Thread: Please share your Disney Cruise Lines secrets !!!

Please share your Disney Cruise Lines secrets !!!

We were in cabin 5020 as I recall on the Disney Wonder a few years ago. They are oceanview cabins at the cost of an inside cabin (unless that has changed). There are four of them on the ship. The cabin is configured with a double bed, and in a separate area with a curtain bunk beds. It had 2 bathrooms. The "porthole" is a huge window.
These ships, the Wonder and the Magic are wonder for kids. They have the Disney characters all over the ship and because there is no casino the entire deck is for the kids program. We had our 8 and 6 year old grandkids with us and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
The ship's whistle plays When you wish upon a star, it was a very magical cruise.

Found a few

"Bring a plain white pillow case (or t-shirt, hat, whatever -- just with no logo) and a laundry marker, all in a big ziploc bag. Drop it off at the guest services desk with your child's name, and they will get all the major characters to sign it for you, no charge at all. Great souvenir to take home."

"Book as much online as soon as you are able, you will save alot of time once onboard. Plan to stay the night before (I recommend the Radisson, with free shuttle service, even took us off site for dinner & picked us up...GREAT people there) then take the earliest shuttle (10AM) to ensure being the first onboard & enjoy the lunch & get a feel for the ship & locations. If you are traveling w/ young kids, bring a pillowcase or tshirt w/ a few Sharpie markers, drop them off at Guest Services & the last night they will be delivered to your stateroon w/ character autographs, a GREAT cheap souvenier (not many of those). If you have a little (or big!!) girl who wants to get her hair braided, book ASAP, ask at GS desk where the sign up will be, usually Deck 9 by the Goofy pool the first afternoon. They book fast especially for days at sea. Pack a collapsable duffel bag to use for day excursions then it will double as your extra bag for all those souveniers you swore you wouldn't buy. Again if you have kids that like to play on the beach bring dollar store shovel & pail sets (no need to repack after using!!!) & inflatable tubes (save yourself the $7 rental on Castaway!!!). Make sure you have singles, the only cash you need onboard for Room Service tips & cash for stamps for Castaway Cay. Take LOTS of pics (don't forget those towel animal pics every night!!!) and have fun. Take advantage of the great service while you can, it goes by too fast!!!"

Found a few more

Cost savings:

If you enjoy wine, you may bring it on board. There is a refridgerator in your room. We brought a case of wine for 4 adults. We just asked for glasses in our room and a bucket of ice. We then proceeded to dinner with our own glass of wine or enjoyed a glass on our deck before dinner. yes you CAN bring alcohol on board to "enjoy" in your room - but we found no problem bringing it to dinner.

If you are going to cozumel and want to do the dolphin tour, book it yourself. You can get the most expensive visit with the dolphins, at the same price as if you book the "mid-range" visit through disney. We rented a car and toured the island, stopping in the afternoon to ride the dolphins. This was an experience of a lifetime. The top of the line visit is well worth it, the kids ride on the dolphins - it is thrilling to watch and to participate. (As a general rule, do your homework ahead of time to create your own excursions - more fun and more cost effective).

Bring your own blow up tube for castaway Cay.

Do not bother bringing your snorkel stuff to Castaway Cay - they make you rent the life vest in order to use the snorkel area so you really don't save much and it's one more thing to carry off the boat.


Tips:

Bring bathing suits and sunscreen for when you board the boat. You won't see your bags until about 4:30pm when it is time to get ready for dinner.

Book as much as you can online, as far as Palo reservations and spa treatments.

Bring walkie-talkies. The boat is big, and just after your spouse leaves to get your book from the room you realize you forgot sunscreen! It's also a great way to stay in touch with large traveling groups.

Get off the boat early at Castaway Cay especially if you are large group that wants to sit together on the beach. The chairs are at a premium.

The jetskiing on Castaway Cay was very expensive - but MAN WAS IT FUN! That was the highlight of our cruise. Catching air on 3-4 foot swells. Not for everyone but it was for our adventurous group - it was a BLAST!

Time Savers:

Do all of your cruise documentation online before leaving. You then can just waltz right through the process. Do not wait til you get there it makes getting on the ship that much more painful! And you will be anxious to check get on board!

You can also register your kids for their respective Oceaneer Lab group online. It's easy! And made getting in and out of there quick and painless once on board.

We always book our flight through disney. We get off the plane and board the bus... never worrying about our bags. And on the way home, you checkin to your airline right as you get off the ship. It is WELL worth it.

Another tip about wine is if you ask your room server will bring you a DCL logo wine opener. You get to keep it too!!

The SPR rooms are good to book but they fill up quickly.

You can make Palo ressies when you get onboard. Go ahead and make them on line and if you do not get the time and date you wanted go and change it as soon as you get onboard. Disney saves a certain amount of ressies for people who are not internet served.

Enjoy the all adult area. You need a nice break from the kids.

Do not pay for spa services it really is not worth it. Plus the hard sale is a pain.

Originally Posted by jsme

Another tip about wine is if you ask your room server will bring you a DCL logo wine opener. You get to keep it too!!

The SPR rooms are good to book but they fill up quickly.

You can make Palo ressies when you get onboard. Go ahead and make them on line and if you do not get the time and date you wanted go and change it as soon as you get onboard. Disney saves a certain amount of ressies for people who are not internet served.

Enjoy the all adult area. You need a nice break from the kids.

Do not pay for spa services it really is not worth it. Plus the hard sale is a pain.

Selena
you have more secrets than that.... You gave me many more 2 years ago...

Lisa

Keep those secrets coming!

Originally Posted by gottabecruisin

Selena
you have more secrets than that.... You gave me many more 2 years ago...

Lisa

Hi Lisa. How are you girl. I have not heard from you in a while. How is Canada?

I am going to have to do some serious thinking here. A great value is the martini testing. It is $15 and you get to try several different martinis. You need to be careful though and eat while you are drinking these. They are much stronger than you would think.

If you find a good bartender let him know you appreciate him. He will in return give you good drinks.

There is a nice bar in Palo that is open to everyone. You donot have to have a reservation to go to the bar. You might even get lucky and they will serve you desserts at the bar sometimes.

If you have two rooms you can get two reseervations to Palo.

If you go farther down the bach at CC you will find a much less crowded place to sit.

Remember to make those ressies as soon as you can. If you are a new cruiser to DCL you can purchase the Romance package and if you have the cruised paid for you can make your ressies at 90 days out verses the 75 days out.

Buy the drink of the day from your favorite bartender he will make it a good one.