What I would do/not do next cruise

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I actually do the opposite. I actually bring new underwear and socks. I can sit around in old stuff at home. I don't want to feel like a bum on vacation.

Here here! Nothing but the best on a DCL.

 

[Grooovertoo]

I actually do the opposite. I actually bring new underwear and socks.

Just don't bring either? A lot more room....everywhere!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Just don't bring either? A lot more room....everywhere!

 

[silence]

I actually do the opposite. I actually bring new underwear and socks. I can sit around in old stuff at home. I don't want to feel like a bum on vacation.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

One of the few times of year my kids get new clothes is vacation. I don't think we wore anything that wasn't brand new the whole trip. We did buy 6toothbrushes for $1 at Target or Walmart and tossed those as we were leaving.

 

[asunutgirl]

Haven't read the entire thread but some great stuff on here. Here are a few of my dos and don'ts:

Do Again:
Take motion sickness meds before we start traveling.
Use the patch for me.
Book our SCUBA diving on our own. Easy and way better service.
Bring the shoe hanger for the door.
Sleep with ear plugs.
Watch the fireworks but skip the pirate party.
Bring pump hand soap for the bathrooms in our cabin.
Bring Lysol spray, Lysol wipes etc. to clean the cabin when we arrive. (I'm a germaphobe.)
Bring extra ziplock bags for wet bathing suits, dirty underwear, packing up cookies we ordered from room service (not in the same bag as the dirty underwear!)
Take lots of family photos
Ride the Aquaduck while everyone else is in port
Order Mickey Bars from room service
Decorate our door

Won't do Again:
Bingo. Spent too much money and didn't win anything.
Stress out before we leave
Bring ginger for motion sickness. Tastes horrible, took up room in the suitcase and was crazy expensive.

 

[MPS516]

Haven't read the entire thread but some great stuff on here. Here are a few of my dos and don'ts:

Do Again:
Take motion sickness meds before we start traveling.
Use the patch for me.
Book our SCUBA diving on our own. Easy and way better service.
Bring the shoe hanger for the door.
Sleep with ear plugs.
Watch the fireworks but skip the pirate party.
Bring pump hand soap for the bathrooms in our cabin.
Bring Lysol spray, Lysol wipes etc. to clean the cabin when we arrive. (I'm a germaphobe.)
Bring extra ziplock bags for wet bathing suits, dirty underwear, packing up cookies we ordered from room service (not in the same bag as the dirty underwear!)
Take lots of family photos
Ride the Aquaduck while everyone else is in port
Order Mickey Bars from room service
Decorate our door

Won't do Again:
Bingo. Spent too much money and didn't win anything.
Stress out before we leave
Bring ginger for motion sickness. Tastes horrible, took up room in the suitcase and was crazy expensive.

Thanks for the re-cap, you need to pull the over th door shoe hanger off, no longer allowed.

 

[asunutgirl]

Thanks for the re-cap, you need to pull the over th door shoe hanger off, no longer allowed.

I don't see that listed as a prohibited item on the DCL website. Can you tell me where I can find that information? Thanks.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I don't see that listed as a prohibited item on the DCL website. Can you tell me where I can find that information? Thanks.

Here you go

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-staterooms.htm

 

[asunutgirl]

Well, that is a bummer. It was a huge help for this family of four. With two teenagers in the cabin, there is a lot of hair products, make up etc. Now where the heck are we going to put it all?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, that is a bummer. It was a huge help for this family of four. With two teenagers in the cabin, there is a lot of hair products, make up etc. Now where the heck are we going to put it all?

You can still bring it. You just need to hang it somewhere other than over the door. People are reporting attaching it to a hanger in the closet. Or using a dowel/ribbon combo and hanging it from one of the hooks in the room (like a FE).

 

[FrancesTasch]

There's a heck of a lot offered beyong cold cuts

Will: Palo (both)
Arrive the day before
Over the door organizer
Room service chocolate chip cookies

Won't: Pirate Party
Character Breakfast

Yes! The cookies awesome the pirate party crowded and not worth it!

 

[JimB.]

Will do:
"Spa Day" with my DW, including couples massage
Get more exercise.
Play more in the adult sections during "Grownup Time"
Take more pictures
Take more pictures
Palo Brunch. Loved Palo dinner, but a bit too formal for our tastes
Probably rest & relax a bit more..............

Won't do: Hmmmmmmm. Can't really think of specifics.
Maybe the FE thing. Just seems like too much trouble.........
Bingo. I'll wait until a retire to the Ancient People's Place in Miam\i to do that...

 

[shrinkingmoody]

I can provide a bit of input for what we would do differently

First - we packed beach towels - not so much for the pools on board but for Castaway Cay - and it was overkill. They took up too much room and we could have used the towels handed out by the CMs just fine.

Second - we took beer and wine on in our carry on - but didn't even drink it as we were trying different drinks and stuff on board. While it might be nice to bring on a bottle of wine for the verandah - it was a waste of space since we purchased it onboard anyway.

Instead of using the space for beer/wine - we would pack canned/boxed drinks. They are pricey from room service and sometimes (like midnight) we were just too lazy to go to deck 11 to fill our cups or they would get too watered down hanging around the room.

We would spend more time exploring the boat. There was so much I feel like we missed out on (mid-ship detective agency - general pictures of the detail - etc).

I would try to plan time better - We only made it to one show and didn't even catch a movie on board. I know it's impossible to do it all - but I still can't figure out how the four nights passed by us so quickly.

I would not be out as late on pirate night so that I could do the Castaway Cay 5K - I was really disappointed that I didn't plan for that better.

We would leave our bags out the night before disembarkation. This time we did the express walk off and it was such a hassle trying to maneuver a stroller and our luggage down the halls - with the cleaning carts out - to get off the boat - and when we got into the terminal a lot of luggage was already there and porters were waiting to assist. In the future - we will place our bags out the night before, still do the express walk off - and hopefully our bags will beat us to the port.

That's all I have for now - but if anything else comes to mind I'll be sure to share.

*** edited to agree with the above poster - TAKE MORE PICTURES. Apparently I had less than 250. I know that seems like a lot - but I only had a handful of the Dream herself - and it's a beautiful boat.

 

[southlake]

Well, that is a bummer. It was a huge help for this family of four. With two teenagers in the cabin, there is a lot of hair products, make up etc. Now where the heck are we going to put it all?

For what it's worth, we just got off the Fantasy 2 days ago and we had an over-the-door shoe holder hanging on the bathroom door the entire time, and no one said anything. I didn't know they were disallowed last month. No such letter was in our stateroom.

I did notice as we were hanging it though, that there were scratches on the top of the door and trim, from previous guests' shoe holders, so I understand why DCL doesn't want them over doors anymore.

 

[texasgirl29]

Fantasy last summer; Magic next summer:

What I will do:
[*] Take the ship tour day of embarkation -- don't know what it's called on the Magic but on the Fantasy it was Art of the Theme. Will check the Navigator.
[*] Enjoy dinner at the MDR with the family every night. DH and I have done Palo for dinner in the past and it's great but I prefer to spend time with the family.
[*] Go to Palo for brunch for the first time.
[*] Take Excedrin Migraine medication
[*] Go to every evening show
[*] Go to the movie theater
[*] Have a late night drink with my husband in a quiet little bar. (Meridian on the Fantasy was quiet and under the stars.)
[*] Get up early before the family, get a cup of coffee and sit on the deck.
[*] People watch on the Promenade as I relax on a deck chair.
[*] Spend some time staring out at the ocean.
[*] Take my own laundry products and go early to do laundry. Or late. Don't want to cut into my fun time but on the other hand have always met nice people during their laundry too.
[*] Actually give the tip vouchers to the servers -- we paid them automatically but didn't realize you had to hand them the voucher. Felt awkward.
[*] Do magnets. I printed them out of my home printer last time but it was tough to get them to work. I think I'll print out and glue on the magnetic paper then cut out.


What I won't do again:
[*] Massage on Castaway Cay. It was hot and breathless once you lay down on the table -- you are below the level of the window and there is no breeze. There isn't a decent place to slip your swim suit on or off.
[*] Pre-arrange snorkle gear / tubes on Castaway Cay. They had plenty. After paying for ours before we arrived, we didn't feel like using them.
[*] Stress over clothes -- I'm packing a carry-on suitcase.


On the fence:
[*] Kind of wavering about the Pirate Party. So crowded but I enjoy the fireworks. What's this about a dessert buffet?
[*] FEs -- I like the idea but I'm scared by the posts I've read of people bringing extra suitcases full of stuff. Sounds like too much extra stress.

 

[jjje]

I really don't think the CM cares what's in the garbage. It could be stinky old underwear or stinky banana peels and apple cores or stinky whatevers. It's always going to be stinky, it's trash. point being, we so the same thing with the old tee shirts, socks, etc., it really does save a lot of space for souvenirs! I even do the same with old shoes or sneakers as well. (Just make sure you have something to go home in! )

We do the same thing. I've been doing it with my parents since I was a kid and now I have my kids do it. It's amazing how much space you free up just throwing away old underwear. (Maybe I shouldn't admit how much room my underwear takes up!) Also, unless the CM is digging through the trash I don't know how they would know if there is underwear in their or not. Is underwear that really squalid by the time it's thrown away? Mine isn't.

What I will for sure do on our next cruise:
Less Topsiders for lunch and more Parrot Cay and other options that we didn't really take the time to explore last time.
Trivia, games, contests and more trivia.
Bring our own wine to enjoy before dinner.

What I won't do:
See any show with a hypnotist in it.

 

[AshAlytwins]

Things I will do again:
Skip the veranda...port hole window on Fantasy was awesome!!
Every show in the Tubes!!!
Coffee and snackes in Cove!!
Take my large coffee cup!
Buy one get one happy hour!

Things I won't do again:
Drink both Buy one get one Java Juice's on CC!!!!
Prepay for tubes on CC!
Pirate Party

 

[twentytoez]

Things I will do again:
Skip the veranda...port hole window on Fantasy was awesome!!
Every show in the Tubes!!!
Coffee and snackes in Cove!!
Take my large coffee cup!
Buy one get one happy hour!

Things I won't do again:
Drink both Buy one get one Java Juice's on CC!!!!
Prepay for tubes on CC!
Pirate Party

Why not prepay tubes? <curious>

 

[disneyfreakliveshere]

Fantasy last summer; Magic next summer:

What I will do:
[*] Take the ship tour day of embarkation -- don't know what it's called on the Magic but on the Fantasy it was Art of the Theme. Will check the Navigator.
[*] Enjoy dinner at the MDR with the family every night. DH and I have done Palo for dinner in the past and it's great but I prefer to spend time with the family.
[*] Go to Palo for brunch for the first time.
[*] Take Excedrin Migraine medication
[*] Go to every evening show
[*] Go to the movie theater
[*] Have a late night drink with my husband in a quiet little bar. (Meridian on the Fantasy was quiet and under the stars.)
[*] Get up early before the family, get a cup of coffee and sit on the deck.
[*] People watch on the Promenade as I relax on a deck chair.
[*] Spend some time staring out at the ocean.
[*] Take my own laundry products and go early to do laundry. Or late. Don't want to cut into my fun time but on the other hand have always met nice people during their laundry too.
[*] Actually give the tip vouchers to the servers -- we paid them automatically but didn't realize you had to hand them the voucher. Felt awkward.
[*] Do magnets. I printed them out of my home printer last time but it was tough to get them to work. I think I'll print out and glue on the magnetic paper then cut out.

What I won't do again:
[*] Massage on Castaway Cay. It was hot and breathless once you lay down on the table -- you are below the level of the window and there is no breeze. There isn't a decent place to slip your swim suit on or off.
[*] Pre-arrange snorkle gear / tubes on Castaway Cay. They had plenty. After paying for ours before we arrived, we didn't feel like using them.
[*] Stress over clothes -- I'm packing a carry-on suitcase.

On the fence:
[*] Kind of wavering about the Pirate Party. So crowded but I enjoy the fireworks. What's this about a dessert buffet?
[*] FEs -- I like the idea but I'm scared by the posts I've read of people bringing extra suitcases full of stuff. Sounds like too much extra stress.

Thanks for the tip on the snorkel gear/tubes I Have been going back and forth on that one. I will wait till we get there to see if we want to do it.

 

[BadWitch]

Oh man, here's the one thing we'll do next time:
Use our Dramamine before we GET OFF THE BOAT! DH and I never had issues ON the boat but holy moley when we got off and started our drive home, it was soooooo bad!! The whole world felt like it was tipped on its side. DH had it so bad that when we stopped to spend the night at a hotel, he slept on the floor with his feet/legs up against the wall to try to stop the sway. Horrible. Who knew? Anyway...that's the single thing i'd change. Oh and maybe a few more hours in the sun on the adult deck to really secure a golden tan to bring back to Michigan in the middle of winter this coming February