TRAVEL LOG: Day 5 – Part 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

Even when you’re inside the Disney bubble, sometimes things don’t go as planned. That was the case for us on the fifth day or our Pixar Day at Sea cruise on the Disney Fantasy. Day 5 was supposed to be our second private island day at Disney Castaway Cay. Unfortunately, the weather and ocean weren’t cooperating. Due to strong winds and currents, both moving away from the dock at Castaway Cay, the crew were unable to get the ship to the pier safely and after a couple tries were forced to cancel our call at the island.

We still had a great day. In addition to more time to explore and relax, we also had the chance to try an incredible adult only experience in the afternoon. In the evening, we enjoyed the last of our Broadway-style shows. This turned out to be a pretty busy day, so once again we’re going to split this into two parts.

As disappointing as missing Castaway Cay was, another day to enjoy all the wonderful Disney Fantasy has to offer is a pretty good Plan B!

Learn more about our unplanned sea day below.

1 – Breakfast on Disney Cruise Line

Most mornings during the cruise, we found ourselves dining at Cabanas on Deck 11. As we mentioned in our Day 1 article, Cabanas is a buffet-style restaurant that gives guests a variety of food and beverage stations. While guests can also choose to dine at one of the table-service restaurants for breakfast, we found that we wanted to be able to have a faster dining experience. On this day, we were eager to get to Castaway Cay as soon as guests were cleared to go ashore, so eating at Cabanas is a great choice for those who want to dine at a faster pace. We were also had a perfect view to watch the crew dock the ship. We got to watch it twice, in fact, and the announcement that our day at Castaway Cay had unfortunately been cancelled came just as we were finishing up.

For breakfast, Cabanas features a lot of different varieties of breakfast foods, including made-to-order omelets. But one thing we love (and got every single time) is the Mickey Waffles! They are just as delicious as they are at Walt Disney World. Cabanas also feature Joffrey’s Coffee, Twinning’s Tea, several juices, and Coke products. I love how Disney Cruise Line offers top-name brands such as Joffrey’s Coffee and Twinning’s Tea. These are just two examples of the excellent offerings on the ships.

2 – The Cast Members Were Amazing

So what happens when an entire day’s worth of plans (activities, meals, etc.) suddenly change in the course of about 20 minutes? When you’re the crew of the Disney Fantasy you get to show off how good you are. When our day at Castaway Cay was suddenly cancelled at the last possible second, we were shocked at how nimble the entire cast was and switching pretty much everything up.

Within minutes, a new schedule of trivia events, deck activities and more started populating in the DCL app. Behind the scenes, the culinary team shifted from island barbecue for lunch to thousands of people in Cabanas. There are probably countless other things that happened behind the scenes that as guests we have no idea about. No doubt, these type of scenarios are planned for and practiced, but that didn’t make the completely seamless execution of Plan B any less impressive.

3 – Kid’s Clubs on the Disney Fantasy

Before breakfast, we enjoyed a short tour of the children’s spaces on the ship. Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with elaborately themed youth areas where a generous sprinkling of pixie dust and beloved Disney characters combine to lead children into their favorite Disney stories. Onboard the Disney Fantasy, there is nearly an entire deck of spaces designed to inspire, entertain and spark the imagination of children.

Here is an overview of each of the children’s areas onboard:

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

Disney’s Oceaneer Club, open to 3-to-12-year-old children, transports kids to the magical lands of Disney fairies, courageous Super Heroes, adventuresome toys, undersea exploration, and Force-filled characters that are out of this world. Here kids will be able to enjoy Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Command Post, Andy’s Room, Pixie Hollow, and the Magic PlayFloor.

Disney’s Oceaneer Lab

Disney’s Oceaneer Lab takes 3-to-12-year-old children on a journey of discovery and exploration.

Upon entering the main hall, filled with maritime instruments and nautical artifacts, children feel as though they are embarking on a great adventure. At the main hall stage, kids can create and star in swashbuckling performances, hear stories of great expeditions and watch movies. There is another Magic PlayFloor and an Animator’s Studio.

Connecting the Disney’s Oceaneer Club and the Disney’s Oceaneer Lab are two workshops. In these specialized areas, kids concoct creations in an interactive science lab, conduct crazy experiments, express their creativity through art projects, stretch their culinary skills and participate in other hands-on activities.

It’s a Small World Nursery

In the It’s a Small World Nursery, infants and toddlers up to age 3 enter a whimsical world inspired by the classic Disney theme park attraction and original artwork by Disney Legend Mary Blair. Children in the nursery’s main play area are welcomed by cheerful, three-dimensional façades resembling the nursery’s namesake Disney attraction. Interactive, hands-on features, such as horns that honk, wheels that spin, and buttons to press, are sure to delight curious kids. A boat in the center of the room “floats” on a river pattern along the soft-surface floor and is surrounded by colorful, kid-sized tables and chairs for toddlers to enjoy crafts, books, and games.

At the back of the nursery, a separate room with a serene motif and a calm, quiet atmosphere is reserved for naptime.

There are also spaces for tweens and teens. Edge is a tween club for tweens ages 11-14. Vibe is for guests ages 14-17. These spaces are equally fun and perfect for the kids’ ages.

4 – Atrium Lobby

Since it was our last day at sea, we wanted to explore the ship more. One of the areas we found ourselves over and over again is the three-deck atrium lobby. This area is where many meet-and-greet locations can be found. Reminiscent of splendid ocean liners from the 1920s and 1930s, a sweeping grand staircase, oversized portholes, and a grand piano highlight the stylish sophistication of the atrium.

The Art Nouveau-inspired chandelier on the Disney Fantasy cascades delicately downward from a massive stained-glass flourish on the ceiling in peacock hues of greens and blues.

Be on the lookout for dashes of Disney whimsy. Decorative bronze friezes featuring Disney characters line the balconies. Balustrades rising up the grand staircase are laced with whimsical designs. Panoramic elevator columns that face into the atrium showcase elaborate metalwork crafted with a hint of a familiar Mickey Mouse outline. Hand-crafted tile mosaics elegantly depict romantic moments from classic Disney films.

One touch of “Disney whimsy” truly stands out. As with each Disney Cruise Line ship that launched before it, the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream have an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. On the Disney Fantasy you’ll find Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse, cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side.

5 – Enchanted Art

Throughout the Disney Fantasy, you’ll also find more than 20 pieces of Enchanted Art, inspired by classic Disney characters and animations. This artwork immerses guests in Disney storytelling in a completely new way. As guests pause to admire an individual piece of Enchanted Art, it magically comes alive.

While Enchanted Art looks like other hanging art pieces around the ship, it is actually a framed LCD screen that utilizes technology to create special effects. Enchanted Art “recognizes” a guest is present and activates several seconds of animation. Guests may see new and different animation when they visit the Enchanted Art another time.

Examples of Enchanted Art on the Disney Fantasy…

• • A work of art that appears to be an animation cel from the Disney classic film “Bambi” springs to life … as Bambi’s friends Thumper and Flower scamper and a butterfly flies through the scene.
  • A vintage photo of Walt Disney at his drawing board creates a magical moment for guests when the character Walt is creating becomes animated.
  • A “painting” of Peter Pan’s Neverland Cove is fronted by a prop of a ship’s wheel. When a guest moves the wheel, the painting comes to life and the guest navigates Captain Hook’s ship around Neverland Cove.
  • Dual circus art posters featuring Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse flying from one frame into the other – a nod to the Disney Fantasy stern characters.
  • Walt Disney animating three clips that spring from his sketch pad featuring the “Fab Five” (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto).
  • Fanciful animations of “Alice in Wonderland” inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s art.
  • “Pinkie Daisy” inspired by Thomas Lawrence’s painting “Sarah Barrett Moulton: Pinkie.”

6 – Midship Detective Agency

We saw many families enjoy the Midship Detective Agency during the cruise. Using the Enchanted Art we mentioned above, guests can enjoy this interactive game that takes them all over the ship. This is a great activity for a sea day.

• • Using a game card that they hold up in front of select pieces of Enchanted Art, guests unveil clues and find missing objects, ultimately determining the villain and saving the day in an interactive detective adventure game.
  • Guests obtain game cards at a self-sign-in “detective desk” kiosk, where they also receive a map of the Enchanted Art pieces that are part of the game for them to explore.
  • The game card has a 2D barcode—a square marker pattern that is read by a camera, causing something to happen. Since each game card has a unique barcode pattern, the game software can track each player’s progress.
  • Each game features several possible endings and multiple randomized events – so each time a guest plays, they have a different adventure.

7 – Adult Only Activities

One misperception we run into way too often is that Disney Cruises are really just for kids. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, in addition to all the offerings on a Disney Cruise that appeal to guests of all ages, there are many options available just for adults. Our unplanned sea day gave us the opportunity to experience one of the adult beverage tastings and seminars. The tasting was hosted by the Palo sommelier and was as educational as it was enjoyable.

We worked our way through several selections including a multiple wines and a single malt scotch. We also had the opportunity to experience how pairing the wines with different chocolates and cheeses produced completely different taste profiles. The experience was so good we almost booked the same seminar an hour later. We decided that probably wasn’t the best idea if we wanted to be awake for dinner, but this will absolutely be a new tradition we do on every cruise moving forward. We can’t recommend it enough.

Click here to watch our Instagram Story Highlight with photos and video from Day 5 of our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise!

Learn more about Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy

Be sure to follow along on our voyage to hear more about the experience, learn tips and tricks for cruising, and read our reviews of all the unique offerings.

Articles with Cruising Tips and Tricks 

Learn more about the Disney Cruise line and our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!

TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail on Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!

TRAVEL LOG: Day 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 2 – Part 1 of Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 2 – Part 2 of Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 3 of Our Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 4 – Part 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 4 – Part 2 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

TRAVEL LOG: Day 5 – Part 1 of Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

Instagram Story with Photos and Video of our Cruise

Day 1 – Instagram Story Highlight – Arrival Day

Day 2 – Instagram Story Highlight – Pixar Day at Sea

Day 3 – Instagram Story Highlight – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Day 4 – Instagram Story Highlight – Sea Day

Day 5 – Instagram Story Highlight – Unplanned Sea Day

If you’re thinking about booking a Disney Cruise, now is the perfect time to do so! We highly recommend booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to ensure you are well taken care of and get all the discounts available to you. For more details and help booking your vacation, call (407) 442-0227. You can also get a no-obligation, FREE vacation quote by clicking here. Their services are free to you, and they can answer any questions you may have.

Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Pixar Day at Sea Cruise with special media-specific events and tours during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line in this article are entirely our own.