~~~ May 16, 2009 ~~~ Western Magic ~~~

Peeps! Major panic!! Am in the middle of ordering my currency . . . don't laugh at my dumbness . . . Mexico and Grand Cayman accept US $'s, right?! :confused3


They sure do :). It's kind of neat to get change back in their currency too. Another "souvenier" :)!
 
Would it be to much to ask which is everyone's favorite character. we are trying to figure out items for the FE and have to divi everything up.

This is really tough for me becuase I love soo many characters so just to make it easy I'll say . . . piglet, winnie the pooh or eeyore :cutie: My husband would never admit he had a favorite but I would nominate him for goofy or mater from cars, lol! :banana:

I got a Tinkerbell tattoo this weekend.
Ooooh, way to go girl! I would love to see a peak! I've always tossed the idea of a tattoo around but I'm way too indecisive and afraid I would regret it 5 minutes later, hmmm..... still might happen some day. My biggest thing I ever did was get my belly button pierced, at the time I though it was a huge deal, lol - I was 20 and when my mom found out she completely freaked out.

He is used to working on big movies (all Spidermans, Die Hard, Fast & Furious, etc.) but Hollywood is in the slumps right now because the actors contract ended last JUNE!:eek:

Kym I'm glad to see you back! Your husband's job sounds very cool, I bet he has some very interesting stories!

I printed off all of my stateroom door magnets yesterday . . . how exciting!

Adorable! I'm not going to show my doggies or they would be totally jealous.

This picture was taken at the Magic Kingdom (Not so Scary Halloween Party)
in 2007. We all basically look the same.. the kids are a little older now:)

Your pictures are great, although I'm completely going to get your husband and brother in law confused.

I would REALLY like to walk the ship in the mornings, It would help me get up earlier (I'll be hours behind on the time zone). So maybe we can arrange a few walks?? I don't think my hubby will want to.

Sounds great, I'm up for anything. Walking would be nice and I wouldn't mind a class or two! :yay: My husband would probably walk or jog, but he would much rather lift weights if they have a decent selection in the gym. He would also probably like to shoot some hoops with any other interested guys.


I've almost finished up my FE gifts :woohoo: I spent most of the day yesterday putting them together, just a few finishing touches. I'm getting sooooooo excited I can hardly stand it!
 
Ashley and I still have to do our FE Shopping!! We have no idea about what to get! lol:guilty:

But she is creative so I know she will figure something out... Im not any good at that! Ill get the Car ready for the 22 hr drive there, Thats about it!

:banana:We CANT WAIT!:banana:
 
I printed off all of my stateroom door magnets yesterday . . . how exciting! This cruise is close enough to touch peeps!! Look what someone on the creative boards helped me to do (I added the words but thats all I can take credit for!!). We wanted our babies to come cruising with us!! Its my fave magnet!

disneydoggies.jpg

Your dogs are adorable! We have a black cocker named Abbey. I'll see about taking a photo of her, which is a challenge because of her humongous cataracts (she's ben blind for years bc of these and underlying glaucoma and retinal degeneration)...

This picture was taken at the Magic Kingdom (Not so Scary Halloween Party)
in 2007. We all basically look the same.. the kids are a little older now:)
FamilyatParade.jpg


This is from my sisters wedding...

thefamily.jpg

You have a beautiful family!

Welcome back Krishouse! We've had our share of "drama" this year with jobs and moves also, so I feel your pain. It's a rough year and this will definitely be the most frugal cruise we've ever been on! But, I'm thrilled to go even if we can't spend the $$ we've spent on previous trips...

Happy news for us... Adam has only been at his new job for 2.5 months and was named the Employee of the Month with his company!!! We are pretty excited, but mainly because we are really praying for a significant increase in pay on his April 20 3 month review! I'm proud of my little brown nose...I mean hard working husband! (He DOES work really hard....for peanuts!)
 

This picture was taken at the Magic Kingdom (Not so Scary Halloween Party)
in 2007. We all basically look the same.. the kids are a little older now:)
FamilyatParade.jpg


This is from my sisters wedding...

thefamily.jpg


You have a beautiful family. Thanks for posting a photo.
 
Well this is very easy for me I love them all,but Tinkerbell ,and Mickey are my favorites. DH-Goofy & Mickey I would say. DD 18 loves Belle anything Beauty and the Beast! DS Goofy & Donald. DD Marie from Aristacats,and Minnie Mouse. I don't think you could go wrong w/ anything for us. :love:

I think the kids are easy,it's the adults that i'm still having trouble thinking of things.
 
Thanks guys :love:

My favorite character is Belle.. my DH's is Simba, my DS's is chip and dale, and my DD's is Jasmine.

Thanks for asking...
 
Shawan- Shhhhhh!! Won't tell but where?

Shasess: Let's see a preview! FYI about tattoos...if its in an area that gets sun, put Sunblock on it!!!! I ruined my tattoo colors when I got it cause I kept forgetting to put sunblock on it. I was going to get it touched up before the cruise, but haven't had enough time. This fall I will, once I'm out of the sun. :P

It's on my right upper back/shoulder.
Here's a preview....
329246.jpg


I printed off all of my stateroom door magnets yesterday . . . how exciting! This cruise is close enough to touch peeps!! Look what someone on the creative boards helped me to do (I added the words but thats all I can take credit for!!). We wanted our babies to come cruising with us!! Its my fave magnet!

disneydoggies.jpg
Awwww, I love it!!!

This picture was taken at the Magic Kingdom (Not so Scary Halloween Party)
in 2007. We all basically look the same.. the kids are a little older now:)
FamilyatParade.jpg


This is from my sisters wedding...

thefamily.jpg

Beautiful family!!!!!
 
I printed off all of my stateroom door magnets yesterday . . . how exciting! This cruise is close enough to touch peeps!! Look what someone on the creative boards helped me to do (I added the words but thats all I can take credit for!!). We wanted our babies to come cruising with us!! Its my fave magnet!

disneydoggies.jpg
I need to work on these too! I'm afraid I'm going to run out of time!! Great idea about doing one of the family pets. Maybe I should do one of the boys since they won't be with us either.

I hope so too!! I know I am from Canada, and being from Canada I should want a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, But I am a HUGE Anaheim Ducks fan!! Since day one! There going to take it this year!!! (Maybe, LOL:woohoo:) Plus most teams in the NHL are full of Canadian players... So thats my excuse! lol
Last night I would have agreed with you, but tonight we made a comeback so we'll have to see....:rotfl2:

Hi Everyone,
I have been off of the boards for awhile, we were wavering whether we would have to cancel our cruise! I have started a new job and my husband has been working and living 6 hours away from us for over a year-- our lives have been drama drama drama!!
But I am happy to say that we are back on board!! We are booked on the 10am Radisson shuttle and will be boarding on May the 16th.

I was feeling really sad and not wanting to get my hopes up so I had kept the Disboards at an arms length so to speak.

But now I want to get in on the action!!!! How is our FE going to work?? Do we have an idea about how many gifts etc?? Could I also order bracelets??

I feel now that I can actually talk about this cruise and feel excitement!!!!

YaYYYYYYYYYYY:banana:

Any ideas or tips are appreciated, I cannot wait to meet everyone!!!! Unfortunately I am a stress eater and hoping to get out walking but have a few extra stress pounds on now for sure!!! Lol.

Kristin
Welcome back! I got your PM and will send you the list later tonight. We are dropping one gift sometime during the cruise (no assigned days). Let me know if you have other questions.

This picture was taken at the Magic Kingdom (Not so Scary Halloween Party)
in 2007. We all basically look the same.. the kids are a little older now:)
FamilyatParade.jpg


This is from my sisters wedding...

thefamily.jpg
Glad to finally put some faces with names.

Ditto!

Happy news for us... Adam has only been at his new job for 2.5 months and was named the Employee of the Month with his company!!! We are pretty excited, but mainly because we are really praying for a significant increase in pay on his April 20 3 month review! I'm proud of my little brown nose...I mean hard working husband! (He DOES work really hard....for peanuts!)
CONGRATULATIONS to Adam!!!!

Well I didn't get much done this weekend on the countdown calendar OR the FE. I got the number stickers printed and pasted onto the Mickey paint chips, but that's it...

I'm going to look through that tip list and then post it tonight.
 
Hey guys. Sorry I missed the chatter this weekend. We had a wedding to attend and it was a bit of a hike, so we stayed at a hotel....soooo tired.

Favorite Characters:
Me: Tinkerbell or bell
Jason: Donald
Carole: (Tink113sMom) Tinkerbell & Jiminy cricket
Bob: Goofy OR ....The man himself - Walt Disney (Really loves walt holding hands with Mickey)
Rob: Tigger
Alsion: eeyore
Robert (bobby): Whatever the current "hot" thing is... Buzz, Woody, Cars..
Adam: Mickey
Kevin: Not sure???
Melissa: Ariel


The Wrist bands... email me at Tink113 (at) aol.com if you are still looking to send payment.

All those who missed the paypal fees, no worries. I think you should all get together & chip in your $0.30 to buy me a drink on the boat. It should only take 16 of you or so... :rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2: J/K
Actually, it's totally my fault. Plus, you can thank your fellow cruisers because some people overpaid a bit, so we are straight!


:upsidedow Off to bed...work tomorrow. :upsidedow
 
I compiled these from a post on another thread. Any others to add?

Boarding Tips
Wear your swimsuits under your clothes when boarding, or bring them in a day bag.
There are bathrooms right outside Topsiders. Get the pool to yourselves for almost an hour

DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!! Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM). When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

DO YOUR CRUISE DOCS ONLINE AND PRINT THEM OUT!!!! So many people DO the online registration, but they forget to print them out and bring them with them. If you don't print them out, you have to do it all over again at the port

Cabin Tips
Over the Door shoe holders - shoe organizer was amazing! we have five people - so everyone got one row (oldest/tallest on top) to keep personal items and lanyards and such

If you have to have an inside stateroom, book on deck 7 aft, so you'll have the "secret verandah" to go out and enjoy.

The "secret" cat 7 rooms on deck 7 (used to be cat 5)

Mickey Mouse wake-up call

Feather Pillow - ask your stateroom attendant if you want one

Bring extra hangers! There isn't much drawer space in the cabins. or Better yet, leave the hangers at home and ask your stateroom attendant for more

The coffee table raises up to make it easier to sit on couch and eat from room service

Extension cord -- Used ours constantly, iPod, hair dryer, cameras, travel clock, etc., easy to plug things in overnight and take them for the next day

Ask the room steward to remove your coffee table and he did. We didn't use it and it gave us a lot of needed floor space!

Bring 2 bungee cords if you have connecting rooms to keep the doors open. They are heavy doors and will not stay open by themselves. If closed you cannot open them from the other stateroom. The cords worked great! You need one for each door.

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! We also brought along a mini fan. It wasn't used for cooling purposes but worked great as an air circulator in our inside stateroom.

3M command hooks are great for hanging hats & jackets/sweaters

Those close pin type magnets work wonders on the metal doors to hang lanyards and the navigator

Food Tips
Mickey bars, which aren't listed on the menu but ARE available from room service

Order room service the night before a port visit, and pack it and take with you as a snack

Order room service, sandwiches or go up and get burgers or chicken strips on
Deck 9, put them in Ziploc’s and bring them with us on our excursions

Carry-on beer and wine

Cookies BBQ, the line right in front is sometimes long (facing beach) go around the right side, and you'll find another serving station that is usually empty

Room service cake of the day!

Order coffee, etc via room service the night before so it is delivered the next morning

Arrive 5-10 minutes after your scheduled dining seating time. There are no points for being the first 50 into the dining room. Avoid the lines and the cattle waiting to be seated

Candy for movies and shows

Pack Ziploc baggies. Order a sandwich or 4 from room service before going on shore and then pack in the baggie - walking around lunch/snacks for on shore. Best of all - "free

If you can't decide what to what to order for dinner, choose both. One night DH & I got an EXTRA dinner to spilt and another night my Dad actually orders 2 of the appetizer he wanted. That was the same night DH & I ordered our appetizer from the kids menu

If you have a late seating for dinner on pirate night...don't eat...there is a beautiful buffet on deck

Souvenirs
You can have your purchases sent to your stateroom from the shop on CC. I was hoping I didn't have to bring my stuff with me on the beach!

Take a roll of bubble wrap for anything you buy that's breakable

Laundry pen for t-shirt autographs

Take a pillowcase or picture frame or whatever to guest services at the beginning of the cruise and leave it with Sharpies and request just princesses, Fab 6 or all the characters sign it

Buy the matte, take the cellophane off of it, and bring it on board with you. You can either give it to guest services for the characters to sign (you'll get it back on Friday night of the cruise), or you can take it around by yourself and have it signed by whoever you want throughout the cruise. Very important tip here, have a photo direction (vertical or horizontal) in mind before asking for signatures, that way you'll know which way they should sign. As you get the professional pictures taken throughout your cruise, you can ask the photographer to take them any direction you want.

If you are a scrap booker, the evening before disembarking, pick up extra luggage tags of all the characters - great for your scrapbook pages!

If you scrapbook - take a plain scrapbook page and pen to dinner one night and have your servers sign them...because you *will* have pictures of them and it is nice to have a memento from them. Do the same for your, travel companions, table mates, room steward and other cast members you associated with often or enjoyed. Take pictures with the cast members, they like knowing you enjoyed their work and efforts.

You can turn off charge privileges on your kids KTTW card but you can add a preset amount for them to use for smoothies, movie candy, arcade, etc.... this saves them running up big $$ on the room account but they still have some "pocket money".

Give the photographer or his assistant your camera too and ask them to take your picture with it...they will

Keep piling up your pictures in Shutters, one behind the other, until the end of the cruise. Then you can pick out the best of the best to use with your package.

Take all the memory cards you own. once you've finished one, put it in a separate place from your camera so if you lose one, you don't lose both

Don't buy souvenir Tshirts for the kids -- they get them and Mickey ear graduation hats for free from the Kid's club the day before the cruise ends

Take your own pics at EVERY opportunity that the photogs do or ask them to take the pics -- we didn't buy one single photo from shutters because ours were identical!


Toiletries/Meds
I also need good old chapstick after a day in the sand and wind.

My dermatologist recommended Neutrogena sunscreen with SPF 70 (with helioplex)- it was fabulous. We made sure to reapply every few hours, but none of us had any problems with sunburn issues- and we spent a good 6 hours in the water at CC.

There is free dramamine in a box outside of the first aid station on deck 1

If you use a loofah and body wash at home -- buy the Huggies brand disposable wash clothes with body wash in them, cut them in half and use and dispose

If the ship's stores are closed and you need a toiletry item of some kind for the ladies, like tampons, you can ask at guest services and they will get some out of the back room and give them to you discretely in an envelope. They also have aspirin and seasick meds. No charge

Downy wrinkle spray...works great

Lysol everything. You can even ask for one of the tubs of hand wipes in your room!

For our family of 5, we needed one full can of sunscreen for every port plus half a facial sunscreen stick. We also needed one can for every two days on the ship.

Misc Tips
Purchase pirate gear ahead of time (Party City, etc.)

Re-book on board! Save at least 10% on your next cruise

Buy your own cruise insurance

***************** and dcltribute.com also seem to have good information

Booking excursions on your own, most are very easy to get to on your own and are much cheaper than if you book them through DCL

Pack half the clothes and twice the cash

Get your bill from guest services midweek, just to see how much you've spent, and also incase they do make a mistake or two.

Pack clothes with dry cleaners plastic between layers and ROLL to avoid wrinkles -- we had none when we unpacked

If you have kids don't bring a white board or water bottles -- they give them away for free in the kids' clubs and Ocean Quest

Make contact with the entertainment staff running the programs -- when they see you, they tend to call your kids up on stage

Take everything you can that is disposable and just leave it there.

Before you leave, if you have extra supplies, ask your servers or host if they would like them. My servers practically jumped up and down at the prospect of getting my shoe organizer! I wound up giving her the organizer, humidifier, full size conditioner, lysol and room fresheners. The crew doesn't get off the ship much, so they're very appreciative!

Take advantage of the $15 day pass to the Rainforest Turkish bath in the spa. It was absolutely amazing and my pores are still looking amazing! Next time, I'm getting the week pass.

This one was by accident thanks to my DIS buds on board: take glow sticks for when you're meeting each other in the theater and it's pitch black -- they are the only way you'll find each other!

I always bring two rolls of quarters for the laundry. That way you don't have to "flatten" your one dollar bills, or pull from your room service tip stash.

Call before boarding the ship to find out the list of movies playing: 1-888-325-2500
 
I compiled these from a post on another thread. Any others to add?

Boarding Tips
Wear your swimsuits under your clothes when boarding, or bring them in a day bag.
There are bathrooms right outside Topsiders. Get the pool to yourselves for almost an hour

DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!! Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM). When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

DO YOUR CRUISE DOCS ONLINE AND PRINT THEM OUT!!!! So many people DO the online registration, but they forget to print them out and bring them with them. If you don't print them out, you have to do it all over again at the port

Cabin Tips
Over the Door shoe holders - shoe organizer was amazing! we have five people - so everyone got one row (oldest/tallest on top) to keep personal items and lanyards and such

If you have to have an inside stateroom, book on deck 7 aft, so you'll have the "secret verandah" to go out and enjoy.

The "secret" cat 7 rooms on deck 7 (used to be cat 5)

Mickey Mouse wake-up call

Feather Pillow - ask your stateroom attendant if you want one

Bring extra hangers! There isn't much drawer space in the cabins. or Better yet, leave the hangers at home and ask your stateroom attendant for more

The coffee table raises up to make it easier to sit on couch and eat from room service

Extension cord -- Used ours constantly, iPod, hair dryer, cameras, travel clock, etc., easy to plug things in overnight and take them for the next day

Ask the room steward to remove your coffee table and he did. We didn't use it and it gave us a lot of needed floor space!

Bring 2 bungee cords if you have connecting rooms to keep the doors open. They are heavy doors and will not stay open by themselves. If closed you cannot open them from the other stateroom. The cords worked great! You need one for each door.

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! We also brought along a mini fan. It wasn't used for cooling purposes but worked great as an air circulator in our inside stateroom.

3M command hooks are great for hanging hats & jackets/sweaters

Those close pin type magnets work wonders on the metal doors to hang lanyards and the navigator

Food Tips
Mickey bars, which aren't listed on the menu but ARE available from room service

Order room service the night before a port visit, and pack it and take with you as a snack

Order room service, sandwiches or go up and get burgers or chicken strips on
Deck 9, put them in Ziploc’s and bring them with us on our excursions

Carry-on beer and wine

Cookies BBQ, the line right in front is sometimes long (facing beach) go around the right side, and you'll find another serving station that is usually empty

Room service cake of the day!

Order coffee, etc via room service the night before so it is delivered the next morning

Arrive 5-10 minutes after your scheduled dining seating time. There are no points for being the first 50 into the dining room. Avoid the lines and the cattle waiting to be seated

Candy for movies and shows

Pack Ziploc baggies. Order a sandwich or 4 from room service before going on shore and then pack in the baggie - walking around lunch/snacks for on shore. Best of all - "free

If you can't decide what to what to order for dinner, choose both. One night DH & I got an EXTRA dinner to spilt and another night my Dad actually orders 2 of the appetizer he wanted. That was the same night DH & I ordered our appetizer from the kids menu

If you have a late seating for dinner on pirate night...don't eat...there is a beautiful buffet on deck

Souvenirs
You can have your purchases sent to your stateroom from the shop on CC. I was hoping I didn't have to bring my stuff with me on the beach!

Take a roll of bubble wrap for anything you buy that's breakable

Laundry pen for t-shirt autographs

Take a pillowcase or picture frame or whatever to guest services at the beginning of the cruise and leave it with Sharpies and request just princesses, Fab 6 or all the characters sign it

Buy the matte, take the cellophane off of it, and bring it on board with you. You can either give it to guest services for the characters to sign (you'll get it back on Friday night of the cruise), or you can take it around by yourself and have it signed by whoever you want throughout the cruise. Very important tip here, have a photo direction (vertical or horizontal) in mind before asking for signatures, that way you'll know which way they should sign. As you get the professional pictures taken throughout your cruise, you can ask the photographer to take them any direction you want.

If you are a scrap booker, the evening before disembarking, pick up extra luggage tags of all the characters - great for your scrapbook pages!

If you scrapbook - take a plain scrapbook page and pen to dinner one night and have your servers sign them...because you *will* have pictures of them and it is nice to have a memento from them. Do the same for your, travel companions, table mates, room steward and other cast members you associated with often or enjoyed. Take pictures with the cast members, they like knowing you enjoyed their work and efforts.

You can turn off charge privileges on your kids KTTW card but you can add a preset amount for them to use for smoothies, movie candy, arcade, etc.... this saves them running up big $$ on the room account but they still have some "pocket money".

Give the photographer or his assistant your camera too and ask them to take your picture with it...they will

Keep piling up your pictures in Shutters, one behind the other, until the end of the cruise. Then you can pick out the best of the best to use with your package.

Take all the memory cards you own. once you've finished one, put it in a separate place from your camera so if you lose one, you don't lose both

Don't buy souvenir Tshirts for the kids -- they get them and Mickey ear graduation hats for free from the Kid's club the day before the cruise ends

Take your own pics at EVERY opportunity that the photogs do or ask them to take the pics -- we didn't buy one single photo from shutters because ours were identical!


Toiletries/Meds
I also need good old chapstick after a day in the sand and wind.

My dermatologist recommended Neutrogena sunscreen with SPF 70 (with helioplex)- it was fabulous. We made sure to reapply every few hours, but none of us had any problems with sunburn issues- and we spent a good 6 hours in the water at CC.

There is free dramamine in a box outside of the first aid station on deck 1

If you use a loofah and body wash at home -- buy the Huggies brand disposable wash clothes with body wash in them, cut them in half and use and dispose

If the ship's stores are closed and you need a toiletry item of some kind for the ladies, like tampons, you can ask at guest services and they will get some out of the back room and give them to you discretely in an envelope. They also have aspirin and seasick meds. No charge

Downy wrinkle spray...works great

Lysol everything. You can even ask for one of the tubs of hand wipes in your room!

For our family of 5, we needed one full can of sunscreen for every port plus half a facial sunscreen stick. We also needed one can for every two days on the ship.

Misc Tips
Purchase pirate gear ahead of time (Party City, etc.)

Re-book on board! Save at least 10% on your next cruise

Buy your own cruise insurance

***************** and dcltribute.com also seem to have good information

Booking excursions on your own, most are very easy to get to on your own and are much cheaper than if you book them through DCL

Pack half the clothes and twice the cash

Get your bill from guest services midweek, just to see how much you've spent, and also incase they do make a mistake or two.

Pack clothes with dry cleaners plastic between layers and ROLL to avoid wrinkles -- we had none when we unpacked

If you have kids don't bring a white board or water bottles -- they give them away for free in the kids' clubs and Ocean Quest

Make contact with the entertainment staff running the programs -- when they see you, they tend to call your kids up on stage

Take everything you can that is disposable and just leave it there.

Before you leave, if you have extra supplies, ask your servers or host if they would like them. My servers practically jumped up and down at the prospect of getting my shoe organizer! I wound up giving her the organizer, humidifier, full size conditioner, lysol and room fresheners. The crew doesn't get off the ship much, so they're very appreciative!

Take advantage of the $15 day pass to the Rainforest Turkish bath in the spa. It was absolutely amazing and my pores are still looking amazing! Next time, I'm getting the week pass.

This one was by accident thanks to my DIS buds on board: take glow sticks for when you're meeting each other in the theater and it's pitch black -- they are the only way you'll find each other!

I always bring two rolls of quarters for the laundry. That way you don't have to "flatten" your one dollar bills, or pull from your room service tip stash.

Call before boarding the ship to find out the list of movies playing: 1-888-325-2500

GREAT TIPS!!! Woo hoo!! Makes me excited. I especially like the Movie # cause I want to know what's playing. My Hubby is hoping the new Disney Earth animal movie is playing on the cruise.

Also, How dressed up is everyone going for the Pirate night? My hubby is going to wear a skull & cross bones tshirt and a black bandana. haha I'm still putting together my outfit. Not sure how big to go....
 
I compiled these from a post on another thread. Any others to add?

Boarding Tips
Wear your swimsuits under your clothes when boarding, or bring them in a day bag.
There are bathrooms right outside Topsiders. Get the pool to yourselves for almost an hour

DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!! Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM). When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

DO YOUR CRUISE DOCS ONLINE AND PRINT THEM OUT!!!! So many people DO the online registration, but they forget to print them out and bring them with them. If you don't print them out, you have to do it all over again at the port

Cabin Tips
Over the Door shoe holders - shoe organizer was amazing! we have five people - so everyone got one row (oldest/tallest on top) to keep personal items and lanyards and such

If you have to have an inside stateroom, book on deck 7 aft, so you'll have the "secret verandah" to go out and enjoy.

The "secret" cat 7 rooms on deck 7 (used to be cat 5)

Mickey Mouse wake-up call

Feather Pillow - ask your stateroom attendant if you want one

Bring extra hangers! There isn't much drawer space in the cabins. or Better yet, leave the hangers at home and ask your stateroom attendant for more

The coffee table raises up to make it easier to sit on couch and eat from room service

Extension cord -- Used ours constantly, iPod, hair dryer, cameras, travel clock, etc., easy to plug things in overnight and take them for the next day

Ask the room steward to remove your coffee table and he did. We didn't use it and it gave us a lot of needed floor space!

Bring 2 bungee cords if you have connecting rooms to keep the doors open. They are heavy doors and will not stay open by themselves. If closed you cannot open them from the other stateroom. The cords worked great! You need one for each door.

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! We also brought along a mini fan. It wasn't used for cooling purposes but worked great as an air circulator in our inside stateroom.

3M command hooks are great for hanging hats & jackets/sweaters

Those close pin type magnets work wonders on the metal doors to hang lanyards and the navigator

Food Tips
Mickey bars, which aren't listed on the menu but ARE available from room service

Order room service the night before a port visit, and pack it and take with you as a snack

Order room service, sandwiches or go up and get burgers or chicken strips on
Deck 9, put them in Ziploc’s and bring them with us on our excursions

Carry-on beer and wine

Cookies BBQ, the line right in front is sometimes long (facing beach) go around the right side, and you'll find another serving station that is usually empty

Room service cake of the day!

Order coffee, etc via room service the night before so it is delivered the next morning

Arrive 5-10 minutes after your scheduled dining seating time. There are no points for being the first 50 into the dining room. Avoid the lines and the cattle waiting to be seated

Candy for movies and shows

Pack Ziploc baggies. Order a sandwich or 4 from room service before going on shore and then pack in the baggie - walking around lunch/snacks for on shore. Best of all - "free

If you can't decide what to what to order for dinner, choose both. One night DH & I got an EXTRA dinner to spilt and another night my Dad actually orders 2 of the appetizer he wanted. That was the same night DH & I ordered our appetizer from the kids menu

If you have a late seating for dinner on pirate night...don't eat...there is a beautiful buffet on deck

Souvenirs
You can have your purchases sent to your stateroom from the shop on CC. I was hoping I didn't have to bring my stuff with me on the beach!

Take a roll of bubble wrap for anything you buy that's breakable

Laundry pen for t-shirt autographs

Take a pillowcase or picture frame or whatever to guest services at the beginning of the cruise and leave it with Sharpies and request just princesses, Fab 6 or all the characters sign it

Buy the matte, take the cellophane off of it, and bring it on board with you. You can either give it to guest services for the characters to sign (you'll get it back on Friday night of the cruise), or you can take it around by yourself and have it signed by whoever you want throughout the cruise. Very important tip here, have a photo direction (vertical or horizontal) in mind before asking for signatures, that way you'll know which way they should sign. As you get the professional pictures taken throughout your cruise, you can ask the photographer to take them any direction you want.

If you are a scrap booker, the evening before disembarking, pick up extra luggage tags of all the characters - great for your scrapbook pages!

If you scrapbook - take a plain scrapbook page and pen to dinner one night and have your servers sign them...because you *will* have pictures of them and it is nice to have a memento from them. Do the same for your, travel companions, table mates, room steward and other cast members you associated with often or enjoyed. Take pictures with the cast members, they like knowing you enjoyed their work and efforts.

You can turn off charge privileges on your kids KTTW card but you can add a preset amount for them to use for smoothies, movie candy, arcade, etc.... this saves them running up big $$ on the room account but they still have some "pocket money".

Give the photographer or his assistant your camera too and ask them to take your picture with it...they will

Keep piling up your pictures in Shutters, one behind the other, until the end of the cruise. Then you can pick out the best of the best to use with your package.

Take all the memory cards you own. once you've finished one, put it in a separate place from your camera so if you lose one, you don't lose both

Don't buy souvenir Tshirts for the kids -- they get them and Mickey ear graduation hats for free from the Kid's club the day before the cruise ends

Take your own pics at EVERY opportunity that the photogs do or ask them to take the pics -- we didn't buy one single photo from shutters because ours were identical!


Toiletries/Meds
I also need good old chapstick after a day in the sand and wind.

My dermatologist recommended Neutrogena sunscreen with SPF 70 (with helioplex)- it was fabulous. We made sure to reapply every few hours, but none of us had any problems with sunburn issues- and we spent a good 6 hours in the water at CC.

There is free dramamine in a box outside of the first aid station on deck 1

If you use a loofah and body wash at home -- buy the Huggies brand disposable wash clothes with body wash in them, cut them in half and use and dispose

If the ship's stores are closed and you need a toiletry item of some kind for the ladies, like tampons, you can ask at guest services and they will get some out of the back room and give them to you discretely in an envelope. They also have aspirin and seasick meds. No charge

Downy wrinkle spray...works great

Lysol everything. You can even ask for one of the tubs of hand wipes in your room!

For our family of 5, we needed one full can of sunscreen for every port plus half a facial sunscreen stick. We also needed one can for every two days on the ship.

Misc Tips
Purchase pirate gear ahead of time (Party City, etc.)

Re-book on board! Save at least 10% on your next cruise

Buy your own cruise insurance

***************** and dcltribute.com also seem to have good information

Booking excursions on your own, most are very easy to get to on your own and are much cheaper than if you book them through DCL

Pack half the clothes and twice the cash

Get your bill from guest services midweek, just to see how much you've spent, and also incase they do make a mistake or two.

Pack clothes with dry cleaners plastic between layers and ROLL to avoid wrinkles -- we had none when we unpacked

If you have kids don't bring a white board or water bottles -- they give them away for free in the kids' clubs and Ocean Quest

Make contact with the entertainment staff running the programs -- when they see you, they tend to call your kids up on stage

Take everything you can that is disposable and just leave it there.

Before you leave, if you have extra supplies, ask your servers or host if they would like them. My servers practically jumped up and down at the prospect of getting my shoe organizer! I wound up giving her the organizer, humidifier, full size conditioner, lysol and room fresheners. The crew doesn't get off the ship much, so they're very appreciative!

Take advantage of the $15 day pass to the Rainforest Turkish bath in the spa. It was absolutely amazing and my pores are still looking amazing! Next time, I'm getting the week pass.

This one was by accident thanks to my DIS buds on board: take glow sticks for when you're meeting each other in the theater and it's pitch black -- they are the only way you'll find each other!

I always bring two rolls of quarters for the laundry. That way you don't have to "flatten" your one dollar bills, or pull from your room service tip stash.

Call before boarding the ship to find out the list of movies playing: 1-888-325-2500


Thanks for the tips! I will pass it on to my friends who are crusing with us. We are getting closer. :banana:
 
morning all!!

We are getting closer!

fav characters...

DH - Jack Sparrow
Me - Tink
Samantha - Cinderella
Haley - Ariel


I can't believe how close we are getting!!
 
I compiled these from a post on another thread. Any others to add?

Boarding Tips
Wear your swimsuits under your clothes when boarding, or bring them in a day bag.
There are bathrooms right outside Topsiders. Get the pool to yourselves for almost an hour

DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!! Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM). When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

DO YOUR CRUISE DOCS ONLINE AND PRINT THEM OUT!!!! So many people DO the online registration, but they forget to print them out and bring them with them. If you don't print them out, you have to do it all over again at the port

Cabin Tips
Over the Door shoe holders - shoe organizer was amazing! we have five people - so everyone got one row (oldest/tallest on top) to keep personal items and lanyards and such

If you have to have an inside stateroom, book on deck 7 aft, so you'll have the "secret verandah" to go out and enjoy.

The "secret" cat 7 rooms on deck 7 (used to be cat 5)

Mickey Mouse wake-up call

Feather Pillow - ask your stateroom attendant if you want one

Bring extra hangers! There isn't much drawer space in the cabins. or Better yet, leave the hangers at home and ask your stateroom attendant for more

The coffee table raises up to make it easier to sit on couch and eat from room service

Extension cord -- Used ours constantly, iPod, hair dryer, cameras, travel clock, etc., easy to plug things in overnight and take them for the next day

Ask the room steward to remove your coffee table and he did. We didn't use it and it gave us a lot of needed floor space!

Bring 2 bungee cords if you have connecting rooms to keep the doors open. They are heavy doors and will not stay open by themselves. If closed you cannot open them from the other stateroom. The cords worked great! You need one for each door.

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! We also brought along a mini fan. It wasn't used for cooling purposes but worked great as an air circulator in our inside stateroom.

3M command hooks are great for hanging hats & jackets/sweaters

Those close pin type magnets work wonders on the metal doors to hang lanyards and the navigator

Food Tips
Mickey bars, which aren't listed on the menu but ARE available from room service

Order room service the night before a port visit, and pack it and take with you as a snack

Order room service, sandwiches or go up and get burgers or chicken strips on
Deck 9, put them in Ziploc’s and bring them with us on our excursions

Carry-on beer and wine

Cookies BBQ, the line right in front is sometimes long (facing beach) go around the right side, and you'll find another serving station that is usually empty

Room service cake of the day!

Order coffee, etc via room service the night before so it is delivered the next morning

Arrive 5-10 minutes after your scheduled dining seating time. There are no points for being the first 50 into the dining room. Avoid the lines and the cattle waiting to be seated

Candy for movies and shows

Pack Ziploc baggies. Order a sandwich or 4 from room service before going on shore and then pack in the baggie - walking around lunch/snacks for on shore. Best of all - "free

If you can't decide what to what to order for dinner, choose both. One night DH & I got an EXTRA dinner to spilt and another night my Dad actually orders 2 of the appetizer he wanted. That was the same night DH & I ordered our appetizer from the kids menu

If you have a late seating for dinner on pirate night...don't eat...there is a beautiful buffet on deck

Souvenirs
You can have your purchases sent to your stateroom from the shop on CC. I was hoping I didn't have to bring my stuff with me on the beach!

Take a roll of bubble wrap for anything you buy that's breakable

Laundry pen for t-shirt autographs

Take a pillowcase or picture frame or whatever to guest services at the beginning of the cruise and leave it with Sharpies and request just princesses, Fab 6 or all the characters sign it

Buy the matte, take the cellophane off of it, and bring it on board with you. You can either give it to guest services for the characters to sign (you'll get it back on Friday night of the cruise), or you can take it around by yourself and have it signed by whoever you want throughout the cruise. Very important tip here, have a photo direction (vertical or horizontal) in mind before asking for signatures, that way you'll know which way they should sign. As you get the professional pictures taken throughout your cruise, you can ask the photographer to take them any direction you want.

If you are a scrap booker, the evening before disembarking, pick up extra luggage tags of all the characters - great for your scrapbook pages!

If you scrapbook - take a plain scrapbook page and pen to dinner one night and have your servers sign them...because you *will* have pictures of them and it is nice to have a memento from them. Do the same for your, travel companions, table mates, room steward and other cast members you associated with often or enjoyed. Take pictures with the cast members, they like knowing you enjoyed their work and efforts.

You can turn off charge privileges on your kids KTTW card but you can add a preset amount for them to use for smoothies, movie candy, arcade, etc.... this saves them running up big $$ on the room account but they still have some "pocket money".

Give the photographer or his assistant your camera too and ask them to take your picture with it...they will

Keep piling up your pictures in Shutters, one behind the other, until the end of the cruise. Then you can pick out the best of the best to use with your package.

Take all the memory cards you own. once you've finished one, put it in a separate place from your camera so if you lose one, you don't lose both

Don't buy souvenir Tshirts for the kids -- they get them and Mickey ear graduation hats for free from the Kid's club the day before the cruise ends

Take your own pics at EVERY opportunity that the photogs do or ask them to take the pics -- we didn't buy one single photo from shutters because ours were identical!


Toiletries/Meds
I also need good old chapstick after a day in the sand and wind.

My dermatologist recommended Neutrogena sunscreen with SPF 70 (with helioplex)- it was fabulous. We made sure to reapply every few hours, but none of us had any problems with sunburn issues- and we spent a good 6 hours in the water at CC.

There is free dramamine in a box outside of the first aid station on deck 1

If you use a loofah and body wash at home -- buy the Huggies brand disposable wash clothes with body wash in them, cut them in half and use and dispose

If the ship's stores are closed and you need a toiletry item of some kind for the ladies, like tampons, you can ask at guest services and they will get some out of the back room and give them to you discretely in an envelope. They also have aspirin and seasick meds. No charge

Downy wrinkle spray...works great

Lysol everything. You can even ask for one of the tubs of hand wipes in your room!

For our family of 5, we needed one full can of sunscreen for every port plus half a facial sunscreen stick. We also needed one can for every two days on the ship.

Misc Tips
Purchase pirate gear ahead of time (Party City, etc.)

Re-book on board! Save at least 10% on your next cruise

Buy your own cruise insurance

***************** and dcltribute.com also seem to have good information

Booking excursions on your own, most are very easy to get to on your own and are much cheaper than if you book them through DCL

Pack half the clothes and twice the cash

Get your bill from guest services midweek, just to see how much you've spent, and also incase they do make a mistake or two.

Pack clothes with dry cleaners plastic between layers and ROLL to avoid wrinkles -- we had none when we unpacked

If you have kids don't bring a white board or water bottles -- they give them away for free in the kids' clubs and Ocean Quest

Make contact with the entertainment staff running the programs -- when they see you, they tend to call your kids up on stage

Take everything you can that is disposable and just leave it there.

Before you leave, if you have extra supplies, ask your servers or host if they would like them. My servers practically jumped up and down at the prospect of getting my shoe organizer! I wound up giving her the organizer, humidifier, full size conditioner, lysol and room fresheners. The crew doesn't get off the ship much, so they're very appreciative!

Take advantage of the $15 day pass to the Rainforest Turkish bath in the spa. It was absolutely amazing and my pores are still looking amazing! Next time, I'm getting the week pass.

This one was by accident thanks to my DIS buds on board: take glow sticks for when you're meeting each other in the theater and it's pitch black -- they are the only way you'll find each other!

I always bring two rolls of quarters for the laundry. That way you don't have to "flatten" your one dollar bills, or pull from your room service tip stash.

Call before boarding the ship to find out the list of movies playing: 1-888-325-2500



Thank you, awesome tips!
 
tks for all replies for the characters. make things easier here.

have one last question. what do you get teens and adults. we havent figured out this one yet.

got lots of stuff here
 
It looks like we will have Brent as our CD

Yes, Brent will be replacing Christiaan on the May 9 Magic sailing....don't know how long his term lasts, but he will be there on our May 30 sailing. Christiaan goes to the Wonder on May 10. I don't know who the ACDs will be.

Ponz was on the Magic as of last week (March 28)
 
I compiled these from a post on another thread. Any others to add?

Great tips! You and I must of had the same thoughts because I spent some of this weekend going through tips as well :rotfl:. There weren't many that I didnt' have, but I'll also add:

After the muster drill, go right back to your stateroom, drop off your lifejackets and head right up to deck 9 - Goofy pool area (the one in between the smokestacks). Chances are your kids can get a spot right up front at the railing to the stage if you do this. Even if you aren't right up front - don't worry - you won't miss a thing!

Print your family's address on sticky labels for the "return home" luggage tags...rather than writing your name and address etc 6-7 times, just peel a label off and paste....

And this one I use for ALL my cruises -- pack OTC medicines with you including bandaids and first-aid cream. I take headache, allegry, stomach and all kids medicines with me. The children's medicines are really important for you to bring because most of the time they won't have what you want and in the correct dosages. I haven't had to use a lot of what I brought with me but they don't take up a lot of room, are light-weight and I feel much better knowing that I have what I need.

Remember to bring aloe vera or sunburn relief stuff. That Caribbean sun is HOT! Almost every cruise I've taken I've managed to miss like one spot with the sunscreen and wind up getting burned. It's just a little bit, but the aloe vera is wonderful to have.

Also, How dressed up is everyone going for the Pirate night? My hubby is going to wear a skull & cross bones tshirt and a black bandana. haha I'm still putting together my outfit. Not sure how big to go....

Last May my DH, DD and I attended the Princess and Pirates Party at the MK. I made shirts for my DH and I that read "Why is all the rum gone?" and "I'm why all the rum is gone." It's my DH obviously who drank all of the rum! They also have some pirate skull and cross bones on them. They were a big hit at the P&PP so I'm hoping to get to wear them again. We also put on our pirate bananas and we're good to go. My DD has a pirates tank top that I got a few years ago in the Disney Store and it still fits her (it was really, really big when I orginally bought it). She'll wear that and probably a headband as well.

Kim
 
how many people are signed onto the 10 am shuttle? It seems it would be way overbooked at this point!
 

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

If you make your Disney Cruise Line reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel you’ll receive these incredible shipboard credits to spend on your cruise!

















Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom