Texas Girl's Trip Report -MAGIC 10/11-18th "Parrothead Pirates in Paradise"
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DAY 1 – To Orlando we go!
Friday, October 10, 2008…time to commence our 6th Awesome Family Disney Vacation! We have been planning and anticipating this vacation since we booked it in March (when we decided we couldn’t live without going on another Caribbean Disney Cruise in 2008.)
We booked an early morning flight Friday, October 10 at 7:20 a.m. so we can make the most of our day staying on-site at Disney Resort Port Orleans French Quarter. IT IS TIME TO GO ON THE CRUISE!!! We are all completely packed so when our alarm goes off in the early morning all we have to do is meet our prearranged taxi outside after dressing in on our matching clothes already laid out (Pluto for the boys/Minnie for the girls). Check in is quick and painless. We purchase breakfast at Popeye’s and before long, boarding begins. Our flight there is great…the children were very well behaved and happy and sat together.
Once at MCO (Orlando Airport) at 10:54 am ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ are soooooo excited. They sing and skip through the airport. We excitedly take the tram to the visitor terminal & do a quick drop in the Disney store to grab my annual Mickey Mouse earrings. After that we head downstairs and check in for Magical Express. It is great we don’t have to mess with baggage claim or luggage. They’ll “appear” later today in our room at POFQ.
We load up on the Disney bus and quickly we are at POFQl!! When we check in, our room is already ready (Yeah) so we go to our room to drop off our day bags and check it out. Passing to our room we also see that the grounds are as charming as we remember. We pose for pictures in our matching Pluto/Minnie shirts. The room is pretty. We decide to take the free boat to “downtown Disney” and eat lunch and shop a bit. We take the “river boat” to downtown Disney which is cute and decide to eat at Wolfgang Puck’s. I have a terrific meal…barbeque quesadilla. It is so delicious. The kids have pizza and we also buy them a giant Wolfgang Puck cookie.
Next we come across a gorgeous carasole and the kids ride it with glee. Next stop? Shopping? We go to two stores…a Sports store and a giant Disney store. It is surprisingly crowded in both. In the sports store the kids are all about the balls they find. In the “super store” Daddy is in hunt of a Disney watch and I am “in hunt” of ‘Dear Son’s annual Disney World Mickey. He has a 2005, 2006, 2007 and now a 2008 one to commemorate every visit to Disney and coincidently every year he has existed!
We buy the 2008 Mickey and also a “High School Musical, Basketball Mickey” that ‘Dear Son’ latches on to. It becomes his “sleeping pal” the rest of the trip.
It has gotten HOT and we wait for the boat to take us back to POFQ. Once there, we all fall into bed and take a nap. After about an hour, ‘Sweet Daughter’ and Daddy wake up and head to the awesome themed pool to swim, play and go down the infamous Serpent slide. Daddy goes down it too. They both have a Grand time.
After they return to the room ‘Dear Son’ & I wake up from our long nap and ‘Sweet Daughter’/Daddy head down to the main part of the hotel while Brother and I finish waking up and get ready. We find them in the gift shop. ‘Sweet Daughter’ has gotten a Mickey Shaped Rice Krispy treat and Daddy has picked out his watch! The kids also play cutely with toy cell phones.
We head to the restaurant and have a delicious meal. I have wonderful roast with red beans and rice, and buttery corn and cornbread. ‘Sweet Daughter’ has spaghetti and fresh grapes. Daddy has the best ribs ever. POFQ has such excellent food.
Next we go to the play ground but it is a bit wet from the rain. (It rained while we napped.) It is getting dark so we head back to the hotel room. From our room we watch the horse drawn carriages go by….clip, clop.
I take ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ back down to the main building and we get a new Disney fan and some Band-Aids. The talented one man band is playing so we head to the Juke Club with the kids in pajamas. This ends up being one of biggest highlights of the trip.
‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ dance and dance. The musician comes and interviews them and dedicates a song them and they dance to the Lion King at the front of the stage for the entire crowd.
I’ve never seen them dance so beautifully. ‘Sweet Daughter’ gracefully spins, ‘Dear Son’ is right in synch with her, chasing her about the floor, and she twirls him around her. We also loved the “rockin Robin” song. Finally, the musician goes on a 15 minute break and we decide it is time to head back to the room to crash. The musician stops the children and tells ‘Sweet Daughter’ that Tinkerbell asked him to give her a special pin. He also gives brother a special button. Sissy is so thrilled.
We walk through the beautiful grounds back to our room… and climb into bed, ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ cutely in a double bed together. Before they drop off to sleep I hear sister say. “Of course I’m your best friend.” Pause “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
What a long day but we’re glad to finally be on our long awaited vacation. Tomorrow…we’ll be starting our cruise!
Friday, October 10, 2008…time to commence our 6th Awesome Family Disney Vacation! We have been planning and anticipating this vacation since we booked it in March (when we decided we couldn’t live without going on another Caribbean Disney Cruise in 2008.)
We booked an early morning flight Friday, October 10 at 7:20 a.m. so we can make the most of our day staying on-site at Disney Resort Port Orleans French Quarter. IT IS TIME TO GO ON THE CRUISE!!! We are all completely packed so when our alarm goes off in the early morning all we have to do is meet our prearranged taxi outside after dressing in on our matching clothes already laid out (Pluto for the boys/Minnie for the girls). Check in is quick and painless. We purchase breakfast at Popeye’s and before long, boarding begins. Our flight there is great…the children were very well behaved and happy and sat together.
Once at MCO (Orlando Airport) at 10:54 am ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ are soooooo excited. They sing and skip through the airport. We excitedly take the tram to the visitor terminal & do a quick drop in the Disney store to grab my annual Mickey Mouse earrings. After that we head downstairs and check in for Magical Express. It is great we don’t have to mess with baggage claim or luggage. They’ll “appear” later today in our room at POFQ.
We load up on the Disney bus and quickly we are at POFQl!! When we check in, our room is already ready (Yeah) so we go to our room to drop off our day bags and check it out. Passing to our room we also see that the grounds are as charming as we remember. We pose for pictures in our matching Pluto/Minnie shirts. The room is pretty. We decide to take the free boat to “downtown Disney” and eat lunch and shop a bit. We take the “river boat” to downtown Disney which is cute and decide to eat at Wolfgang Puck’s. I have a terrific meal…barbeque quesadilla. It is so delicious. The kids have pizza and we also buy them a giant Wolfgang Puck cookie.
Next we come across a gorgeous carasole and the kids ride it with glee. Next stop? Shopping? We go to two stores…a Sports store and a giant Disney store. It is surprisingly crowded in both. In the sports store the kids are all about the balls they find. In the “super store” Daddy is in hunt of a Disney watch and I am “in hunt” of ‘Dear Son’s annual Disney World Mickey. He has a 2005, 2006, 2007 and now a 2008 one to commemorate every visit to Disney and coincidently every year he has existed!
We buy the 2008 Mickey and also a “High School Musical, Basketball Mickey” that ‘Dear Son’ latches on to. It becomes his “sleeping pal” the rest of the trip.
It has gotten HOT and we wait for the boat to take us back to POFQ. Once there, we all fall into bed and take a nap. After about an hour, ‘Sweet Daughter’ and Daddy wake up and head to the awesome themed pool to swim, play and go down the infamous Serpent slide. Daddy goes down it too. They both have a Grand time.
After they return to the room ‘Dear Son’ & I wake up from our long nap and ‘Sweet Daughter’/Daddy head down to the main part of the hotel while Brother and I finish waking up and get ready. We find them in the gift shop. ‘Sweet Daughter’ has gotten a Mickey Shaped Rice Krispy treat and Daddy has picked out his watch! The kids also play cutely with toy cell phones.
We head to the restaurant and have a delicious meal. I have wonderful roast with red beans and rice, and buttery corn and cornbread. ‘Sweet Daughter’ has spaghetti and fresh grapes. Daddy has the best ribs ever. POFQ has such excellent food.
Next we go to the play ground but it is a bit wet from the rain. (It rained while we napped.) It is getting dark so we head back to the hotel room. From our room we watch the horse drawn carriages go by….clip, clop.
I take ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ back down to the main building and we get a new Disney fan and some Band-Aids. The talented one man band is playing so we head to the Juke Club with the kids in pajamas. This ends up being one of biggest highlights of the trip.
‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ dance and dance. The musician comes and interviews them and dedicates a song them and they dance to the Lion King at the front of the stage for the entire crowd.
I’ve never seen them dance so beautifully. ‘Sweet Daughter’ gracefully spins, ‘Dear Son’ is right in synch with her, chasing her about the floor, and she twirls him around her. We also loved the “rockin Robin” song. Finally, the musician goes on a 15 minute break and we decide it is time to head back to the room to crash. The musician stops the children and tells ‘Sweet Daughter’ that Tinkerbell asked him to give her a special pin. He also gives brother a special button. Sissy is so thrilled.
We walk through the beautiful grounds back to our room… and climb into bed, ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ cutely in a double bed together. Before they drop off to sleep I hear sister say. “Of course I’m your best friend.” Pause “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
What a long day but we’re glad to finally be on our long awaited vacation. Tomorrow…we’ll be starting our cruise!
DAY 2 – Embark on the Ship, the Disney Magic -6th cruise on DCL
Sat, October 11
We put our bags out shortly before 8 am and then drop back asleep and all sleep in!!!!! When we awaken we head down to the main building and have a wonderful breakfast. Daddy also checks in at the cruise desk. We are informed to be in the lobby at noon so after breakfast we head to the playground and have a great time. The kids play Knight and Princess.
Next, we change & head down to the awesome themed pool. ‘Dear Son’ and I missed it yesterday due to napping schedule so we are glad to partake today! ‘Dear Son’ goes down the “scary” Serpent slide once and we are proud of him. ‘Sweet Daughter’ and I do it over and over. We also love interacting with the alligator statues that squirt all around the pool. At one point ‘Dear Son’ is hitting a poor, defenseless Alligator statue with a swim noodle. The lifeguard laughs and says “what did he do to you?!”
We also play in the kiddie pool and have a blast all around. Soon it is time to head back to the hotel room to shower and meet our shuttle. We painlessly board the Disney bus and head down the road to the Disney Magic terminal! Another highlight is pulling onto the bridge and seeing that ship waiting for us. Once we arrive we check in the Castaway Club Line and get our Key to the World Cards. Room 6004. There is no wait so soon we do what we have been anticipating for so long…walk through the Mickey Ears.
We pause for our picture by the ship photographer we spring down the gangway and enter the lobby as we are greeted by the staff. “Welcome Awesome Family’s!” We smile & say YEAH!!!!
Since this is our 6th DCL in 6 years we definitely “know the drill” and are ready to get this vacation going! We make our way to Parrot Cay. ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ are skipping again and grinning from ear to ear. They keep stopping at every porthole smiling, pointing, and jumping up and down. We enter the buffet and start enjoying DCL’s food in the tropical dining room with the banana chandeliers. We all enjoy our 1st meal of the Disney Cruise!
We are all soooo excited to be on board. After lunch we go check out our cabin. It is at the very end of the hall, all the way forward and is on the outside of the ship but does not have a window.
‘Sweet Daughter’ reads/sings the song on the wall “I’ll be your candle on the water. My love for you will always burn.” She asks if they put that picture in our room again since it is our favorite.
We get acquainted with our little cabin and decide to take ‘Sweet Daughter’ & ‘Dear Son’ to the Mickey Pool ‘Sweet Daughter’ has been anticipating the Mickey Pool and esp. the Mickey Slide for a year now. ‘Dear Son’ is potty trained (in the nick of time) and out of swim diapers so can now play in any pool! He plays in the Mickey ear a bit and also the rest of the Mickey Pool, sticking to ‘Sweet Daughter’ like glue. They are both so happy. ‘Sweet Daughter’ does the Mickey Slide and ‘Dear Son’ does too! ‘Dear Son’ goes down the “scary” Mickey slide just the one time the whole trip but we are proud of him.
We can’t believe we are finally here and that is “our turn.” Next we go get ice-cream and then go for a round of Ping Pong. ‘Dear Son’ LOVES ping pong. Then we go and swim some more! What a great time. We stay at the pool until they close it for the safety drill.
Soo… we go to the room and put on dry clothes for the safety drill. That goes fine. Next it is time for “Adventures Away” the sail away party. It starts at 4:30. Goofy deck is packed & they are handing out streamers this year. We jump right into the festivities. We head straight to the foot of the stage and Brother climbs onto Daddy’s shoulders to see. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wiggles to the music & sail away songs. Soon we hear the whistle to the tune of “when you wish upon a star” and the Awesome Family lets out a big CHEER!
We take a family stroll to watch the ship pull out of dock. We wave at all the people we are passing and watch us pull out to the open sea. Soon, it is already time for dinner.
At 5:30 pm we had our first meal in the dining room. Tonight is cruise casual dress. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wears her navy blue print Disney sun dress. The first evening is at Luminere’s. We have a private table just for us and ‘Dear Son’ proudly climbs into his booster chair. Our servers Ivo & Savio are tremendous…by far the best on any cruise to date. One highlight of the meal is at the end of the courses ordering our long awaited Mickey Ice-cream Bars.
Next we head to Shutters and buy a memory card for the digital camera. We love seeing the dark sky and the thundering waves. The kids also play shuffle board for while. Then we go to Studio Sea since ‘Sweet Daughter’ wants to see “Mickey Mania” a “game show” on Disney Trivia. We aren’t picked to go on stage as contestants but still have fun time. Next, Daddy is excited about going up to deck 9 and watching Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays on the huge Ariel Screen jumbo tron so we split up. ‘Sweet Daughter’, ‘Dear Son’ and I head to the Family Dance Party and boogie down.
Next we go by Kids Club and register them both. ‘Sweet Daughter’ is actually 8 now and should be in “Oceaneer’s Lab” with the 8 -9 year olds but she really, really wants to be in “Oceaneer’s Club” as it is “much more fun” and also so she can be with her brother. They let her in with the 5-7 year olds and she is elated. The kids play around a bit and are especially excited about slide time the cool, 2 story pirate themed slide. It is a fun time in the Kid’s Club for family night and two siblings playing and laughing together are so cute.
Soon it is time to head to the Walt Disney Theater for the welcome aboard show at 8:30. We go a little late as we are enjoying club so much but after a while ‘Sweet Daughter’, Mommy and ‘Dear Son’ head to the show. We’re sure Daddy is enjoying watching the playoff game up under the night stars and ocean breeze.
After the show, Mommy and Boo/Nu Nu go to “Mickey Mates” the gift shop. They try on almost every hat in the store. Boo finds a ‘Pow Pow” that he wants. (A few days later we relent and get it for him on pirate night – it ends up being his special souvenir from the cruise.) After a lot of laughter in the gift shop we all head to the cabin. Daddy is already in bed waiting for us when we stroll in. What a cute towel animal! With us all in bed we go to sleep exhausted but happy. We can’t believe we are finally here.
Sat, October 11
We put our bags out shortly before 8 am and then drop back asleep and all sleep in!!!!! When we awaken we head down to the main building and have a wonderful breakfast. Daddy also checks in at the cruise desk. We are informed to be in the lobby at noon so after breakfast we head to the playground and have a great time. The kids play Knight and Princess.
Next, we change & head down to the awesome themed pool. ‘Dear Son’ and I missed it yesterday due to napping schedule so we are glad to partake today! ‘Dear Son’ goes down the “scary” Serpent slide once and we are proud of him. ‘Sweet Daughter’ and I do it over and over. We also love interacting with the alligator statues that squirt all around the pool. At one point ‘Dear Son’ is hitting a poor, defenseless Alligator statue with a swim noodle. The lifeguard laughs and says “what did he do to you?!”
We also play in the kiddie pool and have a blast all around. Soon it is time to head back to the hotel room to shower and meet our shuttle. We painlessly board the Disney bus and head down the road to the Disney Magic terminal! Another highlight is pulling onto the bridge and seeing that ship waiting for us. Once we arrive we check in the Castaway Club Line and get our Key to the World Cards. Room 6004. There is no wait so soon we do what we have been anticipating for so long…walk through the Mickey Ears.
We pause for our picture by the ship photographer we spring down the gangway and enter the lobby as we are greeted by the staff. “Welcome Awesome Family’s!” We smile & say YEAH!!!!
Since this is our 6th DCL in 6 years we definitely “know the drill” and are ready to get this vacation going! We make our way to Parrot Cay. ‘Sweet Daughter’ and ‘Dear Son’ are skipping again and grinning from ear to ear. They keep stopping at every porthole smiling, pointing, and jumping up and down. We enter the buffet and start enjoying DCL’s food in the tropical dining room with the banana chandeliers. We all enjoy our 1st meal of the Disney Cruise!
We are all soooo excited to be on board. After lunch we go check out our cabin. It is at the very end of the hall, all the way forward and is on the outside of the ship but does not have a window.
‘Sweet Daughter’ reads/sings the song on the wall “I’ll be your candle on the water. My love for you will always burn.” She asks if they put that picture in our room again since it is our favorite.
We get acquainted with our little cabin and decide to take ‘Sweet Daughter’ & ‘Dear Son’ to the Mickey Pool ‘Sweet Daughter’ has been anticipating the Mickey Pool and esp. the Mickey Slide for a year now. ‘Dear Son’ is potty trained (in the nick of time) and out of swim diapers so can now play in any pool! He plays in the Mickey ear a bit and also the rest of the Mickey Pool, sticking to ‘Sweet Daughter’ like glue. They are both so happy. ‘Sweet Daughter’ does the Mickey Slide and ‘Dear Son’ does too! ‘Dear Son’ goes down the “scary” Mickey slide just the one time the whole trip but we are proud of him.
We can’t believe we are finally here and that is “our turn.” Next we go get ice-cream and then go for a round of Ping Pong. ‘Dear Son’ LOVES ping pong. Then we go and swim some more! What a great time. We stay at the pool until they close it for the safety drill.
Soo… we go to the room and put on dry clothes for the safety drill. That goes fine. Next it is time for “Adventures Away” the sail away party. It starts at 4:30. Goofy deck is packed & they are handing out streamers this year. We jump right into the festivities. We head straight to the foot of the stage and Brother climbs onto Daddy’s shoulders to see. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wiggles to the music & sail away songs. Soon we hear the whistle to the tune of “when you wish upon a star” and the Awesome Family lets out a big CHEER!
We take a family stroll to watch the ship pull out of dock. We wave at all the people we are passing and watch us pull out to the open sea. Soon, it is already time for dinner.
At 5:30 pm we had our first meal in the dining room. Tonight is cruise casual dress. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wears her navy blue print Disney sun dress. The first evening is at Luminere’s. We have a private table just for us and ‘Dear Son’ proudly climbs into his booster chair. Our servers Ivo & Savio are tremendous…by far the best on any cruise to date. One highlight of the meal is at the end of the courses ordering our long awaited Mickey Ice-cream Bars.
Next we head to Shutters and buy a memory card for the digital camera. We love seeing the dark sky and the thundering waves. The kids also play shuffle board for while. Then we go to Studio Sea since ‘Sweet Daughter’ wants to see “Mickey Mania” a “game show” on Disney Trivia. We aren’t picked to go on stage as contestants but still have fun time. Next, Daddy is excited about going up to deck 9 and watching Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays on the huge Ariel Screen jumbo tron so we split up. ‘Sweet Daughter’, ‘Dear Son’ and I head to the Family Dance Party and boogie down.
Next we go by Kids Club and register them both. ‘Sweet Daughter’ is actually 8 now and should be in “Oceaneer’s Lab” with the 8 -9 year olds but she really, really wants to be in “Oceaneer’s Club” as it is “much more fun” and also so she can be with her brother. They let her in with the 5-7 year olds and she is elated. The kids play around a bit and are especially excited about slide time the cool, 2 story pirate themed slide. It is a fun time in the Kid’s Club for family night and two siblings playing and laughing together are so cute.
Soon it is time to head to the Walt Disney Theater for the welcome aboard show at 8:30. We go a little late as we are enjoying club so much but after a while ‘Sweet Daughter’, Mommy and ‘Dear Son’ head to the show. We’re sure Daddy is enjoying watching the playoff game up under the night stars and ocean breeze.
After the show, Mommy and Boo/Nu Nu go to “Mickey Mates” the gift shop. They try on almost every hat in the store. Boo finds a ‘Pow Pow” that he wants. (A few days later we relent and get it for him on pirate night – it ends up being his special souvenir from the cruise.) After a lot of laughter in the gift shop we all head to the cabin. Daddy is already in bed waiting for us when we stroll in. What a cute towel animal! With us all in bed we go to sleep exhausted but happy. We can’t believe we are finally here.
DAY 3 Day at Sea
Sunday, October 12.
We decided to sleep in and we all slept like babies being rocked by Momma. The inside cabin sure does induce good sleeping!
When we wake up later we go have a big breakfast at Topsiders watching the ocean go by. We have our long awaited DCL chocolate milk! We all giggle as Daddy sneezes like crazy. We all love our breakfast and the gorgeous morning and turquoise sea.
Life has been so busy we are all ready for a day at sea! Next, after strolling around a bit we take the kids to Oceaneers Club. Our aim is to attend Do Si Do with Snow White. Sweet Daughter goes as a guest of Dear Son and they have a good time. The girls are supposed to pick a partner to dance with and of course she happily picks brother. The two Do-Si-Do away!
After the Do-Si-Do is a coloring activity Before the Last Petal Falls and Sweet Daughter colors some & plays in the back on the computer and in the dress up trunk.
While the kids are in club, Daddy and Mommy head to the Quiet Cove Adult Pool. Mommy orders a Banana Daiquiri and Mommy & Daddy sit down together in one of the thick, padded double loungers and relax, visit, and gaze at the ocean. The time goes by quickly and soon it is time to retrieve the Awesome Family Kids from club about noon.
Next it is time for family swimming fun!
We go to the Mickey Pool and brother and sister swim and swim and swim. First Sissy hits the Mickey Slide. It is a wonderful afternoon. We munch of pool side snacks, Eat ice-cream, etc. Disney has just built a new Splash Pad area to the right of the Mickey Slide, and both Dear Son and Sweet Daughter enjoy exploring it and playing with the water popping up. After a while, Daddy hangs out with Sweet Daughter while Mommy and Brother retire to the cabin for a big nap for our little one. He drops off to sleep quickly and Mommy watches the movie Iron Man on the cabin Plasma TV and orders room service for a late lunch. I pig out. Chicken Fajita wrap, All hands on Deck Cheese and Cracker Platter Yum. I relax and watch the movie.
Eventually, Sweet Daughter and Daddy return to the cabin after their afternoon together and we all shower and change for our big evening. Tonight is formal night! Sweet Daughter dresses in her new, beautiful Belle gown and Dear Son dresses in his Prince outfit crown and all. Sooo cute the two of them. Tonight we have dinner again with Ivo & Savio, and then the Golden Mickeys. Dinner is great. Dear Son especially loves his fruit getting two helpings and for dessert his Strawberry ice cream. Mommy is stuffed from a late lunch and just has soup and salad.
After dinner we all go to Studio Sea for the Family Dance Party. We dance and dance. We also get to do our favorite cruise song Hey, Baby, Baby along with YMCA and the Macarena. Even Daddy jumps on the dance floor when Sweet Daughter, in her Belle dress, sweetly says Dance with me Daddy!
After the dance party we head to the Walt Disney Theatre so we can arrive at the Golden Mickeys early. At the entrance of the Theatre is Mickey Mouse, dressed up in a Golden Tux. We get some cute photos with Mickey which we later buy from Shutters. Our precious 3 year old son gives Mickey a big hug and our daughter dressed as Belle looks absolutely beautiful and very happy.
The Golden Mickey is a great show as always. Cruela De Ville was downright evil. We are surprised that Dear Son isnt frightened of Ursula. When Sweet Daughter was 3 and saw Ursula she was panicked. The show is entertaining. At the end, golden streamers come down and Sissy scoops them up with glee.
After the show, we walk around the ship as a family for awhile. In the Lobby we find Goofy. Someone must have warned Goofy it was formal night, as he is wearing a tux. We take a family picture with Goofy, which of course we later buy from Shutters. We also see Snow White that evening. After that, the kids go into Oceaneers Club for a few minutes to do a craft called Memory Wall and later Movies and Captains Closet.
Daddy and I start to go to the adult Cabaret show in Rockin' Bar D but it is packed. Instead we just go up to the top deck and enjoy the night sky and thundering waves. It is about late by now so we go pick up the kids from Oceaneers Club. Instead of bed we head to Karaoke and both kids sing! Finally we all retire to the cabin for bed. On the bed is another cute towel animal- an alligator! Also there is a surprise Minnie mouse nightgown for Sister. Good night!
Sunday, October 12.
We decided to sleep in and we all slept like babies being rocked by Momma. The inside cabin sure does induce good sleeping!
When we wake up later we go have a big breakfast at Topsiders watching the ocean go by. We have our long awaited DCL chocolate milk! We all giggle as Daddy sneezes like crazy. We all love our breakfast and the gorgeous morning and turquoise sea.
Life has been so busy we are all ready for a day at sea! Next, after strolling around a bit we take the kids to Oceaneers Club. Our aim is to attend Do Si Do with Snow White. Sweet Daughter goes as a guest of Dear Son and they have a good time. The girls are supposed to pick a partner to dance with and of course she happily picks brother. The two Do-Si-Do away!
After the Do-Si-Do is a coloring activity Before the Last Petal Falls and Sweet Daughter colors some & plays in the back on the computer and in the dress up trunk.
While the kids are in club, Daddy and Mommy head to the Quiet Cove Adult Pool. Mommy orders a Banana Daiquiri and Mommy & Daddy sit down together in one of the thick, padded double loungers and relax, visit, and gaze at the ocean. The time goes by quickly and soon it is time to retrieve the Awesome Family Kids from club about noon.
Next it is time for family swimming fun!
We go to the Mickey Pool and brother and sister swim and swim and swim. First Sissy hits the Mickey Slide. It is a wonderful afternoon. We munch of pool side snacks, Eat ice-cream, etc. Disney has just built a new Splash Pad area to the right of the Mickey Slide, and both Dear Son and Sweet Daughter enjoy exploring it and playing with the water popping up. After a while, Daddy hangs out with Sweet Daughter while Mommy and Brother retire to the cabin for a big nap for our little one. He drops off to sleep quickly and Mommy watches the movie Iron Man on the cabin Plasma TV and orders room service for a late lunch. I pig out. Chicken Fajita wrap, All hands on Deck Cheese and Cracker Platter Yum. I relax and watch the movie.
Eventually, Sweet Daughter and Daddy return to the cabin after their afternoon together and we all shower and change for our big evening. Tonight is formal night! Sweet Daughter dresses in her new, beautiful Belle gown and Dear Son dresses in his Prince outfit crown and all. Sooo cute the two of them. Tonight we have dinner again with Ivo & Savio, and then the Golden Mickeys. Dinner is great. Dear Son especially loves his fruit getting two helpings and for dessert his Strawberry ice cream. Mommy is stuffed from a late lunch and just has soup and salad.
After dinner we all go to Studio Sea for the Family Dance Party. We dance and dance. We also get to do our favorite cruise song Hey, Baby, Baby along with YMCA and the Macarena. Even Daddy jumps on the dance floor when Sweet Daughter, in her Belle dress, sweetly says Dance with me Daddy!
After the dance party we head to the Walt Disney Theatre so we can arrive at the Golden Mickeys early. At the entrance of the Theatre is Mickey Mouse, dressed up in a Golden Tux. We get some cute photos with Mickey which we later buy from Shutters. Our precious 3 year old son gives Mickey a big hug and our daughter dressed as Belle looks absolutely beautiful and very happy.
The Golden Mickey is a great show as always. Cruela De Ville was downright evil. We are surprised that Dear Son isnt frightened of Ursula. When Sweet Daughter was 3 and saw Ursula she was panicked. The show is entertaining. At the end, golden streamers come down and Sissy scoops them up with glee.
After the show, we walk around the ship as a family for awhile. In the Lobby we find Goofy. Someone must have warned Goofy it was formal night, as he is wearing a tux. We take a family picture with Goofy, which of course we later buy from Shutters. We also see Snow White that evening. After that, the kids go into Oceaneers Club for a few minutes to do a craft called Memory Wall and later Movies and Captains Closet.
Daddy and I start to go to the adult Cabaret show in Rockin' Bar D but it is packed. Instead we just go up to the top deck and enjoy the night sky and thundering waves. It is about late by now so we go pick up the kids from Oceaneers Club. Instead of bed we head to Karaoke and both kids sing! Finally we all retire to the cabin for bed. On the bed is another cute towel animal- an alligator! Also there is a surprise Minnie mouse nightgown for Sister. Good night!
DAY 5 A Day at Sea
Monday, October 13.
We had to get up this morning to make our big Character breakfast at Parrot Cay. The kids go in their new pajamas Sissys new Minnie Mouse nightgown and Boos Superman pajamas. Chip & Dale, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, etc all come by our table as we eat breakfast. Ivo even makes everyone silly napkin hats. Fun! After breakfast we explore the ship a bit lounging for a while in the big padded portholes by Beat Street & then the kids change out of their pajamas. We go up to deck 9 for ice-cream and Sweet Daughter gets her hair braided 4 braids on each side.
Mommy gets a deck chair at the edge of the Mickey Pool and enjoys reading a book in the sunshine and watching the kids happy faces as they swim in the Mickey pool. They both are so cute, and good. They have the best time. They laugh and play nonstop in the water.
After a few hours the temperature is dropping and our toddlers lips are getting blue, he is so cold. So .Daddy wraps him up in a towel and we move the party to the hot tub where High School Musical is playing. What could be better? HSM from a DCL hot tub! After a while we decide to get dried off and head back to the cabin. No nap for Dear Son today!
After getting cleaned up &changing into dry clothes the siblings go to Oceaneers Club to participate in Color Yourself Heroic There they make super hero Masks and Capes and are sooo cute.
We decide to skip dinner in the formal dining room that night. So instead of going to our dinner at 5:30, instead we head to Family Karaoke in Studio Sea. The kids are so cute. Sweet Daughter sings Part of your World, Boo sings ABCD they sing Getcha Head in the Game together. Sweet Daughter & Mommy sing Reflection from Mulan. Great fun. At 6:30 we head to Topsiders and have dinner at a table for 4, right by the window. It is nice to see the waves roll by as we dine.
After dinner, since Dear Son had no nap, we head to the cabin to go to bed early. After the boys are asleep the girls snuck out for some Mommy/Daughter fun. First we went shopping in Mickey Mates. We get GaGa some Mickey dominoes and Daddy some Mickey dice. Then we giggled our way to the Walt Disney Theatre and watched part of Beverly Hills Chihuahua while on our secret Mommy/Daughter outing.
Afterwards, Sweet Daughter and Mommy snuck back in the cabin and also fell asleep.
What a great day!
Monday, October 13.
We had to get up this morning to make our big Character breakfast at Parrot Cay. The kids go in their new pajamas Sissys new Minnie Mouse nightgown and Boos Superman pajamas. Chip & Dale, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, etc all come by our table as we eat breakfast. Ivo even makes everyone silly napkin hats. Fun! After breakfast we explore the ship a bit lounging for a while in the big padded portholes by Beat Street & then the kids change out of their pajamas. We go up to deck 9 for ice-cream and Sweet Daughter gets her hair braided 4 braids on each side.
Mommy gets a deck chair at the edge of the Mickey Pool and enjoys reading a book in the sunshine and watching the kids happy faces as they swim in the Mickey pool. They both are so cute, and good. They have the best time. They laugh and play nonstop in the water.
After a few hours the temperature is dropping and our toddlers lips are getting blue, he is so cold. So .Daddy wraps him up in a towel and we move the party to the hot tub where High School Musical is playing. What could be better? HSM from a DCL hot tub! After a while we decide to get dried off and head back to the cabin. No nap for Dear Son today!
After getting cleaned up &changing into dry clothes the siblings go to Oceaneers Club to participate in Color Yourself Heroic There they make super hero Masks and Capes and are sooo cute.
We decide to skip dinner in the formal dining room that night. So instead of going to our dinner at 5:30, instead we head to Family Karaoke in Studio Sea. The kids are so cute. Sweet Daughter sings Part of your World, Boo sings ABCD they sing Getcha Head in the Game together. Sweet Daughter & Mommy sing Reflection from Mulan. Great fun. At 6:30 we head to Topsiders and have dinner at a table for 4, right by the window. It is nice to see the waves roll by as we dine.
After dinner, since Dear Son had no nap, we head to the cabin to go to bed early. After the boys are asleep the girls snuck out for some Mommy/Daughter fun. First we went shopping in Mickey Mates. We get GaGa some Mickey dominoes and Daddy some Mickey dice. Then we giggled our way to the Walt Disney Theatre and watched part of Beverly Hills Chihuahua while on our secret Mommy/Daughter outing.
Afterwards, Sweet Daughter and Mommy snuck back in the cabin and also fell asleep.
What a great day!
DAY 6 – St. Martin
Tuesday, October 14.
Today we are in a beautiful place…. St Maarten! We slept great the night before and ordered room service to come at 8 am. We eat a quick breakfast in the room and then are off the ship into the Port of St. Maarten.
We are meeting Bernard for a tour at 9 am. The meeting place is about a three minute walk from the ship, located in front of the yellow building next to the information center and statue. We look for the sign Bernard's Tours and there he is! We wait for a while for the rest of the group to join us.
There is a stand that sells coconut goods…coconut guitars, coconut wind chimes, and coconut purses, etc that is especially intriguing. We don’t end up buying anything there but do end up buying a coconut turtle in Nassau a few days later. (More on that later.)
Soon it is time to board our small, air conditioned tour bus. Our ‘all day’ St. Martin tour includes sightseeing, beach and shopping. The tour will consist of the following stops.
Great Bay overlooking Phillipsburg and harbor.
Cayhill overlooking Simpson Bay marina.
Hilltop at Orient Bay overlooking the beach.
Swim at choice of Orient Beach or Le Gallion for two hours.
Drive past Marigot - open market (French Capital)
Sunset Beach bar ( Maho Beach ) where you can see the planes land right over your head and swim
Shopping at Rima’s (Island goods at wholesale prices)
Shopping at choice of Phillipsburg or cruise harbor
One stop we really enjoy is the marina. There, the driver wades thigh deep out into to ocean and brings us back an assortment of “sea creatures” for us to examine and hold! ‘Sweet Daughter’, ‘Dear Son’ were wide eyed.
Our next stop was the most anticipated…the beach. We opt for tranquil Le Gallion beach. Le Gallion’s nickname is “Baby Beach” as is sandy with a very gradual walk out to the water. You can go along ways out before you even get your swim suit wet. Plus, the area is protected by a cove, so there are mild to no waves. Very gentle…perfect with our 3 year old in tow. We were so pleased with the beach and had a fantastic time. We rented a chair and umbrella for a total of $5 which became Daddy’s happy home base.
There was a swim platform we swam out to that was fun. Just the whole area was gorgeous and a great time. At the conclusion of our swim we grabbed lunch at the cute little on site bar and restaurant. Then we jumped back on Bernard’s bus.
Another favorite stop was Sunset Beach bar/Maho Beach. Several planes flew directly overhead and our favorite was an American Airlines jumbo jet. Daddy enjoyed some sort of local cocktail from the famous bar and the kids and I had a blast riding the waves in our floats while the planes soared above our heads. It was all unforgettable and we laughed our heads off.
Another fun stop was shopping at Rima’s. ‘Sweet Daughter’ got a pink sun hat, Daddy purchased a St. Maarten tropical shirt, I bought my brother a turtle souvenir and bobble head turtles for work.
The last stop was more shopping. We opted to shop at the cruise terminal. We bought a St. Maarten Christmas ornament for our tree; Daddy bought a “pirate” necklace and some local St. Maarten rum. The kids bought little drum beaters. So fun. We didn’t spend a lot of money but had a great time.
We got back to the ship entrance just as the skies opened up with rain. Tropical Storm Omar was coming. The ship moved the “all aboard time” from 7 pm to 5 pm to beat the weather. We had great weather all day though! What perfect timing…and what a fun, memorable day.
We showered and changed for dinner. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wore her tie dye sun dress we bought at our local 4th of July festival and looked so cute…tan with beads in her hair.
We headed down to dinner find Ivo and Savio waiting for us at our table. Tonight’s dinner was special. The Animator’s Palate “show” dinner. The kids were soooo excited. I have some great pictures capturing the amazement on their faces as the walls change colors in the dining room. At the end of dinner, Mickey himself marched in cap off the fun celebration.
After the incredible dinner the kids change into their PJ’s (‘Dear Son’ into Super Man; ‘Sweet Daughter’ into HS Musical.) We then take the kids to “Goofy’s PJ Party” in kids club. This is an event for the 5-7 year olds but ‘Dear Son’ goes as ‘Sweet Daughter’s ‘guest’ and I stay with him. They both giggle at Goofy’s antics. “Aye Yye Yye” the kids say to Goofy.
At the close of the slumber party they color Goofy pillowcases. (I later drop off the pillow cases at Guest Services and all the Characters on the ship sign them and drop of the cases to our cabin the last night.) ‘Dear Son’ is very intense in coloring his pillow case and they both have a great time.
After checking back out of Oceaneer’s Club we go around the ship a bit and take a few pictures…and then retire to our cabin. ‘Dear Son’, after all, only had a very short nap, dozing off on the tour bus.
After the “boys” are asleep the “girls” snuck back out for some more Mommy/Daughter fun. First we went straight to the HS Musical Family Dance Party. That was fun. Mommy and Daughter danced our hearts out. Then we stayed for Disney Karaoke. We went at the very first. ‘Sweet Daughter’ sang “Part of your World” and did a GREAT job, gesturing along with the words. Mommy sang “Colors of the Wind.” Some of the guest complimented me saying Disney should hire me to sing. Not deserved praise but Anyway… we had a great evening during our secret Mommy/Daughter outing.
Another great day!
Tuesday, October 14.
Today we are in a beautiful place…. St Maarten! We slept great the night before and ordered room service to come at 8 am. We eat a quick breakfast in the room and then are off the ship into the Port of St. Maarten.
We are meeting Bernard for a tour at 9 am. The meeting place is about a three minute walk from the ship, located in front of the yellow building next to the information center and statue. We look for the sign Bernard's Tours and there he is! We wait for a while for the rest of the group to join us.
There is a stand that sells coconut goods…coconut guitars, coconut wind chimes, and coconut purses, etc that is especially intriguing. We don’t end up buying anything there but do end up buying a coconut turtle in Nassau a few days later. (More on that later.)
Soon it is time to board our small, air conditioned tour bus. Our ‘all day’ St. Martin tour includes sightseeing, beach and shopping. The tour will consist of the following stops.
Great Bay overlooking Phillipsburg and harbor.
Cayhill overlooking Simpson Bay marina.
Hilltop at Orient Bay overlooking the beach.
Swim at choice of Orient Beach or Le Gallion for two hours.
Drive past Marigot - open market (French Capital)
Sunset Beach bar ( Maho Beach ) where you can see the planes land right over your head and swim
Shopping at Rima’s (Island goods at wholesale prices)
Shopping at choice of Phillipsburg or cruise harbor
One stop we really enjoy is the marina. There, the driver wades thigh deep out into to ocean and brings us back an assortment of “sea creatures” for us to examine and hold! ‘Sweet Daughter’, ‘Dear Son’ were wide eyed.
Our next stop was the most anticipated…the beach. We opt for tranquil Le Gallion beach. Le Gallion’s nickname is “Baby Beach” as is sandy with a very gradual walk out to the water. You can go along ways out before you even get your swim suit wet. Plus, the area is protected by a cove, so there are mild to no waves. Very gentle…perfect with our 3 year old in tow. We were so pleased with the beach and had a fantastic time. We rented a chair and umbrella for a total of $5 which became Daddy’s happy home base.
There was a swim platform we swam out to that was fun. Just the whole area was gorgeous and a great time. At the conclusion of our swim we grabbed lunch at the cute little on site bar and restaurant. Then we jumped back on Bernard’s bus.
Another favorite stop was Sunset Beach bar/Maho Beach. Several planes flew directly overhead and our favorite was an American Airlines jumbo jet. Daddy enjoyed some sort of local cocktail from the famous bar and the kids and I had a blast riding the waves in our floats while the planes soared above our heads. It was all unforgettable and we laughed our heads off.
Another fun stop was shopping at Rima’s. ‘Sweet Daughter’ got a pink sun hat, Daddy purchased a St. Maarten tropical shirt, I bought my brother a turtle souvenir and bobble head turtles for work.
The last stop was more shopping. We opted to shop at the cruise terminal. We bought a St. Maarten Christmas ornament for our tree; Daddy bought a “pirate” necklace and some local St. Maarten rum. The kids bought little drum beaters. So fun. We didn’t spend a lot of money but had a great time.
We got back to the ship entrance just as the skies opened up with rain. Tropical Storm Omar was coming. The ship moved the “all aboard time” from 7 pm to 5 pm to beat the weather. We had great weather all day though! What perfect timing…and what a fun, memorable day.
We showered and changed for dinner. ‘Sweet Daughter’ wore her tie dye sun dress we bought at our local 4th of July festival and looked so cute…tan with beads in her hair.
We headed down to dinner find Ivo and Savio waiting for us at our table. Tonight’s dinner was special. The Animator’s Palate “show” dinner. The kids were soooo excited. I have some great pictures capturing the amazement on their faces as the walls change colors in the dining room. At the end of dinner, Mickey himself marched in cap off the fun celebration.
After the incredible dinner the kids change into their PJ’s (‘Dear Son’ into Super Man; ‘Sweet Daughter’ into HS Musical.) We then take the kids to “Goofy’s PJ Party” in kids club. This is an event for the 5-7 year olds but ‘Dear Son’ goes as ‘Sweet Daughter’s ‘guest’ and I stay with him. They both giggle at Goofy’s antics. “Aye Yye Yye” the kids say to Goofy.
At the close of the slumber party they color Goofy pillowcases. (I later drop off the pillow cases at Guest Services and all the Characters on the ship sign them and drop of the cases to our cabin the last night.) ‘Dear Son’ is very intense in coloring his pillow case and they both have a great time.
After checking back out of Oceaneer’s Club we go around the ship a bit and take a few pictures…and then retire to our cabin. ‘Dear Son’, after all, only had a very short nap, dozing off on the tour bus.
After the “boys” are asleep the “girls” snuck back out for some more Mommy/Daughter fun. First we went straight to the HS Musical Family Dance Party. That was fun. Mommy and Daughter danced our hearts out. Then we stayed for Disney Karaoke. We went at the very first. ‘Sweet Daughter’ sang “Part of your World” and did a GREAT job, gesturing along with the words. Mommy sang “Colors of the Wind.” Some of the guest complimented me saying Disney should hire me to sing. Not deserved praise but Anyway… we had a great evening during our secret Mommy/Daughter outing.
Another great day!
DAY 7 Day at Sea
Wed, October 15.
We sleep in really late. After we awaken we make it to Topsiders for breakfast right before they close at 11 am. We have a good breakfast and just relax and then dressed in royal finery head to the princess meet.
Sissy is in her Cinderella gown and Boo into his Prince so that we can go to the Princess gathering in the Lobby Atrium! We wait and soon, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White arrive. Sweet Daughter and Dear Son meet and greet and are photographed with all 3 princesses, one after another. The princesses are all so nice and beautiful and LOVE the kids.
Sweet Daughter asks Belle if she remembers her and she replies Of Course! It is all very magical. Lots of hugs.
After the fun with the princesses, we go back to the cabin and change out of our Royal wear and into swim suits.
Around 1 or so, Mommy and the kids head to the Goofy Pool. There we get some pizza from Pinocchios Pizzeria (eating again) and Mommy gets a Strawberry Daiquiri and we sink into lounge chairs and listen to the really good female singer and her band. Next they have an event called Fun in the Sun at the Goofy pool. They call the kids up to the stage that want to participate in a Hula Hoop contest. Of course, our very own Hula Hoop champ, Sweet Daughter, rushes up there.
They do a bunch of different games afterwards & end with a dance party. Sweet Daughter is so cute, and they keep putting her up on the big Jumbo screen. Dear Son lays next to me, cuddling in the deck chair and we enjoy watching big sister in her antics. Mommy enjoys her strawberry Daiquiri.
After the games on the stage, Sweet Daughter rejoins us and we all get in the Goofy Pool. This is Boos first time in the Goofy pool, but as long as he has his Pooh Floaty and his Mommy, he is happy. The ship is rocking today literally so the Goofy Pool is a bit of a wave pool so we ride the waves back and forth having a fun time. On the screen they start a movie at 2:30 Meet the Robisons and we semi-watch that and alternate between the pool and the hot tub.
Around 3:30 or so, we move to the Mickey Pool and the kids are so cute playing and swimming together there. At about 4 we head back to the cabin my aim?...Sweet Daughter to go to Kids Club while Dear Son and I catch a quick nap. Dear Son wants no part of napping if his sissy is going to club so he ends up going with Sweet Daughter. They go for two events...Magic Show and Games Galore. I have Daddy take them and I CRASH into the bed. Ghost Busters is on TV and Daddy and I watch the movie for a while (Man, Bill Murray looks young) but quickly I close my eyes and go into a deep power nap.
Daddy picks up the kids around 5 and we all shower and get ready for dinner. Tonight is the Captains Gala in Animators Palate. We end up having a wonderful meal that night. Daddy and I both have lobster and the dessert is the incredible lava cake. This was supposed to be our Palo night that we ended up canceling. We decide this meal was on par with Palo plus we had the charming company of our beloved son and daughter and the unbeatable service of Ivo and Savio.
After dinner we go pick out some pictures at Shutters and also stroll the deck. We pop into Studio Sea for A Pirates Life for Me game show but it is kind of lame and we all leave. It is almost 8 pm, and with no nap for Dear Son he is dead on his feet. We talk about Daddy taking Dear Son to the cabin so Daddy can watch baseball and let Boo sleep while Sissy and I go to Twice Charmed.
Dear Son really wants to go see the show, so we bring him along thinking he may fall asleep during it. He ended up enjoying it very much as did sister. After the show, we go pose with Daisy Duck in the lobby. Then the kids go to club again must pack lots of fun it! After club it is really late so we finally all go to bed after walking the deck again to see the waves. Sweet Daughter does NOT want to go to bed, but the rest of us are exhausted. Once again we have a cute towel animal- a monkey. Sleep comes quickly.
Wed, October 15.
We sleep in really late. After we awaken we make it to Topsiders for breakfast right before they close at 11 am. We have a good breakfast and just relax and then dressed in royal finery head to the princess meet.
Sissy is in her Cinderella gown and Boo into his Prince so that we can go to the Princess gathering in the Lobby Atrium! We wait and soon, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White arrive. Sweet Daughter and Dear Son meet and greet and are photographed with all 3 princesses, one after another. The princesses are all so nice and beautiful and LOVE the kids.
Sweet Daughter asks Belle if she remembers her and she replies Of Course! It is all very magical. Lots of hugs.
After the fun with the princesses, we go back to the cabin and change out of our Royal wear and into swim suits.
Around 1 or so, Mommy and the kids head to the Goofy Pool. There we get some pizza from Pinocchios Pizzeria (eating again) and Mommy gets a Strawberry Daiquiri and we sink into lounge chairs and listen to the really good female singer and her band. Next they have an event called Fun in the Sun at the Goofy pool. They call the kids up to the stage that want to participate in a Hula Hoop contest. Of course, our very own Hula Hoop champ, Sweet Daughter, rushes up there.
They do a bunch of different games afterwards & end with a dance party. Sweet Daughter is so cute, and they keep putting her up on the big Jumbo screen. Dear Son lays next to me, cuddling in the deck chair and we enjoy watching big sister in her antics. Mommy enjoys her strawberry Daiquiri.
After the games on the stage, Sweet Daughter rejoins us and we all get in the Goofy Pool. This is Boos first time in the Goofy pool, but as long as he has his Pooh Floaty and his Mommy, he is happy. The ship is rocking today literally so the Goofy Pool is a bit of a wave pool so we ride the waves back and forth having a fun time. On the screen they start a movie at 2:30 Meet the Robisons and we semi-watch that and alternate between the pool and the hot tub.
Around 3:30 or so, we move to the Mickey Pool and the kids are so cute playing and swimming together there. At about 4 we head back to the cabin my aim?...Sweet Daughter to go to Kids Club while Dear Son and I catch a quick nap. Dear Son wants no part of napping if his sissy is going to club so he ends up going with Sweet Daughter. They go for two events...Magic Show and Games Galore. I have Daddy take them and I CRASH into the bed. Ghost Busters is on TV and Daddy and I watch the movie for a while (Man, Bill Murray looks young) but quickly I close my eyes and go into a deep power nap.
Daddy picks up the kids around 5 and we all shower and get ready for dinner. Tonight is the Captains Gala in Animators Palate. We end up having a wonderful meal that night. Daddy and I both have lobster and the dessert is the incredible lava cake. This was supposed to be our Palo night that we ended up canceling. We decide this meal was on par with Palo plus we had the charming company of our beloved son and daughter and the unbeatable service of Ivo and Savio.
After dinner we go pick out some pictures at Shutters and also stroll the deck. We pop into Studio Sea for A Pirates Life for Me game show but it is kind of lame and we all leave. It is almost 8 pm, and with no nap for Dear Son he is dead on his feet. We talk about Daddy taking Dear Son to the cabin so Daddy can watch baseball and let Boo sleep while Sissy and I go to Twice Charmed.
Dear Son really wants to go see the show, so we bring him along thinking he may fall asleep during it. He ended up enjoying it very much as did sister. After the show, we go pose with Daisy Duck in the lobby. Then the kids go to club again must pack lots of fun it! After club it is really late so we finally all go to bed after walking the deck again to see the waves. Sweet Daughter does NOT want to go to bed, but the rest of us are exhausted. Once again we have a cute towel animal- a monkey. Sleep comes quickly.
DAY 8 Half Day at Sea & Nassau, Bahamas (& Pirate Night)
Thursday, October 16.
We sleep in a bit. After we awaken and put on our pirate t-shirts we make it to Topsiders for breakfast again, at about 9:45 a.m. and have a great table outside viewing the ocean. Mommy has a 10:30 massage scheduled and needs to check in for it at 10:15 so she heads off while Daddy finishes breakfast with the kids.
The spa is very relaxing. I have my hour massage with Eric from Finland? It is a good, average massage. Next year, I think Ill pass though and maybe do a wrap? I am one huge stress ball per the masseuse. I hurt for a few days afterwards.
After the massage I head to the womens area and relax in the lounge chairs for a while, closing my eyes listening to the meditative music. Then I go and relax some more in the steam room. I end up staying about an hour after my massage just enjoying the atmosphere.
After exiting the Spa, I go to the Quiet Cove and relax a bit more in the padded lounger, gazing at the passing ocean. I also head in to Cove-Café and have a heavenly éclair. I nibble it and some chocolate covered strawberries as I stretch out in my lounger extravagantly. Ahh some me time.
While I was at the massage, Daddy took the kids for a while to Oceaneerss Club for a bit to join in on Clarabells Moo Juice. Using fresh cream and their inexhaustible energy, children Shake, Shake, Shake, Make & then Taste their very own butter creation. Sweet Daughter said it was fun but didnt taste very good.
We have to time the Oceaneer activities just so...the mission is that they go when the 3-4 year olds and the 5-7 year old groups are combined. Neither sibling wants to be apart from the other. It works out fine though. There are several combined events listed in Navigator every day. So now, the children have made butter.
After Kids club, Daddy checked them out and the kids watched Aladdin in the cabin and waited for Mommy to return.
When I came returned from Quiet Cove back to the cabin and saw everyone cooped up in the cabin watching a movie instead of out on such a perfect sea day, and scooted them all out and we headed to the Mickey Pool! We stopped in Topsiders first and grabbed a quick lunch. We got tacos and fajitas which were fair. Daddy got mashed potatoes and ribs and said it was his favorite meal of the trip!
So the kids played and played in the Mickey pool. The weather was gorgeous. Sweet Daughter went down he Mickey slide several times. They were both so cute and oh so happy. Dear Son especially appeared deliriously happy swimming in the Mickey Pool with his big sissy. The Mickey pool was surprisingly empty so they really enjoyed the space. We are pulling into Nassau about 2 pm and Daddy goes to the top deck and takes some great pictures of us pulling into dock. There is also a Tropical Deck Party going on at the Goofy pool. At about 2:15 we pull into Nassau. We head to our cabin throw on our cover-ups and head to the gang-way to exit the ship. Time to slip in some Nassau time!
This is not normally a stop on an Eastern Excursion. This half sea day/half Nassau day is complements of tropical storm now Hurricane Omar.
We have actually always enjoyed our stops in Nassau. I think this is our 4th time to Nassau so we have a good attitude about it. I hate we missed our big snorkeling trip in St. Thomas, but there is always next year.
Our aim this afternoon is to take a Taxi to the Atlantis Hotel and Casino. There, Daddy will enjoy this unanticipated stop at the Atlantis Casino and Mommy and the kids will go enjoy some quick time on the ocean/beach.
The hotel is gorgeous, as we remember it. Last time we were in Nassau...Sweet Daughter was 5 years old and Dear Son was 4 months old. We take a quick peak around the Atlantis and then separate Daddy to the tables rest of us to the public beach.
We enter the beach by the RIO hotel and stroll in the white sand a bit until we are on the edge of the Atlantis beach. There we stretch out our beach towel and start the fun. First we make sand castles for a while. Then we go out to the edge of the surf and play in the crashing waves. The waves are strong with a strong undercurrent so I have to be very, very careful with my 8 and 3 year old. Sister loves getting knocked down though. She thinks it is like being on a roller coaster. The little one has fun too and is very wide eyed about the whole thing. Cheap Charlie comes by selling turtles made out of coconut shells. Dear Son is delighted to pick one out and I cant resist getting this little, handicraft purchased from the beach vendor.
This is a quick excursion since we didnt even leave the ship until 2:45 or so and we need to be back in the dining room for Pirate night at 5:30! We play in the water and sand for a bit more then head on.
Time to enter the grounds of the Atlantis. We shower off the sand in the outdoor showers at the Atlantis and enter the Atlantis area to meet back up with Daddy in the casino. We walk past the Atlantis lagoon which is pretty and the kids wade in it a bit. Then we go past a different lagoon infested with sharks obviously no wading there. Instead we go down to the underwater viewing room and see all the sea life. We see tons of sharks swimming by, inches from us separated by glass. We see Sting Rays, Saw Sharks, etc. Very, very cool! After viewing the aquarium for a while we head over to the casino at meet Daddy. It is about 5:10 pm by now. Dinner is in 20 minutes and we are still at the Atlantis Casinos Yikes. (But worth it! What a fun time.) Sweet Daughter says that she doesnt mind at all that we missed St. Thomas .that Nassau was Great!!!
We find a taxi waiting for us at the entrance to the Casino and are quickly returned to our waiting ship. Daddy pulls out his wallet and proudly holds up a hundred dollar bill. He made us a $100 (and had a fun time) while the rest of us swam. Successful afternoon. By the time we are in our cabin it is 5:45. Tonight is pirate night one of the most crazy, enjoyable nights in the dining room and we dont want to miss it.
Daddy has the somewhat unorthodox idea that we all just change into our pirate outfits and go to dinner as Sandy Pirates. He thinks it will be authentic. I somewhat reluctantly agree we did after all shower off at the Atlantis although that was without shampoo, soap etc.
So the Boys put on their Pirate outfits (that they purchased last year for Pirate Night on the 2007 cruise) and the Girls put on our Pirate costumes that we purchased a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of tonight since we didnt want to be left out.
Sweet Daughter is a Pirate Princess. Mommy is a Pirate Wench. We are pretty darn cute. So we put Pirate hats on our slightly sandy hair and head on the dining room! Im sure we are quite the sight.
We get to the dining room by 6 pm. Not too bad, and the gracious Savio and Ivo, greet us enthusiastically and get us caught up on ordering our meal from the Pirate IN the Caribbean menu. Ivo & Savio are dressed in pirate costumes and make a big deal about our attire. I dont know if they notice the sand on us.
We enjoy the treasure map menus. At the conclusion of the meal is the big Pirate Line dance and Mommy and the kids join in dancing around the room and under the Limbo pole with Ivo. Mommy with her Pirate Cape flowing and Sweet Pirate Daughter and Dear Pirate Son with their faces lit up and clutching tightly to Ivo and Savios hands and shaking their bottoms!
After Dinner, we go get our pictures made in our Pirate attire and also meet and greet Captain Jack Sparrow. Then the kids pop into Oceaneers Club briefly for Pirate Dance Party. While they are in club Mommy & Daddy have some couple time and the two Pirates go to the top deck for an evening stroll. A carnival ship is on either side of us in port and we enjoy looking over at the other ships! In our cabin that night is a huge swam or peacock not sure along with rose flower petals. Sweet.
Soon it is 8:30 pm and time for the show Disney Dreams (Which we are seeing for the 6th time.) The whole family watches the show and the kids love it. We are actually very close to the front. I think the kids favorite part was when the bubbles came down during Under the Sea. They were catching them and popping them frantically!
After Disney Dreams it is time to head to The Goofy Pool Stage for the Pirate IN the Caribbean Deck Party. Brother has had no nap today again...and it is 10:00 at night by now! Unfortunately .it is also raining .hard! In light of the rain and the exhausted, cranky toddler I excuse myself and take Dear Son back to the cabin so our melting down 3 year old can go to bed.
Before we leave I buy Dear Son his much coveted Pirate Pow Pow from a vendor there at the Pirate Party. This is kind of his bribe to pull him away from the party. We go back to the cabin and he plays with his Pow Pow and we watch Cinderella on the in-state room Plasma TV while he starts to drift off to sleep. (He keeps shooting the evil stepmother and step sisters with his Pow Pow.)
Dear Son is half asleep when Daddy and Sweet Daughter return all smiles. The rain apparently stopped and the party happened. They went right on stage, Sweet Daughter dancing away, saw Captain Hook attack, and saw Mickey zip line to the rescue and to top it all off fireworks.
I have always enjoyed the pirate party and hate we missed it. Next year! So we all close our eyes still sandy and crash for the night to dream Pirate Dreams. Tomorrow? Castaway Cay!
Thursday, October 16.
We sleep in a bit. After we awaken and put on our pirate t-shirts we make it to Topsiders for breakfast again, at about 9:45 a.m. and have a great table outside viewing the ocean. Mommy has a 10:30 massage scheduled and needs to check in for it at 10:15 so she heads off while Daddy finishes breakfast with the kids.
The spa is very relaxing. I have my hour massage with Eric from Finland? It is a good, average massage. Next year, I think Ill pass though and maybe do a wrap? I am one huge stress ball per the masseuse. I hurt for a few days afterwards.
After the massage I head to the womens area and relax in the lounge chairs for a while, closing my eyes listening to the meditative music. Then I go and relax some more in the steam room. I end up staying about an hour after my massage just enjoying the atmosphere.
After exiting the Spa, I go to the Quiet Cove and relax a bit more in the padded lounger, gazing at the passing ocean. I also head in to Cove-Café and have a heavenly éclair. I nibble it and some chocolate covered strawberries as I stretch out in my lounger extravagantly. Ahh some me time.
While I was at the massage, Daddy took the kids for a while to Oceaneerss Club for a bit to join in on Clarabells Moo Juice. Using fresh cream and their inexhaustible energy, children Shake, Shake, Shake, Make & then Taste their very own butter creation. Sweet Daughter said it was fun but didnt taste very good.
We have to time the Oceaneer activities just so...the mission is that they go when the 3-4 year olds and the 5-7 year old groups are combined. Neither sibling wants to be apart from the other. It works out fine though. There are several combined events listed in Navigator every day. So now, the children have made butter.
After Kids club, Daddy checked them out and the kids watched Aladdin in the cabin and waited for Mommy to return.
When I came returned from Quiet Cove back to the cabin and saw everyone cooped up in the cabin watching a movie instead of out on such a perfect sea day, and scooted them all out and we headed to the Mickey Pool! We stopped in Topsiders first and grabbed a quick lunch. We got tacos and fajitas which were fair. Daddy got mashed potatoes and ribs and said it was his favorite meal of the trip!
So the kids played and played in the Mickey pool. The weather was gorgeous. Sweet Daughter went down he Mickey slide several times. They were both so cute and oh so happy. Dear Son especially appeared deliriously happy swimming in the Mickey Pool with his big sissy. The Mickey pool was surprisingly empty so they really enjoyed the space. We are pulling into Nassau about 2 pm and Daddy goes to the top deck and takes some great pictures of us pulling into dock. There is also a Tropical Deck Party going on at the Goofy pool. At about 2:15 we pull into Nassau. We head to our cabin throw on our cover-ups and head to the gang-way to exit the ship. Time to slip in some Nassau time!
This is not normally a stop on an Eastern Excursion. This half sea day/half Nassau day is complements of tropical storm now Hurricane Omar.
We have actually always enjoyed our stops in Nassau. I think this is our 4th time to Nassau so we have a good attitude about it. I hate we missed our big snorkeling trip in St. Thomas, but there is always next year.
Our aim this afternoon is to take a Taxi to the Atlantis Hotel and Casino. There, Daddy will enjoy this unanticipated stop at the Atlantis Casino and Mommy and the kids will go enjoy some quick time on the ocean/beach.
The hotel is gorgeous, as we remember it. Last time we were in Nassau...Sweet Daughter was 5 years old and Dear Son was 4 months old. We take a quick peak around the Atlantis and then separate Daddy to the tables rest of us to the public beach.
We enter the beach by the RIO hotel and stroll in the white sand a bit until we are on the edge of the Atlantis beach. There we stretch out our beach towel and start the fun. First we make sand castles for a while. Then we go out to the edge of the surf and play in the crashing waves. The waves are strong with a strong undercurrent so I have to be very, very careful with my 8 and 3 year old. Sister loves getting knocked down though. She thinks it is like being on a roller coaster. The little one has fun too and is very wide eyed about the whole thing. Cheap Charlie comes by selling turtles made out of coconut shells. Dear Son is delighted to pick one out and I cant resist getting this little, handicraft purchased from the beach vendor.
This is a quick excursion since we didnt even leave the ship until 2:45 or so and we need to be back in the dining room for Pirate night at 5:30! We play in the water and sand for a bit more then head on.
Time to enter the grounds of the Atlantis. We shower off the sand in the outdoor showers at the Atlantis and enter the Atlantis area to meet back up with Daddy in the casino. We walk past the Atlantis lagoon which is pretty and the kids wade in it a bit. Then we go past a different lagoon infested with sharks obviously no wading there. Instead we go down to the underwater viewing room and see all the sea life. We see tons of sharks swimming by, inches from us separated by glass. We see Sting Rays, Saw Sharks, etc. Very, very cool! After viewing the aquarium for a while we head over to the casino at meet Daddy. It is about 5:10 pm by now. Dinner is in 20 minutes and we are still at the Atlantis Casinos Yikes. (But worth it! What a fun time.) Sweet Daughter says that she doesnt mind at all that we missed St. Thomas .that Nassau was Great!!!
We find a taxi waiting for us at the entrance to the Casino and are quickly returned to our waiting ship. Daddy pulls out his wallet and proudly holds up a hundred dollar bill. He made us a $100 (and had a fun time) while the rest of us swam. Successful afternoon. By the time we are in our cabin it is 5:45. Tonight is pirate night one of the most crazy, enjoyable nights in the dining room and we dont want to miss it.
Daddy has the somewhat unorthodox idea that we all just change into our pirate outfits and go to dinner as Sandy Pirates. He thinks it will be authentic. I somewhat reluctantly agree we did after all shower off at the Atlantis although that was without shampoo, soap etc.
So the Boys put on their Pirate outfits (that they purchased last year for Pirate Night on the 2007 cruise) and the Girls put on our Pirate costumes that we purchased a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of tonight since we didnt want to be left out.
Sweet Daughter is a Pirate Princess. Mommy is a Pirate Wench. We are pretty darn cute. So we put Pirate hats on our slightly sandy hair and head on the dining room! Im sure we are quite the sight.
We get to the dining room by 6 pm. Not too bad, and the gracious Savio and Ivo, greet us enthusiastically and get us caught up on ordering our meal from the Pirate IN the Caribbean menu. Ivo & Savio are dressed in pirate costumes and make a big deal about our attire. I dont know if they notice the sand on us.
We enjoy the treasure map menus. At the conclusion of the meal is the big Pirate Line dance and Mommy and the kids join in dancing around the room and under the Limbo pole with Ivo. Mommy with her Pirate Cape flowing and Sweet Pirate Daughter and Dear Pirate Son with their faces lit up and clutching tightly to Ivo and Savios hands and shaking their bottoms!
After Dinner, we go get our pictures made in our Pirate attire and also meet and greet Captain Jack Sparrow. Then the kids pop into Oceaneers Club briefly for Pirate Dance Party. While they are in club Mommy & Daddy have some couple time and the two Pirates go to the top deck for an evening stroll. A carnival ship is on either side of us in port and we enjoy looking over at the other ships! In our cabin that night is a huge swam or peacock not sure along with rose flower petals. Sweet.
Soon it is 8:30 pm and time for the show Disney Dreams (Which we are seeing for the 6th time.) The whole family watches the show and the kids love it. We are actually very close to the front. I think the kids favorite part was when the bubbles came down during Under the Sea. They were catching them and popping them frantically!
After Disney Dreams it is time to head to The Goofy Pool Stage for the Pirate IN the Caribbean Deck Party. Brother has had no nap today again...and it is 10:00 at night by now! Unfortunately .it is also raining .hard! In light of the rain and the exhausted, cranky toddler I excuse myself and take Dear Son back to the cabin so our melting down 3 year old can go to bed.
Before we leave I buy Dear Son his much coveted Pirate Pow Pow from a vendor there at the Pirate Party. This is kind of his bribe to pull him away from the party. We go back to the cabin and he plays with his Pow Pow and we watch Cinderella on the in-state room Plasma TV while he starts to drift off to sleep. (He keeps shooting the evil stepmother and step sisters with his Pow Pow.)
Dear Son is half asleep when Daddy and Sweet Daughter return all smiles. The rain apparently stopped and the party happened. They went right on stage, Sweet Daughter dancing away, saw Captain Hook attack, and saw Mickey zip line to the rescue and to top it all off fireworks.
I have always enjoyed the pirate party and hate we missed it. Next year! So we all close our eyes still sandy and crash for the night to dream Pirate Dreams. Tomorrow? Castaway Cay!
DAY 9 Castaway Cay Disneys Private Island
Friday, October 17, 2008
After sleeping in we are finally returned to one of our favorite places on earth Castaway Cay. First, we dressed in our oh so cute matching shirts ..this time Daisy for the girls, Donald for the boys. Then, before getting of the ship and entering one of our favorite places on earth, we take care of tips and stateroom bill at guest services and then go to Parrot Cay to have their fantastic breakfast. Yum. Esp. the fresh fruit and the Mickey Shaped Waffles with whip cream!
Then it is time to exit to paradise! White sand and clear turquoise water as far as the eye could see. Off the ship we find a big red wagon waiting for us. What could be better? A wagon ride on Castaway Cay?! We take the wagon down to the tram stop, where a tram was there to scoot us off to the family beach. After getting off the tram we find another big red wagon and continue the kids heavenly wagon ride.
We decided after grabbing a drink to head straight to our spot on the edge of the family beach. We always head to our section and find our hammock. Finally, Castaway Cay! We love this place. This is why we came! Sweet Daughter and even Dear Son jumped right in and enjoyed swinging in the hammock. Daddy plops down with relish.
Next Sweet Daughter, Mommy and Boo headed into the ocean to enjoy the perfect water. First, the kids gathered a few sea shells. Then we blew up Whale floaty and Pooh floaty and headed out into the water. Dooby, Bop, Dooby Bop, Dooby Bop, Dooby Doo Bop Bah De Bah! we sang as we twirled in the water! We loved the water! Then we swam over to the water playground and Sweet Daughter tried to conquer the ropes even 3 year old Dear Son climbed up on the platform so cute and unstoppable.
It was a great time. One sad thing is that beloved whale floaty floated out to sea while we were playing. Well miss him but at least he is in a beautiful place and can play every day with the mermaids as we discussed.
After that we went back and met Daddy at the hammocks. We loaded up our big red wagon and decided to grab lunch before it closed. Daddy was hot, Dear Son was tired, Sweet Daughter was crying about her lost floaty and we needed to cool off and refresh.
So .we headed to Cookies to have a good lunch. We had ribs, very good hamburgers, fresh fruit, and the cookies of course and loads of fruit punch. Afterwards we enjoy the famous cookie dough ice-cream. We were all full and feeling much better.
Next we went to the island gift store and Sweet Daughter selected a Nemo floaty and a Minnie Mouse dolly and a Castaway Cay Mug with her Moo Bank money. Dear Son got a Castaway Cay football as his present.
After shopping the girls and boys parted ways. The boys went back to the cabin and had a long nap. The girls headed back to the ocean.
Sweet Daughter jumped back in the wagon and her Mommy took her for another a wagon ride back to the Family beach. Mommy got an adult inner tube a.k.a. floaty and we also claimed a couple of hammocks. Mommy and Sweet Daughter swung in the hammock for a long while together .very relaxing. Then Sweet Daughter got out the beach buckets and toys and built sand castles. Mommy helped make sand snakes.
Soon, the staff was announcing that the beach was closing in 30 minutes so Sweet Daughter and Mommy jumped in the water to soak up the rest of the day! We floated and floated and kicked and splashed and laughed. It was a perfect and fast 30 minutes. We floated all the way to the edge of the boundary. Soon they blew the whistle and said the Lagoon is closed!!
Sweet Daughter and I grinned and swam the long way back to the beach, gathered up our belongings and took one last Castaway Cay Wagon ride back to the tram station. We took the last tram back to the ship!
Once back on the ship, we peaked in the cabin to check on the boys. They were still sleeping so we closed the door and headed straight to the Goofy Pool. There we continued our swimming and laughing. We sang Part of Your World at the top of our lungs while Mommy lifted up Sweet Daughter and splashed her around the pool. Then we relaxed in the hot tubs. Finally we decided we better get back to the cabin to change for dinner. We first went to the top deck and watch us sailing away from Castaway Cay. What a perfect day!
We went back to the cabin and the boys were just rousing from their hibernation. We quickly showered and changed for dinner. Sweet Daughter wore her Aurora gown and again Dear Son wanted to be a prince. Tonight was Till we Meet again dinner in Lumieres. We loved dinner and were glad to see Ivo and Savio. We will miss them. At the conclusion of dinner there was a Flag celebration with all the waiters forming a parade line with the flags of the more than 50 countries represented in the dining room staff. For dessert? Banana crème Brule and Celebration cake!
After dinner we went and took family pictures! (Of course we ended up buying some at Shutters.) My favorite was Sweet Daughter and Dear Son holding Tinker Bell in their hands.
After our photography shoot the kids went to Oceaneers Club for two events Make up what you missed and Final Farewell Party.
Meanwhile Daddy and I packed up our SIX checked luggage to put outside our door. Then we went to the gift shop to make our last two purchases. Daddy had his eye on a Seven Dwarfs sculpture and I wanted a Castaway Club keychain.
Then we picked up the kids, Sweet Daughter changed into her nightgown, and we headed to the Til we Meet again event. Once there we saw ALL the characters on the boat! We took pictures with Captain Hook, Turk, Wendy, Peter Pan and more! So fun! Soon the party grew to close, we waved goodbye to our Disney friends and Mickey confetti rained down on our heads. Sweet Daughter so cutely and eagerly scooped it up!
After the farewell party we stopped at the Oceeaners Club desk and picked up the kids Friendship Rocks t-shirts. Then we walked the deck one last time .gazing happily at the thundering ocean waves in the dark. Then we went to the cabin .Crashed and went to bed at about 11:30 at night!
Friday, October 17, 2008
After sleeping in we are finally returned to one of our favorite places on earth Castaway Cay. First, we dressed in our oh so cute matching shirts ..this time Daisy for the girls, Donald for the boys. Then, before getting of the ship and entering one of our favorite places on earth, we take care of tips and stateroom bill at guest services and then go to Parrot Cay to have their fantastic breakfast. Yum. Esp. the fresh fruit and the Mickey Shaped Waffles with whip cream!
Then it is time to exit to paradise! White sand and clear turquoise water as far as the eye could see. Off the ship we find a big red wagon waiting for us. What could be better? A wagon ride on Castaway Cay?! We take the wagon down to the tram stop, where a tram was there to scoot us off to the family beach. After getting off the tram we find another big red wagon and continue the kids heavenly wagon ride.
We decided after grabbing a drink to head straight to our spot on the edge of the family beach. We always head to our section and find our hammock. Finally, Castaway Cay! We love this place. This is why we came! Sweet Daughter and even Dear Son jumped right in and enjoyed swinging in the hammock. Daddy plops down with relish.
Next Sweet Daughter, Mommy and Boo headed into the ocean to enjoy the perfect water. First, the kids gathered a few sea shells. Then we blew up Whale floaty and Pooh floaty and headed out into the water. Dooby, Bop, Dooby Bop, Dooby Bop, Dooby Doo Bop Bah De Bah! we sang as we twirled in the water! We loved the water! Then we swam over to the water playground and Sweet Daughter tried to conquer the ropes even 3 year old Dear Son climbed up on the platform so cute and unstoppable.
It was a great time. One sad thing is that beloved whale floaty floated out to sea while we were playing. Well miss him but at least he is in a beautiful place and can play every day with the mermaids as we discussed.
After that we went back and met Daddy at the hammocks. We loaded up our big red wagon and decided to grab lunch before it closed. Daddy was hot, Dear Son was tired, Sweet Daughter was crying about her lost floaty and we needed to cool off and refresh.
So .we headed to Cookies to have a good lunch. We had ribs, very good hamburgers, fresh fruit, and the cookies of course and loads of fruit punch. Afterwards we enjoy the famous cookie dough ice-cream. We were all full and feeling much better.
Next we went to the island gift store and Sweet Daughter selected a Nemo floaty and a Minnie Mouse dolly and a Castaway Cay Mug with her Moo Bank money. Dear Son got a Castaway Cay football as his present.
After shopping the girls and boys parted ways. The boys went back to the cabin and had a long nap. The girls headed back to the ocean.
Sweet Daughter jumped back in the wagon and her Mommy took her for another a wagon ride back to the Family beach. Mommy got an adult inner tube a.k.a. floaty and we also claimed a couple of hammocks. Mommy and Sweet Daughter swung in the hammock for a long while together .very relaxing. Then Sweet Daughter got out the beach buckets and toys and built sand castles. Mommy helped make sand snakes.
Soon, the staff was announcing that the beach was closing in 30 minutes so Sweet Daughter and Mommy jumped in the water to soak up the rest of the day! We floated and floated and kicked and splashed and laughed. It was a perfect and fast 30 minutes. We floated all the way to the edge of the boundary. Soon they blew the whistle and said the Lagoon is closed!!
Sweet Daughter and I grinned and swam the long way back to the beach, gathered up our belongings and took one last Castaway Cay Wagon ride back to the tram station. We took the last tram back to the ship!
Once back on the ship, we peaked in the cabin to check on the boys. They were still sleeping so we closed the door and headed straight to the Goofy Pool. There we continued our swimming and laughing. We sang Part of Your World at the top of our lungs while Mommy lifted up Sweet Daughter and splashed her around the pool. Then we relaxed in the hot tubs. Finally we decided we better get back to the cabin to change for dinner. We first went to the top deck and watch us sailing away from Castaway Cay. What a perfect day!
We went back to the cabin and the boys were just rousing from their hibernation. We quickly showered and changed for dinner. Sweet Daughter wore her Aurora gown and again Dear Son wanted to be a prince. Tonight was Till we Meet again dinner in Lumieres. We loved dinner and were glad to see Ivo and Savio. We will miss them. At the conclusion of dinner there was a Flag celebration with all the waiters forming a parade line with the flags of the more than 50 countries represented in the dining room staff. For dessert? Banana crème Brule and Celebration cake!
After dinner we went and took family pictures! (Of course we ended up buying some at Shutters.) My favorite was Sweet Daughter and Dear Son holding Tinker Bell in their hands.
After our photography shoot the kids went to Oceaneers Club for two events Make up what you missed and Final Farewell Party.
Meanwhile Daddy and I packed up our SIX checked luggage to put outside our door. Then we went to the gift shop to make our last two purchases. Daddy had his eye on a Seven Dwarfs sculpture and I wanted a Castaway Club keychain.
Then we picked up the kids, Sweet Daughter changed into her nightgown, and we headed to the Til we Meet again event. Once there we saw ALL the characters on the boat! We took pictures with Captain Hook, Turk, Wendy, Peter Pan and more! So fun! Soon the party grew to close, we waved goodbye to our Disney friends and Mickey confetti rained down on our heads. Sweet Daughter so cutely and eagerly scooped it up!
After the farewell party we stopped at the Oceeaners Club desk and picked up the kids Friendship Rocks t-shirts. Then we walked the deck one last time .gazing happily at the thundering ocean waves in the dark. Then we went to the cabin .Crashed and went to bed at about 11:30 at night!
DAY 10 Final Morning
Hyatt & then home
Saturday, October 18
We had to do a wake up call from Mickey to ensure we were out of our staterooms around 8am. Mommy went to Shutters before everyone else woke up and picked out the rest of the pictures for our photo package. Then everyone sleepily awoke, got dressed (Boo in his angry Mickey shirt) and left our cabin for the last time. We went to Topsider Buffet just as it was closing and grabbed our final vacation breakfast. Then we smoothly disembarked with just our carry on bags since our luggage was taken the night before. Next we boarded the Disney Bus that was taking us to the airport. Sweet Daughter and Brother sat together of course. They were best friends this whole trip. They showed Disney cartoons on the way. Soon we were at the Orlando airport. Our flight wasnt until 7 pm so we took a day room at the Airport Hyatt.
The room was great! We drank the bottle of sparkling cider wed tucked into our travel bag a gift from our travel agent, Michelle. The kids of course jumped on the beds. We all enjoyed going out on the balcony watching the planes take off and land. Then we laid down for a while but the kids werent interested in sleeping. Soo .we went to McDonalds in the airport food court and took it back up to our Hyatt room. After eating we decided to go swimming on the rooftop pool.
The pool was an absolute blast! The water temperature was fine and we swam and swam for a couple of hours. Sweet Daughter and Dear Son played together great best friends. After the pool we took a shower and tumbled into bed for a nap.
Dear Son and Mommy slept for a couple of hours at least. Daddy and Sweet Daughter took a shorter nap and went exploring around the airport stores and food court.
We needed to be out of the rooms by 6 and our flight was at 7 so about 10 til 6 we exited the room and the Hyatt and headed through airport security. Shortly thereafter we were through security, had taken the tram and were sitting at our gate 45 minutes early.
We went and got Nathans Hotdogs and Sweet Daughter spent the remainder of her piggy bank money and got some Florida taffy that came in a little Florida purse.
The plane left on time and we were thankful we had a direct flight. We caught a cab home and the vacation was over. We got home about 10:30 pm. We were glad to be home but sad our fantasy vacation was over.
WHAT A GREAT TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And they all lived happily ever after
Saturday, October 18
We had to do a wake up call from Mickey to ensure we were out of our staterooms around 8am. Mommy went to Shutters before everyone else woke up and picked out the rest of the pictures for our photo package. Then everyone sleepily awoke, got dressed (Boo in his angry Mickey shirt) and left our cabin for the last time. We went to Topsider Buffet just as it was closing and grabbed our final vacation breakfast. Then we smoothly disembarked with just our carry on bags since our luggage was taken the night before. Next we boarded the Disney Bus that was taking us to the airport. Sweet Daughter and Brother sat together of course. They were best friends this whole trip. They showed Disney cartoons on the way. Soon we were at the Orlando airport. Our flight wasnt until 7 pm so we took a day room at the Airport Hyatt.
The room was great! We drank the bottle of sparkling cider wed tucked into our travel bag a gift from our travel agent, Michelle. The kids of course jumped on the beds. We all enjoyed going out on the balcony watching the planes take off and land. Then we laid down for a while but the kids werent interested in sleeping. Soo .we went to McDonalds in the airport food court and took it back up to our Hyatt room. After eating we decided to go swimming on the rooftop pool.
The pool was an absolute blast! The water temperature was fine and we swam and swam for a couple of hours. Sweet Daughter and Dear Son played together great best friends. After the pool we took a shower and tumbled into bed for a nap.
Dear Son and Mommy slept for a couple of hours at least. Daddy and Sweet Daughter took a shorter nap and went exploring around the airport stores and food court.
We needed to be out of the rooms by 6 and our flight was at 7 so about 10 til 6 we exited the room and the Hyatt and headed through airport security. Shortly thereafter we were through security, had taken the tram and were sitting at our gate 45 minutes early.
We went and got Nathans Hotdogs and Sweet Daughter spent the remainder of her piggy bank money and got some Florida taffy that came in a little Florida purse.
The plane left on time and we were thankful we had a direct flight. We caught a cab home and the vacation was over. We got home about 10:30 pm. We were glad to be home but sad our fantasy vacation was over.
WHAT A GREAT TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And they all lived happily ever after
2beaprincess
It all started with a mouse
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2008
- Messages
- 107
Wow that was a great trip report! Thanks for sharing!
goofygal1975
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,318
I really enjoyed your trip report! Thanks for sharing!!
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