Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[kgsmith]

Thank you for sharing!

DS (8) will love the pillowcase idea!

[Disney-Brat]

Originally Posted by Amlee

For those of you that have U.S. passports. You can leave them with Guest Services (you get a receipt that you must have to get it back), and they will have it stamped at each country you visit. On the last night, you go and pick it back up.

What a wonderful idea-- I did not know that
Thanks-- I love these boards

[Disney-Brat]

Originally Posted by disneyfan551

And for all of us running to Guest Services to have our pillowcases, mattes, aprons, etc... signed, maybe we should include a little "thank you", such as a bag of candy, for the cast members that do these special things for us!

Yes!!! let's remember to do that so it keeps them happy and we can continue to bring out things to them each cruise!!

[ddpaints]

Subscribing These are great to know since this time we have children.
Always looking for extra , above and beyond things to do for my little ones. Hoping when they are my age with kids of their own they will remember and pass it on to the next generation

[BealsRwe]

Make sure to take fabric markers for your pillowcase. They worked so much better than Sharpies. They added so much this past cruise. I took DD pillowcase to Guest Services in a gallon sized ziploc, complete with fabric markers, and 4 boxes of movie sized candy. I also dropped 2 bags of Twizzlers off with the Guest Services team when I dropped off the pillowcase. I opted for non-chocolate candy as we sailed most recently in August. The smiles I received when dropping off were great, and matched even better by my DD freaction when she saw her completed pillowcase the last night of the cruise. I also gtake candy on for the children's activities staff...all of this plus our FE gifts gave me a whole carry on to bring goodies back home.

[BealsRwe]

Originally Posted by insureman

The pastry in the Cove Café is free! I didn't find this out until our 8th DCL cruise.

I didn't find that out until #11, you beat me! Well worth the stop in Cove Cafe for an extra special coffee and treat. During the afternooon, they had mini sandwiches.

[BealsRwe]

Originally Posted by hortontrio

We actually bought 3 CHEAP photo frames at the dollar store all white and put them in a baggie and they do actualframes too, my daughter gave them a autograph book too and it all came back markers and all the ngiht before we left, SOOOOOOO much easier than trying to get all the signatures!! LOVED IT

I found a design I loved from the magnet thread and had the pillowcase printed. I had used an iron on transfer in Dec and it washed off. The pillowcase was washed a few times before taking on the cruise to be sure it would hold up. I used fabric markers this time-betther than sharpies as they don't bleed or lose color in the wash. I will eventually post directly in my signature, but until then DD newest pillowcase is linked to in my signature.

[Silly Little Pixie]

Originally Posted by erbrhenderson

Thanks for all the great tips! I can't wait to surprise my kids with pillow cases!!

I surprised my kids with the pillowcases in 2008 and they still sleep with those on the bed! DH says THIS cruise we get our own pillowcases!

Originally Posted by gdulaney

OMG -- a Mickey bar with sprinkles makes a great dessert!!!

Oh heck yeah! DH and I make it a tradition that at least one night we get Mickey bars for dessert! Mmmm, mmm! (He declines the sprinkles, but DS and I like them.)

Another good tip is to bring your swimsuits in a day bag when you board (or kids can wear them under their clothes). That way you can hit the pool right away, before everyone's bags start arriving and it gets crowded. We like to eat lunch poolside and watch the kids swim as soon as we get on board. Then I sneak off to decorate our door with magnets at 1:30, which is the earliest you can get to your room. By the time the kids are done swimming, they head down to change and they get to see my latest masterpieces and a welcome message from me!

[JanDave]

Originally Posted by Silly Little Pixie

I surprised my kids with the pillowcases in 2008 and they still sleep with those on the bed! DH says THIS cruise we get our own pillowcases!



Oh heck yeah! DH and I make it a tradition that at least one night we get Mickey bars for dessert! Mmmm, mmm! (He declines the sprinkles, but DS and I like them.)

Another good tip is to bring your swimsuits in a day bag when you board (or kids can wear them under their clothes). That way you can hit the pool right away, before everyone's bags start arriving and it gets crowded. We like to eat lunch poolside and watch the kids swim as soon as we get on board. Then I sneak off to decorate our door with magnets at 1:30, which is the earliest you can get to your room. By the time the kids are done swimming, they head down to change and they get to see my latest masterpieces and a welcome message from me!

Ginny and Christine, my DH is with you on the Mickey bars! He has one every night as his dessert. Servers try to entice him with chocolate lava cake, strawberry shortcake, etc., but he chooses Mickey bars over all the other desserts - except in Palo! Christine, you'll meet my DH on the ship in November and I'm sure he'll tell you about his passion for Mickey bars. He sometimes orders them for room service and they bring 2!

Ginny - have fun on your cruise. Tell my Italian wanna-be buddy hi.

Jan

[gdulaney]

Originally Posted by JanDave

Ginny - have fun on your cruise. Tell my Italian wanna-be buddy hi.
Jan

Why are September and November soooo far apart?

Tell Dave "hi" for us!!

Ginny

[AmandaRG]

Thanks so much for those that have posted ideas! It will make it so much easier for those of us that are first timers (although I have to say that we don't see it being the last!).

[Emsabems]

I love the idea of givng a thank you gift to the signees and club CMs.... but I wonder if they get incredibly sick of candy.

What's the best thank you gift you've ever given/heard of?

EmsaBems

[froggy5657]

Originally Posted by Emsabems

I love the idea of givng a thank you gift to the signees and club CMs.... but I wonder if they get incredibly sick of candy.

What's the best thank you gift you've ever given/heard of?

EmsaBems

I think even writing a personalized note to the people in the club and mentioning some great memories that your daughter/son now has because of them would be really sweet.

[Mackie Mouse]

I think doing the photo mat will be such a cute and unique keepsake. As a totally non-crafty person, where is a good place to get one of these? Would your standard Michael's/AC Moore/Jo-Ann fabrics-type craft store have them?

[FairyGrandmother]

Yes Michels or Hobby Lobby both have photo mats. Any place that sells photo supplies will carry them.