Cruise in early Sept or early Dec w/ 4yr old?

[Suzanne74]

Okay so I have a minor dilemma. DH owns a company so he is limited on taking time off. We and our 3yr old dd went to Disneyworld for 1 wk this past Sept and had an incredible time. Great weather, NO lines and was able to celebrate her b-day there too which was awesome for her! So Christmas time rolls around and she was much more into Christmas than I ever thought a 3 yr old could be. So from that point on I decided we are going to Disney even if for just a few days in early Dec 2005. None of us have been there in Dec and I really want to see the decorations and MVMCP. She will be 4 and this is her last year we can go without pulling her out of school.

So then I got to thinking, well this year could really be the last year we can do a disney cruise at an off peak time and we have never been on a dinsey cruise and I have been wanting too for so long. What to do?? I started thinking maybe a 7 night cruise for her b-day in Sept and then a separate short 4 night stay in Dec? That calls for 2 separate sets of flights. Or maybe a 4 night stay in Dec with a 4 night cruise after? Will the weather be to cold and too chancy for just a 4 night cruise in Dec? I really like the western itinerary though and if I do a 7 night cruise and then stay at Disney for 4 nights, will that be too much for a 4 yr old? Probably will be for DH at one given time to miss that much work. We are saving on only one set of airfare tickets - although Sept cruises are about $200 cheaper a person then Dec which would make up the difference. Ugh I am making way too much out of this

So I am just curious when the better cruise would be for a 4 yr old and her 2 parents? Her 4th B-day in early Sept then a separate small trip in early Dec or first week in Dec cruise coupled in with some days at Disney combined.

Sorry for blabbing on and thanks in advance for any opinions or suggestions!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Of course there is a chance of hurricanes in September. I'd prefer the warmer weather of September, though. If it's hard for your DH to be away from his business for too long that's another good reason for 2 trips. Guess I'd vote for the two trips, but I've never even been on a cruise (been to WDW lots of times, though) so what do I know?

T&B

 

[mickeyboat]

I can't give you much advice on your trip, but I can tell you that the cruise was perfect for my 4 year old. Yours will love it.

If you decide to do the parks and the cruise at the same time, schedule the cruise after the parks. It will give you some time to relax before you head back home.

Also, cruise rates for September are much lower than Christmas time. Check the prices, it may help you make your decision.

Denae

 

[princesslondon]

We were in a similar situation on deciding when to go. We finally decided on Sept, although hurricane season our little 4-year old LOVES the water. So the possiblity of pools and beaches and NO warm water would not have been as much fun for her.
As for as how long a cruise, we chose a 4-day. Although the ports are a lot better on the 7days and of course you have 7-days, I always worry about it being too long. (Although that is just MY opinion)
Have FUN with whatever you decide!!!

 

[Bella2000]

We enjoyed our first family cruise with our 4 yr old last December. It was wonderful. We actually were in WDW in Sept in between hurricanes so I was very pleased that we did not cruise during that time. We love to vacation at WDW after Thanksgiving and that first week in Dec. The holiday decorations are fantastic. We went to WDW first and then on the cruise and it was terrific. The "snow" when you disembark at Castaway Cay was pretty neat also.

 

[lbgraves]

We have cruised on 7 day cruises & gone to WDW a couple days before the cruise. This year we will be going after the cruise again in December. The weather has been great & it isn't crowded during the week either. Here are some pictures from the ship at Christmas...CC too. That may help your decision, especially if your DD loves Christmas. Personally, I only want to cruise with the ship decorated like this. It is beautiful!

The ivillage site is down doing transfers now or I would post them. Sorry!

 

[lbgraves]

Well I just got in...finally!

http://pages.ivillage.com/blueeyes4me/dclchristmaspictures/

 

[scrapperjill]

Myself..I would vote for Sept over Dec. Although I'd love to see the terminal and ship decked out in holiday decor.. And really thought about booking a hoikday crusise when we rebooked....But just by observation...it seem like there are more reports of flu's, norwalk, and other illnesses in the winter months...but it kind of makes sence....it is flu season...everywhere...including the ship.

 

[Suzanne74]

Lisa - your pics are wonderful. It looks beautiful for christmas. Your kids are precious. I love the mouse ears looking out the porthole - priceless!!

Bella2000 - we were at WDW right inbetween hurricanes this year too. I know we will never see that little of crowds again. DD had so much attention with all the characters and princesses. There were actually empty tables at Cinderella's breakfast!!

Well it really seems to be split here as to when to go and everyone's points are valid. I am leaning towards Sept cruise and then a short Dec stay. I figure I already did WDW a ton of times so going back during Christmas is something new to look forward to now. I am thinking maybe I should do the same with the cruise. Go this Sept for my first one and then go back again another Dec to look forward to a christmas cruise. Also, I really want the Western cruise and backing that with WDW trip, even small, would be too much for DH's work and probably even for my dd. Plus, 2 trips to look forward to!!

I am curious though - what are the crowds like in early Sept - there are enough kids to play with even though it is the beginning of school - right?

Thanks again - love this board!

 

[lbgraves]

Though we haven't cruised in September, I would think that there would always be a ton of kids on board the ship. Most people do not have a problem pulling them out of school if they have a regular schedule, then there are year round schools where there are always kids out for break, and home schooled kids. On the 11/15 cruise last year we were surprised that there were over 750 kids aged 3-12 alone on the ship! Your DD should not have a problem making friends. I would recommend that once you book your cruise, sign on to the thread on the meets board to meet your fellow DIS cruisers. That has made all the difference in the world for us. On our first cruise there was a great group of DISers all on our first cruise. We chatted for over a year & had a ball on the ship. It was nice seeing people we knew every day & having tablemates we knew had kids the same ages as ours so they would have fun too. On our past cruise we linked with a wonderful family who happens to vacation nearby where we live. We met before the cruise and are looking forward to seeing them again this summer, if we don't drive out to visit them before that. We rebooked onboard and have staterooms next door, which will make it much easier to coordinate & have the kids hang out together.

 

[depomas]

We have sailed during the months of February, March, and September, and there were just as many kids on board on each of these cruises. I also had that worry this past September, especially with all the hurricanes going on, but the kids met and played with many others...

 

[scrapperjill]

We went this past Sept...and each of our DD had plenty of other kids their ages to play with. It was a great time of the year to go...However...a little stressfull pre-cruise watching the weather chanel...and not knowing if we would be sailing or not. We were one of the lucky cruises the made it between hurricanes with only route changes...(we were booked on a Western..but ended up doing a modifyed Eastern..because of hurricanes)

 

[mikayla'sMom]

Last year my family and I spent days in WDW. We went the 1st 2 wks in December. We had been there 2 years earlier at the same time. This is truly my favorite time to go and we have visited probably in every month except summer. We debated about taking my 5yr dd out of school, but decided this would be our last time. The resorts and parks are decorated to the max. The holiday parade and MVMCP are not to be missed.

Now,we will go NJ week in early November. I actullay have not been this week before, but have friends who go then all the time. It is still busy, but not as hot.

As far as September goes, it is less crowded than July and August, but can be in the 90's! Too hot for us.

We have booked DCL for Aug. of 2006. We figure it will be hot, but we won't be touring in the parks. I am very excited.

As far as 2 weeks or not, my dd has been to WDW 6 times in 5yrs. All trips but 1 were for 2 weeks. This year, dd 5yrs, was a little harder then the past. She is an only child and really missed her friends. We had arranged one night at the kids clubsearly in the trip and she begged and begged to go back. It was actually a little sad. I have a feeling once we do the cruise....maybe that will be thew vacation of choice for awhile.

Good luck and have a great time, what ever you decide!