sampup333

Check the price difference for an interior room near yours compared to adding a 4th to your room.   I am learning that the price has gone up so much since I originally booked, that a single interior is actually cheaper than adding a 4th to a nicer room. That also gives you an extra bathroom. 

Thanks again for the helpful responses. We will have an iPad with us, and that is loud enough. I guess we just need to make sure we have something downloaded rather than streaming given the WiFi cost.

I did not realize that some of the balconies on the Wonder could be "linked." That would be wonderful! Are they a certain category or is it just luck of the draw?

Thanks, Ex Techie. The transmitter does have to be plugged in. It is a Summer Infant monitor.

One more question (well, one more for now): What is the best way to play music in the stateroom? Having lullabies on will likely help our children get to sleep. I thought I read something about an iPod docking station in the rooms, but that it is for the old iPods. Again we are on the Wonder and we leave this week, so it is doubtful we will have a "refreshed" room.

Hi, we are travelling on the Wonder in adjoining rooms with four parents and 4 children (ages 21 months - 6). I have three questions:

1. Baby monitors - has anyone had any experience (good or bad) with taking a video baby monitor on board so you can see into the room from the balcony or the adjoining room (this would be to keep an eye on the sleeping toddler)?

2. Wifi - I know there are packages available, but is it also available as pay-as- you-go? We will need to use it to check in 24 hours before our Southwest flight home (our Castaway Cay day). Does anyone have any tips on the best way to handle Southwest check-in on the ship?

3. Beds - Does anyone have any input on whether a pack-n-play versus the convertible sofa would be better for a small 21 month old? I assume this depends on the particular child and think we will do better with the pack-n-play, but I thought I'd ask.

Thanks for your help!

We have a party of 8, including 4 young children. We have private transportation taking us from Port of Miami to FLL. Our flight leaves at 2:40, so we do not have a big time crunch. What time do you all suggest that I should have our van driver pick us up from Port of Miami on the morning of departure?

A second question is about the Port Arrival Time in Miami. I have never cruised with Disney before, so this PAT thing is new to me. Our PAT is 11:30. What time should we be dropped off at the port in light of that? Is 11:30 when you can get in line or should you already be in line by then? Thanks for your help.

When I called Hotels.com, they said they could guarantee beds, non-smoking, etc. if I made the reservation on the phone versus through their website because when you submit the website order, that is just a "request." That is just what I was told, but I stayed on hold while they faxed my reservation to Embassy Suites and then they came back with the confirmation number (granted, a Hotels.com confirmation #). I plan to call the hotel a week in advance and confirm everything just to be sure. I expect that there are very few smoking rooms given the number of families that use these rooms.

eandj, Thank you. I was planning to call in advance to confirm beds, crib request, etc., so your suggestion makes me feel better. Thanks for responding.

I have been watching the Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale/17th Street for a 1/22/15 stay. It has stayed at a rate of $259. Tonight I saw $169 on Hotels.com, but I don't love booking through a third party. I called Embassy Suites and they could not match it. They did not offer me anything other than the $259. I called Hotels.com and booked on the phone through them and did get the $169 rate. The rate was so different I figured it was worth it. Can anyone shed any light on why the rates would be so different and if I should be worried about booking through a 3rd party? The rate is cancel-able, so I did not have to pre-pay or make a non-refundable booking. Thanks for your help.

Thanks so much for the helpful responses!

I have only cruised RCI before, but have booked a 5 night on the Wonder out of Miami. We are flying out of Ft. Lauderdale. We will have a private transfer pick up our group (of 8, including 4 kids) and take us to the Ft. Lauderdale airport. My question is what is a realistic time to expect to be off the ship (I know there can be extreme situations, etc.). But, we would rather get a mid-day flight and avoid lots of airport time with 4 kids under 6! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

We are travelling on the Disney Wonder to their private island and Grand Cayman. I see many people saying their toddler loved certain excursions (stingray city, etc). We will have 4 kids - ages 6, 4, 3, and 22 months. How do you get to these places without car seats? Or do people just go without car seats in the taxis/shuttles? If anyone has any particular excursion suggestions, I'd love to hear them.