My Best Tip for cruisers with Kids

[covereddish]

This may have been listed, but I never saw it...in all of my "research and planning", I thought I had it all covered.

BRING A LANYARD WITH A SLEEVE STYLE NAME BADGE HOLDER for your child to keep up with his KTTW.

I wish I would have had one for both boys. They were $8 on the boat, and I was just thinking the whole time...........I've got a ton of them at home!

So, just a tip!

 

[GritsGirl]

Covered Dish, I sent you a PM....thanks, Grits

 

[dreaminboutdisney]

I agree. It really helps kids keep their club card handy and not as easy to lose.

 

[PoohJen]

Is there a hole in the card so you can use a hook-type lanyard?

 

[dreaminboutdisney]

No there is not a hole in the kids club cards. The lanyards on the ship have the cruise line logo and a clear card holder. I saw a few adults wearing them too. Which is a good idea because you have to carry your card key around everywhere to get into your room, for checking the kids in and out of the clubs, for charging purchases to your room etc. I thought $8 was a little high for it and only saw it on my 2nd to last nite of the cruise so I didn't get one but may have bought at least one if I saw it earlier.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Hi-

I haven't been on the cruise yet, but I have seen several other posts about this with the following information.

According to another poster- they have hole punches at Guest Services to punch your card so it can be put on a hook type lanyard.

Most people, however, seem to like the sleeve type lanyard for easier access which someone said they bought at Wal-Mart for $1.99. They even had a picture of it. If you do a "lanyard" search, you can probably find the thread.

Hope that helped- I plan to go to Wal-Mart and buy some of the sleeve type for our upcoming cruise.

 

[covereddish]

Actually, our children did have holes in their KTTW cards, b/c that is how Guest Services removes the charging privaleges (sp?) from their cards. They punch a hole in the swipe area! So, ours did have a hole.


Yes, the name style bag for the lanyard would be ideal. So, get one!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll be glad you did!

 

[cjsmom97]

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[baileybaby]

When do the kids have to use thier cards? If we don't let them buy anything and they are to young to go to the room by themselves. I am guessing just getting on and off the ship?

 

[O&WMOM]

Does the 5 and under group need to carry their KTTW?

Thank you

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Well I went and got mine yesterday from Wal-Mart. They were only 97 cents each. They have a clear zipper pouch and a break-away lanyard for safety. They were near the jewelry department with the wallets and keychains.

I also heard that you should write the kids names (I'm doing it on the back for security reasons) on them so that it doesn't get accidentally (or otherwise!) picked up by another kids. I also got holographic Mickey and Minnie stickers to decorate them just for fun.

Someone told me that sometimes they take the kids to different areas and that's why they need to carry their KTTW to keep track of them.

Can anyone comment if this is true or not?

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Originally posted by mickeyfanmom

Someone told me that sometimes they take the kids to different areas and that's why they need to carry their KTTW to keep track of them.

Can anyone comment if this is true or not?

I know that from age 8 up, the kids can have sign in/out priveleges at the Oceaneer Lab. Those kids need their card, as the Lab puts a sticker on the card, and the counsellors keep all the cards in an expandable file while the kids are signed in. A quick way to check whether your kids has signed himself out is to have the counsellor check the file, no card means your kid is not in the Lab.

My 5 year old never had need of his card (except getting off the ship) I used my card to sign him in and out.

 

[JJsmama]

That's a good idea. My boys will only be 5 and 3. They will either be in the club or with me. They won't be going around the ship on their own. WIll they still need to carry their KTTWs? Are they required to have them in the clubs or something?

 

[hopelea]

Okay, the last time we cruised my dd's were 7 & 9, both were in the LAB. Neither of the dd's were allowed to check themselves in our out. This next cruise my dd's will be 11 & 9. We will have an additional 11 year old with us too.

Now onto the question.........do the 11 year olds need their KTTW card? That first cruise they didn't carry it. Have things changed in the clubs? I don't remember kids giving the counselors their KTTW cards.

I saw some princess laynards at Claire's in the mall. I'll pick those up if they need them.

Thanks........Hope

 

[westjones]

Originally posted by hopelea
Now onto the question.........do the 11 year olds need their KTTW card? That first cruise they didn't carry it. Have things changed in the clubs? I don't remember kids giving the counselors their KTTW cards.

If the kids can check themselves out, then they need their cards to get in and out of the club. This is the first year my kids could check themselves in and out, so this is the first year they have needed to carry their cards. Before this, they never even saw their cards (I kept them).

This year they wore the lanyards to carry their cards. We had bought them on our last cruise and we just keep them in our 'cruise box' and plan to take them with us each time.

DJ

 

[westjones]

OK, I got this tip from someone on this board, but after 5 cruises, this is something I never thought of and it worked out great for my kids.

I bought those snap/suction hooks to put in the shower and when the kids took off their swimsuits they hung their googles and swimsuit on these hooks!

I got a pack of 4 at the Dollar Tree store (gave a couple away to a friend on the cruise for her DD, so I think I will pick up another pack next time I am at Dollar Tree).

In case you don't know what I am talking about, I found a picture of one here:

http://www.yoospot.com/snaphook.asp

But they are much less expensive at Dollar Tree (4 in a pack for a $1).

After that, NO more wet suits left on the bathroom floor for me to try to string on the clothes line! They were great!

Best NEW tip I got on this board!

DJ

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks for all of the answers and tips!

Also, to the person who started the thread

 

[fcrouch]

everyone of every age needs the KTTW card to leave ship and re-enter at ports (though we didn't have to show our daughter's birth certificate)

 

[suz72]

bump

Any other great tips?