Mouse Ears & Ocean Breezes
“I want the family to take a Disney Cruise.”
That is how I answered over a year ago when Bill asked me how I’d like to celebrate my 60th birthday in 2025.
Bill, Justin, and I went on a Disney Cruise aboard the Magic in 2014 - I oddly only found one picture of it, even though I know I took many—and we had a blast. We kind of look the same a decade later, and good grief, I still wear that shirt to the gym!
Now that we had a three-year-old granddaughter, I felt like it was a childhood rite of passage and something she needed to experience before she got too old to believe in Disney magic.
No one in the family balked at the idea. Bill would do anything Disney-related any time. Having grown up on Disney trips, Justin hasn’t lost his affection for the mouse, and I think we all wanted to share Disney’s charm with Ainsley. Yes, we could have saved our vacation dollars and chosen something more extravagant like a tropical all-inclusive resort that didn’t include waiting in lines on a crowded boat with large-headed mascot-like characters, but a Disney cruise with the family was what I wanted.
My birthday isn’t until December, but we booked a cruise earlier in the year to take advantage of a slightly reduced cost and for the opportunity to visit both of Disney’s private islands in one trip (double-dipping, as they say in the Disney universe).
We boarded the boat at 12:45 PM…
…and briefly ogled the Art Nouveau chandelier in the lobby en route to Cabana’s buffet…
…where we commenced eating. Not shown: plates two and three, a platter of desserts and ice cream. Oink.
After lunch, we ran into Princess Jasmine and stopped for a picture.
Oh, the crowds! They were not so intense at the pool in the early morning, but multiplied into mammoth numbers by the afternoon. There were great, colorful swells of people, wiggling children, and screeching laughter. Surprisingly, they were never overly frustrating because everyone was happy - so many children and families! Practically everyone was wearing Disney-themed outfits in pink or red with white polka dots or fantastic dorky matching tee shirts.
I don’t know what kind of magic kept that ship so clean, except, of course, plenty of hard-working cast members. I am not kidding; the ship was spotless, even the bathrooms. Every cast member was friendly, smiling, and ready to answer a question or take a family picture.
We all took advantage of the Senses Spa and got manicures, pedicures, and massages. I had my eyes treated with three magical serums that banished my wrinkles for 12 solid hours. Why did I not buy those mystical potions or at least ask what they were?
Visiting Disney’s two private islands was absolutely worth the price of the cruise, but what I really loved about this vacation was how much time we spent together.
We shared Mickey waffles at breakfast, watched Broadway-like shows, and laughed at a silly puppet show.
We were in such good spirits. Even during some of the more tedious times, like when waiting for dinner entrees to be served when we were all stupidly famished, we did so much laughing and talking.
There is truly something magical about it. I know a Disney cruise isn’t for everyone, but boy, I’m a full-on fan.
We were in the lobby listening to a band on our last night. Everyone was bouncing to the music. Toddler princesses were twirling in front of the stage. Beside us, a little girl dressed like Anna skipped back and forth.
The air was filled with colors and lights dancing across the floor. Everyone laughed and clapped, swaying as the ship lightly bounced in the waves. There were no worries, no negativity, and it was one of the happiest moments I’ve ever experienced.
It felt reassuring to be in a crowd of hundreds of happy people. I’m sure there was plenty of bad behavior (we saw a small amount), but for the most part, the folks we encountered were grateful to be there, laughing and soaking in the experience. It reminded me that we aren’t all at odds with one another. We are living in some pretty difficult times, and making memories with fellow travelers made me feel a tiny bit more hopeful about the future. The kindness was contagious!
I’m sure in the days and weeks to come, the feelings and memories will fade a little, and I’ll be back to my crotchety self, but I will always have fond memories of this cruise and the million wonderful memories we made. We had the very best time and chose the ideal age for Ainsley. We plan to check that box again when we return in three or four years, so her soon-to-be little brother will have a chance to get to know Mickey Mouse too.
I can’t wait.