Navigator App questions

[Keyser]

OK, so our family of 4 is going to be cruising (hopefully!) in a couple of days. We've all downloaded the app (Android), but I'm confused as to how it will work in practice (these might be stupid questions, that will be obvious, but I haven't tried it yet):

1) How do we all have "separate" views? There is just one reservation for all of us (and only one account in our family, under my name). Do we all log into the same reservation on the same account? If so, does the app determine who is who or something? I understand we are supposed to use the app to communicate with each other during the cruise, but I'm unclear how it will distinguish us. Will we be able to set separate activities, etc.?

2) How do you set up your phones regarding wifi and mobile data? Airplane mode is easy enough to set, but obviously we need to leave Wifi on. I do plan to use onboard Wifi for some things on my laptop, but don't want my phone accessing it and eating up free
2a) I don't remember how wifi access works - will I need to enter a password for non-navigator wifi so that I limit its use to my laptop, or do I have to be super-careful not to accidentally open an app on my phone?
2b) The app says that push notifications will still come through wifi with no charge. Is this what others have found?

Anything else I should be aware of? I'm still annoyed at the fact I have to use my phone on the cruise, when it would be much nicer to put it away, but I'm trying to figure out how to go with it.

 

[Cheburashka]

OK, so our family of 4 is going to be cruising (hopefully!) in a couple of days. We've all downloaded the app (Android), but I'm confused as to how it will work in practice (these might be stupid questions, that will be obvious, but I haven't tried it yet):

1) How do we all have "separate" views? There is just one reservation for all of us (and only one account in our family, under my name). Do we all log into the same reservation on the same account? If so, does the app determine who is who or something? I understand we are supposed to use the app to communicate with each other during the cruise, but I'm unclear how it will distinguish us. Will we be able to set separate activities, etc.?

2) How do you set up your phones regarding wifi and mobile data? Airplane mode is easy enough to set, but obviously we need to leave Wifi on. I do plan to use onboard Wifi for some things on my laptop, but don't want my phone accessing it and eating up free
2a) I don't remember how wifi access works - will I need to enter a password for non-navigator wifi so that I limit its use to my laptop, or do I have to be super-careful not to accidentally open an app on my phone?
2b) The app says that push notifications will still come through wifi with no charge. Is this what others have found?

Anything else I should be aware of? I'm still annoyed at the fact I have to use my phone on the cruise, when it would be much nicer to put it away, but I'm trying to figure out how to go with it.

If you only plan to use your phone for the Navigator app & taking photos, then turn off your cellular data and put the phone into airplane mode. Leave wifi on so that it can connect to DCL's wifi. Nothing you do on the Navigator app will count toward onboard wifi use that you have to pay for. To be able to use DCL's wifi for other things besides the Navigator app, you have to sign into a portal, so that isn't just going to happen automatically & be drained by your phone's background apps without you logging into the portal via your phone (you don't need the portal to use the Navigator app). The easiest thing will be to just use the DCL wifi portal on your laptop and not your phone, so that you don't have to worry about your apps draining wifi.

If you have further questions or want reassurance, know that immediately upon boarding (after Mickey's atrium welcome) you'll be taken to a club and sat down to verify that you've got the app working on your phone. You can ask the cast members there about your concerns and get info or reassurance from them.

Don't forget that a small amount of free wifi is available via the portal to be signed up for on embarkation day only.

 

[Marc D]

Onboard, once on the ship’s wifi network, the app will ask each guest to log in using their name, date of birth and stateroom number. The on-land login is not used onboard. That’s how the app will distinguish each guest’s phone.

 

[Keyser]

Awesome - thank you both very much.

 

[BruinEd03]

OK, so our family of 4 is going to be cruising (hopefully!) in a couple of days. We've all downloaded the app (Android), but I'm confused as to how it will work in practice (these might be stupid questions, that will be obvious, but I haven't tried it yet):

1) How do we all have "separate" views? There is just one reservation for all of us (and only one account in our family, under my name). Do we all log into the same reservation on the same account? If so, does the app determine who is who or something? I understand we are supposed to use the app to communicate with each other during the cruise, but I'm unclear how it will distinguish us. Will we be able to set separate activities, etc.?

2) How do you set up your phones regarding wifi and mobile data? Airplane mode is easy enough to set, but obviously we need to leave Wifi on. I do plan to use onboard Wifi for some things on my laptop, but don't want my phone accessing it and eating up free
2a) I don't remember how wifi access works - will I need to enter a password for non-navigator wifi so that I limit its use to my laptop, or do I have to be super-careful not to accidentally open an app on my phone?
2b) The app says that push notifications will still come through wifi with no charge. Is this what others have found?

Anything else I should be aware of? I'm still annoyed at the fact I have to use my phone on the cruise, when it would be much nicer to put it away, but I'm trying to figure out how to go with it.

1.) Each person will have a separate login based in part on the reservation number and their birthday. Each person on the reservation will have the same basic information loaded onto their account. E.g., dinner rotation. Each account will also have a unique chat ID. Furthermore, if you use your Disney Account while you aren't on the ship, you will only get your reservations, status of your check-in, activities that you have booked, activities you can book, and other pre-trip planning. It's essentially the "off-board" experience. Once you are onboard, you turn your phone to airplane mode, and connect the Wi-Fi to "DCL Guest" and select that you're on-board. That's when you get the "on-board" experience, which is when you can see your itinerary and all of the day's activities. This requires the login based in part on the reservation information and birthday. While in port, if you want to switch back to the "off-board" experience, just simply turn off airplane mode and disconnect from the "DCL Guest" Wi-Fi.
2b.) Yes, push notifications comes through even if you don't have a WiFi package. E.g., I was getting push notifications from my fantasy sports team even though I couldn't open the app and get the actual information.

Also, if you do have issues with the app, feel free to go to guest services. Issues with the app are not uncommon and it's been glitchy.

Probably not relevant to you since you're using Android, but iMessages will also go through, just not photos. So, you could text with people back home if you and they are using iMessages.

*edited* to note that a separate Disney Account is not needed for the onboard experience. Thanks to some astute posters.

 

[Marc D]

Contrary to what PP said, if members in your group only want to use the app onboard, they do not need to create a Disney account. The onboard version of the app does not use Disney login (which would require Internet access).

 

[BruinEd03]

Contrary to what PP said, if members in your group only want to use the app onboard, they do not need to create a Disney account. The onboard version of the app does not use Disney login (which would require Internet access).

Good catch. Just because my wife and I each had our own accounts doesn’t mean it requires it.