Please explain what you liked about your Disney Cruise

[Anonymous]

We went with our 8 and 11 year old kids last year. We had a great time overall. They loved the kids clubs (and didn't just watch TV there, although the 11yo played video game tournaments which helped him make friends - he is usually shy but always wanted to go back to the kids clubs). There are occasional lines on the boat, but they weren't bad and never lasted too long - but the line for excursions off the boat can be.

We love vacationing with our kids, but seriously, having just a 2-hour break once a day to do something with my spouse was great - we did several of the adult tastings (champagne, martini, chocolates).

We did a 5-night cruise on the Dream. It was the minimum length cruise I would recommend. We also enjoyed having a veranda room - sitting on the balcony late at night.

The only reason I said we had a great time "overall" was two-fold:

1) the food was just ok. We weren't expecting high quality but some of the meals were mediocre... but there are a lot of options and you can ask for something else and they happily bring it. I suppose we just had higher hopes for the food quality vs. quantity.

2) I/we despise the lounge chair hoarders - and that was a problem. I got up with the kids one morning at 8am to go for a walk around the boat for exercise and literally 90% of the chairs had people personal belonging on them. In one case we sat next to FOUR prime spot chairs that someone set things on, and they didn't show up (ever) from 9am to 2pm! I know this isn't a problem unique to cruises and it happens at many resorts. But it was bad, and added stress to an otherwise relaxing trip.

I'm also in the minority on this it seems, but I wouldn't take my kids on a Disney cruise after 12 years old. The boat is really geared towards 3-10 IMO. Sure the tweens can have fun - but at that age they don't even want to go in the little pools because they are swarmed with tiny kids... my son called it "toddler soup" and had multiple kids literally climb onto him because they weren't strong swimmers.

Again, despite the above we really enjoyed the trip... overall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part about Disney cruises are that they are just such low stress. No standing in lines, fighting huge crowds in the parks, trying to to schedule lightning lanes and running from ride to ride. They are just great relaxing fun.

That said a 3 night cruise is way too short, and a 4 night feels a little too short as well. It takes a day or so to really get into the rhythm of cruising, to figure out the ship, and all that. By the time you do that on a 3 night it is time to go home. I’d definitely do 7 nights if you can.

I enjoyed our Disney cruise but there are definitely lines. Lines to board, get off at ports, get back on, lines to get into dinner and shows, lines for the aquaduck, lines for characters. There are definitely lines.

Not on the smaller/older ships.

Less people, fewer lines.

So the pp is right. There are lines. Fewer on some ships perhaps but lines nonetheless.

You will be so relaxed and happy on your Disney cruise that you won’t care at all about the very few short lines you encounter. Absolutely not a big deal.

+1

We’ve done 3 Disney cruises (before graduating to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, etc.), and you really can’t compare the cruise related lines to Disney parks.

And you really don’t encounter many lines on smaller ships. We always walked right into dinner and the theater. The character lines aren’t long.

I will say this: embarkation day for Disney cruises is a bit chaotic. By contrast, we easily walk right onto Celebrity ships and can go straight to our cabins to drop off luggage immediately. If celebrity can do that, I’m not sure why Disney can’t.

[Anonymous]

Our Disney cruises are the most easygoing and relaxing vacations we have. Do as much or as little as you’d like. Enjoy the pampering. They are bliss for the entire family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part about Disney cruises are that they are just such low stress. No standing in lines, fighting huge crowds in the parks, trying to to schedule lightning lanes and running from ride to ride. They are just great relaxing fun.

That said a 3 night cruise is way too short, and a 4 night feels a little too short as well. It takes a day or so to really get into the rhythm of cruising, to figure out the ship, and all that. By the time you do that on a 3 night it is time to go home. I’d definitely do 7 nights if you can.

I enjoyed our Disney cruise but there are definitely lines. Lines to board, get off at ports, get back on, lines to get into dinner and shows, lines for the aquaduck, lines for characters. There are definitely lines.

Not on the smaller/older ships.

Less people, fewer lines.

So the pp is right. There are lines. Fewer on some ships perhaps but lines nonetheless.

You will be so relaxed and happy on your Disney cruise that you won’t care at all about the very few short lines you encounter. Absolutely not a big deal.

I just found it odd for someone to say that there aren't any lines and then in the next sentence to say that there are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part about Disney cruises are that they are just such low stress. No standing in lines, fighting huge crowds in the parks, trying to to schedule lightning lanes and running from ride to ride. They are just great relaxing fun.

That said a 3 night cruise is way too short, and a 4 night feels a little too short as well. It takes a day or so to really get into the rhythm of cruising, to figure out the ship, and all that. By the time you do that on a 3 night it is time to go home. I’d definitely do 7 nights if you can.

I enjoyed our Disney cruise but there are definitely lines. Lines to board, get off at ports, get back on, lines to get into dinner and shows, lines for the aquaduck, lines for characters. There are definitely lines.

Not on the smaller/older ships.

Less people, fewer lines.

So the pp is right. There are lines. Fewer on some ships perhaps but lines nonetheless.

You will be so relaxed and happy on your Disney cruise that you won’t care at all about the very few short lines you encounter. Absolutely not a big deal.

I just found it odd for someone to say that there aren't any lines and then in the next sentence to say that there are.

No need to be so literal.

If waiting 30 seconds or a few minutes seems like a big deal, then you’ll have trouble enjoying yourself anywhere.

The big ships have more people and lines are more of a thing. It’s also tougher to find lounge chairs, etc.

But small ships simply don’t have anything that would make you feel like you are waiting in lines that are annoying.

The bottom line is that the smaller ships on any cruise line are better imho.

Specific to Disney: castaway cay feels empty when you are there on a smaller ship.

Pro Tip: if you ever do a Med cruise, opt for a small ship. Ditto for any itinerary that involves a tender.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went with our 8 and 11 year old kids last year. We had a great time overall. They loved the kids clubs (and didn't just watch TV there, although the 11yo played video game tournaments which helped him make friends - he is usually shy but always wanted to go back to the kids clubs). There are occasional lines on the boat, but they weren't bad and never lasted too long - but the line for excursions off the boat can be.

We love vacationing with our kids, but seriously, having just a 2-hour break once a day to do something with my spouse was great - we did several of the adult tastings (champagne, martini, chocolates).

We did a 5-night cruise on the Dream. It was the minimum length cruise I would recommend. We also enjoyed having a veranda room - sitting on the balcony late at night.

The only reason I said we had a great time "overall" was two-fold:

1) the food was just ok. We weren't expecting high quality but some of the meals were mediocre... but there are a lot of options and you can ask for something else and they happily bring it. I suppose we just had higher hopes for the food quality vs. quantity.

2) I/we despise the lounge chair hoarders - and that was a problem. I got up with the kids one morning at 8am to go for a walk around the boat for exercise and literally 90% of the chairs had people personal belonging on them. In one case we sat next to FOUR prime spot chairs that someone set things on, and they didn't show up (ever) from 9am to 2pm! I know this isn't a problem unique to cruises and it happens at many resorts. But it was bad, and added stress to an otherwise relaxing trip.

I'm also in the minority on this it seems, but I wouldn't take my kids on a Disney cruise after 12 years old. The boat is really geared towards 3-10 IMO. Sure the tweens can have fun - but at that age they don't even want to go in the little pools because they are swarmed with tiny kids... my son called it "toddler soup" and had multiple kids literally climb onto him because they weren't strong swimmers.

Again, despite the above we really enjoyed the trip... overall

I also hate lounge chair hoarders. I just move their stuff and sit. Almost every place you go has a sign that says “no reserving chairs” or “chairs unattended for more than 45 minutes may have belongings removed.”

[Anonymous]

Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with our 8 and 11 year old kids last year. We had a great time overall. They loved the kids clubs (and didn't just watch TV there, although the 11yo played video game tournaments which helped him make friends - he is usually shy but always wanted to go back to the kids clubs). There are occasional lines on the boat, but they weren't bad and never lasted too long - but the line for excursions off the boat can be.

We love vacationing with our kids, but seriously, having just a 2-hour break once a day to do something with my spouse was great - we did several of the adult tastings (champagne, martini, chocolates).

We did a 5-night cruise on the Dream. It was the minimum length cruise I would recommend. We also enjoyed having a veranda room - sitting on the balcony late at night.

The only reason I said we had a great time "overall" was two-fold:

1) the food was just ok. We weren't expecting high quality but some of the meals were mediocre... but there are a lot of options and you can ask for something else and they happily bring it. I suppose we just had higher hopes for the food quality vs. quantity.

2) I/we despise the lounge chair hoarders - and that was a problem. I got up with the kids one morning at 8am to go for a walk around the boat for exercise and literally 90% of the chairs had people personal belonging on them. In one case we sat next to FOUR prime spot chairs that someone set things on, and they didn't show up (ever) from 9am to 2pm! I know this isn't a problem unique to cruises and it happens at many resorts. But it was bad, and added stress to an otherwise relaxing trip.

I'm also in the minority on this it seems, but I wouldn't take my kids on a Disney cruise after 12 years old. The boat is really geared towards 3-10 IMO. Sure the tweens can have fun - but at that age they don't even want to go in the little pools because they are swarmed with tiny kids... my son called it "toddler soup" and had multiple kids literally climb onto him because they weren't strong swimmers.

Again, despite the above we really enjoyed the trip... overall

I also hate lounge chair hoarders. I just move their stuff and sit. Almost every place you go has a sign that says “no reserving chairs” or “chairs unattended for more than 45 minutes may have belongings removed.”

Off topic but I once got screamed at by a lounge chair hoarder lady. Except we hadn't moved any stuff. She calls her sister on the phone (her sister is the one that had staked out the chairs earlier) and as she is talking to her sister it dawns on her she is looking for her stuff in the wrong place. It was right where the sister left it one row over from us. But oh boy was she fighting mad when she thought we moved her stuff!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

If that is what you are experiencing, then you are doing the Disney Parks very very wrong. I was just there and only waited in one line approaching 20 minutes and the rest were under 5 with lightning lanes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with our 8 and 11 year old kids last year. We had a great time overall. They loved the kids clubs (and didn't just watch TV there, although the 11yo played video game tournaments which helped him make friends - he is usually shy but always wanted to go back to the kids clubs). There are occasional lines on the boat, but they weren't bad and never lasted too long - but the line for excursions off the boat can be.

We love vacationing with our kids, but seriously, having just a 2-hour break once a day to do something with my spouse was great - we did several of the adult tastings (champagne, martini, chocolates).

We did a 5-night cruise on the Dream. It was the minimum length cruise I would recommend. We also enjoyed having a veranda room - sitting on the balcony late at night.

The only reason I said we had a great time "overall" was two-fold:

1) the food was just ok. We weren't expecting high quality but some of the meals were mediocre... but there are a lot of options and you can ask for something else and they happily bring it. I suppose we just had higher hopes for the food quality vs. quantity.

2) I/we despise the lounge chair hoarders - and that was a problem. I got up with the kids one morning at 8am to go for a walk around the boat for exercise and literally 90% of the chairs had people personal belonging on them. In one case we sat next to FOUR prime spot chairs that someone set things on, and they didn't show up (ever) from 9am to 2pm! I know this isn't a problem unique to cruises and it happens at many resorts. But it was bad, and added stress to an otherwise relaxing trip.

I'm also in the minority on this it seems, but I wouldn't take my kids on a Disney cruise after 12 years old. The boat is really geared towards 3-10 IMO. Sure the tweens can have fun - but at that age they don't even want to go in the little pools because they are swarmed with tiny kids... my son called it "toddler soup" and had multiple kids literally climb onto him because they weren't strong swimmers.

Again, despite the above we really enjoyed the trip... overall

I also hate lounge chair hoarders. I just move their stuff and sit. Almost every place you go has a sign that says “no reserving chairs” or “chairs unattended for more than 45 minutes may have belongings removed.”

Off topic but I once got screamed at by a lounge chair hoarder lady. Except we hadn't moved any stuff. She calls her sister on the phone (her sister is the one that had staked out the chairs earlier) and as she is talking to her sister it dawns on her she is looking for her stuff in the wrong place. It was right where the sister left it one row over from us. But oh boy was she fighting mad when she thought we moved her stuff!

Yeah. She can scream. There’s no right to possession of a chair in a public place. No crime for moving abandoned property. All someone can do is yell. So yell, yell, yell. I’m over 50 and do not care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going in a couple of weeks. In case the Castaway Cay water is cold I’ve also reserved bikes and kayaks for that day.

We just got back from a Disney Cruise, last week of January. We had beautiful weather on Castaway Key day and spent a lot of time in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

If that is what you are experiencing, then you are doing the Disney Parks very very wrong. I was just there and only waited in one line approaching 20 minutes and the rest were under 5 with lightning lanes, etc.

Oh give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

If that is what you are experiencing, then you are doing the Disney Parks very very wrong. I was just there and only waited in one line approaching 20 minutes and the rest were under 5 with lightning lanes, etc.

Oh give me a break.

I guess you go there with no planning and have no idea what you are doing. I’m sorry for your experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

I get what you mean but the cruises don't have rides so the comparison doesn't really make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t be so literal. Disney parks is non-stop 30-60 minute lines for every ride. Disney cruises have no lines by comparison.

If that is what you are experiencing, then you are doing the Disney Parks very very wrong. I was just there and only waited in one line approaching 20 minutes and the rest were under 5 with lightning lanes, etc.

Oh give me a break.

I guess you go there with no planning and have no idea what you are doing. I’m sorry for your experience.

Not everyone wants to spend $100 a day to pay for a good spot in line on ONE RIDE let alone $500 on five rides. We don't all make as much money as your husband does.