Please share your favorite DCL memory!

[TiggerPU88]

Wow... what a great thread!

Here are some of mine...

From my first cruise -- the THIRD voyage of the Magic in 1998 with my best friend (we were both married with no kids at the time):

The excitement of the video on the bus and seeing the ship for the first time
Being escorted to our stateroom (and having left the video camera on by accident -- the whole thing is on tape!)
Hearing the horm for the first time
The spa!!!
The magic of Animator's Palette

From my second cruise -- on the Wonder with DS (1 yr. old) and my Mom (DH only wanted to go to WDW part)

DS's enjoyment of the characters. We would stand in line, see the three that were out (& give them big hughs & kisses), then get in line again, see them again, then get in line again, etc... you get the picture. The Cast Members actually got to know us and would say, "Mickey, look, Elian's here to see you again!"
Playing in the sand with DS at Castaway Cay
Giving my Mom the opportunity to encounter dolphins on a shore excursion
The wonderful staff at Flounders, who made DS feel like the most special child on the ship

And I know theere will be many more on my third trip!

Thanks!

 

[travel with kids]

OK! I am convinced--we will book our cruise today!!

Great memories--it is like a Hallmark commercial--I read every posting and cried the whole time!! Thank you for sharing.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by saturday97
Our last night on the cruise, DH looked at me and said in a kid's voice "But I don't want it to be over."

Ok, I burst out crying with this one! I know exactly how your dh felt....because I said this exact same thing!

That didn't work. We still had to get off the ship. Next time I'm going for the "lock myself in the bathroom" technique!

 

[gdulaney]

All of these post bring back such great memories. It's not just "one thing" that makes the cruise so special. For my husband and me, it's a number of things. I'll try to pick the top five.

1. Although we don't have children (unless you count our two ferret "daughters"), we love watching the little boy or girl who leads the countdown prior to boarding the ship.

2. Watching the first-time cruisers during dinner at Animator's Palate (okay...it's us too!!)

3. Meeting new friends and seeing old friends.

4. Spending a quiet moment with my husband in the "not-so-secret-anymore" secret overlook on deck 7.

5. Hearing the ship's horn!

There are so many magical moments that it REALLY is tough to just pick five... darn!

 

[disneydreamer1970]

The response to my thread has been overwhelming!! I guess that making magical memories is what the DCL is all about!! I cannot wait for our trip, however, planning is part of the fun!!

You all have had me laughing and crying through this whole thing!!

I better get working on those belly flops!!! I will have enough time to practice!!! Has anyone seen a girl win??? I'm not very big but I believe that technique has alot to do with it!! Mh DH has seen my belly flop (my DS (11) find this quite entertaining) and he was totally LOL when I told him that I want to win this!!!

Thank you all for posting and I encourage more people to post.

DISr's are the BEST!!!!!

 

[4myguys]

1. Seeing the ship for the first time. I had never seen a cruise ship in person. It was larger than life.
2. The surprise in hearing the horn the first time. Was not expecting that at all.
3. Having my hair done up for formal night. Had not had that done since getting married 17 years ago.
4. Seeing DH in tux. What a hunk.

5. Youngest DS posing and getting autographs from all the characters.

Well, I could go on and on.

 

[Moosysmom]

I was on my First Cruise this past March and my favorite memories:
1. Seeing the Magic for the first Time. (I kept my sunglasses on during the bus ride, because I had tears in my eyes the whole way to Port.
2. Hearing the Horn for the first time. (When you wish upon a Star has been my theme song for about a year now, as I have been trying to get moved to Florida)
3. The cruise staff. Nothin' nowhere can beat em.
4. Traveling with a best friend and having the time of our lives.
5. Disney Dreams--(I teared up during that one too. I am just an old softie.)
6. Til we meet again. (The pixie dust was the best)
7. Not wanting to leave. I kept asking all the crew if I could stow away with them.

Thankfully I have my scrapbook to look at alot. But its not the same. It's truly a very special memory I have.

 

[joanb]

disneydreamer1970-I'm a girl and I won the belly flop contest-had to beat my husband!!!!!!!!!! Actually it is entertaiaining --free entertainment provided by US!!!!!!!!!

 

[stephmarty]

As we pulled out of port on the Magic, I was standing on the upper deck looking down at the pool area where the characters were putting on a show and party. All the kids and parents were dancing, singing YMCA and other fun songs, and I very unexpectedly got choked up. In fact, I am again now thinking about it. I had seen the DCL commercials for a few years, and I always thought there would be no way I could afford to go on one. But I worked hard, saved the money, and suddenly realized how fortunate I felt to be on board with my wife and daughter. Just the sight of all those happy kids and parents and realizing I was one of them was almost overwhelming. That was last May, and we'll be on #2 in October!

 

[TootyJane]

The first thing that comes to mind was seeing the Disney Magic for the first time, walking onto the ship and thinking "This is the most beautiful ship I've ever been on or seen." The most memorable event was when we walked into our Cat. 2 stateroom. Dh and I had to pick our jaws up off the floor. I thought we had died and gone to heaven!!!

 

[grandmalinda]

I haven't visited this forum for a long time......I mostly cruise on the Princess cruise line. Just returned from 2 mos. onboard the Regal Princess with 3 back-to-back cruises. BUT, my funnest and best cruise was onboard the Magic last summer with my 2 granddaughters. Lots of memories but one of my favorites.....
We had just boarded and were checking the ship out. 5 yr. old Kylie came running up to me. "GRANDMA!! You won't even believe who is on this ship!!!!". Who, Kylie, I asked. "MINNIE MOUSE AND MICKEY MOUSE!!". Well, Kylie, they have to take their vacation, too. "I know, Grandma, but at the same time we're taking our vacation?". A moment later......."GRANDMA!!!! Guess who else is on this ship?". Who, Kylie? With arms outstretched,"PLUTO AND GOOFY!!". Well, Kylie, maybe all the Disney characters take their vacations at the same time. (I looked over at the 8 yr. old who was rolling her eyes up and sighing and said to her, don't you say a single word!). Kylie then said, "Grandma, we have to be the luckiest people in the world to be on the same ship at the same time that Disney is taking their vacation, too". It was truly magic.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

ºOº -1- ºOº Seeing the ship over the horizon for the first time. I bawled both times from the excitement.

ºOº -2- ºOº Hearing the "When you Wish Upon a Star" horn each and every time.

ºOº -3- ºOº Last cruise, a CM asked if I wanted to help him shoot the confetti from Deck 10 at the Sailaway Party.

ºOº -4- ºOº Meeting Ariel for the first time in the lobby.

ºOº -5- ºOº Sharing a bottle of Dom Perignon in Sessions with my DH on our Honeymoon Eastern cruise.

Thanks for letting me share. I've really been enjoying everyone's posts here -- everyone has such special & *magical* memories! It get's me so excited for our next cruise!

 

[Tooth Fairy]

One of our best memories is seeing our 8 yr. DD's face at the saill away party when she realized the ship was moving. It was had "magic" and "wonder" all over it. The horn blew and it was perfect!

 

[fredms]

As simple as it sounds, just walking through the atrium and hearing our name. As cheesy as it sounds after counting down for so many months and studying the Boards so frantically I couldn't believe I was finally there!

 

[SlyHubby]

Well, it has to be my daughter's face and her expression - so many times that first cruise. It was as spectacular as the first time she saw Mickey and Minnie in person. It's the one that you never forget and can instantly bring tears to your eyes.

Who does not have fond memories and amazement from the very first time they heard the horn?

Lastly, no matter where the ship went, no matter what time of day, no matter what ships were around, the Magic/Wonder were always the center of attention. When we pulled in or out of port, people on the other ships were taking the pictures of us - and we were on the ship! At 5AM, pulling back into Port Canaveral, in the darkness, I see a longshoreman on one of the casino boats - and there he is - flashing his instant camera to get a picture of us. Simply amazing!

 

[jlawall]

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER.....sorry I just had to say that.....back to this thread......

I have to add to my previous post...........


1. Leaving each port, I love the horn blast and music, I love watching the ship sail away from the islands....it's breathtaking...
2. Spending the day at CC. It's great all day long no matter what activity you do

Truly MAGICal!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Im in tears just thinking about the day we finally make it onboard! Thinking of putting something on my green Mickey head
"IGTD is finally here"