Ahoy, Caitlin! I'm thrilled to hEAR that you are considering sailing with Captain Mickey for the very first time! I hope my answer motivates you to wave your magic wand and book that Disney Dream cruise.
You will find there is so much fun and pixie dust onboard, especially when traveling with little ones! I can understand why you want to ensure you can pre-book many activities and experiences that will appeal to you and your family, especially with a two-year-old in tow!
For your toddler, the "
it's a small world" nursery is available for playtime. Nursery time requires an additional fee and spots do fill quickly, so be sure to make your reservations as soon as your
advance booking window opens.
I recently chatted with another guest about
activities available for two-year-olds. From water playgrounds like
Nemo's Reef to
Mickey's Pool, your kiddo can expect a splashing good time! Not to mention all the fabulous deck parties, Broadway caliber shows, and character meet and greets.
As you probably know, some of the
Character Greetings are ticketed events. To reserve tickets before your cruise begins, visit "My Cruise Activities" within your advance booking window. When reserving tickets, if a specific time is unavailable, try selecting another day and/or time. Keep the faith: a limited number of tickets may be available on the first day of your cruise. I'd suggest you check with Guest Services first thing after you board to find out if there is availability. You may be able to get tickets faster than you can say "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"
Some of my most cherished memories are my kids' character interactions with their favorites, Cinderella and Peter Pan. I think my son believed that after meeting him that he too could fly! Characters as always are happy to sign autographs if you bring something special onboard for signatures.
As far as boarding times, once you check-in at Port Canaveral, you'll receive a boarding number and can board the ship once that number is called. This number does correspond with your
Port Arrival Time, so you'll want to arrive close to that assigned time. The earlier the boarding number, the sooner you can start that DREAM vacation!
Wishing you lots of luck as you make your plans. Cruise back by the Disney Parks Moms Panel if you have any more questions.
Happy Sailing!
Sherry