How much do I need to plan?

winstongator

winstongator

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are doing our first cruise in a month. It's my wife and two young daughters, ages 7 & 10. I'm wondering how much planning people do relative to a comparable length WDW trip. Do you block out when kids will go to the kids clubs, what activities you'll do when? How much can you do in advance without the complete itinerary (what shows are playing when)?
 
NelleBelle

NelleBelle

Well-Known Member
That's the beauty of DCL compared to WDW/DLR...you don't need to do hardly any planning (other than your excursions, room category, how you're getting to the port, packing list, and dining rotation). You can drop your kids off anytime the clubs are open (and they open early and close late--some cruises, depending on length, have a sleepover in the club). They will page you on your wave phone when the kids want to be picked up. You can't really preplan what activities you want to do when because you will not know the schedule of daily activities until the night before when they had out your Navigator (the guide to the days activities/schedule). You'll get your first Navigator when you board/in the cruise terminal. You can generally get an idea what the dress code is for that night (semi-formal, formal, Pirate night, etc).

You will never be able to do everything on your cruise, even if you tried. So for now, focus on what you will pack. And then once on board, you can decide in the moment how you guys feel...swimming? Movie? Kids going to the club and Adult-time (there are activities scheduled that are for 18+)? Nap? It's all up to you, which is the beauty of cruising and why I love it more than going to the parks (well, I should say, I like adding the parks on to my cruise)!
 
winstongator

winstongator

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
NelleBelle said:
That's the beauty of DCL compared to WDW/DLR...you don't need to do hardly any planning (other than your excursions, room category, how you're getting to the port, packing list, and dining rotation). You can drop your kids off anytime the clubs are open (and they open early and close late--some cruises, depending on length, have a sleepover in the club). They will page you on your wave phone when the kids want to be picked up. You can't really preplan what activities you want to do when because you will not know the schedule of daily activities until the night before when they had out your Navigator (the guide to the days activities/schedule). You'll get your first Navigator when you board/in the cruise terminal. You can generally get an idea what the dress code is for that night (semi-formal, formal, Pirate night, etc).

You will never be able to do everything on your cruise, even if you tried. So for now, focus on what you will pack. And then once on board, you can decide in the moment how you guys feel...swimming? Movie? Kids going to the club and Adult-time (there are activities scheduled that are for 18+)? Nap? It's all up to you, which is the beauty of cruising and why I love it more than going to the parks (well, I should say, I like adding the parks on to my cruise)!
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This is very helpful information! I will put more time into packing and make sure my dry cleaning is done. At least we leave on a Monday whcihc gives some time to pack. Thanks for the tips and the reduction in worry.
 
lostpro9het

lostpro9het

Well-Known Member
winstongator said:
This is very helpful information! I will put more time into packing and make sure my dry cleaning is done. At least we leave on a Monday whcihc gives some time to pack. Thanks for the tips and the reduction in worry.
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EOD K9 said:
They do have dry cleaning on board if need be.
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This ^^
The first day of each cruise we send off a few items to be cleaned and pressed and it is usually back within 24 hours. The prices are pretty good too considering its Disney at sea.

I'll second the above about pre-planning, DCL is far less painful than WDW. If you or your better half are on the facebooks I recommend looking up the cruise group for your dates. Its a great way to get info about your cruise and share tips and pointers about cruising with your peers.
 
NelleBelle

NelleBelle

Well-Known Member
Actually, when we were in Barcelona last fall, the one suitcase that had all our formal attire in it (my dresses, DH's suits) was left behind in London. I freaked out thinking I was going to have to quickly get DH fitted for some suits and thanking my lucky stars we had a few days in Barcelona to find a place to get one (dresses I could find easily). The fashion gods were with us as our luggage showed up about a day and half later, just as I was starting to really panic! I'd hate to have had that happen if we had flown in to Orlando the day before the cruise and had the luggage go MIA! This is one reason we never fly in the day the cruise embarks!!
 
EOD K9

EOD K9

Well-Known Member
Also of note, they also have standard pressing/ironing on board. They can do a rush job and possibly have it back prior to dinner. Ironing is usually half the price of dry cleaning. Also, keep your things you want to keep neat that have been pressed (suit jacket/pants) in their dry cleaning plastic bags. The non friction allows them to stay wrinkle free (in most cases).
Also @lostpro9het What are your actual travel days? I think we may overlap after my cruise.
 
winstongator

winstongator

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
NelleBelle said:
Actually, when we were in Barcelona last fall, the one suitcase that had all our formal attire in it (my dresses, DH's suits) was left behind in London. I freaked out thinking I was going to have to quickly get DH fitted for some suits and thanking my lucky stars we had a few days in Barcelona to find a place to get one (dresses I could find easily). The fashion gods were with us as our luggage showed up about a day and half later, just as I was starting to really panic! I'd hate to have had that happen if we had flown in to Orlando the day before the cruise and had the luggage go MIA! This is one reason we never fly in the day the cruise embarks!!
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Lucky for us, we are driving to Port Canaveral. Driving gives me all kinds of excuses to forget stuff while packing. One time I forgot our magic bands! We got dinner at D-Luxe and got some cards at the guest services office at Disney Springs.
 
winstongator

winstongator

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
ScoutN said:
Just book the Disney Jr breakfast when you check-in, as well as the Frozen M&G and Princess M&G. Take the rest as it comes (outside of excursions).
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There were limited options to sign up for online right now. Can I check in for those when we board the ship?
 
NelleBelle

NelleBelle

Well-Known Member
I also have to add that the pressing/ironing service onboard is sooo well worth it! My DH sent off at least 20 items to get pressed after he so lovingly pressed all my sundresses and shorts for me the first evening on our transatlantic. Best money spent on that cruise! We will now do that for both of us from now on! I think it was probably as much or less than what we send off for pressing at our dry cleaners at home! (Seattle has ridiculous pricing on dry cleaning. Why? Who knows!!)
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
I second, or third, or fourth, or whatever it is up to now the dry cleaning/pressing service. It makes it a lot easier to pack suit jackets and such. No need to for a garment bag. Just put it in a suitcase and on the first day as the cabin attendant to take care of it for you.

As for planning. You should do SOME planning. Look at shore excursion and see if there are any you really really want to do - but remember, you can't control the weather. Also, read some trip reports and see if there is any on-board activity that is mentioned that really really jumps out at you - just so you can keep an eye out for it to appear on your navigator.

I do like the idea of bringing 4 different colored highlighter with you, one for each person. The navigator looks a lot like a cable TV guide with different "programs" on each "channel". The night before, have the whole family take a look at it, and highlight anything in their particular color that they really want to do. Granted, with a 7 and 10 y/o there may be times when mom or dad has to give up what they want in order to escort a kid to what they want, but that is being a parent. But it makes it easy to see who wants to do what and when.

I'm not saying plan out the entire next day each night. I am saying take a look at the navigator, and see if there are one or two events that makes a person say "wow, that is something I would really like to do!"

-dave
 

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