It was great meeting so many of you and I'm sorry I missed the dismeet. Apparently, I um, "celebrated" vacation a little too much the night before
But those I did meet on board and on shore - you all made it so much fun! Thank you. We didn't participate in the FE, but I understand that the FE really rocked! Great job!
My DD's (Emily & Rachael) had a great time with all their new friends and I'm listening to the older one video chat with someone in NC she met - they talk everyday! )
Dh & I had a good time too but we encountered many of the same service issues that have already been posted.
Our stateroom attendant, Shaka, was fantastic and we had great service in the Prom. Lounge, Sessions, and pretty good in Rockin Bar D. Room service rocked it too!
Our dining room service ranged from pretty bad the first few days to mediocre to oh my gosh this is so much better by the end of the cruise. Most of it was really just poor timing or training or I don't know - but the loss of so many staff to the Dream really, really showed. I'm not that picky - but I was thrilled to actually have silverware before or as my my meal arrived as being an "oh my gosh this is so much better". I gave up on the idea of ever having coffee WITH my dessert
Our main waiter always made a recommendation of things not on the menu (he had obviously memorized the book but not the menus). Its hard to trust a recommentation of a dish thats not even being served
. It also seemed to annoy him if I would order an appetizer and a salad. At no time did either of them joke with us, do a magic trick, overindulge or even call one of our daughters princess or sweetie or any of the other things that previous servers have done to make my kids thoroughly enjoy the lengthy dining experience. At no time was there ever an offer to bring extra of something (or a replacement of something not liked) - it just wasn't that special feeling of truly having a magical dining experience.
Many of the things we encountered were small - but over 11 days it really added up - to a "whats going on" type feeling. For instance, the tube that holds the toilet paper in place was missing until that last night of the cruise. The tp just sat on the bathroom counter. Was I going to call gs and complain? no. But it was annoying for the price we paid.
The worst service we encountered was in Topsiders for dinner. We didn't get silverware or anything to drink, not even water - despite asking for it several times. Our dinner plates were never cleared, dessert or coffee were never offered , dh took silverware off another empty table after we sat for 5 mins so we could eat while the food was at least lukewarm. He left at 8:00 to go to tangled with DD and I sat and sat and sat - there were only 3 other tables with people - one of which was done as well and we waited and waited and finally at 8:30 we looked at each other and we got up and left. Several servers and so forth would walk by and cast long looks at our waiter who was still talking with one table but no one stepped in and said - let me take that for you or can I get you something to drink or even gave a little under hint to their buddy. But from that experience I actually complained to someone (this was on the 3rd night ) to our head waiter about the change in the "disney difference" - it made a difference for us in the dining room - our hw would at least stop by every night and make sure we had drinks, silverware and bread for the kids - that made a big difference in our experience. We can wait for a long time and eat cold food (which we did)-but I like the kids to be at least carb loaded
Location - we were on Deck 8 for the first time- near several other Diser's and I wouldn't stay on that part of the deck again. The location was great for getting around the ship but my oh my it was loud at times. Our noisy neighbors were certainly not Disney's fault (although I would have appreciated it if they would have taken care of the 3 am jumping off the beds and screaming that went on for over an hour) - but the ping pong tables were over head as was the outside movie nights which were pretty loud until late coupled with the dragging a scrapping sounds that happened with crew set up and cleanup = again no one's fault - but I like it to be quieter when I try to sleep
Dh was also on the Guadeloupe dive and echoed the same sentiments as above- it was completely unorganized and to go to the wrong dive shop and no one knew anything - well - I wish that Disney would have at least acknowledged an Oops!
We love the magic of Disney but I felt like we got a bucket of cold water thrown on us - sort of a "wake up" and take off those rose colored Disney glasses. Its not that we won't travel on
DCL again - but this was my 4th DCL holiday cruise and most disappointing. I want to give Disney a chance with the new ships and I do believe with faith, trust and pixie dust, that the Magic of the experience we've always felt onboard will find its way back.
Lisa
since I was not able to complete 64 cross stitched bookmarks of the "MAGIC". I am still making them and would like to mail one to anyone that received my substitute FE. Please PM me if you would like a bookmark.
)
I am just checking onto the entire American Girl Doll stuff....We currently have a Bitty Baby... 
with whom we were not interested in sitting alone with (the other part of our party was going to be at Palo). ANYWAY.....we had a fabulous meal, and as far as I recall, wonderful service. I remember being very surprised that it was sit down, tablecloths, menus, the whole sha-bang! I'm sorry to hear it was not handled as well this cruise. Add it to the list of growing pains, I guess. 
