Disney Cruise Day 3

Day 3 (Tuesday March 15th) Cabo San Lucas

(Written March 15th) Today we slept in a bit. It felt great! We had a late breakfast at the Parrot Cay Buffet. The kids like this breakfast best. All the donuts, bacon and other nutritious breakfast items (NOT) at their disposal. After stuffing ourselves to oblivion (I’m so going to have to work out twice a day when I get home) we headed out to catch our tender boat to Cabo.

I didn’t schedule any tours on this island. I thought of booking the Dolphin tour, but something kept telling me not to. When we got to the dock, we caught a glass bottom boat tour to all the hot spots and formations.

Stinkiest Part of the Tour (The Seals!)

Lovers Beach (Only Beach that has two different oceans bordering it)

Window to the Pacific

Very end of the Baja Peninsula.

Our Boat (Disney Wonder)

Our Personal Yacht we keep in Cabo! Ha! Ha! This thing is a Monster!!!

We then got dropped off at the main beach. From there we purchased a para sailing tour. The kids kept asking to do that, before we even went on the cruise. Boston and Aubrie went first. They had fun and were getting a little too crazy for my comfort levels, trying to twist and kick each other. When they were done, Ethan and I went. Ethan kept asking me questions like, “What if we fell, would we die?” Then I started thinking about what I would do if the rope broke, etc. I was trying to not think about it when I heard the clips rub against the ropes. When we were done, Ben and Sophia went. All the kids had a great time.

After para sailing, we hung out at the beach for about 30 minutes while Sophia got her hair braided. Aubrie didn’t want it this time. (Spoiled from Rocky Point I guess!) We then decided we would just walk to the dock instead of waiting an hour for our ride to come back. Someone said it was only a 15 minute walk, so I thought it would be just a nice stroll across the beach. One of the the locals was trying to give us a ride for 10 bucks, and kept telling us it was a 45 minute walk. We thought he was trying to scam us. We were WRONG! It was a 40 minute walk, but we got to see the town of Cabo and all the shopping it had to offer. We also got a chance to work off some of that cruise food! When we got to the dock there was a HUGE line of cruisers. I was a little nervous, but thrilled when I realized it was for Norwegien, and that Disney cruisers basically got to walk right on to their tender boat. I don't think I could have been on my feet another minute!

When we got back to the boat, we got the kids changed and took them to the childeren’s club. Ethan kept asking us to go back to the boat the whole time we were ashore. He said he wanted to play games and watch movies. The boys decided that they wanted to have dinner in the kids club. So they stayed there, and Aubrie met us for dinnner. (Sophia stayed behind to take a nap while Ben and I showered and got ready for the evening. She was exhausted and a pill the last two evenings and we realized a nap was crucial!) So with the boys at the club, it was just the four of us for dinner. It was at the Animators Palate. The food was very good. I had a Macadamia crusted Salmon and Aubrie and Ben had beef tenderloin. The staff gets a kick out of the fact that Aubrie prefers orderinig off the adult menu. It's shrimp and steak for her every night. Tonight, at dinner, they also had a minature show where Mickey and the serving staff performed. I missed the boys! It was weird not having the whole family there, but a little more quiet:) After dinner, we went to the gift shop where Aubrie bought a really cute Disney charm bracelet. I then headed up to get the boys, while Ben secured a place in line for the show. When I got there Boston was having fun playing video games with some kid, and Ethan was just finishing up a painting.

The show tonight was hip hop comedy we had seen the night before, Alfred and Seymour. They were much funnier last night, but they still did a great job. The kids loved every minute of it. They think they are hilarious. They are! After the show we headed up to the top deck for soft serve ice cream and ping pong. Ethan also got some food, because he didn’t get enough at the kids club. (Of course!) Boston loved eating at the kids club. He said it was better than anything he had for dinner. He had MAC & CHEESE and CORN DOGS!!! Go figure! After Sophia finished her second serving of soft serve, we took Ethan and Sophia back to the room, and Boston and Aubrie stayed up on deck playing ping pong, with some kids. Each room has two phones that you can use to call each other on the boat. So that means we have four. Aubrie and Boston both have one, and so do Ben and I! Today we let them have a little more freedom on the boat, knowing we could call them. They loved carrying around their phones with their new found freedom. After they closed the ping pong tables down, the kids came down to the room, and we all ordered room service. They thought that was cool, since we would NEVER order room service in a hotel! Now before me sits a hamburger platter, BLT platter, cheese platter, wings, fruit bowl, cookies and soft drinks....all for FREE!!! The kids think thats the coolest part!:) I think its the epitomy of glutoney!

I’m so tired, and have been since we were tendering back from the dock. We are scheduled for our zipline tour at 9:00 in Peurto Valllarta, but are delayed getting there till 9:15. See the conflict? Hoping it all works out in the morning. I’m so ready for sleep! I sleep so well here. The boat rocks me like a baby:)

Disney Cruise Day 2

Day 2 (Monday March 14th, Day at Sea)

(Written March 14th) Today was a little cloudy and cold. I was a bit worried it would put a damper on the fun, but I couldn't’t be more wrong. We started the day off early, because I thought we were supposed to set our clocks forward and I didn’t want to miss breakfast! We were actually supposed to to that tonight! Oops! Well, we avoided the lines!:) Breakfast was yummy. Aubrie had the best pick. She ordered a Dulce de Leche Waffle. It was soooo yummy.

After breakfast, Ethan was dying to go to the Oceaner’s Lab to make Flubber. We dropped the other three at the Oceaner’s Club, but Boston and Aubrie soon realized it was more for Sophia’s age, and so they had the counselors bring them to join Ethan. In the meantime, Ben and I relaxed out on deck. I caught up on some people magazines, and he read a book. After about an hour, I missed the kids too much and so we went to check on them. Ethan and Aubrie were having fun making flubber. Ethan was all dressed in a science lab coat (totally up his ally!) (blurry but you get the idea)

Boston was versing kids in Mario Kart! When we checked on Sophia she said she was crying for us. You couldn’t tell when we were spying on her, because it looked as though she was having a grand ole time.

We took all the kids and headed to the pool. The kids started in the kiddie pool and had fun going down the slide and discovering the soft serve ice cream close by. Sophia was content to swimming around in the kids pool, but the older ones wanted to got the the “commons” pool and hot tub where they had the huge movie screen! I stayed with Sophia, until they shut down the pool for contamination...yuck!

I took Sophia down to get ready for the “meet the Princess”, while Ben hung with the older kids.

Sopiha chose her Ariel costume for the meet and greet. We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes. She was pretty patient for the most part. While we were in line, Ben was up on deck watching the kids on the sport courts. I had to put in an emergency call to him to grab and autograph book for Sophia, as I couldn’t forfeit my place in line. Ben went back up to join the kids, and they finished and made it back down just as we were next in line. They watched Sophia meet and take pictures with all the princess, and we got Aubrie (willingly) and talked the boys in getting a group picture with Cinderella. Boston was trying not to get too close to her! LOL

Boston's expression after Ben asked him if he wanted to go dance for Belle ( He did that at Disneyland when he was 3)

After the meet and greet, we all hurried back to the room to change out of suits and get ready for lunch and the matinee show “The Golden Mickey’s”. We got there early and got front row seats. They asked Boston and Ethan to help in the show. (They always pick Boston. Sophia was hoping to get picked but she was too young.) Boston pretended he didn’t want to do it, but I know he thought it was cool. They had them be one of the dwarfs at the end of one of the musical numbers. We got it on film. It will be great to play on their wedding video’s one day! Ha ha!

After the show we hurried back to our rooms to get ready for the Captains Gala/ Formal night. The kids had fun getting dressed up, especially Sophia. Her formal was the Rapunzel dress, from the new movie Tangled. Everyone else looked very nice as well. The kids had fun meeting the captain. Boston asked him if he was out meeting guests, who was driving the boat. The captain thought that was funny. He told him Jack Sparrow was driving it. He thought that was a clever come back. After walking around and getting free speciality drinks and pictures, we headed to dinner.

It must had been a long day for them, because both Ethan and Sophia fell asleep before dinner arrived. Ethan wouldn’t wake up for anything. He kept moving positions, but he didn’t open his eyes once. The server even made him Mickey ears and was blowing on his head and he wouldn’t wake up. The people around us were getting a good kick out of it. Of course, the one night I wear spiked heals, I have to carry him back to the room! (I tried carrying Sophia, but she woke up long enough to tell me she wanted Daddy and fell back asleep!) Dinner was really good, regardless of the sleepies! Aubrie, Boston and Ethan ordered the Sirloin. Aubrie ate all of hers (no surprise) and Ethan polished his off once we got back to the room and he woke up. They both woke up as soon as we got back to the room. They were charged and ready for more fun.

What was waiting for Ethan when we got back from dinner. (His towel birthday cake!)

We got out of our formal attire, and into PJ’s and headed to the movie theatre to watch Tron in 3D! Sophia made it through about half of it, and then wanted to go “back home!” and play. I brought her back and she played Aubrie’s ipod till it died, and then we watched a special Funniest Home Videos’s where Tom Bergeron did the whole show off the Disney boat. Sophia was in amazement how she had been to all the places that were on that show. Ha!

When they came back from Tron, Aubrie was passed out this time. She was supposed to watch the kids while we were at that comedy show, but she didn’t last two minutes before she fell back asleep. We put Boston in charge, and he was so funny about it. He kept calling us and giving us “sleeping” updates on Ethan and Sophia.

The comedy show was hiliarious; even better than the night before. They had us in stitches. It’s a Disney cruise, so of course the comedy was clean. That’s one thing I really like about this cruise. “Adult” entertainment isn’t inappropriate. It’s just entertainment for adults! When we got back to the room they were all passed out. Tomorrow is Cabo! We are all excited for a day on the beach. It will be interesting to see how our sea legs will do on land. I’ve felt more movement than I have on any other cruise. I’m surprised its not making us sick. It’s actually kinda of fun! ha

Disney Cruise Day 1

Day 1 (Sunday March 13th) Embarkment & Setting Sail!

(Written March 14th) Sunday the 14th we left Danny’s around 11:00 for the World Cruise Center (about an hour and half from Danny’s). Everyone was so excited, I finally told Sophia to take a nap and it would get here faster. To my amazement, she did. Ethan followed suit. When we pulled up the kids were so excited they could hardly stand it. First we had to check in and get our room keys. Then as we went through security, they gave us a boarding card with a number on it. We couldn't board until they called our number. We had to wait about an hour. While we were waiting, Ethan realized he left his ipod in the car and I realized that I could get the kids wristbands there, so it all worked out perfectly. As soon as they were putting the kids wristbands on (they locate the kids anywhere on the boat, and link them to us and our room, etc) they called our boarding number. Sophia was sooooo excited as we were walking to the boat saying, “I can’t believe this we are going on the boat! We are going on the cruise now!” When we walked on the boat they welcomed our family by name. The kids thought that was cool! Once on the boat, we found our rooms and dumped our carry-ons. The rooms are much nicer than we have had before. I think having two joined makes it feel bigger! We then got some lunch and checked the boat out. The kids had fun playing in the sport courts a bit, before we had the emergency drill. After the drill we got ready for dinner.

Dinner was nice. They already had a kids cup of water with Sophia’s name on it. I liked that! The kids seemed to appreciate that they learned their names so quickly. It was fun to watch the kids trying to remember the etiquette we had taught them. Ethan kept getting frustrated when he would make a mistake! Ha! For dinner, Ben had escargot, and the kids thought that was gross. Sophia didn’t eat much. I’m not sure if its the motion or just the food! She sure likes the chocolates they leave on the bed though. Back to dinner. Aubrie likes the shrimp and the steak. Boston had Spaghetti and Meatballs. He said he liked mine better:) After dessert, they came and sang happy birthday to Ethan. He was surprised that they did that. (I realized last year when I made the reservations that his birthday was the day before. So I set that up.)

After dinner we watched the show. It was a small musical about dreaming big, and then they went over some cruise info. Then they had a teaser from a variety act. They are two black comedians, who were tearing it up! Those guys were some of the funniest comedy I have ever seen. They had the kids dying! They wanted to see more and were jealous that they were putting on a cabaret for the adults the following night! After the show, we came back to the room and all crashed! It was a GREAT first day!

Sadly I realized that most of my pictures the first day were taken with my iphone or were video. So I don't have a lot to share:(

Anxiously waiting outside at pier 93, as Ben parked the car!

Playing

games as we wait for them to call our boarding number!

A little lunch on deck

Disembarkment celebration!

(Sophia on Aubrie's shoulders so she could see. What a good older sister!

Our first Dinner! Time to remember those manners!

Disney Cruise 2011 (Ethan's B-day at Danny's)

Disney Cruise 2011

Ethan’s birthday at Danny’s

Why do I even bother putting 2011? Because after this amazing cruise, I don’t plan on this being the only one! I have always been a lover of cruises, but this one has something for the whole family. (I sound like a commercial sound bite, huh?) This cruise was almost a year in the making. Last spring break I really wanted to go on a cruise, but thought of it too late. I looked up Disney cruises and realized they were bringing their boat to the West coast. I booked in April, and even that early out their joined rooms were almost gone! You mean there are people out there booking even ealier than that?

I remember when I first booked it, I felt it would never get here. Booking that early had some advantages. The kids were excited, having lemonade stands to help contriubute. All year we could say, “Well, you could have that, or we could put that money towards our cruise.” A few months out we started practicing proper ettiquite every Sunday dinner, to prepare. Those dinners were the best behaved dinners every!;) It was a good lesson in teaching the kids about patience, saving, planning, and sacrificing one want for another. Once Thanksgiving came, it seemed like the cruise was here in no time. The day we all have anxiously anticipated was here!

We started our vacation with a pit stop at Danny’s. We left Friday after school because Ethan’s 7th birthday was Saturday, and we didn’t wan’t his special day to get swallowed up in travleling. We arrived at Danny’s around 10:00. We spent about an hour visiting before we went to bed.

The next day we continued our family tradition of putting streamer and balloons in the doorway of the birthday boy.

After my work out in my brothers gym, and run in his backyard, Ben and Danny returned from the store with the ingredients for Ethan’s special birthday breakfast. We spoiled him with a nice waffle and strawberry breakfast, which included Danny’s sinful buttermilk syrup.

After breakfast, we all went to the Ventura Pier. (Something we always do when we go). By the time we got there, it was time for lunch. We ate at the Surf Taco place we always go to. We then headed to the shop that has all the trick toys, but Ethan didn’t want any, after all. Afterward the kids had fun playing on the beach. The waves were really big, due to the Tsunami. ( My heart goes out to all the people afflicted by that horrible disaster. And I also am amazazed at how the people there pulled together to help one another. Amazing! Sorry, it would be rude and callous not to mention that.)

After the beach, we went back to the pier for ice cream. The ice cream place there sells Thrifty! Our families favorite! The boys got their Cotton Candy (gag), and walked out of their like smurfs (with their bright blue mouths)!

We then headed home, where the kids had fun swimming till dinner. Danny and Ben picked up pizza and Danny and Boston each bought Ethan a gift while they were out getting dinner. I stayed home making Ethan’s birthday dinner request, “noodles with butter and salt” ( his favorite meal!) and finished frosting his birthday cake (chocolate with chocolate frosting)!

We ate dinner, sang happy birthday, and he was surprised when he got his gifts. Boston bought him a robot and Danny bought him a Nerf gun. From us, he requested a bike and we are also signing him up for a week long science camp this summer, where he will learn to make Robots! After the celebrating, we stayed up and watched Karate Kid (the new one). I’m glad we were able to make Ethan’s birthday special!!! He said he had a great day!