Disney Wonder Experts - help!

[joyful1nh]

We (myself, DH & DD - 4) bought AP's this year, thinking it was the last chance before she starts school to travel during off times. They expire 2/8/03. Anyway, in the Mickey Monitor is the announcement of the AP cruise on 1/23/03. We were tentatively planning to go to WDW the next week anyway... so..... we got a quote and now have until the 19th to make up our minds.

DH & I have cruised on other lines before, but always 7 day cruises and before our daughter. This is a 3 night cruise. None of us suffer from motion sickness or have any issues with where on the ship our cabin is -- but we do like fresh air so want a verandah.

Some opinions please:
1. Is it worth $200 more to be in a category 6 (verandah) room versus a category 7 (navigator's verandah)? Or will the navigator's give me more peace of mind with my almost 5 year old? Do you get a good breeze with the navigator's verandah?

2. Is an almost 5 year old too young to enjoy a cruise?

3. The category 6 quote was around $2000 with transfers and insurance (no air, will use FF miles). Is this a relatively good price? Seems high for 3 nights.

4. Having always done 7 night cruises -- will the 3 night be too short? Should we save our $ and go after the AP's expire on a 7 night, or use this as an opportunity to see how we like DCL?

Thanks for your opinions. DIS experts are the best!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Can't address all of your questions but here are some thoughts.

We've had the regular verandah on both the 3 & 4 night cruises. We're doing the opposite - building up to the 7 night! The slider going out to the verandah has a lock high on the door so the almost 5 year old shouldn't be able to reach it. The rail is backed with plexiglass to prevent climbing and is high enough that unless your DD is very tall for her age she shouldn't be able to lean over.

Between the lock and plexi, and my assumption that one of you would be with her on the verandah she should be safe.

If the $2000 is for all 3 of you that sounds about right.

Good luck making your decision.

Deb

 

[Poohbr618]

We sailed this past January and were in a Cat 6. If memory serves me right we paid around $2000 for our 7day. (2 adults & 1 child)Believe me..I would much rather do a 7 day than a 3. It barely seems like 7 days is long enough to get everything done on a Disney Cruise. Trust me you will love DCL!!

 

[pal2pluto]

I can give opinions on 2 things.........7 days is always better than 3 for me. We loved 7 days, never bored, and actually relaxed (a difficult thing for workaholic husband to attain!)

We were there w/a 2 1/2 yr old who still talks about the cruise in January! I have a DCL wallpaper on the computer, and DCL screensaver that another DIS member made. When he sees that, he says "that's my ship!" And he remembers! I'm amazed. He loved the Mickey Pool and fell in love with Pluto, and the Blue Fairy in Disney Dreams. Just seeing him light up was wonderful!

 

[noahsmom]

I think a 3 night would be way too short! We had a category 6 room and our 4.5 yr old son didn't try to open the door or climb on the rail. He wouldn't have been able to climb the rail because of the plexiglass.

Will your almost 5 yr old have fun? All I can say is that my 4.5 yr old LOVED it! He had the time of his life (as did my dh and I). He loved the Oceaneer's Club and wanted to be in it all the time. I had no intention of letting him spend more than a couple of hours there but he had so much fun he was there at least 4 hours every day. Even at Castaway Cay.

It is without a doubt the BEST vacation we've ever had!

 

[disneyholic family]

we were on the 3 day july 4th wonder cruise and LOVED it...
i would have enjoyed more days, but that was the time slot available in our schedules and we had a FANTASTIC time....
we're already planning our next cruise (in 2005....the earliest time we all free up for a trip)....