We Survived! 9 days of land & sea - with a 3 year old! -9/1- NEW PIC I HAD TO SHARE!

[hstrickland]

Thanks for all the great info about the cruise! I'll definitley do early check-in, etc....I'm all about planning and having things done before hand!!!!

We are just like yall....who wants to lay in bad all day when there is soooooooo much to see. I guess to each his own...

We've stayed at all the monorail resorts and love each one for different reasons. Although, my DHs favorite is the WL. He just wishes that the monorail was there! With 2 strollers, the monorail has been a huge benefit for our family.

Looking forward to more!
Heather

 

[amandaw]

I'm back!!! Finally! Great updates! It sounds like you all are having so much fun!!! Reid is absolutely adorable!!

Thank you! Glad to have you back! I'm so glad you enjoyed the updates.

Oh my, your dinner made me drool!!! It sounded soooo good! That is too cute about your server cutting Reid's chicken and giving him ketchup in a mickey head shape!

The dinner was excellent. I had been really worried about the dinners prior to the cruise because Ed doesn't like "fancy" food. But, it was all soooo good! Our servers were great with Reid! Too bad they don't make house calls!

It must be about 4 years ago now, my Dad's family and I went on a Carnival cruise, and it was so much fun! The dinners are always a great atmosphere, and the servers are so nice! I do remember one night when the boat was really rocking! It was hard to walk, and that was during formal night! So my best friend and I in our heels were trying to walk to the bathroom during dinner, but all of a sudden there was a big lunge in the boat, and there she goes down into some guy's lap who was innocently sitting there enjoying his dinner! That was all I could do! and ! It was bad! But, my point is that I totally understand the whole boat rocking thing! My brother got sick that night too! But he was fine the next day!

That is hilarious! Was your friend mortified when she landed in the guy's lap? I would've been! Luckily, I never fell into anyone's lap that night or got really . Thankfully, the Bonine worked quickly for me! I highly recommend everyone to take some on a cruise, just in case.

How cute!!! I saw Reid and Peter Pan's picture, and I just called to my mom to come see! That was too cute not to share!!!

Awww, thanks! I was so happy Peter could actually get him to pose with him. He was just so excited to be there by Peter Pan!

I'm glad your having such a good time! I totally understand the not behaving at dinner thing! My brother (4 at the time of our cruise) would act up at the dinners too! I think the day was just so full for them that they were tired by the time dinner came along! Can't wait to hear more!

I think you're right. They are so wore out by the time dinner comes along they just don't know what to do with themselves. And to make matters worse, the dinners are very long for someone that little. I'm glad we were seated by ourselves so no one else had to be subjected to his ugliness.

 

[amandaw]

Great report! I'm loving all of your pics and your view at the Wilderness Lodge is making me want to stay there for our next trip.

Thank you! I'm glad we tried WL. It was nice & didn't feel too spread out. I would say it's definitely worth trying at least once!

 

[amandaw]

Thanks for all the great info about the cruise! I'll definitley do early check-in, etc....I'm all about planning and having things done before hand!!!!

We are just like yall....who wants to lay in bad all day when there is soooooooo much to see. I guess to each his own...

We've stayed at all the monorail resorts and love each one for different reasons. Although, my DHs favorite is the WL. He just wishes that the monorail was there! With 2 strollers, the monorail has been a huge benefit for our family.

Looking forward to more!
Heather

You're very welcome! I like to do a lot of planning as well. Especially for something I've never done before. I asked so many questions on these boards prior to our cruise.

I can definitely see where the monorail resorts would be better with strollers. I liked WL, although I think Ed liked it more than I did. My only complaint was that the rooms seemed a little tiny. I need to make a list of what order I want to try the deluxes. I'm thinking it'll be probably 2 (maybe 3 ) years before we get back to Disney. So, I better get to planning on where I want to stay!

 

[hstrickland]

You're very welcome! I like to do a lot of planning as well. Especially for something I've never done before. I asked so many questions on these boards prior to our cruise.

I can definitely see where the monorail resorts would be better with strollers. I liked WL, although I think Ed liked it more than I did. My only complaint was that the rooms seemed a little tiny. I need to make a list of what order I want to try the deluxes. I'm thinking it'll be probably 2 (maybe 3 ) years before we get back to Disney. So, I better get to planning on where I want to stay!

You can definitely tell a difference in room size when staying at one of the monorail resorts compared to WL...and since we have 3 children that are growing, we've outgrown the WL. I do want to try AKL, but will probably have to do at least a 1 bedroom....the regular room won't hold 5 people. Eventually, I would like to try all the deluxes....but that will take a while...years perhaps!

 

[tinytreasures]

Great report. I jsut found you today.
Loving seeing the wonder of Disney through your little boys eyes

 

[petals]

Luvin the pic of Reid with Peter Pan

 

[firecracker725]

Your little boy is just a few weeks younger than my daughter, and he's so cute! Love the Peter Pan picture!

 

[amandaw]

You can definitely tell a difference in room size when staying at one of the monorail resorts compared to WL...and since we have 3 children that are growing, we've outgrown the WL. I do want to try AKL, but will probably have to do at least a 1 bedroom....the regular room won't hold 5 people. Eventually, I would like to try all the deluxes....but that will take a while...years perhaps!

Sounds like I definitely need to try a monorail resort then! I just feel like if I'm paying all this money for a deluxe my room should be spacious. Yeah, I figure it'll take me quite some time to stay at all of the deluxes at least once, but that gives me reasons to keep going back!

Great report. I jsut found you today.
Loving seeing the wonder of Disney through your little boys eyes

Welcome! And thank you! I've always loved Disney but having a child there with you makes it so much more magical. It brings us so much happiness to watch his face light up with pure happiness when he's there.

Luvin the pic of Reid with Peter Pan

Thank you! That's definitely one of my favorites from the vacation.

Your little boy is just a few weeks younger than my daughter, and he's so cute! Love the Peter Pan picture!

Awww, thank you! Isn't this a fun age? He's still young but now old enough to be (somewhat) reasoned with. Although he still has some "tenacious three" moments, I find he's much better now than when he had his case of "terrible two's". And we just took him to his first "movie theater" movie this weekend to see Cars 2.

 

[KatMark]

I only missed one update (computer issues had me sharing a computer with my son and I was so afraid I'd miss so much).

I am just in with the picture of Reid and Peter Pan. I agree...it is absoltuely the best of all the pics I've seen thus far.

 

[amandaw]

So, I had finished taking some more pictures off of our veranda & I stepped inside for Ed & I to decide what we would do before lunch. We had about 2 hours to kill. Ed & I have to been to Nassau before. While I absolutely love their beaches, I don't especially love walking around & sight-seeing. Besides, we've seen the things there that we would want to see & I didn't think Reid would enjoy it much. So, we opted to stay on the boat. We changed in to our swimsuits & everyone lathered up with some sunscreen. Our destination was here:



This is a splash zone for kids (up to age 8) on the pool deck of the Dream. I had looked at pictures of it before our cruise & figured Reid would love it. I have to say, it's very cute & larger than I thought it would be. So, put on your swimsuits & let's go play!











Reid absolutely LOVED the Mr. Ray slide! That was by far his favorite thing.

After we spent a little time in there, we decided to try & find some lounge chairs. By this time, most of the lounge chairs were taken. But, we were able to find some in the shade on the deck by the windows overlooking the side of the boat. Once we laid our stuff on our chairs, we decided to go check out the Mickey pool for kids.

Yes, ALL of the pools on the boats are small. And I would've been fine with this in the Mickey pool except that they had some kids that were just a little too old to be in the kid pool. They were jumping in & trying to swim. They really should've been in the Donald family pool. But, nevertheless, Reid had fun.



That's the "funnelvision" screen on the pool deck where they play movies. Not long after we got into the pool, Finding Nemo came on.



If you look at the staircase at the top right, that is the line for the AquaDuck.







Reid is about 39" and had no problem walking around in the Mickey pool.



The Mickey Slide

Reid had fun in the Mickey pool but wasn't completely entertained by it. He kept getting in & out. Then, he finally decided he wanted to go back to the splash zone. So, that's where we headed.





After we played around in there a bit, I decided we needed to go sit down & dry off some since it was getting close to lunch time. Then, I discovered one of our most favorite things on the boat:



Yes, a self-serve ice cream bar! I don't know if it was open 24 hours, but I do know it stayed open until late at night! You can put the ice cream in either a cup or a sugar cone. They had 3 different soft serve machines, with 2 flavors each plus those 2 flavors swirled. They usually had vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, banana & then swirl combos. The banana ice cream is awesome!

Even though it was close to lunch time, I figured a little bit of ice cream wouldn't completely ruin Reid's appetite.



UP NEXT: Where do we want to eat lunch?

 

[amandaw]

I only missed one update (computer issues had me sharing a computer with my son and I was so afraid I'd miss so much).

I am just in with the picture of Reid and Peter Pan. I agree...it is absoltuely the best of all the pics I've seen thus far.

I know how hard it is when you miss out on so much on these boards. You feel like you'll never get caught up. But, I'm glad you didn't miss much with us & got to catch up. Although, I just did another update, so I don't know if I helped you out there!

Thank you! I was so happy for him that he got to meet Peter Pan. It really was magical for him!

 

[emma212010]

That Splash Zone looks soooo cool!!! I wish it wasn't open for just 8 and under Oooh, the ice cream!!! Self serve, and look at those flavors!! Sounds delicious!! I'm excited to see what you had for lunch!!

 

[CandleontheWater]

That Splash zone looks fantastic! What a fun place for little kids! Was it under an overhang? It looks shaded, which is especially nice.

Sorry you ran into some older kids causing trouble, it just drives me crazy when older kids get rowdy in areas reserved for young ones. I don't have a problem with well behaved older kids hanging out with their younger siblings, but I think in the kiddie pool the smaller kids should have the right-of-way!

I can't believe how many people are still on deck even on a port day! When we've done other cruises port days are pretty much a ghost town on the ship. I guess that's the difference with Disney, the ships are so awesome that no one wants to leave!

 

[PirateKate]

Reid looks like he's having a great time, splashing in the splash area. I know that it's for kids under 8, but were you able to go in with Reid if you wanted to?

That line for the Aquaduck looks crazy. I don't suppose they had Fastpass?

 

[hstrickland]

I've read about the pools being really small! Our friends just returned from the Dream. They said that they were super disappointed in the pools. Their girls, which are 7 and 12, were upset about it, too. They did like the Aqua Duck, though!! Supposedly the pools on the Fantasy should be a little bigger.

Heather

 

[firecracker725]

Awww, thank you! Isn't this a fun age? He's still young but now old enough to be (somewhat) reasoned with. Although he still has some "tenacious three" moments, I find he's much better now than when he had his case of "terrible two's". And we just took him to his first "movie theater" movie this weekend to see Cars 2.

Avery never entered the terrible twos, but she sure has made up for it with the tantrum threes!

We took her to see Cars 2 this weekend as well. It went much better than last year's Toy Story 3 adventure, where all she wanted to do was run up and down the aisles. (Luckily, there was plenty of space for her to do so without disturbing anyone.)

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

You had me at ice cream bar!!!!! Seriously don't even like ice cream all the much but on vacation

Glad I'm not the only person who didn't love walking around the Bahamas. I thought it was so NOT that thrilling. My mom and I walked around down town, took a water taxi over to Paradise Island, did a quick spin through Atlantis and were back on the boat in less than 2 hours I think. I'm a little disappointed to think about going back there if we go on the Dream but hey, it's better than here in the winter

 

[amandaw]

That Splash Zone looks soooo cool!!! I wish it wasn't open for just 8 and under Oooh, the ice cream!!! Self serve, and look at those flavors!! Sounds delicious!! I'm excited to see what you had for lunch!!

It was so cool! It went beyond my expectations! Just pretend you're there with a little sister or brother & no one will question you if you're checking it out. Mmmm....the ice cream was so yummy. I could go for a cone of banana right about now.

That Splash zone looks fantastic! What a fun place for little kids! Was it under an overhang? It looks shaded, which is especially nice.

It really was! It went beyond my expectations I had going into the cruise. It is on the pool deck (right across from the Mickey pool) but it is completely covered & has glass walls around it except for where you enter. I loved that it got Reid out of the sun but gave him so much fun!

Sorry you ran into some older kids causing trouble, it just drives me crazy when older kids get rowdy in areas reserved for young ones. I don't have a problem with well behaved older kids hanging out with their younger siblings, but I think in the kiddie pool the smaller kids should have the right-of-way!

I agree! All of us with little ones kept having to watch out for them because of the bigger kids trying to swim & jump. And the bigger kids weren't being rude or anything but they completely had no regard for the little ones whatsoever. There was a mom there with her daughter who was probably a year older then Reid. Her & I were getting so tired of kids trying to swim around our legs while our 2 kids were trying to stand on one of Mickey's ears & hold our hands to jump in the water. We kept having to make them stop & wait for the "swimmers" to move.

I can't believe how many people are still on deck even on a port day! When we've done other cruises port days are pretty much a ghost town on the ship. I guess that's the difference with Disney, the ships are so awesome that no one wants to leave!

It really was incredible. I had pretty much decided before the cruise that we would stay on the boat that day. I had read on here that that is pretty much what everyone on the Dream has been doing. But really, the pool deck was the only place that felt crowded. It was funny though, because we were docked next to a Carnival ship & we looked over at it & there was absolutely NO ONE at their pool!

Reid looks like he's having a great time, splashing in the splash area. I know that it's for kids under 8, but were you able to go in with Reid if you wanted to?

OMG! He LOVED that splash zone. I have to say that Disney did an awesome job with it. Ed & I both went in there with him. I followed him around like the helicopter mom I am because he kept taking off his water shoes & I was making sure he didn't slip & fall. I also wanted to make sure he took turns on the the Mr. Ray slide with the other kids. Also, I saw a couple of parents in there with babies that couldn't walk yet. I thought this was so much better than bringing the baby to the pool. You could let the water splash them just a little every now & then & the splash zone is shaded!

That line for the Aquaduck looks crazy. I don't suppose they had Fastpass?

There was only 2 times that line died down - Castaway Cay day & during the Pirates show that night. I think people would even PAY for those FP's!

 

[amandaw]

I've read about the pools being really small! Our friends just returned from the Dream. They said that they were super disappointed in the pools. Their girls, which are 7 and 12, were upset about it, too. They did like the Aqua Duck, though!! Supposedly the pools on the Fantasy should be a little bigger.

Heather

Yeah, definitely don't expect too much with the pools. They're fine for just getting in & cooling off but not much else. That's good to know about the Fantasy! For our next cruise (even though it'll probably be a few years), I would really like to do 7 nights on the Fantasy.

Avery never entered the terrible twos, but she sure has made up for it with the tantrum threes!

We took her to see Cars 2 this weekend as well. It went much better than last year's Toy Story 3 adventure, where all she wanted to do was run up and down the aisles. (Luckily, there was plenty of space for her to do so without disturbing anyone.)

Oh, you're so lucky! Reid went through a few months of the terrible two's & I thought I would lose my mind! He was hitting & just screaming. Oh, it was horrid. Don't get me wrong, he still has his moments, but I can usually diffuse them better than I could the two year tantrums since he comprehends more now.

I have to say that Reid did pretty well on Sunday for his first movie. Every now & then, he would say something too loud. Other than that, he sat in his seat for the 1st half of the movie, then he spent the 2nd half of it in Ed's lap & mine. I have to say, too, that I enjoyed Cars 2 a lot more than I did the first!

You had me at ice cream bar!!!!! Seriously don't even like ice cream all the much but on vacation

You sound like me! I don't crave ice cream at home (except when I was pregnant with Reid) & so I rarely buy it for our house. But, soft serve ice cream on the deck of a boat is irresistible! And it really was good!

Glad I'm not the only person who didn't love walking around the Bahamas. I thought it was so NOT that thrilling. My mom and I walked around down town, took a water taxi over to Paradise Island, did a quick spin through Atlantis and were back on the boat in less than 2 hours I think. I'm a little disappointed to think about going back there if we go on the Dream but hey, it's better than here in the winter

We did practically the same thing. We had gone to the pirate museum & one of other tourist spot & then the market. Then, we took the water taxi to Paradise Island. I truly enjoyed the beach but could've done without all the rest. I would really like to go & stay at Atlantis one day. Don't be disappointed about going there if you go on the Dream. Look at it as one more day to stay on the boat & explore. It'll be worth it!