WDW 2004 - Day 2

July 10, 2004

Board Disney Magic
Pool Time!
Sail Away on 7 Night
Eastern Caribbean Cruise!

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tagrel@tagrel.com

Today we sail! Everyone was tired from our first day, so we slept in (for us) just a bit and then packed up our belongings and checked out of the Radisson. You could checkout right on the TV set using the remote control and it was quick and painless. We headed to Dunkin Donuts for a light breakfast of bagels since today would start our week of eating! :-) Want to be hungry for that lunch buffet!   After breakfast it was time to return the rental car (we headed there about 9:30am). Budget is VERY close to the Radisson, and A1A has many gas stations where you can refill your tank before taking your vehicle back.   There are plenty of shuttles dropping off passengers from both the Disney Magic and Carnival Glory Cruise Ships so catching a shuttle TO he port is NO problem! :-) Our driver was very nice, and told us that he couldn't take us INTO the Disney Terminal, but that was OK. They drop you off across the street at a tent set up in a parking lot where you leave your checked luggage and a CM checks the bags quickly for tags and then sends you on into the port.   Before reaching the port itself you are stopped and adults have to show photo ID and your name is checked on a list.

We were one of the first in the Port itself, and quickly moved through the bag check and up into the port area. The lines to check in were slated to open at about 11am. We were about 4 families back in line, and Kristen held the spot there while I zipped around for some pictures! :-) The ship model is amazing and has one side of the ship open so you can see various ship features like he rooms, theatres, etc. Very cool to check out!   The girls planed themselves in front of one of several TV's showing Disney cartoons, and where we could see them from the check in line.   They opened he checkin stations a bit before the slated 11am (closer to 10:40 or so) and we quickly registered and received our Keys to the Kingdom (KTTK) room/charge cards.   Keep that photo ID handy, you'll need it here again.   We had all our paper work filled out already, and it only took about 5 minutes or so and we were done. Kristen went to look around and wait with the girls while I was off to hold a place in the growing line of people waiting to board the Magic. Since it was before even 11am, and the ship was to board at 12:30 - I had a wait coming, so I grabbed a book and planted myself on the floor to wait it out. The time went quickly, and we ended up boarding before the slated 12:30 by 20 minutes or so.   Goofy, Chip and Dale came out in their 'sailor' gear to the hoots and hollers of an excited group of passengers about 15 minutes before they started letting us on the boat. The line to board was stretching all the way back to the entrance (of a VERY long port!) by this time, so I was glad to be close to the front. (probably about 25 families back) Once they started letting people on it was time to get out that photo ID one more time - along with that KTTK card. Then it was under the Mickey Ears where they scanned the cards in a machine much like the ticket machines at the theme parks. On a bit further you have a family portrait taken as an embarkation picture. Now its on to the ship across a covered walkway. We gave our family name to the very friendly CM on the other side and were announced onto the ship! YEA! We are finally here!!!

The ship is beautiful, and we loved everything!   We heard many people in line around us talking about the reservation rush, but we have it pretty easy. We booked the Romantic Escape at Sea package and already have our Spa and Palo reservations! :-) This is a great package, and well worth the money if you already want a massage in the Spa!   Making spa and Palo reservations before boarding is no small perk either! So it was off to the Oceanears Club to register Brinn and Maddy. There were only a couple other families there so it went very quickly. Fill out a form, and then a CM talked to use about the program. We received our beeper (be careful - there's a $150 charge for lost or water damaged beepers!) We also received a Navigator (your daily events guide) specifically for the kids 5 - 7 containing all the week's upcoming events. They also give each child a name band with all their info (name, beeper number, etc) and it attached like a hospital band - completely waterproof, and to be worn all week. Kristen was less than thrilled about this, since it would show up in all the pictures, but its not too bad. Better to have them safe, and knowing that if they get lost a CM can quickly contact us! They also received name tags to where each time they visit. We'll get to test all this out tomorrow when we drop them off before our massage! :-)

OK. Time for that first buffet. We opted to head up to Topsiders on Deck 9.   Again, we were ahead of the crowd, so we got a good table, and quickly were enjoying our delicious meal. Maddy fell in love with the Mac and Cheese and I was pretty partial to the HUGE peel and eat shrimp! Yum! TONS of great desserts as well. A very good meal!

OK - Its about 1pm now, and we can't get into the room until 1:30 (we walked down, but they had it gated off and the stewards were still busily cleaning) Good thing we carried on the swim bag. stayed right on deck 9 and chanced in a rest room. Out to the pool and enjoyed a GREAT time with very few other guests. It wasn't crowded at all, so we encouraged the girls to REALLY hit the pool slide hard! They probably won't see lines this short again! ;-)   They LOVED the pool, and really enjoyed the slide. I enjoyed watching them getting some photos and staying in a shaded chair off to the side! Great spot to watch from, and very close to the drink stations. The free soda station if near by, and more importantly the WATER! Nice to have it so accessible!   Wandered around for a few pictures, and cooled off a bit with a quick dip in the pool myself. Its a scorcher today, but beautiful and sunny!

Boarding the ship and hitting the Mickey Pool