Four if By Land, Six if By Sea Updated 3/29 COMPLETE - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Four if By Land, Six if By Sea Updated 3/29 COMPLETE
Before our Disney cruise even ended in January of 2006, we knew that we were coming back. Even with a 14-week-old Maddie along for the ride, the cruise was totally relaxing for the adults and a complete blast for Mary Devall.
Since we had six of us and had over a year to pay for it, we had even treated ourselves to a Category 2 stateroom which ended up being perfect for two families. This may have been the best decision of the entire trip because my parents actually do spend a good bit of time in the room and on the balcony and they thoroughly enjoyed being pampered with room service served on the dining room table.
We even knew when we wanted to target our next trip - - as soon as Maddie turned 3 so that she could also enjoy the kids club. When the 2009 cruises were finally released in late 2007, I was immediately shot off an email to Maureen asking her to try for a 7-night cruise the week of the MLK Jr. holiday in a . . . Category 1 (hey, we loved the Category 2 so much, why not try for the big boy for 3 additional nights! ).
Maureen quickly got back to me to let me know that there were no concierge-level staterooms left at all on any of the 7-night cruises through the spring! I think her exact words were “They’re going like hot cakes!” Maureen was able to work some magic for us, however, and reserve a Category 1 on a 4-night cruise the week of the MLK Jr. holiday. I quickly conferred with the family and we decided to go for it! When I looked up the stateroom number that Maureen gave me, I quickly realized that we would be in none other than the Walt Disney Suite!
The months quickly flew by since we filled them with lots of Disney trips and, before we knew it, Maureen was soon informing me that it was time for our final payment. With that done, I was able to make any reservations that we wanted at 120 days out since we were concierge level. My parents informed me that they didn’t want any spa treatments and we’re not big on shore excursions, so the process was really quite simple.
After much research and conversation, Thom and I decided to go for the couples cabana massage on Castaway Cay. I had read in my handy dandy Passporter that this was the one to do if you were only going to have one spa treatment, so I booked us one for late morning. We briefly considered one of the spa villas, but the price was pretty steep and we weren’t really sure what you were supposed to do in the villa. Thom even asked me “Do they expect you to have sex?”
After our meal at Palo on our last cruise, we knew without a doubt that we wanted to eat there again (especially Thom who missed our meal when he went by Flounder’s to check on Maddie which led her to a bit of separation anxiety .) I booked our dinner easily enough, but then thought I would try to see if I could book brunch for us also which wasn’t offered on a 4-night cruise the last time. I had read differing opinions on if the same party could actually book more than one Palo meal, so I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to try. I was tickled pink when the system took our brunch reservation also!
The final bit of business that I had with the on line reservation system was booking the girls for the Oceaneer Club. I completed the information for Mary Devall with no problem, but the system wasn’t showing Maddie as being eligible for it. As soon as I checked that she was potty trained, however, she magically appeared as eligible.
Now when we decided to go on this cruise when Maddie was 3, the idea was that she would be old enough for the kids club AND potty trained (which is also a requirement). Mary Devall was day time potty trained when she was 2, so of course Maddie would be also. Hmm . . . not so much. This girl really didn’t even show an interest in it until last summer and, even then, it wasn’t exactly high on her priority list.
As the cruise loomed closer and closer and we began to talk about it more and more, Maddie began to get really excited. When we realized how thrilled she was to be going in a kids club with her sister, we decided to use this to our advantage. That’s when we told her that only kids who went on the potty could go to the club. We engrained this so much into her that the first time she went poop on the potty, she immediately asked “Is it time to go on the boat now?”
For a couple of weeks running, she asked us non stop if it was time to go on the boat and sometimes she would become a little peeved at us when we said “not yet.” To help with the concept of time, we made a countdown chain from which she and Mary Devall have been taking turns removing links. That has helped immensely!
So . . . between constant praise, my own special “poo poo on the potty” dance and numerous trips to CVS for poops on the potty, our little girl is doing fantastic! She walks around giving us the “thumbs up” and saying “great job” so she’s just as excited as we are about her potty progression. Her teachers were so impressed with her progress that they began using the “boat” pep talks also.
Now that Maddie has the countdown chain, she doesn’t ask if it’s time to go the boat anymore since she knows we’re not going anywhere until that chain is gone. Instead, she now will occasionally look at you and say in a very serious and slightly questioning voice “The boat won’t tip over.” We always assure her that it won’t, but we have absolutely no idea where that idea came from. It’s not like she’s been watching the Poseidon Adventure after we go to bed. She even told my mom this a couple of weeks ago who is absolutely the last person to whom you should mention anything about “tipping over,” but she just assured her that she was right and moved on.
With our “sea” portion taken care of, it was then time to take care of the “land” portion. Our plan was to spend two nights at Disney after the cruise and then take the train back that Saturday night giving us all a day to recuperate before heading back to work and school. Since we were only staying two nights, we decided to shoot for club level. Mary Devall and I had such a wonderful time at the BWV last February and I had read such glowing reviews of their club level that I decided it should be our #1 lodging pick.
As soon as the AP rates came out in the fall, I logged on to the Disney site and easily found us a club level room at pretty good rates for those two nights. My parents still hadn’t confirmed whether they would be joining us at Disney, so I got them on the phone that very night and told them to decide right then and there. They finally gave me an “okay” so I booked us a deluxe room instead of a standard. They would just buy tickets as needed when we got there.
Since we were only there for such a short time, I made absolutely zero plans for us while at Disney - - except just a loose park plan so we wouldn’t stand around in the morning going “where do you want to go? I don’t care. Where do you want to go?”
In the meantime, we had a change in transportation. I had watched Amtrak rates continue to grow over the past weeks. I had hoped that I would be able to catch a deal, but they never came back down (when they were low months and months ago, we just weren’t in the position to plunk down $800 on a trip that was far, far away ). We actually had enough frequent flier miles to fly from Charlotte to Orlando, but I finally suggested to Thom that we just drive because we would have to spend a ton of money on transportation once we got to Orlando (to the port; then back to Disney and then finally back to the airport ). He agreed, so we booked a hotel room at the Radisson at the port and will leave our car there during the cruise.
We did have an unforeseen problem pop up this fall. My mom has had 3 surgeries over the past several years for granulous tumors (they are cancerous but encapsulated, so 3 surgeries and 1 dose of radiation have taken care of them in the past ) and has routine check ups because these boogers come back often. Sure enough, at her check up this fall, the CAT scan revealed more so my mom had surgery on the day before Thanksgiving. Whereas her last surgery 18 months before had lasted 45 minutes, this one lasted almost 4 hours.
The surgeon was pleased, but this surgery had involved the removal of three tumors that had pressed into organs so it was much more complicated. She ended up being in the hospital a week, but after a week at home she went back in the hospital for another week with post-op pneumonia. Never once did we discuss her not going on the cruise because the cruise actually gave her something to aim for. All of her nurses and doctors knew that her goal was to get better in time for the cruise.
It’s been slow for her, but she is so much better. Her doctor gave her the go ahead to go on the cruise - - heck, is there a better place to continue recovery than the balcony of your luxury stateroom - - but put the kibosh on the Disney World part of it. As soon as we found this about a week ago, I immediately called reservations and was able to easily switch to a standard club level room. And since we had already paid a hefty deposit for the deluxe room, Thom and I decided to stay an extra night and then just hit the road on Sunday morning.
The CM, Sawyer, to whom I spoke was just delightful. While he was clicking away on his computer, he asked me about our cruise and I told him about our touch-and-go potty training fun with Maddie. Near the end of our conversation, he asked if we were celebrating anything and I told him just my mom feeling better. He then came back with “And potty training?” Yes, most definitely, potty training!
With less than 2 days until we leave, the online forms have been completed and signed, the passports gathered, the clothes stacked on the guest room bed and ready for packing and the last little details checked off. We plan to leave bright and early on Saturday morning for the drive down to Cape Canaveral for our night at the Radisson which is where we’ll meet up with my parents. Since my mom’s doctor wants her to walk around every couple of hours on the drive down, they’re taking a longer and more leisurely trip by leaving on Friday morning.
The girls will be picking out DVD’s tonight for their viewing pleasure and I even went to Wal-mart yesterday (I never go to Wal-mart ) because I had an idea for something for them and figured Wal-mart would have it if anyone would. Just as I thought, I found exactly what I wanted in the automotive section - - travel trays that hook on seat backs so that they can color and keep their crayons and “stuff” in the pockets (they even fold up into little brief cases - - so cute). They’ll be so excited!
The title of this trip report is a total rip off of the line “One if by land, and two if by sea” from Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Instead of warning of the British , my take on it simply describes the number in our party on the land versus the sea portion of our journey. Simple as that (I’m into simple these days).
Mary Devall is still under the belief (as she was 3 years ago ) that the boat actually takes us to Disney World just as a plane or train would. I just can’t bring myself to tell her otherwise because it’s such a sweet idea. So . . . here’s hoping that the boat gets us to Disney World and that it doesn’t tip over in the process!
and lots of until we return!
Jill
__________________
Sometimes words aren't needed . . .
Last edited by Jillybean; 01-15-2009 at 03:53 PM..
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What a wonderful PTR Jill...loved the pictures of the girls - they have grown up so much. The potty story was too funny - If other parents only knew what a great initiative a Disney Cruise could be A new market for Disney (The Potty Training Cruise).
So glad that you mom is feeling much better, sorry that she won't make WDW but glad that she got the go ahead for the cruise - and you are definitely right, no place better to recuperate then on the patio of the Walt Disney Suite
Have a great trip and can't wait to hear all about it when you return.
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It sounds like this has the makings for an wonderful and relaxing trip. Bon Voyage
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
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I hope that you and your family have a magical trip
__________________
Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
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Holy cow... the Walt Disney suite??? Wow, you are going to have an amazing time! Bon voyage... and be sure to tell us all about the trip as soon as you get home!
About This Page: 
Even with a 14-week-old Maddie along for the ride, the cruise was totally relaxing for the adults and a complete blast for Mary Devall.
This may have been the best decision of the entire trip because my parents actually do spend a good bit of time in the room and on the balcony and they thoroughly enjoyed being pampered with room service served on the dining room table.
I think her exact words were “They’re going like hot cakes!” 
Maureen was able to work some magic for us, however, and reserve a Category 1 on a 4-night cruise the week of the MLK Jr. holiday. I quickly conferred with the family and we decided to go for it! When I looked up the stateroom number that Maureen gave me, I quickly realized that we would be in none other than the Walt Disney Suite! 
and, before we knew it, Maureen was soon informing me that it was time for our final payment. With that done, I was able to make any reservations that we wanted at 120 days out since we were concierge level. My parents informed me that they didn’t want any spa treatments and we’re not big on shore excursions, so the process was really quite simple.
(especially Thom who missed our meal when he went by Flounder’s to check on Maddie which led her to a bit of separation anxiety 
.) I booked our dinner easily enough, but then thought I would try to see if I could book brunch for us also which wasn’t offered on a 4-night cruise the last time. I had read differing opinions on if the same party could actually book more than one Palo meal, so I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to try. I was tickled pink when the system took our brunch reservation also! 
To help with the concept of time, we made a countdown chain from which she and Mary Devall have been taking turns removing links. That has helped immensely! 
They finally gave me an “okay” so I booked us a deluxe room instead of a standard. They would just buy tickets as needed when we got there.
). He agreed, so we booked a hotel room at the Radisson at the port and will leave our car there during the cruise.
My mom has had 3 surgeries over the past several years for granulous tumors (they are cancerous but encapsulated, so 3 surgeries and 1 dose of radiation have taken care of them in the past 
) and has routine check ups because these boogers come back often. Sure enough, at her check up this fall, the CAT scan revealed more so my mom had surgery on the day before Thanksgiving. Whereas her last surgery 18 months before had lasted 45 minutes, this one lasted almost 4 hours.
Instead of warning of the British 
So . . . here’s hoping that the boat gets us to Disney World and that it doesn’t tip over in the process! 
and lots of 
until we return!
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Pixie Dust
Danny and I at Epcot 8/14/08
ºOº ~*~ 
ANGIE
Aimee
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