Tips from our Dream Cruise that ended yesterday.

[Laine Anderson]

So this was our first Disney Cruise and I tried to soak up as much information as possible before we cruised and some of the advice came in really handy. We also opted to participate in the Fish Extender Gift Exchange which was so much fun - my girls loved checking their pockets each day for new trinkets. They were so cute!

Shutters:

The one topic I failed to inquire about and thus was less prepared for than I would have liked, is how to get your cruise photos through Shutters. I figured that I'd use the force when it came time to purchase anything if we actually liked it. The first thing you need to know is that Shutters will be ravaged by patrons on the last day/night of the cruise. They close at 11:30pm and are open again at 7am on debarkation day.

If I had it to do over, I'd go through my photos at the kiosk a couple times a day (just for about 5-10 min) and 'favorite' the ones we like. You should also use the 'photo finder' button because not all photos make it into your account. You can search by time of day, location and type of photo (restaurant, character meets, etc..). Just keep in mind that when you find a photo and have it added to your account, it could take up to 2 hours for it to actually show up there.

If you want to make a purchase, the check-out counters at either end of the Shutters area is for picking up your items or buying prints from your folder that were already waiting for you. If you want to choose photos from your account and buy them, you'll need to do that at the kiosks first and then pick-up at the counters. On the last day/night of the cruise, it will become increasingly hard to get a kiosk since everyone else will be there too.

One thing that's really nice, is for the character meets, they take a photo for you and then the character automatically turns toward mom or dad so we can take our own photos. So you get to take your own all over the ship AND have the option of buying the ones the photogs shot. Just be sure to have your KTTW card handy and ready to give to the cast members. It will make the line go faster for everyone.

According to a cast member onboard, you won't have access to these photos once you leave the cruise even if you have a Magicband from a resort/park visit. Those are 2 different types of accounts.

Digital photos are available and they have USB flashdrives available too, so you aren't locked into buying just actual prints. They are also about $5 more expensive per image.

Kids' Club:

One little tip, if your child is there during a mealtime, they get to eat even without a reservation or heads up to the staff beforehand. I always thought we'd have to get them for meals and then realized they were already getting something to eat. You can also get their meal to-go at dinner from your server in case they don't like what was served at the kids club.

Disney Cruise App:

GET IT!!!! You'll get a paper copy of the Navigator each night for the next day's activities but it was so much handier to have it available on my phone. I could search category (dining, character, activities) and by age group (kids, adults, teens) so it makes finding things by time, location on the ship, etc.. way faster than trying to search the paper.

First Timers:

Buy a lanyard to bring with you because you won't get one for your KTTW card like my husband thought, those are reserved for veteran cruisers with DCL. They'll come in handy for clothes without pockets, like swimsuits.

Express Check-Out:

Didn't know it was available until the day before the trip and I'm glad we did that and got a car service to the airport instead of letting the crew off load our luggage. You will find it harder to get an elevator since there were lots of other people with luggage taking up real estate but we got off the boat so fast. Totally worth it. You just need to keep your luggage in the room the night before debarkation and you can't get any help with it, you'll be responsible for it yourself.

Those are just the things I either didn't search for, didn't find when I did search or didn't think to look for but if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to try and help.

 

[bceagle76]

between cc and dcl and that fact i dont use the laynard i am always giving mine away as alot of other cruisers do

 

[Laine Anderson]

ONE MORE THING!

Palo / Remy

We didn't go to dinner at either of these restaurants so I can't say how good the food was or if it's worth the $$$, but I can tell you that the main dining rooms are very loud. With all the dishes clanking, people talking, toddlers throwing tantrums and babies crying, it's a very chaotic place to eat a meal. I can totally see the benefit of eating at one of these restaurants if for nothing else, a little peace and quiet.

 

[gemduncan]

I didn't know about the Express Checkout. Great tips! Do you pay extra for it? If we do the Disney Shuttle from the port to MCO airport, can we do the express checkout? What time do you have to get off the ship for express? Anything different on express vs regular in regards to going through customs? Sorry for all the questions. We are going on 4 night Dream at end of February. This will be our first cruise.

 

[gemduncan]

ONE MORE THING!

Palo / Remy

We didn't go to dinner at either of these restaurants so I can't say how good the food was or if it's worth the $$$, but I can tell you that the main dining rooms are very loud. With all the dishes clanking, people talking, toddlers throwing tantrums and babies crying, it's a very chaotic place to eat a meal. I can totally see the benefit of eating at one of these restaurants if for nothing else, a little peace and quiet.

We are scheduled for main dining. Do you think late dining would have been less chaotic and noisy?

 

[Laine Anderson]

We are scheduled for main dining. Do you think late dining would have been less chaotic and noisy?

We ate at 5:45pm but we were around the entrances to the dining rooms for the later one and they appear to be just as crowded. Logic would say that it would be a little quieter because kids need to get into bed around that time, our kids usually go to bed at 8pm, but this is a vacation and lots of kids were up late into the night all over the ship. There were lots of activities that started at 10:30pm and they were all packed with people, so I wouldn't count on it necessarily being quieter at 8:30pm as opposed to 5:45pm.

 

[love~disney]

What shuttle service did you use from the Cruise back to the airport?

 

[cruisehopeful]

We are scheduled for main dining. Do you think late dining would have been less chaotic and noisy?

I've always had late dining and there hasn't seemed to be a lot of babies or very small children. It is still very loud, though. We opt out of the dining rooms sometimes because of that.

I've walked by the dining rooms after 9:00pm a few times when we've skipped our dinners and I can hear the "loudness" in the hallway. I think I am more sensitive to loud restaurants than most people.

 

[Laine Anderson]

I didn't know about the Express Checkout. Great tips! Do you pay extra for it? If we do the Disney Shuttle from the port to MCO airport, can we do the express checkout? What time do you have to get off the ship for express? Anything different on express vs regular in regards to going through customs? Sorry for all the questions. We are going on 4 night Dream at end of February. This will be our first cruise.

You don't pay extra for it and you don't have to plan ahead for it. The day before you depart you'll receive your luggage tags but we just didn't use them or put our luggage out for pick up. We kept it with us and left the room at 6:45am and we were off the ship right when they opened the doors. I don't think there was a special time you HAD to exit with express check-out, you just had to handle your own luggage.

Getting through customs wasn't any different, we were just there fairly early and didn't have to wait but about 10 min or so. It was a pretty quick process.

We didn't take the Disney Shuttle so I can't answer that one, I also don't remember seeing it at the curb when we left. Most of the people that were leaving headed to the parking garage to their cars or were being picked up by friends/family.

SPECIAL NOTE: Every member of your party will need their KTTW card in order to exit the boat, you have to scan it at the exit but then you can keep them if you're a scrapbooker. I'm sure there are people that forgot theirs or lost them but they asked for it from each person.

 

[Laine Anderson]

What shuttle service did you use from the Cruise back to the airport?

We took a car service: Orlando Airport Town Car service orlandoairporttowncar@gmail.com

Eileen was our driver and she was very nice,

 

[DisneyNDecember]

We are using the DCL transfers back to the airport.
If you have a participating airline, then you can participate in the Onboard Airline Check-In Program & then the cruise line will take your checked bags to the airline & check you in.
Correct me if I am wrong...

 

[gemduncan]

You don't pay extra for it and you don't have to plan ahead for it. The day before you depart you'll receive your luggage tags but we just didn't use them or put our luggage out for pick up. We kept it with us and left the room at 6:45am and we were off the ship right when they opened the doors. I don't think there was a special time you HAD to exit with express check-out, you just had to handle your own luggage.

Getting through customs wasn't any different, we were just there fairly early and didn't have to wait but about 10 min or so. It was a pretty quick process.

We didn't take the Disney Shuttle so I can't answer that one, I also don't remember seeing it at the curb when we left. Most of the people that were leaving headed to the parking garage to their cars or were being picked up by friends/family.

SPECIAL NOTE: Every member of your party will need their KTTW card in order to exit the boat, you have to scan it at the exit but then you can keep them if you're a scrapbooker. I'm sure there are people that forgot theirs or lost them but they asked for it from each person.

Thank you! This is very helpful!

 

[jdb in AZ]

We are using the DCL transfers back to the airport.
If you have a participating airline, then you can participate in the Onboard Airline Check-In Program & then the cruise line will take your checked bags to the airline & check you in.
Correct me if I am wrong...

When you register for Onboard Airline Check-In, you are entitled to:
Receive your boarding passes and check your luggage for your return flight before you disembark the ship
Skip luggage claim at the port terminal
Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport
Here's how it works: Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line® and sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in for your cruise at the port. On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will magically be delivered to your stateroom, along with a letter answering common questions you may have. Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom the evening prior to disembarkation. Disney Cruise Line® will collect and deliver your luggage to your airline. When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, proceed to security with your boarding passes already in hand and continue on to your scheduled departure gate. It's that simple!

Available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United (but not Ted) Airlines and US Airways it's the perfect ending to a magical cruise vacation! Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Guests are limited to two bags per person and each piece must not exceed 50 lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and unable to use this service.

 

[mevelandry]

ONE MORE THING!

Palo / Remy

We didn't go to dinner at either of these restaurants so I can't say how good the food was or if it's worth the $$$, but I can tell you that the main dining rooms are very loud. With all the dishes clanking, people talking, toddlers throwing tantrums and babies crying, it's a very chaotic place to eat a meal. I can totally see the benefit of eating at one of these restaurants if for nothing else, a little peace and quiet.

Hi! We were on the same cruise!

For us, the main reason is: the food in Palo and Remy is wayyyyy better than the dining rooms (we find most Cabanas food to be better than most of the dining rooms).

We find Royal Palace more quiet than the other dining rooms...

 

[mevelandry]

We ate at 5:45pm but we were around the entrances to the dining rooms for the later one and they appear to be just as crowded. Logic would say that it would be a little quieter because kids need to get into bed around that time, our kids usually go to bed at 8pm, but this is a vacation and lots of kids were up late into the night all over the ship. There were lots of activities that started at 10:30pm and they were all packed with people, so I wouldn't count on it necessarily being quieter at 8:30pm as opposed to 5:45pm.

We were in the second seating (8:15 pm) ... The first night was quiet, our neighbours were asleep on the table. We dined at Palo and Remy the next nights but on the last (enchanted garden), it was very noisy and chaotic.

 

[sleepydog25]

I've cruised a few times, and your tips are spot on. To comment on a few items, I especially agree with the poster regarding Palo and Remy. They are adult-only, so that can be an issue if you're traveling with small kids. However, the food is marvelous at both, most especially Remy. I also agree with the Cabanas recommendation as in many ways the food there is fresher and better than the main dining restaurants. Finally, for the express check-out, we've used it the last two times and loved it. We keep the bags in the room, and then for breakfast the next day we just haul them with us. As soon as we're ready to leave, we just head down to Customs without worrying about trudging through the valleys of stored luggage.

 

[Savikins]

We are scheduled for main dining. Do you think late dining would have been less chaotic and noisy?

I've always done late dining and it's never been that loud in my opinion. Then again, I'm a loud person, haha.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

ONE MORE THING!

Palo / Remy

We didn't go to dinner at either of these restaurants so I can't say how good the food was or if it's worth the $$$, but I can tell you that the main dining rooms are very loud. With all the dishes clanking, people talking, toddlers throwing tantrums and babies crying, it's a very chaotic place to eat a meal. I can totally see the benefit of eating at one of these restaurants if for nothing else, a little peace and quiet.

Last summer, my MIL took the ladies of the family and their children on a cruise. I knew it would be a crazy time with just the 10 of us, but multiply that by about a thousand and that is dinner in the MDR's every night. I knew I wanted to try brunch at Palo, and I decided to invite my MIL as a thank you for the trip. I remember walking into the beautiful restaurant and it was so peaceful. It was AMAZING!!! That was seriously the most notable thing, the quiet. We sat there for a couple of hours, just enjoying the wonderful quiet, the breathtaking view, the delicious food, and the phenomenal service. We both enjoyed everything about the meal. She even went back to her room after brunch to read and enjoy some more quiet time. My family and I (just 3 of us this time) will be doing a cruise on the Dream next summer, and I will be sure to do brunch again!

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely be sure to pick up a lanyard. I'll be at wdw before the cruise so I'll get one then. Do they sell special ones on the ship?

 

[southerngirl528]

Thanks for the trip report, Laine. Sounds like you had a very nice time!

I've been on 10 Disney cruises, almost all at least a week in length and all but one so far on the "Classic" ships, having sailed once on a 4 night on the Dream. I too think 2nd dining is not as noisy for the most part but that time is too late for most families with younger children. And some will disagree but I think the sheer size of the dining rooms on the Dream class ships is a definite contributor to the noise levels at either dining time. At least that was my observation. We'll be going on a weekend getaway on the Dream again at the first of the year, I'll have to see if that still seems to be the case.