From Possums to Sea and a Rainy day parade! Sep/Oct 2014

[Pinkocto]

Such cute pictures of you two on CC! So glad the rain didn't follow you down, you were in need of good weather.


Breakfast sounds fabulous. Those cinnamon rolls are deliciously yummy aren't they?

I agree about those beds, such comfort! And the rocking motion just lulls me to sleep. Love it!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Such cute pictures of you two on CC! So glad the rain didn't follow you down, you were in need of good weather. Breakfast sounds fabulous. Those cinnamon rolls are deliciously yummy aren't they? I agree about those beds, such comfort! And the rocking motion just lulls me to sleep. Love it!

Thank you for reading oh yes those cinnamon rolls the best! Right balance of cinnamon and the most luscious icing.

I adore that rocking motion. Jo says if we win the lottery we would live on b2b cruises! I did not argue! Getting off only to score WDW time!

 

[Pinkocto]

Thank you for reading oh yes those cinnamon rolls the best! Right balance of cinnamon and the most luscious icing.

I adore that rocking motion. Jo says if we win the lottery we would live on b2b cruises! I did not argue! Getting off only to score WDW time!

I like the sound of that!

 

[dolphingirl47]

This looks like another magical day. Love Olaf by the post office.

Corinna

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

This looks like another magical day. Love Olaf by the post office. Corinna

yes that was a cute feature

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Before dinner we made ourselves decent and went to the conceirge lounge for pre dinner drinks and nibbles. Jo had a wine and I enjoyed my $20,000 expresso machine. Then the hosts presented all cabins with the most delightful gift. A limited edition picture of Cinderella and the mice. We were thrilled by this.

We chatted with some folk we had become friendly with in the lounge. A charming Australian couple from Sydney also DVC members and a two families in our FE. The Australian lady was very funny. She made us laugh a lot.

That evening we had our rotary dining at the wonderful Enchanted Garden. We love the theming, decor and colour in this restaurant. It reminds me of the Crystal Palace in MK. I had already made my food choice because the head server gave me the menu the last time we dined to check my diet requirements which was very kind. As there was nothing suitable on the menu I had a kids burger. There was no love lost I loved this dinner!

Jo enjoyed some bread while we waited for our starters. She said it had a herb in it but couldn't place it.

Here we both are

I had a lovely salad and Jo had the lobster ravioli to start. We both enjoyed them. Jo then had the grilled NY strip steak whilst I had my burger. Oh my how do they carry those heavy trays! We both noted that unlike previous cruises were there had been a mix of men and women servers this time the servers were virtually all men. We wondered if this was due to the heavy trays.

I love to pour ketchup on virtually everything I eat. I love that on the cruise the servers give me Mickey shapes! Tonight I got a new delight. Minnie!

Jo then enjoyed a desert. It was a trio of chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake and another cake that had marzipan in it. Jo said they were all very nice.

After this wonderful meal we said goodbye to the servers for it was our last night on The Dream for this year :-( we gave them their well deserved tips. This cruise the servers were beyond helpful. Probably the best we have experienced.

We went back to the cabin to watch the evening show and Jo wanted to pack. There were some lovely last night FE gifts waiting for us.

Tomorrow....saying goodbye to The Dream and baby's first extreme coupon experience!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Extreme Coupon

It is always hard to part with the ship and the crew. This time felt worse and we were spoilt by the MDR servers and the conceirge hosts. We had breakfast at cabanas. We prefer the buffet to the sit down style.

With the concierge they told us we got escorted off the ship at a time of our choice. As I was told my time selected wasn't suitable ( October 2040 how they laughed ) we had 8:00. We gathered in the lounge. Our party was taken by Andy one of the kind hosts. He led us through the crowds and got Jo and I a porter at the dock. Soon we were at the car and heading back to WDW and to the VBC.

I had checked in online. As it was so early we decided to explore a few options. When we meet our friend Dana in DTD. Living local in Orlando she gives us great tips on things to do outside Disney. Last time we did spook hill. This time she suggested Old Town. So we decided to check this out. She also had given us some coupons and instructions on how to do extreme couponing. We can't really do this much in England. Coupons aren't as common.

Old Town wasn't fully open yet. It was like an old fashioned fun fair and street. Reminded me of parts of New Orleans. It started raining very hard so I didn't get any photos sorry! It was best to come in the evening but Jo and I said we weren't sure we wanted to. Didn't feel that safe.

We went into Publix armed with our instructions and coupons!

The coupons were for cereal. Dana knows me too well! I loaded up on the offer which was for any box in General Mill range.

Me with my bounty...

Lady at the till

Jo paying

Jo outside Publix..

We were super pleased we scored each box for $1. Only this morning I enjoyed the last of those Trix

Next up checking into the Beach Club..

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We had lunch at DTD and the Earl on the way back. En route we spied a Crackerbarrel restaurant. We had enjoyed this place many times when we did a driving tour of the Southern States years gone by. We didn't know it was there! We decided to eat there later for dinner! We love the little store and the rocking chairs outside. Too cute. We remembered a nice menu and it was kind to one's budget. We hoped our memories served us well!

We got a text to say our room was ready whilst we enjoyed our Earl sandwiches. We headed there shortly after. It had stopped crying from the sky.

The check in process was very quick and smooth. We were impressed! We got a room with a lovely view..

Lovely room

We explored around we had never stayed here before. We had 3 glorious nights and Pam shortly to arrive to look forward to. Excitement was at a high.

We rested then headed out to Cracker Barrel. Our memories were not wrong! Jo had fried chicken and I had BBQ chicken. Simply delicious. Also a zero missing from the end of the check compared to normal

Happy and fed we returned to the lovely BC. Watched some shows and slept soundly. Tomorrow we would be meeting up with the delightful Pam and going to DHS. How we were looking forward to that.

 

[franandaj]

It's always so sad to leave the ship! But you two looked liked you had a great time! What is the name of the other restaurant on the ship? I know Animator's Palate, but I'm trying to think of the other restaurant in the rotational dining and I can't remember the name!

I so miss Castaway Cay, it's been about 15 years, thank goodness our next cruise visits there! It's also on the Dream, so I'm really interested in facts about the Dream, we are starting to plan our dining choices and what we want to do on that trip, now that our last cruise is over!

Love a great sandwich from Earl. I have never tried the Cracker Barrel though I've heard good things about it. Nice view from your BCV room! I've only stayed there once, but I'm looking forward to it again, so nice and airy and light!

Great updates!

 

[Disneymadhouse]

I can't wait for Castaway Cay! I just hope it will be warm enough for me to sit on my sun lounger! I don't do sand or sea if it can be avoided, ( and wet sand especially on my feet is a big no - no!) but with a child in tow it has to be done!

Are you booked on another cruise?

Looking forward to the rest

Claire

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a shame that the cruise is already over. The photo of the view from your room is showing the room we were in last year. We had one of the rooms with the huge balcony. We love Cracker Barrel. We have been to one near Universal a few times.

Corinna

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

It's always so sad to leave the ship! But you two looked liked you had a great time! What is the name of the other restaurant on the ship? I know Animator's Palate, but I'm trying to think of the other restaurant in the rotational dining and I can't remember the name! I so miss Castaway Cay, it's been about 15 years, thank goodness our next cruise visits there! It's also on the Dream, so I'm really interested in facts about the Dream, we are starting to plan our dining choices and what we want to do on that trip, now that our last cruise is over! Love a great sandwich from Earl. I have never tried the Cracker Barrel though I've heard good things about it. Nice view from your BCV room! I've only stayed there once, but I'm looking forward to it again, so nice and airy and light! Great updates!

thank you. Yes leaving the ship is really hard! Big tantrums! There is Royal Table and Enchanted Palace. We like all three but usually drop AP for Palo. For me it's a little over stimulating and it's not my favourite menu. Worth seeing once. The Dream is a beautiful ship. This was my favourite cabin because of it's location on deck 11 and just come out and straight to Cabanas! There is the District where all the adult night clubs are and champagne bar Pinks. That is nice. Then skylight lounge where the skyline changes cities cute. The D lounge where they have the quiz, DVC meet etc. They have an adults only area with nice day beds. I think you will love the ship! I find the doors heavy though. Hard to open and not all automatic that is my only negative.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I can't wait for Castaway Cay! I just hope it will be warm enough for me to sit on my sun lounger! I don't do sand or sea if it can be avoided, ( and wet sand especially on my feet is a big no - no!) but with a child in tow it has to be done! Are you booked on another cruise? Looking forward to the rest Claire

hi! I don't like sand or sea either but I was a pig in mud on just the outside.. Lol. Jo loves it. You will have a ball and your child will have the best time! Yes always booked on another cruise plus planning a b2b in 2016.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

What a shame that the cruise is already over. The photo of the view from your room is showing the room we were in last year. We had one of the rooms with the huge balcony. We love Cracker Barrel. We have been to one near Universal a few times. Corinna

nice rooms aren't they! You might have been next door then. We had an accessible room. The one next door had similar view wasn't accessible. Great to know there is another CB at universal!

 

[Pinkocto]

I managed to miss this yesterday, I can't remember if I even came on the Dis yesterday. I'm losing it...


Enchanted Garden is a lovely restaurant. Mom loves it. I'm glad your servers were fabulous this cruise. This is how they should be every time.

So sad to be leaving the ship!!! I like your 2040 idea, too bad they couldn't accomodate your request

Too bad Old Town didn't feel like it would be safe at night. I've never heard of the place.

Bonus on the $1 cereals!

BCV are so pretty.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I managed to miss this yesterday, I can't remember if I even came on the Dis yesterday. I'm losing it... Enchanted Garden is a lovely restaurant. Mom loves it. I'm glad your servers were fabulous this cruise. This is how they should be every time. So sad to be leaving the ship!!! I like your 2040 idea, too bad they couldn't accomodate your request Too bad Old Town didn't feel like it would be safe at night. I've never heard of the place. Bonus on the $1 cereals! BCV are so pretty.

thank you! We meet you tomorrow in this TR! Due to problems with Photobucket and ipad update it is proving to be hard work but I'm getting there!

BCV is amazing. We really enjoyed this resort. Def stay there again if we can score it again at the 7 months. The staff were so friendly.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

DHS, EPCOT and Olive Garden.

The day had finally come to meet Pam! We were very excited. Pam was checking into the BCV today yippeee!

We were meeting at DHS at Toy Story Mania. But first we needed to get up and changed , showered and get two breakfasts in. The only disappointment about the BCV of which there were few , was the lack of trays in the quick service dining and lack of Mickey waffles! We like to take a couple of trays back to our room for our stay to have our breakfast in bed and also Jo makes a bedside table from the clothes hanger thing. It frustrates us in DVC resorts you only get one bedside table on one side! What's the other person suppose to do!

Anyway we had a cinnamon roll as a very nice substitution to waffles after cereal in our room. It was very nice!

Then we looked around the resort. I think this photo is from this day but not sure..

I was brewing for a migraine that day so this day and next are a bit hazy. I was real mad because I was so looking forward to meeting Pam!

We headed out to DHS and waited at TSMM. Pam soon arrived. We hugged. Finally we were together! It felt great. We enjoyed our ride on TSMM.

Next we decided to check out the new Frozen area that had opened only that day.

Here is Wandering Oaken's Frozen Snowground..

And Wandering Oaken's Trading post...

There was also a refreshment port that sold cupcakes and drinks.

It was really cute. The store had some great items in it. I got a Frozen christmas decoration. Pam got a Doll for her friend's daughter I think.

To be continued...

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We then went on to do the Muppets. I would really regret this 3D attraction as much as I enjoyed it , it really played with my brewing migraine. Now it was only a matter of time!

We went to the ABC commissary for lunch which was very nice. I waited on the seats outside whilst Pam and Jo got our food.

Then we went back to the resort. Pam needed to check into the BCV and we got drinks from our room. Whilst we waited in the lobby a manager Peggy asked us if we were enjoying our stay. We said we loved it but being disabled found it real hard the lack of trays in the quick service to carry food and also how we like to take them to the room. She listened, asked our room number was super nice and we thought no more of it.

We then went to EPCOT walked around and got the boat to Future world. I wanted to go to Mouse Gears to get a Space Ship Earth car ariel topper for my Mum. She had lost hers that I bought her a couple of trips ago and was quite upset. Sadly they don't appear to do this item anymore. So I choose the Mickey in a yellow raincoat instead. We do live in England after all!

We didn't do any rides because my head was pounding. We walked back to the resort ( so neat you can do this ) and it started to sprinkle with rain. We rested until dinner but we had a lovely surprise waiting in our room!

Two trays and this bit of pixie dust!

We were beyond thrilled. It boosted my serotonin no end! My head might just hold another hour. Pam said she was going in the pool but I noticed it was thunder and lighting outside. I was beyond stressed! I hope she is ok I kept saying to Jo.

I took some migraine meds before we headed off out to Olive Garden for dinner. This did the trick but it also makes me go to lala land. I don't recall much more that night only we had a lovely time. Pam was so sweet and understanding. She's such a good friend she didn't get struck by lightening!

Tomorrow...MK, more EPCOT, and Raglan Road!

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm sorry about your migraine. I TOLD you we should have skipped Muppets!

One day I'm going to beat Jo at TSM, that will be my goal.

It was pretty cool seeing that Frozen area the day it opened. You are right, I did buy a doll for a friend at work. She said it was prettier than any of the dolls she had seen at home.

It was fun being out there in the rain. And I would have stayed in the pool if the lightning hadn't started.

That CM was so sweet to leave you Mickey and Minnie

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Woo hoo!! Love looking at all the Frozen stuff! It had better still be there next year!

Sorry about your migraine, but you were a real trooper to carry on! Loved the bit of pixie dust

Claire