One of the most important parts of planning a Disney vacation is choosing how you’re going to get there. Since most of us don’t live in the Orlando area, we choose to fly to Disney. Even if you’ve never flown before or you’re racking up the frequent flyer miles, we’ve got all the handy need-to-know info for the most efficient ways to fly to Disney!
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Happy holidays! Here at Dole Whipped, we believe there’s no other gift like the gift of travel. In order to help with that, we’ve come up with some ways you can put a Disney vacation under your tree. From scavenger hunts, to balloons, we’re sure you can find a really fun and special way to let your family know you want to spend quality time with them at The Happiest Place on Earth!
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Have you ever dreamed of planning a very last minute trip to Disney? We have too! In this episode, we give you all the tips and tricks you need to know to plan a last minute trip to Disney that won’t have you frustrated!
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Planning a Disney vacation can be full of unknowns. How much can you do in one day? How much walking will I do? How long will it take me to get around the resort? In this episode, we tell you all about the things you shouldn’t overestimate and underestimate when you’re planning your time at Disney.
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If you’ve got a Disney vacation coming up, chances are you might be thinking about what you should pack for that trip. We’ve got you covered! We talk about what kind of clothing you’ll need for various seasons, what accessories to bring, and even a few helpful hints for things you might not have thought about!
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As I prepare for my young daughter’s first cruise I thought it might be helpful to talk through some of the ways I’ve tried to get ready for sailing with a baby! Anyone who has traveled with a baby knows it’s not easy, but something tells me all this preparation will be very much worth it in the end.
Have fun! If you go into your Disney Cruise knowing there’s no way you can be prepared for all situations your baby is going to throw at you, you’re going to have a great time. What could be better!
Dear highly intelligent reader, we know that you can choose your clothes with no problem for your cruise. That part is usually tricky to be general, because you have to dress for your cruise. We know you wouldn’t dress for an Alaskan sailing the same way you would a Caribbean cruise. So here are some other items you may want to consider packing, what to leave at home and what you should carry on for your cruise.
What to bring on your cruise:
USB plug- This is a simple 2 prong plug that can charge multiple USB devices. A true must have for the modern family especially on vacation with limited wall outlets.
Refillable Mugs- if you are coming from Walt Disney World bring your mug along. If you aren’t then consider packing an insulated mug or cup for each person. I found this nice to carry around since mine had handles which made it easy to carry multiple cups at the same time. Plus I could carry around a hot beverage and it would stay hot longer, same with the iced drinks too. What else can the cups do? Well if you have extra glasses or sunglasses these mugs are perfect for transporting the glasses while you are in transit.
Soapy Sponges- I know, I know. You will want a dry sponge and coat it in dish soap. Let it air dry a day or two then cut it into smaller pieces. The pieces can go in a baggie and you have something to clean those refillable mugs, or sippy cups or whatever else you bring along. Then when you’ve used it up, go ahead and toss it. This is a must for me because I switch from coffee in the morning to water later so I need to get the cup washed out.
Sunscreen- You can purchase on the ship but save yourself big bucks and bring your own.
Bug Spray- You will probably not need it on the ship but if you are getting off the ship you will want to make sure you are covered in this area too.
Sweater/Jacket- this applies more to the warm weather cruises, but the temperatures can drop at night and the dining rooms can be downright chilly at dinner. I like to stick with basic black, navy or white so I can wear it more than once saving room in my luggage.
Beer or Wine- Yep you can bring that too! Check out the alcohol policy first but it is pretty nice to be able to enjoy a beverage or two while you relax on your verandah.
Dressy Clothes- You may not have a formal night on your cruise, but you can get some great family picture when everyone is relaxed and having a great time. The dressier clothes just add some classiness to the cruise.
Gum- if you are a gum chewer you will need to bring your own!
Highlighters- Ideally you will want one color for each person in your party. You can use these to highlight activities in your Daily Navigator that you want to do. The colors can help you all differentiate who wants to do which activity. Much easier than circling then trying to figure out who want to do that (not that I would know anything about that, ha).
Extra batteries- you will be taking a lot of pictures! If you are using a camera other than your phone you will want to make sure you have plenty of juice to take those amazing photos.
What to pack in your carry on when getting on the cruise ship:
If is it before the time when stateroom are open you may have some time where you will be unable to access your luggage. It is always a good idea to have a small bag, backpack or carry on luggage until the time when the staterooms are open.
Swimsuit- The best time to get in the pools and on the water slides right is as you get on the ship. Or even better wear your swimsuit under your clothes and take extra clothes in your carry on. Towels are provided by the pools.
Medication- VERY important, always keep this in your carry on. You never know when luggage services may be delayed so it is key to keep this with you!
Valuables- Jewelry, electronics and any other thing of value should be in your carry on just to be safe!
Sunscreen- It might be worth packing this into your carry on baggage especially if you are hitting up the pool areas.
Extra clothes- Especially with children it is nice to have a change of clothes available in emergencies. Or if you an adult like me who seems to spill things at the worst possible times.
Chargers- Whether you have an external battery source or plan to plug into the outlet this is something that can be helpful to have.
What to leave at home:
Hard liquor- Sorry friends, Disney no longer allows this. And we wouldn’t recommend trying to sneak it on. They will find it!
Power Strips- This is on the banned list from DCL. Go ahead and bring that USB outlet and leave this one at home.
Hanging Organizers- These can damage doors, so unless you have a large party with a lot of small items in tow, this is something you can leave behind.
Snacks- No reason to bring food unless you are on a special diet. You can get food at all hours of the day and night in the many dining rooms, quick service areas, and room service. You will not go hungry!
Beach Towels- Disney provides beach towels at each pool area and they are always plentiful. Of course if you find you want the really oversized towels then by all means bring one. But this is definitely a waste of space.
Too many clothes- Disney Cruise Line has washers, dryers, laundry soap, irons and large sinks available for guest use. I believe I paid $3 to do a load of laundry which is downright cheap for Disney. Just know that you can do a quick load and not waste any time of your vacation and save you the headache of over packing!
As always we want to hear what you think is important for packing for a Disney Cruise!
While some Disney fans are close enough to drive to Disney, others like myself must take a plane. Air travel does add an extra layer of planning, as you have to decide what you can pack in a single suitcase instead of your entire trunk! Not only that but you also have to plan what things can go in that suitcase, which you may not see for several hours (but don’t have to lug to your resort, thanks to Magical Express!) and which things you need in your carry on bag. This week we’re going to talk about 5 things you should carry on the plane if you’re on your way to Walt Disney World.
That’s our list… now what’s on yours!
There is a little known way to save some money at Walt Disney World. Did you know that you can send packages ahead of your visit to your resort? It is a simple process but there are a few things you will want to know.
The first is that at any resort that is a considered a conference resort will charge a fee. These resorts are the Contemporary Resort, Beach Club, and Coronado Springs Resort.
You will need to address it correctly. Here is the format you should use:
Your name- Hold for Guest Arrival *date of arrival*
C/O Resort name
Street Address of resort
City, State Zip code
When you arrive for check in you will want to ask the cast member at the desk if your package has arrived and they will have it delivered to your room. You do not have to be in the room to accept the package delivery so if you have plans to go elsewhere do not worry.
So what would you have delivered ahead of you? The one thing I always order is a case of water. Water costs $2.75 a bottle and when you multiply that by the number of people it really adds up. You can get free cups of ice water but we like to be able to take our water with us on the go. If you don’t drink Coke products and have to have that Pepsi this is a good way to have your drink of choice without having to purchase them one at a time or bring them with you. This is a good way to get snacks to your resort too. Another great item to ship ahead is diapers and wipes. Baggage prices can be expensive so only taking a small number of diapers with you can really save the luggage space. This is especially helpful if you are going for a longer vacation.
Another great reason for shipping to your resort is if you are planning to use only Walt Disney World transportation. This means no stops off to a grocery store or Target to pick up these essentials. So in the end it can save you a lot of money if you plan it out correctly!
We talk a lot about our packing lists: things to bring in your luggage, things to bring if you’re driving, carry on only, cruise line specifics… but we haven’t touched on one thing! What should you NOT pack for your Walt Disney World vacation.
What do you leave at home that others consider necessities? Are there things you’d like to pack but can’t due to space? Let us know in the comments section!
Dole Whipped 