Due to the cost of parking at the port we elected to stay at the Counrty Inn and Suites in Port Canaveral the evening before as they give you free parking and transfers for 2 for just a $20 add on. We arrived at the port around 10:30 and knew we would have to wait to board the ship. Our pass through security and checking in at that time was seemless and prompt. We had to get in a separate line to have our picture taken for our key card, but they said in a couple of months they would have the capability to do that at the check in desk. We sat down in comfortable chairs and met some fellow passengers who had children. The children were watching cartoons on the televisions located nearby. At about 11 AM I saw a line forming and realized that Mickey came out for pictures. Being a kid myself at age 63 I decided to get in line. This was followed by a picture with Goofy. The kids were excited and I must admit so was I.

At about 11:30 they announced that the ship "had cleared" and we could begin boarding. At the top of the gangway we were asked our names and we were "announced" on a loudspeaker, "Disney welcomes the ... Family" followed by applause by about a dozen staff. I found out they announce all coming on board. What a welcome !!!

We went to the restaurant for lunch since we knew our cabins would not be ready til 1:30 (they told us at checkin). It was a buffet with a good assortment of food. After lunch we walked the ship until 1:30 when the tapes were taken down and we could see our cabin. We always select inside cabins since we spend little time there. The size of the cabin was small but adequate for the two of us. We met our cabin steward and we introduced him to the two stuffed animals (a rabbit and moose) that we travel with. We studied the activities of the day in the daily planner and set out to tour more of the ship from top to bottom. We discovered that they have separate areas including pools for adults only and after 9:30 in some of the lounges. Read more