Outside of my comfort zone -- What would you do??

[Mousemommy1]

DH, myself and our 2 girls have been visiting Disney annually for the past 7 years. We are annual passholders.

This past April was supposed to be our first Disney cruise, but then shortly after booking it in 2014, we ended up having a surprise pregnancy and our baby boy was born this past January!!

Because our son would only be 3 months old in April, we cancelled the cruise and did our usual Disney trip instead (you have to be 6 months to sail on DCL).

Anyway, we booked our trip for next April, which is 2 nights Disney (AoA), 4 nights on the Dream, and 2 nights Disney (AKL CL).

I'm starting to get nervous about the cruise....we've just never done one before and I get nervous, especially with a baby (he will be 15 months old).

Originally, when I cancelled the cruise, we planned the following...

April 2016 -- poly CL
Feb 2017 -- GF Sugarloaf
April 2018 -- 7 night cruise on the Dream (kids will be 13, 11, and 3)

I just think we will enjoy the cruise more when we all can use the pools (baby with diapers can't) and when all of the kids can go to the kids clubs....

The Poly CL trip is about $1000 cheaper than our current plan....

What would you do?? DH really wants the cruise. The kids are indifferent....

 

[GusGus77]

We have never used the pools on the cruise ship with two kids. They are so crowded and very very small. There is a splash area on the Dream all kids can use. The nursery on the ship is not that expensive and is very nice. I would do the cruise if the pools were one of your reasons for hesitation.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have never used the pools on the cruise ship with two kids. They are so crowded and very very small. There is a splash area on the Dream all kids can use. The nursery on the ship is not that expensive and is very nice. I would do the cruise if the pools were one of your reasons for hesitation.

I just worry about us not all being able to enjoy everything, like I know we can do at Disney.

 

[GusGus77]

I just worry about us not all being able to enjoy everything, like I know we can do at Disney.

But you all can't enjoy everything together at Disney. There are a couple of rides baby can't go on, so someone will have to sit out (even if you rider swap) so the whole family will not be together. Baby's moods and nap schedule can affect how the WDW trip goes with touring. And at 15 months you might have a newer walker which will change how things go at WDW. (We had a DS who was mad when we would not let him walk when he wanted to.)

Not to be discouraging, just a reminder that WDW can be different with a baby (and toddler...and preschooler...) than with just older kids. Especially when you have to balance the older kids AND baby. So you have to remember that even a WDW trip will be different with an 11 and 9yr old PLUS a baby than it has been in the past.

That being said, both are great options to have! I still would go with the cruise as I love DCL! (Although I might do 4 days in one place before the cruise and then the cruise.)

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

You will be fine! It is a great choice.

 

[Mousemommy1]

But you all can't enjoy everything together at Disney. There are a couple of rides baby can't go on, so someone will have to sit out (even if you rider swap) so the whole family will not be together. Baby's moods and nap schedule can affect how the WDW trip goes with touring. And at 15 months you might have a newer walker which will change how things go at WDW. (We had a DS who was mad when we would not let him walk when he wanted to.)

Not to be discouraging, just a reminder that WDW can be different with a baby (and toddler...and preschooler...) than with just older kids. Especially when you have to balance the older kids AND baby. So you have to remember that even a WDW trip will be different with an 11 and 9yr old PLUS a baby than it has been in the past.

That being said, both are great options to have! I still would go with the cruise as I love DCL! (Although I might do 4 days in one place before the cruise and then the cruise.)

We already took him at 3 months and everything worked out great. It was fine. We are comfortable with bringing baby to Disney. I think it's the unknown of what to do on a cruise that I worry about.

 

[ElenaRN]

I think it will be fine. If your older 2 children will be 13 & 11, they will prob want to spend a lot of time in the clubs anyway.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I think it will be fine. If your older 2 children will be 13 & 11, they will prob want to spend a lot of time in the clubs anyway.

They will be 13 and 11 if we go in 2018

They will be 11 and 9 next year

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We love WDW parks and we love DCL, but they are definitely very different vacations. Honestly, I think the cruise could be fun IF you will enjoy that type of vacation. With a 4 night cruise, you really only have 1 day on the boat (unless you decide not to get off at Nassau and/or Castaway Cay). I think what I would do is check out the shore excursions in Nassau and see if anything is of interest to the whole family. Castaway Cay would be a beach day with a few things the older children could do - ride bikes, the ray experience, etc. During your day at sea, there is the pool, the splash area, kids' club, all sorts of family activities, etc. Plus if the older children would go to the kids club and your youngest would go to the nursery, you could go to Palo and/or Remy, if that interests you. The nighttime shows are also excellent. Again, it really depends on what type of vacation you want. Will it be easier when your youngest is older - absolutely! But isn't everything!?

 

[disny_luvr]

I'd definitely do the cruise. Disney cruises are AMAZING!!! There are a lot of different activities offered on the cruise - many of which you can all do together as a family. In addition, your older children can go to the clubs, you can put the baby in the nursery and you and DH can have some "alone" time. If you don't try the cruise, you'll never know if you'll like it; you may just enjoy it more than Disney World. I say go for it!

My family went to Disney World in June/July this year and we had a great time BUT we can't wait to board the Fantasy in just 8 weeks!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yeah, we really want to find out if we like cruising. And the only way to do it is just going for it.

I think we will just keep things as they are. I think if my DH comes home from his deployment and find out I cancelled the cruise, his head might explode, lol. He's really looking forward to it.

 

[KayW]

You will love the cruise. We are actually doing a similar trip in April 2016 as well. My DD will be 11. There are tons of kids on the ship and plenty for everyone to do!