Last Minute Questions

[okiemomx5]

I have a few last minute questions. We leave next Sunday - 7 days away and I'm going a little crazy w/ all the excitement in my house, things to do, packing, last minute this and that stuff to do.

1. Does the kids club cost money ? or it is all inclusive w/ what we have paid for the cruise? I hadn't given that much thought till now. I don't like surprises and hidden costs.

2. For breakfast -- do we just pick one of the restaurants to go eat at in the mornings ?

3. We should be at the dock by 11:00 or so since our van has to be back at the rental place by 10 a.m......so when do they begin letting us on and is it okay if we drop off our carry on's into our room before the 1:30 time?

4. Can my kids change into their swimsuits and swim around 1 p.m.? (I'm sure that was a silly question......but thought I'd ask).

Bear w/ me on these questions.....I just thought maybe someone
could answer my little questions so I can begin calming down.
LOL! I just don't have time to sit and go through all of the postings.......I have read a LOT over the past few months.....but w/ so many postings daily it's tough to read them all.

Debbie

 

[my3kids]

The ClubLab and Common Grounds for kids 3+ are included in the fare. Children under 3 use Flounders Nursery and there is a charge.

The ship gets back to Port C. early....you should be off the boat by 8 if you want to be. You have to be off by 9 am.

Breakfast can be up on deck, either in the buffet area or outside on deck, or you can go to a seated restaraunt and order off a menu. It is your choice.

You can get in the pool as soon as you board. You might not have your luggage or be able to get into your stateroom but if you carry a day bag, they can change in the bathrooms, or they can wear them under their clothes. Towels are up o deck by the pools.

 

[okiemomx5]

THANK YOU MY3KIDS! I really appreciate your help! Are the breakfast buffets on deck pretty good w/ lots of variety?
I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! Oh....the boat is about to leave ...I need
to go see the webcam! Thanks again!

 

[CamColt]

We really enjoyed the breakfast buffet on deck.

You cant try to get in your room before 1:30. We boarded around 12:30 and went right to our room. All the doors in the area were open. We found our stateroom host and asked if it was ok to go in and he said sure. It may be a different story if the room isnt ready, but it was no problem for us.

 

["Ginger"]

okiemomx5 since I have read that you are leaving on Sunday that tells me you will be on the Wonder.

There is no hidden cost for the Oceaneers Club (3-4 year olds must be potty trained), and 5-7 year olds. , Oceaneers Lab is home base for the 8-9 and 10-12 year olds, or (Common Grounds is for teens only).

You can get Breakfast at Beach Blanket Buffet I beleive they start serving at 7 am - 10 am. The coffee station opens on deck 9 opens at 6:30 am - 7:30 am. They will have donuts and danish. For table serve breakfast ( in the dining rooms) check your daily Navigator, which your room host will leave in your room nightly, to see which one is serving breakfast and the times.

The terminal opens at 10:30 am you'll be fine going around 11:00. They usually start boarding around 12- 12:30. You can try to get into your room but it's not always ready. We have been turned away by our host.

We have our DD put her swimsuit on under her clothes. There are bathrooms just inside the doors by the Mickey Pool. Beach Blankets and Parrot Cay should be open for lunch. Get a Navigator from the Guest Services deck as soon as you board the ship (enter the ship go straight ahead you'll find Guest Services). You will find that it has all the signing up times for the kids clubs, Palo, and the Spa.

Have a great cruise

 

[jilljill]

We usually eat as soon as we board at either Parrot Cay or The buffet on deck 9. We usually go to Parrot Cay since it's easier than lugging our day bags (with sodas, juice, water and snacks in them) up to deck 9 then back down to our stateroom. But that would depend on where your stateroom is located - we are usually on deck 1 or 2.
After we take our bags to our stateroom then it's off to the Oceaneer's Lab to get DD registered and get the all important pager. We have seen many kids lost on the cruise and if their parents had registered them in either of the clubs then they would have their armband and the parents their pagers and then there are less fears when the child is lost. Then the pool is enjoyed. It doesn't take long to register your child. The counselors are wonderful. We took the 7 day Western in Sept. and hardly saw DD as she was always in the Lab. She really connected with a couple of the counselors and always wanted to see them.
Don't forget that tips are usually not included in the price of the cruise. You can either pay them by cash or put them on your stateroom charge and get prepaid vouchers to put in the envelopes to give out the last night of the cruise. There is a suggested amount in your documents. Please do not forget your tips, the CM's work very hard for little pay so the tips are very important to them.
Have a great trip.

 

[okiemomx5]

THANKS EVERYONE for your suggestions!

Yes, it's the Wonder, but leaving on the 3-night (Thursday - 20th)
.......we are flying out this Sunday and will spend a few days at DW first.

We are on Deck 6......6041 & 6043. The kids are excited about the kids clubs, but not sure if they will like it or not...but I told them, they will just have to try it and see first. I will have 3 teens going to Common Grounds and 2 will go to Oceaneers Lab.

I think the kids are much more excited about the cruise than they are going to Disney World!

Again, thanks everyone for your help in calming my nerves!

Debbie

 

[cwmcaa]

okiemomx5...we will be on the cruise too! My 10 yr. old daughter will be in the Oceaneers Lab and my 13 yr old son will be in Common Grounds.

The kids are really excited but not quite sure what to expect in the kid clubs since this is our first Disney cruise and the kid's first ever cruise.

Better go pack.....

 

[okiemomx5]

cwmcaa ~~

YEA! I was beginning to think we'd have the boat all to ourselves! Glad to know you are going.

I have a 10 yr old son and a 11 yr old daughter that will be at the Lab. I ALSO have a 13 yr old son! Cameron is shy.......I was hoping he would make a friend while on the boat. He'll be at Common Grounds -- if I can get him to go. He seems excited about it. His older brother & sister (our twins - age 16 1/2) will
also be going to CG. They are really excited about it and are hoping to meet other kids.......they are outgoing though, well, at least my twin girl is!

We have late dinner seating ... do you?

This is mine and my husband's 2nd cruise......but first Disney cruise and this is the kids first. The plane ride will also be a FIRST!
Not to mention DW being a FIRST for all of us.

Which of the resorts did you all pick? We are at the PORiverside.
We talked to them yesterday and asked a bunch of our questions.
We are renting a mini-van for our brood. We want to be able to go eat off of DW in the evenings to save some money.
With 7 of us it will be pretty costly!

I hope we can meet! If you see someone at dinner w/ 5
older kids.......come on over and ask me if it's me! I won't mind!
We live in Oklahoma. I see you are from Ohio. I have relatives in Akron.

We are half packed......we can't seem to convince the older boys to pack early. But, our two little ones have been packed for 2 weeks..although I do need to check and see what is in there!
I have a snack suitcase packed! We are bringing breakfast snacks and empty water bottles.

I can't believe we are almost THREE days from leaving on the plane! We leave Sun.

Are you as overwhelmed as I am ? I feel like there is so much
planning that has to go into this and I'm driving my family batty.
LOL! I wish I didn't have to work the next two days! Ugh.
It's almost 80 degrees here! I hope Florida will be nice and sunny!

I hope to meet you!

Debbie

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by okiemomx5
THANK YOU MY3KIDS! I really appreciate your help! Are the breakfast buffets on deck pretty good w/ lots of variety?
I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! Oh....the "boat" is about to leave ...I need
to go see the webcam! Thanks again!

Not to seem rude or anything, take this is all humbleness, but we were told on another thread that the "Wonder and Magic" are "ships" and not "boats", I didn't want you getting a scolding about this by one of the DISboard members, LOL!!!

 

[okiemomx5]

Ooops......I slipped up......sorry. I tend to say that.
Thanks for the warning......lol!

No offense taken.

Debbie

 

[jilljill]

Don't forget to stop along the way and get your drinks to take with you on board - that can save a boatload (no pun intended) of money.
There are laundry facilities at the hotel and on the ship if you want to do laundry to lighten the amount of clothes you pack.
Have a great time, I'm so jealous.

 

[RellingTwin]

Since a few of you are new to DCL and a few have kids the same age as mine I thought I would give you a little warning. Be sure to go by Guest Sevices and have the charging privladges removed from the kids cards.
I thought I had done this at check in at the port, only to discover 2 VERY happy children in the game room holding 100 dollars worth of arcade cards!!!! They did not know they were charging to the room because I had told them the cards would not allow them to! Thank goodness they had not used the cards yet, and I was able to get a credit to my accout at guest sevices!

So...If you don't want the kids to charge, take the cards to Guest Sevices.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[okiemomx5]

Relling Twin,

We have been wondering about that. I have been told by many on these boards about that very same topic. I thought we could probably trust our twins, since they are 16 and very responsible, but we won't let the younger ones have them. My husband thinks its great that I'm learning all these tips before we go!
It's a huge help!

Jilljill -- great idea about stopping for drinks to take on board.
Did you take a cooler or just put them in a suitcase?

I just got back from Walmart and got those ID holders , they
only had 4 and I got goggles, and Dramamine. I asked the pharmacist about which to let my kids have. I got some donuts
for the "food suitcase"we are taking. I think that about does it.
I think I'm through spending money! LOL! Well,at least until
we hit DW Monday bright and early! It sure takes a lot of money
just to get ready to go! WE are about broke!
Thank goodness I have been buying things a little at a time.

Thanks again for all of your help!

Debbie

 

[jilljill]

Debbie,
We put the drinks in carry-on bags or in plastic bags from the grocery store or the good 'blue' or 'red' bags from WDW will hold them. I have seen people carry on the cases too without a bag. If you take alcohol with you just make sure it is in a bag of some kind.
Don't forget on your port days you can order food from room service and then take that into port with you. You can also get extra pastries and cookies from the buffet to take as well. Just remember to take plastic bags with you so you can do this very easily. In Nassau you are so close to the ship you can get back on to have lunch and save money.
I don't know if you have read about the beverage station on deck 9 by the MM pool. They have tea, coffee, water, ice and milk(?) available 24 hours a day.
Have fun!!!

 

[cwmcaa]

HI DEBBIE

My kids were thrilled that I had linked up with another family with kids their age that's going to be on the "ship"...notice I didn't say boat!

Andy is the 13 yr old and would love to meet up with Cameron in Commom Grounds. Andy is pretty quiet too which is why knowing someone else there could make a huge difference.

Our soon to be 11 yr. old daughter is really excited about your daughter being on board too! I think she will really enjoy the activities in the Lab and would love to meet up with her too.

I still have some concerns about keeping track of the kids...I am bringing along the 2 way radios and I plan on getting a beeper if they are available for the Oceaneers Lab.

We have the 2nd seating for dinner too! Are you guys going to get reservations at Palos? I think we will try to double dip becasue I don't want to miss any of the restaurants.

I think it is a great idea not to have charging capabilities on the kid's room key. I'm afraid it would get lost....I need to run over to Walmart and get those holders you mentioned.

We aren't doing DW before...I wish we were. We just have enough time to do the cruise and maybe do the NASA tour afterward.

We plan on getting on board early, make reservations, hit the buffet and then register the kids. I think I'll have the kids wear their swim suits too just in case we decide to go for a swim before the room is ready. We will definitely be looking for your large family.

Carol

 

[cwmcaa]

I sent you a private message with our email address in case the kids want to email before you leave.

Good luck getting everything ready...Carol