Nov,20th, 2011 Mexico

[been2marceline]

I have noticed there are some of you on your first cruise. Here are some notes from things I have found helpful...

7. ** Do not let them take electronic devices on the cruise. It takes away from the experience.
8. *** Do not let them go into the Arcade; It is not free and there is to much other things for them to do.

Good info!!

These last 2 items can also be horrendously expensive, a friend of mines son rang up 150.00 + in the arcade in less than an hour once......

The cell phone charges, for texting & data, etc, if not handled properly before the cruise, can be even greater ......

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

We were not there yesterday, sounds like it was nice! We went last weekend, so this weekend we are catching up on things!

What is Magic Mornings??

You are able to get in the park an hour before it opens. We had a great time even in the rain.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

I have noticed there are some of you on your first cruise. Here are some notes from things I have found helpful.

Some Notes:
1. Before the cruise let you kids know what time he has to be in the room for dinner. You will not be able to find them on the ship easily.
2. Take a note tablet or sticky notes to leave each other messages and remind him to look at it.
3. Before you go to bed order him cookies and milk from room service (free) and leave for your kids. It is easy for you and it makes him feel loved.
4. Disney has good ice cream bars from room service at no cost.
5. Dinner is an experience so do not let your kids ditch you at dinner.
6. In the theater set in the same place every night and let you kids know where that is in case they want to join you. I have always been in the front left. My son will come looking for me in the left side of the theater.
7. ** Do not let them take electronic devices on the cruise. It takes away from the experience.
8. *** Do not let them go into the Arcade; It is not free and there is to much other things for them to do.

Thanks for these helpful tips. They are greatly appreciated by all of us new and veteran cruisers.

A suggestion to parents of teens: Establish rules, must attend family events, and consequences for making bad choices before you board. Once we started to do this, it eliminated the family drama that could ruin a good massage buzz or a good DOTD buzz.

 

[Dancin Mom]

We don't seem to get Magic Mornings with our annual pass, bummer.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

We don't seem to get Magic Mornings with our annual pass, bummer.

Since Disney hotel guests get Magic Mornings, take advantage of the annual pass discounted room rates, and you too could enjoy one of these magical mornings.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

The birthday girl and I are enjoying our day at the DL Resort.

Happy birthday Disney Style!

MY DH and BIL have Main Street USA all to themselves.

It was a great weekend to be at DL with the excitement of the filming of the Christmas Parade for ABC.

This morning the cast members were transforming the Grand Californian's lobby into a magical Winter Wonderland. Since it was raining, Christina Aguilera had to sing somewhere.

 

[Chicogirl]

[QUOTE

Happy birthday Disney Style!



Happy birthday, look at those beautiful cakes!

 

[kathylawless]

Good info!!

These last 2 items can also be horrendously expensive, a friend of mines son rang up 150.00 + in the arcade in less than an hour once......

The cell phone charges, for texting & data, etc, if not handled properly before the cruise, can be even greater ......

Wow, that is really good to know about the arcade! We have a 5 hour wait at the airport coming back so unfortunately electronic devices seem pretty likely!
I will have tight restrictions on the arcade and spending...

 

[kathylawless]

MY DH and BIL have Main Street USA all to themselves.

We went to DCA the week after it opened and it was raining, deserted as well!!!
It was a great way to see everything without the crowds!!

 

[kathylawless]

My kids will be off the ship with their dad while we're in Cabo for two of the day times (he and his wife are flying down to Cabo to spend some time with the kids). I made a reservation for Palo for 6:30 on Thanksgiving for myself. Anyone else dining at Palo 6:30 Thurs.?

 

[MikeAndNick]

Something we did on the Disney Trans-Atlantic cruise was to have a Unbirthday for the two kids at our table. The staff brought them the small birthday cakes and sang happy Unbirthday to them. I have never seen two kids (13 and 15) so supprised and happy. On your birthday you expect something, on your unbirthday you do not expect it.

If you have a good kid on the cruise you might try it. Just let your waiter know. Below is the link where Unbirthday came from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbirthday

 

[Wests4Disney]

MY DH and BIL have Main Street USA all to themselves.

We went to DCA the week after it opened and it was raining, deserted as well!!!
It was a great way to see everything without the crowds!!

We love it when it rains at Disneyland!!!!! We just put on ponchos and keep on going. Most people leave and never return....ahhhh, the beauty of rain at Disney.

 

[kathylawless]

Something we did on the Disney Trans-Atlantic cruise was to have a Unbirthday for the two kids at our table. The staff brought them the small birthday cakes and sang happy Unbirthday to them. I have never seen two kids (13 and 15) so supprised and happy. On your birthday you expect something, on your unbirthday you do not expect it.

If you have a good kid on the cruise you might try it. Just let your waiter know. Below is the link where Unbirthday came from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbirthday

That sounds like fun! I'll try to remember to do that! They would be surprised...

 

[Wests4Disney]

Hi all,

Another question is about Oceaneer club and Lab. I have read some review about them on DW and those are disappointing. I expected kids program on DW would be so perfect that every kids would not want to leave club. ( It will be our ultimate goal for this DC ) I do not want to hear my kids saying " kids club is boring" I want some adult only peace! Please! Could anyone with kids tell me about club and lab. thanks.

We have only done our cruising on the Magic and the Wonder and I ALWAYS have to pull my kids away from the Lab/club. We have actually experienced every level of youth programming on the ship, except the nursery, which we will experience on this trip. We have to schedule time with the kids to leave and go to dinner with us. If we didn't make it a requirement for the number of dinners that they have to attend, they might just stay there and sleep someplace in the lab/club.
When my son got older and out of the club/lab age, it was a little nerve wracking, because it was harder to keep close tabs on him and his little group of friends. We got to know the other parents with the kids in the same age group and we all just kept an eye out on all of the group. It was like the village concept in real life.
Hopefully your kids will be much like ours and want to do everything the lab/club has to offer.

 

[Dancin Mom]

Oh wow! That's awesome!

Something we did on the Disney Trans-Atlantic cruise was to have a Unbirthday for the two kids at our table. The staff brought them the small birthday cakes and sang happy Unbirthday to them. I have never seen two kids (13 and 15) so supprised and happy. On your birthday you expect something, on your unbirthday you do not expect it.

If you have a good kid on the cruise you might try it. Just let your waiter know. Below is the link where Unbirthday came from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbirthday

 

[Wests4Disney]

They should also be showing The Muppets Movie as it opens on Thanksgiving. We saw African Cats on opening day on the Wonder.

We thought the same thing since we saw the opening show of Wall-E. We were in the movie theatre when the Muppets show had the advertisement and then it said opening day is Thanksgiving day and both of the kids in unison said, "Maybe they will show it on the boat like they did with Wall-E." We are hoping so....only time will tell. Although, I hope they don't show it at 12:01 am again, since I slept through most of Wall-E because it was debuted the morning that it was released to the public.

 

[Wests4Disney]

Thanks for these helpful tips. They are greatly appreciated by all of us new and veteran cruisers.

A suggestion to parents of teens: Establish rules, must attend family events, and consequences for making bad choices before you board. Once we started to do this, it eliminated the family drama that could ruin a good massage buzz or a good DOTD buzz.

We did not do this at the beginning of our last cruise (our first with a teenager), and we had to do it in the middle. Now we are going ready for there to be NO drama, because he will know the consequences and expectations from the beginning.

Great advice! I wish I had heard or read this before our last cruise, luckily the trouble they got into wasn't big, but we would have been saved some headaches.

 

[deebs]

I'm Deborah and I'm sailing with my 10 year old daughter and my 8 year old son. So looking forward to a week away. Hoping for nice weather and that the kids like the clubs so I can have some alone time. Since my daughter is 10... I'm hoping she won't be too "mature" for the lab. Looking forward to a great week and meeting some of you!!

 

[phil1914]

Hi all. First time Disney cruiser. Just finished reading all 36 pages. Whew. So I guess customary info: DH40, DWdoyoureallythinkidpost?, DD9, and DD6 who will become DD7 during the cruise. Wondering who I could contact for any fun birthday extras for her. Ideas welcome too. I think DW arranged for a cake and we're doing the pirate ship excursion that day.

 

[alnilibr]

I'm Deborah and I'm sailing with my 10 year old daughter and my 8 year old son. So looking forward to a week away. Hoping for nice weather and that the kids like the clubs so I can have some alone time. Since my daughter is 10... I'm hoping she won't be too "mature" for the lab. Looking forward to a great week and meeting some of you!!

Hi, My daughter is 10 and my son is 7and half. I guess my kids and your kids will meet at the kids club. After reading very positive comments about kids club here, I am very relived and relaxed. I really hope for nice warm weather for a week.