Sweet Sixteen on the Dream! The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy!

[Principessa]

Thanks! Glad you're here! We've had some thunderstorms the last few days, so it hasn't been too hot here. Did you go to the teen club open house? Did your son go in there much? I thought it was so neat! Wish they had made that into the adult area!!!!! I didn't think DD would go much, but she did! That gave me great opportunities for some "me" time, which I rarely get!!!!

Thanks! We have had clouds and 70 since we got home. Seems so cold compared
to Castaway Cay! We went to the Vibe open house, seperately,
and Kevin never went back there. I thought it looked very cool but he
likes to do his own thing so he did not go to the club. I guess he had
enough to do with all the activities we did: POTC 4 movie was a favorite.
I think it is really nice how the entrance to Vibe is so hard to find. It gives teens
the idea that no parents will be able to find them and bother. Which is true!

 

[iloverags2]

Loving your report! Your daughter is beautiful! And what a great way to spend Sweet 16...Happy Birthday Marissa!

I love Amtrak...used to take it from Miami to Chicago during my college days. No kidding, I would sleep for two days straight! The rocking of the train was like a lullaby to me.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[mousetravel]

Loving your trip. I can't wait to read your thoughts on the Dream. We went in March/April and loved it.
I think it was you that suggested the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter to me and showed me pictures...we did it and loved it. Thanks so much.

You're welcome!

Thanks! We have had clouds and 70 since we got home. Seems so cold compared
to Castaway Cay! We went to the Vibe open house, seperately,
and Kevin never went back there. I thought it looked very cool but he
likes to do his own thing so he did not go to the club. I guess he had
enough to do with all the activities we did: POTC 4 movie was a favorite.
I think it is really nice how the entrance to Vibe is so hard to find. It gives teens
the idea that no parents will be able to find them and bother. Which is true!

She went in there a lot, but most of the time, the teens would meet up there, then go off & do something outside of Vibe. She also met up with a few of them on CC. I was really surprised she ventured out & met some of the teens, because she's quit shy!

Loving your report! Your daughter is beautiful! And what a great way to spend Sweet 16...Happy Birthday Marissa!

I love Amtrak...used to take it from Miami to Chicago during my college days. No kidding, I would sleep for two days straight! The rocking of the train was like a lullaby to me.

Looking forward to reading more!

Thank you! I enjoyed the Amtrak, just couldn't sleep at all. I would probably have to get a sleeper room, if I had to travel for any longer distance!

 

[mousetravel]

On this day, we arrived at Port Canaveral to stay the night before the cruise.
we stayed at Country Inn & Suites. I also have no complaints about this hotel. We stayed in a one bedroom type room with the cruise & park / breakfast package.



http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011262.jpg

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Beautiful Lobby:
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011251.jpg

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Loved the ceiling fans
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011253.jpg


DD striking a pose:
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011254.jpg


Loved looking at all the pictures on the walls
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011258.jpg

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The pool area and dining area: I loved how they had a door from the dining room going out into the pool area (where we would enjoy breakfast the next morning). The pool area was very nice. That's where we would have another Dis Mini Meet!

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011256.jpg

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Inside the room: We really enjoyed having the extra little "living room" area.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011242.jpg

We also liked this little kitchenette area, between the rooms across from the bathroom:
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011244.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011243.jpg


The bedroom:
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011246.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011249.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011245.jpg


And just look at our view from our bedroom window!!!!!!


http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011247.jpg



Coming up next: The rest of our day at Port Canaveral. What would we find to do????

 

[iloverags2]

We enjoyed CI&S also. Very comfortable accomodations. Oh yeah, the sleepers on Amtrak are nice...but if you get the small one, just be sure to book yourself...it's a tight squeeze with two in there (although they are supposedly made for two). Actually, Amtrak will sometimes offer upgrades to sleepers at a lower price than if you purchased at time of booking as the date arrives for your trip. Something to think about if you ever take another journey on a long route. I once snagged a sleeper for $100 when I switched trains in D.C. during a Miami to Chicago route when I asked at check-in. Considering my dinner that night, and breakfast the following morning were included with the sleeper (not to mention the sodas and bottled water which are complimentary in the sleepers also), and I was more than pleased with that!

 

[UGAFan0829]

We usually get Casey's Corner while we're waiting on the parade, so this time, of course, we had to follow tradition!

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011122.jpg

I gotta ask what the little round things in the cup are? They kinda look like mini-corn dogs, but I'm not sure since we've only eaten at Casey's once. They look kinda yummy though!

Night-time balloons (lights up in the dark)

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011196.jpg

I've never seen those light-up balloons before, but they look so cool! There's just something so very magical about the Magic Kingdom in the dark!

And just look at our view from our bedroom window!!!!!!


http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011247.jpg

What an awesome view! Y'all really lucked up on that!! VERY cool! I'd always heard that you could get a room with that view, but had always wondered exactly what it looked like. Now I know!!

I'm glad that you liked the Country Inn. We stayed there back in 2009 and really liked it as well. If we ever stay close to port when we cruise again, that will be our choice!

 

[mousetravel]

I gotta ask what the little round things in the cup are? They kinda look like mini-corn dogs, but I'm not sure since we've only eaten at Casey's once. They look kinda yummy though!

Yeah, those are "corn dog nuggets". They are very good!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Happy Sweet 16 Marissa!! She is a few months younger than my Goddaughter. Lovong the trip report so far.

 

[mousetravel]

Happy Sweet 16 Marissa!! She is a few months younger than my Goddaughter. Lovong the trip report so far.

Thanks for joining in!

 

[mousetravel]

After we checked in & got settled, we decide that we want to go watch the ship leave that was in port. I wasn't sure when it was leaving, but I figured it would probably be 4 or 5 or so.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011261.jpg


Well, we got there JUST in time!! It was leaving as we pulled up. It was so neat watching the ship leave, because we never seen it from that point of view!

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011263.jpg

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So we then decide to go to Cocoa Beach, which was only about 5 minute drive from Port. While looking online before we left, at things to do in Port Canaveral, DD wanted to go to Ron Jon's. So we found it, and took a few pics, then went inside. They had lots of stuff!!!! DD bought a cute sundress and earrings to take on the cruise, and I just bought a bracelet and some cute art-type postcards.

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After Ron Jon's, we decide to walk to the beach.

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http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011279.jpg

This is DD's version of "taking a picture" of me!

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011283.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011284.jpg


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The water was surprisingly cold, so we didn't really get in.



After walking around on the beach, we got something to eat (just a quick fast food meal), and headed back to the hotel. Continued next post (pic limit)

 

[mousetravel]

We had a 8:00pm scheduled Dis Mini Meet since a few Dis'ers from our cruise meet were also staying there.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011295-1.jpg




And DD isn't in this pic, because she was here the whole time!!:

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011294.jpg




We had a great time meeting by the pool. DD met some kids in the hot tub, that were actually going on a different cruise the next morning. We ended up staying out there till after 10pm. We knew we needed to get back to the room to get ready for the BIG day the next morning!!!!!


Coming up: Cruise time!!! (and yep, we had a "bad" moment to start the cruise off)

 

[Tink rules]

I'm in!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Woohooo! It'a almost time to board the ship!! I can't wait!! But I am a little afraid of what the "bad" moment was. I hope it was nothing too serious!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hi there, followed you over from your post on my TR Loving your trip so far! You have such a beautiful daughter

I won't comment on everything up to this point, but I have to say that I've seen this guy

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/***********/16thBirthdayWDW2011087-1.jpg

on another TR before! He must be local and go often. Interesting looking guy, huh?

 

[Cotillard]

I'm enjoying your TR very much My daughter is almost 15 and I love traveling with her. How fun to plan something so special for the big Sweet Sixteen
Looking fwd to more!

 

[MichelleVW]

Love the report so far!!! Sorry the water at Cocoa Beach was too cold for you! We were there last June and the water felt great!!

Mother daughter trips are so much fun!!

 

[luv4u859]

I am here to read. Your daughter is so pretty!

 

[mousetravel]

I'm in!!

Thanks for joining in!

Woohooo! It'a almost time to board the ship!! I can't wait!! But I am a little afraid of what the "bad" moment was. I hope it was nothing too serious!!

I'll give you a hint: "Worse stateroom host ever!"

Hi there, followed you over from your post on my TR Loving your trip so far! You have such a beautiful daughter

I won't comment on everything up to this point, but I have to say that I've seen this guy on another TR before! He must be local and go often. Interesting looking guy, huh?

That's what I figured, that he was probably a local.

I'm enjoying your TR very much My daughter is almost 15 and I love traveling with her. How fun to plan something so special for the big Sweet Sixteen
Looking fwd to more!

Thank you!!

Love the report so far!!! Sorry the water at Cocoa Beach was too cold for you! We were there last June and the water felt great!!

Mother daughter trips are so much fun!!

Thank you! We were surprised at how cold it was, but there were still people swimming! Not us!!!

I am here to read. Your daughter is so pretty!

Thank you!!!

 

[cjfruit]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[prazdance]

Thanks for the info in this TR! August will be our first trip to disney and we are EXCITED!!! We are using military discounts and looking for hotels in the area and this one (Best Western) is on our list. Your sharing has made this search a whole lot easier! Feels like I'm THERE already! Can't wait to read the rest! THANKS!!!