First cruise since 2013! A couple of questions

[Jillpie]

We haven't sailed since the Dream almost 12 years ago. Going on the Wish next, so I feel like a newbie again. I know most of everything is from the app, but as far as opening the cabin doors, do you still use a plastic card and place it in a lanyard? We have magic bands from DW and been using the same ones for years, can we use the same ones on board or do we have to buy specific DCL ones? any more tips would be great thanks!

 

[Girl of the South]

Yes, you open your cabin door with a card and people still use landyards. I believe you need a MagicBand + (plus) for it to work on the ships. Welcome back!

 

[Geomom]

You can use the newer magic band + as a room key. I'm not sure if you need to connect it to DCL first? You do still get plastic cards that can go in lanyards. You'll find the plastic room keys in an envelope hanging in the fish at your door vs getting it at port.

 

[Geomom]

One of the big changes is online check-in. You upload pics of your travel IDs (passports/etc), as well as a headshot (you can smile in that one) that will be the pic they see every time they scan your card. All the pics should be JPEG format. After you fill in all info for check-in, you pick your PAT. Check-in dates are by Castaway level, and the app should tell you what date that is. All dates actually open at midnight Eastern time, so you can stay up the night before to get things done.

Link to the post about check-in:
Thread 'What do I need to have prepared for online check-in?' https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-do-i-need-to-have-prepared-for-online-check-in.3885775/

 

[sponica]

They should give you a lanyard in your stateroom, as you've sailed before. If you're using a different email address or your name changed since your last sailing, I would call to sync everything up in your Disney profile.

For the MagicBand, unless it's the newer MB+ (released in 2022/2023?) it won't work on the cruise. I have an MB+ and sometimes I would use that and others I would use the lanyard, it just depended on my mood or what I was doing.

 

[jwalk03]

You can only use your magic bands on board if they are the newer magic band+ version (the ones that you have to recharge) The old original non-rechargeable magic bands will not work. If you have the newer bands and want to use those just have them available when you check-in in the terminal and they will link them for you. If not no biggie- you can of course use the KTTW card instead. They will provide you with a lanyard based on your Castaway Club status as a previous cruiser if you want to use that.

 

[Jillpie]

So helpful, thanks guys! This check in thing will be brand new to me, so great information. Why didn't they keep it easy and just go up to a desk to check in, geez. Excited though, can't wait.

 

[Geomom]

So helpful, thanks guys! This check in thing will be brand new to me, so great information. Why didn't they keep it easy and just go up to a desk to check in, geez. Excited though, can't wait.

Check-in changed with the first post COVID shutdown cruises. It really has cut down on lines at the ports, and if you do have issues of photos not being accepted, they can still do that at port.

 

[RedHead0186]

So helpful, thanks guys! This check in thing will be brand new to me, so great information. Why didn't they keep it easy and just go up to a desk to check in, geez. Excited though, can't wait.

A lot of cruise lines now have online check in (not sure if all were a result of COVID, though as PP noted DCL was). Not all other cruise lines have it 'timed' by loyalty club status, though (on Princess we could do it all in the app ahead of time whenever we wanted, up to a few days before sailing).

I do like that it cuts down on lines at port.

 

[Disnsyncey]

(on Princess we could do it all in the app ahead of time whenever we wanted, up to a few days before sailing).

now I'm trying to remember.....I have only done 2 on Royal, but did you have a rush to pick a PAT? (or whatever they call it on Princess?) I don't think there was a crazy RUSH to pick ours, but our first was the latest possible (we had an amazing tour before) and the second, we got the first group....but I don't know why or how.....but we were in town with free time, so that's what we were aiming for

 

[RedHead0186]

now I'm trying to remember.....I have only done 2 on Royal, but did you have a rush to pick a PAT? (or whatever they call it on Princess?) I don't think there was a crazy RUSH to pick ours, but our first was the latest possible (we had an amazing tour before) and the second, we got the first group....but I don't know why or how.....but we were in town with free time, so that's what we were aiming for

No. I don't recall having specific PATs on Princess. They just had the boarding window that applied to everyone, you just showed up whenever in there you wanted.

 

[Mommb]

Not all other cruise lines have it 'timed' by loyalty club status, though (on Princess we could do it all in the app ahead of time whenever we wanted, up to a few days before sailing).

On Disney Cruise Line, you can do online check-in up until a few days before sailing. If you don't care about getting an early Port Arrival Time, there is no need to log in as soon as booking opens.