Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[Disfamily0405]

you can get the passporter at their site. It is passporter . com in the store tab. when you order you also get a digital copy so you can start reading right after you purchase it and are waiting on the hard copy.

 

[SEVP]

Thx.!!!

 

[juliebug1997]

you can get the passporter at their site. It is passporter . com in the store tab. when you order you also get a digital copy so you can start reading right after you purchase it and are waiting on the hard copy.

I had already read the digital copy. Twice. Before the hard back came.

 

[kimsuenew]

Bring a pillowcase from home and give that and some markers to guest services when you board. They will have the chAracters sign it and return it to your room before the end of the cruise.
Great and not so expensive treat!!

Awesome tip! Thank you!

 

[kimsuenew]

You can also take a matte for a frame to guest services. We did on the first night and they returned it to our stateroom on the last night signed by all the characters on the ship. I bought an 11"x14" matte with an 8"x10" opening. I put a picture of me with Mickey & Minnie in it. It looks so nice with all the signatures around the picture and then framed.

Great Idea!

 

[KipperBun]

Subscribed. Great thread guys!

 

[spunky1968]

This has been posted before, but what fun things can you do that DCL doesn't tell you about? We are going to be on the ship for 25 Days and want to utilize all the little "secrets" DCL doesn't tell you about.. Here's what I came up with:

1. Pillow cases with signatures
2. Ordering cookies and milk from room service before bed.

What else????

wow! didnt know that......what else?

 

[Wests4Disney]

Thanks for all the terrific tips and secrets here

Someone ( and I'm sorry that I don't remember their name) did something a little different with character autographs. They bought the Vinylmation Mickeys (Create your own) and had them signed at Guest Services. They were really cool, but a more expensive thing to do. There is a black Mickey and they were going to have it signed in metallic marker. Just something a little different. And I checked online, and they can be order from WDW merchandise website.

We did this for my teenage son, he is having his friends sign a create a Mickey vinylmation. He collects vinylmation, and thought it would be cool for his friends and counselors to sign and have a momento from the trip.

 

[Susiesark]

We did this for my teenage son, he is having his friends sign a create a Mickey vinylmation. He collects vinylmation, and thought it would be cool for his friends and counselors to sign and have a momento from the trip.

They sell the large Vinylmation on the ship. I was excited to see the white one, which was sold out in the Disney Stores, so I bought it to be autographed. It came back signed only in red. I called guest service because it wasn't what I requested. They had it replaced with another white one, all signed in different colors.

 

[LilTish]

They sell the large Vinylmation on the ship. I was excited to see the white one, which was sold out in the Disney Stores, so I bought it to be autographed. It came back signed only in red. I called guest service because it wasn't what I requested. They had it replaced with another white one, all signed in different colors.

Do they sell the blank vinylmation's on the Magic? If so, how much? I was gonna order one from eBay but I never made it there in time. We leave on Thursday for our cruise this Saturday and I would love to have one. Thanks

 

[Sleepyluke]

It may be here and I am jsut blind, but we have learned to always pack an extra duffle bag in our luggage for the return trip home. Get a tough duffle bag and you can stuff a good bit of clothes in there and reserve your actual suitcases for strange shaped purchases that we always seem to be able to find.

Another travel tip I have been shown over the years jsut for flying purposes is to use small zip ties for your zippers. Don't snug them down all the way tight, but you basically lock the zippers together, and if TSA goes into them, you know because it is broken and if you leave loose, when you get where you are going, jsut take a pen or something and put in where you left it loose, twist a couple times and you are in. Much cheaper than the actual locks that don't prevent anything other than the zip tie can anyway.

 

[Wests4Disney]

I place about 4-5 extra sheet protectors in my cruise binder. We use these to place our navigator w/highlights, notes from staff, certificates, and confetti and streamers from the different shows. My daughter likes to collect different things from the shows, and it is fun to add to scrapbooks.

 

[valbob89]

The cruise specific pins we purchase usually end of with the other "treasures" we bring home, along with the memory pictures we purchase. I picked up inexpensive frames and mats from Michael's and made some of my favorite decorations. I have them hanging in my hall and everytime I walk by them I remember our wonderful trip and think about our next cruise.

 

[ladybug23]

It may be here and I am jsut blind, but we have learned to always pack an extra duffle bag in our luggage for the return trip home. Get a tough duffle bag and you can stuff a good bit of clothes in there and reserve your actual suitcases for strange shaped purchases that we always seem to be able to find.

Another travel tip I have been shown over the years jsut for flying purposes is to use small zip ties for your zippers. Don't snug them down all the way tight, but you basically lock the zippers together, and if TSA goes into them, you know because it is broken and if you leave loose, when you get where you are going, jsut take a pen or something and put in where you left it loose, twist a couple times and you are in. Much cheaper than the actual locks that don't prevent anything other than the zip tie can anyway.

If TSA goes through your bag, they have to leave a note inside stating that they went through your bag. I have the locks for my luggage and have found that note inside on occasion. The zip ties are definitely a cheaper alternative and the combination won't get messed up if the lock gets knocked the wrong way (yes, I have had that happen - but it was a blast trying to figure out my new 3 digit code!)


I always pack some extra ziploc bags. They come in very handy for packing just about anything that you would want to keep contained. They also come in handy for keeping food sealed - or packing small snacks for land excursions.

 

[ldietiker]

The cruise specific pins we purchase usually end of with the other "treasures" we bring home, along with the memory pictures we purchase. I picked up inexpensive frames and mats from Michael's and made some of my favorite decorations. I have them hanging in my hall and everytime I walk by them I remember our wonderful trip and think about our next cruise.

I love this idea! Thank you!

 

[purceller]

Where can I find this passporter book? Not on Disney site, that i can find, anyway . . .

Thx
S

You can order here: passporter.com/dcl/guidebook.asp

If you order directly from this site (rather than a third party site) you can download a .pdf version to read right away...AND...have access to an online copy to browse from anywhere at anytime. Cool eh

Also, if you are a member of their discussion board community, you get a nice discount on the book.

Hope that all helps
Eric

 

[purceller]

Does anyone have the newest edition of Passporter for Cruises? Does it include Dream? TIA

Better late than never I suppose. I can confirm that the Passporter have both Dream and Fantasy content, and quite detailed content at that. I am looking at the .pdf copy now, waiting for my hard copy to arrive in the mail. I've already red the .pdf copy, highly recommended, especially for first time cruisers like myself. So much to learn it appears for a first tme cruiser, if one wishes to get the most out of it. I keep telling folks they could have a night school class at your local community college for DCL

Eric

 

[purceller]

You can make business cards and get them for free on vistaprint.com too! In case you don't want to waste all of your printer ink!

Thanks for that excellent tip re the free keep in touch / contact / business cards

What did you put on yours? Just family name and contact phone number or what?

Thanks
Eric

 

[purceller]

We saw our steward multiple times a day. By the end, I thought he was one of my kids. When I told him I really like the H2O products, he always left me extras.
I found out after we left the ship that the stewards are not paid a salary but rely ONLY on the tips they receive.

You have got to be kidding? They don't get paid a salary? I simply can't believe that to be true? Wow!!!

 

[kcashner]

You have got to be kidding? They don't get paid a salary? I simply can't believe that to be true? Wow!!!

Hmmm....my understanding is that they do get a rather tiny salary from DCL (we were told $50 per month). In addition, they get transportation home at the end of their contract and back to the ship to begin the next contract. One CM made a point of telling me that he got transportation "all the way home to my door" as opposed to a flight to the nearest city. Obviously they get all their costumes (work clothes) provided along with laundry of those clothes, room and board, and health insurance. Yes, the vast majority of their income is from tips. As one server (who has a Ph.D.) told me, he can make 4-5 times as much on the ship as he can "at home."

CMs who are in non-tipped positions do get a decent salary. I'm aware of one situation where a CM requested to move from a salaried position (one of the guys who paints the ship while in port and does repairs) to a room host position because he'd get more in tips than in salary.