NYC Broadway Escape To Margaritaville With NYC Dads Group!My hubby belongs to a Daddy parenting group on Facebook called NYC Dads Group! If you are in the area you should definitely check it out. It’s a great place for Dads to chat with each other to meet up! Recently @NYCDadsGroup hosted a group of Dads and their significant others for a night on Broadway to celebrate Mother’s Day! My hubby was lucky enough to be invited and took me along as his date! I was SO excited about the show- Escape to Margaritaville! I am such a huge Jimmy Buffet fan and have been forever. You may not know but before I hit the road to married life I spent most summers down the shore working in Cape May, NJ. My days were spent on the beach and my nights working at the bookstore. It was something I absolutely loved and along with those days of freedom I was basically obsessed with all and any Jimmy Buffet music. I took it to the beach with me all the time and played it in my one room apartment when I wasn’t watching the waves crash. I also introduced my hubby to the beach life and to Jimmy Buffet. It did not take him very long to also become a big fan!

So when hubby asked me if I wanted to join him for a night on Broadway fun at Escape to Margaritaville I screamed, YES!!! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course as life would have it our hot water tank cracked and a pipe or two just days before the show. The only time the plumbers could tend to the huge mess coincided with the show. This could only happen to me!?! I did not want to miss the show but I also did not want to chance being trapped at the house with the plumbers. Ugggh!! Well, somehow it all worked out and we arrived at the show with thirty minutes to spare! Yay! 

If you are thinking about going to see Escape To Margaritaville, just do it! It’s a great show if you are a Jimmy Buffet fan OR if you are not! It really doesn’t make much difference. It’s a very enjoyable story with plenty of comedy and tunes to keep you smiling throughout the show. If you are a Jimmy Buffet fan you will definitely going to LOVE this show! It’s packed with songs and puns and a million little things that a Jimmy Buffet fan will just love. It’s like an island getaway right in the middle of NYC! The show also is filled with some of my favorite songs including, Volcano, Cheeseburger In Paradise and Fins! 

Summer is a perfect time to take in a Broadway show and this one will definitely leave you singing and with an island vibe! You can also get a taste of some unique Escape To Margaritaville speciality drinks that include, Frozen Fins Margarita, Son of a Sailor and 5 O’Clock Somewhere! You can get them without alcohol so everyone can enjoy! Check out more about Escape To Margaritaville here and grab some tickets to see it for yourself! Disclosure: This is a personal post. The event was hosted by NYC Dads Group so we are super thankful for the #DadsNightOut with them! All opinions are that of my own. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com and @3decades3kids across all social media platforms. 

Cape May Getaway For Hubby and Me   Until Next Time, Cape May…Until Next Time…

Hubby and I have been together forever but the fact remains that we have found it extremely challenging to just get away with the two of us. Yes, we do have older sons that could watch their little sister and that is what happened the past two years that we have slipped away to Cape May. But before that we had not gone away overnight in eight years. If you have kids, please DO NOT wait eight years to go away with your hubby. The kids will still be there when you get back! The house may be a little more wrecked, the socks may be on the floor and you may have a bill from the pizza and Chinese food orders but aside from that everything will be okay.

When hubby and I only had one child it was easy to pack up and leave him with the grandparents, when we had our second son it got a little more complicated. Two kids are harder to watch than one. And by the time Emily came along both grandmas were gone and my oldest son was packing up for college. That left us with few options. But last year we decided that the time had come and we were ready to get away. We went to Cape May for our anniversary in November. This year we wanted to repeat the trip and head to Cape May for our anniversary in November, it never happened, it got put on hold, but at the end of March the trip happened. Yes, we were four months late, but it happened. You know what they say- Better late than never, SO true! So don’t get hung up on the date, just make it happen when it can, but make it happen, while you can. 

 

Hubby and I decided on a Friday morning that we would go to Cape May that night! As soon as our son walked through the door from work we were out. I must admit, the exit did come with guilt. I have only left Emily under five nights in her entire life. But I know she was in good hands. Grandpa came down to visit, I ordered pizza before I left and everyone was pretty much set. Hubby and I hit the parkway and we were on our way. Although Cape May is a little over three hours from our house it has a lot of history with us. It’s where we officially kind of fell in love. It’s where hubby would drive down to see me during the summers I spent there when I worked in Cape May during summers. It’s where we spent forever walking on the beaches and tell each other all of our dreams of the future. And it’s where we have taken all of our children one by one as they were born to be introduced to the beautiful ocean life. We have spent forever in Cape May and have created a million memories. Check out more about Cape May here: http://www.capemay.com/

We arrived in Cape May around 8 pm and checked in just to be sure the room was set since we only reserved it a couple of hours ahead of time. After dropping off our ONE carry on (a total perk of traveling with just you and your hubby) we headed to dinner at The Lobster House. I have lost count of how many time I have eaten there and how many laughs I have shared with family and friends throughout the years. It’s like coming home and even though my mom and old friends have gone to heaven, their memories come alive when I walk through those doors. Dinner was delicious as usual! I had to have the lobster bisque, had to! It’s my most favorite thing about the Lobster House, along with the bread they serve there! We were too stuffed for dessert- Ugg! I guess it was a good thing but I do love their desserts, too.

We took a ride around Cape May at night just to see everything. Most places were closed since our dinner took us late into the night. And the morning came TOO soon! I don’t know about you, but to me one of the best wake ups ever is to the ocean waves. We had a room that was ocean front so we could see that beautiful beach right away- It was another gorgeous morning in Cape May! I made this video BEFORE I DELETED all of my photos from the trip by mistake!! The ones pictured and this video are all I have….

After checking out we headed to the end of Ocean Drive. If you have ever been to Cape May you already know there is only so far you can do on Ocean Drive and at the end is the most wonderful view of the Cape May lighthouse. It was pretty windy and freezing but we could not resist a walk on the beach. We did keep it brief since it was COLD!! We walked the Washington Street Mall instead. The Washington Street Mall is not really a mall, it’s a cobblestone walkway lined with unique shoppes that you can find just about everything you ever wanted inside of. Since our last trip to Cape May I have become a fan of Pandora jewelry, so hubby surprised me with the Cape May lighthouse charm, love it! Thanks hubby!

We took in lunch at the Blue Pig Tavern inside of Congress Hall. We have dined at the Blue Pig Tavern since it first opened. It’s kind of small with a fireplace inside, but it’s worth the wait. PS- There was no wait the afternoon we visited. But if you visit in the summer, it’s worth the wait. There blueberry pancakes are incredible and the ruben sandwich is top notch! Yum!

The one thing that is bad about Cape May is that the time goes by TOO fast! It was like we arrived, dined, slept, woke up, beach, mall, dined and it was almost time to head home. Oh, we did stop for a banana split on the way out of town- a banana split! I’m not sure I even remember the last time I had one! 

So our trip was a total success! Hubby and I had a wonderful time and plenty of time to just chill and talk about everything. It was amazing, it was our Cape May! Add this trip to the memories…. Until next time, Cape May…Until next time….xoxo

PS: I deleted ALL of my MARCH photos from my phone and they did not save in my cloud. SO, I have a handful of pics and memories. Check out our Cape May Zoo post– It’s a great place to visit. 

Disclosure: This was a personal post. All opinions are my own. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com or @3decades3kids across all social networks. 

Castaway Cay All Day Long Was The Best Part Of Our Disney Cruise- After 25 Years, My Dreams Came True! Believe! Also, TIPS On Castaway Cay- What I WISH I Knew Before I Went To Castaway Cay!

Here’s a little secret you may not know about me. For years I have had a dream, a wish, I have always wanted to go to the Caribbean with my family, with my children. It’s been a wish that I have had since my oldest son was a toddler. As life would have it something has always prevented us from traveling to the Caribbean together. I’m happy to report that Dreams DO come true sometimes, this one took 25 YEARS to come true, but it did, and I will NEVER forget that magical moment!

Recently our family was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Land and Sea! As soon as the invite arrived I knew that this could possibly be more that just a conference. This could be a dream come true. In the words of Rapunzel- We all have a dream, well mine came true! I knew we had to go! It was no easy task to organize things including days off, pet care, and home watching, but somehow it all just came together. In the back of my mind I kept thinking something was going to ruin the entire plan, but nothing happened and my dream came true….and it was even more beautiful than I ever could imagine!

The Disney Dream is just as amazing as you could ever imagine. It’s like a floating utopia filled with as many smiles and laughs everywhere you look. Our family celebrated from the minute we boarded the gigantic ship of happiness. But that is another story. For this one, I just want to share my time at Castaway Cay! 

Castaway Cay is Disney’s Private island in the Caribbean. The only way to access Castaway Cay is by Disney Cruise Line! Wow, what a perk. Day Three of the itinerary was Castaway Cay. I had the family up early so we could debark the Disney Dream as soon as it was possible. Before we even left the ship MY DREAM CAME TRUE!!! Sitting on deck 12 outside of Cabanas our table faced Castaway Cay. There was my dream, all of us sitting together with that gorgeous water in the background. I was SO excited I DID NOT take a picture of all of us. I just don’t believe it! Between the smiles and the tears( Yes, I just could not hold back my emotions- It was a surreal moment). Emily kept asking me why I was crying. My heart was bursting with happiness. Everyone has something they really want, THIS moment was mine! And I loved it, I treasured it. It was not as big a deal to the kids as it was to me, but that’s okay. Everyone has their own list. After TWENTY FIVE years, my wish came true, it really happened.

Now, onto Castaway Cay. I’m sure by now you have seen the commercials or ads for Disney’s private island. Believe me when I tell you, it is a perfect little place to visit! First of all, it’s just the people from the cruise that are on the island so there are no outsiders to deal with. As soon as we debarked the Disney Dream we found Stitch waiting to greet everyone! If you love Disney characters, I have good news- they are plentiful on the island. Some places you can find them are the  Post Office, Gazebo, and Gangway!  

You dont’ have to worry about dragging towels off the cruise ship- someone is at the entrance of Castaway Cay handing out towels to use for the day! We grabbed the island tram to get to our first stop, the family beach. Our package included snorkel gear, floatie tube or raft, and bike rental. Of course we headed right for snorkeling! Let me say up front I am not a snorkel fan- Years ago I pushed hubby into a coral trap when we were snorkeling. An octopus came out of nowhere and totally spooked me. Ever since then I have been overly cautious when snorkeling! I tried not to let on about my snorkeling koo-koo so the kids would have the best chance liking the sport. THEY did GREAT!! I didn’t make it out to the deepest, but my sons did and they loved it! As for Emm and me, we went about mid-level and still were able to see many fish swimming about the crystal clear water!

There is so much to do on Castaway Cay and without a doubt in my mind, something for everyone! There is shopping that includes both Disney’s Castaway Cay goods as well as a special Bahamas gift shop where you can pick up some authentic Bahamas goods! Don’t even bother asking, of course we shopped in both! There is also a great frozen drink station where you can pick up an Olaf or Sven biggie themed drink cup! You can find these souvenir cups at Olaf’s Summertime Freeze! If you are into themed cups, they are available as well. The kids and I couldn’t resist the plastic coconut frozen drinks on the beach! I think that when I see that coconut now it will remind me that dreams count- Don’t ever lose sight of your own. You never know.

There is also no need to head back to the cruise ship when you are hungry, there is an amazing mouth watering Cookie’s BBQ dining in a open air location that  serves complimentary meals at a designated time slot. Did I mention there are ice cream machines??!?!?! Yumm!! Banana/Strawberry twist was my favorite! As for the family, they feasted on ribs, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, fruit salad and a million other choices. Everyone was satisfied!

If hanging out on the beach and relaxing is not your thing you need not worry- There are tons of activities, including happy island music and dancing at the Gazebo to volleyball and soccer at the Sports Beach. Children can even engage in an array of supervised games at In Da Shade Game Pavilion! You can take a break from the hot sun and have fun playing table tennis, foosball, basketball, billiards and more. If outdoor sports is your thing, you can head over to Sports Beach( I LOVE this because you did not have to worry about being hit with a flying ball on the family beach!!) On Sports Beach you can join in  a fun game of volleyball and tetherball!

If you are looking for a child-free experience of just a little bit of time alone at some point in the day you can head to Serenity Bay, designed for adults 18+. Serenity Bay is filled with open-air cabanas, options for a massage under those monstrous palm trees, and sipping on  frozen specialty drinks at the Castaway Air Bar. There is also 18+ dining available at Air Bar BBQ so you never have to mingle with the family crowd.

There is one thing you should do before you leave Castaway Cay, it’s Pelican Plunge!! Definitely take the plunge. Young and old can both enjoy this fabulous water slide that is free floating in a gorgeous lagoon. This water play area and slide celebrated the island’s favorite, the pelicans. You can see them everywhere around the island and from the ship you can see them diving into the water for some yum! Pelican Plunge is a 2,400 square foot water play area which also includes a gigantic bucket dump and more. This is a must see and must do!

If you have a teen with you, no problem! When you have had enough of each other they can head to the Teen Hideout, for ages 13-17, and lounge about while they hang with other teens. Brilliant!! As for the little kids, no problem, they have a special place to go, too! Scuttle’s Cove is designed for kids and supervised by the same counselors as on the ship. They will have access to water fun and activities including Monstro’s Point, a whale bone excavation site. Your kids will thank you!!

If you are up for more than playing on the beach there are many rental choices! You can grab a boat of your choice and take an excursion on the crystal-blue waters of Castaway Cay. There are one-person sea kayaks,  Four person paddleboats, two people aqua trikes or active stand-up paddleboards! There are SO many choices for your day of adventure! 

As for me, I just loved LOOKING at the water! We did snorkel, bike ride, float and walk the entire island. It all added up to “One Perfect Day!” and “A Dream Come True”. I can’t even write this without tears coming into my eyes. I just can’t believe it really happened. I’m SO happy! They always say that Disney has magic, now I am a big believer of that magic. Thank you for making my dreams come true Castaway Cay. I hope we meet again in the future…..You will always hold a special place in my heart, always!! Check out more about Castaway Cay and the Disney Cruise here: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ports/castaway-cay/#!

TIPS! What I WISH I Knew Before Going to Castaway Cay!

1. Don’t forget your suntan lotion, flip flops, sunglasses and a hat! The ship is not exactly close, so if you leave something in your room you will be wasting a lot of time to go back or have to buy it at the shop.

2. Don’t bring towels. They give them out and collect them back outside of the ship! Bravo, Disney!

3. You don’t need any kind of change of clothes! Wear your bathing suit with a cover up and your flip flops. Going to Castaway Cay is like going to the pool or beach. Everyone wears their beachwear!

4. If you want to mail a card or message in a bottle stamped with the Castaway Cay post office stamp you will need CASH! They do not take credit cards or your room key. 

5. Kids can wear their own swim goggles and SEE the fish! Some of the snorkel masks are big and uncomfortable, you can see it all with your own goggles. 

6. Bring your own tissues and napkins! My son had a horrific nosebleed after snorkeling and it took forever for someone to produce a tissue. The bathrooms are far from the water. I wish I was better prepared. 

7. The bike rental is amazing and so worth it!

8. DO IT ALL! It’s one stop on the Disney Cruise and who know WHEN or IF you will ever go back to Castaway Cay! Don’t have regrets, just do it!

9. When you go back onto the Disney Cruise ship go right to the Aqua Duck or the pool. It’s great to continue your beach and water day by heading to the pool for an extra hour or so. We took advantage of the Water Duck, Hot Tub, Pool and Movie right after Castaway Cay and before dinner.

10. Don’t wait for the final whistle to blow before boarding the cruise ship. That is when the lines get SO long! I could see them from the deck above. We left about thirty minutes before last call and walked right back on the ship with no lines.

Have fun! Make a day of memories that will last forever. Take a million pictures AND video!! I hope you enjoy the video I made, it’s not just for the blog, it’s for myself, and my kids and my life. I hope my kids come back and look at it and see that their Mom’s Dream Came true that day! I hope when they watch the video they see how much that day meant to me and how much I love them. I hope they watch it and make their own wishes and dreams….AND even if they have to wait TWENTY FIVE YEARS for them to COME TRUE…It WILL be worth the wait!! Go live your dreams…. <3 Thank you for sharing in mine.- Diane

Disclosure: All opinions are honest and do not reflect those of the parent company represented. This post is part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coverage. A media rate was provided to attend the conference. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com and @3decades3kids across all social media platforms. 

 

Pirate Night On The Disney Cruise Line, Disney Dream- Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate’s Life for me! Up front- Mickey’s Pirates In The Caribbean was my favorite night of the cruise! Being a “BoyMom” for sixteen years before Emily arrived on the scene gave me plenty of time to get my pirate on! I can’t even begin to count the hours and hours I spent when my sons were younger playing pirates. They were both super into Pirates of the Caribbean. I can remember having to constantly stick my arm under my sleeve after it had been chopped off my pirate son! Yes, if you are a boymom you already know the drill!

When we first heard about Pirate Night on the Disney Dream I have to admit, I really did get pretty pumped about the entire thing. I mean, who doesn’t love pirates? And Jack Sparrow? Pirate Mickey? The entire night sounded amazing! Then I found out that everyone dresses up in their best pirate garb! What a dream come true. I immediately scooped up some matching Pirates of the Caribbean tees for the guys and matching Pirate and Princess Mickey ears for Emm and me! Of course you don’t have to go all out with extras. It’s totally up to you. Disney does have you covered- They will leave some Mickey pirate bandanas in your stateroom the afternoon of Pirate Night so that everyone can feel included in the big event. On Pirate Night the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transforms into The Pirates League where you can have a pirate makeover just in time for the party! Next time I’m sure Emm will want to do this, I did not know about this time. (Uggg…Do your research! Read the blogs! lol Find out everything you can before you cruise!)

How long does Pirate Night last on the Disney Dream? The entire night! It starts at around 6-7 (Please don’t quote me on exact times- you can check your daily navigator when you are on the actual cruise). Most of the people come to dinner already in their pirate gear. We did, too! Did I mention that along the way we bought a Pirate Princess dress for Emm at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Magic Kingdom?! And some Jack Sparrow swords- which I am still not sure was the best idea~! You know boys and swords and men and swords and just swords in general- More boymom stuff here!!

Check out our two minute video that will highlight all the fun we had at Pirate Night aboard the Disney Dream- Disney Cruise Line! Click here–> https://youtu.be/42DbAQu65TY

Before or after dinner you can find the entire crew of Disney characters decked out in their finest pirate garb! They are all available for pictures and believe me, it is so much fun! Jack Sparrow is also at a meet and greet, which is a big ton of fun. After dinner and pictures there is a first show. That show features all of the Disney characters in a energizing show that will definitely have you singing and dancing along! The first show does not have fireworks and is a more geared to a younger crowd. The second show starts after 10pm and is total pirates including Jack Sparrow. It’s a fun show and ends with fireworks off of the side of the ship. This show is DON’T MISS show! It’s not scary for kids, but there are no characters in it. The pirates do run through the crowd but do not bother the audience.

After the show and the fireworks the party is still not over- it’s followed by a Pirate Dance Party, Club Pirate! There is also a late night pirate buffet open at Cabanas. Even if you are not in the mood to chow down, it’s worth a walk through just to see the carved watermelon pirates! The entire night was SO much fun! Our family made memories that night that will last forever! It was also my favorite night on board the Disney Dream! Arrrrrgh!!! 

So, how about a few tips? Things I WISH I knew before Pirate Night!

– Bring your own pirate garb and tees! We also brought along eye patches and swords!

– Get your pictures with Mickey and the gang dressed in their pirate outfits!

– Stay for the fireworks! It may be late but it’s definitely worth it. Besides, fireworks off the side of the cruise ship? Priceless!

– Take LOTS of pics! You can always delete them later!

– Stay and dance! A lot of memories are made during dancing with your family!

– Walk through the late night pirate buffet to see the decorations and carved watermelons!

– Make your appointment for The Pirates League ahead of time. The Pirate’s League is for both boys and girls.

Find out more about Pirate Night on Disney Cruise Line here: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com

Disclosure: This post is written by Diane Sullivan. All opinions are honest and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented. This post is part of our Disney Social Media Moms Celebration coverage, a media rate was provided for this trip. Contact me at 3decades3kids@gmail.com or @3decades3kids across all social media platforms. Follow our coverage at #DisneySMMC