CastawayJP
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 700
Hey everyone I just wanted to share my thoughts about our third DCL cruise this year, and our first experience with the 4 day cruise. I am currently making a youtube video like my first one, so I'll let everyone know when that is up and ready!
First off we were all so happy to see the terminal decorated for Christmas! I was parking the car when it happened but my Wife told me that when my 8 year old daughter saw the decorations at the top of the escalator it took her breath away! I wish that I could have seen it, but I was pleasently shocked to see those famous hands dangling ornaments when I got to the top. When we boarded the ship I actually teared up a little when I saw the Christmas tree in the lobby. I just couldn't believe that the ship was decorated as well. I guess that I shouldn't have been surprised by it - after all we were going to WDW after the cruise to take part in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - but I just felt truely blessed to be there during the holidays! We made sure to take advantage of the decorations for picture purposes, and we had a WONDERful family photo taken in front of the tree!
One of my favorite things about this cruise was that my daughter got to be the first one in line to have her picture taken with Mickey in the terminal! I was afraid that since we had done this twice before that the whole character thing might have worn on her, but this was the first time she got to have her picture taken with Mickey! I even got in too after she got her turn!
As for 4 nights vs 3 nights it amazed me how one day at sea can make such a big diference! The day at sea really allowed me to enjoy my day at Castaway Cay much more. I didn't have to think about packing and how it was our last night. The sea day was a great time to explore parts of the ship that we hadn't really done before. I even sat in on the DVC presentation. I didn't win the $300 shipboard credit, and they didn't present anything that I hadn't already learned here on the DIS! One day I will be a DVC member, oh yes one day...
This was also our first time in a Cat 9 oceanview room. We had been on deck 5 aft our first two times, and we liked the location close to kids clubs and such, but we wanted to see outside. We did not like the fact that we were right on top of the WD Theatre though. We were on deck 2 forward this time, and I have to say... It was a lot louder! We had a lot of engine noise, and a much rougher ride. I was really surprised by this, has anyone else had this experience? Is it just the fact that we were down lower?
Another first. Our first time at Palo. Amazing.
We did a little something different after disembarking this time. Rather than pile into the car and head back home, we decided to head to WDW for a night. We got a great deal at All Star Movies (accomodations not up to par with DCL as expected), so we decided to take in MVMCP. This was a great way to ease our way back into reality! We chilled at the hotel for a couple of hours and hit the park around 4 o'clock. We really loved the party and Holiday Wishes made Pirate Night look like a 2 year old holding a sparkler! Here is a link to the video I made of the fireworks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pejMXG5lDw
Well I guess it wasn't so quick afterall. Hopefully I'll be writing another one of these in April after we get back from the 7 nighter we are hoping to do!
First off we were all so happy to see the terminal decorated for Christmas! I was parking the car when it happened but my Wife told me that when my 8 year old daughter saw the decorations at the top of the escalator it took her breath away! I wish that I could have seen it, but I was pleasently shocked to see those famous hands dangling ornaments when I got to the top. When we boarded the ship I actually teared up a little when I saw the Christmas tree in the lobby. I just couldn't believe that the ship was decorated as well. I guess that I shouldn't have been surprised by it - after all we were going to WDW after the cruise to take part in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - but I just felt truely blessed to be there during the holidays! We made sure to take advantage of the decorations for picture purposes, and we had a WONDERful family photo taken in front of the tree!
One of my favorite things about this cruise was that my daughter got to be the first one in line to have her picture taken with Mickey in the terminal! I was afraid that since we had done this twice before that the whole character thing might have worn on her, but this was the first time she got to have her picture taken with Mickey! I even got in too after she got her turn!
As for 4 nights vs 3 nights it amazed me how one day at sea can make such a big diference! The day at sea really allowed me to enjoy my day at Castaway Cay much more. I didn't have to think about packing and how it was our last night. The sea day was a great time to explore parts of the ship that we hadn't really done before. I even sat in on the DVC presentation. I didn't win the $300 shipboard credit, and they didn't present anything that I hadn't already learned here on the DIS! One day I will be a DVC member, oh yes one day...
This was also our first time in a Cat 9 oceanview room. We had been on deck 5 aft our first two times, and we liked the location close to kids clubs and such, but we wanted to see outside. We did not like the fact that we were right on top of the WD Theatre though. We were on deck 2 forward this time, and I have to say... It was a lot louder! We had a lot of engine noise, and a much rougher ride. I was really surprised by this, has anyone else had this experience? Is it just the fact that we were down lower?
Another first. Our first time at Palo. Amazing.
We did a little something different after disembarking this time. Rather than pile into the car and head back home, we decided to head to WDW for a night. We got a great deal at All Star Movies (accomodations not up to par with DCL as expected), so we decided to take in MVMCP. This was a great way to ease our way back into reality! We chilled at the hotel for a couple of hours and hit the park around 4 o'clock. We really loved the party and Holiday Wishes made Pirate Night look like a 2 year old holding a sparkler! Here is a link to the video I made of the fireworks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pejMXG5lDw
Well I guess it wasn't so quick afterall. Hopefully I'll be writing another one of these in April after we get back from the 7 nighter we are hoping to do!
