Embarkation day doesn’t have to be chaotic. Skip the crowds, find the hidden sit-down lunch, and start your Disney Cruise the right way—with good food, zero stress, and maybe a few extra desserts.

Bathrooms might be the most overlooked part of any vacation—until you need one. From Disney’s surprisingly magical bathrooms to my ongoing battle with their toilet paper, I’m sharing why bathroom strategy matters more than you think.

You might think running into Disney characters at your hotel is magical.
I think it’s a situation that requires an exit strategy.

Here’s what the Character Bus is, why people love it… and why I am quietly walking in the opposite direction.

Finding Sanaa is a bit of a journey… but staying there? That’s the easy part. Between the bread service, the desserts, and the animals casually walking by—I have thoughts.

We went to Portland, Maine for six chaotic little hours in search of donuts, chowder, and a lobster roll. Some things were amazing. Some were… fine. Naturally, I have thoughts.

Some families pack light.
We pack… blankets. A lot of them.

Let me explain the system (because yes, there is a system).

Every version of me has done Disney—from 1975 to weekly visits and 27 cruises. This is the magic, the chaos, and everything in between.

Boston: great food, mild chaos, and a surprising number of opinions from me. Some moments were magical, some were stressful—but I had thoughts about all of it.