A New Ship: Glacial Breakfast

After taking their sweet time settling down to bed the night before, I was quite startled when Kylee woke up at four in the morning.
Eastern Standard Time.
When we're from the Central Time Zone.
Well anyways, we were up.
Chris stayed asleep, so I let Kylee crawl in on my side of the bed hoping that everyone else could stay asleep and maybe I could get some winks in too. By five-thirty it became painfully obvious that Kylee wasn't going to go back to sleep, so we grabbed her "embarkation day" Ziploc bag. (We always pack full outfits for the kids together with bows and accessories to make it easy to hand out clothes for the day.) While Kylee brushed her hair, I took a quick shower. Since we were still on the dark o'clock side of things, I dressed and got ready for the day because Kylee loves watching me get ready and it keeps her calm and quiet.

Deluxe King Hyatt Regency-pardon the mess

Ben admitted defeat and dressed as well and last of all, Chris rustled up his clothes. After giving the room several once overs for slippers and stuffed animals, Kylee and I went back on the balcony to watch the early morning flights take off. Despite being so close to the planes, our room had been surprisingly quiet. That being said, after a few semesters in a dorm near train tracks in College Station, I'm not the most sensitive to noise.



View of the airport monorail and the airport.

Ben and I declared the room all packed and tagged the luggage for the Disney Cruise Line transfers. (When you sign in, ask for instructions and bell services will collect your luggage for you.) We didn't see our luggage again until we reached our stateroom. We brought our day bags with so that we wouldn't need to return to the room.

We went down to the desk and checked out. Then double checked that we were in the system for bell services. (We were.)

We headed back up to Hemisphere for the hot, fresh breakfast buffet. Since Chris is a slow eater, Ben and I whiled away the hour wondering if anyone ever booked the Walt Disney suite. A friend in our Facebook group had noted was still available a week prior to sailing. We wondered how much *that* upgrade might cost. After guessing it'd never be applicable given the glacial pace our kids approached breakfast, we agreed to not go above $4,000 for the Royal but really hoped to get any concierge stateroom upgrade for less than $2,000 above our 4E stateroom.

Then we laughed like crazy.

That'd never happen.

After this relaxed breakfast of oatmeal, toast, pancakes, fruit, pastries and all kinds of delicious foods, enjoyed nibble by nibble, we left the Hyatt Regency refreshed for our next adventure!



Tired, happy and *thisclose* to our new ship!

We headed down past bag claim toward the Disney Cruise Line transfers. (They're just across from the Disney's Magical Express desk.)

Just follow the signs.

Given that it was "almost eight" when we reached the DCL check in area, Kylee and I went for a walk. (She is a source of boundless energy. I wish I could bottle it. Seriously.) We reserved a 10:30 AM port arrival time, so we were eager to be on the first shuttle to the port.

Captain Mickey and our cruise transfer!

The gentleman setting up for check-in let us know that they would start loading the bus around 8:45,  so Kylee began making friends with the Canadians waiting with us. A second family walked up shortly thereafter. It was fun to talk ships with them as they hadn't been on the classics and we were about to board our first Dream class ship.

At the appointed time, the queue wound its way through checking in and we began boarding the shuttle. Leaving the airport just before 9, the kids watched the DCL promo video and then relaxed into the cushy seats as classic Disney cartoons ate the minutes separating us from Port Canaveral. Until finally, no cartoon could distract the children from the first few glimpses of our home away from home.

A first view of the ship in port.

We thanked our bus driver and walked directly to and through port security then up into the main terminal. We were directed to the first available check in desk, number 17 as the kids high-fived the Mickey-gloved port staff. She checked us in, verified our health forms, passports and onboard airline check-in. It was just before ten and our friends in the parking garage still couldn't get into the terminal just yet.

Ben asked about upgrades and we were passed down to the supervisor at desk 31. This was novel as every other time we've asked about upgrades, the second we step into the upgrades line, they quickly wave us off and point at a cute sign letting you know that "Captain Mickey is sailing with a full ship. No upgrades are available at this time." So even getting to line up at the desk 31 was new to us.

We were back in line behind our friends from the bus, the Canadians. The mom turned around and let us know that a few concierge options were available, but they were trying to line up the same room on both of their cruises (they were cruising back to back) and wouldn't be taking them.

Ben glanced at me.

I glanced back.

The castmember manning the upgrade desk finished arranging the back to back cruisers' vacation plans and beckoned us forward.

This is Part 3 of an Ongoing Trip Report "A New Ship." Additional sections will be found on the Trip Reports page after they are posted!