Ahoy, Vivian!
Welcome aboard planDisney! It sounds like you're already charting a course for adventure, and I’m so excited you sailed by with this question. One of the best things about planning a Disney cruise vacation is how customizable it is—you can go full throttle with activities from sun-up to “see ya real soon,” or you can sit back with a sea breeze and enjoy breakfast on your verandah, slippers and all. There’s no wrong way to cruise when you’re sailing with Captain Minnie!
Now let’s talk about booking through a third-party travel agency. While Disney Cruise Line rolls out the red carpet for every Guest, there are a few behind-the-scenes differences when you book through someone other than Disney directly.
When you book through a third-party, your reservation will still appear in your Disney Cruise Line account and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app—just make sure you link your reservation using your confirmation number if it does not automatically appear. Once that pixie dust settles, your sailing will be visible and ready for you to start planning your onboard fun when your booking window opens. That means you’ll be able to reserve Port Adventures, adult-exclusive dining, spa and salon treatments, and all the other magical extras that make Disney cruising so special.
However, if your reservation was made by a third-party, you won’t be able to
modify some parts of it yourself on the website or app. Think of it like letting Genie handle the lamp—you still get the wish, but the details are handled for you. Some things you'll need your travel professional’s help with include:
• Making payments
• Canceling or modifying your reservation
• Adding
ground transportation•
Pre-paying gratuitiesBut don't worry—there’s still so much you can do on your own! You can:
• Complete Online Check-In
• Request a table preference for dinner, as well as other special requests
• Change your dining time or join the waitlist
• Book all your
onboard fun and
Port Adventures once your window opens
Now, since you mentioned making onboard reservations, I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t steer you toward one of my favorite experiences at sea:
Palo Steakhouse (or Palo) brunch. On our recent sailing aboard
the Treasure, my wife and I dove fork-first into that incredible menu. From full-size Mickey waffles to parmesan-crusted chicken that dreams are made of, it’s like Lumière himself is in the kitchen saying, “Be our Guest!”
I hope this helps you feel a little more anchored as you prepare for your magical sailing! Whether you’re cruising through the Caribbean, the Med, or somewhere in between, your adventure is just around the riverbend—and planDisney is always here to help guide your ship.
Sea ya real soon with a splash of April fun and a boatload of Disney magic,
Dustin