Help for 1st timer/solo mom with kid

[msmama]

Is there a cruising for dummies board or something? Or "You've booked your disney cruse, what's next?"

Not my first cruise, but it is my first Disney cruise, and my first one with my son (8). And it's just the two of us. We're doing the Western Caribbean Star Wars Day cruise next February.

At the moment I'm not super interested in any ports, really (with the exception of Castaway Cay) so don't know if we'll even bother getting off the ship (pool/ship time seems just as fun for us). I've done Cozumel and he's done Jamaica.

I guess there isn't really any planning I can do until the end of this year, but I figure I should be prepared (plus, it gives me something to do for the next 9 months, lol).

Obviously we've got plenty of time to plan, but any tips would be greatly appreciated!! I don't suppose I could hang out with him in the kids club, huh? That seems super fun!

 

[alliecat523]

Try cruise critic. Lots of active DCL peeps there.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Yay!! You will love cruising with DCL!!! We have never cruised with anyone else after going with DCL
I have a 11,10 and 8 year old and my 8 year old boy loves counting down and even though it's just under a year away, you can still countdown that distance in fun ways. We have movie nights, we order the DCL DVD, get guidebooks and never do we do this all at once, it's our way of doing something special to countdown to the trip!

ENJOY!!

 

[Shanti]

I don't suppose I could hang out with him in the kids club, huh? That seems super fun!

The kids' clubs have open houses at different times during the cruise. You can hang out with him there during those.

Budget some money for Bingo. My son and I had fun playing that together on the Magic- kind of a teambuilding experience. The game shows are also fun. You'll likely get a few simple-looking Disney pins if you participate in the game shows. You can swap them out later in the cruise at a Captain's pin-trading event, where sharply-dressed crew members are there to trade their more elaborate pins for your simple ones. Makes for a nice, and free, momento from your cruise.

On the practical side, I recommend pre-ordering a 6-pack of water to be waiting for you in the fridge when you arrive. That in-room bottled water served us well during our cruise.

Also know that even though it's not on the dining room or room service menu, you can always order Mickey bars for dessert at dinner, or as a treat from room service.

 

[lbus42]

You can tons of information for first-timers on this forum. You can also find information on Pinterest. Here is a link to a blog you may find useful.
http://www.blogorail.com/disney-cruising-101/

 

[KAS_73]

I have cruised twice solo parenting my 2 sons. First time they were 6 and 8, second time they were 7 and 9. We all loved it! Check you Navigator, or use the Navigator app to see what kids club activities he wants to do. We did some of them together (during open house), like the Piston Cup challenge. Others they did on their own (making Flubber). They also have tons of cool family events going on in the lounges. We saw a ventriloquist once, made origami, etc. My kids also like to swim, so I had a book to read by the pool while they swam.

You might also want to look at the excursions together and decide what you want to do. My kids like to be involved in the decisions

But most of all, you are going to have a blast. You don't need to plan out every second. There are so many things to do. You can just go to the theatre and catch a movie!