Since I am getting ready to go on a cruise, I get a lot of requests for Disney Cruise Line® information I thought I'd share some secrets and tips for you this month when it comes to cruising with Disney.
When you make the decision to take a Disney cruise discuss you wants and the needs of your travel party with your Disney travel specialist because not all staterooms are created equally. You will find three basic stateroom categories: inside, oceanview and verandah. But each of those categories has several options and price to go with those options. On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder there are rooms with obstructed port holes that are classified as an inside room due to the lack of a decent view. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy a category 8A is like a mini-suite in some instances, but priced at an oceanview rate! Some of the concierge staterooms have huge bump out verandahs unlike their concierge neighbors. There are hidden rooms like these out there, so ask your travel agent if she knows of any great rooms at a good price.
Did you know that room service is free on all Disney ships? You probably do know that, but did you know that you can get the Mickey premium ice cream bars for free through room service? Yup! You sure can, and you can get as many as you'd like too. Haha! I know there are many adults, as well as the kids, that I just made happy right there. If you order two Big Island cookies, you can put your Mickey bar in between and make one heck of an ice cream sandwich. Your room service steward will bring them to you any time of day or night. Just remember that room service closes around 1am on the last night of your cruise. Just remember that your room service stewards work very hard bringing you all your orders around the clock so tips are appreciated.
FREE souvenirs! You can bring on a photo matte to frame your favorite memory from your Disney cruise, a t-shirt or a pillowcase onboard with you and drop it off at Guest Services the first day of your cruise (Don't forget your Sharpie pens!) and let them know which set of character signatures you would like: classic Mickey and the gang or the princesses. At the end of your cruise you will get it back covered in your favorite character's autographs. It makes a great personalized souvenir that your kids can take home and enjoy.
Thinking about a nice adult's only dining reservation at Remy or Plato on Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy? Don't worry if it was all booked when you tried to make your reservation online prior to sailing because Disney holds back some reservations that you can secure once you are onboard the ship. If this is something that is important to you to do during your cruise, I would suggest trying to board the ship earlier vs later. When you check in at the terminal and are given your first "Personal Navigator" look for the location for dining changes. Go there right away upon boarding. It may say they are not open until 1:30pm to make changes, but it's usually open long before that (more like once they begin boarding the ship). Go and see if you can grab yourself a reservation. If you cannot get anything, don't give up. People often change their minds and reservations can open up during the cruise.
Disney cruisers LOVE to decorate their doors! You will see all kinds of fun decorations on guest's stateroom doors as you walk down the hallway. All the stateroom doors, except concierge, are metal, which means they're perfect for fun Disney magnets! If you're on your first Disney cruise you very well may be quite amazed at the number of people that decorate their doors. There are plenty of free designs out there print right onto magnet paper right from your home printer. If you don't get around to preparing for this before your cruise, you may get lucky and find some magnet sets in the ship's gift shop.
There are some activities that you cannot book a reservation for until you are actually onboard. These would things like wine tastings, beer tastings, mixology classes, chocolate tasting and tea with Disney friends. These are not typically held on the first day of your cruise and won't show up in the schedule until the day they will be taking place. The problem is that by that time they may be full. The repeat cruisers, and those that know in advance to be on the lookout, book them before others even know they're coming. So after you board, go to Guest Services and inquire what activities will be taking place on your cruise and get your spot reserved right then!!
You can mix it up in the main dining rooms! When you go to the main dining room for your first dinner meal you may feel overwhelmed by the choices you will have on your menu. If you want the steak but not the side dish that comes with it just ask your server to replace it with another option. The dining staff on a cruise are some of the MOST flexible I have ever seen. No one will be offended. If your entree arrives, but isn't quite what you expected it to be...order something else. It really is that simple. No questions asked!
Too tired to head to the main theater to see the live stage show one evening, no problem! If you have a little one and don't think he/she will make it quietly through the evening stage show you can watch it on one of the channels on your stateroom TV. A recording of each night's show will be shown on that channel each evening.
If you want to head to the gym for a workout or the spa for a treatment you can use the locker room showers anytime. This may be an alternative if you the bathroom in your stateroom has been taken over by your spouse and/or teenagers.
Late dinner with your kids can be a peaceful experience for parents with Disney's Dine & Play option. You can take your kids to see the early show in the theater at 6:00pm and then head straight to your assigned dining room for the evening. Once you arrive to your table your server will get the kids order put in immediately so they can get their food quickly and eat. Once your server notices that your child is almost finished with their meal he/she will call the Oceaneer's Club for a counselor to come to the dining room and escort your child to the children's area to play with their new friends until you pick them up. This allows mom and dad to sit back and enjoy a nice leisurely dinner as well as some adult fun for the evening while the kids are off playing and having a ball. Parents just need to let the server know they are wanting their child to go to play so that they make sure to get them taken care of first.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg! There is soo much more to enjoy on a Disney cruise...you may just have to actually book one to find out first-hand in person for yourself!!
When you make the decision to take a Disney cruise discuss you wants and the needs of your travel party with your Disney travel specialist because not all staterooms are created equally. You will find three basic stateroom categories: inside, oceanview and verandah. But each of those categories has several options and price to go with those options. On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder there are rooms with obstructed port holes that are classified as an inside room due to the lack of a decent view. On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy a category 8A is like a mini-suite in some instances, but priced at an oceanview rate! Some of the concierge staterooms have huge bump out verandahs unlike their concierge neighbors. There are hidden rooms like these out there, so ask your travel agent if she knows of any great rooms at a good price.
Did you know that room service is free on all Disney ships? You probably do know that, but did you know that you can get the Mickey premium ice cream bars for free through room service? Yup! You sure can, and you can get as many as you'd like too. Haha! I know there are many adults, as well as the kids, that I just made happy right there. If you order two Big Island cookies, you can put your Mickey bar in between and make one heck of an ice cream sandwich. Your room service steward will bring them to you any time of day or night. Just remember that room service closes around 1am on the last night of your cruise. Just remember that your room service stewards work very hard bringing you all your orders around the clock so tips are appreciated.
FREE souvenirs! You can bring on a photo matte to frame your favorite memory from your Disney cruise, a t-shirt or a pillowcase onboard with you and drop it off at Guest Services the first day of your cruise (Don't forget your Sharpie pens!) and let them know which set of character signatures you would like: classic Mickey and the gang or the princesses. At the end of your cruise you will get it back covered in your favorite character's autographs. It makes a great personalized souvenir that your kids can take home and enjoy.
Thinking about a nice adult's only dining reservation at Remy or Plato on Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy? Don't worry if it was all booked when you tried to make your reservation online prior to sailing because Disney holds back some reservations that you can secure once you are onboard the ship. If this is something that is important to you to do during your cruise, I would suggest trying to board the ship earlier vs later. When you check in at the terminal and are given your first "Personal Navigator" look for the location for dining changes. Go there right away upon boarding. It may say they are not open until 1:30pm to make changes, but it's usually open long before that (more like once they begin boarding the ship). Go and see if you can grab yourself a reservation. If you cannot get anything, don't give up. People often change their minds and reservations can open up during the cruise.
Disney cruisers LOVE to decorate their doors! You will see all kinds of fun decorations on guest's stateroom doors as you walk down the hallway. All the stateroom doors, except concierge, are metal, which means they're perfect for fun Disney magnets! If you're on your first Disney cruise you very well may be quite amazed at the number of people that decorate their doors. There are plenty of free designs out there print right onto magnet paper right from your home printer. If you don't get around to preparing for this before your cruise, you may get lucky and find some magnet sets in the ship's gift shop.
There are some activities that you cannot book a reservation for until you are actually onboard. These would things like wine tastings, beer tastings, mixology classes, chocolate tasting and tea with Disney friends. These are not typically held on the first day of your cruise and won't show up in the schedule until the day they will be taking place. The problem is that by that time they may be full. The repeat cruisers, and those that know in advance to be on the lookout, book them before others even know they're coming. So after you board, go to Guest Services and inquire what activities will be taking place on your cruise and get your spot reserved right then!!
You can mix it up in the main dining rooms! When you go to the main dining room for your first dinner meal you may feel overwhelmed by the choices you will have on your menu. If you want the steak but not the side dish that comes with it just ask your server to replace it with another option. The dining staff on a cruise are some of the MOST flexible I have ever seen. No one will be offended. If your entree arrives, but isn't quite what you expected it to be...order something else. It really is that simple. No questions asked!
Too tired to head to the main theater to see the live stage show one evening, no problem! If you have a little one and don't think he/she will make it quietly through the evening stage show you can watch it on one of the channels on your stateroom TV. A recording of each night's show will be shown on that channel each evening.
If you want to head to the gym for a workout or the spa for a treatment you can use the locker room showers anytime. This may be an alternative if you the bathroom in your stateroom has been taken over by your spouse and/or teenagers.
Late dinner with your kids can be a peaceful experience for parents with Disney's Dine & Play option. You can take your kids to see the early show in the theater at 6:00pm and then head straight to your assigned dining room for the evening. Once you arrive to your table your server will get the kids order put in immediately so they can get their food quickly and eat. Once your server notices that your child is almost finished with their meal he/she will call the Oceaneer's Club for a counselor to come to the dining room and escort your child to the children's area to play with their new friends until you pick them up. This allows mom and dad to sit back and enjoy a nice leisurely dinner as well as some adult fun for the evening while the kids are off playing and having a ball. Parents just need to let the server know they are wanting their child to go to play so that they make sure to get them taken care of first.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg! There is soo much more to enjoy on a Disney cruise...you may just have to actually book one to find out first-hand in person for yourself!!
