MinnesotaMouseketeers
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 1999
- Messages
- 2,700
We were lucky in that our school district allowed us to take kids out of school for family vacations. We had a week in both October and November that has both Thursday and Friday off; so we would pick one of those weeks. Typically November because the weather was cooler. If your school district allows taking your children out and you are fine with this as stated by other posters, the cost is cheaper when school is in session. Our son was seven on his first cruise and we did cruises up through Jr. High with him.
I would take a cruise no shorter than four nights but I don't think you'll regret taking a seven night. And I think a cruise in the Bahamas or Caribbean would be a better choice, we all love DCL's Castaway Cay. I would purchase Trip Insurance which ever month you cruise. It isn't just hurricanes you have to worry about that could delay your departure from your home airport. We have had flights interrupted by several hours and know others that have had their flights cancelled and it had NOTHING to do with hurricanes.
When we do our cruises we always stay at least one night at a WDW resort leading up to the cruise. For a seven night cruise one night for a four night cruise two to four nights at a WDW resort. Some times we add park tickets but most of the time we don't. We use the Magical Express to get us to our resort and DCL transportation to get us from resort to port and port to airport. We like to immerse ourselves in all things Disney. But DCL transportation is expensive and you could find cheaper transportation from resort to port and to airport if you are not renting a car.
As others have stated a connecting room would be great and with either the Dream or Fantasy you have the virtual portholes so you don't have to worry about what is happening outside. And a surprise Disney character showing up on the "window" on occasion. If you can swing a porthole stateroom or veranda go for it. My wife and I will never sail without a veranda again after we tried it once.
Good luck with your planning and hopefully your family will enjoy DCL as much as we do!
I would take a cruise no shorter than four nights but I don't think you'll regret taking a seven night. And I think a cruise in the Bahamas or Caribbean would be a better choice, we all love DCL's Castaway Cay. I would purchase Trip Insurance which ever month you cruise. It isn't just hurricanes you have to worry about that could delay your departure from your home airport. We have had flights interrupted by several hours and know others that have had their flights cancelled and it had NOTHING to do with hurricanes.
When we do our cruises we always stay at least one night at a WDW resort leading up to the cruise. For a seven night cruise one night for a four night cruise two to four nights at a WDW resort. Some times we add park tickets but most of the time we don't. We use the Magical Express to get us to our resort and DCL transportation to get us from resort to port and port to airport. We like to immerse ourselves in all things Disney. But DCL transportation is expensive and you could find cheaper transportation from resort to port and to airport if you are not renting a car.
As others have stated a connecting room would be great and with either the Dream or Fantasy you have the virtual portholes so you don't have to worry about what is happening outside. And a surprise Disney character showing up on the "window" on occasion. If you can swing a porthole stateroom or veranda go for it. My wife and I will never sail without a veranda again after we tried it once.
Good luck with your planning and hopefully your family will enjoy DCL as much as we do!
