The Bloat and Float 06 Cruise Report: Now The Truth Comes Out!

[Jennifer48]

Awwww so sad that this is almost over!!

 

[grumpydude]

I can honestly say that between you, Grumpydude, and Sleepydog, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. keep it up!

What are you doing writing over here Zell? You should be concentrating on writing in your own trippie. A trippie that some people have been patiently waiting for you to complete. Hmmmm? I am not naming names or anything...but people have been asking. Just so you know.

 

[tjeagle]

Talk about Blubbertown Express.....I just actually sobbed out loud reading the end of your last post (you know....it was like the dreaded escaped snort when laughing!!)

My son ran in to see if I was okay! I said no baby...mommy's story is almost over and I am sad!!

 

[suzij13]

I'm a newly all grown up daughter off at college for the first time. I just wanted to reasure you that we never stop needing our Daddies. I am now and always will be my Daddy's little girl.

 

[Seahunt]

Chapter 8 Disney Dreams
On the way to Disney Dreams, Sam spotted the vacuum cleaner she liked so much and made me take a picture of it.

Be sure and tell Samantha that I took a picture of her vacuum cleaner's brother "Henry" on the Navigator of the Seas!

 

[APinCA]

Chapter 8 Disney Dreams

“Thanks for taking me on a cruise Dad. You’re the best Dad ever!”


Are you listening Sleepydog?

 

[FatherForce]

oohhhh, THAT'S Cold.

 

[pppiglet]

Chapter 8 Disney Dreams

“Thanks for taking me on a cruise Dad. You’re the best Dad ever!”


Are you listening Sleepydog?

oohhhh, THAT'S Cold.

But somehow funny at the same time!

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Chapter 8 Disney Dreams

“Thanks for taking me on a cruise Dad. You’re the best Dad ever!”


Are you listening Sleepydog?

I am so glad I had just swallowed what I was eating when I read that.....

touche

 

[curlybop]

No, no, no.......it just can't be over yet. Noooooooo!!

The ending to that post is so incredibly sweet.

 

[FatherForce]

The Conclusion

The month of October greeted us with a harsh reality.
I woke up, went to the verandah and looked out onto….a parking lot.
We were back in Port Canaveral.
As excited as I was to see Port Canaveral when we had first arrived only 3 days earlier, I was even more depressed to be back.

There isn’t a lot to report from this morning.
We all just got up and dressed in the clothes we’d saved from last night’s packing frenzy.
Double and tripled checked the room.

We walked without talking up to the Beach Blanket Bingo Bonanza Buffet. (Of course, we skipped our 6:30 breakfast seating at Parrot Cay. I hope our serving team was not too upset.)

We had a light breakfast, and then we got in line to leave.

The debarking was a bit frenetic, but the Captain and Christian our Cruise Director were there to say “See You Real Soon.”

I was so very sad.
(I’m even sad now writing about it over a month later)

The scene on the first floor of the terminal where you pick up your luggage was like the burning of Atlanta scene from Gone with the Wind. Suitcases scattered everywhere, while disoriented folks wandered aimlessly searching for their bags.
I was lucky enough to catch a porter, and folks, I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH: use the porters working the room.
He got our luggage quickly (even the bag I had put the WRONG room # on) and worked us quickly through the line and customs.
He then took us right to the car (by the white awning), and helped me load it up.
He talked a lot, but honestly, I didn’t listen real well. I was just so grateful for someone to take care of everything.
I tipped him real well, and just like that, we were pulling out of Port Canaveral.

On the way to the airport, we talked little. Sam napped.
We were just exhausted, and spent.

I was amazed that I still had cash in my pocket too.

We had a nifty 5 hour wait in the Orlando Airport which meant we spent a lot of time in the Disney store. I got a commemorative Apollo 13 shirt in the Space Center shop.
As we waited by the gate I watched some football and read about the Foley scandal which was now erupting. I had been completely cut off from my news fix for 7 days, and now I resumed my addiction. I had a beer (and for those worried it was the last alcoholic beverage I’ve had since. I don’t normally drink like I do on vacation. Ok, I had some hard cider on Halloween. Sue Me).

By 7 that night I was driving down Indiana 37 toward home.

It was over.
No fanfare.
No celebration.
Over.

I have edited the hours of video, cleaned up the pictures, and wrote these remarkably long TRs.

In many ways, I do not want to finish this report.
Reliving that amazing week has been a panacea for the ills of the work and the world.
Forging camaraderie with SleepyDog after the fact has been nice too.
We have since discussed his family and mine cruising together in 08.
You’re invited too.
Imagine a cruise with everyone who has been reading his and my Rs.
(Shudder)

To all of you have followed and supported this incredibly overwrought tale, I say thanks. I even say thanks to those who wrote me to tell me they didn’t like my politics or parenting style.


Thanks to Nanci from Magical Journeys for wading through my family’s eccentricities and putting this awesome vacation together for us.

Thanks to those of you who have written TRs before me, especially Royal Vizier, GrumpyDude, LexMelinda, LilyGator, and of course Zweihund.

Thanks to my Cruise Mates including MomSully, Fallon, and of course, SleepyDog and Doc. Sleepy’s talent and humor forced me to attempt to step up my game. And as an aside, my TR may not have been as good as his, but I did finish before him!

Also due thanks (why is this like and Academy Award speech? I keep expecting to hear the orchestra trying to play me off) is the fantastic CMs of WDW and the Wilderness Lodge and the overwhelming awesome crew of the Disney Wonder.

Of course, the real thanks go to my Mom and family especially my lovely and understanding wife, Cheryll, and the best thing to ever happen to me: my daughter Samantha.

Until the next time, See You Real Soon.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

Thank you so much for your report... I love reading it so much...

 

[Bethipooh4]

I am so sorry our adventure is over(ok it was YOUR trip, but I felt like I was there).

What a truly magical trip you shared with us! Thank you so much.

 

[Blythep]

Thanks for a great TR - only 206 days till our cruise. Although I know that I could never write anything like yours. So sad its over.

 

[FatherForce]

Thanks for a great TR - only 206 days till our cruise. Although I know that I could never write anything like yours. So sad its over.

Sure you could.
Just obsess about it for weeks and ignore all your other responsibilities!

 

[zweihund]

It was over.
No fanfare.
No celebration.
Over.

That was the hardest part for us after our cruises....going back to real life is hard and cruel!

Thanks to those of you who have written TRs before me, especially Royal Vizier, GrumpyDude, LexMelinda, LilyGator, and of course Zweihund.

You are MOST welcome, and thank you. It was a pleasure to read.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Bravo FatherForce. Well done.

It is downright depressing at the end of the trip to wake up and you're back in Port Canaveral. Its like returning from Neverland.

These trip reports have kept my sanity while we're all waiting for the release of the summer of '08 itineraries.

 

[tamim]

BRAVO Your TR's have been inspirational. Thank you! I can only hope our trip in 10 months will be as memorable!

 

[BarbP]

Thanks FatherForce,

I Loved your report. Sorry that it hd to end. We are looking forward to our WONDERful cruise on the 14th of Jan. Thanks again for making me laugh and making me feel sad. You truly are a remarkable writer.

 

[DisneyZell]

What are you doing writing over here Zell? You should be concentrating on writing in your own trippie. A trippie that some people have been patiently waiting for you to complete. Hmmmm? I am not naming names or anything...but people have been asking. Just so you know.

I know, I know, but with all this entertainment, who can concentrate. and now the digs on sleepydog too...whoa!