Red Hot (Hat) Ladies and a Lucky Duck **Updated 1/29** Cruise portion COMPLETE About This Page:

[duck addict]

Pre-trip report is here http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post1907678
Saturday December 1/Sunday Dec 2
Sure I am going to sleep in WRONG!
I may be 61 years old, but I am a kid at heart. I woke at my normal 5 AM (mind you I have been retired 3 years but still wake at 5 +/-, 7 days a week). The problem is: What to do all day because my flight leaves at 30 minutes after Midnight.. and the airport is only 1 ½ hrs away? I puttered around the house until about 1 and then got in the car. The good news is that there was a Disney Store ‘on the way’ as well as a ‘Character outlet’. So off to the outlet. Got a Donald Duck hockey shirt I had seen the two previous trips (since it was here I knew it would not be available at WDW anymore). Got it for about $15 less than I would have paid the previous year. Off to the Disney store at a nearby Mall. No new DD's to buy there . Strolled the mall, worked my way through a bookstore, and still it was only 4PM. Off to a movie theater to find movie I could sleep through Boy did I pick the wrong one. Guns or other weapons seemed to go off (very loud) every five minutes. So much for a nap. After the movie, off to a restaurant. They were sad to tell me I would wait 30 minutes for a table. I was dancing. Done eating a farewell steak, I made my way to the airport parking and at 9:00 (I had burned 8 hrs since leaving home) I was sitting in terminal A at Sacramento. This is the old (i.e. smaller not many stores etc) terminal and it turned out that once one plane came in at 9:30 the only remaining flights out of that terminal were the one arriving at 11:30 to take us out at 30 minutes after midnight. Only the bar remained open. Weren’t bored, though, because a local team had qualified for the Pop Warner finals and with only 2 week to get tickets, the plane was full of teenage boys and their coaches and teenage girls and coaches on their way to WDW for the Pop Warner ‘Superbowl’.
The plane arrived on time and left on time. The result, with a 140 mph tail wind, we arrived at our gate at Dallas Ft Worth ½ hour early. We left on time (without an espresso stop as the coffee shops were opening as we started boarding.) Arriving at Orlando, off to Disney cruise buses and wouldn’t you know it my bus was 80% full and we left within 15 minutes of arriving at MCO. (Arrival on time photo) Photo shows my flight from DFW on-time at 9:35. Photo #1 WOW normally flight/transfer time to Orlando is 8-9 hours (based on takeoff and landing). I made it from SMF to Port Canaveral in7 12 hours ( that includes the hour bus drive) at 11AM I was entering the Disney Cruise terminal.
Checking in only took about a minute as I had pre-filled out my forms. Armed with Key to the World Card and boarding group card, I joined a group of Passporters gathered near the sofas. I had the privilege of being the first Passporter greeted by our live trip reporter Jennifer Marx with her new I-phone. Found out that the cruise is truly cashless as I put my soda in the terminal on my KTTW card, and took a picture of the ship model with Miss Minnie.Photo #2
It was a great hour, and then boarding began. Stopping for a photo, then on to the ship as you are announced. Greeting us in the lobby is the ships center statue the lovely Ariel. Photo 3 Pulling my carryon behind me I made my way up to the 9th deck for lunch at the Beach Blanket Buffet. Next it was to the fourth deck where Mouse Ears Vacations had goodie bags for us: woot: Then to my category nine room with the great porthole and unpacked, took a shower and changed clothes (I had been up and in the same cloths since 7AM the previous day). 4th Photo Took a nap for about an hour then got up and read the Navigator, and prepared for the safety drill. After I got back and stowed the life jacket, up to the 10th deck to watch the Sail away party on the 9th. I hadn’t danced that much in a long time. When the party ended, I explored the top decks before heading to Parrot Cay for the first dining experience. This is my first meeting with my table mates The TA couple Doris and Denny, as well as the red hat ladies Queen Wynn, Bev, Kathy, Millie and Angie. Last Photo These ladies are a kick and the entire meal was filled with lots of laughter. I had the baked Crab Martinique for appetizer, mixed grill for entrée, and pina colada no sugar added bread pudding for dessert.
Departing the ladies, I did not go to the ventriloquist show, no, as I was about to crash having been up about 38 hours at this point in time (for a 61 year old) so I retired for the night and slept like a baby.

[DrDolphin]

Great start Don!!! Sounds like you had great tablemates!!!

[snoozin]

Great start to your TR! Can't wait to hear more!

[chezp]

Great start Don - I can't wait to read more.

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Don More please

[Kenny]

Great beginning, Don. What good luck on the travel time!

[RobDVC]

Awesome start! Hope you had a great night's sleep.

[WDWfan]

Glad you're doing a Mousefest cruise TR! I'm going to have to do one of these some day.

[duck addict]

Before I continue with day 2, a couple of notes about my report.
1. This was during Mousefest, so in addition to the cruise ship’s activities there were additional ones available both from the various Mousefest participants, as well as a few from the company I had booked my cruise with.
2. I had decided to take Dave Marx’s advice and make the cruise relaxing to be rested up for the WDW part of my trip.
3. I decided that meeting other Passporters and Mousefest attendees was more important than doing ‘things’.
4. My camera did not function well since I did not read the book and bring lithium batteries. So I am staying with the best 5 photos of the day. (I took about 1/5 of what I usually take).
5. Apologies to all my Passporter friends, but I did not keep a written diary of whom I met or when, so not acknowledging you is due to my failings. I every one of you that I met, but except for a couple of occasions (i.e. reserved meals, or meets where you were the host, I can’t remember who I met when : )
Back to the report
Day 2 (Monday December 3)
Well rested from a great nights sleep, I was up bright and early. By 6:30 am I was up meandering deck 9 getting some exercise, obtained my morning double shot mocha, and enjoyed the view as we approached New Providence Island (where Nassau is). Being an old Navy type, the gentle seas felt like home, my at sea vision returned, and it was a kick to watch the ship dock in Nassau.
Then it was down to deck 4 to join my beloved Red Hat ladies and TA couple for breakfast. I could not miss this, as they all arrived with their red (lavender for those under 50) hats and wearing their pajamas. It was a great time at breakfast, and I promised that if they were there next year, I would pack one of my pairs (3) of Donald Duck pajamas and join them again. PHOTO 1
Next on line was the best value excursion in existence (free). At 10 am we made our way to the lobby of the Walt Disney Theatre to meet with Dave Marx, our guide, and the others willing to put up with good information and a few bad jokes. http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/window-seat-real-time-photo-trip-report-passporter/144890-group-photo-walkers.html A great group of 30 walkers began their meanderings around Nassau. Departing the ship you meander the length of the cruise terminal with a myriad of shops (not trying to grab you in too hard), and out onto the streets. Boy does the atmosphere change! Everyone is trying to separate you from your group to get you to take their taxi for a personal guided tour. Thank goodness we had Dave leading the way and we could claim we were already on a tour! Down the sidewalks of bay street. I am sure every other store is a jewelry store. Near the end of Bay Street we paused to look in the straw market, leaving any visit until later. Crossing the street (an adventure in itself) we meandered to Christ Church Cathedral. A church present since the 1600’s (its current version dating from the mid 1800’s. Beautiful stained glass windows and a marvelous pipe organ caught our view. What caught my attention was a piece of the previous building, a dedication to men of the HMS Peteral PHOTO 2
Continuing on we climbed up to pass the government house, the office and further up to Fort Fincastle, the water tower nearby. From the top of the fort you get a wonderful view of Nassau harbor and Paradise Island on the other side of it (and the Disney Wonder at the pier). We visited the few stalls and then walked down the Queen’s steps (PHOTO 3) after a nice explanation of the history of the steps and the hospital below them by a local (for a voluntary donation). We worked our way down the hill towards the cruise terminal breaking up about two blocks from Bay Street. I noticed a nice limo parked on the sidewalk with the license plates PM. Yes, it was the prime minister’s who was in his office and a couple very large body guards/chauffers watched over it. Leaving there I got some batteries for my camera (I still had not read the instructions so I was using a lot of batteries.) Approaching the Disney Wonder, I remembered that my beloved Donald was supposed to be painted on the stern. I was wrong. It is a full character of Donald swinging out from the stern with the rope being attacked by one of his nephews. I had to have a picture of me and that!) Another traveler was kind enough to take it .PHOTO 4
Returning to the ship it was time for lunch (Dave had built a hunger in us after the walk!) I went up to deck 9 to Pluto’s Dog House and got a nice cheeseburger and a diet coke. Next back to the room to shower (you do perspire after hiking the ‘hills’ of Nassau) and then up to the whirlpools near the Adult pool. Off course! Who should be in them but my red hat ladies! And they weren’t afraid of me when I show up in my bathing suit. After lots of laughs, it was back to the room for a short nap as a full evening awaited us.
Before Dinner, I did my rounds distributing the special Mousefest Navigator to the Mousefestors on Deck 2.
To honor the ladies (and since I was over 50) I got out my sports coat with a purple shirt and red Donald Duck tie and worked my way towards dinner at Tritons. Who should appear on my way but my beloved Donald Duck in a tux. Of course a photo was in order (one of only three ship board photos I bought). PHOTO 5. On to dinner with my new friends Doris and Denny and the five lovely red hat ladies, resplendent in purple/red or lavender/pink. The semi-formal dinner ensued with me consuming Tomato and Basil soup and a Normandy salad for appetizer, citrus baked duckling ( Donald) for entrée, and Grand Marnier soufflé for desert On to Hercules the Muse-ical for a corny but delightful time.
Thus endeth day 2 on the Wonder.

[Belle*]

Great start Don! I loved walking by the dining room and seeing you with your "ladies." You always looked like you were having so much fun!

[Colexis Mom]

Fantastic update and pictures Don!! Glad you're having such fun with your red hat ladies And a great time on Dave's walking tour too More please

[duck addict]

Originally Posted by Belle*

Great start Don! I loved walking by the dining room and seeing you with your "ladies." You always looked like you were having so much fun!

I was, and I think a couple are already booked with me for next year

[retiredkid]

thoroughly enjoying this report Don. Where are you in the pics?

[duck addict]

Originally Posted by retiredkid

thoroughly enjoying this report Don. Where are you in the pics?

The first group photo has me in the rear left
The second in the front left (red shirt)
That is me with my beloved DD with the ship stern
(you can double click on them to get them larger--if you are brave enough )

[chezp]

The walking tour sounds like it was a lot of fun - and of course you had a great guide!