Is a Disney Cruise really relaxing withan infant and toddler

[bre126]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next winter and my sister is concerned about taking her 3 year old and 4 month old. Will it really be relaxing, is 4 months old too young to take on a cruise? She hasn't been on a cruise so she doesn't understand how great disney cruises are

 

[jdb in AZ]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next winter and my sister is concerned about taking her 3 year old and 4 month old. Will it really be relaxing, is 4 months old too young to take on a cruise? She hasn't been on a cruise so she doesn't understand how great disney cruises are

If the 3-yr-old is potty trained and can go in the kids' club, then sure. A 4-month old is pretty portable.

Would she take the kids to Disneyland or WDW, or would that stress her out? Just trying to get a feel for how she copes with traveling in general.

 

[bre126]

She isn't really a theme park person I think she will take them to the parks in a few years but she takes them boating for weekends in the summer. And her 3 year old is potty trained so he can go to the kids clubs. And she will have her hubby, our parents and me and DH there to help out if needed

 

[lilpooh108]

She isn't really a theme park person I think she will take them to the parks in a few years but she takes them boating for weekends in the summer. And her 3 year old is potty trained so he can go to the kids clubs. And she will have her hubby, our parents and me and DH there to help out if needed

Honestly it depends on the personality of the kids. While my last cruise was not at all relaxing, it was a ton of fun. My kids are go go go. My 14 month old literally wakes up and says, "Go." So I think everyone's experience is dependent on the personality of the kids.

If her 3YO is independent and the 4 month old is not a very demanding baby, then I think it might be relaxing.

 

[jdb in AZ]

She isn't really a theme park person I think she will take them to the parks in a few years but she takes them boating for weekends in the summer. And her 3 year old is potty trained so he can go to the kids clubs. And she will have her hubby, our parents and me and DH there to help out if needed

Sounds like a cushy vacation.

 

[lbgraves]

There isn't really anywhere to go where things are easy and completely relaxing with an infant and 3 yo. IMO a Disney cruise is about as good as it can get, especially if they are going to have family with them to help. We traveled with the kids a lot when DH went places for business. It was sometimes challenging dealing with a crawling infant in a hotel room, but it's better than being at home alone with the kids for a week. Honestly, our first cruise with the kids they were 3 & 5 and it was the most relaxing week post kids EVER. That was with DD3 staying with us constantly because she didn't want to go to the club.

 

[Lawdawg]

As most have said, it really depends on the child and what stresses out the adult. We booked a 7 day on Fantasy last September for myself, wife, 5 yo daughter and 18 month old son. We took a family beach trip to Florida in June before the cruise, and as soon as we got home, we called and cancelled the reservation for our son, and decided he would stay with grandma. He did not care for pools and did not sleep well away from home, and basically one of us had to stay in the condo with him most of the time in Florida, and we did not want it to be that way on the cruise. We also didn't want to take him and then keep him in the nursery a lot either. That being said, we had a great time with just the 5 y/o and found lots if time to relax while she played in the kids club, which she loved. Not sure if that helps, but that was our experience.

 

[Eliza'sMom]

Vacation wasn't really fun for me with small babies because my babies didn't sleep through the night. When we took a 6-month-old to Disney World, I worried constantly about her waking up the people in the rooms around us in the middle of the night.

 

[rentayenta]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next winter and my sister is concerned about taking her 3 year old and 4 month old. Will it really be relaxing, is 4 months old too young to take on a cruise? She hasn't been on a cruise so she doesn't understand how great disney cruises are

Nothing about life is relaxing with a toddler and infant.

 

[jaybo22]

With a 4yr old and 1yr old, the toughest part was dinner. It was just hard for them to sit through a 4 course meal. It was stressful to keep them occupied while trying to hurry through the meal. I'm looking forward to cruising again when they are older and we can get the later seating so they can leave for the Oceaneers club if they want. Also, with an early bedtime we had less time to enjoy all the ship had to offer.

That being said, we felt that, compared to any other 7-day vacation with the kids, DCL was as relaxing as you can probably get. Anyone ever rented a beach house and hired a chef, nanny, cook, singers, dancers, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto?

 

[deanimal]

I echo what the previous posters said; there's nothing relaxing about doing anything with a toddler and an infant! But just because it's not relaxing doesn't mean it can't be awesome. I guess it really depends on each family. We love travel and we love Disney so we take the attitude that we'd rather be changing diapers, staying up all night, chasing toddlers and being exhausted on vacation than at home. However, some people we know feel that it would be a "waste" of vacation time and money to travel with their kids when they're so young and needy and they'd rather stay home if they can't relax and enjoy their holiday the way they did before they had kids. It really depends on the family.

 

[WVURunner]

We just returned from a 14 night cruise where my sister took her 3 year old and 4 month old, we had a blast and it was super relaxing! We thought the 4 month old was such an easy age, we sometimes forgot she was with us. I will say that she is an easy baby who sleeps through the night and is happy just being in her carrier. My sister had her in the nursery a lot (including 8 hrs on castaway) and the 3 yr would cry if we tried to take her out of the club so we spent a ton of time in the adult areas. And my sister was traveling without her husband! PM me if u have more questions.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next winter and my sister is concerned about taking her 3 year old and 4 month old. Will it really be relaxing, is 4 months old too young to take on a cruise? She hasn't been on a cruise so she doesn't understand how great disney cruises are

Is the baby 4 months old now or is she pregnant and the baby WILL be 4 months old at time of travel?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[klineyqueen]

I cruised when my son was 12 months old then again when my son was 3 and my daughter was 11 months old. It isn't any less relaxing than any other day with a baby!!! It was wonderful and magical and we loved it.

People would say to me "you're cruising with a baby." My response.... "I feel they are too young to take care of themselves at home." That generally stopped them in their tracks. Mind you this was people pre cruise and not on the cruise itself!

If I had it to do again I would not change it. That being said, I enjoy every stage of my children. I am going back on the cruise with a 10 and 7 year old and that will be a different experience altogether!

Good Luck

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I think it depends on the parent and the likelihood they are willing to take advantage of the Kids Club and Nursery. Some parents have the feeling that it is a family vacation and therefore they should be together as a family the entire time. I felt like it was a family vacation and we should all enjoy it.

The first night we took our kids to the MDR with us. That was when I realized it wasn't an enjoyable meal for us or them. Even with late dining/CC pick up it was just too much. That night I reserved the nursery for 2 year old for every dinner for the remainder of the cruise. DS4 loved the kids club. He would have stayed in there from the moment he woke up until it was time for bed. So we dropped him off on the way to dinner. Best decision we made the entire cruise.

We also took one afternoon for us and enjoyed the adult only pool w/o the kids. Heavenly.

 

[lbgraves]

.... I'm looking forward to cruising again when they are older and we can get the later seating so they can leave for the Oceaneers club if they want. ...

We have always taken DS to the club after he finishes his dinner, which was before our entrees arrived. We then returned to finish dinner. This was even before the late dining option was offered.

I cruised when my son was 12 months old then again when my son was 3 and my daughter was 11 months old. It isn't any less relaxing than any other day with a baby!!! It was wonderful and magical and we loved it.

People would say to me "you're cruising with a baby." My response.... "I feel they are too young to take care of themselves at home." That generally stopped them in their tracks.

LOVE this!!! You had a ball on that cruise also standing up and doing the hand jive during the CB.

 

[expeditioneverestgrl]

It depends on the personalities of the kids. You will have a magical time either way.

 

[lorenni]

We are thinking about taking a family cruise next winter and my sister is concerned about taking her 3 year old and 4 month old. Will it really be relaxing, is 4 months old too young to take on a cruise? She hasn't been on a cruise so she doesn't understand how great disney cruises are

Relaxing? Nope. Time to spend with your tiny people (tiny niece/nephew) without laptops, cellphones, laundry, dinner time calls from work, cable TV and Facebook getting in the way? YES. We enjoyed every minute of our week with your son because we so rarely get the chance to focus on him. We relaxed during afternoon nap.

 

[AZMermaid]

I'll let you know- we cruise in 3 weeks with my 17 month old and almost 3 year old! Seriously though, I am really looking forward to it- my kids a pretty go with the flow. The only thing I am worried about is sleep. Naps and night. We have DVC, so we have never stayed all in one room- even when we travel outside Disney, we like Homewood and Embassy Suites. So.... this should be interesting! I figure if we sleep decent, the rest will be gravy!

 

[deputymama]

Like others have said before, it kind of depends of the dynamics of the family. But this is why I think she will find it relaxing...

She won't have to cook, she won't have to clean, no doing dishing or laundry and her kids will be entertained for an entire week!

Even if she doesn't utilize the infant room, a 4 month old will just sit and not go anywhere. The older one will likely need more attention than the infant but as long as you have that much family going, you can all take turns helping keep an eye on her so mom won't have to worry and get to relax.

The best vaca I ever took when my son was a toddler was on a Mexican cruise! It made me sad to have to come home and cook for myself again!