12/09/06 Double Dip.... An Unhappy Trip Report (Completed 1/30)

[dreamcometrue]

I enjoyed your trip report Becka, and I am sorry you didn't have the perfect vacation! It's so hard to travel with young kids, they seem to be unpredictable! When my DD was 18 mo. we travelled to Europe (her first trip) and she cried non-stop for 3 days! She was up all night, wanted to sleep during the day. She had a very hard time adjusting to the time difference! I was in tears and ready to fly back home!

I liked all your pictures. Your kids are just adorable!! You look at Allie and think "how could she EVER have a bad day??"

 

[becka]

I am glad many of you are enjoying my report. It is truly the good, the bad and the ugly of cruising with little kids...maybe that should have been the title?

Since we are Disney addicts who know we have to have a fix every so often we checked out the 2008 prices that came out yesterday....and we booked a 7 night Eastern on 12/06/08. I really figured the prices would be more than we would want to pay but I was pleasantly suprised so we went ahead and took the plunge.

We are telling ourselves that we learned a lot on this cruise and that our kids will be older. Plus what are the odds of having a really rough time again? Allie will be almost 4 and should be potty trained, can be in the club, pools, etc.. and should be able to better respond to threats and bribes. I booked stateroom 2614 on Deck 2 near the aft elevators which was the exact room we were in on our Wonder cruise and I didn't have much problem with seasickness in that room so I am hoping that will be a plus.

And this trip we won't need Flounders or a separate suitcase just for diapers, wipes, sippy cups, etc... !!!

 

[disney_mommy]

Becka, I don't know you and you seem like a really nice person and I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience, but I just have to say something: it seems to me like you and your husband had very different experiences. He got to go on his excursion to see the ruins and see the shows and enjoy a lobster dinner and go swimming with his son and see Nemo.... Why didn't you get to do any of those things? Being a mom myself, I know sometimes it's easier to just do it yourself and worry about someone else having a good time, but perhaps your vacation would have been a bit better if you had taken your son to the pool or enjoyed some time alone by the pool or in your room while your husband took the kids to do something else. Surely I'm not the only one thinking this....

 

[becka]

Becka, I don't know you and you seem like a really nice person and I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience, but I just have to say something: it seems to me like you and your husband had very different experiences. He got to go on his excursion to see the ruins and see the shows and enjoy a lobster dinner and go swimming with his son and see Nemo.... Why didn't you get to do any of those things? Being a mom myself, I know sometimes it's easier to just do it yourself and worry about someone else having a good time, but perhaps your vacation would have been a bit better if you had taken your son to the pool or enjoyed some time alone by the pool or in your room while your husband took the kids to do something else. Surely I'm not the only one thinking this....

Well I was not interested in the ruins tour and I was actually looking forward to spending some fun times with the kids that day until I ended up with the UTI. I did go to the spa and have a massage which was nice. I did see Golden Mickeys and Twice Charmed but thsy were earlier in the week. A lot of that stuff (Nemo, extra pool time for DS, Disney Dreams, etc.) happened on Thursday and I honestly did feel like doing anything but stay in the room. I was sick and not feeling good and I am the one who told my DH to continue to do stuff with DS. Looking back I don't really feel like I missed out. I honestly by that point just wanted the cruise to be over. It may not have been the best solution and it may not make sense to you while reading this but I was in pretty bad shape by then.

 

[cheriemek]

Becka - as the mother of 4 kids, I understand where you are coming from. We took 3 girls - 17, 14 and 13 - on a Magic cruise just the week before you, and the 17 year old had a meltdown one night because she thought she was too old for the trip!

Glad tp hear that yoo booked another cruise!

 

[lg3]

becka, I was wondering how your son did with the pirates. Was he okay on Pirate Night, or was he still scared? Our dd is afraid of pirates too, and I am hoping it won't be an issue. thanks!

 

[becka]

becka, I was wondering how your son did with the pirates. Was he okay on Pirate Night, or was he still scared? Our dd is afraid of pirates too, and I am hoping it won't be an issue. thanks!

I was a little worried because he has mentioned being a bit afraid of the Pirates about a year earlier so we gave him the choice on Pirate Night to come with us to the party or to go to the Club and he choose to go to the Club. He didn't have any problems with the pirate stuff he saw but I don't think he was super anxious to get up close and personal with them either.

 

[natsmom125]

Becka....

We've never cruised with a small child....or been sick on a cruise....but I do understand your ordeal in Topsiders with the trays, the kids, and no one to help you.

We were in WDW, my dd was probably 9-10 mos old or so. We were with some friends and it turned cold. I decided it would be best if I took DD and went back to Old Key West(DVC), while they stayed at the park. Well, I had her, one of those huge MM balloons, a purse, a diaper bag, a stroller. We were fine until it came time to get on the bus. I had to fold the stroller of course, carry DD, plus all the other stuff......do you think anyone tried to help me get on this bus.....NO. Not one person, not a visitor, not a CM...NO BODY. So, we get to OKW, it's freezing cold by this time, and raining, I'm struggling to now get off the bus, DD is now asleep, juggle everything, trying to keep her from getting wet, open the stroller.....so, just like you, I lost it!!! However, I screamed CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS BABY....the shocked CM got off the bus, took the stroller, opened it, held the stuff while I put her in the stroller, stood there while I put her in, I found something to cover her up with so she wouldn't get wet(really wetter by this time), he handed me the rest of the stuff I had with me, never said a word, got back on the bus and drove away......I was so mad by that time, I wanted to call somebody and scream at them...but there was nobody to call. I couldn't believe that somebody wouldn't help a woman struggling with a baby, until I had to get nasty about it. Next time, you just stand there and scream SOMEBODY HELP ME and somebody will......even a CM who obviously really didn't care. So, since then, if I needed help with her when she was small, I'd just ask for it.....and it's usually worked.

Hope your next cruise is better than the last one.....

Phyllis

 

[mruhaak]

Becka,
I'm glad you posted your honest report. I think people need to hear all different experiences. I know I appreciate to hear reality otherwise you get on your cruise and may be really disappointed if things don't go the way others have described.

We had a tough experience on our first Disney cruise too (a 3 day) and we're booked again too!

Gluttons for punishment I guess! We're doing the same thing as you, hoping that our son will be older and with more experience things will go smoother. Of course now we're going to have two! As we will have an 18 mo old and a 4.5 yo.

Melanie

 

[dreamcometrue]

becka, glad to hear you are giving DCL another chance! You are right, the kids will be older by then and will most likely have an easier time. I do suggest you put a "no upgrade" in with DCL, so they won't upgrade you to a location where you may get sea sick again!

BTW, reading your trip report made me REALLY glad I decided to give up our SPH room that I originally booked for the April 12th, 2008 Magic. I changed my mind and decided to go on April 26th since it's the day after my birthday but felt hesitant giving up the much coveted SPH room. I eventually did and booked a cat. 9, deck 2, aft on the April 26th Eastern! Neither one of us have ever cruised before and I don't know if any of us are prone to sea sickness, so better safe than sorry!