Over New Yr’s, we joined our prolonged household for a Disney Cruise on the Disney Want. Right here is the primary of three weblog posts about our journey! In case you’d prefer to see the video model, examine my Instagram spotlight.
Our Disney Cruise Journey Recap!
We had an exquisite time aboard the Disney Want over vacation break! My prolonged household has been speaking about taking a Disney cruise for years, and we lastly felt that every one 4 grandchildren had been prepared. My sister is a journey advisor and did all of the planning for us. We simply needed to pay up! I extremely suggest you attain out to her in case you are planning a Disney cruise (or any journey for that matter!). We had been in a position to get staterooms side-by-side, which was nice to have the cousins chat from the balcony and make plans.
Disney Want Itinerary (4 Nights)
Our cruise size was excellent for first timers. We visited two islands and had at some point at sea. I’ve a number of ideas on the islands, so keep tuned for these posts coming quickly!
- Depart Cape Canaveral
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Castaway Cay (Disney’s personal island)
- Day at Sea
- Arrive Cape Canaveral
Touring To Cape Canaveral
We flew down the day earlier than, which is at all times really useful for cruise journey. We ended up having fairly the day of delays between our flight getting diverted from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, after which our scheduled Uber getting cancelled. We needed to anticipate an Uber on the airport which took a very long time. Ultimately we made it to our lodge – the TownPlace Suites Cape Canaveral – the place Grammie and Pea had been ready for us! I booked the lodge evening free utilizing Marriott Factors, and it was a pleasant, new, clear lodge. Would suggest!
Tremendous late dinner after arrival
Oatmeal with cottage cheese and coconut on the free breakfast!
Boarding The Ship
The following morning, we took our time trying out and took a stroll to a park. At midday, our Uber got here to haul all six of us to the cruise port. There was additionally a lodge shuttle, nevertheless it was $10 an individual, so Uber ended up being cheaper (My sister and her fam met us there). The port was solely about 2 miles away.
As from a protracted line of site visitors to unload baggage, getting on the boat was pretty straightforward. Disney requires you to add your entire paperwork forward of time in order that check-in was straightforward. We had a 12:30 check-in time, and whereas there have been crowds and features, all of them moved rapidly. We had been aboard in in all probability 20 minutes or so!
Deck Lunch
We bee-lined to lunch earlier than going to our room as a result of everybody was hungry! This was the one time we ate lunch on the deck as a result of it tended to be fairly busy. There have been stations for pizza, tacos, burgers, and extra. I hit up the DIY taco bar (paired with a Corona!) and the tacos had been delish. I’ll discuss a bit extra in regards to the ship’s cleanliness after I get to eating, however we had been VERY impressed. There are hand washing stations in every single place, and many of the meals is served to you so there’s minimal touching amongst company.
Our Stateroom
After lunch, we went to take a look at our stateroom and unpack. We had been on the seventh flooring (room 7034 to be precise!) and had a stunning balcony view. Our room had a queen mattress for the adults and two bunks for the boys which got here from the transformed sofa and down from the ceiling! Whereas it was positively cozy, it by no means felt crowded. There was additionally a pleasant curtain to divide the sleeping areas so we may have a light-weight on and the boys had been in the dead of night.
We additionally had a welcome present from our journey advisor! There’s a mini fridge drawer within the room to maintain drinks chilly. You’re additionally allowed to deliver a six pack aboard, and my sister introduced some gluten free beers for herself.
The Lavatory
I beloved that the lavatory had two separate areas for the bathroom and bathe. We positively used each on the similar time many occasions. If somebody was showering, you would nonetheless wash your fingers on the opposite facet. The toilet was fairly good!
We unpacked our garments into the closets and drawers. I do suppose they might have had extra drawers on the children’ facet.
Exploring The Ship
We explored the ship a bit earlier than the sail away social gathering round 4:00!
Nonetheless dressed up for Christmas
The Youngsters Membership
Aka the Oceaneer Membership aka the most well-liked spot on the ship! After we arrived, the children membership had an open home so adults may stroll by means of it. We had three youngsters below 10 (Birch, Avery, and Emerson) who may go to the membership. Mazen’s age group (12) was solely allowed in The Edge membership for tweens. At first we thought this was an enormous disadvantage that Mazen couldn’t be along with his cousins, however he ended up going to Edge so much and made buddies there, so all of it labored out.
The Star Wars room on the Oceaneer Membership
Every youngster was given a wristband that they wanted to check in that we returned on the final day. They might select to go in from the foyer or by means of the slide! In addition they had the good handwashing station ever the place you place your arms into tubes of swirling water and cleaning soap. Really easy for teenagers!
I don’t have a ton of photographs from the children membership as a result of adults aren’t allowed in on regular hours. However the youngsters beloved it! They went for just a few hours every day which was SUCH a pleasant break for us to train or lounge.
Along with the continuing actions, that they had character visits and particular occasions that stored it fascinating for them. The cutest half is that once they’re able to be picked up you get an alert by means of your app that claims “Birch want to be picked up now.” It was formal sufficient that it was cute!
The Swimming pools + Waterslides
You may see all of them right here! The white tube is the Aqua Mouse, which is a tube water journey that the children LOVED! There have been additionally Disney motion pictures taking part in all.the.time. that you would watch from the swimming pools. The road would get lengthy at occasions, however in the event you went at an off-peak time you’ll stroll proper on. The yellow slide was nice for littler youngsters. The a number of swimming pools had been on the small facet, however they had been HEATED which was so good! And there have been loads of life jackets you would borrow you probably have a younger swimmer.
(It seems to be actually crowded right here as a result of this was throughout the sail off social gathering on the highest deck! It was not normally this crowded)
Toy Story Splash Zone
The 2 youthful youngsters in our group beloved taking part in right here for a day. Once more, the water was WARM and that was so key on a cold day! We actually appreciated that as a result of chilly water would have made this space depressing.
The Laundry
For these questioning, the laundry room was nice!! We did laundry twice in 4 days (I do know, I do know) and it was so beautiful to have our airport journey day garments clear for the return journey in addition to exercise garments not stinking up the room. Every load prices $3.50 that we simply swiped onto our stateroom card. And the most effective half was the app informed us when the load was executed so we may promptly swap it over. I introduced two laundry pods from dwelling, however you would additionally buy cleaning soap together with your card.
There have been tons and tons of machines accessible. And ironing boards too! Whereas the $7 x 2 we paid to do laundry was nominal, I do suppose it might be good simply to have this value included given what we paid for the cruise.
The Health Middle
We went to the health heart a handful of occasions. That they had a number of gear, Peloton bikes, weights, and even a cycle room.
One in all my solely complaints I had about our ship was that there wasn’t a round strolling monitor. There was a monitor, nevertheless it had stairs in the course of it and it didn’t go all the best way across the ship so that you stored having to show again. I like to stroll on the higher decks if potential.
The view from the health monitor seemed into the spa backyard.
HyperSpace Lounge
There have been a number of lounges on board, however my favourite was the Star Wars themed HyperSpace Lounge! Going inside felt such as you had been getting into a ship with a push-button sliding door, and the screens went into hyper area periodically! In addition they had the most effective drinks with an iPad menu. Try the bubbles of smoke!
Adults-Solely Space
It took me til the final day to search out the adults-only space; it was that secluded! The chairs had been further plush, there was a non-public bar and low store, and an infinity pool (which sadly, I by no means received in).
Leisure
Reside Exhibits
We went to 2 reside reveals whereas at sea: The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. They had been each AMAZING! Plenty of nice singing, dancing, costumes, particular results. I additionally beloved that they had been each roughly an hour so consideration spans may tolerate them, and on our day at sea that they had a manatee at 2pm for many who wanted to be in mattress by 8. 10/10!
Smaller Exhibits
There have been additionally reveals and music occurring within the grand corridor at numerous occasions. We stopped to pay attention to event.
Silent Disco
One evening, we discovered a kid-friendly Silent Disco! This was so enjoyable. My solely grievance was it solely lasted 45 minutes and the following evening it was after bedtime.
Deck Events
There have been deck events every evening, however I not often stayed up late sufficient. One was pirate themed! And on New Yr’s, that they had a kid-friendly countdown at 7:30 and one other at midnight. Mazen was the one one to look ahead to the midnight fireworks!
Weblog Posts To Come:
- All of our buffet meals and theme dinners (Wednesday)
- Our two island stops (Friday)
Total Evaluate Of Our Disney Cruise
We had a good time, and we actually beloved the cruise! My total impression is that this cruise is ideal for individuals with youngsters within the age group of toddlers to tweens. In comparison with different cruise strains, Disney is VERY costly. I’d not suggest going in the event you don’t have youngsters until you’re a Disney fanatic. The cruise for us was all in regards to the youngsters! Having so many kid-centric issues (from the children membership to decrease sinks within the loos) was excellent for our household of youngsters ages 5, 6, 8, and 12. In case you have older youngsters, I’d let you know to select one other cruise line and save your self some cash. That mentioned, there have been some issues that Disney did so effectively. See under!
Right here is my checklist of issues we beloved/appreciated:
Cleanliness and Sanitization
I LOVED having sinks and cleaning soap in so many locations. Hand sanitizer alone doesn’t kill norovirus, and I washed my fingers usually. There have been even a row of sinks going into the informal eating space. Earlier than dinner we had been all given hand wipes. The ship was additionally VERY clear. The employees did a terrific job clearing tables and there was little trash wherever (which is spectacular since there are such a lot of youngsters operating round!).
Lifeguards at Swimming pools and Castaway Cay
I used to be additionally so appreciative of all of the lifeguards! They had been in every single place and so they had been strict (a very good suppose from the mother and father’ POV). Even after we received off the boat at Castaway Cay, there have been lifeguards in every single place watching the play zones and snorkelers.
Service
The service on board was fabulous. We beloved our dinner service staff and each “solid member” we met was so variety and useful. We solely have one main grievance on this entrance and that was on our first day about 25 completely different individuals requested if we needed to purchase a drink package deal. We had politely declined the primary few, nevertheless it received a bit extreme when new individuals stored coming as much as ask us time and again. Everybody was nonetheless good although!
Drink Costs
You’d count on drinks and wine to be obscenely priced on a cruise ship, however they weren’t!! Wines had been $9-15 (below $10!) and cocktails had been possibly $13-15. On Castaway Cay, my margarita was solely $8.75!! And it was nice. I actually appreciated this. And that every one smooth drinks had been included.
The Exhibits
They had been excellent! Child pleasant and really Disney. We beloved them.
Themed Dinners
An extended evaluate will include that weblog put up, however the dinners had been incredible and the meals was excellent throughout the entire ship. There have been just a few “misses” with dishes we ordered, however total I’d give the meals an A-. The one food-related grievance I’ve is that the espresso was horrible. Even the paid stage of espresso I assumed was fairly unhealthy.
WiFi
It could have been good to have free WiFi. Thomas and I each paid $88 to have full web (minus streaming, which was extra) on our cruise. I used to be aggravated to pay that, however as soon as I related it was nice. Speaking with texting was truly fairly essential because the ship was so massive and our group was all unfold out, so we had been glad that at the very least iMessage was free! Mazen may textual content us with out having paid wifi on his cellphone. This meant he may go to the tween membership or keep out later and we knew he may attain out or we may attain him.
Heated Swimming pools
Such a recreation changer! Chilly swimming pools would have been depressing. They had been so heat and the children beloved them. There was just one sizzling tub that I keep in mind seeing within the adults-only space, and it was small so it was at all times packed. They want a much bigger sizzling tub!
Loos All over the place
There are tons of loos that had been at all times clear, so FYI for these of you who care about this type of element. 😉
Was it crowded?
There have been just a few occasions when it appeared like everybody was in a single place, however for a ship as large as The Want, it didn’t really feel too crowded to me. It didn’t really feel empty, however I didn’t really feel claustrophobic.
A Few Critiques…
Popcorn Price Further
As my sister put it, you would eat limitless filet mignons however you needed to pay for popcorn! Popcorn exterior of the reveals/theaters was further. This was so foolish to me since our youngsters clearly needed some. I assume this simply retains everybody from getting it and making an enormous mess / losing it, nevertheless it was just a bit odd.
Character Traces
The one time I noticed tremendous lengthy strains was for characters. My youngsters weren’t that all in favour of assembly characters, however you probably have somebody who’s, be ready to attend in a Disney World-esque line.
Atlantis Resort
This evaluate is coming in a separate put up, however we SO remorse getting off the boat to go to Atlantis. Extra on this quickly!
Disembark Timing
We had been at port on our final morning earlier than we awoke and we needed to be off the ship by 9 or 9:30. The entire morning felt rushed and chaotic. I want we may have had slightly extra time to take pleasure in a closing breakfast and get off slightly extra slowly. I perceive they should turnover the boat, however after such a soothing time the early morning made for a cautiously early closing evening and a extra worrying journey day.
Total Evaluate
In case you love Disney, you’ll love a Disney Cruise! Actually every little thing from the towels to the music to the reveals is Disney branded. There have been two new launch motion pictures taking part in (Mufasa and Moana 2) that sadly we had simply paid to see within the theater! I believe Disney Cruises are perfect for households with youngsters. It positively felt like extra of a trip for the grown-ups with every little thing being so kid-friendly. The meals choices, the expectations, the actions, and the service was all geared in the direction of youngsters which simply makes every little thing a lot simpler.
Disney clearly is aware of what they’re doing as a result of the entire course of was organized and enjoyable. Be happy to ask any extra questions you may have about particular issues within the feedback! Or share suggestions in the event you’ve executed a Disney Cruise and have one thing to share that I missed.
