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Disney Wonder
Mexican Riviera 2011 |
Spring break couldn’t come fast enough this year. We had all been looking forward to our Disney Cruise for so long! Eric’s Mom (Lani, or better known as Grandma G), Sister (Cathy) and Brother-in-law (Steve) were also joining us on the cruise. We were all ready to leave the Northwest clouds behind for some blue skies and bright sun.
We flew from Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, April 2nd. The Youngs helped us out by taking us to the airport between General Conference sessions. We arrived at the terminal on Saturday with plenty of time to visit with other travelers and meet the performing musician in the airport rotunda. He played a few of our favorites and then turned the stage over to us for awhile. Austin entertained travelers going through security with the sweet sounds of Jim Brickman and then a little Pirates of the Caribbean.
Watch out LA here we come! I had a hard time when we landed. The sky looked a lot like it did in Portland. Luckily, that didn't last long. Saturday night we stayed in a hotel that was near the port so we could board the ship early Sunday morning. That evening we celebrated Cathy’s 40
th Birthday at a pizza parlor down the street then came back to the pool to watch Tanner battle with the underwater running suit his track coach had let him borrow to stay in shape while on the cruise. What a funny sight!
Our cruise was a 7-night Mexican Riviera trip. We left port on Sunday, April 3rd and set sail for Cabo San Lucas. On board the ship everything was done in true Disney fashion. Before we could step foot on the ship the family was announced to the crew and other passengers over the PA system. “A big welcome to the Sork family.” We then went through a receiving line of the captain and crew. From that moment forward you were made to feel like you were the most important person on board the ship.
We had a day a few days at sea between our ports of call. There was always something to do on board no matter the time of day. McKenna really enjoyed the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab. She met a lot of new friends. Everyday there was some kind of new craft to make and several fabulous activities like Ratatouille Cooking School, Mad Science with Flubber and a Royal Ball with Cinderella. It was hard to break her away to do stuff with the family. She got to take part in a High School Musical play that was broadcast to another Disney Cruise ship. She also was part of a good-bye production in the big theater at the end of the cruise.
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| McKenna Performing in the Disney Wonder Friendship Rocks Show |
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| McKenna in the Oceaneers Lab crafting with her friends |
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| McKenna participating in the High School Musical Competition |
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| McKenna's Red Carpet Debut |
The boys didn’t get as involved in their age group activities. There was a teen club, “The Vibe,” where they could go hang out, play games, watch movies and meet other teens on the boat. They had some great activities for the boys to participate in like a Dance Party, Gender Wars, a Basketball Tourney and a “Gotcha” Challenge. The activities the boys did participate in were a lot of fun.
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| Tanner and Austin hanging out in the VIBE, the teen club on Disney Wonder |
There were a lot of family activities to participate in. A few that we chose to do were: Pictionary, Mickey’s Raceway, The Generation Game, Trivia Challenge, Through the Decades Dance Party, Karaoke, and the Guest Talent Show.
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Building Our Racer
The supplies: a potato, a carrot, 4 wheels and 4 nails |
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| No pressure for a team that has the experience of at least 13 pinewood derby cars behind them. |
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The race is over, now its time for a snack.
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| Keri Performing a rap in the generation game - you should have seen the hip hop routine! |
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| Decade Dance Party with the Whole Family |
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| Pictionary Anyone? |
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| Tanner rocking the house on Karaoke Night |
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| Austin performing "He's A Pirate" in the Guest Talent Show |
One night the whole ship was overrun with pirates. There was a Pirate party all night long on the decks. It culminated in a large firework show over the ocean.
The evening shows were spectacularly done in Disney style. Every night was a different treat ranging from Broadway style shows to standup (family-friendly) comedians and magicians. How they could transform the theater was amazing. One second you were under the sea surrounded by bubbles the next you were on a snowy slope with Beauty and the Beast. Then instantly the theater transforms and you are under a starry sky wishing upon a star and your fairy godmother appears to make your dreams come true. It was breathtaking.
Of course you can’t talk about a cruise without talking about the food. We had a week of excellent food. Tanner ate steak every night and McKenna was pleased as punch with her chicken nuggets night after night. Carson was looking forward all week to getting to try the lobster (which he really liked, by the way) so it was a big deal when he finally got it.
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Laurie was so excited to finally bring Carson his lobster and show him how to shell it.
They both were looking forward to this night all week! |
Our wait staff was the best! Laurie and Edwin were fast friends. We still miss them. They really took their time to get to know each of us and extra time visiting and joking with us. Edwin would have a riddle for us each night and we would bring him some. Laurie kept McKenna so happy because of his ketchup bas-relief art. I think that is why she kept ordering chicken nuggets. She wanted to see what else he could do.
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Edwin teaching the gentlemen how to make paper roses for their ladies.
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| Each night Edwin had a new riddle for us to solve, or some trick to show us. |
Edwin (from the Philippines) and Laurie (England) were almost like family by the week’s end. There were a few tears shed when it came time to say good-bye to them.
Our ports of call were just as exciting as our days on the ship. Our first port, Cabo San Lucas, we trecked off the boat to a local resort and spent the day by and in the beautiful pools at the pool bar and along the ocean. We practically had the whole resort and staff to ourselves. Eric did a lot of research up front and found this place rather than book something with the cruise ship or right off the dock. We were able to get away from the crowds and enjoy the sun and sand. Pool volleyball was a highlight especially since Eric, Keri and Cathy creamed Tanner, Austin and Carson.
In Puerto Vallarta we all booked a Pirate boat excursion. It was a fun way to spend the day. We were entertained and waited upon by pirates. They took us to a beach where there were many activities to participate in: snorkeling, kayaking, speed boat activities, a treasure hunt and beach games. We even ate pirate food (it was quite good) down in the galley of the ship.
Because of some unrest in Mazatlan, we were not able to make that port of call and ended up going back to Cabo San Lucas. We took this day to mingle with the natives. It is nice that Eric can speak Spanish it allows us to travel outside of the tourist area a little and get a better feel for the culture. We tried to get Tanner to use a little of his Spanish, but he was too embarrassed. We spent time looking at the local architecture, found a local school to view, visited with local artists, and did some souvenir shopping. A trip to Mexico wouldn’t be complete without trying the local cuisine. We found the best place for a mole meal. I wasn’t a fan of the dish before this trip, but I am now. We were serenaded by a mariachi band and learned firsthand about the song, La Cucaracha.
We have memories to last a lifetime from this trip. It was a great way to spend our spring break!
