Hi there - Jennifer here to report on my family’s EPIC seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on the gorgeous Disney Fantasy. You may have noticed a small hiatus on the Beyond Imagination Vacations blog. I promise that we’re not slacking on our commitment to provide you with travel tips, vacation reviews and the latest Disney/Universal/other destination news. We took advantage of Spring Break week to recharge and reconnect with family. And what better way to do that than set sail with Disney Cruise Line, the ultimate in family vacationing. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be dissecting each day of the cruise. We’ll commence, of course, with embarkation day - because nothing is more glorious than the first official day of vacation!!
Pre-Embarkation Day
Okay, I lied. We’re actually starting with the day before embarkation day. Not as sexy as the day you leave port, but it is critical to the success of your vacation. We cannot stress enough how vitally important it is that you arrive to your port city the day before your cruise, particularly if you are flying or driving a long distance. You don’t want to risk missing your cruise because of a cancelled flight or flat tire. It’s worth the cost of a pre-hotel stay to ensure you are there to embark the cruise ship!!
The day before we set sail from Port Canaveral, our flight was delayed an hour but made it in time to enjoy a pre-cruise stay at Pop Century on Walt Disney World property as I hadn’t stayed at the resort before. Staying onsite at Disney also allowed us to take advantage of the complimentary Magical Express from Orlando International Airport. The hotel really pops at night - couldn’t resist - as the larger-than-life Disney character figurines and pop culture icons are illuminated.
Giant pop culture icons, like this Rubik’s Cube, dot Pop Century’s landscape.
As we were staying at a Disney hotel, we opted for the convenience of taking the Disney Cruise shuttle bus to Port Canaveral for an additional $39 per person, one-way. Upon arrival at the hotel, we walked around for a bit, ate a quick dinner, placed Disney Cruise luggage tags (mailed to us prior to our cruise as we had signed up for Disney’s ground transfers) on the baggage that we wanted Disney to take directly to our stateroom, and hit the sack. (The new Murphy beds at the newly-refurbed Pop Century are surprisingly comfy!!) At hotel check-in, we were instructed to leave the tagged luggage near our hotel door for early morning pick-up.
REMINDER: Don’t forget to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app onto your mobile phone/device before you depart. The app does not use cellular data once you’re on board - be sure to change your settings to Airplane Mode and connect to the DCL WiFi network. The Navigator allows you to: view restaurant menus; check live entertainment, movie and character meet + greet schedules; be alerted of your pre-established cruise plans and activities that you’d “loved” once on board; view your cruise itinerary; and communicate with fellow cruisers on the ship.
Don’t forget to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App before you depart; it’s an incredibly handy tool to keep you updated on cruise activities.
Embarkation Day
At 8am, there was a knock on our Pop Century hotel door, and our luggage was “magically” taken from our room. You should pack a day bag to carry with you onto the cruise with your passports/identification, medicine, sunscreen, sunglasses, essentials, and, perhaps most importantly, bathing suits if you’re not comfortable wearing a swimsuit under your clothes when boarding the ship (or wearing your swim trunks if you’re a dude).
Because the Disney Cruise Line shuttle picked up passengers at Pop Century at noon, we took the opportunity to cross the bridge over Hourglass Lake and made the short walk to neighboring Art of Animation. We ate breakfast at the Landscape of Flavors food court - my frittata from the omelette station was a healthy, filling and delicious start to the day. It featured egg whites, feta cheese, spinach and tomatoes. Then we toured the various themed-sections of the hotel with Cars being everyone’s favorite. Lion King, Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo were pretty cute too.
My delicious, custom-made egg-white frittata at Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors
Sally and Lightning McQueen are ready to greet you at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Too cute!
When we returned to Pop Century, we perused the gift shop merch and purchased bottles of wine to enjoy on our veranda. Disney Cruise Line allows each passenger 21 years of age and older to bring up to two bottles of wine on the ship. You must carry on the wine (or beer if that’s more your style) when you board the ship; it cannot be placed in checked luggage; otherwise Disney will hold your wine/beer until the end of your cruise. And that’s no fun!
After stops at the All Stars resorts, our shuttle bus arrived at Pop Century. The ride only lasted one hour from the hotel to the Disney terminal at Port Canaveral. And what a fun ride filled with Disney trivia and cartoons.
(You do not have to stay at Walt Disney World prior to your cruise or use Disney ground transfers. Last year, we booked a hotel at Port Canaveral - getting there from the airport via Uber - and rode the hotel’s shuttle mini-van to the port. )
When we arrived at the terminal, our checked bags were screened - very similar to airport security, then we checked in for the cruise with Disney cast members. We each received stateroom key cards (don’t lose these cards as they serve as a charging mechanism, stateroom door key, lighting and A/C activator in your room on the Fantasy and Dream, plus you’ll need them to get off and on the ship on port days), took photos to be linked to the key cards, verified that no one had been sick in our party, and were given our boarding passes. The bonus of using Disney transport is that there was no wait. We immediately boarded the ship.
You’ll receive a boarding pass upon checking in at the port terminal - no wait for us! The passes usually aren’t wet, but this was taken after riding the AquaDuck slide with my boarding pass still in my lanyard :)
Before actual boarding, you have the opportunity to take a photo in front of an image of the ship, but we opted to get on the Fantasy as quickly as possible. Before entering the grand atrium of the ship, a Disney cast member will ask for your family’s surname so that you can be introduced, royal style. Pretty cool experience!!
There are two options for lunch on embarkation day. Cabanas - a buffet-style, casual restaurant - is always open, as well as one of the main dining venues. We chose Cabanas for boiled shrimp, crab legs and the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed lunch al fresco.
Because we boarded the ship later than other guests, our room was ready after lunch. First, we placed magnets on our stateroom door - Disney cruise passengers engage in a fun tradition of using magnets to distinguish their staterooms from others and lend their doors some personality (you’ll see guests’ favorite Disney characters, sports teams and personal photos). We unpacked and relaxed on on the veranda. If you booked port adventures with Disney Cruise Line, you’ll find an envelope in your room enclosed with tickets and additional details.
Totally not necessary, but dressing up your stateroom door with magnets is a fun Disney tradition
An example of a Port Adventures envelope you’ll find in your stateroom on embarkation day
After viewing our room, our teenage son immediately hit the basketball court; our youngest checked out the kids clubs (open house time allows parents to check out the clubs too); toured the spa and fitness center; and grabbed a “Drink of the Day.”
Around 4 pm, Disney conducts a muster, or safety, drill which all passengers must attend. The back of your stateroom door will indicate the location of your drill station. If you have trouble reading maps like me, the friendly cast members lining the deck hallways will help you find your way. The drill only lasts about 10 minutes, then it’s time for Disney’s Sail Away Party. The stars of the party are the Disney entertainment staff and characters, including Captain Mickey and his friends.
A view from Deck 12 of the Sail Away Party
Because we had second seating for dining (meaning we ate at 8:15 pm ), we watched some of Lilo & Stitch on the Funnel Vision screen on the pool deck while my in-laws caught the ventriloquist show. Yesss, this was a multi-generational trip!!
Watching Disney films on Funnel Vision on the pool deck; Stitch may be my new favorite Disney character - more on that in a future blog post
Then we all met for dinner at Enchanted Garden. How do you know where you’re eating every night? The series of letters on the bottom of your stateroom key card aren’t random. Each letter represents the first letter of the restaurant you’ll visit each night. If you’re slighly forgettful, or had too many Drinks of the Day, your card will also remind you of your dining time and table number which does not change throughout the cruise.
An example of a Disney Cruise Line stateroom key card - ERAERRA means that our dining rotation was as follows: Enchanted Garden, Royal Court, Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court squared, and last but certainly not least, Animator’s Palate
We met our dining team who were warm, friendly and engaging. The beauty of Disney Cruise Line is that the wait staff rotates with you at each of the restaurants during your cruise. You get to know them, and they become familiar with your preferences. After night one, Bien, our head server, had an iced tea waiting for my father-in-law. They’ll also cut your children’s food if necessary - embarrassingly adorable when they cut your teenage son’s steak!!
After dinner, we walked around the ship to burn some calories, saw Disney characters and headed to our stateroom for bed. What a day! We were exhilarated and exhausted.
What a surprise meeting Minnie Mouse after dinner on the first night of sailing on the Disney Fantasy!
Next up, day two - our first sea day!!