[Dopey]

OMG, what a surprise. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the story

[nitaworm]

Ok, Well I had to start over when talking about the cruise! It was our first ever cruise and the absolutely best experience we have had... There were some glitches but we will definately have to do this again!!!
We arrived at 12:30pm
Well it took us about 45min total to get from car to on the boat, and getting lunch at the beach blanket restaurant! Wow that was amazing and will probably spoil me for any other cruise lines. The kids seemed to be doing fine, however I made one fatal mistake...I forgot to give everyone the dramamine...we will talk on that later... but we ate and went to the pool. I thought ahead and everyone had a backpack with bathing suite's, sandals, suncreen and a change of clothes. We played in the pool for about an hour, and our room was ready with our bags out front. I proceeded to take the pictures I got of princesses and put them on my door of the inside cabin that I shared with the girls and I put pics of pirates on the door that my husband shared with the boys. I called ahead and paid for a birthday decorated room with birthday cake for my son. And let me say that these rooms (the cheapest you can get) were not little. They had a full bathtub and king sized bed, w/ pull out coach, full closet and table in it. I didn't have windows, but I figured that would be good for putting the kids to sleep...as it was it was excellent for nap time(okay ...what nap time?!) Well after we changed in our rooms which was on Deck 5 (which was a great location for us as it was on the same floor as the Oceaneers Club and Lab - which is the kids camps areas where I kids never wanted to leave from). We went on deck to get a good spot for the sail away party...and me and the girls went on the main floor while my oldest son and husband filmed and took pictures. Boy does Disney now how to party!!! We had a blast, dancing, singing, getting pumped up and then the streamers came out when Mickey showed us how to party ... and the ship took off!!
After that all the kids wanted to go to their clubs, My oldest is 13 so he was in the Aloft and we hardly ever saw him, except at Dinner... We made him meet us for dinner. He didn't even want to go on Castaway Cay with us because he wanted to go with his teen group which did a "Wild Side" excursion. ... well I am getting ahead of myself
We went to dinner at Animater's Palate, which was a restaurant that had changing colors and characters in the pictures (the food was great!), and my youngest daughter said her head hurt, tummy hurt and she wanted to sleep. We had a late dinner time (8:15pm) and she was holding her tummy most of it. The other kids (4 yr old didn't want to come, said he already ate and Belle was going to read them a story) The 10 year old joined us, and the 13 yr old came, ate the appetizer, said he ate, but he wanted to go back to the Aloft, as he was on some sort of scavenger hunt with his team.
Day 2, we woke up to go to the Bahamas but my 6 year old and 4 yr old where vomiting and sick, we went to ship nurse and they sold us dramamine, and it didn't work. The kids didn't like it. So they told us to take them ashore. So we joined my husband and oldest 2 for the Atlatis Tour of the city of Bahamas and the Aquariam at the Atlantis. Needless to say this was awful as neither kid that was sick wanted to walk and had to vomit here and there. The tour guide told us to go the the gift shop and get some Gravol in liqued form for the kids. When we did, they both came alive within 15 minutes and we were off back to the ship. However, the Aquarium and resort were awesome and we definately hope to stay there in the future!

This day was Pirate Party day and all the kids were in great shape, so the all of them wanted to go to the pool and then their clubs. We went to the pool, dropped them off, and I went to the movie theatre to see Game Plan. My husband went to play Bingo and won a total $250 for 2 nights of Bingo! We went to dinner at Parrot Cay and again the food was great and we only had 2 kids with us (the 10yr and 13yr - briefly then they left) The little ones were in Pirate training with Captain Hook and Making Cookies. Then we had the the Pirate party, I snatched the kids out of their clubs (the 13yr old begged not to go) and got them dressed in their Pirate costumes and made them take pictures! We had dinner (but the little ones wanted to go back to thier club because Captain Hook was giving Pirating lessons!) then we snagged them again for the Pirate Party...which was soo much fun, with Mickey sliding down from above us(how much did they pay that guy to do that?!) and the firework show...definately the best part of the cruise....!!!!

The last full day of the Cruise took us to Castaway Key, which is Disney's private Island. It has a private Teen Beach Area, Oceaneers Club area for the little ones to stay and play, private adult beach and a family beach. My husband wanted new shoes and decided to walk from the boat to the Island shops in his socks and his white socks had almost NO dirt on them! (Disney is probably cleaner than my house!) Anyways...the little ones wanted to go to their clubs and my 13 year old were with his friends on the Wild Side tour, so me and hubby sat and had some drinks and ate and actually had about 2 hours to dance, talk and drink. Then we pulled the 10,6 and 4 yr old out of their clubs kicking and screaming, determined to get our family time in with them if it killed them (ha ha). We saw our 13yr old who said his tour was over but wanted to go to the teen beach to play volleyball with his friends. Well we played on the beach for about 2 hours and I took the little ones back to the boat to go to the pool, my husband took the 10yr old snorkeling, tubing and bike riding on the paved bike trail. The Island and boat was also decorated for Christmas...

[nitaworm]

Well after a day on Castaway Cay we went to the last Disney show (me and my 10 yr old) Dreams and think that we couldn't pick a favorite because we liked them all. I think the 6 year old would have enjoyed all of them as well. My 13 yr old would have been bored (he actually like Hercules as he was there breifly and left to go back to his scavenger hunt). The kids wanted to stay in their clubs until they closed (at 12am) but I dragged the 4yr old and 6 yr old to bed at 10am. We called room service and had them bring some cereal/ milk/ juice / and fruit up so that we wouldn't have to rush to the restaurants in the morning. The next day we picked up our backpacks (as they took the luggage the night before) and left the boat without a hitch at 10am. We went straight to Port Orleans for early check in, and to Walmart. We changed our clothes and went to the pool at the Port Orleans French Quarter, grabbed dinner at the Outback Steakhouse (boy was the food good) then ended the evening at 9:30pm with a horse drawn carraige ride.

About our room at Port Orleans Riverside, I must say I was dissappointed. The room was dirty, the bed not very comfortable, it had no microwave (but had a small refridgerator) and it was small for us. We managed, but I was used to staying at resorts with 2 bedroom condos...ugh.. Well the next morning we check out happily and visited friends at their condo for Thanksgiving dinner and cancelled our dinner at the Dolphin. Home cooked dinner is soo much better!! Then we headed to Daytona Beach for 3 days of recouperation. We are now in Daytona Beach staying at a timeshare condo at the Wyndam (we own at the Wyndam @ Bonnet Creek and will be staying there on Sun-Tues) and we are on the beach in a 2 bedroom and loving the comfort and homecooked meals. One thing I didn't like about staying at Disney is that everything is soooo spread out. We had to take bus/boat to all the fun stuff, but we did like the fact that you get extra magic hours. Well I will add pics next time and tell you the details of Sun-Tues when we go to Disney Quest, Mickey's Christmas Party @ MK, Animal Kingdom, the kids Pirate Cruise, and the Arabian Knight Christmas show!!! Talk to you later!!


SEE PICS FURTHER IN POST....

[nitaworm]

Nov. 21st (Wed-Thurs) - We left the ship in 30 min flat, was in the car and on our way to Disney's Port Orleans Resort! The kids were still depressed about the cruise ending, ended the day at the pool at Port Orleans and a Horse Drawn Carraige Ride....We met some friends for a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast at the Timeshare Resort and

Nov. 22 - 25th (Thurs - Sun) - Daytona Beach!!!! Sunterra Regency Timeshare --- The room was gorgeous and over looked the beach and the street (they were having a Old Time Car Drive By Trot, we got to see some beatiful cars from our balcony every night)...We walked the beach, played in the pool and slept in late. Believe it or not this place is busy Thanksgiving!

Nov. 26th (Sun - Tues) - Bonnet Creek Timeshare Resort ON Disney Property...

- Disney Quest! - Arcade with virtual reality games

- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! - Christmas Parade, Snow on Main Street, free Cocoa and cookies, 3 Firworks show's and all the rides you want without the crowds for 1/2 the price of daily admission

- Kid's Pirate Adventure (You kids get 2.5 hours of treasure hunting, eating lunch all supervised for $35 per kid - you leave them and go eat breakfast)

- Animal Kingdom! Mickey's Jingle Jungle Christmas Parade! and new rides ! Everest and Dinasour Adventure!

Nov. 27th - Home and hating it!

Hope you enjoyed my Trip Report!

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by nitaworm

Nov. 16 (Fri.) we had breakfast at Ohana's with Lilo, Donald, Stitch and Mickey - what a way to kick of the Disney mood. The breakfast was wonderful, with fresh waffles, juice, sausage, bacon, eggs, pinapple bread, cinnamon buns, and all you can eat! We did a parade around the restaurant with the characters and the kids didn't want to leave.

I agree, that is just one of the BEST character breakfasts in WDW! Isn't that sticky bread they give you delicious & I LOVED meeting hula Mickey. Glad your family enjoyed it also!

Loving your TR

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by nitaworm

We went to dinner at Animater's Palate, which was a restaurant that had changing colors and characters in the pictures (the food was great!), and my youngest daughter said her head hurt, tummy hurt and she wanted to sleep. We had a late dinner time (8:15pm) and she was holding her tummy most of it. The other kids (4 yr old didn't want to come, said he already ate and Belle was going to read them a story) The 10 year old joined us, and the 13 yr old came, ate the appetizer, said he ate, but he wanted to go back to the Aloft, as he was on some sort of scavenger hunt with his team.

I've seen this restaurant on the Travel Channel special on Disney Cruises and it looks SOOO cool! What kinda food do they serve in there? Do the servers really change outfits when the restaurant changes colors???? It just sounds SO cool!

[nitaworm]

I loved that restaurant, and the bread. Really we have done Ohana's for breakfast (this is our first for breakfast) and dinner and we lOVED the dinner, and it was soo fun that I planned the dinner for our next trip...also I forgot to mention ...I ate at Yak & Yeti's it was good. The service was slow, but I think they are working out some kinks. The egg rolls were soooo good! and so was the vegie lomein! Ok! I am sooo ready to go back!!!! I can't wait until March 14th when I go back for my daughter's birthday ... No I didn't exactly talk them into a trip to Disney for their birthday... I just asked them if they wanted to go to Disney or have a birthday party at home ... their answer .... "DISNEY!!!!!!!" Stay tuned for that action packed adventure ... since we have to drive (ugh)

[nitaworm]

Here are the cruise Pics!!!

Sorry I am late with this!

Boarding the Ship


Decorated Boys Room


Surprise Birthday for DS


Teen Club Aloft


Sail Away Party

[nitaworm]

Decorated Girls Door



Goofy Pool


Going to Eat When just boarded


Pool Fun



Going to Sail Away Party...walking down the stairs

[nitaworm]

Parrot Cay for lunch



Getting Ready for Pirate Party!!!! Whahoo!







Mickey Saves the Day!!! Yep they actually got some daring person to do this!!

[nitaworm]

The Bahamas!!!

We chose to do do the Atlantis tour...it was brutal with 2 sea sick kids...
until the tour guide recommended "Gravo" to us and in 10 min. the kids were like new

[nitaworm]

Castaway Cay!!!

Ok, why did I have to drag my little ones out of the Oceaneers club?! They were going to have beach time with me if it killed them!

Castaway Cay was decorated for Christmas as we went the Sunday before Thanksgiving...




This is the family beach...
Disney is so clean, my husband walked from the ship to the shopping area and there was NO DIRT on his socks! NO Kidding! We couldn't believe it!!!

[jk8]

Oooh, cruise pictures, lovin' it!!

[mickeysgirlz]

Great pics! What an AWESOME surprise . . . how did I miss this TR from NOV?

[disneylovers5]

love the pics.