Check the
DCL website for excursions:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/ports/overview?name=PortsOfCallOverviewPage
You can sign up 90 days out (if you are paid in full). They are also allowing you to register kids for the club/lab online now (this is a new and a wonderful addition for DCL).
I would suggest reading over a couple of websites. Go to this one and read through it first:
http://www.dcltribute.com/
Then go the bottom of the sidebar where you will see:
External Links:
Dave's List of Links
Disney Cruise Line
DIS Message Boards
Entropy's Cruise Guide
PassPorter Cruise Guide
Platinum
Castaway Club
And click on the Platinum Castaway Club link. These are both wonderful sites to gain information.
As for advice. Here is what works best for us:
-Get to port by 10:15 so we go in when they open. Get in line as soon as possible (our kids go for us and DH and I check in, all adults have to check in, but since your Granddaughters are so young you will want to keep them with you).
-Have the girls wear their swimsuits under their clothes. When you are done eating go to deck 9 to the Mickey pool. This will be one of the few times it won't be crowded because most of the kids won't have their swimsuits yet--luggage will be delivered throughout the day and staterooms won't be ready until around 1:30. We actually choose to eat the 'fast food' by the pool and head there first, but most people want the buffet when they board.
--Have everything the girls need to change into when they are done swimming because suitcases may not be at the room yet when they are done.
--Wear something onboard that you would like to have a picture taken in because your whole group will get a picture as you board with the date of the cruise. We always buy this one!
--When you go to those websites I mentioned, look at the Kids Club navigators to see what the girls would really like to do. We sort of planned around our kids schedule that way. There were things they did not want to miss!
--Don't miss any of the Disney shows (there will be one night, probably Monday, that will be a comedy/variety show, which is good, but the Disney themed shows are wonderful! Especially Dreams on the last night).
That is all I can think of for now. The swimsuit under the clothes for the girls is my best tip. We enjoy that time at the pool so much. I have gotten some great pictures of my girls swimming in the empty pool! But once everyone gets their luggage, the pool will fill up!
DJ
