BuckeyeFortFan

It is our last full day on the boat. It felt just like that last day at the Fort, when you know the time to leave is coming quickly, and you have a lot of work to do to get ready to depart. We didn’t get up quite as early today since there was nowhere pressing to be. We went to Cabanas for breakfast to enjoy the views of the ocean. After breakfast we had our appointment to meet some characters. First the Disney Jr. set……. And then the princess set. And then a quick stop to see Tinkerbell. After the meet and greet BFM went back to the room to start packing. W

Tonight was Pirate Night. Dinner was to be in the same restaurant as the previous night, The Enchanted Garden for us, and pirate costumes were encouraged. We found our pirate bandanas in our room when we went to get cleaned up after our day at the beach and riding the Aqua-Duck. After getting dressed we headed to the show. Tonight it was a comedian/ventriloquist who was very funny and was the kid’s favorite show. Afterwards it was up to the top deck for the Pirate Party. Our own four fierce pirates. BFM and I did not dress as pirates, although many adults did. I am ta

Castaway Cay Day #2 went very much like Day #1, with a few differences. We again awoke early and watched the island approach. We were able to watch the land crew tying the ship to the dock today. As the ship approached it shot these lines out, using some kind of air canon I assume, at the stern and bow. The cast members on land then pulled these little lines in until they had the big ropes and tied the ship off. Those of you from more tropical regions might not be impressed by this process, but us land locked Fiends found it quite fascinating. One thing we did different

I did not hear about bugs, but as is usually the case with Disney it is "all about the Benjamins". For one thing, they do not open the souvenir or duty free shops while at port. I assume because they do not want to pay the tax on any sales made while at port. I would also assume there would be a fee to stay docked overnight, possibly related to hotel taxes that they do not pay if out at sea. So yes, we went out on the ocean....I could not tell you how far or where we went, and in the morning we headed back into the island. It was nice to be back on the water though, so we didn't mind.

Update time. When I left you, we were enjoying the beach on our first day on Castaway Cay. It was a gorgeous day, but windy. The rest of the day was spent swimming and eating lunch at one of the BBQs on the island. We did explore a little, but only as far as finding the splash zone for the little ones and the game area where you can shoot baskets or play chess or checkers or Ping-Pong. We decided to head back to the ship midafternoon and get some time on the Aqua-Duck. Back on the tram we go…. Here’s what we were headed for. After re-boarding we went straig

Nice trip report TCD. As always, a lot of good pics and with the girls being CM's, a lot of nice insider info. Looking forward to the next TR....I have heard it is going to be "epic"!

Everyone does. I am that cool.

I misspoke. We got the rooms we booked. I checked the original reservation and they are referred to as "Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah". Those yellow magic bands are their ID for the kids clubs. They use the magic band technology to check them in and out of the kids clubs, and can actually tell you where in the club the kids are when you come to pick them up, which is very helpful. BUT.....if you do not turn the bands in by 11 pm the last night of the cruise you will be charged $12 per band for this "souvenir". Needless to say we turned those suckers in. Clayton

We aren't really room service types.....we try not to stay in hotels if we can help it. We did order room service 2 or 3 times thanks to you Dave. Before bed we called for a pitcher of water and a carafe of coffee. The kids would have water to drink before bed and in the morning, and we had nice hot coffee to drink on our veranda while we watched the sun come up. We were worried about getting sea sick. The rest of the family had sea bands that they wore the first day, and we all took a Dramamine before going to the show the first night.....not because we were feeling sick, but bec

Another update is ready so I am going to forge on ahead. Most of us woke pretty early. Our oldest son (BFS7) has a built in alarm that wakes him before the sun every day, and today was no different. BFD11 was still asleep so BFM and BFS7 went up to deck 11 to see the sunrise and get some coffee. Here he is waiting for the sun. BFM and he toured the top decks while they had them to themselves. He refused to go into the adult only sections up on the bow (he’s a good boy) so BFM had to make do with seeing the sunrise from midship. Here are some pics of their morning jaunt.

Ahhh. Thanks for the info. I knew I had seen that somewhere. The program focused so much on that capability of the room that it seems surprising they would do away with it. Then you are exactly like my wife. Like I said she had no interest in taking a cruise.....ever, and she loved it, so don't let that stop you if you can go. And funny you should mention the Mickey bars. Before we left, I pledged to run the ship out of them. I LOVE Mickey bars (Mickey "Ears" if you are a troll) but you know how many I ate? One. One stinking bar. And I would not have had that one had they not br

At this point we went to take a guided tour of the ship. The tour began on deck 3 forward, where all the stores are, took us aft through the main lobby and back to The Animators Palate, one of the restaurants on the ship. We then went up 1 deck to the adult section of deck 4 and forward past The D-Lounge, which is a multi-purpose space, and ended at the balcony entrances to The Walt Disney Theater, which is the large theater where the main evening shows are produced. All inclusive the tour was not, but we got a good idea of the main points. Next it was time for the life boat drill. Again for

When I left you we were about to head into the DCL terminal. Before I go on it occurred to me that I should let you know this is our first cruise. When things were moving quickly we did not always get the photos I wish we would have, but herding 4 kids and luggage and remembering room keys and everything else kept us occupied much of the time, so when pictures are scarce it means we were on the move! Now, back to our previously schedule trip report! Christmas decorations have been put up in the terminal. Ours was supposedly the first cruise of the “Very Merrytime Cruise” season. Waiting in

Page 2 baby! Bring it. Soon, my friend. Soon. I don't know about that kid. He can be smiling like an angel. Raise the camera. Click. Goofy face on the display. I don't know where he gets it. His Mama, I guess. Have a seat! Make yourself comfortable. My wife would respond with the term "If you give a mouse a cookie." In this instance, if you show your kids the beach, they will want to walk on it. If you let them walk on it, they will want to take their shoes off. If you let them take their shoes off, they will want to walk into the water. If you let them wa

See below. Thank you. They get way better. Another update due this evening, promise. Thank you for joining! Do. Sell a kidney. That is what I did. Yeah! Nice! Welcome. Way to take that last spot Mr. Restraint.

Good to have you along Dave....but being first to reply on a TR may not be perceived as "rocking". Welcome to you. Another update will come after work tonight. If you want something done right,,,,, The Hilton was pretty nice. I would stay there again but as always we had to get 2 rooms due to having 6 people. We have one of those Hilton rewards cards so that is why we went with the Hilton, but it was nice.

I have wanted to do a Disney Cruise for years, but it never really seemed plausible. For one thing, there are 6 of us, and that means 2 staterooms, or a royal suite on the Magic or Wonder. Secondly, BuckeyeFortMama (BFM) had no interest in a cruise, or boats, or sun, or flying, or beaches. Third, we have a perfectly good fifth wheel taking up a lot of space in the garage, and it wasn’t logical to leave it sit while we went on a cruise. And all of these things continue to be true. However…..our annual fall Fort trip in early October had to be canceled due to my work. Well, one summer day BFM an

I had a suspicion this might be the case. Thanks for the fast link.....but now I can no longer be blissful in my ignorance of what I wasn't missing.

Not near as bad as my first exposure to "What does the Fox say" by TCD an unnamed perpetrator in a previous thread. That atrocity made me lose all faith in humanity.

1. Can you tube on Bay Lake? I have not seen it, except in the current TCD TR. So maybe you can. Or maybe only if you are filming a commercial. 2. Now I can't wait to go "to the middle of the lake to watch the fireworks". That seems like a perfect place to watch them from. How is it we have been to WDW a dozen times and never done that?

We almost stayed at Camp Wilderness at Carowinds a few years ago. In early June we drove from Ohio to Charlotte and checked into the campground at about 5 pm. After getting set up, we took the kids to the pool, as it was about 90 degrees. The pool was closed. At 6 pm. In June. We asked at the desk and we learned that the campground basically closed all of its amenities at the same time that the amusement park closed. Why? Who the hell knows. We told them "screw you, refund our money". We packed up and went down 77 the 6 miles to the Fort Mill KOA. We swam. The kids were happy. We

No. Never. >:D

I do not know if it is an option, but you guys should get a puppy. Our second daughter was deathly afraid of all animals when she was 3 or 4. So we got a puppy. A cute little boxer pup. At first she would climb the walls when we put him on the floor when she was in the room, but within a week or two she calmed down and is now our biggest animal lover.

They look disgusting. Big and red and greasy looking with all those tendons sticking out. Blah. And not something I want to stand and eat in the 90 degree sun.

6 can fit in a cabin, but it isn't real comfortable. The main issue is the murphy bed in the living room. I do not know if it is the case in every cabin but ours was extremely uncomfortable. There was such a sag in it the middle my wife and I could not sleep in it without ending up on top of each other....and not in the good way. The beds in the small bedroom on the other end of the cabin were much more comfortable, but with your group's makeup (in laws, nieces) who might not feel comfortable in the same room, or same bed for that matter, it might be awkward. And don't count on more than