Pictures > December 1999 at DisneyWorld and on a Disney Cruise

OUR DISNEY DREAM

    Two days after Christmas, December 27th, Robert and I had lots of plans in mind for the new year.  It was kind of funny to smile while everyone else was desperately trying to find something different to do for the new millennium.  I was always known to make plans that wouldn't work in the end... but this time, it really was going to be different.
    I've always wanted to do two things: go to Disney World for the first time and sail away on a romantic cruise; well, Rob and I did both, setting our 7-day trip to Disney wonderland.

DISNEY WORLD

The plane ride was real smooth and sooner than we thought we were off the plane, holding our puffy Jersey winter coats and sweating under the hot, amazing Florida sun.  There was a lady in a  pretty baby blue suit wearing a Disney Cruise Line tag and a huge, cheesy smile.  That was the first sign of Disney cheesiness that we noticed... (signs that first seemed ridiculous but that we later came to appreciate).  After a bus ride and a quick instructional video, we arrived at our hotel, DIXIE LANDINGS.

The last thing a person who just got off the plane needs is a loooooooong line to check in.  We were quite surprised that Disney would let that happen.

After a replenishing meal we rested at our hotel room and ventured to Downtown Disney that same very night.  During the next three days, we visited the before mentioned, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and briefly, MGM studios.

Stylin' Pooh Fashion at the biggest Disney Store in the world (Downtown Disney)

MAGIC KINGDOM

BEST MAGIC KINGDOM ATTRACTIONS: (Click on the links to view a picture)

Pirates of the Caribbean
The Haunted Mansion- long lines but wow, it's so worth it!! and it's not as scary as it sounds.  I get scared real easily
It's a Small World- you are lucky if you don't leave the ride humming that annoying song.  But the ride is long and adorable
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- omigod, you have to really like Pooh to wait in line this long but the ride is really fun and cool, even though it's really short.  I'd suggest getting a pass in the morning and coming back in the afternoon
Mickey and Minnie's Country Houses- definitely worth seeing to get into the Disney mood

EPCOT

    The next day, we dedicated our day to visiting Epcot, but because it was so cold and we did not have so much time, we didn't get to visit the countries :-(.  This park was completely different from Magic Kingdom.  It was really educative and the attractions taught me lots of really cool stuff I didn't even know about.

BEST EPCOT ATTRACTIONS:
Spaceship Earth- this ride was simply amazing, probably the best I have seen at Disney world.  The line looked really intimidating but not to worry, the ride carts rotate continuously so, except for the freezing cold, we did not mind waiting on line.  This 14-minute ride takes you through the development of communication through time.  We were able to smell the smoke from the falling ruins of the Roman Empire.  Unbelievable.
Living with the Land- it was very instructional and took us on a boat ride through different land environments, including the rain forest, the prairie and the desert.
Journey into your Imagination- long lines but cool
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience- I will not explain anything here, it might ruin the surprise
Body Wars- kind of shaky

WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD??

BEST RESTAURANT AWARD
The Plaza (Magic Kingdom)- to be honest, we didn't feel like eating at a loud restaurant but this was a place we didn't particularly want to eat at.  But- it turned out to be THE BEST food we had at Disney World!! Amazing Philly cheese steaks and delicious chocolate cakes.  Excellent service and not even that expensive!!

SKIP THIS FOOD AWARD
Coral Reef (Epcot)- great view of all the fish but poor menu and expensive food.  We walked out without ordering.

BEST RIP-OFF AWARD
The Rainforest Cafe' (Downtown Disney)- The wait is extremely long, even though we were only in two.  The scenery is simply gorgeous but the food was definitely not worth what it cost; the menu selection is very limited.

FUN PLACE TO EAT AWARD
50's Prime Time Cafe' (MGM Studios)- They were full for the evening but we got really lucky and they sat us down.  It looks like a restaurant from Pleasantville or Happy Days.  The waiter will make you sing funny songs if you don't eat all your food or make the boys wear a cute Little Mermaid bib.  Oh boy!

DISNEY MAGIC CRUISE

   This was our first cruise ever and it was so much fun!  Although we were extremely upset after leaving Disney World, we were not yet aware of all the great surprises that would await us.  I just wish we had visited web-sites such as this one to learn what's best to do and what's to avoid.  The problem with every fun place is that there are too many awesome things to do and so little time... and when there is a lot to do, one gets tired easily and doesn't have enough energy to see and do everything.  Rob and I tried to do many things but it was sure impossible to do everything!

DAY 1: EMBARKATION
   The time spent outside the ship before boarding was atrociously long.  Rob had to wait for his tuxedo (due to the millennium celebration) while I had to go through customs.

It may sound great that there is a company willing to rent a tuxedo but this also brings disadvantages.  The lines to get it are really long and dozens of men would exit the fitting rooms with pants "a la'capri" (they were too short).  Rob told me that some guy received a jacket with two different sleeve lengths.

    After the long wait we finally boarded the ship; it was frightfully huge and beautiful

   The first instinct we had was to go check out our stateroom, number 6039, but we awfully regretted doing so a few hours later: we didn't obtain the reservations we wanted for the exclusive, 18+ northern Italian restaurant Palo.

Do not miss the first day lunch buffet at Topsider's (Deck 10), for that was the only occasion we had to savor the delicious jumbo shrimp.  Just thinking about them now makes my mouth water.

DAY 2: NASSAU, BAHAMAS/NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
    This was my second time at Nassau and I can say that I was not surprised with anything.  Paradise Islands are simply amazing, but I personally don't like Nassau all that much.  The people there try anything they can to get a tourist to pay and dishonest men are willing to offer bus rides from the seaport to the shopping area when they are only two blocks apart.

If you are going to go to Nassau, make sure you don't skip the Straw Market (very close to the boat).  Even though each station sells similar merchandise, each vendor makes what they sell with their own hands (in the majority of cases).  Products range from shirts, towels, hats, tote bags and more.

Absolutely do NOT forget to bargain for the best price! Most likely, those vendors are willing to do whatever they can to earn money so make your own price... but do not exaggerate, as they do have to make a minimum profit.  I purchased a real pretty hat (scroll down to see it in the Castaway Cay picture) and paid only $8- great deal, huh?

   After a busy day walking around Nassau and tanning on deck 10, Rob and I were already looking forward to see the New Year celebration!  That evening we dined at Lumiere's and compliments of the captain we were offered a bottle of champagne.  The food  was delicious and each guest was wearing very elegant clothes, most men wearing tuxedos.
    That night everyone was dancing on deck 10, as the boat had earlier pulled into Disney's own island Castaway Cay to meet up with the other ship, the Disney Wonder.  As we counted down the millennium, children ran around with industrial quantities of party flavors.

    Beautiful fireworks painted the sky with colorful sparks while everyone kissed and hugged.  This was truly something I will never again witness.  Disney had done a marvelous job!

DAY 3: CASTAWAY CAY
    Castaway Cay was definitely a new and different experience, a pure paradise.  Unluckily we woke up at 9:30 and by the time we got dressed and went to eat, hundreds of people were already at the island.  The island is small and clean, and it was prohibited to take shells or other things that would contaminate the specific environment.  There is several things you can do at Castaway Cay, but we chose to spend the day at the beach and under the beautiful, hot sun.  There is a family beach and a private adult beach, so we had a first and wonderful opportunity to relax without being bugged by annoying water-splashing children.

Whatever you do at Castaway Cay, make sure that you don't step on any seaweed.  Rob stepped on a weird looking creature named sea urchin and I took him to the emergency room.  The nurse at the island showed me a booklet with fish pictures of the island.  I am so glad I didn't see it before I swam in that water!! Beware!!

DAY 4: AT SEA
    We mainly spent this day tanning on deck 9 and wondering around the ship.  Disney organized several events and parties, so there was a lot to do.  I just wish we had more time on this vacation, because it was simply unforgettable.  We spent the last day dining at a restaurant named "The Animator's Palate."  The food was simply divine, served on plates that resembled a painter's palette.  The room magically transformed, as the Disney paintings on the wall slowly turned from black and white to color.  The ending of the show was spectacular, but I won't ruin the surprise.

DAY 5: DISEMBARKATION
    Disembarkation was quick and efficient.  By early morning we were all off the ship.  It was really sad to leave, because we soon knew we'd return to the real world and abandon this wonderful world of Disney.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I am glad you followed me through my online Disney Album.  Some of the pictures on this page belong to other people.  Special thanks for the beautiful images to www.intercot.com, www.disney.com, and www.themeparks.com.