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Hi
We are thinking of taking our first cruise with Disney next yr. I have never been on one so I have a few quesitons to ask which may sound silly but honestly, I have never been on a cruise before.
I understand that each night there is a designated seating in a different resturant that is assigned to you. But what do you do about breakfast and lunch? Are these included in the price of the ticket? Do you go to these same resturants or are there different ones that are assigned to you? What about when you dock on the islands? Do you go back on the ship to eat, or do they have something there or do we buy our own meals????
What about the tropical type party? Is that the first night? Is that very late?
Also, when it comes to childrens activities for kids 5 yrs and up. Do you just leave them at the area or do you stay the whole time with them? Do they give you a pager or do you leave your cell phone? Is it safe to do that or do you suggest we stay with them the whole time? Never been, so have no clue.
Is it true that you can order milk and cookies for a night time snack????
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I'm of very little help, as we've just booked our first cruise next year too , but from what I understand of the kids clubs, they give you a pager when you drop the kids off and they can only leave if you come and sign them out (8 and up can leave if you sign allowing them too). I'm interested in others' responses to your questions since I have many of the same ones!!
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Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
Hi
We are thinking of taking our first cruise with Disney next yr. I have never been on one so I have a few quesitons to ask which may sound silly but honestly, I have never been on a cruise before.
I understand that each night there is a designated seating in a different resturant that is assigned to you. But what do you do about breakfast and lunch? Are these included in the price of the ticket?
Yes, all meals are included.
Quote:
Do you go to these same resturants or are there different ones that are assigned to you?
For breakfast and lunch you eat where you choose, when you choose. Different restaurants offer different types of breakfast and lunch - several offer buffets, and one usually offers table service, and there are counter service choices, too.
Quote:
What about when you dock on the islands? Do you go back on the ship to eat, or do they have something there or do we buy our own meals????
Normally, everyone eats breakfast and dinner on board. Full lunch service is available (included in the price) on the ship, if you choose to stay on the ship or return to the ship at lunchtime. If you choose to eat ashore, it's at your expense (some shore excursions include lunch in the price). On Disney's island, Castaway Cay, a bbq lunch is served on the island and is included in your fare.
Quote:
What about the tropical type party? Is that the first night? Is that very late?
The night of the Pirates in the Caribbean Party varies, depending on the itinerary you've chosen. It's never the first night, though - typically the second or third. There's a Pirates-themed dinner in all dining rooms that evening, at the normal times. Then there's a deck party that starts at about 9:30-10:00pm. There's a big show, including fireworks, as part of that party. It's very kid-friendly, so many families with kids do stay up for it. There's also normally a buffet served. The party wraps up by around 11:00pm.
Quote:
Also, when it comes to childrens activities for kids 5 yrs and up. Do you just leave them at the area or do you stay the whole time with them? Do they give you a pager or do you leave your cell phone? Is it safe to do that or do you suggest we stay with them the whole time? Never been, so have no clue.
The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are for potty-trained children 3-10 (there are also programs for tweens and teens). You will receive a pager (one per family). You can accompany your children if you wish, but the program has a full complement of counselors - they do not expect parents to stay around or to help out. Children under 3 and non-potty-trained kids can also use the facilities if accompanied by their parents. Is it safe to leave your kids? Quite. The staff is very well trained and very careful. Disney has to be very careful, due to the company's reputation. You'll find almost unanimously positive reports about the program.
Quote:
Is it true that you can order milk and cookies for a night time snack????
Yep, there's 24-hour room service, and there's no charge for both milk and cookies. There is a charge for alcoholic beverages and most soft drinks, but coffee, tea, and milk are free. All other food items from room service are "free," too (included in the cruise fare). We usually keep our room stocked with cookies (they're huge and very good), and a fruit and cheese plate. There are plenty of other choices, too.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
No new advice as Dave gave you great info, just wanted to say Hello and Welcome!! Congrats on your first cruise, I went on my first cruise last year and loved it!!
Wow, a million thanks for your response That helped sooo much!!!!!
So, if you wanted to go to the adult resturant for the chocolate buffet (yum), how would you do that when you have kids? Is it worth it in your opinion?
Also, does the first time cruiser usually get sea sick?????
Thanks again!!!! You all are soo helpful and I really appreciate it!!!
Wow, a million thanks for your response That helped sooo much!!!!!
So, if you wanted to go to the adult resturant for the chocolate buffet (yum), how would you do that when you have kids? Is it worth it in your opinion?
Also, does the first time cruiser usually get sea sick?????
Thanks again!!!! You all are soo helpful and I really appreciate it!!!
Sheila
You could just bring the kids to the club and go to the buffet
As far as getting sea sick - some people never get sick, others have issues everytime. There are several options for you: go to your doctor and ask for a patch - these are very effective; ginger pills/candy; or OTC Dramamine.
Last edited by lukeandbrookesmom; 06-03-2010 at 03:49 PM..
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I just wanted to add that our older kids (11 year old twins) loved the Oceaneer Lab! We were very comfortable with the kids' programming. They give you a pager, but we rarely got paged - everything went very smoothly. If anything, we felt the kids didn't spend enough time with us But they really had fun, and showed a lot of responsibility - checking in with us at designated times so that we knew what they were up to and what they had planned next. They have a nursery for kids under 3 called "Flounder's Reef." We didn't get to try that this time.
Also, there are buffet options, and kid-friendly food available all day that they can get on their own if they choose. Of course, we did have breakfast and dinners together. It was a lot of fun!
So, if you wanted to go to the adult resturant for the chocolate buffet (yum), how would you do that when you have kids? Is it worth it in your opinion?
Palo, the adults only restaurant, has a chocolate souffle for dinner, and a buffet brunch on cruises with sea days, but no chocolate buffet that I know of. As to whether it's worth it, we've never had a bad experience at Palo.
Whether you're going to Palo or anywhere else on the ship, if your children are over 3 and potty trained, you don't even need to schedule anything with the children's club. Each day's Personal Navigator will list the activities that are going on -- they run in blocks of a half hour or so throughout the day. You simply check children in whenever you want, and pick them up whenever you want or whenever you're arranged with your kids (e.g. at the end of the activity). The staff will page you if a child asks to be picked up, though if you tell the staff you are at Palo, for instance, they may make more of an effort to calm your child before calling you. There will be brief periods when kids are in transit and can't be signed out but the club staff will be able to tell you where your child is and where he or she can be picked up.
For kids under 3 or not potty trained, time at Flounder's Reef nursery has an hourly fee and does need to be reserved in advance. I've rarely heard of anyone having trouble getting the time they needed, though.
In case you're wondering about security for kids in the Club and Lab: each child has a wristband that is scanned at check-in and check-out. Only designated adults can pick up a child, and they may need to show a room key. Each adult picking up a child must give the password that was designated at registration. We have never had any qualms about leaving our kids.
Happy planning! Don't hesitate to post any other questions you have. Anyone who's cruised was a first-timer once, and questions like yours are definitely not silly.
Our kids insist on going to the chocolate buffet with us (it is not an Adults only event)! We have complete faith and confidence in the Kid's Clubs and counselors, and don't think twice about leaving our children there!
Sorry for the delay in replying (time got away on me).
Wow, you all are amazing!!!!!!!! A million zillion thanks for your replies. I feel totally comfy letting my kids go to those groups now that I know that they have security features set up.
I am sooo glad that my kids can go to the chocolate buffet!!! Is that in the one resturant? Do we need to make reservations ahead for that???
We are sooo thrilled to be planning this cruise!!! I can't wait. And I will be going to the dr to get something for sea sickness (just incase), for flying etc lol. This sounds like alot of fun.
I am sooo glad that my kids can go to the chocolate buffet!!! Is that in the one resturant? Do we need to make reservations ahead for that???
Anyone can go, no reservations are required, you just have to know where to show up.
There are several variations on the dessert buffet. On shorter cruises, there's a buffet (desserts and various non-desserts) at the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party - so that's not in a restaurant at all. On longer cruises, there is often a late evening dessert buffet in the most formal "regular" restaurant - Lumiere's/Tritons.
__________________
Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
Is something wrong with me? I am looking forward to the cruise more so than going to Disney World. It sounds so relaxing and fun. Maybe right now at this point, I need to go on a cruise
Thanks for the info. I never wanted to go on a cruise before, and then I started to look at Disney, and with all this info you are all telling me, I want to go....now lol
Is something wrong with me? I am looking forward to the cruise more so than going to Disney World. It sounds so relaxing and fun.
There's nothing wrong at all. Taking a cruise is absolutely relaxing and fun, and a different experience than going to the Disney parks. We're heading to Walt Disney World next week, and I have caught myself several times thinking "I wish we were doing a cruise." It's not that I don't love the parks -- I do -- it's just that taking a cruise feels less stressful because there are fewer choices to make at any given moment (although still more things I want to do than time to do them in).
Thanks again.!! Relaxation sounds sooo good right now lol
Has anyone been to the Nassau Water park? I saw it on a celebrity challange one time and was totally impressed. In reality, is it really worth the price? Should we go to the private area on Nassau instead? What would you suggest? Definitly going snorkling on Disneys Island though.
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, but from what I understand of the kids clubs, they give you a pager when you drop the kids off and they can only leave if you come and sign them out (8 and up can leave if you sign allowing them too). I'm interested in others' responses to your questions since I have many of the same ones!! 
That helped sooo much!!!!! 
They give you a pager, but we rarely got paged - everything went very smoothly. If anything, we felt the kids didn't spend enough time with us 
But they really had fun, and showed a lot of responsibility - checking in with us at designated times so that we knew what they were up to and what they had planned next. They have a nursery for kids under 3 called "Flounder's Reef." We didn't get to try that this time. 
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