Hi Laura!
Wow, you packed a lot in that question! That just means you are wanting to make sure you have everything shipshape for your Disney cruise and don’t miss out on anything. I can totally relate to this way of thinking. Having our cruise details all arranged in advance means we can board the ship and get ready for all the fun activities and entertainment in store.
Let’s start with
Pirate Night, shall we? There are currently pirate experiences on all 4-night or longer cruises, so that means yes for your 5-night itinerary on the Disney Magic! Currently, there will be bandanas in your stateroom, pirate themed activities and a pirate menu during your rotational dining. Look out for a swashbuckling takeover of the dining room that evening!
As for character interactions, those will be plentiful throughout your cruise. You can expect the usual Disney pals like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy as well as princesses galore. Character appearances will be listed in the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, and you can even favorite them so you don’t miss a single opportunity.
Additionally, you will be on a
Marvel Day at Sea itinerary, so some of these characters are busier than others with their SHIELD duties and require a ticket to meet them. To reserve tickets before your cruise begins, visit "My Cruise Activities" for the at sea day that the Marvel Day at Sea falls on (usually that final at sea day). You can attend every ticketed character event once per cruise, and kids under 8 years must have a parent or guardian to attend. Do this as soon as your
advance booking window opens, based on your
Castaway Club level. Be mindful that you must also have your cruise paid in full.
Last but not least, you will have it made in the shade on
Castaway Cay even without a cabana. There are countless umbrellas so you can position the loungers or chairs under the shady spots. If that is what you really want, then I suggest that you head ashore sooner rather than later to pick a prime spot. The
current protocols are that Guests will log in to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to join the virtual queue to leave the ship. The virtual queue typically opens around 7:00-7:30 A.M. and the early bird gets to be part of the first wave of Guests to hit the island.
Laura, if you think of other questions, send them our way. Wishing you a MARVELous voyage from start to finish.
Happy Sailing!
Sherry