Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - PART II

[Evans Family]

If there is anyone out there who is uncrafty like me check out www.etsy.com and search for disney cruise fe. There is a lady making the cutest FE's for hanging outside your door. I asked her and she will be doing a x-mas
FE's mid-October. She personalizes them too! very reasonably priced.

 

[ReggieB]

Thank you! I appreciate it. I am soooooo jealous that you will be cruising next month. I look forward to hearing about your cruise.

I noticed on the DCL website that there are special Halloween gifts/items. Do they have Christmas gifts/items? If yes, when will they be available?

Thanks again.

The did for our Christmas cruise a few years back. Well, I would say after Halloween for things to turn up, but I seem to remember some Thanksgiving things popping up. So probably not for a bit.

 

[eve adkins]

Since this is our first cruise I'm trying to determine the importance of all the options at Palo....Since it sounds like reservations are filling up which one or two would you suggest I try to get? Are their days and times I should try to avoid? It's hard to make all these plans when you haven't been on a disney cruise before. Then I have to throw Flounder's Nusary into the mix...UGH!! If anyone that has or has had kids around our kids ages Zack is 15, Christopher is 10 Jacob is 7 and Katie is 2 and two months away from three. That could share some advice and far as try for all three at Palo or just try one sine it's our first cruise. I feel very overwhelmed about trying to do excursions where we can all go which require taking a two year old. Or should i spend my time trying to sign up for Flounders then pick and excursions....I guess I don't even know where to start first. I only have two weeks left to figure this out....
Thanks if your able to help it is gratly appreciated!!

 

[HFC1969]

88










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[BBQMommy]

Hello Eve!

Going to hope there is a Palo ressie available when I get on line late the 3rd, but if not they will have ressies held back that folks can get first come first served on Dec 18th. I would love High Tea because I really enjoy high tea and have only had it twice.

My friend Janet relocated to your town from Long Island and has loved it.

Caryn

 

[itutorfortravel]

Since this is our first cruise I'm trying to determine the importance of all the options at Palo....Since it sounds like reservations are filling up which one or two would you suggest I try to get? Are their days and times I should try to avoid? It's hard to make all these plans when you haven't been on a disney cruise before. Then I have to throw Flounder's Nusary into the mix...UGH!! If anyone that has or has had kids around our kids ages Zack is 15, Christopher is 10 Jacob is 7 and Katie is 2 and two months away from three. That could share some advice and far as try for all three at Palo or just try one sine it's our first cruise. I feel very overwhelmed about trying to do excursions where we can all go which require taking a two year old. Or should i spend my time trying to sign up for Flounders then pick and excursions....I guess I don't even know where to start first. I only have two weeks left to figure this out....
Thanks if your able to help it is gratly appreciated!!

Hi Eve, I live in Waxhaw also! What a small world...and literally because Waxhaw is a really small town!

My family went on the 7 night Magic cruise last year and though it's not exactly the same as an 11 night cruise, it did include some of the same islands (St. Thomas/St. John, St. Maarten, and Castaway Cay) and we had similar questions regarding scheduling of things on our first cruise too (which was also Eastern Caribbean). We've done two Disney cruises so far, so we're by no means experts but would be glad to help if possible. If you want to, we could even connect by phone if you wanted someone to talk things through with. Once you get to 10 postings, PM me if you are interested in that.

 

[Marcy Mouse]

Found this video - should help you get into the sprit!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3rD-e4M1uI&hd=1

 

[BBQMommy]

That worked, Marcy!!!

Love it! Thanks



Caryn

 

[minneapolismickey]

Marcy Mouse- Thanks for the link to the great video! My kids will love watching that today after school.

Eve- Let me see if I can help you a little. I love Palo. It is a must do for you and your DH, in my opinion. Palo has dinner reservations each night during the cruise. This is your best chance of getting a reservation. I try not to reserve on a night when I know that I want to eat dinner with my family (I would not reserve on Pirate night, xmas eve or at least one formal night because I love to see all of my boys in tuxes). Brunch and tea are only available on at sea days. While there are many at sea days on this cruise, the reservations are already booked so far (except Xmas day). I might recommend that you try to eat at Palo dinner early in the trip, then if you and DH love it try to reserve for a brunch once on the ship. I am sure there are always cancellations.

I do not have experience with the nursery since I have only been on cruises after my children were 3. What I can tell you is that I am comfortable leaving the kids on the boat while others of us go out on an excursion. I was not sure that I would be at first, but I am confident that the kids are safe in the clubs and nursery. If there is a really special excursion that you would like to take with your older kids, and cannot with your DD2, I think it is safe and reasonable to do this while your daughter is in the nursery. I would not go out on the island on a private excursion, I would stick with a Disney excursion in this regard because the Magic will always be able to reach you if necessary and the boat will not leave without you if you are late on an excursion with them.

I hope this helps you. We have found that we don't like to do too many excursions anyway. The kids like to be in the clubs, and the boat is heavenly when it is quiet. I often like to get off and walk around for a couple of hours at the port or catch a cab to a beach, then return to enjoy the rest of the day on the boat. This would certainly be easy to do with your DD.

Angie

 

[HFC1969]

Found this video - should help you get into the sprit!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3rD-e4M1uI&hd=1

Thats nice..


I just bought my new Tux...




.

 

[3princessMommy]

Since this is our first cruise I'm trying to determine the importance of all the options at Palo....Since it sounds like reservations are filling up which one or two would you suggest I try to get? Are their days and times I should try to avoid? It's hard to make all these plans when you haven't been on a disney cruise before. Then I have to throw Flounder's Nusary into the mix...UGH!! If anyone that has or has had kids around our kids ages Zack is 15, Christopher is 10 Jacob is 7 and Katie is 2 and two months away from three. That could share some advice and far as try for all three at Palo or just try one sine it's our first cruise. I feel very overwhelmed about trying to do excursions where we can all go which require taking a two year old. Or should i spend my time trying to sign up for Flounders then pick and excursions....I guess I don't even know where to start first. I only have two weeks left to figure this out....
Thanks if your able to help it is gratly appreciated!!

Hi Eve!

We've been on cruises before with our DD3 before she was old enough for the club. It can be a little stressful trying to get reservations for your excursions and for Palo's and then coordinating the correct times in Flounders.

But this is what I would do first:

1) Palo Reservations - these are often the hardest to get in advance. The good news is that there are normally some left if you check at Rockn'Bar D when you board. This is what several folks were talking about in the "sprint to Rockn' Bar D". You can also put your name on the waiting list, and will probably get called. (The drawback to this is coordinating the Flounders reservations when it happens. But ask Palos to help - I've heard they can work this out for you sometimes at the last minute.)

2) Excursions - find the excursions that fit your needs and that you want to do. We did leave DD in Flounders when we took the older girls to swim with dolphins last year. It worked just fine. However, I would agree with the PP that if you're going to do this, I would stick with a Disney excursion. In fact, because we were with a DCL excursion last year, they allowed us to keep DD in Flounders beyond their posted closing time that day.

3) Flounders - You are limited to reserving 10 hours in Flounders before you get on board. So I would schedule the times you need that correspond with the reservations you've already made. If you still have extra time left, then schedule some time when you think you might want other adult time - like a day/time you'd like to do Palo's but couldn't get an advanced reservation. When you get on board you will be able to schedule additional time in Flounders. In fact, in the two cruises we did with DD before she could go into the Club, we never had an occasion when we called or stopped by Flounders that they didn't have room for her. I know it happens that they get full, but I don't think it's as hard to get Flounders time as it is to get a ressie at Palo's - at least it hasn't been for us.

4) Spa - I have never scheduled spa in advance and I have ALWAYS gone to the spa on the ship! The only exception to this is the massage on the beach at Castaway Cay. So unless you want the beach massage, I would wait until i got onboard to book the spa and corresponding Flounders time.

I hope this is helpful - feel free to PM me or ask any other questions. Flounders is small for an almost 3-year-old in my opinion. But if it's any indication of the care they get - our now DD3 begged to go BACK to Flounders when we passed it on our last cruise on the way to the Club!!!

Joann

 

[decked out]

I think it's midnight Eastern time. I know the Gold members at the 105 day mark had some trouble getting the system to work - that could make for a frustrating night. But it's certainly possible for some more excursions to fill up. You'd probably be alright waiting until morning... but there is some risk if there is an excursion you really want. My guess is that many people on a Christmas cruise like this have already done a DCL cruise in the past. So I'm guessing a lot of people will be eligible to book tonight.

For future reference, I could not get in at 3:01 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, but later I got in after 6am.

 

[eve adkins]

Thanks so much for the information!! We've been in Waxhaw for three years this Christmas! We LOVE it here. Aren't loving the construction on 16 right now but I hope that get's better soon! I guess I need to post more so I can get PM's. I'm still not sure how to use this page yet...LOL I would like to add the little character to the side and the little tickers...but anyway....I'm not even sure I'm responding this message straight onto your message but I guess I'll see when I'm done. I'll definitely PM you when I'm allowed. I'm also interested in your math tutoring!!! I have a sophomore at Cuthbertson who's struggling in Geometry right now!! Hope to PM you soon! Eve

 

[eve adkins]

Hi Eve!

We've been on cruises before with our DD3 before she was old enough for the club. It can be a little stressful trying to get reservations for your excursions and for Palo's and then coordinating the correct times in Flounders.

But this is what I would do first:

1) Palo Reservations - these are often the hardest to get in advance. The good news is that there are normally some left if you check at Rockn'Bar D when you board. This is what several folks were talking about in the "sprint to Rockn' Bar D". You can also put your name on the waiting list, and will probably get called. (The drawback to this is coordinating the Flounders reservations when it happens. But ask Palos to help - I've heard they can work this out for you sometimes at the last minute.)

2) Excursions - find the excursions that fit your needs and that you want to do. We did leave DD in Flounders when we took the older girls to swim with dolphins last year. It worked just fine. However, I would agree with the PP that if you're going to do this, I would stick with a Disney excursion. In fact, because we were with a DCL excursion last year, they allowed us to keep DD in Flounders beyond their posted closing time that day.

3) Flounders - You are limited to reserving 10 hours in Flounders before you get on board. So I would schedule the times you need that correspond with the reservations you've already made. If you still have extra time left, then schedule some time when you think you might want other adult time - like a day/time you'd like to do Palo's but couldn't get an advanced reservation. When you get on board you will be able to schedule additional time in Flounders. In fact, in the two cruises we did with DD before she could go into the Club, we never had an occasion when we called or stopped by Flounders that they didn't have room for her. I know it happens that they get full, but I don't think it's as hard to get Flounders time as it is to get a ressie at Palo's - at least it hasn't been for us.

4) Spa - I have never scheduled spa in advance and I have ALWAYS gone to the spa on the ship! The only exception to this is the massage on the beach at Castaway Cay. So unless you want the beach massage, I would wait until i got onboard to book the spa and corresponding Flounders time.

I hope this is helpful - feel free to PM me or ask any other questions. Flounders is small for an almost 3-year-old in my opinion. But if it's any indication of the care they get - our now DD3 begged to go BACK to Flounders when we passed it on our last cruise on the way to the Club!!!

Joann

Three Princess MOmmy
Thank you for all the information it is so helpful!! I'm trying to get my husband to sit down and decide on these excursions with me!! I've been wanting to do the dolphin swim for years but now that dang "Blood Dolphin" series has me second guessing doing it...I never should have started watching it!! LOL. Did you go on any of your cruises when your daughter was close to three? I've read that sometimes if they are potty trained they'll let them go to the kids club. Katie has three older brothers so she doesn't really act 2 because she's always with the boys. I'm hoping she doesn't get bored in Flounders...although she does love babies.

 

[bigAWL]

For future reference, I could not get in at 3:01 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, but later I got in after 6am.

I often hear about problems people have getting into their reservation on their first morning to book excursions. But we were able to get right in at midnight eastern (it was 7am here in Uganda). I think that is the normal time, and any problems after that time are generally system problems rather than time restrictions.

 

[bigAWL]

Three Princess MOmmy
Thank you for all the information it is so helpful!! I'm trying to get my husband to sit down and decide on these excursions with me!! I've been wanting to do the dolphin swim for years but now that dang "Blood Dolphin" series has me second guessing doing it...I never should have started watching it!! LOL. Did you go on any of your cruises when your daughter was close to three? I've read that sometimes if they are potty trained they'll let them go to the kids club. Katie has three older brothers so she doesn't really act 2 because she's always with the boys. I'm hoping she doesn't get bored in Flounders...although she does love babies.

I would certainly talk to the Flounders/Kids Club CMs and ask. Unless they have a LOT of 3-5 year olds already registered in the club, I'm guessing they will let your almost-three-year-old try it out and see how she does.

I would add that anytime you leave your child in Flounder's or the club so that you can do a Palo/Spa/Show/Wine tasting/Excursion (anything that would be best un-disturbed), that you let the CMs there know where you will be. They will usually make a note of it in their computer and they will make a stronger effort to keep the child there before paging you to come get them. If you don't let them know, they they may page you the first time they ask for mommy and daddy.

 

[3princessMommy]

Three Princess MOmmy
Thank you for all the information it is so helpful!! I'm trying to get my husband to sit down and decide on these excursions with me!! I've been wanting to do the dolphin swim for years but now that dang "Blood Dolphin" series has me second guessing doing it...I never should have started watching it!! LOL. Did you go on any of your cruises when your daughter was close to three? I've read that sometimes if they are potty trained they'll let them go to the kids club. Katie has three older brothers so she doesn't really act 2 because she's always with the boys. I'm hoping she doesn't get bored in Flounders...although she does love babies.

Gracie was 18 months, 2.5, and 3.5 on our previous cruises. She wasn't potty-trained until she was three, so stretching into the clubs wasn't really an option for us. I've heard they'll sometimes let them stretch into the clubs if they're ready, but I wouldn't plan on it and be disappointed. I'd plan on Flounders and then be pleasantly surprised that she gets to go to the Club. The Club is great, but like I said, Gracie actually missed Flounders!

They have a smaller kid to counselor ratio in Flounders, so they do get more individualized attention in there. We always liked the atmosphere, even if it is a lot smaller than the Club.

 

[eve adkins]

Gracie was 18 months, 2.5, and 3.5 on our previous cruises. She wasn't potty-trained until she was three, so stretching into the clubs wasn't really an option for us. I've heard they'll sometimes let them stretch into the clubs if they're ready, but I wouldn't plan on it and be disappointed. I'd plan on Flounders and then be pleasantly surprised that she gets to go to the Club. The Club is great, but like I said, Gracie actually missed Flounders!

They have a smaller kid to counselor ratio in Flounders, so they do get more individualized attention in there. We always liked the atmosphere, even if it is a lot smaller than the Club.

That's my plan!! Keep working on potty training and if it works out in the kids club then great if not flounders will work too!! Katie's not around a ton of little kids so I"m sure she'll be happy anywhere! Other then beach excursions are their any you could recommend for a two year old? My boys will probably prefer to stay in the kids club so I don't think we'll do one at each stop. I'm getting so excited!!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Hey ya'll!

After working out our payment glitch with DCL I booked all our excursions and a Palo dinner just now. NO brunches or High Teas were available. Not even Christmas Day (which I was hoping for). So I guess we'll be in the mad dash run for ressies also. Dinners were still wide open though!

So question- on the Wonder they don't open Wavebands for Palo ressies till 1 I think. We're usually on and done with a buffet by then. I'm assuming on the Magic it'll be Rockin Bar D- will they wait until 1 also? Should I head straight there when we board and wait(I'm guessing I'll have good company in line) or go on to buffet then come down after(which will still probably be before 1)?

 

[3princessMommy]

That's my plan!! Keep working on potty training and if it works out in the kids club then great if not flounders will work too!! Katie's not around a ton of little kids so I"m sure she'll be happy anywhere! Other then beach excursions are their any you could recommend for a two year old? My boys will probably prefer to stay in the kids club so I don't think we'll do one at each stop. I'm getting so excited!!

We're doing a tour with our DD3 in St. Maarten - the See and Sea tour. It is a semi-submarine to see the coral reef. It's one of the few non-beach tours that doesn't have an age restriction. We thought DD would like to see the fish, but is too young to go snorkeling, etc.

I think folks with young kids also like the Coral World in St. Thomas. We're going to stick on the beach there this time though.