Questions

[Buckleybunch]

Hi,
We finally made our decision on when to go. We will be going Dec 11-2004.. This year better go quickly, as I already want to start packing and buying clothes for the kids for the cruise..

We have invited my parents to go with us. My mom already requested the time off for work, and got it approved the same day. My dad ( 72 yrs old) isn't so sure about going. I gave him the DCL booklet to read last night.

After the cruise we are planning on going to WDW for about 10 days. So this trip will cost us a lot. Which is okay, because it's worth every penny.. ( Ebay stocks needs to continue to grow - lol)

But I do want to be prepared and plan so I'm not surprised, and want to budget accordingly. We have booked cat 11. We are on Deck 6. Not 100% sure on the "real" difference of what deck we are on. I really wanted cat 9, but was worried about being on the 2nd deck. Any ways, I"m not worried about not having adjoining rooms due to my parents going, they will have the twins in their room.

I have been reading that the soda/pop isn't free except at meals. What is the cost, and what is the soda program? ANy way to bring some of your own soda on board- like we do to the resorts?? Yes, we drink a lot of soda. Can the kids have soda/pop in the labs??

My kids will be in different age groups. I"m a little worried about that. SHelby my oldest is very quite. She will be 13 yrs old.
The twins will be okay, because they will have each other. Noah is the same size as the twins and do everything with them.. His friends are generally the boys in the twins classes. So having him a lone bothers me too.
Has anyone had experience with their kids all being very close but in the different ages brackets on the ship?

I also read that it's a cashless system. We have one credit card, and I don't use it at all, and the credit limit isn't too high.. Do we have to charge everything on that?? we can't pay cash for anything? I guess I could use my debit card, as long as they don't have a ton of holds on it.


I'm sure I will have a ton of more questions. I was up until 2am this morning reading the post- so I'm trying to soak everything in. We haven't ever been on a cruise, or known anyone to have gone.

Thanks
Linda

 

[Trekker]

The soda program is $5 per day / per person so a 4 day cruise is $20.00 and a 7 day is $35.00. Many people think this is over priced. We consider it to be fair.

ANy way to bring some of your own soda on board- like we do to the resorts

Yes you can, many people do this!

Can the kids have soda/pop in the labs??

I do not know the answer to this!

Has anyone had experience with their kids all being very close but in the different ages brackets on the ship?

My kids are close in age but teenagers - they were in different groups last trip - my oldest DS had a wonderful group of teens to hang out with, had the best time. There were not as many my DD's age but she made a couple good friends and had a blast.

we can't pay cash for anything?

By cashless they mean everything is charged to your room, You can make cash payments against your room at guest services. I think you can deposit cash to your account anytime. Others may know more about this!

 

[kcashner]

Cashless system means that you either put a credit card or cash on your account when you check in. Then everything is billed to your key to the world card, which at the end, links back to your credit card of the money you paid up front. You might want to get a credit card just to use for the trip (just a thought)....makes things a lot easier, and a lot of cards have low or no interest for the first 6 months. Since you have a year to save, you'd just need to plan to pay off the card right away. Alternatively, bring travellers checks to put on the account at the beginning. If you do that, you "square up" on the last day--they refund anything you didn't spend, or you pay them if you overspent.

There are no sodas in the club or lab for the 12 and under set. They do have access to water at all times. Also, you can get milk, water, iced tea, fruit punch, and hot chocolate free at all times. Sodas are free only in the dining rooms. Other than that, they are $2 each or $35 per person per week. That's big bucks. You will have a small fridge in each room. We have brought cans of coke and put it in the fridge. For your crew, you might want 2 liter bottles!!! I just tell my munchkin that coke at meals is enough, she doesn't need more than that.


You didn't tell us your kid's ages. Yes, the 13 year old will be in the teen program. The 8-9 and 10-12s are in the Oceaneer's Lab. THey are in separate groups, but many times are doing activities in the same area and some activities are together. I think it's probably a good idea for the kids to have some apart time in the programs. They can still hang together all over the ship...pools, family shows, meals, etc. Kids spend varying amounts of time in the kid programs. Some love them, others find the "lame". For mine, it really depends on whether or not she meets a buddy in the first day or two. Your teen may particularly appreciate being separate from the younger set. Mine thinks it's really cool that you have to have your KTTW card encoded to use the elevator to the teen area.

You don't pay cash because that way it is easier for Disney to track purchases and there is no temptation for theft....YOU can pay cash. You pay the cash up front when you check in, and can add to it as you wish throughout the cruise. If I'm not explaining this well, feel free to e-mail me.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Thanks for all the information.

 

[vgaskin]

On our first cruise, my youngest were 4 & 5. They let the 5 year old go into the 3 & 4 year old group with her sister. She couldn't go back and forth but she could choose at the beginning. Hope this helps in your question about the twins and Noah. If they just miss it by a year, you may be safe. If not, the 3-7 are in pretty much the same room and the 8-12 are in the same room so they should be able to see each other most of the time anyway.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

A question continuing off of the original poster's question about the sodas.... can you get that $35 week thing for ONE person? Or do you have to do it for your entire party if you do it for any? Just curious... because for my husband it would be a bargain! But for the rest of us- so not needed at all. The kids don't drink soda hardly ever- and I don't AT ALL. So can you do it for just one person in your party?

 

[kcashner]

You CAN do the soda thing for one person. We did it for my daughter, not for any adult. Of course, only that person is supposed to drink it in that case...but occasionally Mom had a drink of kiddo's coke.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Thanks for the question and answer about the soda program. My husband and I were just talking about that last nigh at Walmart. For him, it would be worth it, but I'm not sure about the kids or myself.

Thanks
Linda