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25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What it's like to cruise Disney with your whole family: The highs and lows
'Family Travel' is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations for young families looking for an escape. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. I just got back from a weeklong sailing on the Disney Treasure with a group of ten people – ranging from toddlers to septuagenarians – and I've got thoughts on the magic at sea. If you're considering a Disney Cruise Line trip for your next big family vacation, here's what to expect, what surprised me, and what I wish we knew before we booked. A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises Having been on multiple cruises on the major cruise lines serving American passengers, I would say Disney's Treasure had a strong food offering. No, the dishes weren't always piping hot, and the cocktails leaned a little too sweet for my taste, but the flavors were consistently strong. Each of the ship's three main restaurants rotates menus nightly, which helps when you're assigned to each twice or thrice. Across our group of ten, there wasn't a dish we didn't finish – and that's saying something with a couple of picky eaters. From carnitas at Plaza de Coco to beef tenderloin at 1923 to the chicken schnitzel at Worlds of Marvel, most dishes earned a solid 7 out of 10 from our crew. What made it better was the exceptional service. The waitstaff remembered our preferences and handled every request with warmth and care (shoutout to Thynelly and Duwi). We also tried the Treasure's two adults-only restaurants: Enchanté and Palo. Enchanté felt special – fine-dining level, easily a 9/10 for ambiance and service – and we only docked a point because our tastebuds weren't ready for the sophistication of the French menú. Palo, on the other hand, was a home run. Every dish, from the arugula salad to the chocolate soufflé, was a 10/10. If you're looking for one splurge-worthy dinner onboard, make it Palo. There's a reason 'Disney-quality' is the gold standard when people talk about live entertainment. Both "Beauty and the Beast" and "Disney the Tale of Moana" were full-blown stage musicals with incredible production value. The set design, sound engineering and cast were all Broadway-caliber. My mom even leaned over mid-show to ask if they were lip-syncing – because the vocals were that pristine. Yes, the storytelling felt a little rushed if you know the movies by heart. But quick pacing is probably wise when your audience includes lots of5-year-olds. Our only complaint was that the shows in the Walt Disney Theatre were shown on one day of each voyage – which is their typical scheduling. However, due to an unexpected medical evacuation that delayed our stop at Castaway Cay, we had to choose between staying on the island or catching "Moana." We picked the show, but I'm still salty about missing Disney's private beach. Let's talk about what Disney Cruise Line doesn't include. For a seven-day Caribbean sailing in a stateroom with a porthole view, we paid about $5,000. That's in the range between premium and luxury pricing, but the perks didn't always match the cost. There's no drink package. Specialty coffees and alcoholic drinks are à la carte. Adult trivia? That was free, but get there early before the room fills up. Wine tasting? Extra cost. Beer tasting? Extra cost. Workout classes? Extra cost. Spa access? Extra cost. Technically, you could attend a presentation about diamonds or luxury watches, but we all know how those end. The truth is, most of the free activities were geared toward kids. Adults in our group had a harder time finding things to do besides eat, drink and hang by the crowded pools. I tried to be productive and hit the gym, but the fitness center was small and often full. Granted, every cruise line attracts a different type of gym goer. I was working out by myself in Aurora Expeditions while timing when to avoid rush hour on Virgin Voyages. DCL was surprisingly busy every day of the sailing for the size of the facilities. Typically, not a huge deal, but as mentioned above, when there's not much for adults to do other than eat and drink, it did stick out. (Grateful for those Peloton bikes, though.) Our party of 10 included six who were on their third DCL sailing and four newbies (myself included). It was great to watch the kids light up exploring the ship, attend character meet-and-greets, and retell their adventures each night at dinner. Disney does an excellent job catering to families with small children. The activities, the entertainment, the energy – it's built for young families. For adults without kids, grandparents or those hoping for more balance between grown-up fun and family time, you might find yourself wishing for more options – or at least fewer upcharges. Would I go again? Maybe with a smaller group, and with clearer expectations. Because when Disney says it's for families, they really mean families with little ones front and center. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is a Disney cruise worth it for big families? What I loved, and didn't
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Disney cracks down on DVC rentals, and it could cost members big
Disney Vacation Club recently updated its policy to crack down on commercial rentals, but some say it's leaving some members confused. DVC, Disney's version of a timeshare, added a new condition to its membership terms and conditions in early June, requiring people to certify their booking is "solely for personal use and not for commercial purposes" by clicking a checkbox, according to Disney Tourist Blog. It goes on to define personal use as "enjoying the benefits of a DVC Membership with family or allowing use of any reserved Vacation Home to friends and family on occasion." The highs and lows: What it's like to cruise Disney with your whole family This policy of prohibiting commercial use has been long-standing and is now reflected by the new adjustment, according to Disney. The move is intended to curb large-scale renters who exploit the system for profit. However, some believe the language is too murky for the average member to navigate and doesn't effectively reduce commercial renters. "It is creating heartburn for average everyday members who want to follow the rules," said Chad Pennycuff, a DVC member since 2017 and host of the My DVC Points podcast. Social media has proliferated the practice of commercial renting, with some "fringe" members consistently having up to 30 key reservations during peak travel times, such as the winter holidays, according to Pennycuff. "The internet and social media changed all that … people share on Facebook groups to rent out points," he said. Some members have complained they can't find availability during this time, leading to DVC implementing the new requirement. Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog told USA TODAY in an email that he believes DVC's visible policy change is "placating members who have complained about the proliferation of commercial renters, decreasing demand for rentals by introducing an element of risk and uncertainty, and scaring some of the large commercial renters into voluntarily exiting the market." While he thinks it could improve availability "ever-so-slightly," commercial renters are highly efficient and have thousands more points than the average member, so it won't be very effective. While most DVC members will likely still be able to rent out to friends and family without issues, others may find the new language narrowly defined and worry about breaking the rules, said Pennycuff. Many members often need to rent or sell their points if they can't take a trip that year, otherwise they lose money. "If you've got two to three years in a row that life hits you and you can't go on vacation … your dues are still due every year," he said. Probably. Reputable third-party companies that specialize in booking DVC stays by acting as brokers between members and outside guests shouldn't be impacted by the update. These companies act as intermediaries between the two parties and aren't the ones renting the points; instead, they receive a commission for the transaction, said Pennycuff. David's Vacation Club declined to comment, and other third parties, including DVC Rental Store, did not respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment. This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Disney Vacation Club is cracking down on commercial renters
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Flight attendant demands passenger spit out Zyn, leaving travelers confused about policies
A Delta passenger says he was told to spit out his tobacco-free nicotine Zyn pouch on a recent flight, leaving him and other fliers baffled about the airline's policies. 'Got told to spit my Zyn out on a flight. I really didn't know that was a thing?' the person wrote on the Reddit thread r/delta. 'Delta flight, first class (not that that matters). They brought a cup out and asked me to spit my Zyn out,' the flier said. 'They said it was because it was a tobacco product. I didn't put up a fight and complied right away. 'Was just wondering if this was an FAA thing I didn't know about?' Zyn — a tobacco-free nicotine pouch that isn't spat out like smoke-free tobacco products such as dips – is permitted by the TSA to be in carry-on and checked bags, but most airlines are vague about whether it is allowed to be used on their flights. Nearly all airlines bar the use of e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, but many policies are murky about whether Zyn and similar products such as nicotine gum are allowed. Delta's website makes no specific mention tobacco-free nicotine pouches in its flight policies, nor do the sites for American Airlines, United, Southwest Airlines or JetBlue. Other travelers on Reddit were equally vexed by the situation. Many said they've used nicotine pouches without problem, so long as they're discrete. 'I see many people using them on flights, myself included, and as long as you're not doing it right in front of an [flight attendant], you're fine,' one person commented. 'It is silly because no one would stop you from using nicotine gum or a patch,' they added. Another person wrote, 'How would the [flight attendant] even know what it is? Just looks like gum/mints.' One fliler said they recently saw an in-flight magazine with a Zyn advertisement targeted specifically at airline customers. 'I was on a United flight a few days ago and the shopping/menu magazine in the seatback actually had a Zyn ad in it. It said something like, 'Flight ready,' ' the person wrote. A Delta rep, asked for comment, only reiterated that smokeless tobacco is prohibited and was unclear about pouches and other tobacco-free products such as gum and patches.
