ImagineerM
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- Messages
- 804
Greetings all! and welcome to my next Trip Report Update.
If I might first apologize for the unexpected hiatus, we returned from out honeymoon and quickly found a bigger apartment that we couldn't pass up. So we've been moving (yuck!) for a whole week now and I've been especially busy! I've also been fighting with Time Warner Cable to get my TV and Internet hooked up at home -- and I'm still without service! But I'm off the next two days, so I'm told I should be up by the end of the week. So I am bringing you today's update from work -- shhh...don't tell the boss!
So here we go!
We slept very well in our giant King Size bed at the AKL that night, despite knowing that the next day we'd be going on our first cruise. Now this is something I'm not especially proud to admit, but the concept of going on a cruise has always kinda scared me. I remember going on this ridiculously crummy boat ride to Freeport, Bahamas when I was a kid. My parents called it a cruise...I called it a death trap. It was one of those things you get for free just by attending some sales pitch. A "cruise ship" shuttles you to the island then you stay at some hotel for a weekend then they ship you back. It was horrible. Although my parents still contend that "it wasn't that bad." I call BS.
Nonetheless, I was apprehensive about cruising, and going on the Disney Cruise Line was my way of easing in to the cruise experience. But despite being somewhat nervous, I slept like a baby! It was WONDERFUL! Then at 7am, I woke to tapping on our door. It was bell services and they were there to pick up my luggage to take to the port. I think it is a great service, but seriosuly, do they have to pick up at 7am? I crawled back in bed and caught another hour or two of sleep.
Once we woke up, DW and I sat on the balcony overlooking the savannah and watched an ostrich and some wildebeast roam the area. It was a nice way to wake up in the morning. We then hit the showers and headed out to explore the resort for a bit.
A nice couple from Colorado took our photo outside...the first of many pictures that other people would take on our behalf this week. That's one thing about being on your honeymoon -- you need your own photographer to follow you around. You end up with a ton of closeup face pictures that you take of yourself, or you ask someone to take a picture for you.
We checked in with the DCL desk in the lobby, signing off on some papers saying we weren't sick and signed in for the transfer. We then headed to the Mara for a light breakfast/lunch snack to hold us over till we got settled in on the boat.
We then met the DCL folks in an alcove off the main lobby at Noon and then boarded a transfer bus. We were off to the port! Wahoo! DW and I sat near the front of the bus, she dove into a book and I was just enjoying the ambiance and trying not to think of the deathtrap cruise!
After a few quicky stops to pick up other cruise travelers, we were on our way and a video started on the bus to tell us all about the boarding, and the things to do once on board. I thought it was cute -- and funny that they kept pushing all of the food. The video took the edge off of my nerves, and they never really resurfaced!
Before you know it, we're there! The beautiful blue ocean on either side of the road and the majestic beauty of the Disney Wonder came into view! Wow! What a sight!
The checkin process was quick and painless...we went through security and hopped in line to check in. The whole process took maybe 30 minutes -- much quicker than I expected. We then made out way through the giant mickey ears to the boat. We took a boarding picture on the way, and we never were able to find it in Shutters. I joked that I mustve broken the camera, but that kind of suprised me that the photo never surfaced.
Once on board, we were announced and welcomed by the cruise staff -- a nice touch! We found our room....5020. A Secret Porthole room that I had booked back in October via Small World Travel. The room was beautiful! Much bigger than I had expected, and we LOVED the split bathroom! It would definitely come in handy during our 3-night sailing.
We wondered around the ship for a while, getting to know our surroundings. Headed for Deck 9 and the Beach Blanket Buffet! It was good, but we caught the tail end of the buffet and the pickin's were growing slim. I did however have a bowl of Strawberry Mint Soup -- what a delight! I really enjoyed that!
After lunch we strolled back to the room to get our life jackets and go to the mandatory safety drill. This was the most caotic moment of the trip -- I felt a little stressed with all the people milling about, not knowing exactly what to do. But 15 minutes and we were done!
next up -- the sail away party! DW and I grabbed a frozen beverage on deck 10 and tried to find a spot to view the party. The guy asked in I wanted with or without rum, and we wanted with. But I didn't pay attention to the fact that he poured the Bacardi straight on the top of the drink. So I went to take a taste from the top and got a mouth full of rum....lol. it was funny. DW laughed at me!
We enjoyed the sail away party--it was neat seeing the characters and the "When you wish upon a star" horn was FANTASTIC! A great suprise that really gave the cruise that special Disney touch.
At this point we headed to meet our DIS Cruise Meet friends across from the Jumbo-tron on Deck 10. Met some great people from all over the world! It was really neat meeting some fellow DISers! We hung out and talked for a while, before deciding to go get freshened up for the evening festivities.
Well....this seems like a good stopping point. I'll be back soon with more...hopefully on Wednesday!
Next time: The Golden Mickeys, Fish Extenders, Parrot Cay, Wavebands, and a late night dip in the pool!
Thanks again for your patience and I look forward to sharing more of our Disney honeymoon with you all! Now...back to work!
Cheers,
Josh
If I might first apologize for the unexpected hiatus, we returned from out honeymoon and quickly found a bigger apartment that we couldn't pass up. So we've been moving (yuck!) for a whole week now and I've been especially busy! I've also been fighting with Time Warner Cable to get my TV and Internet hooked up at home -- and I'm still without service! But I'm off the next two days, so I'm told I should be up by the end of the week. So I am bringing you today's update from work -- shhh...don't tell the boss!

So here we go!
We slept very well in our giant King Size bed at the AKL that night, despite knowing that the next day we'd be going on our first cruise. Now this is something I'm not especially proud to admit, but the concept of going on a cruise has always kinda scared me. I remember going on this ridiculously crummy boat ride to Freeport, Bahamas when I was a kid. My parents called it a cruise...I called it a death trap. It was one of those things you get for free just by attending some sales pitch. A "cruise ship" shuttles you to the island then you stay at some hotel for a weekend then they ship you back. It was horrible. Although my parents still contend that "it wasn't that bad." I call BS.
Nonetheless, I was apprehensive about cruising, and going on the Disney Cruise Line was my way of easing in to the cruise experience. But despite being somewhat nervous, I slept like a baby! It was WONDERFUL! Then at 7am, I woke to tapping on our door. It was bell services and they were there to pick up my luggage to take to the port. I think it is a great service, but seriosuly, do they have to pick up at 7am? I crawled back in bed and caught another hour or two of sleep.
Once we woke up, DW and I sat on the balcony overlooking the savannah and watched an ostrich and some wildebeast roam the area. It was a nice way to wake up in the morning. We then hit the showers and headed out to explore the resort for a bit.
A nice couple from Colorado took our photo outside...the first of many pictures that other people would take on our behalf this week. That's one thing about being on your honeymoon -- you need your own photographer to follow you around. You end up with a ton of closeup face pictures that you take of yourself, or you ask someone to take a picture for you.
We checked in with the DCL desk in the lobby, signing off on some papers saying we weren't sick and signed in for the transfer. We then headed to the Mara for a light breakfast/lunch snack to hold us over till we got settled in on the boat.
We then met the DCL folks in an alcove off the main lobby at Noon and then boarded a transfer bus. We were off to the port! Wahoo! DW and I sat near the front of the bus, she dove into a book and I was just enjoying the ambiance and trying not to think of the deathtrap cruise!
After a few quicky stops to pick up other cruise travelers, we were on our way and a video started on the bus to tell us all about the boarding, and the things to do once on board. I thought it was cute -- and funny that they kept pushing all of the food. The video took the edge off of my nerves, and they never really resurfaced!
Before you know it, we're there! The beautiful blue ocean on either side of the road and the majestic beauty of the Disney Wonder came into view! Wow! What a sight!
The checkin process was quick and painless...we went through security and hopped in line to check in. The whole process took maybe 30 minutes -- much quicker than I expected. We then made out way through the giant mickey ears to the boat. We took a boarding picture on the way, and we never were able to find it in Shutters. I joked that I mustve broken the camera, but that kind of suprised me that the photo never surfaced.
Once on board, we were announced and welcomed by the cruise staff -- a nice touch! We found our room....5020. A Secret Porthole room that I had booked back in October via Small World Travel. The room was beautiful! Much bigger than I had expected, and we LOVED the split bathroom! It would definitely come in handy during our 3-night sailing.
We wondered around the ship for a while, getting to know our surroundings. Headed for Deck 9 and the Beach Blanket Buffet! It was good, but we caught the tail end of the buffet and the pickin's were growing slim. I did however have a bowl of Strawberry Mint Soup -- what a delight! I really enjoyed that!
After lunch we strolled back to the room to get our life jackets and go to the mandatory safety drill. This was the most caotic moment of the trip -- I felt a little stressed with all the people milling about, not knowing exactly what to do. But 15 minutes and we were done!
next up -- the sail away party! DW and I grabbed a frozen beverage on deck 10 and tried to find a spot to view the party. The guy asked in I wanted with or without rum, and we wanted with. But I didn't pay attention to the fact that he poured the Bacardi straight on the top of the drink. So I went to take a taste from the top and got a mouth full of rum....lol. it was funny. DW laughed at me!
We enjoyed the sail away party--it was neat seeing the characters and the "When you wish upon a star" horn was FANTASTIC! A great suprise that really gave the cruise that special Disney touch.
At this point we headed to meet our DIS Cruise Meet friends across from the Jumbo-tron on Deck 10. Met some great people from all over the world! It was really neat meeting some fellow DISers! We hung out and talked for a while, before deciding to go get freshened up for the evening festivities.
Well....this seems like a good stopping point. I'll be back soon with more...hopefully on Wednesday!
Next time: The Golden Mickeys, Fish Extenders, Parrot Cay, Wavebands, and a late night dip in the pool!
Thanks again for your patience and I look forward to sharing more of our Disney honeymoon with you all! Now...back to work!
Cheers,
Josh