Recommendation for a first time DISNEY CRUISE!

[gakmanny]

We are looking to reserve our first Disney Cruise...we are a small family w/ 1 little girl who is 3 years old. We have never been on any cruise, any suggestions to test the waters....mostly which cruise would be best!

 

[MagicMe]

Our first Disney cruise, we were not sure about whether we would like it so we all decided to try do the four day cruise (the 3 just didn't seem like enough). It was a great decision. Of course we absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to go again. It took awhile and when we finally got the group together to plan a 7-day - the Magic was in Barcelona!!! We all couldn't do that so we took another 4-day. We enjoyed the second one even more since we knew what to expect. We were hoping to all do a 7-day (my extended family has to cruise in the summer right now with a couple of kids in HS and a teacher) but turned out the Magic is in CA. Since my sisters are both DVC and always like to add a couple of days at the resort, they opted to do another 4-day but I had already booked me and my immediate family on a 7-day. Between the Magic being in CA and the summer being a peak time and all; I'm paying less per cabin for my 7-day than they did for a 4-day!

Anyway - after all that - a 4-day cruise is a perfect chance to see what it's like and decide for yourself if you like to cruise. WARNING - it's additive!

 

[frdeb1999]

We went with a 4NT just to see how we'd like it. And have loved it ever since!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Our first cruise was a 3 night and we absolutely loved it. TBH, the only reason we did it was that it was because the 3-night was over a weekend and, as DVC members, it saved us using weekend points at our resort.

We are doing another 3 night in October 2009 and I have no doubt that this will spur us on to wanting a longer one in the future. I agree that the 3 or 4 night would be ideal for your first cruise. I will say that, for us, it took a couple of days to orientate ourselves properly around the ship and we just felt like it was over just as we were getting into the swing of it.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Our 1st cruise was a three night and way too short. I love the 7 night but if you want to take the shorter one 1st give yourself at least the 4 night. That way you will have one day to enjoy the ship.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Our first cruise will be the EB Panama Canal Repo.

We can't wait.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're taking the DGC on their first cruise, DCL 3 nights next May. I agree that it's short, but it will be way too long, if our little one keeps saying "Off the ship!" She has a way of fixating on a subject!

Also, DVC points are killers on weekends, and this is a way to do a great 7 night vacation with the family.

Bobbi

 

[jajomo0118]

We jumped right in to the 7 nighter, after the recomendation of a family member did the land/sea package and said they wished they would have just done the longer cruise. I always wanted to cruise so I was confident we'd be fine.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Or first cruise was when my DS was seven years old (almost 9 years ago; where does time go?). This was our first big trip with him and we thought he would enjoy the parks more so we went with the 4 nt. land/3 nt. cruise.

We could not get him out of the club he was having such a blast. When we were at the airport to go home we asked him what his favorite part of the vacation was and it was the kids club on the Wonder. I can't say that every child will be this way. I know a family that could not keep there children in the club they only wanted to be with mom and dad. My theory is our DS had been in day care and their children always had one of them around. The husband worked during the day and when he was home she went to her job in the evening cutting hair.

I would go with the four night at least, even this will probably feel too short. And give some thought of doing a split between the parks and a cruise. Land first followed by relaxing on the Wonder. I'm sure you'll have a blast whatever you choose.