young children on a Disney cruise.

[DisneyMom2000000]

What is the youngest age you have or would take a child on a Disney cruise?

NOT because of them remembering it, but because of activities and ability to actually enjoy the trip?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is the youngest age you have or would take a child on a Disney cruise?

NOT because of them remembering it, but because of activities and ability to actually enjoy the trip?

I'd aim for around 4-7 at the youngest. But that's just me.

 

[DCSWO]

I was thinking 5 or older.

 

[quickcat]

Our youngest was 3 on her first cruise. I feel that doing excursions through Disney are limited the younger they are.
We had a great time and didn't feel 3 was too young.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I had looked into taking our guys when they were 8 and 6. We ultimately didn't, because I wasn't willing to take second seating and didn't know about just calling and asking. It was when kids sailed free, too, so I really missed out.

 

[CamColt]

My youngest was 8 months old on our first Disney Cruise however this was an extended family trip that was in the works even before he was born. Had it just been my family of 4 I'm not sure I would have wanted to go that soon, but honestly, he was easy at that age. My then 3 year old was more difficult.

 

[KashasMom]

My daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday on the Magic. She loved the characters and dressing up in princess dresses to meet the princesses. She never went to the kid's clubs but was able to enjoy the shows (mainly the ones with the characters), swimming, and going to the beach in port. We also had a day at Magic Kingdom as part of our itinerary. There were character dance parties and such that she was able to participate in. She definitely enjoyed the cruise.

 

[bumbershoot]

What is the youngest age you have or would take a child on a Disney cruise?

NOT because of them remembering it, but because of activities and ability to actually enjoy the trip?

Babies enjoy being with their parents. If I wanted to go on a cruise with my baby (when I had one), I would go on a cruise with my baby. And I would know the baby would enjoy it.

We took ds to Disneyland first when he was 17 months old. Why? Because we wanted to go and we had the money and I had the energy to do so. He enjoyed himself. Because he was with us.

 

[CM Dad]

We did a family cruise, where the youngest granddaughter was just 3 months (booked before DCL increased the minimum age) and one of our daughters who was just short of 24 weeks pregnant. I had no problem taking the 3 month old, but then I could just let her mom and dad deal with her . Actually, her mom said she was easier than her two older children (5 and 3)

 

[msmama]

I think it depends where the cruise ans whether or not it's a once in a lifetime thing or one of many.

Like I just did Norway/Iceland with my 9 year old and I don't think I would've wanted him to be any younger. This way I know he really got what we were doing and will remember.

That said I saw plenty of people with babies and toddlers. Babies and toddlers are kind of annoying wherever they are. Might as well have them be annoying on vacation than at home (can you tell that wasn't my favorite age)?

I almost wish I would've started cruising when my son was younger. Cruises are an amazing mom vacation. The one place where I really feel like *I* get a break.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

Babies enjoy being with their parents. If I wanted to go on a cruise with my baby (when I had one), I would go on a cruise with my baby. And I would know the baby would enjoy it.

We took ds to Disneyland first when he was 17 months old. Why? Because we wanted to go and we had the money and I had the energy to do so. He enjoyed himself. Because he was with us.

I'm sure my kids would enjoy it, but I'm more concerned about activities, excursions, etc being limited because they are young.

We are AP holders and started taking our youngest to Disney World at 4 months old, so, I get where you're coming from!

I just feel like age may make more of a difference on the cruise where water is a main source of entertainment vs. dry activities at Disney World.

 

[teshawildlee]

our oldest two were 2 and 9 months old when we took our first cruise and they had a great time. They also spent some time in the nursery and the cast members in there were so great and even gave us some awesome pictures and crafts they made while in there. One of which was an awesome picture of Snow White reading my daughter a story! We would spend all day doing various things around the ship, then give them an early dinner and drop them off so we could eat since we had 2nd seating. We are going on our 3rd cruise in May of 2018 and we have 3 kids under 5. The only downfall is that my youngest isn't old enough to go the the kids club with his brother and sister.

 

[Tulip2796]

We went on our 1st disney cruise when our youngest was just shy of 3 and it was wonderful. A year later and he is still talking it about it. We were limited in terms of excursions but this was the case even with our 6 year old (some excursions were ages 8 and up). For a couple of things we split up since our 2 year old couldn't participate. It was the first vacation where I could truly say that I was able to relax and enjoy. And this was with our 6 year old NOT participating in the kids club (he wasn't interested.)

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

our oldest two were 2 and 9 months old when we took our first cruise and they had a great time. They also spent some time in the nursery and the cast members in there were so great and even gave us some awesome pictures and crafts they made while in there. One of which was an awesome picture of Snow White reading my daughter a story! We would spend all day doing various things around the ship, then give them an early dinner and drop them off so we could eat since we had 2nd seating. We are going on our 3rd cruise in May of 2018 and we have 3 kids under 5. The only downfall is that my youngest isn't old enough to go the the kids club with his brother and sister.

How old do they have to be for kids club?

 

[teshawildlee]

3 and potty trained I'm pretty sure

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How old do they have to be for kids club?

Oceaneer's Club/Lab - ages 3-12; Edge - ages 11-14; Vibe - ages 14-17. Nursery for under 3 (extra cost).

 

[3monkeys4me]

We are hoping to do a cruise with our extended family when my youngest niece is newly 3 (she only 4 months now)Her parents are hoping for a sibling for her in the next year or so, so we may have a young toddler/older infant, depending on timing. But it is what work. My kids didn't go on a cruise until they were school aged but we did visit Aulani when my youngest was 5 and Disney parks trips well before that. We did our first vacation when (non Disney, land based vacation) when our oldest was 6 weeks old and have always traveled.

So, do what works for your family.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

We are hoping to do a cruise with our extended family when my youngest niece is newly 3 (she only 4 months now)Her parents are hoping for a sibling for her in the next year or so, so we may have a young toddler/older infant, depending on timing. But it is what work. My kids didn't go on a cruise until they were school aged but we did visit Aulani when my youngest was 5 and Disney parks trips well before that. We did our first vacation when (non Disney, land based vacation) when our oldest was 6 weeks old and have always traveled.

So, do what works for your family.

We will. I have no issue with people taking an infant or toddler on a cruise or another vacation. We have taken our young kids many places, on many flights, on 20 hour car trips, and to Disney World several times. One thing we haven't done is a cruise so I was just curious about other people's experiences. I'm sure mine will do fine but I'm sure there are aspects I haven't thought of yet!

 

[3monkeys4me]

We will. I have no issue with people taking an infant or toddler on a cruise or another vacation. We have taken our young kids many places, on many flights, on 20 hour car trips, and to Disney World several times. One thing we haven't done is a cruise so I was just curious about other people's experiences. I'm sure mine will do fine but I'm sure there are aspects I haven't thought of yet!

I totally get it! The only thing that held us back from cruising was my husband does not really like cruises. We went on one for our honeymoon and he hated it. We did another recently and he thought it was okay and he is going to give it one more shot on an AU/NZ cruise we have booked in 2019, but if he doesn't like that one the kids I will be doing future cruises on our own.

I do think it is a great idea to get other perspectives, if nothing else it may bring up something you have not thought of yet. But do keep in mind everyone has a different idea of what a vacation should be like. I don't know how many times I have been told over the years that we are wasting our money traveling with our kids.

Our neighbor took their three girls on Disney cruise 2 years ago, when her girls were 2, 5 and 7 and they all had a great time. They did put the 2 year old in the nursery on a couple of the evenings while the older girls were in the kids club but from what i understand they spent more time just hanging out with the 5 of them together because the 7 year old didn't love the kids club as much as they thought she would.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[geegee14]

We did our first Disney cruise when DD was 3 and DS was 18 months. I think a cruise is great for a vacation when kids are really little. DS would always get fussy at dinner, so I could leave and be back in the room with him in a few minutes. Then I could order room service and not have to miss dinner. If someone needed a snack, it was a quick elevator ride and there we were surrounded by food (or call room service again!). Nap time was the same thing - a quick walk back to the room. My husband and I could rotate watching DS when he went to bed so we could go out with the 3yo. The trip was definitely tough, but we made amazing memories. We're going again in January with 3 kids under 5.

We also did WDW after the cruise and that was tough. Even staying on the monorail it was too hard to get back to the room for naps etc. The cruise was a million times easier than a trip to the parks for us.