My most recent trip
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
-Walt Disney
How has it been over a month since our family sailed on Disney's newest ship, the Disney Destiny?!? This was our 2nd Disney cruise; in December 2024 we sailed on the Disney Wish, and we had such a great time, there was no question we'd be sailing again! None of us had ever cruised before, and I was always a bit apprehensive. I also had a lot of friends that had cruised a lot and spoke very highly of Disney Cruise Line for their top notch service and the amenities. For those unfamiliar, Disney Cruise Line is unique to other cruise providers for the unlimited soft serve, soda, hot chocolate, 24/7 room service, rotational dining, and much more. What drew us to the Disney Destiny (specifically) was not just that it was the newest ship to join the fleet, but the theming of Marvel characters, villains and heroes. Black Panther is the statue showcased in the Grand Hall, while a huge sculpture of Spiderman and his Spider-bots share the stern of the ship. Our specific itinerary was stopping at both of Disney's islands, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay.
Some of the highlights I reflect on from this trip often are:
All the characters we got to meet - Captain Hook, Smee, Black Panther, Moana, Belle, Tiana, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Minnie and of course, Mickey! And that doesn't scratch the surface to all of the characters we could've met - but I'll be honest, many of them had quite extensive lines that you really needed to plan in advance for, and we had lots of other activities besides character meet-and-greets. HOT TIP: Getting in line early is especially true for the villains showcased on the Destiny.
Food variety - Festival of Foods was a frequent stop for our family throughout the day, and with such a great variety of options it made everyone happy! We also love Marceline Market, and I especially enjoyed it for breakfast. Make sure you're there on the last full day to enjoy the Mickey churro waffles! The rotational dining with the same servers each day made for an enhanced experience that traveling with kids is a huge value add; I mean, their chocolate milk or root beer was waiting for them when we got to our tables! But I also appreciated the different menus each night to look forward to.
Cast Member service - While I have no comparison (personally) to other cruise lines, I have been blown away by the incredible service standards executed by Disney's Cast Members. They ARE the magic! From our dining servers to the lifeguards, to the characters and entertainment crew - everyone was amazing. I may have visited Goofy's Grill a handful of times to get french fries for my family 🫣, and by Day 2 they knew me by name!
Traveling with another family - have I not mentioned this yet? Goodness... that must've been one of the biggest highlights. If you are debating a cruise and wondering what it might look like, I strongly recommend considering going with another family!! My friend Krysta, her husband, and two kids similar in ages to my three had a fantastic time exploring the ship together, going to the kids clubs, swimming, going to shows and activities, and sharing the responsibilities of splitting up so everyone could enjoy time doing different things.
Activities - We loved playing BINGO (despite not winning), Disney Park Trivia, learning how to draw characters, swimming, watching movies on the Funnel Vision, and pixie dusting the fish extenders around the ship. But my three favorite activities had to be:
~ Pirate Night
~ Parasailing with Jovie at Castaway Cay
~ Hercules show
Here's a video (courtesy of Krysta and her amazing 360 camera!) and the Pirate Night light show in the Grand Hall, with an awesome surprise at the end!
I could go on for hours about how great this trip was - but in the least, I hope this was inspiring to consider planning your next trip! Cruise or otherwise, I'd love to help plan something magical for you and learn what's important to the group going. Relaxing? Activities? Thrill? No matter where, you're up for some incredible memory-making moments and with my FREE help 🫶
Here's a simple form to fill out if you're ready to get started: https://minniesotamagic.com/trip-inquiry-page