sytrace

Hello Sytrace,

 

Thanks for the additional information. Sounds like we're going to run out of time! We're too chicken to get in the water with stingrays. I was able to get wave runners for Castaway Cay. Have the Comfort Inn reserved for Atlantis but can't decide between that or a dolphin encounter. DD12 will be checking out the kid clubs for sure!

waver runners are fun! My son wants to do that and perhaps we will.

The stingrays don't have barbed tails but they are very interesting creatures. We fed them and it was like a vacumn sucking up the food from our hands. And then we swam with them. They are definitely Disney friendly. Lol :)

We are getting so excited for our Sept.cruise.

I think that there are many cruisers here with far more experience to share than I do. After all I am quite new to the board. has a lot of experience and is just being helpful. However, I am fairly new here and have just a few posts under my belt. Perhaps I will just "lurk" awhile longer and if others have already shared their wisdom I will not add my two cents.

Good to know.

When I have bought them at Target in the past with my Red card, the cards were separated from the rest of my purchase and not discounted.

I will bring it up to the manager when I buy them for my next cruise in September. :)

They don't give a discount on any gift card purchase.

It would be great if they did though. They do however, give a percentage of your purchase to the school you designate. Gift card purchases included. :)

I hope you all have a fantastic time! :)

You might want to consider the Stingray Adventure at Castaway Cay. My son and I enjoyed it very much. We have rented floats, bikes and snorkeling gear as well. My husband enjoys the hammocks and the adult beverages on the island. :)

On board, my husband likes to do Cognac tastings, however, if Cognac is not something you're interested in, then there are wine, beer, martini, chocolate and mixology seminars as well. These are an additional fee, but nominal when you consider the samples of liquer and the knowledge you gain as well.

Mini golf, Bingo and family games and activities are scheduled thru the day. There is a fantastic theater that shows current and new releases. We saw the Age of Ultron at midnight on our most recent cruise in April. :)

The pool is always an exciting place to be and the AquaDuck is great for all ages. The lines can get long, but it is not like you have any pressing engagements to get to after all.

The Oceaneer Club (up to age 12) or Edge (ages 11 to 14) would also be fun for your youngest. My son is 12 and my daughter is 13 and they will spend many hours there. The schedule is pretty full and there are lots of activities at either club (or both) I doubt she will be bored.

Again, I hope you have a fantastic time.

The Edge is that "tween" location--ages 11-14. The "teen" location is the Vibe' date=' ages 14-17. Not being picky, but trying to avoid any confusion for OP who is a newbie.[/quote']

 

Indeed it is. I apologize to the OP if I confused her in any way. :)

I would recommend a 7 day cruise. The MK is great but with kids as young as yours are you are going to need at least a week to enjoy the WDW resort. Animal Kingdom is good for their ages because of the many attractions that are kid friendly. For examole, Dinoland, Camp Mickey Minnie, Asia, The Kilimanjaro safari just to name a few. You could probably see and do everything in 1 day, but 2 would give you some wiggle room. The MK is of course THE highlight and to see everything and do everything will take at least 2 days...possibly 3 with.

naps and frequent pit stops. And of course lines. :) Fast passes are great but you only get 3 a day. Once you use up your three you can then get one at a time. It's a small world, the recently refurbished Peter Pan, Ariel, meeting the characters, fireworks and parades are all must do and see..even for the littlest one.

At sea the characters are right there and you can book times to get pictures and autographs...do this first thing. The lines are a lot shorter on the ship. Also, if you bring a pillowcase or like item and leave it at guest services all will autograph it. :) not as exciting perhaps...but easier.

Sorry to be so long winded...but a cruise would be lots of fun and more relaxing..ultimately...for you.

My daughter is 13 (going on 14 in September) We have sailed on Fantasy several times and she enjoys the teen club Edge. They have cruise counselers and so many activities that the first thing she does is download the cruise app and decide which activities she wants to do! :) We have stayed on decks 5,6,7,8 and 9 at mid or forward and have had very smooth sailing. Except for the one cruise when we had some choppy waters for a brief time. The good news is that when you sail in October you are at the tail end of hurricane season. :) I live in Orlando ( half an hour from the Mouse house) The weather around town is still warm in October but the parks are relatively calm during that period. I think if you have been to Disney before to take the journey and explore new places. Mexico and the Caymans are awesome. :) You can purchase a cake to be served at dinner ( ordered during your planning period) You could also order a birthday celebration package which will have your stateroom decorated. Again during pre online planning.

We have watched NFL games on funnel vision

( Fantasy and Dream) on Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights. :) College games arevtypically during the day on Saturday if I am not mistaken. If you are taking a 7 day Sat to Sat cruise, you probably won't see the games on funnel vision. But in the sports bar and other areas they might have them.

June , July and August sailings are typically more expensive due to school being out of session. The first week of September (Labor day) are up there as compared to the second week when they drop nicely. I don't think the prices were any different in April for the time that OP wants to go now. Tgey woukd be the same as if she booked now for the same trip on those dates. I am a TA and have been looking at prices in December since April and they have not changed at all either way. I hope they can work with her, but the dates she now wants to go are prime time pricing as compared to off season pricing of her original HOHS dates.

Oh my...so many favorites. :)

Baked Alaska

Penne pasta (animators palate)

Grilled chicken ceasar wrap

Chateabriand (royal court)

Lobster

Pizza (flos)

Soft serve ice cream (eye scream) especially the bananna/strawberry twisted.

Tomato soup

Cheeseburgers (12 year old loves these)

Steak on the healthy menu with steamed rice (13 year old has this almost every night)

Pretty much any dessert is good!

I have to wait another 80 days for the next cruise. I really want to go now!

Also, Disney vacations for 2016 are now available :) I saw a note about it from a Disney agent group I belong to.

There are many Disney "good neighbor" hotels that have shuttle service to the parks and are in the surrounding Disney areas at good rates. You might want to ask your travel agent to look into those for you and that way you have transport covered from airport to hotel to Port Canaveral. The value resorts are very nice as well. If you are just looking for a place to sleep with all the perks and a fun pool for the child...value resorts are the way to go.

The only time we dress up on the Halloween cruise is on Pirate night. This next cruise I am not even packing those. We had an extra suitcase of just costumes and shoes our most recent cruise in April. Never doing that again. :) Have a great time!

We were on the Halloween cruise last year and it was very casual. The decorations and activities are minimal. My kids are 12 and 13 and not at all interested in the activities. I did like the cool tree in the atrium though!. I hope it works out for you and that you have a great time anyway.