What is included?

[Stephandy03]

Good to know, thanks! What about chocolate milk? Orange juice?

My kids drank chocolate milk, apple juice, and cranberry juice throughout the cruise for free.

 

[antlawn]

Good to know, thanks! What about chocolate milk? Orange juice?

No extra charge for milk or juices.

 

[Four Swampers]

Good to know, thanks! What about chocolate milk? Orange juice?

With sit-down meals, any sort of "standard" drink would be included. Including soda, juice, milk, and chocolate milk. They also have one that is either known as a "kiddie cocktail" or a "Shirley Temple" (can't remember which) that is Sprite with a little cherry juice and some maraschino cherries. They will typically put four or five maraschino cherries in the drink, unless your child mentions that s/he really likes the cherries. The they put in as many cherries as the glass holds, plus maybe a side bowl of cherries!

Any drink that would require a fair bit of prep, like a smoothie or a virgin daiquiri or something like that, will be charged.

Bringing a tumbler to take soda to your spot by the pool or your room is pretty acceptable. Again, soda is included with meals, so no need to bring soda to meals.

It is impossible to eat all the food. Other posters haven't even managed to mention all the food choices! In addition to room service, restaurants, buffet, and quick service restaurants, snacks are often put out in the sports bar, the Cove Café coffee shop, and in Preludes. I once ordered a half order of fries from Pluto's Dog House (on the Wonder. Now known as Pete's Boiler Bites on the Magic). I was a little annoyed that he gave me a full order of fries, as I would now have to waste some. The next day, I did not bother to ask for a half order; I then discovered what a full order really is!! Went back to half orders.

The cruise industry has a long history of two things: feeding you too much and selling you lots of alchohol. Disney is pretty much in line with both traditions.

 

[NAB]

Chocolate milk is in little cartons and only at Cabana's not the drink station. The restaurant they will put it in class or bring the little cartons out . One cruise we were on actually ran out of chocolate milk by the last day.

The juice is dispensed in Cabana's as well not at the drink station.

 

[crisi]

With sit-down meals, any sort of "standard" drink would be included. Including soda, juice, milk, and chocolate milk. They also have one that is either known as a "kiddie cocktail" or a "Shirley Temple" (can't remember which) that is Sprite with a little cherry juice and some maraschino cherries. They will typically put four or five maraschino cherries in the drink, unless your child mentions that s/he really likes the cherries. The they put in as many cherries as the glass holds, plus maybe a side bowl of cherries!

The will usually also do a virgin sunrise for free (orange juice and maraschino cherry juice).

When we cruised my son had a thing for maraschino cherries - our waiter would bring out 20 for him at meal times.

We call the cruise "hobbit eating" - there is first breakfast and second breakfast, elevensies, luncheon, tea, dinner, supper....

There are a few things that can run up the bill....

The spa is not free - and sort of pricey. I like to take an extra day off work before we fly down and have a local spa day - I don't waste six hours of ship time getting a massage, facial, mani and pedi - I'm exfoliated pre-cruise and my toes are already set for sandals - and its half the cost.

Tips are not included and while I don't want to get into a tip discussion, you should understand that it is pretty much the only salary the staff gets - room, board, a very small stipend, and tips.

Photos can run up your bill.

Tux rental, should you choose to go formal for formal night.

Alcohol has been talked about - it isn't terribly overpriced, although a lot of cruise drinks are high on mixer and low on booze.

Arcade.

EXCURSIONS - Whether you rent snorkel gear at Castaway Cay or take a glass bottom boat tour, or swim with dolphins - its extra - again, in my opinion - pricey. You don't have to book through DCL for excursions, however, you should know that if you get caught in traffic on a non-DCL excursion, you can literally miss the boat - so if you are going any distance, book through the cruise line. If its close, people here can give you good recommendations for vendors that are less costly.

Anything you do off the ship (except on Castaway Cay), of course. If you are in Nassau and want to have lunch out. I suppose that is obvious.

Also obvious - shopping - whether on ship or off.

Know that movie candy and popcorn by the theatre has a cost attached to it. You'll figure that out, but if you tell your kids that all food is free, you might end up spending $100 on Junior Mints and Dots.

(Speaking of which - depending on how old your kids are, they may need full supervision, or at a certain age, they get their own checkout privileges from the tween and teen clubs whether you want it or not - which functionally gives them run of the ship with only your rules and guidance. If you have tweens and teens - its important they understand not only what is included, but your household rules. Otherwise, you may have kids that drink gallons of Coke, charge dozens of smoothies, pick ice cream for lunch over the ever so occasional sandwich and fruit, and leave you with a $200 arcade bill).

There is a surcharge on adult restaurants.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

What are some workarounds for things that normally cost extra?

If you bring your own cups, I'm assuming you call fill them at the soda fountain before you go to dinner (where soda would be extra?)?

What about snacks at the movies? What's good to pick up and bring there rather than paying for snacks?

Any other money-saving tips?

You don't really need any work arounds, if you want a snack at the movies, bring in some chicken strips or fries, or grapes, or cookies, or ice cream, or pizza ...! You can take the food anywhere. If you have to have Junior Mints during a movie, then bring a bunch on board and take them in, they aren't searching you for non-approved snacks at all.

The only problem is if you want fresh popcorn, there was a post that the Fantasy has a popcorn station, but I haven't heard anything about the other ships, and it costs extra anyway.

 

[ocspartan]

What are some workarounds for things that normally cost extra?

If you bring your own cups, I'm assuming you call fill them at the soda fountain before you go to dinner or if you order room service (where soda would be extra?)?

What about snacks at the movies? What's good to pick up and bring there rather than paying for snacks?

Any other money-saving tips?

Standard drinks (including anything you can get from the drink station) would be included already when you are in the MDR so no need...

Work around for things that cost extra.... don't use anything that costs extra, there is plenty of food and drinks that are included

 

[crisi]

What are some workarounds for things that normally cost extra?

If you bring your own cups, I'm assuming you call fill them at the soda fountain before you go to dinner or if you order room service (where soda would be extra?)?

What about snacks at the movies? What's good to pick up and bring there rather than paying for snacks?

Any other money-saving tips?

If you are going to drink, and want to save some money, bring a bottle on board - perfectly ok with DCL as long as you bring it in your carryon and not your checked luggage. You can bring a case of soda for your room if you are going to be big room service soda drinkers (or if you have a preference for something not on board). Putting a little Jack in a topped cup and topping it off with coke from the beverage station can be a saver. There is a corkage fee if you bring your own wine into the dining rooms, but you can pour a glass in your room out of your own bottle.

Consider booking excursions on your own. Watch what I said about return times - make sure you book something that gets back an hour or more before the ship departs....probably more....just in case.

Consider a "pre-cruise" spa trip. Cheaper and your pedi is ready for boarding.

If you have, or can borrow, snorkel gear, bring it.

Bring your own camera and take lots of photos.

If you wanted snacks for the movies, you could bring some - picking up Junior Mints at Target or whatever your movie snack is. Honestly, there is so much food on board and so much to do that I've never felt peckish watching a show or a movie - and you might not get to very many movies.

The biggest issue may be that while food is plentiful, it isn't necessarily at your fingertips - the ship is huge and there are several places to get food, but the ship is huge.

Make sure your kids understand whatever rules you have set out for charging - if they are permitted one smoothie a day or no smoothies at all, if they are allowed arcade money or the arcade is forbidden (there are video games in the kids clubs). Review the room service menu with them and highlight what there is an added fee for. And make sure you plan for tips if you use room service.

Make sure to pack the sundries you'll need. Sunscreen is expensive on board. Picking up a swimsuit because you forgot yours is expensive. Discovering that you need feminine products you didn't pack, or running out of diapers - expensive.

Skip Bingo, avoid the art auction, don't go to a DVC sales pitch, and don't let your wife walk into a jewelers in the Bahamas.


Finally, and I have to say this - the biggest money saving tip is to book a different line - Disney cruises are wonderful, but they charge a premium for the name and Mickey and the Princesses - and seldom really discount. You can get great deals on cruises - on other lines.

 

[NAB]

What are some workarounds for things that normally cost extra?

If you bring your own cups, I'm assuming you call fill them at the soda fountain before you go to dinner or if you order room service (where soda would be extra?)?

What about snacks at the movies? What's good to pick up and bring there rather than paying for snacks?

Any other money-saving tips?

You don't really need to bring cups with you they have cups at the drink station. Granted they are not big but they are fine with us and you get a normal size glass in the dining rooms with as many refills as you want. Only cans cost extra at the bars and room service.

Smoothies are extra in the show theater and they have Preludes outside that one where they sell candy and popcorn. I did hear they are selling fresh popcorn for the movie theater so that would be extra,candy too, they sell can pop outside there but just bring one from the drinking station.

 

[NAB]

(Speaking of which - depending on how old your kids are, they may need full supervision, or at a certain age, they get their own checkout privileges from the tween and teen clubs whether you want it or not - which functionally gives them run of the ship with only your rules and guidance. If you have tweens and teens - its important they understand not only what is included, but your household rules. Otherwise, you may have kids that drink gallons of Coke, charge dozens of smoothies, pick ice cream for lunch over the ever so occasional sandwich and fruit, and leave you with a $200 arcade bill).

This one is easy to stop, just take the charging privilages off the card. They really do not need to be charging anything. You can buy arcade card for them separately , we did this but ended up trying to use it up at the end because they played games in clubs and didn't need it.

 

[MichaelColey]

Awesome tips!

We're definitely going to bring some larger insulated cups, so we can bring sodas into the movies, to the pool, or back to our rooms. I often go through a couple Sonic Route 44's a day, so a little 8 or 12 ounce cup just won't do.

Do they have tea at the drink stations?

We'll probably hit the movies several times. We don't get time away from the kids very often, so the kids club will be a huge treat for us (and the kids). We've probably only seen a couple movies without the kids in the past 10 years. We're not candy eaters, but popcorn will be tempting. We'll have to see if chicken strips, fries or fruit might help us resist the urge.

We won't be putting charging privileges on the kid's keys.

The gourmet coffee drinks might also be tempting, but I guess we could always mix milk, coffee and sugar and get just about the same thing.

It sounds like most of the other "not included" stuff are things we don't really have a desire to do anyway, so we shouldn't have to spend much additional.

 

[crisi]

This one is easy to stop, just take the charging privilages off the card. They really do not need to be charging anything. You can buy arcade card for them separately , we did this but ended up trying to use it up at the end because they played games in clubs and didn't need it.

If you want them to have zero charging privileges, that works. If you want them to be able to buy some things (e.g. smoothies) but not go whole hog, then you need to talk to your kids.

 

[meuseman]

Do they have tea at the drink stations?

Yes - Tea bags and hot water, plus unsweetened iced tea from the machine (it's syrup-based, not actual brewed iced tea, but at least it's unsweetened).

There is also a small hors d'ouerve set-up on the Dream in the District. Not sure of the hours. Hot picky food and small desserts. Also no extra charge.

 

[MichaelColey]

So another related question...

What are some other "included" things that might not be obvious?

Here are some I've read about (and some of them may be obvious to you):

The kids club is a HUGE plus to us.

There's also a kid's club on CC!

I've read about the pillowcase / frame signing. We're not that into autographs, but we might do that anyway for a cheap souvenir.

If you want coffee on disembarkation day you can have room service deliver a carafe the evening before (and that it should still be hot in the morning).

24 hour room service.

 

[cris0809]

What are some other "included" things that might not be obvious?

You can order Mickey ice cream bars (like you buy in the parks) from room service or get them in the dining rooms at dinner; both are free.

 

[oldshovelhead]

Okay...now you all made me hungry! We leave our house for our next cruise in just 27 days and I'm already dreaming about what I'm going to eat...

 

[mrslfc]

Sorry if this is a stupid question!
Can you get fruit juice and chocolate milk from Cabana all day or only at certain times, also can you get these from room service at no extra charge?

 

[NAB]

Sorry if this is a stupid question!
Can you get fruit juice and chocolate milk from Cabana all day or only at certain times, also can you get these from room service at no extra charge?

Cabana does close some time in the afternoon to get ready for dinner but yes you can get it anytime. If you don't see it out just ask for it and someone will get it for you.

Yes you can order it though room service free. Milk and cookies at night are great. Not sure about the juice since I never ordered it, my guess would be yes since you can get it for breakfast off the menu.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Easier to do it this way.

Everything is included except:

Alcoholic beverages
Photos or photo packages
Specialty beverages (smoothies, specialty coffee or tea)
Packaged snacks
Soda in cans from room service or any beverages ordered from bars
Alternate adult dining (Palo or Remy)
Bingo
Arcade
Bottled water
Shore excursions
Spa services
Hair salon
Souvenirs
Special orders (birthday cakes, in-room gift packages, special platters, florist)
Special experiences (like the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique or pirate makeover or the Royal Tea they're doing on the Fantasy now)
Private cabanas (Castaway Cay)
Float and watercraft rental (Castaway Cay)
Snorkel equipment rental (Castaway Cay)

 

[LilacBarries]

If you want pictures with any of the characters and don't want to pay the premium photo package prices just hand the CM your camera and they'll take a photo with that too