The Gluttons found out before departing the boonies that the March 1st sailing of the Disney Wonder was completely sold out. That said, a full ship gives you an idea of how packed that terminal was when it came time to board.
Sure, I held a coveted Number
2 boarding pass, but I wanted to be as close to the front of the pack of other Number
2s as I could be. Why? Because I am a competitive, keep up with the Jones, bitter, hateful wench.
Or was I?
Was that why?
OK, I'd like to mention that I sincerely hope the wad of colorful adjectives I tossed in an above paragraph don't REALLY describe me (except the wench, I'm rather fond of that one) But I'll do that digressing thing here and move along.....
We squeezed in behind those suite passengers segregated in the concierge section. They announced boarding of the concierge and those needing special assistance, and then "Boarding Pass Number
TWO"
We pressed forward, a scene reminiscent of 80's Duran Duran concerts. Someone could have been trampled.....but they wisely moved out of my way!
What came over me? I'm usually a kind old soul. But I wanted on that boat and I wanted on NOW.
I hurried.....but politely.
and through the ears of Precious (Mickey
we went. As soon as we crossed the gangplank, a Cast Member greeted us and asked our name and if this was our first cruise with Disney.
I went blank. She asked again. What WAS my last name? Was this my first
Disney cruise? Where was I? Who was that strange man in my bed? Where were my underwear? Wherever they were, I hope they were clean or my mother will have a fit! Where was I again? Oohhh! I was on a Disney Cruise! Focus! Focus!
The Chief stepped up to the plate, waved away the men in white coats and answered the sweet, patient CM's question.
I heard "Please help us welcome the Glutton Family on their first Disney Cruise" and I lost it. I blubbered, tore up, crawled into a fetal position right there in the atrium, my thumb in my mouth, and cried for my Momma.
Did I?
No, I did cry, but I was on a mission.....from DIS. No time to smell the atrium, OR the flowers, or cry for my Momma.
On through the Promenade Lounge where we met Amanda from the United Kingdom, who sold DH his souvenir tall beer glass full of brewsky and my first Bahama Mama of the cruise in a girly pink
DCL collectible faux glass (plastic) glass. That was the fastest $22 I'd spent on two drinks in my life and I was still sober!
The Promenade Lounge:
We hurried up to Deck 9 (conveniently placed CMs along the way made sure everyone went to Deck 9 or Parrot Cat, no wandering around). We hurried through the buffet line and met a really cute CM from Wales (We have a Welsh dog, so we're particularly fond of Wales and Welsh things and people) who asked the Princess if he may have the honor of carrying her try. Sheesh! You know he didn't ask me. In fact, no one offered to carry my tray. I had to hold my Bagallini, Bahama Mama, digital camera, papers from the terminal, and fight off those particularly aggressive Florida Laughing gulls who wanted my shrimp in the worst very un Disney like way.
Just stop for a second. Breathe. Make this last just a bit longer.
What do those gulls laugh about all the time anyway?
On Deck 9, I wolfed that food down so fast, I couldn't even tell you if I liked it, if it tasted good, and what exactly I ate!
I had a family I needed to get over to the Mickey Pool and that could not wait!
See, I wanted them over there before it was full of full Pull Ups so the kiddos could hit the slide a couple of times while the water was only semi disgusting.
So we did. We ran over to the Mickey Pool. I got DH settled on a chaise with his beer, the kids stripped nekkid (no, not really) to their bathing suits, and into the pool they went.
Off I RAN to WaveBands after dropping off at Guest Services all those Disney Dollars and gift cards I'd been hoarding for the past 6 months:
I arrived at WaveBands to find on another woman standing right in front of the door. I checked my cell phone and found it was only 12:45. During the next ten minutes, there were at least thirty people in line behind me. A CM opened the doors and let us in. The woman in front of me switched her late dining to early dining. I was there to do the same. The CM told me that the woman in front of me took the last available early dining slot. Rats! But I was the first name on the waiting list! I confirmed our Palo reservations and went to leave.
In front of those people the CM said "Ma'am (see? they call old ladies Ma'am in stead of Princess)?? It says here you are allergic to nuts. Is this true?"
Well, that was embarrassing! I almost said something very dirty about "NUTS" but I refrained and quietly said "Just walnuts, thanks"
and left!
I found DH dozing on the chaise lounge, the kids doing the slide repeatedly. In the 25 minutes since I left, this place filled right up! Wow!
We gathered our things, walked a bit around Deck 9 (gotta check out the other pools) before heading off to our stateroom.
Remember us? I waited until the last minute to book the least expensive cabin I could, ended up with a category 9 GTY and was upgraded to a category 5?
9. Not happy with the time of your dinner seating (the early seating usually sells out first)? Be at Wave Bands before 1pm on the first day to change it. If you aren't there when the doors open, you probably won't get to switch.
10. The Mickey Pool gets busy.....FAST....and so dirty too! While it looks like they clean it daily, it overflows with bodies. Get there early to get your swim in. Otherwise forget finding a chair and expect long lines for the slide.
We were gonna see our stateroom!
Looking forward to reading more of your report.
