Lanyards and other wonderings from a first timer - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Lanyards
I'm a first time cruiser and was wondering when/how I can purchase lanyards to keep our KTTW cards in.
I know I can buy them online before we cruise, but I was wondering if you get an opportunity to purchase things like lanyards before you can get on the ship. Are there other designs besides the standard Disney Cruise Line logo? Is there a merchandise location in the terminal?
Also, we're DVC members, but we're not traveling on points. (We're using those for after the cruise at BWV.) Are DVC lanyards available?
Online Check-in
Our online check in day was earlier this week. I was really surprised by how many things were sold out! I logged on at exactly 10pm MT to meet the 12am ET start. I had no problems looking at things such as excursions, etc., but few times were available for the things we wanted to do. I really had my heart set on the Sea Lion excursion only to find that there was only one time frame left. That time was early afternoon getting us back to ship too late to change for our early dinner seating.
We did the dolphin one instead. (Not that I'm sure it won't be fun...)
Most Palo and Remy times were taken, all cabanas at CC gone, and all of the couples massages as well.
Is this unusual or is this just because I'm a first time cruiser and not able to log on earlier like previous cruisers? I'm starting to worry the ship will be packed and it won't quite be the experience I had envisioned.
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Sorry so much stuff you wanted was gone, but yes, it does have a lot to do with being a first-timer. Next time (presuming there's a next time), you'll be better off, but you still have to worry about those pesky Platinum Castaway and Concierge guests (:::ducking and running for cover::.
The ships are always "packed" - that's the goal of every cruise line - fill every stateroom. DCL's average occupancy is something like 95%. The variation between a "light" cruise and a "heavy" cruise on DCL is going to be a factor of 10%-15% - a few hundred guests more or less. It's just nothing like when the parks are packed (10,000 guests on a very slow day, over 100,000 on a busy day - a factor of 1000%). The ships are designed to still be comfortable at maximum capacity.
They don't have any merchandise for sale at the terminal. If you'd like a lanyard as soon as you check in, you have to bring your own (you know a certain blue pouch works great ). Otherwise, you have to wait for the shops on board to open, which will be in the early evening, after the ship is out at sea (the shops are always closed in port). There's not much in the way of variety when it comes to DCL lanyards. Since every Castaway Club member gets a lanyard when they check in, there's not a huge demand for them in the shops.
There's no DVC merchandise for sale. I'm sure there will be more DVCers on board - check in with the DVC sales desk (like the shops, it'll open that first evening) and see if there's anything up.
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In the past, we have received a gift package from DVC which includes a few lanyards in our stateroom, but not necessarily on the first day. If you don't have a DVC magnet on your door when you first enter your room, stop by the DVC desk above the atrium to let them know you're a member. That will ensure you get an invitation to the DVC member party and any other small goodies they distribute (for example, sometimes they have pins or pens).
If there are meals and excursions that you really want, you may be able to go them once onboard. It's not guaranteed, but it's worth asking at the dining reservations location (using one of the clubs -- check the first day's Navigation you get at check-in) or the Shore Excursions desk.
In the past, we have received a gift package from DVC which includes a few lanyards in our stateroom, but not necessarily on the first day. If you don't have a DVC magnet on your door when you first enter your room, stop by the DVC desk above the atrium to let them know you're a member. That will ensure you get an invitation to the DVC member party and any other small goodies they distribute (for example, sometimes they have pins or pens).
That is a good tip to know! We are traveling on our points next week, but I wasn't aware of any special DVC goodies. I'll cross my fingers and see if we get some, and I'll definitely get a magnet!
That is a good tip to know! We are traveling on our points next week, but I wasn't aware of any special DVC goodies. I'll cross my fingers and see if we get some, and I'll definitely get a magnet!
We got several goodies over the course of our cruise (we were cruising on cash, not points). Be sure to go to the member get together. They had several give aways there too.
It's very helpful to know that I'll have to wait to get stuff on the ship. Our PP pouches are a staple of every WDW trip. We never take a trip without them. : I was unsure whether I could put my KTTW card in it and still have the stateroom door open, etc.
Will it scan the card through the clear window on the PP pouch as it does with the lanyard?
As far as the excursions and meals go, I hadn't planned on too many. With it being our first cruise and all, I wanted to experience the ship's dining rooms and spa features.
It was just kind of a shock knowing the time I logged on and seeing that darn "Sold Out" box in front of a whole bunch of things. Really, with the year we've had, I'll be grateful for a quiet place to read, watch the ocean go by, and enjoy the Dream.
One of the first things I plan on attending is the DVC get together on embarkation day. I'll keep an eye out for give aways there.
I did stay up until 1am MT and nabbed an 11-11:30 port arrival time though.
Since you're on the Dream... yes, your KTTW card will scan through the window of a PassHolder Pouch. Dream and Fantasy use those newfangled "touch" locks (RFID chip), so as long as whatever holds the card is not too thick (and the PassHolder window is no thicker than the lanyard card holders), no problem. On the Magic and Wonder they're still using magnetic stripes, so in either case you have to remove the key from its holder.
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Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions
We just returned from our first ever cruise and it was fabulous! I wasn't looking to do a lot of excursions; just wanted to experience life on board, so to speak. However, our TA was able to get us dinner reservations at Palo. When we checked in for dinner, we just asked if there was any availability for brunch. We were thrilled to be told, as a matter of fact, there was! So, don't despair; there still is a chance you'll get what you want!
Lanyards
I'm a first time cruiser and was wondering when/how I can purchase lanyards to keep our KTTW cards in.
I know I can buy them online before we cruise, but I was wondering if you get an opportunity to purchase things like lanyards before you can get on the ship. Are there other designs besides the standard Disney Cruise Line logo? Is there a merchandise location in the terminal? There is no merchandise location in the terminal, but you can buy lanyards at the shop when they open up.
Also, we're DVC members, but we're not traveling on points. (We're using those for after the cruise at BWV.) Are DVC lanyards available? If you notify DCL that you are DVC members, you should receive a DVC gift in your stateroom. That gift includes DVC lanyards. Online Check-in
Our online check in day was earlier this week. I was really surprised by how many things were sold out! I logged on at exactly 10pm MT to meet the 12am ET start. I had no problems looking at things such as excursions, etc., but few times were available for the things we wanted to do. I really had my heart set on the Sea Lion excursion only to find that there was only one time frame left. That time was early afternoon getting us back to ship too late to change for our early dinner seating.
We did the dolphin one instead. (Not that I'm sure it won't be fun...)
Most Palo and Remy times were taken, all cabanas at CC gone, and all of the couples massages as well.
Is this unusual or is this just because I'm a first time cruiser and not able to log on earlier like previous cruisers? I'm starting to worry the ship will be packed and it won't quite be the experience I had envisioned. Yes, this is mostly because you are a first-timer. I wouldn't worry too much about the ship being packed.
Answers in bold above
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). Otherwise, you have to wait for the shops on board to open, which will be in the early evening, after the ship is out at sea (the shops are always closed in port). There's not much in the way of variety when it comes to DCL lanyards. Since every Castaway Club member gets a lanyard when they check in, there's not a huge demand for them in the shops.
: I was unsure whether I could put my KTTW card in it and still have the stateroom door open, etc. 
Really, with the year we've had, I'll be grateful for a quiet place to read, watch the ocean go by, and enjoy the Dream.
Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten. This is my family. I found it, all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good. 
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