We are going on a 4 night Disney Cruise March 2018
DD is 3 and DS will be 16 months
We are so excited!!
Any tips, insider info?!?!?
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We've done 2 and loved them both!
Definitely, go to any "Wake up with Disney Junior" events or any dance parties aimed at the younger sets. These were some of the highlights of our first DCL sailing to Alaska.
Oh and get there early for things like the "Sailing Away" dance party. Our son loved being right up front for those when he was 7 months and 23 months.
I'm attaching the blog posts I wrote about both our trips
https://magnetsfromeverywhere.com/first-blog-post/
https://magnetsfromeverywhere.com/disney-wonder-cruise-alaska/ -
Gosh, are we going to be on the same boat? Same here- 4 nights in March! Haha!
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@JCCovi: I havent seen any wake up with Disney.Jr. ?!
I'll keep in mind for sailaway party etc.
We just booked BBB for DD and tickets for Frozen meet and greet and Primcess.M&G!Day at Nassau we plan to.stay aboard the ship and enjoy pool!
Day at their island any tips?!
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@irene: IDK?! We sail March 15th!!!
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@FaithFertility: ohhhh, different then, we are a week before you, haha!
DH is the one who is putting the whole thing together. So he booked the cruise but didn't get around to pick the activities when we are at shore. Now he is all bummed out because "all the cabanas are booked". There are a lot of them and they are all booked! (To be honest I don't quite know what that means nor do I understand the magnitude of his devastation about that... yet) I guess a lot of families just know exactly what they are doing.
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@faithfertility: Double check this, but I believe that kids who are not potty trained are not allowed in the pools. They are allowed in "water play areas" but not the pool proper. Worth double checking so that you have a clear understanding of what what water features you will/won't be able to use with kids.
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@irene: at Castaway Cay? My family didn’t have a cabana there and it was fine! There are plenty of beach chairs.
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@irene: Ohhhh cabanas, looking into that ASAP!
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@merriment: Yep, DS is not but DD is, so we figured we can take turns jumping in the main pool with her!
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@irene: You pretty much won’t get a cabana unless you’re sailing concierge and you wait up until midnight to book on the first night. Especially on the larger ships (Fantasy and Dream). On the smaller ones you might get one if you’re platinum (sailed 10+ times).
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@ShootingStar: Oh good to know!!! I will tell the DH....
So they are automatically assigned based on your "status"? (reminds me of the TItanic 
)@Mrs. Pickle: yes that's what I thought! DH was all sulky and he was like oh shoot now we have NOTHING to do, all the cabanas are gone. I was like, eh, so they don't allow you to be on the beach at all if you don't have a cabana? He was like sure but we have nowhere to sit! I didn't think it was a problem (I'd personally be happy to sit on the sand with a towel) but he was devastated and I didn't understand. HA! I'll let him know there are such things as BEACHCHAIRS. haha. You don't have to reserve those right?
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@irene: They are first come first serve, but are often reserved with a beach towel. However, we got off the boat three hours after everyone was allowed and managed to find one.
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@irene: no they’re not automatic, but concierge get to book everything before anyone else. And there’s a limited amount of them and they’re very sought after, so they go fast.
We have our Disney cruise next month and for castaway cay we’ll head out early (my kids will be up early) and go pick out some chairs at the end of the beach.
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Strollers?!?!? DD is 3 *excelent walker will stay next to us and DS will be 17 months, and all over should we do the double?! 1 stoller or his britax and a small umbrella for DD?!?!?
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@irene: There are several trolley stops at Castaway Cay and most people get off at the first. If you wait until the second stop you'll find the beach area with less people / easiest access to get a beach chair and/or umbrella. Getting chairs was not a problem for us, but shade was and since I use like 100+ SPF and still burn,
shade is super important!
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@yoursilverlining: trolley stops?!?!?! Do tell?! What is at each stop?! I was thinking to bring a stroller so DS can nap in some shade?
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@FaithFertility: It's just the trolley that takes you to the different parts of the beach. Many people assume there is just one stop (or are super eager to get onto the beach lo l) and get off there. But there is another, second stop further down the beach. There is also an adults-only section of the beach even further down. They also have their own, separate adults-only BBQ there which had some different and better food options when we were there. I sent my husband to recon the food while I stayed with LO
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@yoursilverlining: hahahaha recon the food
love it
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Sorry to jump on your thread, but I wanted to ask for those who have been: My mom wants to take all her grand kids on a Disney cruise. My Brother & his kids are going this summer, and we were planning to wait. What would you do:
we have the option to go this summer (ODS 4.5, YDS 16 months) with my brother & his family (ODS LOOOOVES his cousins) or to wait 3 years and go when they are more like 6 & 3, just with my mom and no cousins.. Is it better to wait? -
@oskarsmommy: My BF just went on one with her DD 4 and DD#2 17 months and said it was the BEST trip EVER!!!!!
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@oskarsmommy: my BFF went last year with her 5yo and 18 month old. She said her 5yo had a blast but she wouldn't go back until her 18mo was at least 3 because he couldn't go in the pool or kids club. She said it would have been better had she used the nursery but he was in a stranger danger phase and the nursery cost extra.
I've never been but we are planning one in the future ... based on her advice we are going to wait until dd2 is 3 or 4.
That being said, big family trips are so exciting so I would do whatever you feel would be the most fun for your family !
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@Charm54: to bounce off what You said, if they are not PT they can not go in main pools but can go in the many splash pads and kiddie pool areas, so that is an option!
I Think it depends on your kiddo at that tender age ....DS will be 16 months when we go, and he is great out and about! So I am hoping it stays that way until March lol @oskarsmommy:
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@yoursilverlining: quick question where is the bug water slide park on cast away cay?! Can you still get there om second stop?!
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@JCCovi: I don't see any wake up with Disney jr things that I could book, is it on an itinerary once you get on?
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Strollers again? Should we just bring DS or double?
Also rooms are they available right away?
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@FaithFertility: I would not bring a double stroller on a cruise ship. Hallways are small, rooms are small.
Rooms are generally available right away, but that depends some on when you get on the ship. If you're able to get on at like 11AM, they may or may not be ready. After that I would think the rooms would be ready since everyone has to be off by like 10AM at the latest. You can sign up for your ship boarding time on the Disney Cruise site; otherwise you will be assigned a time to arrive and board. The early boarding times are in demand so if you want to be there on the earlier side you might want to arrange that well ahead of time.
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@yoursilverlining: Yes, we leave soon and have an 11 a.m. boarding time!
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@FaithFertility: For Castaway Cay, you can get a map of the area. That should show you where things are.
I just held DD (6 months) and had DS (2.5) walk. I wanted to bring the stroller, but due to a cancelled flight, we had to drive and were unable to bring the stroller. The rooms are smallish, but if your stroller folds down, it's not bad.
Rooms open at 1pm or 2pm. I don't remember precisely. We asked permission to board early and get our room early, but that was due to the cancelled flight. We drove all night to manage to get to the boat in time. Neither DH or I slept more than about 3 hours the night before. Usually, you can have lunch and then relax on the sun decks before the rooms open.
Hope that helps.
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@FaithFertility: I'd just bring one for AJ. If G somehow is tired it probably isn't a huge deal to hold her for a bit?
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@Mrs. Toad: It does! I'm just going to have them in suits ans cover ups, pack snacks and sun screen so we can enjoy the ship as we get on!
@snowjewelz: Agree! I think we are bringing his so he can also nap pool side etc...
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