Ahoy there, Omar! Welcome aboard planDisney! I'm so excited that you are looking to take your crew of five on an exciting adventure on the high seas next summer! July is such a great time to sail: warm weather, bright sun, and long days that turn into breezy nights while topside or on Deck 4 - I'm jealous just thinking about it! Maybe if I close my eyes, like Olaf I can finally find out what frozen things like me do in summer!
What can I say, it's been a long winter here in the Midwest...
One of the best things about a Disney Cruise Line vacation is the flexibility when it comes to making payments - it makes budgeting for your vacation as easy as selling ice in the tropics! Once you
find an itinerary that works for you, you can definitely make a reservation by putting down a deposit - usually around 20-percent of the total cruise cost - and as long as you pay off the balance before your final payment date, you can pay however it makes sense for your budget! My family likes to split the payments into equal parts, counting back from the "paid-in-full" date and dividing the balance by the number of months, but you can make payments at any time by logging into your account and visiting the "
My Reservations" section of the website.
One thing to remember is that you must be paid in full before you will be able to make reservations for activities like
Port Adventures,
Onboard Fun, and adult-exclusive dining like Palo or Remy! So even if your paid-in-full date is after your booking window opens, try to adjust your payments so you have the best chance to book the activities you want! Be sure to download the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to help you keep track of the days! Seriously, the countdown feature is so fun!
I can't wait for you and your family to experience
all that's included in a Disney Cruise Line vacation, Omar! From adults-only spaces like the
nightclubs and lounges and
Senses Spa & Salon for you and your wife to
Edge and
Vibe for your tween and teen and tons of family fun all over the ship, you are in for a magical time, and be sure to take your entire family to the open houses in
Disney Oceaneer's Club, too!
I hope those tips help you set a course for smooth sailing as you look to get underway! Thank you so much for your question, Omar, and if any others surface while you continue planning, please sail our way again here at planDisney!
Fair winds and following seas,
Andrew