Here are some tips from previous guests that may be helpful for your next cruise!
Soda is free on the ships (except where it is sold by the can - like outside the theaters).
You can carry-on two bottles of wine (750 ml or less) or 6 beers when you board and at each port.
Be early for the shows if you want to get great seats.
Remember to book your next cruise or purchase a future cruise voucher while onboard to get a 10% discount and onboard credit. You can move the cruise to a different date and even change the itinerary as long as you sail within 24 months after purchase.
Don't wait until the last full day to visit the future cruise desk, there will be long waits.
If you are not happy with something, speak up. Disney will try to make it better.
Remember to bring something for sea-sickness. There is such a large choice that you should probably do your research while on land. The ship does have some over-the-counter medication available for free.
There are such nice adult-only areas if you need a break.
Drink of the day changes every day and costs around $8. You can have it at the theatre.
You can buy stamps from the islands you’re visiting on the ship (see guest services).
NEVER miss a show.
You will experience all 3 restaurants at least once and possibly more depending on the length of your cruise. If there’s one that interest you more, call DCL customer service and ask if they can set your rotation to hit that one twice. On one visit to each restaurant during your cruise (usually the first visit to that restaurant), you will have a menu specific to that venue. On other nights of the cruise, including pirate night, the menu will be the same in all restaurants.
Pack, un pack ½ and repack. Don’t forget to pack twice as much sunscreen as you’ll think you need.
Take a 24 oz Tervis tumbler or any other cup for the poolside drink station.
Never pass up a snack.
Consider eating poolside or at the buffet on Pirate night. There is a bit more room on the next deck to look down on the crowd and festivities and you get a better angle for the fireworks.
Room service milk and cookies before bed is a treat. Don’t forget to ask for warm cookies or they come room temperature.
Room service has a “Cake of the day” if you don’t want cookies.
Don’t forget you can pin trade with the officers, you can find the date and times in the navigator.
You can get a Rainforest day pass, and fall asleep on a heated lounger
Don’t miss the poolside characters’ appearance in the afternoon. Check the navigator for times
Don’t forget Castaway Cay BBQ lunch.
Send a post card from Castaway Cay, the post office there accepts only cash if they are open. If they are not, you can send it via guest services.
Not only do they have soft service ice cream, but you can make a root beer float, Cup+ice cream+root beer= ice cream float.
If you like Starbucks, then a coffee card is for you, this is from Cove Café, and after 5 you get the next on free.
You can request a Mickey Bar anytime in the dining or through room service.
If you need extra pillows, request them as soon as you get to your stateroom, they go quickly.
If you like two different appetizers/ entrees/ or desserts, get them, it’s ok to order more.
The staterooms on the Fantasy and Dream have movies on demand, these are helpful if a nap is in order.
Cove Café has yummy treats at no cost.
Bring a collapsible laundry bag.
It’s cheap to wash clothes on board if you need to.
Bring your own movie snacks. Small dollar packages of your favorite candy.
Don’t forget movie night in the theater.
Dry cleaning is less than at home, use it if you need too.
Room fresheners.
Always be gracious to your stateroom host, they work very long hours with little time off, an extra token of thanks is always welcome.
Don’t try to do it all, you can’t. Do relax and enjoy.
Put dirty clothes in a suitcase under the bed.
Shirley Temple (Sprite with cherries) or Roy Rogers (Coke with Cherries) are free at dinner.
On the Dream, Vanellopes will deliver their ice cream sundaes to dining room for dessert. Fill out a form and you give the ticket to your server. The server will coordinate with Vanellopes.
Specialty Frappes/cold coffees at Cove Café can be made without coffee.
You can watch the shows in your stateroom on the TV.
Watch a sunset or sunrise. These times are listed on the Navigator. Ask the crew where is the best place to watch them.
If you have a party larger than 10, consider requesting the private room at Palo.
Room Service is free, a tip is appreciated.
Coffee is free from Room Service.
You can pre-pay your gratuities.
You can make reservations for character breakfast on DCL website.
You can get dinner at Cabanas (not on the first or last night of the cruise)
Take an autograph book with a sharpie that can fit in the spiral, and keep it in your bag because you never know when you will come across a character.
You can make coke floats, with coke and ice cream.
If you bring food aboard, it must be factory sealed.
You can request a booster seat, high chair and bed rails on you online reservation.
You can order a Pack and Play.
You can order a diaper genie.
Buy a drink of the day souvenir cup, and you can have it refilled the rest of the cruise at almost half the cost.
Do a mixology class.
Check your photos at Shutters throughout the cruise, do not wait until the night before you disembark.
You can preorder a photo package and save 10% of the cost, but you must use a credit card.
Don’t order a can of coke at CC, they will charge you.
Take the time to do the Mid-Ship Mysteries (Dream and Fantasy)
Watch the sailaways.
Remember the kids are on vacation too. If they love the kids club, let them say.
After your tenth Disney cruise (Platinum Castaway Club member), you and anyone booked in your stateroom get a free brunch or dinner in Palo on each cruise.
Download the Disney Navigator App, and you can be in contact with others onboard throughout the cruise.
If you’re a first-time cruiser, please go to all the performances every night.
Ask for “Nothing” for dessert.
Use sunscreen, even if you don’t normally use it. You don’t want a sunburn on vacation.
Treat yourself to a couple’s massage.
The Aquaduck and Aquadunk are open during port days with very short lines.
Find Pepe the Prawn door on the Dream and Fantasy.
Let your kid order of the adult menu
Order coffee and pastries for special time in the morning.
Check out the spa packages
Visit the main dining room for lunch, see the navigator for restaurants and times.
Get a rain forest pass, the have really nice heated loungers.
Read the navigator at night to plan your day for tomorrow.
Sign up for the free 50MG of WiFi. This deal available on embarkation day only.
Pick up a drink holder from a fast food restaurant to use on the ship to carry more drinks.
If you plan to snorkel on CC, bring your own equipment. It saves time and money.
Take the Art of the Theme Tour.
Fantasy only, buy a Passport from the Skyline Lounge.
Enjoy Pirate night, including Fireworks and Buffet.
On Formal Nights, there are free drinks in the atrium.
Ask what the Cake of the day is from room service.
Room Service is 24 hours, if you’re hungry at 3am call them.
Oceaneer and Lab will service lunch.
Pack boxes of candy for the movies, they cost extra on the ship.
If the elevator are crowded, sometimes it is quicker to go up to go down.
Get off the ship at every port to look around.
If you need to store breast milk or medicine, ask for a fridge.
You can ask for 2 navigators, one to keep and one to highlight. Extra copies are always available at Guest Services.
You can ask for Uncrustables from room service.
Ask for Disney sheets for your kids, they are free.
After booking online, request a call from your favorite character.
If you get a DOTD, order it from the bar, so it is fresh and not watered down.
Your room steward can get extra hangers for you if you need them. No need to pack them from home.
Things to bring:
Clothespins to hang wet bathing suits.
Stretchy pants.
Small pump hand soap.
Poo-pourri.
Clip Magnets.
A card for the light switch on the Dream and Fantasy.
Battery operated tea lights, they are great for night lights.
Multi UBS charger.
Tide to go.
Highlighters for navigators.
SafeGo Portable Travel Lock Box.
Toppings for Ice Cream.
Shoe Organizer you can hang on a hanger. Over the door organizers are on the banned list.
Baby Power and paint brush to wipe the sand from your feet on beach days.
Air Freshener.
Magnetic Dry Eraser Board to leave notes.
Bonine.
Water Bottles.
Travel First Aid Kit.
Zip Lock Bags.
Large Chair Clips to hold your towel on windy days.
Tide Pods.
Moko Universal Cellphone Waterproof Dry Bags.
Plastic Tote Beach Bag.
Water shoes.
Bring a folding step stool for the little ones to reach the sink in the stateroom.
Dollar bills for room service tips.
Created by Jaque Stahl Cinnamond
1. Don’t forget your travel documents: Passports/ID’s/Birth Certificates. Make sure you have your luggage tags/online check in signature page.
2. Do you have transportation secured and confirmed to/from airport/port and back?
3. Don’t put water or other large liquids in your checked luggage. Items like that must be hand carried on the ship.
4. Port check in: Make sure everyone in your party is present. It will make things so much faster for you and fellow cruisers.
5. Remember, PAT is Port Arrival Time, not boarding time. Your PAT is the time allotted for you to arrive and check in. From there you will be given a boarding group. These will move fairly quickly and most everyone will be able to freely board with no crowd around 1230-1 PM.
6. At the Port: Now is a good time to open your Navigator app and start looking at it. If you are close enough to the ship, it will pick up the Wi-Fi and you will be able to use the chat feature. This is a good time to enter friends you have met in the app as well.
7. While waiting in the port terminal, make sure you get pictures if you want. There will be characters roaming around. Bring snacks if you are hungry before. There are only vending machines in the terminal itself.
8. When it’s your time to board, they will call your group number and you will go through the Mickey Ears tunnel (Port Canaveral only). From there, they will scan all KTTW cards. It is important you remain as a group. Once done, you will meet a photographer who will take your boarding picture if you so choose. After that, it’s on to the ship.
9. Right before you board, you give your name to a CM. They will then announce you onto the ship. As long as it’s Disney/Family friendly, they will announce whatever you like.
10. Now you are on the ship, what first? Well, if you are wanting character meet and greets head to the port adventure desk. Here is where you will get the Anna/Elsa tickets and princess gathering tickets. These are first come first served and they do run out. (Based on posted Navigators 12:00 – 3:00)
11. If you would like to change your dining assignment or try to get a Palo reservation, you will want to head to Lumiere’s (Magic/Wonder) or Royal Court (Dream) or Enchanted Garden (Fantasy) Mid ship between 12:30 – 3:00. (Based on posted navigators)
12. After you have your meet and greet tickets what next? Make sure you look at the navigator and see what is going on. You will not be able to go to your cabin until 1:30 PM. Most people go to Cabanas for lunch. If you don’t want that, see which MDR is open for a sit down lunch. It is often less crowded and you can order from a menu.
13. If you are so inclined, the pool, AquaDuck (Dream/Fantasy) and AquaDunk (Magic) will normally be open when you board. It is a good idea to wear swim trunks/bathing suits under your clothes if you want to hit the pool once you board.
14. In the Navigator/ Navigator app, they will have times listed for a short walking tour of the ship. Usually around 1:45 and 2:30 pm. (Based on navigators posted)
15. Depending on your Castaway level, Gold/Platinum or DVC, there may be a private meet and greet for them.
16. Sail away party is on Deck 9 mid ship on the Magic and Wonder, Deck 11 Dream and Fantasy after the Mandatory lifeboat drill/muster. Everyone must attend the muster drill. As soon as it’s done, they start the party on deck.
17. Now that we are on the “cruise” and everything is done, it’s time to relax. You will settle into a shipboard routine and just go with the flow. Luggage will be delivered throughout the afternoon. Don’t be alarmed if it takes a while. They have a lot to deliver. If you need something important, carry it on with you at boarding. Especially any medications.
18. Things to remember for your rooms. No tape of any kind is allowed to be used on the walls. Magnets only. You will find the walls/doors and even ceiling are metal. It is a ship, so that goes without saying.
19. If you are participating in an FE, make note of or take a print out of the cabin #’s you are delivering to, as sometimes cabins can change at the last minute. If your cabin number changes please post in the Facebook group and get your new cabin number to the person who organized the FE.
20. Check out the Spa Open House and Kids Clubs Open house to preview these areas.