14 Insanely Useful Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before You Go

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• Book early if you plan to use the ship’s nursery.
• Insanely Useful Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before You Go
• And know that the most memorable character experiences won’t be at meet-and-greets.
• Teens can hang out in the coolest part of the ship.
• See if cabin upgrades are available when you arrive at the port.
• Skip the ports to enjoy fewer crowds at the pool.

Its liquor selection is extensive and surprising with rare and vintage pours. It’s a multi-sensory experience in this immersive, interactive venue, and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled in case anyone orders the $5,000 Kaiburr Crystal cocktail. If you order room service, you will need to sign the receipt and write-in a tip amount to be charged to your cabin because this is not an automatically tipped service. If you enjoy services at the spa, specialty dining, or concierge, gratuities are also included in the price but you are able to tip on top of that if you so choose.

Book early if you plan to use the ship’s nursery.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard the ship does offer kids’ pirate makeovers for Pirate Night, but I highly suggest packing costumes/accessories with you. Timing is obviously important for vacations, and this is especially true for Disney vacations! Time of year for cruising will also depend on your family’s needs and wants.

Insanely Useful Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before You Go

And it’s not just Walt Disney World content – they discuss Disneyland, other Disney Parks, Marvel,  Star Wars, Pixar, The Muppets, and Walt Disney Animation. Find out all the Disney cruise answers you’re searching for TODAY, on DFB Guide. The simulation cruise, approved by the CDC, included roughly 300 Disney cruise employees and their guests. "We're ready to welcome you aboard and set sail once again," Disney Signature Experiences President Thomas Mazloum said in a video posted on Instagram.

And know that the most memorable character experiences won’t be at meet-and-greets.

That said, his focus is on updates from in and around Walt Disney World and Universal theme parks. Indoor maps are coming to several popular theme parks, and we're BEGGING Disney to use... The first sailings with paying passengers in the USA since the coronavirus pandemic began will be on board the Disney Dream. The three- and four-night cruises will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, and visit Disney Castaway Cay, the cruise line's private island in the Bahamas. They're called fish extenders, and they're used by a network of families who have packed small gifts, treats, and trinkets to exchange with each other throughout their trip. To get in on the fun for your next sailing, visit the DisBoards Cruise Meets forum or CruiseCritic's Roll Calls.

Book your cruise early to get the best deal.

While Remy and Enchante can be pricey, you can enjoy Palo for as little as $50. If you’re not picky about where your cabin is located on the ship, you can save a substantial amount of money by letting Disney pick your cabin. Just select your room type, like an inside cabin, and your specific cabin number will be assigned closer to your sail date. Disney uses a dynamic pricing system, meaning the earlier you book, the more you’ll save. Whether you're planning for this year or the next, prepare yourself for a hefty dose of Disney knowledge, because for you, these Disney cruise tips and secrets are no longer under wraps. At dinner, you will get a Mickey banana to wear for the party, but most guests choose to dress up much more!

Soda is included during sit-down meals, but if you’re craving a thirst quencher outside of those times, go to the free-flowing beverage stations near the pools on each Disney ship. This is especially important if character meet-and-greets are a priority for you. “The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app will list character appearance times and locations so that you can be sure to catch your favorite Disney characters on board,” Hwang adds. Disney Cruise Line’s exclusive Navigator app is an absolute must-have to make the most of your time at sea. It adds convenience while taking care of practical vacation elements, like payment, online check-in, and trip modifications. This is also your go-to for pre-registering for Disney Cruise Line’s wide range of activities and keeping tabs on the daily schedule, which includes showtimes and deck parties.

If you like peace and quiet when you go to bed and night, you may want to be a bit further away from the top decks. Personally, I like to cruise midship because I’d rather have the quiet at night and take an elevator to get to the pool. However, this can be overwhelming as there are so many options and things to consider. Fortunately, when you book through Disney, or if you go through a travel agent, you are able to view the deck plans to make an informed decision. For example, if anyone in your party experiences seasickness or motion sickness, it is absolutely crucial to pick a stateroom as close to mid-ship as you can and as low deck as you’re comfortable with. Tim is based in Orlando, so he’s on-location to cover all aspects of Florida tourism.

Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships

Specialty characters are also known to show up from time to time, like Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle appearing as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus during the spooky season. Even if you skipped every character meet-and-greet, you'll still be able to cram in a week's worth of photos at "Til' We Meet Again," the goodbye show on the final night of each sailing. After a short heartwarming performance, loads of Disney characters, princesses, and theater performers will disperse throughout the crowd, posing for photos on a first-come, first-served basis. The onboard photographers will have already shut down, so you can snap as many iPhone pictures as you'd like, making for a full album in one fell swoop. This experience only lasts for around 20 minutes; you can find the exact time in the Navigator app.

She loves being a Recruiter and has had the opportunity to recruit for many different areas including Disneyland Engineering, Enterprise Technology and the Disney Hospitality Leadership Program. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. The news comes after two other Disney Cruise Line crew members were arrested on child pornography charges in January. A cruise ship dancer was arrested on similar charges earlier this month, but law enforcement did not specify what ship he was working on.

WDW News Today brings you daily doses of Disney news via their YouTube channel, website, podcasts, and radio. Days before the return-to-sail announcement, Disney Dream completed a two-night test sailing, which had been postponed because of inconsistent coronavirus tests among crew. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We took a full guided tour of the Disney Wish cruise ship during one of the very first voyages, and now we’re bringing you along. This experience is available on all the Disney Cruise Line ships during most voyages, but it has been renamed for The Wish to “Walking the Wish” if you are trying to find in the the DCL Navigator App.

However, September is also during Florida’s Hurricane Season, and it can be a busy time of the season for storms (Note that in recent years both Hurricanes Irma and Dorian were in September). This is your guide to the foods, restaurants, and experiences of Disney vacations. These videos will prove to be helpful as you plan your trip and make your dining reservations. You don’t want to sour a wonderful vacation with a never-ending line simply to exit the ship. Instead of leaving your luggage out the night before, carry it off the ship yourself and arrive at your final destination without having to wait in lengthy port queues.

Pencil Magic With Stacia Martin On The DVC Member Cruise - The DIS

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These characters also have the great benefit of being in great, sea-worthy outfits! Eskimo Minnie on the Alaska sailings has totally stolen my heart, but Captain Mickey (and now Captain MINNIE!) are iconic. Specialty dining is a total experience on Disney cruises, and one of my biggest Disney cruise tips.

This can be particularly helpful with shy kids as they can get acquainted with other cruise-goers their age ahead of their journey. Every Disney ship has a Vibe, an onboard youth club that is exclusively available for teens ages 14 to 17. There is supervision, of course, and Disney Cruise Line's famously fun activities, but it's practically a private resort for high schoolers to chill in all day and night — no parents allowed. Bookings open early for guests looking to take advantage of the onboard nursery. And don’t forget — the other youth clubs for kids, tweens, and teens are absolutely free.

In this role, she was able to explore the world, visiting some amazing destinations, all while performing in a role that she truly loved. In 2021, Natalie transitioned from ship to shore to join the talent acquisition team as a Senior Recruiter, specializing in recruitment for shipboard entertainment. Natalie has a true passion for her role and takes great joy and pride in supporting others. We’re kicking off this season with a special episode where you’ll meet our hosts, Cassie, Steven, LaJoy, Stephen, and Natalie. The AllEars Youtube channel is there to help you plan your most magical trip to Disney World. The channel has reviews, overviews, exclusive new information, Walt Disney World Ride POVs and walkthroughs, and much more.

If y0u’re sailing out of Port Canaveral, you also have the wonderful option of staying at Walt Disney World, which is about an hour away. Disney World is also closer to the airport and still offers ground transfer with luggage checking from the resort to the port. However, if you’re going somewhere new then I highly recommend excursions. Most ports have a lot of options for you, so definitely check them out and decide on your family’s must-dos. And, if you’re going to Alaska, you’ve got to do the sled dog racing for me!

This is your chance to sip on otherwise pricey pours at a bargain price. There are plenty of themed watering holes in the adults-only areas of the ships, but on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Meridian is the place to be. The upscale bar and lounge is located next door to Palo and Remy, but it is open to all adults adhering to its business casual dress code. Though known for its martinis, Meridian also offers a cigar bar, custom craft cocktails, and a gin and tonic cart, as well as a private deck hosting a picture-perfect view of nightly sunsets. Standard dining is fantastic, but Disney ships also have adults-only restaurants available at an extra charge. Depending on your ship, this could include the French-focused Remy or fan-favorite Palo.