Those who know me well will tell you that I love everything to do with Disney. There is something so magical and enduring about the characters that Walt Disney created all those years ago. For me, watching a Disney movie is an escape from everyday life. And, when it’s time for a real escape, there’s nothing like a Disney vacation! Today, I continue my Christmas ornaments and vacation memories posts with a look at the Magic and Wonder of Disney vacations.
Our tradition of buying a Christmas ornament on each family vacation started in 2008 when we took our girls on their very first Disney vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida. Since then, we’ve been to Disneyland in California and on two Disney cruises. Without a doubt, these are the best vacations we’ve ever had.
Today’s post will focus on our Disney vacation memories. Check out Favourite Christmas ornaments and cherished memories for my favourite Canadian vacation memories.
Walt Disney World
We got these ornaments on our first family trip to Walt Disney World in December 2008. At the time, our girls were 8 and 5. It really was the perfect age. They were old enough to keep up the pace of long days at the park, but still young enough to be mesmerized by the magic of it all.
We spent a week onsite at the All Star Movies resort. I highly recommend staying at a Disney resort. It makes it so convenient to visit all four parks, and you get the extra special touches from “mousekeeping” that you don’t get anywhere else.
We love all the parks but, if I had to pick, I think Magic Kingdom is my favourite. As soon as you step through the gates, you’re transported to a different world.
Visiting the parks at Christmas is extra special. On our first day at Magic Kingdom, there were no Christmas decorations in sight. Overnight, Mickey’s elves got to work, When we returned the next day, the park had transformed into a Christmas wonderland.
If you visit Walt Disney World, I highly recommend the character experiences. One of the highlights of our week was our visit to Cinderella’s castle for the Royal Tea. It was a special way to meet the princesses. We also had dinner with Pooh and friends at Crystal Palace which was so much fun.
The only downside to our trip was Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Although it’s sold as an exclusive thing, they sell way too many tickets and it’s bedlam! I will admit the fireworks display was pretty awesome though.
Eastern Caribbean Cruise on board the Disney Magic
In March, 2011, we went on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Magic. The cruise left from Port Canaveral in Florida and made stops in St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. We loved this ornament of Captain Mickey and Sailor Minnie!
People often ask what makes a Disney cruise so special that people are willing to pay a premium price for it. In a word – magic! From the moment you step on board the ship, you are treated like a royal guest. No-one does service like Disney.
There is so much to see and do on board the ship. You’d need two cruises to do it all. From broadway style shows and other entertainment, to character greetings, game shows, or just lounging by the pool, there really is something for everyone. The food and overall dining experience was fantastic. We loved that our dinner servers rotated through the dining rooms with us. By the second night, they knew all our names and our food and beverage preferences. We really felt like family.
It’s also extra special to see our favourite Disney characters roaming around the ship. Captain Jack Sparrow even made an appearance on Pirate night. The Pirates in the Caribbean evening is topped off with a fireworks display, and a buffet featuring delicious smoked turkey drumsticks.
We enjoyed our stops in St. Thomas and St. Maarten but our day at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay was definitely a highlight of the week. When we arrived on the island, we were treated to a fabulous barbecue lunch. Then, we spent the afternoon on one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.
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At the end of our magical week, we were so sad to leave the ship. If you ask my kids which was their best ever vacation, they don’t hesitate and respond “The Disney Cruise”! The Magic and Wonder of Disney vacations has us hooked. My daughters loved the cruise so much that when I suggested we do a special trip before Laura went away to college, both girls immediately responded that they wanted to go on another Disney cruise – to Alaksa!
Alaskan Cruise on board the Disney Wonder
In August 2018, we embarked on our second Disney Cruise. This one was a 7-night Alaskan Cruise on board the Magic’s sister ship, the Disney Wonder. We sailed round-trip from Vancouver and made stops in Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau.
2018 was the 20th anniversary of Disney Cruise Line. We bought this ornament to commemorate our trip.
The amazing food and impeccable Disney service we loved so much from our first cruise was back. This time around, our girls were 15 and 18 so the cruise experience was different. In addition to the shows, we had a lot of fun singing karaoke and playing game shows. Colleen and I won Mickey medals in the “How well do you know your family” game.
The pace of an Alaskan cruise is different than a Caribbean cruise. It’s less about lounging by the pool, and more about taking in the breathtaking scenery and wildlife. We observed Orca whales playing right beside the ship and saw eagles flying in the wild. Because of the sensitive nature of the wildlife, there are some differences on board. You only hear the ship’s horn when you leave and return to Vancouver, and there are no plastic lids or straws in sight.
‘Til We Meet Again
The live show on the last night of the cruise is called ‘Til We Meet Again. I’m not sure when it will be or where our next Disney vacation will take us. But, I know for sure there will be one. We can’t get enough of the Magic and Wonder of Disney vacations!
Have you ever been on a Disney vacation? Tell us about it below.
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Your photos are wonderful, Michelle! I cannot believe that I’ve never taken a Disney Cruise, nor have I even been to Disneyland! But that beach……………!!! Wow! Cher xoxo
Thank you Cher. Yes, Castaway Cay is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. The cruises were so much fun. The day at Castaway Cay was like the icing on the cake of a perfect vacation.
Ahhh it sounds like a magical trip of a lifetime. Thank you for sharing your cruises with us Michelle. It’s really odd because just before we read your post we read another one that gave us all the back stage gossip about the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to create the magic you expressed here. We feel like we’ve had a rounded experience of Disney heheh. The fella also worked in Magic Kingdom. Lovely post and perhaps one day (post covid) we might be able to visit and experience it for real x
I think I read the same post from the young man who worked at Disney World. It was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look. Disney definitely trains their people well. They work really hard to create that magic.
I brought my oldest two girls to Disney in 2018 and we had a great time even though they were young. My youngest at that time had just turned 1 the month before (so she was free😁) and I was 4 months pregnant so we couldn’t do everything. When we go again I think I will wait until my youngest is 4 or 5. It is fun to watch how excited the kids are!
Yes, I think 4 or 5 and older is a perfect age. I remember seeing people pushing strollers with very young toddlers and babies and thinking it must not be much of a vacation for them. Even as teenagers, my girls were still in awe of everything Disney. I don’t think you ever outgrow it.
Confession: I’ve never been to a Disney resort of any kind. Alton Towers for rollercoaster but never somewhere like that. Himself yearns for a trip to Florida for all the theme parks, I’m not so sure….
That’s okay. It’s not for everyone. It has been 8 years since we went to Disneyland. Once we discovered the cruises, the parks lost some of their appeal, although my girls have been saying lately they want to go back to Walt Disney World.
i have never been on a Disney vacation or even been to a Disney theme park. I do admire their movies as well as the wonderful songs which have been written for them! I read a great biography about Walt Disney a few years ago, and was struck by a statistic about how many people attended Disneyland in the first year of operation. If I am remembering correctly it was more people than those who attended several famous California national parks (full of nature’s wonders) put together that year. As much as I admire Disney movies and songs, I sometimes wonder if the magical parallel world(s) that Disney created have been an extremely attractive part of our human culture’s increasing disconnect from the natural world and the interconnected webs of life which support all of us here on planet earth (although your Alaska cruise seemed to offer many opportunities to savor and respect and experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska…) I certainly don’t want to rain on the parade of your family’s great love of Disney culture and experiences, however. It sounds like the Disney corporation has brought great joy into your lives over the years!
I see your point Will. Much as I love Disney, I often refer to it as “the great marketing machine” because they are, above all, a for-profit company. Is this what Walt envisioned? I wonder what he’d think of what the company has become. I guess we’ll never know. That said, their customer service is beyond compare. I think that’s part of the magic.
We do have to keep it all in perspective, though. For me, a Disney vacation is a welcome escape from the pressures of the world. But, I also love to visit other places and enjoy the world’s natural beauty. It’s one of the reasons I’ve never been one to go on a Disney vacation every year, or even multiple times a year, like many people do. Like all things in life, you need balance.