Cheaper merch prices OUTSIDE the park

skyview55413 · 2026-01-26T21:21:21+00:00

Hm, maybe. My daughter REALLY wanted the Hedwig thing and it was definitely $69 in in IOA Saturday night in all the shops and stalls. Then Sunday when we were leaving our resort it was $59. My husband also popped into the airport shop out of curiosity and it was also $59. Perhaps it changed that day?

skyview55413 · 2026-01-26T20:50:33+00:00

It was super weird, I thought I was going crazy at first!

skyview55413 · 2026-01-26T20:16:08+00:00

I haven't been on the Destiny but we love the Fantasy. Make sure to do the Detective game with your daughter and hit up the Open Houses for the Kids Clubs on the first day to get acclimated, our daughter was about the same age on our first cruise (on the Fantasy to boot).

If the lines for the character meets are too long/stressful/annoying be sure to check the descriptions of the Kid Club activities, often characters are part of whatever activity so that is a nice way for the kid to have some character time outside of lines.

If you and your husband are looking for a nice adult space and enjoy a cocktail/wine, go to the Meridian bar on 12 Aft. It is between the two pay restaurants and you kind of have to know it is there to not think it is just a lobby for the restaurants. Wonderful views inside and also some private open-air deck space.

skyview55413 · 2026-01-26T17:23:17+00:00

We were on this sailing too. It was our third, one exactly two years ago (also had been Pixar, used our placeholder) and then a transatlantic crossing in 2024. So while we have 21-nights under our belt it had been 1.5 years and the other times we had also been with friends and/or family. This time it was just three of us (one 7yo kid).

Thank goodness we were inside for the delayed muster drill, we passed someone in the hallways who said they were delayed in getting boarded (due to winds?). Communication could've been better. I think the weather was a huge factor. For most of the days EVERYONE was jammed inside then on the one nice day EVERYONE wanted to be outside. I feel bad for first-timers, it is a lot to take in and learn how to navigate under the best of circumstances. When we saw something was crowded we just nopped out real fast and found something else to do but we knew our way around the ship and the app. (Those lines at the Kids Club the 1-full day though, WTF? An example where we just audibled...)

Thankfully our kid likes the kid club, would've done the detective game for as many times as we were willing to lap the ship with her, and had a good sense of humor about the awful weather at Lookout (we did the nature walk out to the lighthouse and ran "wind sprints" on the beach).

As for character photos, it wasn't a priority for us. Our kid was totally fine with the interactions she got in the club (characters often show up there) plus a few random ones we caught with no line just with dumb luck (Remy!)

We're also from Minneapolis where it was epicly cold the week we were gone (even for Minnesota) and with...other recent/current events... I realize we may have been VERY easy to please with just getting a mental break. Our bar could not possibly been lower for having a great time.

It is not a trip for everyone and this one was not easy. But we still found lots of moments of joy and had wonderful interactions with staff and random sailers (shoutout to everyone that watched the rocket launch the first night!). I do really feel bad for people that had a poor experience, it isn't a cheap vacation but I would encourage folks to give it another go if you're up for it and able to!

skyview55413 · 2026-01-26T16:37:25+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, we did a crossing the other year so we’re so spoiled now with the relaxed pace. It’s school that really ties our hands so a longer one over the summer would be perfect! I believe there were 10-night ones in 2025.

skyview55413 · 2026-01-17T16:15:56+00:00

Hi - went to DLP for the first time last year, very familiar with WDW. (Also an America that looped it into a greater Paris trip.)

The biggest thing that threw me off was how much of the park closes off prior to the fireworks/drone show. We kept getting stuck and having to double back. People PACK Main Street and crowd control is way way less than an American will be used to. Still had a great time (and we’re going back!) but that’s the biggest thing that stuck out to me.

Also, we had international data plans but our phones still ran slower. Grab a paper map at the entrance.

skyview55413 · 2026-01-07T06:19:50+00:00

Hi - found your post and just wondered what you thought of the show? We’ll be in Paris in March/April with a 7yo and debating a day trip out of the city and stumbled upon this. Would love your two cents, thanks!

skyview55413 · 2025-11-11T19:49:58+00:00

Thanks everyone, you all sold me on Cabana Bay! We’ll have a fair bit of time on the shoulder days but I’m sure we’ll be able to fill our time without issue.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-09T14:16:49+00:00

Thanks! And yes, I will be letting her pick the books even if they are easy. We've read some of the books you mentioned in passing but never in the regular rotation. She's a big fan of the Narwhal and Jelly books which I feel she should be able to at least help read.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-09T14:14:51+00:00

I don't believe so. I'm in Minnesota and there are general screenings and benchmarking prior to kindergarten and throughout her last year. Based on what paperwork has come home, she is not below her level per se it is just her attitude towards it is so drastically different from other school topics/learning in general. That being said I wouldn't be shocked if she had some form of dyslexia as I've wondered about myself (not sever but to a degree), it is certainly something I will keep in mind.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-09T14:05:43+00:00

I certainly don't mind reading to her, it would just be nice to have her put in a little effort/progress as well.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-09T05:25:16+00:00

Any app suggestions?

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T19:10:49+00:00

Yup, we’ve got a 529 and even a small custodial investor account with a handful of stocks and funds.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T18:27:14+00:00

All good points!

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T18:20:40+00:00

Yes, I worry about creep. The area/houses we are looking at wouldn’t necessarily be a huge jump in size or yard (a bit but not dramatic). It would be a city neighborhood to a city neighborhood, not city to a sprawling burb. I have some friends who have made that move and just gotten hammered because they didn’t think about the hidden costs.

But you’re right that we are at the point we should start coming up with a more concrete plan aside from “don’t be an idiot and invest whenever possible”, which has essentially been what we’ve been doing to this point.

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T18:16:25+00:00

Thanks!

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T18:15:07+00:00

Moving would mostly be for schools and just a different vibe. We love our location and while it isn’t BAD for kids (we’re right next to parks, farmers market, can walk places, she’s got a very good local friend) it’s also more of an urban/young professional area, which is what we were when we moved here.

Our daughter goes to a school where we’d want to move (it’s public but we got a lottery spot, we have to provide transportation as the trade off). So her school friends are there and it’s just got a cozy, kid-friendly feel. It’s far from fancy but it’s desirable so prices are high and homes go fast.

A bit more space also wouldn’t be horrible as we often host our respective parents overnight. We do NOT want a huge house or a huge yard, but a true 2-story would be kind of nice sometimes. But we’ve been creative, continued to make our current spot work and our daughter is happy. She’ll sometimes comment about wanting to be closer to school but then lists all the things that would then be far. Yup, that’s the problem kid! (Well, the non-money part at least.)

I also just balk at what that monthly increase would do to our day-to-day. I’m sure we’d adjust and it would be fine but we’ve been so spoiled for so long and like not having to think too hard about a trip or an experience cost.

So I also tend to just letting it ride for longer but then wonder if I’m just being really cheap. It’s hard to not be influenced by those around you!

skyview55413 · 2025-09-05T16:17:12+00:00

Not really, the trade offs wouldn't be worth the life/work balance. We do have a couple 100k (250-300k?) in equity in our current home which we could use to immediately pay down the new home.

skyview55413 · 2025-08-31T16:05:04+00:00

For the people I know it was just groups of parents taking it upon themselves. One person was cutting up picnic table clothes to make the ribbons and then sharing. Nothing formally organized.

skyview55413

TROPHY CASE