The Disney Cruise App on board...did you use it/like it?

[tee11]

I'm asking this because last time we couldn't get the app to work on board... but I also found the phones a bit cumbersome to carry around, and I was always stressing about loosing them... so when I saw that the app now supports on board texting between passengers via free wifi, I thought this is too good to be true!

Is it working? Please add which ship and when it was working (or not), and what feature you used (texting? maps? show times?)

 

[disneyfab]

On the Dream the other week and it worked great for us. We didn't use the wave phones at all. Sometimes message were either delayed or we didn't get a notification, but if we were expecting a message, we would just check anyway. Apparently if the app is running in the background or closes, this can happen. We used it for messaging, maps, activities/character meets/shows/movies & menus. You could also mark events & the app would send you a reminder about it - dd did this for character meets.

You can't "call" disney services like the spa or room service on the app. I read that you can do this with the wave phones. That feature would have been nice for room service. Also, it didn't have paid extras like wine tasting or mixology or ticketed events like the meet & greets. So, be sure to know where you are going beforehand.

Just note, the app only works on the ship and will not work even if you have data off the ship. Our cell carrier has international data and when we were in port trying to look up a time or message each other, the app did not work.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm asking this because last time we couldn't get the app to work on board...

What was going on that you couldn't get it to work?

We first used the app on Dream in 2014, then in 2015, and it worked just fine. Download it before the ship sets sail (while you absolutely positively are still using US cell services), launch it. I can't even really remember how it got working between the 3 of us, because it was so easy and seamless. It's the best bit of tech I've ever seen from Disney, and I'm not being sarcastic and saying that it's horrid but at least it's better than the other things they've made that are worse than horrid.

You do want to open the app all the way every so often if you're expecting texts, because it sometimes has a hard time updating you about texts. But then the wifi-based text app that DS uses at home, whatsapp, has a hard time with that, too!

 

[tee11]

That sounds great!

I'm not sure WHY it wasn't working, but I had followed the instructions to the T. Had downloaded it ahead of time, etc. Was not working at all on board (except showing zero days until your next cruise - Ha!). It was in 2014 on Dream and Wonder. This was shortly after it had been rolled out, and didn't have chat/texting.

For those that used it - if you have kids in the clubs/nursery, you must still carry the phones though, right? Or can/will they now text you from the kids' clubs as well? Thanks!

 

[Jennifer777]

We liked the app but still used the phone when the kids were in the club. The app was nice for staying in touch with members of our family while we were on board and it was so helpful to look days ahead at the menus and some of the activities so we could make plans. The only thing I didn't like was not getting notifications of any messages if the app wasn't open. We had to continue opening the app to check for any messages. If your app doesn't work again next time, visit guest services for some tips on getting it to work.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We just got off the Dream June 25. We used the app every day and I loved it! I would use it to check what menus every night and times for different activities. We didn't use it often, but the texting worked great for us. I carried my phone everywhere to use as a camera, so it was nice that I didn't have to carry around the wave phone also.
I don't know about the kids clubs, we didn't use them, so sorry I can't help you there

 

[thegales]

We used the app on the Fantasy in June. In the past, we always carried around the navigators to keep track of things. This time, we used the app all the time, and barely picked up the paper copies. We were able to set favorites, and then get a reminder before hand. I actually thought the mixology classes were on the app as well, but maybe I am remembering incorrectly. It was nice to see the menus, and to see what time different places closed at night.

The messaging worked great for three out of four of us. The fourth would sometimes not get messages. As others said, it does not work off the ship, including Castaway Cay. Our daughters and friends were so used to the app while on the ship, they struggled (just a little bit) when on Castaway Cay and were not able to message each other. We never touched the Wave phones, but did not have any need to call the ship services while wondering around the ship.

To the OP, there is also a station next to DVC sales that has a tech for helping getting your phone to work. Based on your description of it continuing to say 0 days until your cruise, it sounds like you did not get hooked up to the DCL wireless network. Once you hook up to the network, it downloads all the navigator data.

And a final recommendation. The app also does not work while you are in the terminal. Once you get on the ship (while ship is still at the port), connect to the network. When you open the app, go to your message settings (can't remember exactly what it is called). Each guest has a six digit identification number. Take a screen shot of your number, then disconnect from DCL network and connect to your wireless carrier (you might need to go to a top deck). Share this number in any social networking groups you belong to, and hopefully others in your group also share. Take note of your friends numbers, and enter them in your phone. This way, you can text them directly. You could also share numbers if you have a day 1 meet and greet.

 

[belac]

Love the App. Hardly used phone except when DS went to kids club. In May Clubs still used phone as communications.

 

[su_A_ve]

This past June, used it on the Wonder. The wave phones stayed in the stateroom all the time.

 

[Control4Hermosa]

Used it last year exclusively and plan to do the same this year.

 

[bumbershoot]

That sounds great!

I'm not sure WHY it wasn't working, but I had followed the instructions to the T. Had downloaded it ahead of time, etc. Was not working at all on board (except showing zero days until your next cruise - Ha!). It was in 2014 on Dream and Wonder. This was shortly after it had been rolled out, and didn't have chat/texting.

For those that used it - if you have kids in the clubs/nursery, you must still carry the phones though, right? Or can/will they now text you from the kids' clubs as well? Thanks!

That's so weird!

DS was 10 during the app cruises, and we didn't touch the Wave phones (except to TRY to send a text on one, only to discover that the part of my brain that remembered how to use those phones had been erased LOL). DS had (still does) an old android phone with no SIM but gets wifi, so he connected to the app as well. He took his phone to the club and when he was ready to go he texted us. Until now I never thought about the counselors trying to get in touch with us, which might happen if he got hurt, but I'm not sure I personally would worry about that for my son at the gave that he was (and is now). I totally get why others in the same situation, and of course in different situations, would worry. Just saying that I didn't think of it.


Besides that I especially loved having all the Navigators at my fingertips. One use of that by us was to see how often Jack Sparrow was meeting, to know if we needed to swap on-ship activities or just wait until the island to meet him.

there is also a station next to DVC sales that has a tech for helping getting your phone to work.

That is great info!

 

[TestingH2O]

We used it a lot in May. It was a great help and I loved being able to highlight events. For instance, if a character meet and greet was at the same time as something else we wanted to do, I could easily see if there would be another chance to see that character and prioritize.

Messaging worked, but we really didn't need it that much.

 

[Sytrace]

I have used the app in the past onboard, but I tend to leave my phone turned off and in the safe these days. The number one reason we like to cruise is so that we can unplug for a week or so and not be tied to a phone. However, on our first couple of cruises when I used it, I found it worked really well and was really easy and user friendly.
Back then I used it primarily to see menus and see entertainment times and options for all of us. I didn't use it for texting though as my husband and kids just leave their cell phones at home and have since the very first cruise.
We will use the wave phones if we need to and to keep the kids in contact with us as needed.

I use the paper navigator and highlighters in different colors to keep track of kids club events, movies, activities etc that we want to do. Since the menu doesn't change, I usually can recall what food is on the menu from the last time and if I forget, I just run downstairs and look at the menu posted at the entrance.

 

[MUN]

I'm asking this because last time we couldn't get the app to work on board... but I also found the phones a bit cumbersome to carry around, and I was always stressing about loosing them... so when I saw that the app now supports on board texting between passengers via free wifi, I thought this is too good to be true!

Is it working? Please add which ship and when it was working (or not), and what feature you used (texting? maps? show times?)

Yes, we used it on our 2 most recent DCL cruises and it worked great. We don't use the wave phones anymore.

 

[Drusilla99]

I first used the app April 2015 and it worked ok...messages came in immediately sometimes, others took hours. We still used the wave phones and even rented a third for our second teen. It was the same may 2015. Just got off the wonder last week, and they worked great. Messages popped up immediately and I received notifications when my favorite activities were about to happen. No need for the wave phones.

 

[phinz]

My friend's favorite part of the app was the fact that he could see the menu better than he could on the actual menu. He wound up just using his phone to order every day.

 

[Judyat]

We used it on our May PC Disney cruise. We loved it and it worked great.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I did use it, as did my mom and daughter last week. There is things written in the navigator that does not make it into the app. Like how you need to sign up for the family talent show. You need to read the navigator without it you'll miss things and sometimes the titles of events don't give enough info.

 

[OKW Lover]

Used it in February, wasn't impressed. The texting feature is difficult to set up and once set up lost everything the next day. We just gave up on that. I did occasionally use it to look at the menu which worked OK.

 

[kiford]

We used it on the Magic in July 2015. We used it to text with friends who we were cruising with - sometimes there was a delay so we didn't always get the messages on time. Mainly, though, we used it instead of the printed Navigator to track what was going on and what we wanted to do. The reminder feature was nice. I also checked the menus occasionally.