Disney Land/Sea Package 6/19/2003 thru 6/26/2003 (Now complete) About This Page:

[kb2003]

Travelers: Me (40), DH (41), DS (6)
Disney Land/Sea Package 6/19/2003 thru 6/26/2003
Day 4: Transfer from Poly to Disney Wonder

We stayed in Niue at the Polynesian for the land portion of this trip (reports for that portion of the trip are posted in the trip report section of the board.)

This day would be our transfer from the Polynesian to the Disney Wonder. We had included Disney transportation as part of our package. We were advised to have our bags ready and by the door of the hotel room by 8:00 AM, and to be in the hotel lobby at about 11:30 AM (bus was scheduled for 12:00). Alternatively, we could have selected to do breakfast at Restaurantasaurus in Animal Kingdom – tour the park a little and get picked up there at 12:30. We had our bags ready and went to breakfast at Kona Café – DH tried the Tonga Toast. It was good – but VERY sweet (I couldn’t have done the whole plate). I had eggs, and DS had cereal, about $28 with tip.

After breakfast we went back to the room for one last pit stop (we passed our bags being moved out as we entered our building). We hung around the room until about 11:00 (house keeping was looking to get in at that point). Then we relocated to the GCH. We staked out some spots near the front entrance of the lobby. There was a TV playing Disney cartoons, and a cast member handed out flower leis (sp?), and had crayons and coloring sheets available. Luckily these things kept DS occupied until we boarded the bus. By the time everyone was loaded on, we left around 12:00. The bus had TVs which played cartoons, and eventually a Disney Cruise video. As was the theme for the first portion of our trip, it was cloudy and/or raining during the entire drive to the port. It was actually so misty as we got closer to the port, that you could barely make out the ships. The bus dropped us very close to the entrance of the port building, we entered, took a picture with Mickey and then lined up to enter the ship (all in all a very quick process – no additional check in required since we had checked in at the hotel earlier). We had our picture taken next to a sign with the sailing dates on it, then entered the ship. They asked our last name, and then welcomed our family on to the cruise – it was 1:20 PM. We were told that we could proceed to our room, or go directly to the Beach Blanket Buffet. We headed to our room, 7072 – a verandah cabin, mid-ship. We really liked the room. I’ve cruised before on Norwegian, and Premiere (the original “Big Red Boat” that was the Disney Cruise before Disney Cruise Line came along). In comparison, this was a great room and we loved having the verandah. The location was also quiet – absolutely no noise between cabins and very little hall way noise either. Our cabin host introduced himself and made sure we had no questions at this time (he was very nice). We dropped off our bags and headed to the buffet – it was an Italian theme. Of all the buffets offered during the trip this was my least favorite. It was good (and they did have the peel your own shrimp, which looked great – but I just wasn’t in the mood) but somehow just didn’t hit the spot for me that day. After lunch, we returned to our cabin (no bags yet). Since we didn’t know how DS was going to feel about the kid’s club we didn’t plan on making any Palo reservations, and we also didn’t plan any spa treatments – so we didn’t have to worry about rushing to get either of those in place. We headed toward the kid’s club to sign DS in and obtain a pager. Disney has Oceaneer’s club for kids 3-4, and 5-7 and then Oceaneer’s lab for 8-12, and also something for teens. Our DS LOVED what he saw of the kid’s club while we signed him up. He ran around and played while we did the (very brief) paper work and I think he would have happily stayed there if it was an option at the time…. but it was not… time for the life boat drill. We went back to our cabin and put on our life vests. DS was a little freaked out about the whole process – so we explained it was just like fire drills at his school and tried to play the whole thing down, and he did OK. Of course by the time we got to the deck the sun was shining full force (It rained the entire first portion of our trip) – and it was HOT. Anyway, it all passed quickly enough. We dropped out life vests off and I went off in search of the laundry room and an iron. I met a woman who had not had a good day so far – apparently they flew in that day for the cruise. They confiscated her travel iron at the airport (since Disney Cruise does not allow irons on board) – then they thought they saw suspicious dust in her luggage and ransacked it (turns out it was dirt on one of her child’s flip flops). Anyway, the poor woman was in the middle of washing/ironing all of their clothes which were apparently not in good shape after the search. Anyway… ironed our clothes for dinner (Hint: either bring clothes that don’t wrinkle, or get to the irons early in the day – there will be a line) and went back to the cabin. Since it was raining, the sail away party was relocated to the “lobby” and it was way too crowded by the time we got there, so we walked around the ship a little. We went up to deck 9. DS was not full from the buffet and wanted chicken fingers – so he had some (along with a small ice cream cone). We went back to our cabin, freshened up and got dressed for dinner. We had the early seating (6:00). Dinner that night was in Parrot Cay. We were seated, and met our servers who were both very nice (but seemed a little rushed throughout the cruise). DS was antsy. Since he had so recently eaten the chicken fingers etc… I asked if he’d like to have the fruit cocktail appetizer, and then one of us could take him to the club (it would be open by that time) – He jumped at the idea. So we ordered just the appetizer for him, and the rest of our dinner. Once we finished the appetizer course, DH walked him up to the club and then returned in time for the soup/salad course. Dinner was very good. I had the chicken wing appetizer, the mixed green salad and the mixed grill (substituted the double baked potato for the mac and cheese) – didn’t care for the shrimp, but everything else was great. DH had the crab newberg, the onion soup and the rib eye steak (you can see current menus on castawayclub.com). Can’t remember what we had for dessert – but everything was really good – and hot, which is tricky sometimes when they are serving so many people. Since I drink wine and DH does not, I had ordered a glass of wine, but our assistant server let me know that it would be more cost effective to order a bottle, and that it could follow me to the various restaurants until I finished it – sounded like a plan to me (and worked out well). Same works for bottled water. After dinner, the pager had still not sounded – so being without child for the first time in a while we went back to the cabin and enjoyed the verandah, etc… After a sufficient amount of enjoyment was had, the pager sounded, and we went to collect DS – who was hot, tired, and had developed a blister on his foot from his new shoes (I was very careful about not using new shoes while touring Disney world, but hadn’t considered it here – keep it in mind! Also – Band-Aid has these new “Blister Band-Aids” which absolutely saved our lives. Don’t think I could have gotten shoes on DS’s feet for the rest of the vacation without them. ) DS wanted to visit the “Arcade” which we did for a little while – As far as I could tell all of the games work off a debit card, which you obtain from a machine in the arcade using your key to the world card (Lowest denomination is $10). We purchased a card, played a while and then returned to the cabin at that time and crashed for the night.

To Follow Cruise Day 2: Nassau (and Deck Party.. To be or not to Be?)

[ 07-05-2003, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: kb2003 ]

[iloverags2]

Great start to your cruse. I agree, the Disney staterooms are the best I have seen so far while cruising.

Can't wait to hear more! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Looking forward to reading about Nassau. We'll be visiting for the first time this November! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[PS - I LUV WDW]

I'm enjoying this part of the trip as much as your Disney portion. More please when you get a chance.

[figment52]

Great report so far. I will be on the Wonder in December so I am looking forward to the rest,

Thanks for writing.

[kb2003]

Thanks for reading - I really enjoyed reading all of the reports when I was planning.

Travelers: Me (40), DH (41), DS (6)
Disney Land/Sea Package 6/19/2003 thru 6/26/2003
Day 5: Nassau

We left the curtains to the verandah open – so I woke up kind of early and saw the sun (gasp!), and also some land moving by (kind of strange sensation..). Anyway, by the time we were up and dressed I think we were probably docked. We went to the Beach Blanket Buffet for breakfast. They had the standard breakfast items as well as Mickey waffles, breakfast burritos and an omelet station. There is also a separate station that has Danish and other baked items. We had decided not to book one of the packages, and just planned to wander around Nassau a little bit in the morning. DS decided he wanted to spend the morning at the kid’s club – so we dropped him off and headed off the ship.

Everyone basically moves down the dock and through an indoor “mall” kind of area that had craft items, tour guides etc.. We had a few people approach us to offer cab rides, hair braiding etc, but really just a few and I didn’t find anyone to be aggressive. OK – small hint here if you’re going off on your own to just do some shopping in the “downtown” area. We just started to follow the “herd” of people, and followed them for a little while before we realized that they were part of the Atlantis tour, probably beginning that extensive walking that you read about. So – take a look at a map to make sure you’re getting where you want to be. I’m pretty sure there was a small street map included with the Navigator that day, and there are also additional maps and brochures along the way down the dock. Anyway, we back tracked a couple of blocks and headed into the shopping area (main shopping street runs parallel to the water, 1 block in). We shopped around for a while – DH bought some cologne, and we picked up a few inexpensive T-shirts but that was about it. There was a fair amount of traffic in town, and not that many intersections with traffic lights (at least in the area we covered). Luckily the motorists were all very courteous and would stop to let you cross the street. Obviously be careful – but it was much easier than I thought it would be from the amount of traffic.

So, by about 11:00 AM we were headed back to the boat. We just reached the dock when the pager went off that my son wanted to be picked up. This became the usual “call time” during the cruise. Apparently they’d tell the kids what was for lunch around this time and it didn’t appeal to my son on any of the days so he’d call to be picked up. We picked up DS and went to the cabin to put on our swim suits (although it was slightly cloudy all morning – the sun was peaking out now and then – and it wasn’t raining!). Doing just the short trip into Nassau worked really well for us since we enjoyed several hours by the pools with relatively little crowds. DS loved the Mickey slide – but other than that we stayed by the Goofy pool. Lunch this day was the American Buffet – they had several seafood salads, fried chicken, corn on the cob, turkey, mashed potatoes, large cold crab claws, and a station where you could get tacos and nachos. There were a number of other salads, and probably some other food that I’m forgetting – but there was a lot to choose from. Your choice for drinks here is limited to water, iced tea, and fruit punch (also probably coffee/tea – didn’t check). If you want a soda, bottled water or anything else – pick it up before you come in to the buffet. Just before you come inside on deck 9 there is a station that has iced tea, coffee, tea, and lemonade (may have also had fruit punch here). Anyway – we’d always pick DS up some lemonade before coming in to lunch. Once you come inside (just outside the door of the buffet) is a bar where you can get soda or other drinks.

After lunch we did some more pool time and arcade time – then DS wanted to go back to the club (his plan tonight was to eat dinner with the kids). Dropped DS at the club around 4:00 – planning to pick him up after our dinner in time for the deck party. Dinner tonight was at Tritons so we dressed up slightly – then dressed back down again after dinner. We checked on DS, but he didn’t want to leave yet so we walked around the deck and just kind of “hung out” for a while Turns out the weather didn’t cooperate for the deck party – the poor crew set everything up and then the rains came back – I never did hear an announcement about whether this party was moved somewhere else – we got a page at this point (around 9:15) to pick up DS. We just decided to call it a night at this point.

Coming next: Day 6, Castaway Cay