Wow! Where to start? If this wasn't our favorite vacation, it was definitely in the top two. My vote is for #1!
Here goes -- in no particular order:
-- would love to fly and save the time of the drive, but we have such a great time and the kids get along so well. Some of our favorite moments are laughing along the way. Trying "hole-in-the-wall" Mexican restaurants. Watching the kids come up with so many different things that "tickle" them and then they repeat over and over. :hahahaha: It takes some patience -- but it was fun.
-- they say you can't go home again -- they were wrong! We loved the Poly the last time we stayed there (1995 -- pre-kids) and we loved it again this time. DW & I were talking about next year and I said we'd be able to use DVC points for our pre-cruise stay -- her comment, save the points and let's book the Poly again. Heaven help me if they ever do build a Poly DVC.
-- we've stayed concierge for short stays several times now, it really does seem to make sense for us -- if we can get an AP rate. The level of service goes up from Disney's already high standards, the lounges are comfortable, and the food/drinks are good, we get to use them for at least one if not two meals/day.
-- we can go to WDW without setting foot in the parks -- I was a little concerned about this, but for 2-3 days, we were fine. We really got to enjoy all that the Poly had to offer.
-- I have nothing to compare it to -- but -- I really think that Disney gets cruising right. Last year we didn't think that a 3 night was long enough, this year we didn't think a 5 night was long enough.
-- Did I mention my family likes concierge? The concierge on the Dream was incredible -- almost so much so that I'm having a hard time putting it into words. It's definitely the people. No doubt -- DD10 said that the concierge people on the Dream were some of the nicest CMs she's ever met. We had so much pixie dust this trip -- with a huge heaping of it with our upgrade on the cruise. We booked the Dream for 5 nights next year while onboard, only because the 7 nights on the Fantasy were so expensive. So we booked a "dummy date" to use for 2013 as soon as the itineraries come out. We've debated 1 stateroom or two on the Dream for next year for the past several weeks (well two weeks) -- yesterday with the help of our TA, we decided on 1 stateroom again -- the same one! Yes -- this next year we will pay for our pixie dust. We love the idea of being the first group on the ship and having first access to the excursion, reservations, etc.
-- The Family Cabanas on
Castaway Cay are FANTASTIC! Again, more pixie dust to even be able to get one -- now we want one everytime.
-- Loved Remy & Palo was just as wonderful on the Dream as it was on the Wonder. Having done both -- next year we may just book the Palo brunch (haven't tried that yet) -- so we can enjoy more time with the entire family for our meals. If you think you are only going once -- do both!
-- why would anyone book a cruise without a
travel agent? Can't say enough good things about ours.
-- Atlantis was awesome -- could see an extended stay at Harborside -- one day.
-- the spa package is probably worth it for 5 days or longer, plus don't forget about the showers in the locker rooms - -they are HUGE and it frees up time and space for others back in the stateroom, if you use the one in the locker room. Very private and everything you need is right there.
-- Make your kids participate in the kids' clubs -- even your teenagers -- they will thank you (and you will thank me) later. We had to push ours -- but once we did, they did thank us. They have a "meet & greet" the first night -- but it is really during the group activities (ie. scavenger hunt) that they begin to make friends. My boys are still texting the friends they made on the cruise - two weeks later.
-- Castaway Cay is as close to paradise as I've ever been or may ever be.
-- if anyone ever walks off a
Disney cruise and says that they were bored -- they TRIED to be bored. We've been on two -- a total of 8 nights and don't feel like we've done 1/3rd of what is available.
-- I've seen other boards (multiple) with complaints on the Dream -- comparing it to the Wonder & the Magic. In my humble opinion, after only being on the Wonder once -- the Dream was everything it should have been and then some. The service was spectacular, the food was awesome, the cabin(s) -- both of them -- were fantastic. We would have a very hard time finding anything to complain about. Rotational dining is great -- our servers couldn't have been any better -- and I thought that after we got off the Wonder too.
-- we all hate disembarkation day
. Not the process, just the leaving.
-- gotta love the Boardwalk location -- walking to both Epcot and DHS -- our preferred method of travel
-- while we didn't get to try BWV -- the Boardwalk Inn was very nice -- and DD10 really liked the Community Hall, even with all of us in one room -- it seemed HUGE after being on a cruise.
-- had some friends ask me if we were going to add-on DVC points at the BWV after this stay -- while we liked the location and the resort was very nice -- our funds are dedicated toward
DCL -- unless of course a Poly DVC shows up
.
-- all the activities on the Boardwalk at night were so much fun, a great way to unwind from the parks.
-- the new Star Tours is really good.
-- Captain EO doesn't seem to cross generations
-- the more we go to WDW as a family, the more we seem to want to go.
-- it is worth it to try everything once - DisneyQuest, the SeaRaycers -- enjoyed both -- not sure I'll do them again though.
-- we hate to leave and nearly every trip -- we add on one or more days -- it pays to have an AP
.
All good things must come to an end and Dad has to go back to work to pay for this trip and the trips after.
That's it -- well at least until we show up at Kidani the day after Christmas.
.
