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

[Francisca64]

I read through all 31 pages and wrote down tips that related to me. After reviewing them I wanted to add a couple. I've been on the Disney cruises about ten times and I really enjoy all of the tips I've read. There are two I want to reiterate and a couple I'll add:

1) Post-It notes for communicating with your cabin mates

2) Have clothes sent out for pressing on first night. There is no way you'll be able to pack tham so they won't wrinkle. You're on vacation so why should you iron???

3) Bring one or two of your favorite books. There are many quiet, cozy places to read. You are on vacation - relax, unwind. Reading gives you an opportunity to NOT follow the Navigator every now and then.

4) Waterproof Watch - need I say more?

5) Ziplock bags for total kids outfit (shirt, shorts, undies) each day - lifesaver

6) Enjoy, Relax and don't fuss at your kids. I can't tell you how many times I've heard parents have a public melt down with their children. I really feel badly for the children. Remember this is a new atmosphere for them. They are excited and probably a bit nervous...be understanding.

 

[woody73]

Bring an audio extension cord to use iPod headphones with the TV. That way one person can watch TV without disturbing others in the cabin.

Woody

 

[Jennifer_W]

Thanks for all the great tips! Page 26 with the summary is great & I agree with almost all of them. I don't remember the hairdryers being worthless (weak) though...anyone have thoughts on this?

Also, with the new luggage restrictions...how many are skipping the dressy outfit for formal night? I am having nightmares trying to pack in my sleep for 5 people in 4 suitcases! Are you guys biting the bullet and paying extra for an extra suitcase? I CANNOT imagine my super-frugal-I-can-live-for-a-week-out-of-a-duffel-bag husband agreeing to that!

Also, last time we went someone had suggested bringing Christmas lights and 3M hooks to hang them around your porthole window...and I did! Looked neat, but necessary? Nooooo. The suitcase space will be better used this time!

Magnetic clothespins from the dollar store are a must though...for notes on the door, navigators, or clipping the drapes together to block light in the mornings.

Oh, and if you refill water bottles, is the water from the drink station on deck 9 filtered to the point of being safe for a toddler, d'ya think?

6 weeks to go!!!

 

[Tink rules]

Formal night on Disney isn't strictly formal... If you have a nice dress or pant suit or a nice skirt and a top than that will be fine. Guys generally wear slacks and a tie - a jacket maybe. Just nice. Someone on here once said that whatever you wear (nice) to church on Sunday is appropriate for Formal (of course some people I know wear anything to church...)

You will see all manners of dress from nice to over the top. Do what is comfortable for you.

 

[Tink rules]

Bring an audio extension cord to use iPod headphones with the TV. That way one person can watch TV without disturbing others in the cabin.

Woody

Woody...

You are SO thoughtful...

I'm sure Mrs. Woody appreciates it...

 

[quiltymom]

I thought of another one I wish I had known about on our first...

If it matters to you...before you board the ship a picture is taken of your family and/or group. You may want to dress in something special or matching for the picture. We didn't our first cruise and we looked weird together...the outfits clashed (I know, I know PUH-leezze! hey, I'm an artist...these things matter to me.) So now we wear matching, or at least coordinating, outfits or something to tie us all together for our embarkation photo. For our '05 Christmas cruise we all wore Santa hats. It was cute. The hats came out later during the cruise too.

Just my $.02

What a wonderful idea! I'll have to make sure we do this for our Christmas Card photo. Thanks for the idea.

I am sure someone posted this...but it is worth repeating:

Over the Door Shoe Holder!!

Makes storage so much easier!!

Are these absolutely necessary? The reason I'm asking is that we have hanging toiletry bags and we always stash our stuff in them whenever we're on vacation. I did bring the shoe holder on a WDW trip and ended up not using it at all.

And a big YES to the putting outfits in zip loc bags! We did this our last WDW trip and it made mornings so easy. All I had to do is toss the bag to each person (including DH!) and that was it. I'm absolutely sold on this idea!

 

[kcashner]

We certainly find the shoe holder helpful. We use it for all those pesky things that multiple people might want--sunscreen, camera, etc. as well as toiletries. It saves a lot of clutter in the room and DD always knows where to look for something.

 

[PoppyGirl]

We certainly find the shoe holder helpful. We use it for all those pesky things that multiple people might want--sunscreen, camera, etc. as well as toiletries. It saves a lot of clutter in the room and DD always knows where to look for something.

For us, it's DH who needs to be able to SEE things...otherwise he can't find an elephant in a broom closet!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

There are 3 of us and we found the hanging toiletry bags to be enough. No need for an over the door shoe hanger for us. The only thing I'm doing different this next cruise is buy magnet hooks for the back of the door to hang our lanyards on when we're not using them.

 

[kath1210]

We must have a lot fewer toiletries than others, but we found that the little shelves in the bathrooms were more than enough space for our toiletries and other miscellaneous items.

 

[KandiB47]

The lifestyle pictures are done almost everyday, just check your navigator for times. We had ours done with Mickey.

Aw, I love this! I'm going to have to buy a frame so we can do that.

What is wrong with me today? I actually got teary eyed thinking of getting the frame for DS and hanging it up after the cruise

 

[TXdeVille]

Just a word to those that are thinking about the photo matte thing.....We did this on our 4-night on the Wonder over Christmas. I expected a lot more signatures but we certainly didn't get as many as I had planned. MAYBE half as many as the pic that was posted. And two pillowcases too for the kids that were nicely embroidered by a DISer before our sailing.

I can tell you that we did coordinate our outfits somewhat for our embarkation photo. They still aren't as good as the portraits done onboard though so really plan for those. And if there is a certain pose that you have seen that you want done, don't be afraid to tell the photographer. And for what it is worth, Stephanie the photographer on the Wonder is AWESOME!!! She usually does the lifestyle portraits. Or at least on our sailing she did.

We got several portraits done including our Christmas cards for 2009. Don't forget you can get a copyright release online so that you can come back and make copies in different sizes of the photos that you bought.

OH...and the over the door shoe holder was PERFECT!!! Never used our extension cord though. But I can see how it can come in handy for some.

 

[quiltymom]

I'm planning on doing the photo matte thing - which is the best direction to go, landscape or portrait? It's hard knowing when I don't know what the photos are like!

Thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

It's going to depend on what type of photo you want with the matte. All character photos are 6x8 and they tend to be mostly portrait (vertical). Formal portraits and pictures taken at the restaurants mostly tend to be 8x10 and landscape (horizontal). You can ask the photographer to take your photograph either horizontal or vertical if there is a specific pose you want with your matte.

When I did my matte, I did an 11x14 matte and had them cut a 6x8 landscape (horizontal) opening. The only landscape 6x8 picture I had to use was my family in front of the ship at Castaway Cay. Not the most flattering, but it worked with the matte. Make sure you mark the matte to let the characters know which way you want it autographed. I used artist tape.

 

[quiltymom]

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[ljm23]

Thanks for all the great tips! Page 26 with the summary is great & I agree with almost all of them. I don't remember the hairdryers being worthless (weak) though...anyone have thoughts on this?

Also, with the new luggage restrictions...how many are skipping the dressy outfit for formal night? I am having nightmares trying to pack in my sleep for 5 people in 4 suitcases! Are you guys biting the bullet and paying extra for an extra suitcase? I CANNOT imagine my super-frugal-I-can-live-for-a-week-out-of-a-duffel-bag husband agreeing to that!

What new luggage restrictions? Did I miss something?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I think she is referring to airline restrictions and some airlines charging per checked piece of luggage.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

We certainly find the shoe holder helpful. We use it for all those pesky things that multiple people might want--sunscreen, camera, etc. as well as toiletries. It saves a lot of clutter in the room and DD always knows where to look for something.

I AGREE!
Keeps the sink top cleaned off of clutter and stuff is so much easier to find when you need it quickly. I put all the first aid stuff, brushes, combs, ...all that kind of stuff.

 

[g-ma]

THIS is by far the best site I have found for Disney info. I even added this thread to my favorites so I could pop on sometimes to read through them. I learned soooooo much, jotted down everything I think I'll need and will keep checking back before the cruise to see what is added.

Kuddos to the one who started all of this

I have a few questions to verify if someone could answer them. I know they've been talked about but I'm anal and need to recheck. Sorry.

So we CAN bring beer/alcohol and rolling coolers onboard?????? Right?
Can we drink them anywhere or do we need a special cup? Cans or bottles?

Does it matter how much luggage we have? Any limit? Any hidden fee's?

What about tips, preset or at our discretion? Prepay or do later?

Thank you all for sharing your journey and tips. We loved it and learned so much.----------M

 

[lavawalker]

Also, with the new luggage restrictions...how many are skipping the dressy outfit for formal night? I am having nightmares trying to pack in my sleep for 5 people in 4 suitcases! Are you guys biting the bullet and paying extra for an extra suitcase? I CANNOT imagine my super-frugal-I-can-live-for-a-week-out-of-a-duffel-bag husband agreeing to that!

Well, we flew Southwest, and they don't charge for a second suitcase I would have been in trouble otherwise!