Ahoy, David!
Welcome back to planDisney, and thank you for your thoughtful questions regarding current
Disney Cruise Line procedures. We certainly are living in a whole new world since the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m happy to share with you what has changed since last year in preparation for your August sailing. I just enjoyed a cruise on the Disney Magic and am happy to report my experience as well as share where to look as you plan for your own vacation.
The
Oceaneer Club and
Oceaneer Lab are amazing
youth clubs onboard all Disney ships for ages 3-12 years old, and while they require registration during your Online Check-In process, they do not require an additional reservation to attend. Once registered and the children receive their bands onboard, you may drop them off at the clubs throughout your cruise whenever it is best for your family’s schedule. The exception to this is during the Open House hours when the space is open for all visitors to explore and learn about this immersive, imaginative space – there is no supervised care during the youth clubs' Open House events.
I’m happy to report that yes, the Pirates League is back at
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on
Pirate Night! I explored this space on the Disney Magic that evening, and they had Zombie Pirate, Blackbeard, Ship Shape, and Captain Jack makeover looks available in the fully transformed themed boutique as well as a variety of costumes and accessories. For your August 12, 2023 sailing aboard the
Disney Fantasy, Pirate Night is currently scheduled for Tuesday (Grand Cayman day) if you’d like to make an appointment when your activities booking window opens. Please note that entertainment is subject to change; in fact, our Pirate Night was recently moved the week of our sailing but the team at the Boutique thoughtfully shuffled everyone’s appointments to accommodate the new plan before our cruise.
Please continue to keep an eye on the
Know Before You Go page on the Disney Cruise Line website as policies and procedures may change over time based on current events and advisories. The U.S. Coast Guard currently has the ship back to normal operations, including a full in-person safety drill, but we’ve seen that things can change quickly.
I hope this helps you envision what to expect, and some things to look forward to for your summertime sailing, David! Please let us know if you have any additional questions as you dig into the details of this special vacation.
Wishing you a smooth sailing,
Amy