This ship is beautiful! Ok, let me back up…this morning we packed and checked out of our hotel. We arrived at the ship dock and checked in, and then ran up to see our room, even though it was only noon and the room wouldn’t be ready until 2. Our room is in an awesome location. It is on the hump, so we can see both what is in front and what is behind the boat. We have a balcony…and it is very nice having a balcony. The room is right off of the main hallway, across from the library, so we don’t have to walk down the hall.
Next, we left the ship and took our rental car back to the airport and took a taxi back. The line was a bit longer then, but it was nice to bypass the line and just board the ship because we had already checked in. We looked around the ship, made reservations for dinner at Portofino’s and scheduled a couple’s spa treatment called the Rasul for Saturday.
Dinner was awesome. I had an onion pastry – basically like an onion quiche -, tomato soup, chicken stuffed with prosciutto and Gruyere cheese, and a chocolate berry fondue. Grant had a fish appetizer, a spinach salad, a cod entrée, and the same dessert as I did.
The muster drill was hot, but quick enough, and now we are chilling in the room. We have an early day tomorrow in St. Thomas so we are going to skip the Welcome Aboard Show and go to bed early….well, I am going to go to bed early…hopefully grant does, too!
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Yunque Rain forest
Today, grant and i went to the yunque Rain forest. It was very cool. it is the only protected rain forest in the US national Parks...We spent some time at the visitor's center looking at the displays, and then we drove up in to the forest and did a mile and a half hike down to the base of yuni falls and back. The hike went along the river, and there weremany places where you could go into the pools on the way to the falls. On our way back up we stopped and found a little pool to ourselves. We waded a bit to cool off before heading back to our car.
The forest was very neat. The plant life was amazing and lush, the scattered warm showers completed the scene, and it smelled beautiful.
We took a differnt route back so that we could see more of the island. puerto rico is truly a beautiful land, very green. It is interesting because it is so hybrid...very American, with Walmarts, kamrts, taco bell, burger king, sizzler, curves, etc., but almost everything is in spanish. The gas is sold in liters, but the speed on te highway in miles per hour...intersting.
We got back to our hotel at 8ish and decided to order room service for dinner. Grant got salmon and I got a chicken wrap.
Tomorrow, we start our cruise!
The forest was very neat. The plant life was amazing and lush, the scattered warm showers completed the scene, and it smelled beautiful.
We took a differnt route back so that we could see more of the island. puerto rico is truly a beautiful land, very green. It is interesting because it is so hybrid...very American, with Walmarts, kamrts, taco bell, burger king, sizzler, curves, etc., but almost everything is in spanish. The gas is sold in liters, but the speed on te highway in miles per hour...intersting.
We got back to our hotel at 8ish and decided to order room service for dinner. Grant got salmon and I got a chicken wrap.
Tomorrow, we start our cruise!
Puerto Rico
Yesterday was a traveling day, and it felt like a long day..We left Disney World and got to the airport with no problems. They boarded the plane and we sat and sat and sat...the plane was supposed to leave at 10:40...11:15 rolls around and we are still sitting...no announcements or anything....eventually we discover (the flight attendants come up and down telling us) that the PA system blew a fuse, hence, no announcements, no take off. Eventually they deplaned us so we could walk around instead of sit...all in all we took off 2 hours late and arrived in Puerto Rico at 3 something. Grant and I were in Spirit Plus, so that was nice because we had free snacks and lots of drinks and big seats.
Once in Puerto Rico our bags took forerver to comeout....we were like the last group of bags, and there was like a 20 min delay between each group.
Getting our rental car was no problem, and after sitting in some traffic due to some sort of accident, we got to our hotel and checked in with no problems...
Last night, after visiting the executive lounge for some snacks, we decided to drive around to fin d a k-mart, but directins are very confusing, as highways are listed on the map by their numbers, but mostly b y their names on the actual streets. We never did find the k-mart, we just had dinner at taco bell and came back...which was fine as I was very tired.
I read a few more chapters of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and then we went to bed.
Once in Puerto Rico our bags took forerver to comeout....we were like the last group of bags, and there was like a 20 min delay between each group.
Getting our rental car was no problem, and after sitting in some traffic due to some sort of accident, we got to our hotel and checked in with no problems...
Last night, after visiting the executive lounge for some snacks, we decided to drive around to fin d a k-mart, but directins are very confusing, as highways are listed on the map by their numbers, but mostly b y their names on the actual streets. We never did find the k-mart, we just had dinner at taco bell and came back...which was fine as I was very tired.
I read a few more chapters of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and then we went to bed.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Last Day at WDW
Its our last day here at Disney World. We just finished packing for the evening. Grant went to take two of the suitcases out to the car so we don’t have much to bring tomorrow morning.
We spent today at the Magic Kingdom, doing all of the stuff we wanted to get done…we got fast pass for splash Mountain and then rode Pirates of the Caribbean. We ate lunch in Cinderella’s castle, and had an awesome table right next to the window…
next we rode splash mountain, the train, and the Carousel of Progress. We used our fast pass for Big Thunder, saw the Country Bear Jamboree, walked through Tom Sawyer’s Island, and enjoyed a Dole Whip float during the afternoon rain storm.
We ended our day in the park with a ride on the Haunted mansion, Space Mountain, the TTA, and Winnie the Pooh. We took the ferry back to our hotel and did our laundry and packed… Tomorrow morning, we leave for Puerto Rico!
We spent today at the Magic Kingdom, doing all of the stuff we wanted to get done…we got fast pass for splash Mountain and then rode Pirates of the Caribbean. We ate lunch in Cinderella’s castle, and had an awesome table right next to the window…
next we rode splash mountain, the train, and the Carousel of Progress. We used our fast pass for Big Thunder, saw the Country Bear Jamboree, walked through Tom Sawyer’s Island, and enjoyed a Dole Whip float during the afternoon rain storm.
We ended our day in the park with a ride on the Haunted mansion, Space Mountain, the TTA, and Winnie the Pooh. We took the ferry back to our hotel and did our laundry and packed… Tomorrow morning, we leave for Puerto Rico!
MGM Studios
Yesterday was hot…hot…hot…even I thought so. We got a later start then expected, and we arrived at MGM studios at around noon. It was crazy crowded…not sure why as it was not an early entry day. After eating lunch, we grabbed some fast passes, and rode the Great Movie Ride, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
By this time we decided to go back to the hotel and swim for an hour, but the water was almost too warm to feel good (yes, this is Bobbi talking!) We got back to MGM at 6 to see the new Lights, Motors Action! Stunt show, which was very cool (all though nerve racking for me…I was so afraid the cars were going to crash!) After a quick trip on Rockin’ Roller Coaster, we went to dinner.
We ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Boma, flavors of Africa buffet. As usual it was delicious. As usual, I didn’t get to try everything I would have liked. But I sampled many dishes and all were very good.
That evening we drove out to Wal mart for a few things and got to know the area around Disney World a little better…
One more day at Disney world….today we are going to the Magic Kingdom, and possibly Animal Kingdom as well…
By this time we decided to go back to the hotel and swim for an hour, but the water was almost too warm to feel good (yes, this is Bobbi talking!) We got back to MGM at 6 to see the new Lights, Motors Action! Stunt show, which was very cool (all though nerve racking for me…I was so afraid the cars were going to crash!) After a quick trip on Rockin’ Roller Coaster, we went to dinner.
We ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Boma, flavors of Africa buffet. As usual it was delicious. As usual, I didn’t get to try everything I would have liked. But I sampled many dishes and all were very good.
That evening we drove out to Wal mart for a few things and got to know the area around Disney World a little better…
One more day at Disney world….today we are going to the Magic Kingdom, and possibly Animal Kingdom as well…
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Tuesday, July 26
Good Morning! Have I ever mentioned how much I love Disney World? Yesterday Grant and I woke up and had breakfast in our rooms. Then we went to EPCOT! We went straight to Mission Space to get a fast pass…but there was only a 15 min wait…so we got a fast pass to test track instead, and then went on Mission Space.
We were both a little worried about the spinning that creates the G forces on Mission Space, but the ride was great! As long as you look straight ahead and keep your eyes open, you don’t feel the spinning at all! But if you close your eyes or look to one side, you can really feel the spinning and get dizzy. In any case, I really liked the ride!!
Next, we did the Universe of Energy, which is always a favorite.
We ate lunch at La Cellier in the Canada pavilion. I had a bbq chicken sandwich with Canadian bacon and cheddar cheese, and grant had a steak sand with blue cheese. Of course, we started with the cheese soup that everyone raves about, and it is very good!
After lunch, we went to The Land to get a fast pass for “Soarin” (which is what they call “Soarin Over California” at WDW) but the line was 80 min and the fast passes were for way late at night so we decided to skip it and get a fast pass for Living with the land instead. Next, we went to use our test track fast pass…which was good because the line was very long!
To finish our afternoon at Epcot, we rode Journey Into your Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, and of course, Spaceship Earth.
TIP: NEVER WAIT IN LINE FOR SPACESHIP EARTH. This is one of our Epcot mottos. Go after 2 or 3 and it is always a walk on!
After EPCOT, we hopped on the monorail to the magic Kingdom. We went straight to Tomorrowland to get a fast pass for Space Mountain We wanted to ride Stitch’s Great Escape, but they were out of fast Passes, and the line was too long. As it turned out our Space Mountain fast pass was a t a perfect time…9:30 – 10:30, which meant we could use them after the 10:00 fireworks but before the 11:00 Spectromagic parade.
We rode the TTA (oh how I miss our PeopleMover) and then we went on… The Carousel of Progress! (I was afraid that it might have been closed!) As we walked out of Tomorrowland, we walked across the bridge and had one of those “thinking the same thing” moments, and both commented on how this bridge would be a fantastic place to watch the fireworks and how it was nice that the Magic Kingdom had so much more space to view the fireworks from.
Next, we went back out of Magic Kingdom and took the monorail to the Polynesian resort. We walked around and looked at the pool, and then had dinner at Kona Café. Grant had macadamia mahi-mahi, and I had Asian noodles with chicken. We shared an appetizer of Pot stickers and then had two AMAZING desserts…chocolate macadamia torte with coconut ice cream, and a caramel banana brulee. Oh me gosh, they were fantastic!
We walked out of dinner at 9:30 and caught a monorail immediately, and we were back to that Tomorrow land bridge at 10 minutes to 10:00, ready to watch the fireworks. We had an excellent view of the fireworks and the castle…really, I don’t think the view could have been any better!
We used our Space Mountain fast pass, and then walked on to Stitch’s Great escape. I am sad to say the Stitch truly is rather disappointing…plus the theater we were in was filthy…trash all over the floors… :o(
After Stitch, we went to Liberty Square and found a great spot to watch the 11:00 Spectromagic Parade from. It was the perfect end to our incredibly lucky day of great timing!
Speaking of great timing, just as we exited the park, a launch was pulling up to take people back to the wilderness lodge... no wait, we hopped right on!
We were both a little worried about the spinning that creates the G forces on Mission Space, but the ride was great! As long as you look straight ahead and keep your eyes open, you don’t feel the spinning at all! But if you close your eyes or look to one side, you can really feel the spinning and get dizzy. In any case, I really liked the ride!!
Next, we did the Universe of Energy, which is always a favorite.
We ate lunch at La Cellier in the Canada pavilion. I had a bbq chicken sandwich with Canadian bacon and cheddar cheese, and grant had a steak sand with blue cheese. Of course, we started with the cheese soup that everyone raves about, and it is very good!
After lunch, we went to The Land to get a fast pass for “Soarin” (which is what they call “Soarin Over California” at WDW) but the line was 80 min and the fast passes were for way late at night so we decided to skip it and get a fast pass for Living with the land instead. Next, we went to use our test track fast pass…which was good because the line was very long!
To finish our afternoon at Epcot, we rode Journey Into your Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, and of course, Spaceship Earth.
TIP: NEVER WAIT IN LINE FOR SPACESHIP EARTH. This is one of our Epcot mottos. Go after 2 or 3 and it is always a walk on!
After EPCOT, we hopped on the monorail to the magic Kingdom. We went straight to Tomorrowland to get a fast pass for Space Mountain We wanted to ride Stitch’s Great Escape, but they were out of fast Passes, and the line was too long. As it turned out our Space Mountain fast pass was a t a perfect time…9:30 – 10:30, which meant we could use them after the 10:00 fireworks but before the 11:00 Spectromagic parade.
We rode the TTA (oh how I miss our PeopleMover) and then we went on… The Carousel of Progress! (I was afraid that it might have been closed!) As we walked out of Tomorrowland, we walked across the bridge and had one of those “thinking the same thing” moments, and both commented on how this bridge would be a fantastic place to watch the fireworks and how it was nice that the Magic Kingdom had so much more space to view the fireworks from.
Next, we went back out of Magic Kingdom and took the monorail to the Polynesian resort. We walked around and looked at the pool, and then had dinner at Kona Café. Grant had macadamia mahi-mahi, and I had Asian noodles with chicken. We shared an appetizer of Pot stickers and then had two AMAZING desserts…chocolate macadamia torte with coconut ice cream, and a caramel banana brulee. Oh me gosh, they were fantastic!
We walked out of dinner at 9:30 and caught a monorail immediately, and we were back to that Tomorrow land bridge at 10 minutes to 10:00, ready to watch the fireworks. We had an excellent view of the fireworks and the castle…really, I don’t think the view could have been any better!
We used our Space Mountain fast pass, and then walked on to Stitch’s Great escape. I am sad to say the Stitch truly is rather disappointing…plus the theater we were in was filthy…trash all over the floors… :o(
After Stitch, we went to Liberty Square and found a great spot to watch the 11:00 Spectromagic Parade from. It was the perfect end to our incredibly lucky day of great timing!
Speaking of great timing, just as we exited the park, a launch was pulling up to take people back to the wilderness lodge... no wait, we hopped right on!
Monday, July 25, 2005
WDW - Arrival
Grant and I few to Orlando on Song airlines, which was really nice - we had DISH NETWORK on our seats, and there was a trivia game that you could play from your seat against other passengers. You could also listen to over 1600 MP3's!!! Most games I did ok, but not great, but one game I scored high enough to make the 6th highest score of any game during that flight!
We rented our car, stopped at the grocery store, and made it to the hotel 30 min before our dinner reservation . We got to our room...the view and location are awesome. we are near the pool, the lobby, whitewater snacks, and the boat launch...and the laundry facilities are across the hall! We are on the first floor facing a small pond surrounded by trees, and, as I had suspected....the Magic kingdom! You can't see the Magic Kingdom from our room, but you CAN see the fireworks!!! We discovered this after dinner at Artist's Point.
We were also given a certificate for our honeymoon and two baloons and a card sighn ed by all the disney characters wishing us a wonderful honeymoon!!! (o:
night!
We rented our car, stopped at the grocery store, and made it to the hotel 30 min before our dinner reservation . We got to our room...the view and location are awesome. we are near the pool, the lobby, whitewater snacks, and the boat launch...and the laundry facilities are across the hall! We are on the first floor facing a small pond surrounded by trees, and, as I had suspected....the Magic kingdom! You can't see the Magic Kingdom from our room, but you CAN see the fireworks!!! We discovered this after dinner at Artist's Point.
We were also given a certificate for our honeymoon and two baloons and a card sighn ed by all the disney characters wishing us a wonderful honeymoon!!! (o:
night!
Grand Californian
Hi all! Grant and I are going to try to keep a blog on our honeymoon...so we have a nice trip diary to share with you and remember our special trip.
Our honeymoon has been awesome so far. We spend two nights at the Grand Californian Hotel. Our room faced Redwood Creek Trail Challenge, right above the waterfall. We had nice music playing all day and at night the sound of water. We could also clearly see the sun wheel and golden zephyr, which were especially pretty at night all lit up...and to the left we could see Grizzly River Rapids. What a great balcony!
Steve got to the hotel early and checked in for us. He decorated the room with roses and rose petals and candles, and it was beautiful.
We had dinner on our wedding night at Napa Rose, and on Sunday, we had our families come for dinner at the Story teller cafe...
Let me say sorry now for the bad typing (lack of caps, spelling, etc.) I offer three excuses: broken wrist, fake nails, and I'm too tired to fix things!
Our honeymoon has been awesome so far. We spend two nights at the Grand Californian Hotel. Our room faced Redwood Creek Trail Challenge, right above the waterfall. We had nice music playing all day and at night the sound of water. We could also clearly see the sun wheel and golden zephyr, which were especially pretty at night all lit up...and to the left we could see Grizzly River Rapids. What a great balcony!
Steve got to the hotel early and checked in for us. He decorated the room with roses and rose petals and candles, and it was beautiful.
We had dinner on our wedding night at Napa Rose, and on Sunday, we had our families come for dinner at the Story teller cafe...
Let me say sorry now for the bad typing (lack of caps, spelling, etc.) I offer three excuses: broken wrist, fake nails, and I'm too tired to fix things!
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