New one sheet Personal Navigators - Update: Mixed reports currently, what is your recent experience?

[NeverSayNever]

On thinking back to our cruise last year, it occurred to me that a few nights (maybe it was all) left on our bed was only the one page not a full navigator. We assumed it was just our Cabin Host and no biggie as the kids would just go up to Guest Services and get the complete Navigator... So no I wonder... Perhaps they were testing this model out...Hmmm..

 

[tink1970]

Count me in the group who immediately turns off my phone and wants nothing to do with it once I'm done with the safety briefing! Too many years of being on call 24/7 and not being able to shed the electronic leash...there is no way I want any "app" when on vacation.

I do appreciate the "green" aspect of the smaller navigators and think the ideas of discontinuing the advertising fliers as well as making "full" navigators available upon request are reasonable. Hopefully DCL will remember that some of us dinosaurs still sail the seas

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I loved the app, but I enjoyed the paper copy too, especially as a first time Disney Cruiser. Kept all of them for souvenirs. Totally agree they should still be available on request, but I guess it takes a lot to put them together, customized for each trip, too.

 

[canyoncam]

On the back of the grid page in the upper right it has the dinner menu/drink of the day/weather
View attachment 196136

Mine are not like that. I will post a pic when I get back home.

 

[papertraveller]

I will miss the multi-page Navigator. Like so many of you, I loved to sit in bed and review the next day's offerings.
Interestingly, our most recent cruise on DCL came after one on RCCL -- and one of the things I liked was coming back to the full DCL pages. Plus, as you'd guess from my DIS name, I'm a paper fan.
On our last trip to DC we picked up a mug at Newseum that reads: "I love the smell of newsprint in the morning"
'nuff said.

 

[canyoncam]

On the back of the grid page in the upper right it has the dinner menu/drink of the day/weather
View attachment 196136

Sorry for bad pics but scanner down. No DotD nor dinner menu listed.

 

[Flossbolna]

Sorry for bad pics but scanner down. No DotD nor dinner menu listed.

View attachment 196235

View attachment 196236

Yes because they obviously needed the space for the advertising... (Bottom of middle column on the back)

I have been wondering how the spa and Shutter would be advertising their products. You might even get more flyers from them - as well as from DVC.

 

[Savikins]

This makes me pretty sad. The pretty Navigators were always my favorite "free" souvenir. The ones given to me definitely didn't end up as "paper waste," lol. In fact the only navigator I don't have from all my cruises is the grid insert from the first day of my very first cruise. All the others are neatly tucked away in plastic sleeves in a binder. I will definitely let DCL know that this disappoints me. I feel so old, but I'm only 21 and I still prefer looking at printed books as opposed to ebooks or stuff on my phone. So the app will be less convenient for me, and I promise I'm not looking for something to whine about.

Side note, it's not even that only people with smartphones can download the app, which does suck because (gasp!) there are still LOTS of people who don't use smartphones. But my parents have smartphones that run a Windows OS (hey, they were cheap and they work fine for email and Google searches/maps, they just can't download all the apps). The cruise app is only available for android and ios (I know the frustration first hand because I used to have a Windows phone as well).

 

[RedSox68]

I will miss the multi-page Navigator. Like so many of you, I loved to sit in bed and review the next day's offerings.
Interestingly, our most recent cruise on DCL came after one on RCCL -- and one of the things I liked was coming back to the full DCL pages. Plus, as you'd guess from my DIS name, I'm a paper fan.
On our last trip to DC we picked up a mug at Newseum that reads: "I love the smell of newsprint in the morning"
'nuff said.

The smell of a new book is something that a Kindle cannot duplicate

 

[RedSox68]

This makes me pretty sad. The pretty Navigators were always my favorite "free" souvenir. The ones given to me definitely didn't end up as "paper waste," lol. In fact the only navigator I don't have from all my cruises is the grid insert from the first day of my very first cruise. All the others are neatly tucked away in plastic sleeves in a binder. I will definitely let DCL know that this disappoints me. I feel so old, but I'm only 21 and I still prefer looking at printed books as opposed to ebooks or stuff on my phone. So the app will be less convenient for me, and I promise I'm not looking for something to whine about.

Side note, it's not even that only people with smartphones can download the app, which does suck because (gasp!) there are still LOTS of people who don't use smartphones. But my parents have smartphones that run a Windows OS (hey, they were cheap and they work fine for email and Google searches/maps, they just can't download all the apps). The cruise app is only available for android and ios (I know the frustration first hand because I used to have a Windows phone as well).

And we don't want the added costs of adding one of those phones to our monthly bill. I don't feel the need to own one - still have my old flip phone.

EDITED TO ADD: I hope as PrincessShmoo mentioned earlier, that all those who loved the old Navigator write Disney a quick email expressing their feelings and opinions. It cannot hurt, but will certainly make them aware of how unique (compared to the run of the mill flyers on other ships) their Navigator was!

 

[CurtisB]

We never used the paper Navigators and found the app much more easy to use. Maybe I'll write DCL and thank them for the change.

 

[Weedy]

We never used the paper Navigators and found the app much more easy to use. Maybe I'll write DCL and thank them for the change.

Contrary

 

[cruisehopeful]

I enjoyed looking through the navigator each evening and planning out what was most important to me for the next day. I did use the app a lot, too, but it seemed quicker and easier to use the paper form. Since I haven't cruised without the larger one, I won't complain. No use complaining about something that I haven't experienced, yet. It could turn out to be just fine.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We never used the paper Navigators and found the app much more easy to use. Maybe I'll write DCL and thank them for the change.

Well the paper Navigator is still there, just a different format. I bet Disney will mostly hear from the unhappy guests anyway, but anyone is welcome to provide Disney with their feedback. Positive or negative.

 

[canyoncam]

I have all my Paper Navigators as well (except my very first cruise were I let my friend keep them and didn't know about asking for a second set), like many of you have mentioned. They are free souvenirs. I keep my papers from other cruise lines as well, and know I am not the only one to do so for them. Carnival has a huge following who keep thier "Compass" papers, which are not nearly as pretty and neat as Navigators were. If Carnival was to go this route I know lots of people would be upset.

BUT it is the way things are moving. You have the information you need still provided on the one sheet. What I pointed out as not listed is still available by asking crew the night before hand or reading the posted signs. I have kept all the different binders and papers from all my cruises and these have changed and we got used to it though we bemoan the change at first. Some things I really miss even to this day but we must accept it is unlikely DCL will respond to going back to a full Navigator.

Just gonna post my first kept Navigator here to show how it had improved until now. Notice no one page convenient pull out time sheet. But still a fun reminder of what was going on.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I have all my Paper Navigators as well (except my very first cruise were I let my friend keep them and didn't know about asking for a second set), like many of you have mentioned. They are free souvenirs. I keep my papers from other cruise lines as well, and know I am not the only one to do so for them. Carnival has a huge following who keep thier "Compass" papers, which are not nearly as pretty and neat as Navigators were. If Carnival was to go this route I know lots of people would be upset.

BUT it is the way things are moving. You have the information you need still provided on the one sheet. What I pointed out as not listed is still available by asking crew the night before hand or reading the posted signs. I have kept all the different binders and papers from all my cruises and these have changed and we got used to it though we bemoan the change at first. Some things I really miss even to this day but we must accept it is unlikely DCL will respond to going back to a full Navigator.

Just gonna post my first kept Navigator here to show how it had improved until now. Notice no one page convenient pull out time sheet. But still a fun reminder of what was going on.

View attachment 196269 View attachment 196270 View attachment 196271

I agree with what you said and just to clarify 1 little thing. Carnival has The Fun Times, Royal has the Compass.

We've saved both our Navigators and Fun Times from all our cruises except our first, (we really thought we'd never cruise again).

We like to hang out after dinner and plan our next day with the paper navigator, but really only use the insert page, so we'll still be able to do that. I always thought the rest of the stuff was an attempt to ft me to spend more money on crap I didn't need.

 

[bumbershoot]

We like to hang out after dinner and plan our next day with the paper navigator, but really only use the insert page, so we'll still be able to do that. I always thought the rest of the stuff was an attempt to ft me to spend more money on crap I didn't need.

Exactly. The grid IS the page we use. I don't need a half page picture of the magicians. I do need to know when Jack Sparrow is meeting.

And while I scrapbooked it all, the more meaningful part is the grid with the boxes outlined showing what we did or thought of doing. Not what the weather will be the next day.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I'm not trying to be contrary, but I do want to point out that a smart phone is not the only way to get the App. Any wifi enabled device (on ios or android, apparently) will give you free access to the App. So most tablets, and even an old, second-hand iPod touch (like my 12 YO niece used on our recent trip) would be sufficient. This gives you access to the whole week's schedule, all the descriptions of all the events, and all of the menus for each day. And there is also the free messaging that the App provides.

I still enjoyed the full paper Navigator and agree that I would like to see them kept, but I think the App is also helpful.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm not trying to be contrary, but I do want to point out that a smart phone is not the only way to get the App. Any wifi enabled device (on ios or android, apparently) will give you free access to the App. So most tablets, and even an old, second-hand iPod touch (like my 12 YO niece used on our recent trip) would be sufficient. This gives you access to the whole week's schedule, all the descriptions of all the events, and all of the menus for each day. And there is also the free messaging that the App provides.

I still enjoyed the full paper Navigator and agree that I would like to see them kept, but I think the App is also helpful.

I don't think the app should be done away with. I agree that many people find it useful.

I'm just saying that not everyone uses it. I prefer the full paper Navigator. I don't need to see all the menus ahead of time. And planning one day at a time works for me.

I know there are others who want to "get all their ducks in a row" way ahead and feel that everything is done and they don't need to do anything more, but I'm a little more flexible. Especially since things that may be planned/scheduled for 4/5 days into the cruise could change for many reasons (weather among them - as evidenced by our recent TA cruise).

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Maybe. There are some of us who don't "do" apps, and don't find them "more convenient". I prefer shutting off my phone and locking it in the safe for the duration of the cruise.

Exactly! I am one of those as well. I find the paper version much, much more convenient. And one of the allures for me of going on a cruise is going "off the grid" with no TV (except Disney movies), no news, and no internet.