McDowell Family Times: A SURPRISE Disney Cruise!

About a month ago, we found out that Disney was offering a Florida resident deal on their cruises sailing from Port Canaveral. I had really been wanting to take another one since our last one (in December of 2011) was kind of stressful what will all five of us in one VERY expensive cabin, Bailey having a broken leg and Liam being a (nursing) baby (with food allergies) (who only wanted his mommy). In fact, when we got off the boat that time, Will said, "never again!" BUT Disney cruises are really the best and I wanted to take the kids now that they are a little bigger.

Well, I called and found out about the deal and it turns out that the cabins that were on sale can't accommodate five people, so we would have to get two cabins--two CONNECTING cabins with balconies! And it actually worked out cheaper than the one cabin we would have gotten! For me, that cinched it. Will was on board and he decided that we shouldn't tell the kids that we were going. It was a really hard secret to keep, especially after Mimi and Grandpa decided they wanted to go, too!

A couple days before we left, we asked the kids what they REALLY wanted to do this summer. Bailey shouts, "GO ON A CRUISE! And go to Chuck-E-Cheese and see Muppets Most Wanted." So Will said, "I can promise that at least two of those things will happen!" :)

On Thursday, June 5, we loaded the kids into the car and told them we were going to the beach. All the way to the port Will kept dropping little hints like, "Who wants to go really far out in the waves today?" LOL. They were clueless. We almost got caught when we were nearly there and Bailey decided to look behind her and saw all of the suitcases in the back. As we got closer, we pointed out the cruise ships to the kids and asked them if they wanted to go see them up close. They were pretty excited about that. Then Will said, "What if we just drove in there? Think they would let us on the boat?" Bailey and Liam were cheering and saying, "Yeah, yeah!" but Emily was like, "No, it doesn't work that way." We finally told them that we weren't going to the beach but we were going on the Disney Dream. They were shocked. I don't think they actually believed us!

In the port there was another surprise--Mimi and Grandpa were waiting for us!

We really had a lovely time on the ship. Three days was pretty short--I didn't feel like we got to take advantage of everything they have to do. But we did manage to see two shows and do lots of swimming and AquaDuck-ing and eating!

The girls also did a special Glitter and Glow makeover in Mickey's Mainsail. They got their hair and makeup done as well as a face gem and a hair clip to keep. Then we went to the princess gathering and they met Rapunzel and Ariel.

On deck 11 with Mimi and Grandpa!

Ready to set sail!

Liam fell asleep during the Golden Mickeys and the slept through the whole dinner at Animator's Palate! He missed Crush the sea turtle chatting with Emily.