Welcome Aboard!

You've seen them everywhere..Disney Cruise ships that is!  There are constantly commercials on tv, or someone you know sharing a photo of their most recent trip...or your favorite Travel Expert telling you what a great deal you can get on Disney cruises right now (wink, wink), but you aren't sure where to start! You don't know what's included or where to start.  I'm here to help!!

Where to start

The beginning of course!! Let's talk about your options...there is three ways to go about selecting your first 

cruise:

1) Pick the ship you wan to sail on! There are 4 ships (currently) to choose from; Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy. They each offer different amenities. The Magic and the Wonder are sister ships and the smaller of the 4. The Magic just was completely reimagineered from top to bottom in the fall of 2013.  The Fantasy and Dream are the bigger ships and offer similar amenities to each other

2) Select your destination! Have you always dreams of going to Europe? How about Alaska? Or maybe  you just want to park yourself on a beach somewhere? Disney offers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12 night sailings (depending on your destination)

3)Trying to save a bit money but not flying somewhere? This year Disney sets sail from Port Canaveral, Miami, Galveston, Vancouver, Barcelona and Los Angeles!

Ok I've picked my cruise...what now?
Now it's time to select a room! Disney's system for "naming" rooms can be confusing (that's where a good travel expert comes in!) so let's just go over some basics!

Inside Stateroom- These rooms are the smallest that the ships offer. They will have no windows and sleep 3-4.  Newer ships offer "magic portholes" to give you a feeling of having an exterior window

Oceanview Stateroom- These rooms offer 1-2 windows and a split bathroom Most sleep 4

Verandah Stateroom- These rooms offer a private verandah as well as split bath and sleep 4-5

Concierge level and suites- Concierge level rooms offer a wide variety of extra amenities.  Several suites are also available.

I'm trying to decide which room fits our budget but, what's included? How much extra "stuff" am I going to pay for?

Great question! Included in the price of your cruise is:

• Your Stateroom Accommodations
• All food (except special adult dining experiences)
• Entertainment on board (family friendly activities, adult nightlife, Broadway style shows and more!)
• Complete access to the Kids Clubs (the nursery for little ones under 3 does have a cost)
• Swimming pools
• Taxes and Fees

So what do you still have to pay for?

• Excursions
• Spa Treatments
• Alcohol
• Fountain drinks (only if you purchase them through Room Service or at a Bar)
• Nursery (for little ones under 3)
• Adult Only Dining Experiences
• Transportation to and from the port
• Gratuities

Pretty good deal right? Disney Cruises have so much to offer that even without all the added expenses it's a great deal!

I still feel kind of lost...I've selected my stateroom and sail date but I'm reading things online like what I'm supposed to pack, which excursions to book, what documentation I need...

Whoa, whoa....slow down! Take everything one step at a time! I'm going to cover all those topics in the upcoming week! Plus you can always book your Disney Cruise with a Travel Expert...someone you can personally email or call and ask all your questions to!  The internet can be a scary and overwhelming place when it comes to Disney Vacations!

My top 5...

One of the most controversial topics when it comes to Disney is hands down FOOD!  I'd like to share with you my favorites when it comes to Table Service, Counter Service and Snacks!  Feel free to agree or disagree..there is no right answer!

In no particular order....

La Hacienda De San Angel

I'll keep this short since you've heard it a million times from me. I LOVE this restaurant. I have been here more than half a dozen times in the last 2 years or so. I'm always impressed by the service here.  They are always so attentive and friendly.  While I will admit I get the same dish every time (The Mixed Grill for 2), the quality is fantastic...and consistent! We have NEVER had a bad meal here. Plus if you plan for dinner around 8 p.m. you'll get a view of Illuminations with the lights turned down and music piped in.

Grand Floridian Cafe

Ok I'm going to let you in on a little secret. The Grand Floridian Cafe! It's tucked away on the Main Floor of  the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. It's quiet, peaceful and has amazing food!  On our last trip here the group deemed this restaurant as having the best steak of the trip!  Plus it's usually pretty easy to get into.  Oh and don't forget about the service! Top notch! This is a must do for us!

Mama Melroses

I'll admit this one might seem kind of a cheat since Hollywood Studios isn't known for it's amazing dining options but I really do love Mama Melroses! I would probably describe the service as adequate but I blame that on too many people with too few dining choices.  The menu however is delicious and we always enjoy it here.  Bonus is that this is one of the restaurants available with the Fanstasmic Dining Package!

The Wave

This restaurant gets mixed reviews but I'll be honest that I've enjoyed every meal I've had. I love the rotating menu's and wine list. Plus the servers are always very attentive. The decor is calming and peaceful, which is nice if you are trying to escape the hubbub of the Magic Kingdom. Plus the desserts all come in tiny trio's...what's better than one dessert? THREE!

Ohana

I think this restaurant falls on lot of people's over rated list. Not for us though! Another must do is Ohana.  Our only complaint in years past is that we feel rushed. We find if we don't make early reservations that this problem gets solved pretty easily. We love that it's served family style and we get to try a little of everything. Plus the live entertainment is fun for the whole family. End the evening with Banana Bread Pudding...'nuff said.

I hope you enjoyed my Top 5!  What are your favorite Disney restaurants?

All photos from www.waltdisneyworld.com and are property of The Disney Company.

New Countdown

I'm excited to announce we have a new countdown!!  We are going to Alaska in just 44 days!

We ended up getting an amazing deal (Remember to watch for my cruise deals of the day on Facebook) and couldn't pass it up!! I'll be blogging more soon about the trip...we have a lot to do in just 44 days!!

A little Magic

Magic Kingdom might be the one place on Earth that I could go to every single day and never get tired of.  Anyone who has been there can recount the story of the first time they walked down Main St. USA and saw the castle. It's a once in a lifetime experience that you never forget.  You comb through pictures online, your kids (or you) watch the Disney Vacation Planning DVD over and over, but there is no experience in the world like walking under the train station, round the corner on Main St. and seeing it stand before you

Some of us are lucky enough to be a part of the magic. To live every day watching face of those seeing the castle for the first time and be a part of Disney vacation memories.  For a brief time, I was that lucky.

There are certain sounds and smells that transport me back to the time in an instant.  Every trip we take we walk into the Confectionery just so I can smell it!  The Confectionery is where I watched my first dress rehearsal of the Easter Parade.  The Market House where I worked is where I saw my first Disney bride transported to the Castle in Cinderella's Coach...

where I awarded countless Mickey stickers for winners (and losers) of intense Checker games, where I helped a lost child reunite with her mom, a man plan his perfect proposal and the fiance that came back to share her ring. Those memories are filled with hope, dreams and magic.  

I recently got to tour the new Fantasyland and because the park wasn't open yet, we entered through a backstage entrance.  I was instantly transported back to those amazing days. Being on an empty Main St. is one of the best feelings!  If you make an early breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace or Cinderealla's Royal Table you'll get this view too!

The new Fantasyland is everything it should be. The attention to detail was amazing and I can't wait until it's completed. It looks like it has always been there.  

I'm sad about the loss of Snow White's Scary Adventure, Toontown and Ariel's Grotto, but this new Fantasyland is way more cohesive.  More importantly I feel like this new addition is more true to Disney than past projects.  It's not just some new Pixar name slapped on a ride (The Seas with Nemo and Friends...) but true Disney magic. Isn't it amazing that more than 75 years after the movie, Snow White is getting a major attraction?

In light of recent events, I just wanted to take a moment today to share why I still believe in Magic. We are a Disney family through and through, not because we like some vacation destination but because it's something we believe in. For a small moment in time, we can live in a world of make believe where dreams come true, where fairytales come true and you leave your worries and cares at the gate. It's a world of magic and make believe, something that I'm not sure exists in the world we live in anymore.

If you have ever been lucky enough to be hanging around Main St. or the castle right at closing, you've seen the Kiss Goodnight.  In all my time at Disney, these quiet moments are my favorite.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun, and fantasy. We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Walt Disney said that the Magic Kingdom is a world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, magic and make believe are reborn, and fairy tales come true. The Magic Kingdom is a place for the young and the young at heart. A special place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true. Until we see you again, have a safe trip home. Thank you, and goodnight.”

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Welcome to Living With the Magic!! This week I'm participating in the Wordless Wednesday Blog hop, hosted by Focused on the Magic!

This week's theme is Flora, Fauna, Fantasy, 15!

Let's celebrate with flora, fauna and fantasy pictures from all the Disney Parks in honor of Animal Kingdom's 15th Anniversary and Earth Day