Disney Cruise Line

I'm a huge fan of Disney Cruise Line.  Back in 2004, DH and I embarked on our first cruise ever.  We thought it would be a "do this once in a lifetime" kind of trip.  Little did we know that we'd get home and would only dream about cruising again so we have made this an every year or two trip instead.  We loved being on an all-inclusive type vacation (except for the additional excursions we chose to take).  We were together 24-7 and it was fabulous!  Disney Cruise Line (DCL) now has 3 ships:  The Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder, and the Disney Dream.  They are currently building the Disney Fantasy.  The Magic and Wonder are sister ships and are very similar to each other with the exception of the decor.  We first sailed on the Magic, which at the time was alternating 7 night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.  Cruising used to be more of a luxury vacation that only some people could afford.  It is now a great family vacation that is more affordable that a lot of other options.  We tend to cruise on the cheap (although we do pay a little more to make sure it is on DCL).  However, depending on the time of year, what type of accommodations, etc. you choose, you can make this a very budget (and VERY FUN) trip!  What do we love about cruising?  Well, for starters, we love not having to drive all around town trying to figure out where to eat.  There is plenty of food onboard the ship and it makes that "what should we have for dinner" question pretty easy to figure out.  At dinner, there are 5 or 6 options, all of which should be pretty good (if they're not, ask for a different option) and you don't have to fix it yourself.  I love the being away from everything feeling.  One of my favorite things on the cruise is to sit in the hot tub during sail away and realize that I'm officially on vacation and "away" from it all.  I'll be sure to post a whole lot more about Disney cruises (and why I consider myself a Disney cruise snob after sailing on another ship).  Stay tuned!

The Dapper Dans

There is something magical and timeless about watching a Barbershop Quartet on Main Street in Disneyland.  The Dapper Dans take you back to years gone by through their musical harmonies.  I love how they sing some fun old songs and add some classic Disney tunes in as well.  As I watch them, I'm reminded of a last minute trip that my dad and I took to Disneyland years ago.  We only had one day at the park, but we took a few minutes away from riding the attractions to pause and enjoy a performance.  It does help that the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (a favorite of mine--yum--fresh waffle bowls) is on Main Street as well, so you can enjoy some ice cream while watching the Dapper Dans perform a few songs.  For several years we were able to see the same members of the group perform (Jim, Shelby, Bill, and Bob) and then in 2006 Disney cast a new group (with some public outcry) and now they cast new groups more often.  Jim is seen in the picture above (I'm guessing that he's filling in for someone).  I miss the old group, they were a classic part of Disneyland for me, but I'm lucky enough to have their CD.  I do still enjoy the Dapper Dans when I have the chance.  There is just something special about this part of Disneyland--it must be the Disney magic.  Check out the times guide next time you are in Disneyland to see if you can catch a performance too!

Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes

Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes is one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland.  It's a hidden gem inside the park that a lot of people don't take advantage of (thank goodness, otherwise there would be a long line).  On some of our trips, this attraction is only open seasonally or on weekends, but we make an effort to go on it if at all possible.  I actually like to ride the canoes twice--once on the left of the seat and once on the right--that way I can get a balanced workout.  You see, these canoes are not on a track and the only power used to get the canoes to move is manpower.  A complete trip around the Rivers of America can be quite a workout on your arms, that is if you actually paddle like you are supposed to.  It's a good thing that the Cast Members are strong and are experts at paddling, but I try to help out as well (everyone is supposed to help).  "Never stop paddling" is something that they often remind the guest participating.  I like the corny jokes they tell and I like doing something physical instead of just being passive on a ride.  Back in 2002 I took a trip to Disneyland with a couple of neighbor girls and we made it a point every morning to ride the canoes twice.  I think the Cast Members thought we were a little strange when we got so excited and especially because we rode more than once.  One of them even offered me a job!  Anyway, check out the canoes sometime when you are in Disneyland.  I'm excited to take DD on them for the first time soon!

housekeeping

A few bits of housekeeping for this blog...

abbreviations:
DH--dear husband/Disney husband
DW--dear wife/Disney wife
DD--dear daughter/Disney daughter
DS--dear son/Disney son
DL--Disneyland
WDW--Walt Disney World
DCL--Disney Cruise Line
DVC--Disney Vacation Club

photos:
The photos on this blog were taken by DH and myself.  They are our personal property and we ask that you do not use them without permission.

going back to disney

We love Disney.  Why?  Well, we just do!  Our love for Disney has grown over the years.  I think we've always had a love for things related to Disney, but our passion really started early on in our marriage.  DH and I had considered going to Disneyland for our honeymoon, but we just couldn't swing it at the time.  So, for our first Spring Break, we went on our first trip together to see the mouse.  What a marvelous trip it was!  It was so much fun being there together and we were able to do and see everything we wanted to.  We were hooked.  I think my husband's family thinks that I am the Disney nut in the family and that I was that way when we got married.  The truth is I went to Disney a few times before I was married (like maybe 5 trips to Disneyland and 2 trips to Walt Disney World), but DH and I had such a great first trip that we have grown to love Disney together.  Our family has grown and changed since that trip back in 2003 and we've experienced some wonderful trips since that time.  We've also expanded what types of Disney vacations we've been on.  We started out with Disneyland, then added Walt Disney World, then Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club.  Now we go on a combination of those trips and go back and forth between the three.

I've thought for a while about starting this blog.  Sometimes I just need to record my excitement and anticipation for upcoming trips, other times I just want to share the information about the places I love.  A lot of my friends and neighbors know that we are Disney fans, so they'll ask for advice when planning their trips to the "Happiest Place on Earth."  I thought it may be a good idea to weave some of those tips into this blog.  So, come along for a ride.  Ask questions if you have them.  It's time to get back to Disney!