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

[lockets]

Rookie Q. What’s the difference between a merry time cruise and the others?

 

[missapril82]

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!!!

This was one of our issues. When I tried to squat my 3 and 6 year olds in front of the glass railing to they could see, someone was saving space for their entire family so they refused to allow them. When everyone showed up they were all teens and adults who could have easily seen the show standing behind my small children, since my kids weren't tall enough to lean over the railing on the other side.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

Rookie Q. What’s the difference between a merry time cruise and the others?

Lots of christmas orientated activities incl the characters wearing christmas outfits. Many pol like these opportunites for Christmas cards etc

 

[missapril82]

Rookie Q. What’s the difference between a merry time cruise and the others?

Christmas decorations and themed activities, mostly.

 

[Cheburashka]

I was disappointed when I noticed the cruise we booked for next November will not be a Merrytime cruise. Now, I'm thinking it might be good, if it means shorter lines / less crowding at character events. Personally, I never noticed any difference as I have sailed Merrytime before, but it's logical that there might be something to it, due to parents wanting all of the special photo ops. I won't mind missing that.

 

[darnheather]

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.

This doesn't bother me. What I was talking about were the formal poised portrait photos. This was a multigenerational family that had several grandparents, adults, spouses, grandchildren. They wanted multiple: just the grands, just the parents, just the kids, now the parents with their kids, now those parents with their kids, now just all the boys, etc... It was awful. I believe if they wanted an extended photo shoot they should have arranged for one privately.

 

[darnheather]

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.

I just think more things could be done in the theaters with split times or even do split times for things like the tree lighting. Did DCL really think that over 2000 guests could cram into the atrium for that? I did pay a premium for the Merry Time and other than the decorations got none of it. I guess I didn't expect them to try to do everything just once. Now I know.

 

[darnheather]

This was one of our issues. When I tried to squat my 3 and 6 year olds in front of the glass railing to they could see, someone was saving space for their entire family so they refused to allow them. When everyone showed up they were all teens and adults who could have easily seen the show standing behind my small children, since my kids weren't tall enough to lean over the railing on the other side.

My first cruise I let several littles in front of me for the pirate show. An older woman threatened to step on one of them if he touched her leg "again". He literally brushed against her as he sat. It is so easy to allow small children in the front but some people are just mean.