4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[Brooklyn]

Is there something you need at Walgreens? That's where I got my pic. Took about 10 minutes.



I want to do all of this, too. I have about 80 books on my Kindle. Most of them free. My problem is that when I take my book on deck, I end up people watching. Unless I go to deck 4-then I watch the ocean.

Trying to figure out if regular or late dining would be better for us. I have a 3 year-old who still naps in the later afternoon. Both kids get cranky when hungry (but there is always food available.). I'd like to take them to the shows at night and I am not sure of the timing of the shows and dinner and movies and such and how that all works together. Couple that with whatever happens with the time change enroute.


Kids can stay up late as far as I am concerned, since that gives some small chance that they will sleep past 7 a.m.

What are other families doing?

We did main dining on the last TA. It did not work out great for us.

The time changes made it feel like the days were just too short.

Also, DD's LOVE the shows. The were falling asleep at the shows. To be honest they don't care about the food. They like the dining rooms for the fun but they order the same things every night anyway.

The Dine and Play program has made late dining great! About 45 mins into dinner CM's from the kids clubs come to the dining room and pick up the kids. It is great for us. DD's are wide awake for the shows, they come to dinner for a little bit and then head to the clubs for either fun or down time. After dinner we pick them up based on what activites are going on. DD 8 tends to close down the clubs every night where as DD 4 likes to comes back to the room earlier.

There are not that many port days but main dining (again, esp with the time changes) makes you have to be heading back to port sooner. Take pirate night for example....you have to be back on the ship and ready for dinner but since there is no show that night (not till deck party at 10:30) then you can head back to the ship closer to 7 vs 5 for dinner.

Our tablemates last time were late to the main dining. They were on a DCL excursion and there were people who were late getting back to the bus. They waited for the people which caused everyone to be late getting back to the ship. The one guy with us was VERY unhappy. It was not a show night so they would have been better off not having main dining and not stressing themselves out.

I know other people love main seating but for our family it worked out better now that we do late dining.

 

[kileybeth]

Trying to figure out if regular or late dining would be better for us. I have a 3 year-old who still naps in the later afternoon. Both kids get cranky when hungry (but there is always food available.). I'd like to take them to the shows at night and I am not sure of the timing of the shows and dinner and movies and such and how that all works together. Couple that with whatever happens with the time change enroute.


Kids can stay up late as far as I am concerned, since that gives some small chance that they will sleep past 7 a.m.

What are other families doing?

I've got to second what Brooklyn is saying, early dining really shortens your days. We are not sailing with our kids this time but we did last Sept '09 and late dining worked fabulously for all the reasons already listed.

Here is the one down side. A lot of the kids programs "big evening event" (pajama party, dance party, glow in dark party, etc) happened during late dining and by time our host and club cove runners got to our kids and took them over, the event was mostly over.

I did address this on my survey and with the club personnel and they did recognize it as a problem and they did everything they could to make up missed crafts etc (picture frames, pillowcases) for my kids but it wasn't the same. My two (ages 4 and 6 when they cruised) also closed the place down most nights and it DID help my "up at crack of dawn" child to sleep a bit later.

Forgot to take note of ages of your kiddos? I had two teens cruising with us last time as well. The stack (teen activites) never even started until 11pm or so most nights. My daughter would come in anywhere from 1-3am! So late dining was fine for them. W3 eat dinner late at home tho, so YMMV(your milage may vary!) !

The order of events is this

Early diners go to dinner, break for half hour or so and then go to the main show of evening. (my preference for th order of things but oh well!)

Late diners go to show first, little break and then head to dinner. kind of felt backwards but it was doable.

perhaps the break is more like an hour but we always felt not enough time to stand in line for characters or go back and dress after the show. . . again, YMMV

 

[spyles]

I like late dining, and the fact that the shows are first. It gives me a reason to get myself in gear and get going, so to speak. I have a ritual in getting ready for dinner, so it fits in for me.

Since there's a decent break between the show and late dining (well, an hour), and we're dressed, we're more likely to take time to do things like take photos, visit with people, go to a lounge, check email, or try something else out. Also, the schedule of dining, show, and then evening activities seems unbalanced. Show, dining, evening activities is preferable to me so I don't feel like I'm going from activity to activity.

I always felt that parents with small kids were nearly pressured in going to main dining, and it never really made sense to me. By the time dinner is done, then you have to deal with a child through a show? I think watching the show, dinner, and then the play time at the club is a much better way to go. Kids get to see the show, have a quick meal, and the ability to go to the clubs; the adults can enjoy a more leisurely pace at dinner before the evening events.

With the time change each night, I don't see kids calling it a night early at all. If anything, I would expect more of a night crowd than a morning crowd based on my previous eastbound transatlantic voyages.

-Steve

 

[kileybeth]

I haven't given the time change thing much thought as I have never traveled internationally so that is certainly something to think about! Either way, we did enjoy late dining.

So I guess I will be losing an hour each day or so? From Eastern seaboard here in US I guess I mean? And then the flight home is 7 hours but it seems like 2 or something according to the clock? I just expect to be totally confused the whole time

One of my first things I plan to do onboard is buy a cheap watch! I never wear one at home and last cruise we never knew what time it was until my DH and I stumbled upon the $10 watch bin in one of the stores! Cute and cheap and good enough for 14 days use! WE both picked one up! I thought I would wear it at home but it was right back to the cellphone as soon as we docked.

 

[kileybeth]

and here we go again, hunkering down for yet another snow storm, forcasted up to 20inches here.

come on April 10th!

 

[katypop]

I see that Jackie has spilled the beans & told you our news

I'm still a bit nervous about the seas (due to motion sickeness issues) but am really excited about this new adventure

Krisann - I'm assuming Jackie included me in the lanyard pm, right? Looking forward to seeing you and DH again.

Hi Woody! Hi Kathe! Hi Ginamarie (how's Salvatore?)! I think it's great to see some familiar faces

Need to start doing the research on the ports to see what I want to do.

BTW - Lynne....LOVE the website - You ROCK!

Hi Monica, welcome aboard

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

and here we go again, hunkering down for yet another snow storm, forcasted up to 20inches here.

come on April 10th!

We have also laid in supplies for the Snowpocalypse! Stay warm and safe. And lets hope the cable/ internet doesn't go out!

 

[scottjm]

Trying to figure out if regular or late dining would be better for us. I have a 3 year-old who still naps in the later afternoon. Both kids get cranky when hungry (but there is always food available.). I'd like to take them to the shows at night and I am not sure of the timing of the shows and dinner and movies and such and how that all works together. Couple that with whatever happens with the time change enroute.


Kids can stay up late as far as I am concerned, since that gives some small chance that they will sleep past 7 a.m.

What are other families doing?

Our first time we did the late seating. We had a 6 year old and a 9 year old. They were falling asleep at the dinner table, literally. We switched on the second cruise to an early seating and it went great.

 

[thossink]

THE MOVIES!!! I LOVE watching movies in the Buena Vista Theater. Although I have to bring a blanket from my room because the air is arctic in there. But I cant wait to find out what is playing.

On another note, my youngest DD very first passport came in the mail yesterday.

Does anyone have a DD or DS between the ages of 17-22 that is sailing with us? My DD who will turn 19 a few days before we sail is looking to meet up with some others of the same age before we go.

I have a dd that is 18 joining us and her friend 17

t

 

[sdlong329]

Now that is talking my language! I can't wait! I just reminded my boss that this is coming up in 9 weeks!

Talking my language too.. Eggs Benedict is my favorate and the best I have eaten is on Disney. See you all at breakfast!

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I want to toss out a big ol' WELCOME!
to all the cruisers who have joined our ranks of late. It is great to see our numbers swell.

All the talk of parasailing at CC reminded me, does any one have experience with the Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure? DH and I love to snorkel, and I am wondering if the off-shore snorkeling is better than the snorkeling lagoon?

 

[ibouncetoo]

Does anyone know if they still pass out the red mesh bags to Castaway Cay members? I want one!!

I've made a note and will put one in my suitcase for you!

.

 

[kileybeth]

We have also laid in supplies for the Snowpocalypse! Stay warm and safe. And lets hope the cable/ internet doesn't go out!

That is the second time (someone from DC/Metro area on my facebook) used that term "snowpocalypse" It just sounds so funny! NO! Not my internet! The horror of it! We are a cell phone only house as well. Hope that means no worries over downed lines someplace!

Was very glad the DH left work at noon today (he commutes to DC everyday, drives, no train) He said just a few minutes after he cleared 495 and got onto Rt50 (495 closed down due to some huge accident or something, police cars everywhere)and it had just started snowing then?! oh my!

We didn't get anything until after dinner but now it is fast and furious and white.

Are you flying down to MCO for the cruise? We are leaving out of BWI as the DH has to work that Friday and it is a closer then PHL this time.

 

[scottjm]

All the talk of parasailing ...

All this talk of parasailing made me just sign up the whole family! You folks are costing me big bucks!

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

That is the second time (someone from DC/Metro area on my facebook) used that term "snowpocalypse" It just sounds so funny! NO! Not my internet! The horror of it! We are a cell phone only house as well. Hope that means no worries over downed lines someplace!

Was very glad the DH left work at noon today (he commutes to DC everyday, drives, no train) He said just a few minutes after he cleared 495 and got onto Rt50 (495 closed down due to some huge accident or something, police cars everywhere)and it had just started snowing then?! oh my!

We didn't get anything until after dinner but now it is fast and furious and white.

Are you flying down to MCO for the cruise? We are leaving out of BWI as the DH has to work that Friday and it is a closer then PHL this time.

WOW! DC to Delaware for work each day? That is impressive. I am sure HE must be looking forward to this vacation too.

We live in Montgomery County, one county north of DC and we have had snow since 10:00 am, but at this point it looks like a shaken snow globe out there! I will admit I love the term snowpocalypse since everyone on the DC area completely looses their minds when it snows. Two big snows in a row? Complete madness!

We are flying to MCO, but we are going out of DCA this time and actually headed down on Thursday (8th) afternoon. I will be making my VERY FIRST VISIT to the MAGIC KINGDOM that Friday! So excited!

 

[grlzmom]

We are flying to MCO, but we are going out of DCA this time and actually headed down on Thursday (8th) afternoon. I will be making my VERY FIRST VISIT to the MAGIC KINGDOM that Friday! So excited!

First visit to the Magic Kingdom, YEAH! That is so exciting!

My inlaws live in Chevy Chase and I grew up in Baltimore. I miss the snow, but not the mess it makes.

 

[mishoe01]

WOW! DC to Delaware for work each day? That is impressive. I am sure HE must be looking forward to this vacation too.

We live in Montgomery County, one county north of DC and we have had snow since 10:00 am, but at this point it looks like a shaken snow globe out there! I will admit I love the term snowpocalypse since everyone on the DC area completely looses their minds when it snows. Two big snows in a row? Complete madness!

We are flying to MCO, but we are going out of DCA this time and actually headed down on Thursday (8th) afternoon. I will be making my VERY FIRST VISIT to the MAGIC KINGDOM that Friday! So excited!

I used to live in Montgomery Village, worked in Rockville & went to church in Germantown. Small world! Now I live here near WDW.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

First visit to the Magic Kingdom, YEAH! That is so exciting!

My inlaws live in Chevy Chase and I grew up in Baltimore. I miss the snow, but not the mess it makes.

Thanks, I am Over the Moon about this trip. I have been waiting 30 years for this visit.

My DSIL lives in Wisconsin and they get 20x the snow we get each year (well, perhaps not this year!) but they handle it so much better!

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I used to live in Montgomery Village, worked in Rockville & went to church in Germantown. Small world! Now I live here near WDW.

I live in Germantown! It is a small world! We will have to compare notes.

 

[Ginamarie]

I see that Jackie has spilled the beans & told you our news

I'm still a bit nervous about the seas (due to motion sickeness issues) but am really excited about this new adventure

Krisann - I'm assuming Jackie included me in the lanyard pm, right? Looking forward to seeing you and DH again.

Hi Woody! Hi Kathe! Hi Ginamarie (how's Salvatore?)! I think it's great to see some familiar faces

Need to start doing the research on the ports to see what I want to do.

BTW - Lynne....LOVE the website - You ROCK!

Hi Monica!!! So glad you're going to join us Salvatore is doing great. He turned a year old in December, and he gets ridiculously excited anytime he sees Mickey Mouse. I think he's going to love the cruise.

Trying to figure out if regular or late dining would be better for us. I have a 3 year-old who still naps in the later afternoon. Both kids get cranky when hungry (but there is always food available.). I'd like to take them to the shows at night and I am not sure of the timing of the shows and dinner and movies and such and how that all works together. Couple that with whatever happens with the time change enroute.


Kids can stay up late as far as I am concerned, since that gives some small chance that they will sleep past 7 a.m.

What are other families doing?

We signed up for early dining. I can't stand to have cranky kids during dinner. My daughter will be turning 4 right before the cruise. I think she'll make it up for most of the shows, even though they're after dinner. DS is one, and I don't mind if he sleeps through the shows. The older kids (my siblings) will be less cranky if they eat earlier and can watch the shows/go to kids club after.