Cruise Installment Three

September 28 – Day 3: Castaway Cay Day!!! As many of you know, Disney owns an island.

Originally, this island was called Gordo Cay, but was renamed Castaway Cay (pronounced Castaway KEY) in 1996 when Disney bought it. It is used only for the guests aboard the Magic and the Wonder (and the 2 soon-to-be built ships owned by Disney). Information on this island can be found here. The island has an adult-only beach, a teens-only beach, and a family beach and offers many excursions – parasailing, sting ray encounters, and bottom fishing, among others. The island is paradise. The island is also home to the Flying Dutchman. This was the same Flying Dutchman used in the wonderful Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

We docked in Castaway Cay bow first (usually, it docks backwards) as the sun came up. It feels so interesting to feel the thrusters as I’m waking up on the boat in the morning. Once everyone got up and moving, we headed to breakfast. We didn’t hurry because we didn’t have anywhere we *had* to be until 11:30. We had tickets to go on a jet ski tour. We visited the beach for a little while. It was Jaydin’s first experience in ocean water. Mom went with us, but walking on the sand really bothered her knees. After a little bit, she headed back to the ship. I couldn’t blame her. She had to be in a lot of pain, and itwas freakin' hot on the island. :)

This is the playground in the water at Castaway Cay. Jonah is on it in this picture. He's hard to see, so I put an arrow pointing to him. :)

Jaydin had a great time with the new friend she made on the island. I'm sad that they didn't see each other again on the trip. This is Jaydin and Grace.

Here's Jaydin's first fun in the ocean. Couldn't have picked a place with prettier water, could we?? We loved it.

Jared at CC.

Jared and Dusty enjoying the sun. :)

Becky and Dusty enjoying Castaway Cay.

We took Jaydin to the kids’ club on the island – how cool is that to have the club on the island while we're there??, and they took her for lunch at the island restaurant.

We took off for the jet ski tour. Jared drove one and Mark rode on the back (most of the time :) ). I drove the other one with Jonah as my backseat driver. The machine took a little to get used to, but it was loads of fun! We really had a blast on them. It was a little interesting, though, when we *passed* Jared - alone – on his jet ski. Mark had, apparently, taken a head-first dive off of Jared’s right side. Later, he had a pretty rough headache, a sore neck, and some scrapes. The headache and sore neck were from hitting the water, but the scrapes were from his attempts to get back on the jet ski in the middle of the ocean.

A little while later, Jonah and I (mainly the *I* there) managed to get our jetski stuck in someshallow water. Had I been on my own (and NOT with a tour guide), I would have hopped off, pushed the machine off of the sand, and jumped back on, but I think our little tour guides would have really yelled at me if I had.

Anyway, the guy came by and moved the jet ski off of the sand, but it was flooded at that point. He ended up giving me his. Then, we got

stuck behind all of the uber slow folks on the tour. Yuck. No more wave jumping unless we slowed way down and let the people in front of us get a long way ahead of us (did that a few times). It was a greatexperience, though, and I would do it again.

Once we got our jet skis back on Castaway Cay, I ran to get Jaydin from her club as the guys waited on us to join them. We headed back to the ship to figure out lunch for everyone. We didn’t hang out on the island because it was already after 1, and the ship was leaving around 3. It was a short day at CC. :( The boys took off as soon as they got changed – and got the sand out of their shorts. J Mark and Jaydin got chicken fingers from Goofy’s Galley and – eventually, I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich from room service (free on the ship!!!! LOVE that).

I also felt strongly (and so did our Concierge staff) that Mom needed to see the ship’s doctor about her knees. We were scheduled to have a dolphin encounter on Wednesday, and I didn’t want her to miss that at all!! She was so excited about it. Mark, Jaydin, and I walked Mom down to the medical center. Mark and Jaydin left just as we were being taken back to the exam room. It was there that we discovered how badly the patches we were using could be for us. The patches were for sea sickness, and both Mom and I had used them. I had already taken mine off because my vision became so blurry that I couldn’t see to focus on a book – made me sick to even try. The nurse in the medical center told Mom to take hers off immediately, so Mom did it that second. The doctor checked Mom’s knees and said that they were soft-tissue injuries (bad bruises).

The doctor had the nurse wrap both knees and asked to see Mom the next day to make sure there was progress in healing. Mom felt a lot better and even walked better with the bandages on.

I think they really helped stabilize them.

We felt a lot better with the patches off, too, and eventually, I could see to read again. We never even had one, little bit of sea sickness, either. The seas were MUCH calmer that day, too.

I took Jaydin down to see Sorcerer Mickey while we had some time before dinner. He was scheduled to be in the lobby during that time. It wasn't the best picture of the cruise, but they can't *all* be good, can they?!

On the way back to the room, we had a MOST magical moment. (Those of you that know and love Disney can certainly relate to these very special moments.) Over the years, characters at Disney events, parks, and ships have gone from wandering in the park with no obvious schedule or agenda to having very scheduled times for appearances and to being very structured (lines, photographers, cut off points, etc). It is very uncommon for a character, for example, to stop to see children or admirers when on the way to a scheduled appearance. They wave and are polite, but simply don't stop. You're welcome to follow them and grab your spot in line to meet and greet them, though. :)

On this particular day, we were heading back to our room. We saw Snow White walking down the hall - regal, innocent, and beautiful. I knew she wouldn't stop, but wanted Jaydin to see her as well as possible, and I stooped

down to make sure she saw her. Snow White saw Jaydin, took her by the hand, and led her to a private corner to chat. Oh my. What a moment. It was so very special - and tears run down my face as I remember it. That precious lady had just made a true fan for life (ok ... two. And I don't even like the story!!!). Jaydin was in awe of her, and that particular Snow White was one of the very best characters that I have ever seen (and I've seen a few over the years. :) ). She was kind, gentle, and truly cherished each child that walked up to here.

See how she is talking to Jaydin. She acts like Jaydin is THE ONLY kid in the world at that moment.

Jaydin got her special book signed by Snow White. When Snow White saw the book she commented on it (as did many characters) and made a point of telling Jaydin how special the book was.

Can't leave without a hug.

When we got back to the room, these creatures greeted up - as well as an

interesting treat tray. This one was - by far - the strangest that we received all week.

We went back to the room to prepare for dinner at Animator’s Palate. It was our first night at AP, and the night for the show. If you’ve not heard about this, I’m not sure I can adequately explain it, but I will make an attempt.

Animator’s Palate is a very striking restaurant. Its black and white décor just oozes class. Magically, however, the black and white walls, lamps, and pictures all change to full color as the evening heads toward dessert. It is truly something that only Disney could have imagined. It’s all done with light effects and you get glimpses of the finished product ever so briefly as the evening progresses.Even the

serving staff gets in on the show as they exchange their black and white vests for beautiful, full-color vests as they serve dessert.

Even the ketchup gets in on the act. :)

Dusty was feeding Caitlyn, so Malwyn, our server, cut up his food and fed him a few bites. :)

This is Jaydin with our Head Server. Many have told me that they didn't see their Head Server until the last night - to get their tip. Jeff came to our table every night and greeted Jaydin by name. He - along with the rest of the staff - were incredible, and I'm so glad we had them all on our trip.

The Animator’s Palate show was a beautiful, fanciful way to end our day, but after dinner, we went down to the lobby for a visit or two with some very special people.

Jaydin with Cinderella.

Jaydin with Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Here are a few extra pictures from the island. Even the characters turn up from time to time to make our time there special. :)

Our next day would be a ‘sea day,’ and we were eager to see what a full day at sea on the Magic would be like. I’m sure you’re wondering, too, aren’t you??

But … you’ll have to wait. That installment isn’t quite written, yet!!!

As always, live the life, and live it well.