Things I wish I knew before a cruise

Things I wish I knew before a cruise

by | Jun 6, 2023 | Disney Cruise Line

Things I wish I knew before a cruise

 

Many people plan their cruise out a while in advance taking into consideration destination, ports of call, itinerary and time of year- rightfully so! When I took my very first cruise, we didn’t consider anything- we said, it’s a great price, it’s Disney, it’s soon, let’s do it! While my Disney cruise was AMAZING and I enjoyed every single bit of it, I do wish I had more time to prepare and know more about what Disney Cruises have to offer. Here are some of the things I wish I knew before our cruise on the Disney Dream.

DCL Navigator App

When we first got onto the ship, we were completely lost! While in a sense, it was nice because we looked at everything with a sense of wonder and exploring a ship was a great experience, we did feel like we lost valuable time on a short 3 day trip. The navigator app is an amazing tool that allows you to look at the schedule of events and locations onboard the ship for your entire stay. You can see which events are scheduled or available for different age groups. This is where I was able to find a toddler activity every morning for my daughter and some arts and crafts activities during the day. We were lucky enough to make it to those on the last day of the cruise. This is where we were also able to find our dinner time and location since you are scheduled to go to a different restaurant each evening. Another great thing we were able to look up on the app were the times the characters were going to be out and where! We were also able to see which movies were playing on the pool deck. I felt like such a pro and was ready for more by later in our second day. I only wish I had more time! As I look to our next cruise, I know exactly what to prepare for, what to look for and how to use the navigator app. It is such a wonderful tool for the things I listed and so much more!

Know more about the ship

There is so much information and blogs out there about cruises, I know I would have used some resources to get a little more acquainted with the layout of the ship and where things are in order to not feel so lost on the ship. On our first day, we did get lost a few times before finding our restaurant for dinner (which we arrived late to because we weren’t familiar with the Navigator app!). Don’t get me wrong, after the first day and exploring the ship and getting familiar with using the app, it’s very easy to make your way through the ship. Not to mention the cast members who go above and beyond making you feel right at home and are readily available for any questions or directions you may need! 

Choosing an earlier boarding time

When you complete online check-in ahead of time (highly recommended!), you are able to choose a boarding time. When I checked in, we had a variety of times available to choose from. When faced with this decision, we easily decided on a later boarding time to give us time to arrive at the port since we were driving into Port Canaveral from Miami. By choosing a later time, we realized we wasted time that could have easily been enjoyed onboard. By the time we boarded, people were already enjoying themselves in the pool and having lunch, which we missed due to late boarding time! Even if you’re flying in, it’s highly recommended to fly in the night before, so if you have a choice of when to board, make it earlier so you enjoy the ship sooner!

In retrospect, I do think having a travel advisor would have been very beneficial for something like a cruise where there is so much to do. I know I could have done the work myself, but I would have been much more comfortable talking to someone who is an expert on cruises and everything they have to offer.  I would have been much more prepared and could have enjoyed the cruise right off the bat!  Now that I’m a professional travel advisor, specializing in Disney destinations, I learn as much as I can so that my clients can avoid the mistakes I made! I can’t wait until our next cruise!

Vianey George-Homestead, FL

Vianey George-Homestead, FL

Travel Advisor

Hello! My name is Vianey and I am a Travel Planner with Living With The Magic Vacations! Disney magic has always had a special place in my heart. From simply watching the movies as a little girl, to Disneyland trips any time we visited family in Southern California. The magic has carried over into my adult life when I first visited Disney World in 2015. Since then, I have gone back year after year for different purposes- honeymoon, weekend getaways, runDisney events, family trips, a bachelorette and now I get to share the magic with trips to Disney World with my 2 year old daughter. Each trip has been unique and unlocked many special “core memories” that I will cherish forever. I’ve experienced Disney through many lenses and I’m so excited to help you plan your own trip, whatever the purpose may be!

Rest Day at Disney

Rest Day at Disney

by | May 31, 2023 | Walt Disney World

A Walt Disney World vacation is an unforgettable experience that you will never forget, but it can be tiring if you’re constantly on the go. A rest day is just what you need to recharge and prepare for more park fun. I know what you’re thinking, without the parks, what will we do all day?  A day off from the parks doesn’t have to mean you’re sitting at the pool all day, there are so many great options to fill your day.  The pool is my first choice to enjoy while you’re having a rest day though!  The recreation team does an amazing job entertaining the kids with activities both in and out of the pool! 

 

For recreation fans, enjoy the day on the course with traditional golf or foot golf, a mix between soccer and golf. If you don’t want to bring your clubs, they have some available to rent so you don’t have to worry about bringing them. My son was impressed with the quality of clubs so there is no need to worry about golfing with old ones.  If you or your kids don’t enjoy golf (foot golf or traditional), you may want to use your free mini golf tickets that come with your vacation package! Walt Disney World offers 2 mini golf courses; you’ll find Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf located near the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Winter Summerland Miniature Golf is located near Blizzard Beach. If bowling is more your game, try a game of bowling at Splitsville in Disney Springs.  

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Speaking of Disney Springs, you could spend your entire rest day there. They have a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, and experiences for you to enjoy.  Catch the latest movie at the AMC Theater, grab a bite to eat while surrounded by dinos at T-Rex Cafe, ride the vintage amphicar at The Boathouse, or soar high above the Springs on Aerophile – a tethered hot air balloon.  When you’re done exploring Disney Springs, catch the ferry boat to Port Orleans French Quarter for a beignet.  

Your rest day is also a great way to enjoy all the resorts Walt Disney World has to offer.  Plan a meal like Story Book Dining at Artist Point in Wilderness Lodge, or the hidden gem Sebastian’s at Caribbean Beach that you may not get to on a park day.  Depending on which resort you stay at, you may not get to experience the Skyliner or the Monorail, so  I recommend stopping at each hotel and trying a delicious snack or drink – it’s a great way to experience some of Disney’s culinary delights, as well as explore other resorts that you may love to stay at on your next Disney vacation.

If you haven’t been able to enjoy the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, try reserving dining at California Grill or even reserving a private specialty cruise where you can enjoy the show without the crowds!

Kelly Van Eerden - Jennison, MI

Kelly Van Eerden - Jennison, MI

Lead Travel Advisor

Hi! I’m Kelly Van Eerden, a Lead Travel Advisor with Living With The Magic Vacations. I currently live in Jenison, Michigan with my husband, daughter, and son.   

We love traveling as a family because it gives us time to spend time together without all the activities that life with older children brings.  Walt Disney World will always have a special place in our hearts as one of our first family vacations, but we also love exploring new destinations!  Some of our favorite places to visit have actually been new to us in the last few years.  We took our first Disney cruise in early 2020 and my kids fell in love with cruising.  We have also visited Universal (both Hollywood and Orlando) and Disneyland recently, and we all found something to enjoy.  We love the thrills that the Universal parks offer as well as the Marvel and Cars Land at Disneyland. 

10 Reasons to (Still) Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

10 Reasons to (Still) Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

by | May 31, 2023 | Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

It’s no secret that life has been a bit of a roller coaster for everyone the last few years. If you’ve taken a vacation more recently, I suspect you may have noticed some changes in the way traveling has changed. When talking about vacations to Walt Disney World in particular, I’ve had several people ask what the benefits are to staying on Disney property; I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share some key reasons why we should (still) stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel.


Reason #1: Location, location, location!! This one is a no-brainer. You can’t beat the proximity of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels to the parks. You can take advantage of all that the resort has to offer without worrying about how you’re going to get to and from the parks, being on a tight schedule to catch a bus, or get lost trying to follow signs (especially if you’re not a seasoned Disney guest that knows your way around) … which brings me to…



 

Reason #2: Disney Transportation. Yes, your off-site resort may offer transportation to/from the parks. But does that shuttle come every 20 minutes (or less)? Is that shuttle complimentary? Do you need to make an advance reservation for that shuttle? When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, even if you just saw your resort bus pull away, there will be another coming right behind it. No need to keep an eye on the time and worry about a bus schedule or the “reservation” you made to go back to your off-site hotel. Disney has buses, the monorail, the skyliner, and boats to help you get around property. Plus the buses will run until every last guest has exited the parks to ensure nobody gets left behind.

Reason #3: Some resorts are actually WALKING distance to parks!! Some people may not want to walk to/from the resort since there’s already a fair amount of walking on a Disney vacation, but some people absolutely love to have this option. Where can you walk to/from?

  • You can walk to the Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Contemporary Resort
    (including Bay Lake Tower), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (though I will caution that the walk would be a bit longer to/from the Polynesian, so I don’t recommend it).
  • You can walk to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan and Swan Reserve Hotels.
  • You can walk to Disney Springs from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. If you love shopping and dining (especially in the evening), this is a great resort to consider!

 

Reason #4. Complimentary Parking. Are you driving to Orlando, or perhaps considering renting a car upon arrival? If so, you’ll be happy to know that self parking at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is now COMPLIMENTARY!! And guests staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will also have complimentary parking at the parks if you want to drive to the parks rather than utilizing the Disney transportation!! If you stay off-site, you will be charged the current parking rate to park at the theme parks (parking at the theme parks currently starts at $25 per day), plus your hotel may also charge a parking fee – so be aware of this if staying off-site is on your radar – those parking fees at both the hotel and as well as at the parks can really add up quickly! 

 

Reason #5: Early Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours. When you stay on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll get to take advantage of Early Park Entry – this means you’ll be able to enter ANY of the four theme parks 30-minutes early EVERY DAY. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get into the parks and walk right on to some of the rides that tend to have longer wait times before the park gets too crowded. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you arrive early. BONUS: If you’re staying at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you’ll have the added perk of Extended Evening Hours. On select nights at select parks, guests staying at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort will have 2 extra hours to stay in the park without the crowds. This is also a huge timesaver – can you imagine being able to practically walk right on some of your favorite rides that usually have long waits all day long?! I literally walked right on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After and Test Track on my last visit during Extended Evening Hours – it was AWESOME!! Plus we still made it to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind with the Virtual Queue (yes, that’s offered for Extended Evening Hours too!!!) 

Reason #6: Mid-Day Breaks. Do you like to take mid-day breaks from the parks to rest or swim before heading back into the parks at night? Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel makes this SO much easier, especially when utilizing Disney’s transportation. Hop on a bus (or monorail, skyliner, or boat) back to your resort. Take a nap. Go for a swim. Get refreshed, and then head back to the parks for the evening festivities (and hopefully fireworks!)

 

Reason #7: Charging Privileges. Do you love to keep your vacation on one bill? When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you will have charging privileges to your room via your MagicBand (or via MagicMobile or Key to the World if you choose to forgo the MagicBands). No need to worry about carrying cash or credit cards with you. Just charge everything to your room and you’ll get your final bill upon checkout via email! 


Reason #8: Book All Your Dining Reservations at Once. Currently, dining reservations can be made 60-days prior to your check-in date (and for up to 10 days into your vacation) when staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. If you’re staying off-site, you won’t have access to book all of your dining at once – in other words, you’ll need to book each day’s dining reservations separately when that respective day is 60 days away. This means you run the risk of not landing that coveted dining reservation at the hard-to-get restaurants as Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests will get the first chance to snag those reservations for the entirety of their trip. While it may not be impossible to get those reservations as your trip gets closer, it will certainly not be easy either.

Reason #9: Bundle Your Room and Tickets With a Package. This sounds straightforward, but let me explain. Disney offers some of its best deals when you package tickets and your resort stay together. Plus, when you book your vacation as a package (especially with a Travel Advisor), you only need to pay a $200 (refundable!) deposit for your vacation package. The balance of your package will be due 30 days prior to your arrival. You can also make payments in any amount at any time through your Travel Advisor if you prefer to pay for your vacation in increments ahead of time. This makes it much more manageable for many to not feel overwhelmed paying for their vacation all at once and budget ahead of time. Buying tickets separately when you’re staying off-site means paying for them in full at the time of purchase and they are also non-refundable. And since Disney is currently requiring you to make park reservations for entry into the parks each day, you’ll want to have those tickets linked to your account as far ahead of time as possible to be sure you are getting into the park you’d like each day.


Reason #10: Be Fully Immersed in the Disney Magic. Here’s a truth bomb… I’ve stayed off-site before, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it wasn’t the same and I wouldn’t do it again. There’s nothing like staying in the middle of the Disney Magic – especially if you’re traveling with your family. If you’re planning to visit the parks more days than not, staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel gives you that full Disney Experience that you won’t get anywhere else. The theming at every resort is amazing, and there’s truly something for everyone when you’re picking among all of the incredible resort options at the Walt Disney World Resort.

 

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Aly Hirst - Gilbertsville, PA

Lead Travel Advisor

Hi, I’m Aly Hirst, Travel Advisor with Living with the Magic Vacations! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Disney-obsessed gal. Even though I didn’t take many Disney vacations growing up, I can remember requesting the old vacation planning videos that Disney use to send in the mail; I would watch them over and over again to learn every nook and cranny of the Walt Disney World Resort as well as the Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Lines. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity in college to participate in the Disney College Program for a semester – who didn’t want to spend a semester of college living and working at the Walt Disney World Resort? (Bonus for me – I moved down to Orlando in January that year so it was the best winter escape for me from snowy New England!) 

Why are cruises the best vacation?

Why are cruises the best vacation?

by | May 9, 2023 | Beyond Disney, Disney Cruise Line

Why are cruises the best vacation?

Trying to decide whether a cruise is your next vacation? Here are my top 5 reasons why your next vacation should be on board a cruise ship! 

  1. To unplug from social media and the internet. Sometimes screen time can go unnoticed because we are so used to it in our daily life. While on a cruise you’re more likely to step away from phones, TVs or computers. This feels amazing to disconnect and be present. 
  2. Endless ocean views. The sounds and essence of the ocean is something that is truly remarkable. What’s better than waking up to amazing ocean views and relaxing at night to the sunset above the ocean. You never know you may catch a glimpse of sea life. 
  3. Shore excursions. Nothing is better than waking up multiple times in a week or a couple days in a new city. While you are in these new cities you have the opportunity to explore excursions. These activities can be from hiking to water sports and shopping to so much more. Each new destination has something new and great to offer. 
  4. Exploring Multiple New Cities on a Budget. Can’t decide on a destination to pick? Cruising allows you to visit multiple destinations in one vacation. Which makes it a cost-effective way to visit multiple cities!
  5.  Great for the Whole Family. There are so many onboard activities as well as entertainment for every age. There are also many food and drink options that will be sure to satisfy everyone’s palate. Enjoying new cities as a family and really being immersed in a new culture is a great way to bond and make memories.

     

    There are many more reasons why cruises are an amazing vacation. Best of all it’s a great way to experience new adventures and make the best memories!

    Deanna Wasleyfrom Rochester, NY!

    Deanna Wasleyfrom Rochester, NY!

    Travel Advisor

    Hi there! My name is Deanna and I’m a travel advisor with Living With The Magic Vacations! I’m a Disney and Universal enthusiast as well as a mother to three beautiful daughters who love to explore the world. I love to learn new things, explore, and meet new people. Planning vacations brings me so much happiness; it’s safe to say that I love all things travel. When I’m not planning vacations, you can find me hanging out with my family, on a new adventure, or researching new destinations. I’d love the opportunity to learn about you and your family, to share my expertise and give you the most amazing experience. Let’s plan something magical!