The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 30

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We grab and put on our life vests and wait for the announcement the drill is happening. We follow the directions and head to our reporting station. This is the only required event of the entire week, beside disembarking. They check us off, give us the instructions and we are soon on our way back to the room to return the lifevests.

Trying on the lifevests

This thing makes a nice cup holder(Notice the lime green DIS bracelet) Thanks Bareacuda

Our Over the door shoe holder, was helpful in keeping things organized and easily at hand

We then head up to deck 9/10 for the Sail Away party. We started out on deck 10 but it was pretty crowded so we headed down to deck 9, where the action is taking place. We dance. I am not big on dancing but I do this week and don't the next week and am up up deck 10 then. Soon the characters are out and then we countdown, hear the horn play When You Wish Upon a Star and are soon cruising out of the port.

I want to apologize as I haven't cropped any pictures.

Cruise director Rachel

How low can you go??

Characters arrived

The Main Mouse

The troublemakers

Being Goofy

The first of many types of confetti

We head up to deck 10 forward and see lots of people waving. At the terminal they are waving with Mickey hands.

C-Ya Later

 

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A boat is not moving out of the way so we blast our horn several times, and they still don't move. Next thing you know there is a Coast Guard ship coming from two different directions. We blast our horn again the they quickly move out of the way.

Staff meeting by the staff pool and hidden Mickey

Out of the Way

One of my favorite campgrounds- Jetty Park, right at the edge of the ocean and the pier

Undeveloped Florida beach

Pelicans

We then head to the Walt Disney Theatre for the All Aboard show. We watch the show and the two entertainers during this show are Taylor Mason a ventriloquist and Randy Cabral a juggler and other body stunts. It was very good and funny.

One of the many details in the WD theatre, on the seats

Taylor Mason picked these people out of the audience to assist, it was hilarious

We went out and watched some of the sunset. The first of many gorgeous sunsets on this trip. I truly miss just watching the sunset in my busy life and enjoyed relaxing and watching it. We then headed back to our room to change for dinner.

Pictures up the staircase of the Stack

 

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Calm Seas storm clouds- we saw lots of storm clouds, thunder lightening and rain, but still had smooth seas and didn't affect our trip too much

Dinner our first night was held in Parrot Cay. They lead us to our table. We see it is a table for 4 but there are only 2 place settings. It turns out that we are seated by ourself. I know lots of people would love this but we wanted to sit with others.

Ready for dinner at Parrot Cay

Personal Seat

Our food was very good. We had banana bread, I don't like Banana, however the Caribbean rolls were yummy. Although lots of people love the Banana bread

I had the Baked Crab Martinique

Cream of Sweet onion soup

Pan Seared Grouper with Lemon Butter

Lemon meringue pie

Stephen had the Jerk Chicken wings

Mixed greens Salad

Mixed grill

Creme Brulee Cheese cake

Right before we were ready to leave our head dining waiter stopped at our table. We requested to be changed to a table with other people as we did not feel like sitting by ourselves. We ended up by ourselves the next week, but more about that later.

We walked through the main atrium, we saw there was a very short line to have your picture taken with Minnie, so we hopped in line. Three character photos in one day, for me that is a lot. Although there will be more to come. One of the reasons I love the cruises you might just stumble upon a character with no line.

We then wondered into the shops. There was a bunch of Transatlantic merchandise on clearance. I bought 2 shot glasses and a Christmas ball.

Stephen would have loved to buy this, but even with the 75% off it was still $75 and we had no idea how we would have got it home.

We headed back to the room and we had a lovely towel swan waiting to greet us.

We changed and headed to the pool. After the pool, I changed and then I went up to deck 9 and went on the internet, updated my trip report and edited some photos. I then went back to the room, changed for bed and watched some TV.

Coming up Key West, a nice long walk and the Southernmost Point of the United States.

Not sure when I will add more. I have run out of my pre-written report. So now it is all from memory.

 

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Here is the letter we received the night or 2 nights before disembarkation.

If you do a Back 2 Back I recommend filling out all you paperwork for both weeks before you leave. It make the reboarding process a cinch. Otherwise you have to stand there and fill out the forms.

We also received a card from the president of the Disney Cruise Line Tom McAlphin
Outside

Inside

Twice Charmed Invite
Back

Front

 

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Sunday, September 9, 2007

Today is Key West day, however we can't get off until around noon.

We slept in a little later then we wanted to and got up around 9:30am, we wanted to go to the 10am showing of Meet the Robinson's. So we quickly got dressed, ran up to Topsiders, grabed some food for breakfast and took our trays down to the Buena Vista theatre to watch the movie. This worked well as we got food and got to watch the movie. Which I liked very much and might just have to watch again before I disembark.

We ran back to the room. Then we went to Topsiders again and grabbed some lunch. While we were at lunch they announced that you could get off the ship. We hopped into the elevator, and headed to deck one to disembark. I mention hoping in the elevator as it is one of the few times we actually used it.

If you read through my pre-trip section you know I had tried to get to Key West many times and never made it. Well I made it. I wanna go back.

Nice big ice cream Sundae

Conch Train

Street Performer

 

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Details, Details, Details

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

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I love the ornamentation

Tree house

At times this shirt describes me

Having some liquid refreshment at the Bull and whistle Bar

Impending Storm in the background

Waiting it out on the porch; we got wet before we stopped

Flooded Streets

 

[babytrees]

Elizabeth- I got Cold Stone Creamery Peanut Butter Cup Perfection Creation-chocolate ice cream, pb, peanut butter cups and fudge....it's yummy and I love ice cream but I hardly ever eat more than 5 bites of ice cream at a time.

 

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We started to head back to the ship, we were hoping that the storm was moving faster then we were walking as we did not want to catch up to it again

Naval Base in the Background

Ernest Hemingway's Home

Key West Light House

Why'd the Chicken Cross the road?? Don't know but they were all over

Sponge Man

We lucked out and did not get rained on again this day. We got back on the ship and changed out of our wet clothing.

 

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I went up to deck 10 and watched the sunset. Are we noticing a theme?? Although I only have this opportunity the first week as I have early dinner the second week and we are really far east and it gets dark early.

I offered to take a families picture and they reciprocated

We then headed up to the show for the evening. Taylor Mason a ventriloquist performed. It was a funny show.

From there we headed up to dinner in Lumiere's. So I had mentioned we requested to have a new table. We we arrived at dinner and there was a couple at our new table, then two female friends in their 30's and then the Magic's stage manager joined us for dinner. The two women knew Eddie the stage manager from past productions they had worked in together. He would eat with us once more on this trip. Our new servers were Mizner and Susannah.

I had the
Leek and Goat Cheese Quiche

Stephen had the Normandy Salad

We both had the Shrimp Medley

Coquilles St Jacques

Stephen had the Herb crusted Halibut

Dessert was
Grand Marnier Souffle

crème Brulee

White Chocolate Domes

After Dinner we headed to the show in Rockin Bar D. Randy Cabral performed

He juggled many different objects and involved several audience members

I stayed for awhile at 80's night

When I went back to the room I was greeted by a puppy towel animal and my Castaway Clubhouse invite.

I watched some of Shrek 3 and off to dreamland.

 

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Monday, September 10, 2007 First Sea Day

So today we slept in. Since there was no port to get off at. We had reservations for Champagne brunch at Palo at 11am. I was excited as I had read lots of fantastic reviews. I was hoping it wouldn't disappoint.

I can't recall our servers name. He was not as fantastic as I was hoping for. He didn't give us a tour of the different areas like I saw some of the others receiving. We were offered either a glass of champagne or a Mimosa before we were seated.

Cold Buffet.

Lots of yummy seafood and a shrimp Bloody Mary shot

This chicken parmesan was delicious. It was not what I was anticipating as it didn't have tomato sauce but it was very yummy

Tomato Pizza- personally I could have did without the tomatoes. They were not ripe or tasty at all. I took them off and the pizza was good.

Pepperoni Pizza

Entree Choices

Pizza Choices

Pastries

Kitchen

Desserts

All three of these were very good

The view from our window table

Bar

I truly enjoyed our Champagne brunch and would gladly go back in a heartbeat. It did not disappoint.

 

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We went back to the room fow awhile and relaxed. We then went to the learn to Juggle workshop being hosted by Randy Cabral in Rockin' D Bar. I wasn't going to go but I decided to at the last minute. I am not a big fan of learning to juggle. In my Intro to Psychology class in college our professor Brophy he required all of us to learn to juggle. He made us write a paper on how the brain functions in order to learn to juggle and the processes and struggles we experienced. Well I spent 6 weeks in that class one summer and was unsuccessful in learning to juggle. I still passed but didn't suceed in learning to juggle.

I figured I would give it another try. Nope I was still unsuccessful. But I was happy that I tried to learn again. Maybe I should break out my juggling balls and practice every day. Then again maybe not.

Still relatively calm seas and an update to my previous picture in these windows

My Fish Extender- although it wasn't really used till the 2nd cruise

Door Decorations

Elevator Shaft images at Midship

We then went to Studio Sea for Cake and Plate Decorating

I love this Painting on the wall at Studio Sea of Lilo

We then went up to Topsiders for a late lunch

The lovely fruit carvings that appear all throughout the ship

I think I headed to the pool or maybe sat up on Deck 7 aft and relaxed for awhile.

 

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Tonight was formal night so I headed back to the room and changed for the show and dinner. Since it is formal night they have the Captin's Reception on Deck 3 in the main atrium. This is one opportunity for free drinks. So we stopped and grabbed Mai Tais.

Then we headed to Walt Disney Theatre for the Golden Mickey's. I really like this show. Make sure you get there early as they have Rhonda Rivers on the Red Carpet. If you wait outside the theatre, your kids might be selected to welcome everyone to the Golden Mickeys. If not head inside and you can watch the action outside on the red carpet from inside the theatre.

Me with my Mai Tai in my $8 size 12 black dress

I am happy to report that Roy Disney is back helping host the show. For awhile it was Whoopie Goldberg.

Tarzan

Then came Mulan, one of my favorite movies

Terk Trashin' The Camp

Elvis Stitch The one version of Stitch my brother would like his picture with

Cruella- I love the Villains Her facial expressions were fantastic

Aurora- Where oh where is Maleficent?? Unfortunately nowhere to be found

The Lion King

 

[babytrees]

Becky-you are absolutely stunning!! I love the waterfall window and that shirt describes me too!!

I forget...was it just you and your brother on both legs of the trip??


Loving it so far!!!

The food looks SO YUMMY!!!

 

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Lovely Chandelier

We then went to Randy Cabral's family show. I truly this as well as his may other performances I attended.

Stephen with a Mai Tai

Randy Juggled around a girl, juggled a small boy and had kids pass spinning plates. It was lots of fun. He had promised at the adult show he would juggle a baby. He tossed the kid from arm to arm and juggled two balls.

From there we were heading to dinner. The line to have your picture taken with the Captain was noexistant so we stopped for a quick photo. I felt short which I am not at 5'9

We also grabbed another drink from the Captain's reception. This time I grabbed a Cosmopolitan. They had a third choice of a drink with no alcohol in it.

 

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We then went to dinner at Animator Palate. Tonight was show night and I couldn't wait to watch the walls come alive around me

For dinner tonight we had

Wild Garlic mushrooms

Baked Stuffed tomato

Seafood Avocado Wrapper

Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon

Maple Glazed Salmon

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie

Double Fudge Chocolate Cake

Walls are now colored

Sorcere Mickey arrives- I don't think he is on the Wonder in Animator's Palate. I know he wasn't on my Wonder cruise

We went back to the room and found an elephant wearing shades on the bed

Mickey with our invitation to Twice Charmed

Main lobby light

 

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Becky-you are absolutely stunning!! I love the waterfall window and that shirt describes me too!!

I forget...was it just you and your brother on both legs of the trip??


Loving it so far!!!

The food looks SO YUMMY!!!

Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you guys. The food was delicious.

It ended up being just me and my brother. My parents were supposed to go, my Mom decided since she works in a school it would be a bad idea to take two weeks off, well then I said just go for one week, but they ended up deciding against that. They have been discussing going on the DCL Panama Repo cruise, if they do that I would be so jealous. They might decide to do another cruiseline though. But my Dad has really been expressing a desire to go through the Panama canal

My friend Renee' and her husband Charlee who I could spend forever talking to and I met at Sonny's. They were going to go but she ended up getting a job at a school and couldn't go.

So it ended up just being both of us. We met lots of DISers and did things with them and spent some time doing things on our own.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Becky - I LOVE your TR! This is fabulous! Add me to the list of people who probably need that shirt.
DH refuses to go on a cruise. I have to tell you, reading about getting on the ship and getting ready to go actually made me jittery! I think I would be scared to go on a cruise! I am scared when the plane takes off, too, but I usually get over that once the plane levels out. And really, I can swim, I can't fly, so you would think a plane would make me much more nervous than a boat. Your pics are beautiful!

 

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We then headed to Rockin' Bar D to watch Taylor Mason in his adult show. It was absolutely hilarious.

Pacho and Taylor

Pacho was still starrin' at the man. Pacho was one of Taylor Mason's characters a stuffed pig puppet

Taylor and Romeo

I then headed to the room and then the pool. Now the pool deck was slippery and I was walking from the Quiet Cove pool to the hot tub and totally wiped out. I had my legs all twisted funny when I landed and my whole left side landed on the ground. I had several people ask me if I was OK, of course I told them I was. However I was in pain, I got up and still went into the hot tub. One of the ship doctors or nurses saw me do it and told me if I needed anything I should show up at the Infirmary on the ship after 9:30am in the morning. I was thinking in the back of my head, but will I be able to walk to the Ship doctors?? I was also contemplating acting like I couldn't get out of the hot tub. because he was really good looking, but I did not.

I got out of the hot tub and headed back to the room. I took pain killers got a shower and went to bed. I was seriously hoping and praying I would be OK in the morning. Although I was seriously concerned I would be unable to get out of bed.

I did something similar two years ago at the Magic Kingdom and lets just say My foot was swollen and black and blue for many weeks and I hobbled for a long time.

Coming up: Am I OK? Will I be able to get out of bed in the morning?? Will I need to take it easy the rest of my trip??

 

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I took pictures of some of the things we got or were given on the trip.

I got this lovely necklace in Cozumel

My ship model which I had wanted since my cruise on the Wonder

Transatlantic Shotglass a bargain at $1.75

Cozumel Lizard- I got this because I really struggled with finding an ornament and planned on turning it into an ornament. I succeeded in finding an ornament.

My goal was to get an ornament at each stop with the name of that place on it. I found an ornament at each place but at Cozumel the ornament just said Mexico and Grand Cayman the ornament said Cayman Islands. These are in no particular order.

I got the Transatlantic ornament on the ship. The back had the places visited. All Transatlantic merchandise was 75% off.

Cozumel Mexico- the ornament is actually made out of red clay and hand painted

Castaway Cay

St. Thomas

Key West

Grand Cayman

St Martin/St Maarten- Why two spellings?? The island is divided into the French and Dutch side each has a different name.

Freebies we collected, by attending events and in some case winning at those events

Small notebook with key chain

DCL Golf club and tees

DCL Golf Towel and I'm a Winner medal