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PassPorter’s® Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Line Trips

©

P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 • 877-929-3273 Visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.passporter.com PassPorter® is a registered trademark of MediaMarx, Inc. Photographs MediaMarx, Inc.

©

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act. PassPorter’s® Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Line Trips is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates.

While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book, the passage of time will always bring changes, and consequently, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors that may occur. The authors, editor, and publisher of this book shall not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented here and do not represent The Walt Disney Company.

Disney Cruise Line® is a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company. This book makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks, and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., and other trademark owners.

The use in this guide of trademarked names and images is strictly for editorial purposes, and no commercial claim to their use, or suggestion of sponsorship or endorsement, is made by the authors, editor, or publisher. Those words or terms that the authors, editor, and publisher have reason to believe are trademarks are designated as such by the use of initial capitalization, where appropriate. However, no attempt has been made to identify or designate all words or terms to which trademark or other proprietary rights may exist. Nothing contained herein is intended to express a judgment on, or affect the validity of legal status of, any word or term as a trademark, service mark, or other proprietary mark.

PassPorter’s® Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Line Trips is edited by Jennifer Marx. The information presented is for entertainment purposes. Any stated opinions are ours alone, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent The Walt Disney Company or anyone else. Materials submitted and credited by persons other than ourselves are used here with their permission, and any associated rights belong to them.

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Any and all written messages, suggestions, ideas, or other information shared with the authors in response to this guide shall be deemed and shall remain the property of PassPorter Travel Press.

Special Sales: PassPorter Travel Press publications are available at special discounts for bulk purchases for sales premiums or promotions. Special editions, including personalized covers and excerpts of existing guides, can be created in large quantities. For information, write to Special Sales, P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.

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Resale of this guide is strictly prohibited without the copyright holder’s permission. If you purchased this publication from someone other than PassPorter Travel Press, please call 877-929-3273.

ISBN-13: 978-1-58771-035-3 ISBN-10: 1-58771-035-8

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Edited by Jennifer Marx 2006 by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.

Page 3 Planning

PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

Section 1

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Table of Contents The Clues-Letter .....................................................4 Top Ten Cruise Clues ............................................. 5 Choose-Your-Clues Tips Index ............................ 6

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All 250 Cruise Tips ................................................. 9 Planning Tips ....................................................9 Traveling Tips ................................................. 15 Stateroom Tips................................................ 27 Dining Tips ..................................................... 33 Activities Tips ................................................. 41 Ports of Call Tips............................................ 50 Magic Tips ......................................................54

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Clue Them In: Impress Friends & Family........62 Top Ten Reasons to Cruise Disney ................63 Disney Cruise Line vs. The Other Lines ...... 64 Why I Think Disney Is Cheaper .....................68 A Pre-Teen’s Perspective ................................69

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“I Haven’t A Clue What To Pack” Lists ............ 70 The Dinghy List (Bare Minimum) ................. 71 The Party Barge List (Celebrations) ............. 72 The Life Raft List (Fixes) ................................. 73 The Kiddie Float List (Kids) ............................. 75 The Bareboat List (Couples) ........................... 76 The Snooze Cruise List (Relaxing) ................. 77 The Boatload Of Stuff List (Miscellaneous) .... 78 Everything Packing Worksheet ...................... 81 The Joy of the Hunt: Shopping..........................89

Using This E-Book.................................................96

Please note that this book is not associated with the excellent web site CRUISECLUES at http://www.cruiseclues.com, which we stumbled across as we were putting on our finishing touches. We do recommend a visit to CRUISECLUES—its Disney sections offer the best collection of links we’ve ever seen to other Disney Cruise web sites, photo albums, reviews, trip reports, and message boards. It’s definitely worth bookmarking!

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PassPorter Coupons and Books ...................... 90

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Section 1

The Clues-Letter

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Feeling clueless about your upcoming cruise? Spending so much time searching for the best cruise clues that you’re considering a new career in detective work? Never fear ... Cruise Clues is here! I’ve hunted down 250+ tips and tricks from Disney fans and experts! We’ve gathered our collection of tips direct from readers of the bestselling PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Line guidebook over a period of three years—they’re proven, time-tested, REAL tips that save you time, money, and frustration. And, in true Disney fashion, we’ve “plussed” our collection of tips with a Top Ten list, a handy-dandy index to the tips, information to impress your friends and family, seven different packing lists, a comprehensive packing worksheet, and even shopping resources!

Give Me a Clue: How Does This Book Work?

The book’s tips cover virtually every aspect of planning and truly enjoying a Disney Cruise Line vacation. You can read it cover to cover or just use the index on page 6 to zoom in on your particular topic. I’ve organized related tips together within each chapter to help you find the information you need. The icons to the right of the tip title help you spot money-savers, time-savers, magic-makers, and kid-friendly tips. I’ve also carefully edited each submitted tip to ensure readability, accuracy, and relevancy, but do keep in mind that each tip was authored by different readers. Thus, there may be a bit of overlap when it comes to basic ideas, but really important information deserves repeating, doesn’t it? When necessary, an “Editor’s Note” follows a tip to clarify an idea or to provide essential information. What this book does not do is act as a general guidebook to the Disney Cruise Line—if you do not have one, there’s a coupon in the back of this book to help you get a really good one. (I know, I’m shameless.) If you’d like to print out this guide, see page 96.

The Clue Crew: Our Community A big thank you goes to our fantastic community at PassPorter.com! You were our inspiration for this tip collection, and, in many cases, the authors as well. Our community is an excellent free resource for answers, exchanges, and friendships. If you have a question about any aspect of cruising or traveling, we invite you to join our community of 11,000+ friendly vacationers at http://www.passporterboards.com.

Clue Horizons: Beyond the Tips Once you’ve bagged all our tips, your reward is a special section of invaluable cruise information: a comparison between Disney and other cruise lines, a pre-teen’s perspective on Disney cruising, a boatload of packing lists, and a shopping list to help you get stuff for packing. Ready for more clues? New tips roll in every day at PassPorter, so look for future books of tips, as well as lots of great updated and brand new titles from PassPorter Travel Press. See page 90 for more information about PassPorter.

Enjoy the book, have a fun time planning your vacation, and have a great cruise!

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Jennifer Marx Co-Author, “PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Line and Its Ports of Call”

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“All the Clues That’re Fit to Print”

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Top Ten Cruise Clues So many tips ... so little time! If you’re looking for the cream of the crop, here are my top ten cruise tips with links to more information throughout this book. Enjoy!

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

4. Pack laundry supplies (page 26) so you can pack fewer clothes (page 18) and look your best (page 16)—include detergent (page 31), dryer sheets (pages 16 and 21), stain pre-wash and wipes (page 20), and wrinkle releaser (page 23).

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3. Arrive early—make the most of your first day by getting to the terminal early (pages 41 and 49), enjoy more activities by beating the crowds (pages 41 and 44), and have more fun on Castaway Cay by being one of the first off the boat (page 51).

7. Pack less and enjoy more—use space bags (page 20), pack with ziploc bags (pages 18 and 26), remove some stuff after you’ve packed it (page 23), go light to start with (page 18), or ship ahead (page 20).

8. Get choosy about photos—buy fewer to save money (page 9), stack them to decide later (page 56), get the photo package only if it helps (page 56), get better photos (pages 41, 44, 55, and 57), and protect the photos you purchase (page 56).

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6. Enjoy free drinks on your cruise with a little creativity—the beverage station is always open (pages 34 and 39) and you can bring/make your own drinks (pages 36 and 39).

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5. Safeguard your cards by using holders (pages 14 and 43), hooks (page 24), and a different card to lock/unlock your safe (page 32).

10. Save money in so many ways in so many places! You can give kids a budget (pages 12 and 44), find inexpensive cruise clothes (pages 13 and 16), save with a rental car (page 23), upgrade your stateroom (page 31 and 32), bring your own beverages (pages 34, 36, and 39), make your own bottled water (page 40), get free or cheap movie snacks (page 46 and 47), make cheaper phone calls (pages 47 and 48), and avoid getting ripped off (pages 51 and 52).

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9. Go first class—make your own shirts (page 10), decorate your stateroom door (page 30), buy gift baskets (pages 11 and 17), and celebrate special occasions (page 54).

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2. Use room service—food is complimentary (page 35), as are Mickey Bars (page 33) and handy foods for toddlers (page 37).

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1. Bring the “Big 4-H” items that provide extra storage in your stateroom: holders (page 15), hangers (page 24), hampers (page 20), and hooks (pages 17, 18, and 24)

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Tips Index (continued)

Choose-Your-Clues Tip Index Planning Tips........................................ 9 Get in the Disney Mood .................. 9 Save Money Onboard ...................... 9 Cruise to Lose................................... 9 Surprising a Special Child ............. 10 Make Your Own T-Shirts ............... 10 Do the Cruise First ......................... 10 Give Disney Gifts ............................11 Surprise Your Kids With a Cruise ...11 Discover the DIS Boards.................11 Give Kids a Budget ......................... 12 Planning Across the Miles ............ 12 Save Those Tips.............................. 12 Bring a Backup Credit Card ........... 12 Track Your Trek .............................. 13 Return With Less Stuff................... 13 Stock Up on One Dollar Bills ......... 13 Use a Travel Agent ......................... 13 Find Inexpensive Disney Clothes .. 13 Extend Your Clothes ...................... 14 Keep Your Stuff Dry ....................... 14 Bank the Cash ................................ 14 Visit Your Dollar Store.................... 14 Traveling Tips ........................................15 Vary Your Route for Fun ................ 15 Bag the Bottles ............................... 15 Brighten Your Luggage .................. 15 Shoo Clutter With a Shoe Organizer ... 15 Keep Shoes Together ..................... 15 Save the Day With Duct Tape ........ 16 Keep in Touch With Radios ............ 16 Wash More in the Washer ............. 16 Buy Clothes at End of Season ........ 16 Label Before You Lose It ................ 16 Bring Your Own Dryer Sheets ....... 16 Hook It Up .......................................17 Get Extra Duty From Your Cooler ..17 Get a Gift Basket .............................17 Have Corkscrew, Will Travel ...........17 Avoid Damp Swimsuits ...................17 Flashlights Are Your Friends ..........17 Clean Those Cups .......................... 18

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Avoid Luggage Tag .......................... 18 Hang Your Hat at the Hyatt .......... 18 Stick It Up ....................................... 18 Ziploc Bags Are Your Best Friend .. 18 Pack Lite.......................................... 18 Start a Cruise Box .......................... 19 Stay Warm at Sea ........................... 19 Booking a Hotel in Port.................. 19 Three-Year-Old Birthday Bonus .... 19 Send Stuff Ahead ...........................20 Bring a Hanging Laundry Bag .......20 Use Space Bags ..............................20 Pack the Pre-Wash .........................20 Keep Your Papers Handy ............... 21 Leave Beach Towels at Home ........ 21 Bring Your Own Travel Alarm ........ 21 Keep Clothes Fresh ........................ 21 Pack Your Summer Wardrobe ........ 21 Stage Your Outfits ......................... 21 Lock Your Luggage ......................... 22 Tag Your Bags ................................. 22 Take the Time ................................. 22 Watch the Weather ........................ 22 Get a Free Passport Photo ............. 22 Release the Wrinkles ..................... 23 Welcome the Wine ......................... 23 Rent a Car and Save ....................... 23 Travel With Less ............................. 23 Easy Returns With Labels ..............24 Use More Wire Hangers ................24 Save Space in Luggage ..................24 Avoid Spills With Dish Wipes.........24 Hang Your Cards ............................24 Pack the Scissors............................ 25 Try a Car Seat/Stroller Combo ...... 25 Create Extra Outlets ...................... 25 Bring Comfy Shoes ........................ 25 Pack Like a Pro ............................... 26 Pack a Laundry Kit ......................... 26 Pack Ziploc Bags ............................ 26

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Dining Tips ......................................... 33 Find Healthy Snacks ...................... 33 Order Mickey Bars Onboard ......... 33 Catch the Character Breakfast ..... 33 Save the Souvenir Glass................. 33 Pick a Night for Palo ...................... 33 Stock Your Cooler With Drinks .....34 Bring Your Own Bottled Water ......34 Stock Up on Nutritious Snacks .....34 Look for Auto Tips .........................34 Water, Water Everywhere ..............34 Stairway to Dinner ........................34 Use Your Dining Room Table......... 35

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Activities Tips ..................................... 41 Skip the Talks ................................. 41 Join the Race .................................. 41 Carry That Camera ........................ 41 Best Day for Swimming .................42 Protect Your Scalp ..........................42 Order Pitchers and Save ................42 Find Your Favorite Characters.......42 Check the Movies ..........................42 Stay Hydrated in the Spa ...............43 Hear the Horn ................................43 Communicate With Post-It Notes..43 Keep Your Card Safe ......................43 Make Social Cards ........................ 44

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The Last Breakfast ......................... 35 Relax With Room Service ............... 35 Get a Fruit Basket For Your Room .. 35 Dress Right With Less .................... 35 Save on Coffee Drinks ................... 36 Make Your Own Mixed Drinks ..... 36 Beware the Sailaway Drink ........... 36 Kid Around With Food .................... 36 Early Seating Better for Kids ......... 36 Late Seating Is Quieter .................. 36 Do a Better Buffet.......................... 37 Feed Little Ones First ..................... 37 Feed Toddlers With Ease ................ 37 Mix and Match Your Food ............. 37 Double Dip at Dinner .................... 38 Reserve Hope for Palo ................... 38 Keep Unfinished Wine ................... 38 Get a Free Bottle of Water ............. 38 Request Menus as Souvenirs ........ 38 Get Free Iced Coffee Drinks .......... 39 Pack the Pepsi ................................ 39 Save the Desserts .......................... 39 Transport Your Beverages ............. 39 Dress Up in Princess Dresses ....... 39 View Menus in Advance ................ 39 Help Your Digestive System ......... 40 Stash the Shout Wipes .................. 40 Get Cheap Pirate Stuff ................. 40 Free Desserts at Cove Cafe .......... 40 Make Cheap “Bottled” Water ....... 40 Request a Larger Table ................. 40

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Stateroom Tips................................... 27 Sleep Longer ................................... 27 Pick a No-Sick Stateroom .............. 27 Pretty the Potty .............................. 27 Toys for Tots ................................... 27 Avoid Laundry Lines ...................... 27 Go for the Glow .............................. 28 Magnetic Messages....................... 28 Find More Storage Space ............... 28 Nightlights on Demand ................. 28 See Outside in an Inside Room ..... 28 Hide Your Luggage ........................ 29 Start Your Day With Mickey .......... 29 Orient Yourself by Color................ 29 Connect Two................................... 29 Make More Room in Your Room ... 29 View Stateroom Photos..................30 Decorate Your Door.......................30 Get More Privacy ...........................30 Dry Towels on Your Verandah .......30 Take Care of Your Verandah ..........30 Avoid the Laundry Room ............... 31 Help Kids Find Your Stateroom ..... 31 Get a Porthole for Less .................. 31 Get More Storage Inside ................ 31 Keep Your Cooler Cooler ............... 31 Make Room for a Family of Five .... 32 Upgrade Your Stateroom ............... 32 Burn the Candles ........................... 32 Unlock Your Safe Easier ................ 32 Light the Night............................... 32 Choose a Convenient Stateroom .... 32

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Tips Index (continued)

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

Tips Index (continued) Activities Tips (continued) Don’t Miss Good Photos ............... 44 Remove Kids Charging Privileges. 44 Get Volunteered ............................ 44 Get Free T-Shirts for Kids ............. 44 Request Extra Navigators ..............45 Get a Good Seat at the Movies ......45 Protect Sensitive Skin ....................45 Arrive Early ....................................45 Spot Dolphins .................................45 Save on Spa Treatments .................46 Order Free Snacks for the Movies ..46 Discover a “Secret” Overlook .......46 Make Reservations in Advance ....46 Bingo!..............................................47 Cheap Phone Calls .........................47 Cheap Movie Candy ......................47 Free Yourself on the First Day .......47 Keep Your Suits Looking New .......48 Get Cozy on Deck 4 .......................48 Peek Into the Anchor Deck ...........48 Use the Cell ....................................48 Board as Early as Possible..............49 Hunt for Hidden Mickeys .............49 Trade Pins Onboard .......................49 Save Time With Stamps .................49 Give Kids a Scavenger Hunt ..........49 Swim While You Wait .....................49 Ports of Call Tips .............................. 50 Parasail in Castaway Cay.............. 50 Enjoy a Cheap Shore Excursion ... 50 Create Your Own Port Book.......... 50 Beach Bag or Bust ......................... 50 Snorkeling Success ........................ 51 Bring Your Own Sand Toys ............ 51 Prevent Picked Pockets .................. 51 Check Prices at Home.................... 51 Get Up Early and Get Out.............. 51 Shop at Castaway Cay ................... 51 Bring Your Own Snorkel Gear ....... 52 Encounter the Dolphins for Less .. 52 Beware of Braiding ........................ 52 Get Your Gambling Fix ................... 52 Pack the Bug Repellent .................. 52

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Bring a Waterproof Camera .......... 53 Snorkel Early For Best Views ......... 53 Take the Treasure Hunt ................. 53 Fly a Kite ......................................... 53 Magic Tips ...........................................54 Make the Magic Last .....................54 Share Your Special Occasion .........54 Send Postcards Home to Kids ........54 Mail Postcards to Yourself .............54 Pillowcases Are a Pill...................... 55 Make Your Own Autograph Book ... 55 Get a Disney Cruise Coloring Book .. 55 Get Great Character Photos .......... 55 Keep Photos Together .................... 56 Get Dressed Early for Photos ........ 56 Protect Your Photos ....................... 56 Get More Photos ............................ 56 Purchase the Photo Package Later ... 56 Release Your Photos ...................... 56 Free Up Memory Cards .................. 57 Chart Your Course ......................... 57 Get Your Christmas Cards ............. 57 Take Photos at Autograph Sessions .. 57 Easy Breezy Postcards.................... 57 Keep the Seals ................................ 58 Stock Up on Seasickness Remedies.. 58 Staying Healthy.............................. 58 Make a Cruise First Aid Kit............ 58 Disinfect Your Room...................... 59 Avoid Ironing .................................. 59 Calculate Tipping Easily ................ 59 Leave Comments With Care .......... 59 Enjoy Your Last Afternoon ............ 59 Check Your Statement Early......... 60 Save Your Receipts ....................... 60 Save Time on Tips ......................... 60 Get Luggage Out the Night Before .. 60 Catch a Baggage Porter ................ 60 Savor Your Last Night .................... 61 Book Onboard ................................ 61 Beat the Post-Cruise Blues ............ 61 Share Your Cruise .......................... 61

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To counteract Disney withdrawals, or to build anticipation for your next trip, you can do many things: I have TiVo so it makes this a little easier, but do a search for shows on the Travel Channel or Food Channel that are Disney-related, because there is a wide variety, and then watch those shows. Also, in the 1990s, a lot of ABC’s shows took trips to Disney, so be on the lookout for special episodes of “Full House,” “Family Matters,” “Step by Step,” “Roseanne,” and “Boy Meets World.” Another thing you can do is go to thrift stores, garage sales, or eBay and try to find cheap, vintage Disney shirts to wear on your next vacation. Also, to get some park ambience, you can go to http://www. live365.com and do a search for “disney” and then listen to the Disney music stations that result. Another fun thing to do is go to http://www.magicalmountain.net, where you can download, for free, a cool Disney countdown and toolbar. Finally, you can make things like countdowns or books for the members of your party with pages that show facts, pictures, and reviews. Also, don’t forget to make surveys for the members of your party so you can spend lots of time planning.

By PassPorter reader Tina P.

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Use your cruise as motivation to lose that weight and/or get fit. Not only does it work very well (who doesn’t want to look better in their bathing suit?), but many other cruisers are doing it also and you can join them at several online Disney communities.

Even if you do nothing other than walk each day to get in shape for your shore excursions, you’re doing a great thing!

By PassPorter reader Sandy King

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The three big spots that cruisers tend to blow a lot of money are Shutters (Photo Gallery), Vista Spa, and anyplace that sells beverages (alcohol, smoothies, specialty coffees, etc.). If you budget for these three items in advance, and stick to your budget, you can save big bucks.

By PassPorter reader Penny M.

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Save Money Onboard

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Planning Tips (continued)

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When we were planning our FIRST EVER trip for our daughter’s birthday this past November, we wanted to ensure that it would stay a surprise and no one would give it away. To do this, we decided that we would let only the most necessary people know our plan: parents, bosses, teachers, etc. Then we had to figure out exactly how to tell our daughter. We had worked and snuck around for so long, it would seem anticlimactic to just tell her. So, about six months out from the trip, we started hinting that she was going to get a HUGE surprise for her birthday. Each day, she could ask two yes or no questions before she went to bed, no more. Is it bigger than a book? Is it red? Is it alive? The anticipation was thrilling for her. During those six months, I used http://www.giftsofalifetime.com to order little odds and ends, used PassPorter (lifesaver!!) to plan our days, and worked on the Internet until late in the night to get everything ready. Finally on her birthday, we set up a large treasure hunt for her. We started out with simple clues, and as she became more comfortable with the concept, the clues were harder. Some were even funny, such as: “OH NO!! Rush, rush! Find your next clue where you have to flush.” At the end of the hunt, she found herself at her hope chest and found a large suitcase. When she opened it, it was filled to the brim with Mickey hats, maps, water bottles, beach towels, etc. The look on her face was priceless! She still talks about the questions that she asked and the treasure hunt, making the trip that much better!

By PassPorter reader Dana Slusher

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I design t-shirts with my children for each day of our trip. We get light-colored plain shirts and put our own designs on with fabric paints (like handprints or Mickey heads), cutouts from other fabrics with iron-on fusible web, and craft stamps. This way, we all have matching outfits in the event we get separated (we always knew what everyone was wearing that day). They are one-of-a-kind, help us keep track of what day which photos were taken during the trip, and help us pass the time and build up anticipation before our trip.

By PassPorter reader Sue Lowder

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If you are doing both a Disney Cruise and Walt Disney World, take the cruise first. The Disney characters are plentiful on the ship, and you don’t have to fight as many people for your kids to see them. They came right up to our table!

By PassPorter reader Diane W.

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Keep your cruise a secret and surprise your kids! Here’s my story: My daughters had longed for a Disney Cruise for what seemed like years. I booked ours and kept it a secret. I bought some Disney Cruise items from eBay and gave them to my husband.

A week before we were to leave, he told the girls he had a surprise and handed them the trinkets. Their faces studied them and then slowly lit up as the realization hit them, “We’re going on a cruise?!? When???” When we told them we would be on the ship in a week, they were ecstatic and saying “Thank you, thank you!!!” over and over again.

Even though this was a “girls only” cruise, my husband still had a part in the gift, which made it very special indeed. What a relief it was after they knew ... I could finally talk about our plans without whispering!

By PassPorter reader Dawn Dobson

Discover the DIS Boards Without the DIS boards (http://www.disboards.com), I would have been lost planning our cruise. This was my one-stop web site to get the information needed for planning our trip. I tried several other sites before finding the DIS boards, but nothing else compared to the unlimited and knowledgeable information I got there. There is not one single question that was left unanswered after visiting this site, but if there was, I’m sure a quick “posting” would have remedied that problem. My one tip to future Disney Cruise Line travelers is to visit the DIS boards the second you even think you might plan a trip -- it’s more than worth your time. I saved more than $500 on my trip by using the advice found there!

By PassPorter reader Lori from Maryland

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Surprise Your Kids With a Cruise

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One way we have decided to save money for our trip is to Disney theme Christmas this year. Because it will be my kids’ first time flying, they will need real luggage this year. By giving them the luggage at Christmas, it makes a nice gift and doesn’t come out of the Disney fund. A Disney outfit makes a nice gift. You can also get the misters, water bottles, rain ponchos, sunscreen, etc. as stocking stuffers. Put a little summer into your Christmas. Though it won’t save you money on your trip, other Disney gifts make Christmas and your upcoming trip more exciting. For instance, PS2 has some nice Disney games, as does Game Boy Advanced for the older kids. Younger kids have even more options. By getting some of the necessities out of your Christmas fund, you can put more into your Disney fund. Plus, it should make Christmas a nice holiday and bring some anticipation to your children.

By PassPorter reader Rebecca D.

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= money-saver

T

= time-saver

* = magic-maker

K

= kid-friendly