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

[MEK]

What a great day at sea....

A beautiful sunrise

Cool Mickey covered theatre chairs

Princesses

Golf & Ping Pong!

And FOOD! It's already lunch time!

Great day so far!

 

[Poolrat]

Super Spy you are


Good job on fniding those pictures with the ships fighting each other.

A day at sea is just what you need to explore and enjoy the ship.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Maybe they were all still waiting for the finale?

Or getting front row for the next show...that was in like 4 days.

Looks like a good idea to me.

I don't always have ideas. But when I do, they're sometimes good ones.

Wow, you found it??? I don't know whether to be impressed or scared.

It's OK to be both. I usually am.

And it looks like she was successful with her mission.

Yup.

Ok, that would be pretty awesome. And I completely understand why he'd want to make sure you were at sea before he'd turn them all loose.

Nah, he blared them when we were in port at Nassau too. Just to let the passengers on the other 3 cruise ships know just how un-awesome their boats were.

Ok, honest answer. How many ping pong balls did you just absolutely crush, just to see him chase them?

I would never do that....more than once.

Poor kid.

I have a feeling he'll be taller than me quicker than I would hope. And he'll remember each and every one of these wise cracks.

LOVE this shot...postcard quality!

Thanks!

When you find out, let me know...I want it too.

We may need to go black market on this one, Disney probably has all sorts of copyrights on the cloth.

Good lord, he reminds me of my youngest son in every respect I've read about or seen pictures of...and meeting him personally!

Holy crap, there's two of them?!?

I'm sorry, but that is one scary looking Snow White.

"Did I ever tell you what happened to the eighth dwarf?"

He'll grow out of that, I'm sure.

I have several pictures where he has lipstick stains on his cheeks. He didn't seem to mind them at all.

Great update, Barry.

And, by the way, we're coming to Milwaukee barring any rain or something with Mark's mom (they are putting her in hospice on Monday and stopping treatments) on Saturday, August 4 to go to the Zoo. You guys around? Is there somewhere we can meet you for earlly dinner or something?

I'm pretty sure something can be arranged! I'll PM or Facebook you!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Great update!

I love those fighting pictures on the ship! If I remember correctly, those were the 1st ones we saw. I love how they do the princess meet & greets on the ship. I'm looking forward to having 3 sea days on our cruise in May. Lot of ship time!

3 sea days sounds like a lot of fun!

What a great day at sea....

A beautiful sunrise

Cool Mickey covered theatre chairs

Princesses

Golf & Ping Pong!

And FOOD! It's already lunch time!

Great day so far!

Hard to beat that start to a day!

Supeer Spy you are

Not much gets past me!

Good job on fniding those pictures with the ships fighting each other.

A day at sea is just what you need to explore and enjoy the ship.

Now I just need about 13 more to fully investigate the rest of the ship!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

This is the bottom of the page. Nothing to see here. Go on to the next one for the update.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

This being our Sea Day, Disney shook things up a little bit with their scheduling and added a matinee showing of Believe, the other Broadway style stage show. When we saw that in the navigator, we quickly changed our plans for the evening and decided to hit the pre-dinner showing.

But first....

(sorry, Big Brother has started for the summer and just went all Julie Chen on you there.)

We had some things to take care of in the gift shops. For one, when I woke up this morning, I reached for my brand new Castaway Cay t-shirt that I had purchased the previous day. I ripped the tags off, and tried to pull it over my head. Hmmph. Rrrrgh. Huuuuugh.

That's odd. I knew I indulged in a good bit of the awesome (and endless) food on the ship, but there's no way I ate that much. A quick look at the tag showed that I did in fact get an XL, but....oh. It's a child's XL. Well, there's your problem right there. The ship's store was able to return the shirt and credit my account the purchase price, but they don't carry any Castaway Cay merchandise on the ship. And they just give you a blank stare when you ask how far away we were and if we could swing by and pick up a new one.

Also in the store that day was none other than Captain Gus himself, signing Dream Inaugural Voyages merchandise. So I picked up a post card of the ship and had him put his Herbie Hancock on it.

We still have some time before the show started, so we went back to the room to begin packing up for tomorrow. We had to have our luggage outside our stateroom door by 10pm that night for them to pick up, so decided to get an early start so we wouldn't have to cut our plans short later that night. So while cleaning out the safe, I found this warning message:

Yes, Suffocation Danger Exists. The safe is maybe 10 inches wide, 5 inches high, and 10 inches deep. If you can crawl in there and shut the door, you just might not be able to breathe. Or have any feeling in any part of your body.

Bags mostly packed, we headed up to the Walt Disney Theatre(re) for the show. On the way, we passed the princesses again, and I couldn't pass up getting an aerial (Ariel?) view of Tiana and her lilly pad dress.

Within a few minutes we were comfortably seated and ready for the show. Even Evan, who got just a little bit of a boost so he could see better.

Believe is a show about a father and daughter. The father is a scientist that has developed a new type of flower and needs to get it ready for a fancy photo shoot.

Please note that his computer is made by the PineAPPLE Computer Company:

However, he is a workaholic and strictly by-the-book kind of guy. It's his daughter Sophia's birthday, but he's just too busy. So she makes a wish that her dad believed in magic.

So, let by the most magical of Disney's characters, Genie, Dr. Greenaway goes on a magical adventure, experiencing all sorts of magic along the way.

Including Merlin,

Mary Poppins,

Baloo,

Grandmother Willow,

Rafiki,

Tiana & Momma Odie,

Finally, the adventure ends up in a royal ballroom where all likes of Princes and Princesses are gathered.

Spoiler Alert - I'm going to give away the ending.
Dr Greenaway sees his daughter dancing with a young man and realizes that he's going to miss her entire life if he keeps working so hard. He wishes he could throw her an amazing party for her birthday. And who throws a better party than...dishes!

The show ends as Dr. Greenaway throws that magical birthday party, with a visit from Disney's most popular magician/wizard/sorcerer,

And all you have to do is Believe.


Ugh, sorry about that last line. It's the end of a long day and my brain is to fried to come up with anything better.

Up Next: See Ya Real Soon!

 

[amandaw]

That's so cool that you got to meet the Captain!

I love the aerial shot of Tiana & her dress. That's really pretty.

Believe is a great show. It may have made me tear up a bit.

 

[Poolrat]

Also in the store that day was none other than Captain Gus himself, signing Dream Inaugural Voyages merchandise. So I picked up a post card of the ship and had him put his Herbie Hancock on it.

Who's driving?!?!?!?!?


Bummer about the shirt.

Yeah about the show- sounds like another great Disney production.

Sorry your trip is coming ashore soon.

It has been a great float.

 

[afwdwfan]

This being our Sea Day, Disney shook things up a little bit with their scheduling and added a matinee showing of Believe, the other Broadway style stage show. When we saw that in the navigator, we quickly changed our plans for the evening and decided to hit the pre-dinner showing.

Good plan!

(sorry, Big Brother has started for the summer and just went all Julie Chen on you there.)

Just don't go all Rachel on us or we might have to send somebody to go all Willie Hantz on you.

I ripped the tags off, and tried to pull it over my head. Hmmph. Rrrrgh. Huuuuugh.

Did Bambi start singing "fat man in a little shirt?"

A quick look at the tag showed that I did in fact get an XL, but....oh. It's a child's XL.

And they just give you a blank stare when you ask how far away we were and if we could swing by and pick up a new one.

Really? Do you think you're the first person to use that as an excuse to try to get back to CC?

We had to have our luggage outside our stateroom door by 10pm that night for them to pick up, so decided to get an early start so we wouldn't have to cut our plans short later that night.

Wow, you were full of good ideas that day.

So while cleaning out the safe, I found this warning message:

Yes, Suffocation Danger Exists. The safe is maybe 10 inches wide, 5 inches high, and 10 inches deep. If you can crawl in there and shut the door, you just might not be able to breathe. Or have any feeling in any part of your body.

You know what scares me? The fact that there's probably some idiot out there who is so stupid that it was determined that this warning was needed.

On the way, we passed the princesses again, and I couldn't pass up getting an aerial (Ariel?) view of Tiana and her lilly pad dress.

And there's the token pun.

Ugh, sorry about that last line. It's the end of a long day and my brain is to fried to come up with anything better.

It's ok, we don't have high expectations.

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Barry. Are you SURE it was a kids XL and you just don't want to admit that you overindulged just a slight little bit?

Great photos of the show...sounds like a fun one.

The only thing I don't like about the update is that you were packing your bags.


****Don't forget to PM or FB me about August 4...we are eager to meet.

 

[MEK]

Love the Captain's picture.

The Believe show looks wonderful. I have heard plenty of good things about it.

Bummer about the shirt and I can't believe its your last night.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

That's so cool that you got to meet the Captain!

Yup. Me and Gus are tight.

I love the aerial shot of Tiana & her dress. That's really pretty.

The Imagineers did a good job on that one.

Believe is a great show. It may have made me tear up a bit.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Who's driving?!?!?!?!?

Evan.

Bummer about the shirt.

Just the excuse I needed to book another cruise and get back to Castaway Cay.

Yeah about the show- sounds like another great Disney production.

Sorry your trip is coming ashore soon.

It has been a great float.

It has been, but there's still more once we get off!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Good plan!

It was, wasn't it? Must have been Bambi's idea.

Just don't go all Rachel on us or we might have to send somebody to go all Willie Hantz on you.

But he's nothing like his hot-headed brother.

Did Bambi start singing "fat man in a little shirt?"

No, she was sleeping.




Otherwise she probably would.

Really? Do you think you're the first person to use that as an excuse to try to get back to CC?

I guess it didn't work for them either, huh?

Wow, you were full of good ideas that day.

Again, probably Bambi's idea.

You know what scares me? The fact that there's probably some idiot out there who is so stupid that it was determined that this warning was needed.

And I'm sure his famous last words were "Hey y'all, watch this!"

And there's the token pun.

My TR was lacking there for a while, wasn't it?

It's ok, we don't have high expectations.

Excellent. I have lulled you into a false sense of .... whatever you have sense of.

Great update, Barry. Are you SURE it was a kids XL and you just don't want to admit that you overindulged just a slight little bit?

I may have eaten a tad more than I maybe otherwise would have, but the tag clearly said Kids. Or Child. Or Youth. Something. IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT! REALLY!

Great photos of the show...sounds like a fun one.

Each show seemed to be better than the last, but looking back, they were all my favorite.

The only thing I don't like about the update is that you were packing your bags.

All good things must come to an end. But I've still got boat and shore-side fun coming up!

Don't forget to PM or FB me about August 4...we are eager to meet.

I didn't forget. We're excited too!

Love the Captain's picture.

It was pretty cool that he was available.

The Believe show looks wonderful. I have heard plenty of good things about it.

I'd recommend going on a cruise to see it.

Bummer about the shirt and I can't believe its your last night.

Meh, it happens. I did get a cool pin, so I didn't come off the island completely empty handed.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

The last full day of our cruise was our sea day. No ports like Nassau where you hem and haw about getting off. No ports like Cataway Cay where they have to round you up and force you back on the ship. Just a full day of hanging out on the boat and enjoying everything she had.

Everything? That would be quite the bar tab.

I was a bit surprised at just how many other ships were around us.

Still hoping to see fireworks?

So I went that way, and up and down the stairs until, all of a sudden, there they were. As I approached, a few cannon balls flew between the paintings, damaging the ship and the fortress. Then a few more. And a few more. Until it was full on carnage!

That's awesome!

Evan...eh, they're princesses. Some days he care, others he doesn't. This day, he didn't. But something he does like to do is golf. And we never did get to finish our round that we started back in Nassau.

Golf >> Princesses.

Lunch Time! (and no, this is not subtle dig at Evan's height. It's a blatant dig at Evan's height.)

We had some things to take care of in the gift shops. For one, when I woke up this morning, I reached for my brand new Castaway Cay t-shirt that I had purchased the previous day. I ripped the tags off, and tried to pull it over my head. Hmmph. Rrrrgh. Huuuuugh.

That's odd. I knew I indulged in a good bit of the awesome (and endless) food on the ship, but there's no way I ate that much. A quick look at the tag showed that I did in fact get an XL, but....oh. It's a child's XL.

The ship's store was able to return the shirt and credit my account the purchase price, but they don't carry any Castaway Cay merchandise on the ship. And they just give you a blank stare when you ask how far away we were and if we could swing by and pick up a new one.

So much for Disney customer service.

So while cleaning out the safe, I found this warning message:

The danger exists, but not necessarily in this safe.

Spoiler Alert - I'm going to give away the ending.

Oh, come on! I wanted to be in suspense as to whether the ending would be bleak and downbeat.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Everything? That would be quite the bar tab.

The soda is free, so that helps.

Still hoping to see fireworks?

I've learned anything in my life, it's that fireworks during the day suck compared to the ones at night

That's awesome!

Golf >> Princesses.

Math never lies. But I do on my scorecard.

So much for Disney customer service.

Yeah, but I'm still not going to Carnival for my next cruise.

The danger exists, but not necessarily in this safe.

Hmm...Evan's a lot smaller than I am...

Oh, come on! I wanted to be in suspense as to whether the ending would be bleak and downbeat.

They totally stole the ending from The Sixth Sense. The genie was a ghost the whole time.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Not long after the aftenoon showing of Believe, our trusty Navigator said we'd be able to meet the captain in the atrium. I know what you're thinking - "Barry, you just met the captain in the gift shop in the last update. Are you high?"

No, that was just the guy that steers the ship and pushes the button for the cool horn sounds. I'm talking about meeting the real captain.

And what's a captain without a crew? (Answer: just a guy, all alone on a boat.)

Chip and Dale were pretty excited to see Evan wearing his "Completely Nuts and proud of it" shirt. He also stole my hat, but I'm not bitter or anything.

Around the corner we ran into Donald. I don't know how many times I've told Madison not to kiss strange ducks. That girl never listens.

After pictures with the characters, we killed a little bit of time in the ship's stores. I think Disney purposely pads just enough time between events so you think "well, the next thing starts in 15 minutes, so I can't really go too far. I guess I'll just spend that time right here in the conveniently located gift shop."


There's a lot happening here on the top of Evan's head, not the least of which is the fact that his hat is wearing a hat. And everyone seems to be OK with that.

Having spent enough time (read: money) in the gift shop, we headed back out into the atrium to wait for the "See Ya Real Soon" party. While we wait, here's a nice picture of some of the detail around the atrium.

Soon enough, however, the music started playing and the party started up. (Pictures will be from two different angles because we were down on the floor of deck 3 with the kids while grandma & grandpa watched from deck 4.

The cruise director starts the event by talking about all the wonderful times we've had over the past few days and all fun things we did and all the amazing sights we saw. She then introduces the crew: Chip & Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Minnie and finally Mickey. The have a nice little song and dance routine on the grand staircase while pictures that the ship's photographers took are displayed on a video screens around the atrium.

The show ends when each character comes up to the balcony on deck 4 and gives a final wave good bye to us cruisers, and an air cannon shoots hundreds (maybe thousands) of little golden Mickey heads into the air.

I expected to see the kids running excitedly into the cloud of Mickey heads, grabbing onto them and stuffing them into their pockets like the free little souvenirs that they are. But instead I look down and see Evan standing right next to me, looking down at the ground. I squatted down to see what was the matter, and find tears in his eyes and hear him sniffling. I asked what was the matter and he replied "I don't want to leave."








Me neither.


We had a good hug and talked about how we still have a few more days of fun once we get off the ship, including a Disney resort we've never been to yet and almost 2 days at Disney World. That helped a little bit, but I think the thing that really helped him break out of the little funk was me offering him some sweets. Sweets? Yes, sweets. We went up to the cafe on deck 4 just off the atrium and grabbed some of the little eclairs and other pastries from the cooler, found a nice porthole for him to sit in and a couch for me and stuffed ourselves on free sugar. Hard to get better than that.

Up Next: Fancy Dinner and Our Last Night on the Ship.

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like y'all were having fun meeting all the characters!

Those Mickey ears with the captains hat are too cute!

And the party looks like fun - we'll have to check that out in May.

But, poor Evan! I know that had to break your heart because it broke mine for him. It is so hard for fun times to come to an end. Glad y'all had more fun to look forward to!

And according to the best nanny in the world, Mary Poppins, sugar makes everything better!

 

[KatMark]

Well, now you've gone and done it...you got me all teary-eyed telling us that Evan was shedding tears because he didn't want to leave the ship.

What great pictures with the characters, you too, Barry. I love the one of Madison kissing Donald and Evan being hugged by Dale especially.

Nothing like some sugar to dry away the tears.

Can't wait to hear about the last dinner/night on the ship. And what I'm even more excited about???? Seeing you and your beautiful family in three days (not counting today).

 

[afwdwfan]

Chip and Dale were pretty excited to see Evan wearing his "Completely Nuts and proud of it" shirt. He also stole my hat, but I'm not bitter or anything.

Looks like they're having a great time!

Around the corner we ran into Donald. I don't know how many times I've told Madison not to kiss strange ducks. That girl never listens.

But Donald isn't a strange duck. It isn't like this is the first time she's ever met him.

I think Disney purposely pads just enough time between events so you think "well, the next thing starts in 15 minutes, so I can't really go too far. I guess I'll just spend that time right here in the conveniently located gift shop."

Disney would never do something like that.

There's a lot happening here on the top of Evan's head, not the least of which is the fact that his hat is wearing a hat. And everyone seems to be OK with that.

But at least your hat isn't up there.

The show ends when each character comes up to the balcony on deck 4 and gives a final wave good bye to us cruisers, and an air cannon shoots hundreds (maybe thousands) of little golden Mickey heads into the air.

Looks like a fun, yet bittersweet show.

I expected to see the kids running excitedly into the cloud of Mickey heads, grabbing onto them and stuffing them into their pockets like the free little souvenirs that they are. But instead I look down and see Evan standing right next to me, looking down at the ground. I squatted down to see what was the matter, and find tears in his eyes and hear him sniffling. I asked what was the matter and he replied "I don't want to leave."








Me neither.

Poor guy. I can't blame him. I think it is safe to say that despite all the on again off again concerns about the height requirement on the Aqua Duck, it was definitely a good decision for you to go on the cruise.

Sweets? Yes, sweets.

The cure for just about anything!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Not long after the aftenoon showing of Believe, our trusty Navigator said we'd be able to meet the captain in the atrium. I know what you're thinking - "Barry, you just met the captain in the gift shop in the last update. Are you high?"

Wow, you're good. That's exactly what I was thinking.

No, that was just the guy that steers the ship and pushes the button for the cool horn sounds. I'm talking about meeting the real captain.

Ohhhh. Thanks for clearing that up.

And what's a captain without a crew? (Answer: just a guy, all alone on a boat.)

Jack Sparrow!

Chip and Dale were pretty excited to see Evan wearing his "Completely Nuts and proud of it" shirt. He also stole my hat, but I'm not bitter or anything.

We got Scotty a pin like Evan's t-shirt. It fits them, doesn't it?

So I guess Evan's head is as big as yours?

Around the corner we ran into Donald. I don't know how many times I've told Madison not to kiss strange ducks. That girl never listens.

She likes making other people happy.

After pictures with the characters, we killed a little bit of time in the ship's stores. I think Disney purposely pads just enough time between events so you think "well, the next thing starts in 15 minutes, so I can't really go too far. I guess I'll just spend that time right here in the conveniently located gift shop."

That sounds like a cynical, corporate bean-counter type attitude. Disney doesn't employ people like that, do they?

There's a lot happening here on the top of Evan's head, not the least of which is the fact that his hat is wearing a hat. And everyone seems to be OK with that.

Kinda goes with the shirt.

But instead I look down and see Evan standing right next to me, looking down at the ground. I squatted down to see what was the matter, and find tears in his eyes and hear him sniffling. I asked what was the matter and he replied "I don't want to leave."

Poor guy. I think we all know that feeling too well.

Sweets? Yes, sweets. We went up to the cafe on deck 4 just off the atrium and grabbed some of the little eclairs and other pastries from the cooler, found a nice porthole for him to sit in and a couch for me and stuffed ourselves on free sugar. Hard to get better than that.

+1 for Rob's cruise tips!