Don Helbig

Theme park & travel journalist • Sports aficionado • Buc-ee’s enthusiast • Member, American Coaster Enthusiasts & Great Ohio Coaster Club

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Third Buc-ee’s stop of the day. This time, it’s the Calhoun, Georgia, location. At this point, the road trip is becoming a Buc-ee’s tour.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

The drive home from an Orlando vacation is never easy, but one stop I was genuinely looking forward to was Truett’s Luau in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Opened in 2013 by Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy when he was 92 years old, Truett's Luau is unlike any other Chick-fil-A location. The Hawaiian-themed restaurant blends the chain's familiar chicken favorites with tropical island flavors in a setting that feels more like a themed attraction than a fast-food restaurant.

Guests can choose between traditional counter service or a full-service dining room where servers wear Hawaiian shirts and visitors are welcomed with flower leis. Tropical touches are everywhere, from surfboard decorations and an outdoor waterfall to a tropical patio and even an active beehive positioned above the drive-thru lane.

While the restaurant serves the classic Chick-fil-A menu, the real draw is a collection of exclusive items unavailable anywhere else. Specialty offerings include the Truett's Luau Burger topped with bacon, Colby-Jack cheese and grilled pineapple, Tropical Nuggets coated in a sweet-and-spicy island glaze, fish tacos featuring grilled mahi-mahi or cod with pineapple sauce, and an Island Chicken Salad Sandwich served on a King's Hawaiian bun. Sweet Potato Waffle Fries provide a local twist on a Chick-fil-A favorite, while the Frosted Pineapple drink combines vanilla Icedream with pineapple juice for a refreshing tropical treat.

After spending time at Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Fantasy, a stop at Truett's Luau feels like a fitting final vacation experience before heading home—a chance to extend the tropical vibes just a little longer.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Made a pit stop at Buc-ee’s in Warner Robins, Georgia, on the drive home from my Disney vacation and grabbed a two-pack of Chicken Fajita Tacos. Fresh, flavorful, and quickly becoming one of my favorite road-trip snacks.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Disney’s version of Mount Rushmore stands along the shores of Disney Castaway Cay, where Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Goofy welcome guests to the private island paradise reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line travelers.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

@BillyAichele I had the time of my life!

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

So much fun aboard the Disney Fantasy, including AquaDuck, the ship’s signature water coaster. With high-speed twists, gentle drops, and ocean views, it was one of the attractions I was most looking forward to experiencing during the cruise.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

The Disney vacation may be over, but the road trip home starts with an essential stop: Buc-ee’s in Daytona Beach, Florida.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

I’m going to miss being aboard the Disney Fantasy. My family and I had an incredible time making memories together, enjoying new experiences, and sharing plenty of magical moments along the way. It was a vacation we’ll never forget.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Dinner aboard the Disney Fantasy have been every bit as impressive as the ship itself. This perfectly cooked prime rib, complete with Yorkshire pudding and savory sides, was one of my favorite meals of the cruise.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Donald Duck meet-and-greet aboard the Disney Fantasy: nailed the shirt selection.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Morning view aboard the Disney Fantasy. Just sunshine, open water, and the promise of another unforgettable day at sea.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Even Mike Wazowski can’t keep it together around ice cream.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Crystal-clear turquoise water stretches to the horizon at Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera, Bahamas, where Bahamian culture and natural beauty combine to create one of Disney Cruise Line’s most stunning destinations.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Morning view.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

The Disney Fantasy takes on a different kind of magic after dark, with its signature red funnels glowing against the night sky.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

It’s impossible to walk into the Disney Fantasy’s grand atrium and not look up. The ship’s spectacular peacock-inspired chandelier, adorned with more than 60,000 Swarovski crystal beads, is a showpiece that transforms the space with changing colors and lighting effects throughout the day and night. It’s the kind of detail that makes Disney storytelling feel larger than life.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Nothing but open water and the promise of adventure ahead.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Home for the next few days. Just checked into my stateroom aboard the Disney Fantasy and officially started my first-ever Disney cruise adventure. Let the magic at sea begin.

[Don Helbig @DonHelbig]

Rode it. Now I’ve got thoughts. I’ll be sharing my full review of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World soon on Theme Parks By Don.