was just wondering if anyone out there has experienced a Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise with kids, and also a Disney one? Disney seems to be SO much more, and these other cruiselines offer kids programs as Disney does. Is Disney worth the extra money?

I've cruised 10 times with RCCL and I do love it -- and it is less $$$ than Disney. I can hop on an RCCL cruise out of L.A. for $350 for the weekend. I can't do that with DCL.

Yes RCCL and Carnival have kids clubs -- but not kids decks and kids pools. Just like they don't really have adults-only areas and adults only pools (but DCL does).

It's hard to say if it is worth it because I guess it depends on what you consider "worth it." I really wanted to experience a DCL cruise -- and I have -- twice -- and look forward to going on it again. If your cruise purpose is making sure your family has an amazing time, you really can't do better than DCL. If it is to see great locations for not a lot of $$, there are cheaper cruises to go on.

If your cruise purpose is making sure your family has an amazing time, you really can't do better than DCL. If it is to see great locations for not a lot of $$, there are cheaper cruises to go on.

Niwel hit the nail on the head with this comment.
There are cheaper cruises but Disney has got to be the most family oriented. Their service towards adults and kids alike is second to none.

Is it cheap? No. Is it a good value? Sure is. Combine it with a trip to the Disney parks and I think the value expands even more so.

But like anything else, value is in the eye of the beholder. Once you try a DCL trip with your family, I think you will agree that it is worth it.

DH and I had never cruised before our first DCL cruise. It was an amazing experience! Then we went on an RCL cruise. Boy, we were disappointed! the service and food were not on par with DCL, in our opinions.

We don't have kids, so the Kid's Club thing wasn't an issue for us, but the separate pools and distinct areas for kids/families and adults only was really nice!

The only problem, that we can see, is that DCL isn't on the West Coast where we are!

We took the Disney cruise in 2000. We decided to do a shorter less expensive cruise from the west coast on Royal Carribean about four years ago or so. While the ship was nice and all, it just didn't seem to match up to to Disney Cruise. I am really looking forward to going on the Disney cruise again next year. We'll have a three (almost four) year old with us so I'm sure it will be different than it was before but I'm really looking forward to it.