You Best Start Believing in Ghost Stories...Halloween on the Dream | The End P40 8/15

[shan23877]

Y'all should definitely consider doing a Disney cruise! Maddie would love the kids club! It really is so much fun.

I think the May 18, 2013 Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Fantasy would be a terrific cruise for y'all. Maddie could play with Reid in the kids club!

That'd be perfect! Maddie and Reid could hang out, and Bryan and Ed could talk sports, and you and I could do our thing! I'll have to see if I could talk Bryan into that...

 

[shan23877]

Looks like a great day! I've heard that the snorkeling can be a lot of work to enjoy, but it looks like it was worth it!

I had to laugh at Madison choosing the wrong sized bike. Sounds like something my Madison would do. Gotta go for for the cute bike dad!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We walked down the sandy beach to the water's edge, put on our masks, flippers and mandatory (and free) inflatable life vests. I then had a Cast Member take our picture. However, being in flippers, a mask and a neon-snot colored vest was not a flattering picture to myself or Bambi. That picture will never see the light of day if I know what's good for me. And I know what's good for me.

You sure about that? I'm not sure I would have admitted the picture exists. I might have to take some time out from trying to hack the Powerball computers and concentrate on this.

The problem is that it is a very, very long swim out there.

That's like saying War and Peace is a long book.

The "wreckage" of one of the Nautilus submarines from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride that used to live in Magic Kingdom in the area that was once behind Ariel's Grotto and is currently under construction as the Fantasyland expansion.

Planting this stuff underwater was a genius idea, though.

(By the way, I believe what they were trying to form above is "transcendentalism". Or maybe it's a spoon. I'm not quite sure.

Looks like a dinglehopper to me.

Which was good, because we had been fighting the choppy water for quite a while and we were starting to tire.

Whew. I'm glad I'm not the only one who got tired doing the snorkeling trail. I was beginning to think I was woefully out of shape.

On the way, we came across another artifact, but I don't know if it has any significant Disney tie-in or if it just looked cool.

That's the Disney Wonder.

We swam for shore, eventually washing up on the sand like Tom Hanks in Castaway. Except where his view was nothing but open sea and FedEx boxes, we got to see this:

Darn, I was hoping we'd see you talking to a volleyball.

Well, after a morning of swimming, snorkeling and belly laughing at all of plumbing puns, I was getting a wee bit famished.

Somewhere, a Disney Imagineer is basking in your appreciation of his genius.

I'm not sure if there's a class less than flyweight, but Evan, you're in it.

That's my class: punching bag.

Well, most of the view was spectacular. Disney picked the right side of the island to build out the amenities. (Well, I guess it could be the left side if you hold your map upside down) Because on that side is lush green forest, white sand and tropical breezes. The other side of the island is...

Not developed by Disney yet.

It was made even longer since Madison, against my best parental advice, picked a bike that was just a wee bit too small for her. And on top of that, the seat kept slipping down, making it even shorter. Every few hundred yards I have to stop, lift her seat back up, tighten the little lever as much as I could, and ride some more. I sure wasn't comfortable for her, but she made it though.

Hope she enjoyed the trail anyway.

But it was getting closer and closer to dinner time so we packed up and headed for the stores. We found some Castaway Cay pins and t-shirts, charged them to room, and made our way back to the Dream.

Disney really has you there. Where else are you going to get Castaway Cay stuff?

Man, look at that water. I'm going to have to stare at this picture now.

Well, let's look at the positive side of this bike ride. Nobody tried to ride their bike off the side of a cliff.

 

[MEK]

I'm with Mark. That water is amazingly blue! WOW!

What a perfect day on CC. The snorkeling looks like so much fun. My DH is a terrible swimmer. He will never do that with me. I will need to find a new partner. The pictures are so cool.

I can't believe you guys snorkeled and then rode bikes. Way to go. Ugh to Madison's broken seat and too small bike.

Just curious - did you try the fish for lunch and how was it?

 

[amandaw]

That'd be perfect! Maddie and Reid could hang out, and Bryan and Ed could talk sports, and you and I could do our thing! I'll have to see if I could talk Bryan into that...

Perfect indeed! Tell Bryan he wouldn't regret it! If you need, I'll give you Ed's cell# so he can call him. Ed swore he would never do another cruise after our 1st cruise in 2004. Well, our cruise on the Dream last year completely changed his mind. I'm sure he could talk Bryan into doing it!

 

[amandaw]

What a fantastic day on CC! It truly is a slice of paradise. I love all of the pictures. You can tell how happy your kids were & how much fun they were having.

I can't wait to get back there!

 

[DrMomof3]

Sounds like an amazing day on Castaway!

Amanda

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I'm sure it could be brought out to see the light of day. Surely with as many humiliating photos as you have of Evan, we could get him to produce some of you...

It's not for my sake that the picture is being squirreled away in the deep, dark corners of my hard drive. Remember, Bambi is in the same get-up as I am. And she never misses when she swings a frying pan.

And don't call me Shirley.

Isn't that cheating?

Disney went to all the trouble of putting them out there - it'd be rude not to use them.

Forget the snorkeling, the water slide, the BBQ and the blue sparkling water... this was clearly your favorite part of the island.

It was the icing on the cake, my friend. OK, it was about 3 inches of icing on a 2 inch cake but still.

I'm kind of surprised by your appreciation of this. I usually don't think subtle when I think of you and puns.

True, but I like to mix it up every once in a while.

Well, let's look at the positive side of this bike ride. Nobody tried to ride their bike off the side of a cliff.

Why do you think we went to Castaway Cay? No cliffs! That place is flatter than an Indiana corn field!

That'd be perfect! Maddie and Reid could hang out, and Bryan and Ed could talk sports, and you and I could do our thing! I'll have to see if I could talk Bryan into that...

Can I get a shout out in the TR for bringing this together?

Looks like a great day! I've heard that the snorkeling can be a lot of work to enjoy, but it looks like it was worth it!

It is a bit of work, but the food is all paid for, so re-energizing is a snap!

I had to laugh at Madison choosing the wrong sized bike. Sounds like something my Madison would do. Gotta go for for the cute bike dad!

Yes, the pink one was adorable. But she even quietly came up to me afterwards and said that she should have listened to me.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

You sure about that? I'm not sure I would have admitted the picture exists. I might have to take some time out from trying to hack the Powerball computers and concentrate on this.

I got into the DelDot computers once. Man, are they boring.

That's like saying War and Peace is a long book.

I've heard the Cliff Notes have Cliff Notes.

Planting this stuff underwater was a genius idea, though.

Looks like a dinglehopper to me.

I've got whosits and whatsits galore. PM me if you want me to ship some to you.

Whew. I'm glad I'm not the only one who got tired doing the snorkeling trail. I was beginning to think I was woefully out of shape.

Round is a shape, isn't it?

That's the Disney Wonder.

Eventually (years and years in the future, but eventually) Disney is going to have to get ride of the older ships. I wonder what they'll be selling them for? And I wonder if I can get a slip big enough in Racine Harbor?

Darn, I was hoping we'd see you talking to a volleyball.

Sorry to disappoint you, but in a later chapter I might have a toothache and an ice skate.

Somewhere, a Disney Imagineer is basking in your appreciation of his genius.

Dude needs a promotion. Now.

That's my class: punching bag.

Hey, at least you have some class. (Bet you've never heard that before, have you?)

Not developed by Disney yet.

My sediments exactly. (Sediments! Ha!)

Hope she enjoyed the trail anyway.

I think she did. Even a sucky bike ride on a tropical island is still a bike ride on a tropical island. And thanks for letting me steal your idea. We had a great time!

Disney really has you there. Where else are you going to get Castaway Cay stuff?

Ebay?

Man, look at that water. I'm going to have to stare at this picture now.

Ok, but not too long. That shovel isn't going to lean on itself, you know.

I'm with Mark. That water is amazingly blue! WOW!

It's amazing what staring at that for a few minutes an do for your soul.

What a perfect day on CC. The snorkeling looks like so much fun. My DH is a terrible swimmer. He will never do that with me. I will need to find a new partner. The pictures are so cool.

You don't need to be a good swimmer. The life vest keeps you up, all you need to do it stick your face in the water and kick your legs.

I can't believe you guys snorkeled and then rode bikes. Way to go. Ugh to Madison's broken seat and too small bike.

Like I said before, the re-fueling was paid for before we got on the ship. And we used a lot of it!

Just curious - did you try the fish for lunch and how was it?

I did have the fish - it was great!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

What a fantastic day on CC! It truly is a slice of paradise. I love all of the pictures. You can tell how happy your kids were & how much fun they were having.

I can't wait to get back there!

It was glorious! Hard to beat a white sand beach with an unlimited buffet right behind you.

Sounds like an amazing day on Castaway!

Amanda

It was! How was yours?

 

[MerryJ]

I discovered one of your older TR after we came home from our first Disney trip in early June. We were in Disneyland this time, but I am plotting a trip to Disney World - maybe in the fall of 2013. I think I have read at least the highlights of all your trip reports! Now with this one, a cruise is suddenly sounding great... but that will probably have to wait until after a first trip for the kids to Disney World.

Your oldest two are about the same age as my oldest two, so your family is great fun for me to read about! I was pleasantly surprised by how easy Disney makes things for my family of 5, and I am looking forward to reading about your first trip with Ryder later this summer!

My biggest concern with my trip planning is in the fall of 2013 my DD will be almost 3, and will have much stronger feelings on what we should (and should not) be doing, and the boys will be 6.5 and almost 9 and their views will probably be pretty different! It was easier this time because DD was too little to have really strong opinions on it (or the ability to express them clearly!) I guess you will run into those problems eventually too - but Ryder is younger than my DD, so I won't have your TR to follow first!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I discovered one of your older TR after we came home from our first Disney trip in early June. We were in Disneyland this time, but I am plotting a trip to Disney World - maybe in the fall of 2013. I think I have read at least the highlights of all your trip reports! Now with this one, a cruise is suddenly sounding great... but that will probably have to wait until after a first trip for the kids to Disney World.

First off all
You've done a lot of reading lately! I must be doing something right if you went through all of them! I'm skimming through yours now - looks like a great time, and a lot of airplane seat time for the boys!

Your oldest two are about the same age as my oldest two, so your family is great fun for me to read about! I was pleasantly surprised by how easy Disney makes things for my family of 5, and I am looking forward to reading about your first trip with Ryder later this summer!

I'm curious about how everything will go as a family of 5. More so once Ryder is over the magic age of 3, but if anyone will be accommodating, I'm sure it will be Disney.

My biggest concern with my trip planning is in the fall of 2013 my DD will be almost 3, and will have much stronger feelings on what we should (and should not) be doing, and the boys will be 6.5 and almost 9 and their views will probably be pretty different! It was easier this time because DD was too little to have really strong opinions on it (or the ability to express them clearly!) I guess you will run into those problems eventually too - but Ryder is younger than my DD, so I won't have your TR to follow first!

I have a feeling that Madison and Evan will be brainwashing Ryder so that when he is old enough to have a opinion, he'll get it right from those two!

 

[petals]

luvin the underwater pics!

 

[Dugette]

Just got all caught up again. I swear, every time I read an update here I want to book a Disney cruise immediately!

Halloween looked like so much fun! Love all the characters (including your family) in costume!

Castaway Cay looks beautiful. So many cool things to do too.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

luvin the underwater pics!

Thanks! It's pretty hard to shoot through a mask. My philosophy: shoot as much as I can, I'm bound to get a few good ones!

Just got all caught up again. I swear, every time I read an update here I want to book a Disney cruise immediately!

I should get a commission!

Halloween looked like so much fun! Love all the characters (including your family) in costume!

Thanks!

Castaway Cay looks beautiful. So many cool things to do too.

And we didn't even scratch the surface of what there is to do!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I got into the DelDot computers once. Man, are they boring.

Imagine having to stare at them every day for the rest of your life.

Hey, at least you have some class. (Bet you've never heard that before, have you?)

I think she did. Even a sucky bike ride on a tropical island is still a bike ride on a tropical island. And thanks for letting me steal your idea. We had a great time!

We don't steal ideas from each other. We just, uh, "borrow" them.

 

[KatMark]

AGAIN!!!! This is twice I am two updates behind.

But two great updates they were. Castaway Cay is about the only reason I really wanted to do a Disney cruise...it just looks like so much fun. Poor Madison...although I'd probably be as leery as her too with fish swimming around my ankle (I don't like it when it happens in Marco).

What a great day at the Cay for you guys.

And, yes, you married very well...YOU are lucky to have Bambi.

 

[kittylady1972]

Finally back to reading here and really enjoying your TR. We are about 4 months away from our first Disney Dream cruise with the family so love reading all about yours! I just hope we have some nice weather in November!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We don't steal ideas from each other. We just, uh, "borrow" them.

Enjoy your cheeseballs on the drive next week.

AGAIN!!!! This is twice I am two updates behind.

It's not your fault, Kathy. I'm trying to get this done before we leave in August. I'd like to do 2 updates a week, but work keeps getting in the way!

But two great updates they were. Castaway Cay is about the only reason I really wanted to do a Disney cruise...it just looks like so much fun. Poor Madison...although I'd probably be as leery as her too with fish swimming around my ankle (I don't like it when it happens in Marco).

What a great day at the Cay for you guys.

Just saying "i'm going to hang out on a tropical island" doesn't do CC justice. It has to be experienced.

And, yes, you married very well...YOU are lucky to have Bambi.

I don't think there is anyone reading along that doubts that.

Finally back to reading here and really enjoying your TR. We are about 4 months away from our first Disney Dream cruise with the family so love reading all about yours! I just hope we have some nice weather in November!

Welcome back! I'm sure the weather will be great in November - the end of October was beautiful.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

This post serves no purpose other than to fill up this page. Nothing to see here. Keep moving.