Castaway Cay Sandwich - 13 Glorious Days of Disney! - COMPLETED!! - Page 9 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Wonderful photos of Nassau and the Atlantis. That Christmas card shot of your family is just wonderful. The lighting is perfect and you all look beautiful and happy!
Aw shucks, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you enjoyed the tour!
Thanks, it was worth it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I have very fond memories of our visit to Atlantis - it's an amazing place isn't it?
It must be weird to be re-living this, having snow and rain at the time you're posting it and it must also be very nice to look back on this and remember the great weather you enjoyed!
Oh yes, I thought about that. When I finish writing about this sunny vacation, it will be during cold and dreary winter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Great picture of your tour of Atlantis!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
Are those Disney nurses/doctors in the white uniforms, or just cruise ship staff? (I'm going to be a Disney RN someday, and I hope I get to wear that cute dress...)
Looks like a nice time. What a casino!
I'm pretty sure they were from the Dream crew. It is cute isn't it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
What a great tour! That was the tour I thought we might do last year, but decided to forgo one at all. And I think that's a perfect Christmas card photo!
Thanks, I hope you get to do it someday! (Lot's of walking though...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackid2
I loved Atlantis when we went on our cruise. Not sure I would do it again, but it was nice to get off the ship for a little while.
Beautiful pictures.
Thanks, I'm not sure we'd do it again, but I'm glad we did it at least once.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
Some great aquarium shots!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Atlantis is beautiful! Would love to stay there someday!
It is indeed very nice. We only saw part of it, but I definitely could stay there!
******************
Sept 8, continued
Getting back onboard...
We had worked up quite an appetite walking around Atlantis so after getting back on board, we made a quick stop in the room before lunch. The boys wanted to check out Edge after eating. On the way, I snapped the next photo: there was some kind of filming going on. The kids said there was someone "famous" on the ship, they didn't know who, but it was a young person, maybe from the Disney Channel or something.
Dh and I grabbed eats from Flo's Cafe. He got a salad from Fillmore's and I got the Bratwurst from Tow Mater's. The food was good and fresh. The kids had already eaten and split before I had even sat down Here's our view from lunch:
The Mouse-Querade Party was to start at 4:45 and Titus really wanted to go. He was really excited to wear his Minecraft costume - "Steve". He had picked out just the right shirt and pants to go with the "head". Max had something else going on in Edge, but he put his Marvel "Deadpool" shirt and hat on to go to that. We helped Titus get dressed and he and I headed for the Atrium. By the time we got there, the party was in full swing. WOW. Disney really knows how to throw a kid's party! It felt like a disco, like a nightclub but for kids. They had a neat contest where the kids had to dress their parent in a costume the fastest, it was very cute. After the contest, a costumed Mickey and the gang came out to dance with the CMs (who were also dressed in costumes) then the party really got going. The music was pumping and everyone was dancing. One thing we didn't count on was that the "head" for Steve was basically a cardboard box and it got hot in there! I would take it off once in a while to cool him down.
Doing the monster dance
Love this guy!
MICKEY! Imagine the cheers and woooos!
Goofy likes Titus's costume
Another Steve!
Donald liked his costume too!
Titus got a lot of compliments on his costume (he was so proud) and people were shouting, "Minecraft!" at him, lol. The CMs were handing out bags for trick-or-treating and he was able to visit a few tables for candy. We left after that - he was just too hot! It was a brief, but great, dance party.
After changing out of his big ol' head, he went to find Max in the club somewhere. Dh was at his favorite place, on the upper deck, so I met him up there. There was a nice cool breeze blowing up there and we decided to play some mini-golf. I was winning until some terrible hole that we were on messed me up and I got like a six or something. (Hey! It's harder that it looks!) I lost and lost badly.
Getting ready to go...
Soon it was time to get ready for dinner. I really think Titus was the one most looking forward to going to Royal Palace for dinner. He remembered the Wild Boar from last year (and being able to get it again for dinner on another night :wink: )
From Paris: new cruise wear 2014
Speaking of cruise wear, here's our fancy napkin
Ronald showing us how it's done.
Our favorite bread service! Brioche with olive oil
le menu (no boar this time buddy, sorry)
Pinot Noir maybe?
Celebrity wall
Duck confit. (Good, don't need to have it again. But now I can say, "Why yes, I've had duck confit." )
Roasted Rack of Lamb - yummy! (and yes, the brussel sprouts too!)
Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee - Max wasn't bowled over by it. Especially after tasting my Grand Marnier souffle (not happy with the souffle pic, didn't post, sorry)
After dinner, the kids took off for some function at Edge. Dh went to relax on the veranda and I strolled around just casually taking pictures. We didn't do anything too exciting because we wanted to catch the 11:30pm showing of Maleficent. The kids met us at the theater and after getting some popcorn (and bringing some candy from the party) we watched the movie together. (mini review: "it was okay" )
We hit the sack for another great day to come - Castaway Cay day!
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7am: We woke up to another beautiful day in the Bahamas.
From the bed, we could see Castaway Cay
The island looked so small from out in the water...
We went up to Cabanas for breakfast and watched people already heading out for an early morning at the beach.
My most favorite cruise breakfast: a whole mess o' bacon, corned beef hash, and the bagel I made with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and capers - breakfast of champions!
We eventually got ourselves together and went down to exit the boat. We love love love Castaway Cay and we meant to enjoy every minute of it! The only specific plan we had for the day was to rent bikes again. We found the exact spot we were at last year and put our stuff down.
Early morning rainbow near our favorite spot on the beach
CC restroom
The irresistible pull of In Da Shade games...
After taking (their) time to find just the right bike, we headed off on the path.
One handed blurry pic
At the lookout tower
After leaving the tower, we finished the path and kept going towards Serenity Bay. We pedaled all the way to the end where we took a break. Boy it was nice to get some exercise!
We rode back, me not jealous at all while gazing at the cabanas we passed along the way. Sigh... After dropping off the bikes we headed to our spot on the beach. The kids went off to some fun Edge activity that was planned and Dh and I settled in for some quality down time.
One of my favorite shots
Our spot
Looked like the Coast Guard
We got hungry again around 12:30 and headed over to Cookies BBQ for a great lunch.
I know that chicken sandwich doesn't look like much, but it was dang good! (surprisingly and pleasantly spicy!) Also: cous cous, BBQ chicken, garlic cheese bread, potato salad, and tomato salad - All yummy!
Desert! And some for later
Happily stuffed, Dh and I went back for some serious relaxing. The kids had eaten at Cookies Too with Edge. (I was hoping Titus had more than just ice cream ) Titus joined us on the beach as the tide was too low to play on the playground thing out in the water. We had some impromptu fun watching the kids chase the fish that were swimming around us.
The would hide under the shade of our chairs, then turn brown
After a while, we got a little too much sun and thought it was a perfect time for some ice cream. We took a stroll to see some of the area where the kids hung out.
Some event happening at the lounge
The kids went down this "like a billion times" they said Note: Titus feels comfortable around the water, but I was proud of him for wearing a vest for this slide. He said it seemed pretty deep and didn't want to take any chances.
My desktop
We continued on with our tour...
Where we got our bikes that morning. (lol, my finger photobomb )
Max was ready to go back to the ship for the pool party at Edge. I'm telling you, being a kid on the Disney Dream is amazing! We stayed for about another hour and by around 3pm we were thoroughly sun-drenched and "chilled out". (Titus was water logged!)
Back in the room, we saw these guys. Even when no one was there to meet them, they remained "in character". It was hot out, but they never looked like it for even one second.
It was Pirate Night, and after we got cleaned up, we donned our pirate bandanas. Max joined us back in the room and the boys wanted to do the Mid-Ship Detective Agency from start to finish. (I'm glad, because I wanted to also!) Dh headed up to his usual roost on the upper deck and we went to start the game. They really got into it, competing against each other to get the clues. We saw other families doing the same thing, but it was easy to avoid seeing what they were doing so it was fresh for us. We had a good time completing the game, and I got to get some more shots of the amazing artwork around the ship.
The interactive artwork is totally cool
We went back to the room to relax a bit before dinner at Royal Palace.
Sunset
I knew it was going to be a early night for us as Titus started to fade before dinner was served
Conch Chowder - we screwed up our courage and gave this a try. It was good! (tasted just like clam chower)
Honeydew and Watermelon soup - Max not a fan, but I liked it
Shrimp and Scallops with Tempura Vegetables - Really good!
Max tried one of my faves from last year: BBQ Beef Short Ribs. He said it was delicious.
Fruit cobbler I think?
I think this was just a scoop of ice cream.
After dinner, I knew we'd never make it to the Pirate Party. The only party thing I did was get a shot of Daisy, lol.
Waiting for us back in the room
By 10:30 we were all in our cozy beds, watching Hercules on TV. We were supposed to take a short nap, then get up for the midnight show of Guardians of the Galaxy. We never made it. I think we had all fallen asleep shortly after Hercules slew the Hydra...
Tomorrow, our day at sea...
You all really made the most of CC. It really looks like perfect weather. Love all the photos from the bike ride. I'd love to do the Detective Agency thing sometime to see the interactive art. All the artwork around the DCL ships is incredible. I'm always wiped out by a day at CC-- all that sun and clear air just makes me sleepy!
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Looks like a nice time. What a casino!
Here's our view from lunch:
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