Why A Disney Cruise Might Beat The Parks For Your Next Family Vacation

Ready for a vacation that actually feels like a vacation? We dive into Disney Cruise Line’s sweet spot: low-stress planning, high-quality service, and itineraries that fit every season of family life, from stroller days to teen independence and even a much-needed girls’ weekend. With three new ships in three years, the options are bigger and better—think Marvel energy on the Destiny, seasonal magic for Halloween and Very Merry sailings, and shows that make dinner an event, not a chore.

Join Sarah and guest Emily, Travel Advisor from Glass Slipper Concierge as they break down when to sail and why: January and February bring lower crowds and sharper pricing, while spring break, summer, and holidays pack on themed fun. We compare staterooms in plain English, including motion-friendly midship picks and why concierge can be a family game-changer. Then we get tactical with a little-known embarkation-day upgrade strategy and the bounceback offer that can shave 10% off your next cruise, now including concierge. If you’re eyeing a bigger adventure, that combo can unlock real savings.

The best memories are often the unexpected ones, and a Disney cruise raises your floor so you can savor the moments that matter. If you’re weighing parks vs. cruise, curious about upgrades, or dreaming of Alaska and Europe, this one’s your blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a break, and tell us where you’d sail first.

Thank you for listening to this week's episode! Please follow us on instagram @parksidebreaks and leave us a rating and review. 

Transcript

Setting A Joyful Tone

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Get the bounce back offers for 10% off, and then you get your 10% off your future cruise, and that's when you go to Alaska, and that's when you go to Europe. This is a really great idea.

Meet Emily And Today’s Focus

SPEAKER_01 0:12

I think that you're a genius. Hey everyone, and thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of Parkside Breaks. I'm Sarah. Unfortunately, Elizabeth cannot be here with us today, so she's really missing out on this fun conversation. This is one of her favorite things to talk about. So I just want to start by saying, you know, the news in 2026 has been heavy. We have started 2026 off with just a lot of heaviness. And so I really felt like I wanted to start this first episode of the year. We need to have joy. We need to go out into our communities. We need to go and love people well and offer kindness, but we need to experience some joy as well. And so I can't imagine a better opportunity to do that than talking about a Disney cruise with my good friend Emily, Emily Doste from Glass Slipper Concierge. Welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

Thanks for having me back, Sarah. Yes, Disney Cruise.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

I should have a smile on my face. I know, right? It's like the world is heavy, but we can shift gears a little bit and keep it going with talking about something that brings us a lot of joy. And you and I have talked a lot about that. I mean, Disney is something that we really love.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

Oh, it brings me so much joy. I'm just happy. It is my happiest place on earth.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

I mean, even when we just sit and talk about it, we're like, oh, okay, like we should try that again. We're like thinking even talking about running, which you love a lot more than I do, but we can even get excited talking about running and doing Run Disney. Yes, it's just excuses to go down there. Yes. Yes. Okay. So this time we're going to talk about Disney Cruise. And Elizabeth and I have done this before, but it's been a couple of years. And I really, when I was thinking about this episode, I was like, you know, we have not talked about Disney Cruise in a minute since the last time Elizabeth and I went. Um, and I I was on the same cruise as her and so basically surprised her that I was there. Um and we were both with our own families. But I think that Disney Cruise has there's a lot still the same that's offered, but there are new ships, there are new itineraries. And given what you do, um, I just think that there's a lot of options. So I just wanted to break that down and talk about that today. What would be helpful for people to just kind of know when they go into, you know, even planning of Disney Cruise? I feel like I've been on two, but I still am a little bit like, okay, what is what how should I approach this in a different way? Because there are different places to go. Um, so let's kind of break that down for you. Tell us just a little bit about like your knowledge of Disney Cruise and what what a lot of people right now, what have you found that they're booking? Like what are where do people want to go and what kind of Disney cruise are they looking for?

Why Disney Cruise Over Parks

SPEAKER_03 3:10

Yeah. Well, you mentioned it. Disney cruises are really hot right now, and Disney is investing a ton of money and a ton of energy into their ships. There's two new ships in the past two years. The Destiny came out in 25, and then um, sorry, the treasure was in 24, the Destiny was in 25, and then the Adventure is coming out in 26. So it's three ships in three years. Um that's really that's crazy. It is, and there's more ships coming in 2027 and on. And so you can see Disney um sees there is a market and there's a place for it, and there are families who want the magic of Disney without the lightning lanes and the parks and the um the experience that can be Disney World or Disneyland. And it is an amazing alternative. Um, I have a lot of families who are choosing this for spring break and summer vacations. And where Disney cruise comes in, that's a little bit different than Disney World. I feel like you book your hotel, you figure out what parks or what tickets you want for Disney World or Disneyland. And then the real work comes once you get there.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Right? It's what attractions are open and what is going to be our touring plan, and where are we gonna eat? And I need a reservation for this and that. And um do we do Premier Pet? There, there's a lot of decisions once you get to the parks. Yeah. The cruise, the advantage of that, um, there are a lot of pre-cruise date obligations from booking to your final payment to um the date that you get to choose your dining and any extras that you're gonna be on the cruise. And that is where a travel advisor comes into place and keeps I keep all of that on track for all my clients. And I'm the one getting up at the crack of dawn, booking all those things for them. Yes. The last thing you do before a cruise is the check-in process, and that's what determines your embarkation time, what what time you leave. But then you're done. You're done. So you 60 days out, know 45 days out, 60 days out, you know what time you're supposed to arrive to the cruise, and then you get there, and your decision is do I go get a Mickey ice cream bar or just regular ice cream? Yes. You know, it you are now fully on vacation and enjoying the magic of the ship without the stresses that can come with the park if you're not going into prepare to the park that way.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

You know, as you're saying this, I kind of think a lot of the people we probably know who are going to do, they have maybe younger kids and they're thinking like, oh, we need to do the Disney thing, right? Let's plan a trip, let's figure out. And maybe the parks is not the first thing that they should do. Like I wonder if a a better ease into the whole Disney experience, just to kind of wet their appetite a little bit, might be a Disney cruise rather than, I mean, I know that, you know, having babies and things like that, that can make it difficult. But they have a nursery. You know, there are places for any age of child on a Disney cruise. But as you're saying it, I'm like, man, I wonder if the people who maybe didn't have the best experience just Disney wise, who um, you know, went ahead and they did their first Disney thing going to Walt Disney World. I wonder if that was like it was too much. You know, maybe they should have gone and done a Disney cruise because of what you're saying, because there is a little bit of an aspect of you don't have to plan as much once you're there. You really can just enjoy it.

New Ships And Big Expansion

SPEAKER_03 7:24

Yeah. And when your toddler is having a meltdown in front of the castle, it is over the river and through the woods to get back to your resort for that nap. Or it's a hundred degrees and you're in a stroller, or it's raining and you're trying to do the nap stroller, and and everyone is stressed at that moment. Their favorite ride is down, or there's a really long line. Um, and we both know that the toddler's having the physical meltdown on the outside, and the mom and dad are having the meltdowns.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:57

Sometimes on the outside, but also on the inside.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:00

And the beauty of a cruise is when that all-knowing toddler meltdown is coming, you are just steps away from your cabin and your stateroom to go take that necessary nap, and then the rest of the family can still be enjoying um the ship. And then you're back out. Uh, I think uh the a family recently, I had two families traveled to Disney World in January. They both went with uh four and under.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 8:30

And they both chose to stay at the contemporary and then do just Magic Kingdom.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 8:42

For that first-time experience. And I think that's great. I think you're close, your hotel is close in that situation. You're doing one day at the parks, you're doing Magic Kingdom, you're getting, you're checking that box of um if you're close enough that you can afford to just do one day um and drive back home. But then the next trip I suggest for both of these families is the cruise. Yeah. Right. Or starting with the cruise. And then on the flip side, Sarah, you and I both have teenagers, and both of our families have been on Disney cruises. My kids, every time we start talking about, okay, what's the next family vacation we're gonna take? One, if not all three, want to go back on another Disney cruise. Yes. Even my teenagers.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Yeah, I mean, I think it is very surprising because um you'd think, like, oh, you do a Disney cruise only when they're little, but um, same. And I think because of I don't know if this is failed safe, failed safety or false safety or whatever. But I would let my teenagers just kind of walk around um a crew a Disney cruise. You know, there are other cruise lines that I'd be like, well, you know, this is a little bit more of a party scene, you know, not even thinking like, oh, there's something unsafe, but just there might be some unsavory things that you're gonna witness just walking around on another cruise or on a Disney cruise. I'm not worried about that. You know, I'm I'm like, okay, yeah, go ahead. You guys can go um, you know, go to the check yourself into the club or you know, go have a good time doing whatever, go and get ice cream. Yeah, hang out of the pool.

SPEAKER_03 10:28

Let me tell you what line I don't want to stand in.

SPEAKER_01 10:30

That's so true.

How Planning A Cruise Actually Works

SPEAKER_03 10:31

And I'll do it a couple of times, and I did, and a blast. Yes, but I don't need to do it a hundred times like my kids want to. Right. So I I 100% agree. I we I did it with them, we did it with them, we had a blast, and then I went and found a spot for myself on a lounge chair, and I didn't have a worry in the world. Um, some people are surprised to hear that Disney Cruise lines do not have a casino. And yes. Um, and I think that goes into that level. Like, who are you playing into? And it's families, but it's not little families necessarily.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Right.

SPEAKER_03 11:09

Um, I keep trying to get my girlfriends to do a um and you're one of them. Who's gonna go on a Disney cruise with me for a girls' weekend? Like, how easy is that? It's an all-inclusive, fantastic vacation with adult lounges, but it's not, like you said, it's not the big party scene. Right. Um, and it is the Disney elevated experience that you get at the parks, that you get at the deluxe resorts. You are getting that. You are on a deluxe resort.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

Yeah. No, absolutely right. Yes. Every time you bring it up, I am one step closer to telling my family. I'm like, listen, if we don't plan a family cruise, I'm I'm going on a girls' trip on a Disney cruise because there are a lot more ships that are new now. Like even since the last time, it's only been a couple of years since we were on a cruise. But like you said before, I mean, there are two new ships that have come out back to back. I haven't been on them, you know. I haven't, I don't even honestly, I don't even know what is what there is to offer on them. I mean, I know a little bit of some of the kind of the nighttime shows. But um, if you were to plan a family Disney cruise, what would be your suggested kind of itinerary ship? Like what is looking like, ooh, this is the one that I would really recommend to do right now.

SPEAKER_03 12:36

Oh, this is a good question. There's so many variables.

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 12:40

Um, let's assume a family of four, right? Little kids. Um if you are not as worried about um the seas can be wor rougher in January, February time. If you are not as worried about that, I and your kids can miss school.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:05

Take the Disney cruise January, February. It is the lowest number of people on your cruise on your ship. Um and prices are usually very favorable around that time. It's priced to sail. Uh, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

I don't think I appreciated that the seas are rougher in the winter.

SPEAKER_03 13:29

And it's not, I mean, I'm talking Caribbean, right? Like still, I mean, if it's not always, but it definitely If you are prone to that, that is an important thing to think about. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

I mean, that really can make or break your trip. If you are prone to getting seasick or have vertigo or anything like that, it is much better. I know. She hears things outside and just starts barking.

Toddlers, Teens, And Ease Onboard

SPEAKER_03 13:52

Um another factor of talking about the seas is where your stateroom is located on the ship. So they uh kind of the rule of thumb is midship, a lower deck is going to be your safest bet. Okay. I tend to recommend clients midship on um most of the decks, it would be deck eight or nine.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 14:21

Um, never wanting to be that top deck, which on most ships is deck 10, is right below the pool decks. Okay. And so um there have been complaints if you can hear the chairs moving. Interesting. Okay. And then the as you go, you know, then there's state room decks, right? And then below that, typically on most of the ships, the first deck is your um kids' activity rooms. Okay. Um, and then you go down into entertainment and dining and whatnot. Okay. So I like to suggest decks eight or nine. You're close to the kid areas, but you're also really close to that top deck. Okay. Um, fun and outdoor activities. Going back to your question of now I think of like our two families, right? Kids are in school, they're at an age that they really can't miss anymore. So your spring break, summer. Um, I know y'all took a Thanksgiving cruise, but it was the very merry. I loved, I love the themed cruises. Yes. Um, I there's also Halloween on the high seas, which is a blast. Um, just like at the parks, how they overnight turn into Halloween and they turn into Christmas magic, so do the ships. And there's extra activities and just really makes that time of year special. So that's what I would say really spring break, summer, um, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Okay. Really special times on the ship. Right now, um, I've had a lot of families interested, and I know fantastic reviews are coming from Alaska.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Oh my gosh, yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:17

Families who have done the Caribbean, uh, because we live in Florida, there's so many families who have done the Caribbean either on Disney cruise or another cruise ship, or they've been to the Bahamas uh on their own, um flying there, but are looking for that Disney magic, that Disney cruise. So where can I go? And Alaska is becoming so not becoming popular. It's always been popular, but going on a Disney cruise and seeing the glaciers and all of the excursions that are offered through Disney and their partners, it is really a cool experience.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

I mean, we have friends who are going there this summer. They're they're a family of four, they're taking their two kids. And I mean, just the planning for it has not been stressful. It's just been so fun for them because it is like a bucket list kind of trip. I mean, Alaska. They've been to Alaska before, the two of the parents, but they want to take their kids. And I was like, it it just seems like such an enjoyable experience to plan like a bucketless trip like that, that is not stressful. Um, and it they really do make some really good suggestions for all of your um excursions, you know, like going and, you know, seeing the Kenai Fjords, going and um doing the dog sledding on a glacier. I mean, there are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, especially on a Disney cruise in Alaska. And it you are gonna pay more. I mean, that really is like there is a Disney price tag to do Disney Alaska, but we also know a family who's done it twice. You know, I mean, they have done that same cruise twice. That's how good it was.

Themed Sailings And Best Seasons

SPEAKER_03 17:58

So um, there's a level of expectation. Like there are a lot of hotel brands that you can book your stay that you know you're gonna pay a little bit more, but you go into that vacation confident of the experience that you are gonna have, the customer service, the quality of your room, the quality of the food, the entertainment. And so you're willing to pay that price tag for certain hotel brands. It's the same with the Disney ship. Yeah, you are right, you're right. And it's not just all Mickey and pals all the time. You can go on a Disney cruise and not feel like you are in little kid Disney World. Right. Especially one like Alaska. Um, or even before the show, we were looking at all of the opportunities over in Europe. Yes, yes. Goodness gracious, like what a way to take your family to Europe and experience Rome and Pompeii and Greece and these historic sites, especially if you have teenagers who are studying this right now in school. Yeah. And once again, you go with the confidence you're unpacking once. That's always the beauty of a multi-stop destination cruise, is you're unpacking once. You don't have to worry about um dining reservations once you're there. And you're getting all the history, all the family time, and known great quality.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

Well, and what I think is incredible is the price point is really not that much more, and sometimes even better than doing a Disney cruise out of Florida. When we were just looking, yeah, I was like, oh my gosh, if you are not from Florida and you're already getting on a plane, yes, you're gonna pay more to fly to Europe. But if you're already getting on a plane, I mean, there were cruises that we saw, five and seven night cruises, um, Spain, Italy, and you it was like an ocean view between five and six thousand dollars. I was like, this is incredible. Um, now that depends on the amount of people and things like that. I think I was looking, I think it was probably on just like a couple of people, but still that compared to um going out and doing the Caribbean or the Bahamas, that is a different experience. So it's it doesn't have to always be so much more to do. Um, I think that you're gonna get that level of you know, customer service no matter what, you know, Disney cruise ship you're on. Um, but I that really I mean that might be the next family Disney cruise. We should get a bunch of people to do that.

SPEAKER_03 20:55

I'm in. I promised them Alaska first, but now sorry guys. We're too there for Europe. Well, and now there's even the um if you have a frozen fan, yes, they're the dream sails through the fjords. That is that's wild. Talk about bucket list with your frozen um fan children.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

I mean that that would be amazing. That would really be amazing. Chambers would, she would want to move. Oh my gosh, I love it. Um, okay, there are a couple of things that I feel like having a travel advisor um suggest are invaluable because they're things that I I mean, I do a lot of Disney stuff, and I don't know nearly as much of just like the little things that you've learned through other travel advisors. There's something that you said doing a Disney cruise that I was like, I didn't even know that. That is an option. So talk a little bit about um just what are some of the options in terms of like going on a Disney cruise? What are Some things that you could consider even going up to embarkation day?

Alaska Highlights And Value

SPEAKER_03 22:04

So you've got multi-level staterooms, right? You've got the ocean view, which is uh inside, which would be no porthole to see the outside. And Disney does a great job of making a virtual portal. So you don't feel like you're not seeing the outside. You have no window. Um, then you've got the ocean view, which is just a porthole. You've got a veranda, which is a balcony. Um, and then you have the option of concierge. And your concierge, it's either a veranda view, which is the same size stateroom as the non-concierge veranda, or a one-bedroom. Okay. And there's obviously many perks of going with concierge level. Um, I think it's fantastic if you are a larger family and you're going into that just veranda stateroom size. Uh, it allows a lounge for family members as everyone's getting ready. The first, like our family, we did a concierge level cruise, Disney, and Chris and Fitz, my son, they would shower and get ready first, and we would send them to the lounge while the girls and I showered and got ready. Perfect. So it just gave a place. We were also traveling with my dad and stepmom. And so it was a place for all of us to meet before dinner or hang out anytime throughout the day. And you've got drinks and food provided um all throughout the day. You have um special embarkation lunches and uh private deck and um just some special concierge touches that would be at any concierge level. But the tip I gave you, and this is what I tell all of my Disney cruise clients Disney allows you when you show up on embarkation day to go up to your check-in desk and say, say you just have a veranda stateroom, and say, Do you have availability in concierge? And how much would that upgrade be? And we had this experience. And so Chris and I came up with a price range that we said, okay, if it's within this price range, when we ask, we're gonna go for it. And thank the Lord it was within the price range because now it's hard to ever go back. Yes, yes, I don't know how much he thanks for that. I guess he really does.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

He's he enjoyed it, he's he's bougie, yes.

SPEAKER_03 24:46

So it it was a game changer for our entire vacation, and all we had to do was ask what that upgrade was. We had a price range in our head of what we were willing to pay. And girl math, Sarah. Sure, yes, your Disney cruise is paid for final payment is so far in advance. Yes. In my mind, it was it's free. It was free. This was really all the cruise cost.

SPEAKER_01 25:14

The key really is to, you know, if you're gonna agree on a price point, you know, you throw out a really high number so that whatever you get to when you're averaging it, then it is something that you're more comfortable with and on the higher end so that you can kind of get your Disney cruise concierge level. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 25:32

And there was availability, especially now. There's there are a lot of ships, and Disney has some fantastic promotions running right now.

Europe Itineraries And Pricing

SPEAKER_01 25:41

Um yes. Tell us what's going on right now with because I saw this coming out too. I think I was looking at um I think I was looking at something that you shared, and it looked like they just put out some new promotions. And so now, and this is what I also learned a lot of times for different vacations, you can um wait until last minute and get more of a deal. Or you can, you know, just kind of uh plane tickets are like this a lot of times. Like you want to try to see when's a good time to buy a plane ticket. It's usually not when they first come out, right? It's usually a little bit closer, maybe you know, three months out or something. And that's not the way a Disney cruise works. Like as soon as those new itineraries come out and there's a promotion attached, that's gonna be usually the least expensive time. They really kind of go up the closer you get to that Disney cruise. So what is what do you see for promotions right now that you guys are working with?

SPEAKER_03 26:42

Well, there's always, I shouldn't say always, most of the time there are great Florida residents promotions. Um, they're always on select sailings. Like right now, there's uh Florida residents can save up to 35% on select sailings. Um current promotion that they're pushing to everyone is a 20% off your entire voyage fare and a$250 onboard credit for select sailings April through June.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

Um I feel like they're paying me to go on board. On the wishing trim, absolutely. Like you're giving me$250.

SPEAKER_03 27:17

Well, speaking of paying you, Sarah, here's my other fantastic girl math. This is how we're gonna get on our girls' trip. Okay, let's hear it. We're gonna go on a three-night short weekend. The wish has fantastic. Weekends are meant for wishing. Go on the wish for three nights with me. Yes. No one else. I'm not going. You get a bounce back offer of 10% off your next cruise. Just like when you go to the parks and you have that time, that seven-day time period for a 35% off bounce back offer. Yes. You get this for the cruise for 10%. So this is how we're gonna do Europe. Yes. So we're we're doing a service to the family. We are saving money. Yeah. So we'll get all the families that we want to go to Europe with. We'll take all the moms. This is such a good idea. On a weekend wish in January, right? We can get away for a weekend, get the bounce back offers for 10% off, and then you get your 10% off your future cruise. And that's when you go to Alaska, and that's when you go to Europe.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

This is a really great idea. I think that you're a genius. And I we should have thought about this last fall when we could have just been doing, you know, we could be on a cruise right now.

SPEAKER_03 28:47

We could be on a cruise, right? Savings. It's all about the savings. Yes. Um, but I love their bounce back offers and their bounce back offer. Here's another fun tip. It used to not include concierge levels, now it does. Oh, okay. So we can go in any level. Okay. We can go on our veranda, stateroom, non-concierge, just a girls' trip, and then get 10% off a concierge level for the family, or vice versa. We can go concierge, and then we can get 10% off our family um regular stateroom. But prior years, the bounce back did not um include concierge level staterooms, and now it does, which is a huge savings.

SPEAKER_01 29:34

That is really big, especially if you're gonna go that extra for concierge. Like to get 10% off, that's a really big deal. Yeah. So oh my gosh. Okay. I could talk about Disney cruises all day. I know.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

Which one do you want to go? Wait, what's your dream like theme Disney cruise? Ooh. Theme as in like destination. Oh gosh, destination is a good one. Or like which ship, what current ship do you even want to be on? Like, I think about all the new dining experiences. Like, we love Lion King.

SPEAKER_01 30:13

I want to be able to do the Lion King. Which ship is that? Is that I think it's the newest one. I think it's the true wait, the destiny. It's the destiny. I think it's the destiny.

SPEAKER_03 30:24

It is the destiny. And I want to point out a lot of families will say that the Disney Cruises lend themselves a little bit more girly in their dining or their characters, their shows. The Destiny is truly geared towards little boys or big boys, whatever. It's heroes and villains, it's Marvel themed. Um it's it's an awesome ship in that sense. Yes. But yeah, I want to do, I want to do the Lion King dinner.

Stateroom Types And Concierge

SPEAKER_01 30:57

Yeah, I mean, for right now, I think my family, they would love the Destiny because of all of that. We are into Marvel, you know, we at starting at age 10, we start watching like a Marvel movie with dad and just kind of going through it and going through all of the universe. And I I saw that and I was like, I think I could get my family on a Disney Destiny cruise because it's not the princesses like it was before. We loved the princesses, but now I think that they're now they're they're a little bit older, they would love to do Disney Destiny, especially with that Lion King. I mean, I saw some videos of that and I was like, I want to be there so much.

SPEAKER_03 31:41

That and then I want to be in the Corella Deville lounge.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

Yes, the piano and her like yes. Um, so that and then I do I do think that it would be a fun thing to do um a Disney cruise through Europe because Europe um with my family. I mean, I think if it was just Lawton and I going to Europe, we could do all of the planning for the different places to stay within, you know, and it would be a different kind of experience. But when I think about taking my family to Europe, it does stress me out a little bit because I've never been, I don't know it very well. And I've I have had several friends who have done um Europe with their families by cruising because it's it is just easier. Like you said, you unpack once, you get off at each of the ports, you get to see part of Europe. Um, and it's just like it's this taste, right, of Europe to for your family so they can kind of have that experience, but you're not stressed out the whole time trying to figure out like the itinerary and making sure that we have I mean, there's just the language barrier, are all of that, you know, that I think can be a little bit overwhelming. So to me, that seems so delightful to do Europe for the first time with your family on a Disney cruise. Like that's that to me, I'm like, okay, that that's gonna be then apart from the destiny, that's what I think would be really fun to do as a family. What about you?

SPEAKER_03 33:10

I really want to do Alaska.

SPEAKER_01 33:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:12

I love the idea of Europe. Um, but Alaska, that's that's on my bucket list. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:21

I mean, I mean, I know I've said this before, but it does astound me that we have a family friend who they're family and they go to all kinds of different places in the world. And they have done two Disney Alaskan cruises, and they loved it. They loved it both times. So you get when are I I I want to keep you accountable to this. Oh when are you gonna do Disney Alaska? You have a you have two high schoolers and an almost middle schooler.

SPEAKER_03 33:51

Here's the problem we have a bucket list that's like 20, 20 places deep of um Chris is very big on traveling to places that they are currently studying.

SPEAKER_01 34:08

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

So there is a desire, um, and the girls love that, just to be able to be immersed in the area that you have recently studied or you're going to study the next year, history-wise. Yep. Um, but what are your kids studying right now? So Leighton has been in Latin for this is her fourth year, and so she really, really wants to go to um Rome, like all Greece, all of that. Yes. Um, and in addition, the whole World War II, France. Um Nell is very into all of that. Okay. Versailles, Paris.

SPEAKER_01 35:02

I I think you're going on a Disney cruise in Europe, Emily.

Pro Tip: Embarkation Upgrades

SPEAKER_03 35:06

You're calling it. That's what it sounds like. Sounds like it. I know. After looking at those itineraries, I thought maybe why not? I know. Because that's also half the battle. Okay, we also have larger families, right? Europe, I can cram into United States uh resorts in one room. There, we can make it work for the five of us in most places. That does not work in Europe. No, and so now you're 100% getting two hotel rooms throughout Europe, but you're also having to choose. If you are bopping around different places, you're having to choose different hotels. You're having to choose your transfer situation. Hopefully, you're working with a travel advisor who's taking all of that stress off your plate. Yes, but still you're making the final check decision. Disney Cruise, you just show up.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

Yes. And okay, I've never been to Europe, but some of our friends who have gone and they kind of just they just like added this in. And I was like, excuse me, what did you just say? Um, you know, we're from Florida. Air conditioning is part of life. I've never lived without it. I have the privilege, right, of like having that kind of electricity and just being able to be comfortable in my home. I mean, they're talking about there is no AC in some of these hotels in Europe. And I was like, I I can't even process that. I can't. I was like, no, no, I'm sorry. Like, either I've got to go during a time when it's going to be, you know, climate controlled a little bit for comfort, um, or I have to do a cruise because Disney Cruise is gonna have a controlled, like 70-ish, you know, low 70 degrees. Um yeah, that's that that to me, I was like, I'm out.

SPEAKER_03 36:55

And typically your bathrooms are very small in Europe.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:59

That's another thing you have to wrap around your head before you get there.

SPEAKER_01 37:03

Well, and you have to buy all the different plugs to be able to try like everything. Right. It's all of your uh American, you know, Disney comforts on a cruise ship, and then you go and you do your excursions during the day. Um, I think it's I think that could be a really good intro to Europe, you know, for a family for people to not hate it.

SPEAKER_03 37:24

Gosh, this conversation. I'm ready to book now. I know.

SPEAKER_01 37:26

I'm sold. I know. Okay. I have one last question. It's not a Disney Cruise question. Um, it's just to kind of end, you know, our discussion. Um Disney Cruise, Disney parks, all that planning, it can be stressful, right? Luckily, uh, someone like you is a travel advisor and you can minimize that stress for people. But how do you personally, how do you balance planning the perfect trip and then once you're on the trip, trying to be present with your kids and with your family or on a girls' trip, right? Like all the things that you've planned, say they're going right, or you know, you're trying to help them like be on schedule. How do you try to balance like going according to your plan, but also trying to be present and just enjoy what you have going on?

Current Deals And Bouncebacks

SPEAKER_03 38:25

That's a really good question. I wish you would have given me a heads up on that one. I know. That's really mean. I think um I think parenthood and teenagers have really conditioned me to go with the flow. Yes. Starting those middle school years, you really um you really have to learn that as a parent to enjoy the ride.

SPEAKER_01 38:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:54

And I think um remembering that, that hopefully there are many more vacations and trips to come. Um and knowing that the memories of the trips are the experiences and the funny things that happen and the things that go askew or the surprises. That's what everyone remembers at the end of the day. Yeah. It's not the perfectly planned dining, everyone was on time, and the stress of that. Uh, because everyone can feel your stress. Yes. And I've had to learn that. Yeah. So it's learning how to go with the flow, being flexible. And the life has taught me that.

SPEAKER_01 39:40

Yeah.

Dream Ships And Destinations

SPEAKER_03 39:40

The ups and downs. And you started this whole episode. Life is heavy, right? And there is privilege to being able to vacation, and there's privilege to be able to do a Disney vacation. And um, recognizing that and really just enjoying time together and knowing that the heated moments are usually the ones that everyone talks about and laughs about, yes, and are the memories. We took this, um we have many. We took a family vacation out west to Yellowstone and uh the Black Hill, the Grand Tetons. We did Grand Tetons and we did the um Mount Rushmore. Oh, okay. We did Denver, we had a big outwest trip. And the things my kids laugh and talk about on the trip were not the things that I had planned perfectly. Yeah. It it was the time that I lost my mind and threw the bag of bread into the back seat because we were making sandwiches. Yes. Right? And everyone laughs about how mom lost her mind over a loaf of bread and being squished. They talk about we booked this hotel room in a random city in Wyoming and had no idea. It had three queen beds lined up side by side, and it opened up into the indoor pool for the whole resort, but we had our own door that went into the like we were in the like master suite of a motel, and it was three king beds. I did not plan for that, but that's what it was when we showed up. And literally, Nell yesterday talked about this hotel room and it being one of the favorite hotel rooms she's ever stayed in in her life. Oh my gosh. And it was a motel. Yeah. Not even a hotel, it was a motel somewhere in a really small town in Wyoming, and it was just three king beds that and it had a fish tank inside of it. Oh my god. I mean, it was so random, dead animals, and it opened up. We had a separate door that went into the whole hotel's like indoor pool. These are the things your kids talk about.

SPEAKER_01 41:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:58

Right. And so learning that and experiencing that has given me a lot of um chill.

SPEAKER_01 42:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:06

When you're on the vacation. Yeah. And I working with a travel advisor, it really takes, it really takes the stress um off of feeling like this all has to go perfect. Because it's not and it doesn't have to.

SPEAKER_01 42:23

Yeah. I think uh, you know what? I'm glad I didn't ask you this or tell you this question before. Because your answer is so it's so real, and that's exactly what people need to hear is that you, you know, you can plan as much as you can. You should definitely get a travel advisor to help you. But then once you're there, you know, be present with your kids no matter what comes. I mean, if you've got three king beds in a row and there's dead animals, I mean have you ever heard of such?

SPEAKER_03 42:50

No, but if you want to go, I can send you there.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

That's incredible.

SPEAKER_03 42:56

The rides are gonna break down, the there's gonna be a meltdown. Yeah, the, you know, it's gonna rain. There's gonna be a longer wait than you thought for the meal. Yeah. Things are gonna happen. Yeah. But just enjoy your family, enjoy the opportunity that you have to be away from the real world of work and school and responsibilities.

SPEAKER_01 43:24

Just be there, be present. Yes. Well, Emily, thank you so much. It's always a pleasure.

SPEAKER_03 43:30

Thank you for having me. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:31

I missed you, Elizabeth. I know. We really missed you, Elizabeth. You need to come on next time. Um, and so yeah, that's week, that's this week's episode. Um, this this new year of entering into 2026, uh, Disney Cruise Lines. So if you have any questions or comments, um, we will post this in our social media um pretty much Instagram. That's all we've got going on right now. So we will post this there and Leave us a comment, ask us a question, what did we not talk about? What is something that we missed? Um, and tell us what is your favorite part of a Disney cruise. So until next time, thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of Parkside Breaks. Bye.