The Adventure of the Flatties has Begun!!!

[Gav N Becx]

Tuesday 12th - Podcast Private Island Party day

The day began with an early morning visit to Cove Cafe for a much needed pick me up! The drinks are a frozen Mochachino (so good) and a fat espresso for Becx. Here's Jennifer attempting to steal some of mine...

We then headed over to Castaway Cay with Pete and Walter. Here's a shot of the flatties on the beach front taking a rest whilst the others popped into the shop:

Here they are checking in at the Party:

The flatties got to spend some time with all the Podcast team, including;


Teresa (note how she is subconsciously feeding Charlotte that cocktail)

Julie (wins award for most colour co-ordinated with the flatties)

and Corey (aka Bananaman - jolly good sport for doing this!)

That night was pirate night!
Here's a picture of the flatties looking over the menu. This menu is presented like a scroll for anyone who hasn't seen it before - you get to keep it.

 

[wildfan1473]

No wonder I've gained so much weight the past couple of weeks...all I did was eat and drink on the cruise

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

OMG what a hoot. You guys are the best for taking us flatties along. Any other pics fromt he Poly meet??

 

[Gav N Becx]

No wonder I've gained so much weight the past couple of weeks...all I did was eat and drink on the cruise

Yes, it appears we were a bad influence on you...

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Wow!!! Looks like I had an amazing time on my birthday!!! And what a day to spend on castaway cay!

 

[Cyrano]

Teresa (note how she is subconsciously feeding Charlotte that cocktail)

I bet Teresa's children would not be encouraged to drink

 

[Gav N Becx]

Wenesday 13th May


The day started with the Podcast recording - the sign is held up with Disney pins

Sony Erricson K850i - 5MP camera (with flash)

Apple Iphone - 2MP camera (no flash - see the difference!)

At the book signing, the flatties got to have their picture taken with Lee:

At the final cruise party in the evening, the flatties had another celebrity photo opportunity with Grace from the podcast team:

 

[Gav N Becx]

Thursday 14th May

After disembarking from the ship and checking back into the Dolphin @ WDW, we headed down to Epcot for much needed sustinance.

Gav couldn't let a stop at the Rose & Crown go by!!! I share my birthday with Carl (bar manager) and oddly enough he orignates from a town about 30 miles away from me. Tis a small world after all eh. Carl's in the background of this shot with the flatties:

When we made it back to the Dolphin, Becx took the flatties for a swim!

We headed out for a meal and a few drinks that evening. Here's the flatties trying to find their way back in the dark. See if you can guess where they are

 

[Gav N Becx]

Friday 15th - DATW day

Our day started with a visit to Art @ the BC with our celebrity friends Yvette & Emiel, after which we headed on over to Epcot.

Here's the flatties checking out the F&G topiary creations:

Outside Epcot Imagination:

...and having fun waiting in line at the Epcot Character Spot with Yvette. We took about 20 flattie photos at the Character Spot. These are on Emiel's photopass and he has kindly offered to send them to us once recieved (and once Yvette has added all the borders and cropped etc. until there are a million pictures )

We took a ride on the Maelstrom before starting DATW. Man the seats on this ride are small. We somehow managed to squeeze me, Becx, Emiel, Yvette and the flatties onto one row...although I was reaching vocal notes I didn't think were possible - there is a reason why men need to keep their knees at a certain distance from eachother

The DATW started at Canada. Beer time!

We then headed to the UK (fellow DISers in the background!):

Shortly followed by France:

Jennifer after my drink again:

Mingling with other flatties in Morocco:

Waiting in line for the group photo with Aladdin and Jasmine:

More Dis-mingling in Japan:

And sight-seeing!

A stop for funnel cake at America. My first try (finally on our 5th visit to the world). It's a bit like light doughnut batter. Not bad at all. A whole one is a challenge!

After this point it seemed to have gotten too dark for photo opportunities (well the rest didn't come out so well - could that have been the ?)

 

[*NikkiBell*]

ROFL...I see my flattie had a great time with them!

 

[Gav N Becx]

Sat 16th May

We took it easy today. Becx took the flatties out for some girly shopping down at the Boardwalk. I had more important things to do like play games on my Iphone.

Late afternoon we headed over to the Animal Kingdom Villas as we really wanted to see Kindani Village. We were not disappointed!!! This place is great.

Here they are with Becx, front entrance in the background:

Sitting down to the right of the front entrance:

This one has to be my favourite. Just read the message inscribed into the wall, centre top. Great image

Starting to get a little more imaginative. This one I call "Flattie Kingdom".

We thought it would be disrespectful to put them inside the basket...

 

[Gav N Becx]

Sunday 17th May

...sleep catchup day

We headed over to Animal Kingdom at lunch time:

Which included a picture with an Elephant!

...and a pair of baboons:

We ventured onto Expedition Everest (I loved it, Becx hated it!):

On the way out, we took one final picture with an Everest backdrop:

Monday 18th May

Sadly it was time to check-out and head home. The rain was lashing down so the flatties were kept dry for the day. We took FL Tours to the airport. Here's a picture of Darren (driver) to mark the end of the flattie adventure:

Hope y'all enjoyed the tour!

 

[wildfan1473]

OMG, this was too much fun! Thank you guys so much! I told my family when I was out East at the same time that I was also on a Disney cruise at the same time, and they just looked at me like I was .

Gav, I LOVE funnel cake! I haven't had it in ages, we can't get it here in the midwest.

 

[cruisinpenguin]

Great tour...thanks for sharing!! Laurie

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Looks like us flatties had a real good time! I wish I could make it on the next cruise!

 

[Gav N Becx]

Hey everyone!
Glad you liked the adventure!
Don't forget there's more to come from the photopass piccies...
Maybe one day we'll all make it onto the same cruise!!!

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Hey everyone!
Glad you liked the adventure!
Don't forget there's more to come from the photopass piccies...
Maybe one day we'll all make it onto the same cruise!!!

Do you know if Petes giving away staterooms on cruise2.0? It's only way I'd afford to come!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Ros (rtobe) and Nicole (*Nikkiebell*) accompanied Marla and me on the Podcast cruise.

They were up bright and early, wearing appropriate cruise attire, and their limegreen Mickey pins on the day we were to leave on the cruise. I wanted something to eat, so we all shared a cup of soup (strange breakfast, I know, but they insisted).

Since we arrive late on Saturday (flight + time difference) we stayed at the Country Inn near the port. They wanted to relax a bit by the pool.

On the day of the cruise they wanted a nice breakfast (maybe they were getting ready for the cruise food?) and so we all got a bite to eat before leaving.

Soon it was time to go to the terminal. We were too excited to sleep and so arrived before the gates even opened to let us in. So we waited with bags in hand. Here's a shot of the girls with the ship behind them.

We were among the first to check in, and when Mandi saw that there were four of us staying in a Cat 12, she told us we had to upgrade to a cabin that would fit us all, so we moved to a Cat 4 (thanks Nicole & Ros!).

Since we arrived so early, we were in the 2nd boarding group. We took security pics, but were told that Nicole & Ros's flatties would be recognized everywhere, so they didn't need to have their pics taken.

We met a bunch of DIS Podcast cruisers in the terminal. Here you can see them with Alicia (cocowum) and Jenny.

And before going on the cruise, we met the big cheese himself, who was so delighted to see Ros & Nicole, he kept kissing and hugging them. He thought it was great that they were coming along!

Soon we boarded the ship, and Nicole & Ros stopped for a quick pic at the Mothers Day display.

Marla, Nicole, Ros, & I made it to the top side of the ship, where we took in the sights. We were so happy to be on the ship.

We finally got to go to our rooms, and the first thing the girls did was go out to the verhandah & relax with a drink!

But, soon it was time for the fire drill, so the girls had to suit up since EVERYONE has to participate.

Afterwards, Marla needed to organize her FE gifts, but Ros & Nicole couldn't resist playing in there. They called it "helping."

When we heard the announcement that the Sail Away Party was about to begin, we all ran up to Deck 9 to have some fun.

Later we ran into Tracy (aka AskTracy), and took a picture.

Here we are at the end of the evening. Nicole & Ros were as excited as Marla and I were to see our towel animal. They called dibs on the chocolate coins.

We all enjoyed our meals on the ship. Good thing they were wash & wear, as they became quite messy after eating this meal.

The next day was Nassau, and although we didn't get off the ship we had a nice view of it from our verandah.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Ros (rtobe) and Nicole (*Nikkiebell*) accompanied Marla and me on the Podcast cruise.

They were up bright and early, wearing appropriate cruise attire, and their limegreen Mickey pins on the day we were to leave on the cruise. I wanted something to eat, so we all shared a cup of soup (strange breakfast, I know, but they insisted).

Nicole is on the left here, and Ros is on the right.

Since we arrive late on Saturday (flight + time difference) we stayed at the Country Inn near the port. They wanted to relax a bit by the pool.

On the day of the cruise they wanted a nice breakfast (maybe they were getting ready for the cruise food?) and so we all got a bite to eat before leaving.

Soon it was time to go to the terminal. We were too excited to sleep and so arrived before the gates even opened to let us in. So we waited with bags in hand. Here's a shot of the girls with the ship behind them.

We were among the first to check in, and when Mandi saw that there were four of us staying in a Cat 12, she told us we had to upgrade to a cabin that would fit us all, so we moved to a Cat 4 (thanks Nicole & Ros!).

Since we arrived so early, we were in the 2nd boarding group. We took security pics, but were told that Nicole & Ros's flatties would be recognized everywhere, so they didn't need to have their pics taken.

We met a bunch of DIS Podcast cruisers in the terminal. Here you can see them with Alicia (cocowum) and Jenny.

And before going on the cruise, we met the big cheese himself, who was so delighted to see Ros & Nicole, he kept kissing and hugging them. He thought it was great that they were coming along!

Soon we boarded the ship, and Nicole & Ros stopped for a quick pic at the Mothers Day display.

Marla, Nicole, Ros, & I made it to the top side of the ship, where we took in the sights. We were so happy to be on the ship.

We finally got to go to our rooms, and the first thing the girls did was go out to the verhandah & relax with a drink!

But, soon it was time for the fire drill, so the girls had to suit up since EVERYONE has to participate.

Afterwards, Marla needed to organize her FE gifts, but Ros & Nicole couldn't resist playing in there. They called it "helping."

When we heard the announcement that the Sail Away Party was about to begin, we all ran up to Deck 9 to have some fun.

Later we ran into Tracy (aka AskTracy), and took a picture.

Here we are at the end of the evening. Nicole & Ros were as excited as Marla and I were to see our towel animal. They called dibs on the chocolate coins.

We all enjoyed our meals on the ship. Good thing they were wash & wear, as they became quite messy after eating this meal.

The next day was Nassau, and although we didn't get off the ship we had a nice view of it from our verandah.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Nicole & Ros found themselves at an impromptu session of AskTracy (not that we learned anything secret, darn it).

And they got a coveted picture with the famous Tiara Todd (sans tiara here).

He even kindly took them over to get a shot with Walt.

Here Ros & Nicole enjoy Castaway Cay, and even get a picture with Lee Cockerell himself!

(Nicole wanted to explore the whole island... crazy girl)

Podcast Party at the Heads Up Bar

That night was the Pirate Party on the ship. They quickly got dressed and away we went!

They really liked getting around, and dragged us to a game of bingo (we didn't win, but we had fun!)

All too soon we were off the ship, but we had one more get-together at DATW! Here they co-mingle with the group.

Nicole spotted an iPhone, and she had to get a close-up view of it!!

Somewhere there is a group shot with Jasmine & Aladdin, and I hope it shows up so we can add it here.


Thank you, ladies for joining Marla and me on the cruise. We had a lot of fun with you!