Disney Cruise 2017 - March

On Thursday, March 9, we flew from KCI to Orlando where we spent 2 nights at The Animal Kingdom/Disney World.  When we arrived, we could see animals outside our balcony windows.  On Friday, we saw more animals, including a giraffe and zebras from our balconies before we went to the pool to swim.  It was a beautiful day.  In the afternoon, we took a bus and the monorail to The Polynesian Resort where we went to a Luau, complete with a lovely, delicious dinner and saw dancers and fire jugglers.

On Saturday morning, a white limo picked us up at Animal Kingdom and transported us to Port Canaveral to The Disney Fantasy Cruise ship for our 7 day cruise to the Eastern Carribbean.  We had a couple of days at sea where we swam, had great meals, played mini-golf, explored the ship, etc.  We stopped at Tortola where we swam with the dolphins, even kissing them!  The next day was a stop at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands where we boarded a submarine to look at beautiful fish and coral.

On Thursday, it was Star Wars Day at Sea where we met many of the Star Wars characters - the entire ship was Star Wars!!!!  The kids dressed in their costumes and we all wore Star Wars clothing.  Storm Troopers protected us.

On Friday, we went to Castaway Cay, the Disney private island.  Peyton was scheduled to parasail, but due to windy conditions, it was cancelled - booooo.  But, we were able to swim with and feed the stingrays which was fun and spent fun time on the beach and in the water.  Peyton ran into a friend of hers from TiniTainers on the beach, and Amanda and Chad visited with her parents.  Small world moment.  We enjoyed a bbq picnic on the island before rebounding the ship, and then Peyton and her little friend met at the pool for a fun swim together - they were on our ship!!!

It was beautiful weather all week, and we enjoyed the many fun things the ship had to offer, including the kids club for Peyton and Garrison where they decorated cupcakes one day.  Amanda and Chad had a romantic dinner one night at a private dining room while the kids and us had a great evening by ourselves having dinner.  The kids slept in our room all the nights but one when Grammy wasn't feeling very well - we had adjoining rooms.  We had great views from our balconies and had room service a few times.  Ron and Chad watched a couple of Star Wars movies in the movie theatre, and we saw several broadway type/musical shows and had fun with them.

We flew home on Saturday, March 18 after making priceless memories together as a family.  On Monday, Amanda had to fly to California for work, so Grammy went to Overland Park to help out with the kids for the next 3 days.  Peyton was still on Spring Break on Monday, so Grammy, Peyton and her friend, Hailey, had a fun day and went to IHOP for lunch.  Garrison stayed home with Grammy Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and went to school late.  Peyton danced Monday and Tuesday evenings.

We are blessed.

The week before, Peyton and her daddy went to the Daddy/Daughter Dance at Cottonwood Point Elementary - dinner beforehand at Nick and Jakes with 8 other little girls and their daddies.  Amanda and Garrison had a mini-party with mothers and sons - one little boy had to go to Urgent Care with a cut on his eye requiring 3 stitches - he and Garrison collided while running in the hall - Garrison was fine!

Amanda and the kids came to Clinton to bring Apollo for his Clinton vacation with Miss Kelly while we go to Disney Cruise/Animal Kingdom.  We had a great time playing cards, etc., and Ron put them to work washing windows - the fun was climbing the ladder.  Peyton helped me chop things for our taco salads, using her skills learned on You Tube Kids to put tomatoes and olives on an upside down plate - then another plate on top right side up - then slice the veggies between the plates - worked great.  We enjoyed having them so much.

We hosted our Supper Club - we need to take a pic sometime - on Sunday night.  Had excitement when we couldn't get the table apart to add the leaves, but John Drury to the rescue, and we got it done.  Had a great time.

We are blessed.