When a salon client asked Stef, "Have you ever heard of Disney Cruise?" — she had no idea it would launch a years-long obsession, a career pivot into travel advising, and eventually a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing on the Disney Treasure with two families, four kids, and a best-friend surprise reveal planned at Disney Springs. Stef is a longtime DCL Duo listener and a travel advisor, which means she came to the Treasure with both the planning instincts of an insider and the pure enthusiasm of a fan who's finally there.
In this episode:
- How Stef scored a Castaway Cay cabana at Silver Castaway Club status — and used her booking window strategically to lock up extras for friends with zero status
- The reality of sailing an adult-heavy cruise: what it means when the Haunted Mansion Parlor is standing room only every single time you try to get in
- Honest main dining breakdown — 1923 delivered, Coco's food disappointed (the salsa "was like ragu"), and the assistant server situation got bad enough that the team split up mid-cruise
- Chankanaab Park in Cozumel: dolphin swim, manatee feeding, beach access, and the last-minute photo negotiation that got the whole group's pictures for $200
- Castaway Cay parasailing turned a nervous 10-year-old into a lifetime convert
- The rainforest room verdict (she bought it twice) — plus the free spa shower hack you need to know
"She got back down and she was like, that was the coolest thing I've ever done and has asked no less than 100 times since we've gotten back...we're going to parasail again, right?" — Stef
Book with Stef! Stef is a travel advisor specializing in Disney Cruise Line vacations. Find her on Instagram.
Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel
DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks! Join the waitlist and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store.
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group
We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com