Disney Cruise: Part 10... Tips & Tricks

Just a few things I've picked up, that you might benefit from: (no particular order)

1. Pack light. There are 3 guest laundry rooms on board. It costs $2.00 to wash & dry a load. I would much rather do an hour of laundry once in 7 days, than pack twice as much. 
2. Wear bright colours. You're on a fun ship! You'll look better, and feel better in your photos. 
3. Bring Disney pins for trading. Pin-trading is an official activity. Buy them on eBay (20 for $25 usually) rather than $8 each on the ship. See... even if you get ugly random Disney pins off eBay, you are TRADING them for things you like. 
4. Drop off an 8x10 photo mat at Guest Services with a couple bags of candies (for the staff) and they will ensure the characters (you pick Fab 5 or Princesses) autograph it and return it to your room. It's the perfect match to the on-board family photo you're going to buy anyway and you just by-passed the lines. 
5. Buy your family cute Disney t-shirts before the trip. Get them on-line at the Disney store during a sale, or even at Wal-Mart and I bet no one asks you to buy them a $30 t-shirt on board. 
6. You can bring a bottle of wine, or bottles of water,  onto the ship in your carry-on luggage. No liquids in your crew handled bags. 
7. There are complimentary post cards for you in the desk, in your stateroom.
8. You can pre-order your room service breakfast. There are door-hanger order forms in your desk drawer. 
9. Plan to bring about $25 in "singles". You will need them for the crew that handles your luggage in port. (They are pretty forward about tips.) Plus, you will need them for your room service orders. 
10. Bring your pirate costume (but no fake weapons). People really get "into" pirate night. But, even if you think you're a hot mama - don't wear your bedroom "pirate wench" costume. Seriously!! It's a family ship. LOL
11. Best view of the fireworks on pirate night.... Deck 10, aft, port site. That's ship speak for the back of the top deck, on the left side of the ship.
12. All the game show answers..... all Disney based. Brush up on your character and movie names.
13. Staterooms mid-ship tend to be less affected by motion. 
14. There is a really good selection of tea at the self-serve beverage station. Oh yeah.... there's a self-serve 24 hour beverage station on Deck 9 (Wonder & Magic Ships).  Coffee/tea/soda/milk
15. Charms are a great collector item. At $5 each, a bargain too. 
16. If you need adult time with your spouse... it's called Exotic Rasul at the spa. $85 for a private couple's shower.  Simply plan to drop your kids off at the Kids' Club for an activity.
17. If you need time away from other people's children and their screeching, there is an adult-only dining room, coffee shop, lounge and pool. 
18. Decks 10 & 4 have walking tracks. 
19. There is a duty free shop. You can purchase liquor any time, but will only receive it upon disembarkation. (When you get off the ship.)
20. Your stateroom host (generally a man) will tidy your stateroom twice a day. He will also magically set up the kids' bunk beds each night, transforming the sitting area in your cabin into a kids' bedroom. 
21. Don't be surprised to see the same 5 movies on your TV all the time. It's Disney programming 24/7 not live TV.

For the real authorities on everything Disney.... see the obsessed, but really knowledgable and helpful people on the Disboards. It's a chat forum for everything Disney. 

That's not me BTW!