Christmas/Holiday 2011 on the Wonder: 8 night Mexican Riviera 12/18/2011

[Tinkerbellll]

Thanks! I may not be able to sew, but I can find people who can!

 

[Tinkerbellll]

Katherine - I was trying to convince everyone to be pirates for Halloween this year, too!

 

[seven2go]

Thankyou DoubleTrouble for the welcome!

My husband and I did the Palo Brunch on our first cruise. I LOVE BRUNCH! And this experience was a good one. Overall, I do not think I would book it again on a four night cruise, which that time was a four nighter. That kind of ate up a bunch of family time. And that particular day, which was a day at sea, my daughter informed me that the regular lunch was AWESOME, with lots of "extras". However, on a longer cruise, like this upcoming one for all of us, I think it would be a fun break from the regular choices......and maybe even a break from the kiddos!!

 

[Double Trouble]

Thankyou DoubleTrouble for the welcome!

My husband and I did the Palo Brunch on our first cruise. I LOVE BRUNCH! And this experience was a good one. Overall, I do not think I would book it again on a four night cruise, which that time was a four nighter. That kind of ate up a bunch of family time. And that particular day, which was a day at sea, my daughter informed me that the regular lunch was AWESOME, with lots of "extras". However, on a longer cruise, like this upcoming one for all of us, I think it would be a fun break from the regular choices......and maybe even a break from the kiddos!!

We've done the Palo brunch a couple times. Like you we generally prefer to eat in the dining rooms with the kids! We had Palo dinner last time and it was really great. My DH is not a huge fan though because he eats at really high end places all the time when he travels for work. He enjoys the servers and we like to reconnect with the kids at dinner after the clubs all day. So this cruise I booked brunch for us, on Christmas Day! I am not sure if that is a good choice or not. But I thought it might be unique and fun. Brunch is deeeelliiciouuuus! Well worth your time.

The only thing I didn't like about Brunch last time was that we had to leave the Captain's Chat early to make our brunch time. We had never been to the Captain's Chat and we really enjoyed that. Also, then we were late to the Castaway Club reception (after our brunch) as well. It was our first time as Gold CC. So I would like to avoid brunch on that day!! I will definitely be looking at Navigators as soon as the MR cruises are up and running, and make sure I didn't book our brunch the same day as these events.

We too are doing the brunch at Paulo! I think it's the second sea day? I heard it was fantastic and brunch is my fave meal so I am sure it will be great.

Thanks for all the feedback. We're booked for Brunch on Day 3 (2nd full sea day), so maybe we'll see you there! Like you, I'm patiently waiting for some new Navigators to see what's changed. Another poster we follow has promised to upload the Navigators from next week's cruise (9/25/11), so I'll post a link when I see them. Also, we have a good friend on the Thanksgiving cruise, and she's going to check into some things for me. When we get closer, I'll see if anyone has any specific questions that maybe she can look into on her trip. The excitement is building!!

 

[Double Trouble]

If anyone is still looking for fish extenders, here's a link to ebay with several choices...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=fish+extender

 

[chernabogfamily]

My TA was talking to DCL and they told her the schedule for the nights on the cruise. I know it is in an earlier post on this thread. But, my TA got different info regarding Pirate Night. She was told it will be Day 5 (Puerto Vallarta night) instead of the first Cabo night. Don't know which to believe at this point.
Everything else matches what the previous post said:
Day 2- Formal
Day 5- Pirate
Day 7- Semi Formal

all others cruise casual.

 

[cin38]

We will be on the Wonder holiday cruise!! Looking so forward to it

 

[Dchachos]

Hello My name is Dianne and I am new to both Disney Cruises and this message board. I took a Carnival Cruise over 10 years ago, it was a 4 day cruise and I loved it.

I am the mother of two amazing young men and we are joining you all on the Holiday Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. My boys are 7 and 9 however my 7 year old will turn 8 on the cruise. How lucky is he to have both his birthday and Christmas on a cruise.

We live in Las Vegas NV and welcome any suggestions you have for our first cruise experience. From what I understand they boys will LOVE the kids clubs and will want to stay there all day. Am I right? How formal do they need to dress on formal night would a button up dress shirt and dress slacks be okay? They have outgrown their suits but I could buy new ones if needed.

I also want to book a spa villa but because this is my first cruise I can't do it until after 10/4/11. Will they be booked up by then? I am so looking forward to a spa day.

Thank you so much and I look forward to chatting with you.

Dianne

 

[Dchachos]

Hello Everyone. We just booked the Christmas Cruise and we are sooooo excited. We take yearly trips to Disneyland, but this is our first ever cruise. We are a family of 3 from the Santa Cruz area, and my daughter will be turning 8 on the cruise. We would love to know from others how Christmas is celebrated on the ship, and if anything special is done for children on their birthday. Thanks!

Hello I know you posted in July I just joined this board so I am a little late in responding. We are from Las Vegas. We are also a family of three and my youngest son will also turn 8 on the cruise. His birthday is on the 22nd. I think Christmas is going to be fabulous on the cruise. I got in touch with Santa and he is going to leave most of the gifts at our house, and only leave 1 or 2 little gifts on the ship so that if we loose something it won't be a big deal. We of course will bring our stockings. When I made the reservation it asked if we were celebrating anything and I said my son's birthday, I think they do something during dinner service but I am not sure. I am going to do a samll party for our extended family before we leave and give him his b-day gifts then. I believe that you can mail stuff to the ship ahead of time, but i worry about it getting lost.

Nice to "meet" you

Dianne

 

[Dchachos]

I tried to pm for the FE but I am not able to pm until I post 10 times. Please add us to the FE. There is Dianne Mom
James 9
Brendan 7 will turn 8 on 12/22 during the cruise.
Please let me know the "rules" or details I am new to this entire process cruising and FE butI am very excited for both.

 

[betsy918]

Hi There. I just ordered my FE on ebay and am having it custom made. I'm getting so excited! Just curious: How many other kids are celebrating birthdays on this cruise? My daughter, Mary-Grace, will be turning 8 on the 23rd.
Betsy

 

[Double Trouble]

We will be on the Wonder holiday cruise!! Looking so forward to it

Hello My name is Dianne and I am new to both Disney Cruises and this message board. I took a Carnival Cruise over 10 years ago, it was a 4 day cruise and I loved it.

I am the mother of two amazing young men and we are joining you all on the Holiday Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. My boys are 7 and 9 however my 7 year old will turn 8 on the cruise. How lucky is he to have both his birthday and Christmas on a cruise.

We live in Las Vegas NV and welcome any suggestions you have for our first cruise experience. From what I understand they boys will LOVE the kids clubs and will want to stay there all day. Am I right? How formal do they need to dress on formal night would a button up dress shirt and dress slacks be okay? They have outgrown their suits but I could buy new ones if needed.

I also want to book a spa villa but because this is my first cruise I can't do it until after 10/4/11. Will they be booked up by then? I am so looking forward to a spa day.

Thank you so much and I look forward to chatting with you.

Dianne

Welcome aboard!

Along with reading through this thread, you may want to review some trip reports to get a feel for many aspects of Disney cruising. See Post #217 in this thread for links to some informative trip reports from other Disboard members.

 

[Tinkerbellll]

I am a newbie, so I am pretty much useless for any kind of help, but I join the others in the welcoming committee and say:
WELCOME!!!!! We are going to have so much fun!

 

[SanDeeKath]

W~E~L~C~O~M~E~!~! to the newbies!

My DD is celebrating a birthday on board too. She's turning 7 (Dec 29th for real but celebrating on board, probably on the 23rd).

Going to order my FE right now!

Katherine

 

[Dchachos]

Welcome aboard!

Along with reading through this thread, you may want to review some trip reports to get a feel for many aspects of Disney cruising. See Post #217 in this thread for links to some informative trip reports from other Disboard members.

Thank you so much for the welcome and the link, I have read two out of the four and will get to the others soon. I find the TR very informative and it gives me an idea of what to expect.

Do you know of an TRs from people with special needs. Both of my sons are ADHD and my oldest is intellectually challenged. They both take medication during the day and my oldest also carries an inhaler. How do the kids clubs handle medications? At school they go to the nurses office to get their meds and then go back to class. Do they do something simular? Or do I go to the club to pass out meds. Will they allow my son to carry his inhaler?

I have cancer and will be using a mobility scooter on-board the ship. Are there elevators and ramps through out the ship? I have an accessible stateroom so I am not concerned there but just with getting around the ship. I am not confined to the scooter I can walk and stand just not for long periods of time. I understand they have handicapped seating in the theatre how quickly do they fill up. Sounds silly but I have been places and had to ditch my chair or in this case my scooter because the handicapped "seats" are taken. I also wonder if I would go to a different line like I do when we visit the theme park.

Okay for a newbie I sure do post a lot lol. If you are don't have an answer no worries I have started a list of questions to call the cruise-line and ask.

Wow I was unable to send a PM because I hadn't made 10 posts, I am getting close

Dianne

 

[Double Trouble]

My TA was talking to DCL and they told her the schedule for the nights on the cruise. I know it is in an earlier post on this thread. But, my TA got different info regarding Pirate Night. She was told it will be Day 5 (Puerto Vallarta night) instead of the first Cabo night. Don't know which to believe at this point.
Everything else matches what the previous post said:
Day 2- Formal
Day 5- Pirate
Day 7- Semi Formal

all others cruise casual.

I called again today to check (talked to a different rep this time) and she reconfirmed Pirate Night is Day 6 for this particular cruise. She indicated it's possible when your TA called, they may have just looked at the generic 7-day MR schedule (where Pirate Night is Day 5...but then why would they tell her Semi-Formal, which is generally the next-to-last night, is Day 7???). Personally, I wish/hope it is Day 5 which may allow us to stay in Cabo later on Day 6. Maybe it's all just a big miscommunication. Anyway, I'm just passing along what I've been told.

If anyone else calls, please ask them to check our specific Dec 18 itenerary...maybe we can even "lobby" them to put it on Day 5 out of PV so we can sleep in the day after!

 

[Double Trouble]

Thank you so much for the welcome and the link, I have read two out of the four and will get to the others soon. I find the TR very informative and it gives me an idea of what to expect.

Do you know of an TRs from people with special needs. Both of my sons are ADHD and my oldest is intellectually challenged. They both take medication during the day and my oldest also carries an inhaler. How do the kids clubs handle medications? At school they go to the nurses office to get their meds and then go back to class. Do they do something simular? Or do I go to the club to pass out meds. Will they allow my son to carry his inhaler?

I have cancer and will be using a mobility scooter on-board the ship. Are there elevators and ramps through out the ship? I have an accessible stateroom so I am not concerned there but just with getting around the ship. I am not confined to the scooter I can walk and stand just not for long periods of time. I understand they have handicapped seating in the theatre how quickly do they fill up. Sounds silly but I have been places and had to ditch my chair or in this case my scooter because the handicapped "seats" are taken. I also wonder if I would go to a different line like I do when we visit the theme park.

Okay for a newbie I sure do post a lot lol. If you are don't have an answer no worries I have started a list of questions to call the cruise-line and ask.

Wow I was unable to send a PM because I hadn't made 10 posts, I am getting close

Dianne

Dianne,

We have a little bit of related experience in this area and can hopefully help with some of these questions...

First, I recommend you call DCL and ask them to email you some "Special Services Information" forms. The forms are a bit generic, but you can fax it in along with an attached letter with more details as required. The fax number is on the form, or you can email it to "dcl.special.request@disney.com". It's a little harder to actually talk with a live person in Disney Medical, but I would ask.

When you register your kids on-line for the lab, you can also add special information there for each child so the CMs are aware of any issues. We have not actually dealt with having to do medications so I'm not sure if the CMs will give it to the kids. I'm guessing they will call you (they have these little cell phones you carry around) if/when your child needs their parent, but I would think an inhaler would be fine if the child is comfortable doing it on their own. You're going to have to get "real" answers from DCL, but from what we've seen, they are very accomodating within reason.

Regarding your scooter, we've seen many of them on the ships before. There are a few "tight" areas, and the elevators are not very large, but everyone has always seemed very courteous when it comes down to it. You can use the main entrance to Animator's Palate and Parrot Cay, but will have to use the alternate entrance (port side) to Triton's for dining, as there are stairs at the main entrance there. The seating area for chairs/scooters in the Walt Disney Theatre is at the back on the left (and might be on the right as well...we always go left). It is small and may fill up, so you might have to "ditch" the chair as you say and go down a few steps to sit in the regular seats just forward of the chair area. There is also a chair area in the back of the Buena Vista movie theater. There are some automatic doors using a push button in some areas of the ship (like from the aft elevators on Deck 9 to the pool area), but I don't recall if every access has them. There are also some ramps here and there in the pool area.

Bottom line is I think you and the kids will be fine, but you'll probably want to communicate with medical and/or special services at some point. Have fun!

 

[Dchachos]

Dianne,

We have a little bit of related experience in this area and can hopefully help with some of these questions...

First, I recommend you call DCL and ask them to email you some "Special Services Information" forms. The forms are a bit generic, but you can fax it in along with an attached letter with more details as required. The fax number is on the form, or you can email it to "dcl.special.request@disney.com". It's a little harder to actually talk with a live person in Disney Medical, but I would ask.


Bottom line is I think you and the kids will be fine, but you'll probably want to communicate with medical and/or special services at some point. Have fun!

Thank you this is very helpful I have started a list of questions to ask when I call, as I think of them.

I have been obsessively reading TRs I think I have spent as much maybe more time researching this cruise as I will spend actually on the cruise. I am a big planner and my oldest child has a condition similar to autism so he needs to know what is coming next or else he gets anxious. I have learned to find out as much as possible so that we can have the what to expect next conversation and avoid the melt down that comes with to much stimulation or the unkown. So far he is doing well. We have looked at the website many many times so he knows what the ship looks like and what the activities are/ He is also very concerned about our saftey, he is 9 and has to check the locks before he goes to bed every night. It is not enough for me to tell him that they are locked.

Again thank you for all the information I am so looking forward to this cruise.

Dianne

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Hi Dianne!

I have a little experience that might be helpful. My MIL cruised with us a couple years ago and was in a wheelchair at the time. She was 100% in the chair. We were completely newbies to handicap access as she had only broken her ankle 4 days before the cruise. Her doctor okayed the trip as long as she never put any weight on it at all and iced it twice a day. It ws also her first cruise! We found it easy to navigate the ship. The crew was WONDERFUL and so accommodating. We saw a scooter parked each night in the lobby area by our midship elevators (we were deck 7) and wished that she had been able to get an accessible stateroom as the scooter would have been great to have.

As for meds in the clubs- I don't know if they will administer meds or not. Both my kids are asthmatics so I have meds and inhalers onboard. Other than making them take their rescue inhalers before swimming they haven't needed it onboard. I did let the kids clubs know when they were younger, and I could be paged to give it. But in 5 cruises I've never gotten that page! Maybe you will luck out too. My son doesn't like really noisy/chaotic stuff. He prefers the club when there's structured activities. Also let your son know there's a little room off to the side in the club where they can build stuff, etc. It's always much quieter over there.

Hope that helps! Welcome!

 

[Dchachos]

Hi Dianne!

I have a little experience that might be helpful. My MIL cruised with us a couple years ago and was in a wheelchair at the time. She was 100% in the chair. We were completely newbies to handicap access as she had only broken her ankle 4 days before the cruise. Her doctor okayed the trip as long as she never put any weight on it at all and iced it twice a day. It ws also her first cruise! We found it easy to navigate the ship. The crew was WONDERFUL and so accommodating. We saw a scooter parked each night in the lobby area by our midship elevators (we were deck 7) and wished that she had been able to get an accessible stateroom as the scooter would have been great to have.

As for meds in the clubs- I don't know if they will administer meds or not. Both my kids are asthmatics so I have meds and inhalers onboard. Other than making them take their rescue inhalers before swimming they haven't needed it onboard. I did let the kids clubs know when they were younger, and I could be paged to give it. But in 5 cruises I've never gotten that page! Maybe you will luck out too. My son doesn't like really noisy/chaotic stuff. He prefers the club when there's structured activities. Also let your son know there's a little room off to the side in the club where they can build stuff, etc. It's always much quieter over there.

Hope that helps! Welcome!

That is super helpful. When my DS (I am still getting used to the acronyms) gets overwhelmed he likes to line things up or build things. He is a legomaniac. I did find some information that if you contact them ahead of times they will do their best to accomadate special needs kids. It's funny because my 9 year old DS isn't very social with other kids he prefers adults or to play alone. My 7 year old DS is Mr social and loves other kids. They both have the same condition but are night and day. It cracks me up how different they are.

Good to know your kids have never needed their inhalers. I am hoping for the same experience. My sons asthma is allergy induced I am hoping there wont be any allergy problems on the ship maybe on port days.

Thank you again for the information. I am so happy I found this board, it is so nice to be able to learn about the cruise and get to meet my fellow passengers before the cruise.

Dianne