I kind of liked the app and didn't like the cruise.

[darnheather]

I'll be posting a full trip review but here it is a brief review of my Christmas cruise out of Galveston.

I had been dreading using the app for everything and I actually kind of liked it. For example on our port day all excursions were cancelled because the weather was terrible. With a flick of a switch (or that what it feels like to the non-techy me) the app was updated with extra activities. Didn't even mind it for the menus because I was able to plan what I would order in advance. However, I never found a room service menu in the room or in the app so I think that and the ability to order room service from the app absolutely needs to be added.

Four days just wasn't long enough. Because there were only a few character meet and greats all of them had extremely long lines fifteen minutes before the start time. Never have I had to wait so long on the cruise to see the characters so that was disappointing. Did not get to see Santa Mickey, the tree lighting, or Mrs. Clause. One night while waiting in line for formal photos one person was third in line but when they got to the front called their entire 15 person family over to take photos of all varieties. Again this probably happens I've just never experienced it and it was frustrating.

Also disappointing was the fact that parents really let their kids run wild. Usually I barely notice the children onboard but this time they were running up and down the stairs, on the slick (from rain) deck, and into me. For the first time I also had to call someone out for smoking in an unauthorized area. Guy absolutely refused to put out his cigarette and I had to get a cast member. I don't know if this all of this was due to the length of the cruise, the makeup of individuals onboard, or just me feeling tense and noticing things.

 

[Boopuff]

As much as I love all things Disney, a cruise isn't something I'll ever do on a Disney ship. I get that there will be children, but the lack of parenting on cruises is shocking. Drives me nuts that kids just run amok with no concern for their safety. (creeps are everywhere! yes even on a Disney ship).

 

[ironz]

Sorry it was not great. We're on the Magic next month, and from the social media group, it looks like there are going to be lots of kids and a pretty full cruise, so we'll see how that goes. (yes, people, we expect kids, but we also expect them to have some parental control as appropriate.) We got spoiled on the Hawaii cruise with so few passengers, then our latest cruise on the Wish was a little crazy.

I'm pretty sure we found the room service menu on the app on our Hawaii cruise--somewhere. I don't remember if we could order from the app or if we still had to call in. I'll look next month, but by then, you will already be on your next cruise, I think! (tell the gang hi at WDW for me) I also liked that the app could update activities as needed, and I did like being able to plan what I was going to eat ahead of time.

The photo thing-- that's annoying. It makes the line feel like it just instantly grows-- especially when they then feel the need to take 2 dozen different poses with various combinations of their group. On the other hand, having that many people in the line is also unwieldy, esp if some of the members of the group are acting out. Sigh...

Wishing you (and me! LOL) better experiences on each of our next cruises!

 

[lockets]

One night while waiting in line for formal photos one person was third in line but when they got to the front called their entire 15 person family over to take photos of all varieties. Again this probably happens I've just never experienced it and it was frustrating.

The photo thing-- that's annoying. It makes the line feel like it just instantly grows-- especially when they then feel the need to take 2 dozen different poses with various combinations of their group. On the other hand, having that many people in the line is also unwieldy, esp if some of the members of the group are acting out. Sigh...

Yes!!! Literally wrote about this here although it was at MK and not on a cruise. Drives me nuts. It's a photo opportunity not a photography session.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/photography-session-at-parks.3870506/

 

[Cheburashka]

I bet the kid situation was crazy because of the rain and cold and lack of pool deck activities for them. That 15 family member situation in the photo line sounds very annoying. Glad you liked the app. I still would rather have been on that cruise than freezing at home, but understand why you were disappointed. It was far from ideal. Maybe try an adults-only line next time? Take a break from kids?

 

[missapril82]

We were on that cruise with you and I agree, the lines were frustrating. My 11 year old only really cared about Stitch so we got there 20 minutes early because we knew they were shutting the line 5 minutes in, and by the start time there were probably 50 people in line. We were so glad we planned ahead. It was hard to control our kids since so many were out of control and they didn't understand why they couldn't run around crazy, too.

We found the room service menu at the very bottom of the restaurant list in the app, although room service was disappointing. The food took twice as long as quoted, and was cold.

The food in general was disappointing, although the pizza at Pinocchio's was good.

We were incredibly frustrated with the atrium shows, even though we understood some of that was unavoidable with the weather. It was so crowded and you literally couldn't see anything unless you were there an hour in advance, and then your kids were running around like idiots because they were bored waiting. We also had an encounter with an incredibly rude jerkwad during Pirate Night. It ruined my kids evening and they missed most of the show.

They were mostly bored in the kids clubs and when there were fun things planned my kids said they were chaotic.

I also visited GS a half dozen times because I paid for the internet package to be able to keep up with emails (we own a plumbing company and Houston froze while we were gone) and it wouldn't work half the time.

I don't think I'd sail Disney again unless things improved.

 

[MomOTwins]

We were on that cruise with you and I agree, the lines were frustrating. My 11 year old only really cared about Stitch so we got there 20 minutes early because we knew they were shutting the line 5 minutes in, and by the start time there were probably 50 people in line. We were so glad we planned ahead. It was hard to control our kids since so many were out of control and they didn't understand why they couldn't run around crazy, too.

We found the room service menu at the very bottom of the restaurant list in the app, although room service was disappointing. The food took twice as long as quoted, and was cold.

The food in general was disappointing, although the pizza at Pinocchio's was good.

We were incredibly frustrated with the atrium shows, even though we understood some of that was unavoidable with the weather. It was so crowded and you literally couldn't see anything unless you were there an hour in advance, and then your kids were running around like idiots because they were bored waiting. We also had an encounter with an incredibly rude jerkwad during Pirate Night. It ruined my kids evening and they missed most of the show.

They were mostly bored in the kids clubs and when there were fun things planned my kids said they were chaotic.

I also visited GS a half dozen times because I paid for the internet package to be able to keep up with emails (we own a plumbing company and Houston froze while we were gone) and it wouldn't work half the time.

I don't think I'd sail Disney again unless things improved.

I totally agree on the atrium shows—it is just not a good venue for that many people and I don’t get why they keep doing things there instead of the pool deck stage.

 

[missapril82]

I totally agree on the atrium shows—it is just not a good venue for that many people and I don’t get why they keep doing things there instead of the pool deck stage.

To be fair, one or two of them were supposed to be on the pool deck but it was freezing cold and/or raining. And it wouldn't have been AS BAD if it weren't for the "Disney adults" crowding the way for the smaller kids.

 

[Carohs]

I agree about the lines. Maybe it's a Merry time thing? We were spoiled by our first two cruises, which were during COVID restrictions. Yes a bummer we had to wear masks, but almost no lines to say hi to the characters. We were able to chat with all the characters multiple times without it really affecting our plans for the day. This last one in November the lines got longer and longer as people started getting there earlier and earlier. The last day we got there 30 min early just to find we got there just in time for the cutoff. The people behind us got to meet the next character on schedule.
And IMHO photo sessions should be prohibited. If they had a policy to limit # of photos per family it would speed things up for everyone. Standing in line is not magical.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

To be fair, one or two of them were supposed to be on the pool deck but it was freezing cold and/or raining. And it wouldn't have been AS BAD if it weren't for the "Disney adults" crowding the way for the smaller kids.

I'm not sure what 'type' of Disney adults there were. i'm a Disney adult cruising usually solo and I will wait easily an hour to have a front row spot so no I will not let 30 kids get in front of me that get there 10 min before the show. On the other hand on my Halloween cruise on the Fantasy there was a lot of the Disney adult type that would get there 5 min ahead and then push in front of those that were already there an hour ahead and that obviously is a big NONO... on the Fantasy for Christmas a lot of the atrium shows had a kids zone for kids sitting down and adults had to stand up behind those kids? Deckparties such as sailaway and pirate were free standing for everyone

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I agree about the lines. Maybe it's a Merry time thing? We were spoiled by our first two cruises, which were during COVID restrictions. Yes a bummer we had to wear masks, but almost no lines to say hi to the characters. We were able to chat with all the characters multiple times without it really affecting our plans for the day. This last one in November the lines got longer and longer as people started getting there earlier and earlier. The last day we got there 30 min early just to find we got there just in time for the cutoff. The people behind us got to meet the next character on schedule.
And IMHO photo sessions should be prohibited. If they had a policy to limit # of photos per family it would speed things up for everyone. Standing in line is not magical.

the exact reason I don't do short cruises normally but I'm doing a MDAS next month and I'm terified for these kind of scenarios....

 

[missapril82]

I agree about the lines. Maybe it's a Merry time thing? We were spoiled by our first two cruises, which were during COVID restrictions. Yes a bummer we had to wear masks, but almost no lines to say hi to the characters. We were able to chat with all the characters multiple times without it really affecting our plans for the day. This last one in November the lines got longer and longer as people started getting there earlier and earlier. The last day we got there 30 min early just to find we got there just in time for the cutoff. The people behind us got to meet the next character on schedule.
And IMHO photo sessions should be prohibited. If they had a policy to limit # of photos per family it would speed things up for everyone. Standing in line is not magical

I agree about the lines. Maybe it's a Merry time thing? We were spoiled by our first two cruises, which were during COVID restrictions. Yes a bummer we had to wear masks, but almost no lines to say hi to the characters. We were able to chat with all the characters multiple times without it really affecting our plans for the day. This last one in November the lines got longer and longer as people started getting there earlier and earlier. The last day we got there 30 min early just to find we got there just in time for the cutoff. The people behind us got to meet the next character on schedule.
And IMHO photo sessions should be prohibited. If they had a policy to limit # of photos per family it would speed things up for everyone. Standing in line is not magical.

We were a family of 7 and although we tried our best not to take up too much time, for some characters each of my 4 kids wanted individual pics with the characters. If they limited the number of photos they would need to rethink their photo packages. For the price people pay for the digital photo packages, a lot of photos are expected.

 

[Cheburashka]

And it wouldn't have been AS BAD if it weren't for the "Disney adults" crowding the way for the smaller kids.

Meh. They paid just like the families paid. Nothing wrong with them wanting to see the characters, too. At least they're quicker in photo lines.

 

[missapril82]

Meh. They paid just like the families paid. Nothing wrong with them wanting to see the characters, too. At least they're quicker in photo lines.

I'm not referring to character greetings.

 

[MomOTwins]

To be fair, one or two of them were supposed to be on the pool deck but it was freezing cold and/or raining. And it wouldn't have been AS BAD if it weren't for the "Disney adults" crowding the way for the smaller kids.

Ah, that explains it. Still they usually do some stuff in the atrium (Merrytime shows, etc.) and it is always a madhouse. At least on the Wish they have a bigger atrium now but for the older ships the atrium is just not bug enough for shows.

 

[Carohs]

We were a family of 7 and although we tried our best not to take up too much time, for some characters each of my 4 kids wanted individual pics with the characters. If they limited the number of photos they would need to rethink their photo packages. For the price people pay for the digital photo packages, a lot of photos are expected.

And I'm sure you got well over your $$ worth. It doesn't take many photos to break even vs buying individually. Disney doesn't need to limit the package, they already provide lots of photo opportunities.
But what exactly is the purpose of each kid having their own photo with each character? What happens to all these extra photos post cruise? I fail to understand why one family photo isn't sufficient.
To be fair, we usually take a photo of just the kids but sometimes the CM will encourage all of us to get in the picture too. So it seems they're not particularly concerned about # photos per family.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

The number of photos is no issue its the organisation. If families have a set system in order it can go very fast its when they start with the just two out of the 5 siblings or mom with one kid pics it starts taking forever… and 5 autograph books that need to be signed…

 

[lockets]

We were a family of 7 and although we tried our best not to take up too much time, for some characters each of my 4 kids wanted individual pics with the characters. If they limited the number of photos they would need to rethink their photo packages. For the price people pay for the digital photo packages, a lot of photos are expected.

And I'm sure you got well over your $$ worth. It doesn't take many photos to break even vs buying individually. Disney doesn't need to limit the package, they already provide lots of photo opportunities.
But what exactly is the purpose of each kid having their own photo with each character? What happens to all these extra photos post cruise? I fail to understand why one family photo isn't sufficient.

Further to the link I pasted above, to be clear, I think an individual photo of each person is fine. I could totally see the value in every child having their own photo and that shouldn’t take too crazy long. A family photo is also fine.

When it goes beyond that to “just the boys” and “just the girls” and “just the adults” and magic shots that no one understands how to pose for and the like - that’s when it’s like come on dude.

Being a way smaller group it sometimes feels like the photographers rush us in contrast so that’s where it’s really annoying.

 

[PattiPB]

It's unfortunate that your trip wasn't the magical experience you expected. We pay quite the premium to cruise with Disney.

As "Disney Adults", I line up very early to get the exact view I want. That being said, I'll slide kids in front of me so they can see. Just not sliding the parents in the front with them!!!

 

[holula]

I’ve also experienced this one on a Disney cruise, it was over spring break and a nightmare.

I agree about the lines on the Merrytime cruises too, I did a b2b from San Diego and the lines were insane for characters! Some of the lines cut off 30 mins in advance of the character (for Minnie and Mickey.) They were MUCH better line wise on the Magic in September for characters. Dunno if it’s to do with the type of cruise, mix of guests, or people just really want them in their Christmas outfits!