The McSparklesons are BACK and they are CRUISIN! COMPLETE 10/4

[karajeboo]

Same thing here. I made my family eat sandwiches yesterday because I was in such a crappy mood and did not want to cook. I did make something tonight - but it was such a chore to cut the kids food up - I was totally spoiled with the servers doing that.

Luckily my inlaws had us over yesterday for dinner..... and I was too tired to go grocery shopping so I just ran in and grabbed milk, bread, and chips so I could have lunch today. Then I rummaged through the freezer for some ground turkey and some Prego from the pantry. Voila! Dinner!!!! Again, not quite Palo standards, but Jeff and Ally are just lucky they got anything!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

Welcome back Kara...subbing so I can read your TR. Glad you guys had a good time! Loving all the pics on FB.

 

[podsnel]

Oh...your poor baby....the humiliation....



Already sooo funny!! BTW....lots of fun in WDW today!! Beautiful weather...we're in Springs...I'm exhausted!! TTYS!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Do we need to contribute to the "Ally's Therapy Fund"? Waiting for more!!

 

[karajeboo]

Welcome back Kara...subbing so I can read your TR. Glad you guys had a good time! Loving all the pics on FB.

Thanks Michelle!! I hope it will be a fun one!

Oh...your poor baby....the humiliation....



Already sooo funny!! BTW....lots of fun in WDW today!! Beautiful weather...we're in Springs...I'm exhausted!! TTYS!

It is sad, right? So glad you're back in the 2nd happiest place on earch (because DCL is THE happiest in my book!!!)!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Do we need to contribute to the "Ally's Therapy Fund"? Waiting for more!!

I hear a therapist's couch calling her name..... Actually, Jeff was looking up DCL cruises yesterday and told Ally that she can no longer go to college because we want to do another DCL cruise! He still has NO idea how much we paid for the trip. He lets me plan the vacations and doesn't want to know.... And I, of course, like it this way!

 

[karajeboo]

good call on renting a car in St. maarten. hadn't thought of that. how does price compare to ship excursions? there's 8 of us but even renting a bigger vehicle may be better than booking excursion or tours

Just looking at your siggie, I see you've cruised with HAL? HOw does that line compare to DCL?

 

[CRdisMom]

oh what fun it is to make our kids squirm can't wait to hear about it. I have seen some photos on FB but i need a narative

 

[karajeboo]

I will cut to the chase for you...... I know you might be shocked to hear this but the Radisson did NOT have Right Said Fred queued up when we arrived!!!!! So much for Disney service, huh?

Actually, the Radisson at the Port, right down the road from Port Canaveral, was incredible. When we got in at 10:30, tired and cranky (especially when I told Jeff I forgot to pack an overnight bag so we needed to carry in ALL our bags.....) the front desk staff was very accomodating.

I had been playing with the idea of having Jeff drive us to the port and then he could go back, park the car in the Radisson lot and hop the shuttle to meet us. But when I asked at the front desk, the shuttle coordinator was there and he said it would be a lot easier to just all ride together on the shuttle. He and the front desk clerk were both shocked to hear that we had actually RESERVED a spot on the first shuttle, saying that most people don't do it, and then complain that they have to wait. But thanks to the trusty DISBOARDS, I knew I needed to reserve our seats!!!
I barely got any sleep that night, despite the Sleep Number beds in our rooms. I was way too worked up about getting on my first ship the next day. I was still very anxious about the whole idea......

We turned on the Ohio State basketball game and I fell asleep quickly. Jeff said he forced himself to sleep, which was a good thing considering the outcome of that game....

I woke up at 3:30am and had a horrible stomach. Nerves. It's who I am. So I tossed and turned a little bit before finally getting up around 6:30....

We still needed to run to Walgreens to grab a couple last minute things (Tums were high on my list.... ) but we made one crucial mistake. We did not eat breakfast first thing. And lines were out the door because I think that EVERYONE staying on the strip in Port Canaveral had a ship to catch that morning. So I told Jeff to get us back to the hotel and I'm sure we could grab something at the DCL terminal when we got there.....

When we parked our car and made our way back to our room, we were standing just outside the door and Ally looked over the railing to the parking lot and said, "I think those people live in our neighborhood."

I didn't even look. After all, she's 10. She has a great imagination. I mean, she thinks Mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world! Wait, that part is true...... but she does have an overactive imagination.....

Now keep in mind that we just moved into our home back in June, so we've been here less than a year. We are very active in the community, but we are still new.

So we hustled Ally back inside, finished getting our things together, and the three of us made the long trek from our room to the lobby of the hotel. Each of us was pulling a suitcase, PLUS we each had a carry on bag. We were loaded down......

As soon as we got outside the front door about 9:45, my shuttle coordinator from last night took good care of me. He recognized the name, and the McSparkleson charm of course...... And he made sure the McSparklesons were the FIRST FAMILY on the shuttles that morning!!!!!

But while we were waiting, I was wandering around, very covertly checking out everyone's luggage tags, checking for anyone from our FE exchange..... No dice.

The ride over was great. We were on the little 15 packer van and literally 2 minutes from the port. Just three families, 2 going to Disney, 1 to Carnival. I was on pins and needles driving over. And then I saw her.
She was beautiful!!!! I cried as she came into view. Ally looked over at me, and said, not for the last time this trip, “Daddy, she’s crying! Do something!”

Our shuttle driver was great. He gave us lots of advice for first time cruisers, then he dropped one family off at the Carnival Dream, and then took us to the DCL terminal. From this point on, it was smooth sailing, get it? "Smooth Sailing?" Cause we're going on a ship? Sailing? Get it?????

He dropped us off about 10:10am and we tipped him so he can afford to pay his chiropractor after lifting our bags.......

We then tipped the porter who we hoped would get our bags on the ship...... And how in the world this little tiny gal lifted my bag I'll never know. I was kinda waiting for her to just roll it into the sea.......

Next we made our way through ID check...... then straight into security, and up the escalator. And saw this…..

We walked straight through the line to check in and next thing you know, we were registered guests of the Disney Magic!

Not the friendliest cast member I've ever encountered, and she was quite confused when I asked about upgrading to a clear plexiglass verandah. She looked at me like I had big ears or something. I mean, has she looked at her boss lately?

She then proceeded to read me a memo on her screen that said, "The ship is full, no upgrades available, none, nada, don't even ask!"

So...... I think we will be perfectly happy with our solid wall verandah!!!!!

Our check in process from the time we got off the shuttle until we had our Key To The World cards in hand was no more than 15 minutes. Smooth Sailing! Get it?????

We were assigned Boarding Group# 3 - Booyah!!!!! So we knew we would be on by noon! Then we wandered around a bit, and made our way outside to the observation deck.

I even snapped some pics of the Carnival Dream right nearby.....

Funny little tidbit from yours truly, Cliff Claven.....

Disney has stolen two ship names from Carnival.... Dream and Fantasy so guess what Carnival's new ship is going to be named???

The Carnival Magic!!!! Take that Disney! Next we're gonna start taking good care of our little guests, and offering soft drinks at no charge, and providing awesome shows for families!!!!! Well, maybe we will.......someday.....

Back inside we went on the hunt for breakfast. DENIED!!!! Absolutely nothing available. Not even a cast member's purse laying around with some mints inside. I know. I checked.....

So we popped a squat and just hung out and Ally looked at me and said, "Mommy, this is good people watching...." She was right. But still not nearly as good as Walmart......

We loved checking out the ship's model, especially since we had never the seen inside the REAL ship! Would she look the same??? Would the beds be actual size on the actual ship????

While we were checking out the ship, a little guy came up and asked if we could help him find the kids clubs. So we hunted around until we found it, and pointed it out to him. He seemed satisfied as he gave a little "huh." I think he was also wondering if the chairs and computers would be actual size on the actual ship. Huh.

The whole time we were sitting there people watching, and waiting to board, we kept laughing at the line for Oceaneers Lab/Club, because WE registered online.....

Until we realized that registered or not, we still needed to get in line to get Ally's ID band.....

But we were holding firm that WE didn't need to wait in line. We are the McSparklesons!!! We're..... too sexy for that line!!!!! Right?

Let's just ignore the line..

Look! There's Captain Mickey!!!

Oh, that line is getting longer.......... so I asked a cast member if we would be better off waiting until we got on the ship to get her ID band, and they assured us that the line would be really long there, too. But we are in boarding group 3? Then she said something like, "Wait! Aren't you the McSparklesons????"

We got in line.

But honestly, it took about 15 minutes.... waaaaaay better than the line for Splash Mountain at 3pm in July!

Next thing ya know, Ally is chipped and we are on our way!

If she and the dog get lost at the same time I can now find them both just as fast!!!!

As we were coming out of the line, the first announcement was made to begin boarding for concierge guests..... so we knew we would be called soon!!!!

About 10 minutes later we were herded through the giant Mickey head (like the real head isn't big enough!). And I mean herded. With a capital MOOOOO!!!!

There was no queue, just a mob of people pushing and shoving their way. And Ally does not like rule breakers. People who push and shove should be locked up for life according to Ally. Line jumpers? Oh, you don't even want to know!!!!

But as soon as we got through the giant Mickey head, we were funneled into two lines, and since I'm a DISer, I know to ALWAYS GO LEFT!!! And the right line moved faster.......

At this point, we showed our KTTW cards and they grouped us for family photos, where they then split the photos for our individual KTTW cards. That I found amazing. So even though we were together for the photo, my photo was on my card, Jeff's on his, and Fido's, I mean Ally's was on hers.

And now it was time to cross the gangplank and enter the Magic.......

Up next: Superstaaaahhhhs????

 

[KristiMc]

Hey that is Shawn (kid with his chin on the railing) looking at the ship.

Funny thing about Ally seeing someone from your neighborhood - we did. At dinner the first night Shawn said - "Hey that kid rides my bus" - and I said, "Yea, right". Then the kid waved to Shawn. So we went over and I recognized the mom and she said to me hey your on the PTO. Small world.

 

[jcarwash]

Funny thing about Ally seeing someone from your neighborhood - we did. At dinner the first night Shawn said - "Hey that kid rides my bus" - and I said, "Yea, right". Then the kid waved to Shawn. So we went over and I recognized the mom and she said to me hey your on the PTO. Small world.

Wasn't everyone on the ship from Ohio? Sure seemed that way.

 

[KristiMc]

Wasn't everyone on the ship from Ohio? Sure seemed that way.

Yes, I saw so many people from the Cleveland area.

 

[DizzyErin]

Kara, loving your TR as always

 

[CRdisMom]

awesome magic ms mcsparkleson! so the real question is does that dog tag still work for Ally? If so I WANT ONE!! LOL....with this warm weather my kids have become wanderers...

 

[karajeboo]

Hey that is Shawn (kid with his chin on the railing) looking at the ship.

Funny thing about Ally seeing someone from your neighborhood - we did. At dinner the first night Shawn said - "Hey that kid rides my bus" - and I said, "Yea, right". Then the kid waved to Shawn. So we went over and I recognized the mom and she said to me hey your on the PTO. Small world.

Not only is that Shawn in the photo, but he is the one who came over and asked us to show him where the Oceaneers Club was on the model!!!!

Wasn't everyone on the ship from Ohio? Sure seemed that way.

I know I saw one or two Buckeye shirts! I think packed more thinking they'd be in the NCAA final game!!! Even though I've moved a few times, I'm still a Buckeye at heart!

In fact, we met a man who was on a Celebration cruise with his family to celebrate his wife's life - she passed away last year from breast cancer. He currently lived in Columbus, OH, but he spent time in Anderson, SC which is just down the road from us. It really is a "small world" in so many ways.

Yes, I saw so many people from the Cleveland area.

And C-bus, and Cincy......

Kara, loving your TR as always

Thanx Erin!!!

awesome magic ms mcsparkleson! so the real question is does that dog tag still work for Ally? If so I WANT ONE!! LOL....with this warm weather my kids have become wanderers...

Warm weather in Minneapolis? What, did it finally get above freezing???

 

[MAGICFOR2]

So much fun seeing your pics of the Terminal! It looks pozitively SPARKLY!!!! I love the SUPERSTAH pic. Can't wait to see the story for that one. Poor Ally

 

[CRdisMom]

yes the weather actually is warm enough for the Koi pond to be open. The ice should be going out any day now and we can get the docks in at the cabin. C'mon spring!

 

[JaxJags08]

Great start, Kara! I'm taking notes for the day I finally get to cruise on DCL...going to check prices now...

 

[Debbie6221]

Great report so far! Thanks for sharing!

 

[karajeboo]

So much fun seeing your pics of the Terminal! It looks pozitively SPARKLY!!!! I love the SUPERSTAH pic. Can't wait to see the story for that one. Poor Ally

The terminal was great but I can't imagine how crowded it will be for the Dream. They will need to stick to the check in times that are give out or else it will be a ZOO!!!!!

yes the weather actually is warm enough for the Koi pond to be open. The ice should be going out any day now and we can get the docks in at the cabin. C'mon spring!

I think our winter is over - should be consistently in the 70's now with an ocassional day in the 60's...... I don't think I could handle coming back to winter after this cruise...... I would revolt.

Great start, Kara! I'm taking notes for the day I finally get to cruise on DCL...going to check prices now...

I stopped by EL after the cruise to have lunch with friends! I was telling Jeff that you had been by there checking out the neighborhood. Another small world episode........ I'm telling you, DCL was the BEST vacation I've ever had!

Great report so far! Thanks for sharing!

Hey Girlfriend!!!! You know I love TRs!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hi there! I followed the link in your siggy from the post you made on my PTR and thanks to your handy links I'm all caught up already!

I'm so glad I came over, aside from the fact that I'm absorbing everything I can find about cruises to prepare for ours, you are a very entertaining writer, I may have laughed out loud a few times, and I may now have a DH who is working across the room that thinks I'm nuts, but it's all good.

Can't wait to hear more!!