Ahoy there Julie, and a warm welcome to planDisney to all of you!
Whether by land or by sea, wrangling a larger crew of 12 can be a real adventure of wits and patience and charting out a great course ahead is key! Having the unique perspective of having worked in Entertainment in and around the onboard Youth Spaces and a proud Disney Uncle (Duncle) to a few young explorers in that age range, here are my suggestions for a day or two at Walt Disney World ahead of your voyage that would make the most sense with those little ones in tow:
- Out of all the theme parks, Magic Kingdom Park is a no-brainer when it comes to making sure that the kids are able to take advantage of the most rides for which they're able to meet the height requirement. While there may be some like TRON Lightcycle / Run that someone less tall might have to miss out on, the vast majority can be enjoyed together and there's really nothing that can prepare you for the Pirate Night festivities iconic to most Disney Cruise Line itineraries like enjoying Pirates of the Caribbean together. (You can even purchase your pirate accessories to wear on board right in Magic Kingdom Park!) In my experience, since there are often so many more unique and even stress-free opportunities to meet and interact with Characters on a Disney Cruise so I personally wouldn't worry too much about waiting for a long time to meet anyone in the theme parks but nevertheless Magic Kingdom Park makes the most sense for just one pre-cruise day.
- If you had to pick another theme park for one additional day, the other options really depend on what you want the kids to get out of it whether it's an appreciation for the biodiversity at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park for them to appreciate nature on land before spotting marine life on their cruise or getting a taste of cultures and travel through the Kidcot Fun Stops in EPCOT and all the global cuisine to try. In fact, visiting The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion can be a great introduction ahead of all their ocean adventuring (though Turtle Talk with Crush can also be found on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy).
Depending on which
ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet you'll be sailing on as well as which itinerary you'll be on can affect the theme parks that would be the most ideal to visit - for example, a trip on the
Disney Wish with its Star Wars: Cargo Bay in Disney's Oceaneer Club and
Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge will be enhanced after a visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios, while a meal at
Tiana's Place on the Disney Wonder could continue the story of
Tiana's Bayou Adventure - while providing you with the chance to snag outfits that they can wear on board for the occasion. Come on back to us at planDisney soon with more details for any more specific advice as you plan for your big group journey next year!
Here's to all of your land and sea adventuring!
Prince