We are booked!

kimbo · #1 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2006, 05:07 PM

This will be our first disney cruise...very exciting!! taking my 4yr old daughter and husband.

locomas · #2 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2006, 07:46 AM

where are disney cruises held? We are going to disnyland Paris in 2 weeks!

kimbo · #3 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2006, 08:54 AM

port canaveral florida. goes to nassau and castaway cay. paris sounds fun

Kathleen Templeton · #4 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2006, 03:59 PM

Congrats on your cruise!!!
You will have an awesome time and your daughter is at the perfect age to have a very Magical time!!!!
We just got off the Wonder today, it was fantastic, it always is!!!
If I can help with any questions, please ask, I have 11 DCL cruises under my belt and 3 more booked!!
I am very EXCITED for you!!!
Kathleen

kimbo · #5 (**permalink**) May 22nd, 2006, 02:26 PM

thanks kathleen. any tip would be great if you have anything for the disney wonder. is there anything specific you think we should not miss out on...like an activity or pay restraunt you think on the disney wonder we just have to do? thanks so much!

Kathleen Templeton · #6 (**permalink**) May 22nd, 2006, 06:01 PM

There is so much it's hard to know where to start.
Something they dont advertise but you might like to do is:
Take a couple of new white pillow cases, wash and iron them. Put in a zip lock baggie with some waterproof pens(sharpies) and include a card with your name and room number on it. Take this the FIRST day to the guest services desk in the atrium and leave it with them. Just ask to have character signatures on it. On the last night this will be delivered to your room all signed by the characters. A free souvenir to surprise your daughter with. Just make sure to do this the first day, preferably in the early afternoon because they need all the days to get these signed.

Your daughter might bea little young, but on the day before you get to CC they offer a free kite making class for parents and kids. They are easy to put together and the kids love to color and decorate them. All ages are welcome. They fold down small for packing. Then they have an area to fly them on CC. That is another free souvenir for your daughter or yourself.
Make sure your daughter experiences at least Animators Palate and Parrot Cay. They are fun to see and eat at. The other restaurant is more of a formal, theme but I'm sure she would like it too. You will be assigned ot each one once and the fourth night will be the same restaurant as the first night.

Disney Dreams is the best show for little ones since it has lot of of characters in it. The Golden Mickeys has a few too, but disney dreams has the most. Hercules is good, but most of it is aimed to grown ups.
Sometimes they do an afternoon matinee which is great for kids since they are not as tired as night time, plus it frees up the evenings for the clubs. The shows are identical with the evening ones, so you wont miss anything and it will free up your evening time for other things.

Dont be afraid to let your daughter dress up as a princess if she wants for dinner attire. Lots of little girls dress up as princesses on the ship. They will take a boarding picture of your family as you get on the ship, so think about what you are wearing when you go to the port.
Remember a dollar per bag tip for the porters who take your luggage at the port. They work for tips only and a lot dont tip them. They do not work for DCL. They are indepedent.
I will write more later when I have more time

I am so excited for you, wish I was coming too!!!
Kathleen

Kathleen Templeton · #7 (**permalink**) May 22nd, 2006, 06:46 PM

Don't for get the Pirate party.
It starts at 9:45 p.m. so maybe that day your daughter could take a late nap so she wont miss it. It is a great party!!! You are invited to dress up as pirates. They will give you free pirate bandanas to wear towards the end of dinner/ :Lots of kids have their faces painted on the ship to look like they have an eye patch and a scar on their cheeks. It is followed by fireworks and a late night buffet with AWESOME desserts!!!
DCL is the only ships to shoot off fireworks from the ship. it is really worth having your daughter stay up for, characters will be there too.

At guest services you can ask for a Hidden Mickey Scavenger hunt paper. i tiwll help you to find the hidden Mickeys around the ship. Kids usually like to find these too. They are all over the ship.

On deck 9 at the drink station you can get pop, hot chocolate, coffee, iced tea, hot tea, Hi C and things like that for free. These are fre in the buffet and restaurants too. But if you go tot he clubs or alounge and ask for a pop you will be charged for it. So before you go to any shows, movies or events, stop by the drink station and take some free drinks with you. Same goes for hot dogs, hamburgers, fries pizza etc... Dont buy treats, just take them with you. we akways put extra fresh fruit on our frig so we have a nice late night snack too. although late at night around the clubs they set out snacks too about 11 p.m.
I'll add more tips later,
Kathy

kimbo · #8 (**permalink**) May 24th, 2006, 08:30 AM

WOW! Thankyou sooooo much for all of the great tips Kathleen! I just printed your replies off. Gillian has three different disney princess dresses, she will think she is in heaven dressing up in those on the ship!
That is a neat idea about the pillow cases, would have never of thought of something like that.
Kim

Kathleen Templeton · #9 (**permalink**) May 24th, 2006, 11:50 AM

If you decide to do the pillow case signings, you can request all princesses, assorted disney characters or just Mickey and Minnie. They will ask you, so be prepared to know what you want. we asked for all signatures and we got a great variety on them.
I'm sure your daughter will be a real princess when she gets dressed up!!
The ship is full of princesses, especially at dinner time. I fyou go to a princess autograph or photo session it looks great to have your daughter dressed up as a princess in the picture. The real princesses make an extra fuss over kids wearing the same outfit as them too. But i will warn you that for the princess sessions, show up 15 minutes early to be towards the front of the line. Princesses are always a long line!!
Also on CC day your Navigator will list a time that characters will be on the island. Usually 9 or 9:30 a.m. Try to get off the ship at that time because the lines are SHORT and they move very QUICKLY!!! People are all in a hurry to get to the beach so they pass by the characters a lot. this is the best time for little ones to see them without all those long lines. I always stop and hug the characters on the way to the beach. I believe
there are 4 places they are, starting at the post office and then along the path. Sometime during the day they appear in the gazebo on the beach area too. Again the lines move fast!! And if you are among the last to board the ship at CC they often have a character or two by the ship to welcome you back.

Kathleen

terrykim93 · #10 (**permalink**) May 24th, 2006, 10:13 PM

you really know some good info...i'm taking notes!

kimbo · #11 (**permalink**) May 24th, 2006, 10:15 PM

oops, thats me above terrykim93

Kathleen Templeton · #12 (**permalink**) May 25th, 2006, 09:32 AM

TIP SAIL AWAY PARTY!

They will have recorded music and dancing, then live music and danicing until about 4:50 then the characters will appear on stage too for about 10 minutes. so if you want your daughter to be able to see the character good, slowly wiggle your way up to the front of the stage. People should really let the little ones up front, but there are so many people dancing around it is impossible to do, so stay close to the front and be prepared to put her on your shoulders if need be. A lot of people will stand around on deck 10 to watch. Dont do that. stay on deck 9 and join in the fun. They will show you the easy dance steps too. Plus everyone just moves with the music if they dont catch the moves. This party really sets the mood for the entire cruise, so dont miss it!!!
They characters will do a countdown til we sail too with streamers and such. We always grab a piece of a streamer to put in the scrapbook. As soon as the characters leave, zip up to deck 10 and watch us pullout. You can see through the plexi glass windows on deck 9 too. but there is just something about the wind in your hair on deck 10. Plus there are several people who will wave from the shore as you pass by. Starting at the terminal building. They will have white Mickey gloves on too, it is kind of fun to wave at them. I own my own mickey gloves and I wear them and wave back.
Keep a look out in the terminal for character so appear too for pictures. Usually a couple of them will wonder out as you are waiting to get on board. Always have your camera with you. It seems that characters do appear out of no where and will greet your child sometimes, so always have the camera with you. We even take it to dinner with us. There are a few surprises that happen there too.
On the 7 day they have acharacter breakfast which is a must for the kids. characters will come right up to them at their table for pictures. The kids usually dont eat much due to the excitement, but you can take them to the buffet later for something light to hold them over til lunch. Bring your camera to this event too!! Usually professional photographers will take pics too, but snap a few of your own too!! They dont mind.
Eat in each restaurant at least once to experience the decor and events in each one. Then do Palos if you choose to.
More to come later,
Kathleen