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

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VIRGINIA: Welcome to Where I Long To Be, A Magical Trip Report Podcast.

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VIRGINIA: My name is Virginia, and I am your host.

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VIRGINIA: Thank you so much for tuning in today.

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VIRGINIA: Don't forget to check out the podcast website for all the information about this and past episodes.

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VIRGINIA: You can search by resort or other specific keywords to find exactly what you're looking for.

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VIRGINIA: That website is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

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VIRGINIA: On today's episode, I'm welcoming back previous guest Katie, who is two plus three travelers on Instagram and YouTube.

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VIRGINIA: Katie is a travel agent who specializes in Disney and other magical locations.

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VIRGINIA: So if you're in need of some help planning your next magical trip, you can find her information in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: She's also the owner of The Thoughtful Turtle, a small shop where you can find a variety of things like handmade Disney themed jewelry, engraved Apple watch bands, tokens of gifts to cast members ornaments and much more.

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VIRGINIA: Check out her website, which is Thoughtful Turtle, or you can also find her over on Etsy.

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VIRGINIA: Both links are in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: All right, let's dig into today's episode.

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VIRGINIA: Here's Katie.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back, Katie.

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KATIE: Yeah, I'm so excited to be here again.

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VIRGINIA: I know.

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VIRGINIA: It has almost been a year at this point.

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KATIE: Kind of crazy.

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VIRGINIA: Because we last spoke in February 2024 and here we are in 2025.

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KATIE: You've had a full year of doing the podcast.

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KATIE: Congratulations.

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VIRGINIA: Thank you.

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VIRGINIA: I'll be at two years in April, I think.

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VIRGINIA: Crazy.

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VIRGINIA: Time flies, especially the older you get, I find.

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VIRGINIA: That's my experience.

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KATIE: Agree.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, Katie is 2 plus 3 Travelers on Instagram, so you may be familiar with her already because she's very active over there.

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VIRGINIA: Why don't you tell the listeners who have not heard from you before a little bit about who you are?

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KATIE: Well, I am, as you said, 2 plus 3 Travelers on Instagram.

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KATIE: I am a mom of 3, so there's your 2, me and my husband, plus the 3, which are our kids, our travelers.

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KATIE: It got started because we were starting to document where we were traveling with our kids, and it just so happened that all the time it ended up being Disney.

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KATIE: Now it's more of a Disney account than just a travel account.

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KATIE: We are from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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VIRGINIA: Go Heels.

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KATIE: Yup.

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KATIE: We have annual passes to Walt Disney World, so that's our home resort, and that's where my kids have gone all the time.

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KATIE: We're Disney through and through now.

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KATIE: Our dog's name is Winnie.

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KATIE: She's Winnie the poodle.

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VIRGINIA: That's clever.

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VIRGINIA: I like that.

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KATIE: Then when we get angry, she's Winifred, so she's one of the Sanderson sisters.

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KATIE: So, you know, all the way through, man.

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VIRGINIA: And you are also a travel agent who specializes in all things magical, Disney and beyond.

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KATIE: All things magical.

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KATIE: I do a lot, but my favorite is Disney.

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KATIE: I love planning all the trips for everybody to Disney.

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KATIE: So if anybody needs some recommendations, happy to help.

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KATIE: And so the trip that we're going to talk about is, it's kind of work because I'm learning on this one, because this is our first time.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, I guess with that, let's just get into it.

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VIRGINIA: And before you say where you're going, why don't you say who is going on this trip?

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KATIE: So on this trip is going to be all five of us again.

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KATIE: This time we're trying all the things, pulling out all the stops.

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KATIE: So we have two rooms between the five of us on this trip.

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VIRGINIA: Let me see if I can get the kids' ages correct.

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VIRGINIA: Daughter must be eight right now.

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VIRGINIA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: Middle son must be five.

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KATIE: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: And youngest is four now.

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KATIE: Yes.

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KATIE: Good job.

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KATIE: He just had his birthday.

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KATIE: Four days into being four.

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KATIE: So Wow.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Well, that was lucky.

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VIRGINIA: That was the only one I had a question mark next to because I was like, I'm really not sure.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Where are you going for this magical adventure this time?

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KATIE: We are headed out on a Disney Cruise.

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KATIE: We are headed out of Port Everglades.

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KATIE: So headed down to Fort Lauderdale.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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KATIE: And we are doing the Disney Dream on a five-day Marvel Day at Sea.

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VIRGINIA: Incredible, or I guess marvelous, I should say.

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VIRGINIA: I know that a lot of times when you travel, because you are an annual pass holder and it is kind of a long drive, but not that long in the grand scheme of things.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, I have done it once from New York City and that was tough, but I know people who drive farther than that.

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VIRGINIA: You tend to drive from North Carolina.

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VIRGINIA: Are you driving this time?

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KATIE: Yes, we are driving this time.

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KATIE: And I will tell you our last couple of trips that we've driven to Walt Disney World.

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KATIE: My husband has decided that he wants to do it at night.

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KATIE: So we leave at like 9 p.m.

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KATIE: and he drives all night while we all sleep and we wake up and we're magically in Disney.

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KATIE: But yes, we are driving again because we are planning on making a stop at Walt Disney World prior to getting on the boat.

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VIRGINIA: I know lots of other people who do that same method where one person drives the whole night through and then maybe maybe they switch off midway through the evening.

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VIRGINIA: But most of the time, no, most of the time is the one person who is okay driving.

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VIRGINIA: And I do not get it.

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VIRGINIA: I could not do that myself.

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VIRGINIA: And I think if I were the passenger, I would be too worried about the other person getting tired.

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VIRGINIA: So is that something that you worry about?

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VIRGINIA: Or can you also get some sleep in the car like the kids presumably will?

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KATIE: The kids?

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KATIE: Totally fine.

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KATIE: The first time we did it, I did not sleep well.

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KATIE: It was not, I was nervous.

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KATIE: I was like, oh, is he going to fall asleep?

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KATIE: You know, like the same, the same things that you just explained.

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KATIE: But then this last time I was like, fine, he did it once.

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KATIE: I'm a little more trusting.

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KATIE: And I took some melatonin and passed out.

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KATIE: It was better this last time that we just went for New Year's.

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KATIE: So, yeah, he enjoys it because it's less people.

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KATIE: And he kind of puts on a podcast and goes.

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KATIE: And so at least there's somebody in his ear the whole time.

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VIRGINIA: I have a podcast I can recommend.

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VIRGINIA: I know.

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VIRGINIA: So you said that you were down there for New Year's.

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VIRGINIA: It's January 8th right now.

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VIRGINIA: So that was not that long ago.

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VIRGINIA: What were you doing?

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VIRGINIA: Were you down there for actual New Year changing into 2025?

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KATIE: We were.

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KATIE: This was a new thing for us.

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KATIE: We've never been for New Year's.

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KATIE: So yeah, we went down one of my friends.

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KATIE: She had a conference those days between Christmas and New Year's.

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KATIE: And so we got a deal with her because she can book two rooms at the conference.

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KATIE: So we were at the Grand Floridian and got to stay there and did like super close to Magic Kingdom and it was great.

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KATIE: But we ended up at Hollywood Studios for New Year's because the Pixar dance party thing that they had going on.

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KATIE: So we got to meet some rare characters and that was great.

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KATIE: So we saw Boo from Monsters Inc, the brothers from Onward, Ian and Barley.

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KATIE: We broke it down with Barley.

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KATIE: He's a pretty good dancer.

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KATIE: And then came out from up was Russell and Russell busted some moves.

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KATIE: He was quite fabulous.

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KATIE: And then Carl, you know, he was there.

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KATIE: So in true Carl fashion, but yeah, it was a lot of fun.

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KATIE: That was a, it was very, very people-y.

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VIRGINIA: So yeah, that was going to be my next question because I know that Epcot in particular, and I would imagine Magic Kingdom get very people-y, but I was thinking, Hollywood Studios is, is that a draw for a lot of people?

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KATIE: It was busy, but it wasn't as people-y.

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KATIE: So we did Magic Kingdom on the 30th and that was very people-y.

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KATIE: And we went in for the fireworks and then just left.

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KATIE: And that's one of the benefits of having an annual pass because we can go for a short period, do what we want to do and then leave.

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KATIE: Yeah, it was just, it was a lot of people.

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KATIE: But then doing New Year's Eve in Hollywood Studios, just it kind of saved our trip because that experience of seeing those characters was, was awesome.

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KATIE: And they had different stages set up throughout the park for like different DJs dancing and doing things.

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KATIE: And it was a lot of fun having that experience.

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VIRGINIA: Did the kids make it to midnight?

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KATIE: No, absolutely not.

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KATIE: I think we made it to nine o'clock.

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VIRGINIA: That was it.

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KATIE: That was pushing it.

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VIRGINIA: Uh-huh.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, it's hard when they're that young.

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VIRGINIA: All right, let's get into this trip.

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VIRGINIA: So you're starting your drive down on Saturday, January 25th?

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KATIE: Correct.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: And you're doing the night thing.

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KATIE: Well, we probably won't do the night thing this time because my middle has basketball.

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KATIE: So we're letting him get to do one basketball practice, or one basketball game, and they have pictures.

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KATIE: So then after that, we're probably going to drive down and get there late.

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KATIE: So.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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KATIE: It's about nine hours, nine and a half hours.

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KATIE: So it'll be an all day drive, but then we'll wake up and we'll be there.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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KATIE: So we're staying off property because it is just a short stay and I have no need to rope drop because my intentions for going those days before our cruise are for the international or, yeah, is it international?

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KATIE: The Festival of the Arts?

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VIRGINIA: I don't know if it has the word international in it or not.

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KATIE: Is it just Festival of the Arts?

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KATIE: And my brain just wants to put that in there.

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VIRGINIA: It's in Epcot.

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VIRGINIA: So it's it is international.

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KATIE: Yeah.

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KATIE: I don't know.

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KATIE: We'll go with it.

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VIRGINIA: Well, here's the thing, though, is people people abbreviate that festival to farts, as I'm sure you know.

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VIRGINIA: So if it's international, it would be I Farts.

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VIRGINIA: So I'm going to say let's not call it an international Festival of the Arts.

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KATIE: No.

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KATIE: Yeah.

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KATIE: So I definitely want to head down for Festival of the Arts because that is probably one of my that and Flower and Garden are some of the best times, I think, to be in Epcot.

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KATIE: So want to check that out because I don't know if I'm going to make it down during the rest of the festival.

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KATIE: So I was like, I have to check it out.

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VIRGINIA: What hotel offsite did you end up choosing?

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KATIE: We are staying at a Homewood Suites because we are Hilton people.

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KATIE: And it's on Daryl Carter Parkway, which is up by the Vinland Outlets.

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KATIE: And there's a Target up there, too, so kind of close to the highway.

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KATIE: So an easier location to get to, I think.

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KATIE: So we have never stayed there before.

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KATIE: We normally, when we stay off property, we'll either stay at a good neighbor in Disney Springs or we'll go stay at Flamingo Crossing, which is like the newer part kind of behind Animal Kingdom.

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KATIE: But I was like, we don't need to go all the way back there.

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KATIE: And price-wise, it was like the same, but we got a bigger room staying at a Homewood Suite.

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KATIE: So I was like, with the five of us, it's easier to have the bigger room than just cramming into a regular hotel room.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: So it has a kitchenette or something like that?

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KATIE: It does, yeah.

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VIRGINIA: OK.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So Epcot on Sunday the 26th, and that is your only Park Day?

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KATIE: That is our only Park Day.

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VIRGINIA: OK.

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VIRGINIA: Did you get a chance to take a look at the Festival of the Arts menus that came out?

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KATIE: I did.

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KATIE: That's what I did today.

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VIRGINIA: OK.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I did not look at them yet.

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VIRGINIA: I'm waiting for them to be in my beloved Food and Wine app so that I can start marking what I want.

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VIRGINIA: Hopefully, that will be updated in the next couple of days and I can do that.

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KATIE: What's the name of that app?

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KATIE: Because now I need to know.

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KATIE: I don't know.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, you don't know?

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VIRGINIA: I don't.

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VIRGINIA: Longtime listeners will know that I mentioned it practically every time any festival comes up because it is so good.

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VIRGINIA: So the name of the app is Food and Wine, and I will send it to you after we are done.

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VIRGINIA: And it's called Food and Wine, but it updates to every festival.

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VIRGINIA: So in the next couple of days, once that is all loaded in, you'll see it flip over to Festival of the Arts.

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VIRGINIA: And for each area, it's like organized by the area of the park, and you can mark things as wish that are what you'd like to try.

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VIRGINIA: And once you have it, if you want, you can mark it that you had it just to keep track.

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VIRGINIA: You can also take pictures and write a little review to help other people if you want.

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VIRGINIA: I rarely go back and recommend things.

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VIRGINIA: I mostly use it for myself.

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VIRGINIA: So I'll mark things that I want to try.

00:13:03.585 --> 00:13:23.345
VIRGINIA: And then the coolest thing, I think, is that when you go to the map view, you can filter it to only show little icons next to the things that you wished for, so that you can see visually which places you meant to stop based on what you saw in the menu that was interesting to you.

00:13:24.045 --> 00:13:25.805
KATIE: So that will be downloaded.

00:13:25.805 --> 00:13:27.445
KATIE: Is that a free app?

00:13:27.445 --> 00:13:28.225
VIRGINIA: Yeah, yep.

00:13:28.245 --> 00:13:30.365
VIRGINIA: Oh, all right, even better.

00:13:30.365 --> 00:13:38.145
VIRGINIA: I'll send it to you right after we're done talking because I have it from previous episodes where I put it in the show notes for everybody.

00:13:38.145 --> 00:13:40.545
VIRGINIA: It is the best app ever.

00:13:40.545 --> 00:13:41.265
KATIE: Nice.

00:13:41.265 --> 00:13:43.025
KATIE: Yeah, we were looking at...

00:13:43.025 --> 00:13:44.965
KATIE: Let's see, I just pulled up the menus.

00:13:46.905 --> 00:13:51.185
KATIE: For my husband, he's a much more variety eater.

00:13:52.225 --> 00:13:53.305
VIRGINIA: Adventurous eater?

00:13:53.305 --> 00:13:53.785
KATIE: Adventurous.

00:13:53.785 --> 00:13:54.185
KATIE: There we go.

00:13:54.185 --> 00:13:55.505
KATIE: It's like variety, adventurous.

00:13:55.505 --> 00:13:58.225
KATIE: Yes, he's a more adventurous eater than I am.

00:13:59.905 --> 00:14:05.825
KATIE: There's one that's this year that's new in the Craftsman's Courtyard menu near the refreshment station.

00:14:05.985 --> 00:14:21.865
KATIE: It says, it's the Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme with creamed spinach, croissant pinwheel, mushroom gorgonzola, mustard grilled flank steak, red wine sauce, and pickled mustard seeds.

00:14:21.865 --> 00:14:22.785
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:14:22.785 --> 00:14:24.565
VIRGINIA: I want to try that.

00:14:24.565 --> 00:14:25.945
VIRGINIA: That sounds really good.

00:14:25.945 --> 00:14:35.085
VIRGINIA: I was questioning when you said cream of spinach, but then every other ingredient after that, I love spinach, but I was wondering, how is cream of spinach going to work?

00:14:35.445 --> 00:14:38.065
VIRGINIA: Because normally, that's a soup, right?

00:14:38.065 --> 00:14:38.805
KATIE: Yeah.

00:14:38.885 --> 00:14:41.745
VIRGINIA: But that sounds really good to me.

00:14:41.745 --> 00:14:42.405
KATIE: They have that.

00:14:42.405 --> 00:14:44.265
KATIE: There's a couple other.

00:14:44.265 --> 00:14:47.965
KATIE: This year, they have a hazelnut s'more cannoli in Italy.

00:14:47.965 --> 00:14:49.965
KATIE: So we'll see how that goes.

00:14:51.185 --> 00:14:57.225
KATIE: I went through and was mentally checking these off, so now I can have a physical check off on that app, so that's going to happen.

00:14:57.225 --> 00:14:59.065
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:14:59.105 --> 00:15:04.085
KATIE: Then there was another one I loved in the past festivals.

00:15:04.085 --> 00:15:12.045
KATIE: They had the nitrogen ice cream things at the Swirled Showcase.

00:15:12.045 --> 00:15:22.685
KATIE: So this one, let's see, they have a liquid nitrogen mini cake pop with berry sponge cake, white chocolate ganache, and a colorful chocolate splats, and it looks good.

00:15:22.685 --> 00:15:29.245
KATIE: But they also have a bubblegum soft serve in a cone, and I read that off to my kids, and they all, like their eyes all lit up, so.

00:15:29.245 --> 00:15:30.465
VIRGINIA: Oh, I'm sure.

00:15:30.465 --> 00:15:31.345
KATIE: We will be there.

00:15:31.345 --> 00:15:40.345
KATIE: And they also have an imagination cone, which is the bubblegum soft serve in a lavender cone with sparks of imagination and white chocolate wings.

00:15:40.345 --> 00:15:43.185
VIRGINIA: Are there photos next to anything?

00:15:44.205 --> 00:15:45.325
KATIE: Let's see.

00:15:45.325 --> 00:15:53.685
KATIE: So the white chocolate liquid nitrogen mini cake pop thing, there's a photo of that.

00:15:54.065 --> 00:15:56.805
VIRGINIA: I was just wondering, what are the sparks of imagination?

00:15:56.805 --> 00:15:57.325
VIRGINIA: Is it glitter?

00:15:57.325 --> 00:15:57.985
KATIE: I don't know.

00:15:59.025 --> 00:16:00.205
KATIE: There's no picture.

00:16:00.205 --> 00:16:01.985
VIRGINIA: You just have to imagine what it's going to look like.

00:16:01.985 --> 00:16:02.985
VIRGINIA: Oh my gosh.

00:16:02.985 --> 00:16:03.325
KATIE: Yeah.

00:16:03.325 --> 00:16:04.205
KATIE: And they also have on the-

00:16:04.205 --> 00:16:05.245
VIRGINIA: So smart, Disney.

00:16:05.245 --> 00:16:06.465
VIRGINIA: So smart.

00:16:06.465 --> 00:16:09.385
KATIE: The Swirled Showcase place as well.

00:16:09.385 --> 00:16:23.805
KATIE: They have a candy trio flight of Dole Whip Strawberry with Starburst Mini Fruit Shoes, Dole Whip Lemon with Skittles Popped Freeze Dried Candies, and Dole Whip Lime with Chili Lime Seasoning and Life Saver Gummies.

00:16:23.805 --> 00:16:26.285
KATIE: So like my kids are going to be all over that.

00:16:26.285 --> 00:16:26.905
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:16:26.905 --> 00:16:34.525
VIRGINIA: I think the key to these sorts of festivals is sharing because there's so many things you want to try.

00:16:34.525 --> 00:16:44.685
VIRGINIA: In my personal opinion, both Festival of the Arts and Flower and Garden in terms of food are 10 times better than the choices at Food and Wine, which feels strange.

00:16:44.685 --> 00:16:47.305
KATIE: I have to agree.

00:16:47.305 --> 00:16:54.765
KATIE: The one we did, so we were there at Christmas as well, or I guess Thanksgiving and then Christmas.

00:16:54.765 --> 00:16:59.565
KATIE: We did the Cookie Stroll during the holidays.

00:16:59.565 --> 00:17:01.965
KATIE: That was fun for the kids to be able to do.

00:17:03.325 --> 00:17:05.825
KATIE: My daughter videoed and put that on our YouTube channel.

00:17:06.165 --> 00:17:10.325
KATIE: She did the Cookie Stroll and she took control of my vlogging for that whole one.

00:17:10.325 --> 00:17:11.145
VIRGINIA: Oh my goodness.

00:17:11.145 --> 00:17:15.625
VIRGINIA: Okay, I'm going to put a link to that in the show notes so that everyone can check that out.

00:17:15.625 --> 00:17:16.405
VIRGINIA: I'm sure it's really good.

00:17:16.405 --> 00:17:17.185
KATIE: She gave her ratings.

00:17:17.185 --> 00:17:18.245
KATIE: They did their ratings.

00:17:18.245 --> 00:17:19.265
KATIE: They did the whole thing.

00:17:19.785 --> 00:17:23.265
KATIE: They were being full on vloggers through that whole thing.

00:17:23.465 --> 00:17:25.145
VIRGINIA: Cute.

00:17:25.145 --> 00:17:25.845
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:17:25.845 --> 00:17:28.005
VIRGINIA: Any other plans for that Sunday?

00:17:28.005 --> 00:17:32.405
VIRGINIA: Do you have any dining reservations or are you just purely sticking to festival food?

00:17:32.405 --> 00:17:34.405
KATIE: Festival food as much as we can for that whole day.

00:17:35.845 --> 00:17:36.465
KATIE: All right.

00:17:36.465 --> 00:17:37.825
VIRGINIA: That's it.

00:17:37.825 --> 00:17:40.485
VIRGINIA: Then Monday, January 27th.

00:17:40.485 --> 00:17:41.285
KATIE: What are you doing that day?

00:17:41.285 --> 00:17:49.585
KATIE: That is our embarkation day and so we will be waking up and then driving to Port Everglades down in Fort Lauderdale.

00:17:49.585 --> 00:17:51.925
KATIE: So it's about a three-hour drive from Orlando.

00:17:51.925 --> 00:17:52.405
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:17:52.405 --> 00:17:55.625
VIRGINIA: This is your first Disney Cruise ever?

00:17:55.625 --> 00:17:56.925
KATIE: Ever, ever, ever, ever.

00:17:56.925 --> 00:17:57.705
VIRGINIA: Wow.

00:17:57.705 --> 00:17:58.225
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:17:58.225 --> 00:17:59.625
KATIE: Super excited.

00:17:59.625 --> 00:18:00.005
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:18:00.005 --> 00:18:15.665
VIRGINIA: I still haven't done one myself, so I really am looking forward to hearing your experience as a first-timer and you were the first person I've talked to about a Disney Cruise who's leaving out of that port because everyone else I've talked to has gone out of Canaveral.

00:18:16.685 --> 00:18:27.965
KATIE: Yeah, we were looking at it and the reason we chose this cruise and we really didn't mind which one it was out of, it was because of the Marvel Day at Sea.

00:18:27.965 --> 00:18:36.745
KATIE: So since our boys have never been able to meet Spider-Man and everything in our life is Spider-Man, that was our reasoning for picking this one.

00:18:36.745 --> 00:18:39.665
KATIE: So that was top priority.

00:18:39.685 --> 00:18:41.765
KATIE: I've learned all of the things in the app.

00:18:41.765 --> 00:18:53.725
KATIE: So learned that staying up and picking your activities on board, they have a gathering and so one of them was HQ with the Marvel characters.

00:18:53.765 --> 00:18:57.265
KATIE: And so that was like top priority so that we were able to meet Spider-Man.

00:18:57.265 --> 00:19:04.045
KATIE: So we have that on our day at sea and 8.30 in the morning, the boys get to wake up and meet Spider-Man.

00:19:05.085 --> 00:19:12.225
VIRGINIA: Well, that'll be something to get them up and out of bed and raring to start their day.

00:19:12.225 --> 00:19:15.125
VIRGINIA: So what is the destination for this cruise?

00:19:15.125 --> 00:19:20.365
VIRGINIA: You have the day at sea, but are you heading to Castaway Key?

00:19:20.365 --> 00:19:21.745
VIRGINIA: Where are you stopping along the way?

00:19:22.365 --> 00:19:30.265
KATIE: So actually, the other reason for selecting this particular cruise was we get to stop at both of Disney's ports.

00:19:30.265 --> 00:19:30.665
VIRGINIA: Oh, OK.

00:19:30.665 --> 00:19:33.765
KATIE: So we get to go to Lookout and Castaway.

00:19:33.765 --> 00:19:38.025
KATIE: And then it's just to the, so it's a Bahamian cruise.

00:19:38.025 --> 00:19:40.445
KATIE: So one stop in Nassau as well.

00:19:40.445 --> 00:19:49.145
KATIE: But we have read in doing our research that that day we didn't pick in Nassau an excursion.

00:19:49.145 --> 00:19:53.205
KATIE: So we were just going to stay on the boat and do all the things on the boat that day.

00:19:53.865 --> 00:19:54.265
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:19:54.265 --> 00:19:56.065
VIRGINIA: That sounds like a good plan to me.

00:19:56.065 --> 00:19:59.585
VIRGINIA: Take advantage of it while everyone else gets off the boat.

00:19:59.585 --> 00:20:08.045
VIRGINIA: Have you looked into what the typical temperatures in the Bahamas might be for your dates there?

00:20:08.045 --> 00:20:08.185
KATIE: Yeah.

00:20:08.185 --> 00:20:13.725
KATIE: So the end of January, it looks like it should be in the upper 70s to low 80s.

00:20:13.785 --> 00:20:16.785
KATIE: So pretty nice.

00:20:16.785 --> 00:20:22.865
KATIE: So far, we're still a few weeks out from it, so I keep trying to go as far as I can in the weather app to see what it says.

00:20:23.745 --> 00:20:25.565
KATIE: So, and I know it's going to change.

00:20:26.365 --> 00:20:27.445
KATIE: I'm very well aware of that.

00:20:27.445 --> 00:20:28.505
KATIE: My husband's like, it's going to change.

00:20:28.505 --> 00:20:28.885
KATIE: Stop.

00:20:28.885 --> 00:20:29.525
KATIE: It's going to change.

00:20:29.525 --> 00:20:30.325
VIRGINIA: I'm like, it's fine.

00:20:30.325 --> 00:20:31.265
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:20:31.265 --> 00:20:33.405
VIRGINIA: But that's the planner in us.

00:20:33.405 --> 00:20:37.605
VIRGINIA: Like, you're going to keep looking even though you know the reality of it.

00:20:37.605 --> 00:20:39.905
VIRGINIA: So I would do the same thing.

00:20:41.205 --> 00:20:41.905
KATIE: Yup.

00:20:41.905 --> 00:20:43.825
KATIE: So anyhow, yeah.

00:20:43.825 --> 00:20:58.245
KATIE: So we're looking to see and hopefully it stays on that trajectory of being, you know, high 70s, low 80s, and none of this polar vortex that seems to be squashing all of us currently.

00:20:58.245 --> 00:20:58.785
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:20:58.785 --> 00:20:59.245
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:20:59.245 --> 00:21:00.725
VIRGINIA: It's the worst.

00:21:00.725 --> 00:21:05.145
VIRGINIA: I was freezing on my way into and home from work today.

00:21:06.325 --> 00:21:08.405
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:21:08.405 --> 00:21:19.305
VIRGINIA: So going on a cruise is a little different than, well, a lot different than going to one of the parks because you're not having to plan what park you're going to go to and that sort of thing.

00:21:19.305 --> 00:21:30.005
VIRGINIA: So instead of kind of going through the days, I'll just ask some questions about what I know happens on a cruise and see what your answers are.

00:21:30.005 --> 00:21:40.985
VIRGINIA: So on your two island days, did you reserve any kind of seating or are you just going to use the kind that you don't have to reserve?

00:21:40.985 --> 00:21:45.505
VIRGINIA: Or do you have anything special planned for those days that you had to book in advance?

00:21:45.505 --> 00:21:49.025
KATIE: So they do have multiple things that you can book in advance.

00:21:49.025 --> 00:21:59.405
KATIE: We chose not to book anything just because of the ages of our kids and the activities that they have available since our youngest is four.

00:22:00.605 --> 00:22:03.045
KATIE: Now, I have to remember to say four.

00:22:04.725 --> 00:22:14.445
KATIE: He still is a little young for some of the activities they have, but we're planning on just going to the beach and hanging out and doing the things that they have available there.

00:22:14.445 --> 00:22:18.885
KATIE: You can rent the cabanas, but those go so fast.

00:22:18.885 --> 00:22:19.605
VIRGINIA: That's what I've heard.

00:22:21.025 --> 00:22:31.045
KATIE: There's few of them and the higher up you are in the tiers of Disney cruising, they get to book those first.

00:22:31.045 --> 00:22:35.905
KATIE: By the time we got to it, it was there aren't any to be had, which is fine.

00:22:35.905 --> 00:22:41.525
KATIE: We're experiencing all the parts and we don't need to, gives us something else to look forward to eventually.

00:22:43.805 --> 00:22:52.625
KATIE: One of the keys we booked, you can rent for the day a tube or an ocean float, like a pool float kind of thing.

00:22:52.625 --> 00:22:57.685
KATIE: I did rent that so that we could go out into the water and let them hang on to something.

00:22:59.625 --> 00:23:00.445
KATIE: That's really about it.

00:23:00.445 --> 00:23:06.145
KATIE: I think we're going to, my daughter and I will probably end up doing the 5K on Castaway Key.

00:23:06.145 --> 00:23:07.665
VIRGINIA: She needs another medal.

00:23:07.665 --> 00:23:08.985
KATIE: She needs another medal.

00:23:09.405 --> 00:23:22.385
VIRGINIA: For listeners who are not familiar, Katie's previous episode was a mother-daughter trip to do a 5K, and so she's got an aspiring marathoner probably at this point.

00:23:22.385 --> 00:23:24.245
VIRGINIA: I mean, she's that young and she's doing 5Ks.

00:23:25.445 --> 00:23:29.385
KATIE: And so she actually, we were signed up for another one, so we're doing a springtime surprise together this year too.

00:23:29.385 --> 00:23:30.025
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

00:23:30.025 --> 00:23:30.705
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:23:30.705 --> 00:23:31.385
KATIE: Yeah.

00:23:31.385 --> 00:23:32.925
KATIE: So she's going to get another medal.

00:23:32.925 --> 00:23:41.405
KATIE: But yeah, so we'll probably end up doing that and then just seeing what's available and what to do.

00:23:41.445 --> 00:23:54.485
KATIE: And we did rent, or we did purchase, not rent, because I read you could rent the snorkeling masks, but I purchased them, so they're like a whole face covering, and then you breathe out, right?

00:23:54.485 --> 00:23:56.665
KATIE: So it's a different, not just in your mouth.

00:23:56.665 --> 00:23:58.825
KATIE: And I figured that would be better for the kids.

00:23:58.825 --> 00:24:08.325
KATIE: So they kind of tested them out in the pool, like at the bottom this past summer, as soon as we knew we were going on the cruise, so they could try them out a few times before we went snorkeling there.

00:24:08.685 --> 00:24:13.945
VIRGINIA: Are they, like, are they tight against the face so no water gets in at all?

00:24:14.485 --> 00:24:26.245
KATIE: So it goes all the way around your face, and then the snorkel part is out, but it has a specific area for your nose to go in so that you can, like, breathe in it, but there's nothing, like, in your mouth that you're, like, biting onto.

00:24:26.245 --> 00:24:26.785
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:24:26.785 --> 00:24:28.985
VIRGINIA: Oh, I would want something like that.

00:24:28.985 --> 00:24:34.925
KATIE: Yeah, so we bought those for the kids so that it was easier for them to be able to snorkel, hopefully.

00:24:34.925 --> 00:24:35.525
KATIE: So that will be our...

00:24:35.525 --> 00:24:36.765
VIRGINIA: What about you?

00:24:36.765 --> 00:24:37.305
KATIE: We got them, too.

00:24:40.705 --> 00:24:45.845
KATIE: I was, like, we can also deal, but then I ended up finding some that ended up being a good price, so.

00:24:45.845 --> 00:24:46.225
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:24:46.225 --> 00:24:52.145
KATIE: Well, we were, like, we can old school snorkel, but, like, these newfangled things that they have for the kids.

00:24:52.145 --> 00:24:54.785
KATIE: I was, like, OK, that might make it a little bit easier on them.

00:24:54.805 --> 00:24:55.305
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:24:55.305 --> 00:24:56.345
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:56.345 --> 00:24:56.985
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:24:56.985 --> 00:25:02.825
VIRGINIA: Do you have any plans for a bibbidi-bobbidi boutique on board experience?

00:25:02.825 --> 00:25:04.485
KATIE: We do not have that.

00:25:04.485 --> 00:25:08.845
KATIE: So they do bibbidi-bobbidi, but then on your pirate night.

00:25:08.845 --> 00:25:14.625
KATIE: So I found out we will also have pirate night, even though we are having Marvel Day at Sea.

00:25:14.625 --> 00:25:15.745
KATIE: So we have both.

00:25:15.745 --> 00:25:20.565
KATIE: So on pirate night, bibbidi-bobbidi, they will do the pirate makeover.

00:25:20.565 --> 00:25:25.885
KATIE: But we've done bibbidi-bobbidi in Magic Kingdom multiple times for our daughter.

00:25:25.885 --> 00:25:27.785
KATIE: And my son has done it a couple of times.

00:25:28.245 --> 00:25:33.665
KATIE: So we decided for this trip to forgo doing that extra experience.

00:25:33.665 --> 00:25:36.165
KATIE: And we're just going to dress ourselves.

00:25:36.165 --> 00:25:37.185
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:25:37.185 --> 00:25:40.365
VIRGINIA: Are you bringing your own pirate attire?

00:25:40.365 --> 00:25:40.905
KATIE: Yes.

00:25:40.905 --> 00:25:47.105
KATIE: I was looking at Shop Disney today actually, and they had the hook big hat on sale.

00:25:47.105 --> 00:25:49.585
KATIE: And I was like, we'll get here in time.

00:25:49.585 --> 00:25:51.045
KATIE: But I'm thinking it will.

00:25:51.045 --> 00:25:54.765
KATIE: So that one, we already have some other pirate gear.

00:25:54.765 --> 00:25:55.965
KATIE: So that is coming with us too.

00:25:57.065 --> 00:25:58.125
KATIE: I'm starting my bin.

00:25:58.125 --> 00:26:00.105
KATIE: So I'm like the bin packer.

00:26:00.105 --> 00:26:02.385
KATIE: So I have like the bin of stuff.

00:26:02.385 --> 00:26:04.525
KATIE: And as I think about it, it goes in the bin.

00:26:04.525 --> 00:26:04.985
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:26:04.985 --> 00:26:08.565
KATIE: And so over the next couple of weeks, all the things will start to go in the bin.

00:26:08.565 --> 00:26:10.065
KATIE: So I'm like, oh yeah, we need that.

00:26:10.065 --> 00:26:13.785
KATIE: And I'll put it in there instead of last minute going, where was that?

00:26:13.785 --> 00:26:14.765
KATIE: I saw it.

00:26:14.765 --> 00:26:19.725
KATIE: So just the bin in my room and it just everything goes into the bin until I have to pack it.

00:26:19.725 --> 00:26:21.305
VIRGINIA: That is very smart.

00:26:21.305 --> 00:26:31.325
VIRGINIA: And I think I would probably use that method too, if I didn't live in New York City, because space is really, really hard to come by here.

00:26:31.325 --> 00:26:32.585
KATIE: You're on a premium there.

00:26:32.605 --> 00:26:34.445
VIRGINIA: Yes, yes.

00:26:34.445 --> 00:26:39.045
VIRGINIA: OK, so Pirate Night and Marvel Day at Sea.

00:26:39.045 --> 00:26:42.065
VIRGINIA: Marvel, does that involve dressing up?

00:26:42.065 --> 00:26:45.085
KATIE: Yeah, so you can dress up.

00:26:45.085 --> 00:26:52.025
KATIE: So from my understanding, from my research, so I'll have to report back after, is people dress up getting on the boat for Marvel Day at Sea.

00:26:52.265 --> 00:26:55.685
KATIE: So they are very excited about all of the Marvel things.

00:26:55.685 --> 00:26:58.185
KATIE: Yes, everybody dresses up, I guess, getting on.

00:26:59.225 --> 00:27:04.465
KATIE: I'm trying to see how far I will take it, but my kids are going to be super excited about it.

00:27:04.465 --> 00:27:06.745
KATIE: So we've got multiple Spider-Man costumes and things.

00:27:06.745 --> 00:27:09.845
KATIE: So I know that's going to be a big deal for the boys.

00:27:09.845 --> 00:27:11.925
KATIE: My daughter has started to get into it.

00:27:11.925 --> 00:27:16.185
KATIE: She's got a few Marvel spirit jerseys and things.

00:27:16.185 --> 00:27:18.825
KATIE: So she's slowly getting that way.

00:27:18.825 --> 00:27:36.105
KATIE: But I don't know that there will be a full dress up for her, but we have prepared and talked with her that she's met princesses, she's met all of these characters that she's loved for so long, and we're doing this so that the boys get a chance to meet some of their characters too.

00:27:36.105 --> 00:27:36.505
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:27:36.505 --> 00:27:39.145
KATIE: And so she's understanding of that.

00:27:39.145 --> 00:27:41.525
KATIE: And I think just going on the cruise, she's excited.

00:27:41.525 --> 00:27:45.365
KATIE: So having those conversations in advance with her was good.

00:27:45.365 --> 00:27:45.845
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:27:45.845 --> 00:27:50.505
VIRGINIA: And there will also, I assume, be princesses there that she may be meeting as well.

00:27:51.165 --> 00:27:51.385
KATIE: Yes.

00:27:51.385 --> 00:28:00.645
KATIE: So they have a royal gathering that you can sign up, how you can sign up for the meeting with the HQ, is where you meet Spider-Man.

00:28:00.645 --> 00:28:04.765
KATIE: They also have a guardians meetup that you can sign up for.

00:28:04.765 --> 00:28:09.165
KATIE: And then there's a third one, and it is Escaping My Brain right now.

00:28:09.165 --> 00:28:13.005
KATIE: But they also have the royal gathering, and that went super fast.

00:28:13.005 --> 00:28:20.065
KATIE: Like, they all, all four of those opened at one time on the app, and you can only sign up for one.

00:28:20.985 --> 00:28:24.205
KATIE: And a lot of people picked the royal gathering.

00:28:25.505 --> 00:28:26.945
KATIE: So we will see.

00:28:26.945 --> 00:28:38.745
KATIE: But from what I've read, that there are characters just wandering often, and you'll be able to have multiple opportunities to see all of the different characters many different times.

00:28:38.745 --> 00:28:40.405
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's what I heard.

00:28:40.405 --> 00:28:41.405
KATIE: Yeah, so we'll see.

00:28:41.405 --> 00:28:43.965
KATIE: Well, I'll report back on that too.

00:28:44.025 --> 00:28:45.025
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:28:45.025 --> 00:28:58.145
VIRGINIA: I have heard from many people about this whole thing called Fish Extenders that the groups that people get into on Facebook to do like little gift exchanges with other cruisers.

00:28:58.145 --> 00:28:59.885
VIRGINIA: Is that something that interested you?

00:28:59.885 --> 00:29:00.965
VIRGINIA: Are you signed up for it?

00:29:00.965 --> 00:29:03.965
VIRGINIA: Are you foregoing at this time?

00:29:03.965 --> 00:29:04.905
KATIE: I signed up for it.

00:29:04.905 --> 00:29:07.845
KATIE: So I was like, we're going in for the whole thing.

00:29:07.845 --> 00:29:09.405
KATIE: So I signed up.

00:29:09.525 --> 00:29:14.365
KATIE: I got our fish extender to put outside of our door.

00:29:14.365 --> 00:29:15.985
KATIE: So we have two rooms.

00:29:15.985 --> 00:29:20.605
KATIE: We have the connecting rooms and we went for the veranda suites this time too.

00:29:20.605 --> 00:29:24.545
KATIE: So we got the veranda suite that has like the navigators.

00:29:24.545 --> 00:29:29.245
KATIE: So it's like halfway enclosed and that's the room we're putting the kids in.

00:29:29.245 --> 00:29:38.845
KATIE: Because I'm like, okay, a little bit, a little bit easier, like less space, you know, for me to think of them, like, I don't know, climbing out of and then our room has the full veranda.

00:29:39.285 --> 00:29:42.745
KATIE: But we're only doing one fish extender for our two rooms together.

00:29:42.745 --> 00:29:48.545
KATIE: So we have that supposed to be arriving in a couple of days.

00:29:48.545 --> 00:29:54.545
KATIE: So I ordered that if you're ever doing these and you want to order them from Etsy, it takes like two months.

00:29:54.545 --> 00:29:59.305
KATIE: So really, yeah, this lady that is doing our soft, I haven't seen ours yet.

00:29:59.305 --> 00:30:04.225
KATIE: So hopefully it's going to be exactly what we were planning on.

00:30:04.225 --> 00:30:12.365
KATIE: All of the things on her site looked beautiful, but hoping that it's what it turned out to be, but she, I messaged her in advance and she's like, well, let me know when you're going.

00:30:12.365 --> 00:30:18.525
KATIE: And then, you know, so this has been in the works since probably early November that I ordered it.

00:30:18.525 --> 00:30:21.205
VIRGINIA: So did you go with a theme?

00:30:21.205 --> 00:30:23.885
KATIE: I let the kids pick what characters they're interested in right now.

00:30:23.885 --> 00:30:25.465
KATIE: So but we did.

00:30:25.465 --> 00:30:29.365
KATIE: So the boys are Spider-Man and then my daughter is into Stitch.

00:30:29.365 --> 00:30:31.605
KATIE: So her little image on there is Stitch.

00:30:31.605 --> 00:30:34.845
KATIE: And then we did Mickey and Minnie for ours.

00:30:34.845 --> 00:30:42.285
KATIE: And then so we're doing a family fish extender, which is we have four other families we're exchanging with.

00:30:42.285 --> 00:30:53.125
KATIE: And then we're doing the kids only so the kids get more gifts because I don't they're going to find it, I think, amazing that they show up and there's little things there.

00:30:53.125 --> 00:30:55.465
KATIE: And then we did an ornament one.

00:30:55.465 --> 00:30:56.425
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:30:56.425 --> 00:31:02.605
VIRGINIA: Well, they will probably also be excited to deliver things to the other families.

00:31:02.605 --> 00:31:04.705
VIRGINIA: So that should be a lot of fun, too.

00:31:04.745 --> 00:31:05.465
KATIE: Yeah.

00:31:05.465 --> 00:31:05.805
KATIE: Yeah.

00:31:05.805 --> 00:31:16.065
KATIE: That's my other, like, so part of my bin right now is I'm getting all of the fish extender items that I'm gathering to put for the family.

00:31:16.065 --> 00:31:19.045
KATIE: So a few of the things that I do.

00:31:19.045 --> 00:31:22.645
KATIE: So I actually am making some of ours because I have a laser.

00:31:22.645 --> 00:31:24.565
VIRGINIA: You have your own Etsy store, right?

00:31:24.565 --> 00:31:25.025
KATIE: I do.

00:31:25.025 --> 00:31:26.245
KATIE: I do have my own Etsy shop.

00:31:26.245 --> 00:31:31.205
KATIE: And so from a few people going on cruises, I've now expanded the things that I'm doing.

00:31:31.345 --> 00:31:35.845
KATIE: So some of the fish extenders are what I have on my Etsy shop.

00:31:35.845 --> 00:31:38.245
KATIE: And so one of them is an ornament.

00:31:38.245 --> 00:31:39.665
KATIE: So that's what I'm making.

00:31:39.665 --> 00:31:43.865
KATIE: So if anybody's in our group, you're getting one that I make.

00:31:43.865 --> 00:31:47.745
VIRGINIA: Well, they're not going to hear this until you've gotten back from the cruise anyway.

00:31:48.325 --> 00:31:48.705
KATIE: True.

00:31:48.705 --> 00:31:50.185
KATIE: So no spoilers here.

00:31:50.185 --> 00:31:54.225
VIRGINIA: You could describe it in detail and it will not matter.

00:31:54.265 --> 00:31:55.085
KATIE: Yeah.

00:31:55.085 --> 00:32:02.305
KATIE: So I make clear acrylic ornaments and I engrave in them.

00:32:02.305 --> 00:32:06.105
KATIE: So I engraved the Disney dream and then the family name.

00:32:06.105 --> 00:32:10.965
KATIE: So it looks like the cast members' name tags, but it's larger.

00:32:10.965 --> 00:32:13.065
KATIE: So but then I put the date and everything on it.

00:32:13.065 --> 00:32:16.785
KATIE: So then it's a little memory of the cruise.

00:32:17.925 --> 00:32:18.905
VIRGINIA: I love it.

00:32:19.125 --> 00:32:24.365
VIRGINIA: I'm going to put a link to your Etsy shop in the show notes as well, so everyone can check out everything you have.

00:32:24.365 --> 00:32:32.245
KATIE: So the other thing I was thinking about, I was like, oh, I haven't made, I love doing, my kids love doing this now, is handing out the tokens to all the cast members.

00:32:32.245 --> 00:32:35.185
KATIE: It's like a little thank you for making magic and doing things.

00:32:36.145 --> 00:32:41.585
KATIE: They like to hand them out to the janitorial staff for who are cleaning the bathrooms and things like that.

00:32:41.585 --> 00:32:43.805
KATIE: They just are always appreciative.

00:32:44.685 --> 00:32:46.825
KATIE: But I don't have any cruise specific ones.

00:32:46.825 --> 00:32:53.785
KATIE: I'm like, okay, I've got to work on that before we go and get some of those cut and handed out, or cut and ready so that they can hand them out.

00:32:53.785 --> 00:33:01.085
KATIE: So the cast members make so much magic that we need to give some of it back.

00:33:01.085 --> 00:33:01.745
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:33:01.745 --> 00:33:06.125
VIRGINIA: You are adding to your to-do list of everything that has to get done before this cruise.

00:33:06.125 --> 00:33:08.165
VIRGINIA: So I hope you get everything done in time.

00:33:08.165 --> 00:33:14.665
VIRGINIA: And I hope that you will identify the things that you can let go of should you not have enough time.

00:33:14.665 --> 00:33:15.345
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:33:15.345 --> 00:33:15.545
KATIE: Yeah.

00:33:15.545 --> 00:33:20.085
KATIE: I'm like, well, you know, I can always just do the other tokens we have.

00:33:20.085 --> 00:33:24.465
KATIE: Like if I don't have time to design a new one, then I do have a backup.

00:33:24.465 --> 00:33:31.565
KATIE: And those, luckily, I can hit go on the machine and it does a majority of it for me.

00:33:31.565 --> 00:33:31.845
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:33:31.845 --> 00:33:38.605
VIRGINIA: But the sitting down and thinking about what am I going to design, that's the most time consuming part anyway.

00:33:39.265 --> 00:33:39.665
KATIE: Yeah.

00:33:39.705 --> 00:33:44.025
KATIE: I can lose myself in a few hours in doing that.

00:33:44.025 --> 00:33:44.365
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:33:44.365 --> 00:33:44.985
VIRGINIA: I'm sure.

00:33:44.985 --> 00:33:46.485
VIRGINIA: I'm sure.

00:33:46.485 --> 00:33:46.965
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:33:46.965 --> 00:33:49.765
VIRGINIA: What about dining on the ship?

00:33:49.765 --> 00:33:54.925
VIRGINIA: I know that there is a dining rotation and you will stay with the same servers.

00:33:54.925 --> 00:34:01.025
VIRGINIA: But what are you looking forward to the most in terms of those dining experiences?

00:34:01.025 --> 00:34:04.205
KATIE: So we have the two different, there's two different dining times.

00:34:04.205 --> 00:34:05.665
KATIE: You can either do the early or the late.

00:34:05.665 --> 00:34:10.045
KATIE: And so luckily, we were able to get the earlier dining time because my kids would not make it.

00:34:10.045 --> 00:34:12.945
KATIE: The later dining time is like 8:15 p.m.

00:34:12.945 --> 00:34:15.225
KATIE: and my kids are normally asleep by like 8.

00:34:15.225 --> 00:34:19.685
KATIE: So we have the 5.45 and that should be good.

00:34:19.685 --> 00:34:24.545
KATIE: So I'm excited for the animators palette that, you know, it comes to life.

00:34:24.545 --> 00:34:30.225
KATIE: Like I don't I haven't shared any of like the things that I've read and like the special things with my kids.

00:34:30.225 --> 00:34:35.745
KATIE: So then they get to see it and experience it and not kind of, you know, be spoiled.

00:34:36.965 --> 00:34:39.625
KATIE: No spoilers for them.

00:34:41.545 --> 00:34:49.205
KATIE: And Justin and I looked at booking the Palo or the Remy's as an adult dining.

00:34:49.205 --> 00:34:53.385
KATIE: And I am not the adventurous eater as we talked about earlier.

00:34:53.385 --> 00:34:57.325
KATIE: And so a lot of the things have fish and things that I wouldn't eat.

00:34:57.325 --> 00:35:00.065
KATIE: And so we decided against doing that.

00:35:00.165 --> 00:35:07.825
KATIE: The one I keep checking back for is they have a Remy's dessert and it's just desserts.

00:35:07.825 --> 00:35:10.625
KATIE: I'm like, I am an adventurous dessert eater.

00:35:13.425 --> 00:35:16.385
KATIE: I will try something bruleed or things like that.

00:35:16.385 --> 00:35:19.145
KATIE: So I keep looking to see if I can grab one of those.

00:35:19.145 --> 00:35:21.785
KATIE: But those look like to be pretty rare.

00:35:22.525 --> 00:35:28.705
VIRGINIA: Do you think you might try when you first get on the ship to go visit the concierge or whatever?

00:35:28.825 --> 00:35:40.465
VIRGINIA: Because I know that I've heard about people walking on and being able to see if they could get into a particular reservation, even though, you know, it's day off.

00:35:40.465 --> 00:35:43.005
KATIE: Yeah, I'll check.

00:35:43.005 --> 00:35:45.445
KATIE: But I'm not going to be upset if we don't.

00:35:45.445 --> 00:35:48.625
KATIE: I mean, if they have something, then great.

00:35:48.625 --> 00:35:54.425
KATIE: I am excited because doing any of those kind of adult dining experiences, they have the Oceaneers Club.

00:35:54.425 --> 00:36:03.525
KATIE: And this is the reason why we have waited to go on a cruise is because they have to be three years old in order to go to the Oceaneers Club.

00:36:03.525 --> 00:36:09.985
KATIE: So it didn't work out in the last year, and this one ended up being the first one we could go on, and now Wayland is four.

00:36:09.985 --> 00:36:23.785
KATIE: But yeah, Justin and I can fully know that the kids are going to be having a good time and we can go do something as adult time is probably one of the biggest things I'm looking forward to on this cruise and why we waited.

00:36:25.585 --> 00:36:31.245
KATIE: So if they do end up having a reservation available, then I'll jump on it.

00:36:31.245 --> 00:36:35.285
VIRGINIA: But do you think you might try to do anything at the spa?

00:36:35.285 --> 00:36:36.905
KATIE: Oh, that's already booked.

00:36:39.725 --> 00:36:49.785
KATIE: That day that we're in the Bahamas at NASA, the kids are going to the Oceaneers Club and we have a couple's massage already booked.

00:36:49.785 --> 00:36:52.245
KATIE: I was like, that is one thing I will take advantage of.

00:36:52.845 --> 00:37:00.105
KATIE: So when other people were booking their excursions around the Bahamas, I was like, what can I do in the spa?

00:37:00.105 --> 00:37:01.965
VIRGINIA: I heard it's so nice too.

00:37:01.965 --> 00:37:07.705
VIRGINIA: And when you're done with your treatment, just hanging out in the spa is supposed to be amazing.

00:37:07.705 --> 00:37:11.965
KATIE: So yeah, I'm totally looking forward to that.

00:37:11.965 --> 00:37:16.705
VIRGINIA: Has Justin done something like this before, a spa or a massage?

00:37:16.705 --> 00:37:18.545
KATIE: Yes, we've done that before.

00:37:19.685 --> 00:37:29.385
VIRGINIA: Okay, yeah, I only asked because my husband does not like that sort of thing, and so I will never ever convince him to go to a couple's massage.

00:37:29.385 --> 00:37:31.605
VIRGINIA: But I will happily take one myself.

00:37:31.605 --> 00:37:32.205
KATIE: There you go.

00:37:32.205 --> 00:37:32.585
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:37:32.585 --> 00:37:33.905
KATIE: Yeah.

00:37:34.385 --> 00:37:37.685
KATIE: He's totally okay with it, so I'm like, great.

00:37:37.685 --> 00:37:38.265
KATIE: Good.

00:37:38.265 --> 00:37:39.605
VIRGINIA: Good, good, good.

00:37:39.605 --> 00:37:41.245
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:37:41.925 --> 00:37:47.585
VIRGINIA: What day is your day that you get off the cruise, which is that de-embarkation?

00:37:47.905 --> 00:37:49.325
VIRGINIA: Am I getting that right?

00:37:49.365 --> 00:37:49.505
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:37:49.505 --> 00:37:50.905
KATIE: You're correct.

00:37:50.905 --> 00:37:54.725
KATIE: We get off on the first, so it's a five-night cruise.

00:37:55.365 --> 00:38:01.745
VIRGINIA: Anything else over the course of the cruise that we have not touched on yet that you want to share?

00:38:03.125 --> 00:38:28.605
KATIE: A couple of things just like learning, so if no one else has been on a cruise before, first time doing stuff, I did order and nobody else knows except for me, the, when we get into the room, it'll have like Von Voyage and it'll be all decorated out, and you get like pillowcases and a towel or things like that, and so it'll have the room decorated for the kids.

00:38:28.825 --> 00:38:29.485
VIRGINIA: Oh, cute.

00:38:29.485 --> 00:38:31.125
KATIE: I thought it would be a cute thing.

00:38:31.125 --> 00:38:36.905
KATIE: Then I did order some waters to be in our fridge when we get into the room.

00:38:37.265 --> 00:38:38.345
VIRGINIA: Are those included?

00:38:38.345 --> 00:38:42.745
KATIE: No, they're cans, I guess, aluminum cans of bottled water.

00:38:44.005 --> 00:38:52.545
KATIE: We're not going to bring our kids water bottles necessarily on the ship, but we want them to be able to have something that's refillable and if they lose it, so what?

00:38:54.085 --> 00:38:59.385
KATIE: I got those so we can pack them, take them down to the beach with us, that kind of thing.

00:39:01.065 --> 00:39:10.125
KATIE: But other beverages like the ones that you'd see in the resorts, those are included in the cost of your cruise.

00:39:10.125 --> 00:39:11.325
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:39:11.325 --> 00:39:17.625
KATIE: The one thing I'll tell you my kids are very excited for in the cost of the cruise is Unlimited Ice Cream, the soft serve that they have.

00:39:17.625 --> 00:39:21.345
KATIE: So they're counting down the days to having that.

00:39:21.345 --> 00:39:24.865
VIRGINIA: What about the unlimited room service?

00:39:24.865 --> 00:39:27.525
KATIE: Yeah, I don't know.

00:39:27.525 --> 00:39:34.745
KATIE: They've never experienced room service before, so I think that'll be exciting for them to figure out what it is.

00:39:35.505 --> 00:39:38.145
VIRGINIA: Right, like a breakfast in the room.

00:39:38.145 --> 00:39:42.825
KATIE: And be able to sit on the balcony and have breakfast or that kind of thing.

00:39:44.505 --> 00:39:54.905
KATIE: So I don't know, I haven't really thought of that and I don't typically splurge on a room service kind of thing.

00:39:55.385 --> 00:39:58.405
VIRGINIA: Right, but if it's included, then go for it.

00:39:58.605 --> 00:40:02.805
KATIE: Yeah, so got to wrap my head around having that be included.

00:40:04.965 --> 00:40:09.465
KATIE: Unlimited Mickey Bars for them, yeah, so that's going to be fun.

00:40:09.465 --> 00:40:11.745
KATIE: Let's see, what else can you book?

00:40:11.745 --> 00:40:14.805
KATIE: Like the different excursions you can book.

00:40:14.805 --> 00:40:21.265
KATIE: I mean, we didn't really go through any of them because we were just like, we're not going to do any of them, so it doesn't make a difference.

00:40:21.265 --> 00:40:28.145
KATIE: I did kind of peruse a little bit, but there was nothing that I was like, oh, we really have to do this.

00:40:28.145 --> 00:40:36.685
KATIE: Because like some of the ones that I think my kids would be interested in would be like the Swimming With Dolphins or things like that.

00:40:36.685 --> 00:40:42.565
KATIE: That's where I think the youngest is still a little too young and wild for that.

00:40:42.565 --> 00:40:50.065
VIRGINIA: I mean, well, the good thing is that because this is their first time, everything is going to be new and exciting and they won't know what they're missing.

00:40:50.065 --> 00:40:51.205
VIRGINIA: Correct.

00:40:51.205 --> 00:40:57.565
VIRGINIA: I think it's actually better not to have too much of that stuff booked for this first go-around.

00:40:57.565 --> 00:40:58.445
KATIE: Yeah.

00:40:58.445 --> 00:41:12.245
KATIE: The one thing that I want to be able to do, but we weren't able to do either, is they've got like goofy's like simulations that you can go do some sports on, then that booked up immediately too.

00:41:12.245 --> 00:41:17.465
KATIE: So like, I want to figure out what that is and why that got booked up so quickly.

00:41:17.465 --> 00:41:19.005
VIRGINIA: I have not heard of this at all.

00:41:19.005 --> 00:41:20.345
VIRGINIA: So I don't know what it is.

00:41:20.605 --> 00:41:22.285
KATIE: I want to figure it out.

00:41:24.125 --> 00:41:25.365
KATIE: Yeah.

00:41:25.365 --> 00:41:34.805
KATIE: I'm going through our schedule now so that, yeah, I have rented the float and two bruntles at Castaway Key.

00:41:34.805 --> 00:41:37.125
KATIE: And that was $19 for the day.

00:41:37.125 --> 00:41:39.445
KATIE: So that's just one.

00:41:39.445 --> 00:41:43.285
KATIE: And then we go to Lookout Key at Lighthouse Point the day after that.

00:41:43.285 --> 00:41:45.045
KATIE: That's January 30th.

00:41:45.045 --> 00:41:46.465
KATIE: And then we have our day at Sea.

00:41:46.465 --> 00:41:49.965
KATIE: We have our heroic encounters at 830 in the morning.

00:41:49.965 --> 00:41:51.505
KATIE: And then, oh, 11 a.m.

00:41:51.505 --> 00:41:54.565
KATIE: is the heroic encounters at Asgard.

00:41:54.565 --> 00:42:00.285
KATIE: So then that's like, I don't know who they're exactly going to be in there because I have no, like, Loki's running around places.

00:42:00.285 --> 00:42:04.205
KATIE: And so we'll see who ends up being in that specific one.

00:42:04.205 --> 00:42:09.705
KATIE: Because the HQ, from my understanding, should be Spider-Man and Iron Man.

00:42:09.705 --> 00:42:11.585
KATIE: And that's the only place you can meet Iron Man.

00:42:11.585 --> 00:42:16.685
KATIE: And then that afternoon at 3, we've got the heroic encounters with the Guardians.

00:42:16.685 --> 00:42:20.665
KATIE: And then the next day, we're off the boat, 8 a.m.

00:42:20.665 --> 00:42:21.825
KATIE: February 1st.

00:42:21.825 --> 00:42:29.845
KATIE: We also picked the five day because we figured it'd be long enough, but not too terribly long since they've never been on a cruise before either.

00:42:29.845 --> 00:42:31.765
KATIE: And hopefully, no seasickness.

00:42:31.765 --> 00:42:37.965
KATIE: So making sure you pack meds and things like that, you know, the ever prepared mom.

00:42:37.965 --> 00:42:47.885
VIRGINIA: I think that's probably a good link because everyone I've talked to who it's done, like a three night cruise, have all said it's too short, you need more time.

00:42:47.885 --> 00:42:58.085
VIRGINIA: But five seems like it's the perfect balance because with the day that you're getting on the ship, you know, you're not there first thing in the morning and taking off to sea first thing in the morning.

00:42:58.085 --> 00:43:04.945
VIRGINIA: And then when you de-embark, you do have to be off the ship fairly early in the day.

00:43:04.945 --> 00:43:08.145
VIRGINIA: So it's like five days, you're not getting a five full days.

00:43:08.145 --> 00:43:11.445
VIRGINIA: So that sounds perfect for me.

00:43:12.605 --> 00:43:24.685
KATIE: So on embarkation day, we ended up, even though we were the last to check in, the last to get your, oh, it's got an acronym, because everything in Disney has an acronym.

00:43:24.685 --> 00:43:26.465
VIRGINIA: Of course.

00:43:26.465 --> 00:43:30.645
KATIE: It's like your arrival time, but it's like a, oh, a PAT.

00:43:30.645 --> 00:43:33.105
KATIE: It's your port arrival time, P-A-T.

00:43:33.105 --> 00:43:43.625
KATIE: So we ended up getting even being first timers, our PAT is like 12.15 to get on the ship.

00:43:43.625 --> 00:43:45.945
KATIE: So not too terribly late.

00:43:45.945 --> 00:43:48.445
KATIE: I think the first one started at 11.30.

00:43:48.465 --> 00:43:51.085
KATIE: So I think we're in groups like 10 and 11.

00:43:54.165 --> 00:43:56.925
KATIE: I was like, I feel like we'll be able to be on the ship.

00:43:56.925 --> 00:44:00.005
KATIE: They'll have lunch on the ship.

00:44:00.005 --> 00:44:03.585
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that probably will.

00:44:03.585 --> 00:44:07.005
VIRGINIA: Well, I don't know what time the room would be ready exactly.

00:44:07.005 --> 00:44:14.605
VIRGINIA: But a lot of times I hear people say that their room is not completely ready necessarily right when you get on the ship.

00:44:14.605 --> 00:44:19.245
VIRGINIA: So a lot of people do immediately go and get some lunch or whatever while they wait.

00:44:19.525 --> 00:44:19.925
KATIE: Yeah.

00:44:19.925 --> 00:44:23.405
KATIE: So we've been on cruises, just not a Disney Cruise.

00:44:23.405 --> 00:44:25.965
KATIE: So have some knowledge of what's to happen.

00:44:25.965 --> 00:44:31.265
KATIE: So bringing on a bag with a change of clothes and things like that for them.

00:44:31.265 --> 00:44:40.665
KATIE: Definitely going to go and explore the kids, the Oceaneers Club because that's the only day that you're able to go in as an adult is that first day.

00:44:40.665 --> 00:44:44.525
KATIE: That was one of the other things too that I didn't realize.

00:44:44.525 --> 00:44:59.105
KATIE: We had to make up a secret word for our kids for the Oceaneers Club so that when we go to pick them up, we have to say our secret word and they have to know what it is and that's how they know that you're getting the right kid in addition to the magic band.

00:44:59.105 --> 00:45:03.345
VIRGINIA: A better way with technology to know you're getting the right kid, but okay.

00:45:03.345 --> 00:45:04.005
KATIE: Yeah.

00:45:04.005 --> 00:45:06.065
KATIE: I guess it's like they haven't...

00:45:06.065 --> 00:45:11.585
KATIE: We're taking our magic bands from Walt Disney World since they can be on the ship.

00:45:13.005 --> 00:45:20.445
KATIE: We had to come up with a secret word and I was like, what word am I going to be able to have my kids remember?

00:45:20.445 --> 00:45:27.825
KATIE: But yeah, that's the time that we can go in and see the kids club, check all that out, get the lay of the land.

00:45:29.065 --> 00:45:42.725
KATIE: I have a feeling we're going to have plenty to do before our room is ready, but bringing on a backpack or some small bag with us that we'll end up toting around until we can get into our room or have our other things delivered.

00:45:42.725 --> 00:45:44.205
VIRGINIA: Which cruise lines have you done before?

00:45:45.965 --> 00:45:55.465
KATIE: So I've been on Carnival, Norwegian, so NCL, and then I've also done a Viking River Cruise.

00:45:55.465 --> 00:45:56.225
VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

00:45:56.225 --> 00:45:59.505
VIRGINIA: It will be very interesting to hear how this compares.

00:45:59.505 --> 00:46:08.645
VIRGINIA: I mean, everybody says Disney is the best, but it sounds like, you know, you've got several different experiences to compare it to, so that will be cool to hear about.

00:46:08.705 --> 00:46:14.765
KATIE: Yeah, first one with kids, but, you know, that's an experience in itself.

00:46:14.765 --> 00:46:16.365
VIRGINIA: That will make a difference.

00:46:18.585 --> 00:46:23.165
VIRGINIA: Last question, on your de-embarkation day, are you-

00:46:23.165 --> 00:46:24.665
KATIE: I think it's disembarkation.

00:46:24.665 --> 00:46:25.525
VIRGINIA: Disembarkation.

00:46:25.525 --> 00:46:25.985
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:46:25.985 --> 00:46:27.925
KATIE: Disembarkation.

00:46:28.365 --> 00:46:29.645
KATIE: Yeah, I think it's disembarkation.

00:46:29.645 --> 00:46:31.025
VIRGINIA: Disembarkation.

00:46:31.025 --> 00:46:32.305
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:46:32.305 --> 00:46:34.245
VIRGINIA: One day, I'm going to get these terms down.

00:46:36.385 --> 00:46:47.265
VIRGINIA: If you've been listening for any amount of time, you will know as a listener that every single time I interview somebody about a cruise, I get these words mixed up because I'm like, I just can't retain it for whatever reason.

00:46:47.265 --> 00:46:48.945
VIRGINIA: Probably because I haven't done one yet.

00:46:49.165 --> 00:46:49.945
KATIE: That's what I'm going to say.

00:46:49.945 --> 00:46:52.785
KATIE: You just need to go on one and then you'll learn all the lingo.

00:46:52.785 --> 00:46:54.325
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:46:54.325 --> 00:47:00.085
VIRGINIA: What I was going to ask is, are you hitting the road immediately once you get off the ship?

00:47:01.385 --> 00:47:02.885
KATIE: I believe we are.

00:47:03.685 --> 00:47:11.445
KATIE: I do not believe we're going to go back to the park because to have a day before everyone has to go back to school.

00:47:11.565 --> 00:47:15.945
KATIE: Actually, our kids are being pulled out of school for the week too.

00:47:15.945 --> 00:47:17.465
KATIE: It's a longer drive home.

00:47:18.165 --> 00:47:31.205
KATIE: I think as soon as we get off the ship, we'll end up just hitting the road, heading all the way back home so that we can get back, and then have a day to recombobulate at home before starting school and work again.

00:47:31.765 --> 00:47:32.665
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:47:32.665 --> 00:47:34.265
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:47:34.265 --> 00:47:34.705
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:47:34.705 --> 00:47:39.465
VIRGINIA: Well, I am very much looking forward to talking to you when you're back from your cruise.

00:47:39.465 --> 00:47:45.045
VIRGINIA: I hope that you have a safe journey and smooth sailing.

00:47:45.045 --> 00:47:46.845
KATIE: I appreciate that.

00:47:46.845 --> 00:47:48.525
KATIE: No stomach issues.

00:47:48.525 --> 00:47:49.085
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:47:49.085 --> 00:47:54.705
VIRGINIA: Bring your Dramamine, bring your whatever they are, the acupressure bands.

00:47:54.705 --> 00:47:56.405
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:47:56.405 --> 00:47:59.125
VIRGINIA: I mean, you could incorporate them into your costume if you're for Marvel Day.

00:47:59.405 --> 00:48:00.225
VIRGINIA: Oh, there you go.

00:48:00.645 --> 00:48:01.645
KATIE: That's a good idea.

00:48:01.645 --> 00:48:03.225
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:48:03.225 --> 00:48:03.845
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:48:03.845 --> 00:48:05.845
VIRGINIA: Well, I will talk to you again very soon.

00:48:05.845 --> 00:48:08.225
VIRGINIA: Thank you so much.

00:48:08.225 --> 00:48:09.905
VIRGINIA: Thank you again to Katie.

00:48:09.905 --> 00:48:16.845
VIRGINIA: Don't forget to get all her information in the show notes, and it's also under her profile on the podcast website, which is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

00:48:18.425 --> 00:48:22.585
VIRGINIA: If you liked what you heard today, please don't forget to rate and review the show.

00:48:22.585 --> 00:48:30.425
VIRGINIA: If you have already left a rating on the podcast app you're listening on now, you can also leave one directly through the podcast website anytime.

00:48:30.425 --> 00:48:34.665
VIRGINIA: Katie's post-trip episode is up next, so I'll see you there.

00:48:34.665 --> 00:48:37.885
VIRGINIA: Until then, keep daydreaming about where you long to be.