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. 

The best part of the night for me was spent by myself, though I did love my time with my fellow agents. Something I can't possible do with my family or with the crowds, I was able to do on this night. I was able to go sit directly in front of the castle and enjoy the view and the relaxation and the view. Alone. Virtually. It was magically wonderful and I will never forget being able to do this. The below photo shows the difference between sitting during After Hours and sitting on a regular day. I think you can see a slight difference. LOL

Our last stop of the day was at Disney's Beach Club Resort, then we walked over to Disney's Yacht Club Resort, the sister resort to the Beach Club.

What can I say about these 2 resorts that I haven't said before?  They are my favorite resorts on property. Click here to read my previous post about deciding upon our April 2019 stay at Beach Club and there you will find a link to our previous stay at the Yacht Club Resort.

The Beach Club Resort is considered the more 'laid back' of the two resorts. Our guide even said someone told him that they considered the Beach Club more masculine and the Yacht Club more feminine. Not sure I agree there, but Disney defines it as a New England-style resort. Whatever it is, I love it and find both of them every bit as beautiful as The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The Yacht Club Resort, I guess you could say, is more fancy or elegant.  It definitely has more of that yacht club feeling rather than just a beach-themed resort. Again, similar to my experience at The Grand Floridian, it manages to not be pretentious or stuffy and you feel just as at home here as you would anywhere else on property.  It has a convention center associated with it, and therefore it isn't uncommon to see folks dressed in business attire, as opposed to more resort casual attire that is more common at The Beach Club Resort.  Between the two resorts, I think I like them both equally and could stay at either and not have any regrets.  

The one selling point that cannot be overlooked is the pool these two resorts share. Stormalong Bay has been called the best pool on Disney resort property. I'd have to agree. I have other photos from a previous blog that do not do it justice.  It has a huge slide, several hot tubs, a lazy river, a sand-bottom zero entry HUGE pool and sandy areas for the building of sand castles and such. You can see the fireworks, at a distance,  from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios at night if you pick your lounge chair correctly.​
Stormalong Bay

• Take the plunge at this beachside water park area that offers 3 acres of aquatic fun for the whole family.
  
• Catch currents in an expansive sand-bottomed pool. From atop the mast of a life-sized shipwreck replica, zip down a 230-foot-long waterslide, one of the highest hotel slides at Walt Disney World Resort. Float down the lazy river on an inner tube, unwind in one of 3 whirlpool spas or simply relax on the elevated tanning deck.
  
• Children can wade into the main pool from the gently sloping, sandy beach and cool off in the Shipwreck Pool—complete with a miniature waterslide.
  
• With 795,000 gallons of water comprising an impressive complex of pools that range from swirling to placid, open to secluded and cool to warm, every member of your family can find a place to make a splash at Stormalong Bay.

I am not going to talk a lot about either place today as I will literally be staying in a Water View Club Level room at the Beach Club in April and I will have LOTS more to say then.  Below I included Beach Club Resort photos, accommodation information for both resorts, some standard room photos at each resort and a few photos of the Yacht Club Resort.

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The Yacht Club Standard Room- Newly Refurbished Since Our Last Stay

We started the day back at The Contemporary Resort and we were served a delicious buffet style breakfast at The Wave . . . of American Flavors. There was a wide range of items to choose from and I loaded up my plate to just about overflowing.  

​As a southerner, I was always a little sad that grits were never a thing I liked. When I saw them on this buffet, I decided to give them another go. They were delicious. Ceddar grits, to be specific. YUMMY! Our trainer also highly recommended the Wave Signature Sweet Potato Pancakes, and they also did not disappoint. Try them WITHOUT syrup first, and you may decide they stand alone and do not need extra anything.

After breakfast, we went back to our meeting room and learned all about why you should visit Disney in 2019. So many new and exciting things happening that I have shared and will continue to share as the year goes on. After that, it was time for more resort tours and this day was PACKED with touring. Our first stop and what I will focus on in the Blog is our visit to Art of Animation and Pop Century.

The way to our heart is through food, and they fed us VERY well on this trip. Upon entering Art of Animation, we went directly to their quick service location, Landscape of Flavors.  Let me just say, if you can't find something delicious to eat here, you won't find it anywhere. This place had such a wide variety of selections, it was almost impossible to choose what to eat. And the dessert. . . Lort have mercy, just fabulous.  I was completely impressed with this dining experience, and frankly was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

Area between Art of Animation and Pop Century that will be a pick-up station for the new Skyliner Gondola System

Can I just tell you how much I loved Pop Century Resort?  This ended up being a surprise to me as I had never been here, nor had I given it much thought. I left here feeling like this resort is a fantastic option for those wanting to save on accommodations, and maybe splurge on extras like the Deluxe Dining Plan, Early Morning Magic, Disney After Hours, (I will have a Blog dedicated to THIS soon), or even VIP tours. FYI- I can book all of these for my clients.

My husband and I are bed snobs and require a minimum of a queen size bed. When our daughter was young enough to thoroughly enjoy theming offered at these resorts, we turned our noses up because of the double bed situation. Well that has all changed. With recent refurbishments, which, by the way, do NOT feel like you are staying in a value resort, Pop offers a king or queen size beds in all the rooms, plus a fold down desk that converts into a queen size bed. And the rooms are so nicely done, you would have NO idea you were in a value resort.

And let me also point out how fantastic the theming is. It is over the top. I think no matter your age, Pop Century will have a theme that appeals to you. It was just an adorably eye pleasing resort with surprises around every corner and details details details.

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As for accommodations, the Polynesian Village offers a wide range:

• 478 rooms, 6 suites, 360 deluxe studios and 20 Bungalows

On our tour we visited an amazing bungalow right on the water, a studio suite, and a garden view room.   

 Lake view:

• 1 King Bed
• 1 Queen Bed
• 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
• 2 Single Pull Down Beds 

Sleeps up to 8 Adults

Views of Landscaping or parking area:

• 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
• 1 Queen Bed
• 1 Single Pull Down Bed

Sleeps up to 5 Adults
Includes:

• Refrigerator 
• Kitchenette With Small Refrigerator

We started the day at Disney's Contemporary Resort for training sessions. Learned so much about what is new at Walt Disney World and what is coming in 2019 and the future plans for 2020 and beyond.  

Disney will always be growing and changing. That is the way Walt  planned it.  So keep that in mind if you think of Disney as a been there done that. I was here just over 2 years ago and the entire World of Avatar was just being built, Soarin' was being reimagined as Soarin' Around the World, Frozen Ever After was under construction, and not to be left out, the recently opened new Toy Story Land with 2 new rides, Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, was still a mystery to come. So on this trip I had several new-to-me experiences, even though I have been there done that too.

A few new must see attractions/events started on Jan 18th, while we were here:

• The new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party” will parade up Main Street, U.S.A. several times daily. You can meet Mickey and Minnie together – in their new birthday outfits – in Town Square Theater.
• Hollywood Studios began celebrating the park’s 30th anniversary with The Incredibles, who will host a dance party at Pixar Avenue. A NEW meet and greet with the one and only Edna Mode is also located there!! You will also have the chance to meet Mike and Sulley from Disney Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” and Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the gang are ready to welcome you into Andy’s backyard at the new Toy Story Land.
• Disney on Broadway Concert Series Expands During Epcot International Festival of the Arts – This celebration runs Jan. 18-Feb. 25. This year, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will expand to seven days a week. The festival also will feature 13 Food Studios, a variety of workshops led by artists, interactive exhibits and activities, and much more.
• “The Lion King” Roars Again at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the animated classic “The Lion King.” Rafiki and Timon will lead you in dances and games during the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party” on Discovery Island.

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After our presentations we visited and extensively toured the following resorts:

• Disney's Wilderness Lodge- Dined at Whispering Canyon
• ​​Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & SPA

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I added a few photos below.  I will do a separate BLOG for the resort visits and dining.  

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