Deck 1 experiences?

[CastawayJP]

Just wondering about everybody's experiences with Deck 1 staterooms. We just got an upgrade to cat 10 in room 1047. We have stayed on decks 5 and 2 and we greatly prefered 5. 2 seemed to be a much rougher ride, and a lot louder going into port. We also liked that we were on the same deck as all of the kids clubs on 5. Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks

 

[goofydadeo]

Just wondering about everybody's experiences with Deck 1 staterooms. We just got an upgrade to cat 10 in room 1047. We have stayed on decks 5 and 2 and we greatly prefered 5. 2 seemed to be a much rougher ride, and a lot louder going into port. We also liked that we were on the same deck as all of the kids clubs on 5. Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks

We just returned from the 7 night eastern and had a very similiar opinion as you do until we actually stayed in cabin 1045 (upgraded from a cat 12 to 10). The cabin was great - and we actually found after 9 DCL cruises that deck 1 was much better than our experiences with an inside cabin on decks 2, 5 or 6! It is very quiet on deck, it is much calmer during rough seas that the upper decks, and as an added benefit you essentially have an express elevator just down the hall (forward elevators). The forward elevators were never busy and they took us quickly to where we wanted to go (deck 4 for shows, or walking; deck 5 for the kids club, deck 9 for the Spa, etc)... with no waiting and little stopping along the way (compared to the mid ship elevators). As a further added benefit since you disembark for port calls on deck 1 you are also just steps away from even more convenience. Finally, the new kids areaa Ocean Quest (for ages 10-14) is just steps away on deck 2 mid ship (un a quick flight of stairs and you're there) - very convenient for our kids especially DD(10). Never again will we think badly of deck 1! Have a great cruise!

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I was in 1047 for our first 7 day eastern. I love deck one. It is very quiet because there are just a few staterooms on that deck. A lot of the rooms when we sailed were for the guest entertainers. The only noise we would have was on port days if we were disembarking from deck 1 forward. Otherwise it was wonderful!!

I will only stay on deck 1 or 2 because I don't feel the ship move as much. We were on deck 7 once and I was so glad it was only a 3 day cruise!!! It was awful.

I totally agree with using the forward elevators...much faster. I usually take the stairs to help keep all those dessert pounds at bay.

Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[kaykels]

well, I'm glad to hear that because I'm on deck 1 and wasn't too happy about it. I'm a big fan of deck 5 AFT. I've also stayed on deck 6 and 7. I thought 2 might be good since so much is located on 3. But 1 ????
Here were my concerns:
The elevators are slow to begin with. I'm right next to the mid ship elevators and I invision standing there forever, and 9 flights of stairs to get to the pool is nuts. My kids spend most of their running around between the pool, snacks and room. I'm bummed that I'm so far from that, and not AFT.
Ease my woes.... please!
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled just to be on the ship, and would take the broom closet if that's all that was left, so this is not a deal breaker and won't ruin by trip by any means!

 

[branv]

We had cabin 1046 during our first cruise, and location wise it was great. Never really had to wait much for elevators, and unlike the other stateroom decks we visited, just seemed like there were NEVER people in the halls. During the day, very quiet.

My only issue was that we kept being waken up at night by some kind of booming sound. Didn't last long, but about 2-3 times a night it woke us up...even DH, who is a SOUND sleeper (i.e. last night our two cats were lying in bed with us and got into a fight, shrieking and hissing, tussling. I jumped about a foot, which shook the bed even more and yelled, "What the @#$#@!!" The man never even rolled over.) I can only imagine our cabin noise it had something to do with being over crew/mechanical or docking areas...but clearly only something that went on overnight or very early morning, as we napped in the middle of the day and heard nada. I do know that our table mates were on the same floor, about 6 cabins down, and they never heard a thing.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Our first cruise was on deck 1 and we loved it! Actually the elevators are empty because we you call for them you are on the first floor. I loved seeing the faces of people on deck 5 and upwards when it arrived and the elevator was too full

It was a short walk up the steps for character meets and a great location for most of the dinner dining.

Joe

 

[nobodycares]

Stayed on Deck 1 aboard the Wonder.

Liked it so much, rebooked Deck 1 again for our next trip on the Magic.

Concur with all previous posts!

 

[CastawayJP]

I'm glad to hear that so many of you have good deck 1 experiences! We are going to be in 1047 and it sounds like we are in a good location. So nobody had any issues with engine noise/vibration down here?

 

[jeast]

We stayed in 1070something. Loved Deck 1. Very quiet. Not as much foot traffic. Motion of the ship was minimal. It was easy to get anywhere.

I don't think room location has that much bearing on how well people enjoy their cruise. The importance of it fades as soon as you get onboard and start enjoying the amenities. It is easy to navigate the ship from anywhere, and even the elevator crowds are minimal and don't create much stress.

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[mmouse37]

I always post the following when people are fearful of staying on Deck 1 or 2....

The benefits of staying on Deck 2 or Deck 1...putting some misconceptions to rest!.

I can never understand when people say that Deck 2 is far away from everything....the opposite is actually correct (at least on DCL)....if you think about the layout of the ship and you are staying on Decks 1 or 2, the only places that you really need to take an elevator to are Decks 9 and 10....except of course if you are in a wheelchair or handicapped in some way (or just don’t like stairs)...but think...you can have that extra dessert if you walk some stairs LOL!!.

Here is a breakdown of decks....

Decks 9 and 10 - Topsiders restaurant, Mickey Pool, Goofy Pool, Adult Pool, the Vista Spa, the fast food places, Cove Café (coffee bar), the Deck Parties, Palo....if you didn’t want to hike up the stairs you can take an elevator to these decks from Deck 2 (hint...the forward elevator is almost always available and takes you right to adult pool area and spa on Deck 9).

Decks 6, 7, 8 - these are passengers decks...no cruise "activities" and you would still have to walk up 2, 3 or 4 flights to the pool deck (Deck 9) or Deck 10 for Palo, sports deck.

Deck 5 - has a some passenger cabins and the Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Flounders and the Buena Vista movie theater (all these are only 3 flights up from Deck 2).

Deck 4 - has the Walt Disney Theater, Mickey Mates shop, Treasure Ketch shop, Studio Sea lounge, Tea with Wendy event, Shuffle Board, those great comfy Deck chairs outside, the walking/running area, Animator's Palate Dining Room, Shutters (all these are only 2 flights up from Deck 2).

Deck 3 - has Rockin Bar D (theme nights, game shows, comedy shows, nightclub acts, Bingo), Diversions Pub, Sessions Piano Bar, Promenade Lounge, Up Beat shop, Internet Cafe, Guest Services Desk, Shore Excursion Desk, The Atrium (where most of the photos ops are taken and autographs given plus the games like Chip It Golf or Frog Racing, the Captain's Cocktail Party, Martini Tasting, Till We Meet Again Party) Parrot Cay Dining Room, the Galley Tour, Lumiere's Dining Room (and I probably forgot a few activities).... (all these are only one flight up from Deck 2)

Deck 2 - On the Magic there is the new kids area called Ocean Quest plus passenger cabins - just walk down the hall.

And finally Deck 1 has the Medical Facility and some passenger cabins...(only one deck down).

So, saying that Deck 2 is too low and too far removed from all the activity is not correct at all....it is actually closer to MORE of everything going on onboard except for things that happen on Decks 9 and 10. In addition, Deck 2 is at least equal in distance to some things as if you were staying on Deck 6, not to mention the convenience of getting on and off the ship in ports...no waiting endlessly for the elevator to the higher decks when you come back from a hot, exhausting day of exploring the ports....just one flight up and you are “home”....priceless!!!

 

[NJMomma]

I just came back yesterday from a 7 day Western cruise. We were in cabin 1073. I had booked a Cat 12 GTY, and was upgraded to this catagory 10 cabin. We did hear some mechanical type noises periodically, day or night but it wasn't that bad - they would last about 15 seconds at time or so. My husband and kids would sleep through most of them. I am a lighter sleeper, so I would occasionally wake up. We didn't hear any noises from other people though. It wasn't a real big issue and by no means damped our enthusiasm for our cruise. I didn't find the location to be too far away. We would take the stairs up to deck 3 or 4 - my daughter is 5 and wouldn't walk much further than that! Some times we had to wait for the elevator, but we made a game of it guessing which one would come first. We got back to our cabin easily after shore excursions. I admit a few times in the begining of the cruise I took the AFT elevators down by mistake (you can't get to your cabin on deck 1 by using the aft elevators, only forward or mid) and had to go up to deck 2, walk to the mid and and then go down. Overall, deck 1 is really not a bad place to be. Have a great time!

 

[Cobbo]

See, for me, the concern about being on deck 1 comes down to only one thing - noise. I know from experience that being mid-ship & low will help minimize any potential for seasickness in rougher seas, so I actually have a preference for such accomodations, however I've read a lot of posts about recurring loud mechanical noises (esp when docking/coming into port - so I wouldn't be surprised to hear noises from thrusters), but I'm a super light sleeper, so I've been reluctant to book on this deck. Otherwise, I'm not opposed....

Now, if people would be so kind as to update their room reviews on the deck 1rooms (to update on the noise-level of these rooms, since many of the stateroom reports I read indicated such problems) then I would be more likely to book down there (and more than happy to save the extra $ to apply to more cruises)....

 

[Im_A_Princess]

We stayed in 1062
HATED IT!!!! NOISY!!!!
Good thing DCL moved us because it was our first cruise and if that was how we thought DCL always was we would not have come back for cruise #2, or 3 or 4 or...
See review:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomreport.cfm?Room=1062#

PS... I wanted to add that it is the sound of the (know we know) stabilizers working that is so loud were our room was.
As long as you are farther forward this should not be a problem but stay far away from 1062. Disney knows this is a problem with this room.

 

[CastawayJP]

We stayed in 1062
HATED IT!!!! NOISY!!!!
Good thing DCL moved us because it was our first cruise and if that was how we thought DCL always was we would not have come back for cruise #2, or 3 or 4 or...
See review:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/roomreport.cfm?Room=1062#

Well I hope that being a little more forward on the deck might lower the noise level. DD 8 and I sleep like the dead but DW and DD 1 are lighter sleepers. The noise on deck 2 that we experienced woke up DW but not DD 1...

 

[mmouse37]

I have to add that noise onboard can happen anywhere on the ship....it is a ship and noise is part of the package....granted no one wants to hear banging or slamming or other noises all the time...but you have to expect some noise from a ship, especially when pulling into or out of a port.

We have heard (and felt strong vibrations) from the ship even on higher decks, especially aft.

I can see steering clear from the nightclub area but mechanical noises are part of how a ship works. I actually enjoy the creaking of the ship when I fall asleep.....makes me realize I am OUT AT SEA ON VACATION!!! YEAH!!!

 

[stevenpensacola]

We stayed in 1048 about 2 weeks ago on the Eastern 7 Day. Were upgraded to an outside room.

Here's my observations....many have already been stated, but this will just reinforce what they said.

Found Deck 1 to be very quiet...was easy to locate your room since the hallway is not very long at all. You ever looked down the hallway on Deck 2?....seems to go on forever.

As other have said...never use the mid elevator. It would we nice if the elevators had a way (or weigh) of sensing when the elevators were full, so that they would bypass floors when there was no more room. Take the mid elevator from deck one....would usually end up stopping at each floor...just to watch the "waitee's" look into the elevator and realize there was no room.

loved Loved LOVED being on Deck 1 on port days! Was so easy to hop off/on board to retrieve something from the room if needed. We'd be off the ship in less than a minute from leaving our room.

I appreciate the fact that the hallway decor is the same wether you're on Deck One or Deck 7....

I found nothing negative about being on Deck 1.