Why a Disney Cruise?

If you’re thinking about taking a cruise and you have kids, Disney Cruise Line is the only option in our minds!…… Should I go as far to say even if you don’t have kids DCL is the only option??? We’ve done the kidless Disney Cruise too! All jokes aside, even if you aren’t a huge Disney fan, DCL is a great option for many reasons.

First, I feel like I should start with a Disney Cruise is a very different experience than going to the parks (Walt Disney World or Disneyland). If you’re the type of person that doesn’t LOVE Disney because you’re not a huge “ride person” or because you don’t like the long lines or big crowds but you do want your child to have a “Disney” experience, maybe a Disney Cruise is just the ticket. On the cruises we’ve been on, there is very little waiting in lines and the ship does not feel crowded. It’s a great way to see many characters your kids love, watch great live family shows, see the latest Disney releases in theaters and enjoy all the other aspects of a typical cruise.

Okay, let’s get into some bigger picture things that make a Disney Cruise a great option. First, it is great for kids of ALL ages. There is so much to do that appeals to every age. On our latest cruise, we traveled with a 3 year old, an 8 year old and a 14 year old. Three VERY different ages and they all had a blast. I was most worried that the 14 year old may not enjoy some of the activities but I’m happy to report she had a great time. She was also very proficient at the DCL app and would find activities she enjoyed each day, which we would then work into the itinerary; no problem there at all! Also, we found that waterslides and eating lots of ice cream are really a blast at any age. 3, 8, 14, ADULT…… no age restrictions there. Shocker!

Another comment we hear often is that a Disney Cruise is only about the kids…. “We’re thinking about doing this for our kids but do not see much value in it for us,” [the parents]. To which we say, absolutely false. There are tons of adult only activities. There is a lounge (adult shows and entertainment), spa, pool, and bar where only the adults are allowed to go. To which you may then say, “Great but how do we enjoy that when our kids are vacationing with us?” The answer is easy, “It’s a Small World Nursery (0-3 years), the “Oceaneer Club/Lab” (3-10 years), or “Edge” (11-14 years). These are locations you can check your kid into, where they can play while you take a little time to yourself. We didn’t think we’d get a chance to use this amenity but shockingly, our fairly shy 3 year old wanted to go to a Dance Party at the Oceaneer Club one day. We explained that she had to go by herself because parents weren’t allowed in the club and she loved it. (Tip if you also have a more cautious kid: It may have helped that we toured the club twice during their “open houses.” This allowed VG to get a little more comfortable with the space and process of “checking in” and “checking out.” We also were comfortable with the safety and cleaning protocols which we’re happy to discuss further when booking!) We left VG for 45 minutes, went and played bingo (like the senior citizens we are at heart), had an adult beverage, and scooped her back up. She had a blast and was so proud herself.

A unique and fun aspect of of a Disney Cruise is dining. Disney does “rotational dining,” which means each night you’ll rotate to a new dining room with your servers for dinner. This is fun because it gives you a new place to go each night, new decor, new cuisine and new entertainment. For breakfast and lunch, you can do your traditional cruise buffet OR if buffets aren’t your thing (they aren’t ours) then a restaurant is open at breakfast and lunch for a sit down meal where you can order from the menu.

Another positive that stands out about a Disney Cruise is the friendly crew. It is important to Disney to ensure their passengers feel welcome and comfortable. The crew does an exceptional job of this. Our servers and stateroom attendant knew VG’s name within the first day and even crew we didn’t interact with on a regular basis still smiled and said, “hello.” Even the customs agent as we entered the port was extremely nice, smiled, and asked us about our trip. I don’t know if I’m unlucky with customs agents but I feel like most I've encountered have not been the friendliest and made me nervous. All of this “friendliness” may not be a big deal for some, but traveling can be stressful (especially with children) so when you constantly have people being helpful, smiling, and treating you kindly, it really does make a difference.

Ultimately, I think it’s all of the little things that turn a Disney Cruise into an exceptional experience above some others I’ve experienced in the past. Their efficiency and organization astounds me. Both boarding and disembarking the ship were seamless. Driving up, dropping bags, walking through security, checking in, and boarding the ship with thousands of other passengers and we waited in a line for I’d say less than a combined 10 minutes of time. The same experience with disembarking, getting our luggage and going back through customs. I could go on but won’t! As always, we’re happy to chat at any time about our experiences. We look forward to booking your next vacation!