It’s A Small World Nursery Lobby

One of the facilities I was most interested to check out on our Disney Fantasy cruise, was the It’s A Small World Nursery. Not every family resort or cruise offers infant and baby care, but if they do it’s usually pretty good. The Disney Fantasy was no exception. It’s not free, like at Beaches Turks & Caicos, but it’s not a full day rate like at Club Med. In fact, the pay-as-you-go rate of $6.00 USD per hour is incredibly reasonable, and Bub couldn’t wait to go!

Since he was just shy of his third birthday, I was a little worried that he would find the area a little too babyish. Not the case! He really seemed to enjoy the smaller scale of Small World, and when my husband went to pick him up after an hour there, he didn’t want to leave – a good sign, I think. We let him stay for another hour

It’s A Small World Nursery Play Area

I spoke with Manda, one of the lovely staff members about the policies the It’s A Small World Nursery follows. For infants aged 14mos. and younger, the ratio of staff to babies is 1 – 4. For older babies aged 14mos. and up, the ratio is 1 – 6. There is usually a staff of 8 standing by, but they can always call someone in if things get busy. On the Dream the maximum number of babies they could manage was 28, and Manda anticipated the same for the Fantasy. Reservations are recommended, but they can take walk-ins as capacity allows. As with the Oceaneer Club and Lab, you can pre-register your kids online-  -check under “My Cruise Plans” in your online cruise profile for the option for registering. Wristbands are not given for the little ones. The It’s A Small World Nursery is open from 9am to 11pm – sometimes opening at 7am – and they offer open house time during the first two at-sea days.

It’s A Small World Nursery Nap Area

When dropping off your baby, you leave with the staff their food and/or bottles, diapers and wipes, and napping instructions. If your little one is not exactly thrilled with being left, the staff will try to comfort and distract. Manda advised that usually most calm down within that time frame, but they will page parents for further instructions if the baby cannot be comforted after 15 minutes. If your little one cannot be comforted after 30 minutes, the staff will page you to come pick him or her up.

If your baby or toddler falls down and goes boom while in the care of the Disney Fantasy It’s A Small World Nursery, the staff will administer ice packs and/or band-aids, and will call you straight away. Usually they are fine to stay but they leave that decision at your discretion. If a “protein spill” happens (Disney-speak for vomit – love it!) they will call you to come pick up your child, and they can return to the nursery once you’ve received clearance from the medical team. They need to determine if the “protein spill” was a one-time upset stomach, or a virus that could affect the staff and other attendees of the nursery.

It’s A Small World Main Area

The cost of the It’s A Small World Nursery is $6.00/hour – remarkably reasonable, I think, considering the level of care and quality of the surroundings. It’s spotless, and the various zones are so nicely decorated and soothing (and clutter-free) it makes me wish our daycares at home could maintain that level of cleanliness and tidiness. One thing I noticed about the staff at It’s A Small World (and most of the kids’ staff, actually) is that they’re mostly Brits, Aussies and Kiwis – I think it’s the accent (think Mary Poppins) that inspires extra confidence in the child care department.

Personally, I wasn’t able to utilize baby and kids clubs at resorts until my daughter was past-two. But that’s me and my helicopter parent tendencies, not lack of confidence in any of the facilities I’ve come across. Bub did great at FDR Resort and his vacation nanny in Jamaica when he was 16mos., but my mother-in-law was also there with him. But I recognize that other (most?) parents are not as hover-y as I am, plus having 2nd and 3rd kids often means A) you’re more relaxed about leaving them in the care of others & B) you’re in more need of a break (!) so knowing there are resorts and cruises like Disney Cruise Line that offer exemplary infant and toddler care is a real bonus for parents who just need some grown-up time.

For more information on Disney Cruises, please visit www.disneycruise.com

The post Disney Fantasy – It’s A Small World Nursery & Baby Club appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

Andy's Room, Oceaneer Club

It took a long time for me to warm up to the idea of kids clubs. After all, the whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together, right? Perhaps I was scarred from seeing two miserable kids half-heartedly make sandcastles with a bored Mexican teenager while on my honeymoon, but I was certain I’d never dump MY kids off while on vacation. But once my daughter started nursery school (and would pretend not to see me when I’d come to pick her up) I knew that kids’ clubs would be a part of our lives. That’s usually the first place she asks to go to when we go anywhere – insert Marge Simpson grumble here…

Kids clubs and children’s activities at resorts and on cruises differ wildly in quality and sometimes cost extra. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab on the Disney Fantasy is probably the  most awesome I’ve seen for kids 3-12, and is included in your cruise fare. My daughter concurs.

Making New Friends In Pixie Hollow...

Located on Deck 5, the Oceaneer Club and Lab are side by side, and supervise children from ages 3-12. This is a pretty big span but the supervisors group the kids according to their ages and abilities, and in a nutshell the Lab offers more structured programs. According to the (lovely) Cast Members that operate the Oceaneer’s facilities, typically younger kids prefer the Club, and older kids like the Lab. My 6yo. daughter agreed. All kids, including the three year olds, need to be potty-trained, however they will make exceptions for younger siblings if they want to stay with big brother or big sister, you just need to promise to stop by and check them every hour to make sure they don’t need changing. Luckily Bub was happy to go to the It’s A Small World Nursery, so our daughter got to immerse herself in the Oceaneer fun without Bub cramping her style

Oceaneer Club Dining Room

On the first day, you register your children at the club and they will be wristbanded. The wristband will stay on for the duration of your cruise, and it is sand and waterproof. For your convenience, you can pre-register your kids online -check under “My Cruise Plans” in your online cruise profile for the option for registering.. Children with special needs can be accommodated at the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, just notify the staff and they will make special arrangements as best they can. Children can move back and forth between the Club and the Lab, and the staff will direct appropriate activities for all. There are special “open house” times where parents and other family members can come in and participate with the kids and check out what they’re doing, otherwise the Club and Lab are secure environments – no adults will be permitted inside for extended periods of time. Consult The Daily Navigator (the daily newsletter left in your stateroom each day) for the Oceaneer Club and Lab hours of operation and schedules. If you (or they) prefer, kids can have lunch and dinner there too.

Monster Academy...

On the Oceaner Club side, you’ll find Andy’s Room, Monster’s Academy, Pixie Hollow, and Disney’s Explorer Pod. There is a reading area, computer banks,  a small stage for games, multiple televisions, play structures, colouring, dress-up costumes, and a giant (and I do mean giant) TV screen.

Over on the Oceaneer Lab side, there’s a media room with bean bag chairs and so kids can watch movies, play video games or read, a working animation studio where kids can create original art or learn to sketch their favorite Disney characters, a tech space with numerous computers and large, high-definition LCD screens, a sound studio to create music, and a craft area (my daughter’s favourite!) with the biggest supply of crafty-type materials I’ve ever seen.

Nemo's Lab...

Scuttle’s Cove, on Castaway Cay, is the island’s extension of the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The staff transfer over to the island for those days at port, and you can enroll your kids there if you’d prefer some grown up time on the beach.

I was highly impressed by the kids club offerings on the Disney Fantasy Cruise. The rooms were spotless, the staff amazing, and the activities and amenities impressive – and it’s all included in the fare.

The post Disney Fantasy – Oceaneer Club & Oceaneer Lab Kids Clubs appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

View Of Castaway Cay From Cabanas Restaurant

On our Disney Cruise, we only had one port of call, on our second day we stopped at Disney’s private island – Castaway Cay. Now one of the things that most appealed about this stop is that it was a true opportunity for us to beach it guilt free. No local strip to check out or exotic foods to seek out and sample. Just a clean stretch of white sand, turquoise water, and delicious food without any fear of the unknown. While I adore getting off the beaten track and always seek out local markets and delicacies on our travels, it was kinda refreshing not to have to do any of that, just stop, drop, and play.

The Way To The Beach!

Disembarking the Disney Fantasy at Castaway Cay could not be easier, just walk off. No tethers, and really no waiting in line. You can always pop back on board if you’ve forgotten something as well – just be sure to always have your “key to the world” handy. You’ll come across water vendors when you first get off the ship, but water is available at the food area should you prefer to refill your own containers as well. Do remember that there is no coffee or milk available on Castaway Cay. So if you need your caffeine fix or an afternoon bottle before a nap, you’ll have to nip back inside or bring travelers with you. It’s a very short walk to the beach, or you can hop on board the little tram (fun for toddlers).

First Come, First Served Strollers, Wagons, and Sand-Ready Wheelchairs

What I love about everything Disney is that everything is always so accessible, and Castaway Cay is no exception. On a first-come, first-served basis, there are beach-ready strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs (I had never seen these before!) that you can grab as you approach the beach. I saw few families take advantage of these, mostly I think because they weren’t planning on doing much walking around the island (the ship does do a 5k run in the morning if you are so inclined). Beach loungers are plentiful, as are umbrellas, and towels are also provided on the island. The gift shop sells a number of pail and shovel options, but we were too cheap to buy them. Our kids made do with their drinking cups and seemed to make out ok.

The sand is soft, clean, and white. The water is crystal clear, but a little cooler than we are used to. The chill was quite refreshing at first, but it did not take long for us all to get used to the water, and other than our late lunch (more on that later) we really did not leave the water’s edge. For babies and toddlers, the slope to the water is nice and gentle, but do ensure they’re hatted and sunscreened (if they’re old enough) up because that Bahamian sun is strong. You can rent any number of water sport equipment, and the cabanas look lovely (albeit expensive – starting at $500/day), but we simply just lazed in the sand.

Scuttle's Cove

Scuttle’s Cove is the Castaway Cay-equivalent of Oceaneer’s Club on board the Fantasy. We didn’t go in, even though my daughter really (really) wanted to go. I insisted on family time at the beach and I’m glad that I did. I suppose it’s a good thing that your kids want to ditch you for the kids’ clubs but I convinced her to hang out with boring old mom and dad and she could go to the Oceaneer’s Club in the afternoon. Deal.

The food on Castaway Cay is a varied buffet – I’m not sure if it’s the same everyday but for us it was hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as a number of different chicken and rib selections (yum) and salads. You could grab any number of soft drinks or water (no coffee or milk though – remember!) and you could order alcoholic beverages to be charged to your stateroom. We thought the food was delicious – it was as good as the food on board the ship, which my clothes will tell you was a little too good Of course for dessert, there was the self-serve soft-serve ice cream bar. The food on Castaway Cay is included in your fare, just the alcoholic beverages and bottled water are extra.

Fabulous Day At Castaway Cay

And because Castaway Cay is a Disney destination, the facilities are baby and toddler friendly, and spotless – in spite of the sandy location. There are change tables in the washrooms, and the showers are located outside each restroom – it took us a while to figure that out.

Of course there are adult-only areas of Castaway Cay that are lovely, I’m sure, but for us this was a glorious family day at the beach, with an easy stroll back to our stateroom for naps.

The post Baby Friendly Disney – Castaway Cay, Bahamas appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport

It was a crazy, wonderful, busy, energizing, fantastic week at Walt Disney World, and on our Disney Cruise on board the Disney Fantasy. But all good things must come to an end, so when it came time to get off the ship after breakfast and head to MCO, I realized we’d have some time to kill before our flight. Like ten hours. I couldn’t fathom heading back to the parks or shopping or anything other than just completely relaxing on our last day, so I made one of the best pre-trip decisions I’ve ever made, and got us a day room at the Orlando Airport Hotel – The Hyatt Regency.

The Orlando Airport Hyatt is actually located right inside the airport, so the complimentary Magical Express transportation offered by Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Lines dropped us off exactly where we needed to be. Located in the main area that connects MCO’s Terminals A and B, the elevator takes you right to the lobby, where you can check in and then check out – but not literally! Day-use customers have full access to all of the hotel’s amenities and services including the fitness center, an amazing pool area overlooking the runway with a heated outdoor pool, baggage delivery and pick up service to and from your departing or arriving gate, plus award winning restaurants, a full service business centre, concierge, and more. They are available from 10am to 6pm daily and are booked directly with the hotel by calling (407) 825-1234.

Hyatt MCO Double Room

The room seemed huge compared to our compact stateroom on-board the Disney Fantasy, and we appreciated the space to get ourselves re-organized for our stay there, as well as for our flight home. After a snack we changed into our suits, and headed for the wonderful roof-top pool. Pool towels are provided, and the fountains and trees seemed to block out most of the aircraft noise – although all of us enjoyed watching the planes come in. The couple of hours we spent playing in the water and lazing in the sun were a great way to wind down after our wonderful but busy week. The mid-day sun was quite strong, but there are plenty of umbrellas by the pool chaises for your much-needed doses of shade.

Roof Top Deck – Hyatt Regency MCO

It was back to our room for showers and food before it was time to catch our flight. The elevator goes straight into the terminal lobby, where there are a wide range of fast food options and a Starbucks (blessedly!) A warm shower and the cool air conditioning sent Bub straight to dreamland, and we all relaxed and enjoyed our last few hours of vacation. We took our time re-packing and getting organized, because we could.

When we headed to our ticket counter, I marveled at how refreshed and recharged I felt, and made the mistake of commenting out loud that it was the most relaxing prep-for-the-flight home I’d ever experienced. Clearly I jinxed myself, as our flight home was delayed for over four hours. Usually we have good luck and no issues when we fly Air Canada, but not this time. Though I was grateful we did end up getting home (much later) that night, I found myself pining for our room at the Hyatt!

Pre-Flight Bliss…

If you have a long layover, or a late-afternoon cruise or departing flight, a day use room at the airport is an affordable luxury that’s totally worth it. My cousin and his family stayed at the Hyatt Orlando Airport last year when they had a late arrival before their Disney Cruise, and felt it was a great way to start their trip as well.

Day use rooms at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport Hotel are available from 10am to 6pm daily and are booked directly with the hotel by calling (407) 825-1234.

The Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport hosted my family’s stay, but no other compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

The post Post-Cruise Day Use Room – Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

Disney Fantasy – Outside Cabanas

I was a pretty adventurous traveler in my single days, and my husband shared my wanderlust, which is one of the (many) reasons I knew he was “the one”. When we first had our daughter, and I expressed to people that we still hoped to travel WITH her, one of the most popular responses was “Well now I guess you’re stuck going to Disney.” Like that was a bad thing.

There is a sometimes a difference between traveling and taking a vacation. And a Disney Vacation is just that -a vacation – especially when you have a baby or toddler in tow. I am all about going on adventures and not having to specifically stay in properties labeling themselves as family-friendly, but if you need a break and don’t want to have to even think about high chairs or change tables or stroller access, Disney’s hotels and cruises have you covered.

I had never cruised before, and I wanted our Disney Fantasy Reviews to be as in-depth as possible – so here’s our day three…

Day 3:
For our Magical Preview Cruise, day three of our itinerary was a day at sea – to give everyone a chance to explore and enjoy the Disney Fantasy’s amenities.  I was also looking forward to a lazy morning. We slept really well on the ship – the beds are very comfortable and the motion really seemed to keep me knocked out. I had a fancypants brunch to attend at Palo – one of the ship’s two adult-exclusive restaurants that require advance reservations (and are an additional cost), but I joined my husband at Cabanas to help get the kids off for breakfast. I may or may not have had bacon.

Palo serves Northern Italian cuisine and is open for dinner but also occasionally brunch while the ship is at sea. I was there for a special event with fellow bloggers to meet and chat with some Disney execs, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying a Prosecco (or three) and devouring the Blue Cheese, Grape, & Port Wine Pizza. While I waited for my pizza I also enjoyed some of the offerings from the brunch buffet, so essentially you had to roll me out of there. The additional dining fee is very reasonable – $20.00 per person – but apparently reservations are difficult to come by. Online reservations well in advance are strongly recommended.

It’s A Small World Nursery

While I was off stuffing my face, my husband decided to check out the kids’ clubs. At almost three, they would have let Bub stay with his sister and play in the Oceaneer’s Club, with the proviso that we check in every hour since he was not yet fully potty trained (more on that later). I was concerned that the It’s A Small World Nursery would be too baby-ish for him, but they decided to check it out on the way to the Oceaneer’s Club. My husband said Bub didn’t even look back as he tried to barge into the play area, and had to be convinced to return for a hug and kiss goodbye. At $6.00 for infant care for babies as young as 12 weeks up until 36 months, the It’s A Small World Nursery is a clean and fun place, with wonderful doting Cast Members who will care for your baby. They do accept walk-ins (like us) however when the ship is closer to capacity, reservations are recommended – as is checking in your child online in advance.

Oceaneer’s Club

My daughter was next to be dropped off at the Oceaneer’s Club. I have always had reservations about Kids’ Clubs at resorts, so therefore I have kids who would rather go there than hang out with me! (At Beaches Turks and Caicos, toddlers were crying as they were being dropped off – mine cried when I came to pick her up! But I digress…) The difference between the Oceaneer’s Club and the Oceaneer’s Lab is that the Lab has more structured activities and an itinerary to follow. Most of the kids were a bit older in the Lab, and the Club often has “open house” hours where you can come in and play with your child, as well as supervise younger siblings so the whole family can play together. All the Cast Members working with the kids were bright and friendly – both my kids instantly felt comfortable with them, so I did too.

With both kids happily ensconced in supervised activities, and me happily consuming a week’s worth of calories in one sitting, my husband went for a run and relaxed by the pool. When he went to pick the kids up, both of them begged for another hour. I met him when I was finished my meet-ups and we had blissful thirty minutes alone together. I wanted to do the “King Of The World” bit from Titanic, but that part of the boat is not accessible, and the bow section of the ship is where the teen club is. Darn teenagers After we grabbed the kiddos we whooped it up at the character dance party in the lobby, where both my kids bailed from the conga line into the gift shop. Then it was time for some pool action!

Meeting Tiana – Worth The Wait

Bub was a bit grumpy, so my husband did the Deck 4 walk (2 laps!) while I watched my daughter splash around. Then I was on Bub watch duty (and pool-side cocktail duty) while they waited in line for the AquaDuck – the waterslide that goes out over the ocean. It was a good thing that Bub was napping for this, because at 40″ he was not quite tall enough (minimum height for both slides is 42″) to go on. Then we swapped out as it was time for the Princess Meet & Greet in the lobby. The Character meeting times are all in the daily newsletter, but I recommend arriving a bit early or at least on time. While there is less of a wait and more opportunities to meet the characters on the cruise than in the parks, you still do actually have to wait a bit – which is nice because when it’s your turn you don’t feel like you are being rushed through. (A tip to the tantrum-throwing mom with two very disappointed little princesses in tow: don’t show up for a character greeting at 5:00 when it says it starts at 4:30. And don’t give me the side-eye because I almost ran over your foot with the stroller because you refused to make room for us in the elevator. *rant over)

Bub’s nap wasn’t great, and dinner was a bit stressful. The Royal Court was our last in the rotational dining plan, and my daughter (well we all) loved the Cinderella’s Ball feel. I had the chicken, which was delicious, and my husband had the ravioli, which was divine. Again, as with all our meals, our servers Jorge and Brent were so awesome – entertaining and feeding (!) the grumpy Bub, and making an appropriate fuss over our princess dress-clad daughter. When serving the ketchup they do so in the shape of a Disney character (usually Mickey) but Brent can do Minnie – complete with bow. We left dinner and came out to another dance party – this time with live music. Bub had a party going on in his pants which required his swift removal, and though we feared the kids were too spun to settle, we made it to the showtime of “Believe” – and I’m so glad we did.

Disney Fantasy – “Believe”

As with the previous night’s show, “Wishes“, “Believe” has a pretty corny storyline but phenomenal musical numbers. Both kids were entranced, and as someone with a background in such things, I am totally impressed with Disney’s incredible production value – the costumes, lighting (indoor fireworks, even!) all were fantastic. And probably the most incredible? My daughter was convinced that the little Tinkerbell light was real, and I get to keep my pixie-dust believing girl for just a little while longer.

A little tidbit that I held from my husband (such info tends to stress him out) is that our bags needed to be packed and outside our stateroom door by 10pm for disembarkation the next morning. After the show, we headed back to our room, threw pretty much EVERYTHING into our luggage, and out the door it went  - just in time. I had the foresight to leave our and the kids’ clothes for the next day out, and our carry-on bags were just fine to manage the next day needs. Now, had we been going straight to our flight after our cruise, I would have ensured I was more organized, but our flight home was not scheduled to depart until 7pm, and though we were going straight to the airport the next day, we were going straight to the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport – to rest and relax for those precious final hours of vacation.

Stay tuned for a wrap-up, and a detailed account of our stay at the Hyatt Regency MCO, but first – a few tips:

• Remember, your luggage needs to go out the night before you leave. Set aside a few minutes to get organized on your last day, so you’re not scrambling.
• The additional fee of $20 per person for the exclusive dining at Remo and Palo is well worth it – if you’ve a wee one under three be sure to book your It’s A Small World Nursery time for the same time if reserving online in advance.
• The shows are fantastic, and worth the late nights. Be sure to grab drinks and snacks from Deck 11 before the show so you’re not tempted by the sweets at the snack bar next door.

Revisit our Disney Fantasy Preview Cruise Day 1 and Day 2, and stay tuned for our post-cruise stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport coming soon!

The post Travel Stories: Disney Fantasy Preview Cruise – Day 3 appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

Castaway Cay, Bahamas

It’s been over a month now since we returned from our Disney Cruise, and both kids keep referring to the trip as something that’s going to be happening again and again – as in “When we go back on the boat…” and “On our next Disney cruise…” I’m not sure if the kids have been this affected by a trip or if they’re just that much more verbal now they can express their feelings afterwards. I had a feeling this trip on the Disney Fantasy blew their minds, and I guess I’m right!

Day 2:

We all slept really well on board the ship, and upon waking we were delighted to see the clear turquoise waters as we docked at Castaway Cay. Getting ready took no time at all, as the stateroom’s split bathrooms allow one to shower while the other brushes teeth, washes faces, etc. I was pleased my husband was so organized when putting our stuff away, as finding clothes for everyone was easy as we all had our “zone”.

Breakfast at Cabanas is a buffet so vast I recommend you remind yourself you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try everything. I tend to have a bit of a self control problem when it comes to buffets, so I ate enough to last me most of the day! The food is fresh and delicious, and there is plenty of coffee, juice, and milk at hand. The lattes and specialty coffees are extra – I think it was $5 for a large, non-fat vanilla latte. I had one the first day but didn’t bother for the rest of our trip. We tried to eat outside but the morning was a bit breezy so in we went – the interior of Cabanas is lovely anyway. I was astounded by the attention to detail with the beautiful tile work.

View Of Castaway Cay From Cabanas Restaurant

The nice thing about docking at Castaway Cay is you can walk directly off the ship. And the fact that we were there all day meant that we didn’t have to rush – although we did hustle since we were so excited to hit the sand. We are beach people, and Castaway Cay satisfied our need for sandcastles and salt water in a very beautiful and easy way. The water was a little cooler than the Caribbean we are used to, but we quickly adjusted to the temperature and spent most of the day in it. Sand toys were a tad pricey at the gift shop, so our kids made do with cups from the restaurant for their scooping and filling needs. Lazing in the sand, splashing in the sea, floating in the salty water – this is our ideal way to spend a vacation.

The food at Castaway Cay is included in your cruise fare, and there are also included beverages available as well – including water. There is no milk or coffee available, though, so if you need a caffeine fix or a nap-inducing bubba you’ll have to nip on board or bring a traveler. As you approach the beach, you’ll come across beach-friendly strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs that you are free to borrow (first come, first served), and there are also lots of rentals for watersports.

Post-Beach Nap...

We had a lovely late lunch – barbecue chicken, potato salad, fresh fruit and, of course, self-serve ice cream, before heading back to the boat. My daughter wanted so badly to go to Scuttle’s Cove kids’ club on Castaway Cay (I insisted on family time!) that I agreed to let her play in the Oceaneer’s Club while her brother napped. Of course being tired and grumpy was not a good enough reason to sleep, so it was back to Deck 4 for a few laps. While the boys slept and the girl played under the supervision of the fab Oceaneer’s Club staff, I had a few minutes to explore the ship and take a few pictures, and pop into the gift shop for some Pirate trinkets.

Like Father, Like Son

Bub napped late, which I typically try to avoid but I wanted us all to enjoy the shows that evening. He was very tough to wake, so my daughter and I headed to The Enchanted Garden first so we wouldn’t be late for dinner. This evening was a pirate party, so each guest was given a red bandanna to wear, and my daughter was delighted with her newly procured “pirate princess” outfit. A quick tip- packing a few costumes or accessories means fun at the theme parties without expensive trips to the gift shop!

Dinner was really delicious, and our awesome servers (hi, Jorge and Brent!) had the kids’ drinks ready, my glass of wine poured (leftover from the bottle I purchased at dinner the previous night) and were ready with a quick smile or joke to entertain the kids. Bub was pretty grumpy when dinner first started, and Brent not only had him laughing, he cut up his food and fed him. I sipped my wine and marveled at the Disney magic My husband’s tuna and avocado appetizer was delicious, and my prime rib was really good. Actually all our food this evening was wonderful, but I think the fabulous service made it taste even better.

Arrrr! Pirate Dinner At The Enchanted Garden

This evening’s show was called “Wishes” , and while the interstitial bits were a little corny, the song and dance numbers were really wonderful – fabulous production value with fantastic costumes and special effects. The kids absolutely loved it, even Bub – who at still only 2 has trouble sitting still for very long. I’m so glad we were able to see it all as a family.

But by the end of “Wishes”, the kids were cooked. Back to #5152 for a quick battle over the top bunk (again) and bedtime – except for Bub. I’m not sure if it was the late nap or the excitement of the evening (probably a combination of the two) he was spun, and would not settle to go to sleep. Back to Deck 4 for some laps (I really didn’t mind doing this – felt the exercise was good for me!) but even with his woobie and the fresh night air, sleep was not coming. We headed up to Deck 11 for the Pirate Party, where in spite of the sometimes scary imagery (he finds all the skeletons a bit freaky, and we tell them they’re silly so he laughs) Bub enjoyed the stage show. The fireworks off the boat? Amazing. Not exactly conducive to settling a toddler at bedtime, but amazing.

Eventually he did go down, and then my husband and I finished our beer from the previous night (yes, we’re lightweights now) and slept. Hard. The (slight) rocking of the boat and the supreme comfiness of the bed meant I had probably the best sleeps on vacation in a long, long time.

Stay tuned for the final installment – a recap of our Day 3, but first a few more tips:

• If you’ll be enjoying the beach at Castaway Cay, apply sunscreen before you disembark. The kids will run straight for the water (trust) and it’s hard to put lotion on wet, sandy, and squirming kids.
• In spite of wanting to keep luggage to a minimum, pack a few costumes and accessories for your kids. Everyone makes an effort for the themed parties, and this way you can avoid pricey trips to the gift shop. These fun themed parties might be a good excuse to hit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, however…
• Be prepared for your baby or toddler sleep routine to get a little screwy. There is A LOT going on and Bub’s naps suffered. Luckily he was too busy to be too grumpy and he was so tired by the end of it he was right back on track. They always find their routine again, anyway. With some (and some trips) it just takes a little longer.

Disney Fantasy Magical Preview Cruise, Day 3 – coming soon! 

The post Travel Stories: Disney Fantasy Preview Cruise – Day 2 appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

The Disney Fantasy, March 2012

Pre-kids, a Disney vacation is one I never saw myself taking with kids, never mind taking again and again. In my previous life as a certified travel snob, I had not yet come to the realization that a vacation and traveling can be two separate things, and that one is not better than the other and each has its value. While I am itching to get out and explore somewhere new, after the death of my father on New Year’s Day and the grief, stress, and everything else added on to a working parent’s plate, this Spring I needed a vacation. I’m grateful to Disney Cruise Lines for inviting us on a preview sailing of their newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, as this busy break from reality allowed us to escape from winter’s doldrums and provided me the impetus to create a new Cruising section of Have Baby Will Travel.

Day 1:
After three action-packed days at Walt Disney World, we were excited to board the Disney Fantasy and check out our “Boat House” for the next three nights. Our itinerary was for three nights on board – with Day 2 being a port of call at Castaway Cay, and then a day at sea to enjoy the ship. Having never cruised before, I found the boarding experience a little overwhelming, and had I followed advice on my own site about how to prepare for a Disney Cruise, I would have had an easier time of finding our cabin and getting us something to eat! First impression of the Disney Fantasy? It’s beautiful. Really, really beautiful. The fixtures and finishings are lovely and totally what you’d expect for a top-of-the-line, luxury cruise ship. Our first stop was Flo’s V8 Grill, on Deck 11, for some lunch. We enjoyed a smorgasboard of pizza, hot dogs, wraps, salad, and fresh fruit before venturing down to our stateroom on Deck 5 to get organized. For future reference, next to Flo’s on Deck 11 is the 24hr beverage station, where you have round-the-clock access to pop, coffee, water, and milk.

Stateroom 5152

Our stateroom on Deck 5 (Cabin #5152) is classified as a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah, and we had the added good fortune of having an oversized verandah. The thought did make me nervous, but there was a child-proof lock that was high up on the door so that gave me some peace of mind.

The sail away party on Deck 11 was crazy – song & dance numbers, characters, fireworks – I thought it was for the special inaugural sailing, but apparently it’s like that to kick off every trip. Dolphins waved us off as we pulled away from Port Canaveral – we joked that they were animatronic ones created by Disney! Shortly after setting sail, we took part in the emergency drill, and then we were free to enjoy our cruise.

Just a few weeks shy of his third birthday, my son still usually has an afternoon nap. That didn’t happen on this day, as he was quite overstimulated – both kids were. Instead of venturing out and exploring the ship, we relaxed in our stateroom and took our time getting organized before dinner.

Animator's Palate, photo courtesy Disney Cruise Lines

Our dinner seating was at 5:45 – a good one for us. Our first meal at the Animator’s Palate was probably our least memorable food-wise, but most memorable experientially. As you sit down you are given a placemat and some markers to create a character. After your waiter whisks your placemat away, some real Disney magic happens. And I don’t mean your servers cut your kids’ meat and get them to eat broccoli – although that happens too During the animated dinner show, your creations are there in the classic Disney cartoons, singing and dancing with Mickey and friends. It’s truly incredible, and even our overtired kids were entranced and impressed. The food was decent, but it pales in comparison to the wonderful overall dining experience.

Wandering back from dinner, we spotted a number of characters and princesses in the lobby. That was a delightful surprise, but had I been more on top of things I would have realized that all character appearances and their times are listed daily in the Daily Navigaor – the Fantasy’s newsletter that your stateroom host places in your room each day. Our host was Carlos, and although I’ve since learned that this how a cruise works. There’s no housekeeping, per se – your stateroom host makes up your room each morning, and turns it down at night. And for our room that included setting up the bunkie while we were away at dinner.

Belle Gets Five

That evening’s show at the Walt Disney Theater was Alladin, and I heard it was great. Unfortunately the kids were utterly spent, so after a quick war over the top bunk, it was bedtime. Bub was too wired to sleep, so I packed him up in his stroller and set off to walk Deck 4 – the uninterrupted route around the ship that can also be used as a running track. Two and a half laps and he was gone – and slept the whole night through.

We were not far behind, but we did enjoy a few beers on our private verandah (approx. $30 + tip for six Corona from room service). The night air was fresh and we indeed slept like babies – if babies truly slept soundly and didn’t stir until morning

Stay tuned for a re-cap of Day II but first a few first-day tips:

• There is good storage but the staterooms are compact. We were glad to bring our compact travel stroller, as once folded it fit under the bed and out of the way.
• You can’t live out of a suitcase on a cruise; to keep your stateroom liveable you have to be organized. After we unpacked we stored our luggage in the closets. But beware you don’t accidentally bring home the fabric laundry bag belonging to the ship. Still waiting for the credit card bill to see how much that accidental souvenir cost!
• Acquaint yourself with the map of the ship and your place on it. Had I been a little more familiar with where things were and how to get there, our arrival process would have been a lot smoother.

Read on for: 
Disney Fantasy Magical Preview Cruise, Day 2…

The post Travel Stories: Disney Fantasy Preview Cruise – Day 1 appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

Castaway Cay, Bahamas

We are only just back from a whirlwind trip to Walt Disney World, and our Disney Fantasy Magical Preview Cruise… an incredibly delayed flight home plus keeping my sea legs for a few extra days means only now am I just beginning to process everything. It was a truly magical (and busy!) trip and it’s safe to say I think we blew the kids’ minds. From watching ostriches and giraffes from our hotel room balcony to fantastic fireworks and light shows to a giant boat filled with Disney magic, this was truly a trip of a lifetime.

I can’t wait to share with you all that I’ve learned – and I thought I knew a lot about Disney – as well as the tips and tricks I picked up as a first-time cruiser. I definitely think that bar has been set high should we go on any other cruises, and many of my fellow passengers concurred. And not only was this an amazing family vacation, this was the first time that my husband and I actually snuck away for a bit of grown-up time on our own. This, of course, is due to the fact that both Bub and our daughter did not want to leave their respective kids’ clubs. Oh excuse me, that’s the Oceaneer’s Club and the It’s A Small World Nursery **said in the newly acquired exasperated tone of my six-year-old**.

As with everything Disney, the quality was top notch, it was so spotless you could eat off the ground, and we were so busy that I’m glad I have pictures and my notes to refer to. Although we began it on a family vacation to Cuba, this year got off to a terrible start, and this trip has energized me back into the land of the living – or at least conscious

It will take some time to process everything, and I want to do it properly, but know that I now understand why people love cruising so much, and I’m so glad there’s cruise lines like Disney that welcome family members of every age.

The post The Disney Fantasy… A Cruise Is As Good As A Rest appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

24hr Mickey Ice Creams. 'Nuff Said.

I am so incredibly grateful to new mom, expert cruiser, and Have Baby Will Travel reader Melissa for sharing these fabulous cruise tips with us! We are T-minus 1.5 sleeps from our latest WDW adventure, so I may have left it a bit late to prepare. We are all very excited for our first cruise, and these tips I’m sure would transfer to any family-friendly cruise line. My favourite might just be tip #12. Bon Voyage!

I have traveled on a few cruises, including Disney and here are my tips! You will have a wonderful time.

1) Get to the ship early. Sure, the ship probably leaves late afternoon but boarding on some ships can take place early. Arriving around noon will make sure that you can get on board, eat and rest or do a little investigating before you need to do ‘the drill’. Checking in with Disney is even fun at the departure port so take your time, arrive early and enjoy.

2) Be prepared for the ‘muster drill’. Every voyage will require that you do a drill, remember fire drills in elementary school? It is like that but involves a life jacket, this is mandatory and it can interrupt your afternoon if you don’t remember it will be taking place. It is usually shortly before leaving your departure port. And remember to join the Sail Away Party afterwards!

3) Take a good hard look at the deck plans. Take note of where you’ll enter the ship and where you may want to go once on board. On my Disney cruise, we headed right to the table where one could reserve brunch at Palo. I baffled my husband when he realized that I knew exactly which corridor to take on which floor, this saved us time and lines later on. We did this before even going into our stateroom and we got the reservation we wanted although it hadn’t been available online in advance.

4) Go online in advance and reserve everything you can. Recent statistics put use of this service only at 30%. This means that 70% of the other passengers are going to be scrambling on board to make the same plans as you if you leave it ’til then.

5) Get your room organized! Ship staterooms can be small. This is one of those times that it is actually a good idea to take a moment and unpack your suitcases once you get them into the room. Store clothes in drawers, closets and provided space. Then leaving a open hole at one end of your suitcase using the zippers. Leave only one out at a time and store the others under the bed. Use this as a laundry hamper for the family. No need to put dirty clothes ‘away’… stuff them all in the ‘hamper’ and worry about the ‘mess’ after your vacation. When the suitcase fills, store it under the bed and set up another empty one for filling. Leave one or two smaller suitcases for souvenirs and toiletries.

Another good storage option is bringing along an ‘over the door shoe hanger’. Hang this over the bathroom door and use it to store room key cards, excursion tickets, sunscreen, sunglasses, luggage keys, and anything else that you want handy, that shouldn’t be just sitting around. This could make for a very messy room otherwise.

6) Take advantage of the information provided on board each day in the form of the ‘newsletter’ and plan your day accordingly. Bring a highlighter. If you have multiple family members with different interests, bring various highlighter colours. Highlight on the schedule in advance the classes, games, clubs, or activities that you don’t want to miss. Each family member can have their own colour and each persons’ need can be quickly identified at a glance the next day. You don’t want to miss a thing!

7) Get into the Disney spirit. Find out what ‘parties’ are going to be on board. If there is going to be a pirate party, pick up an eye patch and at your local party shop. Wear it. You’ll be glad you did! These little extras added so much to our trip and they make for great family photos.

8 ) Research your ports! You can save lots of time and money by deciding what you want to do at the port in advance, if anything at all. Some ports have lots to do immediately once you are off the ship and you may want to just wander. Others may be boring without a planned excursion. The ports are where you’ll find the most adventure. If you have already visited a destination, you may want to just enjoy a quiet day on board even while the boat is docked. Check out cruisecritic.com, and their ‘ports’ section for information on your port. Then, peruse message boards and blogs to see how others have had great excursions by planning something on their own. In some cases, if there is going to be a busy port itinerary or something specific you’d like to do, you may want to pay extra and book right through Disney Cruise Line (in advance on their website), the extra cost could save a lot of headaches. It is especially important to make sure you’ll be back to the ship in plenty of time before it leaves!

9) Budget for excursions and tips. These costs are always necessary and not included, so just be aware in advance that these will be part of your expenses. Your cabin crew will also be so amazing that you will want to tip extra. Also keep in mind that tips are generally ‘per person’ so those little ones (while not mandatory) are expected to ‘leave a tip’ as well.

10) Send yourself a postcard! If you get a chance to visit Disney’s private island – Castaway Cay, bring some cash and send yourself a postcard from this exclusive destination. Do this at the post office upon arriving to the island, as when you leave, the lines are likely to be longer.

11) Probably my most important tip has come from researching about traveling with my 7 month old. While I haven’t ever cruised with him, we have discovered that different cruise lines do have different policies about non-potty trained children going in their pools. While Disney is the most lenient, many of the other lines’ policies have discouraged us from traveling with him on a cruise quite yet – some of the policies are just too harsh.

12) They are not listed on the Room Service Menu, but Mickey Ice Cream Bars are always available. Just ask.

The post 12 Tips To Prepare For A Disney Cruise appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.

Disney Expert, Sandra Halket

Magic and Wonder on the Disney Cruise Line
By Sandra Halket

I recently boarded the Disney Cruise Line on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise as a travel agent to conduct some research without my husband and kids. I repeat. No husband. No kids. With guilt and passport in hand, I boarded the Disney Magic on my 3^rd Disney cruise.

By the second day I missed my kids. To alleviate some of these feelings, I decided to investigate what they could do on our next family cruise, which I’ve promised to take before the end of 2010. I also realized participation is part of research, so I indulged and ordered at least 3 appetizers per meal,  tested out the spa and workout facilities onboard, and immediately ordered a Bahama Mama in a DCL keepsake glass.

The best thing that Disney Cruise line offers families is their kids clubs. Flounder’s Reef Nursery for ages 0-3, Oceaneer’s Club and Lab for ages 3-10, The Edge for tweens and The Stack for teens only. Kids have so many interactive activities and games to participate in, they probably won’t want you to pick them up. They can indulge in computer activities, movies, dress-up, crafts, books, toys and even character drop-ins. Each child is given a paging bracelet where they can contact you if they want to leave the kids club. On our last family cruise my children were 4 and 7 years old and they never “buzzed” us once. We couldn’t even get them to leave when the club was closing. They didn’t want to eat meals with my husband and I, go to the shows, or hang out at the family pool. Call it good or bad, but Disney knows how to entertain kids.

Kids activities:

Disney’s Oceaneer Club
For kids ages 3-7. An amazing play area designed like Captain Hook’s ship just for kids! Movies, dress-up, games, arts and crafts and special character appearances!

Mickey’s Pool
Little ones can splash to their hearts’ content in this pool that’s made for play.

Character Experiences
There are so many Disney Characters to see on the ship. You can meet your favourite Princess, Captain Jack Sparrow, Donald and even the big cheese, Mickey. Don’t forget your autograph book and camera!

Flounder’s Reef Nursery
Ages 12 weeks to 36 months. Little ones feel at home in this Disney group-babysitting area, staffed by trained Disney counselors.

Family Activities:

Studio Sea
Have fun in this club with activities the whole family can enjoy, from karaoke to TV-style game shows and themed parties, all done the Disney way!

Goofy’s Pool
Goof around with the whole family in this pool that’s perfect for fun in the sun.

Live Shows
Brilliant Broadway-style productions with all the singing, dancing, costumes and special effects you expect in a Disney show.

Deck Parties
On Deck parties with friends, family and favorite Disney Characters! The fun starts with the Sail Away Celebration and you might even get to enjoy a pirate party and even see a special fireworks show launched off the back of the ship*! (*certain itineraries).

Movies
Catch the latest movies at the Buena Vista Theatre, with a wide-ranging program of first-run features and Disney favourites.

Now that the kids are taken care of, it’s time for some adult time because we deserve to have fun too. Sometimes we are so pre-occupied with our children’s happiness, we forget our own. On the Disney cruise, they take care of the kids for you so you can have a well deserved break from temper tantrums, melt downs and whiney complaints….but not your kids, right?

Just for adults:

Quiet Cove Pool
Enjoy the adults-only pool with two great hot tub spas and poolside bar.

Vista Spa and Salon
Pamper yourself at a spa with breathtaking therapies from faraway places, work out with a complete line of exercise equipment, take part in aerobics or yoga classes, and visit a world-class salon.

Cove Cafe
Take a break in at this cozy cafe with specialty coffees, cocktails, cognac, magazines, books and Internet connections.

Palo
Enjoy delicious Northern Italian cuisine at this elegant, world-class restaurant for adults only. Make your reservations early, this restaurant books up fast for a reason!

Cruise Highlights and Personal recommendations:

• Do not miss any of the shows at the Walt Disney Theatre. They are first class in their production and entertainment value.
• Reserve Palo for dinner and brunch. The food and selection are amazing. Dining at Palo was a cruise highlight.
• Pirate Deck party. Fireworks off the back of a ship in the middle of the ocean, count me in!
• Heated ceramic chairs in the rainforest spa. If you need a break, this is the place to relax.
• Castaway Cay. My first time in the adults-only beach. I still prefer the family beach, but lunch was a treat with adults only. Tip: your kids can still be part of the kids clubs even when at Castaway Cay so you can check out the adults only beach if you wish.
• Snorkelling at the family beach in Castaway Cay was incredible. Disney hides special treasures under the water that are surrounded by hundreds of tropical fish. You might even see some familiar faces!

I am so excited to go on my next Disney cruise with the family. I cannot recommend this cruise line enough if you have kids because not only does Disney take care of them, they also take care of the kid inside of you too!

Disney Cruise Line has 2 ships, the Magic and the Wonder. They will be sailing on special itineraries in 2010 including the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. In 2011, Disney Cruise Line will launch a new ship, the Disney Dream and will add special itineraries including Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. Check out www.clickthemouse.ca for more information on the Disney Cruise Line.

The post Guest Post! Have Baby, Will Go On A Disney Cruise? appeared first on Have Baby Will Travel.