In case you are planning on taking a Disney cruise, it may be somewhat overwhelming to think about the whole lot that it’s essential do earlier than you allow. However getting ready upfront will make for an excellent higher expertise, so try this checklist of issues to do earlier than a Disney cruise, and prepare to cruise! When you get on board, you’ll wish to calm down and revel in your trip.
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and buying and/or clicking on a few of the hyperlinks (or calling the quantity) on this submit might end in a fee paid to us at no further expense to you. We now have traveled on one media cruise and two cruises as a part of Disney Social Media Mothers. I’ve paid full value for 13 further cruises through the years.
Issues to Do Earlier than A Disney Cruise
Get Your Eating Time Booked
The Disney Cruise Line gives two meal occasions – the primary seating (between 5:45 pm and 6:15 pm) and the second seating (between 8 pm and eight:30 pm). The primary seating fills up shortly, so if that’s what you need, make sure you reserve it early – once you ebook your cruise trip.
A ready checklist is out there if you’re unable to search out the time you need. Moreover, you possibly can request to modify meal occasions as soon as onboard. Nonetheless, it’s best to do it upfront.
In case you don’t get the time that you really want, don’t fear. We sometimes eat fairly early at residence, and as soon as ended up with the later time as a result of we booked our cruise final minute.
It was superb, nonetheless. As a result of the nightly reveals usually run on the reverse occasions as dinner, you’re both going to eat late or watch the present late. There are many locations to seize a fast chew for those who get hungry earlier than your seating.
Plan Your Resort the Evening Earlier than
In case you are flying into your port of name, I like to recommend arriving the evening earlier than. That means, you received’t have to fret about flight delays and may schedule an earlier onboard time (if that’s one thing you’ll must do). Throughout our 2022 crusing, our luggage had been left behind in Boston. It was nice to have that further day to attend for them to reach earlier than boarding.
When staying in a single day, you possibly can select to remain by the port, on the airport, at Walt Disney World (if cruising out of Port Canaveral), or some place else within the space.
Once we cruise out of Port Canaveral, we keep on the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport. See opinions on TripAdvisor.
Throughout my cruise on the Disney Magic, we determined to remain close to the Miami airport at a Homewood Suites. It had a free shuttle from the airport, and is a fast journey to the Miami Cruise Port. Alternatively, you could possibly select to remain in South Seaside, proper within the heart of the motion. We loved our keep on the Marriott Trip Membership Pulse South Seaside.
Guide Transportation to the Port
In case you are flying to your port, you’ll must get to the port in some way. Disney shuttle buses can be found for a further price (relying on the port), or you possibly can lease a automobile and drive to the port your self (do not forget that parking on the port is out there, however prices further).
Personal transportation, together with automobile providers or Uber, can be an choice. For Port Canaveral, I discover that Disney transportation is the most suitable choice, as a result of it’s straightforward and handy. It’s also possible to ebook one-way transportation for those who aren’t going straight again to the airport or Walt Disney World.
Verify-In As Quickly As You Can
If you full the Disney Cruise examine in course of, you possibly can select your onboard time (those that ebook transportation via Disney will not select an onboard time) and ebook your excursions and particular dinners.
So, when are you able to examine in to your Disney cruise? Silver Castaway Membership members (one cruise) can examine in 33 days earlier than crusing, gold members (5 cruises) can examine in 35 days earlier than crusing, platinum members (ten cruises) can examine in 38 days earlier than crusing and pearl members (twenty-five cruises) can examine in 40 days earlier than crusing.
If that is your first cruise, you’ll want to attend till 30 days earlier than crusing. Because the earlier onboard occasions are sometimes taken first certain to examine in as quickly as doable.
Moreover, there’s a separate reserving window for reserving port excursions (together with the ever-popular Castaway Cay cabanas), grownup eating, and different onboard experiences. Silver Castaway Membership members (one cruise) can ebook 90 days earlier than crusing, gold members (5 cruises) can examine in 105 days earlier than crusing, platinum members (ten cruises) can examine in 120 days earlier than crusing and pearl members (twenty-five cruises) can examine in 123 days earlier than crusing.
Why examine in early? Some excursions and Palo occasions do ebook up upfront, so that you’ll get the most effective availability by reserving early. It’s additionally extraordinarily tough to get a cabana at Castaway Cay, so that you’ll wish to attempt for one as quickly as you possibly can if you need one.
If you check-in, you’ll additionally fill out the visitor info kind and the cost authorization kind on your onboard purchases, and add your passport and headshot. Be prepared with all of these issues on your complete household once you check-in.
Schedule Your Excursions and Any Particular Meals
When your reserving window opens, you’re additionally capable of ebook port excursions and meals at Palo and Remy/Enchante (in case your ship has Remy or Enchante). Once more, these are all restricted, so ebook as quickly as doable.
You’re normally not charged straight away – however affirm that when reserving. Modifications can typically be made, however you’ll wish to have a good suggestion of what you wish to do and availability could also be restricted once you return in to make adjustments.
I’d suggest doing a little analysis in your ports of name properly earlier than your reserving window opens. Resolve what sorts of belongings you wish to do at every location. You’ll have a number of choices, from academic issues to extra adventurous actions. Some households might determine to do a mixture of issues throughout their cruise.
You don’t essentially must do an tour at every port. Some individuals select to remain onboard as a result of the ship may be a lot quieter with most individuals gone.
It’s also possible to choose to do your individual factor – by taking a cab or simply strolling across the port. Analysis that first, nonetheless, since you wish to make certain it’s protected, that you just received’t get misplaced, and that you may positively make it again to the ship in time for all aboard.
Reserving an tour from the cruise line may be the safer choice on the subject of getting again on the ship earlier than it leaves. It should even be refunded in case your cruise has to overlook that port for climate or different causes.
Particular Providers
In case you want particular providers on board, like a Sharps field, a communication package (for visitors who’re deaf or onerous of listening to), or a wheelchair-accessible room, you possibly can fill out a kind you’ll discover on-line through the check-in course of. As a result of my daughter has meals allergy symptoms, I prefer to ensure that it’s famous on our reservation.
You’ll additionally wish to name in case you have any particular requests. Ensures aren’t supplied, however you possibly can at all times request a particular eating rotation or server. On our second crusing of the Disney Fantasy, I referred to as and requested our favourite server who we had on our first crusing.
He was nonetheless on the ship, they usually had been ready to verify we received assigned to him. In fact, crew members are at all times shifting round, so there’s no assure that your favourite will nonetheless be on board.
If in case you have a particular restaurant you’re keen on, and your cruise is a minimum of 4 days, chances are you’ll wish to request that you just eat at that spot greater than 2 or 3 occasions. My children love Animator’s Palate, so we’ve requested to be assigned to that restaurant thrice on a seven-day crusing.
Signal Children Up for Youth Golf equipment
Disney Cruise Line’s children’ membership is free to attend, however you’ll save time by registering your kids upfront. Don’t fear – you received’t have to pick out attendance occasions! As soon as your children are registered and have their bands, they’ll go out and in as many occasions as you’d like.
There are additionally open home occasions on the primary day the place you possibly can go in and see what the golf equipment are like.
Fish Extenders
Fish extenders are completely optionally available, however they’re a very enjoyable strategy to improve your cruise. To take part, first discover your cruise on Fb and be a part of your cruise group.
Then you possibly can join a fish extender trade if somebody is organizing one. Then, you’ll want to purchase/make a fish extender to hold on the “fish” close to your stateroom door.
Lastly, you’ll must make or buy a bunch of enjoyable little treats on your fellow cruisers.
My children love prepping our fish extender items earlier than we go away, after which at all times take pleasure in coming again to the room for a brand new shock. It’s a whole lot of work, however may be rewarding.
Right here’s the whole lot it’s essential learn about Fish Extenders.
Get Decorations for Your Stateroom Door
A lot of households adorn their stateroom doorways earlier than occurring a Disney cruise, so try my submit on adorning your Disney Cruise Line stateroom door. You’ll wish to buy or make these decorations properly earlier than your crusing.
When reserving a Disney Cruise, I like to recommend reserving with Get Away At the moment. Plus, once you point out Household Journey Journal, you get an additional $25 on board credit score! Give their brokers a name at 877-510-2929.
On a separate be aware: For cruises leaving from Port Canaveral, we keep on the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport. Verify costs and opinions right here.
