Cruise keys and lanyards

[FigmentSpark]

While it sure would be nice if DCL adopted Magic Bands for their rooms keys, it doesn't sound like that's something we can expect any time soon. So I'm planning to take lanyards to carry them around, but I was wondering, is there a little hole on the end, like for those work security badges, to put a clip in to attach it to a lanyard or do you have to get one of those nametag holders to store the key in and attach that to the lanyard? Also, I've seen some little holders (much like you'd use for a phone, just snugly fits) that attach to a lanyard. Could these be used or does the key card have to be taken out of a case to be used? In short, do you tap or insert the card into the door to open it?

 

[Prose]

There is no hole in the cards - you will need to have a holder of some sort. You can open your door just by tapping on the Dream and Fantasy, but if I remember correctly, you have to hand it to the CM to go on and off the ship.

 

[Mandlz]

You can just tap it to go on and off the ship, but you'll have to take it out for any of the Shutters photographers to swipe if you do any character photos. Also, you'll have to take it out when you purchase things on the ship, such as coffee, alcohol, souvenirs, etc.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

They sell plastic pouches you can attach to your lanyard in the shops to hold your card. They also sell DCL lanyards.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Ah, so tap and swipe, so no fitted, finicky holders. Thanks.

What do you all do to keep your key card safe, but not in the way?

 

[Mandlz]

Ah, so tap and swipe, so no fitted, finicky holders. Thanks.

What do you all do to keep your key card safe, but not in the way?

I actually bring a wristlet, and just keep my key card in there, along with my phone and any cash or other cards I think I may need. I found that to be much more convenient than the lanyards they gave us (my husband breaks his card holder by day 2 EVERY time ), and gave me something to carry my phone in when I had no pockets. Last year, I had a cheap one, but hubby got me a Disney Dooney and Bourke for Christmas, so I used that when we went in April - worked like a charm!!

 

[scgustafson]

Mine goes in my pocket. Wife and daughter use our Castaway Club Gold lanyards.

 

[Hundredacre]

I hate wearing the lanyard around but find if I do not I misplace the card.

 

[cedricandsophie]

While it sure would be nice if DCL adopted Magic Bands for their rooms keys, it doesn't sound like that's something we can expect any time soon. So I'm planning to take lanyards to carry them around, but I was wondering, is there a little hole on the end, like for those work security badges, to put a clip in to attach it to a lanyard or do you have to get one of those nametag holders to store the key in and attach that to the lanyard? Also, I've seen some little holders (much like you'd use for a phone, just snugly fits) that attach to a lanyard. Could these be used or does the key card have to be taken out of a case to be used? In short, do you tap or insert the card into the door to open it?

My sure wh Yu need to take lanyards. Every person gets one with your key. I use mine to carry my key, my drivers license as my picture is when I get off the ship and a small amount of money. It works fine. I don't like the magic bands. I usually end up taking mine off because it bothers my wrist and just carrying it n my purse.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Huh. Thanks. I didn't know that everyone was provided with a lanyard. I just assumed we provided our own. It's my first cruise.

Mandlz, I like your idea of the little wrist bag. You can put so much more than just a card in it.

 

[scgustafson]

Huh. Thanks. I didn't know that everyone was provided with a lanyard. I just assumed we provided our own. It's my first cruise.

Mandlz, I like your idea of the little wrist bag. You can put so much more than just a card in it.

Only returning Castaway Club members are provided with a lanyard and you are not officially a Castaway Club member until you complete your first cruise, so you will not receive one on your first cruise.

 

[scgustafson]

My sure wh Yu need to take lanyards. Every person gets one with your key. I use mine to carry my key, my drivers license as my picture is when I get off the ship and a small amount of money. It works fine. I don't like the magic bands. I usually end up taking mine off because it bothers my wrist and just carrying it n my purse.

Only returning Castaway Club members are provided with a lanyard and you are not officially a Castaway Club member until you complete your first cruise.

 

[soniam]

We use lanyards at Universal but not all of us wanted what they sold. I bought lanyards off Amazon. BB8 for DS, and Dr Who for DH. We needed something to hold our room key, express pass (paper), and tickets (paper) Cramming 3 things into a little plastic sleeve can be hard. However, I did find some off Amazon that are sturdy, have a hole to attach to the lanyard, and have a ziploc-like closure. I didn't want them to get wet since they are paper. Plus, you have to remove the park tickets to scan them sometimes. The plastic (pliable, like a thick ziploc) came in a quantity of like 10 or 20 though, but they were less than $10 for all them. The lanyards were cheap too compared to most places. We plan to reuse them at Universal and for our upcoming cruise. The lanyards we used on the last cruise broke. I guess we will get lanyards though, since this will be our 2nd DCL cruise.

 

[tigerchic89]

I carry my key card, and phone in a small crossbody handbag. I found that I can just hold the bag up to the door key and it can read it through the leather. I carry my phone everywhere because I like the navigator app (whatever they call it)... I "favorite" the activities and shows that we want to do/see instead of highlighting the paper navigator. Our kids use the messaging service through the app for staying in touch with us.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'm not really worried about where to get the lanyard. Staples sells that stuff. I'm more worried about the kids not wanting to wear them or taking them off and putting them down somewhere. A Magic Band is just so convenient (for those that can stand to have something on their arms). I think I might go with some type of wrist purse thing... great idea. For the kids, I've seen the elastic wrist bands and belt buckles for work security passes. I could get the plastic holder and use those. DH will probably take his wallet with him, even though he won't need it, so he's covered.

 

[kiford]

As I recall, the Magic now has the tap functionality for KTTW cards. I use a lanyard not just for my KTTW card but also for the Cove Cafe bean card and for excursion tickets when we're heading off to ports. Occasionally, I'll carry a wristlet for my iPhone but usually at dinner so that I'll have it handy for pictures. Usually during the day, if we're just relaxing about the ship, I'll have my iPad so I can take pictures so I just leave my iPhone in the room and just have my KTTW card (and bean card - very important!).

 

[disneyfaninaz]

My DD has always loved to wear a lanyard. She can put pins on it. Are your kids old enough to need to have access to your stateroom by themselves? If not, there probably isn't a reason for them to have their card with them. They will get a Magic Band for the Oceaneer's Club and Lab.

 

[tink1970]

I throw mine in my pocket (and have lost it many more times than anyone else ). My DD has been cruising for the past 10 years and has only lost hers once wearing the lanyard. Even so, until the past 3 years or so she didn't have charging privs so it wasn't a big deal to go to Guest Services and get another one. They're coded so no one knows what cabin you're in so if there aren't charging privs it wasn't a huge deal to me (and I'm the mom who stresses about everything!).

I know when she was younger DD liked to decorate her lanyard with pins, too. Somehow that magically made it less lose-able.

There are a couple of knobs on the wall to hang things up in the cabin, DD and DH all hang theirs up when coming in, makes it easy to retrieve (well, unless it's in a pocket...).

 

[phinz]

I carry a wallet all the other days that I'm not cruising, so I just carry a wallet when I'm cruising too. I, for one, am glad they haven't gone to Magic Bands. I'd have to stuff it in my pocket when I go into port (I don't want to be walking around a port wearing a brightly-colored, uncomfortable bracelet that says, "Hey look! I'm cruising on Disney!" since I tend to explore on my own and not on Disney excursions.), and that's just more trouble than it's worth since they're relatively bulky.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My kids will be 12 and 14, so yeah, they'll be out and about on their own at least some times. I'll have to remember that about charging privileges. There's really not much reason they should need it, I would think. In fact, I should also be thinking about how they are going to carry their wave phones, or ipods around, along with the KTTW.