For first time Disney cruisers, which onboard activities are usually sold out on Disney Fantasy?

[MaleficentDisney]

Hello,

I am a first time Disney cruiser. My first sailing will be Disney Fantasy next summer. In terms of reserving onboard activities and port adventures, I know that I am going to get the lowest priorities.

I want to ask the veterans, based on your experience, which onboard activities gets sold out by the time first-timers get their chance to book?

I just want to make sure I set realistic expectations. Like will I be able to book royal tea royal court or bibbidi bobbidi boutique?

 

[Geomom]

Yes to Bibbidi bobbidi boutique, although maybe not the desirable times, could be port days, etc.

No to Royal Court Tea

Yes to Palo/Remy dinners, but No to brunches

Most alcohol tastings may be sold out, although our cruise had bourbon/whiskey spots forever.

Note that while things may be sold out, people do cancel things, sometimes the week before the cruise. So take a look on the app occasionally. On my Dream cruise this summer, as a Silver, I wanted the wine tasting, no spots on silver booking day, but a spot opened up a month later and I got it.

Also, the Royal Gathering (free meet with multiple princesses) opens up to everyone at 30 days, so you might be able to get that.

Port adventures, you never know, there should be at least something available at most ports. In 2022, they didn't have much available at Silver level at Grand Cayman, and nothing left of interest to us, so we did stuff on our own. That is one port we felt completely safe wandering by ourselves.

 

[Dug720]

There could be Palo or Remy brunches. It's not necessarily a hard no. Or it shouldn't be the way people on here whine about no "buffet" option at Palo brunch and say that's a deal breaker for them.

 

[soniam]

If you can't get what you want, try looking in the app once you are in the port, especially for adult beverage tastings. May have to try onboard. Also, dining has a spot where you can get on the waitlist. I think it's Enchanted Garden on Fantasy. If you are part of the social media group for your cruise, you can usually ask people in higher tiers if specific things are still left before your booking day. It's helpful for shore excursions, because then you may find something outside of DCL. Also have backups planned for shore excursions.

 

[MomOTwins]

What ports are you looking at excursions for? At Castaway Cay usually everything is still open for first timers except the Cabanas, which all go to Concierge guests for the most part. Sometimes stingrays sell out but not always.

For our eastern cruise the Baths/Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke beach sold out before first timers. On our Western nothing sold out.

 

[Heatherdbby]

Hello,

I am a first time Disney cruiser. My first sailing will be Disney Fantasy next summer. In terms of reserving onboard activities and port adventures, I know that I am going to get the lowest priorities.

I want to ask the veterans, based on your experience, which onboard activities gets sold out by the time first-timers get their chance to book?

I just want to make sure I set realistic expectations. Like will I be able to book royal tea royal court or bibbidi bobbidi boutique?

Are you in your cruise group?

The royal tea will go first, but in the last week 3 people have posted they were dropping it so my friend who is first time was able to grab one of those.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

Yes to Bibbidi bobbidi boutique, although maybe not the desirable times, could be port days, etc.

No to Royal Court Tea

Yes to Palo/Remy dinners, but No to brunches

Most alcohol tastings may be sold out, although our cruise had bourbon/whiskey spots forever.

Note that while things may be sold out, people do cancel things, sometimes the week before the cruise. So take a look on the app occasionally. On my Dream cruise this summer, as a Silver, I wanted the wine tasting, no spots on silver booking day, but a spot opened up a month later and I got it.

Also, the Royal Gathering (free meet with multiple princesses) opens up to everyone at 30 days, so you might be able to get that.

Port adventures, you never know, there should be at least something available at most ports. In 2022, they didn't have much available at Silver level at Grand Cayman, and nothing left of interest to us, so we did stuff on our own. That is one port we felt completely safe wandering by ourselves.

So, because I have lowest priority. by the time it is 75 days in, I will not be able to book Royal Court Royal Tea?

It's good to know I will be able to book Bibbidi bobbidi boutique.

For the palo brunch and alcohol tasting, the youtube videos I have seen definitely confirm that they are always sold on on booking days online. But based on your experience, on embarkation day, what are the chances of booking those?

 

[MaleficentDisney]

There could be Palo or Remy brunches. It's not necessarily a hard no. Or it shouldn't be the way people on here whine about no "buffet" option at Palo brunch and say that's a deal breaker for them.

I want to try the Palo brunch it would be for 3 people. Do you think I would be able to get that on booking day or on embarkation day?

Thanks.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

If you can't get what you want, try looking in the app once you are in the port, especially for adult beverage tastings. May have to try onboard. Also, dining has a spot where you can get on the waitlist. I think it's Enchanted Garden on Fantasy. If you are part of the social media group for your cruise, you can usually ask people in higher tiers if specific things are still left before your booking day. It's helpful for shore excursions, because then you may find something outside of DCL. Also have backups planned for shore excursions.

Thanks for the reply.

How many backups should I have for port adventures?

 

[MaleficentDisney]

What ports are you looking at excursions for? At Castaway Cay usually everything is still open for first timers except the Cabanas, which all go to Concierge guests for the most part. Sometimes stingrays sell out but not always.

For our eastern cruise the Baths/Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke beach sold out before first timers. On our Western nothing sold out.

Thank you for the reply.

I will going with my family on Western Caribbean. And is good to know, based on your experience, that nothing sold out. I will actually make a separate thread on port adventures cause I have specific questions.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

Are you in your cruise group?

The royal tea will go first, but in the last week 3 people have posted they were dropping it so my friend who is first time was able to grab one of those.

Cruise group as in like besides myself? I am going with a party of 7 including myself. We're a family.

I really really really want the royal tea royal court. May I ask typically how many availabilities there are per 7 day cruise sailing? Like is it available everyday several times a day?

 

[Dug720]

I want to try the Palo brunch it would be for 3 people. Do you think I would be able to get that on booking day or on embarkation day?

Thanks.

It's always worth trying on booking day - and keep checking.

There are no guarantees, other than not trying guarantees you won't get it.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

It's always worth trying on booking day - and keep checking.

There are no guarantees, other than not trying guarantees you won't get it.

Sigh. LOL XD

 

[soniam]

Thanks for the reply.

How many backups should I have for port adventures?

I would have at least 2 or 3 options for each port. We haven’t had too many issues with excursion availability on the Western Caribbean itineraries though. Good luck and have a great cruise!

 

[Geomom]

Cruise group as in like besides myself? I am going with a party of 7 including myself. We're a family.

I really really really want the royal tea royal court. May I ask typically how many availabilities there are per 7 day cruise sailing? Like is it available everyday several times a day?

I think it's only held once (or twice) during a cruise, probably on a sea day? The princesses meet together for the free royal gathering on 2 sea days, so there will be more availability for that plus no one can book it until 30 days out. The princesses also meet at other times individually.

I think on our Dream cruise it was already sold out before Silver could book ...but you never know. It partly depends on how many under 12 yr olds there are in the return cruisers, since you have to have an under 12 to book.

Also note that Royal Court is a restaurant that serves daily sit down breakfast and lunches, so I'd guess the tea is held around 3pm or so?

 

[Geomom]

So, because I have lowest priority. by the time it is 75 days in, I will not be able to book Royal Court Royal Tea?

It's good to know I will be able to book Bibbidi bobbidi boutique.

For the palo brunch and alcohol tasting, the youtube videos I have seen definitely confirm that they are always sold on on booking days online. But based on your experience, on embarkation day, what are the chances of booking those?

We have never tried to book Palo/Remy. I do know that the app only shows availability for certain table sizes, so there could be a table that seats 6 still available, but it won't let 3-4 book. A cast member basically needs to override that on the ship, so that's one way you could get brunch. Or maybe since you're trying to book 3, you'll be able to if there are a lot of couples booking.

Basically go in with the idea that Royal Tea and brunch won't be available at 75 days, and maybe you'll get lucky!

 

[MaleficentDisney]

I think it's only held once (or twice) during a cruise, probably on a sea day? The princesses meet together for the free royal gathering on 2 sea days, so there will be more availability for that plus no one can book it until 30 days out. The princesses also meet at other times individually.

I think on our Dream cruise it was already sold out before Silver could book ...but you never know. It partly depends on how many under 12 yr olds there are in the return cruisers, since you have to have an under 12 to book.

Also note that Royal Court is a restaurant that serves daily sit down breakfast and lunches, so I'd guess the tea is held around 3pm or so?

So if I read correctly, you are telling me that Royal Court Royal Tea only happens twice. Oh no.

My hope was, it will happen on sea days, and multiple times during each sea days.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

We have never tried to book Palo/Remy. I do know that the app only shows availability for certain table sizes, so there could be a table that seats 6 still available, but it won't let 3-4 book. A cast member basically needs to override that on the ship, so that's one way you could get brunch. Or maybe since you're trying to book 3, you'll be able to if there are a lot of couples booking.

Basically go in with the idea that Royal Tea and brunch won't be available at 75 days, and maybe you'll get lucky!

I'll cross my fingers.

 

[MomOTwins]

So if I read correctly, you are telling me that Royal Court Royal Tea only happens twice. Oh no.

My hope was, it will happen on sea days, and multiple times during each sea days.

Yes, the princesses have other royal duties so the event is only held once or twice per sailing, generally at 3pm on sea day. It is never held more than once on the same day. Because there are so few spots, it generally does sell out before first timers can book. That said, it also very frequently is cancelled by the people who book it and then get sticker shock because of the extremely high price tag. So the odds of getting it if you check availability daily between your booking day and the cruise aren’t bad.

 

[MaleficentDisney]

Yes, the princesses have other royal duties so the event is only held once or twice per sailing, generally at 3pm on sea day. It is never held more than once on the same day. Because there are so few spots, it generally does sell out before first timers can book. That said, it also very frequently is cancelled by the people who book it and then get sticker shock because of the extremely high price tag. So the odds of getting it if you check availability daily between your booking day and the cruise aren’t bad.

Thank you for answering my question. It's the answer I was looking for. Thanks!