A couple more questions....

[OJulie67]

1) My daughter is wanting to get started at the kids club right away. After boarding and getting lunch can she go right to the Oceaneers club and start playing?

2)Upon boarding, is the buffets and restaurants set up for us already? Meaning if we get there at noon, will lunch be ready?

3)Do they take your bags from you at check-in and then bring them to your room? Or do you carry your own bags up to your room and then go get lunch, explore etc?

I think thats all...for today!

 

[DisneyGator01]

1) I don't have kids, but I believe club check-in starts around 1pm or so. As far as I know, once they are checked in, they are welcome to play. Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong.

2)As far as the buffet, it is open as soon as your board, they direct you to one of the two buffet locations as soon as you get on the ship.

3)Usually you take your carry-on with you to lunch, since your room will not be ready as soon as you board. They make an official announcement to all when rooms are ready. But I have gone to my stateroom soon after boarding and dropped carry on's off, in my experience, the room steward doesn't really have a problem with it.

As far as your main, checked luggage.. if you did not transfer to the port via DCL transfers, then you will leave your bags with the porters and they will be delivered to your stateroom, usually before 4pm. So it's a good idea to bring what ever you will need for the afternoon in your carry-on (Camera, film, swimsuit, documents and IDs, medications). Some people even suggest packing a change of clothes in case, but I have never had a problem getting my bags promptly. The stateroom host/hostesses are working their tails off to get everything ready. I always had mine way before the 4:30 mandatory boat drill.

Hope that helps some!

 

[OJulie67]

We will be doing the 3 day land before our cruise with DCL transfers...So I guess they will take care of our luggage then? Do they take it at the hotel and deliver it to us later on the boat?
Thanks alot!!!

 

[amgpmg]

On our last cruise, the kids club did not open for the kids to go until after the Mandatory Boat Drill & sail away party (I think). It was only open upon boarding to register your child/children at the club. There is so much to do before dinner, such as seeing the boat for the first time, the Mickey Pool and the sail away party, that our kids did not mind not going to the club right away. Believe me, the afternoon will FLY by so fast before the club opens!!! Enjoy the time with them while you can, because once that club is open (if they are like my kids) you will not see them for most of the cruise.

Kathy

 

[RagamuffinMom]

Regarding your luggage question - the answer is yes.

Each of the resorts should have a DCL desk where you would check in for the sea portion of your trip. They will give you all the information you need about what time the DCL buses will be at your resort to take you to the port on your sailing date.

IIRC you leave your bags outside your room on your departure date (tagged with the DCL tags of course) and then they magically appear in your stateroom late in the afternoon.

 

[jwann]

Actually -- the kids can't go PLAY in the club/lab until around 7:00 or 7:30 the first night. The club/lab are only open for registration and touring during the afternoon the first day.

My suggestion -- if you get on the boat around 12 and head for the buffet first, then after eating go put on your swimsuits (hoepfully they are in your daybag) and go swimming. From 1-4 is probably the LEAST crowded the pools ever are during the cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

My suggestion is to register the kids as soon as possible after boarding. It's not hard and it does not take to long when it your turn, but with all of the families on board, the line to sign up can get to be long. Just like the parks you want to beat the lines.

My suggested order of doing the ressie rush the first day is:
Palo
Kids Club
Spa
Ditch the carryons in your stateroom
lunch
then its time for exploration, fun, swimming etc.