The Drive, the Dream and DVC - A March 2011 Birthday Surprise TR(NEW 11/9 p. 32 END)

[stayhomemom77]

Just found you.

I have no idea why it took me this long.

Sorry.

Going back to read now.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Finally catching up!

Blue Lagoon... I think I want to live there now after seeing those pics. Just breathtaking.

And lay off the food pics for a while will ya!! Palo and Enchanted Garden look scrumptious!

I love that you took so many pics of the ship decor. Disney puts such detail into everything!

Plenty of time to catch up. I've been slow lately!
That's the thing. There are so many details to take pictures of! Sorry the food pictures do tend to make one hungry, eh?

Just found you.

I have no idea why it took me this long.

Sorry.

Going back to read now.

Hi Julie!
You're just lucky I haven't gone on an updating binge yet! We were so busy with yard work and dance recitals last weekend, I had no chance. But I plan to update soon so get all caught up! Sorry I don't do links!

I will post some dance pictures too!

 

[GoofyWife]

I love the MLB Mickey pins and the Mickey bobblehead (of course it would be better in Yankee pinstripes, just saying!)

 

[MeMom]

It was after 11 by the time we went to bed. All in all, I'd say it was one of our BEST DAYS EVER!

Great picture! I love Minnie's pirate outfit.

One of your best days ever. Makes me smile.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I love the MLB Mickey pins and the Mickey bobblehead (of course it would be better in Yankee pinstripes, just saying!)

I'll bet you can get those!!

Great picture! I love Minnie's pirate outfit.

One of your best days ever. Makes me smile.

Aww, thanks! The different outfits the characters were the only reason we bothered to stand in line. Plus the lines were short!

So my girls had their dance recitals over the weekend. They did not allow pictures or video during the actual recital, so any pictures on stage were from dress rehearsal. Of course, we had to buy the professional videos too!!

Sarah in action!

Hanging out backstage during recital

Okay, that's enough of that. They were in different shows, so we got to go twice. They both did great and it was a lot of fun, but took up a lot of time over the weekend.
Now school is out. Yesterday was the last day. I went with the 2nd graders to the park during the day. Today I took the day off and have decided to get this TR rolling again!! It's time for CASTAWAY CAY!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

So we were up and at 'em pretty early. About 7 - 7:30! We were not quite to Castaway Cay yet. It was partly sunny, but our Cruise Director Ray told us the high was expected to be around 70! That's not what I would call great beach weather - Id rather it be 80. But it was still at least 30 degrees warmer than home, and the sun would feel warm.
Paige was ready for a fun day!!

Sarah wanted to make plans for the day - let's check the Personal Navigator

Approaching the dock

We got up and went to Cabanas for breakfast today. It was pretty good. They had lots of donuts! We had fried eggs, fruit, bacon...All good stuff!

We decided to stay on board a bit and swim. There weren't many people in the little Mickey pool. It was cold to me - and breezy on deck. WE went into the spa/hot tub with the glass bottom - that was cool! You could see straight down to the water. It wasn't super hot, and there were a number of kids in there. Or should I say in and out of there! Since we were in the water, I didn't have the camera -so no pictures of that.

The Aquaduck and slide were not open. Too early I guess! Sarah loves the Mickey slide and we probably would have done the Aquaduck too. Maybe not Paige - she was scared.
Sarah and Dave went do do the rest of her Midship Detective Agency and Paige and I met up with them later. We tried to use the phones, but I had a hard time figuring it out! Technology is not my strength! Plus there were no instructions! If I have instructions, I can figure out most anything!

This is one of the interactive pictures.

So we decided after they were done with their mission, (oh, wait, that's KP at Epcot!), well, whatever...we were going to head to the beach at CC!
But, we weren't sure we were going to get in the water. So we decided to put our suits in a bag and carry them along. We left the ship, and had pictures taken by the ship's photographer out on the dock area with the ship in the background. Of course, none with our camera! I think we bought one of the pictures. I'll have to check.
But I took plenty along the way!
See the guys cleaning?? The real guys, I mean!

I don't recall if we took the tram or just walked the path down to the beach. But as soon as we got to the family beach area, they wanted to swim. So we went into the restrooms to get changed. Uh, something's missing from the bag...
Mommy forgot something REALLY important!


Sarah's swim suit!!!! Oh, she was so mad!!!! I accepted full responsibility, took a phone and my KTTW card and started the trek back to the ship!!! Good thing they dock right on the island and it's not a tender! I ran into our new friends, Chloe and family, on the way back. I'm sure they saw me coming and thought I was nuts going back so soon!
I hoofed it back to our room, interrupted the room steward for a minute, made sure I had both a TOP and a BOTTOM for Sarah, and headed back out! I definitely had gotten my exercise for the day and was ready to park it on the beach!! I was so thirsty, and sadly, there was no drink waiting for me!
DH had gone and rented floats/rafts for the girls ($6 each for the day). So I waited for a server to come by my beach chair and got myself a pina colava and tried to relax while DH and the girls went into the water. I actually got a little bit sunburned! Oops.

This is one of the bars

The view from our spot on the beach

We went and had lunch up at Cookies Too/2. They have added a second location since they expanded CC for the larger volume of guests with the bigger ships. BBQ is the basic them for lunch at Cookies. Ribs, corn, burgers, chicken, mahi mahi, cookies, fruit, chips and ice cream. DH LOVES it!!!

This is the new Pelican Plunge slide

Water play area

We decided to head back to the ship around 2:30 or 3 and go to the pools. I did not buy ANYTHING at CC! Can you believe it?
We got a little treat before leaving the beach though.

cont.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Shoot, I had more pictures in a reply and they disappeared! I have to go get a hair cut - I'll be back with more later!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Wow!!! Looks like you guys had a great time on Castaway Cay!! The more I read the more I am convinced that a Disney Cruise WILL be in my future!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Okay - here's more pictures on the way back to the ship.

Look who we saw on the dock!!

We've never seen Max anywhere before! I was pretty psyched about that one!
Wandering through Cabanas on our way back to the pool

Mine, Mine, Mine!

So back on the ship the kids went to the pool and Sarah went on the Mickey slide a bunch of times. Paige just braved the crowds in the little Mickey pool. It was super crowded now and the line for the aquaduck was ridiculous!!

Can you see Paige's head over by Mickey's nose?

A little closer

Crazy line

for a fun ride.

This is the other, deeper pool. Not terribly roomy.

More pictures...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I can't remember if I posted these from Cabanas before or not! So you get them again!

We went up to the top deck and played mini golf. It was a lot of fun, even though it was windy and busy up there. We had a good time and I'm so glad we took the time to do things on the ship like that. I still felt like we missed so much!

Around 4:30 I think, they had a "see ya real soon" presentation in the atrium.
It was sort of like the good bye thing they did on the Wonder the last night of the cruise. The characters came out for pictures and then they sang a little song.
Each character was announced from upstairs and came down to greet people and have pictures. There were no ship photogs there, just us. We happened to stand where the CM told us that Daisy would be so we were first in line for her!

The lovely chandelier in the atrium.

After the show, we got all cleaned up and dressed for dinner before our show. We were hoping to get some nice pictures taken of us all dressed up.
We went to see the new show Believe. Oh my gosh, it is so great! It was my favorite one of all. It's just a great story, and the performers were top notch talented! So sweet!!
We did go stand in a short line to have our pictures taken. I had to make sure the photographer didn't get the girls' feet in the picture. They only had their cheap old flip flops (well, Paige had new pink Mickey ones!). Doesn't go well with the formal outfits and fancy backdrop. Again, this was one we bought, so I'll see if I can scan them in and post them for you.

Up next, our last dinner - Royal Palace!!

 

[MEK]

I love the update!!!!! What a great day at CC (despite forgetting the bathing suit and having to go back). It looks so awesome. And the ship looks SO BIG! It's amazing. What an action packed, fun filled day! Looking forward to dinner!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Awesome update!!!! Looks like a wonderful place to be!!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great dance pictures!!!

Love your day at Castaway Cay -- well, except for having to run back to the room to get the bathing suit.

 

[MeMom]

That ship is HUGE! Seeing the men out there cleaning, and then envisioning the size of my house, if they were cleaning it, and then multilplying that by a great big number.... WOW!

We'll have to get ourselves over just to see that ship from the outside someday, if that can be done by non-cruisers.

The mosaics on the walls are too cool. The characters in their cruise gear - very cute!

I need the big pelican from Cabanas in my den. It would be a fun addition to my Old Key West themed decor.

Thanks for rhe great update. I doubt I will ever see Castaway Cay in person, so I love seeing it in pictures.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

WOW awesome update Sheree!! It looks like you guys had such a good time and were able to do so many different things all in one day! Love all the pics! CC looks fabulous!

 

[PetersonFamily]

This is a great TR! Thanks for all of your pics of the cruise. We hope to take the cruise one day and seeing your pictures is very exciting!

 

[jenseib]

I love your update. You got so many more pictures of the "Mine mines". I don't even think I saw all of those.
I love your CC pictures. I am just starting working on mine too.
I also love your shorts...what kind are they? I need new shorts, but most taper down and I can't wear those kind with my big fat thighs.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I love the update!!!!! What a great day at CC (despite forgetting the bathing suit and having to go back). It looks so awesome. And the ship looks SO BIG! It's amazing. What an action packed, fun filled day! Looking forward to dinner!

Thanks! CC was so fun. Part of me wished we'd stayed longer and done more like bike ride or something. But we had to cram a lot into those couple days!! Dinner - Royal Palace is so great! Just wait!

Awesome update!!!! Looks like a wonderful place to be!!!!!

Oh, it is a wonderful place!!! I could spend about a week just staying there and be very happy!

Great dance pictures!!!

Love your day at Castaway Cay -- well, except for having to run back to the room to get the bathing suit.

Thanks!! The dance recitals were fun. I was walking so fast because I didn't want to waste time. By the time I got back, I really NEEDED a cold drink!!

That ship is HUGE! Seeing the men out there cleaning, and then envisioning the size of my house, if they were cleaning it, and then multilplying that by a great big number.... WOW!

We'll have to get ourselves over just to see that ship from the outside someday, if that can be done by non-cruisers.

The mosaics on the walls are too cool. The characters in their cruise gear - very cute!

I need the big pelican from Cabanas in my den. It would be a fun addition to my Old Key West themed decor.

Thanks for rhe great update. I doubt I will ever see Castaway Cay in person, so I love seeing it in pictures.

Yup, she's a big ship!!
One of the best places to see the ship going in or out is from Cocoa Beach. Last summer we ate dinner at a place called FishLips (not the best chicken strips for sure according to my DDs) but all the ships go RIGHT past it. You can see dolphins and manatees in the water right there too.

WOW awesome update Sheree!! It looks like you guys had such a good time and were able to do so many different things all in one day! Love all the pics! CC looks fabulous!

Oh, Thanks Shelly!! We did have a great time. So much to do, so little time! I'd like to go on one of the cruises that has a double dip at CC! I'd explore more of the island, rent bikes etc.

This is a great TR! Thanks for all of your pics of the cruise. We hope to take the cruise one day and seeing your pictures is very exciting!

Have I properly welcomed you? if I haven't!
Thank you!! I hope you get to take a Disney cruise - I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy it!! I'll have a more pictures coming up!!

I love your update. You got so many more pictures of the "Mine mines". I don't even think I saw all of those.
I love your CC pictures. I am just starting working on mine too.
I also love your shorts...what kind are they? I need new shorts, but most taper down and I can't wear those kind with my big fat thighs.

HA! I totally didn't realize all the pictures I had! It's funny - I just realized that I haven't even finished the cruise, and still have 5 nights at WDW to report on!

My shorts - glad you like them! I went back to the shorts drawer and checked. They are St. John's Bay from JC Penney. Super comfy! I actually have a few other pairs from there that are more straight bermuda shorts that are stretchier. These were a bit shorter, but very comfy!
I should mention that I probably bought them a year or two ago.

My girlfriend just called me tonight to tell me about her recent WDW trip - they spent 5 or 6 nights for her DD's 10th b-day (she's my goddaughter). She wore the birthday button and counted all the times anyone wished her a happy birthday. Total - 169!!!! Only at WDW! I'm so glad they had fun. She is the one who first introduced me to the DIS and look at me now!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hey Sheree! Just getting caught up, I think I was almost a month behind, with my trip in MN and then our vacation, I haven't been on the boards much! I've loved reading your updates, sounds so much like the trip I just took

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hey Sheree! Just getting caught up, I think I was almost a month behind, with my trip in MN and then our vacation, I haven't been on the boards much! I've loved reading your updates, sounds so much like the trip I just took

Hi! How was your trip to Mn? And your Disney trip? Are you going to do a TR?