I still have a LOT to share from our Disney Cruise this summer, but I am currently SO excited to share that we have decided to go to DISNEYLAND in 2020, that it is all I can think about. I promise I will add more details about the cruise, but for now, I am all about the place it all began . . . 

So, true confession time.  I really have never had the desire to go to Disneyland. Honestly, no interest in flying across the country when we can be in Disney World in 2 hours.  Plus you know flights have to be outrageous, right?

Well, once I started considering it for my (cough cough) 50th (cough cough) birthday, I took a look at flights, and found they were NOT as bad as I thought. In fact, some were less expensive than flights to Orlando. So, that put California on our radar.

Now that we are leaning in that direction, we had to pick dates, which was easy because my birthday is December 8th, so our dates will be 7 nights around that date.

Next, we have to choose a resort. Now, keep in mind, Disneyland is MUCH more condensed than Disney World. I mean MUCH MORE CONDENSED. There are only 3 onsite resorts to choose from:  The Grand Californian (a California craftsman-style elegant resort), The Disneyland Hotel (a luxuriously themed resort paying homage to the original lands of Disney, with an ultra-modern design), and Paradise Pier (seaside-inspired theming that reflects beachfront pavilion hotels of the 1920s).  

When I say condensed, I mean it. Walt Disney didn't take into account that hotels outside his beautiful park would spring up and surround it the way they did. He corrected that mistake and purchased enormous amounts of land in Florida, so that is NOT and issue in Walt Disney World. Since it is the case at Disneyland, Disney has partnered with select high standard hotels off-property, called Good Neighbor Hotels. Many are within walking distance and can save you a lot of money as far as accommodations go.  

Disney World has spoiled us and we are now resort snobs. LOL  We have decided to go big or stay home. The Grand Californian is the place we want to be.  Not only that, but my husband has become a club level snob, so we have to add that to our requirements.

What sold us on The Grand Californian (GC) Resort & Spa:
(FYI the SPA part is closed for now . . . maybe it will return by December 2020??)

• The Location - It is literally located IN Disney's California Adventure Park. Guests staying here have their own entrance to the park. It is also steps away from Downtown Disney.  I just can't even wrap my head around being IN A PARK at my resort. My feet will thank me for this.
• ​The Theme - Look, I absolutely LOVE Disney's Wilderness Lodge in Disney World. It is beautiful. I mean I could sit in that lobby all day long.  The interior of The GC is so very similar. It is gigantic and detailed and just rustically perfect. Craftsman intricate designs are around every corner. I literally can't wait!

I will definitely go over to the Disneyland Hotel (DH) while we are there because I hear the theming there is not to be missed. The resort is divided into 'lands' and there is also memorabilia to check out. We may also want to dine at Steakhouse 55, located inside DH, which is a fine dining experience that looks delicious.  

I will discuss dining in another blog, but I will say, what I have learned about Disneyland is that it is very different from Disney World in the dining department.  Not only are there less option in all areas, not just character dining experiences, but also, there is not a dining plan like you find at Disney World.  

​This is another reason we are opting for club level. We can grab a delicious breakfast on our way to the park and since we are SO CLOSE, hop in and out during the day for snacks and such, then end the night with yummy sweets that we can take back to our room and enjoy on our premium view balcony.

Next on the list of considerations is the number of days in the parks. Keep in mind that there are only 2 parks, California Adventure and Disneyland.  Both parks have many of the rides you would find at Disney World (DW), but also you will find the classics not available at DW.  I will discuss that at a later date, as well.

For now, we have decided on 5 park days, which is more than necessary, but allows us to go at a leisurely pace and return to the rides we find we love.  This will give us 1 down day to perhaps do sight seeing around California, but I haven't decided firmly upon that as of yet.

We will include Maxpass, which is similar to Disney's fastpass system, except it cost $15 per person per day, but also includes the photo package. DL does have a 'free' fastpass system without Maxpass, but you have to go to kiosks and get a paper ticket. With Maxpass, you can book them on your smart phone using the Disneyland App. No booking 60 days in advance, but you can book a fastpass upon entering the park, and every 90 minutes thereafter, or as you use the Fastpass.

​We will also include park hopper because well, we like to park hop. This will allow us to go to both parks every day as much as we want.

I hope this BLOG has planted the Disneyland seed in you. Does it make you consider going to Disneyland? Have you thought about it before?  Comment here or on Facebook your Disneyland experiences, questions, or comments.  I'd LOVE to start sending more Disney World die-hards to Disneyland. I think we will be pleasantly surprised at the similarities and the differences. Who knows, maybe we will decide we are Land-people instead of World-people, or perhaps in addition to. 

Thanks for reading and as always, please share us with your friends and family. Our business is growing because of YOU.

I am just getting back into the swing of things after our 8-night Disney Cruise just over a week ago.  It's been rough readjusting to regular life again. ;)

Just a short Blog today about our 2 stays at The Hyatt Regency at the Orlando International Airport.  We stayed here before our cruise and also on the debarkation day.  I found that flights were quite expensive to fly home that day, so we stayed the night and flew home the next day.

We had a fairly early flight from home to Orlando. We arrived before 1PM and immediately grabbed our bags from baggage claim, then headed back up to check-in at the Hyatt.  Technically all we were doing was grabbing our key and room location, as I did online check-in before we arrived.

To my surprise and delight, our room was ready.  They gave us a DCL envelope with instructions for our checked bags for the cruise and were told to bring that paperwork with us the next morning when we checked-in with Disney Cruise Line.  

​We dropped our bags and headed to eat at McCoy's down beside the hotel lobby. The food was good, but a bit pricey, no surprise there. 

It was nice to relax and visit the pool and know that we are where we need to be to be taken on our cruise the next day. The convenience factor was BIG.

Upon returning after our cruise, I also did online check-in and again, our room was ready when we got here and we were quite early. Like around 10AM early. I was ready to go home at this point and SO tired.  The return stay wasn't as fun, for this reason.  Still was convenient and all the other nice things, I was just not interested in being a traveler anymore. 

Pictures of the room and rooftop pool are below.

There were pros and cons to staying here for us:

Pros:

• Convenience
• DCL Checked-Luggage Pick Up Service For Disney Transportation to Port
• Relaxing
• Surprisingly NOT as noisy as I thought it would be AT ALL (occasional loud speaker muffled announcements)
• Clean
• Freshly Refurbished Rooms
• Lots of SHOPPING at airport
• Food Court
• Nice Pool

Cons:

• Can be pricey
• No easy way to get to rooms on opposite side of atrium. Fairly long walk around. (Suggest getting help with baggage)
• Upon leaving to return home:  had to take bags all the way down to Southwest gate to check our bags, then go back up to go through security. Kind of a pain in the butt. Wished they had luggage service for flights too.  And FYI- mornings, even 5AM mornings are BUSY at security at Orlando airport. Plan accordingly.

Have YOU stayed here before? What were your pros/cons? Feel free to comment here or on Facebook. Extra points if I booked it for you!

Below are photos of all our checked bags waiting to be picked up starting at 8:30 AM on the day of embarkation.  We simply took what we were carrying on the ship, headed down and grabbed a quick breakfast, then checked-in down at the Disney Cruise Bus Terminal. 

Once checked-in we were given a character photo stapled to our booklet to be used to sort people into loading groups. We were on the first bus out, literally pulling our by 9:26AM.  They did ask to see our paperwork given to us upon check-in at the Hyatt. This was to make sure our luggage was gathered and loaded onto the ship. (and it was).

Overall, I'd say staying at the Hyatt was a GREAT idea and I would and will do it again. I enjoyed the ease of it all and it was a great way to begin and end our trip.

​I'd be happy to book this or ANY other Hyatt reservation for you.  (yes, I do that too)

When you have been to Disney many times, you start to look for things you somehow might have missed on previous visits. I found out before our last trip that I have been missing out on a well kept secret that there are hidden Pascals around Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland near the MOST Instagrammed spot, only second to the castle, at Walt Disney World: the Tangled bathrooms.

I have always told my client to visit that bathroom, because it really is, as ridiculous as this sounds, a lovely bathroom.  However, in the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom, even I never took the time to stop and admire the area until our last trip. It has a nice shaded sitting area, if you are lucky enough to get a seat and it is so richly decorated that you can sit and admire the beauty of this small area of Magic Kingdom.

May.  What can I say about May that hasn't already been said? It is the LONGEST month of the year regardless of the number of actual days in May. When summer is just out of reach and school days draaaaaaag on and on. Speckled within those days are year end field trip, school concerts, sporting events, teacher gift shopping, graduations galore . . . To make May seem even more endless, at the end of that May rainbow, (Yes PA we get it. You LOVE to rain) a Disney Cruise is waving frantically.

We are currently just over 30 days away from our 8-night Disney Cruise. Since we booked it LAST March, it has been quite a wait for this one. It will now sneak up on me since there is SO much going on between now and the day we get out of here and head to the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

We are staying at the Hyatt pre-cruise and post-cruise. Make Believe Vacations HIGHLY recommends arriving a day before your embarkation day for ANY cruise. You do NOT want flight delays or cancellations to wreck your ability to board your ship before it sails away, far far away from you. We can take care of reserving the Hyatt MCO for you.

We are flying down the day before and plan to relax at the pool of the Hyatt and dine at the airport. There are tons of options including shopping that will more than occupy us.

Early the next morning, we will head downstairs to the Disney Cruise Line bus check-in area, near Magical Express (ME), but on the left side, just before ME area, and wait to begin boarding the buses to Port Canaveral. It is not hard to find as there are signs and at the time the buses are running, quite a few happy folks gathered to head out to their happy place. 

If we notify the Hyatt a few days before our embarkation, they will note our reservation that we are on DCL and can pick up our baggage in our room and deliver them to DCL buses. If you have trust issues (this may be me) you can always bring your bags to the DCL area yourself and literally watch as they load the bags.

As far as what to Carry-On the ship, be aware that you will not be immediately allowed into your stateroom, so whatever you carry-on, you will be dragging around the ship until you can get access to your room. Also, if nothing else, remember to keep EVERYONE'S identification, boarding booklet and any necessities with you to carry-on the ship. You will not be seeing your luggage for quite some time after you arrive on the ship. Be aware:  You will be showing your cruise booklet and identification numerous times. 

Things to carry-on the ship:
*Your Disney Cruise Line Booklet that you will receive approximately 40 days prior to embarkation via mail.
*Your pre-printed Port Arrival Form if you completed online check-in.
*ALL necessary medications/Rx
*ALL required identification for every member of your family
*All liquids such as alcohol, water bottles, etc. (See Below For Policies)*
*Sunscreen
*BathingSuits (though might just be good idea to wear it under your clothing as changing into you suit might be a pain)
*Camera
​*Change of clothing

Prohibited Items List:
In order to maintain a safe and secure environment for all Guests and Crew, Disney Cruise Line has a zero weapons policy and prohibits the following items on board the ships and ashore at Castaway Cay.

• Firearms
• Firearm replicas, including non-firing, imitations, toys, and their components 
  • (Toy Exceptions) 
    • Store-bought Light sabers
    • Plastic toy 'pirate' swords
    • Plastic store-bought toy “Mjolnir” hammers (Thor’s hammer)
• Air, BB, pellet, paintball pistols, rifles and sling shot
• Diving equipment air tanks, spears, spear guns, slings, dive knives, pry bars, and underwater scooters
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wide band receivers
• Explosives components and accessories, including ammunition, detonators, fireworks, pyrotechnics and flares
• Highly flammable liquids and combustible substances, including liquid oxygen
• Illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, and medically prescribed marijuana
• Knives regardless of blade length, straight razors
• Lasers
• Restraining devices and offensive weapons, hand and leg cuffs, pepper spray and taser, stun guns
• Scissors with blades exceeding 4” (scissors with blunt ends and no longer than 4 inches are allowed)

Guests found in possession of any weapons or similar prohibited items on their person or in their baggage may be denied boarding and are subject to severe legal penalties.
Additionally, the following items are restricted for safety reasons and should not be brought on board.

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Agricultural Items 
  • Flowers
• Aquatic Items 
  • Boogie Boards
  • Inflatable floats
  • Inflatable pools
  • Pool noodles
  • Rafts
  • Surfboards
  • Wave boards
• Balloons and kites
• Candles and incense
• Coolers and/or Ice Chests that are larger than 12” x 12” x 12”. Coolers that meet the size requirements must be brought on as carry-on luggage. (Food & Ice Chest Policy)
• Electrical appliances and components 
  • Blenders 
  • Bottle sterilizers and warmers (A limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers are available upon request through Guest Services)
  • Coffee makers
  • Diffusers
  • Electric blankets
  • Electric irons and Steamers (all ships offer self-service laundry facilities equipped with irons and ironing boards)
  • Extension cords, power strips and surge protectors 
  • Heating pads
  • Hot plates
  • Microwave ovens
  • Rice cookers
  • Seasonal and/or celebratory light bulb strings
• Exceptions for Electrical Appliances 
  • Curling irons
  • Flat irons
  • Hair dryers (all ships offer a hand-held hair dryer in each stateroom)
  • Shavers
  • The following electrical appliances will be collected for inspection by the Chief Electrician and if approved, will be returned for use onboard the ship. 
    • Baby Monitors
    • Humidifiers
    • Portable fans
    • White Noise/Sleep Machine
• Electronics 
  • Ham radios
  • Metal detectors
  • Streaming Devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, etc.)
• Food/Beverage related items 
  • Food & Ice Chest Policy
  • Alcohol Policy
• Hookah pipes
• Inflatable Mattresses
• Metal Detectors
• Musical Instruments
• Over-the-door hanging organizers
• Pets
• Power tools and toolboxes (except those utilized by vendors providing services)
• Remote-controlled devices 
  • Airplanes
  • Drones
  • Helicopters
  • Other toy vehicles (cars, etc.)
• Sporting Equipment 
  • Archery equipment
  • Baseball and cricket bats
  • Fishing gear
  • Hammocks
  • Hockey and lacrosse sticks
  • Pool cues
  • Ski poles
• Exceptions for Sporting Equipment 
  • Golf Clubs may be brought onboard and stored in a Guest’s stateroom
  • Baseballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and volley balls may be brought onboard, stored in Guest’s staterooms and used off the ship in ports of call
• Wheeled recreational equipment and transport devices 
  • Any footwear with wheels (i.e. Heely’s type shoes)
  • Bicycles
  • Hoverboards
  • Inline & roller skates
  • Scooters
  • Segways
  • Skateboards
  • Wagons (collapsible wagons are allowed)
  • Guests with a mobility disability that requires the use of a mobility aid should contact Special Services prior to sailing. Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels and devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered or unoccupied are not allowable.

Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to seize and secure any item deemed to be dangerous or pose a security or safety risk.

*Alcohol Policy:
Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.
Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle. 
Please note:

• Any alcohol packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the end of the cruise.
• All alcohol brought onboard must be in an original unopened container. Partially used bottles and those in which the seal has been broken will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
• Any wine or champagne in excess of 2 bottles or beer in excess of 6 beers will be stored until the end of the cruise.
• Bringing liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) on board is prohibited. These items will be stored until the end of the cruise.
• Guest MUST retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Items not retrieved will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
• Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area. 

Please note that the Disney Cruise Line alcohol policy is subject to change without notice.

That is all for now. Have a magical day!

We just got back from our Easter Surprise week at Walt Disney World.  One of the events that stands out from our trip was the cake decorating experience at Amorette's Patisserie at Disney Springs.  It was a fantastic experience that we would definitely do again.

Since we stayed at the Beach Club Resort, and we had to be at Disney Springs by 9AM, which is before normal operating hours, we decided to take the Lyft Minnie Van Service. I will discuss that experience in a later blog, but suffice to say we ended up using the Minnie Vans at least 6 times.

We were greeted in front of Amorette's by our instructor, Reuben. He was very knowledgable, friendly, easy to like, and clearly LOVES his job.  Upon entering the patisserie, we were welcomed to complimentary drinks which included non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments such as mimosas.

The tables were set up waiting for the arrival of the participants.

​Rueben started by describing the history of Amorette's and then introduced the hard working staff behind the scenes creating the beautifully delicious treats found at Amorette's Patisserie daily.  My husband and daughter were the actual participants, as I was side-lined to be the official photographer. I took some time to get some shots inside Amorette's, as it is lovely and loaded with delectable sweets and the staff was hard at work making magical yummies.

Now onto the decorating lesson. Reuben was VERY thorough and explained every detail and every reason why particular ingredients were used over others. The buttercream, in particular, was made with real butter and was not as sweet as perhaps a child would prefer, but was just right for me. I could have eaten a gallon of it. I'll let the pictures below tell the story of the actual decorating.

After all was said and done, Amorette's was available to keep the cakes for us while we shopped around. We also got a couple surprise extras that were great.  

Overall it was a great experience and I am glad that I booked it. If you want to do this magical extra, be sure to book it well in advance. They only allow for 14 people to participate. It fills up tremendously quick.  I would definitely do it again, and this time, I won't be the resident photographer.

​It still amazes me how Disney is constantly changing. Since our last cruise, just 2 years ago, the entire website for DCL is completely different.

​You really cannot do much with your reservation besides look at your itinerary and see where your stateroom is located, prior to your opening booking date, on the Disney Cruise Line website. As silver Castaway Club members, we are able to book at 90 days out. For more info on Castaway Club, click here. You can explore the website for excursions and such, but as far as adding to your reservation, you have to wait until your window opens.

You start with online check-in and go though each tab, one at a time, entering your information. It is VERY easy to do and you can easily do it yourself, or have me do it for you. There are certain sections that MUST be completed by the guests, as travel agents do not have access to those tabs, such as the child registration for clubs and the final documents sections. (See below)

​You do NOT have to have your online check-in completed to begin booking your activities, but you do have to wait until 12:00AM on your opening booking day to do so. Some cruisers, including us, were able to complete online check-in before midnight, but don't count on it being available for your cruise. It is not a consistent thing for all cruises, as of yet.

At midnight, select Book Now to begin.

​You will simply go day by day and select Add Activities to get your drop down menu of available activities. Obviously, Port Adventures will only be available on days you are not at sea. Nursery is not available for us as we do not have a nursery age child.

​Day 2 is all about Mom and Dad. LOL. Husband wanted to try the acupuncture and then we are having one of our most favorite meals ever, Palo Brunch. We were debating on doing one of the adult-only dinners, but we decided we didn't want our daughter to not have dinner with us. We will eventually try the dinners, but for now, we want to eat dinner as a family.

My daughter and husband are trying a new experience onboard. These simulations book FAST and wasn't even an option for our last cruise. I will report back how this experience is for them.

​We have booked an excursion on our own for St. Kitts. We chose to book directly through the company Dolphin Discovery.  I ALWAYS use Trip Advisor to see reviews. The experience gets rave reviews, and the negative reviews are mostly regarding the push to sell photos. We booked a package upgrade that includes photos, to eliminate that part of the experience.  I will review our visit upon return.

We are also trying a new excursion experience. None of us have ever been on a catamaran, so this should be a lot of fun! We LOVED snorkeling in St. Thomas on our last cruise and do NOT want to miss out on that fun.  Again, I will report back. 

​We decided we wanted a lazy beach day this time at St. Thomas. Magens Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and though it is supposedly very touristy, we feel like we need to see it at least once. 

Day 7 is another at sea day and I booked a 2nd golf simulator just in case the daughter really loves it early on.  I also booked 3 days of the Rain Forest Room, which I have discussed in previous posts. See here for more adulting information.
​
Day 8 is our Castaway Cay day.  We are trying the Stingray Adventure, but other than that, we will snorkel, relax, eat, and did I say relax?

That pretty much sums up our cruising plans. I do plan to visit the Spa area on our embarkation day to possibly book a spa experience for myself. They usually offer pretty good deals on embarkation day and they have been known to have drawings where you can win spa experiences.

Mixed in with the above plans, we will definitely be playing BINGO and seeing Toy Story 4. It releases the day before our cruise and will be showing in the Buena Vista Theater. There are also plenty of other shows and activities that will keep us plenty busy if we choose to be busy.

I am most looking forward to our aft room that has the extended verandah off the back of the ship. 90 days and counting . . . 

My mother cruised with us a couple years ago and stayed forward on deck 10, while we were aft on deck 8. You'd never have known we were together, had we not met up for dinners. She was on vacation too and her idea of a vacation is not the same as our idea, seeing as we had an 8 year old with us.  We had 2 completely different experiences, despite being on the same ship going to the same locations.

She was right under the SPA, Salon, and Fitness Center and VERY close to the adult only Quiet Cove and Satellite Falls pools.  She said that she hardly saw ANY kids except for when she was meeting up with my family. She even booked adult only excursions and enjoyed being with her guest and other adults.  So how is it that she was able to have an adult cruise on a Disney ship??  

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) offers SO many opportunities for adults to have JUST adult time. There are the above mentioned areas, but there are also clubs, dining, and even an entire deck area restricted to children.  They even offer adult only excursions and there is an adult only area reserved on Castaway Cay, Serenity Bay. 

If you are into the nightlife, Disney Cruise Line will not disappoint. There are many different clubs, entertainment, lounges, & live shows for you to enjoy. Click here for more detailed information.

Maybe clubbing isn't your thing, or you also want to relax and unwind, well, Senses SPA & Salon is perfect for you. They are a full service spa and salon. You can even get your teeth whitened while cruising.  Now, just so you know, DCL does have a Spa for younger folks too. The Chill Spa is for those 13-17 and is located inside the Senses Spa. It is separate from where the adults are enjoying their experience AND a parent or guardian must be present during the entire duration of their spa treatment. 

Another well kept adulting secret is the Rainforest Room.  Once our booking window opened, I was able to reserve The Rainforest Room for both myself and my husband. Click here to see where I discussed the Rainforest Room and how to book it, scroll towards the end of the blog to find it. (I can book this for you, fyi)

As for adult dining, in a previous blog, I discussed the adult-only experiences that my husband and I enjoyed. Here you will see how amazing our adult only Palo Brunch was. Though we toured Remi, I have yet to dine there. It is fairly fancy and those that have dined there call it an 'experience' and rave about how fantastic it is. 

I will say, since my husband and I are not big drinkers, we did not really check out the adult lounges or clubs, except for walking through the area getting from one place to another. However, on the tour, I really was impressed with Pub 687. It is a very masculine area (not stuffy at all) and is the spot to catch all ESPN has to offer. Across is a place I'd like to visit, Pink Wine & Champagne bar. It is just bubbly fun and well, pink. It looks like a girly dream all the way down to the pink piano in the corner. 

Below are pictures from the tour. Again it is impossible to do this ship or these locations justice snapping quick photos on a tour. I hope you are able to get a better idea of what is available for adults and are as pleasantly surprised as my mom was. I think she and her guest thought they were going to be inundated by children, and they most certainly were not.

So, let's book that cruise. Take that adult only trip. Let me help you plan the perfect DCL vacation for you, your friends, and your family.  Sharing  is caring! Every booking helps a small business to grow. Thanks for reading!!

If you’re thinking a Disney Cruise is only for children and children and more children, think again. Now, there are PLENTY of areas for kids, but Disney thinks of EVERYONE and knows that adults are also on their vacation and they make sure to take VERY good care of you too.  Whether you’re adults traveling with kids, traveling alone, or on an adult-only trip,  you may be surprised to see all the activities and adult only areas created especially for you. 

Let's suppose you are a parent or grandparent that have brought your children to experience the magic of a Disney Cruise, there are oodles of programs and fun planned just for them. You can send your children and teens off to special programming in the coolest spaces, so there’s no need to feel guilty about dropping them off. 

Let's start with what to do with those children you brought with you:
​For the youngest children, It's a Small Work Nursery is dedicated to the youngest guests. Children from 6 months - 3 years old (or from 1 to 3 years old on Transatlantic and Panama Canal itineraries) can play games, make crafts, watch movies or even take a nap while you embark on adventures of your own. You can pre-book a select amount of nursery time, then book more upon availability once on board.

For Children 3-12, Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab is the place to be. Upon boarding the ship on Embarkation Day, both children and parents must check in either in the cruise terminal or at the club/lab location on the ship.  Parents will fill out final paperwork and children will receive a Disney Cruise Line Youth Activities wristband, which grants them access to both Disney’s Oceaneer Lab and Disney’s Oceaneer Club. You can decide at that time if you will allow your child to check themselves in/out of the club or if they will require a registered adult to do so.  During this confirmation process, parents are invited to tour the facility, meet the counselors and learn more about the many activities offered.  No adults, besides cast members are allowed within the clubs including the other designated clubs, Vibe (teens) and Edge (tweens), except during designated open house times.
​
Now, because while we were on the ship, it was open house times, there were a lot of kids and parents in the clubs. I did not want to be accidentally getting photos of kids, so my picture taking was limited.

​We did NOT get a chance to visit Edge (11 - 14 yr olds), which bummed me slightly as this year will be the first year my daughter can go there. I will get photos during open house on our June cruise and add them to a later blog.

And yes, before you ask, Disney is very strict in honoring their age policies. It never hurts t ask if an 'on the edge of the next club level' is allowed to move to a different club, but do NOT assume they will allow it. Even if your friend that knows everything about Disney Cruises tells you otherwise, NEVER assume Disney will bend a rule for you (even if they did so in the past).

Part Two of this blog will be all about what adults are able to do now that we know where the children will be.  Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for part Two.

After our delicious breakfast at Boma, we were whisked away on the other most magical bus in the world, The Disney Cruise Line bus.  Considering where the DCL bus usually takes you, which is on a most fantastic voyage with superior service,  first class entertainment, and top notch accommodations, I'd say it is neck and neck with those Magical Express buses.  

Unfortunately for us, we were ONLY going on a tour and not to be a negative Nancy, but it is just cruel to put ME on a DCL bus, take me to Port Canaveral, parade me around The Disney Dream cruise ship, then make me get off said ship without so much as even a 3 hour tour of the coast of Florida. But I digress. I did bring my passport just in case they reconsidered. Alas, they did not.

There is just nothing better after an hour long bus ride from the most magical place on Earth, than to look out your window and see a Disney cruise ship anchored, awaiting your arrival.  I was just as excited to see it for the tour as I was when I actually was going on my own cruise. (Well almost) And I may be biased, but I think Disney ships are the most beautiful ships and the others pale in comparison next to her. 

We headed straight to the Disney Cruise Line exclusive terminal at Port Canaveral. Though not owned by Disney, it is completely created for Disney so that guests can begin to feel the Disney magic the moment they clear security and ride that escalator to begin their check-in process.  There are Disney friendly cast members waving at and greeting guests and directing them where to go to begin their magical journey.  

We arrived close to 10:00AM and the terminal was virtually empty, but that didn't last long as guests started to trickle in. Once guests check-in, they will be assigned a boarding group number. Once they start allowing boarding, the numbers are called fairly quickly.  As a perk, Platinum Castaway Club members get to enjoy priority check-in in the concierge area of the cruise terminal. Then receive priority boarding following Concierge Guests, which board at 11:30 vs regular boarding which begins at 1:30.

The Disney Dream is the sister ship to The Fantasy which we sailed upon 2 years ago on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise. We will be returning to the Fantasy this June. The two ship are VERY similar and really the only real difference I noted was the theming in the adult areas and minor decor differences in main atrium . Other than that, the only other major difference is the itineraries, which makes the cost of the cruises different as well.

On the tour we literally went from top to bottom and forward to aft and both port and starboard sides of the ship. We saw a wide variety of categories of staterooms offered. Unfortunately, because the rooms were not guest ready, and were in the process of being prepared for sailing, we were not allowed to take photos within the rooms.

Suffice to say that I have a thorough understanding and can now say I have seen just about all there is to see regarding every category available on the ship, from inside staterooms with a magical porthole to ocean view with a porthole so late you can comfortable sit in it, to the top of the line Walt Disney Suite with it's own huge private sundeck and hot tub. There are rooms to accommodate those with disabilities, both inside staterooms and those with verandahs. There are staterooms that can sleep up to 5 or only accommodate 3.  Adjoining rooms and shared balconies are available for larger groups/families.

We were allowed to take photos of other areas of the ship as they were guest ready, seeing as guests were boarding by this point. The pictures below will be a glimpse at the beauty of the Disney Magic. It is quite difficult to determine the best way to share what I learned and/or saw on this tour or on my personal cruise.  I have previous blogs detailing some of the previous cruise, but I apparently did not want to bog you all down with every detail of my trip and didn't. 

I will do another post regarding adulting on a Disney Cruise. Here I will share the SPA experiences and the other Adult areas. I will also briefly discuss the kid's areas of the ship and how that works. 

Click here for a link to the dining options on Disney Cruise Line. Some are ship specific, but you can reach ship specific details in the drop down menu. Below I included some photos of the dining areas we visited, including the adult only Palo (My blog of our experience during my cruise) and Remy and where we had lunch, Cabanas, which is a massive buffet dining area.  

Thank you for reading my blog. Hope you enjoyed visiting the Disney Dream with me and are ready to see it for yourself.  Request a quote to get yourself on this or any of the other ships among the Disney Cruise Line.  Be on the look out for my next blog regarding adulting on Disney Cruise Line. It is NOT just a cruise for kids!

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If Boma wasn't over 18 hours away from me, I'd be there right now eating ALL THE FOOD. I literally have never seen so much food at a breakfast buffet in all my life. If you can't find something to like here, you might as well starve.

Is it necessary to have 56 photos of nothing but a breakfast buffet? Yes. Yes it is. I am not exaggerating when I say this was the absolute best breakfast buffet I have ever eaten, not just at Disney, but really, anywhere on the planet. So, if like me, you've never considered going to Animal Kingdom Lodge just for breakfast, you are missing out. And if you are actually staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, eat there every single day. #EveryDay #Seriously

​The menu does NOT do this place justice. I went a little crazy with the pictures, but I didn't want to miss anything. Man, I wish I was at Disney right now. Nom Nom Nom

As for our group, we had to scarf this awesomeness down with a quickness. We had a date with the Disney Dream cruise ship at Port Canaveral and time was of the essence.  I never ate so much so fast. For this reason, we did not tour Animal Kingdom Lodge, though you know me, I did snap as many photos as I could between Boma and our DCL bus.

Again, I have never stayed here as we, my family, are creatures of habit and once we found resorts we liked, we go back again and again. That is why this AEP was such a perfect trip for me. I would never, as much as I'd want to, take time out of my family trips to tour Disney Resorts. I just wouldn't. Because of this AEP, I don't have to.

I visited so many resorts and dining locations that I never would have otherwise.  I learned so much about all the resorts, where they are located, how the rooms are set up, what each has to offer, and so on. I learned things you simply can only learn through being there. The photos and web descriptions do not do any of the places we visited the justice they deserve.

I have an all new respect for Disney's value resorts. They may not be for everybody, but I think everyone could find something to enjoy at any of them, especially the theming that is just over the top Disney perfection.  I was pleasantly surprised at not only the incredible theming, but also the dining experiences at these resorts. You do NOT miss out by staying at a less expensive value resort. In fact, you could feasible stay at any of them, and if your budget allows, put more money into deluxe dining or adding extra magic like an After Hours event or even VIP tours. Ask me about any of these, if you are interested.

The moderates we visited were also just beautiful. The attention to detail that Disney painstakingly has perfected did not go unnoticed by me. I LOVE that in Coronado Springs, Disney paid homage to The Three Caballeros, my favorite hidden gem in the Mexican Pavilion at Epcot. (If you never ventured inside the Mexican Pavilion, do it and in the back left corner, you will find this fantastic little piece of Disney perfection) And the refurbishments at Caribbean Beach are top notch. The lobby alone is just overflowing with deluxe quality decor. Be sure to take the time to wander through the resort properties. Curved tropical tree-lined paths wind you through walking trails, play areas for the kids, sunrise/sunset viewing areas, and even hammocks dotting the landscape overlooking the water.  

And what can I say about the Deluxe resorts we visited? The attention to detail is unimaginable. What a creatively explosive job that must be for those imagineers that plot and plan and decorate these spectacular destinations.  From the characters imbedded in the tiled floors at The Grand Floridian to the characters constellations on the drapes at the Yacht Club, you could spend all day just taking in all the visually pleasing magic (and Hidden Mickeys) Disney has sprinkled seemingly effortlessly into the decor of each resort. And though it seems randomly silly, at the Beach Club Resort, I took a photo looking outside a window of a corner where two buildings meet. It isn't even an area that guest can visit, but Disney made that area a beautifully landscaped square, simply because if you look out the window or over a railing, you'll see it. I can imagine that at any other place on Earth, this would have been a void of nothingness maybe even a place for garbage bins, but Disney doesn't miss a chance to make even this little square of nothingness, simply lovely. That is what sets Disney apart, the DISNEY DETAILS. (Go back and see if you can find the photo I am referring to)

​Next up is our visit to Port Canaveral and The Disney Dream.  As always, please give us a LIKE and sharing is caring.