Day Eight (May 8, At Sea)
This was probably my favorite day of the trip. I had tons of stuff marked in the Navigator app and a lot to look forward to!
This morning was our scheduled character breakfast, but after two very busy days and a late night ahead, none of us were feeling up to dragging ourselves out of bed early. Instead we slept in and had a quick breakfast at the buffet before Elliott went to the Lab. It was around this time that we learned that all children are allowed to check themselves into the club, they just can't check out without parental permission. They told me that if a child is wandering around and gets lost they can just be brought to the Lab so that they are in a safe, known place, and their parents would be able to locate them. Makes sense. I wasn't ready for Elliott to be able to check out, but I started giving him a bit more freedom. It turned out to be very handy.
Oliver and I walked around the ship for a while before going to Cruisin' for Trivia, which is just general trivia. Since it was multiple choice I let Ollie pick a bunch of the answers. We didn't win, but it was fun to see what he decided on. My favorite part was when the question was, “What was the name of the cruise director on The Love Boat?” and they hadn't even put up the choices yet when Oliver leaped out of his seat and hollered, “Julie!” Child has some eclectic taste.
After trivia we walked around a bit more, finding ourselves by the ice cream machines and then getting pretzels. We were up on deck when they started the Captain vs. Cruise Director Wii Bowling challenge, so we decided to just hang out by the pizza place to watch. Ryan, Christa, Joe, and Andrea were there, so we had fun company.
At one point cast member Andy, who was hosting the event, came over to interview “the boy who had lost his tooth.”
He asked Oliver what he thought the penalty should be for the loser. Oliver told him the loser should have to go in the pool. Poor Clayton...
Oliver was sure to apologize afterward, though he was rather pleased with himself.
It was time for Pixar trivia so all of us decided to go play. We got there and Oliver declared that he wanted to go to the Lab instead. I was trying to decide if I trusted him enough to find his way from the Promenade Lounge to the Lab (two floors up from the nearby atrium), but Joe offered to walk him up as long as Ollie knew the way. It was very sweet. We did pretty well, but we still lost by two. I have to say, though, we were a pretty good team!
During trivia an announcement came over the PA saying that due to unrest we were going to be skipping our scheduled port stop in Puerto Vallarta. We'd be having an extra sea day instead. This news was very disappointing as we had booked an excursion to Las Caletas, which we'd previously done in 2012. We had really been looking forward to it – even Elliott, who had already told me he would not get off the boat in Cabo. Christa and Ryan told me they were thinking of doing a beach day, maybe get some tacos, in Cabo, and we could join them if we'd like. When I presented it to Elliott later, he declared that it sounded 73% ok and he'd think about it.
After trivia we chatted for a little bit and then dispersed. I decided to take my Kindle up to deck 4 to read in one of the loungers.
It was very bright and I'd forgotten my sunglasses, so I didn't last too long. I stopped by the Lab to see if the kids wanted to get some lunch, but they decided to just get some lunch there. So I went up to grab a little something at the buffet, followed by another ice cream cone. On the days when banana or pineapple-coconut were available I had as many cones as I could.
I went down to the room to get my sunglasses and run a brush through my wind-tangled hair, and I found two backpacks for tonight's sleepover in the kid's clubs.
There was a sheet inside each containing information and instructions for the campout.
I wonder if any parents gave into the temptation NOT to pick their kids up at 9 the next morning.
I had a little while before my mixology class (privately arranged through our cruise group) started at 2, so I sat in one of the chairs on deck 4 above the atrium with my book. The atrium was actually starting to get crowded because the Pixar Pals party was going to be happening at 2. I was sad that we were going to miss it, but what can you do?
A few minutes before 2 I headed back to the Cadillac Lounge to check in for mixology. I had no clue if I was going to know anyone that was there, so I just sat in the chairs nearest to the door. Luckily Christa and Ryan showed up shortly thereafter, followed by another couple I was friendly with, Christina and Frank. Now, I am going to admit that I don't remember too many specifics of mixology. I will do my best.
When we sat down there were five drinks already made: four small cocktails and one shot. As we were trying each drink a few members of the group were called up to make a full-size version of the cocktail. We were told that we had to stay until we drank every drop of any drink we made ourselves. In addition to this, we were missing quite a few members of the group – probably 8-10 (guessing they were dancing with Pixar characters). So, there were lots of extra drinks.
The first drink we tried was tequila-based and I think it had blue Curacao in it. I don't like tequila at all, so it wasn't my favorite. Christina and Christa both made this one.
I'm pretty sure the next drink was a Bahama Mama made with Malibu. That is more my speed...delicious! The third drink was the one I made, and I don't really remember much about it. There was cranberry, sweet & sour, and 7-Up in it. Probably vodka, based on the rest of it. It was pretty tasty, though the one on the table was crazy sour. The one I made was much sweeter.
I don't remember what the fourth drink was, but I remember that it was good! The last drink was the shot, which was Bailey's, Kalua, and... something. Someone else who was there may be able to fill in the details. Remember, I rarely ever drink. I was fairly tipsy.
After mixology ended, a bunch of us stayed there chatting. Christa mentioned that there was a party at the adult pool area that night, after the campout started. I wasn't sure about that, but I liked the idea of a grown-up activity during my night of freedom, so I told them I would look for them there.
It was time for Ultimate Disney Trivia in the Promenade Lounge, so Christa, Ryan, and I went down that way, where we found Joe and Andrea, along with another couple from our cruise group, Brendon and Athene. I was a bit nervous about trying to play trivia right after mixology, but we did quite well.
Right after that was Disney music trivia, so we just stayed where we were. We only got one answer wrong, but we still lost when three teams had all the answers right. I was slightly frustrated because I totally knew that last answer (Sherman brothers), but their last name just slipped my mind. However, I really hate tie breakers, so it was just as well!
Between mixology and trivia I was having quite a fun afternoon. These were some truly great people and I am so glad I met them all!
By the time trivia was over it was almost time for dinner, so I went to pick the kids up from the Lab. It was semi-formal night and I have to admit that I was not really in the mood to get dressed up! I put on my comfiest dress that fit the suggested attire and made the kids wear button-up shirts. That was as far as I could go that night!
We were in Animator's Palate for the Toy Story 3D menu, which the kids got a kick out of. They enjoyed wearing their 3D glasses to read the menu.
Both boys ordered chicken noodle soup, Elliott with macaroni and cheese and Ollie with pasta. I also ordered them smoothies that came in a cup with a light-up Buzz Lightyear. They thought that was very cool. I had Sid's Mexican Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup, which was delicious, LGM's Orange and Roasted Beetroot Salad, also very good, and Sheriff Woody's Favorite Marinated Delmonico Ribeye Steak. Elliott got bored very early and left for the Lab, but Oliver wanted to try the bubblegum sundae. I was way too full for dessert, but Beata brought me out an apple cobbler. I ate a little bit, but I truly was stuffed.
After dinner Ollie and I found that Dug and Mrs. Incredible were in the lobby with not-so-long lines, so we hopped in to see Dug. He is my absolute favorite Disney character and I have been trying for years to catch him at
Disneyland, so this was very exciting for me. As soon as it was our turn, Oliver yelled, “Squirrel!” and of course, Dug looked. Well, then the photographer wanted Oliver to look at her for the picture, so she said, “Squirrel.” Oliver looked. I loved it.
We also had time to go through Mrs. Incredible's line, which we did because moms are the best super heroes.
At this point Oliver started telling everyone we met that his name was Olaf and he liked warm hugs. And then he hugged them. It was really cute, and luckily he didn't run into anyone that didn't think it was great. This included cast members and guests alike.
We went up to the pool deck to get some blankets for the sleepover, as I felt like the ones on their beds were too bulky and everything was meant to fit in their little backpacks. We watched Frozen on Funnelvision for a while before it was time to get the boys ready for the campout. We swung by the Lab on our way back to the room, to pick up Elliott.
Nerissa had put the kids' pillows out for them, since they didn't need their beds made up. The boys put on their new Mickey jammies, stuffed their stuffed Stitches and blankets into the backpacks, and we headed down to the Lab to drop them off. I had my Wave phone with me, as per instructions.
I still wasn't sure what the pool party would be like, as the description in the Navigator read: “Join us as we transform Quiet Cove into a 'night club under the stars' celebrating our arrival into the Pacific.” I wasn't really wanting to go dancing, but I decided to head up and check it out. I didn't see Christa and Ryan, so I went and sat off to the side, thinking that I might just end up heading back to the room. I was having a bit of worry that I'd be intruding on private vacation time if I was hanging out with people too much. That sort of feeling is a very unfortunate side effect of being shy and maybe a bit messed up by all of the crummy stuff that had been happening in real life.
Well, am I glad I decided to wait a little while, because I ended up having such a great night! Within a few minutes Christa and Ryan showed up, and we went to find a table. Joe, Andrea, Athene, and Brendon were all there, so we joined them off to the port-side of the pool. At some point Lisa and Matt (Noah's parents from day 1), and Lisa's mom Peggy, also joined us. We sat and watched (and Christa participated) as they did a trivia game that basically was a way to get crew members (including Captain Robert) into the pool. The questions were so hard that almost no one would know the answers.
After that, the crew had a lip sync battle, which was hilarious. I'm pretty sure it was Lesley, Clayton, and Andy... can't remember if there was a fourth person. They were all really good! The winner was to join the rest of the crew in the pool. I don't even know who won, as by the end the entire entertainment staff and many other officers were in the pool having what looked to be the time of their lives. It really felt like it was a night for guests and crew to really cut loose a bit.
At one point it started raining a little bit and lots of people cleared out. We just stayed in place, because what's a little rain? Someone in a suit hustled over to the pool to talk to Captain Robert, who leaped out and went running off. That made me a little bit nervous. However, it must not have been anything important as a few minutes later he returned and got right back into the pool.
There was a DJ that played until midnight or so, so we sat there listening, chatting, and having drinks of the day. We lost the non-parents in the 10-11 zone, but the rest of us were in it for the long haul.
Shortly after the DJ finished up Lisa and Matt got a call from the club saying that Noah wanted to be picked up, so they headed off. A little while later they came back – Grandma agreed to watch Noah so that Mom and Dad could have their night out! Yay, Grandma! Lisa told me that it had been utter chaos down there. Cast members going door-to-door looking for parents, kids yelling... she said she hadn't seen Elliott or Oliver, so that was good.
The five of us ended up staying there chatting until 2:00AM, well after the ship was shut down for the night. We were joined briefly toward the end by Richard, who was the husband of Sue and one of the group I'd joined for trivia the second day of the trip.
It was way past all of our bedtimes, so we finally called it a night. When I got back to the room I discovered that my Wave Phone had died and Elliott had sent a text asking to be picked up shortly after midnight. It was just one text and no phone messages, so I wasn't too concerned. I have to admit that I'm kind of glad I hadn't gotten it until it was too late, as I am sure I would have gone to get him and I'd have missed out on one of my favorite parts of the trip. He had just decided he didn't particularly feel like sleeping on the floor, but it ended up being just fine.