Four if by Land, Six if by Sea **Updated 2/23**COMPLETED - Page 32 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sounds like a wonderful cruise!! We are hoping to do that when my girls are 6. I loved the part about Maddie not wanting to part from Mary Devall. How sweet!! There's just something about the bonds of Sisterhood
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That Maddie sounds alot like my Nate when he was little! As long as he had something in his hot little hands to eat - he was good to go! Once the food was gone - the party was over!
I am sorry your weather was not cooperating! But it sounds like you found some great things to do.
I am really sorry to see this part of the trip come to a close. Your time on the ship has been delightful!
The wake up call rang loud and clear at 6:30 a.m. on the dot. Thom was the only one taking a shower that morning, but he wasn’t moving so I had to remind him that we didn’t have much time. We were due at breakfast at 7 a.m. so we had 30 minutes to get up and out of the room.
I dressed quickly and was able to wake up Maddie fairly easy, but Mary Devall was another matter altogether. Miss “Late Night” wasn’t budging, so we had to just pester her to death until she finally drug herself out of bed crying that she was tired.
At 7 a.m. on the dot, we said a sad farewell to our beloved suite and closed the door behind us. Our steward was down the hall and gave us a wave goodbye. He was a good guy - - quiet, but dependable.
We walked right to our table in Triton’s where James and Dragan were waiting for us. Thankfully they poured quickly because I was in dire need for some! I was a little disappointed that the entrée with pancakes, waffles and French toast was not on this menu (which is pared down for debarkation morning since they’re trying to get you up and out of there) because I had planned on filling up in preparation for our big day at Magic Kingdom!
Instead I went with the blueberry pancakes in For a Sweet Journey (Blueberry Pancakes - Served with honey or breakfast syrup). I love how they name everything.
Despite the fact that we were in the final moments of our cruise, we were all still in high spirits since four of us were continuing on to Disney World. At one point during breakfast, I asked Maddie what she wanted to ride at MK today. She gave me the “talk to the hand” motion and stated “No Snow White! No Pooh!” Alrighty then, now we know what she doesn’t want to ride!
We finished breakfast quickly and were soon saying goodbye to our servers. I gave each of them a hug and promised Dragan that we would request him on our next visit (he said that hopefully he would be working in Palo by then but we could see him there also). He made sure that we knew exactly how to request him before we left.
We picked up our carry on bags and walked right off the ship. If I loved a Disney cruise for no other reason then it would be this very moment. Other cruise lines literally hold you captive the morning of debarkation, but for some reason, Disney has figured it out.
As we said goodbye to the captain and walked back across the gangplank, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me and I almost became a little teary eyed. I sucked it up this time and just kept walking (moments like this always make me think of Dory’s line from Finding Nemo “Keep swimming . . . keep swimming.”)
When we got off the escalator, a porter was waiting for us and was a genuine life saver for us. Thom immediately spotted our luggage and the porter had it loaded for us within minutes. Before we took off for customs, he made sure that we were all together and he even took a couple of my carry on bags for me. As we walked towards customs, he informed me of the cold weather that we had missed over the past few days. It was 40 degrees that morning (and I was kicking myself for dressing the girls in shorts ), but he said that it had been much colder the day before. Thankfully, we were returning just as the weather was taking an upswing.
We literally breezed through customs and were standing at the Radisson shuttle stop (which was right outside the gates) in minutes. The porter even put our luggage right at the rope so that the shuttle driver could easily reach it. I’m pretty sure that Thom and my mom tipped him handily because he made getting off the ship so very easy.
There was already a shuttle bus at the stop, but it was evident that we wouldn’t make this one. A CM was actually monitoring all of the shuttle stops and making sure that she kept everything running smoothly. Next to the porter, she was my favorite person that morning. She told the shuttle driver and put in a call to the Radisson to make sure that they sent their other shuttle bus pronto. Within minutes after the first one leaving, another bus pulled up. This woman was good!
We were back at the Radisson parking lot and loading our cars in no time. We exchanged hugs and goodbyes with my parents and then got the girls settled into the car with the activities and snacks within reach. Thom had been eagerly checking emails during breakfast, so I figured that he might want to do some work and offered to drive to Disney.
Within five minutes of being on the road, we passed my parents and waved to them once again. I really love this direct route to Disney! Despite the numerous toll booths, it was a straight shot with limited traffic. I did have to get Thom off the phone once to ask for help when I came to a fork in the road and didn’t see a sign for Disney. At the last minute, there was a small Disney World sign that indicated which exit to take. Um . . . never mind . . . got it now.
By 9:30 we were pulling up at the Boardwalk Inn. I may not have liked getting up at 6:30, but it sure gave you an early start to your day! And moving on to your happy place sure does make leaving the lifestyle to which we had become accustomed a little bit easier.
How does something for which you’ve planned for over a year fly by in the blink of an eye? One minute we were sitting in the concierge waiting area and the next minute we were being kicked to the curb (not literally, but the result was still the same ). We are back at home in our “not-so-much-like-a-Manhattan-penthouse-suite” house and I am actually being forced to COOK , but we have memories that we will last a lifetime:
The Walt Disney Suite - - this memory will have to last a lifetime because it was most probably a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. The suite itself was gorgeous and spacious beyond our wildest dreams, but the pictures of Walt throughout the suite reminded you where you were every minute of the day. If possible, the concierge staff was even better than our trip 3 years ago (and they were excellent!). These ladies were so genuine and obviously loved their jobs. The phone calls and the visits making sure that we were doing okay and the little touches like giving the girls Minnies made us believers in the concierge service. You knew, without a doubt, that they would do anything to make your trip magical.
Interaction with our servers - - Dragan and James simply made our meals with them. I actually missed them the night that we ate at Palo. They were fun yet very quick to share stories about their lives on the ship and back home. They were both fathers who took delight in the children, but were also very efficient and attentive to the adults. We never wanted for a thing.
O’Neill – seeing this man who left us with so many special memories from our first Disney cruise was just a delight. The fact that he made a point to visit us on our first night and then treated us like old friends every time we saw him after that reminded us why we choose to vacation Disney style.
Palo Brunch – and I thought dinner here was the ultimate! This over-the-top gastronomic experience was phenomenal. First of all, the bellini was the best I have ever tasted . . . follow that up with tables filled with delicious appetizers, made-to-order entrees and more tables filled with desserts . . . and need I say more? Our server on both our visits to Palo, Coralia, was so charming and absolutely genuine - - a word that I continue to use over and over again to describe our servers.
Alone time with Thom – when your main source of communication with your spouse is often email having a half hour or an actual hour of uninterrupted time alone with said person is like magic in itself. Thom and I loved our time together at Castaway Cay and even the half hour that we spent at the Cadillac Lounge one evening. This is what I want more of in the coming years. (Of course, Mary Devall just informed me yesterday that she wasn't going to spend as much time in the kids club the next time because she wanted to be with us more. )
Maddie walking hand-in-hand with Stitch – sometimes a chance happening turns in to a moment that you don’t forget. Watching Maddie bounce along happily by Stitch’s side as she walked him to his “dressing room” had me grinning from ear to ear. She even took her own little blue buddy to school one day the very next week, so apparently he made a lasting memory on her too.
Mary Devall embracing all of the fun, but still wanting to be with her parents – now this girl loves her some kids’ club, but I did notice this time that she asked when we would pick her up. She chose to see HSM 3 with us for the third time instead of going back to the club, so I guess she still finds us (somewhat ) fun. I can just see her enjoying this cruise more and more as she figures out every single thing there is to do!
Spending time with my parents under happier circumstances - - I’ve spent a good deal of time with my parents over the past two months, but it’s mainly been in hospitals or checking on them at their house. We still laugh despite everything, but it was good just to get away from everything and enjoy life!
We did have some moments that were challenging . . . Maddie getting a bloody nose . . . me breaking my behind . . . my mom not having much energy . . . the cooler weather . . .Maddie not embracing the kids club as much as we thought she would (although she was never kicked out for pooping in her pants ). I don’t see any of these moments as disappointments - - rather things that we can improve upon on our next trip.
With two parents who aren’t at their best right now and two children, Thom and I both felt a tad overwhelmed at times (as Thom put it . . .it was a bit more high maintenance that we had planned for ). Once again, it made us dream of our next trip where it will probably be just the four of us and the girls will be older and more self sufficient. It’s a nice dream to have and now I can’t wait for the 2011 itineraries to be announced!
Cruising with us would probably bore a lot of people. The only things that I booked ahead of time were our massage and meals at Palo and the only time that we even looked at our Personal Navigator was for Oceaneer Club activities or movie times. Life is so jam packed with work, school and other obligations that it’s nice just to have no where to be for a change . . . and when you happen to be staying in the Walt Disney Suite it makes it even nicer. The only appointment that Thom and I had to keep was our couples massage . . . I mean, really . . . does it get any better?
The beauty of this cruise is that even when you have adults who just want to relax their children (who want to do anything but relax) have their choice of activities. From the kids’ club to swimming to movies to characters to shows, the world is their oyster. Mary Devall even expressed disbelief that there were shows going on while she was in the kids’ club each night and declared that “next time” she wants to go to some shows.
See . . . she’s just like her mom . . . already thinking about the “next time.”
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Wow! That seemed like quite a lot going on tat morning in such a short amount of time, but it didn't seem to bother you. I guess going to WDW next helped that matter! Looking forward to the land portion of your TR.
What an absolutely fabu TR, Jill!! (like your others aren't ) Sounds like a great time. I certainly will stay tuned for the land portion. . . . And count me in for one who will be waiting on the 2011 itineraries. I actually mentioned it again to Danny and didn't get the resounding 'no' I usually get
Excellent finish, Jilly! It really sounds like you enjoyed your last moments on the ship just as much as the rest of your time. Now I'm really looking forward to cruising with Disney!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Excellent wrap up! I loved reading all about your darling family's adventures. Such a relaxing trip and now you're off to walk it all off. Looking forward to the next chapter of your vacation.
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Jill I loved your final thoughts, they were perfect and said so much, most of all you can tell what a wonderful trip this was for all of you. Going to head over now to continue on with your land portion...thank you so much for sharing this wonderful trip with us, it makes me want to cruise even more now.
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Great TR and wonderful final thoughts. Makes me want to go on a Disney cruise so much! Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to reading about the WDW portion of your trip!
Thank GOODNESS you have to start updating the WDW portion.... otherwise I'd be a puddle over the end of this cruise.
Great wrap-up, buddy. I live vicariously through you and your cruises, as it's not likely that I'll ever be able to cram myself on one any time soon.
Eileen
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Thom was the only one taking a shower that morning, but he wasn’t moving so I had to remind him that we didn’t have much time. We were due at breakfast at 7 a.m. so we had 30 minutes to get up and out of the room.
Our steward was down the hall and gave us a wave goodbye. He was a good guy - - quiet, but dependable. 
quickly because I was in dire need for some! I was a little disappointed that the entrée with pancakes, waffles and French toast was not on this menu (which is pared down for debarkation morning since they’re trying to get you up and out of there) because I had planned on filling up in preparation for our big day at Magic Kingdom! 
Alrighty then, now we know what she doesn’t want to ride!
and promised Dragan that we would request him on our next visit (he said that hopefully he would be working in Palo by then but we could see him there also). He made sure that we knew exactly how to request him before we left. 
Other cruise lines literally hold you captive the morning of debarkation, but for some reason, Disney has figured it out. 
As we walked towards customs, he informed me of the cold weather that we had missed over the past few days. It was 40 degrees that morning (and I was kicking myself for dressing the girls in shorts 
One minute we were sitting in the concierge waiting area and the next minute we were being kicked to the curb (not literally, but the result was still the same 
). We are back at home in our “not-so-much-like-a-Manhattan-penthouse-suite” house 
and I am actually being forced to COOK 
. . . follow that up with tables filled with delicious appetizers, made-to-order entrees and more tables filled with desserts . . . and need I say more? 
Our server on both our visits to Palo, Coralia, was so charming and absolutely genuine - - a word that I continue to use over and over again to describe our servers.
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
What an absolutely fabu TR, Jill!! (like your others aren't 
ºOº ~*~ 
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