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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Friends, Shay, Travel ·

Disney Cruise: Day 1


Oh friends…we are BACK!  And we had THE BEST time!!

Last week, we spent the better part of Spring Break with the Slaughters on a Disney Cruise!  Insert lots of clapping and cheering here :).
Years ago, I was hesitant to take a Disney Cruise because I was under the impression that it would be:
a. Mickey Mouse overload 
b. full of wild and crazy kids
c. totally kid geared and boring for adults
Well, I was clearly wrong.
When I opened my travel agency several years ago, I had so many families asking for Disney Cruises and then I started realizing, they weren’t taking their first cruise…they were all taking subsequent cruises.  Because I’ve learned, when someone tells you they’ve been on a Disney Cruise, they’ve almost always been on more than one. #onceyoustartyoucantstop  
How we ended up on our Disney Cruise is simple…Tab suggested we take the kids skiing.
Yes.
Last summer, Tab suggested we take the kids skiing over spring break and by the time Erika and I finished adding up how much ski school, ski lift tickets, and ski gear cost coupled with the fact that we weren’t excited about hearing our kids say 4,563 times “I’m cold”, I threw out the idea of a Disney Cruise instead.  It was less expensive and easier to pack for. (All you need are swimsuits and shorts!)  Where do I pay?  Done.
So, we booked our cruise last July and finally got to climb aboard last Sunday.  And friends…we had such a good time, that we’ve already mapped out our framily vacations between now and 2022. #notjoking #wehadthatmuchfun  
Okay…I know this is annoying, but I haven’t figured out a way to do it differently.  After nearly 8 years of blogging, I know when I post vacations, many of you girls are going to ask where things came from…so, whatever is new and still available, I will just stick it below the pic.  Does that work for you?  After years of these posts, you would think I would have a simpler system…but alas, I do not.  
Okay, sit back and relax…I have a lot of pictures to share :).

Day 1 of our Disney Cruise…

 The Slaughters flew in to Florida on Saturday night and we flew in on Sunday morning.  We all met up at the Orlando Airport at 9:30 on Sunday morning and took the DCL shuttle to the ship.  We had six super excited kiddos to board the Disney Magic!  Here they all are waiting to board the ship!

And look who we got to meet first thing!  MICKEY MOUSE!  Woohoo!!  Check that off our to-do list while on board :).  The kiddos were super pumped.  Well…five of them were…one kiddo wasn’t into the characters.  Can you tell which one? #howfarawaycanbowenstandfromthecharacterandstillbeinthepicture 

Once on board, we immediately changed into our swimsuits and hit the pools!  Sweet Ebby Lee ready to SWIM!

Two mamas on board with their sweet families.  Not gonna lie…the first day was a little chilly on board but after that, it warmed right up!  
We haven’t even left the dock yet and we’re swimming and eating ice cream.  Life is good!

Out of my way mom…I have a cone to eat.

Love spending time with my favorite man.  By the way, yesterday was our 12 year wedding anniversary!  How did that happen?!?!  Twelve years is a long time!  And you know what?  I’ve loved every minute of it.  It hasn’t always been easy…but it’s always, always, always been worth it.
Orange swim top here

Swimming is tiring!

After we swam, we had our mandatory life boat drill and then headed into our cabins to get cleaned up for dinner.  The ship was sailing and we were already having the BEST time!
Ashby’s dress//Kensington’s dress

We had so much fun with these two.  We are peas in a pod :).

Dinner at this restaurant was so cool because the entire restaurant starts off black and white and as the dinner progresses, it turns to color.  
My dress

Ashby was loving her first time on a ship!

The kiddos were super occupied before dinner coloring away.

One more with my littlest girl :).

Family picture before heading off to the show!  The shows were outstanding!  Every night, we were all entertained! 

And then after the show, we headed back to our cabin and our attendant had turned out the beds to sleep five.  Most cruise lines do not accommodate five to a room…but DCL does.  While we were at the show, they transformed our sitting area into three beds.  This was PERFECT!  The kiddos each had their own defined space for sleeping.  Don’t get me wrong, cabins aren’t huge but I felt like they comfortably slept all of us.
Okay…that was just day one friends.  To see Erika’s side of Day One, click here to read her post.
  Tomorrow, we stop off in the Bahamas!  Click here to read it!
Again, I cannot tell you how much I miss you while I’m away.  I’m so blessed to be a part of this little community.
Don’t forget…
…Meal Planning Monday is today!  Not only do I have Tex-Mex Pitas, I have a vegetarian supper, a soup, a killer quesadilla and more!  Click here to see it.
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Comments

  1. Erika Slaughter says

    Eek!!! Your pictures were great!! I forgot Bowen passed out pool side day one. #hesleepslikehisdad 🙂 Can't wait to see your day two!!

  2. K says

    I love Disney cruises! My family had a great time, especially on Castaway Cay. I'm glad you enjoyed Animator's Palate! I'd like to take the Disney Magic next year on one of their European itineraries, so I'm especially looking forward to your review of the ship, in particular the youth activity centers. And I hope you were able to eat at Palo – my husband and I enjoyed that restaurant a lot.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yes! On the last post of the trip, I'm going to review all of that stuff! Stay tuned ;).

  3. Happylife40 says

    Great pics!!! That restaurant that turns colors is so unique. And I love the orange-themed clothing for night/day one.

  8. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    SO FUN!!!!! It looks like y'all had a blast, and I can't wait to see all the other days! And Carter would totally get Bowen. He thinks it's just plain weird that these characters walk around among normal people. Hysterical!

  9. Elizabeth says

    Which ship were you on? We have been on the Disney Dream twice and can't wait to go back!! The best vacation!

  10. court says

    Your swimsuit top is cute – do you where a bikini top under it? Or can it be worn alone? Thanks!

  11. Phi Mai says

    Aww looks like you guys had an amazing time! Can't wait to read Day 2 of the cruise! 🙂
    You guys had spring break a week earlier than Houston. We just started our spring break this week. So glad you are back though because I've been missing reading your blog! 😀

  14. Maggie C. says

    Great pics! Looks like fun and you all were just getting started! Is Kensington wearing an unlooped infinity scarf at dinner? ?

  17. Spencer Cox says

    Hi Shay! Do you have any recommendations for sunscreen and bug spray (I'm sorry if you've covered this before!). My husband and I are headed to the Bahamas in two weeks & I want to be prepared 🙂 Especially with all of this scary Zika virus talk! Thanks in advance!!

  18. Erica says

    Where's the cute little checkered clutch from you had at dinner? Perfect size for a date!

  19. Jamie says

    I can't wait for all of your post!!! We leave in May for our first cruise ever which is a Disney cruise!!!

  20. Stephanie Reynolds says

    Hi will you be giving a cost breakdown for this cruise?? I'm interested to see how much it is when all said and done. Does it include drinks?
    All you can eat? We're there extras to pay for?
    Thx!!

  21. Brittany F. says

    So glad you all had an awesome and safe trip! I can't wait to live vicariously through your vacay posts! Based on the trips you've planned for others and now yours, is there a minimum age that you think wouldn't be too young for a Disney cruise?

  25. Parkinsonsc says

    You mentioned your cabin room….were you in an inside room or did you have a balcony? My husband and I are headed on an Alaska cruise in June but we've been eyeing up the DCL for a bit to do with the kids in a few years.

  26. Kristen says

    Looks like a lot of fun! We're Disney lovers and plan to take a cruise some day in the future. Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

  27. Laci Murray says

    We just sailed on the Magic Feb 28-Mar 3 and had the best time!! It feels like I am living it all over again this week through your pics. We were first time cruisers so DCL definitely set the bar high. 🙂

  30. Johnsons says

    Day 1 and I'm sold :-). Could you tell us where Kensington's sandals are from? Thx!!

  31. Leigh (Balancing By Faith) says

    LOVE all of this!! Can't wait to hear more about your trip this week!!

  32. Lindsay at Lindsay'sSweetWorld says

    Loving your recap so far and I can't wait to see the rest! I swore I'd never go on a Disney cruise either but I have a feeling you're going to make me want to change my mind. ;o)

    Lindsay
    Lindsay's Sweet World

  33. Angela Ellingson says

    I'm so happy you're back! I've been looking forward to reading all about your Disney cruise and seeing your pictures. What a great first day! You look beautiful, by the way!

  34. Mindy says

    Hello! Love your recap so far. We went on our first Disney Cruise this past July on The Dream. We loved it! Our dynamic was different as it was only our family – myself, husband and 10 year old daughter. Small family and big boat, but we loved it. So curious the comparison of the huge Dream boat vs. the older Magic boat!
    One tip for the future. We did two one-way rental cars to and from the airport. DCL charged $70 a person for transportation. We arrived the day before and really enjoyed having the car. We used Alamo. We stayed near the port and returned the rental car in Port Canaveral at 9:30am. We were at the port by 10am (free shuttle) and was on the boat by 11:15am. We also used their free shuttle on the way back to the rental car place in Port Canaveral and had the day to explore before our flight home. I think we only paid about $50 each way for the two cars!

    Your recap wants me to book another cruise, but waiting until the shows etc change to make the experience a little different.

    Looking forward to your pics tomorrow. We took over 600 pictures on our 5-night cruise (double dip to Castaway Cay).

  35. Gina says

    Did you buy the photo package? We leave on our Disney cruise in 3 weeks and still debating 🙂

    • Mindy says

      We did not either. However, we enjoyed looking at the pics each evening. The last night we ended up just getting the package that included 10 photos. Was still cheaper than the pre-purchase all picture package. We felt the 10 pics was plenty. That was really just to get the formal pictures. The rest we really had just as good pics on our camera.

  36. The Logues says

    I love your recap as it makes me want to take my family on a Disney Cruise too! Thanks for sharing and linking up where you got all the cute outfits. I had a question about your orange dress (which you look gorgeous in!) – what do you wear underneath? I love the swing dresses, but I feel like my underwear will show anytime I move, so I usually wear biker shorts. Just curious what you do. Thanks!

  37. Melissa Miley says

    Thank you for sharing photos of your wonderful vacation! I love all of the photographs. I love the one of all the kids at the dinner table – your kiddos are of course precious, but I love seeing the family at the table behind y'all praying (assume before their meal). Thanks again for sharing, Shay!

  38. Katie says

    What age would you recommend this cruise for? We would have a 3 and 1/2 and 5 year old by the time we want to go next year. Should we do it? Would they be entertained?

  40. Kayla says

    So great! Makes me feel nostalgic. Last April (almost exactly a year ago!) my Grandpa took my WHOLE family on a Disney cruise. I'm talking, four generations, over 50 people ranging from eighties to eight months old. We had the BEST time. Once in a lifetime trip for sure.

  42. Sarah Kuykendall says

    Ice cream cones and napping outside? Yes! You look gorgeous in all of your pictures!

  43. Elizabeth Birenbaum says

    Your a, b, and c were the EXACT same reasons that I was hesitant to take a Disney cruise! We went on or first one in October and loved it SO much that we booked another one for January 2017. Yes, all of us (all 20 of us kids and adults combined) loved it so much and are counting down the days until our next cruise! So glad you guys had the best time!

  44. Haley Southey says

    This looks like so much fun!!! I've never been on a Disney Cruise, but now I will have to add it to my list!!

  46. Aubrey says

    You're back! I'm so behind the times! I do not think you can convince me that any cruise is a good idea, but I'm sure you'll do your best to try! 🙂

  47. Mrs. V says

    Hi Shay! We are doing the same cruise, same itinerary next year! Did you ever put your kids in the nursery/kids' camp zones? Are you still going to do a review of the amenities on board or the restaurants? I didn't see it in your 4th post but I'll check again. My mother in law is booking this cruise for us but when my hubby and I take the kids to Walt Disney world, we'll book through you!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yes! We did use the kids camp areas a few times! If you'll read through all four posts and the comments, I think all of your questions will be addressed and answered. If not, feel free to email me if you have any more! mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com 🙂

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