1st cruise - few questions I haven't seen answered yet

[DisneyTiger94]

We are first time Disney cruisers and had no idea about the port arrival time. We ended up with 2:00pm, what happens if we get there early? Will they turn us away?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are first time Disney cruisers and had no idea about the port arrival time. We ended up with 2:00pm, what happens if we get there early? Will they turn us away?

If you arrive earlier than your selected Port Arrival Time, AND THE TERMINAL IS BUSY, you may be asked to wait until either your PAT or when the terminal is less busy to enter.

But, in reality, by about 12:45 they've gone to the Open Boarding, and you can arrive then with no issue.

 

[DnA2010]

Lots of good advice, I'm just adding that we did late dining on our last cruise (DD was 11) and she said she really preferred it to early. We loved the extra aquaduct/pool deck time when many left to get ready for early dining. If she was hungry, another ice cream or pizza was all she needed till dinner.

 

[MSPeeler]

Thanks for asking these questions! They are on my list as well....
We are traveling on the Disney Dream May 23 2016. Is there always "Pirate" night? Should we bring our own attire or is anything provided? THANKS!

 

[nharding20]

Answers are in the quoted post. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much! Your answers are so thorough - definitely helped!!! So grateful for this online community of experts.

 

[nharding20]

Our dining rotation on the Dream 4 night in Feb this year was 1233, so it can vary. Night 3 was pirate night, as it often is.

If you don't want to miss out dining with your kids, book a later Palo and go to the Main dining room with them, then head off to Palo. If you can't get a reservation in advance, try and visit them embarkation day. They should be able to accommodate you

So there wouldn't be a problem with us attending two separate venues for dinner? That sounds like a great option if we could just have a coffee while the kids eat, and go to our dinner later. Honestly, I just don't want to miss anything, and not seeing one of the MDRs would make me kinda bummed!

 

[nharding20]

Depending on what time zone you are in. We are ok with eating at the later seating as that is much closer to our time here in Californa. You will find less little ones at this seating as well, usually.

One way rental cars work well, if you don't mind driving. It's a time saver as well at the parks instead of relying on busses. Helps with shopping trips or off property dining.

JW

Good point! We are Central time, so one hour off from FL time, should make dinner seem 'earlier' for us. Your tip on the one-way car rental got me thinking that this may be a good way to go - while the WDW busses are great, they can be a real time-sponge. We'll only have two days at the parks, and driving ourselves may be the better option.

 

[dizanimator]

Thanks for asking these questions! They are on my list as well....
We are traveling on the Disney Dream May 23 2016. Is there always "Pirate" night? Should we bring our own attire or is anything provided? THANKS!

I've only been on one cruise, and all we were given were Mickey bandanas for Pirate Night. If you want more than that, I'd suggest bringing it.

 

[nharding20]

[/QUOTE] Additionally for #5 I don't think that getting to the port at the earliest time is any better than getting there later. Unless you are going concierge and then you just get there whenever you want to! We are in Florida so we always just drive ourselves over, even when adding days at the parks before we get on the ship[/QUOTE]

I'm a planner (hence, while I'm on this site so much!) and the notion of arriving on embarkation day too late to get any of our desired reservations seriously gives me anxiety hives. Since this is our first cruise and we can only book 75 days prior, I'm assuming there won't be much left for us and we'll have to book first thing while onboard. Maybe I'm a little over-the-top, though....

 

[Floridatinaherb]

I'm a planner (hence, while I'm on this site so much!) and the notion of arriving on embarkation day too late to get any of our desired reservations seriously gives me anxiety hives.

Oh I am a planner too...the only things that I do not have pre-booked before embarkation day are spa services! Luckily we have been able to go concierge our last couple of trips so getting reservations (even to Palo) hasn't been a problem for us. Prior to concierge I was on the website at Midnight as soon as my booking window opened to get everything taken care of!

 

[Quellman]

So there wouldn't be a problem with us attending two separate venues for dinner? That sounds like a great option if we could just have a coffee while the kids eat, and go to our dinner later. Honestly, I just don't want to miss anything, and not seeing one of the MDRs would make me kinda bummed!

Yes of course you can attend multiple places for dinner! Do an early dinner in cabanas, followed by regular dining in the main dining, and then finish with Palo if you want. But if that is the case you may end up like the wall-e people!!


With a 4 night cruise, you will see one of the dining rooms twice anyway. Also, the restaurant that you dine in the last night is the same you have for breakfast the next morning. But yea it is easy enough to show up with your kids, maybe order an app to split or drinks and then scoot to Palo later. Your kids are also old enough that you could reasonably expect to allow them to dine on their own as well, just let your server team know the night before your Palo reservation )no matter if you come or not to the dining room).

 

[RedSox68]

1. We like late dining -- always have. Gives us more time to enjoy the ports -- or the sea day; show is first for late dinner and there are a lot fewer children at late dinner! And it's really nice after dinner to walk the decks -- quiet, fewer people and a good way to walk off dinner.

2. Rotation -- no, the first three nights would most definitely be the menu/show for each restaurant. In my experience, I've never seen them skip a rotational menu (unless they've changed it).

3. Drinks of the day -- AHHH, our favorite, They are usually much cheaper and very wonderful! We always try one each day.

5. When we do WDW first, we always opt for private transportation as the Disney buses pick up late and I've read people missing the welcome aboard lunch because of it. Plus, the company we use gives us a free grocery stop on the way to the port so we stock up on water, wine, sunscreen and snacks.

 

[cheermom2four]

Ive only been on 1 previous cruise with just DH and I trying it out before we take our kids on a longer one.

In regards to late dining, DH and I were stuck with second seating also and we thought it would be too late as I'm not a night person. WRONG!!! Loved it and we actually changed our main seating to 2nd on our upcoming cruise, even with a 5 year old. we just never felt rushed when we were at ports etc. Plus my body adjusted accordingly even on a shorter cruise to eating at that time (and the fact I'm on mountain standard time so 2 hrs difference anyways helped). I'll just have my youngest take a nap midday and give her a snack if needed to tie her over.

As for arriving as early as possible to the port, there's a lot of waiting going on when one arrives right when it opens. I stayed at the Hyatt in the airport and took the first Disney bus out the morning of cruise from MCO and we still didnt arrive till 10:15ish. It was fine because boarding didnt start till way after 11:30 if not closer to noon and we were bored out of our minds. Now this round though we will have kids and will want to get the magic bands and make sure they are registered correctly for their specific age group. Plus now with a young one obsessed with princesses its more important to me to get on that ship as early as Im allowed to stand in line for tickets to princess M&G and the breakfast (disney breakfast and cant remember the name dang it) on the Fantasy. If I could guarantee getting those going later, I would actually arrive after 12 noon. Nope, not concierge so wont happen that late.

 

[LizGirl]

I never knew you could use the hurricane glasses. I may try that next time. Is there really that much more in them?

I didn't know that either! The glass just sat in my room all week. Boo!

 

[RedSox68]

In regards to late dining, DH and I were stuck with second seating also and we thought it would be too late as I'm not a night person. WRONG!!! Loved it and we actually changed our main seating to 2nd on our upcoming cruise, even with a 5 year old. we just never felt rushed when we were at ports etc. Plus my body adjusted accordingly even on a shorter cruise to eating at that time (and the fact I'm on mountain standard time so 2 hrs difference anyways helped). I'll just have my youngest take a nap midday and give her a snack if needed to tie her over.

And you also don't feel rushed at second dinner because they are not trying to get you out to set up for the next dinner.

 

[nharding20]

Yes of course you can attend multiple places for dinner! Do an early dinner in cabanas, followed by regular dining in the main dining, and then finish with Palo if you want. But if that is the case you may end up like the wall-e people!! View attachment 157982


With a 4 night cruise, you will see one of the dining rooms twice anyway. Also, the restaurant that you dine in the last night is the same you have for breakfast the next morning. But yea it is easy enough to show up with your kids, maybe order an app to split or drinks and then scoot to Palo later. Your kids are also old enough that you could reasonably expect to allow them to dine on their own as well, just let your server team know the night before your Palo reservation )no matter if you come or not to the dining room).

Your image from Wall-E seriously made me laugh out loud! Ironically, our family actually jokes about those characters when we feel like we've overindulged ourselves! (and 2-3 full dinners would certainly qualify!)

 

[nharding20]

And you also don't feel rushed at second dinner because they are not trying to get you out to set up for the next dinner.

Thanks all for your input. I'm feeling so much better about the later dining! I just can't help but say again what a great group of people are on this site! Sharing your insight is so appreciated!!!

 

[Sytrace]

We used to have first seating which we liked, but on our January cruise we had second seating and LOVED it! Our kids are 13 and 14 and they liked that there were fewer younger ones dining at 8:15. There were a few, but not nearly as many as there were at early seating.

We once had Palo for dinner and the kids were fine on their own in the MDR. We just told the servers that they would be attending alone and that we would be in Palo. This was on our second cruise so the kids were 12 and 13 at the time and they did just fine. (at least I think so...the servers were still nice to us the next day, so I am going to believe they were good lol

We usually get port arrival times of 10:30 to latest at 11:30 but we also live 45 minutes from PC so, we don't have to worry about busses. My 13 year old (son) likes to make a beeline for Cabanas and his "welcome home" menu.

Enjoy your cruise! We are heading out there again at the end of May to celebrate my husbands 50th!

 

[Passholder]

on our last cruise we were booked for the later dinner time. Once on board we asked to be switched and had no problem getting the earlier dining. We were at a table by ourselves (family of 4) and did not notice any distractions from small children.