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 now 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.
Check out our complete review of the Disney Fantasy!
I’m looking forward to reading this one. I’m envisioning a Disney Cruise in a few years with our son. 🙂
Glad to hear your family enjoyed cruising! Our first cruise was on Disney – I was skeptical about cruising and I don’t think I could have been talked into any other cruise line. 🙂 We had a great time though and have cruised four times since on three different lines. I always keep my “sea legs” for a few days after the cruise – nobody seems to warn you about that possibility and it can be very disconcerting the first time it happens.
We did not have the same experience with the Disney Wonder this past January to Mexico. While our four year old enjoyed the kids club alot, you are very limited to nursery time (we had Flounder’s reef). Because you dont have any kind of schedule in advance, you basically have to book your allotted 18 nursery hours blind. As a result, when our 6 month old was in the nursery, it never matched to any events going on for the adults (which I found a bit paltry anyways).
Ah – that’s too bad, Wendy. The team at the Small World Nursery did say that they would take drop-ins, but that reservations were recommended for when the boat was nearer to capacity. It’s a shame there wasn’t any flexibility for you.
I’d love to hear any tips you may have for the Fantasy ship. We are leaving on the 21st for our first cruise ever and can’t wait! The whole family is going and my brother is getting married on Castaway Cay. 🙂
oops, should be Kim!