🎙️ Episode Title:
Episode #2 | Trip Recap Part 1: Disney World, Transatlantic Cruise & Our First Days in Europe
Published: 12/4/2025
🔍 Episode Summary
In this first part of our Epic Europe 2025 recap, we take you from Orlando’s magic to the middle of the Atlantic, all the way through Spain and into the heart of Munich for Oktoberfest. We break down how the trip came together, what surprised us, what challenged us, and what we learned along the way. From Disney World thrills to Barcelona hiccups to nearly missing our cruise ship in Cádiz. This episode sets the stage for the adventures still to come in Part 2.
🧭 What We Cover in This Episode
✈️ How This Trip Was Born
• The original plan. Two transatlantic cruises with 19 days in Europe in between.
• Why Italy (and eventually Oktoberfest) became the focus.
• Adding Disney World at the last minute because… bucket list.
🏰 Disney World: Childhood Magic Meets Midlife Adventure
• D’s first-ever Disney World experience.
• Our three-park whirlwind: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.
• What we loved. What surprised us. What we’d do differently.
🚢 Crossing the Atlantic: What Seven Sea Days Really Feel Like
• What transatlantic cruises get right.
• Why they’re more relaxing than traditional itineraries.
• How routine, slow mornings, and conversation became the highlight.
• Food. So much food. Brunch decisions. Stair strategies. Social moments.
Barcelona: The Hotel Mishap & Exploring the City
• Staying near the Gothic District and cruise port.
• The surprising first-night problem with air conditioning.
• Navigating noisy streets, early-morning plans, and fixing our room situation.
🏰 Málaga: Beaches, Old Town, and the Fortress on the Hill
• Revisiting a port we’d seen before, but finally doing it right.
• Tackling the climb to the Alcazaba fortress.
• Coffee stops, shopping, and exploring the waterfront.
🚉 Cádiz & Sevilla: The Almost-Missed-Ship Story
• Why we decided to take the train into Sevilla—even though excursions were sold out.
• Navigating tickets, timing, and Google Maps.
• The beautiful medieval streets of Sevilla.
• The stressful race back to the port… and the moment we realized we might miss the ship.
• The taxi sprint, the frantic messaging, and the relief when security confirmed our names.
🍺 Munich & Oktoberfest
• Arriving from Barcelona and staying near the central station.
• First impressions of Oktoberfest tents, food, and crowds.
• D & J’s different approaches to the festival.
• The pretzels, the beer, the locals, and the unexpected table drama.
• D’s reflections on crowds, food prices, and budgeting for Oktoberfest.
💬 Key Takeaways
• This trip required years of planning and a lot of pivots along the way.
• Slow travel—especially transatlantic cruising—lets you decompress in a totally different way.
• Europe will give you incredible moments and a few unexpected hurdles. Both matter.
• Oktoberfest is unforgettable… and pricier than you think.
• Part 1 was only the beginning. Italy, Cinque Terre, Rome, and our second transatlantic journey are still ahead.
📢 Connect With Us:
📸 Instagram: @thereallifedandj
📺 YouTube: The Real Life with D&J
🌐 Website: thereallifedandj.com
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💭 Join the Conversation
What part of this leg of the trip surprised you most?
Have you ever had a travel moment like our near-miss in Cádiz or a chaotic hotel situation?
Tell us inside the Facebook group or DM us on Instagram—we love hearing your stories.