Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'm trying to read through this entire thread, but it's taking a while and I'm taking notes as I go.

Someone mentioned signing up for the least favorite restaurant for the first night so that you wouldn't have to do that one twice.

We are going on the Dream in February and it has Animator's Palate, Cabanas, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace. The other's are adult only. We'll be traveling with our boys, 12 and 10. Having never cruised before, is there a certain one that would be best for our family? Do characters show up? Specifically Peter Pan and Pluto? I would love Dopey!

When do we choose the restaurant we want to eat at first? On board?

Thanks in advance!

Mary
You will be assigned a dining rotation and it will appear on your KTTW card along with your table number. Last week ours was Animator's Palette, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace (Pirate Menu), Royal Palace. We skipped Enchanted Garden and dined at Palo. We ate breakfast and lunch at Cabanas. You will have breakfast on debarkation morning in the restaurant you dined in the night before.
 
What is a fish extender?

Mary

IMGP1192.jpg

It hangs from the fish next to your cabin door. People leave you gifts from your FE group usually organized on the Cruise Meet Thread for your cruise.
 
Great tips everyone! I've got lots of ideas/things to watch for on our Aug Alaskan cruise!

On our first Disney cruise a couple of years ago, our youngest was 10months and she would wake up very early (4:30 am early) and I'd take her out for walks so DW and DD#1 could sleep. I loved it, actually. I'd grab a coffee (or six) and we'd watch the sun rise. Very relaxing and it felt like we had the Magic to ourselves!

I also greatly enjoyed sitting outside behind Topsider (used the stairs from Deck 10 to access it since Topsiders wasn't open) and listening to the CMs come to work. I got a great chuckle listening to "Hi Ho, Hi Ho" playing ... I imagine it would get a bit old for the CMs after 4 months, but I really enjoyed it and it added that extra magical touch that only I and my youngest DD experienced. We also got to see the Wonder cruise by early in the morning, saw it one afternoon, and saw it again as it did a special photo-shoot "cruise-by" when we were docked at CC. I was surprised to learn that it was VERY rare for the two ships to meet and I'd had the luck to see it happen 3 times in one cruise!
 

Hi! Did the 4-night last April. Got two pillowcases with Mickey/Minnie and the kids names embroidered from e-bay! Look for "grady'smom" on e-bay. She also does fish extenders if you are doing a gift exchange! She is GREAT and super cheap! :flower3:


Thanks for this tip - though I did a search and I think the username is actually "gradysmommy". I figured I'd post what I found in case there are others looking for the eBay seller!
 
IMGP1192.jpg

It hangs from the fish next to your cabin door. People leave you gifts from your FE group usually organized on the Cruise Meet Thread for your cruise.
Cute one - Gradysmommy? I just finished sewing mine a couple of days ago. While I think it is the cutest I've seen (IMO) I see why she charges what she does! It was a lot of work. I just ordered my pillow case from her.
And, I got the signature matte from Walmart for $6. It's huge, and I'm wondering how I'm going to transport it. I'm hoping I can find a smaller one before I leave in 18 days on my 10 night MR!
 
I'm trying to read through this entire thread, but it's taking a while and I'm taking notes as I go.

Someone mentioned signing up for the least favorite restaurant for the first night so that you wouldn't have to do that one twice.

We are going on the Dream in February and it has Animator's Palate, Cabanas, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace. The other's are adult only. We'll be traveling with our boys, 12 and 10. Having never cruised before, is there a certain one that would be best for our family? Do characters show up? Specifically Peter Pan and Pluto? I would love Dopey!

When do we choose the restaurant we want to eat at first? On board?

Thanks in advance!

Mary


Like another poster stated, your dining rotation is assigned. If you are doing a 3 night cruise, you will be assigned dinner in each of the dining rooms : 1 night in Animators Palate, 1 night in Enchanted Garden, and 1 night in Royal Palace. You only get a repeat of resturants if you are doing a 4 night cruise and even then on one night you may physically be in the same resturant, the menu will be the pirate night menu. If you dont like your rotation, once you are onboard you can go to guest services and see if it can be changed, no guarantees but you can try.

There arent any characters at the meals but there are tons of opportunities to see the characters around the ship. Sometimes they are scheduled to be at a certain place for pictures and stuff and sometimes they are just walking around... you just never know who you might bump into...

Cabanas is buffet type for breakfast and lunch. And they are doing something new on the Dream for dinner where it is more casual, but you are seated and served just like in the main dining rooms with some items from the main dining rooms and some from the buffet type foods. I am cruising on the Dream in October 2011 so I dont have personal experience with this one but just what I have read. I would think this would be a good option for families with small children or if you want more flexibility in your dining times or dont want a "fancy" dinner.

Another option for the kids is for them to eat in the Kid's clubs. They offer a buffet of kid friendly cuisine at a certain time... 5:45, I think. And your kids can eat dinner there and continue with activities as well.

I would suggest, taking a look at the menus, see what appeals to you and your family and then decide what would work best. Try these websites:
the disney cruise line website, or allears.net

Just so you ... if you want 2 appetizers, you can get 2, if you want 2 entrees , you can get 2. One night on the Wonder, I didnt want an appetizer, so I got a soup and a salad from the "soup and salad" selection. My husband couldnt decided between beef or duck... so the server brought him both.... not just a taste, but a full entree of both.... he had never had duck and ended up liking it very much. My 14 yo daughter gave escargot a try... she put one in her mouth and did swallow it but it ended up being escar..NOT! Point is, this is a great opportunity to try something new. To get dressed up for dinner if you choose, and to have a wonderful family memory.

The thing I like most about cruising for my family..... is it forces family time. For us it is a "no phone zone", and everyone is required to come to dinner... although .... if my kids were your kids ages, those kids club activities would be very tempting... I'm kinda short and wondered if I could sneek in to make Flubber !!!!:laughing:

Read as much as you can so you can become familiar with what is offered, food and activities wise..... I will tell you that even armed with all this knowledge, you will feel overwhelmed, I know we did. I felt like I was walking around with my mouth wide open most of the time. I cant wait to go back and experience the magic of a Disney cruise again.

Hope this helps.

Robin
 
Last edited:
/
Cute one - Gradysmommy? I just finished sewing mine a couple of days ago. While I think it is the cutest I've seen (IMO) I see why she charges what she does! It was a lot of work. I just ordered my pillow case from her.
And, I got the signature matte from Walmart for $6. It's huge, and I'm wondering how I'm going to transport it. I'm hoping I can find a smaller one before I leave in 18 days on my 10 night MR!

Yes it is from Gradysmommy. I found signture mats at Michaels. They had 3 sizes and they come in black and white. Check Michaels.com for coupons. This week the coupon is 25% off the entire purchase.
 
Gatorandnole~
What is a signature mat?? Is is different than just a normal picture mat?
thank so much
Karen
 
I'm loving these ideas!! They're great!! I've never been on a cruise, let alone a disney cruise before and I'm actually getting married on the it!! We're getting married Jan 28, 2012 (Jan 26-29 cruise). And these are wonderful ideas to do something together with our guests/have souvenirs!
 
We will be first time cruisers going on dream Nov-13 for 4 nights. can't wait to learn all the I can by then. My biggest concern is the weather. In the middle of Nov. will it still be warm enough to enjoy the pools and slids? Also, we booked just last week and only second dining is available, and with 3 kids is there anywhere to get some snacks to keep them happy until dinner? TIA:thumbsup2
 
We will be first time cruisers going on dream Nov-13 for 4 nights. can't wait to learn all the I can by then. My biggest concern is the weather. In the middle of Nov. will it still be warm enough to enjoy the pools and slids? Also, we booked just last week and only second dining is available, and with 3 kids is there anywhere to get some snacks to keep them happy until dinner? TIA:thumbsup2

I dont know about the weather but I'm thinking it should be warm enough. I know I have friends that have sailed in Feb and their kids swam in the pools on the ship. Now the ocean was chilly but some people got in.


As far as snacks for the kids before dinner.... LOTS of options.....

First you could always do room service. Room service is included in your cruise fare (except for wine, beer, and movie candy packages). All that is requested is a gratuity for the person delivering your food.

Another option is the "Flo's V-8 Cafe" up on deck 11 by the pools.
Lots of info here: http://allears.net/cruise/ships/dream/disneydream.htm
 
I'm trying to read through this entire thread, but it's taking a while and I'm taking notes as I go.

Someone mentioned signing up for the least favorite restaurant for the first night so that you wouldn't have to do that one twice.

We are going on the Dream in February and it has Animator's Palate, Cabanas, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace. The other's are adult only. We'll be traveling with our boys, 12 and 10. Having never cruised before, is there a certain one that would be best for our family? Do characters show up? Specifically Peter Pan and Pluto? I would love Dopey!

When do we choose the restaurant we want to eat at first? On board?

Thanks in advance!

Mary

Hi Mary,
Me again....

Found this link and thought it might help in your planning....

http://allears.net/cruise/ships/dream/disneydream.htm
 
Check out the Disney PassPorter site. They have lots of tips, some for general traveling, some for specific types of traveling. It's been very helpful and our cruise isn't for a year. And they are having a contest right now to win an iPad loaded with their e-books. The contest ends May 1. Google Disney PassPorter and you'll find the site.
 
I got these from EBAY. She did a great job on my request to put the Name of the ship above a DCL logo then the cruise dates below.

Came out great!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220729526688

I got these for our upcoming cruise in August and am delighted. It has a character (I chose Pluto, Belle, Ariel and Minnie) the name of the ship (Magic) above and the dates of the cruise underneath as well as the child's name, all embroidered :cool1:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

If you make your Disney Cruise Line reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel you’ll receive these incredible shipboard credits to spend on your cruise!

























DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top