[b]june 1, 2013 magic med 7 day[/b]

[Arushy1]

Hi I still don't have my cruise docs yet. I am like a little kid everytime I here the post person I run to the door only to be disappointed xx

 

[valbob89]

Does someone have a good "To Do" list for before we all leave for this trip? We have 3 weeks of itinerary (1 week before and 1 week after) and so I want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. So far I've:

1. Double checked passports & exp dates
2. Emailed private tour operators to re-confirm dates, times
3. Emailed hotels w/special requests
4. Double checked DCL requests, etc.
5. Ordered Euros.

I still have to book some transfers for the various cities we're going to, print out confs, put money in Tip Envelopes, and do a billion other things.

I'm hoping someone here has a list so that I can double check in case I miss something. I know us DIS'ers are super organized so I would love a list/ideas. Thanks!

My list is pretty long and certainly has become longer as we have gotten older. We were laughing about the luggage we took on our week long honeymoon, 40 years ago this trip, compared to what we now bring for a weekender. Now days our toiletries and medicines take up more room then everything we took back then.

I have a plastic accordion file that I use to keep my travel docs. I also keep my planning lists in it and just update them each trip. This list looks pretty long but I'm one of those planners. I write the contact name and phone numbers/email addresses on the doc so each trip it is easier to complete the tasks. My electronic itinerary file, with contact info, I just update each trip.

TRIP PLANNING LIST
o Let credit card company know of trip - dates and destinations
o Put newspaper on hold
o Put mail on hold
o Let home security company know of trip - dates and names of people taking care of the house
o Put garbage service on hold
o Notify cell-phone company of trip
o Notify health insurance company of trip - check on out
of country coverage
o File travel plans with the US State Department and check
their site for travel notices

o Schedule car service
o Schedule dentist and doctor's checkup for two weeks before trip
(get letters with list of medications and medical issues - check
vaccinations are current)
o Arrange with someone to check on house, and as contact in case
of a problem

o Check batteries in home security devices and garden sprinkler
system
o Check we have sufficient prescription medication on hand

o Create itinerary with reservation numbers and contact telephone
numbers (include home security and insurance companies
numbers) - photocopy enough copies to put one in each piece of
luggage and leave on kitchen table
o Create packing list
o Photo luggage with cell phone
o Photocopy travel papers, itinerary, credit cards, medical cards,
passports and any other ids
o E-mail photocopies of docs and luggage photos to myself and two
other people (one out of the state in which you live). Include name
of home insurance company and policy number with home care
persons e-mail


o Week of travel, confirm all reservations, air, hotel, car service,
cruise company - check with TA and person taking care of home -
leave house keys with home care person.

 

[Pengwend]

A couple of comments

1. The best way for Americans to get money is an ATM card. It's a better rate then Disney is going to give. LOL! Plus to "exchange" cash you have carry it with you. NEVER carry more cash then you can afford to loose. What are you going to do when at the Barcelona airport all your cash is lost/stolen. (And it happens more then you think. Tired, jetlagged, disoriented, the VERY responsible chaperone on my Girl Scout trip lost $10,000 in travelers checks and a few hundred in cash... Yes we got the checks back, but it was royal pain! I met a woman in Paris who lost ALL her cash at the Paris Airport. Her parents had to wire her a little money and she was changing her flight to fly back basically a day after she arrived as she could not afford to "pay" for the vacation twice. She had ALL her cash for her two weeks in Paris on her....)

However, if you are going to use Traveler's Checks Disney is probably your best bet.

2. Over the door organizers have been "banned" by Disney (See note earlier in this thread)

3. Contact your bank and credit card companies before you go. Inform them where you will be and when. Otherwise your first charge is likely to get your card on "fraud" hold. Get a number to call in case of a problem (the 800 number on your card won't work)

Sorry, forgot to say that we jerry-rigged over the door shoe organizers so that its two connected by fabric in the middle. That way, it's just the thin fabric going over the door. That's how you get the pockets inside the bathroom and outside the bathroom. The thing is just that the hinge for the door is up top, so we ended up cutting the fabric I'd sewn on. For our next cruise, I have to remember to replace with velcro-ed on ribbon. Can't find a photo of anything that shows what I mean. But basically I'm thinking I'll sew a ribbon to the corners of one organizer and then sew velcro to the other one, kind of like tabs on a shower curtain? This way it doesn't hurt the door at all and still stays in place. If/when I get around to doing it, I'll take photos. We found it was more space than we needed really, but it was helpful to see if we were forgetting anything important.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Sorry, forgot to say that we jerry-rigged over the door shoe organizers so that its two connected by fabric in the middle. That way, it's just the thin fabric going over the door. That's how you get the pockets inside the bathroom and outside the bathroom. The thing is just that the hinge for the door is up top, so we ended up cutting the fabric I'd sewn on. For our next cruise, I have to remember to replace with velcro-ed on ribbon. Can't find a photo of anything that shows what I mean. But basically I'm thinking I'll sew a ribbon to the corners of one organizer and then sew velcro to the other one, kind of like tabs on a shower curtain? This way it doesn't hurt the door at all and still stays in place. If/when I get around to doing it, I'll take photos. We found it was more space than we needed really, but it was helpful to see if we were forgetting anything important.

If it goes over the door I expect are going to take it down The fact that you believe it "doesn't hurt the door" is not going to be the consideration. IMHO they aren't going to give the attendants that kind of "leeway" it's going to be "nothing over the door" The letter says "over the door" not "metal over the door"

We will know more in the next few weeks, but if I were planning to take one based on current data I would change that plan.

 

[kikids]

For those wondering how awesome the Edge is (versus the Vibe) for kids around 13 yrs old, here is a pic I took on the Magic last Spring when my daughter was 12.5. A group of kids used the Edge as a meet place and then went everywhere together (shows, pool, character photos, trivia, etc). None of these kids knew each other (except for these dis boards) before the cruise and they became nearly inseparable. My DD is the blond (2nd girl from left) with the peace sign on her shirt and someone on her back. She is happy to answer questions about the Edge if anyone has any.

 

[Pengwend]

Ok everyone! We've scanned all the Personal Navigators and also the Port Adventures booklet. Here are the links pertinent to this cruise:

Villefranche
La Spezia
Civitavecchia
Naples

Port Excursions

I had originally been considering the 13 July cruise, and had mentioned these on that thread, so I posted all of what I have over there.

 

[valbob89]

Ok everyone! We've scanned all the Personal Navigators and also the Port Adventures booklet. Here are the links pertinent to this cruise:

Villefranche
La Spezia
Civitavecchia
Naples

Port Excursions

I had originally been considering the 13 July cruise, and had mentioned these on that thread, so I posted all of what I have over there.

Thanks, I've copied the links to the first posting for future use. Val

 

[dsnycruzlvr]

my "over the door" shoe organizer has a hole at the top that can be slipped over a hanger and hung in the closet just outside the bathroom door. do you think that will be ok with Disney, to hang it in the closet?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

my "over the door" shoe organizer has a hole at the top that can be slipped over a hanger and hung in the closet just outside the bathroom door. do you think that will be ok with Disney, to hang it in the closet?

I can't see that being an issue

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

my "over the door" shoe organizer has a hole at the top that can be slipped over a hanger and hung in the closet just outside the bathroom door. do you think that will be ok with Disney, to hang it in the closet?

It appears that only "over the door" is an issue, so don't see where a closet one will be a problem.....

 

[Pengwend]

It appears that only "over the door" is an issue, so don't see where a closet one will be a problem.....

Great idea! Maybe I will wrangle mine to do the same...

 

[Evad]

Cruise docs. came today!!!!!

 

[EjeG]

Cruise docs. came today!!!!!

Ours did as well... Now we got all the docs and paperwork to start our trip.. 25 more days and we will leave the house behind to start our next adventure.....

 

[purplern]

Cruise docs. came today!!!!!

Congratulations! Still none here.

 

[Disney mam]

Wondering when us Brits will start seeing some cruise documents!

 

[Kirbo]

Cruise docs. came today!!!!!

Ours did as well... Now we got all the docs and paperwork to start our trip.. 25 more days and we will leave the house behind to start our next adventure.....

 

[valbob89]

Our docs are lost in the mails sorta - our TA office moved and they say they told Disney, but Disney sent them to the wrong city. They will reprint, I hope.

 

[Tink2312]

Wondering when us Brits will start seeing some cruise documents!

Hopefully soon

 

[Arushy1]

Wondering when us Brits will start seeing some cruise documents!

I want mine too!

 

[Hashim]

Is the cruise documents really mandatory to get in the ship? I guess it is just to get the check-in process faster, right?

Mailing system is a real failure in my country