First Cruise - Wonder in Feb out of San Diego - HELP!

[travelbugs54321]

Can you tell me what time the fireworks are (late is what I have read)? We are heading out with our soon to be 5 year old, and he has never really been up past 8:30! We are hoping we can push it with all the excitement.

Also if anyone has advice....we currently have late dinner seating (on wait list). Which is the better highlight if he can not stay awake...what is the MUST do, Dinner or Show time? If we are stuck with late dinner, then plus side is he will make the early show time. Tips please! Our first cruise for his 5th Birthday. I will try to get him to take a rest time in the afternoon, but our days of naps have been long gone for a while.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can you tell me what time the fireworks are (late is what I have read)? We are heading out with our soon to be 5 year old, and he has never really been up past 8:30! We are hoping we can push it with all the excitement.

Also if anyone has advice....we currently have late dinner seating (on wait list). Which is the better highlight if he can not stay awake...what is the MUST do, Dinner or Show time? If we are stuck with late dinner, then plus side is he will make the early show time. Tips please! Our first cruise for his 5th Birthday. I will try to get him to take a rest time in the afternoon, but our days of naps have been long gone for a while.

Typically, there's no show (maybe a movie) in the Walt Disney Theater on Pirate Night.

I would just play it by ear. On vacation, kids are often quite flexible. But, if you don't make it to any activities (including fireworks or WDT shows) you can always book another cruise.....

 

[Dust2]

Book a room on the starboard side if you have a balcony. You will be able to see the fireworks from your room if your child falls asleep. I think the fireworks are at 10:15.

 

[holula]

I posted in a different thread about this, I did a 4n/3n b2b.

On the 4n the fireworks were around 7.45. On the 3 night they were 10.15ish. Pirate night started around 15 mins before fireworks on each cruise.

 

[Flying Fish]

On the 4n the fireworks were around 7.45

Why were the fireworks so early? We have been on a lot of cruises, and I cannot remember this ever happening. This would be a nice treat.

 

[auntlynne]

I pick Disney for the shows more than the food. But what about your son?

I often see kids at other tables eating their food before our arrives; I think they get the kids’ menu food out first. Would you be able to eat while he falls asleep on his seat (late seating)? Conversely, what if he falls asleep during the show?

And do you live in Pacific time zone? Otherwise, that 8:15 pm will be later based on body time.

 

[Flying Fish]

It's been my experience that being on the cruise messes up everyone's schedule, even the kids. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to over plan things. He'll have a blast and you will too.

 

[travelbugs54321]

Thank you all for the tips. Someone replied on the December cruise report that fireworks were early at 8:05. My theory is they can do them early on the winter cruises since it is darker earlier. This would be a welcome schedule for us.

We have not been able to do a family vacation at all due to covid, so this is our first adventure away from home with the kiddo. It will be his 5th birthday and a surprise! To be fair to us, we live in San Diego, so we are always on vacation...lucky us.

Last week we were down at the docks when the Wonder and another cruise ship was in port. My boy got to watch the whole process of them leaving. He loved it and told me he would like to go on that ship. HA!

 

[Flying Fish]

My boy got to watch the whole process of them leaving. He loved it and told me he would like to go on that ship. HA!

I hope you took that opportunity to play up how not everyone gets to cruise and it does look like fun and maybe one day. Or maybe I just love playing up the drama too much - can't help it.

None of ours are five anymore. There's something so special about 3-6. Their faces light up so much when they see a character at that age. You're going to have so much fun.

 

[travelbugs54321]

I hope you took that opportunity to play up how not everyone gets to cruise and it does look like fun and maybe one day. Or maybe I just love playing up the drama too much - can't help it.

None of ours are five anymore. There's something so special about 3-6. Their faces light up so much when they see a character at that age. You're going to have so much fun.

Oh ya, we played that up big time!

 

[Flying Fish]

Oh ya, we played that up big time!

YES!

It doesn't always have the desired effect on the little ones, but I sure enjoy it. You know you're doing it right when your spouse starts the eye rolls.

 

[travelbugs54321]

Our Cabin is all the way in the front of the ship on level 2. It gets good reviews as it is at the end of the hall. As someone that gets sea sick, should I be concerned? Should we consider trying to switch to a cabin in the middle? (one appears available by the elevators) I plan to take Bonine...never cruised before, but certainly had rough seas to Catalina before. Being sea sick sucks and I would like to avoid it!

 

[Flying Fish]

The boats you take to Catalina are a lot different from the Wonder (I'm assuming the Wonder). I think you'll be fine, but that's easy for me to say. Take the Bonine, and you'll almost certainly be fine. If you feel a little uneasy, go to the middle of the boat and get fresh air. I used to work on boats and fresh air always helped me.

I will say, however, that it's very unlikely on a cruise out of SD that you'll get seasick.

 

[LVRebel]

Can you tell me what time the fireworks are (late is what I have read)? We are heading out with our soon to be 5 year old, and he has never really been up past 8:30! We are hoping we can push it with all the excitement.

Also if anyone has advice....we currently have late dinner seating (on wait list). Which is the better highlight if he can not stay awake...what is the MUST do, Dinner or Show time? If we are stuck with late dinner, then plus side is he will make the early show time. Tips please! Our first cruise for his 5th Birthday. I will try to get him to take a rest time in the afternoon, but our days of naps have been long gone for a while.

Just travelled on the Wonder last week for a 5 nighter. On our cruise the pirate's deck party and fireworks (4th night) were between the two dinner times. Got there around 7:30 if I remember correctly and I left at 8:15 to watch Avatar in the main theater at 8:30 by that time the fireworks were done and the characters had left. There were no shows in the main theater that night, they were playing Avatar in the main theater at 4:15 and then again at 8:30.

 

[travelbugs54321]

Thanks again for putting me at ease. I do appreciate all the good feedback.

 

[holula]

Why were the fireworks so early? We have been on a lot of cruises, and I cannot remember this ever happening. This would be a nice treat.

No idea. Maybe due to the speed we needed to sail at when leaving Cabo so they had to do it fairly shortly after our port time?

 

[KKKKCS]

We did the 4 night on Dec. 11 and the fireworks were before late dining. Around 7:45.

 

[Ariel 2021]

I am so happy to hear more people reporting fireworks between meal times! It’s seems like most had them coming out of Cabo though, did anyone have fireworks between mealtimes on Ensenada night? Thanks!

 

[Dust2]

We were on 12/8-11 Wonder 3 night and the fireworks were at 10:15.

 

[sophy1996]

5-night on 11/11, Pirate show @7:45 on night 3 (Cabo).