Peek at PassPorter's Disney Cruise Clues

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Planning Traveling Dining Activities Ports of Call Magic Extras Staterooms PassPorter Deluxe: Cut, punch holes, and insert in binder. PassPorter Reg.: Cut, trim at dotted line, and insert in PassPocket. PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 1 $ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly Section 1 PassPorter Deluxe: Cut, punch holes, and insert in binder. PassPorter Reg.: Cut, trim at dotted line, and insert in PassPocket.

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Save money, time, and headaches with 250 cruiser-tested tips plus 30 extra pages of helpful cruise information! Are you looking for tips to save money and time while still having a MAGICAL cruise with Disney? Wouldn't it be nice to get these tips without having to wade through lots of web sites, message boards, and guidebooks? You're in luck! This low-cost e-book is packed with over 250 REAL tips from fellow cruisers -- each tip has been hand-picked, sorted, categorized, and edited by Jennifer Marx, the bestselling author of over 30 books, including the popular "PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line" guidebook.

Transcript of Peek at PassPorter's Disney Cruise Clues

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Section 1

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Page 2 PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

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Section 1

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

Edited by Jennifer Marx

© 2006 by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.P.O. Box 3880, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 • 877-929-3273Visit 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.

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.

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

Version 1.1 (May 4, 2006)

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 3

$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Section 1

Table of Contents

The Clues-Letter .....................................................4

Top Ten Cruise Clues ............................................. 5

Choose-Your-Clues Tips Index ............................ 6

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

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

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

The Joy of the Hunt: Shopping ..........................89

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

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!

Page 4 PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

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$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Section 1

The Clues-Letter “All the Clues That’re Fit to Print”

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 CommunityA 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 TipsOnce 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!

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

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 5

$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Section 1

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!

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)

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

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Page 6 PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

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$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Tips Index (continued)

Planning Tips ........................................ 9Get in the Disney Mood .................. 9Save Money Onboard ...................... 9Cruise to Lose ................................... 9Surprising a Special Child ............. 10Make Your Own T-Shirts ............... 10Do the Cruise First ......................... 10Give Disney Gifts ............................11Surprise Your Kids With a Cruise ...11Discover the DIS Boards .................11Give Kids a Budget ......................... 12Planning Across the Miles ............ 12Save Those Tips .............................. 12Bring a Backup Credit Card ........... 12Track Your Trek .............................. 13Return With Less Stuff ................... 13Stock Up on One Dollar Bills ......... 13Use a Travel Agent ......................... 13Find Inexpensive Disney Clothes .. 13Extend Your Clothes ...................... 14Keep Your Stuff Dry ....................... 14Bank the Cash ................................ 14Visit Your Dollar Store .................... 14

Traveling Tips ........................................15Vary Your Route for Fun ................ 15Bag the Bottles ............................... 15Brighten Your Luggage .................. 15Shoo Clutter With a Shoe Organizer ... 15Keep Shoes Together ..................... 15Save the Day With Duct Tape ........ 16Keep in Touch With Radios ............ 16Wash More in the Washer ............. 16Buy Clothes at End of Season ........ 16Label Before You Lose It ................ 16Bring Your Own Dryer Sheets ....... 16Hook It Up .......................................17Get Extra Duty From Your Cooler ..17Get a Gift Basket .............................17Have Corkscrew, Will Travel ...........17Avoid Damp Swimsuits ...................17Flashlights Are Your Friends ..........17Clean Those Cups .......................... 18

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

Choose-Your-Clues Tip Index

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 7

$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Tips Index (continued)

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

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

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

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

Page 8 PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

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$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Tips Index (continued)

Activities Tips (continued)Don’t Miss Good Photos ............... 44Remove Kids Charging Privileges . 44Get Volunteered ............................ 44Get Free T-Shirts for Kids ............. 44Request Extra Navigators ..............45Get a Good Seat at the Movies ......45Protect Sensitive Skin ....................45Arrive Early ....................................45Spot Dolphins .................................45Save on Spa Treatments .................46Order Free Snacks for the Movies ..46Discover a “Secret” Overlook .......46Make Reservations in Advance ....46Bingo! ..............................................47Cheap Phone Calls .........................47Cheap Movie Candy ......................47Free Yourself on the First Day .......47Keep Your Suits Looking New .......48Get Cozy on Deck 4 .......................48Peek Into the Anchor Deck ...........48Use the Cell ....................................48Board as Early as Possible ..............49Hunt for Hidden Mickeys .............49Trade Pins Onboard .......................49Save Time With Stamps .................49Give Kids a Scavenger Hunt ..........49Swim While You Wait .....................49

Ports of Call Tips .............................. 50Parasail in Castaway Cay .............. 50Enjoy a Cheap Shore Excursion ... 50Create Your Own Port Book .......... 50Beach Bag or Bust ......................... 50Snorkeling Success ........................ 51Bring Your Own Sand Toys ............ 51Prevent Picked Pockets .................. 51Check Prices at Home .................... 51Get Up Early and Get Out .............. 51Shop at Castaway Cay ................... 51Bring Your Own Snorkel Gear ....... 52Encounter the Dolphins for Less .. 52Beware of Braiding ........................ 52Get Your Gambling Fix ................... 52Pack the Bug Repellent .................. 52

Bring a Waterproof Camera .......... 53Snorkel Early For Best Views ......... 53Take the Treasure Hunt ................. 53Fly a Kite ......................................... 53

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

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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 9

$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

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Planning Tips (continued)

Planning Tips

Get in the Disney Mood *

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.

Save Money Onboard $

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.

Cruise to Lose

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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Page 10 PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips

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$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

Planning Tips (continued)

Surprising A Special Child * KWhen 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

Make Your Own T-Shirts $ * KI 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

Do the Cruise FirsT T KIf 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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PassPorter’s Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Cruise Trips Page 11

$ = money-saver T = time-saver * = magic-maker K = kid-friendly

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Planning Tips (continued)

Give Disney Gifts $ * KOne 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.

Surprise Your Kids With a Cruise * KKeep 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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