Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Cruise, Oct 30th,2010 Magical Western NewTR link 4/10

[karajeboo]

Just found your TR and read through it this morning. We are on the Eastern in March and I am so looking forward to our Palo night.

Hey Kristi!!!! See you on board!!!

 

[karajeboo]

OK, Ellen, those pics SOLD me on Palo!!! I was really up in the air because I didn't want to miss out on any of our rotations, or the pirate party, but I think I will have to figure something out.......

 

[podsnel]

Karen and I did Palo on Holloween eve at 6:30
Very awsome...

Ellen,
How much snow did you get? 16+ around here!

Hey Bill! I don't remember seeing you there- we came in at 7:30 or 8, I think- I'll have to look back at my passporter to be sure. Guess they messed up and didn't seat you in the DIS VIP section!

We got close to 30"! Crazy, crazy stuff!!!Here is my deck during the storm-

And the next morning after some shoveling-

Pretty crazy, huh?

Hey Kristi!!!! See you on board!!!

I was wondering if you were cruising together. Kristi....ummm...good luck!

OK, Ellen, those pics SOLD me on Palo!!! I was really up in the air because I didn't want to miss out on any of our rotations, or the pirate party, but I think I will have to figure something out.......

Oh yea- you should definitely do it. Try for dinner and brunch- if you get onboard and don't like how it goes with your dining rotation, just switch it. Palo seemed to have a lot more availability once you were on board as compared to the pre-cruise online booking. I would vote for missing the rotational dinner in Parrot Cay- on our first cruise, we missed lobster night- which was fine, since they served it in Palo, too- we just didn't order it. This time we missed PC, and that would have been my first choice, so we lucked out.

 

[nenner1]

No....NOT butt dialing!! I was calling to say hello, and then when I didn't hear your voice, I wasn't sure if I was leaving a message for you or Ron, because I have both your cell #'s in my phone....so I hung up (sorry) and meant to try the other # but got distracted (can you imagine!).

LOL, yep XXX-XXX-2852 is me. 0481 is Ron. Dang I am so sorry I missed ya! I am really, really bad about my phone though, I'm always forgetting it, letting it run out of charge, etc.

Don't you go losing that number though, we will have to meet up next time you are down here. We are in Orlando literally All.The.Time for Savannah's dance stuff. In fact we are over there next weekend. I'm trying to come up with reasonably priced stuff for the rest us to do while Sav is in class but that she won't be jealous that she missed. In fact I think we may scoot over to the Disney Outlet that has all of the discount and closeout DCL stuff. I know she'll be mad if she misses that but....

That's weird! You've been SEVEN TIMES???? I've been 5 in two cruises- how many cruises have you been on?

Ok I had to go back and look at my oldest TR b/c for the life of me I couldn't remember. We have actually been six times in four cruises. Four dinners and two brunches. We did have brunch booked for the first cruise but we were so overtired and overstuffed that we cancelled it. We were such n00bs back then, ha!

THAT MAKES ME CRAZY!!!!! You belonged there more than ANYONE- especially ME! You did SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! I actually felt tremendously guilty at that brunch- I was the one supposed to make it happen, and the best i could do was get a table for the 6 of us that actually had reservations that morning.

Huh, so what happened, how did you end up in there...did someone bug them until they gave in? Judy? She was the one who told me you were trying to fill the room. But that was like day 4 or maybe 5.

I was so surprised when we walked in and they sat us in that room with all those people- the last I had heard, no one was able to get a table. So glad there are people out there who figured it all out- but more than ANYONE you and Ron should have been sitting there!

Yeah.....that's a captain hindsight moment...what the heck was i thinking?!?!

Well...I know what I was thinking I was thinking that it should go to those who had signed up beforehand but couldn't get the reservations, and then to those who han't gotten brunch at all. I would have felt tremendously guilty to have taken the slots, especially two slots- when we did already have a brunch that cruise. If itwouldn't have filled up I really would have been kicking myself but I am glad it did and that some folks got an opportunity to enjoy it that might not have otherwise.

I don't know why we never tried to get in with the group brunch from the beginning. Well...I do, and that's because it was on Thursday and the original rotation we wanted would have put our CB Thurs. But If I learned any lesson this cruise it was to get in on the group activities. It won't happen again, that's for sure!!

 

[nenner1]

And the next morning after some shoveling-

Pretty crazy, huh?

Hey I just showed this to the kids and you know what they said...?

(ready for it.....???)


"LUCKY!!!!!!"



Floridians...I tell ya....feel free to smack them up for that.

 

[dizneeat]

Your snow "experience" looks a lot like what we had before Christmas!

Since you mentioned it ....... did you have brunch at Palo as well?

 

[kid-at-heart]

My goodness! That snow is about as deep as your pant inseam. I showed the photo to Rob and his first response was, "New York?". My response, "Close". And Sarah, "WOW, great sledding snow."

I have not watched TV in weeks so was completely unaware of you guys getting hit with the snow. What is your low/high temps? Will you be building your Mickey snowman?

 

[Flossbolna]

Wow, that's a lot of snow!! Love your t-shirt btw! A Disney New Years shirt!

And since the topic came up: All the best for the new year! Be good!

 

[podsnel]

LOL, yep XXX-XXX-2852 is me. 0481 is Ron. Dang I am so sorry I missed ya! I am really, really bad about my phone though, I'm always forgetting it, letting it run out of charge, etc.

Yea- that's why I have his #...in case you don't answer yours!

Don't you go losing that number though, we will have to meet up next time you are down here. We are in Orlando literally All.The.Time for Savannah's dance stuff. In fact we are over there next weekend. I'm trying to come up with reasonably priced stuff for the rest us to do while Sav is in class but that she won't be jealous that she missed. In fact I think we may scoot over to the Disney Outlet that has all of the discount and closeout DCL stuff. I know she'll be mad if she misses that but....

Hope you have great luck at that outlet!


Ok I had to go back and look at my oldest TR b/c for the life of me I couldn't remember. We have actually been six times in four cruises. Four dinners and two brunches. We did have brunch booked for the first cruise but we were so overtired and overstuffed that we cancelled it. We were such n00bs back then, ha!

There's another TR? What were the first two cruises?


Huh, so what happened, how did you end up in there...did someone bug them until they gave in? Judy? She was the one who told me you were trying to fill the room. But that was like day 4 or maybe 5.

I think Judy and Jonathan talked them into it- all I know is I thought I was having brunch with two other couples and then we were escorted to a full private dining room! I was so glad all those people snagged ressies after the fact. I think they must hold quite alot back from the online booking.

Yeah.....that's a captain hindsight moment...what the heck was i thinking?!?!

Well...I know what I was thinking I was thinking that it should go to those who had signed up beforehand but couldn't get the reservations, and then to those who han't gotten brunch at all. I would have felt tremendously guilty to have taken the slots, especially two slots- when we did already have a brunch that cruise. If itwouldn't have filled up I really would have been kicking myself but I am glad it did and that some folks got an opportunity to enjoy it that might not have otherwise.

I totally understand...I felt guilty sitting there because I felt like I was supposed to accomplish this and didn't! One family actually ended up moving out into the dining room because there were too many people, but I think it alos had to do with a language barrier and feeling uncomfortable.

I don't know why we never tried to get in with the group brunch from the beginning. Well...I do, and that's because it was on Thursday and the original rotation we wanted would have put our CB Thurs. But If I learned any lesson this cruise it was to get in on the group activities. It won't happen again, that's for sure!!

HAve you gotten your request for rotation in the past? Just curious- I've never thought to request one- but I liked this rotation MUCH more than last time (we had APPLAP last time- too much Parrot Cay!

Hey I just showed this to the kids and you know what they said...?

(ready for it.....???)


"LUCKY!!!!!!"



Floridians...I tell ya....feel free to smack them up for that.

No smacking any Floridians on this TR- snow is GREAT when you are not planning anything else, and we weren't! Kind of not so fun for all the stranded travelers out there, though.

 

[podsnel]

Your snow "experience" looks a lot like what we had before Christmas!

Since you mentioned it ....... did you have brunch at Palo as well?

Yes- in the Private Dining Room- it was very nice!!

My goodness! That snow is about as deep as your pant inseam. I showed the photo to Rob and his first response was, "New York?". My response, "Close". And Sarah, "WOW, great sledding snow."

I have not watched TV in weeks so was completely unaware of you guys getting hit with the snow. What is your low/high temps? Will you be building your Mickey snowman?

Well, it's not snow you can make a good snowman with- it's very fluffy and light because it was so cold when it fell. But it hasn't been too cold since, and that is much appreciated- oh. Except for the day after. Crazy, CRAZY wind, with 60 mph gusts...shudder!

Wow, that's a lot of snow!! Love your t-shirt btw! A Disney New Years shirt!

And since the topic came up: All the best for the new year! Be good!

That's a good idea- it is a good New Years shirt! I actually have two parties to go to tonight- but I'm not feeling great so I'll have to see how the day goes.

Happy New Year to you, too!!

 

[tinkmom2]

We totally missed the snow here in Milwaukee and today it's all melted with weather in the 50's! We were down at WDW about 2 years ago in March and came back to find a blizzard had dumped a ton of snow on us. We were waiting to go into Spirit of Aloha. It was weird to be in tropical weather hearing of snow back home!

 

[mebrm]

Really enjoying your report! It's what I was doing as the new year rang in!!! What a happy way to enter 2011! Thanks

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Happy New Year Ellen! That's a crazy amount of snow! We haven't had that much since '93 I think.

 

[englishrose47]

Happy 2011 to everyone !!!

 

[MEK]

To answer your question - We are going to start with the 4 day Bahama cruise. I figure its long enough to acquire an addiction and then once Denny is hooked, we can move on to other things! We are looking at next Jan, although we already have a premium package booked for late November. I think we will have to chose one of the other. Hmmmmmm.....let's see - two days of us running ourself ragged on the premium package vs. a cruise? I have a feeling I know how this is going to end.

Wowsa to all the snow you got. We got about 4 inches - maybe! I am not at all envious, so don't even worry about that!

The food at Palo looks simply amazing. I haven't seen food porn like that since you posted about your V&A dinner. I sooooooooooo want to eat at Palo, if we do the cruise. It's an absolute must.

 

[MEK]

Almost Forgot - HAPPY 2011!!!!!

 

[nenner1]

Yea- that's why I have his #...in case you don't answer yours!

LMAO!

Hope you have great luck at that outlet

Thanks I'm not sure if we will make it over there but we'll see. This is our first convention at the MCO Hyatt and I don't know how easy it will be for coming and going (parking, etc. The Swan/Dolphin was a true PITA, we had to pay for parking each time we left and entered the parking lot. thank GOD we could walk to the Boardwalk!!!) Anyway if we can come and go for her breaks like lunch it will cut into our day too much. We'll see. I know we will got to DTD. I need some Ghiardelli and some tea from the new tea shop, plus we want to try out Pollo Campero.

There's another TR? What were the first two cruises?

Guess what? There are two!!!! They aren't quite as good but what a hoot to look through and see the kids all younger and me all skinnier before I started eating my way through multiple cruises per year. LOL!!!

Bot are form the Wonder, a 4 night and a 3 night (not B2B, several months apart!)

The links are in my signature, but I know on some monitors the bottom of my sig can't all be seen, so since you left an open invitation, here ya go:


First TR (The Very Merry Unbirthday Cruise, Wonder March 2007)

Second TR (The Adventures of Mom's Booty Wonder October 2007)

Third TR (that has 3 names, but you remember this one) (Back to the Island/Double Dip Delight/Cruising with a Baby Magic 2008)...

...and the current one which I will post here for anyone who wants to read about your adventures from my perspective..LOL: I'm not sure all of your adoring fans know that you're the star of my TR too!

Video Killed the TR Star: A Little Halloween Magic

I think Judy and Jonathan talked them into it- all I know is I thought I was having brunch with two other couples and then we were escorted to a full private dining room! I was so glad all those people snagged ressies after the fact. I think they must hold quite alot back from the online booking.

Oh that is great, Yeah Judy just told me "they" were trying to fill the room, I assumed they was you. That's great...although they probably had to bring in someone just to work for ya'll. Bet they got some good tips though!!

I totally understand...I felt guilty sitting there because I felt like I was supposed to accomplish this and didn't! One family actually ended up moving out into the dining room because there were too many people, but I think it alos had to do with a language barrier and feeling uncomfortable.

Oh don't feel guilty!!! You did great! They don't exactly make it easy on ya to get that room!!!!

Have you gotten your request for rotation in the past? Just curious- I've never thought to request one- but I liked this rotation MUCH more than last time (we had APPLAP last time- too much Parrot Cay!

Yep, we are not huge fans of PC ourselves. I do feel like starting in Animator's is really starting off the cruise dining experience in grand style! It's just so Disney. I don;t get tired of it, and I can't wait to see what they've done to the place on the Dream and Fantasy!!!)

We have now gotten our rotations 2 out of the 3 times we've asked for a specific one. The '08 cruise was all kinds of messed up because they did not follow the regular rotations due to a few reasons. But even so, we still did not get what we asked for that time. It was no problem to change in RBarD upon boarding!

I am way too anal to not know exactly where I am going to be when. Maybe one of these days we'll be able to fly by the seat of our pants on a cruise but that will probably be when pigs fly. Til then I will be planning it all out and making my requests. LOL!

No smacking any Floridians on this TR- snow is GREAT when you are not planning anything else, and we weren't! Kind of not so fun for all the stranded travelers out there, though.

We haven't seen a flake of snow since 1998...unless you count the stuff blowing over Main St at MVMCP, which I think is actually soap!

 

[hotcarib]

Happy New year!
Thanks so much, I loved reading about all your adventures and your pics are great!!!

 

[podsnel]

We were up on Monday morning, not bright and early (sorry- this IS vacation) but up nonetheless. I had actually remembered to hang the breakfast service card on my door the night before, so sipped my coffee while the others rose. Love that. Really sad looking back that this was the only morning I had that luxury due to my ridiculous bubble-headedness. Within a half an hour, Timmy and I headed up to Topsiders, while tyler took a shower and he & Pods were to meet us in a bit. I do think on this day they had croissant sandwiches on the buffet- with eggs and tomato and swiss, they were yummy and it was sooooooooooooo nice to have something else! Sorry, no pics- since my bubble head kept forgetting the camera every morning! We found a nice seat out on the back deck though, and the sunshine felt great! It looked like we were going to be enjoying a gorgeous day at sea- once again a miracle, because the week's forecast when we boarded this ship was for rain and more rain. The second the boys finished their Mickey waffles, it was SEEYA! Mom & Dad and they ran to Edge. Pods & I decided it would be nice to workout, so we went to the gym- I LOVE working out there, and it was fun to be doing it TOGETHER!! Using the elliptical,next to my hubby, watching the ocean, watching Ratattouille....every gym should be this, I'd be a freakin' GODDESS!! So, Pods was spending 45 minutes on the elliptical, me? I wanted to lift some weights and use some of the machines. I kept looking up to see him on the elliptical, sweating like a pig. I looked up again...and he was gone. I mean GONE. Can you believe it? He finished and looked for me (so he says- I was wearing a lime green tshirt and the place is not THAT BIG), no doubt for all of 3 seconds, and LEFT! Well, it took a little while for him to live THAT one down! Anyway, we got our suits on and headed for the adult pool- which struck me as funny, because just 2 years earlier we had spent NO real time here...and this cruise? It almost felt like we were kid-less.

Very, very relaxing.....and then, time for lunch. Went over to Topsiders to see what they had going on- looked like it was Italian-

It was a good spread...afterwards we thought we'd check the kids, who when we got there were obviously missing us sooooo much-

Really, we just wanted to make sure they ate something, which they already had. It looked like they were going to be doing more than playing video games all day, so we were glad about that, too-

Back to the pool for us, this time we were sitting up on the top deck- right near the stairs, so we went down for a swim-

Ya know, that pool is just so.....quiet.... it's almost hard to believe you are on a ship with so many kids! Grandma4ever (Lois) was in the pool and we had a nice chat about how I worship her taking a BTB cruise on the Magic. Back up on the top deck, we saw a long line of tweeners heading for the sports deck, and Timmy was one of them. It was time for the kids to shoot hoops and then play their favorite, dodgeball-

It was also time for a DOTD-

Aaaahhhhhh......

Dodgeball time- looks like Tyler was here now, too-

Wow, they really LOVE that game!

Sea...nothin' but calm sea and some flying fish....

A little more relaxing, before it was time to go and get educated at the 2:30 Martini Tasting.

Next up- Nothing says higher learning like Drinking lessons followed by an exotic Rasul!!

 

[podsnel]

We totally missed the snow here in Milwaukee and today it's all melted with weather in the 50's! We were down at WDW about 2 years ago in March and came back to find a blizzard had dumped a ton of snow on us. We were waiting to go into Spirit of Aloha. It was weird to be in tropical weather hearing of snow back home!

Well, ours is melting fast now- we had 51 degrees yesterday...but it's going to get cold again- and freeze up as ice. YUCK! I hate that!!

2 years ago we were in STJ and had that same experience- balmy and beautiful where we were, but a blizzard at home. Good thing our plane left when it did!! Weird, isn't it?

Really enjoying your report! It's what I was doing as the new year rang in!!! What a happy way to enter 2011! Thanks

HAppy New Year! I was coughing up a lung when the New Year rang in...well, actually, I was hugging my family and trying not to get them sick. Your plan sounds MUCH better.

Happy New Year Ellen! That's a crazy amount of snow! We haven't had that much since '93 I think.

It had been a while for us, too. So much is really impressive and very cool as long as you have no problem being house-bound!

Happy 2011 to everyone !!!

Happy 2011, Rosie!!

To answer your question - We are going to start with the 4 day Bahama cruise. I figure its long enough to acquire an addiction and then once Denny is hooked, we can move on to other things! We are looking at next Jan, although we already have a premium package booked for late November. I think we will have to chose one of the other. Hmmmmmm.....let's see - two days of us running ourself ragged on the premium package vs. a cruise? I have a feeling I know how this is going to end.

Wowsa to all the snow you got. We got about 4 inches - maybe! I am not at all envious, so don't even worry about that!

The food at Palo looks simply amazing. I haven't seen food porn like that since you posted about your V&A dinner. I sooooooooooo want to eat at Palo, if we do the cruise. It's an absolute must.

What does the premium package include? Glad you are doing the 4 day and not the 3- that would just be waaaaaaaay too fast! I think my first 2 cruises were 4 days to the Bahamas, but on other lines- RCCL and Celebrity. Then 2 DCL 7 night westerns. Once you do the 7 nights, I don't know if you can go back to less- it's just not enough, even at 7 nights it goes so fast!!

Definitely book Palo- it's a very nice night.

Almost Forgot - HAPPY 2011!!!!!

HAPPY 2011 EVERYONE!!!!