2013 Trip Plans

2013 Trip Plans

I needed to get this all down somewhere. So the plan is as follows:

Monday 28th October

SYD-LAX-LAS flying Qantas long haul for the first time

Monday 28th October

Groundhog day. Pick up rental. Check in MGM Grand. Possibly drive to Clark County Office to get marriage licence otherwise wait until tomorrow. Shop, eat, try and stay awake until bedtime.

Tuesday 29th October

Sightsee in Vegas, shopping. Get marriage licence if haven't done so. 

Wednesday 30th October

Get Married!! Chapel of Flowers

Thursday 31st October

Halloween!! Check out of MGM Grand. Drive to Anaheim. Check into Park Vue Inn. Hopefully trick or treat with some friends in LA.

Friday 1st November

Disneyland/California Adventure

Saturday 2nd November

Disneyland/California Adventure

Sunday 3rd November

Disneyland/California Adventure

Monday 4th November

Disneyland/California Adventure

Tuesday 5th November

Universal Studios??

Wednesday 6th November

Disneyland/California Adventure

Thursday 7th November

Disneyland/California Adventure. Check out of Park Vue Inn. Drive to LAX. Check into Holiday Inn Express LAX.

Friday 8th November

Say goodbye to sister/hubby. United Flight, LAX-MCO. Pick up rental. Drive to Port Canaveral. Check into Country Inn & Suites Port Canaveral.

Saturday 9th November

Board Disney Fantasy

Sunday 10th November

At Sea

Monday 11th November

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Tuesday 12th November

Costa Maya, Mexico

Wednesday 13th November

Cozumel, Mexico

Thursday 14th November

At Sea

Friday 15th November

Castaway Cay

Saturday 16th November

Disembark Disney Fantasy. Transfers to POFQ. EPCOT. Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus for dinner.

Sunday 17th November

Donalds Safari Breakfast @ Tusker House. Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom, MVMCP

Monday 18th November

Hollywood Studios. Lunch @ 50's Prime Time Cafe. 

Tuesday 19th November

Crystal Palace Breakfast. Magic Kingdom. Dinner @ Ohana

Wednesday 20th November

Check out POFQ. Southwest Flight, MCO-LAS. 10 hour layover. AA/Qantas, LAS-LAX-SYD

Friday 22nd November

Home

Day 15 - Castaway Cay

CASTAWAY CAY!!!

Pronounced Castaway KEY, Castaway Cay is Disneys own private island. It is for the exclusive use of Disney Cruise Line guests. It is truly paradise and in typical Disney fashion it is well thought out and practically perfect in every way.

View from the ship

We had breakfast at Cabana's  then we went back to our stateroom to get ready for ur beach day. We got our swimmers and beach gear (Sunscreen, buckets, spades etc) and headed off the ship. We got off and collected our towels then hopped on the tram. We got off at the main beach and found a nice shady spot. We spent the day swimming, snorkelling, digging, eating and relaxing.

Riding the tram

Not happy on the tram

Our shady spot

I hired a set of snorkel gear and snorkelled on and off during the day. I didn't realise until right at the end of the day that all the cool fish were to be seen at the far, far end of the snorkelling area. By the time I swam back it was to late to get my camera and go again. I will remember for next time!


Steve took Brandon to hire a pedal boat. The boys had a great time and Steve took a couple of photos. Brandon was too short to reach the pedals so Steve did all the work while B kicked back and enjoyed the ride!

Selfies!

The boys

The Disney Fantasy

Castaway Cay

More rentals

Peyton and I swam and enjoyed lunch. Lunch was BBQ and there was burgers, hotdogs, salads, cookies, fruit, soda, ice cream. Plus packets of chips. I took some down to the beach area. I remember waiting in line for lunch and listening to the music they played over the speakers and "Land Down Under  came on. It did make me feel a little homesick, especially the Vegemite sandwich part. LOL!

Burger and salads

Fruit Salad

I think she has banana bread, chicken, corn & ketchup, hotdog and a cookie

Definitely a cookie!

We spent a fabulous last day on the beach. It is one of our favourite places in the world.

Relaxing on a deck chair

Playing in the sand

Tiny, tiny hermit crab

See, tiny!!

Swimming/Floating

Funny seagulls

Making sandcastles

My view from my chair

Sadly it was time to pack up and board the ship. As the ship moved away from the dock the lucky maintenance crew who get to stay, bid us farewell with Mickey hands.

Goodbye!

And a bow!

Pulling away from the dock

I went and took some photos from the back of the ship of the sunset. I just made it. I also took a wander around and photographed some more of the ship. 

I thought these clouds were cool and looked like a cruise ship on the horizon

I wasn't the only one with that idea!

The funnel

Chandelier

Detail on the lift

The farewell party

Captain Mickey

I went back to the room and got ready for dinner. Our last night was at Royal Court. The dinner was delicious and it is my favourite restaurant out of the three. I'm glad we got to eat here three times.

Dinner setting

Looking a little tired and sunburnt

Another tired munchkin

Mmmm, cauliflower with tomato sauce

B's Chicken noodle soup

Mickey Bar

Our server

Towel Swan

Day 14 - Sea Day

Day 14 was the third and final sea day. We took it easy and just enjoyed this ship on our second last day. We started with our usual lazy breakfast at Cabanas. Then we all did different things onboard during the day. 









I went to the Captain signing and got two items signed. I wasn't that impresses by Captain Marco, I mean he did a good job sailing the ship and all but to be honest he didn't show much personality. 

Peyton at lunch, she wanted to eat alfresco!

The kids went to the club and Peyton had me page at lunchtime as she wanted out. I went and got her and took her to Cabanas for lunch. I'm pretty sure I either skipped lunch or ate very little. This was in anticipation of our dinner reservation at Palo. I took Peyton back to the club and did some packing/organising for our departure. Then I got all gussied up for our fancy dinner. Palo is one of only two restaurants on the ship that charge a fee separate from what is included in the cruise fare. Admittedly the cover charge is not a lot ($20), and I feel it is well worth it. It is adults only and has a North Italian themed menu. There is a dress code. As a Silver Castaway Club member i was able to book at 90 days prior to sailing. I still wasn't able to secure a coveted brunch reservation though. Dinner it was and like I said I was not disappointed.

From memory our server was Milos and he was amazing! Those of you who know me, know I don't do fancy. This was fancy, pulling your chair out fancy! haha. The food was delicious. I can't rave on enough about how much we loved Palo. We had warm garlic bready pizza, antipasto platter which was all described in detail, the BEST calamari I have ever eaten (and I love calamari and have tried a lot), lamb cutlets (I eat a lot of these too) and souffle. All to die for. I can't wait to get back there!

Roses and breadsticks

Anitpasto

Sea view

Garlic pizza

Calamari

Palate cleansing sorbet

Lamb

Perfect!

Souffle

Limoncello

Here is the menu for anyone interested: Palo Menu

After rolling out of the restaurant we picked up the kids and took them to bed. We had a big day at Castaway Cay in the morning. I also arrived to this surprise:

On the first or second day I dropped this plate off at guest services with a pack of multi coloured sharpies. The plate I picked up for aout $12.95 at Fort Wilderness. It looks amazing and it is one of my all time favourite souvenirs. 

TIP: You can drop off up to two items at guest services and they will get characters to sign and have it delivered to your room. This is at no cost. You should provide sharpies if you want particular colours. I was told usually you can request either Fab 5 or princesses. They made an exception for me. Popular items for signing are - pillowcases, t-shirts & vinylmations