My 5 year old son, 85 year old grandmother, and myself, set out on the first West Coast cruise one week ago today. I'm just going to hit the highlights now, and I will try to add on as I regain my strength!
First, we got through the embarkation lines and onto the ship in record time and I do feel guilty about this, but my grandmother is very disabled and the staff took care of her. We were taken to the head of every line and were on the ship hours before many others (my sincere apologies to you all). So, if you are going with someone who has "special needs," USE them to your advantage. Seriously.
We got the APLAPLA rotation, and Animator's Palate is kind of cool but the music is WAY too loud and the "show" isn't all it's hyped up to be, but fun and worth it. But if you're going to Palo's you won't miss AP after your first time there; they don't do the color change again, in fact our second time it stayed B & W, while the final night was in color but it was the goodbye night and they came out with the flaming Baked Alaska which on its own is a fun show.
The pools are all heated so it doesn't matter what the outside temp is like, the water's a solid 85 F or higher. This can be good for the kids who will swim until they develop gills, but in hotter weather it will lead to overheating issues.
Go to the spa. I don't care what you do there, just go. I had two visits, one just to repolish my toes, and one full-on Sole Delight Foot Ritual including pedicure. Easily the best hour of my entire cruise. I've never been so spoiled in my whole life (and I am an only child, only grandchild).
The kid's club is intimidating for a kid who's just gotten out of school; my son felt like too much was being asked of him initially, but he did calm down and start to enjoy it, especially when they took the 5-7's into the Lab (the bigger kid's area). On our final day he wanted to go back, the only time he asked to; most of the time he just wanted to be in the pool or watching movies in the room.
We had some good movies in the theater; Ice Princess was very popular, and they also had The Pacifier, Finding Nemo, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Among many choices I might add.
There was a different show in the Walt Disney Theatre each day with at least 3 showtimes. Sadly I missed every one of them but I heard good things.
Jellyfish in the water thick in PV, enough that they were clearly visible & obvious from my Deck 6 verandah. Check sea conditions before you sail, as a jelly sting can be at best uncomfortable and at worst fatal with an allergic reaction. Some excursions were modified due to the jellies and others endured with the stings (LegalBriefs, a member here, took 5 stings himself).
They take billions of professional photos each and every day, and sell them for $9.95 for a 6x8, or $19.95 for an 8x10. There are packages available as well at a slight discount. Character meets are scheduled but around the requirements of 20 minutes in, half an hour out; it can be tight to find the line, wait in it, then be told it's over before you get there. And, they do most of them during the two dinner seatings, which is hard on the kids with sleeping needs. Although I'd bet money most of the kids' bedtimes were either bent or completely tossed away this week (especially from some of the behaviors I was seeing! My own kid included!)
Motion of the ship obvious to me every day we went anywhere but I'm sensitive. Last sea day the worst as the ocean itself was bucking but also because we were going faster and that makes it worse. I've been off the ship twelve hours and can still feel it...or maybe that's just wishing I was still there.
The horn is neat but VERY scary for the kids if they are too close or not expecting it. I saw many kids reduced to tears over it (my son too), although easy to calm once they knew it was over.
PM me with specific questions and I will answer them if I can. I will also add more after I have slept!
peace
Rebecca
First, we got through the embarkation lines and onto the ship in record time and I do feel guilty about this, but my grandmother is very disabled and the staff took care of her. We were taken to the head of every line and were on the ship hours before many others (my sincere apologies to you all). So, if you are going with someone who has "special needs," USE them to your advantage. Seriously.
We got the APLAPLA rotation, and Animator's Palate is kind of cool but the music is WAY too loud and the "show" isn't all it's hyped up to be, but fun and worth it. But if you're going to Palo's you won't miss AP after your first time there; they don't do the color change again, in fact our second time it stayed B & W, while the final night was in color but it was the goodbye night and they came out with the flaming Baked Alaska which on its own is a fun show.
The pools are all heated so it doesn't matter what the outside temp is like, the water's a solid 85 F or higher. This can be good for the kids who will swim until they develop gills, but in hotter weather it will lead to overheating issues.
Go to the spa. I don't care what you do there, just go. I had two visits, one just to repolish my toes, and one full-on Sole Delight Foot Ritual including pedicure. Easily the best hour of my entire cruise. I've never been so spoiled in my whole life (and I am an only child, only grandchild).
The kid's club is intimidating for a kid who's just gotten out of school; my son felt like too much was being asked of him initially, but he did calm down and start to enjoy it, especially when they took the 5-7's into the Lab (the bigger kid's area). On our final day he wanted to go back, the only time he asked to; most of the time he just wanted to be in the pool or watching movies in the room.
We had some good movies in the theater; Ice Princess was very popular, and they also had The Pacifier, Finding Nemo, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Among many choices I might add.
There was a different show in the Walt Disney Theatre each day with at least 3 showtimes. Sadly I missed every one of them but I heard good things.
Jellyfish in the water thick in PV, enough that they were clearly visible & obvious from my Deck 6 verandah. Check sea conditions before you sail, as a jelly sting can be at best uncomfortable and at worst fatal with an allergic reaction. Some excursions were modified due to the jellies and others endured with the stings (LegalBriefs, a member here, took 5 stings himself).
They take billions of professional photos each and every day, and sell them for $9.95 for a 6x8, or $19.95 for an 8x10. There are packages available as well at a slight discount. Character meets are scheduled but around the requirements of 20 minutes in, half an hour out; it can be tight to find the line, wait in it, then be told it's over before you get there. And, they do most of them during the two dinner seatings, which is hard on the kids with sleeping needs. Although I'd bet money most of the kids' bedtimes were either bent or completely tossed away this week (especially from some of the behaviors I was seeing! My own kid included!)
Motion of the ship obvious to me every day we went anywhere but I'm sensitive. Last sea day the worst as the ocean itself was bucking but also because we were going faster and that makes it worse. I've been off the ship twelve hours and can still feel it...or maybe that's just wishing I was still there.
The horn is neat but VERY scary for the kids if they are too close or not expecting it. I saw many kids reduced to tears over it (my son too), although easy to calm once they knew it was over.
PM me with specific questions and I will answer them if I can. I will also add more after I have slept!
peace
Rebecca
But whenever I head up to deck 4-10 I was just fine, especially when we were outside.
ME wanted to know how the cruise was. 
