Mike & Missy's Grand Adventure! A DCL & WDW Pre-TR w/ pics! Updated-09/18

[mousetravel]

I think you are going to have so much fun! Our very first cruise was a 3 night as well, and we fell in love! I can't wait to hear about it, so make sure you let us know when you get back!

Hey again neighbor, I've started my pre trip report if you'd like to visit!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Hey again neighbor, I've started my pre trip report if you'd like to visit!

Ooooh, you bet I would!!! Do you have a link anywhere?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey Missy, sorry it took me a little while to get over here but I am here now! Your plans are looking great so far, we are both going to have so much fun on our cruises!

 

[Disneychica2009]

Hi there,
DisneyChica here. Sorry I haven't responded. Our cruise is in 6 weeks and we've been trying to make sure we are ready to go. Your dresses are beautiful! Great choices. That is something still on my list to do. So you are way ahead of me.
As for our private excursion in Grand Cayman, that is through Fat Fish Adventures. Small tour company but have the highest ratings on tripadvisor. Your choice for Cozumel sounds great. We were going to do the dune buggy adventure but neither my sister or I know how to drive a stick shift. Sad! We finally decided on the Fury Catamaran, snorkel and beach bash. We are meeting another family on it who is on a different boat but will be in port the same day.
Applied for the kids passports today. I think they are saying it's takin gabout 3 weeks right now.
Talk more later. Hope everyone is well.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Hey Missy, sorry it took me a little while to get over here but I am here now! Your plans are looking great so far, we are both going to have so much fun on our cruises!

Hi, Leesa! I'm very honored that you're reading and posting on my Pre-TR! Maybe some of your great writing style will rub off on me!!!

Hi there,
DisneyChica here. Sorry I haven't responded. Our cruise is in 6 weeks and we've been trying to make sure we are ready to go. Your dresses are beautiful! Great choices. That is something still on my list to do. So you are way ahead of me.
As for our private excursion in Grand Cayman, that is through Fat Fish Adventures. Small tour company but have the highest ratings on tripadvisor. Your choice for Cozumel sounds great. We were going to do the dune buggy adventure but neither my sister or I know how to drive a stick shift. Sad! We finally decided on the Fury Catamaran, snorkel and beach bash. We are meeting another family on it who is on a different boat but will be in port the same day.
Applied for the kids passports today. I think they are saying it's takin gabout 3 weeks right now.
Talk more later. Hope everyone is well.

Hi, DisneyChica! No need to apologize! You have your own plans to take care of, so I'm sure you've been busy with that. I'm glad that you like my dresses.
Isn't Trip Advisor great? I don't think I go anywhere without reading the reviews there first. I'm sure it makes you feel a lot better that this particular excursion is so highly rated. I'm sure that it's going to be a blast.
Bummer that you aren't going to get to do the dune buggy tour, but your other choice sounds just as fun!

 

[mousetravel]

Do you have a trip report or pictures of the Dolphin Encounter from your previous cruise?

 

[ibela]

Do you have a trip report or pictures of the Dolphin Encounter from your previous cruise?

I'm planning on doing this so I'd be interested to see it too.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Do you have a trip report or pictures of the Dolphin Encounter from your previous cruise?

I will see if I can find some pictures from there. I know that we used a waterproof disposable since we were in the water, but Lord knows I can't remember if we ever had them developed or not. We're the worlds worst about not having film developed--that's why we now have a digital, but I didn't want to take it in the water, obviously. I'll look to see what I can find. I know that we have the video, but I don't know how I would share that with you. Hopefully I can find something.

I'm planning on doing this so I'd be interested to see it too.

ibela, she's actually referring to the one in Nassau, is that the one you're interested in? I'm still willing to share either way!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Do you have a trip report or pictures of the Dolphin Encounter from your previous cruise?

I was able to find a couple of pics for you. Please excuse the quality...I had to scan them in since they were taken with a disposable camera. Not only that, but my photography skills weren't too great back then. But hopefully this will help you get a general idea of how it goes...

This is what you see as you are arriving...You will actually take a ferry from the pier over to Paradise Island...It's a somewhat short ride, and then a couple minutes walk to the actual location:

Here is what the platform looks like that you will be sitting on. Before you have your one on one time with the dolphin, they will actually perform a few tricks for everyone as you sit on the side and watch, which is what is pictured here:

This is a view looking back towards the exit, if you were standing at the gift shop. This is the way that you will come out after the excursion is over. They'll send you through the gift shop to view your pics and videos as well:

Some of the dolphins that we saw on our way out:

Lastly...here is picture of the actual encounter. I have one of the DH and I, but he didn't want me to post it, so I'm just gonna post the one of me:

I hope this helps you at least a little bit. The excursion really was a lot of fun...we enjoyed it and would definitey recommend it. Sorry that I don't have more, but this should give you a general idea.

 

[mousetravel]

Thanks for taking the time to get those pics. they turned out great! I found a thread earlier where someone said the upgrade for the dolphin swim was now $90 extra instead of $40 extra.

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Time is flying by and the time to leave is getting closer and closer! I love the photos that you posted from the Dolphin Encounter!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Thanks for taking the time to get those pics. they turned out great! I found a thread earlier where someone said the upgrade for the dolphin swim was now $90 extra instead of $40 extra.

You are very welcome! It was actually nice to go back and look at those pictures again. It was so much fun! I am sure that your DD will have a wonderful time even if you don't upgrade to the swim. The dolphin interaction is soooo much fun.

Time is flying by and the time to leave is getting closer and closer! I love the photos that you posted from the Dolphin Encounter!

It is isn't it!? It's crazy to think about how close it really is in comparison to how long we've been waiting!!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Since I now have both of the dresses for the cruise, I started thinking about shoes. For the sake of saving precious packing space, I hope to find a pair that will match both of my dresses. I've been looking around on the net to see what I could find, and this is what I've come up with so far. As always, I'd really like to have y'alls opinions...

#1-I like this for the most part, but I'm not so sure about the heel...It looks like it may be a little too high for me to be comfortable in:

#2-I like the top of these, but for some reason, they don't look dressy enough. I'm thinking that these probably wouldn't go so well with my formal dress:

#3-To me, these are really cute, and the heel doesn't seem too high, but I'm not sure about the clear part:

#4-These are pretty cute, but they are somewhat plain compared to the others, but I do think that they would go well with both dresses:

#5-I think these are probably my favorite pair-so far. However, with these, I'm wondering how well they will go with the semi-formal dress. I like the fact that they have the extra little strap across the top and they have a little bit of "bling"...haha!:

Soooo...with all that said...which ones do y'all prefer?

I've also been scoping out some pirate costumes on e-Bay, but I'm just watching them for now...Hopefully I'll have more to post on that later!!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

I like #5 too. I like the wider heel and the "bling" too. I have some made similiar to #4 and love them. The top of the shoe is what is similiar. They are almost worn out because I have put many miles on them. The plastic on #3 would probably bother me. The heel on #1 would get me! I think the heel on #2 is my favorite heel. (You know me I don't walk well! Hahahah) As far as the dresses and only one pair of shoes - I like #5 overall. Heck - I like them all!

 

[Jennifer48]

I like #5 also but I'm not a big heel person. I do love the bling factor tho!

 

[mousetravel]

I like #5, but I would probably break my neck in those. I have to have the short, fat, chunky heels. (Kinda like me...short, fat, & chunky!)
Or better known as Pooh Size!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

Just stopping by to see if there are any new plans in the works! The days are flying by!

 

[UGAFan0829]

I just want to start by apologizing for not having any updates lately. Things have been a little crazy here though. My Dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance 2 weeks ago and ended up having a triple bypass. So, needless to say, he has been the main focus of our time lately. He spent the first few days after getting out of the hospital at my sister's house, but has been here at my house since Saturday. I've been spending as much time as possible with him, so I haven't really had much time to sit down and do an actual update. Not to mention, I haven't really had much to update on cruise-wise lately. So thanks to everyone who is still reading...I appreciate it, and I hope you understand. I've been away so long that when I finally logged on today, I realized that the 2 new ships have been named, and that the details on "D23" have finally been realeased!! I called Mike a few minutes ago to tell him the news on the ships, and I loved his reply..."Well, that's just 2 more ships for us to cruise on!" I'm so lucky!!
I will try to have something new to post in the next couple of days!
I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and a wonderful weekend!!

 

[Mickey's Goofy Gal]

I know you are being a great nurse to your Daddy and I hope he is feeling better everyday!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

So sorry to hear about your Dad, glad that he has you and the rest of your family to help him through his recovery.