I can’t believe it all started just 1 week ago!   Last Sunday we kicked everything off with a wonderful meal in the American Adventure rotunda in Epcot.    Dinner was then followed by dessert and a super view of Illuminations (minus the globe which was strange).   Early the next morning we piled into our cars, limos, Disney bus, etc and headed to Port Canaveral for our special 5 night cruise!    The Disney Magic was just returning from the Panama Canal crossing so things were less than normal for our boarding.    We finally got onboard and were starting to wonder if this would be the Deb, Steve, and Hanna cruise.   Everyone was guessing where we would go and what would happen.   We started calling it the Magical Mystery Cruise.   Personally I would have been happy even if we didn’t go anywhere, just being onboard was fine enough for me.   In the end we did end up with pretty much our original itinerary with the expection of our second visit to Castaway Cay, even though the Captian tried really hard to get us there.  We did have a lot of magical surprises throughout the cruise though.

The sailaway party was a blast but I was on Main Dining this cruise so I had to run from the party back to my room to get ready for dinner.    Our first night’s dinner was in Lumiere’s.   The first surprise came from Steve’s friends Rob and Rita when they presented him with a very special Mickey.    In case you really can’t see it in the photo it is a Dr Mickey holding a Hidden Mickey book.

The next morning we happily awoke in Castaway Cay.     It was a beautiful day (you would never have guessed that Hanna was even out there)   Ok so all of the shore excusions were cancelled on the island except the Stingray one, but besides that it was a great day!   We were all hunting for Hidden Mickey’s and then a Hidden Steve LOL!    Yes he was hiding and if you found him you did get a reward.    Vickie and I found him and I even found a new Hidden Mickey.     Next time you are on Castaway make a stop at the Konked Out Bar and look up in the rafters to the left. 

Day 2 - We made it to Nassau!   Today was nice but very windy so we knew Hanna was getting closer.    Masayo, our Japanese buddy, had invited everyone to join her for lunch in Lumiere’s today.    Here was another wonderful surpise - Masayo arrived and was dressed in a traditional Japanese outift (looked like a Kimono but had a differant name that I can’t remember right now)   Anyway next thing we know there is a parade of special guests all dressed alike!  

Masayo was so sweet and actually brought all of these as gifts for her friends.   Even Steve recieved a male version of the outfit but I am sorry to say I didn’t get that photo.   I am guessing Steve is grateful for that but it was priceless with the socks!   Lunch was wonderful and soon enough it was time for everyone to don new costumes since it was pirate night!   I will continue with Pirate Night and the rest of the cruise in part 2…

I can’t believe it all started just 1 week ago!   Last Sunday we kicked everything off with a wonderful meal in the American Adventure rotunda in Epcot.    Dinner was then followed by dessert and a super view of Illuminations (minus the globe which was strange). < more... >