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

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

The Lifeboat drill was quick and painless.

They don't make you take your lifejackets to the drill any more.

That is nice.

After we heard that, we hatched a plan. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes to the drill, and then planned to head straight up to the Aqua Duck and ride it. The line had been very long since we boarded the ship.

So, we went with that plan.

When we got up top, we saw that the line stretched all the way down the staircase leading up to the entrance.

That was at least a 45 minute wait:

We don't wait on lines like that.

Time to change plans.

We got our places for the sailaway party instead.

The dance floor was empty:

Twin #1 got a place right up by the stage:

And out came Simon.

Simon is from England.

He had quite the accent.

He was great.

We had a lot of fun with him.

You'll see.

But, this was our first time meeting him.

There is a big screen above the stage:

That's Simon there on the stage beneath the screen.

One of the items on the list of fun was to get yourself projected up on the big screen.

We have been able to do that on our other cruises.

But, there were a lot more people on this cruise.

Still, I am up for any challenge.

This big dance floor you see is covering the two big pools they have up on deck 11. They open them back up right after events like the sail away party are completed:

After we met Simon, he was joined by the rest of the entertainment castmembers on the stage:

And some dancing took place:

They started showing guests up on the screen:

Hey, look who they showed up on the screen next- an old guy waving a white fedora (look at the bottom left corner of the screen):

Yep. I was the first of the TCD gang to get on the big screen.

Bragging rights.

Then there was more dancing:

This next photo is a fail. If I had been quicker on the draw, it would show streamers flying majestically in the air. Instead, you get this:

When the streamers shot off, the ship's horn sounded, and we began to move!

That is always an awesome moment.

And, we got a big surprise.

I thought the Dream would play the same tune as the Magic and Wonder- "When You Wish Upon a Star."

But, instead, it played "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes."

And, that wasn't all.

The captain went on to play a bunch of different tunes.

I had not heard about this.

I loved it.

If I paid attention to the official Disney Blog, I would have known about this:

Disney Dream Ship Horn Songs

You can hear all the tunes in the video on that posting.

Simon then made his way through the crowd, and even had Twin #1 sing part of a song with him:

The party was getting heated up:

This lady in a shrunken bathing suit decided that she should dance next to Twin #1:

Wow.

It was kind of crowded there, so we decided to head up to deck 12 to watch Port Canaveral fade away.

Here are Mrs. TCD and Twin #2:

There goes the terminal. We won't see that again for 5 days:

There was a lot to see as we sailed out the channel into the Atlantic:

The horn was blasting from somwhere in the forward smoke stack:

That is what you call the ship's bridge. And, there's a big bar up there too:

The Dream seems to have more bars than the Magic or Wonder.

NIcely done, Disney.

We continued steaming down the channel:

Here, near the end of the channel, there were folks who had parked their cars and got out to wave:

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon, and there were a bunch of folks enjoying the beach as we left the channel:

We stayed on deck just a bit longer, and then headed down to our cabins to get ready for the Villians Tonight Show which would be starting at 6:15.

Our cruise had officially begun!

TCD

[MetalDad 33]

Nice, Page one!

NOT!

But I am in.

Looking forward to hearing about TCD wrestling a shark and zipping through the Bermuda triangle on a Jet Ski with one hand on the wheel!

[wak648...Bill 94]

I just can't wait to see which deck the pop up went on

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Love the sail away party. Looks like you all had a blast. Was the line for the Aqua Duck always that long? Yikes!!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

I am in too!

I love the list idea. Did you get them all done?

[caveat lector 181]

It's cool that you got the whole clan together.

As the kids get older, I really cherish the times that we are all actually altogether.

You can't get much more together than on a boat in the middle of the ocean. I'm happy for you big fella.

[stefa70 205]

Welcome back.

Love the family beach photo! So sweet to see you all together.

Who'd a thunk a hot, male, fedora wearing model would be posing in front of a crappy tourist shop in Port Canaveral? Guess you were just in the right place at the right time to snap that photo.

(Looks like some nerdy, attention craving guy on your boat, also bought one of those fedoras)

Great start as always! ^-^

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

WooHoo! A Dream Report!! We LOVED sailing on the Dream last year!

[kampfirekim 260]

:yay: I made it in before I was 10 pages behind!!!

Yes. Your wife is beautiful, but then again so is the entire TCD gang. It's great seeing your whole family together. I'm sure you agree with that. :)

Looking forward to the rest.... impatiently of course.

ETA: I am very sorry the lady in the shrunken swimsuit decided to dance beside twin #1. Cruises must do strange things to people. ;D

[Live4FW 30]

Woo Hoo, cast off the lines we are ready to cruise

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I want to ride the Aqua Duck and I am curious about those lines.

Poor Twin #1 at the Sailaway party... other than that TCDMR.

Congrats on making the big screen first. I hope you didn't let them forget it.

[alexwyattmommy 181]

What an awesome beginning to your trip. Thank you bringing me along.

I am looking forward to the Villian show.

PS-Love that you appreciate your family so much.

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

Great update. the fedora is awesome and you have my compliments for not only pulling it off but continuing to wear it to embarrass your daughters! I cant wait to do things just to embarrass my kids when they are teenagers otherwise it would be much less fun having teenagers. Looking forward to more!

[BassMaster 7]

Great start TCD. I must tell you that the last and only time my family has been on a Dis-cruise was the Magic in the summer of 1998, just after its maiden launch. Mrs. BassMaster was pregnant with my son, so we can actually say that the entire family was on that cruise. Unfortunately, that it was one of our least favorite cruises ever, but we all know that they have worked out the bugs, bigtime. Of course, they've had 13 years to make it MAGICal. Thanks so much for sharing. BTW - the smiles on TCD family faces tell it all. They would make the Cheshire Cat jealous. Bravo, dad.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I too am curious to hear about those AquaDuck lines. Are they always long?

Furthermore, I am disappointed to hear that the apple munching whack job was a stowaway on the ship. Please tell me you alerted the captain to her presence? Was she thrown in the brig? Or made to walk the plank??

[Hotmamac aka Misty 11]

Ok, I haven't gotten to page two yet, but I wanted to weigh in...your family picture on the beach is beautiful.

And obviously, Twin #1 is a genius!! A TCD List of Fun!? Where do I get one?? I'd like to place my order! :jumpforjoy

Can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing as always!!

[photogal06...Sommer 10]

Love the TR! It makes me so happy to see that your girls still love doing things as a family.....mine is growing up too fast, and you give me hope, lol! I've never thought about doing a cruise, so I'm excited to see yours!

[Momof6....aka Marty 769]

BTW, my 16yodd has a hat just like that with a different band. I think she looks better in hers that you do in yours, but probably just because i am her mother. Oh, and she is gorgeous.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

The Aqua Duck lines are much shorter on Castaway Cay day.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Great update!

[blm2003 2]

Really enjoying this one so far! Happy Anniversary to you and Mrs. TCD!

[H in SC 85]

Andrew, You have one Beautiful All American :usa: looking Family there my Fellow Fort Fiend..

I knew going in this would be an outstandingly Awesome TR, and it is in picture and detail.

Thanks for letting us Sail Along. :)

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

Late to the party (that's what I get for traveling) but I am here now. Good job on marrying up. :)

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

My favorite part of this TR so far:

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

Love that you think that still about your wife and love that you reached so far back into our youthful days for that expression!

Love the List as well and looking forward to y'all completing the fun activities!

[Disneyzombie-Brenda 10]

I'm late! Didn't get too far behind. Happy Anniversary!