November 13, 2011 Mexico on the Wonder

[dpygrl3]

Just booked ours today!

This is our first DC (DH & DD4)
I did a short Carnival girls cruise a couple years ago.
My DH has never been on one b/f & is super excited!!
We will be located On Level 6.
My in-laws are also joining us

I am driving from AZ into LA the night b/f b/c we want to check in ASAP & try & get a early dinner (we are on the waiting list booo!)
Both DH & I have been to Cabo b/f & LOVE it. We can't wait to go back.
There seems to be so much to do on this cruise..I admit it seems a bit overwhelming. I hope my DD can deal with all the activities..esp. since she is a 8-9pm sleeper.. which is why I am a lil annoyed at being on a late dinner seating. I am hoping she can hold out..LOL

2 questions I had was do all of u have passports? my DD does not have one & my TA mentioned she does not need it.
Also since I feel my DD might not be interested in Cabo (except the Dolphin excursion) Do any of u leave the kiddos on the ship with Child Care ? if so is there a way to keep contact? Is the CC that trustworthy? My DH & I wanted to do a alone excursion & she would be to young to take along.

thanks

 

[stampinshauna]

Welcome dpygrl3! My DD will be 4 on this cruise as well! Feel free to ask any questions that come up.

As far as passports go, DD does have one and I am planning to get one for DS. I find that it is easier than taking other documentation (like their birth certificate). You can get away without one for the sea travel, but if for some reason you need to fly home, you have to have one. Unfortunately the kids passports are only good for 5 years. We've done a few cruises already with DD, and plan to do another next year, so I think it has been worth it for us. If you're only going to do this one cruise in the next 5 years, then maybe it isn't worth it (although you may think you'll only do one cruise but then you might get hooked ).

I haven't used the kids clubs before because DD was too young on our past cruises. I've heard wonderful things about them though, and I would trust the clubs, that is partly what DCL is known for. I'm not sure about keeping contact while on an excursion. You could check with DCL or your TA about that.

I think you have a very good chance for getting the early dining. I really haven't heard of anyone who couldn't get it either through the waitlist or once they got on the ship. We were waitlisted on one of our past cruises so we talked to them once we were on the ship and found out that they had already switched us to the early dining.

 

[dpygrl3]

Thanks for the welcome

Thanks for the help too
I just got my official reservation # & room #'s
so excited & my 4y/old is telling everyone that she is going on a Disney cruise..she is also jumping out of her skin..as is my hardworking hubby..he so needs a wonderful vaca

What about making reservations for the restaurant Palo or shore excursions (we want to do the kid dolphin one)..do u really need to make the reservations b/f the cruise or they get booked up?
I am not sure about booking that advanced...So hard to know what we will be in the mood for until we actually get on the ship....Do u know if this restaurant offers a High tea? Also what about the shows onboard? (which BTW look awesome!) they seem to start around dinner times. How do u get to have the nice sit down dinner if the show is going on at the same time..do u just have to do choose either or?
The CC looks so much fun! I think my 4y/o will be so tired from all the activities..hoping she does not burn out & get crabby pants on vaca..any tips? LOL
Has anyone tried the spa or booked the private villas? My MIL has had a sad stressful year & is such a great nana & generous to us I'd like to maybe gift something for her she would not do for herself..thinking a lil spa love or something nice for her

Sorry about the silly questions..just stuff coming to mind.

 

[Adie's Mama]

Welcome!!!

My son will be 5 this time, but last Nov when he was 4 he loved the cruise. My kids also go to bed by 8... so we're in the same boat (haha, no pun intended).

He just LOVED the kids club.

 

[stampinshauna]

My DD is a night owl, so I guess I'm not in the "same boat" but I do prefer early dining because I don't want to eat that much right before bed. Hopefully everyone can get the dining time they like.

The shows are staggered with the dining times. If you have early dining, the show is after. If you have late dining, you go to the show before. The shows are only about 45 minutes long, so hopefully they won't go too late for the kiddos. If you're worried about that, the 3 big stage shows (Disney Dreams, Golden Mickey's, and Toy Story the Musical) usually have a matinee as well that you could take the kids to, they are definitely worth seeing. Another option is they show them on the stateroom tv, but it is much better seeing them in person (and last time I tried to watch one on the tv my room was being cleaned and I couldn't).

dpygrl3--I didn't notice when you first posted that you're traveling with in-laws. You fit right in since we all have parents traveling with us. Too funny!

I'd suggest prebooking Palo if you think you want to go. You could always change your mind and switch the day when you get on the ship, but at least you'd have a reservation (they can be hard to get). They also do a brunch on sea days and I know they've done Tea in the past if I'm remembering correctly. I enjoy Palo, although we have done it a few times so I don't go every cruise, but it is worth trying (especially the famous chocolate souffle).

As far as excursions go, if you want to do the dolphin one, be sure to sign up for it as soon as you can. There are a lot of excursions that don't fill up so you can book them on the ship, but the popular ones do fill in advance (such as the dolphin encounters). I might have to look into that for DD, she may like it as well. I haven't given a lot of thought to my excursions yet.

I personally haven't done the spas, but I have heard good things about them.

You're questions aren't silly, ask away! When we were planning our first Disney cruise, I had hundreds of questions and luckily had a friendly and knowledgeable TA who was patient with me and answered them. I didn't know about the DISboards at the time (but learned about them thanks to our tablemates).

 

[lucky1]

Just booked ours today!


I am driving from AZ into LA the night b/f b/c we want to check in ASAP & try & get a early dinner (we are on the waiting list booo!)


2 questions I had was do all of u have passports? my DD does not have one & my TA mentioned she does not need it.
Also since I feel my DD might not be interested in Cabo (except the Dolphin excursion) Do any of u leave the kiddos on the ship with Child Care ? if so is there a way to keep contact? Is the CC that trustworthy? My DH & I wanted to do a alone excursion & she would be to young to take along.

thanks

dpygrl3 We are from AZ too, we are driving in on the 11th and will be going to DL on the 12th. Our MIL is flying in to join us on the cruise.

Early Dining: Make sure your Travel Agent (or DCL, if you booked directly), knows you want early dining and ask them to wait list you for early dining. We did this on our prior cruise and about a month out we got moved to early dining.

Kids Clubs: I think Disney does it right at Kids clubs, they keep it very active for them and if your daughter wants to just play, draw or chill she could do that. We have seen several times kids taking naps in the club when we went to pick up our daughter. They have wave phones (think of old cell phones) that they will contact you on from the kids club if they need to reach you, but they only work on the ship. I have never left our daughter in the club when we went on shore, she has always come with us. I have heard of others doing this. They do not have a way to reach you while on an excursion.

Thanks for the welcome

Thanks for the help too
I just got my official reservation # & room #'s
so excited & my 4y/old is telling everyone that she is going on a Disney cruise..she is also jumping out of her skin..as is my hardworking hubby..he so needs a wonderful vaca

What about making reservations for the restaurant Palo or shore excursions (we want to do the kid dolphin one)..do u really need to make the reservations b/f the cruise or they get booked up?
I am not sure about booking that advanced...So hard to know what we will be in the mood for until we actually get on the ship....Do u know if this restaurant offers a High tea? Also what about the shows onboard? (which BTW look awesome!) they seem to start around dinner times. How do u get to have the nice sit down dinner if the show is going on at the same time..do u just have to do choose either or?
The CC looks so much fun! I think my 4y/o will be so tired from all the activities..hoping she does not burn out & get crabby pants on vaca..any tips? LOL
Has anyone tried the spa or booked the private villas? My MIL has had a sad stressful year & is such a great nana & generous to us I'd like to maybe gift something for her she would not do for herself..thinking a lil spa love or something nice for her
Sorry about the silly questions..just stuff coming to mind.

When you can do online booking of excursions, please make sure you do it at 9pm MST (AZ time) on the 76 day prior to the trip, once you have paid in full. You can book at that time, but don't pay for it until you are onboard. You can also change your mind and change it at anytime up to 3 days before the sailing. We generally book Palo's brunch and Palo's Dinner and once in a while will do a SPA activity. I can recommend the massages or even just time in the rainforest room. Have not done the private villa, but had a massage in one, just because it was available space. I have also had a facial on the cruise, but you have to let them know that you don't want a sales pitch for their products. It would be a nice treat for your MIL.

So glad to have more joining our little group here!

 

[stampinshauna]

I finally took a look at the excursions this morning. I think we might do a beach one so that I don't have to figure out how to get to a decent beach, and since we don't get to go to Castaway Cay we need a good beach. We are also looking into the dolphin kids one for DD (I didn't even know that they had this until dpygrl3 mentioned it). I'm trying to decide whether we should do that or have DD and DH do the family one together and my mom, DS, and I will just observe.

 

[lucky1]

Shauna - We will be doing the Paradise beach excursion at PV. This has got good reviews from everywhere I have seen. We also plan to the Dolphin Swim at Cabo (because we can walk there and observers are free).

Laura

 

[stampinshauna]

Shauna - We will be doing the Paradise beach excursion at PV. This has got good reviews from everywhere I have seen. We also plan to the Dolphin Swim at Cabo (because we can walk there and observers are free).

Laura

Thank you so much for telling me this! I didn't notice that Cabo also had a kids dolphin program (and that observers are free). I was thinking to do it the other way around, and that saves me paying for 3 observers! You might get sick of seeing us since we may be on the same excursions and next door neighbors .

I was thinking that I want to do an excursion at each port so that we have something to do and that we aren't just wandering around. Also, we want my mom to have a good time since we talked her into coming along. I don't want to rely on figuring out where to go on our own and taking a cab there, it's nice to have things planned out for us.

 

[dpygrl3]

I logged on & don't see the times of the excursions.
I know Cabo has 2 stops one long day late moring till 7pmish & one really short & early (7:15-1pm)
So I am thinking maybe to do the shopping & lunch that day in cabo...hubby & I want one day in Cabo to ourselves
not sure what to do at the other port..we have never been there.

IMO since I have been to Cabo I don't think DD would like running around there as much as we did (shopping, tequila stop, margarita's & lunch LOL) They have some amazing Seafood deals on the marina which we want to visit again. Maybe take a glass bottom boat to the arch again & spend some time Lovers beach / Divorce beach (something we swore to do if we ever got back there) Lovers beach I remember was not easy to get to & u have to jump in & out of the water to get there. Don't see taking my 4 y/old there ..not yet. but ohhhh it is so amazing! I have also been to Chileno Bay it is very beautiful & u can snorkel & such..Cabo we can't wait to visit again..such a pretty & fun place!..I am hoping to get to do all we want to do visiting Cabo again..does not seem to give enough time tho..

 

[dpygrl3]

Does anyone Facebook here? Maybe we can connect there too if u are comfortable
I have having a issue reciving updates with reponses on this site

* I also have some Cabo pics from 2 years ago there if anyone is intrested.

 

[stampinshauna]

To get the notifications for updates to this thread, go to THREAD TOOLS (at the top, just below where it says page 5 of 5), then click SUBSCRIBE TO THIS THREAD, then tell it you want INSTANT EMAIL NOTIFICATION. Hopefully that helps.

I do use Facebook, but the downside of using that is that newcomers to the thread won't be able to see what we've been discussing and they won't get the info.

I didn't see excursion times either, maybe they only show those when you can sign up for excursions. I can start signing up on July 31st since I'm a Gold Castaway Club Member (5+ cruises), so I'm happy to let you know times when I can.

 

[lucky1]

Thank you so much for telling me this! I didn't notice that Cabo also had a kids dolphin program (and that observers are free). I was thinking to do it the other way around, and that saves me paying for 3 observers! You might get sick of seeing us since we may be on the same excursions and next door neighbors .

I was thinking that I want to do an excursion at each port so that we have something to do and that we aren't just wandering around. Also, we want my mom to have a good time since we talked her into coming along. I don't want to rely on figuring out where to go on our own and taking a cab there, it's nice to have things planned out for us.

Wouldn't it be funny if we ended up being table mates as well.. Then we would end up getting sick of one another. dpygrl3 and I could be neighbors since we are from the same state. On the Dolphin program, it is only 1 free observer per participant I believe, so you might have to pay for extra, but at least it is a saving. I know DD9 and DMIL will be the Dolphin Swim and DH and I will be observers (or at least I will)

I agree with you, I guess I don't mind spending the money on a Disney Excursion especially in locations that I haven't been. When we went to Key west we did things on our own, but it was kind of a mess. Now some DCL excursions have been not so good and others have been great. I think that happens with any planned 'tour'

I logged on & don't see the times of the excursions.
I know Cabo has 2 stops one long day late moring till 7pmish & one really short & early (7:15-1pm)
So I am thinking maybe to do the shopping & lunch that day in cabo...hubby & I want one day in Cabo to ourselves
not sure what to do at the other port..we have never been there.

I can remember where I saw that times, it might be at the top of these boards under excurision descriptions or it might have been from a navigator someone posted. But I know that it does list the duration of the excruision on the DCL site.

Does anyone Facebook here? Maybe we can connect there too if u are comfortable
I have having a issue reciving updates with reponses on this site

* I also have some Cabo pics from 2 years ago there if anyone is intrested.

I will send you and Shauna a PM with my Facebook information. While I would probably do most cruise discussion here (I don't like to post my pre trip information on facebook) and at least get to put names to faces on facebook.

 

[lucky1]

Dpygrl3 - I could not PM you... I think you need to have at least 10 posts before you can receive Private messages.

 

[lucky1]

Just wondering if any of you are on cruisecritic boards. I see there are a few folks on that cruise meet, but the discuss in slow there as well.

 

[stampinshauna]

I've been on cruisecritic, but it's been a few years. I never thought to discuss DCL on there. I used them when we did a Princess cruise. Will you pm me a link to that thread? Maybe we can get a few more over here.

I did notice the one observer thing on the Dolphin tour. I'm not sure that DD would do it alone anyway, so either DH or I will do it with and then the other and my mom will watch with DS (hopefully they won't count him since he won't even be 1 yet).

If we do put stuff on facebook, we should do it through a private group. I don't post trip info on my profile either.

 

[lucky1]

I also don't post children's names on the DIS boards, since that is not private at all.

 

[dpygrl3]

Oh really..hmmm
Ok well I need to catch up I guess.

I don't mind coming here..esp to find others to participate. I just don't want to put to much personal out on the public boards about myself & my family
I created a separate group off my FB page for my cruise..I made that group private so it's invite only..can share info pics there & such...
I can make anyone a administrator there so everyone can add whatever to the group etc..

Lucky..I will contact u I guess..I can't even post a email addy..booo!
I wanted to ask where in AZ u coming from..that would be so funny if we were close or in the same town...haaha

 

[dpygrl3]

Omgoodness!

I tried to PM u Lucky & I hope the email went thru..
this site is driving me nuts.. other boards I am on seem to be a bit easier to navigate, subscribe..post stuff..yikes!

 

[dpygrl3]

Stampinshauna

the other day I created a subgroup off my FB page just so I can seperate stuff off my main page.
I am gonna try & post pics there from Cabo & such
U can totally keep things private away from personal info if you know how to use your privacy settings.