BuckeyeFortFan

Page 2 bragging rights!

Page 2 baby!

Oh please! This is the easy trip report to write.

I had to write about 2 weeks AND a major Holiday in my previous trip reports (Christmas and Easter).

Let's see how BFF does with this simple Double Dip trip report.

I'll just be snarky when I can.

Bring  it.

I'm in.  Can't wait for more. Well, I guess I have to but I don't want to.

Soon, my friend.  Soon.

I'm in.

 

Bring it on.

 

I can't wait to hear how you liked DCL.

 

The youngest Buckeye is very good in the face making department.  I give this one an A+:

 

 

 

TCD

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.

I'm in!

Have a seat!  Make yourself comfortable.

I look forward to reading more.   In a month we'll be going on our second Disney cruise so this will get me even more excited than I already am.   I'll be following the boy in the hoodie especially. He looks like he knows how to have a good time.  I love the picture of all 4 on the beach. You can tell they really would like to be in that water if only the weather had cooperated. 

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 walk into the water, they will fall in up to their necks.  They did not fall into it up to their necks this day, but that has happened in the past and they did walk in the water this day.

I spent my Saturday clearing out a blocked black tank.  Being first on your TR was the highlight of my weekend.  So yes, I am rocking it out and nothing you say can stop me.   

Ewwwwww.  'O'hana'?

Dave and Ray are showing some restraint. Rare. 

See below.

I'm in also, great pictures so far!!!!

Thank you.  They get way better.

Can't wait to read more!

Another update due this evening, promise.

I'm in!  Excited to read a cruise TR!

Thank you for joining!

Looking forward to reading along. I would love to go on a Disney cruise someday!

Do.  Sell a kidney.  That is what I did.

Oh boy, another cruise report! :thumbsup1: 

Yeah!

I'm in... page one??

Yep! :)

Nice!

I'm in!!

Welcome.

Last page one spot up for grabs!!!!

Way to take that last spot Mr. Restraint.

Woo Hoo!!!!   Love cruise trip reports!!!

 

Oh, and it would appear I am first.  I rock.  

Good to have you along Dave....but being first to reply on a TR may not be perceived as "rocking".

Yeah!! A cruise report!!!

Welcome to you.

can't wait to see the rest of the pictures and hear about your time.

Another update will come after work tonight.

Nice job so far. I'm so glad you're writing this one!

If you want something done right,,,,,

I'm in! Can't wait to read more!

 

How was the Hilton for an overnight? 

The Hilton was pretty nice.  I would stay there again but as always we had to get 2 rooms due to having 6 people.

I'm in.

A cruise to castaway cay twice. Awesome.

I can't wait to read more.

Btw. That's the same hilton we stayed at when we did our Disney cruise.

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 and I sat lamenting on how we had no trips planned to look forward to, as the looking forward to is one of my favorite parts of a trip, and I said “maybe we could do a cruise”. I have said this a hundred times, but this time my wife was sitting at the computer and pulled up the DCL site.

“Here is a cruise in November that is going to Castaway Cay twice” she says.

“Where else does it go?” I ask.

“Nowhere.”

“How much?”

-insert astronomical number here-

“Well that’s not bad!” I said, which was a lie.

To make a short story no longer than I already have, within 15 minutes we had booked 2 deluxe family ocean view staterooms aboard the Disney Dream for a 4 night “Double Dip” cruise for the 6 of us. We did not tell the kids at first, thinking we would surprise them right before we left, but about 5 weeks before sailing we decided it wasn’t right to withhold the joy of anticipation and planning so we let them in on the secret. They were super excited.

Fast forward 5 weeks. Our cruise sailed from Port Canaveral on Monday, so we flew from Canton to Orlando the day before, and hired a car service to take us from the airport to Coco Beach, where we stayed overnight at the Hilton.

Here are some traveling shots….

The Tuscarawas River

Canton-Akron Regional Airport

Waiting for our flight – first one for all the kids

On the plane. Everyone did well.

We had hoped that by staying on the beach we would be able to enjoy it some that evening, but the weather did not cooperate, and it was rainy and a little cool that evening.

A shot from our room.

We went to a restaurant close to the hotel for dinner, nothing special, and hit the hay early, as we knew we had a big day tomorrow!

We woke early on Monday. We decided to skip breakfast and wait to eat a big lunch on the boat. This left a little time to see the beach before the shuttle picked us up at 10:30. It was still cloudy, but the rain had stopped…..for now.

The Hilton from the walk to the beach.

At 10:30 we piled into a van with another family and headed to the port. The other family was apparently going on a Norwegian cruise and they were dropped off at their terminal first.

The Dream as we approached.

Some shots headed into the terminal.

This seems a good place to break. Join us next time when we board The Dream!

 

All it takes is money.

 

$165 for the tubing on Bay Lake:  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/contemporary-resort/tubing/

 

 

 

And if you have to ask, you can't afford it for the Fireworks Cruise: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/specialty-cruises/

 

 

 

TCD

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.

Wait.  I've seen that video before.

 

You're probably the one who posted it.

 

I must have blocked it out. 

 

Awful stuff.

 

TCD

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?    

Go Buckeyes.

The Buckeye Fort Family has a 10/30 - 11/9 reservation.  Reserved back in August without issue.  Hopefully life cooperates.

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 were happy.  We won't try the Carowinds campground again. 

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 one person sleeping in that torture device of a murphy bed.  The kitchen was nice, and even though there is only 1 bath, the shower is good size and had great water pressure.

In regards to tipping......

I considered slipping the steward? and our server a nice tip at the beginning of the cruise....try to gain us a little extra attention from the beginning.  Cool or douche baggy?

And some tips are automatic (steward, server) and others not (room service, bartenders), right?  I have heard these are "cashless" ships.  Everything is put on your room key and all the non-automatic tipped services have a 15% gratuity added to the bill.  Is that correct and if so would you still tip the room service folks and others at the time of service?

$0.02 appreciated TCD.  This is exactly the kind of good info we are looking for. 

The trip is early November, but remember....we are Yankees.  By that time we will not have seen the sun for a month and a half.

We are going on a cruise.  A Disney cruise.  On The Dream.  Itinerary H.  4 nights, 2 days at Castaway Cay and 1 on the ship.  Kick ass.

We've never gone on a cruise.  We have wanted to but they are too expensive......especially since there are 6 of us, and 4 of us never pay for anything. 

But....we had to cancel our fall trip to FW due to work and during one of our frequent checks of the DCL site my wife found a 4 night cruise with 2 days at CC....so we took the plunge.  It is likely to be a once in a lifetime experience so I want to make the best of it.

So....we are looking for advice.  We are complete novices so any tips would be appreciated. 

We are flying into MCO the night before and taking a car service to Port Canaveral.  We are staying at the Hilton at PC and they have a shuttle to the ship which we will take in the morning.  Our boarding time is noon.  I have heard if we get there earlier we may be allowed to board earlier.  True?

Any tips for boarding?

What should we do after we get on the ship?

What should we take in our carry-on besides my bottle of Crown Royal?

We have thought we might take swim suits and make a bee line for the pool/Aqua Duck, but we also are considering just taking it easy and walking around the ship, familiarizing ourselves with its layout.

We are second seating for dinner, so I guess at some point we will be getting changed and going to see the show before dinner.  Any consideration to skipping the show and doing something else (slide, kids clubs, etc)?

What should we wear to dinner?  Our cruise info says we have no formal night, just a pirate night the last night.  So I guess that means the other 3 nights are "cruise casual"?  I have seen that shorts are now allowed.  I can take slacks and a jacket but if I don't have to....I don't want to.  But I also don't want everyone there to know what a backwards moron I am.  We ain't doin' none of them fancy-schmancy dinin' options, so I will leave my tux at home.

What should we do after dinner?  What time will we be done?  Apparently CM's will come get our kids after they are done eating and take them to their kids clubs if we like.  Are there other options for us as a family?  Or is this a good time for me and BFM to have a adult beverage and conversation?

The first morning we will be docking at CC, and I think we will just be going to the island and enjoying the beach and the water slides and ocean.  The kids aren't interested in snorkeling or any of the other excursions.  Maybe a bike ride....we will see.  Do we need to rent the inner tubes?  If so should we do the 2 day rental?

I know TCD prides himself on being the last back on the boat.  Any reason to go back early, assuming we are enjoying our time on CC?

I have read the sun is crazy powerful on CC.  We will be bring sun hats and swim shirts and sunscreen.  Any other recommendations there?

At this point it would seem the rest of the trip would only be repeats of the first day and a half.  The third day is on the ship returning to PC, and pirate night is that night.  The kids have costumes they will wear.  Any tips for the other days that don't apply to the first 2? 

The day we get off the ship seems pretty straight forward.....get up and get out.  We will head back to MCO and fly out later that day.  Any thing we should consider for that day?  I think you have breakfast on the ship, no?

I just realized this is a long post, and I apologize for that, so don't feel obligated to answer every question.  Any advice is appreciated, in relation to any aspect of the trip as we are big time novices here.

Thanks Fiends!

Not a chowd but I would wear one of those hats, sans pins, if it embarrassed my kids.  I would wear it all day long.

Could somebody explain how you get the $500 figure?

 

TCD

TIW cost $100 for AP holder, I think (used to be $75).

There is a 20% discount with TIW. They automatically add the 18% gratuity, but you would have paid that anyway.

$100 is 20% of $500, so you must spend $500 to pay for the card. You have a year plus to do that though.

The BFF Family is doing well. Unfortunately we haven't made the trip to the Fort since Halloween last year, and had to cancel our next planned trip in early October due to work issues. Damn work.

On the plus side, I am selling a kidney so we can do a 4 day cruise on the Dream in November. First ever cruise. I will definitely be hitting "y'all" up for cruise tips over the coming months.

Whoot!

 

A BFF post!

 

This is getting good!

You are too kind.

Now, I have to defend myself. We did not push our way in front of anyone.  We walked up the street and found open spaces where there was room for us to stand. Also, I was not wearing ugly and offensive headgear like a Brazilian Jester's hat or an Ohio State Buckeyes ball cap.  What those Brazilians did is totally different. Plus, I'm from here.  I think that's enough rationalization/justification.

What you did there....I see it.

Also, that kind of attitude is why libs say the rest of the world hates us....so keep up the good work.

Agreed on the celebrity part.  It really bugs me seeing those filthy hippies jumping up and down on the beds in the Castle Suite.  So disrespectful.

Walt's head would hate Katy Perry.

Did you just complain about the people who pushed in front of you right before fireworks started, in the paragraph after you talked about how you walked up the narrow pathway of humanity and pushed in the middle of all those people "around us seemed to have been here for a while"?  Nice.

Also...I really wish Disney would not cater to celebrities....or at least charge them out the "A" for the kind of access they get, although I could not get that access even with a stack of money.  I would bet, just guessing here, they comp them on everything just for the privilege of having them at their park.

So, does a post from you mean that you're getting ready to drive south?

TCD

Unfortunately no.

Next trip is planned for Halloween and even that might be postponed depending on finances and such.....but I needed me Fort fix, and you provided. Thank you.

Just catching up here TCD.....so.....page 16 bragging rights.  Whatever.

Nice TR as always.  You are the King.

A comment on the abomination.  That building.....with the path surrounded by palms leading up to it.......that is where the rich people will be worshipping satan. 

Also....if curvy blondes want to wear tight pants so that you can see every detail of their backsides, who are we to judge?  Or complain. 

Carry on.

You missed a hot mess of a 4th quarter.  Stanford did their best to let Oregon win, but Oregon still couldn't do it.

 

This is the first time this year I've seen either of those teams play.  I can't believe the Oregon QB was the front runner for the Heisman. He stinks.  And so does Stanford.

It was the first time I have seen either as well and I felt the same way. The Buckeyes, despite being from the BIG, would smash both of them.....at least the way they played last night. If things hold as they are now, that would be the Rose Bowl, right?

Nice try on the Geaux Tigers.  It took me a long time to figure out how to spell it to.  You were on the right track with all of the vowels.

 

It is interesting that you have crawled out from under your rock- I think your team is going to back into the championship game.

 

I have this strong feeling that either Bama or FSU will stumble.  My oldest DD wants Bama to lose to Auburn.  Then she thinks FSU pounds UF, and they get to go.

 

But what if UF upsets FSU?  As they say "anything can happen in a rivalry game."

 

Either way, if one of those teams looses, the Bucknuts get to go.

 

And you'll have the last laugh.

 

TCD

I haven't been under a rock, there just hasn't been much to talk about on this thread from my side of the Mason Dixon Line. After the Buckeyes games I have wanted to post a  "Go Buckeyes"   cheer, but have abstained to avoid drawing contempt from the SEC crowd about how they're the best and they have to play all the ranked teams and beat each other up and whine, whine, whine.....