Comfy beds/Cat 5 vs Cat 12s/Kid club age enforcement

[PaisleyPai]

First time DCL and I have mountains of questions, but I'll start with just a few:

I am traveling with DH DS13, and DS6 on 4 night Wonder. I have reserved a Cat 5, but I could get two standard inside staterooms cheaper. Other than view/verandah, is there any difference in the rooms? Are the cabins the same size?

Are beds comfortable? I've only been on two cruises, and only one recently (2 years ago - Carnival). The beds were really uncomfortable. The mattresses were ultra thin. The price was no where near Disney's, so I'm hoping for better.

Also, what safety features prevent kids in verandah rooms from getting out during the night? Is there some sort of lock that little ones can't reach?

My friend may join us with her family - DH and DS11. My DS13 and her DS11 are best friends. Will they be able to hang out together at the kids clubs, or is the enforcement fairly strick on which kids go to each activity? I don't want to make special request, we'll abide by DCL policies, but DS turns 13 in Nov and we are sailing in Dec. I want to make certain we are not surprised.

Thanks in advance for your help!!! Wonderful information here...

 

[mommasita]

Hi, the exact dimensions are posted on disneycruiseline.com, I know that there is a difference in size, but not a HUGE one..I personally would go with two connecting cat 10's..Leave the door open, and it is almost a suite..2 bathrooms, and more space for storage, and 2 tv's...Works out really really great..

The verandah door I (35) could never open..It is so heavy, that my dh had to do it...Even if they got the trick, the little one could never slide it..It requires someone much stronger..This was a great fear of mine..

Beds are amazingly comfortable, and I believe recently all the mattresses were replaced...

The kids clubs are great, and the counsellors even better...They will work with you, on most things..THey will only make one switch though, will not switch the kids back and forth..IT seems like the birthday will workout well, because when it is a month of the age, they will do it no questions asked...

HTH

 

[HIHO...HIHO]

I don't know...we had a cat. 5 and LOVED the verhanda! I would not go any other way...but I am big on scenery, solitude and such. I was always up before everyone else and sat out there watching us dock. LOVED LOVED LOVED it, it was so peaceful! I suppose if you don't care about that and like lots of space, go for the 2 rooms. We were only in the room in the morning and right before bed, and when we were in the room, I was out on the verhanda. So we would not have needed more space since we did not spend much time in the room. The only place I thought was crowded was near the bathrooms...going in and out of the room! We were always in such a hurry to go do everything, we seemed to be jamming the doorway together
My DD5 nad DS7 could not get the door open...as a matter of fact, I had a hard time also! Nothing to worry about as far as that goes!
The beds were so comfortable...i thought they were the most comfortable beds I have ever had on vacation!
Have a blast! Wish I were going again!

 

[aprilgail2]

The beds split apart are VERY comfortable....pushed to gether to make one queen bed they are not so comfortable..there is a big lump in the center where they push them together...on all three cruises we took that lump has been very annoying! The couch bed is comfortable!

 

[PaisleyPai]

Thanks so much for your helpful information. I think we will stay with the Cat. 5. I can just imagine DH and I sitting on the verandah and watching the ocean. I see opinions about the comfort of the beds is a little split - I will have to hope for the best. Although, I am considering taking a featherbed topper to put on the mattress - I do this when I visit moderate Disney hotels because I find the beds to be uncomfortably firm.

Cheers!

 

[Eeyorefan12]

I agree with everyone--the verandah doors are hard to open and "tricky". (I had to teach my hubby how to do it.) However, our verandah door also has a lock placed very high up (well above my head--I'm 5'5").

CB

 

[mommommouse]

My personal opinion is I would go with the two cat 12's. that way you get two bathrooms. The two rooms together will be almost double the one room. Plus the fact that your never in the room except to sleep or get a shower. Other wise your having too much fun to be in the room. You'll also have twice the storage space.
I've never found the bed uncomfortable.

As far as the kids club you'll find that the kids don't want to come with you at all. They'll want to stay there most of the time.

 

[mhelsley]

I sleep at home on a firm but pillow-topped style mattress. The mattresses i didn't like were Allstar Movies and AKL(but it hasn't kept me from comming back as i've stayed here 4 times). I had better luck with POR,BWV and BCV. Best night sleep Yacht Club and Dolphin. Now with the above in mind on my last trip(Dec'04 Wonder)i had no trouble i didn't even get the lump other have had. I would rate it somewhere between the YC bed and the one at the Dolphin(can't beat the down topper and comforter). Hope this helps.

 

[PPFQP]

Are beds comfortable? I've only been on two cruises, and only one recently (2 years ago - Carnival). The beds were really uncomfortable. The mattresses were ultra thin. The price was no where near Disney's, so I'm hoping for better.

I found the bed incredibly comfortable on our Magic cruise in March. I think I am pretty picky about bed comfort standards -- my bed at home is a high-end pillow top model that we really researched before we bought. Bed comfort is a very personal thing, so others may disagree. There are also good quality linens on the bed. Ask for extra down pillows from the steward!

Also, what safety features prevent kids in verandah rooms from getting out during the night? Is there some sort of lock that little ones can't reach?

From getting out on the verandah? Or getting out of the room itself? The verandah door is actually kind of tricky to open. The handle can be put into a locked position.

 

[PaisleyPai]

There are also good quality linens on the bed. Ask for extra down pillows from the steward!

Good to know the linens are a good quality. I've never encountered a place that had good quality linens but uncomfortable beds.

From getting out on the verandah? Or getting out of the room itself? The verandah door is actually kind of tricky to open. The handle can be put into a locked position.

I am more concerned about the verandah door than the cabin door. However, the consensus seems to be that it is difficult for adults to open - by design.

I would rate it somewhere between the YC bed and the one at the Dolphin(can't beat the down topper and comforter). Hope this helps.

This is exactly the type of comparison I wanted; but, I have never been to YC or Dolphin. I guess the nicest hotel I've stayed at in Orlando is the Portofino Bay. Their beds are devine. I have stayed at AKL and I found their beds quite comfortable. So it seems I'll be at least
satisfied, if not darn right overwhelmed with the bed.

My personal opinion is I would go with the two cat 12's. that way you get two bathrooms. The two rooms together will be almost double the one room. Plus the fact that your never in the room except to sleep or get a shower. Other wise your having too much fun to be in the room. You'll also have twice the storage space.

Oh no, I'm second guessing myself again. You've made a very convincing argument. Are the beds the same in Cat 12 vs Cat 5? I've also been thinking that if we start with Cat 11/12, it will be easy to improve on subsequent trips by updagrading the room. At Cat 5, I doubt we'll be willing to updgrade to Cat 4 or suites. I don't think I'd be comfortable with the cost. On the other hand, it has taken a lot of convincing to get DH to take this trip - he was in the Navy for 8 years and is not looking forward to hitting the high seas again. Therefore, I want to make this as nice as I can for him, so that he'll be agreeable to more cruises in the future.

Hmmm what to do, what to do???

 

[lbgraves]

The square footage inside the stateroom is the same for categories 5-10. I have had major back problems & usually wake up in pain when we stay at a hotel. I have not had that problem on either DCL cruise. We have stayed in an 8 and a 10. I didn't notice a difference in those beds.

 

[kcashner]

On 12 cruises on the Magic, the beds were wonderful 11 of the 12. I learned that there is something that the steward is supposed to "install" when the beds are moved together, and if it isn't inserted correctly, it can be a problem.

The policy in the children's programming is that if a child is within 30 days of the next birthday, he/she can move to the older group. However, each child can be "moved" only once. They are particularly strict about 12 year olds in the teen group. I would suggest that you place each child in the age appropriate group first. Then, if for some reason that isn't working for them/you, talk to the counsellors and they might allow a move (it depends on space availability, maturity of the kid, etc.) If you ask for the move initially, you can't go back if it doesn't work.

DD has been in each kid location. Yes, at 12, she really wanted to be in the teen programming, and was told "no" based on the rules, not on her. In retrospect, I'm really glad. We celebrated her 13th birthday on the ship, and that cruise was really special ...in part because it was her first time in The Stack. I don't think she would have fit in well at 12, despite the fact that she takes classes at a local college and is used to dealing with older people. DCL has major experience with all sorts of kids, and I'd start with their recommendations......