Dis friends, I really need some advice. We are WDW vets, and did our first DL trip in August of 2018 (and had a terrific time!). For all of our trips, we've stayed on property, as we really enjoy the Disney bubble. We are looking to do something a little different for spring break this year, so I consulted a local TA for some advice. Here's what I told her about my family (myself, DH, DS 17, and DS 14) and what we're looking for in a spring break trip the last week of March, 2019:
1. We love Disney. We've had amazing experiences at both WDW and DL. We love the resorts, the food, and the rides. My teen boys are active and go from one ride to the next; when we take a midday break, we swim in the resort pools. They like going off on their own in the parks and doing their own thing for a time without mom and dad around, and we feel comfortable giving them the freedom to do this. They are responsible and they stick together, and they know the parks well. We are a family that doesn't do characters, parades, or shows...we'd rather eat yummy food and hit the attractions hard.
2. We want to go someplace new for spring break, 2019...so not WDW or DL.
3. As the gal who pays for the trip, I like the all inclusive feel of a WDW package, so I want an all inclusive experience.
4. Because we have never traveled outside the US with our boys, we are open to doing this. We know that our boys will not be able to be nearly as independent as they are at Disney parks, and that's OK.
5. Our boys are active, so we have no interest in going and plopping on a beach for a week. We need to do stuff...swimming, snorkeling, hiking, zip lining, etc. and we also need good food.
Our TA took this info and proposed three options: a Grand Canyon trip (not all inclusive and not warm at the end of March, but lots of action with hiking, stunning views, Jeep tours, etc.), a trip to Mexico in an all inclusive resort (warm weather and lots of activities, but I've heard stories about safety issues with tourists in Mexico), or a
Disney cruise on the Dream.
I'll be honest, a cruise was not even in my thought process. We've never taken a cruise. While I've heard amazing things about Disney cruises, I've often assumed that the main draw for them are characters and shows. My boys do not dig shows, and merely tolerate characters during the few character meals we've done through the years at WDW. However, the TA indicated a Disney cruise would give me the all inclusive experience I'm after, great food, warm weather, activities, and she assured me the cruise ship itself (like the Disney parks) would be safe for my boys to navigate solo for short periods of time (definitely not once we disembark, obviously). She said when we get to cruise stops, there are lots of activities we can take part in, which sound fun. However, I'm worried my boys will be bored on the ship itself.
So, I'm turning to Dis folks who are Disney cruise vets. All of these options are roughly the same price and fit our budget, so they are all equal from the financial perspective. I need to know if I should heavily consider a cruise for our family trip, or if I should eliminate at cruise from the mix. Right now, both my hubby and boys are cruise skeptical, I think because they have Disney princesses and shows in their heads?
So, give it to me straight. Would a Disney cruise fit our teen boy family needs? Sell me on it, or give the straight scoop about why this probably wouldn't be a good choice for us.
Thank you, in advance, Dis peeps for all of your advice and information.
