The JRBDAD Family Poly DREAMING on the Boardwalk

[jrbdad]

OK - just as the cruise is ending, I'm getting in a routine. Up early, workout, shower, lounge for coffee and berries, wake up the crew and off to Cabanas.

We were off the ship as soon as possible - wanting to maximize the value of our family cabana .

We walked to the cabana check-in station. We already had our wrist bands from the night before (left in our stateroom with the model). The took us in an extra large golf cart to Cabana #12.

A few pics of the interior:

Loved the cool towels

Porch

 

[jrbdad]

OK -- lets' see if we can at least wrap up Castaway Cay tonight....maybe????

Looking back, I took almost 200 pictures that day, so the rest of the report may be heavily weighted toward the photos -- hope no one minds .

View from the cabana:

Yes, even a picture of the ceiling fan:

Curtained area (kinda like a burlap shower curtain) -- for changing clothes:

Low tide:

From the beach, looking at the cabana -- also had our own fresh water shower (outdoor):

Our "backyard":

Beach for "cabana-only" -- but it was early:

 

[jrbdad]

Also, family - cabana beach only -- we all had mandatory wrist-bands that we had to wear to make sure we were "ok" to be there:

The wrist-bands also got us free use of the bikes, snorkeling equipment, etc.

Full or hermit crabs -- very small, hermit crabs:

Time to swim:

Soooo out of order -- but this is Melanie & Eddy, our "cabana-girl & cabana-boy" from concierge:

They did a GREAT tour of the facility and all the amenities. There is a "button" on the wall -- ANY time you need ANY thing, it pages them and they come right to your cabana. You need an adult beverage, no problem -- push the button. You need more bottled water, cold towels, a different magazine, your food trays cleared away, more fruit, more sunscreen -- DONE!

If you don't push the button, they will come find out why you haven't pushed the button and check to see if there is anything you need. Sometimes even bringing you something you haven't asked for -- they were SUPERB!

They took this of the family on the steps leading to the beach:

The button:

 

[jrbdad]

We decided to go "rent" bikes (part of the cabana package) early, before it got too hot:

The boys were bummed that they were "required" to wear helmets:

Observation tower - we missed this last trip. You can walk there -- but it would be a HIKE:

The view:

A very nice family took this for us -- those of you that "know" me on hear, know that I found out I'm diabetic about 1.5 years ago -- since then I've lost 85 lbs. The picture below NEVER would have been seen previously -- me without a shirt -- no way! But now, ehhh -- whatever:

The boys were supposed to stand closer to me to cover me up more - sorry

 

[jrbdad]

We were able to bike right to:

DW & I really need to spend some time here alone -- maybe next time?

Serenity Bay cabanas:

 

[jrbdad]

"Family Time:"

Our ride back to the shuttle/pathway:

One of my least favorite "Disney" signs:

Leaving Castaway Cay

We did a little shopping prior to leaving and we stayed until about an hour prior to final boarding of the Dream.

The family cabana was a WONDERFUL way to spend the last day -- so glad that worked out the way that it did. We will do it again, if given the opportunity. Loved the cabana! Loved the service!!

 

[jrbdad]

Before leaving Castaway Cay -- I have to say that we really enjoyed the bike rental/ride. We probably wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been a part of the cabana package -- but it was one of the highlights of the trip. Great fun, everyone enjoyed it.

We also did the snorkeling as part of the cabana package, but really didn't have the patience for it. Might try again in the future though. By the time we got to the snorkeling area, things were pretty stirred up and you really couldn't see much.

 

[jrbdad]

Not a site you like to see coming back to the stateroom -- the luggage tags for disembarking:

Last night was in Animator's Palette -- this time no Crush, etc. -- it was more a "parade of nations" from the servers. This is the night that you hand out your little envelopes with your gratuity.

We really loved our "centerpiece" -- we were table 73 the entire cruise:

Loved the chairs too:

I'm really not familiar with "ketchup art" -- but this was done by our Head Server, Kruno:

Our Assistant Server Pla doing one of his magic tricks:

The three reasons we continue to go back to Disney:

Our Head Server, Kruno and DS15 -- they got along great!

DS13 & DD10 with Pla:

 

[jrbdad]

Back to the Concierge Lounge for a few "goodbyes" -- we did spend some time there the next morning, but.....we still had to make sure we got to see our new friends off:

Our last towel animal for the cruise:

 

[jrbdad]

This is the rose that they gave DW on our "date" at Remy's -- 2nd night of the cruise. The stateroom host provided the vase -- without us asking. It was so pretty even on the last morning:

As you are exiting the terminal:

You really have to love the disembarkation process with DCL -- it is so smooth. The porter are awesome! All I did was tell him what deck we were on and the next thing I knew he was loading our bags.

Somehow DD10 lost Duffy's pirate hat in the loading process, prior to customs. The line for customs was about 10 minutes and the porter suggested that they retrace their steps. Can you believe it? On their way back to the line, they glanced UP and found it on a table. Someone must have picked it up and placed it there. More pixie dust and the day was saved.

An easy walk to the new parking garage, and we were packed and off. Knowing at least that we have two additional cruises ahead of us. But not sure we can wait a whole year .

 

[jrbdad]

OK -- so, we make it through customs. The agent even mentioned that for some reason, folks from Louisiana seem to go with birth certificates vs passports. I said that it is probably because we were "cheap" -- he said no, "smart." Made me feel better about that decision, because I always wonder if we need passports.

The porter did an awesome job getting us situated, didn't even want me helping him load the luggage into the car. He got a good tip.

We were off -- we were 100% in agreement that we wanted to head to DTD for lunch at the Earl. In the meantime, we checked in with DS13's coach and the league director -- they BOTH said to enjoy our vacation and be home by Saturday, in time for the beginning of the State All-Star tournament. We talked about it and decided that we'd like to be home by Thursday so that he could at least practice some before the tournament started.

Family meeting at the Earl -- we talked about Busch Gardens, even called got prices, called hotels to check availability, called Univeral Studios, checked availability and prices. Then one of the kids says, "can we just go back to Disney?"

Knowing that our next cruise is scheduled for July 8th and it is now the 10th, we can use these APs for next year before the cruise --- hmmmmmm??????

We all agree -- we want to go to WDW. Point poor -- we decide that if we can get an AP rate at a hotel that we haven't tried, DONE DEAL! Our preference is Boardwalk -- we haven't tried that yet. Again, we really wanted concierge -- due to the food .

I call -- go through about a million prompts on the phone (as usual) and get a live person. They are almost giddy when they tell me that "yes, we can get you the Boardwalk, concierge level, with an AP rate." The pixie dust has followed us from the Poly, to the cruise, to the Boardwalk! We book two nights -- thinking that maybe we'd get home on Wednesday -- but I'm sure that by now you know that's not gonna happen.

If anyone is interested -- I'll post the rest. I think this is mostly for DCL trip reports -- so it might be best for me to stop here. But we did have a great time and a few surprises .

 

[Dsny]

Loved your trip report again!

What a magical trip your family had.....Thanks for sharing.

 

[jrbdad]

Loved your trip report again!

What a magical trip your family had.....Thanks for sharing.

Thank you .

 

[Tequilamamacita]

Now I know who you are!!! Your wife made a comment about my daughter when she was wearing a smocked dress and she said something like" Ohhh I remember those days they pass all to quick!" Are you on our FB page? We have been posting pics there!

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks for the report, jrbdad! Very helpful! Next month, we're staying BWI CL (new to us), then 3-night Dream (also new to us) and then BC CL (not new - we love it!) So we'd love to hear about your BWI CL experience, too.

 

[DMMarla07860]

So I see Melanie is now Concierge and not Cruise Staff, good for her. And by the way great trip report

 

[jrbdad]

Now I know who you are!!! Your wife made a comment about my daughter when she was wearing a smocked dress and she said something like" Ohhh I remember those days they pass all to quick!" Are you on our FB page? We have been posting pics there!

Uh oh! Should I have not been posting pictures here for some reason?

We are the last family NOT on Facebook. Long story.

I remember you all too -- your daughter is a doll .

 

[jrbdad]

Thanks for the report, jrbdad! Very helpful! Next month, we're staying BWI CL (new to us), then 3-night Dream (also new to us) and then BC CL (not new - we love it!) So we'd love to hear about your BWI CL experience, too.

I'll add the rest of the trip a little later then -- thanks for asking.

We were honestly surprised at the offerings at the BWI CL -- after the Poly, we were (just a little) expecting to be let down. But we weren't -- there was only one night when the food was a little to "fancy" for any of us to eat. Even the CMs said so.

 

[jrbdad]

So I see Melanie is now Concierge and not Cruise Staff, good for her. And by the way great trip report

Thank you. Melanie was wonderful -- cannot say enough good things about her. Well -- really -- her, Eddy & Rodrigo were all exceptional. The staff really can make or break a cruise -- they MADE it big time!

 

[jrbdad]

OK -- so, we head to the car, and we arrive at the Boardwalk, before they even know we have a reservation. I thought it was pretty comical. The lady handling check-in also found it kind of amusing. She finally did some checking and then escorted us to the concierge level. There the lady that was over room assignments was like, "how could this happen?" I explained in detail and she laughed. Then said, would you prefer a garden view or a Boardwalk view -- we went with the Boardwalk view. No extra charge. Again, about 3 doors from the lounge.

Guess what? Our room was ready and it wasn't even 1 p.m.

Room pictures:

View: