First-Time Cruiser Questions

[calilou]

My daughters and I are Disneyland junkies and AP holders from California, and we are ready to plan our first Disney cruise and Disneyworld trip! Woo hoo! We are dragging Daddy along whether he likes it or not! Our plan is to go in 2018 and I would love some recommendations. Our girls are currently 11 and 9 1/2.

WHEN: Our two timing options are looking like July/early August or over Christmas/NYE. I understand these are peak seasons so it will be crowded and more pricey, but please tell me some additional information about these two times of the year and why you would choose one or the other? Particularly if you were a first-timer. My older daughter's birthday is NYE so it is very appealing to be cruising while we celebrate that. I've also always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian so I have visions of Christmas there before embarking. However, would we prefer a quintessential summer cruise for our first time? Without all of the holiday theming? Don't get me wrong, we're all about Christmas and holiday festivities, but maybe we should save that for a future cruise? Would love feedback!

WEATHER: We're wimps when it comes to excessive heat and humidity so will we be dramatically more comfortable in December? What are the rain possibilities? Does it get cold that time of year in Florida and the Caribbean/Bahamas?

WHERE: Since we want to combine a Disneyworld visit, our options for sailing port need to remain out of Florida. I'm thinking around a 5 night itinerary is best, but please give me your feedback for how long and what destinations? Bahamas? Caribbean?

Thank you so much for your thoughts!

 

[lolly2ga]

I'm just beginning plans for a first time cruise so I can't speak to that part. But, for the parks, December would be so much better temperature wise. July and August are so hot! December can be cold but is often very mild.

 

[lklgoodman]

We've only done 7 night cruises, 1 Alaskan and 2 Carribean, so I don't have advice about the Bahamas. We did a 7 night Western Carribean cruise last January. We flew in the day before our cruise. We live in Ohio. It was minus 9 degrees when we left Ohio. It was in the high 70s in Orlando when we arrived. My dd was able to go swimming at the hotel. It was glorious. The next day they had a "cold" front in Orlando. It was in the mid 60s. We were still in shorts and had to laugh at the hotel employees when they were saying it was so cold. All the places we went to on the cruise had great weather, 70s-80s. The water was too cool for me at CC, but the air temp was mid 70s. We haven't done a merrytime cruise or combo with DW. I would look at the different port excursions for each place that you could go to and see what looks best for your family. No matter what you choose, you'll have a blast. I also hate really hot/humid weather, I thought it was really comfortable in the Caribbean in early January.

 

[phinz]

I'd choose Christmas over the summer any time. It's hot in the summer, and the decorations simply don't exist. Christmas every. Single. Time.