Please help me organize our boarding day...! First timer needs help!

[lornak]

OK, so I NEED an itinerary or I just won't feel prepared!! I'm looking for a timetable for the day we board and I would really appreciate input from you veterans!!

Here's our info... We are a family of 5 (dd's are 7,5,4). We are sailing on the 10/18 Eastern, staying the night before in Downtown Disney.

Here are the items I need to schedule---
time to leave Downtown Disney
returning rental car to budget
arriving at the port (how early should we get there?)
tea and brunch reservations at Palo
spa reservation
registering kids for kids clubs
lunch
....and anything else you think I need to do on the first day!!!

If you have perfected the check in day schedule I would love to hear about it!!! Thanks!

 

[spotdog]

When you get aboard the ship I would head first to Palo and then to the spa. There is a place "reserved" for your children in the clubs so any time before the lifeboat drill at 4:00 would seem to be fine for registering them and visiting the clubs. The reservations for Palo on "at sea" days and outdoor massages at Castaway Cay seem to go quickly, so do that first.

If you think your kids might spend alot of time in the clubs I would sign up for a week long pass to the Rainforest Room ($50), the tile lounge chairs in front of the fountain are wonderful.

Also don't forget to pack swimsuits in your "ship carry on", or wear them under your clothes so the kids can try out the Mickey Pool, if there is time, the first afternoon. HAVE A MAGICAL TRIP!

 

[tkd lisa]

Giving you some advice based on our previous mistakes.

We went to DD before boarding. We got to DD at opening (I think it opens at 9 ish). Parked right in front of WOD. That worked out great. We left by about 10, and headed to Cocoa Beach to find Ron Jons and return the rental. Several delays caused by bad directions to the rental place put us in the check in area about 12:30 or 1:00. That got us on board about 2 or so. We dropped our day bags, went up to Topsiders to eat. Done about 2:45 or so. We weren't interested in spa or Palo, so I started to unpack while DH took kids to the pool. Kids registration was closed then. Long story short, our DD got lost just about the start of the lifeboat drill, and without being registered, they couldn't find us. It took about 30 minutes after the lifeboat drill was finished before we hooked back up. They finally looked up her name in the computer, and brought her to our stateroom.

So what we did the next time we went was plan to get to the terminal by 11:00, on board by 12:45 or 1 (relatively close to the beginning of the line), then registered the kids as soon as we possibly could. It only takes one of you to get the reservations and one of you to register the kids. I'd divide and conquer. Those reservations aren't worth the panic I felt over my missing child!!

 

[my3kids]

I think 11 is a good time to arrive at the port. Upon boarding, I went to the spa for reservations and my husband took the children to get the Palo reservations. Once we finished, we met outside Topsiders for lunch together.

The children's registration was sometime later in the afternoon, I think. You don't need to rush for that.

On the car rental return, I'd have the husband drop the family and the luggage at the port(make sure he keeps his ID and documents with him) You go inside and get you and kids checked in while your husband returns the car and shuttles or taxi's back to the port. He can head on in then, do what he needs to at the check in, and meet you in line.

 

[MarkRG]

We've never dont it coming on our own from Orlando so I can't comment on that, but I can make a few upfront:

Your cruise documents will have forms to fill out in them. Some of them are a little complicated to do and it'd be good to get that out of the way beforehand. Fill them out at home, don't wait until you get there.

-arriving at the port (how early should we get there?)

A lot depends on things, but considering your next two questions, I would suggest getting there around 10:30 so you can be around first in line to board, as you do have some running around to do.

-tea and brunch reservations at Palo

This is why you want to be first in line. High Tea is very hard to get into and first in line would help you do so. You make these reservations when you board. After they announce your family, you'll want to turn right past the elevators and go into the clubs, the first club is where they take Palo ressies.

-spa reservation

You have to go up to the spa on Deck 9 to make these. Doing so early would also be a good idea.

lunch

You'll already be up on deck 9 after making a spa ressie, so your best bet is to send the family ahead to Topsiders and just meet them there.

 

[lornak]

Thanks for all the GREAT tips! They are really helping me get me schedule in place!

 

[tchrmom]

Just wanted to say "hi".

We are also on the 10/18 Magic. We also have a daughter who is 8. (and a son who is 11)

This is our 2nd Disney cruise, so if you can think of any other questions, I'd be glad to help you out, if I can.

Have a great trip!

 

[lornak]

Hi, Tchrmom!!!

Sorry it took me so long to respond....I've been busy packing and haven't had a chance to check the boards!

How fun to "meet" someone else who will be on the cruise with us. We are sooooooo excited and just can't believe the time is almost here.

I would love any additional tips you may have for us!! Right now we are trying to narrow down how much spending money we will need (on a tight buget and hoping that most expenses have already been paid for???) as well as finishing up our "must pack" list. If there is anything you wish you would have known ahead of time on your first cruise I would love to hear about it! Thanks so much for your kind offer of help!

See you on the 18th!

 

[tchrmom]

Hi lornak,

Did you get an over the door shoe holder? They are a life-saver!!!! The bathroom is SO small, this makes a great place to store: hairspray, toothbrushes, brushes, contact lens stuff....ect. i bought mine last year at Wal-mart, for @ $5.00 I think. It is still in great shape, and we will take it again.

Also, take your own blow dryer, and extension cord.

Spending $ can vary. If you are big drinkers, drinks of the day are 8.00. Smoothies for kids are 3.50 a piece. The 1 thing I spent too much $ on last time, was photos. I never thought I'd want SO many, but they were so good, and at the time, I thought this would be a "once in a lifetime trip"----HA!

I'll let you know if I think of anything else.

 

[mmouse37]

I know a lot of posters said to have lunch in Topsiders...but the same buffet is offered in Parrot Cay on Deck 3. I find when the weather is very hot I like to eat indoors and Parrot Cay is very colorful and COOL!!! There is less indoor eating space in Topsiders with a lot of outdoor eating area. After all the running around I like to make sure I am cool, calm and collected while enjoying lunch. We always enjoy breakfast in Topsiders, indoors or out because while out at sea...it is wonderful to look out over the ocean while having yummy pastries!!!

We prefer to have our buffet lunch in PC on the first day. Definately make your ressies first than go have a great lunch at either location.

Bring a highlighter and mark your navigator each day with the things you really want to do. You will find there is so much to do that you forget the things you wanted until it's too late. The walking ship tour the first day is also a good way to get acquainted with the ship.

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

First remember that *** (Mickey Vacation Time) flies by very quickly. We take the same approach to the cruise that we do for the Disney theme parks - waiting in line BEFORE it opens up is much better than waiting in line after it opens up. The nice thing about waiting in the terminal (as opposed to outside the gates to the Magic Kingdom) is there are nice soft couches to sit on and there are TV's showing Disney cartoons to help keep the kids occupied.

1) Fill out your cruise contract BEFORE arriving at the port. If you have questions, tag those pages so you can find and complete them easily once you are checking in.

2) I would recommend ariving at the port around 11:00. So you should be to the rental car return by 10:30. Therefor you should be leaving the WDW area by about 9:15. You can push the times back if you have DH drop you, the kids and the luggage off at the port at 11am (if you and the kids can manage). Where you get dropped off is where you will be leaving your checked baggage - so all you need to deal with is the kids and your carryons. If you do the drop off thing, be sure DH keep his Drivers License and boarding documents.

3) Check in. Then you or DH wait in line with your carry ons and the other go to the couches/tv's to keep the kids occupied.

4) Go to Rockin' Bar D to make your Palo ressies (or the location they are taking the ressies at)

5) Go up 2 floors to deck 5 and register the kids in the club/lab (if they are starting sign ups then - it's not hard but it can take a while even with a short line - get it out of the way as soon as you can.

6a) if you are staying on deck 5 through 8 - go to your room and drop off your carryons

6b) go up to the spa to make your ressies

6c) If you still have your carryons - ditch them in your room NOW! - But be sure to keep a camera with you!!!

7) Now RELAX!!!

8) Enjoy lunch at topsiders or parrot cay

8) take the kids to the pool or wander around the ship - It does take a while to figure your way around - where everything is. She is a beautiful ship!!

9) by 4:00 be in your room to get ready for the safety drill. While waiting for the drill to start, you can look over the "real" navigator that is in your room that has the rest of the days schedule and start making the hard choices as to what you are going to do. The navigator you recieved when you checked in is just a partial list of the days activities. Be on time for the safety drill Take your camera to the safety drill - great photo oportunity.

10) after the safety drill is when we do most of our unpacking and organizing the room for the week (while trying to get ready for dinner if you have early seating).

AAaaarrrrgg!!

I forgot the Sail Away Party. Go up to deck 9 and 10 and have a great time with the cruise staff, Mickey, Minnie and the gang, Wave to the terminal crew as the ship leaves port, listen to the "Magical" horn, grab a fru fru drink and have fun!!

11) Dinner or show

12) one of the cabaret shows in rocking bar d (and/or the former Off Beat - dueling pianos - who know what they will be doing now) or the studio sea show/program

13) show or dinner

from here on out you are on your own.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

You may want to consider leaving Downtown Disney around 9:00 a.m. to make it to Port Canaveral around 10:30 to 11. DD is in a very busy area, and it can literally take me 45 minutes to get from my house to the Disney area (and I live literally 10 to 15 minutes from DD). It takes me almost 35 minutes to commute to work to Kissimmee everyday as well.

Plus, the earlier you check in, the earlier you can start your sailing trip I plan on leaving my house around 8:30 a.m. and stopping for food along the way before checking in.

 

[lornak]

THANK YOU!

These tips are so wonderful. There are many things I just wouldn't have thought of without your help.

We will plan to leave DD by 9:00 so we can be in port no later than 11:00. And thanks to you all I have my "minute by minute" schedule for after we board! Thanks for humoring my need to plan everything!

Just 4 days to our trip of a lifetime......

THANKS AGAIN!

PS--tchrmom....hope we run into you! We will be looking for lime green ribbons!

 

[tchrmom]

Lornak,

Sorry I didn't get back with you sooner. After a long illness, my father passed away Sunday night, and we have been very busy.

Being a cruiser herself, my mother is insisting that we continue with our cruise. Our family won't be hard to miss..we all have LIME green shirts!

See you then.

 

[lornak]

tchrmom---

I am SO SORRY to hear about your father. It must be with mixed emotions that you take this cruise. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

We don't have lime green shirts (!!!) so we will be on the lookout for yours. We are traveling with a group of 26 so perhaps we will be easy to spot as well??

See you soon!