Name three things that did NOT live up the hype?

[Joan1]

The show in Animator's Palette
Palo - it was good but if you live in the NY tri state area there are so many great restaurants that we felt it was just good but nothing spectacular

 

[plutojudy]

1. late seating lasts too long....miss other activities
2. the last night when everything comes to a screeching halt
3. last morning...wait staff is rushed and unfriendly
4. the long wait for trams to Serenity Bay

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

You know, this isn't necessary a "negative thread". The OP asked what people thought didn't live up to the HYPE.

I loved, loved, LOVED being on a Disney Cruise and am just counting the days until I can go again - I presently plan to book for this November. I'd certainly not do that if I thought it was a horrible cruise!

I have a friend who has cruised on 11 Disney Cruises and she tells me each one is different.

So with that in mind, there are likely to be a few things that people have too high expectations for, or that on that particular cruise that it didn't happen like dreamed. Doesn't make it bad or negative.

I am actually GLAD I had the chance to read differing opinions on various things or I could have been very disappointed. (the AP show especially comes to mind). I knew in advance the last morning would be a "glad you came...now LEAVE" type of thing. After all, I can't imagine how much work it must be to turn over that ship for the next couple of thousand people!

Overall, I'd rather be on a Disney ship than just about anywhere else in the world! Maybe next time I'll get the server who'll I'll want to make part of my family. I didn't say it was a bad experience - it just didn't live up to the HYPE. It's all good though - I was one happy camper to be on that cruise!!!

 

[tvguy]

.

4. Split Bathroom-Would be better if one big one
Realistically, other ships have one bathroom that is the size of one of the two Disney split bathrooms.
5. Room (Cat6) was smaller than expected.
We had a category 6, remember, most other cruise lines similar cabins are about 40 square feet smaller
8. Length of time dinner took (2 hours)
I'm a long time cruiser, the length of dinner seems to be an issue with younger cruisers. Us old foggies EXPECT dinner to last at least 2 hours, that's part of the cruise experience.

4.Disembarkation-No one does it better or faster.

Sorry, 7 cruises, Disney was the only cruise line where we had to wait in line 45 minutes to get off the ship. Most other ships kept you fed and entertained in a public room, and you leave by group number, and walk right off the ship

2. Food service. Perhaps it's my experience on Celebrity and NCL, but given what you pay, dining on DCL is too fixed and generic

Interesting, we are planning an NCL cruise, and someone posted the menus for the entire week. The soups and appetizers NEVER change the entire week, just the entrees...at least on Disney there are new soups and appetizers every night

 

[beachblanket]

Interesting, we are planning an NCL cruise, and someone posted the menus for the entire week. The soups and appetizers NEVER change the entire week, just the entrees

TVGuy, I just got off the NCL Spirit last Sunday, and can adamantly tell you that is not correct. First and second courses (appetizers, soups and salads) in the main dining rooms (which you likely won't be eating in every night with all the great specialty choices) were indeed different every evening. As example, I had an excellent cold banana soup on Monday in the Windows dining room, and it most certainly wasn't there when I returned on Thursday.

Perhaps you were confused by seeing the specialty restaurant menus, which don't change.

 

[AlexandNessa]

.
Sorry, 7 cruises, Disney was the only cruise line where we had to wait in line 45 minutes to get off the ship. Most other ships kept you fed and entertained in a public room, and you leave by group number, and walk right off the ship

ITA ... I thought DCL had one of the worst disembarkation systems as well. I am more used to the disembarkation you describe where you get numbers that match your luggage tags and leave the ship any time after your number is called.

 

[VivianDigi]

1. The Oceaneer Lab/Club - my dd did not like them, but it could have been just my dd

2. The light show in Animator's Palate, that was a total letdown.

3. the size of the bathrooms in your stateroom- very small and claustrophobic

 

[cruisinluver]

I am always convinced that DCL pays certain posters on the DIS to discount any negative feedback about the cruise experience. I also wonder why this thread is so depressing and yet there is a seven page thread of what people WANT to see on the new ships. A thread like that would never exist if there was perfection on DCL ships.

For me the three things in three DCL cruises that did not live up to the hype:

1. The fresh water and size of the pools. I have never felt so gunky in the afternoons than in the goofy or adult pools. Never had this problem on those ships that use processed sea water in their pools.

2. Castaway Cay is a little two perfect for me. I have found quiet very few people on the beaches in a few of the ports that were a far more wonderful beach experience than that offered at CC. I think the snorkeling there quite frankly sucks. I think the "post office" shouldn't even be there since they are not DCL employees or contractors there is no incentive to offer good service. The rudest experience has been with whoever is in that post office.

3. I like the split bathroom concept, but they have taken what is a small space on other cruiseships and made them into two smaller ones. I would rather have no split bathrooms than ever have to deal with that tiny area for relieving myself again.

 

[waddles28]

I am glad for this post. We just got off the Wonder on the 15th of February and I did have very high expectations because of this forum.

Not that we did not have a good time but it just wasn't what I had hoped for. This post actually let me know that I was not crazy and that there were others that had similar experiences.

The kids 8 and 6 did not like the clubs at all. The 5 to 7 age group seemed so young and they would not allow the 6 year old to go with his sister. I can understand that they needed rules and had he been 7 they would allow it. The 8 year old went into his club and they were very bored in there. I thought they could have used more activities for them also. The adult activities I thought were also somewhat lacking.

I didn't think that the food was spectacular nor the service. The crew was very friendly but I was not impressed by our waiters.

They messed up our Palo reservations, we had reservations on Tuesday evening and Monday after we had gotten back from the Bahamas one of the ladies in our group said that they had called and we were to be at Palo at 6:00 that evening. We rushed to get ready and get the kids to the clubs and when we got there they denied calling us for the reservation. My aunt had 3 other people in the room that verified it. We then missed our normal dinner time and had to do the buffet. We then cancelled for the next night as we were not happy then.

All in all it was great to get away and have friends and family with us.

 

[cristit14]

The biggest thing for me that didn't live up to the "hype" was Cookies BBQ. The food was okay (although I did enjoy the Caesar salad quite a bit). That being said there is nothing like lunch on the beach!!!

 

[princess22]

1) The lack of a system for disembarkation.

2) Late seating shows before dinner.

3) No hours for those under 18 in the fitness center.

See, now i disagree with the lack of system for disembarkation! I have traveled a couple other cruise lines and no one compares to Disney. It was so easy on Disney. We went to breakfast and walked off the ship. Every other cruise I've been on, I've had to sit around in a lounge watching the news for an hour or two until they call my colored tag (and I'm always one of the last!) I think Disney gets two thumbs up for their easy process!

 

[Mozart]

I guess I just don't understand why everyone had problems with this disembarkation. That was amazingly simple compared to other cruises I've been on.

Disappointments for us:
1) AP show - just didn't understand the big deal after seeing it.
2) Discover Atlantis excursion - Atlantis was nice, but did we really have to walk that much to see it? Our group of 20 people was down to 5 or 6 by the end. Everyone kept dropping off.
3) Nassau in general.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I also like the disembarkation process. I have done the other method on other cruise lines. Sitting around in all of the public areas waiting for your number to be called was not fun.

1. I have to agree about Animator's. It is mildly entertaining but not spectacular.

2. Also agree about Cookies BBQ. It has always been my least favorite meal on the cruise. I did notice a slight improvement on our cruise in December. A few more choices and not so "cafeteria food" like.

3. The cheese plate is not so impressive either. We do order it for a quick snack while we are dressing for the shows/dinner, but it seems to be getting smaller and less of selection each time.

 

[dahuffy]

The OP was asking for the negtives any of us have experienced. That is the POINT of this thread. If you do not want to read of other peoples negatives, then don't read the thread, as it was OBVIOUS it was going to be a negative thread. And if you do read it, DON'T SLAM or FLAME US for stating our opinions.


What type of food I expect is to be cooked and served at the right temparature. I have worked in the food industry and travel with someone who is a food writer and a member of IACP. We know food. PERIOD. I just want food that is prepared correctly. Is that a high expectation?


Then don't read negative threads if they discourage you. As I have stated before you could tell by this threads title is was going to be opinions based on negative experiences. Personally, I resent your reply. You imply I/we do not treat staff with respect. You know nothing about me. I never will let a server see my dis-satisfaction on their performence. I will wait until the end of a meal and if it is horrible service, it will be reflected in their tip, or I will ask to speak to a manager. My experiences have not stopped me from going, in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 -, 2008 and beyond most likely. All years to date have been multiple cruise years. AGAIN the OP asked for negatives, and you make a judgement on my/our conduct and personality without knowing me/us. Can you be anymore insulting?



Again, I find your reply insulting based on the comments I have made under the above replies. I live 20 minutes from mid town Manahattan, if I want 5 star food I can have it any night of the week. I just want food that is prepared correctly. Is that a high expectation?


I again stress, this thread was started on a negative. I do not travel on DCL for the food, though I do take many culinary vacations. Do I know food yes, Do I have high expectations of DCL, no. I equate it catering hall food.

I find most of the rebuttal replies here insulting to those of us that were honest . If anyone has an expectation, it is those that responded in a negative fashion to those of us who were honest to the OP question.

 

[crisi]

Pirate party. Wouldn't stay up for that again. If it was earlier, I probably would have enjoyed it more. But it was too late, too crowded, and not worth either the crowds or the time.

Kids clubs - my kids like the kids clubs, but if you read posts here it sounds like every child has to be dragged out of the clubs. Some kids do, some don't.

Activities - People said "there is so much to do on a seven day cruise, you'll never be bored!" There wasn't that much to do. There were plenty of times where our choices were "sitting around" or "watching family karoke."

I agree that the food is marginal, but having cruised DCL before, it wasn't a disappointment. Also think that the shows are hokey - particularly the productions (Disney Dreams - its the Twinkie of entertainment!), but had cruised before so knew what to expect.

 

[Poconos to Disney]

Split bathrooms - seems like whatever I needed was always in "the other one" and they're both too small for a pooh-sized woman.

I hear ya on the "too small"!!!!!

 

[scrapperjill]

Totally agree with this one.....please DCL, enough with the line dancing!!!! Time for a change.

I have to jump in and say I didn't care to much for the line dancing be-bop stuff either...BUT my KIDS LOVED it. And that's what really matters (IMO).

Two things that pop out in my mind as not living up to the hype is...

1. The Cheese platter from room service. It's cheese...nothing fancy.
2. The "BIG" cookies from room service. They didn't seem so "BIG" to me...nor super tasty. Yep...they were okay but nothing to wright home about.
3. Tea with Wendy. Sweet and all...but what kid really cares for non-sweetend plain old tea???

 

[disney1990]

I think it's good to see what didn't live up to the hype. On the other hand, I see that people keep coming back. That said, I'm really looking to our first cruise in July.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I have to jump in and say I didn't care to much for the line dancing be-bop stuff either...BUT my KIDS LOVED it. And that's what really matters (IMO).

That's interesting.....both my 10 & 12 y/o's lasted a few minutes with the line dancing then asked to leave because they were bored. Different strokes for different folks.

I don't think it was the dancing per se but the choice of music. Some of what gets played at the deck parties is probably older many of the passengers.

YMCA needs to be banned from DCL.

This is what I don't understand.....Disney owns a radio station. Why can't DCL play some current tunes that are being played on Disney's own station? They show High School Musical on the jumbotron....incorporate some of those tunes into the deck parties.

 

[tvguy]

TVGuy, I just got off the NCL Spirit last Sunday, and can adamantly tell you that is not correct. First and second courses (appetizers, soups and salads) in the main dining rooms (which you likely won't be eating in every night with all the great specialty choices) were indeed different every evening. As example, I had an excellent cold banana soup on Monday in the Windows dining room, and it most certainly wasn't there when I returned on Thursday.

Perhaps you were confused by seeing the specialty restaurant menus, which don't change.

These were the menus for the Pride Of America, for the regular restaurants. If you google "Pride Of America Menus' you'll get a number of sites including Cruise Critic that specificly mention this as a common complaint. Here's a link to the

menus.
http://www.orcatekweb.com/POA/menus.htm

Take a look, the First and Second courses NEVER changed the entire week.
HOWEVER, it may be unique to the this ship. We cruised twice with NCL before, both times on the Norway, and loved their service.