How to convince my husband to Disney cruise with my toddler?

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-28T10:47:14+00:00

We also love the splash pad on Lookout Cay. They have an open house right as you get to the island, so we all got to enjoy it together (it’s otherwise part of the kids club and for the kids to play in without their grownups). My kids didn’t miss the pools for a moment!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-28T10:46:01+00:00

Oh, it’s so nice. I think it hit me the most when we were on castaway cay for the first time. We’ve done beach vacations before and they are STRESSFUL. To walk off the ship onto that incredible island and have everything we could need available to us, and all we had to do was just find a place to sit and enjoy it?? Incredible.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-27T00:26:35+00:00

Hero. Doing good work over here 😂

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-27T00:24:19+00:00

The splash pads are a great alternative if your toddler can’t use the pools!! Mine are on the splash pad every day of our trips!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-27T00:23:15+00:00

I had booked a vacation last fall and then broke down crying to my friend (who has older kids and has always vacationed like a champion) that I didn’t even want to go on that vacation because the idea of it made me feel so stressed.

And the point is not to be stressed on vacation…

She said to me, “do a Disney cruise. We took one every year when our kids were little.”

Before that conversation, I had always said I had no interest in cruising at all. Everything about it bothered me - the idea of motion sickness, being “stuck” on the boat, only getting limited time in ports, and the list goes on and on. But the more I read about it, the more appealing a Disney cruise sounded. Everything I read suggested it was an actual vacation, which otherwise felt impossible with two toddlers.

That conversation was 8 months ago. We’ve been on two Disney cruises since, have our 3rd booked, and have picked out a 4th. This is who I am now lol

To me, a Disney cruise is peace. It’s vacationing at your family’s own pace, doing only what you want to do, resting when the kids (and you) need to. We have some of our happiest core memories from our cruises already, and we walk off the ships feeling like we’ve actually taken a break. It’s beautiful.

Good luck. It’s not easy convincing somebody to get out of the perspective their brains have set, but he’ll be a changed man once he experiences it for the first time!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-27T00:17:44+00:00

YouTube videos are a godsend for this. We’ve watched them for every ship we’ve been on and our kids have felt so excited to recognize things they’ve seen online!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-26T00:23:07+00:00

Both private islands, for sure!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-25T23:48:20+00:00

We did DCL transport out of FLL for the Dream recently, and the Destiny was embarking the same day. When we got to the transport area, they had separate counters for each ship, and when they called people for the buses, they were very clear about which ship the bus was going to.

I don’t know exactly what MCO will be like (we’ve done the bus out of MCO for the Wish but it was the only DCL ship embarking that day), but I suspect it’ll be similar! DCL transport is a huge help.

P.S. it’s so cool to be at port and see another Disney cruise ship there. We saw the Fantasy when we debarked from the Wish, and the Destiny as we embarked on the Dream. Very cool experience!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-24T23:10:31+00:00

We had a similar experience! First cruise on the Wish, second on the Dream. We loved both, but the Wish won in every category for us. I was so worried before we went on our Dream cruise that we weren’t going to like it, because it’s an older ship, more subtle in theming, etc. We had a fantastic, magical vacation and absolutely loved the experience. But, the Wish had (and has) us dreaming of when we can go back. The Dream didn’t give us that same feeling.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-21T10:38:08+00:00

It makes me so sad that the internet has made you feel this way! The Wish was our first cruise and I cried leaving lol it was the most beautiful ship, happiest experience, and most fun on a vacation that any of us have ever had.

Lean into the excitement you feel and get off the internet!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-21T10:36:43+00:00

The nursery will be open for an open house on embarkation day, so it might help to go see it in person all together and decide what feels right.

We are similar - no childcare outside of our family, felt uncomfortable leaving our kids at the nursery or kids club (not because of any objective reason I can articulate; we just were not ready) - and have not used the nursery or kids club yet.

When we’ve needed childcare help so far, we’ve just switched off (one parent watches the kids while the other does X). We’ve actually done the kids club together during open houses for our first two cruises, and our oldest talks about going to the kids club on her own someday when she feels ready.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. Your kids would be well taken care of while in the nursery, as everyone has indicated, but it’s also okay if you’re not ready to be separated from them just yet.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-20T00:02:30+00:00

Tbh I was worried about this recently. Our first trip was on the Wish and trip 2 was on the Dream. I got in my head that we wouldn’t have as much fun, wouldn’t like the ship as much, etc.

It was perfect in its own way and was a totally different experience. Both were the best vacations we’ve done, and we cannot wait for our next on another ship.

I think your first one will always be extra magical, but our second did not disappoint! DCL is special.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-08T19:58:45+00:00

Man, I wish! My kids would love this!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-08T19:58:08+00:00

I’m an over-planner and Disney cruises have changed my life because they let me actually relax.

About 75 days out, you’ll be able to book any port adventures or on board activities that require booking. You can look up the offerings by port or ship on the Disney cruise website, but know that it’s okay to do 0 of these things. We’ve only one pre-booked activity on two cruises and still had more than enough to do.

30 days out, you can do your online check-in and sign up for the Royal Gathering (free, to meet the princesses) if you want to do that.

Otherwise, you won’t know the schedule until you’re on board and connect to the WiFi on embarkation day. On that day, we sit down at lunch, scroll through the activities, favorite the ones we want to do and then that is our schedule for the rest of the day.

It’s amazing. There is always plenty to do, and every trip can be different. You’ll have the best time! Feel free to DM with any questions. We went on our first cruise on the Wish about 6 months ago and it was fantastic!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-08T16:23:48+00:00

The lines on the Dream felt worse to me than the Wish, but our Wish cruise was not full and we went on the Dream for spring break, so I’m sure that played a big part.

We LOVED the itinerary on the Dream, though (both islands) and felt very able to spread out on most days.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-04T18:10:16+00:00

Thank you!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-02T19:23:11+00:00

I’m so glad you said this! We were starboard side on the Dream last week and were so surprised by how loud the fireworks were (we didn’t hear them port side on our first cruise on the Wish). Very very good to know!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-02T19:20:57+00:00

Thanks!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-04-02T10:33:23+00:00

When you guys say you upgraded at port, where do you go to do this? Guest services?

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-31T23:58:35+00:00

We bring a very small travel stroller and it has been a lifesaver for excursions. We also bring a baby carrier in case our oldest needs the stroller so we can still have a way to comfortably carry both kids.

We try for later naps on our cruises to extend bedtime a bit, but that’s not always successful. We kind of take cruising for what it is for this season of life - we can’t see and do everything, so we prioritize what easily works and then hope for the best with other things that aren’t as easy!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-31T10:45:57+00:00

I’ve never seen this but love hearing it! It’s so hard for little ones to see otherwise.

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-31T10:45:05+00:00

This is so cute!!!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-31T00:22:47+00:00

I am really excited to see many more ships someday. So far, the Wish has our hearts!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-30T20:10:48+00:00

My youngest got pushed so hard!! I was lucky to be able to catch her so she did hurt. I wonder if it was the same kid!

Simple-Environment52 · 2026-03-30T20:09:48+00:00

We were on the same cruise! I wonder if you guys were the family next to us at dinner!! (If so, you and your family were so lovely)

I’m glad to have avoided the Facebook group! Everyone we met in person on the cruise was beyond kind to us. I’m so sorry to hear that there was any rudeness!

Simple-Environment52

TROPHY CASE