The Disney Echange - The First 100 Episodes

The Disney Exchange Podcast is Lisa Green, David Hodges, and me, Nicholas Maglio.

 Me, Dave, & Lisa

On Sunday November 13th we celebrated our 100th Episode! If you are just discovering The Disney Exchange, welcome, and if you are a long time listener, thank you!

I've put this list together so that new fans can bookmark this page and listen to each and every golden moment of the show, and for long time listeners who just can't get enough of me us.

001 The Disney Exchange - Here we are!

002 The Disney Exchange - Disney Transportation

003 The Disney Exchange - DVC vs. Deluxe Resorts ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Worst counter service restaurant at Walt Disney World


004 The Disney Exchange - Disney Best and Worst of 2014 ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : What are we looking forward to in 2015?


005 The Disney Exchange - Things You Can Only Do At Disney ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : One small thing you always look for at Walt Disney World.


006 The Disney Exchange - Epcot’s World Showcase ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Places to Watch Illuminations.


007 The Disney Exchange - A Walk Through Disney’s Animal Kingdom ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : One Favorite Souvenir you always buy


008 The Disney Exchange - Animal Kingdom Lodge Table Service ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite attractions that have been around half our lives


009 The Disney Exchange - Touring Disney’s Hollywood Studios ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite ride vehicle.


010 The Disney Exchange - Quick Serve In The Parks ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Suggestions for Rainy Days.


011 The Disney Exchange - Things To Do On Property, Outside The Parks ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Our favorite movie released prior to the year of our birth.


012 The Disney Exchange - Run Disney ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Movies we are most looking forward to this year.


013 The Disney Exchange - Living With Food Allergies in Walt Disney World ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Walt Disney World attraction with no height requirement


014 The Disney Exchange - A Day At The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Adult Beverages at Walt Disney World.


015 The Disney Exchange - Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: Best Disney ride for thrill seekers.

016 The Disney Exchange - Take A Ride Vehicle Home ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: A Disney movie you’d like to see remade or a sequel to.


017 The Disney Exchange - Best Table Service in the WDW Parks ;The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Way to Add a Little Disney to Your Day When Not at a Disney Park


018 The Disney Exchange - Disney Souvenirs ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Scene in Epcot’s Spaceship Earth


019 The Disney Exchange - Disney Cruise Line ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Walt Disney World 3D attractions.


020 The Disney Exchange - Resort Category Comparison ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite part of the Maharaja Jungle Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.


021 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World Attraction Swap Outs ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Disney Princess


022 The Disney Exchange - Favorite Places to Take Rest at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny : Things people buy at Walt Disney World that we think are a waste of money.


023 The Disney Exchange - Progressive Dinner on the Monorail Resort Loop ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Summer sun survival tips.


024 The Disney Exchange - The First Day of Your Walt Disney World Vacation ; Wheel of Distiny topic: Favorite Disney Sidekick


025 The Disney Exchange - Meeting Disney Characters on a Disney Cruise and at Walt Disney World ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: Best Place to Get Coffee at Walt Disney World


026 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World Recommendations for Young Families: Part 1 ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite sweet treat at Walt Disney World.


027 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World Recommendations for Young Families: Part 2 ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Walt Disney World Guidebook(s)


028 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World Trip Planning ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Name an attraction you have ridden multiple times in a single day & what were the circumstances, and HOW did you get to ride it multiple times?
 

029 The Disney Exchange - Disney To Do Lists ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What Country would you like to see added to Epcot’s World Showcase?


030 The Disney Exchange - Half a Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : The oddest thing we have ever eaten at Walt Disney World.


031 The Disney Exchange - The Best in the Lands ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : The most disgusting thing we’ve eaten at Walt Disney World.


032 The Disney Exchange - Progressive Dining Around the Epcot Area Resorts ; Wheel of Distiny topic : The best queue to stand in at Walt Disney World in the heat.


033 The Disney Exchange - Photography at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Marvel Cinematic character.


034 The Disney Exchange - Favorite Pixar Films ; Wheel of Distiny topic : The Pixar character we most identify with.


035 The Disney Exchange - Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Statue or Stationary Figure at Walt Disney World.


036 The Disney Exchange - Big Changes Coming to the Disney Parks ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Way to Start the Day at Walt Disney World
 

037 The Disney Exchange - Adult or Kid Friendly Dining at WDW ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: Best Run Disney Training Tip


038 The Disney Exchange - Pros & Cons of the Disney Dining Plan ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : What is the latest you’ve ever stayed out at a Disney Park?

039 The Disney Exchange - Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: Who is the Avenger character you’d most like to have dinner with and why?


040 The Disney Exchange - Counter Service Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at Epcot ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : If you only had one attraction to choose to ride at Epcot, what would it be?


041 The Disney Exchange - Aulani with Special Guest Dave Tupper ; The Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Disney attraction music.
 

042 The Disney Exchange - Attractions at Walt Disney World We Can Do Without ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: What did you think of the first episode of The Muppets which made it’s debut September 22nd?


043 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World With Non Disney Lovers ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite view at Walt Disney World.

044 The Disney Exchange - Disney Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic: Favorite non fiction Disney book.

045 The Disney Exchange - The Best Things I Ever Ate at Walt Disney World ; The Wheel of Distiny topic: The Scariest Thing of Any Ride at Walt Disney World

046 The Disney Exchange - Packing For a Trip to Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic: Favorite spot for Holiday Decorations at Walt Disney World

047 The Disney Exchange - Walt Disney World, Where Does the Money Go? ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What was the first Disney Park attraction you ever went on?

048 The Disney Exchange - Progressive Dining Around Epcot’s World Showcase ; Wheel of Distiny topic: Where and when is a room view worth paying extra for.

049 The Disney Exchange - runDisney Redux with Karen Seal ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Which Disney character would you like to have dinner with and why?


050 The Disney Exchange - Disney Will Dos ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite live music at Walt Disney World.


051 The Disney Exchange - Monorail Loop & Epcot Resort Area Lounge Hopping ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Turkey Leg, yes or no?


052 The Disney Exchange - A Year of Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite live action Disney movie. 

053 of The Disney Exchange - Armchair Imagineering ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Star Wars Movie.

Bonus Episode : Merry Christmas 2015


054 of The Disney Exchange - FastPass Strategies at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : 2016 Walt Disney World Resolutions

055 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Progressive Dining Around Disney Springs ; Wheel of Distiny topic : 2016 Disney Movie you are looking forward to the most.

056 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Things That Still Surprise Us At Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Our favorite attraction exit at Walt Disney World.

057 Exchange Podcast - Highs & Lows From Our Recent Trips to Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Are the talking characters, such as Mickey Mouse, wonderful or creepy?

058 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - More From Our Recent Trips to Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite Disney dog?

059 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Table Service at the Parks on the Disney Dining Plan ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Disney animated movie post 1989.

060 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World For Large Groups
; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Walt Disney World Resort Pool.

061 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Planning a Make-a-Wish Trip to Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : The one must do attraction you would suggest a first time visitor to Walt Disney World visit.

062 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Hidden Spots in Walt Disney World's Parks ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Walt Disney World resort lobby.

063 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Value Resorts at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite light saber from the Star Wars Saga.

064 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - All Together at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : One thing in a park we get a photo of every trip to Walt Disney World.

065 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Disney Soup ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Things you are looking for the most at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival this year.

066 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Planning a Solo Trip to Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : If you had $1000 extra to spend at Walt Disney World, what would you spend it on?

067 of The Disney Exchange Podcast - Table Service on the Disney Dining Plan at the Resorts
; Wheel of Distiny topic : What mode of Transportation is your favorite to get to the Magic Kingdom?

068 The Disney Exchange - Eating on a Budget at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Have you ever encountered someone famous at a Disney Park? 

069 The Disney Exchange - Stage Shows at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What other FastPass changes would you like to see implemented?

070 The Disney Exchange - Best Disney Dining Day ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is a good restaurant at Walt Disney World for an Anniversary Dinner under $60?

071 The Disney Exchange - Things You Don’t Have to do at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is the most expensive souvenir you’ve ever bought at Walt Disney World?

072 The Disney Exchange - Quick Service at the Parks on the Disney Dining Plan ; Wheel of Distiny topic : If you could be a cast member at any attraction in Walt Disney World, which one would it be, and why?


073 The Disney Exchange - Four Parks in One Day ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Steak Restaurant at Walt Disney World.

074 The Disney Exchange - Hot Weather Survival Tips ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite scene from the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid?

075 The Disney Exchange - Summer Awakens at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Who was your first Disney guide and how did they help with your love of Disney?

076 The Disney Exchange - Avoiding Overindulging at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Do you avoid parks with Extra Magic Hours?

077 The Disney Exchange - Sharing is Caring at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite background music loop?

078 The Disney Exchange - Favorite Epcot World Showcase Pavilions ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Best restrooms at Walt Disney World

079 The Disney Exchange - Why, I Never! ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Where in a Walt Disney World Park have you taken a nap.

080 The Disney Exchange - Quick Service Breakaway ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite place to people watch at the parks.

081 The Disney Exchange Podcast - We Love the Nightlife ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Our favorite Walt Disney World Cupcake.

082 The Disney Exchange - Patriotism at the Parks ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Have you ever spit any food out at Walt Disney World?

083 The Disney Exchange - Epcot Food & Wine Festival Planning ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Scene from Spaceship Earth.

084 The Disney Exchange - Epcot Food and Wine Kiosks ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite Country Bear?

085 The Disney Exchange - Shades of Dave ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What Walt Disney World aspect of experience to you miss most between visits?

086 The Disney Exchange - Worth the Wait ; Wheel of Distiny topic : If you had only one day at Epcot, which Tier 1 FastPass attraction would you choose, Soarin’ or Frozen Ever After?

087 The Disney Exchange - Backstage Tours at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Who was/is our favorite Spaceship Earth narrator?

088 The Disney Exchange - Breakfast at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Do you get or have you ever gotten the Disney vacation planning DVDs/Videos?

089 The Disney Exchange - Avoiding Kids on a Disney Cruise ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Which one past attraction would you bring back to Walt Disney World or Disneyland?

090 The Disney Exchange - Moderate Resorts ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Have you been to a Disney first aid station and what was your experience?


091 The Disney Exchange - Mickey's Not So Scary 2016 ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Do you purchase travel insurance?

092 The Disney Exchange - Our Upcoming WDW Trip Plans ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Do you order a new Magic Band for every trip or do you reuse your old ones?

093 The Disney Exchange - Disney Dairy ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite place to watch a sunset at Walt Disney World.

094 The Disney Exchange - Dealing with Crowds in 3D ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite TV show that went to Walt Disney World for an episode?

095 The Disney Exchange - Drinking Around World Showcase ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Favorite Scene from The Haunted Mansion

096 The Disney Exchange - WDW, a Hurricane, and Lisa Green ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite thing about the recently opened Soarin’ Around the World?

097 The Disney Exchange - WDW, a Hurricane, Nick, and Dave ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Are you familiar with the Marvel character Doctor Strange, and are you looking forward to the upcoming movie?

098 The Disney Exchange - Must Do, Will Do, Never Do ; Wheel of Distiny topic : Where do you suggest a large group, ages ranging from 5 to 69, dine?

099 The Disney Exchange - Table Service Breakaway ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What is your favorite scene or joke on The Jungle Cruise?

100 The Disney Exchange - Ride Vehicle Comfort at Walt Disney World ; Wheel of Distiny topic : What Disney animated movie would you like to see made into a live action movie next?

You can find us on on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange  or email us at: info@thedisneyexchange 

And if you are so inclined, a 5 start review on iTunes would go a long way towards getting our show out to the masses!

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange!

Episode 89 of The Disney Exchange - Disney Cruise Without Kids

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave and me, Nick

This week we take a look at how to avoid kids while on a Disney Cruise, on the ship, in port and at Castaway Cay.

The Wheel of Distiny topic: Which one past attraction would you bring back to Walt Disney World or Disneyland?

If you have a show suggestion or Wheel of Distiny topic, please let us know on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange  or email us at: info@thedisneyexchange  

We are having a giveaway on Episode 100, all you need to be entered is to ask for a listener number if you don't already have one!

Thanks for listening to The Disney Exchange Podcast!

10 Amazing Things I've Seen on a Disney Cruise

This post by Lisa is from back in January of 2015, and since this article was posted, she has taken a Disney Cruise to Norway, so I'm sure this would be a different list today, but I felt a cruise article was appropriate for this Saturday with Lisa, since the newest episode of The Disney Exchange Podcast, which Lisa co-hosts with me and Dave Hodges, is about Disney Cruises, so please stop back tomorrow to check out that episode! - Nick

 

Disney Cruise Line – 10 Amazing Things I’ve Seen

 

By : Lisa Green  

 


I talk about Walt Disney World a lot.  We love it there.  I can honestly say, for our family, no other type of vacation compares with the incredible fun, thrills, food, and entertainment we can experience at Disney World.  Except for one – a Disney Cruise.
Think about the ship as being your resort – all the amenities you love about Walt Disney World are there.  Plus, your favorite Disney characters are all aboard and you get to experience some absolutely top notch shows.  Today I started thinking about the cruise we’ll be taking this summer aboard the Disney Magic to see the fjords of Norway and that got me thinking about the incredibly fun cruises we’ve already taken over the past nine years.  While there’s really no way I could name the TOP ten things I’ve seen along the way, I did come up with…

Disney Cruise Line – 10 Amazing Things I’ve Seen

 

1. Seals, icebergs, mountains, waterfalls, Goofy, and a glacier!  No, that doesn’t count as six things (I know what you’re thinking) when you see them all at the same time.  On our Alaskan Disney cruise (2011), we were fortunate enough to experience the incredible beauty of Tracy Arm Fjord on a gorgeous sunny day.  We sailed slowly through the fjord, making our way to Sawyer Glacier with an Irish Coffee in one hand and a camera in the other.  At lunch, the on-deck barbeque meant we could eat while not missing a single second of the action!  We looked down and watched seals floating by on little icebergs.  We looked up and saw beautiful waterfalls rushing down the sides of the snow-covered peaks on either side of the ship.  Goofy came by for a visit while we were enjoying the view.  Finally, we felt the air grow colder as the ship approached Sawyer Glacier.  Oh, and maybe we saw some nesting bald eagles in the middle of all that other stuff.  It was good.  Really, really good.

2. Pompeii.  When we sailed on the Magic in the Mediterranean, we felt like it gave us the opportunity to see a little bit of a lot of places; like small tastes of what would have been delicious meals if we’d only had more time.  This was never more true than at Pompeii. 

 

 

We had just a few hours of a single afternoon to explore these ruins and we barely saw a fraction of all there was to take in.  Same thing with the Leaning Tower of Pisa!  Beware taking a Mediterranean cruise – it leaves you wanting to see and do that much more.  Going back to Spain, France, and Italy is high on our list of things to do in the future.

3. A ship wreck.  Luckily not our own…and it was really more of a boat wreck, technically.  In Grand Cayman on Disney’s Western Caribbean cruise, way back in 2008, we took an excursion that was as fun as could be.  We boarded a couple of Zodiac boats and followed our leader through the docked cruise ships and off to explore a couple of different snorkeling sites.  One of them included a sunken ship (okay, boat) on the ocean’s floor we could see as we swam.  It was a beautiful day, Grand Cayman is gorgeous, and we fondly remember our visit there as one of the best days we’ve ever had on a Disney Cruise.

4. The southernmost point of the United States (we could see Cuba!). 
 Key West is everything you’ve ever heard about it – the architecture, lush foliage, chickens running around, great shops and bars – it’s all there!  We were able to leave our ship and easily take in all the sights while making our way to the southernmost point of the U.S. and back.  While more about the journey than the destination, all in all, it stands out in our memories as a perfect day!





5. The Swiss Guard – Ah, Italy – not one moment of time we spent there was less than amazing.
There was something about seeing the Vatican’s Swiss Guard that gave our day in Rome a special something. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s Basilica – all amazing in their own right.  The Swiss Guard was just, I guess, the embodiment of all that we saw that day – exotic, colorful, traditional, and impressive.

  

   
 

 

6. The Tongass National Forest.  In the Alaskan rainforest, the air is indescribably clean and fresh.  The Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest national forest, surrounds Alaska’s inside passage.  We experienced the forest high above its rushing waterfalls and sphagnum moss-covered floor on a series of zip-lines and suspended bridges.  Hands down, one of the most fun things we’ve ever done!

7. A medieval village high above the sea.  We had our doubts as we caught a bus in Villefranche on the coast of France and made our way straight up via a precarious series of switchbacks, but once we reached the top?  Breathtaking!  Eze is a wonderful place to shop, eat, and spend a leisurely half-day exploring a tiny little gem in the Maritime Alps.

8. The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.  We booked our own tour around Barcelona the day before our cruise departed.  Our party of six all agree and will happily tell you that the only way to see Barcelona is on a Segway.  Those alleyways in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) are incredibly narrow, but easy to navigate on a Segway.  I wish I had taken more pictures!!!

9. A sea turtle.  Sure, you can get a look at a sea turtle in lots of places, but glancing around while snorkeling in the clear waters of the Bahamas and realizing that a sea turtle is swimming next to you is so cool!  Right off the shore of Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay, is an amazing array of aquatic plants and animals just waiting for Disney cruise guests to explore – so we did!  You have to book an excursion to do this (almost nothing live is visible in the designated snorkeling lagoon), but it is worth the price!



10.  The view from Palo.  We were fortunate enough to score a brunch reservation at the adults-only Palo on our ship for Megan’s birthday in August, 2013.  We sat down to eat just as the Magic was passing between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.  Palo is located at the very top of the ship and the views are spectacular!  Oh, and so is the food!!!

Have you taken a Disney cruise?  What are some of the most amazing things you’ve seen?

This article was originally posted on Lisa's Living a Disney Life Blog.
She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LivingaDisLife and on Twitter at @life_of_green

Please be sure to check out Lisa along with me and David Hodges on The Disney Exchange Podcast!

Disney Pins From the Disney Wonder, Circa 2012

By Nick

Back in 2012, we took a cruise to Alaska on the Disney Wonder
We bought a few pins.
There was one representing each port, dated 2012, and I was tempted to buy them all, but at $12.95 each, I resisted the urge, and stuck to characters that my wife and I collect.

For example Pluto, who represented Juneau, mushing along with Mickey in the sled.

 

Here’s Minnie, getting a picture of Mickey in front of the Seattle skyline.

 

Here’s a picture of my wife Barbie with the Seattle skyline in the background, as the ship departed the Port of Seattle.

Here we have Stitch representing Victoria. While we stopped in Victoria, we didn’t get off the Wonder, as there was only a couple of hours in port.

Finally, there’s this pin of Minnie, not representing a port, but the entire Summer 2012 Alaskan Cruise Season.

 These pins are a Limited Edition of 1000.

The only other item I bought was this t-shirt, which lists the ports we were in.

 
For more about our pin collection, please check out this article by Barbie.
And to see the Mickey Mouse watch she bought on the cruise, please see this article.

Walt Disney World Versus a Disney Cruise

By Lisa Green

I’m a Disney fan – I’ll bet you already had a pretty good idea about that.  What I mean is, I believe in the Disney brand and with few exceptions, am pleased with Disney products I purchase.  This includes Disney vacations.  We love vacationing at Walt Disney World – it’s the perfect place for us and has been the source of so many unforgettable experiences and happy memories.  Why mess with this excellent vacation formula?  What made us take that first Disney Cruise?  Well, first and foremost, a Disney cruise is still a Disney vacation.  When we cruised for the first time, our children had reached the (*cough* difficult *cough*) age where they wanted to explore more of the world, see new and different things.  Devastated, we tried to be accommodating (within reason) and combined a trip to Walt Disney World with a Disney Cruise – best of both worlds and still Disney!

Turns out this was a perfect plan!  Raymond was anti-cruise and admitted later (after he had a wonderful time) that he’d been practically dreading the cruise portion of our vacation.  What we thought would be one cruise turned into many – we’ve seen amazing, fantastic parts of the world – and still got to vacation in the Disney Bubble!  My mission today is to give you a kind of comparison between Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line – in case you’ve been curious about how they stack up.  To keep from gushing on all day about a couple of my favorite topics, I’ll limit todays discussion to 10 key areas.

Walt Disney World Versus Disney Cruise Line
1. Service – Ah, those famous and fabulous Cast Members!  I’d say it’s a tie with the edge going to Disney Cruise Line.  With rotational dining on the cruise, you get to experience different restaurants.  The best part of switching dining experiences is that your assigned servers go with you – they’re the same servers you have every evening of your trip.  Should you choose to dine in one of the signature, adults-only restaurants, you’ll have different servers, but they are absolutely top notch – hands down the best service we’ve had anywhere.  The stateroom hosts/hostesses are fantastic (better than Mousekeeping at the resorts, for sure).

 

2. Price – I’m not a travel agent and I’ve not price-compared all the different resort types (value, moderate, & deluxe) with each cabin type and the prices during all seasons for Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line, but I’m confident – a Disney cruise can be comparably priced to a Walt Disney World stay.  The cruise may actually be even more economical (depending on length and itinerary) when you consider food.  All you care to eat, 24 hours a day (room service included) is hard to beat!  Food at Walt Disney World (unless you take advantage of a free-dining promotion) is expensive!  Park tickets are another big expense – We have found that while we can spend as much on shore excursions, we usually don’t have to.

3. Rides and Attractions – Walt Disney World is the clear winner in this category, however, don’t think for a minute that there aren’t a wide variety of amazing experiences available on a Disney cruise.  You may not be going to Disney parks, but there are plenty of excursions that are very adventurous (either through Disney Cruise Line or on your own).  Zip-lining in Alaska?  We loved it!  Touring Barcelona on a Segway?  VERY fun!  Biking, hiking, snorkeling, a stingray adventure?  All available on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay (visited on most itineraries sailing from Port Canaveral).  There are too many experiences to name here, but rest assured, you will not be bored on a Disney cruise.

4. Entertainment – We know there are awesome live shows and 3D movies to enjoy at each Walt Disney World park.  On a Disney cruise, you can enjoy first run movies onboard the ship along with extremely well-done, Broadway quality entertainment every evening of your cruise.  We LOVE the shows on Disney Cruise Line!  The ships’ entertainment areas designed for children (kids’ clubs) are extraordinary!  So much to see and do – just in a different way than at Walt Disney World.

5. Characters – The character meet-and-greets are plentiful at Walt Disney World and also on a Disney cruise!  Because they’re confined to a ship and not spread out among 4 parks, the characters on Disney Cruise Line are, to me, more accessible than at Walt Disney World.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto – and a plethora of princesses along with many more characters are fairly easy to meet.  For spontaneous, unexpected character interaction, Disney Cruise Line is the winner.  Nothing makes returning to the ship at the end of an action-packed day more special than being welcomed back by your favorite Disney characters.

6. Food – I can find plenty of delicious foods to enjoy on either type of vacation.  However, there are many more dining choices at Walt Disney World.  Because of this, I feel like Disney Cruise Line makes an extra effort to please every type of person and their meal preferences (and special dietary needs). For example, if you don’t like one entrée – order another.  If you don’t like any of the desserts on the menu, order a bowl of ice cream or a Mickey Premium ice cream bar.  If you don’t feel like eating in the dining room, order room service.  We like getting up early and walking on deck for a look around before stopping at one of the counter service eateries and taking our selections back to our cabin to enjoy.  We also love the convenience of making our room service selections at night and having our breakfast delivered right to our cabin first thing in the morning – all included in the cruise fare.

7. Resort / Cruise Ship Amenities – Unlike different amenities available for different resort types, all guests on Disney Cruise Line enjoy the same perks.  Access to the spa and salon, pools, exercise room, restaurants, pools, hot tubs, pubs, lounges, shops, theaters – equal access for all passengers.  Yes, the spa and salon treatments are extra, but worth the splurge if your cruise itinerary includes an at-sea day.  The ships’ exercise rooms are excellent (with awesome views) – we’ve even attended spin class!

8. Accommodations – Both types of vacations offer a variety of room/cabin choices to suit every family size and budget.  I feel the need to mention that Disney Cruise Line’s cabins are among the largest in the cruise industry.  The cabin spaces is used creatively with convertible couches and beds that drop down from the ceiling.

9. Location – If you choose a cruise out of Port Canaveral, you’re not far from Walt Disney World.  It’s easy to combine a Walt Disney World stay with a cruise.  If you want to see other parts of the world, you may need to fly to departure ports outside of Florida – airfare can add a significant amount to your vacation expenses.  Walt Disney World never moves, so it’s easy to have a good idea about the time and expense it takes to get there.

10. Experience – This is the hardest one of all.  The experiences are certainly different, but with many of the same special Disney elements.  With so much to enjoy on each type of vacation – I can’t pick a favorite.  We alternate visits to Walt Disney World with a Disney cruise as often as we can.  This summer we visited WDW for a week and next summer we’ll be cruising with Disney in Norway.  Every Disney vacation is special, exciting, and tons of fun.  I’d call this one a tie.

Call your favorite travel agent or check out Disney Cruise Line vacations here.

This article originally appeared on Lisa's Living a Disney Life Blog.

Lisa can be also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LivingaDisLife and on Twitter at @life_of_green

And not only is Lisa one of my favorite bloggers, but she co-hosts The Disney Exchange Podcast along with me and David Hodges!

The Disney Exchange- Episode 29- Disney To Do Lists

By Nick 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

-The Disney Exchange is David Hodges, Lisa Green, and me, Nicholas Maglio  

-Main Topic: Disney To Do Lists

-We start with a peek behind the curtain before launching into a discussion of the apparent demise of poop candy at Disney's Animal Kingdom. For more on poop candy, please give a listen to Episode 28.

-Dave shares Disney's new Selfie Stick rules, and we consider the possibility that your arm is a selfie stick so to speak, and can THAT be banned next?!

-Hot cheese questions will be run by our legal team. We'll get back to you on this.

-We talk about the Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2016 registration. Please join me Dave, Lisa and me February 19, 20, and 21 in Walt Disney World where I'll be handing out signed photos of myself! (this will make sense if when you listen to the show.)

-Before getting to our main topic, Lisa and I discuss a 2016 Disney Cruise that we would both very much like to do, but cannot, due to various reasons.

- Dave, Lisa and I finally tackle the show's topic: Disney to do lists, where we each pick something we'd like to do in 3 categories, free to little cost, moderately priced, and expensive but doable in the foreseeable future.

-Not surprisingly we wander off topic, and the events that the Disney Exchange Cast will be doing together in WDW grows ever (unrealistically) longer.

-The opinion that the State of California is the "On ramp to the Apocalypse" is NOT shared by all of the hosts of The Disney Exchange Podcast. It is, honestly, my favorite state!

-Wheel of Distiny topic: What Country would you like to see added to Epcot's World Showcase?

-We apologize to our many, many, listeners in Switzerland.

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange.

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Or email us at: info@thedisneyexchange

Melissa Carl, Medford, Mass.;

10 Reasons to Take a Disney Cruise

A year ago Lisa Green posted this great article listing 10 Reasons to Sail on a Disney Cruise. Followers of Lisa's blog, Living a Disney Life- Empty Nesting with Pixie Dust, or listeners of The Disney Exchange Podcast will doubtless know that Lisa recently went on the Disney Cruise Line's inaugural sailing to Norway. Please be sure to check out this article about her experience.-Nick

Ten Reasons to Sail on Disney Cruise Line:

1. Beautiful ships full of Disney magic and extraordinary service.
2. The evening shows – excellent Broadway-style entertainment for the whole family.
3. Designated well-themed areas for children (and teens) with incredibly creative activities and lots of FUN (and safety!).
4. Designated adults-only areas with adult entertainment, refreshments, separate pools, restaurants, and more.
5. Castaway Cay – Disney’s Private Island is one of the ports of call on many Disney cruises and it is truly a paradise with something for everyone.  Want to run a 5k?  Ride a bicycle? Snorkel, parasail, swim, eat, dance, drink, play in the sand, lay in a hammock and do nothing at all – in an absolutely gorgeous setting!  Adults-only, teens-only and family beaches ensure everyone can have the time of their life.  Even a massage in a cabana on the beach is available! 
6. Castaway Club – once you’ve taken that first cruise, you’re automatically a member with perks for repeat cruisers.  This article gives more details.
7. Excursions – Disney offers a tremendous number of family-friendly, adults-only and teen-only port excursions and they take good care of you!  We’ve had incredible family adventures (like zip-lining in Alaska, swimming with stingrays in the Bahamas, and exploring the ruins of Pompeii) we will remember for the rest of our lives.
8. Fish Extender groups and Door decorating!  You can pre-arrange to take part in a gift exchange (like secret Santa) with other cruisers.  You can (and should) bring fun magnetic decorations for your stateroom door. See Fish Extender deets here and Door Décor here.
9. Characters – They seem to be everywhere and much easier to meet than in the parks.  Drop off a pillowcase or a photo mat and some markers at Guest Services and the characters will autograph your items…which will then be returned to your stateroom.
10. Parties and First-run Movies –  The Sail Away and pirate-themed parties are both bunches of fun (especially for children).  Each ship’s movie theater shows the latest releases (and favorite Disney movies).
11. BONUS – Rotational Dining and Room Service.  You keep the same restaurant servers at dinner each evening (unless you dine at an adults-only restaurant) for the duration of your cruise – you get to know them and they cater to (and often anticipate) your every need.  The room service menu items (with a few exceptions) are included in the price of your cruise.  Order appetizers while getting ready for dinner or a show, order cookies and milk for a bedtime snack!  Too tired to leave your stateroom?  Order dinner!

The reasons I’ve just listed are solely based on my own family’s experiences.  We are not people who generally suffer from seasickness – it would be rare for one of us to have an episode, but not unheard of.  We are a family that loves Disney vacations above all others.  (I believe if Disney had its own ski resort, we would never stray from Disney property or cruise ship.)

The difference between a Walt Disney World vacation and a Disney Cruise Line vacation is, for us, purely a relaxation factor.  All the things we love about Walt Disney World like good food, great service by friendly Cast Members, wonderful resort accommodations, Disney’s magical details (even hidden Mickeys!), meeting Disney characters, awesome entertainment – are all there on a Disney cruise.  What is NOT on a Disney cruise?  Walking ten miles a day, rope-drop frenzy, waiting for transportation in the blazing sun (or late at night), or favorite thrill rides and attractions (but there ARE plenty of adventures to be found on a cruise).  We go home much more relaxed, but completely satisfied that we did and saw a bunch of amazing things!

HOW did we become such big Disney Cruise Line fans?  What made us opt to turn away from Walt Disney World and take that very first cruise?  I’ll tell you – it was our children.  After we got home from a spring break trip to WDW one year (2006), Megan started asking when we would be going back, but  Joseph said,  “WAIT – I want to go to the beach.  I want to see the ocean.  Last time we went to the shore, I was so little I can’t remember what it was like.  We need to go back to the beach!”  And a months’ long argument began between the two of them from that day forward.

As for me, that’s when an idea began to form – I knew my plan wouldn’t be an easy one to pull off since I was certain Raymond would not initially be on board with it (YES!  score a pun point for me!).  Why not give both children what they want as a Christmas gift?  Land and sea vacation package!  Knowing Raymond would be adverse to the cruise portion of the trip, I talked him into it with 4 days at WDW followed by a 3-day cruise.  He was picturing the cruise being rather like a hostage crisis – he’d be stuck on a ship with nothing to do!  I was determined to show him the joys Disney Cruise Line had to offer.  The happy ending to this tale is that when we walked off the ship, Raymond announced that he’d had a wonderful time and would gladly take a 7-day Disney cruise in the future!  (The story of the Christmas gift reveal is here.)

Our baby steps from that first short Bahamian trip to a Disney cruise European adventure went like this:

• December 2006, Land and Sea (4-days at WDW followed by 3-days in the Bahamas which consisted of stops at Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island)
• December 2007/January 2008 – New Year’s Eve 7-day Western Caribbean (for Megan’s senior trip), followed by a couple of days at WDW (Orlando to Key West to Grand Cayman to Cozumel to Castaway Cay and back to Orlando)
• May 2010 – 5-night Castaway Cay double-dip (+ 2 days at WDW.  Orlando to Castaway Cay to Nassau to Castaway Cay to Orlando)
• May 2011 – 7-night Alaskan cruise (from Vancouver, visited Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Tracy Arm Fjord, back to Vancouver)
• August 2013 – 7-night Mediterranean (from Barcelona to Ville Franche, France and then to La Spezia, Civitavecchia, and Naples in Italy, then back to Barcelona) (Trip report starts here.)

Our bravery increased over time – the more fun and adventure we had, the more we wanted to see and do!  The price of airfare was, is and always will be the big holdup for doing more cruises that leave from distant ports, but we have always had as much fun (or more, gasp!) on a Disney cruise as we have had at each of our 12+ trips to Walt Disney World.  Next up?  Disney’s cruise through the fjords of Norway, summer 2015.

Have you taken a Disney cruise?  If not, have you been considering one?  What do you or don’t you like about the idea?