Back to Back Disney Cruising

June 18, 2019 by 11 Comments

I have had several people ask me how this Back to Back Disney cruising works. It’s a neat concept and has it’s perks and downfalls.

back to back Disney cruising

First, let me explain. We went on two separate Disney cruises: a 4 night Bahamian sailing and a 3 night Bahamian sailing, back to back. Why do this instead of just a straight seven night cruise? For us, adding the 3 night was a last minute decision as we had already booked the 4 night with friends. Another perk for us was two stops at Disney’s private island: Castaway Cay. We love it there, and each sailing made a stop so we got two full days in our favorite place.

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Also, once you sail on a Disney cruise you become a member of what is called the Castaway Club. If you have completed 1-5 cruises you are a silver member, 6-10 is gold, and then platinum. Each level has different perks like gifts in your room, different booking windows for bookings excursions, and platinum cruisers even get a free meal at the adults only restaurant Palo, as well as the ability to board the ship with boarding group one. So, for us, doing two cruises instead of one “counted” twice and I am now platinum.

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It’s also fun to get on the boat before everyone else and get to your room first on the second cruise.

Let me explain how it worked. The last night of our first cruise (the four night cruise) we had a letter in our room explaining the process. If you are staying in the same room, you can leave you luggage etc. in your room, and debark the ship by 9:15. If you are changing rooms (like us) just pack up, leave everything in the room, and the stateroom host will bring your bags to your new room for you. perfect!

The next morning we ate breakfast and were in no hurry to get off the ship. We actually stayed on closer to 10:00 because people were still getting off. We relaxed in the adults only coffee shop checking emails and doing work while we had a day in port (another perk to a back to back, ability to get on the internet halfway through your trip).

We got off, breezed through customs, then turned and went right back up the escalators to check in. The port wasn’t even open yet, so it was empty. We checked in and were given a special green ticket, and were told to go sit in the concierge/closed off area in the back of the terminal.

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We sat there just hanging out until 10:45, when a cast member led us through a side door to get back onto the ship. (to the right of the Mickey ears is the closed-off area we sat in while waiting to board).

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It was weird being on the ship early (boarding usually starts around 11:45ish) because people were still cleaning and scurrying about getting things ready. The next perk was a big one, getting to our rooms early. The letter that was left on our bed started that our stateroom would be a top priority to get cleaned, and it would be ready by 11:30. FYI, for everyone else that gets on board, you can’t access your room until 1:30. We were able to get into ours just before 11:00, and our luggage was already in there, it was awesome.

We unpacked, called our families, and hung out in the room until the lunch buffet opened at 11:45, and we were among the first to eat, and we simply went back to our room after, changed, and went to the pool. Normally we have to lug our day bags around, change in the public bathroom, etc. So this was a very nice perk.

Another fun thing was Disney kept us with our same dining room team, so it was nice to have familiar faces at dinner, it made it seem like a 7 night cruise.

We enjoyed experiencing the back to back, but I don’t know if we will make it a habit of sailing on them. One downfall is they only go to Nassau and Castaway Cay, so if you are looking to go to other ports this may not be for you. However, we use Nassau day to stay on a near empty ship anyway, so we didn’t mind. You lose a few hours on the day you get off and back on, having to get off then wait to get back on etc., but other than that we enjoyed ourselves!

If you have any questions about the process please let me know! I would love to help you book your next Disney cruise at no additional cost! Email heather@travelwiththemagic.com for info.

Perks of back to back disney cruising

Related: Everything you need to know about Disney’s Castaway Cay 5k

QOTD: Would you ever consider a back to back cruise?

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Disney Wonder Kid’s Clubs

March 15, 2019 by

Disney cruises truly do have something for everyone, and my daughter Emma Kat loved the kid’s clubs! This post is an in-depth look at the Disney Wonder Kid’s clubs and what we liked (and would change) about them.

The Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club are connected with a “secret passageway” and kids can go back and forth between the two unless there is an “open house” on one side. Then any kids checked in without adults present for open house are secured on one side. Emma Kate seemed to enjoy two area the most: The Frozen themed area and the Toy Story themed “Andy’s room” area. She legit went down the slinky dog slide about 1,000 times.

Disney wonder kid's clubs

Yes, they have tablets for the kids to play on, which I get, but I was like… ok kid, you can do that anytime, go play with the cool toys you don’t normally have!

As I mentioned, Andy’s room was a huge hit, Bobby and I even got roped into going down the slide!

Throughout the day, there will be scheduled programing like making slime, cooking, becoming a deputy with Woody and Jessie, or hanging out with Anna and Elsa. When your kids are in the club during one of these scheduled activities they do NOT have to participate. The only thing I hate is that parents can’t be in there unless it’s open house, so we didn’t get to see Emma Kate meet Anna and Elsa or get any photos. We did get to see Timon during open house though!

The bathrooms are super cute and kid sized, a pro tip is to show your kids where they are during open house so they aren’t running around at the last minute when they need to go trying to find it.

Check in procedures:

When your child wants to be dropped off at the kids club, they will scan their magic band and go in to either the club or the lab, at any time during operating hours. If there is anything you would like to tell the cast member checking them in, you can do so at that time.

Your child will then be asked to wash their hands at a hand washing station at check in before they go play.

You must keep your wave phone with you at all times, as this is how the clubs will communicate with you if there is an issue or if your child would like to be picked up. (It also works on the DCL app but I found there was a delay in it).

Pick up procedures

When you go to pick your child up, you go to the club or lab and show your key card. You must also say a special password that you have set up ahead of time, and I always had my ID with me as well.

They will then tell you which section your child is in, will give you a hand wipe and let you in to go get your child. You acnnot bring food or drinks in but they allow you to leave them at the counter until you come back.

Once you get your child they have to scan their magic band to get out and the doors will open so you can leave with them. We felt very safe leaving EK there since you have to have your card, ID and know the password. Plus the magic band acts as a tracker so their whereabouts are known at all times.

Meals were also provided at the clubs, however we only did this a couple of times because I know my child, and if given the choice to eat or play, she’s going to eat, and the cast members won’t force them to eat. (I DO force her, so it worked out better for her to eat with us most days.)

However at dinner (we are main seating) I would bring her up once she finished her meal because she was bored and then we could enjoy the rest of our meal without her whining. At the late seating, they have a cast member come to the dining room and will pick up any children that want to go to the club so you don’t have to leave the table.

What would I change

There are a couple of things I would change about the clubs, first being a note in their file after meals letting the parents know if they ate or not and how much. It’s hard to ask a barely 4 year old what they ate and how much.

The next thing is probably the biggest one, and that is any time the kid says “I want my mom” they will call you to come pick them up. For our family, this wasn’t good because Emma Kate goes to school all day and doesn’t have the OPTION of me being at her beck and call. Once she realized all she had to do was say the word and we would come running, she did it all. the. time. To tell us the slide was closed. To tell us she fell down. To tell us she wanted to see Mickey. I mean, ridiculous things. I feel like the cast members should be able to gauge a little better whether or not it was time to call.

After this happening a few times, we asked them to make a note in her file to only call us if she was bleeding or sick. We wanted to be clear that she was fine and was just playing games with us. We also had a talk with Emma Kate and told her she wouldn’t get to come back if she kept doing this. She finally took the hint and we got very few calls/texts the rest of the trip.

One thing they will do is if you tell them you are going to be at PALO, they will make a note so that they won’t call unless necessary. So we were like…why can’t we do this all the time not just when we are at PALO? Heh. So if you are like us and don’t want your kid to be able to call you every 5 seconds, you will have to let the CM know and ask them to make a note in the file.

Other than those minor things, we absolutely loved the club. It was great for everyone because she got to do fun things, make friends, see characters, and get energy out and Bobby and I were able to have some time alone on our vacation. How often did she go? Probably for a couple of hours during the day then an hour or so at night. Maybe a little more on days the weather was bad. If we had experienced sunnier/better weather, we would have been at the pool more and at the club less, but when it’s cold and windy there isn’t as much to do on the ship for a super high energy kid like mine after you have seen all the characters, done the dance parties, eaten ice cream, etc.

Overall we had an amazing experience and were so thankful she loved them and begged us to go back every day. If you have any questions about the clubs or need trip planning help, I would love to help you! Heather@travelwiththemagic.com

*These clubs are for kids ages 3 and up that are potty trained. They are included in the price of your cruise, and you child is given a magic band upon check in that they wear the whole cruise. You can return it at the end or keep it for a fee.

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 7

February 13, 2019 by

Missed part 6? Check it out here.

One last day of our cruise, and honestly guys, the day time part, I really can’t remember! This is why I used to take notes when I did lots of trip reports! It was a sea day, and the water was a bit rough. I know we went to the pool because occasionally the lifeguard would make all the kids stand up since the water in the pool was whitecapping and it made it hard to see the kids. (Photo below of them all standing up).

It was chilly, way too cold for me to swim, but of course the kids didn’t mind. I really don’t remember what else we did that day. I am sure Emma Kate went to the kids club at some point, and I probably read a book or took a nap, I’m very good at those things.

That night we took photos one last time before heading in to dinner.

We said our farewells to our dining team at dinner, and I just wasn’t very hungry. I was served a big piece of chicken and I barely ate, it just didn’t seem appetizing to me.

We brought EK to the club one more time, and I told Bobby I didn’t feel great and just wanted to stay in the room. My stomach felt upset and full, but I wasn’t nauseated. It was a strange feeling, I knew something wasn’t right. EK had been given a gift that was left on our bed, and she was so excited to open her new DUmbo stuffed animal when we picked her up from the club.

At this point I was feeling worse and worse, but I was able to fall asleep. Then I woke up an hour later feeling very sick to my stomach, and let’s just say I felt SO much better after being able to throw up in the sink. (don’t judge, it is what it is.) I laid back down and took an anti nausea pill that thankfully our doctor had given to us before we left. I barely slept all night, and was wondering how I was going to get off the ship in the morning. I felt like death when we woke up, but thankfully we had put our luggage out the night before so we didn’t have a lot to pack up. Bobby took Emma Kate to breakfast while I tried to get dressed and composed. I dry heaved a couple times but never threw up again, but I felt miserable and nauseated and weak. I still to this day don’t know how I managed to get out of bed, get dressed, and help carry bags to the lobby and wait in line to get off the ship, through customs, and to the car. I slept most of the way home in the car, and only ate crackers and rice for four or five days. Then I was finally able to start eating more food but it took way longer than I anticipated. Come to find out several people in our cruise FB group had norovirus, so I’m guessing I picked it up on the ship. I’m so careful with hand washing, so thinking maybe it happened when someone prepared my food? We aren’t really sure, and obviously it could happen to anyone on any cruise line. I’m just so thankful it happened the last day because like I said, I was laid up and not eating for four or five days after. So obviously I have no photos from the last morning or getting off the ship.

We love cruising and DCL, but I think I am done cruising in winter. There is a higher chance for rough waters, gloomy and cold weather, and norovirus in the winter months. We have now missed Castaway Cay twice and both times in winter, so now I feel like I need a “redo” cruise in the spring or summer, especially since Emma Kate missed my favorite part, Castaway Cay. We will be back, and we learned a lot about cruising with a kid. It was so fun to see things through her eyes, and she is already asking to go back. I’m so glad we got to go on a family vacation just the three of us last year!

I would love to answer your Disney cruise questions! heather@travelwiththemagic.com

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 6

February 8, 2019 by

Did you miss part 5? check it out then come back here!

We were headed back to port, but still had two sea days ahead of us. We found out Santa was going to be taking photos in the lobby that morning, so of course that was our first stop.



She signed the nice list (I wasn’t so sure about that ha) and got to meet the big guy.

They even had a cute table set up with cookies.

After that, Emma Kate went to the kids club because Bobby and I had a reservation for one of our favorite things, PALO brunch!

We had a table with a great view and we ate all. of. the. food. It was amazing as usual, something I would never miss on a Disney cruise!

After brunch, we picked up Emma Kate from the club, got in our swimsuits and went to the pool. It was a bit chilly but EK didn’t seem to mind.

Before we knew it, it was time for pictures and dinner again!

We ran into Mickey in the hallway and he grabbed Emma Kate’s hand and walked around with her, and she was SO excited. I love how the character interations are random and plentiful on the ship!

We were in Tiana’s again, and it still remains my favorite restaurant of the three!

After a delicious dinner, EK went back to the club and Bobby and I played foosball and ping pong on the pool deck. We were the only ones up there and it was a lot of fun. We had one more day coming up, and that one would end on a low note, so stay tuned to see what happend.

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 5

January 30, 2019 by

Check out part 4 if you missed that one then come back here!

The next day we woke up in Nassau. We had no plans to get off the ship, and wanted to take advantage of having less people on board to hang out and relax.

Unfortunately it was gloomy and chilly, so we didn’t make it to the pool. I was starting to think the bad weather was just following us around everywhere we went at this point.

However, we were parked next to the Disney Dream which was kind of cool. We did lots of waving at other people on the Dream and I secretly told EK we would take her on that ship next.

We decided to take Emma Kate to her first ever “big girl movie” in the movie theater that day. The new Wreck it Ralph movie was out, and she was so excited to eat her popcorn and watch the movie. I love that the price of the movies is included in the cruise price! See as many as you want!

She loved it, and did really well! I was afraid she would talk and ask questions nonstop (like sh does at home, omg) but she sat so still and did awesome.

We had lunch then brought her to the kids club. Once again I don’t remember exactly what we did, but Bobby probably went to the gym and I probably read a book. We are SUCH exciting cruisers.

We got dressed for dinner which was in Animator’s Palate again. It was the night of the drawings and the show which is always fun!

I mean, how cute is this kid?

After dinner, we had a delicious surprise from the pastry chef in our room! Emma Kate went crazy over them!

We then took Emma Kate to the kids club and explored the ship again.

It’s so nice and quiet during second dinner when the early diners are at the show. We felt like we had the ship to ourselves! Then it was Elf, one more time (starting to dislike the movie at this point!) and then bed. We still had two sea days of fun and adventure left!

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 4

January 28, 2019 by

In case you missed part 3, jump back and read that first!

We left off last time at the end of our Key West Day. The next day was to be Castaway Cay, and let me tell you I was PUMPED.

Castaway Cay is my favorite place on earth, and I couldn’t wait to share it with Emma Kate. I had been talking it up big time. We woke up and I thought it odd that we weren’t pulling into the island. They said something over the speakers about a late arrival, and I couldn’t really hear the rest. Come to find out, we had somehow lost a generator in the night. Never fear, we were still getting to the island just a little later. However, I had a huge pit in my stomach and a bad feeling. The water was a little choppy (I’ve seen much worse) and it was gloomy and windy. The captain tried twice to get us docked, to no avail. It was one of the saddest things to be standing on the edge of the ship, with all the workers standing on the island waiting to greet us, and we inched closer and closer and closer, only to get aallmmosssttt there and then have the captain pull away. I will admit, I cried.

See, I have kind of a sour history as of late with Castaway Cay. In 2016, my husband and I sailed for the first time since 2013. We were SO excited to be going back to the island….only to have bad weather that made us not able to dock. I was so so so upset. Them last January I went on a girls trip, and while we were able to dock, it was FREEZING and super windy. The sand was pelting people in the face and they closed down Serenity bay it was such terrible weather conditions. So this year was going to be my redemption year. Having not been to the island since 2013, I was sssooo ready to be in my happy place…and then to have it happen again was just crushing. Maybe one day we will get to take Emma Kate to Castaway. (silently cries in the corner.) ANYWAY, moving on. The staff did their best to keep us happy and upbeat, adding in character meet and greets and activities. Emma Kate had fun, and I guess she just didn’t realize what she was missing which was probably a good thing at this point.

I honestly don’t remember what we did the rest of the day. I’m guessing we ate lunch at the buffet, and put EK in the kids club. Bobby probably went to the gym, and I probably took a nap (heh.) We did go to a Disney Jr. dance party but EK wasn’t really into it so we walked around the ship instead.

That night was also pirate night…and PALO night for Bobby and me. We took some cute pre dinner photos before dropping Emma Kate off and heading up to the adults only restaurant.

PALO was lovely as usual, a highlight of the trip. It’s just a great time to slow down, relax, and eat a nice meal in peace. Our waiter was amazing and we ate #AllTheFood

We went to bed quite full, watching Elf yet again, ready for a day in Nassau that was coming up next.

Email heather@travelwiththemagic.com for questions about Disney Cruise Line!

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 3

January 16, 2019 by

In case you missed part 1 and 2, catch up before reading this one!

The next morning we woke up and were almost to Key West. We also had an early princess meet and greet in the lobby, so we headed there before breakfast. This is a ticketed event, but also free (we snagged tickets when we got onboard on day 1). It’s a great way to meet a bunch of princesses at one time. Emma Kate loved it!

After the meet and greet we went to breakfast. I told EK she could have a donut if she ate all her food. Thankfully after she was sufficiently sugared up we took her to the pool to burn some energy. The weather forecast for the rest of the week was iffy, so we knew we needed to take advantage of the sunshine while we could (even if it was a tad chilly!)

A huge thanks to SwimZip for sending us these adorable swimsuits! We got so many compliments and the rash guard was perfect for Emma Kate since it was a little chilly. I love that these suits help protect against the suns harmful rays!

We let Emma Kate swim and go down the slide as we docked in the port. There was hardly anyone in the pool so we were able to get great seats and the little one went down the slide a bunch of times.

I took advantage of the warmth of the sun and got a dole whip with rum in it that I had heard so much about. I was warned in advance that the consistency was more slushie like that creamy ice cream, but I still wanted to try it…and the verdict…it was not my favorite. I LOVE Dole whip floats and I love rum, but this combo was not something I would get again. I am however glad I tried it!

We decided to just grab lunch at the pool because Emma Kate was having such a blast we didn’t want to pull her out to go change and go to the buffet. Bobby went and got his own food from Cabanas and ate at the pool chairs, and I got Emma Kate and I some chicken tenders and fries, so it worked out perfectly. After lunch, we all got changed and we brought Emma Kate to the kids club so Bobby and I could go watch the Saints game at the pub. I was surprised, we were the ONLY ONES IN THERE! Where did all the football fans go?!?

We were able to watch the game, but the sound was for a different game which made it kind of confusing, but we were just happy to get to watch anyway. We grabbed some snacks and relaxed on a sofa and cheered for our team as they beat the Tampa Bay Bucs. We had a nice view out the window, too.

As the game was coming to an end, we went and grabbed EK out of the kid’s club and decided to get off the ship for a few minutes and just walk around on dry land for a bit. Why not? It has been a minute since we have been to Key West, but I love how quaint it is, and we feel super safe there just walking around. Emma Kate LOVED chasing the animals.

After about 30 minutes we made our way back to the ship to get ready for dinner. We realized we walked right into the beginning of a little show where SANTA shows up on the ship for the first time! It was cute. There were lots of characters, and even snow!

Dinner that night was in Triton’s, but we took some family photos before we went in.

This one is my favorite haha

At dinner, EK decided to eat a lime, which was hysterical.

After dinner it was back to the kids club (she was SO antsy at Dinner I took her before we even ordered dessert.) and Bobby and I walked around on the deck and went back to Cove Cafe again. In the room that night we had a sweet gift from Disney, Emma Kate was pumped.

We were taking her to see her first movie in the theater the next day, so she was so excited we had snacks! And she loved the doll because it matched the dress she had on the night before. <3

After calming her down which took awhile, it was time for bed, and watching Elf again, before finally falling asleep.

I would love to help you with Disney Cruise questions! Email me at heather@travelwiththemagic.com

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 2

January 8, 2019 by

In case you missed part 1, catch up here before reading below!

We woke up the next morning ready for an awesome day at sea. First up, we had the Disney Jr. character breakfast.

Pro tip: Spots for this free but ticketed event fill up fast. However, they hold back some spots, so go to guest services as soon as you get on board to try to snag tickets.

Breakfast was in Animator’s, and we were seated right away and promptly given napkin hats.

I will say the breakfast portions were on the smaller side, so if you like a big breakfast I suggest ordering multiple items like Bobby did. However, the characters were fun! This was the first time we let Emma Kate use an autograph book, and she had a blast with it.

She was so excited to see Vamparina!

After breakfast, we saw Minnie Mouse was taking photos so we did that. The line was really short!

We also took a few pictures in the lobby and Emma Kate and I danced on “stage”.

Emma Kate was asking to go to the kids club, so off she went and Bobby and I walked around the ship taking some photos. The sun is deceptive, it was windy and pretty chilly!

The rest of the afternoon was pretty lazy. We got EK out of the club for lunch (we knew she wouldn’t eat enough or at all if we didn’t make her) and then brought her back. Bobby and I went to the gym and i’m pretty sure we all took a nap that day (the ONLY day she napped!) and then it was off to dinner for formal night. Emma Kate wore her Rapunzel dress, and we stopped for a quick dance party at Preludes before heading to Tiana’s Place.

I LOVED Tiana’s place. I know I am biased being a New Orleans native and all, but it was so fun with the music and dancing and had such an adorable atmosphere. Kudos on this one Disney!

We got to get up and dance, watch awesome musicians, and eat delicious food!

After dinner, Emma Kate was begging to go play in the club again (ok ok if you twist my arm, kid) so we dropped her off and Bobby and I walked around on the pool deck and started what would be our nightly tradition of hanging out in Cove Cafe and getting a snack.

Pro tip: In the evenings they had delicious cheese and crackers (like the kind from Palo) for free. So we would get a snack and sit in the quiet and relax.

They also had some seasonal coffee drinks for an extra charge.

We picked Emma Kate up around 9:00, watched Elf on TV for the 14th time so far, and went to sleep. More coming up soon!

If you would like help booking your next Disney cruise, let me know! heather@travelwiththemagic.com

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Disney Wonder Cruise 2018: Part 1

January 2, 2019 by

Back in December, we took Emma Kate on her very first Disney cruise. I found a good last minute deal, and we decided instead of spending a ton of money on Christmas, we would take a family vacation. We sailed on the Disney Wonder, and were to make stops at Key West, Castaway Cay, and Nassau.

We arrived the night before and stayed in a hotel so we would be near the port first thing the next morning. Emma Kate was so amped up that night and it took forever for her to go to sleep (ok, so I was excited too.)

That morning we walked around to burn off some of Emm Kate’s perpetual energy before driving the 10 minutes to the port.

We got the bags dropped off and the car parked, and we checked in. We got in line for a photo with this guy, and before you know it there were calling our group to board.

We immediately went to guest services and were able to snag princess meet and greet tickets as well as character breakfast tickets. Then we went to stand in line to see about changing our dining time (we had late which is WAY late for us) and to get PALO brunch reservations that were sold out online. We were able to get brunch, but they said they didn’t know about the dining which made me nervous. A downfall of booking late I guess, but I know there was no way Emma Kate was going to eat dinner at 8:15 when her normal bedtime is 7:45! We went up to the buffet to eat lunch, and then explored the ship. I loved seeing the Wonder all ready for Christmas!

At this point, Emma Kate still didn’t quite understand that the boat was going to start moving and we would be on it for a week. Oh well. She figured it out soon enough after we pulled out of port ha!

It was time to check out our room, and we went to drop off our carry on bags. We had an oceanview room on deck 2. At first I was a little bummed to not have a verandah, but honestly it ended up being great because 1.) The weather wasn’t great so I doubt I would have spent a ton of time out there, 2.) I didn’t have to worry about EK jumping off the balcony and 3.) We were midship, and the lobby is deck 3, so we were one quick flight of stairs to the lobby, restaurants, guest services, character meet and greets, and more.

We met our stateroom host, dropped off our things, and headed up to show Emma Kate the kids club. I was SO pumped about this because I knew she would love it. Heck I love it!

She was obsessed with the slide and went down about 100 times.

Don’t worry, I plan to do a whole post about the kid’s club, there is so much to say! After we left, we went back to the room for a minute before the muster drill and noticed DCL had left us a beautiful cheese tray. (Anyone who knows me knows that cheese is the way to my heart.)

We had a quick and delicious snack before the muster drill, and then it was time for the sail away party. It was at this moment that I teared up. Being up on the deck, about to sail away for a week, my daughter on my husbands shoulders singing and dancing and squealing at her favorite characters. I had waited so long to take her on her first Disney cruise and here we were. It was surreal and perfect.

We went to the front of the ship to watch us sail away, and then Emma Kate finally realized we were moving!

We went inside as it was getting close to early dinner time, and we still didn’t know what seating we had. Bobby decided to call the dining line, and just see where we were on the list and what we should do. He explained we had a small child that went to bed early, and they gave us THE LAST TABLE at main dining. Yall, I was so so thankful. They said there were 27 other families that had a request in as well, so I don’t know if it was because we called to follow up or what, but whatever it was, we were seriously breathing a huge sigh of relief. The only thing was…it was 5:25, and dinner was at 5:45! We hurried around getting dressed for dinner and made it to Animator’s Palate just in time.

I love this menu, and was excited to have it the first night. We met our super sweet server, Dee, who has been with DCL for 12 or 13 years! She was so great with Emma Kate and was from Thailand. Emma Kate did ok at dinner…she got a little antsy so we had mickey bars and other dessert and then brought her to the kids club for the first time alone.

This gave Bobby and I a chance to walk around and see more of the ship, grab a snack, and relax. We got a text that Emma Kate wanted us and we were so confused because we had just dropped her off! We ran up there and discovered that she just “wanted to tell us the slide was closed.” Seriously. That was it. Emma Kate has been going to daycare since she was a baby and has never before had to power to “summon” us while at school, so I think she liekd the idea, but I did not. I kind of wish she didn’t know that she could haha.

Pro Tip: After this happening a couple of times (and nothing was wrong), we asked the workers to put a note in her file to not text us unless something was really wrong (hurt, crying, sick, etc.) and to not text us just because she wants to tell us something.

We went back to the room and had another sweet surprise from DCL! Cheers to a great first day!

More coming up soon!

If you would like help booking your next Disney Cruise please email me, I would love to help you! heather@travelwiththemagic.com

Filed Under: Disney, holidays, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,

Emma Kate’s First Cruise

December 4, 2018 by

Happy Tuesday! If you follow me on Instagram you already know this, but we decided to take Emma Kate on her first cruise as our big family Christmas gift this year! We will be sailing for 7 nights on the Disney Wonder, which was the very first Disney ship I ever sailed on. We have an oceanview room, and will be making stops at Key West, Castaway Cay, and Nassau.

Bobby and I have cruised with Disney several, times, but never with a child. There are so many things I can’t wait to show her, and I know she is going to love the kids club, too!

In honor of the cruise (we leave the end of this week), I thought I would share some of my favorite cruise photos with you.

PS: I would love to help you book your next Disney cruise! Email heather@travelwiththemagic.com for details. It’s free for me to help you!

Filed Under: Disney, vacation Tagged: , , ,