2025… We hardly knew ya?
Our Year in Review: Alaska, Disney Cruises (Yes… Six), and Japan 🇺🇸🚢🇯🇵
Some years feel like a blur of school schedules, laundry, work, and “wait… what day is it?” And then there are years like this one—where we look back and can’t even believe it was our real life.
This year was packed with big trips, big feelings, and the kind of family memories that hit you later when you’re doing something totally ordinary—like unloading the dishwasher—and suddenly you’re back in a moment: standing somewhere breathtaking, hearing the kids laugh, or looking at each other like, “Are we seriously doing this right now?”
As we wrap up the year, we wanted to share the top 3 moments that defined our year—the ones we keep replaying in our heads like a highlight reel.
3) Alaska: The trip that made us feel tiny (in the best way) 🏔️🧊
Alaska wasn’t just a vacation. It was awe.
Everything about it felt bigger than us—the mountains, the glaciers, the water, the sky. It was the kind of scenery that makes you go quiet because your brain needs a second to catch up with what your eyes are seeing.
But what truly made Alaska unforgettable wasn’t just the views—it was the wildlife. We saw things we’ll never forget:
Bears in their natural habitat (the kind of sight that makes your heart race and your jaw drop at the same time)
Whales surfacing in the distance—huge, graceful, and completely unreal
Eagles soaring overhead like they owned the entire sky (because honestly… they kind of do)
There’s something about seeing animals like that in the wild that shifts you. It’s breathtaking in a way that photos can’t fully capture. You can try to explain it, but it’s one of those experiences you just have to feel: the cold air, the hush of nature, the way everyone gets quiet at the exact same time because you all know you’re witnessing something rare.
Alaska reminded us why we love traveling as a family: it pulls you into the moment. You can’t multitask your way through Alaska. You just… experience it. And that’s exactly what we did.
2) Disney Cruises: Six in one year… which feels like cheating 😂🚢✨
Castaway Cay December, 2025
Okay. Let’s talk about the most “Wandering Westbays” part of this entire year.
We sailed on six Disney cruises this year. SIX.
Which feels like cheating when you’re making a “top three moments” list because grouping six cruises into one bullet point is like saying, “My favorite thing I ate this year was… meals.” 😂
But honestly? Disney was our number one cruise line this year, and it wasn’t even close. There’s a reason we kept going back. The magic, the service, the family-friendly everything, the entertainment, the ships, the memories—Disney Cruise Line just knows what they’re doing.
One of the coolest parts of this year was getting to experience Disney across the timeline—the newest ships AND the oldest ships. We got to see how Disney started… and where they are now.
This year included:
The 2 newest ships (talk about wow-factor, fresh design, and that “everything is shiny and new” feeling)
The 2 oldest ships (classic Disney charm, nostalgia, and the kind of character that only comes with time)
There’s something really special about seeing Disney Cruise Line at both ends of the spectrum. The older ships have a warmth to them—like the Disney version of a cozy classic. The newest ships feel like stepping into the future, where every detail is elevated and every space feels like it was designed for maximum “how is this even real?”
And through all six cruises, the constant was this: our family doing what we love, together. The kids being kids, us capturing moments we know we’ll treasure, and that feeling of being fully present because the world is just… handled. Meals? Done. Entertainment? Done. New places? Done. And all we have to do is show up and make memories.
Six cruises might sound wild (because it is), but each one brought something different—and that’s what made it such a huge part of our year.
1) Japan: A dream that still doesn’t feel real 🌸🎌
Japan was one of those bucket-list trips that feels like it belongs in someone else’s story… and then suddenly you’re standing there like, “Wait. This is our life right now.”
Japan was unforgettable in a hundred different ways—the energy, the culture, the food, the beauty, the tiny details that made us stop and stare constantly.
And there are a few moments we’ll never forget:
The Bamboo Forest 🌿
Seeing the bamboo forest in person was surreal. Photos don’t do it justice—the towering bamboo, the way the light filters through, the sound of the wind moving through it. It felt peaceful and otherworldly at the same time, like stepping into a scene from a movie.
It was one of those places that makes you slow down and just be there.
Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea 🏰🌊
And of course… we had to do Disney in Japan.
Visiting Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea was genuinely one of the most exciting parts of the trip. The attention to detail is unreal, the atmosphere is so immersive, and it’s the kind of Disney experience that feels both familiar and completely new.
DisneySea in particular has this “how is this a theme park?” vibe—like you’re walking through a living, breathing world. It’s stunning. It’s unique. And it made us appreciate Disney storytelling on a whole different level.
Japan hit us with that perfect mix of adventure + awe + family memories, and even now we’ll randomly bring it up like, “Remember Japan??” because it still feels unreal that it happened.
THANK YOU (like… really) 💜💙
Before we close out the year, we have to say this: thank you.
To our nearly 2,900 subscribers—you’ve honestly helped make our dreams come true. Every single subscribe, view, comment, like, share, and message has pushed this channel forward more than you’ll ever know. It’s easy to look at a number and forget that it represents real people… real families… real friends we haven’t met yet who are cheering us on.
You’ve supported our little family’s big dream, and we are so grateful you’re here.
🎥 New Video Just Posted TODAY: Royal Gathering!
And speaking of support…
Our Royal Gathering video is officially LIVE today—and we are so excited about this one. If you’ve ever wondered how to meet multiple princesses efficiently on a Disney cruise (and do it without wasting your whole day), this is the video you need.
If you can do one thing to support us right now:
✅ Watch the new Royal Gathering video here!
✅ Share it with a friend who loves Disney cruises
✅ Leave a comment (it helps the video so much!)
Looking ahead to 2026 ✨
We’re ending this year full of gratitude… and stepping into 2026 with so much excitement. We can’t wait to create more, travel more, and keep sharing all the tips, moments, and memories—so we can help y’all wander in 2026 too.
Thanks for wandering with us.
Next year… we’re coming in hot. 😄
Come Wander with Us!
💜 Noelle
