Day 16 – Port Canaveral and Welcome Aboard
Sunday 29th May
Our time at the Boardwalk is over for another holiday. After all the mucking around on the first day, the last 6 have been wonderful, and as much as it sounds like a catchphrase this place really is a ‘home away from home’ for us.
Within 10 minutes of arriving, the kids had already gone off to the BW community hall and were doing crafts and playing games. They really know their way around the resort, and we know what we like to do, the shortcuts, the things we can afford to miss. It’s familiar but also magical. Moments like strolling around the Boardwalk watching the entertainers, watching a lakeside movie, or sharing a late night swim with your kids are great, and perhaps even more so as we know we can return via DVC in the future.
Anyway, enough of all that ☺ We have a little lie-in and are then up, packed and driving out of the Boardwalk exit soon after 10.15. One last job before we leave though – the get the obligatory photo of the kids on the big sofa in the entrance of the Boardwalk. We’ve done this now since Ryan’s first trip at 6 months, and it’s great to see the change over the years. I’ll post the sequence at some point, but just for now here is the latest picture.
We are off to the port but have a quick shopping trip first. I’d read on the cruise boards about dropping off pillow cases with guest services on the ship to get character autographs, but had conveniently forgotten all about it till last night. So, quick trip to Target for pillow cases, fabric markets and a Ziploc bag for it all. I say quick…finding your way around these massive stores is harder that a theme park, and they don’t give you a map ☺ Eventually get all the pieces of the puzzle and we’re off on our way.
It takes around an hour to get to Port Canaveral in all, and the process once we reach there is smooth and clearly signposted. Security check our ID, I pull forward and drop Helen and the kids off with the bags, then go and park the car - $15 per night. Walk back to the terminal via the bridge link on level 3, then a short security check before meeting up with the family again.
View from the car park – home for the next 5 days
We get checked in, and are assigned boarding group 17 – they are currently boarding group 9. Line up for pictures with Minnie, bathroom stops for the children and get wristbands for the kids, and already we’re up to 15. By the way, kids not keen at all on the permanent wristbands with the small transmitter connected to it – these can’t be removed until the end of the cruise. This created quite a lot of unhappiness for the kids to begin with, but after a day or so I think the wristbands were mostly forgotten.
Cruise terminal looking busy
10 more minutes and suddenly it’s our turn. We line up and have our cards checked to let us on board, then another line for embarkation photos. These are used to do face recognition for other photos that are taken during the cruise, but the whole arrangement seems a bit disorganized. Finally…we’re announced on-board….welcoming the Borrett family from the UK! A nice touch is that Jason, one of the CMs who works mostly in the Oceaneers Club, comes over to chat and break the ice with the kids and tell them about some of the activities they can do later.
It’s 1.25pm by now, and we’re allowed into our stateroom in 5 mins so we make our way to deck 8. The corridors are still roped off at the first, but eventually they let us in and we make our way to the room…wow! More space than I was expecting, that’s for sure. We’re in a family cabin with a large external porthole, and having this window on the outside world really makes the room brighter.
Gorgeous room
Loving the porthole window
We quickly nip up to Cabanas for some lunch – Emma has lots (and lots) of peel-yourself-shrimp! We then explore the ship a little including the Arcade where we run into Donald!, plus the Oceanears club and lab before returning to the room and starting to unpack – the bags have all been delivered by now. We have to go to do lifeboat assembly drill at 4pm and luckily we get to sit in the theatre for this. We’re told that we’re the last to be assembled, but first to be lowered into a boat if the worst happens…comforting thought.
Donald loves the arcade it seems
Donald and Emma
Exploring the club
Back to the room after, finishing the unpacking and then off to dinner – already – at 5.45pm. We’re in Animator’s Palate tonight and meet our servers Devon and Iputu. Nice guys and very friendly and attentive. We’re on our own table of 4, rather than one of the larger communal tables, and the kids both prefer this I think, as they can be a little bit shy in larger groups. The food is gorgeous with lots of exquisite little touches. Even Emma’s burger has the Disney magic!
After dinner Helen takes Emma to get some character pictures while Ryan and I head up to deck 13 to play mini golf. This is good fun, and we must have played 20 times or more over the length of the cruise. After golf we pop back to the cabin to find a letter from guest services informing us that we’ve been selected as the ‘magical family of the cruise’ and given free bike, float and snorkel rental for the days at Castaway Cay, plus more surprises to come
Ryan can’t believe it and is genuinely shocked for a good 10 minutes 
Head to show where Ryan shares the good news with Helen and Emma, and we watch a great ventriloquist act, Taylor Mason. The kids are very impressed and love him, and he’s very funny and original. The material is very family friendly, though I believe he also does a more adult show later in the week – not that we found time to see it.
Helen then takes Emma to the club for a while, while Ryan and I decide to ride the Aquaduck. Back to the cabin to change, then off to deck 12. The line is around 20 minutes…but then again, it is 10.30pm! It moves quickly enough and then it’s our turn…wow, what an experience! It may only last less than a minute, but what a unique ride. Want to try it in the day, too, to see what a difference it makes being able to see around you – no real sensation of things moving past in the dark – kind of like a wet version of Space Mountain! We take a quick dip in the hot tub on deck 11 afterwards, and then back to the room.
We seem to have packed in tonnes of things already, and this is only day 1. Tomorrow we are at Castaway Cay!
Day 17 – Castaway Cay, Part 1
Setting the Scene and Index
Sunday 29th May
Our time at the Boardwalk is over for another holiday. After all the mucking around on the first day, the last 6 have been wonderful, and as much as it sounds like a catchphrase this place really is a ‘home away from home’ for us.
Within 10 minutes of arriving, the kids had already gone off to the BW community hall and were doing crafts and playing games. They really know their way around the resort, and we know what we like to do, the shortcuts, the things we can afford to miss. It’s familiar but also magical. Moments like strolling around the Boardwalk watching the entertainers, watching a lakeside movie, or sharing a late night swim with your kids are great, and perhaps even more so as we know we can return via DVC in the future.
Anyway, enough of all that ☺ We have a little lie-in and are then up, packed and driving out of the Boardwalk exit soon after 10.15. One last job before we leave though – the get the obligatory photo of the kids on the big sofa in the entrance of the Boardwalk. We’ve done this now since Ryan’s first trip at 6 months, and it’s great to see the change over the years. I’ll post the sequence at some point, but just for now here is the latest picture.
We are off to the port but have a quick shopping trip first. I’d read on the cruise boards about dropping off pillow cases with guest services on the ship to get character autographs, but had conveniently forgotten all about it till last night. So, quick trip to Target for pillow cases, fabric markets and a Ziploc bag for it all. I say quick…finding your way around these massive stores is harder that a theme park, and they don’t give you a map ☺ Eventually get all the pieces of the puzzle and we’re off on our way.
It takes around an hour to get to Port Canaveral in all, and the process once we reach there is smooth and clearly signposted. Security check our ID, I pull forward and drop Helen and the kids off with the bags, then go and park the car - $15 per night. Walk back to the terminal via the bridge link on level 3, then a short security check before meeting up with the family again.
View from the car park – home for the next 5 days
We get checked in, and are assigned boarding group 17 – they are currently boarding group 9. Line up for pictures with Minnie, bathroom stops for the children and get wristbands for the kids, and already we’re up to 15. By the way, kids not keen at all on the permanent wristbands with the small transmitter connected to it – these can’t be removed until the end of the cruise. This created quite a lot of unhappiness for the kids to begin with, but after a day or so I think the wristbands were mostly forgotten.
Cruise terminal looking busy
10 more minutes and suddenly it’s our turn. We line up and have our cards checked to let us on board, then another line for embarkation photos. These are used to do face recognition for other photos that are taken during the cruise, but the whole arrangement seems a bit disorganized. Finally…we’re announced on-board….welcoming the Borrett family from the UK! A nice touch is that Jason, one of the CMs who works mostly in the Oceaneers Club, comes over to chat and break the ice with the kids and tell them about some of the activities they can do later.
It’s 1.25pm by now, and we’re allowed into our stateroom in 5 mins so we make our way to deck 8. The corridors are still roped off at the first, but eventually they let us in and we make our way to the room…wow! More space than I was expecting, that’s for sure. We’re in a family cabin with a large external porthole, and having this window on the outside world really makes the room brighter.
Gorgeous room
Loving the porthole window
We quickly nip up to Cabanas for some lunch – Emma has lots (and lots) of peel-yourself-shrimp! We then explore the ship a little including the Arcade where we run into Donald!, plus the Oceanears club and lab before returning to the room and starting to unpack – the bags have all been delivered by now. We have to go to do lifeboat assembly drill at 4pm and luckily we get to sit in the theatre for this. We’re told that we’re the last to be assembled, but first to be lowered into a boat if the worst happens…comforting thought.
Donald loves the arcade it seems
Donald and Emma
Exploring the club
Back to the room after, finishing the unpacking and then off to dinner – already – at 5.45pm. We’re in Animator’s Palate tonight and meet our servers Devon and Iputu. Nice guys and very friendly and attentive. We’re on our own table of 4, rather than one of the larger communal tables, and the kids both prefer this I think, as they can be a little bit shy in larger groups. The food is gorgeous with lots of exquisite little touches. Even Emma’s burger has the Disney magic!
After dinner Helen takes Emma to get some character pictures while Ryan and I head up to deck 13 to play mini golf. This is good fun, and we must have played 20 times or more over the length of the cruise. After golf we pop back to the cabin to find a letter from guest services informing us that we’ve been selected as the ‘magical family of the cruise’ and given free bike, float and snorkel rental for the days at Castaway Cay, plus more surprises to come
Ryan can’t believe it and is genuinely shocked for a good 10 minutes Head to show where Ryan shares the good news with Helen and Emma, and we watch a great ventriloquist act, Taylor Mason. The kids are very impressed and love him, and he’s very funny and original. The material is very family friendly, though I believe he also does a more adult show later in the week – not that we found time to see it.
Helen then takes Emma to the club for a while, while Ryan and I decide to ride the Aquaduck. Back to the cabin to change, then off to deck 12. The line is around 20 minutes…but then again, it is 10.30pm! It moves quickly enough and then it’s our turn…wow, what an experience! It may only last less than a minute, but what a unique ride. Want to try it in the day, too, to see what a difference it makes being able to see around you – no real sensation of things moving past in the dark – kind of like a wet version of Space Mountain! We take a quick dip in the hot tub on deck 11 afterwards, and then back to the room.
We seem to have packed in tonnes of things already, and this is only day 1. Tomorrow we are at Castaway Cay!
Day 17 – Castaway Cay, Part 1
Setting the Scene and Index
off to see 
