2. What to bring: a mix of hanging out by the pool and casual, comfy clothes. (Shorts & tops need to be family friendly and some areas, especially fine dining, don't allow tank or tube tops.) Bring a waterproof camera, waterproof watch, a waterproof pouch with a lanyard for your phone and IDs (available at Walmart in the luggage section), water shoes, flip flops, bath supplies (except towels), zinc-based sunscreen, even if you don't normally burn, aloe vera for when you forget the sunscreen or it fails you mid-trip, pirate costumes, tropical costumes, something dressy for dress-up night (a summer maxi dress works well for girls), nice sandals or dress shoes. Leave valuables and electronics at home if you can. Don't forget your passport or driver's license and birth certificate. There's no storage space for luggage, but you'll want to leave room inside for souvenirs. Nesting luggage sets are a good idea. There is plenty of closet and drawer space to unpack for 4 in a cabin. Don't bother pre-ordering snacks, water or sodas for in your cabin - these and milk are available everywhere and you're free to roam the ship with your full cups. If you buy a souvenir cup the first day, it can be refilled at a discount, except for the shake cups. Use those to bring drinks back to your cabin instead.
3. EVERYONE around us had pre-ordered cabin decorations. If you're travelling with young kids, avoid looking like a schmuck by making sure you at least order door decorations. It also makes it easier to find your cabin and you can take the high quality décor home with you when the trip is over. Find these under the "gifts" info within your reservation.
4. Take the Disney bus from the Orlando airport. It's a great deal, reliable and comfortable complete with Disney cartoons and info videos about your cruise, and Disney will handle getting your checked luggage directly to your room by 6:30 PM the first night. (Bring swimsuits, sunscreen, medications and other essentials in your carry-on as luggage is usually delivered between 5:30 and 6:30 PM, well after you've boarded and left port.)
5. The boarding time they "assign" isn't really your boarding time - just get in line when you arrive and you'll be checked in right away. When you check in at the terminal, have everyone in your cabin together with the required identification documented under your reservation info, and your Statement of Health signed document. Photos will be taken of each member of your party to be used for photo recognition when entering and exiting the ship, so everyone must be present at check-in. They'll assign you to a boarding group, take a group photo and shuffle you onto the ship. (This group photo and your individual pictures will be available for purchase during your cruise, so be prepared.)
6. There are professional photographers everywhere. Budget about $350 for the full photo package (includes all digital photos taken and a large number of prints), or $150ish for a nice memory book you can organize yourself at Shutters on Deck 4 or 10 photos. Avoid trying to pick your photos up at the end of the day before or early morning your last day on board. Even though Shutters is open late that last day, the kiosks will have lines around them as well as the check-out stations. Tip: If you buy a minimum number of photos, a leather frame book comes free and includes autographed photos of the classic Disney characters. Budget about $22 for this frame otherwise. Individual prints run about $20 each, or packages start at around $150. YOU CAN'T PURCHASE PHOTOS ONCE YOU'RE OFF THE SHIP, so make sure you visit Shutters before you disembark. Photographers will also be around to take group and individual pictures during each theme night dinner and there are some fun scenic backdrop photo opportunities each night (in the main lobby).
7. Once on board, I spent about $1100 between photos, Port Adventures (which are charged to your room the first day), adult beverages and shopping, and that was for myself and 1 child. Budget accordingly. Each meal offers included beverages and desserts as well as those that require an extra charge. You also have the option to pre-pay gratuity, which is a great deal. You'll still get envelopes along with your trip survey to leave extra cash tips on the last night.
8. Register your kids for their clubs as soon as you board. Your room will be charged about $13 per child for the waterproof RFID bands, which most kids will want to keep as a souvenir. For kids on the age "bubble" (the year below the minimum year for a club), parents can choose to sign a waiver allowing your child to enter the older club. The 11 & up clubs do not require parental check-in/check-out, so remember your child we be able to come and go from those areas as they please.
9. If you're celebrating anything special (birthday, anniversary, etc), let your head waiter know the first night. S/he can help make that moment special, especially if you've pre-ordered cake.
10. Each morning (or late evening) the day's activities will be posted on the room number plate outside your cabin door. (The first day's newsletter also includes a movie schedule for the entire week.) Be sure and use this as your guide to plan each day. Many activities are repeated, but in different locations.
11. Breakfast is awesome at the buffet on Deck 11. There are multiple stations so you can enter from either side, but talk a quick walk around to see what's on the menu before hopping into a line. The stations are somewhat mirrored: If you enter on one side, you'll see those items repeated near the door on the other side, with the cereal and yogurt station in the center. The only thing that wasn't great were the donuts/pastries. Go with Mickey waffles or muffins instead. Have at least one member of your group grab a table while the others get in line for food or you'll be sitting outside in the sun while you eat. If you do want to eat on deck, you can take your food to the tables by the pools or use the decks outside the restaurant if the sun is in the right spot.
12. Get in line for character autograph/photo sessions at least 10-15 minutes before the character is scheduled to arrive. Most character meet & greets happen in the big lobby.
13. The Arrr-Cade is expensive! Most games cost about $1.00-$2.00 per play. Games in the Oceaneer's Lab and The Edge are free. Some activities in the kids' and teen clubs require a small fee, but the staff will call you if they need you to authorize a charge to your room.
14. If you've booked a port adventure, your tickets will be left in your cabin (slid under the door) during the first night. For Nassau, you're on a pretty strict timeline and, if you're headed to Atlantis, will want to make sure you're among the first in line. Your tickets will tell you where to check in (likely one of the theaters' third floor entrances). You must have all documents with you, i.e. identification and any signed releases, before receiving your bands and being allowed to board the shuttle buses to your port adventure. If you forget your signed release, no worries - copies will be available inside the check-in area. The morning before your port adventure, you can purchase a portable, soft-sided cooler with 6 bottles of water or soda (or a mix). This is plenty for a group of 4 as drinks are available in the park as well. (Just hold onto your cup when you pick up lunch.) Be sure and bring plenty of sunscreen and a water-proof case for your IDs and Key to the World cards. You will have to show a passport or photo ID and birth certificate along with your key card for EVERY member of your party to re-board the ship. Keep a permanent marker handy to write your name on the cooler, which also makes a great souvenir.
15. Cash is pretty much useless if you do the short Bahamian Cruise (Nassau & Castaway Cay). We booked the Atlantis Aquaventure (about $175 per person) and learned that only credit cards and Atlantis room keys are accepted in Atlantis. Even the lockers required a credit card and run $17 per day to rent. Your Key to the World Card (room key) is the only payment accepted on Castaway Cay.
16. Atlantis is a neat place but not necessarily worth the $175/person price tag if the weather doesn't cooperate. It is open to the public and the lines for the more exciting water slides can get pretty long. It's also hard to get an inner tube for the lazy river and tube slides if you don't grab one first thing. For us, it was a big disappointment because they closed the water park after lunch due to lightning. If you do go to Atlantis, find a covered table or chairs near a pool and claim them with your towels as they all fill up fast. Wishing we'd booked the snorkel-the-ruins adventure instead.
17. When meeting your Port Adventure group, make sure you're at the right theater and get there early. Lines are very long and you all have to be in line together. On the Dream, both theaters enter on both floors, so make sure you're in the right line!
18. The getaway package was a great deal on Castaway Cay. You don't have to pick up your rented gear right away, but make sure you pick up snorkeling equipment early as children's sizes may run out. Walk instead of riding after exiting the ship and you'll bump into several Disney characters along the path. Everything you need but sunscreen will be provided for you on the island. Budget a little extra for souvenir shopping and the awesome smoothies sold at Olaf's stand (far-side of the family beach). Once you reach the family island, head to the side furthest from the ship and leave your towels (handed out as you exit the ship) and some old flippies you don't mind losing on umbrella-covered lounge chairs. There are bathrooms, snorkel gear, drink and food stations as well as souvenir and Olaf's smoothie shop on that far side, just over the hedge, AND it's a lot less crowded than the area closest to the ship. Be sure and claim your lounge chairs early - the covered ones will fill up within the first hour.
19. At Castaway Cay, Inexperienced snorkelers need not worry - everyone gets an inflatable vest with your gear and wearing the bright yellow beast is mandatory for all snorkelers. Just make sure you re-apply some hard-core, zinc-based waterproof sunscreen, especially on your back, shoulders, neck and ears before you head out to find Mickey's shipwreck. (The lifeguards can give you the general location.) It took us about an hour to snorkel out and back, including time to stop and explore the underwater landscape. Bring a waterproof camera and snap some shots of the exotic fish you'll encounter once you get out into the deeper water. And yes, there are shark nets. The biggest fish we saw was less than 12".
20. Book early (6 months before) and try to schedule the earlier dinner seating. The activities during the second dinner seemed to be more appealing to 8-12 year olds than the activities prior that are available for guests dining during the second time slot. (We booked our June cruise in February and the earlier seating was already full.) For little kids on the late dinner plan - there is pick-up at the restaurant available around 9 PM so older cruisers can enjoy their dinner. Food is also served in the kids' clubs at certain times and you can eat on Deck 11 almost any time of day.
21. Movies and live shows fill up quickly, so be sure and arrive at least 10-15 minutes early. The Disney-World-quality live shows are excellent for all ages and average about an hour in length. Movies are recent- and current-theatrical release films and are free to attend, but again, fill up quick. Enter the theater from the 4th floor instead of the 3rd and shoot for front row balcony seats if you have older kids (9+). (You can see the trap doors in the stage, but otherwise the view is excellent.) If you have younger children, bring something to do and get in line at least 15 minutes early to get decent seats. You can go back for refreshments after you're seated, but the theater gets very dark once the show starts, so plan ahead.
22. Popcorn, candy, shakes and sodas are available outside the theater. There is no discount on refills if you purchase the souvenir containers. The sodas are expensive and come in cans. You are free to bring in your own snacks and beverages, so consider grabbing some from Deck 11 before getting in line to enter the theater. The shakes and popcorn are better than I've had anywhere else, so if you're a connoisseur, plan to spend about $12 per person on a container of popcorn ($3.50) and a chocolate or vanilla shake, which only comes in a souvenir cup and is available on Deck 3 outside the Walt Disney Theater.
23. Although the activities in the D-Lounge may look childish or uncool at first glance, take your kids as they are tons of fun and they'll appreciate you dragging them there after the fact. For example, the towel-folding class is a can't miss gem for all kids under 12 or girls of any age and there are lots of opportunities to learn some gourmet cooking skills or character-design tricks from the Disney pros.
24. Wi-Fi is insanely expensive. Leave the internet-required games and devices at home: you won't need them once you're off the bus and you'll spend more time worrying about how to stuff them in the safe than you will using them. For communication, you're provided 2 satellite phones with text capability on board. Stuff one in each adult's waterproof pouch and lock your own cell phone up once you board to avoid roaming charges. Traditional cells don't work out on the ocean anyway, and you'll spend $60 on Wi-Fi the first time you try to use video chat, so skip it altogether. Instead of using your phone as an alarm clock, schedule wake up calls and Mickey will call your room until you're coherent enough to let him know you're up.
25. Bring your pirate costumes. Almost everyone dresses up for pirate night and, though costumes and pirate gear are available on board, they'll cost you top dollar. ($20 for a plastic sword, $15 for an eye patch, $50 for a good quality, Disney-themed kid's costume.)
26. Don't worry about pre-ordering drinks and snacks for your cabin. Everything you need is available during most waking hours on deck 11, including standard foods like pizza, hot dogs, burgers, fries, salads, fruits and sandwiches, sodas, coffee, milk and water, and even unlimited free soft-serve ice cream cones. (Tip: Bring the Lactaid if you've got any tolerance issues - ice cream is over-flowing at every meal and by the pools.)
27. Click "Menu" on your in-cabin TV remote to get access to nearly every Disney movie ever made. Family-friendly channels also include the modern Mickey Mouse cartoons and music videos (mostly classic pop).
28. Lines for the Aqua Duck water coaster ride are shortest when it first opens in the morning and during the dining seatings. Don't bring anything to the pools with you - towels are provided and there are no lockers. (Apply sunscreen before you get to Deck 11.)
29. Naturally, adult beverages are an additional cost and run $6-$12, mostly in the middle of that range.
30. You can't place a limit on Key to the World card spending, so don't add the kids even though ages 10+ are eligible. My daughter easily could've spent a house payment in the souvenir shops that are open every evening starting at about 6 PM.
31. Some sundries are available on board, but they are very limited. Bring sunscreen, pain/fever reducer like Tylenol or Ibuprofen, allergy/antihistamines, and lots of aloe vera with you, along with everything you need for bath time. (Towels, washcloths, toilet paper and tissues are provided.)
32. Check out is after breakfast the last morning, so you must pack the day before. Place your large luggage outside your room before 10:15 PM and it will be waiting for you when you reach the terminal.
33. Have your identification and declaration claims forms ready to make re-entering the US quick and easy.
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