Going on our first Disney cruise in January. We are a LONGTIME parks family. We've got most of our trip taken care of but I would love as much detail about lanyards as possible. Do most take them? Is retractable necessary? How will we use them?”

Hi there, Paul!

Ahoy and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!  I am so excited to hEAR you have your FIRST Disney Cruise Line vacation planned!  I have a feeling that your family may soon become a LONGTIME Disney Cruise Line family once you see exactly how fun a Disney Cruise Line vacation is!  I remember thinking before my family’s first Disney Cruise Line vacation that it would likely be our “one and done” voyage…but here we are seven years later with no plans to stop cruising with Captain Mickey!  I am hopeful that you, too, will find your first Disney Cruise Line vacation just as magical as we did!

I always tell first-time cruisers to take a lanyard with them onboard because you will definitely want one to hold your Key to the World Card in.  Your Key to the World Card acts as your stateroom key, used to make onboard purchases and also will be needed anytime you disembark (or embark) at a port.  In addition to those things, it has quite a bit of information on it that you may find useful during your voyage such as your dining rotation, dining time as well as the location you would go in the unlikely event of an emergency.  So, yes…a lanyard is super helpful in keeping your Key to the World card handy and accessible.  I do not feel that a retractable one is necessary and that a simple one will do!  Once you complete your first voyage and are a Silver Member of the Castaway Club, you will receive a lanyard at embarkation, so no need to get anything fancy for this first voyage…but definitely bring one!  Now, my boys are young and we do worry that they will lose their Key to the World card if we give them a lanyard, so we will often carry theirs with ours in our lanyard pocket…but that is just to avoid having to go to Guest Services to have a new Key to the World card issued!

In addition to the items on the recommend packing list, some other items that I never cruise without include Ziploc bags (I guarantee you will find a use for them while onboard), clothespins (to keep the curtains in your stateroom closed and secure your beach towels to your lounge chairs) and a couple trash bags (to bring home sandy swimsuits)!

Paul, I wish you the most magical and memorable first Disney Cruise Line vacation!  Please come back with any other planning questions you may have!

Happy Sailing!
Stephanie