Help a newbie-what is online check in and reservations for?

[AJSMOMMY]

Hi All,

Ask me anything about Disney World and I am your girl, ask me about the cruise and I'm lost!
Please explain to me what online check in and reservations are for! Obviously, online check in is to do just that but what are the reservations for? What do I need to start preparing for?
Getting ready to pay balance off this week. Online check in is in 2 weeks.

TIA

 

[dcassetta]

Hi All,

Ask me anything about Disney World and I am your girl, ask me about the cruise and I'm lost!
Please explain to me what online check in and reservations are for! Obviously, online check in is to do just that but what are the reservations for? What do I need to start preparing for?
Getting ready to pay balance off this week. Online check in is in 2 weeks.

TIA

Your check-in sets up your onboard account, sets your Port Arrival Time and gives Disney your travels plans before and after your cruise.

Reservations can be made for adult dining, the nursery for children 3 and under, Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique, alcohol tastings, character meet and greets and port adventures.

 

[Weedy]

Online check in opens 12:01am ET
BUT: people have been reporting that the can log in a few hours earlier and fill out information (flight information, passport numbers) and I think I read that they have beenable to pick their Port Arrival Time.
BUT!! You will need to wait until 12:01 to book excursions, adult dining, Princess/Frozen meet and greets.

 

[AJSMOMMY]

Got it! Thank you

 

[panda123]

We always try to get the earliest port arrival time as possible, 10:30am. That has gotten us boarding group #3 the last couple of times, which means when they start boarding the ship around 11:15am to 11:30am, we were allowed to board about 5 minutes later. For us, we try to maximize time on the boat. Other folks prefer to avoid the early rush and aim to get to the port later around noon. When we did our check-in in September, the online check-in became available at least an hour earlier than the activities were available to reserve.

A few other things to consider reserving include the character breakfast offered usually on sea days, bibbidi bobbidi boutique $$ (I try to schedule on the formal night or semi formal night and before the princess meet and greets), and Royal Court Tea $$$.

 

[Dug720]

We always try to get the earliest port arrival time as possible, 10:30am. That has gotten us boarding group #3 the last couple of times, which means when they start boarding the ship around 11:15am to 11:30am, we were allowed to board about 5 minutes later. For us, we try to maximize time on the boat. Other folks prefer to avoid the early rush and aim to get to the port later around noon. When we did our check-in in September, the online check-in became available at least an hour earlier than the activities were available to reserve.

A few other things to consider reserving include the character breakfast offered usually on sea days, bibbidi bobbidi boutique $$ (I try to schedule on the formal night or semi formal night and before the princess meet and greets), and Royal Court Tea $$$.

On longer cruises. Not on anything less than 7 (I'm not even sure about 7-nighters as it was not offered on the 7-night Eastern I was on a few years ago).