Hi there, Erin! Thanks for cruising by planDisney with your Disney Cruise Line question. Let’s make sure you’re in ship shape for your upcoming vacation!
You’re so smart to double-check your travel documents now. I had almost the exact same situation, and your question actually reminded me to look at my own upcoming reservation. Sure enough, I had forgotten to add the middle names of my adult children! A quick online chat with a Disney Cruise Line representative through the website solved it in minutes. She sent me an online form, I filled it out, and it was all set. You can also take care of this just as easily by
speaking to a DCL Cast Member over the phone.
While not having middle names on your reservation usually isn’t a dealbreaker, especially if your first and last names match your passport, it’s always best to have everything line up perfectly ahead of time. This way, there’s no risk of a delay when you board. During Online Check-In, you’ll upload a clear photo of each guest’s passport (just the page with the photo and full legal name), and a Cast Member will review it. If they see the middle name missing, they will usually update it to match your passport exactly.
Since we’re talking about Online Check-In, here are some tips that have helped me: the date you can check in depends on your
Castaway Club status or if you’re sailing Concierge. Pearl and Concierge Guests can check in 40 days before sailing, Platinum at 38 days, Gold at 35, Silver at 33, and first-time cruisers at 30 days. It opens at midnight Eastern time, so I like to have everything ready ahead of time: passport photos saved as JPGs, shoulders-up headshots with a plain background (no glasses or hats), flight details, emergency contact information, and the credit card I’ll use for onboard charges. Having it all prepped means I can check in quickly, choose my preferred Port Arrival Time, and then head back to bed!
Erin, I hope this helps you get everything squared away so your vacation starts off smooth sailing. If you think of anything else, we’re all ears!
Sea ya real soon,
Eean