A Most Epic Fantasy DISmeet Cruise-The bitter end 3/21, Bonus Feature, Completed Star Wars Galaxy's Edge 6/20

[ACDSNY]

Nice pics of the three of you. I'll be feeling your pain of no verandah on the second leg of our Norway cruise next year as we're in an oceanview. I cancelled that cruise in July and decided to rebook last month so our verandah was now taken.

 

[thumper*]

Lunch looked awesome

Love this picture

 

[dizneeat]

You girls are busy bees with all your renovations and what not.

I really enjoyed reading this update, even though I just found out about your veranda snafu. Bummer!

Unfortunately none of your photos show up for me - maybe it's a temporary thing - I'll try again later.

 

[DnA2010]

(Time for my usual non-quoted at work quick comments)

Ohhh 7 day Mexican...I've been pondering over those..

flat Jenny is still making me laugh every time

Go Fran, trying to steer onto the ship with the pop/water/wine- glad she managed it and didn't have to zigzag

I'm on the same boat (haha) re having the same thing two meals in a row- I do try to avoid it also

That salmon salad Fran had does look good and the salmon looks like it has some nice herbs on it (does Fran have the cilantro hate also?)

No balcony was indeed a surprise, but the porthole does look comfy although you do still appear unimpressed

A travel agent may also give you some OBC?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We have so much to do. Imagine having a three car garage filled from top to bottom with cra, er precious items that need to be relocated. Then imagine that you have a two car garage at home in the same condition.

Ever feel like all you're doing is cleaning out properties?

Fran whapped me with her right arm and if I was asleep, I wasn't anymore! Not sure if it was an involuntary movement or on purpose!

I'm sure she'll never tell.

They had changed things since my last cruise. They no longer printed the four page part of the Navigator daily, only for the first day.

Eliminating waste, or cost-cutting?

I would have ordered the sirloin, but I knew I was having Prime Rib for dinner that night, and I'm weird about having the same thing for two meals or two dinners in a row.

I don't think that's weird. I'd probably go for variety too. I might make an exception for steak, though.

I was devastated to find that I had completely spaced out when I booked the room and I had no verandah. It was an oceanview room, with only a porthole.

D'oh!

There was pretty much nothing I could do about it and Fran pointed out that it was probably for the best since we already really couldn't afford to be taking this cruise, and with this room we saved some money. Besides, it turned out to be way too humid for my taste, and sitting outside wasn't all that pleasant for me.

Well, it's good that there was a silver lining or two. Looks like a spacious room, too.

 

[tammy]

I love your dress. Nice pictures, thanks for sharing!

 

[rentayenta]

DeSoto looks amazing! Gale and team did an excellent job. Here's an attic selfie because how many times do you get to take selfies in an attic?

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like you are making progress with getting rid of stuff and getting the apartment ready to rent!

Every day we get a little farther. But that's the problem, only a little.

Shockingly, Alison and Fran were up before I was!!!! Of course, I came back from MNSSHP a couple of hours after they did. We rented a van from Mears and he was right on time. Luckily, it was just the 3 of us because we took up all the space with luggage and the scooter! It was a very uneventful drive to the port and the first glimpse of the Fantasy was amazing!

Yeah, you were out late, I'm not surprised you slept a little longer than me.

No verandah? I'm glad you had a window!!

I wouldn't be that brain dead to have booked an inside cabin. I would go nuts, but now I know, I really need my verandah. Even if the weather was humid, there were so many times I wanted to run out there and couldn't.

Cute pictures ladies. Thank you for bringing a much less bloated version of myself.

Glad we could make you happy!

Lunch looks divine. Nothing better than a Disney Sundae on a Disney Cruise.

And I'm not sure I've ever ordered one. There has always been something on it that I didn't want. This time it was the pecans.

We'll make a dent in the paint on Saturday!

We kinda did, still a ton more to go.

Nice pics of the three of you. I'll be feeling your pain of no verandah on the second leg of our Norway cruise next year as we're in an oceanview. I cancelled that cruise in July and decided to rebook last month so our verandah was now taken.

Yeah, it was painful. Not making that mistake again.

Lunch looked awesome



Love this picture

Thank you!

You girls are busy bees with all your renovations and what not.

Yes we have, it's been crazy!

I really enjoyed reading this update, even though I just found out about your veranda snafu. Bummer!

I decided rather than be crabby and pout about it, I was just going to keep my mouth shut and not complain, so I didn't tell anyone besides Jill.

Unfortunately none of your photos show up for me - maybe it's a temporary thing - I'll try again later.

I hope the photos have come back. I was having a little bit of trouble with them yesterday too.

 

[franandaj]

Ohhh 7 day Mexican...I've been pondering over those..

I've decided that cruises that are less than 7 days are just not worth it.

flat Jenny is still making me laugh every time

Just wait until the updates where we can play, "'Where's Jenny?"

Go Fran, trying to steer onto the ship with the pop/water/wine- glad she managed it and didn't have to zigzag

She's a trooper!

I'm on the same boat (haha) re having the same thing two meals in a row- I do try to avoid it also

I know some people can eat the same thing all day, but I would go nuts.

That salmon salad Fran had does look good and the salmon looks like it has some nice herbs on it (does Fran have the cilantro hate also?)

Fran doesn't care either way about the cilantro, but she's willing to leave it off of food that we share. Like Guacamole.

No balcony was indeed a surprise, but the porthole does look comfy although you do still appear unimpressed

I really did think I was smiling in that picture.

A travel agent may also give you some OBC?

Yes, we got an OBC for booking the dummy cruise and the TA also gives us an OBC, I think we might be up to $350

Ever feel like all you're doing is cleaning out properties?

Every day of my life.

I'm sure she'll never tell.

She doesn't even remember doing it.

Eliminating waste, or cost-cutting?

I think now that they are encouraging people to use the app on their smart phones, they don't need to generate so much paper.

I don't think that's weird. I'd probably go for variety too. I might make an exception for steak, though.

At home I'll eat it, but when on a cruise there is just so much variety!

D'oh!

I know, rookie move.

Well, it's good that there was a silver lining or two. Looks like a spacious room, too.

All the HA rooms are spacious, I think even the inside ones. At least they look that way on the maps of the ships.

I love your dress. Nice pictures, thanks for sharing!

Thanks!

DeSoto looks amazing! Gale and team did an excellent job. Here's an attic selfie because how many times do you get to take selfies in an attic?

You crack me up!

 

[franandaj]

All right, I know I did an update only a couple days ago, but I'm nearly caught up so I'm going to jump in and do another update while I can!

We left off after the Muster drill and as soon as that is over sail away begins!

Since Jill's room was two doors down and she had a verandah, I went to her room and we had a sail away party.

And here we are passing the camera where we waved to you all.

And what sail away party would be complete without our armed escort?

Jill let me borrow her press bag and I finished up with Fran' shirts, my dress, and other such stuff. Our third suitcase arrived and I unpacked that as well. Then I started to panic about the fourth suitcase, it had our bathroom bags and some of Fran's OTC meds, but once I alerted our stateroom host he found it quickly and we were set. I had everything unpacked and put away before we headed down to dinner. Since I bought the photo package, I wanted to get as many pictures with the photographers as I could!

I made this one my profile pic on FB.

Fran looks a little stunned in this one.

A little better.

Tonight's dinner was at the Enchanted Garden. I had requested this rotation because I like to be in the fancy restaurant on formal night, which is the second night of the cruise. I don't remember our rotation because we skipped so many nights in the MDRs! Here is the menu.

Off the drink menu, I started off with a nutty chocolate. It had vanilla vodka, Creme de Cacao White, Bailey's, Galliano, and Vanilla Mix. It was almost like having dessert before dinner!

I had the Romaine wedge, the dressing was a little interesting and I think Fran had part of it too.

Fran got this Bacon and Mushroom Tart and that was it so I'm pretty sure that she had some of my salad.

The main reason she ordered so little was because I was having this for my entree. Prime Rib, yummy! This is what was put down in front of me.

But when I saw how cooked this piece was and Jill saw how rare her piece was we traded so I had the more rare one.

I couldn’t finish all of it, even with Fran’s help, but partly because I was saving room for dessert!

There’s a drink on the dessert menu that I love called Creme Brulee so I ordered one of those.

It went very nicely with my Date pudding. This is probably my second favorite dessert after the various souffles

Jill got the Southern Style Pecan Tart, and in the background you can see the bottle of wine we split with our Prime Ribs.

Fran got the ever popular favorite, a Mickey Bar!

We went back to room to find this towel animal, whatever it is.

I started Cars 3 as I had never seen it, and I promptly fell asleep within 20 minutes and the movie completed as I slept.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I think you should keep movie tallies during your cruises as you always put on so many!

Looks like a great sail away and first dinner! Being in the fancy restaurant on formal night is important!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Nice pics of the two of you!

I think your drinks looked sooo yummy!

 

[jimenyfan]

I enjoy reading all of your trip reports but I am particularly interested in this one has my husband and I booked the eastern Caribbean in June of next year. It’ll be our first time on the Fantasy.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I've read the majority of your reports but don't think that I've ever posted. We follow quite a few of the same reports as well. So I need to say "Hey" and start posting.

 

[ACDSNY]

Nice sail away party from Jill's verandah.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Veranda or not, your room looks awesome!

 

[chunkymonkey]

all caught up now!

we figured out that they were Hei, Hei and Tamatoa from Moana.

Ah, interesting costumes! Quite original!

We spent an hour or so picking up T-shirts, pins and other special merchandise before we realized that we were finally hungry again. It was 7PM and The Friar's Nook closed at 8PM, so we made a beeline over there to get some grub before it closed. Pub tots

I had this too during MNSSHP. I really liked them but I am a sucker for tater tots and plastic cheese.

I barely made it up the hill to the Monorail and we slowly made our way back to the room. We had a lake view room, technically, but it also had a limited view of the MK, but there was just enough that I could park myself in a chair with a glass of wine and watch the fireworks from the comfort of my own room.

That is a gorgeous view. I don't blame you for leaving early. It was so hot - I was drained by midday!

I’m sorry if I haven’t gotten around to your TRs! I’ve been trying to keep up, but it’s useless. We have so much to do. Imagine having a three car garage filled from top to bottom with cra, er precious items that need to be relocated. Then imagine that you have a two car garage at home in the same condition. Luckily we had a tenant decide to give up her garage in a different building, so we’ve been relocating a lot of stuff to there. We’ve taken quite a few trips to the thrift store, and we’ve been listing a bunch of stuff on Craigslist. When we moved into our house four years ago, we had remodeled the Master Bath, we took out a vanity and put in a walk in tub. Well that vanity was still in the garage, along with a mirror, a toilet (we replaced that too) and about 50 empty cardboard boxes. Those went to the recycle place. Plus we have paint cans sitting around in every garage from all the remodels that we have done in the past 10 years. We have 11 units, and by the end of this year, all of them will have undergone, basic total rehabs since 2009. So that’s a few trips to the hazardous waste disposal center.

Woah 11 units!! Steve really wants to pick your brains on how to be a property giant/landlord too. We only have one rental property, our old apt, but it's not a great investment property because it's a co-op and there are many board rules about renting.

On the “fun stuff” front, even though we’re broke and are having to sell some of our Disney stock to finance this whole remodel, you’ll learn in the course of this TR that we booked a “dummy” cruise on this past vacation. On October 1st Platinum Castaway Club members could book the next block of cruises that Disney is releasing. I decided to go with a travel agent this time around and use my dummy cruise towards a 7 Day Mexican Riviera Cruise in April of 2020. You’ll see in this next update why I don’t trust myself to book these cruises any longer. I’m hoping that a year from now, when the Pay in Full date rolls around that I’ll be able to afford the cruise without having to sell any more Disney Stock!

Yay for the cruise, despite having to sell some stock. We all do what we gotta do for some Disney fun. I have sacrificed eating out on many occasions just so we can splurge on vacation.

We were in boarding group #2, so we found a little spot near the boarding area where Jill and I sat on the floor and we all perused our Navigators. They had changed things since my last cruise. They no longer printed the four page part of the Navigator daily, only for the first day.

Oh interesting, is it to become more green? I think I did notice the navigators were a little lighter last year than on our previous cruises.

I would have ordered the sirloin, but I knew I was having Prime Rib for dinner that night, and I'm weird about having the same thing for two meals or two dinners in a row.

I'm the same way! If I have pizza for lunch I don't want it for dinner.
Actually that's not true, I can have pizza anytime.
But I know what you mean. I like variety in my meals.

I got the kids Mac n cheese, and the serving size was perfect.

I like how you got a kids meal!!

Fran got the Salmon Salad, Grilled Salmon Filet on tossed Iceberg, Citrus Marinated Cous Cous, Spinach, Artichokes, Tomatoes and Cucumbers. She said it was very good, but they gave her a huge piece of Salmon.

Yum that looks delicious!
We're never in the MDR for embarkation lunch but I want to try it. It's because Steve really needs to eat all the crab legs all the time.
But maybe we can eat at the MDR and then we can go to Cabanas later for some crab legs, or vice versa.

I was devastated to find that I had completely spaced out when I booked the room and I had no verandah. It was an oceanview room, with only a porthole. I decided if I could be that stupid, I'd better use a travel agent in the future.

Oh no!
Well, at least you have a window! We have an inside stateroom for Hawaii 2020 and I really would like at least a porthole! That cruise is sold out for now though!

We left Fran in the room to sleep while Jill and I went up to the spa. She booked a few more treatments beyond the one she and I had scheduled and I redeemed my Rainforest Room coupon for daily visits to the Rainforest room.

Ooh what is this Rainforest room coupon and how do you get one?

Cute dress!

I had the Romaine wedge, the dressing was a little interesting and I think Fran had part of it too.

The dressing looks like thousand island!

It went very nicely with my Date pudding. This is probably my second favorite dessert after the various souffles

Yum I love dates! I would have ordered this if I had seen it on the Fantasy but I don't remember if I got it! Now I have to look back at my old TR to see if I did actually get this. TR writing comes in handy!

We went back to room to find this towel animal, whatever it is.

Melted...crab?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Since Jill's room was two doors down and she had a verandah, I went to her room and we had a sail away party.

Perfect! You save money on your room and mooch off the other. That's exactly how I'd play it.

Fran looks a little stunned in this one.

What? You're taking a photo??

The main reason she ordered so little was because I was having this for my entree. Prime Rib, yummy! This is what was put down in front of me.

Oh man, that looks good. I'd take the cooked one, though.

Fran got the ever popular favorite, a Mickey Bar!

Can't ever go wrong with a Mickey bar.

We went back to room to find this towel animal, whatever it is.

I think that's Olaf in the summer.

I started Cars 3 as I had never seen it, and I promptly fell asleep within 20 minutes and the movie completed as I slept.

That's funny--I've only seen about the last 20 minutes or so.

 

[Oscar5933]

I love your dress!

 

[DnA2010]

Wow that wake facing balcony is a beauty!

Love that dress, I'm def looking forward to checking out what they have for dresses when I'm in DL- the Tiki room one has been in my mind for sure

Mmmm that rare-er looking P.R looks yummy indeed, making me hungry!

Not sure on the towel creature- crab maybe?

Lucifer looks like he's going to go pounce on it