Trip Report - Jolene's Suprise trip on Mickey's Boat - Let the Magic...Err Wonder.. begin - complete About This Page:

[DrDolphin]

Otherwise known as - "Mom, Dad, Aunt T and Princess Jolene on the “surprise” Disney Cruise Trip"

Pre-Amble – Since Bill is driving (my partner for field assessments), I have my new AC/DC converter for the laptop and no longer need to work about battery life, and we have a more than 45-minute drive west to our next site – I can begin to write my trip report for the “Jolene goes on Mickey’s Boat – Surprise Cruise” Trip Report.

I can’t quite remember how this trip came to be. I know that Mom (my mom) had a conference planned at Coronado Springs for October and talked about me coming down to Orland for a day or two to see her at WDW. Then somehow – Dad was added and next thing I knew discussions of a cruise with Jolene aboard DCL began. Back in April, when I was in North Carolina for training, mom called me to ask me what I was doing for my birthday in September. I said “I will probably be on hurricane duty” – Prophetic, huh??? Where was I on Sept 27 – in Jackson, Mississippi on hurricane duty…? Now where was I? Right – April, birthday discussions… I was in Duck, NC for training for work – and mom asked what I was doing – I said I did not have plans at the moment. Then she mentioned that she was considering taking a cruise on the Wonder before or after her conference in October. Mom and Dad (again, my parents), looked at dates, decided on the week after Mom’s conference and decided to try and surprise my niece (their granddaughter and eldest grandchild) with a trip on the Disney Wonder. I recommended that Mom get her hands on “Passporter Guide to the Disney Cruise Line” and that they contact a travel agent. I recommended one agent, but they went with the agent that booked their cruise to Hawaii a year or so ago. Mom and Dad booked a category 4 cabin (same as what Cheryl and I were upgraded to last year) for the October 23-27 4-night cruise on the Disney Wonder. I was added to the trip at a very low price (that whole 4th person in the cabin thing) and I am so glad I was asked to go!!!

We decided not to tell Jolene about the trip – in case we had to cancel due to a hurricane (although I recommended buying the trip insurance that Cheryl and I neglected to buy last year). However, certain things must be done before a young child can travel with her grandparents and Aunt to the Bahamas. First – Federal law was recently changed to require a passport for anyone traveling the Caribbean – so now we need to get Jolene a passport. Mom asked my Sister and Brother-in-law to take Jolene to get her Passport. Now my 6 year old niece is one smart cookie. She doesn’t miss much. DS and DBIL took Jolene to get her passport – they took her to Kinko’s to get photographs and to the post-office to submit the application. The man at the post office said to Jolene, “So you are going to the Bahamas”. Supposedly – Jolene didn’t say anything – but looked at him with a quizzical expression. Later in the car on the way home – Jolene asked my sister - “Mom – what’s the Bahamas?” DS answered that they were islands near Florida. Later (a few days or weeks) – Jolene was at my parent’s house and asked my father where the Bahamas are. Dad told Jolene to get her globe and they would look for it. Jolene got the globe and dad showed her the Bahamas. She said that DS was right – they are near Florida. Then she said that she was going to the Bahamas. She was not sure when, but she thought that my sister and BIL were going to take her. She also said that she wanted to go to Disney World when she went to the Bahamas. Needless to say – we have all been biting our tongues about any trips. The other comment was that if DS and BIL didn’t take her – that “Aunt T will take me to Disney World for my birthday”… Not sure where that one came from since there have been NO discussions about that at all.

When I went to ABQ in June, Mom and I did some planning – but we had to find time without Jolene – which was hard to do. We made all our plans – and then had to wait till 60-days out so I could go online and book our excursions and spa appointments since I am a Castaway Club member.

I made all our reservations, and we waited some more. Then Katrina hit and I was deployed to assist in hurricane recovery. I deployed to Louisiana on September 9, and moved to Mississippi on September 12. Not too long after that – we got an edict from General Riley that we would all be deployed for 60-days instead of the usual 30. Now normally that would not be an issue for me – however, when I accepted this deployment – it was with the understanding that I had to be home on 9 October – since my first class of the semester was scheduled for 22 October. I agreed to stay until Oct 20, an extra 11 days – so that I can have one day to unpack, clean and pack before I have to leave for Orlando.

Here are our plans:
Sunday – Oct 16 – Mom flies to Orlando for conference


Thursday – Oct 20 – Terri flies back to Jacksonville from hurricane duty. Scheduled arrival time – 10pm
Friday – Oct 21 – Dad and Jolene fly to Orlando and meet Mom
Terri at work doing travel voucher, etc. Also unpack, clean, pack, gym appts in am and pm.
Saturday Oct 22 – Terri loads car, leaves house, teaches class, drives to Orlando, meets mom, dad and Jolene (mom finishes conference that morning).
- Mom and dad have dinner at Narcoossees
- Jolene and Aunt T go to Magic Kingdom (little bit kept asking Grandpa if “since we are going to Orlando – can we go to Disney World”) for the evening. Stay through fireworks
Sunday Oct 23 – Check out of Coronado Springs; Breakfast at ‘OHana Character breakfast with Mickey and crew
By 11am – Leave for Canaveral
Noonish – arrive at the cruise ship (don’t tell Jolene where we are headed, see when she figures it all out), park car and check in.
4-nights on the Disney Wonder
Plans include a bus tour of Nassau (which I could skip – but oh well); a spa appointment for all the grownups, snorkeling on Cast away Cay and a night at Palo’s for a grown up dinner.
Thursday Oct 27 – Back at the dock, breakfast, load everyone and everything into Terri’s car – Terri takes family to airport, drives 3 hours back to Jacksonville and passes out (of course, I have to go back to work on Friday…..).

I must say that I am SO looking forward to this trip. After 42 days of hurricane duty – I am one tired pup and ready for basically a few days of no laptop, no blackberry or no cell phone. I have already committed to leaving the blackberry and laptop at home and only bringing my personal cell phone to talk to mom and dad.

I promise a report when I return with lots of photos (hurricane duty is paying for a new camera – now I just need to go and buy it!!!).

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Terri You are definitely deserving of this vacation

Can't wait to hear how it all turns out

[disneyfan4994]

Sounds like it's going to be a fun trip. Can't wait to hear all about it.

[MickeyMAC]

Great start Terri...I will be looking for more. Hope you have a restful, fun trip.

[mestitch]

Again, I have to say how jealous I am!! I can't wait to hear all about the cruise!!!

[katspjs]

I'm so excited for you! You sooo deserve this trip. Looking forward to reading your TR, especially when Jolene figures out she's going on a Disney Cruise!

Have a great time!

[clio]

It sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned. After all the time you've spent on hurrican duty, you need a vacation.
Liz

[Tink and co.]

Can't wait to hear about Jolene's reaction! Sounds like you have a great time planned!

[Jennifer2003]

Sounds like Jolene and company will have a fun time!!! Can't wait to see how the surprise gets pulled off!!

Jennifer

[lonereb]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like it's going to be a fun trip. Can't wait to hear all about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

[krisk11]

I am hoping to take the 4 night cruise on the Wonder in 2007 so I am really looking forward to your trip report.

[ngaill]

I can't wait to heard how it goes!! You deserve to have som R&R!! Have fun w/ your niece(that is my dream to take my nieces to Mickey's House!!)
Nic

[TroianRae]

[ QUOTE ]
Great start Terri You are definitely deserving of this vacation

Can't wait to hear how it all turns out

[/ QUOTE ]



Have a great time!!!

[Tig&Poo]

I hope your trip is awesome. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story.

[Minnie Lor]

Man, do you ever deserve this trip! Sounds fabulous! Have a great time and don't forget to take notes so you can report back to us in detail.