First timer questions

[MrsSmalls]

Sorry if this has been done recently, I searched and couldn't find a "first timer" thread.


We have a 7, 10 and 11 year old and will be cruising on the Magic in March 2017 in a Veranda Family Room. I haven't been on a Disney Cruise since it was the Big Red Boat (yup, that long ago).

I'm reading the posts in here to pick up on tips and things to know.

Any advice for a first timer that can share?



And a few questions:
-When all three of the beds are in place, can you still get out onto the Veranda?
-I'm getting a little nervous with all of the threads about saving chairs, lines for the slides and general crowdedness. Is this a huge issue on the ships? (I realize it's a lot of people in a small space )
-Can you still drop off a pillowcase to be signed by the characters?
-If you get food mid-day - say a pizza by the pool, is this considered a snack and included or is it extra $?

Thanks!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry if this has been done recently, I searched and couldn't find a "first timer" thread.


We have a 7, 10 and 11 year old and will be cruising on the Magic in March 2017 in a Veranda Family Room. I haven't been on a Disney Cruise since it was the Big Red Boat (yup, that long ago).

I'm reading the posts in here to pick up on tips and things to know.

Any advice for a first timer that can share?



And a few questions:
-When all three of the beds are in place, can you still get out onto the Veranda?
-I'm getting a little nervous with all of the threads about saving chairs, lines for the slides and general crowdedness. Is this a huge issue on the ships? (I realize it's a lot of people in a small space )
-Can you still drop off a pillowcase to be signed by the characters?
-If you get food mid-day - say a pizza by the pool, is this considered a snack and included or is it extra $?

Thanks!!

1) Are you asking about rooms with a murphy bed? The bed does block access to the verandah door. Or, by "all 3 beds in place" are you talking about the sofa bed and bunk bed? If that's the configuration, then, yes you can still get to the verandah. The sofa bed is a pullman-style bed (back folds down over seat area) not a typical fold-out sofa.
This is on the Fantasy, but will be similar:


2) No. Items being dropped off for signatures was discontinued last summer. You can still get autographs, but you must bring the items to the individual meet & greets onboard.

3) Food at the poolside quick serve is included in your cruise fare. The only "snack" foods you pay for are those on the room service menu and at the snack bar at the theater.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Ordered " snack food" in O Grills is also paid for. If it's put out in the bar it's free, if you order it in a bar it's free.

Room service is " included" if made on the ship, if in a package brought on ship you pay for it, and some marked items.

Pizza on room service and on deck is included in the fare.

 

[MrsSmalls]

That room configuration is exactly what I was looking for, with the murphy bed, thanks!

Thanks for the food info.

 

[Weedy]

To avoid the crowds at the pools/slides go in the morning or evening. The pools are not crowdwd during early dinner. Also port days are a good time.
Things get crazy around 11am until about 5pm.

 

[ghtx]

1) Are you asking about rooms with a murphy bed? The bed does block access to the verandah door.

But I can walk around the murphy bed to get out to the verandah, right? I hope so or else I'm not sure what my wife and I will do when our kids first go to sleep!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But I can walk around the murphy bed to get out to the verandah, right? I hope so or else I'm not sure what my wife and I will do when our kids first go to sleep!

You can sort of "walk around" it. There's a few inches. Or you can step over it. But the bulk of the bed is pretty much right against the curtains.

 

[arlopop]

We are similarly configured (11,9,7) and it's a pain getting to the veranda with the Murphy down. That said, it's only down at night and we are usually asleep when the kids are. Those rare occasions when we wanted to be up when they were asleep (and I do mean rare) we just went up on deck. It's usually quiet at that time of night and works fine.
I really want to emphasize that you should expect the kids to be up later than usual, probably at the clubs, and that by the time they're ready to go down you will be as well. We haven't found it to be a problem at all.

 

[KristiMc]

We are similarly configured (11,9,7) and it's a pain getting to the veranda with the Murphy down. That said, it's only down at night and we are usually asleep when the kids are. Those rare occasions when we wanted to be up when they were asleep (and I do mean rare) we just went up on deck. It's usually quiet at that time of night and works fine.
I really want to emphasize that you should expect the kids to be up later than usual, probably at the clubs, and that by the time they're ready to go down you will be as well. We haven't found it to be a problem at all.

This is so true. My 12 & 15 year olds close down their clubs and I am usually in bed trying to stay awake until they get in.