Welcome back, Missy! Having a relaxing Disney Cruise to enjoy right after your time in the Disney Parks is a great idea! There are lots of opportunities for relaxation onboard, but also so many activities and events going on, along with Port Adventures and water fun, so you can keep going onboard too! It's the best of both (Disney) worlds!
Guests do not receive Disney Cruise Line lanyards at check-in, unless they are Castaway Club Members who have sailed with Disney before. For the first time guests, it's still a great idea to purchase a lanyard to wear to store your Key To The World Card, and to put Disney trading pins on, if your family wants to participate in the onboard pin trading opportunities.
Since you'll be at the Walt Disney World Resort first, you'll have plenty of shopping opportunities to pick up a fun
Disney lanyard with pins, and you can even begin pin trading in the parks! Once onboard, you'll find more lanyards in the onboard shops, including Disney Cruise Line themed lanyards. Just know that the
onboard shops will not open until later in the evening on your first day. Wherever you purchase one, be sure to get one that is a pin trading starter set. That will include a few pins to begin with, so you and your family can start trading with Cast Members to find those 'must-have" pins. My kids choose a different pin theme each time we sail and go on a hunt to find any pins in that theme. Last time, my daughter was on the lookout for any Pluto pins and my son wanted Star Wars pins. Officer Pin Trading Night on the last night of our sailings is always a favorite for my kids, as they love chatting with the ship's officers as they trade.
I hope those details help as you continue counting down to your cruise!
Happy planning, Missy!
Marcy