We're back from the best !!!!!!!!!!!!

[mshuck]

Hello! We are now home to reality!YUK! Thanks to this forum our trip was perfect! We flew into Orlando and took a taxi to our Comfort Inn, Lake Buena Vista and it was $37. for up to 9 people.
Saved $$! Comfort Inn was nothing fancy but we were only there to sleep and take a bath. They had a free shuttle to all parks and shopping which left several times a day. Great free continental breakfast, upgrade to a full for $4.95. We went to the Magic Kingdom first, disappointed in Animal Kingdom, don't ride the Mission Space in Epcot if you are old! MGM was fun. The best was yet to come!
We rented a car to Cape Canaveral and DH dropped us and luggage off at 10:45am and took car back to Budget. I registered everyone in at the terminal and when my husband came back all he had to do was show his I.D. and get his KTTW card. We were on the ship at 12:10 pm. Awesome entrance to the ship! We went straight to Parrot Cay for lunch and then made ressies at Palo, Spa and registered DGD at Oceaneers Club. It was so easy and quick! We went to out room #2573 at 2pm and 2 pieces of out luggage was already there. The room was small but perfect for us 4. Our Host was Danny,GREAT! The Sand Basket from Shirley was wonderful and my DGD loved it. We ate at Palo the first night and you were right the Chocolate Souffle was unreal!
The shows were awesome, we loved Disney Dreams the best.
My DS went to Dueling Pianos, very funny. ESPN bar was great for the guys. DGD loved the clubs and was in the show the last night and got a free t-shirt! We had the the PTA rotation and Deniz from Turkey and Melinda from Canada were our servers. Deniz was wonderful. He made Mickey faces out of the ketchup for our DGD, called her princess Megan the entire time and was absolutely the best server ever! I ask for a small piece of 2 desserts and he brought 2 huge pieces on these beautiful plates.
Of course I almost ate both of them.
Bahamas, YUK, I would miss that next time but we loved the Dolphin encounter on Blue Lagoon. We did go to the straw market and get tshirts and handbags.
Castaway Cay take me away! WONDERFUL! The food, service, beaches are perfect. There was a lady in the restroom the entire time cleaning! Snorkeling was great for DS and DH loved the umbrellas and chairs.
The last night all of the characters from the plays were on the 3 & 4 decks and Mickey waltz with my DGD and the look on her face was priceless!
We had 8am breakfast on departure and ate on deck 9 buffet at 7:45am and was off the ship, outside the terminal at 8:45am. DH took the shuttle over to Budget was back in 20 mins. What a "Wonder"ful time. Thanks to all of you for your info!
OH Yes, I almost forgot! We had lunch with DonMil from this forum the very first day! What a coincidence! Hi Donna! Hope you had a great time too!
Will answer any questions you have!
Marilyn

 

[wdwmom2]

Welcome back!!! Sounds like you had as nice of a time as my family and I in April.

Sharon

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for the report.

 

[westjones]

We are planning to do the Budget car rental drop off and pick up too. Thanks for the report! It was good to hear we could possibly be on our way to WDW after the cruise by 9:00-9:30!

We should be at WDW before lunch anyway!

DJ

 

[Greysword]

LOL, after Mission Space, I guess the ship rocking wasn't so bad, huh?

I suppose Bonine comes in handy on land and sea

 

[tkd lisa]

How was the room location? We're in that room for our 10 day Christmas cruise. I think it's under Triton's. Did you get any noise coming down from the atrium?

 

[mshuck]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
How was the room location? We're in that room for our 10 day Christmas cruise. I think it's under Triton's. Did you get any noise coming down from the atrium?

Great Room! No noise at all except we hear a little from our neighbors in the morning. You can use the stairs easily too!

 

[CAMICKEY]

Glad you had such a wonderful time and Thanks for taking the time to let us know. - Mike

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Thanks for sharing your report!! It sounds like your trip was truly "wonder"ful. Glad your home safe and sound (but perhaps a little sad). Good reports like yours, make me even more anxious to set sail!!! Have you got any photos you'd like to share??

 

[bobbiwoz]

I loved reading your report. The Budget rental car deal sounds so great, and I'm glad your experience confirms it.

Bobbi

 

[AKB]

Sounds like you had a great vacation. Thank you for the time to let us know about your cruise - I enjoyed reading about it.
Kathy

 

[PURTYPAT1]

HI THERE~

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR REPORT. GOT LOT'S OF TIPS.

2 QUESTIONS WHICH CAT WHERE YOU IN? DID YOU RECEIVE AN UPGRADE?

HOW OLD IS YOU DGD? SHE SHE LIKE THE CLUB?

THANKS

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FAITH FULLY TRAVELED TO DISNEY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS:

WDW 1994 THRU 2004

"FUTURE" DISNEY TRIPS:

DCL 11/04/04

WDW 02/19/05

 

[mshuck]

Originally posted by PURTYPAT1
HI THERE~

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR REPORT. GOT LOT'S OF TIPS.

2 QUESTIONS WHICH CAT WHERE YOU IN? DID YOU RECEIVE AN UPGRADE?

HOW OLD IS YOU DGD? SHE SHE LIKE THE CLUB?

THANKS

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FAITH FULLY TRAVELED TO DISNEY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS:

WDW 1994 THRU 2004

"FUTURE" DISNEY TRIPS:

DCL 11/04/04

WDW 02/19/05

We were in a catagory 10 and no, we didn't get an upgrade but we loved the room and the location. My DGD is 5 1/2 yo and she loved the Oceaneers club. She met a little girl the first day and they were pals the rest of the trip.

 

[ericamanda01]

Posts like that are what motivate me to save even harder to return to the Wonder! Thank you so much for sharing!!

 

[deedee67]

Glad you had a great cruise! Thanks for taking the time to post a report.

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

WOW, sounds like you had a great time. Our children will be 5 1/2 when we go, too. We would just need to register them for the kids program the first day, and then they can go whenever they want? What kinds of programs did they have for the kids in the evenings? Did she prefer to stay and do the club activities or hang out with you more?
Should we attempt Animal kindgdom or MGM with the kids? Which would they like better?

 

[mshuck]

Originally posted by LuvindisCruiser
WOW, sounds like you had a great time. Our children will be 5 1/2 when we go, too. We would just need to register them for the kids program the first day, and then they can go whenever they want? What kinds of programs did they have for the kids in the evenings? Did she prefer to stay and do the club activities or hang out with you more?
Should we attempt Animal kindgdom or MGM with the kids? Which would they like better?

Hi!
Our DGD liked the dress up room, computers and just playing with the other kids. She made a friend the first day and they hung out together the rest of the time. They usually are opened till midnight and you get a beeper when you register them. Whenever they are ready to leave the club they will beep you. Our DGD had dinner with the other kids the first night and ate with us the other night. Don't forget to take her to the practice for the last nights play. They get a free tshirt! At Castaway Cay the counselors do not take them to the beach to swim so our DGD stayed with us. You will get a Kid's Navigator when we register them and it will tell you all the programs and times.

Go To the Killamanjara Safari at Animal Kingdom them to MGM. Make sure you see the plays at MGM. They are great! The Tower of Terror has a height of 40" to ride and our DGD rode it with her Dad. Bad Idea! IT IS SCARY! Both parks are small enough to do in one day or to Magic Kingdom another 1/2 day like we did.
Have fun !

 

[JulieWent]

Thanks for your great report. It helped me plan a bunch! Does the Budget shuttle take you right back to the dock once you (or your DH) drops off? Sounds like a plan for us.

Also, about the Dolphin Encounter, we're thinking about making that our excursion (my DH, my DS -- age 9, and me). Did you do the encounter or the swim? How long did it last? Did you go in the morning?

When you snorkeled on CC, did you go on an excursion or just snorkel in the swimming area?

Thanks for your great information.

Julie

 

[donmil723]

Hi Marilyn! It was so nice to meet you and your family. We LOVED the cruise so much! Wasn't the weather absolutely wonderful? Castaway Cay just took my breath away. I almost cried when they said the lagoon was closing. I agree about Nassau. I'm glad we got off and walked around. We went to the Queen's staircase, Fort Fincastle, straw market, Hard Rock Cafe, Senor Frogs, and Atlantis casino. Once in Nassau is probably enough though. Glad you made it home safe and sound!

Donna

 

[mshuck]

Originally posted by JulieWent
Thanks for your great report. It helped me plan a bunch! Does the Budget shuttle take you right back to the dock once you (or your DH) drops off? Sounds like a plan for us.

Also, about the Dolphin Encounter, we're thinking about making that our excursion (my DH, my DS -- age 9, and me). Did you do the encounter or the swim? How long did it last? Did you go in the morning?

When you snorkeled on CC, did you go on an excursion or just snorkel in the swimming area?

Thanks for your great information.

Julie

Hi Julie!
The Budget Shuttle dropped my DH off at the terminal. He was gone for about 20-30 mins. Very quick!
Do go on the Dolphin Exursion. We booked straight to Dolphin Encounters over the phone not through Disney. You can get their info over the internet www.dolphinencounters.com. My DGD was not old enough to do the swim so we did the encounters. IT WAS GREAT! You have a brief group info and then about 20 mins with the dolphins. They do their own videos and pictures and they are well worth the money. We went in the afternoon at 1pm. Take the water taxi over to Blue Lagoon Island and back. It's $3 each and it's a nice ride. The water taxi's are down by the Straw Market .
My son did ressies for the snorkeling. It was $49.00 and they took him out on a catamarin boat and he loved it!
Have a great time!