Disney? Thinking about trying it out - Need Advice

[Ramrac]

So my husband and I have been on 4 Carnival cruises and are thinking about taking our next with our two sons, 8 and 3, on a Disney cruise. Has any Carnival cruisers tried out Disney and what was your experience with them? I know they do not have a casino and would like to know what other adults have done in the evenings with their kids at the camp. Hubby is worried about getting bored, he doesn't like the spa.

 

Thanks for any advice!

[GTO-Girl]

So my husband and I have been on 4 Carnival cruises and are thinking about taking our next with our two sons, 8 and 3, on a Disney cruise. Has any Carnival cruisers tried out Disney and what was your experience with them? I know they do not have a casino and would like to know what other adults have done in the evenings with their kids at the camp. Hubby is worried about getting bored, he doesn't like the spa.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

We took our granddaughter's on a Disney cruise twice. My advice to people is if you can afford it you need to do it at least once because it is wonderful! They do so many wonderful things and they are all done 1st class!!

 

Tell your husband that Disney is a pro at separating the children's area from the adult areas......so while your kids are enjoying the kid clubs there will be time for you to enjoy yourselves as adults.

 

At the age of your children I don't think you will regret it!!!!

 

Enjoy!!!!!

[Dead-metal]

Your kids will love Disney. It's a great line.

 

I have decided that if the kids are happy and enjoying themselves then the adults have a better holiday.

[HeatherC430]

I haven't been on Disney but my boss is planning a Disney cruise for her family for next year apparently there are a bunch of adult only bars. When we were looking at the deck plan together it seems as if one entire deck of the ship was adult only areas! I was actually suprised!

[firefly333]

They rotate you thru the three dining rooms so you move each night.

 

They have a pirate night one night, so bring your pirate gear and expect fireworks (unless they quit doing this).

 

If you go to their private island they have a adult only section where they serve the adults steaks made to order.

 

they enforce the no kids in the adults rules onboard too.

[lmncruise]

We would LOVE to do a Disney cruise....we are huge Disney fans. But those prices are so high! I guess they are still finding people to fill their boats, but I don't know how. Until the prices come down, we will have to cruise other lines (like Carnival). But I would be thrilled to take a Disney cruise and would do it in a heartbeat. My kids are 16,13 and 8.

 

Enjoy your Disney cruise!

[tattoos]

When I need a Disney fix, I go to Disney World and can leave when I've had my fill of magic, something you can't do on a Disney cruise.

 

No casino rules out my ever sailing on a Disney ship even if it was free.

[Kangapong]

Nobody does it like Disney!

 

A Disney cruise is something that everyone should experience at least once. We didn't even notice there wasn't a casino on board and there are so many things to do in the evenings for adults that I don't see how it would be possible for anyone to get bored.

 

Go for it! It will be money well spent and I'm sure you won't regret it.

[heatherbelle]

Yes they are wonderful. My DS was 12 when we went on one in the Med. on an evening we never saw him after dinner until bed time, he loved it. We gave him sign out privileges for the club.

 

As far as the entertainment goes I can only say it's fantastic, but the shows are all Disney type things. Lots of singing and dancing lovely costumes and in one that I saw it started snowing, so a bit of Disney Magic mixed in. The cruise itself wasn't in your face Disney like the theme parks are. Yes there were plenty of characters and long lines for pictures with those if you picked the wrong time to queue. There were also comedy shows, music and other things. Try looking on the Disney forum at trip reports and also google as there are some great trip reports on a specialised Disney forum. I would put a link, but I can't because it is linked to TA.

 

Other than the first day when I thought I had arrived at a holiday camp from the 70's everything was wonderful. I haven't sailed on the newer ships only on the Disney Magic.

 

This year we are trying Carnival, I am not expecting it to be a patch on Disney, but for 12 nights and a balcony as oppose to an inside Cabin for 7 nights I am willing to give them a try.

 

Try and get one of the catagory 5e cabins at the back if you can or one with 2 portholes on the newer ships. These don't cost much more than an inside.

We had a sideways inside on the Magic and it was plenty big enough. I think the Disney fleet have some of the largest standard cabins in the industry.

 

As for dinning each night you go to a different restuarant and your waiters follow with you. They wear different dining outfits too to represent the the theme of the restuarant. At the end of each meal, there is usually a little show of some kind. Try googling disney cruise lines and see what you can find on u tube.

 

I love Disney and we are big fans and usually travel to Florida every other year to go to the parks. Sadly though their cruises are very expensive. You get what you pay for though I believe.

 

I am on the Sunshine this summer I just hope all of the issues have now been resolved.

[bitemyfly]

Go! Like Disney it's expensive but u get what you pay for

Go make a memory , you and you children will be happy you did

[Keith1010]

It is a great experience. I would book it.

 

Keith

[maurinsky2]

So my husband and I have been on 4 Carnival cruises and are thinking about taking our next with our two sons, 8 and 3, on a Disney cruise. Has any Carnival cruisers tried out Disney and what was your experience with them? I know they do not have a casino and would like to know what other adults have done in the evenings with their kids at the camp. Hubby is worried about getting bored, he doesn't like the spa.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

The only cruise I've ever taken was a Disney cruise, but we cruised after 5 days at Disneyworld, which made me not want to do anything but relax! Actually, we're big card and game players so we played a lot of poker in our room (went with my in-laws), we played Scrabble, and we sat on our balcony and just chilled out with a drink.

 

Oh, and we went to karaoke, which on our boat was packed with a bunch of drunk Canadians - it was Bryan Adams all night long!

 

We barely saw our daughter (then 9) when we were there. She had a blast at the Oceaneer club, and I think she still is friends with one of the girls she met there.

[Ramrac]

When I need a Disney fix, I go to Disney World and can leave when I've had my fill of magic, something you can't do on a Disney cruise.

 

No casino rules out my ever sailing on a Disney ship even if it was free.

 

That is the same way my husband is thinking. He loves going to the casino on Carnival.

[Ramrac]

Nobody does it like Disney!

 

A Disney cruise is something that everyone should experience at least once. We didn't even notice there wasn't a casino on board and there are so many things to do in the evenings for adults that I don't see how it would be possible for anyone to get bored.

 

Go for it! It will be money well spent and I'm sure you won't regret it.

 

What kind of things do they have in the evenings besides the nightclubs for adults?

 

Thanks!!!!

[Ramrac]

Thank you all for your input!

[Warm Breezes]

So my husband and I have been on 4 Carnival cruises and are thinking about taking our next with our two sons, 8 and 3, on a Disney cruise. Has any Carnival cruisers tried out Disney and what was your experience with them? I know they do not have a casino and would like to know what other adults have done in the evenings with their kids at the camp. Hubby is worried about getting bored, he doesn't like the spa.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

Our first 2 cruises were Disney when our kids were 4 and 7 and then 7 and 10. Perfect ages to enjoy the Disney experience which is really what you are paying the premium for. We had a great time and I would do it again when I have Grandkids those ages to spoil. In the evenings we went to see the awesome Disney shows together as a family. There are also some adult only areas to enjoy while the kids are in the clubs. If I were you with kids that age, and the price wasn't a problem, then I would definately go Disney.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Our kids like it ....

[Tapi]

it's expensive but u get what you pay for

Go make a memory , you and you children will be happy you did

 

I was just pricing out a Disney cruise out of curiosity for my family of 4. Balcony for 7 nights to the Eastern Caribbean during Spring Break: $6,100 :eek:

 

We WILL do it at in a few years. Just waiting for the kids to get a bit older (the youngest one is not even 2 yet). It will be expensive, but we'll do it!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

So my husband and I have been on 4 Carnival cruises and are thinking about taking our next with our two sons, 8 and 3, on a Disney cruise. Has any Carnival cruisers tried out Disney and what was your experience with them? I know they do not have a casino and would like to know what other adults have done in the evenings with their kids at the camp. Hubby is worried about getting bored, he doesn't like the spa.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

My wife and I have cruised with DCL 3 times. Once with kids, once with Grandson and once by ourselves.

 

We were not on the new ships but on the older ships they had a section of the ship called Route 66 for all the night time activities.

 

This included Cadillac Lounge which is a piano Bar, Diversions which is a sports bar where they shows games on the TV's and have trivia, and Wavebands which is a disco.

 

There is also a dedicated movie theater with movies playing every night. If there is a Disney movie being released at theaters while you are on the ship it will be shown on the ship as well.

 

There are also the production shows after dinner.

 

Hope this helps some and hopefully the info I provided isn't outdated since they are always making changes.

 

Bill

[crunchy05]

We just took our kids on the Disney Dream in April. It was their first cruise, they enjoyed it immensly. My 3 yr old is still asking if he can go to the kids club. I like to gamble, my husband doesn;t- so he was fine w/o the casino. Me on the other hand missed it a little.

 

But there are plenty of things for adults to go- scotch, martini, wine, whiskey tasting. They play movies in the theatres, there are shows every night. They have an all adult area, with a pool, bar, nightclub. The food was great to me- had one the best meal(s) ever in one of thier speciality restaurants- Palo.

 

I definately felt like - when I want to do a family cruise, Disney all the way - Plenty of characters to see and meet, games to play, their kids club is awesome and huge!

 

When its just me and the hubs- we go Carnival.

[tiggerman101]

I did a Disney cruise last December. I am not really a Disne person, but was curious about the ship and line. I thought I would try something different. The service is top notch. They do have Adult only areas at night. It became pretty sparse later in the evening though. My favorite thing was the state of the art movie threatre showing current movies (and 3D as well). It was nice and I watched a few of them on the ship later at night. The shows are great and the restaurants are neat as well. I was on the Dream and was not too impressed with the Adult Pool area. However, Castaway Cay is wonderful.

 

I am glad I experienced it, but I wouldn't do it again. It is a different type of cruise experience for sure.

[heatherbelle]

That is the same way my husband is thinking. He loves going to the casino on Carnival.

 

Honestly, it's not in your face Disney, it is refined cruising with characters and Disney shows, plus lots of kids. I only felt I was on a Disney cruise when it started snowing on the second to last night. I was expecting a lot more Disney. They do have a Disney horn and chime though when the cruise director speaks to passengers.

 

Plus all of your soda is included. You only pay extra for speciality coffe and alcohol. Plus Palo if you can secure a booking.

 

Have a look in the Disney cruise forum called the Dibb for a trip report by mandymouse, this one isn't a TA website it's a Disney one for British Disney nuts like myself. Her and her husband have just done a b2b without kids, that will give you a flavour, of what it's like for adults.

[5Hawkeyes]

There is one big advantage to sailing on a Disney cruise, you can bring on all the alcohol you can carry!!! We brought a couple bottles on but found ourselves just enjoying the kids and the time we spent with them.

 

As someone mentioned earlier, the service is top notch. I wouldn't go so far as saying the food would be any better or worse, but the atmosphere and service in the dining rooms was incredible. The shows are incredible too!!!

 

And finally, never been to HMC but all the pictures look nice. I can say Castaway Cay was just amazing. Disney knows how to put on a show and that's what that island was all about. Incredible snorkling, stingray encounters, beautiful sand, shopping, and the food on the island was probably some of the best we had the whole cruise.

 

Try it once just to experience it. We may never get to go again, but we're really happy we took the splurge when we did:)

 

Good luck!!!

[MarkRosenthal]

That is our motto to a "t", if the kids are happy then everybody is happy, if the kids are miserabel then everybody is miserable.

 

Your kids will love Disney. It's a great line.

 

I have decided that if the kids are happy and enjoying themselves then the adults have a better holiday.

[TNIris]

We went on the Disney Fantasy this past October.

 

I kind of did miss a casino. We're not huge gamblers, but I do like to throw a few quarters in the slots. :D

 

The food was fabulous, and I loved the fact that there were 3 different restaurants you rotated through, but kept the same servers.

 

The family pools were tiny, tiny, and were always terribly crowded.

 

The staff was great.

 

My husband really griped, because of all of the character "meet n greets", that is all my daughter wanted to do. So it was kind of like Disney World, they gave the times and places where the characters were going to be, and then you would go and stand in a long line and wait anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to get a picture and a signature.

 

I liked the fact that you could have all the towels you wanted without having to check them out with your key card (like Royal Caribbean), and one day when we got off the ship at port and it was raining, they gave everyone a free poncho, which I thought was a nice touch.

 

The inside rooms have "magic" portholes that Tinkerbell and Peter Pan fly by every once in awhile, we had a balcony room and our daughter was bemusing the fact that we didn't have a magic porthole room. Kids!

 

The shows were...Disney. They were good, but, they were really geared towards the kids.

 

I say do it once!