This was our first cruise as a family. We were so excited to get to go on a Disney Cruise. Let me just say that Disney does not disappoint.
This was a great cruise for west coasters. We drove from Utah, about 8 hours to the port in Los Angeles. Spent the night at a Marriott Springhill Suites and then went to the port after checking out. We were able to drive up to the curb and drop our bags with the porters. We tipped them $1 bag (I think). The 4 kids and I got out at the curb and my hubby went and parked. He met us back, it didn't seem like it took him too long to come back and meet us, so it must not have been too far. Then we went into the Disney area-all clearly marked. Check in was quick and efficient. We hardly had any wait. We were so excited! We received our "Key to the world cards." Your key to do anything, get anything, buy anything, on board. Including using the washers and dryers. There are tons of picture opportunities! Take these! I don't know about you, but my memory is going! So sometimes all I have are my pictures!
The first thing we did was go up to the buffet and find some food!
My teenagers found the shrimp! They loved it!
Pretty sure Caden found donuts and soda.
We tried to sit in this same spot every time we ate at the buffet. Who wouldn't want to sit on the back of the ship and look out at the ocean?
After we ate, and wandered around the ship a little, we went to find our room. We had 2 inside connecting rooms. We were literally the bottom level. My kids thought for sure we would be the first to die if we sank ;) There was a little bit of noise coming from something? A motor? A washing room? I don't know but it didn't really bother me, it was kind of a humming white noise. Our cabins were #1051 and #1053. These rooms are spacious! I love the split bath design. Me and the hubby slept in one room and the kiddos slept in the other. We kept the doors open with some door stops that our wonderful room stewards provided.
This was the hallway to our rooms. We were close to the stairs and it was pretty quiet.
Wish I could have taken a better pic of the atrium! It was beautiful!
The Los Angeles Port. First timers might be surprised how industrial it is. (I was) Of course it is, this is where all of our STUFF comes from China :)
Classic Disney Style. I love the Disney ships for this! They are built to look like old steam ships!
Deck party as we sailed away. Lots of fun for the whole family!
Kids club looks like fun doesn't it? Hmmm, I wonder why my 3 year old wouldn't go for more than an hour unless someone was with her. My 8 year old loved it. We literally had to pull him out kicking and screaming at 11 pm.
The splash pool for kids in pull ups. Kids in pull ups or diapers can NOT go into the main pools. There is a water policeman, I mean Disney crew member to make sure this does not happen!
The food was sooooo delicious!
Savory yummines......
I ate and ate and ate.....
Delectable.......
Scrumptious........
Heavenly.....
Plus DESSERT!!!
One of the best things about a cruise is eating all you want and not getting a bill after the meal.
Every night after dinner we would come back to our room to see what the room steward had left for us. Always cute towel origami. Plus the next days activities on the Navigator. There were always tons of things to do on board. All family friendly. Love the free sodas. Love that there was not a casino. Loved that Disney doesn't try to sell you diamonds. They do try to sell you kids smoothies in Buzz Lightyear cups with light up straws. We just said no thank you. If I bought those every time we went to a show, for all 4 of my kids, I could have gone on another cruise ;)
Running into Disney Characters totally made my little ones day. They also have meet and greets with the characters throughout the cruise. Check your daily Navigator for times and places.
We were on our cruise over Halloween. So not only did we get to dress up for Pirate night, but we got to dress up for Halloween! Disney knows how to party, so the kids loved it! Disney is the only cruise line to have fireworks at sea. On Pirate night. Don't miss it!
I could just sit and listen and look and smell the ocean all day. It is so calming and soothing to me!
Even Disney Lifeboats are cute. (I hope I never get to see what the inside of one looks like)
Ahhh, dessert. Did I mention we loved the food?
When we walked off the ship in Puerto Vallarta they had these birds, and for a tip, you can hold one.
Disney Wonder in Puerto Vallarta
I had made reservations in advance-not through the cruiseline, to swim with the dolphins. The kids loved it.
There is also a waterpark at the dolphin place where the kids could swim and go on slides. The kids were having fun, but remember you are not in America. I usually don't stress over stuff like that, but there were areas that didn't look especially safe. Concrete pillars, and sharp corners. I would however go back :)
So my 12 year old was trying to go super fast down the slide and somehow gave himself a concussion. :)
Notice the huge knot on his head below. Luckily we didn't have to see a doctor.
We took a taxi back downtown and played on the beach. Then we walked back to the ship which turned out to be a long walk.
In Cabo my hubby took the two older kids on a zipline tour, booked through the ship. They loved it. We don't have any pics, they wanted some enormous amount for pics and wouldn't let you take your own. Lame.
One of the fun things on Disney is the Character breakfast. The characters rotate through the dining room and you get to take pics with them. Your same servers that serve you at dinner are there. The servers on our cruise were FANTASTIC! They always remembered our names and what drinks we wanted. They would tell my kids jokes and make them fun things.
Napkin Hats
While the older kids went on the zipline, I stayed on the ship with my two younger kids. We had a very nice day relaxing and hanging out. Had I been to Cabo before, I would have realized that I could have taken them off the ship by myself and been just fine.
In Cabo they use the little boats to get you to shore. It is a quick ride.
We walked off the boat and walked to the end of the pier and made arrangements for a boat to take us to Lovers Beach to snorkel. We paid in advance and they assured us they would come back for us in 2 hours. We were one of the first ones out to Lovers Beach and it was so nice being out there! You can only get to Lovers Beach by boat. The snorkeling was nice, and the kids just played on the beach. I have to admit I didn't know for sure if they would come back for us. They did! There were lots of other boats and people by the end of our two hours. It was a bit tricky getting back on the boat from the water.
Our boat then took us on a tour around Lovers Beach and to Divorce Beach. It was a little scary! The waves are really choppy and bumpy. The tour was great, we got to see the rock formations. I wish I had known I could walk to Divorce Beach from Lovers Beach, I would have. Just don't get in the water at Divorce Beach.
Disney Wonder parked in Cabo
Cabo was really beautiful. I would go back and spend a week there. We did some shopping after our beach trip and bought some fun souvenirs.
Scooby Doo Rock
Cruises are so much fun! I love that you pay for them in advance and no more pulling out the wallet every meal or show. The Disney Shows are top notch. The kids activities are fun. You will not be bored on a Disney Cruise! They are more money than other cruises. It's Disney, and they do seem to do everything just a little bit better!
