Our first SSMC & 1st time @ BLT in a STUDIO UPDATED pg 4...??

[dopeygirl76]

I have been planning to get on this since our return but life got in the way... I got a new position at work...some would say promotion however I tend to look at it as me trying to do more than I already am with the same amount of time and skill!!! So I have a couple of hours this morning and I am going to attempt to get some TR time in!!!

So were are a family of four:
Me 34 Nikki- dopeygirl76- Disney lover from an early age but never had been to a park. In Dec 2006 friends of ours invited us to join them and we decided to go and fell in LOVE!!! After our next trip we joined DVC and since have gone 2x a year since. We have 8 trips and counting!!!

DH 34 John- loves Disney as much as I do (I am VERY blessed!!!) and although his parents took him once- he was 12 and it was July 4th - they vacation in commando mode and it left an unpleasant memory of WDW!!!!

DD6 Audra- She is our first princess and the reason we fell in love with WDW - when she saw the castle the first time it was pure LOVE!!! She loves all things Disney and all princesses!!!

DD3 Giana - Our Ariel - although her big sister wanted to name her that prior to her birth we did not do that - but should have. She is a redhead (naturally!!) and LOVES Ariel. (More on this later!!!)

Here we are before our first dinner Sept 12, 2010:

How this trip came about.

Last year we received the flyer for the SSMC call in date. We had talked about doing a cruise, a co worker had done one and LOVED it. Both DH and I have issues with motion sickness and I am somewhat claustrophobic so I was a little afraid. We decided to TRY to get in as we had heard how crazy it was to get in. The call in was on a Saturday and DH had to work and the girls had theater class so all I had was my cell phone. I started calling at 9am, I finally got through about 4 hrs later and there were limited choices. We opted for the Deluxe Family Stateroom w Verandah (more money but I didn't want to be inside!!) and we were set with room #8524!!!!

I had read a TR about the SSMC 2009 written by BigDogHU75 and had chatted with some people during call in so I continued to chat with them on the SSMC 2010 thread. Finally the day came!!! DH's vacations are from Sunday to Saturday so we had to fly out of Pittsburgh Sunday the 12th in the morning. Our flight was at 9am and we landed at MCO a little early about 11:10am and off we went to meet Brian from Owner's Locker and then to the baggage claim. Our trip did not begin well since SWA had lost one of our bags and it was the one with all of my FE gifts and our pirate costumes!!! so down one bag we headed to the DCL check in at MCO - this was awesome we got our keys and everything right in the airport we did not have to wait to check in at the port such a breeze from this point on!!!

FINALLY we arrive at the port!!!
Inside the terminal:

It was so awesome to hear them announce our names as we came onto the ship. We boarded right at 1:30PM so our room was ready but first:

Here we are:

I unpacked what we had and we went off to explore!!!

Then we had our DISmeet at 3p in the Promenade Lounge:

It was so awesome to meet everyone!!! After the party I went to see if we could have Main seating as we had WL for that because only late was availiable when I got through...good thing I went to ask because we had already been given first - I just didn't know how to read the key cards!!!

Then up to the sail away party!!!

UP NEXT: our first dinner - with food porn!!!!!

 

[Havana]

Thanks for sharing!
We are going next year

 

[dopeygirl76]

Thanks for sharing!
We are going next year

I got so ecited by the TRs of others that since we won't be able to go in 2011 I thought I would help build the anticipation for the rest of you!!!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

OK so we left the sail away party to go get ourselves ready for dinner. Our first night we were in Animator's Palate and this was our first experience with the cleanliness on the ship.....while you are in line waiting to be seated there are two CMs one on each side and they hand everyone a sani-wipe to clean your hands. Our girls were especially excited about the little tricks the CMs played with the wipes.

We were at table #69 it was just the four of us. Our service team was WONDERFUL!!!! I don't know if we are allowed to put names but DH dubbed them double D. (Both men with names beginning with D). As first time cruisers we did not know that the menus were this HUGE and that you ate in courses. (We have never been to a restaurant like that, normally we eat "home cooked" foods and DH and DD3 are VERY picky.

So our assistant server comes and we try to order our food....um just be aware that this person only gets your drinks....am I the only on who didn't know that????

SOOOO DH decides he is going to TRY things who is this man and where is my DH?!?!?!?!?!?

DH had the Wild Mushroom Risotto - it was WONDERFUL!!!

I had the baked potato and chedder soup also YUM!!!

For dinner DH had a pasta dish that had Turkey Breast, parmesean reggiano and Panchetta:

Here is where the fun part starts, because I am not big into spices and on every menu you can get baked chicken breast or baked salmon. I see a Lemon- Thyme chicken dish with sour cream mashed potatoes...thinking I will not like the Lemon- Thyme chicken I ask our server if I can substite the plain baked chicken. He says he will bring me the baked chicken AND the Lemon- Thyme IF I promise to try the Lemon Thyme.....

One of the best chicken dishes I have EVER had in my life - DH ate some of mine also!!!

DDs are SOOO boring they had chicken strips and fries....BUT even that was fun, this is their ketchup!!!!

I did so well with the dinner photos, I forgot to take photos of our desserts. DH and I both had some sort of triple chocolate cake that was heavanly and the girls had Mickey bars. The show at the Animator's Palate was neat and the girls LOVED watching the scenes come to life. After dinner we took the girls to the Oceaneer's Club to play while DH and I delivered our FE gifts.

A note on sea sickness. DH and I both have serious motion sick issues, he is usually worse than I am, he had NO problems, occassionally he would say he felt "buzzed" but that was it. I on the other hand could feel quite a bit. I used seabands and took ginger pills everyday. I never resorted to Dramamine and never was so sick that I couldn't eat....also I WILL cruise again so obviously it wasn't sooo bad!!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

When we were finished delivering the FEs we decided to go and get the girls from the kids club...it had been a long day and we knew they were tired. First time they were unwilling to leave - this will be a theme later on!!! Back to the room and we got them bathed and ready for bed. DH is a late bird and I told him to go explore that I would stay with the girls.

Here are some photos of the room:
the bedspread

Desk/TV/ chest area - inside the chest are four shelves which we used for clothes and snack stuff:

Side table and lamp:

Small dresser by closet:

Inside the closet - life vests:

Toilet and sink room:

Shower and sink room:

This is something else I didn't get - the split bath means two separate rooms which was really nice.

Here are the gifts we got when we entered our room. Suitcase (small) water bottle, duffel bag, calender, antenna topper and Mickey clock.

 

[pyrxtc]

Awesome report, can't wait to see more.

 

[arthur06]

Loving your TR! We are taking our first cruise in about 9 weeks! Looking forward to all the pics and tips!

 

[Sammie]

Did you have any issues with claustrophobia?

 

[dopeygirl76]

Awesome report, can't wait to see more.

Thank you - more hopefully after work!!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

Loving your TR! We are taking our first cruise in about 9 weeks! Looking forward to all the pics and tips!

You will have a GREAT time!!!! We were soooo excited and DCL did not dissappoint!!!

Did you have any issues with claustrophobia?

I had absolutely no issues with claustrophobia. We had a room with a verandah but I never went out on it - on our next cruise I am actually thinking about doing an inside stateroom. I truly felt like we were in a hotel - there is so much open space and as someone with an issue of heights as well - (I have soooo many!!!) I actually went up on deck 10 and watched the sunrise - and looked over the balconey!!!!

 

[Disney Princess]

Great pictures and report so far. Keep it coming.

 

[dopeygirl76]

Great pictures and report so far. Keep it coming.

Thank you and will do!!!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

OK so DH s[ent some time wondering around the ship and ended up on the top deck watching Sunday night football on the big screen with some chicken wings - I think he fell in love right then!!!

I slept OK which is pretty normal for me away from home. The bed was pretty hard which DH loved but I kept thinking about all the things we could do the next day.....the girls woke us up at 5AM....also pretty typical our girls are early risers and of course we were all excited. We watched a little TV...went up and got our coffee and tea and headed to watch the sunrise....

It was truly amazing!! It was time for the Beach Blanket Buffet to open so we headed in there for breakfast. The food was sooo yummy - they have CHOCOLATE Mickey waffles!!!! My favorite was the sausage gravy and biscuits although the ham and cheese omlet was a close second - I don't know why I can't get mine to look like that at home!!!

We went to the room and dressed for the beach, but wanted to catch the Disney Vault show at 9am first. The manager of the Disney archieves had brought 5 items that are not usually seen by the public....they played a little game - it was fun and my 6 year guessed the answers before I could!!! I've created a Disney monster!!!

So we headed to Deck 1 to go to Castaway Cay....I had my postcards ready to send....just a note they still haven't arrived back home and apparently can take up to 6 weeks to arrive!!!!

DH said the manager at the post office could be the problem!!!

Looking up at the ship as we exit:

As we head to the tram I realize I forgot the tickets they left in our room for the floats I reserved. DH also realized he forgot the pager to put the kids in Scuttle's Cove so he decides to run back to the room. I told him we would go to the family beach and meet him there.....DO NOT EVER SEPARATE from your party on CC....it is bigger than you think. The girls and I get on the tram and get off at the stop where the driver says family beach...find DH a hammock....that was all he talked about for a week....and settle in.

It is getting later and later and DH is not back so the girls and I walk down toward the water and spot him at the other end of what I find out is MORE family beach.....needless to say it took a while for us to get all together again- I was hot and frustrated and so was he- so he took the girls and went for a swim and I sat in a chair at the water. We start talking to another couple who had deposited their children already and DH leaps out of the water and runs up to the chairs....he had the pager in his pocket immersed in water.....$300 ruined pager, can't take kids to Scuttle's, mad wife.....the day sucked!!!!

We went to Cookies BBQ...again yummy food - burgers, hotdogs, chicken, fish, corn on the cob....we all calmed down and then went back to play in the sand and ocean...

How can you stay upset with this kind of view???? I had only been to the beach one other time and it was in NJ so I had never seen water like this....wow!!!! This truly was a serene place!!!

About 2:30p we decided to head back for a rest before dinner....the sand was everywhere....DD3 had it caked in her hair...we washed her off in the showers at CC but when we got them back in the room and took off their swimsuits...oh my!!! Everyone got clean and sand free we laid down to rest....I apparently went right to sleep....DH and the girls went to OL to get a new pager and bracelets for them.

Here are some the FE gifts we got:

And these were in our room when we returned from CC.....DH began reading it and said it is pretty neat.

UP NEXT: PIRATE NIGHT....ARGH!!!!

 

[rhonimouse]

I was so dissappointed as I scrolled down and came to the end!!! I can not wait to see more pictures~ It is so beautiful...thanks for sharing! I am especially enjoying your report because I have never cruised but am trying to plan one for next fall and I also suffer motion sickness so it is very encouraging that you were able to enjoy the cruise without issue!

thanks for sharing, can't wait for the next post

 

[ruthma]

Bump

 

[dopeygirl76]

I was so dissappointed as I scrolled down and came to the end!!! I can not wait to see more pictures~ It is so beautiful...thanks for sharing! I am especially enjoying your report because I have never cruised but am trying to plan one for next fall and I also suffer motion sickness so it is very encouraging that you were able to enjoy the cruise without issue!

thanks for sharing, can't wait for the next post

GO!!! You will love it, take the seabands and ginger and have the Dramamine ready just in case!!!

Bump

Thanks!!!

I have nearly 1000 photos so if there is anything you have a particular interst in let me know and I will see what I have!!!

 

[Havana]

Love your Report, and great pictures!

 

[Chellymouse]

subbing. Can't wait to read more. We were not lucky enough to get the SSMC for 2011, guess it's back to trying for 2012!

 

[calypso726]

Hi Nikki! Love the TR and great pictures Looking forward to reading the rest!

 

[RysMomma]

Loving ur TR! Can't wait to read more!