DVC Member Cruise 2026

[Kenito]

He was on the DVC Member Cruise is did a few years back to Alaska. He did a sketching session and I won the raffle for the Mickey sketch he did. He handed it to me and got to shake his hand. But it wasn't signed

Wondering if I should bring it on the 2026 cruise and ask him to sign it? Or would that be tacky and/or not not allowed? I definitely don't want to bother him..

 

[Girlstar30]

He was on the DVC Member Cruise is did a few years back to Alaska. He did a sketching session and I won the raffle for the Mickey sketch he did. He handed it to me and got to shake his hand. But it wasn't signed

Wondering if I should bring it on the 2026 cruise and ask him to sign it? Or would that be tacky and/or not not allowed? I definitely don't want to bother him..

I think they would be fine with signing. I saw Brett on stage at D23 and he seems very nice. I met the voice of Winnie the Pooh Jim Cummings and the voice of Bart Simpson last year. Both were fine with autographs and pictures (Pooh did not want to do a selfie lol only pictures taken by someone else if you bought merchandise, wasn't very nice ) now when I asked bart Simpson if she could do the voice that was a no but she was kind and said how about a selfie. Sooo they all have their thing but no one has ever said no to a signing to me from Disney.

 

[epski]

Hmmm. Do they set prices like this to help offset the discounts on vacation points that they offer to DVC Members on these DVC-only cruises?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Hmmm. Do they set prices like this to help offset the discounts on vacation points that they offer to DVC Members on these DVC-only cruises?

No, I don't think the vacation points sold on the cruise have anything to do with it. It's the special entertainment, plus the included gratuities.

Really, it's comparable to the current prices for the cruise earlier in August 2026 that has a similar itinerary:


On the one hand, the DVC MC should be less because it's farther away from peak summer season. On the other hand, the DVC MC includes gratuities plus all the extra entertainment, and of course we have to pay for that.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are currently booked on the 2025 Member cruise which will be our first - kids are still school age and even though they start late - it's not late enough! Maybe after they are out of the house though ...

Hey, we are on that cruise, too! Maybe we’ll meet in person!

No interest in the 2026 DVC MC. Too port intensive, and expensive to fly there. My DSis and 2 friends will be on it next year!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I'll only ever book a member cruise if it happens to be the itinerary that I want at the time of the year that I want to cruise. It happens that this doesn't fit that criteria.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

people would know all the tricks and secrets to a great DCL experience

This is a big reason why I’ve never done DCL and may never will. Not looking to be at the bottom of the food chain and having to spend a quarter mill worth of trips to develop the know-how to have a “great” experience

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

This is a big reason why I’ve never done DCL and may never will. Not looking to be at the bottom of the food chain and having to spend a quarter mill worth of trips to develop the know-how to have a “great” experience

We're only silver (Gold by next year) and have had a great time on the sailings we've had, and have 3 more booked. You don't have to get Palo/Remy reservations to have a great experience, which is pretty much the only thing that has been inaccessible to us as silver castaways.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

We're only silver (Gold by next year) and have had a great time on the sailings we've had, and have 3 more booked. You don't have to get Palo/Remy reservations to have a great experience, which is pretty much the only thing that has been inaccessible to us as silver castaways.

GTK! I’ve seen lots of comments on these boards and the vlogs and pods to the effect of what I quoted, so DCL has always felt like a potentially disappointing experience for a first timer. Plus, I have too many kids to make it affordable

 

[JackosinDIS]

GTK! I’ve seen lots of comments on these boards and the vlogs and pods to the effect of what I quoted, so DCL has always felt like a potentially disappointing experience for a first timer. Plus, I have too many kids to make it affordable

I’m doing my first cruise in April and the thought of it being a disappointing experience hadn’t even entered my mind (it has now!!). I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to planning, so will just have to accept that some things will not be available to me I suppose. Only 1 kid to pay for though on the plus side.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

GTK! I’ve seen lots of comments on these boards and the vlogs and pods to the effect of what I quoted, so DCL has always felt like a potentially disappointing experience for a first timer. Plus, I have too many kids to make it affordable

The affordable part, especially if tied to the school schedule, that's a different story. But you can have a great time as a first timer, that's for sure!

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I’m doing my first cruise in April and the thought of it being a disappointing experience hadn’t even entered my mind (it has now!!). I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to planning, so will just have to accept that some things will not be available to me I suppose. Only 1 kid to pay for though on the plus side.

I’m sure you’ll have a great time!!!

 

[Mathmagicland]

I’m doing my first cruise in April and the thought of it being a disappointing experience hadn’t even entered my mind (it has now!!). I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to planning, so will just have to accept that some things will not be available to me I suppose. Only 1 kid to pay for though on the plus side.

Re things not being available for a first timer, or even for silver - Palo can sometimes be booked on board. For excursions, people change their plans. If I can’t get my first choice when my booking window opens, I keep checking back (every day or two if I really want something) in the app and often end up getting what I wanted. Also, as it gets closer to the lock-in date of three days before start date, people will drop bookings they aren’t 100% sure of. Also check for excursions on board; I’ve ended up happy with one that was farther down on my list after chatting with the folks at the port adventures desk, as they are able to explain more about the choices. And regardless, as others have noted, there are lots of things to keep you busy! Sometimes the unexpected can be fun, too!

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Platinum and have 4 kids. If you insist on everyone sailing concierge, then yeah it adds up. My wife and I book a lot of weekend getaways for 3-4 nights and it's a pleasant experience every time. When it's just the two of us, the trick is going wherever the families are not located. We book the later dinner because families are eating at the earlier sitting - so that's when we're at the show. We hang out in the adults only areas because the families are not there. We stay on the ship when at port because I don't need to see anymore of the Bahamas - which means the boat is empty. When we have the kids (who are all technically adults), we book 3 connecting rooms with verandas - poor man's suite.

 

[Girlstar30]

I am gold (one cruise away from platinum) and its pretty easy to get everything except Palo Brunch which i did not get on my last two cruises.

However, i could have gotten it if i would have chosen to stay on the ship during a port day or dropped a remy brunch and i didnt want to do that. If you want more chances of getting things, go for a brunch or onboard activities on port days. Everyone wants things on sea days.

Most excursions don't actually sell out, minus the brunches, and you can easily book onboard. I personally NEVER book port excursions thru Disney from my experiences (Cancellation policy is horrendous/ non existent without paying more than the excursion itself to see an onboard doctor and prove that youre sick) but if I was feeling brave lol I would not book until I was onboard.

They have a limited number of reservations showing online and then once onboard MOST things are available. Its kind of like DVC in that getting highly sought after rooms (in this case, cabanas, massages on castaway cay, palo brunches, royal princess gatherings) is going to take some time out of your day to book as soon as possible and get up earlier or stay up later to accompish (time zone dependent).

The first day of cruising for me is spent speaking to dining, the spa, etc just adding on activities. Then once everything is sorted, hit the buffets!

Even platinum won't prevent you from having to do stuff like this.for.some things. First dibs goes to $$$$ concierge and even if you've sailed on 10 cruises if you want a cabana good luck. You better be really lucky with your stalking or concierge.

 

[Girlstar30]

I just wanted to add that what annoys me the most about the tiered benefits is that if you're traveling with others that don't have status, even if your reservations are connected, they do not allow the lower or no tier member to book activities at the same time with you. This is pretty crappy, especially if your non tiered friend is single and won't be able to get dining reservations or tasting activities with you.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Does anyone know if the 2026 member cruise is sold out? I booked a veranda room for DW and I, but wondering if I can still re-locate rooms or upgrade.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Does anyone know if the 2026 member cruise is sold out? I booked a veranda room for DW and I, but wondering if I can still re-locate rooms or upgrade.

It's not sold out: https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/member-cruise-2026

Call to see if something else works for you

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

It's not sold out: https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/member-cruise-2026

Call to see if something else works for you

Thanks for this link! I'm on the waitlist for Concierge, but may want to move rooms if I don't get it.

 

[macman123]

We're only silver (Gold by next year) and have had a great time on the sailings we've had, and have 3 more booked. You don't have to get Palo/Remy reservations to have a great experience, which is pretty much the only thing that has been inaccessible to us as silver castaways.

Is there really that much benefit between tiers?

I never book cruise excursions ........