Ahoy there Christine! Welcome to planDisney!
AH, getting almost a year's head start on your Disney Cruise Line vacation? Now that's what I call a "planDrew-Approved" approach! Just think, this time next year, you'll be soaking up the sun, filling your plate with delicious gourmet dining options, and generally having the time of your life experiencing
everything that's included on a Disney Cruise Line vacation!
While there isn't an official payment plan, on all but the rarest of occasions, you can definitely make payments over time! My family and I usually make a reservation as early as possible and pay the deposit (usually 20-percent of the final cruise price) - this way, we're sure to secure our preferred stateroom and itinerary, which if you ask me is the most important part! Once we've done that, we log back into the
"My Reservations" section of the website to see when our final payment is due! Once we have that date, we do some simple math to split the remaining cost into more manageable chunks!
Not only is this a great way to budget for our vacations, but it also helps us concentrate on the fun we'll be having by giving us a reason to log into the website every month! We love revisiting the information on each of the
Ports of Call, even if we decide to simply spend our days aboard the ship! As our cruise gets closer, we also love to check both our progress to our final payment AND how many days until we set sail using the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, too!
Oh, and I nearly forgot: your final payment may be due AFTER your
Castaway Club booking window opens, but you'll want to be sure to make your final payment as early as possible to ensure you have the best chance of booking the Port Adventures and Onboard Activities you'd like to reserve a spot in!
Hopefully, that helps you set a course for your upcoming adventure, Christine! I can't wait for you and your crew to set sail! Thank you so much for your question, and if you think of any others as you continue your planning, please send another message in a bottle my way!
Until then, here's to smooth sailing and happy planning!
Andrew