Nightly Shows For Toddlers?

[aseyrick]

For the past cruisers with toddlers - are nightly shows worth keeping your little ones up that late?

We're going on the 7 nt W. Caribb & have a 3 yo who usually goes down by 8 (CST). We have early seating, which means we'll have to go to the 8:30 show. Just wondering if the shows are worth changing his sleep schedule? Also, are there ones that are must-see's v. "not really worth your time"?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[ddpaints]

The last time I was on the Disney cruise I was childless. This time we have our two children ages 4 and almost 2 at time of sailing. We chose late dinner just so the kids could see the shows. I'm very strict about bed time but for this vacation I'm tossing it out the window. I'm planning on being back to the ship in time that they can maybe get some rest for a couple hrs (hopefully between 3 and 5) before the show and dinner.
So for us the kids seeing the shows was totally worth changing dinner and bed time. I know mine probably won't have any melt downs as long as they are entertained. Like many others this is not something we will be able to do every year so I want them to see and do as much as possible. You know your child best and how they would handle it.

 

[zoom8942]

my ds ( 2 when we last cruised) loved the shows. Actually, it was his favorite part of the cruise. I think the people around us got more enjoyment watching him than they did the show!!! I know every kid is different, so try one and see how it goes. We were only on a 3 night, of course toy story was a favorite. But he loved them all.

 

[VMinick]

We cruised when our middle child was three and again recently with our youngest who is three. Both times, they were enthralled by the shows! Towards the end of the cruise, they were tired and would just lounge back against us while watching, but when given the choice to leave, they both gave emphatic no's! I think they both enjoyed Disney Dreams the best. Enjoy! You'll have a great cruise.

 

[HallsofVA]

My kids cruised when they were 22 and 24 months. Both loved the musical shows, made it through the movie premier, and had no tolerance for the variety/comedy/magic shows. So the musicals are definitely worth seeing, at least the shows we saw were. Not so sure about Villains for a toddler, since it didn't come out until our kids were older, but they'll probably still like it for the singing and dancing.

 

[aidtrismommy]

My kids loved the shows too except for the comediens and such. The musicals with the characters were a hit. The Cinderella show (i forgot the name) was a disaster so I put my kids to bed and watched the rest of it on tv. (It just didn't hold their interest) I always put them to bed right after. We missed the pirate party because it was too late. Just play it by ear. If they are clearly not into it, then leave. It was too much hassle to try and keep them seated and quiet for me to enjoy anything during the cinderella show so I called it quits.

 

[jrask]

We're willing to push one bedtime. Otherwise, it starts affecting the rest of the vacation.

The show that you want to push past bedtime for is called Disney Dreams. Great music, lots of changing themes and characters (between the various movies), lots of effects, etc.

Twice Charmed (the Cinderella show mentioned in PP) isn't as toddler-friendly. Its one long story and isn't as likely to capture the attention -- it isn't as good either IMHO. I haven't seen Villains yet.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Occassionally on sea days the show will have a matinee at 2 pm. That might be a choice also if it is not afternoon nap time.

 

[Ziggette]

This year my DH and I sailed with our 1 1/2 and 4yr old DDs. They loved Toy Story, The Golden Mickeys and the Pirate Celebration. The muscials kept both of the girls focus for the entire show.
We are cruising again on the Dream in 2011 and have decided to do a couple of things different this time.
First,we are going to let the girls either have room service or eat in dinner at the club and then, as a family go to the 7pm shows.
Next, we will take the girls back to the club and DH and I will have late seating dinner. We found the dinner plus the show was too much for the little ones to have to endure. Just our opinion...

Have fun!
Jill

 

[aseyrick]

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback and great recommendations! Please note that the following is our lineup:

Let the Magic Begin
Variety Show
Twice Charmed
Villains Tonight
Pirates in the Caribbean
Disney Dreams
Remember the Magic

Sounds like Variety Show, Twice Charmed, Villains Tonight, Pirates are out due to either "not worth it" or simply too late. Any thoughts on Let the Magic Begin or Remember the Magic?

Thanks again!!

 

[ericalynn1979]

We just came off the 10/16 Magic and my 2 1/2 year old LOVED the shows. Of course, we're Central time zone and her "normal" bedtime is 9pm, so it was 10pm on the ship (and we'd sleep in as much as possible in the AM since there wasn't a lot going on).

We had early dinner, and then go to visit a character or two, change her into her pajamas, go to the show, and then straight to bed afterwards. She fell asleep in the show once (pretty sure it was Twice Charmed) but other than that did GREAT! But she loves music and dancing. Didn't care as much for the comedians/juggler, she'd get restless during those parts of the shows.

 

[ericalynn1979]

Oh, PLEASE don't miss the Pirates show. Especially if your child loves fireworks (mine does, it was one of the highlights of our entire vacation, waiting for those fireworks on the Mickey Boat).

 

[aseyrick]

We had early dinner, and then go to visit a character or two, change her into her pajamas, go to the show, and then straight to bed afterwards.

Erica - This is exactly our plan at this point, and I'm glad to hear it worked out for your little one. Question - You had mentioned the time change. Is the entire cruise on EST zone or just part of it? (It would allow us to stay an extra hour later if we stayed w/ our current CST.)

Thanks,

 

[jrask]

You had mentioned the time change. Is the entire cruise on EST zone or just part of it? (It would allow us to stay an extra hour later if we stayed w/ our current CST.)

Thanks,

We took the W. Carib. and I recall it staying EST the entire time. But how your kids adjust is up to them. We are west coast time and we had grand plans for DS staying on PST and so effectively "sleeping in" and staying up for shows. We even wondered whether second seating was a better fit for our time zone.

Didn't work. He adjusted almost completely by the very first morning...long travel day with bizzaro sleeping schedule played with his timing. Thankfully, we had gone with early seating so meal times remained perfect.

 

[VMinick]

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback and great recommendations! Please note that the following is our lineup:

Let the Magic Begin
Variety Show
Twice Charmed
Villains Tonight
Pirates in the Caribbean
Disney Dreams
Remember the Magic

Sounds like Variety Show, Twice Charmed, Villains Tonight, Pirates are out due to either "not worth it" or simply too late. Any thoughts on Let the Magic Begin or Remember the Magic?

Thanks again!!

Remember the Magic has lots of characters in it, and all three of my children love that one! Any chance to see Mickey is usually welcome.

 

[HallsofVA]

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback and great recommendations! Please note that the following is our lineup:

Let the Magic Begin
Variety Show
Twice Charmed
Villains Tonight
Pirates in the Caribbean
Disney Dreams
Remember the Magic

Sounds like Variety Show, Twice Charmed, Villains Tonight, Pirates are out due to either "not worth it" or simply too late. Any thoughts on Let the Magic Begin or Remember the Magic?

Thanks again!!

I'd skip the Let the Magic Begin, Variety Show, and Pirates in the Caribbean (deck party unless they normally stay up that late, not the dinner of course.) The musicals are Twice Charmed, Villains Tonight, and Disney Dreams, and I'd see all of them. If you're done packing, then Remember the Magic is nice and has characters and princesses in it, but we've skipped it several times since we're usually busy packing.

 

[aseyrick]

I'd skip the Let the Magic Begin, Variety Show, and Pirates in the Caribbean (deck party unless they normally stay up that late, not the dinner of course.) The musicals are Twice Charmed, Villains Tonight, and Disney Dreams, and I'd see all of them. If you're done packing, then Remember the Magic is nice and has characters and princesses in it, but we've skipped it several times since we're usually busy packing.

I had heard Villains isn't good for toddlers and can even be scary. Is this true?

 

[HallsofVA]

I had heard Villains isn't good for toddlers and can even be scary. Is this true?

We just saw Villains for the first (and our only) time in late September, and my youngest was 3 at the time. I don't remember it being scary, and both kids liked it, though personally my DH and I didn't like it nearly as much as the others. It is somewhat darker than the other shows, but it makes fun of the villains more than it makes them seem menacing. I'd say it probably depends on your child. My son at 2 would have liked it, while my daughter at 2 probably wouldn't have liked it as much since there aren't any princesses in it and everyone's wearing makeup or heavy costumes.

 

[ericalynn1979]

Erica - This is exactly our plan at this point, and I'm glad to hear it worked out for your little one. Question - You had mentioned the time change. Is the entire cruise on EST zone or just part of it? (It would allow us to stay an extra hour later if we stayed w/ our current CST.)

Thanks,

On Western we had to change for Cozumel.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

First,we are going to let the girls either have room service or eat in dinner at the club and then, as a family go to the 7pm shows.
Next, we will take the girls back to the club and DH and I will have late seating dinner.

Ooo, I like this! I have been trying to juggle the nap-show-dinner schedule and I just haven't been able to come up with a good way to do it. Ideally, we would do 5pm dinner and 7pm show, but that is not an option. I know the kids will love the shows, but they may not care much about sitting in the dining room. So if we do the 5pm show and late dinner, they can have dinner at the club and that can be "Mommy and Daddy time" in the nice dining room.