Two days at Disney World and two on new Disney Dream

Two days at Disney World and two on new Disney Dream

Wild Animal Trek gives you the chance to watch the cheetahs and lions through powerful binoculars, get to the edge of the river above where the crocs loll, albeit tethered to cables that keep a misstep from turning into a tragedy. Yes, we were also tethered going across the bridges

Different ways to learn to dive – cold and warm

Different ways to learn to dive – cold and warm

For our second dive of the day, we head to the Library, so named because it is directly in front of Grand Turk’s tiny library. We dive along the famous Grand Turk Wall that drops 100 feet. It is marvelous– all varieties of fish and coral. By the end of the dive, holding the dive master’s hand, Emily is hooked and comes up out of the water smiling

Adventures by Disney Takes to the Seas

Adventures by Disney Takes to the Seas

Disney’s unique, guided, land-based tours successfully offer families the chance to explore far-flung destinations from Italy to Africa to Yellowstone National Park with itineraries that de-stress the experience for parents while offering activities guaranteed to please the kids. Now Adventures by Disney has brought the concept onboard some Disney cruises (www.disneycruise.com) in the Mediterranean and this coming summer, Alaska

Plenty to do (and eat) on a day at sea with Disney

Plenty to do (and eat) on a day at sea with Disney

DAY THREE — Our first day at sea and there is so much to do! We can go to a lecture about Malta where we will be tomorrow, play Bingo or go to a cooking demonstration, learn napkin folding or Origami.

Grown Ups Have as Much Fun Aboard the Disney Magic as the Kids

Grown Ups Have as Much Fun Aboard the Disney Magic as the Kids

In just one day at sea, you could go from a sommelier selection tasting at 12:30 to a martini tasting at 2:30 and the mixology seminar at three. At four there’s a tequila seminar and at 10:30 a cognac tasting, followed by adult versions of onboard entertainment — comedians, magicians, musicians.

On Disney Magic — no one is Grumpy or Sleepy

On Disney Magic — no one is Grumpy or Sleepy

As we near the end of our 11 day voyage, I’m more convinced more than ever that there can’t be an easier way to introduce children to new cultures and new places. There’s no packing and unpacking every day, no navigating unfamiliar cities with bored kids, no trying to find them something they’ll eat on a menu in a foreign language.

Pasta making in Tuscany

Pasta making in Tuscany

We’re at a restored picture-perfect farmhouse up in the hills of Lucca on the vineyard and olive groves that are owned by Piero Tartagini and Francesca Pardini, taking a cooking lesson from Zeela Rubenstein and her husband Mauro Gehigani

A massive kitchen at sea: Disney Magic

A massive kitchen at sea: Disney Magic

The 120 cooks, 48 stewards and 10 storekeepers on board the Disney Magic aim to make sure you’re not. How much weight you’ll gain is another story.