A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes: A March 2011 Disney Wedding/Honeymoon Trip Report

It’s official! Brett and I are finally married and I couldn’t be more excited. We had the most perfect wedding day ever, at our most favorite place in the whole entire world. And of course, as expected, it went by all too quickly. I’m not going to lie, coming down off the high that was our Disney wedding/cruise/honeymoon has been tough. In fact, I'm hoping that writing up/posting this trip report will help me work through some of that. However, I’ve spent much of my spare time in the last few weeks staring at a blank word document... writer’s block? Never heard of it! :lol:

For the first time ever, in all my trip report writing, I did a pre-trip report. It lays out most of the wedding-related details, but for those of you out there who are like me and rarely read pre-trip reports, here’s a quick rundown of events:

Wednesday, March 16, 2011: Drive down, check in offsite for the night
Thursday, March 17, 2011: Check-in, Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Friday, March 18, 2011: Wedding Day, Sunset Pointe
Sunday, March 20, 2011: Board Disney Dream for a 4 night Bahamas cruise
Thursday, March 24, 2011: Check-in, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Sunday, March 27, 2011: Check out and head home

We kind of saw this trip as having three legs: Wedding/Cruise/Disney!

A look back at our Disney trip reports: September 2008 (Contemporary), December 2008 (Old Key West), January 2009 (Port Orleans Riverside & Disney Marathon), July 2009 (Wilderness Lodge Villas/Animal Kingdom Lodge), December 2009 (Beach Club Villas), March 2010 (Pop Century & Princess Half), June 2010 (Coronado Springs), August 2010 (Polynesian & Engagement), December 2010 (Kidani Village)

This was our first time on DCL, however, we’ve cruised a handful of times before. So if anyone is interested, those trip reports can be found here: May 2009 (Carnival Liberty), December 2009 (Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas), May 2010 (Emerald Princess), June 2010 (Norwegian Sky)

Oh dear. I feel like I’m embarking on what will be the longest trip report EVER (and I’ve written some long ones). My apologies in advance, as it will likely take awhile to get this report up in its entirety. The good news though, is that I’ve completed the text all the way up through the wedding, so we’ll get to that part fairly quickly!

With all that said, let the memories begin...

 

[HollyBelle]

The show that evening was “Believe,” which is about a botanist, Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, who only believes in cold, hard facts and his daughter who believes in all sorts of impossible things like magic, fairy dust, and dreams. Spoiler alert: by the end of the show Dr. Greenaway was a firm believer... in all sorts of impossible things like magic, fairy dust, and dreams. :animwink:

“What makes the garden grow?” Oh dear, did this song ever get stuck in our heads. Throughout the rest of the trip, one of us was constantly breaking out in song. :lookaroun

Back to the show… it was narrated by the Genie, also known as Hades. Herein lies the issue with Villains Tonight for us. The actor, who played both Hades and the Genie, made next to no characteristic distinction between the two. It worked for the Genie, because that’s how the character is written. He’s known to make some pop culture references now and then and he’s over the top wacky. Hades? Not so much. He's supposed to be all cool and collected until he loses his head. And that’s not the character we saw in Villains Tonight. Instead, we saw the Genie two nights in a row.

Throughout the show the Genie, along with many of his magical friends, teaches Dr. Greenaway how to believe in the power of magic. I really enjoyed it, and it ended up being Brett’s favorite of the three shows we saw. Again, there were some incredibly well chosen numbers and the sets and costuming were above and beyond the realm of what you usually see on a cruise ship.

Hey, look, it’s Yzma! Oops, I mean, Mary! :lookaroun

 

[HollyBelle]

A talking Baloo was a fun surprise, I definitely wasn’t expecting him:

I think my favorite part of the show may have been the Princess and the Frog medley. I heart Lottie… and she didn’t disappoint!

Of course, the Sorcerer’s apprentice was there… who can do a show about magic and not include him?!

Overall, across the board, the shows on DCL blow away the competition. In fact, there is no competition, as far as I’m concerned. The costuming, sets, acting, script, and music are of such a high quality… let’s be honest – it’s the Disney touch. Enough said, right?

 

[HollyBelle]

After the show we went to watch the sunset and take in the ambiance of the open decks. We walked past one of my favorite paintings on the way. Such a sense of familiarity – I’d say there are times when I'm trying to bat my eyelashes at Brett over a glass of wine, while he eyeballs the food in front of him! :lol: Maybe we should've bought this painting, instead!

The sunset was just so-so that evening. In fact, I was spoiled a few cruises back when we sailed over New Year’s Eve. I don’t know if it was the time of year, or what, but the sunsets on that cruise were absolutely gorgeous… and I haven’t seen any like them since.

The eye candy aboard the ship was more impressive…

I love the little moments spent up top during dinner hours (on all our cruises). It’s always so peaceful and relaxing, and never crowded. I guess it’s just my personality, but I prefer this to the bars and clubs on the promenade decks.

 

[HollyBelle]

I heart Lucifer… he’s a great Disney cat!

The classic Mickey slide:

Favorite!

She really is a beautiful ship…

These were the last shots I took of the upper decks… we didn’t make it up there before our departure the next morning.

 

[HollyBelle]

Walking back downstairs, we happened across the Vista Gallery… OMG! We almost forgot to pick up Hula Time. Can you believe it?!

I spy a Daisy Duck (of course, I also spy lots of people wandering about Shutters, and purchasing pictures):

Brett took Hula Time back to our stateroom and I headed down to the Enchanted Garden to wait for our table. I took a detour on the way and stepped out to enjoy the promenade a bit.

I ran into the couple who got engaged during the sailaway show! Remember them? I know, I know, I wrote about that, like, a month ago. You probably need a refresher what with how long this report is taking me to write. I felt like such a stalker walking up to them and introducing myself, but they reacted exactly as I hoped they would. They were super excited I had pictures because, apparently, the guy’s dad was supposed to be taking pictures but got so excited he forgot. Woohoo… you don’t know how excited I was about this. For me, it was the coolest thing ever to be able to provide something like this for someone else, because I know how much I would’ve loved for someone to have taken some stealth photos of Brett’s proposal.

Dinner was back in the Enchanted Garden, again. This time the ambiance was inspired by our surroundings, unlike the previous evening when it was all about the pirates. I wish we would’ve been able to experience the restaurant as it’s meant to be experienced the first time we dined there, but I understand why it has to be the way it is.

We both ordered the same appetizer for our first course, lobster ravioli. I was afraid the tomato broth it was in would overpower it, but it actually complemented the lobster quite well.

And then I think there was soup… but I can’t quite remember and I don’t have a picture to prove otherwise. For our main entrees I ordered a pork dish and Brett had some type of fish, I think it was sea bass.

Honestly, I don’t remember much about our actual food that night. We were already gearing up for our remaining dinners back at the World. It was one of those great meals though, conversationally, where we marveled over our newfound status as husband and wife and talked a lot about our big day. The second leg of our wedding/honeymoon trip was coming to a close, and while we were both excited about the upcoming days at the Wilderness Lodge, I was having my first pangs of bittersweetness that night. Life just goes by too incredibly fast.

Here’s a blurry picture of dessert… it was a tasty little trio. I’d probably say the strawberry cheesecake was the best of the three desserts:

Back in the room, we managed to find a way to pack everything in a way that would allow us to carry it all off the next morning. As much as I hated it, this required me to actually *pack* Ginger. We didn’t want to have our hands so full with luggage the next morning and end up banging Hula Time into a wall or something as we got off the ship.

The painting was super bubble wrapped, and had a handle made out of Disney shopping bags. Can you believe that? It was well protected, but I found it odd that they didn’t have a more formal way to pack such an item.

Up next… we check in for Part III at the Wilderness Lodge!

 

[disneygirl1]

Awesome update Holly! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[JoeSpence]

Holly, These Trip Reports have been great, and have made me desperately want to go on another cruise...Someone may have asked this already, or maybe I just missed the update, but was there a formal night on this sailing?

 

[foreverbelle]

OK this is such an Epic TR..I don't know how I shall ever live up to it. LOL....but yeah compared this, mine...

Anyways its so sad to see that this section is coming to an end, though it seems like it is going on forever....lol.

Ah Wilderness Lodge my favorite. Please please please. As always you leaving me wanting more and more....

 

[WishIWasAtWDW]

holly, i love your trip report!!! it has me super excited for our honeymoon on the disney dream!! castaway cay looks absolutely AMAZING! and your pictures are wonderful, as always. oh and i love your mickey sailor tank top!! i have it too!! :lol: when i saw it, i knew i just had to buy it to wear on the cruise!! great minds think alike i guess! can't wait to read part 3 of your report!!

 

[HollyBelle]

Awesome update Holly! Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks, Reese!

Holly, These Trip Reports have been great, and have made me desperately want to go on another cruise...Someone may have asked this already, or maybe I just missed the update, but was there a formal night on this sailing?

Thanks, Joe! I don't think I mentioned it, but no, there isn't a formal night on the 4 night sailing.

OK this is such an Epic TR..I don't know how I shall ever live up to it. LOL....but yeah compared this, mine...

Anyways its so sad to see that this section is coming to an end, though it seems like it is going on forever....lol.

Ah Wilderness Lodge my favorite. Please please please. As always you leaving me wanting more and more....

If epic is in reference to how incredibly LONG it is taking me to finish the darn thing, then yes, I agree. :lol: Honestly, I've never been so far behind on my projects. Summer work-related travel has really ramped up, and it's definitely putting a cramp in my trip reporting style. Finishing the cruise portion of the trip is liking checking something big off the to-do list.

I have all intentions of not going another whole week without an update. We'll see how that goes though. :lookaroun

I'm sad that we'll be missing each other by just a day in a couple weeks, but I hope you have an amazing trip. And I'll be looking forward to the trip report!

 

[HollyBelle]

holly, i love your trip report!!! it has me super excited for our honeymoon on the disney dream!! castaway cay looks absolutely AMAZING! and your pictures are wonderful, as always. oh and i love your mickey sailor tank top!! i have it too!! :lol: when i saw it, i knew i just had to buy it to wear on the cruise!! great minds think alike i guess! can't wait to read part 3 of your report!!

That's so funny we have the same shirt. I bought it over a year before the cruise and kept it in the closet with the tags on until I put it in the suitcase. :lol: You and Wes are going to have so much fun... I hope the wedding planning is going smoothly.

 

[madswithano]

I am inexplicably obsessed with this wave in the railing...I don't know why but I just really love it. Aaaaaand now I sound like a crazy person. Awesome.

 

[HollyBelle]

I am inexplicably obsessed with this wave in the railing...I don't know why but I just really love it. Aaaaaand now I sound like a crazy person. Awesome.

You and I both, Madeleine! I love that shot, mostly because it highlights the great architecture of the Dream.

 

[barrettismyhero]

I ended up getting a Nikon D3000.

You were right.. Why haven't I gotten one before?!?

 

[Tidbit]

[/QUOTE]

I was going to wait to the very end before I made any comment, but when I saw this picture of you and Bret I just HAD to say something! Did you notice that your "new" husband has "Mickey Ears" in this pic?!!!! :lol: Since I have now made a comment let me tell you that your wedding was AWESOME! I'm a camera/picture nutt too, and I get sooooo mad when we get back from a vacation, and I notice that I'm hardly in ANY of the pictures, so I understand your "forgot the camera meltdown" but the pictures that you have are speachless!!!! I'm also a scrapbooker, and I can't wait to see your pages soon too!!! Now back to the show......I mean your trip report!:sohappy:

 

[mouselvrmom]

I totally noticed the same thing about Brett's mickey ears!!!

I LOVE the night pictures you took of the ship!

And, was Minnie wearing a mumu?! :lookaroun:lol:

 

[HollyBelle]

I ended up getting a Nikon D3000.

You were right.. Why haven't I gotten one before?!?

Congrats, Jon! Best decision, ever. :sohappy:

I was going to wait to the very end before I made any comment, but when I saw this picture of you and Bret I just HAD to say something! Did you notice that your "new" husband has "Mickey Ears" in this pic?!!!! :lol: Since I have now made a comment let me tell you that your wedding was AWESOME! I'm a camera/picture nutt too, and I get sooooo mad when we get back from a vacation, and I notice that I'm hardly in ANY of the pictures, so I understand your "forgot the camera meltdown" but the pictures that you have are speachless!!!! I'm also a scrapbooker, and I can't wait to see your pages soon too!!! Now back to the show......I mean your trip report!:sohappy:

Oh wow... I hadn't noticed the Mickey ears. That is hilarious! Thank you for the kind words about our wedding - it really was a dream come true for us both. I can't wait to start working on some sort of book for it... we need to liven the scrapbooking thread back up!

I totally noticed the same thing about Brett's mickey ears!!!

I LOVE the night pictures you took of the ship!

And, was Minnie wearing a mumu?! :lookaroun:lol:

A Caribbean mumu, Jenn! Good choice for the summer heat. :lol: It's cute, but her Eskimo outfit and boots really blow it out of the water.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Awww, I'm so sad this part of the trip is ending But let me say, the ship is gorgeous and you two obviously had a blast!! And I def have decided a cruise is in the future and it WILL be a Disney cruise!!

 

[Ariel484]

Will should get on board... STAT! Literally. :lookaroun :lol:

Ugh, I know. I brought it up yesterday and he was like "You could go on a cruise without me, you know..." But what fun would that be???

Anyhoo, gotta read your updates now!

 

[Ariel484]

...And, was Minnie wearing a mumu?! :lookaroun:lol:

I thought the same thing! :lol:

So glad that Brett was feeling better...nothing worse than being sick on vacation!

Thanks for including all of the pictures of the art around the ship...LOVE the Ratatouille painting! And the Daisy/Donald one is adorable.

Great night shots of the ship!! As usual.

I totally know how you feel about getting bittersweet over the vacation ending before it's over. Hell, I was feeling like that BEFORE we left for our most recent trip. After so much planning and looking forward to it for so long, it's sad when a trip ends or is about to end.

And thanks for spoiling the end of "Believe" for me...GOSH! :lol: