May. What can I say about May that hasn't already been said? It is the LONGEST month of the year regardless of the number of actual days in May. When summer is just out of reach and school days draaaaaaag on and on. Speckled within those days are year end field trip, school concerts, sporting events, teacher gift shopping, graduations galore . . . To make May seem even more endless, at the end of that May rainbow, (Yes PA we get it. You LOVE to rain) a Disney Cruise is waving frantically.
We are currently just over 30 days away from our 8-night Disney Cruise. Since we booked it LAST March, it has been quite a wait for this one. It will now sneak up on me since there is SO much going on between now and the day we get out of here and head to the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
We are staying at the Hyatt pre-cruise and post-cruise. Make Believe Vacations HIGHLY recommends arriving a day before your embarkation day for ANY cruise. You do NOT want flight delays or cancellations to wreck your ability to board your ship before it sails away, far far away from you. We can take care of reserving the Hyatt MCO for you.
We are flying down the day before and plan to relax at the pool of the Hyatt and dine at the airport. There are tons of options including shopping that will more than occupy us.
Early the next morning, we will head downstairs to the Disney Cruise Line bus check-in area, near Magical Express (ME), but on the left side, just before ME area, and wait to begin boarding the buses to Port Canaveral. It is not hard to find as there are signs and at the time the buses are running, quite a few happy folks gathered to head out to their happy place.
If we notify the Hyatt a few days before our embarkation, they will note our reservation that we are on DCL and can pick up our baggage in our room and deliver them to DCL buses. If you have trust issues (this may be me) you can always bring your bags to the DCL area yourself and literally watch as they load the bags.
As far as what to Carry-On the ship, be aware that you will not be immediately allowed into your stateroom, so whatever you carry-on, you will be dragging around the ship until you can get access to your room. Also, if nothing else, remember to keep EVERYONE'S identification, boarding booklet and any necessities with you to carry-on the ship. You will not be seeing your luggage for quite some time after you arrive on the ship. Be aware: You will be showing your cruise booklet and identification numerous times.
Things to carry-on the ship:
*Your Disney Cruise Line Booklet that you will receive approximately 40 days prior to embarkation via mail.
*Your pre-printed Port Arrival Form if you completed online check-in.
*ALL necessary medications/Rx
*ALL required identification for every member of your family
*All liquids such as alcohol, water bottles, etc. (See Below For Policies)*
*Sunscreen
*BathingSuits (though might just be good idea to wear it under your clothing as changing into you suit might be a pain)
*Camera
*Change of clothing
Prohibited Items List:
In order to maintain a safe and secure environment for all Guests and Crew, Disney Cruise Line has a zero weapons policy and prohibits the following items on board the ships and ashore at Castaway Cay.
- Firearms
- Firearm replicas, including non-firing, imitations, toys, and their components
- (Toy Exceptions)
- Store-bought Light sabers
- Plastic toy 'pirate' swords
- Plastic store-bought toy “Mjolnir” hammers (Thor’s hammer)
- (Toy Exceptions)
- Air, BB, pellet, paintball pistols, rifles and sling shot
- Diving equipment air tanks, spears, spear guns, slings, dive knives, pry bars, and underwater scooters
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), communication scanners, wide band receivers
- Explosives components and accessories, including ammunition, detonators, fireworks, pyrotechnics and flares
- Highly flammable liquids and combustible substances, including liquid oxygen
- Illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, and medically prescribed marijuana
- Knives regardless of blade length, straight razors
- Lasers
- Restraining devices and offensive weapons, hand and leg cuffs, pepper spray and taser, stun guns
- Scissors with blades exceeding 4” (scissors with blunt ends and no longer than 4 inches are allowed)
Guests found in possession of any weapons or similar prohibited items on their person or in their baggage may be denied boarding and are subject to severe legal penalties.
Additionally, the following items are restricted for safety reasons and should not be brought on board.
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Agricultural Items
- Flowers
- Aquatic Items
- Boogie Boards
- Inflatable floats
- Inflatable pools
- Pool noodles
- Rafts
- Surfboards
- Wave boards
- Balloons and kites
- Candles and incense
- Coolers and/or Ice Chests that are larger than 12” x 12” x 12”. Coolers that meet the size requirements must be brought on as carry-on luggage. (Food & Ice Chest Policy)
- Electrical appliances and components
- Blenders
- Bottle sterilizers and warmers (A limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers are available upon request through Guest Services)
- Coffee makers
- Diffusers
- Electric blankets
- Electric irons and Steamers (all ships offer self-service laundry facilities equipped with irons and ironing boards)
- Extension cords, power strips and surge protectors
- Heating pads
- Hot plates
- Microwave ovens
- Rice cookers
- Seasonal and/or celebratory light bulb strings
- Exceptions for Electrical Appliances
- Curling irons
- Flat irons
- Hair dryers (all ships offer a hand-held hair dryer in each stateroom)
- Shavers
- The following electrical appliances will be collected for inspection by the Chief Electrician and if approved, will be returned for use onboard the ship.
- Baby Monitors
- Humidifiers
- Portable fans
- White Noise/Sleep Machine
- Electronics
- Ham radios
- Metal detectors
- Streaming Devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, etc.)
- Food/Beverage related items
- Hookah pipes
- Inflatable Mattresses
- Metal Detectors
- Musical Instruments
- Over-the-door hanging organizers
- Pets
- Power tools and toolboxes (except those utilized by vendors providing services)
- Remote-controlled devices
- Airplanes
- Drones
- Helicopters
- Other toy vehicles (cars, etc.)
- Sporting Equipment
- Archery equipment
- Baseball and cricket bats
- Fishing gear
- Hammocks
- Hockey and lacrosse sticks
- Pool cues
- Ski poles
- Exceptions for Sporting Equipment
- Golf Clubs may be brought onboard and stored in a Guest’s stateroom
- Baseballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and volley balls may be brought onboard, stored in Guest’s staterooms and used off the ship in ports of call
- Wheeled recreational equipment and transport devices
- Any footwear with wheels (i.e. Heely’s type shoes)
- Bicycles
- Hoverboards
- Inline & roller skates
- Scooters
- Segways
- Skateboards
- Wagons (collapsible wagons are allowed)
- Guests with a mobility disability that requires the use of a mobility aid should contact Special Services prior to sailing. Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels and devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered or unoccupied are not allowable.
*Alcohol Policy:
Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.
Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.
Please note:
- Any alcohol packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the end of the cruise.
- All alcohol brought onboard must be in an original unopened container. Partially used bottles and those in which the seal has been broken will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
- Any wine or champagne in excess of 2 bottles or beer in excess of 6 beers will be stored until the end of the cruise.
- Bringing liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) on board is prohibited. These items will be stored until the end of the cruise.
- Guest MUST retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Items not retrieved will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
- Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.
Please note that the Disney Cruise Line alcohol policy is subject to change without notice.
That is all for now. Have a magical day!