This is our projected schedule thru the Panama Canal. It should be noted that our start time is guaranteed… to be within 4 hours of the scheduled time, and our projected transit completion time is guaranteed… to be within 72 hours of our start time. It is very likely that we will be quite close to the projected times. The ACP – the Association Canal de Panama (or something like that) – does a fair job of keeping the cruise ships right on schedule, but if there is a big ship coming the other way thru the cut then we’ll have to wait for it in Gatun Lake, as they don’t let “Panamax” ships pass in the cut.

For a detailed map of our transit, please check out the Google Map that I built prior to our departure, here: Chris’ Google Map.

So, without further ado: 

Note: All times are for May 16^th – Central Time.

We’ll also be passing under the Centennial Bridge at some pont between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at a guess. It isn’t listed on our itinerary so I’m guessing based on it’s location. We’re on Deck 8 Aft (one below the pools, two below the sports deck), Port (left) side. If I remember we’ll mark our cabin with two red baseball caps attached to the rail of our balcony.

Of course, being a gluten for punishment I figured the best way to combat a tired muscle is to wake it up again,  so off to the treadmill I went.  (I think it was Vickie who was asking in the comments on a previous post for proof that I was actually spending large amounts of sea time doing something besides sleep…) Here ya go! and with a not-so hidden Mickey to boot!

While I have been on 40 plus cruises, this is the longest voyage to date. To be honest I wasn’t sure how I would do with so many sea days on this journey, but there are plenty of things to do during the day that appeal to everyone.

Some of the items of the agenda includes a presentation from Imagineer Jeff Kurtti on the design of the The Walt Disney Museum opening next year, wine tasting events, and daily specialty talks like photography tips and the art of entertaining series.

We even had the pleasure of listening to Ken Pucket, a senior pilot serving 16 years ushering ships thru the Panama Canal. He did a presentation on the history and construction of the canal.  In a couple of days he will do another talk on what we can expect on our crossing.

Tomorrow.. the port of Aruba!

Todays agenda started with an invite from Deb to join her along, with Ann & George another couple from out group, at the Concierge Reception at 10:30 am. We met in the lobby and made our way towards Sessions where cocktails and a nice spread of fruit, breads and other yummies were available for consumption. We spent a while chatting and enjoying the company of friends and halfway through the visiting ritual, a special guest arrived.

Cinderella spent about a half an hour taking photos and chatting with the guests. 

After our encounter with royalty, naturally we went shopping!  We had to check out all the Panama canal specialty items that are on sale to help plan the souvenir budget over the next few days.

Sorry to have to break the news…  but no matter what they say, Disney’s food does indeed have calories.  and the constant offerings of buffets, dinner seatings and yes… the infamous chocolate souflee can take a toll on anyones routine. So I decided I would test my self control and challenge myself to exercise everyday.

To help me on this quest, I decided to sign up for a personal trainer as soon as there was a spot available.  At 3:15 pm I was in work out gear and ready to meet Mathew.  A very fit 20–something with a great personality and a ton of energy. We started on cardio and we though a circuit of machines so I would have a good starting point for the next 2 weeks.  And I have a feeling I will wake up hating him tomorrow. 

Tonight was formal night for dinner, and of you know anything about my vacation habits, that means ‘Beci’s Room Service’ night. I stayed in and enjoyed my dinner watching the latest news and catching up on my email.

I didn’t spend a lot of time in front of Mr. Potato Head to get to interact with him, but he really does keep talk to you while in line.  He was quizzing those of us in line on our favorite attractions in WDW.  One guest said he made him tug at his ear when he was in line earlier, so this should make standing in line for this ride more enjoyable.

The ride itself is a 3D attraction where you play carnival type games at every turn.  First you are tossing balls at animals to knock them over, another screen you are at you are popping balloons with darts, then another time you are breaking plates, and then the one I never quite got the hang of, was tossing rings.  The last two screens are a rapid fire round… just when your arm is about ready to fall off from all the shooting!

Now, you are asking yourself why the title?  Because with every shot you make you have to pull a cord at the back of a small cannon looking gun. The cord has to be pulled out to make it shoot and then it has to retract back before you can shoot again!  Sounds easy, but after the first two screens, you are hoping you are ambidextrous because your one arm is very tired from pulling the cord so you could shoot.  You are also hoping that you can aim with the other hand!  So my advise to you is to start training that weaker hand and arm now to get a better score!  Learn to look for the small far away items for a higher score, and above all….. Have fun!  Because after all, you are riding around in Andy’s room and playing with all his toys!

Today was fantastic weather, if perhaps a bit humid (it’s the ocean, there’s lots of water, what was I to expect…). Beci and I slept in a bit, and then at about 10 decided to head out to the adult beach at Serenity Bay for a swim and a bit of a layout. The Island is looking great right now. The trees and smaller plant life have all fully recovered from the two hurricanes that have come thru in the past 10 years, and the little improvements they have made all add up to an even better day on the Cay.

This morning we got up early-ish and marched down to get in line for the ship. The amount of baggage in the halls of the Hotel was impressive, and so was the line when we got to the lobby. The first bus full of people (the Capt. Mickey bus) left just as we got into line, and the second bus (Pluto) filled just before we got to the front of the line. That put us as the first people on the third (Goofy) bus.

As we left on the bus I sent a simple text message to several of the rest of our party that were already on their way toward the port in a town car, simply saying “The bus is rolling”. This started a text-storm the likes of which has never been seen outside of the popular girl’s lunch table at the middle school of your choice. I was not involved, but Beci was getting what seemed like several texts per mile, and sending as good as she got. A few thousand messages later, we rolled into the port, about 5 minutes behind Deb’s group in the town car. Beci had managed to get us into the first row of seats on the bus, so we were first off, and right into the right-hand security line, which was surprisingly short. As we neared the front of the line I spotted our other group who had been ahead of us on the road swamped near the back of the left-hand line. So Karma had balanced out our line experience for the day. By the time the other group had made it through the security line, we had finished our check-in.

Boarding was the normal smooth Disney process, and shortly after noon we were were starting to board. This was my first experience with the (relatively) new numbered boarding card method, and while some of us went right at the start, most of the group were in the 11th and 12th sets. Those of us that got on early went right to Parrot Cay for lunch, claimed our table, and started the feeding frenzy.

After lunch we predictably started to run out of steam, so the night was quite and short. We did the sail away party, had a nice dinner at Lumier’s, and then went to bed. I did get some nice clean cabin pictures and a look at the swag they gave to Castaway Club members for this special sailing.

More tomorrow.

I’m returning to the Grand Calfornian, which I had the pleasure to stay the first year it opened. I was so impressed with just the front door to this resort (and of course all that is beyond it) that I have a pin to commemorate it. The whole resort is done in the Arts and Crafts style and was designed by Peter Dominick, who also did the Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. The door to which I refer is a gorgeous sliding glass door that I literally have sat in the lobby and watched open and close as the guests arrive.

The private entrance to California Adventure and being in such close walking distance to either park is a special perk that I savor. But once I’m off for the day, it is the charming dark rides that draw me. There was a time when I’d head straight for Soarin’ Over California. But this time, being a bit older and more sentimental, my first stop following Main Street USA will be to photograph my foot on the spike that marks the center of the "land" just past Sleeping Beauty Castle. (Watch for that photo at the end of the month!)

From there, I must take a spin on those rides I just can’t find at the "World". Alice’s Mad Tea Party, Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and Storybook Land Canal Boat are at the top of my list. And yes……….there’s the Toad. I have to admit, I fell in love with Mr. Toad at Walt Disney World. And although I do enjoy an occasional ride on "the Pooh", I feel Mr. Toad’s departure from Walt Disney World did leave a gaping hole where wild used to live. There’s a little bit of a dark side with this ride that appeals to me. I mean, where else can you have such a great time in hell? I’d like to know how come I never get to experience the heaven ending to this ride??!! What kind of secret meter did the Imagineers invent to determine that this is where I should end up?

And of course, there’s the modern dark ride that I will experience in a row until my travel mates scream "no more"! Indiana Jones Adventure is hands down one of my favorites at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. And my timing couldn’t be better!! With the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Skull to theaters on May 22nd, I’m hoping to ride IJA until my body gives in to my vertigo-esque motion sickness and then swoon over a still adorable Harrison Ford for a late show that evening!

Joanne
Joanne at MouseFanTravel dot com

So where is the magic leading us this time? Well, to the Magic of course. Or maybe the Wonder. I can never remember which is where and doing what any more. But whatever ship will be taking me from Port Canaveral thru the lovely Malarially de-infested waters of the Panama Canal is the ship I’ll be on. I suppose I should figure out where exactly we’re going, and how long we’ll be gone, sometime soon.

So I’ve got my new camera that takes lovely little videos also, and if the bandwidth on the ships has been improved I may try posting some video to YouTube. If the bandwidth is the same as the last time we were on-board together (The Mediterranean last year) I may try posting some thumbnail photographs instead! Here’s my first picture posted with the new camera. I’m the one behind the Pepsi can…

And if you’re on the ship too, look for Beci and me in the Vista Spa every day. Heck, join us on the treadmill or a bike and pre-discount that night’s dessert!

I highly recommend this if you are a Walt History buff, want a great family trip, Love Disney or anything Disneyland!   Where to next?
 

From breakfast we walk back to the hotel and are escorted into CA Adventure, yes, only ones’ in the park again. We wave to all of the guests waiting beyond the gates to get in. Hee Hee ~ Love this~ Our backstage tour today is at *Spoiler Alert* Soarin Over California. The Mickey group gets to ride first and we all by ourselves. The host reminds us to look at the "gliders" and notice they are modeled after Erector sets. We are then taken backstage and wow what an event. I don’t want to spoil all of the fun for future groups so I’ll leave out some details. The host then shows us the beads of orange and pine that are like mini-bath oil beads that they change out every month. Next is Turtle Talk with Crush and its cool how he interacts, I’ve never seen this before. We then get to go into Animation Academy and draw with a real cartoonist instructing us. We of course draw Mickey and then in this hall then hand out Mickey ears to all guests who are having birthdays in April or May. That’s me ! We are then given 5 more fast passes and get the afternoon on our own. Our little groups decide to head to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (no, I was pulled kicking and screaming almost ). Even though I do not like this ride I do it and actually besides being a little shaky, its was fun… We ride Monsters Inc too with Nate’s family and then head to the Hyperion since we are given VIPs seats for the Aladdin show. We have front row seats, first floor, back section and wow this show still is one of my favorites. The Genie is funny and the venue is great. After this show we head back to the hotel for some down time. I got shopping and try out the gym. The hotel has a great gym with lots of top of the line bikes, steppers, treadmills and weight machines. It is attached to the Mandara Spa which smells fabulous. I love to come work out here so I can then take a shower in the spa area and use all of their lotions and sprays etc. The pool was packed today since it was 90 degrees and I’m wishing I had time to go.

We meet the group at Disneyland resort at 5:55pm for our farewell dinner. This is not my favorite part of the trip but is wonderful and we are in the Sleeping Beauty’s Pavilion above Goofy’s kitchen which is wonderful. We are greeted with cocktails and make our way to very cutely decorated tables of old black/silver/gold movie reel decorations. Our special guest for the dinner is Disney Artist and Historian Stacia Martin. She sketches for us our favorite characters and then personalizes them to take home. She is an amazing person and draws people in as she is sketching and asking questions, relaying history and information~ A real treat. The food here is pastas, meats, special salads, and an array of desserts. Wonderful and tasty and I try all the desserts almost just to make sure they are all good ~ they are~ We also are given a pin that says Adventures by Disney at the table too. Then Minnie and Mickey come in to see us off and take pictures with us. If you like Characters, wow, this is the tour!!

The group at this dinner stands up and tells their favorite part of the trip. It’s sad and funny and wonderful because from the first day until now, all of the "I came on this trip to see ___" have really changed. We have bonded, and laughed, and sang and cried. This dinner concludes with a slide show made by the guides of all the fun on the trip. It seems like weeks ago that we were in Hollywood and it’s so fun to see the shots they capture of the whole trip.