DIS Holiday Cruise - Day 2 - 12/18/04 Sailing Day Is Finally Here!
An early wake-up, a nice breakfast, and we are on our way to the port! The original plan was for Mark to drop me and the luggage off at the port and then return the car to Avis and join us. Instead we got to Port Canaveral so early that we were able to drop off the car together and head to the port. Our timing was great and we got a shuttle at Avis right away (thanks to Brad and his family who helped with our luggage and waiting while Mark returned the car).
As we got out of the Avis van we saw a sea of blue shirts in front of us. GaRry's family was unloading their van and right in front of them the Scuba's were being let out! This couldn't have worked out better if we planned it. We grouped our luggage together and then Jim (Scuba Diver) suggested I got up and wait with his wife Sharon and daughter Lisa. They have it down to a science on how to be first in line. I went up and waited with them (and we were joined by Vicki and Vanessa) while the men waited with the luggage for the porters to show up and the gates to open. The family from the Avis van was also there and their little girl was determined to be first in line. Lisa's carry-on was some of the wine the Scuba's were brining on board (they had special bottles made to celebrate this cruise). When the gates opened the first little girl took off followed by Lisa. Since Lisa was being slowed down by the wine Vicki took over that carry-on and urged Lisa to run! The other family made it in first, but Lisa held up second place in line. I gave her one of our carry-ons to save our place and got in line behind Sharon to check in. By this time Mark had got the luggage taken care of and had joined me.
After a few minutes we were all in line. The Scuba's (Jim, Sharon, Matt & Lisa), the Goose's (gaRry, Vicki, Vanessa & Gregg), and us (me, Mark & Bear). All of us wearing the special 10 day shirts! The next two hours flew by as we spotted more DIS'ers and handed out buttons and mini-navigators. Many hugs were exchanged and we were the talk of the terminal. That family that was first in line were the ones that came over on the Avis shuttle with us. Turns out they had read at the DIS and even ended up buying some shirts from Vicki (she had extras with her).
It was now time to board the Magic and the three families took our embarkation photo together and walked on as the DIS family! Here's where we parted ways with the others. They went off to lunch while Mark and I went on a mad dash through floors 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 delivering mini-navigators on the message fish outside each DIS'ers room (at least the ones we hadn't met in the terminal). Then we headed up to Topsiders for lunch. We were on the REAS plan so there was no ressie rush for us!
At 1:30 we headed to our room - a cat 7 Navigator Verandah. I love these rooms as I find the verandah so much cozier than a regular one. Waiting for us were our Castaway Club towel and pins, holiday centerpiece that we had ordered, and our REAS romance basket including champagne, chocolates and a nice picture frame. A little relaxing (our bags hadn't shown up yet) and at 2:45 I headed up to Deck 10 to get ready for the DIS meet. We picked 3 pm on deck 10 for a couple of reasons. At that time it isn't crowded, but everyone is usually on board and done lunch, etc. We found trying to have it at sail away is just a little too crazy and loud. I laid out the buttons and waited. The deck was soon full of happy DIS'ers getting to meet and mingle. The meet was a success! Didn't get too many shots as we were busy talking. I honestly can't tell you who all I spoke with at the meet, but I did know that it was going to be the start of a very special vacation!
The mandatory drill behind us we headed up to deck 10 for sailaway. As the party started more and more DIS'ers showed up and we were ready to sail. Overlooking the port we noticed that the ship wasn't quite ready. We saw a bus pull up and then a porter come running onboard with lots of luggage. Opps - someone had a late flight. Then we saw a squad pull up, then an ambulance and a fire truck. That isn't good. It was getting close to dinner time so we left to change for first seating dinner. By the time we got dressed we were underway. Found out from others that a family got off and into the ambulance - what a terrible way to start vacation.
Dinner this evening was in Animator's Palate. The early diners were all linked so we had DIS'ers all around us. At our table was Ken (Kpros), his wife Shari and daughter Staci. Debs Hill, who I had corresponded with via e-mail, her husband Ed and their adorable little boy Jake. Alone at the next table were Angie (MrsMork) and her husband Dennis. There were only alone that night as we were able to have our tables combined for all the other evenings.
Our wait staff was server Ancell and asst. server Collin. There were very good and attentive. Not the best serving team we ever had personality wise, but very skilled and they gave us great service. I only had to ask for iced tea on the first night and got it every night thereafter.
After dinner we walked around the ship to check things out. We were a little late for the tree lighting, but did get to see it "snow" in the atrium. We also checked out the beautiful gingerbread house on deck 3.
We skipped the main show as we aren't into the variety shows and retired to our room for the evening to get everything put away and ready for the days ahead.
The DIS group in the front of the line. Back row (l to r) GaRry (wdwgoose), Vicki (cruisin goose), Bear, me (WDWLVR), Gregg (horsedude07), Sharon (Scuba Mom), Matt (Scuba Matt), middle (l to r) Vanessa (dd of GaRry and Vicki) and Jim (Scuba Diver). Front row Lisa (little gymnast dd of Sharon and Jim).
The DIS ladies at Sailaway (l to r). Stacey (justmestace), Vicki (cruisin goose), LeiLani (DVC4US), and Pam (wife of Paulcrsb)
Mark and I in front of the gingerbread house on deck 3
The tree we ordered from our room from DCL. We added battery powered lights and a little "snow" scene we picked up at home.
