Disney Cruise 2012 ~

We left on Tuesday for our cruise ~ we went as far as to the coast and stayed at Dalton's parents' coast house....we didn't leave until 7 and we stopped at a Mellow Mushroom on the way!

We arrived at Port Canaveral fairly early on Wednesday and had lunch at Rusty's ~ great seafood and it was right on the water!

 After lunch, we rode around and scoped out the town! We checked in our room and the kids were ready to swim!

 Crazy Mary Dalton played in the closet for hours! She had the best time! Our travel agent had our room and shuttle service arranged for us ~ this made it so nice...we didn't have to haul luggage, find somewhere to park, figure out where to go or what to do!!!

 Thursday morning, we went for doughnuts and then got ready for our bus to pick us up and take us to the boat!

 The boat was MASSIVE!!! The kids were SOOOO pumped when they saw the boat!!! Dalton & I were pretty excited, too!!!!

 Everyone knows WDW is EXPENSIVE ~ however disney just can't be beat ~ EVERYTHING is SO WELL PLANNED out and organized....and yall know I LOVE that!!! We had to wait about 45 mins to board the boat, so we went ahead and got the kids checked into the Oceaner's Club ~ this is the kids' activites on the boat....

 When we got on the boat ~ The kids wore their suits under their clothes ~ we went and ate...a buffet with EVERY food you can imagine was waiting....sandwiches, prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, sushi, pizza, chicken fingers, ribs, salads, fruits, ice cream, desserts, you name it....we had it!!!

 After lunch, our room was ready! I was nervous about it being small but we were hardly ever in there so it was no big deal!! It was actually pretty roomy!!!

The couch was folded out by the staff each night and a bunk bed folds down from the ceiling ~ they come put it back each a.m. ~ the kids LOVED that! There was also a cool constellation with disney characters in the "hole" where the bed was kept...pretty neat!

 Some friends of ours went on the same cruise with us! The kids had SOOO much fun playing together and they were excited to have someone familar along, too!!!

Mary Dalton & Abby swimming in Mickey's Pool ~

**The pools are SUPER crowded the 1st day ~ everyone wants to get in!!! Next time, we will opt to wait and swim later...kids had fun, but it was packed and a packed pool makes me nervous!!!  This was the biggest/most crowded we were the entire trip!

 Jackson & Mallie loved the mini water slide!!!

 After swimming, we went to Open House at the Oceaner's Lab ~ this is the only time parents are allowed in. I was not so sure about leaving the kids with strangers, but again WDW has thought of EVERYTHING!!! Kids have bracelets that are computer chips...they are tracked in the rooms and there are teachers EVERYWHERE ~ most of them have college degrees in education and they are ALL soooo sweet!!! We had to have a room key which linked the kids to us as well as a password to pick up or drop off. We also had a wave phone where we could text or call and check on the kids and the counselors could text/call us if they were ready to go or needed something! our kids LOVED this and never wanted to leave! we had to BEG them to come with us to dinner!!!

 They had a wii, computers, classes, cooking, dress up, all sorts of art projects, toys, games, and characters even came in to visit! One night, they had Pluto's pajama party and they decorated pillow cases and hung out with pluto ~ tinker bell also showed up and hosted a talent show! They LOVED this program! I can't say enough good things about it!!!

 Our room had a verandah ~ We enjoyed this because when the kids were asleep, we could sit out there and talk ~ the sky was SO beautiful on that big open water! We REALLY enjoyed it!

 The 1st night we ate at Royal Palace ~ it was pretty "high class" and uptight in the menu offerings and setting, but of course it was SUPER relaxed....we were on a Disney Cruise!!! Every place had a children's menu with plenty of options for even the pickest eaters!!!

 After dinner, the kids were dying to get back to the Oceaner's Lab so we dropped them off and headed to the Adult's Only Floor ~ quiet and classy....it was WONDERFUL!!!

 We picked up the munchins and they had made mouse ears!!! ha!

 Friday morning, we scheduled a dolphin swim in Nassau ~ we did not go with Atlantis, but with the blue lagoon ~ they are way cheaper and it was excellent!!! They also have an AWESOME beach area that would be fun to enjoy! We met in the theater to get our tickets and instructions!!!

 The water was breath taking....we took a double decker boat ride...about 30 mins to the island...

side note....little kids were SCARED TO DEATH of the dolphins. I would not do this with anyone under 6. Even our friend's child who was 8 did not like this. The dolphins are big, loud and fast...my 2 loved it but it is expensive so I would advise to wait until you are 100% sure your children will enjoy it! ;)

 We were in the pool with Salvador ~ he was precious! I did not take my phone down into the area bc he splashes a LOT and I was scared I would ruin it! This was SOOOO much fun!!!

 We headed back ~ Jackson was worn out! ;) We ate at Hard Rock Cafe and then the kids wanted to go BACK to the Oceaner's Lab!

 Friday night we ate at Animator's Palace ~ this was our favorite!!! Crush talked to everyone while they were eating and there were little games on the screens for everyone to play/watch. Food was EXCELLENT and our kids had a blast!!!

 We did the early dining option ~ this worked great for us! We only went to one show and it was amazing!!! Shana and her family went to the others and she said that they were unbelievable!

Friday  was the pirate party ~ Disney had an invitation on our bed and supplied us with pirate attire for the evening! Some people went ALL out!!! it was a show! Fireworks, music, amazing!!!

 They cover the pools for the deck parties each night ~ we only went to the pirate party ~ we were doing other things the other nights...there is SOOOO much to do for EVERY age on the boat!

 A veiw of the pirate party!!!

 Mary Dalton LOVED the music...everywhere we went there was music and you know my girl was ROCKING it!!!! She had herself a FINE TIME!!!!

 We met up with The Sims again and enjoyed the show!!! After the show...you guessed it...back to the oeaner's lab!!!

 Saturday a.m. we headed to Castaway Cay ~ Disney's private island....only people from our boat were on the island...we watched them unload and load back up...it was a sight!!! Everyone employeed on our boat, gets off the boat sets the island up and works the island! Crazy, but it runs soooo smoothly! I am sure that there are some people still on the boat, but most are off working!

 We rented a private beach cabana with the Sims....if you EVER go...it is worth EVERY SINGLE COPPER!!!! I read lots of mixrd reviews about the family cabanas, I am SO thankful we got one!!!

 the inside ~ we had a stocked fridge, fruits, drinks, sunscreen, towels, wet cold cloths, magazines, hammock, sand toys, porch, fans, safe, snorkling gear, bikes, and a personal butler....heaven!!!

 LOVED the welcome sign! They took us by golf cart to the cabana.

 Even Dalton likes the beach when we do it this way!!! I could MOVE into this cabana! :)  We also had a shower which was nice, too!

 The kids had the BEST time...the weather was not the best, it was overcast and a little rainy, but it didn't stop us from having a blast!!!

 The water was soooo pretty....crystal clear!!!

 We also had floats and tubes!!! There was a water park area and they went there for a little while, but pretty much they were happy in our little area...they rope off our swimming area...there is a guard watching the rope to keep anyone from coming into the private area....the public beach was packed, ours was EMPTY!!! It made it way easier to watch the kids!!!

 Mary D. was AWESOME at snorkling....we may do an excursion and take her out to see some good stuff next time!!!

 Last night, we ate at The Enchanted Garden....very pretty!!! The meal was good, dessert was not!!! never fear...we ate the ice cream! My kids LOVED the 24/7 ice cream!!! ha!

 Mary Dalton spilled her ENTIRE sprite on Jackson...he was laughing so hard I thought he was crying...he was SOAKED!!!!

 Since we were already an eye sore...we pulled out the spoon trick!!! I teach my children such NICE table manners! ;)

 Go Jackson!!!!

 LOVE LOVE LOVE that face....nothing but happiness!!!!!

 We got ready to go...to take the kids BACK to the oceaner's lab!!! Check out his SOAKED shirt!!

 Sunday a.m. we had to be at breakfast at 6:45 ~ mary dalton was so sad the night before that our fun time was ending! We went ahead and broke the news that we booked ANOTHER DC for next May! That seemed to help a little!!!

 jackson and I were TIRED!!!!

 I was surprised at how SMOOTHLY getting off the boat and getting back to get our car went...we were headed home by 9 a.m!

 I would HIGHLY recommend this trip to anyone with children!!! Or really anyone!!! Our children were the PERFECT ages ~ 6 and 7 ~ younger than 5...it's gonna be hard...sensory overload to say the least!

Dalton & I enjoyed the fact that we got to not only enjoy the kids, but have time to talk and enjoy each other!!!! It was PERFECT and I would not change a thing!

 We had the BEST time and are already making plans about our cruise on the Disney Dream next year!!!!