https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:50:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811427 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:48:41 +0000 HappyBaker 2811427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow thank you SO MUCH for all the great feedback, this is super helpful! </p> <p>We just had a disastrous dinner at a restaurant that has me rethinking traveling ANYWHERE with my children in the near future, haha. But I think if we're going anywhere in the next year we need to do it before the baby is into absolutely everything! I'll definitely look into the 4 night option since I agree I think 3 nights after having to fly to FL would make it seem pretty rushed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811364 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 18:53:00 +0000 FaithFertility 2811364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Disney kids club have an awesome handwashing procedure when entering and exiting....and wipes/sanitizer EVERYWHERE! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811185 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 08:59:10 +0000 Mama Bird 2811185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That actually sounds like fun! They have child care for the older kids if you ever feel like you need (relatively) quiet time. You probably would have to be very strict about hand washing, because cruise germs, but otherwise it sounds like the most relaxing vacation you can do with young kids. </p> <p>I do think three days sounds short. My kids have a hard time with travel, especially DD, so if we go for 2-3 days it's about 50% amazing times and travel suffering. We've done a pretty disastrous long weekend in September, and I've decided we can only put her through travel if we're going away for a long time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811140 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:08:42 +0000 irene 2811140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just came back from the Disney Dream 3 nights cruise with DS (6 years old). It was indeed a dream! Some thoughts:</p> <p>- we arrived the evening before the cruise and stayed a night in a hotel. Husband said if you stay at hilton (or some other chain, forgot exactly which one) you can take the disney cruise shuttle from the airport to the hotel, and hotel to the cruise the next day (not sure if it were for free). I wish we did that. The Disney Cruise shuttle looked so cool and they ran so frequently while we waited for our hotel shuttle for literally an hour.</p> <p>- They have kids club and then a nursery. I have no experience with the nursery, but the kids club -- while I really love the convenience of it (you can drop your child off and that was it! and they just tell you they are closed at 1am! HAHA who would leave their child until 1am I wonder?!), I am not sure I like how much video games they have. We dropped DS off for a pirate detective activity, but when we picked him up 45 mins later he was just playing video games the whole time. They don't enforce your child to do the activity that you intended for them to do.</p> <p>To answer your question, I feel that you'd be OK with a 7 month old.... if he's an easy baby. We took DS to Sydney Australia when he was 5 months old, and he was fine even thought we had issues with breastfeeding ! Yes your 6 year old will definitely love it. I don't know how clean/nice their nursery is, but I imagine you will be able to drop your baby off there for naptime and off to do something with your DD if you want to -- in the perfect world, haha! They have things for older kids / teenagers too, so I don't think 10 will be too old if you do decide to wait. While I wish our cruise was longer, I feel that 3 days is alright. I don't think it is a bad idea to try out the 3 day with your family first and see how well your baby handles it.</p> <p>ETA: I do want to say that one of the biggest reasons I enjoy the cruise so much was because of the 8:30 broadway-quality entertainment. They have a show every night at 8:30pm. We went all 3 nights. DS had to go in the middle of the 2nd night, which was the Beauty and the Beast musical, because he was too tired (I am guessing there is a natural snooze when boys watch princesses LOL). We didn't see the 10:30pm fireworks afterwards as DS passed out, which we predicted. With a 7 month old baby that may be tricky, as I doubt you can make any of the shows... unless you heartlessly drop your baby off at the nursery... hmm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811127 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:48:01 +0000 ShootingStar 2811127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just did a Disney cruise last month with an 18m old and 4 year old and I have split feelings on cruising with a baby. </p> <p>We did a 4 night cruise and felt like it was too short. You miss half the first day because you don’t board until lunch at the earliest, and then you’re off right after breakfast the last day. In general though we loved the cruise and wished it was longer. </p> <p>On the plus side, my kids have both been very portable. And I like to take vacations so we traveled when they were babies. Disney cruises are super family friendly, clean, and we loved the ship and our room. It was so much fun to wake up in a new place. It was also great to utilize the nursery and kids club to have some adult time. </p> <p>But on the other hand, 5 people in one tiny room is hard. I would be stressed about the baby waking my other kids up. You also have to make a lot of concessions in terms of activities - you might not all be able to go to the shows (we skipped all but Frozen) or other activities. We also struggled with Disney excursions and the age minimums, so I booked a private one for our one island stop. </p> <p>We loved it and we’re going to do another one is 2020. I’m super excited for that trip because while the one we just had was great, the next one is going to be so much better (at least I hope!) I’m really looking forward to the kids being 3.5 and 6. They can both go to the kids club together, both use the pools, we can watch movies on the deck or the theater, all enjoy the shows, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811126 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:26:21 +0000 cabbagerose 2811126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go for it . I did a cruise with my 7 month old it was great. I love to cruise and I prefer the 7 nights but have gone on shorter ones and have loved those also. With a 7 month old that is formula feed a little more planing and packing. But we had a great time. I used a carrier and a small stroller that was comfortable enough to take naps in. I have a packing list if you are interested.<br /> I always get into town the night before and go back the last day of the cruise . I would not want to miss a cruise. And if you are flying in it gives you time to pick stuff up at the local store that you can not fly with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811104 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:19:27 +0000 JCCovi 2811104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a 7 night to Alaska with a 7 month old and a not-quite-2-year old. The 7 month old was great but we weren’t able to have any adult dinners because my daughter wouldn’t stay in the nursery. I think 7 months was a great age and we had a lot of fun on the cruise! Just not as much grown up time as we had hoped for.</p> <p>If you do it, definitely make sure you enter Jack Jack’s diaper dash! Our son refused to crawl, but it was still hilarious trying to coax him over the finish line! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811051 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 11:30:57 +0000 catlady 2811051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a Disney cruise with a 16 month old, and more recently did Disney World with a 9 month old (plus almost 4 year old). </p> <p>I think having the baby on the cruise will be fine except if they end up as a bad sleeper, which you obviously can't know. That was our biggest stressor when we did Disney World with our little guy. He was crawling but not walking and he wasn't super active yet so he was still pretty portable, could nap on the go still if need be, didn't require a lot in terms of special foods (we just brought a few jars of baby food). The only real issue was that he was still waking in the night and also waking super early. One morning DH had to get up with him at like 4am because he couldn't settle and we didn't want our big kid to be up. So it's tough in tight quarters. If he had been a great sleeper, it would have been a perfect trip. One piece of advice is to bring a baby carrier because that made everything so much easier.</p> <p>We did a 7 night cruise and I do feel like a 3 day one would have felt very short. We have to travel from New England though so I guess I just don't feel like it's worth all that hassle for only a few nights. Might be different for you.</p> <p>When we did our cruise, we go in the evening before, stayed at the hotel at the airport (which is actually pretty nice), then Disney Express brought us to Port Canaveral the next day. So that was very easy and stress-free. We did fly out the same day we docked, which was a little more stressful but it worked out fine since you dock super early in the morning and we had an afternoon flight.</p> <p>Edited to add: I just realized you didn't say where you would be cruising from so I just assumed it was Orlando. So obviously my responses are really only applicable to that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811039 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 10:24:18 +0000 krispi 2811039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done a few cruises but not with a baby. We're taking our daughter on her first cruise this fall when she'll be 3, and I'm hoping we can do a Disney cruise sometime in 2019 as well.</p> <p>My preference is to travel the day before the cruise. I like to be on the ship by 11:00 or 12:00 to eat lunch, explore the ship, and just maximize the time we have on board. Traveling the day before makes it feel less hectic to me. However, traveling home the day it arrives is fine. We're usually off the ship by 9:00 am, so that gives you the whole rest of the day for travel.</p> <p>I haven't done a 3 night cruise, but my first cruise was 4 nights. That was a good time to get a feel for the ship and enjoy everything they had to offer. But I had a good time, and it just left me wanting more! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811038 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 10:22:45 +0000 FaithFertility 2811038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just got off a Disney 3 night I'll chat more after work 😁 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811037 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 10:21:41 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2811037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. We took our 2.5 and 6 month old on a Disney cruise. I will never again take a kid who naps more than once a day on any vacation other than to family. My kids don't nap on the go, so if yours do, then it might be different. Our daughter was already crawling and she was only 6 months, 8 days old. It was also very difficult to do the evening shows, as both of my kids were exhausted. We had the early dinner, which was nice, but then the shows started at 8pm. DS was a little young for most of them, but we wanted to go to them. I often had two exhausted kids. By the way, my nephew and niece -9 and 6- had a great time.</p> <p>2. We've only taken longer cruises, so I can't say about a 3 day one.</p> <p>3. We have traveled day of when heading west. No problems at all. Just up early at the crack of dawn. Most of our cruises have been drive at the local port. The one time we had the most trouble was when we scheduled the flight for the afternoon the day before. (The disney cruise ironically). The afternoon flight was canceled due to weather and this was early August in the northeast. We had to drive all night to get to the ship. An early flight, day of may be easier than trying to get there. The plane will already be at your airport if it is a first flight. I tried to get one of those, but due to circumstances, it didn't work for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811028 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:45:31 +0000 pinkcupcake 2811028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) We’ve gone on several cruises and have always arrived the morning of. All of our cruises left around 4pm with embarkation beginning at 10am. We flew in early and got on the ship by 11am. Never had any issues. We also always fly the same day on the way back. </p> <p>2) 3 days feels short. We’ve gone on 4, 5, and 7 day cruises. I think 5 is perfect. </p> <p>3) I think 7-9 Months is a great age - much better than when they start walking / getting into everything. We’ve gone when babies were around a year - 18 months and that was kinda tough, trying to keep them from getting into everything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811021 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:32:20 +0000 Adira 2811021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So our first cruise with the kids, they were 2 and 4, but our friends took their 1 year old, so I have kind of an idea. We did a 4 night cruise, which felt perfect. I feel like a 3 night cruise might feel short?</p> <p>Definitely book a hotel for the day before! Not having to rush and stress on your travel day is key! It was so nice not to have to get up ridiculously early to get to the airport and worry about our luggage making it and stuff. We were able to take an afternoon flight, had dinner at our hotel, and then headed to the port the next morning. It was perfect.</p> <p>I haven't done Disney yet (have one booked for next February), but our friends just took their baby and had a great time! Their older kids did the kids club and they even left their baby in the nursery once (extra cost) so they could have some alone time. I've heard Disney is very family friendly, so I think you'll all have fun! Your baby won't be able to go in the pools though, but Disney usually has a splash pad area for non-potty trained kids.</p> <p>You can also (I believe) order diapers and wipes in advance to be available to you on the cruise so that you don't have to pack a gazillion of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811019 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:25:15 +0000 erinbaderin 2811019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Agreed - I can't speak to the cruise aspect but I went to a resort with a 9 month old and it was difficult because all he wanted to do was crawl but it was difficult because he was always underfoot and crawling on dirty floors and concrete pool decks.</p> <p>Something else to take into account - I think that only kids who are potty trained are allowed to use the pools on cruises, no swim diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811011 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:14:41 +0000 Hypatia 2811011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't done a Disney cruise, but that age actually sounds great because the baby won't be getting into everything yet (if you have wiggle room, I'd actually aim for 7 months in the hopes they aren't crawling much and will be happy to be carried from one place to the next). </p> <p>Whether three days is long enough depends on the other factors involved. If you have to pay $2k for flights or spend 20 hours driving round trip, for example, I feel like you might as well stay longer (since the travel is intense and doesn't change). But if those stakes aren't as high, I think three days would work well with kids that age. </p> <p>We traveled the day of and returning day for our cruise, and it was fine. We didn't have kids at the time, though, so maybe someone else can chime in.</p> <p>Is the cruise in Florida? Be sure to check out the Zika status of where you're going, since you'll have the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811010 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:09:40 +0000 HappyBaker 2811010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lahela017: Thanks so much! That's a good idea to travel the day before it leaves but the same day it gets back, I definitely would be less nervous to miss the flight home than the entire cruise. And good to know on the number of nights! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811008 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:07:22 +0000 Lahela017 2811008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't speak to the baby aspect of it, but I have been on a few cruises and can offer my opinion on your other two questions:</p> <p>I haven't ever traveled the same day the cruise took off, but I have on the same day the cruise ended. I'm a nervous person and have never wanted to have to worry about missing my cruise because of a flight issue- especially in the winter, you never know what kind of snow issue might screw up flights. On the way back, I've never been to worried about it though. Just be sure to check with the cruise about what time you can get to the airport. (just because the ship docks at 7 am doesn't mean you will be able to get off then.)</p> <p>I have actually done a 3 night Disney cruise and thought it was a good amount of time. We have also done 7 days (not Disney) and thought it was too long. DH and I both agree 3-4 nights is perfect. If you want to have a longer trip though, I would take a couple extra days in Florida before or after your cruise. There is a lot to do there, whether you want to do more Disney, go to a beach resort, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/disney-cruise-with-a-baby-and-is-3-nights-long-enough#post-2811007 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 07:50:37 +0000 HappyBaker 2811007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 36 weeks pregnant so totally just wishful thinking and planning ahead for next year. We are thinking about taking a Disney Cruise this next winter (so Nov/Dec 2018 or Jan 2019), DD will be 6, DS will be almost 4, and the baby will be 7-9 months. </p> <p>If you've done a Disney Cruise - what are your thoughts on bringing a 7-9 month old? I feel like my big kids would LOVE the trip and I definitely don't want to wait until the youngest is old enough to do the kids club stuff because by then DD will be 9 or 10. But I'm wondering if logistically having a baby that age on a cruise will be a challenge. </p> <p>Next question - have you taken a 3 night cruise? Did it feel "long enough"? </p> <p>Also, if you have done any cruise, did you travel the same day the cruise left/got back? I'm a super nervous traveler so the idea of doing that stresses me out, but it would be nice not to extend the trip a day on either side in terms of vacation time / DD missing school. </p>