Mew to dcl a few ????

[ruttie]

Hi all I am new to this board will be going on wonder 3 night with hubby 2 boys (4 & 6). We got a really awesome florida res deal so this is a quick booking. we leave on feb 26th here are a few of my Questions:
How hard is it to switch dining times once on board they have us for late and we need to switch to main? any chances we will get it?
we were planning one night without the kids for dinner do they really feed them in the kids club?
I am a mamma bear I know they supervise them well but.... my 4 year old is very active will they really keep an Eye on him???
Is there a small rail or something on the top bunk to remind them not to fall off?
What will the weather be like in feb? we are florida folks so below 65 is COLD for us!!!
If we cannot switch dining times is there a casual buffet offered somewhere else on theship (like on carnival and rccl they have the windjammers open??)
I am sure I will have many more to ask as it gets closer.
Thanks for your help
Ohh I have 1 more question I asked on the cc board and did not get much help maybe you guysthe expererts will know... I would like to work at least a half day on day of cruise (i work about 5 minutes from the port) what time is the latest i can board. and... can my husnabd and kids check in get on and then me come later or do we all need to go at one time?

 

[KathyTX]

Welcome to the DIS, Ruttie! You'll get lots of good DCL info here.

About meals:

There is a buffet that is open throughout the dinner hours for casual dining. It's called Topsiders on the Magic, Beach Blanket Buffet on the Wonder.

You can have your kids do their dinner with the kids clubs. You'll get a guide to all of the daily activities for the kids clubs, and that'll give you the dinner time for the kids. What they do is gather the children at the designated time and they all go to the buffet together. The counselors do a really good job of keeping the kids together and organized on these outings.

If you want to change from late to early dining, you'll probably want to get on the waiting list to do that as soon as you board the ship. Early dining is the most popular on the Disney ships, so don't hold your breath...

There will also be pizza, burgers and hot dogs available all day long near at the pools.

I know the experts here will be able to answer your other questions.

You're going to have a great cruise!

 

[ruttie]

Thanks kathytx!! I am anxious to here all the great answers and tips!! Yeah i am pretty bummed about the dining time since we booked late with such a deal I knew all the early would be taken but my dad who is going will not be able to stay up till 8:30 never has.... so I am hoping if we cannot get it changed that there will be another good place to go.. we were also thinking for him we could book palos one night around 5:30 ish and they could book it one night and we could just give them our table that would give them 2 nce nights

 

[kcashner]

Yes, it is easy to switch dining times once you are on the ship. As you check in, you will get information about Dining changes. Go to this location WITH YOUR TICKETS for dining, and they will make the adjustments. If they can't put you early, you can feed the kids early at the buffet, then put them in the club while you dine.

Yes, there is a rail on the bunk--a good one!

Yes, they supervise the young children very well. They do not feed them "in the club," but all kids in the club 15 minutes before the announced dinner time (announced in the kid's navigator) are counted, hold hands, and marched to the buffet where they sit in a confined area. THey are identified and counted before leaving the club and on arrival at the buffet--reverse the procedure on the way back. A child cannot be signed in or out during the "transition" process.

We've done 4 cruises in Jan/Feb on DCL plus one on another cruise line (pre DCL). We've had great weather on all except one, so not bad odds for Feb. The one that was too cool was absolutely COLD at the parks before the cruise (like low 50s).

 

[ruttie]

thanks again, you guys are great!
I am glad to hear about the weather we went once in january and won't go again it was just too cold for us! March is when we love to go not to hot not too cold as i said we are kinda spoiled here.

 

[KAMLEM]

I just have a comment about the railing. It works fine but the one in our room rattled and drove us crazy the first night! After that we took a small piece of folded paper and put it in between the two pieces of railing that were rattling and it worked fine. We just had to remember to do it each night because they took it out each day when they made the beds up.

 

[clh2]

Just a couple of comments:

You can always order room service! I believe Beverages cost extra (i.e. soda) except for the tip, the food is free.

I don't believe Palo's starts serving prior to 6:00.

Yes, the kids clubs will take the kids to the buffet to eat. However, from what I am told - they don't supervise WHAT the kids eat. So, if they load up on Jell-o - that's dinner, and the counselors won't say too much.

And...just a thought about embarking the ship. Can you go into work early that morning, and work something like 7-11 am? If your family just picks you up at 11, then you get to the port by 11:05, park and walk into the building it is maybe 11:15 to 11:30. You will be fine for embarking the ship.

Personally - I would sleep in a little bit, finish up the packing and relax a little bit - get to the port about 10. You really only need 1 "placeholder" in the line, and the rest of your party can check out the terminal building, see the first set of characters etc.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by ruttie
...i work about 5 minutes from the port...

It must be tough but somebody has to live and work so close.....

"Welcome to the DIS"!!