Planning Our Disney FANTASY Adventure 2018

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For The Love of Star Wars

My youngest son is about to be 3 years old and has proven himself to be quite the youngling.  I remember the day he became a Star Wars fan well.  Let’s go back to “A Long (Not so Long) Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far (not so) Far (because it’s Earth) Away to May 4, 2017.  For all those who do not know, this date is a play on a famous phrase: May the Force Be With You.  Get it?!  May the Fourth!  Ha, it kills me every time!

Ah where was I, oh yes, on this day my son heard the EPIC theme song to Star Wars and since then has been hooked!  Excuse me as I wipe my tears of joy *blow nose*.  In his love for that song he managed to find Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night rendition with the cast on YouTube Kids.  If you haven’t seen it ENJOY!

I am not sure how he found it but once he did that became his lullaby.  LITERALLY exactly how it is done in the video I have to hum every night!  As I kiss him good night and he hugs me, he looks up at me with sleepy eyes and says “Mama, Star Wars song.”  My heart both melts and in my head I still wonder how he managed to find that video and then I hum it.  And then I may have to hum it 2 or 3 more times.

My older son, who is 3, will just enjoy and sometimes make the cymbal sound at just the right moment.  I know every mom thinks their kids are smart, but sometimes I think my boys are smartest and sweetest because they are so aware of what I enjoy that I think they humor me.  Since then my youngest son has watched Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope more times then I have and without fail makes me read the scrolling words every single time.  If I put the movie on and walk away he will find me and make me start the movie over just so I can read the scrolling words.  It might be my fault, after having to read it aloud for the 10th time I started to either act it out or change my voice or accent.  But, if I am honest with myself I love that he makes me read it.  Even if it’s something small, as a mom we sometimes need to be needed and soon he won’t need me to read it.

Let Me Explain

One day on the Disney Junior my boys see a commercial that had them both stop what they were doing, stand in front of the television with mouths open and then excitement build until the commercial ended and they exploded!  It was the Disney Cruise Line announcing the return of Star Wars Day At Sea for 2018 on the Disney Fantasy.  Having been on the Disney Cruise in 2016 and loved it, they knew they wanted to do that and looked at my husband and asked to go back.  I was looking at my husband too with hopeful eyes because, I too had stopped what I was doing and had my mouth open watching the commercial, but I had to play it cool and down play my excitement just in case we had to say “No.”  He ultimately said “We will see” and they went back to playing.  I started looking on my phone when the Star Wars Day At Sea sailings were.  To my amazement there was a sailing date right on my youngest son’s birthday!  When I told my husband he agreed that we could go.  We had started a tradition by accident when we went on our first Disney Cruise for our oldest son’s 3rd birthday and now we will be doing the same for our youngest son.  We knew the boys still wanted to go on the Disney Cruise because no matter how many times they saw that commercial they had the same exact reaction.  So we eventually booked the Disney Fantasy Cruise for one of the weeks of Star Wars Day At Sea.  Cue Happy Dance!

Now, I know what you are going to say, “Sarah, you said that you would not go on another Disney Cruise until the boys are 5 years old.  ”Yes, yes I know what I said but it’s Star Wars, it’s tradition and I can honestly say that my favorite type of vacation is cruising.  My favorite cruise line is the Disney Cruise Line.  My goal when we retire is to cruise all the time on the Disney Cruise and maybe have a retirement job as their Nurse Practitioner.  To me it is the most relaxing, filled with family fun and the closest one could ever get to what it would be like if you could live in a Disney park.  Being on a Disney Cruise is how I imagine living at Walt Disney World would be!

Disney Magic Vs. Disney Fantasy: What’s Different?

In comparison to our 2016 cruise on the Disney Magic, this one on the Disney Fantasy will be much different.  For starters this will be a completely different ship.  We did get a room with a porthole, known as the ocean room.  We needed passports and there will be four ports the Disney Fantasy will be docking at.

Technically, we did not require passports but I am weary of bringing everyone’s birth certificates on the ship, when we will be docked the majority of the time.  I just feel that the passport is easier to carry then thin pieces of paper that are needed for everything!  We applied for our passports in December, right before Christmas and within a month we had them.  When applying be sure to make 2 copies of your original documents, one for the post office and one for your records.  Fill out all paperwork and take passport photos prior to going to the post office.  This saves on time and a few dollars at the post office. While on the Disney Fantasy we will be stopping in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica and have never been there before, which required some planning.  Our plan is to go to see the beach in each of these places and I need to get chocolate in Cozumel!  We didn’t book any of the shore excursions, but more on that below.

Although this is also a themed voyage this will be Star Wars Day at Sea and not Halloween on the High Seas.

We have decided to not go over the top for Formal Night on this cruise.  My son’s actual birthday is on Formal Night and I feel it’s unfair to have him dressed to the nines if it’s something he doesn’t really like.  To compensate I thought we do a Monsters, Inc. Disney Bound.  May not completely come across but it’s worth a try!  To still keep it dressy the boys will be in polo shirts, as this is the most comfortable and khaki shorts.  I will wear a dress.

For Pirate Night I am recycling the Jake and the Never Land Pirate vest for my youngest son with a pirate bird shirt I got at Carter’s.  Right after Halloween in the Disney outlet we found a Captain Jack Sparrow costume for $20.  My oldest son will wear the vest to this costume with a plain white t-shirt.  My husband and I will just keep with the bandannas that the Disney Cruise will provide that night.  Trying to keep things as simple as possible!

Check-In Process

The check-in process remains the same from the last time we went on the Disney Cruise.  I still don’t like it!  The Disney vacation website is better, works faster and I can do a lot more on the mobile app.  Disney Cruise Line app only works while on the ship.  On land it acts as a count down to your cruise.  The Disney Cruise Line website is also SUPER slow and terrible when going through the check-in process.

As this is our second Disney Cruise we are still in the Silver Castaway Club and will not be able to check-in as soon as Gold or Platinum Castaway Club members.  Again, due to a later check-in we were not able to book any of the cabanas on Castaway Cay.  We did get an early check-in option on the day of disembarkation, which was wonderful!  Also we did not have an option for early dinner, but we eat late and this doesn’t bother us.  If you cruise more frequently or book a concierge cabin then you will get first dibs!

At this time we were able to register our boys for the kids club.  Although I registered my youngest son for the kids club, it doesn’t seem like he is completely registered as only my oldest son’s name is on the printed forms.  This may have to deal with the fact he will be turning 3 on the Disney Cruise and not prior to sailing.  I will have to ask about that once we get on the Disney Fantasy.  If your little ones are less then 3 and/or not potty trained they can’t participate in the kids clubs.  As an alternative you can book the nursery, but keep in mind you will have to pay $9 an hour for the nursery.

Like I said before, we did not book any of the shore excursions, including the ones at Castaway Cay.  The reason is my youngest son is not old enough for any of the activities that we would want to do.  The shore excursions are not included in the price of your cruise, so we were not going to buy one if we all would not enjoy it.  I am starting to remember why I wanted to wait for our boys to be a little older, but it’s STAR WARS!  Wish we could have been able to book a cabana on Castaway Cay!

The Disney Fantasy had multiple free ship activities you can book.  We booked a Disney Junior character breakfast, meet and greet with the princesses, meet and great with the Frozen characters and the Star Wars Activities.  These Star Wars activities include meet and greet with Darth Vader, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Chewbacca, as well as Jedi Training: Trails of the Temple!  This last activity has an age restriction and only my oldest son can do this.  I also booked a Galactic Transformation for all of us on the actual Star Wars Day at Sea!  This was extra but, I booked the least expensive one that allows us to pick a shirt and not a full costume.  This will act as a fun, unique souvenir of our trip!  The only extra thing I booked, that will cost money, was just for me, a massage!

Most Excited For

We are excited to be celebrating my youngest son’s 3rd birthday on the Disney Fantasy and for ALL the Star Wars Day At Sea activities.  Every time we talk about it we get excited!  Personally, I cannot wait for the massage.  It has been a long time since I had one and I am really looking forward to relaxing!  Love the idea that I will be in a quite place, with my book on a Disney Cruise at sea getting a massage.  Just thinking about it has me all relaxed.  This will be my first on on a cruise.

Extra Things

I did buy a few things on Etsy for our Disney Fantasy Cruise.  For my youngest son’s birthday I got him his Monsters, Inc. door magnet and Monsters, Inc birthday shirt.  I also got a Disney Fantasy Cruise Star Wars magnet for our door as well.  If you didn’t know, decorating your door on the cruise is a BIG DEAL!  Guests go all out.  I will be reusing some of the other magnets we got from when we went on the Disney Magic.The Star Wars Day At Sea Disney Fantasy Cruise magnet was bought from Making Cruise Memories.  The Monsters, Inc magnet and the Disney Tsum Tsum magnets (Tinker Bell, Lighting McQueen, Buzz Lightyear and Goofy) were all bought from KimCreations1127.  Monsters, Inc 3 shirt was bought from The Lion and Unicorn.  (I am in no way affiliated with these Etsy shops and DO NOT receiving any compensation for recommending them.  I just really liked the quality and their customer service!)

Final Thoughts

Although I am concerned about going to these other ports with small kids I know it will be okay.  The important thing is to always be aware of your surroundings.  Now that everything is booked and check-in is complete it is just a waiting game.  This is a good time to make lists of things to pack.  It’s always good to think about what you need to pack early, so if you need to buy anything there is enough time.  You don’t want to be scrambling for things.  Also if you are ordering items from Etsy or other anything else this will give you enough time for your item to be delivered and returned if needed.

If you suffer from motion sickness the earlier you consult your doctor the better.  Nothing ruins a cruise like motion sickness.  Now that you are visiting your doctor, get those refill prescriptions.  Your doctor does not need you harassing them because you just realized you will be running out of your medication prior to your trip!

Any day now we will be cruising on the Disney Fantasy for Star Wars Day At Sea and celebrating my baby’s birthday.  Can’t wait to tell you all about it when we get back!

In the meantime watch this fun video of my boys getting a FANTASTIC phone call from Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Have you been on a Disney Cruise or thinking of going on one?  Which Disney Ship would you love to sail?  What are some of your must things to pack when you go on a cruise? Comment below!

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