the firstmickeys MAGICAL Western Cruise Aug 12-19: First Time Cruisers

[firstmickey]

Cast of Characters:
firstmickey: Donna just turned ***gasp*** 40
(the just turned part is important ya know!)
DH: Dan 43 (about to be 44)
DD: Kaitlin 12
DS: Kevin 9


About us: we have been to Disney multiple times over the past couple of years and I have been saying that I wanted the Disney cruise for my 40th birthday. Finally in February, we decide to book for my birthday in August. We chose the week after, however, because I really wanted to do the Western Itinerary. It just appealed to me more. (and Im not sorry!) I work as an RN and can luckily pick up extra shifts for extra money so that is what I did....a lot....and a lot...and a lot....and in my spare time I run two kids around to activities, friends, etc. LOL! DH works long hours also (director of technical computer consults type guy).
And we are all ready for a much needed vacation and break! We deserve it!

Plus turning 40 was a little stressful for me (I Know...I know...it's just a number!) and I figured how sad can you be on a boat with Mickey in the Caribbean, right? RIGHT!


We had three wonderful days at Disney in the Swan before this trip and made it before all the airline issues so that was all good. (but that's another trip report!)


Ok....so lets begin......


I wake up early at the Swan on Saturday Aug 12 and I have to confess that my excitement is like Christmas morning. It doesnt seem real that we are cruising today! Im slightly sad at leaving Disney today though...I truly love it here and we had a good time with other DIS friends the Loubons...plus we didnt get to spend as much time in EPCOT...but that's what future trips are for, right? I finally cant stand it anymore so after my shower I wake everyone up jumping up and down yelling: CRUISING TODAY WITH MICKEY! (sorry to the people next door...but we are cruising ya know)

Everyone gets up....we pack up the last minute things making sure that we have our very important day bag with swimsuits, clothes for dinner that night in case we don't get our luggage in time (complete with shoes)....THANK YOU DISSERS for all that wonderful info!

We head off to breakfast on the Boardwalk at Spoodles where I spill apple juice all over my DD in the restaurant! (Preteen girls are NOT happy at all when you do something like that....I'm just sayin' )
Dan takes her back to change while I show Kevin the scary clown pool at the Boardwalk. (He really wanted to see it...lol....MOM...that pool is NOT scary he says...well, it is to me and Im not stayin' there!)

Back at the Swan, we head for our FL TOURS towncar waiting for us out front. (just a moment here to say what a great company they are! I use them every time I go now. I quite frankly dont have patiece for magical express buses or Mears shuttles.....I like someone picking me up holding a sign with my name on it....it's just my thing....anyway...they are always professional, courteous and on time......use FL TOURS which also sponsors the boards!...ok...commercial over!)

It's about a 45-50 min ride but Im too excited to read or do anything but jump up and down (inside...not in the car!) The kids play gameboy and are happy. Suddenly, signs for the Port! Woo hooo....we are here!

The driver lets us off.....unloads all of our luggage (6 big bags....3 backpacks and a small carryon) I needed STUFF, ok? and we stand there and just stare at the ship!

OMG! It's huge and it's gorgeous! You can't imagine what it's like to stand there and see this big beautiful boat and know you are getting on it! Before they let you on, however, it's wait in line time. It's to prolong the Magical Anticipation I think.....actually they just have thousands of people to check in but I like the prolong the Magical anticipation idea...it works for me!

We proceed through security fairly quickly and we are handed a number 12 boarding number (geez, 12! I thought 11:30 was getting here early?) and then head up the escalator where we walk into what looks like bedlam and chaos but was actually very well organized. We divide and conquer. I head for the line to check us in and Dan takes the kids to sign up for the kids club. I have to get in the first time cruiser loser line (BUT HA! I will be in the Castaway Club line NEXT TIME! HA! Take that!)
Dan makes it through his line in half the time so I give him the camera and tell him to get some pics of everything and the kids. (he rarely gets the camera so this is a treat for him..lol!)

At the end of the line, they are doing a survery to see how long you waited and the guy in front of me is quite angry and tells her this is ridiculous and he's been waiting an hour and a half. I smirk to myself cause we have been actually waiting 40 mins (I checked the time...I had DISSERs to report back to).....the guy behind me tells her 30 mins (he was reading a book in line...smart man). I wanted to tell both of them my whole prolonging the Magical Anticipation theory but I didnt think they would get it!

So I hand in the paperwork...get all checked in....(all painless)...and head to the Mickey Ears door! Kaitlin and I are jumping up and down...a little....just a little ...and we go through the doors and they take our picture (a horrible picture btw...we didnt buy it....we really do look stressed out in it! LOL) and then we walk into the atrium. It's HUGE and simply gorgeous. They announce your family and Dan (whispers to me I can still smell the fresh paint, Rose....Titanic reference....I smack him...lol)

We walk around dazed and confused and I know people have said to go to Parrot Cay to eat but we want to be up on top. Seeing everything. We head to Topsiders for the buffet and find a difficult to locate table outside. I take the kids to get food and there isn't much for Kevin to eat. No chicken nuggets, burgers, or hot dogs. he gets bread and dessert...hey...it's vacation! He tells me...don't worry, Mom...Im cruisin! I will eat later! He's my happy no worries boy! I give him a kiss. He's not ruining the magic. We get back to our table and look...a drink! YAY! Bahama Mama's ...yum! I remember having shrimp but I was busy gawking at everything I didnt eat much. It was around 1:30 by this time.

After we ate, we were able to go see our room. Stateroom 6042...a wonderful location! Right between the forward and midship elevators on the left side of the ship. (PORT SIDE <-- that's ship talk!)
We decided to walk around a little and start finding our way around instead of swimming. We visit just about every floor and go see the kids clubs. Not that we will remember any of this! It's completely overwhelming at first if you havent cruised before. You never feel like you will remember any of it! We are just awed by the size of the ship and how grand it is. It's really beautiful and well maintained.

At 3pm, we head to the Promenade Lounge for our DIS meet. We meet a bunch of wonderful DISers who we see all over the ship and at excursions the rest of the cruise! It was so nice to feel like you had friends right away to make you feel at home! Thanks again to Magic In My Heart/Beckie for organizing everything. The wonderful gift bags she made for everyone, the lime green bracelets that we wore so we could recognize each other at first, and just making us all feel special.

After that, it's time for the muster so we head to our cabins and start unpacking a little (all of our bags are here..YAY!) while we wait for the call to go to deck 4 section H. (have you ever unpacked while wearing a life jacket? it ain't easy!) The drill was hot but painless and over quickly. We get ready to head to dinner.

We have LAPLAPL at 6pm. 6pm turned out to be the best time. You really needed that extra time to get ready after excursions. And yes we had formal night in Parrot Cay but really the time thing...was much better!

I consult my carefully planned what to wear to dinner sheet...yes...I did..I wrote down what we were wearing every night (this helped tremendously) even Dan who made fun of me...said this was a big help! We get dressed and head to Lumiere's. We take our wipe our hands before we let you into a single restaurant wipey and we are escorted to table 54. A table for 4. YAY! Not that we are unfriendly and didnt want to meet people...but we just were happy to have some family dinner time just for us. (I didnt even request a table to ourselves...it just happened). We ate together every night and it was a good thing for us. We had great family time at dinner!


is this getting long? I think I will continue in the next post......

 

[RoyalVizier]

You're off to a great start!!

Can't wait to continue reading!

 

[firstmickey]

Ok, so Lumieres.....table 54.


Our servers are Ciao Romano from the Phillipines and Kira from Australia. Our head server was Stephan from France. They were excellent and we really enjoyed them. Especially Kira who I think worked twice as hard! We loved her!

the kids start pointing out the details of the restaurant to me.
Mom, see the rose in glass in the ceiling....see the BATB mural in the back. We just sit and admire it all! It's very elegant and pretty.
I have the salad, scallops and for dessert a white chocolate dome with raspberry sauce! Yum!
Dan has a shrimp appetizer, salad, halibut and creme brulee
Kaitlin has a grilled steak and french fries and creme brulee
Kevin has chicken fingers (big shock) and fries and for dessert he tells Ciao
"I will have a selection of assorted ice cream" and points to his menu. (that's what it says...LOL!) When we are all done laughing, we figure out he wants vanilla ice cream with sprinkles.

yummy meal and great service...and the portions are nice so you dont feel like you totally overate. (at least that's what you tell yourself)

After dinner we head to Studio Sea to see Mickey Trivia then head to the Walt Disney Theater for the Welcome Aboard Show. Our seat for the whole trip becomes the far right side about 10 rows up from the front with kids in front of the two of us. (great seats and we dont fight the crowd for the middle which was full all the way back)


Welcome Aboard show was very good. We really enjoy all the disney shows and this one doesn't disappoint. It helps to get you excited for things to come. After the show, we walked around Deck 4 (look...the comfy chairs that DISsers told me about!) and walked through Shutters (this was foreshadowing for how much time I would spend there). Everyone is so tired from a long and busy day that we decide to head back to the cabin.

We go back and find our cabin all turned down with Swan towel animal from our stateroom host, Albert, complete with 4 chocolates. The kids start fighting over the top bunk so we flip a coin and Kevin wins. Kaitlin who is still getting her sea legs I think plus is exhausted...has a little meltdown...complains of a headache and goes to bed. We decide to all head to bed after I examine my navigator (and highlight it) for tomorrow. I think we were all asleep by 10:30 that night.


wooo hoooo...do we know how to party or what?


All in all.......a Magical day!

 

[firstmickey]

You're off to a great start!!

Can't wait to continue reading!

Wow...you have no idea how much I enjoyed your report! And thanks for finishing it before I went!

 

[RoyalVizier]

Wow...you have no idea how much I enjoyed your report! And thanks for finishing it before I went!

Awww... thanks!

Wonderful first day! Don't feel bad about being in bed by 10:30pm. All that sea air and excitement made for drowsy eyes early for us as well.

You are going to share the first three days at the Swan, right?

 

[firstmickey]

LOL...I probably will....I wrote those down too. I just was so anxious to get the cruise part written so that I had it for scrapbooking! The three days at the Swan feels like a million years ago!


and how long does it take for the land to stop swaying? I never got boat sick but the now Im a little ill from the swaying!!


Pictures up next!

 

[firstmickey]

Cruise terminal: YAY!

Kaitlin and Kevin prolonging the Magical Anticipation:

It's ok Mom....I will eat later...Im cruisin'!

We are ready to go! Let's cruise!

Yeah Baby....even Mickey loves the Steelers!

Ya gotta love dessert!

Swan!

 

[firstmickey]

I forgot to add....

the family behind Kevin in his Thumbs up picture at Topsiders.....The woman said to her kids after they all ate...

"well, it was nice having this meal with you...I will see you all on Friday"
This cracked me and Dan up! Obviously, they have done this before!


and I also forgot to add that we did the Sail Away Party on Deck 9 which was a lot of fun. We were supposed to meet DISsers on Deck 10 but the kids wanted to be on the dance floor! (this turned out to be a bad thing because we were unable to meet the one family who had kids that emailed my kids before we went. Alex age 12 and John age 9.) They had late dinner seating so it was hard to meet up with them the whole trip and my kids didnt meet them till Wed night at the pirate party!

But we really enjoyed the sail away party and all the characters and music. Next time I would watch from Deck 10 so we can see as we sail away. (yet another reason to go back!)

 

[RoyalVizier]

and how long does it take for the land to stop swaying? I never got boat sick but the now Im a little ill from the swaying!!

My wife has a major problem with this. She doesn't feel good for almost a week after we cruise.

Great report and great pictures! Keep em coming!

 

[firstmickey]

Day Two:!We send our kids off and massage time!


For once in my life, I sleep in! 7am! Wooo hoooo! Honestly, that's great for me. Im not a good sleeper at home or on vacation. I hate to be missing something! This is the only day that I don't get up and do my roam around the ship at 6am. We had brought a digital clock from home but it was so bright that we covered it with a washcloth...lol...so we could sleep. I had my nightlight for the bathroom which was just enough light to get there!

things that were extremely valuable to have this trip: the nightlight, the digital clock with alarm, the power strip thingy for charging everything up and plugging all stuff in, the over the door hanger thingy which was the best. If only my family could have got on board for that system. I would pick stuff up...and put it there. They would ask...where's this? Uhmm...in the door thingy. Could they actually put their stuff there themselves? NO! but at least I could pick it up and know where it was when they asked. Which they did. A lot. I think by the last day, Dan finally realized he could just look there first without asking me where something was! I kept everything from sunglasses to jewelry to the pyscho camera (another story) to just about everything!

oh...and the popup hamper for dirty clothes...that was nice too. And the clothing list for dinner. I seriously recommend this for when you have 45 mins to get 4 people showered and out the door! (but I digress... )


I get up and shower.....and by then everyone else is up but that could be from the slamming things around so they dont miss everything on their first day that I am doing! I have a massage scheduled for 10:30am and Dan wants to go check the gym on the ship. After reading the HIGHLIGHTED navigator, the kids decide they want to see POTC 2 in the theater instead of visiting the kids clubs. It starts at 9:45 so after they get dressed we send them off to breakfast by themselves at Topsiders with Kaitlin given strict instructions to keep an eye on her brother. (we did WHAT???....we just sent our kids out on their own for breakfast and a movie.......what kind of parents are we???? LOL! I confess I was slightly nervous about this at first ....but I got over that real quick!) Kevin was thrilled cause he could ride the elevators without Dad making him taking the steps. (It was much faster to take the steps everywhere...plus that's exercise, right? )


Dan and I finish getting ready and I unpack and organize a few more things. (Im anal that way...it's the ICU nurse in me...I like organization). Then we head to Topsiders for Breakfast buffet. Mickey waffles with Strawberries became my staple. And fresh fruit...lots of it. No desire for eggs or omelets today. And Im kind of bummed...because I never even got to try an omelet (a reason to go back, right?) Dan and I take pics of each other then of the empty chairs where our kids should be. (this amused me greatly for some reason). It was really weird...I kept looking for them! LOL!

We walk around Deck 10 then head for the Spa/Gym. Working out on vacation? uhmmm..yeah..ok...have fun with THAT, honey! but it made him happy...he likes it...so he headed off (after a quick visit with fellow DISSER indimini/Bob ....so nice to see familiar faces wherever we go..you gotta love the DIS!) and I am directed to the Women's changing area where I get a locker and put on a robe and wait on the comfy lounger for them to come get me. Turns out they changed my masseuse to a guy so he was wandering around outside waiting for me and they finally yelled in for me. Hey...what did I know? I did what she told me to do! LOL! So, Liviu from Romania comes to take me to my private massage room (can I tell you that he was HOT! ? it made me a little nervous to be honest...lol...but I got over that too!) I have had two massages both by women before so it was a little unnerving but he was very courteous and professional and put me at ease. It was so relaxing! Truly the best way to start my cruise. You start laying face down on the table and I chose not to talk and just relax and enjoy. When I turned over, he put a little face mask on me scented with lavender...very relaxing and helped with the nervousness so that you aren't actually LOOKING at Hot guy massaging you!

we talked a little bit and I learned that he had a karate school in Romania and as both my kids are about to get their black belts ...we had a lot to talk about. It was over way too soon and he left so I could put the robe back on and then came the big product sell! This was the worst part. I politely listend and even thought...well, maybe I will buy one little tube of relaxing warm gel for my neck....(I was very tense there, ya know) but then he told me the prices. $54 for one little tiny tube. $200 if I wanted the whole set of stuff. I politely said no but he insisted on writing it all down with his name in case I changed my mind during the cruise. At this point, Im thinking...I know you get commission but quite frankly I would rather just give you a nice tip rather than buy junk I didnt want. LOL! I tipped him $25 which I think was more than enough.

On tipping, we really added all of that into our expenses before we left and we just considered it part of our experience. Everyone worked so hard on the ship and at the ports that we just felt like we couldnt not be generous with them.

Im all relaxed and I get dressed and head down to the cabin to reshower. Very oily and I dont want to burn in Key West! Dan and the kids are there and the kids had a great time off by themselves. Dan enjoyed his workout and the machines there. We take pics from our verandah of Key West. It looks gorgeous and the water is beautiful! We are very excited to get off the ship!

 

[RoyalVizier]

It starts at 9:45 so after they get dressed we send them off to breakfast by themselves at Topsiders with Kaitlin given strict instructions to keep an eye on her brother. (we did WHAT???....we just sent our kids out on their own for breakfast and a movie.......what kind of parents are we???? LOL! I confess I was slightly nervous about this at first ....but I got over that real quick!)

It's weird to send them off on their own, isn't it? Like you, we very quickly became more than comfortable with it. A cruise is truely the only vacation that is both a family vacation and each individuals vacation at the same time. Parents and children can have their own experiences over the same week while at the same time sorta kinda still being together. It's great!

 

[firstmickey]

Picture time!


Breakfast!

LOL! what's missing?

 

[Lindy Loo]

wow


this is a wonderfully written trip report! Im getting so excited ( we cruise first time 15th Oct)


please write some more soon !

 

[Grammyof2]

Geez Donna - still excited

Slow down I got to go school shopping

 

[firstmickey]

Cheryl...Im neglecting my whole house here. Luckily I cleaned before I left for vacation and very smartly bought all our back to school stuff too! Both kids are having a friend over today and Dan is puttering around before going back to work tomorrow so I hope to get some more written soon.

Im trying to download my Key West Pics but like the psycho camera episode (to come soon) that ain't going so well!

 

[jrose529]

Great report and pics! I'm looking forward to more. You have a beautiful family.

 

[firstmickey]

Ok....Day Two: Key West and the Psycho Camera!



The kids decide they are hungry before we get off the ship so they run up to get some burgers and chicken from Deck 9 and bring it back to eat on our verandah. I don't know why we never ordered room service the whole trip. We just never did. I was never really hungry in my room! Dan and I were still full from breakfast so we ran down to guest services to drop off a picture frame mat that I brought for the characters to sign and to put all of my birthday cash/gift certificates/visa reward dollars etc on my account. This was easy and painless. They said the frame would be delivered to our room on the last day. (which it was in case I forget to mention it later).

We head down to the gangplank (love saying that! LOL!) and walk right off the ship after carefully making sure we have everyone's KTTW card and photo ID for Dan and me. Check!

Key West is a very pretty tropical town and makes you feel very beachy and caribbeanish as you walk around. Again, it awes us how big and beautiful the ship is. We continue to stare at it a little and admire it. I try to take some pics but my camera isnt turning on properly. (Pentax Optio 5 megapixels...Ive had it for about 3 years..no problems!). I finally get it on and take some pics. We head off looking for the Trolley tour. I also phone a few people because ****gasp***** I was without phone or internet service for a whole day! (people who know me are laughing at this right now!)

We find the trolley station right next to the Aquarium which was on the kids list of things to see. We buy our trolley tix...I had a buy one/get one coupon but it only counted for adults so the total cost was about $49 for 4 trolley tickets. Plus another $20 to get into the Aquarium (again using buy one/get one free coupon for adults only) You can get those here Notice it says per guest NOT per adult...but whatever...we are on vacation! And every little bit helps!

We decide to tour the Aquarium first and are in time for the first "tour" but the kids just want to tour around on our own. We browse around seeing the stingrays, the turtles, the fish and the small nurse sharks. I try to take some pics and my CAMERA IS NOT WORKING!!!!!!!!!!! I start getting a little worked up. Dan tells me to relax...it's probably just from the heat. To me....this is a crisis. Really. It is. On my long awaited cruise at the first port and no pictures for me. I delete some pics from my memory card hoping that will help but it doesnt. (they were ship pics...I will just go take some more later I think). Then miraculously...it lets me take a few pics. Im happy...well, happier!

The Aquarium quite frankly was ok but I didnt think worth the money. there wasnt alot to see at all. I admit that some of it was overshadowed by camera crisis for me but I still would advise skipping it. But then again, Im used to the huge Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium here. There is also no air condition in there and it is H-O-T!

We leave and get on the trolley which is about to depart for the next stop. They give you a map and a paper fan (cheap air conditioning!) . After looking at the map, we decide to get off at Stop 3 Simonton Row to visit the much heard about Blonde Giraffe for Key Lime Pie! We get there....I go to take a pic of my kids in front of the Giraffe and NOTHING! NOOOOO!!!!!!!!! The camera is totally dead! Sigh............this is seriously ruining my magic. LOL! Finding somewhere that sells disposable cameras is now a priority. We head in the nicely air conditioned Blonde Giraffe. (it was like 99 degrees outside today) and have some yummy Key Lime pie. Kaitlin gets hers on a stick and it's covered in chocolate and delicious. Kevin opts for ice cream and Dan and I both get pie. It's really good!

After that, I asked someone about a store that would sell cameras and she points me towards a CVS. We start trekking off to CVS and didnt even realize till later that it was close to port where we started! LOL! I just know it was far and hot. And the kids were hot and droopy. Did I care? no! I needed a camera. Honestly. I did. Plus Dan was all excited about buying cheap water and lugging it around all day so that he didnt have to get Disney's water package or pay $3 for a bottle of water. Of course, this is the guy that buys $40 bottles of wine at dinner but whatever!!!!!!

so at CVS, we purchase gum, a six pack of LARGE water, 4 disposable cameras (yes..4...what if I couldnt get it working on the ship???) and head way back to the trolley stop we just left. After a few detours (I wasnt the one with the map...I'm just sayin' ), we end up at stop 4. We stopped in a little gift shop and bought a christmas ornament and some fridge magnets. (I have a magnet thing...I like one from places we visit). And some postcards. I like those too for scrapbooking. And we get on the trolley. After I get the map back...I realize that we missed Margaritaville. bummer...I wanted to go there! Oh well...next trip, right?

We decide to get off the trolley at stop 5 to see the Hemingway house and the lighthouse but again a fee for each and the lighthouse didnt look like much. So we settle for a pic in FRONT of the house...lol. And then we have to wait for the next trolley. For 20 mins....lol. We get some drinks and hang out....both kids are so hot and so tired. We are really not feeling any Key West Magic. Im still camera distraught and trying not to let it bother me too much...but it does...lol.
We decide to stay on the trolley for the remainder of the tour because it's getting very late. We see the southern most house and point through the window...Wave! Hi...there it is. (I got a pic on disposable but it wont download right now...lol)....we enjoy the trolley driver lady that we currently have. She is fun and funny and gives us interesting trolley info.

Im sitting up front with Kevin and he is getting very sleepy and droopy. I tell him to lean against me and he says no, he's fine. I tell him it's ok...he can lean on me and he says:

No, I dont want to ruin your magic, Mom. ....awwwwww, my baby!!

We get back to the beginning of the tour and head back to the ship. Droopy, hot and tired but ready for our speed race to get ready for dinner at Animator's Palate. We definitely don't want to miss that! Plus I want to go to Shutters to see if they have any camera help for me! I recharge it while we get ready in case it is the battery!

We get showered and dressed in our matching red/tan Mickey Hawaiin shirts/skirts and go to have our lifestages picture taken on the white background. It turns out to be one of our best pictures! We end up buying several for us and grandparents presents. Plus several people tell us how great we look...and I look smugly at my husband with my I told you so look!! he just laughs at me. Someday he will learn that I am always right!


At Shutters, they don't have any camera batteries for my camera but it appears to be working off and on again so we pass on their sale of the Nikon Cool Pix camera. I have my disposable one ready for Animator's Palate also.

 

[RoyalVizier]

After looking at the map, we decide to get off at Stop 3 Simonton Row to visit the much heard about Blonde Giraffe for Key Lime Pie! We head in the nicely air conditioned Blonde Giraffe. (it was like 99 degrees outside today) and have some yummy Key Lime pie. Kaitlin gets hers on a stick and it's covered in chocolate and delicious. Kevin opts for ice cream and Dan and I both get pie. It's really good!

Blonde Giraffe!

This was the highlight of Key West day for us! Scrumptious!

For a psycho camera you sure do have some great pics!

 

[firstmickey]

When it worked...it took good pictures! LOL! here a few....


and scrumptious is a great word for the key lime pie there!

disposable camera ones:

the southern most point....from the tour bus!

one of the beautiful but expensive homes on Key West. The tour guide told us that a 500 sq foot home would start at about $700,000!

I thought the homes were beautiful and very beachy looking!

 

[firstmickey]

Ok...despite the busy server...Im gonna finish Day two at least! Who knew I could talk so much????



DAY TWO: ANIMATOR's PALATE and a Key West Sunset!



We walk into Animator's Palate and are escorted to our table. Kira already has our water glasses filled and Kevin's milk. I think Kaitlin's drink confused her all week because she kept switching! They like you to order the same thing but then don't mind getting you something else if you switch. Dan orders bottle of wine Number 1...some red wine that I don't drink so I have no idea what it was. (I will ask him). I ordered a glass of the Chateau St Michelle Riesling (my favorite wine). We both had the filet wrapped in bacon which was delicious but it was on a bed of red sauce which seemed an odd combination to us. Kaitlin was able to get the filet plain and without the bacon and with fries so she was happy. Kevin got his old standby of chicken fingers and fries plus Ciao made him some Mickey shaped ketchup! (Heinz! ) For dessert, they surprised me with a birthday cake!

None of us had mentioned my birthday at all and Dan said he didnt arrange anything so the only thing we can think of was ....I booked through a travel agent (who was my cousin) so I think she must have mentioned to them that it was for my birthday. It was a wonderful cake with a Mickey bar on top and a white chocolate picture of the ship! (plus there wasnt a 40 anywhere on the cake!) We all had some plus Kevin got his "selected assortment of ice cream" aka vanilla with sprinkles again! I think Dan and Kaitlin got something else also but none of us can remember what it was! The cake was yummy and a nice surprise and I also got two magical celebration and happy birthday buttons.

After that we went out to watch the sunset in Key West as we pulled away! It was breathtaking! And luckily psycho camera was working again so we were able to get a few pics!

We watched the juggler show in the WDW Theater and the kids headed for bed. Kaitlin had another small meltdown and said she wasnt feeling well.

Im not sure what was wrong with her this trip. I think the whole preteen hormones are starting ...the Im not a kid or an adult thing was kicking in with her. Plus coming home and starting a new school this year stress. SHe was also painfully shy (more so than usual) and didnt want to approach or talk to anyone even when spoken to. It was a little bizarre and I was a little worried that she wasn't having a good time but she says that she was and now if you ask her she says it was the greatest. But I know she spent alot of time miserable/unhappy/ or mad. It's just not like my girl. (Im so not ready for the teen years!)

anyway...they were both happy to head for bed and they enjoyed the towel dog that Albert made for them. Kaitlin got the top bunk tonight and they went to sleep.

Dan and I went to Rockin' Bar D to see the adult cabaret show and have a few drinks and we sat with fellow disser mbagley/Michelle and her DH, Chuck, and DD, Jessica. Before the juggler was the Match your mate show which ws pretty funny. There was a newleywed couple, a married 7-8 years couple and an older couple. The middle couple was pretty funny and they mentioned that the strangest place they "discovered the magic" was on the blue monorail at WDW!!!!!!!! This elicited much response and laughter from the crowd and I confess that I saw her all over the ship after that and she was forever MONORAIL GIRL to us! LOL! I kept wanting to ask her HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT!??? Bwahahhaaa!!!!

The juggler was pretty amazing and funny also. We had a very good time and enjoyed Michelle and Chuck's company. And Jessica too of course!

All in all....day two was another magical day!