Tell me something I don't know!

[MAGICX2]

I have read the cruise packet info, read the Birnbaum's guide to DCL, and read through this forum. Tell me the things I need to know for a first time cruiser that I won't find in any book.
Example: BFF told me that to get a hammock I have to get to the beach first or wait until late when others have already returned to boat.
Read somewhere about the magnets for the stateroom doors.
Anything else for me,DH,DS6,DD4.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Go buy the Passporter Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. It will have stuff you haven't read before!

 

[Jusacuz]

Here's something I learned the hard way. Look at the receipts before you sign them. Getting off the ship at Nassau, we bought water. I saw the sign that said water was $1.71 and (would have sworn it said) w/lanyard $3.00. When I looked at my account later, I saw that each water cost me $4.71 AND the guy wrote himself a 15% tip!! So it cost me about $16 for three small bottles of Evian.

Another thing that we learned by doing is that the stairs are almost always faster than the elevators and using them will help work off all the yummy food.


I learned a lot reading the Passporter Field Guide.

 

[yndygo]

When you get to Castaway Cay? If you're going to the family beach - KEEP WALKING!!
The "far end" of the beach is much less crowded than the near end - and the chairs, hammocks etc are much more available... just walk farther farther farther!
(besides it helps burn off the calories!)

 

[gismo1554]

Here's something I learned the hard way. Look at the receipts before you sign them. Getting off the ship at Nassau, we bought water. I saw the sign that said water was $1.71 and (would have sworn it said) w/lanyard $3.00. When I looked at my account later, I saw that each water cost me $4.71 AND the guy wrote himself a 15% tip!! So it cost me about $16 for three small bottles of Evian.

Yeah if you buy any drinks for the waiters (which includes the bottled water and the lanyards) then they do charge 15% grat automatically so don't be surprised by this

Also room service menu is in a book in your room but there are things that you can order free that aren't in the book such as Crustable Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Mickey Ice Cream bars

Look out for 2 for 1 drink offers (ask at the bars in the morning as sometimes drinks of the day are 2 for 1 first thing).

If you are buying clothes in the shops (other than on Castaway) you can take them back while on board if they don't fit so try them on before you leave the boat. On Castaway try them on before you get back on the boat.

Take twice as much camera film as you think you'll need (or twice as much digital memory) as you are sure to need it.

Snacks at 11.30pm are available in Beat Street/Route 66 and outside the Promanade Lounge if you are peckish at night (people never seem to notice this in the navigator)

Foreward elevators are always less busy than the central elevator and aft elevator. Central elevator especially in the evening is always busy! The kids clubs are around this area along with easy access to the Shops, Theatre, Lumiere's and Goofy Pool so most people end up in this elevator. Aft elevators are also used for Animator Palate and Parrott Cay and the drinks station and Mickey pool so again fairly busy. The foreward elevators tend to be for adult activities so not as many people using them except at show time as these are for the Quiet cove pool, gym, Walt Disney theatre, Beat Street/Route 66

Oh and an important one, if you don't like the food on one of the main dinner menus (i.e. the show dinners on your navigator at the 3 signature resturants) but you like something on one of the other main dinner menus you can ask for that. This is because with the rotational dinning when 1 of the 3 resturants has its show dinner/main dinner menu then the other 2 are having theres. With the special menus such as the Golden Mickey's menu or the Pirate Night menu then all the resturants have the same menu and so obviously you can only order off this. On my last cruise when we were dinning in Parrot Cay with their Island dinner menu (which is the standard Parrot Cay menu) I ordered off the Lumiere's show dinner menu because I didn't like anything in the resturant we were in and this was no problem.

 

[Skuba2]

When leaving the ship, get a porter when you get your luggage---don't be shy. They will speed you ahead of the line and get you to your car saving you about 10-15 minutes and it is worth the tip.

No food off the ship---at least in Florida.

The quarter machines in the laundry often run out---so plan ahead. Also, the soap does too sometimes. Best laundry times---early am. Don't count on pressing anything right before formal night---there will be a line.

The week rainforest pass isn't really a great deal unless you plan on going each day from day 1--not sure you even can go day 1 or 7. 5 days of visiting and you break even I believe---so I just do it daily which allows me to miss when I want to. But, the rainforest room is a must at least once.

We previewed our pictures at night by bringing the cord to attach the camera to the tv. It allowed us to delete the unwanted pics to make more room and we had fun before bed.

I am sure there is more, just no time right now to type it.

Most important----RELAX!!

DG

 

[westjones]

Best tip for kids. Have them wear their swimsuits under their clothes and bring them with you onboard. Then they can swim in the pool right after you board (or right after you eat lunch) and it won't be too crowded. That will be the last time the pools won't be crowded (unless you use them while everyone else is at Castaway Cay).

DJ

 

[MAGICX2]

 

[tvguy]

Go buy the Passporter Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. It will have stuff you haven't read before!

Better yet, get the Disney Cruise Line Brochure, it is full of information and it's free.

 

[MAGICX2]

These are all great tips.
I have the cruise line brochure but I found it very basic. Geared more towards planning your cruise rather then when you are already there.

 

[silmarg]

Here's my tips:

Packing: If you own a suitcase that can fit one inside the other. They to only pack the smaller one and zip that suitcase into the bigger one. Then you will have lots of extra room for gifts and wont stress about packing when you leave. Also, when I got to Fla (but before going to the ship) I bought a 24 pack of water and packed it into the empty suitcase... and I had it for the cruise.

Room Service: Use it! Its free! But room service drinks are not. So I would often get drinks on deck 9 for free while waiting for room service. For you coffee achievers, odcer a thermos of coffee on the last night it will still be hot by the time you wake up in the AM.

Book Your Next Cruise On Board! 10% dicsount plus OBC plus you can transfer to an agent to get even more OBC. Book one even if you dont know which data as you can transfer it and still get 10% off!

 

[DawnMarie]

Best tip for kids. Have them wear their swimsuits under their clothes and bring them with you onboard. Then they can swim in the pool right after you board (or right after you eat lunch) and it won't be too crowded. That will be the last time the pools won't be crowded (unless you use them while everyone else is at Castaway Cay).

DJ

This is definitely the plan for my family. Watch out Mickey here I come

 

[101DalmFan]

Snacks at 11.30pm are available in Beat Street/Route 66 and outside the Promanade Lounge if you are peckish at night (people never seem to notice this in the navigator)

Do you recall what type of snacks? Last year my girlfriend and I always hit the hay early so never looked around the ship later at night at all, but this year I think DH and I will be more the night-owl type

 

[eva]

These podcasts have some information and are fun to watch:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/podcasting/landing?name=PodcastingLandingPage

 

[gismo1554]

Do you recall what type of snacks? Last year my girlfriend and I always hit the hay early so never looked around the ship later at night at all, but this year I think DH and I will be more the night-owl type

Usually its a big selection of cheeses, mini cakes, 2 hot items which seemed to be caribbean shrimp most of the time and samosas. Oh and like canepes and chocolate strawberries and fruit