Our First Picture
Boarding the Disney Wonder
My family loves to travel and after having my son I knew I
still wanted to explore and create great adventures. Plus, now I had someone
new to share them with! We never thought a baby was too young to travel and
enjoy a vacation and we love Disney and
cruising. So naturally cruising with a
baby made sense to us. Ever thought your child was too young for a Disney
cruise? Here are some of the many reasons why a Disney cruise is perfect for
your little one.
Disney allows infants 6 months of age to sail on most short
voyages and allows children 1 year and older on their longer voyages such as
their Transatlantic cruises. We celebrated our son’s 10 month “birthday” on his
first cruise and it was perfect! He was able to meet characters, try new foods,
experience magic all around, and explore a new country all in his first
vacation.
Ready for cake!
Offered free of charge onboard for babies(request these items
at front desk upon boarding): Diaper genies, pack and plays, and even diaper
warmers. They also have a few strollers that can be rented free (it does
require a refundable security deposit) on a first come, first serve basis.
Disney cruise themed
Pack n Play
Anyone packing for a child knows it can be difficult and you
already feel like you are packing your entire house so not having to worry
about the bulky items is a relief. Also if you do not feel like bringing your
own diapers and formula the gift shops on board sell them.
Bath Time
Disney also made cruising with a baby easier, they are the
only cruise line with bath tubs. My son loves his baths and he was not walking
by this trip so that was a perk for us. There also are mini refrigators in the
room to store milk and plenty of plugs if you are pumping while on board. I did
and there were so many plugs I could easily pick a plug and sit comfortably
while I pumped. Also the rooms have a curtain that you can use to divid the
main bed from the others in the cabin so if your child is like ours and can’t
go to sleep if he can see you really comes in handy. We were able to draw the
curtain and keep the lights on on our side and watch TV while our little one
had a nice dimly light area to rest.
The perfect place to
rest: Night stand with plug for pumping equipment
The Disney cruise line also has a nursery if you want to
enjoy an adult only restaurant or spa treatment. “It’s a Small World” Nursery
is offered on all of Disney’s ships and they provide childcare for children 6
months to 3 years of age for a small fee per hour. It is highly recommended
that you reserve your child’s time before you sail. It is an adorable nursery
with a bright and cheery motif of Disney’s popular “It’s a Small World” ride
and there are comfortable squishy floors, plenty of toys, chairs, and even a
special area with cribs in case your bundle of joy plays themselves out.
Cheerful decorations Playing at "it's a small world" nursery
Cribs in nursery
By now you are already seeing the benefits of cruising with
your baby but there is so much more:
There are great TV viewing options
on board with a lot of movies and fun shows, which helps if you are in the room
nursing, pumping, or just hanging out.
Free Room service, in case your
little one needs a nap during meal time. Speaking of food, our son was eating
some solid food by this time but at our nightly sit down dinners and the kids
menus had plenty of options. However if your little one is eating baby food
they do offer to puree foods for you. No need to bring your own baby food to
dinner!
Hunter's Pirate Cup Kid's Dinner Option
Kid's Menu for Pirate Night, turns in to a hat
The Characters on board are great with kids and took special time to bond with my son, you can find them sometimes wandering but mostly at scheduled times. This can make it easy to pick which characters your child wants to see and you can work that into your plans for the day with the help of your navigator. And of course don’t forget the pictures! My family will cherish these photos forever.
Impromtu meeting with Mickey Pirate Night with Tinkberbell
Meet and Greet with Ariel
They have a special splash area just
for children still in swim diapers which is great if your kiddo is not walking
or does not know how to swim yet. They can splash, get wet, and have a great
time in their own safe and kid friendly spot.
You can explore a new country
without having to work at planning, Disney picks the best excursions for you so
you know in advance what you are doing at port and you know what age group and
activity level each excursion is suited. We had a fun filled beach day in
Cozumel and our little guy loved the fun in the sun.
Fun in the sun in Cozumel
The Disney cruise provides “wave
phones” (like cell phones), so you can text and call anyone around the ship, no
need to pay for roaming and data fees. The kids’ clubs and nursery will call
you when your child is ready to be picked up, or in case anything happens —
which is gives me great peace of mind.
All of the entertainment on the ship
is free and there is something for everyone. Premier movies, Broadway-style
shows, magic acts, etc. We were able to take our son to the movies without
worrying about if he got to loud and we had to leave how much money we wasted. If you have to leave half way through a show
for a feeding or diaper change you don’t need to stress about the cost.
Disney
is very child friendly and the cast members are always willing to help. They
always provided my son with great attention and care everywhere we went. They
make you and your child feel like family and to me that is what makes a great
vacation. I am so happy we took our baby on vacation and really enjoyed
cruising with him.
Officer's Night
Where
else can you sail the seas, explore new lands, and enjoy the magic of Disney
all in one vacation? I highly recommend sailing with Disney if you want to
experience a grand adventure with your new addition, there is so much for
everyone to experience and you’ll have memories to last a lifetime.
By Kris
kris@traveltimetravel.com
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