Magically Crossing the Atlantic May 12-26 2007

[NHdisneylover]

Do I now hold the record for the world's longest TR delay? Sorry everybody, life just keeps taking over Let's see if I can get another day's installment done today


So Thursday dawned??? Well, several time changes later we ALL slept right through dawn and a good part of the morning (breakfast? what's that). There was nothing that compelling on the navigator to motivate any of us to get up any sooner than we felt like (a total first to feel we could sleep in and not miss out on DCL and a MAJOR reason to take such a long cruise with so many sea days in our opinions). When we did finally decide to join the world of the living, the weather was still coolish, windy on deck, occasional rain, reasonably high seas with rocking, etc. This was pretty much the weather all the way across. We are not sun worshippers. We tend to come home from any tropical vacation totally white (except Marika who turns the shade of bronz that women who tan regularly would kill for in about 5 minutes of sun whether wearing SPF 5 or 50). We hate the heat. Three of us do not ever get seasick and the fourth has found that ginger pills work miracles for him. So, we ENJOYED the coolness, the clouds, the feeling of being AT SEA the motion gave us, the "new" wave pools, etc. I will try to quit typing about the weather on sea days and you can assume from here on out it was comparable to this.

The best part about this day is that it was really, really relaxing. There just wasn't a whole lot going on that we found interesting so we got to spend a fair amount of time sipping drinks on the verandah or palying cards in the promenade lounge without feeling we were missing out. After starting our day in total realxed mode, we saw that lunch in Parrot Cay would be starting in only a half hour, so I fetched coffe and sodas down and we all just hung out on the verandah for a bit. Even the kids (lulled by all that trocking?) were mellow and enjoying the view. My one complaint about the verandah is the lack of available seating for four--but we hauled out the cresccent shaped vanity stool and the kids perched on that just fine.

Eventually we made our way to Parrot Cay for lunch. Mmmmmmm pasta bar. As a picky eater I so love this build your own feature I believe this is one of the days that our dear friends Erik and Jason joined us for lunch. It is so nice that the open seating for breakfast and lunch gives you a chance to dine with other friends throughout the days.

After lunch we ran the kids up to the club and down to Ocean Quest. Rio was all set to spend most of the afternoon up there doing "eggsperiments," playing on the computer and then playing detective in the Goofy Files (all of which he enjoyed). Marika was going to see a magic show down at Ocean Quest before joining back up with us for the family animation class with Ducky Williams.

Dave and I headed to Diversions to see what the craft for the family craft session was. I hadn't ever attended these sessions before, and when the crew members started passing out assemble your own foam masks I realized I had not missed anything. This is a little too simple for our tastes (especially sans kids) so we decdide to head over to the spa nad take a tour. Along the way we were interecepted by friends and ended up playing Euchre in the Promenade Lounge instead. We had a lovely time and we have still NEVER set foot in the spa on either the Magic or the Wonder (in 37 nights you would think we would have managed it at some point ).

I have kids who need lunch now but I promise to finish this day's installemnt in the next 48 hours And yes there will be photos in the latter portion.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Okay, it has been a bit more than 48 hours You can blame the Roller Coaster Tycoon addicts in my home (everyone but me that is) for monopolizing the computer these past couple of weeks

So, Dave and I were just heading down to Animator's Pallatte to have an animation class with Ducky. Marika met up with us while we were lined up outside the doors as did DMiL Jan. The doors didn't open until a few minutes past the appoionted time and a few people were pretty antsy wanting "good seats" (I think all the tabels they were using were plenty close to Ducky, but what do I know ). The doors were opened and people began rushing in for seats and thus we encountered (the first of many) the "rudest Woman on the ship" (so nicknamed by our entire family and Hank and Jan's friends) and her "about as rude husband.":

The scene is that there was a woman in an electric scooter who had been in a minute or so ahead of the rest of us trying to get into her space. She was taking a space midway back; not even trying for the front row of tables. This space was next to a serving station. While getting in position she needed to back up and turn a bit. This was a GOOD scooter driver (I know we have all encoutnered a few not so good one at the world and DCL). As the lady in the scooter begins to back up, the "rudest lady on the ship" tries to dart between the back of the scooter and the sevring station (there was less than a foot of space there and she had to squeeze through) to get a front table instead of going around the aisle. Rude lady's toes were almost squished by a wheel (but not). AFTER she plunked her stuff down at her premium spot, she came back and YELLED at the lady in the scooter for "backing over her!" A whole bunch of us watched this scene appalled and then said nice things to the lady in the scooter who was totally not at fault. Then rude hubby went up to her and said "My wife is not rude. She just had foot surgery and needs to protect her feet." Hmmm, maybe she sholdn't dart into tiny spaces behind reversing scooters (with the accompanying beep warning none the less)???? Now, if he had said, something along the lines of "I am sorry about that, she is very touchy lately. . . "(you know, at least getting in the I'm sorry part). Sheesh, some people. We saw them frequently after that. Alwyas being rude to someone or complaining about terrible service, food, lack of activites, etc. I kept seeing them on the same ship, but boy they were making their own bad expereinces from an excellent cruise if you ask me.

Anyway, on with the TR. The animation class was fun. It was (obviously) light years better than the standard CM run annimation class (you know the one, where you have a CM who can't draw for beans and tells you so, and is really correct about that trying to teach you how to draw ).

Here is a photo of Ducky and I (with a partially drawn Donald) at the start of class:

Next on the agenda was our Tea with Alice. We have always been big fans of Tea with Wendy (well since they began it anyway) and were excited to try the new incarnation with Alice.

If you are new to DCL you should know a bit about how the teas work. They are free, but require tickets. All you have to do is stop by Guest Services on the first day or so of your voyage and tell them you'd like tickets for a tea and they will give them to you (I have no idea if they might perhaps ever not make enough teas to accommodate everyone who wants to go, we have never had an issue getting them). You should also know that these are very low key events. We love them, but they are aimed at younger kids and they do not invovle fancy finger foods, many characters, one on one with characters, etc. If you are expecting these things you will be dissapointed.

So now you know what the tea is not, but what IS it? Well, it is a low key tea party held in Studio Sea. You will arrive to find all of the little tables set for tea with a kettle of iced tea (yes really, iced tea at a kids party, it works okay) and some of those delectable molasses chocolate chip cookies. Here is a photo of Marika and her firend at their table to give you an idea:

On the dance area in front of the stage another table (very long) is set for tea for four. In come Alice and the Mad Hatter to the table. Pretty quickly a girl mouse and boy white rabbit are chosen from the guests to join them. Hmmm, anyone want to guess what performance loving little boy got to be the White Rabbit??? Funny thing is, I was busy trying to switch tables with a little girl whose family came in late so she would have a better view and did not even hear them ask for volunteers. Rio (again one of the only boys in the place) snagged this gig all on his own and was UP FRONT before I realized what had happened

Tea lasts about 20 minutes and includes some games (napkin spinning, Mad Hatter says, running around tables in unbirthday celebrations, etc.) and some manners instructions (how to hold teacups, napkins go on laps, etc.). Here is White Rabbit Rio and the little mouse girl playing Mad Hatter says (everyone else played from seats):

At the end the selceted kids get to pose for photos with the characters first and then everyone else also gets a chance. Good times, good times.

That evening's show was "Disney's the Art of the Story" It seems just about everybody either loved it or hated it. We were the odd ones out. We mostly liked it but did not LOVE it The basic idea is that they showcase an element in story telling (music, etc.) and then have a number that relates to that. We thought the numbers were really good. We especially liked the Mulan and Tarzan sequences. We did not feel the "art of the story" theme really tied things together well (it felt very forced) and would have prefered to have it just called the best of Disney or some such. Overall though we enjoyed it and hope to be able to see it again.

Dinner was a special crossing the Atlantic menu (and we got to keep those menus as well). This was the night when Marika got her aforementioned spinach free blue cheese pastry love: Lovin' Fernando). After dinner we headed up to the new Tropicalifragilistic (sp?) deck party. That was a fun time. We always enjoy the family deck parties and dance parties and loved having a NEW version of one to try. Their was nothing that is standing out in my mind as extra special or different than a generic deck party, just different dancing, etc. It was fun though.

 

[LadyShiva]

Thanks for the new day, Hadley!

Brandie

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Hadley, I thought Art of the Story was kinda weird,but enjoyable. It was better the second time, for some reason. I wonder if they did it in Europe and got more practice.

I loved the weather, too. Way more fun than the calm, warm weather on the WB.

 

[kpros]

Hi Hadley

I'm enjoying reading the your report - helps me remember the trip. Your right about the "Art of the Story". We saw it first on the 11 day Wonder in 2006 and thought it was fun but the story line did really work.

We also have spent very little time in the spa (once in all our trips). Although I did spend some time in the gym (on one of the bicycle machines on the repo).

Keep up the good work on your reports!
Ken

 

[Michelle2]

That's funny that no one seemed to care much for the Art of the Story, to me, it was my favorite! I absolutely LOVED it! I can't wait to see it again on the EB PC repo.
Hi Hadley and everyone from the EB repo!

 

[JDBlair]

Haven't left this thread for 2 months.
Haven't slept or gone to work or bathed waiting for the next update......

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hello and thanks for all the comments everyone. Hugs to all my repo buddies!

Dave and I are both in a local theatrical production (Pippin). We have been busy rehearsing for 5 weeks. Tomorrow we go into overdrive and have either dress rehearsals (tomorrow from noon until 8 pm) or a performance evry night until Nov 4 (expect Halloween-- I get to take my kids trick or treating). AFTER Nov. 4th I really will get back to this with much more frequent updates (hey I am alomst to the ports).

 

[naner]

Loving your TR so far!

 

[missy2217]

What a fun thread! Thanks for sharing your experiences and your great photos!