August 6, 2005 Mexican Riviera..Who's In?

[jilljill]

Hi Newfamilyman,
I'm sure you will find as many complaints as there are compliments.
We have been on a full ship and a ship that was only a little over half full and only really noticed crowds by the pools on sea days and lines for the characters and formal pictures. We haven't used Flounders, but I have heard they only take a limited number of children and the reservations can fill quickly.
We have had late dining on 3 of our 4 cruises, our DD was 5 on our first cruise with late dining and only fell asleep at dinner 1 night. We would get her a snack around 5:00 or so to hold her over to dinner. We have seen many sleeping children at both sittings.
The food we have had has been very good. Now it is not the same quality as from a top notch restaurant, but it's not Denny's either. Like Vickie said if you don't like something that was ordered just tell your server and they will gladly get you something else to eat.
Hope this helps a bit.

 

[justmestace]

Hi Newfamilyman!

When we first cruised, we started with the late dining and have stayed with it. We like the extra time we have to get ready for dinner, but my kids were 8 and 11 at that time.
We had friends on the 10 night who have a 5 yr old and he did fall asleep a few nights.
We aren't gourmets by any stretch, but there is always something to suit any palate. From a plain chicken breast, steak, or fish, to "fancy" dishes...most of the food is great.
I didn't think the pizza was any better/worse than the kind you can buy a slice of at the mall. I actually thought the hotdogs and hamburgers were pretty decent.
One thing that you can almost definitely count on: as it gets closer to cruise time, there WILL be some families who cancel. Make sure that if you really want early dining, put your name on a wait-list, and (very important!) call DCL or have your travel agent call, every other day to ask if something has opened up. Don't worry that it will "bug" them. They're used to it.
As for the crowds....none as bad as the lines in the parks! I agree, the lines for formal portraits can get bad...on the Xmas cruise they added a photographer in the hall by "Shutters" with a back drop....alot of people didn't know he was there, and that was great. Some people would leave the dinner table before dessert to go have their portrait, and then come back....it's a less crowded time.
The pools do get crowded.....but there are a lot of other things to do beside swim.
Yes, the sailaway party can get crowded....but that's half the fun! We go up on deck 10 and watch from there....less crowded.
As for Flounder's....I'm sorry, I haven't used it either, so I don't know about setting the little one up for that. Do you have concierge service? If you have that, you can pre-book the nursery when you get onboard. Or, do as some suggest, and have your wife go sign up the little one for that, while you take the kids to lunch that 1st day.
I did go into Flounders on our last day on the Magic. I was curious to see what it looked like. My oldest daughter teaches at a preschool, so I like to see them. It is really a nice set-up. It was clean, the gal at the desk was very nice, there is a "viewing window" so that you can check in on your child w/o them seeing you. I loved it, and would have felt very comfortable leaving one of mine there.

Before our first cruise, I almost worried myself into not going. I was afraid of feeling confined, worried about eating with "strangers".....you name it, I worried about it. I stepped onto that ship and my breath was taken away! They could have put dog food in front of me, and I still would have loved it. We have done 3 DCL cruises, and have 3 more booked already. You'll love it.

 

[Maddie'sMommy]

Hi Fellow Cruisers!

I'm SO excited to be going on the DCL, as it is our first time. I will be going with my family consisting of my DH, DD who is 2 and myself; my sister-in-law, her hubby and 3 kids (6,4 and 2yo); my 4 cousins (7, 5, 12 and 16 yo), 2 aunts and 1 uncle. My cousin's 6th grade class and their respective families are also on this cruise. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

Cheers,

Maddie's Mommy

 

[newfamilyman]

Thanks, everyone, for the reassuring messages and helpful suggestions, and welcome to Maddie's Mom. You're certainly going with a large party!

Carl

 

[jilljill]

Carl, I'm glad we could all help reassure you. Any other questions or concerns just ask.


Welcome Maddie'sMommy,
You really are travelling with a very large group. Just so you don't have to go and read all 60 pages of this thread let me introduce our family; myself, DH and DD who will be 11 at cruise time. This will be our 5th DCL cruise.


Stacey, you really don't have to eat dog food, save that for DH . It's so much better to have many desserts . Forgot to ask you, did DH like his Valentine's Day gift of a cruise with ME?!?

 

[SchultzFamily]

Welcome Maddie'sMommy! What a large group you are traveling with! Is it your cousin's whole 6th grade class or just a few? Guess my DD will have plenty of kids her age to meet!
Vickie

 

[justmestace]

Welcome, welcome Maddie'sMommy!!
Jump right in with any questions....suggestions....jokes.....whatever!!

I'm Stacey, cruising with husband Jay, DD Jordan age 15 at cruise time and DS Jared age 12 at cruise time. This will be our 4th DCL cruise. So excited about the short flight for this one!!!

jilljill....Jay had such a lousy time of things while I was gone, I didn't have the heart to spring it on him yet. Did I tell you that the basement at the shop flooded? We have a sump pump running right now, and my office stinks. Thats where the door is to the basement. Now our employee, Bill, was ordered by the doc to stay off his swollen feet for two days until they find out what's wrong with him...so Jay is all alone there for a while. I wish the new kid would hurry up and start!!

Checked with Southwest, they still aren't booking flights for August yet. I hate waiting, but I know they are going to be cheaper than America West. Arrggghhhhh.
Looked at the shore excursions again and still can't decide. Mazatlan is the toughest.

So is anyone planning on taking a costume for Pirate Night? We did on the 10 night, but I don't think I will this time. Trying to have less luggage. Or at least the same amount of luggage, with two empty suitcases for purchases!

'Night all!!

 

[jilljill]

I'm only taking minimal clothing - pirate costumes aren't in the running. You may see us in the same clothes - will take mix and match. We will be gone for 2 weeks. I'm hoping for 3 suitcases with an empty or 2. Got to keep the shoes to a minimun too. Shouldn't be too hard since DD and I can share shoes - as least that will be her plan, not mine.

 

[newfamilyman]

There was a post today that suggested that there would not be a Pirate's Night on our cruise but something tailored to the Disney birthday celebration.

 

[Catnip0113]

Hi Fellow Cruisers!

I'm SO excited to be going on the DCL, as it is our first time. I will be going with my family consisting of my DH, DD who is 2 and myself; my sister-in-law, her hubby and 3 kids (6,4 and 2yo); my 4 cousins (7, 5, 12 and 16 yo), 2 aunts and 1 uncle. My cousin's 6th grade class and their respective families are also on this cruise. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

Cheers,

Maddie's Mommy

Welcome Maddie's Mommy!! I was hoping more people would find our thread once we got within 6 months of the cruise. It is going to be so great to meet everyone!

NewFamilyMan: I missed a few days here and you have gotten a lot of responses to your questions already. I too had only a 12 yr old last time so no Club experience at all. She hated the late dinner though (we were alone at a table for 6) so we just let her eat in the room after the early shows most nights. She could stay by herself to watch movies in the room. Our waiters were great though and always asked if we wanted to take a meal to her. I think she didn't like the attention from the waiters, like they treated her as a baby. If we have other kids this time she won't feel singled out. We wanted the late dinner this time. I suppose with younger kids they will enjoy the earlier shows you have with the late dinner. But like others said, you might be able to get it changed.

Cathy

 

[Maddie'sMommy]

NewFamilyMan, jilljill , SchultzFamily, justmestace , and Catnip0113 - Thank you all for the nice welcome! I'm so happy to have found these message boards.

SchultzFamily: My cousin Matthew's whole class is going (approx 20 kids). Your DD will have plenty of kids her age to meet. She will have lots of fun.

justmestace: I was planning to bring a pirate costume for my DD Maddie. But, if there is no pirate party then I'll have her wear a disney costume.

jilljill: With all my daughter's stuff to lug, I may have to mix and match outfits as well. LOL!! Thank goodness summer clothes are easier and lighter to pack.

Do you know if there will be any other "theme" nights on the cruise?

Monika

 

[justmestace]

I just read in the Disney Magazine that came today that Pirate Night was going to be a feature from now on, on both the Magic and the Wonder.

I'm not taking all the gear, anyway. If any of us decides we want something, Mickey's Mates sells eye patches, earrings and tattoos. That'll be plenty.

There should be a Tropical Night. But that just calls for a Hawaiian print shirt or dress, no big deal.
Formal night....but that's fun to do.
The only other "theme" parties are in the clubs....60's night, etc. Only the crew members who are part of the show dress for that.
So this is what I have figured out:
One formal outfit
One semi-formal
Two Tropical (Parrot Cay and Tropical night)
Three casual dresses or capri-type outfits.

A couple of t-shirts and shorts, swimsuits (2), and maybe one or two pairs of casual, comfy pants for the evenings. Tennies, water shoes, sandals for casual dresses and one pr of dressy shoes.
Gee, that sounds like 2 suitcases right there!
Nuts....I forgot that we'll need shorts for Disneyland.....guess we'll have to mix & match, too.

In case anyone is interested, the wedding planner that Jay and I used for our vow renewal in Key West durng the 10 night cruise has a few pics up of us. I put the link on here, you can scroll down the main page and click where it says "couples who got married".....scroll almost all the way down that page to Jay & I......and then you can click on our link to "more pictures". We had a blast!!
www.keywestways.com

'Night, all!!
Stacey

 

[SchultzFamily]

Stacey - Great pictures! Looks like you guys had a great time!

By the way I never got any response from the emails and messages I left inquiring about vow renewal on our cruise. Maybe I should try again. The only time I talked to someone, after she told me DCL doesn't cruise out of California, she put me on hold and asked someone and was told they are not going to be doing vow renewals on the CA cruises. Your pictures make me really want to do it!
Vickie

 

[justmestace]

Vickie,
Did you call FairyTale Weddings? When Megan got married at Castaway Cay, we worked with Cathy Ingle. Her e-mail is cathy.ingle@disney.com
Maybe I'm not supposed to put that on here.

I stayed up way too late last night after I posted about what to wear on the cruise. Once it was on my mind, I decided to make a list.
I have decided to send clothes to be cleaned the first day on the ship, instead of taking double the amount of underwear and stuff. That will probably be the biggest charge on my stateroom account, but it will be worth it!
And NO....I will NOT do laundry myself on the ship!! No working!

Heading for the office for a little bit, tying up some loose ends before it rains and we get flooded again!

Stacey

 

[SchultzFamily]

Stacey - I completely agree about no laundry on vacation. I also refuse to "work" on my vacation! I sent all of our nice clothes out to be pressed the first day of our last cruise. Well worth it!
I did call FairyTale Weddings and I'm pretty sure I emailed Cathy Ingle because you gave me the address before but don't remember getting a response so maybe I never did email. I was pretty disappointed when I called and they said no vow renewals on the CA cruises so I may not have emailed. Maybe I'll email and see what response I get.
Vickie

 

[SchultzFamily]

Okay I just sent that email to Cathy Ingle, hopefully I hear back!
Vickie

 

[justmestace]

Seems I remember that they said they weren't doing any, either. That was when we didn't get the vow renewal (on the ship) at Christmas time. But I could be wrong. These days, I'm lucky to remember my own name!

Watching the new "Survivor"....then run get Jordan, watch CSI and ER....

Don't know if I'll get back on or not.

Good luck, Vicki! Did you use a TA? I could have my TA ask someone at DCL, she knows alot of people over there.

Stacey

 

[Catnip0113]

Your Vow Renewal looked wonderful Stacey! I think at first weddings you are so hung up on things it goes so quickly and you forget to enjoy it. I want to do a vow renewal for one of our anniversaries maybe.

I watch "Survivor" too Stacey. They said they weren't going to give them anything this time but they did, they just didn't tell them and they had to find their sneakers.

Cathy

 

[SchultzFamily]

Just wanted to share my response from Cathy at FairyTale Weddings:

"Hi Vickie~

Congratulations on your 25th Wedding Anniversary, how wonderful. Unfortunately, The Disney Cruise Line is not letting the Fairy Tale Weddings Department sell any events onboard the Disney Magic while it is out in California. I would suggest checking with the Dining Room Manager, I am sure they could provide a special cake to celebrate the event at dinner.

Have a wonderful cruise and again congratulations."

So I guess we won't be doing anything extra special, but I will talk with the dining room manager like she suggested. We booked our cruise while we were onboard and did not use a TA this time. Was thinking about checking into the REAS package again this time so maybe we could set something up when we do that.

We are Survivor fans too. Unfortunately my phone rang in the middle of the challange and I missed most of the episode. Luckily I always record it too just in case something like that happens so I plan on watching it today. Always watch CSI too, just love William Petersen!
Vickie

 

[justmestace]

Well, Vickie, looks like DCL has forced us to take things into our own hands! We'll have a party!!

The celebration cakes they do are really, really nice! And they do those for free. You could still get an actual "vow renewal" cake, but they cost about $100. The REAS sounds like a good idea, though.
I just don't see why they can't do the vow renewals. The weddings I can understand, since they do those at Castaway Cay.....but the renewals are onboard, so it wouldn't be any different. Bummer. I'm sorry!!

I thought Survivor was cool last night. Does anyone else think that they are choosing contestants more for their looks lately........???
The only other show that I really like is on tonight, and since we won't be playing ball (rain) we'll get to see it.....Monk! I just love it. It helps to know that there is someone (even if it is a tv character) that's more obsessive than me!