Things I learned from our First Disney Cruise

[MyMinnieMice]

Great tips! Thanks.
Matty Ice:I have a question about the shore excursions...when you say that you went to Paradise Beach or Mr Sanchos (as another poster mentioned), are these All Inclusive Resorts that you pay to spend the day at??? Or is it just a public beach area?
Thanks!

 

[DisneyDee27]

We have done 9 cruises and never done palo
we love eating as a family .
plus as you menition on all cruises we have really got to know our wait staff and felt like we would miss if we didnt go to dinner
in 9 cruises I have only missed dinner twice sea sick and just sick once
65 nights on board

8/99 4day Magic
4/02 7 day Magic
8/03 7 day Magic
11/05 4 day wonder pin cruise
8/06 7 day Magic
8/08 15 night Panama Canal
8/09 7 day Magic
8/11 Alaska
12/12 Christmas on the Fantasy

We were on the Fantasy 12/15-22/12 when were you onboard?

 

[Matty Ice]

Great tips! Thanks.
Matty Ice:I have a question about the shore excursions...when you say that you went to Paradise Beach or Mr Sanchos (as another poster mentioned), are these All Inclusive Resorts that you pay to spend the day at??? Or is it just a public beach area?
Thanks!

Paradise Beach was $2/pp for a chair and umbrella and use of the swimming pool plus beach access. You can pay an additional $12/pp to use the blowups in the water; trampoline, slide, mountain etc. I'm not sure if Paradise Beach has an all inclusive package. We ordered a couple drinks for us and the kids plus chips and guacamole. I do know that Mr. Sanchos has an all inclusive package that is around $50/pp and includes food and drinks.

Matt

 

[MyMinnieMice]

Paradise Beach was $2/pp for a chair and umbrella and use of the swimming pool plus beach access. You can pay an additional $12/pp to use the blowups in the water; trampoline, slide, mountain etc. I'm not sure if Paradise Beach has an all inclusive package. We ordered a couple drinks for us and the kids plus chips and guacamole. I do know that Mr. Sanchos has an all inclusive package that is around $50/pp and includes food and drinks.

Matt

Thanks, I like the idea of a low key shore excursion so we will look into this option!

 

[nordkin]

Been on 11 DCL cruises and have never used a shoe organizer. Never found a need for it. What we do take and I have not seen mentioned is a pop up clothes hamper. Love it on our long cruises (more than 7 days) because I just take the entire hamper to the laundry room when I have to do laundry.

 

[slg4crzn]

I also use a pop up hamper,roll dirty clothes and put in a big duffle when coming home. On our last cruise we had five in our cabin and I took a over the door shoe rack hung it on the door that was an adjoining room door but wasn't open. It was great. Kids had a place easily accessible to store the shoes off the floor and wasn't in and out of the closets making noise.

 

[Matty Ice]

Been on 11 DCL cruises and have never used a shoe organizer. Never found a need for it. What we do take and I have not seen mentioned is a pop up clothes hamper. Love it on our long cruises (more than 7 days) because I just take the entire hamper to the laundry room when I have to do laundry.

We brought a pop up hamper, but there is a Disney laundry bag in the room so we never even needed it.

 

[MichelleVW]

We brought a pop up hamper, but there is a Disney laundry bag in the room so we never even needed it.

We put all of our dirty laundry in the empty chest in the room.

 

[buglady11]

We concluded our first cruise two days ago Here are my 2 silly little cents:
1) Buy a hanging air freshener for the restroom in the stateroom. I got some nice ones from Yankee Candle, and it was WORTH IT! Also gave these out as FE gifts.
2) Try to participate in Fish Extenders. It was so fun to see how creative others are and the kids love little surprises.
3) Bring your own alcohol. Saves $$
4) Place room service request card for the next morning. They call to let you know that it is on the way, which served as our wake up call. We got spoiled with the ease of room service. Must get the cheese and crackers as well as the big chocolate chip cookies
5) Participate in pin trading. At first, I thought I was not going to, but it actually is fun because you get to know the CMs and Officers. My daughter went a step further and invited all the CMs we met, and had time, to write in her book. Was like an autograph book from around the world.

These are the top 5 things that made the cruise easy and memorable.

How do you find others who want to do the pin trading? Is it listed in the navigator?

 

[Heyriddle]

I think there may have been pin trading in the navigator. I remember my boys trading wi the officers before dinner. I think some of the CM in the shops had them too.