Our National Lampoon Christmas Vacation~Day 17

[MommaMouse411]

lol at what does prince/princess have to do with pirates.

great pics of the beach...

 

[shadowryter]

Wow! Even when it's cold and windy Castaway Cay is gorgeous. Looks like you had a great time on the island even if you couldn't enjoy the beach and swimming. Thanks for another great update!

It was beautiful.

lol at what does prince/princess have to do with pirates.

great pics of the beach...

You know what I mean...explanation coming up next.

 

[shadowryter]

Castaway Cay day…Part Two

Before too long we were back on the Wonder and warming up in our stateroom, that was until DH suggested we go to the bar and get a drink. I wandered around with my camera in hand getting some shots of the Christmas decorations and then from Deck 10 of Castaway Cay. After we finished our drinks we slowly made our way back to our stateroom where DH said his Rumrunner hit him like a ton of bricks. As he took a nap DD and I headed over to the Walt Disney Theater to take in Tangled in 3-D.
Disney Wonder at Christmas Time

Melon Colada, Rumrunner, Raspberry smoothie

Shots of CC and more Wonder

After the movie DD and I did some shopping. Of course there was a display of Vinylmation’s and a special edition cruise one. DD picked up a few of these to add to her collection while I picked up a DCL hoodie that had caught my eye. I also saw some cute Pirate Mickey ears that I thought would be great for tonight’s party but I wanted to find out what DH thought about them first. So far the only thing we had was the t-shirts that I made and there was a chance of receiving bandana’s at our pirate dinner this evening.

We went back to our stateroom where DH was waking from his nap and wondering where we had gone. DD opened her Vinylmation blind boxes and realizing she didn’t get the special edition we all headed back to the gift shop to take another look. Which meant more Vinylmation’s and a couple of t-shirts. DH checked out the pirate ears but for some reason or another we left without them. Then it was back to our room to get ready for dinner at Animator’s Palate. I was so looking forward to the Pirate menu that I had dreaming about all these months not to mention the “Pirates IN the Caribbean” party and the buffet that would follow. It was going to be a great night Arrrggghh!!!
Vinylmation Collection…ever growing

Since the party followed dinner we just opted to wear jeans and our pirate t-shirts. I was afraid that we would be under dressed but when we arrived we saw that wasn’t the case. I don’t remember seeing too many pirate outfits but when we got to our table I saw the small bandanas that were at each place setting. We all seemed to struggle with tying these little suckers on our heads so we would be in party mode but soon the menu arrived and I was like…what????
Tonight we were getting to preview the new Prince and Princess menu….Yeah…where was my pirate menu? What did Princes and Princesses have to do with it? The menu was fine but not tonight’s theme. I admit I was just a tad disappointed.

Prince and Princess Menu

To be continued....

 

[shadowryter]

Fig and date ciabatta roll with minted yogurt dip

Our drinks…Enchanted and Golden Slipper

Appetizers…all good
Double baked aged reggiano parmesan cheese soufflé

Belle’s scallops Au Gratin

Coronation of mixed leaves

Entrees
DH & I…Roasted filet of Beef Wellington…not as good as I had hoped

Rack of New Zealand lamb…DD loved this!

Dessert menu

Princess Jasmine banana bread pudding…DH and DD enjoyed this.

Prince Charming’s chilled chocolate soufflé

All in all it was a great dining experience just not a piratey one. Our tablemates were a joy as usual, the food was delicious and we had fun. Our meal ended with a Pirate conga line through the restaurant and then we were off for Pirates IN the Caribbean Party time!!!
AP

You can get a glimpse of our party t-shirts

By the time we got to the party it was already started. We found a place to watch pretty close to the stage and all the action but not in the middle of everything. DH found a place to sit back a relax while DD and I got closer. The music was hypnotic and to tell you the truth I felt like a teenager again. DD and I moved and grooved to the music, along with everyone else. The party was rockin’ and it was great. The characters were so much fun to watch. We saw Minnie, Goofy, Chip ‘n Dale, Daisy and Stitch along with the rest of the cast. There was Captain Hook and Mr Smee with a battle of good vs. evil and soon came Captain Mickey, flying over our heads like Tinkerbell herself, followed by the fireworks…an incredible display at sea. Fantastic!!!
Pirates IN the Caribbean

It was still cold and as Mickey and Minnie and the rest of the gang waved goodbye all we wanted to do was to get some coffee and warm up and I’m not sure what we did all that time but somehow the Pirate buffet completely slipped my mine until we were heading back and saw what was left…bare tables being disassembled, food being packed up. Oh well, I was still full from dinner anyway. Once back in our cabin we were greeted with yet another towel creation and a reminder that DD had a Swedish Massage the next day. That and our tip envelopes which I prepaid before the cruise. We weren’t sure exactly where the spa was so we took a little walk to find it and that was when it hit me. Hard to believe but tomorrow was our Sea day….and our last full day on the Wonder.

Next...A WONDERful day at sea!!!!

 

[MommaMouse411]

I was upset about the Princess menu too..I wanted my pirate menu!! we all seem to have eaten the same stuff....that cheese souffle was good...really good

 

[mrp4352]

Hi!! I'm new to your trippie, but I'm enjoying it so far!

[It was around 5, when we started out the door to check out the grounds and look for a bite to eat when we heard it, the unmistakable horn belting out the familiar notes of, When You Wish Upon a Star. We all ran to the window and sure enough the Magic was pulling out of Port and all I could think of was I was going to be experiencing this on the Wonder same time tomorrow. My heart skipped a beat….hey, I was a newbie.

I just wanted to say - your heart skipping a beat isn't because you're a newbie! It's because that's one of the most magical sounds in the world!!


Now, I've got to get back to reading and get caught up on your report!

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Just found your TR via your DISigns thread... Loving it so far!!! And the pics from CC are amazing!!!

 

[shadowryter]

I was upset about the Princess menu too..I wanted my pirate menu!! we all seem to have eaten the same stuff....that cheese souffle was good...really good

Hopefully next time, huh?

Hi!! I'm new to your trippie, but I'm enjoying it so far!



I just wanted to say - your heart skipping a beat isn't because you're a newbie! It's because that's one of the most magical sounds in the world!!


Now, I've got to get back to reading and get caught up on your report!

Thanks for reading. It is a magical sound. I think it will always affect me that way.

Just found your TR via your DISigns thread... Loving it so far!!! And the pics from CC are amazing!!!

Thank you so much.

 

[shadowryter]

Our Last Day on the Wonder

I woke up around 6:15 and made my way to the verandah trying not to wake DH & DD. It was a still a bit on the dark side and I remembered the day before talking to DH about how you’ve never seen a sunrise until you are on the ocean. Well he told me he would get up early so we could watch the sun rise together and I was going to hold him to his word but he looked so peaceful sleeping. He woke anyway and when he realized what I was up to he got up and we headed to the top deck. We stood by the railing, the sun was just a slight blur on the dark water. I had my camera of course and so did a few others. I have to admit it was an amazing sight. I stood there with DH, wearing my pj’s, covered with my new DCL sweatshirt, flip-flops, hair in a scrungie and not a stitch of make-up and it felt great.
A beautiful sunrise…step by step

The ship looked beautiful bathed in the soft morning light so I took some pictures as DH and I walked around. I thought there would be more people up and about but there wasn’t really. DH and I went down to the drink station and we got some hot coffee and one to go for DD. It was nice just taking our time and taking in the scenery. So many photo op’s and so many photographers.
Some of my favorite shots of the Wonder in the morning

Once back to our cabin I got DD up and moving. We opted for brunch at Triton’s so we still had plenty of time. This being our last day with still more vacation ahead of us I had the dubious task of doing laundry. Yeah!!! Now I admit that I tried to pack light but I never expected it to be so cold and we only had one pair of jeans each. Wear and wash…wear and…well you get it. I got things together and decided the laundry could wait until after brunch. Once DD was ready we all headed to Tritons running into some of our cruise meet group along the way. We previously ate breakfast to Beach Blanket Buffet and I thought that was good but Triton’s…OMG…soooo very delicious!
Triton’s Brunch Menu

Pastries, coffee and juice

Coco Bali for me and Caipirinha (yes, that’s correct) Both very good though

To be continued....

 

[shadowryter]

We all had the Crabmeat cocktail…delicious

DD had the Bacon, Brie & tomato Panini

DH had Eggs Benedict

I had simple French toast…my favorite even at home

We all had the Cherry Crepes…yummy

After brunch we headed back so I could find the laundry room and get to business, problem was so was everyone else. I ran into a guy who was kind enough to remove his laundry from the washer but he was waiting for a dryer. Situation here was that all the dryers were full and just sitting there. I went back to our stateroom where DH and DD were watching Karate Kid. I returned within my allotted time and saw the same guy still waiting for a dryer. Sorry folks but this was just was ridiculous and out and out rude. The stuff in the dryer had been there for over 2 hours and the line was building up outside the door. I removed my clothes to let someone else use the washer but tempers were starting to flare waiting for the owners of the dryers to return. One woman left and I heard that she held a dryer in another laundry room while her husband grabbed his wash and made a beeline to meet her. By this time someone went into the hall and got some clean bags and began dumping the dried laundry into them, each separate of course. I claimed one of the dryers but by the time this whole fiasco ended and I had my dried clothes we had missed lunch and wasted about 3 hours. Great way to spend your last day on the Wonder, huh?
DH and I grabbed a quick bite at Goofy’s Gallery will DD took a nap, but were still hungry and I wasn’t in the mood for pizza so I called room service for some lunch and they delivered within minutes. At lease it was something to eat but I really wanted to do some meet and greets with the characters and have lunch at one of the restaurants. Not enough time…we missed it.
I think everyone has this shot

Quick snack…Panini sandwich and fresh fruit (different kinds but they all looked the same)

Room Service
BLT

Fresh fruit

Mac n Cheese

Cheese & Crackers

Banana Cream Pie

Big Island Chocolate Chip Cookie

Mickey milk

After lunch I did my usual and began to pack. We were told we had to have our bags outside the door no later than 10:00 p.m. so I wanted to have them ready to go right after dinner. Our luggage tags were delivered earlier so all I had to do was pack and place the tags on them.
Before long DD’s Spa treatment was approaching so DH and I walked her to the Vista Spa and returned to our room so I could finish with the packing. I stopped just long enough to take in a gorgeous sunset…our last at sea…snapped a few pic’s and continued to pack. A little more than an hour later we got a call from DD and wasn’t sure what was going on. I worry about her since she has asthma but so far nothing had occurred on this trip. Turned out she had no idea how to “pay” for her treatment. She was on our account but didn’t know what to do. We straightened things out and then it was back to our cabin to get ready for dinner. When we were about to leave DD asked to wear a necklace she had brought with her but I couldn’t find it and began to panic. I talked her into wearing one of mine and hoped that it would turn up. With everything set we headed to Animator’s Palette for our last dinner on the Wonder.
Our last sunset on the Wonder

Animator’s Palette Menu

Artist’s Impression & True Colors Cocktails

Roasted Garlic Dip(forgot the bread???)

AP Pictures

To be continued...again!

 

[shadowryter]

Apps
Rock Shrimp & Carmelized Onion Cheesecake

Wild Mushroom Risotto and Porcini Twist

Roma Tomatoes & Portobello Mushrooms on a Polenta Cake

Butternut Squash Soup

More AP Pictures

We all had the same entrée
Asian Marinated Beef Tenderloin…really good

Desert Menu
Animators Sweet Temptations (Strawberry Sable, Orange-Cranberry Cheesecake & Double Fudge Chocolate Cake)

Strawberry Sable

When dinner was over I was keeping my eye on the time. We had to have our bags in the hallway before 10 and it was around 9:30. I stopped our servers just long enough to snap a picture and then as DH handed them their tip envelopes Made asked us to wait for a couple more minutes. I had almost forgotten that we had one more celebration and before we knew it our servers and several other CM’s gathered around my DH with a cake and a Happy Birthday song. It was the perfect ending to dinner and DH was really pleased.
Made and Johanna

DH and his B-day cake

We said goodnight to our tablemates and headed to our room. A CM was already there collecting luggage so DH put ours outside…just in time. We were greeted with this little fellow and a note that we had an 8 am breakfast at Animator’s Palette. It was getting late and I still couldn’t find DD’s pendant (which I confessed to misplacing) but we had to call it a night because it was going to be an early morning.

Next...Goodbye Disney Wonder...Hello Disney World!　

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

That sucks about getting the Princess menu on Pirate night, I wonder if they were testing new menus for the MR cruises. I remember on my first cruise in 2006 on the Wonder I didn't get any of the rotational menus as they were testing new menus for an upcoming longer cruise, the only menu that they regularly use was the Pirate one.

 

[MNTwinsMom]

More gorgeous pictures! That sunrise was quite a reward for getting up early!

It doesn't look like the cool weather put any damper on your fun!

Thanks again for the great report. I'm enjoying every update.

 

[shadowryter]

That sucks about getting the Princess menu on Pirate night, I wonder if they were testing new menus for the MR cruises. I remember on my first cruise in 2006 on the Wonder I didn't get any of the rotational menus as they were testing new menus for an upcoming longer cruise, the only menu that they regularly use was the Pirate one.

It's just that I was really looking forward to the Pirate menu.Princess and Princesses don't really set the mood.

 

[shadowryter]

More gorgeous pictures! That sunrise was quite a reward for getting up early!

It doesn't look like the cool weather put any damper on your fun!

Thanks again for the great report. I'm enjoying every update.

Thanks. That sunrise was beautiful and I'm a romantic at heart so it felt pretty awesome. It was cool but we just bundled up. Believe me it only got colder as the days passed.

 

[GoofyWife]

Beautiful pictures and the food looks amazing. My DH doesn't know it yet, but I'm planning on a Disney cruise in 2013 Did you notice many couples without their kids or is it more children with families?

 

[shadowryter]

Beautiful pictures and the food looks amazing. My DH doesn't know it yet, but I'm planning on a Disney cruise in 2013 Did you notice many couples without their kids or is it more children with families?

Hi there, thank you for your comments and thanks for reading.I only have one cruise under my belt with one planned on the Dream this fall and if I have my way another for 2012 on the Fantasy.I saw many adults only on the cruise. There are of course families with children but it's not a families with kids only cruise. There is a lot things for us adults to do. Since we were newbies we missed out on a lot. There are games like bingo, adults only nightclubs, different tastings like wine, margaritta's, mojito's, etc. There are shows, movies, shopping and the adults only pool.My DH agreed to the cruise but every day ,I heard, "Kiddie cruise, kiddie cruise!" Well he loved it, so much it was he who wanted me to book the Dream for this year. You'll love it. Don't worry about being adults without kids. Afterall when in Disney aren't we all kids?Happy planning.
Linda

 

[MommaMouse411]

you've given me ideas on how and what to take pictures of next time...next time it will be easier as Miguel will be in the Oceannears Club and manuelito and I can hang out taking pics or I can put him in the nursery for couple hours and do my picture taking.

 

[shadowryter]

you've given me ideas on how and what to take pictures of next time...next time it will be easier as Miguel will be in the Oceannears Club and manuelito and I can hang out taking pics or I can put him in the nursery for couple hours and do my picture taking.

Hi MommaMouse, there is so much to photograph. I could have spent most of my time just doing that...hey maybe I did.I got a new camera. It's a small point and shoot but the images are incredible. Almost as good as an SLR but not the huge price tag. It's a Nikon Coolpix S8100. I can't want to use it on our next vacation. But if you want some really great ideas then go over to the "DCL Pic of the Day" thread. I have some of my enhanced photos there but you should see some of the images. I feel like such an amateur on that thread but it is so addicting.

 

[shadowryter]

Farewell Wonder….

Our 6 am wake up call pulled everyone out of bed. I looked out into the early dawn and saw that we were in port. Shortly I found our bill under the door and saw that everything was where it should be. The night before my photo mat and 9 inch Vinylmation was delivered and perfectly autographed by the main characters so I took a pic of them plus our Fish Extender loot. We got so many cool things. Some were purchased, some home made but every item was special. I packed them all up as we all got ready at our own pace and when we were set I did my usual last minute check; drawers, cabinets, shelves. I desperately looked under the bed and behind everything looking for DD’s pendant but to no avail. She told me not to worry about it…that it would turn up, probably buried somewhere in the luggage. I could only hope. Did I forget to mention that this was a diamond dragonfly??? A gift from me and her dad. She was so cool and calm about it.
The Port in the early morning

Our Autographed goodies

Our FE loot

Vinylmation’s…the big and the small

We grabbed our carryon’s, a backpack and a small duffle and headed to breakfast. I wanted to pick up some last minute gifts but forgot that the shops would be closed when were in Port Canaveral so I was out of luck. We all seemed to meet at out table at the same time. Sara and company had a 3p.m. flight and was trying to figure out how to waste the time once off the ship. DH and I were trying to hustle since we had an 11:30 ADR at LeCellier and that was kind of close but we were sure we could make it. Off the ship by 9:30...back to the Radisson to pick up the car by 9:45...a hour or so to Disney…plenty of time. We had a nice, light breakfast since lunch was soon to follow, said goodbye to Johanna and Made and our tablemates and made our way to the grand atrium for one last look.
Breakfast menu

Pastry

Sweet Journey

Chef’s Farewell

See Ya Real Soon!

Here is where our problem arose. We seemed to be stuck on that gangway forever. Well at least an hour. We left breakfast a little before 9 and now it was almost 10. A CM came by and apologized for the wait and told us that customs was really going over things as if they were looking for something. He said it usually didn’t take this long. Yeah. The line finally moved and we collected our luggage, got in line and then for what seemed like forever we were finally through. Luckily the bus from the Radisson was waiting and we got on right away.
I admit I was a bit antsy thinking again about our stuff being left behind for four days but when we arrived our car and things were all accounted for. I had to quickly do a repack to fit everything in, placing a few bags into the back seat. We ran back to the hotel for a last minute pit stop and then we were off…but it was already 10:20. I think DH broke every speed limit but we made good time to the Contemporary Resort. We were greeted out front, our luggage collected and car taken away by valet within minutes. I had pre registered online and everything was ready upon our arrival. A very pleasant CM greeted us warmly, wished DH and I a happy anniversary and gave us anniversary buttons. Realizing DD was not celebrating anything she gave her a Happily Every After button not knowing that DD had a bad breakup with her BF a few days before our vacation. Trying to avoid Def-con 3 I stashed the button, taking a peek at the clock behind the counter that boldly read 11:25. Sadly I went to concierge and asked them to cancel our LeCellier ressie.
So close

Right around the corner

A familiar sight

Contemporary Resort…We’re here!

To be continued....