Travel with the Whitakers

The Disney Cruise Line ships offer a variety of dining options at each of the three standard meals of the day, and during times in between as well. Normally for breakfast we make our way to Cabanas, the buffet on the pool deck, where guest will mind a huge variety of choices for both breakfast and lunch. We enjoyed a meal at Cabanas on quite a few occasions on during our back to back sailings in November and December, but we also tried something new. There were a few days that only one side of the buffet was open when we arrived and the line to get in was out the doors. Christian ate the same thing for breakfast every day on both cruises, and it was something that could only from Cabanas, so on the days that we were not all getting something from inside one of us would stand in line to get his breakfast while the other got us a table outside and delicious eats from Daisy’s. Daisy’s Delites is a quick service location just outside of the doors that go into Cabanas. It is known...

A Walt Disney World vacation can certainly be pricey, we know, we’ve taken a lot of them. So, after all that saving, once you’re finally there at the Walt Disney World Resort you want something that you don’t have to spend more money on. Believe it or not there are actually free goodies and experiences at Disney World and today we’re here to tell you about them! Magical Express – Disney’s Magical Express is a motorcoach service that will take you from the Orlando airport to your resort, and at the end of your stay from your resort to the airport all for FREE! You also don’t have to worry about your bags when you arrive in Orlando. Just put the yellow luggage tags on your bags before you check them at your departure airport and they’ll arrive in your resort hotel room later in the day! Park Maps – Park maps are available the entrance to each park, at some snack carts throughout the parks and in resort hotel lobbies. They’re great for helping you find your way around the park...

A Disney Cruise Line vacation offers fun for everyone – there’s no doubt about that. If you’re looking for something for your little one, to make their cruise a bit more memorable, DCL has that covered as well. Look no further than Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and, on Pirate Night, the Pirates League. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is available on all four ships and offers the chance for your littles ones ages 3-12 to be transformed through a magical makeover. Just like the locations on land the DCL BBB’s offer a variety of makeover packages and they are available for both girls and boys. A majority of the outfits and packages feature make-up and princess dresses, but moms and dads of little men have no fear! During the first of our back to back sailings this fall Christian took part in the Captain’s package. He received a white captain’s outfit and hat, a captain Mickey plush toy, and hair styling. He didn’t like the idea of glitter or Mickey heads in his hair, so he passed on thos...

We all know that rain is important, especially in California where rain can sometimes be sparse. (Believe me, I lived in California for a big portion of the last drought.) While rain it’s incredibly common most of the year in California it can be an almost daily thing in Florida. While the weather can be unpredictable at both US Disney parks you shouldn’t let a little, or sometimes even a lot of rain, ruin your day or your trip. So, here are some our tips for what to do when it rains at Disney. Rain Gear – The first step is to be prepared for the chance of rain, especially if you’re visiting Disney World. A poncho, whether re-useable or a cheap throwaway one, or a small umbrella, or a light but water resistant jacket that can easily be stored in your park day bag is a must if you want to enjoy your day in the rain without getting soaked and soggy. If you’re traveling with a stroller something to cover the stroller and keep it dry is a must, too. We personally use a cheap $1 ponch...

After arriving at the restaurant and checking in for your reservation you’re shown to your seat that offer spectacular views of the sea. The setting is intimate, the wait staff is attentive and only wants to make sure that your experience is spectacular, and the food is phenomenal. This is Palo. Palo is an upscale, Italian influenced adult dining location aboard all four Disney Cruise Line ships. It is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, or just enjoy good company and fantastic eats away from the passed paced main dining rooms. It is a great place for that first real date night, or afternoon, in a long time. There is a dressier dress code than the main dining rooms – no shorts, no tank tops, no flip flops, dress or a pants suit for women and slacks and a dress shirt are recommended for men. Clean, not ripped jeans are acceptable, but why not take the opportunity to go all out for your date?! There is also an additional charge for the meal outside of your cru...

On our most recent trip we tried a few new dining locations. One of those locations was The Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom. Located in Liberty Square, next to the Liberty Tree Tavern, The Diamond Horseshoe is a table service restaurant that has been serving up hearty, all-you-care-to-enjoy, all American fare for a couple of years now. Stepping inside is like a step back in time. The feel of the restaurant is a bit like being in either Frontierland or at Fort Wilderness. It is a low-key, relaxed restaurant which makes it a great location for a relaxed family meal away from the business of the park just outside the front door. We arrived for our 4:45pm dinner reservation and were quickly seated. When we dined here the dining room was less than half-full, but don’t let that fool you. The food and the staff were amazing! As mentioned, it is an all-you-care-to-enjoy establishment, which means that there is a set menu. The menu features all American favorites like barbecue m...

Can you believe that 2017 is about to end already? Since it is the end of the year we thought that we should look back on the changes that were made at the parks this past year and look ahead at what is coming in 2018! This year saw the much anticipated opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The land includes two attractions. The first, Na’vi River Journey, is a slow moving dark ride, boat ride combination that takes you on a sightseeing tour of natural beauty of Pandora. The second is Flight of Passage which allows you to ride a banshee through Pandora. Pandora also features two dining options - Pongu Pongu and Satu’li Canteen. The land is truly beautiful. Epcot added a new festival at the beginning of 2017, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts . This festival celebrates all things art, visual and performance, and like all Epcot festivals – food! This festival will be returning in just two weeks and will run from January 12 – February ...