38 DAYS TO GO . . .

     WEDNESDAY MARCH 16, 2011

     YOUR "KEY TO THE WORLD CARD" (ROOM KEY), STATEROOM LIGHTS AND ROOM SAFE.  YOUR "KEY TO THE WORLD" CARD IS ONE OF THOSE PLASTIC HOTEL ROOM KEYS.  EXCEPT ON A DISNEY CRUISE YOUR CARD HAS A DISNEY CHARACTER'S PICTURE ON IT, INDICATING HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE CRUISED WITH DISNEY BEFORE, YOUR NAME, YOUR STATEROOM NUMBER, WHAT TIME YOUR SCHEDULED FOR DINNER, AND IN WHAT ORDER YOU WILL "ROTATE" THROUGH THE RESTAURANTS ON WHAT NIGHTS.  SO IT HAS A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION ON IT, SO IT IS TO BE GUARDED.  BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVEN THE AFOREMENTIONED IS THAT THIS IS YOUR CRUISE CREDIT CARD.  ALL CHARGES YOU INCUR ON-BOARD ARE CHARGED TO YOUR ROOM THROUGH YOUR KEY TO THE WORLD CARD.  SO YOU CAN SEE HOW LOSING IT CAN BE SUCH A BIG DEAL.  YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO CONTROL OR REMOVE SPENDING PRIVILEGES FROM THE KIDS ROOM KEYS SO THEY DON'T RUN UP A SURPRISE BILL ON YOU.
     NEW TO THE DISNEY DREAM IS THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SWITCHES.  NOW THESE AREN'T AUTOMATIC AS IN THEY AUTOMATICALLY GO ON.  IT'S MORE THE OPPOSITE.  THERE'S A SLOT FOR YOUR ROOM KEY JUST INSIDE OF YOUR STATEROOM DOOR.  WHEN YOU ENTER, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT YOUR KEY IN THE SLOT, THEREBY ENABLING THE POWER TO YOUR ROOM LIGHTS.  WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WITHOUT A KEY IN THE SLOT, NO LIGHTS.  TURN THE SWITCHES, NO LIGHTS.  THE IDEA IS REALLY THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR ROOM, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY, AND THEREBY NOT UNNECESSARILY LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON AND WASTING ELECTRICITY.  AFTER ALL, IT'S A BUSINESS, AND DISNEY'S TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFIT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.  SMALLER BILL, BIGGER PROFIT.
     WHERE THE PROBLEM HAS LIED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS IN THAT SAY WIFE'S KEY IS IN THE SLOT.  HUSBAND IS IN THE SHOWER.  WIFE WANTS TO RUN UP TO THE DECK AND TAKES HER KEY.  HUSBAND IS NOW IN THE SHOWER IN THE DARK.  LUCKILY, ALTHOUGH DISNEY DOESN'T ADVERTISE IT, IT WAS QUICKLY SURMISED THAT ANY CARD WITH A MAGNETIC STRIPE IN THE SLOT WILL KEEP THE POWER TO THE LIGHTS ON.  SO, FOR THE MOST PART, THIS ENERGY SAVING ATTEMPT HAS BEEN CIRCUMVENTED AND IS ALMOST MUTE NOW, AT LEAST TO THOSE THAT KNOW ABOUT IT.
     THE THIRD IN-ROOM ABILITY OF YOUR KEY CARD IS TO OPEN THE SAFE IN YOUR ROOM.  EVERY STATEROOM HAS IT'S OWN SAFE LOCATED INSIDE YOUR CLOSET.  IT'S ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF A SHOEBOX (14"wX6.5"hX9"d).  YOU PICK A 4 DIGIT CODE AND USE YOUR ROOM KEY.  BUT ONLY THE SAME CARD WILL DO, SO PLAN IT OUT.
     A LOT OF PEOPLE WEAR LANYARDS AROUND THEIR NECKS WITH PLASTIC POUCHES FOR ROOM KEYS AND ANYTHING ELSE SMALL THEY MAY WANT (NOT MUCH) TO CARRY ON-BOARD.  WHEN YOU KNOW THIS IS THE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO HAVE, YOU HAVE TO PLAN AROUND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE WEARING AND WHEN.  IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY NEED TO PLAN AROUND MOST OF THE TIME.  HAVE ONE POCKET AND YOUR SET!  lol
     SEA YA REAL SOON!   ºOº
TONIGHT'S DISNEY MOVIE IS "SLEEPING BEAUTY".  ONE OF THE CUTEST PICTURES I EVER GOT WAS MY SON ALL ALONE WITH SLEEPING BEAUTY IN EPCOT.  IMPROMPTU ONES ARE ALWAYS THE BEST.