Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - Merrytime Cruise On The Disney Fantasy With Host Jay Part 1

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

Hello Travelers! This week, for the first time ever, Walkabout sets sail on the Disney Cruise Line! In this first of two episodes at sea, join host Jay aboard the Disney Fantasy during a holiday Merrytime cruise where you'll hear some of the best sounds the cruise has to offer. You'll hear everything from the ship's fireworks, a special holiday deck show, a tour of parts of Castaway Cay, and of course the iconic Disney cruise ship horns! Stay tuned for part two in the next episode.    Walkabout the World is now on TikTok! Come follow our visual companion to the audio podcast at Walkabout.the.world.pod on TikTok   Visit us at walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt!   Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi.   You can also drop us at line at [e-mail]. Say hi, tell us how you found us, and give us some suggestions on things you'd love to hear. Please consider giving us a rating and review wherever you listen - it really helps!

Well, travelers, it's Jay Bear here, and I'm welcoming you guys to a very special episode or probably a couple of episodes. One of the unique things that I get to do with you guys is take you around Disney Cruise Line. I have going on my 12th cruise, and I decided, for those of you that are cruise fans out there, there are lots of sounds and water features, just like. on land. So I'm hoping you guys will enjoy this unique experience and enjoy some of the wonderful sounds. There are some iconic sounds that happened on the ship. There's some special sounds that happened on the ship. And I'm going to look forward to spending that time with you guys. So let's start off with our first installment of this series and we're just going to do a general

ship tour and I'm going to take you guys around the decks and through the lobby and the atrium. let's do some stroll in around the decks of the Disney Fantasy. I am walking around deck three, which is where most of the restaurants on the ship are. And let me tell you, the Disney Fantasy is one of my favorite ships because it's complete and utter love letter to Art Nouveau. And they did that on purpose. It's easy to romanticize, and I love it. So there's wood appointments everywhere, the floor. if they're not carpeted are most certainly marble in some of the beautifulest patterns.

And I'll make sure that we guys have lots and lots of pictures to see. But even though it is still formal, as you guys can hear, they love to play sounds of wherever the ship is going. In this case, we are in the Bahamas. Today we are near the port of Nassau. And, yeah, let's traverse deck three and see what we can get ourselves into. As I make my way to the aft of the ship, I am walking away from the large atrium,

and we'll come back to the atrium here in a little bit, but I am headed towards the back of the ship along Deck 3 on the starboard side, and that'll bring us to Animator's Pallet. I love Animator's Pallet. It's got, it's had some very interesting foods. Way back in the day, when the ship was, Disney Cruise Line was in the very beginning of being in the cruise line, business. They had this very interesting thing, so the room is covered in drawings and it is completely black and white.

And in the beginning of dinner, all of the foods are black and white. So you would be served only black and white foods. And then as you moved into soup and salad, they would start adding some colors. And then by the end of the evening, you would get to full on colored food. So the whole experience was them painting that interesting situation. So if you guys are familiar with Animator's palette, I'm sure you guys will remember and love it. But for those of you that are not, and you ever do make it onto a cruise here, Animator's Palette is a lot of fun. Not to mention, the room is filled with mackettes and drawings on longer cruises. They actually even give you a chance to draw your own drawing, and then they'll animate. By the end of dinner, they actually do a whole animation of your drawings of everyone's drawings.

Now that we've made our way around Animates Pallet, we're going to, we've come all the way to the very back of the ship, so we're going to head up a couple of flights here. These guys can hear, it's kind of a lot quieter. This is the part of the ship where all the lounges are. So the musical's a little more chill. And the Disney fantasy has a very interesting way of dealing with their, with their lounges. On the Disney fantasy,

they actually have what they call the La Plaza. La Piazza is a series of bars set around a piazza. So we have an Italian piazza in the center with a bar that is shaped like a carousel. And then around the carousel, there is a French champagne bar. There is an Irish pub.

There is a London, a London Tudel. bar, the Skyline Lounge, all of these are all centered around this piazza. So as we walk from the elevators at the after the ship and we head into the lounges, the bathrooms on the ship are kind of famous, as being some of the most expensive. They are completely tiled with mosaics. And it is themed to, the bathrooms here are themed too much. Madrid. So matador's and dancing girls, it's amazing. And, and

come on over, pick up an anchor. All right, travelers, we're going to take a little break here and let you guys enjoy one of the Disney Cruise Line exclusive things. The only cruise ship in the world that's allowed to do fireworks at sea. And so we are going to have a listen here and I'll make sure to get some good photos for you guys and well I hope you guys enjoy let's have a listen. Lies ahead, use luck and a fair wind to me ever than foothed well I hope you guys enjoyed that I'll make sure to drop a video on some photographs in the post there but you guys um yep that's the fireworks at sea they always do those on

the pirate night on the ship and it's part of the festivities. As you guys can hear, it's definitely Pirates of the Caribbean themed and it's a lot of fun. It's a rare treat on a cruise ship to have fireworks and yeah, we've got plenty of other things coming along here and so I hope you guys will walk about the cruise ship. Well, travelers, it's very fun to be on the cruise. cruise ship, but it's even more fun to be on the cruise ship during one of their maritime cruises. You get special themed items that you wouldn't normally get if you were just on a regular cruise, not that it needs to be any more special. They're always pretty special.

So this evening I thought I would share with you guys the very maritime Christmas party. It's a deck show that they do, and it features all of the fabulous five characters. and include some dancers, and of course, some very, very iconic Christmas music. So we're going to walk the deck here a little bit. We're going to find a perfect spot, and I'm going to let you guys take a listen to the Christmas party show. I hope you guys love it.

I hope it puts you in the Christmas spirit. I know I definitely feel like it does. And, yeah, so let's walk around, see if you can find a good spot. all the lights are strange. Uh-huh. We don't get the street, we're too excited. And now it's funny we've almost here. Uh-huh.

Oh, good, jolly holiday, we only come down once they need. These holiday lights. I just got this letter from bags. Dear Dad, it's been super busy this season. In the things I phone make it home this year, I wanted to wish you a hairy happy holiday. Well, Max. Spend as the holidays without you, won't be.

It's just not Christmas without my matching. Well, I'm cheap, Cookie. I don't think he's saying he won't come here. He's right. If I had to spend the holidays without any of you, wouldn't be the same. Would it cheer you up that you opened your presents? No.

It's not presents, celebrated Christmas, Christmas. With our other favorite parts of the holiday. I'm here to live in missing This must you have a happy holiday Much more than the world in the winter When the snow comes to pour in the ground It's time for play It's the win-green day

I wait for it the whole year out A smell of coffee and friendly In the arms of the heavenly trees And the sun is red Like a pumpkin head And shining so you know it won't breathe My rose, that's how it goes whenever it's stone. The word is more, the rest are a little life.

My favorite part of the holidays has always been decorating with Max, and baking trees with Max, and waiting up for Sandra with Max. And we're... Since four family, just nine to seven ring of love that never wear. Togetherness with folks who fill your heart. So how can there be Christmas if we are apart? My son yet wouldn't be the same. Course, it's just not Christmas without my ears here.

Of course, I hadn't thought of it that way. I'm sure to do. How? I'll go. Thank you, family. We're going to make it. Oh, dad, it was in case I couldn't make it. It just wouldn't be Christmas that I was.

Oh, I could have a single baby and go out of dinner. Well, now it's really a party. And beautiful, that is... Oh, oh, oh, oh. Tell me in one more song. Well, hello, travelers. And good morning. This morning, we're going to get off on Castaway Key,

and we're going to enjoy some island Christmas vibes. And take you guys on a little bit of a journey here. So, it's a little windy today. So I'm sorry if it's a little windy, but kick off with some Christmas vibes from the island and enjoy a nice walk around the island. Absolutely. Traveler's Maya.

My boyfriend Dale's with me, and this is one of our Christmas traditions, and we love walking the island. We love being on Castle Lakey. We love the very maritime Christmas cruises. So as you walk off of the ship, there's a little bit of a walkway, but they have this beautiful little area

where you get onto the trams and they have decorated it with the garter. and seashells and ornaments and plants. It's gorgeous. I like that they add the rope. The rope is awesome. They like to add like little, like, details to the island. Just like a Disney World, just like a Disneyland.

They like to add those little nods. And Castaway Key is no different. Well, we have a little on the music here. We are passing over to the bridge that takes us on to Castaway Key. I don't know if you guys know, but Castaway Key. Castaway Key, which is Gorda K, or used to be Gorda K before Disney got a hundred-year release with it, but is now Disney's private island. It was one of the very first private islands for a cruise ship and the first to have its own docking

bay. And the entranceway is awesome. They've got their Castaway Key across the top, and the rees have got these huge snow shovels, I'm sorry, sand shovels. Look at me. I don't know whether it's Christmas or summer, but it's... It's very, very cute. I'll make sure to drop a pick of that for you guys

so you can enjoy some of these beautiful decorations, sights and sounds. Dale and I really, really love Disney Cruise Line because we get to spend a lot of time with the characters on board, and being on Castaway Key is no different. And Dale's one of Dale's favorite characters, we got to meet this first. So who did you get to meet this morning? Dale, right here on Casanoeke.

Donald Duck, he's my favorite. Number two, Donald Duck. Obviously Goofy is number one And Donald thinks he's number one But Dale and I will never agree on this, I think Well, I think it's official. Disney World hasn't signed Donald Duck number one So I think it's official as it's going to get

You can sign anything he wants But anyway, we do love me to the characters And this morning he was in his Beach attire, wearing his goggles He's definitely ready to jump in And enjoy the beautiful day As are we, so we are going to keep on walking here We are seeing some beach off in the distance and enjoying the beautiful greenery that's around here.

Hey, speaking to greenery, did you notice along the tram route here they have basically piling that they use for like when they're building piers and they have them lining the walkway. And similar to Disney World, every other piling is decorated with a foul with like Santa's buoy that's decorated like a Santa and pieces of like. coral and orchids and so basically every other one has it on it so it's similar to disney world or Disneyland in terms of the amount of decorations they put up and they're really beautiful and fun to look at they really are and they really do as disney you as you might imagine Disney does an amazing job decorating everything they can attach something to it they will and so yeah we're enjoying the pylums

with the bows on them and the beach views and um hopefully we'll grab some sounds here in a little bit. So let's keep walking and we'll catch some sounds for you guys. We are pulling up onto the beach here. We got Minnie over here on my left hand side. She's meeting some people and there's one of the icons of Castaway Key is Mount Rustmore. It is a Disney version of some buoys that show the four iconic boys of the Disney name. I definitely make sure to give you guys a picture of that it's pretty cool and I love it. And of course, don't tell Dale, but Goofies, Bowie is the biggest. There's a reason for that.

All right, we're going to keep on walking onto the island. So as we had deeper to the island, we start to see all the different barbecues, 2-2 barbecue, 2-2-2-2. But there is a boat. in one of the areas that you get to eat in. And it is called the John Hensh. What's going on with that? He's a, I think he was an Imagineer, right?

Yes, he was an Imagineer, and you'll see lots of little Easter eggs like this around the island with different names from different folks and different Disney history, attraction history. I've been here for many, many, many years, and that's the first time I've noticed that one. Really? That's more hidden.

Did he help design the island? No. They're just paying Amish, like the windows and Main Street. Paying homage to an older imaginere. Yeah. Yeah, so if you are on Castaway Key, on the right-hand side, if you guys are heading over towards the tram stop at the far end of the island, come into the little pavilion there and look for the John Hens.

Apparently, it docks in Fiji, so it's definitely far away from home. All right, we're going to keep walking and enjoy some tunes with you guys, and as we head out towards Serenity Bay, which is the Adults-only Beach. nothing says island Christmas than the Beach Boys So we're going to enjoy this A little saying it's famous So we're going to walk along the Beach Boys

And hopefully you guys will enjoy those tunes well Fruit stand It's just like a little bit of fruit while you're walking around Or ice cream or a soda Just scattered about and it's all included Absolutely if you're not familiar with Disney Cruise They try to make sure that everything is included So if we're leaving cookies barbecue there

definitely have fruit stands. You feel like eating the orange this morning on your way over to your beach location, orange it up. Jay, did you know later in the afternoon they'll be out there slicing up things too, like melons? Really? Things like that now. And serving that up.

I did not know that, actually. Grab a whole piece of fruit now and come back later for a little sweet treat. Or just get the soft serve. Whatever, whatever. Got gumbo limbo on our right-hand side over here. and the beach itself on our left-hand side. It is gorgeous, beautiful white sand beach. Wish you guys were here.

It's a beautiful way to spend a weekend out in the middle of the Caribbean. Castaway Key. We're fully onto the island travelers, and the trip out to Serenity Bay is quite a long one. When Castaway Key was Gorday, it has had a... runway and an airport and if you're really into some interesting history I would definitely check out online about its history if the long story short is Gorda K used to be for bad illegal things and then Disney bought it and made it all

wholesome again but the trip all the way out to Serenity Serenity Bay is quite a lengthy one and so instead of walking the the runway all the way down to Serenity Bay. We're going to take the tram. So let's get on the tram here and head over to Serenity Bay and enjoy the tunes out on the way over there. Let's go. All right everybody, tram's here. So we're going to hop onto the tram and head out to Serenity Bay. I hope you guys liked walking around the island a little bit. We heard some songs. Got to talk a little bit about some Disney history, but as all cruises do, we have to head back to the ship so that we can start heading home. And so I'm walking the dock now. I've got the Disney fantasy on my left hand side,

right hand side over here. And we're going to head up to the floor. That's where my room is at. Fun fact, the yellow boats that are on, all of the Disney ships, they were the first boats in the world to have those yellow boats. Prior to that, the orange boats were the only boats that were allowed. That was the only color that was allowed. And Disney actually spoke with the authorities and said, hey, we want to use this yellow color. And as it turns out, this yellow color is actually more noticeable than the orange that is currently regulated.

And they did the study on Disney's behalf. And it turns out they were right. The yellow color is actually... more noticeable than the original orange color. And so now, ships, including Disney, but all ships, can have orange or yellow boats. Which is why you'll see both colors.

Disney was the one who changed that for us. Well, travelers, I'm very excited to have taken you around the Disney fantasy here in this part one of this two-part series. And I'm looking forward to taking you around more of the ship, meeting some very interesting cast members, and enjoying more of the beautiful Disney fantasy. So if you've guys enjoyed this,

please come back for Part 2. And so if you're a seasoned cruiser already, you know that the sound of the horn means something great is coming. And I'll leave you guys with the sound of the horn and anticipate some of the wonderful people and places that we're going to get to hear in our next part. So see you guys real soon.

See you in Part 2.