Welcome aboard, Erika! Congratulations on booking your very first Disney cruise! Once you experience a taste of what Disney Cruise Line has to offer, I bet this won't be your last sailing!
First time Disney Cruise Line guests can begin
online check-in, where you get to book all those fun extras, 75 days prior to departure, and yes, at that point your cruise also must be paid in full. Before that date arrives, spend some time browsing Disney Cruise Line's website to check out the
Port Adventures,
Adult Exclusive Dining, and
Spa Treatments that you may want to book. This way, once your online check-in window opens, you can book right away. The Private Cabanas on Castaway Cay are very popular and are usually quick to sell out. Guests who have sailed with Disney before are able to begin booking 90 or more days in advance, so there may not be any cabanas left by the time your check-in time begins. But, there just may be, so be sure to log in as soon as possible to find out. You can begin checking in and booking these extras just after midnight on the 75-day mark, so mark your calendar, Erika! Usually, the Port Adventures don't all fill up right away, though some do. But, it's that cabana that you'll want to log on right away to book. I will keep my fingers crossed that you can get one, and if not, the good news is that once you've sailed with Disney, you'll be part of the Castaway Club which gives you access to earlier booking on your next sailings!
Have fun planning and enjoy your cruise, Erika!