About Me: Ahoy matey!  My name is Karen and if there is such a person as the all-American Disney Mom, I’d be her mascot!  I am a proud card-carrying member of Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Club and would love to help you plan your Disney Cruise Line vacation.  I am a wife, mom to three children and thoroughly enjoy my career in heavy/highway construction management. 

A lifelong resident of New Hampshire, I enjoy everything that the four seasons here have to offer. I love to garden in the spring and spend time at the lake during the summer. I enjoy relaxing by warm campfires with friends in autumn, and although I like skiing and ice skating, my favorite winter activity is ESCAPING to  the Caribbean on a Disney Cruise Line voyage!  Both Internet-savvy and a master of time management, I’m known among friends and family (and their friends/families) as the go-to-girl for planning Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World vacations.

About My Family: My husband and I have been married for ten years and we have three fantastic children, ages 8, 6 and 5. To maximize our time with them – and their time at home – Gary and I work opposite schedules. This has given me a sincere appreciation for how hard it can be to stay home all day with little children – yet I know that juggling the working-mom act is certainly no easier. To recharge as a family and create priceless memories for ourselves and our children, we take Disney vacations. People have often thought we were crazy for “daring” to travel to Disney with babies (and the cargo, care and PATIENCE they require) and even CRAZIER for bringing them on a cruise; however, by applying our previous knowledge and with careful planning, we have been able to thoroughly enjoy our family vacations.

About My Disney Experience: Hearing one of my favorite Disney songs,"When You Wish Upon A Star", played at more than 100 decibels from a cruise ship horn is music to my ears. This catchy little tune sets my heart a flutter because it indicates that I am about to set sail on another magical voyage with Disney Cruise Line. I first sailed on the Disney Magic for my honeymoon back in 1999 and have returned to the high seas almost every year since.  As much as we love our visits to Walt Disney World, a Disney Cruise is the ultimate vacation for our family. The serenity and security of Castaway Cay (their own private island) is the reason we cruise. Nowhere else can you enjoy the exotic island experience with the service and hospitality Disney vacationers are accustomed to. A cruise is the perfect vacation for just about anyone and is probably one of the easiest ones you can take. I have traveling to WDW and sailing on DCL with young children down to a science and welcome the opportunity to offer my tested advice, tips and tricks to you!

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Other Q&A's from this Panelist

We would like to enjoy the magic of Disney during the holidays 2011 but can't decide between a Cruise or DisneyWorld? Any advice is appreciated!!

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Hi Karen, I am looking to book a 4 night cruise on the Dream for March with my husband & 2 children but I am concerned about motion sickness. Should I book a room in a certain area of the ship? Also, are there treatments for motion sickness on board?

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Are there any special perks/discounts/members only incentives for DVC members when sailing on a normal Disney Cruise?

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Hello! Booked for Sept 2011 for 11 nts at WDW/4 nts Disney Dream. I guess you rotate dine at the 3 main restaurants. I would like to dine at Palo, does this affect the dining rotation or dine on the 4th nt, do the children get dinner in clubs. Thanks

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We are going a Dream Cruise on 3/13/2011 and I was trying to book a spa date for 3/16 but there were no available time for that day. Is it possible that there are no times left already??