1st cruise, 4 kids, which would you do?

[caitcance]

I should add that this is not a "once in a lifetime" cruise, the kids and I love Disney and love to travel so I am planning this as our first cruise but not our only cruise. In my mind it's our "little kid" cruise. Next year our kids will be 2, 5, 8, and 9. I am trying to decide between:
Option A- Fly in to MCO, do 2 nights at a Disney resort with one day at Magic Kingdom followed by 4 night cruise on the Dream
Or
Option B- fly in to Miami, stay one night at whatever hotel and do a 5 night cruise on the Magic

Both plans involve a stop at Castaway Cay which was my main criteria.

Both have tons of pluses and minuses, option A costs more but it would be my youngest's first time at WDW (my other kids have been and they all will go again). I do like the idea of a 5 night cruise more than a 4 nights though.

Can anyone speak to the Dream vs. the Magic in terms of one being better for little kids vs. older kids?

There is a good chance I will eventually do both options but if one is better to do while the kids are little I will start with that one.

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[surran12]

I would recommend the5 night magic. I felt it was a good length cruise to feel comfortable and relaxing but that 4 nights would have gone a little too quickly. If your main goal is to have a stop at Castaway Cay having 1500 less people there as the Magic would have vs the Dreams size made it a lot more relaxing there as well. Maybe do 2 days in Miami before hand and see some sites there like the zoo or the Everglades?

 

[hanscarlet]

I would go with the Magic because of the longer length but I prefer cruise over WDW. I do feel like the Magic is smaller and more conducive to smaller kids imo. I think the Dream is cooler for the older kids.

 

[dclpluto]

Well you are asking on the DCL board so most answers here will be the longer cruise.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, I would do the 4 night Dream because with WDW, it's more Disney. I have sailed out of Miami, and I think Disney's terminal adds to the experience.

 

[bcwife76]

5 nights on the Magic, I always vote for the longer cruise ;-)

 

[FigmentSpark]

Well, the 2 year old still gets into WDW for free, right? That's a bonus. You won't have that forever. Also, the 2 year old can't be in the same kids' club as the siblings - you'd have to use and pay for the nursery. So that may or may not sway your decision. There are also the pools - no 2 year olds in lil swimmers in the pools, only the splash deck, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not trying to talk you out of the cruise, but maybe doing the 4 day and WDW might be better.

Then again, maybe having a lot of the decisions (like dinners) is one less thing to worry about and you'll get more of a break on the 5 day, as well as not having to worry about repacking for the move to the resort (always more packing with a little one).

 

[KalamityJane]

I'd do less moves - so do the 5 night. Less decisions for you, less packing and CC will be easier with the Magic versus the Dream. My kids are about the same ages (3, 5 and 8) and cruising is going to be much easier than 2 smaller vacations (WDW and cruise). Plus, you might actually get to relax a little due to the nursery and kid's clubs.

Oh, and I find it is totally not worth buying a 1 day ticket to any Disney parks - it's just a horrible value. It's way better to plan a WDW vacation and get the discount on multiple days, you know what I mean?

 

[caitcance]

You all brought up some great points that I hadn't thought of, I have a lot to think about!

I wish I had the funds to do a trip every year, I would alternate the World and cruising and wouldn't have to make these decisions!

Thanks everyone and I'm sure I will be looking for your expertise even more once I have this thing booked!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

MK and CC? I could not resist.. Option one. Plus I have been to the new ice cream parlour on The Dream.. Oh my word..

 

[tinker&belle]

We did the Magic cruise as our first cruise and LOVED it. We wished it was longer.

 

[Madzac]

Oh that is a tough one! We also have four kids and our first cruise our youngest was two. We did the Dream and absolutely fell in love with cruising!!! We've since been on the Magic and Fantasy. We all prefer the bigger ships.
Normally I would always say longer cruise but our last cruise we did two nights at a Disney resort and one day at MK. It was WONDERFUL! What a great way to start the trip! Then we had the relaxation of the cruise after. Plus with your youngest not being kids club age this trip the shorter cruise would be a good way to get your feet wet.
Either way you can't go wrong. You will all love it!!!!!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Your 2yo won't remember MK. I'd vote for 5 nights from Miami.

 

[kerry1379]

From our personal experience: when my youngest was 4 we did 7 nights on the Fantasy. It was AWESOME!!!! It was one of our best family vacations-we all enjoyed it. But I did note that around day 5/6 my 4 year old, despite scheduling some daily quiet time, was having some mega meltdowns from all of the excitement, constant stimulation, and fun things she was doing. So we were actually a little relieved that we had not planned to go to WDW after the cruise so she could get back into a normal, not so much constantly stimulated schedule. So in making your decision,you may want to consider that you will be off schedule and how well will your kids handle it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would do the longer cruise and not have the "fun" of dragging the two youngers away from WDW for something unknown like a cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

Book 2 connecting rooms on the ship vs getting a Family Suite.

Oh yea, more nights. WDW will ALWAYS be there.

I believe that the Millennium Falcon is on the Magic so the older kids will love that (if not, what's wrong with them ) and there are the other areas of the kids clubs. Oh yea, there's a Marvel Avengers Academy where the kids can train to become Super Heros.

The Dream has the AquaDuck, Mickey's Mid Ship Detective Agency (game / "scavenger" hunt) and Goofy Golf (mini golf). I'm a good 40 years past being a kid, but these 3 things would NOT make me want to sail on the Dream / Fantasy more than the Magic / Wonder.

 

[MickeyD]

I would think the Dream--as a first experience---would be so overwhelming. So much to do and so little time. Either option is great for dipping your toes in and seeing if cruising is for you. Kids' clubs on Dream vs Magic--you will have FAR more children competing for space on the Dream. Also, like others have said, you notice the difference in people on CC. The Magic is a lovely ship, 5 days is a perfect amount of time on ship, and you will have less packing and unpacking to do.

 

[Lisa F]

You all brought up some great points that I hadn't thought of, I have a lot to think about!

I wish I had the funds to do a trip every year, I would alternate the World and cruising and wouldn't have to make these decisions!

Thanks everyone and I'm sure I will be looking for your expertise even more once I have this thing booked!

I can't do a trip every year either and am planning my 2018 trip coming off of an amazing 2016 trip which came off of an amazing 2014 trip.

I am a CC gold member due to cruises I took with my ex and no kids prior to 2005, but I haven't cruised in 12 years and never with my son so it's nearly a new experience for me.

I ended up deciding to do the 4 day Dream with a couple of days at WDW at the beginning and one at the end. Mostly because I could not stand the thought of not going to WDW for 4 whole years. on my 2016 trip we traveled on Friday morning and went to the parks friday afternoon and we'll do the same... Friday, Saturday and Sunday then a nice breakfast at WDW and go to the ship from Monday - Friday and get off the ship early on Friday with one more day at a park and then home on Saturday. This will give us one full and one partial day in each of our two favorite parts and a taste of the best of the best at WDW along with the cruise.

My son is 8 now and will be 9 then and is VERY much looking forward to the dream. He is a star wars nut and can't wait to see the millennium falcon bridge in the kid's club. Also the aquaduck is a huge draw for him too and he can't wait to do that with me... I like that two people can ride together. I am planning a snorkeling trip in Nassau (he LOVES to snorkel, we live on martha's vineyard so do the beach all summer but the water here is murky and new england, I think his mind will be blown by the water in the Bahahams!) and I am considering a morning fishing trip at CC. Basically I think it is enough of a cruise to hit all of the high points and we still get some disney too- most of it before the cruise so we can hit the parks hard and then relax on the cruise and then one more day at the parks to cap it off.

It will not be a problem to get him away from the fun of the parks to the unknown of the cruise because we have watched youtube video tours of the dream. He is excited for the shows and for vanellope's ice cream shop (he is a huge wreck it ralph fan) and for animator's palate and pirate night. I would not mind one more day on the ship but I would not give up Disney for it either. Just my $0.02 as not a totally die hard cruise person who seems to be on a similar travel schedule to you.