Cruising with a Little One

Little ones love anything and everything Disney. For that matter I love anything and everything Disney! As a parent I've learned to appreciate the level of service that Disney provides. That Disney difference let's me relax and not sweat the small stuff. Which in turn allows me to focus on those important memories with my family. 

We are annual passholders to the Walt Disney World Resort and visit quite often. We are very accustomed to the level of service Disney provides (which is one of the main reason we love traveling to any Disney property!). Disney Cruise Line is also a big part of our travel. We were married on the Disney Dream in 2014, and we try to take at least one Disney cruise per year. Our most recent cruise was unique because it was our daughter Malie's first time cruising. I did not know what to expect being on a ship with a 16 month old, and honestly I was a bit nervous. Those nervous feelings were all for nothing because Disney Cruise Line basically said, "I see your great customer service Disney World, and I raise you excellent customer service."

Once we boarded the ship we found our stateroom. We opened the door to a pack and play already set up ready for use (which was perfect because it was nap time!) AND a diaper genie! Y'all that was one of the things I was worried about. Where were we going to put the stinky diapers!? Problem solved with the diaper genie! 

After a cat nap and a mandatory lifeboat drill the Disney Dream set sail and we headed down to It's A Small World Nursery to register Malie. The nursery is for children ages 6 months - 3 years old. The cost is $9 per hour. After filling out some paper work each child is given a little magic band. This did cost $12.95 but that cost is refunded if you return the band at the end of your cruise; we decided to keep ours as a souvenir of her first cruise.

On embarkation day the nursery hosts an open house, allowing parents to enter the nursery with their little ones. We were able to go in and visit with the nursery staff. We pulled toys out and played with Malie to get her acquainted. The staff came and interacted with us while she played as well. It was nice for her and us to see the nursery itself and meet the staff before dropping her off for a couple of hours at a time.

Over the course of our 4 night cruise Malie spent a total of 8.5 hours in the nursery. The communication the nursery provides is amazing! This momma didn't have to worry once if Malie was ok in their care. We would receive an alert through our Navigator's App and our Wave Phone if Malie was upset. We even received them when she fell asleep. We were able to call and check on her if need be as well.

If you are cruising with a little one I would suggest scheduling a few nursery times prior to your cruise. We booked most of ours before boarding, but we were also able to send her on a whim. One day it was raining too hard to swim or be outside so we decided to catch the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They were able to take her on about a 20 minute notice. Keep in mind the nursery can be full and they will turn you away if that is the case. For that reason it is better to schedule nursery times prior to your cruise or the day you board the ship!

Our 4 night cruise was a double dip to Castaway Cay. Even on a private island Disney had everything I needed for my little one. We carried our stroller on the ship, but obviously didn't want it filled with sand while on the island. No worries, Disney already solved the sandy stroller problem. Simple: Don't use your own, use Disney's. When you visit Castaway Cay you will find an entire area filled with strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs free for you to use during your day on the island.

After getting situated in our wagon we rolled all over the island. Mostly to Malie's favorite Castaway Cay spots. Those spots included: the ice cream machine (that's my girl!), the sandy beach, the hammocks, and the Spring a Leak splash pad area.

All the little details from Disney throughout our trip were truly amazing. Something as simple as having Malie's high chair and drink waiting on her when we entered the dining room each night. Or taking her dinner order the night before so her food came right away. Or when we left multiple items in the nursery (oops!) and before we even realized they were missing they had been delivered back to our stateroom. That's the DIsney difference y'all. I could go on and on, but I've rambled on long enough.

Moral of the story is if you are on the fence about taking a Disney Cruise with your little one don't be! Climb up and over that fence and book your family's vacation! I promise it will be a trip your entire family will enjoy, and parents you might even get a little time to relax while on board.

XOXO & Pixie Dust,

Ashton