Disney resort or cruise?

We are planning a family vacation for after I graduate in May and before I start residency in July, and are trying to choose between a Disney cruise and a Disney resort. Ela will be 3 and I will have a 4-5 month old baby at the time. Anyone stayed at a resort, and if so, which one? How about the cruise? Are there things for adults to do to? Thanks!

[tarabenet]

A Disney cruise has things for everyone to do, and you'll get to enjoy that cruise more than others, since they have great childcare. I'm a huge fan of the parks too. But they wouldn't be as much fun with 2 in strollers, I think.

However, if you go the stay-on-land route, I think kids will like any of the resorts. Even the budget resorts have great theming. We've stayed at Caribbean Beaches and Port Orleans, both in the moderate price category, and loved both. If you do the parks, get "The Unofficial Guide to Wald Disney World". It iwll help with every detail and you'll be so glad you have it.

I'm envious! Have fun!

[Momof3Labs]

There is a ton of Disney info here if you do a search. It is a lot of fun, but May-June is pretty busy and VERY HOT in Orlando, so you may be better off with the cruise route (where you can spend more time in the pool and a/c).

[LaurelC]

We have done both! We took Madeline on a weeklong Disney cruise about a week before her first birthday, and to the WDW resort a few days before her second birthday.

The cruise is great. The kids clubs, I believe, start at age 3. They have a nursery for the little kids too. There is plenty to do for everyone, and there are adult only parts of the ship (including a special restaurant) so you and DH would be able to have some time alone. I think that one drawback may be that the excursions are really not geared for children that young. You can sightsee on your own with the kids, or you can leave them aboard the ship. Also, children who are not potty trained can't swim in cruise ship pools. They do have one of Mickey's ears in the Mickey pool outfitted as a sort of sprinkler pool, though and the diaper-age kids can go into that (sort of small and crowded- we never did it.) All of the Disney cruises stop at Castaway Cay, Disney's private beach island. It is awesome, and the ship pulls right up to a dock so you don't have to tender in. Makes getting on and off the ship easy and quick.

We have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and at the Coronado Springs resort while at Disney world. Coronado is okay, but we really loved the Wilderness Lodge (where we stayed with Maddie - and 2 other times.) The theming was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. If you can afford it, and want to spend the money, I really recommend that you stay at one of the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area (Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian) because getting to the Magic Kingdom is so much easier. All of those resorts are right on the monorail, except for the Wilderness Lodge. The WL does have a boat that goes to the MAgic Kindgom as well as one that goes to the Contemporary so you can hop on the monorail there. The Yacht and Beach clubs are also very popular - they have a fantastic pool that kids love and you can walk to Epcot from there.

The minimum age for the kids' clubs at Disney World is 4. You can use private babysitting services that will send someone to your resort room. There is one called Fairy Godmothers that is very popular. We didn't use a babysitting service so I can't speak on it personally.

Of course, you could always do both on the same trip -
lots and lots of people do! If you have any specific questions, ask away. I'd be happy to answer them.

We've done both, too, and loved both. I would say that the cruise is more relaxing, though, and probably easier to manage with a baby and a toddler, especially during the summer when the parks are so crowded. The staff in Flounder's Reef (the infant nursery on the Disney ships) was very professional and good, and my sister and I had no qualms about leaving our babies with them for a few dinners. Definitely try Palo, the adult-only restaurant, if you do the cruise. We had a wonderful meal with truly fantastic service.

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02
and Charlotte, 11-04-04