Why do YOU cruise with Disney?

[Club Disney Chandler]

Don't feel bad. Sometimes when I need a break from the daily grind, I pull up YouTube videos of the DCL ships playing the Mickey horn. Get teary eyed EVERY time!

Come to think about it, maybe that sums up the reason we love DCL.

I do the same thing!!! My daughter and I were sitting in the family room the other night for close to an hour watching DCL videos on YouTube and she always laughs at me because I end up crying at some point.

 

[tink1970]

I've posted earlier in this thread, but wanted to add...my mother's "happy place" is Castaway Cay. She is almost giddy with the prospect of a day there (and is the first group to embark and last group to board!).
My father loves the staff, service, the small size (well, on the Wonder), and the ability to find things to do with his teenage granddaughter (who is also a night owl).
My brother and SIL enjoy watching their daughter's eyes light up with delight at...about everything (princesses, Olaf on CC, Nemo's Reef, Pirate night fireworks,...).

For us, it's a family affair. And I'm okay with being denigrated as a snob, elitist, foolish, a spendthrift, etc--> I have cruised other lines and find them inferior to serving my family's cruising needs. To me, a wonderful experience with multiple generations (on vacation!) is priceless.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Oh how I absolutely love reading all of these stories! !!!

 

[tlprice]

I cruise DCL because Disney sold my daughter with their commercials on TV! Other cruise lines have commercials, but she has never once asked to go on any of those cruises. I also like that there are shows that my kid can watch, great service, so many fun family activities, Castaway Cay, and NO casinos. I am not a big cruise person, so I am going for the whole experience, not just to be on a cruise. We are also big Disney fans and go to WDW every year too. All of our trips aren't Disney though. We have started going to Universal more and do a lot of National Parks around the central and western U.S. When my DD turns 10 this summer, we're going to start branching out to Europe starting with a trip to France (of course we will include Disneyland Paris in there!)

 

[Foxygrl]

Well this post seals the deal on my decision to do dcl or another. We are not Disney freaks. We have been to Disney once we liked it but we liked universal better because of the super hero's. My two boys are 6 & 8. we did like the extras and effort and awesomeness that Disney provides. The costumes of the people in the parade all the lights the fireworks the workers and cleanliness. Wow so that's why I want to do the dcl. I feel like mostly all of the ship is kid driven. And people will accept there will be a ton of kids on the ship. the padded portholes so they can sit and watch the sea to the free soda and ice cream. I feel like other ships people might be irratated with the kids and the whole ship would not be designed for kids. It is way more expensive so that's why I look at the other lines but then I'm drawn back to Disney.

 

[bobbiwoz]

This a good thread, and my DH and I just went on the Dream's 4 night cruise last week. It was my 18th DCL cruise and together with my DH, we have done at least 30 other cruises. We have good status on RCCL and Princess, and I must admit that what I like on those lines is a solarium type pool, indoor sometimes with a ceiling that opens. However with those lines, we often get up to be at the pool around 6 AM because they do get super crowded, on DCL, I also go in the mornings, and can sleep until later, because it opens at 8!

Disney's officers still look like officers, I like that! We go to the loyalty events on each ship and Captain Henry and Captain Fabian win our prize for being the most friendly and informative captains. Captain Henry suggested we suggest a "round the world trip to Disney's parks" to DCL last week, but you did not hear that here from me! Also, we have had informative meetings with other officers in these events. Once we were gifted with a sparkling bottle in our room by an officer who clearly liked our company as much as we liked hers.

I also thank the Disboard people who come to the Cruise Meets board to talk and plan special events. Last week, we had a great first morning breakfast in Royal Palace with our very active Disboard group. Even some who were not eating with us came to say hello.

We are retired. We have 5 cruises planned for next year, shortest is 5 nights, DCL, NYC to San Juan. We have a RCCL cruise to the ABC islands, and Princess's WBTA which we are doing with friends. We have never had a cruise we did not like, and that includes our first Carnival cruise which was on the Tropicale to the Western Caribbean.

I miss seeing Mickey when not on the other ships. I like seeing the characters interact with passengers. My best meet and greet was with Anna and Elsa last year on DVCs Member Cruise.

On last week's cruise our stateroom hostess, our servers and head waiters were exceptional people who did a wonderful job of adding to our enjoyment. I chatted with a CM in White Caps who worked previously in Disneyland Paris. She preferred the ship experience because it gave her the opportunity to talk with customers, apparently it was all business and busy in that park. When we passed cast members in the halls, everyone was friendly. I was handing out FE gifts when Troy, our stateroom host from last year's DVC cruise stopped to ask how we were doing!

When I see Mickey and hear the horn, it is special to me. I recently had a girlfriend meet at WDW. I spoke so highly of the cruise my DH and I were just on, now we're planning a Dream cruise with girlfriends in May 2018!

Bobbi

 

[wcw57]

.... I'll give u my stateroom and you could add on some on board credit for me ?

sure....credit where credit is due

 

[Ofinn]

Well this post seals the deal on my decision to do dcl or another. We are not Disney freaks. We have been to Disney once we liked it but we liked universal better because of the super hero's. My two boys are 6 & 8. we did like the extras and effort and awesomeness that Disney provides. The costumes of the people in the parade all the lights the fireworks the workers and cleanliness. Wow so that's why I want to do the dcl. I feel like mostly all of the ship is kid driven. And people will accept there will be a ton of kids on the ship. the padded portholes so they can sit and watch the sea to the free soda and ice cream. I feel like other ships people might be irratated with the kids and the whole ship would not be designed for kids. It is way more expensive so that's why I look at the other lines but then I'm drawn back to Disney.

Kids and more kids that's what's you'll find on Disney cruise. It's one of the reason we like DCL in the offseason. We like to vacation offseason and since a lot people can't afford DCL's Summer and School break prices they pull their kids out of school which is great for my homeschooled kids. Next month were sailing on the new Carnival Vista. The ship is beautiful and the European ports are fantastic, but I'm expecting a lack of kids. I read on one of the Vistas Summer sailings there were 1200 kids. Prices being much lower on Carnival their cruisers are not as apt to pull their kids out of school. I have prepared my kids for that, and explained to them that this cruise is about seeing parts Europe not hanging out in the Edge until 1am. We shall see how this goes.

 

[hanscarlet]

I would assume your talking about a 3 day cruise. I would not recommend anybody save for 2 years for 3 day cruise. Ive been on these boards long enough to get the "not to be a snob comments". I dont want to go there again because I know it wasnt about being surrounded by disney people.
Since I spend time on other boards I know a lot of people just cant afford Disney and these are people with good paying jobs. Not everyone wants to save for years for a cruise. If it takes me more than 4 months to pay for it then for me its too expensive. Your right though if your passionate enough about dcl youl'll put everything on hold and save and save. It shouldnt be that hard to pay for a vacation.
I have a wonderful friend at work who makes half what I make she asked me about cruising. I recommended Carnival. Shes saving up for it next Summer. I would have never recommended she spend the next three years saving up for dcl.

It was a 4 night cruise but it was 3 years ago and prices have gone up significantly since then.

 

[Ofinn]

It was a 4 night cruise but it was 3 years ago and prices have gone up significantly since then.

Yeah in Sept 2013 we booked a 4 day for around 1900 cat 7a and got upgraded to a 5c. No special discount that was just the price. Every time I look now they are well over 3k. Nope not doing that.

 

[dcassetta]

Why DCL? Love the mouse, always have!

 

[robinb]

I don't. It's too freaking expensive for our family. I just can't bring myself to pay that much for a cruise that will cost me a fraction of the price on a different cruise line.

 

[JanBlessed]

The experience is unlike any other!

I feel that I received what was advertised/promised, and more. I trust that my children are in great hands at the kids clubs. I feel safe knowing that the food is of very high quality. I see that the staff is doing their best to make it a memorable cruise. AND I can't wait to share the experience with my family members who skeptically ask "is it really that good" "is it worth the price" my answer is Yes!

 

[Bear3412]

My bad. "deleted post"

I posted up thread already.