DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

Brian & Sam
  • 4.9 (571)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

The DCLDuo Podcast is a Disney Cruise Line focused podcast. We're DCL super fans who love cruising. We love talking about our own Disney Cruise Line Adventures, comparing DCL to other cruise lines, and talking about other Disney adventures, like Adventures by Disney. We love talking to Disney Cruise Line fans, as well as experts, insiders, authors, bloggers, vloggers, travel agents and cruise lovers! Follow us and our guests on our journeys, and listen-in as we chat about cruising, Disney Cruise Line, and all of our other fabulous Disney adventures!!

  1. Ep. 664 - Bonus Show - When a Disney Cruise Becomes a Medical Emergency: One Family's Story

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    Ep. 664 - Bonus Show - When a Disney Cruise Becomes a Medical Emergency: One Family's Story

    Michele had never been on a Disney cruise before. Her mother had just gotten stitches from a fall in the backyard. Two doctors cleared her to travel. None of that mattered on Day 2 of their five-night Disney Dream sailing, when a routine check turned into a race to Nassau — and a lesson in how Disney Cruise Line handles the moments when everything goes wrong. In this episode: How Michele's mom went from a routine leg injury to a medical emergency on Day 2 of their first DCL cruise on the Disney Dream What Disney's onboard medical team did — and how fast they did it — when the situation turned serious The moment the captain announced to the entire ship they were diverting to Nassau at full speed to evacuate a passenger How Disney's guest services team stepped up — from packing their bags to personally escorting Nico through customs at 9pm The brutal reality of travel insurance fine print (and the insurer who denied the claim mid-crisis, citing a "preexisting condition") Practical tips from Michele, Nico, Sam, and Brian: travel insurance, passports, credit card limits, and what to do the minute someone gets sick onboard "They were very transparent so that I knew how serious it was, but also so that I knew what the next steps were so that I wouldn't be afraid." — Michele Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel! Subscribe to DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store. 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.

    1h 4m
  2. Ep. 663 - Live Bonus Show - Is Adventures by Disney South Africa the Ultimate Disney Travel Experience?

    Jun 5 ·  Bonus

    Ep. 663 - Live Bonus Show - Is Adventures by Disney South Africa the Ultimate Disney Travel Experience?

    A two-month-old baby elephant. A pack of 20 African wild dogs — the most endangered predator on the planet — running straight at the jeep. A male lion close enough to touch. June joined us live to walk through her Adventures by Disney South Africa trip, and it absolutely delivered. If you've ever looked at an ABD price tag and wondered whether it's actually worth it, this is the episode that answers that question honestly. In this episode: Why June chose Adventures by Disney over independent travel for South Africa — and what you genuinely can't replicate on your own The full itinerary: Cape Town (including a Table Mountain weather pivot), the Knysna coast, Kapama Game Reserve near Kruger National Park, and a post-tour add-on to Victoria Falls Big Five in the first 24 hours — plus African wild dogs, hyenas, and a female leopard carrying breakfast back to her cubs What's included vs. out of pocket on a land-based ABD, and how the lodging compares (spoiler: Kapama rivals the Four Seasons Maldives) Health prep, packing strategy, laundry logistics, currency — the practical stuff ABD doesn't always cover We also got into the week's DCL policy changes: the alcohol policy reduction, selfie stick rules, door decoration limits, and the Disney Adventure–specific Palo age change and room service fee "The only place I've ever stayed that was on par with that was the Four Seasons Private Island in the Maldives."— June, on Kapama Game Reserve Listen now and join the conversation! Follow June on Instagram to see even more from her amazing Adventures by Disney trip to South Africa, and her future travels! Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel 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 | 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.

    1h 13m
  3. Ep. 662 - Dream to Destiny Side-to-Side: An Honest 9-Night DCL Review

    Jun 2

    Ep. 662 - Dream to Destiny Side-to-Side: An Honest 9-Night DCL Review

    Lauren and her husband Chase didn't just sail the Disney Destiny — they sailed the Dream first, spent a night watching ships come into port at 4:45 AM, and boarded the Destiny ready to do it all again. Their side-to-side report is packed with specific, useful detail for anyone planning a Dream or Destiny sailing, from Bluey's embarkation-day meet to the lighting secrets of the Destiny's Grand Hall. In this episode: What it's actually like to spend a night between two sailings — hotel logistics, Disney transport, and the moment the Destiny came into port How the Disney Destiny's Grand Hall really works — and why the neutral colors are a feature, not a flaw Bluey on the Dream: the embarkation-day meet, Wakey Wakey, the Pajama Party, and the app location mistake you need to know about Beauty and the Beast without Cogsworth — how the Dream's cast handled an unplanned cast change mid-voyage With Great Power vs. Choose Wisely: who wins the adult show showdown? What's next: Southern Caribbean on the Dream out of Puerto Rico and Alaska on the Wonder in 2027 "The lighting is just incredible... when you first board the ship, you have to remember, if you compare it to the treasure and you look at it, you're going, wow, this is very similar neutral and simple. But what they really get you later when they start doing a lot of the different shows." — Chase Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with My Path Unwinding Travel — our trusted travel partner! Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store. Stay Connected with 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.

    1h 30m
  4. Ep. 661 -Would You Sail Disney Adventure Back-to-Back? One Family's Unfiltered Take

    May 31

    Ep. 661 -Would You Sail Disney Adventure Back-to-Back? One Family's Unfiltered Take

    Lauren wasn't just another first-timer. She'd already sailed the Disney Wonder three times out of Melbourne — and she still flew eight hours to Singapore to do a back-to-back on the Disney Adventure. Seven nights, two rotations, one family of five, and a roller coaster booking system that crashed the app every single day at noon. Her verdict? It depends heavily on who's traveling with you. In this episode: The roller coaster reality: How Lauren's daughter finally scored a sunset ride — and why guests needed a week's worth of attempts to get one booking The heat problem: Burning feet on the pool deck, empty adult outdoor spaces at night, and what Disney could do to fix it Hollywood Spotlight rotation: The ube crème brûlée, outstanding service, and why this is the dining rotation to choose Kids clubs on the Adventure: Why the Oceaneers Club, Edge, and San Fransokyo area were the unanimous highlight for Lauren's three kids Back-to-back logistics: A smooth first embarkation — and a confusing turnover morning when the letter never arrived Theater shows, merch, and managing expectations on a ship that plays by different rules "I just said to myself, nah, we'll just skip it. Like, it's not that important. 11:59, I just happened to be in getting lunch and I jumped on and they'd loaded it early, like a minute early or whatever. So I got it straight away. It was like getting Taylor Swift tickets." — Lauren 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. 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.

    1h 27m
  5. Ep. 660 - Disney Dream 3-Night Cruise Review: Lookout Cay, Atlantis & Family Tips

    May 27

    Ep. 660 - Disney Dream 3-Night Cruise Review: Lookout Cay, Atlantis & Family Tips

    Chanin has sailed four Disney ships in less than two years — and her January cruise on the Disney Dream with her autistic adult son Justin may have been her most intentional one yet. From a server who quietly prepped a no-sauce pizza for two nights running, to a dining table pairing that felt almost too perfectly arranged, this episode is full of moments that remind you why families keep coming back to Disney Cruise Line. In this episode: ️ Why Chanin books 3-night Disney Cruise Line sailings on purpose — and how she uses short itineraries to build Justin's comfort before tackling longer voyages ️ A first-timer's honest take on Lookout Cay — what to do, what to skip, and how to plan port days when your travel companion is a picky eater The Atlantis Nassau excursion breakdown: what the $240 Disney price actually includes, why the shuttle guarantee matters for solo travelers, and whether it's worth the upcharge over a taxi Beauty and the Beast on the Disney Dream — confirmed still incredible — plus a case for the Muppets version of Midship Detective Agency The simple first-night dining trick that transformed Justin's rotational dining experience (and that every family with dietary preferences needs to hear) How the Disney Dream's Funnel Vision, photo package, and Aqua Duck delivered for an adult guest who loves Disney as much as any kid "...they actually sat us with a husband and wife with a daughter who has Down syndrome...I felt like that was the perfect pairing for us because we had so much to talk about." — Chanin Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel! My Path Unwinding Travel Subscribe to 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. 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 (#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.

    1h 4m
  6. Ep. 659 - Live Bonus Show - Bluey, Bingo & Baja: Father-Son Sailing on the Disney Wonder

    May 25 ·  Bonus

    Ep. 659 - Live Bonus Show - Bluey, Bingo & Baja: Father-Son Sailing on the Disney Wonder

    Doobie from Laughing Place has sailed 15 Disney cruises — and his recent father-son sailing on the Disney Wonder out of San Diego left him convinced the classic Magic Class ships are doing something the newer ships aren't quite matching yet. Laughing Place co-founder Doobie joins Sam (solo-hosting while Brian recovers) fresh off a Disney-hosted four-night Baja sailing to share what surprised him about sailing out of San Diego, why the Wonder's service blew him away, and what it was like to get an early meet with Bluey and Bingo before the characters went public on the ship. In this episode: Bluey and Bingo on the Disney Wonder — Doobie's private media meet with the characters and what the public experience looks like now that it's on the schedule San Diego as a departure port — why Doobie walked in skeptical about the terminal and walked out declaring it his new favorite place to sail from Wonder vs. the newer ships — a noticeable service difference, what's behind it, and why cast member tenure may be a big part of the story The small-ship feel of the Magic Class — how stepping into the Wonder atrium after years away felt like seeing Disneyland's castle after a lifetime at Disney World DCL news: new Castaway Club gifts rolling out across the fleet, Behind the Attraction Season 3 coming to Disney+ with a two-episode special on the making of the Disney Destiny, and a new head of Disney Signature Experiences joining from Disneyland Paris Fleet future: the Meridian class ships, the Disney Adventure, and whether we'll really see 13 ships sailing at once — and for how long "The only reason I work is so I can figure out how to pay for the next cruise. That is all I care about." — Doobie Listen now and join the conversation! Find Doobie and the Laughing Place crew at laughingplace.com, on YouTube, and on Instagram.Doobie and his son Gideon also host Disney Trivia Live every Tuesday and Saturday at 7:30 PM Pacific on the Laughing Place YouTube channel — well worth checking out. Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel! 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: DCL Magazine 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
  7. Ep. 658 - Disney Treasure Family Review: Cabanas, Coco & Castaway Cay

    May 23

    Ep. 658 - Disney Treasure Family Review: Cabanas, Coco & Castaway Cay

    When a salon client asked Stef, "Have you ever heard of Disney Cruise?" — she had no idea it would launch a years-long obsession, a career pivot into travel advising, and eventually a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing on the Disney Treasure with two families, four kids, and a best-friend surprise reveal planned at Disney Springs. Stef is a longtime DCL Duo listener and a travel advisor, which means she came to the Treasure with both the planning instincts of an insider and the pure enthusiasm of a fan who's finally there. In this episode: How Stef scored a Castaway Cay cabana at Silver Castaway Club status — and used her booking window strategically to lock up extras for friends with zero status The reality of sailing an adult-heavy cruise: what it means when the Haunted Mansion Parlor is standing room only every single time you try to get in Honest main dining breakdown — 1923 delivered, Coco's food disappointed (the salsa "was like ragu"), and the assistant server situation got bad enough that the team split up mid-cruise Chankanaab Park in Cozumel: dolphin swim, manatee feeding, beach access, and the last-minute photo negotiation that got the whole group's pictures for $200 Castaway Cay parasailing turned a nervous 10-year-old into a lifetime convert The rainforest room verdict (she bought it twice) — plus the free spa shower hack you need to know "She got back down and she was like, that was the coolest thing I've ever done and has asked no less than 100 times since we've gotten back...we're going to parasail again, right?" — Stef Book with Stef! Stef is a travel advisor specializing in Disney Cruise Line vacations. Find her on Instagram. Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel 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.

    1h 30m
  8. Ep. 657 - Live Bonus Show - Disney Destiny Spring Break Family Review | Was It Worth It?

    May 17 ·  Bonus

    Ep. 657 - Live Bonus Show - Disney Destiny Spring Break Family Review | Was It Worth It?

    Sara, a Florida-based military family mom who got hooked on Disney Cruise Line after just one sailing, just returned from a five-night spring break trip on the Disney Destiny with her ten-year-old daughter and six-year-old son — and brought receipts: 75 photos of her kids dominating the Happy Haunt game, a Palo brunch with Bahamian rain falling outside the window, and a Hercules musical that left her speechless. She joins Sam and Brian live, but first — a full DCL news roundup, including a major mechanical crisis in Singapore and menus that are making fans reach for the smelling salts. In this episode: The Disney Adventure's mechanical failure in Singapore — what went wrong, why guests had to disembark, and the full compensation package Disney Cruise Line offered A new San Diego port agreement signals a bigger ship — possibly Dream-class — is coming to the West Coast by 2027 New menus rolling out across the older ships: the Chateaubriand is gone, the fried brie is gone, and Sam has opinions New Castaway Club gifts and chandelier ornaments — one per ship, only purchasable on that ship, yes, they're doing this to you Troubling crew-related news spanning multiple cruise lines, including the Disney Magic — Brian confirms nothing occurred on board involving passengers Sara's day-by-day Destiny breakdown: the Grand Hall reveal, the Happy Haunt obsession, Frozen the Musical during 13-foot swells, a Pride Lands dinner where the performers kept going through the rocking, the Hercules musical, Palo brunch, and a Lookout Key snorkeling excursion that may be one of the best in DCL history "It exceeded my expectations in a knockout way." — Sara, on the Hercules musical aboard the Disney Destiny Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, My Path Unwinding Travel 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: 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 (#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.

    1h 21m
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The DCLDuo Podcast is a Disney Cruise Line focused podcast. We're DCL super fans who love cruising. We love talking about our own Disney Cruise Line Adventures, comparing DCL to other cruise lines, and talking about other Disney adventures, like Adventures by Disney. We love talking to Disney Cruise Line fans, as well as experts, insiders, authors, bloggers, vloggers, travel agents and cruise lovers! Follow us and our guests on our journeys, and listen-in as we chat about cruising, Disney Cruise Line, and all of our other fabulous Disney adventures!!

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