Sweet Sixteen on the Dream! The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy!

[Dallas_Lady]

Your daughter is gorgeous! I'm excited to read more

 

[mousetravel]

We had a 10:00am scheduled shuttle ride from CI&S. Although we had a check in time of 11:00-11:30, I still wanted to get there early. After reading lots of reviews about the check in process, I was very curious as to how it would work out.


Here we are on the shuttle bus:
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Getting our luggage out of the shuttle bus' trailer:

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Getting ready to check in!
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We arrived at the check in line at 10:30am. (GREAT shuttle service, btw)!! As we went in, it wasn't too crowded. There was a line, but it moved really quick! As we were in line, we were given boarding #...........


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(Side note: They did NOT ask to see our check-in arrival time)


After checking in, we spotted a good seat, and I took a couple pictures. This is how the crowds were when we got there:
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We weren't sure how long we would have to actually wait before we could board, so we just hung out, went out on the viewing deck, and met & chatted with a few Dis'ers from our cruise meet!!


Viewing deck:
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Some Disney cartoons playing on the TV's:
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We saw a CM taking some pictures over here, so we decided to jump in & get one, too.
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Soon Mickey comes out for pics!!
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Then Minnie!
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We also seen Goofy, but the line was way too long by that time.


A little after 12:00pm, they called our number to board, and off we went!!!

The check-in process was really easy and moved along fast. I was so worried about this as I read lots of reviews. But we had no worries at all!!!!!

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[mousetravel]

Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks for joining!!!!

Thanks for the info in this TR! August will be our first trip to disney and we are EXCITED!!! We are using military discounts and looking for hotels in the area and this one (Best Western) is on our list. Your sharing has made this search a whole lot easier! Feels like I'm THERE already! Can't wait to read the rest! THANKS!!!

We enjoyed the hotel and had no complaints at all. The lobby, the grounds, the room, and even the hallways were just beautiful! I don't know why there have been bad reviews of this hotel. But then again, I have even read bad reviews on the Grand Floridian!

Your daughter is gorgeous! I'm excited to read more

Thank you!! I love your family pic in your signature:
1st pic: mom & dad
2nd pic: mom & dad & baby
3rd pic: mom & dad & baby & another baby!

So cute!!!

 

[jenseib]

Your check in process sound just like ours, though I have read of manuy other different ways too. I don't know if they keep switching it up to see what works best or what?
It also sounds like you got the our cabin steward. he probably wasn't the worst, but he was far from good. I had a used gift card in the slot in our room to run the lights and it came up missing. He had no clue if it was used or not, and that irked me.

 

[Cotillard]

Soon Mickey comes out for pics!!
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Love this pic - I want one like this with my daughter!

 

[FirstTimeDC]

I'm in!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Do you rememeber your shuttle driver's name? We had Dwayne, and he was awesome!! Just wondering if y'all had him too!!

 

[gfly]

excellent start and it looked like a beautiful boarding day outside! The hour and a half wait in the terminal though had to be brutal.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Lovin your report and makes me hope that October gets here fast so I can be oon the Dream!

 

[SoonerGirl]

It's so exciting to be walking through those mouse ears boarding the ship isn't it?!

 

[mousetravel]

Your check in process sound just like ours, though I have read of manuy other different ways too. I don't know if they keep switching it up to see what works best or what?
It also sounds like you got the our cabin steward. he probably wasn't the worst, but he was far from good. I had a used gift card in the slot in our room to run the lights and it came up missing. He had no clue if it was used or not, and that irked me.

I wouldn't say he was "horrific-ly" bad, but definately the worst out of all the cruises I have been on (Royal Caribbean, twice on Carnival, 2nd time on Disney). I used our Best Western LBV key card for the lights, and we didn't have any problems.

Love this pic - I want one like this with my daughter!

I'm in!

Thanks for joining!!

Do you rememeber your shuttle driver's name? We had Dwayne, and he was awesome!! Just wondering if y'all had him too!!

I had to double check on this one, but yes, that's him! I couldn't remember his name, but I looked through a few papers from our trip, and found the little slip of paper he gives out for the return shuttle, and it had his name on there! I enjoyed him. As we were returning, he was cracking jokes about how we're no longer on a cruise, and no one would be picking up our towels, making our beds, and from now on, we had to always pay for our food!! We were sitting up front, and as he said that, I said loudly, "OK, Why don't you just keep rubbing it in!" LOL, we all had a lot of laughs with him.

I also liked the "personal" service they provide. On the paper with his name, it also listed his cell phone number in case we needed to call him if the shuttle wasn't out there upon arriving at the shuttle pick up spot.

I was very happy with CI&S and their service!

excellent start and it looked like a beautiful boarding day outside! The hour and a half wait in the terminal though had to be brutal.

It wasn't too bad. Time kinda flew by, since we were taking pics, and I ran into a few Dis'ers from our crusie meet. It was a beautiful day! Not too hot that day!

Lovin your report and makes me hope that October gets here fast so I can be oon the Dream!

Thanks! You will love it.

It's so exciting to be walking through those mouse ears boarding the ship isn't it?!

Yes!!

 

[mousetravel]

As we walked through the entry way into the ship, we were amazed at how gorgeous it was! I was almost crying! We explored around some of the ship. Since it was almost 12:30, we figured we would go to Cabanas for lunch, then hopefully our room would be ready by the time we finished!



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I didn't have any complaints about Cabanas, I just thought it was kinda strange (as previous discussions said the same), that the elevator dropped you off right into the walkway to the Quiet Cove, to get through to Cabanas. Through the whole cruise, I jokingly kept calling it the "Not So Quiet Cove". There was always kids & teens (including mine ) walking through there. But there never was a problem with them making lots of noise. It was just that anyone who was going to Cabanas had to get there, through that way.


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Coming up: Arriving to our room and the award for the "Worse Stateroom Attendant I've Ever Had" goes to..............

 

[mousetravel]

Getting ready to hit the road again tomorrow for a day trip to ATL!!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Loving this TR! How fun to go on a DCL for your 16th b-day! What a nice mom!

 

[debsters41]

Getting ready to hit the road again tomorrow for a day trip to ATL!!

Have a safe trip! I have been lurking because I too will be fortunate enough to do a Mother Daughter trip on the Dream in September.

Your daughter is beautiful and has fantastic taste (We love the pink mickey shirt)!

 

[LuvEeyore]

I am so saaadddddddddddd!!!!! You are taking a day trip to Atlanta....that means to things No update today and I am not with you!!

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Hurry home from Atlanta...we're all waiting for more..... : )

 

[bairdbeth]

Loving your report! It was nice to meet y'all onboard! Since you are in Atlanta today, you are in my neck of the woods! Can't wait to read more!
Beth

 

[UGAFan0829]

I hope y'all are having a great time! I can't wait to hear all about it, though I am still sad that it didn't work out for us to meet up today!! Stupid work!!

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

I am hoping to have a trip like this when my girls turn 16