Episode #217: Our Disney Fantasy Cruise Trip Report

We went all-in on a Disney Cruise Line experiment: a pre-cruise reset at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, then a four-day Disney Fantasy sailing with Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and a sea day that tested our patience and our snack limits. Between Trader Sam’s, pool fireworks, and a surprisingly emotional “goodbye” lap around Walt Disney World, the trip already felt like a turning point before we even reached Port Canaveral.

Once we board, it turns into a real-world guide to cruising with a family: the early-morning luggage pickup that can spark a panic, how to fix rotational dining conflicts the minute you connect to ship Wi-Fi, and what’s actually worth prioritizing when the ship feels huge. We compare the main dining rooms, talk honestly about buffet highs and lows, and explain why Palo is absolutely worth budgeting time and money for if you want a true date-night meal. We also share our favorite relaxation “hack” on the Disney Fantasy: using the Rainforest Room showers to skip the tiny stateroom setup.

Then it’s island time. We break down what makes Castaway Cay feel perfectly curated for families, why Lookout Cay feels more like the Bahamas with real waves and Junkanoo energy, and how a kayak fishing excursion off Disney property became one of the most memorable moments of the whole sailing. We wrap with what we loved, what we didn’t, whether we’d cruise again, and why this trip might be the end of our Disney travel era for a while. If you enjoy honest trip reports and practical Disney cruise tips, subscribe, share this with a Disney planner friend, and leave us a review with your biggest cruise must-do.

Congressional School - Explorers Wanted
An co-ed independent school in Falls Church, Virginia

Transcript

Welcome And Disney Island Merch

SPEAKER_03 0:22

Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 217. Today we are talking about our pre-cruise trip and our recent four-day sailing on the Disney Fantasy. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through. But before we do that, we must talk Disney merch. So Disney merched, I'm talking about some things I saw on Disney's Lookout Key because they had so many more options, I feel, for merchandise than Castaway Key did. Don't get me wrong, Castaway Key had some cute items as well, but I just feel like there were a little bit more to choose from uh at Lookout. And so some of what you can find there, they have like this junkanoo line of shirts in merched that's like bright and it's like the heritage of the Bahamas and the shape of the Fab Five characters. I actually got a pink shirt with mini um in in that junkanoo line. Uh super cute. Uh, we also got some picture frames at both islands. And uh also at Lookout Key, they had some like cruise line shirts, but it was still like Bahama themed as well. So uh the shirt that I got was priced at $34.99. We got a picture frame at both islands and they were $29.99 each, and that is this week's Disney merch.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

So I'll tell you, I did not think we were gonna buy a lot of merch on this trip. And when you charge everything to the room, you don't think about it.

SPEAKER_03 2:08

It still wasn't as much as it could have been.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

A thousand dollars.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

No, it was not a thousand.

SPEAKER_00 2:13

Thousand dollars.

SPEAKER_03 2:15

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

It was a thousand dollars. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 2:21

Well, not what I got. Now, Nolan or son, he collects pins, and so he got pins everywhere. That wasn't a thousand dollars. You and Ryan got some nicer cruise line shirts.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

I got a shirt that he picked out for me. Yes. It just happened to be Tommy Bahama. Uh-huh. I got one thing.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Okay, and his shirt was was it Tommy Bahama too, though? No. It had the same shirt. It was like a dry fit shirt. Okay. I know it was a dry fit shirt, but it had the same shirt.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

This was even before me and Ryan got something. It be careful, ladies and gentlemen. It was all true stuff.

SPEAKER_03 3:04

It wasn't all merch. It was also just extra little things here and there.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Yeah, it when you just yeah, charge it to the.

SPEAKER_03 3:09

It wasn't merch, though. Not all merch.

SPEAKER_00 3:11

A lot of it was merch. Anyway.

Post-Cruise Sarasota Reset

SPEAKER_00 3:14

We're back. It's been a week. Uh the cruise ended a week today, then we're recording this and it's gonna be uploaded. We spent uh a few days with my brothers in Sarasota doing the family thing. The kids got to do the cousin thing. They're a little bit younger than they are, but they had a good time. And we had some good, just chill, quiet time with them in Sarasota. Got to go to Anne Maria Island. That was nice. I liked that.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

That was nice, it was.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

But yeah, uh, we're back. It's been a week since the cruise, so we're gonna do this, and we just want to review what we did. We did a fortnight cruise on the fantasy in the family, whatever they call it, room. So it's a little bit with the veranda, a little bit bigger with the veranda, and uh stopped in Castaway Key, Lookout Key, and then we had a day at sea. Yes, and this was the cruise that we

Polynesian Day And Farewell Walk

SPEAKER_00 4:00

did. So, arrival day. We flew in the day before, all again, always get to wherever you're going on a cruise the day before. Yes. You don't ever want to chance that. When I used to work in customer service for the airlines, I can't tell you how many times people would try to fly in the day of and they'd miss their connection in like Chicago or Denver or wherever. And sometimes they were like international cruises out of the Mediterranean and they would miss everything. Oh goodness.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:33

Don't give yourself the extra day.

SPEAKER_03 4:35

Right.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

So again, we decided to stay at the poly.

SPEAKER_03 4:37

Yes, so flew into Orlando early that morning.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Early.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

Uh we arrived at the Polynesian by like what 10 a.m.? It was now 9 30. Nine.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Nine, nine thirty. Because we had to wait for the pole to open.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Yeah, that's right. That's right. So yeah, I think we got there at 9 a.m. Um and you know, just that feeling of walking in.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

It does. There's something about walking in the Polynesian. You're just like, and it's even more when you're staying there. You're like, I'm just not here for a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 5:06

Right.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

I'm staying the night here.

SPEAKER_04 5:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

And then we ate breakfast at Captain Cook's. I did not get Tonga toast.

SPEAKER_03 5:11

He did not.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

I can't just over the past year, I just cannot do sweet stuff. I just can't.

SPEAKER_03 5:18

Right. He does chocolate chip cookies, but other than the Oreos.

SPEAKER_00 5:22

Oreos, but everything else. Yes. And I had the bounty platter. I think everybody had the bounty platter.

SPEAKER_03 5:28

And well, donut donut.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

And the pool opened at 10. We had brought our stuff to change into. Pool opened at 10. The boys were.

SPEAKER_03 5:38

Yeah, because our room was not ready yet. They did try to see if there was a room available, you know, but as early as it was and everything. So that's why we came prepared, you know, to have our swim stuff accessible and everything so we could spend the day at the pool.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

We learned this lesson about going on the cruise as well.

SPEAKER_03 5:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

But we'll get to that.

SPEAKER_04 5:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:57

So while they were doing that, I wanted to go on a farewell kind of bye Walt Disney World because as we get to the end of this, you're going to find out this is going to be our last Disney themed trip for quite a while. And we're going to talk about that more at the end. But as far as long vacations go. So I thought it would be nice to kind of do like a little farewell tour. So I walked from the poly through the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom, took the monorail to the TTC and then over to Epcot. Yes. And kind of walked around the entrance there to Epcot. We didn't have any park tickets. And you know what? It wasn't difficult not being able to go in the park. I'm going to talk about that more in a minute. And then I took a bus from Epcot to Hollywood Studios. I just love that entrance music to Epcot and then entrance music to Hollywood Studios. That big band music to the I just like, I don't know, it's unique. You know? And I took the Skyliner back and forth to the Art of Animation and back to Hollywood Studios. And I took a bus to the Saratoga Springs Resort because that was the first resort we ever stayed at. Yes. And I wanted to walk through there and kind of reminisce about our first trip there and you know all of that. And then I walked from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs, walked through Disney Springs, got cookie at Gideon, Gideon's Summer House on the Lake, and then I had a non-alcoholic beer at the hangar bar. I thought that's a cool place. I can see how if you're dad and everybody's wanting to go shopping and do stuff. That's the place to go. Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

And you've always wanted to stop.

SPEAKER_00 7:45

I'm sure all the little Easter eggs, you could spend hours in there looking at that stuff.

SPEAKER_03 7:51

And he did not get the cookies for himself.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

I did not.

SPEAKER_03 7:54

He was bringing them back to us later.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

And then after that, I just took a bus back to the Polynesian, which uh the boys and you had already had lunch by the time I did all of that.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

Yes. I mean, they were swimming hard, going up and down the slide at the pool for uh almost three hours at this point by the time.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

It was four hours by the time I got back, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:16

Yeah. Um well, I think it was three hours where they were like, Oh, we're getting hungry. I'm like, You ate a big breakfast, but they're like, Well, they've been go, go, go. Um, and so it was nice to get, you know, chicken tenders, Disney chicken tenders at the pool bring brought to you at the the chairs there and everything. Um, and the pool is just very, very nice. Like there's this one area, um, kind of like in a little cove grotto shaded area that I like to to kind of hang out uh at when I get in the pool, but it's also like a beach entry pool on one side too. So there for a little while, just kind of sitting back over there.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

They call them zero entry.

SPEAKER_03 8:53

Yes, sorry, zero entry. Well, it's like a beach.

SPEAKER_00 8:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 8:58

And then sorry, he's always correcting me. And uh, but anyway, it was it was great, it was fun. Of course, still, you know, played like with the beach ball with the boys and the pool and everything, too. They provide that for you there. Uh, and then of course the boys had some of their balls as well, and just had a really, really great time. And then when Zach came back, we each tried, or well, you didn't try it, did you?

SPEAKER_00 9:22

I I no, again, the sugar thing.

SPEAKER_03 9:23

Yeah, so the boys and I had tried each of the cookies that Zach brought back, and uh I honestly feel like I liked Summer House better than we agreed on Summer House on the Lake, did they not? Then get uh Nolan, I think was kind of like Gideon's, but Gideon's is just Gideon's is great, don't get me wrong, but it's just overwhelmingly sweet. There's so much chocolate into it, and you know, all the toppings where Summer House on the Lake was just not your basic, it was it was very, very good, but it just wasn't that overwhelmingly sweet. So I guess I'm gonna keep talking because Zach's doing something on his end with technology for a second. So, but again, I'm I'm very thankful that I have to take your word for it. Yeah, I'm very thankful that he brought it to us though, you know, just so we could, you know, compare the two because we always have wanted to do that.

SPEAKER_00 10:16

So And you know, during this kind of walk down memory lane, I didn't get as emotional as I thought I would have. And I think that's telling me that uh I'm ready, we're gonna talk at the end, but I'm ready for our family to start this next

[Ad] Congressional School - Explorers Wanted

SPEAKER_00 10:32

chapter.

(Cont.) Polynesian Day And Farewell Walk

SPEAKER_03 10:34

We'll see. Oh, I mentioned chicken tenders at the pool. I had fish tacos though at the pool.

SPEAKER_01 10:39

How were they?

SPEAKER_03 10:40

And they were surprisingly really well, and I want to say, like halfway through eating it, I was like, I've had this. I I can't remember if it was there before or at another resort, but um the the Disney fish tacos at the pools are surprisingly really good.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Yeah. All right, by the time I got back, I had chicken tenders as well. Um, and we played in the pool for a bit. Finally, our room was ready around what four o'clock?

SPEAKER_03 11:01

Between 3 34, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

And so we finally got everything back to the room. Everybody kind of rested for a bit, and then I already put our name in for Trader Sam's, which you had never been to Trader Sam's before.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Ryan and I had never been, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

And so we were like, let's do it, you know. So I put our name in. It was about an hour wait. So we got the room, all that. By the time we had got somewhat settled in the room, it was time to go back to Trader Sam's. And we did, and so what did I love Trader Sam's? I think it's just a fun, cool place to go, unique. What did you think of Trader Sam's?

SPEAKER_03 11:35

Oh yeah, I loved it too. I kind of wish like I'd experienced it several trips ago, you know. Um, but I I I enjoyed, you know, how depending on what drinks are ordered, you know, there's different things that they do, or you might get sprinkled on a little bit from a thunder shower, or you know, they had a lot of other special effects going on that that was cool. I think um, you know, if we were continuing to keep going to Disney and we were in that area, I'd be like, hey, let's put our name in again.

SPEAKER_00 12:05

It's a cool and I think the boys enjoyed it too. It's fun.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Yeah. It was really fun. Yeah, I think they enjoyed it too. They didn't have that look like, oh, come on, let's go, you know. Yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

And then afterwards, we had dinner again at Captain Cook's. I must say one thing. Yes. About a year and a half ago, I think, or two years ago, I was quoted saying the pulled port nachos were no good.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

Because he used to love them there.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

They redeemed themselves. And the key is the wonton chips. They make them. They make this dish. It was delicious. I was it was great. Everybody took a bite of mine and was like, oh yeah. No, the wonton chips are what makes this so great.

SPEAKER_03 12:47

Yeah, because you had had them several years ago when it was wonton and you loved it, but then a couple years ago it was just like regular tortilla chips and you didn't enjoy it as well.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

It wasn't the same.

SPEAKER_03 12:57

Um, but now when he got it, it had both wonton and some tortilla chips in there. Yes. Or not tortilla, it was uh just regular like kettle chips or something. Yeah. Um, but the wonton chips were really, really good. Now I tried their spicy chicken rice bowl. It was too spicy.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

It was too much.

SPEAKER_03 13:16

The like everything was good, but it was just a little too much spice. And I can somewhat do spicy food, so it surprised me that um it was a spicy um I I I think they just put a lot on it. So uh it wasn't the spice itself being super spicy, but just the amount of spice.

SPEAKER_00 13:36

But yeah. Then after that, we went back to the pool and closed out with fireworks.

SPEAKER_03 13:41

Yes. And I teared up.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yeah, I did a little bit because we are Happily Ever Raster has a an amazing story. And I think we are living that story as we speak right now. We're gonna get more into at the end, but we are living that story as we live, as as right now in our life, in the the period we're in. And uh yeah, it was crowded outside the pool, but it was nice inside the pool, and I think we ended it great because our second trip, we watched the fireworks at the Polynesian beach, and that saved that trip. Right. And to end our Disney era, I I guess I'll say great. You know, I think that's the way it should have ended.

SPEAKER_03 14:23

Right, right. Yeah, yeah, it was good. I mean, and we and we've watched it from there some other times on other trips too. Uh, but yeah, it was a great way to end it without being in the middle of the huge crowd at, you know, in front of the castle and or on the actual beach at the poly. So, um, so yeah, I think it was a great way to end the evening and like Zach saying, this this time that we're in right now. Uh, and then of course, you know, after that we went ahead and headed back up to our room. And I just I love the theming in the rooms because yes, it's IP and all that, but it's not in your face, Moana.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

Except hey, hey.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

Except hey, hey, by the coffee maker. Love, love hey, hey, there. But everything else is just like sometimes if you're just kind of glancing, you're not realizing it's Moana, you know. Um, so again, just loved staying at the Polynesian. It was a a great day that was leading up to our cruise day.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

Yes.

Resort To Port Transfer Tips

SPEAKER_00 15:25

So if you are the next morning, it was a little hectic because if you're taking the Disney transportation from a Disney resort to Port Canaveral, Bell Services picks up your bags that you want checked at 7 30 a.m. Yes. And you do not see them again until you get on the cruise ship, Brittany. Yes. So we had to make sure that everything was packed that we didn't need when you immediately get on the cruise ship. Correct. And then we've never done this before. So sorry, we're having Bluetooth issues over here. Done. And so it kind of caused a little friction. A little bit.

SPEAKER_03 16:04

But but but uh, you know, just make sure you have everything that you need. And I would check the time for the resort that you're staying at. You know, for us it was 7 30. It it could be different, a different time for you. Um, but you know, they they take the bags for you, and then by what time did we need to check in with the people in the lobby?

SPEAKER_00 16:23

9 15 bus left promptly at 9 45. Promptly at 9 45.

SPEAKER_03 16:29

Yes. So I if I were you, I would get down there more like 9 a.m. Because they're even looking for some of the guests like earlier than that.

SPEAKER_00 16:39

So we got down to the lobby probably around 8 because we were gonna eat breakfast again at Captain Cook's. Yes. And as we were waiting for our food, I noticed the Disney cruise line people already in the lobby. They were just kind of meandering about. They weren't like really ready to go. And I was like, oh hey, you know, whenever you're ready, we're ready to check in. She was like, Oh no, and come on, and and she came out to us that we were sitting outside and checked all the passports and checked us in and all that stuff.

SPEAKER_03 17:05

And yeah, she came to the because we were eating at an outside table, so she came right there and did everything, and so that that process was smooth, but I still think you know, even if we hadn't seen her early, like I would be down there by nine, not wait till nine fifteen. Plus, they're trying to count everybody that they have on their list, and then a couple of people weren't there yet, and everybody's like, come on, come on, you know. Um, so try to make sure you get there with your whole party as well, because there were some people that had multiple families, but within the party, and so just try to make sure you're all there at the same time. But it did leave promptly at 9 45.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Yes, and I was under the impression, I was like, there can't be that many guests staying at Disney Resorts before we had our own bus and it was full. Yes from the poly.

SPEAKER_03 17:55

And the lady said, I mean, there were a couple of empty seats, but many. But uh the lady was like, Oh, it's a slow day for us today, actually.

SPEAKER_00 18:02

I was like, Wow, okay. And then when we arrived at the port, we were the first bus, and not two minutes later, just hundreds of people arrived getting off those Disney buses. So I was dead wrong. I was like, there can't be that many people. No, there is a lot.

SPEAKER_03 18:19

Because even um the bus driver as we were pulling in, he's like, Oh, just got word that we're the first one, but give it like five minutes or less, folks, and there'll be more. And sure enough. Now, real quick, what he was saying about the suitcases and stuff. Oh, I wasn't even gonna mention but you had to say cause a little friction and I wasn't talking about that already.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

Oh talking about getting everything packed.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

And what we needed and what we didn't need.

SPEAKER_03 18:42

Well, yeah, just try to think through like what you're gonna need. Like if you're planning on going swimming or anything like that, like make sure you have your change of clothes like we did for Polly, make sure you have that as well. Because we didn't boarding the cruise.

SPEAKER_00 18:55

Um but now that you brought it up, Brittany had a full-on panic attack as we were pulling out of the Polynesian, wondering about the bags.

SPEAKER_03 19:04

Because somebody sitting right across from me right now was like, Oh, I think I just saw our suitcases tucked away back there. And I'm like, why are they not on this bus?

SPEAKER_00 19:13

Because they probably do like they did with Magical Express, and they have one big transportation that comes around like one big van that comes around to all the resorts and gets all the bags at once, and then the because you already have your room tag on them, right? And they take them at the resort, all uh take them to the port all at once, and then they get boarded and separated from there. Right. That's probably why.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

So I was like, Well, aren't you gonna ask them why our luggage isn't on this bus? And I kept waiting for him to like raise his hand and ass before we pulled away. You're even halfway to Port Canaver when you're like I was well, this is my first cruise. I wasn't, you know, nervous.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Disney ever led you wrong.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

No.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

No, okay. That's why I was not worried.

unknown 19:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:58

Anyways, now moving on. Now the bus really truly reminded me of like Magical Express a few years ago.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

Like trivia and like videos and stuff. It just wasn't as magical.

SPEAKER_03 20:09

Well, it wasn't about like the parks and the resorts, it was crazy. More information specific. Yeah, more informational, but they did have some little Disney cartoons to watch as well. So, you know, that was I I think that helped pass the time. Um I was working, so yeah, and then pulling into the port, we already talked about that. Now, once inside, I mean, that pro maybe it was because we were one of the first buses, but I saw everybody else getting checked in fairly quickly too.

Boarding Smoothly And Fixing Dining

SPEAKER_00 20:34

Where they check your passports and all that, and you get your boarding pass. Yeah, it was pretty simple, pretty quick.

SPEAKER_03 20:38

Yeah, and uh, I mean, we waited what, 45 minutes, maybe?

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Yeah, we were group six.

SPEAKER_03 20:43

Yeah, we were group six, and I I like how they do the boarding. Um, you know, it's fairly quickly. Um, you know, like you're like, oh, okay, we got five groups ahead of us, but it was it was pretty smooth. And um, you know, I loved hearing our name when we were walking onto the ship. I wish I had my phone out, like to record that part, but um, you know, we've watched so many like vloggers and stuff entering ships, and it's like, yay, it was finally us. Um now I will say the ship was a bit intimidating at first with learning our way around.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Yeah, but before we do that, we had Well, I was going to say that too.

SPEAKER_03 21:21

But go ahead. Okay, go ahead. You're gonna talk about food.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

Yeah, so you do not know what your rotational dining is gonna be. You know what time it's gonna be, if it's gonna be the first or the second, but you do not know which nights they're going to be on until you get into the check-in area and can log into the ship's Wi-Fi.

SPEAKER_03 21:40

Oh, that's right. So, right before we boarded this ship, we finally got to see our rotational dining.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

And we had a confliction because Animator's palette was the reason we booked this cruise specifically.

SPEAKER_03 21:51

This ship, yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

This ship. And it conflicted with our night on polo.

SPEAKER_03 21:55

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Because Erica had booked Apollo for our last night. So I called Erica. Erica and she was like, When you get on board, immediately go to guest services and they're gonna help you out. So that's what we did. It was a little hectic in the beginning. So we immediately went to guest services, and I guess on that day only, they have people set up but the deck below guest services that can change rotational dining or change your polo reservation or whatever. So it came to find out the first two nights we were back to back at Enchanted Gardens. Yes. And so we didn't really care to eat there twice. So we were able to get our Apollo reservation changed to the second night, and that way we could still do animators pilot last night. So if you ever have any conflictions, em do that immediately when you board the ship.

SPEAKER_03 22:42

Right, because it is gonna be easier for them to make those changes for you. And like Zach said, for that that particular day or afternoon, they had people specifically for that.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

Yes, after that time, you probably won't be able to get anything switched. Right. So just keep that in mind. All right. So after we boarded, we found cabanas to eat lunch.

SPEAKER_03 23:02

Yes, so cabanas is the buffet uh on The Fantasy, and uh such a big restaurant, really.

SPEAKER_00 23:10

It they had a great selection for lunch. I wish we'd have been able to eat there for lunch again. We'll get that to later. But yeah, uh I enjoyed uh they had chicken tenders, I liked the fish, they had different kinds of fries and all that.

SPEAKER_03 23:23

Like I had different carved meats.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

Yeah, it was really good selection there.

SPEAKER_03 23:27

Yeah, it was, I mean, so much, you know, for for kids, your picky eaters, and they had some adventurous options too, you know, in desserts and fruit and you know, things that like like salmon and all of that as well. Um at lunch they even had like crab crab legs and uh cocktail shrimp, and yeah, but I mean, and it's the line. Well, one particular day we'll get to later, the lines are a little long. But for the most part, the lines at this buffet, they're not that long and they move very quickly because you have the same setup at several places through the restaurant.

SPEAKER_00 24:05

Yeah, and I I thought it was great. But then after this, our room was ready. Room was ready at 1.30. So we did uh go down the room, check it out. We did not get bags until later. They didn't get delivered to about 5 30.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

Right. And so I was still kind of like, oh, please, oh please, oh please with the bags. But uh the room was bigger than expected.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

It was a lot more spacious than I thought it was gonna be. I thought we were gonna be crammed on top of each other, with the exception of the bathroom. I thought it was very when I get it for the bathroom, not complaining about the size of the bathroom, but uh, I thought it was very spacious. The bed was super comfortable, and the veranda was great. Overall, I th I don't think we ever felt cramped in there.

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Yeah, no, and that was one of my worries about being on the cruise ship, is I thought it was going to be feel much smaller.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

It was not. No. And then we had to go get our keys to the world cards. Me and you had to go get our rainforest pass put on there. Yep, at the spa. And we got tours.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

And on the day of the the embarkation day, your the whole family can take a tour too. So even though it is in the AT and up area on this particular day, if you have the kids with you, they they're allowed to go in. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

And then we went to the edge and the vibe to get the stickers put on the boys' carts.

SPEAKER_03 25:21

Yes. So then those are the older kids' clubs. Yes. And um, and that that process was was pretty easy once you find how to get there.

SPEAKER_00 25:30

That was once he figured it out.

SPEAKER_03 25:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:32

And then after that, it was time to get ready to go watch the seller.

Muster Reality And Sail Away Night

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Well, we well, we had to do the drill.

SPEAKER_00 25:37

Oh, yeah, the muster. I completely forgot about that.

SPEAKER_03 25:39

Which that part was easier than I thought it would be. It was just more waiting to make sure everybody in your group was there.

SPEAKER_00 25:46

So I want to complain about one thing that Tim Trecker does. Tim Tracker on his videos, when we watch him, he always makes it like it's no big deal. Five minutes, you're done. No, no, it's like a 30-minute process. Then it's like five minutes and you're done.

SPEAKER_04 26:01

Right.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

He doesn't explain the 30-minute process up to the five-minute process that they just do the the drill. He leaves that first part out.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

Right. Well, I think it's just waiting on everybody is the thing.

SPEAKER_00 26:13

That's the waiting on everybody. But he leaves that part out. He's like, oh, we just went up real quick and came back down. That's a lie.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

Well, maybe their whole section was there.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

That's a lie. It takes forever to get lined up, and then everybody's going out at the same like. Yes, the process it's he's not wrong. The process itself is only five minutes. Yeah. But it's the before and after, that's like an hour process.

SPEAKER_03 26:37

Yeah. And I honestly thought they were gonna talk more than they did.

SPEAKER_00 26:40

Here's how you work a life fest. Yes. There you go. And then we were uh before we went to the sail away party. Nolan and I wanted to go to the basketball court. As we were walking through the deck, we just happened to see somebody.

SPEAKER_03 26:53

Yes, another famous YouTuber.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

Real famous YouTuber. We don't really watch them anymore, but we used to in the past. Uh Molly sometimes and Alan from the Mammoth Club were on our cruise.

SPEAKER_03 27:04

They were, but I don't think they were filming.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

I don't think they were either. Here is my opinion. We never saw them with several several times throughout the cruise, but we never saw them with cameras, and we never saw them on the islands. So I believe they were just taking a vacation for themselves. They stayed in concierge and just chilled by themselves.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

Possibly.

SPEAKER_00 27:27

That's probably what I think they did.

SPEAKER_03 27:28

And I also saw something like when we got back on um their social media that and I don't know, it was kind of combined with like in the parks too. So I don't know if they if everybody was with them or it was just parks, but she was saying something like on aunt duty.

SPEAKER_00 27:45

Again, maybe just a family family thing.

SPEAKER_03 27:47

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_00 27:48

Uh so I called Erica because Erica loves Molly, just loves her. I was like, you're never gonna believe who's on our cruise. She was like, and she sort of name off these people. I was like, no idea who she was naming off. And I was like, is it Molly? I was like, yes. She goes, get out. I was like, Molly and Allen's on our cruise. She was like, OMG. You know how Erica is. And so I was like, she's not gonna believe me. So I had to get a picture with and they were so great. I just say we're talking to people, I was like, uh, excuse me, I'm sorry, can I can we get a picture together? So we're like, oh yeah, great, and took a picture. I was like, have a great cruise. And they were so nice, so friendly, and then went on our way, you know. But yeah, so what are the odds? Right, right.

SPEAKER_01 28:27

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

So after this, we did do the Seloe party. Now I could really it's a dance party.

SPEAKER_03 28:34

It was fun.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

I but for our first time, right? And I didn't realize how they time it to the countdown. Man, as soon as they went to one, yeah, you felt it.

SPEAKER_03 28:45

Yeah, you felt it move, and then you had that bada day. The horn. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

I had to hear the horn. Heard it twice on the trip. Right. I'm good.

SPEAKER_04 28:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

But we stayed on deck till we got an open sea, and me and Ryan, a lot of the SpaceX barges and stuff were out there, and he's into all that stuff. So we were kind of looking at that, and you know, it's just it's I couldn't look over the edge for a few minutes.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

It was a good experience for us. It was fun. I was taking pictures and everything, and I got pictures of the back of them looking out at what he was just saying. But yeah, like the minute we like I was like, Whoa, okay, yeah, we are moving. You're moving.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

And then we got to open sea. It was a rockin'.

SPEAKER_03 29:23

Oh boy, was it a rockin' that night.

SPEAKER_00 29:25

Brittany did not even get lightheaded.

SPEAKER_03 29:27

No, I didn't take I like we had the stuff. We had we had we had purchased dramamine and the C bands for the wrist, and I didn't now I felt like I was 21 and had a picture of margaritas trying to walk.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Well, that was everybody though. That was everybody. That wasn't just you.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

I mean, uh and I hadn't drink or anything either. It was just um getting used to it on that first night, you know. I was like, ooh, but uh, yep, didn't feel sick. I was glad. Um now one of our boys, our youngest, uh, he never got sick, but he did feel it at dinner that evening. But we got the C um the wristbands on him, and after about 45 minutes, he was good.

SPEAKER_00 30:10

Well, before dinner, me and Nolan did do the aqueduct after we got our bags in our room and we were able to change. We did the aqueduct.

SPEAKER_03 30:18

And him and Ryan did too.

SPEAKER_00 30:19

And him and Ryan did it as well. And then I went to the gym. I did actually did go to the gym a lot on this trip. Yes. Which was weird trying to lift free weights when the rot ship was rocking as much as the ship was rocking. And then I enjoyed the rainforest room, and you found a hack with the rainforest room, so you never had to take a shower in the room.

SPEAKER_03 30:41

Right, yes, but I didn't do it that day.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

It was you took a shower in the morning before. Yes. Yes. Yeah. No, after the beach. I took I'm talking about the night before. You took a shower that morning before. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But since I had gym had been to the gym, I wanted to take a shower, and that shower is tiny. Tiny. And I'm not a big guy. Right. I'm five foot eight.

SPEAKER_04 31:03

Right.

SPEAKER_00 31:04

Tiny shower.

SPEAKER_04 31:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:06

And so you made the comment the next day, let's just take showers in the changing rooms. And when we figured that out, we realized everybody else does the same thing.

SPEAKER_03 31:16

Yes. Well, let's hack up. You're going like way ahead now. You're talking the next day and everything. So, but no, we both did enjoy the rainforest room thoroughly. Thoroughly. Um, that first day. I didn't I wasn't brave enough to try the cold showers, but so here's what you do.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

You go in like the the steam rooms in the sauna and get super hot, and then go do that and cool down.

SPEAKER_04 31:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 31:42

And then you go back in the sauna and then you go back in and that's what you're supposed to do.

SPEAKER_03 31:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 31:46

It's supposed to like rejuvenate you and help with recovery. Right. All that stuff.

SPEAKER_03 31:50

Yes. But very, very, very nice. And um, you know, the aqueducts that he mentioned, aqueducts that he mentioned earlier, like they did do, you know, one time and everything. You said it was a little bit cold that day.

SPEAKER_00 32:03

It was chilly that day in port, windy as all get out. That's why it was rocking so much. Yeah. But not water was cold.

SPEAKER_04 32:11

Right.

SPEAKER_00 32:12

It was I did once, I'm like, I I gotta I gotta warm up.

SPEAKER_03 32:15

Yeah. It was super because he was gonna do it with Ryan, but he's like, no, Ryan, you and Nolan do it again. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:20

And so they did it twice.

SPEAKER_03 32:21

Yeah. Um and we forgot to mention, too, at some point during all this, I think we had our first like ice cream cones.

SPEAKER_00 32:27

Oh, I can't count how many ice cream cones. Now again, I'm not big on sweets.

SPEAKER_03 32:31

Right. However, when you have this soft serve ice cream right there.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

Right there. I didn't do it all the time.

SPEAKER_03 32:38

Yeah, I think you had more than you realized. I no, I did. I think we all did. I did. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

But yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:43

Yes. Um, but yeah, the rainforest rooms, all that I was, and then Zach had gone to the gym. Um, and then, you know, we did use the veranda a lot. The boys even enjoyed sitting out at the veranda and stuff, you know. So we did that several days, whether it was earlier in the day or before dinner, since we had the late dinners. Um, but yeah, dinner at Enchanted Garden. Um, it it was very, very nice in there. I thought this was the restaurant though that the lighting changed.

SPEAKER_00 33:09

It is supposed to. It did not for us, or we left before it did.

SPEAKER_03 33:13

Okay. Yeah, because we did leave slightly earlier um than we probably would have because this was the evening, like we said, the ship was rocking, Nolan was feeling it a little bit at dinner time. He did eat a little bit, but he had to keep getting up and walking around because when he would sit still is when he was really feeling it. And um, before we completely finished dinner, I was like, I'm just gonna go back with him to the room.

SPEAKER_00 33:36

Yeah, and the food here was It was okay. It was okay.

SPEAKER_03 33:39

Yeah, like the bread was probably part for me. But now Ryan had tuna tartar here and devoured it.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

He found several new items that he likes.

SPEAKER_03 33:50

Yeah, so he he really loved that, but like the main meals like I had the steak and baked potato, and it was it was okay. Okay. It was okay. I had the same. It was okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:00

And then uh we went back and went to bed, and I will say, best sleep man.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

I did sleep a lot better than I thought I would, yes.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

The beds are super comfortable. Our room attendant had it freezing cold in there, which is how you like to sleep. I love it freezing cold, and then just the rock, I was out, man.

SPEAKER_03 34:21

And our stateroom host, he was so nice. So like, you know, I had mentioned when I headed back to the room with Nolan, he was like, Oh, you're done with dinner? And I said, Well, he's not feeling too good. And, you know, he was telling me, like, oh, anytime, middle of the night or anything, you know, call guest services, we'll get you some, you know, like apple slices, we'll get you ginger ale, whatever you need, you know, and um just throughout he was great. And he that night we the turndown service he had made out of the blanket a swan and provided chocolates and everything. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

All right.

Castaway Cay Beach And Snorkels

SPEAKER_00 34:56

So the next morning was Castaway Key Day. Yes. I woke up early. I'm on a new routine now. Yeah, I'm a morning person. I like to get up, drink my coffee, and go work out.

SPEAKER_03 35:05

Yes, and it was wonderful because he would bring me the coffee. Yes, so and then having coffee on the veranda. Yes, I like yeah, but just throughout the trip though, like I that is something like I realize today, especially like I really miss. Like, I wish I could wake up every morning out on sea with having my coffee anyway. But um, so yeah, loved having Zach go and get the coffee. I got it the last day though.

SPEAKER_01 35:37

You did.

SPEAKER_03 35:37

Um, but coffee on the veranda was wonderful, especially. Well, we weren't at pulled into Castaway Key quite yet when you went to the city.

SPEAKER_00 35:44

No, we were pulling into Castaway Key.

SPEAKER_03 35:46

Yes, because they were like turning and all that. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but then yes, looking at Castaway Key, uh, just beautiful, beautiful. And then we ate breakfast at Cabanas, the buffet.

SPEAKER_00 35:58

Outside. We a uh ate outside on the back part.

SPEAKER_03 36:01

Yes. So they have indoor and outdoor seating. Um, so eight there, you know. Um I don't I didn't get Mickey waffles that day, but they have Mickey waffles on the buffet.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

I ate a lot of Mickey Waffles on this trip. You did. I did. Yes. I'm surprised.

SPEAKER_03 36:15

Yes. Eggs, bacon, sausage, all these different things.

SPEAKER_00 36:18

Eggs this morning were runny as get out. Yeah. They were not that good.

SPEAKER_03 36:22

Yeah. But some of the other days were better.

SPEAKER_00 36:25

Yes. And then bacon, I had hash browns. I had to, I'm I tried to eat somewhat healthy and had it like a yogurt parfait. I'm sure that wasn't healthy, but better.

SPEAKER_03 36:34

But you know, and they have fruit and cereals and pastries and all that as well, too. So um it's a breakfast, and then um we went back to the room for just or no, we didn't go back to the room, we had everything with us because I had the bog bag and everything already.

SPEAKER_00 36:49

We found Tim Tracker's best location on Castawakey.

SPEAKER_03 36:52

We did, but before that, while we're walking, um, right when we're getting on the island and everything, we went ahead and purchased a cooler with water bottles.

SPEAKER_00 37:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 37:01

Do you want to talk about that at all?

SPEAKER_00 37:02

It's a cooler with water bottles.

SPEAKER_03 37:04

But I mean, it's it's a nice way to get a souvenir cooler as well.

SPEAKER_00 37:09

Very expensive one.

SPEAKER_03 37:10

Well, anyways, um, but they have that there. A lot of people were doing that. And then, yes, uh, Tim Tracker has like three recommended spots uh for different areas of the beach, and so we got his favorite one.

SPEAKER_00 37:23

It was uh close to Cookies 2, right behind where that bar is.

SPEAKER_03 37:29

Sands bar or something. Yeah, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

Sandbar. In between two palm trees. The beach before you get to the uh uh cabanas. Yeah, the cabana-only beach. And it was right in the corner. There's two palm trees over. There was no umbrella, but it was shaded, and it was an overcast day anyway.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

Until the late later afternoon.

SPEAKER_00 37:48

But I think it was a great spot to find.

SPEAKER_03 37:50

It was, it was, and it was very convenient to to things as well. And um I relaxed more this day. Uh the water was a little chilly at first, but you got used to it.

SPEAKER_01 38:02

You did, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:03

Um, lots of little fishies, like lots of fish, and then some big fish swimming right next to you, too. Um, and then you know, you we could see the ship off in the distance, and you could see it wasn't too far from where you swim out to like the water slides and everything. Yep. And then um tell them more of what you all did.

SPEAKER_00 38:22

So the boys and I went snorkeling, and I'd never been snorkeling before. Loved it. I did see the Dumbo attraction that would have been sunk. And I believe the I was talking to one of the cast cast members there. The 30,000 leagues under the sea submarine got destroyed by a hurricane. Oh, okay. So it was not there.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

And you saw some other stuff, and yeah, Ryan, I think, saw he thought he saw like a toy soldier from Toy Story.

SPEAKER_00 38:50

And Boozdoor and and then Donald and Daisy and you know, yeah, Minnie. So that was cool. I really enjoyed that. Beautiful fish. Loved all of it.

SPEAKER_03 38:59

We did Pelican Plunge, and then now it is a bit more of a swim than you thought to wear all this stuff.

SPEAKER_00 39:05

Yes, but if you wear like the float thing and get the fins, it's now did you think that the rentals were reasonably priced for that?

unknown 39:13

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:14

Yeah, I think it was $30 per for for the set. Yeah, no, I didn't have a problem with that at all. So it was $35, we got three. And then um we had lunch at Cookies 2. The br it it was okay.

SPEAKER_03 39:29

Well, but but when you and Ryan had gone snorkeling and it was just me and Nolan, we found like the basketball court area and everything, and so we played basketball for a little while, and then yes, we did eat lunch. And I agree, I put that in my notes as well. The lunch buffet was okay, it's nothing to rave about.

SPEAKER_00 39:48

It's not supposed to be great yet.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

That's the thing. And you know, but I mean, the burgers were okay. The burgers were fine, the chicken sandwich was okay.

SPEAKER_00 39:58

Uh the hot dogs were not good.

SPEAKER_03 39:59

Yeah, I didn't try it, but you and Nolan didn't like it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:02

I did not like the chocolate chip cooking. I liked the cornbread. Cornbread was good. Right. But I'm just I I tried most of the desserts and I uh did not like it. But again, I'm not a sweet sky.

SPEAKER_03 40:13

Now, but they uh on the islands they have the ice cream too.

SPEAKER_00 40:15

Yes. You gotta get a cone for dessert, right? Yes. But then after that, me and the boys rented bikes and uh rode all the way down to uh I forget what the adult section only is up there. But you can take the runway Serenity Serenity Bay, yeah. So we rode bikes all the way there and back, and yeah, that was fun. We went up to the observation thing.

SPEAKER_03 40:36

Right. And then during this time, I was just chilling in my chair, reading, um, and just taking it all in. But uh it was getting a little warm the last two hours we were on the island. Um, the sun was coming out and it and it got hot fast. But before we headed back to the ship, we did stop and do, you know, do a little bit of shopping, got you know, a picture frame and uh Nolan got a pen and you got another shirt. And I no, I didn't get a shirt. Ryan got a shirt from the shirt. Yeah, Ryan got a shirt there, but I didn't. I almost did, but then I was like, you know, I think I'm just gonna because at the time I was like, I'll just get one for this whole trip. So let me wait until tomorrow. And so I didn't get a shirt. Yeah. Um, but I I I don't know, like I think the that castaway key is great for families. Yes, for sure. For sure, for sure. Now, um when we were back on the ship, um, you know, the boys did showers in the room, but this is where you and I headed back to the rainforest room. Yes. And then I didn't really do much in the rainforest room itself. I was like, you know, I think I'm gonna take a shower here. And that particular day it wasn't that busy like in the showers. Like I think there had been maybe a couple people before me, but at the time I was the only one, and they have multiple showers, but at the time I was the only one showering. Now it was a different story the next day.

SPEAKER_00 42:01

But yeah, same. So I went to the rainforest room and I did more. I did a lot of the saunas and stuff like that, and then I showered there as well while the boys were getting showers in the room and all that. They're old enough now that we're fine leaving them by themselves for a bit. Right, right. And there was a line in the men's room for the showers because there'll there was like the handicapped shower and then just two other stalls.

SPEAKER_03 42:22

Same.

SPEAKER_00 42:22

But then they had like all the stuff for shaving and doing your hair. Oh, it's so nice.

SPEAKER_03 42:27

And just the soaps and it's huge showers compared to what's in the room.

SPEAKER_00 42:32

Like you're you're not like ducking underneath. Yeah. So nice.

SPEAKER_03 42:37

Yes. So um, and then we walked around the ship some a little later. I think we did get the boys some quick service food to hold them up.

SPEAKER_00 42:45

Because we were going to Palo this night.

SPEAKER_03 42:47

Oh, that's right. That was Polo night.

Palo Dinner And Spa Shower Hack

SPEAKER_00 42:49

And they were going to the edge and we were gonna miss our rotational dining. So we wanted we did like the maters and the tacos and the chicken, like they all did that, right?

SPEAKER_03 42:58

Yeah, they did um, because so there's like flows cafe and maters and something else. So they did um, you can get like pizza and tacos, or you can get bowls, you can get cold sandwiches and stuff. So they did pizza and tacos.

SPEAKER_01 43:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 43:11

And um, then yeah, they went to the kids' club. And I, you know, I I think in some ways they have more to do for like the younger kids, but they try to do things for the older as well. Like they did do gaga ball and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

I still don't know what that is, but sure. So they're going to be like, they had a good time, and they had their iPads and they're fine just to do their thing in there as well.

SPEAKER_03 43:31

Yeah, and I mean and they did talk with some other kids that were similar in age while they were there too.

SPEAKER_00 43:35

Nolan did. Ryan doesn't really care to talk to anybody.

SPEAKER_03 43:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 43:38

And then we went to Polo.

SPEAKER_03 43:39

Oh, so good.

SPEAKER_00 43:41

This can do its own it we could do its own review on Polo, but we're not because we're just not this isn't the full podcast anymore. It was great. Highly recommend it. Budget at least two to three hours for this dinner. The view was amazing. Yes. It was not rocking at this point. No, it was it was calmer seas. And get dressed up. Well, you have to be dressed up.

SPEAKER_03 44:04

Yes, they have a dress code. And we weren't sure for like men if you could still dress up and wear shorts or not. It is required for pants. That's fine. Which I mean, Zach had pants, but just keep that in mind.

SPEAKER_00 44:15

And they want you to slow down and enjoy being with each other and take your time. And that's what we did. It was great. Everything we had was just absolutely delicious.

SPEAKER_03 44:24

Yes, everything was very, very good. From so we had like calamari and shrimp for an appetizer. The shrimp was huge. Yes. And very lightly battered. Very, very delicious. The calamari delicious. The bread service was delicious. I had scallops uh for dinner. It was they were wonderful. Yeah. Um, you had steak.

SPEAKER_00 44:44

I had the awesome buco.

SPEAKER_03 44:46

Oh, that's right. That's right. Sorry. Yeah, it was good. Baby cow.

SPEAKER_00 44:49

It was so good.

SPEAKER_03 44:50

So yeah, it was it was very good. And then um they brought out um a couple of little special things at the end because our anniversary was like the week before. And so it was it was very nice, very nice.

SPEAKER_00 45:02

Yeah. Then we went to go get the boys from the club and went back to the room. Went back to bed. Well, they ate again.

SPEAKER_03 45:08

Well, yeah, we did have to get them more food again from the quick service places we were talking about. Um, and then back to the room and everyone slept good again.

SPEAKER_00 45:16

Slept amazing.

SPEAKER_03 45:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 45:18

And the next morning I woke up early again, went to the gym, what got coffee.

SPEAKER_03 45:22

Coffee on the veranda.

SPEAKER_00 45:23

And then went to the gym, and we were not docked yet.

SPEAKER_03 45:27

No, we really weren't docked yet.

Lookout Cay Beach And Kayak Fishing

SPEAKER_03 45:29

Um, and then breakfast again at the buffet.

SPEAKER_00 45:32

Well, before this, uh, after I got back from the gym, I was playing on the phone and noticed there was an excursion available. And it was for fishing.

SPEAKER_03 45:45

Yes, and Zach likes fishing.

SPEAKER_00 45:47

I'm a fisher now, fisherman. And so I booked it. It was $200, and I got to go into the island of you how do you pronounce it?

SPEAKER_03 45:56

Well, we're not on the island yet, but you booked the excursion.

SPEAKER_00 45:59

I booked the excursion, yes. All right, so continue.

SPEAKER_03 46:01

So then we ate breakfast again at at Cabanas, pretty much the same as the day before with what they have to offer, you know. And again, again, when I say pastry stew, they even have donuts and everything. So the boys were eating a lot of donuts and bacon and all of that. Um, and then, you know, we did, you know, dock. Now there is a bit of a walk to Lookout Key because there's like a coral reef, they're protecting. The reef, yes. And so they Disney has built this um like pier walkway uh that's takes about 11 or 12 minutes to to walk it, but it's a pretty walk and it's not bad. No, it really isn't, and they do have a couple places to sit if you need to along the way.

SPEAKER_01 46:40

You get water, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:42

So um, you know, some people are like, oh my goodness. Yes, maybe it's not as close of a walk as Castaway was the day before, but it's still not that bad. And for people that may need some aid and walking and everything, they do have, I don't think in the very beginning they had this, but they do have little trams now, like smaller trams and golf carts and stuff that can can take you if you need that assistance. Um, and then once on the island you do catch a tram ride to the beach, you kind of see different, you know, sides of the island. There's a cute little recording playing and and telling you about the island and you know that you're gonna have pink sand and all of these things, and the sand and the beaches were beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And this beach had waves. Castaway Key didn't. Castaway Key had almost more of like a bay kind of feel to it without waves. Um, this beach did have some waves, and um, so the boys kind of enjoyed being in the water a little more here for that, I think. Now, right behind where we sat, there were like water slides and everything that you did not have to swim out to like you did on Castaway Key. It was there on the island itself. Um, and so they they had they enjoyed that. I mean, they came flying down those slides as well. So that kept them busy, either the beach or the water slides area while Zach went fishing.

SPEAKER_00 48:01

Yeah, so uh our fishing excursion left promptly at 9 a.m. from the check you when you get dropped off from the tram right by the check-in area there. And we I thought this was just a private island for Disney. No, it is not. This is not Castaway Key. This is the island of Ulu.

SPEAKER_03 48:19

Yeah, but we were on lookout key too. No, okay. Oh, but oh yes, the island itself is.

SPEAKER_00 48:23

The island itself is the island of Ulithra.

SPEAKER_03 48:29

Yes, I think so.

SPEAKER_00 48:30

It's 120 miles long and two miles wide. So our excursion guide, as we were driving along the Disney property, nice paved roads, it was beautiful, and then it immediately ended and was a hard dirt road. And she said, This is where the Disney property ends. I was like, oh, okay. And it was great to see parts of the island that I never would have gotten to see on the cruise ship. And we went to this quiet little beach area. There was nobody else out there with paddle kayaks. Fished for about two and a half hours, didn't catch anything, got some bites though, but it was just beautiful. The water was clear, blue. You've seen the pictures. It was nobody else out there, it was just great.

SPEAKER_03 49:13

Right. And would you say, like, maybe half the people caught fish, half the people didn't?

SPEAKER_00 49:18

The guy right next to me caught four. And then this kid next to me caught like three.

SPEAKER_03 49:25

Okay. But I heard other people, like when you came back too when we were eating and stuff, saying they didn't catch any as well. So it's just like how fishing is. Some people are gonna catch, some aren't.

SPEAKER_00 49:34

I mean, if it was called catching, they would call it catching and not fishing. I get it. But it was great just to be uh in the Caribbean fishing in a kayak, you know. Yeah it was it was a great, it was worth $200.

SPEAKER_03 49:47

Right.

SPEAKER_00 49:47

And I'm glad I did it. Uh I really am.

SPEAKER_03 49:49

Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, and you ha we're at that point now where when uh you know, for the last couple of years, a bit more and more now too, where if one or two of us feel we need to, you know, hey, I want to do this, it's okay.

SPEAKER_00 50:04

Yeah, you know, to do everything together.

SPEAKER_03 50:06

Right. Where when the when the kids were a lot younger and everything, it felt more like no, we need to all do, you know what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00 50:12

Yeah, we'll talk more about that at the end.

SPEAKER_03 50:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:14

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 50:15

So um, but again, you know, he was doing that. The boys and I, you know, were either in the water or doing the slides or just kind of chilling. Um and then uh I felt like this island was made you feel like you were more in the Bahamas and not taking away anything from Castaway Key. It's just Castaway Key is just Disney.

SPEAKER_00 50:35

Castaway Key, I feel, is very carefully curated to be what it is.

SPEAKER_03 50:41

Right. Where here, again, you know, it just even though the area we were in was the Disney property of it, it just they It was still on the Caribbean. Yeah, it was still on the Caribbean. They still had like the the junkanoo celebration where it was like, you know, instruments and people all dressed up and dancing and everything. Um, the food, um it was okay. Some of it was the same as what we had at Castaway, but then they also had more options as well. Oh, with the bowls and stuff, yeah, like the bowls and differ and more a few more meat options and everything. And so some of those other meats, um, like the rotisserie chicken was one um that I had that was that was pretty good. Um, but everything else was meh, you know. Um, but I do I would say too, like where we sat and everything was a little bit cleaner than at Castaway.

SPEAKER_00 51:34

Um the beach is it was the beach was more beautiful than Castaway Key.

SPEAKER_03 51:40

No, but I'm saying like even where we ate, like the covered pavilion areas.

SPEAKER_00 51:45

They could have done some better cleaning at Castaway Key. Yeah. I I would agree with that.

SPEAKER_03 51:48

Yeah. So um, but yeah, uh, but the beach, you know, we had it was a great beach.

SPEAKER_00 51:54

I I enjoyed this better than Castaway Key.

SPEAKER_03 51:57

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 51:58

My opinion.

SPEAKER_03 51:58

Yeah. Like I know a lot of people are like, love, love, love, love, castaway. And we're not saying we didn't enjoy it. You know, again, they and you know, they did snorkeling, all of that stuff. Um, but I just the beach part itself, I think. Was much better. It was was better. Um, and then it was time, you know, to take the tram.

SPEAKER_00 52:16

We had it back a little earlier than we did.

SPEAKER_03 52:18

We did just a little bit earlier, but you need to give yourself time too, because uh, you know, you might not catch that first set of trams. You might have to wait, you know. So make sure you give yourself that time. I wouldn't wait too close to when you're supposed to be on board the ship already. Um, but took the tram back, did the walk to the ship. Um, we again visited the rainforest room.

SPEAKER_00 52:40

Everyone showered, yes. Yes. So nice. And then we took Nolan to the edge.

SPEAKER_03 52:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:46

Because Ryan and me and my uh Brittany wanted to watch the new Grogu movie.

SPEAKER_03 52:52

That wasn't today.

SPEAKER_00 52:53

Yes, it was.

SPEAKER_03 52:54

I thought it was the day at sea.

SPEAKER_00 52:56

No, it was not. Was it? No, we came back early. Right, sorry.

SPEAKER_03 53:00

Sorry.

SPEAKER_00 53:01

We came back early because we wanted to watch the new Grogu movie, and Nolan was like, I don't want to watch it. I've already seen it. Like, okay, well, Ryan's like, well, I want to watch it.

SPEAKER_03 53:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:09

So we did that. And as a Star Wars fan.

SPEAKER_03 53:13

But we did take Nolan to get some food before.

SPEAKER_00 53:15

Yes, we ate it like the pizza place. Yeah. Uh, as a Star Wars fan. I'm not gonna spoil anything. You have to separate this from Star Wars. This movie is what it is. It's supposed to be a cute movie that's supposed to entertain everybody, and it was a good movie. It was as a die hars fan, it was not that good.

SPEAKER_03 53:35

Okay, but it was a good movie. It was a good movie and leave Star Wars out of it.

SPEAKER_00 53:39

There was some good storyline with the Huts. That's all I'll say. It was a good storyline with the Huts. But the rest is like, okay, that's enough. There was some cute moments, and it was supposed to be a cute family Star Wars movie.

SPEAKER_03 53:53

Yeah, and we got popcorn, um, a popcorn bucket, but we didn't get to bring the popcorn bucket back with us. But it was it had all the cruise ships on it. But um popcorn was good. The I feel the theater could have been updated just slightly. But it's an older ship though. It is an older ship though. Um, but it was it was a you know a great time.

SPEAKER_00 54:13

I honestly didn't even realize I forgot I was on a cruise ship watching the yeah, for for a little while I did too.

SPEAKER_03 54:18

Um but yeah, so I forgot it was this for some reason I was thinking it was a day at sea. But yes, so we did that. Nolan had fun, kids club, played some different games.

SPEAKER_00 54:27

Nolan's a kid who's gonna make a friend two seconds anywhere he's at.

SPEAKER_03 54:31

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 54:31

That's Nolan.

SPEAKER_03 54:32

And he met somebody that was into soccer like he is, and they just, you know, had a great time.

SPEAKER_00 54:36

Ryan wants to be left alone.

SPEAKER_03 54:37

Yep. Yeah, and then, you know.

Pirate Night Food And Fireworks Spot

SPEAKER_00 54:41

It was Pirate Night.

SPEAKER_03 54:42

It was Pirate Night. Um, so they provide you some super cute bandanas for Pirate Night. Um, so yeah, everybody was dressed up, getting a little crazy Pirate Night. Um, then we had dinner at Royal Court.

SPEAKER_00 54:58

I feel the food here was better than Enchanted Garden.

SPEAKER_03 55:01

I agree. Um it for Pirate Night, they had a lot of things that were named like pirate themed and stuff too. I had a pasta that was that was okay, you know.

SPEAKER_00 55:11

The crab cakes were all right. I was impressed with the crab cakes.

SPEAKER_03 55:13

And Nolan had never had crab cakes before. He's never been brave enough to really try them, and he liked them.

SPEAKER_00 55:19

I am just I'm spoiled on crab cakes because of this one place in Washington, DC that I used to always go to. And you've been there. Yes. And for me, crab cakes just yeah, they don't add up to it.

SPEAKER_03 55:30

I mean, you just have to know they're not going to taste that way. But but yeah, I think the food here was a little bit better um than at Unchanned Garden and you know, our same servers. I forgot to mention yes, they're great. So they were awesome. So the rotational dining, the same servers follow you through your whole trip. You they go to each restaurant and stuff, and so they really get to know you. So they had known like that first night that Nolan wasn't feeling too well and stuff, and so even though we didn't go the second night because we had Paulo, the third night they still went ahead and already had ginger ale brought out for them and everything, just in case he felt that way again.

SPEAKER_00 56:08

Well, we had uh club soda brought out for us, like they know what you want.

SPEAKER_03 56:12

Yeah, they brought out what you what you had to drink, you know, the previous nights, and you know, you can still change it up if you decide to change it. So, so yeah, it was great. Um, and then we did try to catch a little bit of the later pirate night fireworks, but then me and Nolan ended up going to the room early. That's just how how it is with Nolan and Fireworks.

SPEAKER_00 56:30

So Ryan just wants to watch fireworks, yes. He didn't care about the show.

SPEAKER_03 56:33

Right.

SPEAKER_00 56:34

So uh one of the Tim Tracker hacks that we had seen a long time ago was go down to deck five on the right hand side of the ship, and there's nobody down there, and you can watch the fireworks from there. So that's what we did.

SPEAKER_03 56:45

Yeah. Like me and Nolan stayed through some of the the pirate show, and then I can just like, yep, let's just go hango. Because he's either, even though he's older now, he's either about to have a meltdown or he was done something, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:57

Then we went to bed. Yeah. Again, oh so nice. Slept so good. So day four was a day at sea.

Sea Day Massages And Churro Waffles

SPEAKER_00 57:04

Again, I woke up a little bit earlier.

SPEAKER_04 57:06

Coffee on the veranda, coffee on the veranda, and then gym for me.

SPEAKER_00 57:10

And then when this was Mickey Churro.

SPEAKER_03 57:12

Oh, but before that. Oh, but you're gonna say what you saw. So early when he went to get coffee and the gym.

SPEAKER_00 57:20

So Carabas Cabanas opened at 7 45 a.m.

SPEAKER_03 57:26

But he went down there at like seven.

SPEAKER_00 57:28

6 45. Okay. There was already a line on both sides an hour before opening for for churro walking. For the Mickey Churro walking.

SPEAKER_03 57:36

Because we have heard that it's only one day per sailing on the ships. And so this was the day. So people were lined up for it already. But after that, before we went to breakfast, we were we had our massages because when on the day that you board the ship, embarkation day, they offer some specials for massages. So we went ahead on that day, um, for the day at sea, we booked couples massage.

SPEAKER_00 58:07

We did.

SPEAKER_03 58:08

And oh, it was it was needed. It was very nice.

SPEAKER_00 58:10

I fell asleep.

SPEAKER_03 58:11

Yeah, I think I did for a couple minutes too.

SPEAKER_00 58:14

Then we woke up and we were holding hands, but I thought it was autumn, like, why is she holding my hand? Because I was asleep.

SPEAKER_03 58:20

You thought it was the person.

SPEAKER_00 58:22

Why is she yeah, it was oh so the hot stones and it was just it was a calm sea day. Yeah so there wasn't oh my gosh, it was so good.

SPEAKER_03 58:32

Yeah. So so we were hoping though, after the massages, that the craziness of Churo Waffle Day would have died down at Cabanas Buffet.

SPEAKER_00 58:40

No, it was not.

SPEAKER_03 58:41

You they were telling you find a table before you get food. Find a table before you get food. And it took forever to find a table.

SPEAKER_00 58:48

This was like 10 a.m. at this point.

SPEAKER_03 58:50

Yes. It took forever to find a table. We were probably walked around for about 10 minutes and then finally found a table, and there are still plenty of churro waffles. So the people that were lined up so early in the morning, you know, you don't have to be able to do that. Maybe that's just their thing. Maybe it is. Maybe it is.

SPEAKER_00 59:05

Like good for them.

SPEAKER_03 59:06

Yeah, it's not our thing. But churro waffles, all the other stuff they've had, you know, every day uh on the buffet as well. They still had your regular Mickey waffles if you wanted as well. Um, I will say I do like churro waffles better than regular Mickey waffles.

SPEAKER_00 59:19

They were real I'll again not big on sweets, these were delicious.

SPEAKER_03 59:23

Now I wouldn't wait an hour for them.

SPEAKER_00 59:24

No, I'm not doing that. But I'm not waiting five minutes for these.

SPEAKER_03 59:27

If we were to do a cruise again, like I would for sure still go down on Chiro Waffle Day and get some.

SPEAKER_00 59:32

Get them again. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 59:33

Um, but yeah, it it just be prepared. If you take a cruise and it's Chiro Waffle Day, just be prepared.

SPEAKER_00 59:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 59:39

Yes, but it was it was really, really good.

SPEAKER_00 59:41

Yep. And then I don't remember what else we did this day. Fill me in.

SPEAKER_03 59:45

Uh well, that's why I was like, for a minute, I had thought we did the movie this day.

SPEAKER_00 59:49

The boys went to the edge because they were doing like gaga ball and whatever they were. A chess tournament, and Ryan's really gotten into chess. And they were doing Foursquare and a couple other things that they wanted to do. We're like, yeah, sure, go. Yeah. And then we just read on the veranda.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:05

Yeah, we read on the veranda first.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:06

I fell asleep like three times. I'm like, I go get good Coke. Yeah. Which I don't drink Coke, so I'm like, I gotta get something.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:12

Right. Walked around we walked around a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:15

Um, and then later at some point in the afternoon, I tried the pizza and taco bowl. Oh, because Nolan and you had done the aqueduct.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:26

Yeah, so we did the two. Did Ryan do it again? No, he did not. This day, so this was a hot day.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:30

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:31

Sun was out.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:31

That's right. Ryan stayed with me and ate.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:33

It was like 95 degrees outside, calm seas. It was hot. And so it was much better this day to do the aqua mount aqueduct. Didn't get super cold. The water was still cold, but it was much more comfortable.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:45

Yeah, yeah. So we all at some point went and got like the quick service foods. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:50

And then the boys wanted to get in the pool. The pool here on the cruise ship is not a pool that you think. It is a bowl of kids' soup.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:59

Yeah. People's soup. It kids. Like there's like there's two pools. Now during shows and stuff, they close one of them down and use it.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:06

But um that's not the pool they thought they were gonna get.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:09

Yeah, no. So didn't really have pool time, and everybody, everybody was in this area too. So um I'm trying to remember. Did we just all go back to the room?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:21

I think we all just kind of chilled at the room.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:22

Yeah. Yeah. We did have a lot more time in the room, which which was fine. I mean, you need I think we're realizing you need that.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:29

Slow down time.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:30

You know. Um, now there were some other things we could have done, like they show movies, they should they have other shows. Yes. That's right. You did. I did.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:40

This was not amateur Star Wars trivia.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:43

This was advanced, advanced, advanced Star Wars trivia. And I got 10 out of 20 right. Right. Some guy got 18 right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:51

And Zach, like, he watches like the shows and everything, and like if he misses something, he rewinds it. So like he should know a lot of things.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:01

Who was the voice of such and such from this car? I was like, what? Like, those were the kind of questions.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:08

Yeah. But you had fun still.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:09

It was good, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:10

And it was located where?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:12

It was in the Irish pub. Okay. But yeah, it was like the first question was from what was that series? See, I it's just it all runs together so much. No, it was not from Rebels. I don't know. Um, with the clones.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:29

Clone Wars?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:30

No, not Clone Wars. Anyway, it was about Omega. Even if you know exactly you have no idea who Omega. Like I knew it, but it's just like that was the first question. That was the easy question.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:42

Right. Yeah. But no, but so stuff like that. This was a hard other than trivia though, like how was the pub?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:50

Like No, it was it was fine. It was cool. I had some they had quite a few non-alcoholic beers there, so I would grab a an uh like a Heineken NA or something like that. And yeah.

Trivia Wins And Animator’s Palette

SPEAKER_03 1:03:00

Okay. And then later that evening was dinner at Animator's Palette. Now it it was the night was awesome. Um, we do wish that it had been the drawing night instead of the instead of talk with crush, but you can't go wrong with crush either. Um, but this is where we wish in a way like animator's palette would have been like maybe those first two nights, you know, back to back, um, so we could have experienced both. Um, but I don't know what it is about Ryan because in Hollywood Studios years ago on um what ride? The Star Wars ride, um, where he was the spy.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:37

Oh, Star Tours. Yeah. That was our first time in 2019.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:40

Yeah, and he got picked to be, you know, the Rebel Spy. And then he was the one in that crush called on to talk to um at Animator's palette. Um, so anyway, but it it was still fun. And just even if you don't have that interaction with Crush or, you know, the animators night when we that we didn't get to experience, just the the way this restaurant is designed and all the decor and everything, I just loved it.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:06

I could have walked around there and just looked at the stuff.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:09

Which I thought that would be a little awkward walking around. And those servers, yeah, they're they're quick and they're carrying huge trays. I'm like, I'm not going to do that. Right. I want to, but I'm not.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:19

Yeah. But it it just looked like such a fun, fun place. If we ever did a cruise again, I would, and if it was on this ship or another ship that has an animators palette, like I would want to make sure to do multiple evenings there.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:31

Um, but the dinner, like it was kind of like how the other rotational dining was. Like it was good. Was it amazing? No.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:38

I think it was the best out of the three, though.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:40

Right. Yeah. Yeah. I would say that too. Again, same servers, they were great. Um, it had a much more like relaxing, fun feel. It felt more like Disney.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:50

It was more magical. Yes. It was that Disney magic. And I'm gonna get more into that when we talk about what we liked and what we didn't like. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:58

So then after dinner, though, we did have to get back to our room and make sure our bags were out in the hall by 10 30. Um, and then you don't see them again until you're back at port.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:11

So um, so yeah, and in our uh I missed a couple of nights of what our stateroom host had done with the blankets. One on pirate night, he had made a pirate, and then on another day, I'm not sure, was it an octopus or something?

SPEAKER_01 1:05:26

Octopus.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:27

Um, so anyway, you know, he was great. Um, just you know, all all of the the people on the ship, they were they were just wonderful. So um so then the next day was debarkation day.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:39

Womp womp.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:40

Womp womp. Coffee on the veranda, one last time. One last time. We were already at the gym. We were already at port.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:46

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:47

Um, and then you um we were given breakfast at Animators Palette.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:54

They didn't do the screens and stuff.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:55

They didn't do the screens and stuff, but still you got to see the decor again.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:58

Um, so you uh basically while we were eating dinner they called our group to go ahead and get off this breakfast yep I said dinner sorry while we were eating breakfast they went ahead and called our group um that we finished eating and everything and then it was time to get off the ship. Womp womp womp womp womp womp um I will say even this like going through customs and everything simple simple no time at all yeah um and then got our bag and yeah got the rental car and drove to Sarasota.

Best Parts And Biggest Frictions

SPEAKER_00 1:06:30

Yeah and the wait for the rental car uh to it was nuts but it wasn't that bad it wasn't that bad well because I'm Avis preferred yeah I had my own dedicated line yeah so that's why yeah all right so what did we like Brittany what did you like about the cruise?

SPEAKER_03 1:06:48

A room with a veranda the veranda I loved having coffee as I've said over and over again but even in the afternoons and stuff different times of day just to kind of sit out there and chill um that that was great I think if we ever did a cruise again veranda and then I loved loved lookout key loved having um stateroom host and the same servers each night I think that really like does make a difference. It does make it more personal. Yeah it makes it more personal that personal they get to know you um you know and they know you by name and everything too you know yeah yeah yeah and castaway key again I I did like it I just preferred lookout over castaway but but still still really enjoyed it liked it enjoyed the beach time and the massages I having the option and having the option to shower in the Rainforest room.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:42

I would agree with all those statements I liked that we got to go to multiple places in one trip. Yeah I think it's good for that I like that we did something new because we haven't done anything new quote unquote in seven years. I like that we did something new I liked that we had the option to do a ton of things or just do nothing. Right right and I think we chose to do nothing more often than not yes so looking back on it after five after seven days I liked that even the boys wanted to slow down so that's what I liked. Yes I think it gave us some good quality family time without forcing the good quality family time. Right. Because you can't force it especially with the boys the age that they are you force the family time they're they're gonna push back and they're not gonna like it. So I think this kind of just organically gave it to us. Yeah. Right? Right. What did we not like?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:43

Now I like Churrowaffle day but not the chaos of it. I mean just trying to find a table and all of that I was just yeah that part was a little crazy. Um the pool area during day at sea was nuts. Was nuts. I wish it was I mean I get it you know but what else are you gonna do? Yeah and I get now why some people say like when it when on days where people are on the islands they choose to stay on the ship.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:09

Like I get that I understand it now. Yeah like those are the days that some people choose okay we're gonna do the Aqueduct day you know and all of that. So I I understand. Um and then again just wishing that we got to dine at Animators palette you know more than we did in the evenings.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:24

Yes. I and this is just a me thing you're on a ship. If something goes wrong there's nowhere to go.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:34

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:35

And I think that's just the air traffic controller in me that that's it. Yeah. You know, which again you're on a Disney cruise and crew mate what's gonna go wrong really you know so sorry and it's not that it like it freaked me out or scared me or anything but it was just kind of in the back of my head. Like oh we yeah it's fine. We're gonna be fine. But I I didn't like that.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:58

I didn't like how chaotic so you don't think that way when you're on an airplane?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:03

Oh no I do. And I really I know way too much when I fly. Right. But I I I that's something that I have to let go. Yeah. You know which I know it's fine. It's gonna be fine. Um I don't I didn't I didn't like the chaos at times. Which I know there's places to get away from that on the ship but you you can go to the room and and relax, right? Right. And I don't think we did it quite right. I think we should have embraced the slow time more than we did. Because I always felt like oh we should maybe be going to do something. So will we cruise again? Brittany what is your response?

SPEAKER_03 1:10:44

I mean we are not looking to book one again anytime soon but I mean if someone were to say hey would you want to join us on a cruise then yeah yeah I you know I don't think we're a cruising family.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:58

And we had a great time nothing against Disney. I think this was a right size ship for us. Yes. Any more people I would have been too much this is the right length of stay.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:09

I couldn't do a seven night oh yeah I don't think I could do a full week no but but again if someone like one of our friends or family were like hey we're thinking about doing a Disney cruise would you want to yeah I I wouldn't say no.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:21

Right. Are we look again like you said are we falling in love with it like some people are no it was a great time. Right. But we're it didn't have quite the Disney magic that I thought it was going to have.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:33

But see but also we didn't go and meet the characters. We didn't do some of the shows on the ship you know true um oh if Aladdin hadn't been night one I probably would have done Aladdin.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:46

Again it was so again embarkation day was so chaotic.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:48

Yes. Yeah I know because that was a show I had said before if they have Aladdin I would love to see but I didn't want to go see it night one.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:56

I think if me and you went on a cruise just by ourselves it would be a very different we have very different opinions I think.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:04

Well I yes and no.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:05

Because I think we would force ourselves to slow down more go to that show we would be in the adult area a lot more where it's a lot more chill and calm. Right. I think we would have different opinions. Yeah. I think but again I just don't think Nolan would do anything. He loved it. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:22

But Ryan's like yeah I don't know if we're a cruise family and I think overall he enjoyed it he's glad he experienced it but I don't think he would go again. I he would well but I mean if he got to choose yes then like here or here he yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:37

So again just our opinion it was a great if you're looking to book a Disney cruise definitely do it. Oh I'm not I'm definitely gonna recommend it. We had a great time I just don't know if cruising is for our family. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:50

So yeah and like a lot of my worries and stuff before like even though that first night the ship was rock and rock and completely unfounded. It I was you know I was fine.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:01

Yeah yeah I never felt anything at all.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:03

Yeah and I was like worried too like am I going to be able to sleep and turn that brain off thinking and stuff. Yeah I I slept. I will say we felt woozy a couple days afterwards the sea legs got me legs for two days I'd say and then there would be times I would be okay sitting but it like if I was staring at someone for too long it would mess with me. Because I know there were times like our family was probably thinking why is she looking at me like that while they were talking to me but I was just a little you know and I think I told one of them anyway the next day I'm like sorry if I was looking at you a little weird last night but I just felt like I was still on the ship for a minute.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:42

Yeah. So no one tells you about that.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:44

Right.

Opryland Trivia And Disney Goodbye

SPEAKER_00 1:13:45

All right so Disney trivia oh are we well you skipped over some stuff didn't we no oh on here you put okay just go with it I'm sorry okay so last Disney trivia while researching the barnstorm from the book I'm reading yes I'm still doing the book it's gonna get done I found out that the attraction got its name from another attraction in a defunct theme park so what was the name of that defunct theme park and what other two Disney attractions were also taken from that park and that park is near and dear to me and Britney's heart we grew up going to this park Operland USA was now closed it closed in 1996 and we grew up you know just our kids our parents would drop us off. Well yours did I was still a little younger but have fun. Yeah see ya but I would and I would have family come in from like other states and stuff every summer and that was the thing we would do you know yeah so Barnstormer was one Barnstormer at Operand was airplane an airplane ride that would pull you up and you would float like fly in the airplane.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:47

Okay. Right remember that a little bit I I was more like the water ride.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:52

Okay so the next one you're gonna remember Grizzly River Run at Operand is now Grizzly River Run in Disney's California Adventure which opened in 1996. Also in the news really big Rock and roller coaster in Hollywood studios got its name from Rock and Roller Coaster in Operand USA which also opened in 1996 so there's your Operaland Walt Disney World or dis Disney tie in there. Yeah all right so this I think this brings us to the end of this podcast era.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:30

Right I mean who's to say it is a for sure goodbye for good you know you it this was almost a year later it was the la the last episode in this one um so I mean I don't know if it will be dun dun done if you'll hear from us again in a few months two years who definitely not in a few months I'm pushing a little something for a few months we'll see.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:55

So just how have the Disney vacations evolved for our families from going in 2019 to ending with the cruise in 2026 how do you think we've evolved going to Disney?

SPEAKER_03 1:16:09

Well I mean just we've grown you know like our boys have grown we've grown as parents um the experiences have changed you know from we have to rope drop to no more rope drop yes um sl learning to slow down you know maybe we won't get everything in um you know but it wasn't always like that because we used to like oh we've got to get it in we got to get in you know or multiple times um and so you know that those are some of the changes um just I don't know just take taking taking or taking more time taking more time and I mean we were even saying that in several episodes though you know the last couple of years well I think as the boys were younger we felt like as parents we had to get this in for them.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:57

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:58

But they didn't care they really like they uh did for a moment but they didn't care.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:04

Right. But there were times too where they were like oh we still haven't gone on this ride we have to we have to you know hit them all right so yeah it just yeah it changed.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:13

Um so what have been your favorite Disney memories over the year over the years so many.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:19

Um I don't know just so many I mean I guess one of them was you know three at three out of the four of us had gotten to experience um flight of passage a few times before our youngest got to you know and you know our three faces would always light up and oh this is wonderful and stuff you know um but when Nolan finally got to experience it just the the awe on his face and everything I think um you've brought that up before even um so that's one um several years ago at Polynesian during the fireworks Nolan just chilling with the life vest on and um then Ryan you know getting out of the pool and standing next to me and watching the fireworks um that's a great memory um I don't know just you know some of their favorite rides and just how even now they still are like little kids riding it for the first time you know like uh I don't ride Everest with you guys anymore but they love Everest. You know, that's something that y'all enjoy doing um you know and just several of the other uh the rides that they love they're like that. Um Animal Kingdom Lodge when we stayed there I know I know it was right after everything was opening back up and stuff you know so we didn't get the full experience of Animal Kingdom Lodge but still just staying at that resort you know was wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:50

Uh yeah just I don't know I could go on and on there's there's several I I think the the one that stands out for me and this is what sold Disney on me um our first trip when Ryan wanted to ride Tower of Terror and we couldn't do it we didn't have time and then we got a cast member had to paper fast pass. Well they didn't say he was a cast member but it was a cast member and we got to go on and that that really sold it for me. I was like okay this is how this is supposed to be right like don't expect that don't don't expect that but no uh that really stood out we got pixied us we got yes and then I remember after not going for two years because of COVID and then going back in 21 just getting to Animal Kingdom Lodge and going wow right like the we're we're back right and that trip we didn't it was a slowed down trip there were no fast passes or lightning lanes or whatever and I think that really got us to slow down and enjoy everything more and that one that park was really that trip we were really like okay I think we need to do a podcast now like we just fell really head over hills for it right right right and then just Disneyland was great going to DCA twice that was that was amazing and just learning the story of Walt and and the lessons and and all that which I'm still doing the book you know inspired me to do the book and going down and doing the research it's yeah it's been a great time.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:23

Yeah and I didn't mention anything from Disneyland DCA but yeah I mean I never thought I would ever go to Disneyland and then to be able to say we've gone we went two trips um you know that that I got to experience Toontown. I never got to on the east coast right um when it was here and so like the first time we went to Disneyland I felt like I was five years old like I'm in toontown you know I'm in in their houses and stuff and so um that was great and then cars land in DCA like Ryan was obsessed with cars when he was a toddler and he was like a toddler again when we were in DCA and Carsland. Yeah um so and just in being there too when they first turn on the neon lights in the evenings and everything it's just uh and when like Lightning McQueen's driving down the road and stuff um you know like so those are some great memories from out there too.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:18

Speaking of Carsland as a parent I remember we were at the ER with Ryan one night it was probably three o'clock in the morning and we were watching Nick Disney Jr. on the TV waiting for the doctor to come back and there was an advertisement for Carsland in in DCA and I was like man Ryan would love that. I think he was what two that was one of the times he was at ER two or three you know and so I started looking up flights on Southwest and how much airfare would be in I was like we just can't afford it. There's just no way and then as a parent going from that to going twice you know like that's that's really you're like hey we we've accomplished this you know what I mean uh so why are we taking a break from Disney travel?

SPEAKER_03 1:22:02

Well you know we've gone so much even though I still want it go in a few months again and it's not even to the park I just want to stay at a resort and just have a little bit of Disney.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:14

I know and and Nolan's obsessed with Disney however Nolan's only been to Florida and California and done Disney. He doesn't know what else is out there. Yeah right and yes he's we do we travel a ton with the soccer but you know we just as far as like big big trips only yeah this has been I think this got him outside of that comfort zone with the cruise but there's just so many other places that we we want to go and experience and Ryan is going into high school Nolan is going into middle school you know like we did this Disney journey at the right time for them I think yeah but now it's we're moving on to other things now you know and Nolan's soccer he's at a different level now he's at a whole another level soccer wise and Ryan's going into high school and we're no longer the most important people in his life anymore. He's got his friends that he'd rather go hang out with and that's fine. And as parents we have to give him that room to do that.

SPEAKER_04 1:23:15

Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:15

And um yeah it's just time to move on and experience other things.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:21

Yeah and even if I don't get this trip I'm pushing for in a few months from now it would just be very short and at a resort.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:28

But I think I said that already um but even if that doesn't come to fruition um in a couple of years when all the new stuff yes comes to Disney World you know from Villains Land and the cars themed area and Magic Kingdom and um the monsters ink stuff Hollywood studios and then at Animal Kingdom everything that they're replacing Dino Land with you know when all of those things are done like we for sure will go we will but it's just this chapter of our life is ending Ryan's going to high school no one's going to middle school you're starting a new again career not career but new job. I've got our new consult my new business we're we're moving that chapter of our life is now over and we're moving forward right so where are we going to be traveling to I don't know but all I can say is my countdowns that I have on my phone for Disney are very empty right now. Well so me and the boys are taking a guy's trip next month we're gonna go to Cincinnati and go to a baseball game and then for Ryan's 14th birthday we uh me and him's just going to go out to Utah and do some hiking for a couple of days. He's starting to want to do that kind of stuff you know right right and then in August for my birthday I'm going out to Montana to go fly fishing. So we're going out west a lot they are a couple of them are and then our we're taking a big trip over the wintertime to Colorado to for everybody to go snowboarding and skiing and all that so where will our big family vacation be for next summer we don't know yet. No we're we're trying to figure that out right now we're discussing that we're talking Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard we're talking about Costa Rica we're talking about going back to the Bahamas again you know we don't know but that's the great thing we have you know it's not just we're gonna do Disney again you know which is nothing wrong with that but there are other places that we want to go and see. Yeah you know and so it's time to do that. So I guess you got anything else you want to say?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:33

No so is it really goodbye or see you later for now we'll say see you later just might be a while.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:39

We it may be a while. And again we may go to Disney for some short trips and I'm I'm sure R Nolan Soccer is going to take us down there but we're not gonna do any podcast yeah and what he means by short trips is it might just be a couple of nights in one park or something.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:53

Something like that.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:54

Yeah. But yeah as far as a big family vacation maybe a couple years.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:58

Yeah. So yeah but I think if you know we go and everything's opened up we'll try to do a show again. We'll definitely do it.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:07

So talk to him when we talk to you.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:09

All right see ya, I'm gonna be able to