Ahoy Jenna!
Welcome to planDisney! How exciting for your family to be counting down towards a
WONDER-ful Disney Cruise Line vacation! I'm sure your whole family will love exploring the beauty of
Alaska along with the magic of Disney!
Jenna, as a mom who has cruised with infants and toddlers before, there can be a lot to think about when planning for your vacation. In my experience, most of the transportation for
Port Adventures has been by bus which does not require car seats. There are some options though that involve a private vehicle and may have information about the need for car seats listed under "Know Before You Go" in the description of that excursion. I would recommend reaching out to a Disney Cruise Line Cast Member by
phone or their Live Chat on the website to confirm those specific details about the individual Port Adventures you may be considering. It's also important to note that some Port Adventures have minimum ages so you'll want to be sure to read the details of each one closely before making your final decisions.
While onboard, you'll definitely want to check your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for special activities designed for your little ones! We've found some games, dance parties, and open play times designed especially for toddlers on our previous cruises which have been so much fun! My husband and I also like to plan a date night on each of our cruises where the kids can enjoy time in the youth spaces while we enjoy a dinner at
Palo. Reservations are very popular for the adult-exclusive dining at Palo so I recommend noting
when you can start making those plans and trying to grab a reservation that day if you're interested!
You can also make advanced reservations for your youngest at
"it's a small world" nursery! before your cruise. While there is an additional charge for time in the nursery, we like reserving a few hours during our date night as well as over our son's naptime during each "at sea" day. You can also stop by the nursey during the open house on embarkation day to book additional times if available. Your older child can explore the
Oceaneer's Club without a specific reservation, but you will want to make sure to register your child for the club ahead of your sailing or once you board the ship. Disney Cruise Line has also prepared a free
My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet that you may enjoy downloading and sharing with your three-year-old before your vacation!
Jenna, I hope this information helps as you prepare to set sail for Alaska later this year! Please feel free to stop by and see me or any of my panelist pals here at planDisney again if you have any other vacation planning questions in the future!
Happy Sailing!
Kristi