Travels of the Rennhack family
⚓ Cruise 8/9/2026 – 8/14/2026
shipStateroom: 8C - Deluxe Family Oceanview
Took one look at Monday's weather forecast and decided to fly into Orlando a day early. While I'm 6 for 6 flying in on embarkation day with Southwest from Chicago, Allegiant is a one-trick pony out of South Bend. The plane touches down in Orlando at 11:53 a.m. Tack on a 75-minute drive from the airport to the port on a good day and the cruise terminal doors lock promptly at 2:00. That math is barely mathing. There's no shame in my white-flag-waving game.
Mickey, here we come.
It's Cruise Day! Since Thomas and I flew in yesterday, we'll be rope-dropping the port arrival time. Pearl status gets us guaranteed boarding in Group 2. I can't wait to hear my favorite words, "Disney Wish welcomes the Rennhack Family." Here's to a great embarkation day and making memories with my favorite boy. Three weeks from today, he begins his senior year of high school and we move one step closer to the "grown and flown" season of life.
First time we've ever done a port upgrade. From an inside to an accessible oceanview. I inquired about Concierge. 1-story royal suite was an extra $16,000. 2-story royal suite was an extra $19,000. I love my son something fierce. I also love my marriage. Oceanview it is.
Rope dropped Donald's Cantina for a steak bowl and chased it with a chocolate soft serve cone from Sweet Minnie's Ice Cream.
Love our room upgrade.
Ordered room service for sail away. It's complimentary on Disney Cruise Line.
The theme for this trip is "Pivot." Thunderstorms? Reschedule the flight. Overbooked hotel? Move to the property across the street. Assigned to a main dining room table with four strangers after requesting a table for two? Welcome to the cruise of quick service and room service meals.
I don't mind socializing with strangers, but dinner is something I fiercely protect on vacation. My one hard, fast rule is that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you drop everything and join the family at the assigned time. It's a chance to reconnect, check-in, share updates and assure my mama heart that you have not jumped overboard.
After 28 Disney cruises, there are still new and unique experiences to be had, as well as a continuous stream of fodder for the game "Never Have I Ever..." Just keep pivoting.
Breakfast as we make the turn into Nassau. Thomas and I prefer to stay on the ship in this port. We've been here many, many times. Michael and Lisa love the "not-so-lazy" river at Atlantis. After donating layers of skin and copious amounts of lung secretions during our most recent trips, the boy and I will take a hard pass. Thomas will be at the Vibe (teen club) with his new friends. I plan to take photos and find a nice deck chair in the sun.
Current view from my deck chair. Hot, sunny and perfect.
Dinner Night #2. I'm viewing this as an experiment. I have clients who prefer not to eat in the main dining room. They view the dishes as too fancy or pretentious for their tastes. Unfortunately, Disney doesn't do a dinner buffet. Your choices are the main dining room, specialty dining (extra cost, dress code enforced and only available to adults), room service or Goofy's Grill until Daisy's Pizza Pies resumes service at 9:00 p.m.
If I could offer Disney one piece of feedback, it would be to expand the dinner venue options and offer salads/fruit/sandwiches somewhere other than room service. The chicken tenders and burgers are good, but my palate is craving something a bit more sophisticated. Overall, this has been an eye-opening experience.
Breakfast and an absolutely stunning day on tap for our visit to Castaway Cay.
View from my beach chair. Stunningly beautiful and pure perfection.
Stellar, stunning, spectacular and all of the superlatives. What a fabulous beach day. I met up with Thomas for lunch and then he scampered off to join his Vibe friends for an afternoon of hanging out at The Hideaway and racing down the Pelican Plunge waterslide. I love that he is living his best life and building his social circle with people from around the world.
Sailing away from Castaway Cay. The sea is like glass. This has been the smoothest sailing. Those Bahamian waters can get angry this time of year.
Thomas and I opted for room service and a movie on our stateroom TV.
Churro Mickey waffles to kick off this day of floating around the Bahamas. It's our last full day onboard. That means packing, checking in for tomorrow's flight and squeezing enough relaxation out of this trip to last until our 3-night voyage next month.
We will be standing in line extra early for debarkation tomorrow morning. A 10:10 flight out of Orlando Sanford. Would I book this for a client? Never. Will I push the envelope with my own crew? 100%. Walk off the ship with luggage in hand, clear customs, jump into an Uber, TSA PreCheck at the airport, carry-on and backpacks only and walk 200 feet to the gate. Would I do the same if we were flying out of Orlando International? Absolutely not. That airport is the second hottest mess that ever messed. Only Las Vegas is worse. No flights before noon out of MCO.
Made it with 25 minutes to spare. Picking up breakfast and heading to the gate. Whew! A well-oiled machine as always.
As long as everything goes smoothly, it's doable. Thankfully, traffic cooperated. Sanford is a great little airport. 5 minutes after curb drop-off, we were through security and ordering breakfast.
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