DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

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DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast episodes

July 20Ep. 680 - Is a Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise Worth It? One Family's Take
Gabe is back — and this time he traded a stormy, port-skipping Disney Fantasy cruise for the very first Disney Wonder Alaska sailing of 2026. His family lucked into a full week of sunny, 70-degree weather, and Gabe walks us through the planning, the ports, the excursions, and an honest verdict on whether DCL Alaska lives up to years of anticipation.
In this episode:
How choosing early May kept the price down — and why Alaska on Disney Cruise Line is still never truly "cheap"
The sideways inside stateroom that gave two adults real space, plus access to Mom and Dad's veranda down the hall
Excursion-by-excursion prices and takeaways: White Pass Scenic Railway, Mendenhall Glacier + whale watching, and the character Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Palo brunch on Glacier Day — unobstructed views of Dawes Glacier and the character-photo tradeoff
The revamped main dining menus: "small plates," dessert ordered with your mains, faster dinners, and the classics that didn't survive the cut
A Broadway Star Series first sailing with Adam Jacobs (original Aladdin) and Josh Strickland (original Tarzan)
"It was probably a one and done we decided for us... we're very glad we were able to kind of check it off the list." — Gabe
Support the Show:
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off
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.
1 hr 9 min
July 15Ep. 679 - Live Bonus Show - Adventures by Disney Holland & Belgium River Cruise the Duo's Verdict
Eight days, two countries, nineteen windmills, and one official certificate proving Sam is not a witch. We're back from Adventures by Disney's Holland & Belgium River Cruise aboard the AmaLea, and this is the full trip report — every port, every excursion, the ones worth your money and the one Brian would trade for a chocolate-making class. After two ABD river cruises, we give you our verdict on whether the premium is justified.
First, Danny from DCL Magazine joins us for Disney Cruise Line news and a crash course in taking better travel photos with the phone already in your pocket.
In this episode:
Why five Adventure Guides are the real difference between an Adventures by Disney river cruise and booking AmaWaterways on your own
Our port-by-port breakdown: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Ghent, Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, Dordrecht and the UNESCO windmills at Kinderdijk
The Antwerp food tour that ranks near the top of every ABD excursion we've done — and the Brussels beer tour that fell flat
Life aboard the AmaLea: the Chef's Table is now open for lunch, tips are fully included, and there is no reason to board before mid-afternoon
How to legally bring real farm Gouda home — and why shipping it is off the table
Danny's phone photography tips, including the parallax trick that keeps landmarks from shrinking into specks
Our verdict, and the Adventures by Disney trip we booked before we even got home
"They bring the magic all the way to Europe and onto the ship and make sure that you just have that little dose of Disney that you need if you're doing one of these." — Brian
Support the Show:
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store.
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube
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.
1 hr 35 min
July 12Ep. 678 - Bonus Show - 12 Years Working at Disney and DCL: A Cast Member's Story
At 12 years old, sitting on Main Street USA, Theresa looked down at a single brick and decided it was hers — then spent 24 years at the Walt Disney Company proving it. She managed hotels, sold Disney Vacation Club onboard the ships for a dozen years, and came out the other side of a spinal cord injury that four doctors first mistook for ALS. This conversation covers all of it, plus the book she wrote about finishing hard things.
In this episode:
Why Theresa says the cast members are the most magical thing about Disney Cruise Line, and what she witnessed building that culture from the inside
The reason she boarded a Disney cruise the day before emergency spinal surgery
What onboard life as a vendor and DVC guide was really like: the perks, the boundaries, and the crew politics
How 50-plus marathons and multiple Ironmans shaped her "race to complete, not to compete" outlook
Her three straight-talk tips for first-time Disney Cruise Line families
The origin of her book Built to Finish, and the turtle on the cover
"If you take care of your cast members, your cast members are going to take care of your guests, which is then going to take care of your business needs." — Theresa
Find Theresa's Book:
Built to Finish (website): Built to Finish
Built to Finish on Amazon: Built to Finish on Amazon
Instagram: Built to Finish
Support the Show:

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.
1 hr 12 min
July 09Ep. 677 - She Paid $3,000 More for Disney Wish Concierge — Was It Worth It?
Jenn brought her whole crew back to the Disney Wish in concierge — her older daughter who'd sailed before, her younger daughter on her very first cruise, and a husband who needed convincing. They entered the same Arendelle dining request that gave them a front-row table in 2023, but this time, after spending roughly $3,000 more for concierge, the family ended up three rows back. Jenn walks us through what concierge delivered, what it didn't, and whether the upgrade is worth it for a family of four.
In this episode:
What concierge actually gets you on the Disney Wish, and the one request that fell through this time
The Arendelle seating mix-up and the simple step to take the moment you board so it doesn't happen to you
Whether concierge is worth about $3,000 more for a family of four with elementary-age kids
Palo for the first time: the water tasting, the amaretto souffle, and why dinner felt like a genuine bargain
Two private islands, no Nassau, and how Lookout Cay plus Castaway Cay on one sailing went over with the girls
How a self-described Disney-skeptic husband got talked into booking the next cruise
"If you are not spending most of your time in that concierge lounge and on that concierge pool deck, you are not getting the value for that concierge level." — Jenn
Follow along with Jenn's future adventures at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kids_travel_tales/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KidsTravelTales
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-travel-tales-a-family-travel-podcast/id1849200222
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kids.travel.tales
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store.
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube
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.
1 hr 5 min
July 07Ep. 676 - Is Lookout Cay Better Than Castaway Cay? One Family's Verdict
Two years ago, Meghan told us Castaway Cay was her favorite island. After sailing a five-night Disney Fantasy itinerary that stopped at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay on back-to-back days, she changed her answer — and her reasoning comes down to a $1,000 cabana and a free beach day that delivered just as much. She's back to break down both islands, the Disney Fantasy, and a multi-generational trip with her parents.
In this episode:
Why the Mickey and Minnie's Cove Cabana won them over instead of the Sandcastle cabana
The Lookout Cay rocks hike to a hidden view of the ship, and the water shoes you need to do it
Bringing grandparents on their first Dream-class ship and first time through Disney's Terminal 8
Finding adult game shows in The Tube and family trivia in the D Lounge after five cruises of skipping them
Palo brunch favorites, the football-sized calzone, and why they book it on a port day instead of the last day
The case for not over-planning: two booked tastings missed, and no regrets
Pull quote (Meghan): "You could almost argue that Lookout without a cabana was just as good of a day as Castaway with a cabana. And one cost us $1,000 and one cost us nothing."
DCL Magazine — use promo code DCLDUO for 10 percent off: DCL Magazine
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 (No. 1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (No. 2) | Top Disney Podcasts (No. 4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (No. 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.
1 hr 9 min
July 05Ep. 675 - What Happens When Disney Upgrades You to Concierge for Free?
Longtime listener and Patreon supporter Matt joins Sam (solo this week) to unpack a 4-night Disney Fantasy spring break sailing that turned into a string of firsts. The biggest one arrived by email two weeks out: a complimentary upgrade to concierge from Disney shoreside concierge services, with no added room cost — just the concierge gratuities. His honest take on whether it's worth it when you're the one paying might surprise you.
In this episode:
How a surprise comp concierge upgrade landed two weeks before sailing, and the family's theory for why they were chosen
First sailing as Platinum: a complimentary Palo brunch and a last-minute Lookout Cay cabana booking
Why Cabana 14 at Lookout Cay made for the best beach day they've ever had, and why they'd still steer first-timers away from a cabana
The Fantasy's expanded post-dry-dock concierge lounge and sun deck, now subtly Hercules-themed, with a hot tub and Pirate Night fireworks viewing
A 3 a.m. "assessment team" announcement and the small garbage-silo fire behind it
What's booked next: Alaska on the Wonder this summer, and a return to the Fantasy in concierge
"It's probably the best beach day we've ever had as a family." — Matt
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store.
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | Listen on Apple Podcasts
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.
1 hr 29 min
July 03Ep.674 - Live Bonus Show - Disney Alaska Cruise: Glaciers, Excursions & Real Costs
After 21 Disney cruises, Kelly came home from the Disney Wonder calling her Alaska sailing a contender for her favorite ever. She is back on the show to break down what a Disney Cruise Line trip to Alaska is really like with an 18-person group: three glaciers in one week, a ship that felt surprisingly empty in peak June, and the excursion strategy that kept everyone together.
In this episode:
The Castaway Club booking trick for getting a large group onto the same Alaska excursion
Three glaciers, three ways: the Glacier Explorer, the Skagway hiker's-train hike, and a Mendenhall canoe-and-hike adventure
Real excursion pricing, from a 106-dollar train hike to a 358-dollar canoe day to roughly 900 dollars for helicopter dog-sledding
Why the Disney Wonder felt nearly empty in mid-June, and what that meant on board
How Disney Cruise Line handled a wheat allergy for a graduating senior, down to a from-scratch chocolate lava cake
Who an Alaska sailing is genuinely for, and who should book a warm-weather cruise instead
"I love this cruise. I think this might be my favorite Disney cruise I've been on and I've been on a lot of good ones, but we just had such a good time." — Kelly
Book with our guest:
Kelly is a Disney travel advisor with Platinum Mouse: Book with Kelly
Travel blog: Afterall Travel
Or follow along with her great tips on her DCL 101 socials on Instagram and TikTok
Support the Show: Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today — use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off.
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Apple Podcasts | 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.
1 hr 13 min
July 01Ep. 673 - Live Bonus Show - Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise: Everything You Need to Know!
CT — aka Tin Foil Mouse Ears — came back from an Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam and joined Sam and Brian live to break it all down. Castles, chocolate, a music cabinet museum, a perfume house that became the trip's surprise highlight, and a brutally honest answer to the question every DCL fan eventually asks: is Adventures by Disney worth the price?
In this episode:
A day-by-day breakdown of the Rhine River Cruise — Riquewihr, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, and Amsterdam
How the AmaWaterways Ama Siena compares to Disney Cruise Line in room size, food, community atmosphere, and onboard vibe
Food on the ship: CT says it ranks a step below Palo for regular dining — and a step above it for the Chef's Table
Practical tips for European river cruising: church dress codes, packing layers, translate apps, and the gear that made the trip
Who Adventures by Disney is really built for, and when the all-inclusive, guided experience is worth every penny
Sam's predictions: DCL returning to New York City and late-2027 itinerary releases ahead of D23
You can find and follow along with CT (aka Tin Foil Mouse Ears) on all of his Disney adventures and prrognostications at his website, on Instagram and on Threads.
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off: DCL Magazine
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | Watch on YouTube | Listen on Apple Podcasts
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.
1 hr 32 min
June 29Ep. 672 - What a 7-Night Disney Treasure Concierge Cruise Is Really Like
Jason returns to the show — this time with his sister Paris joining for the first time — to break down the family's first seven-night cruise: Concierge on the Disney Treasure through the Eastern Caribbean. Six travelers, three generations, two birthdays on board, and a long-awaited jump from short sailings to a full week. After a four-night Wish cruise that left everyone wanting more, the longer itinerary changed the whole experience, especially for Jason's son Casper.
In this episode:
The honest verdict on the Mickey and Minnie Cove Cabana on Castaway Cay, plus what "no more waitlists" means for booking one
How Jason arranged an Impossible Burger at every dinner through Disney's special request services team, including the 30-day photo requirement
Why Tale of Moana drew the biggest reaction of the week from twelve-year-old Casper
The Worlds of Marvel night-two dinner that genuinely missed the mark, and how the dining team recovered in seconds
The Facebook group strategy that set up a ready-made friend for Jason's daughter before the cruise began
The churro Mickey waffle rescue before an early port-adventure call time
"This for me felt like coming home... I'm back, and this is exactly how I want to feel... instantly relaxed, walking to the Treasure." — Jason
Support the Show:
Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel.
Subscribe to DCL Magazine 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.
1 hr 27 min
June 27Ep. 671 - Live Bonus Show - Is DCL's Alaska Worth the Cost? One Family's Complete Wonder Review
Rich just got back from a seven-night Disney Wonder Alaska sailing — and he came prepared, with a full slide deck, a family of four platinum-status DCL sailors, and a fresh frame of reference from a previous Antarctica expedition cruise. The result is one of the most practical and specific Alaska trip reports we've had on the show.
In this episode:
The honest cost breakdown for Alaska excursions — Rich estimates they ran 30–35% on top of the cruise fare
Why Deck 4 (not Deck 10) might be your best friend on Glacier Day — no lines, hot chocolate carts, and easy port-to-starboard access
The private fishing charter in Ketchikan through Exclusive Alaska — rockfish, bald eagles, a campfire meal, and fresh-caught halibut shipped home frozen
Packing reality check: Rich's family over-packed hard and wishes they'd brought half as much
The Broadway Star Series adult-only show: go early — all seats were full 30 minutes before showtime
Would Rich do Disney for Alaska again vs. a small ship expedition? His answer might surprise you
"I don't know of any other cruise line that does that [Glacier Day] well... kind of bringing out the magic of the day and the wonder of the setting that you're in. They really, really did a great job." — Rich
Support the Show:
Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with My Path Unwinding Travel
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store
Rich's Travel Agency — Family Passport Adventures
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familypassportadventures/
Website: https://www.familypassportadventures.com/
Stay Connected with the DCL Duo:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | Watch on YouTube | Listen on Apple Podcasts
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.
1 hr 19 min

About DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

From the publisher's feed

DCL Duo is the #1 Disney Cruise Line podcast — your go-to resource for Disney Cruise Line tips, trip planning advice, honest ship reviews, and insider secrets from two of the most experienced DCL fans in the community.