Disney Cruise

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Permalink Reply by Kim LaPaglia on December 30, 2008 at 2:27pm

I can highly recommend a cruise aboard the Disney Cruise Line!

Although, I'm a huge WDW fan, I wasn't sure what to expect on our first DCL cruise especially when sailing with a small child. DCL exceeded all of our expectations!

In the coming months, I hope to be better at blogging at http://stopamoment.typepad.com/ about our travel experiences which will include another DCL cruise in January. You'll also find me answering DCL questions at the WDW Moms Panel at disneyworldmoms.com. I've spent the last year helping families plan their trips to WDW. I'm really excited about offering my assistance to moms planning a Disney Cruise!

I had all of the worries that Moms tend to have when embarking on a new journey especially one that sails on the sea. While I had been on cruises with my husband, I was delighted with the children's programs offered on the Disney Wonder.

Why DCL?
Larger staterooms - many of which include split bathrooms. Moms like the space as it's easier to stay organized!
Exemplary service - the same outstanding attention to detail that you find at WDW, a Mom will enjoy on DCL.
Mickey Bars - not nutritious but oh so good!
A private restaurant just for adults - to relax in while the kids are being entertained at the Oceaneer's Club in Disney-style.
24 room service for Moms and kids that need a break in their stateroom.
A Sail Away party that features familiar fuzzy Disney characters.
Rotation Dining - Moms like that the family is entertained in a different restaurant each night while being served by the same waitstaff. Kids can order from the friendly kids menu and then head off to the kids club!

And I must rave about the entertainment. Each evening a broadway-quality show is an option. After visiting WDW, you know what to expect from Disney entertainment. Characters, fireworks, music, dancing and more. It's all aboard the ship.

Castaway Cay is a private island. An oasis that you'll find perfect for your family vacation. And Mom can enjoy not having to cook. A BBQ lunch is served on the island. And guess what? The meal is included in your cruise cost.

I highly recommend sailing aboard the Disney Magic or Wonder. And this is a great time to cruise. Check out the Kids Sail Free program being offered by DCL for this Winter and Spring.

Moms, you'll love the friendly crew, safe and innovative children's programming, family-oriented entertainment, staterooms that offer more space than other cruise lines, and best of all, you might even be able to escape to the spa while the kids are occupied making Flubber or meeting Captain Hook.

Ahoy! There be smooth sailing for moms aboard DCL!!

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Permalink Reply by Susan Marek on December 30, 2008 at 3:20pm

Ok, here's a strange question... how are the railings protected? I am terrified of my kids falling overboard. That may sound silly, but it is a concern of mine, espcially when push comes to shove, literally! Can you tell I have never been on a cruise? :P

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Permalink Reply by Kim LaPaglia on December 30, 2008 at 5:57pm

Susan,
Not a silly question at all. In fact, this is one safety measure that I made sure to research before embarking on our first cruise as parents.

I can tell you that I had this same fear when embarking on a cruise with a young child. DCL has clear plexiglass over all of the railings on the ship. High energy explorers will not be able to climb on any bars to get a better look at the friendly dolphin in the sea. Truly, DCL has put in some great safety measures.

I also was concerned about my son on an outdoor stateroom balcony. Although these balconies have the plexiglass protection as well, I feared that my explorer might use an outdoor chair to climb on. So, when my son was younger, we only booked outdoor staterooms with a porthole but no veranda. I was then able to let my guard down within the cozy confines of our stateroom.

Some parents feel safe with a veranda as the balcony doors are quite difficult to open, however many problem-solving children can master the art of unlocking doors so when I cruised with a young child this was not an option for me. Others feel more comfortable staying in a stateroom with a navigator's veranda. This type of veranda is closed in except for a window type opening. If you truly desire an open air balcony, then you may want to ask for the furniture to be removed from the veranda. This would deter climbing!

The higher, public decks all have railings that are quite high and the plexiglass is everywhere. I felt very comfortable with my son's safety. And, I am usually nervous about heights on balconies. For instance, I usually request a room on a lower floor of a hotel because I tend to become unnerved when I see my son on a balcony. You know what I mean!

DCL truly caters to all ages and has added the plexiglass to all railings to make sailing for our younger sailors much safer. You will not find this feature on other cruise lines. I'm really glad that you asked this question as it will help other Moms who are fearful of the same issues. Taking a cruise can be intimidating but once you get your sea legs, you're likely to become a life-long cruiser!

Susan Marek said:

Ok, here's a strange question... how are the railings protected? I am terrified of my kids falling overboard. That may sound silly, but it is a concern of mine, espcially when push comes to shove, literally! Can you tell I have never been on a cruise? :P

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Permalink Reply by Susan Marek on December 31, 2008 at 5:50pm

Thanks, Kim! What a thorough answer! I am feeling better already! Sounds like an awesome cruise!

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Permalink Reply by Kim LaPaglia on December 31, 2008 at 5:58pm

Susan, I'm so glad that Mom to Mom, I could help with your concerns!!

Susan Marek said:

Thanks, Kim! What a thorough answer! I am feeling better already! Sounds like an awesome cruise!

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Permalink Reply by Jana on January 7, 2009 at 7:29am

Hi Ellen...

Disney Cruise Line is currently offering for kids 12 and under to sail free with 2 paid adults in the same cabin! Sail dates are thru May 28, 2009. Let me know if you want more details and I'll give those to you!!!

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Permalink Reply by Kristy deGregory on January 7, 2009 at 8:10pm

My parents took our family on a Disney Cruise for my son's first birthday. We all had a great time. The same Disney charm, service and perfection in treating their guests flows through on the ship. Castaway Cay was wonderful - no roughing it there at all. There were three generations on our trip and we all had things to do that interested us. The Pirate Party was a hit for all of us. Here's my little pirate...(this was April 2006)

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Permalink Reply by wdwfan on January 8, 2009 at 12:27pm

You got some great answers, so I will keep this short. Yes! The Disney Cruise is the ultimate Disney vacation. You get to enjoy the amazing meals, Disney entertainment, Disney characters, and customer service. Plus, the kids will have an incredible time in the Children Programming while you and your husband can actually relax. I just got back from one of the several Disney Cruises I took this year and this time took the kids. My kids are 3 and 5. They both had such a great time in the Children Activities. My kids are regular to Disney World, but actually prefer the Disney Cruise! It is a fun time for all!

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Permalink Reply by dsnyredhead on January 31, 2009 at 9:35am

We went on the cruise last year when ds was three, almost four. He had a blast. We had a great time too. It helped that my inlaws also took the cruise so we had extra people around. My son got loads of attention from the staff especially the waitstaff in the restaurants (who rotate with you) at dinner times. He liked the shows. He wasn't fully potty trained so we couldn't leave him in the kids club area by himself, but he did enjoy hanging out there with us. We used the babysitting services once during our trip. I also like that they will give the kids their own room key so he had fun keeping that in his pocket and opening the door for us whenever we got to the room. He loves the characters so that was fun as well. For whatever reason he got a huge kick out of the "clock" channel on the tv.

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Permalink Reply by MsDough on February 21, 2009 at 2:10pm

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Permalink Reply by wdwfan on February 25, 2009 at 11:42am

BTW, for those Disney fans that want to try a Disney Cruise. Disney just released discount prices for 3-Night, 4-Night and 7-Night Cruises this fall. These are some of the lowest prices on a Disney Cruise all year.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 26, 2009 at 6:10am

Hello, everybody! I just joined this group. I love Disney and we went to Disney back in 2007 and loved it...me and my husband took my parents, his mom, and our two kids. We were thinking of taking a Disney cruise for our anniversary next year...still thinking on it though!

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