If you’ve been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World, you may be wondering what other Disney vacations you can take (besides going back to those destinations, of course! There’s nothing wrong with that.). From Aulani in Hawai’i to the 33 itineraries offered by Adventures by Disney, there are options to please almost everyone. But there’s one that stands above all the rest right now, especially if you’re a Pixar fan and a Southern California local…or someone planning to visit Disneyland in the near future!
For parents, the Disney Cruise Line is hard to beat. The four Disney cruise ships are loaded with all the Disney magic you would expect, from character meet-and-greets to first-run movies to deck parties and elaborate, magical stage performances for the whole family. But there are also kid’s programs for children ages 3 months to 17 years old. The Oceaneer’s Club and Oceaneer’s Lab for children ages 3-12 and Vibe & Edge for older kids. I have seen first-hand kids not want to be picked up from these programs because they’re having so much fun! Best of all, this is available at no extra charge.
For younger kids, there is the “Flounder’s Reef Nursery” on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and the “it’s a small world Nursery” on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. This area, for children ages 3 months – 3 years, is supervised by well trained and carefully screened staff (as are the programs for the older kids). One of the biggest draws of the Disney Cruise Line for parents with very young children is that they allow infants as young as 3 months (12 weeks) on board. The youngest you’ll find for any other cruise line is 6 months! There is an additional fee for the nursery programs, but it is comparable to the other cruise lines.
There are many reasons that I recommend–and rave about–the Disney cruises, but when clients ask me why I recommend the kids programs on a Disney ship vs. others, besides the reasons above, I always tell them two things:
1) Disney’s children’s programs are the most secure at sea. They have multiple layers of security that, while unobtrusive, protect your children and give you peace of mind.
2) The Dine and Play Program. Once again, this program is available at no additional cost. Dine and Play is available during Second (Late) Seating for dinner and gives parents and children the opportunity to eat dinner together, without anyone feeling rushed…or bored. Basically, when you’re seated for dinner you let your server know you want to participate in the Dine and Play Program that night. This tells them to alert the youth activities counselors, and to serve the children their meal more quickly. At the appointed time, the counselors come and pick the children up from the dining room, so you don’t have to rush through your meal to get them there, or even leave the table to take them and then come back. Parents enjoy a leisurely meal, kids get their dinner with the family and then go participate in fun, supervised activities. The parents can then go pick them up right after dinner or after the evening’s adult-oriented activities.
What if you’re travelling with someone who’s not a Disney fan? No problem! There are activities throughout the day that are fun, but not overtly “Disney”, like origami, an art auction, and trivia games. There are lounges to relax in, and an adults-only area of the ship, including an adults-only pool. At night, the lounges become entirely adults-only. Although Disney touches abound, the amount of “Disney” you get is often only the amount you want—as much or as little as that might be!
I could say so much more about the Disney Cruise Line…and I have. Read about my recent cruise on the Disney Wonder here! If you’ve got any questions about that cruise, the Disney Cruise Line, or cruising in general, I’d love to answer them for you. Post them in the comments below, on my travel Facebook page, or email me.
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| Me with Chip & Dale on “Pirate Night” |
For guests in or near California, I do have some bad news. The Disney Cruise Line will only be sailing out of the Port of Los Angeles for the fall and winter of this year. Other than that, there are Alaska sailing from Seattle or Vancouver, and many other itineraries in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Northeastern U.S., and even the Mediterranean. Just not out of Southern California.
But I have good news, too! If you want to enjoy a Disney cruise, to sail from Los Angeles (maybe add it on to a Disneyland trip?), and to have a highly unique cruise experience, I’ve got just the thing for you.
Disney Cruise Line and Pixar Animation Studios are teaming up to offer you a 7-night California Coast cruise unlike any other!
The four magical voyages set sail on September 16, 23, 30 and October 7 from Los Angeles, and will feature the following:
- Pixar Presentations and Sneak Peeks: Artists and filmmakers from Pixar Animation Studios will provide an inside look at the creative process used to develop an animated feature which includes a look at the making of Pixar’s newest release “Brave” and a sneak peek at footage of future Pixar films.
- The Art of Pixar: Storyboards, character sketches and other inspiring concept art used to design Pixar films will be on display in a special art exhibition at sea. This collection of art has only been seen outside of Pixar Animation Studios when displayed at leading art museums around the world.
- Pixar Film Fest: Guests will be able to enjoy the entire Pixar library of films while onboard, including a selection of delightful animated shorts. The voyages coincide with the theatrical premiere of “Finding Nemo 3D,” which Guests can enjoy at either of the two theatres equipped with state-of-the-art Dolby 3D projection systems.
- Pixar Character Encounters: For the first time, more than a dozen Pixar characters will meet with and greet guests throughout the cruise including Mr. Incredible, Remy, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear. There will be a special Pixar-themed dance parties and a host of other opportunities to reconnect with favorite Pixar pals.
- Special Gift: Sailing Guests will receive a commemorative lithograph created by Pixar artist and “Brave” co-director/screenwriter, Steve Purcell.
There is still availability on these sailings as of this writing, but it won’t last for long, so if you’ve dreamed of sailing on the Disney Cruise Line—either again or for the first time—let me help you secure your reservation today and start making plans for a magical vacation at sea, one you’ll never forget!
Randy is an independent Travel Consultant affiliated with CruisingCo.com and MouseEarVacations.com and would love to help you with any of your travel needs, for Disney destinations and beyond! You can also read more from Randy on his blog, Faith and the Magic Kingdom. Find him on Twitter (@Belgarion42) and on Facebook.
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