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Welcome to our blog, where we share our tips on the latest Disney, Universal and Cruising trends, treats and tours.
When we`re not traveling we like to check out the hots spots in our home town of London, Ontario.

Disney Cruising for Adults

5/7/2019

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We know there are lots of adults who love Disney and we think a Disney cruise offers enough adult-only areas to make this a fantastic getaway even without kids in tow or if you are weary parents looking for a break

Lots of adult-only space​

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We really loved many of the bars on the ship, which all specialized in different drinks. We sampled European cocktails, champagne and great wine selections. Our favourite bar had video images of European cities on the "windows" so you could pretend to be  looking out at Paris or Moscow. Plus we purchased a Martini tasting class that we really enjoyed. There is nothing like sampling martinis while overlooking the ocean in the sun. When travelling with our kids we don’t normally feel comfortable leaving them, but on the Disney ships there are so many staff around and such a great kids club, we were able to enjoy some guilt free quite time. Plus most kids were often in their club areas so we didn't feel overrun by other people's kids. The adult only pool areas were quiet and nicely situated. The adult only night club has a famous silent DJ and other dance parties. 

Luxurious décor

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Mosaic tile murals throughout the ship, including in the washrooms and even along the buffet line; huge stained glass chandeliers in all the main lobby areas; paintings that come alive; decorated plush carpet - it all adds to the feeling of luxury aboard Disney Cruise ships. This element really shouldn’t be understated. It might seem insignificant, but on previous cruises with other cruise lines we really noticed that décor has the potential to change the way you enjoy your vacation. We have to give Disney credit for taking every opportunity to make a statement. The ship even boasts a Tiffany jewelry store for those times when you need some extra bling.

Entertainment

The entertainment options are certainly G rated on a Disney cruise…. There’s no deep meaning to be found in these shows but their very high quality, with incredible sets, costumes and dancing more than make up for the content. We were a bit disappointed by the magician and juggler but they were still good and funny. 

Cruise Food!

One of the best things about cruising is the food! Every cruise we have been on has had excellent food, with a variety of options at each meal to satisfy everyone's tastes. But if you don't love something you have ordered just send it back for something else. Can't decide on a dessert - order two. Disney has early (6:15pm) and late (8:15pm) dining times to choose from but some cruise lines offer "any time dining" which we prefer. We did like that Disney's servers are assigned to you for the week and follow you on a rotation to the three main restaurants.
The Fantasy offers three beautifully themed dining rooms. The Royal Court has intricate and tasteful mosaic murals of the princesses, bread baskets in the shape of Cinderella’s carriage and beautiful wallpaper to help you feel royal. The Enchanted Garden is meant to resemble Paris, with a working fountain and lighting that changes during dinner from daylight to dusk to night. Animator’s Palate wowed us with its interactive videos where Crush the Turtle talks to diners and Mickey displays all the guests’ artwork on huge screens throughout the restaurant. While there are fun character references everywhere, they are understated enough to enjoy even if you aren’t a huge Disney character fan.
For snacks or early dining for the kids (so we could enjoy an adult meal later), we went to Flo’s diner a few times. They have pizza with gluten free options, sub sandwiches, beef, spicy chicken and veggie burgers, wraps, fresh fruit and cookies. We are still talking about the soft serve ice cream on deck 11. Surprisingly the Buffet at “Cabanas” was as good as any of the restaurant meals and we chose to eat there more than we would normally choose the buffet. There were plenty of gluten free and vegan food options on the buffet as well.
Each boat offers specialty adult-only restaurants (for an extra fee): the Fantasy boasts the only Michelin-starred chef on the high seas at their French restaurant Remy. Not only can you enjoy gourmet cuisine but you can also purchase a champagne brunch or dessert experience.
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Spa Time

Disney’s spa aboard the Fantasy has some really nice elements. While it’s private couples' rooms are not complimentary like some Princess cruises offer, the décor and amenities were lovely. You can choose which day you want to visit the spa and we thought the price of roughly $18 per day per person was reasonable. The Rainforest Spa offers a variety of aromatherapy steam rooms with different temperatures, showers to mimic a variety of weather and a dry sauna fashioned after a Roman bath. We particularly enjoyed the loungers and whirlpools overlooking the flying fish in the ocean.
Whether you want to enjoy some kid-free time on your family vacation or you are travelling without kids you can be assured the Disney Cruise line offers many options for a great vacation. 
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Disney’s Fantasy Cruise: Best Vacation

4/8/2019

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This year we had the opportunity to learn more about Disney Cruise Lines and jumped at the chance to soak up the sunshine on Disney’s ship “Fantasy”. We all agreed that this was our best family vacation yet. (Not travelling with kids? Read about why you should still consider a Disney Cruise).​
​While we love Disney World and Disneyland for all their fantastic attractions, not to mention Universal’s Harry Potter rides, this cruise beat them all for providing so much to do for everyone, while being truly relaxing at the same time. Here’s what we loved most:
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1. Disney’s kids’ clubs are probably the best on any cruise line. They have different clubs for all ages and are open more than most clubs, even while the ship is in port. The  club for ages 3 to 12 is made up of more than 10 themed rooms including Pixie Hollow with fairy houses, a Star Wars room with X-Wing simulators, Andy’s room and a Marvel room with a Dr. Strange video game. At certain times, one side of the club is open for families to play together – our family placed third in the soap car races. When parents aren’t there, Tinkerbell comes to hand out fairy talents, Mickey hosts a Roadster Racer challenge, and Timon recruits Lion Guard members. Karaoke, cooking, science, talent shows, video games, and crafts are just a few of the regular events. Plus dinner is served right in the club if kids prefer.
 2. Safety is priority: Each stateroom comes with a set of Wave phones, which let us give the kids some freedom to roam the ship on their own for short periods of time. We checked in with each other frequently while they played the Mid Ship Detective game. In this game the kids have a map to pictures hanging up around the ship. When they hold up their special card the picture changes to give them a clue to a mystery involving Mickey or the Muppets. There are many versions of the game so our kids played four different times!
3. More Family Activities than many ships: Disney's Fantasy has no shortage of water areas for all ages. Our 9 year old thinks he rode the Aqua-Duck waterslide 20 times! Our 5 year old enjoyed all the waterslides and the splash pad areas. We attended a drawing class, a kids dance party, a trivia game, bingo, open air mini-golf and enjoyed them all. All Disney ships show first run movies and Broadway Caliber Shows throughout the week. Perhaps most fun was Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. We’ve visited another cruise line’s private island that was very similar and really great but Disney wins for having more amazing snorkeling and two large floating playgrounds.
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4. Characters are everywhere:  Just about every time we went to the lobby area and out on the deck we’d meet at least a few characters. You can see where characters will be on the Navigator app but they are out so often you don’t need to plan too hard. Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Stitch sported different themed outfits each day. Even before your cruise you can choose tickets to the complimentary Princess Gathering, Frozen Meet and Greet and Disney Junior Character Breakfast on 7 nights or longer sailings.

5. State Rooms are larger: An inside stateroom on a Disney cruise is larger than comparable rooms on most other ships. They can come with a bunk bed that your room steward will flip down from the ceiling each evening and they have a heavy curtain to divide the room. We all really loved the virtual window that showed what it looked like outside but only when you turned it on, plus virtual movie characters would randomly cruise by the window for a surprise. Overall, we felt the room was spacious, very clean and had good storage space. You can request a diaper genie, pack ‘n play, bed rails, booster seats or high chairs when you are checking in online, and are available for use for your entire trip at no cost!
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Considering that this cruise was our third vacation within a year - we spent 10 days in Southern California and Disneyland in August and then two weeks in Southern Florida and Disney World over Christmas – we were pretty surprised that a cruise topped the list. But, the sheer number of family friendly activities available and the opportunity we had to let the kids enjoy some freedom on the ship while we enjoyed a quiet drink was pretty fantastic.
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10 packing tips for cruising with kids

1/3/2018

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If our blog post about why you should cruise with your kids has you convinced, here are some tips to make your trip a little smoother:
  1. Buy some water and snacks at a local 7-11 before you board the boat
  2. Pack bathing suits in your carry-on so you can swim while you wait for your luggage to be delivered to your state room
  3. New activity books will give your early risers something to do while they wait for everyone to wake up
  4. Take Ziplock bags or Tupperware to grab snacks from the buffet for day trips
  5. The walls are magnetic so bring magnets for fun
  6. Prepare your kids that shore excursions can be cancelled due to bad weather
  7. Check out the Library for a great selection of games
  8. Don’t bother finding the Arcade because the games there are expensive
  9. A different kids' movie plays each day in room for when the sun gets too hot
  10. Research your destinations before travelling to choose your excursions wisely
Not sure who to travel with? Check our recommended cruise lines, then call Click the Mouse London to get your trip planning started.
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6 reasons to Cruise with your Kids

4/1/2017

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We think cruising can be a great vacation option for families. Cruising allows you to enjoy the sun, stop in multiple destinations and gives you lots of kid-friendly activities, all at good value.
We have travelled with our kids twice on Carnival Cruise lines. We will be the first to admit that taking an 18-month old toddler was not a highlight for us. We spent the whole trip waking up early, chasing him all over the boat and being generally exhausted.
1. More focus on kids: We are happy to report that in the last 6 years Carnival has upped their game when it comes to kids. Of course, our second cruise was better because our kids are older and willing to be left at the kid’s club. But we also found there were many more things for kids to do this time around. We all enjoyed the water slides, mini golf, high ropes course and kid themed activities.
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2. KIDS' CLUB! One of the best things for our family was the kids’ club that allowed our spirited child to play with new friends while we relaxed. On the last day of the cruise, she left the kid’s club with a trophy for winning the dance contest, a sand art necklace and a t-shirt she had decorated, all at no extra cost. We felt the staff were well qualified, friendly and very safety conscious. However, we were surprised to find out there were no limits on the ratio to children and staff.
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3. Two rooms are better than one: Another great option for us was buying two adjoining interior rooms. This can actually cost less than one balcony room. It gave us lots more space, two bathrooms, two TVs and our kids had some independence. Interior rooms are also quiet and dark which meant our kids slept through the night and often woke late.
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4. Kid Friendly Food: All the food was excellent. We loved that there were lots of meal options all over the ship. A few favorties were the Indian lunch buffet by the back pool, the burger and BBQ restaurants by Guy Fieri and the 'made to order' pizza. Free room service is available all day and it allows you to order breakfast for your early risers or even a bed-time snack.
​We enjoyed eating in the dining room for breakfast and dinner. The wait staff were friendly and provided excellent service. You can eat a steak and chocolate lava cake each night or try something a little different with the Port of Call options. And if you choose something you don’t like, just ask for something else.


5. Kid Focused Events: Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat was a highlight. Menu options included Truffula Tree Pancakes, Green Eggs & Ham and Fox in Socks Steak & Eggs, among many others. We were really impressed with the food displays. The regular dining room had bright decorations including a cat ice sculpture. All the food displays were amazing. We had our picture taken with each character and enjoyed the music. We thought this breakfast was great value at $5 per person.
6. Flexible Dining Times: One thing that bears explaining is the two different dinner dining options. You can choose “Your Time Dining” where you can eat any time between 5:45pm and 9:30pm. You might have to wait if there are a lot of other people in line but we found going right at the beginning meant for speedy service. The second type is “Reserved Seating.” For this option you must choose either Early (6pm) or Late (8:30pm) options. While this guarantees a table will be ready for you, it could mean that you will be sitting with other guests that you don’t know.

Cruising gives your who family lots of different options on board and different destinations all in one trip. Click here to see our tips for cruising with kids.
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Day trip in Belize
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Beach in Honduras
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Isle of Rotan, Honduras
Visit our cruising page for a synopsis of our preferred cruise lines. 
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Start a new Holiday Tradition

11/1/2016

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The Mouse and Duck Blog is written by Ryan Starkweather and Lauren Starr
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The Mouse and Duck Blog is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with,
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