on or off property, happy to take any advice.

All, I'm definitely having the post WDW and post cruise blues...and the other way to deal with it is to start planning the next trip.

Ok here is maybe my one weekness with DL advice. See I only live 30 min away so I never spend the night down there. All I can say is the improvements they made to the DL Hotel has earned it a 5 diamond award from AAA as I understand it. When are you thinking. Remember at some point next year the DCA redo will be done. DCA will be crazy for sometime after that asthe highlight is Raidator Springs Racers which has been described as Test Track on steriods. I hear you about post vacation blues. Well since I have been booking our Food and Wine stay for next year with DVC. That trip will also be over Epcots 30th aniversary.

 

[sullins5]

Alan,

Seriously thinking about going to DL next year. Any recommendations on where to stay on property and off property? We are going with friends so ideally would be renting a big place to have everyone so we can hang out after the kiddos go to bed. But on or off property, happy to take any advice.

All, I'm definitely having the post WDW and post cruise blues...and the other way to deal with it is to start planning the next trip.

Girl! I am WITH you on the post cruise blues...(sounds like a country song)...If it weren't for planning a bride's wedding, Halloween, Thanksgiving, dd's role in A Christmas Carol and Christmas, I think I'd be really sad! Just thank goodness there's much to do and keep my mind off my withdrawals.. Guess we'll just have to be about doing the damage of booking another...I'm watching.. And you're counting down the days already...!!!!

 

[LC30]

Ok hWhen are you thinking. Remember at some point next year the DCA redo will be done. DCA will be crazy for sometime after that asthe highlight is Raidator Springs Racers which has been described as Test Track on steriods. I hear you about post vacation blues. Well since I have been booking our Food and Wine stay for next year with DVC. That trip will also be over Epcots 30th aniversary.

Food and Wine & Epcot's 30th sounds great! Now what about dining recommendations? I know you have experience with the dining options with your posts on the wonderful places you have tried. So let's hear it