Hi there, Danielle!
Welcome to planDisney, and happy early birthday to your daughter! My kids had a magical experience during the
Royal Gathering on our last Disney Cruise! They were enthralled meeting some of their favorite Disney Princesses, including Moana (who offered wayfinding tips) and Belle (who shared her favorite books). Although we never know which royal friends will join the Royal Gathering during each sailing, it is always a special experience!
The Royal Gathering is complimentary, and it can be booked on the Disney Cruise Line website up to 30 days prior to your sail date. Just make sure to pay for your cruise in full before that date, as that is required to make reservations. Since it is a popular experience, I recommend trying to book it as soon as it becomes available, which is usually at midnight Eastern Standard Time. Log into your account on the
Disney Cruise Line website and choose "My Reservations" under the "Already Booked" tab at the top of the page. After selecting your cruise, find "My Plans" and choose "View or Add Activities." Select a day and choose the Royal Gathering when you see it. The times can vary throughout the day in my experience, and on some cruises, the Royal Gathering is offered on multiple days. If you cannot get a reservation ahead of time, stop by
Guest Services after boarding the ship on embarkation day to see if there is any availability.
Speaking of embarkation day, you may want to visit the
youth clubs that day. Each youth club usually hosts an open house on embarkation day. This provides parents and kids an opportunity to explore the youth clubs together, as only kids are allowed to enter the youth clubs outside of open house hours. My kids could spend hours playing in
Disney's Oceaneer Club, the youth club for kids between 3 to 10 years old. While they meet new friends and participate in fun activities, my spouse and I lounge in the adult-only areas or enjoy brunch at
Palo (it is so good!).
Danielle, have a wonderful vacation! Do not hesitate to reach out to planDisney again if you have additional questions!
Happy sailing!
Jen