OMG, that is too funny! I literally laughed out loud here at my desk at work.. I hope no one heard me
Bwahaha! I literally just laughed out loud...and for several minutes too.
I'm sorry but that is too funny
Yeah... I don’t get embarrassed easily, but I’m pretty sure I turned all shades of red for that one!
I think he will really enjoy it as well... And Yep that is EXACTLY why I can not do they feed the rays shellfish!
Holly, still following your TR and still LOVING it! Your pics on Castaway Cay are just gorgeous. I definitely need a DSLR very soon.
I'm so sorry that Brett was sick for part of this trip. Seems like he was a real trooper and tried to have fun despite the y__________ess!
I really appreciate you posting the activities list for Castaway Cay. I have wondered about the various activities that we could do while we're there. Of course, I'm sure I could've found it somewhere online but you definitely made it convenient since I've been following your report anyway.
We're trying to decide if we can swing a cruise next year because we're thinking of going to WDW for two weeks with my 3 siblings who have never been. You know how fun it can be to go with newbies! But, let me tell you, the Dream is definitely calling my name!
Two weeks at WDW... that would be bliss! We’ve only done one trip that lasted longer than a week, but most of our trips don’t even last that long. They’re usually 3-4 night stints.
After seeing all of your pictures through all these TR's.. Ive come to the conclusion that I need a DSLR..
Any recommendations for an entry level model?
Oooh, once you purchase a DSLR, you’ll wonder why it ever took you so long to make the jump. Or at least that’s how it was for me. I use a Canon Rebel Xsi... I love my Canon and would definitely recommend the Rebel line, but I would make sure you start with the current model they’re selling. I think it’s the T3i. The biggest plus it has over mine is the 6400 ISO capability. Mine only goes to 1600, and I’m almost always feeling limited by it anymore. Higher ISO settings will allow you to take better pictures at night and indoors.
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to narrow down your favorites among the lines (I’d probably suggest sticking with Canon or Nikon as they are both very good and offer a lot of lens variety) and then go into a store and actually handle them. See which ones feels best for you.
I'm back, Holly! All caught up again!
Now, you know that I'm not a cruise person, I'm more of a keep my feet on the ground kind of gal! And your first night is exactly why I see myself as that.....although maybe there wouldn't be a lot of newlyweds on the ship with me to make it so rocky.
Anyway, seeing those characters in the fabulous getups is almost too tempting! I'm guessing if I didn't have four kids I would probably book one on the spot, but getting two rooms is just too spendy for us at this moment. It is a nice thought, though.
And you two make the cutest pirates! I love your scowling picture! Sorry about the sickness! Hopefully Brett got over it quickly!
All of those Castaway Cay pictures are simply stunning! Nice work!!
Thanks, Jenn. The characters really are amazing... and so abundant, but I can definitely appreciate how expensive a cruise would be for your family... wow!
We weren’t too original with the pirate attire... we recycled it from the year we attended the Pirate and Princess Party. Not many people seemed to be dressed up, which surprised me a bit. I would’ve like to see more people get into the spirit of things.
YAY! I'm so glad you are updating again!
FYI: the ribbon on my dress was a little addition added by myself. It didn't come with the dress. It was the same color as the bridesmaids dresses and just made everything tie together a lot better so we added it! (thanks to my consultant!) Thanks for the compliments!
Aha! Then I think it was the same dress. I love that you personalized it and really made it your own. I still want to know if you post a review over on Cruise Critic!
I am so glad to see all the pictures of the munks! They hold a near and dear place to my heart. When took Brett on his very first Disney trip (he was 3) they were still doing the characters at LTT. He absolutely, positively, fell in love with Dale! He thought he was the funniest thing he had ever seen! And it was so cute and funny to see Brett interact with him. Ever since then he has been a fan. We require an ADR at Garden Grill every trip, simply for the fact that is the only meal they still do! And I love their little sailor outfits!
That’s such a cute story. Really though, how can one not fall in love with Dale?! It really is too bad they’ve been cut out of a lot of the meals... I know they used to appear at Ohana, Chef Mickey’s, and Cape May Café, as well.
Love Brett's pirate outfit!
The water in the Bahamas: Oh. My. Gosh. Never seen such beautiful water ever! Such a beautiful blue-green! And I knew when I got in our tender to Coco Cay and I could see fish swimming around under the surface, this wasn't the Gulf of Mexico people!
Is the Flying Dutchman not there anymore? Did I miss a pic? Or did you not take one? I just know it used to be there.
Overall, still fabulous!
The water really is breathtaking, and one of my favorite things about cruising the Caribbean.
The Flying Dutchman is no longer there.
I never actually saw it, but it’s my understanding that the tide had worked away at it until it was about to fall apart from the inside. It’s such a shame it wasn’t properly maintained.
I can understand why it was so hard leaving Castaway Cay, I could stay in that water FOREVER... Oh and those sunset pictures are to die for. It looked like you pretty much had that deck to yourself while you were taking notes and watching Lilo and Stitch (extremely appropriate movie by the way.) I agree with you regarding the setting. Only way to watch a movie...I hope to experience it some day!
One of my favorite times of day on a ship is when all the early diners go in to get ready for dinner. The decks become a lot easier to manage and there is usually space in the pools. Plus, the sun is starting to get a little lower in the sky and the temperature is perfect.
On our Princess cruise we really enjoyed their “Movies Under The Stars.” Each night they would show a different movie on one of their upper decks. They would even provide blankets and popcorn for the show. Coolest thing ever!
OMG that "newlyweds" comment was so awkwardly hilarious I love it!
Pirate night looked like a lot of fun and I loved the cameo from Panchito Beakman. You guys were just too cute in your pirate garb.
Macadamia encrusted mahi mahi!! Drool!!!! Two of my favorite things that go GREAT together!
Pirate night was lots of fun... and the menu was definitely well thought out and executed.
Okay, being the huge Disney plush collector that I am I nearly freaked when I saw the cruise Chip and Dale! After calming down I came to the conclusion that I need to take a cruise now so I can buy them. I have yet to get Chip and Dale as a set (I'm horrible, I know! ) but I have discriminating taste when it comes to those two. The set has to look juuuust right. It is my mission for my next trip!
I’m obsessed with Disney plush... I could go to WDW and never buy the first “souvenir” if it weren’t for Disney plush. The whole idea to do a tree out of plush was so that I would have an excuse to keep buying them up. Now I’ve started going crazy over the Pook-a-looz Plush (more on this in one of my future trip reports). Do a search for “chip and dale pook-a-looz,” if you want to see something really cute!
It took us forever to pick up the original Chip and Dale set, but now that we have them, they tend to stowaway on every single one of our Disney trips. :animwink:
Okay so here's the thing,there are trip reports i skim through and others were i only can stand to look at the pics n some i can't be bothered with at all BUT OH EM GEE I love your trip reports especially this one it's my fave so far !!!!!!
AWww, thank you, mamamouse. I really appreciate that, because I try really hard to balance the pictures with the text and keep it interesting!
Ohhhhhh Myyyyyyy Gooooooood (Janice voice from FRIENDS) I LOVE the pics of Castaway Cay and all the Pirate festivities. I love that you guys got dressed up like Pirates! And thank you SO much for posting pics of all the maps and itineraries. It will help me plan out our 1 year anniversary Disney Dream cruise for 2012!!
Shelley! You are getting married in less than three months. OMG! The last three months are when I got everything done. I need to hop on over to your planning pages and get an update.
Oh yeah, I was surprised by how few people actually got into the pirate spirit, but I’m really glad we did.
And may I say you and your hubby are smokin! You won't see pics of Jason and I in our bathing suits!
I can't even remember the last time I wore a bathing suit...I think it might have been on our trip in 2009 when we went to the hot tub at the Contemporary one night.
Good for Brett for powering through the sickness. I've done the same thing on many trips and it's very difficult. But nothing keeps me from the magic
You’re too sweet, my sister! I worked out like a fiend leading up to the wedding, but for the last three months I’ve been sooooo bad. I’m just now getting back into running and working out, like pre-wedding.
It’s nice to have a routine again.
I can't wait to read more, I never want this TR to be over!!
Not me! I’m totally ready for this trip report to be over... I can’t believe it’s taken me this long already!:lookaroun :lol:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. While I prefer Dale to Chip, I would never dream of buying one without the other. Back on one of our trips when I was a kid, my parents surprised us after we got home with secret gifts they'd picked up for us in the parks. They bought me Dale- just Dale. It drove me NUTS and they didn't understand why I needed Chip when Dale was my fave of the two. I finally bought Chip when I was in college, but both he and Dale mysteriously disappeared.
Oh no! How terrible to have one munk without the other. You probably shouldn’t worry too much about what happened to them... knowing them they’re out there enjoying all the mischief they’re creating for others!
Wait!! I'm actually caught up?!? I'm loving your report so far Holly!! I already commented on the unforgettable wedding (and I honestly keep going back to your wedding evening cruise to watch Illuminations. I never noticed the lyrics of We Go On and Promise before and I've been listening to them. That touch could not have been more perfect!!)
Uhh... I’ve really slowed down with the updates, huh?! Every time I think I’m going to get caught up and get an update out there, something comes up (booo... work) and it’s another week before I’m ready to update.
Seriously... the lyrics to those songs are absolutely amazing. Those, along with the musical track are what make Illuminations so emotionally powerful to me.
So on to your cruise...
I'm so sorry that both of you had your moments of feeling less than par, but glad you still enjoyed it so much! What great character greetings you have had!! I love all of the photos and Castaway Cay looks so amazing! That 5K is so tempting! I'd be all over that. I love fun runs when you don't know where you are going on an exotic, private island
I doubt we'll ever take a Disney cruise so I'm really enjoying this part of your story. My hubby is Coast Guard so he has absolutely zero desire to go cruising. Sure it's relaxation, but still...kwim? Either way, too bad for him because your TR shows just how amazing it is!
LUV pirate night!
I can totally understand why Ben isn’t enamored with the idea of a cruise. But I bet your boys would absolutely love it. The 5K really does look like so much fun... hopefully, we’ll get back there soon to tackle it.
LOVE the picture of Stitch just hanging out near the railing, checking out the view. And the characters in pirate gear...as you would say, swoon! So fun!
Those pictures that you took during the sunset are BEAUTIFUL...the light is just amazing. Great job!!
I need to make Will sit down and read this...he is anti-cruise at the moment and reading your and Tammy's reports really makes me want to do a Disney cruise!
I love that picture, too. We actually came across him in the stairwell when he was headed up there... he was going up the stairs on all fours (like a puppy!). So fun!
Thanks for the compliments on the sunset pictures. My best sunset pictures are probably in the RCI and Princess cruise reviews. I think the time of year we were on RCI (January) must just be great for sunsets because I was lucky enough to get some great ones then. And we were further into the Caribbean for the Princess cruise. I don’t know if that is what caused the super orange skies we were seeing, or if it was simply luck. I just know we saw some amazing sunsets on those trips.
Will should get on board... STAT! Literally. :lookaroun :lol:
