Doing nothing, in style

Becky and Benjamin are soon finished with breakfast, and they go to look for characters. Benjamin, our schedule fanatic, has seen that Lilo and Stitch will be in the atrium soon, and he wants to get their autographs on the t-shirts.

I head back to the Walt Disney Suite and let myself sink into one of the comfortable chairs in the living room. I turn the big TV to Aladdin and settle in to relax and plan out the day’s activities. Or possibly lack of activities.

Before long the other five in the family have returned to the Suite from their various wanderings. Brandon found Becky and Benjamin and made it in a few pictures, but they only got one autograph – Stitch’s, thankfully. Apparently they were told while they were in the atrium that the characters wouldn’t necessarily be signing autographs during these meet and greet sessions, but that they could leave the signature t-shirts at Guest Services with a list of characters' signatures they wanted, and they’d be signed for them. They consider this, but it just doesn’t seem as special. They’d rather have the signatures “in person” if they can get them.

Brandon changes into his swimsuit and heads out to swim, and soon thereafter Benjamin is out on his own to do some exploring.

All this time I’m just sitting, relaxing, taking notes, watching Aladdin, and reading the etiquette book I found on one of the Suite’s bookshelves. Yes, I could be up doing something, but this is “vacation” at it’s best for me. Like at Walt Disney World, there is a lot to be enjoyed about just being here – and unlike Walt Disney World, here I can just sit and relax and take it all in!

Brandon comes back and reports that the pools are warm, and changes back into his casual clothes to go explore the ship.

Benjamin returns and says that he saw Ariel, Cinderella, and Belle down in the atrium. Benjamin then had a one-on-one encounter with a character on Deck 4, in the same place I met Captain Mickey on my first cruise. Alice came walking by him, on the way to the atrium, asking, “Has anyone seen a white rabbit?” Too funny.

Brandon’s back again soon, excited that he’s spotted his own “stupid guest trick.” Now, at each elevator lobby onboard, on each deck, there are large metal numbers and letters mounted on the walls between the elevator doors letting you know at a glance exactly where you are -- "Deck 6 Fore," for example, or "Deck 10 Midships."

Brandon was at "Deck 2 Aft," waiting for the lift, when a mom and two kids walked by in a hurry. He overheard one kid ask, “What deck are we on?” The mom replies, “I don't know” as she led them onto the stairs.

Brandon marvels that they could miss such obvious signage. But my thought is, where did they think they were going in such a hurry if they didn't even know where they were?

All this time, as Becky and the kids are in and out of the Suite, I’m being a lazy bum and just sitting and soaking up the luxury. Life is good.