Charleston, SC Family Fun

Charleston, SC Part 1: Family Fun

Charleston, South Carolina consistently ranks as one of the best cities to visit in the US. It's got rich history, beautiful beaches nearby, friendly Southern hospitality around every corner and some of the best food you'll find anywhere in the country, hands down. It's a great spot to take the whole family for a relaxing vacation, with things to do for every age group. 

We visited Charleston over the 4th of July week, and let me tell you, it's hotter than the hinges of Hades...which if you're not Southern and need translation just means it's flipping hot. And humid. And this is coming from people that lived in Florida for a decade. So in order to make sure we had access to water activities, we chose to stay at the beach which was a short drive away from downtown Charleston. There are a lot of beaches close to the city: Sullivan's island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island and Isle of Palms to name a few. We chose Isle of Palms and it was perfect for our family. It was clean, quiet and calm and made for an excellent stay. 

We drove back and forth into downtown Charleston on several days to check out some sights. We really enjoyed the South Carolina Aquarium. It's located right on the harbor so you can take in the gorgeous scenery before or after your visit. The aquarium is large, clean and has a ton of interactive activities for the kids. They even got to pet a baby alligator (a highlight for them, scary for mama). They also house the Sea Turtle Care Center where they rehabilitate injured sea turtles. Overall, it was an enjoyable time, especially as it gave us a break from the blazing sun. 

We also took time to stroll down Historic King Street for some souvenir shopping and a stop at a cute little ice cream shop. We found the Charleston City Market where local merchants displayed arts and crafts for purchase. 

After all the walking in the sun, we boarded up on a horse and carriage ride through Palmetto Carriage. It was a nice break from walking and we got a narrated tour around some of the historical landmarks from a friendly and knowledgeable guide, complete with deep Southern accent and dressed in bow tie and seersucker for authenticity. 

There are plenty of other attractions in the city to keep a family busy for days. Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began, has daily tours. The Magnolia Plantation has beautiful gardens, a petting zoo and mazes. And for the older kids that don't easily get scared, there are ghost tours that run in the evenings (don't know about these, I want my kids to continue to sleep through the night!)

I can't leave a post without some good food recommendations. Now Charleston is a foodie's dream come true, especially if that foodie (me) is into seafood. We are actually returning next week for a food-filled adventure for adults only, so that will be part two of my Charleston series. For some good bets with kids, we found several spots worth stopping by. In downtown, we found Hyman's Seafood. It's over a hundred years old and has a cute little market attached to it. Fleet Landing is a great spot right on the water. It has some solid Southern seafood staples. Try to get a patio seat if the wait's not too long, it's worth it. Other notable spots are a short drive away on Sullivan's Island. Poe's Tavern is a quirky literary themed restaurant named after Edgar Allen Poe who lived on the island for some of his life. The craft burgers and bacon coleslaw are amazing! Right down the street is Beardcat's Sweet Shop. They have tons of delectable desserts to try, but I was partial to the red velvet ice cream. Yum!! 

Charleston is a fantastic getaway spot that will have you longing to return. Join me next week for my second part: adult-style Charleston getaway!

Cruisin' with Kids

Either you are cruise people or you aren't.  Our family is firmly in the pro-cruise camp.  Every year for the last 3 years, we've taken a family cruise for Spring Break.  It's just such an easy trip to plan.  All the food, entertainment and activities wrapped up in a pretty bow for you, and that's exactly what we like at the almost end of the school year rush that happens in the spring. There are a few tips to keep in mind, though, that will make cruising with your kids much easier.  I've compiled my list here:

DO YOUR RESEARCH:
Research, research, research!  Most of the mainstream cruise lines will be kid-friendly, but some are better than others.  And even some sailings on the same cruise line will be more geared to kids.  Things to check out:  Kid's programs, pools and water activities, character appearances if your kids are still into that, kid friendly entertainment, ports of call that would interest your children.  This is also the time you want to check the specific rules and regulations for which documents are needed and make sure you will have them all in order before you sail.  Some destinations only require birth certificates, while some require passports.  Finding the right fit for your family is key to starting your vacation off right.

BOOK EARLY:  
Once you've decided on cruise line, dates and destination, book early! This is especially important for sailings during the typical Spring Break months of March-April and then summer break times and all holidays.

TRAVEL BEFORE THE SAILING: 
It's important to give yourself plenty of time to get to the port on the day of sailing.  If you're flying into your destination, it's best to fly in the day before at the latest.  The ship won't wait on you if you're flight is delayed, so don't put that kind of stress on yourself!  Even if you're only a few hours away and driving, still give yourself several hours of leeway in case of traffic or unexpected events like flat tires along the way. Make sure to have a folder to keep all documents for check in handy and in one spot for easy retrieval.

ONLINE ACCESS:
Many of the cruise lines will let you have online access to your sailing information ahead of time.  This is where you can fill out online check in forms, fill out info for kids' clubs, reserve special events and activities, make reservations for adult-only meals, and sign up for shore excursions. Be sure to book any special activities like character meet-and-greets early, as these fill up quickly. 

CHOOSING EXCURSIONS:
There are going to be a wide variety of shore excursions available, depending on destinations.  Look for the ones that will work the best for your family's needs.  You can book through the cruise line, book your own (just do the research to make sure it's legit), or you can just jump off at the port and explore on your own.  For example, in Nassau Bahamas, you can get right off and check out the straw market and restaurants and not have to plan anything like extra transportation.  If you do require transportation, make sure you research the car seat situation. There are newer travel car seat options out there like these: http://amzn.to/2plxjSG

MOTION SICKNESS:  
Be sure to talk with your child's doctor before the trip, but there are plenty of over the counter medications specifically for children, such as Dramamine for Children.  They even come in chew-able form for those that have a hard time with pills.  My kids have always done just fine with 1 a day.  Also, it helps to try to get a midship stateroom as there will be less movement in the middle.  

DINNER SEATINGS:
There will usually be 2 dinner seatings, an early (6 or 6:30) and a late seating (8 or 8:30).  You know your children best.  Do they want to sleep in, eat breakfast at 10, lunch at 2-3?  Do they stay up late?  If so, the later seating may be great for them.  If they are early birds, eat lunch fairly early, and tend to have earlier bedtimes, then the early dinner will probably be best for them.  The last thing you'll want is a grump at a nice dinner!  Also, for those kids that may have some social anxiety issues and wouldn't enjoy sitting with strangers, you can request a separate table for you and your family.  Depending on how booked the ship is, they may or may not accommodate that request, but never hurts to ask!

KID'S CLUBS:
Take a bit of time when you get on the ship to explore the kid's clubs. Many will have open houses where you can walk through and see the activities provided for the kids.  This will allow little ones to get more comfortable.  They just might get excited about going, which will give you some much needed relaxation time! Also, check the preteen/teen clubs.  Many will allow for self checkout options, which is great for more responsible kids.  Just remind your older kids about safety as you would anywhere else like the mall or the movies and remind them to never visit anyone's room unless they have your permission.

APP:
Check out if your cruise line has an app you can download before setting sail.  This can be such a great tool, as many will let you text to others with the app.  Also, it will provide details on daily itineraries, menus, special events, etc.

DAY OF:
You will have several hours before you can get into your room, and even then it could take until early evening before you get your checked luggage.  Make sure you keep a carry on bag with the important things you'll need for the afternoon. Documents, sunscreen, swimsuits, goggles, sunglasses, important medication, and any valuables you may have. 

Remember, a little preparation can be key to having a great time!!  Our family has had so much fun on Disney Cruise Line the past few years, I've decided to become an agent specializing in Disney travel.  If you are thinking about a Disney cruise, I would LOVE to help your family plan a magical vacation you will never forget!  
https://www.facebook.com/stephanieadventurewithmagic/

Couples Getaway Weekend - Boston, MA

I love a long getaway weekend as a couple.  3 days is long enough to see some sights and get a little relaxation in, but not long enough to have to do any heavy planning or packing. When we travel as a couple. we like to have a good balance of downtime and planned activities.  But as always with us, our top priority is the local food!

We did not rent a car and never needed one.  It's about a $20 taxi ride into the heart of downtown from Logan International Airport.  The rest of the trip, we made do by walking (probably walked over 20 miles in 3 days!) and used Uber for long distances. The public system is also supposed to be very good and easy to use.  

We stayed at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf and found it to be very nice and convenient.  After getting checked in, we headed across the street to Faneuil Hall, a popular hub of shops and restaurants where Quincy Market is located. It's also where a replica of the Cheers Bar is located, but it seemed like too much of a tourist trap to stop in, so after taking a quick pic, we headed inside and found the lobster rolls. It was a nice place to find some outdoor seating and people watch on a beautiful afternoon.  

The first evening we visited the famous Union Oyster House(http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/) , the oldest restaurant in the US. We were able to check out the Kennedy booth, where JFK liked to sit when he visited.  Although quite touristy, the seafood was all super fresh and tasty.  My husband opted for the full lobster dinner (which he couldn't finish) and I had the clam chowder.  And dessert was of course, Boston cream pie, because we kind of had to at least once.

The next day we were up and going early.  We downloaded a free app to guide us through the Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile path of historical landmarks.  You can pay for a guided tour, but we preferred to have the freedom to stop when we wanted to. We spent the rest of the day strolling through Boston Public Gardens and watching the Swan Boats (they run from April - September).  We also ended up stumbling upon a free outdoor concert, so bonus free entertainment and more people watching!

After working up an appetite walking all around town, we found a cute little lobster shack (http://www.jameshooklobster.com/). There was a line going out of the building, so we figured we scored a great find and were not disappointed.  The place was tiny and had no a/c (unheard of for this Southern gal), so we found a place to sit outside and enjoyed every.last.bite of our delicious lobstah roll.  Now we see the reason for the line.  We also found a cute little bakery (https://flourbakery.com/locations/south-end/) and got a famous sticky bun that's been featured on the Food Network to go for an afternoon treat back at the hotel. So so good, I wish we had gotten 2.

Dinner that evening, we ubered on over to Cambridge and had a great meal at Café ArtScience (https://www.cafeartscience.com/).  This place was modern, innovative and trendy, but still managed to have a relaxed feeling.  This was our favorite meal of the trip, hands down.

For our last full day, we were up and ready to go early.  We hit the Museum of Fine Art and were both blown away at the collection.  We spent many hours there and could've spent even more time.  We took a walk by Fenway Park (sadly, there were no games going on the weekend we visited).  Then we headed over to Fan Pier for lunch at Mario Batali's Babbo Pizzeria (http://babbopizzeria.com/) for some yummy mussels & pasta and an afternoon craft cocktail.  For dinner, we chose Ostra in the theater district (http://ostraboston.com/). The menu was full of fresh seafood choices and everything we ordered was amazing, the raw oysters were especially memorable.  The atmosphere was a little stuffier than we prefer, think hushed conversations and a piano player in the background, but the quality of the food made up for it. 

Our last evening we did a little souvenir shopping for the kids (Harvard shirts, and lobster lollipops!) and checked out some of the nightlife near our hotel.  We ended up finding a little pub underground somewhere and listened to some live music. It was a fun time, and low key which is just what we were looking for.

Overall, we had an amazing long weekend in this modern town full of history. There is no way we could do everything on our to see list in one long weekend, so we will definitely be back, perhaps as a family trip!     

Houston, TX

I will be the first to admit that other than having some girlfriends that live there, Houston, TX wasn't at the top of my must travel to spots.  However, as a couple that was raised in Georgia and HUGE Atlanta Falcons fans (we had to buy the expensive sports cable package to watch every game when we moved), we had a big item on our bucket list.  We said way back in 2000 when we met that if the Falcons ever went back to the Super Bowl, we would make it happen and go.  So when they ended up winning their spot in the big game, we immediately booked the flight and hotel.  It was only a long weekend trip, and I was excited about the game, but as I perused zagat.com for some food recommendations, I got more and more excited.  We weren't going to have enough meals there to even begin to touch their expansive culinary scene.  Who knew?? Houston, at least what we saw of it, wasn't the prettiest place we've been, but man it's a food lover's paradise.  

When we first arrived, we had to get our taste of Tex Mex.  As expected, they have places on every corner.  Pappasito's is an old favorite of ours from when we lived in Atlanta, so we had to stop by for nostalgia purposes. Ninfa's on Navigation (ninfas.com) was another Tex Mex places that came highly recommended, but sadly we didn't have enough time to check it out...next time for sure!

Since this was an adults only trip, on our first night we decided to check out Houston's nightlife (with all the other tourists and locals too apparently) and we went to Club Nomadic to see Sam Hunt and the Chainsmokers.  Being an old lady (alright not that old, but not a spring chicken anymore) we left before it was over and missed a surprise performance by Snoop Dogg, but you know, the need for sleep won out.

The rest of the weekend, we checked out all of the football events they had going on downtown.  If you are ever in town for a Super Bowl, I highly recommend going to the NFL Experience.  We had a great time there, but the kids would've loved it too and plan to take them there when the Super Bowl is in Atlanta. Definitely plenty to do to make a whole afternoon out of it. 

Since we all know the outcome of the actual game, and I don't want to shed more tears thinking about it, I will just say NRG Stadium is beautiful and we had a fabulous time until the 4th quarter.  Also, Lady Gaga was amaaaaazing live!

So back to my happy place...food.  We literally hit a home run on every place we chose to eat.  For dinner one night, we tried a cool little joint called Weights + Measures ( http://weights-measures.com/ ).The menu reminded us of one of our favorite spots in Orlando, so we decided to give it a try and it did not disappoint. Very good food, but no stuffiness of a finer dining restaurant which is exactly what we were going for that night.  For lunch, we chose Brennan's (https://www.brennanshouston.com/ ).  This is a sister location to the famous Brennan's in New Orleans.  We love New Orleans and Creole style food, so knew it would be right up our alley.  I have to say, the food was amazing.  We order and share most of the time and had crab cakes (the best ones we've EVER had), shrimp and grits and then beignets for dessert, because you pretty much have to in a New Orleans based restaurant, right?? The atmosphere was a little uptight for my liking, and imagine the dinner atmosphere is even more formal.  Think ladies that lunch and people that own yachts filling up the room.  It's a place where you have to think about your most proper manners and the volume of your conversations.  I enjoyed the food enough to go back, but I tend to go for places where you can be a little more relaxed.

We had brunch at two different spots during the trip.  One was in a cute little place where I met up with my local girlfriends, yay!  It was called Tiny's No.5 (http://www.tinyboxwoods.com/tinys-no5/) and was the sweetest place.  Definitely a getting together with girlfriends spot.  Go in with an empty stomach because the portions are Texas sized!  Our other brunch spot was Dish Society (http://www.dishsociety.com/).  This is where we had our pre Super Bowl brunch.  Again, the portions are huge, which was a good thing because we were so sick after the result of the game that we didn't eat dinner. The Dish Society is a farm to table place with outdoor patio seating and a really nice spot for brunch.  If you go, you must try the Organic Prickly Pear Mimosa, OMG it was good.  I had the chicken & biscuits with gravy and the hubby had the brisket n' eggs, because when in Texas, you have to have brisket.  Both were delish and also way too much food to finish, which we felt sad about, but couldn't do it (we tried our best though!)

Our favorite dinner hands down was MF Sushi (http://mfsushiusa.com/). Located in the Museum District of the city, MF Sushi is a trendy hotspot, so make sure to make reservations early.  We were told the chef's omakase is a must try, but we didn't have the time to spend for an extra long dinner.  We did however, get to see the restaurant's namesake Mr. Magic Fingers (MF) at work prepping an omakase for another couple and I can assure you he earned his nickname....just wow!  He's definitely an artist in chef form.  

So, we did a lot in our short weekend and checked a big item off our bucket list with attending a Super Bowl.  We hope to do it again in the future with a better result for our team.  Even though it was bittersweet with our loss, it was a fabulous weekend and we fell in love with Houston.  Everyone we met was friendly and the food was out of this world.  If the opportunity ever came about to move to Houston, we know we'd fit right in.  We hope to be back sometime again ya'll!

Disney Dream

I'll be writing about all kinds of trips from simple to extravagant.  While the Disney cruise definitely lands on the side of extravagant (especially for a larger family like mine!), you really can't beat the overall value and service you get with Disney.  If you are looking for an amazing family vacation that's wrapped up for you in a pretty bow with minimal planning to do, this is the trip for you.

We just returned from our third trip on the Disney Dream.  We've been going for Spring break for the last few years.  Since we've gotten to know the ship and the process really well, and have some really good insider tips, I thought I'd share them here for those of you considering a Disney cruise. Warning--this will be a very long post so I can get most of the details for those that really like to plan beforehand.

If you are traveling during a popular time like Spring break, you should book your trip as far in advance as possible.  The ship will definitely sell out, so the sooner the better.  You will have access to their online cruise planning page.  As soon as you have access to booking activities online, you should go ahead and do so.  This is when you will sign up for your boarding time (you will want to get the earliest time possible to maximize your time on the ship), do your online check in, fill out information for the kids' club, and also book shore excursions and ship activities such as Princess meet and greets, adult only meals, spa services, etc. It's very important to do these things in advance, especially if going during a popular time because they will fill up quickly.

On the day of the cruise, if you are driving to the port, you will drop your bags off with the luggage handlers (don't forget to have a bit of cash on hand to tip them), then proceed to the parking deck, where it will be around $80 to park for the trip.  Once parked, join the line until the port opens up at 10:30.  You will then go to a check-in line.  If you have traveled on more than 1 Disney cruise, you will be part of the Castaway Club and will have access to a shorter line, which is a nice perk.  They will also give you the plastic necklaces to hold your key to the world cards, which is great to have during the trip.  After that part of the check in is complete, you will move to the other side of the building to finish checking in your children for the kids' club.  This is where they will be issued a band, so you will save time once on the ship.  After that process is complete, you will just wait for your section to be called to get on the ship! While you are waiting there are photo opportunities with some of the characters. This is also the time to make sure that all members of the family with smart phones have download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.  This gives you access to all activities on board, dining menus, and most importantly lets you chat with anyone else that has the app. It's a lifesaver for keeping up with your family on the ship when you are off doing different things. 

Once on the ship, the staff will try to direct you to Deck 11 for the lunch buffet.  Thanks to my husband making friends with a very nice bartender in the Bon Voyage bar, we found out that you can actually choose to dine in the Enchanted Garden restaurant on Deck 2 for a quieter, sit down meal.  The first 2 years we did the trip, this was also buffet style, but we were pleased to see this has just changed to a very nice 4 course meal....too bad we filled up on a big breakfast and couldn't enjoy it to it's full extent, but we will know next time time!

You will be able to check out your room after 1:30pm, but your checked bags will not arrive until later in the afternoon.  That's why it's very important to pack a big bag that's not checked with all you will need for the afternoon.  Ours included swimsuits (towels are provided, so no need to pack them), sunscreen, goggles, sunglasses, Dramamine, other important medications, paperwork and valuables.  The pool area fills up quickly during this time, so try to find a chair and use brightly colored clothes pins to secure the towel and also find your chair quickly.  You will have a few hours to check out the ship and swim before you have to do the munster safety drill, which is required for all passengers. Be sure to grab your belongs from the pool chairs at this time, as they will set up the Sail Away party on the pool deck during the drill and will remove all the chairs.  At the Sail Away party, the characters will put on a show and then you will set sail and begin your trip!

Plenty of people choose to do excursions on the Nassau, Bahamas day.  We, however, have never chosen to do so. The reason for this is partly because we've been all over the Bahamas and there's only so much to see, and partly because we paid so darn much for the boat, we want to get all our money's worth out of it that we can.  Besides, it's much less crowded at the pool when half of the ship gets off at the port. 

There are so many things to do and explore on the ship.  It's all written down for you on your daily itinerary found in your room, but is much more accessible through your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. You can do character meet and greets, spa treatments, sports, see movies and shows, go to brunch (only on the 4+ night cruises), adult dinners, check out the art, coffee bar, lounges, the pool and AquaDuck ride, or even send the kids to the club and check out the quieter adult only pool.  So many options at all times!

The private island day at Castaway Cay (pronounced Key), is my favorite day by far.  I'll let you in on a couple of secrets we have learned on our travels there.  First, get up early, have breakfast and plan to be one of the first off the ship as soon as they let you (8:30 am).  We packed a small bag of sand toys from home because we could fit them, but they are available for purchase on the island.  We take the tram to the 2nd stop.  Here's the secret...people will start grabbing chairs immediately and the first part of the family beach area will fill up very quickly.  We learned by our second cruise to keep walking all the way down to the roped off area where the people with cabanas are. If you stay right before the rope, it will not get too crowded until later in the day when everyone else has discovered the same idea, but you will have a premium spot with umbrellas by then. Lunch is served between 11:30-1:30 and is buffet style with hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, ribs, fish, and lots of sides.  Not too bad for a picnic meal.  Where we are positioned, the restaurant, restrooms and bar are all very close.  Servers will also be around every few minutes to offer some yummy tropical drinks. You can go back to the ship as late as 4, but we've never made it past 2pm...the sun can be brutal on pale skin even under the umbrellas!

One night of the cruise (depending on the length) will be Pirate Night.  On this night, you can dress up as much or as little as you wish for dinner.  There will be people in full on pirate garb, or people like my family that only wear an eye patch and the bandana provided for each family member in your room.  We now have 15 of these bandanas, so we are set for life!  After dinner, you will go to the pool deck to wait for the Pirate party to begin.  This starts very late, 10:30 pm, so if you have little ones, I highly suggest trying to get a good nap in this day so they are able to stay awake.  At the conclusion of the show, there will be an awesome fireworks display off the ship.  We like to get a spot on the balcony for the best viewing of the fireworks.  After the show, they will continue with a dance party where you can dance the night away, or last about 10 more minutes which is what happens with my little ones.  They will sleep well this night. 

Dinners are great on the ship.  There are 2 seatings, the 6:15 pm dinner and the 8:15 pm dinner and you can sign up for your preference online before the trip. The same servers follow you each night to a different dining room. My quick tip is to arrive just a few minutes after your dinner time, otherwise you will be waiting in a long line when you have assigned seats anyway. There is nothing at all to complain about with the food. You will be served multi-coursed meals every night and they are fabulous. However, my husband and I live for fine dining and jump at every chance we get to try good food.  The Dream has 2 options for adults only fine dining, Palo and Remy.  We of course, chose to try them both and also added in brunch at Palo this trip since we were on the 4 night cruise this time.  Just a few things...with each, there are dress codes to adhere to.  Check the website for more info.  Palo is more casual than Remy, but still requires pants and a collared shirt for gentlemen and dress or dress pants for ladies. Remy is dressier, and men are required to have a jacket (tie is optional) and ladies are encouraged to wear cocktail attire or dressy pantsuit. I'll start with Palo brunch.  There is an additional fee of $35 per person for the brunch.  Definitely go on an empty stomach, since the brunch spread was huge and way more than I expected.  They give you a complimentary mimosa and then show you to a huge buffet assortment with antipasti, seafood galore and pastries. They will then show you a menu of main courses to choose from.  Everyone in our group enjoyed all the food and thought it was worth the money for the meal.  We also tried Palo for dinner.  The same charge per person applies, but will go up with the addition of wine or cocktails.  We had a huge antipasti course to start and then some very good pasta, seafood and meat entrees to select.  Once again, everyone enjoyed both the service and the food and thought the upcharge was worth it for a fine dining, adults only experience.  

Remy, I put in it's own category.  100% it's a splurge that we look forward to once a year.  I'll start by saying there is a $95 per person upcharge for the meal, but we have never once paid that minimum fee, more like 3 times that.  If you go, just be prepared to pay a very large bill at the end, just so there are no surprises.  We save in plenty of other ways, and find the splurge worth it for the experience, but others may not feel the same for one meal. There are two chefs for Remy, one French and one American, so their tasting menus reflect their regions.  We usually do one of each and share. There is also the choice of a wine pairing with each course, but be warned that that ends up being a LOT of wine, and too much for me personally since I don't drink that often, but it's a great way to try the best pairing with each dish for wine lovers.  Being food lovers, this is one of the best parts of the cruise for us.  It's about 3-4 hours of pure food bliss.  The chefs are very talented and you would not expect to find this level of food on a cruise ship, but it continues to be at the very top of our list for our favorite fine dining spot.

Here are a few other random side notes that I've compiled to help you plan your trip.  If you or your child has food allergies (one of mine has numerous severe food allergies), Disney is wonderful in the extreme care they take for people with food allergies. They will make sure that the food is free of any allergens and your child's safety will be a top priority at meals and in the kids' club. Make sure you list all allergies in the online paperwork and also tell the servers again before meals.  

As far as what NOT to pack, you don't have to worry about lugging on beach towels or a hair dryer.  The room will also have H2O brand personal products.  There are also 2 clotheslines in the shower area to hang wet swimsuits.  Like I said above, we did bring a few sand toys that kept the kids busy on the beach day, but they are available to purchase if you do not have room to bring them.  To maximize storage in the room, store your luggage under the bed and we keep our dirty clothes in a bag under there as well.    

The last morning....my suggestion is to wake early to make sure everything is packed away and you're not forgetting anything.  Also, try to be at breakfast when it first opens because it's going to get crazy.  Now as far as luggage goes, you do have the option to put your bags out the night before and then pick them up in the terminal. We have always carried off ourselves because it gets you out and on your way home faster and easier.  A small tip on this is to go to the back of the ship to use those elevators to get down with your luggage, then walk to the front or else you will be stuck waiting a very long time on the crowded front elevators or will end up lugging your bags down several flights of stairs (us our first cruise).  This worked like a charm for us and we were off the ship and back into our car by 7:30 am.  

I hope this post has helped anyone planning a Disney cruise.  Drop me a comment or message with any questions you may have!

Disney Dream