Ten Secrets of Disney Cruising~ Make it More Magical!

 

As if being on a Disney Cruise isn’t awesome enough, there are actually some tips and secrets that will make the days even more magical. You won’t find these tips in your Personal Navigator (daily onboard guide) or anywhere on the official Disney Cruise Line website.  These are the little secrets that will let you make the most of your Disney Cruise experience, and may even be your best memories from the trip.  Are you ready to be the coolest mom on the seven seas?

1. Create a one of kind souvenir signed by your favorite Disney characters.  Bring whatever you would like signed (T-shirt, pillow case, autograph book, photo matte) along with some permanent markers to Guest Services on the first two days of your cruise, and it will be returned to your stateroom with all the Disney characters signatures.  A couple of tips to personalize the experience:  Bring a variety of colored markers to make your creation more colorful.  You can customize the signatures, so you can choose to have a creation with only princesses or no princesses at all.

2.  Milk and Cookies before bed is a sweet way to send kids off into Dreamland, and remind them that they are on a dream vacation.  Guests on the concierge level get milk and cookies delivered each night as a part of their package, but you can enjoy the same treats by simply ordering from room service. 

~Love this Fish Extender from this Etsy Shop~

3. Make (or buy) a Fish Extender. If you have never been on a Disney Cruise, or heard of a Fish Extender, you are definitely going to feel left out if you don’t have one.  A Fish Extender is a sort of mailbox with fabric pockets that hangs from the Fish Clip outside each stateroom.  You can make your Fish Extender or even buy one online.  Other Fish Extender aficionados will come by and fill your pockets with little candy and treats throughout the cruise.  Just be sure you bring along treats to share with the your other “Fish Friends.”  Filling other Fish Extenders can be just as fun as finding treats in your own!

~Mickey hidden in the chandelier~

4. Go on a Hidden Mickeys Scavenger Hunt.  Hunting Hidden Mickeys has reached a cult like following in the Disney Parks, and has also made its way to the seven seas.  If you are a Hidden Mickey enthusiast, you might want to purchase Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea before you sail.  If you just want some impromptu Hidden Mickey fun, stop at Guest Services and ask for a Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt.

~Happiness is breakfast on the balcony~

5.Order Breakfast in Bed.  Room service is available 24 hours, and makes for a fun way to start your day, especially if the kids are slow to get out of bed.  Add some cartoons and you’ll have a great start to your morning.

6.Schedule a  wake up call from Mickey.  It’s just a little bit easier to get moving in the morning if you are expecting a call from your favorite mouse.  Just schedule a wake up call from your state room, and Mickey will give you a ring.  Put it on speaker phone so everyone can enjoy the “up and at ‘em.”

7. Write thank you notes to your servers and other memorable crew members on your ship.  Okay, so writing thank you notes may not be at the top of your “fun” list, but it is a great way to make a memory for the people who help to make your cruise magical.  It’s also a perfect way to remind kids to be kind to those around them.  Stationary and envelopes can be found in your stateroom or at Guest Services.

~A is for Animator's~

8.Do an ABC Scavenger Hunt.  In between activities, you may find that you have a few moments to fill, and excited kids with plenty of energy to entertain.  Set them to work finding every letter in the alphabet in the signs onboard the ship.  Take a picture next to each letter to make it even more fun!

9.Decorate your Door.  Not only will it make it easier to find your stateroom, it’s also a great way to add to the fun!  Doors are magnetic, so the best way to add personality to your door is with magnets.  You can buy magnetic paper at the office supply store and create your own sign, or use craft foam and attach magnets to the back.  Working on making a sign before your cruise is a great way to build the anticipation for the trip. 

~Aaaaargh~

10.Play Dress Up. Pirate Night onboard is a great way to join your kids in a game of Dress Up.  You don’t have to go full pirate (although it would be really fun), but a hat or eye patch creates a memorable and very photographable moment to remember from your days at sea.