WDW/DCL Western Caribbean Honeymoon Extravaganza!! DONE!!! - PG 51!!

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Nikki - I did the dolphin excursion in Cozumel and loved it! However, we were not in a "pool" we were in the ocean and the dolphin area was fenced off. Not saying that the water was any cleaner but I didn't feel icky being in the water. The place we went was pretty nice. And the dolphin keepers seemed pretty knowledgeable.

Doesn't it just seem like shuffleboard is a mandatory activity on a ship? I couldn't wait to play on our cruise! Just had to do it!!

Hope hubby's elbow is better!

I wish we could have played more! I was just starting to get the hang of it when we realized it was a bad idea!

Great updates, Nikki! I'm glad Tom's elbow wasn't infected (although it definitely looks like it was) -- and that the meds helped quickly and that it didn't stop him from enjoying some Boddington's. The dolphin pictures are really cute...but I'm with you...I think it would be icky to be in that water. Yuck. I love trivia stuff and always say I'm going to go to do something like that but I never have...I wouldn't have known Troy's jersey number, either. Shoot, my DH played college basketball and I don't even know HIS jersey number!

Trivia was VERY fun! I wish there was more stuff like that to do.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 11 ~ July 29, 2009
Pirate Night​

Dinner tonight was the Pirate menu at Animator's Palate.

Tom and I both started with the Pirates Golden Pot Stickers

Then I got Mr. Smee's Bibb Lettuce Salad.

Tom got the Jerk Chicken Salad.

Okay, another quick note about the servers that just popped into my head. I don't normally eat 4 course meals. In fact, for the past year and a half, Tom and I have been on weight watchers and we both lost a good amount of weight. I lost about 15-20 pounds and Tom about 30. We're not as serious about it as we were when we first started BUT we did learn portion control and try not to stuff our faces every time we eat. So the first 2 courses were MORE than enough to satisify me...definitely more than we normally eat for dinner. Therefore, I just had a little of each course, whereas some people might clean their plates. So it kind of bothered me that the servers were telling me to eat more or that I didn't eat enough. Or didn't I like it? It just made me uncomfortable when really I felt like I ate A LOT! Again, I KNOW they were just trying to be nice but to me it came off as annoying and I didn't like it.

So anyway, for the main course, Tom and I both got the Jack Sparrow Barbecue Marinated Beef Short Ribs.

For dessert, I got the Walk the Triple Layered Chocolate Gangplank Cake.

Tom got the Shiver-me-Timers White Chocolate Cheesecake.

After dinner, we went up to the Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party and once again, we watched from Deck 10. NO WAY, I'm jumping into THIS crowd!

At some point, Tom went back to the room to get me a sweater and when he came back, he noted that the moon was in a completely different place than it was before he left. We found out later that the captain was moving the ship around to avoid storms and make sure there wasn't a lot of wind so that Pirate Mickey could fly between the stacks! I thought that was so cool that he was able to do that. Also LOVED Mickey flying and LOVED the fireworks!

After the party, we quickly shot down to Deck 9. Another vision I had planned in my head for months was watching Pirates on the big screen! It's one of our favorite movies. (We actually saw in on the big screen a few years ago just before At World's End came out. They were debuting the trailer for At World's End and had a raffle to win a spot for a showing in some major cities across the US. Luckily, we got a spot and after they showed us the trailer, they played Curse of the Black Pearl! It was great. )

Let me tell you, the crew members had this down to a science. As soon as the party was over, they moved all the deck chairs to the middle in a matter of minutes. So we snagged two chairs and settled down for the movie. It was really crowded there at first but people started to fizzle out after about 10 minutes.

We made it until about 12:30 but that movie is LONG! It wasn't even close to
being over and I was starting to get pretty cold and tired so we called it a night. (If I had a blanket, I could've just fallen asleep right there! Do they frown upon that?)

Up Next: Sea Day ~ Disney Dreams, Beer Tasting and Captain's Gala Menu at Parrot Cay.

 

[mamaboogie]

Great update!

Ooh! Lovely food porn! Watching the film sounds fun - although i probably would have fallen asleep too!

Hey! Made it through a post without mentioning Buffy........whoops!

 

[YoNoSe]

Well Disney is buying Marvel comics and Marvel comics publishes Buffy Season 8 so technically you are still on topic!

 

[Dixielady908]

Can I ask a silly question? That I think you'd give me a pretty straight answer to...

I'm a little skeeved out by the whole "touching sea life" idea. And for Grand Cayman, well, there's feed Sting Rays and Dolphin Encounters. I know there are other things, but do you think it's worth talking myself into for a Dolphin encounter? Or should I stick to going to Hell? (That sounds bad...)

I dont like "fish" touching me....I will not snorkel, or really even swim at castaway....I did the dolphin encounter in cozumel in november.....first off I love dolphins....so I was really excited about it.....however, you dont really get to "touch" them that much. You get to interact...kissing them, them kissing you and touching their front fins....but not to much after that. however, I still enjoyed it, but next time would do the swim with them. hope this helps a little.

 

[anetnmike]

Hammock elbow awesome! Glad it's better! It sure looked angry
I personally found Cozumel to be kind of gross- did nothing for me at all. I don't think you missed a whole lot there.
Dolphins feel kinda rubbery and even though the experience was great to do with my kids I'm good now and don't care to repeat it
Pirates on the big screen looks like fun!

 

[wideeyedwonder]

(RE: Gout) Well why didn't she say something!?! That was a few days before, too! Sheri!! (Most of our conversations are ADD in nature...welll, my side of them anyway.)

That's a very good question...

She tends to have a bit of an ADD mind, so once she said it, she probably forgot all about it! And I, being untrained in the medical arts, had no idea what gout is. I thought it was something you just "have", like some people just "have" asthma.

I didn't say anything because I thought it would be like going up to an asthmatic and saying "did you know that you might have asthma"?

I personally found Cozumel to be kind of gross- did nothing for me at all.

Dissenting vote here...we found the 4-elements tour on Coz (actually, off Coz, on the mainland) to be nothing short of AWESOME! :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2154507&highlight=cozumel&page=2

 

[SunnieRN]

Awesome updates and I'm glad you are having at least some shining moments!! Love the dolphin pictures!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Hammock elbow awesome! Glad it's better! It sure looked angry
I personally found Cozumel to be kind of gross- did nothing for me at all. I don't think you missed a whole lot there.
Dolphins feel kinda rubbery and even though the experience was great to do with my kids I'm good now and don't care to repeat it
Pirates on the big screen looks like fun!

Yeah, other than our excursion, we were not interesting in Cozumel. We COULD have gotten off the boat and walked around but we didn't want to repeat Key West and Grand Cayman.

To us, it would be exactly the same except the painted seashells would say "Cozumel" on them.

Pirates was awesome, as always!
"Not without my effects!"

That's a very good question...

She tends to have a bit of an ADD mind, so once she said it, she probably forgot all about it! And I, being untrained in the medical arts, had no idea what gout is. I thought it was something you just "have", like some people just "have" asthma.

I didn't say anything because I thought it would be like going up to an asthmatic and saying "did you know that you might have asthma"?


Dissenting vote here...we found the 4-elements tour on Coz (actually, off Coz, on the mainland) to be nothing short of AWESOME! :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2154507&highlight=cozumel&page=2

I understand...it still would have been nice to get a heads up, though!

Your pictures from 4-elements are fantastic!

Awesome updates and I'm glad you are having at least some shining moments!! Love the dolphin pictures!

Thanks!!!

 

[WLfamily]

First I am so so glad that Tom had his elbow checked out and it's turned out to be okay.

Love the dolphin kisses pics! Don't know how I feel about climbing in there with them. I think if it was an ocean setup it would be different and not so kinda wierd like the pool thing you described. Still, hats off to you for trying something new!

As far as the server situation you describe I totally get that! I am very grateful that you want to make sure I have what I need, but you can leave me alone to enjoy my meal for longer than five minutes at a time. I don't like it when anybody hovers. My dh said I was rude at the furniture store over the weekend and the poor guy was just doing his job. Well he had already asked if he could help me three times and I made it clear I would get him if I needed him. Time number four was all I could stand, I need room to think people!

 

[bluechic03]

I'm loving reading your TR but I'm sorry you had to miss your excursion! My hubby is the same way as yours...he drags me to the ER for every little thing. Last time (I'm not kidding) he woke me up at 5am with stomach cramping telling me it's his appendix. We get to the ER and are there for 6 HOURS....they did a cat scan/x-rays the whole workup....And the diagnosis??????? CONSTIPATION I was pretty upset I had to call out of work and everything but alas it was just too funny I had to laugh! DH will never live that one down!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

First I am so so glad that Tom had his elbow checked out and it's turned out to be okay.

Love the dolphin kisses pics! Don't know how I feel about climbing in there with them. I think if it was an ocean setup it would be different and not so kinda wierd like the pool thing you described. Still, hats off to you for trying something new!

As far as the server situation you describe I totally get that! I am very grateful that you want to make sure I have what I need, but you can leave me alone to enjoy my meal for longer than five minutes at a time. I don't like it when anybody hovers. My dh said I was rude at the furniture store over the weekend and the poor guy was just doing his job. Well he had already asked if he could help me three times and I made it clear I would get him if I needed him. Time number four was all I could stand, I need room to think people!

Exactly!!!!!

I'm loving reading your TR but I'm sorry you had to miss your excursion! My hubby is the same way as yours...he drags me to the ER for every little thing. Last time (I'm not kidding) he woke me up at 5am with stomach cramping telling me it's his appendix. We get to the ER and are there for 6 HOURS....they did a cat scan/x-rays the whole workup....And the diagnosis??????? CONSTIPATION I was pretty upset I had to call out of work and everything but alas it was just too funny I had to laugh! DH will never live that one down!

HAHAHAH!

Well, last time Tom woke me up wanting to go to the ER (also thinking it was his appendix) it turned out to be a kidney stone!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Well, I went into my classroom for the last time today!! I think I'm finally done setting up and I can just relax tomorrow, maybe do some lesson plans to be ready for when school starts next week!

Also, I totally CHOPPED my hair today!! My hair is loooooooong although I never really wear it down because it's such a pain to blowdry. I usually just throw it up or braid it, as you can see in most of the pics!

Here is a reminder of how long my hair WAS...

Well every few years I donate my hair and it was time. They cut about a foot and then she washed it and styled it but just kept chopping!! I totally cried! It's sooooo short!!!! And I feel like I look like a different person!! I can barely put it in a pony now!

Oh welll, I'll get used to it, it will grow and it went to a good cause!

AND since Big Brother won't be coming on at 8 because of a stupid football game, I will update the TR tonight!!

 

[BippityBoo]

How sweet of you I know it must feel strange, but I am sure it puts a smile on your face to know you are helping someone who really needs it! AWESOME

Also, are you a teacher? What grade? (sorry if I missed that before)

I am in school getting certified for High School English. I will be student teaching next Fall. We are going to the Poly and the cruise (MAYBE now that I have heard mixed reviews from many people) in Dec 2010 for Graduation

Post a pic of your stylin new hair cut~

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 12 ~ July 30, 2009
Sea Day: Thoughts on Chuy and Daniella and Disney Dreams​

We slept in a little today and I was confused because of the time changes that have been going on. Sometimes our stateroom host would change the clock in our room and sometimes not so I had NO idea what time it was! My watch said one thing, the clock said another....CONFUSING!

Okay, this is the first picture we took of the day. It is a poster featuring Chuy and Danielle in the Promenade Lounge.

Let's talk about Chuy and Danielle for a minute.....

They played at the Quiet Cove Pool quite often....and when I say played I mean Danielle had a tamborine and Chuy had a Casio. I'm sorry, but they were not good. At one point, they sang Madonna's "Holiday" and it honestly sounded like they were doing a cover of the way that Adam Sandler sang "Holiday" in The Wedding Singer.

So when we saw this poster, we HAD to take a pic of it! And I don't know what decade they took that picture because they did NOT look like that when we saw them!

We giggled at Chuy and Danielle....but it as nothing compared to the church giggles we had later that day during the stage show Disney Dreams!



I guess it was because it was a Sea Day, there was a showing of Disney Dreams at 2 o'clock in the afternoon!

First let me say that this was definitely the BEST show we saw. Mostly because it had ALL our favorite disney songs from the best disney movies.

Okay, here's the gist...
Anne Marie is settling down for the night and pretty much wants to play with her disney toys but her mom tucks her in and basically tells her it's BS and Anne Marie starts to question her faith in all things Disney.

So before we know it, Peter Pan shows up and tries to convince her that it really is real and she just had to BELIEVE!!! So she believes a little and get a Cinderella song!! Right in her room! Woo Hoo!! She tries to fly around her room like Peter Pan.....CAN'T! He tells her it's because she doesn't really BELIEVE!!

BTW, the clock is ticking and she MUST believe by sunrise.

So then it's onto talking about Aladdin and we get a song from that movie, which was AWESOME, by the way. This scene made me LOVE this show and made me realize what a GREAT Broadway Musical Aladdin would make. (He's got the monkeys! Let's see the monkeys!) At this point, I thought I'd better take some pics!

Ok, it's over. Again, Anne Marie is in her room and tries to fly but can't. You don't really BELIEVE Anne Marie!!

Next we get a Little Mermaid song...

Can you fly? No...let's try again....

Then Beauty and the Beast...

Can you fly? No....

Somewhere, there's a Lion King song in there.

Okay, so you all know the routine by now...after each song, Anne Marie is in bedroom with Peter Pain trying to fly, by jumping off the bed or a trunk and she always falls flat on her face, literally. THIS is important to note so you can fully understand the hysterics that Tom and I were in in the final scene......

The last song is over and we KNOW what she's going to try to do next...fly, right? Well the curtain opens....and Anne Marie and Peter Pan are sitting on her ROOF!!!!!!!!

We both LOST IT!! She has just fallen every single time she tried to fly and now she's on the ROOF?!?!?! And what's worse, Peter Pan is like, "C'mon Anne Marie, DO IT! Just jump!!"

Why were we the only people in this theatre laughing uncontrollably like we were kids in church?!?! Does nobody else see how ridiculous this is? What if she still doesn't really believe?? She'll DIE!! Well, Anne Marie eventually gave into Pan's peer pressure, and lucky for her, she DID believe enough to fly....but GOOD GOD it was a close call!

AND, not for nothing, but I don't really think it's a good idea to tell kids ON A CRUISE SHIP that if they believe hard enough, they can fly. If I had children, I would NOT let them out on the verandah that night!

Up Next: Beer Tasting and Semi-Formal Dinner at Parrot Cay.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

How sweet of you I know it must feel strange, but I am sure it puts a smile on your face to know you are helping someone who really needs it! AWESOME

Also, are you a teacher? What grade? (sorry if I missed that before)

I am in school getting certified for High School English. I will be student teaching next Fall. We are going to the Poly and the cruise (MAYBE now that I have heard mixed reviews from many people) in Dec 2010 for Graduation

Post a pic of your stylin new hair cut~

Yes I am a teacher...second grade.

I know, I've donated probably 3 or 4 times before and I go through this EVERY TIME! I cry, I hate it...it grows and I do it all over again....

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Okay, I will have to admit I just really didn't put that much thought into it when I was watching Dreams, but looking at it through your eyes it really is funny.

 

[YoNoSe]

I just want to point out that "Chuy" is pronounced "Chewie." As in, Chewbacca. It made me imagine how awesome it would be if it actually WAS Chewbacca playing the gui-casio-tar. And that made me sad because I know it'll never happen.

 

[anetnmike]

Ol' Chuy could pass as a shaved wookie...
do you have any pictures of what they really looked like? I'm just curious now
Nikki, post a picture of your new do! That is awesome that you donated your hair! You are so lucky- you have a beautiful face that looks great with shorter hair too. Not everyone can do that!

 

[BippityBoo]

Wow, the musical looks amazing but I totally agree!! We would have to explain to my daugther that it is totally pretend! I would much rather Anne Marie jump off of her bed or something! SO glad you posted pics and a review. I was wondering if it was any good or if it was just hyped up on Travel Channel!

Also, those singers looked so cruise "cheesey". I always feel uncomfortable with singers like that because they are looking at you like you should like them or something and you want to smile..but it is just awful. Can't wait for another addition!