April 11, 2010 4 Night Cruise

[jestersgypsy]

Since there are alot of soon to be friends on this cruise that are from Florida, I guess anything with the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE on it is out of the question?!
Cindy

 

[zalansky]

Here's the info on Dine & play

“Dine and Play” Gives Kids More Fun While Parents Relax
CELEBRATION, Fla. – “Dine and Play” is now available aboard Disney Cruise Line, providing more time for kids to have fun at youth activities and giving parents a relaxing night cap to their evening meal.

With “Dine and Play,” parents can check their children into evening youth activity programming without leaving the dining room. Offered during the second seating in all of the main dining rooms and open to children ages 3 to 12, “Dine and Play” allows the dining room serving team to facilitate the children's meals first, while serving the adults at a more leisurely pace.

Upon arrival for second seating dinner, parents simply inform their server that their children would like to participate in “Dine and Play.” Children receive their meals in an expedited fashion and youth activities counselors arrive approximately 45 minutes into dinner to escort children to their respective youth activities groups for an evening of fun and entertainment.

Parents can then enjoy the remainder of their dining experience and head over to the adults-only nighttime entertainment district for dancing, drinks and activities especially for them

 

[jestersgypsy]

That sounds perfect for us. Thank you for posting the information, now I can have Ashley(dd) eat with us and she won't feel like she is missing anything!!!

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, everyone - So great to see us moving on to another page. The cruise is getting closer and I'm sure you all are getting as excited as my family is!

Cindy - I love getting FE gifts from different parts of the country. We've collected postcards, magnets, keychains, pens, etc. from all over. Something regional is perfect for the gift exchange ... I always include a souvie from Tampa featuring mine and DH's alma mater, The University of Tampa. Sounds like you have a great idea already in mind!

We've always done late dining, even from our first cruise when our DD was 5. The kids are so busy after school with activities and club and DH doesn't get home until 6:30 or so that eating around 8 is the norm for us. While they have freedom on the cruises to explore during the day, we always have breakfast and dinner together. A white board on the stateroom door helps us keep track of them. Usually, they eat dinner quickly and go off to their club activities. DH and I get to have a relaxing dinner (their food comes out first - DD and DS11 order off the kids menu and DS15 just gets an entree) and dessert together. We love late dining. The only night it doesn't work so great is Pirate Night, although our servers have always been able to get us out in time for the party, but we are so full from dinner that we don't get to enjoy the buffet too much - Except for a turkey leg, of course!

If you are still interested in switching to early seating, get to port early and as soon as you board, head to Wavebands (adult dance club) to see if they might be able to move you or put you on a waiting list. This is also the place to go to get Palo dinner and brunch reservations, which are held back from online to save for passengers to book as they board.

Looking forward to meeting you all!
Rose

 

[jestersgypsy]

Hey Rose,

I think I will stick to the late seating after talking to you and zalansky. I have eaten at both early and late seatings on other cruise lines and I think I prefer the late seating. My only concern was for Ashley who thought she would have to wait to 8:00pm to eat! I explained to her that anytime she was hungry, there would be something for her to eat. Also I told her about "dine and play" (thank you very much zalansky!) and she loved that idea. We are getting so excited here and I have been telling all my friends about the meet and greet and the FE gift exchange. My friends know I love to shop so this is perfect outlet for me! Can't wait to meet all of you. We only have 18 more days!

Cindy

 

[suzyqn]

Hey Rose,

I think I will stick to the late seating after talking to you and zalansky. I have eaten at both early and late seatings on other cruise lines and I think I prefer the late seating. My only concern was for Ashley who thought she would have to wait to 8:00pm to eat! I explained to her that anytime she was hungry, there would be something for her to eat. Also I told her about "dine and play" (thank you very much zalansky!) and she loved that idea. We are getting so excited here and I have been telling all my friends about the meet and greet and the FE gift exchange. My friends know I love to shop so this is perfect outlet for me! Can't wait to meet all of you. We only have 18 more days!

Cindy

Cindy, my dd (3 at the time) really enjoyed the dine and play last year. We fed my dd (18months) before the show each night since she went to Flounder's at 8pm each night. DD (3) would then have a snack at that time and still enjoyed eating dinner at 8pm. We are doing main seating for the first time to give my dd (now 2) a chance to eat with us.

 

[Angel51201]

Hi all! I'm a single parent traveling with DD8. Are there any other single parents and/or married parents, for that matter, who might want to go to a Palo brunch with me if I'm able to book a table on embarkment day?

Thanks,

 

[debfromALa]

Since there are alot of soon to be friends on this cruise that are from Florida, I guess anything with the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE on it is out of the question?!
Cindy

Hi, just found this site tonight. We are also going on the Spring Break Disney Cruise: April 11th, 2010 we are from NorthEast Alabama, Dekalb, Co area.

It will be DH(36), Deb (me/37) DD (7) DS (4 almost 5yrs)
I am very excited. I booked this cruise in 9/09 and received the kids sail free offer. this is our first cruise ever. look forward to meeting other folks.
blessings to all, DebfromALa

 

[zalansky]

Hi again everyone!

Just wanted to make sure you all know about this - I was poking around on the DCL website last night and went into my reservation for this cruise. There was a button on the bottom of the screen (under online check-in)where you could click and schedule a call from a Disney character, to welcome your "characters" aboard. I picked Mickey Mouse to call the night before we leave for the cruise. Just wanted to make sure y'all knew about this little feature!

 

[jestersgypsy]

Hey Diane, I have Palo brunch reservations for me and Bob already. I don't know the reservations work, but maybe we could add more people. My thinking is, the more the merrier!!

Deb, I am glad to know another alabamian going on this cruise! Everyone on this website has been very helpful, since like you, this is my family's first Disney cruise!

See everyone real soon!!!!

Cindy

 

[Angel51201]

Hey Diane, I have Palo brunch reservations for me and Bob already. I don't know the reservations work, but maybe we could add more people. My thinking is, the more the merrier!!

Deb, I am glad to know another alabamian going on this cruise! Everyone on this website has been very helpful, since like you, this is my family's first Disney cruise!

See everyone real soon!!!!

Cindy

Thanks, Cindy. That would be great if you could (and obviously wouldn't mind) add more seats at your table. Will you call your travel agent, or look wherever you orginially booked, to see if you can increase #? I, for sure, would love to join you. Maybe there will be others speak up wanting to also.

 

[jestersgypsy]

Hey Diane, I talked to my travel agent and she told me to go to the website, Disneycruise.com. The website only allows you to make a reservation for the number of people associated with your stateroom, which in my case is two. Why don't you try online and see how far you get? Hopefully we can sit together at the brunch!

Has anyone participated in the sea lion excurison at Nassau?

Cindy

 

[Angel51201]

Hi again everyone!

Just wanted to make sure you all know about this - I was poking around on the DCL website last night and went into my reservation for this cruise. There was a button on the bottom of the screen (under online check-in)where you could click and schedule a call from a Disney character, to welcome your "characters" aboard. I picked Mickey Mouse to call the night before we leave for the cruise. Just wanted to make sure y'all knew about this little feature!

Thanks for sharing this. I chose Goofy for my DD8. She'll LOVE it!

 

[Angel51201]

Hey Diane, I talked to my travel agent and she told me to go to the website, Disneycruise.com. The website only allows you to make a reservation for the number of people associated with your stateroom, which in my case is two. Why don't you try online and see how far you get? Hopefully we can sit together at the brunch!

Has anyone participated in the sea lion excurison at Nassau?

Cindy

Oh bummer. Thanks for trying, Cindy, and maybe something will still work out, but they're not taking any Palo ressies at this time. I'll try when I get on board.

 

[debfromALa]

Hi

Hi Rose, we are in state room#2136, can't wait. Getting closer.

Hi Leslie, I am very excited. this is our first cruise ever. We have a room really close I think. we will be in 2132 DH, Myself, DD (7yrs) and DS (almost 5 yrs old) I have not told my kiddos what we are doing. just want to pull up and surprise them. blessings, Deb

 

[zalansky]

Hi Deb - I have a 7 year old also, a son - and a daughter who is 4 1/2. Look forward to meeting you on board!

 

[Tarabra]

I'm so excited for the dine and play!!! We sort of did this anyway, now my husband doesn't have to leave. My son is 2 1/2 and potty trained, so he can go too! Woohoo!!! The kids really have a tough time sitting still through that long dinner. We like late seating just because we aren't rushed for early seating and the kids can stay awake for the shows. Although my kids are up late anyway.

Gonna order a bathing suit today!! Hope it gets here in time.

Tara

Ava (5) and Jonah (2)

 

[Angel51201]

Do any of you dress up for pirate night yourselves? I realize the children often dress up, but do any adults? Just curious.

 

[jestersgypsy]

Hey Diane, funny you should ask, because I just received the costumes I ordered over the weekend for my whole family. And I have already tried mine on!!!!!!

Cindy

 

[leslie l]

Hi debfromAla

We must be right near each other, great, I have a little boy also, David will be 5 in July, and my daughter Emma is 8, you do know about the meet and greet the day we leave right? It is out first cruise also, very excited. I so look forward to meeting you and your family.

Leslie