Just got back from 4 day on Magic. Here are my tips.

[disneycrusin]

We arrived in Orlando the day before and hung out in Downtown Disney. Stay the night before in Cocoa Beach, we stayed in the La Quinta, it had a free breakfast. Not a fancy hotel but it was fine.
Bring an extra suitecase with you for all the stuff you buy on the cruise.
Get there early, we were able to board at noon. Be sure all your paperwork is filled out in advance.
Be sure to look great when embarking, there are a lot of pictures taken when you first get on and you want to look your best.
We ate lunch at Topsiders first. We all gathered (13 of us) and planned the day.
Store suitecases under bed, rooms are small. We spent very little time in the room.
Go to the sail away party and bring bubbles.
Be sure to go outside on deck 4, it is very quiet and a pretty deck. Good place for sunset pictures.
Go to all the shows, even if you think you will not like them go, you will be glad you did. If Jeff the Juggler is there the first night, he is a must see!!!
Watch a movie outside on the big screen.
Eat breakfast every morning at Topsiders.
Take a free tour of the Spa, see how the rich live..hahaha
Participate in the the Pirate party. They gave us pirate bandana's to wear at dinner but alot of people had come on the ship with pirate costumes. We were so full from dinner we could not eat at the party so I suggest that night do not eat as much dinner so you can eat at the party. The fireworks are a must see the night of the Priate party.
Nassau was OK. We did not do an excersion but did walk around the straw market, ate lunch at the Hard Rock (overpriced) and caught a cab to Atlantis.
Castaway Cay (pronounced Key) was the BEST part of the trip. Snorkling is fun, be sure to go way out to see the majority of the fish. My kids got hooked on shuffle board, they have a great sports area there.
Lunch is good on the island, tons of food. Soft serve ice cream was great.
On the ship if you feel motion sickness go to guest relations they have some pills there to help.
My best find on the ship was in the Cove (adult coffee shop) they have these chocolate cups filled with whipped cream and strawberries, they were decadent!!!
My kids (teenagers) liked the movie theater, video arcade, fooseball and shuffleboard the best.
Be sure to read the threads as much as possible to get other tips.
Most of all take in all you can have no regrest when you come home. I slept little, I wanted to do as much as possible. Enjoy being with your family.

 

[dbal]

WoW! What a great post. It sounds like you had a great time. Those tips are great. We are in the process of planning our 1st cruise and your post is getting me so excited about going.

Welcome back

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

Thanks for the tips!! Leaving in 5 days so I am soaking up as much info as possible these last few days!!!

 

[disneycrusin]

I hope you have as great a time as we did.
At the very least go to the first show they have in the Walt Disney theater. The cruise director tells you alot about what is happening when you are on the ship.
Take tons of pictures. I bought an underwater camera from Wal Mart for $9.00 before I boarded. They are $20.00 if you get them on Castaway Cay. If you have a video camera it is fun to have someone in the group to tape you getting on the ship the first day and getting everyone's reaction to the lobby, it is beautiful.

 

[lweigard]

Thanks for this info! Very helpful! We're leaving in 24 days and need all the tips I can get!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[disneycrusin]

How lucky you are.
Enjoy every moment!!!!

 

[disneycrusin]

One other suggestion.
Bring a white t-shirt or pillow case in a zip lock bag and give to a crew member the first day.
All the disney characters will sign it with colorful sharpies and it will be returned to you at the end of the cruise.
My niece loves her pillow case!!!

 

[Tink rules]

chocolate cups filled with whipped cream and strawberries....put on list... check....

Any other delicious tips?????????????????????

 

[disneycrusin]

Eat one for me
The family loved the pizza, it was the most memorable meal they had on the ship!!!!

Another good idea My dad made magnets for our stateroom doors (all 4 families) in the shape of Mickey's head. Each letter was on a separate magnet and we were able to spell out our names. We had fun changing them around. The best was the one we put on my mom and dad's door "ole farts".

 

[lweigard]

Ooooohhh... I love it, I love it! I love the pillow case idea! And, the door magnets idea rocks! I can make them on my computer! More more more, please!

 

[disneycrusin]

If I knew how to post a picture I would of our doors, it was funny to see.

Walk around the ship late at night, there are not many people around and if it is a full moon and the weather is good it would be beautiful.

My son enjoyed Atlantis, you can gamble at age 18. We did not pay for a tour, just walked around and entartained ourselves. We took a cab both ways, that was very interesting. We asked the cab driver tons of questions re. culture, politics, capital punishment and drug/alcohol use, very informative. Cab was 4 dollars a person one way.

 

[Florida beach mom]

Disneycruisin, you said that you were snorkeling? What was the water temp? I live in Florida and I'm a little wimpy now, I think the water is currently too chilly to jump into. Did it feel comfortable to you? It should be a little warmer there. I guess I could bring our snorkel gear just in case?

 

[disneycrusin]

I don't remember the specific temp but it was cold when you first got it. Very quickly I got used to it and there was no problem. The air temp was great I think it was in the low 80's. Some people got sun burnt. I say go for it.
My 15 yo niece did a package where she did 3 or 4 different water things (boating, snorkling etc), not sure how much they paid but she really enjoyed herself.
You can rent gear for $25.00 a person. Next time I may just pack ours.

 

[kate2961]

Great tips. Thanks for the information.

 

[Terry in NJ]

Hi there

The Cove coffee shop.... is there an extra cost for that? Does that decadent dessert have a charge also?

Thanks so much!

Terry in NJ

 

[pppiglet]

chocolate cups filled with whipped cream and strawberries....put on list... check....

Any other delicious tips?????????????????????

I second that! Do they charge for this?

 

[disneycrusin]

The dessert is free!!!!
For the gourmet coffee and liquor there is a charge. I would go to the drink station in the front of the ship, then go to the Cove and get some desserts and sit out on the deck and enjoy.

 

[CapnJackGroupie]

Thanks so much for all the great tips! They really are very helpful and much appreciated!!

 

[Tink rules]

So what other luscious stuff do they serve at the Cove????

 

[Miscoehill]

Disneycrusin,

Did your niece go to the Teens beach at CC? We're going in April and was wondering how it was. Our kids are 16 and 14.

Also, when having something signed by the characters should I bring sharpies with me or just the item you want signed? I'd like to have a template of a frame signed.

Thanks!