Chris, Daddy Dreamer’s Take on Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruises aren’t just for the Disney Fanatics
Everyone that knows us, knows my wife, Brandy, is obsessed with all things Disney. We have never passed anything Disney in a store without stopping to see it and she can tell you just about any random fact about Disney (which makes her good at this Disney Planning Gig). However, I am a different story.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to Disney World with our children. There is something magical about that place. When she suggested we take a Disney Cruise over all the other cruise lines I had sailed with before, I thought she had gone too far.
She’s the planner though, so I went along with it. All the while thinking about how it was going to be very “in your face” Disney and child centered that I would be bored and sick of it all by day two. I knew there was no way I would enjoy this cruise as much as my past cruises. Of course, she knew what she was talking about and was right (just don’t let her know I admitted that).
Here are some of the myths that are busted after I sailed with Disney Cruise Line:
- All cruises are the same.
Before we sailed Disney, I didn’t think there was any difference in the cruise lines.Yes some ships have different offerings and sail to different places, but they all are the same, right?Well after the first day on the ship, I knew that wasn’t right.First, the Cast Members bring a level of service to the cruise experience that I hadn’t experienced before.We have two of the pickiest eaters ever, but our wait staff went out of the way to bring my children what they loved every evening, even when that meant going up to another kitchen for something else. It wasn’t just in the dining room.The entertainment staff knew us by day two and would stop and talk to the children and us whenever they saw us around the ship. Every Cast Member we met was willing to do whatever they could to make sure we were having the best time.
- It is only for children.
Before we boarded, I had visions that all the activities would be centered around 6 year olds. I thought there would be dancing with princesses, drawing with Chip and Dale, and sword fighting with pirates. Those activities were happening for our children in the kids’ club, but my wife and I were laughing uncontrollably at the adult only hypnotist show, relaxing in the sauna, or taking an animation class. There was even showings of new movies that we hadn’t had time to go see yet.
There was live music for dancing, mini golf, trivia (both Disney and adult only), classes where you learn to cook, characters to visit, the AquaDuck to ride (10 million times), cars to build from vegetables (we won Disney medals), baby races, and much much more. The problem was there wasn’t enough time to do everything we wanted to do.
- It is too expensive.
When my wife said how much the cruise was, I started to say, but wasn’t the other cruise we were looking at less expensive? I decided to just go with it because I knew she was excited about the Disney Cruise.
What I didn’t realize looking at the price was that much more is included in the price of a Disney Cruise over other lines and the quality of everything is better. We had taken an anniversary trip on another line and had a good time, but there were surcharges for everything from soda to the nicer dining. Granted, Disney Cruise Lines does offer adult only dining at an extra charge however, our dining room experience was as great as those nicer options from the other cruise lines.
And whatever you do, don’t ask Brandy about the quality of the shows on the other lines. She will never let me live that disappointing fact down.
- There will be no sports.
Admittedly as much as Brandy loves Disney, I love sports.I love them all. If there is a chance to watch a game, or see the recap and analysis of a game, I am watching. I mean our wedding vows included references to baseball, basketball and football.
When Brandy booked our cruise for October, I was about to go and see a divorce lawyer. Did she forget that October is World Series time?
She assured me that I would be able to watch the games and all the analysis surrounding it all, but I knew she was just trying to get me on the ship and hope I would forget about baseball for a week. What I didn’t know was there was a sports bar I could catch up on my viewing all day long, plus ESPN was on my stateroom tv. She went to enjoy the spa one day while our children were making cupcakes in the kids’ club and I had fun drinking a beer and watching games with other dads.
These are just some of the reason why I loved the Disney Cruise. It has become our favorite family vacation because it combines activities with relaxation like nothing else. So maybe that wife of mine knows something.
-Chris