first night in kid's club or dinner w/us?

[Partridge4ever]

We're on the 4 night cruise w/the late dinner seating. My kids are "almost-4" and 7 and will have no problem staying up late. I've often read that the kids have a better time in the clubs if they're in there the first night when friendships are being formed. Plus there's a "Welcome Aboard Party" w/a character visit. On the other hand, the new Golden Mickeys show sounds like something they won't want to miss. I also know the kids will love Animator's Palate, and from what I've read odds are that will be our rotation. What would you do?

 

[cruisnfamily]

If the kids don't eat with you, you will have to feed them by the pool or with room service because the kids club isn't open for dinner the first night. Personally, I would probably feed my kids something quick around 5:30 or so and take them to see the show with me(6:30) then drop them at the club and go to dinner. I do think it's important that they make it to the club the first night to kind of "hook up" with some other kids. If you drop them after dinner, it will be time to put out the mats and lay down, they won't have too much fun I don't think.

As far as the "show" in AP, count me in the minority but I don't think it's such a big thing. Yes, it's cool, but it's certainly not the highlight of the meal for me. I think the folks on this board make it into a much bigger thing than it really is.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

Sonya Francisco, I agree with you about AP. That is actually my least favorite themed restaurant. The show is nothing spectacular.

I am going to have my nephew with me on the 7 day in November. I have also read about friendships being formed on the first night. He is only 5 though, and I have to tell you that after watching him on the playground with kids he has never seen before, after about 5 minutes they are best friends! I don't think with the younger kids you have to worry about friends....everyone is their best friend! just my opinion......

 

[Wishing on a star]

I will not be making plans to go to Palo on that first night... because it will all be so new and perhaps overwhelming for my DS(5). I would be afraid that we would be paged right away. This is a personal consideration with my son, so DS will be having supper with us...

The Welcome Aboard party... Your kids should not have to miss that... According to a navigator that I have printed here, it is not a specific activity that takes place during the late seating. It appears to be a more open casual affair which runs the duration of both dinner seatings. It is not like your kids would miss a very specific activity such as making Flubber or Dancing with Snow White.

Pehaps your kids will have a strong preference for which activities they would like the best? I imagine that you will probably get the APTA rotation. But, you may not! If you did happen to get TAPT, then your kids could see the Mickey Show, and go to the clubs, and not miss Animators or Parrot Cay on that first night.

Decisions! Decisions!

 

[Partridge4ever]

Decisions, decisions is right! lol. I hate the thought of them missing a minute of fun. With the 4 night, there always seems to be 2 cool things going on at once. I really wanted to do the 7 night cruise, but the Magic is in dry dock the week of Fall Break.

I think I'm leaning toward feeding the kids a quick dinner after the show and letting them go to the club for the evening. I'm afraid AP will be like the "awakening" at Animal Kingdom. I'd read on the boards how spectacular it was, how it gave people goose bumps. Now every time I get excited about something, DH teases me and asks if it'll be even better than the awakening.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I say Both!
We have 6pm dining so right after the sailaway we will get changed, go to dinner then see whatever the night brings

 

[christinou]

for the first night, we ordered room service for the kids, they loved it.... then they went to the club, we had a nice leisurly dinner (we had late sitting), it worked great for everyone.
We plan to do that again in just 174 days

 

[Partridge4ever]

Room service is a great idea! They can eat while I dress for dinner.