Ahoy there, Margie!
I’m so happy to welcome you aboard planDisney! How fun that you have a Disney Cruise Line vacation planned for this summer! I also love that you’ll be traveling with a big group. It's always extra special to experience a cruise with family and friends.
My family does multi-generational Disney cruises pretty often, and we usually travel as a group of 12 with multiple staterooms. It works out so well because we can spend lots of time together enjoying all the fun onboard, but still have our own space to relax at the end of the day. It really is such a fun way to vacation, and I know you’re going to make some amazing memories together!
When it’s time to complete your online check-in, which opens 30 days before your sail date, each stateroom can either take care of their own check-in, or one person can handle them all, completing one at a time. From my experience, it’s usually easier if everyone does their own since it can take a little time to get through everything.
If you’re hoping to snag the same
Port Arrival Time, try to log in and complete check-in as close to midnight Eastern Time as possible on your assigned day. That really helps improve your chances of getting similar arrival windows. My family actually chooses to use
Disney ground transportation, which automatically gives us the same Port Arrival Time and boarding group, making the whole process even simpler.
If your times don’t line up perfectly, you can still board together; you’ll just need to wait until the later boarding group is called before heading onto the ship. And honestly, sometimes those later Port Arrival Times can be a bit less hectic, with smaller crowds and less time spent waiting in the terminal before boarding, which can make for a more relaxed start to your vacation.
I’m not sure which ship you’ll be sailing on or which destinations are on your itinerary, but one thing I can say with complete confidence is that the Disney Cruise Line experience is
truly something special. From the incredible theming and immersive details to the exceptional service and entertainment, everything is done with such care and attention. It really is top-notch, and there’s just nothing quite like it!
planDisney tip: One of my family’s favorite little traditions on every cruise is ordering warm chocolate chip cookies and milk from
room service at night. There’s something so cozy about ending the day with a sweet treat delivered right to your stateroom. It's the perfect way to wind down before drifting off to sleep.
Margie, before I sail off, I just had to share the
latest post from Disney Cruise Line on Instagram. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d recommend keeping a tissue handy. It's really a heartfelt, emotional one that tugs at your heartstrings. The visuals and the message are so moving, and it’s a beautiful reminder of the magic that makes these cruises so special. Thanks so much for stopping by and sailing by planDisney!
Sea ya real soon,
Kami