Grinch here! Or perhaps Scrooge.

[Sunshine2U]

I'll admit I'm a little OCD about rules. Especially as they apply to other people! Sometimes things aren't against the rules but are in a gray area that the OCD rule keepers notice. Here are a couple that get me every time.

- The little non-secret about using an old hotel key card or similar to control the power in the stateroom. People love to point out how you can put that card in the slot and leave it for the entire week. The purpose of the card slots is to conserve resources so the a/c is not blasting, tv blaring, and lights glaring while you're up at the pool. Please remove the card unless there's a specific reason to have the power on - for example, you are leaving a device to charge while you are out.

- The concept that you can order anything you want, anytime, while in the MDR - even from other restaurants. I've seen vlogs where people get something "special" every night. I feel like this is something that started out as pixie dust, is gaining momentum, and may soon be such an obstacle that the practice will be shut down - kind of like how characters used to autograph things turned in at GS. And for heavens sakes, I hope if you do have your wait staff running all over to get you a non-menu item, you're generous with your tipping. In the meantime, please try to be happy with what you're offered.
Any thing you'd like to get off your chest in this season of the Grinch?

 

[Stratus22]

Season of The Grinch...hmm. On my recent Merrytime Cruise, they've finally made all adults during Atrium gatherings sit or stand in the back so the kids can see things up front. During the Mrs Claus storybook time, all of the little ones sat up in front and the adults were told to stay way back...AMEN to that. During the Pirate night, everyone sat on deck and everyone had a great view...AMEN to that. So those are positives I guess.

 

[hardis5]

People booking into drink sessions/meets/activities and not showing up. Opening up the ability to pre-book as an on-board activity the various drink classes/meets/activities (at least the initially scheduled) I thought good as it removed some of the rush and stress booking once on-board and allowed one to preplann some of the days activities but I think it almost makes it too easy and people are booking and not worried if they do participate in even if there is a cost. I see on-board activities seemingly fill up almost immediately once opened so one is left to booking another scheduled class once on-board after seeing sold-out sessions for months once ones PIF date passes. Nothing worse than getting to a session sold-out only to see empty seats/tables due to no-shows.

 

[dcassetta]

People booking into drink sessions/meets/activities and not showing up. Opening up the ability to pre-book as an on-board activity the various drink classes/meets/activities (at least the initially scheduled) I thought good as it removed some of the rush and stress booking once on-board and allowed one to preplann some of the days activities but I think it almost makes it too easy and people are booking and not worried if they do participate in even if there is a cost. I see on-board activities seemingly fill up almost immediately once opened so one is left to booking another scheduled class once on-board after seeing sold-out sessions for months once ones PIF date passes. Nothing worse than getting to a session sold-out only to see empty seats/tables due to no-shows.

I don't like no-shows either, but the upside is extra drinks for me!

 

[Tim3888]

I'll admit I'm a little OCD about rules. Especially as they apply to other people! Sometimes things aren't against the rules but are in a gray area that the OCD rule keepers notice. Here are a couple that get me every time.

- The little non-secret about using an old hotel key card or similar to control the power in the stateroom. People love to point out how you can put that card in the slot and leave it for the entire week. The purpose of the card slots is to conserve resources so the a/c is not blasting, tv blaring, and lights glaring while you're up at the pool. Please remove the card unless there's a specific reason to have the power on - for example, you are leaving a device to charge while you are out.

- The concept that you can order anything you want, anytime, while in the MDR - even from other restaurants. I've seen vlogs where people get something "special" every night. I feel like this is something that started out as pixie dust, is gaining momentum, and may soon be such an obstacle that the practice will be shut down - kind of like how characters used to autograph things turned in at GS. And for heavens sakes, I hope if you do have your wait staff running all over to get you a non-menu item, you're generous with your tipping. In the meantime, please try to be happy with what you're offered.

I don't think either of these examples are OCD. They are just showing basic consideration and respect. I admit to using another hotel key card for the room power on our last cruise, but I still removed it every time we left the room.

Our server during our last cruise made a point to tell us he would get us anything we wanted, and he offered for one night to have a special meal prepared for us, which we accepted. My wife is Japanese and she asked if they could do sushi, and when we got to dinner the next night, they had all the place settings with chopsticks, a whole sushi platter, etc. It was wonderful and was a real highlight for us. But I assumed it was just that -- something they might do once or twice on a cruise to make the experience special. I would not have dreamed to demand it every night.

That said -- there is gray area. Our server definitely played up how he would get us anything we wanted. He seemed very proud of it, in fact. We are not a very demanding family so we didn't do it much, but I guess if it is being offered, I can't fault people for accepting it... within some reasonable boundaries, of course. But I do agree on the tipping part -- if they are going above and beyond, at the very least be generous with rewarding them.

I think given that Disney Cruises are very expensive, there can be an attitude for some of trying to squeeze every last drop out of everything. I have some sympathy for that. But there still ought to be some basic limits as it relates to respecting the waitstaff and the spirit of the rules in place, IMO.

 

[darnheather]

Let me be a Grinch and quash your use of the term OCD. OCD is a legitimate medical term and a mental illness. Please don't use it lightly. You are "strict" about rule following or "concerned" about others following rules so that good things don't go away. Happy Holidays.

 

[DisneYE]

I'll admit I'm a little OCD about rules. Especially as they apply to other people! Sometimes things aren't against the rules but are in a gray area that the OCD rule keepers notice. Here are a couple that get me every time.

- The little non-secret about using an old hotel key card or similar to control the power in the stateroom. People love to point out how you can put that card in the slot and leave it for the entire week. The purpose of the card slots is to conserve resources so the a/c is not blasting, tv blaring, and lights glaring while you're up at the pool. Please remove the card unless there's a specific reason to have the power on - for example, you are leaving a device to charge while you are out.

- The concept that you can order anything you want, anytime, while in the MDR - even from other restaurants. I've seen vlogs where people get something "special" every night. I feel like this is something that started out as pixie dust, is gaining momentum, and may soon be such an obstacle that the practice will be shut down - kind of like how characters used to autograph things turned in at GS. And for heavens sakes, I hope if you do have your wait staff running all over to get you a non-menu item, you're generous with your tipping. In the meantime, please try to be happy with what you're offered.
Any thing you'd like to get off your chest in this season of the Grinch?

I'll admit I'm a little OCD about rules. Especially as they apply to other people! Sometimes things aren't against the rules but are in a gray area that the OCD rule keepers notice. Here are a couple that get me every time.

- The little non-secret about using an old hotel key card or similar to control the power in the stateroom. People love to point out how you can put that card in the slot and leave it for the entire week. The purpose of the card slots is to conserve resources so the a/c is not blasting, tv blaring, and lights glaring while you're up at the pool. Please remove the card unless there's a specific reason to have the power on - for example, you are leaving a device to charge while you are out.

- The concept that you can order anything you want, anytime, while in the MDR - even from other restaurants. I've seen vlogs where people get something "special" every night. I feel like this is something that started out as pixie dust, is gaining momentum, and may soon be such an obstacle that the practice will be shut down - kind of like how characters used to autograph things turned in at GS. And for heavens sakes, I hope if you do have your wait staff running all over to get you a non-menu item, you're generous with your tipping. In the meantime, please try to be happy with what you're offered.
Any thing you'd like to get off your chest in this season of the Grinch?

Good to see like-minded ppl. I like decent people like you.
But I agree with another person below who said these are not OCD but rather being a decent, considerate person. But still on point.
Here's mine:

- People getting their babies into the pools with "swim diapers"... drives me nuts.
Do they realize the baby's pee and poo can seep thru the diaper? I don't care how tight those diapers are. They leak. I've had a baby and I know.
I call staff each time and I see a baby with a swim diaper in the pool. I explain the incredible health hazard it is. Sorry. (now that's being a grinch!)
Once I saw a baby with a streak of liquid poo oozing down the 'swim diaper' down the thigh. I called the 'life saver' and pointed at the diaper and the woman with said baby. The woman was madly glaring at me. Needless to say, they closed the pool and did their cleaning routine, emptying it, etc, thus depriving or other kids of enjoying the pool for at least a 3-4 of hours.
Please: DO NOT put your babies in the pools with diapers.
And DCL: Please issue a new rule that no swim diapers are allowed in the pools. Those things are a huge health hazard. Poo and pee carry 1000x more germs than the hands DCL is so obsessed with having to be washed prior to entering the restaurants.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

And DCL: Please issue a new rule that no swim diapers are allowed in the pools. Those things are a huge health hazard. Poo and pee carry 1000x more germs than the hands DCL is so obsessed with having to be washed prior to entering the restaurants.

This is already a rule. If the lifeguards see a child in a swim diaper in the pool, they will tell the parents to remove the child from the pool.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Let me be a Grinch and quash your use of the term OCD. OCD is a legitimate medical term and a mental illness. Please don't use it lightly. You are "strict" about rule following or "concerned" about others following rules so that good things don't go away. Happy Holidays.

Well noted.

 

[Dug720]

Good to see like-minded ppl. I like decent people like you.
But I agree with another person below who said these are not OCD but rather being a decent, considerate person. But still on point.
Here's mine:

- People getting their babies into the pools with "swim diapers"... drives me nuts.
Do they realize the baby's pee and poo can seep thru the diaper? I don't care how tight those diapers are. They leak. I've had a baby and I know.
I call staff each time and I see a baby with a swim diaper in the pool. I explain the incredible health hazard it is. Sorry. (now that's being a grinch!)
Once I saw a baby with a streak of liquid poo oozing down the 'swim diaper' down the thigh. I called the 'life saver' and pointed at the diaper and the woman with said baby. The woman was madly glaring at me. Needless to say, they closed the pool and did their cleaning routine, emptying it, etc, thus depriving or other kids of enjoying the pool for at least a 3-4 of hours.
Please: DO NOT put your babies in the pools with diapers.
And DCL: Please issue a new rule that no swim diapers are allowed in the pools. Those things are a huge health hazard. Poo and pee carry 1000x more germs than the hands DCL is so obsessed with having to be washed prior to entering the restaurants.

No swim diapers IS the rule. People just think their snowflake’s enjoyment trumps anyone else’s rights.

 

[pezgirlroy]

On the card point, I completely understand where you are coming from and agree. I will say though that in the Concierge rooms on the Fantasy they give you a card to do exactly this.

 

[DisneYE]

No swim diapers IS the rule. People just think their snowflake’s enjoyment trumps anyone else’s rights.

Awesome! I didn't know that.
Was it recently issued? Even on my latest cruise (Feb of this year) I saw babies with diapers in the pool with their moms. Makes me so mad.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Awesome! I didn't know that.
Was it recently issued? Even on my latest cruise (Feb of this year) I saw babies with diapers in the pool with their moms. Makes me so mad.

No swim diapers has been the rule for as long as I can remember. I don't think it was really enforced much though until they began stationing lifeguards at the pools.

 

[Bonnie1222]

I use old key cards for the room lights, but ALWAYS pull it up enough that all the lights shut off. I don't use it to keep the power on all the time. I use it so I don't have to fight with my lanyard every time I want to come an go. On my VM cruise last month the new lanyards have smaller plastic pockets and it was near impossible to get your key card in and out. And I keep business cards with me normally and there was no room it was so small

 

[Sunshine2U]

Not sure this fits here but here's a complaint about onboard activities. We're traveling with 6 adults and 2 children in February. I don't know who will want to wake up and dress to go with children to *free* but ticketed character events in early mornings. I would be happy to limit it to just two adults with the two boys since I suspect that is what will happen. But right now I'm holding 8 reservations because the tickets are tied to individuals. I wish I could have 4 tickets and then whoever is up and about could go, instead of trying to get the millennials to decide in advance what they want to be doing at 9:15 on Monday, Feb. 11.

 

[Dug720]

Not sure this fits here but here's a complaint about onboard activities. We're traveling with 6 adults and 2 children in February. I don't know who will want to wake up and dress to go with children to *free* but ticketed character events in early mornings. I would be happy to limit it to just two adults with the two boys since I suspect that is what will happen. But right now I'm holding 8 reservations because the tickets are tied to individuals. I wish I could have 4 tickets and then whoever is up and about could go, instead of trying to get the millennials to decide in advance what they want to be doing at 9:15 on Monday, Feb. 11.

FWIW, when my parents and I were on the Magic a couple of years ago, they just collected tickets - did not match name to person.

 

[lklgoodman]

Not sure this fits here but here's a complaint about onboard activities. We're traveling wioth 6 adults and 2 children in February. I don't know who will want to wake up and dress to go with children to *free* but ticketed character events in early mornings. I would be happy to limit it to just two adults with the two boys since I suspect that is what will happen. But right now I'm holding 8 reservations because the tickets are tied to individuals. I wish I could have 4 tickets and then whoever is up and about could go, instead of trying to get the millennials to decide in advance what they want to be doing at 9:15 on Monday, Feb. 11.

Honestly, if you think the other adults won't go to the character meets, then you should cancel their tickets. I say this because we read on here all the time about first time cruisers who aren't able to get tickets for their young kids. I understand everyone likes to get their pics with the characters, but most adults aren't going to be upset if they miss it. But a princess obsessed little girl or boy will be heatbroken to miss it when they see others doing it. We're leaving on our 5th cruise soon and only did the meets/breakfast once with our dd. I explained to her how there's a limited number of tickets, if a 7 yr old can understand this than a 20 something should be able to. Tell them they should let you know a week or 2 before your cruise so you can release the tickets if they can't get up to go. I have no problem with adult only groups going to the meets/character breakfasts. I just think they should let you know beforehand so the tickets don't go to waste because they decide to sleep in the morning of it (I'd rather sleep in, if only my dd would let us, lol) She stays up past midnight and is always up by 7am when we cruise, drives me nuts!! She's too young to go about the ship on her own, so I always have to get up early.

 

[kylaura]

We use the hotel key trick, but only turn the lights on when we're in the room. It's much easier than getting card out of lanyard.

Our last cruise didn't seem as bad with the inconsiderate people. Maybe longer cruises are better? We also spent a lot more time in the adult areas, that may be part of it.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

No swim diapers IS the rule. People just think their snowflake’s enjoyment trumps anyone else’s rights.

Some how there is a disconnect between the posted rule of no swim diapers and the availability to buy then on the ship. If DCL wouldn't sell them, parents couldn't buy them.

 

[Dug720]

Some how there is a disconnect between the posted rule of no swim diapers and the availability to buy then on the ship. If DCL wouldn't sell them, parents couldn't buy them.

I guess the assumption is they would use them in the splash zone. Or in the ocean.

But yeah - there should probably be a sign “NOT FOR USE IN THE POOLS” with them.