?'s about cruise - for those w/ young ones

[higgin704]

I need answers from those of you who have been on the cruise. My DH and DDs are thinking of a trip next fall ; either 7 day cruise or 4 day cruise with us booking separate 4 nights at WDW. In October girls would be 3 1/4 and just turned 5 (Oct. 16).

1) How do the activites hold the interest of these age groupings? Both girls loved WDW last year (at 1 3/4 and 3 1/2). Do you find cruise activities to be less entertaining, more entertaining or about the same for 3 and 5 yo's?

2) The kids activities; average arts and crafts or truly disney magic?

3) I have heard accounts of parents having to pull their older kids away from these activities. Same for the younger guys?

4) Do ANY of the activities involve excursions to decks where extemely nimble and danger seeking 3 yo may want to climb and jump?

5) For those who have done land/sea combos...perfect mix of both worlds or wish you stayed on the boat (from the kids point of view, not parents).

6) I remember seeing lots of fall discounts last fall on my discount board, but I can't remember what the rates were. For those who traveled last fall, what deals did you get (looking for the cheaper rooms). We got a quote for September of $1600 for the 4 day.

7) For those who don't mind sharing, how much out of pocket cash did you end up spending vs. how much you expected to be spending prior to the trip (i.e. We budgeted for $500 but ended up spending $900)

Thank you so much for your answers.
angie

 

[higgin704]

bump

 

[3GuysandaMom]

Just back from the 7 night Magic. My DS (6 yrs old) loved the 'club' as he called it. He LOVES being around and playing with other kids. I think that is the key.

For the most part he stayed with us during the day - which we spent at the pools (when we weren't sick - see other post). Then he went to the club towards the evening, until almost midnight. There were a few special events he went to during the day - detective school and making 'flubber'. If you asked him what he liked most about the trip, he would say the Mickey slide and the 'club'.

Hope this helps.

 

[tkd lisa]

There's a really good trip report on the trip report page by a family with two girls, one of which is about the same age as your younger ones. Their name is something like Kearney, and it's listed as trip report and web page. Good luck!

 

[candleonwater]

We (my mother and I) took my 5 year old daughter on her first cruise back in December... I CANNOT imagine doing a cruise shorter than a 7 night. It was so restful I actually came back without the circles under my eyes that I have had for the past 15 years - of course they are back now!

My daughter took a little while to warm up to the clubs - she never got upset when I dropped her off, but she wasn't as enthusiastic as she could have been. Towards the end of the week, when I would give her a choice - it was always the club!

Money - I don't mind saying, I went WAY OVERBOARD! Spent way too much in Shutters and obviously was in the spa way too often... but as I look at it, it was my first cruise and wanted it to be a trip of a lifetime... we spent $1400... of course we had not set a budget.

We're going again, for New Years this year, and I'm going to work on a budget!