Ahoy there, Zachary! Thanks for sailing my way here at planDisney with your question about lanyards!
I can attest that lanyards do make keeping track of your Key to the World Card easier when both aboard your
Disney Cruise Line ship and while ashore! Unfortunately, lanyards are typically given only to returning Castaway Club members, and first-timers are left adrift on this front.
But don't walk the plank just yet (plus, where would you even
FIND a plank?...) because while you may think you're not a Castaway Club member, there are ways to see if that cruise a long, long time ago has you EARmarked for a Silver Castaway Club membership.
First, I'd suggest logging into your Disney account and visiting the
Castaway Club page on the Disney Cruise Line website! Since Castaway Club memberships are linked to your birthdate and name, with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust you should see yourself as a Silver Castaway! If not, I'd definitely reach out to Disney Cruise Line about it through the options in the help center. A crew member should be able to help you get the credit for that sailing as long as it's still in the system!
As someone who went fully 11 years between my first and second Disney Cruise Line vacations, I totally know the feeling that the first may have been lost at sea, but now all these years later it was that one cruise that helped me convince my wife to cruise as often as we can - and now my son has his first sailing under his belt, too!
If none of that pans out, there are often lanyard options available to purchase aboard that can help you out! These are always subject to availability, but it's always good to have a backup plan...er...lifeboat! Truth be told, some of the purchasable ones are much easier to put your Key to the World Card into than the complimentary ones!
I hope that helps calm the seas for you a bit Zachary! Thank you so much for your question, and if you have any others as your sail date approaches, please send me another message in a bottle here at planDisney!
Bon Voyage!
Andrew