Disney Cruise question (kid's age)

[lauren170]

We're going on the 4 day cruise and were going to do it in January. DD's birthday is on Feb 1. I just found out as long as she is 2 when she boards the ship, we'd pay the reduced rate for her. What are the benefits of her turning 3 on the ship besides the kid's club? We don't care about the kid's club too much because my mom will be there and DD sometimes has really severe separation anxiety.

She'd have her birthday on the ship which would be great, but it also means her party would be like 2 week after her actual birthday, so I'm undecided.

WWYD?

[dulcemariamar]

I don't think there is any other benefit. We took my DD when she just turned 3 and the cruise was a disaster. She hated the kids club and I was really disappointed with the organization of it all. Basically, they put all the kids between the ages of 3-12 in one big club. My DD was too scared to go in because it was so loud and noisy.

[lauren170]

dulcemariamar how was Castaway cay for kids her age?

[miss1180]

i don't think theres any other benefit besides the kid's club.... and even that i don't think would be good until about 5 or 6 years old, because like OP said, they put all the kids from 3-12 in one big club so it can be overwhelming for the younger ones. my DS refused to stay in it when he was 3 and 4... but LOVED it this time when he was 5 (they did super hero training one night, Mouseketeer training another night... and the drop off area on castaway cay was just like one big sand box for them to play in :-)
other than that, as long as she's potty trained and can go in the pools on the ship, she should have a good time. castaway cay is fun for that age and has a little spray area, you can rent little bikes or borow a stroller for free to get around, lost of sand for her to play in and water to splash around in

they'll sing happy bday to your DD and she'll get special birthday dessert.... but thats about it.

[countthestars]

Not sure what your DD's personality is like but my DD loved the nursery at 2y9m - she's on the shy side though. You have to pay extra but it would be way less than the 3 year old rate. Besides the option to use the kid's club I don't know of any other benefits of being 3.