Hi there, Alyssa!
Welcome aboard planDisney! I'm so glad you're here. How exciting to be planning your little sailor's first voyage! I would love to give you some ideas for princess-approved activities and tips to help make life easier for parents sailing with young kids.
The pools are a prominent feature of the Disney Dream, however, the U.S. Public Health Service requires that
swimmers be fully toilet trained. Since it's unlikely that your princess will be diaper-free, you should plan to check out
Nemo's Reef! This is a totally awesome splash area made especially for little guppies, full of fun jets, mist, and Finding Nemo characters. My favorite things about this area are that it's shaded (no sunscreen stress here!) and there's a nice soft floor for when tumbles happen.
Your princess might also enjoy
meeting some characters! Some of the most popular character meetings are reserved in advance, so you'll want to schedule them using
My Cruise Activities when you're logged in at the Disney Cruise Line website. But there are SO many places to meet characters without needing to plan ahead! You'll often spot magical visitors in the Lobby Atrium, or near Donald's Pool. Check the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App while you're onboard and you'll know when and where to find some magical friends!
An activity that's super fun for kiddos and relaxing for you is the
"it's a small world" nursery. This darling play area allows children under the age of 3 to play—and even nap—while their parents enjoy other areas of the ships. Advanced reservations are required, and this is a good thing to book early. I recommend combining some time in the nursery with a reservation at
Palo for brunch for you!
One of my favorite activities on a Disney Cruise is Jack-Jack's Diaper Dash. If you have a day at sea you might be lucky enough to see this event pop up in the schedule! To participate your daughter would need to not be walking yet, but even if she's already found her sea legs it's still worth watching!
Packing for a cruise is always a challenge for me and babies come with lots of extra gear! You might want to check out this
list of baby items that you can purchase on the ship if you run out. You can also
request a crib for your stateroom, so that's one less thing to pack! It is best to bring your own stroller, if you need one, although I found it easier to wear my babies to walk around the ship and get to the beach. Sand and strollers are not friends!
Alyssa, I could go on about cruising with kids until the sun dips below the horizon! I hope this is enough to get you started, but if you have more questions please
come drop me a line and we'll get you ready to sail!
Keep moving forward!
Amanda