On Board Activity Scheduling

[Beachbummer]

I am a first time cruiser and we are booked on a 5-day Dream itinerary in January. This may likely be my only DCL cruise, so I’m trying to do ALL the things (we canceled 3 other cruises since 2020 and I had to convince my husband to do this before my oldest ages out of the kids club in March).

I was very fortunate to be able to book several adult dining and drink tastings for the adults in my group (3 families). I booked Remy brunch at 11:30am the first sea day and Palo brunch at 12:30pm the second sea day. Currently I have a Mixology scheduled at 2pm immediately following the Palo brunch. Is this a bad idea?!? I realize it’s a very aggressive schedule. Our kids (ages 7-10) will be in the kids club during these time periods.

Alternatively, I can do Mixology at 4pm after a Cozumel excursion (excursion scheduled from 9am to 1pm). And wine tasting is offered at 4pm on the sea days (so following Remy or Palo). I purposely have nothing scheduled for our Castaway Cay day. My friends joining us have no opinions and are letting me plan everything (we travel together often and they are just along for the ride).

Thoughts!!? Thanks!!!

 

[Calantha]

I was very fortunate to be able to book several adult dining and drink tastings for the adults in my group (3 families). I booked Remy brunch at 11:30am the first sea day and Palo brunch at 12:30pm the second sea day. Currently I have a Mixology scheduled at 2pm immediately following the Palo brunch. Is this a bad idea?!? I realize it’s a very aggressive schedule. Our kids (ages 7-10) will be in the kids club during these time periods.

Alternatively, I can do Mixology at 4pm after a Cozumel excursion (excursion scheduled from 9am to 1pm). And wine tasting is offered at 4pm on the sea days (so following Remy or Palo). I purposely have nothing scheduled for our Castaway Cay day. My friends joining us have no opinions and are letting me plan everything (we travel together often and they are just along for the ride).

I would never do anything after Palo brunch. My SIL ended up having to replace MIL (who was sick that day) at Palo brunch on our July cruise and then she couldn't enjoy our Mixology that afternoon. The last time I did Palo (which was not on that cruise), I barely consumed anything else for the rest of the day.

I guess if you don't go all out, you can do it, but I wouldn't recommend. Maybe if it was a late night event (like when Mojitos are at 8PM), I'd consider it.

I would do Mixology on Cozumel day. I also wouldn't go out of my way to do a wine tasting - maybe see if you can get pairings at brunch or something? I know that Remy dessert had a pairing option.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy Palo Brunch. And realize when you leave you will be quite full.

 

[Dug720]

Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy Palo Brunch. And realize when you leave you will be quite full.

And know that there is no way to do ALL the things. If you try you'll just end up stressed, tired, and frustrated. Pick the 3 or 4 most important to you and focus on those.

 

[Beachbummer]

I would never do anything after Palo brunch. My SIL ended up having to replace MIL (who was sick that day) at Palo brunch on our July cruise and then she couldn't enjoy our Mixology that afternoon. The last time I did Palo (which was not on that cruise), I barely consumed anything else for the rest of the day.

I guess if you don't go all out, you can do it, but I wouldn't recommend. Maybe if it was a late night event (like when Mojitos are at 8PM), I'd consider it.

I would do Mixology on Cozumel day. I also wouldn't go out of my way to do a wine tasting - maybe see if you can get pairings at brunch or something? I know that Remy dessert had a pairing option.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[dreamer17555]

Mixology following Palo is a bad idea.

Also give yourself an extra hour or two on the excursions- things do happen and the times that they quote are not always accurate. For instance of the excursion says it starts at nine, but it’s four hours it probably won’t actually start until at least 930 because they take time to check in and walk everybody off the ship together.

Also, there is zero way to do everything onboard and you will make yourself absolutely stressed trying to. Pick one or two or three items at most that are your must do and let the rest be pixie dust bonus.

Also for your first Disney Cruise, if you have not done so already, I highly recommend you join the Facebook group for your sailing. If you need help finding your specific sailing, let me know but they normally have tons of information and can really help you out.

I’m on the Disney Dream January 4-9th. So I’m happy to share any info I can if you’re on a later January sailing.

 

[Beachbummer]

Mixology following Palo is a bad idea.

Also give yourself an extra hour or two on the excursions- things do happen and the times that they quote are not always accurate. For instance of the excursion says it starts at nine, but it’s four hours it probably won’t actually start until at least 930 because they take time to check in and walk everybody off the ship together.

Also, there is zero way to do everything onboard and you will make yourself absolutely stressed trying to. Pick one or two or three items at most that are your must do and let the rest be pixie dust bonus.

Also for your first Disney Cruise, if you have not done so already, I highly recommend you join the Facebook group for your sailing. If you need help finding your specific sailing, let me know but they normally have tons of information and can really help you out.

I’m on the Disney Dream January 4-9th. So I’m happy to share any info I can if you’re on a later January sailing.

Thanks. I’ve already joining the Facebook group. I’m on the Dream January 18th-23rd sailing. I’d love to hear your thoughts when you return!

 

[otten]

I am a first time cruiser and we are booked on a 5-day Dream itinerary in January. This may likely be my only DCL cruise, so I’m trying to do ALL the things (we canceled 3 other cruises since 2020 and I had to convince my husband to do this before my oldest ages out of the kids club in March).

I was very fortunate to be able to book several adult dining and drink tastings for the adults in my group (3 families). I booked Remy brunch at 11:30am the first sea day and Palo brunch at 12:30pm the second sea day. Currently I have a Mixology scheduled at 2pm immediately following the Palo brunch. Is this a bad idea?!? I realize it’s a very aggressive schedule. Our kids (ages 7-10) will be in the kids club during these time periods.

Alternatively, I can do Mixology at 4pm after a Cozumel excursion (excursion scheduled from 9am to 1pm). And wine tasting is offered at 4pm on the sea days (so following Remy or Palo). I purposely have nothing scheduled for our Castaway Cay day. My friends joining us have no opinions and are letting me plan everything (we travel together often and they are just along for the ride).

Thoughts!!? Thanks!!!

Allow me to caution you against trying to do all the things, especially on only a 5 night. You're going to feel super super rushed and like you spent the entire trip racing from one thing to another. You will also miss out on other things that make a Disney cruise special such as adhoc character meets. You'll actually do more if you book less.

 

[princesscinderella]

I feel like the alcohol tasting classes while fun have gotten more expensive than they are worth. I usually never like all the drinks offered in a tasting session. They used to be a good deal and a fun way to meet other adults on the ship. Now we prefer getting three full sized cocktails of exactly what we like for the same price and can do it anytime of the day and spread them out so we aren’t getting drunk. I have had to miss palo dinner one time after a martini tasting that we had a little too much fun at and I ended up getting sick. You will most likely be happier for a nap in a lounge chair after Palo than going straight into mixology. The one benefit is you will be drinking on a full stomach. I think my biggest problem with the 4 pm alcohol tastings is that the alcohol does hit you hard because it’s close to dinner time if you have early dinner and you haven’t eaten since lunch at noon the alcohol will hit you much harder so have a snack before.

 

[otten]

I feel like the alcohol tasting classes while fun have gotten more expensive than they are worth. I usually never like all the drinks offered in a tasting session. They used to be a good deal and a fun way to meet other adults on the ship. Now we prefer getting three full sized cocktails of exactly what we like for the same price and can do it anytime of the day and spread them out so we aren’t getting drunk. I have had to miss palo dinner one time after a martini tasting that we had a little too much fun at and I ended up getting sick. You will most likely be happier for a nap in a lounge chair after Palo than going straight into mixology. The one benefit is you will be drinking on a full stomach. I think my biggest problem with the 4 pm alcohol tastings is that the alcohol does hit you hard because it’s close to dinner time if you have early dinner and you haven’t eaten since lunch at noon the alcohol will hit you much harder so have a snack before.

I agree. I really enjoyed the champagne tastings the times that I did it (especially love it on embarkation day) but last cruise I decided to just buy myself a bottle of my favourite for the same price.

The chocolate and liquor though we still do every time.

 

[Beachbummer]

I feel like the alcohol tasting classes while fun have gotten more expensive than they are worth. I usually never like all the drinks offered in a tasting session. They used to be a good deal and a fun way to meet other adults on the ship. Now we prefer getting three full sized cocktails of exactly what we like for the same price and can do it anytime of the day and spread them out so we aren’t getting drunk. I have had to miss palo dinner one time after a martini tasting that we had a little too much fun at and I ended up getting sick. You will most likely be happier for a nap in a lounge chair after Palo than going straight into mixology. The one benefit is you will be drinking on a full stomach. I think my biggest problem with the 4 pm alcohol tastings is that the alcohol does hit you hard because it’s close to dinner time if you have early dinner and you haven’t eaten since lunch at noon the alcohol will hit you much harder so have a snack before.

Good tip. I was wondering if the “value” is even worth it. Especially if we may not even like all of the drinks offered.

 

[Beachbummer]

Allow me to caution you against trying to do all the things, especially on only a 5 night. You're going to feel super super rushed and like you spent the entire trip racing from one thing to another. You will also miss out on other things that make a Disney cruise special such as adhoc character meets. You'll actually do more if you book less.

My boys are 8 and 10. We have been to Disney World several times and they love Disney World, but they are never interested in meeting the characters up close. Even when they were in the 3-6 age range, they weren’t interested in hugging or speaking to the characters. So we will see them from afar, but I do not anticipate us waiting in lines for character signatures. Honestly, they are super into Marvel and Star Wars, but the timing could not work out for a Marvel cruise.

 

[lanejudy]

There are a LOT of onboard activities that you don't pre-register. If you book your days so full of adult dining and tastings, you'll miss out on some of the other fun offered -- to say nothing of missing out on relaxation.

 

[Carohs]

Tastings, while fun to do on vacation, add no "Disney magic" to your cruise (no drink theming). The value used to be there, but not so much since the price increased. We usually schedule one just so we have at least one thing just us without the kids, but of all the things that make our cruise memorable, the tastings are probably the lowest on the priority list. This is something we can easily do on another cruise line or even at home (you can get a lot of ingredients for $100).

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

With all your adult activities scheduled, what is your plan if your kids hate the kids club? Everyone told me mine would love it and we'd have to drag them out of there. They hated it.

 

[Beachbummer]

With all your adult activities scheduled, what is your plan if your kids hate the kids club? Everyone told me mine would love it and we'd have to drag them out of there. They hated it.

We’re traveling with 2 other families. 6 kids in total, ranging in age from 7 to 10. They are all used to playing together and our families have traveled together before. So we are fully confident that even if they hate the kids club, they can entertain themselves and play with each other at the kids club. We may see if the two 10-year olds can gain access to the tween club, Edge. I’m willing to give my kids some freedom on the ship to explore, but my friends’ 7-year old will require supervision (he can be naughty).

BUT based on everyone’s feedback, I am leaning towards dropping the drink tastings. I’d rather grab a really nice glass of wine rather than sip on 5 mediocre cocktails. But I am keeping the Remy and Palo brunches!

Thanks!!!

 

[lilmc]

You'll actually do more if you book less.

I agree with everything everyone else has said! Maybe have one thing scheduled ahead of time per day and the rest just see about the other things.

 

[lilmc]

Also, unpopular opinion: I think Palo is *ok*. My hubby loved the brunch buffet, but since that is gone, we don’t go anymore. It’s no better than a good restaurant at home and you just dropped $100 minimum and spent hours there when you could have been lounging in the heated loungers in the Rainforest Room watching the ocean for less money. I can get good Italian food at home, I can’t watch the ocean from home.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We’re traveling with 2 other families. 6 kids in total, ranging in age from 7 to 10. They are all used to playing together and our families have traveled together before. So we are fully confident that even if they hate the kids club, they can entertain themselves and play with each other at the kids club. We may see if the two 10-year olds can gain access to the tween club, Edge. I’m willing to give my kids some freedom on the ship to explore, but my friends’ 7-year old will require supervision (he can be naughty).

Sounds like the perfect setup! Having friends there probably would have made a huge difference for ours.

 

[Beachbummer]

Also, unpopular opinion: I think Palo is *ok*. My hubby loved the brunch buffet, but since that is gone, we don’t go anymore. It’s no better than a good restaurant at home and you just dropped $100 minimum and spent hours there when you could have been lounging in the heated loungers in the Rainforest Room watching the ocean for less money. I can get good Italian food at home, I can’t watch the ocean from home.

Thanks for the input. I’m more excited about Remy brunch. I’m gluten free, so Italian food is difficult for me in general. But I’ve heard DCL is amazing with food allergies. And I’m curious about all the hype around Palo.