Ahoy, Christine!
As soon as I read your question, sweet memories of my family's first vacation with Disney Cruise Line flooded my mind. My daughter was four, and my son was one so very similar to your crew! We had the most incredible week and were hooked on cruising with Mickey from that moment on! It's our favorite way to travel, and all the magical memories we have shared over the past 13 years are priceless to me.
One of the many reasons we continue to set sail with Disney Cruise Line is the variety of
activities for Guests of ALL ages. Our first sailing looked very different than our most recent this past April, but our teens enjoyed it just as much as they did as a toddler and preschooler. The first thing you need to know is that Disney Cruise Line makes
traveling with little ones very easy. Pack-n-Play cribs, diaper disposal units, bottle sterilizers, bottle warmers are all available by request for use while onboard, and Guest Services also has complimentary strollers available (first-come, first-served). Your dining team will help make mealtime fun and as stress-free as possible, which is huge when sailing with two five and under! I encourage you to check out,
"it's a small world" nursery!, an imaginative and interactive space designed for the youngest sailors (ages 6 months to 3 years). My son had an absolute ball in the nursery, and I loved that I could peek in on him using the one-way glass! This provided me and my husband time to enjoy some of the adult-only offerings onboard, which was much needed (nursery reservations are required along with a nominal fee). And that's not all; each ship offers a themed water playground providing hours of entertainment with spouting water and fountains. Other activities he can enjoy around the ship are Wake Up with Disney Junior,
Character Meet-and-Greets, Open House hours at the Oceaneer Club, Character Dance Parties, and Toddler Time, just to name a few!
Christine, some of my most treasured cruise memories involve my son interacting with Donald Duck for the first time, toddling around the Grand Lobby Atrium in his bare feet, and splashing around the ocean at
Disney Castaway Cay. Although he doesn't remember these, he loves to see the pictures and hear the stories about this very special vacation. If you have any more questions or concerns, please let us know. We'd love to help!
Nancy