Trip Report Finally Back in Our Happy Place. A Three Week Trip With a Cruise Included. Now with a Norway Cruise on the Disney Fantasy *COMPLETED*

We’ve been back for just over a week from what was a wonderful three weeks. There were a few hiccups, but for the most part Disney World was just as we remembered it.

This trip was me and my two youngest daughters, Alice (18) and Lexi (15)

We stayed at Pop Century from July 7th-20th, then sailed on the Disney Magic from July 20th-25th, then French Quarter for the last three nights, July 25th-28th. For the Pop Century part of the trip we had the UK 14 day park tickets which included the waterparks.

 

[Tiggerish]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

The narration on the tram journey mentions the money moths of the Bahamas, they are supposed to bring good fortune if they land on you. We saw quite a few of them, they are huge.

View attachment 897617

We explored a bit

View attachment 897619View attachment 897620View attachment 897621

We went for a walk along the beautiful beach

View attachment 897623View attachment 897624View attachment 897625View attachment 897626View attachment 897627View attachment 897628

I've been to Lookout Cay twice now, and no one ever mentioned the "money moths". I haven't seen them, but now that I know they're there, I'm done. Those things look horrific.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

I've been to Lookout Cay twice now, and no one ever mentioned the "money moths". I haven't seen them, but now that I know they're there, I'm done. Those things look horrific.

It’s in the narration on the tram, where it sounds like a little boy is talking to his teacher. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t see any on the beach or in the food areas

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

After lunch was more wandering around and lounging

So cute

Tut, tut, looks like rain

It didn’t rain for long and it wasn’t very heavy. Alice and I huddled under our umbrella, we couldn’t leave yet because I had just ordered a cocktail

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Too soon, it was time to leave. We began a slow walk back to the ship stopping in the gift shop on the way

I think the plants have filled out quite a bit since the last time I was here. One of the online complaints I read when the island first opened was that it was a bit bare. I think it just needed some time

 

[cgersic]

Wow, that water is just stunning! I wouldn't want to leave

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Back on the ship Alice and I grabbed some snacks and sat in Quiet Cove to watch us sailing away from the island

When I’d first visited the island on my own I wasn’t sure whether or not I preferred it to Castaway Cay. This was mainly because of all the happy family memories I associate with Castaway. Now I’ve been with the girls and can do a direct comparison, although I will always love Castaway, I prefer Lookout Cay. The beach there is just perfection, there’s so much more space and I think the food is better

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Then a little wander around the ship before getting ready for the evening

I love the theming in Soul Cat Lounge

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Before dinner we watched a character dance party taking part in the atrium. Cute but chaotic

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Our dinner venue

We were greeted by Hook Hand

We loved all the theming

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Love the napkin rings. Our servers put our napkins on our laps and very quickly took the napkin rings away, it made us think that there had been issues with them “disappearing”

It had to be a purple outfit night

 

[Baron Von Capybara]

I wouldn't know anything about napkin rings escaping off the boat

 

[MinnieM123]

It had to be a purple outfit night

That's a lovely photo of you and your daughter. I can see the strong resemblance in your features!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

To start Alice had the tuna

Lexi and I had the ravioli

And it was a double pasta night for the two of us

While Alice went with the sea bass

Lexi actually stayed for dessert rather than disappearing to Vibe because there was something she wanted to try

Both girls had this and enjoyed it, but it sounded far too sweet for me so I had the lemon raspberry mousse that is on a few of the cruise line menus

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

Pascal was watching us during dinner

And the characters were wandering around. They only stop very briefly at tables to say hello so it’s not easy to get photos

We didn’t have the best view of the show but what we could see was cute. The storyline of the evening is that it’s Rapunzel’s birthday

The servers bring lanterns over the tables

Overall we did enjoy the experience but I was just slightly anxious the whole time in case I ended up being drawn into being part of it. I’m not that keen on joining in with shows, I once got pulled up in Epcot by the World Showcase Players to be part of their show and it was just excruciatingly embarrassing. But other than Hook Hand sneaking up behind me to surprise me, nothing happened

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

On the way out

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 23rd July (cont)

There was a pianist playing in Soul Cat Lounge as we passed by so we stopped for a while

It was not very busy

It’s a lovely space but it seems a bit lacking in atmosphere. I don’t think it helps that it’s open to the main walkway between the atrium and Rapunzel’s

Some late night funnelvision

Then off to bed

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Thursday 24th July: Day at Sea

Alice and I were very excited as this was our Palo brunch day. Even though this was cruise number eight for me, I’d never been before. Lexi was a teensy bit jealous that she wasn’t old enough to go, but she didn’t begrudge us going and was happy hanging out with her friends.

Our reservation was for opening time at 9.30 and we were the first people there

Mickeys in the bubbles

Our server explained the menu to us, we could order as much as we wanted

The price of brunch includes a glass of Prosecco

A non alcoholic Bellini for Alice as she wasn’t old enough for the Prosecco

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Thursday 24th July (cont)

A bread basket to start

I forgot to write down what this was, but it was delicious

We were also offered some sweet pastries which I declined because I wanted to save room. Alice went with a Nutella one which she loved

We decided we wanted to share most of our meal so that we could taste as much as possible

Starting with the antipasti

So, so good. The tuna was particularly good, some of the best I’ve ever eaten. The only thing I didn’t like was the mussel, but I’ve never liked those.

 

[littleroo]

This looks incredible!! Enjoying, as always!! Does Lexi still keep in touch with the teens she hung out with all week?? I bet that is an experience that she will never forget!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

This looks incredible!! Enjoying, as always!! Does Lexi still keep in touch with the teens she hung out with all week?? I bet that is an experience that she will never forget!

It was all so good, and there’s more to go.

Yes Lexi does still keep in touch with the friends she met, they have a group chat going. She also keeps in touch with the group she met on our Disney cruise from the UK to Spain the previous summer. She’s currently at a local 16+ college and weirdly one of the girls she met on that cruise has ended up on the same course as her.