She’s my mini-me in every sense of the words… From her facial expressions to the way she gives every…single…detail… in whatever story that she is telling… She’s mine.
But she’s also my Minnie Me! My girl was born with pixie dust in her veins. She’s been fortunate to visit Walt Disney World and Disneyland more times that she can count. However, this next trip is all about HER!
She has helped to plan every aspect of this trip, from where to stay, to which fastpasses to select, and most importantly where to eat!
So this next week she will….
hunt for hidden pascal’s near the “Tangled Toilets”…
explore various countries in Epcot’s World Showcase…
eat ALL the specialty cupcakes…
pose for silly selfies with Mom….
get all the warm hugs from Dad…
and miss her brothers (maybe?!?!). Yep, she will, we all will!
So hEAR’s to you, sister! I hope you have the BEST WEEK EVER!!!
“So this is love. So this is what makes life divine.”
Sixteen years ago I married my best friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, and love. We have shared so much of our life together for nearly 23 years now. I wish I could say that it has been one never ending fairy tale. Some chapters have, in fact, been magical, yet others are chapters that I have been happy to close. But included in many of our chapters is Disney.
I woke up this morning thinking about all the wonderful memories that Kelly and I have had together – celebrating our love, our family, our life – at the Disney Parks. So today, on our 16th wedding anniversary, I wanted to share of few of those memories with you!
February 2009
In February 2009, I had to attend a conference in Orlando. These two tagged along with me. Rhett was only two years old so, bless his heart, he got left behind. I was five months pregnant with Lainey Kate and the only thing I remember hating was the climb up those steps at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Not fun!
Even though I had visited Walt Disney World several times before, it was on THIS trip, seeing it through my child’s eyes, that I truly fell in love with the place.
Our first trip with Thomas
December 2010
What is better than Walt Disney World?!? Walt Disney World during CHRISTMAS! Y’all, if you’ve never been during the Holidays then I highly recommend it. This was Rhett’s first trip. Sweet sister got left behind this time. Our rule was, “If you can’t walk you can’t come!”
July 2011
So funny thing – that rule we had about having to walk? Yeah, we broke that rule quick, fast, and in a hurry when Lainey Kate was two years old. We simply had to take her to meet her favorite characters and princesses. She doesn’t remember that trip, but I sure do!
Closing down the Magic Kingdom is one of our favorite things!Say it with me: “AWWWWWW!!!”
January 2012
For our 10 year anniversary we spent a week at Port Orleans – French Quarter. We learned that the Disney Parks can be just as fun (if not MORE fun!) for kidless adults. We could navigate the parks much faster, but we still made time for our afternoon naps. Dinner every night was lobster or steak. I went home with an extra seven pounds, but I was a happy happy girl!
10 year anniversary!
May 2013
I had visited in February with some girlfriends for the Princess Half Marathon, but I was willing to go again when Kelly told me that we joined the Disney Vacation Club. Our first trip as DVC Members was nothing short of magical! We stayed in Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and our room overlooked the Magic Kingdom.
February 2014
In February 2014 we took the whole Murphy crew along for an extended Glass Slipper Challenge Weekend. We made priceless memories with Kelly’s parents, and the kids loved showing their Gran and Boobie all around Walt Disney World.
May 2015
Finally! Disneyland!!! The Pixie Dust Challenge, Mother’s Day, Disneyland Hotel, and our First Trip to Walt’s park. It was amazing. I can’t wait to go back!
Sleeping Beauty Castle
February 2016
“And once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” Kelly and I renewed our wedding vows on Luau Beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. We had the BEST time just being together.
November 2016
Kelly and I went back again, just the two of us. (Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! And if you are gonna try it then please let me help you plan it!) Again, Disney at Christmastime is absolutely gorgeous. Add it to your bucket list.
Literally just two big kids having fun together!
May 2017
Family summer vacation, and as you can tell from the pictures, Thomas has now grown taller than me! We have plans to visit again in May 2018.
Sweet kiddos are growing up!Kelly, please tell the world who always beats you at Toy Story Midway Mania? Hmm?
So today, we are not only celebrating our anniversary, but I feel as if we are celebrating our little family and who we have become. Sharing so many wonderful memories at the Disney Parks is just the icing on the anniversary cake.
Faith (in God), Trust (in each other), and Pixie Dust to a Happily Ever After!
Happy Anniversary, Murphy! I love you, to Infinity and Beyond.
So today is my birthday…. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get very sentimental on my birthday. It’s a good time to sit back and reflect on the past year. The good times, the not-so-good times, all the lessons I learned, and most importantly to be grateful for all my many blessings.
But, of course, I think (and speak and write!) in “Disney.” Here are a few thoughts on this past year that have been going through my head this morning.
“Around here, we don’t look backwards for very long… We keep moving forward…” Walt Disney
This has been a year of many changes for us. We have bought a house, moved to a new city, and the kids all started in new schools. I think it’s important to note that Walt didn’t say that he didn’t look backwards at all, he just said that he didn’t look backwards for very long. I can say that I have looked backward, saw where I was, learned from it, and feel blessed beyond measure to be where I am now.
“The most important thing is family.” Walt Disney
I love my Ohana. Nobody gets left behind or forgotten. Period.
“When I look at you I can feel it. When I look at you I am home.” Dory in “Finding Nemo”
Okay, so are you guys noticing a theme here?!? The past year has been all about my family. I always tell my family, “I don’t care where we go as long as we go there together.” The five of us. Together we are HOME.
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Winnie the Pooh
I love that wise silly old bear!
“Let it go.” Elsa from “Frozen”
So, this quote makes me laugh. My dear, extremely patient husband tells me to “Let it go, Elsa!” everyday. There are things about this life that I simply do not understand. Situations that are unresolved. People who do not think the same as me and never will. But guess what? “It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small, and the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all…” This is my goal everyday. To let it go. (Sorry that you have THAT song stuck in your head now… “You’re Welcome!” There’s another one for you. Only my true Disney friends will get these references.) Anyway, we were moving forward…
“I wouldn’t have nothing if I didn’t have you.” Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”
“Big guy, you always come through, I wouldn’t have nothing if I didn’t have you. You and me together that’s how it always should be. One without the other don’t mean nothing to me…”
So there you have it. A few random thoughts about this past year on my birthday. Overall, it’s been a fabulous year, and I am looking forward to a “great big beautiful tomorrow.” And a very very merry un-birthday to YOU! Good grief, I just need to stop right now…
I’m a traditionalist so you better believe that I followed the old wedding adage of “something old, something new…” as if it were the law. I thrive on routine and structure. However, one thing I love about Walt Disney World is how it is always changing! I can vacation there year after year and never experience the same vacation twice. Walt Disney knew that progress would be impossible without change, and he planned to continuously add to his new Vacation Kingdom.
Something Old…
I have my “Must Do Disney” list (read in my Stacey voice, if ya know what I mean) so I’ll begin with those. Of course, there’s Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and other headliners, but my favorite Magic Kingdom must-do is Mickey’s PhilharMagic. I have the most precious memories of watching Thomas try to grab Ariel’s 3D gems, or hearing Rhett yell, “Donald just flew at my eye balls!” Unless you visit during an extremely busy season there is never a wait. And did I mention you get to SIT in the AIR CONDITIONING!?!? If you walk by this attraction and don’t go in then you are missing out.
We also are huge fans of the California Grill, and I believe this was our fifth dining experience there. Why do we keep going back? Gorgeous views, excellent service, and delicious food. This was, however, the first time we took the kids with us to dine here. The kids were OBSESSED with the bread and butter service. (And let’s just be honest. Is there anything better than Walt Disney World butter!?!? I think not.) The butter was topped with a black lava salt so the kids thought it was amazing. If you enjoy sushi then you MUST try the Spicy Kazan Roll. I always order the Oak-Fired Filet of Beef for my entree, but Kelly has tried several other items from the signature menu. Notice there are no pictures of the food as I was too busy eating it…
We timed our dinner to coincide with the nightly fireworks in the Magic Kingdom. I will note, that the new Happily Ever After show has castle projections that you will NOT be able to view from California Grill. The view of the fireworks is still spectacular, but if you want to have the full effect, so to speak, you will need to be on Main Street inside Magic Kingdom. After the fireworks we split a few desserts, and thanked our server, Jenny, who was absolutely incredible.
Something new…
Our family has a “Disney goal” of staying at each of the resorts on property at Walt Disney World. For this trip we opted to stay at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Although it has seen several expansions since it’s opening, this resort, along with Disney’s Contemporary Resort, opened alongside the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. I love everything about Disney history, so I knew I just had to stay at the Poly. It’s a Disney classic!
We were greeted with a friendly “aloha” from every cast member we came in contact with. The kids loved the Lava Pool and enjoyed Dole Whips every afternoon. Having multiple modes of transportation is a huge factor in my resort decision. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is absolutely lovely, the dining options are top-notch, and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again! (I could write a whole follow-up blog solely on the deliciousness that is dinner at ‘Ohana. Seriously, it is that good.)
Another “first” for us on this trip was a visit to the AMC Dine-In theater at Disney Springs. We decided to take a little time out of the parks one afternoon to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The kids were amazed at the seats and thought is was cool to have a waiter bring us milkshakes during the movies. Oh, and we loved the movie, too!
Something borrowed…
So I have this pet peeve. I really don’t like it when people use towels to reserve lounge chairs by the pool. I mean, I get that sometimes people need to get in the pool to cool off. But other times this stems from people just being greedy. Please don’t set out towels at 9:00 AM, go to the park, and come back after lunch expecting your chairs to be saved. That’s rude. Anyways…
One afternoon I took the kids to the pool and there was no where to sit. No lounge chairs, no tables with chairs. All full. Not full with people just full with towels. Ugh. So as I was walking around I noticed a couple looking just as perplexed as me. I made a comment about looking for a seat and they agreed that there was no way all those people were in the pool. We found a table with only two towels on it and we “borrowed” it for ourselves.
We made chit-chat for an hour or so. (Side note: I’m a Southerner. We talk to EVERYONE.) The couple was from Connecticut, and were visiting the Polynesian for the first time with their young son and the man’s mother. He mentioned that this would probably be the last trip his mom would be able to take. We all teared up a bit when I mentioned how thankful he must be to be making these memories with his family. Sometimes a simple conversation can create Disney magic for someone. Don’t ever hesitate to share that Pixie Dust.
Something blue…
At the time of our visit in May 2017 Pandora: The World of Avatar had not yet officially opened. As members of the Disney Vacation Club we were invited to attend a special preview of the land. Initially I was skeptical of this whole project. Avatar? Really? It seemed so random! BUT I was totally blown away by the whole land, the attractions, the little details, and how the overarching theme of conservation and nature of Animal Kingdom is so well portrayed.
“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” Walt Disney
On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney opened his park, a place where he envisioned families spending time together. And for sixty two years families have done just that. Thank you, Walt, for the memories that I have with MY family at Disneyland. We can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World. Often hyped as a magical place where guests can escape reality. But let’s face it, life happens, even within the confines of Disney property. Weather is unpredictable. People get sick. Kids lose things. Your waiter messes up your bill. In fact, each of these “not-so-magical” things happened to us while on vacation just last month.
Cue the Cast Members!
Walt Disney knew that he could have built the most wonderful theme park in all the land, but if his employees (called Cast Members because they are an important part of the show) were not top-notch then his dream would flop. Cast Members create what is called the “Disney Difference!”
I was fortunate enough to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour last fall. This tour is an in-depth tour behind the scenes of the Magic Kingdom. Emphasized throughout the entire tour were Disney’s Four Keys. Everything, from designing a new attraction to interacting with guests, is done with these four keys in mind. The four keys to a great Guest experience are:
Safety
Courtesy
Show
Efficiency
Here are a few of the not-so-magical experiences we encountered on our recent trip and how the Disney Cast Members utilized Disney’s Four Keys, creating the Disney Difference for us!
#1 – It’s Florida. It’s summertime. There will be afternoon thunderstorms!
On our arrival day we decided to grab lunch from Capt. Cooks and eat on the patio overlooking the pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. (On a side note, and this bears mentioning: the pulled pork nachos were SO GOOD!) Anyway, the wind had picked up some, not a drop of rain in sight, but out of the blue lightning struck. Well, when I say immediately I mean immediately the lifeguards blew their whistles and those guests were out of that pool. The whistles were blown before I even heard the thunder. So what if it rained on our lunch, it was amazing to watch how quickly the lifeguards secured the pool area.
And while I’m bragging on the lifeguards I’ll recount one other instance I witnessed. I was in the pool waiting on my daughter to come down the slide when, again, out of nowhere, I heard a whistle. I spun around and saw something dark on the bottom of the pool. My Momma-self started to go after it, but the lifeguard was already in the water. She came up with a weighted bag! It was a part of a training exercise! Come to find out, another lifeguard had come down the slide with the bag and dropped it under the water. I was so impressed with how quickly the lifeguard was in the water, retrieved the bag, got out of the water, grabbed a towel, and was back at her post all in under a minute. That’s the Disney Difference.
#2 – Daddy got a boo-boo. A pretty bad one, actually.
So, I promise I’m not laughing. Okay, maybe a little bit, but he’s fine now. My husband, Kelly, ran into the corner of a door frame during the middle of the night, leaving a pretty deep gash in his forehead. I ran to the front desk to see if they had a steri-strip or at least a band-aid. The Cast Member knew exactly what to do. He grabbed a first aid kit from under the counter and opened it up for me to look through. Of course, it was 4:00 AM, and I’m standing there in my PJ’s, half asleep, just staring down at this massive first aid kit…..I finally said, “Can you find a band-aid for me? I’m struggling here.” I’m sure he had a good laugh after I ran out.
Tip: If you do not know where the nearest First Aid center is located you can search in your My Disney Experience app.
The band-aids helped, but y’all, this was a pretty deep gash, and we were concerned he needed stitches. Once we arrived at EPCOT we made our way to the First Aid center. The staff took him right on back while the rest of us waited in the lobby (read – air conditioning). The nurses cleaned up Kelly’s boo-boo and gave us plenty of band-aids to take with us. Kelly did not need stitches BUT if he had we would have been referred to a local Urgent Care clinic just offsite. Also, please note that services in the park were complimentary. However, if further offsite assistance were needed we would have been required to pay for those. But all was good, and Daddy was able to enjoy the rest of his trip!
I’d also like to note that the Cast Members in the First Aid center went out of their way to interact with my daughter and give her stickers to commemorate her Daddy’s visit to the clinic. That’s the Disney Difference.
Gashed forehead….We made a memory!
#3 – We lost a MagicBand. Not just any MagicBand, it was Lainey Kate’s…
Well, it actually launched right off her arm while rocketing through Space Mountain. Granted, we could have lost a more valuable item like a purse or a shopping bag full of souvenirs, but to a seven year old little girl it was priceless and losing it meant the end of the world. Bless her heart, she was heartbroken, and I think she mostly thought she was in trouble. But alas, in stepped another wonderful Cast Member. We were directed to Guest Relations in City Hall where Lainey Kate was treated like royalty and presented with a card to use for the remainder of the day. The sweet Cast Member could tell that Lainey Kate was upset and went out of her way to find a purple marker to write her name. Had we lost an item which we had needed to retrieve we were given a telephone number and instructions for contacting the Lost and Found. That night Lainey Kate picked out a new MagicBand at the front desk of our resort. That’s the Disney Difference.
The last known sighting of the MagicBand before it launched into space!
#4 – We didn’t realize we were overcharged for dinner. As in $187.00 worth of overcharge…
Since I had an 11 hour car ride home I decided to sort through our receipts, review our online bank account, and organize all of our charges from the trip. Well, the first thing I noticed was a receipt for a meal we did not eat. Hmmmm, that’s interesting…. Maybe we were just given the wrong receipt? So as I investigated further I discovered that not only had we paid for our meal at Whispering Canyon but we apparently paid for a family of seven as well. I hope they enjoyed their burgers and rib platters! All kidding aside, it is important to remember that Cast Members are human too and our Pioneer made an honest mistake.
Although it was a Sunday afternoon I was able to reach a Cast Member with Disney Dining. I provided her with some basic information, and she promised follow up with me soon. Within an hour she had returned my call to notify me that the charges would be returned to my bank account within two business days. She also gave me the direct phone number to the Billing Department if I had even further issues. That’s the Disney Difference.
So, as you can see, we didn’t have any life-shattering bad experiences. In fact, I even welcomed these little “non-magical” mishaps so that I could have firsthand knowledge to share with my clients so they may know what to expect. (Of course, it wasn’t my head that smashed into the door frame, though. Sorry, honey! Way to take one for the team!)
When the not-so-magical happens at Walt Disney World look for a Cast Member. They will show you the Disney Difference. And that is why I keep going back. That is why I have such a passion for sharing Disney with others. Because of the Disney Difference. They do it, and they do it so well.
You know, the dictionary definition of a family focuses only on parents and children and genealogy, but I like Lilo’s definition of a family much better. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. This is my family. We stick together through the good and the bad. We are committed to each other, and with God’s faithfulness and loving guidance, He shows us how to make it work.
At Walt Disney World, guests are often asked, “Are you celebrating anything special?” Well, we celebrated each other. We celebrated our future. We celebrated our family.
Over the next few weeks I’ll post a few highlights from our trip…. New dining experiences, new character interactions, even a review of Pandora: The World of Avatar. However, our main purpose of this vacation was to celebrate being a family. Not a perfect family, but certainly a true “Lilo and Stitch” kind of family. A family where nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
Welcome Home! Two little words with a big meaning for a Disney Vacation Club family. And that’s truly how we feel when we arrive at Walt Disney World, we feel at HOME! But this past week, the words “welcome home” have taken on a special new meaning for our family…
We had come to a crossroads. After much thought and prayer we felt the Lord moving us. Moving us to another city. Moving us to another school. So we moved and ended up here: Hatheway Lake in Madison, Mississippi.
Hatheway Lake in Madison, MississippiNeighborhood pool and lake. It’s not quite as big as the Lava Pool at the Polynesian but it will do. 🙂
Granted, we didn’t move far. We are only about 40 minutes from our previous residence. We didn’t change jobs. But this move was significant nonetheless. We have felt “Welcomed” Home.
On Saturday, we will hear those magical words again at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Our family is looking forward to a nice, long vacation in our Happy Place. We need it.
This time, when our vacation is over, we will have a new house to come HOME to, and for that, we are thankful.
After our day touring the Disney Dream we headed back to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for a quick rest and change of clothes. Friends, here’s a tip: wear LAYERS! You never know about that Florida weather. It could be warm enough for shorts during the day but once that sun goes down you may need a light jacket or sweatshirt. I freeze if it’s below 80 degrees (just ask Kelly) so I’m constantly changing clothes. So just be prepared with lots of layers!
Earlier this morning while on the bus someone noticed that there were Fastpasses available for Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which was not supposed to debut until the next week. SCORE! We all hurriedly logged into the My Disney Experience App and changed our Fastpass+ plans. We were so excited that we would be at the soft opening on the first night! It doesn’t take much to make a group of Disney travel agents happy!
I had planned to spend some time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom exploring on my own. However, I ran into some fellow travel agents and we took in Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest together. Fun!
Tip: Ask your Photopass photographer about the magic shots. Here, I ended up with Pascal on my head!
Rivers of Light was scheduled to begin at 7:15 PM so we made our way into the amphitheater around 6:45 PM. We were seated on the very front row! I used this great seat to broadcast the show live on Facebook. It’s really hard for me to watch and truly enjoy an experience while trying to video it as well. (Guess I’m not as multi-talented as I thought.) Next visit I plan to just watch the Rivers of Light and fully experience it in the moment. In my opinion, it was a beautiful show, the water projections were clear and the music was emotionally moving. I can’t wait to see it again in May!
Of course, my pictures do not do it justice.
After the Rivers of Light concluded I wandered around Animal Kingdom for a bit and watched the Tree of Life Awakenings. I encourage you to take a moment and watch it. Gorgeous!
Tree of Life Awakenings begins after dark and occurs approximately every 10 minutes until park closing.
I boarded a bus from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and made it to Disney’s Hollywood Studios around 8:00 PM. Extra Magic Hours until 10:00 PM? Let’s see what all I can accomplish in that time!
Thought we might be able to hop on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster… nope, line too long. However, we were able to ride Star Tours and Toy Story Midway Mania with absolutely zero wait! I had never met that lovable Wookiee Chewbacca so we headed to the Stars Wars Launch Bay.
Y’all, my heart was beating so fast! Chewbacca was HUGE and the character interaction was fabulous! I told Chewy that I thought he was cute, and he made that Wookiee noise (you know what I mean!) and kissed my hand. He got all excited when I told him I would be back to visit again in May, but when I explained that I would have my husband with me Chewy acted sad and acted like he was going to kidnap me. So funny! If you have Star Wars fans in your house take the time to visit with Chewy and Kylo Ren in the Launch Bay. There is so much Star Wars AWESOMENESS going on at Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now and of course, there is more to come in the next few years!
One of my favorite character interactions of all time! Chewy was awesome!
By 9:30 PM I was starving and all of the quick service restaurants in the park had already closed for the evening. I made my way back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, bought some crackers in the gift shop, and quickly went to bed.
Saturday, February 11th
It’s our last day of training and last days at Disney always make me sad. However, Mickey Mouse stopped by to cheer me up tell me thanks for visiting! If you ever want to hear 40 Disney travel agents squeal with excitement just surprise them with a visit from the Big Cheese himself. We were like a bunch of little kids!
Hiya, Pal!Attendees of the February 2017 Disney’s Agent Education Program. Fantastic group of people!
We finished up our training before 11:00 AM, and my flight did not leave Orlando until after 7:00 PM. I was smart enough to take advantage of the airline check in at my resort earlier that morning so I had already dropped off my bags to have them delivered to the airport. All I had left to do was enjoy the rest of my afternoon at the Magic Kingdom!
I always laugh that Cinderella and Aurora got their own castles and all poor Rapunzel got was a restroom! It is the BEST restroom though!
It was a GORGEOUS day, and the temps had really warmed up! I didn’t have anything particular in mind to do in the Magic Kingdom on this day, and I loved just wandering around and soaking in that last bit of Disney magic. I took some time to explore all the hidden details in the Tangled restroom area.
See Flynn Rider’s bag? This was the first time I noticed it! Maximus’s horse shoes. I love these little details that most guests overlook!
I rode Dumbo because the kids haven’t wanted to ride that with me in a while. I watched the “Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street Party.” I visited the 999 happy haunts in the Haunted Mansion (mostly I needed the air conditioning). Mickey’s Philharmagic, another of my favorite attractions, was open with no wait so I took advantage it. Finally, I couldn’t leave the Magic Kingdom without enjoying a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar. Delish!
The things travel agents do all in the name of “research!” 😉
I cried as I walked under the train station to leave like I always do. Magic Kingdom, you did it to me again!
I enjoyed the boat launch over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to walk around for a bit. We will be staying at the Poly, as it is affectionately called, this May! I wanted to pick up a few souvenirs in the Poly gift shop to take home to the family to get them excited about our upcoming trip.
I met the “Tragical Express” motorcoach back at my resort, and sadly I was whisked away to the Orlando International Airport. After a short flight to New Orleans my trip was completed.
No longer magical, more like “tragical!”
I learned so much during the Agent Education Program. What a wonderful opportunity that many agents are never able to experience! I met some wonderful travel agents from all over the United States and was able to learn from the very best Disney trainers. I look forward to sharing more of my Disney knowledge with y’all. Contact me today and let me plan and book your next Disney Destination! I’d be delighted to help you!
Well, I thought I could cram the last two days of this trip into ONE post, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen! There is simply too much to share with you all!
Before I jump in I want to mention that the 2018 Sail Dates and Itineraries were released just last week! So when do you have the best selection of room categories and the lowest prices?!?! NOW! If you are interested in learning more about the Disney Cruise Line please message me at katie@customtravelprofessionals.com and I will email you a brochure right away!
Friday, February 10th
Mickey waffles for breakfast, anyone? We enjoyed Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Cafe, which is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. The typical breakfast buffet was available, but the big hit here are the characters dressed in their beachy best. The characters invited us to “surf” around the restaurant with them. The atmosphere (and the coffee) really woke me up to a fun morning.
Our group was on a tight schedule this morning, and we had to hurry up breakfast a bit. I’ve never seen so many grown women upset because we didn’t get to meet Goofy… Oh well, there’s always next trip! We boarded our bus and took off toward Port Canaveral to tour the Disney Dream!
Okay, I’ve never been on a cruise before, and I guess I’ve never even seen a cruise ship in real life.. .Y’all this ship is HUGE, with 1,250 staterooms and a guest capacity of 4,000.
Did you know: Disney Cruise Line was the first cruise line to have yellow lifeboats instead of the traditional regulation orange? Disney was granted special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow, to keep with the special color theming of the ship. It’s Mickey Yellow!
The distinctly Disney details were evident as soon as we entered the terminal. Cast members were on standby everywhere, ready to direct guests and answer questions. Mickey Mouse was on hand to welcome each family. I also loved how each family was welcomed on board by name. It really added to the excitement!
Absolutely gorgeous. And that carpet was plush, y’all! Felt luxurious in every way!
If you think a Disney Cruise is for only families with kids then you are wrong – WRONG I tell ya! Of course, the Disney Dream has entertainment, recreation, and dining for children, teens, and families, but there are many adult-only areas on board. From pools to bars and lounges, spas, and even adult exclusive dining, one could spend a week on a Disney Cruise and never see a child if he or she didn’t want to. I just might try that! All in the name of research…
The Quiet Cove Pool – One of the pools on the adult-only deck.Currents open-air bar is the perfect spot to just relax and take it all in!
But yes, there were many areas for small children, teens, and families, too!
Mickey’s Pool!See how the AquaDuck “water coaster” goes out OVER the ocean?!?! Wow! I’d be scared!Nemo’s Reef is a splash and play area for young children.The “it’s a small world” nursery! is available for children ages 6 months to 3 years old. Childcare here is provided for a small fee.This is just ONE of the many interactive rooms in Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, which is for children ages 3 – 12.
Tweens ages 11 – 14 and teens ages 14 – 17 each have their own special youth clubs as well. Edge and Vibe provide age appropriate hangouts for these groups and allow them to get to know other kids their own age. Seriously, like they REALLY want to hang out with Mom and Dad all day?
My boys would feel right at home here!
One last thought about the Disney Cruise Line – I’ve always had this idea of cruise ships being full of people bumping into each other, germs EVERYWHERE! Well, let me tell you, Disney certainly eased my mind in this area. First the common spaces did not feel crowded at all! Most importantly everything looked so clean! There were cast members at the entrance to each dining location passing out hand wipes for guests to use before they were allowed in the restaurants.
And BY FAR, the COOLEST sink EVER! Before being admitted into any of the nursery or childcare areas guests were required to wash their hands, and not in just some regular old sink. Maybe these are standard elsewhere but I’ve never seen them. The guest would place their hands inside this machine and it would spray soap and water on their hands. I thought they were awesome. Ha!
Disney doing their part to keep everyone aboard healthy!
By the time we completed our tour I was messaging my husband telling him that we needed to book at cruise ASAP! I was so impressed with the size of the staterooms, the quality of the dining options, the variety of entertainment and recreation activities, and the adult exclusive areas for those who want a more relaxing experience.
You may notice that I did not include any pictures of the staterooms in this post. Although we were allowed in the staterooms the cast members were in the process of cleaning them for the next guests. If you would like to see pictures of the staterooms and learn more about the categories I would be happy to forward that information over to you!
Whew! Friday was another full day, and it looks like it will take Part 4 to complete the recap of this trip! Stayed tuned for the last day and a half!
A Disney Life for Me 