Trip Report I ESCAPED!!! (part 1) - The Dream Girls

PART 1 OF 2​

Oh come on! Y'all didn't think I'd actually NOT post some sort of telling of the tale, did you?

#seriously?

Wait! I take that back! There was a rule about hashtags! Crap! @Ariel484 , you had the list of rules, right?

No notes to use. Just the pictures and the memories that stand out. For whatever reason there's holes here and there in my pictoral timeline. Oh well. Prob'ly better that way.

Many of the girls said things like, "What happens on the girls' cruise stays on the girls' cruise." Um, yeah. No promises on whether or not what follows is strategically edited. Chances are it is. If you want to know what really happens on the unOfficial WDWMagic Girls Cruise you'll just have to book yourself a stateroom on the next one. Needless to say, 27 ladies + 1 cruise = a hellagood time.

Part 1 of 2. This was a 2-part runaway from home for me. I decided to do these recountings in 2 pieces then link them to each other accordingly. Part 1 contains the girls cruise experience. Part 2 contains the 20th anniversary escape for me & my Sweetness. Definitely 2 vastly different trips connected by time. You can see part 2 HERE.

Also, please forgive whatever crap I post for pictures. I got a new camera a few days before I left home. I played a lot with my shots and have been experimenting heavily with editing. Oftentimes you'll see pictures taken only seconds apart that look very different. That's because in editing I'm still playing with a range of settings to find what my mind's eye enjoys. K?

With that, lets get this thing rolling!

 

[tiaragirl]

Fab fab fab TR, Miss Kelly!

Don't fret - your "downer" days are totally normal. How often are you away from your family? Of course it's strange to be separated. I'm sure my parents felt this way when they started going on vacation without us.. now they're like WHATEVA (of course, C and I are both at university - don't panic, you still have several years!).

Sounds like the girls were a lovely support and just generally fabulous company - someday I'll have the pleasure of making everyone's acquaintance! Really, really looking forward to it

I'll be keeping an eye out for your updates on you and your lova's trip! <3 I hope, for the love of Mickey, that you brought appropriate footwear.

 

[lbrad]

LOVED reading your TR!!!
Someday I will do "The Girls Cruise" ... kids are almost out of college so we will be rich $$$$ (NOT)
BUT I will go anyway!

 

[plaz10]

For the record, I would not do Jagerbombs with anyone other than you, @plaz10

Awww I'm happy to hear it! And I'm glad you said jäger bombs...as in plural. Multiple shots?! Ok Siobhan if you insist!

 

[meganw1985]

Ok, a few things:

1) I want to go my bff and I were planning on going on this one, and then she had to go and get all pregnant and we had to cancel. Boo. So will you guys plan another one? Pretty please In hindsight, I should have just gone without her hahahaha. BUT I'm a little shy and don't make friends easily and I was afraid I would be uncomfortable/make everyone else uncomfortable.
2) That lady at Remy must have "been someone". Just sayin Some people rules just don't apply to! Lol\
3) I hope to see more reports from some of the other ladies in the other staterooms/groups. I noticed there were several in your group that did the "special" dinners. Did the others eat at the assigned restaurants, or just on different nights?
4) When I saw the list of rules, I was like "No numbers? What?" lol. I'm not very good at #hashtags. Have you seen the skit with Jimmy Fallon and JT about hashtags? Hilarious-and off the subject.
5) Where did you go with your hubby after? Is it a surprise, or did I just miss that part?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I just want to say...I'm absolutely brining red bull and jäger on the next girls cruise. It's a done deal!

So now you're committed to the next one! OKAY!

Love it. It was def a blast and lots of fun memories. Some I missed out but others I fell right into place.. With such a large group it is so hard to hang out with everyone and feel like you get to know them.

I didn't post much before the cruise so I went in only knowing a few people going. The rest I couldn't even tell ya screen names going.

Now after the fact between fb/instragram I am putting all the faces to name and know who everyone is finally

It is hard to spend as much time individually as you want with such a big group and so many going in different directions.

Geez, I feel like I miss out on so much because I don't FB. Eh, worth it to keep my email and MacBook intact, tho.

Glad it was fun for everyone else, too!

I think many of us stepped out of our comfort zone...ok, maybe those of us who grew up shy did, and that includes me...this was a GREAT TIME. And I value having met and spent time with every single WDWMagic girl. Maybe because I'm a wee bit older than many of y'all, or maybe because I went to an all-girls high school, so-called "girl power" means a lot to me. Personally, I've always had an easier time befriending guys than gals, so I treasure my female friendships. And I feel like I came away from this trip with a lot of new girlfriends. WDWMagic Girls rock.

I have always befriended guys much easier than girls. I tend to trust girls less. Guys I can read like a book I've read a dozen times. LOL!

An all-girls high school??? Did your parents not like you???? Just kidding! At least you went to school.

I concur: WDWMagic Girls ROCK!

For the record, I would not do Jagerbombs with anyone other than you, @plaz10

Geez, that's so sweet & sappy in kinda a non-fluffy way.

I need to get my game face on.. our cruise is in like 3 weeks and I haven't done much of anything but book port excursions!

What else is there???? I shouldn't say that. I've been spending daaaaays pouring over Cruise Critic trying to learn about Royal Caribbean as well as shore-up port plans. For some reason, I feel like we'll be "sailing" on a mall. I predict much time in our stateroom so we can actually enjoy the sea from our verandah.

Kelly,
Thanks for sharing your trip. It sounds wonderful. Glad to hear it may be an annual thing, I'd love to be able to join you all one day. Until then, I'll just live vicariously through your reports.
You have encouraged me to different voyages. After reading your Galveston cruise, I convinces the hubby that we needed to go to key west without the kids. Just got back and it was fabulous. Alas the Better than Sex restaurant was closed for vacation when we were there. Reason for a return trip!

I hope you can join us sometime, too! The more the merrier. Never too many.

Oh now I'm jealous! You did a Key West trip?! Oh MAN! I'm sooooo gonna be sure to remember to contact Better Than Sex before we go to make sure they're going to be open. I would be crushed. I still very much want to do a Christmas in Key West. I think that'd be the BEST way to celebrate!

cool pics, i used to be on one of the CG boats where the cruise ships are in Canaveral, always wanted to ride one of the disney ones since they were right there just never did. Atlantis is a neat resort to visit, specially the casino.

You should try a Disney cruise sometime. They're really a lot of fun. Atlantis is really cool. I'm not a gambler. I get really mad if I put money in a machine and nothing comes back out. But the casino is really nice inside, for sure.

Fab fab fab TR, Miss Kelly!

Don't fret - your "downer" days are totally normal. How often are you away from your family? Of course it's strange to be separated. I'm sure my parents felt this way when they started going on vacation without us.. now they're like WHATEVA (of course, C and I are both at university - don't panic, you still have several years!).

Sounds like the girls were a lovely support and just generally fabulous company - someday I'll have the pleasure of making everyone's acquaintance! Really, really looking forward to it

I'll be keeping an eye out for your updates on you and your lova's trip! <3 I hope, for the love of Mickey, that you brought appropriate footwear.

I do still have several years. Chandler will likely go to a local college. No clue what Brian will do. If he doesn't leave for the military right away he'll prob'ly stay local as well. Who knows? I don't think I so much wanted the boys to be on the trip with me as much as I just missed them.

The girls were awesome! Loved 'em!

Hopefully I'll be starting to get the first part of my trip with my sweetie up soon. I just copied all the jpegs. All I have to do is upload and I'll be ready to begin.

Well, I had the footwear but I didn't really need it. You'll see...

LOVED reading your TR!!!
Someday I will do "The Girls Cruise" ... kids are almost out of college so we will be rich $$$$ (NOT)
BUT I will go anyway!

Yay! More peeps for the girls cruise!

Awww I'm happy to hear it! And I'm glad you said jäger bombs...as in plural. Multiple shots?! Ok Siobhan if you insist!

Just to make sure we're clear: Siobhan has committed to plural jager bombs. I'll say 1 then more as needed.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ok, a few things:

1) I want to go my bff and I were planning on going on this one, and then she had to go and get all pregnant and we had to cancel. Boo. So will you guys plan another one? Pretty please In hindsight, I should have just gone without her hahahaha. BUT I'm a little shy and don't make friends easily and I was afraid I would be uncomfortable/make everyone else uncomfortable.
2) That lady at Remy must have "been someone". Just sayin Some people rules just don't apply to! Lol\
3) I hope to see more reports from some of the other ladies in the other staterooms/groups. I noticed there were several in your group that did the "special" dinners. Did the others eat at the assigned restaurants, or just on different nights?
4) When I saw the list of rules, I was like "No numbers? What?" lol. I'm not very good at #hashtags. Have you seen the skit with Jimmy Fallon and JT about hashtags? Hilarious-and off the subject.
5) Where did you go with your hubby after? Is it a surprise, or did I just miss that part?

1) There will be more! Looking like an annual pilgrimmage we just have to set the date(s). Jump on whenever you can. We're all shy to some degree and it was sorta weird at first. But, when you're all in the same boat (I'm so punny!) everyone just sorta gets thru it together. It's part of the bonding experience.

2) If that lady at Remy was getting preferrential treatment then that makes the situation that much WORSE. People sometimes feel they aren't subject to rules but that doesn't make them right. That makes them as...... nevermind....

3)Everyone was on the same assigned dining rotation. With the exception of only a small handful, all ladies were assigned to the same seating time. We had more than 1 table close to each other. We kinda swapped out who sat where. Well, at least that's how it was the 2 nights of the 4 I ate in the MDRs. Those who wanted to try the upcharge restaurants let Tammy know ahead of time and she arranged for those ladies to sit together at those restaurants.

4) The top of the list was what all the different cards did. Haven't seen the hashtag skit with Jimmy Fallon & JT. I am, however, in loooove with their history of rap skits. Those are the shiz!

5) The week after the girls cruise was my 20th anniversary! We really wanted to go to Disneyland but it would've been insane to fly home Thursday then back out to the west coast on Saturday. So, the old man flew down to Orlando late the night I returned from the girls cruise (Thursday) so we could sail out on the Fantasy together on Saturday. That made more sense.

 

[flynnibus]

What else is there???? I shouldn't say that. I've been spending daaaaays pouring over Cruise Critic trying to learn about Royal Caribbean as well as shore-up port plans. For some reason, I feel like we'll be "sailing" on a mall. I predict much time in our stateroom so we can actually enjoy the sea from our verandah.

Figuring out onboard stuff... these classes you've mentioned, if we do want to try to fit any other special meals in, etc.

ironically today I started getting these solictor calls trying to offer me free cruises on royal carribean I think in exchange for my reviews, etc.. I didn't listen long enough before I hung up on them, but it was funny given the participation here on the forums

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Figuring out onboard stuff... these classes you've mentioned, if we do want to try to fit any other special meals in, etc.

ironically today I started getting these solictor calls trying to offer me free cruises on royal carribean I think in exchange for my reviews, etc.. I didn't listen long enough before I hung up on them, but it was funny given the participation here on the forums

It wasn't me! LOL!

The tastings and mixology you won't really know when they'll be until you board and go to Guest Services. The way the DCL booking system is set up it'll only let you reserve like 1 specialty dining meal at each restaurant ahead of time. I guess that's good so people with earlier booking windows don't book up everything then cancel as-needed. It can be annoying, tho. If you want more than 1 at any venue you'll have to do that once onboard, too. It's not hard, tho.

 

[flynnibus]

It wasn't me! LOL!

The tastings and mixology you won't really know when they'll be until you board and go to Guest Services. The way the DCL booking system is set up it'll only let you reserve like 1 specialty dining meal at each restaurant ahead of time. I guess that's good so people with earlier booking windows don't book up everything then cancel as-needed. It can be annoying, tho. If you want more than 1 at any venue you'll have to do that once onboard, too. It's not hard, tho.

Perfect... I can continue procrastinating!

I tend to not like planning when the pieces involved include a lot of uncertainty. I wanted to do more on the shore excursions.. but we'll see. I was hoping my wife would get more engaged this time around. Last time I did it all, as it was a surprise and their first cruise... but 'out of sight, out of mind' and I've done most of the heavy lifting again.

 

[fractal]

Your last few pictures are great! Especially love the one looking out the porthole at the ship.

Very sweet of your hubby! Obviously something very special going on - you missing him and the boy and likewise. Great stuff!

 

[LuvsTheMouse]

Kelly, GREAT report as always!!!!! And I love all the pictures. Thanks for what you did to get this AWESOME "Girls Cruise" going. I had so much fun and time went by so fast its hard to spend a lot of time with each other. But hey that's what a future cruise is for! Looking forward to the second part of the report.

 

[mickeysshoes]

How cool is it to see ME in your post on the Instagram you STOLE!!!!!

It was stateroom time so we headed there to unload all our carryons we'd been dra tripgging around. In no time at all it was time to go to the fabulous welcome reception that Pam ( @Kingdom Konsultant ) hosted for us in Meridian. That was soooo sweet of her! Totally wonderful!




Minnie even came for a private meet!






Totally just jacked this off Instagram. If you didn't already know, there's a whooooole bunch of picks on Instagram from lots of ladies under #wdwmagicgirls.




Crap. I just hashtagged again.

<<hangs head and shuffles off to go get the bottle again>>

<<gulp>>

For some reason that's where my pics for the day ended. I know my day didn't end here. We had a muster drill, sailaway, and dinner. I also delivered all my fish extender gifts. I know I crashed early. It was a long, busy day for just 3 1/2 hours sleep.

Sailaway Instagram grab.




And, some of our lovely WDWMagic members back home were wonderful enough to watch for us to sail away on the Port Canaveral webcam.

Here's @Zortek 's grabs.

Here's @englanddg 's grabs.

And, @englanddg 's video grab. Forward to about 8:45.




Huge shout out to all the wonderful WDWMagic peeps who took the time to watch us waving and capture screen shots/video. Thank YOU!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I'm sure you've all seen it, but part 2 has begun. It's HERE.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Perfect... I can continue procrastinating!

I tend to not like planning when the pieces involved include a lot of uncertainty. I wanted to do more on the shore excursions.. but we'll see. I was hoping my wife would get more engaged this time around. Last time I did it all, as it was a surprise and their first cruise... but 'out of sight, out of mind' and I've done most of the heavy lifting again.

I sometimes get tired of pouring over the ports, too. The worst is when I turn up too many things that I find interesting then have to get the guys' input. They're not super decisive, either. It's on me to figure it all out. The whole thing next month is mind-boggling because I'm trying to crash-course learn a whole new way of doing things onboard PLUS figure out the logistics and options for 2 ports. All our port days have massive port passenger totals so it's an added obstacle to try to find ways to avoid the masses. Think I got it, tho! We'll find out, won't we?

Your last few pictures are great! Especially love the one looking out the porthole at the ship.

Very sweet of your hubby! Obviously something very special going on - you missing him and the boy and likewise. Great stuff!

Thanks, Chris!

Oh yeah. Last night he saw me post his texts and he was like, "No you didn't!" Why not? He's the guy all us girls hope to have. And he picked ME! #blessed (<--we'll see if the girls catch that one)

Kelly, GREAT report as always!!!!! And I love all the pictures. Thanks for what you did to get this AWESOME "Girls Cruise" going. I had so much fun and time went by so fast its hard to spend a lot of time with each other. But hey that's what a future cruise is for! Looking forward to the second part of the report.

I know I'm the one who thunk it up and set it in motion but then most of the actual work part went to Tammy. In all fairness, when I thought of it she was the first person I pitched. She knew to some extent that it'd be a lot of work on her since she's the agent and all. I thought of it as a win/win all the way around. Created business for her, gave lots of girls the chance to try something they might not give up a WDW trip to try otherwise, and we all got to actually go on an adventure together. It was so surreal after 2 whole years of planning! I had such a great time. Definitely look forward to more time with my new friends on the next one!

How cool is it to see ME in your post on the Instagram you STOLE!!!!!

I totally owned-up to the jacked Instagram shot. I needed some photo filler for the story. Not that anyone would want any of my pics for fillers but feel free to grab whatever you want. LOL!

 

[WishIWasAtWDW]

Great trip report, Kelly! I am so glad to see someone started posting this trip. I am so bummed that I didn't go. And of course it didn't help that I was seeing all of the Instagram pictures while you all were away. I kept saying to Wes, "the girls just set sail." "The girls look like they are having a great time." Darn my busy year! Hahaha I already told Wes that I AM GOING on whatever the next trip is you all plan! My life will just have to fit around whenever that may be because I am not missing the next one! Thanks for sharing this part of the trip. Starting Part 2 now.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Great trip report, Kelly! I am so glad to see someone started posting this trip. I am so bummed that I didn't go. And of course it didn't help that I was seeing all of the Instagram pictures while you all were away. I kept saying to Wes, "the girls just set sail." "The girls look like they are having a great time." Darn my busy year! Hahaha I already told Wes that I AM GOING on whatever the next trip is you all plan! My life will just have to fit around whenever that may be because I am not missing the next one! Thanks for sharing this part of the trip. Starting Part 2 now.

Yes! You should totally jump on the next one! Look for September again. That's looking like it may become the regular time of year.

Hope you enjoy part 2!

 

[emcclay]

Kelly- loved the report even if it was short! So looking forward to jumping on the next girls' cruise with ya'll.

 

[plaz10]

#blessed (<--we'll see if the girls catch that one)

Drink up, roomie!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Oh my word, you're already done! I loved it! I felt like I was there.

I think you did a great job with your new camera! I didn't take as many pictures as I thought. When a ton of people are taking pictures I tend to take less for some reason. I'm working on them though! I should start a report in the next few days!

Stephen is reading your report (I think he's checking up on me?) and he cracked up at our "estrogen fueled merch detectors".

You got have toe pictures as usual. I'm so impressed you all took one after the cabana happenings! Love them!!

I did! I ran!! For about 20 feet! Thank you for not taking a picture of that, lol!

Love the Palo group picture!!

Of course I remember the pre-cruise giggle fest. It was awesome.

I was agreeing with you so much (in my head) as I read. All women groups move at a totally different pace. Lol!

Stop thanking me! It's my job!! And I got to go, which made it even better.

We are definitely nearing an announcement on the next cruise! We're narrowing it down!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Kelly- loved the report even if it was short! So looking forward to jumping on the next girls' cruise with ya'll.

Thanks, Liz! Think September. Eeeeevery September.....

Drink up, roomie!

Dang! Girl's on-point!

Oh my word, you're already done! I loved it! I felt like I was there.

I think you did a great job with your new camera! I didn't take as many pictures as I thought. When a ton of people are taking pictures I tend to take less for some reason. I'm working on them though! I should start a report in the next few days!

Stephen is reading your report (I think he's checking up on me?) and he cracked up at our "estrogen fueled merch detectors".

You got have toe pictures as usual. I'm so impressed you all took one after the cabana happenings! Love them!!

I did! I ran!! For about 20 feet! Thank you for not taking a picture of that, lol!

Love the Palo group picture!!

Of course I remember the pre-cruise giggle fest. It was awesome.

I was agreeing with you so much (in my head) as I read. All women groups move at a totally different pace. Lol!

Stop thanking me! It's my job!! And I got to go, which made it even better.

We are definitely nearing an announcement on the next cruise! We're narrowing it down!

It's amaaaaazing that you felt like you were there, too! That made me really laugh!

Eh, I'll prob'ly re-edit everything then save again. I think my editing is coming along a little better in Part 2. I have a new appreciation for all of y'all and your skilled pro photos that you incorporate into your reports. It's a lot more time consuming. Still, worth it. I'm happy to be refining and improving.

I was hoping someone would enjoy the "estrogen fueled merch detectors". It's so true. No clue where my brain conjured that one from. It's like when I asked Chandler where he got "Bearded Goat Woman From Hell" after he made a girl cry calling her that in the 7th grade. "I dunno. It just popped in my head so I went with it."

I think also our problem with the group toes pic was the sand was super soupy and throwing us all off. Admittedly, the alcohol wasn't assisting us any but that sand was just too much. We were sinking!

Your welcome for not getting a pic of you running. I almost did just for Stephen's benefit but then I figured, nah. He'll have to take our word for it. There were witnesses. LOL!

I love that Palo pic, too.

Pre-cruise giggle-fest was so fun. I didn't want it to end but we HAD to get at least a teensie bit of rest. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Just sayin'.

Yaaaaayyyyyy for imminent announcements! I'm ready ready ready!