I am totally new to this discussion board and to the
Disney Cruise Line! I booked my family's first ever cruise as a Christmas present to them. I am a mother of 3 teenagers and recently graduated from graduate school and passed my boards and am now a practicing Certified Nurse Midwife. My family has put up with a lot of my being absent from them during schooling and I want to reward them with some wonderful family time - THUS I booked this cruise! I'm so excited. Any tips would be wonderful! Thanks! Myra
You are going to have SO MUCH FUN!!! You have no idea. It's a blast.
Some tips, from a once-before cruiser. Mostly just ramblings of things I can think of on the spot! haha.
Bring water bottles, the big ones. You can fill them up for excursions before you leave the boat.
If you are a soda drinking family, there is a soda machine near the buffet and you can fill up the same bottles or bring others.
You can mix the chocolate ice cream with a little hot coffee and stir it up for a mocha milkshake. Or reverse the portions and do coffee with a little chocolate ice cream. Yum!
Prepare to walk a lot. Going from front to back and back and forth was more walking than I expected. Stairs, elevators, etc. Comfy deck shoes are a must!
The movies are cool, free, 3D, and easy to hop in and out. They play them in your room too, but the TV's are small. If you guys like movies you'll see a lot of newer Disney movies there.
Board games are fun, if you have some favorties, bring some with you, you'll have time to play them while you relax, they do have some at a few of the bar areas. 4 days at sea is a long time on the boat in a 5 day cruise.
Pace your eating. You will eat a lot! And don't be afraid to ask for ANYTHING. If you want kids mac n' cheese every night as a starter, just say that. If you want grilled chicken on your caeser salad, let them know. If you want 1 of every desert, or 2 of your favorite, ask and don't be afraid, even if it's not on the menu.
You only have 1 excursion day this cruise. It's the only time you'll be off the boat. I highly suggest a Disney led excursion. Takes away all stress.
California in May should be warm, hazy on the ocean possibly. You may not expect to get sunburnt, but the marine layer just intensifies and magnifies the sun, so prepare. Pennsylvania sun does not equal California sun!
Go as formal as you like, or as non-formal. On our trip to Europe, the cruise was week 1 of 4. I was not going to lug around a tuxedo for 3 other weeks for 1 night on the boat. I wore dress khakis and a button up blue shirt. I was fine. You can rent a tux, but it's $$$.
YOU MUST go to Palo and YOU MUST get the chocolate souffle!! MUST!
Prepare to tip at Palo, only time on the boat really. But you should prepare to tip the watier, head waiter, and room service folks. There is a tipping list, but don't let it catch you off guard.
Bring some snacks. Skittles or M&M's will be a lot cheaper at Wal-Mar than the concessions before the evening shows. If your kids are nibblers you'll want some snacks for the shows.
Buy those $1 glow neckalce things for walking on the boat at night. They're cheap and fun.
Bring a small camera. Big cameras are nice, but to lug it around gets old. But the pictures they take are CRAZY expensive, so snap as many of your own as you can.
Splurge on something. Buy a Dooney & Burke handbag, or a nice picture frame, or an outfit before you leave. Something to make you feel regal. The ship will make you feel that way by itself, but splurging a little makes it oh so better.
If you're a wine drinker, you can bring bottles on or back from your excursion. You just have to drink it in your room. But we bought wine glasses, filled up and carried it out with us. Noone said anything.
Watch the sunsets if you can!
Let the kids roam if they want to. Everyone is friendly, they can't go anywhere. Let them stretch a little. In the evening, I suggest a comedy show, karaoke, or game show. They are so much fun. Just prepare, if you're a drinker it can get expensive. I don't drink much, so it was just fun to watch.
Ok, this is long, so finally...BE A KID!! Disney is amazing, no one grows up! Let your inner kid out. Be goofy. Do the funny faces, or poses, or dress up for Pixar night or whatever. Just enjoy it all. Soak it in. You'll be asking when can I book cruise #2!! Haha.
I just have a couple of comments in response and put them in blue. 
. Guess we'll have to go on a eastern cruise someday.
. Dd was asking tonight how many days are left, and when I said I think 129, she made a sad face lol. We so can't wait for this!
