What is the BEST cruise tip you ever learned from the Dis?

[Castillo Mom]

Best tip for me was to arrive at the port by opening in order to get on the ship as early as possible. We were able to enjoy lunch without all of the crowds and were able to get Palo reservations the night we wanted by heading straight to Rockin' Bar D.

 

[ariel7303]

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! We also brought along a mini fan. It wasn't used for cooling purposes but worked great as an air cirulator in our inside stateroom.

 

[ibouncetoo]

The Glade Flameless candle was a great addition to our stateroom. Not only did it give the room a constant "pleasant" aroma... but it served as a great night light! .

Oh, I'm adding this one to my list!

I also accidentely discovered that glow necklaces left of the edges of tables can keep you from crashing into furniture in the middle of the night!

 

[mickeyluv]

To stay with your clothes when washing/drying. Mine were stolen.

 

[imlazar]

My tip is to take advantage of the airline check-in program if you are heading straight-home after the cruise. We booked airline transfers on the magical express. On Friday night we were given luggage tags, we put them on our bags, had them out by 11:00 PM, and didn't see our suitcases again until we arrived at our home airport. The process was easy, and the bus ride was a nice relaxing way to end the trip.

 

[Tink1623]

!. I always take travel size toothpaste, mouthwash and shaving cream. hairspray, etc.
2. Disposable razor.
3. Buy dollar store toothbrushes or take the ones from home that are almost ready to be tossed.
4. Buy single load laundry detergent from Target (travel size section in HBA aisle) or stop at a laundromat and purchase some from the vending machine (makes me nervous to carry an unlabeled plastic bag with a powdery substance)

Then I can just toss these things on the last day. Makes packing in the morning so much easier.

 

[Tink rules]

Oh, I'm adding this one to my list!

I also accidentely discovered that glow necklaces left of the edges of tables can keep you from crashing into furniture in the middle of the night!

Jackie... that's a good one... we should be glowing all over the place!!!

 

[mmouse37]

My tip is to take advantage of the airline check-in program if you are heading straight-home after the cruise. We booked airline transfers on the magical express. On Friday night we were given luggage tags, we put them on our bags, had them out by 11:00 PM, and didn't see our suitcases again until we arrived at our home airport. The process was easy, and the bus ride was a nice relaxing way to end the trip.

Just to clarify so folks don't get confused.....Disney Transfers are what you book from the ship back to the airport, not Magical Express.

Magical Express is soley for use from WDW to the Airport or the Airport to WDW if you are a resort guest. Magical Express DOES NOT go the port at all. I know many people interchange the terms but they are two separate things. Magical Expess is "complimentary" and "disney transfers" have a fee.

I am very much looking forward to this perk when we cruise in October....this will the first time they we are going right back home after the cruise (will be in WDW before cruise) and look forward to not having to deal with luggage until I get back to New York!!!

 

[4cogscruzin]

To get to port early, so you can board early. Love starting our vacation as soon as possible

 

[imlazar]

thanks for the clarification!

 

[mmouse37]

thanks for the clarification!

You are welcome...I hope you don't think I was nit picking but there are so many terms out there and new cruisers can be overwhelmed with so much info... I just like to help people use the the correct terms so that they can ask for the correct things when talking to Disney.

 

[imlazar]

Another tip - DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!!

Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM).

When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

 

[Schachteles]

Another tip - DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!!

Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM).

When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

Don't you register them online??

 

[imlazar]

Don't you register them online??

Yes, we did register them on-line in advance, which made the process very smooth. We just showed our room key, confirmed our PW, and got our bracelets/pager.

 

[Mom24Princesses]

Another tip - DON'T WAIT IN THE KIDS CLUB REGISTRATION LINE AT THE PORT!!!!

Seriously, the line seemed to be over a hundred people long at most times (we were there around 11:00 AM and boarded around 12:30 PM).

When you get on the ship just go to the kids club, we went to the Oceaneer's club on Deck 5 and registered in about 5 minutes (and got our pager).

There was no line before boarding so we did it then. I guess it all depends. That way we did not have to fool with it on-board. We had the bracelets on and pager when we boarded.

Yes, we did register them on-line in advance, which made the process very smooth. We just showed our room key, confirmed our PW, and got our bracelets/pager.

They confirm you in the computer, print out and put on the arm bands, give you the pager entering the pager's info with your children's names in the computer. Confirm who can pick them up and your secret pass word. ( I forgot to tell DH the secret password! )

 

[DebºoºS]

I forgot to tell DH the secret password! )

I did too but DS whispered it to him




Click my '07 Flower & Garden Festival pic
Comments are greatly appreciated

 

[quiltymom]

A matte is the cardboard material surrounding your photo, that is then placed inside of a frame. You can get them at Xmas Tree Shops, Michaels, camera shops. I got the 11x14 size one, perfect for an 8x10 picture. I like white, the signatures show up very nicely. So you buy the matte, take the cellophane off of it, and bring it on board with you. You can either give it to guest services for the characters to sign (you'll get it back on Friday night of the cruise), or you can take it around by yourself and have it signed by whoever you want throughout the cruise. Very important tip here, have a photo direction (vertical or horizontal) in mind before asking for signatures, that way you'll know which way they should sign. As you get the professional pictures taken throughout your cruise, you can ask the photographer to take them any direction you want.

Here is the link to a thread with more info on photo mattes. It should help clarify any questions, and there are some great pics of signed stuff, as well.

 

[khakismum]

If I remember correctly and someone help me on this .... you can turn off charge privileges on your kids KTTW card but you can add a preset amount for them to use for smoothies, movie candy, arcade, etc.... this saves them running up big $$ on the room account but they still have some "pocket money".

Oh and you need to make it abundantly clear that they may or may not charge candy, popcorn, drinks, etc. to the room via room service. This happened last cruise with one of the families and that child had a major Come to Jesus meeting about unauthorized charges. She hasn't forgotten that little lesson.

 

[cquick]

I think the best cruise tip for NEW and experienced cruisers is TO DO YOUR CRUISE DOCS ONLINE AND PRINT THEM OUT!!!! So many people DO the online registration, but they forget to print them out and bring them with them. If you don't print them out, you have to do it all over again at the port.......take this tip from someone who has forgotten to bring her Docs that were printed out!

 

[cquick]

You don't have to buy a mug for drinks like you do at the WDW resorts. Soda, water, tea and coffee are free up on Deck 9 24 hours a day. It does cost you $ if you get soda from room service or the bar.

The fridge in the room is not very cold at all. Our room steward just kept refilling our cooler even without asking.

We actually bring our collapsible rolling cooler filled with beer and wine as a carry-on to the ship. On the first day, we just ask our room steward to keep it full of fresh ice and it was soooo nice to sit on the veranda with a nice cool drink and watch the water, or put a drink into a plastic cup with a lid to take up on deck.

Connie