Random bunch of questions....

[jenlovesdisney]

Hi there! We have learned so much from these boards already, but I still have a few more questions. If anyone would like to reply I would SOOOO appreciate it!

Thanks!

1. In something I read it stated when you are going to make your spa reservation you can bypass the front desk and go straight to the back where they take the reservations (if you know what you want and do not need a tour). Anyone do this?

2. Is the lemonade free or not through room service? Heard a great tip about ordering some the night before keeping it in your fridge and drinking the next morning but then read it is no longer free...

3. As far as tipping~ do you only do this at the end or do you do it (especially for stateroom person) each day? Anyone know what the procedure is in the parks at the hotels?

4. If doing land and sea package do you need to bring towels from home?

5. Is there a specific place where I can reuqest maps of the properties (MK, Epcot, etc) and ship plans? I have a trip planner with a map of the whole thing on one page, but I want something they might give you when you walk in each park.


6. Anyone want to shed some insight as to what the procedure is for check in. I have seen some in people's descriptions but I am traveling by myself with two small kids. Do we all stand in line together, are you close enough that I could stand in line and they could run around a little, do I really need to worry about being one of the first in line, will I be carting around the stroller, the car seat and the bags?

Thanks so much (if there is still anyone reading this!)

 

[CM_Mom]

Of course some of us are still on the Boards. Although it's after midnight in Texas it's only about 10:30 pm in California and in Hawaii it's even earlier (don't know the time difference).

I believe you're right about the spa ressies although we didn't make any.

Sorry don't know about the lemonade.

On the cruise, you only tip at the end of the voyage. You'll receive tip envelopes in your stateroom the next to last night so you can put your tip in them. You can charge your tip at Guest Services if you want and they will give you a voucher to include in your tip envelope. While at the parks, we left a tip the last day. Don't know if that is standard or not but it's what we did.

No need to bring towels from home unless you like the HUGE beach towels. DCL provides towels for beach excursions and the pools on the ship. You can use hotel towels at their pools.

I liked the maps in the Passporter's guide to WDW for planning. Then we got the handout ones for all the parks when we checked in our hotel. You can always get extras at the gate. Don't know what's included in your docs for a land/sea package since we did our booking separately.

You can print out deck plans from the link at the top of the DisBoards.

If you're traveling alone with small kids, there's room in the terminal for them to move around a little while you stand in line. Besides these are DISNEY folks, they'll save your place if you need to "retrieve" a kid. The CMs will probably let you board in a special line for families with small ones and strollers, carseats, etc. Don't hesitate to ask for help.

If you're doing a land/sea package through DCL, the only bags you will need to concern yourself with are your carry ons. The bell person at your hotel can pick up your bags for DCL transport and the next time you will see them will be in your stateroom.

Besides at the terminal, if there aren't enough CMs to help, you're bound to find a couple of DIS folks who are grandparents or just parents cruising without the kids who will offer to help. Remember we're a friendly bunch of folks.

Hope this helps. The other suggestion I have is to check our the Cruise Meets and get to know the other folks cruising with you. It makes the cruise so much more fun.

 

[jenlovesdisney]

Wow! Can I say thank you! That was exactly what I was looking for! I really appreciate all your answers.

 

[christinou]

You got most of your questions answered.
As far as the lemonade goes, you now have to pay when you order it from room service, it used to be free. I went up to the deck 9 drink station and filled up a bunch a cups with lemonade and kept them in our room, for when the kids wanted some, that worked great. You could also bring a container to keep it on. I was not that organized

 

[NCRedding]

Also, if you are doing a land/sea package, the actual check-in occurs at the hotel desk, not at the ship. Hotels are much less crowded than the ship area. Once at the terminal, just proceed to the boarding area where you will present your key and phot id.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by jenlovesdisney
5. Is there a specific place where I can reuqest maps of the properties (MK, Epcot, etc) and ship plans? I have a trip planner with a map of the whole thing on one page, but I want something they might give you when you walk in each park.

If you want maps of the parks in advance, I can send them to you. Otherwise, when you check into the hotels, there is a line of maps for the taking at the front desk.

 

[jenlovesdisney]

MarcyinFlorida~ I would love it if you would send me the maps. I will PM you! Thanks!

NCRedding~ Thanks for that good info! That is reassuring. So when I go I will just stand in the queue to board~ if I understand right.

Christinou~ Thanks for clearing that up. I can bring some water bottles and fill them up I guess. Good plan!

 

[tkd lisa]

Looks like you got some great answers. I personally have never done spa treatments, but I have heard from some of the experts that yes, you can just go specifically to the sign up desk if you know what you want. Have a great cruise!

 

[TheWog]

There will also be deck layouts of the ship in your room or for the taking at Guest Services.

 

[delo4]

Most of your questions have been answered by the always helpful Disney cruisers.

The one I would like to answer is about tipping at the hotels. I have a family member who works at one of the Disney Resorts. While tipping is not required or even suggested, it is always appreciated. Be sure if you have a housekeeper who has gone out of his/her way to make your stay pleasant, not to leave the tip on their day off. They have a person whose job it is to fill in when other people are off. That person would only be in that room for that day and maybe the next. If you have stayed at the resort for several days in a row, it might be good to ask your housekeeper if he/she will be there the day you are checking out. If not, then the "floater" would get the tip, not the person who has been giving you the special service. Its ok to tip the "floater" as well, but again if you wanted to make sure that the regular person gets the tip, just ask.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Jenlovesdisney,

CM_Mom is so right about the terminal, and the fact that you should not be afraid to ask for help, and that there will be many, many folks willing to assist you. The atmosphere in the terminal is definitely NOT like waiting in the airport for your flight. Everyone is excited - the Magic is just through those Mickey Ears!!

I just have one suggestion which you might find helpful. I don't know what the local lore is on this, but the official "Dis color" is a neon green. Go to your local Home Depot, to the "Disney Paint" section. Their color chips come in shapes of Mickey heads. Get several of the "Alien Green" cards. There are many ways to use these, and if you search the boards, you will find a lot of ideas.

Write your name, and telephone number on them with a contrasting marker. Laminate them (or have them laminated--one of your childrens' teachers might be willing to do that for you at their school if you don't have access elsewhere) and attach them to your luggage as luggage tags. If you are flying, it will be much easier for you to identify your luggage at the baggage terminal.

You can also find sticky two-sided paper at the home office place or craft store, and make stickers out of them, to put in your shirt and the childrens' shirts like name tag. A lot of folks use their screen name in large letters, and then your real name underneath, if you want to share that.

Others have scanned them into their computers, enlarged them, written the same info of screen name, all the members in your party's names, the date of the cruise, and anything else important to you, and then print it out on magnetic paper which you can also get at the office supply store. Cut out the Mickey Head shape and use it as a decal on your cabin door. Your kids will love being able to pick out their "home" from all of the other identical cabins.

If you make name tags, I am certain you will have several people approach you who are also Dis'ers, and you have some ready made friends on the cruise!!