What would you do?

[DisneyKatie1]

I am new to cruising. I have 3 young children and they are really excited to be cruising Disney. For anyone with kids, would you do a longer cruise or a shorter one? Do kids get bored/fussy onboard? How easy Is it to keep them entertained? TIA

 

[Ohmymonty]

Do your kids have any issues with motion sickness? Or general tummy issues? I've gone on 9 cruises with disney with 6 different adults. The people who had sensitive tummies, high anxiety, or motion sickness were ones that got sick while cruising. Most people were only bothered for one day and rebounded well. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I read your question. The only people I cruised with who preferred the shorter cruises were the workaholics

 

[princesscinderella]

Are your three all old enough to go to the oceaneers club? Or do you have a little one that needs the nursery too? If all the kids are old enough to go the kids clubs they will have a blast and probably not want you to pick them up if they are anything like my three were when they were younger. 3 days is way too short to experience all the ship has to offer if it’s your first time sailing I’d do a 4 day at minimum. You will just start to get the hang of everything and it will be time to get off the ship the next day. 5-7 is much better to really have a chance to relax a bit and not feel so rushed and have some adult dining time without feeling like you are missing out on the main dining restaurants.

 

[jimmymc]

Kids will likely never be bored. Between the clubs, character meets, and themed dinners, they're usually good. You can also have them eat first and spend dinnertime in the clubs while you eat. Most people suggest a 4 night cruise to start, since 3 is too short and doesn't have any sea days. I think starting on a 7 night is fine, just have some things to read or watch in case none of the activities interest you on a particular morning or afternoon.

 

[sadiecatie]

I feel like it's really on the other side of the spectrum - there isn't enough time to do everything you (and your kids) may want to do (even on a longer sailing!). I cannot imagine boredom being an issue.

 

[Carohs]

My kids easily make friends, love trying to new foods, can't get enough of the pool, are independent and adventurous, and believe in the Disney magic. I doubt they'd get bored on a month long cruise. Only you know your kids though. For fussiness, yeah it happens as routines are broken and they are very busy with so much going on. I can't stress it enough, even for the olders, a nap can do wonders.

 

[DisneyKatie1]

Thanks everyone. It seems like a longer cruise is the way to go. My kids are old enough for kids clubs. I hope they like it there. Does anyone have experience with their kids hating it?

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

I am a single 30 yo adult who cruises with my Mom. No kids, but have been WDW-ing since I was ~11 w/ my brother who was 2 years younger than me. However, I never cruised until I was an adult. IMO, FWIW, if your kids are good WDW-ers (as we were), I think they would have a splendid time on the cruise (as I think my brother and I would have at ages 11 & 9). However, if they struggle at WDW (for example, meltdowns or are not independent/adventurous or need to be held), I would wait until they had some time to mature. My Mom’s biggest thing was waiting until we were both 100% able to walk on our own before booking WDW (aka no strollers) and I think that led to the great trips we had. My brother and I were also very mature and never had issues with sit down meals (as actually that’s what we preferred at that age). We had been exposed to things like that very early on so we were very mellow and could easily fit into a table with other adults. I think this is what made all our trips so very enjoyable. Now that’s not to say you couldn’t have a great trip if your children weren’t like us. It would just be different. Because of this background, for our family, we would have been more satisfied with a 7-night cruise vs a 3/4-night cruise. As long as your kids are somewhat adventurous or are willing to be more so if around their siblings, there will be no lack of entertainment for them aboard the ship! As with anything, YMMV. These boards are filled with info (sometimes too much), but if you spend just a little time looking through them, you will have more than enough to make the best decision for your family!

 

[Pixarfans]

Every kid and family is different. There are plenty of parents who have stories of kids who hated the kids clubs, but more that love them. Our first 2 were 4 nights and now we prefer 7 night cruises. We started when both boys could do kids club and now one is an adult.

 

[cinnamoroll]

There’s always something going on so they won’t be bored. My 4yo refuses to go to the kids club by herself but we still had plenty of fun in the space during open houses. She lives for the character meets. Days end pretty late so naps are essential to avoid fussy kids. My kiddo only napped for 30min one time and by the time we got back to our room at 10pm after the show she was throwing tantrums from being overtired, which led to night terrors that night (sorry neighbours). Naps or at least quiet rest times throughout the day are non-negotiable now, and they really do help! Be okay with them being out of routine, take deep breaths when meltdowns happen, and give yourself some grace. Your family will have a blast!

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Thanks everyone. It seems like a longer cruise is the way to go. My kids are old enough for kids clubs. I hope they like it there. Does anyone have experience with their kids hating it?

Mine! Mine! Mine used it a couple of times our first cruise (they were maybe 6 and 9) and didn't enjoy it much at all. Then they wanted to just sit in our cabin and fight. Didn't want to go watch movies, didn't want to go meet characters, weather wasn't great for being on the deck. It was kind of miserable. 4 nights and we swore never again.

Fast forward 3 years and we decided to try a 7 night western, where I planned excursions at all the stops to have us more active. At ages 9 and 12, the older enjoyed the edge club somewhat, the youngest didn't set foot in the younger club, but there was all around less fighting, and I quit worrying that the kids needed to do more to get value out of the cruise. It's their vacation too after all, and if they want to watch Mickey cartoons in the room all day, whatever. It was so much more enjoyable a time, and we ended up quite glad our youngest didn't use the kids club, because a nasty stomach bug started circulating and that seemed to be the epicenter.

Our last cruise - now ages for edge and vibe - they didn't use the clubs much at all either. Oldest went to vibe a couple of times, youngest wouldn't go near edge. I was also glad about this when on the cruise FB group I saw stuff about kids getting bullied in the older clubs.

Anyway, you never know what you're going to get with the clubs. It certainly sounds like more kids like them than not, but my kids definitely aren't drawn there. I also agree with the others that you should go for a 7 night. It is a lot of work to pack and get to port and get onboard and get situated in your room. 7 nights gives you more time to relax, and it also seems like with the extra time, things didn't feel as crowded since no one feels like they have to try and experience all the ship offers in just a few days.

 

[lklgoodman]

My daughter is now a teen, but loved the club when she was younger. She is an only child and went on her first cruise when she was 6 yrs old. She is very shy, but had no problems going to the club by herself. She always loved going to Pluto's PJ party, making slime, storytime with various characters, and drawing on the tracing table. We've done 8 cruises, all 7 nights and never run out of things to do.

 

[Jsoenning]

Lot's to do and even at 18 months old our oldest would sit through the shows and eat popcorn, make no fuss. My wonderful wife packed daily items from the Dollar store for night time dinners. Disney themed puzzles, the coloring books that are revealed with water, word finds, etc. When they were really little sometimes dessert didn't happen but that's okay, saved on the pounds and ordered a Mickey Bar to the room later.

 

[Jsoenning]

When they were toddlers we'd attend early morning toddler time with toys and go to the open houses to meet Doc McStuffins. 7-nights is how we always sailed.

Oh and our kids have never been big fans of the kids clubs. They'd only go while we attended Palo brunch.

 

[o&smom]

Thanks everyone. It seems like a longer cruise is the way to go. My kids are old enough for kids clubs. I hope they like it there. Does anyone have experience with their kids hating it?

Nope, can never get them out of there. I was also going to vote for longer. Our first cruise was 10 nights with kids 3 months and 7. We have cruise about once a year, and our kids have had a great time at all ages. We just cruised less than 7 nights for the first time this year. 7 or more for us.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

My kids have never liked holiday kids club with one exception, on or off DCL, and so it really wasn’t a big shock to me that they didn’t like the clubs. I was hoping my 16yo might go and make friends this year but she was put off even just queuing to register.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

My 6 year old likes the club in small doses and so anything over 1-2 hrs is miserable for her.
We typically plan her club time around an activity so it’s not just ‘free play’

She is probably one of the few who was introduced to the clubs when it was very structured post re-start and really misses that…

 

[DisneyKatie1]

If the kids don’t like the kids club but I have plans and need them to be there, can I get the workers to make them stay or do I have to come and get them?

 

[Calantha]

She is probably one of the few who was introduced to the clubs when it was very structured post re-start and really misses that…

DS (then 4) wouldn't stay at the club in 2019 on the Fantasy without his older cousins. When we finally went on our second cruise on the Dream in January 2022 (now age 6) he loved the structured set up. By the time we sailed again that June, the structure had mostly gone away and he hated it again.

Overall, it has been a mixed experience. He likes the club on the Magic the best though FWIW and went quite a few times on our most recent cruise especially when dinner was running long and he was finished.

 

[Mags2002]

If the kids don’t like the kids club but I have plans and need them to be there, can I get the workers to make them stay or do I have to come and get them?

If you let the CMs know you have something on like Palo etc then they will try their best to keep them entertained. However, if they are in distress you will be called to come and get them