The BEST Disney Cruise Souvenir

How would you like to return from dinner on the last night of your cruise and find something like this sitting on your bed:

With a little advance planning and some help from Guest Services you can make it happen!

Before our cruise I was cruising Etsy and found some great work from a vendor called Stitches N' Bows.  You can find a link to her Facebook page here.  She has a ton of Disney inspired pillowcases, fish extenders, clothing, and other fun stuff.  After looking through some photos of her work, I knew exactly what I wanted.  I contacted her via Etsy with what I was looking for and it arrived in the mail a few weeks later just as I described.

I discretely packed the pillowcases in our luggage and we headed off for Port Canaveral.  While my kids were enjoying some Super Sloppy Science in the kids club, I grabbed my pillowcases and popped over to guest services.  I asked if they could arrange for the characters to sign the pillowcases for me.  They asked if I wanted "Princesses" or the "Classic Characters".  I asked if they could do "all available characters."  I left the cases along with a sharpie in a gallon size Ziploc bag that I bought from home.  They promised that the signed cases would be returned on our last night.

When we returned from dinner our last night, my girls were THRILLED to find the treasure that was waiting for them.  It was the icing on the most fantastic cake!

So for your next cruise, consider bringing a photo mat, t-shirt, pillowcase, hat or some other special item for the characters to sign. Other than the cost of the item, the service is free, fun, and a spectacular keepsake of your Disney Cruise!  

Character Meet & Greets

One of the most fun things, especially for kids, on the Disney cruise ships is the character interactions.  The character fun begins at Port when Captain Mickey and Minnie often make appearances in the terminal while guests are waiting to board.  They will also lead the way onto the ship with the "First Family" to get boarding started!  And, while you are eating lunch special friends might make their way into the dining room to welcome everyone aboard.

Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang will be at the Sail Away party to wave bye-bye to port and get your vacation started.  After that there will be lots of times for photographs and autographs with characters all around the ship.  Your daily navigator has a special section for character appearances.  There is also a listing near guest services with all the character appearances for the day.  The locations of the character appearances are all around the ship from the Lobby to the lounge to the Pool Deck.   Characters also find their way to Castaway Cay and make appearances all around the island.  

Some of the characters we saw on our last cruise included:  Mickey & Minnie (in several different outfits), Chip & Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Snow White, Donald & Daisy, Tiana, Ariel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Lilo, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell and Jack Sparrow.   

Disney Cruise Line has photographers available at most of the character meet & greets as well.  Similar to Disney World's Photopass you give the photographer your room key, they scan it and then your pictures will be posted at Shutters for your viewing pleasure.  You are also welcome to take your own pictures.  Characters will also sign autograph books.  On our last cruise they would not use a Sharpie though so be sure to bring a different pen.  

If you are on a 7 night cruise or longer you will have a character breakfast scheduled.  You will find your assigned day and time in your stateroom upon check in.  Your dining team will serve you and character friends will come to each table.  

The character interactions are just another thing that set Disney Cruise Line apart from all other cruises!