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[Kworrell0514]

Hi - my DH really wants a Disney cruise. We bought into DVC this year and have points available. In April, 2011, we'll have the possibility of entertaining 900 points (1 year banked/current year/borrow 1 year). We'd need to get one of the bigger rooms because we're 2 adults and 3 kids ... The questions I have are:

1) how far out can I/ do I need to book? (We are thinking April 2012 or December 2012)
2) cruising good for kids of all ages? DS (birthday 7/28/01), DD (birthday 6/19/02) and DD (birthday 4/10/08) ... Can they all be involved in children's programs offered on the cruise?
3) pay extra for children's programs?
4) should we look into vacationing with friends, who also want to do the cruise?
5) how are the meals arranged? we have picky eaters (maybe they'll outgrow by then) ... when my grandparents cruised they had set meal times and tables. i'm sure no one wants to share a table with my kidlets...they're not always the most accomodating during meal time.
6) anything else i need to know?

Thanks!

[bobyetman]

1. I don't there is a limit to how far out you can book a cruise through DVC, but it can't be until the points charts for that year comes out. The 2011 chart is out, so I would expect the 2012 chart out before this time next year (don't remember when the 2011 chart came out).
2. The 10/11 year old (in 2012) will have plenty to keep them busy. Not sure about the 4 year old (never traveled with em on a cruise).
3. The kids programs don't cost any extra.
4. Vacationing with friends is purely a person choice, all depends on how much time you spend (or don't spend) with the friends.
5. DCL does have fixed meal times for the main supper meals, but you could always do room service, if the kids are being cranky. You won't know if you're sharing a table or not until the first night of the cruise at the first supper, since you don't receive your table assignment until then.
6. If you don't have a Passporter, get one, they're an invaluable tool for planning cruises.

[imzadiangel]

If you have concern about seating, you can check with the Dinning staff when you get onboard, 1 PM, usually in one of the clubs on Deck 3 (Magic/Wonder). Also, the kids meals cater to picky kiddos, and if there is anything you/they like that can be made up, tell them that in the same place, or at first dinner.

DH does not like Salads but loves a raw veggie plate. I mentioned this, and he was served it every night of our trip, in place of salad. On a longer cruise, (Transatlantic/Med Back to back in 2007) I took a galley tour early on, and mentioned that chocolate milkshakes were an impossible find. That night, chocolate milkshakes were brought to our table, and we were asked if we would like them throughout the trip. We were never charged extra.

Also, kids can be in the kid clubs and have their meals there if you wish, giving you and your spouse the longer meal period to yourselves on occasion.

ETA: Your DS1 and I share the same Birthday, 20 years apart!

[cubfancolleen]

We booked our next cruise in October of 2008. We are doing some points and some cash. The one thing to know is that in booking that way, 100% of the cash is due upon booking. Not sure how many nights you're looking at, in terms of how many points you'll need. The 12 night Baltic was close to 600 points/adult for cat 11.

[nurse_mom]

We are DVC members and are using points for our next trip.
How many day cruise are you planning.
Please note: If you want a room together on the magic you will have to get 2 rooms or a cat 4 for a family of 5. I suggest a cat 10 connecting rooms

On the dream a family of 5 can be a cat 9 togther.
We used points because we didn't plan on taking a trip in 2011. I suggest calling member services and get all the info you need.
The children will have no problem finding something to do and no it does not cost extra
Only pain I found with booking with DVC, you can't call the DCL and ask a question. You have to call DVC, who talks to DCL while you are put on hold. Sort of frustrating. Example: I could not find our seating for dining. So I called DCL, they would not help me at all. I had to call member services.

[Dave Marx]

The age for the kids program starts at age 3, provided they're potty-trained. If your child does well in pre-school, he/she should do well on the cruise, too. A four-year-old may not yet be ready to spend every waking hour at the club (it depends on the individual), whereas the older kids often can't be pried away from the clubs. Just plan for the possibility that your youngest may only want to do the club for an hour or two at a time and spend more time with you, and that you may have to spend some time in the club with your child to help him/her acclimate (parents are always welcome).

Note that by 2012 I expect that 11-13 will be the age grouping for the Tweens program on all ships. If you go with an April cruise, your older children will be separated between the Oceaneer Club/Lab Program (ages 3-10), and the Tween program (11-13). That could be a good thing, though, if it'd help to have your middle child in the same program as your youngest. For a December '12 cruise, your older kids would be together in the Tween program.

With a family of five, there's a good chance you'll have a table of your own. It's more likely they'll give you a table for six than to mix you up with a family of two or three at a table for eight. The other possibility would be a table for 10, with two families of similar size and age. Disney does a pretty good job of matching folks up. If you do travel with another family (which can be a great thing), then have your reservations "linked." That way, you'll be seated at the same table for meals. At that point, there's no chance you'd have incompatible strangers sharing your meals.

In many ways, traveling with friends (or extended family) on a cruise is much less risky to your relationships than many other types of group vacations. It's very, very easy to do you own thing when you can't agree on joint activities (or start getting tired of seeing each other), and to get back together when you want to do things together. You have no shared chores or shared living space, everyone gets to eat whatever they like... It's more likely you'll become closer friends when cruising than when, say, sharing a rental home.

By then, both new ships will be in service, with the Disney Dream handling the 3-, 4-, and 5-night Bahamas itineraries, and the Disney Fantasy handling the 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean. As already mentioned, those ships will have a lot of staterooms that sleep 5, including one value-priced category (porthole, no verandah). With far greater availability of "sleeps 5" staterooms, demand is less likely to drive the rates for those staterooms quite as high as they run on the Magic and Wonder, where they're in far shorter supply. The new ships also have far more connecting staterooms, so if you'd prefer the additional space and extra bathroom that come with booking two connecting rooms that each sleep 3 or 4, that'll be another easy option.

[abcangie87]

Here's what i can tell you about using points for the cruise/ etc. When you go to use your points, you have to be ready to pay the balance in full (whatever your points don't cover) at that time.

We booked the Dream for 2011 back in November. nowhere near ready to pay for it though, so we just put it under cash deposit directly with the cruise line. (I think that was $200 per person)

When we're ready to do final payment, and apply points, you will call member services. they will "take the reservation over" from DCL, apply whatever points you have/want and take the rest in cash/creditcard. Your original cash deposit that you made to DCL will come back to you (because they can't transfer funds between DCL and DVC according to what member services told me a few days ago). Note that any cash rates you pay through DVC will be whatever their contrated rate with DCL is... so for example if I were to go for a travel agent discount with DCL, it wouldn't transfer over to DVC.

Also they told me this week that if they are taking a reservation over from DCL that is under deposit, it needs to be made directly with DCL. As in... not thru a travel agent. Which stinks for me the travel agent, but it just makes things a mess when they are trying to move the reservation over, etc.

Also they cannot take over reservations from DCL once it has been paid in full. Under deposit, yes. Paid in full, no.

Kids programs are free from ages 3 and up.
The kids will have a ball.
Disney cruising is wonderful.
We had my inlaws go with us last year, and they are going next year.
We had friends go with us last year, it was great. We did a few things together off and on during the cruise and ate dinner together every night. a good balance of quality time and not getting on each other's nerves.

The kids' entree usually comes out a little bit before the adult entree if I recall. So if your kids get done eating and you are still working on your lobster, you can run them to the kids' areas so they can have some fun while you enjoy the rest of the meal without any squirreliness.

With a family of 5 you could get two connecting rooms in whatever category you can swing. Might be cheaper than a suite. Also if you get gma and gpa to go along, you can have them in the conneting room and just put one of the kiddos in there.

[TinkMulanMickeysMom]

Using DVC points to book a cruise may not be your best use of points. Have you considered renting out your DVC points (being conservative 900pts @$10/pt would be $9000). It would take some research and reading on your part, but renting out and then paying for the cruise in cash may be a better exchange. (it is more work) There is a really good sticky at the top of the DVC thread.

[belleandmaddysmom]

I have to agree with the above post. Since the cruises are points per person plus a $95 charge it's hard to justify using points for a cruise. Now I know people do it and that is just great. But personally, I would not use points for a cruise.

[dkfajr1]

We are not using out points to cruise in 2011. I just found it not a good use for our points and considering we go on a trip yearly, it's not for us. I have heard they have lots of kids programs and mine are so excited. Have fun planning