First time cruiser- worried about access to ticketed events, etc.

[Chr1stineB]

Hello! We just booked our first Disney cruise on the Fantasy for November 2019. We are super excited, but I'm a little concerned about our access to "ticketed" events like the Frozen meet and greet, gingerbread house building (since this is a Merrytime cruise), etc. Has anyone else had success with signing up for these events during online check-in as a first time Disney cruiser, since our online check-in block will be later than most? Also wondering how likely it will be for us to be able to pick an early port arrival time.

 

[Its a Princess Thing...]

Not going on Merrytime cruise, but we are 1st time cruisers. When our window opened, I was ready and waiting on the computer! We are a group of 13 and I was able to get us all tickets to the meet and greets and the character breakfast. The advice I read here is that if you can't get into something you would like to do, just keep checking back as stuff opens up here and there as people change their plans. Good luck!

 

[Chr1stineB]

That is encouraging to hear, thanks! Do you remember if there was also earlier port arrival times still available?

 

[YawningDodo]

You're ahead of your 75 day window, so you're probably good! I was worried, too, for my first cruise in January, which was an Marvel Day at Sea cruise. Not only was I able to get tickets for the character meets, but I had my choice of several time slots. I also got registered for mixology with no trouble. I was not able to get Palo brunch on the non-MDAS day at sea, but I expect demand was especially high since there were only two days at sea and I think a lot of people were with me in not wanting to take time out of MDAS for brunch. Beyond checking back on the website, if there's anything you want and don't get my understanding is that it is worthwhile to check for openings right when you get on the ship--my impression is that they hold back some things for in-person booking so people who weren't able to book online have a chance at them.

I stayed up late and did my ticketed things the night my window opened, but didn't get around to completing online check-in until a week later. I got a port arrival time of 12:30 (though I later gave up my PAT when I booked a Disney ground transfer).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So, for my first time, here's the stuff there were issues with:

• Jedi Training, which is only on SWDAS cruises and not your concern. A lot of people in my cruise group were not able to book this.
• Princess Tea - there were two offerings. One was a port day. The sea day filled up before 75 days, but the port day was open (and late in the port day; it was only an issue if you planned a full-day outing).
• Mixology

In terms of that last, if your private cruise group does some private sessions, hop into those. There are also more sessions that are bookable once you're on the ship that never go to pre-registration for check in.

PAT can vary quite a bit. Even with an "early" time, they often aren't letting the early groups on board until after noon.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Here's the thing. When you read these boards you may well feel like "most people" will get to book before you. But in fact, most people are first time cruisers like yourself, and most of them don't even know about the 75-day window, let alone that they can log on at midnight on that day when their window opens. So actually, most people will be booking things after you.

Having said that, if there are events or times that you are particularly set on, do log on ASAP and grab them. But don't worry, even if you don't get things, there will be cancellations later (check back online regularly) and a lot of things can be signed up for on the ship too.

Two more tips that I give:
1) If you have a large group (or even a medium group) and it says something is "unavailable" for your number of people. Try putting in a lower number or even 1. Grab all the spots you can and get the rest later as people cancel.

2) If an early PAT is really important to you, when filling out your online application, go through it first with answers that won't require additional info. (Say you are driving, using a Driver's Licence for ID instead o password, paying by cash instead of credit card etc.) That will allow you to get through the check in process fastest and select a PAT. Then you can go back and edit your answers to provide Flight info, Passport #s, Credit Card info, etc. after you have your PAT.

Have fun!

 

[Chr1stineB]

Here's the thing. When you read these boards you may well feel like "most people" will get to book before you. But in fact, most people are first time cruisers like yourself, and most of them don't even know about the 75-day window, let alone that they can log on at midnight on that day when their window opens. So actually, most people will be booking things after you.

Having said that, if there are events or times that you are particularly set on, do log on ASAP and grab them. But don't worry, even if you don't get things, there will be cancellations later (check back online regularly) and a lot of things can be signed up for on the ship too.

Two more tips that I give:
1) If you have a large group (or even a medium group) and it says something is "unavailable" for your number of people. Try putting in a lower number or even 1. Grab all the spots you can and get the rest later as people cancel.

2) If an early PAT is really important to you, when filling out your online application, go through it first with answers that won't require additional info. (Say you are driving, using a Driver's Licence for ID instead o password, paying by cash instead of credit card etc.) That will allow you to get through the check in process fastest and select a PAT. Then you can go back and edit your answers to provide Flight info, Passport #s, Credit Card info, etc. after you have your PAT.

Have fun!

Great suggestions, thank you!

 

[lilsonicfan]

I had a lot of issues with my online check in for my Merrytime cruise (which was in November 2017) and couldn't get my browser to work at all. I did miss out on Palo brunch (snagged it later - literally checked multiple times a day and managed to get one about 3 weeks before sailing) but I got Frozen meet & greet with no issue. We didn't do the gingerbread house making but I believe you have to get tix for that on board and not ahead of time online. I also got a fairly early PAT even though I did that last. I got mixology a few weeks later too.

 

[cadien]

We just did our first cruise. We got about half of what we wanted when the window first opened and like others are saying, if you keep checking back, new spots open up. And we did get a few things after we boarded as well.

 

[ciahanna]

We did our first cruise in 2016 (Halloween on the High Seas) and were able to get the Disney Jr breakfast, princess meet, Anna & Elsa meet and Palo for dinner. The only thing we couldn't get was Palo brunch. We got a port arrival time of 1045 which was perfect for us. DH was online as soon as our booking window opened to get what we wanted which probably helped!

 

[MichelleCanada]

We are cruising for the 2nd time with DCL and after our booking window opened there were a couple of things we couldn’t get into (mixology class, rum tasting). I called DCL and the CM was super helpful. He said that they do not hold back some spaces but a lot of people book all they can when their window opens up and then when the cancellation time gets close they decide what they really want and cancel the extra bookings they have. He suggested trying 7-4 days before our sailing to look for things to open up a bit too. Our first cruise we had no idea and actually got everything we wanted the day we boarded when we got on the ship.

 

[CrawfordMomof3]

Thanks for the information everyone! We’re planning our first cruise and this was really helpful.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For the alcohol tastings, it's not so much that they "hold spots," but there are entire classes that get added once you're on ship and schedules for different venues settle.

 

[kiford]

Also don't assume that non-first time cruisers book up all the early PATs. We don't like to arrive early. We prefer to arrive after open boarding so that I don't have to wait in line, wait to board, and haul my carry on around waiting until the room is open. Lots of experienced cruisers don't believe in boarding as early as possible. You'll very likely be able to get a reasonable time if you really want it.

For other events and tickets, in addition to checking online frequently before cruising, also check once on board as new times or events can be added and people do cancel.