One Slice at a Time

Who says Walt Disney World has to be a weeklong vacation? This week, Stephanie and Ryan are talking about one of their favorite ways to visit Disney: the quick weekend trip. Think Friday through Sunday—or maybe Monday if you can stretch it. They compare how they handle flights, resorts, park time, dining, transportation, Lightning Lanes, packing, and priorities when there are only a few days to wo...

Disney World's Florida sun does not need a Lightning Lane. It finds everybody. Stephanie and Ryan are talking about how to handle a hot Walt Disney World park day without having your entire family hot, tired and cranky by lunchtime. They cover hydration, breakfast, breathable clothing, sunscreen, hats, strollers, scooters, cooling towels, fans, electrolyte packets and the other items they act...

Ryan’s trip home from Portugal should have been simple: Porto to JFK, a long connection, then on to Rochester. Instead, one canceled flight became a very long series of planes, trains, and automobiles — with a few mistakes of his own mixed in. Stephanie gets the full story: the wrong airport check-in line, a missed cancellation alert, another wrong line, no available rental cars in New York, three...

Adults can tell you whether the stateroom is comfortable or whether dinner was good. But what does a kid actually think about Disney Destiny? Stephanie recently sailed Disney Destiny with her 9-year-old daughter Eva, so this week we're giving Eva the biggest slice of the conversation. And she has opinions. Eva shares what stood out the moment she walked onto the ship, why the bunk bed became...

Ryan just returned from Portugal, and his review is simple: 10 out of 10—but he has notes. Before boarding his river cruise, Ryan spent five days working from Lisbon and Porto. His routine involved hotel breakfasts, plenty of travel-agent work, afternoon cappuccinos, and an impressive amount of Portuguese pizza. Then he boarded the AmaSintra for seven nights on the Douro River. That's where t...

What if one of the world's best wildlife experiences didn't require an African safari? This week, we're heading to the Galapagos Islands , where giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies are only part of what makes the destination so unusual. Stephanie and Ryan explain why visiting the Galapagos isn't the same as taking a traditional cruise. T...

Is the Rhine the perfect place to take your first European river cruise? This week, we're heading from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam and talking through one of the best-known river cruise routes in Europe—with one very fun addition. Ryan is hosting an AmaWaterways Celebration of Beer Rhine River cruise November 13–20, 2027 aboard AmaFiora. We'll take you stop by stop through the route,...

When most families think about a Disney vacation, they picture theme parks, early mornings, ride reservations, and packed schedules. Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii offers something very different. In this episode of One Slice at a Time, Stephanie Pakosta and Ryan Joy discuss whether Disney’s Aulani Resort is worth the long flight to Oahu and why it may be one of Disney’s most relaxing family des...

Have you ever reached the middle of the year and realized that you have been so busy living your life that you have not stopped to ask whether you are building the life you actually want? Ryan and his wife, Maggie, decided to answer that question during a three-night cruise aboard the Celebrity Reflection. They called it their midyear board meeting. This was not simply a quick vacation or a standa...

Animal Kingdom may be Disney World’s most debated park. Some guests call it a half-day park. Others say leaving after the headline rides means missing much of what makes it special. In this episode, Stephanie Pakosta and Ryan Joy compare their very different Animal Kingdom touring styles. Stephanie often treats the park as a shorter day and focuses on favorites such as Expedition Everest, Flight o...

Should you wait to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios until all the park changes are complete? Stephanie and Ryan agree on this one: no. Disney parks are always changing, and waiting for every announced project to finish could mean putting off your trip for years. The better question is whether Hollywood Studios currently offers enough for your family—and how to plan the park around the attractions...

Is EPCOT good for kids? Stephanie and Ryan hear versions of that question all the time, and their answer is pretty clear: families are seriously underestimating this park. In this episode of One Slice at a Time, we're continuing our Walt Disney World park series with EPCOT. We break down what a real EPCOT day looks like for two very different Disney travelers. Ryan's perfect day may invo...

What is the best way to spend a day at Magic Kingdom? That depends on who you ask. In this episode of One Slice at a Time, Stephanie Pakosta and Ryan Joy compare two very different Magic Kingdom strategies. Ryan is a Florida annual passholder who can afford to slow down, skip a ride, and come back another day. Stephanie flies in for her Disney trips, often visits with a child, plans ahead, and is...

Modern air travel is not always smooth, and even the best-planned trip can run into delays, cancellations, missed connections, overbooked flights, weather problems, crew issues, airport shutdowns, or lost documents. In this episode of One Slice at a Time , Stephanie Pakosta and Ryan Joy continue the Modern Air Travel Myths series with part three: what to do when things go wrong. This episode is ab...

Ryan just returned from Sandals Ochi in Jamaica, and we are giving you the real review. In this episode, we talk about the airport transfer from Montego Bay, Club MoBay, private transfers, the Seaside and Hillside areas, the beach, pools, food, restaurant reservations, drinks, rooms, robes, and The Rabbit Hole speakeasy. Sandals Ochi has a lot to love, but it is not the right fit for every travele...

In this episode of One Slice at a Time, we're moving beyond booking airfare and focusing on what happens next: surviving the airport. From family travel and seat selection to TSA rules, airport apps, Real ID requirements, and lost luggage prevention, we're sharing the practical strategies we use with our own clients every day. You'll learn why airport stress often starts before you...

In this episode of One Slice at a Time , Stephanie and Ryan are talking about one of Stephanie’s most exciting upcoming hosted trips: Ireland in 2027 . This hosted group trip is designed for travelers who want to experience Ireland’s castles, coastlines, music, food, history, whiskey, and local charm without having to figure out every hotel, transfer, route, and ticket on their own. Stephanie’s Ir...

In this episode of One Slice at a Time , Stephanie and Ryan start a three-part air travel series with a practical look at modern airfare. Most travelers think they are simply buying a seat from point A to point B. But airfare also includes rules, restrictions, baggage policies, seat access, boarding order, change terms, refund rules, and recovery options if something goes wrong. We talk about: – W...

Ryan is back from Tahiti, and this episode may have Stephanie ready to pack a bag. This week on One Slice at a Time , Stephanie and Ryan talk through Ryan’s seven-night Windstar Cruises Dreams of Tahiti sailing aboard the Star Breeze . From the clear blue water of Bora Bora to drift snorkeling, private motu beach events, Polynesian culture, overwater bungalows, and Windstar’s small-ship service, R...

What is it really like to sail with Scenic River Cruises? In this episode of One Slice at a Time , Ryan shares his full experience aboard the Scenic Opal during a luxury Dutch Waterways river cruise through the Netherlands. Stephanie and Ryan break down:  Scenic’s included butler service   Excursions and enrichment experiences   Scenic food and drinks   Tulip season in the Netherlands   Keukenhof...

This week on One Slice at a Time , Stephanie and Ryan continue their month-long river cruise series with a full review of Emerald Cruises after Ryan stayed onboard during the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam. We talk about: 🍕 Emerald’s modern, younger vibe 🍕 The indoor pool that transforms into a movie theater 🍕 Cabin layouts and who should upgrade rooms 🍕 Breakfast, entertainment, and onbo...

Have you been curious about river cruising but not sure if it’s really worth the cost… or if it’s just for retired travelers? In this kickoff episode of our month-long river cruise series, Ryan shares what he learned after returning from the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam, where he toured multiple river cruise brands, explored a brand-new ship debut, and compared what really matters when choo...

This week on One Slice at a Time, Stephanie and Ryan head to Greece — one of the few destinations that truly offers something for every type of traveler. We’re talking ancient ruins in Athens, blue-domed sunsets in Santorini, flexible beach days in Mykonos, medieval charm in Rhodes, and the peaceful no-car island of Hydra. But we’re also talking strategy: Why do so many Greece vacations become exh...

Would you ride a roller coaster… on a cruise ship? In this episode, we break down a Caribbean group cruise sailing on Norwegian Aqua , one of the newest ships in Norwegian’s fleet—and why this type of trip might be one of the easiest ways to travel right now. We cover:  What makes Norwegian Aqua stand out   The full itinerary (Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola)   Why group cruises remove the stres...

In this episode of One Slice at a Time , Stephanie and Ryan break down Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and talk through what makes this resort such an interesting option for Walt Disney World travelers. They compare Grand Destino Tower vs. the Casitas, talk about the overall feel of the resort, cover the pool scene, food options, club level, and who this resort is actually best for. They also tal...