Questions about DCL with young kids - What's a better age to take kids on their first Disney cruise 6 and 4 or 7 and 5?

[Ahoyhoy]

We are a family of 5 who is possibly looking at our first Disney cruise in general. Parents are mid to late 30s, Kids are 5, 3, and 7 month infant. Looking at a cruise in summer of 2026 or 2027.

We are aware that kids have to be completely potty trained if they are to use the pool facilities. In terms of the beach, the kids would be just as happy digging on the beach with toy excavators. We would not want for our kids to be Kids Club all day as we want to experience things as a family (not saying we as the parents wouldn't want some alone time however). Just wanted to know if it will be worth our money this year or we should wait a year and see how they are in a year (infant would be on solids for sure). I've read that Disney cruises for kids are meant for 4-5 year olds and up who are potty trained.

If we put the older kids in Kids Club, ideally we would want them to be together and not separated.

Facts on the kids:

• 5 year old - Completely potty trained, cannot swim without help/a floaty. Not sure if he would be learned in how to swim unassisted by age 7.
• 3 year old - Not potty trained yet, cannot swim without help/a floaty, high energy, loves running around, typical toddler short attention span so not sure if a full length dinner and show would be for him (we would hope he gets better at sitting by age 5). He's the sort of kid who would have handily won the Jack-Jack races as a baby if he entered. Not sure if he would be learned in how to swim unassisted by age 5.
• 7 month infant - Does not reliably take a bottle but would be on solid food next year at least.

 

[NAB]

They do have life jackets to use in the pools. But yes they have to be potty trained to go in them. Depending on what ship you are going on there are different pools. Even a covered splash pad for the little ones.

They have open house now in the kids club where you can take them as a family to play. I believe they do separate the younger kids from the older ones so this would work for you.

They returned to coming into the dining rooms to get the kids to take to the kids club. They bring the kids food out first so they can go. We had to run them there ourselves when first cruising…lol

Our kids were 3 almost 4 and a 6 year old when we went for the first time. They had a blast. Lots of seeing characters and getting autographs .

 

[Mommb]

The main difference between 6 and 4 versus 7 and 5 is that in the kids' club, as of now, kids who are 3 and 4 are grouped separately from those 5 and up. So, it is possible that a 6 year old and a 4 year old would be separated and a 7 year old and a 5 year old could stay together. If they're only in the club for short periods, though, that may not matter.

As you probably know, your youngest would need to be 3 years old and fully potty trained to go to the Club (included in the cruise fare) but could be signed up for a few hours at the nursery for a fee.

As far as I know, picking up kids from the dining room happens only at 2nd seating, but it's easy to walk your kids over yourself if you have first seating and they finish before you do.

If you're on one of the older ships (Magic/Wonder) or newer ships (Wish/Treasure/Destiny/next) two of the three dining rooms will have entertainment to keep kids occupied. The Dream/Fantasy currently have just 1 dining room with entertainment.

My son was just over 4 on his first cruise, and my daughter's first cruise was the week she turned 3. They both had a blast. My daughter did fall asleep at dinner one night -- our server pulled a chair over to make her a bed and she napped peacefully until we finished.

 

[DVC Deac]

It sounds like you want at least some adult-only time. Unless you’re willing to utilize the nursery, I’d hold off until the youngest is 3 and potty trained.

 

[Carohs]

We took them on their first at 5 and just 8. It was so magical, I regretted not doing it sooner. There's only so many cruises we can do, time and cost, and now the kids are 11 and 9. The older for sure sees through the magic and needs some extra persuasion to participate in activities. It's a limited window for sure. If you plan to do it again, for sure start when they're younger.

 

[Ahoyhoy]

The thing is that my kids don't really know Disney characters:
-They know Mickey & Friends
-They know Spidey and a few superheroes
-They kinda know Woody, Buzz, Lightning McQueen, etc.
-They haven't seen any of the full length movies

Like if we were to go this year even as a 5 year and 3 year old, I'm not sure if we would get our money's worth if we are on the 'wrong' ship for us?

Forgot to mention the older two are boys - so princesses are out.

 

[Calantha]

We took DS on his first cruise when he was 4 with 4 cousins who are between 3-6 years older than him. He had a blast and we've never looked back. I don't feel like there's a wrong ship, I think they are all interesting in different ways.

Even if he didn't know the characters, he was into meeting them, including the princesses (although Donald and Black Panther are his favorite). He loves the pools, the movies, etc. He was never into the Kids Clubs though unless his cousins were there.

But if you really want the older kids together, sounds like waiting another year is a better plan.

 

[lanejudy]

If we put the older kids in Kids Club, ideally we would want them to be together and not separated.

If this is important, wait an extra year until they are 7 and 5. Otherwise they will be separated at the Club/Lab.

Like if we were to go this year even as a 5 year and 3 year old, I'm not sure if we would get our money's worth if we are on the 'wrong' ship for us?

I'm not sure there is a "wrong" ship. The ships do have somewhat different theming, with a lot more IP on the newest (Wish, Destiny, Treasure). But the activities are basically the same regardless of ship. "Worth" is very subjective and what one family finds as acceptable another finds less value for them. There are plenty of activities for families together for all ages, plus the kids' spaces (Club and nursery). And excursions. But again if you want the older 2 to stay together, you need to wait a couple of years until they are 7 and 5. Just be aware that depending on when the youngest has a birthday, that child may be nursery (extra fee) or Club but in the separate preschool group.

 

[sponica]

I took a 3 and 7 year old on their first cruise, the 3 year old was not potty trained so I had to avoid the pool deck completely. She saw a pool once and completely melted down that she couldn't go in it. Our next one is this August (a full 18 months after the first one) and I'm looking forward to bringing 2 fully potty trained kids that will be able to tolerate time in the kids club and can be in the pool.

Given the ages your kids currently are now, I would bump out to 2027, then the older 2 can be in the kids club together and the youngest one will either be in the nursery (available for a fee) or kids club eligible depending on when the birthday is (although if I'm doing math right, summer 2027 the youngest would be under 3)

I wouldn't worry too much about swimming ability, there are life jackets on the pool deck and at Castaway Cay (and I assume Lookout Cay).

I also wouldn't worry too much about characters, Mickey and friends are pretty common. I'm pretty sure the only photo ops we did on the last cruise were them, mainly because I refused to wait in the insanely long line to meet Belle.

 

[juxtapose]

2027, but mainly for the youngest. I might be in the minority, but both my kids were much better travelers at age 2 than age 1. My son is 9 now but has always been high energy, he could sit through a longer dinner by age 5 but age 4 was hit or miss.

 

[Ahoyhoy]

So there's been a change of plans - we found out that 2 families that we are friends with are going on the Fantasy in Feb 2026 (5 nights) out of Port Canaveral and they invited us to go. The cruise is Lighthouse and Castaway Cay with a Pixar Day at Sea. The 2 other families have 6 kids total ranging from 7 to 1 yrs old). I personally would have preferred to go in August if I had the choice because it's cheaper but my wife is twisting my arm.

So the boys will be 5 and 3 after all. My only concern is Fantasy is the "princesses" ship but I know you guys said that there's a lot of other activities. My soon to be 3 year old loves the Let it Go song even though he hasn't Frozen yet.

1) Transportation from MCO to Hotel to Terminal - what do most people with young kids do? I know we could rent a car but then car seats... There's something called Genie Transportation Services, there's also finding a hotel with a shuttle (a reasonably priced hotel).
2) We are flying from Canada so we would fly the night before and stay in a hotel but for the disembarking from the ship on the last day, do most people fly back on the same day as the disembarking? Note we are not looking to expand our trip to WDW.

 

[Skippyboo]

Fantasy isn’t really a “princess ship” . That’s more the Wish. You can meet Princesses but that’s basically every Disney ship. The Fantasy is more art deco themed.

DCL has a bus service that you can book from MCO to port so you can stay at the Hyatt at the airport or it also picks up at Disney resorts. So if you getting in relatively late probably easier to stay at the airport.

Getting off the ship, you get off relatively early. They want everyone off by 10 because they need to get ready for people coming aboard for the next cruise. The DCL buses will go to the airport and Disney hotels. Lots of people will fly home or tack on some park days before or after their cruise.

August in Florida is super hot and it’s hurricane season that’s why later part of August is cheaper.

 

[lanejudy]

I personally would have preferred to go in August if I had the choice because it's cheaper but my wife is twisting my arm.

In addition to what PP said about August above — August 2026 is more than a year out vs Feb. Generally speaking, the further out you can book the lower the fares. And depending on when in Feb. you could be running into school vacation weeks for New England states.