[DisneySmith]

This is my first Report. Please feel free to help me through this process.

Here goes....

Cast.
Me- 35 year old married mom of two boys
DS1- my eldest son age 6
DS2- my youngest son age 4
DB-Bobe a wonderful friend and virtual grandmother to my boys
DH- husband of 12 years who stayed home

Planning
DB and I go away a lot. DB is retired and a widow and she loves to travel. I am blessed to be her traveling partner as she pays my way for all of our trips! We are generally budget minded and try to find the best deal and just go there. Consequently the Disney Cruise doesn't fit that criteria as it a much more expensive cruise line than others so I never thought I would be able to experience it.

So DB comes over to my house on Black Friday and suggests we go away again. (This means that she and I go away without DH or DS1 and DS2). I told her that because my DH has taken time off for the holidays that I would be unable to go without DS1 or DS2 until March since DH couldn't take off to be with the kids. She quickly accepted the compromise and we were on our way to research trips with the kids.

We were so excited to find a last minute 7 day cruise on the Magic at a rock bottom price. By the Sunday after Thanksgiving we were booked for a cruise taking place on Dec 9th-16th!


Surprise
We chose to stay in a category 12 stateroom (inside and small). Because we booked so late we were unable to pick our actual stateroom. A few days later I checked our confirmation on the website and saw that we were assigned a room...6510. I quickly looked a the brochure map to try to find where we were staying. I looked up and down the middle of the 6th floor and couldn't find it anywhere. Finally I went through each room one by one and discovered we were given an outside room! It was a category 8! We were bumped 4 categories and still paying our rock bottom category 12 price!

Could We Be So Blessed????

Knowing that the Magic left out of Port Canaveral I checked out the shuttle schedule. Could it be true? It was due to go off Dec 7th; just 2 days from when we would be there. I knew a weather delay was always possible.......as it turns out it was delayed! Will it go up on the 9th?????

Saturday December 9th
We stayed in Orlando the night before and anxiously watched the news to find out what NASA had decided. We had to get our ride to the port before we heard the outcome but every news person pretty much thought that the lift off would be scrapped for Saturday.

Back to the Cruise
We drove up to the port and saw the beautiful ship! We were greeted warmly by several CMs even some who were wearing Mickey hands. We checked in and then sat and relaxed until it was our time to enter the ship. The port was decorated for the holidays. Minnie and Goofy came by to say hello and the kids watched the Disney Classic Cartoons.


Our number was called and we were ready to board! More to come!!!

On Board
Our picture was taken and we entered the beautiful atrium. The cast members announced our name and applauded our arrival. A Christmas tree was in the lobby and garland adorned the three floors of the atrium. We entered right at 1:30 so we were able to go straight to our room.

Wow! what a room and what a view. We threw down our stuff and headed off to lunch at Topsiders.


Lunch
Due to the norovirus scare, Disney was on high alert for cleanliness. Everytime you walked into a restaurant they handed you a wipe to clean your hands and chased you down if you accidently passed them. In addition the CM's served you from the buffet and even beverage station. I was very impressed with the seriousness they took the RC situation. None of the guests seemed to mind. In fact I grew used to it. At the end of the week when the incubation period ended and the ship showed no signs of sickness we were able to serve ourselves. I realized the luxury Disney showed us earlier in the week.

We ate on the outside deck. We were wind blown and surrounded by birds. We could see the shuttles platform and discussed how we thought for sure the lift off would be postponed due to the wind.

Deck Party
We then explored the ship and found a seat for the Deck Party on deck 10. Once the music started, my DS1 wanted to go down to the 9th deck and join in the dancing. So he and I headed down, while DB and DS2 stayed up on deck 10 to watch from above.

What fun we had. DS1 did all dancing as I videotaped. But what fun I had watching him on his first cruise!

Then the ship's whistle sounded. I don't want to give too much away for those of you who want to be surprised but I will say it was very Disney!

We ran up to the 10th to watch the ship pull out of the dock and see the CM's wave to us with their Mickey Hands. How fun!

Dinner
We had our 5:30 dinner at Animator's Palette. I heard amazing things about this dinner show but I have to say I wasn't impressed so much. Perhaps my expectations were too high or it could have been that our table was in the corner and our tv above our table didn't work. It was nice but didn't have the wow factor I was expecting.

Tree Lighting.
We stood on the 4th floor, looking down into the atrium of the third where the
unlit Christmas tree was. Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, Donald and Daisy came out with the Cruise's "Special Family." (I honestly forget their title). We all sang "Oh Christmas Tree" and the Characters and Family through Pixie Dust on the tree to light it. The tree and all of the garland around the three floors lit up and snow started falling. It looked very beautiful. Unfortunately, my camera did it no justice, so I have no pictures.

Another Surprise
We dropped the kids off at the Oceaner's Club and headed to the Celebrate the Magic show at 8:30.

As we were awaiting the show there was a buzz in the theater that the shuttle was about to lift off. I thought for sure it wasn't going to happen. But on the off chance that it was, I left the theater, got the kids out of the Club and headed to the 10th floor.

To my surprise the large tv screen above the Goofy pool was showing the NASA broadcast and across the water was lit platform with the shuttle. I couldn't believe I was standing there witnessing this.

I didn't have my camera and there was 10 minutes to go. I started to run down to get it but then turned around. I couldn't risk missing the lift off. So DS2 and I stood where we could see both the tv and the shuttle while DB and DS1 sat a little further down.

The shuttle ignited with a pure white bright light. and then lifted off and lit the entire sky. What a sight!



As it turns out, the captain chose to stay in port for the liftoff. We were only 9 miles out. Again, Disney outdid themselves!

[tonksky]

Oh, a Disney Cruise TR! Yay! I hope you had a fabulous time! (I hope to go on one someday, so I'm always eager to read about them to learn more!)

[bikedealer]

Sounds like a great start and yes you are blessed.

[tonksky]

Oh yeah - Welcome to MB! I got distracted by the cruise TR!

[Dopey]

I am excited to read about your cruise.
The attachments don't work or is it me?

[Val32]

Originally Posted by Dopey

I am excited to read about your cruise.
The attachments don't work or is it me?

No, they don't work for me either!

Iam so anxious to hear about the rest of this trip!!!!!
I so want to go on a DC!!!

[WishUponAStar]

Can't wait to hear about your cruise! Sounds wonderful!

[DisneySmith]

Try the attachments now. I'm new at this. I deleted them and then put them back. Sorry

[twist1980]

Wow, what a way to start off your trip! First the upgrade and then witnessing the shuttle launch, very exciting!

By the way, I love that picture of your son in the window, it is just adorable! Looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

[DisneySmith]

Day 2

DS1 gets up at the crack of dawn. Due to the window he knows when that is. I'm not complaining mind you but there are advantages to having an inside stateroom when having a child who always wakes up a the first inkling of light.

After trying to get DS1 back to sleep with no avail, he and I head up to the 9th deck to do some homework and get ourselves a beverage.

We went back to the room and got the rest of the crew and headed to Lumiere's for breakfast and then got off the ship for Castaway Cay!

The weather was cool. I was wearing cropped pants and a sweatshirt but the kids were in their bathing suits and shirts.

As we stepped off the boat (after washing our hands again) we saw the beautiful island. It was well decorated for the holidays. Even the trams were decorated.






Donald was there in his winter sweater standing next to the Christmas tree and a snow machine added to the atmosphere. As we walked by the post office, a quartet sang carols for us.




I dropped the kids off at Scuttles Cove and headed to Serenity Bay. Oh how lovely. Now, it was cold, but it was quiet.

I know the kids wanted to swim so I picked them up after 2 hours and took them to the beach. The water was really cold. The kids didn't mind too much though.




We knew the kids were beat so we left the island and went back for a bath and a nap.

We walked to the ship instead of taking the tram. Definitely do that if you ever go. We were able to see the ghost ship from POC in so much more detail. Be sure to look closely at it.




The kids went to the Club for dinner so DB and I had an adult dinner at Parrot Cay. DS1 baked cookies in the club. Afterwards we all went to bed.

[Val32]

L VE it!!!!
keep it coming!!!

[jk8]

Welcome to MB, Mrs. Smith

I am so excited to read your report! I love Disney Cruises! It sounds like a dream to book a last minute cruise. There could not be anything better to take your kids on where you can still have time with your friend. My son loved the club so much.

I can't wait to read more!

[Jen]

It's nice to meet you! Welcome to Mousebuzz!

I love your report so far ~ and totally love the format!!

I can't wait to hear more!

[alilmagical32]

Originally Posted by wearethesmiths

Could We Be So Blessed????

Attachment 17897

As it turns out, the captain chose to stay in port for the liftoff. We were only 9 miles out. Again, Disney outdid themselves!

WOW! what an amazing picture!! I cant wait till I have time to read this whole report!

[Andrea]

This is just cool. Glad you're sharing!