Hola! Happy Saturday friends! I hope you are staying cool wherever you are. it is hellaciously (is that a word?) hot down here….heat indexes of 108ish. So yucky! So, let’s think about something fun, like my Disney cruise! So, Memorial day weekend Sunday, we woke up ready to get on the Mickey boat! we ate breakfast, packed up, and headed out. But not before feeding my ducky friends a farewell snack.
is it safe? should we trust her? She has macaroons!!! YES!
yes I was totally feeding the ducks macaroons from Narcoossees. Don’t judge. They enjoyed it. My mom kept freaking out waiting for one to spontaneously combust or something. Oh, mother….
we even tried to get them to come into the room…but apparently guests have tried this number before. We thought it would be a fun surprise for the maid. I’m kidding. sort of.
Anyway, so we drove the hour or so to the port, and got our first glimpse of the Dream! Now funny story time. When you get to the port and check in, you are given a card with your boarding number on it. numbers go from 1 to maybe late teens early twenties? I don’t even know. Anyway, 1-3 are coveted and hard to get. I think 1 may even be concierge only? Anyway, we have gotten 6-9 in the past, and we get there about 30 minutes after the dang port opens, some people are just nuts and get there before it even opens! Anyway, since this ship is SO BIG, Disney decided to try something new and make people sign up for arrival times in 30 minute blocks to help not have so many people arrive at once. BUT, they were totally NOT enforcing it, which drives me bananas. So, we got the second earliest boarding time and even got there a few minutes early. When we checked in, I told the lady that we had been given a 9 and how upset I was because I got up early on the morning we could pick arrival times so I could get the earliest time, hoping to be able to get an early boarding pass. I was really nice to her, and told her we even wore our matching name shirts hoping to get lucky and be given a good number. She then says “don’t worry I will take care of it” and opens a drawer and PULLS OUT A NUMBER ONE PASS! I tried to say calm but I was FREAKING OUT on the inside!!! I thanked her profusely, I was SO EXCITED to be among the first people out of 4,000 on the boat!
holding up my boarding pass which I held onto the whole morning with a death grip.
It was so comical, people started gathering around the ropes in herds, like it mattered where you stood. You can’t get on until your group is called, and NO ONE from that huge herd of people had a number one pass! When they called our number we had to wade through a sea of people to get to the ropes. We were the SEVENTH family to get onboard. eeekkk!
oh, dad. So silly.
we immediately went to find food at the buffet.
then my mom and I snagged us Palo brunch reservations, and then we were off exploring!
interesting.
I looked at my watch and realized it was time to go find our rooms! we were on deck ten, in verandah rooms.
funnily enough, our rooms were also connecting rooms, which I didn’t know but was nice.
we explored some more…this ship is gorgeous.
ok that’s all for now because…well…I’m sleepy. Legit excuse, huh? More next time! Oh and for those of you loathing the Disney posts…we will get back to regular fitness topics soon, I promise, hang in there! (but seriously, how can you loathe Disney? Does not compute.) Oh, and 3 months from today I am going back. heh.
QOTD: Have you ever been on a cruise? Which line? did you like it?
Your posts are such a tease!! I keep waiting for the next one!
That looks amazing!!!! I’ve never been on a cruise and I have lived 30 minutes from Port Canaveral my entire life. Sad isn’t it? I do want to go on a Disney cruise though. One day…
We just got back two weeks ago from a 4 day cruise on the Dream! That boat is beautiful!! Have fun on your cruise and enjoy Castaway Cay!!!
I have Disney on the brain….so keep the posts coming! I like you room. I have traveled a ton, but have always avoided cruises because I heard they have terrible rooms and you just eat and get fat…..your post is convincing me otherwise!
Does not compute…LOL That’s funny!
That picture of Bobby and your dad…oh my. So funny!!!!
The ship looks gorgeous!!!! :0)
It is sssooo pretty. But too many people on it
I’ve never wanted to go on a cruise until I saw the Dream with the AquaDuck and the Donald statue. LOL I so have Donald on the brain 24/7. Jeff is still nervous about the whole no phone/internet thing though. We’re both pretty much iPhone addicts and connected all the time.
You could always pay to use the internet on the ship! I am obsessed with my phone too but it was nice to unplug for a few days! You would love it!
Wow- this boat looks amazing & beautiful! Seriously- i bet you were running around taking pictures for the first few hours you were on the boat!
I LOVE cruising! I’ve been on two carnival and one royal caribbean. I’m looking at celebrity for my honeymoon or maybe something else. I just love the open water, nothing but you and the ship (and tons of other people, but still) and the open water…
Can’t wait to hear all about the cruise.
Must say all of that boarding hoopla sounds crazy….
So I have never been and the hubby and I are convinced it is not for us because we don’t like boats and when you hear about the experiences with problems with cruises on the news and the idea that all you do is eat(not that is bad). But can u convince me otherwise?
ok first of all, dont listen to the news. thats kind of like airplanes…all people hear about are crashes. they dont hear about the thousands of flights that go out every day without problems, right? so dont let that stop you. I HATE small boats, try and think of it like a giant floating hotel. half the time I would forget I was in the middle of the ocean! yes, there is a lot of food, but you don’t HAVE to eat all the time, it’s just there if you want it. its a great way to visit other plaes without having to actually go and stay there overnight. There are so many fun activities to do onboard, never a dull moment! They are so much fun and such a great experience. if you arent sure about it, go on a short 3 or 4 night one that way if you hate it, you dont waste a whole week!
Thanks! Sorry for the slow reply this went to my spam filter, some of my messages do which is so annoying (working on it!). Which line do you recommend?
well of course Disney is my favorite. it’s expensive but you get what you pay for. a cheaper one but still nicer is Royal Caribbean. Princess and celebrity have good reviews as well. 🙂 I can always get you some quotes lol
Hmm very interesting. Not sure if it is in the cards this year, MCM and Vegas Half are going to kick my wallet’s butt but always good to start nudging the hubby. Thanks!
yes! people book cruises WAY in advance for best prices. I know for disney you can book all the way through the end of 2012!
i don’t know why there was no reply button so i went here…wow that is crazy! yea i would be interested in eharing a quote what the hell
email me at heather@travelwiththemagic.com and we can chat. 🙂
I am drooling over those pictures. I so want to go on a Disney cruise!! Keep the Disney posts coming! I just got back and I’m already suffering from withdrawals!! 🙂
So fun! I wish I was there right now. Tear.
I was a cast member for a few years and never got to go on the Disney Cruise. I cannot wait to go.. sometime. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through you!
haha I would be more than happy to book one for you!
Wow, it looks so awesome! I am going on a cruise in November. Since you’re a travel agent and have lots of experience with this, I have a question for you! What time should we arrive at Port Canaveral? Do you get a better boarding number if you get there early? I’m so confused about the whole boarding process! Thanks 🙂 Can’t wait for more recaps!
hi! a disney cruise? you should let me taleover your reservation. :oP did you book through DIsney? yes, the earlier you get there, the lower boarding number you get!
Thanks!!
Yep, a cruise on the Disney Dream. I would let you takeover my reservation, but I booked it through the Disney Vacation Club…are you able to takeover those? I’m not sure how it works…
oh so you are using DVC points?
Nope. When I purchased DVC last year one of the incentives I received was a free cruise on the Dream. When booking, I had to call DVC and then they called the cruise line (it was a long process!) while I was on hold checking for availability and everything. Is this something you would take over?
congrats on DVC!!! I want DVC so bad lol!
Ok, I am not sure, but I will for sure try. e mail me at heather@travelwiththemagic.com with your conformation info they gave you and I can submit it and see what they say. I would love to take care of the rest of your cruise stuff for you if I can!
Who could loathe a Disney post-GAH!! I went on a Disney cruise about a 100 years ago-it was one of my favorite vacations!