So many questions so little time????

[Shaynajade]

Ok i have so many questions so please bare with me....

We are thinking of taking the 7 day cruise in Feb 2003

1. How far in advance should we book?

2. We will probably do a family stateroom or a 1 bedroom stateroom with varandah do we need to leave more time to book one of these rooms?

3. Is there a huge difference between the two rooms?

4. We will have a then 3 year old and an 8 month old are the varandahs safe? can they fall overboard?

5. I think with teh room we plan on booking you get a conciege will they handle all the dinner booking and excursions for us?

6. If not it all sounds so confusing trying to get dinner times and show times is it easier than it sounds?

7. LIke I said we will have a 3 year old who I hope will take part in some of the childrens activities (not all day every day - it is our FAMILY vacations) but sometimes.. and I worry that it is not a safe environment? I read that it took someone 15 min to locate where there child was. WHy would that be? Can the people in charge handle as many children as they have?

8. Do the children stay in the children activity center while we are at port if they wanted to? what about the nursery?

8. And did I hear correct babysitting is first come first serve? Can you reserve and then cancel without being charged?

9. If we travel with friends can we make sure they are at teh same dinner table? how many people do they seat together at dinner? do they usually put everyone who have children together?

10. Is one level of the ship better than the other? How about section middle front back? Any place better if you can request it?
How about trffic to and from elevators and to and from laundry and such?

Ok that is enough for now

Thanks so much
Jennifer

 

[Michelemouse]

Well, I can't answer all of your questions but I'll take a stab at the rest...

1. Disney offers discounts for early booking. I'd say go ahead and book as soon as you can. You will have to pay a $250 deposit per person and then you have until 60 days before sailing to pay off the balance.

2. There are fewer of these rooms than the lower categories so my guess would be yes.

3. Can't answer.

4. The verandahs have a plexiglass panel on the inside of the railing so there is now way for them to fall overboard unless they climb on the furniture. The door to the verandah is difficult to unlock so they won't be able to get out there on their own. Just make sure that one of you is out there with the 3yo and you should be all set.

5. The Family Stateroom (Cat. 4) does not include concierge services. The 1BR Stateroom (Cat. 3) does. Yes, the concierge will help you with all of your reservations.

6. Your dinner seating is given to you when you book. Early dinner is at 6:00. Late dinner is at 8:30. You would need to get your own reservation for Palo (adults only) if you plan on eating there. If you go with the Cat. 3 I believe you can book this in advance. At the very least the concierge would help you once onboard. If you go with the Cat. 4 you'll have to go up to Palo and arrange for your reservation yourself. This can be done on the day you board. You can also book Tea and Brunch at Palo if you choose. You do not have to do anything for the shows. They are at specific times each night. If you have early dinner you go to the later show and vice versa. The only other things you would need to book are spa appointments and excursions.

7. At times the kids' clubs do move around the ship. The poster you mentioned may have had to wait until the children came from one location to the next. I haven't heard of them losing children. We've cruised twice and found the clubs to be well-staffed and very professional. We have had no qualms about leaving our kids (now 7 & 10) there.

8. The children 3 & up can definitely stay in the clubs while you are at port. I do not know about the nursery.

9. You can link your dining with fellow cruisers if you wish. Simply call DCL and arrange it. They have tables for as few as 4 and as many as 12 (or maybe even more). They tend to put cruisers with younger children on the APLAPLA rotation, cruisers with middle age children on the PLAPLAP rotation and cruisers with older children or no children on the LAPLAPL rotation. (L=Lumiere's, P=Parrot Cay, A=Animator's Pallette) You will rotate through these restaurants from Sat. to Fri. nights.

10. We have been on Deck 7 midship and Deck 5 forward and found our sailing experiences to be very similar. I have heard that you feel less motion if you are lower and middle.

Hope this helped.

 

[Shaynajade]

Michelle,
Thank you so much I am finding that so much information is getting me more and more confused but you helped for sure..

My husband is a light sleeper how was the noise just from the ship and regular "hotel" type noise?

I would love to hear what others think

 

[Michelemouse]

We had no trouble with noise in either location...and our Deck 5 forward room was very near the elevators. If your husband is a very light sleeper you might want to invest in a white-noise machine. They really drown out outside noises.

I've heard that you have to be careful with your location if you are on Deck 8 (where the cabins you mentioned are located). Some are right under the Goofy Pool where they hold the deck party. Also, you may be awakened by the noise of the crew moving the deck chairs around. Just an FYI.

 

[Shaynajade]

michelle,

Funny I just got a quote back for Febuary and guess what stateroom 8544 right under the goofy pool... How ironic..

How does Palo work? YOu have to make reservations in advance? This is the adult only dining? is it just a rest. or a club too?

thanks

 

[wovenwonder]

Palo is an adult only dining experience -- by reservation only. The fee is $5 pp for dinner and $10pp for champagne brunch which is available during days at sea. Reservations can be made once on board -- but get there early as they get filled up very quickly.