Goin' with the Flow- TCD's Disney Dream Trip Report

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Boy, it seems like a long time since there's been a TCD trip report around here.

So, how about a Disney Dream Trip Report?

We have had a few already.

But not a TCD Disney Dream Trip Report.

And this was a five night cruise.

With two stops at DCL's private island- Castaway Cay!

Spoiler Alert:

We love Castaway Cay.

And we had a great cruise.

So, let's get this one going.

This was kind of an odd summer for us in the TCD gang.

The oldest TCD DD has just completed her Junior year of college, and for the first summer since she graduated High School, she did not take summer classes.

That meant we could take our traditional 4th of July trip to the beach.

So we did.

But, this is also probably the last summer that we will have the TCD twins at home. They graduate High School next June, and will probably start their college classes some time in the summer of 2013.

It seemed like this might be our last chance to take a family cruise.

So, it was time to do that.

And we did.

First, here are a couple of pics from our trip to the beach for the 4th of July-

Here's the TCD gang:

And a very rare photo of TCD and Mrs. TCD:

In case you didn't notice, Mrs. TCD is a stone cold fox.

And we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary next month.

It is good to be TCD.

The beach trip was great.

The whole family together for a week.

Then we were home for four days and took a cruise.

It's a tough life, but someone has to do it.

So, on Friday, July 13, we loaded up the good old TCD Excursion and pointed East.

We didn't stop until we hit the other coast.

We made really good time.

So, we were early.

But the Dream was there waiting for us in the distance:

We had about 45 minutes to kill before we could enter the parking lot, so we headed in to Cocoa Beach to see what we could see.

I saw a cheap t-shirt place.

You know, the kind that we have in every beach town in Florida.

I needed a new pair of sunglasses.

I had lost mine on the last trip and broken my other pair.

I was just going to buy some on the cruise.

But, I suspected I would save some money by stopping now.

So I did.

The girls waited in the car- they don't look excited at all, do they? :

Actually, Mrs. TCD and Twin #1 came in to the store with me.

What an assortment of crap!

The sunglasses were great.

I had my eye on a pair that had frames that looked like they were made with $100 bills.

Mrs. TCD put the kibosh on those.

Always the voice of reason.

So, I had to pick out another pair.

Then we saw the hat section.

When we were just at the beach, a lot of the young folks were wearing straw fedoras. I had even commented to Mrs. TCD that I did not get the memo on this new fashion trend.

Well, there were a bunch of straw fedoras on display.

Mrs. TCD told me I should get one. She knew it would bug Twin #2. She is easily embarassed by the old man. See, Mrs. TCD can be fun sometimes.

So, I got the new glasses and the fedora.

And I wore them out.

Twin #2 was not amused.

Here I am modeling the new glasses and hat in front of the store:

The other customers coming in and out must have thought there was a photo shoot going on with a professional model.

But it was just me.

We had killed enough time, so it was time to report to the cruise terminal.

This was our fifth Disney cruise, and each time I have tried to be the first one on the ship.

But, like always, other folks were even earlier then us.

Here are the girls in the terminal:

I think that the official boarding time is noon. But, on every cruise we have taken, they start earlier.

It was probably a little past 11 when we were done with the check in process, so that left us with a bit of time to hang around before boarding.

We waited near those big yellow mouse ears- you walk through them to get on the ship:

Since we had some time, we had to take these funny photos where we accidentally got mouse ears:

I took those two photos, and didn't get it quite right. Twin #1 took this one, and nailed it:

I'm not sure if you heard, but they have a well known rodent problem in the cruise terminal. Check out this big rat that walked right by:

I guess we waited for about 45 minutes, but it seemed like just a few, and we were called for boarding.

My camera says that the girls were walking across the gangway at 11:35 am:

When you board one of the Disney ships, you enter a huge atrium, and they announce your family's name over the PA system Castmembers are standing around to greet you. We were greeted by Jerry:

Remember Jerry.

We will be seeing more of him.

A lot more.

We all later found in to be pretty amazing that of the thousand plus castmembers aboard, the first one we met was Jerry.

Here's a look at some folks entering the ship from the gangway:

It's difficult to put in words the feeling you get when you first step aboard one of the Disney ships. We have sailed on the Magic and Wonder, and they are amazing. Somehow, Disney turned it up several notches on this ship. It is just a beautiful and amazing thing to see. Everything was spotless and sparkling-like we were the first guests to every sail on it. The ship is about a year and a half old now, but looks brand new.

Jerry suggested that we head up to Deck 11 for lunch. There are two lunch options, the other being the Enchanted Garden restaurant on Deck 2, but they really seemed to want us to go to Deck 11, so we did.

We found a place to sit, and hit the buffet lines.

The first place I spotted was a carving station.

Hello! :

That is one big roast beef, no?

And the friendly castmember told me to let him know when to stop:

I really didn't take much beef, as there was so much more I wanted to get on my plate, including shrimp and stone crab claws.

Wow!

Here are the girls at the table:

As you can see, we have gained a daughter.

That's my oldest daughter's BFF.

If you are a TCD TR fan, you will recoginize her.

In fact, she sailed with us on our last Disney cruise.

And, she has been to the Fort with us more times than I can count.

She really is like our fourth daughter.

Well, on this cruise, she was sailing with us, but not in our cabins.

This time, she was cruising with her parents.

We have gotten to be friends with her parents thorough our daughters.

This isn't the best photo of them, but it's the first.

So I will use it to make the introductions.

Meet Frank and Nancy:

I'll have a better photo of them later.

But, I needed to use this one to make mention of something that became important on this cruise.

See how Frank is holding something in his hand?

That's the official TCD List of Fun!

What's that, you ask?

It is a list that Twin #1 prepared.

We did it on our last cruise.

We kept them in our lanyards with our Key to The World cards.

It was a list of fun stuff to do.

Like do cartwheels in the atrium.

Or win a contest.

Or eat a Mickey Mouse bar after midnight.

Fun stuff like that.

Here's Mrs. TCD holding up her list of fun:

After lunch, we headed our separate ways.

The girls wanted to explore the ship.

I wanted to sit in the sun and have a Corona.

So did Mrs. TCD.

We had brought our bathing suits in our carry ons.

Frank and Nancy had not.

We sat out in the sun for a while.

But it was hot.

And crowded.

So, we headed over to the bar at the adult pool.

Where we met Maria. From Croatia. Her nametag didn't exactly say Maria. There were a few extra letters in there. But, she said that her name was Maria, so we went with it.

I asked Maria to make my her best drink.

I said I didn't care what it was.

Whatever she made best.

As luck would have it, her best drink was a Mojito.

And, she wasn't lying.

That was a very good Mojito.

There is a photo of Frank and me with Maria and our mojitoes.

But, it's on Nancy's camera.

I'll post it later if she sends it to me.

For now, just use your imagination.

We hung out at the bar for a while, and then headed down to our cabins.

We were on Deck 2. Frank and Nancy were on Deck 6.

We had two outside cabins- with portholes- no balconies.

But, we ended up loving the cabins.

We got our stuff unpacked, and headed up to our lifeboat drill.

This is usually a big PITA.

But, for the first time ever, our muster station was in a theater.

With seats.

And air conditioning.

Awesome:

After the lifeboat drill, it was time for the sailaway party.

We love the sailaway party.

We will be heading there next.

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Yea!!! I'm the first to read it!

Mrs. TCD is beautiful. Happy anniversary!

Can't wait to read more about your adventures.

[Momof6....aka Marty 769]

I'm in!!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Great start to another TCD TR! Sounds like fun so far.....alcohol, carving meat, mustering, no Yuri, having your whole family there......what more could you want?

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Looking forward to a great TCD adventure! Looks like we are off to a fun start already!

[Momof6....aka Marty 769]

Wait a minute! No Yuri? I bet Maria smuggled him on board.

[SCTigerCock 171]

As always, thanks for sharing! :wave1:

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Sweet!! I am in. Been waiting all day for this one to kick off!

[Dollface...CindyC 18]

Looks amazing already!!! Can't wait to read more.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Have to say I love the Beach Pictures!! That brings the times I've Mrs. TCD photo count up to 3.

[caveat lector 181]

Page one baby!!!!!!

Oops, now I have to go back andread the TR:)

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Been looking forward to this one. And considering you are confined to a ship on the ocean, I can be pretty sure that there will be nothing offensive to me here. No Devine, certainly. Probably no pics of Snow White. And I'm guessing lots more pood forn. So bring it on!

[DznyRulz 1]

Boy, it's been a long time since I read a TCD Trip Report. Way too long. I love the way you weave a tale and make us feel like we're right along with you. Nice to know you haven't lost your touch.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

OK- Let me knock out some responses, and then you will get another update.

Which will need to last you until Monday.

I've got big plans for the weekend.

Yea!!! I'm the first to read it!

Mrs. TCD is beautiful. Happy anniversary!

Can't wait to read more about your adventures.

Thanks, Gwen.

Mrs. TCD is the best.

She just doesn't like to camp as much as the rest of us.

I'm in!!

Great.

I'm glad you're reading along!

Great start to another TCD TR! Sounds like fun so far.....alcohol, carving meat, mustering, no Yuri, having your whole family there......what more could you want?

Yes, it is all good.

Even the no Yuri part.

Somehow, he didn't catch wind of this trip.

Which means I had to do my own stunts.

Not to worry.

Looking forward to a great TCD adventure! Looks like we are off to a fun start already!

Yes.

It was 5 days of non-stop fun.

And food.

Wait a minute! No Yuri? I bet Maria smuggled him on board.

Nope.

No Yuri.

I'm sure that I have not seen the last of him, but he did not find us on this trip.

As always, thanks for sharing! :wave1:

And, as always, thanks for reading.

And commenting.

Sweet!! I am in. Been waiting all day for this one to kick off!

Glad that I was able to get it launched today!

Looks amazing already!!! Can't wait to read more.

Yep.

It was amazing.

I'll have some more for you in just a bit.

Have to say I love the Beach Pictures!! That brings the times I've Mrs. TCD photo count up to 3.

We will be seeing some more Mrs. TCD photos.

She was along for the whole ride.

Page one baby!!!!!!

Oops, now I have to go back andread the TR:)

Nicely done!

But, please go back and read now.

I don't want anyone getting lost along the way.

And, there are a few more spaces left on page one.

Better get busy folks!

TCD

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Been looking forward to this one. And considering you are confined to a ship on the ocean, I can be pretty sure that there will be nothing offensive to me here. No Devine, certainly. Probably no pics of Snow White. And I'm guessing lots more pood forn. So bring it on!

I've got some good news, and some bad news.

First the good news: No Devine, Lots of food.

Now the bad news: Miss Thing was on the ship.

And I have some photos of her.

Sorry.

Boy, it's been a long time since I read a TCD Trip Report. Way too long. I love the way you weave a tale and make us feel like we're right along with you. Nice to know you haven't lost your touch.

What the Fort?!!!

Where have you been?

I'm glad that you found your way to us.

And, I'm honored that your first post on this forum is in a TCD TR!

Welcome Home!

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Boy, it's been a long time since I read a TCD Trip Report. Way too long. I love the way you weave a tale and make us feel like we're right along with you. Nice to know you haven't lost your touch.

:welcome2:

:welcome:

[rm0530 5]

Ooo, you'll be gold for the next trip! What was the gift in your room? We had a backpack, key chain, and 2 snacks during our May Fantasy trip.

I'm glad you were able to take the girls before they turned too old to experience the teen areas. I hope you include their reviews!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Welcom Dznyrulz!

[datgrt@fw .... Doug 1]

As always ......... I really enjoy reading your trip reports! Excellent start and I look forward to the next update!

datgrt@fw

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Ooo, you'll be gold for the next trip! What was the gift in your room? We had a backpack, key chain, and 2 snacks during our May Fantasy trip.

I'm glad you were able to take the girls before they turned too old to experience the teen areas. I hope you include their reviews!

Yep. We are looking forward to our gold status.

We got the same gifts in our cabins that you did. I think the gold folks get all of that plus a journal and some kind of cards.

The twins really wanted to be able to exprience Vibe. And they got to. We are now trying to figure out a way to get them on another cruise before they turn 18.

As always ......... I really enjoy reading your trip reports! Excellent start and I look forward to the next update!

datgrt@fw

Thanks.

I am working on the next update now.

Please stand by.

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Standing by ...

[Brent... Just Brent 83]

Great to see another TCD TR.

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

Boy, it seems like a long time since there's been a TCD trip report around here.

So, how about a Disney Dream Trip Report?

We have had a few already.

But not a TCD Disney Dream Trip Report. :jumpforjoy

Here's the TCD gang:

Great looking family Andrew.

And a very rare photo of TCD and Mrs. TCD:

In case you didn't notice, Mrs. TCD is a stone cold fox.

And we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary next month. Congratulations early.!

We love the sailaway party.

We will be heading there next.

We will be heading there next. Hurry!

TCD

[bord1niowa......Curt 79]

I'm in on this one!

[ajcjmom 8]

I'm in!