Trip Report The simple bare necessities, forget about your worry and your strife.......

This definitely isn't the typical Disney report. This is as much as I can get when Joe accompanies me to Disney. I promised him a lazy, no plans, no itinerary trip to Disney. I had spent a week in the parks with my daughter in October and used the bounce back offer for a four night stay at Riverside. I thought I would use it later this year, but ended moving the reservation up so Joe and I could get out of the Midwest weather and enjoy some warm sunshine and relaxation. For some reason, this past winter just seemed colder. Plus, we just needed to get away, relax and slow down. We also decided to make this four day trip even longer and we decided to add a 3 night cruise to the front of our vacation!

We are - Zipadeelady and Big Joe

 

[rshell68]

 

[Zipadeelady]

Friday May 8th

We both worked a full day and headed to DTW. I know Spirit wasn't the best, but for a cheap two hour flight to Orlando, I don't usually mind. Luckily, we were flying Delta this time. Our flight was at 8:35 pm. We landed in Fort Lauderdale around 12:30 am and had a quick, easy shuttle to our hotel, the Hyatt. The room was ok, although walking around in my bare feet on the carpet kind of grossed me out.

Around 11:30 in the morning, we took an Uber to Port Everglades. I'm not gonna lie, that traffic around the port was crazy. At the security gate, they made our Uber driver pop his trunk, and it was inspected. No other cars that we saw were inspected. Either our driver or we must have looked a bit suspicious.

After boarding our ship we did what everybody does. Found some food and hit the pool before the crowds came.

Our ports of call were Key West and Nassau. Not the most exotic ports, but this was a last minute and a leisure vacation so no excursions were planned.

Saturday May 9th - Key West

 

[Zipadeelady]

Our plan was to have no plan..... we ended up walking around Duval Street and a few other side streets. Joe found a barber and got a beard trim, facial, and massage. He felt so pampered. We also found the best Mexican restaurant ever! Joe found their salsa recipe and can't wait for our garden to start producing.

And just like that we were back on the ship.

Sunday May 10 - Nassau

I don't have much to say about Nassau. I would stay on the ship

 

[BigDis]

I try harder!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Looking forward to seeing more!

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[littleroo]

I can't wait for loads of pictures from AK!!! I am here!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I've been singing this dang song ever since I picked out the title for this report yesterday afternoon.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Sunday May 10 - Last night on the cruise ship

We came back, took a nap, and headed to dinner.

One thing about cruises is that the pool area is chaotic and unpleasant for us introverts. But if you wait until the evenings, the pools and hot tubs are deserted. After dinner, we did a lap around the ship, got into our swimsuits, and headed to the hot tub. It was just us in the hot tubs and a young boy in the pool.

Monday May 11 - Disembarkation Day and Disney!

I take back my previous statement about excursions. We usually do an excursion in the city we disembark at so that we have an easy disembarkation and transfer to the airport. This time we did an airboat ride through the Everglades. Don't get too excited. It wasn't as exciting as we thought it would be. The boat was mostly enclosed, we were sitting in the middle with couples on either side of us, and we only did a loop around a small island. The tour guide kept stopping and pointing out things, but we couldn't see much. There were wildfires close by, and the second half of our excursion was canceled, and understandably so. I wasn't too sad about it due to the fact that I'm sure it would have been some man wrestling an alligator, and I feel that is just cruel. I will say I was sad that I wouldn't get a picture holding a snake, though.

After our boat ride, we hopped on the bus and headed to FLL. We weren't flying out, just picking up our rental car to drive to DISNEY! It was a nice ride, we stopped by Walmart for some supplies, and soon were on DISNEY property. I happened to be driving at that time and told Joe he was in charge of the pictures and that it was very important for my report. He made sure to get all the signs.

 

[cgersic]

I'm in for this one!!! Looks like the shorty cruise was a nice getaway - I love spending time in Key West

 

[Swissmiss]

I’m here

 

[Zipadeelady]

Cont. May 11 - Riverside!

We arrived on property around 4:30. Our room was ready, and we drove straight to Oak Manor. I put in a request to be in the mansions by a quiet pool. Boy, did they deliver! I know you've all seen the rooms before, but I've only stayed in Alligator Bayou and was super exited.

This was the perfect location.

You turn right around and there's the pool!

Our room is the window on the right at the top of the stairs. The room on the left had full size large potted plants in their window. I've seen stickers, animals, lights, but never large plants.

That flip flop in the bottom right corner of the picture sat there for two days. I think housekeeping was hoping someone would find it. Joe is so confused as to how someone lost their shoe.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I have enjoyed this pool very much!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Monday May 11 - Cont.

The first thing we did...... this pool was fantastic and lived up to its name. We had some kids here, and there but only a few. It was sooooo nice.

After relaxing at the pool we walked around the resort, tried the food court, and called it an early night.

I tried the Jambalaya. I've always wanted to try it, but Joe thinks he doesn't like Cajun food so I've never attempted to make it. He loves spicy but not Cajun. Honestly, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. Joe had the Beef Po Boy and thought it wasn't too bad. Sorry to say we didn't come back for lunch or dinner at the Riverside Food Mill.

I really liked this mug, but didn't fall in love with it until we got back home. I wish I had purchased it.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

Always fun to see how everyone does Disney their way!

For some reason I can’t add a GIF.

 

[Tuvalu]

@Tiki Traveler

In the text box press the three dots after the picture. This brings up a bar below it with GIF as an option. Press GIF and then search for whatever you want!

 

[Tiki Traveler]

@Tiki Traveler

In the text box press the three dots after the picture. This brings up a bar below it with GIF as an option. Press GIF and then search for whatever you want!

View attachment 922112

Thank you! I’ll try it if it’s available but everything on the top bar was greyed out. It happened as I was working on my trip report just now but I kept hitting Preview and finally everything become available.

@Zipadeelady here’s the missing GIF.

 

[Tiggerish]

The boat was mostly enclosed, we were sitting in the middle with couples on either side of us, and we only did a loop around a small island.

Well now I've got that John Anderson song playing in my head.

You've got to be a certain age to know it,and you're probably a bit too young.

I happened to be driving at that time and told Joe he was in charge of the pictures and that it was very important for my report. He made sure to get all the signs.

Joe did a very good job.

Mine would not have done as well.

I tried the Jambalaya. I've always wanted to try it, but Joe thinks he doesn't like Cajun food so I've never attempted to make it. He loves spicy but not Cajun. Honestly, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. Joe had the Beef Po Boy and thought it wasn't too bad. Sorry to say we didn't come back for lunch or dinner at the Riverside Food Mill.

I had the Jambalaya at Boatwrights the one and only time we ate there, in Dec. 2022. It was disappointing.

So now I feel like Yeehaw Bob is the only reason to visit.



Im.so.jealous that you got to visit Key West! When did they reopen to cruise ships?? We did a March 2016 cruise on the Disney Magic that was supposed to dock.at Key West,except the sea was too rough that day, and then KW barred cruise ships. I would really love to visit there. Glad you had a nice day.

I kept hitting Preview and finally everything become available.

Happens to me all the time.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Well now I've got that John Anderson song playing in my head.

You've got to be a certain age to know it,and you're probably a bit too young.

Joe did a very good job.

Mine would not have done as well.

I had the Jambalaya at Boatwrights the one and only time we ate there, in Dec. 2022. It was disappointing.

So now I feel like Yeehaw Bob is the only reason to visit.



Im.so.jealous that you got to visit Key West! When did they reopen to cruise ships?? We did a March 2016 cruise on the Disney Magic that was supposed to dock.at Key West,except the sea was too rough that day, and then KW barred cruise ships. I would really love to visit there. Glad you had a nice day.

Happens to me all the time.

I have to admit, I googled John Anderson to figure out what song you were referring to. I have no clue who he is or what song you are singing. It may be because of my age, but I'm guessing it's because he's a country singer. I've never been a fan of country music in the past, but some is starting to grow on me... Chris Stapleton...... I could listen too.

Just wait for my Yeehaw Bob story!

Key West was very nice. A very easy port, we had no issues with weather. If we went back, I would like to rent bicycles to get around a little farther than we did, but we were happy with our little adventure for the day.