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?

[SnowWhite2]

Your kids are only small once and many age out of Disney in the blink of an eye. Patents are making memories,

My kids (pictured in my avatar) are now 31/29 and still haven’t aged out of Disney! They spent Sunday in Epcot. They will meet DH and I at DL in October on our way back from our Disney Hawaii cruise. They would come with us but they don’t have enough vacation time. Oldest works for Disney but they sought her out, she didn’t apply to them. She has taken several cruises already with her cast discount and she has only worked there for a year.

 

[cinnamoroll]

My kid was 3 and a half when we went on our first cruise. She didn't want to go to the kids club by herself but we still got to experience it during open house. She had an absolute blast meeting characters and watching the shows. She doesn't remember all the details but can still recall parts of it when she looks back on pictures and videos. It's worth it at any age as long as they have a good time

 

[Joanna71985]

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.

I've been on the Fantasy twice, and I've never considered it as the "princess ship" (no moreso than the others).

 

[Ahoyhoy]

So there's been some more complications:
1) So the Family Deluxe Oceanview Rooms are all gone for the February booking (includes Pixar Day at Sea), and now there's only Verendah style left, which is a $800 USD/$1,100 CAD increase (not chump change for us). Also, I think I misworded the Verendah worry, the worry would be that he would get on the Verendah and get on the railing.
2) My wife just wants to be sure that the 3.5 year old will have enough to do for 5 nights other than be in kids club all the time as he may not be completely potty trained, or be used to floating with a life jacket, may not still sit during dinners or shows. I know people say character meets but other than waiting, those don't take that long.
3) Also having activities that the 5.5 year old and the 3.5 year old to do together - aka could the 5.5 year old be at the splash pad even though it's for younger kids.
4) I assume we can fit a crib in the room?

 

[Skippyboo]

There is a lock on the door to the veranda. It’s up high so a little kid can’t open the door. The railing is also pretty high with plexiglass. I don’t have kids so can’t answer the kids activity bit.

The spring 2026 have been on sale for a while so it’s not surprising that some room categories are gone.

 

[jwalk03]

As mentioned the verandah door has a high lock where kids can’t reach it. And there is plexiglass covering the bars to prevent climbing.

They provide a folding pack & play not a crib.

Not being potty trained means no pool but there is a splash pad for the younger kids to play in. (Yes the 5.5 year old can play at the splash pad too.)

There is also open house times for the kids clubs where you could go and play together.

 

[lanejudy]

2) My wife just wants to be sure that the 3.5 year old will have enough to do for 5 nights other than be in kids club all the time as he may not be completely potty trained, or be used to floating with a life jacket, may not still sit during dinners or shows.

So, not to point out the obvious, but if you won't be using the Club then one parent is "on duty" at all times, which may mean splitting up and missing some adult or relaxation time. At dinner you can request the kids meals be brought out quickly, but the parents may still need to take turns with him out in the atrium. Same during the shows, a parent may need to miss the show to supervise a child who won't sit still/quiet. As PP mentioned, the pool is off-limits if he isn't potty trained but both kids can use the splash pad. You know your child best -- if it's exhausting at home, a cruise will be more of the same but in a different place.

 

[sponica]

I took a non potty trained 3.5 year old last year.


1) So the Family Deluxe Oceanview Rooms are all gone for the February booking (includes Pixar Day at Sea), and now there's only Verendah style left, which is a $800 USD/$1,100 CAD increase (not chump change for us). Also, I think I misworded the Verendah worry, the worry would be that he would get on the Verendah and get on the railing. The door has a really high lock, so unless he's spiderman and can unlock it, you should be fine.
2) My wife just wants to be sure that the 3.5 year old will have enough to do for 5 nights other than be in kids club all the time as he may not be completely potty trained, or be used to floating with a life jacket, may not still sit during dinners or shows. I know people say character meets but other than waiting, those don't take that long. If he's not completely potty trained, you can pay for time in the nursery but my 3.5 year old HATED it, and we basically only had her in there for Palo brunch. If he's not potty trained, no pools....which did not go over well with my 3.5 year old. She lived in the splash pad, but if we accidentally walked near a pool, she would melt down. Check out disneycruiselineblog as he has sample navigators with all the activities. My mom and stepdad came with us, so we had an extra adult to watch her. We basically did a lot of character meets, went to the splash pad, and spent some down time with her in the stateroom (she's my kiddo who does not travel well). Unless there's some sensory issues, he probably won't notice the life jackets when he's wearing them on Castaway Cay/Lighthouse Point (I can't remember which itinerary you were looking at)....

3) Also having activities that the 5.5 year old and the 3.5 year old to do together - aka could the 5.5 year old be at the splash pad even though it's for younger kids. They did change the age range of the splash pads, but if he's a small 5.5 year old, they'll probably let him in to the splash pad.
4) I assume we can fit a crib in the room? I have no answer on this, but it'll probably be a pack and play.

 

[DVC Deac]

2) My wife just wants to be sure that the 3.5 year old will have enough to do for 5 nights other than be in kids club all the time as he may not be completely potty trained, or be used to floating with a life jacket, may not still sit during dinners or shows. I know people say character meets but other than waiting, those don't take that long.

Your 3.5 year old will need to be fully potty-trained to go to Oceaneer Club. Sure, you could roll the dice, but if there’s an accident then you probably don’t want explain to staff why you sent a non-potty trained child into the club.

You know your child best -- if it's exhausting at home, a cruise will be more of the same but in a different place.

Totally agree. It sounds like you will have 2 of 3 children who will not be able to use the pools and Oceaneer Club and may have a tough time at dinner. Disney Cruises are expensive and that’s a lot of money for what could be a stressful experience. We waited until our youngest was 3 and fully potty trained. Everyone was able to fully experience the ship and it was significantly less stressful experience than it could have been. Of course, everyone’s experience is different and you know your kids best. There are very small children on every cruise and that’s why there is a nursery.