Post-Trip Report: Katie’s Marvelous Disney Cruise (January 2025)

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VIRGINIA: Hello there, welcome to another episode of Where I Long To Be, a magical trip report podcast.

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VIRGINIA: I'm your host, Virginia.

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VIRGINIA: If you are interested in being a podcast guest, you can reach out to me through the podcast website, which is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

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VIRGINIA: I'm currently looking for guests traveling in May, June or July.

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VIRGINIA: So if that's you or someone you know, reach out today.

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VIRGINIA: On today's show, I'm welcoming back Katie, a travel agent and small shop owner who was on the show about a year ago, and we've kept in touch since then.

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VIRGINIA: She and her family went on their very first Disney Cruise for the Marvel Day At Sea.

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VIRGINIA: On their drive down from North Carolina, they stopped in Orlando for one night to enjoy Epcot's Festival of the Arts.

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VIRGINIA: Well, that was an easy catch up, so let's get right into it.

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VIRGINIA: Here's Katie.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back, Katie.

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KATIE: Yay, I'm glad to be back.

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VIRGINIA: Back on land.

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KATIE: Yes, no more sea legs.

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VIRGINIA: Did you do okay with the motion of the ocean?

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KATIE: Yes, we were fine the entire time.

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VIRGINIA: Good.

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VIRGINIA: That's always something that I would worry about.

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VIRGINIA: You can do all the rides at Disney and Universal, but something about being on a boat is different.

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KATIE: Yeah, we packed the Dramamine.

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KATIE: We brought all of that just in case.

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VIRGINIA: Did you do the sea bands on your wrists?

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KATIE: My daughter and I, on our sea day, we ended up putting one of the little stickers behind our ears.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

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KATIE: And that was it.

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KATIE: And other than that, like totally fine.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, good.

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VIRGINIA: And this was your very first Disney Cruise.

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KATIE: It was.

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VIRGINIA: You've cruised on other cruise lines.

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VIRGINIA: How would you rank this in comparison to the other cruises that you've done?

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VIRGINIA: And I recognize that it might be different criteria you're judging them by.

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VIRGINIA: Like this is a family cruise versus maybe a cruise you'd go on just as a couple or something like that.

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VIRGINIA: So what are your thoughts?

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KATIE: Overall, it was amazing.

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KATIE: Nothing less than amazing.

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KATIE: But yes, it's a different criteria to judge things by, because previously you've been on Viking River Cruise and gone to the Christmas markets.

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KATIE: And that's been amazing.

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KATIE: And all the all-included parts of the Viking River Cruise were awesome.

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KATIE: But to take this cruise as a family, yeah, it's way, way different.

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KATIE: I feel like the service and what you expect from the Disney service was there.

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KATIE: And my kids loved it.

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KATIE: And now I want to go on another cruise, and I'm like, I'm not made of money.

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VIRGINIA: Did you do the bounce back offer where you could at least do a deposit on a reduced price future cruise?

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KATIE: Yes, we did the placeholder.

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KATIE: So we do have and we we did two rooms because we did two rooms on this trip.

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KATIE: So that might have made it a little bit more expensive.

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KATIE: But having five of us in one small room is not the most ideal.

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KATIE: So we did adjoining rooms.

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VIRGINIA: Well, I think it's a family of five.

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VIRGINIA: Even me with a family of three, I feel like we would be crowded in a cruise room or state room, I guess they call it.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Particularly because Alex is older.

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VIRGINIA: So it's like having a third adult there with us.

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VIRGINIA: But I think two rooms is definitely the way to go if you are a family of five.

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KATIE: Yeah.

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KATIE: It was very nice because we could kind of close our door to the kids' room and we stayed up and watched TV and went out onto the balcony and did things and then all the kids were asleep.

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KATIE: So it was kind of nice that we didn't have to tiptoe around them and have their same bedtime.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: How was the weather for this cruise?

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VIRGINIA: Because I think when we spoke before, there was something like a polar vortex coming and we weren't sure what the weather was going to be like.

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KATIE: So luckily for us, the weather was beautiful.

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KATIE: It was a low of 71 and a high of 74 pretty much every day and sunny and beautiful.

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KATIE: The week before, they said it was absolutely chilly.

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KATIE: Like you wouldn't dare touch the water at either of the islands or Disney's islands.

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KATIE: And so it was quite beautiful.

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KATIE: We had clear skies the entire time and shorts and t-shirts.

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KATIE: I over-packed.

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KATIE: We didn't use half of the clothes that I brought because I brought long sleeves and long pants for everybody just in case it was cold.

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KATIE: Unlike being in Orlando, we could get long pants or a sweatshirt or things like that if need be, if it did get cold.

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KATIE: So but being on a boat and not having full access to targets or things like that, I over-packed just to make sure that nobody would be uncomfortable.

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VIRGINIA: How did that work with your room in terms of the space to store the things that you brought, including your luggage?

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KATIE: Yeah.

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KATIE: So it was really nice.

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KATIE: I will say that the bed set up, we tucked all of our luggage underneath the bed.

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KATIE: So we did unpack the clothes and put them in the drawers so that we were able to get them out.

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KATIE: And then the luggage was tucked away underneath the beds.

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KATIE: And that worked out just fine.

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KATIE: Because yeah, space is a premium in those cabins.

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KATIE: So, but they have plenty of room underneath the bed that you can slide those under and be fine.

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VIRGINIA: Good.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: I have a couple other follow up questions before we get into sort of the day to day stuff that happened for you.

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VIRGINIA: Number one is you were getting some custom Etsy fish extenders for your family to use because you were participating in a fish extender gift exchange.

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VIRGINIA: How did those turn out and how was the fish extender process for you as a family?

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KATIE: So we bought the actual fish extender pocket thing from Etsy.

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KATIE: So that came and it was perfect.

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KATIE: It was great.

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KATIE: It was a nice way walking down the hallway as a landmark for my kids to see that sticking out.

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KATIE: They're like, oh, there's our room.

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KATIE: So they knew exactly where our room was every time.

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KATIE: So I know people decorate their doors for that, but the way that ours kind of stood off the wall, just barely, you could see it.

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KATIE: And so the kids knew exactly where our room was every time we walked on the hall.

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KATIE: And in terms of the fish extender items, I had made a good portion of them from my Thoughtful Turtle Etsy.

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KATIE: And then we did buy some of the items of just like little things that were Avengers or Marvel related to put into the fish extenders.

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KATIE: And I will say that was a highlight of our trip, not only dropping off the gifts into other people's and like making it a reason that we had to like get up and get out.

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KATIE: I closed my rings on my watch every day because we walked the halls so many times, we took the stairs everywhere.

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KATIE: But the kids would run back and we would come back from somewhere and check their pocket and see if they had something in there.

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KATIE: And like even if it was just like a small sticker, they were just elated to have something in their pouch that somebody was like dropped off.

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KATIE: It was like Secret Santa day after day and even like multiple times a day.

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VIRGINIA: Did you end up meeting any of the families that you were doing this with?

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KATIE: So completely random.

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KATIE: We were in line waiting for Captain America Mickey, and this person in front of us was like, we were talking to the kids because they were like scrambling all over the floor.

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KATIE: And she was like, Tegan, do you have a Hudson and a Whalen?

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KATIE: And I was like, how do you know my kids names?

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KATIE: And she's like, oh, we're on your fish extender.

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KATIE: And like we ended up meeting them.

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KATIE: And so it was interesting that she was just like, that's just such a unique name that we, she's like, I just knew it from doing your gifts.

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KATIE: And so I was like, oh, that's really cool.

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KATIE: So we ended up meeting them.

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KATIE: And then a couple of times, some of the families were walking out of the room as we were putting some things in.

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KATIE: So we just were saying hello.

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KATIE: And but no extended like friendships created because of it.

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KATIE: We actually with the kids on this cruise, we kind of just stuck to our family unit and they didn't play outside of our family much when we were with them.

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VIRGINIA: OK, last follow up question before we get into the day to day schedule.

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VIRGINIA: How was the food and dining?

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VIRGINIA: You had the rotation going.

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VIRGINIA: How did that work?

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VIRGINIA: Because I think you probably as a family of five just sat by yourselves.

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VIRGINIA: But with your server and all of that, how did that work?

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VIRGINIA: Did you enjoy it?

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KATIE: OK, so Disney does the rotational dining and your server follows you.

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KATIE: So even when you go to the different dining locations within the boat, you still have your same server team each evening.

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KATIE: So we ended up doing on our boat was animators palette.

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KATIE: And one of the options when I was checking in, it asked if we wanted to be close to a screen for entertainment.

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KATIE: And so I checked yes because of the kids wanting to watch something and be entertained throughout dinner.

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KATIE: And we ended up being an animators palette three of the five nights.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

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KATIE: We only went to, yeah, which was very shocking.

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KATIE: So I'm wondering if that was because I said the screen.

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KATIE: So that's the only reason I mentioned that.

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KATIE: And then we went to the other two restaurants, the Royal Palace and the Enchanted Garden one night each.

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KATIE: And I will say I've thoroughly enjoyed the animators palette space and just how it was decorated much more than the other two.

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KATIE: So luckily we had the place that we liked the best the most.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So let's get into all the day-to-day fun.

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VIRGINIA: So on Saturday, January 25th, you were driving to Orlando from Chapel Hill.

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VIRGINIA: Nearly a 10-hour drive.

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VIRGINIA: How was the drive and getting into Orlando for your one day of Disney fun?

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KATIE: It was pretty smooth.

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KATIE: We got there, checked in, got up to our room.

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KATIE: So I packed a separate bag just for our stay in Orlando, so that we didn't have to unload all of our bags to the hotel.

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KATIE: So cruise bags were packed differently and just hung out in the car.

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KATIE: And then we took in a very small bag to just wear the clothes to Epcot and then to drive the next day down to the cruise port.

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VIRGINIA: Was this your first time at the Homewood Suites?

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KATIE: Yes, it was my first time staying there because we like to stay at the Flamingo Crossing on the, like it's basically behind Animal Kingdom.

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KATIE: And this time I was like, well, let's try something different.

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KATIE: And so we stayed closer to the Vinland outlets for Vineland.

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KATIE: I don't know how you're supposed to say that.

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VIRGINIA: I say Vineland, but no one has ever said it out loud to me.

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VIRGINIA: So, yeah.

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KATIE: So we were, it was closer to that area.

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KATIE: And I liked that because like we were close to the target.

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KATIE: We were close to the outlets if I wanted to go, which I didn't end up going there.

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KATIE: There was like Shake Shack.

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KATIE: We ended up getting that for dinner on the night.

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KATIE: And so it was kind of, it was more close to other items.

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KATIE: But after staying there, the two nights that we did, I would much prefer to stay at Flamingo Crossing as opposed to staying there.

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KATIE: It just, it felt older.

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KATIE: The hotel didn't feel as like new or renovated as recently.

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KATIE: And for the same number of points we could have stayed, because we stayed on points, we could have stayed at Flamingo Crossing.

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KATIE: So it just would have been a little bit further away from the highway in terms of getting there.

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KATIE: So probably would have done like 10 more minute drive.

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KATIE: However, I would have happily done that for just like the overall ambiance and feel of the hotel.

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VIRGINIA: Sure.

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VIRGINIA: What hotel do you normally stay at at Flamingo Crossing?

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KATIE: There is a home and suites there, and there's also a home too.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

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VIRGINIA: And you've stayed at both of them and like both of them.

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KATIE: Yeah.

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KATIE: So those are nice.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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KATIE: It's a newer area too.

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KATIE: So there's a Target right there as well.

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KATIE: And there's some other food options.

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KATIE: There's a Skyline Chili.

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KATIE: So like near and dear to me.

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KATIE: I don't know why there's a Skyline Chili in Orlando, but I was like totally cool.

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KATIE: So I took my kids and made them try Skyline Chili one of the times.

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VIRGINIA: What is that?

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KATIE: So it's from Cincinnati.

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KATIE: So I grew up in Louisville, and so that kind of creeped down.

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KATIE: So it's a special kind of chili.

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KATIE: And it's got like cocoa powder in it.

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KATIE: And so now I've got my husband like hooked on making chili this way, and they serve it over spaghetti noodles.

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VIRGINIA: What?

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Crazy.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: That is new information for me.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: I'll link to it in the show notes in case anybody else is curious about what that is.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So you spent two nights there and you had one full day at Epcot, primarily to enjoy Festival of the Arts.

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VIRGINIA: So when we spoke before, I gave you my favorite app.

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VIRGINIA: Did you end up using it to identify what you wanted to visit at Festival of the Arts?

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KATIE: Yep.

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KATIE: So we did end up using that.

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KATIE: I used that app.

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KATIE: And then, but we also watched some of the other YouTube channels of people that have gone.

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KATIE: So we watched, like, the MamFam and we watched a couple of other, like, Disney food blog to see what they had posted before we went, which is kind of nice going that second week when people have already gone.

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KATIE: So we hit the highlights.

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KATIE: And so, yeah, I did, I was able to mark in my, in the app that you told me about to pick my favorites.

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KATIE: And so then I was able to go back and make sure I got all those as we walked around.

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KATIE: So score on that one.

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KATIE: Thank you.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, what were your favorites?

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KATIE: All right.

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KATIE: Now I got to think back.

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KATIE: We did do, let's see, I did the Frosay or the Play On Rosé flight from Germany.

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KATIE: And that one, that flight was really nice.

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KATIE: All the different flavors were great in that one.

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KATIE: And then I'm thinking of drinks first.

00:14:32.426 --> 00:14:45.046
KATIE: And then over at the Deco, they had a Neapolitan flight where they had a, like a vanilla beer, a strawberry, hard cider, and then a porter that was like a chocolatey porter.

00:14:45.046 --> 00:14:46.746
KATIE: And that was really good.

00:14:46.746 --> 00:14:47.446
KATIE: I enjoyed that.

00:14:47.926 --> 00:14:53.086
KATIE: We had the steak option from whatever the Mexico Pavilion was.

00:14:53.086 --> 00:14:55.966
KATIE: I should pull all these back up and tell you exactly what they were.

00:14:55.966 --> 00:14:57.126
VIRGINIA: The carne asada.

00:14:57.126 --> 00:14:58.246
KATIE: Yeah, the carne asada.

00:14:58.246 --> 00:14:59.066
KATIE: Yes, that was it.

00:14:59.066 --> 00:15:01.486
VIRGINIA: I didn't get that this year yet, but.

00:15:03.066 --> 00:15:05.346
KATIE: That was one of our favorites.

00:15:05.346 --> 00:15:12.646
KATIE: I'm going to pull up the app now so I can speak a little bit more intelligently instead of just splouting these things off to you.

00:15:12.646 --> 00:15:25.286
KATIE: We did get, and I was shocked, the Pass Holder Lavender Lemonade that you could get in Regal Eagle.

00:15:25.286 --> 00:15:27.506
KATIE: And that was really good.

00:15:27.506 --> 00:15:31.386
KATIE: I was shocked as to how good that actually was.

00:15:32.546 --> 00:15:38.726
KATIE: It was expensive, and it had this lotus flower on top, the globe cube.

00:15:38.726 --> 00:15:41.426
KATIE: It was $12, but it was worth it.

00:15:41.426 --> 00:15:42.606
KATIE: I liked it.

00:15:42.606 --> 00:15:45.546
KATIE: And we also got the pot pie from the American Pavilion.

00:15:46.026 --> 00:15:47.326
KATIE: That one was okay.

00:15:47.326 --> 00:15:48.626
KATIE: It was good.

00:15:48.626 --> 00:15:51.706
KATIE: It wasn't like the best for me.

00:15:51.706 --> 00:15:57.386
KATIE: My husband tried a lot of the different seafood dishes that I typically won't eat.

00:15:57.386 --> 00:16:01.326
KATIE: He did the softshell crab, and he liked that one.

00:16:01.326 --> 00:16:11.566
KATIE: We did stop by the Swirled Showcase, and the kids got the ice cream flight, and they were really excited that they had the different flavors.

00:16:11.686 --> 00:16:22.226
KATIE: We did opt out of the lime with the tajin on top of it, because it was spicy, and they got the bubble gum instead.

00:16:22.226 --> 00:16:31.406
KATIE: So that was a good option to not do that, because the kids would not have been happy with the spiciness on there, nor I don't think the lime just wasn't their thing.

00:16:31.406 --> 00:16:31.766
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:16:31.766 --> 00:16:36.486
VIRGINIA: Lime is not usually sort of a kid-friendly flavor for whatever reason.

00:16:36.486 --> 00:16:37.926
KATIE: Yeah.

00:16:37.926 --> 00:16:38.786
KATIE: What else did we get?

00:16:38.906 --> 00:16:43.886
KATIE: I feel like we made our way around and tried really hard to get a lot of different things.

00:16:43.886 --> 00:16:50.926
KATIE: We went to the one that was in France, and I got the frozen French martini, and that was good.

00:16:50.926 --> 00:16:54.446
KATIE: I don't think I would pay $15.25 for that again.

00:16:54.446 --> 00:17:01.726
KATIE: But we actually met up with some neighbors from our neighborhood and went through the Festival of the Arts together.

00:17:02.886 --> 00:17:13.686
KATIE: Yes, they ended up being down there, and so she and I got that, and we were standing in line, and she was going to get the brie in the bread bowl.

00:17:13.686 --> 00:17:15.706
VIRGINIA: My friend Jeanette had that and loved it.

00:17:16.066 --> 00:17:23.046
KATIE: We were going to get that, and then Justin, I was going to get him the duck puff pastry.

00:17:23.046 --> 00:17:27.986
KATIE: When we got up to the counter, they were like, we're sold out of everything except for the escargot and chocolate.

00:17:30.766 --> 00:17:32.926
VIRGINIA: Could they not have put a sign out or something?

00:17:32.926 --> 00:17:33.526
KATIE: Yeah.

00:17:33.526 --> 00:17:36.766
KATIE: So I got the French martini after waiting in line.

00:17:36.766 --> 00:17:49.526
KATIE: Some other things, the kids were talking about getting the jumbo chocolate chip cookie because they wanted to be able to paint it, but we didn't end up getting that because they lost interest.

00:17:49.526 --> 00:17:53.166
KATIE: Yeah, Justin got the softshell crab slider and he thought it was good.

00:17:54.486 --> 00:17:59.426
KATIE: So just we hit some of the highlights and made our way around.

00:17:59.426 --> 00:18:03.926
VIRGINIA: Did you do any rides or other attractions while you were there?

00:18:03.926 --> 00:18:04.506
KATIE: We did.

00:18:04.506 --> 00:18:15.586
KATIE: We were able to do Soren and Remy, and we rode Frozen Ever After because my youngest son is obsessed with Elsa right now.

00:18:15.586 --> 00:18:26.106
KATIE: So he loves to wear, he wears his sister's Elsa dress and necklace to daycare, and he was Elsa for Halloween and he thoroughly loves Elsa.

00:18:26.106 --> 00:18:34.286
VIRGINIA: So did you see the video I just saw on TikTok today of Josh Gad taking over the Safari at Animal Kingdom?

00:18:34.286 --> 00:18:46.146
KATIE: I watched, I saw that at dinner, like I was scrolling at dinner and I showed my husband, I was like, oh my gosh, I would die if I would have gotten on a Safari van with Josh Gad.

00:18:46.146 --> 00:18:47.406
VIRGINIA: I know, that was so funny.

00:18:47.406 --> 00:18:48.606
KATIE: I would have peed myself.

00:18:50.566 --> 00:18:52.706
VIRGINIA: Anyway, that was just a side note.

00:18:52.706 --> 00:18:56.706
VIRGINIA: Did you do any art browsing at Festival of the Arts?

00:18:56.706 --> 00:18:57.086
KATIE: Yes.

00:18:57.086 --> 00:19:03.246
KATIE: We searched for all the chalk art in the different countries and had fun trying to find all of those.

00:19:03.246 --> 00:19:15.606
KATIE: We walked past the chalk art on the ground and the 3D artist was still finishing up the Cronk and Yzma 3D art as we were there.

00:19:15.606 --> 00:19:17.606
KATIE: It was almost complete, which was pretty cool.

00:19:18.346 --> 00:19:23.826
KATIE: Then we also did the large mural painting, where you paint your few squares.

00:19:23.826 --> 00:19:29.426
KATIE: That was a little overwhelming for me because they just gave my kids paint and paint brushes and said go.

00:19:29.426 --> 00:19:34.706
KATIE: Having all three of them, because my husband was standing in line for their ice cream.

00:19:34.706 --> 00:19:37.606
KATIE: All three of them went different directions with paint.

00:19:37.606 --> 00:19:39.466
KATIE: I can't trust my four-year-old with paint.

00:19:39.466 --> 00:19:43.746
KATIE: They're like, oh, by the way, this is paint that if you get it on your clothes, it's there forever.

00:19:43.746 --> 00:19:44.186
KATIE: I know.

00:19:44.186 --> 00:19:45.806
VIRGINIA: It's like oil-based or something.

00:19:46.206 --> 00:19:46.706
KATIE: Yeah.

00:19:46.706 --> 00:19:51.506
KATIE: I was like, why in Disney would they have paint?

00:19:52.626 --> 00:19:55.426
KATIE: So my middle ended up spilling some on his pants.

00:19:55.426 --> 00:19:56.526
KATIE: We got most of it off.

00:19:56.526 --> 00:20:00.146
KATIE: I survived it and then they ate ice cream and then I went and had my beer flight and that was good.

00:20:00.146 --> 00:20:03.426
KATIE: So yeah, I don't know.

00:20:04.566 --> 00:20:13.286
KATIE: That was a little much, but we enjoyed seeing all the different art and we walked around and yeah, we took it all in.

00:20:13.366 --> 00:20:17.666
KATIE: And it's one of my favorite festivals at Epcot.

00:20:17.666 --> 00:20:18.126
KATIE: All right.

00:20:18.126 --> 00:20:22.406
VIRGINIA: Well, let's get into this cruise or cruise into the cruise.

00:20:22.406 --> 00:20:32.926
VIRGINIA: So Monday, January 27th, you had to drive from Orlando down to Fort Lauderdale because this particular cruise left out of Port Everglades.

00:20:32.926 --> 00:20:38.486
VIRGINIA: How was that drive and how was the embarkation process?

00:20:38.486 --> 00:20:41.166
KATIE: So we got up and got out.

00:20:41.406 --> 00:20:48.326
KATIE: So our kids are early risers, so they were all up and I think we left our hotel by 6.30.

00:20:48.326 --> 00:20:54.986
KATIE: I also pushed for that because I went to the outlets at Sawgrass Mills because I wanted to see what they had there.

00:20:54.986 --> 00:21:05.126
KATIE: So we were there right for opening, got the kids' donuts and everything, and I got to peruse around that outlet because I was looking for, that's where I always buy my pen traders.

00:21:05.126 --> 00:21:12.646
KATIE: So whatever they have on sale for the pens, I just stock up on my pens there for the kids to do traders in the parks.

00:21:14.086 --> 00:21:15.986
VIRGINIA: Is there a character warehouse there?

00:21:15.986 --> 00:21:17.146
KATIE: There is.

00:21:17.146 --> 00:21:18.586
VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

00:21:20.586 --> 00:21:22.806
VIRGINIA: I always go to the Vineland location.

00:21:22.806 --> 00:21:25.806
KATIE: Yep, that's like the third one.

00:21:25.806 --> 00:21:30.906
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I only knew of the one close to Orlando and the Vineland.

00:21:30.906 --> 00:21:33.746
VIRGINIA: So this is new news to me.

00:21:33.746 --> 00:21:34.946
KATIE: Yeah, Sawgrass Mills.

00:21:35.926 --> 00:21:38.446
KATIE: So, it's like 20 minutes from the port.

00:21:38.446 --> 00:21:44.666
KATIE: So we went there and we got there right at 10 when they opened.

00:21:44.666 --> 00:21:47.286
KATIE: And that also gave us a buffer in case we had traffic.

00:21:47.286 --> 00:21:51.926
KATIE: So I was like, if I have to give up something and not go to the outlets, then so be it.

00:21:52.286 --> 00:21:55.146
KATIE: But it ended up being we had enough time.

00:21:55.146 --> 00:21:59.886
KATIE: And then I only allowed myself a half hour in there because then it was like a 20 minute drive over to the port.

00:22:01.166 --> 00:22:06.286
KATIE: And we just didn't know like previously at different ports, we had lines to get in and all kinds of stuff.

00:22:06.286 --> 00:22:15.466
KATIE: So we just gave ourselves like ample time to get in because our Pat, our port arrival time was noon.

00:22:15.486 --> 00:22:23.606
KATIE: And so I just wanted to make sure that we had cushion because nothing gives me more anxiety than being late.

00:22:23.606 --> 00:22:29.326
KATIE: So I'm early, habitually early because I need that breather time.

00:22:30.006 --> 00:22:32.406
KATIE: So we got there and it was wonderful.

00:22:32.406 --> 00:22:37.226
KATIE: Pulled up, unloaded the car, made sure the tags were on it.

00:22:37.226 --> 00:22:42.166
KATIE: And then we went up and parked the car and brought what we needed to with us.

00:22:42.166 --> 00:22:50.266
KATIE: So in our carry on, I had the kids swimsuits and medications that we needed.

00:22:50.266 --> 00:22:55.846
KATIE: And then also my adult beverages because you can carry them on with you.

00:22:55.846 --> 00:22:58.226
KATIE: I did have water delivered to our stateroom.

00:22:58.726 --> 00:23:02.986
KATIE: So we had the bottles of water in the stateroom, which was nice.

00:23:02.986 --> 00:23:07.386
KATIE: But it was a very smooth process getting in.

00:23:07.386 --> 00:23:12.346
KATIE: Like we had our little codes, they scanned it, knew at time, snapped some photos as we walked around.

00:23:12.346 --> 00:23:14.666
KATIE: It was really beautifully decorated.

00:23:14.666 --> 00:23:19.826
KATIE: And then the worst part was we got up and they check your passports and all that kind of stuff.

00:23:19.826 --> 00:23:25.686
KATIE: And then you have to go sit and then wait until they call your group number.

00:23:25.686 --> 00:23:26.546
KATIE: And so we were group 10.

00:23:27.326 --> 00:23:32.366
KATIE: And so it took about 45 minutes for the kids sitting there.

00:23:32.366 --> 00:23:37.786
KATIE: So that was like a little tedious, just waiting until they called our number.

00:23:37.786 --> 00:23:42.906
KATIE: But I had grabbed them all something like little from the outlet.

00:23:42.906 --> 00:23:46.506
KATIE: So they all had like a new toy to play with while they were waiting.

00:23:46.506 --> 00:23:48.826
KATIE: They had like an Indiana Jones, like figurine.

00:23:48.826 --> 00:23:50.326
KATIE: And so my son was playing with that.

00:23:50.326 --> 00:23:52.546
KATIE: And then I got the other two Illy dolls.

00:23:52.546 --> 00:23:54.246
KATIE: So they played with those.

00:23:54.906 --> 00:23:56.686
KATIE: And that was a little helpful.

00:23:56.686 --> 00:24:02.126
KATIE: But then packing up all of their stuff when they called our number was like, ah, hurry up.

00:24:02.126 --> 00:24:05.886
KATIE: But they took pictures and we got on the boat and they announced our name.

00:24:05.886 --> 00:24:09.346
KATIE: And at one thirty, they said we could go up to our rooms.

00:24:09.346 --> 00:24:15.086
KATIE: So we went and checked out the Oceaneers Club and lab.

00:24:15.086 --> 00:24:18.006
KATIE: So they had the two different sections depending on which age group.

00:24:18.006 --> 00:24:23.286
KATIE: And that's the only time as an adult you can enter into the Oceaneers Club.

00:24:23.506 --> 00:24:24.946
KATIE: So that is their open house.

00:24:24.946 --> 00:24:32.146
KATIE: So we went around and checked that out with the kids and saw all the different rooms and all their awesome hand washing devices.

00:24:32.146 --> 00:24:34.726
KATIE: And then the kids were just obsessed.

00:24:34.726 --> 00:24:37.646
KATIE: They have floors that you can jump on and pop bubbles.

00:24:37.646 --> 00:24:41.046
KATIE: And there's a room where you can become Spider-Man.

00:24:41.046 --> 00:24:45.326
KATIE: And they also had a room that you would pilot the Millennium Falcon.

00:24:45.326 --> 00:24:48.986
KATIE: And they had Andy's bedroom with all the toys in there.

00:24:49.346 --> 00:24:54.926
KATIE: And it just was super cool, all the things that they had for the kids to do in the Ocean Ears Club.

00:24:54.926 --> 00:25:03.066
KATIE: So we ended up calling it the Kids Club the whole time, because Ocean Ears Club coming out of a four-year-old's mouth is a little hard.

00:25:03.066 --> 00:25:03.766
VIRGINIA: True.

00:25:03.766 --> 00:25:05.206
VIRGINIA: The OC.

00:25:05.206 --> 00:25:06.146
KATIE: Yeah.

00:25:06.146 --> 00:25:08.506
KATIE: But yeah, so Kids Club is what we ended up calling it.

00:25:08.506 --> 00:25:10.326
KATIE: And they enjoyed going.

00:25:10.326 --> 00:25:12.646
KATIE: We did have Magic Bands.

00:25:12.646 --> 00:25:16.566
KATIE: So we've had our Magic Band Plus because we go to the parks frequently.

00:25:17.086 --> 00:25:21.746
KATIE: But if you don't have a Magic Band Plus, then they assign you one at the Kids Club.

00:25:21.746 --> 00:25:23.726
KATIE: And then you have to return it at the end of the week.

00:25:23.726 --> 00:25:29.246
KATIE: And if you don't return it at the end of the week or the end of your cruise, they charge you for it.

00:25:29.246 --> 00:25:30.146
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:25:30.146 --> 00:25:32.606
KATIE: But that was the way that they kept track of the kids.

00:25:32.606 --> 00:25:41.646
KATIE: So it was interesting because they would know where in the Kids Club the kids were.

00:25:41.786 --> 00:25:46.446
KATIE: They'd be like, oh, Tegan's in this room or Waylon's in here.

00:25:46.726 --> 00:25:53.006
KATIE: And because Waylon's four, they put a little sticker and everything on his back.

00:25:53.006 --> 00:26:09.746
KATIE: And when they had characters come, because they had characters come to the Kids Club, they would have the threes and fours kind of move together in a group and kind of sit down and they would sit in the front so that they weren't like overrun by the bigger kids, which was nice.

00:26:09.746 --> 00:26:10.366
KATIE: We did that.

00:26:10.366 --> 00:26:11.786
KATIE: And then we grabbed some lunch.

00:26:11.786 --> 00:26:14.546
KATIE: And then by that time, it was time for us to find our stateroom.

00:26:14.686 --> 00:26:19.246
KATIE: So we went in and got our stateroom and luckily our bags were already all there.

00:26:19.246 --> 00:26:19.766
VIRGINIA: I was shocked.

00:26:19.766 --> 00:26:20.866
VIRGINIA: Magical.

00:26:20.866 --> 00:26:23.366
KATIE: It was magic that all of our bags were already there.

00:26:23.366 --> 00:26:31.786
KATIE: And so the first order of business was to put up our fish extender and decorate our stateroom doors with the Marvel things that we had brought.

00:26:31.786 --> 00:26:37.166
KATIE: And of course, we did that and relaxed and then you had to do your mustering.

00:26:37.606 --> 00:26:46.606
KATIE: So your lifeboat life vest training and the sail away party, which was a lot of fun.

00:26:46.606 --> 00:26:47.606
KATIE: And then it was dinner.

00:26:47.606 --> 00:26:52.866
KATIE: I mean, that first day kind of went like so quick because it was like thing after thing after thing.

00:26:52.866 --> 00:26:55.686
KATIE: So and we are not my kids are not late night people.

00:26:55.686 --> 00:26:59.506
KATIE: So we ended up doing dinner and then everybody was just tired.

00:26:59.506 --> 00:27:01.226
KATIE: And that was it for us.

00:27:01.226 --> 00:27:01.986
KATIE: That's all she wrote.

00:27:01.986 --> 00:27:05.146
KATIE: And we did bed and it was animators palette, which was really cool.

00:27:06.026 --> 00:27:26.826
KATIE: And I will say that first night at dinner was probably like the best in terms of the screen usage because it was finding Nemo themed and Crush came around to the screen and they actually came up to the screen right at our table and talked to my kids and like asked them questions like, where are you from?

00:27:26.906 --> 00:27:36.646
KATIE: And he like, whatever technology they have, that Crush could see them because he was like talking about what clothes they were wearing and like all kinds of things.

00:27:36.646 --> 00:27:38.366
KATIE: It was it was just crazy.

00:27:38.366 --> 00:27:45.086
KATIE: So like that was the only night that they really used the screens in that type of way.

00:27:45.086 --> 00:27:51.126
KATIE: But it was very interactive and kept the kids very entertained at dinner.

00:27:51.126 --> 00:28:06.246
VIRGINIA: OK, so Tuesday, I know that you had a number of different sort of theme days, like a pirate night and a day you were going to stay on the boat while the boat was docked at Nassau and then the two different Disney Islands.

00:28:06.246 --> 00:28:08.466
VIRGINIA: So which day was Tuesday?

00:28:08.466 --> 00:28:12.166
KATIE: Tuesday was Nassau, so we didn't get off the boat that day.

00:28:12.166 --> 00:28:14.726
KATIE: And that was also pirate night.

00:28:14.726 --> 00:28:18.126
KATIE: So yep, so we had pirate night that night.

00:28:18.126 --> 00:28:23.306
KATIE: And that was fun because all the characters were dressed up in pirate attire.

00:28:24.066 --> 00:28:31.346
KATIE: And one of our number one things for our daughter on this cruise was to see Stitch.

00:28:31.346 --> 00:28:35.746
KATIE: So for Christmas, she had gotten a Stitch backpack, like a LoungeFly.

00:28:35.746 --> 00:28:41.526
KATIE: And so she wanted to show it to Stitch and she had gotten a Stitch onesie and everything too.

00:28:41.526 --> 00:28:46.706
KATIE: So she's wearing a Stitch onesie, carrying her Stitch LoungeFly, and she has her shoulder palette Stitch.

00:28:46.706 --> 00:28:50.286
KATIE: And so one of our goals of the trip was to meet Stitch.

00:28:50.286 --> 00:28:56.566
KATIE: So when you're in the Cruise Navigator app, you can go through and see what characters are coming and what time each day.

00:28:56.566 --> 00:29:03.566
KATIE: So that was a priority on our port, well, that port day is to meet Stitch.

00:29:03.566 --> 00:29:07.106
KATIE: So people knew where they were going to line up.

00:29:07.106 --> 00:29:14.666
KATIE: And so lines typically started forming about 20 minutes before characters were going to appear on the ship.

00:29:14.666 --> 00:29:22.266
KATIE: And so, yeah, we made sure we got Stitch taking care of.

00:29:22.266 --> 00:29:27.226
KATIE: But that day we ended up just pretty much taking it easy and exploring the ship a bunch.

00:29:27.226 --> 00:29:33.486
KATIE: We took our fish extenders and delivered those and they played in all the pools.

00:29:33.486 --> 00:29:37.326
KATIE: We checked out every single pool that was available for them to go to.

00:29:37.326 --> 00:29:40.846
KATIE: The only one we couldn't go to was the Quiet Cove Pool because that's 18 and older.

00:29:42.446 --> 00:29:44.866
KATIE: We did the Mickey Hand Slide.

00:29:44.866 --> 00:29:49.546
KATIE: The one thing we didn't get done on that day was the aqueduct.

00:29:50.746 --> 00:29:53.426
KATIE: That was on my daughter's to-do list too.

00:29:54.966 --> 00:29:57.806
KATIE: That one got a pin put in it because we had to wait.

00:29:58.766 --> 00:30:06.226
KATIE: Because the aqueduct, the line would get up to like a half hour long, and then they only had it open at certain times when we were in ports.

00:30:07.386 --> 00:30:15.206
KATIE: So that was a second to do for her once she figured out what the aqueduct actually was.

00:30:16.446 --> 00:30:20.026
VIRGINIA: Was this the day that you also had your couples massage scheduled?

00:30:20.026 --> 00:30:21.146
KATIE: It was.

00:30:21.146 --> 00:30:22.266
VIRGINIA: How was that?

00:30:22.266 --> 00:30:23.566
KATIE: That was amazing.

00:30:24.786 --> 00:30:24.986
KATIE: Yeah.

00:30:24.986 --> 00:30:25.786
KATIE: So it was nice.

00:30:25.786 --> 00:30:38.546
KATIE: We played with the kids in the pool and everything, and then it was just so nice to be able to take them into the Oceaneers Club and drop them off and know that they were fine, and we just got time.

00:30:38.546 --> 00:30:42.626
KATIE: We told them we were going to get a massage, and they were like, how long is your massage?

00:30:42.626 --> 00:30:44.066
KATIE: So we just did the 50-minute one.

00:30:44.066 --> 00:30:49.826
KATIE: So they noted, they were like, we will make sure that we do not bother you during that time at all.

00:30:50.206 --> 00:30:54.506
KATIE: If any of the kids were having a meltdown or anything like that, because they could text you through the app.

00:30:55.806 --> 00:31:03.046
KATIE: So they were like, they pretty much respected the time that we were going to be having by ourselves.

00:31:04.526 --> 00:31:06.426
KATIE: So we went up and had the massage.

00:31:06.426 --> 00:31:07.326
KATIE: It was really cool.

00:31:07.326 --> 00:31:15.926
KATIE: So it was in a room that was just window lined, and you could just look out.

00:31:15.926 --> 00:31:20.506
KATIE: So I could see on a sea day, it'd be really cool just to be laying there and just watching the ocean go by.

00:31:22.226 --> 00:31:33.206
KATIE: But we got to look out at other boats, and it was a 50-minute massage, and it always feels like it goes so much faster than it is.

00:31:33.206 --> 00:31:40.166
KATIE: Then we sat in the steam rooms and just took it easy getting back to the kids.

00:31:40.166 --> 00:31:41.566
KATIE: But it was really nice.

00:31:42.686 --> 00:31:47.606
KATIE: It felt like a vacation then because we were able to just decompress on our own.

00:31:48.906 --> 00:31:49.326
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:31:49.326 --> 00:31:49.966
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:31:49.966 --> 00:31:52.426
VIRGINIA: Anything else to note on this day?

00:31:53.986 --> 00:32:01.726
KATIE: So this was pirate night, and so I don't know if this happens on every cruise, since this is the first time, but they left us all bandanas.

00:32:01.726 --> 00:32:04.666
KATIE: We did bring pirate outfits to dress up in.

00:32:04.666 --> 00:32:07.266
KATIE: So we took pictures with Pirate Mini and Stitch.

00:32:07.266 --> 00:32:11.426
KATIE: When we did find him, he was dressed up as a pirate as well.

00:32:11.426 --> 00:32:15.166
KATIE: So if you want to go, some people go full out pirate.

00:32:15.766 --> 00:32:20.826
KATIE: We bought costumes for all of us, but they do give you the bandanas.

00:32:20.826 --> 00:32:37.326
KATIE: And one of the things that I heard, and there's like a Facebook group that you can join to do your fish extenders and things like that before the cruise, but people said, don't wash the bandanas with other clothes that are lightly colored afterwards because they're red runs.

00:32:37.326 --> 00:32:41.526
KATIE: So something to note if you're washing your bandanas.

00:32:41.526 --> 00:32:42.286
VIRGINIA: That is a good tip.

00:32:43.246 --> 00:32:53.026
KATIE: So the other thing on Tuesday was the day that you could make appointments to meet the Marvel characters, and we ended up not meeting anybody on that day.

00:32:53.026 --> 00:32:56.306
KATIE: We didn't have any of our appointments for that day.

00:32:56.306 --> 00:33:05.446
KATIE: So you could have had your encounters with the Marvel characters then, but ours all ended up being on the day at sea.

00:33:05.446 --> 00:33:08.246
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:33:08.326 --> 00:33:08.666
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:33:08.666 --> 00:33:11.746
VIRGINIA: So Wednesday, January 29th.

00:33:11.746 --> 00:33:14.226
VIRGINIA: What was the order of that day?

00:33:14.226 --> 00:33:17.726
KATIE: So then that was Castaway Key Day.

00:33:20.166 --> 00:33:24.246
KATIE: From previous cruises, my husband and I, we were like, all right, guys, we're getting up.

00:33:24.246 --> 00:33:26.346
KATIE: We had breakfast.

00:33:26.346 --> 00:33:28.726
KATIE: We actually had breakfast room service.

00:33:28.726 --> 00:33:37.266
KATIE: We had it delivered to us because you could get off the ship at 8.30, and our kids are up at 6 a.m.

00:33:37.266 --> 00:33:37.626
KATIE: every day.

00:33:37.886 --> 00:33:40.106
KATIE: So we had room service sent to us.

00:33:40.106 --> 00:33:50.446
KATIE: They had their cereal and all that kind of stuff in the morning, and sat on the veranda and just looked out as we were docking and getting everything settled in Castaway Key.

00:33:52.686 --> 00:34:01.206
KATIE: But then we got down to where you could get off the ship at 8.15 because we were like, oh, it's going to be a long line.

00:34:01.206 --> 00:34:04.006
KATIE: Everyone's going to want to get off, and we were the only people there.

00:34:06.226 --> 00:34:13.046
KATIE: So we were like, oh, I guess it's not as big of a deal to get off the ship here as it has been on previous cruises.

00:34:14.146 --> 00:34:19.086
KATIE: So we ended up getting off the ship and we got our towels.

00:34:19.086 --> 00:34:29.166
KATIE: And then we took the tram to the second stop, which is by the cabanas there.

00:34:29.966 --> 00:34:36.046
KATIE: But we were on the family beach because we wanted to go down the waterslides that they had there.

00:34:36.046 --> 00:34:44.246
KATIE: So not the closest beach to the ship, but it was further away, but it still was a family beach.

00:34:44.246 --> 00:34:47.266
KATIE: And that ended up being really good for us for two reasons.

00:34:47.266 --> 00:34:49.566
KATIE: The first was we were close to that.

00:34:49.566 --> 00:34:57.206
KATIE: Like it was like a splash pad, but it was in the middle of the water and it's like 14 feet deep in the ocean.

00:34:57.206 --> 00:34:58.766
KATIE: But they give you life vests.

00:34:58.866 --> 00:35:01.986
KATIE: So like everybody wears a life vest to go out there.

00:35:01.986 --> 00:35:06.526
KATIE: And they've got like two slides and water cannons and all kinds of things for the kids to do.

00:35:06.526 --> 00:35:07.566
KATIE: A, it was freezing cold.

00:35:07.566 --> 00:35:09.186
KATIE: My husband went with them.

00:35:09.186 --> 00:35:10.406
KATIE: I was like, bye, have fun.

00:35:10.406 --> 00:35:11.946
KATIE: I'm not doing that.

00:35:13.346 --> 00:35:16.806
KATIE: But they enjoyed being able to do the slides and everything.

00:35:16.806 --> 00:35:21.866
KATIE: And then the other part, so I'm going to tell you a secret that I found out.

00:35:22.966 --> 00:35:24.086
KATIE: Big secret.

00:35:24.086 --> 00:35:29.246
KATIE: So the cabanas are like at the furthest part of the beach.

00:35:29.246 --> 00:35:35.526
KATIE: And then there's this bar called the sandbar appropriately named.

00:35:35.526 --> 00:35:40.986
KATIE: And there's this little stretch of beach that has all of the chairs and all of the everything set up.

00:35:40.986 --> 00:35:44.506
KATIE: And then there's this like wooden fence.

00:35:44.506 --> 00:35:48.266
KATIE: So there's a small stretch of beach that comes right before the wooden fence.

00:35:48.266 --> 00:35:51.626
KATIE: The wooden fence you can't go past because that's the cabanas beach.

00:35:51.626 --> 00:35:57.406
KATIE: But after the sandbar and before that wooden fence, it's amazing beach that nobody knows.

00:35:57.406 --> 00:36:01.706
KATIE: They don't feel like you can go there because it looks like it's for the cabanas.

00:36:01.706 --> 00:36:03.986
KATIE: And so it ends up being very, very quiet.

00:36:03.986 --> 00:36:10.146
KATIE: And nobody realizes until later in the afternoon that that's a space that they can actually occupy.

00:36:10.146 --> 00:36:13.346
KATIE: So if you're looking for a quieter spot, that's it.

00:36:13.406 --> 00:36:14.366
VIRGINIA: Thank you.

00:36:14.366 --> 00:36:22.326
KATIE: And that ended up being nice, too, because we were really close to the lunch area.

00:36:22.326 --> 00:36:24.666
KATIE: There was also a small splash pad over there.

00:36:24.666 --> 00:36:33.686
KATIE: And then it ended up being right where the 5K through the Castaway Key 5K started.

00:36:33.686 --> 00:36:41.826
VIRGINIA: I was just about to ask if you guys did that because we know that your daughter is hungry for metals.

00:36:42.306 --> 00:36:42.666
KATIE: Yep.

00:36:42.666 --> 00:36:45.646
KATIE: So we ended up doing that when they played in the water for a little while.

00:36:45.646 --> 00:36:47.666
KATIE: And then it started to warm up.

00:36:47.666 --> 00:36:58.726
KATIE: And as it was getting a little bit warmer, I told my husband and everything, I was like, I got to go do this now because then I'll get in the water after this, but I don't want it to get too hot so that I'm not miserable running this 5K.

00:36:58.726 --> 00:37:02.666
KATIE: And so she and I went and did the 5K and we got our metals.

00:37:02.666 --> 00:37:08.806
KATIE: And then we came back and I did end up getting in the water and I did end up going down the slides.

00:37:10.186 --> 00:37:11.906
KATIE: So that was fun.

00:37:11.906 --> 00:37:13.026
KATIE: It was worth it.

00:37:13.026 --> 00:37:23.266
KATIE: And I will say one of the fish extenders that we got that I was not expecting by any means was a beach bag that had beach toys in it.

00:37:23.266 --> 00:37:26.026
KATIE: And they have like collapsible beach pails.

00:37:26.026 --> 00:37:30.506
KATIE: And so they put three collapsible beach pails and three shovels in it for each of my kids.

00:37:30.506 --> 00:37:36.646
KATIE: And that was amazing because they spent hours playing with that stuff.

00:37:36.646 --> 00:37:40.846
KATIE: And I didn't bring any of that with us because I was like, I'm not bringing sand toys.

00:37:40.846 --> 00:37:43.006
KATIE: So that was an awesome.

00:37:43.626 --> 00:37:48.466
KATIE: Whoever gave us that for a fish extender, kudos to you, because that was amazing.

00:37:50.486 --> 00:37:51.406
KATIE: But yeah, they did that.

00:37:51.406 --> 00:37:55.966
KATIE: And then the big kids played with my husband and did a little bit of snorkeling.

00:37:55.966 --> 00:38:01.426
KATIE: So we did bring snorkeling masks, like the full on face mask thing.

00:38:01.426 --> 00:38:02.886
KATIE: They didn't last too long with it.

00:38:04.046 --> 00:38:12.146
KATIE: And then my youngest, we went to the splash pad and he played there and he had a blast playing in the little splash pad there for a while.

00:38:12.146 --> 00:38:17.946
KATIE: Of course, we've had our soft serve ice cream at lunch and it's always there.

00:38:17.946 --> 00:38:19.726
KATIE: You can get so much soft serve ice cream.

00:38:19.726 --> 00:38:23.826
KATIE: My kids are like, actually right now, they were like, oof, I don't know that I want any more ice cream.

00:38:23.826 --> 00:38:29.506
KATIE: Like when we came home, cause they ate soft serve like 24 seven because it was available 24 seven.

00:38:29.506 --> 00:38:31.506
KATIE: But yeah, it ended up, it was really nice.

00:38:31.586 --> 00:38:44.246
KATIE: And one of the things that we did with our kids too, because you're able to, I feel like on a cruise is every day they had to try something new in terms of food that they've never had before.

00:38:44.246 --> 00:38:50.406
KATIE: So every day like buffet and things like that, they got to pick something that they wanted to try new.

00:38:50.406 --> 00:38:57.926
KATIE: And I think it was a good exploration for them to see other things other than chicken and mac and cheese.

00:38:58.606 --> 00:39:07.186
KATIE: So we came back early because there was another character that we wanted to see on the boat.

00:39:07.186 --> 00:39:11.866
KATIE: And when we got on the boat, it was like a Marvel fest.

00:39:11.866 --> 00:39:16.086
KATIE: Ant-Man and The Wasp were walking around.

00:39:16.086 --> 00:39:22.706
KATIE: And then Scarlet Witch came out and Loki came out and Doctor Strange came out and everybody.

00:39:22.706 --> 00:39:25.066
KATIE: Like it just, it was a Marvel fest.

00:39:25.066 --> 00:39:27.066
KATIE: And then Spider-Man came out.

00:39:27.326 --> 00:39:30.206
KATIE: And around the corner, my kids got to see Spider-Man.

00:39:30.206 --> 00:39:31.246
VIRGINIA: Must have been crazy.

00:39:31.246 --> 00:39:33.066
KATIE: And I like about lost it.

00:39:33.066 --> 00:39:35.446
KATIE: And so we were standing in line for Spider-Man.

00:39:35.446 --> 00:39:42.246
KATIE: And it just, it was a whole, just standing in the atrium, they just kept on coming.

00:39:42.246 --> 00:39:44.566
KATIE: And they were just roaming.

00:39:44.566 --> 00:39:46.366
KATIE: And people, yeah.

00:39:46.366 --> 00:39:47.086
KATIE: So we got to see Ms.

00:39:47.086 --> 00:39:47.706
KATIE: Marvel.

00:39:47.706 --> 00:39:51.226
KATIE: We got so, so many autographs.

00:39:51.226 --> 00:39:53.726
KATIE: This time we did do the photo mat.

00:39:53.726 --> 00:39:58.526
KATIE: And so we have a photo map with all of the autographs of all of the superheroes.

00:39:58.526 --> 00:40:01.486
KATIE: And it just was like, it was unannounced.

00:40:01.486 --> 00:40:02.446
KATIE: It was not planned.

00:40:02.446 --> 00:40:06.946
KATIE: It was not in the characters that were supposed to be there for that day.

00:40:06.946 --> 00:40:11.046
KATIE: And it just was this like bonanza of all of these characters.

00:40:11.046 --> 00:40:19.086
KATIE: And we just so happened that we came back on the ship earlier because we wanted to see, I can't even remember who we wanted to see because it got, it got superseded.

00:40:19.086 --> 00:40:19.386
KATIE: There we go.

00:40:19.386 --> 00:40:23.546
KATIE: It got superseded by seeing all of the superheroes just like come out of nowhere.

00:40:23.546 --> 00:40:25.606
KATIE: And then the kids were just like, oh my gosh.

00:40:26.186 --> 00:40:27.506
KATIE: So that ended up being so much fun.

00:40:27.506 --> 00:40:32.726
VIRGINIA: And if I'm recalling correctly, your middle son is obsessed with Spider-Man, right?

00:40:32.726 --> 00:40:37.026
KATIE: Yes, everything's Spider-Man and he passed it on to the youngest too.

00:40:37.026 --> 00:40:41.286
KATIE: And so they just lost their minds in seeing Spider-Man.

00:40:41.286 --> 00:40:44.566
KATIE: So it was, it was great.

00:40:44.566 --> 00:40:46.866
KATIE: It was like, that was like the moment I was waiting for.

00:40:46.866 --> 00:40:52.626
KATIE: And for it to be like spur of the moment and not planned just made it like the cherry on top.

00:40:53.466 --> 00:40:54.066
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:40:54.066 --> 00:40:57.006
VIRGINIA: Oh, so cool.

00:40:57.006 --> 00:40:57.386
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:40:57.386 --> 00:41:00.226
VIRGINIA: Thursday, January 30th.

00:41:00.226 --> 00:41:01.686
VIRGINIA: Was that the day at sea?

00:41:01.686 --> 00:41:02.906
KATIE: No, it was not the day at sea.

00:41:02.906 --> 00:41:06.026
KATIE: But I'm going to say it wrong because I get to jumble to my head.

00:41:06.626 --> 00:41:09.526
KATIE: Is it Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point?

00:41:09.526 --> 00:41:12.126
KATIE: That is the whole official name.

00:41:12.126 --> 00:41:12.446
KATIE: Okay.

00:41:12.446 --> 00:41:14.086
KATIE: That is, I think that's the whole official name.

00:41:14.086 --> 00:41:16.766
KATIE: I always like, is it Lighthouse or Lookout?

00:41:16.766 --> 00:41:17.866
KATIE: Because they both start with L's.

00:41:20.286 --> 00:41:24.126
KATIE: And so I think it's Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point.

00:41:24.126 --> 00:41:28.546
KATIE: And that was, so that's Disney's second island.

00:41:28.546 --> 00:41:31.546
KATIE: And that was beautiful.

00:41:32.726 --> 00:41:35.066
KATIE: It is so well done.

00:41:36.106 --> 00:41:37.766
KATIE: It's still very new.

00:41:37.766 --> 00:41:40.766
KATIE: So everything's still shiny and new.

00:41:40.766 --> 00:41:55.566
KATIE: But the thought that they put into that island, and you can tell, and the way that they incorporate, like, the Bahamian culture and how they showcase that part of it is really neat.

00:41:56.766 --> 00:42:05.226
KATIE: So again, we were up early and we got, we were one of the first people off, and you have to walk the whole length of that really long walkway.

00:42:05.226 --> 00:42:08.186
KATIE: I don't know if you've seen the stories about that.

00:42:08.186 --> 00:42:11.446
VIRGINIA: I've seen a photo, and it looks like a long way.

00:42:11.446 --> 00:42:13.386
KATIE: So it is a pretty long walk.

00:42:13.386 --> 00:42:19.926
KATIE: I will say they have a whole lineup of wagons there.

00:42:19.926 --> 00:42:30.306
KATIE: So we put the kids, like the two younger kids and our stuff in the wagon, and we, my daughter actually, dragged the two boys in the wagon down the long walkway.

00:42:30.306 --> 00:42:33.046
KATIE: And then you get to the little terminal up there.

00:42:33.046 --> 00:42:37.866
KATIE: And that's where, if you rent a cabana, the cabanas are right there at that stop.

00:42:37.866 --> 00:42:40.366
KATIE: So they're on a very private beach.

00:42:41.866 --> 00:42:52.026
KATIE: And logistically, I don't understand how they get food because the food is over where they take you by tram to like the other side of the island.

00:42:52.026 --> 00:42:53.026
VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

00:42:53.026 --> 00:42:59.166
KATIE: So we walked, so we walked down, had the wagon.

00:42:59.166 --> 00:43:05.646
KATIE: You leave the wagon at that point, and then you get on the tram, and the tram takes you.

00:43:05.646 --> 00:43:09.026
KATIE: It's a, it's a, it's across the island.

00:43:09.026 --> 00:43:10.486
KATIE: I mean, it really is across the island.

00:43:10.486 --> 00:43:12.866
KATIE: It's probably like a 10-minute tram ride.

00:43:12.866 --> 00:43:13.846
KATIE: Oh, wow.

00:43:13.846 --> 00:43:17.526
VIRGINIA: They must have food at the Cabana side too, then.

00:43:17.526 --> 00:43:18.526
KATIE: That's what I'm thinking.

00:43:18.526 --> 00:43:22.166
KATIE: I'm like, were they like carted in for them or something?

00:43:22.166 --> 00:43:25.526
KATIE: Because I was like, it is, it is a decent way.

00:43:27.386 --> 00:43:33.586
KATIE: And then they let you off at Goombay Point, and you get to go get off and then go out to their beaches.

00:43:33.746 --> 00:43:38.426
KATIE: And it is a pink sand beach because of the conch shells and the shells that break up.

00:43:38.426 --> 00:43:39.366
KATIE: So it's really pretty.

00:43:39.366 --> 00:43:40.346
VIRGINIA: Oh, cool.

00:43:40.346 --> 00:43:44.386
KATIE: And it is very shallow, very, very far out.

00:43:44.386 --> 00:43:48.166
KATIE: So that's why the boats have to dock.

00:43:48.166 --> 00:43:50.826
KATIE: That's why that's that really long walkway.

00:43:50.826 --> 00:43:55.146
KATIE: There was a princess boat that docked out near where we were.

00:43:55.146 --> 00:43:59.646
KATIE: So I think they have like their island and their kind of thing on the other side.

00:43:59.646 --> 00:44:06.346
KATIE: And instead of having the long walkway that Disney has, they were doing the tenders.

00:44:06.346 --> 00:44:07.326
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:44:07.326 --> 00:44:10.106
KATIE: So which is the lesser of two evils?

00:44:10.106 --> 00:44:12.226
KATIE: Would you rather walk or would you rather be tendered?

00:44:12.226 --> 00:44:15.146
KATIE: And so, you know.

00:44:17.446 --> 00:44:20.086
KATIE: And it was, again, really nice.

00:44:20.086 --> 00:44:33.126
KATIE: We went we did the further away because we were closer to like the water park and the second food area.

00:44:33.126 --> 00:44:37.066
KATIE: And we were right by the Cultural Center.

00:44:37.066 --> 00:44:42.946
KATIE: And I kind of picked us being by the Cultural Center for where we like, you know, set up camp for the day.

00:44:42.946 --> 00:44:50.706
KATIE: Because I did get my kids excused absences for this trip because we were comparing cultures.

00:44:50.786 --> 00:44:53.746
KATIE: And so I did want to make good on that.

00:44:53.746 --> 00:45:03.286
KATIE: And so at noon, they did a whole talking about what junk anew is called or what it is and why they do junk anew.

00:45:03.286 --> 00:45:15.266
KATIE: And they have a like, it's basically cardboard and they make elaborate costumes out of cardboard and crepe paper.

00:45:15.266 --> 00:45:17.746
KATIE: And then they trick it out with rhinestones.

00:45:18.906 --> 00:45:22.266
KATIE: And it is like, it is incredible.

00:45:22.266 --> 00:45:27.886
KATIE: And they, it's a celebration of music and life and their heritage.

00:45:27.886 --> 00:45:30.866
KATIE: And it's just, it's beautiful.

00:45:30.866 --> 00:45:33.146
KATIE: And it was so much fun to learn about that.

00:45:33.146 --> 00:45:35.626
KATIE: And the kids, they talk about like the music with it.

00:45:35.626 --> 00:45:37.326
KATIE: And so the drum is like the heartbeat.

00:45:37.326 --> 00:45:40.906
KATIE: And so they, the kids all got up and had to do like the heartbeat.

00:45:40.906 --> 00:45:43.766
KATIE: And then they had cowbell and they talked about how that went.

00:45:43.766 --> 00:45:49.366
KATIE: And so the one woman who was giving the demonstration said, she's a cowbeller, so she ends up putting it on her legs.

00:45:49.366 --> 00:45:54.346
KATIE: Because like you're shaking the cowbell, because they said they do this for like three hours in a parade.

00:45:54.346 --> 00:45:57.006
KATIE: And she was like, you can't, your arms would get so tired.

00:45:57.006 --> 00:46:01.966
KATIE: So she's like, she showed them how like she'd stomp to make the cowbell ring every time she stomped.

00:46:01.966 --> 00:46:03.726
KATIE: And so the kids got to do that.

00:46:03.726 --> 00:46:10.086
KATIE: And then they all got to make crowns out of cardboard and crepe paper.

00:46:10.086 --> 00:46:12.986
KATIE: And then they had a junk anew come.

00:46:12.986 --> 00:46:18.606
KATIE: And with all of them playing music, and they march up from where the tram drops you off.

00:46:18.606 --> 00:46:23.946
KATIE: And surprise, surprise, who's leading this parade but Mickey and Minnie.

00:46:23.946 --> 00:46:28.906
KATIE: And they come down, and like my kids basically had a dance party with Mickey right there.

00:46:29.946 --> 00:46:33.546
KATIE: And he was just like doing moves with them, and they were just having so much fun.

00:46:33.546 --> 00:46:41.826
KATIE: And then they invited everybody that had made hats and done the whole thing to walk with them in the parade back up to like the tram stop.

00:46:42.506 --> 00:46:45.526
KATIE: And it just was, it was a lot of fun.

00:46:45.526 --> 00:46:50.986
KATIE: And so we did talk about like with our kids, like the different cultures and like how this is how they celebrate.

00:46:50.986 --> 00:46:57.126
KATIE: And like, why, you know, why would they use these materials versus other materials and like all that kind of stuff.

00:46:57.126 --> 00:47:07.526
KATIE: So it was a very, it was very cultural for my kids to see different, different things and different ways that people do things.

00:47:08.246 --> 00:47:15.066
VIRGINIA: Were there a lot of people participating in this or did a lot of people kind of stick to the splash pads and the beach?

00:47:16.166 --> 00:47:17.826
KATIE: A good number of people participated.

00:47:17.826 --> 00:47:21.346
KATIE: So it didn't feel like it was empty, but it didn't feel like it was overcrowded.

00:47:21.346 --> 00:47:22.466
KATIE: And they did two of these.

00:47:22.466 --> 00:47:27.026
KATIE: So they did the cultural thing twice and then they did two different parades.

00:47:27.026 --> 00:47:32.166
KATIE: So if you missed, if you saw the first one and then missed it, they had another opportunity for you to do it again that afternoon.

00:47:32.166 --> 00:47:36.486
KATIE: And I feel like a lot more people did it in the afternoon once they figured out what it was.

00:47:36.906 --> 00:47:41.486
KATIE: So we were the earlier one and I was like, I'd rather just have, I knew we needed to do this.

00:47:41.486 --> 00:47:45.726
KATIE: And so I had them participate earlier rather than later.

00:47:45.726 --> 00:47:54.886
KATIE: So in making like the different hats and things, the first go around, I'd say there was like 24 or so people that did it.

00:47:56.306 --> 00:48:00.226
KATIE: But then I think later in the afternoon, they had much higher number.

00:48:02.806 --> 00:48:04.926
KATIE: But still people didn't pay attention either.

00:48:04.926 --> 00:48:05.686
KATIE: But it was a lot of fun.

00:48:06.446 --> 00:48:10.726
KATIE: I think that's something the kids will always remember in participating in that.

00:48:12.746 --> 00:48:16.386
KATIE: Yeah, it was really fun.

00:48:16.386 --> 00:48:23.806
KATIE: And then they have these big, I don't even know what to call them.

00:48:23.806 --> 00:48:32.106
KATIE: But it's basically the Fab Five represented with junk anew headdresses.

00:48:32.106 --> 00:48:34.766
KATIE: And you could take pictures in front of them.

00:48:34.766 --> 00:48:38.286
KATIE: And so they were like, they're as tall as I am.

00:48:38.286 --> 00:48:39.366
KATIE: They're just huge.

00:48:39.366 --> 00:48:46.346
KATIE: And that's kind of what the image is of Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point.

00:48:47.466 --> 00:48:48.986
KATIE: Got it.

00:48:48.986 --> 00:48:57.886
KATIE: And it just is like, I'm going to show you a picture, Virginia, while we're talking so that you can kind of understand what I'm talking about, because I don't even know how to explain it otherwise.

00:48:57.886 --> 00:49:01.166
KATIE: They're just, they're absolutely beautiful.

00:49:01.166 --> 00:49:04.446
KATIE: So this one is meant to represent Pluto.

00:49:04.446 --> 00:49:05.106
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

00:49:05.106 --> 00:49:05.666
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:49:05.666 --> 00:49:06.546
KATIE: Right?

00:49:06.546 --> 00:49:06.886
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:49:07.486 --> 00:49:08.286
VIRGINIA: Uh-huh.

00:49:08.286 --> 00:49:10.186
KATIE: And then Mickey.

00:49:10.186 --> 00:49:11.926
VIRGINIA: Yeah, totally see it.

00:49:11.926 --> 00:49:16.546
KATIE: They had all of the Fab Five, and they were just absolutely amazing.

00:49:16.546 --> 00:49:23.126
KATIE: And so on the back of like shirts you can purchase and things like that, that's what the pictures are.

00:49:23.186 --> 00:49:33.006
KATIE: So you kind of understand, like doing the whole junk anew experience and learning about that is what, like so then it kind of hit home.

00:49:33.006 --> 00:49:36.006
KATIE: So when my kids saw those, they're like, oh, those are like their crowns.

00:49:36.006 --> 00:49:41.206
KATIE: And it was, it kind of made it all make sense to them.

00:49:41.206 --> 00:49:48.246
KATIE: So like, you can post these too, but like that's what the people were dressed as, and that's cardboard with crepe paper.

00:49:48.246 --> 00:49:49.086
VIRGINIA: That is amazing.

00:49:49.086 --> 00:49:51.246
VIRGINIA: That does not look like cardboard and crepe paper.

00:49:51.766 --> 00:49:59.446
KATIE: No, and then they trick it out with the rhinestones and things, but it's, they're like everything is cardboard and crepe paper.

00:49:59.446 --> 00:50:10.806
KATIE: And it just was absolutely like the way that they brought it to life and they made it accessible to kids that my four-year-old sat there and listened to this lady talk for 45 minutes was, you know, incredible.

00:50:12.086 --> 00:50:13.186
KATIE: So here, I'll show you.

00:50:13.186 --> 00:50:15.826
KATIE: This is one of the crowns.

00:50:15.826 --> 00:50:18.926
VIRGINIA: Oh, and look at that big smile wearing his crown.

00:50:19.606 --> 00:50:22.806
KATIE: So yeah, so I'll send you these so you can post them.

00:50:22.806 --> 00:50:29.506
KATIE: But yeah, it just was, it was really cool and it was really well done.

00:50:29.506 --> 00:50:35.366
VIRGINIA: So it sounds like you probably preferred this island to Castaway Key.

00:50:35.406 --> 00:50:35.606
KATIE: 100%.

00:50:35.926 --> 00:50:37.786
KATIE: This, I would go back here again.

00:50:37.966 --> 00:50:43.966
KATIE: I was actually looking at, if we did another cruise, like I would go there over Castaway Key.

00:50:44.206 --> 00:50:48.706
VIRGINIA: Do they have cruises where you can go to that island twice instead of going to one of each?

00:50:49.286 --> 00:50:54.926
KATIE: It's just, you could either go to Castaway Key one time or go to Lookout or you can go to both.

00:50:54.926 --> 00:50:56.706
KATIE: So I would take, I would pick the cruise.

00:50:56.706 --> 00:50:59.466
KATIE: I would go to Lookout Key.

00:50:59.506 --> 00:51:02.286
KATIE: And then, so we're pin collectors.

00:51:02.286 --> 00:51:04.586
KATIE: So they have the pins.

00:51:04.586 --> 00:51:05.446
VIRGINIA: Oh, that match.

00:51:05.446 --> 00:51:06.046
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:51:06.046 --> 00:51:06.346
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:51:06.346 --> 00:51:07.066
KATIE: Yeah, that match.

00:51:07.106 --> 00:51:13.306
KATIE: So that's, I was like, that's a really cool like souvenir for us.

00:51:13.366 --> 00:51:13.886
VIRGINIA: Sure.

00:51:13.886 --> 00:51:15.406
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:51:15.406 --> 00:51:17.586
KATIE: So, highly recommend that.

00:51:17.586 --> 00:51:29.466
KATIE: So if you're choosing between, if it's like two cruises and you're picking between Castaway Key and Lighthouse or Lookout Key, Lookout just like stands far above for me.

00:51:29.466 --> 00:51:32.486
VIRGINIA: What time did you end up getting back on the ship?

00:51:32.486 --> 00:51:36.026
KATIE: So when we went to get back on the ship, this was very interesting.

00:51:36.026 --> 00:51:39.266
KATIE: We came back about three o'clock.

00:51:39.266 --> 00:51:42.146
KATIE: All aboard was 5.30.

00:51:45.146 --> 00:51:47.046
KATIE: The kids were done at that point.

00:51:47.046 --> 00:51:49.386
KATIE: There were two days in the sun and they were starting to melt.

00:51:49.386 --> 00:52:00.446
KATIE: But when we were coming back, they held us at the security checkpoint as we're getting back on because somebody had a medical emergency and they had to drive an ambulance out to the ship.

00:52:00.826 --> 00:52:09.886
KATIE: Down that really long walkway, they held everybody so that the ambulance could drive out there and pick up whoever was having the medical emergency off of the ship and drive them out.

00:52:10.426 --> 00:52:12.866
KATIE: So we had to stand there and wait for a while.

00:52:15.686 --> 00:52:21.346
KATIE: It was bizarre just to watch it happen, but they held everybody because of that.

00:52:21.346 --> 00:52:28.126
KATIE: Even the cast members that needed to get back on the ship and start working, they held all of them.

00:52:28.126 --> 00:52:32.846
KATIE: But we got back on and got ready for dinner.

00:52:32.846 --> 00:52:36.746
KATIE: And that night was the fancy night.

00:52:37.026 --> 00:52:44.786
KATIE: So they had like a filet mignon steak for dinner, and that's when you can choose to dress up if you wanted to dress up.

00:52:44.786 --> 00:52:50.686
KATIE: So we got slightly more dressed up rather than cruise casual to go to dinner.

00:52:50.686 --> 00:52:58.526
KATIE: And the kids, I think they went to kids club after dinner for just a little bit, and then we did bed.

00:52:58.526 --> 00:53:01.506
VIRGINIA: Crashed.

00:53:01.546 --> 00:53:03.506
KATIE: Yep, that was that.

00:53:03.506 --> 00:53:06.366
VIRGINIA: So does that mean that Friday was your day at sea?

00:53:06.366 --> 00:53:10.326
KATIE: Friday was our day at sea, and so that was the Marvel day at sea.

00:53:10.326 --> 00:53:16.146
KATIE: And we woke up and had Marvel music playing in the hallways.

00:53:16.146 --> 00:53:21.466
KATIE: It was like, you're in your own superhero movie all day long.

00:53:23.766 --> 00:53:32.826
KATIE: And I felt like everywhere we were going, we were marching because it was just the suspenseful music in the hallways all day long.

00:53:32.826 --> 00:53:37.326
KATIE: And I didn't pay attention until that day, really, of the music that was playing.

00:53:37.326 --> 00:53:41.546
KATIE: And then when it stopped, I was like, oh, OK, so now it's back to Disney music.

00:53:42.746 --> 00:53:43.746
KATIE: But that was fun.

00:53:43.746 --> 00:53:48.986
KATIE: So that was our day of our meet and greets that were scheduled.

00:53:48.986 --> 00:53:53.506
KATIE: So 8.30, we started off with Spider-Man and Iron Man.

00:53:54.906 --> 00:53:56.106
KATIE: And so it was really cool to meet.

00:53:56.506 --> 00:53:59.046
KATIE: They took like full on pictures with Spider-Man.

00:53:59.046 --> 00:54:01.006
KATIE: And so they got to see him again.

00:54:01.006 --> 00:54:04.626
KATIE: So it made it like even better that they got to see him twice.

00:54:04.626 --> 00:54:06.746
KATIE: And then meeting Iron Man was super cool.

00:54:06.746 --> 00:54:11.706
KATIE: And the kids were a little upset because Iron Man does not sign autographs.

00:54:11.706 --> 00:54:15.306
KATIE: So they did not get an Iron Man autograph.

00:54:15.306 --> 00:54:20.686
VIRGINIA: Is it because he's in his whole suit and it's hard for him to do that?

00:54:22.546 --> 00:54:27.046
KATIE: I was going to say, can I share something I've noticed, but it takes away some magic.

00:54:27.046 --> 00:54:28.626
KATIE: So I don't know if...

00:54:28.926 --> 00:54:33.306
VIRGINIA: I think that mostly adults listen to the podcast, even though I keep it clean.

00:54:33.306 --> 00:54:40.466
VIRGINIA: But adults, if you have a child with you who does not want to ruin some magic, maybe skip ahead a couple of minutes.

00:54:40.466 --> 00:54:41.826
VIRGINIA: Go for it, Katie.

00:54:41.826 --> 00:54:47.406
KATIE: So the way that Iron Man spoke is the same way that the Stormtroopers do.

00:54:47.406 --> 00:54:52.886
KATIE: So depending on what finger motions that they make in their suit were the different things that he would say.

00:54:52.886 --> 00:55:00.906
KATIE: So he was very, you know, rehearsed and very, you know, very limited in the things that he was saying because it was based on like his finger motions.

00:55:00.906 --> 00:55:06.046
KATIE: And the one that I did find really funny was that I said, oh, can we take a selfie?

00:55:06.046 --> 00:55:11.286
KATIE: And so I took a selfie and he goes, one of the things that he said was, do you mind if I don't smile?

00:55:11.286 --> 00:55:12.926
VIRGINIA: That's funny.

00:55:12.926 --> 00:55:13.566
KATIE: Yeah.

00:55:13.566 --> 00:55:18.486
KATIE: So anyhow, but yeah, I think that was, that was the magic behind that one.

00:55:18.686 --> 00:55:20.986
VIRGINIA: Honestly, I didn't know that's how the Stormtroopers did it.

00:55:20.986 --> 00:55:23.506
VIRGINIA: I was like, I don't know how they're doing it.

00:55:23.506 --> 00:55:26.526
VIRGINIA: But they must have some control over what they're saying.

00:55:26.526 --> 00:55:26.706
KATIE: Yeah.

00:55:26.706 --> 00:55:39.586
KATIE: So the next time you see Stormtroopers, watch their hands because they'll just put them like one, it'll be like a point or they'll move this finger, they'll move their thumb or something and like, depending on how they do that, that's where it comes out.

00:55:39.586 --> 00:55:42.386
KATIE: It's a little, little behind the magic.

00:55:42.386 --> 00:55:42.846
KATIE: Yeah.

00:55:42.846 --> 00:55:43.166
KATIE: Okay.

00:55:43.166 --> 00:55:44.226
KATIE: So you can rejoin now.

00:55:48.226 --> 00:55:57.006
KATIE: So we got to see him and then it was literally just, okay, check the app, let's see who's meeting next.

00:55:57.006 --> 00:55:59.546
KATIE: And we went from like character to character to character.

00:55:59.546 --> 00:56:04.086
KATIE: So we met Captain Marvel and did some poses with her.

00:56:04.086 --> 00:56:08.986
KATIE: And we met, I mean, it was just character after character that day.

00:56:08.986 --> 00:56:13.306
KATIE: And it was a lot of fun to get to meet all of the different Marvel characters.

00:56:13.706 --> 00:56:24.266
KATIE: And even like Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and Pluto and Donald all were dressed in their Marvel gear.

00:56:24.266 --> 00:56:36.546
KATIE: So it was Captain America Mickey and Minnie was Ghost Spider and Donald was the Hulk.

00:56:36.546 --> 00:56:39.266
KATIE: He had a green shirt on with a purple hat.

00:56:40.866 --> 00:56:48.046
KATIE: And Pluto just had an Avengers thing on, and then Goofy was Iron Man.

00:56:48.046 --> 00:56:49.126
KATIE: So it was really fun.

00:56:49.126 --> 00:56:53.846
KATIE: And that was also the day that we got churro Mickey waffles for breakfast.

00:56:53.966 --> 00:56:55.706
VIRGINIA: Mmm, yummy.

00:56:55.706 --> 00:56:56.206
KATIE: Yeah.

00:56:56.206 --> 00:56:57.386
KATIE: So that was a good day.

00:56:57.386 --> 00:57:03.586
KATIE: But I guess like the highlight of our day was that we didn't end up doing our second meet and greet.

00:57:03.586 --> 00:57:12.126
KATIE: We canceled it because it was Asgard, and we had met Thor and Lady Thor on the day when everybody just started popping up.

00:57:12.126 --> 00:57:14.986
KATIE: And so the kids were resting.

00:57:14.986 --> 00:57:17.606
KATIE: And so we decided, let's not rock the boat.

00:57:17.606 --> 00:57:19.506
KATIE: And we skipped going to that one.

00:57:19.506 --> 00:57:24.686
KATIE: But then in the afternoon we kept ours.

00:57:24.686 --> 00:57:29.726
KATIE: That was at three o'clock and we got to meet Groot.

00:57:29.726 --> 00:57:31.006
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

00:57:31.006 --> 00:57:32.986
VIRGINIA: Oh, Groot is tall.

00:57:32.986 --> 00:57:34.266
KATIE: Groot was so tall.

00:57:35.606 --> 00:57:37.726
KATIE: And he said, I am Groot.

00:57:39.966 --> 00:57:41.066
KATIE: And we got to meet Gamora.

00:57:41.066 --> 00:57:46.786
KATIE: And so Groot was the mainstay for the Guardians meet and greet.

00:57:46.786 --> 00:57:49.906
KATIE: But some people met Star-Lord.

00:57:49.906 --> 00:57:53.506
KATIE: Some people met Gamora like we did.

00:57:53.506 --> 00:57:58.586
KATIE: So it just depended on who was with Groot throughout the day.

00:57:58.586 --> 00:58:01.046
KATIE: Yeah.

00:58:01.326 --> 00:58:04.326
KATIE: And then the kids ended up going to kids club again.

00:58:04.326 --> 00:58:13.526
KATIE: And then we found out afterward that Captain America showed up to kids club and taught the boys how to throw the shield.

00:58:13.526 --> 00:58:15.746
VIRGINIA: Oh, no.

00:58:15.746 --> 00:58:20.246
KATIE: So now we have Captain America shields that are being thrown.

00:58:20.246 --> 00:58:22.426
VIRGINIA: That is so fun for you.

00:58:23.626 --> 00:58:24.486
KATIE: At least they're foam.

00:58:26.806 --> 00:58:32.726
KATIE: And then that afternoon is when they do the character costume.

00:58:32.726 --> 00:58:36.886
KATIE: You can dress up and be part of the parade of people.

00:58:36.886 --> 00:58:43.586
KATIE: And so both of the boys got into their Spider-Man costumes and were part of the littles.

00:58:45.866 --> 00:58:46.926
KATIE: And they had a whole thing.

00:58:46.926 --> 00:58:49.806
KATIE: And then all of the...

00:58:49.806 --> 00:58:53.186
KATIE: Oh, Chippendale dresses Loki and Thor too.

00:58:53.226 --> 00:58:55.026
KATIE: I forgot about that, and Daisy's there too.

00:58:55.026 --> 00:58:59.826
KATIE: So they all came out at the end of the show and paraded down.

00:58:59.826 --> 00:59:00.946
KATIE: And it was...

00:59:00.946 --> 00:59:05.806
KATIE: They had so much fun just getting to see all of the characters come down.

00:59:06.926 --> 00:59:12.006
KATIE: And then they started doing meet and greets all around the atrium as them dressed up.

00:59:13.886 --> 00:59:17.326
KATIE: And then our dinner that night was Marvel themed.

00:59:17.326 --> 00:59:22.726
KATIE: And so even at dinner, the kids' menus were Captain America's shields.

00:59:23.166 --> 00:59:27.146
KATIE: And then our menus were comic books.

00:59:28.306 --> 00:59:32.846
KATIE: And so the kids, there's shields.

00:59:32.846 --> 00:59:41.686
KATIE: But yeah, so we got a Day at Sea comic book as our that had like advertisers and you could pick like Captain America or the Black Panther.

00:59:41.686 --> 00:59:48.426
KATIE: And so you picked different characters as your starters and then your meals and they had specialty drinks and things.

00:59:48.506 --> 00:59:52.926
KATIE: So it was just, it was very clever how they incorporated the Marvel.

00:59:52.926 --> 00:59:55.386
KATIE: And even so then we were back in the animator's palette.

00:59:55.386 --> 00:59:59.906
KATIE: So even the screen had like Marvel Day at Sea and had all the characters on there.

00:59:59.906 --> 01:00:09.766
KATIE: But I thought like maybe they would have incorporated the screens a little bit more on Marvel Day at Sea to like have different characters come up, but they didn't.

01:00:09.766 --> 01:00:12.046
KATIE: So I was like, that was kind of a loss.

01:00:12.086 --> 01:00:14.986
KATIE: But other than that, yeah, it was...

01:00:14.986 --> 01:00:24.946
VIRGINIA: It sounds like overall though, this is well worth the money if you like to go to beaches on your vacation and if you're a Marvel fan.

01:00:24.946 --> 01:00:26.366
VIRGINIA: I mean, what else?

01:00:26.366 --> 01:00:31.706
VIRGINIA: Something for everyone, including alone time for mom and dad to get a massage.

01:00:31.706 --> 01:00:32.566
KATIE: Yep, 100%.

01:00:33.006 --> 01:00:40.366
KATIE: And so the one takeaway here, my son got his Loungefly Avengers backpack signed by all of them.

01:00:40.926 --> 01:00:42.026
VIRGINIA: Oh, cool.

01:00:42.026 --> 01:00:44.166
KATIE: So now that's his keepsake too.

01:00:44.166 --> 01:00:54.026
KATIE: So they signed the picture frame for us, but then also he has his backpack that's signed now.

01:00:54.026 --> 01:00:58.226
KATIE: So it's good keepsakes.

01:00:58.226 --> 01:01:01.426
KATIE: But yeah, overall, it was wonderful.

01:01:01.426 --> 01:01:08.186
KATIE: Just it was a vacation because it wasn't a trip.

01:01:08.186 --> 01:01:10.226
KATIE: We weren't on the go the entire time.

01:01:10.366 --> 01:01:19.026
KATIE: It was we actually got to like sit and we played in the sand with our kids and experienced things with our kids and took in that good like family time.

01:01:19.026 --> 01:01:20.726
VIRGINIA: So yeah.

01:01:20.726 --> 01:01:28.526
VIRGINIA: Did everything go okay with your return to land and your drive home, which I think you did all in one day.

01:01:28.526 --> 01:01:29.626
VIRGINIA: Am I right?

01:01:29.666 --> 01:01:29.906
KATIE: Yep.

01:01:29.906 --> 01:01:34.106
KATIE: So we ended up, yeah, we got off the ship.

01:01:34.106 --> 01:01:38.526
KATIE: We went and had breakfast and said bye to our weight staff for the last time.

01:01:38.526 --> 01:01:50.286
KATIE: And then waited until our color and characters, we were gray daisy, got called and we got off and we got our bags and everything.

01:01:50.286 --> 01:01:53.986
KATIE: And got to the car and drove out.

01:01:53.986 --> 01:01:58.266
KATIE: There was like no weight and just drove out to the car and like drove out of the place.

01:01:58.386 --> 01:02:02.346
KATIE: And yep, then we drove the 11 and a half hours home.

01:02:04.366 --> 01:02:06.466
VIRGINIA: Well, at least that was Saturday.

01:02:06.466 --> 01:02:16.266
VIRGINIA: So you had Sunday presumably to do laundry, relax, do whatever you're going to do before you started back your normal routine.

01:02:16.266 --> 01:02:16.626
KATIE: Yep.

01:02:16.626 --> 01:02:19.706
KATIE: Sunday was the re-combobulation day.

01:02:19.706 --> 01:02:23.766
KATIE: So yes, after de-embarkation, we re-combobulated.

01:02:25.466 --> 01:02:38.786
VIRGINIA: But even in spite of this long drive, based on the type of vacation it was, you must have felt more rested than you would have coming back from a Walt Disney World trip.

01:02:38.806 --> 01:02:38.986
VIRGINIA: 100%.

01:02:39.466 --> 01:02:40.246
KATIE: Yeah.

01:02:40.246 --> 01:02:48.786
KATIE: Well, and it actually was really nice too, because the kids, they were a little tired, I think, from all the activities, but playing and doing that.

01:02:48.786 --> 01:02:53.566
KATIE: So to have one day in the car, we just said, watch your child, go ahead.

01:02:53.686 --> 01:02:56.546
KATIE: Like, watch whatever you want and just chill.

01:02:56.546 --> 01:03:02.486
KATIE: And it actually, I think, was good for them that they just had to chill and ride back.

01:03:02.486 --> 01:03:07.146
KATIE: And it was, it didn't seem as like much as as pressure filled.

01:03:07.146 --> 01:03:18.686
KATIE: I did say to Justin, as we're like pulling in at like 830, like, I am so glad we don't have to go to work tomorrow, that we have a day to get our lives back together before we have to go to work.

01:03:18.686 --> 01:03:19.706
KATIE: Because that would have been rough.

01:03:20.366 --> 01:03:24.966
KATIE: I would have felt the Sunday Scaries would have been very real at that point.

01:03:24.966 --> 01:03:27.946
KATIE: But having that extra day was super nice.

01:03:27.946 --> 01:03:29.326
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:03:29.326 --> 01:03:29.686
KATIE: Wow.

01:03:29.686 --> 01:03:41.786
VIRGINIA: I'm going to definitely make sure to encourage my sister to listen to this episode because she also has a family of five with two that are on the much younger side.

01:03:41.786 --> 01:03:53.906
VIRGINIA: And this sounds like the type of vacation that would work for her family too because of having that ability to entertain the kids, get time to yourself, also get good quality time together.

01:03:53.906 --> 01:04:09.646
KATIE: My one recommendation for anybody that is going to do this, and the reason that we waited until now to do the cruise was because if you want to take advantage of the Oceaneers Club, your kids have to be three and potty trained.

01:04:09.786 --> 01:04:10.846
VIRGINIA: Okay, yeah.

01:04:10.846 --> 01:04:14.566
KATIE: So wait until at least they're three.

01:04:14.566 --> 01:04:15.046
VIRGINIA: There are three.

01:04:15.226 --> 01:04:17.766
VIRGINIA: I think both of her younger two are four.

01:04:18.286 --> 01:04:19.846
VIRGINIA: Because they're a blended family.

01:04:19.846 --> 01:04:20.626
KATIE: Perfect, yeah.

01:04:20.626 --> 01:04:24.586
VIRGINIA: But oldest is similar to your daughter's age, so.

01:04:24.586 --> 01:04:26.826
KATIE: Yeah, yeah, perfect.

01:04:28.066 --> 01:04:34.806
KATIE: They, just so that you can take full advantage of that, otherwise they have the nursery and you have to book that and pay for it in advance.

01:04:35.166 --> 01:04:37.126
VIRGINIA: Wow, okay, but kids club is free and included.

01:04:37.146 --> 01:04:42.866
KATIE: Kids club is included in the price of the cruise, so three and potty trained, they can go.

01:04:42.866 --> 01:04:48.986
KATIE: So that was a differentiating factor for us and why we waited when we did to do it.

01:04:48.986 --> 01:04:50.746
KATIE: So good to note on that part.

01:04:50.746 --> 01:04:54.206
VIRGINIA: Well, Katie, it is so much fun to talk to you as always.

01:04:54.206 --> 01:05:06.506
VIRGINIA: Every time I talk to somebody who's going on a Disney cruise, it gets me more and more pumped for my eventual first Disney cruise as soon as I can either convince my husband to do it or just take off and do it by myself.

01:05:06.686 --> 01:05:11.646
VIRGINIA: He's just not interested in cruising, but it's going to happen one way or another.

01:05:11.646 --> 01:05:15.246
KATIE: I'll let you know when I can find a good one and you and I can just go.

01:05:15.246 --> 01:05:15.866
VIRGINIA: Oh my God.

01:05:15.866 --> 01:05:17.486
VIRGINIA: Yes, please.

01:05:17.486 --> 01:05:17.906
KATIE: Girls cruise.

01:05:17.906 --> 01:05:19.046
KATIE: Mom's cruise.

01:05:20.926 --> 01:05:21.506
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:05:21.506 --> 01:05:23.586
VIRGINIA: I hope that you have a great rest of your week.

01:05:23.586 --> 01:05:28.926
VIRGINIA: Thank you so much for returning to the podcast and I hope you'll come again in the future.

01:05:28.926 --> 01:05:30.526
KATIE: Thank you so much.

01:05:31.586 --> 01:05:33.106
VIRGINIA: Thank you for coming back, Katie.

01:05:33.846 --> 01:05:45.086
VIRGINIA: Listeners, don't forget to check out the show notes for all of Katie's information, whether you're looking for help planning a magical trip of your own or if you're looking for the perfect cast member gifts, Katie's ready to help.

01:05:45.086 --> 01:05:50.866
VIRGINIA: Katie is 2 plus 3 travelers on both Instagram and YouTube, and her small shop is thoughtfulturtle.com.

01:05:51.906 --> 01:05:53.646
VIRGINIA: That is all for today.

01:05:53.646 --> 01:05:56.346
VIRGINIA: It's March, so spring is just around the corner.

01:05:56.346 --> 01:06:01.066
VIRGINIA: Hang in there and don't forget to keep daydreaming about where you long to be.