What does it mean when a kid is “a good traveler?” Some parents proclaim it’s when their little one can sleep anywhere, while others might say it’s the child who’s usually pretty compliant. My four-year-old son is neither of those things, yet I’ve always considered him to be a good traveler. He’s outgoing, adventurous, and easily adaptable. But his first Disney cruise was unlike any trip we’d taken before, and he’s been jet-setting since he was three months old.
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Disney Treasure is a near-carbon copy of its sister, Disney Wish, with the exception of its own new-to-the-line experiences: “The Tale of Moana” headlining production show; Plaza de Coco, a musical dining and entertainment venue; and tapping into parents’ and caretakers’ nostalgia, The Haunted Mansion Parlor, an immersive bar that pays tribute to the circa-1971 Disney World ride.
Our three-night Disney Treasure cruise taught me a lot about my son, myself, and what it truly means for a kid to be a good traveler. Here are my four key takeaways.
1. Disney Treasure offers ‘round-the-clock fun overflowing with magic—and it was a lot for my son to handle.
Disney’s ships bring the happiest place on earth to the high seas, and for fans of “Moana” and “Coco” in particular, Disney Treasure is a chance to savor most of their favorite characters. But it was a lot to take in for my son. He would cry for—what some might consider “no reason”—all the reasons he should, like being in shock after meeting a character in ‘real life,’ or not being able to run to his bedroom at home, when he started to feel overwhelmed.
We never pressured him to take pictures with characters or try anything toward which he seemed apprehensive. Despite our conscious approach, we were still met with sudden outbursts in the middle of dinner; unexpected facepalm moments like my son stripping down to his underwear during “The Tale of Moana” and running down the aisle, which we would later learn was his way of telling us he was tired; and the countless times he fell into my arms sobbing “I want to go home.”
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Then there were moments when his jaw would drop, his eyes would widen, and he’d turn to me with the most gleeful sense of wonder. It was those times when I realized that even though a lot of the experience was challenging for him, some of his dreams could still come true.
2. The most kid-friendly staterooms in the industry made way for prodigious naps.
No other cruise line designs its staterooms with as much thought for families as Disney does, across all its ships. From split bathrooms, to “hidden” storage space, and privacy curtains, those with kids will find every amenity they didn’t even know they needed, with fun decor and bedding to boot. I also learned that the living space in Disney Treasure’s Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah—one of our favorite cabins for families who need more space—was basically designed to fit Slumberpods (my new-favorite travel item).
Those design features allowed my son to nap, a prodigious feat since he stopped taking them at home more than a year ago. With boatloads of overstimulating fun starting at the crack of dawn (because why would we sleep in on vacation?), I knew his usual 30 minutes of quiet time wouldn’t be enough to recharge his battery for dinner and any evening festivities.
Did naps require a little bribing? (“If you take a nap, we can go get ice cream at Jumbeaux’s Sweets when you wake up.”) Absolutely. Did they also require me to climb into the Slumberpod like a contortionist, and snuggle with him until he started snoozing? You bet. But it was all worth it, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it as ‘easily’ if the cabin wasn’t laid out the way it was, with all the small but crucial touches that allowed him to feel like he had his own room.
3. The new children’s pool deck design makes it way easier to watch over and corral your kids.
Even though Disney is the only major cruise line with lifeguards onboard, it goes without saying parents are still responsible for keeping eyes on their kids at all times. Disney Treasure, along with Disney Wish, make this feel more manageable—at least from the perspective of a parent whose kid likes to run—in what feels like a private deck space.
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Nestled on Deck 12 along the funnel, you’ll find the interactive Toy Story Splash Zone, a small swimming pool, and the Slide-a-Sauras Rex water slide (suitable for those at least 38 inches in height). Unlike other ships that have the splash pad and kiddie pools smack-dab in the middle of all the action of the main pool deck, Disney Treasure provides a more enclosed space for families, while the splash zone is fenced in with plexiglass.
With the way the space is designed, our son was never tempted to lead us on a wild goose chase to the ice cream station or other nearby attractions, because they weren’t in his view.
4. On Disney Treasure, kids can still be good travelers, even if they’re not being “good.”
In the throes of the newborn stage, we parents are often asked if our baby is “good,” implicit of them sleeping through the night. Does that mean he or she isn’t good when they cry (er, communicate their needs) every couple of hours in the middle of the night? I’m probably way-overthinking that. As a parent who enjoys traveling with my kids, however, I’m often asked if they’re good in a different capacity—when we’re on the road.
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During our three nights on Disney Treasure, my son found new ways to communicate his feelings and needs. Most importantly, he felt comfortable being himself not only around us, but also around the crew (all while following rules, of course). They engaged him in conversation ‘on his level,’ and even gave him a chance to make his own choices about what he wanted to order off the dining menu (obviously with mom’s approval, and obviously always Mickey waffles).
Disney Treasure, like all Disney ships, is not only designed for families; it is family. I now find myself redefining why I’ve always considered my son to be a good traveler. He wasn’t as easily adaptable on this trip as he’d been on others, and he certainly wasn’t as adventurous. And he’s still a good traveler, because he’s a good kid.
