First Disney Cruise Help

[BeachMouse1]

Hi all. Going on our first ever Disney cruise in September. I have read the online check in process can be a little complicated/confusing..
I know as a first timer (well we did one cruise over 20 years ago) we will probably be like the last boarding group and maybe not be able to get specialty restaurant reservations.
Can someone please give suggestions as to what I should have done before sailing and when to do it?
Any suggestions are appreciated

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all. Going on our first ever Disney cruise in September. I have read the online check in process can be a little complicated/confusing..
I know as a first timer (well we did one cruise over 20 years ago) we will probably be like the last boarding group and maybe not be able to get specialty restaurant reservations.
Can someone please give suggestions as to what I should have done before sailing and when to do it?
Any suggestions are appreciated

Was your past cruise on Disney? If so, you are considered Silver level in the Castaway Club (previous DCL cruisers).

Even first time DCL cruisers have a shot at getting an early boarding time, or later. Not everyone wants an early time, you know.

Specialty dining does hold some reservations back to be made once onboard, so your chance of specialty dining is fair to good. You can even get on a wait list once onboard that often comes through.

Before sailing you'll need to complete online check in. It can be involved, so I'll leave it to someone else who's navigated it to explain. But, don't worry, if you can't complete it before arriving at the port, you'll be able to finish it there.

 

[BeachMouse1]

Was your past cruise on Disney? If so, you are considered Silver level in the Castaway Club (previous DCL cruisers).

Even first time DCL cruisers have a shot at getting an early boarding time, or later. Not everyone wants an early time, you know.

Specialty dining does hold some reservations back to be made once onboard, so your chance of specialty dining is fair to good. You can even get on a wait list once onboard that often comes through.

Before sailing you'll need to complete online check in. It can be involved, so I'll leave it to someone else who's navigated it to explain. But, don't worry, if you can't complete it before arriving at the port, you'll be able to finish it there.

Hi thanks for the calming words. I did look and we are silver castaway we did a Disney cruise many many years ago. We are experienced cruisers on many other lines but I’m stressing a bit about what had read and people saying I have to be online at 6am to check in. I will never get a special restaurant etc.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi thanks for the calming words. I did look and we are silver castaway we did a Disney cruise many many years ago. We are experienced cruisers on many other lines but I’m stressing a bit about what had read and people saying I have to be online at 6am to check in. I will never get a special restaurant etc.

Yes, depending on what itinerary/ship you're booked on, you may not be able to get specialty dining, but I wouldn't worry about that. You don't HAVE to be online at 6am. It just opens then, but you can go online at any time after that to do your business.

As Silver, you will be able to book think before any first-time cruisers.

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

Online checkin actually opens at midnight
Which ship and how many days is your cruise ?

 

[Erica1016]

There is a pinned thread at the top of the forum that has helpful information about what you'll need for check-in. As others have said, check-in will open at midnight, EST. You definitely can get earlier boarding groups even as a relatively new cruiser. We've noticed that at Port Canaveral, the lowest groups are reserved for those using Disney transportation, so the numbers are higher. All that being said, if boarding is going smoothly, they move through the groups rather quickly.

Your booking window for activities is not necessarily the same as check in. So, you'll want to check that. We have done 11 Disney cruises with number 12 coming up shortly. We didn't do specialty dining until our 11th cruise (when we got the credit for being Platinum). We still have had an excellent time on every cruise. So, I wouldn't stress if you don't get it. And as others have said, you can always try and add it when you get on board.

If you plan on trying to do the Princess Gathering (which is free), you have to register at midnight 30 days out. This fills up very quickly, so you'd want to have it on your radar.

 

[SnowWhite2]

You can use this link to determine when you can do booking of activities and on-line check in. Put your sail date in the box about half way down and it will show when you can do your booking as a silver Castaway member.

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/booking-window-date-calculator/

 

[dreamer17555]

Truthfully if it is a sailing out FL and the goal is something like Palo brunch... you might not get it. I love Palo Brunch but it is not worth stressing out over. If you get it, great; if not there is still great food options onboard.

 

[unrequited23]

Read the pinned check in thread. There is a good chance you will not be able to book some specialty dining at the start of your booking window for activities--the brunches go first. Make sure you have the DCL app on your phone and use it to check on dining availability when you have some time to fill, like waiting for a Dr. appointment or to pick up kids from school. I was able to get a noon Palo brunch reservation about 19/20 days before embarkation by just randomly checking.

 

[Geomom]

As silver level you can book specialty dining, drink tastings, port adventures, spa treatments, etc at 90 days out vs 75 for 1st timers. Booking starts at midnight. Online check-in is 31 days before cruise for silver members. That's when you choose port arrival time, upload the headshot photos, passport pictures, and info.

Even as a first timer we got an earlier PAT, so you won't be stuck with the latest time.

 

[Girl of the South]

The difference between an early boarding group and the time when anyone can freely board, is maybe 90 minutes to 2 hours. It is truly not losing sleep over. If you take DCL transportation, you generally get an early boarding time. The buffet is usually uncomfortably crowded - maybe consider a more relaxed sit down lunch. Cabins open around 1:30 - 2:00.

 

[Wedgeout]

Have the DCL app. Great for looking over your reservation cruises from home and is the app you will use while onboard. Has all the dates when can book activities and your check in date etc.

Online check in is easy to navigate. If not using their transportation, midnight eastern on your date for lower boarding. Have a picture of each party’s passport and an individual picture similar to the passport or a driver license style, ready ahead of time to insert during the online checkin process. That would be the only step, doing that uploading to get the confusing/complicated feeling.

Have fun. Our next Disney cruise is also September!