I'm interested in your cruise review because my wife and I are talking about expanding the family we are looking to bring our daughter next spring either on a Disney cruise or to WDW right before she turns 3. We expect the cruise would cost more and since the daughter won't remember this we're leaning WDW and doing the cruise later, but I'm interested in your cruise review and age appropriateness. My brother and sister in law have done two Disney cruises and SIL raves that it's easier on a young family because everything is right there, better even than staying WDW on site.

As an aside about Trattoria al Forno I ate dinner there last May and it was the worst restaurant Italian food I'd ever had, so if you're going for breakfast you'll hopefully have a better experience. It was only memorable for me because it was the first place my daughter and I ever went alone for dinner without my wife.

AKL but not Jiko, Sanaa, or Boma?

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Posted by SnowAubie

Member since Dec 2016

354 posts

Posted on 5/7/17 at 7:46 am to Parrish

My FIL took us all on a Disney Cruise a couple years ago and my youngest was 3 then. I think the cruises are easier on the younger kids than the parks as everything is right there. Lines are shorter for the characters, the shows are great for adults and kids, they have a movie theater on the ships showing different movies including brand new ones(we saw Big Hero 6 the day it opened nationwide). Also the kids club on the ship is a blast for them, our two never wanted to leave. I'm not a cruise guy so I would rather visit the parks for myself but I did have fun as the water slides are a blast and when we went Disney still had the old rule of guests being allowed to bring unlimited alcohol onboard in your checked bags which saved me a lot of money, haha.

Our kids don't really remember the trip or any trip at they age but my wife makes photo books from our trips and they love looking at them and seeing what they did. If you didn't know at WDW kids under 3 get free park admission and can eat free at buffets and family style served restaurants so the costs may balance out about the same as a cruise.

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Posted by LSUfan4444

Member since Mar 2004

54843 posts

Posted on 5/8/17 at 7:48 am to Parrish

quote:
I'm interested in your cruise review and age appropriateness

This will be our second DCL cruise and our daughter was 5 on our first sailing with them. We've sailed Viking, Royal Caribbean and Carnival as well and DCL is hands down the best for accommodating families. Viking and DCL are fairly equal in terms of service (both blowing away RC and Carnival) but the layout of the DCL with so many family activities really makes the ship feel less crowded. It wasnt until Castaway Cay when I sat back and said to my father in law...."Holy shite, there are alot of kids on that boat"

The Oceaneers Club and Lab are amazing. The Cast members do such a greta job with the kids and they really love it. The main dining room food is what it is. Once upon a time MDR food on cruise lines was great but they had to make cruises more affordable and the dining took a hit. It's not bad on DCL but it's about the same as you would get on RC or Viking. Now, Palo and Remy and fabulous. Remy is up there with Victoria and Alberts in my book and a true dining experience.

quote:
AKL but not Jiko, Sanaa, or Boma?

We've got another trip planned for January in 2018 and are going back to Jiko and Sanaa (probably two of my favorites anywhere on property). With this trip being the opening weekend of Pandora we expect to spend alot of the time in Animal Kingdom and didn't want to pull ourselves away for an ADR.

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