The ABCs of a Very Merry Christmastime Land and Sea Adventure-J is for: A Jingle Bell-Style Jaunt Around WS (3/27)

[Steppesister]

Hand tiled mosaics...

.... in true Disney fashion. Perfection!

 

[pkondz]

Caught by the paparazzi on our way to Palo...

They're relentless, aren't they?

Very bougie.

Awwww...

No one complained. The servers knew it had been a rough service for the whole table. They were very apologetic to everyone and bent over backwards the last three nights for all 8 of us. There efforts were recognized and appreciated.

Thanks!

What?! Pickles are great!

And... yes.

I wonder if the rock candy type would render your coffee sweeter as you took successive sips as it dissolved?

Hmmm... not being a coffee drinker, I'll leave that experiment up to you.

It's also me.

I would have had to take a handicap.

(But still won.)

Of that I have no doubt.

Yep, dozed the afternoon away!

What a creative way to say "lay in a drunken stupor"

Hand tiled mosaics...

 

[franandaj]

Well, I'm all caught up here. Sorry can't multi quote, just too many chapters going on. But first off, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I know part of the reason to move to Kentucky was to look after them. I bet your mom is really grateful to have you now.

When we were at Disney a week after you, Caroline, and Susan were there, we didn't even really know about Jollywood Nights. We were so intent on dining every night, we didn't do any parties or anything.

You did that whole drive to Ft. Lauderdale in one stretch? Jill and I are doing the reverse in October and we're going to break it up with two nights at Vero Beach.

We did Prima Notte on our cruise too, and thought it was just the perfect amount of food! It's too bad that you missed the Grand Marnier Souffle that night. That's my favorite menu, and I've requested that we start our dining rotation in Triton's on my Birthday Cruise so that we get to eat it the first night. Prima Notte was already booked up for our trip in May, but that wasn't something we wanted to do with a large group, and a lot are first time (Disney) cruisers. Neither of us have large appetites and we're both on appetite suppressing medications, so we were pleasantly full afterwards. Jill also let me have some of her wine so that worked out well for me!

I had the celery soup at Palo Brunch and it was certainly tasty. Jill and I (as well as Fran and I) always try to go to the specialty restaurants on Pirate Night because we just don't care for the menu. Fran and I did it once and that was enough. Jill and I didn't make it to the fireworks on our cruise either. They're just so late, and my body has readjusted to going to sleep early and waking up even earlier. Not sure how that happened.

 

[Steppesister]

F is for: Flora, Fauna, Food and FUN on Lookout Cay

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Our 3rd day on the ship started colorfully with a rainbow and would only get better as the day progressed. Although the Caribbean is a markedly different setting for Christmas than your typical Hallmark movie, there was no lack of Holiday Spirit or bling, tropical as it was. Due to health issues, we were able to request and utilize the golf cart/shuttle option to travel the approximately 9 miles from ship to shore on the pier. Ho-leeee-smokes that is a long one! We were both glad that was available to us!

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The water around the Bahamian Islands is the most gorgeous hue of blue there is and scenes like this never get old. I won’t lie, the ride over the pier was punctuated with “ooohs” and “ahhhs” at how striking the sea is there. The golf cart ride, however, does not get you to the main area of guest use; from the end of the pier we still needed to get on the island tram for a short 5-minute ride to where the food, services, and main beaches are. Along the way, there is a cute narration by the “characters” who live on Castaway Cay (which is actually part of South Eleuthera, one of the Bahama’s bigger islands, so not truly a “private” cay at all) which are anthropomorphized animal kids who tell you all about their island home and how to find them, what they eat, etc.…

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Now, I can only compare Lookout Cay, Disney’s 2nd private island after Castaway Cay, to Holland America’s Half Moon Cay, (literally just a few miles away!) so only have those to reference. What I can tell you is that the overall impression I had was that, in true Disney-fashion, Lookout Cay is exponentially more developed but “cleaner” than Half Moon Cay. The various buildings that house gift shops, bars, restrooms, small theaters, etc… are highly stylized and themed and, compared to HAL’s island, there is far more landscaping and garden/natural area grooming. HAL has left 95% of their island completely untouched aside from a small trail with only the immediate dock area landscaped. However, overall cleanliness was better on Lookout Cay. I guess it simply depends on what you are after in overall feel.

Fun Christmas "Trees"!






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It was nice to have drink stations here and there to grab a cool drink (even some water stations along the Nature Trail!)

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The beach areas were very inviting with plenty of umbrellas and chairs. There weren't a lot of folks out there though due to the wind.

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First, we slowly wandered in the more developed areas and got a good overview of what was where, but one of our main goals of the day was to walk along the Nature Trail to the little historic lighthouse and back. We found the path and started our slow journey.

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Every few hundred yards or so there were little informational signs with one of the “characters” of the island with a bit more scientific information about it. Yes, we’re nerdy and did stop to read them and learned where and how to find the moths and crabs. I’ll bet you’re dying to know if we found ANY of them...

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Why yes, YES, we did!!! The amount of searching we did bordered on ridiculous, but we had a ball chasing the gigantor Money-bat Moths from their palm tree perches. At first, we thought that all of the so-called “abundant” animals were actually non-existent and the only evidence we’d find was stuff like this:

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But we were persistent, and finally found a moth. Unfortunately, they are WAY too fast to get a photo of, but we saw not one, but actually 3 or 4 BIG grayish-brown moths dart off their perfect hiding spots under the overhanging fronds of the palms that still had some red or purple berries as they feed on the ripe fruits.

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Continued in next post...

 

[Steppesister]

F is for: Flora, Fauna, Food and FUN on Lookout Cay- Pt. 2​

Eventually, we came to the end of the beach and enjoyed this gorgeous view before getting back on the main path to find the lighthouse. Although it was quite windy, it was a perfect balmy 82 or so with a beautiful blue sky to top it off.

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We also stopped to admire the limestone formations that made up some tall cliff faces along the beach area. Really, a fabulously scenic area.

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The lighthouse was interesting but nothing that held us there for more than a few minutes. It has long since been abandoned, but offers a point of interest, nonetheless.

Peek-a-boo!

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The walk back was not clearly marked, and at one point there was a fork in the trail; we chose a way that might have been “closed to access”, but we figured the worst that could happen is someone says, “This is closed, make your way over there.” No one did and I’m glad we chose this route. We were able to spot a couple more of Lookout Cay’s animals including a really nice Land Crab who patiently posed for me.

A Brown Anole:

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By the time we got back to the main area of boardwalks, beaches, and buildings, it was time for the BBQ lunch to be offered. We found the adult-only lunch venue called Serenity Bay BBQ. All of the offerings are the same at the family-friendly areas as this one and while there is less noise from kiddos, they more than make up for it in loud (and not very good) Calypso-esque live music. Serenity was a bit of a misnomer. While that’s not a bad thing necessarily, I’d have preferred to stew in my own crochety-ness with a quiet sea breeze and tropical view. You can tell from the video just how windy it was becoming. Yes, that is foreshadowing….

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The food was actually pretty good for an en-masse BBQ. I chose a rib and a bunch of salads all of which were good except the corn on the cob which was flavorless and chewy.

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Oinky me ate it all and then went back for more. My chunky thighs gleefully accepted the half a hot dog with kraut and a few fries.

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You’d think I was done. Don’t make me laugh. I pulled a GENIOUS move and went in search of coffee. Shockingly, this is not a common item on the island, but CAN be made at the bar for your coffee-based cocktails. Sheepishly, I asked a server if they had any, and after being told “no”, and was personally waked to the Blue Hole bar where I was treated to a free espresso. And then a stroke of brilliancy hit me: No cream or sugar, you say? No problem. I took my little cup of deliciousness to the ice cream station and made myself a pretty decent affogado which served as a perfect dessert and afternoon pick-me-up before heading back to the ship.

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We had a couple more stops to make on our way back to The Dream, though. Both of us wanted to do a little bit of shop browsing. I hadn’t really planned on any purchases but still hadn’t gotten a Christmas gift for my mom. I came away with this wonderful little basket which we’ve actually used quite a lot since I gave it to her. The artist/weaver was right there and explained how this little chip and dip basket was woven with silver palm leaves (mostly dried, but not quite). I LOVE it and love that we can use it for evening snacks together.

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I’ll let @Malia78 share the treasure that she picked up at the Treasures of Eleuthera Gift Shop. With our purchases in hand we headed for the tram stop but were drawn to the happy sounds of a JUNCANOO!!!

You know on the Sky Liner ride they say something about a junkanoo as you go over the CBR? I had ZERO idea what the even was until I had visited the Caribbean some weeks before this and learned that a junkanoo is a cultural “party” that celebrates a real person who was a slave rights/emancipation activist who led successful uprisings in the Bahamas.

From Wiki- “John Canoe, also known as January Conny, (died circa 1725) was the European name given to an Akan warrior from Axim, Ghana. He was a chief of the Ahanta people in the early 18th century, who established a stronghold in the defunct Fort Fredericksburg and fought multiple wars with European traders for twenty years. The stronghold finally fell in 1725, though Canoe's fate is unknown. He is commemorated in the Junkanoo festival held in the Caribbean each December.”

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The word “Junkanoo” stems from a mispronunciation of the real name. Anyhow, I found that all pretty fascinating! Here on Lookout Cay, they have a daily junkanoo celebration/show that is super fun to dance to. Loads of over-the-top costumed locals play festive music and parade into the gathered crowd with an invitation to join in the fun.

I did.

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I danced my little old heart out until I’d gotten my fill and then we reversed our course from the beginning of the day by way of tram and golf cart.

At the tram stop:



Good-bye, Friends!

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While not a particularly long stay on the island, it was enjoyable and by 12:45 we were back in the room dropping off our goodies. I think Kari laid down for a bit and I buggered off to see what the Midship Detective Agency Games were all about.

Stay tuned for a sleuthing workout, a little ship touring, and some super fun character interactions as well as dinner at Animator’s Palate!

(Loads of bougainvillea in the area!)​

 

[Steppesister]

Well, I'm all caught up here. Sorry can't multi quote, just too many chapters going on. But first off, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I know part of the reason to move to Kentucky was to look after them. I bet your mom is really grateful to have you now.

Wow!! It's GREAT to see you, Alison! I'm glad you're here! Yes, I also picked your thread up where you left off as I am just very swamped right now with this big life transition. But I WILL try and keep up and chime in as I can as I settle in and find my new groove.

Yes, I'm glad I had a few years (even if broken up a bit with travel nursing) to be with him. They were certainly treasured years. I am glad I can keep Mom company at least a little- she is still struggling very much. Grief is so very hard, as you know.

When we were at Disney a week after you, Caroline, and Susan were there, we didn't even really know about Jollywood Nights. We were so intent on dining every night, we didn't do any parties or anything.

I actually think you were there a week before me. You guys were gone by the time I was able to finally get there, after a TON of trip re-arranging. Would have been nice to see you guys.

You did that whole drive to Ft. Lauderdale in one stretch? Jill and I are doing the reverse in October and we're going to break it up with two nights at Vero Beach.

We did! It wasn't too bad except I needed a coffee, got a coffee, and then suffered with teeny, tiny bladder syndrome for most of the trip. By the time we turned the car in (had to start super early!) and got to the port, it was time to board.

We did Prima Notte on our cruise too, and thought it was just the perfect amount of food! It's too bad that you missed the Grand Marnier Souffle that night. That's my favorite menu, and I've requested that we start our dining rotation in Triton's on my Birthday Cruise so that we get to eat it the first night. Prima Notte was already booked up for our trip in May, but that wasn't something we wanted to do with a large group, and a lot are first time (Disney) cruisers. Neither of us have large appetites and we're both on appetite suppressing medications, so we were pleasantly full afterwards. Jill also let me have some of her wine so that worked out well for me!

We'd not eaten breakfast or lunch so were starved. It was definitely NOT enough food! LOL! But, now that I see the wt loss med factor... yep, can totally understand how it'd be just right!

I have good news about that souffle....

I'd think Prima Notte is better in a smaller, intimate group, so I'm betting it worked out for you that it was full.

I had the celery soup at Palo Brunch and it was certainly tasty. Jill and I (as well as Fran and I) always try to go to the specialty restaurants on Pirate Night because we just don't care for the menu. Fran and I did it once and that was enough. Jill and I didn't make it to the fireworks on our cruise either. They're just so late, and my body has readjusted to going to sleep early and waking up even earlier. Not sure how that happened.

Mmm, cream of celery soup! SOOOOO good!

I'd have to look back at the menu for that night; there was definitely one night/particular dish that was just awful. LOL!!! I feel ya... it snuck up on me too. Here we are, in bed by 9 or 10 and awake at 6:00. Ugh.

 

[pkondz]

So you're saying the pot of gold is on Lookout Cay.

Makes sense... Disney owns everything.

Although the Caribbean is a markedly different setting for Christmas than your typical Hallmark movie

travel the approximately 9 miles from ship to shore on the pier.

I read that it's half a mile! Long way to walk!

I won’t lie, the ride over the pier was punctuated with “ooohs” and “ahhhs” at how striking the sea is there.

The golf cart ride, however, does not get you to the main area of guest use; from the end of the pier we still needed to get on the island tram

Golf cart to tram to train to plane to island?

Lookout Cay is exponentially more developed but “cleaner” than Half Moon Cay.

Interesting... but not surprising. HAL is a cruiseline whereas Disney is... everything.

Really like that roofline.

Free soda. Nice!

Is the real moth comparable in size to the one on the frame?

Look at his happy little smile!

Uh, oh... Betcha he's not smiling now...

we saw not one, but actually 3 or 4 BIG grayish-brown moths

Cool!

Like this shot.

And this one too. Great texture and contrasting colours.

The lighthouse was interesting but nothing that held us there for more than a few minutes. It has long since been abandoned, but offers a point of interest, nonetheless.

I was surprised to see it's actually historic. I had assumed it might be "Disney historic".

Nice find!

Almost missed him. He blends in so well.

while there is less noise from kiddos, they more than make up for it in loud (and not very good) Calypso-esque live music.

I listened to the video... sounded... discordant.

Serenity was a bit of a misnomer.

You can tell from the video just how windy it was becoming.

Couldn't really hear that, but did hear the band.

the corn on the cob which was flavorless and chewy.

I refuse to get corn on the cob unless its super fresh. Otherwise it always tastes blah.

Oinky me ate it all and then went back for more.

Sheepishly, I asked a server if they had any, and after being told “no”, and was personally waked to the Blue Hole bar where I was treated to a free espresso.

Nice customer service there.

No cream or sugar, you say? No problem. I took my little cup of deliciousness to the ice cream station and made myself a pretty decent affogado which served as a perfect dessert and afternoon pick-me-up before heading back to the ship.

Smart!

I like it. Never seen anything quite like it.

a junkanoo is a cultural “party” that celebrates a real person who was a slave rights/emancipation activist who led successful uprisings in the Bahamas.

Interesting.

Loads of over-the-top costumed locals play festive music and parade into the gathered crowd with an invitation to join in the fun.

I did.

This surprises... no one.

I buggered off to see what the Midship Detective Agency Games were all about.

 

[missjackiemcg]

Such a perfect way to start the day!

The word “Junkanoo” stems from a mispronunciation of the real name. Anyhow, I found that all pretty fascinating!

That is super interesting!! I figured from the Skyliner spiel it was some sort of celebration, but had no idea about the history.

I haven't read too much about Lighthouse Point besides the long pier, so this was the first I'm hearing of the "characters" and nature trail at all! Love the Bahamian Christmas trees and island decorations, too. I hadn't seen those shared anywhere either!

 

[Wood Nymph]

The golf cart ride, however, does not get you to the main area of guest use; from the end of the pier we still needed to get on the island tram for a short 5-minute ride to where the food, services, and main beaches are.

It looks like quite a journey to get to the main area. I'm almost surprised that the tram doesn't begin at the end of the dock.

Fun Christmas "Trees"!

The Christmas trees are definitely fun, and unique, too.

but one of our main goals of the day was to walk along the Nature Trail to the little historic lighthouse and back.

It looks like a nice little trail. The beach looks very deserted. Would anyone go swimming here?

We also stopped to admire the limestone formations that made up some tall cliff faces along the beach area. Really, a fabulously scenic area.

The formations are very interesting. You can visualize how the layers were formed by the wind.

The lighthouse was interesting but nothing that held us there for more than a few minutes.

It is surprisingly small for a lighthouse.

corn on the cob which was flavorless and chewy.

Corn on the cob in most restaurants is always flavorless and chewy. We are totally spoiled by real sweet corn here in Illinois.

I pulled a GENIOUS move and went in search of coffee. Shockingly, this is not a common item on the island,

It is hard to believe that they don't have coffee available at all times.

I found that all pretty fascinating! Here on Lookout Cay, they have a daily junkanoo celebration/show that is super fun to dance to.

The island has more stuff than I expected. Do they have housing for the employees on the island?

 

[Steppesister]

So you're saying the pot of gold is on Lookout Cay.

Makes sense... Disney owns everything.

Practically, yes.

So not Such a Wonderful Life?

I read that it's half a mile! Long way to walk!

Very long walk. Yes, it's pretty and all, but... yikes.

Golf cart to tram to train to plane to island?

LOL!! Kinda like that.

nteresting... but not surprising. HAL is a cruiseline whereas Disney is... everything.

They certainly pay attention to detail and it shows. Even down the cleanliness.

Really like that roofline.

It sure caught my eye!! Loved it!

Is the real moth comparable in size to the one on the frame?

That's a good question. The wingspan is about 7" so yeah, this is actually probably very close to scale.

Uh, oh... Betcha he's not smiling now...

And this one too. Great texture and contrasting colours.

Very! It was really a very pretty area of the island and I'm glad we got away from the developed part to see the natural beauty of the place

I was surprised to see it's actually historic. I had assumed it might be "Disney historic".

Nope, in fact, before Disney bought it, it was open to the public and anyone could go and see it. If you go to Google maps and look at old reviews before the purchase and development, folks would hike there and use the beach below it.

I listened to the video... sounded... discordant.

I'm glad they are using local talent to help with the economy there, but... not your Broadway quality.

Nice customer service there.

It was very Disney-esque!

 

[Steppesister]

Such a perfect way to start the day!

Most definitely!

hat is super interesting!! I figured from the Skyliner spiel it was some sort of celebration, but had no idea about the history.

For sure!! I am so glad I went a little deeper. It really is an interesting piece of history that seems to be lost in the hype of it all. A bit like Mardi Gras I think.

I haven't read too much about Lighthouse Point besides the long pier, so this was the first I'm hearing of the "characters" and nature trail at all! Love the Bahamian Christmas trees and island decorations, too. I hadn't seen those shared anywhere either!

I'm super glad I could share some information that is helpful and entertaining! There's a lot going on at this Cay and even in the short few hours we spent there we were able to see almost all of it.

 

[Steppesister]

It looks like quite a journey to get to the main area. I'm almost surprised that the tram doesn't begin at the end of the dock.

I am too, but they were full-sized trams like you'd find at the parks and I don't think the dock would really accommodate them very well. I think Disney prioritized the reef life and ecologic impacts over human inconvenience and do a pretty good job at trying to make it accessible for most in the process.

The Christmas trees are definitely fun, and unique, too.

They really were. Such a fun addition.

It looks like a nice little trail. The beach looks very deserted. Would anyone go swimming here?

I'd imagine so but not that day. The wind was just too much for swimming. There were a couple of others who walked down the beach back towards the resort though that we saw.

The formations are very interesting. You can visualize how the layers were formed by the wind.

They were really quite striking. I loved the patterns and contrasts of colors.

It is surprisingly small for a lighthouse.

It is although perhaps some of it has been removed and at one time it was much larger? Maybe?

Corn on the cob in most restaurants is always flavorless and chewy. We are totally spoiled by real sweet corn here in Illinois.

For real. There's just nothing like fresh corn on the cob in summer.

It is hard to believe that they don't have coffee available at all times.

I agree!!! That was super weird to me!

The island has more stuff than I expected. Do they have housing for the employees on the island?

Now that's a good question. I know that Half Moon Cay does have staff housing on the island, but Eleuthra is pretty big and my guess is that the staff lives nearby in their own homes and commute in. Just a guess.

 

[pkondz]

Practically, yes.

You know what Disney doesn't own?

No. Really... Is there anything that Disney doesn't own?

So not Such a Wonderful Life?

Not if they use asbestos instead of snope!

(For the record, they didn't use asbestos in It's a Wonderful Life either, although other productions for that era and earlier did.)

They certainly pay attention to detail and it shows. Even down the cleanliness.

This surprises... no one.

Nope, in fact, before Disney bought it, it was open to the public and anyone could go and see it. If you go to Google maps and look at old reviews before the purchase and development, folks would hike there and use the beach below it.

Huh!

 

[Steppesister]

G is for: Games and Grins on the Dream!​

Our visit to Lookout Cay was a nice one and now it was time to spend the rest of the windy day back onboard. Kari was pooped out, but there were still some areas of the ship I wanted to explore and things I wanted to do. So while she settled in for a short Winter’s Nap, I struck out to solve a mystery.

One of the many fun things to do on Disney ships (I don’t know if it’s available on all of their ships but it’s an offering on at least 2) is the Midship Detective Agency Game. In a nutshell, you go from screen to screen throughout the ship gathering clues to solve a whodunit. If you’ve ever played the old Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game or the more recent game in Adventureland, A Pirate’s Adventure, then you know how this works.

I clambered from bow to stern and deck to deck at lightning speed and felt every year of my advanced age. Breathlessly, I gathered my clues from Pepe’s door, rode every elevator the Dream has, and re-introduced myself to every Muppets character ever conjured up by Mr. Henson. Who needs a ship gym when you can play along with the Muppets’ antics and deduce who “stole the show”!?! Honest opinion? This is actually a really fun way to spend a couple of hours on the ship. There were several others playing... families and single adults alike.

***Warning: Spoiler in 3rd photo. If you plan to play, skip.***

(Pepe's Door; IYKYK!)

(The culprit!)

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I still had a bit more time to kill before Kari and I planned to meet up for some Atrium shows, so I used the opportunity to explore a bit. There hadn’t been a chance to get some photos or really appreciate the dining venues and now was a perfect time to sneak in and explore a bit.

I went to the Royal Palace first and loved the Art Nouveau pieces on display there. Mucha would have been proud of the Disney artists’ renderings of the royalty here!

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From there I went to the Animator’s Palate knowing that in the busy-ness of a meal seating there would be no good picture taking. Once again, sneaking in on the stealth I browsed around and snapped a few. I didn’t want to get in trouble so didn’t loiter too long. I mean all they would likely do was ask me to leave, but if I was committing a serious offense and I landed in Disney ship jail there would be no one to solve the Muppet mysteries as skillfully as I had.

(Aren't the handles fun?!)


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Avoiding arrest for trespassing, it was time meet up with Kari for some fun and games in the Atrium. First up was a really nice ensemble singing some acapella Christmas carols and songs. It was my understanding that this was a grassroots group of regular ship staff that organically came together. They were really quite good and sang a nice variety of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter songs. I definitely enjoyed this very much.

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Next up was Storytime with Mrs. Claus. She was absolutely perfect! There were loads of young families gathered to hear her and the kids sat on the carpet listening to her read The Night Before Christmas and another cute story.

Steppe’s Own Story Time:

A million years ago in university I had to take a public speaking class specifically for Education majors. I memorized and recited this poem for one of my speeches and still remember most every word. I must have been mouthing the words as Mrs. Claus read. After her story time, I wanted a photo with her, and she was tickled that I recited (silently) along with her. We had quite the laugh as I told her my memories of this wonderful piece of literature, and it really made for an exceptionally fun character interaction.

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At the end of her story, she asked the kids if they liked surprises. Of course, they all exclaimed YES! And she told them she had a really fun surprise for them and to close their eyes and turn around. As they did, a slew of characters descended the grand staircase and when she told them to turn around and open their eyes there they all were!!

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It was truly a magical moment for everyone gathered; I should have anticipated and guessed this, but I was just as thrilled and surprised as the 4- and 5-year-olds surrounding me. For the next 20-30 minutes the characters offered photo opportunities and a wildly fun dance party. It was basically a lot of semi-controlled chaos and a great way to pass the time until dinner.

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One last character with a very short line was Belle in her Christmas gown: We each took a turn telling her hi and I told her all about having to read loads and loads of books over the last few years for school. She laughed when I told her I probably read even more than she did but that I was still jealous of her library.

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With still a short bit before dinner we headed to the Cove Café where there was a DVC complimentary drink event going on. It wasn’t very crowded at all and we each ordered a drink worth $11 or less. I chose a spiked Gingerbread Hot Cocoa which was both super yummy and whimsically fun! Yes, I absolutely bit his wee little head off first!

(Kari's cuppa)​

A word about this lounge: I really, really loved this space! It reminded me the Dahlia Lounge with the photos of Walt with Dali and others. There were also some fantastic coffee systems here that were absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous!

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Continued in next post...

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[Steppesister]

Continued from previous post...

Now onto dinner! Tonight was our turn for Animator’s Palate, so we headed that way at our appointed time of 5:45.

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By the time we got there the restaurant was already packed out and deafeningly loud. Our table was very near the front door, but every table has a good view of the screens that surround the venue. It is on these screens that animated loops of Finding Nemo/underwater scenes play. Every now and then throughout the meal Crush makes an appearance and interacts with a couple of kiddos. The concept is exactly like Turtle Talk with Crush at the park.

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Let’s talk about the food. I’ll be blunt: This was my least favorite meal of the cruise. For the starter I chose the sliced serrano ham and Manchego cheese plate. Sadly, this was extremely salty, and I only ate one of the bruschetta and a small bit of the ham. The presentation was pretty unimaginative as well.

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I went out on a limb and ordered the steak. I should have known better- it was literally so tough I could hardly chew it. One of our tablemates ordered it as well, and his was much better. Honestly I think they might have mixed up our orders- I’d ordered mine medium-rare and it was a solid WELL done. His was closer to a medium. I was definitely underwhelmed in every way.

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The dinner-winner was dessert. Or should I say desserts. I was served not one, not two, but three desserts!!! OY!

With my meal order I went with a cheesecake- something I VERY rarely do. It’s just not my thing but apparently, nothing else struck my fancy either. However, before I even tried it, Kari did me a solid and reminded our server that I’d still love to try that Grand Marnier Souffle that we’d missed the night before at the Royal Palace. True to his word, he showed up with the loveliest pot of Heaven ever. It truly does live up to all the hype and I gobbled up every single bite! I am convinced that @franandaj knows a good thing when she tastes it!

​

But our server wasn’t done yet… within 5 minutes he then showed up with a small piece of rich, dark chocolate mousse cake for a Graduation Celebration. I needed this like I need another round of snow this year. There was zero chance I’d even try a bite so asked for a cover and took it to the room where it died a slow, cold and painful death in the room fridge.

​

With dinner over we trekked back to the theater for the evening's show. Well, no, I guess you could say we weaved there. I have been on a few cruises now and this was by FAR the roughest I have ever experienced. I think we did stay for the whole show “Believe” but had a really tough time getting back the room. There were already people throwing up and there were cast members here and there handing out barf bags to those who needed them. Kari felt very punky and went to bed with some Zofran onboard. I’ve never struggled with seasickness but took up her offer of a spare she had and chased it with and Ambien and fell asleep after snapping a picture of the ship’s weather screen. 47mph sustained. Yikes. Let’s hope tomorrow would deliver fairer skies and smoother sailing.

​

 

[Steppesister]

You know what Disney doesn't own?

Uni?

Not if they use asbestos instead of snope!

(For the record, they didn't use asbestos in It's a Wonderful Life either, although other productions for that era and earlier did.)

I have heard cornflakes in some?

 

[pkondz]

now it was time to spend the rest of the windy day back onboard.

Point of order. On a Disney ship, it is never "windy"... it is a blustery day.

Bother.

Kari was pooped out

Then a ship is the right place. I believe the poop deck is the topmost deck, aft.

So while she settled in for a short Winter’s Nap, I struck out to solve a mystery.

(I don’t know if it’s available on all of their ships but it’s an offering on at least 2)

I didn't know this was your second Disney cruise.

I clambered from bow to stern and deck to deck at lightning speed and felt every year of my advanced age.

Someone else is gonna visit the poop deck!

Breathlessly,

Running from deck to deck at lightning speed will do that.

Who needs a ship gym when you can play along with the Muppets’ antics and deduce who “stole the show”!?!

Way more fun, too.

***Warning: Spoiler in 3rd photo. If you plan to play, skip.***

Meh. I doubt I will ever set foot on a Disney ship.

(Pepe's Door; IYKYK!)

IDNK

Nice

I didn’t want to get in trouble so didn’t loiter too long.

They'll keelhaul you!

I mean all they would likely do was ask me to leave

That's been done, ya know...
And on a Disney ship, no less.

but if I was committing a serious offense and I landed in Disney ship jail there would be no one to solve the Muppet mysteries as skillfully as I had.

Good point. Your sleuthing skills may have saved your life.

Did any of the animations (other than crush) move?

(Aren't the handles fun?!)

They are! Totally missed that.

It was my understanding that this was a grassroots group of regular ship staff that organically came together.

Impressive. They sounded pretty good to me too.

Next up was Storytime with Mrs. Claus. She was absolutely perfect! There were loads of young families gathered to hear her and the kids sat on the carpet listening to her read The Night Before Christmas and another cute story.

I'd sit for that too. Very nice!

I must have been mouthing the words as Mrs. Claus read. After her story time, I wanted a photo with her, and she was tickled that I recited (silently) along with her.

Awww... Nice shot of you (both.)

At the end of her story, she asked the kids if they liked surprises. Of course, they all exclaimed YES!

How could they not.
I trust that you too shouted YES!

And she told them she had a really fun surprise for them and to close their eyes and turn around. As they did, a slew of characters descended the grand staircase and when she told them to turn around and open their eyes there they all were!!

How great is that?!?!?

For the next 20-30 minutes the characters offered photo opportunities and a wildly fun dance party. It was basically a lot of semi-controlled chaos and a great way to pass the time until dinner.

Sounds great.

Great shot of you with the boss.

"Have you seen my pants?"

Stepp boogying for all she's worth.

And hamming it up like there's no tomorrow!

She laughed when I told her I probably read even more than she did but that I was still jealous of her library.

(So am I.)

Cute shot.

I chose a spiked Gingerbread Hot Cocoa which was both super yummy and whimsically fun!

Yum!!!

Yes, I absolutely bit his wee little head off first!

Oh dear...

Murder! Murder most foul!

A word about this lounge: I really, really loved this space! It reminded me the Dahlia Lounge with the photos of Walt with Dali and others. There were also some fantastic coffee systems here that were absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous!

Sounds really nice.

Love the butter knife.

By the time we got there the restaurant was already packed out and deafeningly loud.

Well... it is a Disney cruise. There's gonna be the odd kid or two.... thousand.

Every now and then throughout the meal Crush makes an appearance and interacts with a couple of kiddos.

Let’s talk about the food. I’ll be blunt: This was my least favorite meal of the cruise.

Well, that's unfortunate.

Blech! What the heck is that! Looks terrible.

I went out on a limb and ordered the steak. I should have known better- it was literally so tough I could hardly chew it.

Ugh. Nope.

Honestly I think they might have mixed up our orders- I’d ordered mine medium-rare and it was a solid WELL done.

Oh! Glad you sent it back and got another one, properly cooked.

I was served not one, not two, but three desserts!!! OY!

Kari did me a solid and reminded our server that I’d still love to try that Grand Marnier Souffle that we’d missed the night before at the Royal Palace. True to his word, he showed up with the loveliest pot of Heaven ever. It truly does live up to all the hype and I gobbled up every single bite! I am convinced that @franandaj knows a good thing when she tastes it!

Way to go Kari!
And of course I've heard so much about these... glad there's corroboration of its deliciousness.

But our server wasn’t done yet… within 5 minutes he then showed up with a small piece of rich, dark chocolate mousse cake for a Graduation Celebration.

Very nice!
Glad you got some recognition on your graduation celebration cruise.

took it to the room where it died a slow, cold and painful death in the room fridge.

What does your shirt say?
(And cute shot of you too. )

I have been on a few cruises now and this was by FAR the roughest I have ever experienced.

There were already people throwing up and there were cast members here and there handing out barf bags to those who needed them.

snapping a picture of the ship’s weather screen. 47mph sustained.

Um... no.
That's 47 knots... Which is 54mph! Almost the same speed you might do on the highway.

I have heard cornflakes in some?

I'd heard that too, but when I looked it up today, it said this (on numerous sites):

"In the early days of Hollywood, movie studios often used bleached cornflakes as a substitute for snow (or even cotton and—yikes!—asbestos)...
...a mixture of Foamite (found in fire extinguishers), soap, sugar, and water that could be shot out of canisters at high pressure and gently wafted over the set with a silent fan."

 

[Wood Nymph]

One of the many fun things to do on Disney ships (I don’t know if it’s available on all of their ships but it’s an offering on at least 2) is the Midship Detective Agency Game. In a nutshell, you go from screen to screen throughout the ship gathering clues to solve a whodunit. If you’ve ever played the old Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game or the more recent game in Adventureland, A Pirate’s Adventure, then you know how this works.

This looks like a fun game. We used to play the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game. It was nice to do something new for a change.

At the end of her story, she asked the kids if they liked surprises. Of course, they all exclaimed YES! And she told them she had a really fun surprise for them and to close their eyes and turn around. As they did, a slew of characters descended the grand staircase and when she told them to turn around and open their eyes there they all were!!

The kids must have loved that.

One last character with a very short line was Belle in her Christmas gown: We each took a turn telling her hi and I told her all about having to read loads and loads of books over the last few years for school. She laughed when I told her I probably read even more than she did but that I was still jealous of her library.

Belle's dress is very pretty. I bet she didn't experience very many people who told her that they read more books than she did.

It wasn’t very crowded at all and we each ordered a drink worth $11 or less.

Aren't beverages included in the cost of the cruise?

Tonight was our turn for Animator’s Palate, so we headed that way at our appointed time of 5:45.

Dinner does look bad. I don't trust Disney to make a good steak, unless it is one of their signature restaurants.

I guess you could say we weaved there. I have been on a few cruises now and this was by FAR the roughest I have ever experienced.

That sounds very unpleasant. I get seasick even in calm waters, which is why I won't go on another cruise.

 

[missjackiemcg]

If you’ve ever played the old Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game

Sigh. Jimmy LOVED playing, and what a fun way to spend time in MK when wait times were high. We really miss it!

Aww, and the Mary Engelbreit edition at that!! Love that you and Mrs. Claus shared a special moment together, too.

This is such an awesome surprise!! On our Very Merrytime cruise in 2019, Jimmy was in the kids club so much that we didn't bother with storytime with Mrs. Claus, but now I'm bummed we didn't!!

I have been on a few cruises now and this was by FAR the roughest I have ever experienced.

Ugh!! Our first night in 2019 was a bit rocky--the curtains in the theater were swaying as we waited for the show to begin, but that was about as rough as it got. 47 mph winds--yikes. Hoping for smoother seas the rest of the way!

 

[vamassey1]

Finally caught up.

I'm enjoying your cruise. I've never done one but I've been very tempted. I'm no so sure now. I could not handle rough seas at all. I'll just live through you for now.

Loved the interaction with Mrs. Claus an the character surprise. I'm sure the kids were beside themselves. Seeing Belle in her Christmas outfit would make me giddy.