Obsessing about the "do they have's"

[TDC Nala]

The only thing I have to bring is hot sauce.

Obviously they can't carry every brand and every permutation of each brand onboard. It makes no real sense to expect that. If you are very particular about what brand of item you have, you do need to know whether to bring it with you or not.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

My dh brought tea, creamer, and bottled water but he did it so he could make his tea the way he wanted. It didn't take much room and he was happy so why not bring it. It wouldn't have ruined our trip if he didn't have it though

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[princesspiglet]

The only thing I HAVE to bring is Splenda. I have IBS and sweet n low and nutrisweet are both triggers for me so I have to avoid them at all costs or I will wind up in the bathroom for the whole cruise. I do like to have iced tea everyday so I make sure I always have my splenda on me. Other than that, I am good to go.

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

I think a lot of it is detail over-planning issues.

As much as I love hanging around here, I'm so glad I didn't know about DISboards (or the other cruiseboards out there) before my first cruise. I would have been a basket case long before the cruise.

That's why my number one tip for cruising is "don't try to do (or plan) everything, you can't". You'll have a much more enjoyable cruise if you just really have fun with what you can do, and laugh inwardly at those who are rushing around trying to get to every event onboard, or take at least 2 excursions in every port.

I vacation for relaxation. If I miss something (and I will), there's always the next cruise to do it.

2 excursions in every port? Waaaaay too busy for us. We're planning our first cruise, and I agree with some of the other posts that there is too much "over planning".

And Princess Shmoo, thank you for all of your input on the boards. I have seen you on the boards a lot and your advice has always been straight forward and unbiased.

 

[AquaDame]

I just thank my lucky stars that my husband and I have no allergies or picky kids to worry about. We can literally eat anything at all, its amazing. If I try it and don't like it (and that happens a lot at Cabanas) I leave it and try something else next time.While I would LOVE to be able to find doubleshots on board the mochas in Cove Cafe are fine so I can 'suffer' through them! Now if I could just get some GOOD eggs at the buffet I'd be set.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Coke products but no coke zero...

Oh my gosh you are so right! I am not picky but was at a function last wekend and was served this. What swill!!!! Horrible!!

 

[MDTerp]

I like liquid flavored creamer for my coffee each morning so I buy a box of the little singles that come flavored (like they have in some restaurants) and pack it in my travel bag. Then I take a couple out each morning and take to Cabanas for breakfast. Works for me.

Also, I just say I love Coke products and am happy they are there.

It is ok to be a little picky after all isn't that why we choose Disney?

Me too! Take those little containers on all my trips (business and pleasure). Wish there was Coke Zero (I think it tastes closest to Pepsi) - I get by with mixing regular and Diet Coke (it satisfies my need for mid-day caffeine).

 

[IrenicMom]

I agree with much of what has been said.

Another thought, though, too -

I research everything to the hilt (just a bit OCD, I'm sure) but don't stress about a land based vacation nearly as much as I do our cruises. Why? Because in the middle of the ocean, you can't hop in a taxi and head over to Target to pick up what you forgot or suddenly need.

So trying to plan for contingencies lessens my stress, and actually makes the trip more enjoyable for me.

I'm not worried about the food/drink so much, but do find myself wondering/stressing about things like OTC medicines, toiletries, etc.

(And having been on a cruise where only Pepsi products were available? I found myself drinking a lot more water)

 

[NCConch]

When I am on vacation I am going to have real sugar, drink whatever is handed to me and smile a lot.

 

[Woodmnky]

For many there are specific dietary issues at play, other' just have wants, and then there are those of us who like to kill time and know everything that we can before we step onboard.

To some it may seem silly, but I only drink flavored coffee so the little flavored creamers are a must pack for me. Also, I saw that many people had mentioned that fruit punch was served onboard apparently this is true of the classic ships not the newer ships. Figuring this out let me bring some mixers to go with my bottle of vodka.

A cup of flavored coffee in the morning and a mixed beverage in the evening while chasing a toddler to get him dressed for dinner make for a much happier mommy .

 

[bumbershoot]

Dietary and health issues notwithstanding, is this really that important to people,

Why not just assume that there are those issues, and/or it IS that important to some people, and be done with it?

Extending the planning out to every minute detail helps them wring maximum enjoyment out of their trip.

I agreed with all of your post pearlieq, but especially that bit. It helps with the enjoyment, to find out lots and lots of info.

Our honeymoon cruise was in '03, and I planned that puppy for a year. We still missed a ton of stuff on the ship (RCCL), but what I learned on cruisecritic helped make it even more amazing than it would have been. [Or so DH says; I got pregnant in the week between the wedding and cruise, and was passing out by 8pm every night (when normally I had a hard time falling asleep by 2am, just my nature) and don't remember much of the cruise at all thanks to shockingly quick and strong hormones...]

 

[jahber]

It's not specifically food-related, but I will say that I have super-sensitive skin, so its helpful to know what kind of toiletries are onboard. Just like people with special dietary needs, I end up brining my own "safe" products on board. Who wants to spend a terrific vacation feeling yucky? And I'm always happy to see the answers to food questions, in case our needs ever change. Plus, as others said, it's just so easy to tweak your vacation to make it a little more magical!

 

[DisneyFreq]

I'm a nurse and I can tell you that the profession attracts type A personalities. Luckily it works.

I totally believe that TRUE disney addicts are obsessive planners. It's what makes us US! We crave perfection and know that disney is the closest vacation destination that will supply. Our obsessive planning just guarantees that our down time will be exactly that.... Down time!

I enjoy the planning. My family does not. They have learned over time that it is better to have reservations and cancel them then to want them and not be able to get them. Most of my research doesn't lead to hard plans... Merely a litany of educated options! They ask... I'm prepared to answer.

I agree that on a cruise things should be relaxed. We keep our plans fairly loose but we always have reservations in place for shore excursions. I do research what is available onboard just so I know what my options are. There are very few occasions that I pack alternatives because I don't like what's offered.... But if I don't know in advance, I don't have that option. I will be bringing my own shampoo conditioner and bottled water. Not because I'm that picky, just for convenience!!!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The big problem I see is they let the things you can't control take over the BIG thing you CAN control.... your attitude.

People let small stuff ruin thier entire trip. Really? It's the end of the world if you can't get brand X? Hmm... Why not think how lucky you are to have a life style that even lets you consider the choices, much less a Disney Cruise?

But I have watched people let one small thing RUIN thier entire trip... Cast Member 1 was rude so from then on it's "ruined" even if you come into contact with 200 other nice Cast Members. The Coke Dispenser runs out of Diet Coke for half an hour... the rest of the cruise is a diaster as you walk around complaining about the service etc.

I once saw a woman talking to a hotel concerige in London about changing her flight home. She wanted to leave immediately because she and her DH couldn't find American beer! LOL!