Our first Disney cruise: Part 7
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 Continued....
So when we left off we had just had the honor of meeting Richard Sherman. We still had a little more time before the party so we grabbed a spot on near the balcony on deck 4 to watch the characters come into the atrium for the "See You Real Soon" show.
Then is was off to Evolution for the going away party. I don't think all 450 of us were there but the room was full. We found a table and chatted with some of our new friends while waiting for the festivities to start. Lou started off with awarding prizes to the winners of the flag making contest (we didn't enter, no time) and the door decorating contest (we didn't win. I don't have a picture of the winning door because we never saw it but it apparently had 3D models of several ride vehicles and in the center had a tablet attached to a model of the ship's funnel and the tablet was on playing Toy Story 2!) Then it was time to get onto the raffle. Before they drew winners Lou and Beci announced the grand total that was raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
I can't remember what the exact total was, but there was a surprise that Lou didn't know about. One of the gals that blogs for the WDW Radio website had taken it upon herself to raise money as well through campaigns at her school including letter writing, a yard sale and several bake sales. So on the cruise she presented Lou with her contribution.
So with Makena's addition the total was well over $5,000! You can learn more about the Dream Team project here.
There were 15 prizes that people could choose to put their tickets into:
- Dinner with Lou, Beci, and the WDW Radio Team at Palo on WDW Radio Cruise 3.0, along with a Disney Fantasy Maiden Voyage baseball hat
- An autographed Vinylmation from the EPCOT 30th celebration, including signatures from animators, Disney legends, and the WDW Radio team
- A snack-around World Showcase with Lou during your next Walt Disney World vacation (includes snacks at no less than 5 World Showcase nations). [This item includes auction winner and one other guest and admission to Epcot is not included..]
- One-of-a-Kind, customized Orange Bird drawing created by Disney Character Artist Casey Jones, as well as Citrus Swirl meetup for two with Casey and Lou Mongello. The drawing will be a personalized sketch featuring the Orange Bird themed to the winner’s favorite WDW attraction. (Prize may be mailed home if no future WDW trips are scheduled. Admission to the Magic Kingdom is not included.)
- Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ears with additional, unique Disney merchandise!
- Vinylmation gift set, including a San Diego Comic Con exclusive, Sparkysaurus, 9” Carsland Vinylmation, and more!
- WDW Radio Cruise autographed photo mat with 8×10” image of the WDW Radio Cruise attendees. The photo mat will be signed by all attendees of the WDW Radio Cruise and then used to frame an 8×10” picture of the group on Castaway Cay.
- Disney Storybooks, complete with autographs from MANY Disney characters
- Co-Host For a Day with Lou on WDW Radio
- Disney Scrapbookers Delight—Scrapbooking and crafting Materials for the Disney scrapbooker in us all!!
- Ariel sketch by Disney Senior Character Artist Alex Maher
- Bambi sketch by Disney Senior Character Artist Alex Maher
- Limited edition Disney Pin Surprise Lot!
- Carbon Frozen Lou plus dinner with Lou at Sci Fi Dine In restaurant for winner and one guest (availability permitting). Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios not included.
- The “Mystery Box” – What surprises, items and experiences await the winner of the Mystery Box? You’ll have to be in it to win it!
I had broken our tickets evenly into #3 and #14 as I knew anything involving hanging out with Lou and food would be guaranteed to be a good time. They did the prizes in order so #3 came and went and we didn't win. Then came along #14 and wouldn't you know it................
WE WON! I had Lou sign the figure (which you can read more about on the Disney Parks Blog here) and got the information I needed to arrange the rest of our prize (which we're still trying to schedule). Then it was time for dinner, this night we were at Royal Palace.
Royal Palace Dinner-Royal Market Green Salad
Royal Palace Dinner-Pomegranate Glazed Duck Breast with Gerwurztraminer Gelee and Pomegranate Glaze
Royal Palace Dinner-Roasted Wild Boar Tenderloin
Royal Palace Dinner-Double Cut Rack of Lamb with a Dijon Crust
Royal Palace Dinner-Peanut Butter Mousse
Royal Palace Dinner-Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee
After dinner we finally got a picture with our amazing travel agent, Vicki! She's been helping us plan and book our Disney vacations for 4 years. She's awesome!
And a picture with our new friends and table mates
Then we all went up to deck 11 to wait for Lou as it was Wednesday night and Lou always does a live broadcast for the WDW Radio Newscast. He can broadcast live and there is a chat room and those of us who hang out in the chat room have become known as "The Box People". But for once those of us on the cruise got to be outside the box!
You can view the entire broadcast here with special guest Richard Sherman (and you'll see me later in the crowd!)
After the broadcast we went and saw the last show in the Walt Disney Theatre, "Believe". It was a beautiful show, although I think Villains Tonight is my favorite. Then it was time to go back to our room and pack. At this point reality that our cruise was pretty much over had hit me and I'll be honest, I cried. I held it together (kinda) during the walk from the theatre to our room but once we got back I lost it. I sat down and cried my little heart out (in my defense I was PMSing to so my emotions were somewhat exaggerated but I was still sad!)
At the end of your cruise you have two options, you can pack your luggage and set it outside your stateroom the night before you get off the ship and they'll collect it and you won't see it again till you get it in customs. If you go this route make sure you don't pack anything you'd need in the morning (meds, toothbrush, etc. a change of clothes unless you plan on traveling in your pajamas). Or you can keep your luggage with you and walk off the ship with it (if you plan on eating breakfast in the morning make sure you don't mind taking your stuff with you). We didn't want to lug our bags to the restaurant in the morning so we went with option A. We watched the Phineas And Ferb movie on our TV while we packed and then went to bed.
*Up next, customs and traveling home. Plus some tips and tricks for cruising!
After the broadcast we went and saw the last show in the Walt Disney Theatre, "Believe". It was a beautiful show, although I think Villains Tonight is my favorite. Then it was time to go back to our room and pack. At this point reality that our cruise was pretty much over had hit me and I'll be honest, I cried. I held it together (kinda) during the walk from the theatre to our room but once we got back I lost it. I sat down and cried my little heart out (in my defense I was PMSing to so my emotions were somewhat exaggerated but I was still sad!)
At the end of your cruise you have two options, you can pack your luggage and set it outside your stateroom the night before you get off the ship and they'll collect it and you won't see it again till you get it in customs. If you go this route make sure you don't pack anything you'd need in the morning (meds, toothbrush, etc. a change of clothes unless you plan on traveling in your pajamas). Or you can keep your luggage with you and walk off the ship with it (if you plan on eating breakfast in the morning make sure you don't mind taking your stuff with you). We didn't want to lug our bags to the restaurant in the morning so we went with option A. We watched the Phineas And Ferb movie on our TV while we packed and then went to bed.
*Up next, customs and traveling home. Plus some tips and tricks for cruising!
Mystery solved! ;) Congrats on your win.
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