Ahoy, Donald! Welcome to planDisney and get ready to set sail for adventure. I’m sure that you are counting down the days until your upcoming cruise and ready to embrace everything that Disney Cruise Line has to offer.
You can
start making reservations once your cruise balance is paid in full and your advance booking window opens, which is determined by your
Castaway Club membership level or status as a concierge guest. If you are a first-time guest, then the advance booking window opens 75 days prior to sail date, but the earliest advance booking window opens 130 days prior to sail date for concierge guests. Activities can be
booked online or through the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App when your advance booking window opens, but are also available, subject to availability, onboard your ship on the day of your departure for all activities.
The good news is that you do not need to make any sort of advanced reservations for the vast majority of activities offered by Disney Cruise Line, including the
main live shows and entertainment offerings onboard. Advanced reservations are only available for certain activities, including: port adventures, adult-exclusive dining options, spa and fitness offerings, nursery time, and certain “onboard fun” activities, such as beverage tasting seminars, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointments, and a few special character events. Please note that these onboard activities vary by ship, sailing date, and are always subject to availability, which is why booking these particular options early is recommended.
Since you do not need to make reservations for most activities, that does mean that you will not be able to plan your day-to-day itinerary until you get access to the schedule of events on embarkation day. To be ready, be sure that you have downloaded the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App prior to your sail date, so that you can quickly access daily activities, dining details, and entertainment schedules once you arrive at the port. Once you can connect to the ship’s wi-fi at the port, you will be able to see everything that your ship has to offer, including the schedule of events for your entire sailing. The Navigator App will allow you to keep track of your desired activities under “My Plans” by using the “Add Activities” button to your personal schedule. However, adding an activity does not create any type of reservation, it is solely for managing your planned itinerary.
All that being said, know that there is nothing quite like show time in the Walt Disney Theatre, which is why Disney Cruise Line is known for its Broadway-style productions across the entire fleet. You do not need to make a reservation for any of the productions, but I definitely suggest arriving at least 10-15 minutes prior to showtime for access to the best seats. If you are scheduled for the early dinner seating, then you will see the later showtime after your meal; whereas, if you are scheduled for the late dinner seating, then you will go to the earlier showtime prior to dinner. All of that information will be available in the Navigator App once you are onboard, so no worries.
Whether you decide to plan any activities in advance or not, I hope you have an amazing time on your upcoming cruise. Disney Cruise Line truly is where magic meets the sea and there is always something to do. Happy sailing!
Catherine