a few comments from 1st timer just back

[BWVDenise]

The pillows are 3 feet thick. I am not kidding. I had jaw pain for 2 days after the cruise from the pillows!
We had 5022/5024 secret porthole staterooms. The only thing that made me wonder if these rooms were worth having was that there was a "crew members only" door right across the hall and on the last night there was activity outside our stateroom all night long from the luggage collection. Plus, the chains were beating against something in the wind outside the window all night, so there was zero sleep for me that night. I have to admit that I am a little sensitive to noise when I sleep, so this might not be an issue to everyone.
Whatever you do, don't ask me about our tablemates. I am not the most social of people, but I will at least acknowledge the presence of others at the dinner table. We did not wear beaded gowns and tuxes, but at least we weren't in tye-dyes and shorts!!!!!

 

[AnnMorin]

Wow sorry to hear you had such a problem with the pillows, I am just the opposite, I need because of a old car accident injury about six pillows to sleep, ( I have to kinda prop up my back and neck so I just can't turn) and DCL has always been so over accomodating by bringing me as many pillows as I need. I have always found them very soft and comfortable, never over tuffed.. certainly not 3 ft!
As for tablemates.. well it is always a gamble,, frankly in our four DCL cruises we have only been graced once (last year) with good table mates, and in many many other cruises on other lines it was the same,, People have a different idea of formal night, I personally do wear a gown and my husbadn and son do wear at minimum a suit at times a tux but that is us. I have never let others disrupt my formal night because they do not want to partake, life is too short to let others ruin your party.. you never know when the candles can be blown out......

 

[momtofour]

Denise, Thanks for posting. You were in exactly the same rooms I was hoping to book for our March 2006 cruise for my family of six. Would you book these rooms again? Was the secret bonus worth it? From the brochure, these rooms appear to be close to an elevator. Was that a noise problem as well? What were they doing with that luggage? Again, thanks for sharing your experience!!

 

[BWVDenise]

Ann,
I am not a very formal person myself... but, I do believe in following the "guidelines." I was surprised they were even allowed into the restaurants dressed like that. And that is only the beginning... the slamming of the pepper shaker on the table (scared the heck out of me!!!), the comments about the ketchup not being left on the table to control the amount used, the comments about "not being in the trailer park," and the mother would not even look up to allow eye-contact! I tried to be friendly or at least personable, but it was impossible. We did not even go to our second dinner. We stayed at the pool that night. We did meet some nice people on the cruise, but unfortunately, we weren't seated with them for dinner! Personally, I have never met anyone like this in my life.
On a lighter note, because I really don't want this to be a negative post, we really liked the first server we met at the lunch buffet when we boarded! His name was Juan and he was SO nice! I wish he had been our server! And we also really liked Ashley, who was serving drinks on Deck 9. What a nice man!

 

[BWVDenise]

the rooms were nice and the elevators were not a problem at all. It was that on the last night, when they collect the luggage, they were right outside our room for several hours (or so it seemed to me) because I think they were taking the luggage into that "crew member only" room directly across the hall. My dh was able to sleep okay. I'm a light sleeper, so it may not bother you!

 

[AnnMorin]

I often have a way of just saying what I think and it sometimes comes off wrong...
On the pillow issue I loved them but that is me... on the table mates I thouroughly agree with you, except for last december we have had ones that have made me consider room service.. But that is not DCL's fault...
over the years I have become more skilled at egnoring rude/declassy tablemates,, and after this year I frankly could care less if the beverly hillbilllies are at my table as long as my husband son and I can be together.

 

[momtofour]

Hi Denise, Thanks for your very quick reply!! I am with you! I too am sucha light sleeper that I must travel with a fan to block out background noise! How late did this luggage collecting go? I seem to recall reading that all luggage must be outside the room by 11:00 PM. If that is the case, I can see where this went on until 3:00 AM or so! Guess I must rethink my plans! I really need a QUIET room!

 

[BWVDenise]

I couldn't tell you how late it went on, because I felt like I was up the whole night. And then the banging of those chains... I knew when we boarded that it would be like trying to sleep in a hospital room, but I think it was actually worse. I wonder if there are rooms that are more quiet on board? We had so many things go wrong on this trip (long story and not Disney's fault) that I don't know if or when I will ever do it again, but I know if I do, I will need a more secluded location.

 

[inkkognito]

What an awful dining experience!
Please be assured that it is not the norm. In 38 Disney cruises, most of which have been at shared tables, we have only had an unfriendly person once, and she was outnumbered by the social people at the table.
Last cruise was our best table ever. There were two couples and a mom & daughter, plus us. As much as I love Palo, it was painful to skip one night! Everyone was having so much fun that on the last night, when the two couples dined at Palo, they ate there early and came to the late seating dinner too.
Barb

 

[ThreeCircles]

Sorry to hear about your problems at dinner Denise!

I was curious if you were on the Eastern or the Western cruise?

 

[dencord7]

please tell me about your view in room 5524 we have this room on our next cruise. And i am worried about the view

 

[scrapperjill]

Okay....I'm real sorry to hear about your experiences, but I did want to ask while were on the topic.....(Never been on a cruise) so....for some reason I was thinking I read some place that if you had problems with your dinner (tablemates) you could talk with some one to be reassigned a diffrent table....does any one know if this is so??? I can't even think of where I would have gotten that bit of info from...but I think I've seen/read it a few times.

So if anyone out there knows....I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to know. I'd hate to have to deal with such a thing...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

On our last cruise, we were in that stateroom vicinity (5016) and I can understand your disappointment with that storage area's noise. I also understand your complaint about the pillows onboard...I'm not a fan of them either.

Also, like Ann said, dining companions are luck of the draw. This is something that makes me very nervous and anxious about the cruise...I'm always afraid of being seated with people that are difficult to socialize with. Some social situations make me very nervous. Ever since our first cruise (which wasn't a terrible dining experience, but we were on our honeymoon and seated with three other families with teenagers which was very unromantic), we've been requesting tables for 4, preferably seated alone. Out of two of these requests we were granted this once. I would absolutely love to be able to hook up reservations with fellow DISrs, as I think they would be ideal dinner companions!

 

[DCLADDICT]

WE HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WHO SAYS THINGS THAT OTHERS MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND( HE IS 13 BUT SAYS THINGS A 5 Y/O MIGHT SAY), SO WE ALWAYS ASK FOR A DINNING TABLE FOR ONLY OUR FAMILY AND NO TABLEMATES. WELL, ON OUR MAY 23RD CRUISE, WE HEADED FOR OUR TABLE TO FIND A FAMILY OF 3 SITTING AT THE TABLE WE WERE ASSIGNED TO. WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANYONE UNCOMFORTABLE, SO WE ASKED OUR SERVER TO REQUEST A PRVATE TABLE, AND THE HEAD SERVER CAME OVER TO INQUIRE ABOUT OUR PROBLEM, (WE DID NOT DO THIS IN FRONT OF THE OTHER FAMILY), AND OUR HEAD SERVER MADE IT HAPPEN. HE ASKED THE FAMILY TO MOVE TO A TABLE FOR 4 AND WE SAT AT OUR TABLE (5 OF US). I WENT OVER BEFORE THE END OF THE MEAL TO EXPLAIN OUR SITUATION AND THEY WERE VERY UNDERSTANDING. SO I AM SURE WHEN SITUATIONS ARISE, YOU CAN ASK FOR SOME HELP, AND EVEN IF THE CRUISE IS FULL LIKE OURS WAS, MAYBE YOUR SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT WE BE ABLE TO ENJOY OURSELVES AND NOT BE UNHAPPY; BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE ASSERTIVE TO GET WHAT WE NEED. I HOPE YOU WILL TRY DISNEY AGAIN.

 

[gweeptrish]

I can sympathize with the tablemates problems others have had.

Our experience was a little different. Our tablemates were very socialable, but also somewhat bigoted. My husband and I joust (on horses in armor) and belong to a middle ages recreation group. Our tablemates did not know this. The first evening, they were telling a story about these weirdos they met in a park who wore armor and pretended to be King Arthur. They went on at length to talk about what losers these people were and why they couldn't just be normal and how they didn't want their kids exposed to them so they went home.

From the description of the armor and the activities, it was pretty obvious that these "weirdos" were from the same group that my husband and I belong to. In the interest of keeping the peace at the table (because we didn't know then that you could request to be switched) we refrained from telling them that we were a part of that group too. Since the jousting is our primary hobby and a very important part of our lives, it made for rather stilted, "how about that weather?" conversation for the rest of the cruise.

 

[MamaQuack]

Denise,

How awful!!!!! kind of makes me wonder why some people cruise if they don't like to meet new folks?????? On our very first cruise we had our 6 year old son. We had asked for an early seating hoping also to be with another family. When we approached the table we saw 2 middle aged couples not speaking to each other and my heart sank. We exchanged pleasant hellos and then there was silence until my wonderful hubby said "hey, my wife and I would love to order champagne if you all will help us drink it!" BINGO! From that moment on we talked and laughed and cried (last night). Those 2 couples became good friends. We have since cruised together, attended 3 of their kids weddings and they have made a point to spoil our now 13 year old son shamelessly. I try to remember that every time we take a new cruise. July 24th I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

MamaQuack

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by MamaQuack
Denise,

How awful!!!!! kind of makes me wonder why some people cruise if they don't like to meet new folks?????? On our very first cruise we had our 6 year old son. We had asked for an early seating hoping also to be with another family. When we approached the table we saw 2 middle aged couples not speaking to each other and my heart sank. We exchanged pleasant hellos and then there was silence until my wonderful hubby said "hey, my wife and I would love to order champagne if you all will help us drink it!" BINGO! From that moment on we talked and laughed and cried (last night). Those 2 couples became good friends. We have since cruised together, attended 3 of their kids weddings and they have made a point to spoil our now 13 year old son shamelessly. I try to remember that every time we take a new cruise. July 24th I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

MamaQuack

WOW! That's quite a story you have! Neat!

 

[LinniePooh]

My husband, daughter and I did not make any special dinner seating requests on a recent (June 3) Wonder cruise, but were surprisingly seated alone. Every table within our sight either had one family or were groups that obviously knew each other prior to the cruise. I wonder if this is a new approach being tested?

 

[pdarrah]

LinniePooh - I hope not! We haven't made any special requests either, but we are looking forward to meeting new people at our table. On our first cruise (over 10 yrs ago on Carnival), we started out badly, but ended up with wonderful table mates that we enjoyed talking with during dinner. This will be our 3rd cruise and it has been about 10 years since the last.

I suppose this is an example of the head waiter being able to reseat - different cruise line, but they were able to help us. (It was a very uncomfortable situation. The 2 of us were seated at a table for 10 and everyone else there was either seriously handicapped or a traveling companion who was there to help the handicapped guests. We ate our first meal there and were unable to converse with anyone but ourselves. The handicapped guests were unable to converse and their companions were too busy. We felt terrible asking to be moved - it wasn't that we wanted to reject them - but we were hoping to meet new people we could talk with.... Our new table had 3 other couples. They were all older than us, but it didn't matter - we all enjoyed dinner and discussing our day, our homes, other trips, etc.)

I love my DH dearly, but we eat together every night and will end up discussing work, home projects, etc. if we don't have others around to mix up the conversation! Our DS5 has already declared (after watching the DCL DVD) that "you guys can eat at those restaurants, I'll eat with the kid club!"

Pdarrah

 

[Grumbo]

gweeptrish I know you were probably hurt and a bit mortified by your tablemate's views and comments.
Sorry but I would have waited until near the end of the cruise, probably 2 from the end and started talking about your fascinating hobby
I'd have laid it on REALLY thick You'd probably have had a table all to yourself Guess thats just my warped sense of humour and revenge

Cheers,
Grumbo