11 days to go! Last minute tips please

[Mickbee]

The time is drawing near...

We set sail on the Magic in 11 days for our first cruise ever!

If anyone has last minute tips and 'often forgotten items", we are all ears and would love to hear them.

We are actually leaving home in six days for a few day primer in WDW prior to the cruise, so the window is much closer. We are all set with the WDW portion of the trip (5 times/1 year). It's the cruise that is worrisome. Of course work will have me going until the last moment...

Thanks in advance for all of your help!!!

 

[iluvorlando]

You might want to check out this thread!! Enjoy!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=211512

 

[mrsltg]

I've been on several cruises and all I can say is, pack less then you think you'll need! And make sure that you bring an empty bag of some kind to hold all of your souvenirs!

And of course, don't forget to have FUN!!!

Bon Voyage!

Erin

 

[Mickey4Me]

We'll be right there with ya, Mickbee! We're also going down a few days early so I'm busy this week checking and rechecking "the list". I think I have it all (thanks to the wonderful advice from this board ) but I'm sure there will be a last min. scramble for something we forgot. Have a safe trip down and let's pray to the sun gods for good weather!

 

[pal2pluto]

take me, take me, take me, take me, take me, take, me!

 

[nigellong]

We (myself, DW & DS6) will be with you too. Since this is our first cruise I have been reading the posts carefully to see what we should pack and came across the following list which I saved and edited very slightly (sorry I can't remember who put it together originally). Hope it helps -

What not to forget?

-Over the door shoe hanger
-Highlighters in different colors (for kids and adults)
-disposable water camera
-sunscreen
-extra (cheap) sunglasses in case you lose them
-extra folding bag that can be used as a beach bag and then to carry off extras items you purchased.
-extension cord
-baggies or ziplock bags
-night light
-small illuminated clock
-collapsible cooler
-plastic clothes pins
-small fan
-cruise documents
-picture IDs
-birth certificates for everyone or passports
-mesh laundry bag
-Several $1 bills for tipping and buying things on shore
-small pair of binoculars
-personal CD player
-a small note pad to take notes
-personal business cards
-a small can of Lysol
-FEBREZE
-post-its and highlighter
-snap hooks
-Downy Wrinkle Releaser
-a beach bag
-extra ziplock bags
-drawstring trash bags for our dirty clothes
-Downy sheets for the dryer along w/the Wisk tablets & lots of quarters
-enough money to tip all of your servers and stateroom host/hostess
-a little plug in air freshener that you can press and spray into the room.
- Glasses-extra contacts-eye glass repair kit
- Hole puncher for the KTTWcard
- Cork Screw (if you are bringing wine)
- If you like to work out bring some workout clothes, tennis/running shoes, hair ties, portable cd player
& cds!
-a hip purse
-SafeSea
-Visors/hats

 

[lotsofboys]

Nigellong: My DH, DSs9, DS6 & I will also be on that cruise as first timers too! Since my 9 year olds are twins the DS6 is a little apprehensive about his camp adventure. Glad to finally hear someone from these boards will be there. Thanks for the list, I've been compiling many bits and pieces from these boards and do appreciate you listing it all together.

Hope everyone has a spectacular time!

 

[Mjasp]

Don't forget the Downy Wrinkle Releaser. Really works, I use it at home now for the kids t shirts and shorts.

Hey you are all going

WHAT ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mickey4Me]

take me, take me, take me, take me, take me, take, me!

Kris - I'd be happy to drive down the road, pick you up so you could stowaway in my suitcase, but unfortunately it's already bulging at the seams. Sorry.....

 

[tchrmom]

but....don't run yourself ragged! You WILL NOT see/do all that you want to, no matter HOW carefully you plan it! After we realized that one tid bit.....the rest was easy!

Don't forget the over the door hanger!

Don't forget a cheap clock.

Don't forget an extension cord.

Take Bonine at bedtime, so you sleep some of it off, IF it makes you sleepy! (you only take it 1 a day)

BOOK THE SURIEL BATH----take a watch with you!

Don't buy the KTTW holders fon the ship. They can slip out. Go to Wal-mart's fishing dept. Buy a fishing lic. holder with a zip-lock closure. Then get a lanyard string from the sunglasses area. (my son's friend lost his KTTW, simply because it slid out.)

Plan to shower in shifts.

Pack 1/2 of what you were PLANNING on taking.

Take your own hairdryer!

GET TO THE TERMINAL AS EARLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE! THE LINE TO BOARD IS LLLLOOOONNNNGGGGGGGGG! We arrived at 10, and took our spot as # 20 in line to board. Have 1 person wait in line, so the other is free to get in line at the windows once they open. Make sure THAT person has ALL the travel docs!

I'm sure I'll think of more after I get in bed tonight!

 

[Mickbee]

GReat info!!! Thanks to all. There are so many things that we did not think of. Now I realize how ill prepared we really are... Oh well, a few fruity drinks and it won' t matter!!!

Keep 'em coming & hope to see those that are going the 29th on board. We will be the ones wearing the same wrinkled chothes, squinting, holding our cards in our teeth, and 3rd degree sun burns!!!

 

[lotsofboys]

Mickbee......and we'll be looking to borrow a corkscrew!!! You are too funny. Have a great first cruise, hope we all have a glorious time.

 

[pal2pluto]

Micky4me.....aren't ya paying attention????? You're to take HALF of what you think you'll need.....and then there WILL be room for me in your suitcase!!!! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy........you will have a blast!

 

[tchrmom]

OK, last night I thought about the PHONE CARDS!
Got this suggestion of a post here. We bought pre-paid phone cards to give out with a few of our tips. We bought them at Sam's, and they were a good price....I just don't remember how much. Anyway, we orignally bought them to give out to the camp people, since they are not usually tippped. We thought since EVERY call that a Magic employee makes is long distance, this would help. As it turned out, it was VERY hard to figure out WHO was actually working consistantly with our kids in the camp. My 7 year old daughter said "They all kind of watched us". After day 2, both kids really didn't go to the clubs anymore, so we gave them out to other staff members. THEY LOVED THEM!!!!! Also, someone else you might consider giving a phone card to are those guys who are CONSTANTLY cleaning up the decks! These guys never get tips, that I saw, but are alwasy wiping, arranging, cleaning....etc. I felt like they worked 24 hours a day!!!!

Hope this helps!

 

[kmgl78]

Just a note about you going to Disney World before the cruise. Don't wear yourself out at Disney World or you won't enjoy the cruise as much. We were so sleepy by the time we got to the cruise that I don't think we enjoyed it as much and participated in as many activities as we would have otherwise.

 

[Mickey4Me]

Micky4me.....aren't ya paying attention????? You're to take HALF of what you think you'll need

That's the bad part....it's bulging AFTER I took out half.

 

[tchrmom]

We had 8 (!) bags with us! We had one as big as a love seat with all our clothes. The worst part was ALL the different shoes! Dress sandles, flip flops, watershoes, black pumps, DH dress shoes, DD and DS's dress shoes! Then there was the snorkle gear. The hanging garment bag......the list goes on. However, we met some people who only brought 3 (!) bags for their family of 4. THESE PEOPLE HAD CRUISED BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[markP]

My wife and I just got back from 7 days in DW then 7 on the Western Cruise. Here are my feelings on doing both. Go Crazy! We were in constant motion from the time we got to Disney up till the bus picked us up from Port Orleans Riverside. Yes, we were a bit tired but we had 2 days at sea to rest in the Caribbean sun. I figured I would have all day, all week to rest at work when I got home. We wasn’t going to hold back at all while there.

And like someone said earlier... take LESS than you think you'll need. You won't need/use most of it, and it just becomes a hassle.

Have fun!

I can't wait to get back!


-M-

 

[Mickbee]

OK, here is a silly one for all who have been soooooooooooo helpful....

How much of the travel docs have you filled out? Can we fill out some of the stuff while waiting to board? I am concerned with som of the island questions... Don't want to do it wrong and spend the vacation in a dirt floor jail cell watching the Magic sail away with the faith sound of steel drums...

I bet you are wondering how I made it this far in life....

 

[Mjasp]

Follow the directions and fill them all out. If not, before you can go up the escalator to check in you have to stop at the desk and they go over everything before sending you up to check in,

They are quite simple, any questions just post.