Which is more relaxing w/ small kids: cruise or parks?

[DisneyFave]

I am planning a big trip for my 40th. With a 6 and 3 year old in tow, wondering if you all think it's more relaxing to do a 4 night simple vacay to the parks (staying at a monorail resort) or a 4 night Wish cruise?

In what ways does the cruise beat out the parks for those ages?

In what ways is the cruise tough for those ages?

I have never been on any brand of cruise line. Seems like the kids clubs are a real TREAT for both parents and kiddos!

 

[danceintherain]

For me, it would depend on whether or not my 3 year old would be potty trained. If so, then a cruise can be great. If not, then I would do Disney.
Non-potty trained children can only go into nurseries on cruise lines and only in certain splash pad areas on the pool deck. We ended up dropping our 2 year old off at the nursery a couple times in order to take our older kids to swim in the pool.
It was also a bit difficult to coordinate kids club time with the other kid-friendly activities on the ship. But, we did a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska. To my understanding, Disney does a much better job with their planning, and Alaska cruises are just more adult oriented in general.
Overall, I don't intend to go on another cruise with my kids, until my youngest is potty trained, and ideally when he's not napping regularly anymore. He wouldn't nap in the nursery, so that meant one of us needed to take him to the room.
Our cruise was definitely a lot more relaxing than Disney though. So I look forward to more in the future, when we don't have a toddler to chase. At Disney, we always enjoy our afternoon naptime in air conditioning while our toddler is passed out.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Which is more relaxing w/ small kids: cruise or parks?

There's such a thing as relaxing with a 3 and 6 year old?

 

[dreamer17555]

If the 3 year old is potty trained- a cruise. The kids club is amazing and can give you a much needed break.

 

[Grankm21]

I agree that a cruise is more relaxing mainly because the “Kids Club” is awesome for some adult time. And also the fact that we don’t rope drop on cruises so no waking up early and constantly rushing to be somewhere. The only downside for cruises right now is the added stress of the covid testing.

 

[sponica]

If the 3 year old is fully potty trained, I would be inclined to cruise. If the 3 year old isn't fully potty trained, then the parks.

Added: Also I just read the details of your post. I'm basically considering a Disney Wish cruise for my 40th and will have a 7 year old and 3 year old in tow. The only reason I haven't pulled the trigger is that I'm not 100% convinced the younger one will be fully potty trained by that point in time, unless she takes to it faster than her sister did.

We went on a cruise for our honeymoon and it's the one style of vacation we wish had done more of. We've got another parks trip booked and then I think we'll start cruising once a year. I like that basically once you pay your bill, you're done unless you want to drink alcohol and book premium dining or shore excursions.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Even if the 3 year old isn't potty trained, a cruise hands down. Everything is right on the boat, no running around to different parks and waiting in lines. It's great!

 

[DisneyFave]

Even if the 3 year old isn't potty trained, a cruise hands down. Everything is right on the boat, no running around to different parks and waiting in lines. It's great!

That does sound AMAZING. My least favorite aspect of parenting right now is getting from A to B. We live in the city without a car. So a cruise seems to eliminate that "ok let's keep moving!"/schlepping around factor.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Even if the 3 year old isn't potty trained, a cruise hands down. Everything is right on the boat, no running around to different parks and waiting in lines. It's great!

Ship*

OP, have you looked into any double-dip itineraries (two stops at Castaway Cay)? I agree with other posters that ship time is extremely relaxing, even with kids, and Castaway Cay time is extremely relaxing, even with kids, but "normal" ports can be a pain in the butt. I also don't think I'd spend the money on the Wish at current rates. It's like double the other ships.

 

[DisneyFave]

Ship*

OP, have you looked into any double-dip itineraries (two stops at Castaway Cay)? I agree with other posters that ship time is extremely relaxing, even with kids, and Castaway Cay time is extremely relaxing, even with kids, but "normal" ports can be a pain in the butt. I also don't think I'd spend the money on the Wish at current rates. It's like double the other ships.

It's funny you say that! Yesterday I was watching Tim Tracker's vlog on the Disney Wish where they go to Nassau and even just the port looked intimidating with small children and having to bring a stroller etc. The actual boat itself looked WAY more child friendly. Will look into double dip itineraries!

Any thoughts on taking littles on their Alaska cruises?!

 

[sponica]

It's funny you say that! Yesterday I was watching Tim Tracker's vlog on the Disney Wish where they go to Nassau and even just the port looked intimidating with small children and having to bring a stroller etc. The actual boat itself looked WAY more child friendly. Will look into double dip itineraries!

Any thoughts on taking littles on their Alaska cruises?!

This is on our list for 2024 or 2025. I don't have an issue with taking them on the actual cruise itself, its more that my youngest is crazy and I'm not sure I'm ready to fly from Boston to Seattle with her....

 

[DisneyFave]

This is on our list for 2024 or 2025. I don't have an issue with taking them on the actual cruise itself, its more that my youngest is crazy and I'm not sure I'm ready to fly from Boston to Seattle with her....

Very good point!! We are east coast too...

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It's funny you say that! Yesterday I was watching Tim Tracker's vlog on the Disney Wish where they go to Nassau and even just the port looked intimidating with small children and having to bring a stroller etc. The actual boat itself looked WAY more child friendly. Will look into double dip itineraries!

Any thoughts on taking littles on their Alaska cruises?!

My kids are 7, 4, and 2 and we're East Coast.

We've done WDW many times, three cruises (one Alaska), Disneyland once, and Aulani twice. The only one of those I wouldn't recommend with littles is Alaska. Aulani is far, but it's easy. Vancouver/Alaska is less far, but it's much more complicated. Packing cold/rain gear, dealing with international borders, staying in a hotel the night before and/or after your cruise, etc... It was all a TON of headache with little kids (setting aside the fact that we all got COVID).

Aulani was remarkably easy, but my kids are excellent fliers. I'd much rather spend 11 hours in a big plane (Hawaiian Airlines direct from Boston or New York to Honolulu) than 6 hours in a small plane (Air Canada direct from Boston to Vancouver).

 

[DisneyFave]

My kids are 7, 4, and 2 and we're East Coast.

We've done WDW many times, three cruises (one Alaska), Disneyland once, and Aulani twice. The only one of those I wouldn't recommend with littles is Alaska. Aulani is far, but it's easy. Vancouver/Alaska is less far, but it's much more complicated. Packing cold/rain gear, dealing with international borders, staying in a hotel the night before and/or after your cruise, etc... It was all a TON of headache with little kids (setting aside the fact that we all got COVID).

Aulani was remarkably easy, but my kids are excellent fliers. I'd much rather spend 11 hours in a big plane (Hawaiian Airlines direct from Boston or New York to Honolulu) than 6 hours in a small plane (Air Canada direct from Boston to Vancouver).

Oooh great points!! Maybe the Alaska cruise will be more for when they are 7 and 10... Also sorry to hear you all got COVID! What a bummer on (an expensive) vacation!

 

[tinkerjo]

Please remember, while the kids club looks great, my kids all hated it. (3 kids From age 2-18 and 3 different trips) I think it was the fact that they are used to being with us during vacation? I always had them try it out for an hour or so and it was always a fail. They had no desire to go back. It didn’t really matter to me. DH doesn’t cruise so we went with extended family. We found lots to do and had a great time but if I was Looking for some alone time with DH it wouldn’t have happened. The kids club just isn’t for everyone. That said, cruise is still WAY more relaxing than the parks. Our favorite days were at sea, staying on the ship at Nassau, and castaway cay.

 

[Pyxie]

Nothing is all that relaxing with young kids, but if you want a semi-relaxing vacation, the parks ain't it. I love the parks and prefer that over cruising (which I also love), but it's a very active vacation. I guess you could do the parks in a more relaxing way if you don't mind missing out on things, but that just isn't my touring style.

 

[Anna131517]

Nothing is relaxing with young kids. I know the Disney Cruise Line kids clubs are supposed to be amazing but my kids always asked to leave after 30 minutes if I could get them to go at all (which was like 3 times). So some kids may love the clubs but there’s no way to know ahead of time.

 

[Anna131517]

It's funny you say that! Yesterday I was watching Tim Tracker's vlog on the Disney Wish where they go to Nassau and even just the port looked intimidating with small children and having to bring a stroller etc. The actual boat itself looked WAY more child friendly. Will look into double dip itineraries!

Any thoughts on taking littles on their Alaska cruises?!

We’re doing the Wish four nighter in February and don’t plan to get off the ship in Nassau. It should be less crowded then and a good time to use the splash area, slide,pools, etc.

Wait until your kids are old enough to use a low back booster to go on an Alaskan cruise. It will make it much easier.

 

[juxtapose]

A cruise is more relaxing, but our family definitely prefers the parks. My kids got kinda bored on the cruise during the day, which was unexpected but the pools were packed (like you couldn't turn around or actually swim), the slide lines long, and my daughter did not like the kids club. They loved the evening shows and activities but they happened way past their normal bedtime so they got super tired by the end. They'd much rather go to the parks and do a nice resort pool.

 

[juxtapose]

I'm also not sure where you live, but if it's midwest/west, doing Disneyland in CA and staying at the Grand Californian is by far the most relaxing Disney trip we've had.