Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

After considering so many places for a vacation, we unexpectedly booked a 7-night Disney Cruise! We leave in less than 3 weeks! It's our first cruise ever so this is all new to us. DH and I have 2 boys, ages 6 and 2.

Can anyone share their best tips? It's so overwhelming. I keep reading about decorating doors, and pirate night, and kids getting dressed up (people who buy disney pricess outfits for their girls for every night! - but I have boys, so what then?) I feel like I have no time to figure it all out with less than 3 weeks to go.

What Disney stuff should I buy before leaving? I know people plan for over a year sometimes so I don't want my oldest looking at me wondering why he doesn't have something everyone else seems to have.

What about at the ports? Should we do an excursion at each? (Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay)? My 6 yr old is precocious and is very interested in other people and cultures and wildlife but I also have a 2 yr old (almost 3) who still naps.

What's not to miss? And what should i know beforehand?

TIA!

Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

we've done 2 disney cruises... both booked pretty last minute (one about 3 weeks before, one like 2 months before...) you'll be fine!!!! the boys will survive without special outfits for every night!! LOL i would say look for some pirate stuff for pirate night though- thats a lot of fun!!! but it doesn't have to be anything too nuts!! i just wore a long black skirt, white shirt and a red bandana in my hair. DS (who is 5) borrowed my friend's son's halloween costume! (so ask around if an of your friends might have stuff you could use for the kids!! some ppl are more than happy to get rid of old halloween costumes!) but even so, they give everybody a pirate bandana- so no matter what, you'll feel festive and the decorating the door thing... don't worry about that either!! the doors are metal so people make magnets to put on their doors. they only reason we have something was bc my travel agent sent us a couple. but it could be easy. just print out some pics of characters, laminate them and then stick magnets on the back of them
this last minute i'm sure you're on the second dinner seating-- so try to get on the wait list to be moved to the earlier time. it will probably work better with your kids. we were on ghte waiting list both times, and both cruises we got moved to the earlier dinner
for castaway cay--- pay the few dollars to rent bikes, or at least take a walk out to the other side of the island- on the old runway. really neat and peaceful your 2 yo especially will love the little spray area on the island, too!
make sure your 6yo tries out the kids club at least one night!! my DS LOVED it this last cruise! they did a "super hero training" one night where the kids all decorated capes, and Captain American stopped by they also did mouseketeer training where Mickey came by.... they make it a lot of fun for the kids and the kids club drop off area on castaway cay is neat bc its basically a big sand pit with hoses-- my DS had a ball there for a couple hours!!

Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

Fun!!! I posted a bunch of tips last year, I'll try to find the thread for you!

We cruise very soon also, and I was able to score a Cabana on Castaway Cay, super excited about that!!!

Definitely check in online ASAP to get a Port Arrival time, the earlier the better!

Re: Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

Here you go

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=862058&Highlight=Disney%20Cruise#P9571613

Re: Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

Re: Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

Someone else already mentioned the checking in online.
You will likely have second seating for dinner but you can be put on the waitlist to be switched to first seating.

Pirate stuff for pirate night is fun, other than that you don't have to go too crazy for special outfits. You are going to have an amazing time regardless of their outfits.

Decorating the door is fun, but not everyone does it. Message boards and facebook may make it seem that way, but trust me it is totally okay if you don't do it. I will say the magnets or decoration help you find your door in the hallway, so even some Disney themed things from the Dollar store may help with that.

The kids club is great, definitely worth it for your 6 year old.

If you can rent a cabana on Castaway Cay it is a great experience.

Most importantly just have fun! This is YOUR family trip so try not to worry too much about what everyone else has or is doing. The boys will just remember all the fun they had. They won't care if they don't have magnets on the door :)

Re: Disney Crusiers - Please share your best tips? Last minute booking

When we went I picked up some Disney party decorations from dollar tree and put magnets on the back, very easy and festive.

We brought pirate outfits and the kids loved it.

You'll have a great time! Enjoy!