Joan's Big Trip Surprise - updated 7/21 with both Parts I and II About This Page:

[JoanW]

The Plan

I originally started calling this trip the Big Extravaganza. Later, I changed it to the Big Trip Surprise.

The Cast of Characters: Joan , age 46, the wife of Pat, planner of all things Disney and all vacations wherever they take us; Pat, age 60 (yikes, how did that happen?) husband of Joan for the past 16 + years, source of income for this madness; Camille, 23, step daughter graduating with a Master’s Degree in May 2005; Grace, age 14, daughter, lover of Pirates of the Caribbean, 8th grade graduate; Rachel, age 12+, daughter, my co pilot in the car and assistant in the kitchen; Neil, age 26, future son-in-law, too many tattoos but nice guy anyway, able to withstand high pitched squeal of fiancée; and Marco, age 16, Camille’s half brother (and we’ve never met him because he has lived in another state with their mother).

March, 2004
I started planning this trip in March 2004, with a price quote for a 3 night Disney Cruise from Mouseear Vacations. I planned on surprising my stepdaughter Camille with a trip to the Mouse for her graduation from college with her Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. It was like going to medical school. And as costly. We didn’t do much to celebrate her undergraduate degree, as she went straight to grad school and never looked back. We just wrote checks.

I put a deposit down on two cabins for a June 9, 2005 - 3 Night Wonder cruise on April 1, 2004, well in time for the early booking discount and well ahead of the California West Coast cruise announcement.

I told Camille’s younger sisters about the cruise as we had already been on one and loved it. We even thought about the excursions we’d like to do. They are big planners like me. And Grace would be graduating from the 8th grade. Another reason to celebrate!

At about the same time, I heard through a family grapevine of the demise of Camille’s half brother’s home life situation as their mother was in some kind of trouble, again. I had an idea.

I contacted Camille’s uncle by mail at the end of March 2004 to find out who to ask if Marco could join us for the secret trip a year and three months away, as Marco’s home situation was changing on a weekly basis. My letter was forwarded to Marco’s adoptive father. He gained sole custody of him last year. He called me on Easter Sunday, which was in April 2004 and very happily said Marco would love to join us. I swore them to secrecy. I called my TA Tim Larison and added Marco’s name to the list. And I told the younger sisters. They have to help me plan, after all.

And now to tell Pat of my plans. Pat is not a vacation person. How he married a woman with a suitcase ready for an adventure is beyond me. His idea of a vacation is to stay home from work and putter in the yard, mow the lawn, dig around in the shed, fuss with the fish pond. Fortunately for the rest of the family, I am always prepared, always planning, and always have an idea of something good. He always goes along, never has to pack a thing but the suitcases in the car, and just has to provide me with funds. Well, and some type of “okay, it sounds like a good idea”.

So after I talked with Marco’s dad on Easter Sunday, and while Pat is doing all the dinner dishes, I call the younger girls in to the kitchen and we tell him out plans. He thinks it’s great, especially if we can keep it a secret for over 15 months. Let the planning begin.

I start by ordering a new Deluxe Passporter and Cruise Passporter. I try and fit them into one book, but decide I need TWO of the lovely padded binders. I map out my planning strategy. I sleep with my deeeeluxe binders. I flip between the two, as it has become two separate vacations. I budget for the cruise and the parks. I decide to add in Camille’s boyfriend, because what the heck, I am being generous with Pat’s money. I decide that we cannot afford three rooms each night for a stay on site in Disney and research off site housing. I find a four bedroom, three bathroom rental home with a pool in the back. I sent in a deposit.

I kept in touch with Marco and his Dad over the summer, and decided I have to alert Camille to the fact that she cannot make any plans or commit to anything from June 8, 2005 to June 19, 2005. One of her college roommates got engaged and asks Camille to be in her wedding, ON JUNE 10! I had to contact the bride and inform her that Camille cannot be in her wedding, but we will send her a nice gift. She’s miffed, but my planning continues.

I mapped out my strategy on a color-coded spreadsheet, with deadlines, downpayments, and balances due. I start adding things like hotel the night before the cruise, Limo rentals, Wishes Cruise, 5 nights of dinners, Wonder excursions, 6 park passes, one Annual Pass, Disney Dining Experience card, air fare, car rentals, and OMG the price is rising and rising! Am I out of control??? No way!

Christmas 2004
Suddenly, it's December. Grace, Rachel and I go to a Passporter Meet in Philly. Christmas comes, and then New Years. I start seriously shopping for airfare and I beat my budgeted price by $750! Then I pay off the cruise. Then I book two car rentals. And limo rides to and from the airport (7 people, plus 10 check in suitcases and 7 carry ons, okay, we need the 14 passenger limo!!!)

May 2005

And now it’s May. May is overwhelmingly busy. It starts with Grace’s Confirmation the first week of May. Then the third week of May is Camille’s college graduation. The girls and I made a Powerpoint slide show of the plans, except for who our secret guest is going to be. We made no mention of him whatsoever. We show her the ship, the Dolphin Swim, the cabins, the meals, the house we rented, the parks, the dinners in the parks, the water parks. She about fell off her chair.

June arrives and we are on a whirlwind trying to get packed and attend Grace’s graduation. It’s scheduled for Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 pm, with Mass (Catholic School). I have Marco flying in from Indiana to Baltimore at 7:00 pm. Neil, the fiancée is supposed to pick him up and take him out to eat and to hide in the house till we get there. Camille must have called him 500 times from her cell phone to see where he was and why was he taking so long to get from his house in Pennsylvania. Ah, young love. She’s about to explode. Rachel and I sneak away from the graduation reception and race down the highway to greet Marco and Neil and to hide Marco in the kitchen. Pat HAD to stop and get an iced tea, so Camille knew we were up to something. Finally at 9:00 pm, she walked in and I told her, nonchalantly, that we had an extra to take on the trip. She burst into tears and hugged her brother. She has not seen him for two years.

Marco is the quietest 16 year old we have ever met. Maybe he was overwhelmed by our enthusiasm. Those of you who have met Grace and Rachel must know they pounced on him like Tigger with a million questions and hugging and okay, we were loud!

June 8, 2005
The morning of departure has finally arrived. The 10 suitcases are lined up outside as soon as they are zipped. The 14 passenger limo arrived promptly and we are off to the airport on time.

There are suitcases in the trunk, the front seat and the seats towards the front in the back of the limo. We laugh all the way to the airport. It’s starting to get warm. I’m sweating profusely. It’s a trend that will continue throughout our long 12 day vacation.



We are flying on AirTran, so we are checked in and on our way through security. I notice the guy behind us is our neighbor, and he invites us to wait out our time with him in the US Air Club. Oh we are feeling like we are so special.

Next: Florida, Here We Come!

[Annabel]

Great start Joan, I'm really looking forward to reading all about your adventures. I love the photos - the look on your daughter's face is priceless! Well done for keeping the surprise so long, I'm not sure I could've. More please

[JoanW]

Orlando!
We arrive in Orlando after an uneventful flight. We ride to the other part of the airport to baggage claim. I head over on the Hertz shuttle to get the car rentals started. I get there and when I ask for my minivan, I have a major heart attack. They have a reservation for a minivan for me, at a higher rate than I booked. Come to find out, I had booked a cheaper rate a month after I booked the original minivan. AAA never cancelled the original van. After I got that all straightened out, they tell me that Pat has to be there to get the second car, I can’t have two cars in my name. Whatever. He and the kids finally show up on the shuttle bus and we get an Impala in case we all don’t want to go somewhere together. Like shopping. We landed at 4:30 and it’s now almost 6:00 and we are tired and hungry. I “convince” the group that we need to get to Port Canaveral and we can eat there. I have maps and menus. I have plans! I have an itinerary!

We headed out on the Beeline Expressway. We saw this route two years ago when we went on the Disney Cruise Bus. We see signs for Cocoa. That makes everyone laugh out loud. We finally make it to Port Canaveral by 7:00 and find the Radisson at the Port http://www.radisson.com/capecanaveralfl
It’s an awesome hotel. We decide to eat first before we check in. I prepaid for our rooms a few months before, so they know we are coming. We see two choices for dinner, Zachary’s and Kelsey’s Pizza and Pasta. Zachary’s is like a Greek diner and well, the other is pizza and pasta. We flip a coin and Pizza and Pasta wins. We parked and walked over. Camille had baked ziti, with sauce on the side. She’s an on the side kind of girl. I had lasagna and the kids ordered pizza. Pat had a spicy shrimp and pasta dish. Marco ordered manicotti, which he did most of the 12 days we were on “vacay”.

Food was awesome and I forgot to take photos of the meal. I made a “note to self” to not forget to do that the rest of the trip. After dinner we check in and get our rooms. And they were awesome rooms. For the five of us Welch’s, I got the double king whirlpool suite, with a sleeper sofa in the living room and a mini kitchen. I put the boys in a regular double bed room. If you click on the Radisson’s website link, you can see the pool and maybe the room too. We went swimming until 10 pm and then went to bed. We reassessed our stuff and the boys decided they needed sunglasses and an extra swimsuit. We find out where the closest Walmart is and the next morning we decide to venture out at 7:30 am to find it.

June 9, 2005

Our goal was to be back from Walmart and at breakfast by 8:30 at the Radisson. I had bought Sam’s Club/Walmart gift cards the week before, so anything I buy there is prepaid. That was another goal of my planning, to have as much as I could prepaid. I also know that there is a new Walmart Supercenter near the house we rented, and my groceries I plan on buying there are also now prepaid. I know, just a little overly planned.


We make it back right at 8:30 am, and head to Flamingo’s for a breakfast buffet. Buffet is another word we will use over the next 12 days. So much for the Passporter Challenge I’ve been on for weeks! Food was hot, and good, and the coffee was Starbucks. This was to be my last Starbucks for the next 12 days, longer actually, as I’ve not had time to stop and get one since we’ve been back. Pat is a nervous wreck, he’s out front loading suitcases at the entrance to catch the Radisson Shuttle. He knows I want to be first in line. It’s another goal of mine to be first on the ship to get the most out of my cruising dollars. I read it on Mousesavers about getting the most of your cruising dollars. Last time we did not get to the ship till after 1:30 pm and almost missed lunch. People are lining up for the shuttle. Actually there are two lines, one for the Disney Wonder, and another for Norway’s FantaSea Cruise. I’ve been nourished and caffeinated. I’m pumped and ready to go. Grace manages to get into the Radisson’s gift shop while we are waiting in line for the shuttle bus, and she finds a pair of ladies size 11 flip flops. They are a rare find, so she gets them when she can. It’s now 9:45 am, and we are loading into the bus.

We arrive at the Disney Cruise Terminal, and we are all in awe.

The ship looks huge and we get to check in at the Castaway Club members line. I get all 7 of us checked in with no wait in line. Pat waits in the line for us to board while the kids watch tv and the lovebirds take 500 photos of themselves waiting in line. This will be a theme throughout the whole trip. Everyone sigh and say, “Oh, they’re engaged”. Repeat 500 times a day for 12 days.

I’m not successful in being first, but we are about the 10th family in line. Okay, I can deal with that. We talk to a real nice Crew Member who tells us we should be boarding by 12 noon. I am about to bust. Maybe too much caffeine.

[TroianRae]

Sounds great; I'm excited to read more!!

[LSUtigerfan]

More please!!! I was bummed when your first post came to an end, then I scrolled down and saw the second installment! I was excited to read more! So far it sounds great. I really hope that I can pull off a trip like this one day...a pre-paid surprise Disney World trip AND cruise, now that's awesome

Can't wait to hear more...Thanks for sharing!

[gwugirl03]

Great so far, Joan! Can't wait to read the rest. You are right, the pool at the Radisson is amazing!

[Tara O'Hara]

Great start Joan!! I am really looking forward to reading this report!!

[DawnDenise]

What a wonderful start Joan! I can't wait to read more about it!!

[lauren-roxy]

Great start Joan!! I have anxiously been waiting for this trip report and it is fantastic so far!!!! Can't wait to hear how it all went!!!!!

[jakenjess]

Great start to your report! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

[Chrissi]

Excellent beginning! I look forward to more installments soon.

[JoanW]

I've started going back and adding pictures, so you may want to scroll back up to see us in action.

It's Boarding Time

We board the ship and get our official photo taken. Naturally, my eyes are shut in the photo, but I buy it anyway. I mention to everyone that I have been chatting with Tess from Texas, a Passporter, who is going to be on the cruise with her husband and kids, and the fact that I have never seen her before. But I want them to keep an eye out for her, hahaha!

We headed towards Parrot Cay for lunch, but it’s not ready yet. They are sending everyone up to Beach Blanket Buffet. However, Grace and Rachel see that our server from two years ago, Zoran of Bosnia, is in the hallway. He greets us and it’s old home week. We want to switch to his rotation. The girls just loved him last time and are so happy to see him. We are hungry for the lunch BUFFET and decide to not wait for Parrot Cay to open and we head to BBB up on the 9th deck. Pat goes off to handle the dining switch. We graze at BBB and the girls order smoothies in the DCL fancy foofoo plastic cups.


Marco, Neil and Camille are still speechless about the size of the ship and the size of the lunch buffet.

I head out to look for Pat on Deck 3 to let him know where we are sitting. I’m in the elevator heading back up to BBB, and this woman gets on asks me if I’m Joan. It was Tess! She recognized me from my Passporter signature photo! I met some of her family and we discuss our dining rotations. Start humming It’s a Small World... I didn’t find Pat, so I went back up to find the kids and to see if our rooms are ready.

Our rooms were ready by 1:00, so we dragged our carry on luggage to our rooms. We had a verandah room (7038) and the kids were across the hall in inside cabins (7041 and 7043). Everyone loved their cabins.


We decorate the cabins with inflatable flamingoes and parrots. I also brought along a blow up palm tree. I secured it on our balcony with chenille stems tied to the ash tray. I hung the parrot and flamingo with chenille stems from various places around the cabin. I also brought some flamingo lights, and plugged them in and hung them around the mirror, again with the chenille stems. I put little marker boards on each door with a wipe off pen to leave messages of where we all are. And some silly messages too. Our first message is where we all are from and who just graduated from what and where.



We head to boat drill at 4:00 pm. It seems to be a little disorganized this time, and we are lined up in various lines, not as a family. And it’s hot. Horribly hot and humid. I’m sweating inside my lifejacket. I don’t think my feet are touching we are so jammed into our assignment spot. I unbuckled my jacket to let air in. As soon as we were released, I took my lifejacket off, even though they said keep it on till we get to our rooms. They wouldn’t want to have to revive me if I passed out from the heat. Trust me. After we get back to our rooms, thunder and lightening appear and the heavens have opened up. Pouring down rain, we don’t even attempt the sail away party. I believe it’s become more hot and humid since the rain, if that’s possible. We do hear the horn though. I love the horn! Pat and I decide to attend Hercules the Musical, Grace and Rachel decide to go to the movies, and Camille, Marco and Neil go to Bingo. This was the first time Pat and I saw a show on board, and we are teen-free. It’s almost like a date! Except Mr. Nervous is worried where everyone is. I could care less. I know everyone is doing something they want to. Marco won $80 at bingo. He decides to play the other two nights in hopes of the big jackpot, but it was not to be. We had the late seating, so we went to dinner after the show. Everyone meets up with us at dinner to relate what they have done onboard so far. Mr. Nervous is calming down.

Our first dinner was at Animator’s Palate. It was delicious. Everyone was thrilled with his or her dinners. I had chicken and mashed potatoes. I love potatoes. All forms and methods. Camille has some vegetarian meal, and then asks for the steak dinner as well. Everyone tries something different. Our server Zoran was perfect.

I made the mistake of putting my napkin in my lap before he had a chance and he reminded the kids to let him do it. Alas, no one at home puts my napkin in my lap. I feel like I’m on a temporary exile, just like the commercial says. After dinner we head back to our rooms. I want to unpack a little more and the girls want to go to the movies. The ship is rocking and lurching pretty hard. Pat’s seasick patch is working great. He’s snoring pretty loud and doesn’t seem to be bothered much by the rolling of the ship.

[Tara O'Hara]

Joan!! You areactually on your cruise!! How exciting!! Sorry it's so hot but you seem to be making the best of it!!

[DrDolphin]

Great start Joan!!!! I am SO enjoying this!!

[LSUtigerfan]

Another great installment....
I smiled when I read about your dd ordering the vegetarian meal, then the steak...that is what I love about a cruise!!! If you don't like something, or are just hungry for more, you can order anything you want. I was always tempted to forgo the entree's and have every dessert offered instead!

Looking forward to more!