Hi,
I am hoping the experienced DCL veterans and travellers to help me decide the cruise and extras…
I know it sounds silly, but I am quite desperate to know what others think. (and yes, I cannot make up my mind quickly and that's my problem!)
Things to consider:
* We fly from Toronto (flights are about $350-400 per person)
* We plan to arrive at least 1 day before the cruise
* We have SeaWorld tickets (2 days) that expires on December 9 and 14, respectively. (~$300 USD in value) We hope to use this if we can and want to see the new Sesame area and Christmas Rudolph meet & greet. We went to SeaWorld last December.
* I am very prone to sea sick (neither my DH nor DD are sea sick)
* Never been to DCL. We've been to RCCL twice – Allures and Oasis – and we enjoyed it, but got sea sick on the first 2 days at Allures (maybe because we're going further?)
* Our DD's turning 6 at the end of January. She is about 43 inches tall. She does not like to be left alone sometimes (so we may not get that much of adult-only time).
* We asked DD couple days ago, she said she somewhat likes Princesses (Rapunzel, Mulan, Cinderella, and Moana), but she also knows about Star Wars (haven't watched any movies though.) And she kept on asking if they were REAL princesses and REAL Darth Vader, etc. I think that magical age will be over soon.
* We most like will go to other DCL in the future - for DD birthday or anniversary, etc.
We're looking at 4 options with estimated price (in USD).
1. Disney Dream – VGT rate (December 2 – 6) & SeaWorld: $4700
Pro: Save on flights. Extra days can be used towards visiting SeaWorld. We've been to Nausau (1 of 2 port of calls). Christmas themed cruise. Affordable.
Con: Not a birthday cruise. Cruise is short (4 days)
2. Disney Fantasy – OGT rate (Nov 30 – Dec 7) & SeaWorld: $6100
Pro: Save on flights. Christmas themed cruise. Extra days can be used towards visiting SeaWorld. 7-day cruise.
Con: Not a birthday cruise. We've been to St. Thomas (1 of 3 port of calls). Oceanview room. I heard this route is more prone to motion because of its itinerary (it has to go far)
3. Disney Fantasy (Jan 17 – Jan 25) – 5C CAN rate: $6100
Pro: Know the room. Birthday cruise. 7-day cruise. Star Wars maybe hit or miss for DD, (we think she will like it. Her friends talk about it and we have time to educate her.)
Con: Loose SeaWorld passes. Visited Cozumel and Falmouth (2 of 3 port of calls) before.
4. Disney Fantasy (Jan 17 – Jan 25) – 5C CAN rate AND make a short trip to SeaWorld & MVMCP (end of Nov / early December): $8000 (for two trips - $6100 + $1900)
Pro: Know the room. Birthday cruise. 7-day cruise. Can use SeaWorld tickets. Star Wars maybe hit or miss for DD, (we think she will like it. Her friends talk about it and we have time to educate her.)
Con: Expensive (fly twice to MCO and hotels). Visited Cozumel and Falmouth (2 of 3 port of calls) before.
I am more leaning towards option 1 or 4, but not sure which one's better.
To other parents:
Is it truly magical to be on a cruise for DD's birthday? We were at WDW for her 4th birthday and it was really fun!
If we choose #1, we're thinking of taking her to like Great Wolf Lodge or take her to the magic show at Niagara Falls (we've been twice and she liked them very much) or throw a birthday party instead. It will cost about $500. We already told her that she won't have a birthday party, but we'll go away and she's cool about it.
Thank you in advance!
I am hoping the experienced DCL veterans and travellers to help me decide the cruise and extras…
I know it sounds silly, but I am quite desperate to know what others think. (and yes, I cannot make up my mind quickly and that's my problem!)
Things to consider:
* We fly from Toronto (flights are about $350-400 per person)
* We plan to arrive at least 1 day before the cruise
* We have SeaWorld tickets (2 days) that expires on December 9 and 14, respectively. (~$300 USD in value) We hope to use this if we can and want to see the new Sesame area and Christmas Rudolph meet & greet. We went to SeaWorld last December.
* I am very prone to sea sick (neither my DH nor DD are sea sick)
* Never been to DCL. We've been to RCCL twice – Allures and Oasis – and we enjoyed it, but got sea sick on the first 2 days at Allures (maybe because we're going further?)
* Our DD's turning 6 at the end of January. She is about 43 inches tall. She does not like to be left alone sometimes (so we may not get that much of adult-only time).
* We asked DD couple days ago, she said she somewhat likes Princesses (Rapunzel, Mulan, Cinderella, and Moana), but she also knows about Star Wars (haven't watched any movies though.) And she kept on asking if they were REAL princesses and REAL Darth Vader, etc. I think that magical age will be over soon.
* We most like will go to other DCL in the future - for DD birthday or anniversary, etc.
We're looking at 4 options with estimated price (in USD).
1. Disney Dream – VGT rate (December 2 – 6) & SeaWorld: $4700
Pro: Save on flights. Extra days can be used towards visiting SeaWorld. We've been to Nausau (1 of 2 port of calls). Christmas themed cruise. Affordable.
Con: Not a birthday cruise. Cruise is short (4 days)
2. Disney Fantasy – OGT rate (Nov 30 – Dec 7) & SeaWorld: $6100
Pro: Save on flights. Christmas themed cruise. Extra days can be used towards visiting SeaWorld. 7-day cruise.
Con: Not a birthday cruise. We've been to St. Thomas (1 of 3 port of calls). Oceanview room. I heard this route is more prone to motion because of its itinerary (it has to go far)
3. Disney Fantasy (Jan 17 – Jan 25) – 5C CAN rate: $6100
Pro: Know the room. Birthday cruise. 7-day cruise. Star Wars maybe hit or miss for DD, (we think she will like it. Her friends talk about it and we have time to educate her.)
Con: Loose SeaWorld passes. Visited Cozumel and Falmouth (2 of 3 port of calls) before.
4. Disney Fantasy (Jan 17 – Jan 25) – 5C CAN rate AND make a short trip to SeaWorld & MVMCP (end of Nov / early December): $8000 (for two trips - $6100 + $1900)
Pro: Know the room. Birthday cruise. 7-day cruise. Can use SeaWorld tickets. Star Wars maybe hit or miss for DD, (we think she will like it. Her friends talk about it and we have time to educate her.)
Con: Expensive (fly twice to MCO and hotels). Visited Cozumel and Falmouth (2 of 3 port of calls) before.
I am more leaning towards option 1 or 4, but not sure which one's better.
To other parents:
Is it truly magical to be on a cruise for DD's birthday? We were at WDW for her 4th birthday and it was really fun!
If we choose #1, we're thinking of taking her to like Great Wolf Lodge or take her to the magic show at Niagara Falls (we've been twice and she liked them very much) or throw a birthday party instead. It will cost about $500. We already told her that she won't have a birthday party, but we'll go away and she's cool about it.
Thank you in advance!